Timing the Lightening

Tonight my sister in law made me come outside and look up in the clouds. There were huge clouds and when the lightening would show itself it would be gone in a flash (no pun intended ) --

So my niece and I both said, 'wish we had a camera!' ~ well, duh! I live here, so I went inside to get my camera. Madam B had it set on a fluorescent setting - which I wasn't aware of, but good thing really, as the only photo that turned out was pretty interesting.

It's really hard to 'catch lightening' in the act of being itself -

This scene is looking over the top of my son's house.

Next time, I'll try to be more prepared. Everything that could go wrong about owning a camera went wrong - I didn't know what the settings were because I didn't use the camera last, I couldn't see in the dark to take the picture, couldn't find the flash button, lightening doesn't pose exactly - you have to catch it in the act! - so I began 'timing' it, trying to anyway, counting the seconds in between and this is the only decent photo I got, along with about 12 blank spots, and the battery went dead, as well.

But ~ I'm happy. It's a memory we made. We were there together, and we will remember it with love - the love you have for your crazy relatives.

I'll be at the end of the line....

I'll never get it. Whatever 'it' is, if it is a 'tekkie' thing - it'll pass me by.

Part 1 - I had a post here, and I thought, because it says 'save now' constantly on the bottom of the little box you type in - that it was actually saving.

But I left to go practice some Spanish with Sean and it didn't save anything. Not now, nor then. Why? I don't know.

I haven't figured out how to blog. And most likely, I won't until it's the end of the blogging world and people will be on to something else, like Pling Sailing.

My son Sean has met a girl who taught herself to speak fluently 6 languages. He now wants to speak more than one language, too. So he's trying Spanish because if you can speak Spanish here in Sunny Florida - you have a much better chance of getting a job.

Part 2 - I asked Sean if maybe I could use his Spanish CD in my computer. Than I said, 'oh no, I can't because I don't have sound on mine.'

"What do you mean, you don't have sound? You have sound," he said, "I put the sound card in myself."

"I don't know then what happened."

Well, long story short - what happened was, my speakers got moved to another computer, and Mom thought - she had no sound - when infact - she had no speakers. (duh! - Which in Spanish is the same only with an upside down exclamation point in the front - making you twice as duh!)

Part 3 - There are many things you can do on your blog. I can do about three. I can post pictures now, I can type in the little box and look at the preview, I can add a link -- oh, and I learned about the 'labels for this post' box, but I have not learned how to link that to wherever it is that you can view those things together in their same likeness. That's a worm hole to me.

I am thinking about setting up a practice blog. One I can play on and try to do things with and not worry about what happens. You know what? I think I just came up with a very, very good idea.

The Blue Drawf

My latest Garden Discovery

I went out to my little garden the other day and found this little surprise.

Awhile back, I had used this area for a compost pile - then I decided to plant flowers, and I just covered up all the compost --

Well, seems something broke through. I knew it was a cantaloupe vine growing, but I never expected this!! ---

These photos were taken at two different times of the day. I notice that some insect is quickly eating into the vine. So, I don't know if I can save it. And, it's doubtful I can save the cantaloupe. I called a friend of mine who knows about these things, and she told me I have to find a way to support the cantaloupe because it will surely fall.

I don't know it's fate. But I was just pleased as punch when I found it hanging on the vine. Gave new meaning to 'hanging in there!'

Life is a celebration of awakenings, of new beginnings, and wonderful surprises that enlighten the soul. ~~ Cielo

After Enlightenment....

...the laundry. ~ Zen Proverb

I never really new what that meant. I actually thought some Zennist was making a joke about laundry being there all the time, but I don't think that is it.

I recently ran across this Zen Proverb -- Before enlightenment, chop wood, carry water. After enlightenment, chop wood, carry water.

So, I got to thinking that what the saying means is, you still must work - no matter what you think you know, or don't know, or could know, or should know -- you still have work to do. Enlightenment, or knowing things, or being smart doesn't give you an excuse to be lazy and not do a job well.

I think what might happen to me, sometimes, is I become unnoticing of tasks that I consider mundane - you know, the regular reoccurring ones I wasn't allowing myself to focus, to be present as it were with the task and do a good and complete job every time. The laundry could not depend on me, but now it can! Because today was different, and I noticed that today I had more time to myself to actually do the laundry I had decided to do. (Usually I am interrupted many times, but today was quite peaceful) ...

