Nero Wolfe III

Okay. Some of you don't share this obsession. Come along for the ride and grab one of the Rex Stout paperbacks and check it out. The novels are being re-issued, so you should have no trouble.

Naomi came up with some interesting choices for playing the characters. She literally gagged at my choices because they were too old. Interesting, they didn't seem too old to me, but I bow to her superior understanding of the concept of "too old." She picked as a possibility Will Smith for Archie, but the drawback to that is the racist attitudes in the 30's through the 50's. He would not have been as acceptable and as invisible as it is necessary to be. Her other choice is Steve Carell, who is presently starring in "The Office" on NBC. I find the character he plays in that piece nauseating so that I have difficulty seeing him playing my hero. So, for me, that role is still open. Any suggestions? Or can you convince me of his brillance?

The choice she has for Nero Wolfe is so great it just blew me away! Phillip Seymour Hoffman! Isn't that great? Wow. He just got the Oscar for his portrayal of Truman Capote. Hard to think of two characters more disparate than Nero Wolfe and Truman Capote, but they are both geniuses in their separate ways. Right on with the idea. He could even give the feeling of being overweight without being grotesque. I am very in favor. Wow.

Well, off to my day. Rainy and cold today. I'm taking a trip to Alexandria in search of some sculpture for our Mother/Child tea on Saturday at the Coffeehouse Art Center in Evansville. We should have a great time. The art is a collection of paintings, etc. of mothers with children. Prints, batiks, paintings, and - hopefully - sculpture. Should be a wonderful eclectic bunch of art work. If you're in the neighborhood, drop in. The tea is Saturday at 10 and at 2, but you could come any Friday and Saturday from 10 to 3 to see it. It should be fun.

Have a great chilly day!

Just Another Day in May

What a beautiful day. Everything is fresh after the rain. Went to the gym. Had a good confab with my friend Karen. Life is good.

I miss my contacts with Izzy. He should be back from Mongolia soon. The end of his stint is May 10, but whether that is the day he returns or not I don't know. He may choose to do a bit of traveling, too.

I am attempting to do a HUGE job. I am going to clean and rearrange my "Vicki" room. Some would call it a junk room, but I call it my office. The junk room part is starting to tip over into the majority classification, so I have agreed to try to do something about it. Wish me luck. I will certainly need that and also a great big dose of patience. Sigh. To say nothing of muscles in both my arms and legs. And brain.

George is out spreading fertilizer on our wonderful green yard. I was needed to come out and hold things while he adjusted the spreader. Ah, yes. The wonderful work expended in making the yard beautiful and green. Another sigh. But whatever floats your boat, I guess. I have my own quota of idiosyncratic behavior. So I better not say much. Just a little? No? Okay.

Take care and have a wonderful day!

Nero Wolfe II

I had a big bone to pick with NW. Several times Archie said that he dog-eared a page and set his book down. I have a big time aversion to dog-earing pages in books. Now I found that he classifies books A, B, C, or D and he only dog-ears the last two designated. With A books he uses a 5 inch x 1 inch thin gold strip as a book mark. With B books he uses a piece of paper. With C and D it is dog-earing. There is a whole ritual other than just the page marking and if you're interested look at the first paragraph in the novel "Plot It Yourself" by Rex Stout. I find I agree with Nero. One should never dog-ear a book that is a BOOK. Actually, I feel you should never dog-ear a book, period, but that is a Vicki phobia, not a Nero Wolfe phobia.

My favorite book mark is a double movie ticket stub. When my husband and I go to the movies, they give us the two stubs connected. There is something about them that STAYS in the book. I also then have the pleasure (sometimes, the displeasure) of remembering the movie that we saw. A double ticket seems to do the job best. They also do not collect or tear the tickets at our theatre, so I have the tickets intact.

I hope Izzy is having fun in Mongolia and working hard. He should be back soon, hopefully in one piece and with lots of information for those of us who await his words with bated breath. The travels of the younger generation take my breath away. Marvelous.

May flowers are peaking out. I saw some wild violets yesterday at the side of a sidewalk. I remember a day when they were very prevalent, but the indiscriminate spraying with pesticides have pretty well taken care of that pleasure. Too bad.

Have a wonderful day.

Nero Wolfe

I don't know about you, but I am a great fan of Rex Stout's fiction. I am presently involved in trying to think who would be the best actors to portray them on TV or the silver screen. So far I have come up with Mel Gibson for Archie Goodwin and Brian Dennehay (spelling?) for Nero Wolfe. What do the others of you think?

I'm supposed to be getting the pork tenderloins ready for the grill, so I will have to leave it at that for now. I will probably make another post later. Ain't spring grand? Daffodils and tulips and green, green grass.

Evening Beauty

The backyard is spectacularly beautiful. The sun is setting, but just enough sun so the tree tops are still alight. I am feeling much better, and the sight of the beauty of nature makes my heart sing! Wahoo. (I used to say Yahoo, but then the computer got ahold of my good old shout and it has changed meaning. Like so many other words.) Wahoo!!!!!!!!

We had a mother/daughter luncheon at the church women's group. The room was filled with all the bright colors of springtime clothes. All ages from babies to old ladies. Fun time.

A baby was born yesterday. Antonio was born on cinco de Mayo. Pretty exciting. Congratulations to the new parents. All went well, thank goodness. Antonio is their first, so the parents are sweating their new routines. All the best to them all.

I don't feel particularly loquasious loquacious. I haven't found the spell check on this yet and I'm too lazy to look it up in the dictionary, and I like that word so I am not going to change it to talkative.. it should actually be writative, which isn't a word at all. Too bad. Enough, already.

Diverticulosis/diverticulitis

Well. I'm feeling better because I have self diagnosed why I am feeling so peculiar. I have diverticulosis as a constant, and when it acts up it is called "itis" and I finally feel that is what is happening. I have several things I can do to try to quieten the "itis" so it will lay back down and only be "osis." I am doing those things, and if successful - no harm no foul. If I am not successful I will have to take a trip to the medico. Sigh. But at least my spirits are better when I realise what is probably wrong. Go figure.

The weather is cold here. George went golfing yesterday to prove he is up to it with his golfing team buddies. And he does love it. But it was too cold and his hands protested. He actually has golfing mittens that cover his hands when it is not necessary to clutch a club. These folks are dedicated golfers. The "powers that be" cancelled play, but most of the team insisted on playing. Fun. Right.

Thank you to those who sent me e-mails or left comments. I really appreciate it!

Funk

By calling this blog Funk, I am not referring to the remarkable and likable golfer Fred, but to my state of mind. I have included this painting (which is not my present pear painting but one which is in a private collection ) because I am feeling remarkably like the gray background. I am in a funk.

Hopefully it will soon meander off, but in the meantime it is difficult for me to blog. I am keeping on with my life with as much oomph as possible, but it is difficult to sleep and I felt a bit flu-ish this morning. Painting is even more difficult in this funkish state.

The weather has not cooperated. It is wet and soggy and gray when it isn't downright stormy. Strangely enough I like storms, it's the long dreary nothing times of just glug that I don't like. I am hoping soon to feel like the red foreground in the painting. That would not be funk - it would be pep. The pears are cooooooool. Ah yes.

Do a comment to cheer me on the way. Click on comment at the bottom of the post, then write your comment, click on other, recognize the screwy letters and publish. I need some cheering up. Yeah.

May First

This is a day that is celebrated by many as the day for workers. I can remember as a child celebrating it as a day in which I made paper baskets and delivered them to the doors of people I particularly liked. The trick was to leave the basket containing wild flowers on the doorstep, ring the doorbell or knock and then run like mad to prevent their knowing who I was. I have no idea who originated this custom, but I am pretty sure it was wide spread. It seems a sort of bucolic adventure in this day and age when children have to be so careful of their surroundings at all times. They might run right into the arms of the bogey man.

You can tell by how I ended that tale that I am in no mood to be light and cheerful. Our plans to go to Mpls had to be cancelled because of rain. We could not work on the yardwork in the midst of the rainfall, so we stayed home. Even though I was all dressed and rarin' to go. I have yet to get over the disappointment. So I am having a reading marathon which does nothing for my mood. I am trying to come out of it, but so far no dice. The odd thing is that the more depressed I feel the more manic my cheerfulness is to those I encounter. Go figure. Ah, well. We all know that the only predictable thing is change, so my mood will soon change.

Now that I have managed to cheer all of you up, I'll give you a good recipe. Their is some confusion in my mind about who was the originator of the recipe, but here goes. It is GOOD. Also chuck full of calories, I'm sure, to say nothing about the forbidden carbohydrates of my diabetic life. Sigh. Here goes:

Crescent Roll Bars:

1 tube crescent rolls
Spread out in ungreased 9x13 pan and up the sides a little.

Beat really well: 12 oz. cream cheese, 1 cup sugar, 1egg yolk. Put on top of crescent rolls.

Spread out on counter or a board another tube of crescent rolls to make a 9x13 and a little up the sides. Put on top of filling and squeeze the sides together with bottom crust.

Mix together and put on top: 1/4 cup sugar, 1/2 tsp. cinnamon, 3/4 cup chopped walnuts
Bake @ 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

I think there could be interesting varations on this recipe. It is sort of like cheese cake so I would think one could add some sort of berries, or apples or who knows. If any of you try variations, let me know. Both the men and women at our meeting liked it. yum, yum.

Hmmmmmmmmmm.

