THE DUST WILL WAIT

  Last week was TRASH your eyewear week! Thursday: The Hubby decided to paint the hallway. As he bent over to coat the roller, his readers slid off his head and disappeared into the latex Friday: The Hubby was wearing his prescription glasses while he used the skill saw in the garage. A lens just popped right out and onto the bench. When he attempted to pop it back in, he saw the crack in the frame Saturday: The Hubby was reading across from me at the kitchen table. ( which I've confess we share with the cat). I left the room. Whereupon my return I stepped with a huge crunch, barefoot, upon another pair of readers. Which, we presume, was batted effectively off the table by our playful Siamese, Bean.

What do you do when you don't know how to use all those fancy dials and switches for night shots on your Canon?  And what do you do when the Moon Phase is a Waxing Crescent at 4% of Full and you aren't even sure it is going to show up between the clouds?  And what do you do when you don't have any celestial photos in your archives, and you don't have any heavenly decor hanging on your patio or deck?  What do you do when you have nothing to post for  Day 7, Harvest Moon" on the Two Weeks in Autumn photo Challenge ? You panic because it's after dusk.  You race to take a photo of your bounty of acorn squash and the zucchini. You groan at the Leeks in the background and hope you find a home for most because you can't possibly cook and eat that much soup.  You sigh because you know you'll have to explain how the Zinnia starts got mixed up with the vegetable starts and that's why they bloom in gay profusion between the peppers and the squa...

One early spring day 1979 I was surprised to receive a small check in the mail from my paternal grandmother’s estate.  Not only had she never met me in person, but she had passed away 23 years earlier. The check was enough to fill my car with a load of groceries. Or not.  I chose the latter.  I went shopping. I don’t remember what I purchased for myself or for the two girls.  (Our third was still a twinkle in her daddy’s eye.)  But, I DO remember the gift I purchased for my husband.  It was a striped shirt of multiple blues in a very popular loose knit style.  It was the most I had every spent on a single item of clothing. We had a little package opening party that evening when I arrived home from work.  “Wow!” He exclaimed.  “This is really nice!” He tried it on and it was a perfect fit.  I suggested he take it off and hang it in his closet. “The directions say ‘dry clean only.’ “ I warned him.  “And, I would like you t...

It’s just another day in paradise . Her thoughts bemused her as the sun peaked over the hills and through her curtains. Once more she was awake early. 4:45 am. Is insomnia just my burden to bear? s he wondered. Or are there millions just like her, cracking the dawn hours before the alarm. Her movements woke her husband and he moaned through an exaggerated arm stretch. She rolled over and laid her face against his shoulder. “It’s early hon.” she whispered. “Please lie still and let me spoon you for a few minutes. I need to cuddle.” He agreed. Within moments of repositioning his pillow he relaxed and she counted the 27 seconds it took him to return to nod. Well, that was too easy , she mused. She slid out of bed and padded softly down the hall to the kitchen. Lulling him back to sleep also meant that she assumed the job of barista. He usually brewed the first pot and offered her a cup with just the right amount of cream. Now was a good time to check her E-mail and read he...

Snake River, July 25

Photo Credit - my daughter Amanda (My camera) Jammin', Buttercup, Grandpa, Curlymop Ride the tide over to Wordless Wednesday headquarters to see more participants camera fodde r.

Update: My brother's quadruple bypass surgery was a success. He's doing well. I was very impressed with the staff at Sacred Heart Hospital in Spokane. Even the volunteers that man the cardiac waiting area were kind and helpful. This morning Great Auntie Fern informed me that she looked at the clock at 3 a.m., which prompted her to raise her arms and say, "I MADE IT." She's 100 years old today - and the party is tomorrow. My husband is feeling much better. That cat enjoyed having him around as a nap prop this week. My throat is feeling a bit scratchy -- so I'm inhaling vitamin C and Zinc.