So, as I did my laundry, I concentrated on the task before me more, and it was done perfectly. I felt calm and not rushed, the things are all folded nicely and in their places, and I have a special way I do my own clothes; I don't put them in the dryer --and since I don't have a clothes line, I have to convert my laundry room into one (that's always interesting)

--But at the end of the night - all done - all put away. And I feel enlightened. Think I'll go chop some wood and carry some water--or maybe empty the freezer. I think there is some Ben and Jerry's in there taking up to much space. I'll give all my concentration over to enjoyment of the task of sharing my new depth of enlightenment with Ben and Jerry. The carton is half full.

End of the week or beginning of the Weekend?

How do you look at it? I always think the Week has Ended! I love Fridays!

Tonight I didn't cook. I ordered pizza and a sub for the family - I had my Pasta Fagioli, which I make from scratch, and I love it - but no cooking, as there are dishes sitting in my kitchen from last night (okay, they are put away now, but they weren't at dinner time.). I've just been doing other things.

I have been painting my new and first bookshelf! The one Mr. B made for me this past week. As I was painting it, and for all the painting I have done, I was sorely disappointed in the job I as doing (two coats of primer and two coats of paint already!) - but, oh well - it's done with love and all that -- and

I was thinking about how important Carpentry is. Such a necessity to be a good carpenter if one should choose that profession. How many professions could you choose that your lack of skill could make something fall down?

Anyway, I decided to paint the shelf in a Ultra High Gloss White. Maybe that is the problem. It's not so easy for me working with this High Gloss paint. Maybe I didn't stir it enough. Maybe I shouldn't paint outside on a windy day. Maybe I have to heavy a hand. But I've seen the results of High Gloss White before, and this is turning out exactly like that, only this is not how I wanted it to look. Oh well. It'll be lovely when it's up.

And, I've been working on my sons books - business books that is- yes, aside from being a good cook (my husband told me that!), I have some minor bookkeeping skills. Really, it's just posting to a Quicken program, but somebody's got to do it, and since it's boring to a lot of people and accountants charge a ton of money, I volunteered.

I found a surprise for me in my garden. I'll try to post a photo of that tomorrow.

Poem selections - Emily Dickinson this week

My daughter loves poetry. I allow her to choose a poem each week for copy work and to use for dictation and memory work - here is the choice for this past week ~~


I died for beauty but was scarce
Adjusted in the tomb,
When one who died for truth was lain
In an adjoining room.

He questioned softly why I failed?
"For beauty," I replied.
"And I for truth,--the two are one;
We brethren are," he said.

And so, as kinsmen met a night,
We talked between the rooms,
Until the moss had reached our lips,
And covered up our names.

~~Emily Dickinson

Some of My Friends Peek Out

These are orange portulacas that I was hoping I could station next too some blue dwarf.


The same portulacas in yellow, next to their orange friends with some blue plumbago in the backdrop.


This photo above is one of my hanging baskets leaning just a little bit to far right. That happens sometimes.


This is a snapshot of the kids coming out to play. I just love the orange and blue theme going there with a toss of yellow thrown in there. I'm glad I got a shot of those little sunflowers because they got bit by something and I am trying to nurse them back to health at the present time.

My Pink Mandevilla

The are photographs of my front porch. The pink flowers on the edge of the porch are Mandevillas.

I noticed last week a real change in the plant, and so today I took a few leaves into the place where I bought them. Actually, they were a gift, but anyway -- I took the leaves in to ask what might be wrong with my Mandevillas, that I have grown to love so much.

I went over to the section of the store where the Mandevillas were and noticed that many of the ones there had leaves that looked the same as mine. A lady come around, and I showed her my leaves and she told me, "This looks like a mite has got them."

"But, they look the same as these right here." I said, and pointed to the ones for sale.

She started talking about mites and overwatering and pink mandevillas being more sensitive to things of nature as she lead me away from the flowers I was pointing to, and we ended in a section that sold fertilizer and treatment type things.

I listened to what she was saying and did buy a product that, she said, might save the Mandevilla, but I couldn't get out of my head that these people were selling flowers that might be diseased!

