Archive for GREEN Thumb

Unconscious mutterings, Green Thumb and a Science Fiction Sunday Snippet today. It all follows:

We got caught in a huge microburst yesterday while driving…the photo shows you what it was like —

I enjoy my Sunday blogging. It’s a quiet day for me always. And the storm front bringing the Tropical Storm Fay toward the USA this week sometime is bringing a lot of rain to us right now! So far, Fay is 45-50 MPH in winds, and it continues to lie over Cuba. It’s expected to make a sharp [almost 90 degree] turn in the next day or two and head for Florida!! –the state of Florida has already declared emergency status! Yesterday, while we were stupid enough to be out on Texas’s “no tax” weekend, shopping with the mobs, we got caught in a rain microburst on the freeway and I couldn’t see in front of the car! —The speed limit is 60 on the freeway through town, but I had to slow down to a crawl –top speed through the storm for me was 30MPH!!! It’s so easy to hydroplane with our car because of the wide chassis.

I bought something at Cracker Barrel; [yes, it's a restaurant, but no we didn't eat there---] we ate there a few days ago and I saw the cutest Halloween stuff. Of course, I went back yesterday and got what I wanted. I talked myself out of it the other day, then when I got home I wanted it. So went back. Anyway I got that [which I'll post about it later]. Then drove to the specialty shops toward the island. That’s where we got hit with the storm.

After stopping at a few places there, we decided to heck with the island, and turned back to head into the business area near the freeway in ‘town’. Again, we drove into the storm front heading back of course. But this time, I found the Jason’s Deli exit. hehehehe We stopped there, had a BLT and chips and sat out the storm there in the deli and read the paper and watched some of the Olypmic coverage on their several TV screens. And today, nearing 5AM, we’re getting more thunder and lightning and lots of rain!!

In other words, I’ve got so much to blog about and need to get the computer unplugged. Will have to blog about what I bought and a special friend some other time. See ya—

———————

Play along with your subconscious; Sunday’s Word Association.
Join here.

I say … and you think … ?

1. Signature :: Brand [as in store brand, not cattle]
2. Olympics :: Too political [no matter where they're held!]
3. 100% :: A+ [test results/score]
4. Damn! :: Rhett’s famous word in GWTW
[frankly my dear, I don't give a damn]
5. Gold :: Rush
6. Fresh and natural :: Outdoors
7. Fraction :: One half
8. Hurry :: Up
9. Summer :: Vacation
10. 29th :: February [leap year]

~end Mutterings
[comment link HERE]


Join Here


Not much ‘green thumbing’ this week for me. It’s been way too hot and way too humid to be outside other than from the car door to the store back to the car door and into the AC kitchen! LOL This is an ivy of mine. Like I said, not much this week!

~end Green Thumb

[comment link HERE]

There is a Mexican Legend. Also known to the southwest USA residents as “Chupacabra“. In translation it would mean ‘goat sucker’

Now, granted, I’ve never heard of these mythical creatures, the folklore of them, until we moved to Arizona. Altho, now that I think about it I DO remember some cattle on the western slope of Colorado that mysteriously lost their lives and no blood in the bodies!! Then, a couple of years ago, maybe last year, there was one that reportedly killed some animal on a lady’s property…draining it of blood. Thing is, one was also found, dead, in Texas. And yes, it was a odd looking fellow. Short front legs, longer back legs..and a very fine coat. Gray in color. Long snout too. But when the strange animal was taken in for testing, the blood DNA showed it was a strain of coyote. Maybe a malformed animal. Who knows.

Now this week, another was spotted in the backlands of Dewitt County, Texas. Just south and west of San Antonio. By a deputy sheriff none the less, and he got a video of it running in front of his patrol car.

This is the ‘live video‘. [link]

This would so make a good sci fi movie.


Play along with your subconscious; Sunday’s Word Association.
Join here.

I say … and you think … ?

1. Month to month :: pension
2. Adjusted :: gross income
3. Prank :: call
4. Mop :: board [today it's called base board]
5. Clarity :: diamond grade
6. Parenting :: magazine
7. Glenn :: congressman & astronaut -John Glenn
[my first thought tho, was Glen Echo Resort in Colorado - one 'n']
8. Fingerprint :: smudged refrigerator
[an obsession of mine, always cleaning. LOL]
9. Pineapple :: upside down cake
10. Attorney :: general

~end Unconscious Mutterings
comment link below the entire Sunday entry – or HERE


Join Here


The top photo is the wisteria I planted in the ground this Spring. I bought it from the nursery it was in a 6″ container and about 2 feet high…look how it’s grown over the summer. [My other wisteria that I planted when we first moved here, ummmmm...Bud mowed over it! Never came back up.]

The second photo is one of two potted ferns sitting on our patio.

