Continuing my count to 100 things for which I am grateful...
66. Eyes. I am thankful for my own eyes, even if they do need corrective lenses, as well as the eyes of others. They truly are a window into the soul.
67. Lunch with a friend. What a great way to break up a day and feel a connection.
68. Potato chips. I know they are fattening and I shouldn't eat them, but I do love to have them on occasion.
69. Thunderstorms. Storms make you unplug, unconnect, and hunker down. I love to see the lightning flash, and then there is the little thrill that runs up my spine during a strong thunder boom...
70. Clouds. Clouds make you exercise your imagination if you're looking for pictures.
71. Poetry. What would the world be with rhyme and meter? If Frost had never written "The Road Not Taken"?
72. Waiters and waitresses. I know it's a pretty thankless job but I am grateful that on occasion, someone else does the cooking and brings me my plate.
73. Secret places in the mind. Everyone should have a sanctuary in their imagination, a place where they can go for solace and hope.
74. Dreams. I love my dreams, because they are often catalysts for interesting ideas. Not so fond of nightmares, though.
75. Kisses. Hey, husband, come on over here!
76. Swiffer dusters. I had never used them before until last week. These things are great. Highly recommended.
77. Birds. I enjoy the sound of birds twittering and tweeting (isn't that what folks do on twitter.com?) and I like watching them fly around.
78. Electricity. Isn't this great stuff, that makes the computer run and the lights come off and on? I hope the cost of it doesn't grow so high that most people can't afford it. That would be bad. But we need to find a cleaner way to make it.
79. Libraries. Don't you love being able to check out a book, use the Internet for free, converse with folks at the counter?
80. History. I enjoy looking back at the past and seeing what happened in the long ago. Hopefully you learn something from it.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Friday, July 17, 2009
Finding Grace #6
54. The "off" button on the telephone when telemarketers call. I notice that politicians did not exempt themselves from the donotcall.gov list.
55. Patience. I am not always patient, particularly when it comes to things like computer issues, problems with the car, that type of thing. I like for stuff to work. Properly. And NOW. So when I exhibit patience, I am extremely grateful.
56. My sense of smell. I have a nose that can sniff out strange things. I can even smell blacksnakes, which actually smell like cucumber. Other snakes smell kind of earthy. This is a weird skill to have and one that thankfully is not often needed. Other things that I can smell include the early stages of mold and mildew
57. My brains. Okay, I'm not the smartest person ever, but I am not stupid, either. I graduated 5th in my class in high school. I was a straight A student at Hollins and obtained my B.A. in English with honor. I'm not bragging, I'm just saying. I'm not ignorant.
58. Curtains and window shades. Have you ever noticed how bright and hot the sun can be, and then you close a curtain and the room temperature lowers about 10 degrees?
59. Eyeglasses. I received my first pair of glasses in the 7th grade, after knowing I needed them for most of my life. I always sat in the front at school not because I was teacher's pet, like everyone thought, but so I could SEE. I will never forget the joy of being able to see a mountain and actually see that it had trees on it, not just know that the greenish bluish blob was supposed to have trees on it.
60. TV. Okay, so I don't watch much TV, but when I am bored and too tired to read, TV is a blessing. I am including movies in here, too, I suppose, because I immediately thought of the Lord of the Rings trilogy of movies. Those are my favorite.
61. Air conditioning. In the summer time, this is the greatest of all inventions.
62. Heat! In the winter time, this is the greatest of all inventions!
63. Nail clippers. I am grateful for nail clippers because they keep me from biting my nails so much.
64. Fireworks. I love watching fireworks, anytime. I especially like them on July 4 and December 31. Times in between are good too, though.
65. Democracy. I am grateful that the concept of democracy exists, even though I don't think the USA is currently practicing this form of government. It's a nice idea in theory.
55. Patience. I am not always patient, particularly when it comes to things like computer issues, problems with the car, that type of thing. I like for stuff to work. Properly. And NOW. So when I exhibit patience, I am extremely grateful.
56. My sense of smell. I have a nose that can sniff out strange things. I can even smell blacksnakes, which actually smell like cucumber. Other snakes smell kind of earthy. This is a weird skill to have and one that thankfully is not often needed. Other things that I can smell include the early stages of mold and mildew
57. My brains. Okay, I'm not the smartest person ever, but I am not stupid, either. I graduated 5th in my class in high school. I was a straight A student at Hollins and obtained my B.A. in English with honor. I'm not bragging, I'm just saying. I'm not ignorant.
58. Curtains and window shades. Have you ever noticed how bright and hot the sun can be, and then you close a curtain and the room temperature lowers about 10 degrees?
59. Eyeglasses. I received my first pair of glasses in the 7th grade, after knowing I needed them for most of my life. I always sat in the front at school not because I was teacher's pet, like everyone thought, but so I could SEE. I will never forget the joy of being able to see a mountain and actually see that it had trees on it, not just know that the greenish bluish blob was supposed to have trees on it.
60. TV. Okay, so I don't watch much TV, but when I am bored and too tired to read, TV is a blessing. I am including movies in here, too, I suppose, because I immediately thought of the Lord of the Rings trilogy of movies. Those are my favorite.
61. Air conditioning. In the summer time, this is the greatest of all inventions.
62. Heat! In the winter time, this is the greatest of all inventions!
63. Nail clippers. I am grateful for nail clippers because they keep me from biting my nails so much.
64. Fireworks. I love watching fireworks, anytime. I especially like them on July 4 and December 31. Times in between are good too, though.
65. Democracy. I am grateful that the concept of democracy exists, even though I don't think the USA is currently practicing this form of government. It's a nice idea in theory.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Thursday Thirteen
Sunday I began looking for 100 things to be thankful for. I am going to continue my list here, with 13 things, starting at Item 41, as I continue counting up.
41. My clock. I am very happy with my alligator clock that hangs on the wall of my home office. My friend Brenda gave me the clock for Christmas one year. The tail wags.
42. The telephone. While sometimes the shrill of the phone can be an annoyance, when my husband or a friend is on the other end, I am always very glad. I spend a great deal of time alone and the phone, like the Internet, is a connection to others not easily dismissed.
43. Music. I love the sounds of pop music and guitar music. some of my favorite artists are Sheryl Crow, Melissa Etheridge and Fleetwood Mac.
44. Drive-throughs. I confess, I prefer to eat my Big Mac in my car.
45. Green grass. Don't you love the feel of it on your toes?
46. Trees. They let you know there's a breeze and herald the change of the seasons. They also give shade, fruit, nuts, etc. Trees are great!
47. Lakes. Our pond is not really a lake but it has fish and algae and frogs. On a calm day they can bring bliss.
48. A sigh. Sighing makes you take in oxygen, and that has to be good for you, right?
49. Cameras. I love taking pictures and I am really thankful for digital technology. While it has gone a long way toward eliminating particular jobs, it has opened up the medium to the masses. And I take a lot more shots with a digital camera than I ever thought of taking with a film camera.
