suet

suet
Originally uploaded by Aunt Owwee

it's a cold cold winter up here

Darn critics, anyhoo

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again; because there is not effort without error and shortcomings; but who does actually strive to do the deed; who knows the great enthusiasm, the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at the worst, if he fails, at least he fails while daring greatly. So that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who know neither victory nor defeat.”

Unconscious Mutterings

I say ... and you think ... ?

Unwanted :: Unplanned for
You’d better :: Watch Out
Woman :: Man
Weighed :: Too much!
Upright :: Honest
I feel :: Pretty. Well, I don't, but that's what the song says.
Ill :: sick
It’s like :: heaven
Poor man :: Rich Man
Great :: Expectations

Time

Time
Originally uploaded by Aunt Owwee

Unconscious Mutterings

I say ... and you think ... ?

Arrival :: Birth
Vomit :: Gross
Fit :: to be tied
Stutter :: Stammer
Lifestream :: Blood
Tread :: Softly, but carry a big stick
Desire :: Want
Freezing :: Our weather. Well, way below freezing
Permit :: Allow
Crinkle :: Smile, Wrapping paper

Been a long time since I did THAT

So I was out and about today, braving the cold and the snowy streets, and stopped into the mall's B&N. I know, I know, local booksellers are better, but B&N is the only bookstore that has SomersetLife, a crafting quarterly that I enjoy. So I picked up that magazine and a couple of others, paid for them, and started for the exit.

Well, a book caught my eye. HeartSick. It was a murder mystery, and it promised a Hannibal Lector type story. That is so not my style. But I picked the book up and continued down the aisle. Drat! The big easy reading chairs were both open by the exit, so I sat down for a minute to read a few pages of the book. Two hours later I left, having read most of the book. Bad me, but I do spend an inordinate amount of my paycheck at bookstores, and they do have those dang comfy chairs. Hmmm.

Okay, should I have bought the book?

got it

got it
Originally uploaded by Aunt Owwee

The one good thing, and I do believe it is the ONLY good thing I can think of now, about 0F temperatures is that it slows the birds down enough that I can get their pictures.

How's your neck of the woods faring?

Coming home

Coming home
Originally uploaded by Aunt Owwee

Unconscious Mutterings

I say ... and you think ... ?

Resolution :: New Years, easy to break
Break :: Resolution, Holiday from School
Tied :: bound, package
Suffering :: pain
Instead :: in place of
Divorce :: Breaking apart
Slash :: Cut
Cough :: Cold, drops
Happy :: as a clam
Sniffle :: cry, Cold

Weekend Chores

So Good morning, my dear friends! This was a five-day work week. We'd been spoiled! With the holidays and some vacation days, I had worked three three-day weeks. Quite a bit of a change!

This morning I did sleep in for a bit, then got to the chores. The Christmas tree is now out in the yard, waiting for a bonfire. I've changed the filter in the furnace (ooh, I hate Michigan basements) and added salt to the water softener. Can I take a nap now?

We had some milder weather, and now we're right back to good old January stuff, with snow today and tomorrow and temperatures heading for a high of 10F at the beginning of the week. The theory had been that with December being January weather, maybe January would ease up. There goes that theory.

And how is your world?

believe

believe
Originally uploaded by Aunt Owwee

16 More Things

Oh Kim, what you've unleashed! Kim tagged me for the 16 random things on flickr. I did it, now I want to do 16 more. Sheesh.

17. Montana is my favorite State after Michigan.
18. I've driven the Going to the Sun Road. You should too.
19. I haven't been wearing scents or make-up for awhile. I'm back now.
20. Lancomme products are my favorite.
21. I can kill snakes. (hollering all the while)
22. Gladioli are my favorite flowers.
23. One of my brothers passed away 20 years ago. I still miss him.
24. Robert Redford was my first "favorite" actor.
25. Kevin Costner was my second "favorite" actor.
26. I'm currently looking for a third "favorite" actor.
27. I love to read.
28. I read too fast to be a discerning reader. I'd never do well with bookclubs.
29. C.S. Lewis is my favorite author.
30. A River Runs Through It is my favorite book.
31. I feel like a displaced person often. The City I lived in for most of my life is changing too much. The things I loved are gone. The small town I was born in is a small town: I am a stranger there.
32. My favorite TV show is Chuck. Actually, that and the Mentalist are the only two I watch with any regularlity.

