Mostly Not Famous

Stephanie over at Please Stop Bouncing invited her fabulous blog readers to play along...

Today I am going to pretend that I am Inside the Actors Studio hosted by James Lipton… except, I’ll be me and I’m not famous… or an actor.

1. What is your favorite word? Just One??? My word this year is Believe!

2. What is your least favorite word? No

3. What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally? Colors, textures, nature

4. What turns you off creatively, spiritually or emotionally? Negativity in any form

5. What is your favorite curse word? Me...curse, are you kidding.

6. What sound or noise do you love? water moving i.e. waves, fountains, streams

7. What sound or noise do you hate? the sound of snapping chewing gum, yuk!

8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?

Food Network Star

9. What profession would you not like to do? Mortician

10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?

Well done, what took you so long!!! I am so glad to see you again!

...Now about that candlestick from the Holy Land...

This was rather fun...so join us and play too!!!

I LOVE the COAST!!!

Sand, Sea, Sun and Family...Pure Delight. Garden City Pier...about a block from our condo.

I was able to snap a few pictures before this little guy jumped into the swimming pool thus necessitating a fully clothed, camera in pocket rescue mission! Alas, my tiny camera is dead.

I have unearthed an ancient Kodak that still takes semi-decent pictures. I will sit in Loose Lemon land and covet Bouncy's, CWG's and Christy's new cameras and the absolutely fabulous photos on their blogs. Sigh... I did not realize how distraught I would be not having a camera at the ready...for those moments...

One unhappy little girl...

My Mom and I will be heading back to the coast sometime on Wednesday for more adventures!

See ya next week!

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

I suggested to my friend Nat over at CurlyWurlyGurly that it would indeed be hilarious to see what people have in their fridges. The July "blog" challenge is to photograph the contents of your refrigerator in its TRUE state (no cleaning or buying tons of fruit and veggies) Run on over and see who is game! She has also graciously offered a prize that I am apparently awarding for "best fridge" Without further ado, I present...

THE GOOD...

THE BAD....AND THE UGLY...
YES, cheese, cheese, bacon and rotisserie chicken!

Note: yummy cherries, cantaloupe and yogurt, fresh veggies and for those with a discriminating palate... Synergy Kombucha.

Curly and I will figure out a suitable prize...I am going back to the beach where WiFi is not cooperating unless I find a Starbucks, Pannera or something...I am in search of my old camera as my non water proof Canon Powershot took a drink during the rescue of one grandchild...

Dishy very kindly showed us the exterior, interior and freezer of her lovely fridge...sorry Dishy...my stainless fridge was a mess and I am not HONEST enough to broadcast my slovenly housekeeping to the world!

The Glad Game

Mama said there'd be days like this...(The Shirelles) Did you ever have one of those days...weeks, months even a year in which nothing "appears" to go just the way you hoped or planned? A daily goal for me is to see the glass as half full rather than half empty!

One of my favorite movies, "Pollyanna" has Hayley Mills as Pollyanna sharing "The Glad Game" with the staff of her aunt's home. For every negative or unhappy event...her Father taught her to find something in which to be glad. On my less than better days I find this to be an excellent idea!

I really enjoy cooking, however some days the kitchen accidents seem unbearable! To wit, while attempting to bake a strawberry-rhubarb crisp...anything the could and would go wrong occurred! Retrieving items from the fridge resulted in a container upending on the floor, breaking and the contents strewn, of course you guessed it, all OVER the floor. One mess cleaned up. My pantry is a complicated place and as I was reaching for one item I knocked over

an entire container of bread crumbs. Naturally the "crumbs" creeped into every crevice and surface available! Now for the "Glad Game"...after a very labor intensive effort...

The most delicious EVER Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp (at least that was my husband's reaction)

Many of my best days and discoveries resulted from efforts that just didn't seem to work out quite the way I would have preferred! I am still learning that Plan A frequently goes awry and sometimes Plan B doesn't work either. Going with the flow of the river rather than against it and implementing the "Glad Game" seems to keep life in check and decreases the level of drama one must endure! Tell me, what is your favorite way of coping with the "little things" that can make or break you?

