"Come To My House" Meme

Dawn had this great meme in a recent entry, and I liked it, so here goes:

If you came to my house… 

You would see: Me!  (Why else would you come?)  Seriously, let's see.  You'd see a house that needs a good seasonal cleaning!  You'd see LOTS of pets!!!  You'd see LOTS of fossils, driftwood, and quartz in my front garden.

I’d probably feed you:  Well, that would depend on the weather and the time of day, but I'm a pretty good cook, especially if you like a good home-cooked country meal.  So it might be a venison roast with all the fixings including home make biscuits.  If you're vegetarian, then I'd fix you a delicious zucchini casserole.  If you're vegan (can't have the casserole because of the eggs and cheese), then I'd fix a nice green salad, maybe some home made gazspacho (if it's a hot day) along with some home made bread.

And offer you this to drink: Water, sweet tea, Pepsi, or Gatorade; and if you want some wine, you may choose between Thomas' home made pear or grape.  But don't drink too much, because it packs a punch!

I’d undoubtedly ask if you’d read:  Any Georgette Heyer or Patricia Veryan, and then I'd show you my collections.

I’d want to play this music for you: Well, that could be anything, I guess, depending on our mood.  Or I'd bribe Andrew to play something for us either on keyboard or guitar.

I’d want to tell you about: My family and whatever Eler Beth's newest escapade is.

I’d probably suggest a game of:  Scrabble, Clue, or some card game like Spades or Gin Rummy.

I would definitely show off:  Hmmm.  My kids?  My hubby?Lucy's egg?  The 'possum?  My tons of books??

I might get on the computer and show you: Pictures of my family or funny emails from my sisters.

If it was a long enough visit, we might watch:  Whatever you'd like to watch.  We run the gauntlet when it comes to movies and DVDs, with just about anything but horror shows.  So you choose!  Oh, I know -- old home movies!

 

Well, that's it.  Thanks Dawn!  Play along by copying and pasting in your own journal and leaving me a link.

Tags: Meme

Monday Meanderings

Happy Monday morning to everyone.

We're having a beautiful day in Southern Indiana, 78° right now.  I spent about 45 minutes outside weeding and watering this morning, while the 'possum played around near me.  She has a couple of favorite places she likes to be in the front garden, and she loves getting lost in the iris "jungle" -- the iris that I desperately need to move to another spot.

Eler Beth had her world history/geography lesson this morning and did very well.  In a few weeks I'll add another subject, and that's how we'll ease into the school year.  I've done some laundry, called my Mom, and done the dishes, and now I'm ready to play on the computer a bit.  I may take a nap later, too.

I forgot to write last week about how Thomas' new position as a QC Lead was going.  He's doing great!  All throughout the yard he heard "congratulations" and "it's about time" from so many people.  Of course there are some who wanted the job and who are being a bit cold toward him.  I resent that, personally, but he just shrugs it off.  I mean if he'd stabbed someone in the back to get the position, that would be one thing, but all he did was take someone's suggestion that he check into it, and then the big boss interviewed him for it on the spot when he did that.  He wanted Thomas as soon as he knew Thomas was interested, and it was pretty much up to him to choose who was hired.  Then there are those who resent anyone who makes a move up, even if it's not something they'd want for themselves.  But most everyone likes and respects Thomas and knows he'll do a good and fair job, and he is loving it.  I'm very proud of him!

Catching up with a couple of other things -- a month ago Pam gave me a "Special Friend Award", and although  I thanked her privately, I wasn't journaling much right then and hadn't acknowledged it here in my journal.  I do thank her; it was very sweet and I really appreciate it.  I will display the graphic in my sidebar.

 

Also in June I won one of the What's The Caption Wednesday contests over at Magic Smoke.  I was honestly surprised when my caption made it to the polls because I really thought there were several that were better than mine.  I had submitted it right at the last minute.  I appreciate it being nominated and will display that graphic as well.  (Although I think I've submitted captions for other "Wednesday" photos that were better than that one! lol)

Lastly, AOL Journals is coming up on its Fifth Year Anniversary, and Donna  graciously tagged a "Five Years" graphic for us.

Don't be surprised if I come back and do a couple more entries  -- and don't fall over from a heart attack, either!  I'm rather in the mood to journal I think, so we'll see what happens.

Tags: Special Friend Award, What's the Caption Wednesday, AOL Journals Five Years

Friday Frolics

                      Beautiful  Friday to everyone!  At least it's beautiful here.  It's sunny, warm, 87° with a nice breeze blowing.  Andrew took Eler Beth out for the day.  They are running errands together, getting something to eat, and then they're going to some friends' to play video games.  It was very nice of him to do that.  And I got a whole day free!!!

