Heee heee heee!

If you don't laugh, then you just gotta cry.....

Wordless Wednesday, almost...... Juno..

SOURCE

Taking a time out... giving it a rest....

Music Monday: "Helpless, Helpless, Helpless"... The Band and Neil Young

I know I've posted this before.... but it's so beautiful, and fits my mood so well on this hard day....

Sunday Stealing: The Greenish Questions

This Meme is ending next week,  and I just want to thank Bud for hanging in so long and wish him the best for his book to be finished and into the printers hands!

Good Luck Good Buddy!  It's been grand!

The Greenish Questions & Ending Stealing

We found this gem  from a blogger and blog named Greenish Lady. She states that Becca invited everyone to do it. But, it was probably stolen at that blog as well. So, of course, that will be as far as we go. Tracing back our theft's thieves might take some time. Link back to us at Sunday Stealing!

Cheers to all us thieves! 

Sunday Stealing: The Greenish Questions

1. What is your current obsession?
Getting rid of the detritus of a lifetime of making crafts and art.

2. What’s your go-to coffee place?
I don't have one.. Well, there are three, depending on just where we have landed.

3. Who was the last person that you hugged?
My hubby

4. Do you nap a lot?
Not much at all.  In fact I don't take them at all and I really need to.

5. Tonight, what’s for dinner?
Probably salad.  Salads are nice especially when it's so hot.

6. What was the last thing that you bought?
A purse at the Sally's in Santa Cruz.

7. What is your favorite weather?
I like late winter and early spring weather.

8. Tell us something about one blogger who you think will play this week?
She's smart and well spoken, and a writer by trade.  Actually that fits three peeps; then we have a school teacher who is also all those things AND may actually write a book someday.  

9. If you were given a free house that was full furnished, where in the world would you like it to be?
Santa Cruz

10. Name three things that you could not live without.
I can live without many things but not food, water, and air.

11. What would you like in your hands right now?
A spinning world

12. What’s one of your guilty pleasures?
Chocolate

13. What would you change or eliminate about yourself?
Anxiety

14. As a child, what type of career did you want?
I went through many things, starting probably with Writer, that prompted my mother to buy me a used typewriter all my own.

15. What are you missing right now?
My kids

16. What are you currently reading?
Please see the post below.

17. What do you fear the most?
Losing another child.

18. What’s the best movie that you’ve seen recently?

19. What’s your favorite book from the past year?
 An account of the Osage Murders. Killers of the Flower Moon.  It's an excellent book!

20. Is there a comfort food from your childhood that you still enjoy?
I'll always love noodles.

Thank you for playing this week on Sunday Stealing! Please consider liking WTIT on Facebook. Click here. Link when you have posted. Stop back and visit other player’s posts. That is really what this is all about, making new friends! Have a great week. See you next Sunday!

The purge continues but it's been stymied.... this is raw feed blogging....

So expect Helter Kelter from me from now on.

I have come across two rather large boxes of craft kits bought in a craft class over 20 years ago; they are too good to just re-cycle the kits.  It looks like I'm going to have to Make Them.  *%#$#@!!
Then I'll have to put the darn things up on Etsy or something.  Sheesh.  I really want DONE with most crafting, i.e. the non-big four crafts!

I want to read!

What I'm reading:

I've read about 6 books in the last four weeks.  It's been heavenly!  This book is even better than the movie, in case you were wondering.

So, that find, up at the beginning, made me a little ill.  I so want to have all that behind me.  I do not want to sell or deal with any sort of retailing at all, anymore.  I could leave them outside for the "mosquitoes", maybe?

Anyway, I.  HATE.  ROADBLOCKS.
At my age I just want to SMASH RIGHT THROUGH THEM!

At least there is hope for the few pieces of ceramics now that are out of favor but too nice to toss.  This was my work bench at 6 am this morning, as the sun came in from the east.  I'll finish them and they can become part of the Holiday junk that gets set out for the four Hols that I decorate for:  Valentine's Day, Easter, Halloween and Christmas.

This paper lantern thinga is a great idea so I'm passing it on: The images are all copyrighted but, trust me, they are easy to make and oh-so-sweet to look at.

Making Paper Lanterns from paper Doilies for your battery operated tea lights.

Saturday 9: Doobies---- doo bee doo bee doo....

