Red Velvet Cake, Pirates, and Sunday Stealing

Let me make a little stab at this fun meme:
Comejoin in the fun.  the button on the side bar MEMEs will take you there.

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.
Let's go!!!

From Bzoink
The 20Q Meme

1. When you buy a greetings card are the words or the picture more important to you?
Words are most important, but I'd never buy an ugly card, either.

2. What's your favorite kind of cake?
Red Velvet cake. the first time I made it, it was love forever.  This is a bunt cake and an interesting shape.

Source page for Recipe

3. Do you ever make gifts for people, if so what, or do you buy them?
I make many sorts of gifts:  Ceramics, knitted gifts, sewn gifts, jewelry of all sorts.  I'm a silversmith.

4. You are chosen to have lunch with the President. The condition is you only get to ask one question. What do you ask?
Which President?  Oh there is one royally illusive question I'd like to ask a former president, if he's not already in Paraguay on his new ranch. 

5. Which do you dislike most: pop-up ads or spam email?
I'm an equal opportunity disliker of dross.  I Dislike them both.

6. What was the best party you've ever been to?
It was a Halloween party.  I dressed as an Naval Officer - a Commander.

I picked him because he has a Tash.

 Somehow I managed to stuff all of my exuberant and long hair into a short gray wig, and I wore a mustache.  After it was all over, an actual Commander that I knew at the time offered to buy my costume from me so I sold it.

7. Which is worse, being in a place that is too loud, or too quiet?  Too Quiet?

Too LOUD!  Gah!  My poor ears.  There is never anywhere too quiet unless it's in the forest and the birds stop singing.  Then you wish you weren't there.

8. You are offered an envelope that you know contains $50. You are then told that you may either keep it or exchange it for another envelope that may contain $500 or may be empty. Do you keep the first envelope, or do you take your chances with the second?  

"Bird in the hand" person that I am, I'd most likely take the $50.

9. Do you wish cellphone etiquette was a required class upon purchasing one?

Time magazine- Cell Phone Madness

Yes.

10. What's the most messed up food combination that you've had that was actually good?
Coney Island hotdogs with the works.  Hot dog, Saur Kraut, chili con carne, onions, and cheddar cheese on a buttered bun with mustard.  Delicious!

11. What's one of your most random pet peeves (something that annoys you)?
I don't like to hear people chewing gum.  If they do it with lips closed it's fine.  Otherwise it annoys the beejeebers out of me.

12. When is the last time you had home cooking?

Several days ago.

13. If you could be a fictional character from a book who would you choose?

Picture Source

Legolas.  I want to be both an elf and an archer, and totally HOT!

14. If you could be in a television sit-com, which would you choose?
Frazer, I'd like to be the love child of Frazer and Roz.

15. If you could be any animal or creature for one day, what would it be?

I'd be a wild horse on the Nes Perce Rez.  I want to know what horses think and be a wild Indian Pony.

16. What's your favorite girl's name?
Princess  ;p

17. What's your favorite boy's name?

 David or Nicolas.

18. What's your supermarket of choice?
Staff of Life, anywhere.

19. If you were to attend a costume party tonight, what or whom would you go as?
I'd borrow a friend's parrot, and dress up as Wallace Beery the Pirate

20. What is your concession stand must-have at the movies?

What I bring in my jacket pocket, unless the popcorn gets me as soon as I walk in.  I never go to the movies!  Who am I kidding?  There's no pause button!

Thankful Thursday.. The Generosity of Strangers.

The generosity of Strangers has rescued many a soul.  God Bless the Generous, for whom I am eternally grateful.   From the CalTrans workers who rescued my DD and friends in the desert I-10 years ago, to the neighbor who shared lovely figs with us this summer, I'm grateful.  It's the person to person things that count in so many lives, and are such a blessing.  Forget the selfish gimme - gimme going on in government and elsewhere.  It's the kindness of peers that truly can heal the cracks in a broken heart.

I laud the generous people who share How-to's and patterns at various sites, who teach others how to read, including adults who now can proudly read their children books at bed time, and those at Drops Design, who have put up their Easter Pattern Selection . It's all very cute stuff!  The patterns almost make me want to join Pinterest in order to share them!  Almost..... hehe  These are my favorites:

Socks, of course.  But there are many  cute things

Bunny pot holders

Tippy Chicks

Weather Report:  we have a little Squallish weather today so that's good.  Really, we need another nice soaking rain - more like a dozen more - but I'll be happy with what comes.   So, another gratefulness.

HERE is a collection of Squalls from painter Lynne Foy, who is wonderful.  Follow the gallery links to other painters in the New England area.  Regretting nothing, I still dream and say, ".....In another life ......"   ;o)

I'm slowly figuring out how to live with this new thing going on.  I just want to make it through to the end of May without any more DRAMA!!   Fingers crossed!   I'm intent on keeping my brain to myself and not have it out there in space somewhere doing uncharacteristic things and getting me into trouble.  I feel like a two year old - tiny, powerful, and totally MAD!  Hmmm....  Maybe I'll settle for "four year old" but absolutely not a two year old.  Four year old's know how to have fun without pissing off a bunch of people.

