Technical Difficulties (334/365)

Samir: No, not again. I... why does it say paper jam when there is no paper jam? I swear to God, one of these days, I just kick this piece of sh** out the window.
Michael Bolton: You and me both, man. That thing is lucky I'm not armed.
Samir: Piece of sh**.

Office Space. Perf. Ajay Naidu and David Herman. Dir. Mike Judge. 1999. Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation.

TIME:  6:49 PM
PLACE:  Kitchen
SUBJECT:  Cordless phone

Our cordless handsets have been slowing dying on us; they weren’t holding a charge and sometimes, when we dialed out, it wouldn’t register the number that we pressed.  So, today, I purchased a new cordless phone with 4-handsets and set them up.  However we are unable to use them.  Why you ask?  Well let me tell ya…MB and his friend were playing basketball and managed to knock over some scaffolding, which in turn fell on the telephone wire that connected our house to the main line.  While the wire didn’t fall down, something in it must have snapped.  We have no phone nor internet at the present.  An AT&T repairman is scheduled to arrive tomorrow.  I wonder how much this is going to cost us.

The Perfect Tree (333/365)

“The perfect Christmas tree?  All Christmas trees are perfect!”

Charles N. Barnard, author

TIME:  7:16 PM
PLACE:  Living room
SUBJECT:  The bottom of our Christmas tree

This perfect Christmas tree was decorated by a professional 6-year-old without any parental supervision.  Please, do not attempt this at home.

Afternoon Shadows (332/365)

"I thought the most beautiful thing in the world must be shadow."

Sylvia Plath (The Bell Jar)

TIME:  4:06 PM
PLACE:  Front porch
SUBJECT:  Shadows cast from Capital Pear tree

I managed to get all the Thanksgiving decorations put away, the Christmas tree up (with lights!) and even put lights and garland on the front porch banisters.  StellaDella and DramaQueen began hanging ornaments on the tree this evening; and I ‘m hoping to be done with all of the holiday decorations by Thursday.  That’s the plan at least.
~*~*~
The Capital Pear tree we have in front is one of the last trees to lose its leaves.  Usually, they hang on until the beginning/middle of December.  They just turned yellow last week.  I was trying to take some photos of the leaves, when I noticed the shadows they were casting on the front of the house.  The cool afternoon light makes it look like clouds have been painted on the siding and porch column.

November Tree (331/365)

"No warmth, no cheerfulness, no healthful ease,
No comfortable feel in any member -
No shade, no shine, no butterflies, no bees,
No fruits, no flowers, no leaves, no birds -
November!"

Thomas Hood, No!

TIME:  3:51 PM
PLACE:  Front yard
SUBJECT:  Red sunset maple tree

For some strange reason, all day long, I kept thinking that today was Sunday.  The holiday and the kids being home from school has discombobulated me.  I’m glad it’s Saturday – gives me a whole ‘nother day to get things done…or at least think about getting things done and then taking a nap instead.

Santa Beads (330/365)

“It was good because I got some beads.”

Mardi Gras saying

TIME:  10:48 AM
PLACE:  West Main Street
SUBJECT:  Oreo

The kids, dog and I walked up to Main Street to watch the Santa Claus parade this morning.  We sat on the sunny side of the street – so even though it was a bit chilly, we had the sun shining on us which helped to keep us warm.  Many parade participants handed out beads – MB and SD decided to place their overflow on Oreo.

Thankful (329/365)

“We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have.”

Friedrich Gottlob Koenig (German, Inventor best-known for his high-speed printing press, which he built together with watchmaker Andreas Friedrich Bauer. 1774-1833)

TIME:  9:01 PM
PLACE:  Home
SUBJECT:  Thankful feather

StellaDella and I made this feather for a school project earlier this month.  Each 1st grader decorated a large construction paper feather with their family; all of the feathers were displayed as part of a large turkey outside of their classroom. 

