Christy, Thanks for the great post. It’s been a long, and frustrating week and sometimes we all need to step back and just enjoy the beauty of nature. As TRex can attest to the lack of rain in GA is being problematic.

Sorry I don’t know how to edit but the lack of rain here is becoming problematic

OT before the thread gets rolling. Christy — our check from late Jan is still missing in action. Any chance it might still be kicking around the main den at FDL? Or shall we send another?

Sorry for another semi-OT posting. I put a comment over at a RW blog about the supplemental that passed, and among other observations noted that Bush vetoed it before he signed it. The response was that the timelines were unconstitutional.

Any comments? I had never heard this before.

I love butterflies. I plant host plants and when I see their caterpillars I feel all gushy. Last year I’m proud say to say, I actually had a pupa. To me it’s blessing that nature chooses my property to continue its cycle of life.

It’s also a lot of fun to photograph them.

JPL @ 2

Sorry I don’t know how to edit but the lack of rain here is becoming problematic

My gardens are doing Ok but its because I water, water, water.Now there is a nasty smoke haze over everything…forest fires and we havent seen rain for a month or more.

But the flowers are blooming and we have had the best asparagus and lettuce. Im greatful to be able to work at home and make art.

Good Morning!

Good Morning Elliot, how ya doing?

Morning Christy and all. Glad you got your vacation, we got a few days last weekend (Victoria Day long weekend here in Canada) and I know what you mean about not knowing how much you needed it.

It’s been so beautiful here in Toronto, I just love spring. And flowering trees. Started with our neighbours’ magnolias, then the forsythias and the maples, now our red barbaries, one big one little in the front, and our apple out back are just finishing. This week the choke cherries and the chestnuts started — so beautiful. And of course, the lilacs. Syringa are budding up, they’ll take over in another week or two. The rose-of-sharon have just stopped looking like dead sticks but they will carry the torch through to hard frost.

The air is perfumed.

I don’t see very many bees.

Forgot this link to Don Surber, where I commented:

http://blogs.dailymail.com/don…..ment-19616

Good morning Christy!

To relax and get more movement at the same time [hate the word exercise] I’ve been walking longer in the various parks and forests we are blessed to have here.

The key element that I need seems to be silence, not so easy to obtain in suburban DC.

I’ve been observing a butterfly with front to back black and white stripes, anyone know what that could be? Also a smaller blue one.

Just got back from a three mile run with my
wife. With a Dunkin Donut coffee in hand, I
pulled out the Boston Globule…
What made me smile and gave such delight
was a news clip about my alma mater, UMASS.
As Andy “Bully” Card was receiving his honorary degree, I chorus of boos began and
students stood up (3 or 4 minutes of a well deserved outburst)
There is a God, there is a chance, and
the new generation is aware of war criminality..
Bravo to the students!

It’s Indy 500 weekend! Today’s the parade, expecting 300,000 just for the parade. And I’m watching it form up out my window – starts at noon, but there’s been people over there gearing up since 7:00 when I got up. Todays word is “bicycle”.

Anybody wanna come over? Where’s Siun? She’s a race fan too – and I know all the best shortcuts to go to the race tomorrow…

Is this a vacation or what?
Feels like it to me. No bugs to slap. Nothing planned.
I burn precious little fossill fuel at such times, none, if I turn off the computer. I forgot about the tv, refrig and radios.

Oh, snowbird42, the link in your name doesn’t work, I think it should be http://main.nc.us/openstudio/sukeys/

Your jester garden gnome is great, and, how shall I say, not too cute? You could have that guy around on a long-term basis. Do you have any more pictures we can look at?

Morning all! Just a quick note before I go to take my turn to help clean the church.

I am trying to keep a New Zealand pace here in the belly of America. I fight the refrain (or excuse) of busyness. Just trying to keep a tempo that keeps me sane. I think I look lazy in America.

An old acquaintance died last week; he was trying to live through his son’s college graduation, but missed by a few days. One of my measures of proper tempo in life is to never be too busy to make a meal or do something for a family in grief.

And to never be too busy to walk past a gorgeous peony or iris without bending and inhaling the fragrance.

And to never be too preoccupied to respond to a baby’s smile or gurgle in the checkout line in the grocery store.

I read Thich Nhat Hanh to help me steady my pace.

egregious-

The black and white butterfly could be an Eastern Black Swallowtail. Not sure about the small blue one.

Eastern Black Swallowtail

The garden, watching things grow, weeding ( yep fun!), smelling flowers, lilacs, mock orange, listening to the birds all sooooo relaxing. Sitting next to the fish pond listening to the waterfall doing the NYT crossword. And the best of all watching the tide come in and out.
Of course doing all the above with my life partner is the absolute tops.

Now to have breakfast on the deck….it is high tide right now, the sun is shining, there is a gentle breeze. It is hard to get better than this!

Hopefully it will work now. Thanks for the kind words. Right now thats all I have but Ive got some new storytellers in the works.

You are gonna have such fun with the butterfly garden!

I love how some of those caterpillars look so important, like the parsley worm.

And take time to look closely at the foliage, once the caterpillars start munching, they leave a honeydew that’s the foundation of an emerging mircocommunity. Look at who feeds on the who that feed on the honedew. You’ll see the creation of more than a bevy of butterflies!

Not to mention all the beautiful flowers that just happen come along with it!

Millineryman @ 8

Good Morning Elliot, how ya doing?

delightful, thank you!
What’s bloomin’?

Hi Christy,

I enjoy watching scary movies in the theater. It takes my mind off scary political realities in real life. Yesterday I went to see “Bug”

Roger Ebert gave it 3 1/2 stars, it starred Ashley Judd, and was directed by William “the Exorcist” Freidkin. How could it not be great!?

All I’ll say is I must’ve missed something. LOL

But for real relaxing, I practise guitar.

My RSS reader had a wonderful FDL post “A Mile in my Enemy’s Shoes”, but it doesn’t show on the site???

(If it’s too controversial for FDL, please post it at the Agonist – I was going to point them to it here.)

[And sorry to be abrupt in a PUTC post, but I’m grumpy and still stressed out from last week!]

Bay State Librul @ 12

Just got back from a three mile run with my
wife. With a Dunkin Donut coffee in hand, I
pulled out the Boston Globule…
What made me smile and gave such delight
was a news clip about my alma mater, UMASS.
As Andy “Bully” Card was receiving his honorary degree, I chorus of boos began and
students stood up (3 or 4 minutes of a well deserved outburst)
There is a God, there is a chance, and
the new generation is aware of war criminality..
Bravo to the students!

She’s my alma mater too. And it wasn’t just students:

UMass faculty, students boo Card
Protest honor for ex-Bush aide
By Associated Press | May 26, 2007

AMHERST — Hundreds of students and faculty erupted in a chorus of boos yesterday when Andrew Card, President Bush’s former chief of staff, rose to accept an honorary doctorate in public service at the University of Massachusetts.

The protesters blamed Card in part for the Iraq war.

The boos and catcalls, including those from faculty who stood on stage with Card, drowned out provost Charlena Seymour’s remarks as she awarded the degree. Protesters say Card lied to the American people in the early days of the Iraq war and should not have been honored at the graduate student commencement.

Card smiled slightly while Seymour spoke and raised his hand in thanks, then sat down without speaking.

“It was a great honor and a privilege to be here,” he said afterward, ignoring a reporter’s questions about the protesters.

The protests were mainly contained to an area in the back of the campus arena.

Many faculty on stage joined the three- to four-minute outburst.

One faculty member on stage held a sign: “Card — no honor, no degree.”

Another sign said, “War criminals go home.”

Yep. Minutemen stand proud.

oops..
http://www.boston.com/news/loc….._boo_card/

almost forgot linky..

C-Span2 – Sunday, May27th, 12:00am and 12:00pm, EDT – Al Gore discusses his new book.

Post up on Kos about Al running. Im just a little bit hopeul.

It’s 5:30 AM in the Pacific Northwest. The longer days and the higher latitude means long soft awakenings.

I spent time yesterday afternoon with the “Little Guy’s” cub scout den as they fired off a model rocket to the shouts of “10,9,8,7…”. Each boy in the den had a launch. Each launch sent the rocket with great speed into a soft blue sky dappled with cotton ball clouds.

Just as the rocket was about to become a mote to our earthbound eyes, out popped a parachute to float it gently back to the green grass of the ball field in our little town.

On the way home we grabbed a pizza to share for dinner. The boys disappeared to their rooms and I sat in the den with my wife to watch “Dreamgirls”.
We both like musicals and they look and sound fantastic on the flat panel entertainment center.

My wife and I will take a walk around the town later this AM. And the rest of the day will unfold in or near the house.

Raining here. (SLC)
Middle of a 7 year drought, wishful thinking.
I woke up this morning thinking of Ol’Harry.
He’s what my late wife called a
“Good Morman Man”. She hated them all. (so’s Mitt).
I voted no in some poll last night regarding Harry’s performance and by the time I had read 90% of the comments I felt bad. I wish I had voted yes. He may be just the most perfect offical you could choose to assist in an Impeachment.
My little monkey is 16 and spent the night at his aunt’s house.
I’m having french roast and oreo’s for breakfast. Gourmet chef..Hah!
O/T Red Mars. Blue Mars and Green Mars, great series about terra-formning Mars.
On cherishing life’s best moments.. Every moment spent in the Rocky’s in the Spring with oreo’s and french roast, in the arms of the lady of the lake…swoon
Arthur
don’t happen to have an old sword laying around??/

Millineryman @ 5

I love butterflies. I plant host plants and when I see their caterpillars I feel all gushy. Last year I’m proud say to say, I actually had a pupa. To me it’s blessing that nature chooses my property to continue its cycle of life.

It’s also a lot of fun to photograph them.

Congratulations!
my praying mantises came out yesterday! I get my camera, and finding one of the weensie things, I click –and BEEP! no camera card… arrggh! haven’t seen one since, with or without the camera. But it’s all sunshine today, too!

snowbird42 @ 19

Hopefully it will work now. Thanks for the kind words. Right now thats all I have but Ive got some new storytellers in the works.

Yup, works fine. You call your figures storytellers? Yes, I can see that. They are very engaged and the details and expressions make you know that there is a back-story here, this person has a rich life.

Morning all — slept in a bit this morning.

Millineryman @ 17

egregious-

The black and white butterfly could be an Eastern Black Swallowtail. Not sure about the small blue one.

