tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-55061497319137171662024-02-19T10:42:30.854-06:00BecomingChoosing to enjoy life's possibilitiesGinniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12956873259908320109noreply@blogger.comBlogger406125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5506149731913717166.post-37558761022446402722016-04-09T18:31:00.002-05:002016-04-09T18:31:49.706-05:00At last!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ZSiLF9WqbJ866jY94x6nLgs5XDsIWaDH7h9Cce1MaBEgKYJrq2sOqVWy69_jOTjVUZdJrK2BfFZ1nfBN2xPRRMa7EgHbRXEKRmvcKKpffOjn3oUswsj2cM1e5mR1N7w7j52WyNmsJw/s1600/DSC09523.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ZSiLF9WqbJ866jY94x6nLgs5XDsIWaDH7h9Cce1MaBEgKYJrq2sOqVWy69_jOTjVUZdJrK2BfFZ1nfBN2xPRRMa7EgHbRXEKRmvcKKpffOjn3oUswsj2cM1e5mR1N7w7j52WyNmsJw/s400/DSC09523.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.susanbranch.com/" target="_blank">Susan Branch</a>'s long awaited sequel to her prequel!</div>
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<i>Martha's Vineyard</i></div>
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<i>Isle of Dreams</i></div>
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I preordered one months ago for my mom and one for myself, </div>
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and they arrived today - </div>
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on my birthday,</div>
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and in time for my mom's 90th birthday</div>
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on April 22nd.</div>
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Shall I make her wait?</div>
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Nah. That would just be mean.</div>
Ginniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12956873259908320109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5506149731913717166.post-2122267433057875472016-03-20T06:00:00.000-05:002016-03-20T06:00:07.324-05:00Spring!<br />
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Ah, relief!</div>
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It's so good to see color in the landscape.</div>
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Some of the crocus bulbs I planted last October.</div>
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Of the 10 snowdrop bulbs I planted last fall,</div>
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4 came up, 2 bloomed.</div>
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Maybe next year?</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDRUWks-fr5_4hanifcq-9w0eyY7-pVRABusv3xffk-qMVSxv2-HN65GkWSPW0JaAnQ6AgCSyi_F6YlXqjUGyCoBaT3WP0IHUdzq-kzQYeoiXrdly3dNiy5ZLBd8L2rbQDPvD_4VWbKg/s1600/DSC09503.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDRUWks-fr5_4hanifcq-9w0eyY7-pVRABusv3xffk-qMVSxv2-HN65GkWSPW0JaAnQ6AgCSyi_F6YlXqjUGyCoBaT3WP0IHUdzq-kzQYeoiXrdly3dNiy5ZLBd8L2rbQDPvD_4VWbKg/s320/DSC09503.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Rhubarb!</div>
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And just emerging: Virginia Bluebells</div>
Ginniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12956873259908320109noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5506149731913717166.post-29271839563655934932016-03-19T09:51:00.000-05:002016-03-19T09:51:45.167-05:00Hanging out<div style="text-align: center;">
My mother asked this morning:</div>
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"Are you going to hang out?"</div>
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Yes. Yes I am.</div>
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Ginniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12956873259908320109noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5506149731913717166.post-52666312998408783592016-02-19T20:50:00.000-06:002016-02-19T20:50:21.609-06:00Blustery day<div style="text-align: center;">
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Howling winds today.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjG0H4qCBNAlnWq3n_dkt6EgrhilMP1_z5lp8A9SPgskjyg9xd0cNomBjyd81wAFX0X4ZhhkgeV5v1YtS_4rxRF0z3SFmY4fRH43ezK_pBhXOjKAkjkRMT4vD7WRp1mUT0-nLscbZkhw/s1600/20160219_151520.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjG0H4qCBNAlnWq3n_dkt6EgrhilMP1_z5lp8A9SPgskjyg9xd0cNomBjyd81wAFX0X4ZhhkgeV5v1YtS_4rxRF0z3SFmY4fRH43ezK_pBhXOjKAkjkRMT4vD7WRp1mUT0-nLscbZkhw/s400/20160219_151520.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Out for a walk (and missing Oscar).</div>
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Downed branches.</div>
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A partially downed tree - lucky it missed that house. </div>
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I posted the picture below on FB when I got back from my walk</div>
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and a friend commented,</div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">"<span style="line-height: 12.864px;">And look at all the Phragmites seeds getting disbursed. Oh Ginnie!"</span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe8lxnkeV0XrOCjr8FerAjuAEMZDUAwL7n-GOp9C_ZeZ7MTQkLxMFw5wRqs062O4yQMGiKemIf3N-Fhjpt8EK6QFobmIRkXm6lISx5UH4SrSjspLmmLyw3M8JenPnIQ9UUt4i0L08wgw/s1600/20160219_154205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe8lxnkeV0XrOCjr8FerAjuAEMZDUAwL7n-GOp9C_ZeZ7MTQkLxMFw5wRqs062O4yQMGiKemIf3N-Fhjpt8EK6QFobmIRkXm6lISx5UH4SrSjspLmmLyw3M8JenPnIQ9UUt4i0L08wgw/s400/20160219_154205.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 12.864px;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 12.864px;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 12.864px;">What?? What's a Phragmite?</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 12.864px;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 12.864px;">I had to look it up. Might be invasive.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 12.864px;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 12.864px;">I see this tall, shaggy-headed grass a lot along low spots on highways.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 12.864px;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 12.864px;">I assumed it was something native and helpful.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 12.864px;">This particular patch is along an old rail line </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 12.864px;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 12.864px;">that was turned into a trail years ago.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 12.864px;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 12.864px;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 12.864px;">Because we had record-breaking warm temperatures this morning,</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 12.864px;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 12.864px;">I cleared some leaves to check on my little patch</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 12.864px;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 12.864px;"> of <a href="http://becoming-g.blogspot.com/2015/11/autumn-chores.html" target="_blank">snowdrops next to the back door</a>.</span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmySrwJFrosMKaeJfWuwsM6Mobr6mDN8_U620eHjDa6-5R-9_tn5NAuA04qO18sHju8C_dd6gBQMKjt0FRHaYwTgc_AnX9n6T2PQ6didHo0BLEqYNbf7IdmWFeKg87sXyZ37MtqkIQxA/s1600/20160219_155044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmySrwJFrosMKaeJfWuwsM6Mobr6mDN8_U620eHjDa6-5R-9_tn5NAuA04qO18sHju8C_dd6gBQMKjt0FRHaYwTgc_AnX9n6T2PQ6didHo0BLEqYNbf7IdmWFeKg87sXyZ37MtqkIQxA/s400/20160219_155044.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 12.864px;">Could it be??</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 12.864px;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 12.864px;">It's just the one. But it's early yet.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 12.864px;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 12.864px;">I've covered them with leaves again.</span></span></div>
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Ginniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12956873259908320109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5506149731913717166.post-7609318342023243652016-02-04T18:53:00.000-06:002016-02-04T19:01:55.572-06:00Oscar<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgakdvAOQi_LXY0yphIy5sXyqfPfesmQubAIcWAb3ZmI6eMERBGA27MzyDCPqI8vxtAYCVySFK-hrGasNmkP-8DICIBiv67as_pUuKEtB3RC4p4viczqhjHO_iDKymD8j64JEh5iS3yyg/s1600/Oscar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgakdvAOQi_LXY0yphIy5sXyqfPfesmQubAIcWAb3ZmI6eMERBGA27MzyDCPqI8vxtAYCVySFK-hrGasNmkP-8DICIBiv67as_pUuKEtB3RC4p4viczqhjHO_iDKymD8j64JEh5iS3yyg/s320/Oscar.jpg" width="263" /></a></div>
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<br />
We lost our sweet dog Oscar yesterday, and I can still hardly believe it. He had had some medical issues over the last several months, but I thought everything was under control, and he would have a full recovery.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghkUF528x6bVRRXpjKUr_8lpGuH_qPJrgJI6e1NxTgmg_S_MJrHzbY2hy5MO6-XnR9r_nLQ0IYgVbjkGa78ilQdfjRzzhE0BKOhVx12PG2L9c150Lm9rMZhagsExqdttD24Ahsib-qYw/s1600/DSC03576.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghkUF528x6bVRRXpjKUr_8lpGuH_qPJrgJI6e1NxTgmg_S_MJrHzbY2hy5MO6-XnR9r_nLQ0IYgVbjkGa78ilQdfjRzzhE0BKOhVx12PG2L9c150Lm9rMZhagsExqdttD24Ahsib-qYw/s400/DSC03576.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">With Gerrit the day we brought Oscar home in July of 2009: a timid, chubby 5 year old with a short haircut</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">who wouldn't leave Gerrit's side.</span></i></div>
<br />
But - blood clots formed and impacted his spine and brain. The prospects were very grim for his recovery - and if he recovered, he would likely not walk, and the amount of neurological damage was unknown. Would it be kind to put him through all that?<br />
<br />
The people at the vet clinic were so kind and compassionate. I could spend as much time as I needed with him, lying next to him on a blanket on the floor. He was well medicated for pain, but still knew me and made his usual murmuring noises with each breath as he always did when I stroked his face and tummy and told him stories about his time with us.<br />
<br />
I'm consoled that he didn't suffer for very long, and that he is reunited with Gerrit. Gerrit is the reason for Oscar (and his predecessor Quincy) coming to live with us, and I'm so thankful for all the joy and laughter Oscar brought into our lives. He was good medicine for us all, especially Gerrit, who loved dogs, all dogs.<br />
<br />
Oscar was very timid when he first came to live with us but soon gained confidence (and lost pounds) and would bark at anything loud: passing school buses, motorcycles, thunder, fireworks. He was afraid of stairs - two years of me trying to teach him to use stairs resulted in my finally giving up. If I wanted him to sleep upstairs with us, I'd have to carry him, which I gladly did.<br />
