Let's All Be Winners!

Hi.  I think you know what's coming.  And I'm sorry, I am.  But I get such pleasure out of involving others in my sick, twisted viewing habits.  For this Wednesday Choose and Defend, please take a look at the worthy opponents pictured below and tell me who you think will take home the coveted Mirrorball Trophy.  The winner(s) get a $25 Target gift card!  You know you want one!  I mean, Churlita and AlienCG both eventually got theirs from the Fall season...and NoRegrets would have, if she had wanted it!  So, do me a solid..Choose and Defend! 



Chelsea Kane - Disney Starlet

Chris Jericho - WWE Wrestler

Hines Ward - Wide Receiver, Pittsburgh Steelers

Kendra Wilkinson - Reality TV Star

Kirstie Alley - Actress / Perpetual Dieter

Petra Nemcova - Supermodel

"Psycho" Mike Catherwood - DJ at KROQ

Ralph Macchio - Actor / Karate Kid

Romeo Miller - Rapper / Singer (formerly known as Lil Romeo)

Sugar Ray Leonard - Champion Boxer

Wendy Williams - Talk Show Host

Okay, so picture each of these people dancing ballroom.  Who will be victorious?  Choose and Defend!  It's fun!  Yay!!!



This Week's Word - Again, Not Bird :-)

Thanks to 3GirlKnight for the tag.  This week's word is - PLANT.  I had to double check at Alien's blog to make sure it hadn't been used...and it hasn't!  Not to say that none of those themes can ever be revisited.  That might actually be quite nice.  But in any event, an all new word - PLANT.

                                Have fun! 

This Musical Message is For the Smoking Man

You Better Make Your Face Up In Your Favorite Disguise

This week's Saturday Scavenger Shots word was chosen by 3GirlKnight over at By God's Good Grace.  The word is RUN.  It feels particularly appropriate to me right now, as I feel like I've been constantly on the go lately.  I'm tired and know I need something to rejuvenate me, but I'm not sure what.  Until I figure it out, guess I'll keep RUNning.  I should probably consider doing it literally, as well as figuratively.  Here is my photo of someone who loves to RUN -

I think I posted this picture before. 

Here is Handsome Lad mid-RUN at one of his Cross Country meets in the fall. 

He has just begun Track, for the spring, but I have no photos yet. 

RUN, Handsome Lad, RUN! 

Looking forward to seeing some other posts for RUN...and seeing who 3GirlKnight will tag next.

Hope you guys are having a grand weekend.  Don't RUN too far...I like having you around :-)

The Beautiful People

Happy Wednesday!  Are you ready to Choose and Defend?  I sure hope so... 

Okay, I just finished reading Patton Oswalt's book Zombie Spaceship Wasteland.  I like Oswalt's stand up a lot, as well as his fine comedic acting skills.  This book was quite funny and random.  I especially liked the essay relating to the title of the book.  He asserts that during the teen years, some people begin to sort of view their life in one of three ways...1) As a zombie story, 2) As a spaceship story, or 3) As a wasteland story.  In each scenario there is some kind of alienation, but different kinds.  I won't go on and on about it...I'm sure you get the idea.   

In any event, I thought I would ask you what the central theme of your story is, if you must choose one of these -

Zombie

Spaceship

OR

Wasteland

Go ahead...think of your disaffected youth.  Or imagine your disaffected youth, if you were less of an oddball.  Now...Choose and Defend!  

Happy Pi Day!

Happy Pi Day.  3.14.  Every year, this makes me giggle and makes me want some actual pie.  Any day is good for pie, but today you could feel like it has some deeper meaning in your life :-) 

Fortunately, Milly and I are taking our friend Ceku out for dinner tonight for her birthday.  She chose Moffats, home of the most delicious chicken pot pie I've ever had.  Not that I'm a connoisseur or anything...but they are very, very good. 

So enjoy this special day by eating some delicious pie and reflecting on the wonder of the circular.

Pi.  An irrational number for a completely rational world....sigh.