Eastern Black Swallowtail

PARSLEY WORM!

nomolos @ 18

The garden, watching things grow, weeding ( yep fun!), smelling flowers, lilacs, mock orange, listening to the birds all sooooo relaxing. Sitting next to the fish pond listening to the waterfall doing the NYT crossword. And the best of all watching the tide come in and out.
Of course doing all the above with my life partner is the absolute tops.

Now to have breakfast on the deck….it is high tide right now, the sun is shining, there is a gentle breeze. It is hard to get better than this!

*sigh*

Mellifluous @ 4

Sorry for another semi-OT posting. I put a comment over at a RW blog about the supplemental that passed, and among other observations noted that Bush vetoed it before he signed it. The response was that the timelines were unconstitutional.

Any comments? I had never heard this before.

Just start with the premise that no matter what Bush says, he’s full of sh*t. Since he has shown he has NO idea of what is or is not constitutional in his actions , then it becomes perfectly clear. Just cuz he says someting, doesn’t make it so, no matter how many times he may repeat it.

I am always thrilled to bits to have a young swallowtail eating my parsley and celery. Onion maggots, however, and carrot rust flies I’m not tolerant of. Looks do matter, I guess.

Millineryman @ 17

egregious-

The black and white butterfly could be an Eastern Black Swallowtail. Not sure about the small blue one.

Eastern Black Swallowtail

Thanks Millineryman! While it isn’t the one I saw this week, you have answered another question about the little beauty I saw on the previous forest trip. Much appreciated.

What a nice discussion. I recently read the “The Falls” (not new, by Joyce C Oates), and the current movie, AWAY from HER, is wonderful. Peacful and lovely. I actually just took a small course on this topic with a nun and small group. There were many suggestions, but the sine qua non is very deep breathing. Have a peaceful holiday. Quiet does seem soooo hard to find.

Elliott @ 20

Millineryman @ 8

Good Morning Elliot, how ya doing?

delightful, thank you!
What’s bloomin’?

Roses and some sunflowers, all though not the ones I planted from seed just yet. And the heliotrope are just starting to emerge. What beautiful aroma they have.

My camera had been put away for too long, thanks for reminding me. I have to charge the battery. Have a really nice hollyhock that I planted this year for the first time, and it’s been blooming for a week now.

It’s raining outside, flooding inside — and the service company doesn’t work weekends. Still, a beautiful day ’cause our second son is graduating from high school! We’ll have some sloshy memories to look back on.

You’re welcome egregious!

Mornin’ Christy and Firedogs,

egregious – these gorgeous critters are widely dispersed this time of year

black & white zebra butterflly

For necessary relaxation, I keep a lot of blues and jazz available for listening at all times. And I have large numbers of books that I consider friends that I someitmes re-read, especially if I haven’t found any new authors to really get me going.

One author I discovered a few years ago Is Sharon Kay Penman. I think she mainly writes historical stuff around the times of Richard the Lionheart and Eleanor but she also has a series from the same time that throws it into historical mystery/”detective” genre. Total brain candy but I think that’s the point. Start with The Queen’s Man and go from there.

Went away for 3 nights awhile back sans laptop. The hotel claimed that you could access the internet on the tv. It was painfully slow and I gave up after about a half hour. Spent the rest of the time un-connected. It was surprisingly refreshing. I was forced to turn off the bad news for 3 days and while I couldn’t wait to get home to my computer, I still recognize that true R&R is needed.

Just walked down to Queen St for cream, my neighbors’ wisteria is blooming and oh, my, what a beautiful thing that is!

Mellifluous @ 4

Sorry for another semi-OT posting. I put a comment over at a RW blog about the supplemental that passed, and among other observations noted that Bush vetoed it before he signed it. The response was that the timelines were unconstitutional.

Any comments? I had never heard this before.

What do you mean ‘he vetoed it before he signed it?’

Millineryman @ 37

Elliott @ 20

delightful, thank you!
What’s bloomin’?

Roses and some sunflowers, all though not the ones I planted from seed just yet. And the heliotrope are just starting to emerge. What beautiful aroma they have.

My camera had been put away for too long, thanks for reminding me. I have to charge the battery. Have a really nice hollyhock that I planted this year for the first time, and it’s been blooming for a week now.

ooh, sounds so pretty! I love hollyhocks, especially single ones. What color/s?

I adore heliotrope, but never had much success actually growing it. *g*

Something sweet is blooming somewhere nearby, I can’t quite put my nose on it. I only catch it on an errant breeze.
maybe it’s heliotrope, mmm…

Talk of tides, seashore and Memorial Day reminds of this in today’s Globe:
http://www.boston.com/news/loc…..t_kennedy/

Cape unveils statue of President Kennedy

By Andrew Ryan, Globe Staff | May 26, 2007

President Kennedy found solace on Cape Cod: at the helm of a sailboat, walking ankle-deep in surf, and playing touch football on a sandy beach with his Navy buddies from PT-109. Almost 44 years after his assassination, the place where Kennedy went to find himself now has its first statue dedicated to the 35th president.

In a ceremony that included clam chowder, bagpipes, and the Barnstable High School band, a 6-foot, 400-pound bronze cast was unveiled outside the John F. Kennedy Hyannis Museum.

The statue captures the president in midstride, dressed in a pullover shirt with chino pants rolled up past his ankles. Live eel grass grows at the statue’s bare feet, and it stands on a mound of sand, scooped from the beach outside the Kennedy compound in Hyannis Port.

“He’s got a smile on his face and that typical Kennedy gait,” said Louis Cataldo, chairman of the committee that spearheaded the $140,000 memorial, which was funded by state grants and private donations. On Tuesday, Kennedy would have been 90 years old.

David Lewis, a Cape Cod artist, sculpted the statue in a 180-year-old barn in Osterville, making a model of clay that he cast in bronze.

It immortalizes Kennedy’s image near the Hyannis Village Green.

“He loved this place he called home with all his heart,” his younger brother, Senator Edward M. Kennedy, said in a statement.

“Hopefully, this statue will especially inspire young people who come to Hyannis to have a great dream, and to try to make a difference,” Kennedy said.
� Copyright 2007 Globe Newspaper Company.

Sorry about using full text. It was a short piece. Hope the spirit is clear.
——-
No photo with the article, but the artist’s site has a visualization:
http://www.dlewis-sculpture.com/gallMonument.htm

Last year my son found a pupa attached to a milkweed down at the school play ground. He brought it home and we put it in a plastic carton. We left it with grass and more milkweed sitting on our porch. When it rained we pulled it under the eave and left it alone. On the day it hatched my son and his friends got to see it begin it opening. They were on their way to school and could see that the pupa was opening and that there was a butterfly trying to get out.

That morning my daughter was sent home because of lice. (how icky is that…but her whole girl scout troop had spent the night together and several had it). So she came home and got to see the butterfly completely open up and then sit on the side of the bucket and then fly away.

In my whole life I had never gotten to witness that event. What a miracle it was and without the lice we probably would have missed it!!!

It seemed a tribute to the dialect of life…the polars about good and bad. That more than anything brings me peace. WHen I think something is terrible, I wait. Often there is a good side to all that is bad.

When it comes to Bushco, I know that there is a good to all this bad. Perhaps we will learn from this episode and become a better democracy after we finally gain control of our country again. There are two sides to every story and I am only miserable when I only see one side.

Love to all, it’s raining here after wonderful thunder!!

You are sooo lucky!
I am planting today. We had a near miss on this past Tues 36 degrees, yesterday was 85 humid and sunny. I love the north country!

I am planting some heirloom tomatoes my friend grew in her greenhouse. Last year I grew the “Mortgage lifter” grew BIG and very delicious!

dakine01 @ 41

For necessary relaxation, I keep a lot of blues and jazz available for listening at all times. And I have large numbers of books that I consider friends that I someitmes re-read, especially if I haven’t found any new authors to really get me going.

One author I discovered a few years ago Is Sharon Kay Penman. I think she mainly writes historical stuff around the times of Richard the Lionheart and Eleanor but she also has a series from the same time that throws it into historical mystery/”detective” genre. Total brain candy but I think that’s the point. Start with The Queen’s Man and go from there.

serendipity? Ode to a Butterfly (Nickel Creek) just shuffled on my player.

BREAKING: The spunky sparrow from Thursday’s presser has been captured and sent to
Guanotanamo.

Elliot- The hollyhock is bicolor, a soft pink with a dark reddish purple throat.

old gold @ 50

BREAKING: The spunky sparrow from Thursday’s presser has been captured and sent to
Guanotanamo.

…Bush declares the beginning of the Global War on Sparrows.

Mellifluous,
Are you still here? What did you mean by ‘vetoed before signed’?

Christy: I’m so happy that you like the bulbs. They will last you until Christmas. I was wondering if the caladium is popular in your area or if having them is rare. I’m happy you liked them!

What makes me smile is buying shoes. And purses. Can’t get enough of them for some reason. There is nothing like buying a genty used pair of shoes on ebay for $11.00 (with the shipping) and the day you are at work and feeling a little depressed with the news of the day, a guy with the brown shirt pulls up to your office door with a package.

And feeding my new baby wild ducks feeding at my door every morning. There were 11, but now there are seven…they are getting bigger every day.

I’ve been sick again so I plan on spending the weekend in bed, watching some good movies (Jet Lag w/ Juliette Binoche, Waking Ned Devine, & Chocolat). My bed faces out my sliding glass door overlooking the lake and there is already a lot of action out there with the holiday. There are trailers parked all around the streets and people are gassing up and we’ve had a lot of early morning jet skiers.

Last night, I took this pic of the lake.

ccmask @ 54

serenity

Sorry Elliot, it’s a rose mallow not a hollyhock. I got confused. It’ my neighbor who has the hollyhock.

I am a botanist trapped at a federal agency desk job, commuting 50 miles a day. I hold offices in our local DFA group and the county Dem. executive committee. To relax I spend every minute I can working in my herb and vegetable gardens, and various berries. I also have a flock of chickens that are so much fun to watch. But for really deep relaxation and rejuvenation I practice a type of accupressure (Jin shin Jyutsu) at least 30 minutes a day and that keeps me sane and stress-free.

ccmask—

Shoes and purses! We must be soul sisters.

