random thoughts

Roadtrip - On a recent trip to Dollywood, as we pulled into the parking lot, Melissa and I said, "We can park here at the edge and be the first ones to leave!" The grandkids looked at us like we were crazy. "You know, like at Walleyworld, you know, the movie Vacation???" Still blank looks. "Come on, you have never seen Vacation?" So we proceeded to tell them about the aunt that died and they put her on the luggage rack and the dog tied to the bumper, laughing so hard we were crying, looks of horror from the back seat. Remedy - Netflix just delivered Vacation the movie for the summer education of the younger set, hope they like it!

Backing up - I was trying to pay a bill the old fashioned way and had to find the checkbook, envelopes, stamps, return address labels, - not wait til the last minute - allow time for the mail - weird!

Comment - Received a blog comment from a real author, Andrew Crofts! I responded and apologized for quoting him without his permission, but he really didn't mind, and was very nice, saying I would like the movie version of The Ghost, that it was faithful to the book. But then I think about it - Colleen is a real author and she comments often!

Email from Carrie - "My (sigh) Ten Year Class Reunion is scheduled to be the 1st weekend in October, but there are no plans as to where yet. Possibly a Friday evening at a nice restaurant and then a Saturday cookout… so everyone can bring all their brats (ugh)."

Hometown - A library book - WOW this sounds like our little town: "The hospital building was an architect's nightmare. Part poured concrete, part cinder block, and yet another part brick. The few vehicles scattered around the parking lot were mostly trucks, mud caked around their wheel wells from a recent rain. NASCAR stickers and Jesus fish dotted the chrome bumpers." ~ excerpt from Beyond Reach by Karin Slaughter, a Georgia author.

Anniversary - To Kill a Mockingbird is 50 years old - maybe I should read it.

Newsworthy - The end of the cupcake? Just because it is on the internet doesn't make it so. My kids won't let this trend die if they have anything to say about it.

Quote - If you're yearning for the good old days, just turn off the air conditioning. ~Griff Niblack

random thoughts

Have you ever had one of those days when your mind wanders more than usual, coming up with random thoughts...

random thoughts while running errands the other day - At the oil change place - ladies' day 10% off - ladies lined up reading magazines - the manager calls out The Lexus is ready and we all look up to see who is driving a lexus - it is my turn when I hear - Who has the Durango? And I am met with a smile and Oh Hi - your daughter was just in here last week...

random thoughts at the library - the library is a peaceful place - except for the meeting room loaned out to the county assessors office - folks come and talk and argue and stomp out madder than when they arrived - someone said recently they should put up a metal detector or have a policeman on duty there - death and taxes go together, but hopefully not at the library...

random thoughts in the flower bed - deadheads - not the rock band groupies but the petunias - pinching off the dead flowers so new ones will grow...

random thoughts on age - I am twice as old as my youngest daughter - this happened before with my oldest daughter and won't happen again as I have no more kids - but maybe with the grandkids, let's see I was 40 when Kyle was born, so when I am 80 he will be 40 - but I won't remember to tell him I am twice his age even if I am still around and can still do the math...

random thoughts on reading - in this electronic age of I-pod and I-everything else and Kindle readers, reading actual books is more popular than ever - in my recent quest for a book at our library's website, I got this message: This item has been checked out 281 time(s) and currently has 80 hold request(s).

I am traveling a slow road this morning, maybe I will make it to work and maybe not, I might just get sidetracked along the way.



~photo Blue Ridge Parkway 8 June 2008

mixed bag

Goofing off ~ I don't have a boss looking over my shoulder, so I can goof off at work - not that I do of course - but if I wanted to, I could play Sudoku or listen to the radio online, check out my Facebook friends, or read blogs. I'm always working of course, I'm just saying…


New wheels ~ Carrie recently got a new car, well new to her anyway. I think she likes it a lot, she has named it Sage Traveler and it has it's own Facebook page…


It's a challenge ~ Library Thing has a challenge to read 75 books this year. That's almost 1-1/2 books a week. Sounds do-able I guess, are you up for a challenge?


