Armless Archer - Matt Stutzman

A friend shared this link with me and I was simply amazed.  I struggle using my hands to get some jobs done and this guy uses his feet to do everything!

Matt Stutzman is an archer, as well as many other things, and is an incredible inspiration.  I can't imagine the patience he must have.  Simply an incredible story!

Enjoy!

Rain Sound by Clapping

Loved this!  What an incredibly creative idea and I loved how they interpreted the sound of rain.

The second link is the same as above except it goes on to present the whole song done by this choir.  VERY creative and incredible to interpretation.  Perpetual Jazzile is the name of this group and the song is Africa.

Being Smart with a Smart Phone

Many people are NOT aware of how much personal information they have on their smart phones and what they are doing with that information with a simple upload of a photo.  These smart phones pose privacy risks and can even endanger your children if the information is picked up by the wrong people.

There are threats out there in technology that are real and are so advanced that the police don't even know how to keep up with the changing digital world.  With a simple photo uploaded to the Internet, a stalker can gain data from your image and then using another free-ware or soft-ware can map where the photo was taken.  They can even do a series of images and know your daily stops, donut shop, school, bedroom, church - where ever you take a photo and then post it with these tracking devices turned on.

First thing you want to do is to go to your phone "settings", locations services and then "turn off" geo settings and tracking from your camera.  Secondly, you want to set your privacy settings on social network sites to "block" or "private" to just the people you allow.  Third, many new cameras also have geo-tracking.  If you are taking photos of your children and don't want these images to be tracked, turn the tracking device off.

Simple steps to keep your family safe from unwanted predators!

Incredible Saw

This video you will have to see to believe.  This incredible technology is making it possible for a table saw, that's right, a table saw to stop on a dime.  Well, not really a dime, but how about your finger or thumb!  I am serious!

My husbands company already has these on the job-site to save an employee a finger, thumb, hand - simply incredible!

The video is amazing and almost insane.  The inventor of the device will use his own finger to stop the saw.  I am going to say this, DO NOT TRY IT AT HOME but in the mean-time, watch this amazing display of technology!

Rebuild a Jeep in under 4 minutes...

I have boys and they like Jeeps so when I saw this video I figured there were other boys out there who would like to see it too!

There are also some comments right below the video that give some information about the whole process.

Hope you enjoy Rebuild a Jeep.  Pretty cool!

How to...

So I came across some really cool videos and thought I would put them all in one place -- I may even add links here as I find them.  With all the uncertainty in the economy, some of these videos will help you save money on groceries for your family by doing-it-yourself and making your food supply more organic because you grew it!

Most people today have lost touch with the art of growing their own food, raising their own herds, sustaining their own life...these videos will bring you back to days gone by.  ENJOY!


LIST OF HOW TO VIDEOS:
Bees and Beekeeping for Honey in Your Backyard
Raising Chickens this clip is from Cincott Nursery and Market Garden (Canada)

The Minnesota Song

Being a former Minnesotan and wanting to reach out to my Minnesota friends, I felt the need to share this sweet Minnesota tune.  Knowing you ALL are enjoying this wonderful, LONG winter, feel free to sing along with the Minnesota Song!

Stay warm and don't forget to "shovel it"!

the Grocery Store - Jeanne Robertson

"Don't Send a Man to the Grocery Store!" Jeanne Robertson said.

This is an incredibly funny lady and her delivery is great.  I think I enjoy this story so much because I have a husband who is rather logical like her husband is.  I get the way the man thinks because I live here too!

Anyway, I hope you enjoy this great clip!  Now for more fun, click here to watch Jeanne’s other videos:

Don't Go Rafting With a Baptist!
Don't Bungee Jump Naked!
Men Don't Know the Style in NYC
Flight Attendant Deals With a Bad Potato

And - for those of you interested in the recipe...I have it here below! Enjoy!!

7-Up Pound Cake by Jeanne Robertson’s  

You’ll need: Flour, Sugar, Shortening, Butter or margarine, 7-up (or generic “Twist Up” like I’m using), eggs, vanilla, and a bit of lemon flavoring.

Here is a bit closer shot of the flavorings.

