Country Cousin

Moon Talk...

Hi Folks!

Well, friends, looks like Summer is over for this year. It’s a bit early for the winds of November that arrived over a month early and blew the fine summer-like September weather out of TIMESland this weekend, but blow they did. All we can hope for now is a long, lovely Indian Summer. But the old timers predict that won’t happen. We’ll see.

HALLOWEEN

Halloween is only a month away, and lots of folks are getting their homes and yards decked out for Fright Night.

Stump the youngsters. Ask them where young monsters get their educations.

See the answer just before Cookin’ Time.

MOON TALK

When we look at the full moon on Oct. 4, we may just see that old man in a different light.

We’ve always thought of the moon as quite pretty, hanging up there in the sky, but in reality a dry, barren piece of rock. We were taught, especially after that first moon landing, that it probably held no possibility of life, past, present or future.

Well, science has been wrong before, as when they insisted the world was flat. Looks like they were wrong again.

Last Thursday NASA released the astounding news that scientists have discovered water molecules in the polar regions of the moon. “Instruments aboard three separate spacecraft revealed water molecules in amounts that are greater than predicted, but still relatively small,” their news release said.

Then, just two days or so after the new moon information was released, we’re told that NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter spotted ice in five recently formed meteorite craters. Some of it is 99 percent pure frozen water.

The moisture so far discovered on the moon seems to be in a small layer on the orb’s surface. A rocket is slated crash into a crater near one of the poles on Friday, Oct. 9 to find out if there’s moisture beneath the surface as well. The impact might be momentarily visible from earth with the right equipment. That mission carries a price tag of $79 million. Doubt if we’ll be doing that too often.

And just how important is water in space?

Well, scientists say it might just be the most significant discovery possible, more valuable than gold or diamonds. Water forms the basis of fuel for space travel when separated into its components of hydrogen and oxygen, not to mention that space travelers need water to drink and oxygen to breathe. And transporting it from Earth to the moon would cost $25,000 per ounce at today’s rates.

However, making useful water on the moon from the molecules found there might be pretty expensive too. An explanation from a NASA news release is that one ton of the top layer of the moon’s surface might be processed to yield 32 ounces of water.

Guess if you were really, really thirsty...

And now for another shocking news update - it has just now been revealed that the presence of lunar water was discovered in a 1999 flyby.

What else have they been keeping from us?

HEADLINE HAZARDS

Writing newspaper headlines can be a hazardous occupation. Words that sound just fine when you write them down and then rearrange them so the lines match sometimes take on meanings that were never intended. Sometimes a lot of thought goes into them and things come out wrong. Sometimes headlines seem to be the result of a brain glitch.

Not to poke fun at anyone, because we’ve had our share of headlines gone awry, but here are a few gleaned from other publications over the years and passed along for us to laugh over:

Miners Refuse To

Work after death

- How dare they? The lazy good for nothing so and so’s!

Juvenile Court To Try

Shooting Defendant

- Sounds a bit harsh. No fair trial?

War Dims Hope For Peace

- Yeah, it could have that effect!

If Strike Isn’t Settled Quickly,

It Could Last A While

- You think?

Cold Wave Linked

To Temperatures

- Who would have thought it?

Enfield Couple Slain;

Police Suspect Homicide

- Wow! Impressive deduction, My Dear Watson!

Red Tape Holds

Up New Bridges

- Is red tape stronger than duct tape? Yeah, it probably is.

Local High School

Dropouts Cut In Half

- Shades of the Chainsaw Massacre!

Police Begin Campaign

To Run Down Jaywalkers

- Isn’t that taking things a bit far?

Hospital Is Sued

By 7 Foot Doctors

- Tall, aren’t they?

No comments needed:

Obesity Study Looks

For Larger Test Group



Astronaut Takes Blame

For Gas In Spacecraft



Kids Make Nutritious Snacks



Typhoon Rips Through

Cemetery; Hundreds Found Dead



Something Went Wrong In

Jet Crash, Expert Says

SAD, SAD, SAD

Just received a news release from Erik Aleson, Assistant Parks Administrator for Marinette County that after a very successful 2-year trial program, effective Thursday, Oct. 1, LUV vehicles are no longer legal on Marinette County ATV trails.

