tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-389169232024-03-14T09:26:18.479-06:00CarlaCarlaCarlaCarlaFour times more confusingCarlaCarlaCarlaCarlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13102993757093515208noreply@blogger.comBlogger91125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38916923.post-53981202819090056312011-05-28T09:00:00.011-06:002012-12-29T12:35:09.721-07:00Fertilizer Mixer Extraordinaire<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" height="243" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/dtVvqQARE3A" width="390"></iframe><br />
CarlaCarlaCarlaCarlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13102993757093515208noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38916923.post-62439632478591556112010-07-21T09:00:00.023-06:002012-12-30T10:47:09.931-07:00Esplanade!<blockquote><p><i><b><font face="arial">I've come to the conclusion that the most beautiful sights to see are not in the art galleries, they are all around. Just open your eyes.</font></b></i><p align=right><a href="http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/episodes/paul-taylor/about-paul-taylor/719"target="blank"><font size=1>Paul Taylor</a> · American choreographer</font></blockquote><br />With more than ten dance companies to choose from, Angie and I trusted Aunt Patsy to decide which performance we would attend – and she chose wisely! We were treated to several Paul Taylor programs choreographed over the last forty years. My favorite of these was also set to music by another of my favorites, Johann Sebastian Bach. Taylor has been hailed as "the greatest living American choreographer" – and it's therefore so naturally perfect for his work to be accompanied by greatest composer of all time. <br /><br />Here's a 26-second glimpse at Esplanade:<p align=center><object width="400" height="300"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/mkZRCtJNJ1w?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/mkZRCtJNJ1w?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="300"></embed></object><p><hr align=center width=60% color="coral"><p><font color="black">And for those of you who want to watch every step from beginning to end:</font><table cellspacing=10><tr><td><b>·</b> <font size=1><font color="gray">Paul Taylor's <i>Esplanade</i> · </font><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qyGWsGl7Ezo"target="blank"><font color="blue">1 of 5</font></a></font><br /><b>·</b> <font size=1><font color="gray">Paul Taylor's <i>Esplanade</i> · </font><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnYmdX8hpPE"target="blank"><font color="blue">2 of 5</font></a></font><br /><b>·</b> <font size=1><font color="gray">Paul Taylor's <i>Esplanade</i> · </font><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-B2J7YyiOk"target="blank"><font color="blue">3 of 5</font></a></font><br /><b>·</b> <font size=1><font color="gray">Paul Taylor's <i>Esplanade</i> · </font><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqQ78i1xsbk"target="blank"><font color="blue">4 of 5</font></a></font><br /><b>·</b> <font size=1><font color="gray">Paul Taylor's <i>Esplanade</i> · </font><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHkciz_yYYI"target="blank"><font color="blue">5 of 5</font></a></font></td><td><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyFxJ1sMD1bOd-akMvXFlGzaLyApiceZNT6bDtG3Jc0_fZFDzrVxol84cs9dQgSVpdzXToAoSBMTE8eI5hcY5VJvl2omhDRFjcBPbEvsT1Unxe7V5d0pk6cmCFx93HMx6a8hOn/s1600/Esplanade.jpg"></td></tr></table>CarlaCarlaCarlaCarlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13102993757093515208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38916923.post-40224346667381386732010-07-20T09:00:00.010-06:002012-12-29T12:40:20.555-07:00Dude ... this is outtasightAfter arriving in Durham for the evening's American Dance Festival performance, Aunt Patsy treated my sister and I to a mini-tour of the area before dinner. Take a ride with us under <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26484311@N08/4679149911"target="blank"><font color="blue">Graffiti Bridge</font></a>, which connects Duke University's West and East campuses. Built in the 19th century, this bridge is a piece of Durham history as well as urban art.