Random Dozen meme #2

Second Cup Lid- Linda hosts this getting to know you meme. Click on the doughnuts in the button to link up.

1. Tell me the absolute best way to watch a movie.

Big screen t.v., surround sound, huge comfy couch, fluffy down pillows (at least 3), thick, cotton hunting socks up to my knees- not too tight around the top, prescription glasses, super soft blanket, teeth brushed, no snacks. I don't have a big screen t.v. or surround sound and my couch isn't real deep, it is saggy and old. I have one feather filled pillow. I do have the socks, the glasses and the blanket. (oh and I don't mean to imply nothing else should be worn, I think flannel two piece loungewear is quite mandatory) I ask too many questions during movies; my family isn't too keen on that, but they love me, so they put up with it. Truthfully, 9 times out of 10, I fall asleep during the first scene.

2. Do you ever think about your own funeral? If so, do you have specific ideas about how you would like it to be?

I definately do not like to think about my own funeral. I think about how maybe nobody will be available to attend it. I think about the possibilities of what might be said about me there and figure it'll be over before it starts. I have a friend who has hers all planned out with songs picked out and everything saved on her Blackberry, so whoever has to deal with it will have it easier. I think that is amazing! I figure I'll slide on outa here with just under the same fanfare with which I slid in.

3. Are you more of a giver or a taker?

I really want to say giver here. I think being a giver is the right answer. Not sure though. I don't take other people's stuff. I do take a long shower and a long time to get ready to go. I give a lot of people who live with me a hard time. Not on purpose, but I kind of drive everyone nuts without really trying. My mom always said, "I give you an inch, you take a mile." I think that was a bad thing. I think I was supposed to be happy with the inch. On a scale of 1 to 10 with give at 1 and take at 10- I might be at 5, give or take a few.

4. Vacations: planned activities and schedules, or play it by ear?

I like to look up where we're going, find all the fun places to explore along the way, figure out which relative lives nearest, so we can stay for free- get the whole thing planned out and then play it by ear. Drives I.T. batty. Again, I do not do this on purpose. There's just this innate characteristic, perhaps in my gene pool, that sparks spontaneity at inopportune moments.

5. What is one often overlooked item in your home that needs to be cleaned regularly?

There's a dead fetal pig in a vacuum sealed, plastic bag on the science shelf in my bedroom. We dissected a shark and a turtle one year instead. The bag is dusty. I don't dust the science shelf often enough. Having a dead, fetal pig in a vacuum sealed bag in your bedroom is just one of the many perks of homeschooling in a house with inadequate cupboard space. If while you're sleeping, the spontaneous urge to study muscles, bones and capillaries awakens you - boom, there you have it, a dead pig and a scalpel at your bedside.

6. Name a cause that means a lot to you.

The Churro Education Fund. One year in college Outside the Box had a roommate from Churro,Kenya. He was concerned for his friends back in the village, who did not have enough $ to stay in school there. Outside the Box told him they could probably start a fund of some sort and raise $ for the kids in his village, so they could stay in school. With God's help,they did it! You can read about it here: Sorry, I regretted including the site, as it had too much personal info, so I deleted it, but if you are truly interested let me know and I will e-mail you the info.

7. Do you eat a regular old peanut butter jelly sandwich, or do you customize it? And by the way, jelly or no jelly?

I like all natural, crunchy-the jar that lists only peanuts under ingredients on the label. You have to store it upside down, so the oil rises to the bottom. I like homemade jam best (not sugar-free), but my favorite in grade school was store bought grape jelly. When I was in 9th grade, I was in a geology club. We went on a canoe trip and there I learned to like peanut butter and cheese sandwiches. At lunch we were allowed "2 cheese, 1 meat and all the peanut butter you can eat" I can still hear Mr. Fowler bellowing out that rule. I guess it's how he made ends meet.

8. If we were having a conversation in person, how would I know if you were nervous?

I would try to do some reverse psychology and stare you down to make you feel uncomfortable. If that didn't work, I'd disappear.

9. Do you have an elaborate bedtime routine, or just the basics of tooth brushing and jammies?

Oh goodness. I have an elaborate bedtime routine that includes making sure the kitchen is cleaned up (I cannot sleep if there are dirty dishes in the sink), 25 minutes of teeth brushing, 20 minutes of face washing with Dove soap for sensitive skin, hypo-allergenic lotion application, thick 100% cotton, hunting socks, flannels, stocking cap if it's cold like it is tonight, specific down pillow and a special Floam pillow that Pilgrim gave me one time, super soft blanket, lots of covers, reading, the final bathroom run, prayer- the list just goes on and on....I eventually get to sleep, but it's always such a short night. I've already told my kids, if you have to put me in a home, just be sure somebody there knows I need this drill. I cannot sleep if I don't follow all the steps and if it gets to be nursing home time for Heidi, I'll prob'ly need to make room in the routine for finding my teeth. Who knows?

