I Just Can't Help Myself - - -

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I've seen some folks admitting on their blogs that they are getting sick of snow and snow pictures. Well, those folks won't want to scroll down THIS post.

I don't feel that way. I love EVERY season - - - and I especially love a winter that is cold and snow filled. We've been having my FAVORITE kind of winter this year.

The alternative to a snowy winter, at least the way I see it, is a cold rainy, drizzly, muddy, and gray winter. Those give me really bad hair days. I'll take snow over that ANY DAY OF THE WINTER!!!

This past week, we had two or three days of fog. That strange phenomenon of fog on a day whose temperature is below freezing.


This was my view early Saturday morning. Can you see through the fog? Can you see what is ALREADY happening to the fog shrouded trees?

Well, I found myself hopping up, hurrying to the patio doors, and shooting picture after picture as the FROSTING continued to occur.

It is fascinating.

It is sparkly.

It is beautiful!!!

Thank God for the JOY of winter.


As the fog thinned, the "frosting" became more visible.


Suddenly the sun broke through. Oh my - - - gotta HURRY now to get some pictures before the diamonds all melt away in the warmth of the sun!!!


Just look at those white feathers at the end of black arms against a blue sky.


How could anyone get tired of this? How could anyone be depressed by this?


Classic white on black with a splash of red. Do you suppose this is where fashion designers got the idea for this particular color scheme?


Delicate icy fingers just dripping with many faceted diamonds.


And all this, emerging out of a winter fog. Simply amazing.


They call it hoar frost, but I call it beautiful.


And another winter wonder - - - shallow sastrugi in my back yard.

I'm reminded of what the Apostle Paul said: "I have learned whatever STATE I am in, therewith to be content." I think he even meant Indiana - - - and I just want you to know, I AM content!!!

Have a great day.

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Sunday Reruns - Return of the Pumpkin Bread

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I get sooooo excited about our bloggy Sunday reruns!!! Thanks so much to Chari over at Happy to Design for hosting Sunday Favorites.

The Saga of the PB
(First posted on 11/21/07)

Once upon a time, long long ago in a kingdom far far away there lived an overworked, under appreciated, worn out, little waif of a woman. She was in this sad condition from working her fingers to the bone, night and day, day and night, teaching other people's children in a small one room school house, to which she walked in all kinds of weather, up hill both ways, day after long endless day.

One particular year when Thanksgiving rolled around, this poor, sad, worn out, waif of a woman decided to take an eency, weencey, tiny little short cut and BUY pumpkin roll instead of slaving over a hot oven, late into the night, using up her last ounce of energy, just to bake her own homemade pumpkin bread for her family.

But alas, her family members when confronted with the impostor pumpkin roll, openly revolted. They emphatically stated that the unfortunate heroine had given up on ALL her family traditions. They declared the impostor roll unfit to eat. Further, they threatened to never return again to celebrate the joyous occasion with their mother if she EVER tried that trick again.

She learned her lesson well.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Addendum on 2/14/10 - Since writing this post back in '07, I have passed this recipe on to my two daughters and now THEY bring the pumpkin bread.

:-)
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The Proken-Hearted Dutchman

These are my grandparents, Hazel and Isaiah Butcher.

I don't KNOW why they aren't smiling - - - because they smiled a lot. In fact, I can't really "see" them in this picture because MY grandparents were the sweetest, kindest, gentlest people on the planet.

I LOVED staying with them. I loved the milk-coffee Grandma gave us. I loved the twinkle in grandpa's eye. I loved "fixing" grandma's hair. But perhaps most of all, I loved Grandpa's stories.

After thinking about his ballad poems, I googled "Hans and Jacob" and FOUND it. I only wish I could post a recording of grandpa SAYING it, but since we never made that recording I will never be able to post it.

Just let your mind say these words in a heavy German accent. They are printed phonetically to "help" you out.

Enjoy!

The Proken-Hearted Dutchman

by: Charles Follen Adams
(Public Domain)

I'm a proken-hearted Dutchman,

Vot's villed mit crief und shame.

I dells you vot der drouple ish:

I doosn't know my name.

You dinks dis fery vunny, eh ?

Ven you der schtory hear,

You vill not vender den so mooch,

It vas so schtrange und queer.

