Just a reminder that a wedding is a celebration!
HT:Kelli
Showing posts with label just for fun. Show all posts
Showing posts with label just for fun. Show all posts
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Okay. I'm Back. I Think.
Well, that was certainly a longer blog hiatus than I had planned on. Just to update you, if I had been blogging over the last month it would have been something like this:
Today I laid on the couch and coughed.
Today I laid on the couch and coughed, and also watched a little HGTV.
Today I slept on the couch, even though HGTV was on in the background.
And so on, for about three weeks, until I finally got over pneumonia. Then the posts would have suddenly switched to this:
AAAACK!! I HAVE TO GET EVERYTHING READY FOR EASTER!!
That would have been good for about another two weeks.
Now, Easter is over (and everything went well, which just proves that panicking works!), and I am back in my regular routine again, meaning I will be conjuring up blog posts while I stand at the crossing or do my yard work. I'm not guaranteeing anything interesting, mind you, but you know that's the way this blog goes anyway.
So if any of you are still stopping by, thanks for hanging in there with me, and let's get some conversation going!
Today I laid on the couch and coughed.
Today I laid on the couch and coughed, and also watched a little HGTV.
Today I slept on the couch, even though HGTV was on in the background.
And so on, for about three weeks, until I finally got over pneumonia. Then the posts would have suddenly switched to this:
AAAACK!! I HAVE TO GET EVERYTHING READY FOR EASTER!!
That would have been good for about another two weeks.
Now, Easter is over (and everything went well, which just proves that panicking works!), and I am back in my regular routine again, meaning I will be conjuring up blog posts while I stand at the crossing or do my yard work. I'm not guaranteeing anything interesting, mind you, but you know that's the way this blog goes anyway.
So if any of you are still stopping by, thanks for hanging in there with me, and let's get some conversation going!
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
A Concert Opportunity
I promise I will post something original soon! In fact I have three posts in the works, but haven't finished them just yet.
Still, I thought I would pass on a clip that was sent to me by Babara Hedlund of the little 6-year-old girl, Emily Bear, from Rockford, IL, who will be playing with the C-U Symphony on April 11th. If you can get over to Krannert and buy a ticket, I think you would be delighted by her.
Still, I thought I would pass on a clip that was sent to me by Babara Hedlund of the little 6-year-old girl, Emily Bear, from Rockford, IL, who will be playing with the C-U Symphony on April 11th. If you can get over to Krannert and buy a ticket, I think you would be delighted by her.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
It's An Award!!
Judy at My Freezer Is Full has been kind enough to give me an award! This award acknowledges the values that every blogger shows in his/her effort to transmit cultural, ethical, literary and personal values every day.
The rules for this award are as follows:
1. Accept the award, post it on your blog, together with the name of the person that has granted the award and his or her blog link.
2. Pass the award to another (up to) 15 blogs that are worthy of the acknowledgement. Remember to contact each of them to let them know they have been chosen for this award.
2. Pass the award to another (up to) 15 blogs that are worthy of the acknowledgement. Remember to contact each of them to let them know they have been chosen for this award.
There a so many wonderful bloggers out there, and I learn from them every day. There are two that stand out to me for this award, though.
Nan, at Letters From a Hill Farm
Rose, at Prairie Rose's Garden
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Seven Random Facts
Jena, at Married to the Farm, has tagged me in a meme. Here are the rules:
Link to your tagger and list these rules on your blog.
Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog - some random, some weird.
Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blog
Let them know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.
Well, here goes!
1. I don't like eggplant, brussel spouts, or butterbeans. I'll eat just about anything else.
2. I once sang a solo in San Marco Cathedral in Venice. I was there with a college choral group, and the piece we were performing had a solo part to it.
3. I sort M&Ms by color when I eat them.
4. I am a connoiseur of excellent socks. My favorites are SmartWool.
5. I met my husband while working with him on a Greek house charity event that involved rolling an empty beer keg from Bloomington to Champaign. If that isn't the dumbest idea for a charity event, I don't know what is! But romance flowered, and here we are.
6. My first career aspiration as a child was to be a professional whistler, like the one that whistled for the Andy Griffith Show, or the Lassie show. I learned to whistle when I was four, and I'm pretty good at it.
7. My first role in a musical was Bloody Mary in "South Pacific" in high school. I had to say the word "damn" on stage, and I told my parents they shouldn't bring my little sister to the show, because I didn't want her to hear me say a bad word. (They brought her anyway ;))
I know not everyone likes these tag games, but these are the people I would like to know more about, so consider yourselves tagged:
Aisling
Rose
Donna
Shannon
Mel
Judy
Link to your tagger and list these rules on your blog.
Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog - some random, some weird.
Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blog
Let them know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.
Well, here goes!
1. I don't like eggplant, brussel spouts, or butterbeans. I'll eat just about anything else.
2. I once sang a solo in San Marco Cathedral in Venice. I was there with a college choral group, and the piece we were performing had a solo part to it.
3. I sort M&Ms by color when I eat them.
4. I am a connoiseur of excellent socks. My favorites are SmartWool.
5. I met my husband while working with him on a Greek house charity event that involved rolling an empty beer keg from Bloomington to Champaign. If that isn't the dumbest idea for a charity event, I don't know what is! But romance flowered, and here we are.
6. My first career aspiration as a child was to be a professional whistler, like the one that whistled for the Andy Griffith Show, or the Lassie show. I learned to whistle when I was four, and I'm pretty good at it.
7. My first role in a musical was Bloody Mary in "South Pacific" in high school. I had to say the word "damn" on stage, and I told my parents they shouldn't bring my little sister to the show, because I didn't want her to hear me say a bad word. (They brought her anyway ;))
I know not everyone likes these tag games, but these are the people I would like to know more about, so consider yourselves tagged:
Aisling
Rose
Donna
Shannon
Mel
Judy
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Swearing on a Stack of Bibles
The Wall Street Journal has a very nice interactive article about the Bibles used by the various presidents when they have been sworn in, including information about which verses the Presidents chose to have the Bible opened to, if any. It's an interesting trivia tidbit, and gives surprising insights into each man. Some were not especially religious, not using a Bible or prayer book, or, if they did, having it closed. Others appear to have known their Bibles well. Some chose to have more than one Bible, which seemed a little odd to me, but there was usually some symbolism to be observed in that choice. Barak Obama has asked to use the Bible President Lincoln used, which is being brought over from the Smithsonian for him.
Check it out:
'I Do Solemnly Swear..."
So let's play pretend, as my kids used to say. If you were elected president, what document would you choose to use for swearing in? If you would use a holy book, what verse, if any, would you choose to lay your hand on?
I think that if I were a person who did not practice a religion, I might choose to lay my hand on a copy of the U.S. Constitution. I think that would be more meaningful to me than using nothing at all, though there are several presidents who did not swear on anything.
Since I am a practicing Christian, I would use a Bible. I think I would use the nice Revised Standard Version Bible my husband got for me the first year that we were married, special because it was a gift from him, even though I have since changed to using a more recent translation. I think I would have it open to Micah 6:8: "He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God."
What would you do at your pretend inauguration?
Check it out:
'I Do Solemnly Swear..."
So let's play pretend, as my kids used to say. If you were elected president, what document would you choose to use for swearing in? If you would use a holy book, what verse, if any, would you choose to lay your hand on?
I think that if I were a person who did not practice a religion, I might choose to lay my hand on a copy of the U.S. Constitution. I think that would be more meaningful to me than using nothing at all, though there are several presidents who did not swear on anything.
Since I am a practicing Christian, I would use a Bible. I think I would use the nice Revised Standard Version Bible my husband got for me the first year that we were married, special because it was a gift from him, even though I have since changed to using a more recent translation. I think I would have it open to Micah 6:8: "He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God."
What would you do at your pretend inauguration?
Monday, January 12, 2009
Milestone
I just realized that yesterday was my 300th post, since starting the blog mid-summer of 2006. I pretty much just post whatever comes to mind, so I suppose it is a kind of public journal, which is fine, because I am a "what you see is what you get" type of person, with no big secrets.
Recently I started putting funny things on Saturday, and calling it "Saturday Sillies". I think it's important not to take yourself too seriously. I wonder, do my readers like the Saturday Sillies? If they give you a grin, I'll keep posting them. Otherwise, I may just enjoy them myself and not post them.
I've also been posting lists of articles that I found interesting and/or provocative in collections called "Shuffle". A couple of people have said they enjoy these lists. What do you think? Should I keep doing them?
I want to keep posting "Sunday Strolls" as a record of our weather, and the plants in our yard. The rest of the time I plan to write original posts ranging from musings about my job with the church, my family, book reviews, environmental issues, etc. That's mostly what I think about, so that's going to be what I write about. I don't feel compelled to write every day, but it's getting to be a habit, and it's unusual if I miss more than a day or two a week.
I really appreciate the blog friends I've made, and it's kind of humbling to think that there are apparently quite a few folks who read regularly without commenting. I hope more of you will consider coming out of hiding and getting involved in the conversations here!
