Holy Cow!  No, I'm not Hindu.  But I like the phrase and hope I'm offending no one.


But getting back on topic, why can't I keep a blog going?  I actually have three blogs...none of which are up to date.  So, let's change that.  Blogging really doesn't take a lot of time, just time to remember and do a bit.  Not many entries need to be long and inspiring.  Pictures are helpful - I think everyone enjoys a pretty picture now and then!  But photos are not always necessary, either.

With that said, I'm currently enjoying what seems to be the start of a creative feel.  I am actively playing cello - church last Sunday and working with Octavo Ensemble as musician and librarian.  Playing music hasn't flet this good in quite some time.  What is wrong?  Or what is right?

I am also looking forward to getting into my pottery studio and making some serious progress this winter.  Yes, I can get pretty distracted, but I really believe this is the winter...or something.  I think I have to name my studio/business to make it be real.  Also, I intend to find a mentor.

And finally, I now need to get moving in today's paid, out-of-the-house job.  It's fun and inspiring to be here...sorta.  We'll see what today brings!

Contagious!

As I continue my busy spring and writing funk, I browsed through some of the many blogs that I have bookmarked.  What is the disease that hits us all that makes us allow our blogs to become cyber-deserts?  Like anything, I guess it's time.  I enjoy writing, but on the long list of priorities, it is a distance from the top.  Now, I don't know if anyone reads this blog or if that is even necessary.  This blog is just some personal meanderings through miscellaneous subjects.  I suppose none of this really matters...except for the lack of discipline on my part.

Lily's Idea

Here's a little bit that came from Lily the other day.  She was noticing that my flannel pj pants were getting pretty tattered.  She told me I should ask Grandma to make me a new pair.  I told her it was a good idea and that I'd consider that.  Then she asked if she could have my pants when I get my new ones.  They are really in bad shape so I said that they'd be headed for the trash.  She insisted saying that she wanted them in case she makes a quilt someday.  Interesting...very interesting!

BLIZZARD!!

Okay, it's not quite a blizzard, but it's fun to see the snow and wind!  I have a camera with me today, but with issues.  I hope it's only the battery.  As I look out the window where I'm working, I see drifts right outside that look to be three fee tall.  We haven't had much snow, really,l but the wind is whipping!  There is a lot of bare space, but where the wind has obstacles, the drifts are building!

I hope I can pick up the other camera battery later today...

Happy New Year!

As our winter struggles to get into full swing, our calendar has already switched to 2012.  This is our fifth winter in Minnesota, but very different from the past few.  The first four seemed to be made from a mold - snow cover started within about a week after Thanksgiving and lasting through late February or into March.  This year's warmer weather and lack of moisture is quite different.

But for the record, I want SNOW!

Happy New Year to all!

Getting Back At It

There are many things to get back at...procrastinated, multiple, many, numerous interests and distractions.  I guess blogging is one of them, but many blogs I follow have lapses.  But in my opinion, writing is important.  In this day of abbreviated text habits that are finding a place in many forms of written language, it's important to keep up with basic English skills before they are totally lost.  That is assuming these skills were in my possession at one time.

Speaking of misplaced interest, I started "running" again.  Yes, it's in quotes for a reason.  Yesterday went well, but I was surprised that it was only 2.2 miles.  No wonder I didn't feel dead after the run.  But today, I decided I would just go a route and not worry about time or length.  It was 3.1 miles and it felt at least that long, plus the 2.2 from yesterday!  But the good news is that I got my lazy butt outside to do it.

It was a beautiful day to be out, too.  Being a school and work day, it was relatively quiet, until I realized it was the first Wednesday of the month and it was 1:00 PM.  So, my peace was shattered for a few minutes while the tornado siren went off.  As I ran further, I entered a gravel part of a road where the grasshoppers were very numerous.  They frantically hopped and flew out of my way.  They obviously have a bit of a brain in that small head.  One did accidentally land on me, but I felt it's rear legs pushing off almost instantaneously.  I'm sure it was the smell that drove him away!

The rest of the "run" was more of a sight-seeing adventure.  It was nice to get out in the town.  I think that was something I had missed.  For the almost-four years that we have lived here, I have been running in most months.  When I started running here, I really knew none of the residents of the houses here.  But now, it's kinda fun to look around as I go and see people's houses, yards and gardens.  It feels more like home.

So, I've been running two days in a row and might need to take tomorrow off.  But if I can continue some regular running, maybe it will become more running than not, and I can actually call myself a runner again!  Maybe I can also call myself a blogger, or dare I try "writer?"

Tomatoes!

=It seems like it has taken a long time for the tomatoes to really start ripening.  I've gathered a few here and there since the end of June, but not a lot.  But now - wow!

It was an odd spring for many reasons, not just the weather.  I started some seeds, but ended up being gifted better seedlings.  I planted those, gave away a few of mine and wondered why I bought all those seeds.  The plants grew crazily and I was a bit worried at first, wondering if I'd get only foliage and little or no fruit.  I guess I really don't need to worry about that now.  I believe I am at the start of being overwhelmed with tomatoes.

I labeled my plants when I planted - when Mom and I planted, that is.  But I will need to work hard to really know what each variety is, since the plants are too big to get to the little stake in the ground near the base of the plant!  (Note to self:  draw a diagram noting the location of each variety.  This will be easier to identify tomatoes as they ripen!)

And what should I do with all these tomatoes?  Eat, can, eat, make salsa, eat, make juice, etc.  I may even try my hand at canning a home made Bloody Mary mix.  We'll see about that!