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Friday, October 31, 2014

Earring 0241 - Best Piano Yet! - Koyama Michie

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOSyj_ZerGM If you like piano, this is Koyama Michiem whom I love to listen and watch her play. Her music instantly relaxes me and brings to me to a place in nature along a stream or brook. Her fingers move so quickly on some of her music. She makes me want to learn to play. You can learn about this fantastic, world-renown Japanese pianist at her fan site: http://michiekoyama-fan.com/index2-e.html. When I die, I hope that on the way out and the way in that I can hear her music playing. It would be a dream to be seating in the same room with her while she plays. Koyama is definitely a blessed woman.

Today's earrings

Thursday, October 30, 2014

Earing 0240 - Slide Rule

Everyone talks about Internet and computers crashing. That lead me back to my high school days of using a slide rule for my trig class. Never did I think that I would learn how to use one, let alone enjoy using it. What surprised me was that my mom remembered how to use it from when she went to high school. With a slide rule, you can add, subtract, divide, multiple, do trig, roots and powers. It's a powerful tool developed in the 1600s http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slide_rule. Maybe I should get one and start practicing it again.


Well, I'm not going to say something cliché like those were the good old days but I did feel smarter using the slide rule than using my computer.

Here's another site that has information about the slide rule helped put a man on the moon. The comments are of particular interest and bring back a lot of memories for myself and others. http://www.npr.org/blogs/ed/2014/10/22/356937347/the-slide-rule-a-computing-device-that-put-a-man-on-the-moon

Today's earrings


Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Earring 0239 - Remote Start

Last night, I bought a car which was made in Germany. It's smaller than the car I traded in. The windshield is so much bigger on it than my other car. Since I've had my other car, I've been so fearful of hitting either a pedestrian or another car because of the blind spots. I'm so relieved with the newer vehicle because it's like I have an extra six inches of glass on both sides. Pretty sure it's an optical illusion but my vision looks like it's over a much broader area than before The speedometer goes up to 160 mph and I have to laugh at it. It's a fact that I've gone 100 mph one time in my life and it wasn't when I was a teen either! You can hear outside noise more on this car but the ride was so smooth. It was almost like I was flying even though my speed was low (it was kind of windy and rainy last night and add that to darkness and a different car). The car does not have a remote start; that's one of the things that I have grown to like. You wouldn't think that that would be a deal breaker but it might be especially if it's cold and the windows are frosted the next two mornings.

How trivial have I become? We have so many luxuries at our fingertips. I'm feeling ungrateful for all I have. Yes, everything has a price and I'm paying for everything I have. So many people don't even have food for supper and I'm concerned about a remote start. It makes me kind of sick. Truly, I don't want to be a materialistic person. My home is sparsely furnished. My meals are simple meals. I don't drink other than some sodas and an occasional coffee.

My brother and I had a long conversation the other day. We both agreed that I could easily move into a very small apartment and be content with it - as long as I had running water and a toilet. Well, I forgot that I really appreciated electricity and internet too, along with heat and air conditioning. All of a sudden the "wants" are increasing. Guess it's time to get rid of more stuff and become even more simpler.

Today's earrings

Tuesday, October 28, 2014

Earring 0238 - Baby, It's cold outside

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=009kRJKf9rg is where you can listen to "Baby, It's Cold Outside." That's how I felt this afternoon when unloading and loading trunks. Like usual, I wasn't wearing a coat (didn't have one with me). To top off the brisk temperature was the winds and then it started to mist. Got pretty wet and cold. My intention is to cover up with a warm blanket and watch some Dramafever.com.  Maybe I'll warm up by the time I go to bed.

By the way, this week I have more readers from Poland than from the United States. At this rate the overall readership will be dominated by Polish readers in about three or four months. Wonder why this is happening.

Today's earrings

Monday, October 27, 2014

Earring 0237 - Grateful - finished watching some videos of Japan's Tsunami

I'm grateful to live where I do. We have flash floods where people's homes are destroyed but nothing like the tsunami. My heart breaks for people who have devastation of their home and of their work. So many times we take things for granted and these videos can be reminders of how fortunate I am.

