Tuesday tails.... Yarn and Knitting but no animals today..

Yarn tails..

I bought enough yarn for five hats.  It was on sale but if I'd gotten there earlier I'd have gotten the better deal at JoAnns.  Then again.....if I had not gone to Michaels, I wouldn't have learned about Naal knitting:



A couple of neat ladies who are getting really good at it clued me into it.  Isn't it fun looking?

I like this one, too, since you get to hear it in Finnish and in English.



How cool is that?

Back to knitting:

From Michaels I bought some yarn...

This is going to be a very fast knit, and, incidentally, the knitted ones
at Ravelry were not nearly as attractive as the picture on the band.  I don't know why this is.  Maybe the model is wearing it over a coiled wig?

 The pattern for Cozy Cabled Hat, from Loops and Threads Yarn Band:

I looked all over the Raverly site that was supposed to contain the ball band pattern, but had no success.
 So, Mr. Z worked some magic on it and made it big enough for me to see.  Hopefully you can snag this snap, feel free, if you want to knit it, too.  The Loop and Threads yarn is a 50/50 wool acrylic, and has a yummy feel to it.  

I also bought some other yarns- four colors of Paton Rovings:

I got the Roving to make this little hat, four times... that is a skein of heathered aqua peeking out there between the teal and red.

After spending a day and a half searching the web for anything like this discontinued yarn, I broke down and went to the two stores I thought just might have a yarn that was compatible for something less than $ 20 a skein.  I think the Paton's Roving is a good choice.  It's soft to the touch and has the right 10x10 knitprint.

So, between the pink Sparkle sweater for DD, and the new hat yarns, I'm happily knitting again, and have something to do other than get viciously cranky at my thumb.

Happy New Year Knitting!

Music Monday: "If I Were a Rich Man"

I've always loved this song, and from the first time ever I heard it, I sang it.

"And it wouldn't make one bit of difference if I answer right or wrong,
When you're rich they think you really know......"  Lol  Enjoy!

Happy New Year, all you beautiful Sunday Gangstas!

Caution:  There be Swear Words!

December 27, 2014

The New Year's Eve Meme
Welcome back to Sunday Stealing which originated on WTIT: The Blog authored by Bud Weiser. Here we will steal all types of memes from every corner of the blogosphere. Our promise to you is that we will work hard to find the most interesting and intelligent memes. You may have heard of the expression, “honor amongst thieves”. In that age-old tradition, we also have our rules. First, we always credit the blog that we stole it from and we will “fess up” to the blog owner where we stole the meme. We also provide a link to the victim's post. (It's our way of saying "Thanks!") We do sometimes edit the original meme, usually to make it more relevant to our global players, to challenge our players, sometimes to select that meme's best questions, or simply to make it less repetitive from either this new meme or recently asked questions from a prior featured meme.

New Year's Eve is a few days away but there is no better time to prepare than NOW!

Let's go!!!

The New Year's Eve Meme

From the archives!

In 2014, I gained:  A new insight into how truly powerful an Act of Loving Kindness is, and how just doing nothing but breathing and smiling is at least a temporary cure for lots of things, up to and including anxxxxxxxiety.

I lost:  A very small and cute little part of the "inside team"; this I blame on Zetia, a medicine that should be taken BACK off the market, PLEASE, because if not for the internet it would have had one of the essentials  in death throes!

I stopped:  Worrying about the future.

I started: Thinking about getting rid of as much as possible of all my "STUFF, and there is a reason it's called "stuff" because the damn stuff is everywhere and messes up a person's life.  Ask me for it and I will send you some.  I've most likely got it!

I was hugely satisfied by: reaching a milestone that hardly any of my maternal female ancestors have ever reached.  I lived long enough be become a Crone!

And frustrated by: a thumb that is crooked sometimes and stiff other times.  Make up your mind, will ya, ya stoopid little hook!??  I have been kind enough to haul you around for 72 years, the least you could do is work right!

I am so embarrassed that I: took so long to figure out so many things.  Like, I am just never going to get that damned pony.

Once again, I: wish I had wings... like tinkerbell.

Once again, I did not: get a pony,  Darn!  Why can't I have a pony?

The biggest physical difference between me last December and this December is:  That I don't have the muscle power that I had back then.

The biggest psychological difference between me last December and this December is: I'm very alert to fun again- what the hell, why not go body surfing again, I ask you?

I loved spending time:  with my DDs, and just seeing them was like the best medicine in the world!

Why did I spend even two minutes: trying to french braid my own hair?  The thumb decided that was the most hilarious thing it's been asked to do since moving south with all it's fellows, and turned up the HEAT!  I should have spent more time: trying to paint walls and some furniture before aforementioned  thumb made up it's mind to be the family crank.

I regret buying:  Nothing.  I bought so little this year that I've got no regrets about that.  Not even a skein of yarn made it into the stash this year.
One was given to me, though.  *Happy Dance*

I will never regret buying...my stashes, even though with that money I could have ...probably bought, and fed, a pony for the last ten years.  Maybe we could have fed two!??  Bought a farm and raised ponies!??

I probably thought way too much.

I didn’t get ... enough sleep I was thinking so much.

It nearly ... drove me crazy.

The most relaxing place I went was to Santa Cruz.

Why did I go to.... hell and back trusting my doctor to try to get even more BAD fat out of my diet when the only thing that did was send me to the hospital, and to come back home with four mini scars on my belly?  There goes the bikini line!

The best thing I did for someone else was left them alone to make up their own mind about something.

The best thing I did for myself  lose five more pounds.  That I gained them back this last week is immaterial.  hehe

The best thing someone did for me was tell me to "Pay Attention!"

The one thing I’d like to do again, but do it better, is to give my two oldest DDs  a better start in life.  I was clueless and adrift.  Thanks go out into the Cosmos to the immortal to Dr. Spock!! I was much less clueless after reading his books.

Snowballs and Girls Scout cookies, oh my! Saturday 9

Welcome to Saturday: 9. What we've committed to our readers is that we will post 9 questions every Saturday. Sometimes the post will have a theme, and at other times the questions will be totally unrelated. Those weeks we do "random questions," so-to-speak. We encourage you to visit other participants posts and leave a comment. Because we don't have any rules, it is your choice. We hate rules. We love memes, however, and here is today's meme!

Saturday 9: Marshmallow World (1963)

 Unfamiliar with this week's song? Hear it here.