 Beam me up Scottie!

Not so Wordless Wednesday- little whining apology, and, Last rose and First Rose

I must apologize for some March Madness that I've been exhibiting the last several days.  Bad medicine, in the literal sense of the word, got the best of me.  There is nothing like a cranky pancreas to hove you o'er board of your little sabot.

Sabot Source

I have lost my mind here and there across the web.  But it won't happen again or, I swear, I'll just quit blogging and jump off the end of the pier.

Some roseate beauty:

December 7th, 2013

March 19th. 2014

Tuesday tails: Wolfie goes to the Vet; Horsezzz Buzzzz; The Breeding Back Blog; Nez Perce tribal lands

Wolfie, that stalwart stubby legged wee doggie whom I thought, upon seeing him, was part Scottie dog, has got the all clear on his left eye.  It is now producing more tears than the healthy one so we might have to keep an eye on the other one, too.   His left eye is normal, looking less like a street scuffed black marble.  

He's listening for Papa, whom he can hear.

The Littlest family member, though he does actually outweigh the kitties, will need his eye meds for the rest of his life.  He's now all well, just part Shih Tsu, and getting up there in years.  This snap was taken in Santa Cruz in 2012.

Cattle: If you are interested in many many things that have to do with all animals, this is one aspect that I never thought was going on except in a very few places with very few animals- like with cattle in Africa.

Horses: First a link that Elle sent us a while back.  It's about a breed of indigenous Iberian Horses.
http://phys.org/news/2014-03-ancient-beasts-roam-spain-wilderness.html

More about Horses:  In the United States, we all know that the Nez Perce tribe kept their own developed breed lines alive, in the Appaloosa, and were "given" back, some years ago, about 10,000 acres of their own lands by the BLM  in partial answer to the long time tribal stand against treaty violations by the U.S. Government.

Even More Ancient Breeds get help:  And this is site is The Breeding Back Blog , which keeps track of what's going on in the whole of Europe, and maybe the world.

Let's take care of Mother Earth, it's the Only Planet we have.  

Monday Music,: B-B-Boston! "More Than a Feeling" and MeMe apologies!

I love, LOVE this song!!




And, I will be catching up on all the bloggers who do the MeMe's with me this week.  Sorry I got so far behind!

Sunday stealing night Lights? We don't need no stinking night lights.

The Seventeen Meme

I can't get the Sunday Stealing post to copy here, so what you see is just the questions.  If you could like to join in, please click on the link up there ^ for the full Monty, so to speak.

From For The Adventure 

1. Do you know triplets? 
I did at one time, when I was in the Mothers of Twin's Club.  All multiples were in the club.  Believe me, we really needed the help, speakers, and the camaraderie!  For the first three months of the twins lives, I found it hard to have time to wash my hair!  Them I found the twins club.  If you happen to find yourself with twins, try to find a local Mothers of Twins Club.  They really DO know what you are going through!

2. Do you prefer Titanic or The Notebook? 
I don't know what those are, but if I had to choose I wouldn't  choose Titanic - for obvious reasons.  But, if it's about computers, I have a Notebook and love that little devil almost more than I can say.  It's totally cool.

3. Have you ever eaten Indian food? 
Yes, and can honestly say the ONLY thing I really like about it is the Naan.   I adore Naan.  The Food?  It's the spices, I think, and I'm just not used to them, but they do these amazing milk ball treats that I'd love to be able to eat still.  Those are Yummy!  Dal is terrific; we had some in a Sri Lankan restaurant in Santa Cruz last year.

4. What’s the name of your favorite restaurant? 
Nicolosi's.  Before that was Zolezzi's but it doesn't exist anymore.  Now I've stopped eating wheat.  Byebye American Pie, too.  Apologies to the Don McClean.

5. Who’s your favorite person in the world? 
I really hate favorite person questions, and never know what to say, really. You must mean besides my family members and friends?  I guess that would be The Dali Lama.

We were driving through a parking lot in Santa Cruz to visit a leather store, and we rounded a corner and there was a tiny truck with a huge picture of the Dali Lama on the side, smiling his adorable smile.  I just had to smile back.  Here's one of him laughing at something someone said.

Photo Source

The link goes to a very good article on a blog.

6. Would you rather live in a rural area or in the suburbs? 
I'm a farm girl.  I want to live on another farm; tiny, maybe, but a farm.  I don't really want animals but would absolutely consider rescuing a few smaller farm animals and of course, dogs.

7. Can you whistle? 
Oh yes, I can.  I can whistle songs I can no longer sing.  And, I try to imitate bird songs.  It's so much FUN!

