I have a... uh...uh...(achoo!!!), cold

Cold is a four letter word.  You look miserable.
Thanks Teddy - so do you.

My goodness - what a sneeze - you need to see the vet!
Thanks Charlie, I'll do that right away.

I'll let you use the gazebo if you feel better soon.
Simon, it's my gazebo - MY gazebo! Aaaaacchooo!

I'll be back tomorrow, maybe.

Bill - with special dedication *

It was the fall of the year when you came.
You with the smile and the so simple name.
I was so fond of those cute little eyes.
Love at first sight, we were so mesmerized.

I'd hear you speak and you'd hear me laugh.
Sunshine and joy was the key to our path.

It was the fall of the year when you left.
Life seemed to crawl in my days of bereft.
Days turned to years, yet I still hear you sing.
Fly in the heavens, sweet bird on the wing.

A tiny life:

Bill was a 'rescue bird' I acquired when he was 15 years old. He had always been caged. His wings were fully grown and yet he made no effort to fly, ever. In fact I'm not sure if he ever had flown. I'm not sure if he even knew that he could have flown very far away. He had always been in that cage... in a closet.

When we met we both had yellow hair - his natural - mine dyed. We were drawn to each other like magnets. (It was that way for four beautiful years.) It took three months to get him to come out of that cage. After that he was never caged again. I let him go in and out as he pleased. He would sit on top of his cage and greet me whenever I walked into the bedroom he shared with my two small budgies - Casper and Candy. They were my children. They learned to love Bill and he loved them. They would jump from rooftop to rooftop... each had their own cage of a different color. It looked like Charleston, South Carolina with the area known for its rows of colorful houses.

In time Bill learned to speak complete sentences. It was like talking to a three year old human child. However, the very last word he learned was from my six year old niece. The word was - "sweet." She would say, "sweeeet," and he would answer back, "sweeeet." All of the birds loved "the niece"! So two days later when Bill passed, the hardest thing to do was to tell the niece. She came for the funeral, and then played with Casper and Candy. Ironically I found strength watching her comfort them.

As I travel from blog to blog I am often at a loss of what to say to others who have lost a pet - a family member - a treasure - a tiny life. It takes grieving. It takes time. If that tiny life meant anything - it is worth the grieving to recapture the joy that will return. It will return... because you will realize you were part of something amazing. You were part of their tiny life.

* Special dedication to Janie and Franklin

Celebrate the Small Things for November 14, 2014

Today I'm celebrating four things:

1) Meeting lots of new bloggers through this bloghop!
2) Posting a poem that had a freeing affect on my heart.
    (Titled: "Smiling" - post date 11-12-14)
3) The Blue birds returning for the Fall and Winter seasons.

4) A sweet deal on a roasting pan - $4.99 - from the Goodwill store!
     (Online $189.00)

This post is part of VikLit's blog hop, Celebrate the Small Things. To be part of this blog hop, all you have to do is follow the link and put your name on the Mr.Linky list, and then be sure to post every Friday about something you're grateful  for that week.  It can be about writing or family or school or general life.  This is the funnest and easiest blog hop ever!

VikLit - Scribblings of an Aspiring Writer

Thursday Wrap: Sorry Airport!

Teddy is so disappointed. Yucky weather has us hanging out at home. It's cold and we're expecting rain. Oh no!

We need the rain so the airplanes will have to land without us watching this week.

Teddy thinks we should watch music videos. So here you are - from Teddy with love! 

Rain Song - Robert Plant and Jimmy Page

Frank Sinatra - Come Fly with Me

Fly to London - Children's video

The Rain Song - Children's video

Airplanes in my dreams...

Smiling

In the morning cold I saw him on the bench.
His clothes were slightly tattered, his hands were tightly clinched.
I wondered if  he'd eaten, and stopped to ask him so.
He looked at me through painful eyes and softly answered, no.