1. This song likens fluffy clouds to marshmallows. What does the sky look like where you are today?
Today was a clear day, after the morning overcast wore off.  Tonight, it's 46°F  Brrrr!

2. The lyrics refer to snowballs. Have you ever been in a snowball fight?
When I was little, in Ohio, I and my equally tiny cousin would have snowball fights with our older aunts, and younger second cousins. 

3. Chionophobia is fear of snow. What phobias do you have?
Anymore, I'm afraid to stand on the edges of cliffs , especially since I've seen the undercutting that happens along the cliffs here along the bluffs at the beaches.  

4. In 2004, Canadian school children raised money for charity by setting a new world record: the most snow angels made in 24-hour period. Have you ever participated in a fundraising stunt?
No.  Never got the chance. But Selling Girl Scout cookies as a Brownie was dead easy, so I bet it doesn't even Count!

5. When marshmallows were first introduced, they were used for medicinal purposes. Specifically to soothe sore throats. What do you take when your throat is bothering you?

Marshmallows roots were once made into a drink for sore throats from an herb plant called Marshmallow plant, a form of Mallow.  All the Torts find these soothing spring plants very tasty.  When my throat bothers me, I drink lemon ginger tea, and suck down a couple of Koldeze.   Not as tasty as a few marshmallows, but very effective.

6.  Marshmallows are an important ingredient in the Rice Krispies Treat recipe. If you were asked to prepare something for a bake sale, what would you make?
I'd just make a cake or pie.  I found several recipes for a flourless chocolate cake like Whole Foods sells, and I'm on the hunt now for the perfect one.  This one looks is pretty darn good:

Whole foods is taller but this looks like the one for me!

7. Darlene played Danny Glover's wife in the Lethal Weapon movies. Do you enjoy action movies?
I like some of them.

8. Darlene's father advised her to always, "shoot for the stars." Share some good advice you've received.  Work hard at Listening, and to "Pay Attention!!"  

9. Will you be returning/have you returned any holiday gifts?
No.  I will be going to get a test tomorrow and then, hopefully, will get to go shopping for a new purse.  I want one like this one:

Thanks so much for joining us again at Saturday: 9. As always, feel free to come back, see who has participated and comment on their posts. In fact sometimes, if you want to read & comment on everyone's responses, you might want to check back again tomorrow. But it is not a rule. We haven’t any rules here. Join us next week for another version of Saturday: 9, "Just A Silly Meme on a Saturday!" Enjoy your weekend!

Not very Five Minute Friday

I'm only one of several billion followers of the Dalai Lama's Google+ page.  I hardly ever read ANY of the little notes from anywhere in Google+ but today we have no word for Five Minute Friday.   It left a void.  So, I decided to see what was going on in Notifications.  This little gem from His Holiness came up:

"Once you develop confidence in your own ability, you’ll be able to make a real contribution to creating a better world. Self-confidence is very important. Not in the sense of blind pride, but as a realistic awareness of what you can do. As human beings we can transform ourselves by our good qualities and reducing our faults. Our intelligence enables us to judge what is good from what is harmful."

Since the word I chose for this year's resolution was, "Listen", I'm listening to this guidance.  It was exactly what I was looking for after having a startling set of experiences.  They may have been caused by lack of sleep but, not leaving things like this to chance, I prayed for guidance.  Pretty much, I feel that it's been given.

My new Resolution word will be:  "Breathe", though it should probably be words and they should be, "Pay Attention!"  

I'm still going to be listening, but I'll also try to get more mindful breathing in.  You see, I've been reading a book, again, by Thich Nhat Hanh entitled, Peace is Every Step and trying to lower my "Tension of the Times" sort of Anxiety levels. 

At this point in my life I'm rather Too Christian to trust in Karma to be trustworthily infallible.  So, there's another teensy, little problem.

So, there you have a sort of five minute Friday.  hehe  It IS about Words, so there ya go!  

Thankful Christmas Day.... The Noro Sweater IS finished!

The Noro Cardi IS finished, sheesh I must be blind because of all those little stitches lately!  And it looks great on, but the Kid, Gee, has gone on a hike with her Twinnie and Pop.

I am thankful for Family, all of them, both Thither and Yon, and that some of them are here with us to celebrate,

and that..... THIS. SWEATER. IS. DONE! The first picture was just too Orange!

First picture was just TOO Orange!  This is more the color but everything else had to be made bluer!
The rest of the yarn, in little bags above will be made into fingerless mitts to go with this sweater.
DD picked out the coconut shell buttons because they matched the best and looked very cool.  

So, that's One  sweater down, and Two to go.  Mr. Z. says, with concern, "But you aren't supposed to finish that Love Sweater, right?"  I've made him sweaters before, and since he's  stuck with me, I remain unconcerned with the consequence of a finished Aran Labor of Love Sweater.  My DD, Elle, needs her sweater, too.  I want her to have it before too long. too!  

Wordless Wednesday- Drawing: A Sea Spawning

Tuesday Tails: Animal Rescue Videos, the Tort report, Wolfie report, and new words for a New Year......"Be Kind"...

This is two videos, connected.  (I hope the ads have disappeared.)



Thank you Pina...  ♥♥♥♥!!!

And now for another one, made up of all still photos of Firefighters, all of whom work hard, always, to save animals as well as people.  Let's give them all Great Big Hugs!



And,

Here is a SHOUT OUT TO L.A. FIREFIGHTERS, and to their chief who said, " A life is a Life!", when they had rescued a pet dog from the L.A. River a few years ago.  They took a lot of flack for it.  I still remember you, and you are all in my prayers!  Thank you!

I can't say how much all this touches my heart.  I hope that it gives all of you who read here more hope for mankind to finally build the best possible world for all the Earthlings.

And now for the:

Tort Report:

The two smallest are up and eating, and will do so during the next two winters.  Since there has been so much rain, the mallow and dandelions have sprung up, well before Spring, and the Roses are still blooming; so, winter fare for the babies is good for their bones.  There's a lot of Calcium in Roses and in these two, abundant, winter weeds.

Wolfie Report:  He has just been to the groomer's and is sporting a cute handkerchief with Santas on it.  He's feeling well, and goes eagerly for two walks a day with Mr.Z.  He get's even more walks when we have company or go see DD's or the little nieces.  They all so want a dog that they always beg to take Wolfie for walks.

He looked up at me, saw the camera,
and wouldn't look up again.
Smart Doggie!