My sister hosted Thanksgiving at her house this afternoon.  My responsibility consisted of making the dressing and green beans (fresh ones, with onions and bacon – yum!).  I am thankful for the food we ate, the wine we drank and the family we celebrated the holiday with.

Raindrops & A Flirtation (328/365)

“No matter how happily a woman may be married, it always pleases her to discover that there is a nice man who wishes that she were not.”

H. L. Mencken (American humorous Journalist and Critic of American life who influenced US fiction through the 1920s, 1880-1956)

TIME:  4:13 PM
PLACE:  Front porch
SUBJECT:  Rain on copper light fixture

This day before Thanksgiving was a dark rainy one.  Nevertheless, my day was brightened by a good-looking, younger guy next to me at the credit union drive up lanes.  He told me I was pretty, he loved my beautiful smile and he’d like to take me away and make me feel like I was sixteen again.  I told him that I didn’t think my husband would like that ~  he said that he’d have me back before the husband knew I was gone.  I said that while I appreciated the offer, I had to decline and then wished him a Happy Thanksgiving.  And yes, there was a big, silly grin on my face the rest of the drive home.

Enter Illinois (327/365)

“Praise the bridge that carried you over.”

George Colman the Younger (English Playwright and Writer of scurrilous satiric verse, and theatre manager whose comic operas, farces, melodramas, and sentimental comedies. 1762-1836)

TIME:  12:41 PM
PLACE:  Heading east on Indiana State Route 66, New Harmony, Indiana
SUBJECT:  Toll bridge over Wabash River

I volunteered to take a road trip to Evansville, Indiana today to fetch my godchild from the University of Southern Indiana for Thanksgiving break.  I looked at it as a tiny get-a-way for myself.  It took about 2-1/2 hours to get there and I enjoyed every child/job/housework-free moment of it.  I used my brother’s GPS and on the return trip for some reason, it took us the scenic route home, via New Harmony, Indiana.  It was a pleasant ride back – I got to spend time with my niece chatting and catching up.

You Know You Want To (326/365)

“Nothing makes it easier to resist temptation than a proper bringing-up, a sound set of values - and witnesses.”

Franklin P. Jones (Philadelphia reporter, public relations executive and humorist. 1908 - 1980)

TIME:  5:59 PM
PLACE:  Grade school
SUBJECT:  Fire alarm

SD had a Daisy meeting from 5-6:15pm and I stayed and helped the troop leader wrangle the girls.  The fire alarm is right by the school office.  Whenever I walk by an old-school alarm like this, the devil on my shoulder always urges me to pull it, just once.  I know that it’s wrong to sound a false alarm, but It’s so red, shiny and tempting.  Must. Control. Urge. To. Commit. Misdemeanor.

Project Runway (325/365)

“Fashion can be bought.  Style one must possess.”

Edna Woolman Chase (American, editor in chief of Vogue magazine from 1914-1952, 1877-1957)

TIME:  4:34 PM
PLACE:  Living room
SUBJECT:  StellaDella’s fashion design

Late this afternoon, SD decided that she NEEDED to craft something.  So she grabbed a paper grocery bag and asked me to cut off the bottom, cut 2 holes in the sides for her arms and turn it inside out to hide the printing on it.  She then drew a design on the front and cut fringes - or as she calls them “crumbles” - on the bottom.  She then modeled her creation for me.  I think she has a future in the fashion design industry.

Gingersand (324/365)

“Xander: Wait. Hansel and Gretel? Bread crumbs, ovens, gingerbread house?
Giles: Of course. It makes sense now.
Buffy: Yeah, it's all falling into place. Of course that place is nowhere near this place.”

"Gingerbread." *Buffy the Vampire Slayer.* Perf. Nicholas Brendon, Anthony Head, and Sarah Michelle Gellar. 12 Jan. 1999. Television.