<p align=center><object width="400" height="300"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/uYSB3aDA0SA?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/uYSB3aDA0SA?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="300"></embed></object><br><font size=1>Although I assumed the entry was marked with an Internet acronym, <i><font color="indianred">Ell-Oh-Ell-age</font></i> — Angie can be heard suggesting that it can also be read as simply <i><font color="indianred">Lollege</font></i>.</font><p>As we emerged from the other side, we encountered an unusual school bus – also covered with graffiti. In my excitement to include it with the bridge video, I <i>ended up cutting the video off</i> (easy mistake, it's a new camera!). Upon uploading my video to YouTube, though, I discovered that we had seen one of two ADF buses that dance students ride to and from their classes and performances. What a treat to see this, and then to come home and learn this bit of ADF trivia!<p align=center><object width="400" height="300"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ebPaubT6SXo?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ebPaubT6SXo?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="300"></embed></object>CarlaCarlaCarlaCarlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13102993757093515208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38916923.post-47146167088917339692010-07-19T09:00:00.011-06:002012-12-30T09:31:53.737-07:00MEM to RDURecently spent several days in North Carolina with my aunt and sister. A whirlwind of catching up, sightseeing, gourmet meals and just enjoying each other's company. Angie and I timed our visit with Durham's annual American Dance Festival. Since Aunt Patsy attends this each year, we trusted her to choose which performance to see – and weren't disappointed. The weekend's highlights:<ul><li>Visited <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jgUfepMLmXI" target="blank"><font color="blue">Duke University Chapel</font></a>, the church that Big Tobacco built, where a wedding rehearsal was underway. Since this historic chapel is a regular tourist attraction, this event didn't prevent going inside to <I>ooh and aah</I> at its marvelous architecture.<p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ubEsvaSN7uXA6EZy-7MucMDvFZtdTcbZYLRqBXVE37za8L2n2LPrcHi22kDaI2K2tfzJVZ3xafqtCZMCyP0xkWDL2BDkWjURWTL5AVHAFOaPhsLw8BVYvUYP25iS5K5C13t6/s1600/DUChapel.jpg" title="Duke University Chapel"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWaM3DpAp4iKIYZNm5NSpYwF0R5SLov1hXxL1C9XbB7mdegF01RhJ1taiRfzXLRQ0uueIRGnrRj3X4ZMcuPMYXjDTBi-fl9nMDUrARBGVKWiTsGV_GyJnDUq-b13EQAV_LZ3_-/s1600/DUChapel.thumb.jpg" alt="Duke University Chapel"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWL_KeG9h9D27abhYGcgEA8gihbACdwAYV4HmShYeVSqgHKbbo-chyphenhyphen-3DLvHF1TG4GQWLU5C_4eBekxZqUDXon-I2RkSFyVG7Y1LU8kc4mjSnN4Fwywy0SyaRlyyWMkrgRCEme/s1600/DukeChapelWelcome.jpg" title="The chapel's welcome mat"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg46Zi2q6pAr2ikO8GB485LzrxYn1lVVrd6ryqgsWaw30R3NH1taB_35XLqutb7a4zJfuzfHHA5I3KfehzCzqm6dXSj7T13A7v2SYTxZD486OEuYQPLYGFt9aBq-8tPtdqdH6Oi/s1600/DukeChapelWelcome.thumb.JPG" alt="The