tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-78463072024-03-07T16:29:35.324-06:00Blu's Boring BlogSince 17 Aug 04 . . . . . .
Ramblings of a Bored Blogger
And as you can see from my craft blog links -
I have waaaaaaaaaaaay too much time on my hands!Blu486http://www.blogger.com/profile/01192782745562840301noreply@blogger.comBlogger176125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846307.post-8985004177004083932012-06-08T15:38:00.000-05:002012-06-08T15:38:06.736-05:00Fairy Garden 2012<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBuI6e8KnVckTVPyK9cLMMCIO-0q8m2jjoFLCxue4HtEN_IofI9QKmNsBIW9KwAlZeLFGhMsnHMQcyiVqYf16exIquCsN9xSHGLacQdmCwqLg7r47-OQknkDU4Avu4NLfnKmc6nA/s1600/DSCN3979.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBuI6e8KnVckTVPyK9cLMMCIO-0q8m2jjoFLCxue4HtEN_IofI9QKmNsBIW9KwAlZeLFGhMsnHMQcyiVqYf16exIquCsN9xSHGLacQdmCwqLg7r47-OQknkDU4Avu4NLfnKmc6nA/s320/DSCN3979.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt;">I have finally finished work on my
first <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:placename w:st="on">Fairy</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Garden</st1:placetype></st1:place>! After checking the
internet for ideas - and elements I could buy instead of make - I ended up
constructing most of my own accessories. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbWPp5nB2jgYYhtHZzMMdCxtSMgbYCJDiGjEYBKe7g1qTIqiEftaA0DwRTJFOT4oDRT2L9IQ2LZEMJw-H4VWiXXsuC9VMrckXyhC8xs9WvpHgA-kDufjfTDp0y6Srbflm9RUtiSQ/s1600/DSCN3982.JPG"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim5DDu3vv3QEJQCdGDwjKUdoJXUR7uupXlBLXdBMCNmgbH89A6M6Hjmfp2lzA33Uq06UlsKQO03zmnEltSqWUx1wgzvivcMnkalhzMlic-XaCulNik6QwDIuJjX1ozd-q-DnNnBg/s1600/DSCN3983.JPG"></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt;">I decided a
mobile garden would work best; however, some people constructed theirs under
trees. I got a large, rectangular basket at Michael's, laid down a large,
plastic lawn refuse bag as a liner, and used a Miracle Gro soil that protects
against over and under watering.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-BBVlt4FOFcTXIHAcfMq0wqkIrmlLCjRmcoewRku381tZrTUONAT2FpeFLAii4FVhrzk8xekLgDkNSaH1dpXsSYLdhQC-a4EE4ojcIAfWPmKiooUaeoxiqH-zqnxcfUn2GESiEw/s1600/DSCN3982.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-BBVlt4FOFcTXIHAcfMq0wqkIrmlLCjRmcoewRku381tZrTUONAT2FpeFLAii4FVhrzk8xekLgDkNSaH1dpXsSYLdhQC-a4EE4ojcIAfWPmKiooUaeoxiqH-zqnxcfUn2GESiEw/s320/DSCN3982.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt;">The trick
was figuring out HOW to build the stuff, since there were no generalized
instructions online. I began with a "house" and found a wonderful,
small log in the firewood with two great knot holes. I sliced it into two
different sized pieces with a sloped cut for roofs. I glued them with
Gorilla glue and secured them together overnight with rubber bands. Then
I began decorating. Small vertical then horizontal sticks formed the
roofs, with popsicle sticks for the door. For decorations, I purchased a
bag of assorted moss, tiny "wedding" roses, some tiny silk flowers, a
package of tiny terracotta flower pots, a tea light that resembled a gazebo,
some sign wood, and a couple bags of their smallest river rocks. I
already had marbles (for the gazing ball), a bag of sphagnum moss, several
pieces of sliced agate (for the bench), and very narrow ribbon, copper wire to
make an arbor. Once you start sticking on moss, and flowers and such, you
find the more stuff you stick on, the better it looks!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ-ForRmStlreeMQ7QdsyMa98O5cKHQhJS39JzvrixC2i_uUJ82CRxGTGbglbv4w8AEminnewr663jAflKb2Dc3h_xuv167aRC4YnCOyjdNGxJPVVQg1sDMW6q0OdKQIoVjwwDTw/s1600/DSCN3983.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ-ForRmStlreeMQ7QdsyMa98O5cKHQhJS39JzvrixC2i_uUJ82CRxGTGbglbv4w8AEminnewr663jAflKb2Dc3h_xuv167aRC4YnCOyjdNGxJPVVQg1sDMW6q0OdKQIoVjwwDTw/s320/DSCN3983.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt;">The wishing
well was constructed of the tiny river rocks held together with hot glue.
I used the hot glue gun to decorate also, using the sphagnum moss as
"vines," further enhanced with tiny flowers. I did manage to
find a fairy, bird bath, bucket, and garden tools at a garden center. The
path is just filling in with tiny river rocks to make a path from the arbor at
the front to the fairy house.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt;">The "bird house" was
actually made of popsicle sticks on a wooden skewer base with a toothpick end
for a perch!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtbDXGhN4iefA6iFSyhk0YTir_S0RfGr1y0E9BhN77fDZcM92pfuSJ57GA6x4BhhdKGoUk9r-PHaySwhFuRXadozpF3oahyosXIZdpyaSCsdvJZcdyLYWyTnc6sg6WKLbW5U8r0Q/s1600/DSCN3986.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtbDXGhN4iefA6iFSyhk0YTir_S0RfGr1y0E9BhN77fDZcM92pfuSJ57GA6x4BhhdKGoUk9r-PHaySwhFuRXadozpF3oahyosXIZdpyaSCsdvJZcdyLYWyTnc6sg6WKLbW5U8r0Q/s320/DSCN3986.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt;">Then it was
off to the garden centers to buy plants. The "grass" is
actually a perennial called "Irish Moss." Flowers include other
perennials such as the hosta in the front right corner called "Blue Mouse
Ears" which has very tiny leaves and flowers, "Snow-in-Summer Silver
Carpet," "Papaver Summer Beauty," and "Red Creeping
Thyme" in front. I got a lot of what I consider "draping
plants" that hang and dangle softly over the sides of the large basket
that holds the garden. The annuals included "ficus ripens
variegatus," lobelia, zinnia "Crystal White," "Easter
Bonnet Deep Rose" alyssum, "Green Yellow Alternanthera,"
Helichrysum, "Madiera Crested Yellow," and "Asparagus
Fern." <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTbCEM4StahSoCBoL2pBnQ5LkBkgeEUOlCEbReaMDptIulLQnb3Z6WF1SMZGi0rduFY-hkmNc5Lt4QgDPtRly6AEeeO7d1iIZCk_0P_SnWwBoccmIxm0yEjOa66okPd8fBefqBtg/s1600/DSCN3989.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTbCEM4StahSoCBoL2pBnQ5LkBkgeEUOlCEbReaMDptIulLQnb3Z6WF1SMZGi0rduFY-hkmNc5Lt4QgDPtRly6AEeeO7d1iIZCk_0P_SnWwBoccmIxm0yEjOa66okPd8fBefqBtg/s320/DSCN3989.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16.0pt;">And
finally, I added a sign to the front that I saw online and recreated! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>Blu486http://www.blogger.com/profile/01192782745562840301noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846307.post-6640258938360849052012-02-19T23:06:00.002-06:002012-02-19T23:10:27.687-06:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiREe4Q_Dqv2_YEw7Fzig6R6qMNHIJyH6hC0RFG3AkfFEF5Nyr-frZiAZDadJuiExDx0asx7kke7g7O6IMFbTSKv5mi9sH7F0fV9urysWOdYYYYjjz8ez2awMaagR9MYJxctp87zQ/s1600/New+Lamp+25+Jan+12+-+3.jpg" style="font-size: 100%; font-family: Georgia, serif; "><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 279px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiREe4Q_Dqv2_YEw7Fzig6R6qMNHIJyH6hC0RFG3AkfFEF5Nyr-frZiAZDadJuiExDx0asx7kke7g7O6IMFbTSKv5mi9sH7F0fV9urysWOdYYYYjjz8ez2awMaagR9MYJxctp87zQ/s320/New+Lamp+25+Jan+12+-+3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5711080779622343458" /></a><br /><span >Here is a picture of my new lamp, filled with Michigan beach stones, sand, and a few decorative dodads . . . </span>Blu486http://www.blogger.com/profile/01192782745562840301noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846307.post-68653321423737425312011-11-03T12:46:00.006-05:002011-11-03T14:24:22.370-05:00Enough!!!<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Arial">At the age of almost 62, I have finally had enough. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span">I feel confident that if my friends were to read this post, they'd recognize themselves at once. However, nobody reads this blog at all, so it seems the fitting place to vent and rant.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; ">I love my friends dearly; however, after years of their crossing the line, I have decided to release those toxic friendships that cause more grief than good.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Arial"><o:p>I</o:p></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; ">t is no secret that I smoke and am overweight.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; "> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; ">I’ve smoked for many years, and have been overweight basically since 2</span><sup style="font-family: Arial; ">nd</sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; "> grade.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; "> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; ">These truths do not come as a shock to me!</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; ">It is unclear where my “friends” get the right to constantly criticize me.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; "> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; ">One decided that I wasn’t answering the phone on purpose (even when she called during my dad’s funeral service) and then said, “hope you have a good life,” and proceeded to continue to call.