For two years, the two vehicle types shared the trails with no arguments, no mishaps, no objections from fans of either one. In fact, the ATV clubs loved their new LUV friends.

But it was a trial program, the trails are built with DNR funds, and neither the DNR nor the State Legislature, despite urgings from our local legislators, cared enough to issue an extension of a program already in place until the rule happy DNR can come up with a new permanent rule.

So for now at least, the people who love their LUVs will have to stay off the trails. Incidentally, that usually includes a higher percentage of older, more sedate riders, who might have difficulty enjoying walks in the woods.

Guess Peshtigo Mayor Tom Strouf had it right. He warned that when accepting government grants you’d better look hard at what kinds of strings are attached, because they might end up hanging you.

On the bright side, Aleson and others in the Parks Department are continuing their interest in trails. Marinette County Tourist Alliance is on their agenda Friday, Oct. 9 to talk about the possibility of getting year-round non motorized trails created and maintained at several locations, including Goodman Park, Lake Noquebay , Thunder Mountain and Kirby Hills. Hope they’ll also talk about sledding and tobogganing possibilities.

STIMULUS???

Speaking of grants, received a letter from a lady in Coleman commenting on announcement of a recent grant of nearly three quarters of a million dollars to build a lighted walkway through a neighboring community.

It was a great coup for village fathers, but with that kind of money, every resident man, woman and child could have received $2,000, with money left over. In defense of the Village Board, if they had sought a grant for that purpose it would have been turned down anyway.

Meanwhile, Coleman’s application for far less money to improve Hwy. B through the village and rebuild some needed infrastructure was rejected.

The writer says the stimulus packages are stimulating nothing but anger and disgust in herself and her friends, and wants to know to whom she can complain. She asks what she can do, if anything, to stop this.

Don’t know if it will do much good, but contacting President Barrack Obama and federal legislators, Sen. Russ Feingold, Sen. Herb Kohl and Rep. Steve Kagen might be a place to start.

Or, take the untraveled path and contact local leaders of the party in power - this time it’s the Democrats - to register your dismay. In Marinette County, Democratic Party Chairman is Jim Hartman (715-789-2100) and Vice Chair is Dennis Bomberry (715-854-3705). Hopefully they will pass the word along to the powers that be on higher levels.

You also might write polite letters to the editor, avoiding personal attacks and insults, but stating your objections in very clear terms.

Calls and letters really do sometimes make a difference, although it usually doesn’t seem like it at the time.

If all else fails this time around, next election time, remember which officials voted in favor of the programs you don’t like and work toward removing them from office. Hand out literature. Ring doorbells. Make phone calls. Get out the vote. Don’t just sit there and hope. We can’t undo what has been done, but we can certainly try to be sure the mistakes aren’t continued.

Hope this helps. Thanks for the kind words. They were much appreciated.

HEALTHY HINT: EXERCISE, EXERCISE

Can’t stress enough the importance of exercise. Good for the skin, hair, circulation and numerous other things, including stress relief and weight loss. Women who walk briskly for at least 3 hours a week or do some other exercise vigorous enough to increase the heart rate and make breathing faster can cut their risk of heart attack by 30 to 40 percent, and those who walk 5 or more hours a week cut heart attack risk by 50 percent.

The same thing is probably true for men, but the particular study that came up with these results didn’t test them, probably on the false assumption that most men already get enough exercise.

In any case, the message here is get out and walk. Better yet, take your honey out at least once a week for some real old fashioned kick up your heels dancing. Not talking waltzes here. Talking Polish Hop, Jitterbug, Chicken Dance. Fun stuff that gets you all out of breath and laughing. Now that’s exercise!

Riddle Answer: Ghoul school.

COOKIN’ TIME

Put your late garden produce to good use with this relish. Makes a lovely addition to Christmas gift baskets,enhances your table at any time. Mix with finely chopped chicken and mayo for a tasty sandwich filling. Incidentally, leftover lean roast pork chopped somewhat coarsely in the food processor or with a handy old knife, can be used very nicely in any chicken salad recipe.

