It's EARLY in the morning, but I'm awake. My aunt and uncle are sleeping in one bedroom. My dad is snoring on the couch hide-a-bed with Mom in the living area. I'm propped against my bed's headboard waiting until a decent hour for breakfast so I don't interrupt the sleep of others.
Yesterday, I skipped out on the waterway taxi because I was pooped. I napped and showered while everyone else was out. I did get to socialize with my aunt and uncle over dinner and afterwards in our suite. Plus, some of us took a final walk on the beach with the full moon shining down on the water. Lovely. I was marveling again at how awesome the Bahamaian sand was, and my dad came up with a good description-- he said that sand is like powdered sugar and regular beach sand is granular like ordinary sugar.
I'm mostly packed up except for a few items I will use this morning. Today we fly back to Kentucky. I'm eager to see my garden and harvest some radishes. Hope all is doing well-- I know we've had some wild weather during my absence.
It will finally be time to plant the seeds that need frost-free weather. I'm going to try to get it done quickly since thunderstorms are predicted in the coming days.
I will miss the ocean, but it's been a good trip, and I'm also looking forward to the comforts of home.
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Thursday, April 29, 2010
Wednesday, April 28, 2010
The Bahamas
We were only on the island for about 3 hours-- as our taxi driver Denyse said, "It's a teaser." Still, it gave us the opportunity to see how beautiful their beaches are-- turquoise water and the softest, whitest sand I've ever felt or seen-- amazing! Even Hawaii didn't have sand like that!
The people are sweet, and the women are strong in heart. The shopping was too touristy for my taste, but I'd love to stay a week on one of the islands. It was interesting to consider how the people make a living given their circumstances and how many goods must be imported. Expensive!
Dinner on the boat was good, and the moon shining on the water and the blowing wind were gorgeous, but we were ready to get home and unwind. We watched a movie in one of the lounges while music from the dance floor below throbbed and vibrated around us. We went through customs at 12:50am-- one heck of a long day!
My aunt and uncle are coming to visit today and want to take the water taxis through the intercoastal waterways of the area, but I don't know that I've got the umph to join them. I've had only 6 hours of sleep for two nights in a row. My big ambition for today is to shower and clean up. I last saw my relatives a few years ago at a family reunion. I'd like to spend some time with them, but I'm also headachy.
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The people are sweet, and the women are strong in heart. The shopping was too touristy for my taste, but I'd love to stay a week on one of the islands. It was interesting to consider how the people make a living given their circumstances and how many goods must be imported. Expensive!
Dinner on the boat was good, and the moon shining on the water and the blowing wind were gorgeous, but we were ready to get home and unwind. We watched a movie in one of the lounges while music from the dance floor below throbbed and vibrated around us. We went through customs at 12:50am-- one heck of a long day!
My aunt and uncle are coming to visit today and want to take the water taxis through the intercoastal waterways of the area, but I don't know that I've got the umph to join them. I've had only 6 hours of sleep for two nights in a row. My big ambition for today is to shower and clean up. I last saw my relatives a few years ago at a family reunion. I'd like to spend some time with them, but I'm also headachy.
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Tuesday, April 27, 2010
On Board
We're on our way to Freeport in the Bahamas. It's a day trip cruise. I woke at 6:45, threw on clothes, and we drove to Port Everglades. We had to go through a passport check etc. then boarded our ship. They fed us a breakfast buffet, then got underway. We'll spend a portion of the day on the island, then reboard our ship and embark for Florida. They'll serve us dinner on the return trip.
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Lifelong Friends
On Sunday, my parents and I headed to a local flea market to meet their friends-- a couple they hadn't seen in more than thirty-five years; I don't remember them since I was only a few years old the last time. However, I enjoyed their company-- they were kind-hearted and zany and fun. I've heard about them all my life since she and my mom were friends from the time they were four years old; it was a pleasure to meet them at last.
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- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Monday, April 26, 2010
Oceanside
On Saturday afternoon, my Mom and I left our hotel room for the beach and pool. We played at the water's edge a while. I like to bury my toes in the sand and let the waves break over my feet and legs. It was a breezy day, and the waves churned up a lot of sand, so after a time we pulled lounge chairs up to the wet sand and watched the waves instead. I do love the ocean.