It's a quiet day for me today. Got a lot of work done at work and have decided to relax tonight. Will be making up for it on the weekend when I need to do some more packing.

Sunday, October 26, 2014

Earring 0236 - Earworms

This word stuck in my head and I can't quit thinking about it. First off, I never heard of earworms until I watched "My Lovable Girl" on Dramafever.com. They kind of used the word in the right way, well close enough to it. Had to look up what it meant. The guy in the show had been in a car accident and got earworms. I thought to myself, that was pretty strange to get worms in your ear from a car accident. As I learned, that is not the case.

Earworms are songs that get stuck in your head and you end up hearing it over and over for no reason. For instance, Friday morning the stars were still shining when I woke up early. From that point on until midday, all I could think of was "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star." Sometimes I wake up singing tunes and those carry throughout the morning too. {Side note: in the movie, the guy heard noises at various times repeatedly so in a sense, I can understand why they called it earworms.)

Great article if you're interested in earworms "Earworms: Why That Song Gets Stuck In Your Head" at http://www.npr.org/2012/03/12/148460545/why-that-song-gets-stuck-in-your-head. About 90% of the people have this happen to them at least once a week. Personally, I know that my sister and I have them much more frequent. Someone is actually doing a study on it. The article was at least three years old and I wonder how many "captured" earworm stories they now have. The comments are pretty fun to read too.

You can take part of a survey that is collecting information on earworms too. It's located at http://earwormery.com/.

Always something going on Internet. Have you ever given someone an earworm by singing a few lines of a song? "What's new pussy cat?"

Today's earrings

Saturday, October 25, 2014

Earring 0235 Mistakes

Started reading a book today entitle "Why We Make Mistakes" by Joseph Hallinan. This past week, I was working on a project and said that I find myself keep missing the same thing. Once I miss something, it seems like I miss it again. So being a little perplexed by why I have this problem, I now know that I'm not the only one. It seems like one of the problems is that we may look but we don't see. This book has many interesting tidbits such as right-handed people prefer making right-hand turns, whereas left-handed people prefer making left-hand turns. I believe it. I was married to a lefty and he make frequent left turns and I made more right turns. There's so many tidbits in the book that it is a fast read and fascinating. It's the kind of book I keep in my car to read for times I can read something quickly and go back to it later without too much problem. Well worth the read if you are interested.

Part of the reason I'm reading this book is to be more aware of mistakes and how to eliminate the ones I can eliminate. Think part of it is making new habits...good habits.

Today's earrings


Friday, October 24, 2014

Earring 0234 - There's Winners and Whiners and Today, I'm a Winner

First off, last night I finished dusting and cleaning glass throughout the apartment. It must have been my fourth wind. Of course, then I couldn't sleep. About midnight Bobbi said it was time to go to bed even if I don't sleep. She's a good caretaker. No wonder why I pay rent for her!

Today things fell into place for me. Finished lining up the mover and made arrangements for a trailer (free is good). Then I talked to a young lady who is trying to earn some extra money for winter expenses. She will help me clean up the apartment after it's been emptied. Also, if I need her to help me pack, she's willing to do that. Everything has a price. That's what happens when you don't have kids close by. I'm sure my grandsons would gladly help me move (isn't that what ever teenager wants to do in their free time?). My one brother teasingly asked if my nephew was flying here to help me because he has helped move me the last two times and also helped my sister move once or twice. My nephews would help me but they are all too far away and it's not financially feasible for them nor is it worth driving many miles. I know they love me and know they wish they could help me. That's what really counts. Kind of like my siblings too. We know we love each other but we also now what we can and cannot do. More of a reason to have moved earlier because I would have done most of it myself. That's that stubborn Norwegian part of me that makes me like that. But then again, mom was a go-getter and did everything herself too. Pretty sure that's one of the reasons she died so young. I'm going to be like my aunt (her sister) who is in her mid 80s and establish some of my boundaries on what I can and cannot do.

