A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day....10-18-05...Poetry and Potpourri at the Finest

10-18-05 | JustAmy

[JustAmy]

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day

Free Republic made its debut in September, 1996, and the forum was added in early 1997.   Over 100,000 people have registered for posting privileges on Free Republic, and the forum is read daily by tens of thousands of concerned citizens and patriots from all around the country and the world.

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day was introduced on June 24, 2002. It's only a small room in JimRob's house where we can get to know one another a little better; salute and support our military and our leaders; pray for those in need; and congratulate those deserving. We strive to keep our threads entertaining, fun, and pleasing to look at, and often have guest writers contribute an essay, or a profile of another FReeper.

On Mondays please visit us to see photos of A FEW OF FR'S VETERANS AND ACTIVE MILITARY

If you have a suggestion, or an idea, or if there's a FReeper you would like to see featured, please drop one of us a note in FR mail.

We're having fun and hope you are!
~ Billie, Dutchess, DollyCali, Mama_Bear ~

Welcome To...


...at The Finest!

'Amy's Place' is more than just about poetry.
Come in, relax, and share with fellow FReepers
your thoughts about any of the things on the *Menu*.

Enjoy! :)











Graphic by St.Louie1

Liquid Courage

They idle in the tavern,
as they have many nights before,
reminiscing about good times
and doing their best to ignore
the ticking clock above the door,
the harbinger of doom in store
for the fair-haired, mustachioed
man in the polyester suit;
the guy sucking back another
cranberry juice and Absolut. "It's time to get ourselves en route
to the church, mister," his astute friend enjoins.

"One more," says the groom.

~ Eric Lammerman ~

Graphic by MamaBear

We are Amy's latest kindle
Cute and cuddly feline bindles
Found underneath the shrubs in Amy's yard

Four girl kittens and four boys kittens
Forlorn and looking like we'd lost our mittens
In the early morning rain, it wasn't hard

To trade in door warmth for outdoor cold
The boys in vests and spats were all so bold
Leaving our box to see just what would unfold

Up above us was this great big thing
Gleaming white and oh so inviting
With a wide long smile that seemed to tease and infect

Little did we know it was Amy's latest project
That lured us all to meticulously, felinely inspect
This thing that makes sounds in pretty ways that nearly sing

We girls in stripes and calico liked the lighter sounds, just because
As we padded and our steps dropped beneath our paws
While the boys pounded the deep ones on this musical sea

When Amy saw us, we thought she'd be angry
Instead she giggled and snapped a picture of "The Usual Suspects"
Though we much prefer to be called "Kittens On The Keys"

Jack Deth~ 10/04/05.

Graphic by Billie

Tangled

"Me" and my new little “sister,”
Just wanted to drop you a line,
She’s getting a little bit tangled in hers,
So I’ll try to write quickly in mine.

We’re hoping you’ll come for a visit,
We all want to see you once more,
Little “Sister” may not have met you yet,
But she’ll soon catch up on that score!

Our door will always be open,
We can have a nice cup by the fire,
Don’t forget to pack well your doohickeys,
Little curious minds will inquire!

NicknamedBob . . . . October 13, 2005

"Cats are the ultimate narcissists.
You can tell this by all the time they spend on personal grooming.
Dogs aren't like this.
A dog's idea of personal grooming is to roll in a dead fish."
~James Gorman~



Bad Penny

Many thanks for stopping by. : )

09-27-05 ~ Hall of Fame #13

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 10-17-05 Military Monday

Opinions by our own 'King of Ping' Every Thursday at the Finest The guy's good, folks!

[JustAmy]

Wish you could get a picture of Kearen sleeping in the laundry basket.

If you get a new pic, I would love to be pinged to it.

[dutchess]

Hi Amy. What a great thread today and I just LOVE the pledge with PrissyMissy!!!! What a cutie!!!

[Darksheare]

She was being cute, and I tried to get a pic of it.
The second it appeared I was up to something, she stopped and had to see what I was doing.

[dutchess]

Here's a cute kitty picture (I might have lifted it for LadyX!) Okay, back to work! ((((finest friends)))))

[LadyX]

Yep - you have animals plural all right..:)

We are down to one cat who looks very much like the one in Reply #45 by Fudd Fan, only his hair ia a bit longer.