10. Have you ever regretted something you wrote on your blog?

Oh probably. I think I deleted a couple of pictures, because I feared a predator and I took down a post or two after I put it up. I try to be careful what I put on the blog. I would never want to offend anyone or hurt anybody's feelings. Never.

11. Has anyone ever told you that you look like a famous person or celebrity? Did you agree?

Well, when I worked in the admissions office after college graduation, one co-worker swore I looked like Diana Ross. I never quite understood that, but she swore it was so.

12. If you were going to dedicate a song to a loved one or friend, what would the song be and to whom would it be dedicated?

Drop Kick Me Jesus Through the Goalposts of Life dedicated to my dad. He still sings it. Google the lyrics, you'll find them.

Rah, Rah, Ree, Kick 'em in the Rooster

Grandpa's farm is on the way to the state university we visited with Fash over the weekend. I say "farm", because it is the house he was born in and the property he grew up on, which used to be a thriving farm. He doesn't live there now, but enjoys using the place as a retreat. He spends as much time as he can puttering around the old farm, driving his tractor and fixing stuff. The boys in the family and Fash use the property for hunting, so it is a busy place in the fall. We decided to stop in and visit with Grandpa one night before heading to the university.


Farm animals have been a thing of the past, up until a short time ago when a guy dropped off some geese and chickens that Grandpa agreed to house. It didn't take long for the raccoons to discover the tasty take- out treats, so the owner of the fowl came and gathered up what was left of the gaggle and took them back to someplace. I have not been to the farm in a long time and so missed the entire short-lived era of feathered friends at the farm. For some reason, one lone rooster remains. They call him Houdini, because one time the neighbors dog clenched his teeth onto this fella, thrashed him around from side to side, then left him for dead in a field of tall grass. Several minutes later, with Grandpa preparing the soup pot, the rooster, rather worse for wear, stumbled out of the tall grass weaving to the left, then right, and made his way back to the house- several feathers lighter, but very much alive.


Friday night we pulled into the driveway just off to the side and under this post that will someday hold up a roof over the new back porch. I started to get out of the car, but got this heavy hovering feeling like somebody was looking down on me. I cried out loud when I looked up and saw this, "turkey!" But it wasn't a turkey. It was Houdini. We had awakened him from his nightly perch on the porch, just outside the back door. He was not pleased.



Having met Houdini before, I.T. knew to be cautious. He made a wide circle around the rooster when he took the first load of bedding and overnight bags into the house. Fash and I did not make a move. Houdini was clucking deep guttural noises, rocking back and forth on the plant holder roost and puffing his feathers, so they stood on end, not unlike a mad dog. We were sure he was going to swoop. Grandpa came to the door to assure us it'd be okay to get out of the car. But we waited until I.T. got a stick to shelter us from the imminent dive bomb, then we circled as far around the post as possible and dashed quickly inside the door.


Grandpa said, "you just have to show him who's boss" and the like, but I remained reserved.



In the morning, I heard a gargantuan flock of birds cawing outside in the trees, so I grabbed my camera and headed for the door to get a picture of what promised to be a scene from the old Alfred Hitchcock movie. Just as I was about to swing the door open, I froze. Houdini was standing guard. He absolutely would not let me onto the porch. I.T. got the stick and went to shoo him away. Not even a few apples to the head could deter this bird. I didn't go out there.

We packed up and got ready to leave. I was dressed up in nice slacks and a blouse with a little decorative scarf (don't ask me why I wasn't wearing jeans and a sweatshirt, we were heading to a university- I guess I was trying to play the impressive mom type or something) and with my purse in hand I mustered up some confidence, decided to take Grandpa's advice and ignore Houdini, who was right there waiting, and went out to the car. I got my nice shoes out of the trunk and was slightly bent over trying to switch out of my sandals without getting my socks in the mud when Houdini launched from the ground into the air and flew at me feet first.


I SCREAMED bloody murder, did a complete unplanned whirl around wind-up, then whipped my purse at him when I heard Fashionista on the sidelines cheering for the underdog, "go MOM, hit him with your purse!" Up he flew a second time, sharp, three- inch talons aimed and fast forwarding toward my waist. I dodged again, SCREAMING and jumping around in the mud with one sandal and one nice shoe, until I finally bolted up the porch steps and into the bathroom. He'd scared the pee out of me.


I believe this is when I.T. came running to my aid. I don't know for sure, as I was locked in the bathroom. If it weren't for the fact that Grandpa and the rooster are such good friends, I'm sure I.T. would have wrung the rooster's speckled, little neck.
My nerves were shattered for most of the ride to the university. I kept reliving the assault of the rooster in my mind. It is too soon to tell, perhaps, to what extent this has affected me. Will I forevermore categorize the events of my life as: those that happened before the attack and those that came after? Before the rooster attack I believed that all roosters are basically good. After the rooster attack, I now know that all roosters are born with a sinful nature and some choose the way of the devil!