What have I done with it?  Not much, really.  I called my Mom to check in on her and talked to my sister Maxine (visiting from FL) instead because my Mom was lying down.  She was feeling okay when she got up but then started getting short-winded.  They are going shopping this evening and she wanted to be relaxed for that, so she took half a Xanex and lay down for a nap.

I've done laundry but I haven't done any trimming on my yard.  I guess it can wait till later.  Or tomorrow.  I gassed up my car, got myself some lunch --ALL BY MYSELF! -- and then I went to  KSS School Supply Store because they are having a sale this weekend and next week Eler Beth and I are starting her 7th grade year.                                  

                                                  

Yes, I know it's still summer, but we're going to start with one subject this month.  We'll only spend 1-1/2 to 2 hrs a day, and it won't hurt her.  Then during the fall and winter we can take a week off here and there if we want to because we'll be SO much ahead.  I hope.

I decided that her knowledge of world geography and world history is woefully negligent, so I've worked up a world history/geography curriculum that I hope won't be too confusing or stupid.  We're starting with the Middle East.  We had to start somewhere, and I thought that would be a good place, given the things going on in the world today.  I'll keep you posted as we move to other regions of the world.  I found some really neat things at KSS to aid in our quest for knowledge.  I have an idea that Eler Beth won't be quite so enthusiastic as I am, but that's to be expected.

I also got some incentive charts, stickers, and attitude thing-ys because she is exhibiting signs of being a teenager.  Go figure!  She has all these places she wants to go on "field trips" this year, and she'd like to bring along a friend most of the time, so she's going to have to earn the privilege.  Believe me, this is necessary.  If you give her an ailing/newborn/orphaned/cute/young/old/dirty/beautiful/happy/oh-forget-it-let's-just-say-ANY animal to care for she'll research on the Internet, call any "expert" she knows, including a local call-in show, get up through the night for numerous feedings, and anything else she has to do to learn about how to care for or to care for said animal.  Give her an interesting rock, fossil, or plant and she'll do the same.  But social studies/history?  Polishing her math or grammar skills?  Reading a book that MOM has picked out for her and says will enrich her knowledge/vocabulary/horizons? PUL-LEASE!  It is to laugh.  But that's okay.  She doesn't take too long usually to get in the right mind frame, and I'm not a tyrant. 

Usually.

 

           Today's salute goes to Ramat Gan, Tel Aviv, Israel,

 

        Population 129,700 -- 6,249 miles from Jeffersonville ~ ~

 

                              Sa-LUTE!

Tags: KSS School Supplies, home school, pre-teens

Thursday Catch Up

We had a nice dry day today after several days of rain, so I had a nice time with my Snapper cutting down that jungle I call a yard!  Didn't get to the trimming, but I think it's supposed to be nice tomorrow, too.

On Monday we had a nice surprise.  Eler Beth, checking the cockatiels' nesting box, burst in on me just as I was settling down for a nap with the announcement that "Lucy laid an egg!"  And sure enough, there was one small, white egg in the nesting box.  Louie (the father -- so sorry, Schroeder!) is being VERY protective of the egg and the box.  We called our breeder/pet-shop-owner friend and she said that they usually lay every other day until they have no more eggs.  There have been no other eggs, so she said perhaps she only has one egg in her, since this is her first time.  Of course we don't know if it's fertilized or not.  I guess we'll know in a few weeks.  They are taking turns sitting on it and moving it around the nesting box, though. 

Eler Beth has a new kitten!  His name is Samuel, and he's a yellow tabby.  He is just about 10 weeks old and comes from the neighbors across the street.  He's a kitten of the cat from which Eler Beth saved the baby 'possums a few weeks ago.  Andrew is getting one of the little females from them; a little dark gray/black tabby with very dainty ways.  He's naming her Kana (a Japanese name; don't know what it means).

About a week after Eler Beth rescued the 'possums one of them (Lewis) escaped.  We doubt that he made it because they were still so very young at that time.  But we still have Clark, and she (yes, SHE) is doing very well.  For a couple of weeks she would call to Eler Beth if she was out of her cage walking around to make sure that Eler Beth didn't get too far away from her.  They make little chuffing sounds, almost like someone going "psst" to get your attention, when they are calling their young or when the young are calling their mothers.  She doesn't do that now, and she is more adventurous out on her own (but she is very afraid of the kittens!).  When I hold her she crawls up on my shoulder and just sits.  When Eler Beth holds her she grabs onto Eler Beth's shirt with her front paws and her mouth!  Yes, she takes a bit of Eler Beth's shirt in her mouth and hangs on, just like she would have done with her mother.  She knows the difference between Eler Beth and me.  She loves peaches, cantaloupe, chicken, fried eggs, blueberries, gravy, and bugs!!!  Those are her favorites but she'll eat just about any meat or fruit -- doesn't like veggies, though.  When the kittens scared her one day I picked her up and she hid her head in my shirt.  She's such a cute little thing, and yes, I will be posting pictures.