~end Green Thumb Sunday
comment link below entire Sunday entry – or HERE

Once again, drugs vs. the patient!!! My Sunday Snippet is always something I read that makes me feel good. This time it made me feel good because what I read makes me convinced I made the right choice back in May of this year.

I knew it! I knew it! Another reason for me personally to go with my gut instincts!! I have a history of heart arrhythmias known as SVT, and my PCP wanted me to go on cholesterol drugs known as statin drugs, and I refused much to her dismay. Well, I did more than one stint of walking per day, and I took out all the red meats from my diet and became more or less a vegetarian. I do, once in a while consume chicken, to get the fat my body needs. She gave me the three months to get my cholesterol down on my own without medications…I DID. [ on my blog 5/28/08] Again, much to her surprise that I could do it without drugs. I KNOW too many drugs in a system just leads to complications, more going wrong with your body and breaking down of all your vital organs. It’s a fact. There is no getting around it. Yet, the physicians tend to over medicate….and I am not going to be one of them to sit idly and accept their choices when it’s my body, mind and soul they’re taking away.

Now I read just the other day that cholesterol lowering drugs WILL do more harm than good with individuals that have a history of or on arrhythmia drugs to keep the heart rate steady and intact. Yessiree Bob!!! I am not going to just take the doctors’ word anymore….I’m gonna refuse and take in more studies and do my own research. No more of this crap….I am fed up with all this…it’s a downright shame… I personally want to go to a doctor for a good checkup and get ADVICE – NOT get ‘you should be taking this drug…only to counteract another drug’!!!!

    ~ ~Patients taking some common medications for high cholesterol and irregular heart beats can suffer severe muscle damage because of a problem in the way the drugs interact, the government warned on Friday. Muscle injury is a risk with any of the cholesterol drugs known as statins, including Lipitor, particularly for the elderly. Although the risk of such injuries is low overall, they can be serious because they can lead to kidney failure and even death.

Three items in my post -
Sunday Snippet [entertainment from Australia], Green Thumb Sunday [several photos of some of our hibiscus this week], and Unconscious Mutterings [some great words for association this week!]

Several days ago, I stopped by to read what Jan at the Prytz Family had for us. What “blog”gled my mind was her fantasy career. Strange Fruit. Boy was I ever intrigued by this human phenomenon. I saw the photo she shared, and I almost immediately went out to Google and did a search. These people are for real! And they’re amazing. After reading their website [aforementioned link] – I had to go check out You Tube to see if they were out there. I had no doubt they wouldn’t be. And I found this one….

I wish here, right now, to send along my thanks to Jan for opening my eyes to a whole new world -

I ♥ Australians!!!!

~…end Sunday Snippet
[comment link here - or below]


Play along with your subconscious; Sunday’s Word Association.
Join here.

I say … and you think … ?

1. Crankiness :: Crabby Ol’ Man!!!
2. Backpack :: Hiking
3. Clone :: DNA
4. High ground :: flood
5. Dreams :: Gloria Estefan’s song…”Reach
6. Lovingly :: Sincerly
7. Mistake :: To err is human
8. Carson :: City Nevada Or Johnny!
9. Errand :: Shop
10. Dozen :: twelve x twelve=”gross”

~…end Mutterings
[comment link here - or below]


Join Here

Being in the subtropical zones our plant life is quite diverse. But, my favorites, other than roses of course, are hibiscus. Here are several of the different bushes we have in bloom right now—-





Three items in my post -
Sunday Snippet [entertainment from Australia], Green Thumb Sunday [several photos of some of our hibiscus this week], and Unconscious Mutterings [some great words for association this week!]

Several days ago, I stopped by to read what Jan at the Prytz Family had for us. What “blog”gled my mind was her fantasy career. Strange Fruit. Boy was I ever intrigued by this human phenomenon. I saw the photo she shared, and I almost immediately went out to Google and did a search. These people are for real! And they’re amazing. After reading their website [aforementioned link] – I had to go check out You Tube to see if they were out there. I had no doubt they wouldn’t be. And I found this one….

I wish here, right now, to send along my thanks to Jan for opening my eyes to a whole new world -

I ♥ Australians!!!!

~…end Sunday Snippet
[comment link here - or below]


Play along with your subconscious; Sunday’s Word Association.
Join here.

I say … and you think … ?

1. Crankiness :: Crabby Ol’ Man!!!
2. Backpack :: Hiking
3. Clone :: DNA
4. High ground :: flood
5. Dreams :: Gloria Estefan’s song…”Reach
6. Lovingly :: Sincerly
7. Mistake :: To err is human
8. Carson :: City Nevada Or Johnny!
9. Errand :: Shop
10. Dozen :: twelve x twelve=”gross”

~…end Mutterings
[comment link here - or below]


Join Here

Being in the subtropical zones our plant life is quite diverse. But, my favorites, other than roses of course, are hibiscus. Here are several of the different bushes we have in bloom right now—-





Today once again, 3 posts in one
[Sunday Snippet, Green Thumb Sunday, and Unconscious Mutterings]


Last week, as you know Hurricane Dolly hit the South Texas Shores…near Brownsville Texas. Here in Corpus we got the right side of the storm’s wind speeds…which are the worst of the winds according to meteorologists. Yes, we did get the winds. But the next morning, tho we still had flooding rains and the storm lingered somewhat off and on the theme song from Poseidon came to mind as we took a drive to Padre Island to see the damage on the coast, and get a glimpse of the heavy surf.

