Vicki Lane Mysteries
Words and pictures from the author of And the Crows Took Their Eyes as well as the Elizabeth Goodweather Appalachian Mysteries . . .
Tuesday, January 19, 2021
Monday, January 18, 2021
What Were They Thinking?
Sunday, January 17, 2021
Mary Oliver Looks at Snow
Snow was falling,
so much like stars
filling the dark trees
that one could easily imagine
its reason for being was nothing more
than prettiness.
Saturday, January 16, 2021
Josie Learns Stuff
Friday, January 15, 2021
First Shot!
We had to wait fifteen minutes to be sure there were no immediate adverse reactions. There weren't--except from our car which refused to start--dead battery.
No worries! The charming provider went and got her car, pulled it in next to us, and she and John hooked up the jumper cables. Presto! We were on the road again.
Now that's what I call a full service health department.
Thursday, January 14, 2021
Hoarfrost
Wednesday, January 13, 2021
Tuesday, January 12, 2021
Time to Heal?
I'd like to let this go and move on, as so many Republicans are suggesting now--move on and let the Biden/Harris administration deal with Covid and the toxic fallout of the past four years.
But there was an insurrection--an attack on our democracy, an attempt to subvert the votes of the majority--and this seditionist action--egged on by none other than the President and many of his allies--should not be ignored. There must be consequences.
Impeach, impeach, and go on impeaching! Even if there is faint hope of conviction, at least 45* will go down in history as the first president to be impeached twice.
Monday, January 11, 2021
Josie and Hamsie and a Daydream. . .
Sunday, January 10, 2021
We Knew Who He Was Before He Was Elected
What follows is a repost from 2015. I knew he was bad news--just not how very bad. What he and his enablers have done to our country by pushing the narrative of Fake News ranks up there with the Sin against the Holy Ghost.
"We'll go to the Capitol," he tells the sad fools who believe him. "I'll be with you," he says. And returns to the White House to watch it all play out on television.
This evil man needs, for once in his life, to be held accountable for his actions.
***
Saturday, January 9, 2021
Friday, January 8, 2021
Senate Bean Soup
The soup was surprisingly good--though like the Senate, it does tend to produce a lot of gas.
SENATE BEAN SOUP
1 pound dried Great Northern beans
2 smoked ham hocks (or 1 meaty ham bone)
4 medium onions, chopped
8 garlic cloves, minced
6 celery ribs, chopped
1/4 cup minced fresh parsley
5 medium red potatoes, chopped
Salt and pepper to taste (the ham hocks provided plenty of salt)
Minced parsley or chives for garnish
***
Rinse beans. Put in large kettle, add water to cover by 2 inches. Bring to a boil and boil two minutes. Remove from heat, cover, and let stand 3 or 4 hours till beans are softened.
Drain and rinse, discarding liquid. In large kettle, put beans, ham hocks (or bone,) and 3 quarts of water. Bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat, and simmer for 2 hours.
Skim fat if needed. Add onions, garlic, celery, parsley, potatoes, and simmer 1 hour.
Remove hocks or bone and let cool till you can handle them. Remove the meat, discard the fat and bones. cut meat into bite size pieces and return to soup. Taste and decide if you want salt and/or pepper.
Serve hot, sprinkled with parsley of chives.
Freezes well.
Thursday, January 7, 2021
What a Day!
"You're very special. We love you," said the President (but not for long!) of the United States to the mob he had summoned to DC and then incited to storm the Capitol, before retreating to his bunker to watch on television the mayhem that ensued.
These disgusting low-lifes had a field day, snapping selfies and carrying off souvenirs before they were finally removed. Were any arrested?
Query: What would have happened if this mob had been black?
Meanwhile, I'm celebrating the double win in Georgia that will take the Senate away from the Republican enablers who made this low point in America history possible. And I'm giving thanks for Stacy Abrams and for all the Georgia voters who didn't pick the billionaires to represent them.