tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-328590642024-03-13T19:22:12.053-04:00Salome EllenRandom musings of an empty-nesting mother of six, grandmother of six handsome boys,including three-year old twins, and four charming young ladies -- with surprises due in the spring -- who hasn't had enough sleep since before her own kids were born!Salome Ellenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13207028136419419757noreply@blogger.comBlogger355125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32859064.post-84243611323596116812014-05-21T14:46:00.000-04:002014-05-21T14:46:01.609-04:00Eleven Questions<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="color: black;">I've seen this in a couple of places, and although nobody tagged me, I'm a sucker for a good meme, so here you go...</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"><span style="color: black;"> </span></span><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 13.5pt;"><a href="http://www.shelikespurple.com/shelikespurple/2014/05/eleven-questions.html"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></a></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span>1.
What is your favorite type of cheese? </span></b><span>Honestly, I LOVE havarti, but I almost never buy it because my market only sells it in blocks, and I like it as slices melted over fresh tomatoes on wholegrain toast. I EAT a lot of cheddar and parmesan, and have a weakness for "real" American. Processed cheese, OK. Processed cheese food product, <b>NO.</b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span>2. What are you excited
about? </span></b><span>Summer. I'm not that big a fan of really hot weather, but all our weddings, first communions, etc. are over, AND the choir takes the summer off, so I'll have a lot more free time. Sitting on the deck with my novel-of-the-week and a mojito or <a href="http://fireflyvodka.com/index.cfm#!/our-products/product/sweet-tea-vodka">Firefly </a>and lemonade? Yes, thank you!</span><b><span><br /></span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span>3. How did you celebrate your last
birthday? </span></b><span>The day itself was an ordinary weekday, but that weekend Branwen -- who shares my birthday -- and her family came up and we went out to dinner at <a href="http://www.freightersph.com/ordereze/default.aspx">Freighters</a> and then had homemade fudge pie.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span>4. What is on your bedside table?</span></b><span> A lamp, a box of Kleenex, and my book light. At night, my glasses and whatever I was reading join them.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span>5. What do you order from
the movie theater concession stand? </span></b><span>I don't think I've ever bought anything at a movie concession stand. Sometimes Roger buys popcorn for us to share, but usually we've either just been out to dinner, or are going out right after.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span>6. Do you have a garden? What’s
growing?</span></b><span> Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, HA! I have the blackest black thumb known to man. I even kill herb plants that are perfectly healthy when I buy them.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span>7. Any summer plans? </span></b><span>See above!</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span>8. Which TV couple(s) are you
rooting for? </span></b><span>Since we have never had a TV, I'm clueless. I kind of hope Princess Anna eventually marries Kristoff, though.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span>9. What’s the last thing you
bought? </span></b><span>A decaf grande mocha at the Barnes and Noble Cafe.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span>10. What’s one thing you are
passionate about? </span></b><span>My family.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span>11. What are you grateful for this
week? </span></b><span>Enough. We're not rich, might even qualify as poor (I don't check the numbers,) but we have food, clothes, a lovely house, a terrific family, and a lot of natural beauty within walking distance.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span>Nobody tagged me, so I'm not tagging, but if you decide to do this I'd love a comment with a link so that I can see your answers. </span><b><span><br /></span></b></span></span></div>
Salome Ellenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13207028136419419757noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32859064.post-82716255215346268372014-03-03T09:10:00.002-05:002014-03-03T09:10:37.917-05:00Seven in Seven Fail<b>7 Posts in 8</b><i>(sigh)</i><b> Days part 7</b><br />
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Actually, I don't even care that much. I knew last night that I wasn't going to finish on time, and I sat and played Candy Crush and didn't even try. I guess I am not cut out to be a frequent blogger, even with prompts and peer pressure.<br />
<b> </b><br />
Stephanie, your cookies will go in the mail tomorrow or Wednesday. I'll see the rest of you around sometime, I guess...<br />
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<br />Salome Ellenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13207028136419419757noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32859064.post-77122145999945843002014-03-01T20:19:00.001-05:002014-03-01T20:19:03.893-05:00Sloppy Saturday -- The Birthday Celebration Continues<b>7 Posts in 7 Days part 6</b><br />
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Branwen and her family are here. Today we went shopping for my dress for Tirienne's wedding. It looks like I'll have to make it. No surprise. Then we went out to dinner at <a href="http://www.freightersph.com/ordereze/default.aspx">Freighters</a> and came home to eat homemade <a href="http://allrecipes.com/recipe/rich-chocolate-truffle-pie/">Chocolate Truffle Pie</a> for dessert. And now I'm going back to my wine. See you tomorrow!<br />
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<br />Salome Ellenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13207028136419419757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32859064.post-36273425773274077442014-02-28T14:17:00.000-05:002014-02-28T14:17:32.611-05:00Family Update<b>7 Posts in 7 Days part 5 </b><i>(!!!! I made it to 5!!!!)</i><b></b><br />
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Since It's been nearly two years since I wrote here with any regularity, I can get away with an easy post for Family Friday! I just have to list everything about everybody and I'm done. So:<br />
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Roger and I still live in the same wonderful no-longer-new house, with our dog Joe, who is definitely showing signs of age. When he finally leaves us we don't intend to replace him, since not having a dog will greatly simplify our ability to go here and there and see family and friends. And we are hoping to be able to travel at least a little more, maybe a short trip once a quarter. All that in addition to visiting Arwen's and Branwen's families on random weekends.<br />
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Arwen and Bryan still live in the same place, and still have four children. But Camilla is almost 7 1/2, and in second grade at a local Catholic school. Blaise just turned five, and will be starting all-day kindergarten in the fall. Linus and Ambrose are approaching three (!!!) and, after tonsillectomies last summer are now healthy and thriving and growing. And <b>all boy</b>, as I had demonstrated to me on a recent visit. They are both climbers, and if you're watching one you have to take your eye off the other. Which they know...<br />
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Branwen and Larry also live in the same place, but since I know I had to update my blog header when I started posting again, you may not know that they now also have four children. Daniel will be eight in June, and is in the same second-grade class as Camilla. Matthew is 5 1/2, and in kindergarten. Lauren is 3 1/2, and Leah is 18 months. It is a very different experience for Branwen to have only girls at home in the daytime!<br />
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Miriel married the amazing "Doctor-Doctor John" (MD/PhD) last June, and they now live in Minnesota, where John is in the first year of his internship/residency at Mayo Clinic. He hasn't fully settled on what medical area he wants to practice in, but whatever he chooses he'll be great at. Meanwhile, Miriel earned her Master's in Political Science, and her PhD program has her on "hold," since she's so far away from Texas. She's working part time in religious education at their parish, to maximize her ability to be free when John has time off.<br />
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Brandon also got married last October, to the awesome and creative Heather. He will be leaving the Coast Guard this spring to take a similar job with the Forest Service, so that they can stay in the tiny town on an island in the Inside Passage, which has been Heather's hometown since she was six. We hear they have a surprise for us next fall. ;-D I've always wanted to travel to Alaska!<br />
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Tirienne has led a busy life in the past couple of years, working as a pastry chef, traveling to India to work with the Sisters of Charity, switching jobs to be a receptionist at a law firm, and, to our delight, getting engaged to Jeff! Their wedding will be in May, at the same church Arwen and her family attend. Three of my six within 2 hours' drive is not too shabby.<br />
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(I would love to feel sorry for myself, having to deal with three weddings in 11 months, but a college friend of Branwen's <b>and three of her siblings</b> are all getting married in 2014. I already sent their mom a message of sympathy! ;-D )<br />