What he said ~ Kenny Chesney has an interesting interview this month in a magazine known for it's great articles…


Time warp ~ We ate lunch the last 2 days at the Royston Rexall drug store, in the back they have a Grill where they cook to order hamburgers, etc. They even have ice cream!


First impressions ~ When I first came to Royston, Georgia, I looked it up on Google Images and the first picture to come up is of a lynching…

Frisbeetarianism is the belief that when you die, your soul goes up on the roof and gets stuck. ~George Carlin

If you don't know where you are going, you will probably end up somewhere else. ~Lawrence J. Peter

Goals are dreams with deadlines. ~Diana Scharf Hunt

Don't say you don't have enough time. You have exactly the same number of hours per day that were given to Helen Keller, Pasteur, Michaelangelo, Mother Teresea, Leonardo da Vinci, Thomas Jefferson, and Albert Einstein. ~Life's Little Instruction Book, compiled by H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

bloomin' weeds

What is a weed?
A plant whose virtues
have not yet
been discovered.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

TGIF - another week gone already? They say time flies when you are having fun, let's see, what have we been doing that is so much fun?

dumpster diving ~ Well, it hasn't gotten that bad, but I do find myself digging through the trash occasionally for things that could be recycled or composted…

rascally rabbit ~ Or maybe I should take my salad scraps out of the trash and lay them in the flower bed, someone's been eating my hostas and a fat rabbit has been spotted in the area…

masked bandit ~ Speaking of flowers, I spent yesterday afternoon planting some everblooming geraniums that came in the mail. The bare-root plants are probably being dug up as we speak by our friendly neighborhood raccoon.

American idle ~ Yes, any excuse to get outside in this beautiful weather. I have been too idle lately, no hiking or exercise of any kind. Isn't it funny that the moment you decide to exercise, something always gets in the way? The dog ate your running shoes, there are chores to do, it is too cold or too hot, it is raining, or 'round here - there are bears and snakes out there!

no excuses ~ Speaking of exercise - Folks are actively collecting money for the Breast cancer 3-day walk in Atlanta in October. Each walker has to collect $2200 before walking the 60 miles, so if anyone asks, GIVE! The walkers get to sleep in these neat little pink pup tents (pictured below) and then afterward the tents are sometimes donated to the girl scouts, who either use them for camping or fund raising themselves, just another ripple effect of this amazing event.



TGIF - Another week gone. And as far as dandelions go, I seem to remember an in-law (outlaw?) who used to pay his kids 10 cents for every dandelion pulled out of the yard! We are just happy that something is growing there, something green, with a pretty flower as an extra benefit.


Sweet flowers are slow and weeds make haste.
~William Shakespeare

A weed is but an unloved flower.
~Ella Wheeler Wilcox

Don't waste time looking for four-leaf clovers
when there are weeds in your garden
~unknown

Roses are red,
Violets are blue;
But they don't get around
Like the dandelions do.
~Slim Acres


~photo dandelion 16 April 2008 in the yard

~photo pink tents from this bloggers account of the 3-Day event in San Diego

abstracts

on display ~ The artwork of Madison - artist, granddaughter, 5th grader - is on display (top left) at the Gilmer Arts and Heritage Association gallery, as the month of March is recognized as National Youth Art Month.

make a difference ~ Think your family going green won't make a difference? Wrong, says a U.S. study released on Thursday that shows one household ditching paper statements for Web transactions would save 24 square feet of forest a year. I still get a thrill just putting the junk mail into the recycling bin.

forever ~ On the other hand, I just bought 200 postage stamps. Stamps are going up in May, so stock up now on Forever Stamps, as they last, well, forever.

blast from the past ~ Remember Edith Ann, one of Lily Tomlin's endearing characters? Here she is, alive and well, and writing letters to the government.