chapel's welcome mat"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Luc2wVEV1EooFGt4aKNvGl2Eu9SE2mhnlQfvP-_3bUbRcMZf4zcsgnKx_qXd2yfLelSjL3BADqcRfFKbY2nBtuDPNCKLwHBdk0lqYaTrx2iTgxke2ukoBc68ohNhMB6Qtq-9/s1600/DUChapelSGW.jpg" title="Spectacular stained glass above the chancel"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEtMduoiGMjYs3Y3FuXSz0nDy9cc6MvWqsiJH6z_BgA8CgOC6ue8QB9e79yIBKD6bMOBzcEcgFYSgty5N8PzGQMQEO8Becp4xUnFSVyltNstXjd4Hztn9yab40jFMoyUPWNN-5/s1600/DUChapelSGW.thumb.jpg" alt="Spectacular stained glass above the chancel"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIZEf7-6FwpFIZVwc_gsFDu66xHva_uQWOQMF-MKYJ1N5dstWJHhKW_Cc35JdyPh5nTlyPW3dWwbyN5JGiTfbBR3g9_ECi2LaQX8HQl6rz94dApnCu6-a1zi1BG2QN9HuIokfs/s1600/DUPipeOrgan.JPG" title="One of several pipe organs in university's chapel"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZLkX1x4HcZa9mjAIjh94t3i65JL5ACA0whiDokptP_ecqpzxSPHFS9DI_y9tUhTwgtIVZFgzrxRxlC_h719HO5wmFHF209xbAyTtH8hlrb-56PYGwkB2z8eAMFaUv09Tm3WvE/s1600/DUPipeOrgan.thumb.jpg" alt="One of several pipe organs in university's chapel"></a>
Upon leaving Duke's campus, Aunt Patsy shared the story of <a href="http://carlacarlacarlacarla.blogspot.com/2010/05/graffitibridge.html" target=blank><font color="blue">Graffiti Bridge</font></a> as we passed under it.<p align=center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26484311@N08/4679149911" title="WELCOME TO LOLLEGE · by lizrary" target="blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLzEfS14DrGZiZklNOfaNR-APUgYMCbxk0J_zyxdoQk765SiYk-zbhZkEQ1XcK6uvvdrBgPqxsXXqZ4B9Cc__7I3btgZ8m9jZ0L8N_RSXSJIQiBiPGbTqMPM5uCftSUnkLAWVJ/s1600/LOLLEGE.jpg" alt="Welcome to Lollege · by lizrary" /></a><br /><font size=1><font face="arial"><font color="gray">Photo Credit:</font> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/26484311@N08/4679149911"target="blank">Liz Fabry</a></font></font></li><li>Met friends at a fancy Greek restaurant that served exotic dishes like <i>Tourkolimano Meltsanosalata</i>, <i>Tempura Scordalia</i>, and others I can't pronounce. I wasn't adventurous enough to try the octopus.<p align="center"><a href="http://www.papasgrille.com/papas" title="Fine dining at Durham's Finest Greek Restaurant" target="blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFpOc0lc4pDTDr4gd20Q9RcIeRtzQ16Iw3HVwSOxdKtrt86Ep19ltU6Un5W55sN1I3fJ0N4ZGwuzkWh0oRFt-CX32pefS15_uglu5v3yvSYOn_igZks9AC02QuY2j3TX59xlsu/s400/PapasGrill.jpg" title="Fine dining at Durham's Finest Greek Restaurant"></a><br /><font size=1><font face="arial"><font color="gray">Photo Credit:</font> <a href="http://www.papasgrille.com/durham-restaurant-greek/lunches.htm"target="blank">Lunch Menu</a></font></font></li><p><li>Spent an hour at Aunt Patsy's nail salon for the most amazing salon pedicure ever! My photos don't adequately reveal the nail tech's artistry, but I suspected she got her start painting grains of rice.<p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBc1y9QeWqLP8LqPAKbtr8El3knN1lji71tN3zWsShEfxKqDXjGBQnzgiSQWV5b01BTXisj1urisJvwnEZ4zPYb1jOnMRkhOa-uPvSTyxmaG29eIdNbeUTlH9T3o_lZmIjttzr/s1600/Pedicure.JPG" title="Artistic Asian Pedicure"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil_z0zsh50EUxtDmcbrePDiXU4COUDtevxb3i97IZ7lULet1juV0FiActddMQscBjVlt42A9jB8US-dznwQieclQgPy2ontMi03KrvQlh_R7ZG0BIEz4fYw7_a_KNMJF9BN03d/s1600/Pedicure.thumb.jpg" alt="Artistic Asian Pedicure"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfOSCJpkJpwW3kracY9v2vz6zlWpOAiVQ7kM5ygQvtf9rV9-wfPnJDnGpESxSJ49NSfpnc1UPY4Retrdtycd1BjIBGQQUxjxLIHXjFYy46gqNeJWpQ6d99Bwa8486LXH0nUeKM/s1600/BlackSandals.jpg" title="What a coincidence – I'm wearing black sandals too!"