Regarding an Earlier Post

One of my cousins emailed me with the subject line: What are YOU smokin'?

And the content of her email was as follows:

Do NOT see Lucy type figure on that tree,,,, all I see is the AFLAC duck doin' the Macarena! hell yes we're related!! :):)


I don't know...maybe our mothers were messed up or somethin'....ya think?

Mind Tricks?

Ok....so I've probably got a bolt running loose in my cranium somewhere.

What do YOU see?

I was lying on the sofa thinking about a nap...and about what I needed to be doing instead of taking a nap...and this is the view of the sycamore in my front yard.

First I saw a letter J....see it? Near the bottom of the missing bark. Then as I began to drift off, I saw something else.

Now #1) I'm straight.
and #2) I THINK I'm mentally ok (oh sure...there are those that might argue that!!)

I see a naked lady! She has kind of a Lucy VanPelt (Snoopy-Peanuts cartoon strip) face and head....and a very serious mammary injury....a tiny waist...a very nice little navel...and I'm going to tell you she has on a bikini bottom....(that may not be what I really believe however.) Do you see her? She's facing to your left...her right arm up (probably fixing her hairdo).....

Ok...well....I've just lost it I guess...sure seems there to me.


(Someday I'll have to get the sun just right and take a picture of the dog that stands on the parking lot across the street. Long story....weird.....I'll do that one soon.)





And then if you drive past 4th and Plum in Hutchinson you'll see this sign. I don't know what they're advertising, what they're selling...but that's a really STRANGE name I think...(This from the person who worked for PMS Foods for 19 years!!)

O P M.....is that opium? There isn't exactly a storefront there telling me just what they do or sell. Hmmmmmm.............

(By the way...back in the old days at PMS Foods, I used to tell everyone it stood for Push More Soy!)

As the Sun Goes Down....

Looking out my kitchen window earlier this evening, I noticed how the sun had finally came out from behind the clouds and was "lighting up" just the tops of the trees, so I stepped out on the front porch and took these photos.

The first shot is of the church parking lot that's just across from my house....seems strange that the lot is dark-ish...and yet the trees are so bright!








Second shot is of the neighbors' trees north of me. Notice how the closest tree has already lost nearly every leaf? It did that in one day. One day it looked like the one that still has most all it's leaves, next day it was bare and the ground was covered. Odd, I thought. They get the same water, the same fertilizer, etc...yet one just "quit" while the other goes on.









This third shot is of the only reddish tree I have. It's small and I used to think it's a little crab apple...but I don't really know what it is. You'll notice the big...that's BIG....green leaves hanging in the foreground??? Those belong to the BIG sycamore tree in the middle of my front yard. It really hasn't started dropping it's leaves yet. But when it does.................watch out!!!

One day I was sitting at the stoplight at 30th and Severance (about 3-4 blocks away) and looking north I could see a VERY tall tree and wondered, "Is that MY tree?" So I kept watching as I drove this direction....and it IS my tree! Pretty tree...but if you don't know about sycamores, they'll choke you to death if you try to mow the leaves or cut up the wood. And I do both and cough, cough, cough!!!! I had three of them at the house before this one and still wasn't smart enough to avoid another! Oh well.......


Happy Autumn!

Zippy's Got Goose Juice!!!

Shortly after leaving the garage this a.m. to run my errands I went through the round-a-bout at 23rd and Severance. Everyone yields to whoever is on their left. Works fine. I entered from the north behind a car that was on the round-a-bout when I got there. A Hamilton Roofing pick-up approached from the west.

My thought: I've got the right-of-way...he sees me...he'll stop. He didn't. I have never been so close to being involved in a wreck in my life. When he EVIDENTLY saw me and/or decided I had the right-of-way, he hit his brakes...already well into the circle. I knew he'd hit me...I was just waiting for the jolt and crunch. But I goosed Zippy and cussed at the roofer and no jolt, no crunch. I went on around the round-a-bout and came out heading east on 23rd.