Mine moder had dwo leedle twins;

Dey vas me und mine broder:

Ve lookt so fery mooch alike,

No von knew vich vrom toder.

Von off der poys vas "Yawcob,"

Und "Hans" der Oder's name:

But den it made no tifferent;

Ve both got called der same.

Vell! von off us got tead, —

Yaw, Mynheer, dot ish so!

But vedder Hans or Yawcob,

Mine moder she don't know.

Und so I am in drouples:

I gan't kit droo mine hed

''Vedder I'm Hans vot's lifing,

Or Yawcob vot is tead!

(Found at wikisource.org - Phonetics and all)

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Here We Go Again - - -

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LCS is on a 2 hour delay

Thursday, Feb. 11, 2010

Vintage Thingies Thursday - Sellers Table

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It's time for our favorite party over at Coloradolady's place - - - Vintage Thingies Thursday.

I've only got ONE vintage thingie today, and here it is:



This little kitchen table and chair set belonged to my maternal grandparents.

Several years ago when we moved into this house, we had an empty place in our kitchen right under a hangy downy light fixture. My dad, who was helping us bring in boxes, looked at that spot and said, "Would you like your Grandpa Butcher's kitchen table to put there?"

WOULD I LIKE IT!?!?!? Let me recite the ways - - - - - - -

I have so many memories of eating and playing at this table in my grandparent's kitchen.

Grandma sneaking us a glass of milk-coffee when mom wasn't looking.

Grandpa, with a twinkle in his eyes, leaning back in one of those very same chairs and beginning to recite one of the ballad poems he memorized when he was in eighth grade. "The Irish Jubilee" and "Hans and Jacob" were our two favorites. He told "Hans and Jacob" in a thick German accent, which I can still hear in my mind's ear.

For a little digression - - - how I WISH I had a recording of him telling us those tales, but we never made one. I'd even settle for a printed copy of them.

I remember one evening sitting at that table my little sister was so homesick she couldn't even swallow her food. Great big tears were welling up in her eyes and threatening to spill down her cheeks and over her chin. Mom and dad were working for the week at Teen Camp, and we were too little to go.

I was undaunted, having never felt a moment of homesickness in my life.

I remember Grandpa sitting at this table nibbling beer case cheese. Have you ever tasted beer case cheese? BETTER QUESTION - - - have you ever SMELLED beer case cheese??????? Oh, you have NO idea what you're missing.

And now the little table is mine. All mine.

It wears the marks of having been well loved and well used.

My friend Vangie, who is an antique dealer, tells me it is called a "sellers table," though she doesn't know why. I've googled and googled for more information - - - but as yet, its history is a mystery.

That's OK by me, because I KNOW the history that's important - - - the history this little table has had with our family.

Linking this post to Thrifty Thursday over at Leigh's too. The table was a gift - - - that's free - - - I'm declaring that qualifies it as thrifty.

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Announcement, Announcement, Ah- NOW-OWNCE-ment!

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LCS will be on a 2 hour delay
On Wednesday, 2/10/10

'Cause we're still gettin' this - - -

And even some 'o this!

So stay in yer bed
And cover yer head
'Cause school's on delay
For at least one more day!

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Extreme Sastrugi

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Of the South Pole kind - - -

I had to google for these South Pole Sastrugi

And I found all of these first

Four photos at

Carlygoogles.blogspot.com

And this one at answers.com

Because folks, I did NOT make a trip to Antartica, even for you my bloggy fans, and while we do get BABY sastrugi here in Indiana, we have NADA to compare with these.

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A Free Day to Blog and Blog

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No School Today At LCS

Physical Science students: Chapter 9 Test next school day.

Because we have some of this - - -

And some of this.

Actually, I'm thinkin' we could probably get to school this morning without toooooo much trouble - - - but the storm is just beginning, and the winds are getting ready to howl - - - and out here on the Central Plains, snow and howling winds make for white outs.

Besides, more than 200 other schools in our area already canceled.

Now - - - one little edgy-ca-shun-al thing to add to this post. Do you see that sharp little peak of drifted snow running the length of my deck? That my dear friends is a SASTRUGA!!!! (Sharp, wave like structures carved out of snow by the wind)

I LOVE that word. Sastruga. I'm just so tickled pink that the wind makes one across my deck so I can use the word frequently.