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Kelson is still in the Coast Guard, stationed in Duluth, and is putting in his time to get money for college. We will see what school he finally ends up attending! You may have notice that I didn't mention Lucas the cat earlier. That is because he has always been Kelson's cat, and as of last June he went to live with Kelson, who finally had a place to live where a cat was welcome. I sort of miss Lucas, but I do<b> not</b> miss his scrabbles with Joe, or cleaning the litter box.<br />
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And that wraps up what I currently have to say about our family. If you have any questions, I'll answer them in the comments if I can. And if you read yesterday's comments, you'll know exactly how old I am!<br />
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<br />Salome Ellenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13207028136419419757noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32859064.post-21604014558923869832014-02-27T14:06:00.000-05:002014-02-27T14:06:44.728-05:00Birthday Math<b>7 Posts in 7 Days part 4</b><br />
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I had a different post in mind<b> </b>(I had actually added the Tip-Line Thursday label) but I decided that I felt like doing this instead. So I am posing a math problem for you, and the first person to answer correctly <b>by doing the math</b> -- sorry, family, insider knowledge means you're eliminated -- will get you a batch of chocolate-chip cookie bars sent to your snail mail. (This offer expires in one week, on March 6.)<br />
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Today is my birthday. My new age is the product of a prime number and a prime number squared. My daughter Branwen shares this birthday. <b>Her</b> age is the product of three different prime numbers. And on the day she was born, I had just turned the product of two prime numbers!<br />
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So how old are we??!!<br />
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<br />Salome Ellenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13207028136419419757noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32859064.post-67441031507185637122014-02-26T14:13:00.000-05:002014-02-26T14:13:20.836-05:00Whatcha Readin' Wednesday<br /><b> 7 Posts in 7 Days part 3</b><br />
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First off<b>, </b>I should probably give what really would have been better as an update to yesterday's post: for those of you who are not "foodies," the "Mole" in the title is pronounced <i>mow-luh</i>, not <i>mowl</i>, and refers to a Mexican sauce made with chocolate and chilis, not to those half-blind creatures who ruin your lawn. I realized that I have known this since elementary school, which is sort of funny because at that point I had eaten exactly <b>no</b> "ethnic" food except the Pennsylvania-German cooking of my upbringing. (Oh, and "Italian spaghetti," which involved pasta and tomato sauce but no herbs that I'm aware of. My mother's idea of seasonings was limited to salt, pepper, cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg, the last three used only for sweets.) <br />
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Despite such deprivation I knew about mole, because of a book, of course! <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Trixie-Belden-Mystery-Arizona-No/dp/B0091JRMBG/ref=sr_1_9?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1393439534&sr=1-9&keywords=Trixie+Belden+and+the+Mystery+in+Arizona"><i>Trixie Belden and the Mystery in Arizona</i>,</a> to be precise. The link shows a cover like the very-beat-up version I now own, but the date on it is 1970, by which time I was in college. I probably first read a copy belonging to my older cousins, from whom I "inherited" a whole library of children's books they were done with.<br />
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Right now I have three books in progress, which is one more than my usual. Roger and I are re-reading C.J. Cherryh's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Foreigner_universe"><i>Foreigner</i></a> series, since one of my Christmas gifts was all the currently-in-print titles we didn't already own. I'm just starting Precursor (the middle book in the third trilogy,) and I think he is about four books behind me, since he has to work for a living. Some of you might remember that I've<a href="http://salomeellen.blogspot.com/2008/11/whatcha-readin-wednesday-1-foreigner.html"> reread</a> these before; well, a new one is due out in April, and we want to be ready! <br />
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I'm also reading <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Deed-Without-Golden-Detective-Novels/dp/0915230828/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1393440885&sr=8-5&keywords=deed+without+a+name"><i>Deed Without a Name</i></a>, by Dorothy Bowers. My friend Julia lent me two of the five books by this relatively unknown author, who was a contemporary of Dorothy L. Sayers. I found them interesting enough to get the other three by inter-library loan. Unfortunately I'm so caught up in the <i>Foreigner</i> universe that I may not get around to finishing them before they're due, which is a shame, because they are excellent examples of the classic Golden Age Mystery genre. :-(<br />
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My third book is the standard non-fiction I'm rarely without. This one is <a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Business-Baby-Corporations-Childbirth-ebook/dp/B008J4KZH2"><i>The Business of Baby</i></a>, by Jennifer Margulis. I spotted it on my library's new book shelf, and am finding it to be yet another version of the "be informed and then do what YOU want" genre of baby/pregnancy books. I've read a <b><i>lot</i></b> of them, especially back in the days when I considered training as a midwife, and find that they all rely more on anecdotes than on science/studies/facts. This one strikes a fairly decent balance, and I'd recommend that anyone interested read it, but don't stop there! I really am a believer in "be informed and then do what YOU want," as long as you are <i><b>truly </b></i>informed about all the options and opinions on what is best. That's a lot more reading than just one book!<br />
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Well, I've upheld my end of the "I'll post if you will" for today, so now I'm going to go and read!<br />
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<br />Salome Ellenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13207028136419419757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32859064.post-28821775098264067922014-02-25T10:55:00.000-05:002014-02-25T10:56:24.518-05:00Tasty Tuesday -- Chicken Mole<b> 7 Posts in 7 Days part 2</b><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">As I said yesterday, I'm going to stick with my previous themes for this burst of blogging energy. This recipe is an adaptation of one I found in a magazine, and it's what's for dinner tomorrow. Today is leftover lasagne. I love my microwave's reheat function!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Chicken Mole</span><br />
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In a large heavy pan over medium-high heat combine<b> 2T oil, one medium onion, diced, 2T cocoa powder, 1 t cinnamon, 1 t red pepper flakes, 1/2 t clove and 1/2 t pepper.</b> Saute for 5 minutes. Add <b>1 cup smooth almond butter</b>, and stir until it melts in. Add <b>1 cup canned crushed tomatoes, 2 cups chicken broth, 1 slice soft white bread torn small, 1 t salt, and 1/2 t Tapatio or other hot sauce</b> if desired. Bring to a simmer. Add <b>1 1/2 pounds boneless chicken cut into 1/2 inch chunks</b>. Return to a simmer, cover the pot and let cook for 12 to 15 minutes, until the chicken is cooked through. Serve over cooked rice.<br />
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This recipe is twice as spicy as the original, and is still quite mild -- at least by our standards -- if you omit the hot sauce. My husband adds more hot sauce at the table even when I include it.<br />
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The bread is for thickening, and if you are avoiding wheat you could probably play around with other thickeners, or just leave it out and reduce the chicken broth to 1 1/12 cups. You DEFINITELY want something to sop up the amazing sauce!<br />
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<br />Salome Ellenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13207028136419419757noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32859064.post-70971603518367409202014-02-24T09:48:00.000-05:002014-02-24T09:50:09.261-05:00Seven Posts in Seven Days! (alternative title: I am certifiably crazy!)<span style="font-size: small;">My daughters<a href="http://ennorath.typepad.com/"> Arwen</a> and <a href="http://mirielmargaret.blogspot.com/">Miriel</a> decided to link up to <a href="http://www.conversiondiary.com/"><i>Conversion Diary'</i></a>s Seven Posts in Seven Days challenge. My friend <a href="http://terelina.typepad.com/">Tracy</a> was considering it. So in a rush of enthusiasm for reading <i>their</i> posts, I piped up "I will if you will." They are. So here I am.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">I am absolutely going to take the lazy way through and use the daily themes I used for NaBloPoMo back when I still thought I actually might become a "real" blogger. I now realize that Twitter and Facebook are probably more my speed. But i said in the last post that I want to hang on to this blog, so I'm going to use it. For at least seven days...</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">My old theme was "musical Monday." And without (much) shame, I am going to post the lyrics of the song that was running through my head when I woke up this morning. If you can figure out <i>why</i> it was in there, I'll bake you a cake and ship it!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">The theater, the theater, what's
happened to the theater?
