THE DUST WILL WAIT

Fun Monday is hosted today by Peter at Holties House. No Worries, Peter. I had help with my joke video while I'm visiting my daughter's family. It's been a rainy rainy visit. It's the kind of weather that frogs love. So I had to repeat my silliest joke, my wide-mouthed frog joke. When my daughters were very young, they were always embarrassed when the wide-mouthed frog came out to play. Wide-Mouthed Frog from Karmyn R on Vimeo . Make sure to check out the other comedians that are signed up down under the big pond!

We arrived to have dinner with Auntie Fern and to celebrate the holiday. Auntie Fern will be 99 in April. “I’m feeling punk.” She said. “I’m worried.” Her 71-year old son who lives 2 hours away wasn’t answering his phone on Christmas Day. The hubby spent some time on the phone searching, and located him in the hospital. He was experiencing shortness of breath, but would be going home after some treatments. “ I feel so much better ,” she exclaimed, “ and I’m hungry now . Our subsequent dinner conversations lead to the celebration of Christmas and how it had changed in her lifetime. I remember getting an orange in my stocking! That was something! We never got oranges any other time of year. It was a special treat to get that. My brothers would shoot a wild goose for Christmas dinner. Sometimes we would have wild rabbit instead. Wild rabbits were really good. But we had to quit eating them because they got spots. It was Tularemia, and it was fatal to people. We...

Merry Christmas from our house to yours.

Allow me to introduce Little Girl. She belongs to our daughter Amanda , who, along with all the others who lived in their apartment complex, received eviction notices for Christmas. You can read about it here . She and her family raced the clock to find an available apartment - and moved in just five days before Christmas. But - NO ROOM IN THE INN for pets at the new apartment. Strictly forbidden by the management. So, she adopted her two cats out; Baby went to Karmyn's house , and Little Girl arrived here late last night. Amanda hopes the cat move is temporary and that she will be able to reclaim her family sometime in the future. Meanwhile, Little Girl has only wandered out of her hiding place to use the cat box and Meow very loudly. I'm going to move Little Girl into my bedroom tonight and lock The Contessa in the family room. Our Contessa is spittin' and fluff-tailed over the new arrival.

DON'T FORGET TO CLICK HERE TO COMMENT!! Kelly, Passing the Torch, is one of my very first blogging friends. Last year, her company, Empowering Youth, Inc , sponsored a successful effort, Linking for Dollars , and raised $500 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital She's going to do it again! You can help. Empowering Youth will pay one dollar to St. Jude, just for posting this announcement. Want something easier? She will accept your comments until Christmas Day, up to a maximum donation of $500 — one dollar per comment . Details are here . Kelly says: Our hope is that during the season of giving, you’ll inspire others to give as well - either from their own wallets, or by linking to us so we reach our $500 goal. How many dollars will you inspire? Please spread the word! It doesn't get any better than thi s! Thanks Kelly, for letting us be a part of your Christmas giving.

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Robin at Pensieve has challenged our creative juices this month. I wrote this, in a burst of catch up, last Sunday evening, thinking that the assignment was due last week. When I realized my mistake, I set it aside with the idea that I would write more, make it wonderful, and just be on it with a joyful vengeance. Didn't happen. So without further ado, I present my Cinquain - which celebrates my daughters. Happy birthday (December 17th) Karmyn and (December 30th) Jennifer. And,our Goddaughter, Beckie (the 22nd). I am blessed. Birthdays in December Highlight the Calendar through tear smudged Memories of Daughters Robin will have Mr. Linky up tomorrow before the sun rises - I'm going to be there or be square. ( Fun Monday is Below )

Kitten (Kitten's homeschool) is today's lovely hostess for Fun Monday. She wants to know about our house and the street on which we live. A prize will be awarded to the person living in the oldest house. That won't be me. However, the original homestead in the area sits on our back fence. I hope she enjoys the picture I included of it. * * * * We live on a quiet street - except in the afternoon when the high school kids decide to use it as a short cut. When we moved in there were many open fields with cows and horses, but there were also many new homes. When our neighbor Bill moved in over forty years ago, there were only two other houses nearby. He and his late wife raised their five children in a 1923 era home with an unfinished cellar, unfinished dormer style upstairs, and only two bedrooms on the main floor. It sat on a dirt lane in the 60’s. Barbed wire fences contained the horses and cows. The chickens, however, wandered wherever they pleased. His ...

