Photo Friday: Circle

Thanks to Marc for the challenge!


Circle mailbox


balloon flags (kinda circles, right??)


dandelion puff from earlier this Spring


green globe flower


umbrella stand

Ten on Tuesday

...via meme chose.

10 things I hate doing:

1. washing dishes
2. cleaning animal cages
3. arguing (debating is something else entirely)
4. answering the phone
5. exercising
6. nagging
7. taking out the garbage
8. folding laundry
9. dealing with people who just. won't. listen.
10. paying bills
    

Accountability: The Tuesday List

1. Help Bear organize her shelf bins
2. Tackle-it Tuesday: the storage container shelves
3. 2 loads laundry
4. blog Tuesday Twosome
5. organize coupons
6. bake chocolate casserole
7. watch Treasure of the Sierra Madre
   
8. L&OSVU
9. read 1 chapter in The Known World
10. clean sheets on the Bears and my beds
11. Blog WordPlay
12. refill scrips
    

Unconscious Mutterings: Week 186

I say...and you think...

1. Visit :: trip
   
2. Cake :: ice cream
   
3. Period :: end
   
4. Triumphant :: victory
   
5. Screen :: gems
   
6. Neglect :: abuse
   
7. Guitar :: music
   
8. Loathe :: hate
   
9. Sugar :: spice
   
10. Montage :: pictures

see more mutterings here.

Accountability: The Monday List

Being listless (literally and emotionally) the last few days has been vaguely comforting in its indulgence, but hasn't gotten me much closer to my goals. So, we try again.

1. Go to the library; drop off books and pick up reserves DONE
   
2. change the sheets on my and Bear's beds
3. finish cataloging books DONE
   
4. dust and sweep living room
5. find homes for all the books I moved off the shelves DONE
   
6. read 1 chapter in The Known World
   
7. watch Lifeboat (watched Cat on a Hot Tin Roof instead)
   
8. pick up wedding card for D&B DONE
   
9. tidy and sweep balcony
10. pull 20 weeds DONE
    
11. 2 loads of laundry
12. retrieve the books that fell behind my desk DONE
    
13. put out Freecycle stuff DONE
    
14. blog Wordplay
15. blog book review: Face-down DONE
    

Sunday Scribblings: The Monster

Tori schlubbed to the kitchen for a cup of coffee. It was barely 9:00 on a Sunday morning, so she could technically say she'd slept in, though she knew there were some lucky people who were still tucked in their beds. Then again, the early-risers of the world would be on their second or third cup by now, and church-goers would be bowed in their pews. She much preferred the luxury of sleeping until she woke up without the alarm. That's what Sundays were for, after all.

The coffee maker burbled, and Tori took it as a greeting. A liquid "good morning." The scent wafted up as she poured the dark brown coffee into the thick white mug. She was more awake already. She took a first greedy sip, scalding her tongue. Nearly coherent, now, she thought as she carried the steaming mug to the porch.

It was overcast, she noted as she stepped outdoors. Might rain later. There was a slight chill to the mid-September air that helped wake her and made her look forward to the coming Fall. It was early enough that the neighbors wouldn't be outside to see her thick gray terrycloth robe and matching slippers, she figured. And if they were outside, they'd probably be similarly attired. Maybe she could have dragged a brush through her blonde bed-hair, but that would have required more coordination than she had before her first cup of coffee.

Settling down on one white plastic deck chair, and propping her feet on another, she sipped and looked out on the garden of the house behind her own. Mrs. Kupiak's been hard at it, Tori decided as she buried her nose in coffee steam and sipped. Sometime yesterday the old woman had put in mums in burnt orange, deep red and yellow in anticipation of the change in season. The trees were already showing their colors.

It was a lazy day. Tori had already made her mind up about that. No chores, no work. Just her, the television, maybe a book. She wouldn't even read the paper. If she wanted to, she'd even take a nap. Yes, it was just the perfect day for that.

She drained the mug and let her feet drop to the deck, standing up lazily and shaking gold-blonde hair down her back. Blue eyes once more scanned the yard, taking in the blurry greens and shades of yellow and brown. With a contented sigh, she went back inside to refill her cup.

Her laptop lay on the kitchen table, beckoning. "Remember me?" it seemed to say. "You have reports to write. Forecasts to make. Accounting wants those numbers by Wednesday!"

Tori ignored it, refilling her cup and taking it into the living room. With her feet on the coffee table, a blanket on her lap and the coffee cup in her hand, she flipped on the TV. Godzilla was stomping and smashing his way through Tokyo. She snuggled deeper into the cushions. She'd avoided the real monster.



view more scribblings here

Favorite Things Saturday

Purses!

All sizes, shapes and colors...

For years, I didn't carry a purse. After lugging around a diaper bag, purse, briefcase and children, I'd had quite enough, thank you. It was time to travel light. Wallet and phone in my pockets, what else did I need?

