Friday, October 31, 2008
Happy Halloween!
Thursday, October 30, 2008
If I were a lizard...
Quite frankly, I think more people should take the time to do a little lizard watching. Maybe they would appreciate God's work just a little bit more.
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
What's wrong with my legs?
Monday, October 27, 2008
Little Pitchers...
Saturday night in the kitchen at my mother's house, I was busy doing something at the sink and listening to my son-in-law proudly talking about how my youngest granddaughter (7) told him the other night how she would be able to read the book he was reading by the end of the year. He's currently working on a 500+page book of the writings of Edgar Allan Poe. Apparently, her teacher had told the class that by the end of this year, they would be able to read anything their parents could read.
Well, the book I am currently reading was laying on the bar. It is the autobiography of Saul Hudson, or "Slash" for those of you familiar with Guns N Roses (my daughter had a huge crush on Slash when she was a teen so I wanted to read the book). I was busily slicing bell peppers and onions and heard the Peanut say "what's this word?" and my SIL answered "weed". Apparently she pointed to another word and I heard him say "bust". "weed bust". I whipped around and realized the Peanut had the book "Slash" open in front of her and she was intently trying to read it. Holy Smokes! I've read enough of the book to be thankful that she wasn't pointing to a four letter word that begins with "f", and I don't mean food.
I quickly said, "Peanut, let me find you a better book to read" and went running down the hall to my father's closet that also serves as a library. I came back with The Adventures of Peter Rabbit and The Complete Tales and Poems of Winnie-the-Pooh. We went and sat on the couch and she started reading Peter Rabbit to me.
Did you know that in something like the third paragraph of that story the momma rabbit is warning the kiddy rabbits not to go into a certain garden because their daddy did and had an "accident" and is being baked in a pie?!? Damn! I didn't remember that AT ALL! I don't want my little Peanut reading about traumatized little rabbits whose dad was eaten in a pie!
About that time, Dad said supper was ready so we put the book down. Thank goodness for small favors, huh?
I can just hear the little Peanut in class today asking her teacher, "What is a weed bust? I was reading my Grandy's book this weekend..."
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Photography at 50
Friday, October 24, 2008
Super Scribbler
I've been tagged for this award by MrsH, who authors Mrs. H. At Large. I must say this is quite an honor. Unfortunately, most of the people I would choose to tag have already been tagged, so I'm going to have to change the rules a bit.
1. Cardinallady. Our resident reporter blogger. Cardinallady is a writer by profession and you can tell it on her blog. Her posts are heartfelt and sometimes invoke memories I haven't thought of in years.
2. tgtank. I've never met her, but I feel like she's an old friend. Her blog, Tanks Getaway, is filled with her thoughts and feelings and pictures of her beautiful girls.
- Each Superior Scribbler must in turn pass The Award on to 5 most-deserving Bloggy Friends.
- Each Superior Scribbler must link to the author & the name of the blog from whom he/she has received The Award.
- Each Superior Scribbler must display The Award on his/her blog, and link to This Post, which explains The Award.
- Each Blogger who wins The Superior Scribbler Award must visit this post and add his/her name to the Mr. Linky List. That way, we'll be able to keep up-to-date on everyone who receives This Prestigious Honor!
- Each Superior Scribbler must post these rules on his/her blog.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
An OH SH!T Moment?
Gracie just can't quite bring herself to like Scooter, although she is much more tolerant of her than she was when she moved in with us. But when Scooter jumped up on to Gracie's "spot", she didn't like it very much. Since Scooter can't hear ANYTHING, no amount of growling or hissing gets the point across that she isn't welcome. And, bless her heart, Scooter wasn't trying to start any trouble, she was just jumping up there to say Hi! to Gracie. Not good.
I loved the picture because it captured the very second before Gracie hissed and flew off her perch to her chair, where she settled down and stared at me like 'WHY DID YOU LET THAT CREATURE INTO OUR HOME" and 'I'M NOT HAPPY WITH YOU AT THE MOMENT". See the look?
Confederate Rose
I believe they got their original cuttings of this plant from Big Sis in the UAE (well, the cuttings didn't come from the UAE, but from Crystal Springs when she was living there).
ANYWAY, I decided this morning to post a few of the pics so that Big Sis could see them. She'll be home in a few weeks and I'm SOO EXCITED! I can't wait to see her. But Big Sis, until you get home, here's a couple more of the shots I took of the confederate rose.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
The Great Pumpkin likes Cats
Ok, I know I'm a little heavy, but please keep in mind this shirt is HUGE so it's not all me under the scary face.
They were just so precious, I couldn't resist!
