Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

If I had a picture for a volcano it would be posted here!!

In writing my blog today I lost it in the act of trying to edit it. I do mean lost it!!!! It took me 45 minutes to write it and over an hour to find it and finally publish it. If I hadn't panicked and gone to History and then gone to everything and every place I've been today, I never would have found it. Pulling it out of all that fine print just about did me in!

From now on whatever I type is what I publish. Full of commas, mistakes, minus new paragraphs, whatever! Today has taught me that blogging isn't EASY 1,2,3! And my blood pressure has gone up so my darn hands are finally getting WARM!

Any comments (HELPFUL PLEASE) would be greatly appreciated. Sis, are you out there?

PM (That brings a smile to my face. Prescious Moments NOT!)

Seeing Things In a New Light

Oh how nice to see the sun shining this morning. I woke up early and sat in a chair in the living room, almost touching the wall. I just couldn't get close enough to that life giving golden orb in the sky. It's very windy and the varied shades of new green seem to have opened overnight. All the rain did its magic after all.

I was smiling and feeling gifted at the sight of the beautiful dark green laurel leaves shining as if wet with the lingering rain, and glittering as if lit by thousands of tiny white Christmas lights as the branches danced in the wind.

I was warmed by the friendly neighborhood deer as they ambled slowly and with many stops along the way to the stream below, sparkling as if filled with diamonds. It was so bright I had to lower the blind a little in order to see. Just my movement allowed me to see a gorgeous bright blue jay on the tree limb nearest me, preening himself and glorying in the sunshine. It's been a mighty rough 3 days for my feathered friends with all the cold the drenching rain.

My mood is so much lighter now that I have been gifted by nature and it's early yet. But it's also cold and my fingers are having some difficulty striking the right keys. I am going backwards much more than forward. I know there is a complaint in that sentence but hey, I wanted this to be a positive blog, but I'm only human.

I notice all the golden yellow forsythia bushes are losing their flowers and filling out with a lighter shade of spring green leaves. The rain beating them down for days has taken its toll. How I hate to see them go as they last for such a short time as it is. I also spy my missing red tulips, only two were left me by the deer and now they, too are missing. Don't go getting yourself in a huff my dear. Be grateful they at least let them bloom for your eyes to behold. Gnashing teeth at this point.

Brrr, I just checked the outside temperature and it is only 44 degrees out. Of course it is only 9:15 a.m. but I want my cake and be able to eat it too. If there is sunshine then there must be warmth. It's the end of April for crying out loud. Another complaint from me and I haven't typed that much yet!

Why can't I have 72 degrees, guaranteed? A nice comfortable temperature and leave it at that? No need for air conditioners, no hot flashes, sweating, (no, ladies don't sweat, we glow) etc. Do I detect another complaint there? Seems I'm turning cranky with spring's obstinate ways.

I'm just dragging my feet here before going grocery shopping. If I'm cold when I go in the store, I shiver going through the frozen food aisles and my fingers turn blue. That happens in the dead of summer too so I can't blame that on this fickle spring. However then my hands are warm before going into the store. Not so now. Whew, I just heard a loud rush of wind and tree branches are bouncing about. Time to go back to my book until hubby awakes. WE can go shopping later together and I don't have to lug groceries in and out of the car. LOL, this has worked out rather well don't you think? Okay, enough writing for today. I'm going to go and sit on my hands!

One of Those Days

Oh Joy! This is another one of those days. Rainy, dreary and I'm feeling about like the the broken branches and matted wet fall leaves look. The grey Elms all have those ratty looking tails hanging from them and they are not my friends. The yellow pollen they have been covering the cars with is now washed off for the moment but when the sun finally decides to show her face, the coverlet of pale yellow will be seen again topping everything.

I was hoping to get some planters started but with the cold nights and now all this rain, I'm glad I didn't go in forward gear because they would all be flooded by now. Sometimes things do work out for the best.

Since it is cold again I guess today will be cabin fever soup day. Nothing special, just whatever the cupboards and fridge holds. I'm hoping that before the day is over the rain will stop and I can fit in a run to the grocery store. Anything to get out of the house and pick up a pot roast or something good. Yesterday I made my Granny's old stand by of creamed tuna with peas to go over potatoes or toast. Hubby and I opted for toast. We love it but as my boys used to say, YUCK!

Hmmm, I just remembered, I have a pound of bacon in the freezer and all kinds of corn. A nice corn chowder with corn muffins sounds good and I wouldn't have to fight the crowds in the stores. When it rains they take the kids shopping so they can blow off some steam and drive the shoppers nuts. Sorry people, this gal is going to stay home with a book and a pot of corn chowder.