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0kJET5ApTWPTxCN7mQiDOh6By7eDYq8MAg547G3qmStIK1s9rXkf65UhrpvWgi_zDJ3WnXd9PYqtM7v2RP3QmbRWVREprBq5RG7HJgPsEJtouZ2sIwOlNUuGVoDxnLaq-6l3L/s1600/BlackSandals.thumb.jpg" alt="What a coincidence – I'm wearing black sandals too!"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9qSBRbVDbv2JZGOoZvFCiGpK-ouf_7wUugpBixT4033TwH_A8PpoYAHGry__ZUgzLFjUAs2s-LUAeu5DyQuQC1NUOL4gGWvO4xj_Q1iwweC3rIP-d0JI6HYgN6Av3TyCu_lnQ/s1600/NailArt.jpg" title="No this isn't a stick-on"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipU6lEDszllof4HevbuB_irP8U-193FhHf-KDgNQRF8tbDyudg-jUXK3_wwGwGv3YCvsm9SFinI33Ll41LzK8JKdfC5vCDzTmu_VvExbD-aiuXeEL7A6toPTzW1zSC7gnD_AkF/s1600/NailArt.thumb.jpg" alt="No this isn't a stick-on"></a></li><p><li>Spent a rainy afternoon indoors playing Clue. Even after several games, I never got the opportunity to do my special Gloating Winner Victory Dance.<p align=center><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3hRQ9bAerjbtFEMDDak4sC741JuzyIbbFG-mzHcXxl-zosGdmWYMT7ejOGJMcVyq0H7MC3wDsOwYmTSQfSSHT2GYR-KE-NCzCEYMOhyc3ooDhpZbbwx7guwFliKonhXGUqhp5/s1600/Clueless.jpg" title="Clue Marathon"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF_KAhVRw9BAqzP8J9_vZAjqIXmL01TES1smuwXdcBG3-a7rVje7mfLlyiXiBZTfYANxfIOAkA7WKa8jWS_r9XYJi17vIM3_3tOeKebKIy4oju7BTznDV4O2VIRnE-tn28qQD4/s1600/Clueless.thumb.JPG" alt="Clue Marathon"></a></li><p><li>And the weekend's main event, an evening <a href="http://www.americandancefestival.org/performances/2010/ADFatDPAC/PTDC.html" target="blank"><font color="blue">American Dance Festival</font></a> show at Durham Performing Arts Center, where we watched several outstanding performances by <a href="http://www.ptdc.org"target="blank"><font color="blue">Paul Taylor Dance Company</font></a> —</li></ul><p align=center><i><b><font size=3><font face="georgia">See <a href="http://carlacarlacarlacarla.blogspot.com/2010/11/esplanade.html"><font color="blue">Esplanade!</font></font></a></b></font></i>CarlaCarlaCarlaCarlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13102993757093515208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38916923.post-40079872025561391212010-05-14T09:00:00.014-06:002012-12-30T11:44:06.891-07:00I went to Graceland yall!<b><font face="arial">My parents drove up to visit my family this week — and during their stay my mother had a sensational idea ...</font></b><br /><p align="center"><b><font face="arial"><font color="crimson"><i>I'm going to Graceland yall!</i></font></font></b><br><object type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="400" height="300" data="http://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf?v=71377" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000"> <param name="flashvars" value="intl_lang=en-us&photo_secret=58bd7bc13e&photo_id=4607845202"></param> <param name="movie" value="http://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf?v=71377"></param> <param name="bgcolor"></param> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="http://www.flickr.com/apps/video/stewart.swf?v=71377" allowfullscreen="true" flashvars="intl_lang=en-us&photo_secret=58bd7bc13e&photo_id=4607845202" height="300" width="400"></embed></object><br><a href="http://images.businessweek.com/ss/06/05/museums_celebrities/source/9.htm"target="blank"><font size=1><font color="blue">Elvis Presley's Graceland</font></font></a><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGlbSIbLr001UpLvDP0md_feEeh_skJV1VE8_yfX1JRHxhyphenhyphenKncJZu_xBLDoqgyCM8EneKlbyCJ7xmRMV5YgGkZ_SGBcc0rasRTG7adpvlUiIsdNqhjLfjjUZg27yo5aViT-oKG/s1600/EPBlvd.jpg"title="Elvis Presley Blvd."