Eli, Where Are You?

This is day five of the 20 Days of Chill writing challenge hosted by P. J. at A ‘lil HooHaa. Please join me as we share a month of reading, writing and discovery. Today's topic is Invisible.  This is a continuation of my series following the life of Eli.

Eli and his friend Paul were knocking back a few beers and playing pool at the Come As You Are Saloon when in walks this stranger.  Now strangers aren't an unusual sight at the CAYAS, but this one was different. He had a ominous air about him and a crescent scar across his left cheek. His eyes were dark, almost daring someone to mess with him.

Image Source: Wikimedia

Eli and Paul watched as he worked his way to the bar. "Bartender, I'd like a pomegranate martini." 

When they heard that, Paul burst out laughing.  "A pomegranate martini?  What kind of a drink is that for a man?"  

"Shut up, Paul" urged Eli. "What kind of idiot are you, anyway?"

The stranger turned and stared at Paul.  It was a dark stare.  An evil stare. He started walking toward them, glass in hand. He stops mere inches from Paul, tosses back the martini and slams the glass on the table, sending shards of glass flying.

In a low voice that belied the intensity of the moment he remarked almost casually, "That wasn't very nice." 

By this time Eli wasn't feeling very confident about the outcome, and wishing he could suddenly become invisible. 

"My friend didn't mean anything" Eli interjected, hoping to defuse the situation. "Sometimes he can be a bit crass, but he's totally harmless. By the way, my name is Eli, what's yours?" Being friendly couldn't hurt he thought.

"Name's Rico" growled the stranger, and I don't take kindly to being laughed at," gripping the stem of the broken glass. "I ordered this for my old lady."

Paul never knew when to leave well enough alone and asked, "Then why did you drink it?"

Again that dark, evil stare.  "So I could do this" as he raised his arm. "Nobody laughs at me in front of my woman!"

At that point, Eli again wished he were invisible.  As Paul was about to feel the wrath of Rico, he called out "Eli, where are you?"

"What's the matter with you, I'm right here, but not for long. Run!" shouted Eli.

Both men turned and stared. They'd heard Eli shout, but there was no one there, and Paul asked again, "Where did you go?"

Eli reached out his hand to wave, "over here", and it was his turn to freak out. He couldn't see his hand.  He looked down, he had no legs. He looked in the mirror.  No reflection. "What the...?"

Eli, he said to himself, stay calm and don't say anything...just leave.  Gotta try and figure this out.

What do you think happened to Eli?



If you want to catch up on Eli's adventures:

Birdman
The Princess
Eli and the Redhead 
The Winged Woman
Meet Eli's Mother


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Small Town Travel

This is day four of the 20 Days of Chill writing challenge hosted by P. J. at A ‘lil HooHaa. Please join me as we share a month of reading, writing and discovery.  Today's topic is Travel.

Take a trip with me through Amish Country in Lancaster County.  It seems there are cornfields everywhere. One moment you are in town and you turn right, and left and you are in the middle of someone's farm. Some would say it's the best of both worlds.

Amish cornfield

Small towns often have interesting names, as seen on this sign. Thank you for calling Bank of Bird-in-Hand. My name is Robin.  How may I help you?

Are there two in the bush?

We spent the afternoon in Strasburg, and I got my first ever ride on a honest-to-goodness steam-powered train. It was a short 45-minute tour through Amish Country, and yes, more cornfields.

Choo-choo

Here we have some local artwork on display on an old railroad car.  Beauty takes many forms.

Local art

 On another day we visited the Town of Lititz. The heart of Lititz consists of two intersecting streets.  There are many restaurants and shops, including their very own chocolate factory (move over Willy Wonka). They also have a Wall of Remembrance to honor those who paid the supreme price for freedom.

Honoring their heroes

One thing you can always be sure of seeing in Lititz is ducks.  Below we have Duck Island. This is in beautiful Lititz Springs Park, which is over 200 years old.  Can you imagine how many ducks have lived here over the years?

Duck Island in Lititz Springs Park

This beautiful old building is located in Ambler, PA.  We were on our way from Ephrata to Horsham, Actually we were on our way to Philly, but reasonably-priced accommodations were not to be found, so we settled on the little town of Horsham, about a half hour outside the city and took the train.

Beautiful patterns in architecture

A newer building houses CVS, but I give them credit for styling the store to fit in with the small town surroundings, rather than the standard red brick of the ones in larger cities.

