The rain continues here…daily. We had a couple periods yesterday of some heavy showers. It’s beginning to stand in the pastures some which isn’t real good on the cows. They have areas though to get out of the standing water.

It won’t stand long in normal situations, but in wet times such as these, there’s just nowhere for it to go. A couple dry, sunny days and it’ll be outta here. Next week the rain chances drop off considerably.

It really affects us in the business we’re in, which is paving. We also do sealcoating, lot striping, etc., but with the rain chances being so high like they are now, well, it’s better to sit it out instead of pushing our luck. Better safe than sorry.

The garden is taking a hit as well. Man, those little guys are beginning to suffer pretty heavily from a too much water standpoint. In times like these I’m wondering why in the heck didn’t I just bed em up…just in case? LOL!

Anyway…

My purpose with the post today is quite simple.

As a lot of you guys know, Judi and Brian, of “The Canada Free Press” had asked Deb and I about doin this site…Ridin Out the Recession. We agreed.

This started, I believe, at the end of Jan. of 2011. We talked about recipes, food storage, canning, tough economic times, and things she and I had done in this regard.

Well, the two of us both liked (okay LOVED) to talk, tell tales, jerk a chain or two, and even go back to “the day” of when we were growing up and we loved sharing some of those memories with you guys.

Through this, Deb had commented to me on numerous occasions of the enjoyment this site had brought to her. She used to tell me that because of the site, she had stopped, looked back, and relived things in her past that literally brought a smile to her face, and I now know, put one into her heart as well.

This became Deb’s motto… “Keep a smile on your face, and one in your heart!”

We were so blessed to have been involved in such an endeavor because it was something we worked on…together.

If you look back at some of our posts in the beginning, you’ll see very quickly that we not only loved pickin at others, but THRIVED at the opportunity to…pick at each other! Laughin at ourselves was almost, but not quite as good as laughin at someone else! LOL!

We were…in our environment!

Then, April 1, 2011, our lives changed…forever…

Anyway, Deb and I had started, actually pretty much had completed about 80% of a cookbook. We were literally on the verge of publishing it, but somewhere along the line, during her ordeal, it came to have little importance…to me mostly.

Deb became the center of my universe. Her happiness and wellbeing became THE priority in my life. Nothing else mattered.

Looking back now, right here this morning, I’d not have done it any other way.

My point is this…

SO MANY of you guys became our friends! Many, part of our extended family.

This whole thing has been pretty tough. Finally, I’m beginning to get my feet back on the ground, and focus is becoming a part of my life once more.

A couple weeks back, the thought came to me to “suck it up” and finish this book. BUT, by doing so, it too would help me heal. The reasoning is simple.

Its chock full of the very things that she and I were enjoying so much….always did.

Cooking obviously is one of these, BUT, laughing is the main reason. I started looking back, rereading this dern thing and there it was… a “smile on my face, and one in my heart!”

She still blesses me, to this day! That little heifer!

Then I got to thinking on it some. It was gonna be something to do with Dub and Deb as the title, but then it hit me, that’s not what it REALLY ought to be about…Dub and Deb.

You guys had supported us, prayed for us, worried about us, and believe it or not, had literally CARRIED us through some very, very, difficult times. I’ve said this how many times now? I’m sure some of you may be getting tired of hearin it, BUT…it’s fact!

So, it dawned on me this needs to be titled, “Deb and Friends.”

It needs to be about her, and the friends she came to know and love, and she did…she loved every one of you guys!

Again, the book is all but finished, but I got to thinkin (which is dangerous in most cases), that if you would like to participate in this, we’d love for you to!

For those who’d like, if you guys would send in just a couple recipes, I’d be thrilled for you to do so, and I know, without a doubt, my better half would too! They’d be put in her book, and very much appreciated.

For those who don’t, it’s no biggie. I understand how busy you can get in today’s world. It is not a problem in the least, as I said, we’ve got recipes in it already runnin out our ears. Some of these would be “scrapped for now,” and any recipes you send would go in their place.

If you feel moved to share any of your recipes, just e-mail them to us at dubanddebs@gmail.com. Once more, let me thank you in advance.

Let me take a couple other moments to share a part of Deb’s dream.

