No-Brain Daybook

Because my tired brain needs more prompts than Seven Quick Takes would give me.....



Outside my window... the jug of sun tea is getting darker, and the grape vines are loaded with growing grapes. Homemade jam this fall!

I am thinking... that I had no idea how long it had been since I posted anything other than Word and Question. Oh, and Linus and Ambrose's birth announcement. I am hopeful that this crazy period of life is settling down, and i will start to post again more often.

I am thankful for... a quiet day today. The last load of laundry is in the dryer, the casserole for dinner is prepped and in the fridge, and it's only noon. A long afternoon sitting with my feet up, with books and knitting/crocheting. Yesssss!

From the kitchen... this casserole. With bratwurst left over from the last time we grilled, and extra-sharp cheddar on top. I have made this three times in the past month or so, and it definitely lives up to its name.

I am wearing... tan cotton pants, coral tank top and socks, and a cream-colored short-sleeved crochet-lace sweater. I have had this sweater for a long time, but it's been buried in my drawers because the matching tank is (more than) a tad snug. When some new cheap tanks I got turned out to look more like "husband-beaters" than I had hoped, I started looking for a short, lightweight jacket to make them wearable. Nothing in the stores, but then I remembered this sweater. I LOVE shopping in my own closet!

I am creating... a knit dishcloth, and crocheted afghans for the twins. The dishcloth will be imperfect but useable, since I am trying to re-learn knitting, which I haven't done since Arwen was a baby. I'm aiming to have the afghans done by the time it gets chilly. I am doing them concurrently (they are in coordinating stripes, one more blue, one more green) so that they stand a chance of being finished more or less simultaneously! Twins are a challenge, even for Grandma.

I am going... nowhere today. But tomorrow we have a 50th Anniversary open house to drop in on in the early afternoon, followed by a pig roast and barn dance which is the big blowout in celebration of a wedding that happened in May. I'm still debating on what outfit is appropriate for both. I'm thinking my gauze peasant dress... (I thought of posting a link, but the ones I could find, although similar in style, are on models who aren't shaped the least bit like me.)

I am reading... Crunch Time by Diane Mott Davidson, and Consider It Done by Julie Subotky. I can justify having two in progress at once if one of them is non-fiction!

I am hoping... that the weather today will remain this pleasant. I can't take off my sweater without showing an unacceptable amount of skin, and I don't want to turn on the AC if I can help it. (My apologies to those of you in places where it's been 100 degrees for weeks, but this is one of the reasons I live in Michigan.)

I am hearing... cars passing by, bird sounds, and the occasional lawn-maintenance noise. Our house has a lot of windows, and they are all open.

Around the house... painting is on the agenda. Our wonderful children painted the outside of the house over Memorial Day weekend, but there are a few things that still need to be done in the accent color. ( Behr "sea fern", if you're interested. The main color is "pale sagebrush", and the trim is "icy tundra." All of the colors look warmer on the house than they do on the website.)

A few plans for the rest of the week: other than the parties tomorrow, and mass on Sunday, none. I am looking forward to a totally "normal" and boring week next week. I hope.

Words I'm pondering :
Clarke’s Second Law of Egodynamics --
For every expert there is an equal and opposite expert. — Arthur C. Clarke

I cribbed this from my old friend Ernesto at OrthoCuban. He has posted a terrifically funny set of Laws penned by sci-fi writers. Check it out here.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing....

I wish this excuse had been available back when I was one of the most sedentary children on the planet.

Word and Question 14 -- Host's Poem!

Family Resemblance

I look like my mother, I'm startled to say.
I'm taller, and different in most every way.
But at times when I pass by the mirror I see
Her there for a minute, but really, it's me.

When I was a teen I was frequently told
I resembled my Grandma, except not so old.
Great aunts would remark that when wearing "that dress"
I was her spitting image. I could be, I guess.....
When I look at that snapshot of Grandma and me --
The one in the yard, by the juniper tree --
I have to admit the resemblance is there,
Except for the color and length of our hair.

Last week I was visiting in my home state,
Met up with my aunt, and I'm shocked to relate
That she told me I'm like Granny was at this age;
My other grandmother! Which just sets the stage
For debating who's right. (Can we really all be???)
Am I Granny, or Grandma, or Mom, or just me?


Word: juniper
Question: Who is the person you're most like who you wish you weren't like?