    There’s got to be a morning after If we can hold on thru the night We have a chance to find the sunshine Let’s keep on looking for the light. Oh can’t you see the morning after? It’s waiting right outside the storm Why don’t we cross the bridge together And find the place that’s safe and warm….

Well, when we went over the JFK Causeway we could see that the shoreline off the highway had been washed away…there was still ‘no beach’ there. And finally, we arrived on the island. Of course, we knew that all the beach access roads were closed by power of the city/county/parks. But, we’re also ‘locals’…so, we knew how we could get around the ‘law’ and find where we could get to the beaches and the wild surf. We went around the back way and parked in the closeby Holiday Inn…then, walked the long parking lot and hit the shore that way. And, we weren’t the only ones curious to see the damage. The winds were still fierce that morning after Dolly hit…the sand was blowing in our eyes, even with the protection of glasses. We ate quite a bit of sand too. LOL And even tho Bud was right at my side, I could not begin to hear him over the loud roar of the sea and the winds. The seaweed was piled! The storm washed in the day before up and over the hotel’s walkway/sea wall…we waded through a goodly amount of washed up beach on the wall, and then, could see below the huge amount of seaweed. Then, the surf…….

Tho the day after the storm we could easily walk the parking lot [above, where you see the light poles], there was remnants and tell tale signs of the sea being up above, TO the lights!!–Sand all over. This is Bud sitting on the sea wall as I ventured out into the sea weed to view the surf and take photos…
You’ll notice the great amount of seaweed washed ashore. There was a lot of bird activity in there as they scavenged the area for washed up ‘food’. And if you didn’t read above, the surf pounding and the wind was so great you couldn’t hear anything else if you tried.

Then, the muddied, dirty swirling and clashing of the waves. On any given ‘normal’ day the water is clear and blue/grey. The wave action is minimal and the surf/sound is a gentle relaxing wonderful song to your ears. But here, the pounding and the rush of the soiled foaming water was quite upsetting. And to think just how awful it was for the people 120-130 miles south of us…how it was for them, and no time to really get an organized evacuation for them except for those who left voluntarily. It was supposed to hit them as a category 1! Instead by landfall, and the stalling out in the Gulf, Dolly strengthened to a category 2 overnight! The winds here, at this spot, on the day after was trying to topple me over in the ‘mush’…I can only envision the nightmarish acts of nature the day before.

While standing there for just about 1/2 hour only, watching and listening and dreaming…I spotted a black object way out –about 1/4 of a mile out from the shore [maybe more- but still less than a mile away from where I stood] –the black object was drifting. Above, you see Bud with his binoculars..he’s watching also. He spotted it too. And the object, once I got back to where he sat, I looked through the field glasses and saw there was a HUMAN on this…it looked like a humongous black rubber raft/or maybe an innertube! I thought what fool would actually go out there in water like this? Then, it dawned on me…could it be an alien from Mexico. An illegal alien coming into America? Is it possible? Yes, I guess so. When we got back in the car and drove down the road, I stopped and told them [the authorities at the road block] about the strange object – with a human aboard. Desperate times calls for desperate actions. Still, today, I think of him. Did he make it to shore in one piece? Safe and sound. I sure hope so.

In this last photo, you will be able to see the object that was of interest and concern to me and Bud…I cropped this from the previous photo. In order for you to see what we saw. The raft was caught in the squall, between the wave action and didn’t make any progress while we were there. After reporting this, we slowly made our way back to the car once again, and drove home. We saw many downed power lines still and several broken trees! And it was then, that we both got busy and cleaned the garage out. The best thing for me on the ‘day after’ was seeing light through our windows. The darkness from the storm outside the day before and all the hurricane shutters closed, well, it makes for an eerie feeling!!! Even if only we had the tropical remnants of her huge outer bands. [enlarge it]

~…end Sunday Snippet
[comment here]

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As we were taking the hanging plants back outside to re-hang from the patio lattice work, I snapped this photo for Green Thumb Sunday. It’s my hoya. It’s blooming right now. Glad I took it in before the storm hit, otherwise the blossoms and the waxy leaves would have taken a beating. Some of the leaves turned yellow almost overnight, guess it too didn’t like the total darkness. Like me.

~…end Green Thumb Sunday
[comment here]

<><><>


Play along with your subconscious; Sunday’s Word Association.
Join here.

I say … and you think … ?

