Month: May 2015

Annual Planting

I’m contemplating a day trip to Floydada, Texas, soon. I haven’t visited the graves of my parents and grandparents in many years, and when I read this post from http://www.redswrap.wordpress.com I just knew it was speaking to me.

Jan Wilberg's avatarRed's Wrap

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It’s late at the Super 8.

There’s dirt under my fingernails even though I wore gloves.

I have one pink geranium I couldn’t make fit.

The urn for their flowers that I bought new last year was damaged by the winter.

My husband left four stones on my parents’ graves to show that we had been there.

I wiped down their headstone and that of my grandparents, wiped the old mown grass away with a rag.

In the late afternoon sunlight, both of the rose-colored stones shone just a little bit.

I would have sat there all afternoon, on that little hill admiring the trees, except we were in a hurry to go somewhere else.

I planted geraniums and petunias and plants I don’t know the names of until the urn was full and worthy of its job of showing the world that my parents had people who will show…

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Red Stapler

a photo of you
sits next to a red stapler
on top of my desk.

every morning
i touch my lips to your lips
captured under glass.

it’s a cold, spare kiss
no warmth exchanged in the act;
only memories.

  

Lingering Over Wine With Friends

We linger for hours
over bottles of fine wines;
no need to hurry.

  
These perfect moments
captured in warm memories
even as we drink.

  
Friends enhance the grape
even mediocre wines
seem superb vintage.

Written in response to the Daily Post’s Daily Prompt: Linger–tell us about times In which you linger, when you don’t want a day or an event to end.

Cooking for Studly May Update

A couple of folks have inquired as to whether I am still cooking meals for Studly Doright. Why, yes. Yes, I am.

Studly Doright remains among the living
Even after all of my cooking.

Some nights I create minor miracles
Other nights we survive on cereals.

Still, I miss the cool days of winter
When I could just serve soup for dinner.

Tonight I’m serving veggies and roast
They smell pretty great and that’s no boast.

Let’s raise a glass to good home cooking
But I dropped the roast when he wasn’t
looking.

shhhhhh!

  
Peace, people!

Color Me Happy or Something

I’ve read a number of articles lately on the joys and benefits of coloring for adults. Friends have shared their coloring stories, and I thought that it sounded fun and relaxing. Better yet, there’s no learning curve associated with coloring. Any idiot can do it. One idiot, coming right up.

Of course I had to have a coloring book and a brand new package of markers. Believe it or not there are lots of coloring books made with older colorers in mind. These tend to have a great deal of detail and teeny tiny bits to be colored. I could have spent as much as $30 for top of the line markers, but opted for the extra special pack of Crayola markers.

  
I might have a real future in coloring. 

Did Someone Mention Wine?

I enjoy a glass of wine now and again. Ok, almost every evening I enjoy a glass of wine, usually with dinner. Fine, I have a glass of wine every single night. 

On my Facebook account I often share the name of the specific type of wine I’m drinking that evening. It’s not the most fascinating of topics, but it keeps me from being too political, most nights anyway.

In return my friends and family make sure to tag me in any wine memes they find. Some are just too good not to share:

I might be ever so much more productive.
 
I really, truly do.
    

I still lean to the white
plus my witty dance moves and flawless comebacks
I hate admitting how true this is.
Everyone know this. Right?
Aced it.

Don’t forget the lucrative world of blogging!

Peace, (and cheers) People! 

AARP

Fifty, in spite of what my younger friends have heard is not a terrible age. In fact, the half century mark has certain perks, not the least of which is being eligible for membership in the American Association of Retired People.

I’ve now been an AARP member for eight and a half years, and my membership includes discounts on hotels nationwide, great rates on insurance, and a voice in political issues that affect those of us past the child-bearing age.

Studly is a member, as well, and apparently he just renewed our dues because I received this gift in the mail today from the good folks at AARP.

  
I’m not sure what this is.  A carrier for my Depends undergarments? (which, by the way I do NOT wear. Yet.) A miniature backpack? A fanny pack? A chastity belt? Bwahaha!!! Although, placed strategically it would certainly prevent any attempts at coitus.

Regardless, it’s a gift. And I continue to brace my “A.A.R.P.ness.” Say that out loud for a giggle.

Peace, people!

Here’s My Sign

Finally I had the opportunity to get out and do something crafty in Tallahassee at Another Time Around, a wonderful shop specializing in repurposed and rescued furniture.

Kim Parr, the shop’s owner and furniture refinisher extraordinaire, guided me, along with several other participants, through the fundamentals of chalk painting. The process is easy. I was pleasantly surprised.

My friends know that while I’m not particularly gifted in the visual arts, every now and then I have delusions of grandeur and decide to create something.

In my imagination I’m always going to be super surprised and pleased by my efforts, but I just didn’t inherit any artistic genes. That didn’t keep me from having a great time though, and I learned a lot in the process.
Plus I created a cute item to take for our family reunion auction:

Everyone seemed to have a positive experience, and I’ll attend another session. Who knows, next time might be my big breakthrough.

Other participants let me snap photos of their finished projects to share with my readers. I think they turned out beautifully:  
   
If you live in the Tallahassee area I highly recommend a visit to Kim’s shop Another Time Around at 4523 N. Monroe. 

She’s has a beautifully eclectic collection of furniture for customers to browse and she’ll do custom work, as well. I took a few pictures on my way out last night:   
       

After taking two full hour to create my little sign, I’m in awe of these larger projects. She has given me some ideas I might need to pursue. I wonder how Studly Doright would feel about having his motorcycle lift chalk painted? You know what they say–it’s easier to ask for forgiveness than for permission.

Here’s a link to Kim’s page on Facebook. Check her out. I don’t normally promote businesses on my blog, but I think Kim’s got a great business. She’s a keeper.

https://www.facebook.com/AnotherTimeAroundTLH
Peace, people!

  

Sherry Baby

No songs are written
with my name, my face in mind;
no melody mine.

Sharona, Sherry,
Donna, and Paula as well
have been someone’s muse.

I’m just a songless
woman in a song-filled world;
I could change my name.

a different perspective:

 
http://youtu.be/gNeeu6_e6oQ
Ritchie Valens’ Donna.

Below: eight of the top songs with a woman’s name in the title 

Maggie Mae is my favorite. Couldn’t we substitute my name? “Oh Nana I couldn’t have tried anymore.”

Too Much

Studly Doright and I are doing some home improvement projects this spring. His man-cave is approaching completion and we’ve found someone to help turn the area leading up to our front door into a mini courtyard. After that we’ll tackle our back porch which is lovely but almost unusable during the rainy season due to drainage issues.

In preparation for the courtyard project I’ve been browsing Pinterest and wandering around two of the local nurseries looking at paving stones, outdoor seating groups, and large pots and planters. My goal is to make the area pretty and low maintenance.

Even though I’m no gardener I enjoy trips to the nurseries. There’s such an abundance of colors, textures, and scents. And ornamental junk. Lots of ornamental junk.

  
Now, I have nothing against ornamental junk. I can see me owning a metal rooster or an ornate concrete birdbath. The problem is that I’m not sure if I’d know when to stop. 

  
Could I draw the line at one rooster or would I need a dozen metal hens and a few chicks to add to the display? If I buy the concrete birdbath do I then follow up with a concrete bench, a concrete fairy, a pair of concrete children reading a concrete book, and an array of concrete stepping stones?

  
We’ve all seen those yards that have so many little animals or whirlybirds or garden gnomes that one cannot even see the lawn or the front door. Who is to say that one lone rooster won’t lead to an entire flock?

Studly assures me he won’t let it come to that. Oh, look! A metal dolphin!

Peace, people!