I won't be able to make it to the last belly dancing class as we are motoring (how do you like that archaic phraseology?) to Minneapolis on Thursday afternoon. I can't belly dance worth a hot darn anyway, but I do like the scarf I found on Tuesday, so I thought I would cheat a little and have Barb take my photo. All those tents of sweet Araby will have to do without this hot mama. Don't you think all that eye surgery was worth it? Yeah, right. It's the rest of my anatomy that protests, not my eyes.

I forgot I had book club today and was summoned from the gym. We discussed the book and talked up a storm. A good time was had by all. The book was "The True and Outstanding Adventures of the Hunt Sisters" by Elisabeth Robinson. Carol had a nice lunch topped off by deviled eggs as an homage to our erstwhile bookclub member Fran, and the day was benefitted by the attendance of our new member, another Carol. We are four, and we roar. Whatever.

I wasn't too crazy about the book, but it did elicit lots of good discussion.

How do you like the new color for my postings? I decided that the black was sometimes difficult to see, so I would try the green for awhile. Let me know which you prefer. I really chose the black because I thought it was such a good background for the paintings. I will withhold my judgment. So far I do enjoy the green.

I'll get back to you when I return from our short trip. Have some good springtime fun this weekend. This weather is unbelievably nice.

2nd blog for today!

I have had quite a day. Meandered to Alex and found a fantastic sale on natural fiber clothes. 50% of 50% off for today. In other words, 75% off. Wow. I even found a scarf for belly dancing class. However, I may not make the class as I have a feeling we're heading to Mpls on Thursday. Stay tuned for the latest news. If I do leave the neighborhood ahead of time, we will have to stage a picture so that I can keep my word, right, Karen?

I misused a word in my earlier post today. I said we could mow with no impunity. I meant with no penalty. Impunity means exemption from punishment, so I - in effect - said with no no penalty. the no is redundant. Am I right? All you wordsmiths out there, what about it? Check it out. Whaddya think? Can I continue writing my blog with impunity? Well, that's an entirely different matter. Take it easy on this marvelous spring day.

The Martins have come!

This is one of the biggest days of the year in the Larson household. The martins have arrived. For the last several days we have been anxiously awaiting their arrival. Should we clean their house, have they all been killed, what's happened to them? They were about four days or more later than usual. While they were not here, the sparrows have been busily nesting in the martin house. When the martins come, they kick the sparrows out. It's interesting that they don't kick all of the sparrows out, though, only enough so that they have the required number of houses for themselves. Then they remain friendly (relatively friendly) through the summer. I wonder if the hurricanes had some effect on their turntable. Just think... they fly all the way from South America to nest here in the summer. Poor things. I bet they're exhausted.

This is an exciting time of year. When you get to be our age, you are always thrilled that you're getting to see it one more time. The earth looks nice and black and ready for something to be planted. The grass is bright green again and soon ready to be mowed. What is it with us that we love to mow grass? Why not grow it and get some goats or something. Oh, no, we must manicure it, meanwhile polluting the atmosphere with our mowers. Crazy. We'd get into major trouble with our neighbors, not to mention the law, if we indulged ourselves in goats or sheep. Double crazy. But we can mow with no impunity. And each of us owning our own mower. Think of the money spent when we could have a joint ownership of a mower and save a bundle. There are those who hire someone to mow their lawn, but that shows you're either too feeble to do it yourself or you're putting on airs. C'mon. It's the American Way to manicure your own lawn with the huskiest machine possible.

Well, enough of the ranting and raving. Off to the gym.

Saturday

This is a great day for me. I have managed to do most of the things I have promised to do. I went to Poetry Night instead of to belly dancing. Our Evansville Arts Coalition has held this event for 9 years and I have gone to every one, I think. Next year will be the big 10 so we will have to try to do something spectacular to mark the event. It is so much fun and is well attended by people from the whole area. The arts is so important for our society's advancement. We need the emphasis as the schools seem to cut the arts the first pinch of money woes. Not good. It is the arts that keep us all human. We can have different religions, but our insistance on the soul is what keeps us human. Making money is not the be all and the end all of life. No. Appreciation for the arts is IT. It keeps us real and human.

Then I have done whatever writing people wanted me to do to contribute the book celebrating our 125th year of existence as a town. In July will be the celebration. Yippee.

I have started painting again. I had so much preparation for the presentation I gave on May Stevens that I had let my painting go. One cannot do painting because one should. One can paint when one has an idea about it. I am presently painting pears because I feel like painting pears and George happened to bring four beauties home the other day. When I have a painting done I will put a picture of it on this blog. What fun. Pears are sensuous creatures to me. I know they are not creatures, but they seem so to me.

Have a wonderful spring weekend. The weather is chilly but sunny. Yippee-kai-yai!

Still on the go

Today I am once more hustling into my clothes, but for a much less fun event. I just found out that an old friend has died and the funeral is today. Her name is Mitzi Saunders. We had lost touch with one another because of the pressures of life, and I didn't even get to say goodbye to her in her last illness. I feel let down about myself. I think I should be more careful to keep track of my buddies.

At one time we were very fond of each other and into every kind of silliness. We would meet and tell stories, play Scrabble (she was a fanatic player), take trips to Fargo to go to the King's Table for dinner and make a mandatory stop at Barnes and Noble, and meander out to her house boat place outside Dalton. She kept the place just for fishing. She loved to fish. She was diabetic and carried hot tobasco sauce with her to pour on all food to awaken her taste buds. Any illness she had was exacerbated from an exposure to Agent Orange during the Korean War. Because it wasn't during the Viet Nam War she never got any satisfaction from the government or much help with her ailments. But she kept on trucking. She was an inspirational figure to me. And a good friend. And then life conspired to keep us apart for awhile. I regret that. The lesson is to keep your friendships current.

May God bless her and keep her. I will miss her.

Zen anyone?

This is a painting I did inspired by a book about the zen of creative painting. I was to close my eyes and imagine an empty bench and wait to see who would come to sit on my bench. I proceeded to wait ... and wait .... and wait. And noone ever came.. so I called the picture "The Empty Bench!" Originality reigns supreme. I realize that it is rather sad, but I also find it rather hilarious. Go figure.

I am in seventh heaven because my speech went great and now I feel like I did after all my exams were over in college. Footloose and fancy free, or something. On to the next thing. Which is to hustle myself into clothes and go to the gym to exercise (lightly) and laugh (uproariously) with my exercise buddies. Life is good.

How to do it?

Now I'm embroiled in the preparation period of giving a speech about an artist. I will be giving a talk about May Stevens tomorrow at the Art of the Lakes meeting. I have done lots of study, but how to get the nugget of why I find her a fascinating artist over to the listeners. I am going to make reproductions of a few of her paintings. It will be hard to get across because her paintings are enormous. eight feet by 18 feet, some of them. I was so fortunate to hear her talk and visit her paintings at the Minneapolis Art Institute about a year ago. Then I bought a book which accompanied the art exhibit's travel to various venues. I was smitten.

How to pass my enthusiasm to my audience, that's the question. Well, I must get to work and make my plans. Guess I'll procrastinate and read a bit more in My Nero Wolfe mystery. I am a master at procrastination. Sigh.

Groan

Well, it's going to take quite a bit to transform this stocky Scandinavian into a lithe and sinuous mid-eastern belly dancer. All my preconceived notions were right on target. Being 75 years old with bad feet and knees doesn't help, either. I feel like a piece of tenderized steak this morning. That proves it is definitely good for me, but I at least don't feel like I missed my calling. After I got over feeling ridiculous (well, truth be told, I never did get over feeling ridiculous) I gave it my best shot. Not good enough, but I'm still willing to try some more. In spite of all the frou frou, it is a great way to stretch muscles I didn't even know I had. Whether I can make them rotate, now that's the question. Stay tuned for pictures and more info next week. Why, why do I let myself get into these strange situations. Curiosity, for one thing, and the lack of my weekly "no" pill. I have to be more religious in taking that medication. No, no, no, ho, ho, ho. right.

Yesterday Pastor Irv went to the airport in Mpls/St. P to pick up Greta. After extended stays in Japan, and other such countries, she is back in Minnesota. Welcome! I followed her adventures on her pepyride website with great interest. Glad she got back safe and sound.
The kids nowadays (how is that for an old geezer's remark) do seem to travel far and wide. My own kids have been in Africa, Europe, Japan, Korea, Cyprus, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, France (Oh, I guess that's Europe) and Bahrain. Goodness. On our 50th wedding anniversary year our kids sent us on a trip to Europe and we went to museums! Wahoo.

And we have made a yearly trek to Canada for fishing and camping trips. And we lived in Brazil for five years. Add Brazil to the kid's list above. Anyway, I think the mobility of today is amazing. It also spells danger with the easy travel of pestilence and plague. Isn't it strange how most positives have a negative lurking in the wings, and vice verse. Oh, well. (Accentuate the positive and eliminate the negative and don't mess with Mr. in-between.)

Have a wonderful day. Sunny again here.

Today's the Day

Ok. From now on I will not only be "Still Kickin'," I will be "Still Dancin'." Yup. Tonight is my first Belly Dancing Class. I will be sure to give you a comprehensive report tomorrow, if I am still able to sit at the computer and type. I presume I will be even more able to proceed with my life after such an endeavor, but just in case - It's been good to know ya.

