Here we go 'round the Mulberry Bush......"

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I know the title for today's post has nothing to do with the two memes....but it is EARLY in the MORNING...and the song came to my head. Oh, live with it!!!

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Sunday Stealing: The Pretentious Blogging Meme

1. How long have you been blogging? With this blog...since 2006. I had another blog under an alias before, and got harassed a lot with anonymous commentors all the time...I dropped it and began this one.

2. What made you start? The interest in reading other blogs.

3. Who inspired you? A longtime online friend, P J, at No Deep Thoughts [her blog/and her cat photos]

4. About how many hours a week would you estimate you spend on your blog? About two hours a day. [but that entails visiting other blogs also...not just posting on MY blog!] What's that equal? Where's my calculator.....2x7=14. Is that too much time?

5. What kind of experience or background do you have with writing? Other than the blog, and writing [emailing] complaints to companies and editorial letters to local newspapers....that's about it.

6. Talk about how you come up with blog topics. Where do you get your ideas? Memes, what I do during the week, news, politics, books, movies, craft projects, art, painting, holidays, shopping, day trips, photography, sometimes poetry...just about anything goes.

7. What or who inspires you and your blog? Me? Ya, I guess I'm the inspiration here...who else would it be?

8. Where and/or how do [you do] your brainstorming for your blog? The where would be here at my desk....the how is whatever is in my mind at that time.

9. Do you have any blogging rules or guidelines you follow? I try to keep it family friendly. 99% of the time at least.

10. Is there anything you will not blog about? I don't do religious speeches...Religion, like politics, is a personal thing. As it should be...but with the media and politicking, I can't go without commenting on THAT sometimes. But sharing my religious thoughts and MY OWN religion is out of the question. As I have on my sidebar, a quote....in so many words: Theocracy, and the trouble with it, is... too many want to be Theo. I leave my beliefs within my own heart; not preaching to others. BUT! I respect those that have religious blogs...it's their strength.

11. Do you have any sort of a publishing schedule in terms of day of week or topic? Monday blogging is my 'free day'....I made a point lately to begin having that day for fun, nonsensical, ideas, thoughts --anything that I wanna chit chat about, without working on a meme. It's a quiet day then, for me...visiting only those that visit me. Very nice for the change of pace. I say, if I'm home, and have the ability...why not blog every day if possible. Besides, it's fun, it has enriched my life with visitors, a learning experience in not only the blog posts but learning a higher task of xhtml and CSS and much more. If I stop, I'm bored.



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UNCONSCIOUS MUTTERINGS:


1. Furniture :: STORE
2. Beauty :: PARLOR
3. Sip :: through a straw
4. Block :: -ADE
5. Forehead :: BROW
6. Championship :: TROPHY
7. Hurl :: THROW UP
8. Whip :: -PER SNAPPER [whipper snapper]
9. Destruction :: RAZE
10. Leather :: JACKET






POSTED: Sunday, January 31st, 2010
4:55 A.M.

Woody....woody woodpecker

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Photo Hunt: SPOTTED
The 3 photos below work for both memes this week
I 'SPOTTED' THIS CRITTER:

GOLDEN FRONTED WOODPECKER
in
Pecan Tree, front yard
photos taken through our garage window---

[spotted wings..."spotted branches too" -not to mention my valentine template *wink*]

POSTED: Saturday, January 30th, 2010
12:15 A.M.

Love is composed of a single soul...

... inhabiting two bodies.
~Aristotle



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SHOW N TELL

[each photo has mouseover caption and can be enlarged in a new window]

FIREPLACE MANTLE







COFFEE TABLE





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THE GLASS TUMBLER CANDLEHOLDERS are so very easy, and can fit into any occasion and any color scheme....

what I did:

The love bug glass candle holders are actually Valentine Glass Tumblers that I found at the dollar store this past week. The stamped/painted print on the tumblers are hearts and lady bugs with "Love Bug" inscribed around. What I did was purchase two bags of cut glass pieces [clear] and started filling the tumblers with the glass pieces about a quarter full....then, I placed a red taper candle into the glass, while holding the candle upright, in place, I surrounded the candlestick with more cut glass until they were filled ---like ice.... {I think it would look terrific with milk glass marbles, or red clear marbles...any color combination you'd want.} After one was steadied ---I began filling the 2nd tumbler for a matching pair, and placed them on the fireplace mantle.


LINK to view: MY DINING ROOM VALENTINE DECOR

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FLASH FICTION 55

I'm not much for T V
very little entertains me...
I stopped on a program one night,
Sitting, watching - comedy; light!
A favorite character, Sheldon, & smart.
The show? It's top on the chart....
Four guys with high I Q's; a dumb blond to see.
View it...it's a hoot...then, you might agree!!

POSTED: Friday, January 27th, 2010
12:20 A.M.

Fuzzy Wuzzy....?!?!!