This Musical Message is For Giving Up the Fight

Tied Up in Sorrow

Velkommen to Saturday Scavenger Shots, with me, laura b!  This week's word was chosen by my blog sistah, Tara @ Eclectic Spaghetti.  The word she chose?  EMOTION.  This is so wide open.  Certainly for most photos that I've ever taken, I can still look at them and feel a combination of the EMOTIONs I felt at the time, taking the picture, along with the EMOTIONs  I feel now, looking at the picture from some distance.  I wasn't sure what to show you here.  Finally, I decided to go with this picture from about a year and a half ago.

When I look at this picture I think back and can see that DR looks happy.  I know I felt happy.  My EMOTION when I saw this picture (of which come to think of it, I was not actually the photographer!) was quite purely happiness and a feeling of safety. 

Now when I look a it my EMOTIONs are more complicated.  It still makes me happy to see DR in that time and place...but I also feel other things, such as confusion and pain.  Lots of EMOTION here, for sure. 

Wow, well.  Hope that wasn't too EMOTIONal for you guys.  I am sometimes fully at the mercy of EMOTION and it isn't necessarily a pretty thing. 

Tara has tagged our buddy, 3GirlKnight to choose the next word.  Looking forward, as always, to seeing...What.  Comes.  Next.

Friday 5 - A Little Drizzle

The Friday 5 meme comes to us weekly from a Hawaiian blogger.  Not too surprisingly, he was a bit preoccupied today, what with the tsunami warnings and all...still, here it is!  Also participating in this meme is Tara @ Eclectic Spaghetti, so check her out!  Feel free to play along in comments or on your blog.  This one is delicious!

1.What’s your favorite thing to put chocolate syrup on?  Any kind of ice cream, but my special favorite is mint chocolate chip with chocolate syrup. Mmmmmmmm....

2.What’s the best thing to sprinkle cinnamon on?  I like cinnamon on applesauce.  For a special treat, I make myself some cinnamon sugar toast.  Mmmmmmmm....

3.What’s something that is made superb by a few drops of hot sauce?  Most Mexican food is already hot sauced up...sometimes it needs more.  And I sometimes put a few drops of hot sauce or crushed red pepper into pasta sauce too.  Mmmmmmm...

4.What’s something you do with honey?  That's a rather personal question!  Oh wait...no, it isn't.  Um, okay then...I like honey in tea and on toast or biscuits.  Mmmmmmm....

5.Besides a sandwich, what’s something you put peanut butter on?  I like peanut butter on celery.  I also like dipping apple slices in peanut butter.  Mmmmmmm....

Mmmmmmmm.....

See how tasty this Friday 5 turned out to be?  Had me purring like a greedy kitty.  haha!  I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.  Please stop back in and check out Saturday Scavenger Shots, with the theme - EMOTION.  And please send good thoughts and maybe a little donation, if you can, to the people of Japan.

I'm Okay Alone, But You've Got Something I Need

Welcome to another Choose and Defend Wednesday.  The weeks just keep flying by.  I think it is time to slow down for a minute and do something fun.  A group date, if you will.  What would you like to do?  Our choices are -

Bowling

OR

Roller Skating

You know the rules...Choose.  Simple enough.  Then Defend.  Sometimes more difficult, but you can do it!  Can't wait to see where we end up going on our blog buddy group date! 

This Musical Message is For the Aerial View

No Way I'm Disco Dancing

All is VANITY.  I'm not sure what I was thinking when I chose this week's Saturday Scavenger Shots word.  It just sort of came to me as an interesting idea to explore.  It was tough though!  I pretty much stumped my own self :-)  Here is what I have cobbled together -

The peacock is sometimes thought of as a symbol of VANITY. 

This is a photo from a long time ago, when I first started working at APL.  It is funny that

peacocks roam the streets of the city where I live and the city where I work...and nowhere in

between, as far as I know.  I guess I am somehow meant to be around all of that VANITY.

Sometimes a VANITY is simply a piece of furniture.  More like a dressing table type of thing. 