8. Do you sleep with a nightlight?
Only when I'm sick and need to take meds at night.  If I could have one like this I just might leap for it!

Picture Source

9. Do you eat breakfast every morning?
Always.  It's the time of day that I'm hungriest.

10. Do you take any pills or medication daily? 
Is the Pope Italian?

11. How many times have you been to the hospital as a patient? 
Happily only four times.  *touches wood* That's three times for babies, and one for a knee replacement surgeon.  I love that guy.  I can't jump rope or do cartwheels but this knee feels like my own.  The Wrist was an out patient surgery with an amazing surgeon.  Yay!

12. Have you ever seen Finding Nemo? 
Now that is an off the wall question if there ever was one!  Hmmm.  Yes, I may even own it.  I love LOVE the products from Pixar or Dreamworks.

13. Where do you buy your jeans? 
Marketing alertS!  Hmm.  I haven't bought a pair of jeans for ages.  Where I bought the last pair?  Probably just from a retailer that sells women's Levis and lets you try them on first.  Sears, I think, which of course isn't Sears anymore.

14. What’s the last compliment you got? 
A friend said I was "wonderful".  Cheered me up no end.  I think she is, too.

15. Do you usually remember your dreams in the morning?
Sometimes but I have to write them down unless they are really wacky like the last one.  Last night I dreamed of an immense,  multi-storied building where people all lived together in a sort of musical society.  Lots of singing and dancing.  But so many STAIRS!  There were no elevators and there were people and kids and their pets simply EVERYwhere.  The place seemed to be as full of people as a sport's stadium.

16. What flavor tea do you enjoy? 
Only one?  

Link To Up Magazine Source

That's like asking a coffee drinker what coffee they like.  I like Green, Red (Rooibos), Lady Grey, Earl Grey, and about a half dozen others that I'm just too lazy to go look for in the kitchen.  I'll get my lazy butt off this chair and go look.  Stay Tuned! *musical interlude*   There is Tetley, Lemon Lift, Stash Lemon Ginger, T.J.'s Organic Chamomile Herbal Tea, Tazo "Passion", and some more I can't reach on my own.

17. What social media sites do you use?
What are those?  Honestly, I don't know for sure.  I use Blogger, and have a passing acquaintance with Facebook, and I give Twitter a wave now and then.  There's Ravelry and Knitter's Review, and I like Knitty, and even a peek at Woodworker's Mag because I love wood, and the wacky world of Men. Wood though, I LOVE the stuff.  I can not throw a piece of wood away and don't like to burn hardwoods.  They have other uses much more beautiful than producing a fire.  Did I just go off on you?  I did didn't I?
------------------------------------------
So, I tried to answer each question fully and sort of in a Friend's circle way.This is always a lot of fun.  Come on over and Pile On!  The Button is in the side bar under Weekly MeMe's.

Just for fun, here's a picture of some beautiful Nez Perce Appaloosas that I found on the web when I was doing some research:

M-Y Sweetwater Appaloosa Ranch Site Horses

Have a great Sunday.  Remember the little Joys.

Feel like Dancing? Saturday 9

Copacabana

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



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!

1) This song refers to the merengue and the cha-cha. Are you a good dancer?

At one time I was fairly good. I would have loved to have learned more.

 2) Dances like the merengue and cha-cha are featured on Dancing with the Stars. Are you a loyal DWTS viewer?
I just went to look at a preview for 2014.  No way.  I don't like the way it's presented and I love latin dancing.  We used to watch the competitions on PBS, for the Nationals in ball room dancing, and liked that.  That's Flash enough for the likes of me.

3) The Copa girl in the song, Lola, wears yellow feathers in her hair and a dress cut down to there. If we were going to the clubs tonight, what would you wear?

I'm just not into nightclubs at all anymore.

4) The real Copacabana nightclub was on East 60th Street in New York. It was used as a setting for the movie Goodfellas. Do you have a favorite mobster movie?

Unless they happen to be in a spyspoof or something, no, I don't like them.  Danny DeVito might make a cute mobster, but, no. I did like him as the little criminal in "Other People's Money".

5) Our featured artist, Barry Manilow, has unfortunately spent a great deal of this young century in the hospital -- broken nose, face lift, chest pains and two hip surgeries. Tell us about your most recent trip to the doctor, ER, or dentist.

No. Let's just say it wasn't any fun. My new motto for life is, "Let it go the instant it's over."

6) Manilow told US Magazine that he enjoys nude sunbathing. Have you ever skinny dipped or sunbathed au naturel?

No,and never was.  I'm strictly a suited bather unless it's the bathtub.  Mr.Z remodeled the bathroom in our first house, and he set up an outdoor (and cold water) shower outside.  It was completely private, and I still wore a two piece. Brrr it was cold!