Now that my apartment is all nice and decluttered, it looks really nice. Think that watching all those home selling shows years ago has paid off. Kind of know what a place needs to look like to promote the "sale." Even though it's a rental, the philosophy is the same.

All this being said, I would have rather been a whiner and lost at bingo than to spend the afternoon running around like I did. It will be nice to be "home" again in the new place (or old place since I've already lived there before).

Today's earrings

Thursday, October 23, 2014

Earring 0233 - Movements

Wow, moving sucks. Sorry about the wording but that expresses exactly how I feel tonight. Found out that even though I was assured that I could easily get out of my lease when I signed it (been in the same apartment for nine years in December). Now that I want to move, the story is a little different. They will "try" to rent the apartment for me. I said that I have a vested interest in this because they want me to pay rent until February. Step back and say "what"!

Tonight my apartment got decluttered, the bathroom thoroughly cleaned, my bedroom no longer has clothes hanging, put all my earrings into my new jewelry case (thank you sister-in-law - after I move, I'll make sure that I put the earrings in the correct way and not the way I dumped them into it), put the knobs back on the stove (now I have to look to make sure I use the correct burner), and picked up all of Bobbi's toys. Bobbi followed me from room to room and then she'd lose me and have to come find me again. Must have gotten her exhausted because she's asleep on top of her cat tree now.

My intention was to go through everything I own before I moved. Does this sound familiar? Tried that last time I moved and it only took me about five years to eventually go through the stuff I moved here. At least I have a good start on the photos and got rid of a lot of them. Still hoping to go through things and get rid of paper stuff from school that aren't going to be used again. My clothes are kind of an overwhelming project because I have too many clothes. Maybe I need to just get rid of the ones I'm not wearing. When I lose more weight, I will have to buy clothes. That's a hard thing to justify but the local non-profits would be able to make use of my clothes.

There's only a couple of things that I wanted to get done yet tonight but it's not going to happen: dusting throughout the apartment and taking the garbage/recycling out. Too bad Bobbi can only supervise but then again, maybe she could do more and choses not to (at least she could kneed my sore muscles - lol).

Today's earrings

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Earring 0232 - Because that's how my mother did it

Think I heard that about three times today. It was done because that's the way it's always been done. It doesn't necessarily mean that it's the right way, the wrong way, the best way, or the worse way. I'm a "big picture" person. Once I understand how things work to get you to where you are going, then I can not only do what I'm doing better, usually I can figure out ways to streamline or make it a little better. It's not necessary that my suggestions are always better nor are they always right. It's kind of like a game to see if it can be done better. Personally, I don't like to backtrack. I want the fastest, most efficient, most productive, most ....and the list goes on and on.

Even with my packing, I imagine what it's like to unpack. So I figure out in advance where things get moved to and how things are packed. Years ago I learned that I was very anal when it came to some things; things that are uncomplicated often bore me. One of my grade school teachers realized this and gave me projects to work on and then evaluated my projects. Amazing how good I can write when it's something I want to write about (meaning someone else besides my family can read my writing).

Our mom was probably the same way. I can remember when we went on trips (imagine packing four to six kids in a car for a trip that takes five hours or more and that you're going to be gone for a week, plus don't forget the tent, the coolers, and the fishing gear for everyone), she was the best packer that I ever met. The trunk wasn't just a space filled with stuff. It was a piece of art and she could tell you exactly where the electric frying pan was (we had to have that along so dad could make batter-fried fish). I think four out of six of us kids (hahaha kids with current ages ranging from 72 down to 57) got that gene from our mom. Too bad we got the thin hair gene from her too!

Today's earrings

Tuesday, October 21, 2014

Earring 0231 - Sludge and Movement

Well, those two do not go hand-in-hand. I know that I need to get packing in order for me to move. However, the word sludge comes to mind. It comes to mind in a couple of different ways. First, even though I would like to think I don't have a lot of "stuff" somehow I might just be lying to myself. After all, I have a small storage locker that has rocks in it; rocks that are meant for a good basis for a rock garden. These aren't small rocks but they're not boulders either but they are far from being pebbles. So maybe these rocks are part of my "sludge". These are the rocks that I've been carrying around for over 20 years now. I keep trying to give them away but no one takes them. I think about putting them somewhere out in nature but it hasn't happened yet. Maybe the spot to put them hasn't been special enough or maybe the right person hasn't come around that wants to make a nice rock garden.