New fitting in with the old

Back in Ephrata, we visit the Green Dragon.  There is something there for everyone from fresh foods from local vendors, many of whom are Amish or Mennonite, to beautiful beeswax candles. Pretty and healthy too.

Local products

Look at all the colorful fashions. Want sunglasses, got 'em.  Need wind chimes, bird feeders, funny signs, just look around. You're sure to find something that strikes your fancy.

All the colors of the rainbow

Thanks for joining me on my journey through some quaint little towns. Every time I visit Ashley, I get to see another slice of the American pie - Pennsylvania style.










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The Secret Ingredient

This is day three of the January writing challenge hosted by P. J. at the 'lilhoohaa blog. Let's join in and share a month of reading, writing and discovery.  Today's topic is Willly Wonka's greatest candy making secret.

Image Source: Wikipedia

I saw this many years ago, but honestly don't remember much about it, so I Googled it. There are a lot of opinions ranging from those who think its a whimsical, fanciful movie for and about kids and that Wonka does no wrong, to others who are sure there is a dark, sinister sub-story playing out within the factory.  One reviewer went to far as to call it a "horror movie in disguise as a children's movie".

Apparently there is some secret ingredient or method that makes his confections superior to others. Let's use some imagination shall we.  It's 1971 and the Willy Wonka is offering factory tours to the children. Little kids flock by the hundreds, lured by dreams of endless chocolate...tempted by tasty treats offered by the master chocolatier himself.

So what's the secret?  Does he use the finest cocoa beans, or maybe his cousin's best friend's great-grandmother's recipe? Some folks even believe that it was the children themselves. Why else would he give special tours of the chocolate factory if not to steal their sugary goodness. You know they are made of sugar and spice and everything nice. Wait, that would explain the girls, but what about the boys? Snips and snails, and...oh no...not puppy dog tails.  That's just awful-all those poor, tailless puppies running around, all in the name of great candy. That definitely leaves a bad taste in my mouth!



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Winter Comfort Food

This is day two of the 20 Days of Chill writing challenge hosted by P. J. at A ‘lil HooHaa. Please join me as we share a month of reading, writing and discovery.  Today's topic is Favorite Winter Comfort Food.

Wow, who knew such a simple, straightforward topic would be so challenging?  There are a number of foods which fall into the category of "my favorites" and/or "comfort food", but they are not categorized by season. In fact, there are very few foods or dishes that I consider strictly seasonal.  It is not taboo for me to make soup in the summer or eat ice cream in the winter. 

When I think of comfort food, I think of dishes like mac and cheese, a plate of potato hash, a burger, pizza or anything with bacon, none of which I would relegate to the winter months.

That which comes closest to fulfilling both the winter and comfort requirements would be pecan pie. I only make this around Christmas and it is my favorite pie. While it is obviously food, and I only make it in the winter, it seems odd to call it my favorite winter comfort food.

What are some of your favorite winter and/or comfort dishes?









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Quote of the Week

This is day one of the January writing challenge hosted by P.J. at the 'lilhoohaa blog. Please join me as we share a month of reading, writing and discovery.  Today's topic is Spilled Milk. Since today is Monday, it's time for my weekly quote, and most obvious is:

Don't cry over spilled milk. - Benjamin Franklin

This was also attributed earlier to 17th British historian, James Howell.  

Image Source: lunatheninjakitty

It is thought that this phrase stems from European folklore which holds that fairies like milk and will drink up any spills left behind.  I guess that's saying not to worry if milk is spilled because the fairies will clean it up.  I wonder if they had chocolate milk?

February 11, 2015 is "Don't cry over spilled milk day".  Who knew?  In celebration, let it serve as a reminder to not stress over things that have happened which we cannot change.  The past is just that...the past.  Let's not waste energy worrying about it, and look forward to a new day, and a new year, with a positive attitude.




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Out With The Old

And In With The New

Image Source: openclipart.org

Another year has run it's course, and we struggled rolled with the punches.  Was it a bad year?  Not entirely, but it was difficult at times.

Here are a few highlights of 2014:

Winter and Spring passed with barely a nod since hubby spent much of the first half of the year traveling for his job.  We did have a good snow storm and a bad ice storm complete with power outage.

On the home front, I continued with the routine chores and looking after the cats.  Part of those chores included yard work, which resulted with me doing a face plant into the neighbors wooden fence.  Let me tell you that smarted and left me with an awesome shiner. Amazingly, other than the bruised face, there wasn't another scratch on me.

