§ Anni's HodgePodge...

Once again, since I've been staying home for the most part to stay out of the heat and getting caught in heavy rainstorms most mornings recently, I have made do with playing on the phone [a jigsaw puzzle app], watering plants on the patio, reading, and drawing some. The other day when I was out checking my flower crops, I noticed the incredible clouds that were storm clouds brewing...the higher up in the sky they go, the more moisture will fall...somewhere! I had my cellphone in my pocket so I snapped some photos. Also, once again, I took photos of some flowers blooming in the yard [and bushes]. When I got back indoors I thought I'd attempt getting a very short video of the newest 'gift' I bought for our daughter, Irene. She collects pigs [she has a hutch in her home filled with pigs, pigs, pigs!] This one I couldn't resist. In fact, I've been tempted to keep it for myself...but, I won't. I have enough collections going as it is!! Need to get it to UPS so they can package it and ship it to her!! In the meantime...this is just a few seconds long:

here is a still in case the video doesn't load and 'bobble'...

The morning sky:

Recently, after I uploaded and installed a new puzzle app on my phone...when it starts to get too hot outdoors, I come in to cool down and I usually end up reading my book [a new one I found on Olivia de Havilland -Melanie on Gone With the Wind from 1939] She recently passed away at the age of 104. Speaking of collections, I have tried to find over the last 30 years or so, biographies on all the main characters from that movie...I have Clark Gable, Vivien Leigh, Hattie McDaniels, and have been searching for a couple of good ones...one on Olivia and another on Leslie Howard [Ashley]. I finally found Olivia's Biography-Autobiography published just after her death. It's a good book. Full of Hollywood gossip and tidbits of her early acting career at the age of 16.
Okay, where was I? Oh ya, puzzles. Our puzzle table was torn down and stored for when Erik came to Corpus in May. We probably won't put it back up in the library until all our yard work is done. So, with this app I can get my 'puzzle fix' and I can choose the grade of difficulty. I choose 275 pieces. It's a VERY GOOD app. Many, MANY free puzzles to choose. Altho, it eats up a lot of battery! Maybe 3 to 4 puzzles before the phone's battery is near exhausted. Here are screenshots from the phone's app...

Same ol' flowers, different days from the last time I posted:

To close off for the day, I have to mention that we decided to do some electrical work ourselves. Luckily Bud did this kinda stuff in the Navy aboard ship. But, that was 60 some years ago!! Give or take a few years. A lot has changed. Arthritic hands and knees, eyesight not so good, etc. etc. But, we conquered the job and saved ourselves over $300. We [mostly Bud] tore our fluorescent kitchen light apart and replaced the ballast behind the bulb casing!!! An hour's job for a professional electrician, it took us 3 hours of up and down the ladder, trips to Lowes in the rainstorms, sore neck breaks often...etc. etc. But, it's now done. I haven't put the light fixture's cover back on yet as I need to get back to Lowes for a new light tube. One's very weak and needs replaced before I put the cover up...why put it all together when another job will come all too quickly!!

...and to continue showcasing my Trolls...

↓ My 18th Troll Share ↓

TROLL DOLL COLLECTION Holiday Themed Mr. and Mrs. Christmas LARGE Soft Scuplture circa: 80s?

§ I LOST an Hour Sleep that I Won't Find!!!

It was a Sunday morning. Typical first day of Daylight Savings Time...it really screws with my sleep habits!! After light of day came about, I could see there would be no yard work, no walking. Rainy, chilly as predicted. Outdoor activity was nixed. After visiting my birding 'friends' who link in over the weekend, I was done for the day. LOL It was gonna be a long day. I called my daughter. We chatted quite a while. Mostly about HER dissertation she is/will be working on for HER PhD. Just think, in a short time, I will be able to state clearly and proudly, that I raised TWO doctors. Doctors of Philosophy [...degree at the highest academic level awarded following a course of study. According to wikipedia]. My son is working on his dissertation on Churchill [for his doctorate degree in Political Science/Government], and daughter is working on her doctorate/dissertation on public policy with social policy cognate, with specializing in a study on raising a child with special needs...a special study on Down Syndrome since that has been her life since our grandson was born. She has written articles on this a few times and one that I know of has been published. In a few minutes I will sit back and read some snippets of what she has so far. Of course, with both kids, this is a several year work in progress. Erik is in his 3rd year, and Irene is in her 2nd year. Once they begin writing their dissertation, the road to a title "Doctor" is a down hill ride, tho a lot of mental work to get a paper published...more challenging than studies the first years. Even tho the expense of it all is extreme, the two are living their dreams. That makes it all worth it!! 