<br />Especially where dancing is concerned
<br />Chaps who did taps aren't tapping
anymore
<br />They're doing choreography
<br />Chicks who did kicks aren't kicking
anymore
<br />They're doing choreography
<br />Heps who did steps
<br />That would stop the show in days
that used to be
<br />Through the air they keep flying
<br />Like a duck that is dying
<br />Instead of dance it's choreography
<br />Jakes who did breaks they're
not breaking anymore
<br />They're doing choreography
<br />Chicks who did kicks aren't kicking
anymore
<br />They're doing choreography
<br />Queens with routines
<br />That would stop the show in days
that used to be
<br />One and all they're not chancing
<br />What we used to call dancing
<br />They're busy doing choreography
<br />One and all keep us guessing
<br />What the heck they're expressing
<br />Instead of dance it's choreography!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">This, of course, is <i>Choreography</i>, written by Irving Berlin and sung by Danny Kaye in <i>White Christmas. </i>I do have a special affection for this song, ever since I overheard a conversation about the special Christmas musical at a local evangelical church. The speaker was explaining that, no, they don't dance, but the musical <b>did</b> have choreography!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">See you here tomorrow...</span>
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<br />Salome Ellenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13207028136419419757noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32859064.post-55076559628243413802014-02-12T11:19:00.002-05:002014-02-12T11:19:49.594-05:00Move Along, Move Along, Nothing to See Here!Actually, this <b>isn't</b> a real post. There really is nothing to see. But I don't know how long Blogger leaves untended blogs up, and although I do most of my talking on Twitter these days -- 140 characters is WAY less of a commitment -- I like to have access to a number of things in my archive, so after a year and a half I'm posting this to make my blog look "lived in." Kind of like lights on a timer when you're out of town. But I <i>may</i> be back someday, so I'm keeping the old homestead safe.Salome Ellenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13207028136419419757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32859064.post-30086449270065819632012-08-13T19:15:00.000-04:002012-08-13T19:19:18.793-04:00Word & Question 23 -- better late than....<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is an entry in the Word & Question game -- also known as "Crambo"???-- hosted by Enbrethiliel at <a href="http://shreddedcheddar.blogspot.com/search/label/Verbum%20et%20Rogatum"><i>Shredded Cheddar.</i></a> It was supposed to be the July entry, but, well, summer is busy in a different way from the rest of the year. So here you go:</span></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Reunion</span></span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The tempting invitation shows up decennially.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Its latest iteration is here in front of me:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Come back and see your hometown! </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Meet up with those you know.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Have dinner with your classmates from not-all-that-long ago.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The fee's not high -- I spend as much on many </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Friday nights.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The trip is relatively short; I ought to go, by rights,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">But I am very different now, and maybe they are too...</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Do you think you could come along?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At least I would know you!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Word: decennially</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Question: What's the worst that could happen?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For some reason this set of prompts made me think of Dorothy Sayers' character Harriet Vane, when she is deciding whether or not to revisit Oxford in <i>Gaudy Night</i>. The poem didn't come out with her solution, but at least it gave me a place to start!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>Salome Ellenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13207028136419419757noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32859064.post-37917345163478945002012-07-09T20:18:00.003-04:002012-07-09T20:40:50.760-04:00Daybook -- 7/9/12<a href="http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/2010/07/july-daybookers.html"><img height="210" id="Image1_imgalt=""" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dUrUa10NCDQ/S3_pQgN9rYI/AAAAAAAACm8/Fe5Dx2TC3tE/S220/tdbsmall.jpg" width="148" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 130%;"><br /><b>Outside my window... </b>green, sunshine, trees -- and cool air. Finally.<br /><br /><b>I am thinking...</b><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span>that life is full of ups and downs and ins and outs, and sometimes it's a lot to keep up with.<br /><br /><b>I am thankful for... </b>the productive day I had today. Nothing out of the ordinary, but it all went smoothly.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 130%;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 130%;"><br /><b>From the kitchen... </b> let the deep-fryer do it! Popcorn chicken and shrimp, tater tots, and a veggie tray as our nod to healthy. Tomorrow: grilled chicken salads and blueberry pie.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 130%;"><br /><b>I am wearing... </b>navy
cotton pants, a light blue cotton tee, and flip-flops. I NEVER used to wear flip-flops, and these actually belong to Tirienne, but having something between my toes seem to help with my weird foot problems. So as long as I'm just sitting around, flip-flops it is.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 130%;"><br /><b>I am creating...</b>
well, I worked a little bit on a dishcloth after supper, but</span></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 130%;"> mostly, I am FINISHED with Miriel's scarf, and I am so excited I can hardly stand it!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 130%;"><br /><b>I am going...</b> to the grocery store tomorrow to buy more blueberries for the pie. I've frozen 11 pints, and they're still on sale, so fresh pie it is. Roger will be happy.<br /><br /><b>I am reading...</b> </span></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 130%;">a variety of things, fiction and non-fiction. My current non-fiction is <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Coming-Apart-State-America-1960-2010/dp/0307453421"><i>Coming Apart</i></a> by Charles Murray, and as I have only finished the preface, I don't feel like I know much about it yet. But on Wednesday I am going to pick up <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Intruder-Foreigner-C-J-Cherryh/dp/075640715X"><i>Intruder</i>,</a> which is the newest Foreigner book. I can't wait.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 130%;"><br /><b>I am hoping...</b>
that "the plan" for the next few weeks will go smoothly. There's a possible (<i>BIG</i>) wrinkle, but hopefully it can be ironed out. (Did you see my completed figure of speech? I'm awesome!)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 130%;"><br /><b>I am hearing... </b>fans, and Miriel entertaining her BFF's baby in the living room while his Mama washes her hands.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 130%;"><br /><b>Around the house...</b> nothing much new. It does stay tidier when none of the kids are here. And Miriel is naturally tidier than I am, so having her home is no different.<br /><br /><b>A few plans for the rest of the week: </b> On Friday we're going to Arwen's, and from Saturday morning to Sunday afternoon Roger, Miriel, Tirienne, and I are going to watch ALL FOUR children so that Arwen and Bryan can get away -- and probably sleep the whole time. ;-D</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 130%;"><br /><b>Words I'm pondering</b>
: </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 130%;"> "<i>This is my Father's world:</i></span></span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 130%;"> O let me ne'er forget, </span></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 130%;"> That though the wrong seems oft so strong,</span></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 130%;"> God is the ruler yet!"</span></span></i><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 130%;">Part of an old hymn that I'd forgotten about till about ten days ago.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 130%;"><br /><b>Here is a picture thought I am sharing... </b>never mind. I can't get the one I want. This is annoying...</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 130%;"><b>ne </b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 130%;"><b> </b> </span></span>Salome Ellenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13207028136419419757noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32859064.post-90675183489029882532012-06-17T13:05:00.003-04:002012-06-17T13:05:39.191-04:00Happy Father's Day!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXYDTxuvA6RsSwJm2GJf-qiuVNNR_Isc-JITNM_PXvBgeYK00tZr_7oeJmzunFeHF4-GKIZFNf2LTvFT_IHCh3feIFaHtn55IzzJquRm8RGzzgJL3wX4r2mVsA2pqfvWFigWbF/s1600/Fathers+Day.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXYDTxuvA6RsSwJm2GJf-qiuVNNR_Isc-JITNM_PXvBgeYK00tZr_7oeJmzunFeHF4-GKIZFNf2LTvFT_IHCh3feIFaHtn55IzzJquRm8RGzzgJL3wX4r2mVsA2pqfvWFigWbF/s320/Fathers+Day.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Grandpa works his magic on Father's Day -- note sleeping toddler!Salome Ellenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13207028136419419757noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32859064.post-37868639030827857472012-06-15T16:35:00.001-04:002012-06-15T16:35:28.786-04:00Place and Question -- W&Q 22<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">
