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July 22, 2015 I'm going to start today to record on a daily basis whatever happens to strike my fancy. So, it is a very cool breezy day. I just posted 5 short book reviews to The Monthly Reading Challenge. I'm suppose to put away some winter wood today from the woodpile outside but I'm playing hookey from work to write so starting this blog will get done. I'm having a daily fight with a flock of English Sparrows that are trying to take over my barn. They are making a terrible mess so they have to go. I have destroyed several nests so far they don't leave but they get out of the barn when I am around. I'm just starting the fight so I guess I don't know how far I have to go to discourage them. I'm trying not to spread myself to thin on WDC because I find so many things that are interesting here and I am trying to work on a new story. I really enjoy sitting at my desk with a cup of tea and reading blogs on WDC. |
When I was little, I dreamed of living in a tree house surrounded by a pool with a spiral staircase going up the middle of the trunk. *Tree* In your second to last entry of the month, write about your dream home. Describe the rooms in your fantasy house and any unique characteristics. Be creative!  Dreamed? I don't now and never did have a fantasy house. The A Frame I live in now was built by a person who said he could only build A Frames. He was hired to build a house on this property by my new in-laws who apparently were friends of the builders wife?? I'm not sure of all the facts. My part in all of this is I let them influence me because I wanted a house put onto the property and they were happy to help someone do the building so they could direct my money somewhere they wanted it to go. At this point I was not aware of all the superstitions that whirl around this part of the country about shapes, colors, and witchy types of ideas. Who doesn't know the difference between a house and an Egyptian pyramid; a house and a witches hat; for that matter the difference between A.D. 70 and 2020? The builder also built another A Frame house in the area which has long ago burnt to the ground. Also, an A frame house in a nearby community also burnt to the ground??? Truthfully, it is not a bad house. It is just a house. Three sides got sided. When I complained because the 4th side was not finished no one listened. When I personally set myself the job to side the 4th side. The work went well. However, when I was somewhere shopping, at church, visiting relatives, doing the things people do; someone constantly tore all the new siding off the East side of the house. It was redwood siding with a red roof at that time, early 1970's. After a lot of years, (20 or so) we bought new roofing and vinyl siding. I sided the south part of the house, Remember this is an A-frame) so the north and south side of the house are mostly roof. Just entry ways to side. K sided the north entry way and the east face of the house. Then guess what? Yep. 3 sides of the house got finished the west side is not done. Unfortunately, the west side gets hit with wind in a mighty way. So, the last two years it is taking a beating. But, last fall, with the help of one of my sons we started siding the West side. So, I am hoping to help with it and it will start going up slowly and surely we will have the majority up by winter this year. My ideas of a good house to live in around this area focus on heavy insulation, fans in rooms for individual room cooling, appliances for ease of living, strong locks on the doors, water and sewage that work well. These are not dreams but things to work toward and keep maintaining once achieved. If you grew up in a house without any plumbing except for a hand pump to get water from in a back room and an outhouse with out heat in the winter, plumbing in important. And, I learned how important it is as I grew older. I wanted things like these in my house so my children would be more civilized than I ever thought of being. Back to the dream idea. I get ideas and try to find out if they are feasible for a normal lifestyle. Fantasy is fun to read but, may not fit a normal sequence of events. Delusion isn't as much fun as real life. Dreams and visions are different. ![Merit Badge in Point of View
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Happy Birthday! Belatedly. I like your point of view *^*Bigsmile*^* ~Adrienne](https://images.Writing.Com/imgs/writing.com/writers/badges/general-Point_of_View.gif) |
Complete the following sentence: When I’m in the mood to celebrate, nothing can stop me from ___________. CELEBRATE Probably eating food I don't need to eat. Let's face it celebration usually includes food and drink. Most of the time it is a lot of food or beverages. Most of which, we could not only live without, but would be better off not eating or drinking. Quote; “People of our time are losing the power of celebration. Instead of celebrating we seek to be amused or entertained. Celebration is an active state, an act of expressing reverence or appreciation. To be entertained is a passive state--it is to receive pleasure afforded by an amusing act or a spectacle.... Celebration is a confrontation, giving attention to the transcendent meaning of one's actions." Source: The Wisdom of Heschel” ― Abraham Joshua Heschel https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/celebration Memorial Day this year felt almost nonexistent. around here it is the date to aim for when planting crops or gardens in the spring. The last week we have had some warmer weather. Before the last 7 or so days I wondered if it would get warm enough to trust to plant any gardens. Before it was Memorial Day it was Decoration Day. My Dad always referred to it as Decoration Day. Officially, it was started May 30,1868 at Arlington Cemetery where soldiers decorated the graves of fallen civil war comrades. As time progressed, into the 1900's it was considered a day to honor all men killed in service to the United States. It did not become Memorial Day officially until 1967. I found the following idea published in the NY Times 05/26/2018. "David W. Blight, a historian at Yale, has a different account. He traces the holiday to a series of commemorations that freed black Americans held in the spring of 1865, after Union soldiers, including members of the 21st United States Colored Infantry, liberated the port city of Charleston, S.C.May 26, 2018 The Unofficial History of Memorial Day - The New York Times" I thought David W. Blight's account, very fitting considering the subject of the Civil War and what it meant to the country at that time. I like the thought that planting is a time of celebration linked to Memorial Day. A new beginning for harvest yet to come. All the rain has made the grass grow. I couldn't help but remember, that when I was raising sheep and dairy goats we did not have as much lawn to mow because the animals were grazing everything down so perfectly. Spring lambs eat a lot of grass. ![Merit Badge in Celebration
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Congratulations on completing your reading goals in [Link To Item #monthlyreading] for May 2018 *^*Bookopen*^*!