She also has put together a book she wanted to share as well. It is her story of her fight against the cancer she had.

It’s not preaching to you in any way, but only sharing her battle. Her ups and HER downs. The difference God made in her life, and HIS help in the decisions she made in regards to her treatments.

Most know the outcome in the end, but it was more than that. It was her drive, her will to beat it, her quality of life that she lived, and she lived it to the fullest! It also was about the blessings she received from God, and in the end, she received the greatest possible blessing he could have given her…eternal life!

It tore me up when she passed, and it still does, yet I’ve come to understand how selfish of me this was. SHE IS at God’s side. I could ask for no greater gift for her than this.

Anyway, one day I’ll put that out for her as well. The time for me to finish that one up isn’t now. I’m not sure I could do it to the best of my ability, and I won’t do it any other way. I need a little more time.

BUT, Deb had a dream, and I’ll share just a part of that dream with you today.

She loved our place here rurally. We’d lived on a lake not far from here prior to our purchasing this land and building our home. We loved our neighbors and still do, yet Deb stated to me on several, actually a lot of times, of how blessed she was for God to have given us the opportunity to live here.

Although she loved our neighbors at the lake, she said she could not have dealt with her cancer there. She needed times to be alone, and here, she had that.

She’d take walks, look at the beauty of God’s creation, hear the birds singing, even watching the plants and trees grow off, and how lovely nature was. During some of these walks she’d tell me that she’d, “hit a knee,” and talk with God.

She explained this could happen anywhere, and she had the peace and solitude to “hit her knees” basically anywhere or anytime she felt the urge. She talked of God blessing her through our place, and how much it did to keep her spirits high.

So, Deb envisioned something here on the place. Something for her to share with others, to try to give back part of the blessing she’d received.

She explained that the day of her diagnosis was the toughest day she’d ever imagined. We found out her cancer was terminal, and that in the end…it would get her. It was devastating.

But here was Deb, going through this, but worrying about others. She wanted to help them, best she could, after their own diagnosis. She wanted to start something here on her place…

She wanted to build two cabins. Not large, maybe 1 bedroom, a bath, kitchen area and sitting room combined. Through this, others could get away from the “rat race,” and enjoy 2-3 days of quiet. A place to gather their thoughts and possibly leave here with…a game plan.

Free of charge.

She wanted a place where others could come and share the same peace and solitude she’d had, here…on her place. If they’d like, they could work around the garden with her, and even juice with her if they were interested.

They could talk about God, and HIS importance in your life, and to be honest, that’s exactly where she told me she’d gotten this idea of a couple cabins…FROM GOD!

I promised my wife during her last couple of days that even though she wouldn’t be here to physically see her dream, I WOULD SEE that this happened…her cabins. Her dream would come to pass, and…IT WILL. I promised her it would.

So, with her cookbook, I’ll see that half the proceeds, if there are any, will be put into an account strictly for her dream. If there aren’t, I’ll still see her cabins become reality, though it may take a little longer.

I just thought I’d share a part of Deb’s vision with you guys today. She was truly a good Christian woman, who’s heart was the biggest part of her. She was, and is, loved by all who knew her!

I want you all to have a great day, and God Bless! Be sure…to keep a smile on your face, and one in your heart!

Doug “Dub” Bronson

How bout today, we talk about blind dates. You guys remember them right? Yeah, me too. I don’t know about the rest of ya’ll, but my experience had never been too good in regards to a…blind date. But, at my age you pretty much take what you can get.

Last week I went out on my first date that had been set up by a couple I’ve known for years. They too went along. You know how it works, they took me over to pick this lady up at her home, introduced me to my date and…her seeing-eye dog, “Ray C.”

Yep, here I am goin out on a “blind date” and the woman I’m goin out with WAS…literally blind!

As soon as I could, I cornered my buddy and exclaimed, “For God’s sake man…the woman’s BLIND!”

He quietly said, “Dub, it’s okay, she’s as nice as they come.” I’m like, “Well, that’s all fine and good, but she cain’t see a lick!”

My buddy, by then becoming a little aggravated with me, says, “Look Dub, I know she’s blind, but great day buddy, ya looked in the mirror lately? I mean ya ain’t Brad Pitt, my friend! You’re older than dirt to boot! I mean the options my wife and I had of even FINDIN somebody to go out with you were very limited to say the least! Now just take ole Helen Keller over there and have a nice time, okay?”

