Premonition

I saw Premonition this afternoon with Sandra Bullock. I had read no reviews of the movie, so had no preconceived notions about it. The movie kept my attention, but there were a few parts that didn't quite jibe. Only, that might be okay. If you like Bullock, go see it. Otherwise, wait for the DVD.

Have you ever had a premonition that came true?

Whee!!!!

Busy busy teenagers! I picked up the nieces (16, 14, and 13) at 6:15. We went to dinner at one of the "in" roadhouses. Good food was had, and the girls had met our waiter before, so they were very happy. We didn't leave there until 8:30. We stopped at the scrapbook store, and didn't leave there until 9:30. We then went to Meijers to buy stuff for breakfast and snacks. Money was allocated for this: the amount they didn't spend for food they could spend for more scrapbooking supplies. We ended up with no snacks (I think they knew I always have a few hidden around the house) and sausage, chocolate waffles, eggs, and bananas for breakfast.

We finally started scrapbooking at 11:00. The last person crashed at 2:30 in the morning. Hann had to get up early so her Mom could pick her up and take her to dance: she was teaching a class today. The other girls got up when their mom stopped by. I made their breakfasts, then back to scrapping we went.

A great time was had by this old aunt. It was just what I needed, hanging with the kiddos. They're so good to me.

Friday Fill-in.

1. I love my ... nieces & nephews, my farm, my gardens!
2. Looking in the mirror, I see ... Farmer Pete!
3. The best thing that happened to me this week was .... it's going to happen tonight! Three of the nieces are coming over for a scrapbook party.
4. Taking photographs... is one of my favorite things to do!
5. I always have a good time .... at home.
6. I'm looking for ... the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow . . . this weekend.
7. "Oh, I'm bein' followed by a ... moon shadow." .

via Julie.

I Was Kissed by a Butterfly

Well, okay, it's probably a moth, but it sounds cooler to say butterfly.

I was at the Nature Center at noon, trying to destress from a harrowing morning. This little fellow was walking along the path with me, so I stopped to take his picture. He let me, then wheeled around, came straight at me, and lightly lit on my head for about two seconds. Then he wheeled away.

Made the rest of the day a lot better.

Monday, Monday

Not only does my cat fetch, he also gallops. He can pussy-foot when he wishes, but when he's playing, it is galloping that he does.

Rainy Days, and Mondays. Got 'em both this morning. Guess it's better than snow.

Aunt N. is in Sparrow Hospital. I used to live in the parking ramp of the hospital. Well, not IN it, but our house was where the parking ramp is now. Saturday I drove up to the fifth floor so I could get some pictures of Lansing. Unfortunately, the weather was damp and gray/grey.

Unconscious Mutterings

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

1. Groovy :: Feeling
2. Jealousy :: Envy
3. Watching :: Observing
4. Kenny :: Rodgers
5. Games :: People Play
6. Bread :: Toast
7. City :: Lights
8. Stems :: Stalks
9. Birds :: My backyard, feeders, woodpeckers, finches
10. Listener :: Good

24 Hours, Shirl Style

Friday, 9 p.m. At Mom's. Watched Charade, a Cary Grant/Audrey Hepburn movie. It was captivating.

Saturday, 8:30 a.m. Yay! Sleep-in. Breakfast, write bills, mail bills.

Saturday, 10:30 a.m. Visit Aunt N. She's doing well, sitting up, great progress for all that she has been through.

Saturday, 12:30 p.m. Took pictures from the fifth-floor of the parking garage at the hospital. Unfortunately, a grey day, so they are rather boring.

Saturday, 1:30 p.m. Picked up two cartridges of colored ink at Best buy. If you're a member, you get free paper when you purchase two cartridges.

Saturday, 2:30 p.m. Play with the kitties, mop two floors, change the litter box. Begin Robert Parker's book . . . oops, it's still out on the porch so I can't see the title, but it's the latest Jesse Stone one.

Saturday, 3:30 p.m. Work in the yard. Pick up sticks. Try to light a fire. Fail. Begin digging in the pea patch.

Saturday, 4:30 p.m. Do a load of laundry. Read the newspaper. Read more of book.

Saturday, 5:30 p.m. Continue yard work. Plant lilies of the valleys.

Saturday, 6:30 p.m. Back inside, curl up on loveseat on porch. Snuzzles curls up with me.

Saturday 8:30 p.m. Finish Parker book.

And you?