VEGETABLE RELISH

5 cups ground green peppers (12 peppers)

4 cups ground green tomatoes (10 tomatoes)

4 cups ground onions (7 large)

4 cups ground cabbage (1 medium head)

1-1/2 cups ground sweet red peppers (6 peppers)

1/2 cup pickling salt 6 cups sugar

4 cups cider vinegar

2 cups water

2 tablespoons mustard seed

1 tablespoon celery seed

1-1/2 teaspoons turmeric

In bowl combine vegetables and pickling salt; let stand overnight. Thoroughly rinse and drain. Combine remaining ingredients; pour over vegetables. Bring to boil; boil gently 5 minutes. Ladle into hot jars; leave 1/2 inch head space. Adjust lids. Process in boiling water bath (half pints or pints) 15 minutes. Makes 9 pints.

CHOWCHOW

This was one of my dad’s favorites. It turns a nice yellow hue, and looks lovely on a divided relish tray. Think Christmas and put up a dozen jars if your harvest is overflowing.

3 large onions

5 green tomatoes, stem ends removed

6 green peppers

2 cups green beans cut in 1/2 inch pieces

2 cups cauliflower broken into small buds

2 cups fresh corn kernels

1/4 cup pickling salt

3 cups sugar

2 cups vinegar

1 cup water

1 tablespoon mustard seed

1-1/2 teaspoons celery seed

3/4 teaspoon turmeric

Using course blade of food grinder, grind onions, tomatoes, and green peppers. In large bowl combine ground vegetables, beans, cauliflower, and corn. Sprinkle with pickling salt; let stand overnight. Rinse and drain. Combine sugar, vinegar, mustard seed, celery seed, turmeric, and 1 cup water; pour over vegetables. Bring to boiling; boil gently 5 minutes. Ladle into hot jars, leaving 1/2 inch head space. Adjust lids. Process in boiling water bath (pints) 15 minutes. Makes about 6 pints.

ZUCCHINI-VEGETABLE COMBO

Save some summer goodness for winter, and save on the food budget too. You can’t buy a side dish this good, or this pretty.

2 pounds unpeeled zucchini, sliced

2 pounds tomatoes, peeled, stem ends and cores removed, and cut up

1 cup chopped onion

1 cup chopped green pepper

1/2 teaspoon canning salt per jar

In 4 to 6 quart kettle or Dutch oven, combine zucchini, tomatoes, onion, green pepper, and 2-1/2 cups water. Bring to boiling; boil 2 to 3 minutes. Pack hot vegetables into hot pint jars, leaving 1/2 inch head space. Add 1/2 teaspoon salt per pint. Cover with boiling vegetable liquid, leaving 1/2 inch head space. Adjust lids. Process in pressure canner at 10 pounds (pints or quarts) 40 minutes. Makes 8 pints.

SUGARLESS ZUCCHINI BREAD

Folks who need to cut their sugar intake often feel left out. Good smells waft from the oven, but they can’t share. They can have a slice or two of this moist, delicious loaf with no guilt at all.

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

2 large eggs

1 1/4 cups SPLENDAŽ No Calorie Sweetener, Granulated

1/3 cup salad oil

1/2 cup mashed banana or unsweetened applesauce

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup shredded zucchini

1/2 cup chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly spray an 8- x 4-inch loaf pan with vegetable cooking spray. Combine flour, baking powder, soda, salt and cinnamon; set aside. Beat eggs and SPLENDAŽ Granulated Sweetener on medium speed with an electric mixer for 5 minutes. Add oil, banana or applesauce and vanilla; beat at medium speed 1 minute or until blended. Add flour mixture; beat at low speed just until blended. Stir in zucchini and nuts. Put batter into prepared pan. Bake 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.



Thought for the Week: No matter how rough things get, keep on keeping on. As Winston Churchill said, “If you are going through hell, keep going.” What he didn’t add, though he could have, is that if you stop, you’ll just stay there.

COUNRY COUSIN

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