A Mouse In My Mailbox

Well, technically, we only have a mail slot and it's in our front door, but we did get a mouse in the mail. Okay, technically two mice. And a duck, and a couple dogs (at least I think one of them is a dog). Thanks for the postcard, Busgirlie! :)


Speaking of traveling...We won't be a leavin' on a jet plane for a while yet, but we did buy the tickets for our Thanksgiving visit to Louisiana. I am SO excited - other than visiting Tennessee last year and again this spring, this is the first real vacation (more than 4 days) we've taken since visiting my sister-in-law in 1999. We're going to stay at the home of friends we made via Dave's Garden and met last year. It's really cool to visit people you know, because they know the good stuff to do and what stuff isn't. Lisa and her hubby are really sweet, funny, laid-back folks -- and can they cook. Their little girl was so sweet on the phone the other night - she's a darling little thing, a four-year-old sprite with a smile that could melt the Grinch's heart.

We're don't usually have to dress for summer temps and humidity in November, so I did some shopping for cool and comfy clothes since ours are pretty ratty for anything but yard work. And, like I told my aunt, I've become an old fogey. Yes, I will soon own five seersucker shirts from Blair.com. I bought four seersucker gingham-checked shirts in various colors, along with a pair of shorts. Hey, as far as I'm concerned, they're pre-wrinkled so they'll be a breeze to pack. They're also lightweight and cool to wear. I can wash and dry them and have clothes to wear the next day.

This is my second order from Blair and I've been really happy with their products and with their service. These shirts are on clearance now, and I couldn't pass up $9.99 each, with free shipping and no sales tax. Check out currentcodes.com for all the latest online discount codes for your favorite online stores - that's where I got the code for free shipping. :)

Move Over, Mr. Coffee

We finally broke down and decided to try Gevalia for their free coffee maker offer (pictured at left along with a groovy Dave's Garden coffee mug - they're great!). It's so nice having our coffee brew directly into a thermal carafe, y'all. Vikki told me she has one and it works great, so we thought we'd give it a shot. Of course, it helps that Mr. Coffee, may he rest in peace, died. The first pot I made overflowed the filter basket and poured onto the counter; in my haste to try it out (and thanks to my math-shunning brain), I put in twice as much coffee as I should have. The water couldn't make it through the resulting coffee-ground sludge. So far, there's been a bit of a plastic taste to the coffee, this despite my running vinegar water through as directed, but it's getting better.

While I'm on the subject of coffee, I must mention The Mug of Honor, not to be confused with the DG mug pictured above, LOL.

The mug was given to me by Dad (my stepdad, Bob). He thought it was really something. And it is. It's become a family joke (or a family institution, if you want to be positive). It's a truly repugnant mug depicting an angry-looking, surly cat. It's not just his face that is disconcerting, no. His tail curves around the handle of the mug, and even then the handle is uncomfortable. Every time Dad visits, his coffee is served in The Mug of Honor. It's only fitting that he should enjoy this fine piece of ceramic artistry since he is the one who hand-selected it.

Friday Five?? I Never Did Monday Mission!

It's Friday Five time already? Thanks for reminding me, Naomi - I truly would have forgotten all about it! These questions are nothing to make a stink about; they're treading on thin ice. Those old shoes just love to wag their tongues and sing soul. Ok, I'll stop. Gosh, I'd like to hear Imelda Marcos' answers, or maybe Leona Helmsley's. Shoot, my mom's answers, for that matter. My shoe-happenings are pretty tame compared to theirs, I'd wager.

1. What size shoe do you wear?
Big ol' size 11's. But not wides, just regulars.

2. How many pairs of shoes do you own?
How many do I own, or how many can I wear? I own around eight pair, including winter boots. Frankly, I'm comfortable (and barefoot) and I don't feel like getting up to check!

3. What type of shoe do you prefer (boots, sneakers, pumps, etc.)?
I prefer sandals first, the athletic kind with lots of cushion in the heel. Next to that, I like tennis shoes. I do have a pair of buffalo hide boots I adore.

4. Describe your favorite pair of shoes. Why are they your favorite?
I love the bison boots I got at a warehouse sale at my old job. They're made of soft, supple hide and it's the most buttery leather I've ever felt. They're the type of boots that lace up, and they go just a little above my ankles. There's a rolled cuff at the top, which cushions them against my legs. They're really well made, really comfortable, and really cute.

5. What's the most you've spent on one pair of shoes?
Hmmmmm....Probably $60 for a pair of really good tennis shoes once. Even my bison leather shoes were only $32!

