Protesters *sigh*

Last night I got a text message from my brother. He was in Seattle, WA with the Raleigh party girl. They were bar hopping of course, and happened upon a Zimmerman protest.
The signs all read “No New Jim Crow Laws”.  Upon my further research I found out that "No New Jim Crow" is actually a coalition to end mass incarceration in America. I still have not figured out what they have to do with protesting Zimmerman's Not Guilty verdict--if they want to end mass incarceration then wouldn't that protest be a bit hypocritical of them?  Color me silly,but shouldn't they be happy that one less person is incarcerated? 

My brother was all ready three sheets to the wind and working on getting four sheets, thought it comical enough to photo and even take a video  Then he thought to call me and hold the phone up so I could listen in. There were people actually believing that Zimmerman shot Trayvon Martin execution style... 

I have found it funny with all these protests that it is done by people who have no relevance to the case. They have bought in to what the MSM has told them without looking at the facts. And I highly doubt that people some 3500 miles away even watched a single minute of the trial. It is frustrating and comical to me all at the same time.

So I am doing laundry and other household chores I got to thinking even more that, the baiters who want the protest are people like Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson.  This is all they know how to do. They have made a career from hate, and keeping the fires from the 50s and 60s burning.  Calling for protests and justice within our system is how they make money, it is their livelihood. With out it they have nothing.

Then as I am listening to Herman Cain today, a black caller acgually hit the nail on the head.

Why it is still be fueled he asked? Because as long as the media can keep the story alive,  as long as they can still run with it, show protest, talk about civil suits. It will keep the focus off the things that are really important. It takes the focus off Obama and the headaches within his administration.

-JUGM

Zimmerman Verdict

Everyone else is talking about it this morning so I guess I should join in the hot topic of the day.
Zimmerman was found NOT GUILTY.
Yes, the jury in this case- Got one right. But as I predicted, it was not long until some one in the local liberal media said: " This is what happens when you have a white majority jury, and why jury's need more racially balanced"  But women are considered a minority aren't we? Aren't women looked at as feminists? Clearly the states jubilation of a female jury made up of mothers back fired on them.
Now liberals turn to the race card.

Senior and I stayed up late to listen to all the coverage. It was a win for the gun owners, and those of us who want to defend ourselves. It sent a statement to the liberal press about making this a issue of race.
If Zimmerman had been black, none of the sensationalism would happened. After all, how many black on black murders happened last night alone across this country?
They focused on GZ being "White" but not on the Hispanic part. Then why is the President who is also half white, considered black?  thinking of that one makes me scratch my head.

9999 out of 10000 people who declare that GZ is guilty, who were crying and stunned over the verdict, never watched a single moment of the trial. They never saw the poor witnesses the prosecution had, they never saw the angry disposition of Rachel Jeantel- who admitted she never wanted involvement in this. They also never knew that the community GZ was living in had been burglarized over and over, it was dark, it was raining and he saw a person with a hoodie over his head walking close to the homes..and he thought that suspicious -so he decided to follow the person. They also did not care that GZ was back at his truck when it was TM that jumped him from behind.

Those 9999 never saw the large piece of concrete the defense brought out in closing arguments as a visual aid to show what it would look like to have ones head pounded over and over against it.
No, those 9999 was told it was a race issue--and that is what they believed and bought in to.
The President came out and claimed the "if he had a son" line, since he was up for re-election and needed Florida to win. It was the perfect scenario for him to run with....

George Zimmerman is a free man this morning because his defense team was top notch, and did their homework. The prosecution failed miserably.  But, they have to have a sacrificial lamb to appease the liberals,which I believe will be Michael Dunn. He claimed a black teen brandished a fire arm after he asked them to turn down loud music, so he shot at them killing one. All though the teens left after being shot at, then returned to the scene. Many think it was to dispose of the weapon they brandished at Mr. Dunn. He will be found guilty and sentenced.

So at the end of the day, liberal celebrities were vocal, Beyonce stopped a concert for a moment of silence, and Victor Cruz of the NY Giants tweeted threats against GZ. which were immediately deleted.
And fortunately the promise of wide spread violence and Miami being ground zero did not happen. Now let the civil suits begin..

Many say that this would have never happend if GZ had not "profiled" TM. I believe this would never have happend if TM had not been a good kid and not suspended from school in the first place.

I wish the Zimmerman family well, I hope he can re-enter society successfully without being the object of threats and ridicule. He is always going to have this hanging over him, he will always live with this.....

-JUGM

My Two Year Blog-Aversary

As I am scooping up doggie poo so Senior can mow the back yard It hit me:  "holy cow, its been two years blogging today"  okay, so I kind of got that idea for the sentence from PP who was shoveling manure a few weeks ago and thinking about politicians. But really, I was cleaning up the poo.

Had it really been two years since Stephen and Senior encouraged me to start this little blog? Yes it has. Two years to the day when I was out hanging up clothes and my blog title lit up like a light bulb over my head. I ran in and told Senior, "How about Tales from The Clothesline" ?  It made perfect sense because that is where most of my ideas hit me, that is the one place where I think about current events and ponder our government.  I know, "Nothing like hanging up seniors underwear to make a person think about our world".. 
Two years wow!   I still have not hit 100 followers. But that is okay. I have tried my best to stay true to myself and write about the things I know. 

