Quote of the Week

Minnesota 2011

Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his pictures.   - Henry Ward Beecher

The best artistic expression comes from within ourselves.  I think the painting on the side of this building shows this very well, and reflects the many faces and places of the city.

I hope everyone has a safe and happy Memorial Day weekend.

A Sticky Situation

Photo credit:  Stephen Craven

Along the winding path and into the dense foliage walked the boy following the yips of a puppy.  He'd always wanted a puppy.

He found him trapped in a briar patch, whimpering as the thorns stabbed his tender nose.

As the boy freed the wriggling mass, the puppy jumped up and down and licked his face.

Written for the Gman of Friday Flash 55 fame, as he recovers from a serious illness. We look forward to his return.

Shades of Green

I love the way the

trees caress the summer sky

shades of green on blue

Written for dVerse poetry.

Quote of the Week

Target practice - my latest adventure.

 Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried something new. - Albert Einstein

Life is full of new adventures; give it a shot!

Miss Molly

If you ask me about any of my feline friends, I would say he or she is or was just the sweetest thing.  These are the words of a true cat lover.  Yet they are all different.  Each cat is a unique entity with his or her own special personality.  Each has their own way of bonding with the people they share their homes with.  That's right, nobody truly owns a cat.  They let us live with them.

This was Molly.  She was a very special lady, long and slender with a tail to make any cat proud.  Molly came to live with us when she was 3 1/2 years old.  Her story is told in more detail here.

 

1998 - 2007

As you see, she liked to help me at the computer.  I would be sitting there working on something, oblivious to the world, and feel this tap on my leg..."Hi Mama".   Other times she would just launch straight to the back of my chair.  I would be startled, but she never missed.  This was her way of bonding with me.  It was our special thing.

Like most cats, she liked the high places, and would frequently be found sitting on top of the bookcase.

I'm on top of the world.

Am I not just the sweetest thing ever?

We miss you, Molly!

Mystery Man

I found him in the Ladies Room last night.  What do you think his story is?

Hey Lady!
Can you see me?

 Where am I?

How did I get here?

Quote of the Week

The mighty Oak was once a little nut that 

stood its ground. - Unknown

Photo Credit:  Reellady

Dig in, stand fast and reach tall.  Anything is possible if you have good roots.

 

Mother's Day Special

Me, Mommy, and Grammy

Today is Mother's Day, a day set aside to honor our mothers, grandmothers, mother-in-laws, and/or any other special women in our lives.  

Mothers are more than just the givers of life, they are teachers and playmates.  They are entertainers and magicians.  They are chauffeurs and coaches.  They are adversaries during our trying teen years, and ultimately, our friends for life. They are the nurturers of our mind, body and soul.

They bandage our cuts and scrapes, and tend to our broken hearts.  They listen as we share our disappointments and joyously applaud our successes.  They surprise us with treats just to see us smile, and replace balloons that go pop when they hit the ground.  

And even when we are grown and on our own, they still bring us soup when we're sick, and hold our hands when life isn't fair and tell us it will be all right.

This is what mothers do.  Not because they have to...there are no rule books and no penalties.  They do this because they love us.  A mother's love is a powerful potion.

Let us honor our Mothers, not just on Mother's Day, but everyday.

Happy Mother's Day, Mom.  I miss you!

Truth or Fiction? Take It With a Grain of Salt

Do you wonder where some of the expressions we use everyday come from?  I do.  So when I used the expression "take it with a grain of salt" in a post, I knew I had to explore it further.  In my ongoing quest to find the answers to life's everyday questions, I turned to Google.  Doesn't everyone?  As with most expressions, there are variations on the origin.

First we find that having "salt in your pumpkin" is a good thing.  Now when I think of pumpkins, I naturally think of pie, don't you.  Anyway, in Italy pumpkin is another way of saying head, and "a grain of salt" often refers to intelligence.  All of which is a roundabout way of saying that if you have salt in your pumpkin you are someone with intelligence and good reasoning skills.

Wieliczka Salt Mine by Anna Strummillo

In it's Latin form, "cum grano salis" is often used when the situation at hand requires care and good personal judgment.

The Modern English version of "take it with a grain of salt", is really saying "don't take this seriously".  In other words, don't believe everything you hear.  When I was a kid, Mom would sometimes say that when I would tell her something I'd heard from some of the neighbors who were apt to embellish a bit on the facts.

