Can a Canner Can? :D

How many cans can a canner can, if a canner can can cans?
A canner can can as many cans as a canner can, if a canner can can cans.

I think my anonymous tongue twister creator has said it all...Tonight I was called upon to help with a very important mission....To help Can peaches!!! You see, one of my lovely aunts is a canner. Yup, that's right. A canner. And she believed in her heart of hearts that I could help her...Me with no experience at all. I think I was to be laughed upon at first, cause I'll admit, I was slow and horrible! But before the end up the night, she gave me the reward of naming me the Champion of Peels!!! :D

Now as I understand it, peeling is just the beginner's level. But trust...it was no easy task. When I walked over to my desinated station, I had a chose between a potato peeler (I think that's what it's called) and a knife...Which one do you think I chose?

THE PEELER!!! And of course my aunt gave me this look, and asked if it was peeling ok...HA! I felt like I chose the wrong tool to do the job...Like it was a trick and I fell right for it. lol

Of course my sweet aunt will never trick me. Oh, and as for my peeler, I think it went from the story of the wrong tool for the job to that sword in the stone that only that little boy could get out! Oh yeah!!! I tell ya, it feels good to do something new with a loved one. To participate in a passion of someone else....awesome! And the best part of all, she is making me a peach cobbler and some cookies one day soon! Gotta love it!!!

To give you guys a little more insight on what all we did, after we peeled them, we'd put them in a big tub of hot/warm water....She would cut them in quarters or halves and pit them....She then cut off all the unwanted parts (like if it was too ripe on one end) and pack them into a jar....From what I saw, she added something from a bottle by the name of C Crystals. She told me what it was, I know it starts with an a...definately not acrylic, lol...I have a bad memory. But anyway, then she added hot water and lightly closed the bottle.

Ya'll...She had these two big pots, and put like 6 jars in at one time. And we're not talking about little jars either. She let the boil for 15 minutes, then took them out to cool. That's it.

But hey! Don't take my word for it. I'm still a ever growing newbie. I hope that more popele will invite me in to their hobbies... If you want to learn how to can the proper way, cause I'm sure my description was vague, go to your local library or bookstore. I'm sure someone will be willing to help!

Until then, here's a litlte poem about canning....

Come on down to the little brick house
And grab a can or two
Of the best tasting fruit in all the town
Treat your taste buds to something fresh and new
And try to not let the juice stain your shirt
As you leave behind your trace
And please try not to make the school boys sad
When they see your juicy face!!!

Much love and hugs!!
NaturalnSassy

Do You Understand The Words That Are Coming Out of My Mouth?!?!

So I'm at the park, the new hip and cool place where only the VIP's go...called kids. LOL.

Anyway, I'm sitting at the bench rewriting the poem I posted on paper to make it readable for tomorrow night. My kids have made their daily playground friends, so they're off having fun. It was pretty nice today, little chilly, but the atmosphere was great. Leaves falling on our heads from giant unknown trees; insects are swarming of all kinds so you don't slip and think that the park belongs to you....Perfect.

When all of a sudden, this little girl in a pretty green shirt with two puff balls on the top of her crown, comes up to me and smiles...She stands there for a few seconds and quietly and smiles at me. She looks as if she wants to ask me something. I smile back, thinking maybe she wants some candy or ask me if the two crazy ones are my kids...

Then as if she knew that I knew everything there is to know...she sweetly asks, "Where is my mommy?"

I am shocked. Thrown off my game. I know my face must have been puzzled as I try to explain to her that I did not even know who her mommy was...She was convinced when I tried to reassure her that if she couldn't find her now, she would a little later, cause surely she'd be back.

This experience is just one of the few I get to have by being around kids...A boy named Bailey came up to me shortly after and said with his little arms to his sides, making the expression of exasperation, "I go to the park every day...EVERY...SINGLE....DAY!!!" I could do nothing but laugh! I asked him if he liked going everyday, and he just replied, "I guess so, Daddy makes us." With his mission complete, he and my son ran off to play once again.

By having two natural comedians of my own, I get to be shocked everyday..LOL. From comments made in foreign restaurants (this one happened to be in a Japanese one) and my son yelling at the top of his lungs with so much excitement it scared you, "MA!!! THAT WOMAN IS CHINESE!!! WHAT DO CHINESE SPEAK? SPANISH?" To my daughter's ever so funny bet yet shockingly real, "Mommy...the food is nasty. I don't like it...I really just don't like it...Will you eat it?"