Thank you, Sam!  😀

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

Want to play along?  Go HERE to participate, or read other entries in, this fun meme

Saturday 9: Listen to the Music (1972)

Because Zippi requested it.

1) The lyrics say, "What the people need is a way to make them smile." What song lifts your spirits and makes you smile every time you hear it?
This one!  I love this song!

2) Lead vocalist/composer Tom Johnston reports that he's made a lot in royalties because so many radio stations use this as a jingle. Tell us a jingle that sticks in your head.

"Feed him Doctor Ross Dog Food and do him a favor
It's got more meat and it's got more flavor
Got more meat to make him feel the way he should
Dr. Ross' Dog food is doggone good."

3) The Doobie Brothers got their start in San Jose, California. San Jose is the largest city in Northern California, thanks to all the tech companies that have headquarters there. Let's talk about the device you're on right now: are all your applications up to date?  
This thing nags you until you update, unless it beats you to it.

4) When they were still a local band, the Doobie Brothers had a strong following among bikers. Are you attracted to biker culture?
I like motorcycles a lot, though I'm not drawn to the Biker Culture- just the rides.  My uncle used to take me on rides on his Harley in the 50's, and that's when I first fell for motorcycles.  I like how the engine throbs go all the way through your body.  And, I like speeeeeeeeeeed.  Wheeee!

5) This week's song is from Toulouse Street, which is considered their "breakthrough" album. Tell us about a moment in your own life that you consider a "breakthrough."
Mr. Z and a friend took off at the crack of dawn to go fishing, and I was making coffee over a campfire in the San Bernardino mountains.  I stood up and looked into the sky and felt something move through my body and mind.  I felt like I was loved to the very center of my soul for the first time in my life.  It was an epiphany for me.  

6) In 1987, the Doobie Brothers did a benefit performance for Vietnam Veterans at the Hollywood Bowl. Next to the Beatles, it was the fastest-selling ticket in Hollywood Bowl history. Which group do you listen to more often -- the Doobies or the Beatles?
The Doobies.  Their songs always make me feel like I'm "just alright".

7) In 1972, when this song was popular, Wranglers were America's best-selling jeans. Are you brand-loyal to one jeans manufacturer?
 I'll always be a Levi's gal.  I've worn them all my life and if my trainer can work magic, I'll wear them again.

8) Grocery stores saw seafood prices fluctuate wildly in 1972 because of a series of confrontations between the United Kingdom and Iceland regarding fishing rights in the North Atlantic. (Iceland won.) What was the most recent seafood dish that you enjoyed?
It was a long time ago because I haven't been able to eat shellfish in an "age", and I liked it the best of all seafood.  I do like fish and chips from Pt. Loma. So, there you go, another rambling wishy-washy answer.

9) Random question: Which of these "top ten" lists would you prefer to be on -- the sexiest, the smartest or the richest?
Since Smarts without money is no longer any real choice in this culture, I'm thoroughly torn.  I guess I'd rather be in the "smartest list" than, say, among some of those Slithis spawn in the "richest list". 

Thursday Thirteen: Books read, tossed things, and etc...

Tossed out three things today alone:

1. strange and lacey brown paper shipping stuff that looked like it would make a spiffy wreath that I DO NOT need.
2. Magnolia pods, two baskets full, that I was going to make into star shaped wreath for Xmas, just... "because".
3. Stacks and stacks of paper for doing ceramics.  I don't need it and shouldn't have kept it.  I will still do ceramics but God help me, there will be NO MORE figurines!

Read four books.

4. Marley and Me , by John Grogan

5. The Other Einstein , in the big library read.

6. Innocent Blood , by P.D. James

7. The Nursing Home Murder , by Ngaio Marsh


8. We, or rather Mr. Z did, found a delightful little wild violet lobelia growing in the home garden.

From our Garden

They are slightly different than the ones that were just planted at Trescony (see image below).... this plant, (flower above) growing wild here, is totally inexplicable.  The only little flowers of this type that we've had here in the past were some from my mother's seeds called Johnny Jump ups, but they've been gone for years.  Spooky... I'm happy to take this little flower as a comforting sign.

New Trescony boomers

9. After taking a new medicine since November when I was told not to take the old one anymore - this was because it has been shown to cause significant short term memory loss - I became allergic to the new one over time.  The upshot was that I knew I was in trouble.  I went out on the web and found that allergic reactions to this new drug were exactly what I was in trouble with.
I'm now taking sleep the way it comes, naps, three hours at a time basically.  I really can't complain, but, GOD BLESS THE WEB!  I only wish I'd caught it earlier.  Lots of grief.  Meh...

