It's Tuesday...

...and Marble could care less.

It's Monday...

...and Mr. Tumnus reminds you that no matter how busy your day might be it's important to take time to stop and smell the roses (or carnations or daisies).


photo by Offspring #1

Friday Five..er... Saturday Six

I didn't get a chance to play the Friday 5 yesterday -- so I thought I'd add a question, rename it the Saturday Six, and call it good!

Here's what Mary Beth wrote yesterday: The sad news of Michael Jackson's untimely death has me thinking about music and its effects on us - individually, as cultures, as generations. Let's think about the soundtracks of our lives...

Here are her 5 questions:

1) What sort of music did you listen to as a child - this would likely have been determined or influenced by your parents? Or perhaps your family wasn't musical...was the news the background? the radio? Singing around the piano?

One song I associate with childhood is "Pepe" (from the 1960 film). My brother and I skipped around and sang it ad nauseum.

Youtube link here. Caution! If you click on the link and watch it, 'Pepe' will be stuck in your head the entire day. And you may go skipping around too. Don't say you weren't warned.


2) Going ahead to teenage years, is there a song that says "high school" (or whatever it might've been called where you lived) to you?

Wow, so many songs say "high school" to me! However, I'll go with "Stairway to Heaven" because that was the theme of our senior prom. To decorate the gym, a large stairway leading up to heaven (or at least the ceiling) was constructed. Also people made booths decorated with what they thought heaven was like. My group made a giant ice cream cone.

3) What is your favorite music for a lift on a down day? (hint: go to www.pandora.com and type in a performer/composer...see what you come up with!)

I knew this would happen. That damn 'Pepe' is now stuck in my head, so that's all I can think of.

4) Who is your favorite performer of all time?

Hmm... it's difficult to choose a favorite, but I'll give the nod to Carole King.

5) What is your favorite style of music for worship?

The best 'worship' songs are non-worship songs. For example, the soundtrack to Wicked does more for me than 'real' worship songs.

And here's my own 6th question:
6. Name a musical performer or group who hails from your home town area.

For Hubby, that would be the Beach Boys (Hawthorne, California)... but for me it is Lawrence Welk. Welk was from Strasburg, ND and I grew up about 45 miles away in Ashley, ND.



Yay, Larry!

question of the day

What was the obsession in the 60's with feeding animals from your car in state parks?! C'mon -- slobbering donkeys just aren't that cute.



This old postcard was never used so I don't have anybody's writing to share. The back of it says:
DONKEYS BEGGING FOR HANDOUT, BLACK HILLS, SOUTH DAKOTA. These friendly beggars, also called "Rocky Mountain Canaries" may be seen in Custer State Park.

(Canaries? I'm so confused.)

bye for now, mr. tumnus

After a week of visiting at Marble's house, Mr. Tumnus has packed his little bags and is heading home. Unfortunately, during the entire visit Mr. Tumnus seemed to get on Marble's one remaining good nerve.







Well, at least I'm going to miss Mr. Tumnus.

Friday Five: Life is a Verb

Jan writes:
The author of Life is a Verb, Patti Digh worked her book around these topics concerning life as a verb: Say yes. Be generous. Speak up. Love more. Trust yourself. Slow down. As I read and pondered about living more intentionally, I also have wondered what this Friday Five should be. This book has been the jumping off point for this Friday.

1. What awakens you to the present moment?
In the morning, that would be the insistent 'get up and do something for me' meow of Marble. At work (optometrist in a busy clinic) it is my patients and whatever problems or concerns they have. When I am outside, it is the sights and sounds of nature.



2. What are 5 things you see out your window right now?
My little garden (wet from the recent rain); the fence which separates my backyard and the golf course; two people getting out of two golf carts (they couldn't have shared?!) and getting ready to tee off; the leaves of the trees moving gently in the wind; green grass which is getting a little shaggy.

3. Which verbs describe your experience of God?
Hmm.... This is a tough one because I often have issues with what I perceive to be the silence and distance of God. Since I 'experience' God best in nature I'm going to use the verbs hiking, biking, canoeing, snowshoeing, and skiing!

(picture taken at Lewis River Falls)

4. From the book on p. 197:
Who were you when you were 13? Where did that kid go?
I was in junior high school in a small town in North Dakota. I was a bright student, loved getting together with friends, spending time outdoors, etc. I had an inquisitive nature and a playful spirit.
Although the playful spirit has taken a couple of hits due to certain life events, I think that kid is still mostly there!

5. From the book on p. 88:
If your work were the answer to a question, what would the question be?
I'm seeing flashes and new floaters in my vision -- Who should check this out?!

tourist camp!

Here's one of my "road" postcards. It's from 1924 and features a stretch of the "Coast Highway" near Santa Barbara, California.