The Responsible Thing and Five Words- Again

There's a fabulous display of artwork throughout the major city outside of our suburb. Everyone is talking about it. The news is full of it. Fash and I are dying to go see it. But on this beautiful, sunshine day we had to do the responsible thing. Fash had homework and I.T. needed to close the swimming pool for the winter. This means I've been hanging out near I.T. today in case he needs me to hand him a tool or hold something right there. I use the opportunity to give him snippets of information on how I feel about this and that, so he'll be in the know. I think he likes that.

I've momentarily snuck out of the back yard where I was bent over the short wall of our pump house holding an umbrella in one hand to keep the rain off my head and jamming the end of my vacuum cleaner hose into a steel pipe that leads to our pool return jets with the other. All this with the vacuum cleaner running blows water and who knows what else out of our jets readying them for winter. When the pipes are clear, I.T. puts a special anti-freeze in there and plugs the holes. When this is done, we stretch the winter cover over the cement pond and secure it to spring clips all the way around the pool. There was a time when we used the pool more, but I can probably count on one hand the number of times I.T. and Fash used the pool this summer and I swam in it- once. In my opinion this alone is reason enough to sell the house and get one that doesn't have a pool. But the current housing market in Michigan makes that a bad idea, ....it's a perfect opportunity to be thankful for what I have and try to practice not being so lazy. I.T. definitely does 98.579% of the work on opening and closing our pool. (I maintain it during the summer months once he gets it running) At any rate, it is an all day project where I spend most of my time not helping much and feeling guilty that I am not much help.

On another note, I.T. and I took Fash to a state university to check out a very specific academic area of interest. The program looks super. It's the student protest against the new tailgating rule limiting the number of beers at any one pre-game tailgate gathering to SIX per person- that worries me! SIX! A protest against that. I wonder how many beers per person would have been an acceptable amount to the student protesters. I.T., my son and I all attended a Christian liberal arts college, where alcohol on campus and in the football stadium is prohibited. Of course alcohol made its way in to these places, but still there's something about that rule I like more than the above SIX beer per person limitation rule. Goodness. If I drank even three beers in the time between the tailgate party and the game, I'd be decidedly slaphappy in the stands. That is if I could even drink three. That is if I even DRANK beer in the first place.

Anyway. Fash was impressed with the program. We're off to a small, Christian out of state college next- to check out another, different specific academic area of interest. The whole process is a mix between exciting fun and depressing reality. Fash is going to leave us.

Here I come, Binjin-san (new name for my bonsai tree, that's bin- trash bin, gin- alcoholic drink, san- sawn in half. Krippled Warrior suggested this name, it means Miss Beautiful Girl, but we will call her Ziah for short, which was Mrs. E.'s suggestion) to sulk with you in the living room. Actually, Ziah produced a duet of blossoms recently, but she is still dropping leaves. Perhaps this is normal. Here is an amazing tree you must see. Just click for a quick look see. You'll be glad you did.

Here I go again with the 5 Word meme. This is because ADHD-Jo and I are evening things out a bit. She gave me these five.

Random- I've noticed that Fash and her friends use the word "random" a lot. They almost overuse it. Like it's about to be murdered the same way we killed the word "like". Remember when "like" meant "the same as" or "such as"? Like now it means like "pause" or like "for emphasis!" Like gimme a break. Like yeah. Well, Fash and her friends say things like, "that was random" or "Random." And basically it does still mean, "without definite aim or direction" , but it has that about to be murdered feel to it like "like". I don't think the dictionaries of tomorrow will show the same definitions of these words that we see today.

Negus- I limit myself to six and I drink them hot, but not burning to the tongue, with honey instead of sugar, a twist of one slice of lemon and plenty of nutmeg. (wine, hot H2O, sugar, lemon juice and spices) I'll take a hunk of pepper jack and a cracker with that please. (This drink sounds delightful, but in reality- I've never had one)

Gorilla- glue. Gorilla glue will stick anything together and you get to look at an ape, while you are applying it. Makes you want to eat a banana.

Inexpugnable- I have an inexpugnable fear of heights and experience inexpugnable anxiety in many driving scenarios, such as: driving in inclement weather, driving in unfamiliar territory, merging on to freeways (I have an inexpugnable image of the vehicle that will not let me in before the merge lane ends- though this has never actually happened to me), turning left and riding in the front passenger's seat, while someone else is driving. It feels like a severe loss of control in a potentially dangerous situation for me. But the back seat does not work much better. Most likely- I should not drive. Yet, I have never been in an accident. Interestingly, many have felt it necessary to show me their middle finger when passing me on the road. My response is to hold up my yellow, smiley face cutout, gorilla glued to a Popsicle stick that I keep handy for the very occasion.

3Thinks- ADHD-Jo tells me she randomly chose these five words for me- randomly. Like right. Okay. 3Thinks is one thought more than I have. So. What is the significance of 3Thinks to this blogger? Beats me.