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; "> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; ">She had trouble understanding why her calls were no longer answered or returned.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; "> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; ">One toxic relationship down.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; ">Another constantly has problems with my smoking.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; "> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; ">They called while I was on the computer playing a mindless game – then chastised me for continuing to play while talking.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; "> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; ">I am NOT a 12 year-old kid who needs their behavior corrected.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; "> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; ">THIS is who I am, and if you don’t like it, fine.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; "> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; ">Don’t.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; "> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; ">Many other people don’t have a problem with it.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; "> </span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; ">Another constantly has problems with my weight.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; "> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; ">They decided that I need to go on a diet and then informed me that they “expect to see me lose 10 pounds a month!”</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; "> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; ">Again – not your business.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; "> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; ">Nor is the volume on my TV, my hearing, how I choose to spend or not spend my money, the amount of time I spend on the computer per day, whether or not I wear make up, my sleeping habits, the length, color, and cut of my hair and so on.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; "> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; ">For years - most of my life, in fact - I have smiled, taken the criticism, seemly laughed it off over and over again for countless times. But in all honesty, your words hurt me deeply. I have very strong emotions, and deep feelings. I often think after the fact, "oh, I should have said . . .," but never do - why can't people just celebrate the person I am instead of trying to constantly fix me? </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; ">So, from now on, unless you’re willing to move in, keep me occupied and entertained, buy food and cook for me, etcetera, leave my habits alone!!</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="font-family:Arial"><o:p> </o:p></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; ">My ex-husband spent 12 years attacking any self-esteem I had.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; "> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; ">All my life people have chipped away at that little self-esteem to the point that I now am weighted down with self-loathing and depression.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; "> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; ">That is no way to live.</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; ">I am a good, caring, kind, creative, wonderful person who is precisely who she is meant to be.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; "> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; ">I am fine just as is.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; "> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; ">If there is something I choose to change, I will.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; "> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; ">Otherwise, you can get used to me as I am, or leave me alone to make new, more accepting friends.</span></span></p>Blu486http://www.blogger.com/profile/01192782745562840301noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846307.post-67869070066283723822010-07-20T01:26:00.004-05:002010-07-20T01:33:46.029-05:00Macomber Ad-A-Harness Loom, Type B-Folding<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Fr2835kZ46sPbO61D-gOTH5uCe_rSsVPVNqYzUD8Oqp2tbrNxgRpHYoraGLHD37i9FGQ0GaovlojynoxXsZ97P8LYoyGpe0uoYXCJfCyPR8HmbiVdlXKeGFUUkpb7dQE4pMQKw/s1600/Loom+12.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5495872410075218130" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Fr2835kZ46sPbO61D-gOTH5uCe_rSsVPVNqYzUD8Oqp2tbrNxgRpHYoraGLHD37i9FGQ0GaovlojynoxXsZ97P8LYoyGpe0uoYXCJfCyPR8HmbiVdlXKeGFUUkpb7dQE4pMQKw/s320/Loom+12.JPG" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">Our family is currently trying to find a loving new home for my mother's prized possession. It is this 8-harness folding loom manufactured by Macomber of York, ME. It includes the loom itself, a hand-crafted bench with a storage compartment, and extras including 4 40" ad-a-harness units, 1,200 12" flat heddles, 18 repair heddles, several assorted shuttles, winding racks, a heavy-duty ball winder, and many cones of various colors and textures of yarn.<br /><br />This loom is located in north St. Louis County, Missouri. If you're interested or know someone who is, or for further information, please send me an email or leave a comment!</span>Blu486http://www.blogger.com/profile/01192782745562840301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846307.post-63886482138828320042010-06-28T21:19:00.006-05:002010-06-28T21:27:56.654-05:00The New Patio - Day 1<span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">They say that time exists so that everything doesn't happen all at once. Uh-huh.<br /><br />Last Wednesday, I got new covered gutters and discovered that my sweet little Saturn was in terminal condition. So, Friday I bought a new car (there'll be another post for that little gem of info). Now that it's Monday, there should have been <em>time</em> to shop for some accessories and so forth. When I got home, I discoverd I was WRONG!!<br /><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5dV6ZIYLS0e3u0ccIgQFfiHWecNSmkDWBvE1U8reBtGfuLTXi5CsTLsIvHlllcKOzF4VNSgk24idrVeUocs3b4cewSUfu-fdPX73Zbg0Y3vIWrKT1S74Ho5Mg6ZPJrkQ0dfZ6vw/s1600/P1010155.JPG"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488015988752297090" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 239px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5dV6ZIYLS0e3u0ccIgQFfiHWecNSmkDWBvE1U8reBtGfuLTXi5CsTLsIvHlllcKOzF4VNSgk24idrVeUocs3b4cewSUfu-fdPX73Zbg0Y3vIWrKT1S74Ho5Mg6ZPJrkQ0dfZ6vw/s320/P1010155.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"> The "patio destructors" were waiting for me when I arrived home and proceeded to do this for the next hour and a half!<br /></span><br /></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwm_kLJyNFFVU7wISE6RxaNCdTr0_ysFLC9oAdeCU-bHKJg0XDAwz2EFMYNOJBDeSIzAlm_jUVs8aMsCdyFpuE4e6aCjvBroOoOAhgT9T9y_tugiFijkgVjHd2PxtaJO030Fwa-A/s1600/P1010156.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488015983471127474" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 239px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwm_kLJyNFFVU7wISE6RxaNCdTr0_ysFLC9oAdeCU-bHKJg0XDAwz2EFMYNOJBDeSIzAlm_jUVs8aMsCdyFpuE4e6aCjvBroOoOAhgT9T9y_tugiFijkgVjHd2PxtaJO030Fwa-A/s320/P1010156.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_pm-wzvHktLf1udEDLfDLgr3J61Yq_oaP9ibzHUiBPpaV0NZvWB5oCwPSrrixQHDw3bPn0-P9uNuHHWJxqM1MyLVr5HKeZxg_TC96DOir_coCmjmFzOTqDwNQcegrHmtpKqb5MA/s1600/P1010157.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488015734662710834" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 239px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_pm-wzvHktLf1udEDLfDLgr3J61Yq_oaP9ibzHUiBPpaV0NZvWB5oCwPSrrixQHDw3bPn0-P9uNuHHWJxqM1MyLVr5HKeZxg_TC96DOir_coCmjmFzOTqDwNQcegrHmtpKqb5MA/s320/P1010157.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2fiBWsEkf7IssluIWV9_a4u5xOtZSLCMF2OptLpF_JwIx9cxKk0gnrUFrqnQzFvKFZ202FbQtGjl7ujDoZQBDIqaFyTnjIlzUhXAMtv7HmbNAGopdruJ67Xw7JnJ9njTYoCiSmw/s1600/P1010158.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488015724328591746" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 239px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2fiBWsEkf7IssluIWV9_a4u5xOtZSLCMF2OptLpF_JwIx9cxKk0gnrUFrqnQzFvKFZ202FbQtGjl7ujDoZQBDIqaFyTnjIlzUhXAMtv7HmbNAGopdruJ67Xw7JnJ9njTYoCiSmw/s320/P1010158.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaosDn5lEZOJ6fM5Bpk7PTWqivVZzZpdfEEQiWiIUFJU8YALJijcgu1HtHFSRWCUib9i0t8NTs3E5uRkWoUMPnOD-9NaekSR2CCg4z5rGIrNBlmcyBCHKzMidXrBrsgAbEb9m9CA/s1600/P1010159.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488015716602688642" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 239px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaosDn5lEZOJ6fM5Bpk7PTWqivVZzZpdfEEQiWiIUFJU8YALJijcgu1HtHFSRWCUib9i0t8NTs3E5uRkWoUMPnOD-9NaekSR2CCg4z5rGIrNBlmcyBCHKzMidXrBrsgAbEb9m9CA/s320/P1010159.