The other "sludge" is the number of totes that I am going to have to pack by myself. Already, there are a number of totes packed that never get unpacked. These are the precious things to me left by my mother, grandmothers, great grandmother, son, grandsons, etc. At least I don't have to pack those things because they've been in the same totes for at about 20 years.

Yes, my last big move was 20 years ago. Even though I moved into my current place nine years ago, the big move was done previously. This move won't be a "big" move either but it does remind me that I need to get a schedule going so that the sludge doesn't take over my next place. Maybe it's also time to downsize my clothes again but with me losing weight, I'm not sure I want to get rid of those quite yet.

Tonight there isn't going to be any movement towards the sludge! Looks like I will have a full weekend ahead. Plus I have two more that I will be able to work towards my goal. Have to remember how time flies.

Today's earrings


Monday, October 20, 2014

Earring 0230 - Danish Eggs - Eggs with Scrimp

Tried to take a copy of the photo but you'll have to go to the website to see it yourself. http://www.copenhagenet.dk/cph-eating.htm I'll have to do some more research because shrimp and eggs or even herring and eggs aren't something that sounds too appetizing to me. When I find something different, I'll do another posting for Danish eggs.

Today's earrings

Sunday, October 19, 2014

Earring 0229 - Australian Eggstraspecial

It was tough finding an "Austrialian" version of a special way of making eggs so I took something a little different. http://www.sutterhome.com/recipes/sutter-home-burgerbase-recipes/the-pineapple-upside-down-under-burger-(aussie-style-beef# has a recipe for "The Pineapple Upside Upside Down Under Burger (Aussie style beef burgers, with grilled pineapple, fried egg and a chili-beet slaw). It sounds like something I've never had before and am more than willing to try. Maybe after I move next month and have a little more time to play in the kitchen, I will make this one, along with a few eggstras.

Today's earrings will go to someone special who has had their plate full for the past couple of weeks. She influences many people and has done so for many years. I don't know her well but she seems like someone that I could easily work for. Today's earrings:


I didn't get back home until after 6 p.m. tonight. Bobbi was meowing up a storm but since I've given her her treats, she's off sleeping somewhere already. It was a wonderful weekend but it's good to be home.

Saturday, October 18, 2014

Earring 0228 Faith is the answer

This was the Xcel Center in St. Paul MN today filled with,as they said, filled with estrogen. With probably about 15000 women in attendance praising Jesus. It was wonderful, heartfelt, and very enlightening. My sister in-law treated me to this spectacular event bringing us even closer together. Now its time to put out feet up! My brother was gracious enough to drop us off and pick us up. He did darn good at pucing us up esp with all of us women living at the same time.

Today's earrings


Friday, October 17, 2014

Earring 0227 Glorious Colors

Couldn't believe how beautiful the trees are Minneapolis. The traffic was pretty heavy so we had to go slow. It would have been a good time to shoot some photos but my camera I didn't bring my camera with me. When I go home I want to take more close up pictures of leaves. The idea of using the photos for one of my quilted wall hangings. Think it would be great to appliqué these with embroidery. Back to needing more time.

Another great day with family. Tomorrow e will have another super day. My sister-in-law and I will be spending the day together. Its just girls all day which is something we usually don't do.

Today's earrings are at the top.


Earring 0226 - Life is good...two new countries Australia and Denmark

Yesterday my brother and sister-in-law picked me up after work and we drove back to their house. Had a nice supper. Somehow we stayed up until 11 pm. A wonderful weekend is planned.

The colorful trees were throughout the 150 miles. The color splashed on the trees and shrubs made a beautiful living painting.