50. Dictionaries. I love new and unusual words!
51. My college diploma. I will spare you the angst and years it took me to aquire that thing. Suffice it to say I am very grateful and very thankful that I have it to hang on my wall, even if I don't seem to be actually using that B.A. in English for anything.
52. Flowers. Another gift from Mother Nature that makes the world a brighter place.
53. My wedding ring. The eternal symbol of love. I don't need it to know I am married but I sure feel naked when I don't have it on my finger.
Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; you can learn more about it here. My other Thursday Thirteens are here. This is number 102!
41. My clock. I am very happy with my alligator clock that hangs on the wall of my home office. My friend Brenda gave me the clock for Christmas one year. The tail wags.
42. The telephone. While sometimes the shrill of the phone can be an annoyance, when my husband or a friend is on the other end, I am always very glad. I spend a great deal of time alone and the phone, like the Internet, is a connection to others not easily dismissed.
43. Music. I love the sounds of pop music and guitar music. some of my favorite artists are Sheryl Crow, Melissa Etheridge and Fleetwood Mac.
44. Drive-throughs. I confess, I prefer to eat my Big Mac in my car.
45. Green grass. Don't you love the feel of it on your toes?
46. Trees. They let you know there's a breeze and herald the change of the seasons. They also give shade, fruit, nuts, etc. Trees are great!
47. Lakes. Our pond is not really a lake but it has fish and algae and frogs. On a calm day they can bring bliss.
48. A sigh. Sighing makes you take in oxygen, and that has to be good for you, right?
49. Cameras. I love taking pictures and I am really thankful for digital technology. While it has gone a long way toward eliminating particular jobs, it has opened up the medium to the masses. And I take a lot more shots with a digital camera than I ever thought of taking with a film camera.
50. Dictionaries. I love new and unusual words!
51. My college diploma. I will spare you the angst and years it took me to aquire that thing. Suffice it to say I am very grateful and very thankful that I have it to hang on my wall, even if I don't seem to be actually using that B.A. in English for anything.
52. Flowers. Another gift from Mother Nature that makes the world a brighter place.
53. My wedding ring. The eternal symbol of love. I don't need it to know I am married but I sure feel naked when I don't have it on my finger.
Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; you can learn more about it here. My other Thursday Thirteens are here. This is number 102!
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Finding Grace #4
Things for which I am thankful...counting up to 100
26. My computer. The thing is an aggravation when it doesn't work properly (which it didn't this morning) but it is a lifeline to the outer world for me.
27. My pillow. A silly little thing, to be thankful for something soft yet firm beneath my neck, but I can only imagine the headaches and stiff necks I avoid because of it.
28. My socks. I love the feel of new socks on my feet. Then they are all soft and cuddly and caressing. Old socks just fit great and are comfy. They keep things dry and safe.
29. My shoes. Since I have a lot of problem with my feet, my shoes are always very welcome. Without them I would be in a world of hurt.
30. The deer outside my window. These animals remind me to be calm and curious, and to run away when I am scared. I think that is generally good advice.
31. Tears. I know crying is not considered a good thing and generally is frowned upon, but I think tears can be very good things indeed. They are cleansing. They let the world around you know that your feelings are intense (or else you've hurt your eye!).
32. Water. This goes along with tears, I guess. But where would we be without this basic? In 3-4 days, we'd all take to our beds... in 6-7 days, we'd be no more. Just imagine, no drinking water... yikes. Or what if we have enough for drinking, but not bathing or washing? Very important, this one!
33. My watch. I cannot remember ever not wearing watch. I have an obsession with knowing what time it is. If my watch breaks, I can't go an hour without seeking out a new one.
34. Butterflies. The world would be less beautiful without these little creatures, wouldn't it? Their bright wings and free-flying attitude makes things seem better when you see them.
35. Blogging. How could I not be thankful for blogging, and the way it has brought me new friends and faces? Blogging has opened up a lot of different avenues for me, even if I still don't know exactly what it is I blog about.
36. Evergreens. Without these trees, there would be no greenery in winter, and no Christmas trees! Wouldn't that be a shame?
37. And that brings us to Christmas. Here it is July and I am thankful for Christmas. Christmas as a commercial endeavor gives us all something to look forward to - a day off, something else to think about, time with friends and family. As a religious holiday, it brings about deeper spirituality and affords us a moment to remember the reason we worship.
38. Presents! One thing leads to another doesn't it? I love getting presents and will be unabashed about it. A present means someone thought about me at a time not then - not because I called them or I am in their face or emailing them. But because they were out and about and they saw this something, and they thought, Oh, my friend/cousin/sister/wife/daughter-in-law/whatever would like that. That's what is so great about a present. Being remembered.
39. Books. I can't believe I put this so far down on the list! I love books. I love to be transported to a new world, off and away from my troubles. Books open up new characters, new settings, and new ideas. The world will be a very boring place when we no longer have books.
40. Video games. I confess I am a bit of a video game addict. I love to play and I especially love games that have a story to them. Some of my early favorites were the Kings Quest series - I wonder who remembers those? They were relatively non-violent and had a story line. Many if not all video games have a story line - this is something I think folks who don't play them don't realize. It may be as simple as "invade the castle and free the slaves" and then you spend 20 hours blasting away at various goblins to get to the end, but still, there is a story. I always thought I might one day be a video game story writer but I have not figured out how to do that.
26. My computer. The thing is an aggravation when it doesn't work properly (which it didn't this morning) but it is a lifeline to the outer world for me.
27. My pillow. A silly little thing, to be thankful for something soft yet firm beneath my neck, but I can only imagine the headaches and stiff necks I avoid because of it.
28. My socks. I love the feel of new socks on my feet. Then they are all soft and cuddly and caressing. Old socks just fit great and are comfy. They keep things dry and safe.
29. My shoes. Since I have a lot of problem with my feet, my shoes are always very welcome. Without them I would be in a world of hurt.
30. The deer outside my window. These animals remind me to be calm and curious, and to run away when I am scared. I think that is generally good advice.
31. Tears. I know crying is not considered a good thing and generally is frowned upon, but I think tears can be very good things indeed. They are cleansing. They let the world around you know that your feelings are intense (or else you've hurt your eye!).
32. Water. This goes along with tears, I guess. But where would we be without this basic? In 3-4 days, we'd all take to our beds... in 6-7 days, we'd be no more. Just imagine, no drinking water... yikes. Or what if we have enough for drinking, but not bathing or washing? Very important, this one!
33. My watch. I cannot remember ever not wearing watch. I have an obsession with knowing what time it is. If my watch breaks, I can't go an hour without seeking out a new one.
34. Butterflies. The world would be less beautiful without these little creatures, wouldn't it? Their bright wings and free-flying attitude makes things seem better when you see them.
35. Blogging. How could I not be thankful for blogging, and the way it has brought me new friends and faces? Blogging has opened up a lot of different avenues for me, even if I still don't know exactly what it is I blog about.
36. Evergreens. Without these trees, there would be no greenery in winter, and no Christmas trees! Wouldn't that be a shame?
37. And that brings us to Christmas. Here it is July and I am thankful for Christmas. Christmas as a commercial endeavor gives us all something to look forward to - a day off, something else to think about, time with friends and family. As a religious holiday, it brings about deeper spirituality and affords us a moment to remember the reason we worship.
