Once Around

I did something last month I don't think I've done in more than twenty years.  I went ice skating, if you want to call it that.  

Across the street from where I work is a plaza that in the summer hosts festivals and concerts.  Shortly after the Oktoberfest, an ice skating rink is set up for the holidays.  For the last six years, I have looked at that rink and thought that I should give it a whirl, figuratively speaking.

I used to go ice skating fairly often, though I was never very good at it.  I could skate forward proficiently and even learned to skate backwards and switch from forwards to backwards without falling down.  No Peggy Fleming was I, but I enjoyed it.

So, one day after work, when the office had emptied out early for the weekend, I grabbed my four dollars for skate rental and wandered across the street.  Rental ice skates aren't what I remember them to be.  These were unisex, molded plastic, heavy, terribly fitting things.  The first pair was way too big, so I swapped them for the next size down.  Those were big, too, but I was to embarrassed to ask for yet another pair.  I tied them on and wobbled over to the ice.

It wasn't nearly as easy to do as I remembered it.  I clung to the wall along the side to keep from falling and slowly, ever so slowly, made my way around the rink.  Once.  I managed not to fall, but could barely glide either.  Thankfully, I was the only one there.  No witnesses to this.  

I blame it on the skates.  Not the twenty plus years between skating sessions, or being a bit older, or out of shape, or, or, or . . .

But I haven't had such silly fun and laughed at the absurdity of it all in a long while.  Once around was definitely worth it!

“Do not enjoy yourself. Enjoy dances and theaters and joy-rides and champagne and oysters; enjoy jazz and cocktails and night-clubs if you can enjoy nothing better; enjoy bigamy and burglary and any crime in the calendar, in preference to the other alternative; but never learn to enjoy yourself.” 

– “If I Only Had One Sermon to Preach,” In Defense of Sanity by GK Chesterton

AMDG

When Was the Last Time

Have you heard the latest Darius Rucker song "The First Time"?  For me, it's one of those tunes that just sticks in my head when I hear it on the radio.  I especially like the refrain.

When was the last time you did something for the first time?
Yeah, let yourself go, follow that feeling
Maybe something new is what you're needing
Like a real life, let your hair down, feel alive
When was the last time you did something for the first time?

I took it to heart and did something for the first time.  As I mentioned in the previous post, our county fair was this past week.  A couple weeks before, I bought our tickets to the Demolition Derby.  I had never been to one and wanted to see what all the fuss was about. 

I started out the evening with another first - a corn dog.  I have never had one before and was surprised at just how good it was.  It was gourmet fair food, folks!   After that, we settled in for the main event. 

When I bought the tickets, from the seat map I could tell not many tickets had sold.  By Friday night, though, just about every seat was taken.  

The event started out with the National Anthem (no kneeling!) and then the kids "derby" was held.  It looked like herding cats, trying to get a dozen little ones in their battery operated cars to the starting lines.  But, what a hoot once they started!

Then the main event commenced.  The precautionary fire fighters took their spots and the front loaders positioned huge tires around the perimeter.  In multiple heats, cars that looked like they shouldn't be able to move at all took the field and went at it.  Bumpers, if they still had them, fell off.  Axles broke and smoke spewed.  Most of the cars were hauled off by front loaders.  The few that lasted each round moved on to the final heat.    

Holy cow, it was fun!  You want to know something?  I can seeing giving this a try.

What have you done for the first time?

AMDG

More than a fair Fair

I don't have the best track record when it comes to attending concerts that I actually paid to see.  A couple of summers ago I got tickets to see The Band Perry at the local county fair.  That didn't happen. 

Earlier that same year I had tickets to go see Collin Raye at a fundraiser for a local volunteer fire department.  An ice storm hit just a few hours before we were suppose to leave and we heard many reports of cars off the road.  We didn't dare venture out into that mess.  And, probably ten years before that, tickets to Collin Raye once again went unused when a blizzard snowed us in.

Would the third time be the charm?

You bet!   Collin was playing at a county fair about fifty miles from our house.  In September, it was pretty safe to think we wouldn't have ice or snow to stop us from going.  Actually, the weather on Tuesday was perfect. 

What a great fair it was!  We never did see the animals.  We didn't get too far away from the rides, games and fair food before it was time for the concert to start.  The concert was excellent and he played some of my favorite tunes. 

AMDG

21

We haven't had this much excitement since last October and November in these parts!  I love my Tribe!


AMDG

Adult Coloring Books?

Back in the Fall I read a number of articles touting adult coloring books.  Supposedly these provide a new way to relax and de-stress.  I had a couple of sets of almost-never-used colored pencils sitting around, so I decided to give it a try.  After all, who couldn't use a new way to unwind?