Friends…aren’t they great?

Well, after dinner they went back by their house, dropped my date and I off at my vehicle, and I got to take her back to her home.

Well, I got her home, walked her to the door and was asked if I’d like to come in, talk and have a cup of coffee. I felt it the right thing to do and replied that it would be fine.

Honestly, this woman was very nice and I kinda got to enjoyin myself. After 30 minutes or so I asked if she liked to play cards and she said that yes she did, so I went out to the truck and as luck had it…I had a deck of cards in the console.

I asked when I went back in if she’d ever played 5 card draw and she said that no she hadn’t, but if I’d teach her, she’d play. I’m like…okay.

So I explained that when I normally played we’d have a fifty dollar limit, and she agreed to this. So after I explained the rules ,hee-hee-hee, and we’d played a couple “practice hands,” we got down to business.

In my entire life I’d never seen anyone with such luck. It was incredible, the hands just kept fallin her way. I couldn’t believe it.

I mean we’d play the hand, then call and lay out our cards. I’d tell her after each hand the results, and that she’d won, AGAIN!

Well, if you know me at all, you know I’m a pretty conservative guy, though most use the term…tightwad.

Anyway, with the price of gas today, along with I’d bought everyone’s dinner earlier, and with what I was losin to this lady, my evening was becoming very, very costly, very, very, quickly, and it was obvious that her luck…was NOT goin to change.

Then…the light-bulb came on.

I was out a couple hundred at least, and the losses were adding up quickly by now. All I could hear in my head was…Ka-ching, Ka-ching!

Honestly, I kinda hate to admit it, but really, ya do what ya got to do, and the reality that she couldn’t see a lick became too appealing for me to overlook any longer, so…I started lyin!

The next hand, after playing it out, we once again laid our cards on the table. Once more, the dern woman throws down a fullhouse! Well, I’m sittin there with two pair.

She asks, “Hey Dub, did I win again?”

I replied, “No Ma’am, I’ve got three of a kind and you just have a pair of Jacks. Boy, it’s about time my luck changed! PHEW!!”

Well, this continued for the rest of the night, with my letting her win one out of every four or five hands, just enough to keep her interested! Plus the hands she’d win I’d fold or call before the pot started growin too large.

Well, by the time we threw in the towel, I’d paid for my gas, dinner, and was about three hundred and forty five in the black. Not a bad night’s work, huh?

I honestly can’t say that I was too proud of myself, but if you look at my wording I just stated that I wasn’t TOO proud of myself, and not at all, NOT proud of myself! LOL!

Well, none of this actually took place of course, but I was thinkin this past weekend that something like this would be bout par for the course in my regard.

Datin at 56, sure doesn’t have the appeal that it did when I was 26, or, at least it doesn’t seem too.

I don’t know nothin about nothin when it comes to datin anymore, and that thought in itself is kinda uncomfortable. Then there’s the “time frame” equation. When is it time to even start datin again? I mean, I’d never even considered this…didn’t think I’d ever have to??

Deb and my life together was not always “peaches and cream,” but it was filled with love and respect for each other. What I experienced in our regard was absolute, total conviction of two people being in love. It was wonderful.

Then the wheels came off so to speak…I was lost.

Now though, my heart is healing, my life is pretty much back together again, and in all honesty, life is good! Time, I can see already, is a great healer, and I gotta say I truly believe my Deb has and is, a major part of this…she told me would be, and once more, her word was her bond!

I still love her, and that will never change, but I’m beginning to understand life does go on, and I know in my heart she wants, even expects, me to be happy.

THAT, brings us to the set of 38 year old twins down the street a couple miles…with 38 not only being their age, but also their IQ’s. So at the moment…I’m very, very happy!! God IS great, isn’t he?? LOL!

In truth though, our God is a great and a very loving God, and he has blessed me in so many different ways throughout my life.

How I could ever be deserving of the blessings he has bestowed on me through the years is totally unfathomable. So I guess what I’m saying at this point is simply this. You have a problem? Trust in God, he’ll see you through…thick or thin!

