Got Milk?...

Last week, Western Washington got slammed with a 1-2-3 punch from Mother Nature. First we had cold and snow, none of which stuck here, but PILED in the mountains. THen came the wind...129 MPH clocked at Bay City, Wa, on the coast. We got slammed too, but not that high! THen came the rain! 5 " in Seattle and lower Pugert Sound around Tacoma and Olympia, and the coast.

We live on an Island in the middle of Puget SOund, right in the rain shadow of the Olympic Mountains. WHat this means is that the warm moisture laden winds hit the olympics nd dump all the rain on the western and southern slopes and by the time it comes around to the North and down the Strait of Juan De Fuca, it is just really high winds. Whidbey Island and most of the San Juan Islands only get around 17" of rain a year. So while we were listening to the weather reports of the rain falling and the floods starting, we were sitting in sunshine, tied down to keep from blowing away.

The rains hit the deep snow in the mountains, and soaked the snow pack causing avalanches to close North Cascade passes, Stevens Pass and Snoqualmie pass which are our major E-W highways. THe rain then flooded the rivers in the lowlands, THe Chehalis, and rivers south of us, covering I-5 over 10 feet deep for over 20 miles. THat pretty much shuts off our trade routes. Highway 101 which runs along the coast from Mexico to Canada was closed in many parts around the Olympics due to fallen trees and mud slides. So we had no supplies coming in from the rest of the country.

THe shelves in stores were getting rather empty.

TOday they reopened I-5 after the Army Corps of Engineers knocked a hole in a levy and allowed the water to go back into the river and drain I-5. THere were semi trucks lined up for MILES waiting to get through. THey finally got through about 2 hours ago, bring milk, and diapers and water and food to THe Puget SOund Area.

We were not affected as much as Grays Harbor and Pacific COunty were. THey were flooded out of their homes, and left with out electricity due to the high winds. Trees are down every where, and the main power lines from the Bonneville Dam blew down also. It is really pretty grim there.

My lights did not even blink through the winds, I think the last storm and outage did in all the trees and branches and weak lines so that we are ok for a few months. Maybe..

Fresh Milk sure tastes good, and I am sure that the major malls are glad that their Christmas Supplies are finally able to get through.

It seems that we always have a major punch from Mama just before the holidays...usually the wind and flooding in the mountains, but this one was different and slammed the southwestern part of the state right where they hurt the most. THey are already the most economically challenged part of the state, due to the ban on logging and fishing, so what they lost will hurt them harder than what we lost. The Seattle Area has come through though like they always do, and have already sent trucks full of supplies and blankets to Aberdeen and Hoquiam, and the power crews are working hard to get the main lines back up.

All of the islands are secure. Ya know there is a distinct advantage to living on an Island...we float in floods. ;)

and Mary Lou in Texas...send me your email again please? (i lost it again :( )

The measuring Wall...

As we were growing up, it was very common for Mom to line us up about once a year and place a book on our head, then push us up against the door jamb and make a mark where our head stopped and the book began. Then she put the date and our name right next to the mark. Sometimes she would put our age also, but usually not.

We were a Navy Family, and we moved at LEAST every two years, so there were not too many measuring marks left behind on the door. However, there WERE many doors left behind with measuring marks on them.

When Mike was about 10 we moved into an old run down Victorian house in Coupeville. Dad had since retired from the Navy, so we were staying put...sort of. Mom and then I marked Mike's growth every six months or so.

We were never ones to ruin the ambience of the house with a fresh coat of paint, so the marks were there for all to see. WHen I was married, and then a mother, and then a SINGLE Mother, I moved back home, and added DOnna's name to the measuring wall. We would have to hold her up, but she was added there with the rst of the family. SHe grew, and Mike Grew, and the dates passed another date as the kids grew.

Mom and Dad moved out of that house, (maybe because it needed painting...)and into another. THe old VIctorian was sold for a song, I think to the tune of 35,000. The new owners put a LOT of money into refurbishing the Bones and the inside of that house, and we thought it was sad that the measuring wall would be gone.

One day while Mom was sitting in her usual spot at the corner of the Bar at Seeleys Tavern, a couple walked in. Mom, being her usual outgoing self started talking, and discovered that the couple was the one who bought the house. THe lady said that she enjoyed all the history that was ensconced in those walls, and mentioned the fact that there was a measuring wall on the door jamb and wondered what ever happened to the people measured there. She told Mom that she thought it was so enchanting that she left it totally as is, the only part of the house that was not painted over. THe score marks from the measuring instrument,(sometimes a pocketknife, sometimes an ice pick,) still intact, even though the names were fading. Mike and DOnna and the rest of the family had lived on in the history of that house.

I am sure that it has been painted over by now, as this story took place over 35 years ago. THere are new people in the house,and it is once again for sale, although I am sure that they want substantially more than 36,000! Last I heard it was over 1,000,000!!

There are older people living in it and if they still measure, I am sure it looks something like this...


Sorry, I just HAD to. (Snicker...) The story is real though!

Larry Nelson...A Cup Of Christmas Tea

One of my favorite radio personalities was KOMO AM 1000's Larry Nelson. He had a deep musical voice that most women in the morning were in love with. Larry would recite poetry, play wonderful music and banter with his listeners. It was a wonderful Program. Every Christmas, Larry Would read this poem with his musical voice, and the world would come to a screeching halt until it was finished. He backed it with sound effects and christmas music. By the time he was finished, there was not a dry eye in the Pacific Northwest. He did this every year. By the time I left for Adak, Alaska, he was advertising when he would be playing it, so people would be sure to listen. Traffic pulled over, work stopped and everyone listened to A Cup Of Christmas Tea. It was magical.

The radio station has since changed it's format to news only, and Larry has been put out to pasture. I hear his voice every once in awhile advertising Dux Beds or whatever. CHristmas just isn't the same without him. My mornings aren't either. I wonder if KOMO really knows what they have done. pity no one will tell them. Pity no one would listen anyway. I still every Christmas think of that magic moment when The whole Puget Sound area halted and heard a little bit of Christmas in the air...sigh.

I wrote that several years ago, and thought it warranted re-publishing. Larry Nelson died today. The outpouring of tributes and memories has overwhelmed KOMO's website. They exceeded their bandwidth! An ABC affiliate news station, and it was swamped! Larry died of Lung Cancer.

The people that were able to get in and post on their webpage, all had the same memories of how much a part of their lives he was. I woke up listening to him tell in awe about the Berlin Wall falling. He took THE BREAKFAST TABLE to Berlin and broadcast with the chip, chip chip of the wall being hammered down reverberating in the background. I think that is the one moment in History that I will always remember.

The week before Christmas, he would schedule the program with STAN BORENSON, the Swedish accordian player, who cracked everyone up with his witty songs. He would also play SIX WHITE BOOMERS, and STOP THE CALVARY, and of course he would replay A Cup Of Christmas Tea. Tonight the radio station KOMO AM 1000 played it again, and of course there was not a dry eye in the Sound! He was wonderful.

Rest well Lar...You will be missed.



A Cup of Christmas Tea
by Tom Hegg



The log was in the fireplace, all spiced and set to burn
At last the yearly Christmas race was in the clubhouse turn.
The cards were in the mail, all the gifts beneath the tree
And 30 days reprieve till VISA could catch up with me.

Though smug satisfaction seemed the order of the day
Something still was nagging me and would not go away
A week before I got a letter from my old great Aunt
It read: Of course I'll understand completely if you can't
But if you find you have some time how wonderful if we
Could have a little chat and share a cup of Christmas tea.


She'd had a mild stroke that year which crippled her left side
Though house bound now my folks had said it hadn't hurt her pride
They said: She'd love to see you. What a nice thing it would be
For you to go and maybe have a cup of Christmas tea.


But boy! I didn't want to go. Oh, what a bitter pill
To see and old relation and how far she'd gone downhill
I remembered her as vigorous, as funny and as bright
I remembered Christmas Eves when she regaled us half the night.