<span style="font-size: small;">This is my June entry in the Word and Question/ Playing Poetry game started by Enbrethiliel at <i><a href="http://shreddedcheddar.blogspot.com/">Shredded Cheddar</a>.</i> The rules can be found <a href="http://shreddedcheddar.blogspot.com/p/playing-poetry-word-question.html">here</a>. This month there was a special wrinkle; the word submitted had to be a place.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Journalist's Mother's Lament</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Where are you now, my darling child?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">In Marrakech, or Rome, </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Or Zanzibar, or Nhulunbuy??</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I wish you were at home!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Word/place: <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nhulunbuy,_Northern_Territory">Nhulunbuy</a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Question: Are you lonesome tonight?</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I had a much longer (and rather maudlin, probably because I find the song, of which the question is the title, so) idea in mind, but when I sat down to actually write it -- and I have to use paper; brain to keyboard doesn't work for poems for me -- this is what came out, and declared itself done. So be it!</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>Salome Ellenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13207028136419419757noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32859064.post-57380716502408731312012-05-14T20:56:00.003-04:002012-05-14T20:56:59.273-04:00Daybook -- 5/14/12<a href="http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/2010/07/july-daybookers.html"><img height="210" id="Image1_imgalt=""" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dUrUa10NCDQ/S3_pQgN9rYI/AAAAAAAACm8/Fe5Dx2TC3tE/S220/tdbsmall.jpg" width="148" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 130%;"><br /><b>Outside my window... </b>blue sky, a lot of green -- trees and grass and bushes and (sadly) weeds -- and sunshine on the tops of the trees. If I were on the other side of the house it would still look like daytime, but here it's definitely evening.<br /><br /><b>I am thinking...</b><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span>that this last six weeks have been wonderful, but tiring. So much going on!<br /><br /><b>I am thankful for... </b>the so much that was going on! In order: Holy Week/ Easter (with 25 people for breakfast and 15 for dinner). Keeping Branwen and Larry's kids for the weekend so that they could go to Stratford. </span></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 130%;">Singing with the choir for Confirmation. </span></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 130%;"> "Reading Camp" with Daniel and Camilla, to help them get more ready for first grade at a new school. Brandon coming home on leave. Kelson's graduation from boot camp, and the 1300+ miles in 48 hours of driving that went with it. Kelson and Brandon at home for a few days; lovely! Singing with the choir for First Communion. Miriel coming home from her first year of grad school. Linus' and Ambrose's first birthday party. A visit from Roger's mom and sister. Deep breath/sigh. Done!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 130%;"><br /><b>From the kitchen... </b> leftovers tonight AND tomorrow. I sort of forgot again how to cook for just two...</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 130%;"><br /><b>I am wearing... </b>tan
cotton pants, a pink cotton tee, and a crocheted ecru short-sleeved sweater. And my fuzzy slippers.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 130%;"><br /><b>I am creating...</b> knitted dresses for Camilla and Lauren, dishcloths for Brandon, and a scarf for Miriel. Which is one of her presents from last Christmas, but it's lace-weight yarn and very slow going. I have made a commitment to knit at least one pattern repeat on it every day, so it should be finished before she starts school again in August.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 130%;"><br /><b>I am going...</b> nowhere before knitting group tomorrow night. This is awesome!<br /><br /><b>I am reading...</b> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Beloved-Snail-About-Writing-Things/dp/0316454818"><i>Turn Not Pale, Beloved Snail</i></a> which is "a book about writing among other things" by Jacqueline Jackson. My roommate when I lived in Ohio in the late seventies had a copy, and I got the urge to read it again. It is still delightful! I got this copy on inter-library loan, because the last time I checked Amazon the only copies were running close to $50. When I checked the page to give the link, it appears that one can buy used copies for considerably less. I think that's what I do when I finish this post. It's definitely worth owning if it's in your budget.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 130%;"><br /><b>I am hoping...</b> to sleep well tonight. I've had less-than-stellar sleep the last few nights, but it's cooling off, and I have no pressing reason to get up early tomorrow. Wish me luck.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 130%;"><br /><b>I am hearing...</b> Roger puttering about the kitchen. The clink of ice cubes, and a blurbling that means carbonation. Probably soda water, because I also heard the door to the cabinet where he keeps the Scotch.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 130%;">(I just asked him, and he says it's cranberry juice and pineapple rum. Apparently I was mistaken about the carbonation.)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 130%;"><br /><b>Around the house...</b> we now have an actual guest room. Kelson took pretty much everything he owns to his new duty station in Duluth, which is where Brandon was stationed before he went to Alaska. Lose a son, gain a guest room. My emotions on this one are very mixed.<br /><br /><b>A few plans for the rest of the week: </b>Knitting group. Grocery shopping. Choir practice. Blessed, blessed routine.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 130%;"><br /><b>Words I'm pondering</b> : Americans have a range of moral concerns: caring for the weak, fairness, liberty, loyalty, respect for authority, and sanctity. Studies suggest that hard-core liberals are animated only by the first three. (From <i>The Righteous Mind</i> by Jonathan Haidt, via <i>First Things.)</i><br /><br /><b>Here is a picture thought I am sharing....</b> actually, I'm not. I had a nice cartoon all picked out, but I can't make it work in the new Blogger set-up. Fooey!!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: 130%;"><b><br /></b></span></span>Salome Ellenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13207028136419419757noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32859064.post-44477728993575649022012-05-06T17:44:00.000-04:002012-05-06T18:02:26.560-04:00Word and Question 20 - now with added apologies<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Here, ma'am, try this tasty wine sample.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The portion, you'll find, is quite ample.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Do you like... Holy smokes,</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here come dozens of folks!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">For free wine upon you they may trample!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Word: ample</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Question: Should I tell someone about this?</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am entirely late with this one (marvelously hosted by <a href="http://shreddedcheddar.blogspot.com/2012/04/jmj-big-2-oh-join-us-for-vingt-et-un.html#more">Enbrethiliel at <i>Shredded Cheddar</i></a>), and it's all my own fault for trying to play at all in the kind of month I knew I was going to have. And even now, I'm only good for a limeric... </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The scene, for those of you who may not have such things where you live, is a table or small kiosk set up inside a supermarket or warehouse store where customers are offered samples to induce them to buy products they might otherwise ignore. (Although I'm pretty sure that free wine isn't legal.)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The first time I published this, I forgot to also apologize to my (two) readers for not posting anything for a month. <i>Mea Culpa!</i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i></span></span>Salome Ellenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13207028136419419757noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32859064.post-34565322211379283692012-03-28T20:33:00.003-04:002012-03-28T20:52:05.573-04:00Word and Question 19<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">How did I end up here? If I can be<br />Completely truthful, I don't even know<br />Quite where this is, but I am fairly sure<br />It isn't Dune, or Pluto, or Barsoom<br />Or anywhere on Earth I've read about...<br /><br />Why am I in this cage? If you ask me<br />This whole thing must be some psychotic joke!<br />The last thing I remember from before<br />Was feeling "punk", and sitting on the couch<br />Watching some crazy preacher on TV.<br /><br />You want to know how nuts he was? He said<br />Smart folk like me, who don't believe his myths,<br />Were in for trouble here (I guess that's "there")<br />And afterward. But I maintain that I<br />Know more than he did: "after" can't exist.<br /><br />And how do I know that? My textbooks state<br />That "mind" is just a function of the brain,<br />So when the body dies, the mind goes too.<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">I </span>don't expect to live on after death.<br />That's just a fairytale for foolish folk.<br /><br />Say, do you think it's getting hot in here?...<br /><br style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Word: cage</span><br style="font-style: italic;"><br style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Question: Have i been reading all the wrong books?</span><br /><br /><br /></span></span>Salome Ellenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13207028136419419757noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32859064.post-38890665278675861912012-03-19T19:00:00.005-04:002012-03-19T19:36:38.541-04:00I Haven't Done a Daybook in Ages, or ..................... I Guess it's Time<a href="http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/2010/07/july-daybookers.html"><img id="Image1_imgalt=""" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dUrUa10NCDQ/S3_pQgN9rYI/AAAAAAAACm8/Fe5Dx2TC3tE/S220/tdbsmall.jpg" height="210" width="148" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><strong>Outside my window... </strong>it is still daylight! I hate changing over to DST, but once it's here I appreciate the long evenings. AND it's warm. I don't believe in "global warming" (at least not man-made), but I kind of like this "local warming" thing.<br /><br /><strong>I am thinking...</strong><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span>about how long it's been since I posted. Over a month. Shame on me.