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs6D3P6Y34ElVL3ASI85HoSM24M3M7I9qoJVTVZ3N9vpXt0NQeJS3MPuuCIf5fhN87LRgzRsVqAdSstszitrSNa4RYYGeYza1lkmZTtzIu8mSx2pC7jz7CVSYd9Z9LqUEtfqC4nA/s1600/P1010160.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488015707621549490" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 239px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs6D3P6Y34ElVL3ASI85HoSM24M3M7I9qoJVTVZ3N9vpXt0NQeJS3MPuuCIf5fhN87LRgzRsVqAdSstszitrSNa4RYYGeYza1lkmZTtzIu8mSx2pC7jz7CVSYd9Z9LqUEtfqC4nA/s320/P1010160.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi08tI0fJJ1VpvWBurAS1MhyS_7XKVpUyCt5bCSX7CeihkBo3gghj7L-4qblhl9pLvUsjZrNQBtSRLQNyAUm5Trd0brzDz-al0VFmcPtjAq8W-T4xTFlCl0vtxGfhiMt4X357HLSg/s1600/P1010161.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488015699694696018" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 239px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi08tI0fJJ1VpvWBurAS1MhyS_7XKVpUyCt5bCSX7CeihkBo3gghj7L-4qblhl9pLvUsjZrNQBtSRLQNyAUm5Trd0brzDz-al0VFmcPtjAq8W-T4xTFlCl0vtxGfhiMt4X357HLSg/s320/P1010161.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Blu486http://www.blogger.com/profile/01192782745562840301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846307.post-76768265406709500282010-06-11T22:39:00.002-05:002010-06-11T22:46:55.776-05:00Yeasted Carrot Cake Bread<span style="font-size:130%;">I know - it's been months since I last posted. Suffice it to say "I've been busy" and leave it at that.</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBuE4MaOOshsAKK5lw1oE1EhXmG5zTXM4FmMB7lRNNr5CIjJPPfNrBPVq9sqXnKMf90Trx1djcqAvxg4YRWdOCpZ04XkFOCswm_7sE11St2udyat1k4i7w2_uTWmtfmgx447wCsQ/s1600/Carrot+Cake+Bread.JPG"><span style="font-size:130%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481727947862081330" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 198px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBuE4MaOOshsAKK5lw1oE1EhXmG5zTXM4FmMB7lRNNr5CIjJPPfNrBPVq9sqXnKMf90Trx1djcqAvxg4YRWdOCpZ04XkFOCswm_7sE11St2udyat1k4i7w2_uTWmtfmgx447wCsQ/s320/Carrot+Cake+Bread.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Found this recipe on Foodgawker.com and had to try it. I did manage to make it with "regular" ingredients, omitted the flax seeds, substituted craisins for the raisins, and added about three tablespoons of sour cream to the cheese to make it a bit more spreadable. But, this is absolutely yummy!</span>Blu486http://www.blogger.com/profile/01192782745562840301noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846307.post-70800363578730898362009-11-22T18:25:00.002-06:002009-11-22T18:31:04.503-06:00Wa-Hoo!!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvMBMH13LJ6_2Y67zN_7Yo96rkvyFModEV6HI4rqWY3W_eoXNDv4keDwmNmJKdkw38SjVI5drQUKTmZdH9ObUS201oEgVdD9cWqmuXRs52vHvPVD1I1w1Ljw4uPxwQZDgCuKB9sA/s1600/My+First+Trout+3.JPG"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5407089971822217394" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 125px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvMBMH13LJ6_2Y67zN_7Yo96rkvyFModEV6HI4rqWY3W_eoXNDv4keDwmNmJKdkw38SjVI5drQUKTmZdH9ObUS201oEgVdD9cWqmuXRs52vHvPVD1I1w1Ljw4uPxwQZDgCuKB9sA/s320/My+First+Trout+3.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">About a week and a half ago, my son took me fishing and swore that they loved wax worms. The fish couldn't bit on wax worms fast enough. They loved the silly stuff. Uh-huh. I caught about 12 baby bluegill that were no bigger than half the size of my hand. Cute little buggers, but not trout!! He, on the other hand, managed to catch 5 keeper trout. Hardly seemed fair!<br /></span><div></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">Today my son came and dragged me, kicking and screaming, up to the lake in the chilly wind to fish. So glad he did!! Here is a picture of my first rainbow trout. It was about 18" long and 2.5 pounds!!!! The second one was an itty bitty guy who got tossed back in. Unlike last time, this was the ONLY fish we caught today. So, this is the catch of the day! Definitely more fun to catch than clean, however! (Can you believe he made me clean my own fish???) </span></div>Blu486http://www.blogger.com/profile/01192782745562840301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846307.post-57463176464842128162009-11-15T20:41:00.003-06:002009-11-15T20:46:08.988-06:00Yummy Chocolate!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoc_AOEPTZS4kYYjOxZWhEJ_jg6ZAcRQDC4rZZMlNouLZYLXi8HEeRENY_6SUUqP59StShklDp5v8OuyetYHizEGjMpbgfcJiuaaYk4YicAzlwmofgH5tjsDxxANkfe3uESfbzPQ/s1600/Chocolate+Wanut+Upside+Down+Cake+-+2JPG.jpg"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404526972831447762" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 201px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoc_AOEPTZS4kYYjOxZWhEJ_jg6ZAcRQDC4rZZMlNouLZYLXi8HEeRENY_6SUUqP59StShklDp5v8OuyetYHizEGjMpbgfcJiuaaYk4YicAzlwmofgH5tjsDxxANkfe3uESfbzPQ/s320/Chocolate+Wanut+Upside+Down+Cake+-+2JPG.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">You know you want some! This should probably be illegal in about 37 states! Yummy Chocolate Pecan Upside Down cake with vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce. Granted, it isn't on a par with the stuff on Foodgawker. It doesn't contain various colors and flavors of sea salt or bacon or tofu or bean curd. Just yummy chocolate, nuts, more chocolate, store-bought ice cream, and good old Hershey's chocolate syrup. Bet nobody could tell the difference!</span><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijvyOb9Jmlie0GLf5OU1ik5gYeLVJmo8wcnB3Kx4PfO7kj0EVg9f7IHr6QaHkBw0V8Tdgr_ycub2LVk5SFY7GLiMfVI_DCXBScE_H8vAuFogxotMrhypcrVhKZkacSPZLZ71CXAA/s1600/Chocolate+Wanut+Upside+Down+Cake+-+3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404526976112876370" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 211px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijvyOb9Jmlie0GLf5OU1ik5gYeLVJmo8wcnB3Kx4PfO7kj0EVg9f7IHr6QaHkBw0V8Tdgr_ycub2LVk5SFY7GLiMfVI_DCXBScE_H8vAuFogxotMrhypcrVhKZkacSPZLZ71CXAA/s320/Chocolate+Wanut+Upside+Down+Cake+-+3.jpg" border="0" /></a></div>Blu486http://www.blogger.com/profile/01192782745562840301noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846307.post-73880872630644185882009-11-09T15:06:00.008-06:002009-11-09T15:19:19.790-06:00Busy Weekend!<span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">Finally, with the cooling temperatures and nice breezes, </span><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">s<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia87iw3R-j5ObwPfpVQsGURip7S0HYEHjWUvWs0VbhWDSbyNcl33IkPiipZ36z672lqlQdUUpRD5PN5vkjjiTRfBnjg2CWFBM0WKnYPdz-2b98QB_NB6iTMmy3IbStMQYjtUqLHA/s1600-h/Garage+Garden.JPG"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402214427295759666" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 239px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia87iw3R-j5ObwPfpVQsGURip7S0HYEHjWUvWs0VbhWDSbyNcl33IkPiipZ36z672lqlQdUUpRD5PN5vkjjiTRfBnjg2CWFBM0WKnYPdz-2b98QB_NB6iTMmy3IbStMQYjtUqLHA/s320/Garage+Garden.JPG" border="0" /></span></a>ome life is returning after the lazy summer! This Saturday I got the energy to </span><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">put decorative concrete edging bricks along the side of the garage to make the garden there a bit nicer. Note on the bottom right the huge rocks I had to dig up to install the silly thing! Hopefully, my neighbor will enjoy the view out her bedroom window a bit more now! Especially, once I get more iris planed along here, should be stunning in the spring!</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;">I also spent time on Sunday with my sis-in-law, Grace, downstairs in the glass studio. I've been putzing along with an entire desk set for what seems like forever! I had the thing almost completely cut out (after changing leaf colors several times), and realized there wasn't enough of the background color to complete the whole set. Grace and I went back to the glass store and, since they had no more, bought a close runner-up color. Never satisfied with it, I headed to the glass store in downtown St. Louis and, as remarkable as it seems, found more of the background color!! So, was able to get the whole thing cut out, This is the completed set! There's a business cardholder, desk organizer with a space for Post It notes, and a pencil holder. I even managed to take a couple "artsy" pictures of it outside, even though the sun didn't cooperate!</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw6aqg1xkgy8Bdi1xcf9danHB0Rbn46F5KTcv3p7bbBNdHseLEfE-ywrCSIcyZcH2noXRw7TdYojqxwBS4liNk1RXFLHxysXhKXEOsSuuZJrq8oThz_N8qqVa9W5XwG3gptwC6Tw/s1600-h/Desk+Set+Outside.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402214126455703874" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 152px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw6aqg1xkgy8Bdi1xcf9danHB0Rbn46F5KTcv3p7bbBNdHseLEfE-ywrCSIcyZcH2noXRw7TdYojqxwBS4liNk1RXFLHxysXhKXEOsSuuZJrq8oThz_N8qqVa9W5XwG3gptwC6Tw/s320/Desk+Set+Outside.