I didn't want to risk all that. I didn't want the pain.
I didn't need to be depressed. I didn't need the strain.
And what about my brother? Why not him? She's his aunt, too!
I thought I had it justified, but then before I knew
The reasons not to go I so painstakingly had built
Were cracking wide and crumbling in an acid rain of guilt.


I put on boots and gloves and cap, shame stinging every pore
And armed with squeegee, sand and map, I went out my front door.
I drove in from the suburbs to the older part of town
The pastels of the newer homes gave way to gray and brown.


I had that disembodied feeling as the car pulled up
And stopped beside the wooden house that held the Christmas cup.
How I got up to her door I really couldn't tell...
I watched my hand rise up and press the button of the bell.


I waited, aided by my nervous rocking to and fro
And just as I was thinking I should turn around and go
I heard the rattle of the china in the hutch against the wall
The triple beat of two feet and a crutch came down the hall.
The clicking of the door latch and the sliding of the bolt
And a little swollen struggle popped it open with a jolt.


She stood there pale and tiny, looking fragile as an egg
I forced myself from staring at the brace that held her leg.
And though her thick bifocals seemed to crack and spread her eyes
Their milky and refracted depths lit up with young surprise.
Come in! Come in! She laughed the words. She took me by the hand
And all my fears dissolved away as if by her command.
We went inside and then before I knew how to react
Before my eyes and ears and nose was Christmas past, alive, intact!


The scent of candied oranges, of cinnamon and pine,
The antique wooden soldiers in their military line,
The porcelain Nativity I'd always loved so much,
The Dresden and the crystal I'd been told I mustn't touch.
My spirit fairly bolted like a child out of class
And danced among the ornaments of calico and glass.


Like magic I was six again, deep in a Christmas spell
Steeped in the million memories the boy inside knew well.
And here among old Christmas cards so lovingly displayed
A special place of honor for the ones we kids had made.
And there, beside her rocking chair, the center of it all
My great Aunt stood and said how nice it was that I had come to call.


I sat and rattled on about the weather and the flu
She listened very patiently then smiled and said, "What's new?"
Thoughts and words began to flow. I started making sense
I lost the phony breeziness I use when I get tense.
She was still passionately interested in everything I did.
She was positive. Encouraging. Like when I was a kid.
Simple generalities still sent her into fits
She demanded the specifics. The particulars. The bits.


We talked about the limitations that she'd had to face
She spoke with utter candor and with humor and good grace.
Then defying the reality of crutch and straightened knee
On wings of hospitality she flew to brew the tea.
I sat alone with feelings that I hadn't felt in years.
I looked around at Christmas through a thick hot blur of tears.


And the candles and the holly she'd arranged on every shelf
The impossibly good cookies she still somehow baked herself.
But these rich and tactile memories became quite pale and thin
When measured by the Christmas my great Aunt kept deep within.
Her body halved and nearly spent, but my great Aunt was whole
I saw a Christmas miracle, the triumph of a soul.


The triple beat of two feet and a crutch came down the hall
The rattle of the china in the hutch against the wall.
She poured two cups. She smiled and then she handed one to me
And then we settled back and had a cup of Christmas tea.

Copyright © Tom Hegg

What the world eats...

There is a report on Time.com about WHAT THE WORLD EATS, and it is quite revealing. It gives you a picture of the family, and all the food that they use for a week, and how much it costs.



This was a picture of the least amount of food...
Chad: The Aboubakar family of Breidjing Camp

Food expenditure for one week: 685 CFA Francs or $1.23
Favorite foods: soup with fresh sheep meat




This was another family...note the difference in the number of family members...

Bhutan: The Namgay family of Shingkhey Village

Food expenditure for one week: 224.93 ngultrum or $5.03
Family recipe: Mushroom, cheese and pork




This was a family in the Middle East
Kuwait: The Al Haggan family of Kuwait City

Food expenditure for one week: 63.63 dinar or $221.45 Family recipe: Chicken biryani with basmati rice


What I found most interesting is the TYPE of food each family buys. You will note that the top picture is of an East African Family, and they only have beans and rice and a few bowls of other food.

I watched the entire photo show, and the families from the most developed countries, ie: US and England, spend a lot on junk food. WHereas the ones from the most underdevelpoed countries are just trying to survive.

I look at the table that I set last Thursday, and the food that I STILL have in my fridge, for ONE person...and I feel so guilty. My Mom used to tell Phyllis to EAT your veggies, there are little kids in China that are starving. (Phyllis HATED veggies!)

When you see a story like this, it causes you to stop and reflect on what your families habits are. I am not the one to blow my horn on how healthy I eat...(NOT) but it does make me wonder what I would be like if I had grown up in one of those other countries, or had grown up with parents who believed in healthy eating. We truly are what we eat, and it is very depressing to me. Stop by and check out the rest of their pictures, and see what they tell you. I'd be curious to see what each of you spend per week, and what your favorite foods are. What would happen if you took away the junk food from YOUR family?

Maybe if we all stopped the junk food and sent the money we saved to a needy family for HEALTHY eating, in twenty years we could have a really healthy world.

TA_DA!!!!

I dont know what I did, but after checking everything on my template and cussing really loud...I FOUND it.

It just popped back on!

Anyway, here is Bob's Afghan that i just finished. It is a "Prairie Wheel" pattern, done in Khaki and navy blue to look like a ship's wheel, His choice of colors. It took me quite a while to finish it, but now I am on to other things! I finished Rusty's afghan, and gave it to her for her Birthday, but forgot to take a picture of it. It turned out really nice!

MAybe I will make something funky this time.

now for more Turkey...

HELP ME!!!

Is anyone besides me having trouble posting pictures from blogger? FOr the past 5 days there has been no picture icon on the posting editor toolbar. Am I broke or is blogger?

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Well I was going to put a BIG TURKEY picture on here, But for some weird reason, Blogger took away the photo put-in-here option, So I guess I will say a very boring

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!! pooh! Cant even change the font or color. Whassup with THAT?

Another Grey Drippy Sunday...

I woke up this morning, to drip, drip, drip right over my head. My gutters are clogged, and instead of going down the drain pipe, the rain was dripping right on to the bird feeder right outside my window. DIdn't stop the birds though, They were all clinging to the sides and pecking away at the suet. Schroeder was sitting half on my head and half on the pillow, watching them. It was dark and dreary out and all I wanted to do was pull the cover over my head and go back to sleep.

Sadie had other ideas though, so I had to get up and let her out to pee, SHe had to go really bad, but she did not want to get out there and get her tushie wet in the tall grass. I grabbed her by her collar and drug her out. THen the cats wanted to be fed, then I had to make a pot of coffee, cause Bob was bringing the Seattle Times and the New York Times over to read. SIGH!!! No sleeping in for me.

I made a batch of gingersnaps last night for Mike, as those are his favorite cookie, and had them in a tupperware bowl to take over, and When Bob came over he found them and ate Mike's cookies! THe ones I had left out for him were the not so pretty ones, and those he left on the cupboard. I called and left a message for Mike to come get them, but so far he has not.

THanks to all of you who helped me figure out the sidebar book thingie, But Bill showed me the link, and voila! There it is. It is a little confusing though because it said I was not logged in and I thought I was. Oh well, I made it. Now let's see how much money I get from Amazon!! (Yeah RIGHT!)

is anybody out there smart?

Well that is a wide open question! What I need to know is how you put the books you are reading on your sidebar? I see blogs that have a picture of the book they are reading, and I would like to do that, but cant figure it out! I also cant figure out how to use PYZAM to change my blogger template. I have a "test" blog but it just keeps reverting back to the first template.

I would appreciate any clues you can give me....

TANK EWE BERRY MUSH

More wind...

Well the storm system that three days ago was slated to miss us and go straight into Vancouver Island, changed course ever so slightly, and slammed into Washington State last night. Wind gusts of over 60MPH were hitting Whidbey, And Power is out all over the COunty. I guess I was lucky as I have power. It went off during the night, because everything was blinking, but it was on when I woke up. THe wind was surely whipping when I went to bed last night though.

