The Mallards have returned! I peek out at them through the bedroom window as they make quick meals of the corn. The slightest sound or movement sends them to wing. .
Ducks have to be careful!
I marvel at their dark green velvet heads, yellow bills and bright orange feet.
They create a pleasant contrast against Winter's muted landscape.
quickly. This is strange weather for January. Snow is
called for tonight as the temperatures drop.
"Friday, The Thirteenth! " A day is be careful if you
are superstitious. Bad Luck! I never bother
with superstitions, thought I heard many growing
up in the south. It makes me curious where they
came from and how they began. Here are the
obvious ones that come to mind.
Don't walk under ladders.
Bad Luck if a Black Cat crosses your path
If you break a mirror, it's seven years bad luck
Don't step on sidewalk cracks
Never leave a hat lying on a bed
Never have new candles in your home
Very interesting! Southern Lore! I love cliques also.
My favorite clique: That (story, excuse, idea) is as weak as
the shadow of a chicken that starved to death! Very weak indeed to be only
the shadow of a chicken! GRIN!
.
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
Snow is on the ground again! It's afternoon now and I can tell the sun has melted much of it away. the streets are clear.Silas is back with us for a while. I have to say it has been an adjustment again. The smells of cooking in the early morning hours. Small bumps and thumps in the night that are not rabbit sounds.. sigh..
This Friday, January 20 is a "remberance" day for us. I circle this date every year in red on the calendar, but I don't think I did this year. January 20 is "YES" day. The first time David admitted that he loved me. we were both so lonely and had messed up lives. To admit something that large was scary. Here is a poem I wrote all those long years ago. In honor of Yes Day.It was published in the newspaper. March 4, 1978
This photo was taken overlooking The Grand Canyon.. May, 2002, My 50th birthday and our 25th Wedding Anniversary.
February 2, 2006
The question is" Will the ground Hog see his shadow ? YES! Six more Weeks of Winter!
Sunday, January 29, 2006
Tonight, I remember a special friend. Harry. It is six years gone now this very night since his passing. I whisper his
and let the winter wind carry it away to some far off place.. Some place I cannot go yet. The Rainbow Bridge poem gives me comfort. I like to think of my little bunnies gone at the bridge- (a waiting place.) Waiting with all the other sweet ones who have gone. Perhaps, they speak of us.. the humans they shared their lives with.
I think the rainbow Bridge must be like the place where human souls go.. That is a waiting place too. Just this side of dusk and dawn.. just out of our mortal sight. Very near, yet far. And with out last breath, we are transported there. In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye. There will be bunnies there, for what would Heaven be without our sweet ones?
Harry still hops close to my heart and I cry in remembering, but there is comfort and there is hope. Goodbye Harry.!
Here lies comfort and hope..
4:13
But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
4:14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
4:15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
4:17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
4:18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words. I Thessalonians 4: 13-18) King James Bible
Today David and I saw the Oscar Mayer Weiner Mobile! Funny, I'm still attracted to bright colors and giant hot dogs. Guess I'll never get over that.
Anyway, we got a Weiner Whistle and a sticker and a peek inside the Weiner Mobile. I didn't have my camera since we are grocery shopping, but called Silas at home to HURRY and bring it to me... When I went backoutside, alas... the weiner mobile was packing up to leave BUT... the nice lady there snapped a pic of me infront of the awesome machine. Of course, I was thrilled and Silas was likewise as t hrilled since he didn'th ave to get out of bed and bring me my camera. It was a happy day!
Well, here I am again! ...a new journal... a new year. There was no doubt this year that I would keep a
journal. With the purchase of a new computer, I'm reminded that all of these thoughts are actually just ones and zeros to the computer. I'm reminded too, after reading some of the entries of the past, that these words only exist on line.No hard copies. No hand-written pages of yellowed paper stuffed in a folder. (I have some of those entries from before computers)
I don't visit my hand-written archives very often and have wondered if I should in fact, just destroy them entirely. You see, Writing to me is a method of release. I write until the tears stop or whenever I can't see anymore. The thought being that words can hurt people later. Words taken out of context. Words scrawled in anger and frustration..written about situations that no longer exist or matter. I wouldn't want my words to hurt someone later. But then there are other words. Joy word pictures describing how I became a Christian... jubilant words that tell of the birth of my son.. These written in my own hand....no, they will remain.. those old archives...the good and bad are woven together.. so such is life.. and so they remain intact as they are.