<br />
Farewell, sweet Oscar.<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKA89c-RhAsuiorXN73F6EP7zUoEDBlaVRrHkdWJiIRayFUsjrzbI4fC6JLmYCdXHAA57KnYJRds47jc5lkV3LSrqN2-KDZ5a9KioZCGEnZLvnPGsrnV0q_DLHoRF92spSVbZWAjFm0Q/s1600/DSC09277.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKA89c-RhAsuiorXN73F6EP7zUoEDBlaVRrHkdWJiIRayFUsjrzbI4fC6JLmYCdXHAA57KnYJRds47jc5lkV3LSrqN2-KDZ5a9KioZCGEnZLvnPGsrnV0q_DLHoRF92spSVbZWAjFm0Q/s400/DSC09277.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />Ginniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12956873259908320109noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5506149731913717166.post-57242261378429957422016-01-04T06:00:00.000-06:002016-01-04T06:00:05.774-06:00The big leagues<div style="text-align: center;">
My work schedule has expanded from 3 days a week to 4,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
which is the tipping point for making it worth buying </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
a monthly train pass.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDD-ZPKnVMTedSsOc2xLmPvjoacDizJvls7h5kbxsTtvQy7uYIamEGECjxfrwepXDK72tcrmxiknq68O5AO6-uwLBVAuWZqNFhFNmq5OJRuE12XritUzYfzWp3VPsr94nfGuSNrDz_Fw/s1600/20160102_075546.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDD-ZPKnVMTedSsOc2xLmPvjoacDizJvls7h5kbxsTtvQy7uYIamEGECjxfrwepXDK72tcrmxiknq68O5AO6-uwLBVAuWZqNFhFNmq5OJRuE12XritUzYfzWp3VPsr94nfGuSNrDz_Fw/s400/20160102_075546.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
My first monthly pass!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I feel so grown up.</div>
Ginniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12956873259908320109noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5506149731913717166.post-74374414004918846592016-01-02T20:00:00.000-06:002016-01-03T14:43:14.383-06:00Anticipation<div style="text-align: center;">
<blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="6" style="background: #FFF; border-radius: 3px; border: 0; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 658px; padding: 0; width: -webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width: 99.375%; width: calc(100% - 2px);">
<div style="padding: 8px;">
<div style="background: #F8F8F8; line-height: 0; margin-top: 40px; padding: 50.0% 0; text-align: center; width: 100%;">
<div style="background: url(data:image/png; display: block; height: 44px; margin: 0 auto -44px; position: relative; top: -22px; width: 44px;">
</div>
</div>
<div style="margin: 8px 0 0 0; padding: 0 4px;">
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BACpCZSIPxg/" style="color: black; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none; word-wrap: break-word;" target="_blank">We're so close! @jofroggatt continues the countdown with just 1 DAY TO GO... #DowntonPBS premieres TOMORROW!</a></div>
<div style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;">
A video posted by MASTERPIECE PBS (@masterpieceonpbs) on <time datetime="2016-01-02T15:13:19+00:00" style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px;">Jan 2, 2016 at 7:13am PST</time></div>
</div>
</blockquote>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script></div>
Ginniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12956873259908320109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5506149731913717166.post-84855912185464877442016-01-02T10:53:00.001-06:002016-01-02T10:53:20.178-06:00Sun<div style="text-align: center;">
At last, some sun.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx6XK9QhqXuv1ZW6vxeUgaYblt15aGSR0xHrPCJFqFV6K3T4MPFz6bgjY7izOv119ukvpavOVBerEg5KZK6tMrC1GCZn-UxPFij8lm8y5eV2y3ZUjqTSV0xgsPp7OJS1rpNC4Y-xRCBw/s1600/DSC09489.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx6XK9QhqXuv1ZW6vxeUgaYblt15aGSR0xHrPCJFqFV6K3T4MPFz6bgjY7izOv119ukvpavOVBerEg5KZK6tMrC1GCZn-UxPFij8lm8y5eV2y3ZUjqTSV0xgsPp7OJS1rpNC4Y-xRCBw/s400/DSC09489.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Turning Oscar's and an anonymous rabbit's footprints</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
into art.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1fK-Ejv9-aLQU04-Ao8jX1rwxgWHnoUIOovQ9JD1yeDv9ln5ZRXfmg63yIyruSR6fAfAGpJQXJfHHeYMdcfHtc_Sbg07C8Cr4XXZk318e1dlr5qekEoEsAmq9MaFcObJ6SS8EVsMbYg/s1600/close+up+ice+on+winterberry.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1fK-Ejv9-aLQU04-Ao8jX1rwxgWHnoUIOovQ9JD1yeDv9ln5ZRXfmg63yIyruSR6fAfAGpJQXJfHHeYMdcfHtc_Sbg07C8Cr4XXZk318e1dlr5qekEoEsAmq9MaFcObJ6SS8EVsMbYg/s640/close+up+ice+on+winterberry.png" width="457" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Melting just enough snow from the roof</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
to ornament the winterberry shrub</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
with icy glitter.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVTVfwK9UeTqJIMkJRYbDDCwQSwiSbcclHokXafDAt62-sg3z7-6PnbIDNPXmRULs5uPBwgEee5kRI-ksBsKoQJMfIB2-pirQ_LV_IRcQFRHHsl-xahodCpTyMl52XzvZOmxfB32Zf7w/s1600/DSC09492.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVTVfwK9UeTqJIMkJRYbDDCwQSwiSbcclHokXafDAt62-sg3z7-6PnbIDNPXmRULs5uPBwgEee5kRI-ksBsKoQJMfIB2-pirQ_LV_IRcQFRHHsl-xahodCpTyMl52XzvZOmxfB32Zf7w/s400/DSC09492.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Gilding Oscar's sweet face.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Not pictured:</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
3 undergarments hanging on the clothesline</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
after being (unsuccessfully) whitened</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
with a very (as it turned out) perfumy product</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
that I purchased without really thinking it through.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Now optimistically being aerated and deodorized of the sickly sweet perfumy smell</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(that continues to cling after 2 washings)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
by hanging on the line in the sun and cold wind.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(And why didn't I check the product safety info <a href="http://www.ewg.org/guides/cleaners" target="_blank">online</a> first??)</div>
Ginniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12956873259908320109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5506149731913717166.post-53105895985398956652015-12-31T09:31:00.001-06:002015-12-31T09:31:49.454-06:00Snow<div style="text-align: center;">
Getting to the office early often has its rewards: </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
sometimes I miss the worst of the weather.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
All was quiet for the first hour yesterday. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Snow was predicted, and had just begun to fall in tiny flakes </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
as I walked through the Loop before 7:00 </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
on my way from the train to the office.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
An hour or so later, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I looked up from my desk to see a window of huge, white swirling flakes </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
against gray skies and neighboring buildings.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg66ultInp2l4cXzfLELsEpoB9JbC0WE4J__BTculaeO5kxtzBlSdjx39a_auveyqVNzdmHqO3aVIVNmGJvPNo9iHYJ6J5vlfwslEj9p_y4oC_yCbbmJcS9UfbCIaJcSHOJ1CCjOV51NQ/s1600/20151230_083002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg66ultInp2l4cXzfLELsEpoB9JbC0WE4J__BTculaeO5kxtzBlSdjx39a_auveyqVNzdmHqO3aVIVNmGJvPNo9iHYJ6J5vlfwslEj9p_y4oC_yCbbmJcS9UfbCIaJcSHOJ1CCjOV51NQ/s400/20151230_083002.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The rooftop garden on the new building next door</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
was getting a frosting.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Even our solar pope stopped waving to marvel at the sight.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw0NqdUayzRjO-1y-rDJciP-vOthNn-YlDKW4srxkgaQZU3xG6XcAqvh58aL6rjLxu0BxFkriSGLmxyeCHDRF3jusdxltffdXvWj7XHolwpJBZtiYBDkc71D588YrXsCcjMyA4MMeeyQ/s1600/20151230_083042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw0NqdUayzRjO-1y-rDJciP-vOthNn-YlDKW4srxkgaQZU3xG6XcAqvh58aL6rjLxu0BxFkriSGLmxyeCHDRF3jusdxltffdXvWj7XHolwpJBZtiYBDkc71D588YrXsCcjMyA4MMeeyQ/s400/20151230_083042.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Happy New Year to all!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Ginniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12956873259908320109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5506149731913717166.post-62163444039002248312015-12-23T23:33:00.000-06:002015-12-23T23:33:04.637-06:00Macy's windows<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKBTvaTmqiPfUDRboDydPNzwzY9w1cLxNv2WcAHFcuqE2z-UUlQ1NozbkwoAAC35P6c39zFlVlmMG8FZWL1PrXO5DqMd0t6R48oZSiBTrvfIR8AXmeVUmYJo95rJdVmEAOvYFku6MCqQ/s1600/20151223_070644.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKBTvaTmqiPfUDRboDydPNzwzY9w1cLxNv2WcAHFcuqE2z-UUlQ1NozbkwoAAC35P6c39zFlVlmMG8FZWL1PrXO5DqMd0t6R48oZSiBTrvfIR8AXmeVUmYJo95rJdVmEAOvYFku6MCqQ/s640/20151223_070644.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Taken early this morning on a foggy walk to work, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
past the iconic Marshall Field's building.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><u>Not.</u></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Warm and rainy.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
At least we won't have trouble making it to family gatherings</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and the Christmas Eve service.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Ginniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12956873259908320109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5506149731913717166.post-54824407883952048132015-12-13T12:15:00.001-06:002015-12-13T12:15:16.810-06:00'tis the season<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Holiday staff party is Monday. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We drew names </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(via a gift exchange website to make it easy for<br />
remotely located co-workers - </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
who thinks of these things?!)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
