Unconscious Mutterings

I say ... and you think ... ?

Crook :: Shepherd's Crook
Career :: Life Path
Freckles :: Red-Head
Scramble :: Eggs
Mistake :: Error
Telephone :: Connections
Thank you :: Polite
Obstruction :: of Justice
24/7 :: our service department
SciFi :: Asimov (I didn't spell that right. No, wait. I did.)

First Loss

Well, my keeping quiet about Michigan State Football didn't work today. We lost a very close one to Wisconsin. We're still having penalty troubles. *sob*

APS

Are you a member?

Michigan Shut Down

The great state of Michigan has been having budget problems. An impasse between the legislature and the governor has resulted in the state shutting down Monday. Eek!

Kim, I guess it's a good thing you're in Nevada.

Thursday Thirteen (on Friday)

Thirteen words that I like that begin with V:

1. Violins
2. Violas
3. Vacations
4. Virginia (the State)
5. Valor
6. Vinyl
7. Vanilla
8. Vim
9. Vigor
10. Virtue
11. Views
12. Violets
13. Vinegar

Who is NANO'ing?

Anyone doing it this year?

No Change since 2005

I taste like Peanut Butter. I am one of the most blendable flavours; I go with sweet, I go with sour, I go with bland, I go with anything. I am practical and good company, but have something of a tendency to hang around when I'm not wanted, unaware that my presence is not welcome. What Flavour Are You?

Good-Bye Summer

Battle Cry! One needs one for Monday morning

What Is Your Battle Cry?

Zang! Who is that, running on the mountains! It is Shirl, hands clutching two hardened pitas! And with a gutteral howl, her voice cometh: "Blood and souls for my dark lord! No flesh shall be spared!!"

Find out! Enter username: Are you a girl, or a guy ?

created by beatings : powered by monkeys

And so, the seasons change

Julie's phone is having more fun that I am!

Whispering Softly

Go Green! We are now 4-0. It's been a long time coming. Next week could be tough though.

Happy Birthday, Diane!

I want to wish my good blog buddy Diane a belated birthday! You Go, Girl!

Unconscious Mutterings

Happy Fall and Autumn!!! Time for the Unconscious Mutterings

I say ... and you think ... ?

Singles :: Bar
Blaze :: of Glory
Sandwich :: BLT
Outside :: Inside
Gooey :: Roasted Marshmallow
Industry :: Automobile
Exclusive :: Only
Warranty :: Guarantee
Magical :: Mystical
Heels :: Click three times to go home

Thursday Thirteen (on Friday)

Julie makes me do the T13 over here now. I used to do it in her comments *grin*.

Thirteen things I like that begin with U:
1. umbrella (especially when it is raining)
2. uvula
3. underwear
4. UFO's
5. Uniforms, men in
6. ukelele. It harkens back to a much simpler time
7. Uncle Herb
8. unusual anything
9. us
10. up
11. unicorns
12. Utah
13. understanding>

Tuesday Wednesday Report (the pain must have addled my brain)

I went to a marketing seminar today. It was interesting.

I sat too long. My knee was aching, and just now I twisted it and something popped. Ice, please. Sheesh. I am getting old.

So THAT's Why I'm not attracted to Johnny Depp

You are The Pirate
Do you remember the last time you took a chance? It was when you decided to leave the security of your mother's womb and headed for the bright light. It's time to head for the next bright light, my friend. Creativity is not your strong suit. You are good at doing what you are told to do and that, in itself, is a gift. It's not a gift to you, mind you, but a gift to those who will be there to tell you what to do. You like long walks on the beach and cuddling, but would never admit that to your pirate pals who think you are okay but can't always remember your name. Tapioca pudding seems a bit extreme for someone such as yourself, what with all the bumps and stuff. It's a good thing you are on a pirate ship, otherwise, you would be walking because you are positively pedestrian. Have a nice day.

What's Yer Inner Pirate?
brought to you by The Official Talk Like A Pirate Web Site. Arrrrr!

Roscoe pointed to Talk Like A Pirate Day. then I saw it in the old archives. I'm sorry I took the test! Arrrrr!

Dreaming?

Need to know what the symbols in your dreams mean? Look here.

September Babies

My bloglist has been blessed with the addition of two babies: Kathryn's daughter Claire and Susan's grandson Phoenix. I was just looking at old Other Side archives for September 2003. There was a post pointing to Mandarin Meg's welcome of a grand-daughter that year.

September 21, 2003

"Life is a flame that is always burning itself out, but it catches fire again every time a child is born."
George Bernard Shaw

Baby Abby Elena, you lit a new fire today so unlike we imagined. Gentle and precious, with long blond hair and eyes that shine bright blue, defying the brown of the mother and father. A September baby. We went to welcome you into our world today and instead you welcomed us into your heart. May your tiny tears always be so sweet as for the want of of the Gardenia that bloomed for you today.