><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 214px; height: 96px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6G1QpA0a60ki8FL5e10H8uLQaUPH3UpdquQ6E0oBEJrUnRxWqWVqH81al2eG9r720M5TDXrC5Ni_Qmub6GjstvPoSab6KAdUt6OrH_UhE81gQ3KBk2Hz4e_MApigRbF59osRb/s400/EPBlvd+thumb.jpg" alt="Elvis Presley Blvd."></a>Despite residing in the Memphis area since the early 1980's, I've never driven over to Graceland to see what all the fuss is about. It was a first for all three of us. Although I was expecting gaudy and kitschy, it was anything but. In fact, I was pleasantly surprised at how tasteful and inviting Graceland was, and also impressed with Elvis Presley's talent and generosity.<p>I also have new respect for Elvis Presley Enterprises. With lots of tourists in Memphis for the weekend's World Championship Barbecue Cooking Contest, things were already busy when we arrived shortly after 9am. Graceland staff are crowd control masters, and always gracious despite the sticky Mid-South heat. <i>This doesn't mean that I'll return during Elvis Week in August.</i><p align=center><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzjwUvEXrN5E4Bu6F3uFP5zvskaroBXxDpA0wdjvc_QJBZACiYEkyIWI4EJyaPLNrGD48SGjHXzZFRe6Pdyn7NGZz4EIvjXhHTEeKT-Y1ygkxH2NkhiHkqdw3fhPOKtMRBnFYP/s1600/Graceland.tickets.jpg"title="Graceland ticket stubs"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2cqHhAkZ5rEGLO7IXXu34nqSyWS2RvYpMsxsN3M3V3uMLpU_y0F95m0wrQ8Yf9n9_YtlfKCclrch53CaPkz34bvND2SVjvO8A_37VVFiEFr8OMuhRp2lRhhnmb-mFV54HGYLy/s1600/Graceland.tickets+thumb.jpg"alt="Graceland ticket stubs"></a><br><font size=1>The three remaining stubs indicate the attractions we skipped</font><p>My feet called it a day after touring the mansion, memorabilia, car museum and airplanes, although our tickets allowed entry to several other Graceland attractions. I opted against bringing my bulky old-fashioned camera along, but postcards and refrigerator magnets were available for sale in all four of the souvenir shops I visited. And with our Photographer Extraordinaire along, we didn't even bother posing for the standard Graceland customer portrait. See Mother's photos on flickr:<p align=center><font face="times new roman"><font color="gray">LIVING... MAEDEANS STYLE</font></font><br><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/maedeans/sets/72157624062243084"target="blank"><b><font color="blue">Elvis and Graceland</font></b></a><br><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/maedeans/4607225439"title="Elvis Lives marquee"target="blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVPcsg5seKU4apBzO6howXs6r7OkEAN3Rel4mVbDoaSRosHUFsh8Wq4Q15VBN86a_sQcHGRGMZitusR1qw4OqW2mS5CnrB8prkF9KVEBqzHQhRGLVC7iwwZJLlLVwWe6P4eVdk/s1600/EPMarquee+thumb.jpg"alt="Elvis Lives marquee"></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/maedeans/4617122203"title="Elvis Presley Automobile Museum"target="blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhnmFcVOcW9dDzml-CcjD6IUBk0cHwd7cfpt45Dn6-hBnxOBgSpCH5-UrCAPd9mCSOChTN7Q4iM9ejKIFpIDdV0_YER83Ueqmzs3xD5roZNcz_8EvlEvXyMqoTZ6R_sxHx9zsj/s1600/EPAutoMuseum+thumb.jpg"alt="Elvis Presley Automobile Museum"></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/maedeans/4617634108"title="Graceland gate"target="blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAwHauyJSjwwcz8PvwNf56Ve5CRm0FwPy9v2L2bK9MHOrcAq6GlFgUPCLIBb3wk52MvOSXBOQG-IfMHci8Eleu4CFgQC-4NORmg6CrJOeQpfN7hXgniEvPz7yq8HOw5T8n-5Wh/s1600/EP.gate+thumb.jpg"alt="Graceland gate"></a><blockquote><p><b>My trip down Memory Lane ...</b><p>During today's museum tour I learned that the 1993 Elvis Presley commemorative postage stamp remains the most highly publicized and biggest selling stamp of all time. I was one of several thousand visitors to the two area post offices doing First Day Cancellations. (Yes, I went to both. It was the overhyped social event of the season.)