10.  Our newest tomato plants, grown by our DD who has plant sales.

Black Krim and Green Zebra.  Both delicious! We've grown both.

11.  Since I met a young Hawaiian gal playing a uke when we were visiting, and she showed me some strumming patterns, I'm keeping my fingernails short.  I feel lots less clumsy already, and I can play my uke.  I need, NEED NEED something to keep my mind on track and out of sad, dark places!

12.  This HUGE seed head is from Tragopogon, aka "sweet Salsify".  I mean to plant some of the seeds of it; that is if it isn't poisonous to the Torts or is not otherwise a noxious weed.  It was growing in the Trescony plot.  The roots are edible but who knows how they taste!

See Web page HERE about it.

13. When I went to the hospital where they cared for Elle, I found out they have a knitting group.  So I left them some patterns I'd printed off the web, and will not make the boots for the cancer patients but will make fingerless gloves.  The battle with the Manly-Beastly is set to resume.  I'm getting in gear at throwing away stuff I'll never use, so, Yay Me!

Wordless Wednesday: Point Lobos State National Reserve.

LINK to Foundation

Fantastic article on the newest discoveries in human origins; MUTTS magnets, too.

John Hawk's Article on the Medium Daily Digest feed for June 9th..

Enjoy finding out things about your ancestors...

And something completely different

And, these little Mutts magnets are doggone cute.  

Wordless Wednesday

Little Bird up in the tree....

Tuesday Tails: The Climate Accord to try to save Earth's Biosphere

HERE is the article from the New York Times.

Daily Kos article about the Coalition of the states and Canada.

Now that there is a New York, Washington and California coalition, as well as Canada, to form a bloc, all other states have been invited to the party.

With all the big tech companies already spearheading the movement for the environment, just maybe we can squeak on through to the other side.  Kudos to The Doors.  Bravo to the States!  O Canada!

And now, something Beautiful that you can do:  Wildflower seed offering.
I'm just posting it because not many humans can resist flower fields.  I have no connection to the site. It's just a great site.

And HERE is another wonderful wildflower seed place at American Meadows.  That, below, their Seed site picture of a Midwestern meadow flower field.

Monday Musings: Whose Memorial Day?

Remember to be Kind to each other.....we're all going to need this in the days to come!

You're going to need your friends because the government has  revealed, glaringly, that it lies on even the most elemental levels. Let's talk "Recruitment", for instance.... These soldiers, and hundreds like them, were green card holders, legal residents, and "dreamers".

Mexicans who served in the United States Army in Vietnam and Iraq under the promise of becoming citizens and ended up as deportees take part in a protest while commemorating the Memorial Day, in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, on the border with El Paso, Texas, on May 29, 2017. (AFP PHOTO / HERIKA)

An excerpt from the Washington Post article:

Seven members of Congress are planning to do that on Saturday during a visit to Tijuana, Mexico to meet with U.S. military veterans who’ve been deported south of the border. The veterans are either green-card holders, or legal permanent residents, or “dreamers” who’ve been deported because they committed minor, nonviolent crimes or somehow got caught up in the immigration system’s cross hairs. In most cases, they were eligible for citizenship but didn’t pursue it or misunderstood that the applications process wouldn’t be any easier for them just because they served in uniform.

The lawmakers, all Democrats and members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, plan to visit the Deported Veterans Support House in hopes of building support for legislation that would allow the veterans to return to the United States, obtain a green card and eventually apply for citizenship.

Read about this in the Washington Post HERE

If we cannot, as a Country, keep our word to our soldiers, we are defunct as a Nation of Honor.  I personally know that recruiters for the armed services mislead young men into believing that they would be made U.S. citizens if they served this country.  Instead, hundreds were deported after their service.  

Sunday Stealing: Last week's Sunday Stealing called "The Procrastination Questions".

This is the Sunday Stealing from last week


We found this gem from a blogger named Vylar Kaftan whose blog is named: Writer of Science Fiction & Fantasy. The title refers to WHY she did the questions this week as a "procrastination tool". She does not explain where she stole the it from. But, it was probably stolen at that blog as well. So, of course, that will be as far as we go. Tracing back our theft's thieves might take some time. Please consider liking WTIT on Facebook. Click here.