The road to success is always under construction.
~ Lily Tomlin

Everyone has a photographic memory,
some just don't have film.
~ Steven Wright

We're not lost.
We're locationally challenged.
~ John M. Ford

Even if you're on the right track,
you'll get run over if you just sit there.
~ Will Rogers

A word to the wise ain't necessary,
it's the stupid ones who need the advice.
~ Bill Cosby

spring fever

spring fever - It is that time of year again, the recurring symptoms, not wanting to work, constant gazing out the window. Rx: Take a walk in the sunshine, play in the dirt, plant some pansies.

better than coupons - While out recycling the other day, Melissa and I stopped to eat and went to the grocery store, both places giving me a senior discount! (Even though I clearly did not qualify). Melissa is the ultimate bargain hunter and coupon clipper (she takes after her dad and grandmother), but will she want to take me along now for that added discount?

watching the radio - Last Saturday evening we sat in the living room and listened to the radio show of Prairie Home Companion. It was something we had never done, and prompted a strange feeling - what do we do, just sit here? What do we watch? Is this how it was in the old days before TV? I ended up knitting, Buddy dozed in and out. Carrie came home and just rolled her eyes at us.

all in the family - Last Sunday we went bowling for the first time in - well we couldn't remember when. It was Carrie's idea of a family outing for her birthday, and turned out to be a lot of fun!

shark bait - Madison's 5th grade Challenge Class traveled to Gatlinburg for an overnight field trip to sleep with the sharks at the aquarium. She came home yesterday and crashed on the couch. Stories and pictures when she recovers…

capitol one - Sarah traveled with the middle school band yesterday to play for the governor at the Capitol in downtown Atlanta, but the real highlight was getting to eat at the Varsity!

copycat - I read a wonderful poem on a blog a while back - author unknown. I googled the first line and discovered several things, the first being that the poem I read was altered somewhat from the original. The author is well known, she lives here in Georgia, has a website, many more poems, and is actively trying to protect her copyrighted work. Reading this, I decided to remove some 'author unknown' poems I had posted on my blog, and try harder to give credit where credit is due.

So here is a link to The Dash by Linda Ellis. Read and enjoy, and think about how you will spend your dash. Have a great weekend!


It's spring fever. That is what the name of it is. And when you've got it, you want - oh, you don't quite know what it is you do want, but it just fairly makes your heart ache, you want it so! ~Mark Twain

Spring is nature's way of saying, "Let's party!" ~Robin Williams

~photo 13 March 2008 jonquil at home

one thing leads to another

Wiley coyote ~ After heading out to wait for the school bus yesterday morning, the grandkids came rushing back into the house talking about the coyote standing in the driveway. This was no cartoon coyote, or just another excuse to miss school, the howling backed up their story. Ah, just another adventure of life in the country.



Newsworthy ~ Speaking of cartoons, daughter Carrie's favorite television channel is Cartoon Network. By watching this collection of programming (Sponge Bob, etc.), she is shielded from any current events. Joining us for supper and watching the evening news over the last few months, she has been enlightened by the fact that a woman is running for president (really?), by the possibility of a recession (what's that?), but her favorite part of the show is still the commercials.

Target ads ~ Speaking of the news, watching it has confirmed the fact that the news is almost always bad, but not nearly as bad as the commercials during the news. Why are all the ads during the evening news for laxatives, adult diapers, ED, high blood pressure, heart disease, bladder control, and arthritis. Here's a thought - what if the television is programmed to sense the age group in the room, and target with age-related ads? Are we really that old? Are we all constipated? Are our bodily functions out of control? Who knew?



Home alone ~Speaking of being out of control, I received a call from daughter Melissa this week. Her 13-year-old Sarah was scheduled to spend her first afternoon as a latchkey kid. In preparation for this, Melissa hid the key to the 4-wheeler, made up a long list of stuff to keep her busy, and called me to 'check' on her periodically. Melissa used to be a latchkey kid, I wonder what she was so worried about, she never got into any trouble...


