Think Write Thursday

The Think Write Thursday topic for August 3, 2017 is to write a post to welcome August. Yes, another Hello post, in this case Hello, August. We like this because it's easy and quick, if you want it to be, but you can also expand on it and make it longer and more complex if the spirit moves you. 

Hey August,

Yeah, welcome, and all that stuff. If you've detected some slight sarcasm in my tone, that's good, because that pretty much conveys how I feel about your first two days.

August 1 saw me trapped in this very clever catch-22.

Upon arrival, I did try to see the receptionist, but since there was no staff present, I rang the bell. After 15 minutes, I tried to notify the receptionist that I had been waiting more than 15 minutes for testing, but there was still no receptionist, so I rang the bell and also dialed the operator and had the cardiology tech paged. This cycle of craziness continued while I sat in one of the dingiest waiting rooms ever.

Testing eventually commenced and I breathed a sigh of relief when it was completed. I was so glad they had asked me to arrive 15 minutes early (that's more sarcasm, August), but thought that surely your second day would be better.

So, back at the same hospital again yesterday, I was pointed in this direction and told to "follow the star". I didn't see a star, but thought there must be one just on the other side of those far-away doors. There wasn't, but I wandered around and asked for help from anyone in scrubs. Eventually I found the star ...

on the floor inside of the radiology department that I was looking for. At least the waiting room wasn't so depressing, and I was only held captive in the labyrinthine hospital for three hours instead of six like the previous day.

So, August, I'm glad you've gotten two kind of crappy days out of the way early. Can you please try to arrange plenty of sunshine, blue skies, puffy clouds, flowers, and maybe some sunflowers for the remaining days? Maybe something like this?

Thanks, August; you're the best! (Or you will be once you get your act together.)

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Think Write Thursday

The Think Write Thursday topic for today is to share your favorite summer meal ideas, including recipes if applicable. Are you all about the grill? Or maybe you prefer salads. Do you use your crockpot a lot in the summer? Or would you rather have sandwiches? Tell us what you're eating and tell us how you prepare it!

For me, summer meals are all about the garden and the grill. I go out and check the garden first thing in the morning, pick whatever is ready, and prepare it as simply as I can. Meatless meals and salads would be fine with me, but John thinks a meal without meat is just a snack, so I also do easy things on the grill for him -- sausages, hamburgers, or chicken.

Our garden vegetables provide many of the things I find most enjoyable about summer, both the taste and variety. Sometimes I make zucchini in a crustless quiche,

sometimes cucumbers sliced in vinegar,

and almost always string beans, just steamed.

This evening it's stuffed peppers.

One of my best summer recipes doesn't involve the garden, but is grill-related. I don't remember where I originally got this recipe, but I've been using it for more than 25 years, and it is exactly what the title says, Very Good Marinade.

I almost always marinate ribeye steaks in it, but just last week I tried it on chicken and it was indeed, very good.

I'm looking forward to reading (and trying!) some other great summer recipes. What are you cooking and eating this summer?

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Think Write Thursday

The Think Write Thursday topic for today is to write about what you do to beat the heat! We're deep into summer here and some of us love the heat and some of us hate it but either way we all have to cope with it. What do you do that works for you? Share your tips, stories and more on coping with summer heat!

I hate the heat, and I hate it even more so when combined with humidity. I try not to whine about it since that does make it seem even worse, but I am not always successful. Summer heat and humidity seems to sap all my energy, to the point where I'd like to just lie down with a cold washcloth on my head, but that's not very practical. Since summer's heat is a reality (and there is that "trying not to whine about it" thing I just mentioned), here's what I do to deal with it.

