Today I had occasion to go into one of the cathedral offices, and the person there was watching a video of the hanging of the bells on her computer. I asked when it had been done as it was only three days since the blessing. She said, "They finished about an hour ago." There was a huge crane moving slightly back, and then I heard a deep "bong", and she told me that as each bell went into the tower it was struck by a 2 x 4 to check it out.
I asked who was up there in the tower hanging them. She replied, "The bell hanger... from Whitechapel; he came with the bells." I guess we send him back. I told her I'd been wondering how they would be hung, who could do it. I mean, do we just go online to DIY for directions on how to hang a ton of bells? Now I know, and so do you.
Can't wait to "hear dem bells." Guess it will be Christmas Eve and/or Christmas Day. Advent will seem really long this year.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Monday, November 30, 2009
BLESSING OF THE BELLS
This was one of those really good days when one receives a special feeling of grace. There was a brief service at 4:00 p.m. for the blessing of the bells which were cast by Whitechapel Foundry in London, who also cast the Liberty Bell and the bell(?s) of Big Ben. These have been on order for the cathedral I don’t know how long. We have been without the use of our smaller parking lot for about three months in order to prepare the bell tower to receive them. They arrived last week, and today was our opportunity to see and touch them for once they are placed hardly anyone will be able to get to them. Believe me, they are most impressive and each seems to be a character in its own right. Well, I guess each one really is.
Some were donated by individuals or families in honor of someone or several family members; some were donated by groups, like the choir, or altar guild. I chose to sit near the bell honoring the choir master though I’m not in the choir. He’s a special person. The biggest bell of all honored our first Dean of the Cathedral (We’re only on our second Dean now.), and he was present, and I was happy to receive a hug from him.
There had been a write-up or two about three months ago when some of our parishioners went to England to see a portion of the casting process, and we also had a picture of Her Majesty Elizabeth II visiting the foundry as our bells were cast. I mean it actually showed Shreveport, LA on the bell next to her. How cool is that?
Though the service was brief each bell was blessed. Everyone who came seemed surprised to see so many people there. I think we all just dropped what we were doing and just went; I in blue jeans and boots. There were probably 300 or so there. Because the weather turned decidedly chilly overnight the service was moved indoors, and each of those enormous bells moved inside. They filled the central aisle of the nave.
Want to take a look? O.K., here we go. The first picture is to show the foundry name. I had to use the flash to get the lettering to show up so it is not the true color. You’ll see that in the other pictures.
This is the choir master bell; it’s an F, musically speaking. Sorry, I cut off the top, but I was trying to get the inscription---didn’t use the flash; my mistake. I think it has the bridge on top, but I don’t really remember for sure.
These bells with the bridge on top, my word for it, can swing 360 degrees, whereas the others don’t. I can’t imagine what strength it takes to make these suckers sound out.
As the cathedral cleared after the service I got this last picture. There are seventeen bells in all. I think I’m inspired to reread Dorothy Sayers’ mystery, The Nine Tailors. If you haven’t read it, do.
Some were donated by individuals or families in honor of someone or several family members; some were donated by groups, like the choir, or altar guild. I chose to sit near the bell honoring the choir master though I’m not in the choir. He’s a special person. The biggest bell of all honored our first Dean of the Cathedral (We’re only on our second Dean now.), and he was present, and I was happy to receive a hug from him.
There had been a write-up or two about three months ago when some of our parishioners went to England to see a portion of the casting process, and we also had a picture of Her Majesty Elizabeth II visiting the foundry as our bells were cast. I mean it actually showed Shreveport, LA on the bell next to her. How cool is that?
Though the service was brief each bell was blessed. Everyone who came seemed surprised to see so many people there. I think we all just dropped what we were doing and just went; I in blue jeans and boots. There were probably 300 or so there. Because the weather turned decidedly chilly overnight the service was moved indoors, and each of those enormous bells moved inside. They filled the central aisle of the nave.
Want to take a look? O.K., here we go. The first picture is to show the foundry name. I had to use the flash to get the lettering to show up so it is not the true color. You’ll see that in the other pictures.
This is the choir master bell; it’s an F, musically speaking. Sorry, I cut off the top, but I was trying to get the inscription---didn’t use the flash; my mistake. I think it has the bridge on top, but I don’t really remember for sure.
These bells with the bridge on top, my word for it, can swing 360 degrees, whereas the others don’t. I can’t imagine what strength it takes to make these suckers sound out.
As the cathedral cleared after the service I got this last picture. There are seventeen bells in all. I think I’m inspired to reread Dorothy Sayers’ mystery, The Nine Tailors. If you haven’t read it, do.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
THAKSGIVING, YES!
SOMETIMES, we just get too busy to write something that encompasses what the heart feels, so I'm borrowing from another blogger. But don't miss what I previously posted because that's part of my thanksgiving too. Have a happy, thankful day.
http://margaretandhelen.wordpress.com/
Sorry, you'll have to copy and paste the URL into your browser. It will be worth it.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
GOOD FRIENDS
I love being with friends. My Bible study group met tonight.
If one has a need a friend understands.
A friend is patient.
A friend lets you have your turn.
That pretty much describes my Bible study group. Friends who take turns and can say whatever he or she wishes . . . . Tonight one person told about coming home from college and as they sat around the dinner table told her family about her first course in African-American studies which she found very exciting. She said it became apparent that they were not thrilled with her story, and it was met with stony silence. That was when she became aware of how racist her family was, and it shocked her.
Then another member of the group said that reminded her of a family that was gathered for Thanksgiving dinner, and a huge group of people was gathered. The son who had been away at college insisted that he offer the blessing, so they agreed. This is what he said:
God is good.
God is great.
God is not white,
Nor male,
Nor straight.
Well, we had to get up off the floor after that; we had laughed so hard. Three people were immediately writing that down. (I was not one of them. Brag, brag: I could remember it until now.) But I just wanted to say how grateful I am for friends and the comfort zone they provide.
Monday, November 2, 2009
THIS HAS GOT TO BE A FIRST ! ! !
You know my passion for estate sales. Well, last weekend one of the estate sale entrepreneurs had a second sale at a house where they had previously held one a month before. I labeled the first one as the home of our city's most creative/productive citizen(s). One whole wall had been constructed to show off rooms and homes done as miniatures (just like a miniature museum). It even included a miniature greenhouse. Each was sold separately, but I didn't buy one. There were other miniature rooms done in large wooden cubes, half-clay pots, small boxes, including an Egyptian one in other rooms. They were wonderful. There was decoupaged furniture---chairs, tables, and a piano. I know this may sound really yukky, but I promise you they were really beautiful. (Ask Jaz.) There was a room of tools that had so many built in shelving units one had to move sideways through it. Every inch in that house was used/decorated including the bathrooms. There was also a lean-to greenhouse at the back with a fireplace. Did I love that? You betcha. I didn't buy anything at the first sale.
Usually this dealer has a half-of-half sale on Sun. afternoon if they have too much stuff left on Sat. afternoon. However, at the first sale none of the bedrooms was included in the sale. Therefore, they had a second sale one month later. The "museum wall" had been removed; the shelving units were gone from the tool room, and this time the bedrooms and bathrooms were included. One of the bathrooms which had probably been added on was the size of my two bedrooms and bath, though with turns and curves. Very impressive.
At the second sale I fell in love with a frame I wanted to use for a poster (?) I bought in Toledo, Spain, five yrs. ago. I had to come home and get the poster to take it back to see if it would fit. Well, of course, it didn't exactly, but I figured I could make it work. And here's the big surprise---the first! I have completed this project in three days.
