If you could be a child for one day....

Blog Prompt: If you could be child for one day, how old would you be and what would you do?

I would be six again, or seven, and go fishing with my Poppy at Miss Emmy's pond.

I'd go dig for worms in the hours before, and ride with him in his big green Ford to the baitshop to get crickets and minnows, just in case the worms weren't good enough.

We'd stop on the way home, in SOMEBODY'S corn field, and play some hide and seek. I'd scream when I saw a banana spider, then we'd steal a few ears and leave.

I'd wobble with the 6 foot tall high-tech fishing pole he'd bought 'just for me'---the glossy, dark green and black fishing pole that he suffered a tongue-lashing from my Mammy for, when she found out how much he paid for it (well, them....he had to have one too...).

Once we got there, I'd giggle when he cursed and proclaimed that he forgot the bait and left it at the house. I'd squeal when he came back with a snake wriggling in his hands, and cringe when I had to bait my own hook with a chunk of newly slain snake. (Yes, it works.)

I'd listen to his stories about when he was a little boy, and when Mammy burnt the schoolhouse down.

I'd throw my pole down, and just pull the line in with my hands, while he shouted encouragement in the background. (That pole was WAY too big for me, after all.)
Once I reeled the fish in, I'd be very, very proud, because I would have just caught THE BIGGEST fish EVER, no, it really IS, doesn't matter if it looks smaller that the other ones in the bucket. And I wouldn't have to take the fish off the hook, because they 'fin' you. And, well, finning hurts.

Then, in the twilight, I'd eat my fish dinner with my grandparents, maybe having some fried green tomatoes and corn on the cob with it. Afterwards, I'd sit with Mammy and break green beans, or shuck corn, (from our own corn field, which was probably missing a few ears because someone decided they wanted some on the way home from somewhere) for canning and blanching the next day.

Later in the night, a bad thunderstorm would blow in, and my grandparents would come over to our large farmhouse. Momma and Mammy would sit in the dining room, scared of the storm, and have coffee. Poppy and Daddy and I would be outside on the front porch swing, watching. I would fall asleep stretched out in their laps in a soft blanket.....and dream sweet dreams.

I wish I could learn....Because....

Blog Prompt: I wish I could learn..... because.....


There are just tons of things that I wish I could learn. I think the things that I wish for the most are to be able to learn things that will keep me independent, and ways to keep my family safe, and happy. Ways to have plenty in the bank for retirement....ways to keep the car from breaking down...ways to stay safe, and sheltered, without getting spoiled. (While we are wishing, let's throw in, ways to stay looking and feeling 25 forever!)

Other than that, I wish I could learn about history, and web design, quite simply, because I love the stuff. Or ways to draw better, ways to make money doing the things I love to do. I would love to learn to play the guitar, but God would have to make my fingers grow some, first, and give me at least an ounce of musical talent. (I don't sweat this.)

I wish my DOCTORS would learn how to make my head and neck quit hurting. Because....I hurt all the damn time. (We are on 3 years & counting! Whooohoo for them!)

I would love to learn how to learn by osmosis....at least for the dry stuff I need to learn.

I HAVE learned that you should not ever pray to God for patience. He works in mysterious ways. Go ahead---pray for it. He does not send it down from the heavens in a box with a pretty pink bow. You LEARN it, the hard way, by enduring nasty people, traffic jams, and dead mouses in the walls!

Memorial Day

DSP Blog Prompt: How does your city celebrate this day or do you do anything special? Do you know anyone who has served in the military? If so, let us know so that we can honor all of those who serve their country.

My city doesn't do anything special for Memorial Day. Most businesses do not shut down but I personally, at the moment, am lucky enough to get the holiday off.

I know several people that have served in the military. They don't talk much about it. I have been fortunate enough to hear some old war stories, first hand, from a soldier who fought on the front lines in Normandy and elsewhere in WWII. I believe the stories were told in confidence to our family at the time, so I will not repeat them here. But I will say that if ANYONE deserves the respect of the world...it is a soldier!!!!

Faery Twins

Here is yet another faery layout. I can't believe how big my twinnies are getting!

SNL kit May 2007

My Saturday Night Live Digital scrapbook designs for May. I went totally off the wall with our supplied color swatches and did all faeries!

DSP Blog Prompt 5/16/07

Blog Prompt: List the 5 things that annoy you the most. If you are like me, this can change from day to day, but tell me the recent annoyances that have just gotten on your nerves.

1. Rude Customers---whether you are my customer or not.
Given my line of work, which I don't usually talk about, I have to say, people who expect something for nothing. If your item is five years old, it's used. Period. Warranties DO apply. Service technicians do get sick, have babies, and heart attacks, so sometimes they haveto change thier appointments. And sometimes, just sometimes, when you get a service rep on the other end, maybe we really ARE trying to help, so just be nice. When I am out, as a customer to another business, I can't stand to see someone acting like a moron to the hired help. Most of the time (although I agree, there are circumstances that warrant a fit), but, most of the time, all that caterwauling just isn't neccessary.

2. People in General
Thinking about this for a moment has just opened a floodgate of annoyances. It all ties into people and how they act. There's far more than 5 things to list, so I'll go with these, to start:

Snobby attitudes -- Last time I checked, EVERYONE'S undies were made in such a manner that they all get put on the same way. Where would these people REALLY be if they didn't have dear hubby making their living for them, or Mommy paying their bills?

Materialistic tendencies ---so somebody's house is bigger than mine. Queen Elizabeth's 'house' (or palace) is bigger than theirs. They can get over it.

Bullying --Please--call a lawyer! I hope he's worth the four grand or so that will be spent
getting a point across.

