Sweet Annabelle

An Icy Situation

2012-01-23T16:15:00.000-05:00

It was icy out this weekend.

No one got to miss out on school because of it, and only one of us went out to enjoy it.

And one of us went out to try to remedy the situation for guests.

I'll be taking a break from blogging for a while.

Enjoy the life He's given you!

Truthful Rudeness

2012-01-20T17:05:00.001-05:00

I'm not good with houseplants, since they require watering. That is asking a little too much, I think! But every year, I drag a few plants in from the outside - those I can't stand to watch go down in the first killing frost. They might go in the greenhouse for a little while, but eventually they die a lingering and miserably slow death indoors. Where lots of folks are around to give sympathy -

"Ooohhh!" and "Ooooo-oouucchh!"

I used to keep a huge Boston fern in the right front window of our home.

If you thought I might be able to name the direction the window faces, you don't know me very well. That would be cool, though - "In the northwest facing window..."

It did cast LOTS of leaves though, due to that nagging water issue.

And I understand that one is supposed to mist an indoor fern - hahahahaha.

The Cable Guy was here one day, a few years back, and I had to move

the giant fern for him. Of course it dropped about 35,621 leaves at that immediate point. He laughed at my Oh Shoot! comment, and said that HIS wife would never put up with this sort of mess in her house.

Really! Really? Really.

Well, that big dose of truthful rudeness just sort of pointed out the obvious to me. And suddenly, I was happy to get rid of it!

That big Boston went on the Freecycle list and someone rushed over, delighted to get it for herself. What a relief!

This tiny one is much more manageable, and I haven't been sorry that it came indoors even one time! I love its verdant green-ness in contrast to the bleak outside views.

But I have been watering it.

So far, so good!

It is only January, though.

Words Change

2012-01-18T11:14:00.000-05:00

We give our boys lumps of coal in their Christmas stockings.

From clever candy makers, the lumps are made of (cheap) crispy chocolate.

lump of coal

funny stocking stuffer

lump under covers

an exciting game of boo just about to happen

lump of sugar

those crystalline, sweet squares for tea time

"take your lumps"

a common saying in a household of surging testosterone, like mine

Lumps in the gravy!

teasingly crowed by my family

Before our lives were touched by cancer, the word LUMP was an innocent one. How quickly a simple, one-syllable word can change from light to dark!

"I found a lump."

"He says there's a lump."

"The results show a lump."

There are lots of nicer, maybe easier to hear, words than lump, that tiny but mighty word no one wants to hear a doctor say, see next to a diagnostic code, or even think when it's not in reference to sugar, blankets or gravy. Medical personnel who do not wish to see their patient burst into tears might use lump in disguise: nodule, cyst, growth, mass. All words which have their own technical nuances, I'm sure, which distinguish it from lump, but still mean the same thing to most of us, who find themselves uncomfortably seated on long sheets of white paper.

I'm praying today for all those whose lives have been impacted by that word. That truth will seep into the confusion of their frightened knowing. The perfect truth of

the Name

that is infinitely greater than the tiny word,

lump.

Sparrow Post

2012-01-13T11:44:00.000-05:00

Tasha Tudor's Letters and Valentines for dolls arriving via the Sparrow Post.

From what I can understand, Ms. Tudor had the

letters going back and forth between her own dolls using this imaginary post office.

What a fun idea! It would be easy enough to make tiny, tiny letters or cards, and 'post' them

near the bird feeder for kindly birds to deliver.

Finding the letters gone, the children would certainly believe them to be on the way to

whomever they had been addressed.

But who could be posting back???

A storybook character?

A far-away grandparent?

The birds themselves?

I can imagine their excitement when they find an answering eensy letter waiting for them

by the bird feeder!

(Tolkien's Letters From Father Christmas - Tolkien writing letters from Santa to his children.)

SNOW!

2012-01-06T07:51:00.004-05:00

Come on, snow!

Last year we had enjoyed inches and inches by now.

We have a snow tradition - on the first big snow, we cast our homeschooling stacks aside, put on our Forever Lazys, and and cut paper snowflakes.

They're suspended carefully from the ceilings, all around the first floor.

It seems like the house needs some frivolous decoration, now that the Christmas things have been packed up.

SNOW!

By the way, is packing Christmas decorations away emotional for anybody else? As I box it all up, I find myself reciting ages - aloud - every year.

"Hey, Wonderful Man, you'll be 49 when I get these out again!"

snicker He's waaayyy older than me - I'll only be 46. (!)

"You'll be 20 ... you'll be 17 ... you'll be 13 when we hang your stockings again!"

How did we get this far? Where did the years go?

It really does slide by before you know it!
I hope you're savoring the goodness of whatever today He's given to you, and enjoying the sights of wherever He's brought you in your journey. It may not seem like where you are is such a great place right now, but just hold on, and before you know it, you'll be in another. Maybe looking back and thinking, "That was a nice spot, and I didn't even know it!"

*Just kidding about the Forever Lazys. But, wait a minute! It might be a nice idea! Maybe Hanky Panky Fuchsia for me, and Asleep on the Job Gray for my one and only, youngest student.

Santas For Sale

2011-12-31T12:26:00.001-05:00

A day's Get-Away can be just the thing for some holiday relief.

My Wonderful Husband and I laughed (and smooched) as we browsed row upon row of antique junk.

There were lots and LOTS of vintage Christmas decorations for sale -

so many kinds of Santas!

Isn't this an odd little Saint Nick?

Maybe it was a craft project during the 50's.

It must've been popular for us to find two of them in the same store!

(Can you see our reflection on Santa's face?)

We found Angry Santa standing on a chair near the bookshelves.

Is he so angry because he has no hands

or because his boots are made of cheap, white plastic?

I believe this Santa carries only has sticks and coal in his pack.

This one has a cheerful, kind face, but his beard falling off is a little upsetting.

It reminded me of the TeethFallingOut dream.

(No hands again - or maybe his sleeves are just sewn closed?)

Empty Eyes Santa!

He makes me wince a little. This one could star in a Holiday Horror flick.

Another bad beard and another missing hand.

Hands are so unpredictable, aren't they?

Ask any teenager.

December 26th

2011-12-26T23:36:00.001-05:00

Today was pajama day.

All Day Long

I loved it - my first true day off in weeks.

In my heart, though, today was a due date.

You know, I don't remember the due dates of my boys. I think I almost hit the actual due date for My Oldest. Maybe I missed it by one day? The others, I know I missed, since none of those man-babies seemed to want to leave the cozy womb, staying inside long enough to make me groan in anticipation,

and a little bit of misery.

But I think due dates get erased, or at least smudged, from memory when the actual, joy-filled, birth-date occurs. When no birth-day comes, the due date remains, representing all that was hoped for, all that was dreamed.

So every December 26th, I nod to myself, remembering, and again agreeing with Him that all is well.

I find myself willing those dreams into the safety of His hand once again, knowing that there is a future, and a hope,

because He promised.

The Stable Truth

2011-12-23T22:57:00.008-05:00

Merry Christmas, dear friends!

I hope you spend the next few days savoring,

and enjoying True Christmas with your loved ones, near or far.

That's my plan, too.

"In our world too, a stable once had something inside it

that was bigger than our whole world."

Queen Lucy in The Last Battle

by My Old Friend, Clive
Wouldn't it be nice to start a read-aloud time with one of the Chronicles of Narnia,
during the quiet in-between week before New Year's Eve?