The hotel has two pools, one of which was heated to the perfect temperature. Plus, most folks were headed to their rooms to get ready for dinner and such; we had the pool to ourselves with a live band in the background covering some oldies & love songs in reggae-style. Not a bad way to spend an afternoon. ;-)
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The hotel has two pools, one of which was heated to the perfect temperature. Plus, most folks were headed to their rooms to get ready for dinner and such; we had the pool to ourselves with a live band in the background covering some oldies & love songs in reggae-style. Not a bad way to spend an afternoon. ;-)
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Friday, April 23, 2010
Vacation Begins!
I got up on time yesterday because I needed to get packed for a Fort Lauderdale vacation. My parents were going to pick me up at 1:15pm. We'd drive to the Lexington airport and take a nonstop flight. But I still needed to do a load of laundry before I could pack my clothes!
Well, I got the important things done with time to spare. I didn't leave my house in mint condition, but the dishes were washed and the trash put outside, so it was good enough.
I hate flying-- I'm not afraid (a bit nervous, but given all the air accidents in the past years, I think that's rational)-- but the takeoff and landing make my stomach woozy. Luckily, the plane wasn't full, and we were able to spread out a little-- it's still not much leg room though. I snoozed on the flight and felt better for it.
We weren't able to do much upon arrival except get our rental car, drive to our hotel, and eat dinner at a pizza place right across from the beach. We did venture onto the sand to look at the ocean after dinner-- it smelled briney and stretched out forever-- but it was already dark, and since they don't allow camping on the beach, it was time to get settled into our hotel suite for the night.
We were only staying at that hotel for one night-- it was a lovely suite: two bedrooms, two baths, a kitchen, a kitchenette, a dining room, and a balcony. It would be easy to live in this home away from home just seven miles from the airport.
Today we're headed to Pompano where we'll have accomodations for the week. We can't check in until later in the day, so that will give us the opportunity to hang out in Fort Lauderdale for as long as we desire.
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Well, I got the important things done with time to spare. I didn't leave my house in mint condition, but the dishes were washed and the trash put outside, so it was good enough.
I hate flying-- I'm not afraid (a bit nervous, but given all the air accidents in the past years, I think that's rational)-- but the takeoff and landing make my stomach woozy. Luckily, the plane wasn't full, and we were able to spread out a little-- it's still not much leg room though. I snoozed on the flight and felt better for it.
We weren't able to do much upon arrival except get our rental car, drive to our hotel, and eat dinner at a pizza place right across from the beach. We did venture onto the sand to look at the ocean after dinner-- it smelled briney and stretched out forever-- but it was already dark, and since they don't allow camping on the beach, it was time to get settled into our hotel suite for the night.
We were only staying at that hotel for one night-- it was a lovely suite: two bedrooms, two baths, a kitchen, a kitchenette, a dining room, and a balcony. It would be easy to live in this home away from home just seven miles from the airport.
Today we're headed to Pompano where we'll have accomodations for the week. We can't check in until later in the day, so that will give us the opportunity to hang out in Fort Lauderdale for as long as we desire.
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Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Ready Radishes?
My radishes sprouted 20 days ago, so I was hoping a few would be mature enough to harvest now (but judging by the foliage, I doubted it). Still, I pulled one up this morning. A lovely scarlet root, but not a plump radish. Ah well, I knew I was being impatient. I did wash and eat it, and it tasted spicy. Another 10 days I reckon.
I have 17 carrot seedlings growing, and true feathery leaves are showing on some.
Yesterday's lawn mowing threw all sorts of clippings into the raised bed, which makes it a little difficult to see emerging sprouts. Hopefully those bits will wither and turn brown quickly so that I can see when my next crop of lettuce appears.
Definitely need to water today-- for the seeds' sakes mostly.
Today's going to be another busy day of chores and errands, even though I've started kind of late.
I need to shop for some summer clothing. I only have one pair of ginormous shorts and multiple way-too-tight capris that need purging from my wardrobe. I can't wear pants through Kentucky's sweltering summers unless I'm ensconced in a chilly air-conditioned office.
By the way, here's a photo my mom took of her birthday lava cakes.
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I have 17 carrot seedlings growing, and true feathery leaves are showing on some.
Yesterday's lawn mowing threw all sorts of clippings into the raised bed, which makes it a little difficult to see emerging sprouts. Hopefully those bits will wither and turn brown quickly so that I can see when my next crop of lettuce appears.
Definitely need to water today-- for the seeds' sakes mostly.
Today's going to be another busy day of chores and errands, even though I've started kind of late.
