yet more povey prattle

HOPPIN' JOHN A TRADITION I TRY TO OBSERVE,  I make my own and will enjoy it immensely https://discoversouthcarolina.com/articles/south-carolina-hoppin-john-with-chef-bj-dennis#:~:text=A%20highlight%20on%20the%20culinary%20map

  There is nothing which wikk cause me to celebrate the "New Year".  I'll be sound asleep.  My snoring will begin in 2025 and end in 2026. NO BIG DEAL!   By the time I go to bed it will already be a New Year in many parts of the world. The cynic in me will be loathe to say "Happy New Year".   Why should or might it be happier than was the old year?  That might be up to me; or I might have no control in the matter. I think that most Australians will say  "Good Day".  That's a greeting which is more to my liking whatever the calendar says, And while I am at it this old cynic does not believe in Santa Clause/Father Christmas  HUSH

 

  Toys and Treats

at Christmastide served hot and delicious meals to some 150 homeless/street people!  Allahu Akbar   "God is Greatest."

 

  This well decked out Santa was on duty yesterday at the Longboat Key Club where I had a pretty good lunch. He insisted that I should tug his false white beard, whilst he tugged my genuine article white beard As I left the club he asked me to promise that I'd be good for the next 364 days. It was easy for me to refuse.  Who wants to be good year round!

 Traditional on Christmas Eve for Donna    (Rouse)  Christman's family for yet these eighty? or so years.😊😊😊 Noodles and Swedish meat balls  (made from scratch by Ashley (Chrisman)   Lloyd.   Super delicious.

 Guests of Ron and Charlotte Thompson Superb Goat Cheese Frittata with goat cheese , and a side order of taters.   Lovely food, with terrific plate presentation

 Camerons Brand Steak and Kidney Pie YUMSTER

  "Crispy Thins" made with cocoa beans grown by an enormous cooperative of small farm farmers; and marketed with Fair Trade principles. My local supermarket carries this product.  It is totally delicious and very expensive. I bought some as Christmas gifts for others.  THAT WAS THE PLAN. The plan came to an end.   Not only do I talk in my sleep; and walk in my sleep   it is increasingly obvious that I eat in my sleep. On two recent mornings I arose and stumbled into my kitchen only to discover a mess of trash and empty containers on a kitchen counter, clear evidence that I am a sleep eater. I had and have no memories of choosing to nibble the night away. It's been back to the market to replace purloined gifts. Now I have to hide the chocolates and line the counter each night with Gherkins, and Horse Radish sauce.

 

  As is my wont I left my wooden cane at the Park the other day, A new fraquaitance, (Thomas by name), saw it and hung it on an exit door -  the custom for lost property. My lost property was claimed by A.N.Other.  Dear and good Thomas chose to replace it with a gorgeous cane, made of teak in Japan. I must guard it with my life and love!

  Hash Browns, with Canned Mackerel  (in tomato sauce).  

 

 

 

  Cooper is doing O.K. today.    We will see his Vet. but not until  Tuesday (it's not as if  he has a progressive disease which gets worse every day.

  At approx 4:00 p.m. today Cooper had another seizure. Of course I was deeply upset.  So Cooper and I went to the Park where I could share my feelings with Cooper's friends, and with my friends,

  An Advent/Christmas treat. I discovered them about four years ago in my very local British Foods store.  They were not available in 2003 and 2004. It's never easy to import foodstuffs. Whoop De Doo -  they, a truly Scottish  delicacy,  were in the store again this year. Eccelfechans are in the Mince Tart family (so to speak).  But they are sweeter and have  a rich variety of flavour.  If I were wise and well-disciplined I eat one a day in the Twelve Days.

 The six weeks old Puppy and the four years old Cooper begin their friendship The Puppy so trusting.   Cooper so gentle.

  Cooper, a mid-sized dog, loves to ride in the car, especially in the front passenger seat.  He also wanders around the car as we drive. Fun for him;  dangerous for both of us.  I reduced the risk this morning when I bought a nifty attachment. One end clips into the seat belt clip; bottom.    The other end is attached to Coop's collar.; top. Cooper's movement is restricted. Good for Cooper. Good for me.  Car wandering is all but a thing of the past.

  I've always liked Ginger Beer. I bought some yesterday because I was tickled pink by this old-fashioned bottle via Trader Joe's I am sure that many will remember that these bottles, with a reusable cap, were once the norm for Soda; Soda Pop; or simply Pop. In the U.K.  the generic word for carbonated drinks was/is(?)    Lemonade ( whatever the flavour of the contents.) Mv favourite was

  Leonberger   A German rooted Dog, often trimmed by owners to look like a   Lion  In truth a gentle giant!

  Bacon and Persimmons

  I have been deeply moved by the events and spirit of Pope Leo's visit to Lebanon There is no "School for Popes". Members of the College of Cardinals may get some ideas of what it means to be Pope.  Leo was a Cardinal for only a matter of months before his election to the Papacy. SOONAFTER IS ELECTION TO BE POPE ON A MISSION< Such a burden.  From the moment of landing to the moment of leaving was there even a moment when he could say "I need the bathroom or "I'd like a cup of tea"? Here is a stellar worldwide servant who sacrifices autonomy and personal freedom for the sake of the gospel. Who could forget the wonderful youth rally = with Holy Dance, and Song.  A Youth Rally which was true to the faith of Lebanese Christians, and not to Vatican bureaucrats. Music from Taizé.  I've been there! Here is a Pope whose gentle and evangelical spirit is deeply rooted in Jesus Christ. It was maybe twenty years ago that I spent two weeks in the Lebanon wit...