The mouse business began last month when a bad aroma began to annoy me. I nervously checked the compost crock and the garbage can and even peeked in the oven to see if a piece of meat had been left to die there. My nose finally led me under the sink to a forgotten mouse trap. Sure enough, there was a little furry creature ripening under the hot water pipe. Gag me. The snare and its little feast of long dried up peanut butter had been prepared several month previous; set by WR in response to my reminders (nagging) that we needed to be prepared for the winter mouse invasion. I'd left the primed trap alone, acknowledging each time I noticed it with careful avoidance. After our catch, we were once again aware that the field mice had found shelter under the house. And, that at least one had squeezed through the small opening around the kitchen pipes into the warm cabinet under the sink. WR set another trap with fresh peanut butter. Now I am paranoid. I keep hearing things: Paper...

He had a goal: To ride the STP (Seattle to Portland) in one day after he turned 60. He did just that last Saturday. There were 9 riders in his group. One was a 5 foot short woman - she's behind him in the photo above. The youngest was age forty something and the four oldest were 60. They were on their bicycles by 5 a.m, and all but one had crossed the finish line by 9:30 pm. Our daughter Amanda and our friend Kim (whose husband also rode) drove the sag vehicles and kept the riders fed and hydrated. This is the 7th time my husband has completed the 200 mile classic. He and his group added another 3 or 4 miles when they chose to take their lunch break at a park off the route. He said he's never felt better. I thought his entry number was poignant. He does look like a 30 - 60. Don't you agree? (Photo credits to Amanda)

Southern Doll is the genteel host of todays fun. Pamela is under the weather today and so her dear hubby is guest posting. He has chosen as his topic " What have you done in your life that was worth doing?" Here is an unusual story that came to mind : * * * * * * * Life as firefighter and paramedic for twenty-six years gave me plenty of opportunities to feel proud of being a public servant. Sometimes, it comes in strange forms. One that comes to mind was a typical (if there is such a thing) house fire. One that Hollywood might make. I was the Captain in charge and on arrival I observed the front of the house on fire and coming through the roof of the one story older home. The first in engine company was to come directly to the fire after stopping at the fire hydrant, the ambulance crew would hook up the supply line, and the fire crews were to advance on the fire. One of the first tasks for the crew was to enter from the unburned side (the back door), search for occupan...

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...

Janet, @ The Planet of Janet is today's Fun Monday host. Thanks Janet for hosting your second week out. You're a gem! Her choice for today's fun: Describe your meeting with your spouse/significant other. I especially want to hear "meet cute" stories. And it doesn't have to be your actual current sig/other. Perhaps the "meet cute" story is a former boy/girlfriend... or even a best friend. Illustrate with photos, of course. A few weeks ago I covered the basics in one of those MEME's that play tag around the blogosphere. I've added a few details and a couple of pictures to spice it up. Here goes - - - * * * * * * * Kari, one of my best friends, was getting married and requested I sing at her wedding. ( We sang together during our high school years.) She also asked another friend to sing at her wedding. (She met him at college.) I was already married and the mother of a little blond toddler. Kari was marrying “the boy next...

Sayre is hosting todays event. She asked the participants to: Brush off your interview skills. Talk to everyone who lives in your house. I want to know what their, and your, favorite piece of art is in your home. Photographs do not count. If there was a fire in your home, everyone would grab phot ographs, but what is the non-photographic piece of art you would grab on your way out - and why? (Edit: These don't have to be paintings - these can be wall hangings, statues, lumps of clay by your child, anything that is artistic expression of some kind EXCEPT photographs.) * * * * * In 1969, the hubby, assigned to the submarine USS Grampus (SS532), participated in a Good Will Tour dubbed by the Navy as UNITAS X. They navigated the Panama Canal and headed south along the beautiful western coastline of South America. The second stop was Salinas, Ecuador. Vendors set up on the docks to sell their wares to the tourists and travelers, some arriving on Cruise Lines or private...

Today he turned 60. Tomorrow he is riding his bicycle 130 miles (209 kilometers).