TIME:  3:49 PM
PLACE:  Downtown
SUBJECT:  Sand Gingerbread House

As part of our city’s annual gingerbread Christmas festivities, several local businesses and our Main Street group sponsored the sculpting of this sand gingerbread house on our public square for the Christmas season.  The sand sculptor started on Wednesday morning and was finished by this afternoon.  During the month of December, our city also has an annual gingerbread house building contest (one of these years I’d like to enter), a 5K run and a downtown gingerbread cookie walk.  Santa arrives next week Friday in the annual Santa Claus parade.  Kids will be able to visit him in his cottage right next to the ginger-sand house.

Threaded Support (323/365)

“We deceive ourselves when we fancy that only weakness needs support. Strength needs it far more.”

Anne Sophie Swetchine (known as Madame Swetchine, Russian mystic, born in Moscow, and famous for her salon in Paris, 1782-1857)

TIME:  4:29 PM
PLACE:  Back yard
SUBJECT:  Support pole threads

The HandsomeHusband removed a rotten porch structure at the back of the house and had to place supports under the roof until the new porch is built.
~*~*~
We have an additional 13-year-old child this evening.  DQ’s friend is spending the night and tomorrow they are going to the mall with her mom.  Better them than me – I hate going to the mall on the weekends.

Unexcelled Beverages (322/365)

“That was the best ice-cream soda I ever tasted.”

Lou Costello (American, comedian, d. March 3, 1959) – his dying words.

TIME:  6:51 PM
PLACE:  Home
SUBJECT:  Elk soda crate

I picked this up at a yard sale back in September - I think I paid $2.00 for it.  I searched the internet, but couldn’t find much of anything on the Elk’s Beverage company.  I did find an Elk’s Beverage wooden soda case on eBay.  That listing states that the case up for auction is circa the 1920’s-1930’s.  Other than that, I have no information.  In any case (Ha! - “any case”/ “soda case” - I made a pun, how amusing), this crate is sitting on my file cabinet, holding my small collection of photography books.

Turkey (321/365)

“I hate turkeys. If you stand in the meat section at the grocery store long enough, you start to get mad at turkeys. There's turkey ham, turkey bologna, turkey pastrami...Someone needs to tell the turkey, man, just be yourself.”

Mitch Hedberg (American Comedian, 1968-2005)

TIME:  7:09 PM
PLACE:  Living room
SUBJECT:  Turkey salt shaker

I think last year, when I took a photo of my “Thanksgiving At Grandmother’s House” I mentioned that I did not have many Thanksgiving decorations.  Well, I decided to correct that this year.  I kept an eye out for inexpensive, old, turkey salt and pepper shakers and other figurines with a fall theme.  I picked up 2 sets of shakers – each with a tom and hen – and two tom shakers that lost their mates, all under $2.00 each.  In fact, I scored this little guy, marked “JAPAN”, for only 50 cents.  I do love the thrill of the hunt and the excitement of a cheap find.  <== I am so pathetic.

An Empty Nest (320/365)

“An empty nest! It used to bear
A happy burden, when the breeze
Of summer rocked it, and a pair
Of merry tattlers told the trees
What treasures they had hidden there.”

James Whitcomb Riley (1849-1916 / Indiana / United States) “An Empty Nest.” lines 11-15.

TIME:  4:26 PM
PLACE:  Front yard
SUBJECT:  Bird nest

Our Purple Sand Cherry shrub has shed all of its leaves and revealed two bird’s nests tucked away in its branches.  I knew there was one nest in it (I had taken a picture of the baby birds earlier in the spring), but didn’t realize that there was a second one as well.
~*~*~
In other news, MonkeyBoy’s basketball team tied 23 to 23 in overtime (In grade school, if they are tied at the end of the game, they play one overtime.  If tied at the end of overtime, then a tie is recorded for that game).  And guess who made the shot that got our team from 21 to 23 points? It was my boy…He made the basket as time ran out.  Go MB!!!