but it's a secret who's got whom until Monday. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Does this look sufficiently secret-ish?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglwTqV6bsklvZmtf03nUtvO0DC2KKM18q8p0OlC332BZ8gtkypDvUruQ7hPq7pBUX88DgAKC0JeaiM7OiTStJofLZS_a1hcpKNSt41sR7rmyHQyYN5yvboNj5kqpeYU-PCJPGsehZolA/s1600/DSC09486.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglwTqV6bsklvZmtf03nUtvO0DC2KKM18q8p0OlC332BZ8gtkypDvUruQ7hPq7pBUX88DgAKC0JeaiM7OiTStJofLZS_a1hcpKNSt41sR7rmyHQyYN5yvboNj5kqpeYU-PCJPGsehZolA/s400/DSC09486.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We were encouraged to </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
make something, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
bake something, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
donate a book from our own library,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
or otherwise be creative - </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
but don't spend more than $15.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And because I like to see what I can do with minimal giftwrap, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
or find something reuseable to stand in for giftwrap, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
this is a wire basket<br />
with metal sculpted branches and leaves for a handle.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
99 cents at Goodwill. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Re-used ribbon.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The tissue paper is new. But recyclable if the giftee opts not to reuse.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
My gift is (I can tell you because no one from work reads this - I think)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
3 food items that I made in September:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Applesauce</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
with nothing added. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(It's pink because the apples are cooked with skins on</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
before being put through a food mill.)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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Dilled eggs (hardboiled eggs pickled with dill, garlic, & jalapenos).</div>
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Dilled cauliflower (ditto).</div>
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Here are the jars before the pickling liquid was added.</div>
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I used ripe (read: red. read: hot!) jalapenos.</div>
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Red instead of green<br />
because I thought they would look prettier in the jar.<br />
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I told the man at the farm stand what I was buying them for, and he shook his head and asked me about the size of the jars and advised I not use a whole pepper in each jar but cut them in half, since the red, ripe jalapenos are much hotter than the green. </div>
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So I cut them in long quarters. And only put a quarter in each jar.</div>
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The eggs are nicely hot.</div>
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But the cauliflower - oh my.</div>
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Really really hot.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I'm also putting the cards on the <a href="http://becoming-g.blogspot.com/2011/12/sinterklaas.html" target="_blank">chocoladeletters</a>, </div>
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an annual tradition that started the year Gerrit and I were married. </div>
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It's a happy reminder for me of our years together.</div>
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The ones for the family have already been mailed, </div>
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and my niece sent this picture of her middle son, ready to chomp his B.</div>
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</div>
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And that makes me happy, too.</div>
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<br />Ginniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12956873259908320109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5506149731913717166.post-44798556056560782232015-12-08T21:10:00.000-06:002015-12-08T21:14:22.342-06:00Advent Antiphon Radio<div style="text-align: center;">
On this not-so-cold December night,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I'm working on church-related stuff on the computer </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(scheduling the volunteers who read the lessons, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
acolyte, chalice, etc. for after the first of the year) </div>
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and listening to Pandora. </div>
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<br /></div>
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The Pandora station is called <i>Advent Antiphon Radio</i>. </div>
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Many of the selections are familiar: beautiful hymns and anthems </div>
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I've sung with choirs over the years. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Some are unfamiliar and still beautiful.</div>
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<br /></div>
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They just played this, and it was especially lovely.</div>
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I had to click away from what I was doing </div>
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to look at the Pandora tab and find out what it was:</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.6pt; margin-bottom: 10.5pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">
<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit" , serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">Stella
Natalis: Sleep Child Of Winter</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 15.6pt; margin-bottom: 10.5pt; text-align: center; vertical-align: baseline;">
<b><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "inherit" , serif; font-size: 11.5pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-font-kerning: 18.0pt;">The Adiemus Singers/Tenebrae/Karl Jenkins/Alison
Balsom<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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Want to listen?</div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/JEuzJ0T2-po" width="560"></iframe></div>
<br />Ginniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12956873259908320109noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5506149731913717166.post-17734897062912637012015-11-29T22:41:00.001-06:002015-12-04T14:21:19.474-06:00Autumn chores<div style="text-align: center;">
It's cold. It's gray. But some things can't be put off any longer.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Especially the snowdrop bulbs I ordered 5 weeks ago </div>
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but which didn't arrive until the eve of our first major snowstorm.</div>
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Copious rain on Thanksgiving has washed all the snow away,</div>
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so it's time to plant.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Ten tiny bulbs by the back door...</div>
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...in Oscar's domain.</div>
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<i>Oscar's looking a little scruffy: </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>having a gall bladder and spleen-ectomy </i></div>
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<i>evidently requires much shaving of hairs.</i></div>
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<i>Not just his underside; also a large spot on his back.</i></div>
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<i>And three of his legs are somewhat denuded.</i></div>
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<i>But the fur will grow back, and he doesn't seem to mind.</i></div>
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<br /></div>
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Next chore: the tying up of a transplanted volunteer evergreen,</div>
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which was standing up just fine until the big snow.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Now it's being assisted by my rain gauge holder, </div>
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whose functional parts have been emptied</div>
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and retired to the garage for the winter.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Next: native seed assortment to please the local butterflies and bees...</div>
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(Blurry!)</div>
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<br /></div>
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...and to restore where I've removed honeysuckle shrubs, </div>
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which I only recently learned are invasive.</div>
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They are Asian and have probably been edging this property for decades. </div>
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And not only do they spread rapidly, but they crowd out natives - </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and their berries,</div>
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which the local birds like just fine, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
have no fat, so don't support the long trip south</div>
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for the migratory ones.<br />
<br />
Already the bay magnolia is showing its buds.<br />
<br />
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<br /></div>
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And what's this?</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The melted snow has unearthed a downed traffic sign.</div>
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<i>Note to self - notify village public works.</i></div>
Ginniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12956873259908320109noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5506149731913717166.post-9339673640910074282015-03-28T17:31:00.001-05:002015-03-28T17:31:20.953-05:00Got snow?<div style="text-align: center;">
Here's how they get rid of piles of snow</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