<p align="center"><font size=1>click on the image to learn more</font><br> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/maedeans/4616853179"target="blank"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4144/5038696651_ed67bb3302_o.jpg"></a></blockquote>CarlaCarlaCarlaCarlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13102993757093515208noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38916923.post-89264405781640277852010-05-10T09:00:00.000-06:002012-12-30T10:51:03.355-07:00HMD to meeeeeee<blockquote><p><i><b>The best things in life aren't things.</b></i><p align=right><a href="http://www.biography.com/articles/Art-Buchwald-9230341"target="blank"><font size=1>Art Buchwald</a> <font color="white">·</font> 1925-2007</font></blockquote><table cellspacing=17><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2co521yLsUAiNgGJkEwqYF74CAAWvywitO55LARB9fezTb7hLYdITJe6ijw5jRqAZ8rWVb6HI7APgebOTm-nchnhXqYO6XGiJ2um262O_womxQZQBNenPVzIPzCCH5hLGag8H/s1600/HMDmessage.jpg"title="When someone has given so much of herself through the years, it's hard to find a way to say thanks..."><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieRcFYC-VjIBXgKENPw3BPBNHK-U_4YCZmzYBUQRvwL0hF32ebb0_-2ApM2D_3fxnPYoOzC0OuN4SIsaNppz4kdRVsqginYuEML9DCAY58pS3OJi8VbZvVk6isGYAuKnGF9Lqg/s1600/HMDSarah.thumb.jpg" alt="When someone has given so much of herself through the years, it's hard to find a way to say thanks..."></a><br><b><font face="arial"><i>Thanks honey</i> <font size=5>☺</font><br><i>I love you too!</i></font></b></td><td>Several years ago I made a rule that my kids aren't allowed to spend money on Mothers Day gifts. Since I like to shower my own parents with presents, I recognize my contradictory example to "do as I say, not as I do". Still, I hoped to liberate my own from the <i>Hallmark Holiday</i> pressure to go out and buy me something. To that end, Sarah deserves credit for honoring her Mother by honoring my wishes.</tr></td></table><p>Neal, on the other hand, forgot about the rule and presented me with a purrfect gift: A new mousepad to replace the unsightly hand-me-down I've used for years. And since my new computer came with one of those oddball keyboards, he shelled out even more money for a fancy ergonomic one. Blogging's gonna be a breeze now!<table><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-_cbRTbcBB0RoXJZaUEyYypfBNUCZLzk3leYr7o6OabuMFLyWntaELhMoZTJdREwyPJVDI-yntGkExSDKGiQaqz799BbBu84Zw_a4kAr0kH110GLJsOAsJStUWLBj4qdMCedH/s1600/CatsMousepad.jpg"title="New mousepad"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Sl6VGnTE-I2iCmYkgCvCOdSsFCU2eeav_8i0GtpMT00_88fCEFn-oxMviqufvBXL51jIOkk8dfOYcoDKC8FRNSWAg6mY-E_8WHMNnGYDE7td7ZbKNOsFJrjrbcrmEaqYO0XN/s400/CatsMousepad.thumb.jpg" alt="New mousepad"></a><br><b><font size=1><font face="arial">Covered with cat hair? No sweat!</font></font></b></td><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp1qcHqZoqGpOUl4cDzUgkFoNaxYZY68kAiFgTo36-iAe-MeUmNcMbvG4mC793e2KpSsdeHcU2Kr-nVOlm0w5avPfDs73LCTz9IKJpf9t9ngW22O-9swLmqR7A7-vCYr1h-AZ9/s1600/OldMousepad.JPG"title="Whoever used this mousepad is a P-I-G pig!"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHHml2ntAnKimKaqNhgC67jRpHDWuIvOLzHMiV50bx7zqZKX6eRK_YMV89HSpvLZmFEqHT3U_bfOvvD9PHZJESpd_nu1h_9KAYaCtQ_HtMCR7ro-7t50DBoqeOujOXIKvOkVrF/s400/OldMousepad.thumb.JPG" alt="Whoever used this mousepad is a P-I-G pig!"></a><br><b><font face="arial"><font size=1>Looked even worse before I scrubbed it</font></font></b></td></table><p><table cellspacing=15><tr><td>And although my rule wasn't intended to demand time consuming chores or gifts from the heart —<p align=center>Lori and Maggie did both!