First of all, I am in shock that even with a trip and the subsequent catching up at home, I managed to write this by the deadline. I think I pulled it off because this is truly autobiographical, right down to the juniper in the yard when I was growing up. (Although I had to make it a tree for the rhyme, when it was definitely a bush!) I'm leaving you readers to figure out the answer to the question, and I hope if you do you'll tell me.

I will try to update this post to add links as the other participants post them in the comments (What a brilliant idea, Enbretheliel!) I'm really looking forward to seeing what some people did with the prompts I sent. ;-D Happy writing!

Updated 4: Dylan's poem is in (with a bonus.) And now Enbrethiliel. Laurie has chimed in! (There's one more to come, and you know who you are.... This will become a link as of August first... ;-D) The link is now live, so go nudge him!!

Word and Question 14

As I mentioned in my last post, I am hosting the Word and Question/ Playing Poetry game this month. If you are familiar with the game and want to play, please send me your prompts by Friday the 8th (and OK, I'm late with this, so Saturday the 9th at the latest.) If you aren't aware of how the game works, go visit Shredded Cheddar -- Enbretheliel there is the originator of this game -- and find out about it. And then come back and send me your prompts. It's a lot of fun!

I will parcel out the prompts and email each of you by late Sunday the 10th. God willing, my poem will be up on Wednesday the 13th (although we're driving nearly 600 miles on Monday, so we'll see....) Your poems, and links here so we can read them, are due by Wednesday the 27th. Got it? On your mark........., get set..........., prompts please!

And a special thanks to the timely participant whose prompts arriving in my inbox reminded me that, yes, I AM hosting this month! ;-D

Word (Place) and Question 13

I've been spending a lot of time helping Arwen with my marvelous new grandsons and haven't posted in more than a month (ouch), but I did manage to enter and get my prompts for this month's Playing Poetry. I'm going to post what I have, and if anybody wants something better I'll post pictures of the babies! ;-D


Place: Mendon (described by the submitter as a small town)

Question: What do the angels see?


Pastorale

On Christmas Eve in Mendon the pale snow
Falls gently past the steeple of the church;
Both white, both quiet, for the swaying bells
Are waiting for the depth of night to chime.

Inside, the congregation sings a hymn.
"It came upon the midnight clear....". Outside
Close pressing in, as if to hear the song
The angels gather. On this holy night
Their thoughts fly long ago and far away ---
A stable in another tiny town;
A baby bringing peace to Earth, goodwill
To all mankind. And yet the angels know
The promise they sang then is still delayed.

Why are they gathered here? What good
Or evil have the angels come to find?
Or are they simply here to sing again
For us who plod along the weary road?




When I Googled Mendon after receiving my prompts, I discovered that there are in fact three Mendons in the US, in New York, Massachusetts, and here in Michigan. And the one in Michigan was named by settlers from both of the others. I also found quickly a picture of a classic steepled white church in one of the Mendons, hence the direction of the poem.


More poems can be found by going to Enbretheliel's blog, since she's hosting this month. (There is a rumor that I'm next.....)

Word and Question 12

It's another one of those poems... Unlike Lindsay, who is hosting this month, I'm not sure my poem has progressed beyond "a valiant failure", but it's what I've got.....

Trophy

I know my tuna was hanging here....
I caught it myself on yesterday's cruise.
(I saved for the ticket for a year.)
The ocean was gorgeous with greens and blues.

It gave me a run -- I'd say "for my money"
But just to be there was dollars well spent.
The sky was clear and the day was sunny --
It caught my hook and away it went.

I reeled it in (I'll spare you the details)
And we threw it on ice till we came ashore.
(Do you know how much a fish like that retails?
It was worth my ticket price plus some more.)

I hung it up here last night to cure it.
(It's scheduled for dinner; I'll freeze a bunch too.)
But it's gone and I need your help looking for it.....

Well, I'll be hornswaggled!

It was you!


Word: Hornswaggle
Question: Who ate my fish?

It's a Boy! And another boy!

Arwen and Bryan's twins were born early this morning! Linus Michael and Ambrose John are 5 1/2 pounds each and doing well, though they'll be in the NICU until it's clear that they have all the skills necessary to handle life outside, since they were born at just over 34 weeks. I am hanging out with Camilla and Blaise until the twins come home, and then I'll be back after Bryan goes back to work. I love being a grandma!