I need to shop for some summer clothing. I only have one pair of ginormous shorts and multiple way-too-tight capris that need purging from my wardrobe. I can't wear pants through Kentucky's sweltering summers unless I'm ensconced in a chilly air-conditioned office.
By the way, here's a photo my mom took of her birthday lava cakes.
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Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Busy Day
I've got someone coming to mow today, thanks to my Mom's arranging, so I need to prep the yard a bit. I have to rope off the area where the tulips are growing, trim the excess weed fabric from the remaining bed, and remove the netting for the moment-- I don't want him entangling himself or his equipment in the portion puddling over the sides of the bed. Plus, I may not be at home to give directions or warnings when he arrives. This will be the first mowing of the season, and the yard sorely needs it. There's a 30% chance of showers though, and it does look a little cloudy and dark. Hope it gets done.
I have an appointment with an optometrist. It's been 3 years since my last checkup. I need new glasses that aren't so fragile, and then I'll have the current ones for backup. I also need prescription sunglasses. I've never purchased any before because of the expense, but I think it will be a worthwhile investment in headache prevention.
It's also my Mom's birthday, and I am planning to bake Molten Lava Cakes and take them to her. I first made them earlier in the year (January maybe? Before I started this blog). They are wonderful and surprisingly easy to make. I have to find my recipe though; it's buried in an avalanche of papers in my knitting room. I can't even remember the source of the recipe that I finally tried-- I have several in my collection. If there are any leftover they can be frozen then nuked. I want to try that and see if the frozen ones are as good as fresh. The only thing they needed to be perfect was a little vanilla ice cream on the side! ;-)
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I have an appointment with an optometrist. It's been 3 years since my last checkup. I need new glasses that aren't so fragile, and then I'll have the current ones for backup. I also need prescription sunglasses. I've never purchased any before because of the expense, but I think it will be a worthwhile investment in headache prevention.
It's also my Mom's birthday, and I am planning to bake Molten Lava Cakes and take them to her. I first made them earlier in the year (January maybe? Before I started this blog). They are wonderful and surprisingly easy to make. I have to find my recipe though; it's buried in an avalanche of papers in my knitting room. I can't even remember the source of the recipe that I finally tried-- I have several in my collection. If there are any leftover they can be frozen then nuked. I want to try that and see if the frozen ones are as good as fresh. The only thing they needed to be perfect was a little vanilla ice cream on the side! ;-)
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Sunday, April 18, 2010
An Interesting Day
I woke up at 5:30am to the intermittent beep of smoke alarms. The sound has a certain quality/pitch that cannot be ignored (at least by me). So I got up to investigate, figuring they probably needed new batteries. I thought I'd just remove the drained batteries and then replace them at my leisure. However, even with batteries removed the alarms continued to beep. So in the pre-dawn hours I drove to Wal-Mart to buy fresh 9-volts (and to escape the nerve-grating noise). But after I returned and installed the new batteries, the smoke alarms continued to beep!
During all of these efforts, it hadn't occurred to my tired mind that the alarms must have another power source, but a friend responded to my Facebook help request (thank God someone was awake), giving advice that jogged my thinking. So I headed for the circuit panel in the laundry room and cut the power to the three bedrooms and the hallway (which is unfortunately on the same breaker as the dining room and part of the kitchen). At last, silence reigned!
An electrician that my mom recommended is due here first thing Monday morning. I'm glad he responded to my request so quickly!
So I've spent the day in partial blackout conditions in order to have peace & quiet. I made myself tea, boiling water in a pan on the stovetop instead of using the microwave. I always use the microwave timer to remind myself when the tea is finished steeping. I set the timer as usual and then it occurred to me that if I could set the timer, that meant the microwave had power. I bust up laughing at how silly I'd been. ;-)
But no Internet! The wireless router is on a jack in one of the bedrooms. A real loss-- no Facebook friends for company, no quick lookups of info (such as garden frost warnings or farmer's market times), no emails or job searching.
And only one kitchen light-- so I made dinner in the dark: salmon with a marmalade-chipotle-five spice glaze. The glaze was mild-tasting-- pleasant but nearly bland, but the salmon itself was delish. (I've eaten so much seafood lately-- can't seem to get enough!)
And no movies! I've about "musiced" myself out listening to all the songs on my iPod that I enjoy-- I'm "full" now! I seriously considered moving the TV and DVD player into the living room where there is power. But surely I can live one day without a movie??? ("My name is Angel, and I'm a movie addict...)