I hope each and every one of you guys have a great day, a great week, and a great life. So many of you walked with Deb and I through her ordeal…right alongside of us. I’m forever indebted to you all for you love, concern and prayers…they meant so very, very much to both of us.

One chapter of my life has closed, yet another lies ahead. I now am ready for this one to begin…wish me luck!

God Bless you guys, and remember always…to “Keep a smile on your face, and one in your heart!”

Dub AND Deb

Today, I’d like to take the time and share a few thoughts with you guys, and pass along some very sincere thank you’s to some of the great friends Deb and I have met since the inception of this site.

Our reasoning for the thank you’s is simple. Today, April 1, 2012, is our anniversary of Deb’s one year fight with cancer. Yep, 12 months ago today, our whole world was turned upside down by three words… “you have cancer.”

We were then told it was Stage 4 breast cancer, that it had moved to another spot as well, below her tracheal tube. It was terminal…there is no cure. The best we could hope for was 8-9 months without treatment, and MAYBE 4-5 years with treatment, IF they could get it into remission.

Well, you know that Deb took one chemo treatment, and opted for no more. She decided upon the alternative treatments that she’s been doin ever since. These things have been amazing to us both. She feels great, looks great, and in all honesty, is great!

BUT, let me say this, without the Good Lord’s help, everything we do, or have done, would be for naught. Through his grace, our fight continues. I promise you all, he’s walking with Deb daily!

Put your faith in God, don’t accept no as an alternative, BELIEVE that what treatment you decide on IS working, stay positive, keep a good support group around, exercise, and “DON’T SWEAT THE LITTLE THINGS!”

Cancer is a word my friends, not a sentence. Deb read this in one of the books she’s read, and it has played a very crucial role in her fight. She’s something!

Also, I’d like to say that in reality, this past year has been a blessing to us both. It has shown us that life is not to be taken for granted. It’s shown us that all our time together is literally a blessing, and to enjoy it to the very best of our ability.

It’s shown us that God, IS love, and he alone has the power and authority to right all wrongs. If you’ll only listen, he WILL show you the way.

So, in all honesty, what a great year we’ve had. I’m ecstatic over this one year anniversary, and Deb and I will be sharing many more. You guys have no idea what important roles you’ve played too. This post today is merely expressing our thanks to you all!

First, I have to thank Judi and Brian of the Canadian Free Press. Because of those two, you’ve had to listen to me run my mouth for over a year now. If you’d like their e-mail address to voice your concern over having to tolerate me so often, I’m sure I can find it. I believe it would fall under the title of…cruel and unusual punishment! LOL!

Judi, first off, is simply one fantastic lady. She has been so much help to Deb and I, and we are grateful to her for all her kindness, concern, and prayers on our behalf.

She is the Editor of the CFP, and a dern workaholic! Because of Judi, and Brian, their publication is a light in the darkness in regards to helping to keep us, the US citizens, aware of the political agenda we’re faced with in our Country today.

Yes, they are in Canada, but their publication’s banner declares… “Without America, there is no free world.” This banner, and its proclamation, was indeed what caught my eye, and convinced me that I really needed to visit their site on an ongoing basis.

They tell it like it is, and don’t pull any shots in doing so. A fact is a fact, and they take no qualms about putting it out there in their own attempt to wake OUR Country up. Political correctness be damned!

Brian, quoting from the CFP itself, “Brian is the Web/IT guy, SEO and Marketing Manager, Graphics Editor and Research Assistant for Canada Free Press.” On top of Brian’s abilities to be a very important part of the CFP’s success, he too is one great person.

These two are as nice as the day is long, and not unlike other media outlets, are on call 24-7. If news is breaking, they’re on top of it.

Poor Brian is the one who has suffered the most in our dealings. I am a simple guy. I live simply, love simply, and as far as relationships with other people, I follow a simple rule in that regard as well…your word IS your bond. If you break your word with me, I’m through with you.

Your word really is all you have, and if your word means nothing to you, then I don’t need to be around you. Now, how simple is that?

Brian is a technological wizard, while ole Dub, yours truly, is a technological dinosaur, again, just a simple man. Talking about a clash of ideologies??? Brian didn’t know what hit him, when we started our site. I knew NOTHING about any of this computer mumbo jumbo, and Brian would try and work me through it.