Words can hurt though, make no mistake. The old rhyme we used to sing as children:
"Sticks and Stones
Can Break Break my Bones,
But Words Can Never Hurt me." is FALSE!
Little notes written innocently tucked away in the back of drawers, old shoe boxes, or in cubby holes behind mirrors. They quietly wait...patiently wait ...until the precise moment...a moment when you are most vulnerable Then they leap out like ancient wild cats, ripping and tearing at the fleshy parts of the heart. These wild cat words want to send me running and screaming down the street. But wouldn't that be a spectacle! To see an old fat woman running and screaming down the street! No, I will retreat instead to the hills whence cometh my help and read again words that soothe and comfort. Words that wrap me warm and safe.
I didn't intend to write about words today but then I never know what I am going to write. That's the joy of writing for me. I never know the beginnings or the endings. It's the mystery in the middle that teases and temps. Besides, this is my journal and I can wander where I like and let the words play and dance as they will.
Happy 2006!
Tuesday, Februaty 14, 2006
Happy Valentine's Day 2006!
Today, I will take all my valentine's out and look at each one. With today's lovely card,
the count will be 30! In May, David and I will have been married 29 years. Quite
a success to today's standards.
And what a wonderful surprise! Beautiful fresh flowers in my favorite colors! What
a Sweetie! Now who says David isn't romantic!
Valentine's Day brought me also a new friend! Welcome kari!
Satuday, February 18, 2006
Today is a sad day! I note the passing of yet another friend.
Goodbye Dandy Bunn!
You made me laugh with you wonderful sense of humor and brought me much joy reading your posts in the live journal. We are so blessed to have these marvelous creatures to share our lives. Run free DandyBunn and say hello to my sweeties waiting at the Rainbow Bridge.
Our Rabbit Friends in the UK
Sunday, February 19, 2006
Hello Again from Indiana. It's a very chilly 19 degrees. David and I had a lovely morning though. We drove all over the place, including downtown Indy in a little "Buzz" car on loan while my truck is in the shop. We enjoyed the sunshine and listened to David's ne Bochelli cd. We had some great StarBucks Coffee and some banana nut bread. Excellent!
Kids say the coolest things... Some one sent me this list and I think it's wonderful. It's what kids think LOVE IS.
Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on cologne and they go out and smell each other.
(Kari, Age -8)
Love is what makes you smile when you're tired. (Terri, Age-4)
Love is whats in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen. (Bobby, Age 7)
Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt then he wears it everyday. (Noell, Age 7)
When you love somebody your eyelashes go up and down an dlittle stars come out of you. (Karen, Age 7)
You really shouldn't say "I love you" unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot because people forget. Jessica, Age 8)
My favorite one:
When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in
their mouth. (BIlly, Age 4)
I can relate to little Billy! All my life, until I met my husband, I prefered my "shortened name, "Deb" or Debbie".
But David callled me "Deborah". He made it sound so beautiful that now I perfer that. Go figure, now he calls me "Deb" like everyone else. Either name, though, is "safe in his mouth."
My Brazilian Friend, Isabella and her rabbits, Hans Black. Mr Long Legs & Pit, the Pup
Enjoy these wonderful Pictures
& Web Site Links from Sao Paulo, Brasil
Excellent!
Friday, March 3, 2006
Dick, Jane, Sally, Trains, Algebra, Spot and Puff!
Nipped from a Live Journal entry long ago, polished and presented afresh.
Monday's Hare is fair of face,
Tuesday's Hare is full of grace,
Wednesday's Hare is full of woe,
Thursday's Hare has far to go,
Friday's Hare is loving and giving,
Saturday's Hare must work for a living,
But the Hare that's born on the Sabbath day
Is fair and wise and good and gay.*
Oh My! This rhyme is dated. It has the word "gay" in it. Gay* as in happy-go-lucky. A rhyme designed to teach children the days of the week, no doubt. And then there is "thirty days hath September..." That was a useful rhyme...I use that rhyme all the time except for February and I can still remember how many days February has, except if it is a leap year, and then I have to go back to the rhyme. :)
Unlike Algebra, I don't think I've used A(2b+4)?
Consider this common Algebraic problem"
Dick, Jane & Sally, my old, dear childhood friends find themselves traveling by trains that are going the same direction on alternate tracks.) Dick chooses an Amtrack train with a sleeper.
We have learned from the previous problem (see fig 2A) that Dick has had nothing to eat but a frito pie at 11:00PM the night before.