on Daley Plaza.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwNbhWNFPFsH_kKbnWI1Wf_1Ke3_UMjEPEyxj37OHTihPPYrMrMRvwVUzLbg4ialcWn7xJqzqkX7F_yZ8nhBkIcmXjfS1zWtPKovPOGQ0oJr_K16xAFZ_UGvwp_6PsVoJ1M8xncy-4gg/s1600/DSC09281.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwNbhWNFPFsH_kKbnWI1Wf_1Ke3_UMjEPEyxj37OHTihPPYrMrMRvwVUzLbg4ialcWn7xJqzqkX7F_yZ8nhBkIcmXjfS1zWtPKovPOGQ0oJr_K16xAFZ_UGvwp_6PsVoJ1M8xncy-4gg/s1600/DSC09281.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Under the watchful eyes</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
of the Picasso,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhcuPVZ9HGhvCZNzvm2laSpBwfwOxN3OtT6o-NwVHLBaEvDOOlw7MtUOQAExnBANmTTg6Sg7HzWVT7BEmdKtMSij_O-wwB4Fhb6viDXJuaq_NldNeOzJ8WU7KK9OYr-5f87OplOvpOyA/s1600/DSC09280.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhcuPVZ9HGhvCZNzvm2laSpBwfwOxN3OtT6o-NwVHLBaEvDOOlw7MtUOQAExnBANmTTg6Sg7HzWVT7BEmdKtMSij_O-wwB4Fhb6viDXJuaq_NldNeOzJ8WU7KK9OYr-5f87OplOvpOyA/s1600/DSC09280.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
the snow is scooped...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJzmyDtPiXoVOKQ45tDTwuOdRfpfttB5TBYOHYwE35S8-T8I3jblbIDd5OjqqgnsYtV8-EJOs1VgCPx-qDCTQL3tiLtMGZGLzxN_k1raDZo-HzjahgDRidFx7OrwPFQZKmlZMM1SM_Nw/s1600/DSC09283.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJzmyDtPiXoVOKQ45tDTwuOdRfpfttB5TBYOHYwE35S8-T8I3jblbIDd5OjqqgnsYtV8-EJOs1VgCPx-qDCTQL3tiLtMGZGLzxN_k1raDZo-HzjahgDRidFx7OrwPFQZKmlZMM1SM_Nw/s1600/DSC09283.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and dropped into the handy bin...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkt6GuXKefjnga0dtU51E7Ptde7_NLqnI8AR_D6pFzorEvyksPZYxMkQZUjGrcyHzBdXKD5wKSiUQMxM4ghk6SmxIb1zXNBZGGmtYlOVpUclyCjkWqsSmJaF_k_5c3ekIXWq-lROGprg/s1600/DSC09279.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkt6GuXKefjnga0dtU51E7Ptde7_NLqnI8AR_D6pFzorEvyksPZYxMkQZUjGrcyHzBdXKD5wKSiUQMxM4ghk6SmxIb1zXNBZGGmtYlOVpUclyCjkWqsSmJaF_k_5c3ekIXWq-lROGprg/s1600/DSC09279.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
...where it is melted under the supervision of city employees.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The water is sent into the storm sewer system.</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Ginniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12956873259908320109noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5506149731913717166.post-79142930844563297302015-03-21T12:33:00.002-05:002015-03-21T12:33:49.952-05:00Spring Signage<div style="text-align: center;">
On this beautiful first full day of spring...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk6yZHF5Is6n7_ZOVA0YOMXh9cZTcCYrf3NgTY-KxClCdq4z118cy1nZIM5NZmEbUrEwS_WECV3yWWbfIyM1J3iHR9PbKrBOyLKXir4PbQ07dXiATJZb9fE8qBd8tpCd_oUYYRRZbbpw/s1600/DSC09254.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk6yZHF5Is6n7_ZOVA0YOMXh9cZTcCYrf3NgTY-KxClCdq4z118cy1nZIM5NZmEbUrEwS_WECV3yWWbfIyM1J3iHR9PbKrBOyLKXir4PbQ07dXiATJZb9fE8qBd8tpCd_oUYYRRZbbpw/s1600/DSC09254.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
...more opportunities to hang laundry </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(I think there were only 3 days over the winter</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
when my need to do laundry coincided with</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
dry and sunny weather)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUrXqWSjf-Y4REfFq7kCXNwJ0cYoGdvnelc9g_R_GE8upqxNK02poU7k1UhDJNNRygVCGYP4mCylqRzZmMOeQY2n2LZxc0PR7RlTVmL4zgo5T-VPaVTGnP1rlFva4cSLSE3A9q3IgxSg/s1600/DSC09260.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUrXqWSjf-Y4REfFq7kCXNwJ0cYoGdvnelc9g_R_GE8upqxNK02poU7k1UhDJNNRygVCGYP4mCylqRzZmMOeQY2n2LZxc0PR7RlTVmL4zgo5T-VPaVTGnP1rlFva4cSLSE3A9q3IgxSg/s1600/DSC09260.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Oscar is my helper.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNYKOIQxTwhceSboboaf_6f1ofiUOy86aTfoC7qptcavLE4mOJcheZTY3c31CjX6va8xNPh05VU77EJWuRx6FFKdTftyZc7hvSOk8rwaSKnJ33km-PQIY1sevN_AZZn7iq_K-sV-Jhew/s1600/9251+scilla.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNYKOIQxTwhceSboboaf_6f1ofiUOy86aTfoC7qptcavLE4mOJcheZTY3c31CjX6va8xNPh05VU77EJWuRx6FFKdTftyZc7hvSOk8rwaSKnJ33km-PQIY1sevN_AZZn7iq_K-sV-Jhew/s1600/9251+scilla.png" height="330" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Scilla emerges.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGtdzqliPZHyOIz2AGjZ1hk1hjeN9EuxdJkvLh_JSVJSMUI5YI3g1vAxkTwgphg8P_IP9sDaz1V50CoLLrJIwaUMcienAs210eFrYLj_t-sgZeOBoyW_G6b-0ZndGcMsl5sfBmYjzl3Q/s1600/9253+cropped.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGtdzqliPZHyOIz2AGjZ1hk1hjeN9EuxdJkvLh_JSVJSMUI5YI3g1vAxkTwgphg8P_IP9sDaz1V50CoLLrJIwaUMcienAs210eFrYLj_t-sgZeOBoyW_G6b-0ZndGcMsl5sfBmYjzl3Q/s1600/9253+cropped.png" height="400" width="360" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Scilla are the first sign of spring in my parents' yard. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I remember loving them as a kid, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and that enthusiasm hasn't left me.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But I miss my old garden with multiple harbingers of spring - </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://becoming-g.blogspot.com/2013/03/hope-springs-eternal.html" target="_blank">snowdrops, crocus, white scilla</a>. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Why didn't I think last fall to plant spring bulbs here?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmIf-wIw04Sv6cp7WTRThY6vEVJav4TTlEh_AWu4v6fUVovdJhObinrVYeVwKDfza2hhPvMwc8qq6-GsH6Jn-UwAlBmgZX5ElZKqaRFsD-GNfbVpMVbicp4skAEvWKO5wu1bzVRPnHXA/s1600/DSC09265.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmIf-wIw04Sv6cp7WTRThY6vEVJav4TTlEh_AWu4v6fUVovdJhObinrVYeVwKDfza2hhPvMwc8qq6-GsH6Jn-UwAlBmgZX5ElZKqaRFsD-GNfbVpMVbicp4skAEvWKO5wu1bzVRPnHXA/s1600/DSC09265.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The anise magnolia is still keeping its secrets to itself.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVSDbvhsMLKM_nZ9hWJ1T9DqlCBJYTu64y-lrnXtk1pxbCqf52B_kYATSuo_htyQe_0pA4t7rHExPbNienvxYQozSGoJFwiORZko3FZMf4AFfMXFrNBRlISbavWZVwMY0ShmM0T-WsmQ/s1600/DSC09267.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVSDbvhsMLKM_nZ9hWJ1T9DqlCBJYTu64y-lrnXtk1pxbCqf52B_kYATSuo_htyQe_0pA4t7rHExPbNienvxYQozSGoJFwiORZko3FZMf4AFfMXFrNBRlISbavWZVwMY0ShmM0T-WsmQ/s1600/DSC09267.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
No sign yet of a bud ready to open</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
but there are promises of hundreds of blooms to come.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTvpxnU3TUsH10MC2wOB63Pvmj095HQ2VmOVvO1pZWFabQ_45Fzs6JCmOgEdsV0Zv-9_Up3qFo3EN9DIQEWUjvys7kPsydo-T8cCDwtjAngT2wBHmW0UqcnW_NsABykR_N49rB3BblHw/s1600/9257+dandelion.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTvpxnU3TUsH10MC2wOB63Pvmj095HQ2VmOVvO1pZWFabQ_45Fzs6JCmOgEdsV0Zv-9_Up3qFo3EN9DIQEWUjvys7kPsydo-T8cCDwtjAngT2wBHmW0UqcnW_NsABykR_N49rB3BblHw/s1600/9257+dandelion.png" height="302" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
D'oh! The first dandelion.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCE2yFWUmFFPkQDdaSPmU4lCGTSJHL_3lm1LtD2AJ8mJcotdNfrACC-b3Dz1eekcxOo0wTx6fPndKcfOpTa9rZNAHzoO2QMQlDnIMIMXV1Ktpo3hfGExL37gAYUUBpUW8LC0jBA5tGJA/s1600/DSC09258.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCE2yFWUmFFPkQDdaSPmU4lCGTSJHL_3lm1LtD2AJ8mJcotdNfrACC-b3Dz1eekcxOo0wTx6fPndKcfOpTa9rZNAHzoO2QMQlDnIMIMXV1Ktpo3hfGExL37gAYUUBpUW8LC0jBA5tGJA/s1600/DSC09258.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And invasive garlic mustard.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ-vCLeupwsLmFq7JUXNiDSGqllwg2AHdDkm6W6v02qPA7l-k9FholbVCXu2nP719mgt2DbDnbz8d2wB1NWiT8RWKwvs8lrMCQWdF7c02tY3WWwE1TFP1Z7hercRG7gwTQjeZqPBWcJw/s1600/DSC09270.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ-vCLeupwsLmFq7JUXNiDSGqllwg2AHdDkm6W6v02qPA7l-k9FholbVCXu2nP719mgt2DbDnbz8d2wB1NWiT8RWKwvs8lrMCQWdF7c02tY3WWwE1TFP1Z7hercRG7gwTQjeZqPBWcJw/s1600/DSC09270.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Note to self: remove that label from the banana peel!</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The snow has finally melted,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
so I can now set up a compost pile.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfFBvUgWAtkFDtlMHs49TZ8WzbIj2PaeuH0nw_a2dnXyOHatOHNBmsv2x2XiYJQmlY21DxtegHTODdz74ZSoOpviWH3P2U8ZPC9abes1sVKepyw5Saglil2hKnU0ANCugEbHdgXTOsTA/s1600/DSC09271.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfFBvUgWAtkFDtlMHs49TZ8WzbIj2PaeuH0nw_a2dnXyOHatOHNBmsv2x2XiYJQmlY21DxtegHTODdz74ZSoOpviWH3P2U8ZPC9abes1sVKepyw5Saglil2hKnU0ANCugEbHdgXTOsTA/s1600/DSC09271.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>I learned recently that egg cartons, cereal boxes, </i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>and other paper products near the end of their useful recycling life </i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>can be added to the compost pile as a "brown" source </i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>if there are no autumn leaves available.</i></span> </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
During most of the twenty-seven years at my old house,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
we had a compost pile.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I didn't realize how much it would gnaw away at me</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
to not have one once I moved in with my parents.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl5HHxESSi3k5SDmkf3XRU_APAvb9oUIAlgWijWg9Nd1HKVdHQYhrz-krB2DMAMOydNx4jw0kYskmJjVoUu7gTGaYZFQiougLSzskEKadiF7OnYWNgZJg6m48a6kQZpQaq46uPfN80sw/s1600/DSC09236.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl5HHxESSi3k5SDmkf3XRU_APAvb9oUIAlgWijWg9Nd1HKVdHQYhrz-krB2DMAMOydNx4jw0kYskmJjVoUu7gTGaYZFQiougLSzskEKadiF7OnYWNgZJg6m48a6kQZpQaq46uPfN80sw/s1600/DSC09236.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: center;">One slightly comforting thing in the meantime </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: center;">has been getting food scrap collection</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
put in place at our Chicago office as of January.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMcp1dXiGSOk_yLA0o49vcr5ziYKJwcDNLIphXDuQLl4c8UsxzQIFuP8qhTKxhiGh_rCFnkuiMxP1T3yy5Hcm5ZoQ1gBYK4PBYLTeL8nV8MlW7KG3OL2_K22tixMLVuSEVjl1wN9mvsw/s1600/DSC09237.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMcp1dXiGSOk_yLA0o49vcr5ziYKJwcDNLIphXDuQLl4c8UsxzQIFuP8qhTKxhiGh_rCFnkuiMxP1T3yy5Hcm5ZoQ1gBYK4PBYLTeL8nV8MlW7KG3OL2_K22tixMLVuSEVjl1wN9mvsw/s1600/DSC09237.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It's requiring more education and continual feedback</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
with my work colleagues than I expected,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
but it's worth doing to keep food waste out of landfill, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
which keeps our air cleaner by avoiding the production</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
