WWC#48: Bittersweet

This week’s words are BITTER and SWEET.

Bitter medicine

 

I suppose that no child enjoys taking medicine, but H-J especially hates it.  We’ve been known to have to hold him down, screaming in order to get what-the-doctor-ordered into his system.  It’s unpleasant (although I do confess that I have been known to laugh at the ridiculousness of it all). 
While the manufacturers try to make it sound good, that cherry flavoring (or grape, or orange, or bubble gum, or whatever) just can’t quite disguise the BITTER taste of the medicine. 

sweet

 

Now if they ever figure out how to disguise antibiotics in these SWEET morsels*? 
Cha-ching!  (I think someone should pay me for this idea)

*disclaimer to EB:  I did not open these.  I only took their picture!  The package is still intact and in your drawer.  love, Mom

SWEET!! my kitchen wall

 

SWEET is my newly-painted kitchen walls.  Goodbye, ivy wallpaper! 

more sweetness

 

Also SWEET is my newly-painted dining room.  What was once pink is now a sage green (officially?  “Nantucket Gray”).

 

 

 

 

But sadly, I just realized that I was using the word SWEET just like this guy:

 

 

I am having a bittersweet afternoon.  SuperDad and the boys have gone rafting on the river, and I am left here to paint the trim in SnakeMaster’s room.  I am glad to be avoiding the heat outdoors and having some ALONE time (it has been a L-O-N-G summer).  On the other hand, rafting on the river on a hot August afternoon?  Am I crazy to be missing this? 

The Weekly Words Challenge is hosted by the very sweet Tink.  Click here for more details.

WWC#47: Scatter and Collect

For this week’s Weekly Words Challenge, the ever-creative Tink has given us the words SCATTER and COLLECT.

This is one of my favorite SCATTER shots from the archives:

SnakeMaster throwing leaves at Grandma

 

collecting hair

 

When the infamous summer haircuts were completed, someone (that would be me) had to COLLECT the mess.

 

modes of air transportation

 

a collection of airplanes

 

If you go to the National Air and Space Museum (or any other museum of flight, for that matter) you can view a vast collection of flying machines.

 

a place to collect library books

Just yesterday, I gathered up the SCATTERed library books and put them in the COLLECTion box.

 

 

 

 

Collect

 

scatter

My boys have each gone through a stage of childhood where they like to COLLECT rocks.  

rocks & shells

Who am I kidding, *I* still COLLECT rocks (and shells)!   

 

 

 

And here is one especially for Gary: 

purple house with scattered flowers

In my little town (population 600) there is a purple house!  While the owners may actually carefully plant all of these flowers, it looks to me like they SCATTER wildflower seeds to make an English garden.  It makes me smile whenever I drive past this house.

A moment in time

I can point to this moment as the turning point from boy to man, from indifference to “maybe beer isn’t such a bad thing.” 

MusicMan on tour

And all because of a really good-looking tour guide at the brewery.

WWC#46: HIGH and low

I think I’ve got summer malaise.  I’m having trouble getting into the Weekly Words Challenge.  Trust me, Tink gives us good words to work with!  It’s just… I dunno.  Maybe it’s the heat, or the humidity, or the fact that it’s August and the kids are on the computer all the time.  I’m also feeling pretty homesick for my home state.  While SnakeMaster & I were blessed to see many extended family members at the wedding 2 weeks ago, I haven’t seen one of my closest friends in over a year now.  ::sniff::  And whenever SuperDad & I look at pictures of the West (particularly the PacNW) we sigh and mentally climb into those pictures.  SnakeMaster keeps asking when we are going camping again. 
Yep, definitely a bit of summer malaise going on, coupled with homesickness. 

So today, I give you my lame submission –from the archives, no less!– for HIGH and low: 
{Click on any picture for a full-screen view} 

Chandelier in the WA Capitol Rotunda

 

This chandelier hangs HIGH in the Washington State Capitol Rotunda.  Isn’t it beautiful?

state seal

This is the WA state seal found down low on the Rotunda floor.  The floor is marble, the seal is done in gold leaf. 

 

The Space Needle

This picture has both HIGH and low:  Look up HIGH to the “head” of the Needle and you see the famous rotating restaurant and observation deck.  Look low on the Needle and see the newer restaurant level.  (OK, not all that new anymore, but to me?  It’s new.)  And look really low, at the bottom of the pic, and you can see my 4 boys standing there looking bored. 

turtle down low on the path

Even this picture is from the archives.  SuperDad and I saw this turtle when we were talking through a park.  He was well camoflauged!  