One of the problems that presents itself in the contemplation of the class is what to wear. Although that is often a concern, this time it is an unprecedented mystery. All of the scenes from the old movies of mid-east bistro belly dancers race into my mind and I have a vision of scarves and gold bangles and body piercings - long before piercings became common place in the US - even in backwater Minnesota. I am reassured by my compadres that all I need to wear is my usal garb - just something comfortable. So I believe jeans and a T-shirt are called for. Or????????? Who knows what sort of inspiration I will achieve by tonight. That, too, will be explained tomorrow.

Have a wonderful day. Sunshine reigns triumphant here today.

Camping

Camping is one of the things we do best. I had never gone camping in any real sense until I married George. I avow that he is the world's best camper. I just go along for the fun and do the cooking and clean-up. He puts up the tents and does all the other work that camping entails. We sleep in our van and have two screen tents. One for eating and cooking and the other for reading or painting. We have a love of camping places near to a lake. You might think that that is not difficult to find, but you would be wrong. Many camp spots are a little clearing surrounded by trees. Claustrophobic me does not like such spots and we steer clear of them. We have the absolutely most marvelous spot and are heading for it the first week in August. You can apply to come with us if you wish. We have to "vet" you before we give you permission to enter Eden with us. Yowsah. and Wahoo.

I don't know when I have enjoyed the coming of Spring as much as I have this year. It is such fun to see George doing his usual chores in the yard. He was very ill this winter, so the fact that he is so much better now is a joy. It makes us appreciate every little thing. A person should always live like that, but it takes a nice little scare to drive it home. Yowsah and Wahoo.

Have a wonderful day. Enjoy your friends and family.

Summertime, and the livin is easy...

I look out in the backyard and see my husband de thatching the lawn. He looks great. After some illness this winter it is such a relief to see him looking well and doing his usual stuff. When you get to be our age (OLD) you do not take any of this for granted, but thank God for each opportunity to do the usual stuff. It is not unusual for us to say, "If we live to see.... the springtime, or the garden, or whatever." All of it is a gift from God.

Yesterday was a meeting of our birthday club. We met for dinner, gifts to the honoree, and a trip to the live outdoor passion pageant put on at Zion Lutheran Church in Alexandria. It was a raw and windy day so I got chilled, but it was very well done and interesting. Very well attended, too, which was nice for them after the obviously busy time they had put in to get ready for this event. After I came home, I wrapped my self in a quilt that my mother made. It has wool batting which is very warm, and the memories of mother's love makes it even more comfy. It took me several hours to get over the chill. Today I am fine!

Naomi and Tony are planning a trip to Tanzania next winter to teach at a girls' school there. Naomi will teach English and Tony math. They are volunteers and will be looking for some donations to help finance their time there as well as their travel costs. I hope it will be a very fulfilling adventure for them as well as a help for the school. More details will follow as time goes on. Have a wonderful day, and notice all the small things. Don't take them for granted!

Takin' it easy

These two are our guests this week! Chillin' out and having a rest. Great fun. Another friend took us out for smelt. Yes, you heard it - smelt. If you're from around here you know what I'm talking about. Little fish deep fried whole and dipped in wonderful tartar sauce as you eat the crispy little critters. It is definitely an acquired taste, but our friends have taken us each year until we finally agree that it is a delicacy. Of course, there's smelt and then there's smelt. Like everything else, some prepare it better than others. We went to the annual affair at Parker's Prairie which was absolutely yummy and is the best offering of smelt around here in my opinion.

Half way through the dinner I developed a killer nose bleed. Oofta. Naomi and I went out and applied cold compresses, etc., and finally got it under control. I think I better cut back a bit on my blood thinner!

I am stuffed from eating too much, so I think I will just go and chill out in my recliner. I'm going to take it easy.

Just one more pear!

This was a beautiful pear that I bought and photographed in California. I was going to paint it but didn't have the right kind of paint with me to do what I envisioned. If I get busy and do it now, I will include a foto of the painting. That should be kind of fun. Maybe not. Whatever. We'll have to wait to see how it turns out.

Naomi is home visiting which is always great. She is only here for a couple of days, but we take whatever we can get! She has her dog with her. A very smart Australian Blue Heeler. He's quite aggressive and wanting to herd all the people to do his bidding. She is having limited success training him, but each time we see him he has improved a lot.

Naomi, George and I are heading out for an adventure this afternoon. I have no idea what will finally happen, but we will go shopping, drink coffee and talk. Time will tell. More tomorrow.

Yippee!!

I know I've had this painting in the blog before, but I had to share some good news with you. I went to retrieve two paintings from the Waage Art Show and discovered I had received a Merit Award for this painting. I was very excited and glad. I soldier on with the art stuff wondering what in the world I'm doing, so a pat on the back is appreciated. Thank you Minnesota Community and Technical College, Fergus Falls, for the kudos. I had the killer sore throat so I wasn't able to go to the open house for this show.
The name of the painting is Evening Tide and I painted it to go with a poem by an Alexandria poet.

Izzy is reading a book entitled "The Namesake" and I was reminded of the mix up I have had with my name through the years. My nickname is Vicki. My real name is Delia Loretta. No one has ever called me Delia, so when I get the phone calls to best friend Delilah or DeLia or whatever, I realize it is someone who doesn't know me at all. My nuclear childhood family has always called me Loretta, but when I went off to college I realized that the comparison of my klutzy overweight self with the other Loretta, Loretta Young, was just downright bizarre. She would come floating in on a cloud of chiffon every week on her television show, and I would just trip and fall and break a toe. In response to this impetus, I took the nickname "Vicki" from my maiden name, "Vick." Every time someone would wonder what my last name was, they would say, "Vicki.... Ah, I don't remember your last name," and I would say "Vick," and they would feel foolish. It was great.

I had a go-around with it when I was out in California. John took me in to the day-care place and signed me in as Vicki Larson so I could pick Matt up. One of the days I went to pick him up they asked me for identification, so I gave them my driver's license and my pass, and both of them were in the name Delia L. Larson. It took half an hour for them to track Beth down and get her ok to let me pick up Matt. I was glad they were careful, however.... you can't be too careful these days.

The quilts that I have been telling you about have been quilted and are getting the binding sewn on. I will be finishing up the last little bit of stitching by hand, and they will be done. They are looking great. Cherie says she and the kids might be stopping by to pick them up later in the year, so that will be lots of fun. I'm sure I wouldn't recognize the kids as they have been growing by leaps and bounds. They are a great niece and nephew!

It is a beautiful sunny day. The wind is raw today, but just looking outside, it's great.

Sigh

Another day when the blog is refusing to put up a picture. Oh, well.

I have a very busy day ahead of me. Lots of errands and meetings and fun during the day. In the evening we are meeting a group of friends for supper (dinner?) and then to a special presentation of the Gospel of Mark at the Center for the Arts in Fergus Falls. I will tell you the particulars of the presentation tomorrow.

It is so nice to feel well again. YES.

I am preparing a talk for the Art of the Lakes meeting on the 18th of April. I love giving talks about artists I am crazy about. This time it will be about May Stevens. I was fortunate enough to realize she was going to be at the Minneapolis Institute of Art last May with a speech and a show of her art. The title of her talk," The Water Remembers" caught my fancy when I saw it in the monthly magazine of the MIA, so I went to stay with Naomi and to the talk and the show. I was completely blown away by her and her paintings. She's 80 and still going strong. YES. I love the example. Now the trick is to give a talk that does her paintings justice and gives just a flavor of who the woman is. She is an activist, feminist and a painter. Does wonderful writing as well as very strong painting. If you're in New York, there is a lot of her work at the Mary Ryan Gallery there.

I will no doubt be giving you tidbits about the woman as the days go on, but I'll try not to do more than that! If you're in Battle Lake on the 18th, come to my talk. 1 pm. Yousah.

Well, off to my breakfast and my day. Izzy is reading a book by jhumpa lahiri. Is that an Indian name? And the title of the book is "The Namesake." Interesting. Talk to ya tomorrow.

Intrepid grandson

One has to get the correct protective wear to compete in life. I'm not sure I have what I need for my life, but I keep on trying. The spiritual armor I need to keep on keeping on must look as bizarre to some people as this outfit of Matthew's does to me. All this so he can ride on his scooter, I think. Or is it inline skates? I'm not sure. Anyway, he's prepared! Maybe he has some wheels in the heels of the shoes that he's wearing. I'm just not sure.

I went to the gym this morning, but I am woefully out of shape after my three week hiatus. I'll keep on truckin' and hope soon to be able to reach the level at which I can keep up. I have to be ready for my belly dancin' efforts. I will hope to include some awesome pictures from that adventure, so be sure to keep on checking this awesome blog! You bet.

I think I've figured out why sometimes I can't download (why not upload?) pix onto this site. It is when I've been checking some of the other blogs I read before I come here to do mine, ESPECIALLY Izzy's. Yeah, man, that video stuff is a drag. I do only have dial up, so that's probably why. Sigh. I love your blog, so don't abandon the pix that I can manage. PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEZE. adios

Back to Normal

Today has been a wonderful day. I feel great. Was able to sing in the choir and didn't cough even once! Pastor Irv is back after a three month sabbatical. All's right with the world. Well, of course, that isn't true! But my world is much improved.

Izzy: I can't even download your blog because those blasted video things take up too much space. Advise me - how do I use them. They don't do anything, no matter which of those little arrows and things i click on. sob. sob.

We had a great trip to Fargo yesterday. Bought some books and ate some shrimp at Red Lobster. I love those biscuit things they give you. The Buffalo River was over its banks and we could see flooding in many fields. The highway and streets were fine, though.