of methane gas that results when food is buried in landfills. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Ginniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12956873259908320109noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5506149731913717166.post-62133992263409802992015-02-16T06:00:00.000-06:002015-02-16T06:00:01.334-06:00Forcing spring<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6D4lk0-Rg6QReQYeWUQpS9fjfruLDo7_t8VFfTMte9XsCXE3AD-u1uIsIy8wcTmasq-KL-qDceOhmF0KBalaSf5d5f_xxJxV9bySVGMhakVIVwaYPucifXDwyvzTYWcsO6blMXetUQw/s1600/DSC09223.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6D4lk0-Rg6QReQYeWUQpS9fjfruLDo7_t8VFfTMte9XsCXE3AD-u1uIsIy8wcTmasq-KL-qDceOhmF0KBalaSf5d5f_xxJxV9bySVGMhakVIVwaYPucifXDwyvzTYWcsO6blMXetUQw/s1600/DSC09223.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Magnolia salicifolia</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Anise Magnolia</span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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I've <a href="http://landscaping.about.com/od/indoorlandscaping/qt/forcing_flowers.htm" target="_blank">forced</a> forsythia branches.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinB4HEYH22EWnBEkiR2RzH28iTq8KQywL7pROr_Z45n_ALvvN-zHNb_HbA_j-_RwsQr9kNsyLteXTJYrTDTRTiG7p5GRfzF2etqPzFMRcGGnh7KXp6U7xSrjWK9_T9RiVKWnq0NdOIJg/s1600/DSC09225.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinB4HEYH22EWnBEkiR2RzH28iTq8KQywL7pROr_Z45n_ALvvN-zHNb_HbA_j-_RwsQr9kNsyLteXTJYrTDTRTiG7p5GRfzF2etqPzFMRcGGnh7KXp6U7xSrjWK9_T9RiVKWnq0NdOIJg/s1600/DSC09225.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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I've even <a href="http://becoming-g.blogspot.com/2008/01/what-to-do-on-warm-january-day.html" target="_blank">dug up lily of the valley pips</a> during a January thaw</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and <a href="http://becoming-g.blogspot.com/2008/02/morning-sun.html" target="_blank">coaxed them into bloom</a>.</div>
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<br /></div>
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But magnolia was an unknown.</div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA-GK3sNMo4T3YDP4fvEW93862QYehlQpu8F6joYkFNin-q5Z34TatwfzI_w3DA6cdgYu1QlfyDdEyYyM1rlk4vxhi5HlukbD7Bj1KQnOd1AcH5vmTcIL7WhMoI8BgMVYjRR66HiADgg/s1600/DSC09217.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA-GK3sNMo4T3YDP4fvEW93862QYehlQpu8F6joYkFNin-q5Z34TatwfzI_w3DA6cdgYu1QlfyDdEyYyM1rlk4vxhi5HlukbD7Bj1KQnOd1AcH5vmTcIL7WhMoI8BgMVYjRR66HiADgg/s1600/DSC09217.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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While the snow continues to pile up,</div>
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warmth and water and several weeks of patience...</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB0BM22cmHFoQm0VTSYjVOnm05bl2o2jGIEYPckY1AHjY50Ls1dOownV2oDZNthlvbREEFXvMbx7k_lC1lZJv8zkdqxiCBCM77PC5CXWMqUAjL-MJDJrW20YNg-bMV63Tu5Aw9pu2vqw/s1600/DSC09218.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB0BM22cmHFoQm0VTSYjVOnm05bl2o2jGIEYPckY1AHjY50Ls1dOownV2oDZNthlvbREEFXvMbx7k_lC1lZJv8zkdqxiCBCM77PC5CXWMqUAjL-MJDJrW20YNg-bMV63Tu5Aw9pu2vqw/s1600/DSC09218.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
...reveal the unfurling of petals</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
of a cut branch of magnolia.</div>
Ginniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12956873259908320109noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5506149731913717166.post-61093835452229939462015-02-14T11:34:00.000-06:002015-02-14T11:34:17.953-06:00My Valentine, remembered<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="background-color: white; color: #cc6600; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18.0179996490479px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixPo5ILUwPOm5TModWNmiHElRt6ptHyAkwO9gBclRYmAHNjcyFqJ2I_ryu3gKIf4a__MfLOFOLvub5V74nFRxidPPrgLVsodM85rAYXd21AogXticvbCzCtt5PgWEqHCCqSxslEf_sHg/s1600-h/letters.jpg" style="color: #999999; font-size: 12.8699998855591px; line-height: 20.5919990539551px; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" border="0" height="266" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5166841252378474738" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixPo5ILUwPOm5TModWNmiHElRt6ptHyAkwO9gBclRYmAHNjcyFqJ2I_ryu3gKIf4a__MfLOFOLvub5V74nFRxidPPrgLVsodM85rAYXd21AogXticvbCzCtt5PgWEqHCCqSxslEf_sHg/s400/letters.jpg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; padding: 4px;" width="400" /></a></h3>
<h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name" style="background-color: white; color: #cc6600; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 18.0179996490479px; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1.4em; margin: 0.25em 0px 0px; padding: 0px 0px 4px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-size: 12.8699998855591px; line-height: 1.6em;">The year of our courtship was 1988, </span></h3>
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-3112540040270806806" itemprop="description articleBody" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12.8699998855591px; line-height: 1.6em; margin: 0px 0px 0.75em;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
before home emails, Skype, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
inexpensive international calling, <span style="font-size: 12.8699998855591px; line-height: 1.6em;">text messaging, </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and all the rest of the advances in communications technology </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
that today smooth the way for long distance romances.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We did have email at the global firm where we were employed </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(on different sides of the Atlantic), </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
but it was cumbersome and, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
in Gerrit's case, was managed by his secretary.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Before we announced our engagement, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
our courtship was kept secret from our workmates and families.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So we developed a secret code when communicating by business email:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
any use of a superlative meant "I love you."</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
His secretary would send the emails he composed:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"The meeting yesterday with the client was excellent."</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And I and the other addressees on the email </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
would know that it was an excellent meeting,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
but only I would know that Gerrit loved me.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
At the time, the Netherlands phone system was a monopoly, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and the cost of a long distance phone call was about four times the price </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
if he called me instead of me calling him. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So if he wanted to talk, he called and we immediately hung up</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
so I could call him back.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This was also before the five cent a minute international calls,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
so it was still a very expensive communications tool.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But oh so appreciated.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Letter writing comprised much of our correspondence; </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I'm grateful to be able to hold in my hand all the letters he wrote.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I wrote the post below in 2008, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
four years into Gerrit's diagnosis of vascular dementia</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and four and a half years before he died.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I wouldn't wish him another minute of the very compromised life</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
he had been reduced to, but I miss him very much.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
**********************************************</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
February 14, 2008</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Ours was a long distance courtship.<br />We lived in different countries.<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH7uiU19cUhOASuqXgxKuVBryrVKy2NN_WU5YWsj-BUyKMu8OVx7SosPBJe8whcn1BZX5v7LpaQsCkl5sTwWQhZpphgXNcSIgg0Z1d43KJUSMKSXGz4olC9xfILjbOvMBdxAI0wrzZ5A/s1600-h/from+germany.jpg" style="color: #999999; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" border="0" height="300" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5166840195816519890" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH7uiU19cUhOASuqXgxKuVBryrVKy2NN_WU5YWsj-BUyKMu8OVx7SosPBJe8whcn1BZX5v7LpaQsCkl5sTwWQhZpphgXNcSIgg0Z1d43KJUSMKSXGz4olC9xfILjbOvMBdxAI0wrzZ5A/s400/from+germany.jpg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; padding: 4px;" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