My work bag felt quite heavy and I knew what I must do.
Inside a smallish thermal box lay some cornbread and some stew.
For moments that I struggled he hung his head quite low.
The wind was blowing harder and I feared that it might snow.

The thermal box I placed beside him on the bench.
Was not enough to satisfy my heart strings that were wrenched.
I gave him gloves, my favorite scarf, and money for his pocket.
He looked at me through tears and handed me a locket.

The woman was quite lovely and might have been his wife.
And now upon this bench he sat, no longer loving life.
But then he stood and took my hand and said he'd be okay.
Into the morning cold he walked, and I watched him walk away -

Smiling.

Glorious Wildlife and the Donation

Very soon they will coming down the path from yon gazebo - my gazebo. Mine, mine, mine, you little rat face critters! I will, I will, I will have it all!!! (sigh)Let us begin at the beginning.

In my back yard is a gazebo often the sight of happy gatherings and when possible, the family would run off the chipmunks and meet out there too. Yes the little cuties have homesteaded for many years. (Cuties I say reluctantly.) They are also very clever and devious in their pursuit of eating whatever they can find. My gazebo is a war zone of nut shells and corn husks.

Beware! This year they were especially devious and dangerous. Why would I say this, you ask? (Go ahead, I know you're thinking that.) Look at the holes they dug in the front yard. They make these tunnels that crisscross and heaven help me when I try to mow the yard. Step in one of those and ouch! There's no stopping them - no catching them. I tried and got pelted with empty hickory nuts shells from my patio wall.

Every day it's the same old thing. They drag whatever it is they're eating to the gazebo. I have no clue where the almonds came from - I don't have an almond tree. I suspect they shop elsewhere.

Today I received one of those, "Save the Critters," postcard mailings. Of course the photo is a of a chipmunk. Of course it is cute. Donations go to support national wildlife... (who remind me that I am taking up a lot of land by myself. The least I could do is mail them a check, and so I did.)

Later in the afternoon, thinking to make peace with the chipmunks, I traveled down the path to my gazebo. I left a bowl of sunflowers seeds hoping to make a connection of sorts. An hour later there was a scratching at my door and a postcard left in the screen's edge. It was then that I noticed tiny bits of paper blowing on the patio... "pay to the order of...." what?

Clever and devious...

Just for fun!

Just for Melissa Ann   at   My Creatively Random Life

Modern conversation

Someone is getting really certain of what she wants (I know)...
and doesn't want to put up with (I know)...
and time is moving on (I know).

You know? (I know) You know what? (I know).

Is it me or is it disturbing when the only answer from a friend is - I know? (I know).

Then the fabulous option of replying -  I see. (I see).

Which leads me to the all-knowing, all-seeing response: (I understand).

But lately this type of response has been okay with me. (I know)
How do you know? (I know you).

Wait, that's three words in a response... wow... that makes me happy. (I see) You see? (I see you're happy.)

Oh, four words and I am feeling freed by your support and feedback. (I know you understand.)
How do you know? (I know. I see. I finally understand. And you?)

The sound of crickets

Let's do lunch again soon. (When?) You'll know. (I see)

A breath of love

You are wisdom - she whispered to the bird.
He not understanding a single word -
blinked his eyes and turned his head.
Feeling the warmth of her breath meant love.

I have your smile!

In Autumn I see you everywhere -
stepping through leaves of red and gold -
How many times have we walked this place -
this home we shared - how many days
since you've been gone?

The day you gave birth to me
is two weeks away -
I am often amazed that I am here
and not you - without you - yet -
In Autumn I see you everywhere.

It makes me smile -
you always made me smile -
I look in the mirror
and I can smile -
I have your smile!

Celebrate the Small Things - perfect roast!

This is Blog Hop November 7, 2014. This is what I am celebrating:

My renewed interest in cooking produced a roast that was beautiful to look at, and very tasty - finally!