Welcome to Australia and Denmark. When I get back home I'll have to research how to make their country's specially done eggs.

Here's today's earrings


Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Earring 0225 - New Journey to Begin - Cat meets Dog

My sister and I will have a new experience soon. It's to introduce my cat and her dog to each other. They met before but years ago. I'm feeling a little sorry for my cat because she isn't very sociable the way it is. http://www.animalplanet.com/pets/10-tips-for-bringing-dogs-and-cats-together.htm has some good tips for my sister and I to follow. I especially like the idea of the animals getting familiar with each other's scent. I know my sister's dog likes "kitty treats" so the litter box is going to have to go somewhere where the dog won't find it. The site suggested a dark place but my sister's dog is blind so a dark place isn't the solution. I could try a covered litter box again but my cat didn't like that when I had one before. Maybe I will have to make a litter box for her using her current box and building something around it so the dog (Sparkie) can't help himself to treats.

I'm probably more nervous about the two animals getting along than the whole move thing. Well, I'm a lot more anxious about finding someone to move me than the animals getting along. Eventually, I'm sure the two will come to love each other like ...like what? Oh well, the place is big enough that Bobbi can find her safe haven. After all, Sparkie can't climb a cat tree.

Today's earrings

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Earring 0224 - KISS or keep it simple stupid

One of the things I do is try to keep things simple. For instance, when I buy something for the house or to wear, something has to go out. It's been a rule of thumb (go figure, another idiom) for a number of years. Now that I'm looking at moving, all of a sudden it sure looks like I have a lot of "stuff."

Over the years, I've kept things for my son and his family with the intention that they would get these items. Well, it's not quite working out that way so I'll have to move the items with me. The good news is that my furniture is simple and not much of it. However, I still have to think about the rocks I have in the storage area. The rocks found a home but the person never came to pick them up. These rocks would make a beautiful rock garden addition or even a good start to one.

Now I wished I would have moved a couple of years ago when it was physically easier for me. Now I have to hire someone to come in and move everything. Independence only goes so far. The difficult part of all of this is finding someone to move me. No one wants to work anymore. My family can vouch for me on this: if I could, I would move all of my stuff by myself. Somewhere along the line, the smarts kicked in, or it was the pain of moving stuff too much, and I now know what I can and cannot do. Hope in 20+ years, I will be able to recognize that I'm not a good driver and quit on my own.

Today's earrings

Looks like I'm missing a nose, mouth, and hair on this hand puppet.

Monday, October 13, 2014

Earring 0223 - Fall Colors

This is why I love fall!

Needless to say, our fall colors are beautiful right now. Even since I took these, the trees around our city have gotten more beautiful. Hopefully, the rain won't come down too hard and I will be able to take some more pictures either this week or Sunday.

With fall and its glorious colors, I get a sense of peace and yet it is very stimulating. It felt kind of silly with my sister and I driving around town taking pictures of trees just to get leaves/trees. I wished that I would have gone out later in the afternoon to get some more photos. Some of these photos will be used in quilts (not now but in the future). I think it would make a beautiful bedspread if the edges were softened. Will have to work on this starting with getting a new printer so I can print fabric again.

United States does not have the market on fall color as shown on this website: http://www.weather.com/travel/places-see-fall-color-photos-20140922

Today's earrings




Sunday, October 12, 2014

Earring 0222 Donation by Donna

Today, many of Donna's earrings were sold at a festival in order to raise funds. Thank you to my sister-in-law for her donation of knitted items. Thank you Donna for the earrings! Having volunteered for 11 hours, I'm beat so today's post will be photos that I've taken the last couple of weeks.  Yesterday's photo for my sister showed a daddy-long leg spider. She hates spiders and probably does so because I teased her with spiders as a child. Personally, I don't like them but sometimes they came in handy - sorry sis!

Today's earrings


Saturday, October 11, 2014

Earring 0221 - Not my cup of tea

Not my cup of tea means it's not one's preference or choice (http://idioms.thefreedictionary.com/not+cup+of+tea).