I've played a lot of solitaire on my iPod today too; I'm up to $51,000+ in winnings. (Lest my readers fear for my sanity, it has taken more than 3.5 months to reach that level.)
I did some chores: dishes & laundry. I quick-read a magazine and a cookbook (which is where the salmon recipe originated). I also napped for three hours, making up for the time the smoke alarms stole.
And naturally I keep flipping powerless light switches on. Can I just say that I'll be glad to get back to normal?
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During all of these efforts, it hadn't occurred to my tired mind that the alarms must have another power source, but a friend responded to my Facebook help request (thank God someone was awake), giving advice that jogged my thinking. So I headed for the circuit panel in the laundry room and cut the power to the three bedrooms and the hallway (which is unfortunately on the same breaker as the dining room and part of the kitchen). At last, silence reigned!
An electrician that my mom recommended is due here first thing Monday morning. I'm glad he responded to my request so quickly!
So I've spent the day in partial blackout conditions in order to have peace & quiet. I made myself tea, boiling water in a pan on the stovetop instead of using the microwave. I always use the microwave timer to remind myself when the tea is finished steeping. I set the timer as usual and then it occurred to me that if I could set the timer, that meant the microwave had power. I bust up laughing at how silly I'd been. ;-)
But no Internet! The wireless router is on a jack in one of the bedrooms. A real loss-- no Facebook friends for company, no quick lookups of info (such as garden frost warnings or farmer's market times), no emails or job searching.
And only one kitchen light-- so I made dinner in the dark: salmon with a marmalade-chipotle-five spice glaze. The glaze was mild-tasting-- pleasant but nearly bland, but the salmon itself was delish. (I've eaten so much seafood lately-- can't seem to get enough!)
And no movies! I've about "musiced" myself out listening to all the songs on my iPod that I enjoy-- I'm "full" now! I seriously considered moving the TV and DVD player into the living room where there is power. But surely I can live one day without a movie??? ("My name is Angel, and I'm a movie addict...)
I've played a lot of solitaire on my iPod today too; I'm up to $51,000+ in winnings. (Lest my readers fear for my sanity, it has taken more than 3.5 months to reach that level.)
I did some chores: dishes & laundry. I quick-read a magazine and a cookbook (which is where the salmon recipe originated). I also napped for three hours, making up for the time the smoke alarms stole.
And naturally I keep flipping powerless light switches on. Can I just say that I'll be glad to get back to normal?
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Friday, April 16, 2010
Taking Stock in the Garden
I wasn't feeling well yesterday & didn't venture into the backyard to check my garden at all. But today, I evaluated.
I thinned the carrots and lettuce a bit. My spinach is producing true leaves that are becoming sizable and actually look like spinach now! I had planted a succession crop of radishes, and they've already popped up. I really like the super-large leaves of the French Breakfast variety; they're so extravagant. The mesclun will be riotous before long.
Mesclun
My peas, pansies, romaine, and daffodils won't amount to anything. I've hoped and hesitated to draw that conclusion, but there's little doubt now. I have one pea sprout, but it doesn't seem to be growing. I planted the peas later in the season than I would have liked, plus the weather has been unseasonably warm-- record-breaking even. The pea and pansy containers were also too close to the laundry room vent. Due to careless watering, I buried & unburied the romaine seedling so many times that I think I uprooted it. Oops.
On a positive note, all 30 of my tulips are up and leafy. Whether they'll actually bloom this year--I do see some stems-- or come back next year remains to be seen, but so far so good. I think it's amazing that there wasn't a dud in the bunch.
The weeds are also alive and well! So far, no weeds are actually growing in my garden, but I plucked away from the soil surface numerous dandelion seeds and hairy flat seed pods that had blown in from a shrubby-treeish plant by the fence. Today's going to be windy, so I'll have to stay vigilant to avoid interlopers.
I'm waiting on watering for the moment. A storm is forecast for tonight, so we will hopefully get some rain. I definitely prefer it when nature does the work! ;-)
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I thinned the carrots and lettuce a bit. My spinach is producing true leaves that are becoming sizable and actually look like spinach now! I had planted a succession crop of radishes, and they've already popped up. I really like the super-large leaves of the French Breakfast variety; they're so extravagant. The mesclun will be riotous before long.
Spinach
Radishes
My peas, pansies, romaine, and daffodils won't amount to anything. I've hoped and hesitated to draw that conclusion, but there's little doubt now. I have one pea sprout, but it doesn't seem to be growing. I planted the peas later in the season than I would have liked, plus the weather has been unseasonably warm-- record-breaking even. The pea and pansy containers were also too close to the laundry room vent. Due to careless watering, I buried & unburied the romaine seedling so many times that I think I uprooted it. Oops.