Several weeks ago Tiggerlane tagged me with the education meme. The rules : Devise a list of 5-10 courses you would take to fix your life. It's more fun to be in classes with friends, so include one class from the person who tagged you that you'd also like to take. Tag five. (1)The amount of time that has passed since I was given this assignment proves that I already have a degree in procrastination. However, a refresher course in time management might be helpful. I would probably call it Personal Time Space Continuum 365 . (yeah, my own little universe) This class would provide an overview of the students one year journey around the sun. I just don't know if I can fit it in my schedule. (2) Especially at this time of year, Making Payday Last Forever $101 is highly recommended. We've all heard the saying "So much month left at the end of the money ," or " So long between Paydays, so short between Bills." Well, this class would apply th...

Katabug is hosting today's Fun Monday. She's being very seasonable with her choice of topics. I look forward to some wonderful posts today. The rules were: In the spirit of the season I would like to see your favorite Christmas tree ornament. Not to be confused with the WHOLE tree. I want you to zoom in and show me one or a few(you know I can't choose just one!) of your favorite ornaments. If you don't decorate a tree, show me your menorah or dreidel, Kin ara, or Yule Log. I want to see your favorite decoration for this holiday sea son. When I was a little girl (in the 50's) my favorite Christmas Tree ornament was a blown glass raspberry. My mom had a special attachment to it. Every year she packed it away with much care and concern. When she died 14 years ago, my eldest brother claimed it and keeps it wrapped securely with his Christmas decorations. (They were still in storage at his house in North Central California and I was unable to get a picture of it...

In Part 1 , the family arrived in the Touchet Valley during the late 1800s. Jennie, our Gram, was born in 1902 and grew up on a wheat farm. At age 10 she faced the death of her mother and the challenges of being the family cook and caretaker. In the final paragraph of Part 2 , the young farm hand and neighbor asks, "Jennie, will you marry me?" Her response was "Yes!" Here is Part 3 of Gram's Story. Jennie wanted to complete Normal School before she returned to the valley and into the arms of her betrothed. As always, with the best laid plans - things did not go according to hers. The first problem arose immediately following their winter engagement: John, her father, became contrary about the tuition expense. He did not want to pay for her remaining education and asked to be reimbursed for the amount he'd already covered. Jennie was penniless until she received her teaching certificate and a position. Raleigh's job as a farm hand was subject t...

Many distractions the past few week; not exclusive to computer problems and illness. The weather in our "neck of the woods" has garnered attention. Fortunately we are not in an area that had noticeable floods. First we had a cold front with snow. Within 24 hours of a beautiful snowfall, the wind blew in with a vengeance. It stayed 3 days. However, the worst of the storm hit the west side. Then it blew right over the top of us and tore through northeastern Oregon. We have returned to a beautiful snow covered morning on December 7.

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Take four little men, a big dog, and a tree, then mix it up with mom and her camera to get an early bowel full of Christmas. I invite you to get your spoonful of early holiday delight by viewing Try It If You Dare , posted by Nan over at Life is Like a Lunch Box She and her family make me smile on the inside and giggle on the outside. I always expect to be entertained and have my spirits lifted when I click on her blog. I'm never disappointed. Nan, I've nominated you for November's Perfect Post . Thank you for letting us share your joy! To see other Perfect Post nominees click on over to Lindsay at www.suburbanturmoil.blogspot.com and Kimberly at www.petroville.com .

When I arrived home from work there was an envelope waiting for me from Willow Tree, NSW Australia. Why? Because of Mappa Tassie . I decided to inspect it closely. Note: There was a Dangerous Goods Statement. Note: It was addressed to a Tough Bag. Oooooouch! Note: I opened it carefully and peaked inside. No poisonous snakes or spiders. Awwwwwww! Surprise. An Australian Flag, Australian Flag Stickers, and Australian Flag Tattoos. And, a 3 phase fridge magnet. Bobble your head and choose between wombats, Koalas and Kangaroos. This is fun! Does it get any better than that. YES! Here is my 2008 Birds of Australia Calendar . You can't impress better than this. Thank you so much Peter. It will hang above my computer desk and I will enjoy it every day next year.