1. Drink lots of cold beverages. Mint tea is refreshing, and even the sound of ice clinking in the glass makes me feel better.
2. Try and get the hot chores done early in the morning. This means checking the garden, working in the kitchen (especially if it involves boiling water to make pasta salad or blanching vegetables to freeze), and mowing before it gets really hot.
3. Wear evaporative bandanas. I'm not sure if these things actually cool me down, but they do keep the sweat out of my eyes. I wear them when I work in the garden, mow, and sometimes even when I work in the kitchen so I don't have sweat dripping all over. You don't have to tell me how lovely and fashionable I look. :-)
4. Ignore John when he comes home and tells me his office was so cold that he had to wear a long-sleeved shirt and a sport jacket just to stay warm. Our house is an old one, without any existing ductwork, which means we don't have central air-conditioning. We do have a window unit in the bedroom so we can sleep, but the whole downstairs is open, so window units can't cool the space and the cost of installing central air in this house is incredibly prohibitive.
5. If it's really sweltering, find a terrific book and retreat to the air-conditioned library. That's my plan this afternoon when it's supposed to be 95° again. I am taking my laptop to get some work done, but I've also got Grief Cottage and Magpie Murders packed in my bag to read as soon as I meet a couple of work deadlines.
6. Swear that my next house will have central air and possibly be in Colorado where the dewpoint does not reach 75°F.
7. Remember that in just a couple of months the delightfully cool air of fall will be returning and things will be better. 

So what do you do to cope with the heat? I'd love to try some new ideas and quit my whining!

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Think Write Thursday

The Think Write Thursday topic for today is to write about 3 good things that happened this week. We all know that focus on the GOOD is GOOD for us so let's do it!

I see the fawns (it turns out there are two of them!) almost every evening.

I stumbled upon a wonderful PBS program about Anne Morrow Lindbergh. The Lindberghs are a big deal here in Flemington, NJ. The house that they lived in when their son was kidnapped is about five miles from here, and I live a block away from the courthouse where Bruno Hauptmann was tried. The beauty of this program is that it focuses on Anne herself, as an accomplished aviator, mother, and extraordinary writer.  You can watch You'll Have the Sky: The Life and Work of Anne Morrow Lindbergh here. 

I entered the 21st century and finally bought a Kindle Fire. I've been using an eight-year-old Kindle keyboard, and while it still works, it has been slowing down and not charging well. I rarely buy something new if the old one still functions, but I couldn't resist 40% off on Prime Day. It's making reading even more pleasurable!

Three pretty great things and it's only Thursday! What's good in your world?

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Think Write Thursday

The Think Write Thursday topic for today is to write about your three favorite things to wear.

I work from home and rarely have occasion to dress up, so the clothing that I wear now is fairly boring. It's jeans, a blouse, and hitchhiker scarves in the winter, and short overalls in the summer. (I literally work in the field and overalls give me lots of pockets for carrying lots of things.) So, I'm going to interpret this topic as the three favorite things I've worn throughout my life. They're probably not any more fashionable than what I wear now, but they were more fun.

First Favorite: The multi-colored, flowered bell-bottoms that my Grandmother sewed for me.

Girls wearing pants was a big deal to my father and school, so I was only allowed to wear them as "play clothes" at home,
and bell-bottoms were absolutely forbidden ( I have no idea why). In 1967, my grandmother made these for me and I loved them. 

I wore them as often as I could, while eating cheese steaks on the floor

and celebrating our cat's birthday with my sister.

Second Favorite: My Southern Belle outfit

We lived in Florida for a few years while John was working on his Master's degree and I had a job in the lab at Tampa General Hospital. Every single one of of my lab colleagues was from the South, and they were fascinated by my northern accent and speech. They tried to get me to use "y'all" instead of "you guys", and wondered why I never said "Bless your heart". When we had a Halloween party I thought the best costume for me would be a Southern belle with a hoop skirt. I was pretty as a peach!

Favorite Number Three: My graduation gown

I got my Master's in Syracuse at SUNY Upstate Medical University, but had decided not to walk at graduation. My family asked (some might say practically begged) me to participate and promised they would come for the occasion, so I grudgingly signed up. There was a family kerfuffle and I ended up attending graduation and walking across the stage all by myself without any family members in the audience. I was upset for a long time, but now I like the photo as it reminds me of hard work, perseverance, and maybe even a little forgiveness.

Bonus Favorite: Glinda costume

I've posted this photo several times before, but have to include my Glinda costume in any list of my favorite things to wear. 

I can't wait to see everyone else's three favorite things to wear!

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Bigger is Better?

The Think Write Thursday topic for today is to write about the contents of your purse. Are you a minimalist? Or do you carry around a knapsack? And say, what’s in there, anyway? Tell us what you’ve got in your purse and why!

I've read quite a few posts from people who carry minimal things in their well-organized purses, so it seems like we need at least one from a knapsack-carrier. That's me. I started using this leather knapsack about 16 years ago. It was my mother's and she used it when she traveled. I claimed it because I happened to be going on a trip, and somehow it just ended up being my daily purse.