~Minja](https://images.Writing.Com/imgs/writing.com/writers/badges/general-Celebration.gif)  |
| Write about a fork in the road in your life, and how you made the decision to go the direction you did. What would have happened if you chose the other path? {/center Quote: “When you come to a fork in the road, and you're not sure whether to go left or go right, just go left. And then you'll very quickly figure out if that's the wrong way, and then you can go right. You'll still be quicker than the guy who's standing there trying to plan at the fork of the road.” ― Henry Chong tags: decisions, direction-in-life, directions-in-life, fork-in-the-road, making-decisions, which-way, which-way-to-go https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/fork-in-the-road LIFE IS FULL OF CHOICES Oh lots of choices and road branches. There is actually some reality in the above quote. Because in every branch I came to, I did not want to go back only forward. I don't want to change decisions I made, because they seem to all lead to the same spot, because of the outside influences in my life. I can only say here I sit, here I stay as long as I can. Weather is decent today for a change. One day a week maybe this is it. Have a good day. |
The prompt today is very simple: Write about the person you call Mom.   My mom died in January near my 6th birthday. No mom after that. There were lots of different female relatives who took care of me. None were ever mom, mother, mama, or any other type of word used to describe a mom. Some were aunt this or that, but most were irritated with dad, because he thought women should be responsible for raising all children. (A symbol of the times) All but two woman were actually related to us in some way. Others were babysitters. Nope no mom. I guess my brother and I were a handful. Unsecured boats floating in the current. Blank sheets of paper for people to write their actions on. Now I have children and grandchildren both male and female. I'm glad I lived to see them grow up. HAPPY MOTHERS DAY |
Choose an event in your life that someone else remembers differently. Describe both memories and debate the differences. Who do you think is right? Why do you think you remember it differently? SAFETY IN REMEMBERING Question: an event in your life that someone else remembers differently. Ans: Probably all of them. Question: Who do you think is right? Ans: Me One of my Eastern Star relatives told me that history is all wrong because historians were working for a governing influence and would have lost their lives if they wrote truth. Where I live, a lot of people just say they can't remember anything. Have you ever watched the real cop shows? The perpetrator just lies and thinks the cops will believe him or her. Memory can shift if you don't want to remember what you did to others? Remembering it the way it really happened in the context of this prompt may try to lay blame in a wrong place. Lets not go there. A psychologist once told me even people who say they don't remember do?? Pandemic paranoia being what it is we should try to be better each day. Explain ourselves more thoroughly as we talk and write to each other. Maybe it's part of practicing being in the moment. Avoid the temptation to riot, maim, and murder. BYE. ![Merit Badge in Courage
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Congratulations on an honorable mention in WDC Scavenger Hunt 2011! Attached is your GP prize. Thank you for your participation. *^*Smile*^*
Wishing you all the best in future endeavors!](https://images.Writing.Com/imgs/writing.com/writers/badges/general-Courage.gif) |
Write about an object you own that has negligible monetary value, but is priceless to you.  Quote: “A wise person should have money in their head, but not in their heart.” —Jonathan Swift https://www.success.com/19-wise-money-quotes/ Monetary Value I'm having a brain wave about negligible monetary value. I have very little of anything that is very expensive. I have basically inexpensive jewelry which I rarely wear. Monetary value is anywhere from 5 to 10 dollars. Most are gifts. Each item has a memory attached to it. Over the years some of my jewelry pieces have been stolen and some even returned at a later date. I have some books I may never read again but don't particularly want to lose. After I die the family can do what ever they want with my possessions but until then, "I have a right to live on the earth." There is some kind of cult idea around where I live that surfaces occasionally. According to the cult: if someone asks you for something or to do something you have to give them what they want. I"m not sure what group this idea is attached to?? It is a despicable idea induced by an antisocial climate. I have my own balanced hammer and tools (were a gift from one of my sons) for household fix-it jobs. The hammer came up missing for awhile but was returned. The thing is if a person does not have a lot of monetary back up and some thing you need and take care of is not there, when you need it, you may not have the cash immediately to replace it. It can lead to a very frustrating lifestyle. Good story for the day, is the lawn mower started right up yesterday and worked well when I gave it a trial run. We were going out and do pick up of downed branches from wind storms so I could mow in straight lines. I mowed just a small amount yesterday around downed limbs. Looks like a crazy person was mowing. It's snowing this morning, wet and cold. Try again tomorrow. Is it going to be cold all spring and summer? |