Boy, oh Boy!  Do I ever need to wash his bed and pads, to say nothing of the floor!  I'm off to do that right now!

Dr. Mercola interviews Dr. Seneff about Celiac Disease and Round-up.

There, I may have found the reason that I've been sick for so long, and got better when I quit eating wheat in ANY form.  Hopefully, I can go back to eating organic wheat.  I'm SO excited!

Just let me say that I was never diagnosed as being allergic to wheat or even intolerant to wheat or gluten.  I'd eaten it all my life, so never suspected a problem regarding it, until I quit eating wheat to test it for being the problem.  

A side effect was that I got rid of intestinal problems and not only that, I was able to eat tree nuts again after being wheat free for three months.

Once I read that people who went to Italy could eat the pasta made there, I thought, this has got to be important for me.

I'm just sharing this experience because if any of you have had similar things arising in our lives, with an allergy developed to a grain you've eaten all your life  it might not be the grain.  I'm going to start by trying to eat things made from Ancient Grains, or European, organic wheat.

Here's to good Health!

Spammers, Monsanto Trolls, I will kick you, because I don't need it.  Comment moderation is now back in place.

Monday Music... Beach Boys..

I really wanted to put up the David Lee Roth Video version but then, ahem, I watched it.  I love the guy but he's really sort of...er... rasty.



This is just a little corny.  But there is a sort of medley of all their top songs if you can stand it. hehehe

Sunday Stealing and a Skywatcher post of hills near Dodger Stadium

The Christmas MeMe

From the archives!

1. Do you send Christmas cards?
Yes, when someone sends one to me, I send one out.

2. How soon do you start shopping?
I don't shop anymore but I used to go to the bitter end.  Now,  I send a check or a gift card, as teens pretty much know what they want, and sometimes I'll make a small something to go with it.  That is, if it's for a girl.

3. Who do you shop for?
All the younger kids, up to 20.  But if they don't acknowledge the gift after about three years, I don't do it anymore.  Especially when their poor mom writes to thank us, and she tells me that she keeps trying to get them to do so.  She doesn't need that.  Raising kids is hard enough without having to admit your kids won't thank gift givers.

4. Do you put up a Christmas tree?
Yes, And, I like to leave a tree up for a long, long time- through the gloomy months, and the real trees can become a hazard, so see answer 5.

5. If so, is it fake or real?:
See #4

6. Do you like tinsel?:
Yes, but after having cats who ate the stuff, I got used to just having fuzzy garlands.  Maybe we'll do tinsel again but maybe not.  This is where I tell you about ALL the YouTubes you can watch about cats destroying Christmas trees, yes?

7. Do you use homemade or store bought ornaments?:
We have a big mix of both and some treasured ones from both of our family trees before we were married.  I rescued some that my mother-in-law was going to toss.  I feel blessed to have them.

8. Do you put Christmas lights outside your house?
We do that.

9. Do you put lights on the tree?
It's a lighted tree.  Two trees actually, one white and one green.

10. How about popcorn and cranberries?
When the girls were still home we made them.  They are very lovely when they are on the tree.

11. Is there a wreath hanging on your door?
No.  I gave up after a few were snatched.

13. Do you hang up your stocking?  

 I want this one!

For me, no.  Though if I had that one up there, I would!  I used to put up some that I knitted for each of the girls, but I gave them to them some years back.  Question: How do people keep stockings from catching fire when they are put up in front of a raging fire?

14. Does your family read "Twas the night before Christmas?"
We did for a few years when one of the sets of girls was still small.  Now?  No, though I was gifted a copy at the Rockhounds party in early December.  Actually I won it by knowing the Swedish name for Gnomes.

15. Christmas Movie?
There must be a dozen at least that we watch every year.  We like them and look forward to seeing them.  Helps the Holiday Spirit for empty nesters!

Tonight we'll probably watch, "Nothing Like the Holidays." (if it comes!)

16. Character from any Christmas Movie:
The Ghost of Christmas present, in "Scrooged".  I love when she hits him with the Toaster!  And the time when she tells him she loves the rough stuff  after whacking him again!

17. Christmas Song:
Just heard a beautiful Carol sung by Susan Boyle in "The Candle", a new song to me.  I think it's Gorgeous and it will supplant the old one, which is probably  "Oh Holy Night" but don't hold me to it.
18. Christmas Memory:
My oldest pleasant memory was waking up when I had just turned three.  Mother had decorated the whole tiny shop front we were living in, converted into a one room apartment for families during the war.  The windows were all done with soap suds or something, and she used a lot of tissue paper and even decorated a tiny little tree with things wrapped in gold and silver paper and made a sort of tinsel.  She was an artist, that woman, and a great homemaker.

19. Give or Receive?
I'm much better at giving than receiving.  I get embarrassed when I have to open presents.  I don't know where this comes from.

22. Ham or Turkey?
Turkey or Roast beef.

24. White Lights or Colored Lights?
I like colored lights for some things, white for others.

25. Blinking Lights or Still Lights:
There used to be twinkling lights, that looked like little stars.  Other than those, I like steady lights because they don't draw me in and steal my brain.  Ya, know?

26. Were you Naughty or Nice this year?
Inside or outside?  This could be a question that should never be asked.  Can Santa really read minds?
I was nice.  I usually am nice.

27. What do you want for Christmas this year?
I want the US to normalize diplomatic relations with Cuba.

28. When do you open your gifts?
It has always been in the Morning.   Once, when I was a kid, my family, following the example of our Uncle H. who was newly arrived from Colorado, we opened all the gifts at midnight.  It was dreadfully dull that Christmas Day.

29. What's the best gift you've ever gotten?
I've gotten treasures from my children when they were making things.  To this day I love those sorts of presents the best.

30. What's the worst gift you've ever gotten?
It wasn't a Christmas gift but a birthday one - I have a birthday really close to Christmas - and it made me know how little value I was held in.  I did the whole gush routine but it was awful.

31. Who gives you the most gifts?
oops missed this one.  Sorry!  I would say that Mr.Z gives me the most gifts.

32. Have you ever had a secret Santa?
Not that I can remember.

33. Do you like wrapping gifts?:
Love it!


34. Do you put change in those red buckets?:
All the Time.  The Salvation Army is one of our Regular charities but we still do.

35. Do you burn a yule log?:
We would if we could.  The fireplace is a little problematic!  Today is Yule.

Happy Yule!