P.S. Did I mention that Moe Kitty was underfoot and tracking through each and every mess...

and for your viewing amusement...a craft project run amok!!!

Patchwork Life

"We do not live an equal life, but one of contrasts and patchwork; now a little joy, then a sorrow, now a sin, then a generous or brave action” Ralph Waldo Emerson

I adore patchwork quilts. The idea of taking bits of fabric to create something useful and lovely. Most of our collection of quilts returned to my children's father after the demise of our marriage. His grandmother, mother and aunts were the creators. Grandma Ola's quilts were carefully inspected...as she became older and began forgetting things...you were just as likely to be stabbed by a very long quilting needle. She would make several "generic" quilts to be given to the new mothers. During her time...boy and girl children were not determined until birth. Each star on the purple quilt represents a family member and a story significant to my youngest daughter. Her Dad's old work shirt, my Father's ties, Grandma's gown...the blue Appalachian Trail bandanna belonging to my brother...he hiked the entire trail from Georgia to Maine not once but twice in his short lifetime. So many memories. The dear, sweet grandmother of my children recently made a quilt for me consisting of large squares in myriad colors. Being a mother of six children she was always frugal and used everything. In her mid seventies she is still serving others...being an example of all that is lovely and good in this world.

Life reminds me of a huge patchwork in progress with the Master tailor choosing the fabrics and "sewing" them together for our greater good! Each person, place and event forming the pattern of our lives. Every joy, trial and temptation teaches something if we watch and listen.

Judgement, drama and pettiness have no place in a life that is striving for authenticity, goodness and all that is praiseworthy. This is perhaps one of the greatest tests of all...accepting differences...do I have the right to "judge" the elderly woman in gold lame' pants...the panhandler on the curb...the emo or goth kids hanging out at the mall? These people, their lives are just one more square on our patchwork quilt. Imagine a quilt with just one color and all the stitches being exactly the same...Can you live in a world void of colorful characters and places?

O Captain My Captain

"O Captain my Captain! our fearful trip is done" (Walt Whitman)

"Let freedom ring, let the white dove sing..." (Martina McBride) We celebrate our Independence from Tyranny on the 4th of July. Many attend picnics, parties and fireworks displays. Hopefully...we all remember why we are celebrating! I am forever grateful to all the many men and women who ensure that we have our continued liberties. Many parts of the world are still under dictatorship...under extremely wretched "living" conditions and lack basic human rights. We are quite fortunate to have many blessings and abundance...we must remember and help those that lack the basics.

This post is dedicated to my friends Carlyle and Debbie...thanks for hosting such a fabulous celebration. Everything was wonderful! So much laughter, food and fun! Thanks to Tom, grill master extraordinaire...best darn ribs EVER!

Debbie, Marilyn and Annabelle enjoying a boat ride...

What the men "do" after cooking and eating...

What the women "do" after cooking and eating...

Sunset over Lake Wateree...

The day comes to a close... the celebrations continue...fireworks on the lake...the Princess of Quite A Lot with the assistance of the Diva created the most scrumptious peach ice cream...so many memories created...may we all cherish our days...laugh with our friends and family...enjoy all life has to offer...

What Had Happened Wuz

Recipe for hilarity...mix together two granddarlings, one boisterous puppy and a bag of chips...
toss in a handful of dirt, a batch of giggles and simmer in the evening sun...


did I mention fingerpaints??? Thank goodness for Spray N Wash!!! My grandson's expression...
"What had happened wuz..." We wuz swingin and eatin and laughin...


Duncan...oooo chips...me...me...tug, tug, chase little boy...chips...me...hey boy...chips...me See my chips...this is what happens when a darling little girl imitates a very cute puppy! (well maybe without the chips next time)

I am smiling, I am cute, pant...pant...lick...lick...chips??? I like chips...I like chasing boys...chips?

Oh yeah, my favorite toy...where'd the chips go...

Couldn't you just squeeze him and love him...squirming, wiggly mass of joy. Tail shakes the whole body.

I hope your June was a Delight! Today we begin a new month ripe with new possibilities.

Awww...Summertime and the livin is easy. Tell me what will you do with your July?