And she also told me that the leaves of the flowers needed to be discarded in an area away from other flowers as the other flowers, if sensitive to the same problem, could develop the disease, and I'm thinking, "Gee, you are not only selling flowers with disease, as your leaves look like my leaves, and you are leaving them right there together."

This was at Home Depot. This could be one of the reasons they are going out of business.

I am so sad about my Mandevillas. But doesn't that just represent life? It's here. And then, it's gone.

The Human Condition

I give over to the thought that no one can really explain the human condition. Mind and Body - oh gee, and oh well --

I am reporting today on mine, in the physical sense .

You see, I've decided that I will print out my blog for my family - my children really. No one, really, is concerned about what I write here, but in years past, I was bemoaning my late start in life. that is towards the business of having children, that is, my oldest wasn't born until I was 28 and my youngest was born when I was 41, so doubtful it is that I will know my grandchildren with my *right mind* in tact, as my oldest is not yet married, and neither my second or third...

So, in a conversation one day with my oldest several years ago, I was telling him I would dearly miss my grandchildren, as it would be doubtful I could play with them much or tell them things, as I most likely will be needing them to push me in my wheelchair or help me remember where I put my glasses and my teeth ...

So he said, back then, "Mom, why don't you just write down your thoughts everyday, and we will always have that. We will read it to them." That was before "blogs" ...That was before Leslie and Tim told me, "You should have a blog."

As I have dabbled in the blogging world, it has come to dawn on me, this perhaps could be something that I leave behind --.

So that leaves me to mention my human condition in the physical sense. My spiritual and emotional sense is fine. I am quite happy.

I am, though, terribly frustrated with my spine. I have these muscular-skeletal problems or situations, if you should prefer, that I am trying to figure out how to deal with. I obviously don't want surgery.

I most recently went to the doctor again with a reoccurring problem that is reoccurring more often. Every morning when I awake, no matter which side I am lying on, my left or my right, that whole arm including my hand is asleep. And my lower back has been spasming more, and the point of my back where the scoliosis is, is constantly bothering me. So my doctor is going to look again at the MRI I had done last year, to see, if perhaps, there might be something she can pinpoint without having me have another MRI (they are so bloody expensive even with my insurance!).

In the meantime, I am having to live with muscle relaxers, when I need them, and anti-inflammatories, when I need them. However, my orthopedic surgeon wants me on a regimen of anti-inflammatories 24/7, and I just can't do that.

So that's where I am right now. Unable to dig in my garden. That is so frustrating! I can pull weeds and water the plants!

But, no matter what it is, things could always be worse.

Ad absurdum

...the latin for 'to the point of absurdity' ...And that's what I feel happens when Mr. B gets time off! For more than three years in a row, when he has gotten a block of time off -- he gets sick.

He's off for 5 days, and he laying in there sick on the couch. And now I have a sore throat! Is ridiculous close to absurd? If he doesn't want to put the shelves up, just say so! (haha)

He did joke about how I was going to be asking him to do all these things around the house, and yes, I was so excited about getting my book shelves -- finally. And I have three days off next week (he's getting paid at least; I won't be), and I was so looking forward to putting books up on those shelves! Oh, the things we look forward to when we get old...

But alas, it shall not be. It shall be doing the mundane chores of every day - and more catching up --and moving these books around to more places until they are finally shelved. (Wah.)

The Dilemma of Who and Whom

I learned the rule long ago, but still go by the sound of the ear -- I found this link and loved the last part --

...If you apply those two rules, and you are still not sure, apply the all important Rule #3.

Rule #3: Give it a sincere and honest effort to determine if it's "who" or "whom." If it takes more than 30 seconds to figure it out, pick the one that sounds best to the ear (read it aloud) and move on. Why? Because even grammarians are likely to squabble over which to use. But always - always - apply rules #1 and #2 before using Rule # 3.


And of course, the dilemma of spelling 'dilemma' ...
(I'm sure I was taught to spell that word incorrectly back in the day)

The Hallmarks of August 2007

This August 11th our band got together again. Seldom Seen and the Remainders. The girls accompanying them, well, we call ourselves The Unknown Legends.

We had a great party this year. There were 38 family members and 16 guests. We must have had 40 songs on the set list, but we played and sang until about 1 AM, so I am sure we topped out at over 100.