Kids are always open to share with adults what is exactly on their minds. I challenge you to take a break from your busy lives to listen. They don't look and try to pick who they are saying it to either...They just say it to whomever is listening. So if you're like me, around other people's kids sometimes, don't shoo them away. Don't try to make it seem as if what they say is not important, cause to them, it means the world.

And if you show that you are in the least bit surprised that they said what they said, they'll look at you like Chris Rock did to I think Jackie Chan when he yelled, "Do You Hear The Words That Are Coming Out of My Mouth?!?!"

Classic :D LOL
As always, Much love and hugs
NaturalnSassy

Today's Journey

Our journey begins before we even wake up in the morning....Did you know that?! We have already been destined to move, work, play, whatever God wants you to do...Today, my journey sent me on a quest for a computer part, being blessed with a job interview, being mommy in between the time, and choir practice.

I must say that I love choir practice. It's like when you wake up on Christmas morning and you're just so excited with a little curiousity that you're shaking in your bones....I must say, today, after a wonderful interview, I was exceedningly excited!!!

Our choir director was already having the choir sing to its fullest before I walked in the door...Just by reaching the doorstep, you knew you were in for a treat. We sing hard, we sing loud, we sing soft, but most importantly, we have woven together a knit family of friends that come to minister God's word.

As I state in my all about me area, I'm not where I should be at all within my own faith. But it's groups like this that lift me up to where I need to be. They remind me why I should always fight the battle of right and wrong. Because there are souls out there watching, and determining if they should hop on our train...Yet, if I show that its not worth the effort, they may miss a blessing. And in turn, I miss my own through being someone else's blessing. It brings my spirit such awe, that a unworthy sinner like me could have such an effect!

In November of this year, Elder Powell & Powerful Praise will be celebrating our anniversary!!! In 2010 we're adding ministry to our name, so we thus will be called Elder Powell & the Powerful Praise Ministry. We will be singing at more churches, spreading the gospel. If you live in the North Carolina region, I challenge you to set an appointment. You won't be disappointed. Just email me and I'll deliver your request to the right person.

As always Much love and hugs!!!
NaturalnSassy

Quote of the Week

A little inspiration for the day....

Have you ever felt alone? Yet you were surrounded by family or friends? Has television become a sort of pacifier to null the incompetent feeling of happiness that doesn't seem to be doing a great job of visiting your life? There are times in my life, when the world seems to be happily laughing at my failures...When I think God may have gotten a little to busy to get back around to me. You see...I don't need a doctor to be diagnosed with depression. Honestly speaking, most of my family is depressed.

The other day I was sitting at my computer thinking of how it seemed like everything I touched failed. I couldn't seem to keep a job,not that I'm lazy or don't want one. Family members swear that I could be raising my kids better...My play kept being changed and I had to do rewrite after rewrite. I got stuck with no inspiration for my poetry...and on top of that, I started a blog that no one visits....I truly felt alone. The whole day I lied on my bed, hurting. Headaches, backaches... You name it. I hated myself for being who I was, and for the fact that it seemed like my blessing would never come. Like my life would never get any better.

Until I went on Facebook and wrote a simple status..."Depression has been hurting me all day. Didn't plan on feeling like this today. Maybe tomorrow will be better."

I got replies like within the next few minutes. And each one said to pray....I stopped and thought about it...The whole day I had neglected the thought. I thought my constant prayers throughout the earlier days, and the practice of fasting was more so getting on God's nerves than anything. I was blessed with an interview, but was denied of the job. I was down ya'll. I thought maybe I over prayed so I intentionally didn't think about God the whole day...You know. But when I read those replies, I immediately start to cry...And I prayed my heart out to God...sitting at the computer with tears, snot, everything. And you know...After I prayed, I felt this huge burden lifted. I know a lot of people say that. But honestly, the back pain was gone, the crank in my neck was gone, and most importantly I didn't feel alone.

I opened up my bible, and just decided to read, and here's what inspired me....
"You know, don't you, that I'm the One who emptied your pantries and cleaned out your cupboards, Who left you hungry and standing in the bread lines? But you never got hungry for me. You continued to ignore me" God's decree...

Yes, and I'm the One who stopped the rains three months short of harvest. I'd make it rain on one village but not on another-and that one would dry up. People would stagger from village to village crazed for water and never quenching their thirst. But you never got thirsty for me. You ignored me" God's Decree

After reading those words, I could feel my spirit saying, Why have you chosen to ignore him so long? Then I vowed to never ignore him again.