He has, and still suffers from my ignorance of this new age of technological communication. At one point he suggested my log in name as…imadummee! Ha-ha-ha…good one Brian. **!$$##*!^^#! No my friend, that outburst WAS NOT directed at you, I stubbed my toe on a towel layin in the floor…by my desk…at this dern computer! LOL!

All joking aside, they’re great people, great patriots, great friends, and great to be associated with! Deb and I love them both! Thanks guys, for everything!

Then we move on to you guys. What a support group you all have been in Deb’s regard in her fight with this cancer. I swear, I don’t know if we could have done it without you guys! To take upon yourselves the burden of putting total strangers into your own hearts, lives, and prayers has been mind boggling to Deb and I.

What an outpouring of love and comraderie we’ve experienced from you all. I have to say that you have shown us the true meaning of goodness and the extent of goodness that people share with each other in tough times. ..from the heart.

We could never, ever, possibly thank you guys enough, although we thank you anyway. HOW important have you guys been? Deb has told me on numerous occasions that she can FEEL your prayers. Honestly. So again, thank you all, and know that you are in our prayers as well!

So, ole Deb and I are off to church this morning to give thanks for such a wonderful blessing he’s bestowed upon us, among all the others he blesses us with. Today is special to us, and thank you all once more, for your own roles in this day!

God Bless, and remember to keep a smile on your face, and one in your heart!

Dub and Deb

You’re probably sick of hearing me ask it, but I swear I don’t know where the day goes anymore? The weeks are just rolling by. Shoot, it seems like Christmas wasn’t that far back, and you might as well say its April already.

Maybe it’s just me?…yeah, right! I KNOW I’m not THE ONLY person out there, “getting old,” or maybe I should say, getting older? Sounds better doesn’t it? Almost………nice, huh? Well it ain’t! But you know who you are, so just face it…we’re getting old. Ain’t that right JC?

JC’s a buddy of mine, and a great guy too! I met him while we were going to different schools together. Actually, we DID go to the same school, it’s just that we were like on…different schedules.

His schedule had him AT school, every day of the week, ALL day! Ya believe that??? ALL day, EVERY weekday, the man was IN school! I know, I know, it’s hard for me to believe too…and I WAS there! I saw it! LOL!

I was more like, hmmm…let’s see, what’s today…Monday? You know, I think I just might take a ride out to Rock Springs, which is a State Park that has a large spring flowing out of the ground and is the origin of the Rock Springs River. So it boiled down to school…or Rock Springs? In my eyes, back in “the day,” this was literally a no-brainer! LOL!

Anyway, I’ve know this guy for years and years, not only him, but his entire family. I’ll always remember his Dad, Harry Haskell, hollerin for his son, JC, to, “Hit em a lick,” back when we played football. I mean you could hear his Dad over everybody, “Hit em lick, JC!”

You know, they have PA systems announcing the game, but when Jeff’s Dad went to hollerin, I swear…the man WAS the PA system! Once he yelled out from the stands…it got quiet for a moment or two.
People were like, “WHAT was that?” Then somebody would speak up that had been to the Apopka High school football games before and heard Harry Haskell yell, and they’d say, “Aw, it’s nothing, sit back down and watch the game! It’s just JC’s Dad!”

His Mom and Dad, shoot, when I was over there, they WERE, my Mom and Dad. Same with his brother and sister, Ronnie and Tina, also.

In reality, we were really, just family. Well, cept for JC, he was always like family too, but more like, a Cuzin. Naw, not like your Mom and Dad’s brothers and sisters kids, but something a lot farther removed, kinda like great, great, great, great….great, great, great…great uncle…or aunt’s children!

JC’s one fantastic guy, and I’m just pickin at him this morning. Growin older and thinkin back on “the good times, with friends.”

I remember my Grannie Margaret, Granddaddy, and Nannie Murphy, bless em all. I can only fantasize of them coming back through the door, or goin out to their house and spending the weekend, or Granddaddy taking me down to the camp with him for the week.

Me and him in my eyes we were equals. God I loved that man, and there’s no question that he cherished me…I was the first-born grandson, and that man was proud of that fact.