I love to lay in my bed, all snuggled in and listen to the wind roar around me. I know that my house is snug and secure, and there are no trees within damage distance, so I say let 'er RIP!

I woke up around 900 this morning, with rain coming in the open window above my head, and hitting me in the face. The wind was coming from the SSE which is rare for this spot, usually it is straight up the Hood Canal, which is SSW from my house. actually more S than anything. But this day's wind is coming from everywhere.

Bellingham reported gusts over 97 MPH and Clallam Bay had 92MPH. I looked on my local weather page and the highest gusts we had were 61 MPH around 800 this morning.
THe worst is due to hit sometime between now and 4PM, but It looks fairly calm out there to me. MAybe our worst is over.

Sadie and Lint did not want to go out and pottie, so I had to throw them both out, and watched while Sadie ran out peed and ran back to the door. What a wussie Puppy!

I need to go bring in another wheel barrow of wood to dry out, just in case the power does go out and the air gets cold. SO wish me luck, I am venturing out the front door to the wood pile....

AWWWWWWW.....

This is Purrpumpkin...he is ready for adoption at the agency in Calgary, AB. I was over visiting with Leslie and Carl mentioned that Bilbo was getting some new cat toys, and had a link to the place that sold them. You all know what a SUCKER I am for kittens. SO I went and looked at their site, and at all the cats/kittens they have up for adoption. Purrpumpkin caught my eye, and I am in Love...AGAIN. It is just a really good thing that Calgary is at least a two days drive from Coupeville, not to mention I do not have my Passport yet. So I guess Purrpumpkin will just have to be satisfied to go to another home. I really think Carl and Leslie should run right down and adopt him. It will give Bilbo a kid to raise and give Leslie something to do with her now so boring life. (LOLOLOL)

My baby boy kitten, Schroeder, is now a teenager, and if he doesnt start minding his manners, he is getting pitched out to play with the coyotes! Noe I really would not do that to him, but believe me it is tempting. Last night he brought me a present and deposited it on the book I was reading in bed...a big GREEPY black spider! Wow mommie can sure move fast when she has to! Schroeder got a lesson in bed time manners. You can lay on Mommies book, you can butt her head with yours, you can oh so cutely lay in front of her to purr while she reads, but you CAN NOT BRING HER SPIDERS OR BUGS! Once the crisis was over and the spider smashed all over the wall, I went back to reading my book, and he came out from under the bed and oh so prettily pranced up tp the head of the bed, and lay down between my book and the wall, so I could pet him to sleep and read at the same time. Little boys do still need their mommies at times. Especially when they know they are in trouble.

HMMMM, I sure wish I could afford to go adopt purrpumpkin. Carl, you need to go get him for Bilbo!!

Comet 17P-

I went out again last night to see what I could find and all I saw was RAIN! so much for clear skies through the weekend! This may be as much as I see of this comet. It certainly is a pretty sight on the screen though!

I finally have my house in some semblance of order. All the rugs were washed, and the floors vaccumed, and everything put away. I even had all the dishes done! Now for most of you this may be an everyday thing, and wonder what the Big Deal is? Well I am NOT one to spend a lot of time on housework. FOr one thing, it HURTS! when I push that Vaccum, my back hurts like hell. I did it though. I used my office chair, and just scooted around on it and pushed the Vac ahead of me. Worked like a champ.

I even vac'ed the bedroom and office! I washed the bathroom rugs and cleaned the crap off the DR table. WHOOT! I went to bed knowing that if I died that night, the paramedics would not be afraid to come in and drag me out. Even the catbox was clean!

I woke up in the middle of the night to weird sounds coming from the front of the house, and determined that it was a cat batting around a toy. I went back to sleep. When I woke up again to use the bathroom, I turned on the light and screamed! ARRRRRRGGGHH!!!! Schroeder, the little SHIT, had opened the new pkg of toilet paper, and literally killed a roll of fresh TP! It was torn into little bitty pieces all over my bedroom and bathroom. SO much for clean house.

I headed into the LR where I left the Vacuum, and screamed again. He had found the trash sack that I have sitting beside my recliner, for yarn bits, and coke cans and used kleenex etc, and It too was scattered all over the LR! I know it was him, because he was asleep INSIDE the paper sack! ANYBODY WANT A HALF GROWN KITTEN?

I forgot about the trash sack. ANd I forgot to put the TP in the closet. SO I guess it really is MY fault! I am sure Schroeder thinks so...

Monday Morning

The past two mornings have been absolutely gorgeous! THe sun breaks over the tops of the alders out back around 830AM. Sunday Morning I woke up and it felt so good coming in my window that I just lay there 1/2 asleep and soaked up the sun!

This morning, I woke up around 700, I think. All I know is I saw the moon and venus right out the window like they were painted in the dark blue pre-dawn sky! (Yes Jim Bob, I KNOW that the phase is incorrect, it should be a waning crescent not a waxing one.)I lay there and watched it until it started to get light, then I went back to sleep and woke up again to the sun beating on my face.

I Love to lay there all comfy, under the electric blanket, with the cold clean air coming in the window, and the sun beating on my face. Suddenly the sun went behind a cloud. I cracked my eye open to see why, as I did not notice any clouds before, and came face to ass with 2 cat butts, sitting in the window soaking up the sun! So much for morning pleasantries!

I have gone out the past few nights around midnight to see if I can catch sight of the comet that is going by, but so far I cant see it. It was just to the NE of Pleaides Sunday night, but I could not find it. THe news said that it was the brightest comet in centuries. I find that hard to believe, as I saw one about 10 years ago that was pretty bright. Fuzzy but bright.

I went swimming tonight, and even the water in the pool was cold! BRRRR....On the way home, the fog was forming down low in the swales and valleys, but the sky up where I live (around 250 feet up) is crystal clear.

Tomorrow I am going to see if I can get the lawn mower started, and hopefully mow down a spot in the back yard for Sadie to use! I dont think she likes her little ass getting tickled by the tall grass. I am such a good mommie sometimes.

50 more days until CHRISTMAS!!

http://www.northpole.com/Kitchen/Cookbook/

In the ORIGINAL email, these were all links, but somehow in copying them and forwarding them, they are no longer. But Phyllis found this gem at one of the links, and it is really COOL!!

Any recipe you could think of is there.

Well This was a wasted post, none of the links below work!!! WAAAHHH
ANd only the C showed up in COOKIES!

Well SHIT!!!

This is remarkable! Even if you have no particular interest in baking, please pass on to the bakers in your life. They'll appreciate it. Just click on the name of the cookie and bam the recipe is there. Good to keep handy either by saving it in your drafts or in a word program.