Recently I started putting funny things on Saturday, and calling it "Saturday Sillies". I think it's important not to take yourself too seriously. I wonder, do my readers like the Saturday Sillies? If they give you a grin, I'll keep posting them. Otherwise, I may just enjoy them myself and not post them.
I've also been posting lists of articles that I found interesting and/or provocative in collections called "Shuffle". A couple of people have said they enjoy these lists. What do you think? Should I keep doing them?
I want to keep posting "Sunday Strolls" as a record of our weather, and the plants in our yard. The rest of the time I plan to write original posts ranging from musings about my job with the church, my family, book reviews, environmental issues, etc. That's mostly what I think about, so that's going to be what I write about. I don't feel compelled to write every day, but it's getting to be a habit, and it's unusual if I miss more than a day or two a week.
I really appreciate the blog friends I've made, and it's kind of humbling to think that there are apparently quite a few folks who read regularly without commenting. I hope more of you will consider coming out of hiding and getting involved in the conversations here!
Friday, January 2, 2009
German Potato Soup
I mentioned on Facebook that I was making potato soup for dinner, thinking, "Wow, what a boring status report.". Then two friends wanted to know the recipe! So here it is:
Combine in a sauce pan:
4 medium potatoes, peeled and diced (I use redskins, and I don't peel them)
1 onion, diced
1 t. salt
dash pepper
3 1/2 c. water (I don't really measure that, just put enough in to cover everything)
Cook until the potatoes are tender
Heat in a smaller sauce pan:
1T butter
1T flour
Allow butter and flour to brown, stirring constantly
Add:
3 c. liquid from the potatoes (I just use 3 ladles full)
Cook and stir until smooth. Add into the potatoes and onions and heat through.
Very easy. This makes 4-5 big bowls full, but it's easy to double if you want more, which I did for years (actually, I think I tripled it for a while!). It really only takes about a 1/2 hour altogether.
Mel, you can do this. Really.
Combine in a sauce pan:
4 medium potatoes, peeled and diced (I use redskins, and I don't peel them)
1 onion, diced
1 t. salt
dash pepper
3 1/2 c. water (I don't really measure that, just put enough in to cover everything)
Cook until the potatoes are tender
Heat in a smaller sauce pan:
1T butter
1T flour
Allow butter and flour to brown, stirring constantly
Add:
3 c. liquid from the potatoes (I just use 3 ladles full)
Cook and stir until smooth. Add into the potatoes and onions and heat through.
Very easy. This makes 4-5 big bowls full, but it's easy to double if you want more, which I did for years (actually, I think I tripled it for a while!). It really only takes about a 1/2 hour altogether.
Mel, you can do this. Really.
Monday, December 22, 2008
Meme-ing
I saw this meme over on Arduous' blog, and it looked more interesting than most. You bold the ones you've done, and, if you want, you italicize the five you haven't done yet but would most like to.
1. Started my own blog-um, yes
2. Slept under the stars-in the Grand Canyon, and at Girl Scout camp
3. Played in a band- the concert band type of band, not a rock band; I played French Horn
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than I can afford to charity- what does this mean? We have given "sacrificially", so to speak.
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain- Mt. Washburn in Yellowstone
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sung a solo- I was a voice major, so yeah
11. Bungee jumped-this will never be on my list of things I've done!
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched lightning at sea- only from the beach, not from a ship
14. Taught myself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child-no, but we were foster parents for a while
16. Had food poisoning-and that's all you'll want to know about that
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty- it was closed to the public when I was in NY in 2006
18. Grown my own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train-from Luxembourg to Venice
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitchhiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill-thought about it, but couldn't bring myself to actually do it
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb-no, just petted one
26. Gone skinny dipping-does the bath tub count? I thought not.
27. Run a Marathon-wanted to, but had a baby instead, which, come to think of it, is comparable
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse-we had a full eclipse of the sun about fifteen years ago
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run- Ha! I'd just like to make contact with the ball!!
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of my ancestors-which ones? The ones from Illinois? Or the one's from way back in Europe? I've definitely visited the birthplaces of the Illinois ones. We go back 8 generations in this state.
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language-just enough Spanish to find the bathroom in Honduras-does that count? I had five years of German, and a semester each of French and Italian diction, but I had teachers for those.
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing-no, as this would involve possibly falling off a cliff
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke-surprisingly, no.
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance-sigh...yes, after shattering my arm at the ice arena
47. Had my portrait painted-yep, by my husband
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris-saw it but didn't go up
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud-a favorite childhood occupation; just ask my mom!
54. Gone to a drive-in theater-this is how my parents got to see movies without hiring a sitter.
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business-does giving voice lessons count? Or providing daycare in my home?