On a positive note, all 30 of my tulips are up and leafy. Whether they'll actually bloom this year--I do see some stems-- or come back next year remains to be seen, but so far so good. I think it's amazing that there wasn't a dud in the bunch.
The weeds are also alive and well! So far, no weeds are actually growing in my garden, but I plucked away from the soil surface numerous dandelion seeds and hairy flat seed pods that had blown in from a shrubby-treeish plant by the fence. Today's going to be windy, so I'll have to stay vigilant to avoid interlopers.
I'm waiting on watering for the moment. A storm is forecast for tonight, so we will hopefully get some rain. I definitely prefer it when nature does the work! ;-)
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Tuesday, April 13, 2010
On Not Blogging
Wow, I can't believe my last post was on Friday. I'm feeling very nonverbal lately-- not unhappy, just contained. The little I want to say I have said on Facebook and haven't been interested in duplicating here.
On Sunday I actually went to church for probably the second time this year. Amazing-- everything just came together perfectly: sleep/health, will/motivation, timing/preparation. And, it was an encouraging service, because a "permanent pulpit supply" has finally been found-- the man chosen will preach the services until a new senior pastor can be found, but he is not "on staff" in any other sense. He does a fairly good job of the messages, although it's still a trifle slow and simple for my liking. However, I think his desire for the church's growth in this interim period is genuine, and that means a lot. I also think this is a better move than rotating oodles of people through the pulpit-- not all of whom were capable of taking a Sunday service despite effort.
Yesterday, I went to the sleep doctor. His advice was to reduce the sleep med dosage. I agree because after analyzing the log I'd been keeping, I found that I was doing too much sleeping in the day time of late-- there have been a number of reasons for the daytime sleepiness such as the daylight savings time change, allergies & antihistamines, headaches from sun exposure with gardening, TMD splint adjustments and the pain that follows until I adjust, and even the Midrin I've taken for migraines and headaches has a side effect of drowsiness. The bottom line is that if I sleep in the day, I won't sleep at night. So the theory is that by cutting back on the sleep med I won't have too much of the drug in my system to contribute to daytime sleeping. Plus, he worries about patients developing tolerance to the drugs which means upping the dosage. So, it's better if I am taking a smaller dosage to begin with.
As you can see by the timing of this post, however, I am currently awake in the middle of the night. I've had about 3.5 restless hours of sleep so far. But if I can get another 2.5 hours before morning, I'm sure I can make it through the day without napping.
Yesterday evening I went shopping and out to eat with my Mom and our Nashville family friends. I bought some needed items and enjoyed the good food (Panera Bread) and the good company.
Here's a photo of a tree in my front yard which I snapped before we left. (I still need to get some dogwood tree pics before the blossoms are gone; but today I have to do my long delayed taxes. Ugh.)
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On Sunday I actually went to church for probably the second time this year. Amazing-- everything just came together perfectly: sleep/health, will/motivation, timing/preparation. And, it was an encouraging service, because a "permanent pulpit supply" has finally been found-- the man chosen will preach the services until a new senior pastor can be found, but he is not "on staff" in any other sense. He does a fairly good job of the messages, although it's still a trifle slow and simple for my liking. However, I think his desire for the church's growth in this interim period is genuine, and that means a lot. I also think this is a better move than rotating oodles of people through the pulpit-- not all of whom were capable of taking a Sunday service despite effort.
Yesterday, I went to the sleep doctor. His advice was to reduce the sleep med dosage. I agree because after analyzing the log I'd been keeping, I found that I was doing too much sleeping in the day time of late-- there have been a number of reasons for the daytime sleepiness such as the daylight savings time change, allergies & antihistamines, headaches from sun exposure with gardening, TMD splint adjustments and the pain that follows until I adjust, and even the Midrin I've taken for migraines and headaches has a side effect of drowsiness. The bottom line is that if I sleep in the day, I won't sleep at night. So the theory is that by cutting back on the sleep med I won't have too much of the drug in my system to contribute to daytime sleeping. Plus, he worries about patients developing tolerance to the drugs which means upping the dosage. So, it's better if I am taking a smaller dosage to begin with.
As you can see by the timing of this post, however, I am currently awake in the middle of the night. I've had about 3.5 restless hours of sleep so far. But if I can get another 2.5 hours before morning, I'm sure I can make it through the day without napping.
