Such a deal, eh? I gather IDAs were inserted into the 1996 Ending Welfare As We Know It Act. If this is the way the fedgov “ends” welfare, the welfare state is in no danger. Except, of course, from its own excesses.<\/p>\n
—–<\/p>\n
August’s deadlines brought me a first. For the first time, I had more art than writing work to do. Substantially more: eight pet portraits or illustrations, only two articles.<\/p>\n
One of my New Years resolutions was to do more artwork. But I’ve done nothing to bring this about, other than putting the thought (and the occasional picture) out there. I don’t mean to go all woo-woo on you, but I can’t count the number of times in my life that something has come to me just because I set an intention in my mind.<\/p>\n
—–<\/p>\n
Remember last spring when you guys helped me identify the purpose of an enormous, ugly patch of cheap wood I found in the middle of what I hoped<\/i> was going to be a beautiful century-old wood floor? (Part I<\/a> and Part II<\/a> of that little adventure)<\/p>\n Well, seems I’m not the only one. But this lucky devil (a reader of this blog) also found the faux-Persian linoleum rug<\/a> that was designed to cover such a spot when he tore into his old farmhouse floor this week. I want one of those!<\/i><\/p>\n He writes about it with charm, too.<\/p>\n —–<\/p>\n More firsts. I made the first meal from my gift Highland steer. It’s also the first clay pot meal I’ve ever made (Romertopf, thrift store, $3, never used; a steal). This is how it looks after the chuck roast’s been cooking over a bed of vegetables soaked in red wine for an hour and a half. <\/p>\n Okay. So it’s not pretty. But I think it’s going to be good.<\/p>\n The bed veggies cook to mush and later get smooshed into gravy. After taking that picture, I added the eatin’ vegetables — carrots and baby red potatoes. The whole kaboodle will cook for another hour.<\/p>\n As I write this, it’s Thursday evening before dinner (I’ll be posting Friday a.m. courtesy of the miracle of pre-scheduling) and I don’t yet know how it will turn out. I’ll let ya know.<\/p>\n Yeah, with the potatoes it’s not exactly a primal<\/a> dinner. But then, primal is a nutrition plan, not a religion.<\/p>\n Although come to think of it, most people practice their religions about as faithfully as they practice their diets. And vice versa. So what the heck. <\/p>\n —–<\/p>\n It was delicious. And the chuck roast was falling-apart tender.<\/p>\n![\"Chuck](\"https:\/\/www.backwoodshome.com\/blogs\/ClaireWolfe\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/ChuckRoastinClayPot_0911.jpg\" "\\"ChuckRoastinClayPot_0911\\"")
<\/a><\/p>\n
![\"Chuck](\"https:\/\/www.backwoodshome.com\/blogs\/ClaireWolfe\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/09\/ChuckRoastwVeggies-Done_0911.jpg\" "\\"ChuckRoastwVeggies-Done_0911\\"")
<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"