1. Memory :: Card
2. Original :: Prototype
3. Exclusively :: Yours
4. Listings :: Job [Classified Ads]
5. Bucket :: List [Movie]
6. Knight :: ‘s Tale [Heath Ledger Movie]
7. Dusty :: Springfield [singer]
8. Choice :: USDA Grade A [meat - prime cut]
9. Sunlight :: Moonlight
10. Change of plans :: Scratch that…go with this instead!

Oh and for the younger generation…here’s Dusty Springfield -

Today once again, 3 posts in one
[Sunday Snippet, Green Thumb Sunday, and Unconscious Mutterings]


Last week, as you know Hurricane Dolly hit the South Texas Shores…near Brownsville Texas. Here in Corpus we got the right side of the storm’s wind speeds…which are the worst of the winds according to meteorologists. Yes, we did get the winds. But the next morning, tho we still had flooding rains and the storm lingered somewhat off and on the theme song from Poseidon came to mind as we took a drive to Padre Island to see the damage on the coast, and get a glimpse of the heavy surf.

    There’s got to be a morning after If we can hold on thru the night We have a chance to find the sunshine Let’s keep on looking for the light. Oh can’t you see the morning after? It’s waiting right outside the storm Why don’t we cross the bridge together And find the place that’s safe and warm….

Well, when we went over the JFK Causeway we could see that the shoreline off the highway had been washed away…there was still ‘no beach’ there. And finally, we arrived on the island. Of course, we knew that all the beach access roads were closed by power of the city/county/parks. But, we’re also ‘locals’…so, we knew how we could get around the ‘law’ and find where we could get to the beaches and the wild surf. We went around the back way and parked in the closeby Holiday Inn…then, walked the long parking lot and hit the shore that way. And, we weren’t the only ones curious to see the damage. The winds were still fierce that morning after Dolly hit…the sand was blowing in our eyes, even with the protection of glasses. We ate quite a bit of sand too. LOL And even tho Bud was right at my side, I could not begin to hear him over the loud roar of the sea and the winds. The seaweed was piled! The storm washed in the day before up and over the hotel’s walkway/sea wall…we waded through a goodly amount of washed up beach on the wall, and then, could see below the huge amount of seaweed. Then, the surf…….

Tho the day after the storm we could easily walk the parking lot [above, where you see the light poles], there was remnants and tell tale signs of the sea being up above, TO the lights!!–Sand all over. This is Bud sitting on the sea wall as I ventured out into the sea weed to view the surf and take photos…
You’ll notice the great amount of seaweed washed ashore. There was a lot of bird activity in there as they scavenged the area for washed up ‘food’. And if you didn’t read above, the surf pounding and the wind was so great you couldn’t hear anything else if you tried.

Then, the muddied, dirty swirling and clashing of the waves. On any given ‘normal’ day the water is clear and blue/grey. The wave action is minimal and the surf/sound is a gentle relaxing wonderful song to your ears. But here, the pounding and the rush of the soiled foaming water was quite upsetting. And to think just how awful it was for the people 120-130 miles south of us…how it was for them, and no time to really get an organized evacuation for them except for those who left voluntarily. It was supposed to hit them as a category 1! Instead by landfall, and the stalling out in the Gulf, Dolly strengthened to a category 2 overnight! The winds here, at this spot, on the day after was trying to topple me over in the ‘mush’…I can only envision the nightmarish acts of nature the day before.

While standing there for just about 1/2 hour only, watching and listening and dreaming…I spotted a black object way out –about 1/4 of a mile out from the shore [maybe more- but still less than a mile away from where I stood] –the black object was drifting. Above, you see Bud with his binoculars..he’s watching also. He spotted it too. And the object, once I got back to where he sat, I looked through the field glasses and saw there was a HUMAN on this…it looked like a humongous black rubber raft/or maybe an innertube! I thought what fool would actually go out there in water like this? Then, it dawned on me…could it be an alien from Mexico. An illegal alien coming into America? Is it possible? Yes, I guess so. When we got back in the car and drove down the road, I stopped and told them [the authorities at the road block] about the strange object – with a human aboard. Desperate times calls for desperate actions. Still, today, I think of him. Did he make it to shore in one piece? Safe and sound. I sure hope so.

In this last photo, you will be able to see the object that was of interest and concern to me and Bud…I cropped this from the previous photo. In order for you to see what we saw. The raft was caught in the squall, between the wave action and didn’t make any progress while we were there. After reporting this, we slowly made our way back to the car once again, and drove home. We saw many downed power lines still and several broken trees! And it was then, that we both got busy and cleaned the garage out. The best thing for me on the ‘day after’ was seeing light through our windows. The darkness from the storm outside the day before and all the hurricane shutters closed, well, it makes for an eerie feeling!!! Even if only we had the tropical remnants of her huge outer bands. [enlarge it]

~…end Sunday Snippet
[comment here]

<><><>


Join Here


As we were taking the hanging plants back outside to re-hang from the patio lattice work, I snapped this photo for Green Thumb Sunday. It’s my hoya. It’s blooming right now. Glad I took it in before the storm hit, otherwise the blossoms and the waxy leaves would have taken a beating. Some of the leaves turned yellow almost overnight, guess it too didn’t like the total darkness. Like me.