Day Off

Yesterday I took a personal day. I think the past two weeks had gotten to me. It seemed I couldn't move. It was storming outside. I stayed in bed, sleeping and reading until 3:00 p.m., when my brother called.

Aunt N. had surgery last Friday, and it appeared that she wasn't recovering the way the surgeon had told us she would. I had seen her on Tuesday night, up in intensive care, and she was really out of it, so much that I got scared: what if she died while I was there? I started humming hymns, which tends to comfort me and I thought would comfort her. After the third one, she made a raspberry sound. See, even my humming wasn't helping!!!! (Actually, it was dry mouth, but . . . )

When I saw my brother's name on the caller ID I thought, utoh. Here it is. But it wasn't. Aunt N. is out of ICU, is in a regular room, recognized him, and was getting cranky. And today she is 83 years old. Two weeks ago she told her brother she wouldn't see her next birthday. Ha!

Eleven Deer Last Night

I got home about 8:00 p.m. last night. (I had stopped to see Aunt N, and then had to do grocery shopping.) Eleven deer were playing in the field across from my house.

Paradise.

Whew!

This pet food recall is scary. I think Snuzzles and Sierra have avoided the products, but doesn't it make you wonder about the safety of our furry friends. Yikes!

Fun New Experiences!

I got to ride in a hummer last night!

We had a retirement party for one of our supervisors last night, and one of the young guys had just gotten a hummer. He was giving rides. Too cool!

And, my black cat Snuzzles really does fetch! He has a toy mouse that he brings to my feet. I throw it, he goes and gets it and brings it back again. This morning I was sitting here at the computer and he was batting my hand. I said, "go get mousey" and next thing I knew, mousey was at my feet. Right now he's on his fourth trip of bringing mousey back to me.

Flickr Favorites

Once a month I like to share the latest favorites I've marked on flickr. These are from photographers around the world. Click through to find the individual links.

Spring is Just About Here

More signs of spring:

• The Robins are back!!!
• The Maple Syrup Festival is going on at Fenner Nature Center.
• The willows are greening!
• Bulbs are starting to emerge.
• Some people have Crocus.
• The Pussy Willows are out!
• The Cedar Waxwing are making their stops on their way north!

Sorry for the absence. There were several family-health issues going on. Everything seems calm and going positive now. Missed you!

The Power of the Link

This goofy pictured just passed 10,000 views on flickr. Why? Because boingboing.net pointed to it in a post on the Wisconsin 7-legged deer. Weird, eh?

Unconsciously Muttering

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

1. San Francisco :: Bay
2. Sadness :: Sorrow
3. Spirits :: High, Alcohol
4. Harriet :: Ozzie
5. State :: Michigan
6. John :: the Baptist
7. Offense :: Crime
8. Timeless :: Eternal
9. Account :: Bank
10. Refuse :: Garbage

Language Check

What to DO you call those holes that open in the road in the spring of the year?

Goose

I don't know if this is one of the year-round geese or one heading north. He was out on the Red Cedar River near the Kellogg Center Saturday.

My cat Snuzzles now likes to fetch. Well, he likes to fetch when he wants to fetch. Silly cat!

Flickr stuff.

You can now modify your layout on flickr.
Collections are also available on flickr. Read more here.

More Signs of Spring

• The Dairy Queen in Charlotte is open.
• The red-winged blackbirds are back. (The robins can't be far behind.)
• Brackets are open for March Madness!
• Daylight Savings time is here.

Got your bracket?

I've got mine! Susan, I see Duke was a 6th seed. We were lucky to be a 9th. Yikes.

My Current Project

I was able to sign up to work on the Michigan Barn Survey this weekend. It will be a season-long project. I hope most barns look better than this one!

Going Home

Friday I got one of those calls you really don't like to get. It was from my cousin: our Aunt N, his dad's and my dad's sister, had been taken to emergency and the outlook wasn't good. Various folks were being notified, and we were going to meet at the hospital later that night.

Aunt N is in her 80's, and a woman of great faith. In her later years, things have troubled her a lot and frustrated her, but when we got to the hospital her spirit was amazing! It was as if she had let go of the trials of earth, and she was so cheerful. She asked after each of us. She told me to enjoy farm life and driving my red car. When she spoke to my youngest brother Boo, she said: I'm going to be seeing your Dad pretty soon. (Our father passed away in 1982.) There was no panic, no fear. It was an amazing experience.

As medical things often go, there is a twist to this story. The original prognosis has been modified, and it may be awhile before Aunt N. sees Dad after all. But whenever the time comes, she's happy to be going home.