The Manly Option

2011-12-22T15:04:00.000-05:00

The search for the perfect tree - a yearly challenge.

This year for the first time, I ended up in retreat to the car, leaving the men and almost-men to make the final selection.

Fat and Impossibly Tall

Thin and Just Tall Enough.

You know what they all want, right?

The MANLY option.

Back when this photo was taken, our family made a yearly trip to scour the hills of Campbell County for the Perfect Tree.

Tug Fork Tree Farm grew field after field of lovely trees,

and our task to find that Perfect One would take an (entire) afternoon.

The same discussion regarding tree shape/size occurred every year.

My Youngest is demonstrating his choice,

without compromise or any shred of embarrassment -

the Fattest and Tallest tree on the farm.

Man in training!

Shoulder Peeking

2011-12-20T13:41:00.000-05:00

I have nighttime camera issues.

Or in low-light, like indoor evening shots.

So Frustrating!

So these Christmas light shots were experimental.

Trying the many settings on the dial, in a crowd, looking for something that worked.

This didn't work, but I like the blurry dragging look anyway.

Finally, this on the SPORTS setting. Yeah!

The camera captured the glow of the lights which was what was missing from the other shots.

Later, we sat waiting for the Winter Wonderland puppet show to start in a large, outdoor auditorium. A young man with his tripod/camera was just in front and to the right. He was taking some photos of his friends, who were just to his right, as they ate funnel cake.

I know I'm not the only one who peeks over the shoulder of other photographers (hahaha) to see how their photos are turning out. Right?

So I'm peeking at this guy's review display - !!! Amazing, perfect photos in the miserable low-light of the auditorium! I was thinking of tapping his shoulder, but instead pointed the achievement to MWHusband, who I thought was

'unaware' of what was going on right next to him.

"Look at this guy's photos! HOW did he do that?"

"Didn't you hear him? He just got a new low-light lens."

Oh.

Airborne

2011-12-16T08:04:00.000-05:00

My Youngest went airborne this week!

My Dad flies this plane, sort of a wonderful hobby ...

... and he offered to take this guy up. My Middle Son wanted nothing at all to do with this sort of nonsense - "No, Thanks!" But this one, he couldn't wait.

However, on the way, he made some last minute arrangements for the distribution of his

Christmas gifts in case anything should happen to him.

And he considered the benefits of fasting.

I think he might have a love of sky, like I do.

He certainly got some great shots up there.

The amazing sunset seemed to be just for him.

First time in flight - do you remember how the night lights looked to you the first time you saw them from that high up? I guess I'm assuming everyone has been flying. It does seem that there are very few people now who've never been in a plane.

I know some who fly but won't look out the window,

though, and what sights they're missing!

I guess not looking is better than making use of that little paper bag.

Yes, and the rest of us do appreciate that. So much!

Not Just Lights

2011-12-14T07:50:00.000-05:00

It's not too late to do a zoo trip.

The lights are all strung for the Festival.

People asked us, "Why would you go during the day???

The lights don't come on until evening..."

BUT they seem to be on 24/7 - your tax $ at work.

And there are alot less people, which is very good and a little bit bad.

For viewing purposes. Of course you know what I mean.

And all the animals are still working - even in December!

Busy with shedding ...

... and snuggling ...

Did you know - you're not supposed to knock on windows at the cat house?

FYI - Just in case you visit.

... and squawking.

The flamingos get a little miffy at the sound of an empty water bottle being squeezed.

People say we look alike, My Youngest and I.

I can't find the wrinkle remover tool on this site --- Blogger? Can't you help a girl out?

That Crazy Innkeeper

2011-12-12T16:12:00.001-05:00

My Youngest, about eight years ago, busy playing with the manger scene at Christmas.

Pajamas + fire + sock feet + sticky face = a happy morning.

That I've set this nativity group out again, complete, is an amazement to me.

This is the 'play'manger scene,

not to be confused with the 'special'manger scene,

which was always placed up high, just out of the reach of my three small sons.

That glass set was only for looking and not for touching,

one of the very few items in our home to ever fit in that demanding category.

But this plastic set, this one was fine to play with, and I wanted them to,

giving me an opportunity to talk to them about that holy night, and those who were part of the story. Now my Men and Almost-Men are too old to play with the pieces, and it turns out, this set, the ok-to-play-with-set, has become the real treasure!

That angel has flown through the entire house and always returned to her place on the stable roof. Baby Jesus has been wooled over, sent down steps (His bed does look a little like a sled...), and fed at the breakfast table. Those kings, and the shepherds too, have been on special ops with GI Joes, and I think Joseph flew in Chopper 5 more than once.

Mary stayed put, always, as she apparently made a poor adventure partner for my boys.

The innkeeper, also, was not taken out to play and was regarded with mild scorn at all times.

"No room - REALLY?!? He was crazy, Mom, right?!"

It's so easy to find fault with others' callousness toward the Lord, while ignoring and excusing our own mishandlings... While I long to be Mary in the story "Behold, the handmaid of the Lord...", or a Shepherd, filled with wonder and "making haste" toward Jesus, too often I find myself in the role of that miserable innkeeper, busily blind to what is going on in the kingdom, missing precious glimpses of the Lord when He is made manifest right in front of me.

Do you know what I mean? Do you see yourself in the Christmas story?

They've suffered a little damage - the donkey is missing an ear (broken while galloping with the camels), some hands have gone missing (it seemed to be very difficult to press a machine gun into the hand of a magi member), a shepherd's flute was bent (which sadly wouldn't make music when blown by small boys).

But they're all taking their places out there in the living room, welcoming the Christ Child in yet another Season of Joy.

Savoring

2011-12-09T08:04:00.000-05:00

Every holiday includes great photo opportunities.

People in the holiday spirit are willing to do unusual things.

And I heard from a reliable source that there's ALOT more fun to be had at the kid table.

How long will we have these days of laughter?

Smiles and hoots of joy gilded by so-generous candlelight?

Are you savoring these days with me?

Yes, believe me,

I know it's not all fun and games,
and tears of un-joy may also be shed when the family gathers.

But I'm trying to let those tears be like the pains of childbirth

and allow them to slip out of my memories.

I'm not going to listen when they cry "Here!" during the roll call of reminiscing.

I'll pretend I didn't hear a thing and instead focus on recalling

the smiles, the hoots, the winks, the hugs.
The Joy.

Rose Frost

2011-12-07T07:53:00.000-05:00

My knock-out roses are hard to stop.

They just keep blooming and blooming and blooming...

But that last frost stopped them cold.

It was time for them to take a break.

Merry Christmas - enjoy the nap!

(frost on the patio chimney)

Lights and The Light

2011-12-05T16:50:00.000-05:00

Lights are up - I love the lights!

It's seasonally biblical.

Lights are the men's job around here.

I'm glad that we've convinced our sons that it's a HugeBigDeal to be a Light Handler.

And that they will be also.

"Boys, why do we have special lights at Christmas?"

"As long as I am in the world,
I am the light of the world."
John 9:5

"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it."
John 1:5

"I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness."
John 12:46

Two Christmases

2011-11-30T17:54:00.004-05:00

While I was earnestly trying to attend to November, CHRISTMAS snuck in here.
It held its jingle-belled slippers, staying oh so silent, then began a
flamboyant Yule-tide dance in the foyer.
It's in there right now, noisily celebrating its own victorious invasion.