The front pocket usually holds my phone (but I'm using it to take these photos), and pens, but I also found a spare Poudre River Public Library card and fortune cookie fortunes. ("The happiest circumstances are close to home.")

Inside, I've got my wallet, the blue "drug bag" (with ibuprofen, Excedrin, decongestant, Imodium, band aids, etc.), tissues, my Rhodia notebook and fountain pen, an old Decemberists ticket, emergency Grey Goose, spare keys and all my library and loyalty cards, my turtle pouch for carrying my ipod, and a large purple comb. But wait, there's more!

If I go anywhere except to the grocery store or local errands, I've also got my Kindle and knitting stuffed inside.

It all fits, but it is heavy and hard to find things. Too often I'm that lady digging through her purse looking for something. I'm wondering if a Baggalini bag and some Walker bags might help me be that organized, put-together person I'd like to be. Maybe ... (but change is hard!)

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Think Write Thursday

The Think Write Thursday topic for today is what piece of advice would you give to five year old you? Sixteen year old you? Twenty-one year old you? Right now?

Dear Five-Year-Old Bonny,

You are adorable and sweet and happy. Don't ever change.
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Dear Sixteen-Year-Old Bonny,

It seems that you may have grown out of your sweet, adorable, and happy phase. While your parents may not be thrilled, it's a good thing that you're learning to both think for yourself, and stand up for yourself and your beliefs. Keep it up. The other piece of advice I can offer is to slow down. The speeding tickets you will be receiving are going to take a huge sum out of your meager savings. You may stand a chance of being around at 21 if you don't drive like the proverbial bat out of hell. Don't be in such a rush while driving or growing up.
P.S. Also, don't sew any more dresses from wild polyester knit fabric for home ec. projects. 
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Dear Twenty-One-Year Old Bonny,

I'm so glad you listened to my advice, slowed down and began to drive safely. My next piece of advice is to be patient. Not everything comes quickly or easily; in fact, very few things do. Time will diminish the pain of a broken heart and the disappointment of a C in organic chemistry. Make mistakes, learn from them, and do better next time. 
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Dear Right Now Bonny,

You haven't done too badly so far, but here are my next bits of advice. Try to let go of so many expectations. Things are not always going to turn out the way that you thought and hoped, and you're ruining you chances of enjoying the outcome. Also, there’s so much you don’t know, but stay curious and keep learning. Never, ever stop learning. Lastly, don’t put off being happy. You were happy at five, less so at 16 and 21, but you're beginning to come around. Keep it up. 
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Sage advice, now all I have to do is listen and put it into practice!
What is your best piece of advice?

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Ideally

The Think Write Thursday prompt for today is to write a post describing your ideal day.

So, ideally, my day would include ...

the perfect cup of tea,

blue skies,

plenty of relaxed time for knitting,

yet more relaxed time for reading,

time spent in nature,

some flowers,

and my family.

(I'm not-so-secretly hoping that Sunday will include at least some of these things!)

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Dual Purpose

I'm joining Kym today for Poem in Your Pocket Day, a day to choose your favorite poem, carry it with you, and share it with others. Also, the Think Write Thursday topic for today is to write a post that begins with the words, "Remember the time ..." So, here is my dual purpose PiYPD/TWT post.

I remember the time I heard Wislawa Szymborska read "A Tale Begun" on NPR in 2007 and I was immediately struck. While I haven't carried this poem in my pocket, I have carried it with me in my planner for the last ten years so I could read it often.The lines at the end still bring tears to my eyes. Perhaps it will also speak to you.

A Tale Begun

The world is never ready

for the birth of a child.

Our ships are not yet back from Winnland.

We still have to get over the S. Gothard pass.

We've got to outwit the watchmen on the desert of Thor,

fight our way through the sewers to Warsaw's center,

gain access to King Harald the Butterpat,

and wait until the downfall of Minister Fouche.

Only in Acapulco

can we begin anew.

We've run out of bandages,

matches, hydraulic presses, arguments, and water.

We haven't got the trucks, we haven't got the Minghs' support.

This skinny horse won't be enough to bribe the sheriff.

No news so far about the Tartars' captives.

We'll need a warmer cave for winter

and someone who can speak Harari.

We don't know whom to trust in Nineveh,

what conditions the Prince-Cardinal will decree,

which names Beria has still got inside his files.