Yesterday evening I went shopping and out to eat with my Mom and our Nashville family friends. I bought some needed items and enjoyed the good food (Panera Bread) and the good company.
Here's a photo of a tree in my front yard which I snapped before we left. (I still need to get some dogwood tree pics before the blossoms are gone; but today I have to do my long delayed taxes. Ugh.)
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Friday, April 9, 2010
Finally Better
I've had a run of difficult days with cramps, headaches, drowsiness, aches and fatigue. I had to get to a doctor's appointment fairly early yesterday which helped me to get my rear in gear. I did get an adjustment to my medication which allows me to pay far less for one of them in exchange for taking pills twice a day instead of once. Good news!
Unfortunately, I had missed a dose of that medication (all out and waiting on doc for authorization), and it has such a short half life that I was starting to have withdrawal symptoms. So there I was crying on the way home from moodiness and feeling so bad, and my jaw muscles were so tense that my teeth were chattering though I wasn't cold. I went straight to the pharmacy for a refill, straight home for water to swallow my medication, and shortly began to feel better.
While at the pharmacy, I bought the local newspaper because the headlining story was about a woman who'd been arrested and jailed overnight for disorderly conduct in defense of deer. I have waited on that woman at the library and can confidently say that she is a strange and sometimes hostile person. She seems to hate Kentucky, so I'm not sure why she continues to reside here-- obligations? financial restrictions? sheer stubbornness? I believe that she needs mental health assistance, but I'm sure she would be offended at the mere suggestion-- she sees herself as normal and everyone else as deficient. I have seen her be charming and funny on at least one occasion, and it saddens me to see her spin her wheels and burden the community with imaginary issues. Life sure is complicated and amazing sometimes.
I took a walk in the late afternoon while my dinner baked and snapped this picture. I think the photo aptly captures my feelings about the last few days and my desire for something better for ailing people in this world. I've titled it "A Break in the Gloom". If I were a professional photographer and selling my work, I'd donate the proceeds to some mental health organization that is successfully impacting people's lives. But since I'm not, enjoy the photo. ;-)
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Unfortunately, I had missed a dose of that medication (all out and waiting on doc for authorization), and it has such a short half life that I was starting to have withdrawal symptoms. So there I was crying on the way home from moodiness and feeling so bad, and my jaw muscles were so tense that my teeth were chattering though I wasn't cold. I went straight to the pharmacy for a refill, straight home for water to swallow my medication, and shortly began to feel better.
While at the pharmacy, I bought the local newspaper because the headlining story was about a woman who'd been arrested and jailed overnight for disorderly conduct in defense of deer. I have waited on that woman at the library and can confidently say that she is a strange and sometimes hostile person. She seems to hate Kentucky, so I'm not sure why she continues to reside here-- obligations? financial restrictions? sheer stubbornness? I believe that she needs mental health assistance, but I'm sure she would be offended at the mere suggestion-- she sees herself as normal and everyone else as deficient. I have seen her be charming and funny on at least one occasion, and it saddens me to see her spin her wheels and burden the community with imaginary issues. Life sure is complicated and amazing sometimes.
I took a walk in the late afternoon while my dinner baked and snapped this picture. I think the photo aptly captures my feelings about the last few days and my desire for something better for ailing people in this world. I've titled it "A Break in the Gloom". If I were a professional photographer and selling my work, I'd donate the proceeds to some mental health organization that is successfully impacting people's lives. But since I'm not, enjoy the photo. ;-)
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
A Quiet Movie Day
I was awake for a couple of hours in the middle of the night and didn't feel well the whole morning, so this was a low-key sort of day. I did two loads of laundry (towels) but didn't fold them. I watched the following movies (and simultaneously played on my iPod): the rest of The Guns of Navarone, Westward the Women, In Harm's Way, and Jurassic Park.
My dad delivered leftover fried chicken and mashed potatoes with white gravy, so that made a good lunch. Thanks, Mom!
I did an evening garden check and discovered that one carrot seedling is showing which is remarkably rapid growth, but then we've had the weather for it!
Here's a picture of the mesclun which I'm growing in cut-and-come-again fashion (so I won't be thinning it).
I also took a picture of a wild corner of the yard (which technically doesn't belong to me, but since there's an empty lot next door, I'm claiming it for the time being).
I love the various greens and the contrast of the redbud branch. Plus, the area is tucked away so it seems like a secret garden.
