Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Crab-Apple Branch (334/365)

2011 11 30 IMG_1429w
“We are born believing. A man bears beliefs as a tree bears apples.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882), U.S. essayist, poet, philosopher. "Worship," The Conduct of Life (1860).

TIME:  3:37 PM
PLACE:  Work parking lot
SUBJECT:  Crab apples on tree

We saw the sun today!  The crab apples on the tree at work looked pretty against the bright blue sky.

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Happiness Is A Ring Pop (333/365)

2011 11 29 IMG_1407w
“Happiness is like the penny candy of our youth: we got a lot more for our money back when we had no money.“

Mignon McLaughlin, The Neurotic's Notebook, 1960

TIME:  6:13 PM
PLACE:  Junior High Gym
SUBJECT:  Twisted Berry Blast Ring Pop 

When we go to MB’s basketball games, SD always asks for money for the snack bar.  She *needs* a Slim Jim, popcorn and a ring pop to make it through the game.  I don’t want to know the amount of money I’ve spent at snack bars this basketball season…and the sad part is, it ain’t over yet.

Monday, November 28, 2011

Shredded (332/365)

2011 11 28 IMG_7145w
Jimmy: You know, there's some sort of speed control on here, somewhere.
Beth: Oh, hang on, hang on, here are the instructions for the shredder.
Jimmy: Wait, wait a minute, wait, wait, wait, wait. Shredding the instructions for the shredder. Talk about your mind blowing irony. Dare I?
Beth: Oh, ah, Sir, I...
Jimmy: Let's do it. Go, baby, go!
[Drops manual in shredder]
Jimmy: Now, where the hell's that speed control?

"Friends." News Radio. Perf. Stephen Root and Vicki Lewis. 14 Nov. 1995. Television.

TIME:  10:49 PM
PLACE:  Home
SUBJECT:  Shredded remains

How I spent my evening…catching up on the never-ending pile of paperwork at home.  Going through the mail/bills/receipts/school papers/etc.; entering data into my Quicken program (because you know, I can’t get enough of that number stuff at work – you caught my sarcastic tone right?); and shredding everything when I’m done with it.  I shred it all because I am a paranoid person and don’t need anyone getting into my “bidnesz”.

Sunday, November 27, 2011

The Birds (331/365)

2011 11 27 DSCF9250aw
“From the shaken tower
A flock of bells take flight,
And go with the hour.”
 
Alice Meynell (1847-1922), British poet (Mrs. Wilfrid Meynell). Chimes (l. 2-4). . . Come Hither. Walter de la Mare, comp. (3d ed., 1957) Alfred A. Knopf.

TIME:  3:29 PM
PLACE:  Target parking lot
SUBJECT:  Flock of birds

Oh man, is it feeling like winter today.  Such a cold and gray sky.  I took MonkeyBoy to Target to buy him a new belt so his pants don’t sag.  On our way to back to the car, a huge flock of birds flew overhead.  It took me a little bit to get the camera out of my purse, so this is the tail end of the swarm.  The beginning of the flock was more dense.

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Square & Compass (330/365)

2011 11 26 _MG_7111w
SpongeBob SquarePants: Well, it's no secret that the best thing about a secret is secretly telling someone your secret, thereby adding another secret to their secret collection of secrets, secretly.

"The Secret Box." Spongbob Squarepants. Perf. Tom Kenny. 1 Sept. 2001. Television.

TIME:  8:54 PM
PLACE:  Outside Masonic hall
SUBECT:  Masonic emblem

I could tell you where we were and what we were doing…but then I would have to kill you….Kidding!  HH and I just attended a function at a Mason’s Hall this evening.  And last night I had my 30 year(!!) 8th grade reunion. (I’m such the social butterfly this weekend.)  The reunion was so fun – I went to a Catholic grade school beginning in 2nd grade and it was pretty much the same classmates each year until we graduated.  It was so neat to be able to meet up again with people that I spent 7 years of my life with and hadn’t seen for many, many years.  We even had our 3rd, 6th and 8th grade teachers attend.  It was a good reunion with many hugs, “Do you remember?”s, laughs and a ton of catching up with each others lives.  It was like we never had been apart.

Friday, November 25, 2011

Tongue Coloring (329/365)

2011 11 24 _MG_7101w
“All parts of the human body get tired eventually - except the tongue”

Konrad Adenauer (German Statesman He was the first Chancellor of Federal Republic of West Germany, 1876-1967)

IME:  10:35 AM
PLACE:  Main Street
SUBJECT:  MonkeyBoy and StellaDella

Santa Claus came to town today via our city’s annual Santa Claus parade.  MB, SD, Oreo and my dad walked up to Main Street to watch.  The kids collected a ton of candy and Oreo even received a squeaky toy from the Kennel Club marchers.  One of the pieces of candy was a “Tongue Coloring Fizzy Candies”…can you tell?