~…end Green Thumb Sunday
[comment here]

<><><>


Play along with your subconscious; Sunday’s Word Association.
Join here.

I say … and you think … ?

1. Memory :: Card
2. Original :: Prototype
3. Exclusively :: Yours
4. Listings :: Job [Classified Ads]
5. Bucket :: List [Movie]
6. Knight :: ‘s Tale [Heath Ledger Movie]
7. Dusty :: Springfield [singer]
8. Choice :: USDA Grade A [meat - prime cut]
9. Sunlight :: Moonlight
10. Change of plans :: Scratch that…go with this instead!

Oh and for the younger generation…here’s Dusty Springfield -

As always, 3 posts in one
[Sunday Snippet, Green Thumb Sunday, and Unconscious Mutterings]


My Sunday Snippet is a bit off-key than what I usually write about. It’s not necessarily a ‘fun, good’ post today. But, instead, it’s something I want to share. And I thought today is as good a day as any……

For a long time now I’ve reiterated to my family that sunscreen is false hope against the deadliest form of skin cancer, melanoma. The reason I say ‘false hope’ is that the average human thinks they are protected from the harmful sunrays when they give use to the ‘magical’ protection. SPF–whatever number you choose.

But, sorry…this is not the case as studies now show. According to what I read recently. Sunscreen…not the protection we thought.

In fact cases of melanoma are on the rise?!! I think it’s because people assume by using sunscreen they can stay out in the hot sun and under the harmful UV rays longer. In other words, giving them false hope. Yes, I DO think it’s to blame, partly…I’m not saying it IS in fact the ONLY reason melanoma is on the rise; by using sunscreen…it’s just that those who use it…staying out too long thinking they’re protected!!! No matter if you HAVE lotion on…and reapplied often…it’s still not sensible to stay out in direct sun for hours. And I’ve seen people who are under the full sun all day long reapplying lotion, etc. The sunscreen is NOT protecting them from the harmful rays…it’s just keeping them from being burned…read the article [link above]. Do research.

I’ve also had in the back of my mind that the chemicals in the lotions are being baked into our skin and absorbed in our blood stream; in turn causing more harm than good. It’s like basting a turkey in the oven. What happens to the turkey when we baste it and roast it under the hot oven ‘rays’? Yep, it gets brown, crusty, and dried out. Just like our skin after being in the sun too long. Think about it. Use common sense.

Farmers and/or construction workers from long ago [and still today] were/are out sunrise to sunset, and rarely did/does skin cancer show up with them. Why? ‘Cause they kept/keep themselves covered with natural covering! Like overalls, hats and such. No chemicals. And a good use of common sense.

~…end Sunday Snippet
[comment here]


Join Here

This week, I’m doing Green Thumb Sunday a bit different. I want to share a blog that will leave you breathless with gardening—–

I was chosen out of many….

Anita had a giveaway, and she drew my name out of the many, many entrants. I will soon be a recipient of her new species of sweet pea seeds. And I can’t wait for them to arrive. Of course, if you’ve never been to her blog you’re missing some of the most beautiful photographs of her stupendous flower garden. Anita is an artist with her gardening…her blog entries will blow you away with such awe. She’s inspirational!! And trust me, her blog photos and garden are like you’re stepping into a “Home and Garden” showcase!


Thank you, Anita.
[sweet pea photo courtesy of Anita's Giveaway Blog entry -copyrighted- it's NOT my photo!!]

~…end Green Thumb Sunday
[comment here]


Play along with your subconscious; Sunday’s Word Association.
Join here.

I say … and you think … ?

1. Flicker :: candlelight
2. Styling :: gel
3. Episode :: one
4. Sexier :: huh? Who?
5. Studious :: scholarly
6. Mushroom :: cloud
7. 8 minutes :: to go
8. Bald :: hairless
9. Immunity :: diplomatic
10. Sectioned :: branched off [cordoned -as in police tape]

~…end Mutterings
[comment here]

As always, 3 posts in one
[Sunday Snippet, Green Thumb Sunday, and Unconscious Mutterings]


My Sunday Snippet is a bit off-key than what I usually write about. It’s not necessarily a ‘fun, good’ post today. But, instead, it’s something I want to share. And I thought today is as good a day as any……

For a long time now I’ve reiterated to my family that sunscreen is false hope against the deadliest form of skin cancer, melanoma. The reason I say ‘false hope’ is that the average human thinks they are protected from the harmful sunrays when they give use to the ‘magical’ protection. SPF–whatever number you choose.