Want to play along?  Go HERE... Believe me, this is a very fun meme...

Cheers to all our thieves!

1. What is your favorite sit-down restaurant?
Mine is The Purple Mint.

2. What food could you eat for 2 weeks straight and not get sick of it?
Salad

3. Have you ever had anything removed from your body?
Yes.  And I have the scars to prove it. 

4. What is the last heavy item you lifted?
At first I thought you wanted to know what big thing I stole.  Ahem, but my brain wanders to realms unknown lately.  I lifted Wolfie.  Oh yes.. a box of rocks.  It was many pounds heavier than Wolfie.

5. Have you ever been knocked unconscious?
No, but I've been choked unconscious.  Well, I did once fall on the cement walkway to the porch and dented my head but was only out for like 10 seconds. Does that count?

6. If it were possible, would you want to know the day you were going to die?
No, and really, I just want to be brave and face it squarely.  So, I pray to be brave.

7. If you could change your name, what would you change it to?
I wish I'd been given a french name, like my sister's and brothers' names.  I'd pick Chantelle, Amalie, or Manon.

8. What’s your goal for the year?
Just to survive it and comfort my living children.

9. Last person you hugged?
My hubby. We need to hug more.

10. First place you went this morning?
Actually, I dashed in here to get a fax number for my trainer.  

11. Do you always answer your phone?
Land line NEVER get's answered. Cell is answered IF it is from a caller on my list.

12. It’s four in the morning and you get a text message, who is it?
People know better than to try to reach me after 10.

13. If you could change your eye color what would it be?
I'd have liked to have great big crystalline blue eyes like my grandma.  Instead I got a mix of blue and and mostly brown.

14. What’s on your wish list for your birthday?
Haven't got one, sorry.  

15. Does the future make you more nervous or excited?
The future never looked so bleak, so I'd have to say "nervous".

16. Do you have any saved texts?
Yes.  From my daughter Elle.

17. Ever been in a car wreck?
Yes, I've been caught under a flipped pickup truck and have the legs, feet, and knees to prove it.

18. Do you have an accent?
I've been told I have a California accent by friends in the South and in Texas.  I just sound like almost every Newscaster that I've heard so didn't know it was an accent.

19. What was the last song to make you cry?
I bawl when I here 'Landslide".  It just slays me.

20. What did you do last night?
We ate a dinner of leftovers and watched "Father Brown", "Inspector Lewis" and master classes of, "The Great British Baking Show"

21. Have you ever felt like you hit rock bottom?
Yes.  Last year at this time, and also 55 years ago,  just before I met Mr. Z and he saved my life.

22. Current hate right now?
I don't hate on anything or anyone anymore.  I'm seeing upsides on a few issues that could pay off Hugely to save the earth.

23. Met someone who changed your life?
Well, I'm sure you all know that Mr. Z. changed my life.  But there were many of my teachers who got me through the early part of it. School was trans-formative, and put my feet on the path to somewhere called, "Normal".

24. How did you bring in the New Year?
The twins were here, so we brought in the New Year with them and we ate some chocolate - to make the new year a sweet one - and had some bubbly to wash it down. 

25. What song represents you?


There was a time that I was really joyful... then reality slapped me in the face. That's when I realized that Mother was right, Life really is sad.  So I take my joy wherever I can find it -mostly in the Beauty of the Earth.

Saturday 9: Lazy Bones? Geritol Nation? heehee

Saturday 9: Lazy Bones (1975)

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

1) This song is about a guy who'd rather nap than do his chores. Are there things you should be doing right now, instead of hanging around the blogosphere, answering these questions?  
 Oh yes.  There are lots of things I should be doing.  But this is much more fun.

2) This song mentions a lazy afternoon of fishing. When did you last go fishing?
The last time was when I was in my late 20's, and we were fishing for trout in mountain streams. Sometime before that, my hubster introduced me to surf casting.  I loved flinging that line out so far into the ocean. After that, we moved further inland and that put a stop to near daily surf fishing.  I'd never fish in the Bay.

3) The lyrics catch our hero sleeping in both the sun and the shade. Do you have a nice, shady place to nap on your front lawn? Or would we catch you lying in the sun?
Nope, I haven't tanned my hide in the sun since before the twins were born.  