Keats Eats

"...this moment I was writing with one hand, and with the other holding to my mouth a Nectarine - how good, how fine. It went down all pulpy, slushy, oozy..."
-- John Keats, English poet

Now, I enjoy a good nectarine, too. Only I eat it with my left hand so my right is free for mouse-clicking and hunt-and-pecking on my keyboard. ;)

Birthday Grrrrrrrrl

Haaaaaapy Birfday to U
At Disney World, Wooo-wooooo
Happy Birfday Dear Busgirlieeeeeeeee
Haaaaaapy Birfday toooooo Youuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!

And here's a group of adoring fans, waiting for YOU to blow out the candles. Just make believe there are 38 candles. Oh, and pretend that these nice folks weren't randomly selected off the web to serve my purpose, but that they're your good, good friends!



Yep, when you care enough to send the very best....

Got Pollen?

I took this back at the beginning of September at my mom's. This little fella was going from flower to flower, just revelling in the pollen. As you can see, he was covered from head to tail. I used to be afraid of all bees, wasps and hornets. Now, though, now I'm pretty much only really afraid of yellowjackets; those things get right in one's face and cause me to run away, screaming like an idiot. Don't tell me to sit still and they won't bother me. Don't tell me that running only makes it worse. I consider myself fortunate to be able to enjoy little honey bees and bumble bees at this point in my life, because at some point it occurred to me that they're far more interested in the flowers than they are in me. The yellowjackets, however, are another story!

Friday Five Time

I can't believe how this week has flown by...It's Friday Five time already!

1. What are your favorite ways to relax and unwind?
I love cuddling up with DH and reading or watching a movie; if he's not around, I love to snuggle down into the cushions on our couch, adorn myself with a living, breathing blanket of puppies, and read until I doze off in a little nap.

2. What do you do the moment you get home from work/school/errands?
Usually, I head to the bathroom. Then I greet the yipping, yapping, happy dogs and enjoy being Queen of The World for a little while while they scramble out of the cage and go scrabbling on the hardwood floors toward the kitchen. It's a joyful, barking parade to the great outdoors.

3. What are your favorite aromatherapeutic smells?
I like the smell of the steam coming from the dryer vent when laundry's drying, as well as the smell of freshly-laundered linens. The sweet smell of a hayfield just cut is wonderful, as is a hayloft full of sweet hay. When night comes, the sweet nocturnal perfume of nicotiana sylvestris (flowering tobacco) bids me to breathe deeply and drink it in.

4. Do you feel more relaxed with a group of friends or hanging out by yourself?
I guess it depends on the company, the activity and the duration. Generally, as an only child with an active imagination, I can amuse myself and like solitude.

5. What is something that you feel is relaxing but most people don't?
What girl doesn't like backrubs, footrubs and having someone play with her hair? I guess some don't, but I can't imagine being in their ranks. Other than that, I think it's really relaxing to putter in the garden, deadheading, pruning, and admiring all the little things we tend to not notice in our rush as humans.

Bella Bella!

Our pesto-day was a success, everything I'd hoped it would be. Bev brought two big bags full of fresh basil leaves, along with tomatoes and garlic cloves she'd just harvested from her garden that afternoon. Mom was here and, aside from mercilessly dissing my first (admittedly very weak) pot of coffee, was a lot of fun to be with. ;) Bev's pesto recipe was a little different than the one I posted in my previous entry:

• 1 1/2 cups basil leaves


• 1/4 cup nuts (I used walnuts)


• 2 cloves of garlic (if clove is large, use 1)


• 3/4 cup parmesan cheese (Calls for freshly grated, but I used canned, grated cheese


• 3/4 cup olive oil

Put nuts and garlic in food processor and run until incredients are finely ground together. Add basil leaves and process until ingredients form a paste. Add parmesan cheese and blend again, then add olive oil and blend until all ingredients are mixed really well. If the mix looks too runny for your taste, add a little more basil and give it another spin.Toss with cooked pasta and serve hot or cold with sliced tomatoes. :)

This shows you what we enjoyed, farfalle pasta and pesto. Those little pear tomatoes were wonderful dipped in pesto, too! I made a salad using some of the leftover basil leaves mixed with lettuce, and the rest of the basil I will probably dry (if I don't get more parmesan cheese and make more pesto, LOL).