This photo doesn't do it justice because the poster has glimmers of gold which don't show up, but it's the best I could do with my camera. Anyway, I love it!
Usually this dealer has a half-of-half sale on Sun. afternoon if they have too much stuff left on Sat. afternoon. However, at the first sale none of the bedrooms was included in the sale. Therefore, they had a second sale one month later. The "museum wall" had been removed; the shelving units were gone from the tool room, and this time the bedrooms and bathrooms were included. One of the bathrooms which had probably been added on was the size of my two bedrooms and bath, though with turns and curves. Very impressive.
At the second sale I fell in love with a frame I wanted to use for a poster (?) I bought in Toledo, Spain, five yrs. ago. I had to come home and get the poster to take it back to see if it would fit. Well, of course, it didn't exactly, but I figured I could make it work. And here's the big surprise---the first! I have completed this project in three days.
This photo doesn't do it justice because the poster has glimmers of gold which don't show up, but it's the best I could do with my camera. Anyway, I love it!
Saturday, October 31, 2009
A FEW OLD SAYINGS COME TO MIND . . . .
In every life a little rain must fall.
It never rains but it pours.
When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.
Etc., etc., etc.
When I last blogged I mentioned that severe weather was on the way. Well, the forecast was not wrong. We began having showers a little before noon yesterday, and the sky was very ominous all day. A little before two the storms began, and I switched to the local ABC affiliate to see what was happening. The local weather guy began tracking what was happening locally, and bless his heart, he was on until about 10:30 p.m. I wasn’t with him the whole time, but I’ll explain that.
The storm spawned a tornado which touched down in the south part of “our fair city”, curved toward the airport, went back up, then headed downtown. There the force of the winds were strong enough to topple the steeple of one of our landmark beauties, First United Methodist Church. (Sorry, I don’t have a before picture, but the church is at the end of a street which inclines upward so that it has the sky as a background---very dramatic, very beautiful.) Unfortunately, a car had stopped for the red traffic light in front of the church.
The man in the car crushed by the church steeple was not killed, nor critically injured. He has a broken sternum, wrist, a few other injuries, and will have to wear a body cast for a few weeks, He was unconscious only a brief time, and was aware of the effort to get him out of the car which took almost an hour. Everyone thinks that is a miracle, and I do too. Look at that car!
It kept raining throughout the afternoon. Jaz had asked me to pick up Oyster at her after school program because she, Jaz, had a five o’clock dental appointment. (That’s a whole ‘nother story.) A woman from the program walked her out under an umbrella in the downpour. I almost lost it when she gasped just after we drove away, and she said she'd left her webkind in the bldg. Of course, she shouldn't have had it there in the first place. So, I drove around the block and got out with umbrella to take her back in to get it. A couple of hrs. later we wouldn't have been able to get out of that neighborhood due to flooding. I stayed at their (Chill & Jaz's) house until Jaz came in from the dentist's, and I arrived home just as another of the major storms started, about 6:45 p.m. Of course, it was raining the whole time I was driving around with lightening and thunder, but the streets weren't flooded yet. However, by 7:15 Stratford, the street beside my house and where my driveway is, was flooded and stayed that way about three hrs. until it finally went down to curb level. When I arrived home, had closed the gate, but was back under the carport gathering my stuff, there were two separate lightening flashes followed by deafening thunder, the kind that vibrates your bones, really scared the bejeebers out of me, and I began to wonder if I could make the run over to the house without getting struck by lightening. Obviously, I did, quaking all the way.
Anyway the rest of the evening was spent checking the weather news which included several more "rotation" warnings but no more tornadoes. There were apparently three in the afternoon: the one which hit our city, one in the city across the river, and one which hit a small town which is a few miles east of there. There a tree fell onto a house cutting it in half. Thousands are/were without power across the area, and many won't have it back until sometime Saturday. So far it's been o.k. at my house with only a couple of flickers. This is rare as our neighborhood is usually one of the first to go.
This morning as the light finally came I discovered that a Ford Explorer (?) had gotten stuck in my back neighbor’s yard. A police car sat behind it this morning for about an hour until the wrecker came to tow it away. I knew a number of foolish people kept driving down the street beside my house last night. What part of don't drive into flooded streets is so hard to understand?
There was one fatality---a 20 yr. old drove into a tree, and two other cars also hit the tree at different times. However, the accident report was not very clear, so I'm not sure what happened there. That was in NW part of the city in the vicinity of one of the lakes. All the schools were closed today and a number of streets as well. It's been a genuine mess. I'm feeling very lucky.
Here you can see how far up into the yard the flood water came shown by the leaf line.
This evening my weather guy said our neighborhood had 7.15 inches of rain. Added to the 15 inches we've already received this month we've more than set a new record for October here. I sincerely hope we don't beat the Nov. record this year.
But, guess what! When I checked the area that was flooded I found some gifts. I’m thinking there will be a pecan pie in my holiday menu this year. YUM...my favorite.
Sometimes life gives you NUTS.
It never rains but it pours.
When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.
Etc., etc., etc.
When I last blogged I mentioned that severe weather was on the way. Well, the forecast was not wrong. We began having showers a little before noon yesterday, and the sky was very ominous all day. A little before two the storms began, and I switched to the local ABC affiliate to see what was happening. The local weather guy began tracking what was happening locally, and bless his heart, he was on until about 10:30 p.m. I wasn’t with him the whole time, but I’ll explain that.
The storm spawned a tornado which touched down in the south part of “our fair city”, curved toward the airport, went back up, then headed downtown. There the force of the winds were strong enough to topple the steeple of one of our landmark beauties, First United Methodist Church. (Sorry, I don’t have a before picture, but the church is at the end of a street which inclines upward so that it has the sky as a background---very dramatic, very beautiful.) Unfortunately, a car had stopped for the red traffic light in front of the church.
The man in the car crushed by the church steeple was not killed, nor critically injured. He has a broken sternum, wrist, a few other injuries, and will have to wear a body cast for a few weeks, He was unconscious only a brief time, and was aware of the effort to get him out of the car which took almost an hour. Everyone thinks that is a miracle, and I do too. Look at that car!
It kept raining throughout the afternoon. Jaz had asked me to pick up Oyster at her after school program because she, Jaz, had a five o’clock dental appointment. (That’s a whole ‘nother story.) A woman from the program walked her out under an umbrella in the downpour. I almost lost it when she gasped just after we drove away, and she said she'd left her webkind in the bldg. Of course, she shouldn't have had it there in the first place. So, I drove around the block and got out with umbrella to take her back in to get it. A couple of hrs. later we wouldn't have been able to get out of that neighborhood due to flooding. I stayed at their (Chill & Jaz's) house until Jaz came in from the dentist's, and I arrived home just as another of the major storms started, about 6:45 p.m. Of course, it was raining the whole time I was driving around with lightening and thunder, but the streets weren't flooded yet. However, by 7:15 Stratford, the street beside my house and where my driveway is, was flooded and stayed that way about three hrs. until it finally went down to curb level. When I arrived home, had closed the gate, but was back under the carport gathering my stuff, there were two separate lightening flashes followed by deafening thunder, the kind that vibrates your bones, really scared the bejeebers out of me, and I began to wonder if I could make the run over to the house without getting struck by lightening. Obviously, I did, quaking all the way.