We also get lots of small sastrugi in our side yard - - - - but to get good pictures of them I'd have to bundle up and wade out into the cold. Of course, for YOU my dear bloggy fans, I MIGHT be convinced to make the sacrifice.

Enjoy your day - - -

PS - - - I'm still blue, only now it is with severe and utter depression over the Superbowl loss of my Colts. Severe and utter.

Please don't blame my Colts for the loss - - - it was ALL MY FAULT. I had too much pride, and the Good Book tells us that pride goeth before a fall. So I caused this fall.

Besides, as my friend Tonya pointed out - - - Samson's stregth was lost when Delilah cut his hair, and if you will remember, I cut my blue hair.

So - - - the fault is all mine. I will take responsiblity, which is far better than casting blame. Don't'cha think?

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Sunday Reruns - Smokin' Hotel

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I get sooooo excited about our bloggy Sunday reruns!!! Thanks so much to Chari over at Happy to Design for hosting Sunday Favorites.

Today is the BIG day!!! Superbowl XLIV featuring my beloved Colts. But I think I've pounded that drum about all I should - - - so this rerun just BARELY mentions them.

Go Colts!!

Morning Adventure
(First posted on 11/01/2007)

I'm posting this from a hotel computer in Indy where I have spent the last two nights to be here with Greg while he went through a surgical procedure to remove three large kidney stones. (See my chat box for a brief report about that)

This morning, LONG before sunrise, the fire alarm went off LOUDLY and OBNOXIOUSLY in my hotel room. No, not JUST in MY hotel room, in the entire hotel.

"Hmmmmm," I wondered to myself, "is this for real or can I stay in bed?"

I heard no frantic footsteps treading past my door. There was no verbal command to exit the building. So, I phoned the front desk and they told me it wasn't a real alarm, and that I didn't have to worry about it yet.

Now an INTELLIGENT person probably would have gotten up and gotten dressed and packed at that point in time - - just to be PREPARED.

I never said I was intelligent, I went back to bed and continued watching ESPN and the Colts/Patriots game hype.

About fifteen to twenty minutes later, the same ear splitting alarm went off. THIS time very shortly accompanied by a knock on the door and a voice commanding me to evacuate the building.

OK - - - what to take in a hurry? Well, first I pulled on one heavy sweat jacket (it's in the 30's here this morning) and grabbed a Colts hoodie just in case. Then I stuck my feet in some socks and shoes and grabbed my purse and my school bag which contains my grade book (very important) and headed for the stairway.

Out in front of the hotel I met up with all the other evacuees and a zillion emergency vehicles with lights flashing - - - including one very red fire truck.

Fortunately, by the time they made us evacuate, the "emergency" was nearly over and I got to return to my warm cozy room before I even needed the hoodie.

And just what was said emergency? Someone turned the heater on in their room for the first time this fall and the dust on the coils triggered the fire alarm system.

Ahhhhhhh - - - for more exciting mornings like this!!!

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Blue School Crew

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Just a few minutes ago I read on someone's blog that they didn't know who was playing in the Superbowl!!!!!

Me either.


I just RANDOMLY went to school looking like THIS today. Totally randomly.

NOT!!!!

People, all you really NEED to know is - - -

The COLTS are playing in the Superbowl.

That would be the INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
For all you football-challenged types.

And, in case you didn't know it - - -
They are from INDIANA.

The Hoosier State.
No, I don't know what a Hoosier is,
And I'm not the ONLY one who doesn't.
There are about as many theories
As to what a Hoosier is as there are Hoosiers.

But whatever they are, I R one!!!!!
And have been one for 26 years.

So, I am a TRUE BLUE Colts fan,
And I'm doing whatever I can
To bring others along WITH me.

Take Blue Friday today as an example:

Miss Shelli is just STARTING to turn blue. No blue hair. No blue nails. No football bling. BUT - - - she's got a classic long sleeved T, don't'cha think?


Look at these two 6th graders, Hannah and Olivia - - - they're sporting blue too!