Word and Question 11

So, this poem is late, (which I understand earns me hosting duties for June.) It is not what I want it to be, but then, this is just a game, right? Right? So I am resigning myself to coming in last in every sense of the word.

The Voyager

I knew a seaman once, an ancient chap;
Laconic, but, with prompting he would tell
Of ports, and girls (as every sailor will,)
Strange cargoes, favorite ships, or storms at sea.

One evening, late, (and he was in his cups)
Out poured a story that I'd never heard:
"She was a beauty, was my ship, the Dawn.
And we were all a crew of volunteers.
A royal ship! The captains name was Drin
(Or so we called him --never to his face!)
At any rate, the day that I signed on
They said there might be perils, and there were!
But marvels too, both fair and evil. When
We'd sailed so far the water was not deep
Enough to float us, one brave soul --
A talking mouse (those were quite common, then.) --
Launched out his tiny craft, and paddled on.
We turned for home. Ah, this was long ago..."

The sailor's voice by then had sunk quite low
And I can not be sure what else he said,
But, were I pressed, then I would quote him thus:
"I wish I could have traveled on with him."

Word: laconic
Question: How far east have you been?

Ten Things about Roger and Me

Although I'm several days late, I'm adding this to the "Ten Things about Me and My Better Half" thing that Hallie started over at Betty Beguiles. This link will take you to the join-in post, if anybody else gets inspired.

1. I am almost seven years older than he is. (Six years, eight months, and 19 days, to be exact.) This was especially weird when we were first getting to know each other, and I would refer to significant historical events. For example, I know exactly where I was when President Kennedy was assassinated (Home Ec. class.*) He doesn't have a clue, because he was in kindergarten at the time.

2. Now, thirty years later, I get all the benefit of the discrepancy. My hair, although graying, maintains a kind of overall brown tone. Roger's formerly black hair and beard are fast approaching solid white. (This is a very flattering color for his complexion, I'm glad to say.) So when people know approximately how old he is, they automatically assume that I am younger. Easiest way in the world to take ten years off your age!

3. We are both Tolkien nerds. This ought to be obvious, since we named our daughter Arwen! It also contributes, though, to why Roger was willing to consider an "older woman."
Shortly after we met, we were both at a weekend church event, and there was a Lord of the Rings game of some sort sitting there. I mentioned that I was a big fan, and he (thinking he was talking to some kind of mild enthusiast) asked me his sheep-from-the-goats question: "How did Frodo's father die?"** The rest is history.

4. Roger is a lark who likes to get up with the sun, or even before. He's at his best in the morning. I am an owl, who drags herself out of bed, but could stay up to all hours of the night, especially if there is good conversation or good literature. This has been a stressor for us at times, but we seem to have finally reached a workable plan.

5. One of us is more musical, but which one depends on your definition. I sing in the choir at church, play (at) the flute and guitar, and always have a snatch of song as a commentary on what I see or hear. Roger, although he has a nice baritone, only sings at mass, and has never played an instrument. But he's the one with a constant playlist going on his computer as he works. I (to my shame) don't even have iTunes installed.

6. He likes coffee. I like tea. Fifteen years ago, that would have been the end of the story. But then I began to drink fast-food mochas as a cheap hot beverage in the winter. And he began to have an afternoon cup of tea, when he didn't feel like brewing a new pot of coffee. So now we're to the point where I might actually order decaf at a restaurant after dinner (especially if I can get it with Baileys!), or he might have tea. But not usually.

7. Roger is very easy to buy clothes for. Classic, woven, blue, sometimes buttondown. The end. I, however am difficult, even for myself. It has to be the right shade of whatever color, with sleeves that fit, and an acceptable neckline, and not too clingy, but not boxy, and on and on and on.... He, to his credit, has not given up on buying me presents. This past Christmas, he hit five for five. See why I love the man?

8. Both of us are avid readers. Of anything and everything, not just Tolkien. (Although we do have a full four-shelf bookcase full of nothing but works by or about the Inklings. I know that if there was a local literary pub, with a writers discussion group, he'd be there.) He tends a little more toward classics and historical non-fiction, while I lean more toward mysteries, certain kinds of sci-fi / fantasy, and general fluff. But both of us find sitting in the living room with our books and occasionally sharing the "good parts" a satsifying evening.