So there was so much bond or love between us, that it literally exuded out of him at times, so that in itself, to me, was almost as if…we were just buddies…equals! Just being around Granddaddy were some of my most enjoyable times in my whole life. Plus…he taught me to work.

Nannie Murphy, God rest her soul, loved me just as much, but no more, or no less than any of her other children and grandchildren.

She never had a driver’s license, yet worked her entire life as a nurse, and raised 5 children, right by herself. How’d she get back and forth? She walked.

4 of the children were hers, and one she raised on account of the child’s bad home life. Nannie took her in, and raised her as one of her own! That was how Nannie was.

Nannie, till her dying day, NEVER once called and didn’t ask, “Son, are you warm? Do you have enough underwear and socks? Have you got plenty to eat?” Then, after I assured her that I was fine, we’d talk about any other thing that happened into our minds.

Grannie Margaret, for some reason, I was always tryin to aggravate her, and in many cases was successful in my attempt! She was Granddaddy’s wife, and it seems Granddaddy had taken it upon himself to teach me a few things. One of which was…how to cuss!

I have to say that evidently I’d learned how pretty well, because from the time I was 3-4 years old, man, I could sling em out at ya! I guess I talked so dirty around Grannie was that, simply…Granddaddy wouldn’t let her whip me! LOL! I had…a free pass out at their place!

Grannie told me several times that while I was out at their place she’d be in the kitchen cooking supper. Their living room sat kinda catty-cornered from the kitchen, and although she couldn’t see me physically, she COULD, hear me in there just cussin up a storm.

Well, she said she’d gotten to the point that she figured if she just ignored me, I’d eventually…just shut up. Not me, she said. They had a rocker that if you rocked hard enough, you could bend forward in it, and see into the kitchen.

Grannie claims, and since she’s now gone I consider that all it is, is “a claim,” that I’d get that dern chair rockin as hard as I could, and when it rocked forward far enough, I’d holler out, “Sh..”
She’d be in the kitchen tryin her best to ignore me, hopin I’d get tired of her showing no response, and once again, I’d just shut-up.

She’d say at that point, I’d go to rockin even harder, all the time peerin around the corner, getting louder and louder, just a hollerin, “Sh..!” Once she finally had enough, she’d come flyin into the living room givin me “the what for!”

At that point, I’d stop. Mission accomplished. I’d… “pis… Grannie off, and it showed! Now, on to something else!

My reasoning behind sharing this with you guys today is simple. I used to dread the thought of growing older. That’s no longer the case. I cherish growing older now. It allows me the opportunity to go back in time, and relive my favorite memories.

Yes, these memories are just that…memories, but, my God, at all the wonderful people I’ve known that are no longer here, but still today, they can put a smile on my face, and because of this, I keep one in my heart as well.

I have truly been blessed, by the people our Lord saw fit to put into my life, to share those wonderful times with.

I love them all, and yes, I do miss them!

I also like the opportunity of enjoying the truly simple things in life that age, furnishes us with. I guess a word that while younger didn’t seem to be in my vocabulary ,but has become now, not just a word, but a virtue…it’s called, PATIENCE.

I look at many things today from an entirely different perspective than when I was, “still wet behind the ears!” LOL!

The beauty God put here for us to take note of. 20 years ago, I couldn’t give a hoot about the birds singing, or watching the rain roll off the roof while sitting in the porch swing during an afternoon shower.

Deb and I were in the greenhouse just this past week, and we must have spent 10 to 15 minutes watching a butterfly work. Can you imagine that at age 25? Me either! Yet, what a pleasure it is anymore to take the time and just…observe. Life truly is a wonderful gift, isn’t it? Growing older is a gift as well!

Well, that’s about all I have to say for today, and I hope possibly, it inspired a few of you guys out there to stop, smell the roses, and to give thanks to our creator for blessing us with this truly tremendous gift…the gift of life!

Oh, I almost forgot. Our good friend, Gary, asked for Aunt Ann’s Squash pickle recipe, so this is for you Mr. Gary! Along with an added bonus…her pickled okra recipe too! Enjoy, my friend!