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Green Beans (328/365)

2011 11 24 _MG_7091w
Beans glisten bright green
Crisp bacon nestled amid
Happy Thanksgiving

Original Haiku by Sujomi

TIME:  12:02 PM
PLACE:  Kitchen
SUBJECT:  My contribution to Thanksgiving dinner at Dad’s house

This is the way we like our green beans at Thanksgiving (and at any other celebration throughout the year).  Fresh beans, mixed with lots of crisp bacon and translucent onions, all coated in the bacon drippings.  There are never any leftovers

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Old Spice (327/365)

2011 11 23 _MG_7076w
“Once you get a spice in your home, you have it forever. Women never throw out spices. The Egyptians were buried with their spices. I know which one I'm taking with me when I go.”

Erma Bombeck (U.S. humorist, 1927-1996)

TIME:  8:00 PM
PLACE:  Dad’s kitchen
SUBJECT:  Spices

I made a chicken pot pie for supper.  The kids and I took it over to Dad’s house to share with him and to begin cooking for Thanksgiving tomorrow.  After we ate, I started making the stuffing.  My recipe called for poultry seasoning and I forgot to bring mine, so I asked Dad if he had any.  He didn’t, but he did have this lemon extract, nutmeg and Fruit Fresh in his pantry.  I’ll bet if you combine their ages it would turn out to be close to the number of the birthday Dad will be celebrating this coming May.  He can’t throw them out now…they’re practically vintage.

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Capital Pear In November (326/365)

2011 11 22 _MG_7060w
"November's sky is chill and drear,
November's leaf is red and sear."

Sir Walter Scott (1771-1832), “Ettrick Forest in November.”

TIME: 3:49 PM
PLACE:  Front yard
SUBJECT:  Capital Pear tree

Rainy Gray Day
Home. Car. Grade School
(2nd grade play). Car. Home. Car. Junior High School (pick up MB for appt). Car. Doctor’s Office. Car. Home. Picture!. Car. Junior High School (basketball games). Car. Home.
Rainy Gray Day

Monday, November 21, 2011

Turkeys Rock! (325/365)

2011 11 21 IMG_6988w
“Why was Plymouth Rock so brave?
…Because it was a little boulder.”

A really bad joke


TIME:  10:01 PM
PLACE:  Kitchen
SUBJECT:  Rock turkey craft

At the brownie meeting tonight, I had the brownies make turkeys out of rocks, felt and of course, googly eyes.  My prototype is in the left and StellaDella’s version is on the right.  Her turkey has quite the long wattle and an insane amount of tail feathers.  A quintessential SD artistic creation.

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Are Those Domos On Your Pie Or Are You Just Glad To See Me? (324/365)

2011 11 20 IMG_1376w
“…my cherry pie
Put a smile on your face ten miles wide
Looks so good bring a tear to your eye
Sweet cherry pie…”

Warrant. "Cherry Pie." Cherry Pie. By Jani Lane. Columbia Records, 1990

TIME:  10:29 PM
PLACE:  Kitchen
SUBJECT:  Domo charms on cherry pie that HH made

Yeah…umm…I got nothing today.

Saturday, November 19, 2011

Scouting For Food (323/365)

2011 11 19 IMG_6929w
“The life of a man consists not in seeing visions and in dreaming dreams, but in active charity and in willing service”

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (American, Poet, 1807-1882)

TIME:  9:42 AM
PLACE:  The Jeep
SUBJECT:  MonkeyBoy, Boy Scouts & food donations

As part of fulfilling their Boy Scout Promise to help other people at all times, MB’s Boy Scout troop participated in the annual Scouting for Food collection program.  Last weekend they distributed bags and this morning they collected the donations and delivered them to a local food pantry.  I helped by driving MB and 2 other Scouts around a section of the designated collection area for our troop.  The part the boys enjoyed the most?  Riding in the open hatchback of the Jeep and hopping on and off to collect the bags.

Friday, November 18, 2011

Burial Wreath (322/365)

2011 11 18 IMG_6923w
"late autumn twilight
burial wreath on the door
rises in the wind"


Sondra Ball, Night Haiku

TIME:  3:53 PM
PLACE:  Front door
SUBJECT:  Wreath

On Monday evening, a man HH & I were honored to call our friend, lost his battle with pancreatic cancer.  “Cookie” was a former Sargent for the County Sheriff’s Department and an all-around good guy.  Our lives were richer for knowing him.  He will be sorely missed.  Rest in peace “Cous” and always keep those quarters in your ears.