7) Before he became famous as a performer, Manilow was a very successful jingle writer. "Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there …" and "You deserve a break today at McDonald's …" were his. Tell us about a TV commercial you saw recently.

I don't watch TV shows because too many of them are a waste of time, and I hate commercials anyway.

8) The Manilow faithful are known as Fanilows and proudly wear Barry hoodies, wristwatches and even dog tags.  Do you have any clothes that feature a recording artist?

Not anymore. I had a gorgeous tee shirt with Eddie Van Halen on it that DD2  air brushed one year. She is an amazing artist.

9) In 2005, Manilow refused to respond when Larry King inquired about his sexuality. Do you think it's rude for interviewers to ask personal questions? Or is it something a performer should expect because it goes with the job?

It's flat out rude. Larry King probably didn't start it but he's one of the first to have been over the top. And things have just gotten a lot more rude since then. The doors were swung open so wide that we have probably got the most ugly set of talk show manners of all, since unhappily, TV seems to lead the way. The "talking heads" seem to be shameless.


End  .......Thank you, Sam, for this fun meme!  Sorry, I just don't watch TV very much, if ever.

Cute little Martian Brain Thief

Note from Sam:
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 on next Saturday for another version of Saturday: 9, "Just A Silly Meme on a Saturday!" Enjoy your weekend!

Friday Five Minutes.

If you would like to play, go HERE for the word of the week and scroll down for all the participants.  The only "rule" is that you please go to another participant's blog and leave words of encouragement of sharing.  It's truly a lovely experience.  Come join?

The word this Friday is Joy:

If you find Joy in the smallest things you can keep an even keel.  Your little boat stays upright.  I used to think that big joys were the most important thing, now I know that small ones are everyday and accessible.   Even when I was in severe pain I could focus my mind away from that pain and find a small joy, Otherwise it would be impossible to live through so many things that happen to a person.  This is why people keep a house plant or pictures around them in odd places.  So that they can feel Joy when viewing it.  This is why people have pets, or a hobby because it takes them away from what is going on that may be disturbing or what may be hurting, physically, spiritually or emotionally, and let them go somewhere where time suspends and those aches go away.  This is the way I feel when I'm knitting or painting.  It's one reason I started my craft show hops.  For the joy.  I have to go eat dinner now so that's all I can say about my joy.

Stop

Later: Homemade chicken/Rice soup with kale.  Buttered corn chips.  Nice!

Friday 5 fun. Cat got your tongue?

Friday 5 for March 21: Nature

Hello, and welcome to this week’s Friday 5! Please copy these questions to your webspace. Answer the questions there; then leave a comment below so we’ll all know where to check out your responses. Please don’t forget to link us from your website!


   1.  When did you most recently feel like a salmon swimming upstream?

This last three weeks have been rough.  I've been sick, and thought I was going to have serious problems-caused by a new medicine that messes with the pancreas.  Still having little twinges.  So I've been swimming against the currents all this time.  I think the worst is over,  Wheww!

    2. When did you most recently feel like a sheep following the herd?

The Flock?  Too be honest, I never feel this way.  Never have.  I admit to following the flock for a short time when the kids seemed like they were suffering from my slight eccentricity but that didn't last.  They learned not to follow the herd, too.  I am my own person. and so are they.
 
    3. When did you most recently feel like a dog whose bark is worse than its bite?

I'm just not a "biter" or a" barker" in real life.  I dislike conflict and "noise".  I don't mind tilting at windmills in this blog, however.

    4. When did you most recently feel like the cat whom curiosity killed?  These questions are all quite cute, you know?

Let's see, I'm a very curious person, and so very much like to find out things and solve mysteries.  The last time it got me into trouble was on  a Thanksgiving night after dinner.  My sister and I heard a noise outside the back slider.  I jumped up, saying excitedly, "That must be the cute, little possum who comes to eat the cat's food!"  Well, it wasn't.  The huge German Shepherd who lived at the house behind us, still crouched in the corner, had jumped the fence.  When we dashed out he was absolutely terrified and so were we!

We both screamed and he bounded off, the whole length of the yard. He leapt the other end of the fence, which wasn't as much of a hill.  Our husbands had come rushing to our aide but they also helped to scare the poor dog out of it's wits.    He was young and sweet so he was no match for two screaming women and their mates!  He knew flight was his only option because there is a great big hill in this corner he'd just jumped. 

    5. When did you last keep the hours of a night owl?  

Three or so weeks ago I had to give up "the good life" and set the alarm.  I haven't been a night owl since then.  Now I wake up before 6am and fall asleep at 11 or so. 

Thankful Thursday, Rainwater storage and a sense of humor. Fun Stuff Day!

I'm thankful for the human sense of humor!  It can save your whole day!

This Getback video is a royal crackup.  I'll bet you've seen it but I just found it in my mail c/o of  Mr. Z.  In case any of you are one of the seven people, besides myself, who haven't seen it, I'm posting the video. Enjoy!