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigIZrNO5flCaGL1WOcw3Wh1QX9fnBCRLhsv6lr4w4tGlkqpn6-xfWRppT0zv4vL7wttbfcrJu7XAwhydPVU5EOOWNmdzZxPrrm7y4NUFWczJcsxl1IW9qxAJ-nNBt5z8eoBHj03A/s1600-h/Desk+Set+Inside+2.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402214139196183570" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 198px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigIZrNO5flCaGL1WOcw3Wh1QX9fnBCRLhsv6lr4w4tGlkqpn6-xfWRppT0zv4vL7wttbfcrJu7XAwhydPVU5EOOWNmdzZxPrrm7y4NUFWczJcsxl1IW9qxAJ-nNBt5z8eoBHj03A/s320/Desk+Set+Inside+2.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLwFeEzTnMUTV2x49u4841y2n9eszAM_SI449oEEiY3TF26zPlBsRGWSsyjVyTesGXOQkEo0eqCV1rBU10QQ0X1UXe5nE59Lu4Q-AuhX3Du0X0-udr7vsdT_DzF1dJX-oTjA0bHw/s1600-h/Desk+Set+Outside+2.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402214130293743874" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 145px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLwFeEzTnMUTV2x49u4841y2n9eszAM_SI449oEEiY3TF26zPlBsRGWSsyjVyTesGXOQkEo0eqCV1rBU10QQ0X1UXe5nE59Lu4Q-AuhX3Du0X0-udr7vsdT_DzF1dJX-oTjA0bHw/s320/Desk+Set+Outside+2.JPG" border="0" /></a></div>Blu486http://www.blogger.com/profile/01192782745562840301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846307.post-4926294651544658032009-11-06T22:36:00.004-06:002009-11-06T22:38:59.329-06:00Fall in St. Louis<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6CXjNqPnSOlYaX3bCiMbiGEEvhySnv2UGXqMf_QsAfTCe_3utUJrYOrg4c7Bs967BKS4DrZC5KviNr0WSNbtfDgWGfveaQ15SsVC9uzmKYvpcUd_d1vBS5LUO4HrqefYoYLo7pw/s1600-h/P1010013.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401216252453205442" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 190px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6CXjNqPnSOlYaX3bCiMbiGEEvhySnv2UGXqMf_QsAfTCe_3utUJrYOrg4c7Bs967BKS4DrZC5KviNr0WSNbtfDgWGfveaQ15SsVC9uzmKYvpcUd_d1vBS5LUO4HrqefYoYLo7pw/s320/P1010013.JPG" border="0" /></a> <div><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">Fall?? Fall, you say? Maybe you could trip and fall over leaves like this!!!</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRpdYz6T42flrbiPphLwEadRTz_1MAd55pDfARHYd_80IcE_UZrOuc-eM1gk6dqETm2ftUZmXCMY5pN8D32zDd9neqjSZOrIvSLguWyBoM978l1dd_I0z8jn-lFVjAeaGQbjVC2g/s1600-h/P1010012.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401216249742009218" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 256px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRpdYz6T42flrbiPphLwEadRTz_1MAd55pDfARHYd_80IcE_UZrOuc-eM1gk6dqETm2ftUZmXCMY5pN8D32zDd9neqjSZOrIvSLguWyBoM978l1dd_I0z8jn-lFVjAeaGQbjVC2g/s320/P1010012.JPG" border="0" /></a></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;">I found this in the driveway when I came home this evening! Amazing! I've seen some big leaves out there this year, but this one tops them all!!! Am just thankful they're not ALL this big!</span></div><br /><div><br /><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><br /><div></div></div>Blu486http://www.blogger.com/profile/01192782745562840301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846307.post-48812063276837597402009-08-10T01:07:00.003-05:002009-08-10T01:20:01.470-05:00Boring Blog's Anniversary<span style="font-size:130%;">Seems this is the 5th anniversary of this blog. It hasn't been getting too much attention lately - I've been kinda busy. It's been a crazy summer in St. Louis - July was the coldest on record, and since August it's been exceedingly HOT. Ugh! I may never be able to get outside and work in the yard.<br /><br />My nephew and his wife and two sons came through on their way to live a few years in Tokyo. Right after they left, my niece came for a week-long visit from Washington, D.C.<br /><br />As usual, I'm still hunting for a full-time job but get the feeling nobody wants to hire someone who's almost 60. Sigh. Not even an interview in months. They say seniors are going to have to work until they're older - I'm just wondering where they'll find jobs . . .<br /><br />Anyway, it's been a busy summer with family and friends here. But not much else happening. I've opened a shop on Etsy.com (just search for Blu486). Sold a lovely orange and cream (creamcycle) stained glass birdhouse so far, and loved knowing somebody other than friends and family enjoy my work.<br /><br />So that's it in a nutshell. Will try to be a better blogger!<br /><br />Happy Anniversary, Boring Blog!</span>Blu486http://www.blogger.com/profile/01192782745562840301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846307.post-45382862379715972622009-06-10T20:44:00.004-05:002009-06-10T20:49:04.732-05:00Spring Strawberries<span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">I got some totally unbelievable strawberries <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx1RsmHr1JfGduXUUc_eIijeEy9B7bqbY0U6TqFF-QWNGHWU4kCEwbyYsekFfs8ER4NCTNFUfnewX2nfVAyKBH40Dc5oACMCR3OikJ6w86dp_LMarsOfBlCcgPFJwyUnT2wg4NFQ/s1600-h/P1010022.JPG"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345880093163963266" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 239px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx1RsmHr1JfGduXUUc_eIijeEy9B7bqbY0U6TqFF-QWNGHWU4kCEwbyYsekFfs8ER4NCTNFUfnewX2nfVAyKBH40Dc5oACMCR3OikJ6w86dp_LMarsOfBlCcgPFJwyUnT2wg4NFQ/s320/P1010022.JPG" border="0" /></span></a></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">at </span><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">Costco on Monday. These things are the size of golf balls! It's hard to believe, but they actually taste good, too!!</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">So, tonight, I made the first of the season's strawberry shortcake - just like mom's. A lightly sweetened biscuit cake, warm from the oven, split and spread with real butter, topped with the sweetened berries, and topped with shipped cream. Not the dessert for diabetics, but every now and then it is nice to feel normal. And this was one of those times!</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqXg5GZ3irDQFZ3Rg5fxYjmmLVIFFcmFiSHOI6eT16yHK9NasJzjQq8DnmFmNGBd4VuJVnyelj8ndPJWCY5kRmHH-S-kfFoKWb2OuKuzpgGieNFL_yHXDDDAk2j0CzcluKstb25Q/s1600-h/P1010023.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5345880205616442706" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 222px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqXg5GZ3irDQFZ3Rg5fxYjmmLVIFFcmFiSHOI6eT16yHK9NasJzjQq8DnmFmNGBd4VuJVnyelj8ndPJWCY5kRmHH-S-kfFoKWb2OuKuzpgGieNFL_yHXDDDAk2j0CzcluKstb25Q/s320/P1010023.JPG" border="0" /></a>Blu486http://www.blogger.com/profile/01192782745562840301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846307.post-82482269203150720752009-05-16T22:18:00.002-05:002009-05-16T22:24:02.420-05:00Funny Doctors<span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">Ok - so last LABOR DAY I fell and landed on my left knee. Instead of just crushing the kneecap like a normal person, I broke a major blood vessel in my leg. The leg swelled up and blood drained clear down to my foot, and the whole thing looked positively awful. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">Now, eight months later, I have a horrible sinus infection that causes me (finally in desperation) to the doctor's office. Mind you, I was SUPPOSED to make an appointment in December, but didn't. Heck - I felt fine, no insurance, simple decision. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">Anyway, while there I showed him the huge spot on the back of my left calf, down the front of the shin, and just to the left of my knee. I asked him how much longer he thought it would take to disappear. This is what he said:</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"> "When the blood drained into your leg, the iron in your blood bonded with skin cells sort of like a tatoo. Basically, you're rusting!"</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">Swell - a bruise that won't ever go away, and a funny doctor.</span>Blu486http://www.blogger.com/profile/01192782745562840301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846307.post-18676785840453647482009-05-12T23:19:00.003-05:002009-05-12T23:21:39.883-05:00Tulip Trees<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTndWSp56I0gMMADWrWq9WAqoujKx4YTv5wTNXlJIPcmQoqJiweLTMyCsmN9cawMCBC01V_8MFG-zAUnoJKFuAdwrYTnbqLDNGbAKFQfVI-6RAvrJRRdZWGy7NKae_xtvZdqICTQ/s1600-h/Tulip+Tree+Flowers.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5335158906342499922" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 242px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTndWSp56I0gMMADWrWq9WAqoujKx4YTv5wTNXlJIPcmQoqJiweLTMyCsmN9cawMCBC01V_8MFG-zAUnoJKFuAdwrYTnbqLDNGbAKFQfVI-6RAvrJRRdZWGy7NKae_xtvZdqICTQ/s320/Tulip+Tree+Flowers.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">The tulip trees in my yard are blooming again! Even though there are quite a few of these around St. Louis, not sure lots of people in other areas have seen these pretty little flowers. I used to have three of these until the biggest was hit by lightening a couple years ago. Now there are two . . . . so here's a picture of the flowers!