On this my bloggy anniversary  I was reading SciFiChicks blog post this morning about meeting some long time blogger friends of hers.

 Kymber and I have been talking about her and Jambaloney driving the short distance of 59 million miles to hang with us at the country estate.  I started wondering,  In my two years of blogging if I could hang out with members of my blogger family, who  would it be and why?

Probably first and foremost on my list, and because she has been a follower and some one I call my Sister  would be Kymber and Her better half Jambaloney. I know with them we would stay up laughing all night around a fire pit. JB would make some great mixed drinks, and we would definitely eat.
As long as she doesn't show up wearing her pink playboy bunny suit, and promised not to make me eat pickled beets we would be okay...lol 
We would talk a lot about gardening and prepping. Swap ideas, and recipes. And of course eat lots of eggs fried in bacon grease... I bet I could even entice her to rummage through antique stores for old canning jars.

Then there is Mamma and Papa Bear  because I live on her blog, and utilize lots of her recipes.  I also admire her for being such an inspiration in the way she takes care of her son The Marine, that I would just love to give her and Papa a big hug, and be able to shake The Marines hand. I would also love to pick her brain about keeping chickens and turkeys.

Of course there is my other long time buddy Rob he like Kymber, has also been a long time follower and I as well on his blog. I feel like I have been through the thick and thin of it with Rob and his family. I would like to do an old fashioned back yard BBQ with them all. And give him some more lessons on prepping, and chew the proverbial fat about the economy and such.

Can't forget Pioneer Preppy little does he know, I am intrigued with his bee keeping skills, and have actually learned quite a bit. I would love to meet he and his family so I could see him in action , and watch the honey extraction process in person--and maybe get a lovely jar of all that natural goodness.
and no Kymber you can't have it!

An Old NFO I would just love to be sitting at the table with he and Senior hearing all their sea stories, would make for an entertaining evening indeed. Having all the military knowledge in one room would be incredibly over whelming and send a tingle up my leg.

I would love to reach out and give Ms. Beth Marie a hug..she has been through a lot and could probably use one. Then I would want to see all those wonderful black and white photos of hers and beg her to let me scrapbook some and create her an album.  : )

If I met SciFiChick, I would hide my head because I screwed up her Rustic Italian bread recipe a few weeks ago--today is take 2, hopefully it comes out better then the ginormous loaf I first tried.

Also K- Our kids are around the same age, and he and Senior are both college students. I know we would have tons in common and have enjoyable dinner table discussions on it all. Plus it also hit me that its time we had another famous blogger cook-off.

*SIGH* I could never narrow it down to just one follower. So many other good people whom I did not list that I would love to meet. If I ever had to decide, there is no way I could.

So to all of you I say a big THANK YOU, for being a second family, for all the advice, and support.
While I may not always comment on your blogs, or respond on mine. I do read them, flip through them, and I appreciate them all.

HUGS AND KISSES TO ALL OF YOU...

-JUGM

Where My Heart Is..

Pulling away from the country estate yesterday made me incredibly sad. I looked at the new tire swing that was hung up for the boys, it looked lonely, the sounds of the boys laughing and playing on it still echo through my head. Oh how much fun did they have on that !  The back pasture where the neighbors horses roam was empty.. another light rain was beginning to fall, the weather demonstrated my sentiment.

Our weekend  went well, and very relaxing. We took our new bows, and NW got practice time in with the youth one he got for his Birthday last week :

Senior whipped out his new Diamond Infinitive Edge

Then on Saturday more rain showers, and  Ruger decided he needed a drink of water.

Since Kymber commented how she loves swings. Here is another one that is on our property. My father in law put this one on a hill over looking the garden. I like to sit in it and watch the boys catch fire flies.  Then there are some more scenic pictures. I love taking pictures of nature and rustic things.

 This is my Father in Laws old Farmall Tractor. He would load the boys up in that trailer and take them for a ride.



 The gravel driveway now covered in weeds...lots of work to do to make it

 look like it use to.

Some of the large flint rock boulders on the property. Hence the nick name "Rocky Top"

These in particular are my favorite as every year I pose the boys on them for pictures.

Rocky Top is so rocky that you can't dig more then a few inches in to the ground before hitting rocks. Over the many years of going there, I have brought back numerous small ones, they line the bottom of my fish tank, or sit as decoration on a table top.  



 

 Now we are back in Florida, It depressed me pulling in to the subdivision. My house may be here,  but my home is there and we all know that home is where the heart is. Mine is on that place of beauty and peace. I think of it now just sitting up there alone and waiting on us to come back to it. Frozen in time, until the sound of laughter fills it again soon.....

 

-JUGM

Our Independence Weekend

The rain is falling light but steady. Enough to where the boys can run and play with out getting soaked. They have holes in the lids of jars and catching fireflies.