Blue Momma (of Life in The Fish Bowl) is hosting todays Fun Monday. She finds that having a toddler is hampering her ability to finish projects. To reassure herself that others share the unfinished project gene, she has requested that we expose ourselves. I have a whole pile of unfin

Karisma is today's Fun Monday Host! She requested that we share a Trip down Memory Lane. The story that pops up now and then and gets better and better with each telling is the one she wants to hear. Having 7 elder siblings gave the following story a run for its money at many family- get- together. It's also a trip down memory lane because I posted it one year ago (and hang that Perfect Post button in my side bar as a gift from Kelly of Pass The Torch. ) I hope you don't mind hearing it one more time. The Runaway -- written as I remember that day. I decided to run away from home when I was about 5 years old. My best friend Beth lived down a hill and across several acres of prime dairy farm. There were a few barbed wire fences and a herd of black and white Holstein cows along the way. Those small things, however, were not going to stop me. I was going to go live with her. Life would be good at her house. She didn’t have any brothers. I thre...

Robin (The Pensieve One) has invited us all to the debut of her first Pensieve's Poetic License . She's made it very easy by suggesting a simple Limerick about Thanksgiving. I've decided to join her group of rhyming bloggers and add my silly little offering. Thanksgiving Old Abe made a big proclamation That “thanks” be the prayer of a nation But Cranberries and yams And turkeys and hams Have since become glutinous temptation

Julie ( Another Chance Ranch ) and Tiffany ( Tiggerlane, the Neophyte blogger ) are soon moving in to their new homes. We watched the groundbreaking, the foundations poured, the walls and roofs raised, and the electricians in the crawl space. We approved tile, cabinets, and faucet designs. The only thing more fun would be moving in with them. In the real world that won’t happen, but I’m sure we’ll observe that part with envy in the near future. Meanwhile, we’ve all been invited to a cyberspace house warming. It’s a Shin-Dig at Swampys! I love cyber shopping! Money is no object. My only limitations was narrowing down the choice of what I would gift these two wonderful blogging friends, with the idea in mind that it would be something they would enjoy at the new house. HAPPY HOUSE WARMIN' TO JULIE! A Chuck Box from Texas Country Furniture I picture you and McD having fun with the grandkids out for a picnic with Hickory, Ruby, and Babe. Just ...

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Hootin' Annie is the host of todays Fun Monday. She asked that we take 30 giant steps in any direction and take a photo. She directed us to take a photo and write a short essay. Then take 15 baby steps back and repeat the process. Mother May I? I took my giant steps East from my work station, through the patio doors and almost to the east side fence. This is where I arrived. The bird feeder that the hubby built for me some years ago stands between a Blue Spruce and a Lace leaf Maple. I no longer rush out the patio door and clap my hands to chase the squirrels away. I surrendered seasons ago. Now I fill it with peanuts for the little tail swisher. For the birds I hang tubes of sunflower seeds and thistle. Occasionally a Crow or Magpie challenges the squirrel. I enjoy the rare visit of a shimmering Stellar Jay. Fifteen baby steps back brings me to a Christmas gift I received from my "baby" several years ago. Amanda (aka Mandy), my youngest daughter chose this bi...

Or call a Soldier, a Sailor, a Marine, an Airman, a National Guard, or a Coast Guard.

Written by my late father (1900-1977) Part 1 of my father's short journal told about the depression and his experiences in California . Part 2 narrated a satisfying 5 weeks living off the fat of the land on a self sufficient farm in Southern Oregon . Befriended by a Hop grower in Par t 3 , he was hired as a chauffeur and then offered a job in the hop fields. Dad described his first impression of life on in a Hop Yard in Part 4 . His high hopes of continuing the easy chauffeur type duties were doused by a hard dose of manual labor. The teasing by his fellow crew members and the young Russian beauties are not mentioned again. I think this says much about his discretion; Dad didn't kiss and tell. Part 5 describes a Hop Yard in the 1930's with detail - just in case you wonder where your beer has its earthy beginnings. Dad became the nozzle man on the spraying crew and a raise in pay. Nora, the bosses daughter, eloped in Part 6 . He didn't suggest it in any way, bu...

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Today I invite all of you to visit this October 21 post titled Do I Enjoy Rain . Make sure you turn up your speakers and sit back, relax, and enjoy . Congrationlations, Inland Empire Girl, who blogs at Gathering Around The Table, You are nominated for Octobers Perfect Post! Please check out the October Perfect Post Awards at www.petroville.com and www.suburbanturmoil.blogspot.com .