We helped a good friend celebrate her 80th birthday.  She was certainly surprised when she was escorted to a dinner with 15 of her closest friends.

We traveled to Pennsylvania to visit Ashley and her family.  That was a week filled with fun, laughter and shared friendship.  We went to an amusement park, took a steam train ride and found a lovely small town zoo in which to meander about.

Insert more business travel.  Sigh!

In October we made our nearly-annual trek to Madeira Beach (St. Petersburg, FL).  There we ate copious amounts of seafood, went fishing at Ft. DeSoto, and took a dolphin watch cruise. My favorite non-seafood meal was DeLosa's pizza eaten on our balcony at sunset.

November brought the devastating loss of Dood at age 14.  He was always the healthiest of our cats, so his brief illness and subsequent passing a little more than a year after Rosie really rocked our world.

There are always holiday memories, whether we want to remember them or not.  I choose to remember them...even when one of them is of my feet going out from under me on the dance floor at a Christmas party.  That it was our wine club Christmas party is irrelevant, right? Sorry, no pictures or video. 

Now we have a new year before us.  May it be filled with hope and joy, laughter and friendship, love and peace!  Welcome to 2015.

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Quote of the Week

We will open the book. Its pages are blank. We are going to put words on them ourselves. The book is called Opportunity and its first chapter is New Year's Day.  - Edith Lovejoy Pierce

Lucky Bee Press

New Year's resolutions are overstated and overrated.  Rather than put pen to paper and list all that we hope to begin, change or achieve, let's take the blank pages of the New Year and give ourselves permission to live one chapter at a time.





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Quote of the Week

He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree.  

- Roy L. Smith

Merry Christmas from our house to yours.

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Quote of the Week

 It is not the mountain we conquer but ourselves.  

- Edmund Hillary

Image Source: Wikipedia

Born in 1919 in New Zealand, Sir Edmund Percival Hillary was a mountaineer, explorer and philanthropist. He and a Nepalese Sherpa mountaineer were the first to reach the summit of Mount Everest in 1953.  After his climb, he held a life-long passion for helping the Sherpa through a trust that he founded.

The mountain is only a physical obstacle. In facing what life puts before us and persevering, we gain strength and confidence, ultimately overcoming our personal obstacles.

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A Christmas Puzzle

Christmas is a joyful time of year, but we put so much pressure on ourselves to find the perfect gift, or the right outfit for the party. So, let's all take a break from the hustle and bustle and stress of the holiday season and work a puzzle.  It's simple and colorful and will only take you about 5 minutes to complete. Just click on here Christmas Puzzle  to begin. (Note, the picture above is not the puzzle picture.)

A few tips - the pieces are not set in their final positions, they can be turned by degrees by right clicking on the piece.  In other words if it looks like it is the bottom right corner, it may actually be the top left corner. The same applies to all the pieces, otherwise it wouldn't be any challenge at all.

You can also view just the border or just the middle or all the pieces, and you can change the number of pieces to increase the difficulty, and you can preview the picture like looking at the box lid to a regular jigsaw puzzle.

It is timed, but just have fun with it, and if you enjoy it, feel free to share it.

Merry Christmas!

Quote of the Week

You can't cross the sea merely by standing 

and staring at the water.  ― Rabindranath Tagore

Not only can you not cross the sea by staring at the water, you can't accomplish anything by being a bystander in your own life.  From something as simple as an overstuffed closet or messy garage, to a major endeavor, you can't accomplish something you never begin.  

Like I'm fond of saying "those dishes aren't going to wash themselves".  There's no time like the present, so let's dig in and get our feet wet and our hands dirty and see what we can accomplish.  


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Quote of the Week

The best thing one can do when it's raining 

is to let it rain. - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Spring 2000 - November 28, 2014

As some of you may know, we said good-bye to Dood on Friday.  We knew there was something wrong, but had no idea when we went to the vet Friday morning that would be our last moments with him.  To say that it was heartbreaking would be an understatement for me, having only lost Rosie a year ago.  Dood was really a comfort this past year, and we grew closer than ever.

If you're wondering what this has to do with the quote, it's simple.  For me the rain symbolizes tears, and sometimes the best way to deal with loss is to rain when you need to.

Love ya buddy!