I usually use the cheap vanilla but if you swear by the real stuff or homemade or whatever, knock yourself out and I’ll still be happy.

You just need a little bit of the lemon lime coke so you can get one of these cute little baby cans if you like.

Place your sugar, shortening, and butter in a mixing bowl.

(1 cup butter or margarine, 1⁄2 cup shortening, 3 cups sugar)

 

Mix that up until well blended.

Add your lemon extract or flavoring or whatever it is you found in your pantry or went out and bought.

  (1-1⁄2 teaspoons lemon extract) 

Add in your vanilla.

(1-1⁄2 teaspoons vanilla extract*)

and all of your eggs.

(5 eggs)

Mix that up really well

Add in your flour.

(3 cups all-purpose flour)

and your 7-up-ish type beverage.

(7 fluid ounces 7-Up (Can use diet)

Mix all of that up.

Then you’re going to pour that into a greased and floured bundt pan.

Pour into greased & floured tube pan (Jeanne just uses Baker’s Joy to spray on her pan to make this easier).

Bake at 300 for one hour, or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Jeanne says to let it sit for thirty minutes before turning out

.

Goodness, can you smell that?

Now we need to make our glaze. Place your confectioner’s sugar in a bowl. Add a wee bit of lemon flavoring.

And a wee bit of milk. Stir that up until it looks kind of like school glue. Don’t worry, it won’t taste like glue If it is a bit thin, just add more confectioner’s sugar. I always end up making mine too thin to begin with and have to add more.

If you end up with any bad spots because you had a friend who was about to leave and you needed to turn it out sooner so you could send some with her, don’t worry about it. We’re here to eat our food, not build a shrine to it.

Enjoy your cake!

Jeanne Robertson’s 7-Up Pound Cake

• 1 cup butter or margarine
• 1⁄2 cup shortening
• 3 cups sugar
• 1-1⁄2 teaspoons lemon extract
• 1-1⁄2 teaspoons vanilla extract*
• 5 eggs
• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 7 fluid ounces 7-Up (Can use diet)

In a large bowl, place butter, shortening, and sugar. Beat until it is fluffy and well mixed. Add in lemon extract and vanilla flavoring. Add in all of the eggs and beat again until blended in.  Add in all of your flour and then seven up. Mix until smooth and creamy. Pour into greased and floured tube pan (Jeanne just uses Baker’s Joy to spray on her pan to make this easier). Bake at 300 for one hour, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Jeanne says to let it sit for thirty minutes before turning out. I let mine sit for ten because that is just what I’m used to but I’ll give thirty a try next time!

*Glaze

• 1-1/2 cups confectioner’s sugar
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 1/4 tsp lemon extract

Combine all and stir until smooth. Add more milk if too thick, more confectioner’s sugar if too thin. Pour over cooled cake.

*I added the glaze but the original recipe didn’t have it on there. If you make these to freeze, don’t glaze them first, wait til you thaw ‘em!

Now for more fun, click here to watch Jeanne’s other videos:
Don't Go Rafting With a Baptist!
Don't Bungee Jump Naked!
Men Don't Know the Style in NYC
Flight Attendant Deals With a Bad Potato

Write Me a Love Song - Michael Tiernan

Write  Me a Love Song by Michael Tiernan is a friend of one of my old friends from Minnesota.  She posted this link on her facebook wall and I listened to it and thought it was worth sharing.

She (my friend) has had a hard life due to the decisions of others in her life yet she still believes in love.  That's because she understands that all Love comes from God, because God is love.  Anyway, enjoy this song...and I pray that you live a love song and just don't have to wish that someone would just write you a love song!  And if they do write a love song, may it be for you!

Steve Martin - the Musician?

If you have never heard comedian Steve Martin play the banjo than you have been missing something special.  He is playing here with Bela Fleck and Tony Trischoka (among others) on David Letterman in 2007 a song entitled, The Crow.

Martin is not just a comedian and actor, he also is an incredible musician.  This should put a smile on your face and a skip in your step.  Very good!

On that note, I also found this incredibly funny song with Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Rangers as they perform at Merlefest in 2010.  The name of the song is Atheist Have No Songs. 