 

I got on Amazon and did a search.  There are over twenty pages of these coloring books from which to choose and there seems to be something for everyone.  Nature appears to be good inspiration for those who create these.  I saw owls and oceans, plenty of trees, leaves, and flowers, dogs, cats, elephants and birds.  Did you know Unicorns Are Jerks? 

 

I learned quickly that I need to be cautious when perusing the selections.  There are those that have very "adult" themes, if you know what I mean.  I'm afraid to see what was in those!

 

I stumbled upon a bunch of faith themed books.  I finally found one that looked promising.  Two days later, my very own coloring book arrived. 

 

Before I could possibly color, I had to have something to organize my pencils.  So out came an old salad dressing jar and my glass etching compound.  I created a simple design with masking tape and slathered on the goop.  Five minutes later, I had a new-to-me pencil holder.

 

I chose a picture, tore it out of the book and started coloring.  What color to start with?  Do I shade or color in solid?

 

I found, for me, coloring ranks right up there (or is it down there) with paint by numbers.  It was frustrating and tedious.  I didn't relax at all.  I enjoyed making the jar so much more.

 

What am I missing?

 

AMDG

There’s a Day for That

Did you know that today is National Chocolate Day?  I didn’t until I saw it on a food blog that I have just started following.

I have noticed lately that there seems to be a lot of “Days.” The obvious ones, the ones that you hear about the most, seem to be around a variety of professions.  National Nurses Day is on  May 6th.  We just missed Teachers Day on October 5th.  And sometime during the year there is Secretaries Day and Hug a Plumber Day.  Veterans Day is coming up on November 11th.

National Techies Day was October 3rd.  I missed that one.  I guess I was too busy celebrating our wedding anniversary.  October 4th, however, is a day not to be missed next year.  National Vodka Day?  Count me in!

There are days for just about any food.  I found fritters, cotton candy, gazpacho, bouillabaisse, maple syrup, roast suckling pig, oatmeal muffin, sangria, French fried shrimp, vinegar, doughnut, nachos, pickle, baklava, stuffing, French toast, whipped cream, popcorn, granola bar, Irish coffee, blueberry pancake, peanut butter and peanut brittle, homemade soup, frozen yogurt, fettuccine alfredo, tortellini, plum pudding, chocolate soufflé, and cream cheese brownie days.  Whew!  And those are just days in five months.  I didn’t look at the other seven.

I’m sorry I missed National Pro-Life Cupcake Day on October 9th.  I’ll put in on the calendar now so I don’t miss it next year.

There are some that just make me scratch my head.  Moldy Cheese Day was on October 9th and No Bra Day was October 13th.  Must I ask why?

We will be busy on December 2nd.  We will be celebrating National Mutt Day.

So how are you celebrating National Chocolate Day?  Me?  I think we’ll have brownies for dessert tonight.


AMDG

Photo Credit

I Think I Got My Money's Worth

Since we were talking about clothes (we were, weren't we?), here's another clothing item that I'm going to mourn its loss.  But, this time not for the memories, but for the comfort.  I had an old pair of "stretch denims" that had too many stains to be worn in public.  Oh boy did they make great gardening pants!  Comfy, stretchy and cool. 

 

I finally gave up on them when the hole got to be about fist sized.  Into the garage trash can they went before I was tempted to wear them again.

 

I think I got my money's worth out of them!

 

P.S. - If you went to the CWWN Ohio conference, you might recognize the t-shirt.

 

 

AMDG

Winner, Winner!

Sorry, no chicken dinner.  But, I do have two winners of the "What's Wrong With the World" giveaway.

In a totally nonrandom, random sort of way, I asked Himself to pick two numbers between one and five.  And, he chose one and five! 

Congratulations Catholic Mutt and Stephanie Z, you're our winners!  Please send me your snail mail and I'll get those right out.


AMDG

Spring Break, Relatively Speaking

 
Once again we headed south to find warmth and sunshine.  The drive down in pouring rain left us wondering if we would find the light we craved, but we knew our destination would provide the warmth.  It was the warmth you find in a relative's welcoming hug and tight embrace and the smile in their eyes when they see you arrive. And, as it was, the sunshine followed soon after.

We spent a few days with my aunt and uncle catching up on family doings and talking politics and news and the state of the world.  We played with the dogs and walked and rested.  I found a new-to-me quilt shop and added to my stash of fabric for my niece's quilt.  We even went for a drive in the Smokey Mountains and visited Cades Cove.  

It may not have been as warm as last year's trip, but it was a whole lot warmer than it was back home - 50s and 60s versus 20s and 30s - and to us that was heaven.  There may have even been fewer flowers in bloom this year versus last year, but, once again, there was much more than was blooming at home.