9. One difference is that Roger is a writer, and I am not. Oh, I am quite literate, and I do post to this blog occasionally! But I write in lieu of conversation with all of you, and I can't do fiction at all, only parody. (Come to think of it, maybe that's why I like these meme-style post prompts; it's just putting my spin on somebody else's writing...) He, however, is a published author, and regularly sends long and fascinating hand-written letters to a variety of people. It's one of my regrets that we were never apart long enough after we met for me to have any of his letters stashed away. I have a couple of birthday notes and poems, though.

10. We'll celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary in August. Some of the days have seemed long, but the years have been all too short. I hope that God sees fit to give us 30 more. I love you, honey!

*For all you young things -- Home Ec. is short for Home Economics, where we learned things like cooking and sewing and how to set a pretty table. It was a nice break from History and French. The boys took Shop, where they made wall clocks in the shape of a flying goose. We got real skirts and dresses and good things to eat. Sex discrimination for the win!

** He drowned.

Word and Question 10

This is my March entry for the Word and Question poetry game hosted by Enbretheliel at Shredded Cheddar. (The complete rules are here.) I have made it by this month's deadline, but only because I have decided to settle for scansion but no rhyme -- this one just WOULDN'T. So here you go...

Human Ingenuity

We come, they say, from apes.
Great-grandpa (ten times squared)
Was just a monkey! But
No monkey I have seen
Would ever "sort" his things
Or give a name to what
He saw glow down at night.

It takes a human mind
Imaging that of God
To name, and then to list
Antares, Betelgeuse,
Polaris, and Rigel
In order, so we can
Recall them every night.

So if we question who
Alphabetized the stars,
One thing we know for sure --
It must be one of US!

Word: monkey

Question: Who put the stars in alphabetical order?

If you follow the links above, you can see all this month's entries.

Monday (!!) Daybook

Outside my window... there is still snow. Enough so that some tree branches are still frosted. Since it's above freezing today, that will be gone soon, but I expect the ground to be covered for a while yet.

I am thinking... that I wish this head cold would go away. And I haven't had it that severely OR that long. I expect I am turning into a wimp in my old age. ( Apparently I am embracing my change of decade at least enough to use it for an excuse.) At any rate, feeling as though my head is stuffed with Brillo pads is not my favorite.

I am thankful for... this blog as a place to vent about my cold. Roger has heard all that he wanted to, and then some. And it's NOT anything serious, just an annoying cold.

From the kitchen... leftovers (what the menu plan says) or possibly take-out hamburgers, since Roger -- who is not a big fan of leftovers -- spotted a buy one/get one coupon hanging on the fridge. Maybe I should just throw the leftovers away now??

I am wearing... navy blue cotton pants and socks, and a cream-colored ribbed long-sleeved henley. I have a plaid shawl nearby, but right now I'm warm enough.

I am creating... faschnacht dough for tomorrow. I grew up in an area where Lent was taken seriously, and my family often bought faschnachts from one of the (usually Mennonite) ladies groups who raised dough all night and fried all day as a fundraiser for their churches. One article I saw online said that faschnachts are square (for the four Gospels) or triangular (for the Trinity.) I'm betting that it's simply that those shapes require less rolling out if you're doing massive quantities. Anyway, I plan to use a doughnut cutter, and turn the scraps into doughnut "holes." Yum!

I am going... to Bible study tomorrow morning. That is how I plan to get rid of my faschnachts! Even 1/3 of a recipe makes more than two dozen, and Roger and I simply can't eat that many. But it does mean I will have to get up no later than 6AM to have them done, even if I mix the dough tonight and let it rise in the refrigerator. But it's only once a year.

I am reading... down through my stack of books that's been accumulating. I only have 4 library books out, and I have forbidden myself to check out any more until I have finished all the borrowed/gift/bought myself stack that I have kept pushing aside because they didn't have a due date. Anything and everything from Belles on Their Toes (the sequel to Cheaper by the Dozen) through various mysteries to Dune, which I promised Kelson I would try before he went to college.

I am hoping... for a holy and profitable Lent.

I am hearing... the sump pump working on a VERY regular basis. I am grateful to the original owners of this house, who had it designed and built with enormous attention to detail. ALL of the ground water goes through a piping system under the house into the sump, and NONE of it comes through the basement walls or floor. In this part of Michigan, that is a blessing verging on a miracle!

Around the house... I need to deep clean. Usually I get motivated to do it about this time of year because Easter is coming and we will be having guests. But Lent/Easter is very late this year, and we will be going to Arwen and Bryan's for Easter so she doesn't have to travel, so my motivation is quite low.

