A light extinquished, but never to be forgotten...

~ Sidney Maki ~

The stars await you...

What though the radiance which was once so bright,

now forever taken from my sight.

Though nothing can bring back the hour

of splendour in the grass, of glory in the flower;

Grieve not, rather find,

Strength in what remains behind...

~W. Wordsworth~

It's A Baby New Year!

A Not-So-Great-White-North Baby

Ready To Ring In The New Year!

I have really dropped the ball these last few months here. I'm not sure how time does slips away from me so often but I would imagine I can plead, "I'm fifty so I forget stuff." defense.

There have been lots of goings on... most I can't remember but I'll try my best.

I have reached a milestone with my cancer being in remission... no better news than that!

Dad has been doing well, even though he came down with a nasty cold over Christmas, delaying the family get-together to some time next year. (ha!) I did take him to the doctor to make sure there was no pneumonia and luckily he didn't have one!

My brother's job has been lost due to serious county budget shortfalls, it has been quite devastating for him but I'm working on his resume. The schooling he received to be a certified Humane Officer will be highly desirable in the Veterinary field. Among many other things, he is certified to perform euthanasia on both small and large animals. A real plus for a Vet's office.

The girls, (Lizard, Nic & KC) are doing well in school. Liz & Nic are getting used to the differences between college and high school workloads, and KC has adjusted to her new Senior High school very well. It's hard to believe they are already on their winter breaks and will be starting their second semesters next week!

KC is learning to drive, and my godson will be turning 16 next month! How did this happen!?!

My nephew is getting married this summer... that one's a HUGE how did that happen!?

I have been caring for a sweet little lap cat and soon she will be heading either back home or maybe to a new home. Her owner isn't sure if they want her back, and I'm trying to stick to my guns when I vowed not to have another cat since Ludie decided to live at Grandpa's house.

A friend turned 50 today is having a "Half-century" birthday party tonight. It freaks me out a little when I think of it that way. But... in the bigger picture, a half a century for me is pretty damn good!

So ends my memory of anything else of importance! But it is my wish to wish you all love, prosperity, health and happiness in the coming New Year!

Family... "One of nature's masterpieces." - Geo. Santayana

Our beginnings....

Elexander & Georgiabelle

Great Grandpa & Great Grandma

Elex & Georgiabelle's Oldest Daughter
Esebelle With Her Four Children

Grandpa (Arnold) & Grandma's (Esebelle)

With Their Oldest Son Harold's Daughter, ME!

We are unique unto ourselves. But we are shaped by the things most important in our lives, our family.

We have our memories... our triumphs... our sorrows... our absolute belief that brown cows gave chocolate milk 'cuz Grampa said so.

Laughing and running... the summers seemed to last for years...

"Auntie Rena you're my prettiest Aunt!"

"Grandma can you tie this blanket so I can have a cape too?" "Ow-Owie! Timmy pushed me down!" "But she kicked me first!" "Okay... I'm sorry." "Me too. Wanna go look for night crawlers?" "Heck yeah!"

Pine pitch... tall grass... Dolly has the softest ears of any dog ever.

Skinned knees, bruises, skeeter bites, "My God you've got potatoes growing in those ears!"

"How in the heck did you get it to do that!?" "You did WHAT!!?!"

"Who gave her gum!?" "Get the scissors... I'm going to have to cut this out!"

"Gramma, can I have a cookie? Gramma? Can we build a fort?" Grampa can we go fishin'?" "Grampa, Hughie said he was gonna eat a worm!" "I got one Grampa! I GOT ONE!" It's a BIG one isn't it Grampa?" Get the camera because she got her first two-inch sunfish!

Sunburns, camp fires... tents that leaked and who cares 'cause we get to play out in the rain at the 40 anyway. "Mom! I gotta wood tick!"

Spending hours playing in the woods, there wasn't an inch of the woods we didn't know. Listening to our parents reminisce about their childhood antics... and learning the really good stuff too!

"Mom? Can we jump off the tree? Dad!? Mom said ask you if we can jump off the tree? No... into the water... we won't get hurt! Honest...!"

"Oh... okay. He said no. Hey... where's Gramma?"

SSSSsnnnnnAAAAkkkkkEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"That's where Tommy shot his deer!"

"Dad! Can we ride on the hood?" All right!!!" Hang on! Here comes the hill!!"

"Mom! Johnny dropped his hot dog on the ground. Can he still ea... nevermind."

"Gramma can I sleep in your camper with you tonight?"

"ALL RIGHT!! I GOT UP! I GOT UP ON THE SKIS!!!" (Couldn't have done it without you Tim!)

A few grandchildren added to the ranks.... hehehe... don't ya' just love little brothers?

"No really! It lives in the bay! Can't you hear it?!"

"Uh-uh... Carmen told him that!"

Calling the owls over from across the lake... "Oh Daddy... what makes it foxfire?" "Dad? Do these kinda bugs bite?" "ow."

"Mom... is that a mou...?" "Dad! There's a mouse in the camper!" "No... she went down by Birdie." "Whoa.... it was in there a minute ago... Oh there it is!" "Hey look! There's two!"

"Hey! How come Mom says she's goin' home?!"