Pesto is so ridiculously easy to make, and it is so flavorful and worth the little effort it takes to make it. Last year it took me hours to make the same amount because I had only an upright blender to work with and it was next to impossible to mix the ingredients with it. The food processor we got for Christmas made it a breeze this time, though. What we're not going to use right away, I put in zip-loc bags and flattened out for freezing. I like freezing it this way, because I can easily break a section of it off the frozen plank-o-pesto and put the rest back in the freezer.

Pesto will keep well in the refrigerator for a week or a little longer; it's best to freeze what you don't want to use in that time. Here's a good pesto link with some recipes and history of this marvelous concoction.

Our Cup Runneth Over

Tomorrow afternoon, my friend Bev is coming over with fresh basil from her garden. My mom is going to be here, too. Together, we will pick the leaves from the stems, talking and laughing. Bev loves gardening, God, dogs and cats, too, so there's no lack of topics. We'll rinse the leaves and pat them dry, still talking.

Then, we'll take the basil and put it to its glorious use: Fresh pesto! The one we're making has basil leaves, fresh parsley, garlic, parmesan cheese, olive oil, and walnuts. It freezes well, so some will be frozen for later. Some, though, we will be compelled to toss with fresh pasta (I use that term loosely - this house has never seen truly fresh pasta). For your cooking enjoyment, here is the recipe:

Re-Evaluating Winter

Here's a winter memory from a lovely snowfall we enjoyed in January, 2002. More below...




I used to say I hated winter, but I'm re-evaluating that statement. The cool fall nights have me in mind of putting the garden to bed, raking leaves, and settling in for a cozy winter. Thought I don't like the usual winter weather our area offers (cold and damp - we get more rain than snow I think), I love the simple rest it offers. The pace of life slows and we light candles on those early winter evenings and listen to music more often. We read, cuddled under the various lap throws that are scattered throughout our home. True, we also wipe mud from the dogs' feet (that's twelve feet now!) and from ours, and the cold can get a little old. But I don't fret about my plants not getting enough water, about the stuff still needing to be deadheaded, and I don't chastise myself for not weeding. Yes, I really do like winter for the different things it offers -- But perhaps I'm only glamorizing it in absentia, LOL. Anyway, wouldn't you think that warm doorway looked inviting? And isn't that guy up there cute?

Okay, Busgirlie, this one's for you. Complete this phrase for me, and end the day-long debate Howie and I have had over this.

She's a Rose Princess
Dancin' ___ ___ ____

I'm still feeling dizzy and headachey, so I've not been at the computer much. Even when I am online, I'm just kind of aimlessly wandering and unfocused (more unfocused than usual, LOL!). Don't expect anything earth shattering from this neck of the woods for a few days, LOL. In fact, the biggest news around our house is that Howie and our friend Mark replaced our horribly wobbly concrete back steps with a nice set of wooden stairs. Wow, what a difference that makes! No longer do we have to wedge bits of stone and concrete beneath the pre-formed concrete steps to keep them from wobbling. No longer is there a loud clunk when we go in or out of the back door. Best yet, we no longer must step down as soon as our feet cross the threshhold of the door; the first step is even with the door now, so there's a nice 14" spot to tread before taking a step down. When negotiating two leashed, enthusiastic dogs, this is a key thing. The dogs didn't quite know what to think of the new steps for a while, and it was funny seeing them react to them. They've given them a good sniffing, though, and now walk on them with almost no trepidation.

Today I give thanks for sweaty men who make the world a better place. :)

FridayFive.org Time

1. Would you say that you're good at keeping in touch with people?
I am much better at it since e-mail. I always mean to pen actual notes, and sometimes I even do, only to forget to mail them; at some point the news in them becomes embarrassingly old and I discard the sealed envelope only to begin afresh. But I am very good about answering e-mail!

2. Which communication method do you usually prefer/use: e-mail, telephone, snail mail, blog comments, or meeting in person? Why?
Nothing beats getting something in the mail and having that handwriting to cherish. Next to that, I prefer e-mail because (1) I am an archivist at heart and I love being able to go back and look at old correspondence, (2) it is so timely and (3) it is so convenient.

3. Do you have an instant messenger program? How many? Why/why not? How often do you use it?
Yes, I have several. I used the free version of Trillian for a while because it allowed me to combine the three IM programs I use into a single application, but it was buggy and I finally decided it wasn't worth the hassle. I use MSN predominantly, though I'm careful to only chat with those I know from elsewhere. I use it daily, several times a day. I also use Yahoo IM and, on occasion, AOL IM.