God lifted my spirits this evening, and I am expecting and looking forward to a better day tomorrow.
"Love is right here, love is alive, love is the Way, the Truth, the Life, love is the river that flows through, love is the arms that are holding you... love never fails you."
-From the song performed by Brandon Heath entitled "Love Never Fails"
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My dad delivered leftover fried chicken and mashed potatoes with white gravy, so that made a good lunch. Thanks, Mom!
I did an evening garden check and discovered that one carrot seedling is showing which is remarkably rapid growth, but then we've had the weather for it!
Here's a picture of the mesclun which I'm growing in cut-and-come-again fashion (so I won't be thinning it).
I also took a picture of a wild corner of the yard (which technically doesn't belong to me, but since there's an empty lot next door, I'm claiming it for the time being).
I love the various greens and the contrast of the redbud branch. Plus, the area is tucked away so it seems like a secret garden.
God lifted my spirits this evening, and I am expecting and looking forward to a better day tomorrow.
"Love is right here, love is alive, love is the Way, the Truth, the Life, love is the river that flows through, love is the arms that are holding you... love never fails you."
-From the song performed by Brandon Heath entitled "Love Never Fails"
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Seedlings Abound
Two more spinach seedlings are up, and there are lots of mesclun sprouts (all the same type of plant, though I don't know which). Plus, a pea seed finally germinated.
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Monday, April 5, 2010
Seedlings Report
The romaine lettuce and Brussels sprouts seedlings are up!
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Sunday, April 4, 2010
Easter Sunday
Despite it being a special occasion, I didn't make it to church today-- only 5 hours of sleep and soooo tired. Dragging, in fact. It took me forever to get my shower and to make the simple ingredients for our Cherry Trifle: yogurt sauce and sugar-glazed walnuts. Mom made the angel food cake, so I only had to cube it and assemble the trifle when I arrived at my parents' house.
Dad grilled steaks and potatoes for us, and Mom roasted the broccoli. She also prepared strawberries with dessert toppings: sour cream & brown sugar plus a chocolate sauce with a hint of orange and vanilla.
As always, we had a great time talking, laughing, and catching up with each other. My brother and sister-in-law are both quick-witted and tend to keep the three of us entertained with their humor and sense of the outrageous. Invariably, one of them says something funny just as my Mom or I take a sip of a beverage-- with predictable results!
It was a good day.
Toward the end of our gathering, I slipped away to take some more spring photos of plants in and around my parents' yard.
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As always, we had a great time talking, laughing, and catching up with each other. My brother and sister-in-law are both quick-witted and tend to keep the three of us entertained with their humor and sense of the outrageous. Invariably, one of them says something funny just as my Mom or I take a sip of a beverage-- with predictable results!
It was a good day.
Toward the end of our gathering, I slipped away to take some more spring photos of plants in and around my parents' yard.
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Helmut Kohl's B-Day!
Okay, how strange is this? I decided to read a bit about Helmut Kohl, and would you believe today is his birthday? So I guess the Berlin Wall topic isn't so random after all-- there is a connection! ;-)
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More plantings...
I'm having a difficult time getting going today, but I have done a bit of gardening. I planted 8 each of two types of carrots, plus chard and mesclun. I gave up on the idea of a container for the mesclun and just used a square in the raised bed. It won't be as conveniently located, but at least I won't delay getting the seeds in the ground any longer.
I also watched a library-borrowed documentary on the Berlin Wall. Sort of a random topic, I suppose-- but having lived in West Germany for 3 years and poked my toe defiantly into No Man's Land somewhere on the German-German border during a school trip, it's a topic of interest to me. I remember writing to Helmut Kohl for an assignment in grade school and coloring in programs for a ceremony to which various dignitaries would be invited; we were erecting new flag poles so that both the American and West German flags could be displayed on our campus. Years later and back in the U.S., I remember being in Mr. Jordan's physics class when one of his former students dropped in and shared news about the Wall's dismantling-- the people were tearing it down! The documentary was filmed for the History Channel and shares the story of the Wall and of some of the people who successfully escaped from the GDR. I enjoyed hearing their stories (and the German language spoken-- I don't understand it, but it's familiar to my ear).