Bodacious blogs
~ Janeywan at Life in Westcliffe has bestowed upon me the Bodacious Blog award, thanks! I looked up bodacious at Websters and found these 2 definitions: 1) incorrigible, and 2) unrestrained by convention or propriety. Very interesting! Passing this one on to some fellow Georgia bloggers:

Dot at Strolling Through Georgia: A photo a day from the State of Georgia.

Joann at Higher Ground journals her journey with breast cancer with Welcome to the latest news of the Boobs.

Mary Zelda - a very interesting approach, real family stories as told by Mary Zelda - A Fictive Account - In Her Words - If She Blogged. Characters and events in this story are real. Conversations are remembered or imagined.

I find television to be very educating. Every time somebody turns on the set, I go in the other room and read a book. ~Groucho Marx

My life has no purpose, no direction, no aim, no meaning, and yet I'm happy. I can't figure it out. What am I doing right? ~Charles M. Schulz

Dance like it hurts, Love like you need money, Work when people are watching. ~Scott Adams

Wrapping up another week here, TGIF!

door to door

off to the races ~ Carrie was invited to attend the Daytona 500 NASCAR race in February, free plane ticket, free accommodations, race admission, pit pass… at her banking job, she works with local REPO company, who will be 'working the race' - thanks to Clark's Towing (We don't charge an arm and a leg - we just want your tows).

unsolved mysteries ~ The new library has an official open house this weekend. I was perusing the library shelves and found books on computer networking - right next to the ones on UFOs/Bigfoot/unexplained mysteries - that explains a lot, no wonder we can't get this home network to work.

in the news ~ Our local small town newspaper comes out on Thursdays. In addition to the much anticipated news of births, deaths, and arrest reports, this week's paper includes:

new middle school gym is christened, as local cop wins basketball shooting contest getting 'nothing but net' from half court

new service offered by the funeral home -
email delivery of all new obit postings

Ads - Instant Gratification at State Farm Insurance

new hangout ~ Open 7 days a week, free Starbucks coffee, HDTV with local cable, free Wi-Fi, comfortable chairs. But wait, this is the new walk-in medical clinic… I wonder if they take this dang HMO insurance?



it was said~
There's a fine line between fishing and just standing on the shore like an idiot.~Steven Wright

About the time we think we can make ends meet, somebody moves the ends. ~Herbert Hoover

ASAP - as Southern as possible

to sum it up ~ not much goin on 'round here, just like we like it!


~photo of barn door in the Smokies

Merry Christmas to All!

A Christmas card from our house to yours, Merry Christmas to all!


Welcome to the Christmas edition of getting to know your friends.

1. Wrapping or gift bags? Wrapping, lots of curly ribbons

2. Real or artificial tree? Love the pre-lit artificial, no muss no fuss

3. When do you put up the tree? The first week of December

4. When do you take the tree down? Before New Years

5. Do you like eggnog? No, I remember seeing my mom make some when I was young, those raw eggs did it for me

6. Favorite gift received as a child? Bike - it was big and blue, and I could ride with no hands... ahh those were the days!

7. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes, carved from olive wood from the Holy Land, brought back from a trip my mother took there

8. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Underwear - that was the year I sneaked and opened my presents, boy was I bummed out... I don't sneak anymore.

9. Mail or email Christmas cards? Old fashioned snail mail, Christmas stamps, Christmas letter, the whole 9 yards. We do print out the address labels though.

10. Favorite Christmas Movie? It depends on my mood, right now I am thinking Christmas Vacation, a real representation of the family holiday experience. Doesn't everyone have a cousin Eddie?

11. When do you start shopping for Christmas? The week after Thanksgiving. One track mind, one holiday finished before starting another.

12. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Cheese ball, sausage balls, ambrosia, stocking candy. I wonder how many Weight Watcher points are in sausage balls...