Another blogger has sent me a mind boggling set of five more words. Land sakes, I'm going to have to charge up the thinking cap. Could take a while.

Five More Words

My ADHD Me (sometimes others put -Jo after that, but I do not know what that means) recently gave me five more words for the Five Words meme- again. I gave her five and she wasn't sure I had given her five *random* words. She thought maybe I had given her five *pre-selected just for her* words. Imagine. Sooooo, to round things out such that all's fair that ends fair (is that a saying? well, now it is) I told her if she wanted to give me five *random* words, I would do the meme over again using them. Then we'd be even.

Here are the five random words she gave me:

Oh. Look at the time! I'm not supposed to be blogging past midnight- new rule for self.

Hmmm. I will have to post my thoughts on the new *random* five from My ADHD Me(-Jo) at another time. I would say tomorrow, but then what if that didn't work out?

Please Pray for Andrew today

Melanie at Bella~Mella, her son, Andrew and her family need our prayers today. They are so heavily on my heart, I 'd like to simply ask that you click over to her blog real quick and scan the situation and pray. It's a battle and it belongs to the Lord. Many are already praying for them. But I was just thinking about them and decided to share the request here, to seek out more prayer warriors for this family.

Please pray for complete healing for Andrew, peace and rest for Melanie and her husband and that God will be glorified through it all.

Thank you from this praying mom in Michigan.

Thankful Thursday

It's Thursday and I'm living on memes! Sonya has this one over at Truth for the Journey. Five thankfuls for the week.

1. You may be surprised to learn that I do not have it all together. I have been trying to get it all together for years. I'm beginning to consider that perhaps my picture perfect all together is not going to be mine, while I live and breathe. What I've discovered to be true is that God gives me all I need and in Him all things hold together. In Him, I do have it all and in Him I hold together. I'm thankful for the one, true, living God, whose thoughts are not my thoughts, whose ways are not my ways. (thank goodness) His thoughts and ways are higher than mine. You can check it out in Isaiah 55 around verse 8. Thankful am I that I go out in joy and am led forth in peace- every single day- even on the bad days. The joy is deep beneath my feelings that toss about. I'm anchored in the Rock of my salvation. And peace is there.

2. My parents are visiting us tomorrow. Mom has been away on a mission trip, so there is much to hear her tell. I'm thankful for them both, for their health and safe travels.

3. I thought by this age I might be farther along in my walk of faith. Maybe I'd be super slow to worry and quick as a wink to pray and trust- by this age. I don't know if I am. Here's what I'm thankful for: God meets me where I am. He knows my weakness, my need. He knows my heart. I love the Lord, my God, who dwelt among men and who lives in me and in the heart of every believer. I'm going to press in to Him every day in all circumstances. I'm going to let Him lead, unless I'm not paying attention or something- then I'm going to trust He'll not let me go.

4. I'm thankful that my fuzzy blanket and down pillow are fluffed and waiting on my bed right now for me to snuggle under, because it is 2 a.m. and I am tired and I don't know why on earth I am up right now.

5. Thankfully someone took all that time to write the Dictionary and compile all the words into a big, fat Synonym Finder. I use these real books with pages, that sit on my desk, all the time. I like to spell correctly and don't like overusing a word- though I might do it (because I do make up my own words)- I try not to- mostly.

Rejoice and Be Glad,

Random Dozen Meme (sounds like dream)

You know, I think of various blog posts all day long, wherever I am. Sometimes to the extent of not knowing what someone just said to me and I have to say, "can you please tell me that once more". Seems like everything makes my head start blogging about something or other. One minute it's something I want to share from the word of God. Then it's a story plucked from my bulging bag of phobias. Or I decide I'm going to exemplify for you how influential the blogs are.

Like when I read about some little ceramic pumpkins that were selling like hotcakes at a dollar store in who knows where, USA on Thrifty Decor Chick's blog. Each time I left the house, I thought about the pumpkins and I wanted to stop at every dollar store in town, just to see if I could find them. Finally, I actually stopped at Dollar Tree and found a similar pumpkin and bought it. Did I need a $1 ceramic pumpkin made in China? No, I did not. But now I have one on my kitchen table. The power of the pen is mightier than the sword, it is.

Anyway, what I mean to share here is: I think all day about blog posts (which is really just sick, I think- sick, as in- am I sick in the head or something, yes, I do believe I might be). Anyway. When I finally get to the computer at night, it is late and I am following about two hours reading worth of blogs now and I MUST read and comment, because that's just me. Before I even finish reading, I.T. is calling, "hey, what's up over there in computer nookie?" and that's like saying, "what am I , chopped liver, come talk to me now etc." And he's right. I need to talk to him and etc.

But the main dealio (I stole that word from this blog I read tonight) is this: there are so many blog parties. You know. And I want to participate in them- they're pretty fun. But I sometimes think I should be writing something more meaningful, from the heart, to encourage and uplift or maybe even inform. Anyway. I'm going to a party now and if you're just so tired of this choppy, ridiculous post and absolutely cannot continue with me here, I understand.