This is my favorite of my snuggle-buddies.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
I want to be...
Yep, Gracie has it made. 24/7 food and water. Comfy places to lounge. A human to hold her and stroke her when she wants it, but not when she doesn't.
Yessiree. I'd trade places with her today. Wonder if she could get my desk cleaned off?
Monday, October 20, 2008
The Frog Farm
One of the highlights of my visit to the Crystal Springs Fall Flower Show Saturday, in addition to seeing several MRBA, was finding a little booth marked Frog Farm. There was a really nice lady there that handed me a card describing "Frog Farm Collection"
"Finely sculptured by hand one at a time, each piece is a true work of art and one of lasting delight. But art is a very personal thing, so, at the Frog Farm Studio/Garden, we make many colors and three sizes available for your specific taste. That way, every folk art sulpture is an original piece created for you. For a look, come to: The Frog Farm Sculpture Garden, where frogs, other amphibians, birds, and reptiles frolic. Located in: Historic Harriston, 186 Old Highway 61, 2.5 miles off Highway 61 South, Harriston, MS 601-786-6448"
She also had a photo album of this place and there were some really cool extra large sculptures of frogs, snakes, birds, etc. I think it would be worth a road trip some day.
This little bugger caught my eye and I had to have it:
I think he looks really cute sitting amongst some bird sculptures I have (and right next to the oil lamp I bought from Watercolor's father at Chimneyville last year)
I love frogs, but don't actually "collect" them, although I do have friends occasionally give me frog things. This is just a piece of frog art that I found cute and I wanted it. It'll be a reminder of a beautiful day when I got to meet new friends and enjoy this incredible weather.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
WHA?
Friday, October 17, 2008
Night Visitor
When I first moved to this little house in the country, I adopted an outdoor stray cat, which meant I was leaving food outside, while continuing to feed my kids indoors.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
oops!
Instead of taking my usual left on to DG road, something told me to proceed down LPG road to M road, then on to the highway. So, I did. Shortly after crossing DG road, I see what appears to be a horse approaching me FAST. My window kept fogging up so I was fighting with wipers and the defroster when I realized there was NO ONE ON THE HORSE!!
I knew that I had to alert someone that there was a horse running wild because this time of morning, there are school buses everywhere and all kinds of cars speeding to work. Actually, there shouldn't be a horse running wild ANY time of the day, but that's not the issue. Someone had to be told.
I had slowed WAY down for fear it would run out in front of me, then I see two huge bucket trucks approaching. I started frantically blinking my lights till I saw them slowing down. They had seen the animal. I grabbed my phone out of my purse, flipped it open and hit the "S" to get to the Sheriff's department number I had stored.
Now, I must digress a moment. This particular phone used to be my lil sis'. My phone died one weekend when I was up in Attala county with her and she had a spare since my BIL had just bought her an iphone. I put my sims card in it and I had a new phone. The thing is, it has all of her numbers stored in the phone memory. Adding my sims card meant that there are a whole bunch of duplicate numbers and entries. Oh well... I'll get around to deleting them some day.
So...I have hit the "S" and see the entry for "Sheriff" and hit the button. Keep in mind that I'm now driving very slowly down a country road, trying to look in my rear view mirror to make sure the galloping horse hasn't caused a school bus to crash.
RING RING RING
Lady: Sheriff's department
Me: I'm on LPG road between DG and M and there is a horse galloping down the road.
Lady: What county are you in?
Me: uh Hinds
Lady: WHAT county are you in?
Me: HINDS!
Lady: *chuckle* Honey, you've called the Attala County jail.
Me: I'm sorry!
I hung up and said some bad words. Then, instead of trying to once again locate the "S" and figure out MY Sheriff entry, I just called 911. I got a very nice dispatcher who immediately recognized the road names I was giving out and said me calling was absolutely the right thing to do.
Needless to say, it's time to clean some numbers out of my phone.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
49 and Grounded
I have expressed my feelings for the MRBA (Marshall Ramsey Bloggerholics Anonymous) on more than one occasion, and now have a new reason. The MRBA kept my Mom from having a heart attack. Well, maybe not literally, but here's what happened...
I told the blog early in the day that me and friend were going to see the BHC movie that evening. I NEVER go to the movies so that, in itself, was unusual. Then, right before logging off for the day, I posted "Well, folks, it's off to the movies for me. TTFN!"
DWTS begins, and after a couple of dances, I haven't called Mom. She gets concerned. After four dances, she's really worried and she tries to call me. No answer. Of course my phone is on silent because I'm at the MOVIES. Then she calls lil sis in a panic because I haven't called, and am not answering my phone (because it's on SILENT). Lil sis tries to call and of course doesn't get me because MY PHONE IS ON SILENT BECAUSE I'M AT THE MOVIE.
