<thanks to all for any advice>

After a long hair pulling session, figured out the 16F876 starts with the A/D running. I wanted digital out Pin 22 (RB1). This is turned off by command 'ADCON1=7' line.

Working code below to save someone else fustration:

' Ricky V
' 28 March 2005
' Blink Program
' MCU PIC16F876
' Rev 56,098,345

DEFINE OSC 4

ADCON1=7 'disable analogue to digital converter
TRISB = 0 'set all pins on Port B to outputs
LED VAR PORTB.1 'Sets which PIN the LED is on, Pin 22 +5V

loop:
High LED ' Turn on LED connected to PORTB.1 as Set in VAR LED
Pause 500 ' Delay for .5 seconds
Low LED ' Turn off LED connected to PORTB.1 as Set in VAR LED
Pause 500 ' Delay for .5 seconds
Goto loop ' Go back to loop and blink LED forever

End
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-==-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-==-