Squash Pickles

• 2 POUNDS YELLOW OR SUMMER SQUASH
• 3 MEDIUM ONIONS
• 1/4 CUP OF SALT
• 2 CUPS WHITE VINEGAR
• 2 CUPS SUGAR
• 1 TEASPOON CELERY SEED
• 1 TEASPOON TUMERIC
• 2 TABLESPOONS MUSTARD SEED

Wash squash and slice thin. Peel onions and slice thin. Cover both with water and add salt. Let stand one to two hours. Drain

Bring vinegar, sugar and seasonings to boil and pour over vegetables. Let stand 3 to 4 minutes. Bring to a boil, stirring and boil 4 minutes.

Pour into hot sterilized jars and seal.

Aunt Ann’s Pickled Okra:
• 2 pounds tender, small, fresh okra
• 5 pods hot red pepper
• 5 cloves garlic, peeled
• 1 quart white vinegar
• 1/2 cup water
• 6 tablespoons salt
• 1 tablespoon celery seed

Wash okra and pack in 5 hot sterilized pint jars. Put one pepper pod and 1 garlic clove in each jar.

Bring remaining ingredients to boil. Pour over okra and seal. Let stand 8 weeks before using.

Serve chilled.

Note: If pepper pods are not available, use 1/4 teaspoon crushed, dried, hot red pepper for each jar.

Yield : 5 pints

We want you guys to have a great day, and God Bless! As always, my better half Deb, advises to keep a smile on your face, and one in your heart!

Dub and Deb

Deb and I have a very dear friend who lives in Mississippi. Shoot, I call her Mississippi bout half the time. Anyway, after I put up on the site that Deb had been diagnosed with cancer, the response of concern and prayers was almost overwhelming to us.

You guys showed us so much love and affection that we couldn’t believe that two people could be so blessed. You all were literally “heaven sent.” Thank you all so very much!

We also were contacted by others that had family members, friends, and even themselves who were also fighting this dreaded disease. Some of these are no longer here with us, but have gone home to meet our Lord. God Bless them.

But through our meetings and conversations with other cancer survivors, and cancer victims, we noticed something right off the bat…these people became family. Honestly, the network we’ve experienced are literally family.

It’s amazing, but it’s true. A common bond, a common fight, and a common foe.

There’s also been several of you who have become really, really close to Deb and I both. One of you is Gerry, in Canada. Another is Ken, out in Texas. What great people these guys are. Loving and caring to Deb and I both, but both lost their wives to this disease.

To Gerry and Ken…we love you guys! Thanks for everything, your support, your love, your concerns, and your prayers. They don’t make em much better than you guys! God Bless ya’ll.

Mississippi falls into this same category… “one of the best!” She contacted us and expressed her love and concern for Deb and I both as well…with a twist.

It seems Sandra had been fighting cancer since 1998. What a “tough cookie” number one, but what a gentle and caring person she has been for Deb. Deb and I talked last night a little, and she expressed to me how appreciative she was over the fact of Sandra coming into our lives.

Sandra has kinda led Deb through this process of fighting cancer, although Sandra opted for chemo treatments. She kept Deb abreast of what to look for prior to treatment, Deb took one chemo, and what to look for afterwards.

She has been a rock for Deb, and has helped to keep her up, and answers any questions Deb may have. What does the blood test mean, what veggies or fruits aid the fight, and in general, just letting Deb know that although we’ve never met personally, besides speaking on the phone, she has a friend who’s involved in the same fight…holding her hand every step of the way!

Sandra, by the way, was diagnosed, CANCER FREE, I believe this past Nov…again after having contracted this disease in 1998! Good for you Sandra, and God Bless you! GREAT NEWS!!

Sandra sent us an e-mail that she says she wrote years ago, A funny, ha-ha look at life. Pre-conception, life itself, and after-life. It also involves a message…a message that there is a God, and by trying to live life as best we can, there are rewards in our after-life.

She has a few kind words for Deb in this that she’s added at the end of her story. Thanks again Sandra.

Let’s go ahead and see what Sandra has to say…

Heaven and Earth and the Reality of it All

Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

Before Life…

There is a bureau in the before life that you have to approach before you get a soul and move onto earth into a person to those people infanticipating a first member or subsequent members into their families. It’s almost like any government bureaucracy found on earth anywhere any place.