I want each of you out there, my non existing audience lol, to never think that God has forgotten you. He is just waiting to answer the door to enter in your heart. He loves you dearly, and will never leave you. Don't chose to be alone. Don't ignore Him.

As always, Much love and hugs!
NaturalnSassy

Blogger Blues

Being this new word...,Blogger, has definately had it's ups and downs. Posting my feelings and inner thoughts is wonderful. Not being able to post pictures/videos/etc. I think has hindered my process. I think I get this feeling of lonliness everytime I visit my blog. No new followers, no visits that I can tell of. Is the world not interested in what I have to say? Do I not have enough to say? I don't know. And in the process of me not knowing, I am discouraged to continue. However, even if this blog is meant for my eyes only, I am grateful to have the opportunity for myself. If my eyes are the only ones to scan the words that have become so familiar that I coud recite them without directly looking at the screen...so be it. I'm not afraid of being critisized by others. I'm only afraid of failure. Failure to be true to myself, even when it hurts, even with there is not one person in the audience to give encouragement. Oh well....It continues!

The Deka Arm: A soldier's "Luke" Arm

In the beginning, there was a wooden peg for a leg and a hook that the arm took. I cannot be so sure this is entirely true, but that is what my first experience of prosthetic limbs were. I remember well, how Caption Hook was defeated by Peter Pan and how he was eaten by that 'gator. - NaturalnSassy

But that was my view, here is a little history and things to know about Prosthetics:

Prosthetics can be taken back in history as far as 1295-664 BC, when limbs were made out of iron and wood for injured soldiers. Soon inventors realized that iron was too heavy. Thus, a wise man by the name of James Potts patented his leg, known as the Anglessy Leg. In 1839, a replica of this invention traveled to the United states when a Confederate soldier of the Civil War, by the name of J.E.Hanger, became the first amputee in the US. He later founded one of the largest artificial limb factories for a period of time.

For all those curious about the four types of artificial limbs there are as followed:

Transtibial Prosthesis - an artificial leg that replaces the limb below the knee

Transfemoral Prosthesis- an artificial leg that replaces the limb above the knee

Transradial Prosthesis - an artificial arm that replaces the limb below the elbow

Transhumeral Prosthesis - an artificial arm that replaces the limb above the elbow

Over the years there were many upgrades to the world of prosthetics. Scientist and inventors have produced limbs that can better assist in daily activities. Some of these inventions have even come close to the actual limb that has been replaced. But let's jump to 9/20/2009.

I admit, I had just eaten, watched most of the last part of the Steelers game (which they lost), and took a nap. As my son raved about how his football team supposidly won, I started waking from my groggyness. I soon found myself coming back into the room with the TV, and a show I seldom ever watch, called 60 mintues, is on. What caught my attention was not the man with the very monotoned voice, but that of a man in a military uniform. So I got curious. The man spoke of an artificial arm that has been in the making for our nations injured soldiers. At the very least, I was moved. With so many tales of roadside bombing, I knew the numbers of soldiers that actually made it back home included a good amount of amputees. Now I am no expert on prosthetics or soldiers with amputations. I just thought that this would be a great topic to share. And no I am not trying to discredit any other organization that have been working on a similar project.

The DEKA Arm

This is a new invention that will require up to $100 million dollars to do all that is needed to assist our injured troops. A military personnel on the broadcast stated that the military spares no expense in training {fighting} and saving lives, then why should we put a price on a soldier that was injured while willing to give his life for his country. Definately not ver batim...but you guys get the picture.

The leading or head Honcho of this study is Dr. Geoffrey Ling, a neurologist and U.S. Army Colonel. He has put a lot of hard work and dedication into his work. Please feel free to do some research on this man, cause again, I was half sleep.

Now, as soon as I watched the show I got on the net and did a little googling of my own. I found out that as you walk onto the floor of this building, a statue of Terminator is standing with one arm missing, which as been replaced by the Deka Arm. They mean business. Some people call this invention "The Luke Arm" from the Star Wars Movie/Show. I'm stil not sure why they gave it this name being that I don't really watch Star Wars. However, technology has gotten so advanced that things such as small motors, linthium batteries, wiring, and more are capable of being squeezed together to make this arm so special.