We are contemplating going to the movies tonight. We are getting downright frisky. Right. Have a wonderful day.

Fools' Day

Well, I feel a little about this day the way I feel about Mother's Day and Father's Day. Every day should be dedicated to all the fools in the world. They need all the help they (we) can get! If we didn't have a little foolishness to decorate our hum drum existence we would be in a sorry state. I'm for dedicating every day to foolishness... at least a little foolishness.

I have decided I am not going to take paintings to Hawley. It is too long a haul and I was reading the instructions ( a little late, I admit) and realized I have to pick up the paintings next Sunday afternoon at 4. I am going to be meeting with the birthday club in Alex on that day, so I decided it was getting too complicated. Maybe next year.

So..... we are going to Fergus to pick up some paintings from the Waage exhibit, and then on to Fargo for an old folks' day out. Books and food, that's the ticket.

Hopefully there won't be enough flooding that it impedes our path. All the news brings back memories of the flood when John and Beth lived north of Moorhead on the river. Now that was flooding. Hopefully it is still in the infant stages and won't be bad. I will report later. God willing and the creek don't rise.

I'm feelin' better!

This is a picture of me 17 days after the eyelid surgery. This is illustrative of how much better I feel. Not completely well, but much better!

I even think I will try to go to the gym today. Wahoo.

We had a marvelous thunder and lightening spring storm last night. I am one of those people who love storms. My daughter and I have had some wonderful times living through horrendous storms together, and we both glory in them. Probably because nothing too bad has happened to us during those storms. They've just been bad enough to be invigorating. It's hard to imagine anyone who has lived through something like Katrina looking forward to any kind of storm. Now THAT was a truly horrendous experience. But for the moment, I still feel invigorated by thunderstorms.

I hope you all are feeling well today, too. I'll see some of you at the gym. vicki

Ah Hah!

Posting two blogs in a single day has fooled the picture uploading genie into not boycotting my pix. This is a painting that I did called "The Sparks Fly Upward."

I came to the venture with the feeling that if I tried to upload a picture at a different time I could fool the genie and I did it! I feel totally pumped.

OK. I think I have burdened you enough for one day with my weird sense of humor. Have a great night and day! vicki

Wahoo!!

I finally got out of the house and feel like a new person. I still have a cold but no sore throat and the contact with people restored my energies. I took a shower, dressed in some of my new duds, and made a short visit to some of my painting friends in Alexandria. Then crashed in the car completely tired out. But I'm back in the game! I feel real. I haven't felt so real that I attempted to download a picture yet, but pretty darn close.

Tomorrow I have the wonderful chore of taking a mammogram. Although that is a far from pleasant chore, it is very necessary. That should take the energy for tomorrow. And I can rest up on Thursday. Maybe I'll even have the energy to go to the gym. WE'll have to wait to see.

Many different art deals are hanging. Literally! One painting accepted to the LRAC Show this spring, Have to collect two paintings from the other show out at the Waage Gallery, and take two paintings up to Hawley. On Saturday we are going to Hawley with the paintings, and then on to Fargo for our old folks' day out. Have to visit Barnes and Noble. Then Red Lobster for lunch. Then Michael's to see what art stuff they can interest me in. Then???? home.

It's so much fun to feel that little burbly thing in my breast that let's me know I'm still me and I'm ALIVE. Yes.. I have to say... WAHOO.

Monday

Well. I still am not having luck downloading a picture to this blog. I guess I broke the proverbial camera with that last one. Sorry.

I had a splendid picture to include today to make up for the erstwhile horror. But it was not to be. I wonder what I have to do to resolve this problem. Any suggestions from those of you who are more acquainted with blogdom than I?

I am missing exercising with my friends, but I believe the best thing to do is lay low. I had a so-so night last night with a recurrence of coughing. Shucks. I thought I was well and totally over the cough. Ah, well. Patience.

No news from the quiet of my home. More non-news tomorrow, no doubt.

Feeling better today!

Hmmmm. I was trying to insert a picture here and the blogger told me I couldn't. Perhaps they were too put off by yesterday's picture. Who could blame them, after all.

I had a good night's sleep. Actually in bed with the new fluffy pillow. Didn't cough as far as I know all night! Wow. I still feel the scratchy throat, etc., but it's much better.

I am staring out the window at the birds in the trees. I am trying to find something to say. I am drawing a blank. So. Until tomorrow. (I just thought of something! Maybe my throat is better and my brain is empty. ..... Some of you would say that is a definite improvement!) Sayonara.

Oofta

I want you to feel my pain. This cold has got me down. This is a picture of me after I had my eyes "done." And it should give you some idea of how horrible I feel from this cold, as well as discouraging any one else from having surgery on their eye lids. I had to have mine done as the eyelids were starting to refuse to stay open. Not good if you like to read or watch television. But I can't quite see doing surgery just for appearances. This should discourage you. I hope it doesn't keep you from ever opening this blog again. Oofta.

Well. I had the worst night last night of my ordeal of this cold. Sore throat and coughing all night. Bummer. And I have to confess that as I look at that terrible picture of me, it makes me laugh. A variation of schadenfreude, Izzy. Anything to raise my spirits. Sigh.

Have a good day. Right. Cough, cough.

A Fine Balance

I mentioned the book about India called "A Fine Balance." Although I painted this painting sometime before I read the book, I knew it depicted what Mistry meant - "There is a fine balance between hope and despair." This painting is now in the collection of Randy and Ginger Fletcher, but it still speaks strongly to me, as did the book.

I have been whining enough, now, about coughing and sore throat, etc. and it's about time I get more realistic and think of those who are really having a tough time to survive. Why did I luck out and live where I lived in a family who believed in educating the girls as well as the boys? I have had so many freedoms which are denied the women of other countries. I have always had enough and then some to eat. I can purchase books to read, and if not purchase, there are always the libraries. I am free to worship God as I choose without problem. I have had a cushy life.

I am making it my business to enjoy my life to the fullest and give thanks to God for his many blessings to me. I hope that I can make a contribution to the happiness of others in the days which follow. The trick is to find those who my particular gifts will bless. I pray God to get in there and show me who, when and where.

The first step will be fascinating. "A Fine Balance" will be necessary. And then, who knows?

Blogging, Beautiful Blogging

This is a picture of my wonderful sister, Fran. I just wanted to place it here to catch her attention. If she isn't checking my blog, she should be. You never know what I will include. So - all of you out there - treat me well, or I might put your picture in my blog. Not that Fran doesn't treat me well. She does. But she abandoned me for the big city, so she has to be prepared to take her knocks. I presume she will simmer down before she gets near enough to me to be a problem.

What do you think, Karen? Am I getting out of control with my staying home, coughing, and endless reading? Well, if I am, I will have to let it out in blogland. I have missed innumerable exercise sessions (well, not innumerable, but several) and some meetings, church services, etc.

The great thing about being retired (for me) is that I try no longer to do the things I ought to do, but only the things I want to do. The exercise part I want to do because of the fun (yes, Karen, I said fun) people I have met there. It's nothing but a delight.

Now, if I can shake this bug and get back to doing what I want to do, I will be thoroughly ecstatic. I will even be able to look forward to the belly dancing class. Wahoo. Maybe I am getting out of control. One can only hope.

Still more books....

Another one with ties to Japan: "The Samurai's Garden" by Gail Tsukiyama. Then there's "The Secret Life of Bees" by Sue Monk Kidd and "The Green Knight" by Iris Murdoch. Etc, etc. The last one is a fantastic literary creation.

Well, I am still at home with coughing fits and a head cold. I am not getting appreciably worse or better, so I will continue with my self medication: Plenty of liquids and READING. The bugs that are swirling around the area are daunting, so I feel the better part of virtue is to indulge myself by just staying home. Cof Cof Cof Cof.. ad infinitum.

More books

Alright. I'm on a roll. How about "The Life of Pi" by Yann Martel. Or "A Fine Balance" by Rohinton Mistry? Both with a tie to India. Both absolutely fascinating. "The Children of Sanchez" by Oscar Lewis about Mexico.

I have another book in mind that I cannot find and don't remember exactly about Japan. I will ask around until I get the particulars.

I am indulging in one of the most wonderful vacations in my life: re-reading an old favorite. I am reading "The Bee Keeper's Apprentice" by Laurie R. King for about the fifth time. One of her other books which was written later, "O Jerusalem," is about a pause in this book, so now I am reading that in its "proper place." I am feeling so lucky to have these old friends to read. They are still as fascinating as ever. I suppose of all "my" writers, she is my favorite.

Well.. off to my delicious self indulgence. I have a sore throat and a head cold, but who cares? I can READ. Have a great day.

Cof, Cof

I feel awful. I wonder how many people feel that way after over indulging in green beer and pretzels. I only have a cold, but I feel miserable. Sore throat and cough. sigh.

I am trying to make up a book list of favorites. I am working on it. I have come up with some mystery writers. Of course, the old favorites are John MacDonald with his Travis McGee series and the Nero Wolfe books by Rex Stout. The Travis McGee ones hold up better than the Nero Wolfe ones do, I think. Of the new writers, Robert Crais with his Elvis Cole and Joe Pike characters and Tony Hillerman with the wonderful feeling of the Arizona desert. For a "one-off" I loved "Smilla's Sense of Snow" by Peter Hoeg.

Ok. Enough already for today. I am heading for my recliner, Kleenex and cough drops. By tomorrow I should feel much better. May you be protected from all the bugs wandering the universe. Cof. cof.