Anyway the rest of the evening was spent checking the weather news which included several more "rotation" warnings but no more tornadoes. There were apparently three in the afternoon: the one which hit our city, one in the city across the river, and one which hit a small town which is a few miles east of there. There a tree fell onto a house cutting it in half. Thousands are/were without power across the area, and many won't have it back until sometime Saturday. So far it's been o.k. at my house with only a couple of flickers. This is rare as our neighborhood is usually one of the first to go.
This morning as the light finally came I discovered that a Ford Explorer (?) had gotten stuck in my back neighbor’s yard. A police car sat behind it this morning for about an hour until the wrecker came to tow it away. I knew a number of foolish people kept driving down the street beside my house last night. What part of don't drive into flooded streets is so hard to understand?
There was one fatality---a 20 yr. old drove into a tree, and two other cars also hit the tree at different times. However, the accident report was not very clear, so I'm not sure what happened there. That was in NW part of the city in the vicinity of one of the lakes. All the schools were closed today and a number of streets as well. It's been a genuine mess. I'm feeling very lucky.
Here you can see how far up into the yard the flood water came shown by the leaf line.
This evening my weather guy said our neighborhood had 7.15 inches of rain. Added to the 15 inches we've already received this month we've more than set a new record for October here. I sincerely hope we don't beat the Nov. record this year.
But, guess what! When I checked the area that was flooded I found some gifts. I’m thinking there will be a pecan pie in my holiday menu this year. YUM...my favorite.
Sometimes life gives you NUTS.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
PICK OF THE DAY
The weather forecasters and Homeland Security have warned us that rain today and tomorrow may produce as much as 2 - 9 inches. Since we’ve already had 15 inches of rain this month the ground is saturated, and the dogs are insulted if I make them go outside for a few minutes.
But before all this weather began I went out this morning to gather whatever might have appeared in the garden over the last week. Take a look. You may be as surprised as I was.
The oregano has come back with a vengeance, and, yep, another two dozen jalapenos. Uh-oh, here comes the thunder again; have to unplug the computer. . .AGAIN!
But before all this weather began I went out this morning to gather whatever might have appeared in the garden over the last week. Take a look. You may be as surprised as I was.
The oregano has come back with a vengeance, and, yep, another two dozen jalapenos. Uh-oh, here comes the thunder again; have to unplug the computer. . .AGAIN!
Friday, October 23, 2009
IF I WORKED AS HARD EVERYDAY . . .
as I've worked yesterday and today, my house would be clean and tidy, there would be no flab on my abs, I would go to bed at a reasonable time, and my cholesterol would be in the normal range again. Guess there's a lesson to learn here. Sorry, I'm talking to myself.
I told you about the big furniture purchase a couple of weeks ago for the guest room. I have really felt apologetic about the bed, and the whole room, for so long. Right after I got the new stuff to the carport we had torrential rains, and two days later I called Travis (remember the airport taxi service) and asked if he could help me move it into the house. I was afraid it was going to be severely warped by all the dampness and possibly just plain get soaked. So on Monday he and Jane came over and helped me move it into the dining area of the house. Thank goodness, they did. We wound up having twice the average rainfall for a month in our area in about a week. No way I could have kept it protected.
Anyway, yesterday I finally decided to bite the bullet and get as much as possible out of the guest room and get ready for the new/old stuff. I took down the bed, removed the headboard & footboard, put the mattress & spring against the wall. Then I emptied the drawers of the chest o'drawers and removed it. Then I moved the sewing machine over about six feet. Here are the before pictures. Remember you can click on them to see them enlarged. I'm trying to save space. Oh yeah, I didn't start taking pictures until I had started stripping down, so things are somewhat disheveled. (That means sometimes it looked better/worse than this. This is where I store Xmas presents throughout the year, so it varies.)
Jazz came over a little after eight this morning, after taking Oyster to school, to help me move furniture from dining area to bedroom. She even took away the old chest of drawers to paint and add to Oyster's room (God & Jazz only know where. ) That took us just little over an hour. And she went on to other ventures.
When Goo moved away I wondered how I would ever get my projects finished as most require at least two people to accomplish at various points. But Chill graciously married an enterprising and imaginative woman who helps me with my outrageous plans. (I don't think he told her about me in their courting days.) I am too lucky.
Here's the way it looks now. It's not all done, but this gives you an idea of where it might go.
I spent the rest of the day washing the new/old furniture with Murphy's Oil;running an errand; doing two loads of laundry; changing the sheets on my bed and making up the new bed; sweeping the kitchen;pledging to public radio; watering the orchids; turning on heat for the orchids tonight; and a few more things that don't come to mind right now. It's been a full day. Here are the last shots of the new furniture. Be sure to let me know what you think. And I promise you, Goo, it is a firm mattress.
And remember there's now room to walk on both sides of the bed. Isn't that great?
BTW, is anybody else having as much trouble as I am getting things to work on this blog place? Graphics, particularly, are stacking, and I wind up spending 2/3 more time trying to get the edits to work, i.e. get things to show up in the right space.
I told you about the big furniture purchase a couple of weeks ago for the guest room. I have really felt apologetic about the bed, and the whole room, for so long. Right after I got the new stuff to the carport we had torrential rains, and two days later I called Travis (remember the airport taxi service) and asked if he could help me move it into the house. I was afraid it was going to be severely warped by all the dampness and possibly just plain get soaked. So on Monday he and Jane came over and helped me move it into the dining area of the house. Thank goodness, they did. We wound up having twice the average rainfall for a month in our area in about a week. No way I could have kept it protected.
Anyway, yesterday I finally decided to bite the bullet and get as much as possible out of the guest room and get ready for the new/old stuff. I took down the bed, removed the headboard & footboard, put the mattress & spring against the wall. Then I emptied the drawers of the chest o'drawers and removed it. Then I moved the sewing machine over about six feet. Here are the before pictures. Remember you can click on them to see them enlarged. I'm trying to save space. Oh yeah, I didn't start taking pictures until I had started stripping down, so things are somewhat disheveled. (That means sometimes it looked better/worse than this. This is where I store Xmas presents throughout the year, so it varies.)
Jazz came over a little after eight this morning, after taking Oyster to school, to help me move furniture from dining area to bedroom. She even took away the old chest of drawers to paint and add to Oyster's room (God & Jazz only know where. ) That took us just little over an hour. And she went on to other ventures.
When Goo moved away I wondered how I would ever get my projects finished as most require at least two people to accomplish at various points. But Chill graciously married an enterprising and imaginative woman who helps me with my outrageous plans. (I don't think he told her about me in their courting days.) I am too lucky.
Here's the way it looks now. It's not all done, but this gives you an idea of where it might go.
I spent the rest of the day washing the new/old furniture with Murphy's Oil;running an errand; doing two loads of laundry; changing the sheets on my bed and making up the new bed; sweeping the kitchen;pledging to public radio; watering the orchids; turning on heat for the orchids tonight; and a few more things that don't come to mind right now. It's been a full day. Here are the last shots of the new furniture. Be sure to let me know what you think. And I promise you, Goo, it is a firm mattress.
And remember there's now room to walk on both sides of the bed. Isn't that great?
BTW, is anybody else having as much trouble as I am getting things to work on this blog place? Graphics, particularly, are stacking, and I wind up spending 2/3 more time trying to get the edits to work, i.e. get things to show up in the right space.
Saturday, October 10, 2009
WEEKENDS ARE KILLING ME!