But, sorry…this is not the case as studies now show. According to what I read recently. Sunscreen…not the protection we thought.

In fact cases of melanoma are on the rise?!! I think it’s because people assume by using sunscreen they can stay out in the hot sun and under the harmful UV rays longer. In other words, giving them false hope. Yes, I DO think it’s to blame, partly…I’m not saying it IS in fact the ONLY reason melanoma is on the rise; by using sunscreen…it’s just that those who use it…staying out too long thinking they’re protected!!! No matter if you HAVE lotion on…and reapplied often…it’s still not sensible to stay out in direct sun for hours. And I’ve seen people who are under the full sun all day long reapplying lotion, etc. The sunscreen is NOT protecting them from the harmful rays…it’s just keeping them from being burned…read the article [link above]. Do research.

I’ve also had in the back of my mind that the chemicals in the lotions are being baked into our skin and absorbed in our blood stream; in turn causing more harm than good. It’s like basting a turkey in the oven. What happens to the turkey when we baste it and roast it under the hot oven ‘rays’? Yep, it gets brown, crusty, and dried out. Just like our skin after being in the sun too long. Think about it. Use common sense.

Farmers and/or construction workers from long ago [and still today] were/are out sunrise to sunset, and rarely did/does skin cancer show up with them. Why? ‘Cause they kept/keep themselves covered with natural covering! Like overalls, hats and such. No chemicals. And a good use of common sense.

~…end Sunday Snippet
[comment here]


Join Here

This week, I’m doing Green Thumb Sunday a bit different. I want to share a blog that will leave you breathless with gardening—–

I was chosen out of many….

Anita had a giveaway, and she drew my name out of the many, many entrants. I will soon be a recipient of her new species of sweet pea seeds. And I can’t wait for them to arrive. Of course, if you’ve never been to her blog you’re missing some of the most beautiful photographs of her stupendous flower garden. Anita is an artist with her gardening…her blog entries will blow you away with such awe. She’s inspirational!! And trust me, her blog photos and garden are like you’re stepping into a “Home and Garden” showcase!


Thank you, Anita.
[sweet pea photo courtesy of Anita's Giveaway Blog entry -copyrighted- it's NOT my photo!!]

~…end Green Thumb Sunday
[comment here]


Play along with your subconscious; Sunday’s Word Association.
Join here.

I say … and you think … ?

1. Flicker :: candlelight
2. Styling :: gel
3. Episode :: one
4. Sexier :: huh? Who?
5. Studious :: scholarly
6. Mushroom :: cloud
7. 8 minutes :: to go
8. Bald :: hairless
9. Immunity :: diplomatic
10. Sectioned :: branched off [cordoned -as in police tape]

~…end Mutterings
[comment here]


Play along with your subconscious; Sunday’s Word Association.
Join here.

1. Intimidated :: threatened – bullied
2. Brush :: teeth
3. Masquerade :: Phantom of the Opera [song]
4. Procedure :: method – program
5. Tattoos :: I have one!
6. Square :: circle
7. Tuck :: stuff
8. Boyfriend :: 1st! – Bobby
9. Badass:: ROFL! [no comment, but I LIKE it!]
10. Thousand :: millenium

~end Mutterings
[scroll down below my book review for comments]


Join Here

Last week, for Green Thumb I shared a photo of the Texas Sage bush with the macro setting and the bee in the blossom. I also mentioned that at the base – the root ball of the sage, I had planted a Don Juan Climbing Rose so it would intermingle in the branches of the bush…this is a photo of the Don Juan in bloom; amongst the sage bush. I love the contrast of the faint gray leaves of the sage with the stark, bright, rich greens of the rose plant.

Another of the rose bushes we have in our yard is the patented one…called, Tamora. It’s a beautiful, rich creamy peach coloration and a very rich, wonderful rose fragrance. It happens to be one of my favorites. But for a whole different meaning. Tamora is where my mom grew up. She was always telling me of her youthful days in Tamora. So it has a deep connection only because of the variety’s name.

This photo shows one of six roses we have along the lower front windows of our home. In this section of our property, I have planted canna lilies in the background which outgrows the roses by several feet, and against the red used brick it makes a dramatic effect of color! Also amongst the roses are two vibrant lemony yellow hibiscus and two San Diego Red bougainvilleas. This spring I just planted the bougainvilleas so they’re not quite up above the rose bushes yet. I’m hoping by next year they’ll also be good for the background. And one last thing is in the rose area and that’s my amaryillas…they’re only blooming in early Spring, but the elongated leaves that remain are contrasting also, so they too give off a great foliage contrast.

