No more

 Dear Dems - Today's emails asking for money to help you all stand up to all the yahoos in this administration and congress  breaking laws and destroying our country while they're threatening to invade other countries pushed me as far as I can be pushed.  I am one of the "We the People" who's  concerned about more shit going on in this country than I care to list again - including MY Social Security.  Not one more penny from here. I say to you exactly what I feel like you've been saying to me - 

Fuck You.

You're the people with a ridiculously high salary along with a guaranteed retirement fund. 

 YOU DONATE.  I'm done.

I will, of course, continue writing letters, making phone calls, but the donations for individual candidates are pretty much, for now, at an end.

Tinkerbells - Day 47

 

Look for beauty.

Remember to breathe.

Gentle Reads

 

Those of us who read love the escape we achieve with our books.

Right now I'm very interested in escapes of a gentle nature.

If you're of a similar mind and need some time in a kinder, more gentle world,  I've just finished one that I heartily recommend.

Gentle, but not so twee it hurts your teeth.

I received it through NetGalley.  It will hit the shelves in August, and worth the wait.  And available for pre-ordering.

i loved this book.

Mrs Endicott’ Splendid Adventure by Rhys Bowen

Description:

Blindsided by betrayal in pre-WWII England, a woman charts a daring new course in this captivating tale of resilience, friendship, and new love by the bestselling author of The Rose Arbor and The Venice Sketchbook.

Surrey, England, 1938. After thirty devoted years of marriage, Ellie Endicott is blindsided by her husband’s appeal for divorce. It’s Ellie’s opportunity for change too. The unfaithful cad can have the house. She’s taking the Bentley. Ellie, her housekeeper Mavis, and her elderly friend Dora—each needing escape—impulsively head for parts unknown in the South of France.

With the Rhône surging beside them, they have nowhere to be and everywhere to go. Until the Bentley breaks down in the inviting fishing hamlet of Saint Benet. Here, Ellie rents an abandoned villa in the hills, makes wonderful friends among the villagers, and finds herself drawn to Nico, a handsome and enigmatic fisherman. As for unexpected destinations, the simple paradis of Saint Benet is perfect. But fates soon change when the threat of war encroaches.

Ellie’s second act in life is just beginning—and becoming an adventure she never expected.

And,

While I'm sharing gentle reads I love, let me add author Pamela Terry.

Again, gentle, but not too sweet.

Through an Open Window will be available in August.  It's also available for pre-ordering.

Description

A charming, heartfelt novel about the bonds of family, whether found or foretold, from the author of The Sweet Taste of Muscadines.

In the small Southern town of Wesleyan, Georgia, where the air smells of red clay and sea salt, Margaret Elliot has lived a seemingly charmed life—until the recent loss of her beloved husband. Since then, Margaret has been seeing visions of her aunt Edith, the indomitable woman who raised her after her parents died when she was a baby. As these mysterious and undeniable visitations continue, Margaret becomes convinced that Aunt Edith is trying to tell her something important. As she follows the clues that almost magically present themselves, it becomes clear there is a secret from Margaret’s past waiting to be uncovered.

As Margaret grapples with each new revelation, she also worries about her three grown children. Her stoic and inscrutable eldest daughter, Mouse, continues to struggle with the grief of losing her father. Her son Lawrie, always his mother’s favorite, faces life-altering changes that he both longs for and fears—while Tom, Lawrie’s twin, must wrestle with the consequences of a work decision that has blown up his entire life. Despite the tensions among the siblings as they argue about how best to support their mother, the whole family is soon embroiled in uncovering the truth the ghost of Aunt Edith is striving to expose.

Through an Open Window invites us to see the grace that is so often there in the background, just waiting to be revealed. And reminds us that not even death can keep love from winning out in the end.

While you're waiting for these, please give Ms. Terry's earlier novels a try.

Happy Reading!

Note:  Regarding review copies of books obtained for this blog. No other compensation is accepted beyond review copies of books - ever. When I do write a review, or opinion, the source of the book cited will be disclosed in the post in which the review/opinon appears. If you have questions, please feel free to contact me.

Just a few things this administration has done that I find disgusting. Some things you won't hear on Fox

I'm with Dan

How 'bout you?

Attempts at rewriting history bother you?

Are you bothered by these personal slaps and attacks?

Mean, petty, childish but dangerous.

Find them to be vile and disgusting?

And scary?

The Revenge Tour has only just begun.

 J.F.K.’s Grandson Slams File Release, and the News Media’s Reaction

In a series of social media posts, Jack Schlossberg, a frequent critic of the Trump administration, said his family was not given a “heads up” about the release

Confirmation:  https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/19/us/jack-schlossberg-jfk-files.html?smid=url-share

  * * * * *

food destined for USAID overseas stacked on docks rotting

Confirmation:  https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/usaid-inspector-fired-trump-freeze-b2696917.html

* * * * *

"After a recent change by the Trump administration, the federal government no longer explicitly prohibits contractors from having segregated restaurants, waiting rooms and drinking fountains.