Well, I promised I would write something, and as boring as it is, it will have to do. I can't be fun and games all the time!

Winter Again

Here it is April 28, and it's cold enough to put the heat back on. I shouldn't be surprised as it was the same way yesterday. Cold, dreary and without power or internet for over 5 hours. Since I couldn't get on the computer to write, I did the next best thing, said 'to heck with the house work' and grabbed a book.

I was fine the first chapter but getting into the second I was feeling a bit unsure of my book choice. When the tears started I knew it was the wrong book for such a dreary day. The book was about a little 5 year old boy with cancer and a father who was trying to hunt down the mother because she refused to put him through anymore torture with the trial protocols, etc. Smart lady took off and lost them both in a beautiful privately owned hospice located in the Redwoods.

The book is full of characters coming and going, in that order literally, and just as soon as I became attatched to one, he or she died setting me up for a wicked migraine from all the crying and a box of Kleenex which was quickly becoming depleted.

I got up to go to the bathroom and to get a large glass of water to hold me through to the ending. With lump in throat so big it was hard to swallow, a headache and my blankie and winter gloves on, I gave up the ghost. The heater got jacked up again.

I lost all track of time and could care less about the television or computer. By the time I finished the book the same day, it was time for supper. Why is it we must eat when we have better things to do?

So today it is the same. Hubby is asleep and bundled up in his special blanket made for him by my sister-in-law. Extra light but super warm. I will steal one of his other blankets and sit in the recliner and fall asleep to the sound of the rain hitting the roof. The body needs warmth and the hands don't want to type today either. I'm minus the winter gloves but that is only because I can't type in them.

I Lost My Mind

Here I sit, just a few hours later than usual and laughing at myself. With nothing to write about I was going to skip out on today.

But I remembered as I awoke in a state of 'freezing' from all the windows being open and the temp at 58 degrees outside that I had something important to do. The nice warm oven would be just the thing.

Does anyone remember those Friendship Cakes we made years ago where you divide your batter, putting one cup into 4 large Baggies and then every day you are either squishing the bag and letting the air out or you are adding ingredients? Well I had forgotten all about them although I loved doing them at the time. At least 20 years ago and while working, had people to give the starter batter to. Many times I kept all the batters and made extra cakes for hubbie's friends at work for coffee hour.

Well, to cut thing short, my daughter-in-law came home from work and asked me if I would like to try a starter cake. Naturally I foolishly said "Yes." Today was THE day to bake the cake. I got everything ready and thought I was set to go. Wrong! The print on the directions was very small and I had to hang the directions on the hood above the stove with the light on it in order to see them. Then I began to add ingredients and measure, I'm sure the measuring came first but at this point I'm not sure.

I used a Bundt cake pan instead of two large bread pans. For some reason I thought I had to have two pans since the recipe stated 2 pans. So I went and found a new Bundt pan I had bought as a gift and ended up giving a card with money instead. So far so good.

After adding all the ingredients, not quite the proper measurments because the eyes aren't what they used to be and that is why I don't use recipes. I realized that the recipe called for 3 eggs and not the one I had added. Also I left the salt out because it called for baking power and baking soda. That I did intenionally because hubby is on a sodium free diet.

Next I added two small boxes of banana cream pudding and needed to figure out what goodies I would throw in extra. I settled on the cinnamon/nutmeg and sugar mixture I always fall back on. Next I added lots of walnuts. By the time it was ready to put in the pan I couldn't lift the heavy bowl. So it was touch and go and most did go in the pan. The drips I licked and I have to say, they were delicious. Although those were some pretty big drips! I don't know what I was thinking, but that second Bundt pan wasn't really needed. It all fit in the one pan.

Into the oven it went and there also I had to make a change upping the temp to 350 degrees instead of 325. Hubby just said, "Man that cake smells good!" Hmmm, am I on a roll or bound for failure? We'll see soon enough.

Oh, you remember I said you had to take out 4 separate cups of starter and put them in large zip lock bags. Well, the people who at first said, "Sure, give me one, it will be fun." all seemed to have changed their minds by yesterday because it was hot out and nobody wants to bake in that heat. Today, however is cool so it's perfect for baking.

Having said that, my counter now holds two large zip lock bags with twice the amount of starter in each one. I just figured I would do them all when it was time, 10 days from today. I forgot that from all those starters I now have 16 to give away when the time comes and I have a feeling I'm going to be peddling them at church. Oh why did I ever say yes to begin with?

Hubby just said I should check my cake because he thinks it's done. Smirking to myself, I did and it has another 10 minutes to bake. He's already getting the plates and coffee cups ready. If anybody out there is reading this and would like a bag of starter, I'd be happy to give it to you.