"Celebrate the Small Things" is a weekly bloghop hosted by Viklit over at "Scribblings of an Aspiring Author. The idea is to post anything you want to celebrate from the last week. You will also find complete instructions and rules there, should you want to participate!

Celebrate the Small Things

Viklit's blog : Scribblings of an Aspiring Author

Linky List: Join us!

Wrapping up the week - it's going to be cold!

The airport overlook is going to be filled with lots of blanketed people. Yep, nether rain, sleet, snow, whatever - they'll be there. Friday nights are still the best for plane watching. Time change doesn't seem to affect the following mass. I expect the lady with the grill roasting marshmallows will return. She's threatened to bring chocolate and graham crackers - yum - can you say s'mores? (I'm surprised I could spell it.) After last week's sale of 175 roasted marshmallows, can you blame her? It's a living.

Wrap up well if you're experiencing cold weather. If not - get the heck off of my blog! (smile) I'm doing insulated everything and trying to be cheerful when the commode seat is the only thing I haven't wrapped... yet. (I just know there's a way.) I'll entertain suggestions - please keep it clean!

As usual - have a great Thursday. If my fingers don't get frost bitten I'll be back to do "Celebrate the small things" bloghop on Friday. (That could be one of the things to celebrate - surviving fingers.)

Don't forget those commode wrap suggestions. I'm not going to hold it but I'll be waiting. That's a wrap!

You know - I'm all about that baste, 'bout that baste - no stuffing

I simply could not help myself. I heard this song and thought, "My stars, it's all about the baste." Being a bit older than the young woman singing her song, I have no idea what she's talking about... "I'm all about that bass, 'bout that bass - no treble?" For me it morphed into a cooking method for the coveted turkey. You know the ones who get slammed, crammed, and jammed every November?  Not for me! I am all about that baste, 'bout that baste - no stuffing!

Why? (I know you're sitting there wondering why, aren't you?) Every year for the last twenty years I have attended family Thanksgivings away from my home. They patronize me with just enough leftovers for 24 hours. It's a crime. Not only that but they all stuff the bird. If you're going to make a deposit please allow it to be accepted before you post against it!

It's been a hard lesson to NOT eat the stuffing no matter how yummy it smells. I simply beg off with some excuse about caloric counts. (You smile? Ha, but if you saw those twenty something birds you'd be  in agreement with me. "Sorry, sorry, I know I only weight 140 lbs. but my goal is 120. Yes it's a lie. So is the 140, but let's continue.)

Wonderful juices begin from the depths of my roasting turkey; I baste him until he screams! We spend hours together frolicking in the kitchen, sharing dreams of casseroles yet to be concocted. And the hot bread with creamy butter takes me to heights I only climb this time of year. Do "they" know I cook for a late day Thanksgiving? Shh - please - they will never know. It's all I can do to contain my excitement knowing the German chocolate cake is waiting. (Let them eat cake - their own cake!)

Just for giggles... here's Meghan Trainor singing her version. Mine will be out on Thanksgiving Day!!
You go girl!

Loki's back - Game on!

We all have battles. Daily. Big issues. Small issues. Or maybe we're listening to a friend's struggle. Then there are the blogs. Blogpals. We develop some amazing relationships just by being present in their world. Their blogworlds. Most we'll never meet. It doesn't stop us from cheering them on. When one is missing you know. You go back and forth to their blogworld hoping your feed didn't miss a recent post. Illness or some other event keeps them from posting. But one day you look at your reading lists - and viola - your missing blogpal is back!

Loki's back!!! 

My blogpal Loki is on the mend. I got my first exposure to war gaming through his site. Mind you I'm not into gaming; I'm into all the little figures that he paints. And the game boards are amazing! My first love is painting on canvas, but he's got things three D, and that gets exciting. That's close enough to my second love which is crafting. But we are worlds apart between his figures and game boards, and my door wreaths and painting clay pots. Just the same it's great fun to see what others create and share about their lives.