A few plans for the rest of the week: Bible study tomorrow, Ash Wednesday morning mass with Roger and then noon (Episcopal) Eucharist for me, Pregnancy Care Center banquet Thursday night, Lenten Friday adoration/Station of the Cross/mass, and then Branwen and Larry and their kids arrive for the weekend. Busy, but I hope profitably so.

Words I'm pondering :
"Remember, (man), that you are dust, and to dust you shall return."
"Repent and believe the Gospel."

Every Ash Wednesday for quite a few years now, I've received ashes on my forehead twice, once with Roger (and sometimes other family) and once at my regular Wednesday service. I really like that the ashes are ecumenical; other than the veneration of the cross on Good Friday, this is the only time I can "get in line" like everybody else in the parish (only some of whom know I'm not Catholic.) But the two services use different verbal formulas for the imposition, both of which are above. I prefer the first one, which is more traditional. But I really need to hear them both. So I do.



Here is a picture thought I am sharing.... This has been around for a couple of weeks, but I still find it funny. Especially since I'm currently hooked on Angry Birds.

Daybook, Later February

Outside my window... there is fresh snow. Lots of it. Some people thought that spring was here, but I've lived in Michigan for over 30 years. Not in February, it's not spring. Not for another month yet, no matter how many nice days we may get.

I am thinking... how grateful I am that our kids bought us a snow-blower during the blizzard at the beginning of the month. And Roger is even more grateful!

I am thankful for... nowhere to go today. Our driveway may be clear (thanks again, kids!) but the roads are not. There was already no school today because of Presidents' Day, so the kids got cheated out of a snow day. Poor things.

From the kitchen... Enchilada Casserole. This is a lazy day meal which also uses up leftovers. I mix up any leftover taco or tamale meat, refried beans, chili, anything like that with some canned enchilada sauce. I put about 1/4 of the can of sauce in with the filling, pour another 1/4 into the bottom of a round casserole, and save the rest for the top. Then I make alternating layers of corn tortillas (10 to 12) and filling, ending with a tortilla. i dump the rest of the sauce over that, top with shredded cheese (some can also go in the filling), cover with foil, and bake at 350F for an hour or so, until hot through. Today I used a bag of seasoned meat and beans that I threw in the freezer some time in January. VERY lazy.

I am wearing... navy blue cotton pants, socks, and cable cardigan, with a bright raspberry turtleneck that Roger got me for Christmas.

I am creating... not much. I just finished the grocery list. I need to work on some stuff for choir, but since we don't have practice this week I will put it off until at least tomorrow and finish this daybook instead!

I am going... to Bible study tomorrow morning. And as few places as possible after that.

I am reading... well, I stayed up too late last night finishing Possession by A.S. Byatt. This is not my usual fare, and I've had it out from the library so long that when I return it tomorrow after Bible study I will owe nearly $1.50, even though I renewed it as much as I could. Miriel reviewed it here, and I'm not sorry I stuck it out and finished it, but I am ready to return to my preferred frothier stuff. Even though it had an acceptable ending. Apparently I am not quite as literary-nerdy as I want to believe.

I am hoping... that I can get to sleep at a reasonable hour tonight. 12:30 is too late for old ladies like me, even if I did sleep in until 8:15 or so.

I am hearing...classical music on Roger's computer. I almost never put on any music of my own, because the house is just too auditorily small, even though our desks are at opposite ends of it. Fortunately, I like his taste in music.

Around the house...everything is relatively tidy. This will last until Friday, when Arwen and Camilla and Blaise arrive. (The twins are coming too, but at this point they don't impact the organization of things. ;-D ) Bryan has a business trip, so we get their company.

A few plans for the rest of the week: Bible study, then on Thursday a concert at noon and lunch with a friend. We go out every year between our birthdays to celebrate. And yeah, I change decades on Sunday. (I was born in 1951. You do the math. Personally I am in deep denial that I could possibly be that old.)

Words I'm pondering :
"Hope not for minde in women; at their best
Sweetnesse and wit, they are but Mummy, Possest."

This is from John Donne's "Love's Alchemy", and the lines figure in the novel Possession, though I had heard them before. I am astounded that someone as wise about other things as Donne seems to me to be could be so wrong. But perhaps they are quoted out of context?

Here is a picture thought I am sharing.... This is from Brandon's blog, titled "Still Winter in Alaska." This is also pretty much what it looks like today in Michigan.