The band mates:

Don (Sir Seldom Seen)- lead guitar, lead singer/songwriter, my baby brother, and originator of the whole shebang, and important to the discipline and scheduled practicing of the band. ( Life hasn't been the same since we formed the band. We love it. It's been a working progress for 10 years now.)

The Remainders -
Gene - lead guitar, singer, important to Don and new material and Neil Young expertise, and my brother in law
Sean - lead guitar, singer/songwriter, important to bringing in new material and exceptional good looks (haha - that's my son)
Des (my Mr. B)- the newest bass player in the stratosphere, who is also the sound man, tech man, purchase advisor, overall equipment advisor, set up man, lighting man, singer, husband of this blog poster (also, father of Sean)

The Unknown Legends - Sheila, Shannon, Nan, and me, and whomever is brave enough to jump up to the microphone and join in! My mother has been known to sing a chorus or two of Take It Easy.

One of the highlights of that night was Kim's brother in law Terry who sat down in front of a mic around 11 PM , picked up a guitar and played like a fury! He was fantastic and like Who Knew!?! So now we do, next time - he'll be up and playing a lot earlier in the evening.

Other things of August -

My sister Nanette - August 10th birthday

My nephew Corey - August 11th birthday

My first born Bill Joseph Scott - August 8th. This child was born the 8th day of the 8th month of the 8th year his father and I were married. Ha! I couldn't have done that on a bet!! He's such a great son, a wonderful man, good sport, great uncle, just an all round really good person. I feel blessed to be his mother. Well, I am blessed to be his mother!!

My Wedding Anniversary - 25 years married I am this past 28th of August to Desmond who lived across the street from me. We were friends for a year before we dated. We are still friends! To bad we don't take time for to many dates any more!

That same day this year, a friend of ours passed away. My niece Shannon's Aunt Janice. May The Lord reach out his arms and hold her close for eternity.

August 30th marks the anniversary of the passing of our most special and good, good friend Jimmy Ryan. Jimmy taught Des so many things - and he taught Des that Des knew many things he didn't realize he knew. Jimmy and Des enjoyed music! Loud music! They could just get lost in the music, and there is nothing wrong with that. We loved Jimmy from the day we met him, and we will always love Jimmy and his family.

On August 9th we reached a time line in our moving adventure, as we have been officially in our new little blue house for one year on that date. We had spent most of the year moving down here by way of a storage shed and my sister in law's house in Lakeland. She moved here, too, last year.

August 15th marks one year for Des at his new job. New career. He retired from having his own business for 20 years and picked up something new. He was concerned about relocating and finding a new job in a field he enjoys - electronics - but didn't know that much about, just had a huge interest in --

So my son Bill has a list made up of all the Electronics places in the nearby areas that might be possibilities - This particular place, he took Des to one of the first weeks we visited in July of this year, and then on the 14th of August, Des went in and applied for a job and they said, "Can you start tomorrow?" So cool beans!

On August 20th my three and a half year old nephew Jacob started preschool this year after my taking care of him 5 days a week for one year ...He goes three days a week now to his little Dinosaur School. Which he calls his New Big Boy School. Now, I just have him two days, and I miss him! Kids at that age are so priceless and funny. It's a fast time passing. You gotta run and listen quick or you will miss it!!

What else? Oh, I can't recall at this moment. But those are some of the highlights, and I wanted to get them posted before August of 2007 was officially over! So there ya' go!

Becoming Jane - The Viewing

I have to say, I enjoyed it. It took about 45 minutes, I think, to get into the feel of the movie -I found myself putting into the movie, pieces of her stories, then after another 30 minutes of doing that , as you recognized the parts and felt certain you recognized the scenes, you begain to give thought about how much of herself goes into her books...and now you can follow the movie.

The truthfulness of the story? I question.

Jane, daughter of a Chaplain, and Thomas Lefroy, a lawyer, from some kind of money, were not matched and could never be together.
The story alludes to the fact that Jane was going to run away to Scotland and elope with Thomas Lefroy. And she was all set to do so. They had declared it, journeyed together to the next town, when Lefroy happened to find himself in a honorable spot of being helpful to someone, and Jane holding his wallet - which, of course, like any woman (????), she would go through...and find a letter from his sister thanking Tom for sharing his income from their uncle with them and how they couldn't make it without.