I'm also thankful for Rain and this system of Rainwater storage:

Mr.Z set up five barrels at the down spouts, and will add more.  This is a very clever way to catch rain water for the garden.  He figured this out, and I'm pretty proud of him.  The hoses fill the first barrel up to the top and start to drain into the others that are connected with siphoning hoses int the next barrel down the line.   Pretty Nifty, eh?!

Yes, we do have covers for these and keep them covered so thirsty birds or animals don't get trapped in them nor will those pesky mosquitoes.............

Source

........be able to make a home for their pesky offspring!

Hang in there Friends.  There is always something to do for someone else to help them feel:
better.
braver,
calmer,
loved,
lovable,
cared about,
capable,
so "worth it",
forgivable,
less tired and weary,
like dancing,
grateful,
serene,
stronger,
cute,
adorable,
glad to be alive.

What I'm trying to say is there is always a job of some kind for you, even if you are the one receiving all or any of these caring things. With more of us working at this, inch by inch, the world recovers and is a better place for the kids and the animals we all love.  And, you know kids love animals.

Wordless Wednesday: Tiny Crassula Succulent Blossoms- 1.2 inch wide

Tuesday Tails... or how to torture yourself daily...

Picture source

I want one of these- one to go with Wolfie.  I'll take really good care of her, I promise!

I've found a sudden interest in Area 51.  Got the Documentaries, web pages, the book by Annie Jacobson, got a blog...  I'm set!  Mr. Z and I have seen an UFO while we stood in our front yard in 1970, so I want to know more!

Tuesday is also ceramic day but there is nothing to report.  

Tort report:  The "twins" are spending lots of time during the last few days outside but they have a special enclosure to protect them from anything that might want to make a little meal of them.  A Crow can still pick them up and fly away with them.  Well, a crow could get Dusty who is whimpy sized compared to Milagro, who is more like a Big Mac.  I will take a picture of their Zoo enclosure tomorrow and try to post it soon.  It's nothing fancy but it does give them a chance to live in the tall grass for a little excitement.

Lest we forget.

My hopes for For Ireland, which has suffered much.  
To our Grandparents' Ireland, whose people came to America, fleeing a famine, while Millions died at home from an indifference which showed no mercies for their miseries nor did it make a move to alleviate the problems.   It simply watched as they were gathered in to their Mother, the Earth.

May Ireland's children be able to stay home with their families, and Prosper there.

May we learn to forgive it if not forget it. Maybe not as St. Patrick would surely have urged, but a healing none the less.

Photo Source

I'm going to try to read like a fiend.

I want to read the rest of all these but some have already been read.  I'm also going to read the new book, Grain Brain as soon as I can get my hands on it.  The two new medicines I'm taking don't agree with me, and IF I can get off at least one of them, I'll be very happy.

You have a very nice week.  I'll be reading and looking for small beauties to share, too.

Sunday Stealing

The Yeah 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.

Let's go!!!

The Yeah Meme


From FYeah, Surveys!

Do you have another window or tab open? If so, what are they for?  I have Sunday Stealing open and  Gmail.

Do you like to cook/bake?  I LOVE to cook and bake.  I just wish I could still eat everything I know how to make but, Alas.... :o(

What are you currently listening to?  I'm listening to my little doggie have a dream of woofing at other dogs, or maybe strange men.  He doesn't like male strangers.

How long have you lived in the house you live in?  42 years.  I never wanted to be here this long.  I could really leave it tomorrow with no regrets.

Are you tired?  Lordy, I am always tired.  I could sleep for a week.

Do you pick your words carefully, or just tend to blurt everything out?   I've learned to pick my words carefully.  There are people around you who are carrying terrible burdens.  It is best to keep compassion to the fore and not blurt that first thing out.  I've learned this by being around Buddhists who are a lot different.  They are so calm, and all.  Mindful.

Are you nice to everyone?  Yes, there is this thing (which I believe with my whole being) about us all being connected, and I believe we greet the God within everyone when we meet them. Not only that, the two recognize each other.  It is an amazing way to initialize "meetings".  It's like Electrical Magical Mysteriousness.

Have you ever tripped in public?  I've fallen in public.  This failing has come on me as I got older.  As long as you don't mean "tripped" in public.  Nope, I've never ever done that one.

Are you a morning person or a night person?  I hate staying up really late but I don't like getting up really early anymore either.

Is it easier to forgive or forget?  Easier to forgive.  I don't think you are programmed to forget, because that's what generally is called a "first line of defense".

Is there something that’s recently shocked you?  Yes.  I learned about some politically motivated black ops things.  But really, at my age, I have no business being shocked at anything that's done.

Which is harder: walking away from somebody you love or coming back?  Walking away.

What were you doing at midnight last night? Reading Princess Bride.