Some call their treasure a hobby, while others have made it a business venture. Blogpal Loki does sell things at various gaming events, suitable for that venue, but oftentimes he gives us a piece of his treasure. I'm sharing this because I love the flags and banners he's decided to share! One design lends itself to a 5 foot vertical canvas I want to paint as a wall hanging. Another one is a great dragon - which would look snazzy over the fireplace!!!

Loki is doing that "Napoleonic" thing - gamers know - I'm too inexperienced to describe it. However I'm also the history buff and here's a link if you want to know about Napoleon's march into Russia! Or go there, copy the link and save it for a rainy day. The guy's explanation is fantastic. It's also part of a series of Napoleon's adventures - if you're into that. 

Khan Academy - Napoleon & French invade Russia

You could check out how to make game boards here:

Designing Game Boards

If not, my final offer is a song from Coldplay which some happy YouTuber dedicated to Napoleon; get ready to rock!

Coldplay - Viva La Vida

Welcome back Andrew! I know Francis and all the guys/gals have missed you! I'm thinking to make a little regiment of dc's... marching across the blogworld. Oh and maybe one little figure for each of my blogpals... wouldn't that be a hoot? Then it will be game on! "BLOGWORLD" - the game to write home about.

November Moon

I'm clinging to the sliver of the most inviting thing.
It lifts me high and makes me smile with wishes so serene.
And lest I be caught sleeping when you make an early round,
I hope that I'll dreaming of another night in town.

Welcome tough exterior

Geez, it's only November and the cold has been, well, cold. My thermostat peers back at me as if to say: "What's the problem? Crank me up! You know you want to, don't you?"

In lieu of becoming an icicle I would but until that point in time comes, I'm content to wear a home sweater of immense warming qualities. That and the utility companies just love to make me sweat - every winter! But, and aha(!) though they have the power, I control the knob. Back you vicious power companies!

What's up with the bat above? (You did wonder, right?) He's been calcified.  A crazy lake in Africa calcifies everything that comes near it. I'm not going into details. A Smithsonian article* describes it and shows more photos of animals caught in the trap. Now - doesn't that sound like the utility company strategy? Come closer - closer - charge!

I could have it as bad as that bat. Be it calcified or icicled... it's still a tough exterior to weather. Oh wait! He's dead but I'll be getting a bill soon. Let's hope by January it doesn't kill me too. If it does will the Smithsonian produce an article showing my frozen carcass? Let's seriously support that notion. Until then I suppose I should be as peaceful as a dove.

And for the non-reader... It is all about power! Mu-hu ha ha ha!


* Smithsonian Article with photographs

Falling back to normalcy

Wow! The first twenty-four hours of November came in like a lion. (Wait! isn't that a saying associated with the month of March?) A strange nor'easter came in and we don't get those here. The wind blew my yard furniture into my neighbor's yard. I know she really likes those Adirondack chairs... did the wind really...? Of course it did.

Here I sit typing away and thinking: if I post this a little after midnight, will the two  o' clock time change throw it back into a November 1st post? Must I be bothered by such a trivial question? Well that's actually two questions. Okay I'm tired of thinking. 

So we're falling back again. Another year of being convinced that this is the real normalcy. We really will be in actual time-time - you see. What was once considered good for the farmers has proved to be even better for the golfers. It is a billion dollar business. Never mind that most farms are closed down due to high taxes, stiff corporate competition, and regulations of what can and cannot be grown. (Rant over) Fore!

What to do with all those leaves? They are piling higher by the hour. Ooh, I found a blog talking about fashion. You glue the leaves to a t-shirt, and viola... forget taking out the blower. I'm doing this! 

Thanks for stopping by. I'll be getting back to my home makeover. Here, have a look for yourself.

Love my home!

