Monday, May 30, 2005
May 30th
Two things are being celebrated today.
Memorial Day when we take time to remember not only the brave men and women who have given their lives to keep our country free, but our own who have passed on over the years.
Also on a happy note--Hubby turns 64 today!
Yep he is looking good and doing well. Saturday we made Raisin Scones up for baking on Sunday morning. He made a Frittata with potato and prosciutto for brunch when Wes, Deb, and the kids came up and brought his cake and gift.
Sunday afternoon Les, Anne, and Courtney came up for dinner of Mustard and pepercorn crusted rib-eyes and marcorni salad. Our friend Richard dropped by also. Les installed the Plus Deck2 I had boughtJay as his gift to his Dad.
But the highlight of these two days was watching Hubby walking through the grocery store picking out goodies to make these special meals for his kids. And make them he did. I read the recipes, did part of the measuring, but he planned it and put it together. A tremenous improvement over just two weeks ago. He has been off oxygen fot almost a week now. He was cooking pancakes and bacon on the griddle for myself and SEB’s crew this morning and had Courtney standing by to watch for bubbles in the pancakes for him.
Sweet thing had been up with David on Wednesday to mow the yard (2 + acres) and help out because she works on the weekends.
So all in all it was a great holiday! Hope yours was too!
Saturday, May 28, 2005
Save The Word Supper!
“Fender Skirts”
A Blast From The Past
I haven’t thought about fender skirts in years. When I was a kid, I considered it such a funny term. Made me think of a car in a dress. Thinking about fender skirts started me thinking about other words that quietly disappear from our language with hardly a notice.
Like “curb feelers” and “steering or necker knobs.” Since I’d been thinking of cars, my mind naturally went that direction first. Any kids will probably have to find some elderly person over 50 to explain some of these terms to you.
Remember “Continental kits?” They were rear bumper extenders and spare tire covers that were supposed to make any car as cool as a Lincoln Continental.
When did we quit calling them “emergency brakes?” At some point “parking brake” became the proper term. But I miss the hint of drama that went with “emergency brake.”
I’m sad, too, that almost all the old folks are gone who would call the accelerator the “foot feed.”
Here’s a phrase I heard all the time in my youth but never anymore-"store-bought." Of course, just about everything is store-bought these days. But once it was bragging material to have a store-bought dress or a store-bought bag of candy.
“Coast to coast” is a phrase that once held all sorts of excitement and now means almost nothing. Now we take the term “worldwide” for granted. This floors me.
On a smaller scale, “wall-to-wall” was once a magical term in our homes. In the ‘50s, everyone covered their hardwood floors with, wow, wall-to-wall carpeting! Today, everyone replaces their wall-to-wall carpeting with hardwood floors. Go figure.
When’s the last time you heard the quaint phrase “in a family way?” It’s hard to imagine that the word “pregnant” was once considered a little too graphic, a little too clinical for use in polite company. So we had all that talk about stork visits and “being in a family way” or simply expecting.”
Apparently “brassiere” is a word no longer in usage. I said it the other day and my daughter cracked up. I guess it’s just “bra” now. “Unmentionables” probably wouldn’t be understood at all.
It’s hard to recall that this word was once said in a whisper -"divorce." And no one is called a “divorcee” anymore. Certainly not a “gay divorcee.” Come to think of it, “confirmed bachelors” and “career girls” are long gone, too.
Most of these words go back to the ‘50s, but here’s a pure-’60s word I came across the other day - “rat fink.” Ooh, what a nasty put-down!
Here’s a word I miss - “percolator.” That was just a fun word to say. And what was it replaced with? “Coffeemaker.” How dull. Mr. Coffee, I blame you for this.
I miss those made-up marketing words that were meant to sound so modern and now sound so retro. Words like DynaFlow” and “ElectraLuxe.” Introducing the 1963 Admiral TV, now with “SpectraVision!”
Food for thought - Was there a telethon that wiped out lumbago? Nobody complains of that anymore. Maybe that’s what castor oil cured, because I never hear mothers threatening their kids with castor oil any more.
Some words aren’t gone, but are definitely on the endangered list. The one that grieves me most - “supper.” Now everybody says “dinner”. Save a great word. Invite someone to “supper.” Discuss “fender skirts!”
Thanks Pam for jogging the old gray matter!!!
Friday, May 27, 2005
Old Farmer
An Old Farmer’s Advice:
* Your fences need to be horse-high, pig-tight
and bull-strong.
* Keep skunks and bankers and lawyers at a
distance.
* Life is simpler when you plow around the stump.
* A bumble bee is considerably faster than a
John Deere tractor.
* Words that soak into your ears are whispered...not yelled.
* Meanness don’t jes’ happen overnight.
