Singing Owl over at RevGalBlogPals says:
It's a Johnny Appleseed Friday Five
Raise your hand if you know that today is Johnny Appleseed Day!
September 26, 1774 was his birthday. "Johnny Appleseed" (John Chapman) is one of America's great legends. He was a nurseryman who started out planting trees in western New York and Pennsylvania, but he was among those who were captivated by the movement west across the continent.
As Johnny traveled west (at that time, the "West" was places like Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, and Illinois) he planted apple trees and sold trees to settlers. With every apple tree that was planted, the legend grew. A devout Christian, he was known to preach during his travels. According to legend, Johny Appleseed led a simple life and wanted little. He rarely accepted money and often donated any money he received to churches or charities. He planted hundreds of orchards, considering it his service to humankind. There is some link between Johny Appleseed and very early Arbor Day celebrations.
So, in honor of this interesting fellow, let's get on with the questions!
1. What is your favorite apple dish? (BIG BONUS points if you share the recipe.)--Mmmm, caramel apple pie. The recipe goes like this: find your nearest Costco and purchase!
2. Have you ever planted a tree? If so was there a special reason or occasion you can tell us about?--I've planted a lemon tree just because I like lemons. But when I was little, a friend gave me a little tree in a little pot that we planted and now it's a big tree in the big ground. It's got be close to 30 years old now! (Yo Momma will correct me if I'm wrong).
3. Does the idea of roaming around the countryside (preaching or otherwise) appeal to you? Why or why not?--I like roaming around places, seeing new sites, history, etc. I've always wanted to travel here or there and experience life from different vantage points. Gosh, that sounds very appealing right now...time for the next question!
4. Who is a favorite "historical legend" of yours? --I am a child of the Disney era...I love the story of Robin Hood. Though only if it's a fox and a bear. :)
5. Johnny Appleseed was said to sing to keep up his spirits as he traveled the roads of the west. Do you have a song that comes when you are trying to be cheerful, or is there something else that you often do? --There is always a song running through my head! Always! One that's pretty consistent for me is "Carry You" by Amy Grant (surprise, surprise!). It's my constant reminder that I'm not on this journey alone, very comforting and uplifting. Does that count?
Friday, September 26, 2008
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Adventures of the night
At 1:20am I realized that the scratching noises that I thought were coming from outside my window, were actually coming from somewhere in my room. Last time I heard that sound a random potato bug had found it's way in the house and into my room. Lovely. This time though it wasn't a potato bug...it was something a little more sinister. The thing** got away from me before I could remove it to another preferable place...like outside! Not cool. So at 1:20 this morning I was cleaning, getting shoes, dirty clothes, etc. off the floor so that the thing would not surprise me when I picked something up. I was pretty sure that I had it cornered in one particular area but getting it out of that place could have created quite a racket and I didn't want to wake the whole household up last night. So I decided to just trust that I had sufficiently cornered it. Yeah, bad idea.
I was awake. Wide awake. I couldn't turn my back on that side of the room. So I turned on the TV. And was awake. There is nothing on at between 2 and 3:30 in the morning but infomercials, bad sitcoms, news that freaks me out even more than the thing in my room, oh and the occasional televangelist. Yippee.
At 3:30am (still awake) I heard the unmistakable beeping of a big truck backing up in the neighborhood. Curious. Then I heard the sirens. Hmm. I sniffed the air and didn't smell smoke, looked outside couldn't see anything and got my laptop out to check our local fire website. As the computer was waking up, the sirens got closer. It was 3:30am in our sleepy little neighborhood. No one is driving around a lot but still the sirens kept going. Again and again. By the time the truck made it up the hill and to the neighbors house I was wondering where is it written that at 3:30am in a sleepy little neighborhood the rescue vehicle must use their sirens to alert everyone in the neighborhood that they are coming up the hill...slowly. I prayed for the neighbor who was having a medical emergency, turned off the computer and tried to go back to sleep...which finally happened around 5am.