4. Do most of your close friends live nearby or far away?
My closest friends, my years-long friends live within an hour or so radius of us, and that's nice. Other friends I've met online and, later, in the flesh, are spread all around the country! I love the Internet. :)

5. Are you an "out of sight, out of mind" person, or do you believe that "distance makes the heart grow fonder"?
I think it largely depends on the quality of your relationship with that person. Certainly the personality quirks which annoy us seem distant; it's easy to glamorize a person in absentia. Conversely, a good friend is a sweet breath of fresh air you come to miss like the scent of flowers in the winter.

J.M. Barrie says it best: "God gave us memory so that we might have roses in December". So it is with friends, yes?

Pick A Winner and Take Me To DQ

Joanie's nose-picker story reminds me of a story a friend told me once. He was out driving his car on the freeway and glanced over at the driver of the car next to him as he passed it. That car's driver was a pretty lady, who waved at him. Sweet! What she failed to remember was that she had a wad of Kleenex sticking out of her nose. He politely motioned, pointing toward his nose, and she responded by rolling her eyes a little and waving again, in thanks. This whole interchange took place in a few seconds, a marvel in non-verbal communication.

By the way, to view two funny Kleenex TV ads, go here.

The second thing that entry in Joanie's blog brought to mind was a childhood trip to Dairy Queen with my father. It was a big deal to order for myself, so I marched right up to that counter and very maturely ordered a brassiere burger.

Yeah, as in bra. Over-the-shoulder-boulder-holder. Double-slingshot. I couldn't spell it at that point in my life, but I darned well knew how it was pronounced! I don't remember much except my father laughing and my thinking "well Brazier sure looks like it ought to be prounounced brassiere"!

A Countdown

This nifty list thingie I found on Joanie's site

Ten movies you'd watch over and over:
1. As Good As It Gets
2. Braveheart
3. The Princess Bride
4. Shawshank Redemption
5. Star Trek (any of 'em)
6. The Matrix
7. The Abyss
8. Pleasantville
9. You've Got Mail
10. A Christmas Story


Nine people you enjoy the company of:
Only Nine?? This list is not all-inclusive!
1. Howie (& our family)
2. Amy
3. Angie
4. John
5. Amy
6. Noah
7. Bonnie
8. Lisa
9. Yeah, and me ;)

Eight things you're wearing:
1. Wedding Band
2. Glasses
3. Barrette
4. Right earring
5. Left earring
6. Undergarments
7. Outergarments
8. A smile

Seven Things on your Mind:
1. Getting over this cold
2. Hoping Howie doesn't catch it
3. Cleaning I need to do
4. Deciding it can wait until I feel better
5. Writing, how I enjoy it
6. Contemplating bringing my music keyboard upstairs
7. How fleeting the days are

Six objects you touch everyday:
1. My glasses
2. A coffee cup
3. My hubby
4. My cats
5. My dogs
6. My dogs' leashes


Five things you do everyday:
1. Kiss my hubby
2. Wake up with no alarm
3. Eeeeeeliminiate
4. Surf the Internet
5. Count my blessings

Four bands that you couldn't live without:
1. Phil Keaggy & Sunday's Child
2. The Beatles
3. Men at Work
4. Randy Stonehill & band

Three of your favorite songs at this moment:
1. You're Worthy of My Praise (version from John Tesh's CD A Deeper Faith)
2. Shoofly Pie (Doris Day)
3. You Are Still Holy (as sung by Kim Hill)


Two people that have influenced your life the most:
1. Mom
2. John

One person that you love more than anyone in the world:
1. Howie

Mirror Mirror...

Well, I finally did it. I submitted a photo to
The Mirror Project and they put it up today. I owe it all to Randal, the Big White Guy...Even if he did shave his goatee off in a moment of abandon, I admire the guy. Hey, we even have the same camera - how cool is THAT? If he can take such great shots with his Olympus, I know I can do better.

NyQuil Poster Child

You know that commercial for NyQuil, the one that says it's the "nighttime, sniffling, sneezing, coughing, aching, stuffy head, fever so you can rest medicine"? I am destined to be their poster child, I think. And this cold or flu - whatever it is - wouldn't be so bad if it weren't for the poop.

No, not mine. Buddy's. Our beagle has the runs, and it's been oh-so-fun at our house today. I awoke to the sound of Howie making gagging noises as he cleaned up the first mess of the day, one which the dog managed to make right on top of some computer cables, coax cable and phone lines. I've been taking the dogs out regularly, hoping to avoid any more accidents, but I'm afraid he did it again. I cleaned up the little spot I saw, thinking it was good it was just that little bit...Then I saw more under my desk. Much more. On the carpet, of course.