I was going to Hutch Credit Union so I signaled and pulled into their parking lot, stopping in their driveway. The Hamilton Roofing truck was right on me. I rolled my window down and fully intended to discuss life cycles with him!

He stopped in the middle of 23rd, rolled his window down, and said, "I'm sorry, ma'am...I just didn't see you at all! I'm sure sorry!"

Quick wit and hot temper all I could come back with was, "No Sh--!!!!!!"

He looked a little surprized...evidently 65 year old ladies aren't supposed to use that kind of language (and it was so much cleaner than what I had planned to say to him!)...and he said, "What?"

So I repeated it louder and clearer.

He drove off. Guess I didn't graciously accept his apology. Tough!

Bottom Line: Honda Fit Sport...wonderful little car...lots of zip...lots of "goose juice"!! Love it!

Contents of this blog have been severely censored and deleted for the safety of those involved.

Just Another Monday

This sign is located on the Oswald Farm a couple of miles north of Hutchinson. It was there when I was "a kid" (back when Bully was a calf!)....over 50 years easily! I love it! It just says all that needs to be said.



Another favorite of mine is the tombstone-type that says, "Here he lies, all cold and hard, the last damned dog that pooped in my yard!" That of course only applies to the front yard and other people's dogs!!! (However, I'd challenge anyone to find a single mess [meaning doggie type, not
the cannas!] in my backyard!)



And then...about these cannas....I read online that you should dry them before storing them....and since I've already dug them too early (according to the same site you're supposed to wait until a hard freeze)..I decided I'd better really dry them good...so I've dumped out all the boxes, including the ones already in the cupboard...and here's my canna bulbs!




That little 12-pound ball of stubbornness is Schiz of course. And the other thing is what I jokingly refer to as a Kansas Wind Gauge....if it's moving, it's a little windy in Kansas. (It's cast iron, folks!)

Count your blessings...it's another beautiful day!

CANNAS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Last spring I planted 71 canna bulbs (you can click on the pictures if you really feel you need a closer view!)




So far I've dug twelve (yes, 12...I know you only see 8) boxfuls. The others are already in the cupboard and I'm not digging 'em out til spring...unless they start sprouting out the doors!!!









This is all of the blank space that I've created. There's still one or two clusters at the far right of this picture.





And then these I'll probably try to get dug up yet. And there's a whole bunch more in the side yards...they aren't going to get dug up!

And don't even ask about all the booze boxes....YOU come dig cannas for awhile, and then we'll discuss it...maybe over a little drinky-poo???

Faith United Methodist Country Fair Day

Hi
Today was the craft fair at the church about 3 blocks down the street. (I think I mentioned in an earlier blog that I'm thinking the Methodists may require membership from me before the Christmas season is over!)

I had rented my space and a table...usually that's a 10' x 10' space with an 8' table. I got a whole room today!!! It was 18' x 18' (I stepped it off) and there were actually 2 big tables and I took my little 4' table as well. Most of the other vendors were in similar rooms...some with one or two in with them, some with 5 or 6 other booths.

I set Pat's Iris-folded greeting cards up on the 4' table and my jewelry on the biggest, tallest table. Then I used the table behind me for reserve and work space.

The crowd was ok...not tremendous, but pretty steady and most everyone was extremely pleasant and friendly. On a scale of 1-10, I'd have to probably give it a 6 or 7...relative to how I've done in the past at other sales. Not great, but certainly worth the time and effort. And if invited, I definitely would do it again. (Hey...I TRIED to behave myself!!!)

The Methodist membership had spaces upstairs and all the non-church members were located in the basement. The members were selling food....and I think ALL the good smells were coming downstairs!!!! They had chili, and chicken and noodles, and cruellers, and cookies, and a huge selection of pies. And it did smell wonderful. I resisted temptation when they came around early this a.m. with a tray of warm cruellers....and I resisted even a little later when a fellow offered to go upstairs and get me one. But third time, I folded. By then some woman had come by nibbling on one and said how good they were and they were made with a potato dough....so next time they were offered, I asked for one. They were cold by then, but still very, very good. I sure wish I'd have gotten in on the warm ones though...'course then probably one wouldn't have been enough!!!