Elliot: Serenity is the word, for sure. My neighbor has the most beautiful dock in the county. The dock spans about 200′ out. At the end of the dock is a great swing under a covered area. He ran PVC pies all along the top section and at night, he turns on the water and it sprays a mist so that it looks like it is raining on the lake. And soft Jazz playing in the background. Drank many Margaritas over there. Now, that is serenity.

Good morning everyone.

I’m going to market with my sister this morning. There is a new one that opened in Elkhart county this week. It looks like it’s going to become another tourist trap like Amish Acres but we’ll try it once and if we don’t like the atmosphere we’ll stick with our local market here in South Bend. I’m taking an extra day on Tuesday for a mini vacation. My tomatoes on the balcony have about 20 little yellow blossoms on them and I have a hummingbird who has been stopping by my blue salvia every evening around 5:30 or so. He’s very regular.

Tuesday we’re going to Indiana Dunes, hopefully avoiding the Memorial Day crazies. We really do have the best of lots of different worlds here. We’ll hit Chicago in July when my brother’s home for his class reunion….and hopefully Aaron (his son-in-law) will be home from Iraq then. Keep your fingers crossed for us on this one, please!

I thank you all for my sanity.

This message has been sponsored by the Northern Indiana Bureau of Tournism and Sanity Retention.

Enjoy your day folks.

Happy view: I saw 5 goslings yesterday swimming on a lake with their folks.

egregious @ 58

ccmask—

Shoes and purses! We must be soul sisters.

Oh. gosh. Isn’t it awful? And my Mother works part time in a consignment shop. Every time I visit with her, she has a couple of new purses. Then, I have to find shoes to match. Ebay is the best, I swear. Of course, then I have to recycle them. I sell them back on ebay.

I put $100.00 in my PayPal account a year and a half ago. And I started selling things that I don’t wear anymore and buying new stuff at the same time. I bought about 25 shirts, 15 pairs of shoes, boots, pants, sweaters, jackets, pajamas, etc. And, I still have $47.00 in my account. I wear something a couple of times and sell it back into the flow. It’s the greatest. I never pay cash for clothes anymore. Ever. Swap n Shop.

I’m scared to grow zucchini & cukes. At the end of a good growing season everyone seems to be looking for homes for all their excess. Take my cukes, please.

ironranger @ 64

I’m scared to grow zucchini & cukes. At the end of a good growing season everyone seems to be looking for homes for all their excess. Take my cukes, please.

Last year about 5 different people all brought zucchini bread to work on the same day. Got home and my mother in law had left one for me on my kitchen table. Amusing but also quite tasty.

nothing, that’s what I do to unwind and recharge – can sit on our porch (hours at a time) and without even raising my binocs, can see

this
this

or this
did I mention this ?

Morning, Christy. We’re in the throes of moving while I work out my notice at my day job. I find islands of peace in the most unexpected places, like my elderly sister starting a flat of tomatoes for me so they’ll be ready to go into the ground when I get there, thinking about where I want to put my herb garden, planning out the slate patio, FEMA finally coming to move the trailer out of my back yard…

TO: 46

Thank you for the Kennedy report. For all the sadness, he always renews vision and hope. If he would have been 90, how old are some of the rest of us? You don’t have to say. I love thinking of him on the shore and what those times recall even in the myth. Thanks

OT – Christy, et. al. – It’s been a rough week of anticipation for Feb ‘07 California Bar Exam takers, who last night were finally able to get their results online. I passed (still in shock) and plan to kick some serious rightwing ass! Thanks to all the lawyers ’round here – you all are a great inspiration. Congrats to all who passed, and for those who did not – you can do it, just hang in there and you will pass next time. Believe me, if I can, you can. I esp. want to give a shoutout to all those who passed while holding down jobs – well done!

cbl @ 66

nothing, that’s what I do to unwind and recharge – can sit on our porch (hours at a time) and without even raising my binocs, can see

this
this

or this
did I mention this ?

that was fun!

ps that is one loud bird!

Splash. Congrats. Go forth, oh youngster, and be litigious.

Just a drive by this morning. Hi Christy and everyone.

We’re in PA again. Had house inspection yesterday. Decided not to buy the house so we are back to square one looking. This will take longer than I’d hoped.

Oh well. better to get it right.

Have a great day. Will check in later

Deb

Splash @ 69

OT – Christy, et. al. – It’s been a rough week of anticipation for Feb ‘07 California Bar Exam takers, who last night were finally able to get their results online. I passed (still in shock) and plan to kick some serious rightwing ass! Thanks to all the lawyers ’round here – you all are a great inspiration. Congrats to all who passed, and for those who did not – you can do it, just hang in there and you will pass next time. Believe me, if I can, you can. I esp. want to give a shoutout to all those who passed while holding down jobs – well done!

YaY!

Redd, ygm.

ccmask -
sounds like you’re on it wrt gently used – especially w/the consignment connection

– thrift shops – especially those benefitting charities – near affluent neighborhoods can be the comstock lode (American Cancer Society and Junior League)and hit any goodwill at semester’s end near a major university

best evah – a pink Chanel suit(w/neiman tags still attached), fendi bag, w/matching charles jourdan shoes under $70 :) will have to try the e bay thing now that I wear only jeans and don’t even carry a purse :)

Solai: Yup, last year got all the cukes & zucchini I could want from co-workers, friends & strangers on the street for that matter. Tomatoes & potatoes, too. However, you have to be furtive when you accept produce. Once someone sees you take zucchini from anyone, the word spreads & produce starts showing up mysteriously & anonymously on your doorstep.

The great Taoist master Chuang Tzu once dreamt that he was a butterfly fluttering here and there. In the dream he had no awareness of his individuality as a person. He was only a butterfly. Suddenly, he awoke and found himself laying there, a person once again. But then he thought to himself, “Was I before a man who dreamed about being a butterfly, or am I now a butterfly who dreams about being a man?”

We are like this, hovering between states of conscious humanity and a dreamlike world this is not only more bizarre, but more vivid than real life, fluttering between life’s varied experiences. Is it any wonder that most people prefer being asleep (meaning cognitively unaware) to being awake, and that sleeping forever can be an appealing idea?

Don’t answer that question.

BTW, Christy, don’t let your zukes grow too big just for the sake of growing big. They taste best when no more than 6-8 inches. OK, you can raise a couple just to show off how big they can get…which can be HUMONGOUS.

ironranger at 64 — Well, I love cucumbers — lots of raitas and salads and just plain old cuke spears with a little salt and such here. As for the zucchini, I’m hoping to can a little relish this summer if I can get time to do it. I haven’t been able to can the last few years because The Peanut was too small and underfoot in the kichen whenever I was there, and I didn’t want to risk her getting scalded by hot canning liquid. (Why yes, I am altogether too overprotective of my girlie, why do you ask? *g*)

But they can get out of hand. One thing you can do if you are overrun is just pinch off blooms for a little while until you (and your neighbors and co-workers and such) catch up with the eating. Although here in my town, they have a program where spare produce is distributed to folks who need it and to the local homeless shelter — people actually plant extra for it if they have the space.

Elliot @ 28 : The first of our three ootheca hatched this week – they must all be responding to The Secret Mantis Signal! There’s a picture here.

That fuzz atop the bamboo stake are dozens and dozens of babies. You can see the “molting beard” made as they emerge hanging from the egg down and to the right.

Splash — HUGE congrats to you! Great job!

Splash @ 69

OT – Christy, et. al. – It’s been a rough week of anticipation for Feb ‘07 California Bar Exam takers, who last night were finally able to get their results online. I passed (still in shock) and plan to kick some serious rightwing ass! Thanks to all the lawyers ’round here – you all are a great inspiration. Congrats to all who passed, and for those who did not – you can do it, just hang in there and you will pass next time. Believe me, if I can, you can. I esp. want to give a shoutout to all those who passed while holding down jobs – well done!

Congrats!!

So glad I went back to wathc that Subpoenal Gland video. hilarious!

The tomatoes are looking good, the snap peas are still producing yummy treats and the sweet peas have kicked into gear, the squash is starting into production mode, we’ve got blueberries for the first time this year, and the roses are going off with joy and beauty. I converted an old swing set to be the backbone of a chicken coop and we just ordered the chickens: gonna have white, brown, blue, and chocolate eggs, I guess.
Meanwhile, my post-treatment PET scan shows completely clear, so I guess I’m *certified* cancer-free! I wish the same to all of you who have been so challenged. And I’ve been working with some guys who have been diagnosed with throat cancer. Seems there aren’t a lot of men for other men to talk to about this thing, so I gab for awhile about treatment and life and the practical aspects of it all, and it seems to help. Feels wonderful to be able to share good energy…

ha. gotta get more coffee! brb

Doug Keenan @ 79

Elliot @ 28 : The first of our three ootheca hatched this week – they must all be responding to The Secret Mantis Signal! There’s a picture here.

That fuzz atop the bamboo stake are dozens and dozens of babies. You can see the “molting beard” made as they emerge hanging from the egg down and to the right.

COOL! that is so cool!

congratulations Splash

a big phat FDL Good On Ya !!!!

marksb @ 83

The tomatoes are looking good, the snap peas are still producing yummy treats and the sweet peas have kicked into gear, the squash is starting into production mode, we’ve got blueberries for the first time this year, and the roses are going off with joy and beauty. I converted an old swing set to be the backbone of a chicken coop and we just ordered the chickens: gonna have white, brown, blue, and chocolate eggs, I guess.
Meanwhile, my post-treatment PET scan shows completely clear, so I guess I’m *certified* cancer-free! I wish the same to all of you who have been so challenged. And I’ve been working with some guys who have been diagnosed with throat cancer. Seems there aren’t a lot of men for other men to talk to about this thing, so I gab for awhile about treatment and life and the practical aspects of it all, and it seems to help. Feels wonderful to be able to share good energy…

that’s wonderful.