Okay, so I stopped for a taste. Well, more than just a taste, more like a hunk beyond what Weight Watchers allows. But it was delicious, and my better half is ready for the next batch. I sure hope we have a freeze by then because without air conditioning, I just might have to toss it all. I can just see my counter top with all those voluminous bags of starter if the seal lets go.

I Remember Mom

As I sit at my computer and see all the waving arms of bright yellow forsythia wishing me Good Morning, my thoughts turn to my mom.

With the lilac bush ready to bloom and send forth it's delicate scent beside what was once her bedroom window, I think of Mom. We planted that white lilac there just for her and its so light in fragrance compared to the heady purple.

Since our nights have warmed up, we sit and enjoy the sound of the peep frogs courting, something Mom and I loved to do when we lived in the country, and now I enjoy listening to them with my hubby. He will drive me to the largest pond in the area and we will sit until I have my fill of them. Music to my ears but I'm sure not to the neighbors living beside the pond. I so love the water concerts they put on for all to enjoy and they end much too soon to suit me.

I have always loved the night sounds and remember hating the time we traveled, staying at KOA parks and Good Sam's which were usually close to the connecting highways. The sound of traffic and truck tires whining on the concrete set my teeth on edge. I was missing the soothing sound of my night critters.

I look out the window to reassure myself that everything in my world is as it should be. The slight breeze, the branches of the trees gently dancing and looking forward to the opening of their new green leaves. The brook just barely running since we have had warm dry days but I can still see the shining water as it winnows its way sluggishly through all the dead fallen leaves.

It's nearly the end of April and soon it will be May. No wonder my thoughts have turned to Mom. Everything she loved is in bloom, even the majestic magnolia. It will soon be Mother's Day and then her birthday. I always brought her a huge bouquet of deep purple lilacs on her birthday. She preferred them to store bought flowers. She love wildflowers and music. She was so light on her feet and made dancing look so easy. She tried to teach me but I was stiff as a board so kept my dancing attempts to my bedroom when I listened to my radio.

I did inherit my love of music from her and my love of wildlife, but somehow she failed to impart the simple movement of dance to my uncooperative legs and feet. However, she did leave me with memories of all the musicals we attended when I was a child and I still remember the words to most of the songs and sing them often. Yes, I remember you Mom and I miss you. Especially now, your favorite time of the year, and mine.

Going Back In Time

I really don't feel up to writing this morning but I am one of those who starts something and then quits halfway through. I have promised myself I wouldn't do that here, that I would write something if only to write, I DON'T FEEL LIKE WRITING TODAY! I think we all feel that way when our little life has been shaken by something we can't control.

I noticed the other day when driving through the back roads to Rhode Island, a house with a yard full of lobster pots. It instantly triggered happy memories of when I was a kid and lived on the river. A River Rat I suppose some called me. Those days were some of the happiest I remember from my childhood.

Dad had a boat and we lived right off the river. I would wake up and as soon as my feet hit the floor, I was running down the river bank, eager to find my gifts for that day. Lifting the slippery stones and finding little eels swimming out from under, startled by my intrusion always made me smile. The good Lord always had plenty for me to do, whether it was cutting the boat loose and just drifting in the water with my eye on the shore so as not to get too far out or just jump out and try to doggie paddle without holding on to the boat. I couldn't swim then, yet had no fear of the water. I would jump overboard and cling to the boat with one hand while kicking my way around the other side. To make it to the shore I just got to the back of the boat and kicked my way in to the mooring spot. Of course it was only a row boat but it was ours, pretty special to me, and I used it as much as possible.

I remember low tide and getting into my old sneakers so I could walk the muddy river bottom, pail and crab net in hand. What fun it was to out maneuver the crabs sitting on the bottom of the river and quickly catch them up in the net before they could scuttle away, and safely drop them into the pail. I would spend hours doing that until the tide started coming in and it became too deep for me to safely see the river bottom. Then I would walk home with my sneakers sloshing, pail weighing me down so bad I could hardly carry it with it propped against my skinny legs let alone swinging it with a smug look on my face. Laughing out loud as if I had done something perfectly wonderful. Well it was wonderful. And my neighbors were happy about it also because there was always enough for everyone to share. I didn't particularly love the taste of crabmeat, but loved shelling it and making crab meat salad for the family.