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This week, it's just Thursday 13 for me [my 13 found below]...for some reason, when I checked this morning, there was no Thursday Thunks. I assume all is okay with the authors of the meme, but perhaps they're not able to get connected or something. Who knows. I'm at a loss. LOLOLOL

Instead, I thought I'd do a critique of the movie that is sweeping the world of cinema by storm! I hear there is a record breaking total for this....like nearing 2 BILLION dollars!! Holy cow. Then again, being that it is a 3-D movie and you pay extra for the ticket because of the special glasses handed out....no wonder it's grossing in the billions. Anyway, Bud and I finally went to see it yesterday. If we were going to see this movie, I wanted to see it on the 'big screen'. You know me...this kind of Science Fiction...I go just to see the art work. For the most, it was very good. Great plot. EXCELLENT effects and color and art. I think tho, that when Mr. Cameron got the idea of producing such a flick, he was down under the Atlantic, in the submersible---searching for the Titanic. Seriously. The one definition of the word avatar --- An avatar is a computer user's representation of himself/herself or alter ego --- is this really what he thinks of himself? Hmmmmm!!! Of course, what impressed me the most...if you've seen the movie you'll know just what I mean...the plant life in this movie? Didn't it remind you of viewing National Geographic Explorer under the sea? The creatures? Or maybe a huge aquarium under a black light with everything all aglow? I did. Okay, so if you want my opinion...pay the extra $ to go see this on the big screen. It's worth it. Great ending....very well done in my opinion.

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Scientifically when you speak, or when you read rapidly, repeating letters that should be pronounced differently, your muscles and/or neurons want to repeat the same action.....Now, begin:

Thirteen of 'em in fact:
THURSDAY 13


1- Through three cheese trees three free fleas flew.
While these fleas flew, freezy breeze blew.
Freezy breeze made these three trees freeze.
Freezy trees made these trees' cheese freeze.
That's what made these three free fleas sneeze.

2- A twister of twists once twisted a twist;
A twist that he twisted was a three-twisted twist;
If in twisting a twist one twist should untwist,
The untwisted twist would untwist the twist.

3- Tie twine to three tree twigs.

4- Seven slick slimey snakes slowly sliding southward.

5- I wish to wash my Irish wristwatch.

6- He threw three free throws.

7- How many sheets could a sheet slitter slit if a sheet slitter could slit sheets?

8- Seven sleazy shysters in sharkskin suits sold sheared sealskins to seasick sailors.

9- Shut up the shutters and sit in the shop.

10- Fresh fried fish, fish fresh fried, fried fish fresh, fish fried fresh.

11- She is a thistle-sifter. She has a sieve of unsifted thistles and a sieve of sifted thistles and the sieve of unsifted thistles she sifts into the sieve of sifted thistles because she is a thistle-sifter.

12- Tim, the thin twin tinsmith.

13- Sally sells sea shells by the sea shore. But if Sally sells sea shells by the sea shore then where are the sea shells Sally sells?




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A Super Bowl Preview: Oh, and I almost forgot! I saw the funniest commercial!! Yes, a commercial. This is so me driving....and Bud as the passenger. I have a lead foot. He's a 'back seat driver' -complainer!! And I had to go to You Tube to see if I could find it. Turn up the volume...watch closely to her mouth...and listen! What a HOOT!!! Here it is...











POSTED: Thursday, January 28th, 2010
5:55 A.M.

A Drew Barrymore Quote...

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At Aransas Wildlife Refuge along the coast of Texas, about 80 miles northeast of Corpus Christi, we had a good outing, bird watching, and other activities in more ways than one. [the first 15 photos have mouseover captions] We crossed Copano Bay near Rockport Texas [which is kinda like crossing to Key West Florida...only MUCH shorter in distance. Water on both sides of the highway! We continued heading in the north easterly direction to the refuge. I was in hopes of being able to view the Whooping Cranes that migrate here to the coast each and every winter, like clock work. This year, there are a reported 240+ cranes that have arrived. The Refuge is their breeding grounds. Once we arrived, we signed in and walked around the visitor's center that has many displays of the birds in the area...[world renowned for bird watchers]...and the four footed wildlife that co-exists with area's waterfowl. After the few minutes registering and viewing the indoor exhibits, it was time to hop in the car and drive the 16 miles of roadway meandering through the swampy marshlands [the whole sanctuary/park/refuge is vast....some 115,000 acres of land area, not including the expanse of water inlets and shoreline and gulf bays --most only accessible by chartered boat] in hopes of realizing our purpose of the day trip.....









"Alligators in the sewer"....she was such a doll back then. Drew Barrymore that is. I adored her as a child, I admire her spunk and fortitude now that she's grown. Not to mention I think she's the best looking Barrymore ever. Oh yes, I remember her grandfather, John, and her uncle, Lionel. Among others of the Barrymore dynasty. With her 'breakthrough' role in E. T. as Gertie, in 1981!!!....her little bod and adorable charm of a youngster, well, she melted my heart. And I still catch myself saying -alligators in the sewer- oftentimes. In fact just the other day!!!