What color are your eyes?  Medium brown with blue rings around the edge.

Happy Green Beer Day, or Scared all the Snakes out of Ireland Day, or....

Happy St. Patrick's Day... Monday..

"The Unicorn" was selected because Monday is St. Patrick's Day. Unfamiliar with this week's song?
Hear it  here.

1) This song was recorded by The Irish Rovers. While it's said that on St. Patrick's Day everyone is Irish, can you honestly claim Irish heritage?  Yes, my grandmother was Irish, Scot, and Welsh.  Our daughters are more Irish because of their own grandma who is half Irish.  So, we've got a lot of Irish going on in this family. ;o)

2) According to the 2000 Census, Massachusetts is the state with the largest percentage of residents of Irish descent. Have you ever been to The Bay State?  Sadly, no.  I've never been as far east as the Atlantic coast, or any New England states.  So, that is the Bay State.  It was on a Cross word puzzle today!  I couldn't get that answer until now.  Thank you!

Vintage Calvin and Hobbs- so cute!

3) Other than St. Patrick, what is Ireland famous for?  It should be famous for it's music, and the way that music influenced whole generations of singers and musicians for eons.  I'm not sure what else besides fine Irish linens.  They used to be the Hallmark of quality goods at one time.

4) St. Patrick's Day is celebrated the world over. They even watch marching bands and wave Irish flags on St. Patrick's Day in Moscow. Does your town have a St. Patrick's Day parade?   I'm sure they do.  There are several pubs downtown which will be serving green beer at least.  I'm not sure there are a lot of Irish here, but DH did play soccer with a few of them that are.  Moscow?  No kidding, who would have thunk it?!!

5) "The wearing o' the green" is one way to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. Will you wear something green in honor of the day?  I certainly will be.  Green is my most favorite color but not because of St. Patrick or Ireland.  It's because I love plants!

6) Have you ever had green beer?  No, and it doesn't look that good to me. Dh has had it at the local McDini's Pub.

I'm told they dye the Chicago river green, or part of it, and have a parade in that city.  I don't think they'd get away with it here though.  lol  Although they might.  You never know, as they can blame it on Leprechauns.  HERE is how to catch one, according to a journalist and his 10 year old son.

7) Have you ever ordered a Shamrock Shake at McDonald's?  I usually don't get ANYTHING from McDonald's but especially not if it's something that shouldn't BE green.

8) A four-leaf clover is considered good luck. Do you have a lucky charm?  I have a turquoise bear figurine but it's broken, and I haven't replaced it.  I wonder if glued together ones work as well, magically speaking?  hmm?

9) Speaking of Lucky Charms, they are magically delicious.  What brand of cereal is in your kitchen right now?  I wouldn't touch Lucky Charm cereal with a ten foot pole.  Eww!  So much Corn syrup!!  Anyway, I like Organic "O"s from Trader Joe's.. that's for summer,  Winter cereal is hot oatmeal with cinnamon, cranberries, and a little brown sugar, or conversely, with only salt, pepper and fake butter.  I can even eat oatmeal plain in a pinch.  How is that for the Irish in me?

Don't drink too much green Beer or the road may rise up to meet
your face.  Something's wrong with this Irish Blessing.  Darn how does that go?

Bedtime!  I don't have time to Google that...Nighty night!  See y'all soon!

Yawn!

There is a new study that naps are normal sleeping patterns.  If only the world were run FOR human beings instead of BY the richest ones, who can sleep anytime they want to!  Eh?  

If you've got 'em, Floss 'em! Friday 5

Friday 5!  You can join in by finding the link in the side bar, and clicking on the little button!
Eeeeee! It's Alive!!!!


Hello, and welcome to this week’s Friday 5! Please copy these questions to your webspace. Answer the questions there; then leave a comment below so we’ll all know where to check out your responses. Please don’t forget to link us from your website!

First Line of Defense!

1. What are your weapons in the fight against bad breath?
I carefully brush my teeth, floss and use mouthwash.  When I was younger, and still watching the darn thing, I remember a TV ad for tooth floss, where a gray haired lady, dressed in blue jeans and a blue and white flannel shirt, extolled the joy of having her own teeth.  She reached down and pulled a carrot out of her garden plot, brushed it off, and chomped off a big hunk.  She said, "If you got 'em, Floss 'em!"

2. What activity most recently caused you to be out of breath?  I've been having a wee bit of trouble breathing lately, so I guess you could say that walking from one room to the other this afternoon was a bit hairy.  I'm better now, thanks to the wonders of modern Pharmaceuticals and a lot of the readies.

 3. How does your breath smell right now?
Very good, actually.  I am off to bed soon and just brushed my teeth.  My mouthwash is a new kind for dry mouth, and I like it's minty taste.