The two of us here in Texas spent most of the day with a movie marathon.  First one watched was Hell or High Water [modern-day bank robbers in West Texas - starring Chris Pine *eye candy photo], Sahara [Archeological search for the Monitor -starring Matthew McConaughey *eye candy photo, which reminds me that recently, in the news, there are rumors of him running for Texas Governor against Abbott....hmmm], and one more movie, the- Phantom of the Opera.  More eye candy and great music compositions!!   I made vegetarian lasagna and all the fixins' for dinner, plus an apple pie for dessert.  The day was done!!

The 2 dozen bouquet of roses was from Bud, a surprise for our 53rd anniversary of first date that I posted about last week.

§ Crochet Pastime & Funny Mask...

I just started a couple days ago on the project, so it's gonna be a slow, tedious, undertaking. The one I made for my mother years ago had only one colored pansy, but I thought to break the monotony, I would make 'em all different until I run out of color combinations, then....repeat as needed.  I also will be using up scraps of yarn saved from other projects beside what I purchased the other day.    I'd have to check the instructions, but I know there are at least 100 pansies to make before it's complete.   That should keep my idle hands busy during this stay at home order.  As of this typing my county in Texas has 83 known cases of the virus...no deaths tho.  That's a pretty low number considering the population of the area.   By the way I did a google search first and, YES, there are green pansies.

Speaking of crocheting. Irene [my daughter] texted me a photo of herself in her new mask. The 'inside' of the mask has a backing of crochet also, to place a filter between the front and back, replaceable filters. Of course with her pig fetish, this is a perfect "fit".

§ They Call Me Mom...[and grandma]

With mother's day fast approaching, next Sunday, the 14th, I thought I'd share this, and a few thoughts that go along with the photos. 4 generations of the mothers -[5 generations with grandsons]

This is my mother's mother. My maternal grandmother:

age 18

This is my mother:


age 18

This is me:


age 18


This is my daughter:


age 18

And this is my son, also age 18. This was tougher and rougher on me than his 1st day of school when he was 6!! This photo I chose from my treasure box is of Erik when he left home for the first time...after joining the Marine Corps. Before we got to the terminal, I snapped this photo of him in the Stapelton International Airport [in Denver at the time...it's now no longer used, the airport in Denver is now a newer one...Denver International Airport.] He was on his way to Okinawa. I wouldn't see him again for another 4 years!! This was before the tears flowed!!!

The fifth generation is no females. Two grandsons.  A precious mother's day gift from Irene!!.

1st photo is of Clint [not Clinton - Just Clint] and the 2nd photo is of Dillon

Clint is now 28, born with Down Syndrome. Dillon, Clint's younger brother is 21 and will soon be married [May 27th]  Dillon's betrothed, Devin, will soon be graduating from college, Devin to be a registered nurse and Dillon will continue with his education in law with aspirations of becoming a state judge in the near future. Clint, of course, having a handicap, will continue with his state placed job and live with Irene.

- - -


With my blog followers, you know that I have two adult children. Recently, while sorting through some prized possessions of motherhood, I came across these two that I have put back in my box of treasures. They pertain to mother's day.  Hopefully, if you enlarge them you can read them...




The first one is from Irene...a mother's day card made in class. The 2nd one from Erik, also made in school. Both cards are priceless. They're over 30 years old and the best I've ever received...from my kids, of course!!