38. Presents! One thing leads to another doesn't it? I love getting presents and will be unabashed about it. A present means someone thought about me at a time not then - not because I called them or I am in their face or emailing them. But because they were out and about and they saw this something, and they thought, Oh, my friend/cousin/sister/wife/daughter-in-law/whatever would like that. That's what is so great about a present. Being remembered.
39. Books. I can't believe I put this so far down on the list! I love books. I love to be transported to a new world, off and away from my troubles. Books open up new characters, new settings, and new ideas. The world will be a very boring place when we no longer have books.
40. Video games. I confess I am a bit of a video game addict. I love to play and I especially love games that have a story to them. Some of my early favorites were the Kings Quest series - I wonder who remembers those? They were relatively non-violent and had a story line. Many if not all video games have a story line - this is something I think folks who don't play them don't realize. It may be as simple as "invade the castle and free the slaves" and then you spend 20 hours blasting away at various goblins to get to the end, but still, there is a story. I always thought I might one day be a video game story writer but I have not figured out how to do that.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Finding grace #3
Being thankful...
16. My taste buds. I sure do love the taste of food. Especially ...
17. Chocolate. I am a choco-holic. I could live off chocolate, I think.
18. My garden. Thankfully I have healthy food just outside the back door!
19. B.J. and Ed.
20. My mother-in-law, a quiet martyr who is there if I need her.
21. My Aunt Carolyn, who is always there to listen to me whine.
22. My brother, even if he is ... well, I won't go there.
23. My niece and my nephews (Zoe, Chris, Emory, Trey) who remind me that life goes on and the wheel keeps turning.
24. Lightning bugs, because they make a summer night twinkle.
25. Stars, because they twinkle and remind me of the Higher Power and the fact that I am not alone.
16. My taste buds. I sure do love the taste of food. Especially ...
17. Chocolate. I am a choco-holic. I could live off chocolate, I think.
18. My garden. Thankfully I have healthy food just outside the back door!
19. B.J. and Ed.
20. My mother-in-law, a quiet martyr who is there if I need her.
21. My Aunt Carolyn, who is always there to listen to me whine.
22. My brother, even if he is ... well, I won't go there.
23. My niece and my nephews (Zoe, Chris, Emory, Trey) who remind me that life goes on and the wheel keeps turning.
24. Lightning bugs, because they make a summer night twinkle.
25. Stars, because they twinkle and remind me of the Higher Power and the fact that I am not alone.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Eagle Rock Library
Botetourt County is building a library in Eagle Rock.
I serve as Vice Chair of the Library Board of Trustees.
Above is the front of the building.
This is the rear of the building as seen from the Eagle Rock Elementary School parking lot.
The building will be over 9,000 square feet and will be the largest library of the four in the Botetourt County system. It will have a computer room, meeting room, youth area and a small genealogy section.
By the time it is completed and furnished, books and all, it will cost taxpayers about $1.25 million.
This is the only major capital improvement project the county is doing this year.
I serve as Vice Chair of the Library Board of Trustees.
Above is the front of the building.
This is the rear of the building as seen from the Eagle Rock Elementary School parking lot.
The building will be over 9,000 square feet and will be the largest library of the four in the Botetourt County system. It will have a computer room, meeting room, youth area and a small genealogy section.
By the time it is completed and furnished, books and all, it will cost taxpayers about $1.25 million.
This is the only major capital improvement project the county is doing this year.
Finding grace #2
Being thankful...
6. My hands. I am really grateful I have hands with which to touch, caress, type and write. Speaking of which...
7. Being able to write. I wonder what my life would have been like if I had never learned to write? I can't imagine it.
8. Being able to read. The wonderful world of books, blogs and everything else is accessible to me simply because I can string ABC together in my mind. How absolutely wonderful is that, eh?
9. Being 46. I am very happy I don't have to experience the angst of the teen years again!
10. Living on a farm. I love being in the country, seeing deer, hearing owls, watching the squirrels. This slower pace of life suits me.
11. My friend Brenda.
12. My friend Leslie.
13. My friend Jules.
14. My friend Lisa.
15. My friend Inga.
6. My hands. I am really grateful I have hands with which to touch, caress, type and write. Speaking of which...
7. Being able to write. I wonder what my life would have been like if I had never learned to write? I can't imagine it.
8. Being able to read. The wonderful world of books, blogs and everything else is accessible to me simply because I can string ABC together in my mind. How absolutely wonderful is that, eh?
9. Being 46. I am very happy I don't have to experience the angst of the teen years again!
10. Living on a farm. I love being in the country, seeing deer, hearing owls, watching the squirrels. This slower pace of life suits me.
11. My friend Brenda.
12. My friend Leslie.
13. My friend Jules.
14. My friend Lisa.
15. My friend Inga.
Sunday, July 12, 2009
Finding grace
Last night I decided I have been dwelling on negative things too much.
So I decided to try to list 100 things I am grateful for. I expect this to take several days...if not weeks.
1. My husband. What would I do without this man? He has loved me through all sorts of toil and trouble. He is my steadfast rock.
2. My Higher Power. I am not the most religious of people and my ideas about the divine do not run lock-step with the rest of the world. But I do believe there is something greater, in part because I've experienced it a few times.
3. My friends. I will group them all here as a lot but list them separately, too. I am thankful I have friends, more than I realize, sometimes. It's easy to forget that people love and care about you.
4. My health. I have a few health issues but nothing that a lot of dieting couldn't help...
5. My house. I have a roof over my head. In this day and age, that says a lot. I am so glad my husband has been able to provide this for us.
So I decided to try to list 100 things I am grateful for. I expect this to take several days...if not weeks.
1. My husband. What would I do without this man? He has loved me through all sorts of toil and trouble. He is my steadfast rock.
2. My Higher Power. I am not the most religious of people and my ideas about the divine do not run lock-step with the rest of the world. But I do believe there is something greater, in part because I've experienced it a few times.
3. My friends. I will group them all here as a lot but list them separately, too. I am thankful I have friends, more than I realize, sometimes. It's easy to forget that people love and care about you.
4. My health. I have a few health issues but nothing that a lot of dieting couldn't help...
5. My house. I have a roof over my head. In this day and age, that says a lot. I am so glad my husband has been able to provide this for us.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
The smell of death
Sometimes things in the country happen that are very sad.
Yesterday as I headed out, I noticed a small buck deer lying in the field. He seemed to be watching traffic.
I passed my husband in his truck a few thousand yards away and we stopped to chat before parting ways. He noted the deer in the field, too.
Later he called to tell me that he had driven his truck up in the field to check on the deer. When it didn't move, he investigated further.
The poor little deer had been hit by a car. His back legs or back was broken and he could not move.
In another decade, my husband might have come home and loaded his gun and put the poor creature out of his misery, but in the New America, the land of the police state and lack of common sense, where everyone is just waiting to pounce on you and put a picture of you on Youtube, you don't perform acts of compassion. You call Animal Control and let them do it because otherwise you could be charged with a misdemeanor and heavily fined if not jailed.