4. What are some songs in your iTunes (or other media player) whose titles contain the word “breath” or “breathe?” Which is your favorite?  Only this one, and it is my favorite:



5. What was the last thing you cleaned using condensation from your breath?   My glasses.  This is weird.  When I did this last night, I thought about  how strange it was that a person's breath has enough moisture in it to bead up on a surface and allow for cleaning off the spots.  And here it is in a MeMe!

Have a great day!  TGIF!

Story about little 12 year old Docksie left at shelter.

I am so thankful for people who do this work for animals.

This is a wonderful story.  It comes from Yahoo news page via Kerri Fivecoat-Campbell, and Pet260.com

By: Kerri Fivecoat-Campbell | Pet360.com

"An elderly couple who left their 13 ½ year old Dachshund tied outside of the Baldwin Park Animal Shelter near Los Angeles with a note asking for him to put to sleep because they could not afford to care for him will be reunited with the dog.

The heartbreaking note reads, "Our dog is 13 1/2 years old he is sick starting yesterday with bloody stools, vomiting. Had a skin disease for a few years. We are both seniors, sick with no money. We cannot pay for vet bills, or to put him to sleep. He has never been away from us in all those years, he cannot function without us, please put him to sleep."

Instead, shelter workers called Leave No Paws Behind, Inc., an all breed, all foster based rescue that specializes in seniors, who picked up the dog and initially named him Harley. When the dog was taken to a veterinarian, it was determined he could not only be treated, but most likely had a "couple of more years" left in him, according to an update on the organization's Facebook page.
The rescue realized the little dog had been well-cared for and according to the note, very much loved, so they decided to try to reach out to the dog's owners.

When the dog owners came forward, they explained they are indeed both sick and cannot even afford their medical treatments or tires for their vehicle. They had taken their dog, who is actually named Otto Wolfgang Maximus, to a veterinarian and were told that they would need to run costly tests. When they realized they couldn't even afford to have their dog euthanized by the vet, they were "hysterical" and didn't know what else to do aside from leaving him at the shelter.

"We just are living week to week," one of the pet parents, who wished to remain anonymous, told KTLA in an interview. "We can't even go to the hospital to get our treatment."
Although they had read the judgments people were making about their decision after the story was made public, they reached out to the rescue anyway. "I was in tears when I realized that their love for this darling little man outweighed their fear of what people may say about them and I knew instantly, our decision to try to reunite Otto with his humans was the right decision!" reads the post on Leave No Paws Behind.
The organization believes the Otto's owners loves him very much and just felt they had no other choice. "Ninety eight percent of the rescues we take in belong with us," said Toby Wisneski, founder of Leave No Paws Behind. "There are 1-2 percent of owners who love their animals very much and just believe they have no other option but to surrender them."

Wisneski has decided to make the couple a permanent foster for Otto and return the dog to them with the provision they can make regular, weekly visits to the home. The organization will maintain the cost of Otto's food and veterinary care for the rest of his life.
The couple lives outside of California and was on a ministry trip when they dropped Otto at the shelter. They will pick the dog up at the end of the month when they are able to get enough money to purchase new tires for their vehicle.
According to Pet Insurance Zone, the average cost of a visit to the vet has soared to $190 for cats and $360 for dogs. The cost rose 64 percent between 1998 and 2006.
The cost of having a beloved pet euthanized is not cheap, either. One veterinarian paper put the total cost between $150-$800, which includes veterinarian services, drugs and cremation.
According to the most recent study by the National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy (NCPPSP), a total of 13 percent of the dogs relinquished by owners to shelters is due to the financial inability to care for the animal, personal problems or a pet's illness. An estimated 1.5-3.5 million animals each year are relinquished to shelters by their owners.

Wisneski said pet owners should check with local rescues and shelters, many of which have accounts to help owners in financial crisis. Leave No Paws Behind even has a memorial fund set up to help people with euthanasia if they cannot afford it and the pet is terminally ill."

Explore More at Pet360.com

Thankful Thursday- doctors, ceramics, tort report, bird report, Sis

 
Today is Thankful Thursday, and I'm thankful for being able to see doctors when I need to.  Hallyloolie!

But, I'm not thankful for the new stat patch that gives me a roaring headache most times of the day until it wears off.  Happily I wear it at night, mostly, and it only gives me nightmares:  two nights ago there was one with some fairly nice man in a baseball cap who was trying (very kindly) to boss me around.  Since Mr. Z never wears such a cap, nor does he try to boss me around,  this Knight-mare male was a surprise!  He was trying to get me to tell him something, and I remember not wanting to tell him.  Maybe it's too many Cop shows on Netflix?