Jane, of course, understanding about woman and their not being able to get on with depending on someone, realizes, that if Tom marries her, he will no longer have access to giving money to people who depend upon him. So, Jane, clearly seeing the dilemma, calls off the marriage. Tom argues. Jane is adamant. She goes home leaving him standing in the street.

There is a lot of underlying story in all of the story. Her stories, the stories of the times, her own personal story, Tom's story and situation in life, a cast system existing at that time that women were trapped in, and I wonder, did Jane's books help change any or all of that?

Jane, herself, never married. And bless her heart, she died at a little over 40 years of age. But she certainly made some great points with her stories. And I happen to love her happy endings.

I'll be looking for the reviews of those who loved Jane Austen.

I have more questions now. One is - Why did her sister (and it all appears to be her brother as well) encourage her to remain anonymous after she was famous?

But, I give it a thumbs up.

I was secretly hoping for something that gave us some insight into the woman of Jane and what caused her to think differently than the dictates of the times? Maybe that will come next ...

A 24 Hour Garden

Going to Home Depot used to be, to me, worse than having oral surgery. Now, I don't mind at all (Home Depot, not oral surgery). I spend all my time in the garden section whilst Mr. B doth fitter away looking at electrical fittings, tools used for wiring things that involve electronics, and such like that -- whatever --

The other day I was reading though the books there and found a suggestion for your garden - plant plants that bloom at different times of the day and night! There are catus, that have flowers that are just beautiful, there is a photo of one here, that bloom at night only, and different flowers are suggested for a night garden effect, like Moonflowers, and then there was a mention of different flowers that bloom in the brightest sun, and those that bloom only in early morning ...I really need to post photos of my own blooms.

I mean, it's all stuff that I probably knew, but you know what? I didn't realize it. And now it's dawned on me - and yes, this will be fun.

I've already noticed that gardens have a Monet kind of effect to them because depending on what time you go out to view, it will show you different colors, as some are sleeping late and some are rising early. I don't have any that bloom at night yet.

I'll probably make a trip to the library for a book on night plants before I head back to Home Depot for some more plants.

Right now, I need more dirt. Today I put down 160 pounds of dirt. My back is reminding me of that. I had to move two Rose Bushes that were stabbing me when I needed to go in and trim the Mandevillas. And I have been encouraging the Mandevillas to grow over this space I want them to cover by using fishing line to show them their direction. The roses didn't care for my intrusion on their space to work on the Mandevilla plan. So, today, I put them front and center -- Maybe they will be happier now.

Becoming Jane

I haven't read any of the reviews of this movie yet, but I'm going to see it anyway. I really want to see it before I read anything.

Becoming Jane is a movie about Jane Austen and her affections for Tom Lefroy. Leave it to Hollywood to only focus on love like they did with Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy of Pride and Prejudice in the Keira Knightly version, but love is great, you know, and some people find stories of it so appealing.

I would have loved the Hollywood Pride and Prejudice if I had not been totally spoiled by the A & E version with it's 6 lengthy parts of pure pleasure of a story.

Hopefully, tomorrow, I'll be sitting through the 2 hours of Becoming Jane.

I hope when I'm 90...

My father in law is out mowing the grass, and my mother in law is yelling at him for not doing it right. He's 90. I hope when I'm 90, someone is yelling at me for cutting the grass wrong.

My father in law washes the dishes every night. My mother in law is yelling at him for putting certain dishes back in the wrong place. I hope when I'm 90 someone is yelling at me for putting the dishes back in the wrong place.

My father in law works on his car. He left the keys in them the other day. My mother in law yelled at him. I hope when I'm 90 I get yelled at for leaving the keys in the car.

My father in law always laughs when he answers the phone and finds out it's you! I hope I'm that happy to talk to people when I am 90.

My father in law loves to sing. I hope when I'm 90 I love to sing, and am able to sing as well as he can.

My father in law goes to church every Sunday. He doesn't want to go to the breakfast at the church afterwards. My mother in law gets mad at him. I hope I am going to church every Sunday when I am 90 and someone is yelling at me for not wanting to go to the breakfast afterwards.