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Weeping Willow (321/365)

2011 11 17 IMG_6882w
“Adieu, adieu, kind friends, adieu, adieu, adieu, / I can no longer stay with you, stay with you. / I'll hang my harp on a weeping willow-tree. / And may the world go well with thee.”

“There Is A Tavern In The Town,” F. J. Adams, 1891.

TIME:  10:44 AM
PLACE:  St. Paul Cemetery
SUBJECT:  Grave marker detail

After I had my hair colored this morning, I drove out to a cemetery to find some of the final resting places of HH’s ancestors.  I located a few of them, took photos for my files and then meandered around the cemetery to look at the older stones.  This detail was on a stone for Johanne C Lehmann, GEB [born] d. 29 Sept. 1802, GEST [died] d. 6 Marz 1878.  The willow symbolizes mourning and earthly sorrow.  There was other writing on the stone, but I couldn’t make it out.  If I play with it in Photoshop enough, I might be able to though.  A quick search on Ancestry found that her husband, Samuel Lehmann, who is buried next to her, was one of the first elders of the newly established St. Paul United Church of Christ in 1859.  Interesting.
~*~*~
Here is the full photo of the tombstone:
2011 11 17 IMG_6883w

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Pathetic Puppy (320/365)

2011 11 16 IMG_6844w
“Mandy: Boy, Saliva, you really are a pathetic dog... but I guess you're my pathetic dog.”

"Mandy Bites Dog." The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy. Cartoon Network. 2 July 2004. Season 3, Episode 4. Television.

TIME:  8:05 PM
PLACE:  My desk
SUBJECT:  Oreo

I get this face several times a day – mainly when I am sitting at the kitchen table eating dinner.  I call it her “I’m-a-pathetic-puppy-please-feed/pet/love-me” look.  It’s also usually accompanied by a huge doggy sigh as well. The poor thing…she really has it tough.

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Annoyances At The B-Ball Game (319/365)

2011 11 15 IMG_6816w
“Those of you who think you know everything are very annoying to those of us who do.”

Unknown

TIME:  6:49 PM
PLACE:  Junior high gym
SUBJECT:  MonkeyBoy

MB’s team suffered a loss tonight.  I have to admit, our opponents were a better team tonight.  My only complaint is about one of the visitors sitting behind us on the bleachers.  Let’s call her “Over-Aggressive-Basketball-Mom” or OABM for short.  OABM was loud and a tad bit over-enthusiastic about any and all plays made by her son/team on the court.  In addition, OABM was constantly trying to beat the ref on any fouls called against our team and getting upset if she thought there was a foul and it wasn’t called.  Funny, when the fouling situation was reversed, OABM would not say a word.  After the 7th grade game, MB wanted to stay a little bit and watch the 1st half of the 8th grade game.  I was wary about it because I didn’t want to have to listen to her for another game.  I’m glad we did though.  Our boys were really kicking butt and taking names and it was nice to note that it caused OABM to finally lose her voice.  Too bad.

Monday, November 14, 2011

I Can’t Bear To Look (318/365)

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“You can close your eyes to reality but not to memories.”

Stanislaw Jerzy Lec (Polish, Poet, 1909-1966)

TIME:  3:58 PM
PLACE:  My desk
SUBJECT:  Jack

It may look like Jack is sleeping, but actually he is averting his eyes from the horror that has infected our aquarium.  The newest koi fish, Poseidon, has eaten one of our Plecostomus (algae fish).  How do I know?  Well, the fact that the algae fish’s tail is hanging out of the mouth of Poseidon gave me my first clue.Poor little Plecostomus…we’ll always remember you.  Who knew goldfish were such killers.  Not the algae fish, that’s for sure.    Tonight I believe that I will be sleeping with one eye open…in case Poseidon tries to eat me too.

Sunday, November 13, 2011

Eyes Turned Skyward (317/365)

2011 11 13 IMG_6754w2011 11 13 IMG_6768w
“The sky is the daily bread of the eyes.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882), U.S. essayist, poet, philosopher. Journal entry, May 25, 1843. Journals (1909-1914).

TIME:  11:31 & 11:38 AM
PLACE:  Freeburg, IL
SUBJECTS:  Corner of building (101 S. Belleville St.) and trees in the park

HH and I drove to Freeburg, IL to eat at a Wurstmart (one of his favorite things to do).  It was a rare day in November - bright blue skies and warm winds.  The clouds were dancing and racing across the sky with the wind.  All I wanted to do was keep looking up and taking in all the beautiful blue color I could while we were outside.  Rain is in the forecast tomorrow…I've got to enjoy it while I can.