Well, things have been a bit hectic to say the least. The last weekend in Sept. our orchid society hosted a regional orchid show. It was somewhat smaller than our usual shows, but it didn't mean less work for those of us who do . . . the work. It was not well attended by the public, so that was a disappointment; we had fewer vendors, but that was a mixed blessing. If we'd had our usual number they would have been disappointed because of the light turnout; as it was those there did a decent business but did not sell out as they pretty much did two years ago. Asi es la vida. I think we had a lovely display which you'll see below. No trophy for me this time, but I did win a blue ribbon which is right in the center of the display. My work this time was not to set up the display but to prepare the plant labels (the green ones on the little sticks) the night before set-up. On set-up day I was in charge of plant registration meaning I received the little billets which each society or individual submitted for each plant or exhibit. My committee then had to organize these in folders for the judges to use the next day when they judged plants and exhibits. I had the process in hand, and my terrific committee polished it off in record time. It was a long, hard weekend because there was also maintenance of the hospitality room, schmoozing of visitors, takedown of everything, and those of us who worked it spent at least the following Mon. and Tues. recuperating. Here's our display.
The next weekend Jazz and I finally had our often postponed yard sale. The first tentative scheduling was in April, I think. It's hard to remember anymore. We ran into other events, bad weather forecasts, and personal illness/malaise. Then we ruled out mid-summer as just too hot and found the same problems haunting us in the fall. Persevering though we finally placed the ad and launched our endeavor; unfortunately when I arrived to start setting things out the first day of the sale Jazz came to the door looking like death on a stick with a migraine headache. She mustered in though, and we went through with the sale. Although we planned to start the sale at noon she'd had a doorbell ringer at 7:00 a.m. Go figure. We didn't make as much as we did on previous sales, but we did gain some space, and we managed to unload two items we really wanted to get rid of---a mower for her, and an edger for me. Just like the beginning of the sale the purchaser of these two items came after we "officially" closed the sale and were putting things away. However, he had cash and came close enough to our prices, and we couldn't say no. Would you?
This weekend was supposed to be the downtime weekend. I went on my usual round of estate sales on Friday morning and bought a couple of 45's---you know, for that turntable record player I bought last month. I thought they might be of interest to my grandchildren when they come to visit. One is "Does the Chewing Gum Lose It's Flavor on the Bedpost Overnight?" Now where can you hear that anymore? Interestingly, it has the same song on both sides of the record. Does that tell you what a hit it was? Or did this guy only have one song in his repertoire? (Probably.) The other one was "Joy to the World" by Three Dog Night. I had this previously, but it was on eight-track (remember that?), and the eight-tracks are long gone as well as the means to play them. Anyway, I loved that song and its infectious good cheer. When I went upstairs to the bedroom that had been made from part of the attic I saw a most unusual very sturdy double bed with a cedar lined drawer built into the footboard and a matching desk/chest of drawers. Both pieces were quite unique. Oh, well.
Well, I went back this afternoon when prices had dropped to 50% off to try to get the 45 record I didn't buy yesterday---"I Am Woman" by Helen Reddy and to see if they had either of the record racks they had yesterday. I didn't really have any way to take care of/store the 45's I bought yesterday. DUH! Unfortunately, Helen was gone (Damn!). However, when I went upstairs to look for the record racks I saw yesterday one was still there. YEA! And it fits in my alleged entertainment center. But guess what! The unique bed and desk/chest were still there too. But not anymore; they are now in my carport.
Are you ready for the miraculous part of this story? Transport of these purchases is always up to the purchaser. Of course, my first instinct was to go to Chillax (he with the truck) to see if he might be able to go to the house on Sun. when the buyout people came to haul away whatever was left. The operators of the estate sale didn't know when they were coming yet, so that was "iffy." I left his store with the understanding we would try to work that out. Thirty minutes later he called and said he was going to put a sign out and close the store, and he and his friend Mark would go pick up the furniture, so I should call the Magnolia Estate Sale people and let them know he was coming. You can bet I did. I met them there with quilts, etc. to act as furniture buffers. (Wish I had time to tell how we almost killed a woman with a bed spring.) You in the family know that this is probably a once in a lifetime event . . . that Chill would close the store to fetch estate sale purchases. MUST HAVE BEEN A REALLY SLOW DAY! But I am eternally grateful for his benevolence, and neither of us has to go to bed wondering how we're going to negotiate all this tomorrow. I haven't mentioned that tomorrow afternoon we have the orchid society picnic/auction, have I? If it weren't for the business meeting where we really have to do some serious business I would blow that off. I don't need more orchids. On the other hand, the guest bed has been a source of concern for a long time. It was originally (?) my parents' bed, then my Aunt Janie's, then mine. And for the past 16 yrs. the guest bed. It is very wobbly. The new/old bed is not, and it will match another piece of furniture in the room. WooHoo!
No doubt, you see where this is leading. Now I have two pieces of furniture for the next yard sale. Maybe we can put "antiques" in the ad. And I have major work ahead of me to clear out the old and bring in the new. It looks like the circle is unbroken.
The next weekend Jazz and I finally had our often postponed yard sale. The first tentative scheduling was in April, I think. It's hard to remember anymore. We ran into other events, bad weather forecasts, and personal illness/malaise. Then we ruled out mid-summer as just too hot and found the same problems haunting us in the fall. Persevering though we finally placed the ad and launched our endeavor; unfortunately when I arrived to start setting things out the first day of the sale Jazz came to the door looking like death on a stick with a migraine headache. She mustered in though, and we went through with the sale. Although we planned to start the sale at noon she'd had a doorbell ringer at 7:00 a.m. Go figure. We didn't make as much as we did on previous sales, but we did gain some space, and we managed to unload two items we really wanted to get rid of---a mower for her, and an edger for me. Just like the beginning of the sale the purchaser of these two items came after we "officially" closed the sale and were putting things away. However, he had cash and came close enough to our prices, and we couldn't say no. Would you?
This weekend was supposed to be the downtime weekend. I went on my usual round of estate sales on Friday morning and bought a couple of 45's---you know, for that turntable record player I bought last month. I thought they might be of interest to my grandchildren when they come to visit. One is "Does the Chewing Gum Lose It's Flavor on the Bedpost Overnight?" Now where can you hear that anymore? Interestingly, it has the same song on both sides of the record. Does that tell you what a hit it was? Or did this guy only have one song in his repertoire? (Probably.) The other one was "Joy to the World" by Three Dog Night. I had this previously, but it was on eight-track (remember that?), and the eight-tracks are long gone as well as the means to play them. Anyway, I loved that song and its infectious good cheer. When I went upstairs to the bedroom that had been made from part of the attic I saw a most unusual very sturdy double bed with a cedar lined drawer built into the footboard and a matching desk/chest of drawers. Both pieces were quite unique. Oh, well.
Well, I went back this afternoon when prices had dropped to 50% off to try to get the 45 record I didn't buy yesterday---"I Am Woman" by Helen Reddy and to see if they had either of the record racks they had yesterday. I didn't really have any way to take care of/store the 45's I bought yesterday. DUH! Unfortunately, Helen was gone (Damn!). However, when I went upstairs to look for the record racks I saw yesterday one was still there. YEA! And it fits in my alleged entertainment center. But guess what! The unique bed and desk/chest were still there too. But not anymore; they are now in my carport.
