Terrapin Station

Friday Five: Scattered

Thanks to friend RevKjarla for posting this Friday Five at RevGals. 

So, I don't know about you, but I have had quite the scattered week.  Sometimes, life is that way, right?
 
In the spirit of Scattered-ness, I offer you a scattery kind of Friday Five:
 

1.  I lose my keys all of the time.  Even if they are in my hand, I still am looking for them.  Sigh! 
What is something you chronically looking for, if anything?

My car key, which is simply a fob with a car key that comes out like a switchblade and has one key attached to it.  Something like this, except really, it's just the one key attached.  So, small and easy to lose.  

The car came with two.  We have lost one.  This is not good!  If the one we currently have gets lost, we are SOL because they have to be obtained from the dealership for hundreds of dollars.  Sigh. 

And, I lost my glasses about 6 months ago.  Never to be seen again, apparently.  And found my spare ones in the driveway, someone having run over them.  I have a new prescription, just have to get to the Eyemasters to choose frames/get it filled.  Oh, and pay for it.  In the meantime:  squinting. 

2.  What movie are you looking forward to watching sometime in the future?  

Bridesmaids, which has been recommended as a laugh-fest.  Because although I do not like weddings or the insanity that surrounds them, I'm ready to laugh. 

3.  What is one of your favorite comfort foods?  

Carbs of any sort.  Unfortunately.  But I'm working on getting protein in there as an also-ran.  Little Babybel cheeses, that sort of thing. 

4.  Story time.  Tell us a story of one your favorite people that has touched, blessed your life.

My sister Nancy has the gift of administration.  She just does.  Earlier this year I came up with the Big Idea of a Big Birthday Party for my parents (86 and 80 years old).  I told all the family we were doing it, and then when Ken got sick, I just dropped the ball.  I couldn't think of it. (And as an INFP, I tend not to finish what I start in the best of circumstances...)  Enter Nancy, who picked up the ball and made an amazing shot from mid-court!  She created a great memory scrapbook, put together wonderful food, gorgeous decorations, and a glorious event that was really special and wonderful.  An added bonus was that all I had to do was show up and enjoy.  Thank you, sis.

5.  What do you do to focus or calm or center yourself?  

Sit or lie down and breathe, feeling the breath move through my body and acknowledging any spots of pain, tension, or other concern. 

• Walk.
• Go outside and watch birds and squirrels. 

BONUS:  Share the first thing (or second thing) that comes to your mind after your read this!

First thing:  I want to go outside and talk to some squirrels! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Second thing:  I want to go to this awesome Halloween event that's happening in my town!  I am not a fan of scary things, but it's not that at all.  I have friend who is dancing in it.  It sounds FUN.

  

Whaaat!? Weather Report plus bonus boring news

The flowering trees (Bradford pears, redbuds) have done their thing and gone to leaf.  The spireas, azaleas, tulips, and irises are out.  The world is carpeted with oak pollen (yuck).  We've enjoyed rain the last week, but also temps in the 70's and 80's. 

But then last night it got cold, cold and windy.  Lows in the 20's, and this morning we had SNOW flurries.  We have a wind advisory all day.  My cold-sensitive hubby is rolled up in the bed with the red plush blanket.  I feel fine, but am wearing shoes in the house (which tells you it's coolish). 

We went to his Lenten Concert last night at Big Enormous Fancy Dallas Church.  It was lovely except neither of us cared for last piece, an excessively dissonant modern "Miserere."  Afterwards, he said to me, "Wasn't that Miserere awful?!"  "Well, I was happy when you stopped singing it," I said.  "I clapped!"  We are snobs, if you please; we just likes our music to have a melody.  Oh wait; that probably makes us hayseeds.  Oh well. 

Today I am reorganizing part of home office.  No kudos, please; it is necessitated by the fact that a car title is not in the file where it should be, and so I must go through the piles to see if I can't find it.  Because he wants to sell that car, oh, TODAY.  Sigh. 

Lunch is steamed broccoli and salad, with a little fish later.  Hey, have you tried those Ziploc steamer bags?  Awesome!  And reuseable to boot. 

Ken decided that he likes everything that goes into a hamburger but not the bread (who is this person!?) so we are going to try Hamburger Salads, a la Taco Salads, for dinner.  Mine will have crumbled Gardenburgers instead of the beef. 

Josie and Boudreaux are sad that they have to be plucked every time they come in from outside....the oak pollen is a killer.  But then they get lots of brushings from their dad, and that is happy. 

My dad is in Atlanta helping the Anglican Church in North America get set up.  He is a church government wonk from way back.  Sigh.  My mom is home alone.  If you think about it, stop by her blog and say hi! 

 

Small Child with Fish

 

Summer 1967...I am 2 years old, showing off my fish.   

Cute, no? 

Thanks to sister Barbara for this!

Bluebonnets and knitting

 

No, we won't see bluebonnets again until March, but as of today, my new "conservation" license plates featuring bluebonnets, the state flower of Texas, are on their way.  $30, of which $22 goes to conservation efforts in my state. 

This makes me smile! 

Also making me smile are some "Bluebonnet Picnic" pictures.  The first one is from 1966, when I would have been just around a year old.  Surrounding my cuteness are Dad, Sarah (in the back), Barbara (oldest sister) and Bill in the front. 

Following that, you have a gem from 1970, with me and younger sister Nancy.  Photo tip:  don't face your subjects into direct sun...!  Notice the Pontiac Catalina station wagon in the background.  That beast took us many, many miles in its day. 

Note that I am wearing hand-knitted items in both pictures...the cap in the first, and the "heather" sweater in the second.  I know my Gramma Beth made the sweater.  I also remember that a donkey decided to take a bite out of it, one time when I wore it to a petting zoo.  My daddy slapped that donkey's nose!  I wasn't hurt but scared.

However, I have recovered, and am off to try knitting socks (with the Maine-y yarn) for the first time.  Bulletins as they occur!