1-2-3 Cookies 7 Layer Cookies Allie Nelson's Famous Snickerdoodle Cookies Almond Crescent Shortbread Amish Sugar Cookies Andies Candies Cookies Angel Crisps Angenets Applesauce Cookies Apricot Fold-Overs Aunt Edy's Molasses Crinkles Auntie Linda's Ginger Gems Bakeless Dream Cookies Banana Drop Cookies Best Chocolate Chip Cookies in the World Biscotti Biscotti Blueberry Cookies Boiled Chocolate Oatmeal Drop Cookies Bronwnies Brown Sugar Shortbread Brownie Cookies Brownie Delight Brownies Buccaneer Snowballs Buried Cherry Cookies Butter Cookies Butter Nut Balls Butterballs Butterscotch Haystacks C.O.P. Cookies Candy Cane Cookies Candy Cookies Caramel Shortbread Cheesecake Brownies Cherry Buns Cherry Crowns Cherry Winks Chewies Chewy Noels Chinese Chews/Haystacks Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars Chocolate Chip Cookies Chocolate Chip Meltaways Chocolate Chip Peanut Butter Cookies Chocolate Christmas Trees Chocolate Cream Cheese Squares Chocolate Crinkles Chocolate Mint Snow-Top Cookies Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies (no bake) Chocolate Snowball Cookies Chocolate Streusel Bars Chocolate Sundae Cookies Chocolate Walnut Crumb Bars Choco-Scotch Crunchies Choose A Cookie Dough Recipe Christmas Crackers Christmas Crunch Bars Christmas Ginger Snaps Christmas Macaroons Christmas Mice Cookies Christmas Shaped Cookies Church Window Cookies Coconut Cookies Congo Squares Cookie in a Jar Corn Flakes Cookies Cornflake Christmas Wreaths Cowboy Cookies (oatmeal) Cream Cheese Cookies with Apricot Filling Crème De Menthe Chocolate Squares Crème Wafers Crescent Cookies Crispy Crunchies Date Nut Balls Date-nut Pinwheel Cookies Diabetic Peanut Butter Cookies Disgustingly Rich Brownies Doodles Double chocolate chip cookies Double-Chocolate Crinkles Eatmore Cookies Eggnog Cookies Elizabeth's Sugar Cookies Elves Quick Fudge Brownies Emily Dickinson's Gingerbread Cookie Recipe Emily's Best Brownies Famous Oatmeal Cookies Firemen Cookies Fluffy Shortbread Cookies Forgotten Cookies Frosted Peanut Butter Brownies Fruit Cake Cookies Fruitcake Squares Fry Pan Cookies Gems Ginger Cookies Ginger Crinkles Gingerbread Baby Gingerbread Cookies with Butter Cream Icing Gingerbread Men Gingerbread Men Ginny's Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies Glory's Golden Graham Squares Glory's Sugar Cookies Gramma Chapman's chocolate coconut drops Grandma Elsie's Zimt (cinnamon) Cookies Grandma J's Butter Cookies Grandma Olson's Parkay Cookies Great Grandmothers Sugar Cookies Gum Drop Cookies Gumdrop Gems Haystack Cookies Ho-Ho Bars Holiday Cereal Snaps Holiday Chocolate Butter Cookies Holiday Raisin Walnut Bars Holly Cookies Hungarian Cookies (Little Nut Rolls) Ice Box Cookies Irresistible Peanut Butter Cookies Italian Cookies Jacob's Peppermint Snowballs Jam Bars Jessica's Famous Brownies Jessie's Chocolate Chip Cookies Jubilee Jumbles Juliet's Peanut Butter Blossoms Jumbo Chocolate Chip Cookies Kentucky Colonels Kiefle (cream cheese cookies with jam filling) Kifflings Kiss Cookies Lacy Swedish Almond Wafers Lemon Angel Bar Cookies Lemon Bars Lemon Cake Cookies Lemon Cream Cheese Cookies Lemon Squares Linzer Tarts Log Cabin Cookies Luscious Lemon Squares M&M Cookies Magic Cookie Bars Melt in Your Mouth Cutout Sugar Cookies Melting Shortbread Meme's Cream Cheese Cookies Milk Chocolate Florentine Cookies Mincemeat Cookies Mincemeat Goodies Molasses Cookies Molasses Forest Cookies Molasses Sugar Cookies Mom Mom's Crescent Cookies Mom-Mom's Ginger Cookies Mom's Nutmeg Sugar Cookies Mom's Old Fashion "Puffy" Sugar Cookies Monster Cookies Moravian Christmas Cookies Nana's Famous Soft Southern Cookies Nitey Nite Cookies No Bake Chocolate Cookies No Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies No Bake Cookies No Bake Cookies No Bake Peanut Butter Cookies No-Bake Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies No-Bake Cookies Norwegian Sugar Cookies Nut Balls Oatmeal Bars Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Nut Cookies Oatmeal Coconut Crisps Oatmeal Cookies Oatmeal Scotchies Old Fashioned Sugar Cookies Ooey Gooey Caramel Chocolate Dunk Ooey Gooey Squares Orange Slice Cookies Parking Lot Cookies Peanut Blossoms Peanut Butter Bars Peanut Butter Blossoms Peanut Butter Cereal Cookies Peanut Butter Chewies Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars Peanut Butter Cookies Peanut Butter Cookies Peanut butter fingers Peanut Butter Reindeer Peanut Butter Surprises Peanut Marshmallow Cookies Pecan Puff Cookies Peppermint Snowballs Peppernuts Persimmon Cookies Persimmon Cookies Petey's Yummy Spicy Almond Thins Pfeffernuesse Pffefferneuse Cookies Pineapple Filled Cookies Pizzelles Potato Chip Cookies Potato Flake Cookies Praline Cookies Praline Strips Pterodactyl Nests Pumpkin Bars Pumpkin Bars Pumpkin Chip Cookies Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies Pumpkin Cookies Queen Biscuits Quick Cookies Raised Sugar Cookies Raisin Filled Oatmeal Bars Raspberry Meringue Bars Really Peanutty Butter Cookies Reese`s Brownies Reese's Peanut Butter Bars Rich Flavor Christmas Cookies Rich Lemon Bars Ricotta Cheese Cookies Royal Almond Christmas Bars Rudolph Cinnamon Cookies Russian Tea Cookies Russian Teacakes Samantha & Kelsey's Chocolate Chip Cookies Sand Art Brownies Santa Claus Cookie Pops Santa Claus Cookies Santa's Butterscotch Melts Santa's Shorts Santa's Special Squares Scotch Cakes Scotch Shortbread Scotcharoos Scotcheroos Seven Layer Cookies Short Bread Cookies Shortbread Skor Squares Snicker Doodle Cookies Snickerdoodles Snickerdoodles Snow Balls Sour Cream Apple Squares Sour Cream Christmas Cookies Special K Cookies Spice Cookies Spicy Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Spritz Cookies Stained Glass Window Cookies Stir & Drop Sugar Cookies Sugar Cookies Sugar Cookies Sugar Cookies Swedish Pepparkakor (Pepper Cake) Cookies Swedish Sugar Cookies Sweet Marie's Swiss Treats Taralle (Italian Cookies) Tea Time Tassies Texas Brownies The Best Shortbread in The World Thumbprint Cookies Thumbprint Cookies Toffee Squares Traditional Christmas Sugar Cookies Traditional Gingerbread Men Cookies Triple-Chocolate Chip Cookies Ultimate Chocolate Chip Cookies Vanilla Waffer Balls Walnut Butter Cookies Walnut Crumb Bars White Chip Chocolate Cookies Wild Oatmeal Cookies Will's Famous Apple Jack Cookies Yummy Yummy Peanut Butter Blossoms

update on the Baby Brother...

I took him in today and we only saw the surgeon, and then he was refered to the oncology clinic for Chemo..

It is bad, but not hopeless...It is an adrenocarcinoma, which started on his apendix and then grew from there. It is tons of little cells like bubbles growing everywhere.

WORST CASE is the tumor can say UH UH no chemical cocktails here, and grow agressively, and then he might have 6-9 months, but the Dr does not think that will happen. He THINKS that the Chemo will retard the growth, and then MAY just stall there for awhile. It will Never go away, but it could buy him YEARS!

I came away feeling full of hope, Mike on the otherhand thinks of it as a death sentence, and is very negative, so we have to get him through that and the treatments. (He is a guy, and you KNOW how they do pain and sickness!!) So we have our work cut out for us!

I really appreciate the kind words and the prayers. THey all help.

As soon as I know for sure what the treatments are going to be, I will start a blog on him for those that are interested. I will post it here so you can follow him at your leisure.

Now I have to go pull the curtains shut, turn off the porch lights, get the cat in, and hibernate until the little brats are through trick or treating. (Yeah, Im the Halloween GRINCH!!)

A LATE full moon....

This is late, but blogger was giving me hell and not letting it post until today.

I first noticed the full moon last Wednesday when it really looked full, but was not in totality. Then THursday evening at dusk, I drove in to prairie Center to get some groceries, and as I got out of the car, I looked over my shoulder towards the East, and saw the really large full moon just climbng over the tops of the trees about 5 miles away. It was Bright, and a beautiful golden color. The night was COLD, and we were expecting frost later that night. THe air was full of moisture, and you could see your breath, and the breath of the warm earth as it exhaled. The fog was forming along the bottom of the swales, and fingers of light mist were making their way over the tops of the low areas, and heading across the field like live ghosts.