</span><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"></span></div>Blu486http://www.blogger.com/profile/01192782745562840301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846307.post-59485889296945954942009-05-02T21:49:00.014-05:002009-05-02T22:10:37.699-05:00Spring Has Sprung!<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS4h3k1NJfewFijdc27jnR_fNW5bxMiDSxjd0MjSD-mJSscitJR1zY1VVx8yayr2L9S0DLh1ul5vr_s6jeeVpQopw8uBrbSfezQUQ4Q58heBt1mg66h7H9IwDp6F-m8nmuV2bLiQ/s1600-h/Front+Azalea+2+May+2009.JPG"></a></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS4h3k1NJfewFijdc27jnR_fNW5bxMiDSxjd0MjSD-mJSscitJR1zY1VVx8yayr2L9S0DLh1ul5vr_s6jeeVpQopw8uBrbSfezQUQ4Q58heBt1mg66h7H9IwDp6F-m8nmuV2bLiQ/s1600-h/Front+Azalea+2+May+2009.JPG"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331424633565447394" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 239px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS4h3k1NJfewFijdc27jnR_fNW5bxMiDSxjd0MjSD-mJSscitJR1zY1VVx8yayr2L9S0DLh1ul5vr_s6jeeVpQopw8uBrbSfezQUQ4Q58heBt1mg66h7H9IwDp6F-m8nmuV2bLiQ/s320/Front+Azalea+2+May+2009.JPG" border="0" /></span></a></div><div><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Ok - so my last post was March 14th - and the place was blanketed in snow . . . .<br /></span><br /></span><div><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Today, there's quite a change!<br /></span><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">Now looking out the front door, there's this lovely, vivid pink azalea - the biggest one in the neighborhood! Thought you'd enjoy a close-up . . .<br /></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9SmkD0fERy7sjU6e8Td-derlg4mzmQHyqeLnWdjjR2Ix1PU-cEVDwyyEB57V4amA_QXnDiWyEvr4xZlWTxn1RpE_ahyphenhyphenlIghX2uyH1MTj_R3rP0sQsrDxsRWcjn2NjQGhDeWQx0A/s1600-h/Front+Azalea+Closeup+-+2+May+2009.JPG"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331426982379328482" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 239px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9SmkD0fERy7sjU6e8Td-derlg4mzmQHyqeLnWdjjR2Ix1PU-cEVDwyyEB57V4amA_QXnDiWyEvr4xZlWTxn1RpE_ahyphenhyphenlIghX2uyH1MTj_R3rP0sQsrDxsRWcjn2NjQGhDeWQx0A/s320/Front+Azalea+Closeup+-+2+May+2009.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">Doubt you could get one more flower on there!! Seems the entire bush is weighed down in all its springtime glory! Now if the guy would just cut my lawn . . . </span></div><p><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">The back yard azaleas look pretty nice, too.</span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3_RZ03Eh4mLV06-Ptvu2zZhJr-Voe9SiRO3o4Q4N5kQGzUj-mxs1-vMQ3-vZ3DGhm6ItcGMj_U6V-Ts-c0EjEeSPBoM5NSfC1YvonmIy8KngZBoho9TEQHJhrshyphenhyphenwdfv6b8tHuA/s1600-h/Patio+Azaleas+-+2+May+2009.JPG"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331425683439407394" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 239px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3_RZ03Eh4mLV06-Ptvu2zZhJr-Voe9SiRO3o4Q4N5kQGzUj-mxs1-vMQ3-vZ3DGhm6ItcGMj_U6V-Ts-c0EjEeSPBoM5NSfC1YvonmIy8KngZBoho9TEQHJhrshyphenhyphenwdfv6b8tHuA/s320/Patio+Azaleas+-+2+May+2009.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><br /><br />These are by the patio, and below are by the far side fence. </span></p><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRXTKZ5_mXviUddO1qjcO6wjVkbsv-eZXRmG8KQACXlMn_K9IXRaLUCLPhUwMvyeB5YiFC2VNSxEMXpxwPwPcM8SOz4bvFOYCmDQubmVCvQNwRFZKKHVuyQIFtO8_I6guYs8-C5w/s1600-h/Back+Yard+Azaleas+-+2+May+2009.JPG"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331425681239634274" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 239px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRXTKZ5_mXviUddO1qjcO6wjVkbsv-eZXRmG8KQACXlMn_K9IXRaLUCLPhUwMvyeB5YiFC2VNSxEMXpxwPwPcM8SOz4bvFOYCmDQubmVCvQNwRFZKKHVuyQIFtO8_I6guYs8-C5w/s320/Back+Yard+Azaleas+-+2+May+2009.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">The clematis came back strong this year (for a change) and looks amazing with huge purple flowers.</span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"></span></div><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjviVgFP9RUEsNbH_HRRvQm6a0HPptyVK4mq9ohr7I7xR_WrvxxM661MomEbLIQZZ8wFFCxiXmnvG_1IfngrYi3AO4u-bALZ2_qpBO6whMcWsEviRPp9Js19air0kfVl55BgXt7Lg/s1600-h/Clematis+-+2+May+2009.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331428950600784578" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 239px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjviVgFP9RUEsNbH_HRRvQm6a0HPptyVK4mq9ohr7I7xR_WrvxxM661MomEbLIQZZ8wFFCxiXmnvG_1IfngrYi3AO4u-bALZ2_qpBO6whMcWsEviRPp9Js19air0kfVl55BgXt7Lg/s320/Clematis+-+2+May+2009.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></span><div><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">And I also wanted to include a picture of this year's batch of Batik iris for Julie, who loves iris.</span></div><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS_G4vhJZjiKr6E3vYrkpx4rkrmuTJuayobCdOM_ouLMUDUZV_uoZEs_znXW-cv5gap9nK82be8HQ9kA3INwWj2pLSM_fHwYpxW_kv1hy9UtqqnBCuP3scC79O0V6eZrbQjsLy4Q/s1600-h/Batik+Iris+-+2+May+2009.JPG"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331426465855717042" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 239px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS_G4vhJZjiKr6E3vYrkpx4rkrmuTJuayobCdOM_ouLMUDUZV_uoZEs_znXW-cv5gap9nK82be8HQ9kA3INwWj2pLSM_fHwYpxW_kv1hy9UtqqnBCuP3scC79O0V6eZrbQjsLy4Q/s320/Batik+Iris+-+2+May+2009.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span></div><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"></span></div><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"></span></div><br /><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"></span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">Oh - and in between taking pictures, I made English Muffin Bread!</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOb1KzJXfSc9YshL7VhSpvxkrL5YxdlsKrvx4zMd5QySHGn6FdODHxQ0FZtem5pnV4IzSME56giWZ2bdev9EvCcXZ4lBsXK536ze6FyvBHEnqsZcpnDKb0J-xq12K-YKDXDohKSA/s1600-h/Homemade+English+Muffin+Bread+-+2+May+2009.JPG"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5331427791541176690" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 221px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOb1KzJXfSc9YshL7VhSpvxkrL5YxdlsKrvx4zMd5QySHGn6FdODHxQ0FZtem5pnV4IzSME56giWZ2bdev9EvCcXZ4lBsXK536ze6FyvBHEnqsZcpnDKb0J-xq12K-YKDXDohKSA/s320/Homemade+English+Muffin+Bread+-+2+May+2009.JPG" border="0" /></span></a></div>Blu486http://www.blogger.com/profile/01192782745562840301noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846307.post-58606315548937687402009-01-28T12:43:00.005-06:002009-01-28T13:00:31.918-06:00St. Louis Snow<span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;">Ok - so I left the outside Christmas decorations up until last week in the vain effort to take a beautiful Christmas shot of the house for next year's Christmas Card. Of course, it never snowed, and my neighbors' snickers and guffaws were almost audible. So, I trudged outside on a balmy 45 degree day, took it all down and hauled it to storage in the basement. </span></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">Barely a week later, THIS happens!</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKMX215sw7nnQ_N0IBssQLAIenVqTrYkocMC84oNW-YpxWu7BVMFzpu9lltp0qaqyiUlIK6-W9tNNhaI4KE2YNqrPRM7e3pkkOWj2txsMXMCvtWy4hbZQX6nRJXcNAZSOrHG0kuA/s1600-h/Snow+1-28-09+-+1.JPG"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"></span></a></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbb6phQAOE9BJHyECgXGcjNb5oGG4m4SECcvtZA151N-7S-9zSYx30ni2gKpvbLgUR12kTJmpxHzkgmeWrr6h_U0lW3gFjkKwrETObZ4_WPKcguF23UoYH4gEbk9pM6pC7OGyU0w/s1600-h/Snow+1-28-09+-+3.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296417891179713730" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 239px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbb6phQAOE9BJHyECgXGcjNb5oGG4m4SECcvtZA151N-7S-9zSYx30ni2gKpvbLgUR12kTJmpxHzkgmeWrr6h_U0lW3gFjkKwrETObZ4_WPKcguF23UoYH4gEbk9pM6pC7OGyU0w/s320/Snow+1-28-09+-+3.JPG" border="0" /></a></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">This is the view directly out my front door . . . .</span></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKMX215sw7nnQ_N0IBssQLAIenVqTrYkocMC84oNW-YpxWu7BVMFzpu9lltp0qaqyiUlIK6-W9tNNhaI4KE2YNqrPRM7e3pkkOWj2txsMXMCvtWy4hbZQX6nRJXcNAZSOrHG0kuA/s1600-h/Snow+1-28-09+-+1.JPG"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296417894331155330" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 239px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKMX215sw7nnQ_N0IBssQLAIenVqTrYkocMC84oNW-YpxWu7BVMFzpu9lltp0qaqyiUlIK6-W9tNNhaI4KE2YNqrPRM7e3pkkOWj2txsMXMCvtWy4hbZQX6nRJXcNAZSOrHG0kuA/s320/Snow+1-28-09+-+1.JPG" border="0" /></span></a></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">and a view down the street to the right . . . .