If you're up for more of the same- come on along.


1. Please share one middle school memory. It can be good, bad, ugly, funny. Pictures or words, I don't care, just share.

Middle school was just plain humiliating. I tried out for cheerleading and made the squad. Weighing in at a whopping 78 pounds meant I was elected as the permanent fixture for the top of the mounts. I am scared to death of heights and absolutely could not climb up there. They threw me up there, but I couldn't stand up. I don't know why the cheerleading coach couldn't just be happy with the fact that I was able to tightly bear hug the girl beneath me around the neck, while in a squatting position and squeak out "V-I-C-T-O-R-Y" through my tears of terror. I mean, what is so wrong with that? The icing on the cake was when one saucy cheerleader, in front of everybody, said to me, "why don't you shave your legs". Gosh. Wasn't risking my life enough for this girl?

I'm still scared of heights. I never tried out for cheerleading again. I shave my legs now, from the knee down on even numbered days only.


2. What's your favorite Beatles song?

'Here comes the sun'. That is the Beatles, right? I'm not real good with which artist sung what.


3. If I asked you to describe your most comfortable outfit, what would it be?

My pajamas, including the 100% cotton hunting socks I wear to bed 11 months out of the year.


4. Would you rather host a party or be a guest?

Guest. Duh. I have no meme of my own. And I'm always embarrassed about my ever torn up bathroom, which now has no mini-blinds, so....it gives new meaning to the term "public restroom".


5. Do you think we will move completely from traditional books to digital ones, and if we do, are you OK with that?

I like the tangible. The real books with pages I can feel and turn. I don't read digital books- yet. I sure read a lot of blogs, however. I need real.


6. Do you learn best by reading, listening or experiencing?

I don't have the patience to read instructions. I'm a very selective listener. I have to do a thing to remember it. But, that said, I do best when I read a little bit about it, someone tells me about it and then shows me how to do it and then I do it myself. That's the best drill for me.


7. If you are (or when you were) single, what is the kiss of death for you concerning the opposite sex? (That is, what is one trait or behavior or habit or anything at all that immediately turns you off from considering that person a potential match for you?)

The first thing that comes to mind is so immature, I can't type it. I'm going to use my "pass" card on this one.


8. Snacks. Salty or sweet?

Salty, followed by sweet.

9. Look around you in a four foot radius. What object is around you that you didn't realize was there or forgot was there? How long has it been there?

My husband is standing there waiting for me to get done with this obsessive posting business. He's probably been there awhile. I better hurry up and finish now.


10. What is your favorite Tom Cruise movie?

Top Gun. But I am not as big a fan of his as I once was, that's for sure. Give me Meryl Streep. Or Steve Martin in the old Father of the Bride movies- those just crack me up, every time.


11. You buy a bottle of shampoo and discover that you don't like what it does to your hair at all. What do you do with that full bottle?

Happenin' right now. Bought it at Costco. In fact, it was a two for one deal, so I have a few thousand gallons of the stuff and I'm pretty sure it is making my hair greasy. Well, I have to use it up- at least bottle #1. Otherwise, it will have been a complete waste of money. The other bottle I may donate to a local garage, so they can lube their lug nuts. Still thinking that over.


12. Your favorite Fall comfort food? (Last week it was beverage.)

I like all soups. I make them often in the fall. Also pumpkin pie, which I hardly make, but wish more people would make it for me and bring it over. Of course I would invite that person to stay and share. As long as he or she did not have to use the bathroom, we'd be alright.

Thanks for reading!

Hey, I'm here doing a little editing on this post I wrote last night and noticed all my followers have gone missing. Have yours? My dashboard tells me I still have them, but I can't find them anywhere.

Little Bo Peep,

Project 365- #5

Posting life in pictures on Sunday, hosted by Sara at ...make music from your heart to the Lord. Want to play? Here's the beef.

First of all, I haven't had time to get out to my suburban vegetable patch much lately. You saw the cauliflower that appeared there. I also found a few of these. I slice 'em, dredge each slice in Italian bread crumbs, dip 'em in milk and egg whip, dredge 'em back through the crumbs and fry 'em up in hot oil. Then I melt mozzarella on top and ladle about a tablespoon of marinara from a jar over each. These days I put slices of fresh tomato on top, because I have a plethora of those, so must eat at least one for every meal. This is the standard Tuesday night fare, so if you stop in on Tuesday- you now know what you're in for- kind of like over at MyADHDMe's place on Tuesdays. Side note: Eggplant purple is all the rage this season. If you ever wanted to wear it, this is your year.

Thought I'd show you Santa's choices. Wonder which one he comes down. Really though, will you just check out that blue sky! This is the sky I live under here in Michigan- luckiest girl in the world.

....and I'm knot kiddin'.......