Are you ready for the miraculous part of this story? Transport of these purchases is always up to the purchaser. Of course, my first instinct was to go to Chillax (he with the truck) to see if he might be able to go to the house on Sun. when the buyout people came to haul away whatever was left. The operators of the estate sale didn't know when they were coming yet, so that was "iffy." I left his store with the understanding we would try to work that out. Thirty minutes later he called and said he was going to put a sign out and close the store, and he and his friend Mark would go pick up the furniture, so I should call the Magnolia Estate Sale people and let them know he was coming. You can bet I did. I met them there with quilts, etc. to act as furniture buffers. (Wish I had time to tell how we almost killed a woman with a bed spring.) You in the family know that this is probably a once in a lifetime event . . . that Chill would close the store to fetch estate sale purchases. MUST HAVE BEEN A REALLY SLOW DAY! But I am eternally grateful for his benevolence, and neither of us has to go to bed wondering how we're going to negotiate all this tomorrow. I haven't mentioned that tomorrow afternoon we have the orchid society picnic/auction, have I? If it weren't for the business meeting where we really have to do some serious business I would blow that off. I don't need more orchids. On the other hand, the guest bed has been a source of concern for a long time. It was originally (?) my parents' bed, then my Aunt Janie's, then mine. And for the past 16 yrs. the guest bed. It is very wobbly. The new/old bed is not, and it will match another piece of furniture in the room. WooHoo!
No doubt, you see where this is leading. Now I have two pieces of furniture for the next yard sale. Maybe we can put "antiques" in the ad. And I have major work ahead of me to clear out the old and bring in the new. It looks like the circle is unbroken.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
DON'T YOU WONDER?
Now that fall is officially here our thoughts start turning to the rapid succession of holidays that is upon us, do they not? The Party Place is loaded with Halloween costumes; grocery stores are loading up with turkeys and putting out those extra displays of spices (Best get your sage now as they run out when the day approaches.); Hobby Lobby already has out its full racks and counters of snow globes, wreaths, and Christmas tree ornaments at 40% off. Maybe by December they'll pay us to take them. We're definitely on overload.
Don't you wonder what your Christmas surprise will be?
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Don't you wonder what your Christmas surprise will be?
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#3
Monday, September 7, 2009
WEEKEND: NOT AS PLANNED
On Friday and Saturday Jazz and I were finally going to have the big yard sale we have tentatively planned since April. For a variety of reasons we kept postponing it until summer was here, and it was just way too hot. 100+ degree days just don't lend themselves to that much work AND trying to be pleasant to potential shoppers. On Thursday morning it began to rain, and the weather forecast at noon predicted the same through Sunday. So after a hurried consultation early that afternoon we decided not to place an ad in the newspaper and start setting up that evening. As luck would have it not a drop fell after 7:00 p.m. on Thurs., but what the hey, we were now free to cruise the estate sales the next day.
Background for next part: For over seven years now I have been unable to play these.
Can you tell that these are phonograph records from the past? They have had a long and hard life, and I have refused to put them in any other yard sales because I was convinced that I would one day listen to them again. [Side Note: When Dagromm, (remember him?) was away at his liberal arts college he signed up for a course called American Culture. That surprised me since he was an American, and I thought he'd be well versed in that. When I asked him about it he replied, "In that class we watch all those videos you MADE us watch and listen to all those records you were always playing." I never asked if he regretted enrolling in that class.] Alas every time I found a suitable working phonograph it was a vintage console that was way too big to fit into my house. But . . . my luck changed when I went to the first estate sale I would have missed if we'd followed our original plan. Here's my great find.
O.K. I still haven't found just the right spot for it, but it won't have to be such a big spot. The wooden part I'm currently using to hold the phonograph is my old cassette tape holder. Right! I haven't let go of those either, and the only place I've had to play those was in my car---usually on long trips, and there haven't been many of those lately. But this wonderful little Magnavox has a working record player (33 & 45 rpm.), working radio (AM & FM), and working dual cassette player which can be used for high speed dubbing. This wonderful little treasure was only $28.00. My next goal is to find additional needles for the phono; the current one is o.k., but you never know . . . .
Friday night I was zipping through various tasks while singing along with The Kingston Trio, and Peter, Paul and Mary. Imagine me grinning like Lee Marvin in Cat Ballou when he said, "It was fine, just fine." Tonight it may be Ella Fitzgerald.
At the second estate sale I found one of those Little Playmate by igloo, a small cold storage carrier just right for a lunch or two or three cold sodas, which I thought was $1.00. When I got it into a better light it turned out to be $4.00, and my Scot's blood came to the fore, and I left it there. However, as I pulled into my driveway I noted a neon green poster on the power pole at the end of the block. Couldn't read it from that distance, but there was no need. Sure enough a garage sale on the next street. I feel I must support my neighbors so I drove on around the corner. Look what I found.
Price: 50 cents Can you believe that?
Since Jazz and I hadn't had our own sale I wasn't exhausted on Sunday as anticipated so I treated myself to a movie which I loved, and it was a great bargain too. If you haven't seen it yet, do go.
Background for next part: For over seven years now I have been unable to play these.
Can you tell that these are phonograph records from the past? They have had a long and hard life, and I have refused to put them in any other yard sales because I was convinced that I would one day listen to them again. [Side Note: When Dagromm, (remember him?) was away at his liberal arts college he signed up for a course called American Culture. That surprised me since he was an American, and I thought he'd be well versed in that. When I asked him about it he replied, "In that class we watch all those videos you MADE us watch and listen to all those records you were always playing." I never asked if he regretted enrolling in that class.] Alas every time I found a suitable working phonograph it was a vintage console that was way too big to fit into my house. But . . . my luck changed when I went to the first estate sale I would have missed if we'd followed our original plan. Here's my great find.
O.K. I still haven't found just the right spot for it, but it won't have to be such a big spot. The wooden part I'm currently using to hold the phonograph is my old cassette tape holder. Right! I haven't let go of those either, and the only place I've had to play those was in my car---usually on long trips, and there haven't been many of those lately. But this wonderful little Magnavox has a working record player (33 & 45 rpm.), working radio (AM & FM), and working dual cassette player which can be used for high speed dubbing. This wonderful little treasure was only $28.00. My next goal is to find additional needles for the phono; the current one is o.k., but you never know . . . .
Friday night I was zipping through various tasks while singing along with The Kingston Trio, and Peter, Paul and Mary. Imagine me grinning like Lee Marvin in Cat Ballou when he said, "It was fine, just fine." Tonight it may be Ella Fitzgerald.
At the second estate sale I found one of those Little Playmate by igloo, a small cold storage carrier just right for a lunch or two or three cold sodas, which I thought was $1.00. When I got it into a better light it turned out to be $4.00, and my Scot's blood came to the fore, and I left it there. However, as I pulled into my driveway I noted a neon green poster on the power pole at the end of the block. Couldn't read it from that distance, but there was no need. Sure enough a garage sale on the next street. I feel I must support my neighbors so I drove on around the corner. Look what I found.
Price: 50 cents Can you believe that?
Since Jazz and I hadn't had our own sale I wasn't exhausted on Sunday as anticipated so I treated myself to a movie which I loved, and it was a great bargain too. If you haven't seen it yet, do go.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
ROLLING THUNDER
It just goes on and on. We can hear the storms coming. First the thunder, then we see the lightening, and in a little while the rain starts---and it comes down very hard, and then it lessens, and then it's hard again, and it just goes on and on and on. We've been in a moderate drought, so I'm not complaining, but so much at once? It's very tiring. WHEW!
And then a little sunshine comes---very bright---but the rain continues even then. This is so weird.
The dogs are bored with being kept inside, but they definitely do not want to go out in the rain. On the other hand, the cats swat at me, meow, and run to the door when they hear the thunder, and if the door is opened will run out. I, however, do not want them to go out when the weather is so unstable.
