Life, Liberty and The Pursuit of Happiness

President Abraham Lincoln's dedication of the Soldiers' National Cemetery in Gettysburg became the most remembered speech in America's history.  The president closed the Gettysburg Address by saying that the thousands who died there, did not gives their lives in vain.  President Lincoln said, "... this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom - and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."

In this modern age of endless campaigning and corporate lobbying, the people are no longer being represented by the politicians they elect.  We are fast becoming a government of the corporation, for the corporation, by the corporation.  The endless hemorrhaging of taxpayer money spent on corporate welfare, money that does not trickle down in America, is sucking this nation dry.  Since 1980, we have been combining tax cuts and loopholes for the wealthy with massive spending increases at the top.  Our politicians are using the taxpayers' credit card to borrow, borrow and borrow.  The deficits and borrowed money will have to be paid back with tax dollars.  In short, the very politicians who promised no tax raises, used the back door to load the largest tax burden in the free world square on the backs of America's middle class taxpayers!

In the Declaration of Independence, our founding fathers said, "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."  In this age of record corporate profiteering, the politicians are telling us that we can not afford a living wage, health care, parks, pensions, public education, libraries, Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, or even the United States Post Office.  All while we continue the insane deficit spending on massive corporate welfare programs that have impoverished our great nation.       

I am sure that Abraham Lincoln and the soldiers who died at Gettysburg are all "rolling over in their graves" as America's representative democracy perishes from this earth.  So long as our nation's political institutions are for sale, the people will not be represented and the pursuit of Life, Liberty and Happiness are in jeopardy.  As patriots, it is our duty to demand that campaign reform and lobbying laws be changed so that we are once again a nation of the people, by the people, for the people.

Scottish Shortbread

Great Grandparents Neil and Julie Gorrie

Great Grandfather's family tried immigrating to the United States, but Scotland's annual quotas were always full, so they immigrated to Nova Scotia, and finally to the United States.  Great Grandfather was a stone carver and started a successful monument company in Seattle where he specialized in carving angels and lambs.  If you visit the grave of the famous Seattle pioneer, Mr. Yesler, you can see an example of his stone carving.  Because of my Scottish heritage, I began making shortbread and experimented for some time.  These are awesome and leave the house smelling like a bit-o-heaven, so put on the coffee and enjoy!

1.  Mix 2 cups brown sugar with 6 cups flour

2.  Cut in 1.5 lb. of softened butter

3.  Add ¾  cup warm water (30 sec. in microwave),

     form into 2 balls and roll out to ½ inch thick on a lightly floured surface

4.  Cut into bars with a pizza cutter and prick with a fork

5.  Place on cookie sheets and bake in the oven for 25 min. @ 325, then bake

     overnight at lowest oven setting.

6.  Store in gallon bags with a folded paper towel.

Mugger Attempts to Steal Cookies

Cookie Mugger

I walked to the post office to mail some home made cookies.  This squirrel tried to steal them.  We had us a knock-down, drag-out fight over those cookies.  I finally gave him a big kick and he landed on the stump.  My leg's a little chewed, but I think I'll be okay.

Scottish Oatcakes - Recipe

Great Grandpa McDougle holding my mother.

My mother was a McDougle and Dad's mom a Gorrie (sept of clan Donald), so when I make these, I can really say they are Scottish Oatcakes.  This is my personal recipe, one that I adapted some time ago.  I put them in the oven at the lowest setting overnight, and by morning, the whole house smells good.  They are amazingly crunchy and flavorful, all you need do is make the coffee.

 Ingredients

6 cups oatmeal

2 cups flour

2 cups brown sugar

1 1/2 cups olive oil

1 cup water

1 ½ t. baking powder

½ t. salt

Directions

• mix all the dry ingredients together in a large bowl
• add the wet ingredients and mix well

• let stand 1 hour with a dish towel over the top

• divide the dough in half, roll out to 3/8 in. and cut into bars with a pizza cutter

• load on lightly greased cookie sheets

• bake @ 375 degrees for 15 min. then overnight on your oven's lowest setting

• store them in gallon bags with a folded paper towel inside 

Fly Rods and Rain Sticks - Story

I’m sorry, but I’m a little bummed right now.  I went to the lake to do a little fly fishing, as I pulled in the parking lot, it was full of fancy paint and shiny chrome.  Them city slickers were packing $500 fly rods and wearing them fancy store bought fishing vests.

I just shook my head and started to turn the old red truck around, then I saw my rain stick lying there on the seat.  I had myself one of those brain storms and laughed, I’d show them city folk!

Launching the boat, I rowed right into the middle of that crowd.  The hardware was flying and I thought maybe I was going to get my ears pierced.  I tied a fly on the old Medalist rod and strung out a short line, so’s I could fish one handed. 

Standing tall, waving that fly rod and my rain stick like a crazy man, I started to chant... aye... aye... aye...  The water around me opened like a giant eyeball, and there I stood chanting and catching fish.  After I’d caught about 50 fat rainbows, a bunch of them city slickers left in a big hurry. 

I sure had a laugh on them city folk.  Finally, all wore out from chanting and waving that stick around, I rowed to shore.  Near shore, I started shaking my rain stick... aye... aye... aye... and them people got out of my way.  By the time I loaded the boat, I was feeling pretty smug.

Having a joke on them city slickers was so fun that I went back the next morning.  When I pulled in the parking lot, there was a bunch of them crazy city slickers waving fly rods and rain sticks.  They was all chanting... aye... aye... aye, I just shook my head and left.  I think maybe I’m gonna give up fly fishing!

The Beautiful Carolina Coast - Poetry

Miles of waves crashing on the beautiful Carolina Coast

The cry of the gull and the wind in your hair

Then something inside you reaches out

And grabs hold of all that good stuff.

When that happens

You have the Carolina Coast in your blood

And you come back, you come back, you come back.

Imagine those early explorers in their great sailing ships

Months on the open sea, boredom, bad food, bad water and then

To step out onto those glorious Carolina beaches

And they come back, they come back, they come back.

Now all of us share the same public beaches
We leave our tracks in the sand without race, color or creed
Just a bunch of people having fun at the beach.


I can see the right of it, I can see the wrong of it

But one thing I’ll always know is

I come back, I come back, I come back

To the beautiful Carolina coast.

An Evening With Piper Reva - Music Review

Photo by Annabelle Avergne

Sometimes, life just doesn’t get any better.  Last Friday night was one of those special moments.  Washington sips and wine bar in La Conner hosted an incredible performance starring Piper Reva, and I was one of the lucky fans who packed the house.

It’s rare to find this level of entertainment up close and personal.  It’s as though Piper is singing just for you.  She takes the time to sign albums and make small talk, best of all, she makes you laugh or cry as easily as a magician pulling rabbits from a hat.

Piper’s performances are a rich buffet of original American soul food, and always fun!  You can check her schedule, buy a CD, or learn more about her by clicking on her link.  You can check out Washington sips and wine bar by clicking their link.