§ Ding Dong The Witch is Dead

IRENE'S WREATH
about 30" in diameter

It's done...the OZ wreath has been shipped!

As of this post, it's still enroute to Irene's home. Tracking slip shows me it will arrive on the 22nd sometime before midnight. I hope she likes it. The wreath is grapevine, the tornado is made from a grapevine cone, trimmed and bent into shape. The witch's broom is a piece of dowel with straw attached for bristles. Black 'tornado damaged feathers' give off contrast. "Welcome My Little Pretties" is cut from wood, the house is grooved paneling and mini-Popsicle sticks window with terry fringe for a "ripped and damaged" curtain, a screw for a door handle. The witch hat is 3D and stuffed, the ruby slippers from the Wicked Witch of the East is a floral pick I found at Hobby Lobby...

§ Whispers from Bud..."I love You"---

Today is my birthday...
The beauty of flowers, the charm of feathered friends, the daughter's & son's love and:
Waking up to the whispers of "I love you" is all I ask for---


SONG LINK: Lady in Red http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vt2YIpZWBqA
artist: Chris DeBurgh
PHOTO CREDITS: Red wildflower blossoms in downtown park [first two images], "Mister Lincoln" patented rose [our rose box], LADY IN RED--cardinal [downtown park], Scarlet Knight rose [our rose box], LADY IN RED--metal coca cola sign hanging on our wall, and LADY IN RED...me.


I've never seen you looking so lovely as you did tonight,
I've never seen you shine so bright,



I've never seen so many men ask you if you wanted to dance,
They're looking for a little romance, given half a chance,
And I have never seen that dress you're wearing,



Or the highlights in your hair that catch your eyes,
I have been blind;

The lady in red is dancing with me, cheek to cheek,
There's nobody here, it's just you and me,
It's where I want to be,
But I hardly know this beauty by my side,
I'll never forget the way you look tonight;



I've never seen you looking so gorgeous as you did tonight,
I've never seen you shine so bright, you were amazing,



I've never seen so many people want to be there by your side,
And when you turned to me and smiled, it took my breath away,
And I have never had such a feeling,
Such a feeling of complete and utter love, as I do tonight;

The lady in red is dancing with me, cheek to cheek,
There's nobody here, it's just you and me,



It's where I want to be,
But I hardly know this beauty by my side,
I'll never forget the way you look tonight;

I never will forget the way you look tonight.
The lady in red, the lady in red,



The lady in red, Bud's my lady in red...




- - -




It's time again for my Thursday Trash Talk....

LEXINGTON, N.C. (AP) — Do you have change for a million-dollar bill?

Police say a North Carolina man insisted his million-dollar note was real when he was buying $476 worth of items at a Walmart. Investigators told the Winston-Salem Journal that 53-year-old Michael F. tried to buy a vacuum cleaner, a microwave oven and other items. Store employees called police after his insistence that the bill was legit, and "F" was arrested. The largest bill in circulation is $100. The government stopped making bills of up to $10,000 in 1969. "F" was charged with attempting to obtain property by false pretense and uttering a forged instrument.

...and of course the comments below the article are always a hoot!!


Quackers posted: Should have walked in with a top hat, monocle and cane. He had a better chance using Monopoly money.

Pakal-Moon posted: And as Foghorn Leghorn, the big rooster said, "That Boy is about as sharp as a pound of wet liver"

Completely Satisfied posted: It's just as valuable as our "real" money.

Political_Alchemist posted: We need institutions for the criminally stupid. Wait, we could call it "Congress." :)

* posted: Could someone please define "uttering a forged instrument"? What does THAT mean?

W posted: There's an entire culture in America that, if given a million dollars, their first thought is "Wal-Mart". And that is simply pathetic.

LAST ONE I'M POSTING IS THIS:

[there was no name by it] "Wait for tomorrow's headline when he trys to use his 'Get out of jail free' card." [Anni here -note: see how the word 'trys' is spelled? Ummmm, maybe the poster is related to Michael "F"?!!!]


READ complete story HERE
no intended infringement.