</td><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnw9U0kZwZ_-IDhmnT4bas71arG883WEsNKmKOKivXc7LKciO0Ymca9YQD3mi6WO-N5Ahel6rhMkZrG25CKp6jnvSa_7DqVadi1nRBzecDbUMOTLg2IxwY2xfmoi0CNVCwtfSD/s1600/HKcolor.jpg"title="My granddaughter the artist"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCo7AGzxQgxB4mmfclyJis0pYJiwnchZomwRwoGOpvSs2_54TAGovEbCYV6yY9uUYEL6tzAh5MVNtMYpuKFhfNtOsbvpsqT-Ymt-Ep4mORzYa-nQzkEp6F71sZ6ZqB0knF_gfL/s400/HKcolor+thumb.jpg" alt="My granddaughter the artist"></a></td></tr></table><p align=center><b><font face="arial">Sample of sampler</font></b><br><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyPYlp65twk4WfFWlP09RHxWJ0pudwKV2rZnp4X5X1Y0L6GJv_7i2NdWwyQBBVduKTLRPjKikUnyVTxmeFeim9jx_jzAmwpCwqgBZoyT6Jw4Sv4btD_qs6zo2cMqWXcokIv1Wb/s1600/SamplerMattedFramed.JPG" title="Sample of sampler"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9ItzQib9ONdP_CXv2vpPvVNCvin5CKYsU8H4mjSP5rZ-3EarMerKJZqlqyLyVZd5iLmkMMSYpKGCbVdcQVgr-XooK0pwznwnoW2N3aLIyLqIvtow4fJj8g4xDIAz12-3N1nEM/s400/Crosstitch.thumb.JPG" alt="Sample of sampler"></a><br><b><font size=1>Click on the image above to see Lori's completed project</font></b>CarlaCarlaCarlaCarlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13102993757093515208noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38916923.post-40266724794514761942010-04-18T11:00:00.004-06:002010-06-22T12:08:31.184-06:00Baked with love<b>Fixing this morning's breakfast revealed an unexpected culinary anomaly:</b><p align=center><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJJFgxP-LCfNVFyBvQ_hNI_0kSS9ipGcVwkFp9_jd58jDlOVJlHNQCcuwifVSSFnH52OCHNUOqLKFR37ElDdjU3LPBQ5Rnz8Bu4VdWioqFGYlqGdob4aPAdqKI5_E7bQhaCBSD/s1600/HB1.jpg"title="A cutout to die for — get it?"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgekyjwPjCqRLCwutNKeN7BcDmwqKl3ZGoh_09US2aX9nsjjhDwlHRNheQsuji6TGlNJepM417Py_st1xwa9hm8kKiQIqEXljxVIN5LrOPFTHsQ6Plyq6sVLu8cCICmj_r8Wrzl/s400/HB1.thumb.jpg" alt="A cutout to die for — get it?"></a><br><b><font face="arial">Pillsbury with payout potential?</font></b><p>Okay, so this tiny heart doesn't carry the religious significance of the <a href="http://blog.oregonlive.com/breakingnews/2008/02/eugene_radio_station_puts_virg.html"target="blank"><font color="blue">Virgin Mary pretzel</font></a> or <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mw29Tkvd3Xw"target="blank"><font color="blue">Jesus Cheetos</font></a> that occasionally make headline news. But since divine cuisine has become almost commonplace, I began to wonder if this secular biscuit might be considered rare and valuable among ebay bidders.<br /><br />Realizing that a hunk of raw dough wouldn't ship as well as a baked item, I slid the cookie sheet into the oven and began imagining how I would spend my sudden windfall — then realized my mistake 20 minutes later.<p align=center><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvOzRvFyKLd9_mhFch9Pd5RBiC3cfDyy5ntm66m-Bkq2aOeimFEN44QrunPz2ggqhYtCXXJlYdzGegEuCYtP3whakSrwJLd2SOQy9Gv6yOLg2E5dReo6Pau3algrcNUipFCFQc/s1600/HB2.jpg"title="Frozen Heart"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwqDcgrkRXhtx8yMydrJeS8UPlhAm5JywO4RqAlV-hm4Uwxci7WumY4XMrqDFQSVvAPUDe6jbKj7CmA7jqHfDiMDrwsZy34rgrRfprlgxQqMB18eAvbOyNnsfpHHr_He6fSWYF/s400/HB2.thumb.jpg" alt="Frozen Heart"></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioCgqNCvLah2bR2Z48m-eVgp6qKabXLtNOcFeLa74Ts7PMPInPiWNx5X7kiXy8A5AXnB2c5L-9SRRx1ZgOEoacAU68AGFsT_5bC57kOUK0p8Op-W46pj5PKvnaB0BUDeA7CsUD/s1600/HB3.jpg"title="Warm Heart"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj12bSw2ip-AXyG0Rq-arTjgwaRonD-N9XCBWNWgRrQzjAThWBqNc24RVCotB4693HzAIWBjYLv4W0jJI4XO5n73bhtR_8i71jV9OOiXrN5E2rM_ke0oeG7qmIbg0hGoN8wOTR4/s400/HB3.thumb.jpg" alt="Warm Heart"></a><p>No matter how good my intentions had been, the baked-til-golden-brown version appeared to be nothing more than a flaky biscuit.