The train on which Dick is riding which we will refer to as Train A) is traveling approximately 75 miles an hour on a Tuesday morning and the temperature is a chilly 23 degrees.
Thus: A(D+11:00-(1 frito pie)= MPH per day.
The Engineer operating Dick's train is overworked and underpaid and had a ripping fight with his wife before leaving his home in Detroit. C+0+U=?
On his way to the station, the Engineer's blonde girlfriend calls his cell to tell him he has left his cap and she has some happy news!
Meanwhile, Jane has purchased a ticket on the Zephyr Flyer out of Grand Central in Chicago.
She's booked first class accommodations and is feeling quite giddy due to the happy news from her Doctor. Jane pats her blonde hair and smiles knowing that it is true, "Blondes DO have more fun!" She fidgets in her seat and counts the minutes until she can tell her Railroad Executive, Tycoon, Multimillionaire, single boyfriend her wonderful news and give him back his cap.
Jane's train is traveling south at approximately 79 miles per hour. Jane's Train will be referred to as Train B. 79(J+B) = B/A (uh oh - cap)
And what of Sally?
Sally is running late again and has missed her train altogether. She has rescheduled her trip on a Greyhound Bus but is having difficulty convincing the ticket agents that Spot, though very small in size, is indeed "A Certified Helper Dog!" "He is a Tea-Cup Poodle! He HELPS me with my tea, you see?" Sally explains.
Sally later manages to sneak Spot on board in a large straw handbag. This plan seems to be working out remarkably well until a very large woman in a red dress grasping a huge Taco Bell Sack containing a hidden Chihuahua named Pooky sits down next to Sally. The two dogs instantly take exception to one other, a fight ensues and Sally and the large woman in the red dress are ordered off the bus at a small bus station in Pokesville, Arkansas. Later, the two women become friends and start a business together. The dogs, however are never able to work out their differences even with years of Psycho-therapy. The "Dog Whisperer" will soon be consulted. S(G+H) = MPH = Rate - Capital Gains
And what of the cat named Puff, the faithful companion of Spot, beloved of Sally but secretly hated by Dick? Puff was intrigued by the smell of Salmon one fine day, sauntered aboard a fishing boat and is now living happily with a family in Sao Paulo, Brazil. They often refer to her as, "Gato, The Americana Gringo" but she doesn't mind one bit. The living is fine and easy and the fish are plentiful.
Dick and Jane's trains continue to ramble on through the night toward destiny. Dick's Engineer puts in a muisc cd-Johnny Cash's The Orange Blossom Special .
You go Johnny! You go Dick! You go Jane! You go Sally! Out Spot! Puff, more fish?
So, these are the workings straining a a Hare's Brain one calm day in March. Enjoy!.
By the Way, 2+2 still equal 4. Well, sometimes.. there are exceptions... D.J. L.
I've always loved books and words! I have a Dick, Jane and Sally Reader just like the one I used to learn to read! I discovered it in a library book sale long, long ago. . The New version I discovered at Wal-mart a couple of years back.
The Looney Tunes Book was a great find also. David read me a story every night as I recovered from surgery.
Books truly are your friends and words, once you learn them belong to you!
March 13, 2006
We had a stormy weekend and Monday promises more of the same.
Silas was sick this weekend. David had his turn weekend before last. I hope this doesn't mean it is MY turn.
The grass is quicking becoming green. The Spring birds are singing and there are Canadian Geese every where you look. Still haven't seen "our ducks" or any sign of rabbits. I'm hopeful.
March 20, 2006
Today is the first day of Spring! Silas treated us to a grilled lunch on Saturday! Snow is predicted tonight and tomorrow. So it goes, Winter's last blast. Give up Winter! Spring is already here.
Guess all those cooking lessons long ago have paid off. GRIN!
I visited the library today after an absence of many years. We used to spend lots of Saturdays in the library, then come home loaded down with books. It was not unusual to find all three of us immersed in books at the same time.
So, I came home today with 3 videos and 2 books. Videos are: "Snow Falling on Cedars", "Sarah, Plain and Tall", the 3rd movie in the series and an educational movie about some guy's trip to Brazil. Turns out he didn't go to the places I wanted him to.. Oh well. The books were EXTRA LARGE GIANT PRINT versions of an author I have admired a long time.
Janice Holt Giles... Finding her again was like an old wonderful friend come to visit.