The segregation clause is one of several identified in a public memo issued by the General Services Administration last month, affecting all civil federal agencies. The memo explains that it is making changes prompted by President Trump's executive order on diversity, equity and inclusion, which repealed an executive order signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1965 regarding federal contractors and nondiscrimination. The memo also addresses Trump's executive order on gender identity."

Confirmation:  https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2025/03/18/nx-s1-5326118/segregation-federal-contracts-far-regulation-trump

* * * * *

Removal of Colin Powell and all other Black service members names from the Pentagon website, and from the Arlington National Cemetery list of those interred.

Confirmation:   https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/arlington-national-cemetery-veterans/ Black service members names from the Pentagon website Using archive.org's Wayback Machine, a website that archives pages from across the web, we verified the removal of links that Task & Purpose reported. The removed links included three pages from the "Notable Graves" section, six education "themes," two pages from the "History of Arlington National Cemetery" subsection and one page from the website's "Explore" tab. Therefore, we rate this claim true.

According to Task & Purpose, cemetery officials confirmed that they "unpublished" the pages in question in compliance with a Trump administration executive order on diversity, equity and inclusion and a resulting directive from U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth "targeting race and gender-related language and policies in the military."

* * * * *

Massive purge of Pentagon websites includes content on Holocaust remembrance, sexual assault and suicide prevention

Confirmation:  https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/19/politics/pentagon-website-purge/index.html

* * * * *

 Today they took down Jackie Robinson's service record.

Confirmation:  https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/webpage-detailing-jackie-robinson-s-military-service-removed-by-pentagon-in-latest-dei-purge/ar-AA1Bflpo?ocid=BingNewsSerp

The Pentagon has defended removing a webpage about legendary baseball player and civil rights leader Jackie Robinson by proclaiming “DEI is dead.”

* * * * *

Amid ‘DEI’ purge, Pentagon removes webpage on Iwo Jima flag-raiser

Confirmation: https://www.msn.com/en-us/society-culture-and-history/social-issues/amid-dei-purge-pentagon-removes-web-page-on-iwo-jima-flag-raiser/ar-AA1B78a9

* * * * *

Confirmation:  https://www.lemonde.fr/international/article/2025/03/19/etats-unis-un-chercheur-francais-refoule-pour-avoir-exprime-une-opinion-personnelle-sur-la-politique-menee-par-l-administration-trump_6583618_3210.html?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3S9PWXQpRWnwgyl_4JvYs76MZcHhH6KHqAYm1wgROs6cuLqdeKQZ30_ds_aem_2rZQ-KuBIvXvNWVR082fZw

* * * * *

Germany updates US travel advice after citizens detained

Confirmation:  https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/germany-updates-us-travel-advice-after-citizens-detained-2025-03-19/

* * * * *

The recent detention of Canadian actress and entrepreneur Jasmine Mooney by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has raised concerns among immigration attorneys regarding the increasing challenges Canadians may face when entering the United States.

Mooney, who is known for her role in American Pie Presents: The Book of Love and as co-founder of the wellness brand Holy! Water, was detained for 12 days after attempting to renew her work visa at the U.S.-Mexico border on March 3.

Confirmation:  https://www.newsweek.com/jasmine-mooney-immigration-lawyer-2046328

* * * * *

Trump to sign order to shut down Department of Education, White House says

Confirmation:  https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-sign-order-shut-down-department-education-white-house-says-2025-03-19/

* * * * *

The Trump administration has deported hundreds of migrants while refusing to reveal their identities or the evidence against them, prompting complaints from the migrants’ families and from critics who say the administration is trampling on civil liberties.

Confirmation:  https://abcnews.go.com/US/noncitizens-deported-alien-enemies-act-criminal-records-ice/story?id=119912375

* * * * *

More for your reading displeasure -

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/other/all-the-insane-and-dangerous-things-donald-trump-has-done-after-50-days-in-white-house/ar-AA1ABOFo

* * * * *

* * * * *

In the kitchen

 

Some days I just need to be in the kitchen (with Don Barley)

Today's efforts produced Quiche.

Gruyere Cheese (grated by Don Barley)

Mild Italian Sausage

Carmelized onions (sliced by Don Barley)

Little vanilla

Pinch of nutmeg

Little bit of sweet basil and paprika sprinkled on top

I played around ('cause I can't help myself) with my friend Vickie's recipe.

We haven't tasted it yet, so I hope I didn't mess it up.

I used frozen deep dish pie crust which i put in the oven for about 5 minutes at 415 degrees, then took it out to let it cool.

After cooling for awhile and turning the oven down to 350

I layered into the crust some cooked mild Italian sausage, a layer of sliced carmelized sweet onion, a layer of grated gruyere cheese (5.3 oz. block) 

I mixed 4 eggs, a cup and a half heavy whipping cream, teaspoon of vanilla extract, a pinch of nutmeg, salt and pepper and poured over my layers.

I baked the quiche at 350 degrees for about 45 minutes. 

I'm not a good "measurer" and I'm not positive about the time or temp, truth be told.  I tend to fiddle.

That said - use this recipe only as a loose guide.

Your quiche is done when the end of a knife come out clean.  It will still be jiggly, but will sit up while cooling.