Drivers keep driving into flooded streets and acting like it's a big surprise when their cars float off the road, or they lose control and careen into someone's house. Are they this desperate to be on TV? Does rain bring out the stupidity of the human race?
Another storm rolling in so I need to shut down and unplug AGAIN! Pitiful old computer that it is, I don't want it fried by the lightening. See ya!
And then a little sunshine comes---very bright---but the rain continues even then. This is so weird.
The dogs are bored with being kept inside, but they definitely do not want to go out in the rain. On the other hand, the cats swat at me, meow, and run to the door when they hear the thunder, and if the door is opened will run out. I, however, do not want them to go out when the weather is so unstable.
Drivers keep driving into flooded streets and acting like it's a big surprise when their cars float off the road, or they lose control and careen into someone's house. Are they this desperate to be on TV? Does rain bring out the stupidity of the human race?
Another storm rolling in so I need to shut down and unplug AGAIN! Pitiful old computer that it is, I don't want it fried by the lightening. See ya!
Sunday, July 19, 2009
IT ALL STARTED WHEN . . .
Chill and Jaz were shopping at Sam's. This was about three to four weeks ago. According to her Chill dragged her half way across the mammoth shopping area to see this wonderful thing they had displayed. It had originally been priced at $799.00. The price had been cut to $515.00. Jaz said he thought that it would be great for them to go in on with moi (I'm feeling a little Miss Piggy-ish, I guess) and extend our gardening efforts. Apparently, those tomatoes, zucchini, basil, etc. are appealing. Anyway, she called me and described it, and we planned another trip to Sam's Club for another look and a conference. That was about June 30.
It looked really good, and I did some on-line research, and everything seemed to be just about what it said it was. The only down side was that the customer reviews were all done about one month after purchase, so there was no response about how things actually grew there; on the positive side they were all pleased with the assembly end of it. So, all things considered it seemed like an o.k. deal. The next hurdle was that we had to pick up the two LARGE boxes (one weighed 150 lbs. & the other 165 lbs.) from Sam's the same day as the purchase, and we couldn't seem to connect with Chill---he who has pick-up and muscles. It was finally resolved, and we made the purchase on July 9. Guess what! The price had been reduced to $398.00. YEA! YEA! And Chill even opted to hire a friend/customer to build it for us. Yesterday was the big day.
Doesn't this look like a giant Lincoln log set?
Our hired guy called the night before to say he'd be at my house at 7:00 a.m., and he was. I'm always surprised to see that people actually function at this hour, but they do---eventually. Come on, Jaz and Keith. Hands off hips, and apply to construction.
Well, one of them got the message.
BTW Keith was apparently feeling the pressure of the on-line information that said two people working together on this project should expect to finish in 6-8 hrs. (Of course, I think they meant ordinary klutzes who only half know what they are doing.) As he didn't seem to need any help from us for a while I commandeered Jaz to the front yard to help me trim away some hedge to apply a Y spigot attachment to the front outside water supply so we could run a hose to the new garden. Well, that woman is manic when it comes to cleaning out something. Pretty soon we were pulling out vines, weeding, pulling up volunteer trees, hacking out lantana that just won't give up, and we managed to harvest five yard bags of debris. (Unfortunately, this tells you something about the state of my alleged flower beds as well.) They haven't looked so good ever.
When we went back to the back yard this is what we found.
At this point we discovered between Keith's and my treasure trove of drill bits we didn't have one to make a hole big enough to put a garden hose through, and he had to make a run to a nearby hardware store for a bit, and I begged him to pick up the Y connection for the faucet as well which he did. He was a joy to work with.
Jaz did some helpful holding of things as work progressed and figuring out the placement of the plastic liners for this giant container for plants. She really did good things. And what did I do to help this process along? Well, my job was to get water for everyone. Did I mention it was hot? Ten degrees cooler than a week ago, but 90-92 is hot enough to keep a good sweat going. It is likely that each of us drank at least two quarts of water out there. I was also fetching things like soap for screws, band-aids and wound cleaning foam, an array of bits of wood for leveling, etc. We were a pretty good team. Jaz decided to go get us something for lunch (Church's chicken) as she and I were beginning to walk into walls. But Keith, the real competitor, just wanted a Coke. Here he is putting in the final screws.
When it was done he asked, "What time is it?" I immediately looked inside at the clock in the kitchen and reported it was 2:00 p.m. Seven hours from the time he arrived which included getting the boxes into the area from the carport, opening, reading instructions, cutting a finger, conversation, and just being pleasant and courteous the whole time, and working mostly alone. I love it when people know what they're doing.
So what does this new construction look like? Well, it's gorgeous. Just take a look! (It's not tilted; I think I was.)
This afternoon, the day after, I was doing even more yard work; I won't bore you with what that included, but when I was taking out all the stuff to the curb for trash pick-up in the morning my backdoor neighbor was doing the same. I invited her to come see what we'd built. As she came up the drive she asked, "Oh, are you going to raise chickens?"
It looked really good, and I did some on-line research, and everything seemed to be just about what it said it was. The only down side was that the customer reviews were all done about one month after purchase, so there was no response about how things actually grew there; on the positive side they were all pleased with the assembly end of it. So, all things considered it seemed like an o.k. deal. The next hurdle was that we had to pick up the two LARGE boxes (one weighed 150 lbs. & the other 165 lbs.) from Sam's the same day as the purchase, and we couldn't seem to connect with Chill---he who has pick-up and muscles. It was finally resolved, and we made the purchase on July 9. Guess what! The price had been reduced to $398.00. YEA! YEA! And Chill even opted to hire a friend/customer to build it for us. Yesterday was the big day.
Doesn't this look like a giant Lincoln log set?
Our hired guy called the night before to say he'd be at my house at 7:00 a.m., and he was. I'm always surprised to see that people actually function at this hour, but they do---eventually. Come on, Jaz and Keith. Hands off hips, and apply to construction.
Well, one of them got the message.
BTW Keith was apparently feeling the pressure of the on-line information that said two people working together on this project should expect to finish in 6-8 hrs. (Of course, I think they meant ordinary klutzes who only half know what they are doing.) As he didn't seem to need any help from us for a while I commandeered Jaz to the front yard to help me trim away some hedge to apply a Y spigot attachment to the front outside water supply so we could run a hose to the new garden. Well, that woman is manic when it comes to cleaning out something. Pretty soon we were pulling out vines, weeding, pulling up volunteer trees, hacking out lantana that just won't give up, and we managed to harvest five yard bags of debris. (Unfortunately, this tells you something about the state of my alleged flower beds as well.) They haven't looked so good ever.
When we went back to the back yard this is what we found.
At this point we discovered between Keith's and my treasure trove of drill bits we didn't have one to make a hole big enough to put a garden hose through, and he had to make a run to a nearby hardware store for a bit, and I begged him to pick up the Y connection for the faucet as well which he did. He was a joy to work with.
Jaz did some helpful holding of things as work progressed and figuring out the placement of the plastic liners for this giant container for plants. She really did good things. And what did I do to help this process along? Well, my job was to get water for everyone. Did I mention it was hot? Ten degrees cooler than a week ago, but 90-92 is hot enough to keep a good sweat going. It is likely that each of us drank at least two quarts of water out there. I was also fetching things like soap for screws, band-aids and wound cleaning foam, an array of bits of wood for leveling, etc. We were a pretty good team. Jaz decided to go get us something for lunch (Church's chicken) as she and I were beginning to walk into walls. But Keith, the real competitor, just wanted a Coke. Here he is putting in the final screws.