My husband called me to tell me the poor deer was not just watching traffic after all. He described the scene to me and I felt shivers up my spine.
When I drove home and I passed the spot where the deer had lain, I was sure I could smell death.
It definitely colored the day.
Yesterday as I headed out, I noticed a small buck deer lying in the field. He seemed to be watching traffic.
I passed my husband in his truck a few thousand yards away and we stopped to chat before parting ways. He noted the deer in the field, too.
Later he called to tell me that he had driven his truck up in the field to check on the deer. When it didn't move, he investigated further.
The poor little deer had been hit by a car. His back legs or back was broken and he could not move.
In another decade, my husband might have come home and loaded his gun and put the poor creature out of his misery, but in the New America, the land of the police state and lack of common sense, where everyone is just waiting to pounce on you and put a picture of you on Youtube, you don't perform acts of compassion. You call Animal Control and let them do it because otherwise you could be charged with a misdemeanor and heavily fined if not jailed.
My husband called me to tell me the poor deer was not just watching traffic after all. He described the scene to me and I felt shivers up my spine.
When I drove home and I passed the spot where the deer had lain, I was sure I could smell death.
It definitely colored the day.
Thursday, July 09, 2009
Thursday Thirteen
Here are 13 things you would see in my yard this morning:
1. Another partially eaten bar of Irish Spring bath soap, courtesy of some critter that is supposed to find it repulsive. Instead the creature now has lovely smelling breath. This is the third bar that has been gnawed upon.
This was the second bar, not the third, to have been eaten.
2. Six-inch high sunflowers. I planted these a few weeks ago because my zinnias and marigolds had short lives, courtesy of a rabbit. I put a fence around them. I am hoping for bright sunny flowers before frost.
These are zinnias that were coming up well before the rabbit decided it needed a salad.
3. A rabbit. There he goes, hopping through the front yard. The other day I bought a box of Trix, the first time I'd purchased that cereal in years, and found the rabbit sitting on the front porch by the door. Silly rabbit.
4. Four blue spruce trees. We planted these trees about 20 years ago. My mother took us and showed us some trees we could dig up. After we'd put three in the truck, she said, "Better hurry, this isn't part of the property we just bought." We thought it was, of course, and were surprised to find out otherwise. Our stolen trees have prospered.
Birds like the blue spruce.
5. A single blueberry. Last year we planted a small Concord grape vine and two blueberry bushes. One of the blueberry bushes died. The living one has produced a single blueberry.
6. Doves. I hear them cooing in the mornings. It is a comforting sound.
7. A ripening tomato. Like many local gardeners, I've been fighting blight/fungus on my tomato plants, but I do have some on the vine. One is starting to turn a little yellow. I can hardly wait for it to turn red.
8. Green beans. My beans, which are of varying variety, are doing very well. My husband planted the beans for me and didn't mark which ones were the pole beans; they should have been staked out better than they were. They nearly throttled a tomato plant with their fast-growing tendrils before I rescued it with some wire and retraining of the vines.
9. Queen Ann's Lace. This weed grows in the fields all around the yard. This is actually the tops of a wild carrot, which I did not know until I looked it up a while ago. Folk remedies use this for contraception. Learn something new every day.
10. Clover. Our yard is not exactly the greatest. We have a lot of weeds, clover and wire grass.
11. Bees. I have seen a few honey bees this year, for which I was grateful given that last year all the talk was about honey bees dying out.
12. Forsythia bushes. These are great in the spring, when they burst out in yellow. In summer they are a nice shade of green. Ours are overgrown along the driveway. My husband leaves them like that so that in winter they will serve as a snow break to keep blowing snow from the road. They do that job fairly well.
Forsythia in the spring is one of my favorite sites.
13. Me! You'd see me out there, waving at you as you pull up the drive! Then I'd bring you inside and we'd have a cup of tea.
Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; you can learn more about it here. My other Thursday Thirteens are here. This is number101!
1. Another partially eaten bar of Irish Spring bath soap, courtesy of some critter that is supposed to find it repulsive. Instead the creature now has lovely smelling breath. This is the third bar that has been gnawed upon.
This was the second bar, not the third, to have been eaten.
2. Six-inch high sunflowers. I planted these a few weeks ago because my zinnias and marigolds had short lives, courtesy of a rabbit. I put a fence around them. I am hoping for bright sunny flowers before frost.
These are zinnias that were coming up well before the rabbit decided it needed a salad.
3. A rabbit. There he goes, hopping through the front yard. The other day I bought a box of Trix, the first time I'd purchased that cereal in years, and found the rabbit sitting on the front porch by the door. Silly rabbit.
4. Four blue spruce trees. We planted these trees about 20 years ago. My mother took us and showed us some trees we could dig up. After we'd put three in the truck, she said, "Better hurry, this isn't part of the property we just bought." We thought it was, of course, and were surprised to find out otherwise. Our stolen trees have prospered.
Birds like the blue spruce.
5. A single blueberry. Last year we planted a small Concord grape vine and two blueberry bushes. One of the blueberry bushes died. The living one has produced a single blueberry.
6. Doves. I hear them cooing in the mornings. It is a comforting sound.
7. A ripening tomato. Like many local gardeners, I've been fighting blight/fungus on my tomato plants, but I do have some on the vine. One is starting to turn a little yellow. I can hardly wait for it to turn red.
8. Green beans. My beans, which are of varying variety, are doing very well. My husband planted the beans for me and didn't mark which ones were the pole beans; they should have been staked out better than they were. They nearly throttled a tomato plant with their fast-growing tendrils before I rescued it with some wire and retraining of the vines.
9. Queen Ann's Lace. This weed grows in the fields all around the yard. This is actually the tops of a wild carrot, which I did not know until I looked it up a while ago. Folk remedies use this for contraception. Learn something new every day.
10. Clover. Our yard is not exactly the greatest. We have a lot of weeds, clover and wire grass.
11. Bees. I have seen a few honey bees this year, for which I was grateful given that last year all the talk was about honey bees dying out.
12. Forsythia bushes. These are great in the spring, when they burst out in yellow. In summer they are a nice shade of green. Ours are overgrown along the driveway. My husband leaves them like that so that in winter they will serve as a snow break to keep blowing snow from the road. They do that job fairly well.
Forsythia in the spring is one of my favorite sites.
13. Me! You'd see me out there, waving at you as you pull up the drive! Then I'd bring you inside and we'd have a cup of tea.
Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; you can learn more about it here. My other Thursday Thirteens are here. This is number101!
Wednesday, July 08, 2009
26 States
Put an X by the states you have been to. The average is 8; how do you match up?
Should you choose to play, here's what you do:
Copy this. Delete my Xs and add your own. Change the number at the top, and add your title. Send it on to others if you want. I'm not going to do that but if anyone does this please feel free to let me know in the comments.
Just for fun, put an O beside the states where you have lived.
Airports don't count!