~end Green Thumb
[scroll down below my book review for comments]

BOOK REVIEW


Recently, I finished the book recommended by Mary at Mary’s Writing Nook a few months back, and I hafta admit, it was very good. Tho, I still remain wondering just why she was determined to put herself through the grueling ordeal of hiding out in a crawlspace in her grandmother’s home [her grandmother was a free slave] for over seven long years. Determination and will power. I truly think, the stress of being able to see my children and yet, not be able to touch them, talk to them and physically show my love for them, I just don’t think I could have withstood the turmoil and strife – I would have tried much harder to escape sooner as she became quite crippled of the cramped quarters for seven long years. * I’ve been wanting to write up a synopsis of my reading experience for about two weeks now, and I’m just now getting around to it….

Eventually, she did become a run-a-way slave and fled, with the help of others, to the Northern “Free States” of America.

Upon finishing the book, I wanted to do some more research. My first stop was the Latter Day Saints’ website to check on the perhaps genealogy of her ‘owner’. I found out, of course, during the reading of the book, she was writing under a pseudonym of Linda Brent. Her real name was/is Harriet Jacobs. Of course the only possibility of there being any kind of records on her would more than likely be in the censuses. I had to find out just who “Dr. Flint” was.

With more research online, I found that Harriet’s parents were two slaves. Her mother was black, Delilah, and her father was a white slave, Daniel. She was, of course, by statutes of North Carolina and around the other slave states, a slave herself. So, she was what we call today “Mulatto”. Her first owner was a certain woman, her mother’s slave-owner and mistress, Margaret Horniblow. Ms. Horniblow taught Harriet to read and write. When her owner died in 1825 or there about, Harriet was ‘willed’ to Margaret’s niece…a daughter of Dr. James Norcom [this is in fact the memoirs "Dr. Flint"] After years of torment and sexual abuse, [she in the timespan had two children of her white lover who wanted to buy her freedom, but it was all refused by the Dr.] -after years of abuse and escaping from the clutches of the Dr. and his plantation, she holed out in her grandmother’s only to finally escape by boat to Philadelphia. Finally, in 1842, she became a free woman. Her goal in life.

She, Harriet [aka Linda Brent], eventually wrote her memoirs only to be turned down by several publishers stating that her biographical work was too shocking. In 1860 or 1861 the work was accepted and eventually published. [I was lucky enough to find a hard cover reprinting of her original story.]

To my astonishment, nearly being complete with the reading of the book there was mentioned a ‘special lawyer’ in Boston I believe —-and doing my usual nosing around on the ‘net, I find out that this lawyer was the same ‘white lover’ of hers back in her slavery days…the father of her children! And this man, the father of two kids…a son Joseph and daughter Louisa [both names are changed in the memoir tho!]. The lawyer, free man, consensual lover was none other than Samuel Sawyer…eventually he became a politician and prospered as a United States Senator.

Also near the end of the writing, I read where she quoted that her owner had one time issued a reward [substantial amount back in the 1800's] for her capture. $100. Again, I did some researching and found the actual newspaper document/reward issued for her capture…posted by Dr. James Norcum

In the census of the 1860′s she is: “during the American Civil War. In 1860, she is listed as a nurse in the employ of Nathaniel Parker Willis.” [I have yet to go searching for this through LDS site. But, I will soon]

Harriet eventually resides in Washington D.C. and died at the wonderful age of 84.

Further reading:

1

2

3

Also, the father of Harriet’s children? Samuel Sawyer? I found his obituary from the New York Times, dated: February 25th, 1892


[taken from my computer's screenshot]

- – -

I must mimic Mary’s words she posted some time ago, back in February, this book comes highly recommended by me. If you love to learn about what the black people went through during the slave years –this is one excellent reference. Can be read online also. Just do a Google Search.

- – -

After this book was finished, I began reading, by my son’s recommending –Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged. This book will take me all summer more than likely to read. It’s a huge book! Over 1000 pages. And very small print! [I even requested from Large Print –a book of much larger print, but I never heard back from them…like Bud said, it’s probably impossible and the printing price would be exorbitant with it being extra long in the first place.


Play along with your subconscious; Sunday’s Word Association.
Join here.

1. Intimidated :: threatened – bullied
2. Brush :: teeth
3. Masquerade :: Phantom of the Opera [song]
4. Procedure :: method – program
5. Tattoos :: I have one!
6. Square :: circle
7. Tuck :: stuff
8. Boyfriend :: 1st! – Bobby
9. Badass:: ROFL! [no comment, but I LIKE it!]
10. Thousand :: millenium

~end Mutterings
[scroll down below my book review for comments]


Join Here

Last week, for Green Thumb I shared a photo of the Texas Sage bush with the macro setting and the bee in the blossom. I also mentioned that at the base – the root ball of the sage, I had planted a Don Juan Climbing Rose so it would intermingle in the branches of the bush…this is a photo of the Don Juan in bloom; amongst the sage bush. I love the contrast of the faint gray leaves of the sage with the stark, bright, rich greens of the rose plant.