When my father in law wants things done, he wants things done _right now_. Anyone he asks to do the thing right now, gets a little impatient with him at times, and asks, "You want this done right now, don't you?" He says, "Yes." When I am 90 I hope I understand that all time is right now.

My father in law has worked hard all his life. He still works hard. He says hard work is good for you. Well, I would say he might be right, looks like it's worked for him. After all, he is 90, out mowing the lawn, washing the dishes, working on his car, answering the phone, singing and spouting off his own philosophy on things....

I can only hope when I am 90 I still have some sense of a philosophy about life. Oh well, seriously, I hope I just have some sense, when I am 90!

From Annie Sullivan

" I am beginning to suspect all elaborate and special systems of education. They seem to me to be built upon the supposition that every child is a kind of idiot who must taught to think. Whereas if the child is left to himself, he will think more and better, if less slowly. Let him come and go freely, let him touch real things and combine his impressions for himself, instead of sitting indoors at a little round table while a sweet-voiced teacher suggest that he build a stone wall with his wooden blocks, or make a rainbow out of strips of colored paper, or plant straw trees in flower pots. Such teaching fills the mind with artificial associations that must be got rid of before the child can develop independent ideas out of actual experiences. "

-- Anne Sullivan

The School Schedule 2007/2008

I won't pretend last year wasn't difficult. We moved last year and whew! -- We are still finishing up a couple of things.

I thought about just going on the entire year, but that was just too much, so we took about three and half full weeks off -

My usual plan is that when school in my area officially starts, that's when I sit down and finalize everything, and we usually have school through the end of July. This year I had Madam Blueberry sit down with me to make up the schedule. I thought she was old enough now to do that --she is 17. (Wow!)

Basically I am just missing our math book -- Oh Madam B is all broke up about that (hahaha) --I'm going to order Geometry through Singapore Math --

We decided which books we would do together and what days. She helped me count the pages and divide them up - and we decided which books we would finish this first term...One is an economics book, "What Ever Happened to Penny Candy?" by Richard Maybury.

I'll write that all out later - I have to transfer my handwritten notes onto the computer and print out the schedule.

I'm using this journal. It has a list for notes on the right side of the page, and a calendar in each page. So, I'll have her write in the notes section what she read for each day, and make whatever notes I need regarding doctor appointments, etc., in the calendar. Now, to make sure I don't lose the thing every 45 minutes - there's a secret formula somewhere!!

From last year we are finishing the Book of Job, and our History (This Country of Ours) --My mother has suggested that Madam B read an autobiography of Eleanor Roosevelt. I didn't realize my mom really liked her.

Oh well, it will be about two weeks before things are running smoothly (if ever, maybe), but we'll give it our very best!

" Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire. "
-- William Butler Yeats

" What we want to see is the child in pursuit of knowledge, not knowledge in pursuit of the child. "
-- George Bernard Shaw

First day of Middle School

...for my oldest great nephew. And doesn't he end up sounding the alarms on all battle stations when he doesn't get off the school bus upon it's arrival to his destinated stop?

Yes.

Oh, Nathan, our hearts did sink today when we got the call that you weren't on the bus this afternoon.

Nate is 11, I think, oh my gosh is he 12? My, how the time has flown ...I remember when he was 4 months old and I began helping to take care of him. I did that, having him in my home almost every day and several nights for a few years, until he started school. (Then we missed him not being there.)

Now he is in Middle School! How did that happen?

My friend Leslie gave him his first copy of Beowulf, which he had his mom read to him over and over from the time he was in kindergarten, he loved that story as he thought it was so exciting. Leslie met him on line, as Nathan would sit on my lap while Leslie and I chatted on the AOL IM. He loved it that she would write words that he asked her to write, like *Lightsaber*! That was so cute. I can remember that so clearly, like it was yesterday. (Wasn't it yesterday?)

But all turned out well. My sister and the Mother of the little boy that Nathan was supposed to be with, went down to the school - the school called the bus drivers and told them that 2 boys were missing - one driver reported he had two boys that weren't getting off the bus (LOL) , and so that driver found out where they lived and brought them home.

It turned out an okay cute story - but, not while no one knew where they were!

But Alls Well that Ends Well!!

(Thank you, God)