He wrote from wherever he was traveling.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpXJhT3Tmh86IgwPIkBdPb03z6w4pdtUtS2QvKCc3rfEHmVtsmlaviRm-Uq_sy7s41x09VWbfHs_iL5thHkNzq7TVnmN-9Hyk0c0Gk39V0gLHUCHjuFfi9Cbo_O4jkynY-03kS7HNHDg/s1600-h/phone+bill.jpg" style="color: #999999; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" border="0" height="300" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5166840595248478434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpXJhT3Tmh86IgwPIkBdPb03z6w4pdtUtS2QvKCc3rfEHmVtsmlaviRm-Uq_sy7s41x09VWbfHs_iL5thHkNzq7TVnmN-9Hyk0c0Gk39V0gLHUCHjuFfi9Cbo_O4jkynY-03kS7HNHDg/s400/phone+bill.jpg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; padding: 4px;" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Our phone bills were astronomical.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixPo5ILUwPOm5TModWNmiHElRt6ptHyAkwO9gBclRYmAHNjcyFqJ2I_ryu3gKIf4a__MfLOFOLvub5V74nFRxidPPrgLVsodM85rAYXd21AogXticvbCzCtt5PgWEqHCCqSxslEf_sHg/s1600-h/letters.jpg" style="color: #999999; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" border="0" height="266" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5166841252378474738" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixPo5ILUwPOm5TModWNmiHElRt6ptHyAkwO9gBclRYmAHNjcyFqJ2I_ryu3gKIf4a__MfLOFOLvub5V74nFRxidPPrgLVsodM85rAYXd21AogXticvbCzCtt5PgWEqHCCqSxslEf_sHg/s400/letters.jpg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; padding: 4px;" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We wrote to each other a lot.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPGaQ0w9XdmJqO6n7KK-Zu64Va31nk173hyphenhyphenNeEHDYVhrqA0iQflSzh9WAgtpzehwofVslzCEwpz0zhDGzaCGd_MIr8OAOcsbujSUIutpLy0S3fIjViu8XFlCPAC_Afy0e2Bqo4M29XyQ/s1600-h/the+queen.jpg" style="color: #999999; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" border="0" height="300" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5166981487355656466" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPGaQ0w9XdmJqO6n7KK-Zu64Va31nk173hyphenhyphenNeEHDYVhrqA0iQflSzh9WAgtpzehwofVslzCEwpz0zhDGzaCGd_MIr8OAOcsbujSUIutpLy0S3fIjViu8XFlCPAC_Afy0e2Bqo4M29XyQ/s400/the+queen.jpg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; padding: 4px;" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I looked forward to seeing her smiling face in my mailbox.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijwz-IT7f3CAOJ8L2q1Xtv8s2cgb91JZ5O6Cz0eDEKCCRm7J46aD8jEE3pOTuGtDFa4vRXwM5ToK-42yB1W2O7kdsnDxf_pU1w93JBW4QYFlMyvbyoYoEPzAySkz3N_6nrYRpC4odJfg/s1600-h/Lisbon+address.jpg" style="color: #999999; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" border="0" height="258" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5166982208910162210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijwz-IT7f3CAOJ8L2q1Xtv8s2cgb91JZ5O6Cz0eDEKCCRm7J46aD8jEE3pOTuGtDFa4vRXwM5ToK-42yB1W2O7kdsnDxf_pU1w93JBW4QYFlMyvbyoYoEPzAySkz3N_6nrYRpC4odJfg/s400/Lisbon+address.jpg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; padding: 4px;" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Included in the letters was G’s first attempt at a Valentine.<br />He was on a business trip to <st1:country-region st="on">Portugal</st1:country-region>.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9WqjJoJvEhuNi40sY-CeVlKBtIXfUil8huGMJKkFlRF7ZHarJPuLZgumOPr9lEgwdlCPC54UYDcw_JTKqBdW91oLuFuqHJfoC4wLYZfKGQwLx7OBhyphenhyphenMgb2ZyDyQFjy4pchHWe33mXow/s1600-h/tennis+ball.jpg" style="color: #999999; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5166982599752186162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9WqjJoJvEhuNi40sY-CeVlKBtIXfUil8huGMJKkFlRF7ZHarJPuLZgumOPr9lEgwdlCPC54UYDcw_JTKqBdW91oLuFuqHJfoC4wLYZfKGQwLx7OBhyphenhyphenMgb2ZyDyQFjy4pchHWe33mXow/s400/tennis+ball.jpg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); display: block; height: 128px; margin: 0px auto 10px; padding: 4px; width: 115px;" width="359" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-style: italic;">“No Valentines to be found anywhere over here,”</span> he wrote.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxSOAN3gcyNRicmxdEXa8hrjnSzOye_cP-AJZFcA7H6Ic8iXVd8xCNNEMb8XclQdyhQHok0o0J2zDvIiOM7TVeOCeRAe05mUXz5b9Pp78VEgJ4V11tY8eYg0PIVtDfoEsyKxTv-0NvPg/s1600-h/tennis+racquet.jpg" style="color: #999999; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5166983016364013890" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxSOAN3gcyNRicmxdEXa8hrjnSzOye_cP-AJZFcA7H6Ic8iXVd8xCNNEMb8XclQdyhQHok0o0J2zDvIiOM7TVeOCeRAe05mUXz5b9Pp78VEgJ4V11tY8eYg0PIVtDfoEsyKxTv-0NvPg/s400/tennis+racquet.jpg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); display: block; height: 184px; margin: 0px auto 10px; padding: 4px; width: 166px;" width="360" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: italic;">
“Personally I have no experience<br />with this piece of American culture.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: italic;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: italic;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU7P9ParHAGNXbe67TCPDQNViXU4HbfQhsDgnqum_aX37OOoDii0joxvJYdOjkzUSZP4RYJ9Z5oaCknxGdqGRWoH7xaj_J9lP76AWBGKfkyrmQCYj66OpwnKokwQDB2_QbHBnZlWWkMw/s1600-h/snoopy+2.jpg" style="color: #999999; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" border="0" height="264" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5166983548939958610" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU7P9ParHAGNXbe67TCPDQNViXU4HbfQhsDgnqum_aX37OOoDii0joxvJYdOjkzUSZP4RYJ9Z5oaCknxGdqGRWoH7xaj_J9lP76AWBGKfkyrmQCYj66OpwnKokwQDB2_QbHBnZlWWkMw/s400/snoopy+2.jpg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; padding: 4px;" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: italic;">
“I don’t know whether such cards should be<br />funny or romantic or what?”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: italic;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: italic;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7jOraGe-Xq4l2UlxLhe0xYcZoQ8D6Wrg2opa4Z_ZcRdgN9latgX9OCUPshM4TvDL0wZSS-aOmeNg03wXOyo382MRgZin9I43ZWVYP9QXFS2jVX0i-ATkohKMstiI8BecSD0Cm34-knQ/s1600-h/DSC00654.JPG" style="color: #999999; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" border="0" height="300" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5166984296264268130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7jOraGe-Xq4l2UlxLhe0xYcZoQ8D6Wrg2opa4Z_ZcRdgN9latgX9OCUPshM4TvDL0wZSS-aOmeNg03wXOyo382MRgZin9I43ZWVYP9QXFS2jVX0i-ATkohKMstiI8BecSD0Cm34-knQ/s400/DSC00654.JPG" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; padding: 4px;" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: italic;">
“I hope that you will forgive me sending you<br />most probably<br />the most misplaced Valentine card ever,<br />but remember it comes straight from my heart.”</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: italic;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-style: italic;">
</div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhovVTMPMoG1z6gPiRhveldm6aUZsRc_QAalEFKWVJHB-v1wpETWWg6WJ8wrCH8bnkPYZ0w4Aw8sXNtRgHAmW21zBEz4Id2RIobBUdVY9xrCzKwD6XwVURdxLozSRQo7Dwwv9OhZKO3vg/s1600-h/valentine.jpg" style="color: #999999; text-decoration: none;"><img alt="" border="0" height="241" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5166984601206946162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhovVTMPMoG1z6gPiRhveldm6aUZsRc_QAalEFKWVJHB-v1wpETWWg6WJ8wrCH8bnkPYZ0w4Aw8sXNtRgHAmW21zBEz4Id2RIobBUdVY9xrCzKwD6XwVURdxLozSRQo7Dwwv9OhZKO3vg/s400/valentine.jpg" style="border: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; padding: 4px;" width="400" /></a><div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
How could I resist?</div>
</div>
</div>
Ginniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12956873259908320109noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5506149731913717166.post-52880424270951767692014-12-25T19:09:00.001-06:002014-12-25T19:09:19.845-06:00Kids' Crafts<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKLRZnK1C585jpmtAN0j_RVWVkAV7Rdm22jChYavrVdaMd5sNfaUfbvWa6QiAP99F_459B_BieEvalPmRuG4bg8eoRJNZvwhRu5E5mf1gfUPadHug6petVvUaLbSGNF1ny48Dh-7di3Q/s1600/DSC09154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKLRZnK1C585jpmtAN0j_RVWVkAV7Rdm22jChYavrVdaMd5sNfaUfbvWa6QiAP99F_459B_BieEvalPmRuG4bg8eoRJNZvwhRu5E5mf1gfUPadHug6petVvUaLbSGNF1ny48Dh-7di3Q/s1600/DSC09154.JPG" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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This one entertained the thirty-somethings on Christmas Eve.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
An IKEA kit for the house, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and royal icing made from scratch, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
plus a raid on the pantry that produced the candies, sprinkles,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and pretzel squares.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
All ready for the rest of the arriving family this morning.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We were impressed!</div>
Ginniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12956873259908320109noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5506149731913717166.post-51851582779663588192014-12-16T10:25:00.001-06:002014-12-16T10:25:33.963-06:00Mission accomplished<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUeAifQrRvxg1MhCp0zPjtZ3Vtae_1ZHmSgErwOGafY1yVXH0MDXLYHR5hiiz3QYksh39hhTm9rZQ_axz6ZwIvSRXdD3J7UWy9X-c40Gubsswmu3oXT9U5WzzBcJ_I9EBMSlYCb5llJQ/s1600/DSC09141.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUeAifQrRvxg1MhCp0zPjtZ3Vtae_1ZHmSgErwOGafY1yVXH0MDXLYHR5hiiz3QYksh39hhTm9rZQ_axz6ZwIvSRXdD3J7UWy9X-c40Gubsswmu3oXT9U5WzzBcJ_I9EBMSlYCb5llJQ/s1600/DSC09141.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
The annual wreath </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
constructed by my dad </div>
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from greens gathered from the yard </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
by my mom and me, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
hung on the chimney with care.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Aren't they cute?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Aren't I lucky?</div>
Ginniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12956873259908320109noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5506149731913717166.post-28768532051740481692014-08-09T22:32:00.001-05:002014-08-09T22:32:47.592-05:00Adding élan<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCFucqWDdxGevhnb3X19dhGVGgLD51hPeuSIRCAwGe9LCnQ8zRKa2DZJpCdZ3EBSHhG9iRXR9fe9spBVWN6H9zpHf-OCshUjW0pNBhsAWg8SilWGcjdsI6bEs5j78UaPOLwKPoJxQI8Q/s1600/DSC08949.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCFucqWDdxGevhnb3X19dhGVGgLD51hPeuSIRCAwGe9LCnQ8zRKa2DZJpCdZ3EBSHhG9iRXR9fe9spBVWN6H9zpHf-OCshUjW0pNBhsAWg8SilWGcjdsI6bEs5j78UaPOLwKPoJxQI8Q/s1600/DSC08949.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
My mom and I decided one of the gardens needed </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
something extra.</div>
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<br /></div>
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For a new garden, it's doing pretty well with mostly transplants </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
from family members' gardens:</div>
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Shasta daisies, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
another daisy that flowers early and then self seeds like crazy, </div>
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purple loosestrife, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
tradescantia, wood aster, chives,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
garlic chives, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
which also self seed like crazy,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
blue columbine and a number of different hostas.</div>
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<br /></div>
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And a couple of purchased plants: </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
