Political Penny?

Now when I say, I am not nor ever been politically active other than to vote, there was never a truer statement. That has changed. I am so fed up with what is going on, as far as government decisions, I have made a huge decision that I have no right complain if I sit on my rear end and do nothing. Washington City power rates are higher than any where in our county. Last year "the powers that be" built a huge community center much bigger than we ever needed. Now when I say big, two swimming pools, two basketball courts, huge reception center, climbing wall, track, every weight and elliptical type available, and it is only in use about 25% of the time. All of this is indoors. The lure of gov grant money to get it going and the glow of "our little city can now be a big city" ideology was more powerful than long-term brain power and common sense. After only one year, the new center is going in the hole $30,000 a month in just part of the over head. At last count, the estimate is a deficit of a million dollars by the end of next year. The answer I am sure will be a bond...which to me is another word for financial bondage to the residents who do not use, nor ever planned to pay the $395 yearly fee per family they are charging now. Now add to this, financially ruining several businesses in our city that they are directly competing with. The center opened a day care with every modern anything complete with their own little rocking chairs, nap stations, and learning modules. We have five excellent day cares and the competition has hit them hard. Next, the reception centers that have catered to weddings, business meetings. Our City Center rents cheaper and has more room choices. Next, the Gold's Gym, Curves, and other work- out places. Our City Center is open from 5 in the a.m. to 10 every day with every new bell and whistle. A former mayer who guarded against government competition against it's own citizens, will not even go in the building. It is a sad commentary on a lcity government that does not value it's own contributing citizens, those who hire residents and provide local jobs. Especially in this economic climate. A governments job is to protect and never every compete with hard working residents.

There are elections in November for Mayer and 2 Councilman. The youngest of the bunch is Bill Hudson, a man who has been so concerned over the ignoring of what the city citizens want, that he has sat in on most of the city council meetings for over the last year. His philosophy, Walt's and mine are right on. I came up with this campaign idea, my new son-in-law Cody cut the vinyl, and we are distributing these signs to a lot of people this week. Those running against Bill Hudson have put thousands of dollars into their campaigns, three of them teaming up for more power. We will see how this goes. I am also going to make calls and take some fliers around to influential people I have come to know through the years. Concerning the campaign, I had a thought to link emotion to what is going on in Washington DC right now. Bill liked it so here it is: Can't change the White House? You can change our house, Washington City! Vote Bill Hudson I hope my little contribution will help. We shall see.

First Personal Experience with Going Green

After today's dishwasher repair experience, I am rephrasing "going green" to "green going" out of my pocket. After paying the repairman $95 to get my dishwasher back to efficiency, I asked what all that white gunk was from he removed from the filter. He explained that since the new "Go Green" Federal guidelines, the manufacturers of dishwasher detergent are slowly removing phosphorous. Some have already removed it. He explained that phosphorous it what keeps hard water softened, keeps glass shining, and most important, keeps calcium from building up on your filters. He showed me a little number on the detergent container that starts with a P or a Z. If the number has a Z there is no phosphorous in it, and he added no strong efficient cleaning power. According to him, liquid auto- dish detergent is the lowest phosphorous content, and usually granulate has the highest "for now". He suggested applying a strong phosphate treatment a couple of times a year, or you will have a green going experience like I had. He went on to say that since the new cap and trade guidelines, efficiency will be so low, the manufactures are worried that the public will think it is their fault, but in fact it will be due to gov regulation. The water tubs will be smaller, the rinse cycles not as long. He attends repair schools for all the main appliance manufacturers, it will affect them all, not just dishwashers. I won't bore you with the info he shared on frigs. Hold on to your pocket book, here it comes ...Going Green or shall I say your green going. Of course, we must be fair, I am sure it will eventually make sense like the guideline to take lead out of road paint making it so the lines fade within just a few months. It has saved the lives of those who get their nutrient from licking the lines on the road. Oops, I guess though to be really fair, I need to factor in the lives that have been lost due to not being able to tell where the lines on a road are. Silly me, what was I thinking.