Waaaaaah! Can I just say that I'm really sick of bodily fluids today, human and otherwise? *sniffle* Okay, I've had my pity party.

Tourism by Microsoft

This computerized kiosk is in the foyer at Heini's Cheese Shop in Berlin, Ohio. People seemed divided into two camps at the sight of me laughing and snapping shots of this thing: those who stared unabashedly and those who averted their eyes. ;)

Better late than never...Monday Mission time!

1. Do you have a favorite piece of poetry or prose written by someone else? Care to share it?

I am very fond of Robert Frost's Stopping by the Woods on a Snowy Evening, especially the last line, And miles to go before I sleep, and miles to go before I sleep. How often I've felt that way when out enjoying time photographing nature, then realizing how late the hour's gotten and how I need to get home!

2. In High School, did you enjoy creative writing? Do you currently do any other writing in addition to your Blog?

I loved creative writing in high school. One year I was an editor for the Literary Magazine, and that was fun, too. I always write, but not always publically. To me, e-mails deserve as much care and attention as "real" writing. Some of my favorite things to read are well-written letters I receive from friends and family. I want to do more writing, though, even free-lancing if I can find the right avenues.

3. Have you ever noticed that the Blog entries you least expect to get the most comments do, and those you expect to generate a lot of feedback don't? Which Blog entry of yours surprised you by getting a lot of comments? Which one did you think would generate a lot but didn't?

I never expect many comments, so I am really glad when I do see them. I get private e-mails from people, too, and that's fine. I just like hearing back from others; the blogger's curse, I suppose!

4. Sometimes you get a chance to make a lifestyle change that has a huge impact on the course your life takes. That is, a moment where something became very clear to you, and that realization changed your life, such as: the need to leave a relationship, to stop an addiction, to bond with someone, to start a new career, and so on. Have you ever had an "awakening" moment in your life?

There are far too many to mention. Realizing I wanted to marry Howie was a big one. We'd gotten to be friends over a period of almost a year, and three days after we first kissed and began dating in earnest, I realized I didn't want to be with anyone but him. I blurted this out to him one evening, then freaked out that I'd said it, feeling it was carved in stone. Then, I realized it was okay even if it had been carved in stone, because it was so true.

Recently, I have become much more aware of how my actions affect other people, both positively and negatively. I know I need to be out with people, not only for myself and my need to connect, but also to encourage them. And I know I need to work much harder on not running late, because it devalues the person who's waiting when I dilly-dally around and run behind. Gee, I think my most recent realization can be summed up in the words it ain't all about me!

5. Then there are other times where you can have a huge impact on someone else's life. You suggest they see a doctor, stop them from taking that last drink, or maybe just say some kind words at the moment. Have you made a lasting positive impact on the life of someone else?

I sure hope so. I try to encourage people, even complete strangers. I try to smile, knowing how one smile can bouy my heart on a rough day. I believe very much in the power of words.

6. Are there any charities or organizations which you support? How did you come to be involved with them?

Mainly, we support our church, though we've been absent for a long time and have not been as faithful with our pocketbooks as we once were. Other than that, I am more vocally supportive than financially.

7. Care to collaborate with me? Help me out and write the rest of this poem:

I drifted though a dream last night,
visions full of colors bright.
My thoughts began to drift to you,
and in an instant we were two.

I touched your hand,
We began to blend,
Filled with a feeling
that should have no end.

A question knitted tight your brow
You tried to ask, not knowing how
To vocalize that heart-felt need
Without sounding full of greed

BONUS: Hey cutie, what's up with this attitude?

Awww, c'mon Babyface, don't be cruel...

Cold Viruses by E-Mail

Well, I have a cold. I swear, I got this virus from my aunt, who e-mailed me and said she and her hubby have just reached the turning point in their colds and are starting to feel better. This insiduous cold virus of hers made its way through cyberspace and landed right on my fingertips. Thanks, Bonnie. *sigh* Right now, I could sing a low baritone rather than alto. I could give Phoebe Buffay a good run for her money with the sexy cold-voice thing. I have a voice which would scare small children, so keep them away. Keep them away, anyway; I don't want their germs right now, since I have quite enough of my own, thankyouveddymuch.

Now that you're sufficiently grossed out, let me post a pretty little picture to make up for it. This is Emma, mooning over her beloved Nylabone: