One of my most enjoyable aspects of visiting a "furrin country" (*well, other than not comprehending the exchange value of the currency I'm spending - 'jes kiddin' there, folks) is the novelty of the street signage. Many of us may already be familiar with "Mind the Gap" signs at London train platforms. How they became so famous, I don't know. But there are other not-so-familiar postings that are equally intriguing. Here are a few I found amusing.
"Now, I know that head of mine is around here somewhere...?"
"Ye Olde Grit-and-Sand Box..."
"Finally, a clear way out of a no way situation..."
"No butts about it..."
"Trust us, we wouldn't put you through this if it wasn't absolutely essential..."
... and finally my favorite that I didn't get my own photo, but nevertheless saw many of...
160 comments:
Very cool post Ivy. I knew you had a another one in you.
Signs, Signs Everywhere a Sign
Now did that song come to your mind when you read this post?
Yes, Carol, it did! I toyed with using that for the thread-head...glad I saved it for you!
Ivy, loved the signs.
Carol, thanks for the Gruene link. I had some good times there - thanks for the memories. One of the raft trips I took (I think with the Univ of Tx) we all had paddles and a snake came close to my paddle. I lifted the snake onto my paddle and quickly let him back into the water again - the guide said it was a water moccasin. I never wanted to get in a tube on the Guadalupe after that.
Carol, what song?
Ivy, so was the sign about "cigarette ends" in London? Funny they call them "ends" not "butts"
Jan,
All the signs were photographed in London. Except the "Danger of Death" sign is a graphic I downloaded from the Internet because I'd been unable to photograph the examples I saw. In Scotland, I saw that sign on a pole by a horse pasture.
Hi girls. Jan was the guide sure it was a moccasin. They are fat snakes with that diamond looking head. Most snakes in the water are water snakes and harmless. I haven't run into many moccasins even here in what you would think is snake haven.
The song I was talking about Jan is the link I put in my first comment. The signs song.
Ok Ivy, seeing those signs got me looking around and I found a couple sign sites that were caught here in America and England and France.
Diesel Fried Chicken
Funnysigns
.. sure has been fun having you share your trip with us Ivy. Thanks!
Long day, will see you all tomorrow.
Those are great, Chloe, thanks. Site is a gold mine of humor. Now I can start sending my aunt some of the stuff she sends me. I bet she gets a lot of her jokes there.
Today was the first day I didn't notice any hummingbirds at my feeder. I even put out fresh sugar water. Do they know tomorrow's the first of October? I swear they read the calendar.
You're welcome for the trip pics. I wish I had many more.
I'm off to the reading room now. Trying to get going on another Geraldine Brooks book, "People of the Book." Both Hubs and Bear Woman have read it and say it's excellent. It's not starting off as easy for me as "Year of Wonders" which had me from the first page.
Carol,
I had a snake-thing going last spring and posted about it on TM. I did see a water moccasin...watched it shore-to-shore crossing the Cahaba River where the Cahaba Lillies bloom. Those devils swim fast, that's for sure. A line of canoe traffic stopped paddling and let it cross. The instant it reached the riverbank on our side, Hubs and I hotfooted away.
Here's some inspiration for you erstwhile Scotsmen and Scotswomen in the absence of more tourist pictures from me...
http://www.visitscotland.com/
Official Site of Scottish Tourism
FYI, Jan and all,
There are some additions to the postings on the "Ruined Castle" thread.
Thanks, Jan.
"Every time Hubs has an "issue" to work through, he finds rocks and builds a stone wall." Ivy, how interesting, Your hubs is working through an issue and at the same time is making something that is practical and lovely. I suppose we all have something we do to work through our issues or problems. Usually, when I have an issue or problem to work through I go for a walk or if I can tolerate sitting, I work on a quilt. Reading or watching TV doesn't work as I am usually too fidgity.
Thank you for the castle postings. I think I love Scotland.
Carol, that memory of the snake was 20 something years ago - when I wrote it on the post, I was thinking it was a rattle snake - and then I said to myself, "I don't think a rattle snake would be in the water" - but my memory may be failing me. All I remember well was that it scared me. I remember things most when there is a strong emotion attached to the event. I do remember the water was colder that day and I think the snake was not moving around. There were low hanging branches over the water and the snake could have slipped off the branches. Of course, the guide could have been "pulling my leg." I can be pretty gullible. Although I have an admiration for all/most critters - snakes of any variety scare me. I don't fear spiders or anoles.
Ya'll, living close to the river, where lots of snakes live, you would think I would run into them all the time but I don't. I really don't want to either. I don't kill snakes. I might if it were poisonous and I had the right tool at the right time and wasn't moving too fast in the opposite direction.
Two particular close encounters I do remember. My niece, Em, was down visiting. We were out by the pool at my house and I found a snake in the pool. That was very rare even though my house is about a block from the river.
I used my pool net to get it out of the water and I put it in a bucket so I could carry it to the river and release it. Knowing that those snakes can climb out of a bucket, I stuck the bucket on a raft in the pool and then put just one end of the raft up on the pool deck. My thought was that if the snake got out of the bucket it would go back into the water and I would at least know where it was. We weren't swimming I guess you realize.
We went back in the house and came back out later, I was barefooted, and no snake in the bucket. My neice and another friend who was visiting got up on their chairs while I looked for the snake. I didn't see the snake in the water anywhere. I pushed the raft away from the pool deck and there was the snake coiled up on the pool deck under the raft close to my bare feet. I think I made one of the highest jumps I've ever made that evening. So much for my theory of it going back into the pool.
I did get it back into the pool, netted it out again and put it in a much deeper bucket. I released it the next day. I looked up the snake and found it was only a water snake.
Another close encounter was years before when I was riding on the back of a motorcycle with a guy I was dating.
Mom never let me have or ride on a motorcycle growing up so one of the first things I did after leaving home was buy this motorcycle. Sorry mom. It was called an Enduro. It was both dirt bike and street bike.
I was dating this guy with barely two brain cells to rub together. Pretty much the story of my dating experience. We were riding down a country gravel road in the small town where my mom and stepfather live. He was driving and I was one the back, another mistake.
The dummy sees a snake crossing the road and he is going to run over it. Not a brilliant move but pretty much typical for this guy. He has to make a pretty good swirve and the bike lost traction and down we go, right on the top of that snake. I'm not sure what happened to that snake because I was up running before the bike even hit the ground good. I could have even swallowed it. That relationship didn't last long.
I don't fear spiders either Jan, as long as they aren't crawling on me. Last week I was mowing at the house and accidentally rode through one of those large orb weaver's webs. Didn't do it on purpose Ivy. I did do a pretty good dance making sure that big old spider wasn't crawling on me somewhere. I came real close to shucking my clothes right out in my front yard.
I was so wrapped up in spider web that I thought I might be it's next meal.
Nary a hummingbird. Amazing, how attendance dropped off the cliff in one day.
Ivy, when I came home for lunch there were no hummers around but when I got home from work they were buzzing the place again. They must be taking a nap at times.
I wanted to tell you that my twin sister said she was really enjoying your pictures. She doesn't get to take vacs either. I told her she needs to make a comment but she's not ready to do that just yet.
Well, I will just say "Hi Sis!" since I know you're here. Thank you for the kind words. I'm glad I can spread the joy right here, thanks to Carol's generosity in sharing her site.
I'm glad your hummers are still there, Carol. I was not expecting mine to be gone so soon or so abruptly. I was thinking November 1 was the date they had marked on their calendar, not October 1.
I'm leaving up the hummingbird feeders and I will continue to keep the nectar fresh as my books suggest, at least until freeze-time.
Carol, I loved your stories about snakes. I would have been up on the chairs with your neice and friend. My youngest, Steve, loved snakes and while we lived in LC, he was always catching little grass snakes in our yard and bringing them in the house. I always looked in my shoes before putting them on and in my bed at night too. I could not stand the thought of one in my shoes or bed. As they say on SNL - "good times."
We are not seeing any hummers around here. I think they are all gone. Good for you all with the feeders. I hope ours made their journey safely.
Hi Mary (Carol's twin). Hope life is treating you well. Jan
Mary and Carol,
I don't remember if you've revealed whether you are identical or fraternal, and which is the older vs younger.
My brothers are supposed "mirror image" twins, a subset of identical twins. In addition to looking alike, they are mirror opposites, one is right-handed and the other left-handed, one is introverted and the other extroverted.
Growing up, I sometimes had to tell our parents which was which; they got them mixed up, but to me they always looked "separate."
Mirror Image Twins
http://multiples.about.com/od/glossary/g/mirrorimagetwin.htm
I got my feeder up so late, that I don't think I've had that many hummers. Today though, I did see at least a couple. Normally they hide from me(since the feeder is directly in front of my large window, I'm sure they see me), on the far side of the feeder (I usually only have one at a time). I'm sure they don't like me being so close. But the nectar has gone down over an inch today alone. I don't even know if that's much, but they're so tiny, it seems to be a lot.
I'm not sure what the other things they eat are, but whatever they are, I'm sure we've got a lot of them, more than our share of insects and anything else that grows.
Well, the answer to my question was exactly what we already know: "Nectar from flowers, sap running from sapsucker drill holes, tiny insects, and sugar water." They must be some pretty small insects.
This site seems very interesting, and seems to cover just about everything:
Hummingbird Journey North
Hi Jan, I saw your question a couple of nights ago, and Ivy and I were just kidding around about the Texas State Bird. I don't really want to change it.
Jan, have you met Mary? If I remember correctly, Carol said they're not identical.
By the way, if you're here, hi! Hope you decide to stop in and chat eventually.
Ivy, I knew you had twin brothers, but I'd forgotten they are mirror image. I assume they're still very close.
Glad you're leaving your feeder up. I would give up on those little hummers yet. I think they're around a lot more when we're not looking than they are when we are.
Chloe, you may have them feeding when you are not there watching or are you there watching often? There are times when there is no active at my feeders and times when there is a frenzy. My sugar water doesn't drop that fast. Seems like they spend most of their time running each other off.
Ivy, Mary and I are fraternal. I was born five minutes earlier and we don't look anything alike which is typical of fratenal twins. We are just sisters who shared the same womb at the same time. I'm taller and she has a better figure. I think I might look a little more like my older sister.
I'd never heard of mirror image twins before. Cool. I always thought that identical twins usually had similar personalities.
Jan knows Mary. She helped Mary with her pregnancy and labor.
That's a neat hummingbird site Chloe. Full of info. It will keep my busy for a while.
You can get involved in their study by reporting the comings and going of your hummingbirds. I may do that.
Carol, I'm only 8' or so from that window, facing it, when I'm on my computer. I don't spend a lot of time watching, and I do catch one nearby when I walk by this room, and they'll take off as soon as they see me. Like you said a while back, it's hard to tell who's watching who (didn't you do a post on that one time?).
Today was the first time I had one eating sideways right in front of me, and she didn't seem to even notice me. No time for binoculars or a camera... it was over too fast. But I got a good look and was overjoyed to finally have one stick around where I could see her for a few seconds.
.. I think I mentioned they usually eat from the far outside, where they're almost completely hidden behind the feeder from me. They know 'exactly' where I am.
Our fellow-traveler Jamie from the TM site and her own Durward site (and others, including the Liberator Campaign) gave permission for me to share the link to her own Scottish-trip photos. "Wow Factor" ++ Scroll down the link for several postings. Thank you, Jamie.
Jamie's Scottish Photos
http://jdurward.blogspot.com/2006_06_01_archive.html
Ivy, I saw what you said about giving the birds a break by keeping the cats inside, but that's not an option for me. I will say though, this year I notice they are all living in harmony. We have unusually high trees (many 50-100 feet) a lot of dense growth, and the birds have learned to stay out of reach, I'm sure. We have many birds that stay here right through the winter (I'm pretty sure, because I catch sight of some of them year round).
I haven't seen them kill any birds this year, I'm happy to say. I just breaks my heart when they do get one, so it's been a good year.
When I sit outside, close to the feeder, they will eat on the other side of the feeder.
I've been reading the site you linked. It's really interesting. I have one Ruby throated hummer. I thought he stayed here all winter but maybe not. He just may leave late and come back early.
Chloe,
My foster-cat busts out too. She doesn't go too far and, so far, she hasn't brought me any gruesome "prizes." Other cats I've had have done that...
Ivy, Thanks for linking Jamie's blog. Beautiful pictures!
I got hungry while I was over there too. There was a picture of lemon cake on the right side, that I may have to order. It looked so good.
Jamie's got some nice stuff up. I will go spend some time there later.
Jamie's blog is a lot more sophisticated than ours but we are newbies.
Yes Ivy, I just hate that whole predator instinct thing. I do everything I can to control it, and usually succeed.
Carol, I LOVE the Swamp. I hope we're never sophisticated. I like us just the way we are.
Carol, you set up this blog 'just right' and it has been such a nice place to be able to come to.
"He just may leave late and come back early."
I had to giggle when I read that Carol. That's the same thing I always do at a free buffet too.
Carol, I think Solar is back in town.
Maybe he'll stop in soon and say hi.
Carol,
I think our respective blogs are each unique...like my brothers, the same but different. No need to compete, or feel either inferior or greater. Just as is.
Well said Ivy!
Carol,
I enjoy the act of "typing" more here than anywhere. Something about the typeface is soothing. That's why I'm more verbose here than anywhere, even my own e-mail.
It's hard to see and think about that preditor/prey thing but everything has to eat. I can't even watch those nature shows when some animal is chasing another. I change the channel.
I go outside to breath in the fresh night air and sometimes hear some scary sounds that has to be some animal meeting it's demise. I come back in real fast.
The other night I heard what sounded like a wild baby pig screaming across the river. I pictured a little pig getting eaten by an alligator. My nurse friend down the road saw a mom and baby wild pigs over there one day.
I'm very talkative here too Ivy. I feel right at home and unthreatened. I know my mistakes will be forgiven, so I just dive right in.
I'm glad you guys like it here. It's you guys that make this place what it is. I like our simplicity here.
Even Bear Woman says she wouldn't mind if a cat or two would take out some of the rabbits in her vegetable garden.
We saw so many "Peter Rabbits" and "Benjamin Bunnies" at our Scottish retreat. My little friend and I counted 15 rabbits in the yard one evening.
I'm the same way Carol. I can't even think about those things, let alone watch them on screen. I've heard those sounds, and they're like a nightmare. I can't even watch an animal mistreated in a movie. Safety is why we're so well fenced here. To keep everyone here safe, and to keep our animals from bothering others. Even our cats don't leave our property, although, as you know, there's no way to keep them in if they really wanted to leave.
You know, I can get up in the morning, grab my coffee and engage in some pointless babble and not feel too embarassed by it. At least not for long.
I'm not sure a cat would bother a rabbit Ivy. They don't bother possums or raccoons. Now dogs, that's a different story. I don't trust the dogs out of my sight ever. Even the three little ones are very mischievous.
Bear Woman says next year, she's erecting a low fence around her garden. There's probably a practical reason for the numerous stone walls in rural Scotland, not just the fact there's a lot of rocks lying about.
I love your morning chat Carol. I don't get here until later, but look forward to it.
Now where does Bear Woman live again Ivy?
I'm sure there is a practical reason that they're making use of all that beautiful stone. I just love stone walls and buildings. We don't have that here, unless it's imported.
Now in California, there was plenty. Lots of mountains.
You know who I imagine when you talk about Bear Woman? Did you ever see that Movie "Continental Divide"? I imagine the woman in that movie.
If you have not seen that movie, you must find it and rent it. It's an old one.
I don't remember if I saw it or not, that's a long time ago.
Continental Divide (1981)
I'll have to catch up tomorrow.
Have a good evening everyone.
Carol,
Bear Woman lives in PA Amish Country, and her cabin where her bears live is in the Alleghenies.
I found a place where you can download it from the Net. I haven't tried yet.
Nite Chloe.
Continental Divide
Carol,
I Just caught up on the threads. What makes the swamp unique is that is a little bit of all of us, and just a place to talk...I have visited Jamies, and she has set up a very nice professinal blog...a few of them, but I don't see many people there. Its a little cold...very nice, but a little cold.
Ivy. All I can say is very-very nice, and thanks for all of the pics.....I have one that I have to find....im wearing a kilt...or the table cloths..or something...coulda been my new Jamies...
Hi Solar. How's tricks?
Solar,
Welcome back...Hope your table cloth outfit wasn't resulting from the proverbial "furniture problem..." chest dropped down to the drawers...
(That's a favorite joke from Hubs...)
Time for Maggies walk about, poddy time. Then headed to the bedroom for bedtime ritual. Lappy does come along.
I like that one Ivy.
I must remember to unplug Lappy before I go to sleep tonight. We're supposed to have an early AM thunderbumper. Maybe even a rough one.
Carol,
A little tired out...but ok...and I have really enjoyed reading up on all of the threads....I think that giving permission to post our thoughts and ponders, is a very new way of keeping things going in the right direction,,,hope that we can get new people to start posting...maybe even some males...
Tell you sister that I will start posting jokes on her honor in a cpls of days if she doesn't come and talk to us...
Ivy,
No, but I really did wear a kilt for a whole day.. part of a sales promotion that I did for the chamber of business; when I was in advertisement....the pics and comments that you made about Mother Earth were excellent,,thanks. AS a contractor, that uses machines to change the way she looks..I realize that in the long run...we can never really defeat her...not matter how many mountains we move...we will never live in harmony with her anymore,,,and she is going to get more than a little mad....
I had been looking forward to the new Jay Leno show. Missed the first two weeks 'cuz we were on our trip. Now that I'm seeing it, it's a little disappointing. Something strange about whatever "fuzzy" media they're recording it in...is that video tape or film...? I don't know anything about film science or technology, but I know whether I like it or not. Really...not. Hope they fix it...I'd like to see Jay succeed.
sorry not on her honor,,in her honor,,she just might come out swinging at me, in order to stop me....
Will catch you all tomorrow...as you know who say "nite"
Carol,
I've weaned myself from taking the 'puter to the bed. Broke that rule in Scotland because I was up blogging to you guys until 4 am due to the fact my body clock was still set to 10 pm central daylight time.
One of the things I like about the far northern regions is the extended daylight hours. It can light there during summer until 11 pm.
Solar, It's realy good to have you back.
Now our little group is complete.... as soon as Mary get's here, that is.
Mary, You're going to love Solar's jokes. Guaranteed!
.. nite again. 65, 64, 63 (I think that's right)
We need Jan in here too...
Yes Ivy, of course Jan too! The only reason I said we're complete, is because Jan is already here, or at least was earlier.
Jan, I love you and hope you know I wasn't leaving you out. When I said our group is complete, I meant all of us.
I knew that you would be back. Thanks for over looking my mistakes..I just wanted to say hello to every one, and was in a hurry..more mistakes than usual, for so little post..too many things going on at once...going for a walk to wind down...nite again...this time I mean it....or maybe the next? :-))
62-61-60
I guess it was me who overlooked Jan this evening...I must have been scrolling too fast...
Hope Chloe unplugs her stuff. Those thunderbumpers will hit her before they hit me.
You made me tune into the local weather to see what is headed our way.
Important info from Chloe's hummer site link:
"If you live in an area where mornings are cool or cold, use feeders without perches, or bring in the feeders overnight so the water will be warm in the morning. When hummers sit and eat very cold sugar water, they may become hypothermic. The work of hovering heats their muscles preventing this.
Clean your feeder often to prevent bacteria and fungus from growing in the sugar water, and to prevent the water from fermenting. Make your sugar water mixture from 1/4 cup sugar and 1 cup water. Don't use food coloring--your feeder should have red areas to attract the hummers."
Good information, Carol. Jerry Tracey says it's going to be low 60s for our wake-up. I wonder if that's too cold for the hummer feeder.
He's not saying much about storms...some rain tomorrow but doesn't sound awful.
Must not be much, they only gave us 3 minutes of weather...
Looks like the same storm system will hit you but a little later.
60 is probably a little cool for the hummer. Maybe that's why you didn't see any hummers today, they dropped into a little coma after drinking some cold sugar water this morning. Not funny Carol.
Poor Chloe will have to rig up a little Bunsen burner under her feeders or have that tall ladder real handy. Maybe a little solar heater?
shutting the comp. down, and saw that you had a little chore for me to do:
"Maybe a little solar heater?"
Solar, doesn't do little bird heaters.....You have cold feet??
he,he, he.
You all must watch Stephen Colbert's "The
Word" about Congress and health care reform:
Colbert Report
Oh come on Solar. Those birdies need you.
Yep,
Im back, feel good getting a little scolding, just checking to see if you still cared....is all, nite honey
Hi all, I missed out on all the conversation - I don't feel left out. Is Paul the same as Solar???
Carol, good info about feeding hummers - I will remember that next year. Went out to a dinner tonight. It was a nursing "thing" and they had the speaker and we had to wait to eat until he was finished speaking - so we ate about 8 pm. Just got home a short while ago.
Had a busy day today- so have missed most of the postings. will catch up tomorrow or this weekend.
Nite
Hi Jan and nite Jan. I was just watching that episode of Colbert. I thought I would choke laughing so hard. Need to watch the episode I linked. It's a 10.
I must get to sleep so I can get up in the morning.
Well it seems the storm passed without too much commotion. I did wake up around 3 something thinking I must have worn a fuzzy hat to bed. Then I realized my hat was shaking and it wasn't a hat at all, it was the Magster.
I don't need any weather channel, all I have to do is check Maggies attitude to see that the worst of the weather must have passed. She looks all happy right now with her little tail wagging.
I was serious about your needing to watch that Colbert Report I linked. It was the Sept 29 episode. Besides "The Word", he has some new drugs he discusses. It's so funny that he couldn't even keep a straight face.
You know that laugh therapy is very important. It keeps those endorphins kicking. Better than a vitamin.
This hummingbird stuff is starting to stress me out. It's so much responsibility and all. Those little birds are depending on us to keep from starving to death and to prepare them for that long journey across the Gulf. Sheeesh.
Now we have to worry about the temperature of the sugar water and if it has a little perch on the feeder.
My nephew and his wife came in to visit. I'll be doing some cooking tomorrow. I'll BBQ some baby back ribs. I get them when they are on sale and store for a special occasion. I love to buy stuff on sale. Even if I don't need it.
I'll also make my world famous BBQ sauce. Well maybe only famous around these parts. Well maybe just with my pitifully small group of family and friends, but it is famous ya know. Has secret ingredients and all.
And then I'll make mom's potato salad. It's a Jewish deli type potato salad. Also good unless you are one of those who likes not much interesting in your potato salad. Some people are the potato, egg and mayo only people. Real boring.
Mom's PS has a lot of good stuff in it. It's a job in itself to make it. You have to get plenty of rest before even attempting it.
Of course there will also be baked beans and some French bread. I'll probably do my spinach artichoke dip. Are you getting hungry yet? I've already got indigestion just thinking about it.
And Maggie will be all excited that we are having company. She's a lot more social than I am. If I tell her someone's coming to visit, she runs to the window to wait and see which member of my species will show up.
If I want to take her for a walk and she's not too much in to it, I just tell her we are going to visit my friend Randal and his dog Billy. She will then throw her tail up and back and strut her stuff down there. If Randal isn't there, she will look up at me like I lied to her. Hey, I don't have ESP. She does leave her little calling card in the yard for Billy to find later.
And Solar, don't feel too bad that more men don't want to visit with us. Maybe they aren't as secure in their masculinity as you are. I do talk about fishing. What more would a guy want?
'Mornin y'all. I must be back to my regular schedule because I'm not all bright-eyed-and-bushy-tailed at 4:30 am. And if I do wake up then, I'm not ready to do anything other than go back to sleep.
It occurs to me there might be a few more topics from our trip I could whip up into a thread (some with pictures) for this weekend. I haven't covered "marching," or "shopping," or "food." Let me know what's your pleasure, if any.
You can also tell me it's time to quit and move on. My yard work has been totally neglected since June, and it wouldn't hurt me to get out there to do some fall planting, or at least some after-summer clean-up.
Carol,
It sounds like you're going to have a busy and fun weekend. Is your family "local" or do they have to travel far distances to be with you? You must be an attractive destination for them with your river, and the fishing, and all.
We'd love to have that 'tater salad recipe. The less complicated, the better. Our "family recipe" is plain, plain, plain. One time I posted "my" version of the recipe on the family page. I had taken liberties, like throwing bacon bits and some other items in there. My aunt totally did not like my tampering with perfection, so she put up her own corrected version, and labelled it "the real recipe."
Carol, I love to buy things on sale too (even if I don't need it :). We had baby back ribs last weekend, and they were so good.
Is this visiting nephew the one that your mom was so fond of?
I may have to move my hummer over a bit, if I'm going to keep it going all year round. There's a small deck nearby, but it won't be directly in front of my window. Maybe that will be better for them, to get a little time away from my prying eyes.
Carol, I don't think we should let these feeders become too worrisome (I tend to do that with everything). That will take away some of the enjoyment. Lets just do the best we can, and have some faith (I'm not talking religious faith here, you know that) that those little hummers will do just fine.
Morning Ivy, I perked right up this morning, when I read that you may share some more of your trip with us this weekend. Please do!
It sounds like Carol may have her hands full, with the company she's going to be having.
Hubs has photos on that "backup" camera he bought. He went into a very modern Walmart-type store on the outskirts of the little historic town. It's called Tesco and they are apparently all over the place. It's quite close to our hosts' home, and they run over there all the time to pick up last minute items.
The Place to Shop
http://www.tesco.com/
Another example (to me) of how despite our distances and differences, many of our lives the world over are built on common ground. I know it is very different in the places where my missionary friends and relatives travel - Tibet, Darfur - they come home with stories of people's desperation that it's hard to get our minds around. But everywhere the people they meet only want the same things for themselves and their families that we want...peace and security, nutrition and health care, prosperity, education, and political and spiritual freedom. Are those really too much to ask?
Ivy, if you want something less complicated, you don't want mamma's potato salad recipe. I said you have to rest up just to have enough energy to make it. It's Jewish deli potato salad for chees sake. It's made with a lot of work and guilt. The guilt is reserved for those who eat it knowing how much work it took.
Mom wasn't Jewish but she sure missed a good chance to be. Everything I've ever seen on TV dipicting Jewish mother's fit mom to a T.
My nephew and his wife reside in Chicago. That's also where mom was from. He moved up there shortly after mom died.
Ivy said: "I haven't covered "marching," or "shopping," or "food." Let me know what's your pleasure, if any."
Yes Ivy, all of the above. We want it all, OK?
And Chloe, don't let something become too worrisome.... uh, you don't know me too well yet. Worry is my middle name.
And Ivy, one of the things I like to do on vacation is visit grocery stores. I even brought my video camera to one in Seattle. They thought I was a spy and made me quit videoing. I tried to tell them I was from a town where WM was as interesting as it got and it leaves a lot to be desired.
"Yes Ivy, all of the above. We want it all, OK?"
Somehow, I knew you'd say that. I guess the yard work will have to wait.
My late mother-in-law was an actual Jewish Mother. Never fit the stereotype for one second. Sometimes, I wanted her to just "yell at somebody." Never did that I ever heard. Sweetest lady in the world. We miss her still.
Carol,
One of the gift stores in London, tourist trap across from the Tower of London, had a sign up that said, "No Filming." I thought it was bizarre.
You know there something I have observed about potato salad over the years and that is that people tend to prefer the kind of potato salad their mom's made.