St. Pat's Day

Ah, yes, green. I was going out today wearing a blindingly green sweater even though I am of 100% Norwegian ancestry, but I awoke with a bad sore throat. I am going to hit the deck and try to recover good health. That is the great thing about being retired. I don't HAVE to go to work unless I want to.

At book club yesterday the hostess served a wonderful egg dish which I will pass along to you:

IMPOSSIBLE BRUNCH PIE

1 10 oz pkg. of either frozen broccoli, spinach or asparagus, chopped - 1 cup sour cream - 1 cup cottage cheese, creamed - 1/2 cup Bisquick - 1/4 c. margarine, melted - 2 eggs - 1 tomato, peeled and thinly sliced - 1/4 cup parmesan cheese grated - 4 slices bacon.

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 10 inch pie plate to spread broccoli (or spinach or asparagus) in bottom. Blend next 5 ingredients for 1 minute. Brown bacon and crumble over broccoli. Pour blended mixture over bacon. Top with bacon and parmesan cheese. Bake about 35 minutes. Cool 5 minutes.

Now, Izzy, you will have the fun (if you are planning to make this marvelous gustatory delight) of trying to figure out the equivalent things in Japanese stuff. Not easy. Maybe you can print it out and wait until you get home. I wish you were here right now and I would make it for you. Although it sounds as though you are getting fed well there!

I tried to think of books that you would like. Give me some sort of hint of the kind of books you have read. My taste as a 75 year old woman won't necessarily help you out.. but I could try if I once got on the trail of what kind of thing you have been reading or like to read. I LOVE TO READ. It has gotten me through many a hard time. I love to read mysteries. Do you think you would like them? I have some favorites I could recommend. Fill me in.

I went shopping yesterday at Herberger's as they had one of their fantastic sales. I got two jackets that I love. Wow. While I was in California I watched lots of the cable shows about how people dress and then their friends would "out" them as awful slobs and someone would give them a make over, etc., etc. So I thought I better get busy to improve my look before my friends got fired up enough to embarrass me in front of the whole USA.

It is beyond my comprehension how people come on Dr. Phil or Oprah or (worst of all) The Jerry Springer Show and let everyone in on their deepest and darkest secrets. What is it? Hunger for a little doubtful fame, or just desperation to get help no matter what? I'm way too Norwegian for all that sharing, thank you very much. Of course, I don't think I have any deep dark secrets, either. I could make one up just to get on a show, I suppose, but it would be embarrassing when they did some homework and discovered I was just lieing. I am cursed with mediocrity. Or blessed. It all depends on the point of view.

Enough dithering on. Happy Green Day. Look back two postings or so to see the green hornet. Now he makes for a Happy Green Day.

Books are the Best

Today is my book club. We meet about every month. We choose the book for the next meeting and then find the book and read it. We discuss the book at the next meeting. But we discuss so much more than books at our meetings. The books are really only a spring board to a far ranging discussion of our lives and current events. We are very close friends. Intimate friends, I might say. One of our group does not have e-mail. We keep trying desperately to convert her to being a computer-user, but so far have been unsuccessful. We will try again today!

I have been retired now for about seven years. The truism that you become more busy after retirement has become somewhat true for me. My calendar fills up fast. The difference is that I don't have to go to work every morning come rain or come shine. I can lollygag around most mornings, and if I have a cold I can just hit the deck and not go to the myriad activities planned. I soon recover and can get back on the merry go round. I can also pick and choose the activities in which I wish to participate.

I signed up for the belly dancing class and paid my money. Now I look at my calendar and realize that one of the evenings I have the annual poetry night down town at the Coffeehouse Art Center. It is the ninth annual such event and oodles of fun. I haven't written my poem yet. I want to shine up one I am working on about my propensity for falling. I will keep you informed. On that same day I have an art workshop during the day for which I am the contact person. So you can see the kinds of conflicts that afflict the retired.

I'm off to my book club.

The Green Hornet?

I couldn't resist sharing this picture with you today. It has nothing whatsoever to do with what I wanted to say, but I just love this picture. It's my grandson Matt, of course.

So.. the die is cast. (Where did that expression come from, do you suppose? I don't have one of those books that tell you the source of all of our idioms, but MY idea is that the die is one of a pair of dice, and once it is thrown, you have the result. Nothing more to be done about it. ) Anyway, I am going to take the belly dancing class. I know you all will be awaiting with bated breath (another of those mysterious idiomatic sayings) for a report of this experience, so I will keep you posted.

On a more somber note, a dear friend, Irene Baldwin, has died. As I grow old, more and more of my dear friends are dieing. Irene had suffered from either dementia or alzheimers for some time and didn't know anyone, so - as they say - it's a blessing that she has been released and gone home to heaven. She had an extraordinary musical ability which she used to its best advantage for many years teaching school and in the church. And she also had a wonderfully acerbic wit. She would tell it like it is, and you always knew where you stood with her. If she didn't like something she didn't hesitate to let you know. The reverse was also true. If she liked something she didn't hesitate to give positive feedback. I miss those days of comaradarie that we had. I imagine her up in heaven setting the angelic choirs in their ranks and insisting they sing the right notes. And, for pity sakes, sit up straight.

It is very much colder today. We haven't had snow, but it looks as though they are getting a lot in other parts of the state. Stay warm!

Heaven's to Betsy

I cannot tell you what joy it gave me to actually see a comment on my blog. Someone is reading my drivel and has the temerity to say he enjoys it! I am his slave for life. Plainly that is hyperbole, so please don't think I will be a slave for only one comment. But I am giddy with pure joy, nevertheless. Thank you.

Well. Winter is starting its ugly time. thaw, snow, thaw, dirty snow, thaw, slush, mud, SPRING. I suppose we are in for a few tournament blizzards yet. Who knows? ( For those of you not from Minnesota, it is the going wisdom that when the March tournaments start, the blizzards also descend upon us.) This is not a typical weather year, so we might actually start Spring tomorrow. That would be ok with me, I guess.

I can remember landing in California and being absolutely shocked and thrilled by the GREEN there. When I returned to Minnesota, I had had enough green and was thrilled by the startling WHITE snow. My eyes evidently feast on the color they have not been seeing lately. I am fickle about it all. An equal opportunity color lover. Absence makes the eye love more?

Off to my day. Off to check my daily blogs. Happy Sunday. vicki

Slushy Saturday

A gray day with water, slush and snow out the window. Ugh. However, rather soon they are predicting that we will have significant snow with colder temperatures. We'll have to wait to see what transpires!

Several of my friends may concescend to leave a comment on this blog so I will feel less like a person writing for my own enjoyment alone. I called Naomi and she said just to check "other" and then put your name or initials. You can do anonymous if you choose, but that is only for rank cowards. growl growl. Of course, I know that no friend of mine is a rank coward. Maybe a coward, but not rank. Right.

I am still contemplating the belly dancing deal and have ALMOST (get that almost, Karen?) decided to do it. I will have made up my mind by Monday.

Tuesday is my Book Club. We are discussing "A Passionate Man" by Joanna Trollope. If any startling insights are revealed by the group, I will pass them on. She is a great author. I was intrigued and full of questions after the reading. I will let you know our wonderful wisdom later.

Then in the afternoon a group is getting together in Evansville to work on a book we are going to put out on the occasion this July of the 125th anniversary of the founding of our fair city. A group has already been hard at work for some time and they have asked me to lend a hand as the accomplished writer that I am. Right.

Well. Off to the drudgery of a sludgery day. I hate gray days. vicki

Exercisin'

Wow. I just got back from the gym that I go to. It's called "It Figures" and it is the greatest. Hats off to Barb. She has three new machines in for us to try out to see if we like them, and which of the two elliptical "pacers" (I don't know the correct terminology) are the best. I really like one of them, but my buddies like the other one. Sigh. And a new bicycle machine that I just love. I may get a really vigorous work out if the machines come to stay. I am excited! I go to the "gym" to work out for the good of my body, but the fun we have is SO good for my soul. It is a lively group and my special workout buddy, Karen, has become a good friend. Life is always exciting, and new friends are an especial gift from God.

We are also being invited to a belly dancing class. Hmmm. They keep reassuring me that I can keep my regular clothes on. I don't need the bare midriff (does that have two fffffffs?) and bells, but I have really a hard time envisioning myself doing this. Stay tuned.

Today is rather springlike, although I look out and see snow. If the temperature stays as it is, it should be horrible looking rather soon. Of course, the joke about Minnesota is that if you don't like the weather wait 10 minutes ... it will change. The trouble is, it doesn't always change to the better! However, the variety is exciting.

If I do take that belly dancing class, I promise to include a picture of the outfit I finally decide to wear. I can guarantee that it will be a disappointment! Such fun. Have a GREAT day.

Books are the Best

This is a rather blurry image of a painting I did on commission. It is one of three in that series in my love affair with pears.

I stayed up until 4 last night finishing a book. I am an avid reader, but I haven't done that for a while. The first book I stayed up all night to read was "Beau Geste." I still have that book. It is now 60 years old. I remember pretending to have fallen asleep with the light on and the book on my breast. My brother Bud, who was getting ready to go on his early Sunday morning paper route, was attracted by my lamp, softly tip-toed into my room, tenderly turned off the light, took off my glasses and put my book on the bedside table. He was so sweet but I still remember the feeling of wanting to say "boo" to scare him. I resisted the impulse and played possum.