I just stood there and watched the moon, and the fields and then I turned to the west just in time to see the many colors of dark dark mauve turn into navy blue, and complete the cycle of colors and light that the sun brings with it. It was after all the Moon's turn to take the stage.

This was called the Hunter's Moon. Maybe that was before there were laws about hunting after dark. It surely did light up the earth, so that seeing without a flashlight was not a problem. I like to drive down the back roads with my lights off, looking at all the animals that are out there safe and snug in their knowledge that they cant be seen. (HA!!) I had to be careful, because it is illegal to drive with no lights, not to mention dangerous. I was watching far down the road and could see well ahead of any cars that may be coming our way. Lots of deer, and rabbits and only one coyote!

I made it home and went out on the back deck to wait for the Moon to make it over the tops of the Alders. THey are only about 80 feet away, so the moon is fairly high in the sky before it is seen in my back yard. By the time I could see it fully, it was getting really nippy out, and Sadie was wanting in. So I watched it for a few minutes more then went on in.

I Love to reflect on Full moons. I have always felt a strong pull to it, not in a lunatic way, but in an Awe-inspiring way. Almost like I know that it really was once a part of the Earth. Maybe in another life I lived on that chunk that is now ever so slowly escaping the pull of earth's gravity. It will be a really long time before it finally zooms off into the sun like another asteroid, and none of us or our kind will be here to see it. Maybe I study the moon so that I can imprint it into my genes for future generations of whatever comes after us to know.

Hmmmmm....

well SHIT!!!

I have been having computer problems...Every time I open my internet connection, I get an application hang, and I have to start all the way over. I went through last night and did a PC=Cillin scan, then a scan to check for spyware adaware. and thought that would speed things up, then I upgraded to IE7 which did not help anything either.

Just now I tried three times to load a picture on my blog, and kept coming up with some error from blogger, which it would not let me copy and save or redirect to their trouble desk. SO that was a useless hour! I actually sat down here three times this weekend to post a nice piece of writing, and each time got interupted. SO today, after Bob had left for the day, I turned on the CD player, popped in Mozart's REQUIEM, and Gorecki's Symphony No 3 Symphony of Sorrowful Songs and was ready to compose.

I had a nice roaring fire going in the woodstove, the animals were all settled in and I was ready. ANd then I got interupted AGAIN!!

So the moon theme and the fall theme that I was going to write will just have to wait until another time when I can upload the full moon, and thus reflect on it while I write. Until then sit back and listen to some wonderfully powerful music interspersed with Dawn Upshaw's beautiful soprano voice. It will do your heart good.
It has mine.

info please:

When I migrated from old to new email, I randomly lost email addresses for all of you. So PLEASE send me an email, and I will reply, which will put you BACK into my address book.

Tank ewe berry mush!

WHEE!!!!

When we leave the island,to go to the mainland, we either drive up to the bridge and drive around, or we take the Clinton/Mukilteo Ferry.

It can be a real fun time during windy weather. THe windstorm we had last Thursday stopped the Keystone Ferry, but it is too critical to stop the Clinton Ferry. So they push the cars back towards the middle of the ferry and then just let



Leading up to this shot, the ferry took on a series of waves and the bow of the ferry was on the way back down when it met this wave. The car deck went under as the wave hit and is on the way back out of the water in this picture. the captain changed course right after taking these waves. This was the last ferry they ran at full capacity, after this run they added a 3rd ferry and ran them ½ empty.

It can really be an adventure around here when it is stormy!!

Michael...

Well Mike is not doing well at all. Phyllis took him down yesterday to Everett for surgery. Here is what she wrote on HER blog

Friday morning they went in three different places with a laproscope and camera and biopsied the masses. They told Sherry that the procedure should only take about an hour and a half. He went to the operating room at 12:30, and at 2:30 Sherry and I looked at each other and said "Dang, this doesn't feel right". About three o'clock the doctor came out and told us they found numerous little tiny masses in the area and they are cancer. He said they cannot operate to take them out as there are thousands of them. They are around his colon, appendix, pancreas, everywhere. He said the only hope (if any) is chemotherapy, and that will only prolong it. I asked how long, and he just stared at me. I asked "Weeks? Months? Years?" He could only shrug his shoulders. This type of cancer is very rare. It is mostly found in women.

Mike will go to the oncologist on Friday, and we should know more then. It evidentally is a VERY rare cancer. and all of the growths are the size of a very small pea. I don't know what treatment they will have him on, but it will not be life saving, unless somehow a miracle occurs.

I am just a wreck! I do not show my emotions very well, and tend to stick my head in the sand to avoid any emotional outlets. I wanted a brother so very badly, and when he was born, I took over for Mom and raised him until he was 12. It is so hard to believe this is happening to him. To make matters worse, Mike is very depressed and has been for a very long time. This is not going to be easy for him or for SHerry. He will not be able to work, and he has no life insurance, and his medical insurance is minimal at best.

Thank you all for your prayers and your thoughts. He will be needing them for awhile yet, so if you would stick him in your prayer circles, he will appreciate it very much. Michael Brett age 52.

Well as you can tell, I have (had) no power. The first good fall storm of the season blew in today around 100, with a POW! winds were to be expected to be between 25-50 MPH with gusts up to 60. I had no power so I dont know what they finally came in at.



I drove down to the beach and watched the waves come right up from the Hood Canal and smack right into Admiralty Inlet and our beach! THe winds are always the strongest right here, as they come around the Olympics from the South, and squeeze between the Olypic Penninsula and the Kitsap Penninsula and gain strength. THey close the Hood Canal Bridge down so it won't sink again.



Then I drove down to the Keystone Ferry Landing, and watched the waves crash over the top of the jetty. THe Ferry was stopped over on the Pt. TOwnsend side, because it is calmer and protected over there.

My power came back on just a few minutes ago, so I am hurrying to post this before the NEXT storm due in tomorrow, hits us.

I need all of you to please put my Baby brother in your thoughts, as he is going in for Cancer surgery Tomorrow, and he has a really bad feeling about this. I went over today and hugged him hard, gave him a pocket angel and told him I loved him. I have loved him since the day he was born, I wanted a brother so bad! I was 10 when he was born. I raised him until I left Home. so for thirteen years, He was my baby!

Phyllis and Sherry are taking him down tomorrow, and I will go on Sunday when he is conscious again. THis is gonna be a long haul for him. There is a mass in his abdominal cavity, and they are removing it and looking at it about 11:00 AM.

PLEASE MAKE HIM WELL!!

Twelve Angry Men again...

One of our cast members has a website, and has put a collage of pictures up for the world to see. They are a really good representation of our play.

Go have a peek!

OK I have been told the link does not work, but it kinda does...you will get the "page not found" first, but embedded in that is the link to http://www.normboynton.com/ So open THAT page and scroll down to twelve angry men.


This is really going well. Only three more shows and then I take a break until February when I audition for SOCIAL SECURITY, which I will direct!

I will also have time then to really think about what I write, and maybe, JUST MAYBE, I will get back to writing something worthwhile again. It is well past time.<

October in Coupeville...

Every October, Coupeville encourages all of it's businesses (mostly B+B's) on main street to decorate with scarecrows depicting a theme of one sort or another. Each year it is different, and each year I take pictures.



This year it was raining, but the scarecrows were out anyway.



Pur one and only market is called Prairie Center, and in the years past, it was also known as "punkin center" . The fields that were once full of pumpkins and winter squash, are now all filled with businesses and housing developements, But the pumpkins still manage to make it to the bins at Prairie Center.

Sunday Funnies....

I thought this was hysterical, so I swiped it from Bob Brady at PURELAND Mountain I cant say I understood the rest of the math questions, but I did get this one.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We struck the set of A CHORUS LINE tonight, and it went wonderfully well. The kids all pitched in and got right to work. THe guys from 12 pissed dudes were there as well, and the set is almost ready to slap a coat of paint on and get ready for next Friday's opening. I will get the light cues set on Monday, and train Pat in the light booth and then we just sit back and watch the pros work!

Now to bed!

Goodbye Summer…Hello Winter!