Do go see my friend Kim's wonderful flickr photostream. She lives in Michigan's Upper Peninsula: her photographs are a wonderful depiction of a special place.

Thank Heavens for Little Brothers

So my brothers, realizing that we had passed the evil 56, didn't spare me with their birthday cards this year. One card said: You know you're getting older when you see a younger guy and automatically start calculating whether you're old enough to be his mother. Bingo! Another one gave me a musical card that said: Another birthday isn't the end of the world - open it and music begins playing "The Final Countdown" - it just seems that way!

Gotta love 'em!

The First Day of . . .

the rest of my life. I know, hokey. But today it fits. Yesterday I turned an age I thought I wouldn't see, 57. My fears were groundless, based on my father's death at 56 coupled with my mother's father's death at the same age. There is no sane reason for thinking a certain age is cursed. But somehow, someway, I could never see past 56.

And now I am.

And I like it!

Thanks for all the well wishes. They've meant so much. And now, on to the future!!!

Unconscious Mutterings

I say ... and you think ... ?

Confirmation :: Reservations are good
Verse :: Iambic Pentameter
Authorize :: Bank Card
Blog :: New Era
Thirty :: was awhile ago
Heir :: none
What are you doing? :: Unconscious Mutterings!
Complaint :: Department
Leave :: it alone
Tune :: She'll be coming around the mountain, guitar, piano, violin

Year in Review - December 2008

granary
Originally uploaded by Aunt Owwee

And then it was December: the third snowiest on record for the area. Beautiful, but a little wearying.

Thanks for humouring me!

Year in Review - November 2008

Standfast
Originally uploaded by Aunt Owwee

Harvest time. I was able to observe it and photograph it this year. And I was able to find another witness to it.

Year in Review - October 2008

backonhisfeet
Originally uploaded by Aunt Owwee

So much to learn. This is second attempt at a scarecrow. Also, the two little pumpkins are my volunteers. I tossed them back into the area from where they came: will history repeat itself?

Year in Review - September 2008

thegladsarestillgladdening
Originally uploaded by Aunt Owwee

The gladiola just make me smile! And a new retirement business plan is devised.

Year in Review - August 2008

oldestgranddaughter
Originally uploaded by Aunt Owwee

Big family event of the year . . . Mom turns 80!

Year in Review - July 2008

caught
Originally uploaded by Aunt Owwee

The flowers are coming in. These are the hollyhocks, tied to pitchforks.

Year in Review - June 2008

thedoor
Originally uploaded by Aunt Owwee

Storms and tornadoes roar through mid-Michigan. The barn door does not fare well.

Year in Review - May 2008

threegenerations
Originally uploaded by Aunt Owwee

First Mother's Day for Niece #2

Year in Review - April 2008

coloradobluespruce
Originally uploaded by Aunt Owwee

Arbor Day +2. We planted five new spruces.

Year in Review - March 2008

lily
Originally uploaded by Aunt Owwee

Easter came Early. Spring did not.

Year in Review - February 2008

061v2 copy
Originally uploaded by Aunt Owwee

I had become a member at Perspective2 Studio to learn about lighting in December. In February I did my first shoot with live models. Those nieces sure come in handy.

I'm reviewing my flickr pics, in case you're wondering. Picking one from each month that tells me something.

Year in Review - January 2008

goAL
Originally uploaded by Aunt Owwee

January of 2008. I had turned 56. Fifty-six is an age that is fraught in our family. So I went to Lake Michigan to find myself.

Happy New Year!

onelittle
Originally uploaded by Aunt Owwee