They say Karol the Hammer strikes tomorrow at dawn.

In this situation let's appease Cheops,

report ourselves of our own free will,

change faiths,

pretend to be friends with the Doge

and say that we've got nothing to do with the Kwabe tribe.

Time to light the fires.

Let's send a cable to grandma in Zabierzow.

Let's untie the knots in the yurt's leather straps.

May delivery be easy,

may our child grow and be well.

Let him be happy from time to time

and leap over abysses.

Let his heart have strength to endure

and his mind be awake and reach far.

But not so far

that it sees into the future.

Spare him

that one gift,

0 heavenly powers.

~Wislawa Szymborska

From View With a Grain of Sand, 1993

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Think Write Thursday

The Think Write Thursday topic for today is to tell you about a book I wish I could read again for the first time.

I had to give careful consideration to a few books before I arrived at my final choice. The first one I thought of was The Shell Seekers. I always remember how reading it the first time made me feel. It's a family saga with such gorgeous descriptions of domestic life, food, flowers, gardens, and cottages that I wanted to move to England and buy a thatched cottage with a conservatory. (Plus, it's one of my favorite covers ever.)

The next book I thought about was Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. This one is also based on a feeling, the delighted feeling of anticipation I had when my local bookseller put a copy into my hands and said, "You must read this." He knew my reading tastes incredibly well and told me to go home, read it, and come back when I was done and we could talk about it. I was back two days later, and I will always thank Larry for introducing me to the wizarding world. The feeling grew when Ryan was old enough to be interested in the books and we attended lots of midnight release parties together at the book store and read the Harry Potter series side by side. Life was good until Borders moved in and Larry just couldn't compete. His knowledge of books was vast, but sadly that didn't pay the bills and I couldn't afford to buy enough from him to keep him in business. 

But the book that I really wish I could read again for the first time (now that I've told you about three instead of choosing only one) is Still Alice. My mother had brain metastases when she was diagnosed with breast cancer, and because of this, she underwent many personality changes and had a whole host of Alzheimer's-like symptoms. I read this book seven years after my mother died, but Lisa Genova's writing was so medically and emotionally descriptive that reading the book gave me an incredible feeling of comprehension. Genova is a neuroscientist and Still Alice made me feel like I finally understood what my mother might have gone through, even if she wasn't able to tell me herself. It was a bittersweet moment, but one I truly value.

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Hello, April

The Think Write Thursday topic for today is (no surprise here) to write a post called, "Hello, April." 

Piles of snow recede.
While daffodils are budding
The deer help themselves

April, please, no fools.
Just eggs and lovely flowers.
Spring can stay a while.

This next haiku isn't specific to April, but it did spring fully-formed into my mind when I was checking the calendar.

Time flies far too fast
I realized with alarm
I'm sixty in June.

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Think Write Thursday - The View From Here

The Think Write Thursday topic for today is to look out a window you don't normally look out of and tell us what you see.

This is one of the windows in Ryan's room. I rarely go in his room since he moved to Colorado; I've turned the radiator off and keep the door closed in our ongoing efforts to save on heating costs in this drafty old house. 

The first things I notice are that the brown blinds really clash with the bright blue walls, but Ryan insisted on both of them when I painted his room about 12 years ago. I made the valances and I can also see that they really need to be washed. 

This is what the view used to look like after Ryan saw A Beautiful Mind with Russell Crowe as John Nash writing proofs on his windows at Princeton. He said it helped him to better see solutions. Alas, the illumination hasn't worked so well for me. 

When I open the blinds, I can see that this really is a nice view. There is the roof I occasionally climb out on to clean the gutters and my neighbor's lovely brick house. 

I wonder what happened to the shutters on my neighbor's second story windows? They are probably in his garage and he'll get them out in a few weeks to paint them. I also notice that they even have curtains in their attic window! 

My favorite part of the view from this window is our old oak tree. I usually have a much lower viewpoint when I'm on the patio enjoying its shade or filling the bird feeder, but I appreciate this second story view to get a better look at its massive branches, gnarls, knots, and lichens. There have been times when having this huge tree so close to the house has been a concern (during Hurricane Sandy), but I've always viewed it as more of a guardian than a threat. 

Thanks to Carole and Kat for helping me take a look at some things I pass right by and for providing me with a fresh perspective!

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