"Now don't forget... yes, Dad got the mouse out and don't say anything about the bat in the outhouse."

Today... we gathered. It wasn't anybody's funeral... nor a wedding. Just a niece, one of my cousins saying, "It shouldn't be like this! Why do we have to wait until those events?"

Of sixteen grandchildren... the baby of us all just turned 40! Some have children and grandchildren now... kids in college, kids with kids and some with one on it's way!

How did that happen?

Today we gathered... watching the little boys and girls running around in the sunshine on a perfectly beautiful Indian Summer day... Our cousin's children... their grandchildren... watching the sun shining on their hair... the laughter, the shrieks of play. Did we sound like that?

Life in slow motion as a memory slides into the front of your thoughts... "My God he looks just like his Dad did at that age!".

Watching them chase one another... laughing, throwing Nerf balls...

"Oh gees! Remember that time that one got thrown in the fire!?" "Oh yeah... they could see the fire across the lake!"

"No joke... who needs gasoline for a fire when you can burn a Nerf ball?"

"Cripes... it's amazing that any of us lived through our childhoods!"

A day designed to truly enjoy 'one of nature's masterpieces'...

And dear God, what a masterpiece it was.....

Halloweens of long ago and Grandpa's oil can...

Fall has begun in earnest, the Indian Summer days probably won’t be back and it’ll most likely be another Halloween where the kids have coats on beneath their costumes!

Wow… what nostalgia! On two levels… one, I clearly remember standing in whatever room Mom’s sewing machine was in, sweating like mad, because I had my winter coat on and Mom was sewing the costume to fit over my coat.

It was a given in The-Not-So-Great-White-North that it was necessary to trick or treat in comfort, thus the coat/costume fitting ordeal, but what is really nostalgic, is a home-made costume!

Not some paper towel thickness nylon, $25 Hannah Montana or some dopey character from a boy’s video game… The closest we got to ‘costume du-jour’ was Superman or Batman and my brother refused to wear them because of the tights. (At the time I thought he was just being a weenie but in retrospect, it was probably a good call)

Equally annoying was that I was more than willing to wear either of them but was told I couldn’t because I was a girl. No surprise there for me… being a girl sucked. I usually demanded to go as a Cowgirl, a Hobo or some other “kind-of-out-there-for-a-girl” costume. You can rest assured even at an age where Princesses were cool, I never gave in.

Which is not to say I do not like girlish things. (My ‘personal persuasion’ has always been for manly men and not manly women!) But as a tried and true tomboy… I never wore a Princess outfit. Probably the closest I came was the year my Mom’s bright idea consisted of my donning green tights, and green sweatshirt lavishly coated with glued on glitter… (that I was wearing over my coat) and some green, also glitter encrusted hat. I was supposed to be a woodland nymph or a leprechaun or something like that.

I told everybody I was the Jolly Green Giant.

Mom was not happy when neighbors complemented her on her choice to make light of my “great height” at that age, so I ‘fit in’ Yeah… that one backfired big time! Next year I went as a Hobo.

Probably the costume I liked the best, was the year I got to go as the Tin Man from the Wizard of Oz! It was coordinated with a couple next door neighbors to make the whole Oz group… Thankfully I had no interest in Dorothy, because believe me…the neighbor girl was all about being Dorothy! (Oddly enough, she herself, now prefers manly women! Who knew!?)

We all ignored the fact that our beagle Mitzi played “Toto” because she was the smallest dog anyone had. Remember, this was the era of hunting dogs and the occasional poodle in the house as a pet. Way before “designer, so-small-they-live-in-your-purse dogs!"

I got wrapped in tin foil, had this cool pair of shoes Mom got at a thrift store, Dad spray painted them and a funnel silver. (that I wore on my head!) Then they smeared some kind of 'something silver' on my face. (It was so cool!)

I even got to carry my Grandpa’s oil can, which caused some fuss during the night’s activities when some got accidentally squirted on the back of ‘Dorothy’s” dress… I swear, it was an accident.

(Hey! Everybody kept fawning over her pretty red shoes and I was getting squeaky! That’s my story and I’m sticking to it!)

As I sit here writing this, it has occurred to me that this is Monday. I now remember this as the garbage truck is making it’s way up my street. Meanwhile, I’m sitting here in my jammies, my garbage can is on my back porch and it’s raining. Yeah, I’m thinking I’ll put it out next week. At least it’s not hot, so it won’t even be smelly! See… there’s always an upside, eh?!

Well… time to stop procrastinating and get some housework taken care of. Either that or follow the cat’s lead and snuggle back under the down comforter! On a ‘raw’ day like today… (cold, windy, rainy…) I’m definitely leaning towards the comforter… I’m hoping to hold out another week before turning my furnace on.

Ask anyone that knows me… it’s got to get to around 55 before I give in and even then the cost of heating this winter is scarier than any Halloween costume could ever be.

Maybe I could answer the door in a costume that represents foreign oil companies. Hmm… better not. The kids probably wouldn’t get it and the parents may stumble away in fright, and if they fall down they’ll sue.

Ooooo… wait! Maybe I’ll dress up like a bank!

Screwy weather and land-speed records...

The explosion of color has begun!