</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfjd1TnE1U0i5mUoqzVTDZtDi1bKY58tKS9RJkspTAaSab44zLbZXW7sCllocXifBOXeK28C6ZGqQj-qy8FN6LU4t78rnEctUasNI1rsbEWDaFUIx0Mj_SgJbX1nj7Sof7iKLHZw/s1600-h/Snow+1-28-09+-+5.JPG"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296417894411156978" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 239px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfjd1TnE1U0i5mUoqzVTDZtDi1bKY58tKS9RJkspTAaSab44zLbZXW7sCllocXifBOXeK28C6ZGqQj-qy8FN6LU4t78rnEctUasNI1rsbEWDaFUIx0Mj_SgJbX1nj7Sof7iKLHZw/s320/Snow+1-28-09+-+5.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">The backyard's not much better. I believe St. Louis officially got just under 6" of the beautiful, twinkley kind of snow that is so darned beautiful.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp_EY1nqqd2zS-mXWWjA0OtrGOirjmseforKlV0jv9QvnCG3-qBb97Zw-nRaKNgYy9bXPUEgvXHSjtu8zN9EycUF1E8we3c3LyPyDSYrSwAf2P9LId_4WcsnK-rZqS-i8FAJ8u-g/s1600-h/Cookies+2.JPG"><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5296418130776857842" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 179px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp_EY1nqqd2zS-mXWWjA0OtrGOirjmseforKlV0jv9QvnCG3-qBb97Zw-nRaKNgYy9bXPUEgvXHSjtu8zN9EycUF1E8we3c3LyPyDSYrSwAf2P9LId_4WcsnK-rZqS-i8FAJ8u-g/s320/Cookies+2.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">And, since I'm allergic to the cold, harsh temperatures (no, really! physically allergic, as in break out in hives!), I stayed inside (except to drag the trash can to the snow bank by the road) and baked these!</span>Blu486http://www.blogger.com/profile/01192782745562840301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846307.post-67151350785087947722008-11-23T19:19:00.004-06:002008-11-23T19:27:40.793-06:00Happy Thanksgiving, 2008!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgomS6kYiC7otmNI-jgG8vIL_LRVXwdZB9bcllaltbOsBucPWo7QJtfsDaDqUkSVGnyLimyBAPgJ0E6Gub7ShkIsenlByf9bO4IezTnMsw8zlsw0UcfqdbASZZEIgkv_zXbw5RetQ/s1600-h/Pumpkin+Pie+2008.jpg"><span style="font-size:130%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5272027874440168034" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 239px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgomS6kYiC7otmNI-jgG8vIL_LRVXwdZB9bcllaltbOsBucPWo7QJtfsDaDqUkSVGnyLimyBAPgJ0E6Gub7ShkIsenlByf9bO4IezTnMsw8zlsw0UcfqdbASZZEIgkv_zXbw5RetQ/s320/Pumpkin+Pie+2008.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-size:130%;">Yes, it HAS been forever since my last blog. Had a gi-normous case of the blog blahs!! </span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">On Labor Day, I fell at my dad's and landed on my left knee. Managed to not injure the knee too badly, but broke a major blood vessel in my leg, resulting in terrible bruising (which still remains), and swelling (which is about done, I think).</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">But now it's almost Thanksgiving! Dad and I usually spend the holidays at my brother and sister-in-law's house, so I normally don't get to cook much for the holiday except for Christmas Tree Coffee Cake for Christmas morning, and an occasion batch of toffee. For those of you wanting toffee, presently bribes work well, since my Fall position at Express Scripts is done for this year. </span><br /></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">So, this year, I had a yen for pumpkin pie. I know - it is something I shouldn't be eating, but when you can't seem to forget about it for a week or two, is time to do something about it! So, today, I made a pumpkin pie for myself . . . and whoever else shows up here and wants some! hehe</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">I wish you all the best stuff Thanksgiving has to offer! Good food, great families and friends! And lots of pumpkin pie!!</span>Blu486http://www.blogger.com/profile/01192782745562840301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846307.post-19243422567333587122008-10-23T11:14:00.010-05:002008-10-25T09:58:17.816-05:00Just Wondering<span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">Kinda hate to say this - but even the mainstream media hasn't seemed to point this out as yet.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">Is it just me, or do other people hear the quiet, slightly echo-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">ing</span> giggle coming out of a disgusting, dirty cave in Afghanistan or Pakistan someplace - of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Osama</span> bin Laden laughing? Seems the American financial system is playing out his happiest thoughts - those he sought to promote on September 11, 2001. Back then, the government was all about "we're not going to let this happen! We are a strong nation - stronger than this. Our economy is strong, and nothing even close to bin <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Laden's</span> aspirations could possibly happen here!!!"</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">There it is again - that happy little chuckle. And it seems Americans are playing right into his hands - selling off stocks, letting the market and financial institutions here tank one after the other. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">This crisis is of our own making. Greed on the part of Wall Street and corporate boardrooms across the nation have helped. Merrily sending jobs oversees. My heart doesn't break when I read about those poor billionaires and corporate <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">CEOs</span> having to sell off their stocks because they borrowed money to buy them and are now required to pay the loans off. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Awwww</span> - poor billionaires!! </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">I've been out of work just a week short of 5 years. I worked for Wyeth in those days - and they pulled up stakes and left St. Louis. About that same time, our fearless Washington leader(s) decided to change how unemployment numbers were reported. They'd include jobs that were never part of the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">equation</span> before - fast food workers, etc. That way, the numbers didn't look so bad, and we were all soothed into thinking all was well. (This, by the way, was big news at the time; however, seems most people have forgotten it). </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">Since then, for me it has been an endless round of temp and contract jobs and long bouts of unemployment. Employers who don't want to employ - don't want the burden of commitment to employees, of paying benefits, of being responsible business owners - a "love 'em and leave 'em" attitude. Off-shore workers are easier - no responsibilities, cheaper labor, and wonderful tax cuts besides. Our fearless leaders' house of cards has fallen in, and still <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">nobody's</span> paying attention!</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">There's that chuckle again!!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">My full retirement age is 66 - still eight years away. If employers won't hire people who are 58, what does the government suggest we do until age 66? All of us Baby Boomers can't be greeters at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Wal</span>-Mart - there aren't that many <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Wal</span>-Marts!! Besides, most of us can't live on low wages anymore. We need real jobs!! What will entice employers to hire older workers at wages that reflect their skills, experience, loyalty, and great work ethics?<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">This MUST stop!!! People without jobs can't pay for houses, cars, appliances, gasoline, groceries, clothing, electronics - everything the government would love for us to buy. Unemployment's great, but considering what I (and many, many others) have been going through, doesn't last nearly long enough or stretch far enough. $1,000 per month (in Missouri) is barely enough to cover some bills, let alone rent or mortgage payments. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">Employers - hire people! Give us back our self-respect! Give us back benefits like health insurance!! I have tons of experience and great skills. Anybody care? Not for the last 5 years. And now that so many others are finding themselves out of work, there are even fewer job postings.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">Until this situation changes, more people will be drawing on unemployment, food stamps, welfare, and other public funding until either there's nothing left in the pot, or the government becomes a socialist type where they're paying <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">everybody's</span> expenses, maybe. I don't know . . . I've been out here in the dark quite a while, trying my best to find a permanent job with only contract work available. And those contracts only work one way - to the employer's benefit. They may want me to make a one-year or five-year commitment to their job, but if they let me go prior to then for reasons over which I have no control, too bad. I get nothing but another trip to unemployment. Where's the fairness in that??