I had avoided it so far. It tried to leap into my cart several times on the weekly grocery shop. Did you know - CHRISTMAS perches in gaudily clad holiday trees put out waaayyyy too early. It races along rows of colorful children's toys shouting, "SALESALESALE!" It swings its legs from endcap displays of tantalizingly shiny kitchen utensils. Have you seen it, too? CHRISTMAS gestures you closer, thumbs a ride in the bag of any merry holiday shopper. It buckles its oversized self into your cart seat, to plead and beg for every trimming and trapping of the holiday.

Now hunkered down in a quiet corner as CHRISTMAS celebrates its entry in the rest of my house via blaring CHRISTMAS music, I contemplate what will certainly follow. CHRISTMAS will get out its dayplanner and regiment my December with its never-ending seasonal tasks. CHRISTMAS CARDS, CHRISTMAS BAKING, CHRISTMAS WRAPPING, CHRISTMAS DECORATING, CHRISTMAS GIFT LISTS ... CHRISTMAS drags me in to its celebration, exhausting as I try to keep up with all its demands, and finally disappointing, as CHRISTMAS will, every year.

All the while another Christmas gazes at me silently, in sharp contrast to its imposter, inviting me to join another kind of Holiday.
One without blaring music.
One in which perfectly arranged ribbon and wrapping don't matter.
Without candy canes or jingle bells, elves small or large.
Without BB guns, hippopotamuses or missing front teeth.

Christmas draws me forward, past all that. It points toward the Star and urges me to prepare my heart to celebrate the Christ Child, the Incarnation. I find it kneeling in unexpected places, thanking the Father for sending His Son. Absent at Walmart, Christmas is busy at the local shelter packing boxes of supplies, holding a hand, or cupping a child's cheek.
It calls,
"Good News!"
"Emmanuel - God with us!"
"Good will toward men!"

This Christmas offers HOPE that leaves no dregs of disappointment behind to be swept up with those pesky nylon icicles. SATISFACTION that doesn't demand to be shed like those last two (five!) pieces of fudge. BEAUTY that delights far more deeply than even the loveliest blinking CHRISTMAS lights.

I may not be able to get rid of CHRISTMAS this year, since it's already clambering about the downstairs, but I can decline some of its demands. I can choose to join the real Christmas instead. This year I'm going to squint past the antics of CHRISTMAS, and lend an ear to what Christmas is saying. I'll turn an eye in the direction it's pointing and put my hand to what really matters, in the spirit of
True Christmas.

Feast On

2011-11-28T12:01:00.000-05:00

All Set For A Feast

Chicakees are maybe my favorite birdfeeder bird.

So cunning, quick and acrobatic!

I can afford to feed them after finding some black sunflower seed for super cheap in the reject section of my local market. I enjoy this feeder while sitting at my work table in the sunroom. Right outside the window, I can watch the bird friends, up close.

Useful Beauty

2011-11-23T08:30:00.000-05:00

The leaves are mostly down now, but we had the most beautiful show of color that I can remember.

I think I say the same thing every year during those last golden days of fall.

What an extravagant show of His splendor!

The sun just lights up the leaves --- it's like looking through stained glass.

My men found me continually outside, aiming my camera upward, looking for the best view through the lens. Marveling.

All that beauty!

And completely disposable - now already gone.

Some of it will be keeping my flower beds cozy until next year, though, as a nice layer of leaf mulch.

USEFUL beauty - even better!

Wishes

2011-11-21T23:31:00.001-05:00

Wishes are out there, just floating around...

landing in the most ordinary places.

Free Bear Rides

2011-11-17T12:27:00.001-05:00

We found this bear in a sunny spot in the back of a Tennessee antique-junk shop.

Of course, I had already 'petted' him more than once before noticing THE WARNING SIGN.

I wasn't feeling hospitality flowing around the shop.

Love the last forbidding line: 'Other such abusive acts'

Seems like most of what you could do to a stuffed bear was covered in the other lines...

You have to wonder about the thought process behind this sign - really. Would someone who would engage in pulling toes off a stuffed bear, in full sight of the owner, really bother to read and be cautioned by this sign?

Or does it just spark

ideas

and the beginnings of rebellious disobedience?

I guess you know what I think.

Seems like RIDING might be an option...

Pus Yellow

2011-11-15T12:25:00.000-05:00

What color would you say my shirt is?

I got it at Kohl's last night for 30% off. 30% off the sale price! Yellow is not my favorite color, but at the price I got it, I thought it would make an acceptable under-jacket shirt.

This morning, as I put my clothes in the bathroom and set out to do spelling before a quick shower, I remarked, "Let's hurry, 'cause I want to put on my mustard yellow shirt!"

Yes, the joy of a new piece of clothing!

I heard my now-taller-than-me Youngest smirkishly say, "PUS yellow, you mean."

No.

That's not what I meant.

Then began a discussion of the true color of pus and the imminent death of anyone leaking pus that shade of yellow. I argued for daylily yellow, if mustard yellow would not suit.

I admit, I was thinking of ballpark hotdogs when the mustard thing stuck in my mind. Sunflower yellow.

Finch yellow.

Banana yellow.

Anything other than pus. Please?

Could we also eliminate poop brown and slime green?

And while we're at it, how about getting rid of TOENAIL MOON?

November Closing

2011-11-13T23:12:00.000-05:00

I don't consider myself a Bah-Humbug person at all. BUT I can't get into Christmas in November. I feel the Tug of the Season, but ... no, not yet. There's too much to do, still, outside. This weekend we took steps toward the holidays by closing the gardens.

I can't enjoy Christmas until I've left summer behind.

So November is for closing gardens.

It's for considering the growing season - making plans, readjusting expectations, celebrating successes and (hahaha) mourning small losses.

As always, geraniums make the mental list of "please don't do this again".

Yet into a paper bag they go, to be brought out again next season for another go around.

Because over the winter, I forget those resolutions that I made in the November Closings.

I AM halfway to 90, after all.

The Purple Queen vine from this year's containers are all clipped. Most of them ended up in the garbage can, but I reserved quite a few cuttings to root over the winter. I'll have plenty of these for free in the spring. Free plants! Let me know if you want some cuttings for your windowsill.

But the forsythia thinks another spring has arrived. It's blooming away over there on the hillside, even though the green leaves have gone to burgundy.

Yesterday all the Near Men came out to help trim, pull and clear the way, then today (between ball games) MWM spread a thick layer of leaf mulch on the beds. There's only a little to do in the front yard and I'll be free to think about the Holidays!

Bring Your Monkeys

2011-11-09T11:07:00.000-05:00

I was putting on shoes to hike when this couple walked past us to begin the trail.

I almost fell out of the open car door - are you kidding me???

Monkeys in Gatlinburg?

You brought your monkeys to hike a historic trail in Gatlinburg?

Convinced that they would be sending their monkeys up the trees, and somehow needing to see such a thing, I tried to catch up with them.

MWH scoffed this idea, "How would they ever get them back down?"

We had our share of trouble in play area tubes and ball pits ourselves.

Wife had Snuggly Monkey - you can barely see its head over her shoulder.

Husband had The Wild One. It was bouncing on his shoulders, making a constant tossed salad with the man's hair.

They left the trail before us, so I got this shot of them returning to their car. And I didn't try to do it on the sly, either. If you have monkeys on a hiking trail, you already know that people are going to be watching and taking your photo.

Only the monkey seems to notice that his photo being taken.

'Cause monkeys are like that.

I can't finish without mentioning the flame print diaper.