Lull

The leaves are down from a late night storm.
It rained, it thundered, and flashes of lightning crossed the sky.
I hunkered down in my bed, quite warm.
The downy top, the sleep nonstop, the windchimes' lullaby.

Celebrate: Winterizing

The days are cooler - the nights are longer - winter is on the way.
So I'm celebrating these things:

1 - All the winter curtains are hung.

2 - All the YouTube "do-it-yourself" videos have been watched. Yay ! (I hope I know what I'm doing.)

3 - I've got a list of supplies to get to help tighten up the cracks and crevices. (I really hope I know what I'm doing.)

It's Celebrate the Small Things - Friday Blog Hop!!

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqxKf3Ku13cISuqubLFEatoljs8UY-enXbKeKJsSa8vclYgL63d8nkFFPdHMeRQJ6xRg8f0KQeXvbshLm7ngmu4BgopaML5csWr29a7i83wROhpYONWZjifdZlOYiJCjctbUv-SpaNxNNF/s1600/vik+-+small+things+2.jpg

I still don't know how to post all the links - oops!

This year's Halloween costume

Wrapping up the week - bye bye October!

As a child trick or treating was the best thing. I wanted one more street to cruise. Please let me stay out longer! The community swimming pool  handed out Bazooka bubble gum every year. There wasn't anything at church - that was sacrilege, still. It was a common thing to use pillow cases to collect the haul - and that what it was. Every house on every street was ready. My parents waited at home to go through the goodies - not for safety reasons - my Mom loved chocolate and claimed it wasn't good for children to get too much. Thanks Mom!

Now days - a different story. What makes people think of all the devious ways to harm children? I call it blatant evil. It's just a play night. It's just candy. They're children. Stop harming them!

As you know Friday finds me watching airplanes land in my small, wannabe big town. There will be lots of children all dressed up - yes! It's great fun and it's safe. The airport overlook will be rocking this Friday. I hope I have enough bubble gum!

Meanwhile for those who wish - Friday is the "Celebrate the small things" bloghop. I'll be checking out what everyone is celebrating. Hopefully I will figure out how to post the linky tool this week(sigh). It helps you hop from blog to blog. We'll see.

Have a great weekend.

A Favorite

When I was seventeen my Mom gave me a copy of Kahlil Gibran's book, The Prophet.  She had to really. It seemed the only way she'd ever get her copy back. I devoured that book. Still today when I sit down with it there's something that speaks to me. It's always new, always fresh, and this is what I'd like to share with you today.

The veil that clouds your eyes shall be
lifted by the hands that wove it,
And the clay that fills your ears shall be
pierced by those fingers that kneaded it.

And you shall see.
And you shall hear.
Yet you shall not deplore having known
blindness, nor regret having been deaf.

For in that day you shall know the hidden
purposes in all things,
And you shall bless darkness as you
would bless light.

~ Kahlil Gibran

Do you have a favorite author?

A Corny Tale

It happened one Hallows Eve.  The wind was up, the stars twinkled, and the moon was a gold-ish orange. Along a forest path traveled three rather corny fellas. They were on their way to the store to purchase candy. One spoke to the the other two, "I don't know how we forgot to buy candy." The other two laughed as they continued the walk to town.

By and by noticing that children were following them, one spoke, " You know, they say we look just like candy corn?"  The other two laughed and laughed, and they continue walking along. When they arrived at the store one went in while the others stayed outside. The children began taunting them, acting as if they might take a bite out of them. The two were a bit shaken, but just in time the one came from the store and they hurried along.

Once at home they divided the candy into individual bags, snickering and giggling as they did. Pretty soon the doorbell rang, and as one opened the door the children screamed, "Trick or treat!" The three stood there beaming ready for the big give away.  "Oh look!" screamed one child, "It's the candy corn men. I hear they taste very good. Let's catch one and eat him."

Immediately the one fella yelled at the other two, "Hurry, throw the bags now!" Bags of candy went flying out the door, some hitting children, some hitting the ground, but one bag was caught by the trick or treat leader. Then the three fellas slammed the door.