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen-yes, in Honduras
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies-I was a good little Girl Scout
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason-oh, there was always a reason!
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving-People! No. Just no.
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check-yes, in college (oh, the shame)
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy-my teddy bear, Johnny
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten caviar-and once was definitely enough! What's the attraction?
72. Pieced a quilt-a small doll-bed sized one
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone-several, I'm sorry to say
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person-seen it, hiked in it, rafted through it for 10 days
80. Published a book-I need to write one first
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had my picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life-twice, once from drowning, once from a potentially explosive car accident/gas station disaster-it's a long story
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous-Count Basie, IL Gov. Jim Edgar (A good guy!! There are good guys in Illinois!)
92. Joined a book club-no, I don't want to have to read books I don't choose for myself
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby-four!
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Ridden an elephant
There you have it. My life's an open book. Let me know if you give this a try on your own blog.
1. Started my own blog-um, yes
2. Slept under the stars-in the Grand Canyon, and at Girl Scout camp
3. Played in a band- the concert band type of band, not a rock band; I played French Horn
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than I can afford to charity- what does this mean? We have given "sacrificially", so to speak.
7. Been to Disneyland/world
8. Climbed a mountain- Mt. Washburn in Yellowstone
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sung a solo- I was a voice major, so yeah
11. Bungee jumped-this will never be on my list of things I've done!
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched lightning at sea- only from the beach, not from a ship
14. Taught myself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child-no, but we were foster parents for a while
16. Had food poisoning-and that's all you'll want to know about that
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty- it was closed to the public when I was in NY in 2006
18. Grown my own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train-from Luxembourg to Venice
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitchhiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill-thought about it, but couldn't bring myself to actually do it
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb-no, just petted one
26. Gone skinny dipping-does the bath tub count? I thought not.
27. Run a Marathon-wanted to, but had a baby instead, which, come to think of it, is comparable
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse-we had a full eclipse of the sun about fifteen years ago
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run- Ha! I'd just like to make contact with the ball!!
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of my ancestors-which ones? The ones from Illinois? Or the one's from way back in Europe? I've definitely visited the birthplaces of the Illinois ones. We go back 8 generations in this state.
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language-just enough Spanish to find the bathroom in Honduras-does that count? I had five years of German, and a semester each of French and Italian diction, but I had teachers for those.
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing-no, as this would involve possibly falling off a cliff
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke-surprisingly, no.
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance-sigh...yes, after shattering my arm at the ice arena
47. Had my portrait painted-yep, by my husband
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris-saw it but didn't go up
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud-a favorite childhood occupation; just ask my mom!
54. Gone to a drive-in theater-this is how my parents got to see movies without hiring a sitter.
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business-does giving voice lessons count? Or providing daycare in my home?
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen-yes, in Honduras
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies-I was a good little Girl Scout
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason-oh, there was always a reason!
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving-People! No. Just no.
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check-yes, in college (oh, the shame)
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy-my teddy bear, Johnny
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten caviar-and once was definitely enough! What's the attraction?
72. Pieced a quilt-a small doll-bed sized one
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone-several, I'm sorry to say
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person-seen it, hiked in it, rafted through it for 10 days
80. Published a book-I need to write one first
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had my picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life-twice, once from drowning, once from a potentially explosive car accident/gas station disaster-it's a long story
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous-Count Basie, IL Gov. Jim Edgar (A good guy!! There are good guys in Illinois!)
92. Joined a book club-no, I don't want to have to read books I don't choose for myself
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby-four!
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Ridden an elephant
There you have it. My life's an open book. Let me know if you give this a try on your own blog.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Kitty Thankfulness
If Cinnamon could type, she would have a blog. It would probably say a lot about going in and out, which lap she was sitting on last, and whether there was food in her bowl.If she joined the November 30 Day Thanksgiving Challenge, she would undoubtedly be thankful for her dear, warm, purring friend, The Laptop.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Thankful For The Election
In the spirit of Thanksgiving, I'm thankful that I live in a place where we can speak freely and vote our conscience, and that once the vote is tallied, we accept the results and go forward. There are a lot of places in the world where that isn't the case.
So don't forget to vote today, and do it with JOY! Like these guys:
The November 30 Day Thanksgiving Challenge
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Friday, October 24, 2008
Should You Be Allowed to Vote?
You Should Be Allowed to Vote |
 You got 14/15 questions correct. Generally speaking, you're very well informed. If you vote this election, you'll know exactly who (and what) you'll be voting for. You're likely to have strong opinions, and you have the facts to back them up. |
Edit:This is just for fun! I think everyone should get to vote.
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