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Cat Tale (316/365)

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“If you hold a cat by the tail you learn things you cannot learn any other way.”

Mark Twain (American Humorist, Writer and Lecturer. 1835-1910)

TIME:  11:14 PM
PLACE:  Kitchen
SUBJECT:  Tessa on a kitchen chair

I just arrived home from a trivia night.  We came in second place – Yea us.  Our prize was $100, so basically we all received our entrance money back ($10).  Sweet!  As I walked into the door, all the animals greeted me – I am so loved.  I was surprised that Tessa was part of the bunch.  She usually stays upstairs when the dog is out and about.  It’s only taken her 5 years, but she’s finally getting braver.  Right after I took this photo, she hissed at Oreo (who had dared to walk under the kitchen table to get by my side), jumped off of the chair and disappeared into the basement.

Friday, November 11, 2011

Yet Another Fall Vignette (315/365)

2011 11 11 _MG_6680w
“The problem with taking the easy way out is that the enemy has already mined it.”

Murphy’s Military Law

TIME:  4:29 PM
PLACE:  Front porch
SUBJECT:  Fall planter

First, a big thank you to all the veterans and their families for their service and whose sacrifices keep this country safe.  We are forever in your debt.
~*~*~
I was thinking about taking a photo at 11:11:11am since today is 11-11-11, but I was at work and when I looked at the clock it was too late. Doh!  So you all get yet another fall vignette.  What can I say…some days I take the easy way out.

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Mum’s The Word (314/365)

2011 11 10 _MG_6697w
“Why don't you get a haircut? You look like a chrysanthemum.”

Sir Pelham Grenville Wodehouse (English humorist, 1881–1975)

TIME:  4:19 PM
PLACE:  Front porch
SUBJECT:  Chrysanthemums

I bought this large white chrysanthemum just before DramaQueen’s party a couple of weeks ago.  It’s sitting on my shabby chair right by my front door.  On a sunny day like today, In the late afternoon, the lighting is perfect for a photo.  That makes me happy.  I needed that because earlier today, I paid our real estate taxes.  Ugh.

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Fall Steps (313/365)

2011 11 09 _MG_6678w
Leaves scatter on treads
Paint peeling beneath colors
November fall steps

Original haiku by Sujomi


TIME:  4:28 PM
PLACE:  Front porch
SUBJECT:  Leaves on front steps

Just a week ago, I left for my shopping vacation in Texas.  After listening to my two older children fighting, then racing to see who got to sit in the front seat after the basketball game this evening, I wished I was still there.  Since I’m stuck here, I used my Solomon-like wisdom and proclaimed my judgment on the stalemate.  Neither one ended up riding shotgun.  I simply locked the passenger door and made both of them sit in the backseat.

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

A Tired Boy (312/365)

2011 11 08 _MG_6662we
“There was never a child so lovely but his mother was glad to get him to sleep.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson (American Poet, Lecturer and Essayist, 1803-1882)

TIME:  9:16 PM
PLACE:  Home
SUBJECT:  MonkeyBoy

Here is my tired boy.  School, a basketball game and that pesky homework just done wore him out today.

Monday, November 7, 2011

The Days Grow Shorter (311/365)

2011 11 07 _MG_6620w
“The days grow shorter and the nights are getting long
Feels like we're running out of time..”

Triumph. "Fight the Good Fight."
Allied Forces. Rik Emmett, Gil Moore, and Michael Levine. Metalworks Studios, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, 1981.

TIME:  5:00 PM
PLACE:  Kitchen
SUBJECT:  Tissue paper leaf

I was making supper and happened to notice how dark it gets so early now that daylight saving time is in effect.  I did like how StellaDella’s leaf was looking nice and bright against the darkness on the other side of the window. I thought that it made a nice decoration for the upcoming Thanksgiving holidays.  Then it hit me.  Thanksgiving is only a little over 2 weeks away.  Yikes…I’m not ready for this.  Could I have a little more time please?

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Skull (310/365)

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“The madhouse of the skull.”
 
Samuel Beckett (1906-1989), Irish dramatist, novelist. The narrator, in Ill Seen Ill Said, p. 20, Grove Press (1981).

TIME:  7:05 PM
PLACE:  Living Room
SUBJECT:  Cow skull

Before I left last week, StellaDella requested that she wanted me to bring her only one thing back from Texas – a cow skull.  From any other 7-year-old girl, that would be an odd request.  From my daughter, not so much.  On Saturday, I located this one.  I liked it because the horns curled under.  I was told that this was because the rancher weighted the horns to keep them from catching on things or from accidently goring the other cows or the rancher.  I couldn’t wait to see the look on her face today when I gave it to her.  I wasn’t disappointed – she adores it.