Splash, Until Bushco, taking the bar was the only sanctioned form of torture in this country.

marksb @ 83

The tomatoes are looking good, the snap peas are still producing yummy treats and the sweet peas have kicked into gear, the squash is starting into production mode, we’ve got blueberries for the first time this year, and the roses are going off with joy and beauty. I converted an old swing set to be the backbone of a chicken coop and we just ordered the chickens: gonna have white, brown, blue, and chocolate eggs, I guess.
Meanwhile, my post-treatment PET scan shows completely clear, so I guess I’m *certified* cancer-free! I wish the same to all of you who have been so challenged. And I’ve been working with some guys who have been diagnosed with throat cancer. Seems there aren’t a lot of men for other men to talk to about this thing, so I gab for awhile about treatment and life and the practical aspects of it all, and it seems to help. Feels wonderful to be able to share good energy…

Mark! That’s great news! I’ve kept you in my prayers.

cbl @ 75

ccmask -
sounds like you’re on it wrt gently used – especially w/the consignment connection

– thrift shops – especially those benefitting charities – near affluent neighborhoods can be the comstock lode (American Cancer Society and Junior League)and hit any goodwill at semester’s end near a major university

best evah – a pink Chanel suit(w/neiman tags still attached), fendi bag, w/matching charles jourdan shoes under $70 :) will have to try the e bay thing now that I wear only jeans and don’t even carry a purse :)

It is so easy to do. Just take a digital pic and they walk you through the listing part of it. Chanel & Fendi!! Wow. Give me that. We used to call Nieman Marcus “Needless Markup!! haha. You should do excellent with those items if you put them upon auction.

The trick with Ebay is taking a GREAT picture, writing a great description (measurements, fabric, sizes), and starting it off at a low price. The lower the price, the less you have to pay to list it. And if it doesn’t sell, it won’t cost much for trying. I always have auctions going.

Well, I have read a good book lately. “Bright of the Sky” by Kay Kenyon. It’s the first in a series, a hard science fiction novel with the trappings of a fantasy story, set in an invented universe that is itself an artifact, a universe as large as our own in the shape of a starfish, with each arm being an enormous river valley stretching millions of miles, all lit by a sky known as the Bright. The story is a man searching for his lost family, against a backdrop of political intrigue, betrayal, and loss. I sat down to start it a fews days back, and ended up reading for six hours straight, with a burning desire to keep reading all night.

marksb @ 83

…Meanwhile, my post-treatment PET scan shows completely clear, so I guess I’m *certified* cancer-free! I wish the same to all of you who have been so challenged. And I’ve been working with some guys who have been diagnosed with throat cancer. Seems there aren’t a lot of men for other men to talk to about this thing, so I gab for awhile about treatment and life and the practical aspects of it all, and it seems to help. Feels wonderful to be able to share good energy…

good for you, brother!

Oops sorry, Elliott.

Hooserville @60
I’ve been to Indiana Dunes many times. Enjoy the beach & trails when it’s not packed with humanity. I’ve been to Michigan City which was less traveled until a few years ago when the jet skis destroyed the peaceful surroundings. What’s with the nuclear reactors sitting along beautiful shoreline? As a chicagoan, I’m in search of quiet public lakefront. I use to bring a chair to the Irving Park/recreation drive and watch the yachts leave the harbors. Then the jet skis came again. On thursday I went to Zion Illinois Beach Park that borders Wisconsin (where a nuclear reactor stands in the midst of the park) and it was peaceful and the lake was about 45 degrees. Very refreshing to stand in the waves and skip rocks. No jet skis but know they will be there on the weekends.
dnr.state.il parks link
It’s been awhile since I’ve been to Warren Dunes in Michigan and watch the hang gliders and climb the steep sand mountains. I became a member of the Chicago Botanical Garden this year and really enjoy all the gardens. A zen experience. Alas, weekends are crowded.
http://www.chicagobotanic.org/

Christie @78: I love them too but time to deal with them has always been a problem. I am in awe that with your incredibly busy schedule & a youngun, you fit more than a little gardening in too. Gardening is worth the time if you can squeeze it in. Playing in the dirt is like having mini vacations all summer. I love going out on early morning walkabouts in the yard with my coffee just to see what’s new in the gardens. Gardening love is great to pass on to the kids too.

old gold @ 88

Splash, Until Bushco, taking the bar was the only sanctioned form of torture in this country.

How about the CPA exam? *g*

excellent marksb !

saw your name when trying to catch up the other day and hoped it meant good news

ps – if you don’t mind my asking, did I read somewhere you are in Austin ? (lots of us here)

ironranger @ 76

Solai: Yup, last year got all the cukes & zucchini I could want from co-workers, friends & strangers on the street for that matter. Tomatoes & potatoes, too. However, you have to be furtive when you accept produce. Once someone sees you take zucchini from anyone, the word spreads & produce starts showing up mysteriously & anonymously on your doorstep.

You want my mother in law’s recipe for zucchini bread? Zucchini stew? Zucchini jam?

marksb @ 83

The tomatoes are looking good, the snap peas are still producing yummy treats and the sweet peas have kicked into gear, the squash is starting into production mode, we’ve got blueberries for the first time this year, and the roses are going off with joy and beauty. I converted an old swing set to be the backbone of a chicken coop and we just ordered the chickens: gonna have white, brown, blue, and chocolate eggs, I guess.

Roses, Sweet Peas and chocolate eggs
we’re talking nirvana here

old gold @ 88

Splash, Until Bushco, taking the bar was the only sanctioned form of torture in this country.

no kidding. when I took it, it was two days of fillin’ up blue books with a pen. The physical pain was surprisingly intense. For Day 2, I came in with layered gauze taped around my fingers. (I have an odd way of holding a pen)

My nephew, who took it much more recently, said that he had multiple choice questions. Which immediately caused me to launch into my “when I was your age, I had to walk to school, in the snow, ten miles, uphill both ways” old-guy speech.

Nonetheless, huge congrats, Splash!

popomo @ 91

Well, I have read a good book lately. “Bright of the Sky” by Kay Kenyon. It’s the first in a series, a hard science fiction novel with the trappings of a fantasy story, set in an invented universe that is itself an artifact, a universe as large as our own in the shape of a starfish, with each arm being an enormous river valley stretching millions of miles, all lit by a sky known as the Bright. The story is a man searching for his lost family, against a backdrop of political intrigue, betrayal, and loss. I sat down to start it a fews days back, and ended up reading for six hours straight, with a burning desire to keep reading all night.

I just got “Blackwater” but can’t bring myself to read it. Looking forward to the Duke Cunningham book coming out Monday, though. May rush up to B&N and spend the holiday reading it.

When I need some R & R, I head over to the Iraq or 9/11 threads on Topix.com… (JUST kiddin’!)

I am my mother’s caregiver – she’s soon to celebrate her 90th b-day, and still spends about 6 months of the year barefoot, in her lush garden, nursing her “babies” – hundreds of potted plants and young saplings, ferns and flowers which she gives away to any and all who express an interest. Every day, passers-by stop to compliment her on the riot of green textures and bright colors in her front yard, and occasionally she will guide them into the back yard, which resembles a mini-mursery.

We have hummingbirds! A few of them visit so often we have given them names!

Every year, my sisters harvest the dried lavender and make small sachets of fine purple and red velvet to give away to special friends. My darling Yetto says that, if you put a small sachet of lavender in your pillow, it will give you sweet dreams!

She also keeps a couple sachets tucked into her truly extravagant lingerie collection. My only comment is “Whew!”

cbl @ 97

ps – if you don’t mind my asking, did I read somewhere you are in Austin ? (lots of us here)

Nah. Santa Barbara. I did try to talk my wife into moving to Austin once for a nice Tech job. She wouldn’t go. Something about it being located in Texas. Sigh.

Thanks for the lovely and loving messages, everyone. I’m smiling on my way to the gym.

HotFlash @ 15

Oh, snowbird42, the link in your name doesn’t work, I think it should be http://main.nc.us/openstudio/sukeys/

Your jester garden gnome is great, and, how shall I say, not too cute? You could have that guy around on a long-term basis. Do you have any more pictures we can look at?

The sinks are beautiful! Snowbird!

Must sign off and prepare for a wedding that the whole family is involved in. We’ll all be spending the night in the hotel followed by a brunch for overnight guests. Since there will be no driving, I expect that it will be quite festive. See you tomorrow.

Last fall my family and I went to Martha’s Vineyard for a week (a sister’s friend has a house, and it was off-season, so it was wonderfully cheap).

We spent an afternoon at the Long Point Wildlife Refuge, which was teeming with Monarch butterflies, one of which I captured on film.

Here in LA, butterflies are rarer, but I have a few hummingbirds that call my neighborhood home, and they will show up, hovering outside my back door, at lovely unexpected moments.

And there is an owl who lives in one of the trees on the hill behind my house, and his constant commentary at night, while perhaps unsettling to some of the smaller mammals around, gives me, for some reason, great comfort.

I can talk a little bit about taking time off – I left corporate America last July and have been living a life of leisure since. At some point I will need to bring more money in, but that seems to be building organically. However, I had worked pretty much continuously for 18 years straight (I took vacations, but otherwise…) and I know what it means to not know what you’re missing. I spent the six months after I left doing nothing but stuff around the house and travelling, and it was wonderful.

So, by all means, Christy, take care of yourself. I think everyone here will, while missing your fire and eloquence, will be thrilled for you.

And check out the Weepies – they’re awesome.

A really great unbelievable Summer read if you haven’t yet is The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. All I can say is that the storyline is remarkably imaginative, and the writing style makes you thirsty for more. Not one of those crappy cheap romance novels. A page turner that you don’t want to end. Have a hankie nearby.

ccmask -

thanks for the ebay 411

. . . and I want to thank you for your tip several weeks back on Vick’s Vaporub – it’s working! unlike the so called experimental drug that gave me a blood clot (#^%@%!!) so I’ll be sporting open toed shoes for the first time in 12 summers !!! thanks a bunch

sorry for the tmi gang but you have no idea how difficult it is to find espadrilles :)

Solai: zucchini pie? zucchini pickles? Or if you truly have exhausted all possible recipes, check out the book “Play With Your Food” Joost Elffers & create some funky table centerpieces such as Croaking Frog Cucumber or Leek Freaks. A fun book.
I just got Barbara Kingsolver’s book, “Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life”. I haven’t had time to get into it yet. Has anyone read this yet?

Good morning from L.A. What a lovely butterfly photo.

Relaxation this Sun-Mon will consist of camping up @ Jalama State Beach outside of Lompoc. We will be hiking quite a bit in the hills there that always smell so strongly of sage, & kite flying on some of the windiest cliffs on the west coast.

I recommend both for relaxation & inspiration…

Splash @ 69

OT – Christy, et. al. – It’s been a rough week of anticipation for Feb ‘07 California Bar Exam takers, who last night were finally able to get their results online. I passed (still in shock) and plan to kick some serious rightwing ass! Thanks to all the lawyers ’round here – you all are a great inspiration. Congrats to all who passed, and for those who did not – you can do it, just hang in there and you will pass next time. Believe me, if I can, you can. I esp. want to give a shoutout to all those who passed while holding down jobs – well done!