I don't have one of those.  This is an approximation of a physical vanity, in the restroom at
work.  Hey, this isn't the first photo I've snapped in the bathroom!  Anyway...the bonus is you
get me, full of VANITY for no good reason.  Actually, I am not full of VANITY as a rule. 

But I did take a shot or two, to ensure I wouldn't look too gross here....oh, VANITY!

I hope those of you participating enjoyed exploring VANITY.  If you aren't playing, consider it!  It's fun :-)  Now for the tag....Tara, mistress of Eclectic Spaghetti, you're it!!!

Friday 5 - There's a Wriday on Your Friday

Starting this post with a brag...I won MrManuel's contest on Facebook and he is sending me a FREE 5x7 print of a February photo!  If you want to see the photo I chose, it is right HERE.  I'm very excited.  Thanks, Manuel!!!

 I almost wasn't going to post today, but I like the cut of this Friday 5's jib :-)  Since Wednesday was Dr. Seuss' birthday, the creator of Friday 5 decided to ask some questions inspired by his books -

 1. Dr. Seuss’s first published book was And to Think That I Saw it on Mulberry Street. What’s the most interesting thing you’ve witnessed on your street?  Nothing that exciting seems to happen on my current street.  I hear more things than I see.  Something about the buildings and the cul-de-sac seems to cause sound to really carry.  In general, not a great thing, but it can be kind of funny sometimes.

2. In The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins, a boy removes his hat to pay respect to the passing king, but each hat is somehow replaced by a bigger, fancier hat. If you’re a hat person, what’s your current favorite? If not, under what circumstances did you last wear a hat?  I am not a hat person.  The last thing I wore that would even resemble a hat is when I wore my pirate bandanna at Halloween.

3. In If I Ran the Zoo…, a boy fantasizes about how fantastic the zoo would be under his administration. What’s your local zoo like, and how do you like it? My local zoo would be the Los Angeles Zoo.  I tend towards mixed feelings about zoo, but I am currently reading a book called Sailing with Noah: Stories from the World of Zoos by Jeffrey P. Bonner, that is quite interesting and makes a good case for the importance zoos can have for animal populations if they are meticulously run.  The LA Zoo is very nice and fun to visit very occasionally.

4. In Green Eggs and Ham, the main character refuses to taste a certain dish until, just to get Sam to leave him alone, he gives in and discovers that he likes it. When did something like this happen to you?  I would be hard pressed to remember finding I liked something I thought I didn't like.  Maybe ketchup...for the longest time, I'd order even burgers without it.  Then I realized it wasn't bad on a burger.  I still don't love it enough to soak my fries in it, but it's a'ight :-)

5. The Foot Book contains a lesson about judging others based on their feet. Feet seem to be something people have widely polar opinions about! How do you feel about feet, and can you think of someone in your life who has especially nice feet?  I guess I am fairly foot neutral.  I don't have a "thing" for feet, but I also don't find feet at all gross.  I love my grandbabies' cute little feet!

  
Thanks for participating! I meant what I said and I said what I meant: may you have a great weekend, one hundred percent!  I didn't say that, the scrivener did...cute, right?  But seriously, I hope you do have a wonderful weekend.  Post your own Friday 5 on your blog or in comments here, if you'd like.  Or just comment...I LOVE comments.  Some other things you can do if you want - 1. Make your voice heard in this week's Choose and Defend Wednesday.  2. Post a photo for the Saturday Scavenger Hunt.  The word is - VANITY.  And...that's alls I gots.  laura b. OUT!!!

Some Cute Boys and One Cute Girl

Yesterday was Read Across America.  As we do each year,

we had the fire fighters come to read some stories and, more importantly,

show off their fire trucks and fancy equipment! 

You know I love fire fighters...enough said...

here are a couple of badly taken photos for you:

This guy, Nguyen, is in training to be a Paramedic / Fire Fighter. 

He was very young and sweet and adorable.

Say hello to Fire Fighter Harvey.  The kids (and, okay, the moms) loved him.

Aw!  This one's for those of you who like something sweet after your beefcake. 