36. Can you name all the reindeer?
Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen, Comet and Cupid and Donder and Blitzen.  But the most famous one of all.....

37. Do you bake cookies?
I used to bake dozens and dozens of cookies to give away.  Not anymore.

38. Have you ever seen your mommy kissing Santa Clause?
No, but I've seen Santa Claus drinking a lot.

39. Have you ever gotten a kiss under the mistletoe?
Oh lots of times.  We used to go into the mountains to get some every year when we lived in the foothills up North.

41. Do you drive around and look at the Christmas lights?
Some years we do this, if there is times.  We walk around our neighborhood, too.

42. Have you ever left Santa cookies?
Of course!  It is a tradition!  He seems to like oatmeal raisin cookies the best.  Or, maybe he gives them to the reindeer?

43. Have you ever sat on Santa's lap?
Not that I remember, but I gave Santa a great big hug one day at the mall.  He was bored as there were no little children coming around that early, so I said, "Santa, give me a hug!" and he did.  He was one of those really jolly Santa's with a real beard!  Sort of like DH.

44. Who do you celebrate Christmas with?
Family members

45. Where do you celebrate Christmas?
At home with family.

46. Have you ever had a white Christmas?
Back in Ohio when I was very small.  I'd say, about three times all told, that I can remember.  Otherwise, the first Christmas, I was just too small. hehe

47. What part of Christmas do you look most forward to?
Getting together with family, eating a meal together, playing LRC with Quarters,

48. Have you ever had your picture taken with Santa?
Nope.  Except I have my very own Santa.  At the hospital earlier this week, when the Nurses went to get DH so he could take me home, one of them said to the other, "Did you go get Santa Claus?"



Skywatcher Post

November First, Going north through Hollywood
Stormy Skies over Los Angeles

Saturday9, Saturday Komeekz

Saturday 9er's......

Welcome to Saturday: 9. What we've committed to our readers is that we will post 9 questions every Saturday. Sometimes the post will have a theme, and at other times the questions will be totally unrelated. Those weeks we do "random questions," so-to-speak. We encourage you to visit other participants posts and leave a comment. Because we don't have any rules, it is your choice. We hate rules. We love memes, however, and here is today's meme!


Saturday 9: Happy Holidays!

Who is that adorable little Girl????  Is it Sam?! It is!

1. As you can see, Sam loved giving her annual wish list to Santa. Yet some children are reluctant to climb into Jolly Old St. Nick's lap. Did you enjoy the tradition or were you shy? Or did you by pass it altogether -- either because you wrote him a letter or because your family didn't celebrate Christmas?

When I was little, we only wrote letters because the war was still going.  I can remember going to downtown Los Angeles and looking at all the windows that were decorated for kids with things that moved.  I remember going to shop for Christmas presents with my Auntie D back in Ohio when I was four.  I didn't understand that what I was buying was a secret present for my mother.  I started to tell her ALL about it when we got back home to the farm.  They all just laughed, and said it was alright.

2. Are you currently on the Naughty or Nice list? How did you get there?
I'm probably on the naughty list because of all my inner turmoil.  (see related cartoon, so appropo!) I need to read more of my Peace book and ignore the destroyers of the earth for at least a little while. Being full of angst and hatred is not the best thing to do to stay off the Naughty List! Lol!

3. Did you ship any gifts to friends and family this year? If so, which one traveled the farthest?
Not anymore.  We just send something for Amazon or another smaller local store, like Logos.

4. Did you buy yourself a gift this year? 
Nah.  I'm so overwhelmed with all the stuff I've got to get rid of already!  Birthday, though, I did get an early one in the form of a tablet, so I could give the handed down and very nice kindle to my sister.  She can't hold anything very heavy and the kindle paperwhite was perfect for her.  Thank you B!

5. What's your favorite holiday-themed movie?
I like a lot of them but I really love Al Molina and he is in this one, so I like it best over all:  "Nothing Like the Holidays".

6. Thinking of movies, Christmas is lucrative for Hollywood. Have you ever gone to a movie theater on Christmas Day?
No.  I've been so lucky to have at least one parent who loved to make Christmas special, and so there was always something good to do, without going to Hollywood for it. hehe And, then, as young marrieds we had family to visit so it was very nice.  Then we just made the best time of it for the kids that we could.  Very fun.

7. Have you ever suffered an embarrassing moment at the company Christmas party? 
I have never been to a company Christmas party.  I think you have to be in management to go to those. Right?  Their lips are sealed!

8. What's your favorite beverage in cold weather?
Hot Earl Grey tea! And, sometimes, if it is really good, hot chocolate.  I like it the way that the French make it.

9. What will you remember most about 2014?
Getting to see my daughter G's Graduation from Berkeley with highest honors.  Stellar, that was!   And, later in the year, getting to celebrate with all the kids this last November for all their birthdays.

Thanks so much for joining us again at Saturday: 9. As always, feel free to come back, see who has participated and comment on their posts. In fact sometimes, if you want to read & comment on everyone's responses, you might want to check back again tomorrow. But it is not a rule. We haven’t any rules here. Join us next week for another version of Saturday: 9, "Just A Silly Meme on a Saturday!" Enjoy your weekend!




Saturday Komeekz

The NSA is definitely on the Naughty list now!

They are on My Naughty List but that's for another post someday!

Five Minute Friday: Adore

This is the LINK to Kate's blog, who hosts the Five Minute Friday meme, which you will find under her HOME button each week.

So. if you want to come and write about the word this week, which is adore, then go on over and find out the two short "rules of engagement", so to speak.  The button in the sidebar also links back to her blog.

Adore...

Adore is one step above the word Love in intensity, as I see it.  It's meaning to me is sort of an "I only have eyes for you" sort of level of intensity.   I'm not sure I use it for other things, like inanimate objects but it's how I feel about my children, Hubby,  and many other people, as well as for puppies, kittens and baby rabbits and every other baby thing on the planet, well maybe not mosquito larvae.

Adore is something we do for our perception of the Deity, as well.  I adore the Heavenly Father, The Holy Spirit of Wisdom, aslo called the Comforter, as well as Jesus, Mary, all the Saints and Angels, and anyone who has those qualities.  Adore is some serious loving!

I just have a minute left and so I want to say that I adore the Earth, and the way it is put together.  It is one of the most beautiful sights when we -meaning all of mankind in the form of very special emissaries, I just had to correct that misguiding thought there - went out into space and were able to see the earth, our HOME planet from that vantage point.  I felt all this adoration surging up into my entire body when I saw that photograph.   And it goes without saying that I adore rain, and plants.  This is a lot to adore!