a Knock Out Rose that sometimes gets eaten by the deer </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(but so far so good this year) </div>
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and some heuchera that don't have much to show</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
in the way of flowers.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We were in town this morning, going to the library's book sale, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and saw a great display of Russian sage in the library's garden.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I told my mom - that would be a great addition to our garden, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and the deer don't like it.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Late this afternoon we went to the local nursery </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
to buy a Russian sage. </div>
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As we got out of the car, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
we passed a woman pulling a wagon full of plants. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
One of the plants stopped us in our tracks: </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
a yellow coneflower.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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So guess what we came home with.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Makes a nice pairing, don't you think?</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzFeHSOFh-wlfNwGiNh86XdvBgyo4fZH6U_WePMKdTcv1XoSWBXjPxpWRkNVM5qi_oHVjTRQCbr-q8BgCa55GphTLGYDjSQlAEldV2Wf7b1eyJVh72lVtM7VPvLqrii_yYFbs9gjEgcA/s1600/DSC08950.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzFeHSOFh-wlfNwGiNh86XdvBgyo4fZH6U_WePMKdTcv1XoSWBXjPxpWRkNVM5qi_oHVjTRQCbr-q8BgCa55GphTLGYDjSQlAEldV2Wf7b1eyJVh72lVtM7VPvLqrii_yYFbs9gjEgcA/s1600/DSC08950.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
We also bought a daylily called Cosmopolitan. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
There were several with blooms, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
but the pot that had the most plant in it </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(which we figured we could divide into 3 when transplanting)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
had no blooms, so I don't have a flower to show you.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But here's the description:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
miniature, rosy-red round blooms, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
excellent bud count, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
very floriferous,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
a bit of fragrance and reblooming.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Very floriferous!</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Doesn't that make your heart sing?</div>
Ginniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12956873259908320109noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5506149731913717166.post-33378692752070071382014-08-02T13:30:00.000-05:002014-08-02T13:30:00.654-05:00Closing days<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDQrhUwS3jpwekJ29lcJigFQOa1u-c4yKxUGjeWcMunGKxcHQIroRU6_wgJ9XIHoNAPVw3h0d-EyStRSvu4iDCcv0L1mc7uGtcAaqEYa4Zw25m94or_scNUYEi7B8sfk09h-sEQxdSTA/s1600/DSC08924.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDQrhUwS3jpwekJ29lcJigFQOa1u-c4yKxUGjeWcMunGKxcHQIroRU6_wgJ9XIHoNAPVw3h0d-EyStRSvu4iDCcv0L1mc7uGtcAaqEYa4Zw25m94or_scNUYEi7B8sfk09h-sEQxdSTA/s1600/DSC08924.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: center;">It's almost time to go back to reality - </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
vacation is nearly over.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Not that this isn't reality, too.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOdi1s0uSd7ek7d2c1Kk9xzNOyuBH_Qzd1tu_O7P45mz9Rn9rUEkZitlXRrY0frlr3bta3tKUNIvJKge3yekcj30EX_rye_AL4LFR2cPIZJL3dXpem1Q0ujE4n3WBwUzxRLcdorDmiMQ/s1600/DSC08932.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOdi1s0uSd7ek7d2c1Kk9xzNOyuBH_Qzd1tu_O7P45mz9Rn9rUEkZitlXRrY0frlr3bta3tKUNIvJKge3yekcj30EX_rye_AL4LFR2cPIZJL3dXpem1Q0ujE4n3WBwUzxRLcdorDmiMQ/s1600/DSC08932.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Just a more beautiful, relaxed form of it.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCmgTW51dq6Ub4BNovl4pnImz1vmxN537yNHwrOzSZ_08FOzwWprMaXCz8-DPn4rIsjZGXUxjVGwv_PSfSbQ_p23eO2vRbs5EByTr4LY-UVkqIlPdijC3XHXUW39DtmwVOjt8wiNJYLg/s1600/DSC08923-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCmgTW51dq6Ub4BNovl4pnImz1vmxN537yNHwrOzSZ_08FOzwWprMaXCz8-DPn4rIsjZGXUxjVGwv_PSfSbQ_p23eO2vRbs5EByTr4LY-UVkqIlPdijC3XHXUW39DtmwVOjt8wiNJYLg/s1600/DSC08923-1.jpg" height="400" width="368" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Oscar and I sat on the pier</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
watching a small plane soar overhead...</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And swallows darting and swooping</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
over the water.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJdgGpEg3YzF4ux7fxAXAlbSw_cPKbBgTFGg-zfHY9wpB-uKFP3Zs0RRXn3J3KxYrdO0c9xmHR5kI13qEKqNdvLp1SDi-VtgQ9VpQR2ePYynToHUHYGKfh4GV_5V5uiPEw8L1sA5ueZw/s1600/DSC08930-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJdgGpEg3YzF4ux7fxAXAlbSw_cPKbBgTFGg-zfHY9wpB-uKFP3Zs0RRXn3J3KxYrdO0c9xmHR5kI13qEKqNdvLp1SDi-VtgQ9VpQR2ePYynToHUHYGKfh4GV_5V5uiPEw8L1sA5ueZw/s1600/DSC08930-1.jpg" height="320" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The occasional speedboat would set Oscar barking.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(He barks at noisy machines.)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I missed taking a picture of him:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
at the edge of the pier, legs braced,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
barking until the speedboat faded from view.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I decided I'd get a picture of the next encounter.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But when the next boat went by, there was no barking.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Camera ready, I looked around.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Oscar, where are you?</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPI2EFXFGpN9mqR3zGCTMJRHj6RLlf4ByLC1APPuSZuthYIDYn6VHdTukE5Dkhqu60WYayaSFuyrUH-iN25h0eYelN58w5J_m7u2TtrJwManE1Af-cWpf7UQDjxEFwuHsXAVG7s0lneg/s1600/DSC08938.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPI2EFXFGpN9mqR3zGCTMJRHj6RLlf4ByLC1APPuSZuthYIDYn6VHdTukE5Dkhqu60WYayaSFuyrUH-iN25h0eYelN58w5J_m7u2TtrJwManE1Af-cWpf7UQDjxEFwuHsXAVG7s0lneg/s1600/DSC08938.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
He'd had enough of the pier.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
He's afraid of stairs, so could only go so far</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and was waiting patiently for me to carry him up to shore.</div>
Ginniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12956873259908320109noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5506149731913717166.post-27312122234317589992014-08-01T13:30:00.000-05:002014-08-01T13:30:00.127-05:00Flora. Fauna.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7z30GZ3OdnU-HusrUXi0kC8UY08Niy4UIJwkE-87EvQEnUrqgDIbVkVH3DiwB41FX2vw2DSpJUI0kVwlUom6yQYtQOSToojTVPmFb1n1TV4k1_po9F1NjQpuS7r0W6C7v2WU70ZM86g/s1600/DSC08901.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7z30GZ3OdnU-HusrUXi0kC8UY08Niy4UIJwkE-87EvQEnUrqgDIbVkVH3DiwB41FX2vw2DSpJUI0kVwlUom6yQYtQOSToojTVPmFb1n1TV4k1_po9F1NjQpuS7r0W6C7v2WU70ZM86g/s1600/DSC08901.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
We planted milkweed in our <a href="http://becoming-g.blogspot.com/2008/08/special-project.html" target="_blank">native garden</a> in Wisconsin,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
not because we love the plant particularly,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
but to provide habitat for Monarch butterflies.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEfl8p3c8AMD3TCeIQok_t_TYcfLV_Np5JIXkFDu_Sk4ttR0Y1eXMTCZOEePhcjjUQwnLysiH7ymzzEGU5tgwvrmnedJjHnEuxSI63tEu2ie-3juMBR9RmZuIIVW_V9J3P59_0KGTRBg/s1600/DSC08903-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEfl8p3c8AMD3TCeIQok_t_TYcfLV_Np5JIXkFDu_Sk4ttR0Y1eXMTCZOEePhcjjUQwnLysiH7ymzzEGU5tgwvrmnedJjHnEuxSI63tEu2ie-3juMBR9RmZuIIVW_V9J3P59_0KGTRBg/s1600/DSC08903-1.jpg" height="335" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The first year of the garden, we observed Monarch caterpillars</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
feasting on the leaves of the plant early in the summer,</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
leaving just stalks behind.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNTzdurCjQ0bIfAGHd-dKXx8DoQUhbE4llBLcksNrTyGbM-vKEB453r21hZIE6kWxN68U6QzOmdoSy1hj366QuAuHZsfkeRDNCLJNPGOCSU3bNYXV3mcUfwBypY-BrQNo6Qi6BUbLrLw/s1600/DSC08917.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNTzdurCjQ0bIfAGHd-dKXx8DoQUhbE4llBLcksNrTyGbM-vKEB453r21hZIE6kWxN68U6QzOmdoSy1hj366QuAuHZsfkeRDNCLJNPGOCSU3bNYXV3mcUfwBypY-BrQNo6Qi6BUbLrLw/s1600/DSC08917.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Several years went by without a repeat performance.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But the plants survived, so that was good.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This afternoon my mom paused in her garden work</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
to call over to where I was weeding:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"A Monarch!"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheL-9mz0AVcxq-myE6OQq3LAmuSFw3vJKo65wu-vdyKhSBrxXTGlkxEzD0THi8ZcUG-Dh4tbFzp5GzVylL8MWiigGYkcmQ71x0t0MYyjke-iAVhvWD2BiMhLbDl3JUIwPMNlss4PPQ4w/s1600/DSC08903-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheL-9mz0AVcxq-myE6OQq3LAmuSFw3vJKo65wu-vdyKhSBrxXTGlkxEzD0THi8ZcUG-Dh4tbFzp5GzVylL8MWiigGYkcmQ71x0t0MYyjke-iAVhvWD2BiMhLbDl3JUIwPMNlss4PPQ4w/s1600/DSC08903-1.jpg" height="335" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I came over to look </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and debated whether I should run inside for my camera.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Mmmm...Yes.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAnNn9qZKLYNmnJWma5kp15g5UT2WlKy9UjqmxwnAqSgNpt_0PKmaRuUn0ePX6dFKCSPEVRx5LY59o2Dh1LPyjDgAeshcE6xFabrTYHtg3ZOfbQauHHGe2PLIUdguLANX4puCwOJ7sLg/s1600/DSC08917-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAnNn9qZKLYNmnJWma5kp15g5UT2WlKy9UjqmxwnAqSgNpt_0PKmaRuUn0ePX6dFKCSPEVRx5LY59o2Dh1LPyjDgAeshcE6xFabrTYHtg3ZOfbQauHHGe2PLIUdguLANX4puCwOJ7sLg/s1600/DSC08917-1.jpg" height="295" width="320" /></a></div>