Kathleen Marie -The Open Window tagged me with the Marriage Meme. This one comes with a list of required questions. The First is: Where did you meet your spouse? We were both invited to sing at a friends wedding. As we were married to other people at the time, we didn't pay much attention to each other. However, we met again after our divorces. He was the firefighter/paramedic that answered a call to my house. Shortly after that, our shared friend set us up on a blind date. What was the first thing you said to your spouse? When we met??? I don't remember really saying anything. We were alone on the balcony at the wedding rehearsal of our shared friend, and we may have discussed where we would stand. Where was the first kiss? first date? Possibly on my front porch. There was a train that rumbled through about 11 pm each night, and I remember the engineer Tooting his Whistle at us. I probably kissed him first - at least that would be his claim. Our first date was my...

Six of the eight guys at 5:00 a.m. preparing to take off from Seattle. Hubby is third from right. Group included our Pastor and two of his sons. One of the hottest days - 98 degrees in one area and very humid . Not typical Western Washington weather. The hubby taking a break about mid point. The finish line at Lloyd Center In Portland, Oregon after 11+ hours of pedaling. Our good friend Mike and the hubby race to the second finish line. The first one is out in 27 seconds. **update. Forgot to give our good friend Kim credit for the pictures. She drove the SAG vehicle - I didn't get to go. The hubby corrected me to a bit over 11 hours on the bikes. But, the day was actually 13 hours on the road because they took rest stops as well as a lunch stop. They consumed an inordinate amount of fluids and snacks.

I opened my mailbox Saturday to discover an envelope from Amy at A Family Story . I cheated on her 300th post and wrote comments until I was the winner of a Starbucks Gift Card. So now I'm heading down for a Strawberry Green Tea Frappuccino. Or blackberry, or blueberry. Y.U.M Thank you! The hubby rode his bicycle 200 miles on Saturday from Seattle to Portland, and then drove home on Sunday. "I have a present for you from the team," he announced when he arrived home. Don't you think it looks downright sweet on me? Apparently they ate a watermelon during one of their rest stops. The size of the fruit sticker prompted some laughter at my expense regarding the sticker story from last week. Thank you dear, and the rest of you cycling crazies. Today, the mailman delivered a large envelope and a medium sized box from Min of the MamaDrama Bloggers down in Houston. I love saying "Down in Houston." It just rolls off my tongue in a very Texas drawl, and I f...

That February morning under the sea in 1967 began just like any other for the handsome 20-year-old submariner. He was a quartermaster (navigations) on a old-style conventional submarine somewhere in the Atlantic . His shift ended, so he joined his mates in the tiny dining hall to play five-card stud. An appropriate game for men in uniform. They did not know, as the game progressed, that the on duty crew received instructions from the Captain to test the boats handling stability in reverse direction. Initially they did not feel forward or backward movement at the slower speed, so they dealt their cards, unaware that the officer of the deck had ordered an all back 1/3 speed.  The boat was moving with ease and maintaining a constant depth. The sailor reviewed his cards and discarded two. Although huge diesel engines propel a submarine on the surface, it relies on electric motors powered by batteries while submerged. Two sailors with hand wheels independently control t...

Melissa , I remember my thirtieth birthday. I woke up that morning with a mission. There would be no tears – I would accept that I was no longer 20 something. I planned to be gracious and mature. There are some days that just don’t follow the rules The celebration began early with kisses and hugs and lovely presents wrapped so beautifully. The hubby is one of those guys (of whom there are a few) that can go shopping and purchase presents that a girl really likes. In addition he buys cards and wrapping paper and ribbons. He measures, cuts, folds, and tapes as nicely as if a professional had prepared it. After breakfast the festive boxes were set before me and I felt like a princess. (Albeit, a thirty year-old one.) I’m sure he cringed when I tore the ribbon and papers to bits - just like I always did. What I’m sure he didn’t expect was to see my face fall after opening the first gift. It was a silk blouse with long sleeves and button down collar ...

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