<br /><br /><strong>I am thankful for... </strong>the fact that I am at home. I spent last week helping Arwen with the kids while Bryan traveled for work, and I love them all, but I'm not as young as I used to be, and being home again is relaxing.<br /><br /><strong>From the kitchen... </strong> "real" reubens, made with the corned beef leftovers from St. Patrick's Day.<br /><br /><strong>I am wearing... </strong>blue cotton pants, and a pink cotton tee and socks (which don't quite match each other.) Earlier I had on a sweatshirt that matched the socks, but I got too warm.<br /><br /><strong>I am creating...</strong> the VERY last knitted cotton dishcloth for Roger's stepmother. Before Christmas she gave me a commission and sent me a check, and I have been working at this quite regularly. But I'm on the last one, and the next dishcloth I knit will be for me. Which is good, because mine are wearing out...<br /><br /><strong>I am going...</strong> to go and do my exercises in a little while. With any luck I will be done with both this post and the exercises before Roger gets home from leading his Bible study.<br /><br /><strong>I am reading...</strong> well, I'm finishing a non-memorable libray book, but one that's done I'll be starting on <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dune_%28novel%29"><span style="font-style: italic;">Dune</span></a>, because I've been telling Kelson for years that I'd get around to it someday. So no more library (or other) books until I finish it.<br /><br /><strong>I am hoping...</strong> for good weather this weekend. Branwen and Larry and their kids are coming up, and there is a LOT of outdoor work that needs to be done, especially burning the brush piles, which is a big thrill for Daniel and Matthew.<br /><br /><strong>I am hearing...</strong> all the outdoor noises much more clearly since we took the plastic film off the windows. Of course, every time we've done that in March before, we've had a good solid snowstorm later...<br /><br /><strong>Around the house...</strong>everything now stays relatively tidy. Kelson is at Coast Guard boot camp, and I never realized just HOW MUCH <span style="font-weight: bold;">STUFF </span> he would regularly move around and/or abandon somewhere. I'm betting that he's learning tidier habits!<br /><br /><strong>A few plans for the rest of the week: </strong>just the usual, which unfortunately means that either Roger or I (or both) has a meeting every night. But on Friday a friend is coming to dinner, and then Branwen and her family arrive. That will be nice!<br /><br /><strong>Words I'm pondering</strong> : <span style="font-style: italic;">"For the fate of Lothlórien you are not answerable, but only for the doing of your own task."</span>--Galadriel. My brother-in-law tweeted this today, and I know that I can learn from it. It doesn't ALL depend on me...<br /><br /><strong>Here is a picture thought I am sharing.... </strong>this picture is from several years ago, but Kelson's boot camp graduation will look a lot like this. Assuming it's a sunny day, of course.<a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3556/3821774496_bdd3fa2b17_o.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 2px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 139px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3556/3821774496_bdd3fa2b17_o.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /></span></span>Salome Ellenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13207028136419419757noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32859064.post-82442370840610907132012-02-14T08:50:00.002-05:002012-02-14T09:02:28.072-05:00A repost, because it's important.<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">and because I am neither as smart or as wise as Karina...</span> </span> <h2 style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Government Pork, by <a href="http://www.karinafabian.com/" target="_blank">Karina Fabian</a></span></h2> <p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-9704" title="P3310190" src="http://snoringscholar.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/P3310190-300x225.jpg" alt="" height="225" width="300" /></span></p> <p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Once there was a wonderful town full of people who loved to eat, and many wonderful and varied restaurants that served excellent food: Italian and French, Japanese and Mongolian, Middle Eastern and even a kosher delicatessen. Not everyone liked every restaurant, of course, and some people even thought particular restaurants were odd, but they appreciated the variety available to all.</span></p> <p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">There were also a lot of pig farmers in the area, and people enjoyed the fresh pork. One year, they had a mayor who loved fresh pork. He thought it was the right of everyone in the town to have pork at any meal they wanted. “Why,” he’d say,” if there was only one meal I could give my kids, it’d be pork chops!” Of course, lots of the people loved pork as well, and they applauded his enthusiasm.</span></p> <p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">One day he sat in his office, thinking about how much he and others liked pork, and he decided that every restaurant should serve pork, at every meal. Oh, maybe not every individual would want to eat pork, but they deserved the right to have it on their plate so they could choose! And so, he set out a decree that all restaurants would serve some form of pork in every meal.</span></p> <p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Well, the delicatessen and the Middle Eastern restaurant were upset by this. They couldn’t serve pork—it was against their religions. So they went to the Mayor and asked to be excused from this rule. “After all,” they said, “people know we never serve pork.”</span></p> <p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">“But you should. People have the right to pork. Some of you customers eat pork. Even some of your employees enjoy a good ham!”</span></p> <p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">“And if they wish to, they may–but not in our restaurants,” the owners said. “It’s against the kind of restaurants we are to serve pork. And we have customers who do not want pork, who would be offended and do not want to pay for pork.”</span></p> <p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">“Well, I’m offended that you won’t serve it—and I’m sure other pork lovers agree that your attitude is most disagreeable.”</span></p> <p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">“Our customers and our employees know where we stand, and they continue to frequent our restaurants and work for us. We serve them well, but we do not serve them pork. We have the right to our own menus. We should not be forced.”</span></p> <p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">But the mayor stood firm. “No,” he said. “Everyone has the right to have pork, and it’s my duty to make sure it’s always available, whether you agree or not. It’s healthier than beef anyway. If you don’t like it, you can pay a fine and stop serving food—or you can close down.”</span></p> <p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">The restaurant managers refused to change their menus. Many people stood by them—because they, too, would not eat pork and didn’t want to pay for it; or because they agreed that restaurants should choose their own menus; or because they didn’t like the mayor telling people how to run their own businesses. The movie theaters stood by him, because they were afraid if the Mayor could change menus, he might also start dictating what shows would be played.</span></p> <p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">The pork lovers, however, were incensed. How dare the restaurants not give them pork if they wanted it?</span></p> <p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">“I can’t eat beef; what should I do then?” one demanded. “Do you just want to send me away to starve?”</span></p> <p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">“We have other dishes,” they said. “Our menu and service would be no different than before. We can feed you many things; just not pork.”</span></p> <p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Nonetheless, the press, too, said that the two restaurants would rather let people starve rather than eat pork.</span></p> <p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Despite the outcry of the pork lovers, more and more people said, “Let them choose their own menu!”</span></p> <p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">One day, the Mayor called the restaurant owners into his office. He had a compromise, he said.</span></p> <p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">“I won’t make you buy pork. You don’t have to prepare it, or touch it. Instead, all restaurant suppliers will have to supply pork to every restaurant, free of charge, and for those that don’t want to serve the pork, suppliers will cook it and put it on every plate themselves.”</span></p> <p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">“But there would still be pork in our restaurant!” the owners cried. “Besides, they will increase the price of meat to cover their new expenses.”</span></p> <p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">“Oh, they wouldn’t do that. I’d tell them not to. Besides, the point is <em>you</em> wouldn’t be actually serving pork. See how well that works? Everyone gets pork and you can say you never provided it. And if your patrons don’t want to eat it, they don’t have to; it’s enough that it’s there for them.”</span></p> <div style="font-family:arial;"> <p><span style="font-size:130%;">So, problem solved?</span></p> </div> <p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="http://www.stophhs.com/"><img class="align right size-thumbnail wp-image-9706" title="Stop_HHS" src="http://snoringscholar.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/Stop_HHS-128x150.png" alt="" height="150" width="128" /></a></span></p> <p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">A note from Karina: The HHS compromise is no compromise—it’s an escalation, making it impossible not only for the Catholic Church to live according to its beliefs, but any small business that may also believe as the Church does. I wrote this parable to try to put the debate out of the “contraception/women’s health” light and show the other issues at stake. Feel free to copy this story and use it on your own blogs. If you do, please include <a href="https://www.stophhs.com/sign-the-petition/" target="_blank">this link</a> to sign a petition to stop the HHS mandate (or if you know of another petition, include it)</span></p><br /><br />Karina Fabian is the author of a number of books, including non-fiction and horror genres. She came to my attention as the co-editor of <a href="http://leapsoffaithsf.com/"><span style="font-style: italic;">Leaps of Faith</span></a>, an anthology of Christian science fiction.Salome Ellenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13207028136419419757noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32859064.post-86902140714601697342012-02-13T15:32:00.007-05:002012-02-13T16:10:44.639-05:00February Snowy (!!) Daybook<a href="http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/2010/07/july-daybookers.html"><img id="Image1_imgalt=""" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dUrUa10NCDQ/S3_pQgN9rYI/AAAAAAAACm8/Fe5Dx2TC3tE/S220/tdbsmall.jpg" height="210" width="148" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Outside my window...