Going all the way back to 77 A.D. it was written that a grain of salt was an ingredient in an antidote for poisoning, indicating that the effects of the poison may be moderated by taking a grain of salt.  Along these same lines, salt was once believed to have healing properties, and thus eating or drinking anything with a grain of salt was a form of preventative medicine.  Now we are told to limit our salt intake for health reasons, but it is also said that history repeats itself. 

What are some of your favorite expressions?

Standing Tall

Stretched by the waning sun

I am likened to a tree

From my shadow

I cannot flee

Written for dVerse Poetry.

Quote of the Week

A true friend is one who thinks you are a good egg even if you are half-cracked.  - Author Unknown

Are you talking about me?

Good friends are the true treasures in the basket of life.

My Buddy

I have boxes full of pictures taken before we had a digital camera, so why not take advantage of the wealth.  Looking back to early 2001, we see Dood in an over-sized kennel.

I'm here for you!

When Dood (short for Doodle) was just a baby, he lost his mama and was adopted by Red, an old Tom.  Dood, like most kittens, loved to explore and apparently found his way under the hood of a car.  Regrettably his tail was injured when the car was started.  

He was friendly, but skittish about being picked up, so we worked with him to gain his trust. The smaller carrier on the left is how we rounded him up for a trip to the vet.  I left it open and he wandered in and I closed the door behind him.  Uh, what now?  Take him to vet, of course.  What?  Here was this never before contained kitten, that I had to single-handedly take to the vet.  This isn't what we'd planned...it just happened.  So, looking somewhat like a wild thing myself, I grabbed my keys and away we went.  

I was trying to keep him and me calm - singing, praying, and all the while figuring he would never trust me again.  I had called hubby and he called the vet to tell them we were coming, and that I'd probably need a sedative (no, unfortunately they can't give people sedatives).   

Sadly, he had to have part of his tail amputated, and while he was there we had him neutered, too.  We borrowed the large dog kennel from the Humane Society, and turned it into a mini suite, complete with a loft perch for him to enjoy while he convalesced.  His 10-day confinement allowed us to give his medication on schedule.  Like any good friend, Red was never far away, so we provided him a comfortable place to visit.  

Here they are several years later in their "summer house".  They were the best of friends for years. 

Me and my buddy

Changes

Life unfolds before me

Like scenes within a play

Who rewrote the story

Rewind to yesterday

When the sun was shining
And my spirits they did soar
Where is the silver lining
In clouds along the shore

Posted for dVerse Poetry

Quote of the Week

Guy playing guitar on the beach

When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.

When you put aside your fears you grow stronger.

When you put aside your doubts you grow more confident.

When you put aside your prejudices you become more open minded.

When you put aside your negative thoughts you become a more positive person.

Embrace your new identity.

Traveling Cat?

Ahhh...zzzzzz

No, Sophie doesn't travel.  What she does do is eagerly await her Daddy's return no matter whether he's been away for a week, at work for the day or out for an hour.

This was the scene one day as I was unpacking his overnight bag.  There are two favorites in her life.  One is her Daddy, and the other is finding great snuggly places.

This is the best of both worlds - she can nestle in with stuff that smells like her favorite human.  It just doesn't get any better!

Designer Blues

“Well this just sucks,” Amy complained bitterly to her friend, Sharon, as they tried on designer jeans.  She had been a six forever, and now she was squeezing into a size ten.  On her wedding day everyone raved about how she looked in that figure-hugging gown of satin and lace.  Ever since her divorce, however, things went downhill while her weight crept upward.

“Cheer up” replied Sharon, “you still look great.  I saw that TDH checking you out at the club last week.”  TDH in their code stood for tall, dark and handsome, or in today’s lingo, a "hot guy".

“Yeah, I camouflage it very well," she said wryly.  "Some days I convince myself it’s not so bad, and other days I rationalize that I’m not the only one whose waistline has expanded or have parts that jiggle that were never meant to.”

“C’mon, let’s get a smoothie” Sharon suggested, hoping to take her friend’s mind off her woes.  “We’ll get one of those healthified ones made with fat-free frozen yogurt and skim milk.”

“All right,” Amy agreed.  “I haven’t had lunch yet anyway.  Hey, maybe I’ll renew my membership at the gym.  I sure won’t change my life sitting on the couch watching Law and Order reruns.”

“Atta girl!  I may just join you.  What have I got to lose?”