So here we go again, we’re getting crisp, almost jacket wearing cold days, closing the windows because it‘s too cold at nigh… wait, um… Nope... We’re not doing that yet.

Mother Nature’s gone nuts (not that it had far to go nowadays!) and we are actually having temperatures in the mid-70s, with hazy but bright skies and the continuing change of leaves. The leaves are about the only normal thing that’s going on right now.

In fact, during the night I got up and turned my air conditioner on! (Procrastination has it’s rewards from time to time. HA!) It’s humid and I’m even wondering if it has rained. I can hear a hiss as cars are driving passed my house. It would explain the humidity.

I recently had a dear friend help me make a quilt for a loved one's baby. (Who-hoo! I actually CUT something!) Actual sewing however didn’t go so well. Let’s just say that I didn't set any land-speed sewing records.

Which is a big reason I was cutting. Who knew?

I can say, I may have stitched a few squares to the equivalent of two stitch lines to her, oh lets say... nineteen? But I didn't screw up the cutting. A HUGE accomplishment considering my dyslexia and my overall ignorance of the how quilts are made.

It turned out cute but flawed and I did not take it as a "I’ll-show-you-then-take-back-and-fix” gift. Dad said I should have just taken it "as was", but some sixth sense said no. Man, was I glad.

While opening her gifts in front of all, she received two incredible hand crocheted afghans, three various patterned “tied” fleece blankets and lastly… a hand-stitched quilt! Hand stitched for heaven‘s sake! Who does that!?! (Well… obviously someone that knows the Mommy, and has more talent than I could ever imagine would be my guess.)

Cripes.

Mine would have been a sorry sight among those. I did spend Monday with her, helping with the baby and I told her about it, and she and hubby are anxious to see it for real. So later I will hit Wally World for material, and take it from there. Hopefully, I gleaned enough information to attempt the ‘repairs’ on my own. If not… guess who I’ll be calling right away! Or I'll just log in at, "Is-it-bad-to-stitch-through-my-fingernail?.com"

Winter & Road Construction

First off... I just knew someday I'd get to use this!

How in the world can it be the middle if September already?! What’s really odd is the different events that are coming to light.

Here in The-Not-So-Great-White-North, we have a saying… well, very probably every state in the nation has similar beliefs… anyway, we say, “There are two seasons here… winter and road construction.”

Three years ago, the state began a road construction project with an end date of 2009! Everybody was freaking out about it.

CRIPES!!!

We could not even comprehend dealing with road construction on our main thoroughfare for three flipping years! (With the caveat, of course that weather conditions could delay completion on time.)

Basically? They more or less said, “HA! You’re my little puppy now!!”

The construction became a way of life. We learned which times of the day we needed to find an alternate route, which times when it would be fairly easy passage.

There was an article in the paper recently informing us that at this point in time… they’re ahead of schedule and they are anticipating the opening of the new section sometime next spring. Possibly as early as the first week in April!

Suddenly it’s as if you’ve been smacked in the bean with a golf ball. First off, we are already only 15 weeks from 2009. Which blows your mind and then secondly… The new road is done! The new road is done!

Yes.

You are correct.

Celebrating the near completion of a major roadway? Well, that pretty much defines exactly why I refer to my home as The-Not-So-Great-White-North.

We’re an odd bunch for sure, but it does make life interesting from time to time.

Remember....

To all of those that reached out and touched the face of God....

To all those that perished & those that loved them...

The firefighters that never stopped going up,

even as others rushed down.

United Flight 93 ~ Your sacrifice saved so many others.

New York Police Department

New York Police Emergency Services Unit

Port Authority Police Department

"10-7 WTC" ~ 'End Of Tour'

Those that gave their lives in Service to our Country

And for those that still do...

~ May God Bless You All ~

One of those days...

As I am feeling kind of weird lately, (Shut up!)

I took great delight with this picture sent by a friend.

I know... I'm twisted, but it made me laugh out loud.

So turning 50 wasn't such a big deal. I expected to get a lot more crap but I imagine everyone that will turn 50 after me were too worried about revenge. Actually, I have realized that most of the "friends" that didn't bother to even slightly annoy me, probably didn't even remember it was my birthday. So it just goes to show that as you age, so do your friends. The forget as much stuff as I do! HAHAHAHA!

The weather is finally edging towards fall now. I find myself snuggling deeper beneath my down comforter and went so far as to close my bedroom window around 4:30 a.m. I'm still knocking about wearing a tank top, shorts and no shoes but the weather is definitely on it's way to deep fall.

I am actually looking forward to it. We got quite a storm night before last, but no where near the rain we need. It did however manage to give just enough moisture to the weeds in my yard and they seemingly grew six inches overnight.

Cripes.

Now I have to mow. On the plus side... I have a mulching mower and it'll make a nice start to ridding my yard of the leaves that have fallen thus far. Even though I have a leaf blower (yeah... you should see me with that!) There is an art to proper leaf blowing.

I have not mastered that art.

Although it has brought about occasion to use various other forms of cuss words, as in, "YOU MOTHER-CHUCKER!" (That one made my neighbor laugh out loud!)

Cripes.

