at the amaryllis house

The house is an old one and well preserved... Would have been neat to see the upstairs, too...

radiator! Love the impromptu drying rack. Reminds me of someplace where I spend a lot of time.

built in cabinets. Love that they're only about shoulder high (on me, anyway) and right by the fireplace. There's one on each side of the fireplace.

wooden bench/grates over the heat radiators along the walls of one room. Love! (Does anyone know- can you sit on these or are they not made for that? Should have asked Mrs Amaryllis.)

Fried Bologna Sandwich

You're probably wondering what this is all about. :)
Well.
There was a man in his 50's (or maybe early 60's) sitting on a bench. There were some teenage girls on a bench next to his and they were talking. That's what girls do. Talking about boys, in fact. Also what girls do, I reckon. How to GetTheGuy. Really how to find Mr Right and make him take notice. They covered a lot of territory, a lot of possibilities.
As they were leaving, the man leaned over and said- Girls, You've got it all wrong. If you want to find Mr Right, get up close and whisper 'I can make macaroni and cheese.' 

smile!

Our (9th grade? don't remember) gym class did a unit on swimming. For extra credit we could jump off the high dive. I'm an *ok swimmer and I never could pass up extra credit. Up I went. And literally had to crawl to the end of the board. I think I finally just curled up and rolled off. I was terrified. I still don't handle heights well. But I never thought about before that. 

*ie-won't drown in the first 10 min....

In memory of a good friend who moved on to southern places much too soon. Who wanted to play ping pong. I was the only potential opponent. The scoring was completely one sided... even after my friend switched to playing left handed. No one was betting on me that day... 

Did I tell you about my friend who picked his blister off of his toe and sent it in a letter to his girl cousin? True story.

He's so low on the waterline there, he's going to drown if gets too carried away....

Friend 1 was visiting Friend 2 who had put sardines and crackers out for a light lunch.  Friend 1 doesn't really care for sardines. At all. Friend 2 has a cat. Friend 1 quietly slips the cat her sardines. Friend 2 is so amazed- My cat NEVER hangs around the table. He doesn't like strangers. He has really taken to you. Friend 1 lovingly scratches the cat and eats her crackers.    

The true definition of penultimate never does quite stay in my head. I tend to use it in ways that make people in the know snicker and smile indulgently. Or guffaw and slap their knees and make wisecracks. 

Just one to end on. Because it's so amazing... ;)

stopping in at Ruby's

Way back when... when the world was young. Well, when I was young. Ok, youngER, we would occasionally stop by to see Ruby, an old lady who lived with her somewhat younger but still quite elderly brother, Claude. Their house was quaint and not much for creature comfort... I realize that now. But I loved it. It was just so... unusual in 1990's Indiana. Granted, it was back 'on the ridge' down in the southern part of the state where the roads weren't marked--you just had to know where and when to turn. 

we were driving by Ruby's old house so we parked the car and I roamed around for a few minutes.

Ruby taught me how to get water out of that well (under the tree). Just drop the bucket onto the top of the water *just so* so that it fills then haul it up when it's nearly full. 

The outbuildings out back aren't much 'count anymore. One of those was the outhouse but I didn't venture close enough to actually tell for sure. I think it was the middle one.

It looks like Claude just got up from his chair and left. And someone came along later and boarded up the door... but left his chair. I would have loved to see the inside but I'm pretty sure it really wasn't safe. But I wonder- when they left, did they take the pictures off the wall? Did they take the blankets? The tea towels?The dishes? I really would love to get inside... 

Nephie Talents Auntie Smiles

Mom turned some of the nephies' art into t-shirts! 

OJ's fish painting on a T for me. I love it!

I'm not so sure about the words but the heart is something F made (in 1st? grade) several years ago; it's a favorite of mine.

One of the nephies (F) also did this pic. Beethoven (I think). Done from a well known painting.

Just pretend it's Feb 29

Yes, this is late. But I thought this post on the Actual Day. I did. ;-P

Good Choice. I'm pretty sure I was out there chowing down on pancakes with an egg, a sausage patty and maple syrup. yup.

:)

I'm with Hammie on this one. So, while they played Scrabble...

I worked on this. :)

For my friend, Mrs S

Pssst- Calvin- I think you need a different teacher!

:)

Tramp through the Woods

When we were kids, we'd sometimes trek down the lane to the back of Dad's property where there is a small stand of trees. In my mind's eye, I see it as a dark and densely wooded place, full of mystery and wonder and trails (and briers). Mom and I went back there the first night I was home this week. We need to go again. The woods aren't quite awake yet but they will be soon!

No pic of me since I was running the camera!  Mom looks good, though!

Why are sky shots so tempting to take? I can hardly ever resist...

Deer Stand #1... likely done by the Amish guys who rent the neighbor's share of the woods for hunting (since it was actually on the neighbor's side of the line fence, this is a safe bet...)