All in all, a very nice day. I enjoy meeting and talking with people, whether they buy anything or not. One of my ex-neighbors dropped by and we both knew we knew each other and finally figured out from where. Another pleasant conversation followed.

Well...that's all for now... It's a lovely day...take advantage of it.

Just an update

I haven't written in here for awhile and felt like I should.

Last Saturday my sister and I shared a booth at a local craft fair. It was the first year for it and I'm pretty sure our last year. Quite a bit had been spent on advertising they told us, but we sure didn't have any traffic. Mostly it was vendors buying from vendors...and everyone complaining that they hadn't even made their booth rent yet! But it was a day of visiting and seeing people that I rather enjoyed. Can't say that everyone in our booth felt the same however. We both made "booth rent" and then some, but...............

I've been digging cannas for the past couple of weeks. Actually here's my plan...fill the polycart with cannas stalks and leaves and then quit digging. It usually takes about 3 (original bulb count) cannas to fill the polycart (and have a little room left over for other trash). I've filled 9 boxes with canna bulbs so far...the kind of boxes that 4 big bottles of laundry soap come in....and have a long ways to go yet. I've told several people to come dig whenever they want...so far, ZERO! One gal had surgery Monday so I figure a couple of these boxfuls will be for her...that's a ligit excuse. Anyone else, they want 'em, they need to dig 'em. They're really pretty easy to dig...it's the knocking the dirt off and tearing them apart that breaks my back. I do a couple a day...when weather permits...slowly by surely I'll have my sunroom completely filled with boxes of canna bulbs. Smells like dirt out there...I like the smell, but lots of people don't I guess.

I have another craft show tomorrow at the Methodist Church about 3 blocks south of where I live. I have a feeling before Christmas the Methodists are going to require membership from me. I'm in 3 Methodist Churches at craft shows between now and Christmas! I'm looking forward to tomorrow...it's only from 9am til 2pm..kind of a short day. I think I like that!

Time for me to go read awhile and relax before bedtime. Don't forget to count your blessings...they're plentiful! Goodnight!!!

P.S. Hey...I think I've found a home for "the hat"!!! A friend of mine makes creative cards and always needs little things to use on/in her cards. She currently out of town visiting and I thought about just leaving it on her porch...and then I thought, "If someone would steal this.... how disappointed they might be!!!" So..I'll take it to her when she gets home. And then instead on one person enjoying it, many people will enjoy parts of it!

THE HAT!

So...remember a few days ago when I'd met my two cousins in Abiline for a fun day? Today I went to the post office and had a large envelope from one of them (Shon) and when I felt it, I thought, "Oh good!!! I'll bet she's sending me some flower seeds from her giant marigolds!"

And then I opened it. No note, no hint of why I'm receiving this hat! First, I called Jude, my sister...she thought maybe it was a birthday present. Nah....I don't think so.

So then I called Shon...and because I want to keep my "G" rating I won't tell you exactly what I asked her, but it was along the lines of "Whatever might I have done to have received this lovely hat?" (Ok, ok...I said 'it was along the lines of'!!!! )

It seems a mutual friend of ours sent it to her several years ago, and she just thought I should have it. She suggested I give it to one of my bicycling friends. I said " .... but they're FRIENDS!!!"

Anyway, so I now am the proud (?) owner (maybe that's like proud flesh!!) of this adorable ball cap. If you'd ever like to borrow it...or what the heck, even if you'd just like to HAVE it...please let me know...as soon as possible....please...pretty please....????

So I'm thinkin'....now Shon can count HER blessings...for two reasons 1) she got rid of the hat, and 2)I'm 140 miles away from her.....or so she thinks!!!! hee hee hee......



P.S. You know what this reminds me of? My mother. As she advanced in years, she found great pleasure in some really outrageous clothing items. She had a pair of white majorette boots complete with tassels and sparkles...and she would wear those whenever she could...and was proud of them!!! (Hmmmm... there's that word 'proud' again....)