Bonsai popped out another flower, through yellow leaves and all. Way to go, Bonsai! You can do it! One bloggie asked me what her name is. Any ideas? Outside the Box named his, Chan. I've just been calling her "Bonsai". Maybe that's what's got her down. Leave me your suggestion in the comments.


Worked on "the project" in the bathroom on Friday. This was my homemade protective gear, but I.T. couldn't take it. He went out and bought me a real face mask from Home Depot. I.T. sanded the plaster he'd gooped up there a few weeks back and did more scraping and I vacuumed. Plaster dust everywhere. Turns my hair gray.



I.T. knocked his sander into the plastic doohickey that was holding the mini blind up on one side. It busted- for good. I.T. fixes everything around here. That's why I never get a new thing. He always fixes my old thing. But this time, it was a goner.

I smiled underneath my face mask when he said, "I broke it, you'll have to get a new one."

"Okay, thanks, " I replied. " I hope you don't break the toilet, I hope you don't break the bathtub, I hope you don't break the........", I went on and on. He smiled under his face mask. I could see it in his eyes.

In the meantime, I can carry on a complete conversation with my neighbors when they are gardening over there in their side yard, while I'm sitting on the potty. This actually happened on Saturday afternoon. I just called out, "Howdy neighbor!" to Fash's friend, who lives there.

"Mrs. I.T....are you...." , I think A. hoped it wasn't true, but...

"Oh, yeah, sorry about that, A. , but the mini blind broke." *flush*

There are just these types of advantages when living in the burbs, what can I say? It's best to know your neighbors.

African Children's Choir- made up of orphaned children from Uganda- raising awareness for the need to feed and educate and care for the unfortunate victims of war- our neighbors- God's own. The concert was stupendous! I could never say enough about it. Standing room only in this huge chapel on the college campus. High energy. Unlimited potential. Go see these kids and support them if they come to your town.

JDRF Walk for a Cure- South Bend, IN

I kept waiting for some bloggies to find me and say hello. I had the mismatched socks on for quick identification. Sorry I missed you. Maybe next time.

Indiana Wants Me

Friday night, we boogied African style with the African Children's Choir. Those kids have spunk! Of course my camera was at home on the dining room table charging. I found some pics online, and I will try to post one on Sunday for Project 365. Oh, it is Sunday. Well, later- when I get back home to my own computer then...

Today, I am in Elkhart, IN where my young nephew lives. He has juvenile diabetes type 1, so every year our entire family on I.T.'s side gathers for the JDRF walk for the cure. The activities are happenin' in South Bend, IN beginning at noon. So, there we'll be. If you live near or if you'll be there- look me up! I'm wearing mis-matched socks.

Supporting these causes and participating in the enthusiasm generated from the kids reminds me of two songs the African Children's Choir sang- "He's got the whole world in His hands...." and "...Through it all, through it all, I've learned to trust in Jesus, I've learned to trust in God...through it all, through it all..I've learned to depend upon His word."

It's a beautiful day and with His mercies new every morning- we can rejoice and be glad!

I recommend it!

Five Words and Thankful Thursday

Well, here it is- midnight at the oasis. I.T. is safely home after a long week of traveling for work. The Bonsai has been given her anti-depressants and is relaxing to Hariprasad Chaurasia's Meditative Romance played on the Indian bamboo flute. The treatment is working, she's about to spring forth a single, new, teeny, white flower. And me. Well. I'm going to go to a couple of meme parties now. I saw another blogger tackle two at once recently, so I think it's legal.

I found an interesting meme at Teresa's Treasures, who found the interesting meme at Heart2Heart, who found the interesting meme at My Little Corner of the World....and it goes like this: Teresa gave me five words, each of which I am going to expound upon, so you can get to know me better. If you'd like to play along, leave me a comment with your e-mail address included and I will send you five words to expound upon, so we can get to know you better. Here are my five:

Fun- It's my favorite thing to have. Doesn't take much sometimes to have a bit of fun. Like when I was eight, waiting around on Sunday morning for mom to find her shoes (and all of our shoes) for church- I'd crack open my hot pink egg of Silly Putty, flatten the compound and press it hard onto Charlie Brown and Snoopy in the funny papers. The imprint of the cartoon would transfer perfectly onto the putty. Who da guessed the result of a failed World War II effort to develop a cheap, synthetic substitute for rubber would be so much fun!

Animal- Always liked them. Over the years, I've had a pet cat named Malcolm, two ponies, rabbits, mice, gerbils, hamsters, fish, dogs, chickens and a turtle. As a kid I wanted a pet monkey, but my dad said they smelled. Currently, I do not have any pets, but it is best, as the Bonsai tree keeps me hopping. She's very needy. My least favorite animal might be a snake. They're scary, slithery, scaly and they lie.

True- Jesus said,"...If you hold to my teaching....Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." John 8:31&32 I love the Truth! I want to be told the truth, even when it is difficult to know. It's important to tell the truth, but not always easy to stick to the truth, because of exaggeration. If we didn't have to deal with that, it would be somewhat easier.