Word and Question 9 -- with updated link

Word and Question/ The Poetry Game was started by Enbretheliel at Shredded Cheddar.
This month's game is hosted by Dauvit at Crosses and Cradles.

And here's my entry.

Word -- iconic

Question -- What do you see in the light of day?

Morning. The sun rises over the hill.
Daybreak is misty and peaceful and still.
Sunbeams appear
Gilding the trees.
How could I not be contented with these
Phrases that make dawn an iconic thing?
(Even omitting the "birds on the wing"..)
But Reason cries
"Dawn is just day!
Multiple problems are found on the way
Forward to night, when things darken again:
Foolishness, work, anger, sorrow, and pain."
Hope interjects
"But, to be sure,
After the night the sun rises once more,
Showing you gently that though you may doubt
Who you are, how things work, what life's about;
Follow your heart
Trust what you knew --
Icons are windows to what's truly true."



Note: I seem to be ahead of the game (instead of behind like the last time) and there's no new post to link this to. I will update as soon as it's available.
The link for this month's entries is now working above.

Daybook from Canada

Outside my window... it is bright and sunny. And -20 degrees. But since I'm in Canada, those are Celsius degrees, so it's "only" negative 4 Fahrenheit. Brrrrr......

I am thinking... that I am almost rested, thanks to this wonderful vacation. Even on vacation the hot flashes still wake me up sometimes. But I haven't had to get up until I was ready since we got here. Awesome!

I am thankful for... God's provision of this time in Stratford. It's quality time with my husband, and relaxation, and an opportunity to realize again that heaven is going to be even more wonderful than I can imagine, since all the good things about this time are mere dim reflections of the greater good awaiting me.

From the kitchen... Well, I haven't been in one since last Thursday! And even on Wednesday night we had leftovers. Our room here at Bentley's * has a kitchenette, but cutting a hunk of cheese and peeling an apple aren't exactly cooking.

I am wearing... grey pants, a cream turtleneck, navy v-neck sweater and over-the-knee socks, and my new fuzzy slippers. When we went out for coffee earlier I had on my much-loved knee-high riding boots. Roger paid what seemed like a ridiculous amount of money for them one Christmas, but since that was in ( I believe) 1994, I'd say he got his money's worth!

I am creating...nothing right this minute. But I have been pondering what changes I want/need to make over my next decade (I turn 60 next month :-o) and more creative endeavors are on my list. More crocheting, relearning to knit, dusting off the guitar and the flute.... It may be an interesting 10 years.

I am going... to one of our favorite Italian places for dinner before very long. Bonus: It's literally just a few steps from the hotel door to the restaurant. A nice perk in this weather.

I am reading... A lot of random fiction, which is one of the pleasures of Stratford -- I average a book a day. But I am about to start unPlanned, by Abby Johnson. Arwen reviewed it here, and she and Bryan bought me a copy. Stay tuned.

I am hoping... that I can manage to keep my mind off the fact that in order to go home I must pack until it's actually time to pack. I have a bad habit of living in the past or the future and therefore not fully experiencing the present. I'm working on it...

I am hearing... Roger putting ice cubes into a glass. An interesting aspect of Stratford for me is that I consume a much greater proportion of each day's calories in liquid form -- decaf mochas at Balzac's, Oranginas, ginger beer, wine with dinner. At home it's tea, water, a glass of milk with dinner, and maybe orange juice if I don't have clementines or grapefruit on hand. But here there are so many good things to drink...

Around the house... we are extremely grateful that our friend Tom is house-sitting. Joe-dog and Lucas-kitty are even more grateful, since as far as I can tell he plays with them more than we ever do!

A few plans for the rest of the week: home tomorrow morning, blizzard predicted for Tuesday into Wednesday, and on Thursday -- if they can make it -- Branwen and the kiddos will be arriving to spend some time with us while Larry travels on business.

Words I'm pondering : "If I hear anymore Michigan residents crying about possible snow I will lose my mind. It's Michigan!" This on Twitter from a friend this morning. And my sympathy goes out to Brandon who is stuck in Alaska, where the forecast is rain. His current hometown has higher average winter temperatures than ours does!

Here is a picture thought I am sharing...
These are "mint smoothies" from Rheo Thompson, and one of the delights of Stratford. And these I get to take home!