</span> sunshine, blue skies, and SNOW. We've had snow on the ground for three days now, which is the longest it's lasted all winter so far. Of course, it's supposed to be 40 degrees on Wednesday...</span><br style="font-family:arial;"><br style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">I am thankful for...</span> a "normal" week, for a change. No major events until Saturday.<br /><br style="font-family:arial;"></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">From the kitchen...</span> <a href="http://salomeellen.blogspot.com/2009/11/tasty-tuesday-pork-sausage-casserole.html"></a> Meatloaf, boiled red potatoes, and broccoli. Tomorrow I will bake a cherry pie as part of Roger's Valentine present.</span><br style="font-family:arial;"><br style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">I am wearing...</span> tan cotton pants, a red/rust long-sleeved Tshirt with more-or-less-matching cotton socks, black loafers, and a tan/navy/green/rust shawl/scarf that I got in Stratford many years ago. I'll change into hiking boots when Roger gets back and we go to walk the dog.<br /><br style="font-family:arial;"></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">I am creating... </span>flannel blankets for a baby-shower gift. Nice, big, ones (45 inches square) because the ones you can buy are only useful for about three weeks.<br /><br style="font-family:arial;"></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">I am going...</span> to a workshop on Saturday "Celebrating the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easter_Triduum">Triduum</a> with the New Roman Missal." I hope to learn<span style="font-style: italic;"> something</span> useful.</span><br style="font-family:arial;"><br style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">I am reading...</span> <a href="http://www.cookeagency.ca/books/Benison-CC_Twelve-Drummers-Drumming.htm"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></a><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Behind-Seams-Crochet-Mystery-Hechtman/dp/0425241424"><span style="font-style: italic;">Behind the Seams</span></a>, by Betty Hechtman. It's a crochet mystery, pure fluff, but fun.</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br face="arial"><br face="arial"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">I am hoping...</span> that the weather report is wrong, and the snow stays around. But I'm not optimistic.<br /><br style="font-family:arial;"></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">I am hearing... </span>the refrigerator running, and the cat scratching in the litter box. I need to deal with that tomorrow: trash day, and the litter definitely needs to be changed. With only one cat, I get away with leaving it just that little bit too long. :-(</span><br style="font-family:arial;"><br style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Around the house...</span> things are calm and tidy. Did I mention it's a NORMAL week? I actually just washed all the cookie-storage cans from Christmas, and will pack them away as soon as they're totally dry.<br /><br style="font-family:arial;"></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">A few plans for the rest of the week...</span> NORMAL! Enjoy normal!</span><br style="font-family:arial;"><br face="arial"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Words I'm pondering : </span>"You fear too much." Roger tells me this quite regularly. I am convinced that it's true, but I need to work out a plan to change it. Hopefully before I'm 80.<br /><br face="arial"></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Here is a picture thought I am sharing...</span> Nerd humor. Because I can. (Click on the image if it's too small for you to see.)<a href="http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/self_description.png"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:left;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 370px; height: 90px;" src="http://imgs.xkcd.com/comics/self_description.png" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /></span></span>Salome Ellenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13207028136419419757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32859064.post-32474076867186288872012-02-07T17:12:00.003-05:002012-02-07T20:39:46.561-05:00A to Z<span style="font-size:130%;"><strong style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">This is shamelessly borrowed from <a href="http://insidedog.typepad.com/main/2012/02/a-to-z.html">Manda</a>, because I will do anything to avoid the thinking required to do a "real" post.</span><br /><br /><br />A. Age: </strong><span style="font-family:arial;">61, minus three weeks. Well, 20 days, if you have to be exact.</span></span> <div style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><strong>B. Bed size:</strong></span> <span style="font-size:130%;">King. When we got married our bedroom only had room for a double, and Roger -- who is taller and larger than I am -- tended to take his half out of the middle. We are on our third king.<br /></span></div> <div style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><strong>C. Chore that you hate:</strong></span> <span style="font-size:130%;"> Mopping the floor. I've done it less than 50 times in 30+ years of marriage. But that is because Roger, who is AWESOME, does it himself/trained the kids to do it.<br /><br /><strong>D. Dogs: </strong></span><span style="font-size:130%;">My family has had two. I tolerate them.<br /></span></div> <div style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><strong>E. Essential start to your day:</strong></span> <span style="font-size:130%;">Tea. From loose leaves, in a preheated pot, with freshly boiled water. Or from a bag, if I can't pull that off.<br /><br /><strong>F. Favorite color:</strong></span> <span style="font-size:130%;">Blue, or possibly pink..<br /><br /><strong>G. Gold or silver:</strong></span> <span style="font-size:130%;">Gold. I wear silver, but gold.<br /><br /><strong>H. Height:</strong></span> <span style="font-size:130%;"> 5'6"ish. I always thought I was 5'8", but when my daughters hit that, I wasn't anymore. Only Branwen is still shorter than I am.<br /><br /><strong>I. Instruments that you play:</strong></span> <span style="font-size:130%;">Flute and guitar. But not very often anymore.<br /><br /><strong>J. Job title:</strong></span> <span style="font-size:130%;">Organizer-in-chief. Otherwise known as Mom/Grandma.<br /></span></div> <div style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><strong>K. Kids:</strong></span> <span style="font-size:130%;"> Arwen: 29. Branwen: 27. Miriel: almost 25.<br /> Brandon: 23. Tirienne: 21. Kelson:19<br /><br /><strong>L. Live:</strong></span> <span style="font-size:130%;"> Fort Gratiot MI<br /><br /><strong>M. Mother's name:</strong></span> <span style="font-size:130%;">was Mildred/Millie.<br /><br /><strong>N. Nicknames:</strong></span> <span style="font-size:130%;">Hon. (My dad used to call me McClee. I miss it.)<br /><br /><strong>O. Overnight hospital stays:</strong></span> <span style="font-size:130%;">Tonsillectomy in third grade, and Arwen and Branwen's births. (The other four kids were born at home.)<br /><br /><strong>P. Pet peeves:</strong></span> <span style="font-size:130%;">Misplaced apostrophes. Grammar and vocabulary sloppiness, such as using "phased" for "fazed" or "mantle" for "mantel."<br /><br /><strong>Q. Quote from a movie:</strong></span> <span style="font-size:130%;"> "Nobody is as handsome as David. Even David."<br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Sabrina</span>;1995 (Actually, pretty much anything from this or <span style="font-style: italic;">You've Got Mail</span>. My family are memorization nerds.)<br /><br /><strong>S: Siblings:</strong></span> <span style="font-size:130%;"> My brother Patrick.<br /><br /></span></div> <p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>T: Travel favorite: </strong>Stratford Ontario.<em><br /></em><strong></strong></span></p><p style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><strong>U. Underwear:</strong></span> <span style="font-size:130%;">Yes, I wear it.<br /><br /><strong>V. Vegetable(s) you hate:</strong></span> <span style="font-size:130%;">Beets. If I had $10 for every time my dad tried to persuade me that Harvard beets were good, I could put all my grandchildren through college. And don't even get me started on "redbeet eggs!" (hardboiled eggs pickled in beet juice and vinegar.)<br /><br /><strong>W. What makes you run late:</strong></span> <span style="font-size:130%;">It would have to be a disaster. I am perpetually, habitually early.<br /><strong><br /></strong><strong>X. X-rays you've had:</strong></span> <span style="font-size:130%;"> Teeth. The time I didn't break my elbow. The time I DID break my elbow. The time I broke my nose. I'm a klutz.<br /><br /><strong>Y. Yummy food that you make:</strong></span> <span style="font-size:130%;">Check the "tasty Tuesday" labeled posts.<br /><br /><strong>Z. Zoo animal:</strong></span> <span style="font-size:130%;">The neurotic polar bear in the Louisville zoo. (My kids had better get this reference...!)<br /></span></p>Salome Ellenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13207028136419419757noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32859064.post-70337696127789690812012-01-23T17:17:00.003-05:002012-01-23T19:14:16.976-05:00Daybook --1/23/12<a href="http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/2010/07/july-daybookers.html"><img id="Image1_imgalt=""" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_dUrUa10NCDQ/S3_pQgN9rYI/AAAAAAAACm8/Fe5Dx2TC3tE/S220/tdbsmall.jpg" height="210" width="148" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Outside my window...</span> Warm and wet and squishy. OK, 45 degrees isn't WARM warm. But it is for January in Michigan. Yesterday there was more than an inch of snow on the ground. Tomorrow ... who knows? This IS Michigan.</span><br style="font-family:arial;"><br style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">I am thankful for...