Well, this old lady is ready to crawl into bed. Even though it's actually only 11:30 (generally unheard of when it comes to my sleeping habits!) I am tired and have learned that if I stay up any longer, I'll reach that terrible "second wind" stage and be up until the wee hours of the night.

Great... the cat is sleeping on my pillow. She isn't exactly good at figuring out the whole, "That's mine!" concept.

Basically it means while I will push her off to get my pillow back, I will then spend the rest of the night with her draped over my head in one way or another.

Cripes.

I hope she doesn't decide to chew on my hair again. Waking up with cat slimed split ends is truly gross.

The sneakin' little night stalker!

Yeah... it's amazing! They do that here too!

Four days...

I just washed my hair and can't do a thing with it!

Most of you guys won't get that reference... it was a tag line in a Dippity-Do commercial (or something like it) when I was in high school. (And for those of you trying to figure out when that was... 1972 through 1976)

Anyway........

So I've been 50 four days now. I'm happy to report that I don't feel any differently than before I turned 50. The coffee I spilled on my fingers still burned, my debit card numbers still feel worn. So, woo-hoo! my feeling capabilities have survived.

It's been wicked hot considering tomorrow is the first of September. It was 87 by noon and I would hazard a guess that it's at least 90+ now. I will readily admit that I am looking forward to cooler temperatures. That doesn't happen too often.

I'm happy that my grass is crunchy and even the weeds are hardly growing, but it's scary to think that they have been warning people not to park cars on dry grass (there has been a couple of fires started because the exhaust pipes were hot enough to spark the super dry grass!)

That is scary! Even I'm being very cautious. I have been parking on the street until my car is well cooled off. Then I park under my canopy. I don't have insurance if a fire starts. It doesn't help that it has been continuously windy which is also very scary. It doesn't take much of a breeze to fuel a spark into an inferno. Cripes. You'd think we were living out west!

But... dry is dry so caution prevails. (Well, for some... there's always some joker out there that says, "Oh it's okay... I gotta hose!") There's one in every crowd.

Well... I'm off to go lie on my bed and let the cool air of the conditioner flow over me. Kind of like... art. (Cite the name of the movie that came from! HA!)

Chances are I will be there until sometime tomorrow. Well... in a perfect world that is!

Exactly how did I get here?

A view fifty million years old or more...

I am 50 today.

Good God, what a concept. I’m not exactly bummed or freaking out like an acquaintance of mine did. I very much love one of my oldest and dearest friend’s idea that the best half of our life has just begun.

I am 50 today.

I was told by my doctors I would never see 30. I was told my light would likely be extinguished before the year 2000...

I am 50 today.

I admit that as a young, fresh, free spirit… this is not where I expected to be at this age. There are glaring differences between the dreams of the past and the reality of the present.

A soul mate to share my humor, love, my days and my nights? Nope.

Children? None.

A big, restored farm house filled with kids, a place with a couple of horses, maybe a goat, some chickens, a bunch of dogs, barn cats to keep the rodent population down, and house cats that think they‘re dogs? Didn't happen.

Or out on my own at a secluded but awesome log home in the woods, maybe on the shores of a private lake or pond? Nope.

Just one big bunch of no‘s…

Where has so much of my life gone? I don’t know. My God, doesn’t life go by in a blink?

I am 50 today.

I am a little sad. I am a little happy. I am not expecting a party, presents or much acknowledgement.

Probably my younger sisters and brother just giving me grief about being older than them. Secretly hoping they do something really extreme so I can pay them back because they will turn 50 after me! (Ha!)

I am 50 today.

It makes me reflect upon my life to date and think occasionally, “What was I thinking?!”
It makes me ask, “Why is it so hard to have to go on and grieve over the great losses of my loved ones?” “How did I survive losing them?” “Why must I face the fact that it will happen again?”

It makes me say, "Wow... I am really proud of that!"

It makes me think about the babies I saw take their first breaths... laughing and crying at the same time... knowing now that some of them have "babies" that are "grade-schoolers!" Unreal.

It really makes me think, "What a life I have had!"

I am 50 today.

It reminds me of a joke I love. Why don’t women over 50 have kids? Because they wouldn’t remember where they put them.

I go along with that. Yesterday I left my house and forgot to put underpants on under my shorts.

I am 50 today.

Cripes.

Where has the time gone?

A beluga whale spouting ~ Alaska in May, 2008

How amazing, huh? I can't believe two things associated with this picture... first, a beluga whale in the wild! no less! And second, how can it be three months since I saw it?

Cripes. The Fair is under way... a sure sign in the Not-So-Great-White-North that summer is winding down. I've started to notice some subtle coloring at the tops of some of the maple trees in my neighborhood.

I laugh to myself as I hear the groans and complaints of the children I encounter in the local stores. Poor things... walking behinds their Moms, dreading the questions, like... "What color notebook do you need for science?" "That shirt is not gross! It's just like the other ones you wear!"

I smile to myself and give thanks that those days are so far behind me. Of course, I'm counting the days (literally... only 25 ,more!) until I get smacked upside my head with the big 5-0!

Who knew?

I have to admit... it's a love/hate relationship, this whole continuing to get older thing.

I am suffering through such conflicting emotions. I wasn't supposed to see 30. Or the year 2000. So I'm elated and send a great big "nanner-nanner-boo-boo" out into the universe. Then I think, "Holy crap! I'm going to turn 50!"