Deer Stand #2... likely done by the Appalachian Mountain Mighty Hunter who rents Dad's part of the woods... (also a safe bet since it was on Dad's side of the line fence. Love that 'No Trespassing' sign!)

dusk when we emerged

Is this the 'Venus and Jupiter' business everyone's been posting pix of? If so, here's my shot! ;)

High Time

High time to do an update... as Gary noted in the comments on my 2nd to last post! ;) 

We sometimes invented our own games as kids... they weren't usually actually playable...

I've noticed (being with my babies) that we adults allow ourselves more liberty with what we say and when and how than many kids are allowed. Is this OK? Sometimes I think it is- we do, after all (in general) have a better grasp of just what we are saying and what all the voice inflections mean and such. Sometimes I'm not so sure. Maybe we should be more careful with what we let slip through our lips. It is, I suppose, healthy. 

Of course, if you have to go, you have to go. There's something to be said for not whining and for getting into the bathroom at a time when it's convenient and appropriate. But, as a few folks can confirm, sometimes, it's best to get the kid in there NOW no matter if you did just ask them 10 min ago and they said No, don't have to... I'm thinking of a darling child from 13 years ago who has grown into a beautiful young lady. She colored our lives interesting then... She had a lovely big sis and still does.. and she has a drop dead cute as a bug in a rug little brother now, too. ;) 

Nothing to say. Just staying with the Agnes theme... ;)

For drop-dead delicious do this:
- melt white chocolate (either chunks or chips)
- dip these pretzel chips in the chocolate
- roll in crushed/smashed/crunched (whatever) peppermint discs
- allow to cool (on wax paper)
- eat, indulge, love, roll eyes in mad culinary (I'm sure) delight
- stay off the scales... for the duration. :)

something new

I'm going to try this Diary of 5 thing... but I'm not linking in to the main blog. Just in case you were wondering and all that... not that you were.

I am seeing  ~ Snow drifting lazily down onto a beautiful winter-scape.

I am hearing   ~  The low and pleasant murmur of many voices sharing the days' (and day's) events, discussing supper.

I am smelling   ~  Nothing. It is, in fact, completely scent-free here at the moment. :)

I tasted   ~  Peppermint gum. Yum!

I am feeling   ~   Grateful to be where I am, Literally and Figuratively.

missing? did someone think I was missing?

Ehhhhh. I'm missing all right. I didn't intend to not blog but. I haven't been. There is just too much to enjoy and taste and feel and smell in WI right now. I'm completely distracted. Totally. 

And- I'm really enjoying driving. Totally. 

Ok- so I still can't back up worth a hoot. (What drop off? Did you say... thud. Oops. Squeal. See- I knew there was no drop off. I knew we weren't really dropping off the driveway. Not really. cough cough.)

I have discovered that GPS is amazing. You already knew that? Oh. Well- it's all new to me. Mind you, the one we use has (likely) never been updated so it's a bit hilarious at times to watch the car drive out across the middle of nowhere while Hermione-Know-It-All-GPS frantically recalculates recalculates recalculates and then magically finds herself back on track after all and says calmly 'Continue for 25.3 miles' as if she knew all along you weren't really in outer space. It's not so fun when she sends you down some rabbit track that isn't even a legal road. Or when she simply has no clue that 2346 Simpleton Ave actually does exist (ok- it doesn't but let's pretend. Because sometimes that's the case.) And when she says 'Arriving at destination' and there's not even a house there never mind a driveway, mail box or house number. That's a bit mystifying. Luckily- we are still somewhat smart and able to cope... just keep driving, it'll surely show up. 

What's really fun is using Hermione-Know-It-All-GPS with an 80+ year old co-pilot in the passenger seat saying- 'point seven miles? Did she say 0.7 miles? Well I wouldn't have known that.' 'Well that's not the house. I think we'd better keep going.' ;) 

And another GPS fact- It totally stunts your geography knowledge development. And it is stunting the ability of some youthful drivers to figure out a map. This, however, has not at all hindered me from using it the past 3 weeks since I've had to navigate mostly on my own. 

ok- onward. Some pix. And then maybe- just maybe- I'll do some more posts someday soon with some more pix and thoughts and randomness. 

The one story I'm dying to tell is proly better left untold. But let me just say- I have the absolute darlingest nephies! Completely! And- there is video proof somewhere in North America! xo

I had a birthday. And since we had toast for b'fast... and b'fast was the only meal we had at this place that day, I had the candle in my toast. That just made it more fun. The look on my face was just a bonus...