Ann sighed.  “In my case, about twenty pounds!”

Two weeks later Amy and Sharon met at the gym after work.  They each had set up a workout schedule, and Sharon was excited to see her body changing.  “I’ve already lost an inch around my waist” she exclaimed.  “That’s awesome!”

“I’m glad one of us is seeing some results,” Amy said glumly.  “I’ve lost about five pounds, but apparently in all the wrong places, if you know what I mean.  I might have to look into one of those low-cost tummy tucks.  If I lose weight, but still have lumpy, bumpy fat bulging out, what’s the point.  Covering up only works so long, you know?  Soon it will be time for swim suits.  Arrrrgggghhhh!

“Well, there’s that,” responded Sharon with a groan as she put down her weights.  “I know. How about liposuction.  I’ve got a cousin who had liposuction to lose some excess weight.  It worked for her, and she looks fantastic.”

"I guess it's something to think about," said Amy, already imagining herself at the beach in a brand new hot pink bikini.

Quote of the Week

Love makes everything grow. - unknown

 

There may be a time, a place and a reason for all things, but love makes them grow. Without love we would wither like a forgotten flower.

Daydreaming

Lying on the beach with the gentle ocean breeze caressing her body, Gina drifted from one delectable daydream to another.  The wispy white clouds drifted lazily across the sky, temporarily masking the sun's warming rays.

Suddenly her reverie was broken by the sound of someone yelling.  Her heart thumping, she jumped to her feet looking in the direction of the noise. Relief filled her when she saw two young boys playing Frisbee on the beach with their dog.

Today's post was written for the Five Sentence Fiction writing prompt based on the word "delectable".

Looking Up

A beautiful Easter Sunday afternoon at Salem Lake.

Quote of the Week

Music makes pictures and often tells stories. 

- John Denver

If words paint pictures, and a picture is worth a thousand words, then music makes them all come alive.

This was inspired by one of the pictures from Nicky and Mike at We Work for Cheese during their 30 days of photographs saga.

What Would Daddy Say?

Daddy was an old-fashioned, old school, all American guy...and I don't mean he was an athlete.  He didn't even watch sports.  However, he was an all American when it came to his cars.  Basically, they all came out of Detroit (or wherever GM was putting cars together).

2006 Toyota Highlander

Until this year, all my cars were GM as well.  Like father, like daughter.

It all started when I was 16.  Every kid wants a car, and I was no exception.  So Daddy bought me my first car.  It was a 16 year old's dream - a (used) 1970 Firebird.  I would be driving to school in style.

Next came a (new) Buick Skyhawk.  After about 10 years, and some problems caused by it being sideswiped in its infancy, I gave it up for a (used) Cutlass Ciera GT.  It was love at first sight... literally on the dealer's lot.  "That's my car!"

Now I was hooked on all things Oldsmobile, and when I needed a new car, I headed straight to the nearest Olds dealer.  The year was 1997 and enter a (new) Cutlass Supreme SL.  See a pattern here?  I remember calling Daddy to ask if he would like to be here when they delivered my new car.  Surprise!

1997 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme

Then a mere 12 years later, due to some inferior maintenance, it died. [sniff]

It take a while for me to choose cars, so in the meantime, hubby let me drive his.

**Now here is the real point of the story**  

All of our family's cars during my lifetime (except for a DeSoto and some other car from the 50s) had been GM.  Now I've gone and gotten a Toyota, and hubby is driving a Honda.

So, what would Daddy say?  

The answer would most likely be - "Whatever suits you."

Care to talk about your first car, or your favorite?

The Princess

Eli was concerned about his latest dream.  It rang with an eerie reality.  Slowly he remembered...when he was just a lad his mother told him bedtime stories - fairy tales she called them.  He thought they were the same stories every mother told their children.  Ones from a fantasy land, but unlike King Arthur and Hansel and Gretel, her stories were tales of the animal kingdom.

Image source: djajakarta

The tale she told most often was about a princess who was raised by a family of giant birds.  They lived at the top of a huge tree in the middle of the enchanted forest.  They were the rulers of the forest and one day they found a tiny baby whose parents were killed by the beast who roamed the night just beyond the forest's edge.  They took the baby to their nest, cared for her and raised her as their own.  Because she was different, they made her a princess.  For years the princess lived among the tree tops until one day she realized that she didn't belong here, that there was another world below.  She bid a tearful good-bye to her bird family.  Over the years, her family had grown and she had hundreds of siblings.  They gathered to carry her safely to the ground where she began her new life.