13. Clear lights or colored on the tree? The pre-lit tree has clear (see #2) and that's fine with me

14. Favorite Christmas song? White Christmas - Bing does it up right, especially in the movie of the same name when he sings with Rosemary Clooney, classic.

15. Travel at Christmas or stay home? Luckily we only travel as far as next door for Christmas Eve, and stay home on Christmas morning.

16. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeer? Of course, everyone knows the lyrics to Rudolph …

17. Angel on the tree top or a star? Angel, needlepoint made by my mom.

18. Open the presents Christmas Eve or Christmas Morning? Christmas morning! It's all about the anticipation.

19. Most annoying thing about this time of year? TV commercials.

20. Do you decorate your tree in any specific theme or color? Hand made, handed-down ornaments.

21. What do you leave for Santa? Well, it's been a while, but I remember milk and cookies.

22. Least favorite holiday song? Please Daddy Don't Get Drunk This Christmas - I love all of John Denver's songs except this one!

23. Favorite ornament? Ones with the kids' pictures as babies.

24. Family tradition? Christmas Eve at the old family homestead, all the kids, grandkids, sisters, brothers, cousins, nephews, nieces, etc.

25. Ever been to Midnight Mass? No

26. Most memorable good deed you witnessed or participated in during the holidays? Well, I can't recall one, which is pretty sad!

Sent to me by Byron at Knoxville Trivia Blog

Rules for the game include:
Link to the person that tagged you, and post the rules on your blog.
Share Christmas facts about yourself.
Tag seven random people at the end of your post, and include links to their blogs.
Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

Passing it on to: Sandy, Joann, Jelly, Laurel, June, Kerri, and Bonnie.

Merry Christmas!

the party's over

on the road again ~ Melissa and family are back home again after a week in Virginia with relatives. They all had a great time visiting and vacationing. They stayed at the Great Wolf Lodge in Williamsburg, which has an indoor water park! These accomodations look a lot better than their soggy tent when they go on vacation with us, Grandma Pam really knows how to treat them!



feeling sluggish ~ According to Robin at CNN, "that 'duh' feeling today could be a carb coma post Thanksgiving." Time to toss the leftovers and get back on a regular diet!

counting down ~ Need some help to get in the mood for Christmas: Here is a Christmas countdown site!

shop til you drop ~ Anyone go shopping on Black Friday? I did some online browsing which turned out to be quite entertaining. We ventured out on Saturday, found a few things. This sign reminded me of the grandkids:



the party's over ~ The rain and wind have blown off all the leaves here, it is really looking a lot like winter now. Yesterday it was cold and rainy - a good day to sit by the fire, watch old movies, read, and nap.



the confetti of leaves has fallen
the guests have all gone home,
taking with them
pictures and memories
of the seasonal change
in the mountains

the party is over
nothing left but
the clean up

round and round

Groundbreaking news - Buddy has started a new job in nearby Dawsonville, coming up out of the mud (where is that drought when you need it?). The bankers lined up with their gold plated, I mean gold painted shovels for the official groundbreaking ceremony.

Marching to the beat - Tonight is the debut of granddaughter Sarah - marching with the high school band at the local Friday night football game. Carrying on the family tradition! Way to go Sarah!

Anticipation - Yesterday (the 25th) brought the realization that Thanksgiving is just 4 weeks away, and Christmas just 2 months… better get busy cleaning and shopping!

Boogity Boogity Boogity - Let's go racin! We are headed to the Atlanta Motor Speedway on Sunday for the NASCAR race!


Jeff Foxworthy: You Might Be A NASCAR Redneck If...

You think the last four words of the National Anthem are "Gentleman, start your engines!"....

The word "bank" makes you think of turn three at Daytona....

You spell out NASCAR in Christmas lights....

You can change a tire faster than you can change a diaper....