Ceramics:  We haven't gotten the kilns fixed but we will at some point.   But I did get this ready to fire:

Puff Santa with Friends

The backside

We had fun on Tuesday.  I helped my friend paint the edges of her flowers, we talked about a few things but mostly we sat and painted our pieces.  It was amazingly peaceful.  I still miss my buddy Bob O, but I'll keep trying to entice him to come back and paint some wonderful flowerpots!  They don't have faces and they don't have clothing, boots or hats!  That's what I'll be making next.  Flowerpots, lots and lots of flowerpots!  And, I'll be making one more birdhouse tree to replace the one I knocked over and broke when my wonky leg hit the table's leg.  I was so sick about it and upset that I wanted to quit for good!  After awhile, I relented.

This is the only picture of that darling little tree that I could find:

Nice piece but sold already

 The photo is by way of THIS EBAY seller - who may have  found it at a garage sale or Thrift store.   This tree is painted with acrylic paints, which is a perfectly legitimate thing, but just not as nice as a glazed piece.  You can make the picture  extra BIG for detail. 


 The Tort Report:

Churchie in Back, Poko in foreground

Lucky on the left, Churchie on the right.

Churchie, Poko Ono, and Lucky are out of hibernation.  Churchie lost a half a pound, Poko  lost 7 ounces, and Lucky - their oldest baby of 24years or so - lost a pound and an ounce.  They need some serious fattening up!  First they get a warm water soak for awhile.  That helps everything get going for them.  Then they can feast on all the lovely winter weeds.

Bird Report:  A new baby Scrub Jay is singing in the bottle brush.  It always amazes me how sweet they sound when they entertain themselves between feedings by the parents.  They sound like a songbird but very subdued.  Every once in awhile they will break out with a harsh sound, which is what their adult voice is like.  Yes, like male human children, the scrubbies do have a voice change.

We have had a few little flocks of Chipping Sparrows in the weed patch the last week.  Since we live within three miles of the biggest urban park in the country, most birds don't have to look far for suitable feeding areas within that park.  A few will still drop in for a snack, though.  I love birds.

My sister and I had an interesting visit.  We went down memory lane a bit.  She was running out of things to do, and I am going to be taking things that I have just sitting around here down to her.  She will be able to occupy that urge she has to be Artsy Crafty.    She can't walk well, and sometimes has to lie down for hour after hour, but she is still amazing to me in what she can do when her energy comes back in those little spurts.

She is now in possession of a few pin kits that had been boxed up and ignored since a place called H&H was still in business.  I miss H&H.  It was WAY better than Michaels.  I miss Lee Wards, too.  There was also San Diego Floral that had EVERYTHING for making floral arrangements, and of course, there was B&B, similar to H&H but you could get Tree trunks there, for Heaven's sake!  That's what happens when local businesses get pushed out.  Anyway, we mourn the loss. 

Well, that's all folks!  I'll do  the three Weekend Meme's but might not get back during the week.  I'm having an interesting time getting used to all my new "stuff".    The cardiologist said today that, over time,  with adjusting and tinkering, this thing will be put under control.  It's just that in the meantime, I can expect more of these episodes.

Isn't that just screaming, great fun to know???!!   Ooooooo!  I just can't wait!

From Jamie's Blog.  Check him Out!

Wordless Wednesday - Torrey Skies 2012

Hippo saves Gnu. At last! After all that horrid footage of Croc vs Gnus!

This has gone viral.  I'm saving it here to watch over and over again.

Tuesday tales.... Hair vs Fur

I just washed my hair in body wash by mistake, and am I ever sorry.  I think I've got fur now.

I look like this, sans the Tash:

Foto c/o Google pix

I think I'm a little prettier than Albert. too, but maybe not.  My ex trainer always kidded me about being able to find me anywhere in the gym just by looking for that Einstein hair.  Anywho, this all got me to thinking if anyone had ever made a wig for hair like Herr Einstein's.  And, yes, they make them all the time!  Here's one thing that is right up a knitter's alley... it's made from unraveled fat wool yarns and some other stuff.

http://www.ehow.com/how_8447209_make-albert-einstein-wig.html

Go on.  You always wanted one, right?  No?

I took the knitting out and looked at it.  Nada.  I don't want to do it at all.  This might be permanent.
Re the news media: I feel more and more like a lab rat being tested for my reaction to horror, shock and Awe.

Tiny Rare Butterflies- it is good to know they are around.

Hundreds of these little fellows, they are only one and a half inches big, flew over our part of San Diego today.  I got some terrible pictures, two of which are here:

Flutterby and it was really hauling buns

Another LINK to the Xerces Society page ..

Three, marked with an arrow tip, near the end of the mass.

From visuals and the fact of where they were headed to, something that I won't share here, they have a home they have found with plenty of eats.  I wish them God Speed and Blessings, because they are extremely rare butterflies.   I had seen a single one in the garden a couple of days ago, and it was really moving through at a fast pace - alighting nowhere.  If I hadn't seen that one butterfly, I would have thought them to be Skippers.  No skipper flies this high or en mass like these were doing.

This is what they eat, Spiny Redberry.