Yes, he is the same guy I put on my new header.  

As more proof of summer malaise, I tried to change things up a bit here and went for a new look.  I’m not sure I like it.  What do you think?  This one, the old one, or maybe something different?

Looking back at July

I finally figured out how to look at my stats (who’da-thunk-it?) and boy, are they WEIRD!!

July’s top searches (the ones that brought people to my blog)?  “Summer haircuts” and “horseshoe pits“

H-J's summer haircut, front view

back view of H-J's summer cut

SnakeMaster's modified version

When it comes to summer haircuts… Uh, folks?  Are you sure you want your kids to look like this???  In the varied wording of the searches altogether, there were 88 of ‘em.   I wonder what SuperDad will think when I tell him that!?!

 

the INternet-FAMOUS horseshoe pit

 
I  do admit that SuperDad did a good job on the horseshoe pits.  He is kind and doesn’t make fun of my unpredictable games.  For me, it’s a lot like bowling; I’m either having a terrific string of luck, or I’m the worst player ever — hot or cold, but never lukewarm. 

BTW, 2 of the hits were for “horshoe pit” so apparently you don’t have to be good at spelling to find my blog!  I’m now thinking, it could have been MUCH, MUCH worse!!

 

And the weirdest search, IMHO? 
“crack computer” and “computer on crack“   
I have NO IDEA how that came up!!  
I do have some cartoons that crack me up, on a page of their own (look on sidebar, just above my flickr pics).  Good gravy, the things people search for! 

My Hh key is sticking something awful, so I’ve got to get that taken care of before it gets any worse.  I think someone dropped crumbs into the keyboard or something like that.   Update:  H-J’s popsicle drippings have been cleaned out of the keyboard.  He isn’t allowed back on until Tuesday. 

I’ll be back on Tuesday with the WWC for “high” and “low” — that ought to garner interesting searches!

Happy August everyone!  (Using peridot-colored wording, since that is the August birthstone — you’re welcome)

WWC#45: Permanently Temporary

The words this week are Temporary and Permanent. 
I am reminded of the lyrics to the RUSH song “Circumstances”

Plus ca change
Plus c’est la meme chose
The more that things change
The more they stay the same.

in a few years, this will be a distant memory

 

 

I look at my boys growing up so very fast, the oldest two becoming young men…and I know that it won’t be long before they are all grown and gone. 

 
Children are both temporary (they grow up and move out) and permanent (they never cease to be your children).

TEMPORARY message

 

 

 

 

Writing in snow (or sand) must be considered temporary literature. 

 

H-J with sparklers

 

 

 

 

Sparklers on the 4th of July give a temporary pleasure.

SM with sparklers

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

symbol of permanent commitment

 

 Youthful beauty is fleeting, temporary, and mostly in the eye of the beholder.  I almost didn’t use this picture of my aging hand.  My wedding ring could use a cleaning. 

Yet this picture shows a double meaning of permanent:  I don’t ever want to remove my wedding ring, and I don’t think it could be taken off if I tried!

 

 Bonus Pics from SnakeMaster’s Par-Tay:

Ready....set....

...GO!!!!

We told all the boys they had to be touching MusicMan before they started their Reptile Egg Hunt.  Poor MM…
At least it was only temporary!

 

SnakeMaster with his Snake Cake

 

And then there is the newest resident in Kcinnova’s World.  You will have to decide which word fits him! 

photo from Google Images…because “Spots” hasn’t decided to pose for me yet! 
Yes, SnakeMaster got a reptile for his birthday.  BUT NO SNAKES!!!!

 

Want to know more about the Weekly Words Challenge?  Visit Tink at Pickled Beef.

Happy Birthday!

SnakeMaster on his 8th birthday last year

Today is SnakeMaster’s 9th birthday.  Unlike last year, he hasn’t had a black snake climb up the wall of our porch to wish him a happy birthday, but we ARE planning a wildlife Par-Tay for Friday evening. 
Here are some special things about SM:

1. He is my “baby” - the youngest of 4 boys
2. He is a little bit shy
3. He is a great friend to others
4. He LOVES animals
5. Especially reptiles and snakes!!
6. He likes to watch Animal Planet
7. He says it is because he learns new information
8. This is also why he chooses books about animals and nature
9. His role models are Steve Irwin and Jeff Corwin

Snake!!