Another of the rose bushes we have in our yard is the patented one…called, Tamora. It’s a beautiful, rich creamy peach coloration and a very rich, wonderful rose fragrance. It happens to be one of my favorites. But for a whole different meaning. Tamora is where my mom grew up. She was always telling me of her youthful days in Tamora. So it has a deep connection only because of the variety’s name.

This photo shows one of six roses we have along the lower front windows of our home. In this section of our property, I have planted canna lilies in the background which outgrows the roses by several feet, and against the red used brick it makes a dramatic effect of color! Also amongst the roses are two vibrant lemony yellow hibiscus and two San Diego Red bougainvilleas. This spring I just planted the bougainvilleas so they’re not quite up above the rose bushes yet. I’m hoping by next year they’ll also be good for the background. And one last thing is in the rose area and that’s my amaryillas…they’re only blooming in early Spring, but the elongated leaves that remain are contrasting also, so they too give off a great foliage contrast.

~end Green Thumb
[scroll down below my book review for comments]

BOOK REVIEW


Recently, I finished the book recommended by Mary at Mary’s Writing Nook a few months back, and I hafta admit, it was very good. Tho, I still remain wondering just why she was determined to put herself through the grueling ordeal of hiding out in a crawlspace in her grandmother’s home [her grandmother was a free slave] for over seven long years. Determination and will power. I truly think, the stress of being able to see my children and yet, not be able to touch them, talk to them and physically show my love for them, I just don’t think I could have withstood the turmoil and strife – I would have tried much harder to escape sooner as she became quite crippled of the cramped quarters for seven long years. * I’ve been wanting to write up a synopsis of my reading experience for about two weeks now, and I’m just now getting around to it….

Eventually, she did become a run-a-way slave and fled, with the help of others, to the Northern “Free States” of America.

Upon finishing the book, I wanted to do some more research. My first stop was the Latter Day Saints’ website to check on the perhaps genealogy of her ‘owner’. I found out, of course, during the reading of the book, she was writing under a pseudonym of Linda Brent. Her real name was/is Harriet Jacobs. Of course the only possibility of there being any kind of records on her would more than likely be in the censuses. I had to find out just who “Dr. Flint” was.

With more research online, I found that Harriet’s parents were two slaves. Her mother was black, Delilah, and her father was a white slave, Daniel. She was, of course, by statutes of North Carolina and around the other slave states, a slave herself. So, she was what we call today “Mulatto”. Her first owner was a certain woman, her mother’s slave-owner and mistress, Margaret Horniblow. Ms. Horniblow taught Harriet to read and write. When her owner died in 1825 or there about, Harriet was ‘willed’ to Margaret’s niece…a daughter of Dr. James Norcom [this is in fact the memoirs "Dr. Flint"] After years of torment and sexual abuse, [she in the timespan had two children of her white lover who wanted to buy her freedom, but it was all refused by the Dr.] -after years of abuse and escaping from the clutches of the Dr. and his plantation, she holed out in her grandmother’s only to finally escape by boat to Philadelphia. Finally, in 1842, she became a free woman. Her goal in life.

She, Harriet [aka Linda Brent], eventually wrote her memoirs only to be turned down by several publishers stating that her biographical work was too shocking. In 1860 or 1861 the work was accepted and eventually published. [I was lucky enough to find a hard cover reprinting of her original story.]

To my astonishment, nearly being complete with the reading of the book there was mentioned a ‘special lawyer’ in Boston I believe —-and doing my usual nosing around on the ‘net, I find out that this lawyer was the same ‘white lover’ of hers back in her slavery days…the father of her children! And this man, the father of two kids…a son Joseph and daughter Louisa [both names are changed in the memoir tho!]. The lawyer, free man, consensual lover was none other than Samuel Sawyer…eventually he became a politician and prospered as a United States Senator.

Also near the end of the writing, I read where she quoted that her owner had one time issued a reward [substantial amount back in the 1800's] for her capture. $100. Again, I did some researching and found the actual newspaper document/reward issued for her capture…posted by Dr. James Norcum

In the census of the 1860′s she is: “during the American Civil War. In 1860, she is listed as a nurse in the employ of Nathaniel Parker Willis.” [I have yet to go searching for this through LDS site. But, I will soon]

Harriet eventually resides in Washington D.C. and died at the wonderful age of 84.

Further reading:

1

2

3

Also, the father of Harriet’s children? Samuel Sawyer? I found his obituary from the New York Times, dated: February 25th, 1892


[taken from my computer's screenshot]

- – -

I must mimic Mary’s words she posted some time ago, back in February, this book comes highly recommended by me. If you love to learn about what the black people went through during the slave years –this is one excellent reference. Can be read online also. Just do a Google Search.

- – -

After this book was finished, I began reading, by my son’s recommending –Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged. This book will take me all summer more than likely to read. It’s a huge book! Over 1000 pages. And very small print! [I even requested from Large Print –a book of much larger print, but I never heard back from them…like Bud said, it’s probably impossible and the printing price would be exorbitant with it being extra long in the first place.

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