 Love Bug and Little Prince had a good time climbing around the trucks.

Hope you enjoyed this year's Special Fire Fighters Edition of Fresh Hell :-)  If you haven't all ready, I encourage you to step down to yesterday's post and play some Choose and Defend.  Thanks!

The Way They Crunch. The Way They Dip.

Let's make this week's Choose and Defend Wednesday delicious, okay?  I must be feeling snacky!  Since you all dropped in, I've brought out the tortilla chips.  You're welcome!  Now...what shall we use to make them more interesting and tasty?  You know the rules...Choose one of the two available options...Defend said choice with vigor.   Easy, right?  Here goes -

Guacamole

OR

Salsa

Are you hungry?  Which will it be?  Choose and Defend!!!

New Word! And Other Stuff

Let me start off with this week's Saturday Scavenger Hunt word!  I was tagged by the Alien...and advised to choose wisely.  After careful consideration I am going to challenge you with - VANITY.  I can't wait to see what we can come up with!!!

I hope you all had a good weekend. Mine didn't feel long enough, but it was mostly fun.  If you are my Facebook friend or follow me on Twitter, you know that Saturday was my Big Hollywood Adventure with Milly.  We took the Gold and Red Lines (which are trains) into Hollywood.  It was the day before the Academy Awards, so we saw them doing all the hard work of setting things up for the big event.

Behold!  It is Mighty Ozymandias!  I mean Oscar.  Isn't he lovely?

While we were down there, we went to the Hollywood Museum.  They have a rather odd, eclectic collection of props and costumes from film and television projects through the decades.   Quite interesting.  After the museum we had a late lunch, then headed home.   I did enjoy the train part of the trip almost more than anything else :-)

Sunday, Handsome Lad had his final basketball game of the seaon.  He's enjoyed playing.  I guess next he will do Track at his school.  At least our Sundays will be freed up again.   

We did not watch the Academy Awards.  First WTG and I had to go rescue Secret Agent Man, who'd left his headlights on at work.  With the battery drained, we also couldn't open the door because of the alarm system, I guess?  Anyway, AAA came to the rescue, popped the lock and jumped the car and he was good to go.  When I got home Girlie Girl, Handsome Lad and I watch (500) Days of Summer.  Cute, light, just what I could manage.  

Tonight, I am hoping I will have a chance to talk with DR.  I feel like right now neither one of us are putting out best efforts into making time for each other.  Sometimes I feel pulled in so many directions that it is easiest to put off calling him.  Certainly he feels the same.   My feelings for him haven't changed, but when duty calls, that person across the country seems to have the lesser pull.   Still, in theory, only a couple more months of this!  

Now, on the rest of the week and all that jazz :-)   

This Musical Message is For He's Coming For You

But I Will Be Here

Hooray for Saturday and hooray for Saturday Scavenger Shots!  Our dear friend AlienCG over at Swamp Gas & Moonlit Reflections made a brief appearance to bestow upon us the word CELL.  What are we gonna do about that?  I thought it over and thought it over and then I just did this -

This is my go-to cheat for words I don't know how to portray....a book!  

How about a very nice book about CELLs?  I found it on the shelf and propped it up, just for you :-)

These days, my room is more or less a monastic CELL.  

Okay, probably many more creature comforts, but you get the idea.  

Could be worse...at least it isn't a prison CELL.

I look forward to seeing your CELLs and hoped you enjoyed seeing mine.  By the by, I took these photos, as always, with my CELL phone!  Bonus :-)

Friday 5 - And the Winner Is...

I haven't done a Friday 5 in a couple of weeks and this looked like a fun one!  As always, feel empowered to play along in comments or on your own blog.  Here goes...

1. Who in your life should win Best Director for his or her work in 2010? I think this one is going to have to go to my youngest son, Handsome Lad.  As the only one of my five children, who is still actually a child, he now holds the responsibility for directing most of my actions.  I used to have multiple directors...and of course, I still act as they wish when the need arises.  But this year, the winner is...Handsome Lad!