Looks like Edna got a sweet deal at a Tourist Camp:


Sept. 22
Dear Folks:
We stayed at a Tourist Camp at Santa Barbara last night -- had a cottage with a good bed -- electric lights, gas, hot & cold shower & toilet -- all for 1.50 -- much cheaper and more convenient than a hotel. Ralph did a big washing for Jr. We are all fine. Wished you were along with us. Write later. Love, Edna

Wow, $1.50 for a cottage with all the basics! In the words of Tina Fey on 30 Rock, "I want to go to there."

grad weekend snapshots

(I couldn't resist adding that text -- we've always enjoyed giving Offspring #1 a hard time about her poor directional sense.)

Anywhooo... back home after attending graduation ceremonies. Here are a few pictures of the weekend.

Theatre friends:


The proud fam:


At the grad party, Dust Bunny was still bitter about Offspring #2's victory mug:


All in all, a fun time!

Mr. Tumnus and the Singing Bear

I just got up to Bellingham (the college graduation of Offspring #1 is right around the corner!)

I delivered a graduation present that had come in the mail from my cousin in South Dakota. It's a singing bear, and we got a kick out of Mr. Tumnus' reaction to it.

This picture is good...



But the video is best...

postcard poetry (or... why I like Ted)

This postcard was written in Manhattan, Montana in 1975 and features a photo of the Gallatin River. I was attending college in Montana during that time, and I know I was on this stretch of road myself then.



Here's the back:



Dear Friends: We had a nice flight and Dad has been getting stronger each stormy day. He insists on sweeping the daily snow. Ann is seeing lots of classmates and old boy FRIENDS. We saw where the three rivers combine to form the Missouri. Ann and (I) have found a Bowling Alley so we get by. The weather has been like Nebr. (in) January.
Fust it rained, then it snew.
then it Friz, and then it blew.
Much LOVE, Ann & Ted

Here are the top 3 reasons I like Ted:
1. He gives his partner a playful poke about running into old boyfriends. (Of course, it's possible Ted and Ann are brother and sister, but the playful poke is still good.)
2. He is happy with the simple things -- seeing the rivers that form the Missouri and bowling.
3. He is an awesome poet. (Hey, his poem even rhymes.)

weekend snapshots

On Friday Hubby and I zoomed up to Bellingham to attend the jazz band concert of Offspring #2. It was the perfect opportunity to hand deliver the prize mug he had won in the blog contest.



On Saturday, I accompanied Offspring #1 to the beauty shop (and I am happy to report the new 'do is very cute!) While waiting, I couldn't help but notice one particular photo under the glass of the coffee table in the waiting area:


I think it begs the question: "Is this the 'before' picture or the 'after' picture? (The mystery haunts me yet today.)

We stayed a little later than planned, but that was a good thing because Hubby and I got to have dinner at the Olive Garden with Offspring #1 and her boyfriend (Doug) and Offspring #2 and his girlfriend (Tien).



And as an extra bonus I got to snap a picture of Offspring #1 and Doug on their way to the "Theatre Prom". (Those theatre majors have all the fun. My biology major was definitely more boring.)

Friday Five: Moving and Changing

Sally writes about the theme of change, and in particular changing location. Here are this week's questions:

1. A big move is looming, name one thing that you could not possibly part with, it must be packed ?
Old family things (pictures, scrapbooks, momentos). Other things can be replaced.

Here's a picture of my mom and me just after we got off the covered wagon when we settled in the Dakotas:


OK, actually it's from the "Diamond Jubilee" celebration of Ashley, ND in 1963.

2. Name one thing that you would gladly leave behind...
Our aquarium. It's been sitting empty (drained, in fact) since the big orange fish transferred to the Eternal Waters of the Great Beyond. We've had it a long time and I'm tired of it!

3. How do you prepare for a move...

a. practically?
Get organized. Then enlist the help of others and delegate!

b. spiritually/ emotionally?
Before saying "hello" to the new place, create opportunities and take time to say "goodbye" to people, places, and things that have been important in the old place.

4. What is the first thing you look for in a new place?
Hmm... I don't know! A good grocery store? I might possibly be thinking that way because I'm hungry and need to get breakfast.


5. Do you settle in easily, or does it take time for you to find your feet in a new location?
The settling in and getting acquainted with the community part is easy, but the people connections definitely take longer.


Bonus: A new opportunity has come up for you to spend 5 years in a new area, where would you go and why?
I would brush up on my German and head for a small village in Austria -- for the beauty and slower pace of life. (This is assuming I can take my family, because otherwise 5 years is too long!)


(picture from here)

whoa whoa, she loves the monkey's uncle

I am really not fond of The Beach Boys. (Cars, girls, surfing. Yawn.)
However, they did do ONE song I liked (perhaps because Annette helped them out), and it seems like a good one to post for a mid-week break.



And now I feel like dancing -- who's with me?!