It's bad enough changing the bottom of your own smooth-butted baby, but wiping a furry monkey bottom?

I wonder if they all went to the Apple Barn for breakfast?

Did they ride go-karts in Pigeon Forge?

Did they ride the ski lift to Ober Gatlinburg?

October in Gatlinburg

2011-11-07T08:40:00.003-05:00

It's not possible for you to enjoy these photos as much as I enjoyed taking them.

Gatlinburg in early October - exactly the right time to go!

(Do you see it, right there in the shadow behind the farther tree?)

While keeping an eye out for flame-bottomed monkeys,

(Is that a paw...?)

we enjoyed the fall wonders, which seemed to be everywhere we looked!

(There - just in the background? Do you see a bear?)

(We didn't either - no bears. NONE. sigh. The one disappointment of the trip.)

Thought you'd enjoy a few seconds by a quiet stream -

Listen to the Trip Song here.

Dog Envy

2011-11-04T07:34:00.001-04:00

We have the Best Dog Ever living at our house.

Affectionate. Tolerant. Obedient. Submissive.

Protective only when necessary.

Sleepy.

The Dog's life consists of moving from sunny spot to sunny spot, basking and napping.

Sometimes I find myself envying the dog ... is that a sin, I wonder?

Carving Contest

2011-10-31T08:24:00.001-04:00

BEFORE

"You keep going on that ... I'll just take a couple of photos real quick ..."

We used to have alot of pudgy little boy hands 'helping' with the carving. Now our Almost-Men were either on their way to the party (if we're lucky), or carving their own entry with a sweet girl friend (not necessarily a girlfriend, no space), or abstaining (which is similar to disdaining).

So My Man and I were on our own this year. He might say he was on his own this year, judging from the photo below.

(more) beauty and design in the goop

AFTER

What a nice crowd of pumpkins we had at the family pumpkin carving contest! Lots of effort and thought went into these, especially MWH's and mine (far left), but we still didn't win. Dang! And the prize was a bag of real-looking plastic cockroaches, too!

Or tooth-black ... that went to the chili-cook off winner.

Nice!

Check out that bottom left one - we all mocked it in the daylight. The carver spent time trying to explain how the face was supposed to look. Said he thought he must've botched it, somehow. But when the candles were lit --- AMAZING!

Makes me think of the man in the moon!

Can you guess which one was the winner?

Mum Failure

2011-10-29T13:54:00.000-04:00

I'm a Mum Failure.

Love them, buy them, but they aren't perennial for me. Pansies don't do it for me as a fall flower --- that seems like an Easter bloom. I used to plant a few every winter, 'Polar Pansies', and hopehopehope that they'd make it out of the snow first in the spring, but I haven't done that in a few years. Used to plant lots of bulbs in the fall, too, but quit that as the bulbs, tulips, seemed to stay on vacation instead of coming back to do their work in May.

(Except for my one tulip success - a 'naturalizing' variety that just keeps coming back and bringing friends, too!)

Instead, my garden shows beauty in the elderly stages of its summer members. There is beauty in age, sometimes -

Pink Diamond Hydrangea, living up to its name.

Hardy Begonia - not sure of its real name. It was shared by a dear friend, traveling home in a grocery bag. Great fall blooms, though!

Thanks, Jayne!

Japanese Anemone, Honorine Jorbet - great name!

(Good description of it here. Got this on the clearance rack at a home store for a buck.)

This is the first year that Black Hateful Beetles have not chewed them to bits in the late summer.

More Anemone, 'Alice' here, a little shorter semi-double. Finding these links, I learned that this plant is can also be called thimble flower or wind flower - much nicer names!

He's on the Move

2011-10-26T11:05:00.001-04:00

It's almost time for Halloween - not my favorite holiday, but it's somewhere to begin.

Frankie is hanging out in funny places around our house these days...

After leaving the (vacation) fridge, he moved to our Middle Son's room, proudly in place on top of the TV cabinet.

I soon found him lying, devastated looking, after being tossed down the stairs. Tossed in somewhat of a snit, I believe.

"Mom! Stop hiding this thing!"

Now Frankie is peering from a corner in the sunroom ... but not for long, I think...

He's on the move!

Why Rake?

2011-10-23T08:14:00.000-04:00

You have to ask questions with lots of care when they get taller than you. You might only have a one-question / one-answer window! I've used these in attempting conversation with my more taciturn sons:

"What do you like about fall?"

"What are some things you remember about fall when you were little (hahaha)?"

"What are you looking forward to when fall comes this year?"

I scored big on this answer from one of my guys:

"I like to see a golden carpet of leaves covering the grass."

And he'll get to see that this year, too, since we don't rake around here until the last leaf has fallen. Usually the leaves get mown for mulch, and if the rake does comes out, it's only for making a jumping pile. Although there's not many Almost Men who will risk their (fragile) dignity for a romp in the leaves anymore.

Maybe if no one else is looking...

Museum Skills

2011-10-20T08:18:00.001-04:00

We took another art museum field trip. We tried to steer away from the nudes, but you know you can only do so well at that. In taking My Youngest, my only remaining student At Home, I noticed some changes in his museum skills from the last time we went. Last time, there was marked astonishment at the lack of modesty - something we always advocate, modesty that is, not the lack of it. Especially during NFL games.

Victoria's Secret is the worst offender - please don't come to the games, Vicky!

Anyway, what might demand a channel change on TV is a little less than you'd see on a stroll through a renaissance gallery on any given Tuesday. Instead of astonished shock from My Big Little Boy, he became casually oblivious. I watched as his eye glanced only barely over multiple topless Virgin Marys

(why??? were there really so many people who wanted to see Baby Jesus nursing???)

to finally rest on some safer art - he favored the weapons, of course.

It was an interesting trip.

True beauty from one of the very early churches -

This fresco is so impressive, spilling out natural light. You have to wonder about the ancient, believing eyes that gazed on this same window.

This (below) is just one small panel in a huge altar depicting various religious scenes, done in the 1400's. I have to say, this one tickled me a little bit. I don't want to be irreverent about the ascension, but check out how the artist, I believe it was Hans Melming, painted the Lord's toes. Big toes pointed straight up on the way to heaven.

And as always, the faces in the crowd are fascinating. Some looking at the ground prayerfully (how could you not watch?), a few seeming quite surprised at what is happening, and others watching thoughtfully. Makes you wonder, doesn't it - what would your reaction have been? Certainly none of them thought this was going to happen.

And probably none of them were considering His toes.

(except maybe that upward-looking guy on the far left edge of the piece...)

Baby Indigo

2011-10-12T10:36:00.024-04:00

I've babied three seedlings along all summer! They've not grown very tall or wide, but they're still increasing a tiny bit at a time.

The biggest one pictured below.

Thanks, Kate, for the seeds!

I'm hoping for a great stand of dark purple false indigo someday!

Hanging Out

2011-10-12T10:29:00.000-04:00

I've got a few gourds out there, and it's almost time to pick them!

At least I think it is.

Mildew got these vines, but the gourds are still just hanging there, waiting.

It's Crowded

2011-10-10T08:58:00.000-04:00

Sitting out on the patio feels a little crowded these days. The bees are busy and noisy!

They're enjoying this purple salvia. They have been all summer, but right now they're almost frantic with activity. And the few that have buzzed around this season have called their friends! There's nearly a SWARM out there, buzzing in and out of those purple spikes.