Happy Thanksgiving

Image Source:  Frances Brundage

Happy Thanksgiving to our family and friends!

Quote of the Week

Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage. 

- Anaïs Nin, Diary, 1969

This is an unintentional continuation of the last several weeks' thought process.  We've talked about hindsight being the key to the future as it enables us to see the possibilities. Then we touched on our inner strength, which is always there, but sometimes seems harder to access.

This week we look at life and how full it is or maybe how lacking it seems.  Courage and inner strength are closely related and tie into our ability to make the most of what life has to offer.  

The point of today's quote is about finding the courage to move forward and broaden our horizons.  We only get out of life what we put into it, and sometimes that takes strength, courage and the ability to learn from our mistakes, as well as the courage to risk making those mistakes in the first place.






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Sun on the Water

Sunlight resting on the calm glistening water

what a peaceful feeling.

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Quote of the Week

We find in ourselves the strength to overcome every obstacle, which is a good thing, because we also find in ourselves every obstacle. - Robert Brault

Once again we take a look at the insight and humor of Robert Brault.  His quotes have appeared on Roses to Rainbows from time to time as I seek out words of wisdom, inspiration and humor.  He is a freelance writer who has been contributing to various publications for over 40 years.  He has recently published a book titled Round Up The Usual Suspects: Thoughts On Just About Everything.


Today we focus on our strength.  Sometimes we think - I can't do that, or I'll never get through this (see last week's quote).  

For many of us our problems stem from us turning minor setbacks into road blocks. However, within ourselves we have the strength required to see us through, to overcome life's bumps and change the road blocks back into merely minor setbacks. 

In reality, though, not all of life's problems are just bumps in the road or minor setbacks that could have been changed or avoided by a different mindset, but we must still focus our inner strength to meet these challenges.

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Autumn's Glory

Their fiery colors

Set the afternoon ablaze

Nature's off her meds

Quote of the Week

On particularly rough days when I'm sure I can't endure, I like to remind myself that my track record for getting through bad days so far is 100%...and that's pretty good. 
- Unknown.

You've all heard the expression about hindsight being 20/20.  That usually refers to something that you should (or shouldn't) have done.  Our old friends shoulda, coulda, woulda, and if only gather around, often making us look back with regret.

Here's a way that hindsight can make us feel better instead of longing for a do-over.

For example, you're having a bad day, the boss yelled at you, someone ate your chicken sandwich and you just lost your last dollar in the vending machine.  Or, your sitter called at the last minute to cancel because she has the flu and she sat for your kids yesterday.

Whatever the situation, you will get through it.  Why? Because you always do, and when you look back on the incidents or issues that caused such distress at the time, you see two things.  First, you are here.  You got through it. And second, it was not nearly as bad as it seemed, or maybe not as bad as it could have been.



Hindsight can provide a little insight into how your next jog in the road will turn out.

Please share your thoughts or stories in the comment section.


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Tis The Season!

Tis the season!  This phrase has many meanings.  The Holidays are nearly upon us, but for those of us with trees, it is now leaf blowing/raking season as well.  Remember when you could rake them up into a big pile and after an afternoon of running and jumping into them, you would rake them back into a pile and burn them? I guess some folks can still do that, but not us city-dwellers.  Nope, we rake, blow or otherwise collect bushels and bushels of leaves to deposit at the street for the city to come by with their huge leaf-sucking machines and vacuum them up.

Now for a look at the more traditional season.  That's right, Turkey Day is just around the corner. Christmas parades, tons of food, long siestas, and of course, football, team up to make the fourth Thursday in November, not just any day, but Thanksgiving Day.

I must one of the few people on the planet who doesn't get all wound up over a big Thanksgiving Day meal. It is a day that gives us license to make enough food to feed a starving army - to serve a half dozen people, and then eat as if we were that starving army.  I realize that many gatherings are much larger, so just multiply by your gathering by a factor of 10 and you will have comparatively the same amount of food per person.

Thanksgiving also gives us license to eat as if it's our last opportunity to feed for the next year.  

Picture this:

Frank: "I'm stuffed."

Bob: "I can't move...I can't even breathe."

Ron: "Alice, why did you let me eat so much?"  [belch]

Then you hear a voice from the kitchen.  "Does anyone want more pie?"

Frank: "Yeah, I'll take a slice."

Bob: "Me too!"

Ron: "Maybe just a small piece."