*Most of the pictures in the link are actually of this room, except the ones that show the two queen beds. This one has a king; we've gotten spoiled at home and now sort of "need" a bigger bed. And the room rates have actually come down as the Canadian dollar has gotten stronger, so this trip didn't cost as much as you'd think.

Word and Question 7/8

A month late and a rhyme scheme short... but here we go.

Word: capo

Question: How much is too much?

I need a new guitar.
That's what folks say, anyway.
My old one has pieces missing
And it won't stay in tune.

But then I don't play that much
Anymore. My finger calluses are gone.
The kids disassembled my capo,
Which is OK, because I never use it.

When you can transpose everything
Into D or G, mostly you do,
Even when it makes it harder to sing,
And my voice is half-shot anyway.

Still, I'd like a new guitar.
I've been looking at prices.
The old one was $100 -- a fortune back then --
But worth it, when I played a lot.

But now? What can I afford?
I could come up with the money, I guess....
But I'd "need" to put in more time...
Would the investment be worth it?

She's Baaaack -- with a Daybook

Outside my window... it is dark. Earlier it was light, but all of today was in shades of gray. Even the snow looked grayish, and not because it was dirty. We've been getting fresh snow every night.

I am thinking... that while Christmas with the family was WONDERFUL, it is nice to have "normal" days again.

I am thankful for... Roger's determination that we can afford to go to Stratford again later this month! He is always a little more skittish about affording it than I am, but this year even I wasn't sure. But we can. Thank You, God! I'm relaxing a little just thinking about it.

From the kitchen...Lentil Sausage Soup leftovers. It's a struggle for me to go from cooking for the whole family back to cooking for just the two of us. This is the third night in a row we've had leftover something.

I am wearing... brown and white and greenish-gray houndstooth slacks and a brown turtleneck. And my OLD fuzzy slippers. I got new ones for Christmas, but the stitching started to rip on only the fifth day. So back to LLBean they went. I'm awaiting the replacements!

I am creating...a US Postal Service online identity so that I can print the postage to mail a package to Brandon. He needed some new uniform parts, and I volunteered to sew the name tapes on. But he had to leave before they arrived here. So there will be a package waiting for him when he arrives at his new duty station.

I am going...as few places as possible for the rest of the week. But one of those places will be the Barnes and Noble Cafe.

I am reading... In the Company of Others by Jan Karon. It's the latest Father Tim book, set in Ireland not Mitford, and although I've barely started I'm sure it will be a delight.

I am hoping... that I finish this blog post before Roger finishes the letter he is writing. Then we can go to bed at the same time.

I am hearing... the furnace blower. In this weather, I hear it a lot! Also the clicking of my keys, which I don't usually notice... Does this mean something???

Around the house... the outdoor decorations are still up, but almost everything is back to normal after a great Christmas. Today I changed 7 beds (we had 16 people here sleeping on the fullest night) and the only thing left is to tidy the basement kids' play area/ teen hangout. The indoor decorations came down on (traditional) Epiphany and the day after.

A few plans for the rest of the week: grocery shopping and laundry. And then we will have Camilla and Blaise for a couple of nights while Arwen and Bryan go to Stratford. We set a good example for our kids! ;-D

Words I'm pondering :

¹ My son, if you accept my words
and store up my commands within you,
² turning your ear to wisdom
and applying your heart to understanding—
³ indeed, if you call out for insight
and cry aloud for understanding,
⁴ and if you look for it as for silver
and search for it as for hidden treasure,
⁵ then you will understand the fear of the LORD
and find the knowledge of God.

Proverbs 2:1-5 (NIV)
This came up in my women's Bible study group this morning AND in my (unrelated) daily readings, so I figure that means I should probably pay attention!


Here is a picture thought I am sharing.... This is the town in Alaska where Brandon will be living as of next Monday. I already am thinking about saving for a couple of tickets so that Roger and I can visit!

Daybook Placeholder

Just so you all know I didn't quit after NaBloP.....



Outside my window... it is dark. At this time of year it's dark a lot. Especially when I have free time to blog.

I am thinking... that it would be nice to have the Christmas shopping done, but I don't. At least I'm over half way.....

I am thankful for... the fact that my choir notebook was actually in my van all the time. I had shoved my tote bag behind the seat because I was giving a couple of people a ride, and it must have fallen out and not been noticed by anybody

From the kitchen... tamales! It was "tamale day" and a sadder and lonelier one, since my friend with whom it's been a tradition now lives in Ohio. But they turned out OK, which was in question since she always seasoned the meat.