Do they know that their time is running out? They're filling every sunshiney minute with hectic activity, because their time is almost up! They'll need to hibernate soon, and a long, dark, sleepy winter is ahead for them.

That doesn't sound so bad, does it?

Got Me - Again

2011-10-05T10:57:00.001-04:00

You got me!

Yes, you seasonal souls who decorate even your vehicles for Halloween - you ALWAYS get me with those dangling, smashed and bloody body parts! I am that shocked person with her hand over her mouth, gasping in horror that someone got smashed in a car door/trunk/hood. Even if the scare lasts only part of a second, I'm sure you'll be gratified to know -

Ya Got Me!

Just like every year, I'll be glad when Halloween is over.

And to the
Person Who Decorated Their Entire Yard In Orange Lights And Graveyard Gore -
I'm NOT looking, no, not even a glance!

(Photo taken by My Youngest, who wrestled the phone from my hand. He belongs to 'Children Preventing Automobile Accidents'. He's going to bring holiday driving hazards up at the next meeting of CPAA.)

Webs

2011-09-28T07:37:00.002-04:00

Is this a good reason to be a little late for church?

To have Men and Almost-Men calling from the car, "Mom! You're making us late!"
or "Hey, remember how you like to get there early?"

I think so! Beauty in the most unexpected places! Nature is His own easel - His handiwork on display, always speaking to us.

Not as lovely, and not a reason to be late for anything - the bag worm sack photo, below. But still interesting (and still speaking).

(Check out all the tiny worms - they've hatched an are ready to disperse and munch on my garden. They might think I care, but we're at the end of September and I don't care one bit!)

Smiling Ray

2011-09-23T07:45:00.001-04:00

Living in an old home does have a few perks. Not as many as I once thought, but still, a few.

In every room, of different depths - sills!

I try to keep my windowsills from getting all cluttered up, but it is a constant task to un-decorate because things just land there. And stay.

Cups, plates, footballs, keys, mail, more cups, more plates...

And there's so many things that need a spot for display!

No matter how I try to de-clutter, I can't seem to talk myself out of these items.

Especially that Smiling Stingray photo.

It is - it's smiling!

And sometimes during the day I just need a smile aimed in my direction.

In Memorial

2011-09-18T19:12:00.001-04:00

Million Bells - this was the first time it seemed like the plant may have lived up to its name, at least over here. Every plant that lives in the table pot seems to die an untimely death, much too soon in the season.

But this beauty, found at Findley Market early this spring, held its own for a long, long while. It draped its apron of blooms all the way down to the tabletop, attracting hummingbirds and hummingbird bees!

When the Sprinkler Days arrived, though, that was the end of the millions of bells. Now all that's left are dried-up brown stems already thrown in the weeding barrel.

What's that quote about beauty being fleeting...?

To Market

2011-09-09T19:27:00.001-04:00

If you haven't been to market lately, you've been missing out.

The waffle was wonderful, even if a little pricey. Worth standing in a long line to get. I did have to share, but only a few bites.

Sights, sights, and more sights. I think these shoes were ... interesting.

Oh, my - the bakery window! I snapped a photo of my Dear Friend in front of this window, contemplating the sinful nature of sugar - and lusting after some! DF, I didn't share the photo, and you're welcome. We are truly pals!

How did the homeschoolers get a gig down on the streets? I watched for a while but could never spot their mothers, or any parent, keeping watch over these two talented boys.

Really?

"Hey, Buddy! I came to market for some fish heads - are these fresh, or what?"

Why? How? Who?

(The questions that burn in my soul all the time...)

(For the next photo, repeat questions above, adding 'Why?' in a few more times.)
Most remarkable was that this guy was cooking food in a outdoor grill-booth. The food smelled great, but the views were killing business.
(Ironic eyes on the shirt back, right?)

I bought a birthday present for myself, admired the plants, enjoyed the crowd, and ate wonderful food with dear friends. What better way to spend a Saturday morning?

Look Closer

2011-09-06T11:53:00.002-04:00

The garden is truly moving into fall now. I've lost some plants - a great clearance rack score on perfectly white columbine bit the dust, literally, in the dry spell we've been in. And I remember why I don't grow vegetables, now that my gourd vines have given in to powdery mildew. How sad! I still have one gourd vine kicking - a swan-necked gourd vine! I am hopeful that the mildew will not travel down the garden, from one tepee to another, killing the swan-necks. The hydrangeas have been through their daily droops from the heat, and a couple of plants are producing some fall blooms. The annabelles are turning brown around the edges now, away from their wonderful apple-y green color.

And the zinnias are putting on their show! Just like Labor Day fireworks, these are blooming and blooming out there, right where I can see them while washing dishes.

Up close, each one has its own charm. I love the red, upward-reaching petals of this one, its crown of gold only just visible.

This lovely salmon color - one of only a few in the bed this year, made up of mostly reds and purples.

I'm not really a PINK girl, but this one and only pink zinnia really was a

stand-out.

It's worth an extra click to see the close-up. Now can you see how the bottoms of the petals look like they've been sprinkled with glitter?

Is that amazing or what!

The velvety center has all the rolled up baby petals still emerging ...

gold crown bits popping out in an encircling ring ...

dark pink pieces look like flames as they unfold.

Beautiful!

Is our Lord interested in the details, or not? Looking at the artistic detail in this single bloom and admiring the craftsmanship on display here encourages me that He is! If the Master Gardener cares so much about creating beauty in this most lowly of garden flowers, then certainly He is big enough to be in control of what concerns me, bringing beauty where none is likely.

So look even more closely when you walk your gardens - remember with me that God is at work in the smallest of details. His character is on display.

As a father has compassion on his children,

so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him; for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. The life of mortals is like grass, they flourish like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. But from everlasting to everlasting the LORD’s love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children’s children— with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.

Psalm 103:13-18

And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?

Matthew 6:30

Movin' Out

2011-09-03T11:43:00.001-04:00

My tiny, cookie-loving, overall-wearing, brown-eyed baby boy is moving out today. It's been funny to watch him gathering his things, carefully packing up. Carefully packing up - that's a curiosity all by itself! He's brimming over with excitement at his dream finally coming true. I'm not going to let myself analyze this down to the threads - I'm just going to admire his gumption at making it happen. As he goes, we are holding out final words of advice. We are whispering wisdoms that we've spoken and shouted so many times before, hoping he'll hear them one more time --- or maybe for the very first time. We're patting him on the back and carrying boxes, trusting that the Lord is keeping His arm around our boy, even as he ventures out from under our umbrella.

And I'm trying not to cry and ruin the fun.

Turn on the Spigot

2011-09-01T11:00:00.000-04:00

These are sprinkler days. It is HOT and DRY out there, and the gardens are going grey.

If you know what I mean by gardens going grey, then you might be a (gardening) kindred spirit.

So, I run out to the gardens in my pajama pants, pulling the bottom edges up, trying to keep them out of the dew, looking like a goofily-panted, prissy girl. Which I'm not - prissy, that is.

Placing the sprinkler is just so important to the whole process! If it's placed all crooked-ish, then you'll just be watering the grass. Which may not be so bad, I guess.

When it's finally right, then the water can be turned on at the house spigot.

(What a nice word - spigot. Make sure you say it right: spik-it, just before you spit some toe-back-y. Don't get the juice on yer bed britches!)

Enjoy!

The garden, or at least a small section, is getting watered, while no one (me) is getting eaten up by mosquitoes!