Here in the Pacific Northwest we enjoy very mild Fall weather, Sunny and warm days and cool and foggy nights. The leaves on the trees slowly turn color, and the growing season for vegetables usually extends into November before the first really hard killing frost.

This year, we had Summer, briefly, and then went right into winter! It is cold, it is windy and it is WET! I normally do not turn on the heat or build a fire in the wood stove until Nov. 1, but this year I have already had a fire, and the heater has been on for two days. Global warming you Say? Well Yes it is. I understand that the warm weather at the equater has caused a La Nina to start forming off the coast of Chile. When this happens it causes a shift southward of the Northern Jet stream, and with that comes the colder air from the North pole, and the storms from the Gulf of Alaska that usually head into northern Canada. We have had a couple of weeks of wet windy cold weather, Thunder storms, Hail, but no Frost YET!

Fall is my favorite time of the year, as it is a time for reflection, for gathering the larder and filling the cupboards, and getting ready to hunker down for the winter. I have 24 pints of applesauce all canned and ready for the shelf. Now I am looking for the best price on pears! The corn this year was not very good, and ripened really early and was gone, so I did not get any of that.

We can not grow a good tomato here, because the warn growing season is so short. I would LOVE to have all of Brenda’s “maters! I go through a lot of canned tomatoes. In fact right now a heave a very hearty stew on the stove bubbling with gravy and tomatoes and carrots and onions. And potatoes. YUM!!

Our fall weather crops like lettuce and spinach and cabbage are filling the fields right now, and I think it is time I got some of that to freeze too.

Gotta fill those feeders also, the birds know something that we don’t as the suet is all gone already, and the squirrels are hiding apples and walnuts!

Better get some wood brought in to dry also. I think we are in this for the long haul! Watcha wanna bet, snow in October?

12 angry men

I am now almost ready to open 12 angry Men, which will be in two weeks. These guys are GREAT! getting them all together to play 12 different men with their own reasons for finding the accused guilty or not was not an easy task.


Tempers flare to the point of violence in the Jury room, but cooler heads prevail, and they start talking the points of the trial over.


They decide to play out the killing, and disect the points that were made during the trial.



If you are within driving distance, It is well worth coming over to see. THe play runs 6 shows only...October 12, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20. Tickets are 12.00. 360-679-2237 for the box office!

This was indeed a wonderful group of men to work with. THey get along with each other, and play off of each other just beautifully! Now if only we can get some really good publicity, and sell out!

Sunday Funny...

I will never hear church bells ringing again without smiling.

Upon hearing that her elderly grandfather had just passed away, Katie
Went straight to her grandparent's house to visit her 95-year-old
Grandmother and comfort her.

When she asked how her grandfather had died, her grandmother replied,
"He had a heart attack while we were making love on Sunday morning."

Horrified, Katie told her grandmother that 2 people nearly 100 years old
Having sex would surely be asking for trouble.

"Oh no, my dear," replied granny. "Many years ago, realizing our
Advanced age, we figured out the best time to do it was when the
Church bells would start to ring It was just the right rhythm. Nice and slow
And even. Nothing too strenuous, simply in on the Ding and out on the Dong."

She Paused to wipe away a tear, and continued, "He'd still be alive if the ice Cream truck hadn't come along."

Fall has fell...

IT WAS ALREADY LATE FALL AND THE INDIANS ON A REMOTE RESERVATION IN SOUTH DAKOTA ASKED THEIR NEW CHIEF IF THE COMING WINTER WAS GOING TO BE COLD OR MILD.

SINCE HE WAS A CHIEF IN A MODERN SOCIETY HE HAD NEVER BEEN TAUGHT THE OLD SECRETS. WHEN HE LOOKED AT THE SKY HE COULD NOT TELL WHAT THE WINTER WAS GOING TO BE LIKE.

NEVERTHELESS, TO BE ON THE SAFE SIDE, HE TOLD HIS TRIBE THAT THE WINTER WAS INDEED GOING TO BE COLD AND THAT THE MEMBERS OF THE VILLAGE SHOULD COLLECT FIREWOOD TO BE PREPARED.

BUT BEING A PRACTICAL LEADER, AFTER SEVERAL DAYS HE GOT AN IDEA. He, using his cell phone, CALLED THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AND ASKED, "IS THE COMING WINTER GOING TO BE COLD?"

"IT LOOKS LIKE THIS WINTER IS GOING TO BE QUITE COLD," THE METEOROLOGIST AT THE WEATHER SERVICE RESPONDED.

SO THE CHIEF WENT BACK TO HIS PEOPLE AND TOLD THEM TO COLLECT EVEN MORE FIREWOOD IN ORDER TO BE PREPARED.

A WEEK LATER HE CALLED THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AGAIN. "DOES IT STILL LOOK LIKE IT IS GOING TO BE A VERY COLD WINTER?"

"YES," THE MAN AT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AGAIN REPLIED, "IT'S GOING TO BE A VERY COLD WINTER."

THE CHIEF AGAIN WENT BACK TO HIS PEOPLE AND ORDERED THEM TO COLLECT EVERY SCRAP OF FIREWOOD THEY COULD FIND.

TWO WEEKS LATER THE CHIEF CALLED THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE AGAIN. "ARE YOU ABSOLUTELY SURE THAT THE WINTER IS GOING TO BE VERY COLD?"

"ABSOLUTELY," THE MAN REPLIED. "IT'S LOOKING MORE AND MORE LIKE IT IS GOING TO BE ONE OF THE COLDEST WINTERS WE'VE EVER SEEN."

"HOW CAN YOU BE SO SURE?" THE CHIEF ASKED.

THE WEATHERMAN REPLIED, "THE INDIANS ARE COLLECTING FIREWOOD LIKE CRAZY."

Ya know I just have a funny feeling about this winter myself...The squirrels are stealing all the apples off the trees and carting them down the fence line to their burrow/hole/nest/home. The cats are getting a really thick coat of fur, and I have already had a fire in my woodstove last weekend! It might be because I needed blood, but I have been cold for several months.

Tonight coming home from the Playhouse, I came home along the back way..."Sleepy Hollow" and it was so pretty! THe full Autumn moon otherwise known as the harvest moon, was shining on the really low lying fog in the already reaped fields, and it looked just like snow on the fields! THe fog was just coming in as I went into town this afternoon, and it was creeping up over the bluffs, on the West side of the Island and covering the trees like a big white fuzzy blanket! It creeps in from the water just like it was alive, a monster eating the land as it goes. COOL!

The trees are all turning bright colors, and the geese are heading South. I wake up smelling woodsmoke from the neighboring houses, and the morning air is cold and crisp! I just LOVE it!

I am feeling somewhat better today but still not good. I sure wish the Dr could find "something" and fix it, like they did the Blood! That worked like magic! I really can breathe again!

Schroeder is taking his "loss" with great gusto. I dont think it phased him at all. He has not stopped being a big bully. Maybe once all that testosterone is out of his system he will calm down. He is a big Mama's boy though. A big Purr baby! Just like Chitters was!

Can you believe it is only 4 more days until OCTOBER? where in the WORLD did this year go?

Beatrix Potter...

I was shopping in the local Farmer's Co-op with Bob in March of 2003, and there in a cage with 5 other babies was a fuzzy white baby rabbit. She has really long fur, and was only 6 weeks old. SHe cost me a whole ten dollars, and I kept her in the bathroom until I could afford her cage. The cats were curious as Heck, and kept trying to peek under the door to see what was in there.

DOnna named her Beatrix Potter, and she became known as Miss Baby Bea Bunny. Until SHe grew up then she was known as Ms Bea Bunny!

Sadie came into my life about 4 months later, and at 6 weeks old she was not as big as Bea was, so they played together, and the cats were used to Bea being loose in the house. She was litter trained, and always went in her litter box. SHe LOVED a good fresh Fennel Bulb, and fresh greens and carrots! ANd Banana Chips! and Raisins!

As Sadie Grew, she was playing rougher with Bea, so I could not let her alone with Bea. She knew where Bea was at all times, and went straight to her cage when I said "where's Bea?" SHe loved her bunny!