</span> our upcoming long weekend in Stratford. We weren't sure the budget would go there this year, but it did, so we are. Four days of pure relaxation!</span><br style="font-family:arial;"><br style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">From the kitchen...</span> <a href="http://salomeellen.blogspot.com/2009/11/tasty-tuesday-pork-sausage-casserole.html">Pork Sausage Casserole.</a> Tomorrow will be leftovers, and Wednesday tacos. I am going for easy for our dinners, because for most of those two days Roger and I will be in a large church kitchen making 300+ servings of chili for the local Pregnancy Care Center fundraiser in February. He's the chili chef; I just chop whatever he tells me to.</span><br style="font-family:arial;"><br style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">I am wearing...</span> tan cotton pants, an amethyst-colored ribbed cotton sweater with more-or-less-matching cotton socks, black loafers, and a fuzzy rabbit-angora shawl to keep my shoulders warm. Inside our house, the only difference between a 45 degree day and a zero degree day is how often the furnace runs. The thermostat stays at 70 in the daytime and 55 at night.<br /><br style="font-family:arial;"></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">I am creating... </span>Christmas presents for Miriel and Tirienne. I didn't have time to knit ahead before Christmas, so I gave them each a certificate good for one item, with a trip to the yarn shop for pattern and yarn. Tirienne's beret is done. Next is Miriel's scarf.</span><br style="font-family:arial;"><br style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">I am going...</span> well, aside from the previously mentioned chili-making, this week I have knitting group and choir practice. I thought I was going to need to read for another Quiz Bowl meet, but the organizing teacher found enough readers closer to home (about 45 min. from here.) In this case, I really don't mind not "getting" to go and read.</span><br style="font-family:arial;"><br style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">I am reading...</span> <a href="http://www.cookeagency.ca/books/Benison-CC_Twelve-Drummers-Drumming.htm"><span style="font-style: italic;">Twelve Drummers Drumming</span></a>, by C.C. Benison -- a pen name of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_Whiteway">Douglas Whiteway</a>. This is a mystery featuring British Anglican vicar Tom Christmas. It's not a bad read, at least so far, but it's fairly obvious that the author chose his character's profession so that he could be called "Father Christmas." </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">The book is full of similarly punnish ideas and names, and apparently is the projected first volume in a series (<span style="font-style: italic;">Eleven Pipers Piping</span>, and so on.) But although the protagonist is likeable as a detective and a man, he's not very believable as an Anglican priest. Jan Karon fans shouldn't bother.</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br style="font-family:arial;"><br style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">I am hoping...</span> to finish this post fairly quickly, since I have a couple of other things to do before bedtime. Which needs to be relatively early, since the chili-cooking begins at 8:30AM.<br /><br style="font-family:arial;"></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">I am hearing... </span>Bruce Springsteen singing <span style="font-style: italic;">Glory Days</span>. Kelson has discovered the joys of vinyl recordings, and <span style="font-style: italic;">Born in the USA</span> is spinning away on the newly dusted turntable.</span><br style="font-family:arial;"><br style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Around the house...</span> my weekly schedule is all jumbled up, because the church kitchen is only available to us for two days, and which two days they are has changed a couple of times. My day planner is full of scratchouts and arrows, but with any luck all the laundry and cleaning will get done at <span style="font-style: italic;">some</span> point.<br /><br style="font-family:arial;"></span><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">A few plans for the rest of the week...</span> um, I think I've mentioned them all.</span><br style="font-family:arial;"><br face="arial"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Words I'm pondering : </span>"Sanctity of Human Life is about trusting God." This quote is from <a href="http://cfhusband.blogspot.com/2010/01/repost-our-choice.html">a blog</a> I read regularly, and really sparked me to think more deeply about the root causes and solutions of this country's romance with killing our unborn children.</span><br face="arial"><br face="arial"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Here is a picture thought I am sharing...</span> Not a picture this time, but a link. You won't see this on the news, but go <a href="https://twitter.com/#%21/search/%23MarchforLife/slideshow/photos?url=http%3A%2F%2Ftwitpic.com%2F8auugo">here</a> to see Twitter's photo gallery with the hashtag #marchforlife. I went two years ago, and will go back as soon as I can afford something more than the red-eye bus. I can do the bus or the March, but not both.<br /><br /><br /></span></span>Salome Ellenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13207028136419419757noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32859064.post-34444684782678553622012-01-20T13:58:00.004-05:002012-01-20T14:26:17.271-05:00Seven Quick Takes Friday : Yes, I'm still alive. Shocker.<div class="post-header"> </div> <a href="http://www.conversiondiary.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/7_quick_takes_sm1.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1387" title="7_quick_takes_sm" src="http://www.conversiondiary.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/7_quick_takes_sm1.jpg" alt="" height="195" width="290" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:arial;" ><p style="text-align: center; font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a name="qt1"></a><strong>--- 1 ---</strong></span></p><span style="font-size:130%;">Number of times I have thought about blogging in the past month: at least a dozen.<br />Number of times I have <span style="font-style: italic;">actually</span> blogged in the past month: zero. <span style="font-size:85%;"><br />(I don't count that naggy little thing about <span style="font-style: italic;">Word and Question</span>, which I probably needn't have bothered with...)</span><br /></span><p style="text-align: center; font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a name="qt2"></a><strong>--- 2 ---</strong></span></p><span style="font-size:130%;">Topics I have considered for blog posts in the last month : Seven Quick Takes, Daybook, </span></span><span style=";font-family:arial;" ><span style="font-size:130%;">Seven Quick Takes, Daybook,</span></span><span style=";font-family:arial;" ><span style="font-size:130%;"> Seven Quick Takes, Daybook,.........<br />Lather, rinse, repeat. As you can see, Quick Takes finally won. Because I don't even have to answer any questions.<br /></span></span><span style=";font-family:arial;" ><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><p style="text-align: center; font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a name="qt3"></a><strong>--- 3 ---</strong></span></p><span style="font-size:130%;">Oh, wait. I lied in the last take. Because I also considered doing the "2011 in recap" meme. For about 17 seconds.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><p style="text-align: center; font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a name="qt4"></a><strong>--- 4 ---</strong></span></p><span style="font-size:130%;">I am very tired today. On Wednesday we drove 5 hours each way to a family funeral (RIP, Dick...) Yesterday I changed beds and cleaned bathrooms, drove to a not-so-nearby town to serve as a reader for a Quiz Bowl meet, and went to choir practice. Today it all caught up with me.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><p style="text-align: center; font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a name="qt5"></a><strong>--- 5 ---</strong><br /></span></p><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><span style="font-size:130%;">Fortunately, I can say "Nine!" Which is counting down days until our <a href="http://salomeellen.blogspot.com/2008_01_01_archive.html">Stratford</a> visit. I intend to alternate reading in the jacuzzi with sitting in a booth sipping <a href="http://www.strongbowcider.com/home.html">Strongbow</a>. Bliss.<br /></span><p style="text-align: center; font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a name="qt6"></a><strong>--- 6 ---</strong></span></p><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></span><span style=";font-family:arial;" ><span style="font-size:130%;">In preparation for Stratford, I just requested eight books from the library. I suspect that if they all come in, that might have been a little over-ambitious. But I couldn't whittle the 20+ books on my list down to a readable-in-a-long-weekend number. I'll just have to renew some of them.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><p style="text-align: center; font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a name="qt7"></a><strong>--- 7 ---</strong></span></p><span style="font-size:130%;">Since I have now put together a (very rudimentary) semblance of a post, I think I'll go and take a nap. See you!<br /><br /><br /></span></span>Salome Ellenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13207028136419419757noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32859064.post-79760092869011763942011-12-29T19:37:00.006-05:002012-01-13T10:07:37.325-05:00A Reminder... Updated<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">There were only three participants for December, and all the poems are now in. Antiaphrodite's is in the comments to this post, Enbrethiliel's is <a href="http://shreddedcheddar.blogspot.com/2011/12/jmj-last-poem.html#more">here</a>, and mine is two posts down if you want to scroll there. Whew, done!</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">And sorry for neglecting this blog for the start of 2012...