Of course I had to be up at 7am. I cautiously exited my bed, raced through a shower and got ready for my day because I had made plans to go meet K at 8 for coffee. I am a really good friend and I had a really BIG coffee.
I had something going on until 1:45 this afternoon, but believe me as soon as I could, I hightailed it back home. I couldn't get the thought of the thing out of my head. So at 2pm when Yo Momma and Papa Bear arrived at home they found me in my room with a shovel and garbage can pulling things off of shelves and attempting to find the thing. Yo Momma, ever the helpful Momma, joined in while Papa Bear made really bad jokes about my needing a shovel to clean out my room. Yeah, he's lovely.
We moved everything, I mean everything, in my room and the thing was no where to be found. it has escaped somewhere within the house. Which doesn't make me any less freaked out...I think I'm going to start wearing my work boots around the house.
**I would post a picture of the thing but I don't want that image in my head anymore and I don't want to name it because, ew, so for those who are curious start thinking astrological signs and you'll figure it out.
I was awake. Wide awake. I couldn't turn my back on that side of the room. So I turned on the TV. And was awake. There is nothing on at between 2 and 3:30 in the morning but infomercials, bad sitcoms, news that freaks me out even more than the thing in my room, oh and the occasional televangelist. Yippee.
At 3:30am (still awake) I heard the unmistakable beeping of a big truck backing up in the neighborhood. Curious. Then I heard the sirens. Hmm. I sniffed the air and didn't smell smoke, looked outside couldn't see anything and got my laptop out to check our local fire website. As the computer was waking up, the sirens got closer. It was 3:30am in our sleepy little neighborhood. No one is driving around a lot but still the sirens kept going. Again and again. By the time the truck made it up the hill and to the neighbors house I was wondering where is it written that at 3:30am in a sleepy little neighborhood the rescue vehicle must use their sirens to alert everyone in the neighborhood that they are coming up the hill...slowly. I prayed for the neighbor who was having a medical emergency, turned off the computer and tried to go back to sleep...which finally happened around 5am.
Of course I had to be up at 7am. I cautiously exited my bed, raced through a shower and got ready for my day because I had made plans to go meet K at 8 for coffee. I am a really good friend and I had a really BIG coffee.
I had something going on until 1:45 this afternoon, but believe me as soon as I could, I hightailed it back home. I couldn't get the thought of the thing out of my head. So at 2pm when Yo Momma and Papa Bear arrived at home they found me in my room with a shovel and garbage can pulling things off of shelves and attempting to find the thing. Yo Momma, ever the helpful Momma, joined in while Papa Bear made really bad jokes about my needing a shovel to clean out my room. Yeah, he's lovely.
We moved everything, I mean everything, in my room and the thing was no where to be found. it has escaped somewhere within the house. Which doesn't make me any less freaked out...I think I'm going to start wearing my work boots around the house.
**I would post a picture of the thing but I don't want that image in my head anymore and I don't want to name it because, ew, so for those who are curious start thinking astrological signs and you'll figure it out.
Monday, September 22, 2008
More birthday celebrations...
Tonight the worship team surprised me by gathering for dinner together in a mini-celebration of my birth. It was very nice, unexpected and appreciated.
Last night was dinner at my house with some fun people. Train Guy decided that I needed a dinosaur cake for my birthday, so he and Grammy B. made one. It came out quite well, don't you think.
Adventure Boy was especially excited about the cake...in fact he didn't want to stop with just one little piece. At one point after pointing and saying "Cake! Cake!" for many unheeded moments, he looked at the cake and said "I want cake!". He may not be stringing sentences together all the time, but when it comes to things he wants, Adventure Boy is pretty clear!
And then there's Yo Momma. A year ago we were in a quilt shop and I expressed my lack of appreciation for quilts made out of those things called yo-yo's. Really, they aren't my thing and I guess I was pretty vocal about my desire never to have a quilt made of yo-yo's. Didn't say anything about a clown though. Yo Momma has a good sense of humor.
So, my birthday is officially over, my 34th year has officially begun and I'm blessed beyond words with some amazing friends and a fabulous family!