I also watched a library-borrowed documentary on the Berlin Wall. Sort of a random topic, I suppose-- but having lived in West Germany for 3 years and poked my toe defiantly into No Man's Land somewhere on the German-German border during a school trip, it's a topic of interest to me. I remember writing to Helmut Kohl for an assignment in grade school and coloring in programs for a ceremony to which various dignitaries would be invited; we were erecting new flag poles so that both the American and West German flags could be displayed on our campus. Years later and back in the U.S., I remember being in Mr. Jordan's physics class when one of his former students dropped in and shared news about the Wall's dismantling-- the people were tearing it down! The documentary was filmed for the History Channel and shares the story of the Wall and of some of the people who successfully escaped from the GDR. I enjoyed hearing their stories (and the German language spoken-- I don't understand it, but it's familiar to my ear).
Friday, April 2, 2010
Good Friday Video
This awesome video shows God's power to transform people's lives in real, important, and dramatic ways. The link will take you to Sojourn Church's blog post to view Stories of Change. (To avoid disruptions when viewing, you may want to turn HD off.)
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Spring Photo Session
I had to nap about 3 hours in the middle of the day. I feel much better now-- so much so, that I can't really focus on Jesus' crucifixion in the heavy way that some Christians seem to be doing. (I am thinking particularly of something I heard on the radio that didn't sit well with me.)
I am deeply grateful for the love and forgiveness of God, but I'm so caught up in all this new spring life. I don't think He requires that heaviness either. I find NO contradiction in calling this GOOD Friday. He paid a heavy price, but it was one He paid willingly and gladly. Hebrews 12:2 says that Jesus, "for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." If He hadn't paid that price, where would I be now? I needed it, He did it, and it's okay to rejoice in His love and goodness and power.
I had to do an errand today, and afterwards I went on a photo spree around town. I've been seeing some beautiful blooms as I've driven around, but today, I STOPPED and tried to capture some of it. So, what follows is my little "photo essay". (Now, I just need some dogwood and redbud photos.) Hope you enjoy! ;-)
I am deeply grateful for the love and forgiveness of God, but I'm so caught up in all this new spring life. I don't think He requires that heaviness either. I find NO contradiction in calling this GOOD Friday. He paid a heavy price, but it was one He paid willingly and gladly. Hebrews 12:2 says that Jesus, "for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." If He hadn't paid that price, where would I be now? I needed it, He did it, and it's okay to rejoice in His love and goodness and power.
I had to do an errand today, and afterwards I went on a photo spree around town. I've been seeing some beautiful blooms as I've driven around, but today, I STOPPED and tried to capture some of it. So, what follows is my little "photo essay". (Now, I just need some dogwood and redbud photos.) Hope you enjoy! ;-)
Tulip Magnolia
My favorite-- The color restores my soul!
Star Magnolia
Magnolia - Not particularly spring-y, but I love its form.
Forsythia-- a golden fountain
Lots of Seedlings!
Yesterday, I saw the first radish seedling (Early Scarlet Globe), and this morning there are four more above ground including the French Breakfast variety.
As of this morning, all the leaf lettuce is showing one or more sprouts: Black-Seeded Simpson, Salad Bowl, and Bibb.
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As of this morning, all the leaf lettuce is showing one or more sprouts: Black-Seeded Simpson, Salad Bowl, and Bibb.
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Thursday, April 1, 2010
Addictive Photography!
I had no idea that I was going to be so interested in taking pictures of every landscape feature I see!
On the other hand, when I was a kid living in Savannah, Georgia, I took a photo of the oak tree (which we nicknamed Sarah) in our yard-- it looked like it had a face. I also took a sunrise picture over the Rhein in Bacharach, Germany, when most of the other kids in my sixth-grade-class were taking shots of each other mugging for the camera. Maybe I shouldn't be so surprised at my focus on the scenery after all. ;-)
My few readers are lucky that my camera's batteries ran out while I was on my morning walk-- otherwise, y'all might feel like a captive audience at a slide show of someone's vacation!
I do think Kentucky is a beautiful place-- especially in the spring!
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On the other hand, when I was a kid living in Savannah, Georgia, I took a photo of the oak tree (which we nicknamed Sarah) in our yard-- it looked like it had a face. I also took a sunrise picture over the Rhein in Bacharach, Germany, when most of the other kids in my sixth-grade-class were taking shots of each other mugging for the camera. Maybe I shouldn't be so surprised at my focus on the scenery after all. ;-)
My few readers are lucky that my camera's batteries ran out while I was on my morning walk-- otherwise, y'all might feel like a captive audience at a slide show of someone's vacation!
I do think Kentucky is a beautiful place-- especially in the spring!
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