Congratulations, splash, way to go!

ironranger @ 109

Solai: zucchini pie? zucchini pickles? Or if you truly have exhausted all possible recipes, check out the book “Play With Your Food” Joost Elffers & create some funky table centerpieces such as Croaking Frog Cucumber or Leek Freaks. A fun book.
I just got Barbara Kingsolver’s book, “Animal, Vegetable, Miracle: A Year of Food Life”. I haven’t had time to get into it yet. Has anyone read this yet?

Oh my!!Kingsolver, my favorite author. I didnt know she had a new one, thanks

Morning, Christie!
I am not doing a garden this year – about to start a major home renovation, complete with a roof covered with solar panels. To deal with the stress, I quilt. Even a bad day is productive if I have cut out a few pieces, or sewed a few together.

I also face my computer so I look out the back window at our woods. This morning, a tiny baby deer was eating grass with its momma.

I also taught my 8 year old son enough cooking so that he bakes banana bread from scratch by himself,especially after a stressful day in second grade!

Mutant Poodle @ 106

And check out the Weepies – they’re awesome.

I really liked that. thank you.

New Kingsolver! Be right back. Must order.

Marie Roget @ 110

Good morning from L.A. What a lovely butterfly photo.

Relaxation this Sun-Mon will consist of camping up @ Jalama State Beach outside of Lompoc. We will be hiking quite a bit in the hills there that always smell so strongly of sage, & kite flying on some of the windiest cliffs on the west coast.

I recommend both for relaxation & inspiration…

Mornin’, MR –

I remember riding the Solvang Century years ago – there’s a long hill on Highway 1 where the top is one entrance to the base…and I was pedalling up it into some of that incredible wind.

But ’tis beautiful up there – I’m jealous, although I am going to Alaska next Friday, so maybe I shouldn’t complain.

“So let’s talk about what you are doing to put a smile on your face, or a little relaxation or comfort in your home or whatever.”

We finally started brewing again, this time with kegs. And then there’s the garden. And then I do this trick where my cell phone is off most of the weekend, and I don’t have a landline.

RevDeb @ 72 –

so sorry to hear the house didn’t work out for you…. hoping the rest of this weekend will be a good one for you… in house hunting and in all else.

i found my first house (really a cottage – it was tiny) on a weekend in may – just by driving around on my own. loved that home…

Splash @ 69

OT – Christy, et. al. – It’s been a rough week of anticipation for Feb ‘07 California Bar Exam takers, who last night were finally able to get their results online. I passed (still in shock) and plan to kick some serious rightwing ass! Thanks to all the lawyers ’round here – you all are a great inspiration. Congrats to all who passed, and for those who did not – you can do it, just hang in there and you will pass next time. Believe me, if I can, you can. I esp. want to give a shoutout to all those who passed while holding down jobs – well done!

Hearty Congratulations! I like the kick some right wing ass attitude.

snowbird42: love Kingsolver too. She & her fam moved to Va & spent a year living on food they raised themselves or bought only from local sources such as farmer’s markets. I have to find time to read this soon.
One thing they could not exclude was coffee, which is totally understandable.
I am very worried about our food supply. Center for Food Safety has lots of (scary) info. The irradiated food issue is up for comment (fda) now. The fda is so fubar but to think that we should be guinea pigs for corporate interests is beyond disgusting. Irradiated food is aok in our kid’s school lunch programs according to fda.

RockPaperScizzors @ 107

A really great unbelievable Summer read if you haven’t yet is The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger.

Yes, get it now, before the movie comes out. Truly excellent first-time novel from Niffenegger, hope she’s working on a new one. GREAT beach reading.

Oh, yeah, good morning, FirePups — slept in this morning, getting ready to go and work on a wet garden. Nothing yet in the beds as last frost is typically this week; we had a hard frost twice this past week. But we’ll spend today working on the new frames for the raised beds I’m putting in, fill with soil mixture, shop for plants tomorrow. Beds will be very warm since they have a protected southern exposure with full sun; got any suggestions besides tomatoes and peppers here in Zone 5b?

Will post pics of the bed as we make progress on my blog much later today.

retirin’ in five @3, my check (from MI) also hasn’t been cashed.

My cat and I watched birds feed their babies in the nest in the post of our apt. building. It’s only 5 feet from our kitchen window. Sammy’s white nose has a smudge on the right side from rubbing it on the screen. The baby birds are finally big enough to poke their heads out the hole now so we can make eye contact.

I watched my copy of “Ruthless People” with a friend yesterday who’d never seen it. That was fun.

OT (and driving by) Extra shot of Caffeine, anyone?

Million Miles Away (live) – The Offspring

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ks4EUjGZq3U

cbl @ 97

excellent marksb !

saw your name when trying to catch up the other day and hoped it meant good news

ps – if you don’t mind my asking, did I read somewhere you are in Austin ? (lots of us here)

cbl – I saw on the FDL map that you are in that little town with the train track that runs through it. Is that place still there with the most amazing cheeseburgers I have ever had? Do you know what I’m talking about?

lindy at 67

Morning, Christy. We’re in the throes of moving while I work out my notice at my day job. I find islands of peace in the most unexpected places, like my elderly sister starting a flat of tomatoes for me so they’ll be ready to go into the ground when I get there, thinking about where I want to put my herb garden, planning out the slate patio, FEMA finally coming to move the trailer out of my back yard…

hurrah!!!! congratulations!!!!!!

Back in 05, when I was just finishing Chemo treatments, a butterfly migration detoured through my back yard.

At first there were a handful of “Painted Ladies” fluttering around, then dozens, dozens became hundreds of these winged miracles zooming across the yard no more that 1 to 15 feet off the ground.

The show lasted about 1 hour and when it ended my spirits had lifted beyond expectations. It’s true that sometimes, you just get what you need.

I’m actually checking in from vacation (at Disney–Grand Floridian). I’m sure this makes me a “bad” progressive in a million different ways, but the complete “escapist” environment helps me put things behind me.

Of course when I was having trouble with the hi-speed router in our room last night I was pissed about not being able to access FDL!!! So my idea of escape obviously includes being “in touch” with reality as well.

The garden at home is suffering badly from the Georgia drought. I feel so bad when my 4 year old wants to water the flowers and I say, no. At least now she is old enough that I can answer the inevitable “why” with “we have to share the water and take care of the planet and each other.” I was just knocked over when I saw her pretend watering the flowers the other day with her giant watering can. I want her sense of wonder and desire to take of other living beings to last forever.

RockPaperScizzors @ 107

A really great unbelievable Summer read if you haven’t yet is The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. All I can say is that the storyline is remarkably imaginative, and the writing style makes you thirsty for more. Not one of those crappy cheap romance novels. A page turner that you don’t want to end. Have a hankie nearby.

I loved this book! What an unusual story and beautifully told.

jayt @ 100

old gold @ 88

Splash, Until Bushco, taking the bar was the only sanctioned form of torture in this country.

no kidding. when I took it, it was two days of fillin’ up blue books with a pen. The physical pain was surprisingly intense. For Day 2, I came in with layered gauze taped around my fingers. (I have an odd way of holding a pen)

My nephew, who took it much more recently, said that he had multiple choice questions. Which immediately caused me to launch into my “when I was your age, I had to walk to school, in the snow, ten miles, uphill both ways” old-guy speech.

Nonetheless, huge congrats, Splash!

Some takers type their essays on a laptop. Makes a difference, esp bc neatness helps the graders, who are looking for order, organization, and clear thinking. Plus you can cut and paste. Statistically, they say, it makes no difference. But performance is a large part of the test and it’s hard to quantify the psychological factor. I think it helped me score better than I otherwise would have. Who knows. thanks all, now little break and then back to work!

Good morning all.

Delurking to say Barbara Kingsolver is scheduled for CSPAN-2 tomorrow morning at 8:30.

Mutant Poodle @ 106

Last fall my family and I went to Martha’s Vineyard for a week (a sister’s friend has a house, and it was off-season, so it was wonderfully cheap).

We spent an afternoon at the Long Point Wildlife Refuge, which was teeming with Monarch butterflies, one of which I captured on film.

[znip]

And check out the Weepies – they’re awesome.

I love your butterfly
and the music, I’ve immersed myself in music these past few days, soothes the saddened soul.
and right now I’m trying to read the sentencing guidelines for Libby but I keep getting stuck at page seven and my mind flutters off.

Mutant Poodle @ 116

Marie Roget @ 110

Good morning from L.A. What a lovely butterfly photo.

Relaxation this Sun-Mon will consist of camping up @ Jalama State Beach outside of Lompoc. We will be hiking quite a bit in the hills there that always smell so strongly of sage, & kite flying on some of the windiest cliffs on the west coast.

I recommend both for relaxation & inspiration…

Mornin’, MR –

I remember riding the Solvang Century years ago – there’s a long hill on Highway 1 where the top is one entrance to the base…and I was pedalling up it into some of that incredible wind.

But ’tis beautiful up there – I’m jealous, although I am going to Alaska next Friday, so maybe I shouldn’t complain.

Good morning, MP. Alaska? Now I’m jealous, although I do get to fly to Canada in a few wks. to watch my niece graduate from U of T Scarborough. Lovely up there this time of yr.- lilacs are in bloom…

Organic George @ 126

Back in 05, when I was just finishing Chemo treatments, a butterfly migration detoured through my back yard.

At first there were a handful of “Painted Ladies” fluttering around, then dozens, dozens became hundreds of these winged miracles zooming across the yard no more that 1 to 15 feet off the ground.

The show lasted about 1 hour and when it ended my spirits had lifted beyond expectations. It’s true that sometimes, you just get what you need.

must have been magical

Elliott @ 114

Mutant Poodle @ 106

And check out the Weepies – they’re awesome.

I really liked that. thank you.

Try this one, which is my favorite song of theirs.

Sharon at 122

“…my check (from MI) also hasn’t been cashed.”

Laingsburg, right? Gaines here. Is it tin-foil hat time?