2. Who in your life should win Best Actor and Actress in Supporting Roles for their performances in 2010?  Okay, I am aware this answer is going to sound sad, but I'm going to have to be honest.  Throughout 2010, I would say I felt most consistantly supported by my online community, including fellow bloggers, Facebook friends, and the Tweeple.  Yes, it is true, the winner is...The Internet! 

3. For what 2010 project, display, or outfit will you win the Best Visual Effects award?  Wow, so many things to choose from.  I do a lot of visual projects because it is part of my job.  I am going to have to give it up to my awesome desk, which is always interesting.  I call it controlled chaos.  The winner is....My Desk!

4. What terrific display of self-restraint or self-correction in 2010 earns you the Best Editor award?  I guess I would start by saying that I'm not necessarily noted for my self-restraint.  This is a tough one.  I suppose I have learned to deal with my ex, WTG, in healthier ways for the most part.  So, the winner is...My Interactions with WTG!

5. Of these Best Picture nominees, which title could best serve as the title of your 2010: 127 Hours, Black Swan, The Fighter, Inception, The Kids are All Right, The King’s Speech, The Social Network, Toy Story 3, True Grit, or Winter’s Bone?  Oooohh.  I could make a case for any of them and none of them.   I believe I will go with The Kids are All Right, because they are...we all are!  That is what it comes down to...we're all all right.  My title for laura b.'s 2010...The Kids are All Right!

I hope you enjoyed or tolerated this mini salute to the Oscars.  Also hope you all have a wonderful weekend, with a little time out to post a Saturday Scavenger Shot featuring something CELL :-)  Thanks guys and dolls. 

The Moment You Are Free

Well, apparently last week's Choose and Defend was not popular among my readers...particularly those who felt it called into question their manhood or their viewing capabilities :-)  So, for this Wednesday, how about a sports query?  And since it is still, apparently, winter, how about a winter sports query?    Tell us which you prefer (Choose) and then tell us why (Defend).  It is just that simple. 

Which sport do you prefer?

Cross Country (Nordic) Skiing

OR

Downhill (Alpine) Skiing

If you have never skiied , use those big imaginations of yours to imagine which you'd prefer.  If you have tried them and disliked both, tell us which one was slightly less horrid and why.   Choose and Defend Wednesday!!!

Miscellania

One or two of you may have noted that on Friday I was close to a little breakdown of sorts.  DR and I had been suffering through a bit of a disconnect, but we have worked it out.  We are only about 3 months out from being together again...but also, he's been gone longer now than he was here.  It is wearing and can be difficult to stay positive.  My feelings for him are very deep though, so I can keep the faith and keep waiting. 

This was a busy weekend!  I worked Saturday, which meant the usual library madness.  People love them some library services on Saturday. 

Sunday featured my sweet Miss Personality's annual Chuck E Cheese birthday party.  As usual, Auntie Girlie Girl took her out for a new outfit and a manicure before the party.  It is always her favorite gift :)

  Here she is getting pretty pink fingernails.  It is very exciting!

This is the stunning outfit Miss Personality choose.  Notice the little pink cowboy, I mean cowGIRL (as she pointed out to me) boots!  She has impeccable taste!

Sadly, Handsome Lad and I could not linger long at her party.  He had two basketball games scheduled.    His team won the first game and lost the second this time.  Handsome Lad LOVES basketball.  I feel lucky that it is one of the quicker moving and more interesting sports to watch.  I've sat through many a Little League game in my day, so I know what I'm talking about. 

Miss Personality and Love Bug came over to spend Sunday night with us.  It had been such a busy day that after getting everyone fed again, I attempted settling in with some movies.  It went pretty well and the girls were very good and slept until after 8 the next morning. 

Monday was my bonus day off and I really felt like I needed it.  Got caught up on my laundry, sort of.  Also got out to the usual Monday family lunch, which of course some of us mostly miss.  It was fun getting together with everyone again, because Chuck E Cheese doesn't count as a visit...there is no way to talk there!  After that, I finally had some down time.  DR and I got in a very nice long talk and that alone made me feel a million times better.