When it was done he asked, "What time is it?" I immediately looked inside at the clock in the kitchen and reported it was 2:00 p.m. Seven hours from the time he arrived which included getting the boxes into the area from the carport, opening, reading instructions, cutting a finger, conversation, and just being pleasant and courteous the whole time, and working mostly alone. I love it when people know what they're doing.
So what does this new construction look like? Well, it's gorgeous. Just take a look! (It's not tilted; I think I was.)
This afternoon, the day after, I was doing even more yard work; I won't bore you with what that included, but when I was taking out all the stuff to the curb for trash pick-up in the morning my backdoor neighbor was doing the same. I invited her to come see what we'd built. As she came up the drive she asked, "Oh, are you going to raise chickens?"
Sunday, June 21, 2009
LIFE IS INTERESTING, ISN'T IT?
Friday I had a call from my friend, Travis, a retired airline pilot. He was wondering if I could drive him to the airport to start his journey to Stockholm to join Janie, his significant other. Since I owe him two or three favors I told him yes. When I picked him up a half hour later he related that he'd been to the airport the night before (driven by a neighbor) but had missed the flight. Fortunately, the neighbor had waited to make sure Travis was on his way, but, obviously, that had not worked out. He had called me at one in the afternoon.
Travis outlined his expected itinerary, but the catch is he has to fly standby. It's apparently part of his retirement package---free, but with hitches. The plan was he would be flying from here to Dallas; from there to Heathrow, and from there to Stockholm.
Friday night I had just stripped out of my clothes and about to put on the nightie when the phone rang. It was eleven p.m. Travis asked if I was in for the night through much static. When I finally figured out he needed assistance I learned he had been to Dallas and was back here. Donning a jumper Plug made a hundred years ago and gave to me when she outgrew it but serves as something I wear in the yard when I have to wear something other than night gown, I returned to the airport to give Travis a ride back home. He was really depressed about the whole adventure which I understood. Lest it sound like I was a big martyr in this scheme, not true. Though I don't live close to the airport, thanks to the freeway, I was back home at 11:45. Moved pretty well for an old lady, don't you think? Travis said he would be back to the computer to try to figure another route.
All through Saturday I kept wondering how he was rerouting and where he might be and hoping everything was working out. Finally, Saturday evening I wrote an email:
From: LIT
Sent: Jun 20, 2009 8:15 p.m.
To: Janie
Subject: PLEASE tell me
when Travis gets to Stockholm. Was the third time the charm?
Also, Janie, let me know if you, or you and Travis, need a ride from
the airport on the 30th. And let me know your air line & flight
number so I can check online to see when you'll arrive. My two
grandchildren from Tx will be here, but they would be delighted to meet
you, and we can handle the drive---day or night. It would be an
adventure.
LIT
Today I was delighted to receive an answer. Here it is:
From: Janie
Subject: Re: PLEASE tell me
Date: June 21, 2009 4:10:36 PM CDT
To: LIT
Reply-To: Janie
Hi LIT,
I am here! Went to LGA and taxied to JFK to catch an 11:30pm departure, but it all worked. I had so little confidence I would actually leave, I drove myself so will incur the tremendous parking fee, but all seems minor compared to the time I lost with Janie here. Thanks so much for the rides and offer of more, but we will have to just drop by to meet the kids.
See you in early July,
Travis
I can't believe he finally made it. J
So, you're wondering why Janie was in Stockholm ahead of Travis. Well, here's the skinny. She was presenting her data to a group of scientists there, and her ticket was paid for by the scientists. She's not really expecting a Nobel prize from this, but they were excited about seeing Stockholm and environs together. I'm excited about having such interesting friends. They also play musical instruments at Renaissance fairs, and their appearance reflects that era. Travis is also as addicted to estate sales as I am, and she is a fantastic cook. Very interesting people.
None of this would have been available to me if I'd stayed in the little town where I retired. There were those who couldn't understand why I'd want to move at that point in my life, especially to a place where I knew no one but one son and one daughter. But I think life is interesting--- especially when you go out and look for it.
Travis outlined his expected itinerary, but the catch is he has to fly standby. It's apparently part of his retirement package---free, but with hitches. The plan was he would be flying from here to Dallas; from there to Heathrow, and from there to Stockholm.
Friday night I had just stripped out of my clothes and about to put on the nightie when the phone rang. It was eleven p.m. Travis asked if I was in for the night through much static. When I finally figured out he needed assistance I learned he had been to Dallas and was back here. Donning a jumper Plug made a hundred years ago and gave to me when she outgrew it but serves as something I wear in the yard when I have to wear something other than night gown, I returned to the airport to give Travis a ride back home. He was really depressed about the whole adventure which I understood. Lest it sound like I was a big martyr in this scheme, not true. Though I don't live close to the airport, thanks to the freeway, I was back home at 11:45. Moved pretty well for an old lady, don't you think? Travis said he would be back to the computer to try to figure another route.
All through Saturday I kept wondering how he was rerouting and where he might be and hoping everything was working out. Finally, Saturday evening I wrote an email:
From: LIT
Sent: Jun 20, 2009 8:15 p.m.
To: Janie
Subject: PLEASE tell me
when Travis gets to Stockholm. Was the third time the charm?
Also, Janie, let me know if you, or you and Travis, need a ride from
the airport on the 30th. And let me know your air line & flight
number so I can check online to see when you'll arrive. My two
grandchildren from Tx will be here, but they would be delighted to meet
you, and we can handle the drive---day or night. It would be an
adventure.
LIT
Today I was delighted to receive an answer. Here it is:
From: Janie
Subject: Re: PLEASE tell me
Date: June 21, 2009 4:10:36 PM CDT
To: LIT
Reply-To: Janie
Hi LIT,
I am here! Went to LGA and taxied to JFK to catch an 11:30pm departure, but it all worked. I had so little confidence I would actually leave, I drove myself so will incur the tremendous parking fee, but all seems minor compared to the time I lost with Janie here. Thanks so much for the rides and offer of more, but we will have to just drop by to meet the kids.
See you in early July,
Travis
I can't believe he finally made it. J
So, you're wondering why Janie was in Stockholm ahead of Travis. Well, here's the skinny. She was presenting her data to a group of scientists there, and her ticket was paid for by the scientists. She's not really expecting a Nobel prize from this, but they were excited about seeing Stockholm and environs together. I'm excited about having such interesting friends. They also play musical instruments at Renaissance fairs, and their appearance reflects that era. Travis is also as addicted to estate sales as I am, and she is a fantastic cook. Very interesting people.
None of this would have been available to me if I'd stayed in the little town where I retired. There were those who couldn't understand why I'd want to move at that point in my life, especially to a place where I knew no one but one son and one daughter. But I think life is interesting--- especially when you go out and look for it.
Friday, June 19, 2009
Thursday, June 18, 2009
TAKE N. KOREA SERIOUSLY
Seldom do I enter political statements, but sometimes I feel prodded to do so. This time the prod is a vegetable.
As you know I belong to the local orchid society, and we recently visited the greenhouses of one of our members who happens to come from S. Korea. She is married to an American who was in the service there, and I assume is now a citizen since she works at the local Air Force base. They have a son who graduated from high school this year. In addition to the impeccable greenhouses she also had a vegetable garden in the back yard with four cucumber plants growing along the fence. She said they were Korean cucumbers; she had brought the seeds here.