May we pass this along to the 2007 September babies.

Cats

My cats are nuts. Normally they get along very well, cuddling and grooming each other. Sometimes they fight, which is more a sparring thing. I usually wait for them to break it up naturally, but this morning we were all out on the back porch and I had had enough, so I tossed Snuzzles back into the house, as he appeared to be the aggressor. It wasn't 30 seconds later that Sierra was crying to go join him.

Unconscious Mutterings

I say ... and you think ... ?

Rita :: Mae Brown
Comedy :: Club
Polar :: Bear
Idiots :: NumNums
Perception :: Reality
Infected :: Sick
Fake :: False
Relating :: Pertaining
Distraction :: Nuisance
Gamble :: Bet

This Makes Three

Three wins for the MSU Spartans. Go Green!

Swiped from Julie who nipped it from the Snapery:

01. If you could have super powers what would they be and what would you do with them? (Please feel free to be selfish, you do not have to save the world!).
Healing. I really would like to be able to heal people.

02. Were you to find yourself stranded on an island with a CD player...it could happen...what would your top 10 bloggers island discs be?
hahahahahaha . . . here I expose myself. Wait, no, I don't think I will. I take the fifth.

03. If you were a smell what would it be?
Vanilla

04. What bird would you most like to be?
A hummingbird or an eagle

05. If you were a bird who's head would you poo on?
O. J. Simpson. (He's in the news again.)

06. Are there any foods that your body craves?
Are there any that it DOESN'T crave?

07. What's your favourite time of year?
Spring

08. What's your favourite time of day?
I'm not sure.

09. If a rest is as good as a change which would you choose?
I rested for many years. Now I change.

10. If you could have a dinner party and invite any 5 people from the past or present who would they be? (Living or deceased.)
Teddy Roosevelt, Einstein, Sacajawea, Shakespeare (will the real Will please stand up), Marie Curie

Tag yourself if you feel like playing along.

Four Seasons - The abandoned barn on Gresham

I had two sites that I tracked through the four seasons. This is the second of the two, an old abandoned barn. Time to pick the coming year's seasonal project.

Good Saturday Morning!

Okay, a few years back Susan-on-the-other-side-of-the-world had told us about Australian burgers. They have things like beets and eggs and stuff on them. Julie found a picture.

And speaking of Julie, I did my Thursday 13 on paper, but forgot to post. So here we go:

Thirteen things I like that begin with T:

1. Toddlers
2. Tigers
3. Truth
4. Talent
5. Tongues
6. Turkey
7. Trees
8. Today, tomorrow
9. Thursday
10. Three
11. Thistle
12. Tapioca
13. Telephones!

Susan, you are such a wonderful Grandma! Phoenix is one lucky little boy!

And Kathryn is back home with her treasure, Claire.

I think the hummingbirds have gone.

Reminders to self

Burros.

Michigan Barn Preservation Network.

Flickr Photographers!

Once again, presenting the last 36 favorite pictures from flickr. Click through to visit these photographers.

up from the Other Side archives

What Planet Are You From?


this quiz was made by The Autist Formerly Known As Tim

31.25 %

My weblog owns 31.25 % of me.
Does your weblog own you?

Alone

It's a funny thing. I never felt very lonely when I lived in my apartment. It wasn't that I was surrounded by people. It was more that my life was so boring that I couldn't envision anyone else hanging around. (Do we call that depression?)

Now that I'm at the farm, I'm having more fun than I've had in years, and I find that occasionally I feel lonely. Go figure.

I Do like Hands

I hadn't heard this reading at a wedding before. I like hands, so of course I liked it.

The Hands of the Bride and Groom
Maid of Honor

Bride's name, please face Groom's name, and hold his hands, palms up, so you may see the gift that they are to you. Bride and groom should be facing each other, his upturned hands resting in hers.

These are the hands, young and strong and vibrant with love, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as he promises to love you all the days of his life.

These are the hands you will place with expectant joy against your stomach, until he too, feels his child stir within your womb.

These are the hands that look so large and clumsy, yet will be so gentle as he holds your baby for the first time.

These are the hands that will work long hours for you and your new family.

These are the hands that will passionately love you and cherish you through the years, for a lifetime of happiness.

These are the hands that will countless times wipe the tears from your eyes: tears of sorrow and tears of joy.

These are the hands that will comfort you in illness, and hold you when fear or grief rack your mind.

These are the hands that will tenderly lift your chin and brush your cheek as they raise your face to look into his eyes: eyes that are filled completely with his overwhelming love and desire for you.

Best Man

Groom's name, please hold Bride's name's hands, palms up, where you may see the gift that they are to you. Bride should now place her upturned hands in the Groom's hands.