THis summer, I took her cage out side, and sat it right on the grass, and she nibbled away, and I would move the cage to a fresh patch of clover. I noticed she was going through water like crazy.

Two nights ago it got really cold, and yesterday morning when I went out to check on Bea, She was laying in her cage dead. :( When I went to pick up Schroeder, I asked the vet about the cold, and he said it was probably kidney failure as that is very commeon in domestic rabbits.



I called Bob and he came over dug a hole and put Bea in it and then put a heavy planter over the top so Sadie would not dig her up and play with her. As she most likely would have. Bob left the cage open, and Sadie is going nuts trying to find her Bea Bunny! She knows if the cage is empty that Bea is loose in the yard, or in the house, or on the deck. SHe can not comprehend that Bea is no longer with us.

Bea was a Jersey Wooley, and her wool was 10" long. Yes she got badly matted at times, and I would have to snip it all off of her. But for the most part she was a sweet little Bunny, who liked to be held close, and she would occaisionally give out with a "Bunny Tooth-Purr" which meant that she was happy.

I will not get another rabbit, even though they are a great house pet, But because I am trying to weed my menagerie down to a chosen few. I have always had critters of one kind or another, and so have my kids, but now that I am aging, and the kids are gone, I need to make sure I only have a few that I can afford to feed.

Poor Baby Bea Bunny! She was so soft and sweet. And I will miss her. "SNORF"

Pain....again.... :(

I went swimming last night and came home feeling wonderful. I went to rehearsal, and actually did not hurt anywhere! I took a bath, took my meds and went to bed, and could not sleep, finally got to sleep around 400AM, (even with Ambien) and when I woke up at 930 I was in severe pain. I think I am trying to pass a kidney stone, or maybe I have a bladder infection. Whatever, IT HURTS!! GOD!! I would like to have a week pain free! I have spent the dau on my stomach with my fists doubled up under my tummy! That releives the pain somewhat. Yes I still have my Apendix, but I pushed in on my tummy and realeased it fast and no pain. SO I am sure it is bladder something. What next?

Fall came in early here. It is COLD!! I actually have all the windows closed and the heater in the office on full blast! I am still shivering! I fixed a nice hot cup of tea, so hope that warms me up from the inside out. The temps are sposed to get down into the lower 40's, THat is 5C I think. ANd some of the towns in the foothills have already had a frost. Snow level was down to 5000' in the North Cascades, and that meant a dusting on the cross state highway. And remember folks, it is still technically SUMMER!

he fog has been laying just off shore during the day, and creeps in at night, and looks for that cooler water, to thicken up with. I can hear the ship traffic on the Straight, but not on down into the Sound, so It must just be up North here.

This weekend We are going to go find an orchard and get apples, and then I will be peeling and making applesauce with cranberries! YUMMY STUFF!!

Schroeder goes in tomorrow morning to get his little nuts whacked off! Hopefully then he will settle down and quit picking on the other animals. He is such a bully, but he is the only one who has not been neutered, so that may be why!



He looks so confident here, Too bad he doesnt know what is going to happen to him...SNIP SNIP!!

on to the next one...

Yep, I have started another show. This one is Twelve Angry Men, and it is an off season show, meaning that it is not part of the season ticket package, just an extra thrown in between two regular season shows.

Just as much work goes into rehearsing and staging and so forth, but usually the set is very simple so it can jump in quickly.

We close A CHORUS LINE on October6 and Open 12 Pissed Dudes on October 12! We are in full rehearsal right now, and it is going to be really good. It is the same group of guys that we used for Caine Mutiny COurt Martial and Our Town, so we know how they work and vice versa.

A CHORUS LINE has come together really fine. THe kids are just wonderful, it was all the other crap and back stabbing that got to me. but I am almost done with that one, and on to FUN!!

Saturday I got up and actually had so much energy that I putzed out in the yard, scrubbed the deck, did the laundry, cleaned my room, changed the linens, cleaned the kitchen and went to Albertson's. I actually walked down every aisle in the store, and still had breath! AMAZING! I came home and fried chicken, and ate dinner, took my bath and went to bed. I slept so very good! Sunday woke up and my back was hurting, so I just took it easy, Today I got up feeling pretty good and decided that I was going to try Swimming again. I went in an hour before Aquarobics, and stretched and treaded water for an hour, and then did 45 minutes of aquarobics. I got out of the pool, went to rehearsal and STILL had enough energy to walk up the stairs!

I hope this continues! I have more energy than I have had in 4 years! I MAY even try walking tomorrow. Maybe.

Fall has hit us with a POW! it went from record hot temps last week to 50F this week! And it rained, not just a shower but real honest to gosh rain! It rained for a good 24 hours, and now the skies are clearing and the stars are out. It is going to be a cool one tonight.

I love cool fall nights, cuddle up under the covers, pile on the extra afghans, open the window above my head stick just my nose out and AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! A little classical music to go to sleep to and I am in lala land.

MAn that sounds good...think I will go get my bath.

Sleep???? NOT!!!

One of the problems that I have been having over the past three years is insomnia! I get really really tired, (gee wonder why>) and I will take a nice hot bath, and go to bed. I plan to read until I get sleepy and then I will turn out the light. Usually I catch myself reading the same paragraph four or five times and realize it is time. I go right to sleep and sleep for about 1-2 hours and wake up! BOING!! wide eyed and bushy tailed. Other than CNN there is nothing worth watching on TV at 2:00 in the morning, so I will read, get sleepy and start all over again, only this time I only sleep for about 20 minutes. THis has been my life for a long time. It too is very tiring.

WHile I was in the hospital, I got to spend some quality time with my Dr. and I told him about the things I had asked him during my physical that he ignored. (He has a new computer based patient history thingie, and he spent the whole time trying to get the laptop to work right.) He stood there by my bed and I asked him again about the lack of sleep I am having. He said, well that is easy, I will prescribe you some Ambien.

After I was discharged, Donna brought me home and I wanted a hot bath and a warm bed. I took my nitetime meds and went to sleep. I woke up around 8AM with my face planted right in the middle of two pieces of toast stuck to my cheeks. I had NO idea how I got the toast. I asked Donna if she brought it in to me, and she said Mom, you dont remember getting up and fixing toast? No says I. Well you did, says she. You got up went into the kitchen and fixed two pieces of toast. You put 1/2 stick of butter on them and a good 1/2 cup of peach jam on each piece.

I had heard of sleepwalking and eating while on Ambien, Well Believe it folks! It is true. I am not going to take it anymore, or at least not a whole pill! I may take 1/2 a pill, as I could not sleep last night either.

A CHORUS LINE

I Went in to the playhouse last night expecting the lights to be finished, as there has already been a "performance" a dress rehearsal, and we open Thursday, but the director had done NOTHING. SO now I have to go in and try and set the lights, and I dont have enough time!

You really can not set the lights until the set is complete, and that is STILL not done! I just know that the mirrors that she uses will reflect the lights right back into the audience's eyes.



The kids have really tried hard, and they will do a good job, but I will be so glad to see this show over. I call this one, My show from Hell.

I'm Hooooommmee!!

And very glad to be so too! Thanks to all of you for the kind thoughts and wishes left on mine and Phyllis' blog.

It was quite a scare, I thought I was having a heart attack but it turned out to be anemia caused by a GI bleed, and I had 2 transfusions to get my body built back up. I have been telling my Dr and my family for over a year that I dont feel like I am getting the benefit of the air I am breathing. DUH!!! my hemacrit cout was 6.1 when I was admitted, and I think it is sposed to be over 20! there were no red blood cells to carry the oxygen around my body. As the ER Nurse so succintly put it, YOU HAVE NO TRUCKS! No Trucks to carry the oxygen in. OH! Well now I have trucks, and my muscles are not hurting, and I can breathe and I can actually walk and my BAck does not hurt nearly as bad! Who knew that O2 could do all that? Man I do now!!