That's where the real conflicts roar within. If I could jump for joy, I would. (Crutches are dangerous enough for me much less jumping.) Don't even get me going on the whole crutches thing! I'm completely thrilled when I can manage to go potty without breaking the shower door because of those freaking things!

Gees O' Pete's!!

In a lot of ways I feel deeply depressed as I am hitting this milestone in my life and I am not where I thought I would be at this stage of the game.

And just where might that be?

Anywhere than here I guess.

I find regrets flitting through my mind now and again. I feel quite accomplished in other ways.

I bought a book when I turned 40 titled, "It's Only Too Late If You Don't Start Now!" I probably should have read that. Maybe if I can find it, I'll give it another shot.

Then again... who's to say it's too late? 60 will be coming up much faster than I'll expect it too!

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!

Revenge... cold, sweet, laughable?

Hmmm.... I must admit that true revenge is most likely not a good thing and it serves no purpose.

Plotting revenge on the other hand tends to bleed away the feeling of betrayal over the wrongs or rights of a situation.

I've stopped bleeding, mourned and moved on.

My shrink would say that's a good thing. And it really is. I store the sad memories of the ordeal in the "lessens learned" file in my mind. I throw out the photos, I re-arrange the pictures on the walls. I sigh and wonder, "Why?"

I remember the beautiful things... I was humbled to have witnessed the scenery and phenomenas I did. Things that brought tears to my eyes and a sense of peace in my heart.

I was lucky to have the opportunity to travel to such a place... I took away so much... even more than it cost for having my heart broken.

There are the absolutes in life. Gravity works, the sun rises and sets, it rains, it snows.... and my heart will heal and move on. But that doesn't mean I won't ever find myself thinking the fleeting little thoughts of karma... and wondering if it has reached three yet...

All is what it appears to be. Or is it?

An Optical Illusion Of Sorts...

The sail boat seems relatively close, as does the other shoreline, trees and mountains. When in fact, (Because of the zoom lens) the sailboat is at the least ten to perhaps fifteen miles away and one can only speculate how many miles of water there is between the boat and the opposite shore. In reading some of the tourist information books, those mountains that seem so close could actually be well over 300 miles away! This serves to remind me that in the supposedly best of situations... all is not what it seems.

It also reminds me that there are two sayings I'm quite fond of, and they are quite apropos on this subject.

The first is, "What goes around comes around three times over."

The second? "Ain't karma a bitch!"

Holy Air Conditioning Batman!

Clearly it's not this hot up here in

The-Not-So-Great-White-North

But that hasn't stopped us from racking up some pretty high temps! 88 degrees yesterday and 90 today! If this keeps up it's going to be one expensive summer in cooling costs... on the very heels of a record setting heating costs during last winter. What are you going to do? What can you do? Pay it! (Duh, huh?)

The early summer flowers are almost over..

A few of the pleasures that bring me joy!

The one I'm most proud of... "Black Velvet"

One of the last purple bearded.

The last "Cream & Sugar" I was really surprised to have it turn out with a bluish tint to it. It's really a pure white and slightly yellow. Maybe it's because I took this in full west sunlight.

I have no idea where this iris came from. I can only assume it was one planted by a previous tenant. It produces less flowers every year. This year it produced the one just below it on the stalk and the one blooming here. I've been here eight years now, so perhaps it is cycling down. While not one I would planted, it is still a pretty bloom.

Nothing says Happy Father's Day like cleaning up the basement with backed up sewer issues!

For all those times you took care of me...

Yes... I will spread 80 lbs of cat litter on sewer

sludge and then scoop it up and take it out.

It's not as high up on the list as taking you out

for a steak, but it's on the list.

I love you Dad!

A time of sadness... but much like Mother Earth shakes off and begins again...

I too am shaking off the old, to begin anew...

Wow! What a trip life has been in the last few weeks! And I do mean "a trip" in all forms of the words!

I saw some beautiful things and some things ugly, in the context pertaining to certain events... but these things happen. I have learned some interesting things, about others... and perhaps more importantly, things about myself.

It's what could be called the very definition of why miscommunicating is such a dangerous thing.

It's been quite nice since I've been home. Gorgeous, sunny days... windows open to let the sweet breezes in... the smell of the lilacs and Lilies of the Valleys.... My beautiful irises are the most spectacular. The pale yellow & white of the "Cream & Sugar" variety and the stunning "Siberian Blues" a deep purple.

The most stunning of my irises is the "Black Velvet". It's blooms are the size of my hand and so deep purple the appear black from a distance. Their scent is intoxicating and unforgettable. I'll post pictures soon.

The best are yet to come... my Oriental lilies and day lilies are chockful of buds and I can hardly wait for them to open! this picture is from last summer. It's called "Fire Lily" and the humming birds spend hours and hours feeding from them. I was gone last summer at the peak of it's blooming and this was one of the few remaining. This year I'm looking forward to getting more pictures of all my blooms!

(I softened the edges for my cards)

Well, off to the Doctor's office... I so love having to read last year's "People" magazines while waiting!

More later!

What is lovely never dies....

... it merely becomes another loveliness...