Unconscious Mutterings

It's Sunday, so . . .

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

1. Contribution :: Donation
2. Ryan :: O'Neal
3. Minimal :: Least
4. Cleansed :: Freshened
5. Centered :: Lined up
6. Arrow :: Bow
7. Beyond :: the deep blue sea
8. Execute :: Kill
9. Intuition :: Women's
10. Apology :: I'm sorry

A Bird In the Bush . . .

This little guy was hanging around the takeout window at Wendy's. He's still pretty fluffed . . . it's not real warm just yet.

Daylight Savings time this weekend for U.S. folks!

Reporting In!

Winter still lingers up here in mid-Michigan, but the signs of spring are mounting. The willows have a tinge of yellow-green to them. Regular trees have little tiny buds on them. There are more birds arriving every day. And the sun, when it comes out, feels a little stronger. This weekend we should have a couple of 40 degree days. Time to dig the pea patch! (Peas should be in by Good Friday. I only have 4 weeks left.)

Guess what???? Okay, time's up. Last night, as I turned onto my road, I saw a shooting star!!! Right there. You never know what you're going to see out here in the country.!

Good Advice

My Fortune Cookie told me: If you stand at the north pole, every way is south except up. Take a rocket. Get a cookie from Miss Fortune

Confusion Reigns!

Blogger still hates me. I kept trying to log in yesterday. Blogger would send me to the old blogger page, then say log in with your new account. I would click on that link, and it stalled. Grr. Same thing happened this morning. What the??? So I went to google, and it showed me signed in there. So I signed out, came back to blogger, and could sign in. Weird. Weird. Weird weird weird. But here I am now!!!

Home Sweet Home

The farmhouse is in that reflecting ball, and someone with a goofy orange cap.

Mighty Hunter, Stalking Game

Places to Go

Set up your Yahoo Brackets.

A March 26things has been posted.

People Magazine had an article about the complaintfreeworld bracelets you can get here.

Come to the Michigan Barn Preservation Network's Seminars next Saturday with Mom and me.

Visit In The Shadows.

Unconscious Mutterings

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

1. Nude :: Naked, art
2. Support :: Arch
3. Rachel :: Ray
4. Crane :: Stephen
5. Candy bar :: Milky Way
6. Material :: Girl
7. Mind games :: I'm not very good at them
8. Eviction :: Notice
9. Produce :: Vegetables
10. Joke :: Riddle

Just because it's the New Era doesn't mean we can't do a quiz or two

You are Catherine the Great. You are very intelligent and a socialist. It is very important to you that all people be treated equally in a society. You are able to fully comprehend social problems and you are outspoken when it comes to dealing with them. Take this quiz at QuizGalaxy.com

Link via Roscoe.

Darn those clouds anyway!

LUNAR ECLIPSE: Set aside some time this weekend for sky watching. On Saturday night, March 3rd, there's going to be a total lunar eclipse.
This weekend's eclipse will be visible from parts of all seven continents. Europe and Africa are favored. People there will see Earth's red shadow swallow the Moon for more than an hour around 23:21 GMT.
In the United States, you have to be in the eastern half of the country to witness totality. At the end of the day on Saturday, go outside and face east. As the sun sets behind your back, a red Moon will rise before your eyes--fantastic! Maximum eclipse is at 6:21 p.m. EST.

Bryn keeps us posted on all things lunar. We had clouds here. Did anyone get to see this?

The Eyes Have It

Couldn't find the cats the other day. Checked out the bedroom. Sierra was asleep on the bed, and there was a suspicious lump under the afghan and throw. Stuck my camera up to the lump. Yup. There was Snuzzles.

Signs of Spring

Calendar wise, spring is only three weeks away. And we're starting to see signs of spring here in mid-Michigan. Takes some looking but:

• There are clumps of grass showing through the snow. Brown grass, but grass nevertheless.
• Birds are chirrping more in the morning.
• The sunrise is smackdab in my face on the way to work. I should try going earlier????
• There are little tiny buds on the trees. Really. You have to look, but they are there.
• Home Shows start! These are affairs where vendors for home building and home upgrades gather at a venue and display their wares. We're showing at one this weekend.

Added 3/4/07: Eau d' Skunk is another sign of spring.

How do the seasons show their change in your area?

Sunrise Behind the Fog

Good morning! The saying goes: "If March comes in like a lion, it will go out like a lamb." We have the lion going here in mid-Michigan. It's a winter mix. Snow and freezing rain, rain, maybe even thunderstorms. Hope we can count on that lamb!