| Find a local news story that makes you feel something. Share the story along with your opinion on it in your blog. Headline from Newsbreak app: " Man faces charges after driving into Canadohta Lake." article may be found on GoErie.com. Wrong Road or New Way to Wash Car According to the article he drove his car 27 feet into the lake and fought with the emergency crews who towed his car back to shore. He was still in the car. The man was from Pittsburgh. There is always something happening at Canadohta Lake, theft, fights, auto accidents. Although, this was no accident. Was it a suicide attempt? Ya got me. I just don't see it. The lake is shallow for several feet out and then, as kids, my aunt would tell us there was a drop off and not to go out to far. Like my mom, she was an avid swimmer, but watching 5 young children maybe it was a scare tactic to keep the children close to shore. Also, Canadohta is a recreation spot for Pittsburgh residents. Some mean locals resent the Pittsburgh vacationers and call them MUPEARS (because they come up here from Pittsburgh) which is lower in the state. Article did not say whether alcohol or drugs was an influence.It also did not mention suicide or give any reasoning for the situation. According to the article, he is 28 and will face some criminal charges. Hope they recommend psychological testing? MY feelings and opinion: Stunned.  28 and male. He has a lot of living yet to do. Why drive your vehicle into any body of water? The auto will stall out and you still won't die. Anyway, deliberate drowning seems to me just sad and probably won't work. As for the article, it was short but gave a lot of detail. So, it was interesting. I read it to the end.  |
Describe your cooking or baking ability. What was the last thing you cooked/baked that you we’re proud of? Are you a recipe-follower or freestyler?  Today's quote: "America gave the world the notion of the melting pot - an alchemical cooking device wherein diverse ethnic and religious groups voluntarily mix together, producing a new, American identity. And while critics may argue that the melting pot is a national myth, it has tenaciously informed the America's collective imagination". Ivan Krastev Read more at https://www.brainyquote.com/topics/cooking-quotes Just Cooking Something Up  I can cook quite well. And, it's one of my least liked talents. I don't think I've ever been exactly proud of my cooking. I learned to cook out of necessity. If you are going to eat you have to cook. I baked cookies every 2 or 3 weeks. I like my own home baked cookies because I can put the amount of sugar in the recipe that I want. I think most cookie recipes have too much sugar in them so I decrease it to a necessary amount. Cookies have to be a sweet treat but not too sweet. They also do well with some of the white flour changed to whole wheat flour. I baked chocolate chip cookies this week. The last 3 batches of cookies have been chocolate chip. MY favorites are actually peanut butter cookies but pandemic has put a crook in my shopping and there are more chocolate chips in the pantry than peanut butter. I started out my cooking talents by always using a recipe from a book. During the 80's when the children were still around and I was raising dairy goats and sheep I cooked all kinds of things and had lots of cooking help from two of my sons. Together we cooked our own cottage cheese, and other cheeses. We made our own home made noodles for spaghetti and of course lots of different types of cookies, fudge, and brownies. I learned to make suet from rendered deer fat and bird seed. Not difficult at all. The outside birds love it and I can make it for about 50 cents a block which is a savings around here of about 50 cents a block because it costs about 99 cents a block if you buy in bulk. At one point one store sold bulk cans of shorting, which I have also used to make suet. I think the birds like the deer fat better, but it is a seasonal item. About 30 years ago I started cooking with olive oil. You can substitute oil for most recipes and I like the consistency of olive oil. I learned over the years to substitute and change recipes to suit our needs Other changes can be made to different recipes, for instance as a young cook a lot of ingredients for meatloaf called for bread crumbs but, one day I substituted a handful of old fashioned Quaker oats. Not much change in flavor because spices stayed the same but, it is a difference in eating something that is slightly better for health and maintains the consistency of the recipe. I did the same thing with salmon patties. Out with the bread crumbs in with the oatmeal. Not only is oatmeal better for you than bread crumbs it is cheaper and more convenient than bread crumbs. I added ground up green beans to chili. It adds bulk to the recipe and since I don't generally like the flavor of green beans it helps the flavor of the chili and makes green beans palatable. Another way to eat green beans is to fry green beans in olive oil with mushrooms this is actually a yummy dish. Sometimes I have enjoyed the cooking because it is creating something in the kitchen that will add to eating happiness. But, as a general rule it is a necessity to learn to cook properly. I guess the most recent change Is with tuna casserole. I used to make it from scratch with cream of chicken soup and peas added to noodles and tuna. Lately I have opened a package of noodles and broccoli with sauce side dish and added tuna to it. An easy way to cook a quick meal for two. ![Merit Badge in Job Well Done