Do you hear conversations like this around your house after the big meal?  It's like we become bottomless food pits, and despite all the moaning and groaning, we continue to pick away at the leftovers until they are secured in plastic take-home containers for us to recreate the feast the next day.  No one walks away empty handed.

Guess what? Christmas is only 47 days away, and we can start all over again.  Click here for an update on how long you have left to shop!


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Word Challenge

We've all played scrabble, done crosswords and word find puzzles, and in the age of technology we play with (or against) people across the street or around the world.

This challenge is a little different.  There is no list of words to find, no points to count and no competitor to defeat.

All you have to do is sit back, look at the chart below, and write down the first three words that you see.

What are your three words, and do you think they describe you?

Explain why they do or don't describe you.

If your first words don't describe you, choose your own three self-descriptive words.

Bonus:  In 50 words or less, write a paragraph describing yourself using those words (or your own three words).

Have fun, and please share your words and/or stories in the comments section.

Remembering Rosie

This week's quote is in memory of Rosie.

Another cat? Perhaps. For love there is also a season; its seeds must be resown. But a family cat is not replaceable like a worn out coat or a set of tires. Each new kitten becomes its own cat, and none is repeated. I am four cats old, measuring out my life in friends that have succeeded but not replaced one another. -Irving Towns

It has been one year since I bid my Rosie a final farewell, and not a day goes by that I don't think of him in some way.  Remembering him with smiles, laughter and tears, he will always be a part of my life.

I clearly remember the day we brought him home as a kitten.  He was four months old, with big feet and big ears.  He had so much long hair in his ears that the folks at the Humane Society called him Mr. Tufts.  He eventually grew into his feet and ears - hair and all, and developed the most magnificent mane.  My mom came over to see our new addition, and the first things she said was "He's so gray!"  Well, yes, he was.

Rosie was special not only in his overwhelming sweetness, but also his breed.  It was only after his passing that I discovered what kind of cat he was.  In my post What is a Nebelung?  I talked about that, and included a video describing the Nebelung breed.

Mr. Towns measures his life by the number of feline friends with whom he has shared his life, no one replacing the other, but adding to the fullness of his life like the rings on a tree.  I am many cats old, and currently share home and heart with the two other sweet felines who enjoyed lazy days and warm sunbeams with Rosie.

Fall Fungi

A while back, I told hubby that I was doing another post on the interesting fungi I found in the back yard, and he said "Oh really, is that a bunch of fun guys having a party?"

So without further ado, here are the 'fun guys' I found hanging around my back yard.

I scanned hundreds of photos in an attempt to ID these fungal visitors.  Alas, I was unable to determine what they are.   So who's having a party in your yard this Fall?


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Quote of the Week

To err is human, to purr is feline. - Robert Byrne

Just back from vacation, so I have no words of wisdom today. But one of the best things about returning home is getting to hang out with Dood, who's getting into the Halloween spirit.

Quote of the Week

Those that say you can't take it with you never saw a car packed for 

a vacation trip. - Unknown

We're taking a little R&R this week, and if you had seen my car, you would know the truth of this quote.

Quote of the Week

The farther backward you can look, the farther forward you can see. 

- Winston Churchill

View from the Ferris Wheel

The past and the future are irreversibly connected. This does not suggest that we live in the past, simply that understanding and acknowledging the past brings more clarity into the future.  The deeper you look into the past, the more you understand, and the more that you understand, the further you can see yourself going in the future.  Wisdom gained from the past equals wisdom for the future.

My earliest memory involved chocolate.  Fact...today I still like chocolate.

More Than Just a Number

Do you lurk, secure in your anonymity?  Do you regularly visit blogs, read their words and smile, laugh, or even cry and then slip quietly out the back door?  Is that you?

Image source: calitomshots

I thought so! I see your footprints, so I know you've been here, but your identity is only a number to me.  

Come now, don't you want to be known by more than just a number? We're real people here. We have names, personalities, interests and thoughts.

Our church has a ritual each Sunday wherein each person (or couple) signs a pew pad which is passed down the row and back to mark our attendance and alert us to visitors.

I will admit that at first we did not sign the pew pad...we weren't ready to be identified. Eventually that changed, and now our attendance is recorded by name, and not just by someone counting heads.

I hope that you will soon feel at home here, and 'sign the pew pad', so to speak, by leaving a comment and let me know how I'm doing.

As always, thanks for visiting Roses to Rainbows.  Y'all come back now, y'hear.