* Forgive your enemies. It messes up their heads.
* Do not corner something that you know is meaner
than you.
* It don’t take a very big person to carry a
grudge.
* You cannot unsay a cruel word.
* Every path has a few puddles.
* When you wallow with pigs, expect to get dirty.
* The best sermons are lived, not preached.
* Most of the stuff people worry about ain’t
never gonna happen anyway.
* Don’t judge folks by their relatives.
* Remember that silence is sometimes the best
answer.
* Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get
older and think back, you’ll enjoy it a second time.
* Don’t interfere with somethin’ that ain’t
botherin’ you none.
* Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a
rain dance.
* If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop diggin’.
* Sometimes you get, and sometimes you get got.
* The biggest troublemaker you’ll probably ever
have to deal with, watches
you from the mirror every mornin’.
* Always drink upstream from the herd.
* Good judgment comes from experience, and a
lotta that comes from bad judgment.
* Lettin’ the cat outta the bag is a whole lot
easier than puttin’ it back in.
* If you get to thinkin’ you’re a person of some
influence, try orderin’ somebody else’s dog around.
* Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply.
Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God.
My thanks to Edna for these words of wisdom!
Thursday, May 26, 2005
Friend!
What would you do if every time you wanted someone they
would never be there?
What would you do if for every moment you were truly happy there would
be 10 moments of sadness?
What would you do if your best friend died tomorrow and you never got to
tell them how you felt?
So, I just wanted to say, even if I never talk to you again in my life,
you are special to me and you have made a difference in my life.
I look up to you, respect you, and truly cherish you.
Send this to all your friends, no matter how often you talk, or how close you are, and send it to the person who sent it to you.
Let old friends know you haven’t forgotten them, and tell new friends you never will.
Remember, everyone needs a friend, someday you might feel like you have
NO FRIENDS at all, just remember this e-mail and post and take comfort in knowing
somebody out there cares about you and always will.
In times of trouble,
In times of need,
If you are feeling SAD,
You can count on me.
I will give you a wink,
Until you smile,
Give you a hug,
And stand by your side.
I’ll be there for you till the end, I’ll always and forever,
be your friend!
( INSTANTLY WHEN YOU RECEIVE THIS YOU MUST SEND IT TO AT LEAST 10 FRIENDS,
INCLUDING THE PERSON WHO SENT IT TO YOU!---IF YOU SO WISH)
I will send it back to my friend Pam right now--with my thanks for sharing!
Tuesday, May 24, 2005
Brass Cranes
Over 20 years ago we bought a set of brass cranes at DeNikes in Rochester, Michigan. They stood 7 and 12 inches tall. They were at shop that carried Oriental along with other cultural art. The family room at our home in Pontiac, Mi. was done in grey, red, and black. The oriental statues, and pictures were a great backdrop for the cranes. The shop moved or went out of business before we moved to Orion, Michigan. But my cranes went with us. They sat on the ledges in the family room there. Now they sit on the top shelf of the built in bookcase in the bedroom.
I had looked at them often and wished they were larger so they could sit in one of the flower gardens outside. Then while looking through a catalog ( Cindy and Dave’s business) there was a set of brass cranes. One is 10 3/4 in. high and the other is 35 1/2 in. high. They arrived today and went right into one of the gardens.
Another thing to make me smile when I walk around the yard!
Sunday, May 22, 2005
Wise Words
Maxine - again...words of wisdom
Never read the fine print. There ain’t no way you’re going to like it.
If you let a smile be your umbrella, then most likely your butt will get soaking wet.
The only two things we do with greater frequency in middle age are urinate and attend funerals.
The trouble with bucket seats is that not everybody has the same size bucket.
To err is human, to forgive - highly unlikely.
Do you realize that in about 40 years, we’ll have thousands of old ladies running around with tattoos?
Money can’t buy happiness—but somehow it’s more comfortable to cry in a Porsche than in a Hyundai.
Drinking makes some husbands see double and feel single.
Living in a nudist colony takes all the fun out of Halloween.
After a certain age, if you don’t wake up aching in every joint, you are probably dead.
Thanks Pam!
Our House
Sitting on the backdeck Jay asked if I might grab the camera and take some pictures of our house to show Zilch from SEB land . So here we go. Most houses have four sides but ours has five.
This is the master bedroom extention which faces East/Noth East and grabs the morning sun.
The living room extension faces South East. A bay window and a door to the deck looks out on the woods and the neighbor’s pond.
The dining room has french doors that also open onto the deck.This extention faces South West and looks out on our back yard and our over grown pond. Beneath that is the garage and a door to the mud room and the basement.
This extention is our kitchen door which faces the West/ North West and is used as the main entrance to the dome. We have room for three cars to park in front of the door and two additional spots across the drive. The wishing well covers the well head.