You see, we walked miles. We drove through the entire area where you can park your car at certain observation points. And climbed the tower...but to no avail. We did however see many other birds and some beautiful countryside. Spoonbills, hawks, egrets, herons. Why, even a ROBIN!! Which, in all honesty, I've NOT SEEN since Colorado! I always knew that Spring had arrived when the first robin of the season sang its lullaby. It was a real treat to see one again. And I must say, the one we saw in Texas IS bigger....the saying is true....things in Texas are big! hehehehe All in all it was a very pleasant day. We spent about four hours there once we arrived. As we were driving back to the visitor's center to sign out [you have to register when you enter the reserve]. As we drove the paved road through the park, ummmmmmm.......Watch out!! Alligators' on the loose!!!!!

By the time I got the car pulled off the road he had reached the swamp!!




...and he had his eyes on me too. All the time I was there with the camera!! If he had turned and chased me....he'd still be slipping in my----!!!






POSTED: Wednesday, January 27th, 2010
12:25 A.M.

I ♥ February!

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HEADS OR TAILS:

The prompt is CALL this week. Sitting here, thinking back to 1968...about this time of year too, I received a call from a tall, dark and handsome fellow! It was around 9pm...we talked well past midnight. I remember my mother getting up from sleep...to walk in and say: "Are you still on the phone?" I'm surprised I didn't get grounded! Really!! But thing is, a mother's instinct I think kept me out of trouble, he just called that night, to say he loved me from the bottom of his heart...three months later I married the guy on the opposite phone line!! About this time of year each and every year, a certain song comes to mind. It's Stevie Wonder singing. Can you guess which one I think of? If you thought "I Just Called to Say I LOVE YOU". You were right! Click on the button just below to sing along!! Each time I hear it, it reminds me of that one night in 1968....we're still together and the bond has grown for over 40 years!! The month of LOVE is just around the corner........





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RUBY TUESDAY:

Y'know...February is one of my favorite months in the year. Mostly 'cause it's shorter than all the rest of the months. LOL Do you ever experience a month that just seems to drag on and on and you find yourself wishing for it to be finally over and gone for a year?!! I do! February never drags for an eternity! Not only my birthday, the 9th, but there is Valentine's Day. And we also celebrate our Tahoe's Adoption day too. And in the near past....the Super Bowl! This year it's the Saints and the Colts...."Oh When the Saints---Go Marching in". Can you guess which team I'm gonna be rooting for this year? Oh, and, not to mention it's the time of year the baseball players begin to show up for their Spring Training Camp days....their exhibition games begin in the first week of March. Yippee!! Baseball Season here we come. I so love February!!! It's the time of year for me that promises a lot to be done...Spring hits our area too. Trees leaf out again from a winter sleep...flowers begin to bloom again and the grass turns green [usually it remains green...it did in our lawn in the back yard, but for some reason there was lawn winter kill in our front yard].

Anyway...February. A good month. And it starts next week....right? Monday to be exact. Come on February. Then, just two short weeks and it'll be the day for LOVE...LOVE fills the air. And you know me by now, how I get into decorating for the season----

OUR DINING ROOM HUTCH:






OUR DINING ROOM TABLE
CENTERPIECE






On Friday, I will participate in Show n Tell as always and continue with my Valentine's decorations....in the living room. The coffee table and the fireplace mantle. There's an open invitation for 'the rest of the story'.....






POSTED [early]: Tuesday, January 26th, 2010
12:25 A.M.
song: You Tube

Tiger...by the tail?

I have a favorite big cat. And, that's a tiger. Siberian is my all time bestest. But all tigers are beautiful if you ask me. Their eyes are so mesmerizing! Their thick, striped coat...wow!! And the color markings. Just fantastic. I drew one. This smaller photo is the beginning of my preliminary outline sketch. Then, putting in the shading and the stripes, and the eyes and hair and whiskers. Normally I can sketch a picture in less than a couple of hours if I stick to the project, but this one took me a few days. I even had to set it down and leave it for a while, then came back to it before the two domesticated cats sat atop my sketchpad too long [LOL]....

Finished -----




As stated above, for as long as I can remember I've been infatuated with tigers' beauty. But, lately, the cheetah has slowly become a favorite big cat also. I will try and sketch that animal next I think. But I have to sit a while and envision their markings in my mind before I begin anything. Stay tuned.


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Thom and Allie so graciously passed this sweet award on to me and I love it. I'm always so very much appreciative of such recognition! Thank you dear friends. My heartfelt thanks!!! There are some rules:

1. Click on the award to open in a new window, copy, save, and upload the award on your blog.
2. List who gave the award to you and use a link to her [I think I'll link the award to HIS blog, 'kay?] blog (or hyperlink).
3. List 10 things that make you happy.
4. Pass the award on to other bloggers and visit their blog to let them know!





10 Things That Make Me Happy are:

Warm, comforting sunshine
Walking on the beach
My dear man
My kids
My grandkids
My kitties
Good food
Good health
Good Sports
My computer friends

And I'll pass this great award to all who visit me today and leave a comment for me-----
[let me know if you accept it and post the ten things that make YOU happy!]




POSTED: Monday, January 25th, 2010
12:01 A.M.