But we soaked in the vitamin D and breathed in the fragrant and fresh air and reminded ourselves that it was coming.  Soon, relatively soon, this sunshine and warmth would be at home. 

We just need to hold on a little bit longer.  Relatively speaking.


AMDG

There’s No Place Like Gnome

While perusing blogs the other day I read this post over at Small Things.  Although all of Ginny's pictures are quite beautiful, one in particular caught my attention.  It wasn't one of the new baby goats that are so adorable that had me smiling.  It was the one of the Southern Exposure Seed Exchange garden catalog.  It has Gnomes on it!  Lots and lots of Gnomes!

Seeing the Gnomes sent  me on a trip down Memory Lane.  When I was in high school we had to do a speech in one of my classes.  We had our choice of topics: either talk about an embarrassing moment in our lives and what we learned from it or give an informational, teaching talk.  Well, back then I was terribly, horribly, painfully shy so my most embarrassing moment would have been that speech, right then and there.

So, I decided to do the informational speech.  I had recently received the book Gnomes for Christmas and fell in love with these little people.  That would be my topic.

I told the class how Gnomes were small, elusive little people only about 15 centimeters tall and 250 to 300 grams in weight.  They live to be many hundreds of years old and dwell mostly in rural woodlands and farms.  Their senses are far superior to humans, and, like dogs, "see" much of the world through their noses.  It is estimated that they can smell nineteen times better than man!

At about the time a male Gnome turns 100 years old, he begins to think of marriage.  He must search far and wide for a bride, since Gnome populations are scattered and small.  Plump womenfolk, round of form, are the favorite.  Once he has found and won over his bride-to-be, the wedding will take place under the bride's birthday tree at midnight of a full moon. 

Gnome pregnancies always result in twins and last twelve months.  Their families used to be quite large, often with 10 or twelve children, but that is no longer the case. 

I continued to tell the class about Gnomes' relationships with the animals in their environments (they are quiet close) and about how they would entertain themselves (they love to play games).  I brought the book I had received as a present and showed the class some of the pictures.  It was noted that none of the pictures were actual photographs, but instead were paintings and sketches.  Since Gnomes are such private and elusive creatures no one has yet to be able to capture them on film.

Sometime during that speech I lost my shyness and spoke with such passion and conviction about these little people.  The girls in my class asked questions afterwards and walked away wondering if Gnomes actually existed and weren't just a myth.

That catalog cover will soon be adorning my soon-to-be-newly painted laundry room.  I wanted something whimsical and fun to hang on the wall and that artwork has me grinning ear-to-ear.

Gnome sweet Gnomes!


AMDG

Joy on a Gray Day

Yesterday has to have been one of the grayest, dreariest days I have seen in a long time.  It was like someone took a can of flat, gray paint and coated the sky in a dismal stainless steel color.  There was no texture, no clouds, nothing to break it up.

So, what's a girl to do?  Go to the park for a walk.  And, apparently someone felt the need to spread a little cheer.  It was much appreciated!

AMDG

Tale of a pumkin or "fun with food"

We have tried to grow pumpkins in gardens past but were never very successful.  That is all changing this year.  Our little patch has at least twenty of these lovlies ripening at the moment.  When we were checking them the other day we found one with a bad spot. We picked it so it would not rot on the vine.

As we were walking back to the house Himself accidentally put his thumb through the bad spot.  Being goofy, he stuck his empty beer bottle in the hole.  I decided that it needed a face so Himself obliged me and drew this for me.

 

I later cut out the bad stuff and roasted what was left of the pumpkin.  I made a couple of pies that we took to Dad's on Monday.  Yum!

 

Sometimes you just got to play with your food!

 



AMDG

Really?? Thank you very much!

We hosted a big family picnic a couple of weeks ago.  I had a lot of grocery shopping to do, and among the many items I purchased were two six packs of local beer.  As the cashier came to those two items, she stopped, looked at me, and asked me for my ID.

Really?  I’m pushing the half century mark and have been “legal” for longer than I haven’t.

For about a half second I was insulted.  As I handed her my driver’s license I silently thanked God for my marvelous genes and the cashier’s poor eyesight!

AMDG

Plenty of parking in the im-pond lot

Usually on Saturday mornings we head to the park for a hike.  We were a little surprised at what we saw on the way there yesterday.

Given all the tire tracks on the left side of the pond, I'm sure someone had to have been doing something stupid.

A couple of times we have seen cars in the front as the pond sits at bottom of a hill at the end of a really sharp curve in the road.  But the back???

I'd love to hear the story they tell their insurance company!


AMDG

Roses are red. . .

. . . and white and yellow and peach, pink, red and fuchsia.  And so much more.