These are the hands that are smooth, young, and carefree, that are holding yours on your wedding day, as she pledges her love and commitment to you all the days of her life.

These are the hands that will hold each child in tender love, soothing them through illness and hurts, supporting and encouraging them along the way, and knowing when it's time to let go.

These are the hands that will massage tension from your neck and back in the evenings, after you've both had a long hard day.

These are the hands that will hold you tight as you struggle through difficult times.
They are the hands that will comfort you when you are sick or console you when you are grieving.

These are the hands that will passionately love you and chrish you through the years,
for a lifetime of happiness.

These are the hands that will hold you in joy and excitement and hope, each time she tells you that you are to have another child; that together you have created a new life.

Perhaps these are the hands that will comfort you when you are told you cannot have a child, and will convince you that together you will create new life in other ways.

These are the hands that will give you support as she encourages you to chase down your dreams. Together, as a team, everything you wish for can be realized.

Priest

Dear Father, bless the hands that you see before you this day. May they always be held by one another. Give them the strength to hold on during the storms of stress and the dark of disillusionment. Keep them tender and gentle as they nurture each other in their love. Help these hands to continue building a relationship founded in your grace, rich in caring, and devoted to reaching for your perfection. May Bride's name and Groom's name see their four hands as healer, protector, shelter, and guide.

We ask this in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you now and forever, Amen.

Another blogger baby!

Oh man! Susan at EBC is now a Grandma! She's welcoming Skyler's Phoenix on her blog today. Hurrah!Hurrah!!

Second Win!

Snopes says no

Daddy Long Legs abound out here in the country. The swimmer girls said: Oh, the daddy-long-legs are the most poisonous spider in the world, but its mouth is too small and it can't bite humans. So of course I had to check it out in Snopes.

Strange Movie

It is "military month" for some reason on the Community College old movie channel. The movie we saw was The Big Lift. Made in 1950, starring Montgomery Clift . . . well, I expected more. However, it was an interesting period piece.

Escape Hatch

This archaelogical finding in Jerusalem is fantastic!

Unconscious Mutterings

Whoa! This has been a busy weekend. Friday night I stayed at my Mom's on our every-other-Friday-night movie night. We saw a reallllly bad movie on the Community College channel, but sometimes bad is fun. Saturday I had a wedding to go to at 1:00 p.m., with the reception at 5:30 p.m. on the other side of town. And I came home to the Lansing EV girls swim team camping in my backyard. (My three nieces are on the team.) They were playing Sardines until 2:00 in the morning. (They were up longer than that, but that was when I conked out. They're gone now, and it is time to mutter:

I say ... and you think ... ?

Dork :: Goofus
Refurbished :: Redone
Basket :: Apples
Mousse :: Chocolate
Studio :: 54
8 ball :: in the pocket
Masking tape :: Painting
Love :: Affection
Wilder :: Gene
Lindsey :: Lohan

Welcome, Claire

Kathryn and hubby have just introduced their new little girl, Claire, to the world.

Claire is gorgeous and sweet. She makes cooing sounds and little chirps. She loves to nurse and within an hour after birth was at my breast (while I was in the recovery room).

Congratulations to Mom, Dad, and the newest littlest blogger!

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen things I like beginning with S:

1. Susan and susan
2. Sincerity
3. Snow
4. Saturday & Sunday
5. Sunshine
6. Smiles
7. S'mores
8. Salads
9. Sugar
10. Shopping
11. Sister
12. Spartans
13. Soap

This is me

You're Waiting for Godot!

by Samuel Beckett

Many people think you're extremely dull, but you're just trying to
patient. Really patient. Patient to the point of absurdity, quite frankly. Whatever
you're waiting for isn't going to just come along, so you can stop waiting. I promise.
Move on with your life. Change of scenery might do you good. Heck, any scenery might
do you good. In the meantime, you do make for very interesting conversation.


Take the Book Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.

Now this is an accurate test. *grin* Saw it at Susan's!

That's a run amok nasturtium on the left

For Tien

A Gladiolus, known in the vernacular as a Glad.

Honey Bees or Yellow Jackets

While I was painting yesterday I kept hearing a droning noise. Finally I looked up.



The bees were going in and out. That's a behind over to the right there. Now the question is: are they honey bees or yellowjackets? Very different procedures for each type.

Never a dull moment down here on the farm.

Peacock Orchids are Out!

They're not really orchids. They're related to the gladiolus family. One of the great things about gardening is how people love to share! My sister is the root gardener: she gave me cannas and these peacock orchids. I planted the peacocks in a semi-sunny area, and wasn't sure they would make it . . . but they did!



Back to work today.

Were They the Last Ones?