The children were laughing hysterically, jumping up and down, singing, dancing, and then... their leader spoke, "Hey look at the bag you're holding!!" One by one each peered at the label which read, "Candy Children - taste great!" "Ahhhhh, " they all screamed, threw down their bags, and ran from the forest.

The three fellas opened the door and gathered the left behind bags. The one spoke, "That was easy. Come on, let's take our treats and go watch a movie."

Really? You read the post title, "A Corny Tale", and expected what? A treat?

Automatic

I'm one of those people who hear can a word and a song comes to mind. I was over at Robin's blog, Your Daily Dose, where she had posted a musical video titled, "Automatic." Hmm? Automatic. No song came to mind; instead I thought back to the days of my Dad's old truck. It was a straight drive - three speed shift on the column... nothing about that old truck was automatic. However the song was now going to be attached to that word forever.

I wasn't a rebel teen but I was always in a hurry.  You couldn't speed shift in the that old Chevy. The shift rod would hang up and you'd be on the side of the road for a minute or two.  If my Dad told me told once, he told a thousand times, "Dixie, no speed shifting." But once in a while he'd see me sitting on the side of the road, waiting to jump out and jiggle the shift rod. You had to  put it in neutral, shut off the truck, pull the parking brake, pop the hood, jiggle the rod, and then climb in and crank that bad boy up. Dad would flash a big old smile, toot the horn, wave, and head on down the road... the whole time he'd be shaking his head. He knew I wasn't a rebel teen but I always in hurry.

In dedication to my Dad : October 28, 1930 - October 14, 2010. He'd be 84 this week!

Here you go...
Miranda Lambert, Automatic

Thanks Robin!
Your Daily Dose

Look - No Tears

I will always hear the train,
the tracks abandoned long ago.
And the day you said goodbye
was the day I let you go.

Off you went into the mist,
and the leaves began to change.
It's as if the world sped up
with desire to rearrange.

Celebrate the Small Things - Bloghop Friday!

Today I am celebrating the final step to owning my home - the one I inherited from my parents. What a challenge to make all the technical stuff line up with their wishes for me. The closing is next!! No, not necessarily a small thing, but it is the one thing I am so happy about because it is coming to the end. Thanks Mom & Dad!!!

This post is part of VikLit's blog hop, Celebrate the Small Things. To be part of this blog hop, all you have to do is follow the link and put your name on the Mr.Linky list, and then be sure to post every Friday about something you're grateful  for that week.  It can be about writing or family or school or general life.  This is the funnest and easiest blog hop ever! 

Celebrate the Small Things - Bloghop Fridays

Your basic - Blue Hollow Nightmare

You enticed me blue hollow.
You bade me to follow.
I followed
and fumbled,
and now left to wallow.

In the trees I heard a cry.
Not a wail of a sigh.
Not a moan
or a groan,
but a voice pleading, why?

Whispers and chains do rattle.
Thoughts in my head do battle.
I will flee
far from thee,
let that spider eat cattle.

Tada.

A Halting Tale

Fred and his little brother Roger were eager for the joys of Halloween. Today would be their third and final trip into the woods to secure shrooms, nuts, and special leaves. Then off to trade them at the gift shop for the oh-so-coveted Halloween costumes. Indeed a glorious day awaited. (uh-huh)

Roger's scream echoed through the woods, "Fred, oh my, Fred, come see this shroom!!" Fred rolled his eyes as he often did, at his little brother's exaggerated excitement.

Fred jumped back horrified, staring at a THREE foot shroom. Goodness! Roger had a good reason to scream this time. "That's the ugliest shroom I've ever seen, " said Fred.

"Who's an ugly shroom?" replied the shroom. This time Fred screamed. Roger who turned to run tripped on a large tree root, halting his departure. He lay upon the ground arms flailing wildly unable to speak.