Lost- I am often. When I drive, I get lost. Tonight I found out why this is- I sometimes suffer from "insufficient situational awareness". I love to learn something new like that. During sermons, I get lost. But later I sometimes find out. I've never watched the t.v. show, Lost- is that a t.v. show? I think it is. During heady conversations, I can get lost. Sometimes I never find out. But I want to. However, I once was lost in the truest sense of the word, but now I am found, because of a loving, personal Savior who cares for me forever. His name is Jesus.

Smile- I do. Often. Before e-mail and texting, we used to write letters. Ink on paper. I wrote letters. On these letters I would often draw a smiley face after my signature, which is what we called our name, signed at the end of the letter. In Brownies we sang this song, "It isn't any trouble just to S-M-I-L-E (repeat) So smile when you're in trouble. It will vanish like a bubble. If you'll only take the trouble. Just to S-M-I-L-E." I don't really agree with the logic of this song. I think if you smile when you're in trouble, it might get you in more trouble. I don't know that a smile will make your trouble vanish. It might just hide your trouble. But I do think a smile is a warm fuzzy that can make somebody's day a little bit better. And if you choose to smile, even when you feel more like frowning- it will turn your day around.

Thanks Teresa- for the words!

Though I wanted to try the Five Words meme, I just couldn't skip Thankful Thursday hosted by Sonya at Truth for the Journey. It isn't Thursday here anymore, but for someone like, say, Edie, it still is, so it's legal.

1. My new job at the Christian bookstore is pretty near perfect. The people who work there are nicer than all get out and my manager schedules me to work during the best possible hours for my current life schedule. The books are wonderful and I can check one out at any time to read, as long as I'm very careful and don't spill coffee or get donut glaze on it. Plus I already know how to do some of the computer stuff from working at the other bookstore where I used to work, so the training is going well. I'm very thankful for this part time job!

2. My daughter, Fash, is the sweetest daughter a mom could ever have. She's fun and she smiles a lot. Best of all, she likes to hang out with me and talk to me. Even when I get lost, she's good with it. I love her so much and I do not know what I am going to do when she graduates. Me and the Bonsai- we'll just be dropping our leaves together by the tune of the bamboo flute. I am soooo thankful for Fash! Why was God so good to me? Thank you, God.

3. My son, Outside the Box, is such a blessing to me. He also likes to talk to me. I'm thankful for this time, which I know is short, that he is living here, because I know that the next time he moves out it will probably be for good. He's a man. I remember bringing him home and thinking we'd never be able to keep it alive. He was a six pound plop of sculptured silly putty. I'm so thankful for him.

4. I'm thankful that my son, Pilgrim, has met a nice neighbor who dry walls and such and has hired him to help out. That makes three jobs for Pilgrim. Did I mention this before? I think I did. Oh well, I'm so thankful that God is providing for him in California, because Pilgrim always wanted to drive out there in a big 'ol van in his hippie shirt and live. And he is. Living. Another child we kept alive to manhood. God is good. I'm thankful that the Word is hidden in Pilgrim's heart. I'm thankful that God promises to complete the good work He began in Pilgrim and in each, who believe in Him and call him Lord.

5. Thankfully, Information Technologist is home safely. Lots of driving this week. Tomorrow, we have a date- the bathroom project. God be with us. I'm thankful we will be plastering the bathroom walls. And ceiling. Again. Tomorrow. *smiling*

To Sister's House I Go

Yesterday, I met my sister at the ice cream store 1/2 way between our two homes to return items she left up north after visiting us at "the cottage" earlier this month. My blouse with the theft protection inker still attached just happened to be in my car, as I was planning to visit a Sears sales associate soon to have it removed. Sis was headed out to do some shopping for her upcoming trip to Philadelphia, so I suggested she take my blouse to Sears, have the theft protection inker removed, then borrow the blouse to wear on her vacation. She took it.

As it turns out, there is not a Sears in the shopping district nearest her town, so she inquired at Victoria's Secret where she was told employees have to sign an agreement when they are hired there that they will not attempt to remove theft protection inkers on articles of clothing from stores other than their own. Who knew?

She then took the blouse to J.C. Penney's where the absence of that rule allowed a helpful sales associate to attempt removal of the inker. Apparently, theft protection inkers vary from store to store and so do their removal tools. This faux pas has become a grand opportunity for education. Stinker inker remains clamped on.

In honor of the Penney's associate, who at least gave it the old department store try, I will return to Sears with the blouse in this:

Years ago, I.T. discovered a back roads route to my sister's place that I have never been able to successfully navigate. Instead of shaving eight to ten minutes off the trip, I add about twenty every time I attempt the shortcut. Today marks a milestone. I got it right, arriving at Sis's in 17 minutes flat instead of the 25 it takes by the main road route, with only light speeding.

The back roads offer additional advantages. The Family Farm that sells thee best donuts in the mid-west is on the route. When the sign is out, the donuts are available- they're seasonal.