Well, yesterday, it wasn't my cup of coffee, not tea. I thought that not my cup of coffee was the right idiom to use and it wasn't my cup of tea/coffee in two different ways. First, I forgot to put the cup below the spout while using my single serve coffee maker. Wouldn't have been so bad but later I grabbed my cup and went to go get the coffee, never even dawning on me that my cup should have not been in my hand. The coffee was spilled all over the counter.

It became a choice not to recover the coffee and drink it so therefore it was "not my cup of tea." The second way was that it became the sinks cup of coffee, not mine. Oh silliness starts out the day. I'm writing this early in the morning so I don't forget later.

Had good news today. Sometimes going where you once were is good. That sounds like it will be happening to me. Will probably know midweek. The event will take me to another place where I was the happiest. There's a saying that you can't go back but I'm old to know now that is not true. I've gone back in several different ways and have only gotten happier.

Today's earrings


The following photo is one where you will have to find something. It's a photo especially for my sister. It may bring back childhood memories. If you can't find it, I'll tell you tomorrow.







Friday, October 10, 2014

Earring 0220 - Cat that thinks it's a dog

Sometimes I think my cat doesn't know that it's a cat and that she is really a dog. Tonight when I got home, as soon as I got our of my car, Bobbi jumped in the window on the 2nd floor and greeted me with a meow (many meows). As soon as I turn and start walking away, she heads for the door. There she howls (really loud meows) until I open the door. Then like a good dog, she sits there and peers outside until the door closes. Every time the fire trucks go by, she's on alert. Most of the time she runs to the bedroom just in case they pull into our parking lot. What was funny about Bobbi was the day of my migraine, she left me alone. Usually if I wasn't feeling well, she was on me like fly paper and I couldn't get her to leave me alone. I was grateful she left me alone that day, more than you will ever know.

Had supper with a good friend tonight. She has had some sadness in her life lately. The only thing you can do is be there and listen. I hope I listened well enough. Sometimes it's too easy to add one's owns experiences to the conversation. Just the right number is enough. She also had good news that helped offset the sad news. At times like that, the good news is even better.

Almost had as many readers from France than I had in the U.S. Still no emails from anyone. But if you're like me, I like to read blogs but not respond to them. So that's okay.

Tonight's earrings

Wednesday, October 8, 2014

Earring 0219 - Nothing Like a Backrub

My sister really helped me out today. Woke up with a migraine, which I haven't done for some time. It's tough to give yourself a neck massage. Thankfully, my sister was able to spend a few minutes away from her work to give me a neck massage. What a difference that made. I think that people who live together often take little things like a backrub or neck massage for granted. It's one of the first things I missed when I got divorced. There's things I don't miss but there's nothing like a backrub or neck massage. Haven't been able to train my cat to knead my neck either. Maybe my next cat can learn that trick.

Today's earrings - these are silvery earrings that are almost like a gem of some sort. Maybe I will have to get a hand display because my hand looks terrible in this photo!

Tuesday, October 7, 2014

Earring 0218 - You haven't seen eggs until you've seen these: Polish Stuffed Eggs, or jajka faszerowany

 - © 2008 Barbara Rolek licensed to About.com, Inc.
http://easteuropeanfood.about.com/od/appetizers/r/stuffedeggs.htm

This Polish style of egg is going to be in my home in about three weeks. These are Polish stuffed deviled-eggs. I can't wait to make them. My eggs are so fresh that they won't make good boiled eggs yet. Got farm-fresh eggs from our local coop. The shells are hard but I know that if I wait a little longer, they will make better boiled eggs. Going to make six of Polish stuffed eggs and six eggs of the Tea Eggs where I boil them in either chicken or ham stock - not sure which I would prefer yet.

At one point in my life, I was allergic to eggs. Got sick every time I ate one. Then a few years ago, I was able to add one to my diet. Now I'm back to eating eggs but only eat them two or three times a month; don't want that allergy to come back.