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Congrats for the most creative entry about the Iditarod! Norb and Lyn](https://images.Writing.Com/imgs/writing.com/writers/badges/Kudos-Job_Well_Done-1150.gif)  |
What do you do you relax and unwind in the evening? Paint us a picture of your ideal relaxation *Sleeping* Quote: “ “Tension is who you think you should be. Relaxation is who you are.” –Chinese Proverb https://www.skipprichard.com/24-quotes-to-help-you-relax-when-youre-stressed/ {CALM AND COMFORTABLE I define evening as anytime after chores are finished. In the winter it can be as early as 3 p.m. In the summer as late as 6 or 7 p.m. I've always been a day person, defined by lengths of day light. I do Mindfulness to relieve stress any time of the day. If it's special stressing. I can do it for very short periods of time in seconds if I have to keep calm because of an outside influence. Just before going to sleep I read scripture or a book, sometimes if I want to learn something I study or read about it just before sleep. I can play music as I fall asleep sometimes. I like new age music and music that relaxes me with words I appreciate or instrumentals, in the evening. If it is a true invasive thought thundering against my mind I have mantras that clear them out. If necessary, I might do some Tai Chi or yoga forms to peaceful music. The movements, exercise, and sounds can loosen tenseness and put me in the frame of mind to sleep. Breathing exercises are a great help for tension. I try not to schedule to much work in one day so I have time to relax and enjoy a TV show or read, do a puzzle, play Township early in the evening. Sometimes now since the middle of March I am working on a special project around home. I've become aware that there are a lot of things that need to get done before winter hits again. So, I pick one project and do a total fix than go back to just regular housework or barn work for a few days. So, far that has worked to get reorganization on two floors done. Sometime this week I want to start the back porch. The roof is leaking and there are squirrels invading the house from the roof. I think they made the roof leak too. I just read an article in Game News about red squirrels and the damage they can do if they get in. I'm going to eject the little monsters. They have lots of trees they can live in it's my house.  Don't forget, at my age I can leave a job for a day if it gets to be a problem. Every day I quit by putting away tools and cleaning up a mess if I made one. That actually aides stress by giving me a chance to decide to continue the next day or just take a day off from that particular job. Some steady progress is better than no progress. I really like to sit on the back porch in the summer it's quiet there and the dog can be out with me because there is a fenced in yard(about 30 by 60 feet long) for him that has a dog door onto the back porch. Even on a warm rainy day it used to be comfortable to read or just listen to birds or crickets chirp. There was a flock of wild turkeys on the north side of the barn early this morning rolling and sunning themselves in the grass. I know not everyone has the freedom to make those daily decisions. If you are punching a time clock in some one else's company. Your time and energy is tied up in how much you can achieve at home and still do your job away from home well. And, now it's time to work on the yard before it grows beyond mowing ability. Lots to do. Always think good thoughts about what you can achieve. One small job done is for your benefit so life looks good to you. The words super attached to your name can be just a goad to push you farther than you have mental strength to handle. Use your LG (LIFE IS GOOD) to achieve peace and comfort. HAPPY TRAILS*turtle* apondia#1781748 |
What one fictional character would most like to meet and talk to? Why? What would you like to ask?  Quote: "Dose it ever amaze and delight you that of all the places in the world - cold grassy nests under hedgerows, warm patches of sun on a carpet - the cat chooses to sit on your lap?" Nevada Barr https://www.azquotes.com/author/35652-Nevada_Barr WHAT ONLY ONE?  Nevada Barr created Anna Pigeon. I would like to go on a camp out in a National Park with Anna, because her trips always evolve into something exciting. When I am with Anna I get an educational about flora and fauna, as well as wildlife in the National Parks. I would like to ask her why her last name is Pigeon? I think I know the answer but I would ask just to find out if I'm right. Maybe we should ask some other characters to go along; Mary Russell, Miss Marple, Lisbeth Salander, Olivia Benson, Dana Sculley, Stephanie Plum, Brenda Lee Johnson, and Sharon Radar. Really there are so many it would probably turn into a convention and I would have a notebook full of questions. And this is only the female side of the camp. STAY SAFE, WATCH MOVIES, READ BOOKS!  |
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