</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">Not sure what the answer is - and not going to try and tell anybody to vote one way or the other. Just saying that unless something changes - and FAST - things will continue to get much worse.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;">There it is again - you hear it? That faint little chuckle coming from the east . . . . .</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:130%;">I feel better now - felt something had to be said.</span>Blu486http://www.blogger.com/profile/01192782745562840301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846307.post-67062893725329516632008-07-18T02:00:00.003-05:002008-07-18T02:06:29.106-05:00Better Late Than Never<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQkjkNS2tXSr3eZA1GbmKg1_q86hnZRxxRZXf7saeDjvmZagT_2b2gzaxVMVh4-2pzDQ1lrmeuYEpMw-3AlcoySQZyhwJezyfjaNFMjBgCywWtZnaxcslLHgOjKkkWLJsBzdp4Ng/s1600-h/Asiatic+Lily+2008+-+1.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224246375642578450" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQkjkNS2tXSr3eZA1GbmKg1_q86hnZRxxRZXf7saeDjvmZagT_2b2gzaxVMVh4-2pzDQ1lrmeuYEpMw-3AlcoySQZyhwJezyfjaNFMjBgCywWtZnaxcslLHgOjKkkWLJsBzdp4Ng/s320/Asiatic+Lily+2008+-+1.JPG" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">Yes, the Stargazer and Asiatic Lilies have finally blossomed in all their glory!! They are about two weeks later than usual, probably due to our colder than usual spring. Normally, these are just beginning on the 4th of July. The mainly pink ones are the Asiatic, and the pink and white ones are the Stargazers.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:130%;">Enjoy!</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcmrHBENl3itr0QspB0EbT82VrH2pCXPCXsBav3vlIKkHHZ-7Ad2TLHTvscpfEhJVsdI2LFovsGuhTKzcTCJ-KL8PwhvnLGgnT6Hyzbn9O3Zr2s08NlkLpkisIDM5ca8WIifmN0Q/s1600-h/Asiatic+Lily+2008+-+2.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224246391161667554" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcmrHBENl3itr0QspB0EbT82VrH2pCXPCXsBav3vlIKkHHZ-7Ad2TLHTvscpfEhJVsdI2LFovsGuhTKzcTCJ-KL8PwhvnLGgnT6Hyzbn9O3Zr2s08NlkLpkisIDM5ca8WIifmN0Q/s320/Asiatic+Lily+2008+-+2.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVT5Ol8xQ0fV3S9UoJM_Z8nPFZb_X-vhVhGbbzV9E2FCHtnF8hijtJht44pvIklMAodJKM-Uwn4rzkBoWMo5Oee0gsXD_b6Ugfci754dICYLkRxfrpIain-OLTv9X4JwCKAYRsrg/s1600-h/Stargazer+Lily+2008+-+3.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224246394692780530" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVT5Ol8xQ0fV3S9UoJM_Z8nPFZb_X-vhVhGbbzV9E2FCHtnF8hijtJht44pvIklMAodJKM-Uwn4rzkBoWMo5Oee0gsXD_b6Ugfci754dICYLkRxfrpIain-OLTv9X4JwCKAYRsrg/s320/Stargazer+Lily+2008+-+3.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJkrLcYkMKfvDchmcJ8ekkZeFntZ2bxs_MKsIjfS2OL6LXd9boPPMaEPigadMaiyCnt70Yep7TtOspEt4K40un59rRvM1bquDtXkG8A3XfycL6yGwgnqtuGmpaCuK0xqSYi2Aqtw/s1600-h/Stargazer+Lily+2008+-+2.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224246396182121858" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJkrLcYkMKfvDchmcJ8ekkZeFntZ2bxs_MKsIjfS2OL6LXd9boPPMaEPigadMaiyCnt70Yep7TtOspEt4K40un59rRvM1bquDtXkG8A3XfycL6yGwgnqtuGmpaCuK0xqSYi2Aqtw/s320/Stargazer+Lily+2008+-+2.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwrVOqAP0xGSHledH9zFFFUF1d377HLdF9kS6dwKR9fy7jASjpG8Uy6UMxzPEGnL13jHyP7Or4CIY4wLBSObWENv2IoDahk-cnSDLjygyvmaAxi-IeD8RdStaqjx5hsczG4R6OmA/s1600-h/Stargazer+Lily+2008+-+4.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224246402729211938" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwrVOqAP0xGSHledH9zFFFUF1d377HLdF9kS6dwKR9fy7jASjpG8Uy6UMxzPEGnL13jHyP7Or4CIY4wLBSObWENv2IoDahk-cnSDLjygyvmaAxi-IeD8RdStaqjx5hsczG4R6OmA/s320/Stargazer+Lily+2008+-+4.JPG" border="0" /></a>Blu486http://www.blogger.com/profile/01192782745562840301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846307.post-26553006040817193282008-06-11T00:24:00.002-05:002008-06-11T00:27:48.260-05:00Last of the Iris<span style="font-size:130%;">They may be the last of the iris, but they </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj35woOFIGPhq8QILiMI5VSEMFTGmP2sP0cHMLjjS2l2tJ3bnQNAFBGxtgjzXwtcsTNU8TnOrT9qCXyAg3I0yYeFFnIPGXqMcuc-ub-PCgkJB695I1OijXOoH7VJYJaOk5QRwvJlQ/s1600-h/Beverly+Sills+Iris+2008.JPG"><span style="font-size:130%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210490861112492034" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj35woOFIGPhq8QILiMI5VSEMFTGmP2sP0cHMLjjS2l2tJ3bnQNAFBGxtgjzXwtcsTNU8TnOrT9qCXyAg3I0yYeFFnIPGXqMcuc-ub-PCgkJB695I1OijXOoH7VJYJaOk5QRwvJlQ/s320/Beverly+Sills+Iris+2008.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">were worth waiting for!! </span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">The peach one is "Beverly Sills." Not sure of the name of the black, but it is just as black as it can be! Both are stunning!</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5XXAKREHklWqgXd3MZ7jVuFGhpjauWOItuBNI6Lkk_yVE3iKI1dDDmFEXUZmiaJx77slO5f3ElrKrfWqrAFFRL4f5w0AXFXGHBMme7aG5eos1ay0f8Cm6YNdeh93KeDWMo1x1aQ/s1600-h/Black+Iris+2008.JPG"><span style="font-size:130%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210490840962794258" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5XXAKREHklWqgXd3MZ7jVuFGhpjauWOItuBNI6Lkk_yVE3iKI1dDDmFEXUZmiaJx77slO5f3ElrKrfWqrAFFRL4f5w0AXFXGHBMme7aG5eos1ay0f8Cm6YNdeh93KeDWMo1x1aQ/s320/Black+Iris+2008.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span>Blu486http://www.blogger.com/profile/01192782745562840301noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846307.post-23733603211757298512008-05-21T16:15:00.002-05:002008-05-21T16:18:30.430-05:00The Results Are In!<span style="font-size:130%;">I'd say - the Vienna Egg Braid looks even <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIF094uswLYZTQjHNFgLd05z3oLKkFKVgohXWpECX4ODQPHcYuzO-HxVEXLGxk-WvwJPbHn_J-4q-nOYQh9yO2ZIp1mcU3V4m927fs4L-qx8r1JLyb30VcMlBpauOBb8dp9ymUjQ/s1600-h/Vienna+Egg+Braid+-+21+May+08.jpg"><span style="font-size:130%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5202942957657153826" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIF094uswLYZTQjHNFgLd05z3oLKkFKVgohXWpECX4ODQPHcYuzO-HxVEXLGxk-WvwJPbHn_J-4q-nOYQh9yO2ZIp1mcU3V4m927fs4L-qx8r1JLyb30VcMlBpauOBb8dp9ymUjQ/s320/Vienna+Egg+Braid+-+21+May+08.jpg" border="0" /></span></a></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">better on my diningroom table than it looks in the recipe book! Yippee! Just the way I remembered it!<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"></span>Blu486http://www.blogger.com/profile/01192782745562840301noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846307.post-50094864397025405232008-05-13T23:51:00.005-05:002008-05-14T00:01:23.435-05:00Cookbook Oddesy<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0XQvccJRsGYXCTyykjkel-3cbIpSBqBEd9caRUcCs0IorRhsDAd9ehEXlomRdkqgC1QrvRlMm9hhueZhnUjazK8LaASyYaOdiQwk1wj5hzrAcGF1G3_FPzVnpEiCrO21eLAlPdA/s1600-h/untitled2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200091975545938130" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0XQvccJRsGYXCTyykjkel-3cbIpSBqBEd9caRUcCs0IorRhsDAd9ehEXlomRdkqgC1QrvRlMm9hhueZhnUjazK8LaASyYaOdiQwk1wj5hzrAcGF1G3_FPzVnpEiCrO21eLAlPdA/s320/untitled2.jpg" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;">I know it’s silly, but back in 1971, as a newly wed, new mother, and brand new military wife, I moved back in with my folks while my (now ex) hubby was in Basic Training and AIT. While there, my parents took off for a two-week vacation, and myself and a girlfriend – also a new mom whose hubby was on tour in Vietnam – decided to raise a bit of “walking around money.”<br /><br />We started baking homemade bread – white, whole wheat, raisin, and a wonderful, chewy, sesame-seeded Vienna Egg Bread. She’d come by my house every morning and we’d bake all day. We put a make-shift sign out by my driveway on a busy street proclaiming “Homemade Bread,” and the magic began. People came, saw our stuff, and bought it – just like that. It was wonderful! After repaying ourselves for the ingredients, we even made a profit to divide! It was a miracle. Didn’t amount to all that much, but to us it was a huge satisfaction, not to mention the house smelled devine!<br /><br />Then, my parents came home, and our “bakery” was closed forever.<br /><br />I haven’t thought about those two weeks in years and years. But, when I first remembered it about a month ago, a desire to taste the Vienna Egg Braid again was overwhelming. Just couldn’t remember where the darned recipe was!<br /><br />You have to realize that I probably have about 400 (literally) cookbooks. Even stumbled across the 10th Anniversary Edition of the Pillsbury Bakeoff booklet! Thank goodness not many of those 400 go back as far as 1971, though! Today, I sat on the floor in front of the cookbook stash and started hunting. Big, hardbound books first. Nowhere could it be found! Then I started thumbing through all my Pillsbury Bakeoff and other pamphlets.