Nearly all my cats have been rejects, drop-offs, gotta have a new home, etc...I swear in North Carolina in our house in the woods, there was a sign only homeless kitties could read that said "CAT SHELTER UP THE HILL!"

[Name=Binky - AKA Der Binkmeister - El Drapo The Magnificent (hanging on the top of the computer chair), and Lizardo da Vinci when he used to catch lizards and hide them underneath the scatter rug by my bed for a SURPRISE!!]

[JustAmy]

Three Little Kittens

Three little kittens they lost their mittens, and they began to cry,
"Oh mother dear, we sadly fear that we have lost our mittens."
"What! Lost your mittens, you naughty kittens!
Then you shall have no pie."
"Meeow, meeow, meeow, now we shall have no pie."
The three little kittens they found their mittens,
And they began to cry,
"Oh mother dear, see here, see here
For we have found our mittens."
"Put on your mittens, you silly kittens
And you shall have some pie"
"Meeow, meeow, meeow,
Now let us have some pie."
The three little kittens put on their mittens
And soon ate up the pie,
"Oh mother dear, we greatly fear
That we have soiled our mittens."
"What! soiled you mittens, you naughty kittens!"
Then they began to cry, "Meeow, meeow, meeow"
Then they began to sigh.
The three little kittens they washed their mittens
And hung them out to dry,
"Oh mother dear, do you not hear
That we have washed our mittens."
"What! washed your mittens, you are good kittens."
But I smell a rat close by,
"Meeow, meeow, meeow" we smell a rat close by...


It's great to see you whenever you have time for a visit, EsmeraldaA.

[LadyX]

"Shall we steal borrow that adorable graphic?"

All Finest graphics are up for grabs without asking - including yours..:))

[Kitty Mittens]

LOL, that's Cute! I Love it!

Hugs to Everyone! Thank you All for Brightening Up my Day. : )

[JustAmy]

I love White Chocolate and that recipe sounds wunnderful. Here is a basic chocolate cupcake recipe ...


Chocolate Cupcakes

INGREDIENTS:
1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons butter, softened
1 1/2 cups white sugar
2 eggs
3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup milk

---

DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line a muffin pan with paper or foil liners. Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cocoa and salt. Set aside.
In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well with each addition, then stir in the vanilla. Add the flour mixture alternately with the milk; beat well. Fill the muffin cups 3/4 full.
Bake for 15 to 17 minutes in the preheated oven, or until a toothpick inserted into the cake comes out clean. Frost with your favorite frosting when cool.


Happy Chocolate Cupcake Day!

[JustAmy]

Graphic by MamaBear

What’s Going Down?

This seems a curious place to meet,
I’m sure it’s someone else’s seat,
Someone who knows much more than us,
Like how to pay to ride a bus.

When handsome ducklings go to town,
They always know what’s going down.
And fledgling kitties should beware,
Or get the bill for too rude a stare.

NicknamedBob . . . . . . . January 31, 2005

[LadyX]

You might have seen this before, but it is worth another laugh..:)

How To Give A Cat A Pill:

1. Pick up cat and cradle it in the crook of your left arm as if holding a baby. Position right forefinger and thumb on either side of cat's mouth and gently apply pressure to cheeks while holding pill in right hand. As cat opens mouth, pop pill into mouth. Allow cat to close mouth and swallow.

2. Retrieve pill from floor and cat from behind sofa. Cradle cat in left arm and repeat process.
3. Retrieve cat from bedroom, and throw soggy pill away.

4. Take new pill from foil wrap, cradle cat in left arm, holding rear paws tightly with left hand. Force jaws open and push pill to back of mouth with right forefinger. Hold mouth shut for a count of ten.

5. Retrieve pill from goldfish bowl and cat from top of wardrobe. Call spouse from garden.

6. Kneel on floor with cat wedged firmly between knees, hold front and rear paws. Ignore low growls emitted by cat. Get spouse to hold head firmly with one hand while forcing wooden ruler into mouth. Drop pill down ruler and rub cat's throat vigorously.

7. Retrieve cat from curtain rail, get another pill from foil wrap. Make note to buy new ruler and repair curtains. Carefully sweep shattered figurines and vases from hearth and set to one side for gluing later.