Majorie was the author of The Yearling. She's an old friend too. Perhaps, I shall find her in GIANT PRINT as well or better yet on audio version. Excellent choices though.
Tuesday, March 21, 2006
SNOW, SNOW, SNOW!
Spring snow arrived at 4 amthis morning. About 7 inches. Good thing about Spring Snow is that it never lasts long. It should be gone by tomorow and that's just fine by me.
Saturday, March 28, 2006
Today, David and I went our to eat at a restaurant called Ryans. We've eaten here many times before but what was different today was that we locked our keys in the truck. My purse was locked in the truck as well. No help for it but to call a lock smith. We asked the staff to borrow a yellow pages. A young woman looked in several places, located one and handed it to us. The pay phone was was just outside the doors in the restaurant. David made the call and I sat on the bench. The yellow pages lay open on the bench beside me. Suddenly, an employee (not the one who let us borrow the book) flung herself through the doors, said, "EXCUSE ME!", and snatched up the book! David was still on the phone. Maybe he would need another number?
I was shocked by this uncalled for behavior. Now tell me how did this astute employee know that secretly I visited all the restaurants in town, pretending to be locked out of my vehicle, asked for THEIR yellow pages and then absconded with them! My Gosh! I have a huge collection of the things at home! We would have returned the silly book with a grateful thank you!!!!
Anyway, the lock smith said about 30 minutes. It was 45 minutes (he misplaced his keys) It took him all of 2 minutes to gain entry into our truck. Cost us $35.00. I discovered a few things about this incident.
1. Some people are RUDE at restaurants.
2. Pretending to be a Ryan's greeter can be fun and entertaining. "Hello! Welcome to Ryan's, The chicken ain't too bad but some folks that work here are ! " So, okay, I didn't say the last part and I only was a Ryan's Welcomer for a couple of people until I had mercy on David who was dying in embarrassment!
3. Not all people are rude! A nice man came all the way from the parking lot and offered his services after his wife told him we were locked out. He knew some tricks opening his car but our was a truck and he couldn't help with that BUT he came back and offered to help! What a NICE person!
4. I still have my Southern Arkansas Accent! Who would have thought? When we lived in Michigan, I used to get comments all the time like, "Where are you from? The South?" Never knew I had an accent until we moved North. I can't recall a time though, well not lately, anyone commentating on it in Indiana. The lock smith heard me speak . He noticed! "Where ya from, girl? South?" GRIN!
Saturday, April 1, 2006
last night we had some bad storms. We had pea-sized hail and high winds. There was a tornado on the ground very near us.. about 3-5 miles. A semi truck was over turned on the interstate and some other damage to buildings. This morning, we went out to take a look and here are some fotos.
On our drive, other folks were out an about looking at the storm damage
we watched as one car plowed into another. The cars didn't look very
good, but I think the people were ok.
Then a little while later, we see a poor goose on the road. There are so many of these birds everywhere and they seem to have no knowledge of cars and crossings. We thought this poor goose was gone alrealy but then
we see him trying to get up and flapping his wing. His poor mate was very in a panic near by. It was heart breaking! How very sad. I have seen enough bad sad things this day!
On a happier note, I received a lovely gift from my friend. It's a hand-made shawl in my
avorite color! A wonderful bright spot of color on such a gray, unforgiving day! Thanks my
Bratty" friend!
Wednesday, April 5, 2006
Today has been a lovely day. Lots of sunshine and it’s warm.
My purple hyacinth is blooming and the lilies are a nice bunch of
green shoots! The Spring birds are busy building nests. We have some Canadian Geese nesting by the lake. No sign of our Mallard Ducks yet.
Last night David and I saw a little brown bunny sampling some carrots I put out. It’s always so wonderful to learn the bunnies have survived the Winter.
A reminder to my self… put out some colored yarn for the birds to use in nests!
It finally feels like Spring! The birds have been waking me up with their delightful songs! I especially enjoy the doves with thier sweet cooing.
Today is my little brother's birthday. Happy Birthday Lee!
My Bunny friend in London has sent me this photo of a regulation fair trade Euro Banana . It does look a bit different than our "Yankee bananas."
Euro Bananas Yankee Bananas
Wednesday , April 18, 2006
Lots of storms to usher in Spring this year! Easter was nice. We had supper with Silas and two of his friends. It was Chinese and very delicious!