My cucumber plant label said to harvest when the cuke was 3-4 inches long. Well, I was a little over eager, and the one I cut was 2 1/2 inches long. I stand corrected. However, I think you will agree that another half inch would not have made it look anymore impressive.
American cucumber on the left; Korean cucumber on the right. (The Korean cucumber has a very tender skin. No peeling necessary.)
Now if the Koreans are growing cucumbers like this without genetic engineering, etc., don't you think it's time to consider their exploration/building of nuclear weapons very seriously?
As you know I belong to the local orchid society, and we recently visited the greenhouses of one of our members who happens to come from S. Korea. She is married to an American who was in the service there, and I assume is now a citizen since she works at the local Air Force base. They have a son who graduated from high school this year. In addition to the impeccable greenhouses she also had a vegetable garden in the back yard with four cucumber plants growing along the fence. She said they were Korean cucumbers; she had brought the seeds here.
My cucumber plant label said to harvest when the cuke was 3-4 inches long. Well, I was a little over eager, and the one I cut was 2 1/2 inches long. I stand corrected. However, I think you will agree that another half inch would not have made it look anymore impressive.
American cucumber on the left; Korean cucumber on the right. (The Korean cucumber has a very tender skin. No peeling necessary.)
Now if the Koreans are growing cucumbers like this without genetic engineering, etc., don't you think it's time to consider their exploration/building of nuclear weapons very seriously?
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
The Cucumber-Zucchini War
So how many of you were holding your breaths waiting for Jaz and me to admit we knew next to nothing about planting a garden and how it would grow? You could have warned us at the outset that we were embedding those transplants too close together when we still had time to move them. Are you just maniacal? Go ahead and get your "tee-hee-hee's" over with.
However, we will learn from this (as I said at the outset), and we will probably have to provide purple hearts and medals for bravery to the pepper plants and the yellow squash. The tomatoes are also taking a battering from these aggressive plants. This picture is from a couple of weeks ago.
The zucchini has the enormous leaves, and the cucumber is to the left with a little lighter green leaves. The tomatoes are at the back. What you can't see is that the cucumber is stretching out its tendrils to everything around it and growing, and growing, and growing. We'll probably never find all the cucumbers. Anyway, I've had a small harvest. Take a look.
You see a couple of Swiss Chard leaves, parsley, zucchini, oregano, and lettuce (in a pot---not in the garden). I've also had a couple of grape tomatoes ripen. Anyway, that night this was my dinner.
You know what? Michele Obama is quite correct. It does taste better if you grow it yourself.
I am a little concerned about how many times a week I can eat zucchini and how many different ways to prepare it. Good news though. Dogs like zucchini.
More about cucumbers another time.
However, we will learn from this (as I said at the outset), and we will probably have to provide purple hearts and medals for bravery to the pepper plants and the yellow squash. The tomatoes are also taking a battering from these aggressive plants. This picture is from a couple of weeks ago.
The zucchini has the enormous leaves, and the cucumber is to the left with a little lighter green leaves. The tomatoes are at the back. What you can't see is that the cucumber is stretching out its tendrils to everything around it and growing, and growing, and growing. We'll probably never find all the cucumbers. Anyway, I've had a small harvest. Take a look.
You see a couple of Swiss Chard leaves, parsley, zucchini, oregano, and lettuce (in a pot---not in the garden). I've also had a couple of grape tomatoes ripen. Anyway, that night this was my dinner.
You know what? Michele Obama is quite correct. It does taste better if you grow it yourself.
I am a little concerned about how many times a week I can eat zucchini and how many different ways to prepare it. Good news though. Dogs like zucchini.
More about cucumbers another time.
Friday, June 5, 2009
OH, HAPPY DAY!
Because of a need for mailing supplies I dropped in on the local son at work to finagle bubble wrap from him. Achieving that goal I came home to work on the package. The phone rang, and it was my Texas son calling to give me good news. Following that conversation I called the local son to pass along the good news. We celebrated via Ma Bell.
Then I called the D.C. daughter to send the good news even farther. More celebration. Then, guess what! The Illinois daughter called me (really to get D.C. daughter's phone number; I am Information, please), and I got to tell her the good news too.
I got to talk to all four of my children (adults though they are) on the same day. What a great day!
Then I called the D.C. daughter to send the good news even farther. More celebration. Then, guess what! The Illinois daughter called me (really to get D.C. daughter's phone number; I am Information, please), and I got to tell her the good news too.
I got to talk to all four of my children (adults though they are) on the same day. What a great day!
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
YOU ASKED FOR IT!
A few months ago I related and depicted the trials and tribulations of redoing my kitchen floor. At that time one of my daughters, Plug, asked if I had before and after shots of my “bordello bathroom.” This piqued Heather’s curiosity (she is unrelated, but a blogger buddy), and she wanted to see my “bordello bathroom.” Goo, my other daughter, chimed in that she supported my choices for decorating. So, this became a challenge to try to recreate for you how the bathroom evolved.
I don’t have before shots of the bathroom, but I do have a picture of one scrap of the wallpaper which was there.
Picture it: This wallpaper combined with this shower curtain
(Chill had this in his bathroom (the non-functioning one) until he and Jaz moved in Jan. which was when I took the picture.)
combined with this tile on the walls
and this tile on the floor.
The cabinet under the lavatory was a pine wood finish with really worn brass hardware. The white formica top is still there.
My bathroom is very small, and the whole room felt very claustrophobic.
Unfortunately, I don’t have a picture of the original light fixture, but it was a two branched antiqued bronze thing with fluted glass bells over the bulbs. (Couldn’t sell it in 5 yard sales and finally gave it to Good Will.)
If I’d had the money to gut the bathroom and start over, I might have. But I didn’t, and I didn’t have another bathroom to use in the meantime. So . . . I decided to go with what I had and “play it as it lays.” Here is the result.
The wallpaper pattern is Fishnet. (Remember you can see enlarged pictures by clicking on them.)
The border pattern is called Bootylicious, but I think of it as Jacqueline, Honore, Helene, Genevieve, and Marilyn.
Many thanks again to Goo who made the window curtain and helped me with the wallpapering while in pain. I still love my bathroom. Now, I ask you. Is this a “bordello bathroom” or a whimsical bathroom with a great sense of humor and a tiny touch of class?
I don’t have before shots of the bathroom, but I do have a picture of one scrap of the wallpaper which was there.
Picture it: This wallpaper combined with this shower curtain
(Chill had this in his bathroom (the non-functioning one) until he and Jaz moved in Jan. which was when I took the picture.)
combined with this tile on the walls
and this tile on the floor.
The cabinet under the lavatory was a pine wood finish with really worn brass hardware. The white formica top is still there.
My bathroom is very small, and the whole room felt very claustrophobic.
Unfortunately, I don’t have a picture of the original light fixture, but it was a two branched antiqued bronze thing with fluted glass bells over the bulbs. (Couldn’t sell it in 5 yard sales and finally gave it to Good Will.)
If I’d had the money to gut the bathroom and start over, I might have. But I didn’t, and I didn’t have another bathroom to use in the meantime. So . . . I decided to go with what I had and “play it as it lays.” Here is the result.
The wallpaper pattern is Fishnet. (Remember you can see enlarged pictures by clicking on them.)
The border pattern is called Bootylicious, but I think of it as Jacqueline, Honore, Helene, Genevieve, and Marilyn.
Many thanks again to Goo who made the window curtain and helped me with the wallpapering while in pain. I still love my bathroom. Now, I ask you. Is this a “bordello bathroom” or a whimsical bathroom with a great sense of humor and a tiny touch of class?
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