I was on the west coast for work last week.  One evening I had some time to fill so I stopped in the International Rose Test Garden in Portland. 

Oh my goodness!  It is a fairyland of flowers!  There are tens of thousands of plants of every kind of rose imaginable. 

After being stuck in a stuffy conference room all day it was a great way to refresh and rejuvenate.  I wish I could have bottled up the scent, so sweet and pretty.

"Of all Flowers, me thinks a Rose is best" 

The Two Noble Kinsmen - William Shakespeare and John Fletcher

AMDG

Really? Already???

I was on vacation last week and decided to do some errands on Tuesday aftrnoon.  One of the stops I made was at Hobby Lobby.  I love that store, but as I was walking through it, they had me scratching my head.  Christmas decorations already???  It's only June!

 

AMDG

I need to tell you something

He don't got a belly button

Since we don't have kids we don't often get the chance to see kids' movies and television.  But, trying to be a good Godmother to my niece, Sara, her Easter basket always has to have something besides candy.  I remembered that friends of ours used to have Veggie Tales videos for their many kids to watch.  So down to the Christian bookstore I went and, two DVDs later, Sara's Easter basket was complete.

What I didn't count on was just how much I was going to enjoy them.  They are funny.  If you really listen to the lyrics they are very, very clever.

And part of me wonders just what the writers were drinking when they wrote these songs!

Baby I know your eyes see right through my disguise

And no one can deny

Baby that I'm the one whose love is no surprise

And he can't tell you no lie

But there's a secret I've been hidin'

I can't keep it no more

There's this thing about himself

He's never told you before

Baby!

He needs to tell you something

I don't got a belly button

(No belly button, no)

Oh, I need to tell you something

Can you figure it out

He don't got a belly button

Belly button no, oh no, no

Baby please don't squeal, just tell me how you feel

'Cause his love is for real

And if you went away, my heart would never heal

So to you he appeals

There's something missing in my middle

And it's hard to ignore

There's this thing about himself

He's never told you before

Baby!

He needs to tell you something

I don't got a belly button

(No belly button, no)

Oh, I need to tell you something

Can you figure it out

He don't got a belly button

Belly button no, oh no, no

AMDG

Time

What is it with time?  For most people, this is a short work week.  When I talk with people around here they are all complaining that the week feels so, so long.  Isn’t it Friday yet???

I have to admit, I’m one of the complainers.  This week feels painfully long.  What do you mean it’s only Thursday??

Why do short weeks feel so long?  Do we try to pack in five days of tasks into this shorter week?

Don't answer that.

It is a beautiful, glorious week.  We have sunshine and blue skies.  Just like Camelot, it has only been raining at night.  The temperatures couldn’t be more perfect, low to mid seventies.

So, perhaps instead of complaining that time is standing still, I ought to enjoy it.  I’ve been told that growlers don’t just empty themselves and help is needed at home to do so.


AMDG

Yes, Donna, there is a Spring

Really.  There is.  It's not make believe like Santa Claus.

We had to drive over five hundred miles in pouring rain to find it.  But, I think we would have driven twice that far just to feel some warmth and see green growth and pretty flowers.

After a March, no, after a winter, we would rather soon forget, a trip south to visit relatives was just what was needed. 

There was sunshine and flowering trees.  The tulips and daffodils were blooming.

Time spent on the porch chatting was just enough to suffer the first sunburn of the season.

And it was good.



AMDG

It's a small world after all

It's amazing just how much we rely on technology.  When my laptop died a quick and painful death about a month ago, I suddenly felt rather cut off from many things.  I use email and FB to keep in touch with friends and family.  I pay bills online and make purchases the same way.  I hardly ever watch television to get the news and weather forecast since it's so readily available on the net.

Truth be told, I wasn't completely cut off.  I had my work laptop that I could sneak in a few personal tasks.  And that did come in handy while looking for a new machine. 

I thought I located the perfect replacement, an HP running Windows 7 with plenty of memory and  large hard drive.  But a couple of days after I ordered it from a vendor on Amazon I got a notice that they oversold that model and no longer could fulfill my purchase.  Back to square one!

Himself found a website where I could order a Toshiba to my specifications and the price was comparable to the HP I had wanted.  So I placed my ordered and hoped for the best. 

We joked around that I would get it eventually, that it was going to be on the proverbial Slow boat from China.  We weren't completely off base with that guess.  It was being put together there, in a city called Chongqing. 

But, what we were completely wrong about was the speed of delivery.  FedEx was notified at 11:31pm on Sunday (3/10) and it was in my grubby little hands on Friday morning at 11:13am (3/14).

That blows my mind.  Only five days and it was here!

It's a small world after all!

 

AMDG!