Carol,
My Mom's potato salad was/is just okay, but my aunt (her sister) made "the family recipe." My mom made the deviled eggs...and they were "plain," but delicious.
Is this the final night of Ken Burns? I think we'll adjourn to the "Man Cave" to see it on the big screen.
Rats, I had a post all typed and checked out a link and came back and my post is all gone. "thit"
Could you all hear me LOL. I got ticked thinking about Carol filming in the grocery in Seattle and they told you to stop. Maybe they thought you were from 20/20 of 60 minutes and was going to expose them for something.
You all are making my mouth water with the talk of all the food you are cooking this weekend. Yum! ribs sounds great.
Carol, your mom had a great recipe for shrimp dip too. Don't tell me I dreamed that!!
I too think we need not worry anymore about the little critters. Lets plan to do what we can and then leave the rest to mother nature or father sky or whatever higher power is out there - whoever she is.
We are going to the balloon festival in the morning. We need to get out of bed by 4 am and get to the bus by 5 am . They start blowing gas into balloons long before daylight. They ascend in groups. There will probably not be as many balloons this year due to the economy.
They have buses leaving from a mall - so we won't have to drive. There is always heavy traffic and we prefer to leave the driving to someone else. There's lots of food to eat ther - so I will torture you all for a while- there are burritos with eggs and bacon and potatoes and green chilis and other good southwestern goodies.
I am taking lots of pic and plan to send to Carol to post - I hope to have some stories to tell also.
Ivy, your aunt sounds like some of my relatives - don't mess with their recipes. I am not much of a cook. I have a few good recipes. My sis and 2 daughters in law are great cooks. I am the one they call when someone is sick - so I feel I do my duty in the family. I am a "gatherer." When we have family for dinner, I gather from the pizza place or the barbeque place or the chicken place. The only time I really cook is Thanksgiving and I do that pretty good.
Chloe, I love to buy things on sale too. I love thrift stores and yard sales. I love a bargain more than any thing I can think of.
Carol, I would never visit a grocery when I travel, except the fish market in Seattle. Now that is entertainment.
Carol, do you remember when we used to make videos for our nursing classes? My son, Steve, was one of our actors that you performed some physical assessments on.
Monday, I invited one of the mothers I work with to bring her 3 month old son to demonstrate for my class how to weigh and do measurements on a baby, and do a developmental screening. I also did a mini interview with the mother. She agreed to have it filmed. I watched it tonight on the DVD player.I hate watching myself on video. The demonstration with the baby was ok. I wish I could just have my voice in the interview part. You know how when you interview someone, you encourage them to continue talking by nodding your head - well I look like one of those little objects you put on the dash of a car that their head "bobbles" when you drive. I don't just nod - I "bobble" Most embarrassing. Now I have to decide if I really want to share this video with future classes.
Off to watch a little TV.
You guys are funny.
Jan, did you catch the second episode of Modern Family? It was as good as the first. Comes on Wednesday nights. You saw the rerun last week.
My grocery shopping is done. Too much food I'm sure, always is.
My spinach artichoke dip is ready to go in the oven tomorrow. Baked bean sauce made and in the beans, ready for the oven tomorrow.
BBQ sauce done. Actually I made up a batch of that one weekend a while back when it was raining and I was bored. I froze it. Smart move, even if I say so myself.
Still have major project of the potato salad but I will save that until tomorrow. I want that fresh.
Will BBQ the ribs, sausage, and chicken tomorrow.
Yes Jan, I remember well all that work we did preparing that physical assessment class. We completed our materials only minutes before we presented them to the students. We were working about 80 hours a week and on weekends.
I think we were the first in the State to offer physical assessment at the undergrad level. Remember how uncomfortable the older faculty was with our doing it? They were afraid the Docs would see us as stepping into their area. They were planning on acting like they didn't know what we were up to if anything came of it.
I taught that physical assessment material for so long I could do it in my sleep and I think I was sleeping a few time when I taught it. That knowledge sure has come in handy as an NP.
Those of you who live in or near large cities have cool grocery stores to go to. All we have are the traditional boring ones. I could spend all day in one of those really cool grocery stores.
The store I was trying to video in was a Whole Foods in Seattle. I think it is one of their largest stores.
Jan, remember how much I loved olives? I still do but had to cut back because of the salt. They had an olive bar that had what seemed like hundreds of different olives.
And bread. Rows of different, fresh baked breads. Ohhhhhh heaven!
"I "bobble" Most embarrassing. Now I have to decide if I really want to share this video with future classes."
Jan, you sure had me laughing at that. It is so funny and refreshing when some one can find the humor in something so personal. We all have the funniest habits, don't we.