Road rage--I'm not sure about the rest of you, but stomping, horn-honking, finger-waving, and screaming idiots behind me just make me want to go even slower, even if the car directly in front of me does decide to finally speed up.

Liars --The be-all, end-all of annoyances. I absolutely cannot stand to be lied to.


3. Crooked politicians and the health care system
I don't feel that I need to elaborate on this one....it speaks for itself.

4. The person or persons responsible for the extinction of the good, old-fashioned 'arse-whoopin'
I know everyone knows at least one person who would be put in their place should they be dealt a good swift kick in the pants every now and again..........

5. Having to go somewhere at the end of the day
That wasn't planned, or anything that cuts into family time.

DSP Blog Prompt 5/8/07

Blog Prompt: What makes you feel safe?

Oddly enough, a kicking summer thunderstorm. Lots and LOTS of thunder!!
The sound of the ocean or water
A hug and a snuggle for Steve and/or the kids
Coffee or hot tea, blanket, a book or hand-held craft project, choclate, and muted lighting
Snuggling in soft thick covers in the dark
My big brother
All the children laughing at once

DSP Blog Prompt 5/7/07

Blog Prompt: What do you think about ghosts?

I know plenty of people who believe in them. I have had some strange experiences but I can't say I have out and out full fledged come face to face with a spectre of the highly publicized translucent white, neither benign or malignant. What messes with me the most are my dreams. My sister has dreams like this, too. I would really like to see a ghost, preferably one benign.

Perhaps the most disturbing experience I have had was when I had first split up with my husband. When I rented a house, a friend of mine was going to help me move some things in. When getting directions, he got rather white and said "Um, you can't move there. That place is haunted." And proceeded to tell me about a woman named Susan who supposedly haunted my new house. He had known people who lived there before, evidently. So, fine, I arranged for other help. Poor Lon was so spooked that he never came to see me. Now I think is a perfect time to mention that I never ever said anything about Susan or a ghost to my children. The twins were about 4 years old at the time.

Not long after we were living there, Ro got up from bed one night and said, "Mommy, I can't sleep. That lady won't go away."

What?!

So I go into their bedroom, and for the life of me I can't see a thing. I turn the light on. Nothing.
"Ro, honey, there's no lady in here."
"Ya huh. She's in the corner. See her?" Ro asks.
Then Nicole interjects with, "Her eyes are black."
"Nic, you see her too?"
"Yea. She's right there gosh Mommy!"
"What's she wearing?"
"White stuff! Since you can't see her can we just sleep with you?"
So the twins curl into bed with me, and right before I turn the light out, Rowan says, "Nicole look! There she is again! In the fan light."

That creeped me out so bad that I got them dressed, got my son dressed, and flew, past midnight, to my friend Bryan's house. I got him up, out of bed, and made him come spend the rest of the night at our house on the sofa! But after that, in the year we lived in that rented house, we never saw anything else of our lady ghost with big black eyes. But Bryan and Lonnie never let me live down my horrible lapse of courage that one night.

DSP Blog Prompt 5/3/07

Blog Prompt: You have heard that the President and his wife of an obscure country is coming to visit and picked you (and your family if you want) to have dinner with. You can decide to cook for them or order in or take them out. What 5 dishes would you want them to taste? They can be any part of a meal (appetizers, main dish, vegetables, salads, desserts) or all of one type (all desserts for example).

I belive I would decide to cook for them, and give them a taste of authentic hillbilly cookin'-- just like Mammy used to do. I'd make them:

Homemade biscuits:

2 parts self rising flour
1 part shortening
1 part milk
(The only time Mammy ever measured when cooking was when she was doing an intricate candy such as peanut brittle or divinity. She is the one who taught me to cook, and I do not measure most of the time, either.)

Wilted Lettuce:

Fry bacon and prepare white beans. White beans can be canned, if neccessary, but Mammy always used leftover white beans from a pan of ham hock and white beans cooked the day before. Also cut up green onion stalks in small pieces.

Take fresh washed and dried green leaf lettuce (not iceberg) and lay in 4 or 5 layers.

Heat leftover bacon grease to very, very hot, and sparingly drizzle it over lettuce. You will hear a crisp crackling sound.

Scatter white beans on top, then layer green onions and bacon cut into very small bits. (No processed bacon bits!)


Venison

Cut fresh venison (crossgrain) into small bite size cubes or pieces. Toss lightly in flour. Fry in 5 or 6 tables spoons of olive oil and several teaspoons chooped onions. Add fresh cooked bacon slices into mix when complete.

Fried Green Tomatoes

Prepare a separate bowl of eggs and a heavy dash of milk, beat well.

Cut slices of green tomatoes about 1/4 inch thick. Dunk each slice in egg mixture, then in yellow corn meal. Fry in oil.

Rhubarb Pie

This is so hard to make, Mammy's way, I'm not even going to post it.

But nobody likes stuff like this to me, so they would probably turn their nose up at it. And these days, it's considered heart attack on a plate, but just every once in awhile I can't resist it! To me, it's a meal fit for a king.

DSP Blog Prompt 5/1/07

Blog Prompt: You won the travel lotto! You will get an all expense paid trip for you and your family to 5 places anywhere in the world. List the 5 "Must See" places in the world you would go see.


Well, let's see.......there are 5 of us, so I would let everyone pick a place. Unfortunately, that would leave me with just one!!! Where would I go?? Probably to Australia on New Year's Eve. They have, of course, the biggest fireworks show on Earth then.


After that, should someone forfiet (sp?) thier choice, I would say to England, Scotland, Ireland, and Romania. Oh, and Italy, all over. Greece. And Alexandria, Egypt, and then to the Pyramids.... all to see what I could learn about their rich history.

Weren't we supposed to stop at 5?