This Great Blue Heron, initially camouflaged by the sunlight on the creek, seemed to jump out of nowhere into my vision. Although he was just a few yards from me, he remained a silent, motionless sentinel.

Candid Karina is hosting today's FUN MONDAY. She wants us to be very CANDID...about what we take with us everywhere we go. Her words: I want to see your security blankets. No, not the kind Linus carries around with him in the Charlie Brown cartoons, although, if you have one of those, by all means share it. What I want to see are the items you just cannot leave home without. What is it that if you leave your house without, you feel naked, incomplete, not quite right? This can be one thing or many things. And since most of us don't live in a clothing optional society, lets just assume we all leave the house fully dressed...I want to hear about those other things...the extras. The things that make women's purses so heavy and men's pockets so messy (I'm going to get grief for this one, aren't I?) What can't you leave home without? Show us pictures, tell us stories...have fun! I have entirely too much junk in my purse and most of it I could leave at ho...

After I dipped my Fuji Apple in Caramel at lunch time, I returned to work and finished the Coconut Crème Pie that was leftover from my birthday. I cringed when the afternoon sun cast my shadow across the parking lot. Ouch. Shade in the summer, heat in the winter. Speaking of heat in the winter…we purchased a cord of wood last week in anticipation of some cool autumn evenings around the fireplace. Instead, we opened the doors every evening this week. Indian Summer . Several times I’ve heard the cry of a Night Hawk and glimpsed it’s graceful pursuit of insects by the light of the street lamp. Maybe the cold front moving in will encourage him to begin his migration. I hope he doesn’t have to travel through southern California Tonight it might freeze. If it does, our yellows, oranges, and reds will turn to winter brown. Apparently, the length of the night has equal influence on the hues that paint the deciduous trees. I always thought it was the frost. ...

Was the moon bigger last night? According to Spaceweather.com it is. 14% larger to be exact. The moon is in it's closest orbit of 2007. Its Perigree. I love my Canon Power Shot (S2IS), but I haven't mastered all the settings. Like taking night pictures. This was the best of fifty. Join the wolves tonight and go check it out. Hooooooooowwwwwwwoooooooool.

The predicted high today is 78 degrees (26 C). What happened to fall? The beautiful ornamental cherry trees greet me on my way to work this morning.

Willowtree, the dictatorial host (his admission), has asked to see some clothing art. Make sure you click here to see the list of all the participants. These aren't necessarily artsy items that I have chosen to share. But, you may figure out why each came to mind when WT mentioned T-shirts and Caps. I hope you enjoy them as much as we do. I got this shirrt four perticipatin ina sppeling bea. It wazzent my seezon, if yoo no what I mean Verne. Anyhooz, the husbunned wheres it to werk in the yawrd. Someone gave this to the hubby to remind him that he came from a family that didn't laugh at "natural bodily functions," and married into one that does. We flew to Hawaii on a Saturday (2002) and the next day my father in law had a heart attack. Before flying out the following morning,we (in a daze) purchased pineapples and T-Shirts at the Airport. At home Hubby stopped by his "office" wearing this shirt. It could have been a very sticky situation. For...

The Blogging Chicks Carnival has not been very active in recent months. If Michele gets enough entries you will find the Carnival here. I cut my blogging teeth with the Chicks. I wish more people from the Blog Roll supported the weekly highlight of best posts. Fun Monday was my second immersion into weekly blogging events. Come back tomorrow to see pictures of "clothing art." Then head over to Willowtree 's to find a list of all the participants.

Today was one of those fall days that blow away any doubt that the season has changed. Maybe it was just a normal autumn bluster or maybe it was the promised last hurrah of the Pacific typhoon Ling Ling. The tenacity of the multi-hued dogwood surprised me. It refused to release its garment to the windy blasts that flailed at my coat and turned my umbrella inside out. Wooosh! On the street and sidewalk, vortexes of colors flew in swirling masses then exploded in a kaleidoscope reminiscent of a pyrotechnic show. Afterwards, the leaves floated, tangoed, and frolicked on their way back to the ground. A number played hide and seek around the corners of buildings and beneath parked cars. Doorways enticed them, as did the shoes of people scurrying in and out. The scattered walk brought to mind a recent petal-strewn aisle of an outdoor wedding. An artist could take envious note of how the occasional raindrops painted the sidewalk with silhouettes of locust, ma...