You were saying you like sales too, and I really do. My favorite store is Ross. Not so much for the clothes, but for all the other departments. I love that you can get things from an expensive department store at a fraction of the cost. I can spend so much time there, and love every minute of it.
Looking forward to your pics and stories from the Balloon Festival Jan.
"I taught that physical assessment material for so long I could do it in my sleep and I think I was sleeping a few time when I taught it. That knowledge sure has come in handy as an NP." Carol's post
Carol, Do you ever miss teaching?
Ribs, Chicken and Sausage?! Man, you really know how to put out a spread.
No doubt everyone will still be full when they leave there.
Have a good evening everyone.. see you tomorrow.
Carol, We do have some cool grocery store not too far from us. I never go to the funky one they have right here in our little town.
When you mentioned liking olives, I thought of the one we have that set up a big olive bar, sorta like the salad bars you see in markets. They also have tons of different breads to choose from, delicious baked goods and even hot tortilla's they make there.
I used to like the market at WM ok, but they've gotten much more basic, since the economy has been bad, and don't carry nearly the selection they used to car.
I wonder if there's some psychological meaning to the fact that I often leave off the ends of my words, when typing(sometimes it's sticky keys, but others I just don't finish_). Maybe it represents a problem of not completing things.
car=carry, and all the rest are more obvious.
Jan, that shrimp dip was not mom's recipe. It was a friend of ours. Her daughter may lurk here occasionally but I don't think she will comment. You would love her. She's a lot like you guys.
I didn't see you slip in Chloe. I thought everyone was away watching TV.
I don't even notice most of the mistakes unless they are mine.
Carol and Jan,
You pair must have been a stitch to watch together in action back in the day...
(^_~)
What a great wrap-up for the Ken Burns series. I especially loved about the wolves and, of course, the bears.
Don't Feed The Bears.
I caught just the end of tonight's National Park series. I watched the first two days but saved the rest to watch in bed at night on Lappy.
Did any of you watch that Colbert Report I linked. It was really funny.
Chloe, I do miss teaching nursing students. I really enjoyed it. I love to see my old students around the community and proud to think I had a part in their education. I run into them everywhere.
Ivy, Jan and I were like Mutt and Jeff. I'm on the tall side and she is on the short side but we had just the opposite self esteems. It was a real shock when we passed a mirror and saw ourselves together in that mirror.
I was thinking Lucy and Ethel.
lol
I put up a new thread...another Snail Tale.
Thanks for the reminder about your Colbert link. I'll go back to it.
When does your company get there?
Chloe, it has been easier to laugh at myself as I age. If I don't laugh, I might cry. I used to hate making mistakes. I wanted to do things perfectly- I have thought that may come from being an oldest child. Now, I am so happy I can still do stuff. Chloe, I am sitting here trying to think of where WM is??
Ivy, Carol is the most fun friend anyone can have. She was always ready for an adventure and had more energy than anyone else I knew. She is right - we looked like Mutt and Jeff she was tall and lean and I was short - I bet you all thought I would say "short and fat" I wasn't fat then - but sadly have put on a few pounds lately. By the way, who the heck is Mutt and Jeff??
I took Lobie for a walk tonight - so didn't watch TV after all. I forgot about "Modern family" wed. I will catch it next week. I taped a couple of the Great Parks series so will watch later.
Got to get to bed - 4 am comes early. I better charge up the camera. It would be a shame to not be able to take pics of the balloons.
Nite. Jan
You better take some pics tomorrow Jan.
Company is coming tomorrow and I still have lots to do. I'll get up early and hit the floor running.
Ivy, never thought of Lucy and Ethel- but that would work - certainly more gender-accurate.
Mutt and Jeff were two cartoon characters. One was tall and the other short.
Have fun tomorrow Carol, and if there is anyone there that I know, say HI for me.
Mutt and Jeff
I will take pics.
Carol, Ivy, Chloe, maybe you all could come to Albuq next Oct. for the balloon fiesta. That would be fun. I think we would all hit it off. You can bring your hubs Ivy.
I am really going to bed now.
Yes Jan. Mary and Jeremy will both be here.
Don't go to bed before you look at the new thread...
lol
Ok, I lied, I have not gone to bed. I clicked on the link Carol - I have always heard about Mutt and Jeff but do not remember them from the comics. I always thought Mutt was the short one and Jeff the tall one - but it is the opposite. Well, now I have learned something I did not know.
Thanks for the invite. I'll bet Bear Woman will come out for the balloons too. She loves both the southwest and hot air balloons.
After reading about Mutt and Jeff, maybe they fit us really well after all - LOL.
Ivy, that would be great if Bear Woman comes too. We all want to meet her.
Check out the new thread before you head to bed.
lol
Interesting and strange pictures. Nice!
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