But now Eli questioned whether that was really a fairy tale.  It might explain the weird dreams he had been having.  Could his mother be the princess of her tale?  Was she an orphan after all or was she really hatched?

Written for Magpie Tales.

Quote of the Week

Act as if what you do makes a difference.  It does.  

- William James

Whether it's doing something special for someone, taking care of the every day chores, or just taking some time for yourself, what you do has an impact on those around you.  What you do does make a difference!

Happy Easter

However you celebrate Easter, with family and friends or Spring break, Church or Easter baskets, or just enjoying life and the renewal brought by the changing seasons, I wish you peace and happiness.  

Happy Easter to all!

Birdman?

Image Source: image: ParkeHarrison

During the night something strange has happened to Eli.  He stirs to consciousness only to feel all prickly.  His foggy mind is wondering who put all these sticks in his bed.  As he tries to stand up, sticks stab his bare feet.  Ouch!  What? 

It appears that Eli is standing in a giant bird nest.  This is ridiculous, he thinks.  There is no such thing as giant bird nests, or am I losing my mind? 

As he begins to climb out of his prickly confines, he stops to take a look around, and is startled at what he sees.  Tree tops.  Pines, oaks, etc.  How is it that he is standing in a giant bird nest at the top of a tree?

Oh no, he thought, I'm not standing in a giant bird nest.  It's much worse.  I am six inches tall, standing in a normal bird nest at the top of a tree.  Help!!!

When Eli finally did wake up, he found bits of twigs between his toes and a feather in his hair.

Written for Magpie Tales.

Quote of the Week

If you truly love Nature, you will find beauty everywhere.   - Vincent Van Gogh

 

Even amongst the dead leaves, I found this brilliant beauty.  Everywhere you turn, there is something to see - all we have to do is look.  Nature will surprise and delight us every time.

Spring Fever

With Spring comes warm temperatures, sunny days, fierce weather, and lots of yard work.  All this means that I have come down with a bad case of Spring Fever.  Therefore, I will be taking a much-needed Spring Break.

Roses to Rainbows will return sometime next week; same time, same place.  

See you then!

Quote of the Week

An animal's eyes have the power to speak a great language.  - Martin Buber

So, what am I saying?

Wouldn't you like to know?

I love you!

Runaway Muse

When my muse up and decides to take a trip, probably to some lush tropical island, she does me a favor.  She leaves me with exactly 55 words with which to create my next post.  The problem is she doesn't tell me which 55 words.  That's something I have to figure out on my own.

Written for Friday Flash 55.

Good Morning To All!

There is nothing extraordinary about this sunrise...unless you consider that I snooze right through most of them.

 

Between the time change making sunrise later, and my inability to sleep any longer this morning, I saw the sun rise.  Lest you think I'm a total slug, I do get the occasional glimpse of dawn breaking when I make my way to the kitchen to feed our...

Awesome Cat

Rosie's internal clock tells him (and me) when it's time for breakfast!  After which I pad back to bed.

He has been dubbed an "awesome cat" in part because of all his health issues, and how he takes it all in stride and remains a happy, loving kitty.

Quote of the Week

Image Source:  Wikimedia

There are good ships, and there are wood ships, the ships that sail the sea. But the best ships are friendships, and may they always be.  - Edward "Ted" Kennedy 

I found this while searching for St. Patrick's Day quotes and sayings.  I like the rhyme, the warmth and the truth of this saying.  

Here's to friendship.  Cheers!

Spring: Friend or Foe?

The flowers are blooming, and the trees are budding.  Mother Nature decorates with brilliant colors and sprouts tender leaves.  Dandelions dot the landscape like yellow stars in a sky of green.

Noses are sneezing and sniffling; eyes water and foreheads wrinkle in pain.  Spring is praised for it's beauty and cursed for it's allergy-inducing pollens.




Written for Friday Flash 55.

Designer Beauty

Spring bursts brightly forth

From the barren winter ground

Designer beauty

Written for dVerse Poetry.

Quote of the Week

Listen or thy tongue will keep thee deaf. 

-Native American Indian Proverb

If you are always talking, the only thoughts, ideas and opinions you will ever hear are your own.  This is akin to being deaf, for you will never learn anything new.  Hear...Listen...Learn.