Saturday, November 5, 2011

Good Liquor Hunting (309/365)

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“Once, during Prohibition, I was forced to live for days on nothing but food and water.”

W.C. Fields (American Comic and Actor, 1880-1946)

TIME:  4:51 PM
PLACE:  Terrell, Texas
SUBJECT:  Boo’s Liquor sign

Did you know that the city of Canton is located in Van Zandt County, Texas?  Did you also know that Van Zandt is a dry county?  Yeah.  Neither did we.  The good news: We were able to buy a bottle of wine in one of the Trade Days mall areas (apparently some vendors have special dispensation for selling wine).  The bad news: That bottle was quickly emptied last night.  Today, we ended up driving about 25 minutes west to the city of Terrell this afternoon to check out some antique stores and an outlet mall.  Terrell is not in a dry county.  We stopped by this liquor store to try to find some local Texas beer for my brother.  We weren’t successful here, but finally found something at another store.

Friday, November 4, 2011

Doggie Dress-Up (308/365)

 2011 11 04 IMG_6566w
“If you are a dog and your owner suggests that you wear a sweater... suggest that he wear a tail.”

Fran Lebowitz (American Writer and Humorist, b.1950)

TIME:  11:30 AM
PLACE:  Canton First Monday Trade Days
SUBJECT:  Isabelle the fashionable Chihuahua

Besides shopping, the First Monday Trade Days are a great place to people watch.  One thing we noticed was that the folks sure love their dogs here.  There were many, many dogs walking, being carried and even in strollers(!).  Once, we even saw a cat being wheeled around in an enclosed pram.  This pooch we saw late this morning, was the best.  I love her outfit.  She looks like am old-timey western Madame in charge of a doggie brothel.

2011 11 04 IMG_6568w
TIME: 11:31 AM
PLACE: Canton First Monday Trade Days
SUBJECT: Daisy as Santa

Right next to Isabelle was Daisy.  Daisy was modeling her Santa Claus attire.  Hello Daisy, I would like a new macro lens for Christmas please.

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Experienced (307/365)

2011 11 03 IMG_1269w
“Ask the experienced rather than the learned”

Arabian Proverb

TIME:  3:41 PM
PLACE:  Canton First Monday Trade Days, Canton, Texas
SUBJECT:  Experienced bowling pins

We survived the first day of shopping.  This place is huge…we haven’t even gone through half of it.  I bought a few items, a ring for myself, some vintage Christmas and an old “Utility Easement” metal sign for my future utility room.  We had the best loaded baked potato for lunch.  Potato, onions, cheese, sour cream, beef brisket and bbq sauce.  Awesome.
 

2011 11 03 IMG_1265w

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Show Me Some Roadside Attractions (306/365)

2011 11 02 IMG_1239w2011 11 02 IMG_1242w"Embrace the detours."

~ Kevin Charbonneau

TIME:  9:42 & 10:37 AM
PLACE:  Cookin’ from Scratch, Doolittle, Missouri & Redmon's Candy Factory - Phillipsburg, Missouri
SUBJECT:  Giant chicken in an El Camino and Candy

So, now I can shed some light on my cyptic-ness yesterday.   I ran away left this morning with my sister and my sister-in-law to drive to Canton, Texas for the First Monday Trade Days.  It is noted as being “the largest flea market in the United States. It is the oldest, largest continually operating outdoor market in the USA, operates on hundreds of acres, and provides spaces for about 6,000 vendors.”  In other words we drove 10 hours to shop.  On our way down, we stopped at a couple of Missouri attractions.  We had to see the giant chicken in the El Camino and check out the Candy Factory.  We can do that because we have no husbands or children to slow us down.  Sweet.

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

The Feast of All Saints (305/365)

2011 11 01 _MG_6564w
“May the good Saints protect you and bless you today, and may troubles ignore you each step of the way.”

Irish Blessing

TIME:  8:33 PM
PLACE:  Desk
SUBJECT:  St. Christopher & Our Lady of Grace Visor Clip

Today is All Saints Day – a feast day in the Catholic religion to honor all the saints, both known and unknown.  When I went to Catholic school, it meant that we always had the day off after Halloween – a huge plus. 
~*~*~
St. Christopher (who carried the Christ child across a turbulent river) is the patron saint of travellers.  This metal visor clip is usually in my Jeep, but I have plans for it tomorrow.  I’ll just be a little cryptic and leave it at that.