8. Wrap cat in large towel and get spouse to lie on cat with head just visible from below armpit. Put pill in end of drinking straw, force mouth open with pencil and blow down drinking straw.

9. Check label to make sure pill not harmful to humans, drink 1 beer to take taste away. Apply Band-Aid to spouse's forearm and remove blood from carpet with cold water and soap.

10. Retrieve cat from neighbor's shed. Get another pill. Open another beer. Place cat in cupboard, and close door on it to neck, to leave head showing. Force mouth open with dessert spoon. Flick pill down throat with elastic band.

11. Fetch screwdriver from garage and put cupboard door back on hinges. Drink beer. Fetch bottle of scotch. Pour shot, drink. Apply cold compress to cheek and check records for date of last tetanus shot. Apply whiskey compress to cheek to disinfect. Toss back another shot. Throw Tee shirt away and fetch new one from bedroom.

12. Call fire department to retrieve the damn cat from across the road. Apologize to neighbor who crashed into fence while swerving to avoid cat. Take last pill from foil wrap.

13. Tie the little @#$%&*'s front paws to rear paws with garden twine and bind tightly to leg of dining table, find heavy-duty pruning gloves from shed. Push pill into mouth followed by large piece of filet steak. Be rough about it. Hold head vertically and pour 2 pints of water down throat to wash pill down.

14. Consume remainder of scotch. Get spouse to drive you to the emergency room, sit quietly while doctor stitches fingers and forearm and removes pill remnants from right eye. Call furniture shop on way home to order new table.

15. Arrange for SPCA to collect mutant cat from hell and call local pet shop to see if they have any hamsters.

How To Give A Dog A Pill:

1. Wrap it in bacon.

2. Toss in the air.

[JustAmy]

Aren't the memories of these old nursery rhymes wonderful.

I need to look for a book of nursery rhymes for Marissa. She will love them.

[JustAmy]

"Easy Baked Alaska"

Ingredients:
1 package dark chocolate fudge cake mix
1 quart Neapolitan ice cream
1 package fluffy white frosting mix or 1 can prepared frosting

Preparation Instructions:
Bake cake mix in 2 layer pans, 8 x 1 1/2 inches, as directed on package. (Freeze one layer for future use.)
Line 1 1/2 quart bowl with aluminum foil. Pack ice cream into bowl; freeze until firm. Cover baking sheet with aluminum foil. Place cake layer on baking sheet. Invert bowl with ice cream onto cake; remove bowl and foil. Freeze cake and ice cream until firm.

Just before serving, heat oven to 500 degrees. Prepare frosting mix as directed on package. Working quickly, completely cover cake and ice cream with frosting, carefully sealing it to foil on sheet.

Bake 3 to 5 minutes or until light brown. Trim foil to edge of frosting; transfer cake to serving plate. Serve immediately. 12 servings.


Cherry Baked Alaska: Substitute cherry fluff frosting mix for fluffy white frosting mix.

Lemon Baked Alaska: Substitute lemon fluff frosting mix for the fluffy white frosting mix.

Create your own delicious cake and ice cream mixtures to match the pretty pastel meringues.


Happy Alaska Day!

[luvie]

Another one of your wonderful stories, Lady. I am so glad you share your life with us like you do. We live vicariously through you! My life has been very dull compared to yours.

[JustAmy]

Thank you, Dolly.

Simone is kinda like Marissa ..... very cute but watch out!! :)

My flowers looked much better a month ago but I've quit working in the yard. Think I will wait until after the first frost so I can start over. :)

See you later.

[JustAmy]

I've been wishing for an Alaska trip and you just renewed my desire. It sounds wonderful, Maggie. I'm looking forward to MamaBear sharing Alaska with us.

[JustAmy]

Thanks, Dutchess. PapaBear took the picture and MamaBear made the graphic.

Glad that you are enjoying the thread today. I've had fun with all of my kitten graphics. :)

[JustAmy]

lol

I tried to get a picture of Simone chasing a butterfly but all I got was a picture of her in the grass.

[JustAmy]

ahhhh .... how cute.

See you later, Dutchess.

[JustAmy]

We only have 4 pets and one very active almost 6 year old.

Millie ........... 5 year old German Shepherd
LouieMax .... 18 month old yellow Lab
Dorothy ...... 1 year old goldfish
Simone ....... 4 month old feisty kitten