An average prosthetic will give a person three degrees of mobility. It is usually heavy and very uncomfortable after a period of time. Compared to the human arm's movility of twenty two abilities, that's cutting back a lot of a person's to do list. The Deka Arm, however, has eighteen of these abilities. Isn't that great! On the sixty minutes broadcast, they showed a man using the arm to pick up a grape. There was a pause and an in your head cheering silence, and relief and satisfaction when the task was completed without squishing the grape. This is caused by what they call a tractor. To my understanding, it's sort of like a vibration device. It lets the user know the pressure that the hand is being told to use. Oh yeah, did I tell you that one of the developers demonstrated his hand detached from his body but only attached with those wires and circular tape thingys. He explained that a bundle of nerves still existed where the amputation takes place. By attaching his equipment to the nerves on the skin, he was able to move his arm by just thinking of it. He explained it like, he just pictured in his brain what he wanted to do, and moved his amputated arm to the position he wanted it moved in, and just by it being hooked by wires, this arm that was laid in his lap did all the hand postions. Amazing!

In this interview, there was also a man with robotic legs. And according to the online article, there is a wireless version of these inventions already in the making!
You can check this out for yourself at:
www.cbs.com/60minutes and type Deka Arm in the search query
or read the article at
www.andywendt.wordpress.com/2009/04/17/the-deka-arm-the-real-bionic-limb/

As always....Much love and hugs!!

Quote of the Day

"Harry: I tell you, it is not me you are looking at, Not me you are grinning at, not me your confidential looks Incriminate, but that other person, if person, You thought I was: let your necrophily Feed upon that carcase..."
T.S.Elliot, Family Reunion

This quote comes from a book that I am currently reading entitled, "Invisible Man" by Ralph Ellis.

Incriminate - accuse or charge with
Necrophily (Necrophilia) - the state of having sexual desires of a carcase
(Necrophilic) - a person who sleeps with the dead

When I first read that, I felt it was so deep, and personal. And I take nothing from that book or quote at all, because truly it is awesome and fits right into the plot of the story.

However, after going to a popular restaurant in my city, and seeing old classmates I haven't seen in years, I felt like Harry. There was not a shortage of supply of hugs, or old sentiments. It's just, I confess, not one person in the place could say they really knew me. They knew my name, loved my new look, but searched for words to say or only thought about approaching me. I am known as the "too quiet girl." And even that night as my body was there waiting for a food order, my mind was far from that restaurant. I didn't mind going threw the motions of showing somewhat renewed acquaintanceship, or even half heartedly smiling at the creepiest stares of a local drunk. I accepted their memories of the goody two shoed, very intelligent, always got my head in a book girl, that I never was. Just as those who looked at the body that they thought Harry was, they had no clue that it wasn't me. Yet they seemed to cling to their preconceived assumptions. "Oh you're that very smart girl that graduated with honors!" or my favorite, "I never thought you would grow up, have sex, and have kids...you were too innocent." The one person who does know me, could only tell you that this was farther from the truth.

I would've done much better in school if I tried. Yes, I graduated with honors, but that was not my main goal. And the idea that I would never grow up and do things that others my age did, is just ludacris. But people take what little they know about someone and make it seem like they had a close relationship with that person. I can only feel the laughter inside Harry, as he said those words and thought of how they clung and seem to have been in love with the thought of knowing a carcase that was long ago discarded...Or was never even his.

I went home and sat and thought about my quiet life. Remembering that it wasn't that I didn't want to talk, or was too afraid to fit it, but because of an upbringing of being forgotten. Three of my oldest sisters never really took the time to talk to me, only ordered me to get out of the way. My mother always worked two jobs that I can remember and was never emotionally there. And my father, in an easier explaination, had other interest. Therefore, when I finally got along with my sibling closest in age, we both had our own love of solitude. We both grew up in a full house with lots of neices and nephews added later, but honestly, we were never fully with our family. I can't say that my sister didn't have close friends in school and wasn't outgoing.

Unlike me, I think she connected with the people of her class. I, on the other hand, was not accepted. Wasn't white, but definately didn't grow up in the hood, and to this day I still don't know the names or locations of half of the 'projects' in this city. I couldn't relate, and didn't care to. And no it's not that I'm mean, or am hard to get along with. I would've rather a conversation about something I knew about. The crazy stares I got when they realized that I didn't relate to the hood or that I didn't know the latest pop song sung by a white girl, didn't help. It somewhat hurts now to realize that I never had a close friend, other than my sister. I sometimes envy her close relationships with other people and especially men in her college life, that I never got the chance to experience. I am grateful that today, I can admit, that I do have one friend that seems to understand me. And I will always have my best sistah friend. LoL.