Happy Hair-Dryer Thinks Your Hairdo is Interesting (319/365)

Bugs Bunny: [discovers the monster] Uh-oh. Think fast, rabbit. My stars! Where did you ever get that awful hairdo? It doesn't become you at all.
[Sits the monster down and starts brushing its hair]  Here, for goodness' sake, let me fix it up. Look how stringy and messy it is. What a shame. Such an interesting monster, too. My stars, if an interesting monster can't have an interesting hairdo, then I don't know what things are coming to. In my business you meet so many interesting people - Bobby pins, please - but the most interersting ones are the monsters. Oh, dear, that will never stay. We'll just have to have a permanemanent.
[Runs to get some dynamite and puts it on the monster's hair like rollers]
Now, I've got to give an interesting old lady a manicure, but I'll be back before you're done.
[Leaves; dynamite explodes, leaving a huge bald spot on the monster's head]

Water, Water Every Hare. Dir. Chuck Jones. 1952. Warner Bros. Pictures.

TIME:  8:08 PM
PLACE:  Bathroom
SUBJECT:  Hairdryer

The blow-dryer was laughing at me this morning…cheeky little thing.  You don’t think I’m being paranoid do you?

Corn Rows (318/365)

• The average ear of corn has 800 kernels, arranged in 16 rows.
• There is one piece of silk for each kernel.
• A pound of corn consists of about 1,300 kernels.
• A bushel of corn contains about 27,000 kernels.

Corn facts from www.foodreference.com

TIME:  2:39 PM
PLACE:  Back porch
SUBJECT:  Dried ear of corn

Although I didn’t decorate with them them this fall, in the past I would place dried cornstalks on my front porch.  In December, when we would take them down, I pulled the ears of corn off the stalks to feed them to the squirrels.  Earlier this summer, while trying to organize the basement, I discovered a whole container of dried ears of corn that I had apparently forgotten about.  We’ve been leaving them out in the backyard and our porch for the squirrels this fall.  They are loving it ~ it’s like they have hit the corn jackpot…lucky squirrels.

Speed Reading (317/365)

“I took a speed-reading course and read War and Peace in twenty minutes. It involves Russia.”

Woody Allen (American Actor, Author, Screenwriter and Film Director, b.1935)

TIME:  6:40 PM
PLACE:  Kitchen table
SUBJECT:  DramaQueen & book

I took DQ and her BFF to the mall today so DQ could spend some of her birthday money.  I really do not like going to the mall – especially on a Saturday - but I sucked it up and chauffeured my eldest and her friend there so they could shop.  DQ bought a purse, a cell phone cover and an iced coffee.  I popped for lunch.  On the way home, we stopped by the bookstore where she picked up the newest installment of the Diary of A Wimpy Kid series.  As you can see, she has already devoured read the entire book.

Chief Mourner (316/365)

“Who'll be chief mourner?
I, said the dove,
I'll mourn for my love,
I'll be chief mourner.”

Mother Goose (fl. 17th-18th century. Who killed Cock Robin? (L. 33-36). . . Oxford Book of Light Verse, The. W. H. Auden, ed. (1938) Oxford University Press.

TIME:  1:59 PM
PLACE:  Back yard
SUBJECT:  Mourning dove

One of the first things I do when I arrive home from work, is to let the dog out of the kennel and take her outside.  She is always very excited to see me and is raring to go out to the yard so she can save us from any invading birds and/or squirrels that dare to trespass on our property.  Usually the doves are resting in the grass and fly up into the trees when the dog bounds after them, but this one was sitting on top of the swing set when we came out.  Oreo never even noticed…it’s a good thing she’s not a hunting dog.

Fish Sitting (315/365)

“Fish and visitors smell in three days.”

Benjamin Franklin (American Statesman, Scientist, Philosopher, Printer, Writer and Inventor. 1706-1790)

TIME:  8:43 PM
PLACE:  Home
SUBJECT:  Goldfish

My sister and her family went out of town to visit relatives and I was asked to “fish-sit” my niece’s goldfish.  Say hello to Barbie and pray that she doesn’t turn into a “floater” before they return from their trip on Sunday.

New To Me (314/365)

“Show some mercy to this chair which has stretched out its arms to you for so long; please satisfy its desire to embrace you!”