You think the most effective form of advertising is on the side of a car going 200 mph.....round and round and round....

Construction site wisdom - Last but not least, a little something that Buddy picked up on the job last week (at first I told him I could not share this as my blog is G-rated), but it is so profound… Life is like a sh** sandwich. The more bread you have, the less sh** you have to eat.



~cartoon from Mike Smith's StockcarToon found here

friday collage

It was a one quilt night here, down to 41 - time to snuggle up! Speaking of snuggling up, for 37 years I have been sitting next to my husband in his truck, until now. Yesterday he traded trucks, this one has individual seats with a big console in the middle. After 37 years I am relegated to the window seat… it's the end of an era 'round here.


It is that time of year again, our town is gearing up for the annual Apple Festival. Signs are going up to direct traffic, crafters are coming into town from all over.

Locals are pulling out anything and everything they can sell - from homemade crafts to baked goods to yard sale stuff - and setting up on the side of the roads. Come on out and join us! (daughter Melissa's yard sale is next to Hudson's Apple house).


Where do these awards come from? Do bloggers just make them up? Sounds good to me! I received this Nice Matters award from Bonnie, thanks!

Since there is a cat pictured on the award, this one I am passing along to some blog friends with cats, all nice folks who take good care of their pets: Amy, Finn, Sandy, Holly, and Kerri.

So go and stick it on your blog and pay it forward because Nice Matters!



Has it been 10 years?

I've been lately thinking
About my life's time
All the things I've done
And how it's been
And I can't help believing
In my own mind
I know I'm gonna hate to see it end

lyrics from Poems, Prayers, and Promises by John Denver

~quilt photo from my yard in 2005

rewarding

A recent inquiry by blogger June asked for my 5 strengths as a writer.

I am no writer, so I don't really have strengths as such, so instead I will share why I do this… blog thing.

1. Keeping track - I like to be organized (blame years of clerical work), so I like to document what goes on around here on a daily basis, whether it be events, adventures, seasonal changes, or just what the kids and grandkids are up to, so someday I can look back and read about them - when I don't actually remember them anymore…

2. Picture perfect - I like to include pictures along with stories, or maybe just a picture - a picture is worth a thousand words.



3. Family circle - I like to tell some family stories, history, things to pass on to future generations.



4. Pause and reflect - what is on my mind at the moment - observations, musings, reflections - along with ideas, poetry, movies, books, music, quotes, patchwork.

5. Reach out and touch - I like connecting with people either in person or online, reading comments, getting feedback, making new friends.

I also find it rewarding:



I recently received this Blogger Reflection Award from Liz at Southern Highlands Cam.

Like Liz, I don't usually pass on chain emails or memes, but I would like to thank her for thinking of me on this one.

Liz is located in nearby Murphy, NC and always has great pictures of our local mountains, lakes, small towns, and all the scenery in between. And, like she said, I often find places in her pictures that remind me of growing up here.

Like her picture of the Henn Theatre in Murphy where Buddy and I went once when we were dating. It was a memorable experience, the walk-in theatre was very crowded and loud, during the movie the phone on the wall rang, it was answered by someone who hollered out phone for ... Classic!


And since I have been doing this for 2 years now, I thought maybe it is time for a new look, so I changed my background template and colors!

fitting it all together

~ paving the way - A momentous day at the bank job, the paving went down yesterday! Landscaping is in place, carpet is delivered, the cleaning crew starts Monday. It ain't over til it's over, but the end is in sight!



~ playing possum - We have always had lots of critters around our little house in the country - raccoons, bears, deer, possums. Here is our latest visitor… hanging from the living room light.



~ kids will be kids - You can't leave them alone for even a minute. After spending all day with my daughters last Saturday, shopping and having a good time, what do they do to my car?

In a box of crayons
Some are sharp, some are pretty,
some are dull, some are bright,
some have weird names, and some are different colors.
But they all work together to form something beautiful
and they all fit together perfectly in one box.