I know you are now happily with Uncle Leo,

Tommy and Mary Lou...

...but I'll miss you still.

You just shake your head and sigh....

I'm telling ya' it was paradise... the temps warmed to the 70's... the snow had melted... it rained but then got sunny again... the grass turned green... the trees were budding... my irises and lilies are poking out nearly four or five inches out of the ground.... then tonight we got a thunderstorm. We got wind and lightning, crashing thunder... why? Because of the cold air that moved in. A lot of cold air... banging the shutters on the house with the winds.

The forecast? Temps overnight in the 30's with a chance of snow later tonight and into tomorrow. Followed by wet-cold-rainy-snow-showers-likely for the next four-days!

Now you know why I consider this the...

Not-So-Great-White-North!

And tomorrow's prom for my youngest niece.

She's thrilled.

Cripes.

A light extinquished......

Maggie has passed...

8~19~1914 * 2~15~2008

A stairway just for you...

Even I can't believe it!

Only here in the Not-So-Great-White-North could weather be so freaky. Yesterday we got two inches of snow that fell from the sky in flakes the size of silver dollars... a few hours later? Pouring rain, gale force winds that then turned to hail and froze the rain in a treacherous coating.

During the night, it warmed up. Then... more rain... then freezing rain... now? Back to big white fluffy snow. Nearly two inches of it thus far... with a shot at 6 inches by morning.

Cripes.

And the winner in the best comedy is....

My back yard... roughly 48" of ground cover. Not including the six inches we got overnight.

Cripes.

On Tuesday's weather forecast, they said we could have snow showers on Thursday with less than one inch accumulation. On Wednesday morning, they predicted one to two inches accumulation sometime after midnight Thursday. Last night they said two to three inches "likely".

Well... the snow started before 10:00 p.m. It snowed most of the night, and it's a minimum of five inches tops.

What is God's favorite TV comedy?

The Weather Channel.

The pain tolerance of a Mack truck.....

If I still had a German Shepard, this one would be mine.

So a few weeks ago I took a spill on my wet bathroom floor. Got some beautiful bruises out of it... colors turning many different shades. (Hey! What color will it be today?! Oh... so that must be what "puce" is... who knew?) Anyway... sore and a little stiff. I do like always... I just deal with it and forget about it. (Something I've discovered is coming to be a lot easier the longer I "push 50") I had my checkup in Marshfield and everything is all GOOD!!! YAYAYAYAYAYAY!

I spent most of this week at Dad's house. He had Doctor visits, gas is too expensive to drive back and forth every few days... what can you do? Quite simply... stay at Dad's. While I'm at Dad's, I'm trying to get the remainder of the fall cleaning done. (Yes... I know it's almost spring. Couldn't convince me of that right now... there's got to be at least two inches of new snow since I got home tonight.)

Where was I? Oh yeah... spr... I mean "fall" cleaning. I was doing laundry (always a painful venture for me) ironing, (I detest ironing!) washing dishes, chopping ice... the list goes on and on. I'm getting fairly sore, which doesn't mean much. But it was bothering me that doesn't usually happen. I was starting to think to myself, "Self? Are you turning into a big wuss or what?" As I'm getting out of the chair yesterday I actually moaned and pressed my side which was really hurting.

Dad says, "What's wrong?" I say, "Man, my chest is driving me nuts! It really hurts!" He looks at me and says very dryly, "Do ya' think it might be those broken ribs of yours?"

I look at him thinking, "Huh?" and then, "Oh yeah! I forgot!" When I went for my checkup they discovered that I had fractured two ribs in my fall! I hadn't given them a thought! Dad just shook his head, I laughed and said... "Yep. Dan was right. I do have the pain tolerance of a truck!" Busted ribs! Who knew!? I was actually a little relieved. I was starting to think I was getting soft in my old age.

One of those moments where you just go, "Whoa...."

It's after midnight once again... this latest snowstorm dropped close to a foot of new snow. I can no longer see the houses across the street. I can't even see the road, save for a glimpse through the opening of a driveway.

It's dark, but not completely. I am guessing that there is a full or nearly full moon out tonight. The snow has stopped, but the light of the moon behind the cloud cover has an amazing effect on the night sky.

It's what is often referred to as a, "gun metal gray" but it's more than that. It has dark areas that look almost purple with shades of blue and indigo. Other areas are shiny... giving an almost silver look, much like the edge of a sharp knife. All of it reflecting off the thick covering of the purest white.

I slip my coat and boots on and just stand on my back porch for awhile. I can see my rabbit under my car. The ambient light reflected off the crisp, clean snow outlines her clearly. Looking at the tree and shrubs in my backyard... the expanse of lawn... covered easily in perhaps as much as three feet of snow.

I notice tiny indentations upon this breathtaking landscape, they are merely bunny tracks atop it's glistening surface. I draw in the cold air and exhale slowly. "I am getting cold." My mind tells me, I asked for just one minute more...

Finally, I've got it, my description of the sky above me... the lightness and the dark... the colors not often seen. My sky, my yard... the almost eerie absence of sound... the smell! The absolute freshness!

I realize it's as if the northern lights have slipped into our realm, but they have frozen in place, rather than dancing about. I am humbled by it's beauty... awed by it's power... it is the best the universe can offer...