(repeat the whole thing every 20 minutes or so, in a new section...)

All the Way to the Top

2011-08-30T07:33:00.001-04:00

Remember my post on Gardening Faith?

The vines made it all the way to the top of the tepee! Yipee!

This is a little bit of a cheat, though. The seedlings in the Faith post were for Heavenly Blue morning glories. If you're a vine fanatic like me, though, you'll be able to tell from the photo that these are not blues. See how fuzzy the vine and leaves are - blues are smooth, not fuzzy. These are just sad ol' Star of Yelta volunteers trying to take over the gourd tepee. And they're doing it, but my heart is made lighter when some vine makes it all the way up to curl under the clay pot and sprout out the top!

(The HB vine from Faith is inching its way to its own clay tepee topper, but has had a hard season. If only someone would water it! I'm hoping for some BLUE blooms to enjoy soon!)

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life. Proverbs 13:12

Goetta Fest

2011-08-26T07:32:00.003-04:00

We went to the Glier's Goettafest on the riverfront in Cincinnati earlier in the month. Having just gotten the photos off my camera*, thought I'd post some of them.

My shot of goetta pizza - a little blurry since my hand was shaking from some serious carb overload. You could also buy goetta on a stick, goetta calzones, goetta-dogs, goetta fried rice.... you get the idea.

There was ice cream - not any ice cream - Graeter's ice cream. Not any Graeter's ice cream, but raspberry chocolate chunk! It's' frozen against the heat into a rock-hard block, but you can see DH is digging away, working away at stealing the chunks of deliciousness first - 'cause that's how he rolls.

Random and riveting people by the hundreds to enjoy! My Youngest tried to stop me from taking this man's photo, drawing more attention than if he had just walked away from me instead. The man has seated himself in the middle of the public square on a stool with bongo drums in his lap- he wants his picture taken!

My teenagers watched with alternating stunned and smug disbelief as cloggers strutted their stuff on center stage for our lunchtime entertainment. I made some serious promises regarding my free time as a future senior adult and requested an intervention should I start wearing jingle taps around the house just to break them in.

Thought you might enjoy a little clogging this morning, while you make your breakfast resolutions.

(and I hope none of these women are your favorite Aunt Betty...)

* MY DEAR CAMERA was left outside, overnight, a few weeks ago. I'm not naming names, just saying I didn't do it! Sunday morning dawned with a rainstorm that we had been drowsily enjoying for about two hours. Finally getting up, I pulled back the curtain to the patio, and the camera was the first thing my eyes landed on - out on the patio table, SOAKING up the storm. Of course I ran out there to get it, and I might be a little embarrassed now at the height of my upset. I found some directions on how to try to save it via internet (WHAT did we ever do w/o internet before?), and we set about 'baking' the camera. What did we have to lose? It worked!

Behind The Glass

2011-08-22T07:15:00.002-04:00

Antique junk stores have amazing and amusing things, of course, but most of the time, I only look at what is out there in the aisles. The last time we shopped, we looked behind the glass. The cases usually house the more expensive items, so I usually don't even look, but there are some funny things happening behind glass!

Look at these tiny tin soldiers, all ready for battle. Some with weapons at their shoulders and some with weapons already aimed. I like the guy in the front who seems to be wiping his nose on his sleeve - typical, right? My favorite soldier boy, though, is the one who decided to go without his shirt! It's been my experience that most males, if given the chance, will happily shed the shirt and go half-naked - I think this soldier is especially realistic.

Couples tied to their benches. These seem like parents at the ends of their ropes. We had to snicker - I'm sure our boys have wished they could get us to sit still long enough to tie us down every now and then!

(overdone lipstick, underdone foundation)

How I can identify with this blue-skirted figurine! She got a little too nosy, I'm imagining, trying to see what was happening on the bench just in front of her, finally tipping ... oops ... too far! Her bench mate looks on in open-mouthed horror. So does my husband, when I get a little too nosy about those interesting strangers all around me.

Eat Some Cake!

2011-08-15T12:02:00.004-04:00

This is a re-post from my birthday two years ago. This cake is baking in my oven right now! Pop over in a few hours for a piece of the yummy deliciousness!

--------------------------------------------------

When the cake is gone, your birthday is over! This special cake, originally my aunt's recipe, is only made once a year - on my birthday! I like to make it myself, though for a few years My Dear Husband and my boys made it for me. Now I insist that I enjoy making it for myself - and I do! It's a more complicated recipe than I will usually work on, but the result is worth it. I'm not sure who will get this piece, but it won't be me, since I had more than my share.

Orange Crunch Cake

Crunch Layer: 1 c. graham cracker crumbs, 1/2 c. firmly packed brown sugar, 1/2 c. chopped walnuts, 1/2 c. melted margarine or butter

Cake: 1 pkg. yellow cake mix, 1/2 c. water, 1/2 c. orange juice, 1/3 c. oil, 3 eggs, 2 T. grated orange peel

Frosting: 1 can ready to spread vanilla frosting, 1 c. thawed whipped topping, 3 T. grated orange peel, 1 t. grated lemon peel

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour two 9" round cake pans. In small bowl, combine crunch layer ingredients until crumbly. Press half of crunch mixture into each prepared pan. In large bowl, blend cake ingredients at low speed until moistened; beat 2 minutes at highest speed. Pour batter evenly over crunch layer. Bake until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool ten minutes then remove from pan. Cool completely. In small bowl, beat frosting ingredients until fluffy. Fold in grated orange and lemon peel. Place one layer, crunch side up, on serving plate and spread with frosting. Top with remaining layer (crunch side up) and spread top and sides with remaining frosting. Store in refrigerator.

I Smell It

2011-08-12T10:31:00.004-04:00

Does anybody else smell it? 'Cause it's wafting on the breeze over here.

I smell fall.

No booing allowed, it's just that time of year. It's light yet, for sure, but there.

When I have a minute to sit in the sun, if I close my eyes, it plays just at the edge of my nose - that musty, sweet, aroma.

It was there this morning as I was walking along through the grass, and again day before yesterday when I got out of the car.

It's like the smell of overripeness.

Of too many spent and fallen blooms mixing with the dirt.

Maybe it's like thick, thick grass that's hot in the sunshine and mown too many times.

Definitely the smell of ripe apples rotting under the trees.

You'll only find it at the very end of a deep breath, though.

Fall is still out there on the horizon, yet, but I smell it.

Halfway There

2011-08-09T09:34:00.008-04:00

I dreamed about babies last night.

That doesn't mean there are going to BE any babies arriving around here.

I am going to be fourty-five next week. Which is, I was reminded by a lovely, young, teenage girl at church this Sunday past, halfway to 90! Yes, she stood there straight and tall, youth flying and flinging from every pore in her body, so pleased and surprised by her own insight.

I was surprised, too.

Women who are halfway to ninety should not be dreaming of snuggly, cooing babies.

But sometimes they just do.

(My Oldest on his first day. We were amazed!)

Old Funnies

2011-08-05T09:00:00.002-04:00

On the recent run-away, we made photo-buys of these three old, framed photos. All too funny!

This photo caught the eye of MWH - he cracked up when he saw these brave soldiers lying "like dancing girls" on their sides in the front row. I guess they would be kneeling in a typical group shot, right? But not these men! The clincher - the center two soldiers holding hands and gazing into each other's eyes. Click the photo to get an up-close view of these long-dead soldiers and you might also say -

What is goin' on?