Today I go to Battle Lake to the board meeting of my art group. That is always fun and invigorating. A feisty bunch. Then I am taking two quilt tops to a shop to investigate getting them quilted. That is the labor of love that I have written about before, the pieces of our nephew Peter's Indonesian shirts that I made into tops for quilts for his two children.

Now it will be to decide how they should be quilted. Decisions, decisions! I have previously hand quilted four quilts. As I finished the last of the four I made a decision never to hand quilt another quilt. I am sticking to that decision and taking the tops to a professional machine quilter. Machine quilting makes a stronger quilt and is a whole lot easier on the finger tips.

Take care and have a wonderful Tuesday!

Favorite Minnesota Lake

I am trying to enter this painting in the juried show at the Lake Region Arts Council Gallery. It is a painting I did of the lake at Scenic State Park, our favorite place in all the world. I priced it high hoping that no one will buy it, and if they do, it will be enough to assuage my sorrow. This painting thing is so interesting.. to paint so that it is interesting to you. Once I was able to paint semi realistically, I no longer really wanted to! "Been there done that" kind of feeling. I am beginning to feel that I will go back and do it again. Yes. I think I will. Especially when summer is here and I can do it plein aire. We haven't been camping for awhile, so we can do it again. I will take all of the paraphernalia for painting with me and we will set up a screen tent and I will paint.

We sleep in our conversion van and set up two screen tents... one for cooking and the other for painting and reading and just lolling around. It is a great thing to do. Yup. This summer.

Meanwhile, I will take three pictures of paintings up to Fergus Falls this morning and then we will eat Chinese food for lunch. Sounds like a plan. Have a great Friday!

Back at it

Well, I had to remind myself why I chose the name two pair and a spare for this blog. Here it is again. One of my paintings that George titled.

I am presently trying to paint. It isn't going too well. So I just keep on painting. I have a notice on my computer room door that quotes Van Gogh as saying "By Painting one becomes a Painter." If that is true, maybe there is yet hope for me! I am persisting.

Last night after choir practice we came out into a gentle snow. Today there is an accumulation of about two inches. Enough so that the trees are slightly flocked and the world looks clean again. And we are as clean as the snow because of what Jesus has done for us. We are in Lent. A time to contemplate the life, death and ressurection of Jesus.

Have a great day. I will be painting. Wish me well! vicki

I have so much to say

Yesterday as I was driving along in the car, I composed a whole message. I was taking two paintings up to the annual spring show at the Community College in Fergus Falls. Before this time they called themselves The Fergus Falls Community College. Straight-forward and information-giving name. Now their name is Minnesota State Community and Technical College. I never know who is sending me the message until I open the envelope and realize what it is. Like calling a housewife a domestic engineer. Or all the other politically correct changes. I wonder if all the community colleges now have the same name and you have to look at their mailing address to figure out who it is? Probably.

Well, that was not the message I composed. But then I got detoured by my disgust with all the pc business. My daughter-in-law kept correcting me when I said someone was oriental with the information I should say asian. etc., etc. I doubt if I will be able to keep up with all of the changes in vocabulary, but I'm game to try.

Now, back to the message I composed in my head on the way to Fergus... and back. One of the things that was said in the books I read in California was that the US was the first country EVER to be founded on the idea that every man was created with equal rights. (At the time they didn't include black men or women, but we are attempting to correct that.) The European nations had royalty and other entitled types that were born in a higher position that others and automatically were able to boss the rest. And one person (I think it was John Adams) said that the south was attempting to go ahead in the European mode with some people just being born above others. He predicted that if there ever were a civil war it would be fought over that issue. He felt the south just wanted to be another country under some king, preferably the English king, with the plantation owners being the nobility. Interesting to think about.

We are the first country to be founded on equal rights. We have, through the years, taken this fantastic idea forward and are attempting to continue with it. It is difficult because we have sort of faltered on the features necessary to stay independent. Our citizenry has become lazy and filled with feelings of entitlement rather than feelings of responsibility. I am filled with apprehension about the next years. We have made it for more than 200 years, can we continue? It will take the dedication of our citizens to education and an abandonment of self indulgent life styles. Hmmmmmmmmmm. A large order. vicki

Hippety Hop

I'm home again! The trip went great. I love looking out my window and seeing SNOW. I thought that way about green grass when we first arrived in California, but the SNOW is just wonderful. So bright and pristine.

Being at home is wonderful and relaxing. Everything right where you like it. All the cliches are cliches because they are true.

I had a hard time getting my internet connection working. I had over 300 e-mails to access, and my server wouldn't work. This morning I called the help desk and they informed me it was because someone (Karen) had sent me something that was just too much for my poor dial up to handle. Sigh. I have everything done now, and it is great to be back in touch.

I will try to get my mind around it all for tomorrow. Right now I'm still just wallowing in the at homeness of it all. Right.

Minnesota, here we come

This is our last day in the land of green grass and sun. George has hit a few golf balls and we are busy finishing up our laundry and getting packed. Six weeks is a long time to be away from home. I am sad to leave our family here and excited to see our family and friends there. That's the way it goes. There is usually someone who lives far away and you don't see often enough.

We are so blessed with the technology that we have. We can e-mail each other to the ends of the earth... We can phone each other every day. I have just finished reading the biography of John Adams and trying to get my mind around the seemingly endless lapses of time between the happening of something and the realization of it by people on the other side of the globe. We know of things instantly, then it took three or four months or longer. Hard to imagine. Husbands and wives would be separated for three or four years with very difficult communication possibilities. On the other side of the coin, however, they wrote letters which are still in existence. John and Abigail exchanged a record number of letters over the years with a wonderful window into what was happening at the time. Fascinating for us to know now.

Our e-mails are ephemeral and there will be little or no record of our feelings. I wonder about blogs.. they will also disappear without a trace, I imagine. So immediacy as a good thing can be balanced by lack of permanance as a negative quality.

We have enjoyed our stay with our four year old and his mother. She is a great mom. He is cute and very bright!. We will miss them.

See ya in Minnesota on Saturday!

Dwindling Days

Today is Tuesday and we are heading back to Minnesota on Saturday. We will miss our little family here, but we will be glad to get back to our own digs. Something great about having things just the way you want. Outside of staying with my parents on our way to Brazil, I think this is the longest we've ever stayed with someone. We stayed in Florida for about three months waiting for our visas. First it was George, John and I, and eventually we added the brand new baby! And all of us sleeping in a single room. We managed that, but it was hard at times. My folks put up with us all with grace and always made us feel welcome, though. Such a wonderful time.

Now I am staying with our grandson who is a year or so younger than John was then. Brings back memories. He is just as adorable as John was all those years ago. And our daugter-in-law is the greatest. Fun.

I am eager to get home so I can add art to these blogs. Yeah! vicki

President's Day

I really miss the days when we had celebrations for the presidents individually. There was Washington's Birthday, the same as my brother's birthday, and Lincoln's Birthday. Now we celebrate mainly so that we can have a three day weekend. What an effete bunch.

I am reading John Adams a biography by David McCullough. It is heavy but interesting reading. The trials and tribulations of our founding fathers are laid out in a wonderful way. We should all do such reading. I have read Killer Angels, and 1776, one about the Civil war and the other about the revolutionary war, and now John Adams. I am so entranced by the books and the characters in them. Our forefathers. and mothers. Wow. and double Wow.

Happy President's Day. Hopefully our ship of state will sail on for another few years. vicki

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Well. It is a red letter day. My daughter's birthday. She is the light of our lives and a truly magnificent human being.

When she was two months old we headed to Brazil and she spent her first 5 years there. She spoke Portuguese as her native language, and understood but didn't speak English until a visit to the states when she was three... then she became bilingual after three months. Children are so amazing in many ways, but especially in their ability to learn and use language. She no longer speaks Portuguese, but I imagine it is buried somewhere in her brain awaiting new birth.

Happy Birthday, sweet one. love, mom

TV Addiction

I found the 2 am Starting Over program. So I didn't hit the hay until 3 am. Then up at 6 to take the sprout to school at 7:30. George always gets up early, but I usually don't get up until 8 at least. Am I starting a new trend? Nah.

Have a great day. I know I'll be watching Olympics and then another late night - or early morning, which ever you would like to say! vicki

Valentine's Day

Well. I slept in. So I didn't get this blog done in time for one of my friends who is devastated that I didn't commemorate Valentine's Day. One of the most artificially pumped days of our Hallmark society. We celebrated last evening. Flowers and cards. And candy for our little sprout. All in order.

We tried to explain Valentine's Day to our Brazilian friends. They couldn't understand why we sent cards to everyone. They could see the lover angle, but not the school friends, the moms, the kids, etc. No matter how hard I tried to make sense of it for them, they couldn't see it. I wonder why we can? hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm? vicki

Monday

Wow. The Olympics. I am getting immersed in them. I am a late owl, anyway, and a TV addict, so the combination is daunting. So far I am really enjoying myself. The Flying Tomato! I ask you. Is he cute, or what! For those of you who have no idea what I am talking about, The Flying Tomato is one of our (the US) skateboarders. He is awesome and cute and wonderful. And he won the gold medal to boot. Wow.

Well, I am trying to find Starting Over. It will be on at 2am the next two weeks here. As it is shown on NBC, and NBC is the Olympics channel. My time allotment will be interesting. I will let you know how I handle this crisis. Right.

Off to my Monday. We are getting Matthew to school so there are some things I have to pay attention to. He is such a cutie! vicki

Saturday

We went to the mall today to the kiddy park there. Wow. Mayhem. Oodles of little kids just tromping on each other. No one crying, though. Miraculous. We finally give it up. No room to do anything. Went and had lunch.