Done...

Thankful Thursday: People Helping families to find housing...

I was going to embed a link from Yahoo News, but it included another story about something I didn't want on this blog....  But here is the story from Brad Marshland.

Copied from Yahoo New's Link.

By Brad Marshland

"Just blocks from “The Happiest Place on Earth,” in one of the richest counties in America, Demond, Ashley, and their four kids have been living in a cramped, run-down motel room for a year and a half. Between the six of them, they share one bed and one small couch. Surprisingly, they aren't welfare cases; Demond and Ashley both work full-time at Walmart. But like thousands of other families in Orange County alone, they struggle to save enough to pay the first-month/last-month/security deposit that landlords require. And so they're stuck.

“It eats up all your money so you can't afford to move,” says Ashley, “Even if you could afford an apartment of your own, with kids, and the rent, you can't save any money to do anything except stay here.” To compound the problem, Ashley's mom had an eviction when Ashley was living with her – a fact that shows up on Ashley's credit history. So Demond and Ashley pay $1300 a month for the dubious privilege of living in a single motel room where the kids aren't even allowed by the management to play in the parking lot. For Christmas, they'd like nothing more than to get out of the motel and into a stable home.

Caterina's Club

Bruno Serato came to the U.S. with just $200 in his pocket, worked his way up from dishwasher, and is now the owner of the Anaheim White House Restaurant. For the last ten years, he has worked to improve the lives of motel kids. His non-profit foundation, CATERINA'S CLUB, feeds 1,200 poor kids a day with meals cooked in his restaurant kitchen between lunch and dinner, meals delivered by van to nineteen different after-school programs in seven Orange County cities. But even donating his own labor and his own kitchen aren't enough. “Every night when I feed the kids, I'm very happy.” says Serato. But then when the children go back to their motels, his mood changes. “Because I know where they go. Motel area, you have prostitution, drug addict, drug dealer, sexual abuser, pedophile... But you also have the great American families, the ones who work all their lives and end up in a motel room because they lost their home; they lost their job. And they know they can't stay in that room any longer, for the safety of the children.”

Serato's new goal is to move these families out of motels into safer, more stable living situations. According to Caterina's Club, 75% of the men and women living in area motels have jobs. But like Demond and Ashley, they're stuck between bad credit and a lack of sufficient savings to put down a deposit on an apartment. If they could just get over those hurdles, their monthly expenses would be comparable, but would buy so much more.

Welcome Home

Through Caterina's Club, Serato has initiated a new program to cover the costs of security deposits needed to move families out of motels. The Welcome Home program selects from a pool of applications for assistance, targeting working families who just need that extra help. Serato himself is not a rich man. During the recession, he had to take out a second mortgage to keep his food program running. But there's more than one way to feel rich. With the help of donors, Serato has placed 65 families into their own homes.

Family number 66 is Demond and Ashley's, and the good news could not have come at a better time. They didn't know what they would have done if they'd had to spend another Christmas in a motel room so small that there's not really room for presents. Now that their application has been accepted,  they can move to their own home, one where the kids can finally have their own beds."

Kudo's to DH for passing such beautiful news on to me.  I hope this program catches on like a rocket and just takes off!

When I was an Instructional Aide, one of my jobs was to take a child who was having a hard time out to the lawn and just talk to them.  This is one story:

One day a little girl and I were talking about what she wanted for Christmas.  She said, "The only thing I want is a bed of my own."  I asked her more about this, and she told me that her mother and she were living with her auntie, and they had to share a small bed.  This beautiful little girl is one of the children I'll never forget.  I hope she has been blessed with good things because now she must be in her early 40's.  

It gives me hope, and I'm very grateful that such good people as Bruno Serato are out there doing wonderful things to help people who are thrust into lives made overwhelmingly poor by the greed of thieves of public funds.

Worldless Wednesday...2... Flogging Audubon in a nice way.. And Sunrise on the I-5 yesterday.

Steppenwolf, Born to be Wild! 2006 Concert: Monday Music

Tumblerrrrrrrrrr!! ....... Two days,Tops, I hope to be eating popcorn by the handfuls!

Oh, Dear God, at last!  It's coming down the Highway!

Steppenwolf.... "Born to be Wild"!  Turn up the speakers!  Rock on!



I'm stoked!

Sunday Stealing: Have I ever been a, what, bag lady?

December 13, 2014
Have You Ever?
Welcome back to Sunday Stealing which originated on WTIT: The Blog authored by Bud Weiser. Here we will steal all types of memes from every corner of the blogosphere. Our promise to you is that we will work hard to find the most interesting and intelligent memes. You may have heard of the expression, “honor amongst thieves”. In that age-old tradition, we try to credit the blog that we stole it from. We also provide a link to the victim's meme in our "Previous Victims" widget. (It's our way of saying "Thanks!") Sometimes we edit the original meme, to make it more relevant to our global players, to challenge our players, to select the best questions, or simply to make it less repetitive from this new meme or recently asked questions from a previously featured meme.
Cheers to all of us thieves!!!

The Have You Ever Meme 

Edited to note:  All photos are links.  They take you to some amazing photos..

Stolen from: From My Random Randomness 

1) Have you ever gotten lost in a maze? 
Yes.  It was a Halloween Maze, and the clue to getting out was to always turn left.  I got out after someone came by and told me that clue.

2) Have you ever been attacked by a wild animal? 
Yes, she came up behind me and bumped me.  She was a huge female cinnamon colored Black bear with two cubs, in Sequoia.  She wanted the oatmeal pan I was washing out.  I gave it to her and backed very slowly away.  I'm lucky that she was not a Grizzly.

3) Have you ever ridden a camel? 
No but I sure would have liked to.  I had a much more adventurous life planned when in my teens.

4) Have you ever pet a rat? 
We've had a lot of pet rats over the years.  One of them graced us with 15 babies one year, and we played with all of them.  The sweetest thing was when they were all outside playing in Mother's dichondra, and I made a shade with my body, and they all ran underneath me.

5) Have you ever been a member of a gym? 
Yes, and I still am.

6) Have you ever been in a helicopter? 
No, unhappily.  But I have been in a bi-plane, which is sort of neater than that.

7) Have you ever cheated at a test? 
No.  It's just not a thing I ever thought of doing.  I couldn't let my teachers down, you know?