And here, amongst these 7th and 8th graders there is MORE Colts pride. Miss Sarah is sportin' her pink Colts jersey, Zach is keeping warm with a Colts ski hat, Roslyn is modeling the Colts Blue cardigan, and Allie's rockin' a Colts Champion T.


These Freshmen have class! Breanne in her Reggie Wayne Jersey, Jessie's got Peyton's number, and Lauren is making sure you ALL realize we're talkin' FOOTBALL here.


Two sophomores with Colts pride. Rebekah reminds us we were ALREADY champs in 2006 and Jessie's sportin' a Manning jersey.


Just look at the smiles on these SENIORS' faces. Kyndra, Austin, Tori, and Jerolyn.

We've all got Blue Pride.

And silliness - Plenty of silliness!!!

I hope you don't leave this blog without knowing THIS important fact:

The COLTS are goin' to Miami, and that's ALL that really matters, 'cause Who Dat dey gonna beat, anyway????

Wink Wink ;-)

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Toot Your Own Horn or Rock Your Own Guitar

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Today there's a little "pity" party, or "toot your own horn" party or "rock your own guitar" party going on in blogland for those of us who didn't go to Nashville and the BIG blog bash. This party is the brainchild of Amanda and you too can join if you just click on the above link and follow the party manners.


Oh baby, does my blog rock!!!!! Here's why:

1) I try to make you spit and snort!!!

2) I tell stories like this one.

3) I have four grown children who have supplied me with LOTS of stories, illustrations, antics, and laughs which I GLADLY share with all of you. And WHILE we're talking about my children's antics, you'll want to be sure to see THIS example.

4) I'm married to Fisherhubby who is a good sport about it when I use him to bring a chuckle to my blogworld, sorta like I did here.

5) I'm all about eclecticity like this, this, and even this, so you'll NEVER get bored.

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Turning Blue - - -

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When your team is awesome - - -

When your team is goin' to the Superbowl - - -

It is VERY important that YOU do YOUR part to HELP them win.

I do not want it to EVER be said - - -

That I did NOT do my part to "will" our boys to victory.

Even Fisherhubby is getting in the act.

We're doing all we can - - -

With family, friends, and even - - -

Total strangers, (none stranger than these!) - - -

To go blue - - -

From the tips of our fingers - - -
(Oh those hands look OLD)

Right down to the tips of our toes!!!

Go Blue!

Go Colts!!!

Give "Who Dat" some 'O "Dis!"


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Once Upon a Very Blue Time - - -

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In honor of our Indiana PRIDE AND JOY(s) returning to the Superbowl, I am going to repost some of my bluest posts from yesteryear - - - or yestermonth as the case may be.

Today is the first of several BLUE days - - - ENJOY!!!

Once upon a time I bought a blue mylar wig to wear to support my Colts. I was really thankful to finally FIND a blue mylar wig as it saved me the time and bother of spraying my hair blue and then washing it out all the time.


But, I didn't really LIKE the wig ON me. The hair was too long - - - I looked like Cleopatra AFTER she drowned in the Nile. No, I don't think she DID drown in the Nile, but if she HAD her hair would have looked like this.

I realized that this whole thought process was rather inane since blue mylar hair wasn't really SUPPOSED to look GOOD. But, still, I wasn't very pleased with my little wig results.

I really wanted the blue hair to be shorter and perkier. I know how to cut hair, and I kept thinking "Why not? Why can't I CUT this thing?"

Well, today as I was planning what to wear to the Colt's game tonight I KNEW I just didn't want to be a Nile Drowned Cleopatra when I made my debut at Lucas Oil Stadium. Didn't want to. Period.

It was time to get out the old scissors.


First I put the wig on my baby doll's head. (There will be a post about this doll at a later date - - - hang on for that all you VTT lovers.)


Then I began to cut and style. I used my scissors and my comb just like I was cutting real hair. I kid you not. Mylar ISN'T real hair, and it wasn't easy to get it layered the way I would have layered REAL hair - - - but I gave it a good old college try.


When I was finished the wig looked something like this. Actually, it looked EXACTLY like this - - - this IS the finished wig.


And here I am in my shorter perkier blue hair making my Lucas Oil debut. Now I don't look like Cleopatra, I look like Bozo.