The big news is the great weather. Sitting in the sun. Relaxing. Wow. It's great. I miss all my Minnesota buddies. I'm lonesome! vicki

Abbott and Costello Moment

Or maybe Laurel and Hardy. Chevy Chase? Who is the current person doing slapstick comedy. Help me out here.

My husband, grandson and I went to the driving range at the golf club yesterday. George went in to get his clubs and I was in charge of getting balls out of a machine that dispenses them at the sliding of a card through a slot. Next to the machine sat a group of seven people having a meeting. I think it was all of the people who had to do with the running of the club. We tried to be as quiet as we could be so as not to disturb the flow of their conversation.

I ran the card through the slot and golf balls started spewing forth in all directions. I had not realized that I needed a little basket to put under the slot from which the balls would spew forth. I thought the onslaught would never end. The business people all got up to help field all of the rolling balls. The balls hit the cement with a loud report and then rolled all around. We all started laughing (thank goodness) and everyone was helpful. Matthew kept on finding more balls. George came out of the club house and wisely pretended not to know who these maniacs were! He says it was because there was nothing more that he could do. Truer words were never spoken. I had managed to do it all.

Hope you have a great day! vicki

Monday again?

Goodness gracious. How time flies. It's already the beginning of another week. We have more or less three weeks left of our stay in California... We don't seem to do anything but just what we do at home plus play with our grandson. My husband, of course, gets to golf which he couldn't be doing in snowy Minnesota. Although with the moderating temperatures they have had there earlier, some did golf in Minneapolis. Wow. This weather thing is strange at times.

It is sunny and warm here this week. If one can trust the prognosticators of such things, the warm and sunny is going to continue for most of the week. So we will go golfing this afternoon. I drive the golf car and give expert! advice on how to golf to my husband. I occasionally even monkey with the clubs like a real caddy. We have fun.

I actually painted a bit yesterday. And I just realized that it isn't Monday, it's TUESDAY. I really am on vacation... losing track of even what day it is! Ah, well. vicki

Hi Ho

The blog.spot is having technical difficulties. I was unable to get into my own blog this past three days, but I think the problems have been corrected. We'll see. My last post was lost in cyberspace. We will see if it ever surfaces. Probably not.

Monday after the Super Bowl. Ugh. Terrible officiating. Mick Jagger is still a peripatetic goof ball. He's great. I never liked him, but I had to appreciate his energy for what the paper termed a "septuagenarian." That means a 70 something, doesn't it? Wow.

While we are out in California, I miss all my reference books. I know I could look anything up on the internet, but I have (until this time) chosen to stay with the printed page between covers. I love the feel of a book. The smell of a book. In short, I love books. My husband despairs because of the prevalence of books in my life. They take up lots of space and they cost lots of money. I look at it as an investment in my sanity... such a it is. I'm only slightly kidding. They really have saved my sanity more than once.

Have a good week. vicki

Friday

It's great to get to know my grandson a bit better. He is going through a period of finding himself and stubborness creeps in occasionally. Then I find myself doing what I realized was something that my father did with me. I go into an overcoming clown mode. I talk really loud, wave my arms and make menacing faces. He forgets all about whatever he was being stubborn about and gets the giggles. Mission accomplished. The adults around me are rather taken aback, but the boy and I love it. And we go on with whatever it was we were trying to do.

I first realized I was imitating my father while I was doing this when I was teaching. It worked for me then and I became rather famous for doing outrageous things. Maybe infamous would cover it better. I do love doing it, though. Maybe it's in the genes.

Have a great day.

spaghetti sauce

Well. Someone e-mailed me and asked what had happened to the spaghetti sauce. I forgot I had even mentioned it. Yes, I made spaghetti sauce. It was great if I do say so myself, and I do. And I discovered anew something called spaghetti squash. It's so fabulous. It is an oval smooth squash in a light yellow that one cooks and then kind of removes the flesh with a fork raking over the flesh. Spaghetti for the diabetic!!!!!!! It is good and hardly any carbs. I can finally have spaghetti sauce in sufficient quantities to enjoy. As Tony the Tiger would say, GGGGRRRREEEEAAAATTTT. The thing with the spaghetti sauce is that my secret is to simmer it for several hours adding the necessary liquid when necessary. I use lots of Italian Seasoning, salt, pepper, etc., etc. Each time I make it, it turns out somewhat different as I never measure anything when I cook. At home I use ground venison, but here I used lean hamburger, two pounds worth... onions... Several cans of tomato products: sauce, minced, paste, etc. At home I also use homemade tomato from the garden, but it turned out good without that.

I freak the chefs of the family out because I keep cooking it so much. They are sure I will poison them all. They have never lived where people do not have refrigeration, and so have to keep cooking their meat and other such cooked products. In Brazil thirty plus years ago, one could buy filet mignon very cheap as it was not a meat that could take repeated cooking, while the toughest meat was at a premium. Meat for Sunday, cooked again for Monday, then again on Tuesday and Wednesday. If there was more left, Thursday here we come. Beans and rice and molho. Yum, yum. Love it.

Well, thanks Karen for reminding me. I love it that you read my blog! Keep up the exercising and I will join you in a few weeks. Hi to the gang. love, vicki

Mid week

Tough day today. Our son left to be gone for two months. We will be here for a month of that, hoping to help our grandson adjust to his life with a bit of balance. Hard to understand when you're 4... or 75.

I watched the State of the Union last night. It's so interesting to me the way our country has taken adamant sides and won't listen to any other opinion. I just read the book "1776" by David McCoullough (sp?) and it is absolutely amazing that our country got its start at all and that it has survived all this time. Those people in the rebel army fought and survived long marches through WINTER with no shoes or coats. They were a tough breed. Whether our effete selves can take up the torch is always questionable. If we knew which torch to take up it would help. Just being against something doesn't seem sufficient. Where are the people with innovative ideas to solve the seemingly unsolvable. And earmarks!!! Who knew before what those were before this speech.

Sigh. vicki

Start of another week

Mondays. I remember back before I was retired I sometimes groaned as I rolled out of bed at the early hour necessary. I would try to get my brain wrapped around what was needed to prepare for the day. I am not a morning person. I am in a fog in the morning. Unlike my husband who is up at 5 rarin' to go. He has all his little rituals and work habits all established. I, on the other hand, stumble around in a fog for quite a long time. I do things, but it takes me a very long time. When we lived in St. Paul I would wake up at 5. Sit on the side of the bed. Put on one sock and shoe. Then I would just sit for about 15 minutes. It would drive my husband nuts as he could never figure out what I was doing. I was thinking in a foggy sort of way about the day to come. Finally I would put on the other sock and shoe. He was very relieved.

Mondays now are just another day like the other days. I can have unrelieved fog time if I want. I may just be lazy, but I think it is more that I fall into that foggy land of unlimited free time with no impetus to rush to the next spot. I love to think and dream.

Tomorrow I am going to talk about making spaghetti sauce. I make a mean Norwegian spaghetti sauce. vicki

WOW

Well, we just got back from church. i went to bed last night unable to figure out when tennis would be on the tube. It was about 1 am. I realized I couldn't sleep because I was pretty sure tennis would be on any minute, so I got up at 1:30, and sure enough.. it was a start of the finals... Roger Federer vs. Marcos Baghdatis. Baghdatis came out like a wild man doing everything right and hitting 137 mile an hour serves! He won the first set. Federer looked a bit bemused, but steady. The second set Federer finally won in a tie break. Then he won the third set 6/0. And continued to win until he had the requisite three sets. But Baghdatis is going to be a force to be reckoned with! He worked so hard the first two sets that there was no more gas in the tank. However, unlike Justine H/H, he soldiered on even in the face of a brutal cramp in his leg. It was a wonderful match. Then I went to bed at 4 am and got up at 8 for church.

Church was great. Fun rousing music and a good sermon. One quote I liked was from a nurse who was involved in ferrying children from Viet Nam to the US: Your work is your prayer.
Wow... and that God could envelope our work and make it his.

Well, off to our Sunday. May we all have a wonderful day! vicki

Sorry for the delay

I am so not used to living away from home! Minnesota, that is. I like it here well enough, but I am missing all of the things that give me the ability to do what I want when I want to do it. I have so many projects I would like to do, but I would have to buy equipment which I already own back home. (whine, whine)

I set up to do painting. I have some paper and watercolors but not a board, proper tape, sprayer, coarse salt, and all the other things that are at my side at home. (whine, whine).

But I am having a ball watching the Australian Open. (Pardon the pun). I watched the Federer/Kiefer match. Kiefer looked pretty good until Federer got serious. What a fantastic player Federer is. Then I watched the Amelie Mauresmo/Justine Henin/hardeen (or some such spelling. Amelie was playing great. She took the first set and was on her way to taking the second when Justine folded. So Amelie is the winner of the Australian Open after Justine retired. What a deal. I guess it's good to win, but I wish Justine would have braved it out a few more games. Sigh.

Now comes the final between Federer from Switzerland and Bagdahti from Greek/Cypress. Bagdahti is a wild man with all kinds of supporters from Greece. The Australians have caught the chanting bug too, so he has a Greek Chorus of supporters that is hilarious. The actual games are played in the middle of the night here, so I am keeping all sorts of late night hours. Until he gets revved up, he looks just plain lame, but then he gets fired up and wins. Crazy. Beat Nalbandian after a wild match. Should be fun to watch him play the consummate gentleman, Federer.