8) Have you ever ridden a tractor? 
I've ridden on a tractor many a time, Back in the Day- hehe there's that phrase!- and, when I was as small as this little Lass, I got rides home on the Ohio neighbor's beautiful Palamino Belgian Plow Horse named Pal, of course

9) Have you ever passed wind/gas in an embarrassing situation? 
Yes.  Nuf said!

10) Have you ever played the bongos? 
No but Gee does that.  She can play that tall drum from Africa, too.  Wish she'd teach me.

11) Have you ever handled a snake? 
Yes, I've had many snake pets, but not the biggies.  They scare the living bejeebers out of me.

12) Have you ever assembled furniture by yourself? 
Yes,

I've taken it apart and re-assembled things to refinish- chairs, etc.  Big stuff required the Heavy Lifting Fellow, however.

13) Have you ever been scuba diving? 
No, I never got to do that.  It makes me sad but my ears are just too too bad.

14) Have you ever had a disastrous interview? 
No, probably because I was a taker of jobs that weren't that hard to get, i.e. they would practically take anyone who could walk and chew gum at the same time.

15) Have you ever sold your services? 
Yes.  I was just looking at some of my business cards and remember that I did jewelry repair. So, yes. I have sold my services!  lol

16) Have you ever raised money for charity? 
I've worked at fund raising for a few bird related groups and eco groups but not for any charities that I can remember.  Oh!  The Red Cross, before it went all pear shaped for awhile.

17) Have you ever won a giant sized cuddly toy from a fair? 
No.  I can't remember even getting a tiny anything.

18) Have you ever milked a cow? 
I was learning to milk a cow but was only five the last time I saw my grandmother's little brown ones, Jerseys or maybe Guernseys.  Can't remember.  Anyway, they were small then.  Now they've had just about everything but their big brown eyes bred out of them.  Sad, really.

19) Have you ever used the phrase "back in my time" to someone younger than you? 
No, mostly the phrase I've used is, "Back in the day" at the ends of sentences.

20) Have you ever invented a fairly unique meal or drink?

Fairly unique?  That would have to be Tuna Tetrazzini.  Back in the day.... But don't laugh as it was darn good!

Have a great week.  Blessing to you all!
A Promise:  I'll come read your blogs asap!

Feliz! Saturday9 plus Steve Earle, "Nothing But A Child" song and lyrics...

    Want to Play along?  Go HERE  to Sam's Blog!



Saturday 9: Feliz Navidad (1970)

 Unfamiliar with this week's song? Hear it here.

1. "Feliz Navidad" is Spanish for "Merry Christmas." Can you wish us happy holidays in a language other than English or Spanish?

Joyeux Noël!  That is also the title of a wonderful movie about the Christmas Eve truce in Europe during WWI.  I recommend both pictures as inspirational.  The movie in answer 2 is Little Kid friendly.

2. According to ASCAP (the American Association of Composers, Authors and Publishers), this is one of the 20 most played holiday songs of the last 10 years. What's the most recent carol that you heard?  

I heard this one:



So beautiful.  It's featured in the soundtrack of the movie, "The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey"  I think it's gorgeous.  Here are the lyrics so you can sing along....

"Nothing But A Child"

(Lee Ann Womack)

"Once upon a time
In a far off land
Wise men saw a sign
And set out 'cross the sand

With songs of a praise to sing
They traveled day and night
With precious gifts to bring
Guided by the light

They chased a brand new star
Ever towards the west
Crossed the mountains far
But when it came to rest

They scarsely believed their eyes
They'd come so many miles
This miracle they prized
Was nothing but a child

And nothing but a child
Could wash those tears away
And guide a weary world
Into the light of day

And nothing but a child
Could help erase those miles
So once again we all
Can be children for a while

Now all around the world
N' every little town
Every day is heard
A precious little sound

And every mother kind
And every father proud
Looks down in awe to find
Another chance allowed

And nothing but a child
Could wash those tears away
And guide a weary world
Into the light of day

And nothing but a child
Could help erase those miles
So once again we all
Can be children for a while

Nothing but a child"

Come on and sing along!

3. Which Christmas song do you hope you never hear again?  Bing Crosby singing "White Christmas".  Ugh Ugh Ugh!  I apologize for such a Disss of the Master Crooner, and if it is your own favorite.  I'm more of a Peri Como fan.



4. This week's featured artist, Jose Feliciano, was honored to perform this song at the tree lighting ceremony at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC. If you were to win a trip to our nation's capital, which sites would you visit?   Everything!  I want to see it ALL!  And nothing is better than a free trip because- if they let you stay as long as you want to- you can see it all.

5. As a very young child, Jose taught himself to play the accordion. If you could suddenly, easily learn to play any instrument, which would you choose?  I'd want to learn to properly play a piano.

6. Jose says that hearing early 1950s rock on the radio made him want to become a singer. What's your favorite music genre?
The only music genre I don't like is Rap.  I don't even think it's really music.

7. At 17, Jose had to drop out of school to help support his family. Too young to enter bars, he played guitar in coffee houses for tips. Have you ever worked a job where you regularly received gratuities?
No.  I got a wage and that was that.

8. Jose and wife Susan have been together for more than 40 years. Who is the happiest married couple you know?
The Happiest OTHER couple I know?  My youngest sister in law and her hubby.

9. Jose wrote and performed the theme of the 1970s show, Chico and the Man. What's your current favorite TV show?
"Nature" is my hand's down, all time favorite.  But the only network show I really flipped over was, "Major Dad".  I thought it was hilarious.  Now, however, there are several, and the best of them is probably, "The Big Bang Theory".

Thanks so much for joining us again at Saturday: 9. As always, feel free to come back, see who has participated and comment on their posts. In fact sometimes, if you want to read & comment on everyone's responses, you might want to check back again tomorrow. But it is not a rule. We haven’t any rules here. Join us next week for another version of Saturday: 9, "Just A Silly Meme on a Saturday!" Enjoy your weekend!

Five Minute Friday: Prepare

Prepare is a difficult word.  Prepare what, and for what?  Christians down through the ages have been preparing for the end of times.  I read three different bibles now and get three different and conflicting, to my wordsmith's mind, passages.  I am going to read a scholar's bible that I got at a swapmeet from two very sweet older people, for a dollar fifty.  It's my only defense about what I read in an Amish translation and on and on.