Though not a man, I am just like the title of the book I am currently reading. Except mine would say, "Invisible Woman." Invisible to my family, friends, classmates, and by standers who think I must be complicated or a crazy baby mamma cause I have kids. Of course outsiders never seem to think that maybe it's the baby's daddy is insane, but that's another blog. No one see's me. The main character of my story thrives in being invisible. He couldn't be happier. I feel the exact oppisite sitting here at this desk. Knowing that my carcase is all people see and love.

Much love and hugs!

Me..and Finding a Good Man....

So yesterday I get this text from a guy I met in a club.....Kid you not, this is how it reads....

"How is your booty doing"

I sat there, and just thought and thought about how I ended up in this predicament. Casually texting back, "My booty is fresh cause it's clean, and it sits very well...Thank you...How (and I should've put where) is your mind?"

See for one this is my first ever blog, and if you don't want to hear about what I go through or advice I get, you're in the wrong place. Hit the BACK button and try it again... cause I have yet to figure out how to write one.. Anywho.

I tend to attract the wrong guys and I don't know how...Either they're addicted to weed, stronger drugs, alcohol, stay in Jail, no job and never looking for one, already married or got a girlfriend and casually keeps that info to themselves, abusive, old men looking for sex, or just really really old men that's somebody's granddaddy that I went to school with, and only one time a too pretty for me pretty boy.
Don't ask me why or how I seem to attract these type of folks...I don't think I even own any or a lot of provocative clothing. I never leave my house unless I am with the kids, searching for jobs, or have some sort of meeting or family outing. So how? I don't know...Maybe it's because 97% of the small town I grew up in and currently reside in, do not know me, so they think I'm new. And recently I've started the processes of growing locs, and some men seem to just love them a little too much on me.

Whatever the case, I found myself with men who didn't even like me, don't know me, won't ever text unless they want sex (sad that they don't even call), or some who swear their undying love for me, but I have learned to categorize them as just older boys, and not men. Yet, I seemed to settle cause in my mind I think, well all men aren't perfect, and hey, at least I won't be alone.

So I went to my second best friend (Kevie). My two best friends will probably be the common source of my blogs. Out of frustration, I half-heartedly said, "You know, I know why some women become homosexual...Either the men are not good for them at all, or they're taken....Getting a good man is hard." Ok, well that's the gist, may not be word for word.

Him being the good friend said..."Well (my name), you will never find a good man. Cause they don't exist."

Now you talking about a knife going through my heart.....boy that hurt.

But he later explained that a relationship is like the heart. Men are the veins and arteries that transport the blood, but they are very weak without the pump. Women....We are the pump. So it's how we first introduce ourselves, and pump the heart to get the man going. He is now strong, and IF he is a good man he will adjust to the rhythm. However, if the heart introduces sadness, the veins and arteries will pump it and the body will be filled with it. If it is filled with lust or the promiscuity, the veins will accept, and thus the body (relationship) will be filled.

Now trust, men do have issues, just like the veins and arteries can be clotted, therefore hurting or killing the body. That's my point of view added.

What he said was very enlighting, which led me to see that the art of finding a good man is vain. Over the years, I have accepted or passed off sexual advances or other craziness, to avoid being single. I admit, that I don't have it all together myself, and my short comings portray themselves in my relationships. For example, my fear of speaking or just being in front of a crowd, has sometimes kept me from saying something to my partner, and just going witht he flow....Which now I know, that flow always like a river, flows downstream.

Women, therefore I encourage you to bring to your heart, and pump only what you are willing to accept and live with for the rest of your life. Stop, like me, not knowing what you want, or settling for less than what you would want your own daughter to settle for.
I am no expert on advice, just like Dr. Phil is not a doctor. However I think sharing life's experiences, and knowledge from others might just reach that one person out of a billion. Trust. I will continue to work on myself. And yes, that dude who sent the text will not hear from me again, and all the other men in my life who bring nothing but want the world, will be introduced to the new blood I've given myself, and the host (relationship) will pass away.

If this blog sucked....Oh well.. I'm sorry you've wasted your time...Maybe next time I'll write about something you like. Any suggestions would be appreciated! As always...Much love and hugs!