So then, lil sis has enough sense to think "she would have told the blog where she was heading. Let me check the blog!" Eureka! So, she logs on and sees my last entry. Knowing that I NEVER go to the movies, she knew I wouldn't be flippant about a comment like that and assumed it was real. But, she still posted a request for confirmation (at this point she had not gone back early enough in the day to see my affirmative comment about which movie I was actually going to).
Thank goodness Bellasera responded and confirmed I was, in fact, going to the movies. So...lil sis calls Mom and tells her where I am which comforts her somewhat.
ANYWAY...I came out of the movie and had missed calls from both lil sis and Mom & Dad and knew I had some splainin to do! I called lil sis first and was given the Readers Digest version of You are In So Much Trouble, then I called Mom & Dad. I explained what had happened and after Mom finished letting me know that I had scared her half to death, she happily proceeded to give me a recap of the whole show (including scores since she keeps notes). All was well.
I called lil sis back and she laughingly said "So, are you grounded?"
I'm 49 years old. My life includes watching DWTS on Monday night on the phone with my parents. People I've never met know my whereabouts when my own family does not. Funny? Hell yes!
Once again I'm thankful for the MRBA because we keep up with each other to the extent that when my parents couldn't find me someone knew where I was.
Oh, and for the record, the movie was great! Not like anything I had ever seen. Good story, good cinematography. I give it a large bag!
Mom is looking forward to meeting some of the MRBA in Crystal Springs this weekend at the Fall Show. Should be interesting. She is fully expecting I will get a scolding for not having let her know I would be out of pocket Monday night. Lil sis is gleefully awating the comments about me being my age but still in trouble for not checking in.
Oh well...at least I got the Senior Citizens discount at the movie!
TTFN!
Saturday, October 11, 2008
What the HECK??
Suddenly, I see I have what appears to be a yellow jacket flying around the light I'm sitting next to. I'm pretty much the type to hate killing insects, but a stinging wasp in my home is fair game. So, I picked up my Audubon Field Guide to North American Birds that sits beside me and whacked the crap out of it and it fell to the floor.
I continued writing, and a short time later, I saw that, apparently, I had not killed it, because it was up flying around again. DAMN! It finally landed again on the wall near me and I hit it again. This time with more force. THEN I realized that I had, in fact, an already dead yellow jacket on the floor. So, this HAD to be a second one. WTH?? Where are they coming from??
By this time, Scooter, my little blessed deafasapost kittie, is facinated by mommy banging a book on the wall (and then the floor when it wouldn't die) and decides to investigate. I hear a BZZZZ and Scooter makes an EXTREMELY hasty exit from the room and out the cat door. I managed to kill another one and it landed in my extremely campy camel ashtray that Big Sis in the UAE sent me (see pic if I manage to upload it). There is now another flying around inside my colorfully painted lamp shade (another pic if I manage to load it).
WTH??? Where are they coming from?? Why do I suddenly have four or five yellow jackets in my house at 6 o'clock in the morning?? Or any time?? Is there a nest in the wall and they are coming out of the face plate?? I know it's not flush with the wall, but I didn't see them come out, WTH??? I just don't know
Well, Scooter just came back in and is licking her left front paw and I think it looks a little swollen. Bless her heart.
I don't know what's going on and how they are getting in, but I hope it stops!!!
Um is contagious
I also observed that not too long in to the interview, the woman who, at the beginning, was extremely well spoken, started doing it. Not as bad but she started using "um" more and more as the interview went on.
THEN, the NPR commentator doing the interview started doing it! Before long, the whole thing is:
NPR: blah blah, um blah um blah blah um blah?
Man: blah um blah um blah blah um
Woman: blah blah blah blah um blah
WTF???
My conclusion is that "um" is contagious and is the reason for our economy's downfall.
As I sit here now writing this (I was writing on a notepad, now I'm typing), I had sort of tuned out the TV. I thought I was through writing and started watching a bit of the Wall Street Journal Report and I SAW it happen!! Radio is one thing. You are HEARING it. This time, I SAW it! The discussion had something to do with education and school vouchers and the Commentator, Maria something or other was interviewing the Governor of somewhere (Roy Romer?) and a Michelle Rey (?). The Guv is doing fine then Michelle starts adding "um" and "uh" more and more, then the Guv caught it, THEN, by the time they got to the last question, the Commentator was doing it! "Blah blah um, uh, blah uh, blah?
I'm telling you. It's contagious!!!