Ahhh relaxation in a truly difficult week. Great post. Okay, I have been stumbling out of bed at 5:30 and strolling down to the local creek where there is an ACTIVE BEAVER DAM in the middle of town!!! I have seen at least two beavers, lots of tail slaps, muskrats and otters. I got so inspiried that I started doing a little local advocacy for the creatures, which were slated for extermination by the peabrained little mayor who was afraid they would cause mosquitoes and burrow under the town. Now I’ve written articles for the local paper, got the SF Chronicle involved, and put several videos up on youtube teaching residents about the creatures. As you can see from the first one I had never made movie in my life before this, but the footage was too remarkable to waste. Now the beavers are local celebrities and the city says they can stay. The best move was the school fieldtrips to the dam site, because I figure the city can never exterminate the beavers after a busload of 2nd graders have named them.

Honestly it has been a trifecta of good feeling: First I’m helping nature, which I love. Second I’m using and developing new skills, which I also love. And third, and truthfully this may be the best part, I’m pissing the hell out of our nasty city council, which hoped the whole thing could quietly go away.

Alhambra Creek Beavers

Last week I happened on an article in the local paper suggesting that there are adult movies being filmed downtown….hahaha….THAT is probably a telephone-game misconstrued rumor about my videos….I wrote the editor that he might want to think about it…..

Ohhh and my tomato flowers keep falling off, what does that mean?

Citizen Jane @ 127

The garden at home is suffering badly from the Georgia drought.

Could I make a suggestion here? Try doing the dishes in 2 wash basins, using one for rinse water. Use the rinse water for the flowers. At four, your daughter is old enough to help with rinsing the dishes if she stands on a stool and then help with putting the water into a watering can to go and water the flowers.

Been there, done that, was one of the ways I kept a very demanding gifted child busy-busy-busy. She LOVED swishing the dishes in the water (we used melamine for this reason) and would spend an hour transferring the water from the basin to the watering can cup by cup, then watering the flowers.

Be sure to put a large towel on the floor under the sink; a waterproof smock might be warranted, but not necessary if you don’t mind damp clothing.

Good Morning Christy, pups.

What a great thread this morning.

A mini-vacation in & of itself, helping disappointing memories of last week fade for awhile.

SPLASH! We.ALL.are.so.proud!
Your announcement is like a breath of fresh air!
Woo Hoo!!!

Mutant Poodle @ 134

Elliott @ 114

I really liked that. thank you.

Try this one, which is my favorite song of theirs.

Very nice! and that video is dear. a big smile there!

Love the butterfly pic…symbolizing the freedom of vacation. Here’s a snapshot of the lake while you were away. What does that tell ya?

Thanks LnL: Kingsolver vs sun am Russert or Matthews…a no brainer choice!

Marie Roget @ 132

Mutant Poodle @ 116

Mornin’, MR –

I remember riding the Solvang Century years ago – there’s a long hill on Highway 1 where the top is one entrance to the base…and I was pedalling up it into some of that incredible wind.

But ’tis beautiful up there – I’m jealous, although I am going to Alaska next Friday, so maybe I shouldn’t complain.

Good morning, MP. Alaska? Now I’m jealous, although I do get to fly to Canada in a few wks. to watch my niece graduate from U of T Scarborough. Lovely up there this time of yr.- lilacs are in bloom…

Canada’s nothing to sneeze at – my dad lives on Vancouver Island about 40 miles NW of Victoria. This is a shot of some trees on the path to the water, about a 10 minute walk from their house.

Yay marksb on kicking that cancer to the curb!!

Hi
Just back from 4 days in Monterey, Calif. Lots of hiking around Laguna Seca race track for the Daytona cars then down to Big Sur on Monday the weather couldn’t have been better. NO commucation devices were taken on vacation. I hurt my back on Tuesday and been pretty flat since, sure wanted to be in the garden today.
jo6pac

I envy gardeners. My mother is a fabulous gardener–yesterday she spent her 64th birthday at an iris garden. She grows cacti and succulents, roses and iris, raspberries and tomatoes. You name it–she grows it.

Not only did I not inherit the green thumb, I am darned near thumbless.

But that’s probably good, because my other hobbies make it nearly impossible to find time for anything else. I sing, I bike, I read, and I needlepoint. All of which are, oddly enough, very therapeutic. Especially singing. People should do more of that–it’s very endorphin-friendly.

It also helps that I have a job that makes me happy. I really recommend that. It almost makes vacations superfluous. Almost.

cbl @ 108

ccmask -

thanks for the ebay 411

. . . and I want to thank you for your tip several weeks back on Vick’s Vaporub – it’s working! unlike the so called experimental drug that gave me a blood clot (#^%@%!!) so I’ll be sporting open toed shoes for the first time in 12 summers !!! thanks a bunch

sorry for the tmi gang but you have no idea how difficult it is to find espadrilles :)

What’s the Vicks Vaporub trick?

Gotta go feed our birds. Back to lurk when i can ;->

p.s., our chickadees, titmice, wrens etc. etc. all feeding babies.

us too… our 30-something “kids” expecting barBQ here tomorrow. that’s a GOOD thing. they’re B-U-S-Y & hard to corral all at the same time ;->

did i mention they’re flaming liberals, and always vote, and get their friends to vote?!
SOOOOO PROUD, we are! ;->

LS,

you are talking about Snuffy’s of course !

they recently relocated to Rice’s Crossing – a few miles further

Have a FDL day dawgs!

Sports have always been a primary escape for me. I played basketball, soccer, and lacrosse growing up, and played a lot of tennis as an adult (until the kid came along — now I drive to his activities on the weekends).

I’ve been a New York Mets fan since age 7, and virtually anyone who knows me will tell you that I am much easier to get along with when they are playing well.

This is Championship Weekend in college lacrosse, so I will be glued to the TV today to watch the men’s division 1 semifinals. I would be rooting for Duke even if the obvious subtext weren’t there.

I’d like to clarify something I put on the Libby sentencing thread last night which was misinterpreted. I said “no underlying crime” by which I meant no underlying crime was proven. I didn’t mean no underlying crime had been committed, not at all! An underlying crime was committed, and I have nothing but sympathy and respect for the Wilsons. Not a troll come over from NRO.

LooHoo

nail fungus – who knew ?!?!? :)

naschkatze @ 150

I’d like to clarify something I put on the Libby sentencing thread last night which was misinterpreted. I said “no underlying crime” by which I meant no underlying crime was proven. I didn’t mean no underlying crime had been committed, not at all! An underlying crime was committed, and I have nothing but sympathy and respect for the Wilsons. Not a troll come over from NRO.

Fair enough. Well said. That is, of course, exactly the reason why it was necessary to prosecute Libby for perjury and obstruction, as Fitzgerald explains in the Government’s pre-sentencing memorandum.

The garden is growing slowly here, a short growing season. Heck, there was a couple of inched of snow over on the north rim of the Grand Canyon in hte middle of the week and we got back down into the 30’s. A beautiful day today however. I will probably walk up the canyon with my wife later and see if the wild roses are out and check out some cactus blossoms. Watched an old movie the other day, Cat Ballou with Jane Fonda and Lee Marvin. That was fun.

burnspbesq @ 149

I’ve been a New York Mets fan since age 7, and virtually anyone who knows me will tell you that I am much easier to get along with when they are playing well.

My dad indoctinated me on the Mets at about that age – I remember going to Shea and seeing Seaver, Koosman, et al; I saw them play during that magical 1969 season, and it’s nice to see them back.

My father had been a National League fan going way back, although he had an affection for the old Washington Senators (first in war, first in peace, and last in the American League) from his youth. But he hated the Yankees, and I must say it is no harder to despise them now than it was back then.

One of my favorite songs of all time:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtadUsFwhhQ

cbl @ 148

LS,

you are talking about Snuffy’s of course !

they recently relocated to Rice’s Crossing – a few miles further

Have a FDL day dawgs!

Right!!! I forgot the name. I used to go there with a friend of mine. OMG those were good.

Retirin’ in five @3 Am leaving soon today so havent read entire thread so dont know what response might have been made—but I also have a check mailed at end of Libby trial because I was so appreciative, that is still out. A second check mailed the same day just got processed; I had thought maybe the mailbox got robbed. If things running slow will just wait, would be a nice problem for FDL to have, lots of $$$ coming in.

Looking forward to reading Al Gore’s new book The Assault on Reason. Not to be out done again, GWB is working on a book of his own, My Pet Goat, The Sequel

Here’s my favorite song by my favorite “terrorist”:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qdnhBP2tWY

Somehow I’m thinking this event won’t draw the kind of response Andy Card’s appearance did.

From the Amherst College Commencement schedule for 5/26/07-
3:15 to 4:15 p.m.
Conversations with honored guests: U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald ‘82 will speak in Johnson Chapel. His topic is “What I Did Not Know About Public Service When I Graduated.”

Amherst ‘07 Commencement Schedule

ironranger at 95 — Well, it is my secret plot to get her to eat more veggies. I figure if The Peanut helps me to grow them, she is more likely to eat them. Worked that way for me as a kid with our home garden. *G*

They’re going public (NYT today):

Several administration officials said they hoped that if such a reduction were under way in the midst of the presidential campaign, it would shift the debate from whether American forces should be pulled out by a specific deadline — the current argument consuming Washington — to what kind of long-term presence the United States should have in Iraq.

“It stems from a recognition that the current level of forces aren’t sustainable in Iraq, they aren’t sustainable in the region, and they will be increasingly unsustainable here at home,” said one administration official who has taken part in the closed-door discussions.
….

The officials cautioned that no firm plans have emerged from the discussions. But they said the proposals being developed envision a far smaller but long-term American presence, centering on three or four large bases around Iraq. Mr. Bush has told recent visitors to the White House that he was seeking a model similar to the American presence in South Korea.

We have known from the outset that the intention was to permanently occupy the country, using Iraq as the base of military operations in the Middle East. In my view, that’s what this war has been about.

But this is not something that has been openly discussed by politicians or in the press. Now they are attributing to Bush himself plans for a permanent occupation. We’ve known, from scattered reporting going back the Chicago Tribune in 04, that “enduring bases” are being built. And Scarecrow updated us a few days ago on the “embassy” under construction.

Referring back to Pach’s post yesterday on holding Democrats accountable when they violate their constituents’ trust, we need to press the presidential candidates on this question. For the most part, they have left themselves wiggle room that would allow them to justify this 50,000 planned troop presence as part of “force protection” or “anti-terrorism.”