This is our front door which is facing North and roughly 200 feet up the drive from the road. This door opens into the utility room so it is used very seldom.
If you walk down the back drive you have a shed and the compost tumbler, which as Jay gets stronger wiil be used again.
Next to that is a large pile of woodchips from the trees we had taken down last year. Jay intends to run part of them through the chipper again for the composter and use the rest as mulch.
So there you have it--a 39 foot dome with four foot extentions. We have five regular doors, the french doors, and the garage door. Our second story has a bathroom and two bedrooms. (We used one as a computer room for a while). Our ceilings in the living/dining area is 22 feet high. In the ceiling of the upper loft (hall) is a five window cupola that can be opened in summer.
This is the man who will tell you this is the culmination of a 35 year dream. To have finally obtained the home of his dreams even though it is somewhat out of even the suburbs has made him a happy man!
Wednesday, May 18, 2005
She Was Talking About Me!
Several years ago one of Les’ girlfriends gave me a gift. I can’t even remember what the occasion was. But I do remember I found it quite appropriate. At that time I had a hubby and two kids in the house, which accounted for the three numbered hearts that hung from the plaque.
Now that plaque hung in the kitchen on Westlynn in Orion for years. Never once was a heart removed. Then we moved to Otisville and again it was placed on the wall in the kitchen. I would look at the hearts and mentally assign the chores of the day to them. But I never took them down.
As I get older I still assign the daily chores to do but I never see the numbered hearts hanging there to remind me. Now sometimes the chores get done out of order. Sometimes I start a second one with the first one not finished. (Michigan Bell Telephone Co. called that overlapping.) Actually it is because I forgot what I was doing and saw another chore that needed to be done.
Then this morning on my walk to the utility room to feed and water Molly I looked up and saw the plaque and all these things came flooding back. Les’ friend was named Lauren. After she gave the plaque to me she asked Les if I liked it. He told her of course I liked it I hung it up right away didn’t I!
So there you have it. My Mom used to say –Simple things please simple minds! So now I know she was talking about me!!!
Monday, May 16, 2005
I’ve Learned!
Another gem from my friend Shane.
I’ve learned...That life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer it
gets to the end, the faster it goes.
I’ve learned...That we should be glad God doesn’t give us everything we
ask for.
I’ve learned...That money doesn’t buy class.
I’ve learned...That it’s those small daily happenings that make life so
spectacular.
I’ve learned...That under everyone’s hard shell is someone who wants to
be appreciated and loved.
I’ve learned...That the Lord didn’t do it all in one day. What makes me
think I can?
I’ve learned...That to ignore the facts does not change the facts.
I’ve learned...That when you plan to get even with someone, you are only
letting that person continue to hurt you.
I’ve learned...That love, not time, heals all wounds.
I’ve learned...That the easiest way for me to grow as a person is to surround
myself with people smarter than I am.
I’ve learned...That everyone you meet deserves to be greeted with a smile.
I’ve learned...That there’s nothing sweeter than sleeping with your
babies and feeling their breath on your cheeks.
I’ve learned...That no one is perfect until you fall in love with them.
I’ve learned...That life is tough, but I’m tougher.
I’ve learned...That opportunities are never lost; someone will take the ones you miss.
I’ve learned...That when you harbor bitterness, happiness will dock
elsewhere.
I’ve learned...That I wish I could have told those I cared
about that I love them one more time before they passed away.
I’ve learned...That one should keep his words both soft and tender,
because tomorrow he may have to eat them.
I’ve learned...That a smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.
I’ve learned...That I can’t choose how I feel, but I can choose what I
do about it.
I’ve learned...That when your newly born child holds your
little finger in his little fist, that you’re hooked for life.
I’ve learned...That everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but
all the happiness, and growth happen while you’re climbing it.
I’ve learned...That the less time I have to work, the more things I get done.
It’s National Friendship Week.
HAPPY FRIENDSHIP WEEK TO YOU!!!!!!
True Friend!
True Friend
A girl asked a guy if he thought she was pretty, He said...no.
She asked him if he would want to be with her forever… and he said no.
She then asked him if she were to leave would he cry, and once again he
replied with a no.
She had heard enough. As she walked away, tears streaming down her face
the boy grabbed her arm and said....
You’re not pretty you’re beautiful.
I don’t want to be with you forever. I NEED to be with you forever.
And I wouldn’t cry if you walked away...I’d die…
SO NOW I WILL SAY: I like you because of who you are to me-a true friend.
Remember: A good friend will not come bail you out of jail....
But a true friend will be sitting next to you saying ... WE screwed up!
Thanks to my True Friend Shane!