Then there was clamming, a really fun chore digging in the wet sand for long necks. We had another name we called them but don't think I should write it here. Those I wouldn't eat at all, just couldn't stand the look of them let alone the taste. And the horseshoe crabs that we had to be careful not to step on while in the deeper waters feeling around bottom for quohogs. The Indians used quohog shell for wampum years ago. And the purple and white shells were truly beautiful. After the clams were shelled, I would wash the shells up as clean as possible and paint them or drill a hole in the smaller of them to make jewelry. I don't think I was a bored child as much as one who could see things in junk that others couldn't. And I would always be making my jewelry and gifts.

But getting back to those lobster pots which set me thinking of my childhood days, I can remember helping my dad to replace the wooden slats in the pots where boats or humans had done their damage. The netting was always in need of repair also along with replacing the buoys used to mark where the pots were located in the deep waters. When we were lucky enough to find the pots with a few lobsters, it was off for home to cook them up and savor the meat while they were fresh. Those were the good times. When we discovered too many empty pots, we knew they had been pilfered and it didn't seem like fun anymore.

In true River Rat fashion, I would rake for scallops alongside my dad and help fill the large bushel baskets with our bounty. Oh how I love scallops. Of course I had to help shell the darn things too, being careful not to cut myself on the jagged shells or with the short shelling knife. There definitely was a trick to it and once I learned, could shuck in time with my dad.

When I wasn't crabbing, clamming or playing in the boat, I was fishing from the bridge. I caught so many flounder (we called them flat fish) and many times came up with long slimy eels. They gave me the willies but a few people loved them and would pay me to bring them home to them. One time we had them slithering all over the kitchen floor because I had knocked the bucket over. I thought my mom would have a heart attack! I wasn't in her good graces at time such as those so would make myself very small and hide away somewhere. Out of sight was out of mind.

Gosh, for someone who didn't feel up to writing anything this morning, I think I outdid myself. It's easy to do when you relive your childhood. Because no matter how unhappy it might have been at times, there were still those bright spots and the good memories I now cherish.

So fathers and moms too, take those children fishing. Pack a lunch and be prepared to laugh a lot and grow closer to your children. Enough with those darn video games and all the noise that goes with them. I just can't bear seeing a childhood wasted on electronic junk. Fresh air and a day of fishing is just what they need. Doctor's orders or a grandmom's.

Another Day, Another Time

Here it is a new day and I am not too thrilled with it, but then, I guess we take them as they come and are to be thankful for each one we are blessed with.

I checked outside on the progression of my tulips to find the plants are now eaten down to the nub. Hope springs eternal but I know when to give up the ghost and get on to other things. I wonder if I could plant skunk cabbage and have it grow safely? Speaking of which, I happen to like the smell of skunk cabbage. I always have and don't get what it is that makes people hate it so much. Just looking at the way it grows is a real mystery. All the swirls and tightly formed leaves. I have an aunt who swore her ex hubby smelled like skunk. I always loved him and his smell so who's to say what is pleasant for one and repugnant to another.

We have a family of skunks living right outside our garage every year and when we go outside, we have to make darn sure the black and white kitty on our back porch is just that, a kitty! My son has been fooled before and answered for it. LOL, I'm so glad I didn't have to bathe him down with tomato juice. He's old enough to take care of himself and it was his own fault. But the air was rife with the smell of newly sprayed skunk for some time afterward and my second son was afraid his tent would be a total loss, but it wasn't effected except for some residual scent.

My poor cat is a house cat. She had the misfortune of jumping down off the chair and hissing at the cat on the porch. Wham, right between the eyes! I had to clean her twice in a bucket of water with peroxide, Dawn dishwashing liquid and baking soda, being very careful to keep it out of her eyes. There I was in the dark, a little past midnight, stripped down to my bra and panties. A big bucket full of solution on the picnic table where the light shone dimly and with a cloth in one hand and the poor cat in the other. I had no takers to help me through the process. I carefully dunked the cat in the bucket getting her soaked and scrubbed her good, dunking her back in the water to make sure she was truly saturated. Next the trick of holding her up to wash her face, being careful not to get the solution in her eyes or ears. To make matters worse, I had to do this twice to get all the smell out. Usually my cat fights me if I put her near water, but the poor thing was willing to go through water torture to be back to normal. I only suffered bad scratches on my arms from her back claws since she is declawed on the front paws. As I said, you have to be very careful when using this solution not to get it in your pet's eyes. I used a wash cloth and a LOT of patience since I was elected to do the dirty job once I opened my mouth to say I liked the smell of skunk. I meant far away and just slightly scenting the air! Not a power house shot that made my cat's eyes run without quitting and kept me gagging. I'm just thankful no wiseguy was around the corner taking pictures of me. I can only imagine what I must have looked like!