Sunday, September 21, 2008
You say it's your birthday...
it's my birthday too! I officially turned 34 at 6 something this morning. Yippee! The only thing that is freaking me out has more to do with feeling like life is going to change this year and I'm not really sure how...but then again I never know what's really going to happen in life so I'll let that go.
Anyway, awhile back I told K that what I wanted for my birthday was a spa day. A day to get a pedicure, have a facial, lunch out and whatever else to feel pampered for a day. That day came yesterday because, well, I have a job that requires me to work on Sunday's. K, Meg, Lora and I started with coffee, went for pedicures, had a yummy lunch by the sea, wandered in a bookshop, went for facials, back for more coffee and ended with this movie:
It was a lovely day! Thanks ladies!
Today Yo Momma has something up her sleeve, so I'm sure there will be a couple of surprises and then tonight Adventure Boy, Train Guy, K and N will be over for dinner. I think maybe G.G. too. I'm feeling loved, appreciated and happy today.
Friday, September 19, 2008
Fall Equinox Friday Five
Songbird over at RevGalBlogPals says:
It's that time of year, at least north of the equator. The windows are still open, but the darned furnace comes on early in the morning. My husband went out for a walk after an early supper and came home in full darkness. And yes, where we live, leaves are beginning to turn.
As this vivid season begins, tell us five favorite things about fall:1) A fragrance--I love the smell of cinnamon and apples. Always brings a smile to my face.
2) A color--We don't get a whole lot of leaves changing colors here in sunny, mild California, but there are a few. One in particular has leaves that turn a beautiful red-orange...that's my favorite color of fall.
3) An item of clothing--Black sweatpants. I'm wearing them now. Comfy, stretchy, warm and they look good...of course they are getting worn out and I need a new pair but they don't make them anymore. :(
4) An activity--I don't do it very often, but I love going pumpkin hunting. I like wandering through the pumpkin patch picking and choosing just the right pumpkin. I don't love gutting the pumpkin though...yuck!
5) A special day--Technically it's not in the fall, it's the last day of summer...my birthday! It means that fall is just a day away!
Thursday, September 18, 2008
My new favorite site
I'm way behind the times I'm sure, but this is my new favorite site.
And this is now sitting on my desk.
Though my desk doesn't look like that at.all. It was my one big purchase in Shakespeare Land. I'm very happy with it...and the youth kids like the jelly belly's that are currently filling the cup!
And this is now sitting on my desk.
Though my desk doesn't look like that at.all. It was my one big purchase in Shakespeare Land. I'm very happy with it...and the youth kids like the jelly belly's that are currently filling the cup!
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Um...yeah
Last week the keyboard on my work computer all of a sudden stopped working. Being the technogeek-wannabe that I am, I wiggled a few cords and it started working! Yea!
Today in the middle of trying to make a purchase at the $100 store online, my keyboard went out again. In the process of wiggling the cords I managed to hit the power cord which of course sent work computer into failure mode. Work computer flashed off and then on again. It started up with this message
"Keyboard Auxiliary Failure: Press F1 to continue or F2 to enter set-up". Being the great rule follower that I am, I pressed F1...wait for it, wait for it, yeah. If the keyboard is failing pressing F1 or F2 isn't going to help.
Technogeek-wannabe just got an F. But in my defense the really Technogeek people who wrote the program that put that message up either have a really good sense of humor or they weren't thinking very well either.
Today in the middle of trying to make a purchase at the $100 store online, my keyboard went out again. In the process of wiggling the cords I managed to hit the power cord which of course sent work computer into failure mode. Work computer flashed off and then on again. It started up with this message
"Keyboard Auxiliary Failure: Press F1 to continue or F2 to enter set-up". Being the great rule follower that I am, I pressed F1...wait for it, wait for it, yeah. If the keyboard is failing pressing F1 or F2 isn't going to help.
Technogeek-wannabe just got an F. But in my defense the really Technogeek people who wrote the program that put that message up either have a really good sense of humor or they weren't thinking very well either.
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