I hope you all had a nice long or even regular length weekend.  I really liked getting to see everyone's WIND pictures.  Play with us this next week as we attempt - CELL!  

This Musical Message is For These Thoughts Racing Through My Brain

All Those Things You Think About, I Think About Too

It is Saturday, so I have scavaged some shots for you!  This week's word - WIND, was choosen for us by fiesty, funny NoRegrets @ Woman with No Regrets.   She instructed us to take it however we wanted to...so that's a bit of a trick word, isn't it!   Here is what I came up with:

This picture is actually a rerun from another word that NoRegrets once gave us - Quixotic! 

But I thought this WINDmill would also work great for today's post. 

I fancy the palm trees are even blowing a bit in the WIND here :-)

Now, here is a WIND up beetle that I keep at my desk!  

Sometimes having someone WIND you up is a pleasure...sometimes, not so much. 

 It's all in the spirit in which it's done. 

Hope you've enjoyed the WIND in your hair.  Let's see how this week WINDs up and who NoRegrets will tag for next week's pick.  Thanks for visiting and if you aren't playing, please consider joining in.  It's fun!

Quick Note

Just wanted to make sure anyone reading here would note that the word for Saturday is - WIND.  Thank you for that NoRegrets! 

Also, wanted to say my daughter and youngest son are awesome.  They saw how excited I got watching Arcade Fire play at the Grammys and they got me their Grammy winning CD (yes, I still do CDs) The Suburbs.  It was rather flattering they'd noticed my happiness...sometimes I feel invisible and it is nice to be reminded that I'm not :-D

You With Your Innocence and Grace

Following up my obnoxious Birthentine post with yet another obnoxious post, especially for Choose and Defend Wednesday.  I watch at least two shows on television right now that the majority of you are not even remotely interested.  I respect that.  And yet...I thought, why not take a couple of these lowest common denominator (that would be me, apparently) shows and find out what people would be willing to put up with if they had to....to be nice to their blogger friend, laura b :-)  So...if compelled to view one of these shows with me, which would you Choose?

American Idol

OR

Glee

I know...I know...it's rough.  But please.  As a gesture of goodwill towards your more lame compadre in the world of blogging.  Choose one of these shows.  And then Defend that choice...again, rough, but I have every faith that you can pull this off!  Choose and Defend!   

Happy Birthentine's Day

That up there is a Frankenstein word for what today is for me.  First and foremost, of course, my birthday.  But also it is Valentine's Day.  I love having a Valentine birthday.  I also love how Facebook reminds everyone about birthdays and you end up with tons of awesome birthday wishes!  I find that very exciting, sincerely.  I thank you all!!!

I had a nice weekend leading up to today.  Saturday I had some quiet time in the morning and early afternoon because Girlie Girl and Handsome Lad had gone off to Big Bear with their dad.  Later in the day we all hung out and had some tv time and such.

Sunday Handsome Lad had two basketball games.  One loss, one win and good fun to watch.  My dad and stepmom came down to attend the games and after that was over they took the bunch of us out to late lunch / early dinner...linner, right?  It was really great.  All the kids and grandkids were there (only Secret Agent Man had to work).  My mom and ma-in-law were there too.  Want a gift list?  Sure you do!  I got some sweet $$$ from my parents, a necklace from my dad and stepmom, roses from Kick Back Dude, and some PJs from WTG.  My BBF Milly got me a 7-Eleven card, which I will use up biff zoom, and another one of my BFs is going to take me out to dinner on Wednesday! 

 The beautiful birthday flowers that my oldest son gave me :-)

Tonight after work I am supposed to go by WTGs.  He made dinner for his brother and his family, and the kids of course, and there will be plenty left over :-)  So I would say that all in all, turning 48 has not been too terribly bad!  When I think of the alternative to getting older, I appreciate the passing of the years. 

I know not everyone loves Valentine's Day, but even without a sweetheart it can be a good day.  Is it really so bad to remember the people you love and be remembered by the people who love you?  Of course not.  Like all the other annoying holidays throughout the year, it is good at heart!  So, I hope you've all had a good day. 