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona x
Arkansas
California x
Colorado x
Connecticut
Delaware x
District of Columbia x
Florida x
Georgia x
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas x
Kentucky x
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland x
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska x
Nevada x
New Hampshire
New Jersey x
New Mexico x
New York x
North Carolina x
North Dakota
Ohio x
Oklahoma x
Oregon
Pennsylvania x
Rhode Island
South Carolina x
South Dakota
Tennessee x
Texas x
Utah x
Vermont
Virginia O
Washington
West Virginia x
Wisconsin
Wyoming x
Most of my traveling was done when I was much younger; I haven't been out of Virginia in several years, and I haven't been beyond South Carolina since 1993.
I need to get out more.
Should you choose to play, here's what you do:
Copy this. Delete my Xs and add your own. Change the number at the top, and add your title. Send it on to others if you want. I'm not going to do that but if anyone does this please feel free to let me know in the comments.
Just for fun, put an O beside the states where you have lived.
Airports don't count!
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona x
Arkansas
California x
Colorado x
Connecticut
Delaware x
District of Columbia x
Florida x
Georgia x
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas x
Kentucky x
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland x
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska x
Nevada x
New Hampshire
New Jersey x
New Mexico x
New York x
North Carolina x
North Dakota
Ohio x
Oklahoma x
Oregon
Pennsylvania x
Rhode Island
South Carolina x
South Dakota
Tennessee x
Texas x
Utah x
Vermont
Virginia O
Washington
West Virginia x
Wisconsin
Wyoming x
Most of my traveling was done when I was much younger; I haven't been out of Virginia in several years, and I haven't been beyond South Carolina since 1993.
I need to get out more.
Tuesday, July 07, 2009
I am like a deer
Saturday as I headed to my compost pile, I thought I heard a noise in the woods.
After dumping my items in, I ventured down into the woods.
Something slunk before me and vanished into weeds.
A black cat, I thought.
To my left I saw movement, and then the noise like the rusty sound of a door opening. A turkey's head bobbed and weaved. The black animal had disturbed a hen.
She moved back and forth a while as I stood still, watching. Then she too vanished.
I moved forward a few more steps, now to investigate the wine berry bushes.
To my right I heard a rustling noise. I paused. Suddenly there was a snort, followed by a flash of brown and white. A deer dashed away.
Moving on, I discovered a rounded spot in the leaves up against a fallen log. Obviously, a deer had lain there and I had disturbed it.
This morning as I sat picking quarts of green beans, I listened to the songs of birds. They chattered, sang and serenaded me while I contemplated life's turmoils and thought about how best to spend the rest of my day, week and life. Heady thoughts for 8 a.m.
By 11 a.m. I had picked 6 quarts of beans, cleaned the oven, cleaned 8 sets of mini-blinds, washed and put away two loads of laundry, and spent time on the phone with important folks like a mentor, a lawyer and my accountant.
Here is it now, noon as I write this. The sun is burning hot and I'm already pleasantly tired. The day still beckons me toward other activities. My mind still churns and wanders.
I am curious about everything and scared of it all.
I feel great empathy for the deer.
Monday, July 06, 2009
A Writing Group?
I am seeking a few folks interested in writing in good ol' Botetourt County so we can start a little writing group.
Fellow bloggers might have some interest in the topic, so I'm tossing it out there.
The goal would be to work on our writing projects that aren't blogs, of course. Fiction. Nonfiction. Short stories, novels. Poetry. Whatever.
Critiquing would be on the project (not the person) and hopefully would be helpful on multiple levels.
To my knowledge there is no writing group in this county aside from the newly-formed Poet's Corner that is meeting at the Botetourt libraries quarterly. I attended their first meeting and it was fine, and I will go again, but I think quarterly is too far apart for the meetings. They should be monthly.
Personally, I would like to meet every other week or so.
There is a writing group that meets in Roanoke called Valley Writers. It is part of the Virginia Writers Club.
In the 1980s (or thereabouts) I tried to attend their meetings but found it so political and full of bickering that it was an insufferable experience. I understand this is different now. For one thing, I know Becky at Peevish Pen is the Vice President, and she is in the Roanoke Valley Pen Women with me, so it can't be all bad.
Sometimes I think about going. But, I find driving to Roanoke at night to be something I am not eager to do. I have trouble with my night vision sometimes and the older I get the less inclined I am to make the trip.
So I was thinking something a little closer to home might be a good idea.
Does anyone have any thoughts on this?
Fellow bloggers might have some interest in the topic, so I'm tossing it out there.
The goal would be to work on our writing projects that aren't blogs, of course. Fiction. Nonfiction. Short stories, novels. Poetry. Whatever.
Critiquing would be on the project (not the person) and hopefully would be helpful on multiple levels.
To my knowledge there is no writing group in this county aside from the newly-formed Poet's Corner that is meeting at the Botetourt libraries quarterly. I attended their first meeting and it was fine, and I will go again, but I think quarterly is too far apart for the meetings. They should be monthly.
Personally, I would like to meet every other week or so.
There is a writing group that meets in Roanoke called Valley Writers. It is part of the Virginia Writers Club.
In the 1980s (or thereabouts) I tried to attend their meetings but found it so political and full of bickering that it was an insufferable experience. I understand this is different now. For one thing, I know Becky at Peevish Pen is the Vice President, and she is in the Roanoke Valley Pen Women with me, so it can't be all bad.
Sometimes I think about going. But, I find driving to Roanoke at night to be something I am not eager to do. I have trouble with my night vision sometimes and the older I get the less inclined I am to make the trip.
So I was thinking something a little closer to home might be a good idea.
Does anyone have any thoughts on this?
Sunday, July 05, 2009
Fincastle Fireworks
Every year, Willie Simmons, along with his wife Brenda and an assortment of helpers, give the Town of Fincastle a fireworks display for the Fourth of July.
The Town of Fincastle handles donations for the fireworks. At the event, they pass a hat and every year around May a call goes out for additional donations.
Donations pay the entire cost of the display.
This year's display was exceptional. For a small community, they do a bang-up job celebrating the founding of this great nation. This event definitely deserves applause.
HAPPY JULY 4!
Thursday, July 02, 2009
Thursday Thirteen: No. 100
I can't believe this is my 100th Thursday Thirteen! That's a lot of weeks to come up with 13 things about many different topics. Whew!
To celebrate, I'm going to list 13 things about my favorite color.
1. The sky. Honestly, now, can there be anything more lovely than the atmosphere above our good Earth?
2. The Blue Ridge Mountains (they're not REALLY blue but they look like it, or used to, before pollution began distorting that wonderful tint of oxygen from the trees).
3. Jeans. It is really hard to beat denim.
4. My husband's eyes. Definitely one of my favorites.
(My husband at the beach beneath a blue umbrella, with his eyes hidden.)
5. The newest M&M, at least in the M&M dark chocolates that I eat occasionally. It tastes just like the other colors, by the way.
6. Cotton candy. I haven't had any good blue cotton candy in a very long time. I must get to the Buchanan Carnival and rectify that.
7. Blue iris. I love the blue iris, but unfortunately I don't have any in the yard blooming any more. I did but they either died out or were choked out by the yellow iris.