Is it a group joke? Some kind of punishment for this particular troop? Is this photo the second take after the first very serious shot? I wonder...

What an attitude in this sister! You don't usually get to see this level of 'tude in the old photos - she had to be able to hold onto this face for quite a few seconds to get the photo this clear! I'd title this one, "Fed Up!" I wonder, is she on her way home, or on her way out?

I've seen a few bad baby haircuts, but this is the all-time winner. Love how they dressed this poor child ... boy or girl? Notice the button-up shoes and the tiny gold ring. He/she looks cheerful, though, no matter the hairstyle.

It's Not a Contest, But...

2011-08-02T15:43:00.003-04:00

About once a year, My Wonderful Husband takes a photo that amazes me. I think of myself as the family photographer, but then he does this:

It's worth the effort to click the photo and let it fill your screen. Are those unopened anthers incredible or what? They look like tiny hooves, I think.

This was taken back when we were getting rain like Noah, which seems like a long time ago, now that it's dry like a desert around here.

His outstanding photo from another year - here.

Dummy Appeal

2011-07-27T11:19:00.004-04:00

Strange things happen on a get-away (run-away).

Like kissing in the upstairs clearance section of an antique junk store.

This guy just has 'dummy appeal'! I'm sure you can see it all over him, right?

Sexy hands ---

His wife sat glaring as we the shop. Check her out, hiding behind a counter.

Doesn't she look like someone you know?

Sky Chairs

2011-07-25T13:03:00.003-04:00

I love sky blue paint. We have a sky blue bench in our yard, out under the willows. There's also a sky blue swing, hanging from a branch of the giant, elder sweetgum tree. Now there are more sky blue yard citizens to enjoy.

The picnic table (thank you to the Lokit Family) doubled as a work bench where the many, many bits of four adirondack chairs were spread. And the paint flowed! Actually the paint didn't flow - it was more like paint fluff, or paint mousse, and so it 'spread'. It nicely covered the four chairs I connived to get from Ace Hardware's clearance row for my birthday last August.

It took a graduation party for them to be painted and assembled.

Do you know how this happens, or does it only happen around here?

Notice the grass stuck in the paint? Yes, this is NOT supposed to happen, we all know. But with novice grass mowers around, a little bit of paint with texture is bound to happen.

I'm learning to nod and enjoy!

I think they look wonderful sitting in a ring, joined by the sky swing and surrounded by lush grass!

She's a Mother

2011-07-16T19:21:00.004-04:00

This woman - isn't she an impressive lady? There were instant sparks between us. We recognized each other. I knew right away that she's a mother. You can tell, too, right?

Check out her expression. She's somewhat stern, sort of 'don't even think you can shoot me with the Nerf dartgun' . Can you see it? But her mouth is still pleasant - she might break into laughter at any moment.

The Scales of Justice are a dead give away, I think. Mothers constantly standing in judgement, assuring fairness for all ... yes, that was a joke. IS a joke! Nonetheless, those scales are chained on, and she can't get out of the judgement job.

But the sword --- that sword clinches it.

She's looks like a mother with some teens who need a little more discipline than they currently possess. And she can deliver.

Sweaty Whining

2011-07-12T09:05:00.002-04:00

I'm trying soooo hard not to kill this (and all other container plants) in this heat.

But I haaaaate dragging the hose around to water!

Can you hear the whine? Make it louder and loooonger in your imagination and you'll be almost there.

It's a great thing to have Buff Garden Man appear at those awkward moments to save the day! Thanks, Buff Garden Man!

Plastic and Eyebrows

2011-07-06T13:10:00.003-04:00

I found Swa-nie in a STORE CLOSING clearance sale.

Husband had left me on my own to wander the gardening area. I was searching for something in which to make a new home for the hens-and-chicks that had overflown their old, scaling clay pot.

I met him in the paint aisle with her under my arm.

"She's one of us!"

But he scoffed aloud, throwing out insulting words like CHEAP and FLIMSY and PLASTIC.

When we got home, he tried to rally the Man Troops against Swa-nie and me, calling for a vote. Only one, I think, of the boys entered into the game, also voting against. I think he said something about

porch decorations for the geriatric.

I declared them to be Plastic Prejudiced and took our new girl outside.

I'm not exactly sure why Swa-nie made it into the cart, or why she appealed to me. I've also been guilty of always snubbing cheap, flimsy, plastic garden accessories.

But, true confession --- it has alot to do with wooden swans, which I've always admired (coveted).

And eyebrows.

Is it just me, or are our eyebrows wearing away as we get older?

And don't try to pretend it's not true - I've been fretting over mine, just a bit (!), while looking at my other more mature friends, only to discover that I'm not the only one with fading eyebrows!

Is it the result of constant furrowing?

Too much quizzical lifting?

Anxiety induced over-rubbing?

Or just another component of unexplainable middle-aged breakdown?

Whatever the cause, in the spirit of camaraderie, Swa-nie is one of us

- those with the eyebrows fading fast.

Browsing

2011-07-01T10:19:00.005-04:00

There aren't many people browsing around antique stores on Tuesdays.

All the more room for us to have fun while nosing around those crowded, cramped rows of old and wonderful 'stuff'. No one nearby to mind if we take a few photos of ourselves, blissfully happy, on our RUN AWAY TRIP.

I agree - we look waaayyy too young to have teenaged offspring running, DRIVING, around.

Just want to share some of the sights that made us wipe away tears of laughter, causing store owners to peer into those tricky mirrors with which they can see you all the time. You might not think any of these are funny - you probably had to be there. Or maybe you had to be US to think these photos are funny. Nonetheless ...

Antique Store Dolls

I think it's obvious which doll is the Cotton-Headed Ninny Muggins. Luckily, he has a pal, that little brown haired doll on his right, who doesn't seem to mind snuggling.

This looks like a snapshot from my early childrearing days -

another sad accident with the stroller.

Which one of these ladies has hot plans for tonight?

I said it was the one with side-cast eyes, who got carried away with her rouge.

MWH said, of course, that it was the one who left her shirt at home.

All the others look like wholesome girls, don't you think?

The Run-Away

2011-06-23T20:35:00.007-04:00

After this -

And a lot of this -

We needed some of this -

A get-away, really, it was a run-away, in Lexington, KY. We had a WONDERFUL suite at Hilton Lexington Green. Free! OK, maybe not free, since it was earned by many workdays separated from MWH. But it seemed FREE when we got the $0 balance invoice under the door! This above picture was taken in Georgetown, actually, since we couldn't find a quaint little part of Lexington to meander along the next day.

And though there is a cupcake with lots of icing fairly running off the edges, there were no cupcakes to be found in Georgetown's entire little downtown.

But there WERE these - smoothies, one of which was FREE (!), since they had a deal for a free one, on a weekday, if it was your first time in the shop.

Why get a smoothie without whipped cream? If one is having the smoothie anyway, isn't it somewhat stingy to decline the cream? Go big or go home, I say! YES to whipped cream!

Plenty of architecture ready to be admired.

This bricked-in window really appealed to me. I can't imagine why anyone would brick over a wonderful, enormous window, but I like how it turned out. It seems restful.

And lots of antique/junk shops in which to wander, laugh, and smooch.

The Last Year

2011-06-19T21:43:00.002-04:00

My youngest turned twelve this past week. Doesn't seem like a big deal, does it, unless you stop and count it up, finding the impossible to be true: I only have one more year of having one last child in the house.