We are at our Country Estate for the Independence day weekend. Mr. Farmer (the neighbor down the road) surprised the boys with a tire swing. One of my most treasured childhood memory is of playing on the tire swing in my grandmothers back yard. Since he hung it up, they have not stayed off it.

 Independence day went well  Senior corrects
me when I say Happy 4th. He says the 4th is just a date. What we celebrate is our countries Independence from tyranny.
We had a bit of work to do. Had to mow and work on killing fire ant mounds. Senior wanted to plow the garden area but its too wet up here.

We look around our little bit of property that we inherited and wonder what to do..If we decide to sell it..wow! we could pay off all our bills. But then this has been in our family for several decades, its peaceful, beautiful , has lots of potential, and our boys are extremely happy here. If Senior landed a good job near by then its a no brainer.

The rain is letting up, the sun is breaking through the clouds. It begins to shine over the un-plowed  garden area. Maybe that is Gods way of answering us.....

- JUGM

Francis Marion- Hero of the Revolution

I did have this amazing post about the Declaration of Independence. But then I started thinking about Heros of the Revolution.
We recently watched the movie " The Patriot" and while it is an awesome film, it is also historically incorrect in many places.
the Real Patriot was Francis Marion nicknamed the "swamp fox" by the British for his elusive tactics. You could probably say he and his militia was the original special forces.
It was in South Carolina in 1780, that he gained notoriety by slipping in to the swamps of the low country with his band of guerillas to launch attacks  against the British.

Marion showed himself to be a singularly able leader of irregular militiamen and ruthless in his terrorizing of Loyalists. Unlike the Continental troops, Marion's Men, as they were known, served without pay, supplied their own horses, arms and often their food.

Marion rarely committed his men to frontal warfare, but repeatedly surprised larger bodies of Loyalists or British regulars with quick surprise attacks and equally quick withdrawal from the field. After the surrender of Charleston, the British garrisoned South Carolina with help from local Tories, except for Williamsburg (the present Pee Dee), which they were never able to hold. The British made one attempt to garrison Williamsburg at Willtown, but were driven out by Marion at the Battle of Black Mingo.

Cornwallis observed "Colonel Marion had so wrought the minds of the people, partly by the terror of his threats and cruelty of his punishments, and partly by the promise of plunder, that there was scarcely an inhabitant between the Santee and the Peedee that was not in arms against us".

In 1780 Colonel Tarlton was sent to find and capture Marion. The British followed Marion and his troops for over 26 miles through the Carolina swamps but Marion eluded them. Tarlton swore that even the Devil himself could not capture the him and they gave up.

Marion later on would serve in the South Carolina State Senate, and then serve as Commander of Fort Johnson in South Carolina. It as basically a courtesy title with a promise payment of 500 English pounds per year, but that was changed with the economy and changed to 500 continental dollars per year.

He died on his Estate in 1795 at the age of 63.

Francis Marions legacy lives on though throughout the low country of South Carolina, ever been up
I-95 and crossed "Lake Marion" ? yes, it is named after the swamp fox. There is also Marion National Forest near Charleston, Marion County, South Carolina, Francis Marion University. Across the United States there are also many municipalities named after him.
He is buried at Belle Island Plantation Cemetary in Berkely County, SC. His gravestone reads the following: 

Sacred to the memory
of
GEN. FRANCIS MARION,
who departed this life on the 27th February 1795
in the sixty-third year of his age
deeply regretted by all his fellow-citizens.
History will record his worth and rising generations
embalm his memory as one of the most distinguished
PATRIOTS AND HEROES OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
which elevated his native country to honor and independence
and secured to her the blessings of liberty and peace.
This tribute of veneration and gratitude is erected in
commemoration of the noble and disinterested virtues
of the citizen and the gallant exploits of the soldier
who lived without fear and died without reproach.



Meet Mr. Pickle Worm

Nothing says "good morning sweetie" then waking up to this nasty critter.
 Meet "Mr. Diaphania Nitidalis" aka "The Pickle Worm"

 

Thanks to my good buddy DUKE who verified what the little holes were. I followed his lead and cut one open this morning and there it was....ICK!  It gave me goose bumps. ND who is an aspiring entomologist wanted to keep it as a pet.

These guys are a serious pest. They primarily like to feed on squash, but also like vegetables in the cucumber and melon families. What you initially see are small holes in your fruit or veggies, that is where the larva ( pictured) like to burrow. About 8-9 days later they will emerge as the "pickleworm moth" and fly out primarily in the evening hours.

 

I dusted my cucumbers in the early evening hours last night with Sevin dust. Which I have been told will work. The only problem with any insecticides is I don't want the Bees who stop  by to pollinate the blooms to die as well.  It is kind of a catch 22.

Some other ideas to protect your garden is to cover your vines with screen so the moths can not get in to lay eggs, or planting a group of squash as a sort of "trap crop" to keep them off your more important vegetables.
This is because they prefer the squash over anything else. They also do not like to feed on watermelons for some reason.

Either way, its a disgusting little cusp that I hope to eradicate from the few vines of cucumbers I am growing. 

-JUGM