(This iris was at The Fincastle Library.)
8. My desktop. I keep a solid blue background on my desktop (old Windows default, I think it is), and that suits me fine. I find pictures and multiple colors to be a distraction.
9. Labels. Many of my favorite foods have blue labels (which says something about advertising, doesn't it). Miracle Whip and Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls and other Pillsbury products immediately come to mind, as does the Tony the Tiger Frosted Flakes cereal box.
10. Book covers are often blue. My Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus has a blue cover, as does my Oxford Essential Writer's Reference, my 2004 Writer's Market, my Freelance Writer's Guide, one of the Harry Potter books (The Half Blood Prince, I think it is, without getting up to look), and a book called Elvis in Oz, which is a bunch of short stories put together at least 15 years ago by writers at my alma mater, Hollins University.
11. Glassware. I don't have much blue glassware but my mother used to have some. I loved looking at it. I am not sure what happened to it.
12. The ocean. I almost forgot about this big chunk of blueness on the face of the world! The lull of the water, the feel of it, the smell of the salty sea. Ah, that's a vacation calling, isn't it?
13. Last, but not least, I will mention a blue violet. Not because it is a favorite flower but because it comes with a memory. When I was in the 6th grade, our class took a trip to Williamsburg. On the way home, we stopped at a K-mart and were told to buy presents for our family members. I purchased a small blue violet for my mother, which I carefully and proudly took home to her. She nurtured it well, and it sat in the window sill for years.
Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; you can learn more about it here. My other Thursday Thirteens are here. This is my 100th one!
To celebrate, I'm going to list 13 things about my favorite color.
1. The sky. Honestly, now, can there be anything more lovely than the atmosphere above our good Earth?
2. The Blue Ridge Mountains (they're not REALLY blue but they look like it, or used to, before pollution began distorting that wonderful tint of oxygen from the trees).
3. Jeans. It is really hard to beat denim.
4. My husband's eyes. Definitely one of my favorites.
(My husband at the beach beneath a blue umbrella, with his eyes hidden.)
5. The newest M&M, at least in the M&M dark chocolates that I eat occasionally. It tastes just like the other colors, by the way.
6. Cotton candy. I haven't had any good blue cotton candy in a very long time. I must get to the Buchanan Carnival and rectify that.
7. Blue iris. I love the blue iris, but unfortunately I don't have any in the yard blooming any more. I did but they either died out or were choked out by the yellow iris.
(This iris was at The Fincastle Library.)
8. My desktop. I keep a solid blue background on my desktop (old Windows default, I think it is), and that suits me fine. I find pictures and multiple colors to be a distraction.
9. Labels. Many of my favorite foods have blue labels (which says something about advertising, doesn't it). Miracle Whip and Pillsbury Cinnamon Rolls and other Pillsbury products immediately come to mind, as does the Tony the Tiger Frosted Flakes cereal box.
10. Book covers are often blue. My Oxford American Writer's Thesaurus has a blue cover, as does my Oxford Essential Writer's Reference, my 2004 Writer's Market, my Freelance Writer's Guide, one of the Harry Potter books (The Half Blood Prince, I think it is, without getting up to look), and a book called Elvis in Oz, which is a bunch of short stories put together at least 15 years ago by writers at my alma mater, Hollins University.
11. Glassware. I don't have much blue glassware but my mother used to have some. I loved looking at it. I am not sure what happened to it.
12. The ocean. I almost forgot about this big chunk of blueness on the face of the world! The lull of the water, the feel of it, the smell of the salty sea. Ah, that's a vacation calling, isn't it?
13. Last, but not least, I will mention a blue violet. Not because it is a favorite flower but because it comes with a memory. When I was in the 6th grade, our class took a trip to Williamsburg. On the way home, we stopped at a K-mart and were told to buy presents for our family members. I purchased a small blue violet for my mother, which I carefully and proudly took home to her. She nurtured it well, and it sat in the window sill for years.
Thursday Thirteen is played by lots of people; you can learn more about it here. My other Thursday Thirteens are here. This is my 100th one!
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Adventures in Gardening June 2009
Here it is, the last day of June. My flowers and gardening is ongoing. Some plants are in full bloom.
Alas, last night something, I presume a deer, stripped all the leaves and blossoms from one of my roses. It is but a bare stem now.
Marigolds and zinnias, sprouting in May from seeds I planted, disappeared.
This puzzled me until last week when I saw a rabbit nibbling at my newly sprouting sunflowers (planted to make up for the lack of zinnias and marigolds). Apparently my small seedlings made a good salad. I had hoped for a lovely bounty of beautiful colored flowers. I wanted to watch them sway in the breeze and feel their life and color breathe some liveliness back into my soul.
Alas, they are gone. Hopefully netting will keep the critters from the sunflowers.
But my pumpkins I planted about 10 days ago in the flower beds are flourishing (they have fence around them).
And my rescued mums bloomed in the whisky barrel:
My 40 cent geraniums, saved from the clearance bin at Walmart, are thriving.
And the garden is looking pretty good despite its small size.
That's zucchini, watermelon, corn and cucumber visible, with tomato plants and pole beans in the rear. You can't see the bush beans or the kale. Maneuvering in that small space is getting difficult as stuff grows. The best part is there are so many vegetable plants growing in there, the weeds can't find a toe-hold!
Monday, June 29, 2009
Green Beans
When I was a little girl, my mother worked a full time job in Salem, about a block from where my grandmother lived on East Riverside Drive.
Each summer, we stayed with Grandma. Mom would drop us off on her way to work, come to see us and eat lunch, and then pick us back up on her way back to Botetourt.
My grandmother did not drive, ever, so we walked everywhere we went.
Each Friday, we walked several blocks to Front Street, meaning my grandmother, her youngest son, Jerry, who is a year younger than I (and born on my first birthday, no less), and my brother, who is three years younger than I. Sometimes Junior, my grandmother's second-to-youngest son, went along. He is four years older than I.
The purpose of the weekly visit was to do hair. Grandma would set and roll Great Aunt Neva's hair. Sometimes she'd put in a permanent. Sometimes we were joined there by Great Aunt Susie, and she would have her hair done, too. Grandma, in turn, would have hair done by one of her sisters.
Always, Aunt Neva had a pot of green beans cooking on the stove. To this day when I smell green beans I also smell hair permanent.
For those who may not know, southern green beans simmer on the stove for HOURS. And I mean, all day.
There must be no crunch left in those suckers before they are considered edible. They are also cooked with fat back or ham, and are best if they are little greasy going down. They must have changed color from vibrant, bright, alive green to dull and dark green, too.
Today as I snapped green beans and prepared to cook them for HOURS (because that is the only way my husband will eat them), I thought of Aunt Neva and how the smell of green beans simmering in the kitchen always reminds me of her.
Aunt Neva never made it past the fourth grade, but she read every single word of The Roanoke Times, including the legals and want ads, every day. She did not miss a single advertisement or any word. I don't recall her ever reading books but she devoured the newspaper.