Molière [Jean Baptiste Poquelin] (1622-1673), French comic playwright. Cathos, in Les Précieuses Ridicules, sc. 9 (1659). Cathos invites her guest to sit down.

TIME:  4:42 PM
PLACE:  Living room
SUBJECT:  Chair

I stopped by the Senior Citizen’s Thrift Store yesterday morning to peruse their wares.  I found a couple of vintage Christmas ornaments and this chair.  It is very mid-century modern (a style which I’ve been finding myself drawn to lately).  My first thought upon seeing it was how much my brother John in San Francisco would appreciate it.  Then I sat on it, found out how comfy it was and decided that I needed it for myself.  One of the older gentlemen working there saw me trying it out and said that he would give me “the deal of the century” since I was such a lovely young lady  – only 20 dollars…Sold (Hey, I know he was buttering me up to persuade me to buy it, but I’ll happily accept all the compliments I can get).  At first, I was afraid that the style wouldn’t work with my living room, but it actually looks pretty good.  The chair also received Jack’s stamp of approval – he loves sleeping on it.

Tempus Fugit (313/365)

“Time is flying, never to return.”

Virgil [Publius Vergilius Maro] (70-19 B.C.), Roman poet. Georgics, bk. 3, l. 284 (29 B.C.). The Latin, fugit irreparabile tempus, is usually quoted tempus fugit.

TIME:  2:04 PM
PLACE:  Backyard
SUBJECT:  Sundial

I just realized it’s NOVEMBER!  I mean, I know what month it is, but holy crow…Christmas is only 45 days away.  How’d that happen?  We are having such beautiful weather – it made it up to 78 degrees today and it is supposed to stay in the low 70’s and remain mostly sunny until Saturday.  With weather like this, I cannot begin to wrap my mind around the encroaching Christmas season and I don’t even want to try…I’m just going to enjoy the lovely weather we’re having and not think about the holidays until after Thanksgiving.  Who’s with me?

Bug Gazing (312/365)

“It always gives me a shiver when I see a cat seeing what I can't see.” 

Eleanor Farjeon (English author of children's stories and plays, poetry, biography, history and satire, 1881–1965)

TIME:  4:28 PM
PLACE:  Living room
SUBJECT:  Jack

Jack spied a ladybug that was on the ceiling and jumped to the arm of the sofa to get a better look.  Except for the swishing of his tail, he was as still as a statue gazing up at the bug.  He was not successful in capturing his prey.

Gone To Seed (311/365)

“Old gossips are usually young flirts gone to seed.”

James Lendall Basford (Author)

TIME:  10:02 AM
PLACE:  Dr. Tom Amlung Nature Trail
SUBJECT:  Grass seeds

I dropped the kids off at Sunday School this morning and took a couple of hours to wander about.  My plan was to check out an estate sale in another town (about 19 miles away) that I thought was this weekend, but when I arrived at the address, I found out I was wrong…it is next week.  Doh!  So I went ahead with plan “B” – stop by the nature trail and take pictures.  It was less expensive too.

Paper Lanterns (310/365)

“No my friend, darkness is not everywhere, for here and there I find faces illuminated from within; paper lanterns among the dark trees.”
 
Carole Borges (American, author, poet)

TIME:  9:24 PM
PLACE:  Living room
SUBJECT:  Paper lanterns

I made these paper lanterns last night to decorate for the DramaQueen’s birthday party we had tonight and also for Thanksgiving.  I think Thanksgiving is such an overlooked holiday when it comes to decorations – in the stores, as soon as Halloween ends, Christmas takes over and Thanksgiving gets the shaft – well, that’s not going to happen in my house.  So there!  These lanterns are just some cardstock I had on hand, cut into strips, then punched and threaded with some natural hemp cording.  I made ten of them in five colors and two sizes.  I varied the lengths of the cord so they are staggered as they hang.  So simple, yet it makes me happy looking at them.

Drug House Sign (309/365)

“I've never had a problem with drugs.  I've had problems with the police.”