And it makes me feel quite small....

Good Night...

Breathtaking....

From our last storm...

The snow is still hissing against the window... outside the front door, there are diamonds glinting as far as the light from the porch illuminates....

Four inches already and only half past 2:00 a.m....

How radiant and mystical it is...

Until you have to shovel.

It's all that stinkin' rodents fault...

Okay, so technically this is a chinchilla...Chinchilla, rabbit, groundhog... rodents all!

Yeah, that stupid groundhog says "More winter!" Me? I'm goin', "Where's the .22?"

So, luckily I went down to Dad's today and heard about this huge winter storm that is supposed to dropping four to TEN inches of snow overnight then it's supposed to go sub-zero and high gusting winds dropping us back into the highly dangerous wind chill numbers.

Cripes.

So I was able to get stuff done for Dad, get some of my basic survival things like two gallons of milk, tuna, crackers, tomato soup... all the yummy, "makes staying home, homey". I would've freaked out tomorrow if I would have woke up to blizzard conditions and only a half of a gallon of milk in the house!

According to the weather report it was supposed to move in sometime around midnight and it's amazing that as I'm writing this I can hear that faint hiss of the snow hitting the window next to the desk. It's hard to gauge how much we've already gotten.

The other day I figured out that the snow banks at the end of my driveway are at least 5'8" high. I'm 5'10" and I can just barely see over them. I haven't seen snow accumulations like this since I was a child. Everywhere you look there are snowbanks high enough to sled down!

I have always thought that the snow just seemed bigger because I was little. But no, there just haven't been the snowstorms like we had back then. (Cripes... I'm not gonna be 50 for six more months and I'm already doing the, "Back then..." crap! Shoot me now.)

It's offically Valentines Day.

Big hairy deal.

You know... even when I had, quote-unquote, Valentines in my life... Valentine's Day still sucked because they were jerks! I tend to enjoy the anniversary of the Valentine's Day Massacre. Nothing like a bloody tale of bad guys and violence to wash out all the sicky-sweet sentiment of a made up holiday.

Up yours Hallmark!!

HA!

Man... I gotta' go to bed... I'm getting on a tangent here!

Time slowed to a crawl... of a semi-frozen river of molasses!

Ludie

I had to take my computer in for repair... so far things aren't much different. It's probably operator error. Who knows?

That by itself probably wouldn't have been too bad, I was supposed to have it back before the end of the week. Didn't turn out that way though. No computer and because of the horrendous, bitter cold, I was forced to stay inside for FOUR FRICKING DAYS!!!

Seriously, I thought I was going to go nuts! I read four books until I was bored to tears... I can pretty much recite the dialoge, word for word, of a couple of my DVDs.

I am proud of the fact that I did get all my laundry done but the reorganization of the linen closet probably wasn't such a great idea. Live & learn, eh? It'll get there soon enough.

Tomorrow is "bloodwork" day. It was originally scheduled for Monday but I had to change it because of the weather. It's a fasting lab and the young lady changing the appointment was really concerned that I wanted the appointment for no earlier than 11:00 a.m.

I had to explain that for me, A) Even if I could be awake earlier, I would not be in any shape to drive, and B) As long as I could drink water, I would be fine. I don't eat very often in the morning anyway. I thanked her for her concern though... she was so sweet about it!

That being said, I should hit the sack. I'm pretty tired and I want to get up just an hour before so I don't have to deal with the whole "not eating or drinking" thing. I did tape a note on my coffee maker to remind me I can't make any before I leave! HA!

Coo rook coo coo coo coo coo! Coo rook coo coo coo rook coo!

How's it goin' eh? It's a Strange Brew day....

I need more valium.

Cripes.

It's still frickin' cold out.

Good God I had to go outside today! Early!!

What the world seemed like at 7:30 this morning.

Gees-O-Pete's was it miserable. Because of how awful it got yesterday I rescheduled an appointment for today. BIG mistake! -21 with windchill bringing the temp in at a mind-blowing -47.

A bunch of stuff happened, blah-blah-blah (too boring for even the blog!) bottom line was that I was actually outside for nearly 15 minutes. My brain went numb, tears brought about by the cold froze on my cheeks, I felt like I was breathing fire and wheezed for much of the remainder of the day....

I was struck by two very different thoughts. First, conditions such as these are considered "wonderful" by my dear ones, the dog mushers in Alaska. I decided rather quickly that they're insane. (I'm kidding...) Second, I was really set back on my heels as I was faced just how fragile I really am. (Reference the "wheezing") The worst of the 'thoughts' of my day was when it turned out that my going outside turned out to be for naught.

Cripes.

Have you ever heard the saying, "It was so cold it was a three dog night"? On the way back home I stopped at the store, because it was 'A quart of chocolate milk for cocoa day'!

Wow! What a difference!

This is how I wish my house looked...

The new windows are in and I am very impressed. Three guys came, while one was tearing out the old, one was carrying in the new window, then the second guy took over with the insulation and "tin-work" (I'm not entirely sure what that means) when he was finished guy number three set the new window and so on.