We had a tour of the Nueske meat plant afterwards- which was fascinating! And we smelled good enough to eat for hours afterwards... just like home-smoked bacon! ;) 

I've always loved walking in cemeteries (even when the word 'cemetery' is misspelled on the sign...) but this one, while very small, is special. There are more than 40 people in this cemetery who I either knew personally or know their family. There are a few headstones with the names of people I know well who are still alive... but their spouses are here. There are some very special people here. I was glad to walk there for a bit and just be quiet.

Thanksgiving happened awhile back. Did you notice? Oh- you did. It's just me who's late mentioning the fact. Well- I got to spend it with My mom! And a nephie! And my Sis-in-law! And a whole lot more very dear people! Big X's and O's!

And- for a change- there was no shortage of desserts. At all. What a surprise...

In fact, there wasn't much of a shortage of anything! ;)

The table was beautiful. And long. 

There was some music. That's my bro on the left! 

And there was a fun turkey. Everyone took a feather and wrote what they were thankful for then taped it to Tom T Turkey. There was a nice mix of serious and funny.

still here

A few people have asked if I'm still doing this blog while I'm 'home'. Heh. Well, the plan was Yes. But the reality is I find myself way too distracted a lot of the time. And... to top it all off. Jet lag? Nope. Not then. Culture shock? Nope. Not then. But now? Now I feel like I have it. In a big way. Today we spent out with a bunch of folks who had enough food to feed an army and then volleyball and football and lots of chatting by the likes of me and the mom-types. And I got totally overwhelmed. Felt like curling up somewhere with a blanket and sucking my thumb. Just for a min. 

Being in MN the last 2 weeks was beyond special. The days, like all the others the past 2 months were rich and so satisfying. But... Ahem. I don't know a lot of people in MN. And honestly? I spent not more than 2 min each week looking for people I hadn't yet seen who I would hate to not see. And while I loved seeing everyone- truly loved it- it kept me wound up and in high gear. Mon pm through Fri am of this week, I hid out in a guest apartment someone has made at one end of an old barn. Alone. It was great. And- for intermission, I went up to the house for suppers with some truly kind and hospitable folks. And even had 'tot therapy'! Cole, Madi and Remi were there, too, sometimes. No, I didn't know how to find the amazingly fun youtube stuff that Daddy does but we had fun, anyway. :) 

MN also meant spending a few nights with this Monkey and her 3 Monkey siblings (I don't have any other pix... cough cough- on my comp, that is) and (Monkey?) parents! We went to school! We went to the fire station! We read books! We had hugs! Monkey hugs! <3

This is what's on the docket for every day from now till June something-or-other. Just substitute 'home visit' for 'summer' and 'specialness' for 'fun'.

I've been practicing my flute... 

I need a secretary. heh. Better yet- just do it and then tell me you did, OK? My brain is on vacation. Oh- and would you please get name tags for everyone and put their family tree on each one... and the names, ages and hair colors of all their kids. Thanks. 

I have been soaking up every single thing so far. Every.Thing. Someone was complaining that the leaves really didn't get very pretty this fall because of an early frost. I had just spent 3 hours in a car refusing to talk because I was absorbing the whole WI-in-the-fall thing. Not pretty?! I'm outraged. It was gorgeous. The whole thing has been gorgeous. I'm absorbing it all through every pore. Every. Single. One. ThankYouVeryMuch.

Yes. I agree!

Ah yes- so- excuse me. There is face-to-face communication to be done. And people to love and be with. And smiling to be done.

 But first- I need a nap... yep, that's it.

xo

hello? hello? Anybody out there???

;) I guess it’s been awhile…again.

Some collected bits from the past month: 

-          The little doll (1 ½ or so) who was playing with a ball and rolling it between his legs… and following with his eyes and hands… until he did a somersault! I’m glad I saw that!

-          The little doll (about 4) who was excitedly telling a friend that she (Friend) was going to sleep in her (Doll’s) room while she (Doll) slept in Mom and Dad’s room. On a really cool piece of furniture that starts out being a chair and then unfolds and unfolds and streeeeetches out (all this accompanied by lots of gesturing). It’s called a fruuu-… a fruuu… Uh- it’s called a CROUton! I’m glad I heard this!

-          Watching a grandpa hold his 2 week old granddaughter—he spent long minutes gazing down at her sleeping face. Then holding that same baby and doing the same thing. I’m glad I did that!

-          Holding the same baby who was again sleeping and listening to the mom and some others being goofy. I got the giggles and giggled and giggled. And then someone noticed that Baby was jiggling and jiggling. Sort of like the kids’ game where you all lie on the floor with your head on your neighbor’s lap and then you start laughing. Poor Baby. She didn’t seem to mind though. I’m glad I shared in this with some special friends!

-          And of course- the wonderful enriching, encouraging, strengthening days that have been ours the past weeks. I’m thankful I’m here. I’m thankful I’m in WI with nothing but good to look forward to.

-          Oh- and my very first ever flute lesson- now to learn. I’m very much looking forward to that! :)