Today's earrings



Monday, October 6, 2014

Earring 0217 - Nothing Comes to Mind

Usually a title happens without me thinking too much about it but not today. It's Monday! Started my day with my alarm clock not ringing (cell phone died sometime last night). Had several pairs of earrings on before I found the right ones to wear. No hot water (still no hot water tonight). However, all of this being said, something nice happened to me today. At McDonald's drive through today, there was a man parked in the car alongside the rest of the cars. No one was letting him in so I let him in front of me. No big deal especially since he was there before at least a couple of cars besides mine. He bought my lunch. So unexpected. Not a big spender at the fast food place but I had wanted to play it forward. The manager knows that I come there frequently and said that I should be happy for my free meal and come again another time. I like to buy coffee for people behind me every once in a while. It happened to me once and I liked how I felt. Now I have a different feeling by having had my lunch bought for me. It felt good. The bonus was that the French fries were hot!

My third oldest brother and I had a long conversation yesterday about our parents, especially our dad. He agreed that we were really lucky in the parent department because our parents taught us a lot about the people we were to become. We're pretty open to others' opinions (we don't have to agree with it though) and our parents' were generous with their time with us. We always went on picnics, even if it was to a local park. We always went fishing. Mom scraped by and was able to save up enough for us to go to a cabin in Northern Minnesota fishing for a week. We all got fishing licenses so that we could get our limit of sunfish for the freezer. Dad made the best batter-fried fish and we ate a lot of it. Plus family friends liked to come and eat the fish with us.

Mom and dad disciplined us by spankings, used a switch, and a couple of other things. Had they done that now, they would have been put in jail and all of us kids in foster homes. They never beat us. I don't think any of us could say that being disciplined affected us negatively but in fact, affected us positively. We always knew where we stood with our parents. When we were going to get a spanking, mom would say "get over here now otherwise you are going to get it twice as hard." Don't think any of us hesitated but never even thought about not going to her. We had no fear of our parents, only respect.  My brother and I don't know at what age spankings stopped, they just did.

Our parents encouraged us to participate in sports, scouts, and music. They always went to PTA meetings and whenever there was a school function that needed a cake or other baked good, mom never hesitated. Funny thing is that we (myself and siblings) treated our kids the same way and none of us could be prouder than what we are. The trickle down sure worked well and now our grandchildren are experiencing the same thing.

All of a sudden, I realized how wonderful today is. What a great family I have and I'm proud of them.

Today's earrings are keepers

Sunday, October 5, 2014

Earring 0216 Sometimes a squirrel is smarter than a person

My sister told me about her acorns she picked up in the last couple of weeks. As it turns out, sometimes squirrels are smarter than people. However, a squirrel's actions can be learned. The newly picked acorns were very pretty. My sister has always enjoyed a basket or bowl of acorns - to look at, not to eat. This time, she had something extra with her acorns. You know how Mexican jumping beans jump? There's worm in them. Well, luckily the acorns didn't jump but the little worm did come out of the acorns (more than once). Now my sister is going to have to look for acorns that don't have holes in them, which is a sign that they are worm-free (or one would hope so). Squirrels can tell the difference between them and they choose the acorn without the worms. Animals are pretty smart sometimes; now, if only they could learn that cars are not their friends.

This afternoon my sister and I took a drive out to the country to see the all colors. There were a tree here and there that had some color. My youngest brother said that in a couple of weeks, the leaves will be better. We ended coming back to town to take the majority of photos. After I upload my pictures to my computer, I'll probably put some of the photos on the blog.

Today's earrings, not on a purple kick but it seems that way...


Saturday, October 4, 2014

Earring 0215 - Got my back!

My sister stood up for me yesterday (or the day before) verifying with someone else about something that happened to me that was unpleasant. I cannot tell you how much this meant to me. Our bond is very strong. We would never lie for the other because that's the way we were raised. When she was asked something, she confirmed what had took place. I'm so proud of her. Pretty sure didn't know that I was all choked up when she stood up for me when I wasn't present in the conversation. Yes, she will read this blog but she will never know how much it meant to me. There are things that family can do for each other that there's no words to express the feelings other than to say "I love you" and "thank you from the bottom of my heart."