My mother is doing pretty well.  She is still having days where she is short of breath.  So far all of her tests have come back good.  We are waiting on the results of the thyroid scan and the stress test.  My sister from Florida is in visiting for a couple of weeks which is nice.  Next week Mom is coming to Louisville to have a series of tests done at Norton's Hospital.  I'm not sure what they are, but apparently they are tests they couldn't do at her hospital.  I'm glad her doctor is checking everything!

Well, I guess that just about gets me all caught up.  We had broccoli stir fry for dinner and deep dish apple pie.  I've done my mowing and am ready to settle in for the evening.  I hope everyone is doing well out there in J-land.

Tags: cockatiels, opossums

War? Strife? No Thanks, I'd Rather Dance!

Beth at Nutwood Junction did an entry today I'd like to direct you to, if you haven't already been by.  She posted a video that inspired some tears -- not sad tears, but rather sentimental-I-don't-know-why-I'm-crying tears.  Please take a look.  If it causes tears to well up in your eyes (and I think it will), see if you can explain WHY.  I'd be interested to know.

Tags: Wherethehellismatt.com

A Nice Surprise!

A few years ago we had some neighbors across the street and a few houses down who had a little girl named Brittney.  Brittney is three years younger than Eler Beth and was about 4 years old when they moved into the neighborhood.  Eler Beth would speak to her and her mother when they were out in their yard, and pretty soon she and Brittney became friends.  Brittney couldn't pronounce the names Eler Beth or Elizabeth, so she called Eler Beth "Izzabeth" for a good two years at least!

If Brittney was playing at our house, Eler Beth would walk her home, teaching her how to cross the street.  When Brittney was getting ready to start school she expressed some nervousness to Eler Beth and Eler Beth told her all about the teachers she'd have in kindergarten and the school she'd be going to.  Brittney's mother asked Eler Beth to help her on the bus.

The first day of school Brittney was very excited and asked if she could wait for the bus with Eler Beth.  They sat together on the bus morning and afternoon.  One day when Eler Beth had to leave school early because of a doctor's appointment, one of Eler Beth's friends, Marisa, who also lived down our street, told Eler Beth that she'd keep an eye on Brittney for her.  She told us later that when Brittney got on the bus and went to sit in the seat she and Eler Beth usually sat in, looking all around for Eler Beth, Marisa told her that Eler Beth had had to leave school early and that Brittney could sit with her.  She said Brittney kept shaking her head and saying, "Izzabeth told me to sit here."

Well about three years ago Brittney's family moved to Florida.  The girls exchanged phone numbers and they kept in touch for a while, but somehow we lost their number, and apparently Brittney lost ours as well.  Once in a while Eler Beth would mention Brittney and wonder how she was doing.

Yesterday a red SUV pulled up in front of our house, and when I answered the door, there was Brittney!  Her mom, dad, and little brother smiled and waved from the SUV.  She looks exactly the same as she did three years ago, except for being quite tall for her age.  I called to Eler Beth, and when she stepped out onto the front porch I wished I'd had acamcorder running!

The girls spent a nice 40 minutes or more talking, walking around the yard and down by the creek, remembering little incidents and adventures they'd had, and going down the street to say hi to other friends while her parents and I talked.  They told me that Brittney mentions Eler Beth quite often, so when they decided to come up to visit family they told her they'd bring her by.  We exchanged phone numbers and addresses again, and when we go down to Florida to visit our family, we're going to call them and make arrangements to get together.

It was so nice to see them, and so wonderful to know that in this day and age two little girls can still form a friendship that can last over time and distance.  I can see the two of them far into the future keeping in touch, meeting each other's spouses and children, and getting together whenever they can.

Thank you Donna for the beautiful graphic.

Tags: Friendships

First of the Month

Please make sure you schedule your yearly mammogram if it's due.  Don't put it off!  Also keep up those monthly self exams!

(This is the first time I've looked at all the additional "moods" options we have.  Wow!  That's quite a list.  Thank you AOL Journals Team!)