I don't recall ever meeting a baker whose donuts aren't ready until 3p.m. It was 10:30 in the morning- normal donut time. I stopped anyway. The gals who run this outfit homeschool their kids. I've sold them plenty of curriculum from the Home School Bookstore, where I used to work. I bagged a box of one dozen donuts for $2 less than regular price- baked less than 20 hours earlier. Fash and I shared when I got home.

I wasn't as lucky with the corn I craved for dinner.

A half a mile later:

No corn. But later in the day I found this growing in my back yard! I never knew it was there. Never saw it before. Vegetables can be sneaky like that.


Wish you were here. (Cause it really woulda been better if I hadn't eaten mosta these myself.)

*The coffee was too weak and I put too much cream in, that's why it's so light colored. But this French press I got from my brother-in-law is fabulous and makes an excellent cup of creamy, delicious coffee. I'll never go back to my machine. Have you tried a French press for making coffee? Fabulous!

Finally, wanted to show off the productivity of my sister's chickens. Clearly, someone is not doing her part, but that's beside the point. Fresh eggs! To quote a famous and faithful blogger, "Woo to the hoo!"

Bonsai Tree that I Love

Thanks to my friends at the bookstore where I used to work, I now have a Bonsai (BAHN- sigh) tree. Here it is sitting in its new ceramic tray, but not planted in the tray. It's still growing in its original plastic tray. This is because Bonsai trees are very emotional. I did not know this when I bought it.

Upon getting it home, Outside the Box and I looked up how to care for Bonsai trees and were surprised to read that they frequently stress out just moving from place to place- like from the kitchen to the living room. They must have special Bonsai soil that does not stay as wet as normal potting soil, must be watered lightly, daily, but not so much as to cause root rot and need light, but cannot tolerate direct sunlight that shines through the window- it must be filtered in some way. If the Bonsai does not get what it wants, the leaves will drop off, leaving the owner with an interesting, curvy trunk of sadness.

I was so excited to get the Bonsai. I've always wanted one. But it isn't something I would just up and buy for myself, because they are expensive. With the gift card, I felt free to go ahead and treat myself and I had enough to get Outside the Box a Bonsai, too- for his new office. He likes plants, so I knew he'd be into it. We would have fun growing these little trees together. Anyway, after reading the Bonsai Gardner, I became a little nervous about whether or not I could handle caring for this mini-tree in a tray. I mean, I have issues of my own. The trees had spent the better part of the day in my car, since I bought them and then went shopping with Fash, before bringing them to the kitchen table, where they sat for several hours until Outside the Box moved his to his bedroom and later to his office. I figured that one would have no leaves left by morning.


The second day we owned the Bonsai trees, Outside the Box discovered that mine was blooming! He took a picture of the tiny, white flowers with his camera phone and sent me the alert, as I was running errands most of that day. I couldn't believe it, but when I got home there were four blooms and several buds on my tree. Amazing! Especially since I had moved it from the kitchen table to the coffee table to a side table under a mirror and back to the coffee table, because I couldn't decide where it could get the correct amount of filtered sunlight. I also now feared I'd over watered it, when I'd held it under a fountain in the store before bringing it home- it had seemed so dried out. I kept checking it for root rot about every hour for the first full day I owned it. I was getting kind of stressed out, though I really like having the Bonsai.

On the third day, Fash and I were doing a Bible study in the living room and we noticed several leaves scattered around the drip tray of the planter on the coffee table. I inhaled sharply and put my face close to the Bonsai. I blew on it. Fifteen teeny leaves dropped from the tree. It was happening. The Bonsai was stressing out and going berserk. Though I don't actually have a picture of this. We'd moved it too much. So I started talking to it. Thankfully, we do not have a picture of this either.


I hope I can keep my new Bonsai alive. Outside the Box says his has also dropped some leaves. I think the Bonsai Gardener says, "your new Bonsai may feel so stressed out that he will drop all of his leaves, but take heart- they will grow back- if the soil is right, the water not too wet and the sunlight properly filtered." The Bonsai Gardener promises that growing a Bonsai tree is challenging, yet rewarding. I want to re-pot mine into the new, ceramic tray I bought for it, but I'm too scared. I want it to live.


The white flowers are still blooming, but I seem to have a lot of extra hair in my brush. It's funny that the Bonsai came with a little stone on a stick stuck in the special Bonsai soil of the plastic tray, on which is engraved the word- "peace". I wonder what that means. Maybe it means if the tree cannot express it, the rocks will cry out.

I also bought this tropical type plant, whose name I cannot recall- it gets one, orange bloom in the middle of a leaf spray that will last a good two months, then shrivel and never bloom from the center of that spray again. Instead, a shoot will come out of the side of this cutting and an orange bloom will appear in the middle of the side spray. This one seems to be completely comfortable in the kitchen, dining area, bath or living room. Does anyone know the name of this plant?