Richardson’s “no residual force” comes closest to a clear statement of withdrawal. But even his position is conditioned on working out security arrangements among four countries that don’t exactly see eye-to-eye. He’s right that those arrangements are necessary; Iraq has no effective national defense force in the absence of US air and armor.

But I say, watch out. If we don’t really press these people, the US is going to be in Iraq forever.

Christy Hardin Smith @ 161

ironranger at 95 — Well, it is my secret plot to get her to eat more veggies. I figure if The Peanut helps me to grow them, she is more likely to eat them. Worked that way for me as a kid with our home garden. *G*

Carrots and radishes, right out of the ground. That’s how they worked it when I was a kid.

mornin’ all. . .

well — i am a notorious brown-thumb,
so my better-half handles the planting,
and harvesting, of fresh garden veggies
and flowers — and i handle the cooking,
and eating (of the flowers, of course!). . .

[since i am likely epu’d at this point,
i’ll ramble on a little more. . .]

while riding my mountain bike
along the trail — almost back to
the trail-head, this morning — i
found myself. . . dang! — thinking
about politics, and the law. . .
and this place. . . so, try as i
might to “unplug“, i find
that on my mini-breaks, my mind often
returns to our nation’s difficulties,
and the wonderful things this community
online is doing about those difficulites. . .

so, it seems, that only on our pre-built 20-some
days’-long vacations each summer, do i truly
forget about things, then to fully-admire an
eight-century cathedral, or listen — really
listen — to the silence of the sun dipping
below the water-line on the horizon, from a
canoe. . . or, watch my now almost-adult-
children ascend a ridge, one switch-back
ahead of mrs. nolo and me. . .

finally — i find movies do provide a welcome
mini-break — and see quite a few — but even
then, i am reminded of the sometimes-
checkered-history of the rule of law,
and its lessons for today, when i do. . .

i’m off to shower, and get some wood-chips
for the backyard. . .

keep it spinnin’ in good karma. . .

Christy Hardin Smith @ 161

ironranger at 95 — Well, it is my secret plot to get her to eat more veggies. I figure if The Peanut helps me to grow them, she is more likely to eat them. Worked that way for me as a kid with our home garden. *G*

My friend’s mom used to “disguise” eggplant and told her kids they were fishsticks.

cbl @ 108

ccmask -

thanks for the ebay 411

. . . and I want to thank you for your tip several weeks back on Vick’s Vaporub – it’s working! unlike the so called experimental drug that gave me a blood clot (#^%@%!!) so I’ll be sporting open toed shoes for the first time in 12 summers !!! thanks a bunch

sorry for the tmi gang but you have no idea how difficult it is to find espadrilles :)

I just read this because I had to run to the post office. So happy to hear that. So much cheaper than all those “remedies” on the sholves.

Citizen Jane at 127 — Oooh, I love the Grand Floridian. If you have time, have afternoon tea in their lovely area downstairs. If you are there with kiddos, they do a cute little “kids tea” as well. And I hear the character breakfast with Mary Poppins at 1900 Park Fair is a hoot – including Alice and the Mad Hatter. (We’ve been thinking about taking The Peanut, so I’ve been doing a bit of research in my spare time, can you tel? LOL)

Nanz @ 157

Retirin’ in five @3 Am leaving soon today so havent read entire thread so dont know what response might have been made—but I also have a check mailed at end of Libby trial because I was so appreciative, that is still out. A second check mailed the same day just got processed; I had thought maybe the mailbox got robbed. If things running slow will just wait, would be a nice problem for FDL to have, lots of $$$ coming in.

Thanks, Nanz. Guess we’ll wait a little longer to try to balance the check register.

Christy Hardin Smith @ 161

ironranger at 95 — Well, it is my secret plot to get her to eat more veggies. I figure if The Peanut helps me to grow them, she is more likely to eat them. Worked that way for me as a kid with our home garden. *G*

Zucchini bread will help her figure out that those green things are tasty.

Mutant Poodle @ 154

burnspbesq @ 149

I’ve been a New York Mets fan since age 7, and virtually anyone who knows me will tell you that I am much easier to get along with when they are playing well.

My dad indoctinated me on the Mets at about that age – I remember going to Shea and seeing Seaver, Koosman, et al; I saw them play during that magical 1969 season, and it’s nice to see them back.

My father had been a National League fan going way back, although he had an affection for the old Washington Senators (first in war, first in peace, and last in the American League) from his youth. But he hated the Yankees, and I must say it is no harder to despise them now than it was back then.

It was my grandafther who made me a Mets fan. He had been a Giants fan before they moved to SF. In fact, the first major league game I ever attended was the first weekend the Giants came back to NY to play the Mets at the Polo Grounds in June 1962. My dad also had family in Vermont who were Red Sox fans, so Yankee-loathing is in my DNA.

The blackflies are so thick at the moment that I’ve taken a break from gardening. Problem is, they’ll be around for another month or so. Demons.

We took our 11 year old twins to see Pirates of the Caribbean At World’s End on Thursday. (I know. I read a funny review that described it as bum numbing, and at nearly three hours it is all that). What was interesting was the opening scene. It was a public hanging, where a list of suspended civil rights was read. Habeas Corpus, right to fair trial, right to council, due process all suspended and the list read in public. At another point in the film, the same chap who read the suspended list (Beckett – the head of the East India Trading Company), does absolutely nothing when his ship comes under attack. He’s cleary lost his mind and repeats over and over -”It’s just good for business”. Reminding me of Bush after Andy Card whispers in his ear that the WTC had been attacked. Bush did fuck all, and just allowed the ship to sink.

I haven’t read any mention of the obvious allusions to the Bush administration. Truth comes in odd packages.

Good morning, everyone.

ccmask – I hope you’re feeling better soon. What a beautiful photo! I hope you have gorgeous views like that from your window – a great view is always nice when getting some R&R.

This is a great topic, Christy. NZ Expat made a great comment – American society pressures us to be so busy (to the point of being busy just to be busy). I hope our friend from NZ will be able to resist the urge to join our frantic pace. It’s always refreshing when I meet someone who knows how to relax and enjoy life on a regular basis. It reminds me that much of the “stuff” we do gets in the way of really living.

That said, my husband and I went on a whirlwind “vacation” to Cedar Point yesterday – the world’s best roller coaster amusement park. Even when we vacation there, it seems like we’re running & packing it all in. 2.5 hours driving down, 11 hours of rollercoaster rides, then drive home and try to stay awake! I’m more exhausted than I was before we left, but we did have a terrific time. Too bad the brand new rollercoaster opens today! We stared at it longingly, hoping that they might decide to let a few people on late last night… no luck!

I’m trying to schedule a vacation each year where we put away our instruments, put away the laptops and TV, and explore somewhere at a leisurely pace. It’s surprisingly difficult for us to do. Most of the vacations we take involve work. and it’s hard to put it away. The older I get, the more I realize that vacations are critical.

Does anyone have any interesting plans this holiday weekend? I’m working every day, so I’m taking time to get together with friends each day for dinner parties, games, and general socializing. I’d love to cook a nice Thai feast, but I have a feeling we’ll order pizza and keep everything low key this weekend.

marksb — That is fantastic news. :)

Christy@161: forgive me for another zucchini recipe but zucchini chocolate cake would fit in the best of 2 worlds category. Get your veggies & chocolate together. Must have with ice cold milk or a great cup of coffee.

inmymind’seye @ 171

The blackflies are so thick at the moment that I’ve taken a break from gardening. Problem is, they’ll be around for another month or so. Demons.

We took our 11 year old twins to see Pirates of the Caribbean At World’s End on Thursday. (I know. I read a funny review that described it as bum numbing, and at nearly three hours it is all that). What was interesting was the opening scene. It was a public hanging, where a list of suspended civil rights was read. Habeas Corpus, right to fair trial, right to council, due process all suspended and the list read in public. At another point in the film, the same chap who read the suspended list (Beckett – the head of the East India Trading Company), does absolutely nothing when his ship comes under attack. He’s cleary lost his mind and repeats over and over -”It’s just good for business”. Reminding me of Bush after Andy Card whispers in his ear that the WTC had been attacked. Bush did fuck all, and just allowed the ship to sink.

I haven’t read any mention of the obvious allusions to the Bush administration. Truth comes in odd packages.

inmymind’seye — DING! DING! DING!. . .

my thoughts, exactly, seeing the same!

been looking everywhere for a you-tube,
erh. . . pirated clip of the pirate opening.

see mine above. . .
[and — cough — i did mention
it right here, yesterday morning, too. . .]

cool!

LS @ 159

Here’s my favorite song by my favorite “terrorist”:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qdnhBP2tWY

an old fave!
plus all of Tea for the Tillerman, just stepping out of the nest when that was released.
(wow, there’s a lot back there, now that you’ve got me thinking about it)
ps I’m all the way to up page 13 of the sentencing guidelines.

Landofthefree: That is a pic from outside my back door. I love it here. Sunsets are the best.

I grinned and relaxed at my son’s last day of school picnic this week.

About 50 kids were dancing with utter abandon outside. Spontaneously parents joined in and were welcomed by the kids. Eventually everyone was involved – even the principal.

I see Monica’s being question by Sanchez CSPAN1
oops now it’s Cannon, that’s worth your time -not.

Waving to Adie!

Marie Roget @ 160

Somehow I’m thinking this event won’t draw the kind of response Andy Card’s appearance did.

From the Amherst College Commencement schedule for 5/26/07-
3:15 to 4:15 p.m.
Conversations with honored guests: U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald ‘82 will speak in Johnson Chapel. His topic is “What I Did Not Know About Public Service When I Graduated.”

Amherst ‘07 Commencement Schedule

Thanks!
I’m looking forward to the replay of that speech, and Comey’s

LS: I am trying to figure out how you “disguise” eggplant as fishsticks. Puzzledly giggling.

Regarding good movies seen lately:

On eBay I found a VHS copy of the 1971 made for TV movie “The Frog Prince” with Jim Henson’s Muppets. At 54 minutes long, it covers a great storyline: dimwitted ruler, evil witch masquerading as “Aunt Taminella” and trying to take over the throne (Aunt Taminella resembles Rove with hair and a fang and minus his glasses–maybe Cheney, too). There is the fair Princess Melora (who reminds me of Jane Hamsher) trying to warn everyone about Taminella but cannot be understood because of the witch’s spell making Melora’s words unintelligible to those around her–except for Sir Robin the Frog.