There was only two windows open to the cold and it actually only dropped down to around 50 by the time they were through. These windows are seriously primo quality and I couldn't believe how much of a difference they've already made. Even heating back up to 65, the furnace has only run a few times and I can sit in my chair and not have to put my feet up to avoid the drafts.

Probably the thing that really impressed me was that they finished as the first flakes of the severe winter storm watch began to fall! They were quite literally closing the doors to their trucks as the neighborhood kids were walking home because the schools closed early because of how bad it's going to get.

It's been about three hours now and there is easily 3 inches of new snow and the winds are gusting up to 35 and 40 mph. This storm is really going to suck. Yesterday it hits the 40's and today... on our way down to sub-zero temps again, blowing nasty snow & winds...

My plan for the rest of the day is enjoying my crisp clean windows, a cup of cocoa and my newest book.

Life's not too bad here in the Not-So-Great-White-North so long as you don't have to go anywhere!

New windows in the middle of winter? Whose bright idea was that!

Well... they're not this bad...

And I would die happy if they were this good...

But they are somewhere in the middle, um... maybe the lower end of the middle... or they're... nevermind. Anyway, the men that built them will be installing them tomorrow. I'm not quite sure why it is that these windows must be installed in January in the Not-So-Great-White-North... but I've learned these are often times questions best left unasked.

It's supposed to be a rather quick process as the weather is supposed to be "mild" but I am wondering if in fact the installation will be postponed because it is raining furiously out right now and a quick flip of the porch light shows pure, glare ice on every surface.

This whole thing has nightmare written all over it.

I took care of some new feline entities this past week. If I can ever figure out how in the hell to transfer the pictures from my cell phone onto my computer, you'll die when you see Jack's face.

He's about 8 months old and a sweetie. He's also possessed.

Seriously.

First off... he thinks he's a puppy. Case in point... I'm doing the crossword puzzle, the phone rings. I put the paper and pen down, walk four step to the phone, turn around as I answer... AND DISCOVER HE"S CHEWED THE COVER OFF THE PEN!!!! I'm talking all of 17 seconds!

It was like taking care of a cross between a chainsaw and long-haired domestic! (as the vets refer to this particular non-breed breed)

A cat this age I discovered finds everything and anything he shouldn't have. I've done childproofing that didn't involve hiding so much stuff!

He is what's referred to often as a "tuxedo" cat. (The black and white ones?) So anyway, he's got a perfect black "goatee" and these bizarre whiskers and eyebrows, so he was named "Captain Jack Sparrow" (yeah... who knew?) Well, seems as if he takes his name to heart.

I'm laying on the couch reading my book and reaching that point where I was between the world of actually getting up to go to bed or just falling asleep on the couch.

I should mention that I had my waist length hair in a braid. I had had the braid twisted up in a clip, but took it down so I could lay back on the pillow. At some point... the braid slipped down onto the edge of the couch.

Captain Jack Sparrow spied said braid. I can only assume he began stalking it shortly after that. I was too sleepy to notice this. That was when he struck...

He grabbed hold of that braid with all four paws, claws extended and swung on it as if he were using a rope to swing to the ship on the other side of the ocean!

I let out a scream and while trying to keep my hair from being wrenched out of my head by the roots, I fall off the couch, holding desperately onto the braid... I'm yelling, he's freaking, because he's caught up in my hair and the ponytail holder, I'm trying to grab his body so I can get the weight off my hair to untangle him, he, in the meantime is doing everything in his power to try and escape this screeching, demon hair thing that has attacked him... when suddenly...

It was over.

I'm leaning against the couch, panting and crying (Hey! It hurts! Those tears came all by themselves!) He's under the entertainment center looking quite shell shocked. By the time my breathing returned to normal and I was reassured to find my hair still attached to my scalp (with no bleeding I happily noted!) and decided it was indeed time for bed.

I think he slept under the bed.

And for the record... my hair still hurts!

Tattoos and snow...

So it's snowing again and I've been thinking about getting another tattoo. Yeah, yeah... I'm bored! Anyway, I love dragonflies and I love dragons. Hmmm.... I wonder if I like dragonflies because I like dragons? (Okay, more mind games to play later when I'm really, really bored!)

Sooo.... what do ya' think? Dragonfly or Celtic/tribal style dragon?

Although, I wouldn't be getting it on the small of my back or between my shoulders so that does bring about some issues as to how small to make the dragon. I thought half the size or maybe down to a third...

So give me your thoughts.... of course once the snow stops the musings over new tattoos will more than likely cease as I would have to go off the blood thinners to get the tat and I'm not sure if doing that and dying from a stroke from a blood clot is the wisest thing to do.

Then again........ they're both pretty cool lookin' though, eh?

I hear the sound of my neighbor guy firing up his snow blower... yay! It helps that he does my driveway for me or I would certainly end up in the hospital if I tried to do it myself.

I did just the front walk and porch and my side is on fire with pain. I hate being so limited. It's just one of these rare moments when I feel kind of sorry for myself. This too comes occasionally with the snow...

But I remind myself that since I'm still here to watch the crap fall that's what really matters.

Yeah... I know... how lame is that! Hahahahahahahahahahaha!

I've gotta go dig through the boxes in the basement and find a book I haven't read in a while... this is nuts!