And by the way, Shon...I don't remember whether I thanked you....so "thank you".....and always remember: Paybacks are hell!

Happy Birthday.....???

Ok...so today my blog address is no longer meaningful(?)...will u still luv me when I'm 64??? Well, you missed one heck of an opportunity....'cause today I'm 65. How in h--- did I ever get to be that old??? It's amazing...befuddling...downright disgusting!!!!

Early (well, 8 am) this morning my OLDER sister called. She said she knew it would take me a little longer to get to the phone "due to my advanced age"....I told her I was trying to get this 24-year-old stud out of bed...to which she responded, "What happened? The wall fall in?" Ouch!!

But then Mary and I went out for our standard birthday breakfast. Mary said she'd heard of a new place we should try out...there's a restaurant at Partridge. We bicycle ride to Partridge all the time so yeah, let's try the restaurant. As we drive the 10 miles over we pass right by The Dutch Kitchen - one of my very favorite places - but we go on to Partridge.

Partridge is a very small, rural town. Dirt main street - truly! We somehow didn't see the cafe when we came into town and went down the main drag, made a u-turn, and coming back there was a man walking down the middle of the street, evidently coming from the post office. So I rolled my window down and asked about the cafe, to which he responded, "Ya mean the grease spot?!?" (that's NOT the name of the restaurant, by the way.)

Yeah.....

"Yeah, it's up there on the corner...it's cheap...it's real cheap. You might not feel very good when you leave there, but it's cheap!"

I thanked him, rolled my window up, and Mary and I looked at each other and almost simultaneously said, "Dutch Kitchen!"

We were both laughing about what a great recommendation: you might not feel very good when you leave there, but it's cheap!!! Now that's "word-of-mouth advertising"!!!!

So off we went, back to the Dutch Kitchen. You just can't beat the Amish and/or Mennonites for cooking and cleanliness! I had a half-order of biscuits and gravy, and Mary had a cinnamon roll. It was all delicious!!!! And we felt good when we left there! It may not qualify for some people's version of "Cheap"...but it's far from expensive!!! (Especially since Mary paid for it :) )

Anyway, today's going to be a kick back and do darned little day!!! It's my birthday and I don't havta do nuttin' I don't wanna!!!!! I'll count my blessings that I've made it this far, have lots of wonderful friends and family, and am blessed with good health.

Diggin' Cannas

This morning I thought "I need to start digging up cannas." I'd planted 71 cannas last spring...so I decided I'd dig 10 cannas a day for 7 days...that ought to about do it!! Then I went online and learned that you should wait until after the frost has "bitten" the leaves and then dig within a week or so.

But...this afternoon I got antsy and decided I'd just go dig up ONE!!! This ONE was behind the shed, not really in the line-up of good cannas....and this ONE, although as tall, wasn't NEARLY as big as the others. That's a tennis ball for reference in the second picture.

I picked and pulled and cleaned wet dirt away...I ended up with 24 "plantable" pieces...but probably 60% of those are double bulbs. There must have been at least 40-45 bulbs under just one canna....one "not in the good line-up" group. I am almost afraid of the good ones now!!!


I'm now thinking instead of digging 10 cannas for 7 days, I'll dig one canna each day for 10 days!!! That should be more than enough for me!!!

I've had several people say they'd like canna bulbs. So here's my plan: in about a week I'll start making phone calls. Bring bags or boxes and come dig 'em!!!!! Oh....you thought I'd dig them FOR you...WRONG!!!!! Actually they're pretty easy to dig as most of the bulbs are almost above the ground; it's just a matter of convincing the roots to turn loose.

So....if YOU'D like cannas just let me know!!! I have plenty for everyone I think!!!!

Count Your Blessings

Saw this on a picture...didn't care for the picture (too flowery for me)...but I really liked the poem.

"Dishes done, papers read,
Childred snuggled into bed,
Hours past the setting sun -
I count my blessings...one by one."

Now...while I like that very much, I'll also say...don't wait for everything else to be done before you recognize and acknowledge your own blessings!!!