But slowly, surely, purses wormed their way back into my life. I collect, cull, buy more, get rid of a few. It seems I've always got at least six. Probably, that's five more than I need.


Purses at a local street fair


Different booth - same street fair


My favorites


see other favorite things here.

Movie Review: Dances with Wolves

Another western, and culture study. John Denham distinguishes himself for bravery in the Civil War, and is rewarded with the military commission of his choice. He chooses the West, having always wanted to see it.

Arriving at his new post, he finds the small bunker deserted, and like Robinson Crusoe, himself alone with more than enough provisions, but no company.

Until the Lakota arrive, that is. Gradually, he makes friends with them, beginning by introducing them to coffee and sugar and eventually learning their language and befriending many of the tribe.

It was interesting to watch, but not something I'd feel like I had to watch again.

Lifehacker entertainment-social commentary

From Lifehacker, via Consumerist,

The ad Starbucks doesn't want you to see.

Another reason I love Lifehacker.

Back to school!

Today was the Bear's first day back to school. She was so excited! Full of resolutions about perfect attendance and doing her homework on time.

Happy school, Bear!



There she goes...

Round Robin Photo Challenge: Transportation

Joe Cool in his zippycar, taken from my not-quite-so-zippycar.

If you know what kind of car this is, please say so. I have no idea.

Yes, I really do keep a camera on the dashboard for just such occasions. No, I don't take photos while I'm driving. This is taken from a parking lot.

See more transportation photos here.

Who was I in a past life?

In a Past Life...

You Were: A Lazy Philosopher. Where You Lived: Burma. How You Died: Hanged for treason.

Who Were You In a Past Life?

The Ugly Lamp - A True Story

This is the story of the Ugly Lamp. I swear it's all true.

One of my fondest flea market memories is that of the Ugly Lamp.

I didn't have my camera, and I've never seen its like again. But this was easily the ugliest lamp in all the world.

It was a table lamp, about 2' high. A heavy, ornate brass base with lots of leaves and fruit held up a spindly brass pole, deeply etched from top to bottom in vertical lines. The shade, a rectangular brass affair, looked far too long and narrow for the base. In fact, it looked like a windowbox inverted over a candle in a tacky candlestick.

The lamp must have weighed thirty pounds, and I'm convinced that 15 of it was in the shade. It wasn't a solid brass rectangle, though. Here's where the Ugly Lamp got interesting. It was set with colored stones that refracted the light that might otherwise have been doused by the brass. The stones were in various shapes and colors, randomly placed without rhyme, reason or pattern. None of it matched. None of it made any sense. It was just a plane of brass, randomly inserted with pieces of faceted glass.

I went back to the lamp repeatedly throughout the day. It was like an interior lighting train wreck. Finally I couldn't stand it any more. I wanted to take it home, as a conversation piece. To laugh at. To feed my well-honed sense of the ridiculous. A lamp with a story, even if it didn't actually give off light.

I'm not a haggler, but I went in armed. I would pay as much as $30 to take that monstrosity home. Realistically, it might be worth that much in scrap, but from an aesthetic standpoint, the seller should have thanked me profusely for a nickel. I asked the price of the lamp

Three. Thousand. Dollars.

I couldn't help myself. I laughed right in the vendor's face.

"It's an antique," he informed me indignantly. "And it's in excellent condition."

Of course it was in excellent condition. This was probably its first day out of the box since some much-resented relative gave it as a Christmas present. It was the Victorian version of the Singing Fish or the Farting Santa. It was awful.

I choked out a "No thank you," and went on my way, still trying to contain my shocked giggles.

It's been at least three or four years since I saw the Ugly Lamp. Since then, I've regretted that it didn't cost $30. I would have brought it home, to be the source of mirth for generations to come.

Instead, I've decided I must make my own Ugly Lamp. I don't know how, but it's on my list of 101 Things, so I'd better figure it out.

When it's done I'll take pictures. Nobody will believe it otherwise.

Creativity Prompt: What is YOUR meaning of life?

Knee jerk answer? To live.

But how to live and give life meaning? By giving while living.

My daughter would like us to volunteer at a living history museum. I love living history museums. I would work at one full-time, if I could support my family at it. I consider these to be a form of art, and I love art in all its forms.

We currently volunteer at a food pantry. Not very artistic, but necessary.

Art feeds the soul. I'm a firm believer in feeding the soul. I believe it's absolutely necessary in order to have any quality of life. We need art of some kind or other. Even if it's just watching a sunset or drawing in the mud with a stick or humming.

I also believe that as important as it is to feed the soul, it's more important to keep body and soul together. Whatever comes after, the soul will either be richly fed or not need feeding at all.

This is why I hesitate at the request to volunteer at the museum. Maybe I should put that time into volunteering more hours at the food pantry.