Whew. Busy day. After getting home from my visiting, I had about an hour of yard work left to do. Got it done, then came in to sit on the front porch and ponder and cool down.

I wondered: have the fireflies gone? In mid-summer, the fields would have been undulating with light at that time. Tonight, they were quiet. And then, a twinkle. Not once, not twice, but seven times, out in the middle of what had been an oat field. The last one?

No. An answering response came from the trees on the south side of the porch. Three times. From high up. That was the male call.

I hope they found each other.

Silver Lake Sand Dunes

The Silver Lake Sand Dunes. If you're from mid-Michigan, chances are you've visited Silver Lake. It's entire west side is dunes. These dunes cover about 1.5 miles to Lake Michigan.

The dunes are divided into three parts. The north part is for the dune buggies. You need a state park vehicle sticker, and a vehicle that will go up in sand. This picture is of the north side. On both the left and right ridges you can see specks that are actually vehicles lined up ready to take the plunge down the dunes.

The middle section is for hikers. The southern section is leased by Mac Woods dune scooters, the people who took us on our dune ride.

Click through for larger size (you can tell the ants are vehicles) or to see pics from the dune ride.

Happy Labor Day

It's Labor Day here in the states, and so, I labored! Saturday I went to Lake Michigan . . . perfect day. Yesterday family picnic . . . perfect day. This morning I painted the two back porch steps I hadn't painted, finished painting the south garage door, and painted the north garage door . . . perfect day.

Now I'm reporting in, and then I'll get left-overs from yesterday's picnic. This afternoon I'll visit Aunt N, who lives at the senior center about six miles up the road. She's progressing quite well. Most of the time she knows me. Then I'll visit Mom. She couldn't come to the picnic yesterday. She's recovering from pneumonia, and she doesn't have a lot of gumption yet. Plus, she has allergies, and while I've removed most of the ragweed from the near backyard, I've got way too much of it out here for her to be comfortable.

And how is your day going?

A nice name explanation

What Shirl Means

S is for Smooth H is for Hilarious I is for Ideal R is for Relaxing L is for Loving

What Does Your Name Mean?

Found at Kathy's.

It is Hard to Explain about the Great Lakes

They're big. They show up on almost any world map, they are that big, defining Michigan's mitten shaped lower peninsula and the UP shaped upper peninsula. I swiped this from here:

From the westernmost tip of Lake Superior at Duluth, Minnesota, to the easternmost tip of Lake Ontario at Watertown, New York, the five lakes stretch a thousand miles across the heartland of both the United States and Canada, creating nearly 9,500 miles of ocean-like shores. The lakes also contain an estimated 35,000 islands.

Officially dubbed "the nation's fourth seacoast," the U.S. Great Lakes shoreline alone totals more than 4,500 miles -- longer than the U.S. East and Gulf coasts combined. As seen from space, the Great Lakes constitute one of the most identifiable features of the North American continent as well as our planet Earth.

The North American Great Lakes are unique among the world's large lakes in that their basins are linked together and form one continuous drainage basin. Together, they constitute the greatest freshwater system on Earth, covering an area larger than Texas and about half the size of Alaska. Starting in Lake Superior, the water flows out the lake's southeastern tip down the St. Marys River into Lakes Michigan and Huron, which actually are two halves of one lake. From there, the water flows southward from the southern tip of Lake Huron down the St. Clair River through "little" Lake St. Clair and the Detroit River to Lake Erie. Leaving Lake Erie, it flows north via the Niagara River and over Niagara Falls into Lake Ontario. It then flows northeast down the St. Lawrence River -- the last link in a 2,000-mile-long waterway that ultimately connects Minnesota to the Atlantic Ocean.

The Great Lakes support most ocean size vessels. They do often freeze over in winter, though, as they are fresh water, and this curtails the shipping a lot.

Most people, when seeing one of them for the first time, cannot believe their size. I guess we just don't do a good enough job selling them!

Where I Was Yesterday

Little Sable Lighthouse, Oceana County, Michigan

Michigan, with its borders on 4 of the 5 Great Lakes, has the most lighthouses of any of the states in the United States.

MSU wins, UofM Doesn't

I forgot to say "Go Green" yesterday with the start of Michigan State University's football season. Perhaps I'd better not say it this season . . . we won!

And in a stunner: University of Michigan, our nemesis to the south of us, lost. Wow. I hit a link from Susan's blog and got an eyeful on that game from the winners' perspective.

Unconscious Mutterings

I say ... and you think ... ?

Scrabble :: a fun game
NyQuil :: cold season
Roadtrip :: Traveling
Idiot :: Num-num
Bandages :: Blood
Series :: World
Summer :: Winter
Prompt :: Cue
September :: Try to remember, those days, in September
Chicken :: Chook