"Well, you are! " yelled Fred. Sure he was a bit frightened, but what the heck it was after all just a member of the mushroom family.

Zip-bang-zowie! and the shroom became a lovely little girl. Fred fell back and felt a tinge of overwhelming love for this 'beautimous' creature. Roger who still lay on the ground thought, uh-oh, this is going to be complicated.

"There are so many more treasures to be found in these woods, my woods," said the lovely little shroom, er, girl. "Follow me through that yonder golden light, and I'll show you." Her eyes did that 'batting' thing and Fred was fast upon her heels.

Roger lay on the pile of leaves watching as the girl shroom and brother Fred disappeared into the golden light, "I ain't going; you can't make me!" But the older boy and lovely shroom had already gone beyond Roger's hearing.

The morning of Halloween came, and still Fred was missing. Many searched the woods daily, to no avail. It was then that Roger realized he had a lot of coins from their "trade-ins," and could upgrade(!) his choice of costume. For the first time he hoped they'd find Fred AFTER Halloween. (uh-huh)

The shop was jammed-packed. Many had waited for the last shipment of new stuff before making a final choice. Roger walked up to a wall that displayed a sign: "Magic Manipulating Potions"... "limit three items for all the stuff you collected in the woods... or equivalent coinage, Roger." (Did the wall know his name? No, the manager is also named 'Roger'. Nice try.)

But Roger, our Roger, thought: This might actually be better than a costume. Just think, a magic potion to make the candy store clerk give you all the candy?!! A magic potion to make the bank teller give you all her one dollar bills! And third, a magic potion to make Roger a hero, finding his brother and bringing him home! A huge parade would of course be given in his honor! All the town's kids would give him their Halloween treats... Roger's imagination was endless. "YES SIR, I want to buy the three magic potions!!!"

"Are you sure?" asked the store manager, Roger. He saw the devilish little smile on the small boy's face. Oh yes, he was sure, alright.

Roger was so happy and went home to make a plan. How was it that he heard Fred calling his name? The voice got louder and louder! What in the world, wasn't Fred lost? Had he been found already? No parade for Roger - what?? It was then that Roger awoke from a very sound dream... a halting dream. No magic potions were on his small desk. He'd merely been asleep. Now it was morning and Fred stood over him, calling him awake.

"Come on little brother. Today I need your help on my science project. I can't let that silly Nelly win the prize. She has won for the last two years. So get up. Help me decide what to do for my science project this year."

Roger's deflation of excitement had taxed him so quickly upon awakening. Here was Fred alive, and he Roger hating it. What? Science project? Oh yes... yes... science project. "I know just the thing Fred! Let's go to the woods and collect shrooms. You can analyze them and tell all about their life cycles and such stuff, right?!" Across Roger's face came a devilish smile. Yes... the science project... so there might still be a chance to make a large Halloween haul after all. And still be the brother-finding hero... YES! he ROGER would see it all come true!!! "Muhu-ha-ha-ha!"

"What did you say Roger?" asked Fred.

Home

Charlotte, North Carolina - home. There's no credit for the image but wow what a shot!

I love to paint and wouldn't this be a trick and a treat? Wouldn't be the first time I've tackled that skyline. What I love the most is the sky and rising sun. Incredible how the light plays off the dark, and the deep blues compliment the yellows and golds. Of course I see all the purple and lavender and the complimentary orange. Could be a project yet; I'll let you know.

Some days are just...

Some days are just lazy. They show up, you have plans but somehow you push them away. The light pulls you outside, like it did me. The breeze begins talking and whatever it's saying you have to listen really hard, but you're feeling lazy, like I did today. It started out as simple as looking out the window. Watching the trees sway back and forth, back and forth... what I wouldn't give to be outside. While the days are still warm you want to grab every bit of cool gentleness that you can. So you go, like I did. All of that stuff, those plans that had to be can wait. Some days are just lazy.