Keith Richards (English guitarist, singer-songwriter, record producer, best-selling author and a founding member of The Rolling Stones. b1943)

TIME:  1:20 PM
PLACE:  4100 block of West Main St.
SUBJECT:  Drug house sign

This year, our city police department has begun to identify houses where drug suspects have been arrested and drugs were seized by placing signs in front of the properties.  The idea is to let the people in our community know what is going on in their neighborhoods.  While I was taking this photo, at least 3 cars slowed down to read the sign, then turned around via the side street where I was parked and drove off in the opposite direction from whence they came.  Hmmm, disappointed customers perhaps?

Clouds (308/365)

“See, I am the whitest cloud that strays
Through a deep sky:
I am your senses' crossroads,
Where the four seasons lie.”
 
Philip Larkin (1922-1986), British poet. "Mythological Introduction."

TIME:  5:03 PM
PLACE:  Backyard
SUBJECT:  The sky

Lots of sunshine, fluffy white clouds and a gorgeous blue sky today.  I ran errands (bank and grocery store), did laundry and put away all the Halloween decorations.  Still didn’t get everything done that I wanted to.  I attribute that to the fact that I’ve been feeling achy all day.  I hope I’m not coming down with anything  - that would stink.

I Love Autumn (307/365)

"I like spring, but it is too young. I like summer, but it is too proud. So I like best of all autumn, because its tone is mellower, its colours are richer, and it is tinged with a little sorrow. Its golden richness speaks not of the innocence of spring, nor the power of summer, but of the mellowness and kindly wisdom of approaching age. It knows the limitations of life and its content."|

Lin Yutang (Chinese writer and inventor, 1895–1976)

TIME:  5:39 PM
PLACE:  Neighbor’s yard
SUBJECT:  Leaves

Why must the colorful fall leaves only hang around for such a short period of time?  I love the variety of hues that autumn brings and wish they could stick around much longer than they do.  All too soon the only thing we will see are the bare branches reaching for the sky.

Veni, Vidi, Voted (306/365)

“People often say that, in a democracy, decisions are made by a majority of the people.  Of course, that is not true.  Decisions are made by a majority of those who make themselves heard and who vote - a very different thing.”

Walter H. Judd (American politician and statesman, 1898-1994)

TIME:  10:41 PM
PLACE:  Home
SUBJECT:  Sticker

The kids were off today for the second day of school conferences (mine had theirs yesterday) and it was also Election Day.  Oh joy.  I performed my civic duty by filling in the little circles on the scannable ballot.  I don’t like it - it reminds me of all of the tests I took back in my college days – belch!  Not a good memory to have while making important voting decisions.  Nevertheless, I completed the task of filling out the ballot; I walked it over to the scanning machine; I fed it into the scanner; my vote was counted and then I received my prize – the ubiquitous “I Voted” sticker.  I think it goes quite well with my pink hoodie.

Piano Confessions (305/365)

“There are things to confess that enrich the world, and things that need not be said.”
 
Joni Mitchell (b. 1943), Canadian-born U.S. singer, songwriter. Independent (London, May 13, 1988).

TIME:  8:55 PM
PLACE:  Dining room
SUBJECT:  Inside of the piano

StellaDella accidently dropped a glow stick inside the piano this afternoon.  I told her that it wasn’t a big deal, we could open it up and get the stick out, but she was still very upset about it.  She then proceeded to tell me about a time way back in September when she dropped a piece of chat from the playground into the school toilet and flushed it and also how she took some strings from her sock and hid them under the classroom rug during carpet time.  She was crying when telling me these things; she was afraid that she would be (in her words) “disbarred from school.”  I told her that I was glad she was telling me the truth and that it was ok – the toilet was fine, (but don’t put anything down it but toilet paper again) and her teacher wasn’t going to get upset about the strings under the carpet.  She has been very “confessy” these days for some reason.  I’m glad she has a conscience, but oh my, some of the things she has been admitting to lately just crack me up.