I am wearing... my blue fleece bathrobe and fuzzy slippers. Do you see a pattern here?

I am creating...lists of things that need to be done before Christmas. Tomorrow, butter cookie trees. Yes, they're dyed green.

I am going...all over town in the next two days, and then to Virginia and Pennsylvania with Brandon. I'm looking forward to this trip!

I am reading... Dangerous to Know by Tasha Alexander. It's the fifth in the And Only to Deceive series. Also Expecting Twins by Elizabeth Noble. I might be a little excited about Arwen's babies....

I am hoping... that the weather report is correct and we beat the snow to Virginia. I have driven on the PA and Ohio Turnpikes in heavy snow a couple of times, and I'd rather not repeat the experience.

I am hearing... the dryer going around.

Around the house... the outdoor decorations are up, but I'm not going to do any indoor decorating until we get back, because the cat will attempt to undo whatever I did while I'm not looking.

A few plans for the rest of the week: butter cookie trees, finish the Christmas shopping (please, God!), do laundry, buy some groceries so Roger can eat while we're gone, pack, and hit the road. Oh, yeah, and choir practice Thursday night,

Words I'm pondering : Pearl Harbor Day. The day when my dad, and my uncles, and many like them, turned from boys into men overnight.

Here is a picture thought I am sharing.... This is what I would like for Christmas, but only after everybody is safely home.

NaBloPoMo Fail

So I didn't get a post up yesterday (and Thursday's was pre-scheduled.) And I've already backdated once (I won't tell you when...) So I've decided that since I'm only doing NaBloP for me, and I refuse to "cheat" that much, that I'm going to declare this a blogging "pulled muscle" and drop out of the race.

But don't worry. I intend to keep posting. I just am not going to beat myself up about enjoying my family instead of sitting at the computer. And that is all.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Today I am cooking, eating, and enjoying family, and I hope you are doing the same!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Whew! Wednesday

I am in the middle of making nine pies (three pecan, three pumpkin, and three double-crust apple). From scratch. I cooked the pumpkin last week, and peeled the apples with my handy-dandy apple peeler. I am not reading anything today but recipes!

Have a happy Thanksgiving!

Tasty Tuesday -- Pennsylvania "Filling"

I always have to laugh when I see the discussions that pop up around this time of year about whether that bread mixture that goes in the turkey is called "stuffing" or "dressing"! Because if you grew up where I did, the answer is "neither!" We did, however, (and I still do) accompany our Thanksgiving turkey with this very tasty "filling."

Pennsylvania Filling

A couple of weeks before Thanksgiving, go out and buy a loaf of the cheapest, most generic white bread you can find. (The proportions given here assume a one-pound loaf.) Shove it in the refrigerator to get good and stale without spoiling. (If you don't have extra refrigerator space, a cool cupboard will do.) Monday of Thanksgiving week, take the bread out of the fridge, trim the crusts, and cut into small cubes. Place the cubes in a good-sized bowl and sprinkle generously with salt and pepper. Leave the bowl sitting at room temperature and, a couple of times a day, gently toss the cubes so that they all dry out. (If you must cover the bowl, do so with a thin, loosely woven towel, so that the bread can continue to dry.)

The day before Thanksgiving, melt 1 to 1 1/2 sticks of butter and drizzle over the bread cubes, tossing repeatedly. Remind yourself that the filling is so delicious that it will be your loss if you taste all the bread cubes now.

Thanksgiving noontime (or about 1 1/2 hours before the turkey will be done) beat together 4 eggs and 1 1/2 cups of milk. Stir together with the bread cubes. Place in a greased casserole. I use a two quart flat casserole (about 8" square.) The next time you baste the turkey, squirt a couple of baster-fuls of broth/drippings onto the top pf the bread in the casserole. (You can, of course use a spoon! The object is for all of the filling to have a pretty brown broth tinge.) Bake at 350F for about one hour, until golden and puffy. Serve with gravy.


To be perfectly honest, I would be completely happy with just filling and gravy for Thanksgiving. Oh, and some sauerkraut. That PA Dutch side dish always appears on my Thanksgiving table, to the bewilderment of my husband and many of my children. But don't let that scare you away from the filling. It's GOOD!

Full disclosure -- Roger, who cooks the turkey, also makes his traditional seasoned crouton mixture to stuff the turkey. I like it just fine, but not for Thanksgiving!