Of course, I had to throw an idiom in there "from the bottom of my heart." It was accidental but how appropriate for it to be an idiom.  According to "The Dictionary of Idioms", page 226, "from the bottom of one's heart" is from "the Angelican Book of Common Prayer's Communion Service (1545) and also dated back to Virgil (in Latin). It means "most sincerely, unreservedly."

Today's earrings

Friday, October 3, 2014

Earring 0214 - "Gallimaufry"

Didn't realize the book I ordered was "Gallimaufry" so that means I can reserve more of Michael Quinion's books. Got the book from the library during my short lunch break and was able to start to read the intro. What's amazing is that I'm already captivated by the intro. Granted, there are words, even though it's English, that are different from England compared to the United States. What I like so far is the fact that he bolded the words that he gave the meanings to. It really grabs my attention because I do so much speed reading. This isn't going to be a book that I can whiz right through but I don't want to either.

Gallimaufry means "a hodgepodge of our vanishing vocabulary. What is funny about this is that in the intro, he talks about the word hodgepodge. Another nicety about the book is the index of featured words.

Enjoy your weekend.

Today's earrings

Thursday, October 2, 2014

Earring 0213 -Book "90 Minutes in Heaven"

Reading a book entitle "90 Minutes in Heaven" by Don Piper who died and came back to life after 90 minutes. It is very thought-provoking and I'm asking my siblings some questions based on something from the book.

Our dad was one of the first people in the United States to get artificial knees. For years, he suffered. For years, he had different surgeries. For years, he kept on trying to improve his quality of life by working with doctors by improving his knees. He finally got to a point where he decided nothing was going to change and six years later he passed away. Was it worth it to him?

In previous postings, I told you about my dad being an avid skier, bowler, and dancer. He was also an avid hunter and spent a lot of time in the outdoors. Also in previous posts, pretty sure I told you about his lengthy hospital stays, even lengthier recuperation times, and that his disability did not get better. At least he was able to dance with our mom one more time before she passed.

In the book, Don Piper asked his three children what kind of impact did his accident have on them. My sister and I have talked a lot about dad and how his disability affected us. We remember him being in the hospital and not being able to see him. We remember having to empty the bedpan when dad was confined to a hospital bed at home. Even so, dad gave us his all and all, probably more so with my sister and I because we were younger and pretty much dad was disabled most of our time with him.

My sister and I were able to go on rides in the country with dad but so were my brothers. My youngest brother, who is 7 years older than me, hunted with dad. The hunting with dad ended when my brother was between 12 and 14 years old. It's probably the same time that dad had to quit bowling along with his bee keeping. The one regret my youngest brother had was that he wished he could have spent more time learning what dad knew. Dad was very talented both in electronics and mechanics, was musically talented, and had a green thumb. He was also an excellent card player. It wasn't my brother's fault that he didn't learn more from dad. The older dad got, the more he wanted to share his knowledge. By that time, my brother was no longer living at home. Dad was busy providing for the family and when he was at home, he had so much to get done. At least he was able to enjoy life through card playing with family and friends, his love for driving through the countryside, and visiting with people. Those things lasted throughout his life.

Tonight my brother who is two years older than my younger brother is going to talk to me about the same things. It will be interesting to get his viewpoints. In a couple of weeks, my oldest living brother (who is four years older than my youngest brother) will be giving me his viewpoints too.

Today's earrings will be painted in the future but here they are as they are in their current state (don't think that sentence is a good sentence).

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Earring 0212 Black is Black

Today's earrings are black but not really black is black. That phrase came to me because of the song by Los Bravos "Black is Black" from the 1960s. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tqgwnv0HCk8 If you're like me, this video will bring back many memories, that is if you are old enough! Maybe sometime I will have to do a blog on colorful song titles.

Today's earrings


Had the privilege of Michael Quinion read the blog on "For Pete's Sake." Hope I didn't embarrass him too much with what I wrote. Bet you that he could tell good stories! Any time anyone wants to tell me a story, I'm almost always up for it.