I really don’t remember the name of the guy at the heaven .gov department, he just filled out forms. The line was very long and filled with many, many souls working toward the end and at every desk you stopped to get more paperwork. The paperwork was burdensome and heavy and you struggled through the line to get to the end so you could be born to those parents infanticipating.

At long last you were at the front of the line and met GOD. And GOD said ” give me your book of Life” I looked around and could not find such. God said what are you carrying and I said “paperwork from Heaven.” God said “Good Heavens, don’t you know that is your book of “LIFE”. No, nobody told me.

During that meeting before I was issued to the infanticipating parents, I had an in service meeting with my GOD.

My interjections in the meeting were:

“You are are kidding”

“I don’t think I can do that”

“You’ve got to be kidding me!”

“How did that get in there”

No wonder I have lived the life I have, argumentative child that I was.

And God said “NOW FOLLOW THIS BOOK OF LIFE AND ALL THAT IS IN IT. WHEN YOU RETURN TO US YOU WILL HAVE SOME REALLY BIG WINGS, BIG, BIG WINGS WITH LOTS OF BEAUTIFUL FEATHERS IN THEM”.

That’s where the feathering my wings with good deeds comes from DUB & DEB

The other part of the story not told prior to getting in the lineup in the Before life part, IS…

I personally think of The making of human beings similar to a manufacturing plant.

I personally think that my particular person was made on a Friday. You know, Friday weekend coming up, low stock on parts, hurry up and getter done so we can go home kinda thing.

1. The trunk department had a kinda little trunk but it had a moderate size butt.

They said this will do.

2. The leg department had some short legs, chunky little thighs and some calves and ankles that my Mother would die for. (My mother was into calves and ankles because when she grew up that was the best part of a woman’s body. Little did she know).

3. Going through the mammary gland department not much to choose from there. (I will tell you they could not have been too bad, because daughter has always bemoaned the fact that my gene pool did not extend to her. Have always told her when she is ready for boob job just wheel me in next to her and I will share, kinda like donating a kidney).

4. Going through the head department, only kinda small one left. They said you know this does not quite meet standards, but let’s throw in lots of hair and those great big Deer in the headlights eyes. You know those great big brown ones that are moist all the time. Every time you look at them they look like they are gonna cry. Nobody wants them. Got those.

5. Dam-med Unions. Even God has them.

6. So made it through the put together part and the orientation part and popped out on to the scene at the grand lighted stage of our favorite Infirmary with myself. The doctor said “It’s a girl” Daddy said “It’s grand, healthy baby girl”

Mama said “There must be some mistake, I wanted a boy, and it ain’t very cute”

The Post Script to this story is Mother and Aunt were great movie goers at that time and had ordered a clone Shirley Temple.

My father coming from a family of ten was a realist and took what he got. IT’S BEEN A GRAND LIFE and I have never been disappointed!

Again to you, so there. My story and sticking to it. These are my words and thoughts. Can only share them with the shrinks far, far away. Talking about Deb and her tiny body brought this up. Deb might have a tiny body but her heart and mind are as a Goliath. Ask her and she will tell you what that means.

Thinking of you and Prayers your way.

Post Script to this: Not long after writing this Sister in Law in Arizona called and we had a discussion about this and she just cracked up. She said I had grand delusions and the way she had lived her life she only expected to get trainer wings. We had such a great laugh.

Wrote this a long time ago and have been through much since. After what I went through the last year I do believe that I am not finished doing my list of good deeds. So I am going to hang around a little longer and when I am done I will have the biggest, fluffiest, sexiest white wings ever seen. Soooo big they will cover me up and I probably won’t be able to fly. Fly? Fly where?

Think I will try to entice the archangel Michael with my fluffy wings since he has been my designated guardian Angel since I was born. Catholicism really showing there.

Mississippi: Hope Deb’s apt. went well.

Deb’s appointment did go well, Sandra. Another perfect blood test!

Also, when you do get those big, beautiful wings you so long for, many of them will have come from the amount of goodness you’ve shown to Deb and I both! You have truly been a blessing. We both love you for it!

Well guys, we hope you enjoyed this today. Thank you once again for droppin in to visit with us. God Bless you and yours, and Deb says to be sure and keep a smile on your face, and one in your heart!

Dub and Deb