(at Kentucky Kingdom - riding with mom)

And it's stretching words to call this now hulking person, who has now finally passed me in height, a 'child'.

(His brothers trying to make him stop crying by reading and bouncing - it's not working.)

When birthday season comes around next year, our sons will all be living in Teenage Land - 19, 17, and 13.

(Happy boy with birthday cake - just like his mother, this one. Icing makes him break into song.)

I can hardly believe where this parenting journey is taking us.

(Juice popsicles bring utter summer joy.)

How it pulls and sometimes jerks us around corners, up and down inclines of alternating delight and disappointment.

(Naptime Grief - who wants to leave a ball, a car and a gal? Not this guy!)

Though ALL is in the process of being shaken, what we know to be true keeps shining, just like the north star!

(Profile pic after the first haircut - Baby Boy minus curls.)

God is faithful.

Walk the Garden

2011-06-16T09:00:00.006-04:00

Hey, how about some flower photos? I'm going to link this post to a group of bloggers posting mini-tours of their gardens as they look right now - how fun is that? I LOVE to get to 'walk the garden' with another gardener (or two or three)! So come on...

One of my favorite parts of the gardens, this last long bed - part sun / part shade.

If you double click you can get a better view.

I've got cosmos seedlings coming up in the foreground there, near the swan.

Are you offended by my (new) plastic swan?

Yes, others were, too, but that's a story for another day.

Tall sunflower youngsters over there near the (old) tomato stakes - how have the rabbits missed them? Iris, black-eyed susan, oregano, daylilies, sundrops, pinks - who can get rid of those?!, carnations, ajuga, and a trooper of a hydrangea just past the teepee legs. I must point out that hosta there, just past the hydrangea - my favorite hosta - 'Fried Bananas'. One of the only hosta that I allow to bloom, since the bloom is wonderful white and smells DIvine!

First bloom from that hydrangea right back there. Pretty amazing, since I thought they all died in the drought last year! It's one of the few bushes I have that has formed a bloom this year. The most beautiful color!

Couldn't leave out a couple of 'bug' photos (NO SPIDER PHOTOS).

Bugs and gardening - it's a For Better or For Worse situation.

Check out this bumble bee passed out cold in on the stem of a lamb's ear bloom! This stem has been cut and Second Son is holding it still for the photo... Before throwing the stem in the cuttings bin, we all took turns petting the bee! He didn't move a muscle.

Do bees have muscles?

And check out this cute lightning bug, waiting on a stella bloom for his time to come - dusk!

Had to show you these perfect partners! The daylily is called Children's Festival, and doesn't it have the loveliest color with ruffled edges. She's put on her best dress! The lily blooming a little lower is brand new to the garden. I got it FOR A DOLLAR on Saturday from the Lowes clearance rack.

!!!!!!

It's called Tiny Toes. Don't they look wonderful together?

My oldest lavender bush. I had to cut out a lot of dead branches this year, more drought results, so the bush doesn't look very good. This photo of the blooms is all I could post.

Send advice on what to do with an old and tired lavender bush, if you can.

That's it for my mini-tour! If you'd like to tour other gardens, go to

Cottage Flora Thursday

Faith!

2011-06-09T22:54:00.004-04:00

Gardening Faith

The twine is tied well up on each knee of the tepee legs with hopes of those heavenly blues getting that high.

Faith!

( No sign of the VRM this season - every morning glory, sunflower and cleome still has its tender tips... )

Spider Stardom

2011-06-06T16:04:00.002-04:00

At the risk of never having anyone ever visit me again, I have to post this LAST photo.

This is it.

Maybe word has gotten around in the spider world that putting in an appearance at my house will result in spider-stardom.

What else could be going on?

WHAT???

This one was AT THE BACK DOOR this afternoon.

Literally with one foot on the entry door, having already passed under the screen door. Youngest Son opened the door to go feed the dog and found this on the doorstep ---

don't think I've ever heard the door slam that loud before. He did better than I would've, though, and Second Son bravely caught it for photos and much amazement, smugly calling us "babies".

NOTE TO ALL ARACHNIDS:

THERE WILL BE NO MORE PHOTOS OF SPIDERS OF ANY KIND

OR SIZE ON THIS BLOG

*Do not attempt to interview with the owners of this home!*

A Giant

2011-06-02T22:54:00.003-04:00

I know I'm at risk of becoming the writer of a Spider Horror Blog.

But this is just too significant to leave out.

Too remarkable to NOT remark!

At least this one was not in our house! It lived out by the fire pit in a really nice, cozy hole in the ground. Lots of ideas went around about how to see just how big it really was, since we could only see its eyes glowing eerily from the bottom of its hole and the occasional stretching of a leg in our direction. The group settled on digging the whole hole up and forcing it out into this jar. What a tidy plan! ha. ha. ha. I'd post the video, but it's a little TOO real life. So for those of you not living the Real Life yet, I'll refrain.

You're welcome.

Can't pass up an opportunity for a good dare.

And this is about as brave as we get around here - with spiders, that is.

Husband suggested I trot the hairy bad boy (with 8 legs) up to the extension office for ID.

But I think I'll pass on a car ride with this mini-monster.

May this be the last spider entry of the year.

Finishing

2011-06-02T14:59:00.003-04:00

That's Our Boy!

Graduating with honors --- one among a crowd of many, many.

And yet so special to us!

We were so proud of his graduation accomplishment; so happy for him to finally grasp the wonderful feeling of finishing, and even finishing well - a continuing theme around here: "Finish Well!"

Screaming on Sunday

2011-05-31T10:52:00.002-04:00

Sunday morning.

Taking the towel off my hair, turning on the light...

(screaming)

FYI - don't try to use a bottle of mousse to smash a spider this size.

You'll only break its leg.

Also, big spiders won't wash down the drain.

I have to add on that I've also found a spider in the washer this week. Hovering just at the top of the agitator, breathing heavily after surviving a normal wash at warm/cold temperature. FYI2 - don't try to use a box of dryer sheets to smash a spider in the washer. You'll only have to wash the clothes again - this time at extra heavy agitation, hot/hot water with an extra HOT rinse --- even if it happens to be a load of darks. I think it DID wash down the drain this time...

Is this spider abundance an insect conspiracy - an attack against me personally, the Spider Fearer? Can they smell fear? Or might these extra spidery visits in my home be due to SPRAYING AGAINST SPIDERS IN THE FALL SO THERE WOULD BE LESS OF THEM THIS SPRING? Did we pick up the wrong product at Lowes?

Spider Attractant, maybe??? Hmmmmmmmm

D-Day

2011-05-27T07:33:00.001-04:00

Along with a bag of unsuspecting yet prepared creatures, you need to bring your strongest stomach to Dissection Day activities. It all happens out under the trees, on the old picnic table --- IF there happens to be no rain.

('Cause nobody better open that bag in the house!)

No concert earplugs to be found, so --- insert cotton balls!

Gloves weren't really necessary, as it turned out. I used all my furniture stripping gloves for nothing. There's hardly any juice left in those critters!

Why are these boys under 12 wearing bifocals? Yeah, well, the magnifying glass was misplaced, too. Possibly keeping company with the lost earplugs-wanna-be-noseplugs.

Dearest Dad's glasses worked just fine. And there was a LOT to see - it's truly amazing to take apart something that used to be alive and see the inside story on how things work in there. The intricacy and craftsmanship of the Creator - astounding! All that detail, all those systems - just for a frog that will live so short a time!

"Look at the birds of the air..."