Prepare yourselves to be confused if you read too many different bibles, and I can't reconcile the versions not being a biblical scholar.  Have the Dead Sea Scrolls ever been completely deciphered?   Are we prepared for what that will bring, whenever they are all complete and released?  It will be another problem for the non scholar, believe me.  

So, I prepare myself for the day by remembering what Isaiah talked about, and John the Baptist, and Jesus.  The rest of the bible is beautiful.  But who was Jesus talking about when he said," Your Father was Satan, and he always was a liar."  Who was He talking to.  Prepare to be confused because there is a LOT that can't be reconciled.  Just Sayin"  And that's all I have to say about Prepare.  I'm prepared to go upstairs and take the little kids with me.  I'll read them bedtime stories about the best of people, doing their best to be kind.  That's enough to prepare them for sleep and Sweet Dreams.  

finished.

Thankful Thursday. White Rabbit running apologies! Wordless Wednesday Skywatcher post...

I'm Thankful that I've solved the Medical Ratrace Maze, and that it's just about over.   That is, unless more tests and procedures are needed.  But that's for Next Year!  We are going right up to the wire with this thing, and it's been just loads of fun, Not!

And, I've just found a blog called Recaptured Charm, where she shows you how to Make a TON of decorations for the home for holidays.  You will LOVE the twine pumpkin.  I have been saving used dryer sheets for a wreath and love her coffee filter one.

You see, I was looking for a snowman, on the web, like one that was at the medical facility two days ago.  It was a wire body, covered in man-made sheepskin, and was adorable.  I didn't get a picture but maybe I'll find one and share it.  Anyway, the blog, Recaptured Charm, showed up in the search.

I'm so thankful for the internet!  Thank you so much for sharing so many ideas, Lisa!

Hope you enjoy her pages!  I'll be back tomorrow to post for Five Minute Friday....

Now, close your eyes and ignore all the words above....This is for Wordless Wednesday:

Tuesday's Sky over the Y 

Monday Music and UPDATE.. I took Google+ comments off.

Couldn't stand them being tagged on...  Yecht!

Otherwise this is Music Monday, Yay!

This you can get up on the flatscreen, if either you or IT are "SMART" enough.  I;m not!



Make it full screen....

Netlfix has a few regular snapping fireplace things but they only last about an hour.  This lasts for 2!

This is a little longer.



So if you aren't sweating your way through a Christmas Down under, go ahead and try these jolly old things!

Did you see that coming? Sunday Stealing

Sorry this is so late.  The tiny hard drive on my Ancient One was spitting up all day......And the plumber broke something in the wall.  The plumber is DH.  Dirty Hands?

December 6, 2014

Are You?

Welcome back to Sunday Stealing which originated on WTIT: The Blog authored by Bud Weiser. Here we will steal all types of memes from every corner of the blogosphere. Our promise to you is that we will work hard to find the most interesting and intelligent memes. You may have heard of the expression, “honor amongst thieves”. In that age-old tradition, we try to credit the blog that we stole it from. We also provide a link to the victim's meme in our "Previous Victims" widget. (It's our way of saying "Thanks!") Sometimes we edit the original meme, to make it more relevant to our global players, to challenge our players, to select the best questions, or simply to make it less repetitive from this new meme or recently asked questions from a previously featured meme.
Cheers to all of us thieves!!!

The Are You Meme 

Stolen from: From My Random Randomness

1) Are you psychic in any way?
Psychic?  If I were, I'd have earned a lot of money telling people how to avoid certain t-t-trouble, including myself.

2) Are you a good dancer?
I was

3) Are you a good singer?
I was

4) Are you a good cook?
Yes

5) Are you a good artist?
I think so, maybe...

6) Are you a good listener?
I'm such a good listener that I scare people.  I stare at them too intently.

7) Are you a good public speaker?
I can do it, since being cured of terminal shyness, but I still don't like really big crowds, or giving the eulogy at funerals.  Don't like that.

8) Are you a good babysitter?
Heaven's yes.  Nothing in the world is better than watching kids.  Well, maybe drawing, and baking cookies.

9) Are you a good mechanic?
I am mechanically inclined and like to fix things.  Once my brother and I rebuilt part of the engine on a 56 Chevy pick-up truck.  Our paternal unit let us help and we did different systems.

10) Are you a good diplomat?
No.  My policy is that if you want to know what I think about something, be prepared, or don't ask.

11) Are you a good employee?
Basically, I quit jobs if the boss is an ..er...you know.  I've liked four jobs and quit two others, and only one of the bosses in the quit category was an ..er... you know.  She treated everyone rotten.  She was a mean, angry old woman.  Sort of like me now. hehehe

12) Are you a good dresser?
I used to like to dress to the nines.  Anymore, I just can't be bothered.  Who really wants to wear a bra all day?

13) Are you a good swimmer?
Absolutely, I am.  I like the Ocean and like to swim in it.

14) Are you a good skier?
Never tried it before it was too late.  Knees, you know.  Skating was something I loved to do, but not on ice; sadly I never got a chance at it.  There was an ice rink near where we were moving.  But I was five months preggers and when I said, "I am going to learn to ice skate now!" everyone in the car reminded me of my "delicate Condition".  It was a scream at the time.  Ice skaters are just beautiful when they are really really good at it.

15) Are you a good gift giver?
Not sure.  I used to love gift giving.  I don't make anything anymore, and it's just not the same.  I can't tailor it TO anyone.

16) Are you a good musician?
Not really.  I mean I am good or was on the guitar, and can make up songs right off the top of my head.  A fun trick around campfires.  But in a band, no, never got the chance.

17) Are you a good comedian?
I am only good at droll one liners

18) Are you a good cleaner?
I used to keep my house well.  Now, I have such a crook body that no, I am not a good cleaner.

19) Are you a good actor?
No.  I've always admired good acting but I only was in one play in middle school.  It was fun.  I played a witch.
20) Are you a good writer?
If only.......

Saturday9 It's late! It's a Yakfest I tell ya! PLus Saturday Komeekz and Saturday Matinee

Welcome to Saturday: 9. What we've committed to our readers is that we will post 9 questions every Saturday. Sometimes the post will have a theme, and at other times the questions will be totally unrelated. Those weeks we do "random questions," so-to-speak. We encourage you to visit other participants posts and leave a comment. Because we don't have any rules, it is your choice. We hate rules. We love memes, however, and here is today's meme!

Saturday 9: Lucky Star (1983)

Unfamiliar with this week's song? Hear it here.