Today a package arrived from our friends in Brazil! Coffee from Brazil and delicious Easter cake. It was very light and airy.. a type of fruit... nut cake. Lovely coloring pages from the children, a fuzzy Easter Bunny Girl, a hand written letter from Isabella, some lovely easter cards and a beautiful crocheted towel hanger. Very wonderful.. How blessed we are to have such friends.
When I feel down, I think of all my wonderful friends and it cheers me up immediately.
Here is a sketch of my rabbits created by another friend, Andy Clark.. It's magnificient!
11 For, lo, the WINTER IS PAST, the rain is over and gone;
12 The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land; Song of Solomon 2
Today, I note the passing of a dear friend. We called him Brother Bob,. He and his wife taught me the meaning of True Friendship*.
We will miss him but only for a while because as time rushes by, we will be where he is now . Until then, we hold fast to the memory. Farewell my friend.
-on friends (journal entry 2003)
*Friends come and go in our lives. Some are quick, bright, brilliant flashes.that require much attention and ado. High maintenance! Others are soft glows. Warm lanterns in quiet windows content to "just be." Friends are treasures and I am prone to want to hold fast to treasures. Greedy and stubborn I suppose. True friends accept faults, shortcomings and misunderstandings. This true friendship will endure through the darkest storm. A bit tattered in the morning, but still willing to endure. Still sure that the friendship is worth the storm. "Still Willing" that's the key.
True Friends! They are the ones "willing" without a second thought, to venture out in dark, stormy nights.because you asked and not question the reasoning why. True friends come with no strings attached.
Some friends are surprises! The depth you only can see in time of need. These are friends indeed!
Other friends are not friends at all. In times of needs, these colors show. They are pretenders. They are shallow with no depth of root. They are the users and people collectors, confidence gatherers and any breeze or imaginined slight whisks them away like so much fluff and dander.
I have known true friends and I count myself most blessed. I hope I am a true friend.
David is away this week. I bought a coloring book to send to a young friend.
While I was buying, I bought an extra one for myself, thinking at the time, I might use some of the pictures as patterns for a quilt
or something. In the quiet of the evening, I thumbed through the coloring book. Then I remembered an old lunch box filled
with crayons, colored pencils and markers from Silas and my long ago school days.
I dug it out, wiped away the dust and dumped the entire contents onto the kitchen table.
It smelled of long ago memories and crayons. There were bits if crayons , some intact.
Others wore down to bare nubs with the paper peeled back. There was "violent red" as
Silas called it. (Violet Red-still in excellent shape.) I didn't find a "Harsh Brown" crayon
though.and could not recall what it was in the beginning before itr became
"Harsh Brown" in my memory. If I looked carefully at all the crayons, I might
even have found an "Indian Red.",
But these days, in crayon colors as so many other things, we have to be careful.!
Children of today cannot color with Indian Red!
Anyway, I spent a good two hours immersed in the wonderful world of color. I found a nail
clipper, a cardboard cut out of a mitten , a screwdriver and a broken piece of a piano key I
once had. Funny, the things you find.
I put everything back in the box and secured the lid.gently, Very gently, realizing that this old lunch box was an antique in it's own right and contained antique crayons as well.
l plan to give it to Silas some day when he has kids that color and I''ll tell them about Indian Red, Harsh Brown and Violent Red.
And did I put these "Master Pieces on the Fridge???????? You Betcha!
Velvet
Hans Solo
2006 Journal Archive January-April, 2006
Monday, February 20, 2006
I continue my study of the Portuguese language. It is a fascinating language! It's much easier to write than to speak I am discovering. It is a bit hard for this Southern woman to wrap her tongue around some of the sounds but what a marvelous journey it is!
All via the Internet! I had no idea anyone was ACTUALLY reading my journals much less someone from other countries!
We've become aquainted with a wonderful family living in Sao Paulo, Brazil. We have exchanged photos and gifts and converse in e-mails often.
Erisvaldo shares a love of music and movies I can readily relate to and Neide, his wife has shared some delicious Brazilian recipes .
The children, Isac and Isamara sang the Portuguese Version of Peter Cottontail. It was delightful! They are excellent singers. I am attempting to learn the words to this song: Coelhinho da pascoa. We will see how well I progress.
Isabella is a very astute young lady and so very interesting to talk with.
Knowing these gracious people has enriched our lives. We are most honored to call them friends! This reminds me what I've always though---having true friends is far more precious than gold. Rare treasures! I've also learned than laughter is the very same in any language and a smile is universal and always understood.