My cat's plight drew us much closer. After toweling her dry and hugging her to let her know she'd be alright, she promptly went in and jumped on my bed. Now I didn't have the heart to drag her off my nice quilt and besides, she smelled nice and clean by then. I certainly couldn't detect any odor on her and the others didn't want to get close enough to try. Guess who the cat always sleeps with now. She still hasn't learned not to jump at animals when the screen door is open. I guess her memory is very short, somewhat like mine nowadays. I guess it's only a matter of time before it happens again...

Still In My Flannel Jammies

Here it is the 21st of April and usually it would be warm in the house without the heat turned on. Not this year. I sit here in my flannel jammies trying to get the old bones warm enough to actually get up and do something. Anything!

Last night, as we drove to Wal-Mart to do our shopping, a huge peach colored moon came into sight just above the tree line over the farmer's fields. It was truly a spectacular sight and me, without my camera, of course! I followed that moon all the way to the store and it just became more and more beautiful to me. The sky was a pretty shade of blue, and as it darkened, the moon became more softer looking and I could swear there was a face in it.

I arrived at the store and spent an hour or so looking at potting soil, buying wildflower seed, lots of it! For some reason I bought lavender to put in my rock garden. What a mistake! By the time I got home from the shopping trip my eyes were almost too swollen to enjoy that gorgeous moon, much higher in the sky by then.

My plantings don't do too well with the deer eating up my tulips,lillies and other expensive plants as soon as they reach the stage just before the bud begins to open. And I notice less and less of my bulbs, planted by the hundreds, just seem to have disappeared. It is disheartening because I look forward to the first tulip to make it through safely somehow, and now I just get leaves. What a bummer! The deer do stay away from my daffodils though. Thank goodness because I look forward to the first sight of yellow in my yard. It gives me an automatic lift. I even love the dandelions that pop up everywhere and I forbid my hubby to destroy them. No manicured lawn for me. Wildflowers (weeds to some) are beautiful to me. Especially when accompanied by the bright purple and white of the wild wood violets. It is a heavenly sight to drive up and be greeted by all that color. It looks likes a painter's palette. The good Lord's doing and not mine.

I remember my great love of flowers caused me a lot of grief when I was younger. A bad habit of putting my hands through the slats of the neighbor's fence to pick all the beautiful colored flowers usually landed me in hot water with my parents. Especially when I picked our landlady's prize roses which were to be judged in a contest. Stems didn't look too exciting after I was through with them. I was so proud to bring my mom those beautiful roses though. Even without stems. She chewed me out and then put the blossoms in a large clear bowl on the kitchen table. They were sweet and worth the trouble. Until the landlady came over and yelled at me while shaking a large wooden spoon in her hand. I knew what she would rather have done with it. Ah to be a 3 year old again. Oh well, the landlady made us move shortly thereafter and I went on to greener pastures. I also grew up to know better. Not that it kept me from snitching a flower or two when they were in my way while walking home from school. I couldn't leave them there to be trampled now could I?

Ah youth, climbing apple trees and reading a book, all the while smelling the sweetly scented blossoms. Once after moving to the country when I was 13 I wandered into a farmer's field. Just by accident of course. Walking through the tall grass toward the apple trees, I was delighted to find a tree I could climb without too much trouble seeing as how I was carrying a book and a journal to write my poetry. I made it up that tree and got nice and comfortable and during my musings, fell asleep. I awoke to cows milling around beneath me. I had never encountered cows before and they looked mighty big to me. I sat in that tree until the farmer's son came out to call in the herd and he walked right under my tree. MY tree! I had to let him know I was there and couldn't get down because of the cows. I thought he would bust a gut laughing and I forever heard about it all through high school.

Well, the sun is now streaming in the living room window, right on my left shoulder and I am getting mighty warm just sitting here. I think it's time to move, as in getting showered and dressed before someone comes to the door and catches me. I don't think blue jammies with snowmen is quite the fashion statement now. Especially for someone my age.

Have a great day and if you have sunshine, send up a Thank You. We've had a long and dreary winter as far as I'm concerned.

Hugs,
Precious Memories

The Song of the Chimes

Today I got up and was full of energy and just bursting to get outside in the glorious sunshine. But alas, I took a minute to catch my breath and sat in the recliner by the window. Within minutes I was fast asleep, lulled by the music of the wind chimes and the birds chirping. It was just like a sedative and I awoke as if from a drugged sleep.

I take it that the fresh air coming in on a soft breeze set the allergies in full flight. Headache, stuffy head and I just don't have the energy to do anything constructive.
So, here I sit at my computer, enjoying the breeze and still listening to the song of the chimes and birds. How I love wind chimes and bird song. Nature and I are one. What better gift could I possibly want. Without the allergies of course!