Happy 9th Birthday, SnakeMaster!

regrettably forgetful

You know how you always forget something when you go on vacation?  Okay, maybe YOU don’t…but I do! 
So guess what I forgot to pack in my bag this past weekend?

No big deal, right?  Just a big get-together with 17 members of the extended family, my nephew’s wedding, the first time holding my grandniece (who is exceedingly adorable), and the joy of watching SnakeMaster play with his cousins.

*sigh*  I’ll just have to wait for others to share their pictures. 
We sure did have fun (except for the unexpectedly long layover in Chicago), but I’m glad to be home again.

Nutrition

Occasionally, I come across some newsworthy items that I like to share with my bloggy friends.   The following is one such item.

 

Nutrition News: 

 

Q:  I’ve heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life; is this true? 

A: Your heart is only good for so many beats, and that’s it . . . Don’t waste them on exercise. Everything wears out eventually. Speeding up your heart will not make you live longer; that’s like saying you can extend the life of your car by driving it faster.  Want to live longer? Take a nap. 

 

 

Q:  Should I cut down on meat and eat more fruits and vegetables?

A:   You must grasp logistical efficiencies. What does a cow eat?   Hay and corn.  And what are these? Vegetables.    So a steak is nothing more than a mechanism of delivering vegetables to your system.     Need grain?  Eat chicken.  Beef is also a good source of field grass (green leafy vegetable).  And a pork chop can give you 100% of your recommended daily allowance of slop vegetable products. 

 

 

Q: Should I reduce my alcohol intake?

 

A:  No, not at all. Wine is made from fruit.  Brandy is distilled wine, that means they take the water out of the fruity bit so you get even more of the goodness that way.   Beer is made out of grain.  Bottoms up! 

 

 

Q:  How can I calculate my body/fat ratio? 

A:  Well, if you have a body and you have fat your ratio is one to one. If you have two bodies, your ratio is two to one, etc. 

Q:  What are some of the advantages of participating in a regular exercise program?

 

A:  Can’t think of a single one, sorry.  My philosophy is:  No Pain…Good! 

 

 

Q:  Aren’t fried foods bad for you?

 

A:  YOU’RE NOT LISTENING!!! .   Foods are fried these days in vegetable oil.  In fact, they’re permeated in it. How could getting more vegetables be bad for you? 

 

 

Q:  Will sit-ups help prevent me from getting a little soft around the middle? 

 

A:  Definitely not! When you exercise a muscle, it gets bigger. You should only be doing sit-ups if you want a bigger stomach. 

 

 

Q:  Is chocolate bad for me? 

 

A:  Are you crazy?   HELLO…  Cocoa beans!  Another vegetable!!!  It’s the best feel-good food around! 

 

 

Q:  Is swimming good for your figure? 

 

A:  If swimming is good for your figure, explain whales to me. 

 

 

 

Well,  I hope this has cleared up any misconceptions you may have had about food and diets.   

 

For those of you who watch what you eat, here’s the final word on nutrition and health.  It’s a relief to know the truth after all those conflicting nutritional studies. 

 

1. The Japanese eat very little fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

 

2. The Mexicans eat a lot of fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans. 

 

3. The Chinese drink very little red wine  and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

 

4. The Italians drink a lot of red wine  and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

 

5. The Germans drink a lot of beer and eat lots of sausages and fats and suffer fewer heart attacks than Americans.

 

 

CONCLUSION:

Eat and drink what you like.  Speaking English is apparently what kills you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

WWC#44: Sign and Graffiti (NOT)

A Day Late and a Dollar Short! 

As I drove by some great signs over the weekend, I kept thinking, I really should keep my camera in the car …but I don’t.   Then I was banned from the computer yesterday, OH THE PAIN OF IT!!!  ON A TUESDAY!! 
We live in the middle of nowhere, so graphiti graffiti is hard to find (let alone SPELL!!).  For the signs, I could give you repeats from the archives, but that would take time and my 2 hour time limit is ticking…

And frankly, my heart wasn’t in it.  I’m feeling so sad for Tink, who heads up the WWC.  She had a death in the family last week.

So PROPS to all of you who actually accomplished the WWC this week.  I’ll try to stop by and comment! 

I’m leaving disgustingly early tomorrow morning to catch a plane to Colorado.  My nephew is getting married, so SnakeMaster & I are going to represent our family.  We can’t all afford to go, and SuperDad has to work.  Next week will be VERY busy, but I’ll post again when I can!