Costco Canned Chicken vs My Own

The other day after pouring the liquid off my can of Costco Chicken Breast for my yummy Chinese salad, I decided to weigh just the meat. I got just less than 8 oz from a 12 oz can of chicken! I figured it up and I was paying almost $6.00 a lb on a good sale day! I dusted off my mother's old pressure canner and went looking for some chicken breast. Due to being in my experiment mode, I did not look for best sale on skinless boneless breast, but bought at the cost my grocery store was selling that day. I packed it in jelly jars and 75 minutes later better chicken than Costco at over half the price. I had a bottle the next day and found it to be juicier and much tastier. It does naturally make some broth, but it is pure chicken broth, not water as Costco chicken. I called around and found out that Lins is having a chicken breast sale in two weeks where it is only $1.29 a lb. I can get the same amount of chicken as in a Costco can for about 75 cents a jar at that rate. ...about a 75% savings.

Directions on bottling chicken: Raw pack, do not cook before It makes it dry. (NOTE: Every thing I found said to cook first, but Wendy DeWitt, a provident living specialist has been doing hers raw for years. Even had a bottle after storing for years. It was perfect. The intense heat cooks and kills all bacteria.) Boil jar lids, this is not to sanitize but to soften to seat. After placing lids on jars, place in pressure canner at 15 lb for 75 minutes. Let the steam come our of the hole a top for about 4 minutes, place weight on, let pressure build until weight is rocking steadily. On my smooth top stove, it is at about 7.5 heat. Pressure for 75 minutes and turn off heat. You can remove from heat, but do not remove weight or lid until completely cool. It is that simple.

The Mother of all Composters

I was raised on a farm. When you made garbage, it went to a barrel and eventually burned. The crops were turned under every fall, manure was piled high and then distributed for a few smelly days a year. I don't know where along the way I lost my value to compost. During the years, I have sent enough organic waste down the garbage disposal to fertilize a football field many times over. I know, you "save the planet" people are thinking what a shame. One day last spring I made mention to Walt that I would like to compost the debris I removed from our yard every fall and spring. Wow, I had no idea what key I had turned in honor of composters every where. He began to plan and then build the mother of all composters. He recycled a pressure tank that came from a water well repair he had done several years ago. He put mechanisms inside to turn the compost. It works great and after he painted it dark green, it even looks like it belongs in our back yard. Sometimes, I am amazed at what this man of mine can figure out and build. I have a mechanical disability, according to my family, I cannot open a box of cereal the right way.

Mighty Cluff Hunters

When Walt and I were dating and discussing marriage, I timidly revealed to him that I had a $400 loan I had taken out in order to get through with BYU that spring. He then "revealed" to me that he really loved hunting. He was an avid outdoorsman and he asked if I would support him in this endeavor. Oh, I can support that "hobby". All I can say is he got off pretty easy with that loan repay. I have been paying for the "hunt support" promise many years. I was CLUELESS. Now we have an entire family of mighty hunters and my support has been been multiplied a hundred fold.

Our son Brandon's son, Jade got a nice four point with his bow just before dusk. He was pretty proud. It is his first "big one". I was the cook for the crew of hunters until we came down late Saturday night. I should say Sunday a.m. Walt got about five hours of sleep before he made it to Bishopic meeting at 6 a.m. It was quite a thrilling night for the mighty Cluff hunter.

Cedar Mountain

At last, I am relaxing at our property on Cedar Mountain. Our fifth wheel survived all the comings and goings of the "men" in my life preparing for the deer hunt. They archery hunt and it starts the middle of August here. Right now, that means scouting. Yes, scouting must start at least a month before. This year grandson Jade, Dad Brandon, and son-in-law Brian have placed a motion activated camera on a deer trail near a blind. They have seen many big bucks this year.

I listen to narrations of their adventures, cook occasionally, and kick back with a book, art, or my harp the minute they leave. Walt and I are 4-wheeling today, then he is off to scout with his brother Ray. I love the peace of the mountain. I take long walks, watch the wild life, find my rock and gaze at the beauty. We can see many miles to the south from a high point. I call it my peace rock.