1. Have you ever wished upon a star?
Yes, and with all my heart I wished for my brother to not have to go to Viet Nam.  I think the prayers and fasting is what did it - though the star, Arcturus, couldn't have hurt the odds.

2. In the 1980s, Madonna considered her wrist bangles one of her fashion trademarks. What's one of your fashion trademarks?
I once wore a lot of funky earrings and great rings.  But not for long.  It was serious that war in Viet Nam, I had to pay attention to it lots sooner than I wanted to.  I blame Howard Hunt.

3. Though she got good grades, Madonna could be disruptive at school, known for turning cartwheels in the halls between classes. Can you do a cartwheel?
I used to be able to do that, and do back flips.  That stuff is FUN!

4. Her high grade point average earned her a dance scholarship to the University of Michigan, home of the Wolverines. Do you follow college football?
Not any more.  We used to be big fans of the Aztecs and even went and sat out the games at the old stadium.  DH was going to college there at the time.

5. Madonna co-starred in the movie version of Dick Tracy. Do you enjoy comics?
Oh Lord,  do I EVER enjoy comics.  Saturday Komeekz is something I love to plan for.

6. She played Argentinian First Lady Eva Peron in the biopic, Evita and directed a movie about Wallis Simpson. What famous 20th century woman do you wish you could meet/could have met?
Just one?  I would have wanted to meet Sylvia Plath, Shirley Chisholm, Eleanor Roosevelt, Margaret Meade, or Rachel Carson and Pat Nixon.  I think Pat Nixon was an amazing woman.

7. Madonna authored a children's book called The English Roses. Tell us about a book that had a big impact on you when you were a kid.
Oh,  I reckon I've answered this, variously, before.   But, I did find my first book (yes, a Dick and Jane) in mother's hope chest a few years back. It was read to bits.  My grandmother gave it to me the year we spent Christmas at the farm.  I was probably 3 and a half.  All I remember about the trip back to Ohio that year was that I threw up the greasiest scrambled eggs that could be imagined all over my pretty little dress.

8. One of Madonna's "vocal idols" is Ella Fitzgerald. Who is your all-time favorite female singer? 
Like question 6, there is not just one all time favorite for me.  Ella is certainly one of my idols.  Aretha Franklin and Beverly Sills are two others that come to mind.

9. Madonna once did a Pepsi commercial. What beverages are in your refrigerator right now?
There are a few beers, both alcoholic and non, four different kinds of fruit juice, some red wine, and a bottle of water.  I think there might be some of my favorite root beer and maybe a Jamaican ginger beer.  It comes in a green bottle and it's very good.

Saturday Komeekz

Saturday Matinee, Two Dog Shows that have nothing to do with the AKC.

"Animal House"... a TV show about a the largest and oldest No Kill Shelter in the United States...Great Stories about saving Rescues!

"Dogs with Jobs"..  Another show that will put some smiles on your faces.

These are a Wonderful Christmas sort of entertainment because they are such good uplifting ones.

Five Minute Friday: dear

The button is in the sidebar for Kate's Prompt page, and the rules are simple and clear.  For this Meme you write a five minute post, flat out, no stopping for anything at all, until the five minutes are up.  It's like the stream of consciousness writings of Jack Kerouac.  And, you also visit at least a few of your fellow word bloggers pages to comment and encourage them!  Sweet!

dear:

The courage to make dear, dear as your own life, is not well bred into humans apparently.  We start by finding love, or a love, in the life partner we choose.  They become as dear as family, and by extension all of their family is now one's own family and can/should be considered dear to one.  At least in a perfect place of harmony this would happen.

But it is also essential to world peace.  World Peace is generally more of a thing that women hold dear, as their tender children are being raised in this world.  When and if we hold dear, every other sentient being, of course including all the other earthlings is a natural extension of holding our own children dear.  I've really not got a lot more to say so I'll end it at four minutes.  Dear Ones, I hope you understand.

stop

Thankful Thursday

Grateful really, for all this rain!  Now if a Santa Ana doesn't blow and suck it all back out again over the next week we'll be reaaally thankful!  We saved Three barrels of water.  I intend to up that to six.  Next is an above ground Cistern.

Water madness comes next, with a Narrow Water Tower on the hill for natural flow!  We can disguise it with a few fake Palms or Spruces, like a modern phone tower*  there you go, a shade forest that requires no water to maintain, and a water storage system!  Or, maybe THIS, with plastic flowers and artificial turf replacing the Tort's little "playground".  They eat any flowers I plant over there in the "flat".  Actually, I'm thankful for the ability to laugh, and to plant more cactus.  That will teach them to mow down my flowers.

Sound like a plan to me!  Now to convince Mr. Z.

Wordless Wednesday: Storm over the 101 approaching the Coastal Mountains above Ventura

Tuesday Tails. Tort Report, and Rabbit Dressage.. almost

The big torts have been put to bed, as we expect, drum roll, a biggish rainstorm tonight after which it will be officially, The Wet.

One year, sometime before 1980 when it wasn't so dry, we left Pappa Churchie out too long because we couldn't find him. He had dug himself a tunnel.  We figured that wherever he was, it was ok.  That mindset lasted until we got about 4 inches of rain in a couple of back to back storms. A few days later, I found him after a thorough search over and under everything in the side yard and back 40.

There he was, bind the little deck, over an arm's length deep, and buried in water and mud.  I dug in after him for a ways and then just jammed my arm all the way in to get a hold on one of his back feet.  I pulled him the rest of the way out of his Subway to Heaven, sodden but still alive.

Since then, we put all three of them in their little heat regulated garage well before there is any danger of either frost- don't laugh, it happens even here in sunny SoCal- or rain.  Churchie weighed in at 10 pounds, exactly the weight he was after hibernation-actually it's torpor- this year.  Poko Ono lost a little bit and weighed 11, and Lucky, their fair eyed son, at 10.75 and gained about two pounds.

He's a growing boy!   He now weighs more than his Daddy but not quite as much as his Mamma.  I think he is going to be a lot bigger when he's done growing.

The two babies, though they are three or mqaybe four years old - i forget - will stay out and running around on good days, and be sheltered on the days that would freeze a brass monkey.

The Kids, chowing down on watermelon this early summer.  The brick end is a size indicator, being 3 inches wide.

Milagro, the whopper, on the left, Dusty on the right.

You're going to like this!  Look at the red and white caution crossing signs on the uprights there....