<br /><br />Found the recipe book that goes with my Waring Blender that broke about 1985 when my son tried to make fresh bread crumbs by stuffing the bread down with his fingers (yeah – very yucky injury and ruined the blender). Found the recipe booklet that goes with my waffle maker – that developed a short about 1980 and instead of making waffles, it bakes them then rips them apart while keeping both sides firmly attached to the griddle. Found the recipe booklet that went with my original ice cream machine – that was purchased in the mid-1970s. Found the cookie recipes for the Mirro Cooky-Pastry Press. And the recipe for the Norwegian Krumkake Iron I got as a newlywed.<br /><br />Then – finally found Pillsbury’s Time Saver Cookbook, originally published in 1967, and mine is the second edition. That’s where the recipe was! I am overjoyed! Seems silly that something so small can bring so much pleasure!</span>Blu486http://www.blogger.com/profile/01192782745562840301noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846307.post-90752607652427163512008-05-04T16:52:00.007-05:002008-05-04T17:05:11.690-05:00Spring in St. Louis<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSdpbBgzufQLEuxKfetwMUUL4zVuZPu0kSrVNyS5RhVq03MJ-rn3qfWa1nvolSniNAMb6Z6DWHNw4MWtok0EpZ4AORyp33Q2eraJFDAh75Ac1-638MtgL8j2p10aORUMqhN0F1Tw/s1600-h/P1010009.JPG"><span style="font-size:130%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196645555572600930" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSdpbBgzufQLEuxKfetwMUUL4zVuZPu0kSrVNyS5RhVq03MJ-rn3qfWa1nvolSniNAMb6Z6DWHNw4MWtok0EpZ4AORyp33Q2eraJFDAh75Ac1-638MtgL8j2p10aORUMqhN0F1Tw/s320/P1010009.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><span style="font-size:130%;">The tree peony began blooming yesterday - just all of a sudden! These blooms are easily 7" across! </span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><br /><p><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0h91Gi7yeTAInqiLwHGBONLK7YMuaV8TQ1jleQbZfA_ICgFEGUvlR6t-8XK06RCo53xZpjaWkZhR_vMq-D2dF-nrGEJp9yyqqyY48QjVhMo8qqJHCiLeU9boMoUj3hxusERFjYA/s1600-h/P1010010.JPG"><span style="font-size:130%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196644464650907618" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0h91Gi7yeTAInqiLwHGBONLK7YMuaV8TQ1jleQbZfA_ICgFEGUvlR6t-8XK06RCo53xZpjaWkZhR_vMq-D2dF-nrGEJp9yyqqyY48QjVhMo8qqJHCiLeU9boMoUj3hxusERFjYA/s320/P1010010.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDFIl9uW2LZKEj-wq0oDZo6D7Xu0mV5Veyw1aiw4KMhS_bVgaeQ-QTNMGMWHiBSgkmGZm4Z4X-8ADN0KAFRgeh1y_fB9tSDJHyvSy9O3mL1OeJBaAwrcsX2H0Q7tX_mUVkwjJOYQ/s1600-h/P1010011.JPG"><span style="font-size:130%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196644473240842226" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDFIl9uW2LZKEj-wq0oDZo6D7Xu0mV5Veyw1aiw4KMhS_bVgaeQ-QTNMGMWHiBSgkmGZm4Z4X-8ADN0KAFRgeh1y_fB9tSDJHyvSy9O3mL1OeJBaAwrcsX2H0Q7tX_mUVkwjJOYQ/s320/P1010011.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYDe4t1X6GcT9rZ4o5GH9w8tXn1_8tj5-LCJoYDhss7wAgFI_7E8Rxln_R0PdVwVHwsGtFVcp4CyFO3iTjRxPtRFjGc_W05xCWesV98t32kOVx5BrcTVsHfvnMwjRUZdo8pMCWwQ/s1600-h/P1010012.JPG"><span style="font-size:130%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196644477535809538" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYDe4t1X6GcT9rZ4o5GH9w8tXn1_8tj5-LCJoYDhss7wAgFI_7E8Rxln_R0PdVwVHwsGtFVcp4CyFO3iTjRxPtRFjGc_W05xCWesV98t32kOVx5BrcTVsHfvnMwjRUZdo8pMCWwQ/s320/P1010012.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></p><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Here's the entire bush in bloom:</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEGLerm2-bEFriYBShaIzFOvmDkG-R22l05zJ1R9WLiohlZyAFIUiYBybzwh_At9ol1YVzERknRrMZPmxLWKyXnHplLS7EWk6hq_Ru4IHTgtF_1Np_xd_MStFFFiJncW746HR59Q/s1600-h/P1010013.JPG"><span style="font-size:130%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196644481830776850" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEGLerm2-bEFriYBShaIzFOvmDkG-R22l05zJ1R9WLiohlZyAFIUiYBybzwh_At9ol1YVzERknRrMZPmxLWKyXnHplLS7EWk6hq_Ru4IHTgtF_1Np_xd_MStFFFiJncW746HR59Q/s320/P1010013.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">And just to whet your appetite, a few backyard azaleas in bloom. Tomorrow, I'll take a picture or two of the pink one in front - it's grown quite a lot since the last pictures!</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOKmfBgzOUEjfta3j-I1A7pynMe_B8U-0D7Okdh5m-0_dlgKgGv1J2zPQoSiWImB3ODSAk1NWxMD5nAl9Qt77JdPoogB_PzxqbFgt3s9kGDpcb4DXHdrY9QeUrGJ9Q4PuUWJxAqA/s1600-h/P1010014.JPG"><span style="font-size:130%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196644876967768098" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOKmfBgzOUEjfta3j-I1A7pynMe_B8U-0D7Okdh5m-0_dlgKgGv1J2zPQoSiWImB3ODSAk1NWxMD5nAl9Qt77JdPoogB_PzxqbFgt3s9kGDpcb4DXHdrY9QeUrGJ9Q4PuUWJxAqA/s320/P1010014.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgheNp0ec6s1F9EozSRf3ubDYU6QqxuzZ3MHk-WNhtU-DOO4MxYb0UGWYtYB-Vri8t_shhpMh3AEZb7A_67aL6TwM6GKj8U0unG4Msn_MeM_o8WR6MQ9krDkRpnwhbYnQxilSXPkA/s1600-h/Purple+Azalea+Closeup.JPG"><span style="font-size:130%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196644876967768114" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgheNp0ec6s1F9EozSRf3ubDYU6QqxuzZ3MHk-WNhtU-DOO4MxYb0UGWYtYB-Vri8t_shhpMh3AEZb7A_67aL6TwM6GKj8U0unG4Msn_MeM_o8WR6MQ9krDkRpnwhbYnQxilSXPkA/s320/Purple+Azalea+Closeup.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ7eMEnmo4iolsTgJP7S8zL60RStqF3jxN7_SjPfvJlrru9lmz4rdTj_B5IK3-FSyTNGp8PHLRkJ10UdsOuRxNIBbw-Z7AX1dhdFwjeXJcB4Pq0ehyphenhyphenjcuKgtci-DRSFFE8T05SIA/s1600-h/P1010016.JPG"><span style="font-size:130%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5196644881262735426" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ7eMEnmo4iolsTgJP7S8zL60RStqF3jxN7_SjPfvJlrru9lmz4rdTj_B5IK3-FSyTNGp8PHLRkJ10UdsOuRxNIBbw-Z7AX1dhdFwjeXJcB4Pq0ehyphenhyphenjcuKgtci-DRSFFE8T05SIA/s320/P1010016.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span>Blu486http://www.blogger.com/profile/01192782745562840301noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846307.post-4184068814512071592008-03-28T16:30:00.003-05:002008-03-28T16:38:18.359-05:00This Is Not A Tree<span style="font-size:130%;">Ok - So I've been a bad blogger. Nobody seemed to notice, anyway. I'm still unemployed, still depressed about that, had a difficult winter with 70s one day, 12" of snow the next. Flooding in St. Louis this spring . . . it just gets better and better.<br /></span><div><span style="font-size:130%;">But - a very interesting thing happened last nite while I was goofing off at my computer around 2 a.m. Thought I heard a knock on the front door. Got up, looked, nobody there. But this is what greeted me this morning in the backyard:</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-size:130%;"></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEietH-KpFqWDlFjUeJkfNuppqAQId27ZqRMOx4HTo40GAYVXe6JnkuQMOVnqdgM-Q8b42Pp9xncXqE6HtKGNmPpawYRr8xygLjbXhMXcOqxq0lculmJjliDTZq02bkwg0qsgqv48w/s1600-h/Rocket+Branch+3.jpg"><span style="font-size:130%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5182908651959444418" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEietH-KpFqWDlFjUeJkfNuppqAQId27ZqRMOx4HTo40GAYVXe6JnkuQMOVnqdgM-Q8b42Pp9xncXqE6HtKGNmPpawYRr8xygLjbXhMXcOqxq0lculmJjliDTZq02bkwg0qsgqv48w/s320/Rocket+Branch+3.jpg" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-size:130%;">No - not the big thing in the back that is OBVIOUSLY a TREE. This is what happens when a huge branch falls from about 80 feet high and lands in about 12" worth of very rain-softened ground. Apparently, the noise I heard was a secondary branch broken off this one (you can see it there in the lower left corner), and it bounced off a fire pit which knocked the lid off that and onto the patio. I even gave the branch a nudge to see how solid it is in the ground - pretty darned solid! Just amazing!</span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"></span>Blu486http://www.blogger.com/profile/01192782745562840301noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7846307.post-7017292454214616712007-12-05T22:10:00.000-06:002007-12-05T22:14:31.949-06:00It's Beginning to Look . . .<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_blBKF1AkQ7f6a1uRwbBay_slPu1tdGD3me_2M-RLdhbVK3MAKR1ZZWx_MOFcIGETSyiVgXtJnzx5IpLB6E-nlmJiW5n-nm7o5Je6Yrb83NPhDN2ZoBUzp6hpIKWC0y8eQ5QemA/s1600-h/P1010021.JPG"><span style="font-size:130%;"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5140707782169138434" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_blBKF1AkQ7f6a1uRwbBay_slPu1tdGD3me_2M-RLdhbVK3MAKR1ZZWx_MOFcIGETSyiVgXtJnzx5IpLB6E-nlmJiW5n-nm7o5Je6Yrb83NPhDN2ZoBUzp6hpIKWC0y8eQ5QemA/s320/P1010021.JPG" border="0" /></span></a><span style="font-size:130%;">A TINY bit like Christmas. Isn't this guy cute?? He's really a wind sock I found at the Wild Bird store and he's hanging from my fireplace mantle. Too cute to stick outside.<br /><br />With my dad back in the hospital, this may be the only decoration that gets set up at my place this year . . .</span>Blu486http://www.blogger.com/profile/01192782745562840301noreply@blogger.com0