She was married to Sam Ellis and they had several kids. We called one Scootchie and I have never known his real name. The other was Lionel, who married Darlene, who was my mother's first cousin on her dad's side, so my mother's first cousins ended up marrying each other even though they were not related. Aunt Neva also had a daughter who teaches piano up in Radford, I think. I could be confused on that, though.
I really need to get this part of my family history.
Anyway, one of the children was Sidney. Sidney had epilepsy and he was thought to be mentally retarded. My mother said as a child he was fine but he either had a seizure that left him disabled or they gave him medication that messed him up badly. I never did not know the whole story.
Most of my Aunt Neva's life revolved around Sidney. He required a lot of attention and care and she did not hesitate to give it to him.
I don't know that I could be so selfless.
It's not Friday, but I am cooking green beans and thinking of my great aunt. My grandmother passed away two years ago, yesterday, so I am thinking of her, too.
Isn't it wonderful what food can do?
Each summer, we stayed with Grandma. Mom would drop us off on her way to work, come to see us and eat lunch, and then pick us back up on her way back to Botetourt.
My grandmother did not drive, ever, so we walked everywhere we went.
Each Friday, we walked several blocks to Front Street, meaning my grandmother, her youngest son, Jerry, who is a year younger than I (and born on my first birthday, no less), and my brother, who is three years younger than I. Sometimes Junior, my grandmother's second-to-youngest son, went along. He is four years older than I.
The purpose of the weekly visit was to do hair. Grandma would set and roll Great Aunt Neva's hair. Sometimes she'd put in a permanent. Sometimes we were joined there by Great Aunt Susie, and she would have her hair done, too. Grandma, in turn, would have hair done by one of her sisters.
Always, Aunt Neva had a pot of green beans cooking on the stove. To this day when I smell green beans I also smell hair permanent.
For those who may not know, southern green beans simmer on the stove for HOURS. And I mean, all day.
There must be no crunch left in those suckers before they are considered edible. They are also cooked with fat back or ham, and are best if they are little greasy going down. They must have changed color from vibrant, bright, alive green to dull and dark green, too.
Today as I snapped green beans and prepared to cook them for HOURS (because that is the only way my husband will eat them), I thought of Aunt Neva and how the smell of green beans simmering in the kitchen always reminds me of her.
Aunt Neva never made it past the fourth grade, but she read every single word of The Roanoke Times, including the legals and want ads, every day. She did not miss a single advertisement or any word. I don't recall her ever reading books but she devoured the newspaper.
She was married to Sam Ellis and they had several kids. We called one Scootchie and I have never known his real name. The other was Lionel, who married Darlene, who was my mother's first cousin on her dad's side, so my mother's first cousins ended up marrying each other even though they were not related. Aunt Neva also had a daughter who teaches piano up in Radford, I think. I could be confused on that, though.
I really need to get this part of my family history.
Anyway, one of the children was Sidney. Sidney had epilepsy and he was thought to be mentally retarded. My mother said as a child he was fine but he either had a seizure that left him disabled or they gave him medication that messed him up badly. I never did not know the whole story.
Most of my Aunt Neva's life revolved around Sidney. He required a lot of attention and care and she did not hesitate to give it to him.
I don't know that I could be so selfless.
It's not Friday, but I am cooking green beans and thinking of my great aunt. My grandmother passed away two years ago, yesterday, so I am thinking of her, too.
Isn't it wonderful what food can do?
Sunday, June 28, 2009
The Community Yardsale
When the alarm went off Saturday morning at 4:55 a.m., it was all I could do to struggle out of bed. I think I was finished with my shower and mostly dressed before I finally woke up.
The day was already hot when at 6:10 a.m. I pulled into the parking lot at Ikenberry Orchards. Several folks were already there ahead of me.
I hauled my treasures from the car and placed them attractively on the table. My offerings included clothing, a cotton candy machine, books, VHS tapes, small doo-dads, pocket books, a couple of book bags, a digital camera that I dropped and which worked provided you didn't use the zoom, and a combination TV/CD/Radio player.
The humidity must have been about 90 percent. It was unbelievably hot. Thankfully I knew the folks who had set up next to me, and they had been smart enough to bring a big canopy. They shared their shade. If they hadn't, I would have probably been out of there by 10 a.m. instead of 2 p.m. Bless you, Sue and Howard, for being so kind.
Right away I sold a couple of pieces of clothing and a pocket book. I thought that was a good sign for a good day, but as the hours wore on I realized that at best I would pay for lunch and dinner with the earnings from this endeavor.
My husband showed up with an old TV set we needed to get rid of. I sold it for a paltry sum, but as my husband said, "At least I don't have to haul it to Goodwill."
Once you've decided something will go to Goodwill, that means you're willing to give it away. With that in mind, anything for an item is better than nothing at all.
I saw a lot of people there, including the Blue Ridge Gal herself. She had her camera around her neck and showed me an old picture frame she'd purchased from next to nothing.
Jules also dropped by. She is not a blogger but she has lots of websites, including Indulge Tea and Mobility Advisor. Hey Jules, you need a blog, too! She had her dog and daughter in tow and said she was on her way to the SPCA to get another pooch. Awww.
Gwen Ikenberry, whose husband's family owns the place, also was there. She shared her shade with me, too. We have been friends since about 1993, which is a long time in dog years and not so bad in people years, either. I chatted with her mother-in-law, Loretta Ikenberry, for a good while.
Other folks I knew were Donna from Brambleberry Blog, who also is the leader of the Botetourt Farmer's Market. She was there hawking her produce. I also saw Hal Bailey from ECI, and Jay Etzler, the county Commissioner of Revenue, both of whom I have known since second grade. They were selling produce, too. I didn't realize they were such gardeners.
I also saw my (former) editor, Ed McCoy of The Fincastle Herald,* who was shopping around for items for "his" room at his house. Must be a man-cave den or something. We chatted a while and as he was standing there at least two people shouted out to me that they missed my work with the paper. I know that was difficult for him but he didn't say anything. It wasn't his decision to cut back on my work, after all.
Other folks who said howdy were Bobby and Donna Martin, Helen Gregory, Mary Jane from the Town of Troutville, Nancy Waddell and Dot Hillard. I'm sure there were others and I don't mean to leave you out if we chatted and I missed listing you!
My husband sat with me for a couple of hours. He went for lunch around 11:15 a.m., brought it back and ate it with me, and then headed home to cut hay for our neighbor, Lanetta Ware. I roasted in the heat some more, picking up a dollar here and there for various and sundry items.
Finally, the crowd began to thin and I decided it was time to pack the car up. Howard said he was going to Goodwill and would be glad to take whatever I wasn't taking back home with me. I was very grateful for this offer.
I left behind for Goodwill clothing, VHS tapes and books. I brought home with me the cotton candy machine and a couple of book bags.
Home was very inviting. I took a shower and collapsed.
At least the house is a little lighter and the spare room is now clear and I can get into it again.
I am very glad that is over.
*I'd add a link here for the paper but the website for it has been down since early May.
The day was already hot when at 6:10 a.m. I pulled into the parking lot at Ikenberry Orchards. Several folks were already there ahead of me.