For the record, Martin was born in Waco, Texas and his family was Baptist but his upbringing found him seldom, if ever, in church. A friend who wrote an autobiography of him claims he is an Agnostic at best.  He has married twice and had a few known romances as many in Hollywood do.  An interesting, yet sad to me note, is that he has never had children.  Interesting personality, this Steve Martin.

So, You Say You Want A New Job?

Here is an incredible link that can really allow you to soar above the daily grind.  Some people think that a Sutro Tower is tall (at about 977 feet).  How about the Eiffel Tower with stands 1063 feet tall.  Don't forget the Empire State Building which is a mere 1453 feet.  The Sears Tower tops out at 1730 feet but that is nothing compared to the 1768 feet that of the Guided Towers.  This would be an iincredible job, if you are not intimidated by heights!

Andy McKee an INCREDIBLE Guitarist!

My boys have a lot of musician friends and one of the those friends mentioned he was learning a song by Andy McKee so I had to find out who he was and what was the style of his music. Well, was I surprised to find such an INCREDIBLE Guitarist!  I could listen to him all day.  Enjoy!!

Andy McKee - Drifting
Andy McKee - Ebon Coast
Andy McKee - Rylynn
Andy McKee - Shanghai
Andy McKee - For My Father
Andy McKee - Into the Ocean

Casey Jones Show

Totally random today.  How many of you remember the Casey Jones Show?  Even better, who remembers the theme song?  For those of you a bit short on memory, here is a piece of history for you!

Do you have any other favorite songs from T.V.Land?  Well, the site above will help you recall it too!  ENJOY!

America's Got Talent - Jackie Evancho

This is an incredible little girl with a HUGE voice.  This is a MUST listen to clip of Jackie Evancho on America's Got Talent show this past week.  Simply beautiful!

This was an earlier performance by Jackie Evancho on America's Got Talent back in August!  What a gift!

Teaching Baby to Sleep in Her Crib

Teaching your baby to sleep in their own crib can be quite challenging and this creative father took it to a new level.  Thought this was too funny and just had to share it.  I know for me, I think baby would be sleeping next to me, in my bed before I would do this! 

Old Man of the Mountain

After my brother shared the song with me the other day, I did my own search to find another song that I remember my father singing.  I can remember asking him to "sing" it for me and he would tire of it.  I couldn't write the words down fast enough and he was very annoyed by my continuing asking.  Who knew, these 25 years later, the I could sit down at a computer and find all the words and many versions of the song myself.  I do wish I had his voice signing it, but for now, this will have to do.

Old Man of the Mountain - Lyrics
Old Man of the Mountain - Fabulous Furry Harmonica Brothers.  This version is sung more similarly to the way my dad sang it but they don't finish the song.  This was the speed in which dad would sing it and a bit closer to the key and style that my dad sang it.  They do their own rendition and take a crazy turn in the middle of the song but it was enjoyable!
Old Man of the Mountain - Sour Mash Hug Band.  This one just puts a smile on your face.  Much more fanfare than when dad would sing it but this one has the feel I remember but again a bit faster than dad would sing it.  All-in-all it puts a smile on my face!
Old Man of the Mountain - Cab Calloway and Betty Boop 1933
Old Man of the Mountain - Big Band VooDoo Daddy.  This version is played a LOT faster than my dad used to sing it but it is close.
Old Man of the Mountain - Big Band VooDoo Daddy @ Fair.  This version is not as clear in sound as the one above but is is the same group and you can feel the band's intensity and see their expressions here.

Dog Whisperer

This is just precious!  If you have ever had puppies in the home, this guy is a MUST to have around.  Who knew there was a "Dog Whisperer"!

Only at Wal-Mart

Ok - this little clip should help you get your groove on! Watch her move and yes, this is at Wal-Mart.   ENJOY!

Home Instead Senior Care

So this woman, Mary Maxwell is a client who lives in a retirement center run by Home Instead Senior Care.  She was asked to deliver the invocation in Omaha, Nebraska at the company's 2009 Convention.

This is pretty funny in the least and well, you need to listen for yourself.

the face of Dove

If you haven't seen this transformation of the Dove model you need to.  It is a must see for all the young girls you know as well.  Really puts things into perspective.  Most of what our girls are seeing and trying to compare to just don't exist.