Bee mine? 

I do loves ya!  Happy Valentine's Day!

This Musical Message is For I Hope My Heart Will Do

You Look So Brave With the Sun in Your Face

It is Saturday, so here I am posting up my Saturday Scavenger Shots.  This week's word, BOUND, was chosen by the ever fearlessly funny 3GirlKnight over at By God's Good Grace.  I like it, because it can be used in different ways...I myself was able to dig up a couple of different meanings amongst my photos.  And here they are:

 Here is Handsome Lad BOUNDing out onto the basketball court a couple of weeks ago.  He struggles, but he is BOUND and determined to become a great player!

Some of my family.  We have our issues, as most families do, but we are BOUND together through all those complicated ties of history and blood and love.

 

Were you BOUND to get to this today?  I hope to see some other entries today!  And I look forward to seeing who 3GirlKnight tags to choose the next word.  Have a great rest of the weekend, all you BOUNDers!

Age Old Puzzle Will Now Be Solved!

Here is a somewhat silly, somewhat serious Choose and Defend Wednesday challenge for you.  Which came first...

The Chicken

OR

The Egg

So a-one, and a-two and a-you know what to do!  Choose and Defend!  Don't be afraid to get your hands dirty!

Describe the Description

Do you know haiku form?  It actually varies, but we tend to just simplify it to a three line stanza, with a pattern of 5-7-5 syllables per line.  I love haiku.  I have reason to believe NoRegrets likes them too.  Anyway, I thought I'd see if I could ask you to play along with me here.  In comments, would you write a haiku about yourself?  A haiku that is an Iku!  A youku?  Meku?   I think this is prompted by something I thought of idly and it sort of got stuck in my brain - My Iku

There's too much of me

It's the only way you know

I really exist 

This Musical Message is For They Ain't Gon' Praise

And I'm Still Giving

Oh, I'll admit it...I am againreally excited to be playing Saturday Scavenger Shots. All kudos to Tara for suggesting we could give this another go! This week's word, chosen by Yours Truly is JAR. I'm also going to admit that when I chose it, I had something definite in mind, as I knew what I would be doing today :-) Let me see if I can JAR you into little ooohhhhs of astonishment at the marvel I am about to show you.

Did you know, that you can make your own butter...in a JAR?

 

 Simply add a couple of tablespoons of whipping cream to your empty baby food JAR.  

Put the lid on!  :-)  Give it a shake for about 10 minutes or so.  

Today, the kids are going to do that during the first part of my Laura Ingalls Wilder program!

 

After 10 minutes, take a look!  You will see that a little lump of butter has formed in your JAR!

Since we aren't salting it or anything, it doesn't actually have much flavor, but it is very fresh and nice.

 Okay...this has nothing to do with JARs, but I wanted to show you how nice your little bit of butter looks on a cracker.  Yum yum!

Here are a bunch of JARs I have ready for the program.  I hope the little pioneers enjoy themselves today!  In addition to making butter, we are going to play some games, do some crafts, and have some snacks that we did not create ourselves.  Wish us all luck.

I hope you have enjoyed my presentation of the theme - JAR.  I cannot wait to see yours :-)  For next week, I would like to tag one of my favorite bloggers.  He has a great sense of humor and he's a delightful dad.  So... take it away 3GirlKnight over at By God's Good Grace!

It's Just a Jump to the Left

As promised, here is a more light hearted Choose and Defend Wednesday post for us all to enjoy :-) You are being given the gift of travel! But which sort of travel would you Choose?

Teleportation

OR

Time Travel

Ooooohhhh, right? So Choose and tell us why! That would be the Defend part of the game. Thanks for playing...and Happy Groundhog Day! (Uh-oh...do you think I'll post this same exact post again tomorrow???)

Down and Out

It has been busy here the past couple of days. I'm a bit down as well. Tomorrow, though, a nice Choose and Defend Wednesday post. Something lighter than last time, for sure.

Think good thoughts for each and every one of us, would you? Thanks.