Lifehacker rocks Foreign Languages

Once again, Lifehacker's come up with an emminently useable post: Learn a Foreign Language from the Foreign Service Institute.

When I've completed my 101 things, I may start again and add learning Irish Gaelic and German to the list. Maybe by then the site will have Irish Gaelic available.

Another free Irish Gaelic lesson site.

Photo Friday: Friend

Late again... but these two little guys were worth it...all snuggled up together in their stall, they looked like best buddies.




View more friends here.

One good thing...

The Bear and I are going to meet her teacher today!

Sunday Scribblings: The Inner Life of Pets

This prompt calls for a photoshow.


Meet Frank the rababbit, Reggie the hedgie and Billy.

They took their first trip outdoors together today, outside to the yard, in a large enclosed pen.



Curiosity and Caution

Frank> Have we met?
Reggie> You're bigger than me. No sniffing.




Reggie> Did you hear that?
Billy> Sounds like it came from over there...
Reggie> No, wait. I think it was over there.
Billy> Maybe you're right. I'm starting to get a little worried.



perplexed

Frank> What is that?
Reggie> to the camera> What the *?!@ is that crazy rabbit doing? And can I play too?




Billy> You haven't taken nearly enough pictures of me. Maybe if I put on my cutest face...


Reggie> Whatcha got there?


Frank> This is my good side
Reggie> Hey, mine too.



Reggie> Enough pictures. I'm outta here.
Billy> You know...I skipped lunch, and you're looking awfully tasty...

Unconscious Mutterings: Week 195

I say...and you think...

I say ... and you think ... ?

1. Cruel :: joke
   
2. Jive :: talkin'
   
3. Weak :: tea
   
4. Understand :: comprehend
   
5. Bum :: drag
   
6. Stairs :: steps
   
7. Tone :: of voice
   
8. Quickly :: move
   
9. Moment :: time
   
10. Beating :: hurt

See other Unconscious Mutterings here

Favorite Things Saturday: The Bear

The Bear, at the bridge over our oft-visited Kline Creek.

(Note that the Bear is only one of my five glorious children, who are all my favorite things)

Fun, busy day

The Bear and I put in a couple of hours' volunteer time at our local food pantry. It was busy today, with very few slow times between guests. We distributed meat, cheese and laundry soap. Local farmers had brought in fresh vegetables - corn, eggplant, greens, herbs. It kept us moving and made the time go by quickly.



After zipping to the library and hitting a few yard sales, we were off to Kline Creek Farm. This is a working farm and living history museum, a place where you can spend a day or an hour. We go several times a year for their seasonal programs.

Right now, it's Threshing Season.


Threshers at work



Farmhouse


blacksmithing demonstration


Bear at the Creek

Creativity Prompt: My 10 favorite scents or smells

1. Ocean breezes... the scent of salt water carried on the wind, with a hint of coconut and palm oils from suntan lotion.
2. Lemon...the fresh, clean scent of a freshly cleaned kitchen or bath, the zesty zing of lemon-wine sauce over chicken, the sweet, sharp scent of lemonade on a hot summer day.
3. Vanilla... cookies baking, candles burning: a warm, comforting scent.
4. Cinnamon...a sharp, hot holiday scent, both energizing and comforting at the same time.
5. After the rain...the smell of earth and grass that rises up after a cooling summer rain.
6. Orchids...heady, thick and sweet.
7. Lavender...heavy but soothing.
8. Bread baking...nothing smells more like home.
9. Daffodils...they really smell like springtime.
10. Chocolate...mmm....
    

MSNBC: The Week in Pictures August 10-17

MSNBC sends these out every week. Of course, some collections are better than others, but this week's "Week in Pictures" is one of the first collections where I like every single photo.

Studio Friday: Dessert Island

So imagine that you are still on the island and are getting hungry. The beautiful thing is that it is a paradise island and you can make your wish for your favorite desserts!!! Yummy!! Which ones will you wish for?

photo from Betty Crocker

Somewhere on the island, near the crystal clear waterfall, which is just outside the cool, comfortable cave and a stone's throw from the Diet Dr. Pepper spring, is a raspberry bush.

With my "How to Survive on a Desert Island (complete with recipes) book in hand, I'd make my way to the bush and pick those berries, wash them in the waterfall and while they drained, scale the nearby cacao tree. In mere hours, after milking the goat and shaking some pecans off the tree, I'd pull from my hearthstone oven the luscious dessert pictured above.

Cream cheese brownies with rasperry topping. Or without. Save the raspberries for the fresh goat-cream. Just as soon as I harvest the sugar.

Creativity Prompt: Who do you envy and why?

I don't know if I really envy anybody. Though I want what some people have, I don't have any desire to deprive them.