Monticello

A Lesson in Patience

The mama cat sat staring into the weeds at the edge of the farm.  Only the tip of her tail moved.  "Patience is a virtue", she tells her litter, as they watch her.

Suddenly she pounces into the weeds and turns back with a plump field mouse.  Our patience has been rewarded.  We have dinner."

Looks like there's no dinner for you guys!

Written for Friday Flash 55.

It Finally Happened!

You may remember several years ago I had a Day of Mourning after my car died.  That led to two years of searching (some might say I'm too picky) for another car.  As you know, we keep our cars for a long time, so I searched high and low for a car that would meet my wants and needs.  You can read about some of my adventures in My Quest for Wheels and More Car Stuff.  

Fast forward to the present.  The search is finally over, and I am the proud owner of a 2006 Toyota Highlander.  

Happy Birthday to me!

It has the power seats I need, and it even has a sunroof!  Now we have two reliable vehicles and hubby can actually drive his "new" car...after nearly two years.

Quote of the Week

Argue for your limitations and, sure enough, they're yours.

- Richard Bach

Arguing for your limitations is like betting against yourself, and when you bet against yourself you never win.  We are quite often our own worst enemy, so do yourself a favor - believe in yourself and be your own best friend.

The Door

Image Source:  Spiros Vathis

Before her stands a mysterious door.  Though afraid, she finds herself drawn to it.  She has a key.  The lock turns; she crosses the threshold.  She needn't have been frightened.  This is her dream come true.  A world of merry-go-rounds and games, hot dogs and popcorn, cotton candy and soda fountains.  It was...a carnival.

Written for Friday Flash 55, this was inspired by an episode of the "The Ghost Whisperer", where a door suddenly appears in the middle of the street.

The Voices Are Silent

Image source: Anuj Kumar Pradham

The voices are silent
Their silence brings
A different kind of agony
No chaos or anger
Only confusion and sadness

The voices are silent
They were my enemies
And strangely my friends
Their silence brings
Truth and despair

There is no freedom
Even with the silence
There is no escaping
Where they made me go
What they made me know

With or without them
I have no self
No peace, only pain
No joy, only misery
No life

Edited to clarify:  This poem was written and posted for dVerse Poetry, and is purely fictional and not reflective of my life.

Quote of the Week

Don't let life ruffle your feathers.

Being happy doesn't mean that everything is perfect, it means that you've decided to look beyond the imperfections. - Unknown


Once you have made this decision, you are in control of your happiness, and this is the greatest gift you can give yourself.

The Diner

It had been a long day and their relaxing swim had left Edith and Francine hungry.  "Are you ready?" called Edith from the hallway. 

"Almost.  Just looking for my slip-ons", replied Francine. 

"They're by the door where you left them.  Really, Francine, you are getting absent minded", chided Edith.  So now that we've solved the mystery of the missing shoes, where do you want to eat?"

"How about Mexican?  I heard there's a new place on Channel Road across from the drug store."

"No, that's too heavy.  You know I get heartburn on the travel day if I eat too much", Edith reminded.  How about that little deli on the corner...no that closed last year."  I know how about that diner on Main.  That place always has such good food."

"And cheap, too," retorted Francine, "but you're right.  That's another thing that hasn't changed in the last 20 years.  Do you remember the first time we came here?  We ate at the diner nearly every night."

"Of course I do", said Edith quietly.  That was the year Chester passed away, and the year I had gall bladder surgery.  Neither of us felt like fixing meals."

"Yeah, they had the most delicious BLTs.  Why they even had a garden and grew their own tomatoes.  Home grown are so much better than store bought.  I think they do something to those.  They don't even look like tomatoes."

"Those sandwiches were huge, and only $1.25."  You just couldn't beat it."

"That was 20 years ago.  Prices on everything have gone up, but they are still a great value," said Edith.

"Well you always were the frugal one.  Shall we go?"

The sisters drove to the diner to reminisce over juicy tomatoes, smokey bacon and crisp lettuce, the things memories are made of.

When they pulled into the parking lot, they saw that the place was packed.  "Apparently, we aren't the only ones with this great idea," exclaimed Edith.  

Then they saw it, in the window was a banner.  The diner was having a 20th anniversary special...  You guessed it.  BLTs for the long-ago price of $1.25- while supplies last, of course. 

Written for Write on Edge.  You may remember Francine and Edith from The Beach Cottage.