Well, I am finally acclimated here so I should be posting more often. Lucky you. vicki

Back at ya!

I have been going through the adjustment to a new place. I am finally feeling totally at home. Well, maybe not totally, but at home enough to feel comfortable.

We have access to wheels now and can go here and there. I discovered once I had the access I no longer had the desire to GO here or there. I can now with great comfort stay home and read and watch television. It was the being ABLE to go that I was missing. I love tennis and as they have cable here, I can watch the Australian Open. Unfortunately the only American left is Lindsay Davenport. Federer played today, but I went with George to the golfing range so I didn't watch the match. I presume he won as he is a tennis player from another planet, not only from Switzerland. Martina Hingis, another Swiss player is back this year.

I am reading "1776" by David McCullough. I am really loving it. More tomorrow. vicki

Back at ya!

I have been going through the adjustment to a new place. I am finally feeling totally at home. Well, maybe not totally, but at home enough to feel comfortable.

We have access to wheels now and can go here and there. I discovered once I had the access I no longer had the desire to GO here or there. I can now with great comfort stay home and read and watch television. It was the being ABLE to go that I was missing. I love tennis and as they have cable here, I can watch the Australian Open. Unfortunately the only American left is Lindsay Davenport. Federer played today, but I went with George to the golfing range so I didn't watch the match. I presume he won as he is a tennis player from another planet, not only from Switzerland. Martina Hingis, another Swiss player is back this year.

I am reading "1776" by David McCullough. I am really loving it. More tomorrow. vicki

Martin Luther King Day

We are happy to have a long weekend. Whether we really think of the significance of it is another matter. We still have a long way to go to find MLK's dream, but I do believe progress has been made. I certainly hope so.
George and Matthew are watching a Batman movie and the rest of us are off doing our own things. I hope you all have a wonderful day. I am working on trying to insert pictorial material into my blog, but so far have not had any success. I'll continue my exploration of the matter, however, as that is such fun! vicki

California!

I'm in California. Our flight was flawless. John and Matthew met us. Our baggage came through with no trouble. Amazing. We left at noon and arrived at suppertime Minnesota time. The miracle of flight.

I do not have the capacity to contact my computer at home, so it will take a while for me to include any pictorial evidence of my stay here. I have to figure out the technical part of things. All in due time. Have a GREAT Sunday. vicki

Ah, yes..... and away we go!

I just didn't wait long enough for that posting to come through. The next time I looked, there it was. Now I am having so much fun distorting this poor pear. Oh, well... It takes so little to entertain me!
The next time I write to you I will be in California. Probably. If all goes well. No doubt. It boggles the mind.. my mind, anyway.. that you can be some 18oo miles away in such a short time.

Have a wonderful Saturday. vicki

What's Up?

I just wrote and published a blog that disappeared. Hmmmm. I have no idea what happened. We're getting ready for our trip. More later. vicki

Frizzle-frazzle Preparations

We're all in a tizzy getting ready for our trip. The organization of materials we will need seems endless. I think the most difficult thing is to figure out you don't have to take much. We will have a washer and dryer at our disposal, so clothes can be at a minimum. I plan to take some books that I don't have to take back with me. I also have to take some art supplies. I think I will take two watercolor books that I inherited from my best friend artist sister-in-law and just work my way through them doing what is suggested. They are not heavy books. I will take paper, watercolors, and a few brushes. That should last me. (How do you like the squashed pear? That's a little how I feel as I am skittering around trying to get ready. Sigh.)

Of course, the main point of our trip will be to have a fun visit with the Caifornia part of our family. Matthew is bound to be at his most fun now that he's 4 1/2. And we will enjoy learning more about John and Beth's day-to-day existence. Yippee Kai Yai. Or however that should be spelled. We're off and running. vicki

Grandson

Isn't this an awesome picture? Our little guy loves the water. He's only four and 1/2, but he is good at water sports and swimming.

We are going to be seeing him as we are going on a trip to his home this weekend. I am going to continue writing this fascinating blog, though, so don't dispare.

Yesterday i hosted the book club. Three of us now since one of our members moved. We did the book, "Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons" by Lorna Landvik. We decided that one of the reasons we like the book so much was because it takes place in good old Minnesota. We can relate to the places mentioned. But it is also a wonderful book. The cover and title are very misleading. The name for their book club, The AHEB, was given them in a disparaging way, and the cover portrays them in that light. They are fun women and far from fluffy. Anyone would enjoy the book, I think.

We're going to do "A Passionate Man" by Joanna Trollope in March. We're going to meet at Donna's house. Hopefully we'll still be alive and kickin' by then. At our age we never know. Actually, truth be told, one never knows whatever their age whether they will be alive... We just think about it more as we get older! The handwriting seems writ large on the wall.

So we must savor our wonderful friendships and relationships. God has been very good to me in my friendships. (Now I'm sucking up to my friends. Wahoo.) But it's the truth. Good friends are the greatest. Take care and have a wonderful Wednesday. vicki

ta DUM

Ok. I want a real fanfare. I have finished piecing the quilts and now it is to track down the best possible machine quilter in the world to finish them. I am on the track of this person and will let you know at a later date whether he/she comes up to his/her reputation or not.

I would show you a picture of the tops, but they look miserably ugly in pictures, so that's out. I refuse to show you the pictures I took. That's right, I refuse.

While I was sewing, I also listened/watched my tapes of the Dorothy L. Sayers Harriet Vane books. They are videos, that is. I am a great fan and I love watching movies that are already my favorites. I can listen and only occasionally have to look up in extremely interesting spots. They are nice company. These are BBC videos which my sister gave me for my birthday.

I hope you have had a nice Monday. After my retirement each day is somewhat like any other day, but I still remember how hard it was to get into the swing of things on Monday. Take care. vicki

Beautiful Back Yard

This is a photo of our back yard on a sunny day. Right now there is no sun and a gentle snow is making it into a snow globe. Fantastic! The snow is nice because it cleans up the old snow and makes it all new again. The temperature is mild. Beautiful.

It has been a great Sunday so far. We have a visiting pastor who is very good. We had hearty home made chicken soup for lunch. Now I am heading for the basement to continue sewing on the quilt tops. I think I can possibly finish the piecing today. Then it will be to find someone to machine quilt them to my liking. I hope the completed product comes up to my expectations. Dear newphew Peter. I am reliving our experiences together as I sew. We had some wonderful times camping. He was a dear friend. Have a good Sunday! vicki

Fatal Mistake

This is one of the paintings that is entered in the Poetry/Visual Arts show at the Lake Regions Art Council, Fergus Falls, Minnesota. The Other One is the first one I showed on this blog. Go into the archives for December and you will see it.

I finished piecing one of the twin bed quilts I am making for my nephew and niece, Ben and Sarah. There is always a certain let down when something is finished and you wonder if it is as good as you could do. It's always as good as you COULD do, of course. You're not trying not to do your best, but still. A moment of self-doubt hits you. Now to finish the other one. Then to find someone to machine quilt them. wahoo.

Ok. Off to my sewing machine. Have a great Saturday. vicki

Winter Wonderland

The trees are frosty because of fog. Minnesota Fairyland. I have been reading the comments and the replies at the Laurie R. King blog. What a superb writer she is and how fun it is to read the remarks. I love to get comments and I am about to track down one which is provocative. Hmmmm. Why don't the rest of you leave a comment, hmmmm? I'm lonesome. vicki

Irritated

I have a few blogs that I check every day. I love seeing what these people are doing. They are evidently still wearing off the effects of the holidays as NONE of them have anything new on their blogs. Bummer. It's hard to think of anything to say, I suppose, day after day. But, still, don't begin something and then just leave your loyal followers to wait, and wait, and wait for something new. I mean. Sigh.

What should I post today? Nothing much happening. Pretty back yard. Snow still flocking the trees. I'm reading a pretty good book. (Just finished "Angry Housewives Eating Bon-bons" and liked that. My book club is going to discuss that next Tuesday.) Now I'm reading "The View from Delphi." Oofta. Good book so far. But I am filled with trepidation to see what will transpire next. Very good book by a first time author: Jonathan Odell.

Off to the business of the day. Still piecing the quilts. The football has been great. vicki

Roswell

This is one of my favorite paintings. It is my representation of what might have happened at Roswell. I should generate some spooky music here.

I am having a hard time getting motivated to do anything in this new year. Enui to the max. So I will have to kick myself in the rear end and get going. I say that and then just loll around. Sigh.

We had a good meeting at the Art of the Lakes Gallery in Battle Lake, Minnesota, yesterday. We are trying to plan our future. What is it we need to do? How is the future looking? How do we as artists generate more vitality into our group? Evidently, vitality is not only my personal problem. We had some really good ideas and hopefully we will have success in implementing them. I'll try to report on things as they develop. vicki

A Fine Balance

This is a picture of the balancing act of our life in the present century. There is a quote from Mistry's book "A Fine Balance" which says, "There is a fine balance between hope and dispair." So it is with our lives in the coming year. We have to learn how to balance all of the demands of our lives with the pleasure and fulfillment we seek. The help we must extend to others and the help we ourselves might need.

By the way... if you want to see a larger representation of the pictures in my blog, just double click on the picture and it will come up larger.

I am having fun reproducing the pictures as I have forgotten some of them. Not really forgotten them, but put them in an appropriate file in my mind. It is fun to share them with you. And, again, Happy New Year on this official New Year's Day. Nice to have an additional day of holiday! vicki