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She (he?) was all by herself.</div>
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Lighting on one bloom, </div>
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then flying away to another part of the garden </div>
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before coming back to another bloom.</div>
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While waiting for her to come back, </div>
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I took pictures of a bumble bee</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaPi5O60oDH9CYky67if0mw9OLoCZWZbdcVOnL2VgT6ZHKnD8i1LUs5-qiV0BbPjU_CUrqAGNPrHuvTGb4ItwCzx4nS0pIa9T1OoyZUxLqSEuy1M4JxvnCPYIBwaAYKkVWxK6OKmqnFQ/s1600/DSC08902-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaPi5O60oDH9CYky67if0mw9OLoCZWZbdcVOnL2VgT6ZHKnD8i1LUs5-qiV0BbPjU_CUrqAGNPrHuvTGb4ItwCzx4nS0pIa9T1OoyZUxLqSEuy1M4JxvnCPYIBwaAYKkVWxK6OKmqnFQ/s1600/DSC08902-2.jpg" height="312" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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and a golden dragonfly (a color I haven't seen before).</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSWGg4lMEcdUoVVhyNV26wtuyyRoOnlr6sp7V6AMqWPGRjV0GTa6EWTcziq6IaSOCfqoFrsKGCXsrF5fYWXms_xUKhFHR8D_Fr1oBpnfnDxuSkw7TqUN-ovJOO8BSqN_NgUhW6bwhDFw/s1600/DSC08912-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSWGg4lMEcdUoVVhyNV26wtuyyRoOnlr6sp7V6AMqWPGRjV0GTa6EWTcziq6IaSOCfqoFrsKGCXsrF5fYWXms_xUKhFHR8D_Fr1oBpnfnDxuSkw7TqUN-ovJOO8BSqN_NgUhW6bwhDFw/s1600/DSC08912-2.jpg" height="302" width="400" /></a></div>
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Twenty pictures later, </div>
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she opened her wings just long enough for me to catch her </div>
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before she was off again.</div>
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Ginniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12956873259908320109noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5506149731913717166.post-60555900537171317272014-07-31T21:41:00.001-05:002014-07-31T21:41:50.588-05:00Bliss<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX92GeWGRZM90q0qiDNFTX8r-dyAL0X8VlkJFrI86hQcusOWrNtCX9dodW3fWNfFgXb3JdroNPQ5MIwmIOKK25zsoU_CCFFD1WYfrT2CQNMdlX1EdvfUqAZsQAAIY6aseQ6YufQxOa7Q/s1600/Family+picture+2014+where+is+TJ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX92GeWGRZM90q0qiDNFTX8r-dyAL0X8VlkJFrI86hQcusOWrNtCX9dodW3fWNfFgXb3JdroNPQ5MIwmIOKK25zsoU_CCFFD1WYfrT2CQNMdlX1EdvfUqAZsQAAIY6aseQ6YufQxOa7Q/s1600/Family+picture+2014+where+is+TJ.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></div>
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This was the week of our annual family vacation</div>
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at my parents' cottage in Wisconsin.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Not everyone could make it,</div>
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but we feel especially blessed this year</div>
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to have two new family members</div>
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who were able to join us.</div>
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<br /></div>
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One is not pictured: our sweet foster-to-adopt baby</div>
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who joined the family in early January.</div>
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He is so entertaining at 8 months old</div>
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that his uncle observed, "He's like a campfire,"</div>
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when he noted all the family members </div>
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sitting in a circle around TJ, </div>
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oo-ing and ah-ing over his antics</div>
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as he played on a blanket on the floor.</div>
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<br /></div>
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He was already in bed for the night when we took the picture,</div>
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but since he is a foster child, </div>
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his picture is not allowed to be shown on social media.</div>
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(We took another family picture the next night </div>
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before he went to bed,</div>
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but I can't show you that one.)</div>
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<br /></div>
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The newest member is TJ's 3 week old little sister, </div>
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born to TJ's foster-to-adopt parents</div>
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on the 4th of July.</div>
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Fireworks went on all over </div>
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just hours after her birth.</div>
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The flowers pictured above right are from my garden</div>
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(former garden, that is - the sale was closed today!)</div>
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and were arranged for Norah -</div>
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the bee balm (Monarda) blooms remind me of fireworks.</div>
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It's been a wonderful week.</div>
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<br /></div>
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.</div>
Ginniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12956873259908320109noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5506149731913717166.post-63109392087010418672014-07-25T23:30:00.000-05:002014-07-26T00:25:09.974-05:00Change is in the air<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNF00IQ1JC3lKTD_iRC16Q2HpZH618sMJ2JBwa9APQg8RcnSiA0tRP7OjXYZZdrDp9VZ5j9OuqYBmliagagUL6VgqogVb4ZuGuvkgxIkqb8G-xVgIwLg8eF9bTeUlt5w3ofWGK8ZYc_g/s1600/home.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNF00IQ1JC3lKTD_iRC16Q2HpZH618sMJ2JBwa9APQg8RcnSiA0tRP7OjXYZZdrDp9VZ5j9OuqYBmliagagUL6VgqogVb4ZuGuvkgxIkqb8G-xVgIwLg8eF9bTeUlt5w3ofWGK8ZYc_g/s1600/home.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
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Lots of changes at the moment:</div>
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</div>
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I quit my part time job at the for-profit firm last month </div>
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after several months of realizing it was not a good fit for me,</div>
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and now I feel like there is a big weight off my shoulders.</div>
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Phew!</div>
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<br /></div>
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At the non-profit where I work part time, </div>
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we've welcomed a new executive director <br />
and said farewell to our interim: </div>
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we loved our interim, but she was just that - </div>
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came the rescue until the permanent replacement arrived,</div>
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and she was fabulous.</div>
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It's a new dynamic now, and still a very good one, </div>
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and our interim made it an easy transition for the staff.<br />
<br />
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This will soon be my former home.<br />
Yesterday the movers came and took away the furniture, <br />
and tonight, after days of help <br />
from family and friends to wrap and pack boxes,<br />
I finished cleaning the empty house, <br />
locked the door for the last time,<br />
and said a prayer of thanksgiving <br />
for the home this house was to me for more than 27 years.<br />
<br />
Now on to the next chapter...</div>
</div>
Ginniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12956873259908320109noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5506149731913717166.post-75645723608608737532014-07-12T06:00:00.000-05:002014-07-12T06:00:00.787-05:00Birthday Boy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibnES3GRXS7_3VOlCLzk-_giryDZf8IPEEPUOgEJ2UQmLGq8t9sZmLBriwKzNxX5qrTSO9AkDCTW10RHbzQuGta7SgADwicIFtbBx4HBg21ZZ_csKYjpd1s3yCHn8VeVVT84FGOhbGSQ/s1600/Oscar+Oct+2013.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibnES3GRXS7_3VOlCLzk-_giryDZf8IPEEPUOgEJ2UQmLGq8t9sZmLBriwKzNxX5qrTSO9AkDCTW10RHbzQuGta7SgADwicIFtbBx4HBg21ZZ_csKYjpd1s3yCHn8VeVVT84FGOhbGSQ/s1600/Oscar+Oct+2013.png" height="346" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
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Oscar's birthday is today.</div>
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Ten!</div>
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We adopted him 5 years ago, </div>
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when he was a shy and chubby 5-year-old</div>
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with a very short haircut.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<br />
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He wouldn't leave Gerrit's side that first day.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI9KfjfQUhbb5DIXGOOD-QEkmzvJIYwraiZjWvKPuCK1_R8w-HTwPeyqUPmR5lrGwNTHKDiBKJhgwvUi00fLxAs1xp4qOZeabNv-u9k7SQmEQ7EmYTsWfMh0yx4v_vDAT5Sy_ELnZG7g/s1600/DSC03584.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI9KfjfQUhbb5DIXGOOD-QEkmzvJIYwraiZjWvKPuCK1_R8w-HTwPeyqUPmR5lrGwNTHKDiBKJhgwvUi00fLxAs1xp4qOZeabNv-u9k7SQmEQ7EmYTsWfMh0yx4v_vDAT5Sy_ELnZG7g/s1600/DSC03584.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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Later he got bolder and would hang out with me, too.</div>
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Now that he lives with my parents, he follows them around.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Until I show up.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(Hmmm. Note to self: Must. Get. Selfie.)</span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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Ginniehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12956873259908320109noreply@blogger.com3