<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;" align="center"><br /></p><span style="font-family:Algerian;font-size:72.0pt;">W</span><span style="Baskerville Old Face","serif";font-family:";font-size:72.0pt;color:red;" >O</span><span style="Bauhaus 93"font-family:";font-size:72.0pt;" >R</span><span style="Blackadder ITC";font-family:";font-size:72.0pt;color:#FFC000;" >D</span><span style="font-size:72.0pt;"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="Bradley Hand ITC"font-family:";font-size:72.0pt;" >&</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="Bradley Hand ITC"font-family:";font-size:72.0pt;" > </span></b><span style="Broadway Copyist Text Ext"font-family:";font-size:72.0pt;" ><br />Q</span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="Brush Script MT";color:yellow;mso-style-textoutline-type:solid;mso-style-textoutline-fill-color: white;mso-style-textoutline-fill-alpha:100.0%;mso-style-textoutline-outlinestyle-dpiwidth: .7pt;mso-style-textoutline-outlinestyle-linecap:flat;mso-style-textoutline-outlinestyle-join: miter;mso-style-textoutline-outlinestyle-pctmiterlimit:0%;mso-style-textoutline-outlinestyle-dash: solid;mso-style-textoutline-outlinestyle-align:center;mso-style-textoutline-outlinestyle-compound: simple;mso-effects-shadow-mso-effects-shadow-alpha:100.0%; mso-effects-shadow-dpiradius:4.0pt;mso-effects-shadow-dpidistance:0pt; mso-effects-shadow-angledirection:0;mso-effects-shadow-align:topleft; mso-effects-shadow-pctsx:100.0%;mso-effects-shadow-pctsy:100.0%;mso-effects-shadow-anglekx: 0;mso-effects-shadow-angleky:0font-family:";font-size:72.0pt;color:black;" >U</span></b><span style=" ;font-family:Chiller;font-size:72.0pt;" >E</span><span style="Constantia","serif"; font-family:";font-size:72.0pt;color:#00B050;" >S</span><span style="font-family:"DilleniaUPC","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:DFKai-SB;font-size:72.0pt;" >T</span><span style=" font-family:EngraverTextNCS;mso-bidi-font-family:FrankRuehl;font-size:72.0pt;color:#0070C0;" >I<span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;">O</span><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0); font-family:trebuchet ms;" ><span style="font-weight: bold;">n</span> <span style="color: rgb(102, 0, 204); font-family:verdana;" >1<span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">8</span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" ><span style="font-family:arial;"><br />Your poems are due by midnight Saturday.........<br /><br /><br /><br /></span></span>Salome Ellenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13207028136419419757noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32859064.post-56350968720712713972011-12-23T13:20:00.005-05:002011-12-23T14:33:08.453-05:00Seven Quick Takes -- Christmas Eve Eve<a href="http://www.conversiondiary.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/7_quick_takes_sm1.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1387" title="7_quick_takes_sm" src="http://www.conversiondiary.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/7_quick_takes_sm1.jpg" alt="" height="195" width="290" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><span style=";font-family:arial;" ><p style="text-align: center; font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a name="qt1"></a><strong>--- 1 ---</strong></span></p><span style="font-size:130%;">I am flabbergasted and astounded: I have time to blog two days before Christmas! Actually, it's even better than that; except for minor meal-preparation tasks, all the work is DONE. Presents wrapped, decorations done, food for various meals marinating or whatever. Oh, I need to hang the string on which we hang the stockings. I really miss our fireplace...<br /></span><p style="text-align: center; font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a name="qt2"></a><strong>--- 2 ---</strong></span></p><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><span style="font-size:130%;">The pessimist part of me is almost afraid that my unwarranted preparedness means that "something will go wrong." Such things are not unknown; last year our water heater died the day before the whole family descended for the holiday. But I'm trying to regard this as a marvelous unmerited gift from God -- time to BE at Christmas, instead of my usual DOing.<br /></span><p style="text-align: center; font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a name="qt3"></a><strong>--- 3 ---</strong></span></p><span style="font-size:130%;">My only brother and his wife are coming for Christmas, arriving this evening. We saw them regularly at Christmas when my parents were alive, since we traveled to my hometown at least every other year. But we haven't gone at Christmas since, and my brother and sister-in-law have only come once before. Having them here will be a special treat.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><p style="text-align: center; font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a name="qt4"></a><strong>--- 4 ---</strong></span></p><span style="font-size:130%;">Maybe next year Roger and I will go to visit them for Christmas. This year is our first stab at letting each married child and their family establish their own Christmas traditions. Christmas eve and Christmas morning will be in three separate places. Christmas afternoon we will travel to their town, and on Monday, the second day of Christmas, we will have brunch, presents and dinner all over again. Only Brandon will be missing, and we'll probably video-chat with him in Alaska. (We've been incredibly blessed to have him with us the past several years; this is his sixth Christmas in the Coast Guard, and the first one where he hasn't been able to get leave.) Next year, when Christmas Day isn't on Sunday, we may need to put "whole family Christmas" on the following weekend, which would allow for travel around the day itself. We'll see.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><p style="text-align: center; font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a name="qt5"></a><strong>--- 5 ---</strong><br /></span></p><span style="font-size:130%;">One of the advantages of this multi-site Christmas schedule is that those of us here will be able to go to Midnight Mass! We've never gone to one since Roger and I were newly-weds. We <span style="font-style: italic;">did</span> make a point of going to the earliest possible Christmas morning mass with the kids -- which often meant going to a neighboring parish -- and for a number of years midnight wasn't even an option in our area, since the latest masses tended to be at 10 PM. I'm glad our diocese is pushing for more "Christmas Christmas" masses and fewer vigils. And (whisper, whisper) <span style="font-size:85%;">I'm glad there will be no small children waking up at 6AM. I'm not as young as I used to be, and four hours of sleep doesn't cut it anymore...</span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><p style="text-align: center; font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a name="qt6"></a><strong>--- 6 ---</strong></span></p><span style="font-size:130%;">Apparently Roger also has all his "gottas" done. While I was typing the previous take, he came into the kitchen and announced that he was going to make sugar cookies. Over the last (probably quite a) </span></span><span style=" ;font-family:arial;" ><span style="font-size:130%;">few </span></span><span style=";font-family:arial;" ><span style="font-size:130%;">years, our Christmas baking has been done between Christmas and New Year's Day, the better to be devoured at our New Year's Eve party. (Note to local people: if you've ever been invited, you are again! The more the merrier!) Baking on Christmas Eve eve is a sure sign of pleasant preparedness. Yum!<br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><p style="text-align: center; font-size:130%;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><a name="qt7"></a><strong>--- 7 ---</strong></span></p><span style="font-size:130%;">I just glanced out the window and heaved a sigh. The one thing it would take to make this Christmas beyond perfect would be snow. There is a TINY bit here and there on the ground, but no real accumulation is predicted. Yet my father-in-law in New Mexico got a foot last night. What was that about moving to avoid Michigan winters?? But now I will stop complaining, go sit on the couch with my feet up, and try my hardest to just BE.<br /><br />Wish me luck, as I wish all of you<br /><span style="font-size:180%;"><br /></span></span></span><div style="text-align: center;"><span style=";font-family:arial;font-size:180%;" >A Most Merry and Blessed Christmas!</span><br /></div><span style=" ;font-family:arial;" ><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></span>Salome Ellenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13207028136419419757noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32859064.post-35357421863881862552011-12-21T16:10:00.004-05:002011-12-21T16:31:33.786-05:00Word and Question 18 -- Host's Poem<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">So <span style="font-family:arial;">it's a crazy month (when is December ever not??), but I am happy to announce that I have completed my December <a href="http://shreddedcheddar.blogspot.com/p/playing-poetry-word-question.html">Word and Question</a> poem by the agreed-upon date. Go me!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"> Lesson Learned</span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">I made a pot of soup today -- chopped onion, sauteed meat,<br />Added tomatoes and some broth and set it on the heat.<br />I tossed a pinch of pepper in, a little bit of thyme,<br />Some salt, a bay leaf, lentils, rice. It really smelled sublime.<br />I let it simmer for a while. Supper was coming, so<br />I tasted it, a heaping spoon, and realized oh, no,<br />I'd been too heavy with the salt! How could I fix it now??<br />I thought of pending suppertime, and furrowed up my brow:<br />Would sugar help? Or vinegar? Or something bitter? Or<br />Something with that "umami" taste I read of once before?<br />Then I remembered "Oh, that's right -- throw a potato in!"<br />I washed and chunked one quickly, didn't bother with the skin.<br />I added it, then, frankly, prayed "Let this come out OK;<br />My family will be home soon, and they've worked hard all day.<br />They really need a tasty meal." And then I set the table.<br />Put lots of bread and butter out, in case I wasn't able<br />To save the soup. But when they came and I fished the potato out --<br />(My daughter, watching, asked me just what THAT was all about!) --<br />The taste was fine! The soup was great! The saltiness was gone!<br />(But I resolved to always </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-size:100%;" >under</span><span style="font-size:100%;">salt things from now on...)</span><br /><br />Word : <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Umami">umami</a><br />Question: What is required to renew that which was almost ruined?<br /><br /><br />There weren't many participants this month, but I'll link to their poems as they post them...<br /><br />Have a Merry and Blessed Christmas!<br /><br /><br /><br /></span></span></span>Salome Ellenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13207028136419419757noreply@blogger.com2