Looking at it as "I want it, but I'm glad you have it," I envy talent. I'd love to have the ability to imagine, and then make my imagination take physical shape. I'd love to paint or draw. I appreciate my ability to, with time and effort, paint word-pictures... but a picture's worth 1000, as they say. If I'm explaining what's in my mind, the room for error and misinterpretation is much greater with a verbal or written description.

I envy people who are happily in love. Gunshy? Maybe. So far, I haven't had a lot of success, but I'm optimistic. I believe in love. I believe I deserve love. I believe I have a lot of love to give.

I envy people with a sense of style, who seem to have that "pulled together" look come so easily. You know the ones. They put on a t-shirt and jeans, and more polished than most of us do in suits. Maybe it's poise, maybe it's body shape, maybe it's flair. I don't know, but I want some. Come to think of it, it's probably because I don't know what it is, that I don't have it.

Accountability: The Weekend List

1. Volunteer at food pantry DONE
2. 10 minutes in each room DONE
   
3. 2 loads of laundry DONE
   
4. blog 100 words each day DONE
   
5. visit Kline Creek Farm DONE
   
6. game Sunday (CANCELED)
   
7. purge tupperware
8. cook for the week
9. set up lunches for the week
10. clean animal cages DONE
    
11. go to library DONE
    

Accountability: The Friday List

Let's try to get at least half of these done today:

1. Finish editing and uploading photos from the Riverwalk DONE
   
2. 10 minute clean-up in each room (put off til Saturday due to others' plans)
   
3. Dinner with the fam (put off til Saturday due to others' plans)
   
4. Blog 100 words DONE
   
5. Studio Friday DONE
   
6. Photo Friday: Friend
   

100 quick words

I looked up in a panic and realized it's 11:40 and I haven't even started my 100-word-per-day challenge. I need to think of something - quick.

And there's my idea. Shamelessly swiping yet another idea from 101 Things in 1001 Days, here's a decorated version of some synonyms for quick:

fast adroit rapid snappy immediate hurried swift sudden prompt nimble vigorous hasty double-time makeshift impulsive precipitous rapid lively purposeful persevering rushed spry zealous sharp spur-of-the-moment stopgap QUICK perspicacious fleet cursory energetic posthaste express headlong impetuous perfunctory instantaneous swift winged breakneck speedy blistering rocketing hastening pronto

And there we have it. 104 words today. Phew.

Accountability: The Thursday List

Late, but not too late, here we go...

1. Drive the Dude out to pick up his buddy DONE
   
2. Grocery list (for real) DONE
   
3. Dishes
4. Pull 10 weeds
5. Grocery shop(?) DONE
   
6. Blog 100 words
7. Watch Going My Way

A day on the Riverwalk

One of my 101 Things is to visit the Riverwalk in all four seasons of the year and take pictures. Today was our Summer visit.

The sun was out, the sky clear, the breeze warm.

When we arrived at the Depot Museum, we discovered an added bonus - an art show was going on inside. We were lucky to arrive just 15 minutes before closing (it's a very tiny museum and only open two hours per day, three days per week), and luckier still that the staff didn't mind when we stayed a little after-hours. Checking museum hours hadn't even occurred to me, but we couldn't have gotten there any earlier.

Between the museum and the Riverwalk, I took over 100 pictures. The stained-glass gazebo, the river, the open gazebo over the water. The old factory near the dam. The baby starlings playing by the water's edge. The Dude and the Bear had a good time, following the trails around and watching fishermen. The Dude braved the high point of the crumbling dam to get a picture of the cataracts rushing over and down to the lower part of the river.

Although the Bear and I have been to the Riverwalk a couple of times before, the Dude hadn't gone with us before. It had been two years since our last trip, though we found it mostly unchanged.

Coming around the Town Government building (converted from an old windmill factory around which the town seems to have grown), we found another open-air art display. It looks like the medium was rebar and fire hoses, and there were several interesting pieces.

One of our favorites - and one of which I'll have to get a photo in each season - is the floral kaleidoscope. It looks like a large brushed-chrome microscope, the pan of which is a flowerpot. When you look through the eyepiece, you see the flowers refracted. Then...you spin the flowerpot. Deliberately planted in a variety of colors, it makes an amazing array of colors and shapes. I can just imagine it with Fall mums and leaves, winter evergreens and spring buds.

We were hot by the end of our day, but with a happy kind of tired, with great memories and several good photos. I'll post them tomorrow.

Accountability: The Wednesday List

Hope springs eternal.

1. Eyebrows DONE
   
2. Library DONE
   
3. Trip to Riverwalk DONE
   
4. Empty Bear's suitcase
5. Clean out under kitchen sink
6. Pull 10 weeds
7. Blog 100 words DONE
   
8. Appointment at 7pm DONE
   
9. Watch "Going my way"
10. 10 pages in Year of Wonders
11. Color hair