I hauled my treasures from the car and placed them attractively on the table. My offerings included clothing, a cotton candy machine, books, VHS tapes, small doo-dads, pocket books, a couple of book bags, a digital camera that I dropped and which worked provided you didn't use the zoom, and a combination TV/CD/Radio player.
The humidity must have been about 90 percent. It was unbelievably hot. Thankfully I knew the folks who had set up next to me, and they had been smart enough to bring a big canopy. They shared their shade. If they hadn't, I would have probably been out of there by 10 a.m. instead of 2 p.m. Bless you, Sue and Howard, for being so kind.
Right away I sold a couple of pieces of clothing and a pocket book. I thought that was a good sign for a good day, but as the hours wore on I realized that at best I would pay for lunch and dinner with the earnings from this endeavor.
My husband showed up with an old TV set we needed to get rid of. I sold it for a paltry sum, but as my husband said, "At least I don't have to haul it to Goodwill."
Once you've decided something will go to Goodwill, that means you're willing to give it away. With that in mind, anything for an item is better than nothing at all.
I saw a lot of people there, including the Blue Ridge Gal herself. She had her camera around her neck and showed me an old picture frame she'd purchased from next to nothing.
Jules also dropped by. She is not a blogger but she has lots of websites, including Indulge Tea and Mobility Advisor. Hey Jules, you need a blog, too! She had her dog and daughter in tow and said she was on her way to the SPCA to get another pooch. Awww.
Gwen Ikenberry, whose husband's family owns the place, also was there. She shared her shade with me, too. We have been friends since about 1993, which is a long time in dog years and not so bad in people years, either. I chatted with her mother-in-law, Loretta Ikenberry, for a good while.
Other folks I knew were Donna from Brambleberry Blog, who also is the leader of the Botetourt Farmer's Market. She was there hawking her produce. I also saw Hal Bailey from ECI, and Jay Etzler, the county Commissioner of Revenue, both of whom I have known since second grade. They were selling produce, too. I didn't realize they were such gardeners.
I also saw my (former) editor, Ed McCoy of The Fincastle Herald,* who was shopping around for items for "his" room at his house. Must be a man-cave den or something. We chatted a while and as he was standing there at least two people shouted out to me that they missed my work with the paper. I know that was difficult for him but he didn't say anything. It wasn't his decision to cut back on my work, after all.
Other folks who said howdy were Bobby and Donna Martin, Helen Gregory, Mary Jane from the Town of Troutville, Nancy Waddell and Dot Hillard. I'm sure there were others and I don't mean to leave you out if we chatted and I missed listing you!
My husband sat with me for a couple of hours. He went for lunch around 11:15 a.m., brought it back and ate it with me, and then headed home to cut hay for our neighbor, Lanetta Ware. I roasted in the heat some more, picking up a dollar here and there for various and sundry items.
Finally, the crowd began to thin and I decided it was time to pack the car up. Howard said he was going to Goodwill and would be glad to take whatever I wasn't taking back home with me. I was very grateful for this offer.
I left behind for Goodwill clothing, VHS tapes and books. I brought home with me the cotton candy machine and a couple of book bags.
Home was very inviting. I took a shower and collapsed.
At least the house is a little lighter and the spare room is now clear and I can get into it again.
I am very glad that is over.
*I'd add a link here for the paper but the website for it has been down since early May.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Death Comes Knocking
For many people about my age, that is, young baby boomers and older Generation Xers, Thursday's double whammy of the deaths of Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson was like a kick in the gut.
Most definitely it was a reminder that childhood is over and the downhill slide toward old age and death is nigh.
I was 13 years old when Charlie's Angels hit the airwaves on ABC. I thought it was the greatest show ever.
Every Wednesday night, when the show came on, I was plastered in front of the TV. I was not there to watch bouncy hair and jiggling boobs but to see three women - three very strong women - kick ass and take names. These ladies really could bring home the bacon and fry up in the pan, and never apologize for any of it.
Fawcett played Jill Monroe, and she was only in the first season (with guest appearances in a later season). The show lost a bit of its power when she left, not that CHeryl Ladd did a bad job. Fawcett's character just made it a little different show, is all.
My first "adult" hair cut was a Farrah cut. I never could get my hair to twirl and flip like hers but it definitely was THE cut for young ladies to have.
Michael Jackson's death is a loss, but he had grown so odd in his later years that I had lost much interest in him. Yet I do recall growing up with him. In particular I remember a TV cartoon show of the Jackson 5 that I watched. I also remember hearing him as a young man on the radio, and wondering if I could ever obtain such fame.
Obviously not.
There is no denying that Thriller made a huge impact on pop music and on the public at large. The album came out a year after I graduated from high school, and I wasn't in college - that was a floundering year for me. I'd been working and had just met my future husband about the time the album was released.
We did dance to it in a few clubs while we were dating but we quickly became an old married couple who didn't do the dance club/bar scene and to be honest the lure of Jackson's greatest release passed me by.
I never owned the record.
Even so, I do realize the genius of the musician and the impact of his music. His legacy will continue as musicians pick up his glove and move forward in a similar vein.
For me, this dual day of deceased means my own mortality is near. It also points out the truth that regardless of money, illnesses cannot be outrun and death comes to us all.
Heavy thoughts on a hot and humid day. It weights me down.
Most definitely it was a reminder that childhood is over and the downhill slide toward old age and death is nigh.
I was 13 years old when Charlie's Angels hit the airwaves on ABC. I thought it was the greatest show ever.
Every Wednesday night, when the show came on, I was plastered in front of the TV. I was not there to watch bouncy hair and jiggling boobs but to see three women - three very strong women - kick ass and take names. These ladies really could bring home the bacon and fry up in the pan, and never apologize for any of it.
Fawcett played Jill Monroe, and she was only in the first season (with guest appearances in a later season). The show lost a bit of its power when she left, not that CHeryl Ladd did a bad job. Fawcett's character just made it a little different show, is all.
My first "adult" hair cut was a Farrah cut. I never could get my hair to twirl and flip like hers but it definitely was THE cut for young ladies to have.
Michael Jackson's death is a loss, but he had grown so odd in his later years that I had lost much interest in him. Yet I do recall growing up with him. In particular I remember a TV cartoon show of the Jackson 5 that I watched. I also remember hearing him as a young man on the radio, and wondering if I could ever obtain such fame.
Obviously not.
There is no denying that Thriller made a huge impact on pop music and on the public at large. The album came out a year after I graduated from high school, and I wasn't in college - that was a floundering year for me. I'd been working and had just met my future husband about the time the album was released.
We did dance to it in a few clubs while we were dating but we quickly became an old married couple who didn't do the dance club/bar scene and to be honest the lure of Jackson's greatest release passed me by.
I never owned the record.
Even so, I do realize the genius of the musician and the impact of his music. His legacy will continue as musicians pick up his glove and move forward in a similar vein.
For me, this dual day of deceased means my own mortality is near. It also points out the truth that regardless of money, illnesses cannot be outrun and death comes to us all.
Heavy thoughts on a hot and humid day. It weights me down.
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