4) This week's featured artist, Leon Redbone, is a difficult man to nail down. Over the years he's claimed to be born in Ontario, and Philadelphia, and even Cyprus. Tell us about a time you got caught in a fib.
My mother caught me out over penny candy filching.  I really owe it to her soulful, deep look of disappointment that I cringe if I lie.  I will still fib about whether or not I'm angry.  The fact is, that immediately that I get angry, my training tells me to "center" and control my breathing, so the anger miffed feeling fades quickly.  People all do this everyday, so everyone can relate to this method.

5) Mr. Redbone has said that taking himself too seriously would be "the gentle kiss of death." What's something that you always take seriously and just can't joke about?
Three somethings...I can't joke about anything to do with Human Rights or the abuse of children or of animals.  I'm a Tiger about these.  

6) He has retired from public life, and that includes his Facebook page, which is no longer available. What did you last post to your Facebook page?
Sorry, I really just don't "do" Facebook.

7) Leon always wore dark glasses when he performed. Do your sunglasses have gray, green, brown or rose colored lenses?
Mine are very dark gray Aviators.  I look like a top gun, or maybe a Narc?  heehee

8) Recently Dick Van Dyke performed this song at a charity benefit, aided by his a capella quartet, The Vantastix. Last year, at age 90, he campaigned for Bernie Sanders. So Mr. Van Dyke is certainly not a "lazy bones." Who's the most active, energetic person in your life?
All three of my grand nieces qualify.  One is graduating high school this year.  They are all such darling young women, and are so full of life.

9) Random question: You're at dinner with friends and someone begins a very long joke with, "Stop me if you've heard this before." You have heard it, many times before. Do you stop him? Or do you just sit through it again?
I love to hear jokes or fun things that people say, so if it is an innocuous and funny story, I'd listen to it again.  

Hello readers, if you would like to participate, go to Sam's Blog.  It's a lot of fun.  Come on over... you know you want to.  

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! 

Thursday 13: The week of things...thoughts, and blah blah...

1. I'm reading this book, along with five others in kindle form.  When my mind drifts, I switch.
But the knitting... hmmmm??  *falls down and kicks and screams and has a hizzy fit*

2. We saw this a few days ago. It's been Hortished, because I thought I saw an angel.  Just keep in mind that if you don't see it, don't worry.  It is probably because I'm crazy and you are not.

3. Heart on a Pizza slice

Gather Ye Heart shapes where Ye may....

4. Gratuitous Cuteness

Rescued baby California Otter.
In case you missed it, Here's her story from November 2014.
This is a little cheer-me-up for these hard times.

5.  Muni Yarns Illustration.  Only my animals of choice would be puppies and doggies.

6. Our tiny Costa's Hummingbird from bygone years.  He's surely gone to heaven by now.

7. Thank you, Suzi, for showing me this site!

Fotosketchered cape honeysuckle
GO HERE to join the fun.  CNET is ubber safe

8. Shelter Island last summer.  There were at least fifty of  these Cairns made of the sea wall rocks,and were made by a very industrious but "Anonymous" Builder.

There were at least fifty made by Anonymous Builder.

However, Conservationists want us to stop making new ones..

Here is a LINK  to the Article on Smithsonian site, from whence
came this photo.

9. And another at Shelter Island last summer....And No, my darlings, it is not the same one as the first.

10. What I want to paint for the rest of my life....

I want to pour, decorate and fire this style of pots for my garden

11. To the delight of Mr. Z. I went back to the gym to try to get healed.   My new trainer worked a mini miracle for me using Acupressure on my two year old injury.  I trust him.  But when he asked me to stop eating chocolate, I just cut back instead. I'm eating one square of TJ dark chocolate bar instead of three.  Then I found this while trolling the images at Google.

12. Quilting with large stashes can be hazardous!  Mine isn't as bad but really, I don't want to be Bush Whacked by my own stash.  *Shivers*  It's just Dreadful!

13.

This tiny flower, and many other mini weed flowers - like chickweed, pigweed, and blue-eyed grasses, lamb's quarter- provide nectar to Common Sootywings.  These are the smallest butterfly in our garden, and difficult to capture on any camera, so I'm in awe of Cat's photo!

They are really tiny.  The photo at this page is strictly not to be copied, so HERE is Cat's page URL so that you can see just how tiny this little guy is.