This short movie has references to gag orders “Have a popover, froggy!”, secret prisons “Sweetums, say hello to your new friend”, torture “Sweetums eat froggy for breakfast! Sweetums eat breakfast now!”
There is even a frog march at the end –although not quite the one that comes to mind. I don’t think I am spoiling the end (since I assume with FDL’s average age in the 40s, we have all seen this in childhood) to mention that the frogs at the lilly pond (like Firedogs at the Lake) march onto the coronation of Aunt Taminella, break her cane the source of her power and save the day. The spell is broken and equilibrium restored.

This movie is entertaining while it instills in our children the thought that community activism makes a difference–a good product of the OLD American century! It is a pity ABC (I assume Disney owns the rights to this movie and all other Henson productions) has not seen fit to release it on DVD. The VHS version has been out of print since 1994 I believe.

For the Neocon family, however, there is even some hope: the witch transforms into a discheveled bird upon losing her power and then flies away. The movie leaves open the possibility that after wreaking such havoc, she gets to fly off scott free (or is she forever to remain a bird?).

In the DVD version, I would like to see the additional scene of Sweetums, now decked with a Presidential Medal of Freedom, working for the citizenry and chasing after that bird with a large bird net.

nolo @ 175

DING! DING! DING!. . .

my thoughts, exactly, seeing the same!

been looking everywhere for a you-tube,
erh. . . pirated clip of the pirate opening.

see mine above. . .
[and — cough — i did mention
it right here, yesterday morning, too. . .]

cool!

I wonder if anyone besides us pirates and traitors will make notice. And how do you suppose Verbinski got it past thte stooges at Disney?

ironranger @ 182

LS: I am trying to figure out how you “disguise” eggplant as fishsticks. Puzzledly giggling.

She cut the eggplant up in rectangles, dipped them in egg and then in bread crumbs and fried it!! The kids loved it!!

Off to breakfast. Have a great holiday weekend, ‘pups…

Off to work – I hope everyone has a great day. The skies have just cleared here from a morning rain (the flowers & grass needed it). It looks like a beautiful day.

LS@185: That method would work with many other kid ick food. Moms are geniuses.

I absolutey love eggplant. Sometimes, I take a whole eggplant, peel it and dice it into small chunks. I fry it up in a pan (with a litte onion) and throw it into my spaghetti sauce. It is like a vegetarian meat sauce. Great on Rigatoni pasta.

ironranger @ 182

LS: I am trying to figure out how you “disguise” eggplant as fishsticks. Puzzledly giggling.

sliced into spears, 2 cm by 2 cm,
dipped, bread-crumbed, and deep-fried!

woo hoo! with ketchup!

been there, done that, for
almost a decade!

LS @ 185

ironranger @ 182

LS: I am trying to figure out how you “disguise” eggplant as fishsticks. Puzzledly giggling.

She cut the eggplant up in rectangles, dipped them in egg and then in bread crumbs and fried it!! The kids loved it!!

i was too slow at the keboard — exactly!

ccmask @ 189

I absolutey love eggplant. Sometimes, I take a whole eggplant, peel it and dice it into small chunks. I fry it up in a pan (with a litte onion) and throw it into my spaghetti sauce. It is like a vegetarian meat sauce. Great on Rigatoni pasta.

Spaghetti squash is fun too. You boil or bake it, scrape out the inside that looks like spaghetti, and serve any kind of spaghetti sauce on top with parmasan – or just serve it with butter, salt, pepper and the cheese.

One great plus in THE TIME TRAVELER’S..is the poem in the introduction. It is worth a peek even if you aren’t interested in the book. Thanks for the note about the Fitz speech. What a welcome he is likely to receive, well deserved.

Deepfried zucchini slices with a garlic dip or sauce. Yum.

And, those fried eggplants work so well as “chips” with a dip. Ummmm. So Long.

inmymind’seye @ 184

nolo @ 175

DING! DING! DING!. . .

my thoughts, exactly, seeing the same!

been looking everywhere for a you-tube,
erh. . . pirated clip of the pirate opening.

see mine above. . .
[and — cough — i did mention
it right here, yesterday morning, too. . .]

cool!

I wonder if anyone besides us pirates and traitors will make notice. And how do you suppose Verbinski got it past thte stooges at Disney?

i dunno — but i think johny depp’s
politics, and star-power, had something
to do with it — they can’t make the
film without him. . . he is the
franchise, here, if not the movie. . .

still — i loved KEITH RICHARD’s
cameo — it also rings an echo!

as does jack sparrow’s “shoulder-
massage” of the astonished-asian-
woman-pirate-captain, at the fourth
council. . . but i’ll stop now.

no more spoilers.

[i hope it is okay that i added
your comments as an update to my
post on pirates. . .]

O.M.G. Johnny Depp pooped on Bush???!!!

LS @ 197

O.M.G. Johnny Depp pooped on Bush???!!!

707!

almost — go. see. the. movie.

really spit my coffee on that one!

Mutant Poodle @ 186

Off to breakfast. Have a great holiday weekend, ‘pups…

a good day to ya!
Thanks again!

Phoenix Woman upstairs

egregious @ 35

Millineryman @ 17

egregious-

The black and white butterfly could be an Eastern Black Swallowtail. Not sure about the small blue one.

Eastern Black Swallowtail

Thanks Millineryman! While it isn’t the one I saw this week, you have answered another question about the little beauty I saw on the previous forest trip. Much appreciated.

I’m way behind, so I’m hoping this isn’t EPU’d. Got the creeping crud – not sure if it is allergies or a cold. Anyway, lepidoptery was my first love growing up. Not sure where you are Egreg, but could this be what you saw? The pic comes from a neat site about Wisconsin butterflies. It’s a White Admiral.

Thanks Noonan! That’s beautiful but still not what I saw. Large black and white stripes going from front to back. Now I want to look for the one in your photo too.

Shrink in sf @136

Brava for all three achievements. Thanks for telling us about them.

Forgive me if it’s been observed – I’m on a work break so no time to read comments — but Christy, I’ve long wondered how you do as much as you do. Handling the blog duties, including all the behind-the-scenes research, calling, etc. you do – I can’t imagine how you find the time. I really admire you for managing it, and with a Peanut and a Mr. Hedd, too.
I’m glad he got you away to relax awhile. If you need more breaks more often – well, we miss you, but we’ll manage.
For me, I was out-of-computer again a few weeks, and so I read some mysteries. Laura Lippman, Kathy Reichs. bought “Blackwater” and, finally, “Imperial Life in the Emerald City” with my tax refund…but they’re waiting on the coffee table till I finish my novel. I feel better now, too.
CHS, again, a million thanks for all you do!

Thanks for a beautiful post. We’re on vacation in Sedona (leaving tomorrow). Yesterday we walked up the West Fork trail of Oak River Canyon, and saw two beautiful carnation-red insects flying about like blue bottles.

We take a break about every six weeks — four or five days — this time for two weeks, as it was after exam grading and a good time to go hiking in the Southwest before things heat up.

My academic friends can’t conceive of taking so much time off. We had this conversation a couple of times at a Conference last week. I don’t perhaps get as much work done, but I managed this spring to give workshops at Johns Hopkins and Stanford before tough audiences. Sometimes less is more. No. Most of the time in my business, less is more. I’ve lived outside the US for nearly forty years now, and everytime I return, I see how hard people work for so little real return in life experience. Life is harder here.

nolo @ 196

i dunno — but i think johny depp’s
politics, and star-power, had something
to do with it — they can’t make the
film without him. . . he is the
franchise, here, if not the movie. . .

still — i loved KEITH RICHARD’s
cameo — it also rings an echo!

as does jack sparrow’s “shoulder-
massage” of the astonished-asian-
woman-pirate-captain, at the fourth
council. . . but i’ll stop now.

no more spoilers.

[i hope it is okay that i added
your comments as an update to my
post on pirates. . .]

Of course it’s okay, and a great post to btw.

’tis peony season – marvel as a tight-fisted sphere smaller than a ping-pong ball explodes into a grapefruit sized display of color and texture.

yes: what tejanarusa said at 204

LnL @ 130

Good morning all.

Delurking to say Barbara Kingsolver is scheduled for CSPAN-2 tomorrow morning at 8:30.

I loved Animal Dreams, as much due to the research that went into it as the story, which was good. Anyone who takes the time to understand what driving a train must be like as background for a romance novel is impressive.

I’m EPU’d here, but the thing that offers the most relaxation now is found in cyberspace. The FDL Gabbly folks keep me laughing. We’ve been chatting Monday through Friday since the Libby trial; we’ve gotten to know each other, and even a few minutes with them every morning helps me face the day with a smile.

-S

Solai at 44:

Clearly Bush vetoed the supplemental before he signed it, in the same way that Kerry voted for (whatever) before he voted against it. Doesn’t matter to the VWR that there was a difference.

Just giving them a bit of their own snark.

If you are interested in attracting more butterflies to your garden, native plants are the best way to go. These are plants which have adapted over hundreds (thousands) of years to the soil, climate, etc. in your area, and have come to be relied upon by wildlife and insects in your area–the plants that existed prior to European settlement. Once these plants are established, they need no fertilizer/pesticides and don’t need supplemental water (except in the most dire droughts)–thus they are a very “green” option. Even a small patch of native plants in a yard can be a stopping point for migrating birds, butterflies and other insects. Wild Ones is a national organization that educates people about using native plants to promote biodiversity; check out http://www.for-wild.org. Happy gardening!

Want a fantastic break, and two hours of beautiful humanity? Hie thee to thy local rentshop, or Netflix, and get OFF THE MAP.

Sierra

Lovely photo, Christy, as are so many you put up on this forum. Thank you.

what is making me smile these days…I moved most of my belongings in a big truck several hundred miles two weeks ago. I had planned on staying in a campground and sleeping in the truck but it was not to be. I had taken too much energy supplement and the truck had bucket seats so there was no way to lie down. It was cold too. 12:00 midnight and at least six hours before daylight! Then I remembered Martin Luther King spoke once about the possibility of suffering being redemptive. Although suffering is too strong a word for my experience, I began to think about the possibility that my discomfort could or might mitigate in the smallest way the general unhappiness of human beings. That became my prayer or intention. And that changed the experience for me dramatically! So the low point of the trip became the high point of the trip.

Brava for all three achievements. Thanks for telling us about them.

Thanks LnL!