Someone came up to me at the stadium and ASKED to have their picture taken with me because they loved the wig. (No need to admit that the "someone" was about 10.) The two ladies in the concession stand asked me where they could get one like it!!! (And they were quite a bit older than 10!)

I have much more to post about my FIRST Colts game - - - - - please tune in later.

It'll Happen When You Snoop in People's Homes

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Today I was doing my usual thing of snooping around in people's lives and homes via their blogs, when WHAT to my wandering eyes should appear but - - -


This scene. (I stole it from Cass's blog for the purpose of this post - - - I'll ask for forgiveness later.) My eyes popped right out of my head - - - - WHAT'S THIS!?! I cried.

"This looks vaguely familiar", said I.

But wait! No, it CAN'T be - - - see that little something something hiding beside the couch? No, I don't mean Dion puppy - - - follow the arrow. Can it be what I THINK it is???

Here's a better picture of it, AFTER it has been placed gently and lovingly on the love seat. See it now?

Ne ne ne ne - - - is this the TWILIGHT ZONE???? Because just look into ANOTHER room a thousand miles away - - - and belonging to folks who have NEVER met Cass in person:


Can you SEE the carbon copyness? Can you feel the vibes?

Here, let me move some pillows to ENHANCE your view:


Told ya - - - - TWILIGHT ZONE.


We even have a furry creature who "resides" on leather.

Of course, our creature sheds - - - I'm sure Dion is much more genteel than that.

Oh, and there are the million afghans that are always draped around our place - - - Cass is far too classy (or should that be Cassy) for THAT - - -

But, it's enough data for MY scientific brain to make a theory: Cass and I must be twins from another mother!!!!!!!

;-)
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So Ironic as to be Ludicrous!

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The other day I posted my first attempt to write on a photo before posting it. Many of you asked me for a tutorial of HOW to do that.

Oh my dear bloggy friends!!! If you ONLY knew how ironic it is that you would ask ME, one of the most technologically challenged people ON THE PLANET for a tutorial!!!!

I'm sure if ANY of my children see this post, they will pee their pants howling with laughter - - - especially if that child be my youngest son, our "baby" who just shakes his head at my lack of computer skills and has been heard to remark that "they" really shouldn't let me TOUCH a computer.

Nonetheless, I shall give it a TRY.

First of all, you start with a photo upon which you would like to etch your OWN personal remarks. One like this lovely little shot of two badgers which I found:

(photo from dailymail.co.uk)

My youngest son, yes the same one who is peeing his pants at the very IDEA I might be attempting to teach ANYONE ANYTHING about a computer, that son put a FREE program on my computer called GIMP. I use GIMP to resize my photos. You too can download this program here. I am sure there are MANY other programs which will do all this, but GIMP is the one I use.

So, back to our tutorial. Open GIMP. Click on "file" up in the corner. Click on "open" once the file menu comes up.

Select the photo you want to edit, and open it. (You will need to know WHERE in your computer you have stored your photos - - - you are on your own for that part)

Once the photo is opened, look on the GIMP menu which is open on the left side of your computer screen.

You will see a lot of little tools there. So far I only know how to use the "crop" and now the "pencil" tools. (See - - - I TOLD you it is LUDICROUS that I'm teaching a computer tutorial!)

If you hold your cursor over each tool symbol, words will miraculously appear which tell you what the tool does. Right click on the pencil tool (which looks like a pencil - - - go figure!)

Once you have clicked on the pencil, some choices will pop up. You will need to click on the "color" box and choose the color you wish to use. So far I've only selected white - - - that taxed my abilities plenty.

Next, there will be a tiny box with a circle in it. That circle is the SIZE your pencil line diameter will be on the picture. Click on that box and a CHOICE of pencil line diameters will come up. Click on the one you like.

(photo from dailymail.co.uk and doctored by Keepie)

Now, place your cursor over the picture, hold down the left click, and begin writing. You will end up with something like this.

WARNING - - - I have not yet figured out how to UNDO the writing, so plan before you write. I'm SURE there is an undo button somewhere, I just have yet to find it.

I did my writing while my picture was unresized, so I was writing on a BIG photo - - - made the writing process easier. When I resized it, the writing got smaller too.

Have fun - - - hope this helps.

OK all you Broyles children, you may stop laughing and go change your pants now. Mama says.

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