My arms are so black and blue from all the needle sticks! and the Lab people!!! Sheesh, one would come in and hang another bag of blood at the same time another lab person was on the other arm taking three or four tubes of blood OUT! Christ! No wonder I needed so much! I asked them why they didnt just stick the needle in the bag of blood and save me the pain, but you know those vampires. NO SENSE OF HUMOR!! NONE!!

Donna came up to take care of me, even though I was in the hospital. I think she just needed to know that her Mommie was safe. We are very very close, and she was scared! I will try not to scare her any more. I could not get the message to Tim, without scaring him, so I just did not call. I was going to write to him after the fact, but he called last night and I filled him in. He was scared too, even though he heard I was ok, and feeling so much better.

So bottom line here is...THROW AWAY your Ibuprofin, it makes your tummy bleed. and Check your shit daily to make sure you are not bleeding internally. (c'mon, you dont look at yours either!) and if you have a pain in your chest area of ANY KIND get to an ER! they were all so wonderful to me. I was in and checked in and had an EKG before 15 minutes were passed!

THanks again everyone for the kind words. It was nice to see all you lurkers actually comment too! I know you are out there! And yeah, I lurk too some times.

Mary Lou is in the hospital!

I took this picture of her yesterday (she said it was ok to post).
She wasn't feeling well Saturday and I told her to get to the doctor! She waitied until Tuesday to call him then she called me at work about 9:30 and asked if I could take some time off to drive her to the hospital.
They did some tests and found she was anemic, then they gave her a few pints of blood, then they di more tests today and decided to keep her another two days for tests. I will let her tell you when she gets home Friday afternoon.
In the meantime she will be out of commission for a day or so.
I am printing out comments and taking them in to her.
I will keep you up to date if I hear more.
In the meantime, will you pray for my big sis? They sure won't hurt!
Thanks!
She is in room 18-B at
Whidbey General Hospital 101 N. Main Street Coupeville, WA 98239
(360) 678-5151
~Phyllis~

For Judy...

I finally got him to hold still for a picture Judy. He is 5 months old and a little SHIT!! He was really wanting to get onto the table where I had the birthday cake all staged. I knew he would just have a ball with that, so I quickly took his picture, and then while he was still blinded from the flash, I threw him into the garage until the party was over. 3 weeks he is getting his little nuts chopped off...but dont tell him...maybe then he will settle down.

Today was the day I had planned a family birthday party. Sherry turned 50, DOnna turned 40 and Galen turned 30, Mike will be 52 and Tim will be 36, all within three weeks of each other.

I planned, and got everything ready, and DOnna called and had to work overtime today and could not make it. Bummer


So Galen and Sumre said they would be here from Bellvue around 5:30 so we had everything ready to go at 5:30 when the phone rang. It was Galen, they were just leaving and would be here around 7:30.



So Sherry, Phyllis, Mike, Bob and I sat down to eat. ANd then Galen called again and said he was not coming at all, that they were watching an Ostrich run down the freeway. (???? Man I have heard some weird excuses before but ....)



So I took the 4 off the cake and Mike and Sherry were gonna blow out the candles, Only Mike was inhaling as SHerry exhaled and she blew them all out.

It was a good meal, and the cake was good too, too bad the kids could not make it. THey wer all there in spirit though. TIm said he would come if they would let him out....HA!!!

So no more birthdays until Jan-Feb when it will be Mine, phyllis' and Bob's. And we are all old farts so they dont count.

Whew!! Made it!

YAY!!! I made it to the first of September. Now I have more money in the bank. I am used to being paid 2 times a month, or every two weeks. It is really HARD to get used to only having money once a month.

I get my bills paid, and get groceries, and then PRAY that I will make it to the first again. I have stayed home more during this show than I ever have, 1, because I dont really NEED to be there, and 2, I need to save gas. 50.00 a week is a bit much.

Everybody go to and say hello to Donna. She found me through the blogger link on my sidebar which lists by year of birth all the bloggers that signed up. THere are quite a few baby boomers there.
Any way, DOnna has a really nice blog about her views and her family. She lives in Texas. Go say HOWDY to her.

Summer's end...?

For the past few days the Sun has been out, but it has not been as warm as it looked. At night it gets down into the 40's F. It has also been very still. No wind blowing just a slight breeze...just enough to let you know that the leaves are drying out and Fall is on the way. The ships in the Strait are blaring their fog horns, so even though I cant see the fog up this high, I know it has settled in on the water. Yep, Fall is just around the corner. Warm days and cool nights makes for fog. We call it Nature's Air COnditioner. THe ferry every morning blows it's fog horn all the way across the water. A lonely sound. Every once in a while it will be answered by a deeper louder voice, a freighter on it's way out to sea. I lay there in bed listening to the music they play and loving it!! It is so comforting to me. It takes me back to my child hood when we had fog horns all along the island on the west side, and you could hear them, in their un even toots. And you knew just which one was making the noise. I love it still.

I am right in the middle of A CHORUS LINE, and it is really keeping me busy. THe Director is new to our Playhouse, and I have found that she was expecting me to do things that I normally would not do. SO I am busier thatn normal.

The picture is one of the cast during rehearsal. We dont have our costumes finished nor the set painted yet. I started setting lights tonight, but they will not all be completed until next week end. This show is kicking my butt.



The Oak Harbor Pool has been closed this week for cleaning and reconditioning, so no aquarobics. I tried to go down to the pool on the beach, but the sun has been out and so have the teenagers. So I have not been swimming this week and I can feel it.

This weekend is going to be a full and busy one, we have 5 birthdays we are celebrating on Saturday. Sherry is 50 DOnna is 40 and Galen is 30, then Mike and TIm. On Sunday I am sposed to be in two places. A minor league baseball game in Everett and a BBQ at a friends house. I am afraid I have to go to the BBQ and miss the ball game. DAMN!

Monday I will be setting lights and filming the commercial and then Tuesday is more lights. ARRGGHH!

THis too shall pass, just like the summer has, fast and furious.
Be safe!

Monday Musings...

Last Friday my darling baby daughter, AKA Omnipotent Benevolent Empress on my comments, had a milestone Birthday...She turned 40! I KNOW I gave birth to her, but Good GOD 40!!!!???? I sure dont feel like I am old enough to have a daughter that old! She has taken up knitting, and felting, and now she is taking up spinning her own wool! She has been looking at spinning wheels, as she was using a drop spindle to spin with, and that takes forever. Bob is fascinated by her spinning, and being the sweetheart that he can be at times, He had me look it up on the internet, and when he knew which one she wanted, he ordered it for her for her Birthday. WOW!! She now is the proud owner of a Lendrum double treadle collapsable spinning wheel. And soon Bob will be the proud wearer of a pair of felted and hand knitted and hand spun Clogs!



LAst night I went to the store for cat food and kitter litter...the important items in this household. On the way there I drove the back road by the ferry landing and the spit, and saw that the parking areas were FULL of cars. THe salmon are running right now, It is a Humpy year, and there must have been over 100 cars in that tiny little spot, and as I drove by two fishermen were showing off their catches...each had two 10+ pounders! NICE FISH!!

I came home from the store along Ebby's Landing just as the sun was about to set, so Sadie and I pulled over and parked along the beach head and watched. It was so pretty! It was so peaceful too. I must have sat there for 30 minutes or so, just breathing in the salt air and listening to the waves wash up on the shore.

Autumn is on us wether we know it or not...the air is crisp and smells like Fall. THe leaves are already turning and drying out. When the wind blows, they rustle now where in the spring and summer they dont. We have not had much of a summer, but this week we are expecting warm days and cool nights. You all know how much I look forward to those COOL NIGHTS... AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Did any of you watch the teen miss USA? Oh dear LORD!! We have GOT to do something about the education our teens are getting...go to YOU TUBE and check out the answer miss SOuth Carolina gave. THe question was...a percentage of our young people can not point out the USA on a world map. You will NOT believe her answer. Everybody needs to dig deep in your pocket and send that young lady a map of the world! THere is NO excuse for that, and people if you cant find the USA on a world map, then YOU TOO need to get one and study it hard! GADS!!