<p><hr align=center width=60% color="crimson"><p>You don't need to understand Japanese to realize the worldwide appeal of the item shown in this video:<p align=center><object width="400" height="300"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/yIP_xvwWG-M&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/yIP_xvwWG-M&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="300"></embed></object>CarlaCarlaCarlaCarlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13102993757093515208noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38916923.post-53245517003787888692010-04-15T09:00:00.013-06:002012-12-30T11:24:20.173-07:00Ready to dig its roots in<blockquote><p><i><b><font face="arial">Green fingers are the extension of a verdant heart.</font></b></i><p align=right><a href="http://www.greatbritishgardens.co.uk/russell_page.htm"target="blank"><font size=1>Russell Page</a> · British garden designer<br>1906 - 1985</font><p></blockquote><p align=center><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXdGzcIFg-zDkwEWHh0Xo1yqoTwFSV_xwAC5BtG3VTPsNdTBuL9xF0uwn16poNh21epkYIvjnhvT5RyvqeQAuL9CIj02XI10QWHm4aO1ZhSHG4iYW-W-N1JRnZzUFRUEcbiDB5/s1600/PinkBuds.jpg"><p>Three months ago when I bragged about my <a href="http://carlacarlacarlacarla.blogspot.com/2010/01/hydrangea.html"><font color="blue">inherited hydrangea</font></a>, I could hardly wait for planting season to arrive — then when it did, I grew nervous and began to drag my feet.<blockquote><dl><dt><i>North side of the house?</i></dt><dd><font face="arial"><font color="gray">Not enough direct sunlight.</font></font></dd><p><dt><i>South side then?</i></dt><dd><font face="arial"><font color="gray">No way, it would block the forsythia.</font></font></dd><p><dt><i>Back flowerbed?</i></dt><dd><font face="arial"><font color="gray">In the only suitable spot for Grandmother's hosta?</font></font></dd><p><dt><i>Okay then, somewhere out in the yard?</i></dt><dd><font face="arial"><font color="gray">Just another obstacle to mow around.</font></font></dd><p><dt><i>How in the world will I get it out of this big planter?</i></dt><dd><font face="arial"><font color="gray">This dilemma eventually took care of itself when the rotten wood began to fall off, making the rest easy to remove.</font></font></dd><p><dt><i>But what if it becomes fungussy and diseased?<br>Hates living here and refuses to bloom?<br>Or just shrivels up and dies?</i></dt><dd><font face="arial"><font color="gray">You'll never know at this rate, will you?</font></font></dd></dl></blockquote><p>Finally settled on a location, dug a big hole, pushed it in. Even remembered to use root stimulator.<p align=center><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLGv9s_yRQvfPpK7HEnmqWrkghgBTrto0aNenqaA2E3astS8B5lY3JK9oBydFrfEZsYo87m0i65a6WI3JkQpVuHn9eFpt062Z4W-bRy_6vaAzYKV3nOHudfz3FRZSyWvboITsX/s1600/Planted.jpg" title="Out in front for the world to marvel at"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW_I5MGKHt0YCXkPC3X_GcK-U0MB1NRRtKWAvrsV9zQt4Y56KdviSINxJyCbYGZZL8VfSR1ic6h8M9wHz_tSNJVS7tVV4kfotihDeZ44TWa3AzdFUHP_Fu4_uCUVDyAA94YKib/s1600/InGround+thumb.jpg" alt="Out in front for the world to marvel at"></a><table cellspacing=15><tr><td><b><font face="arial">And look what I found hiding under several years of dust in the garage —</font></b><p align=center>An old fashioned hydrangea's best friend!</td><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijkoNI1tcORDfu1NOx_iX-yjTt2gGoOqRuHxgBZg23w_FPXBC9lPGVDrEyF3JqxFWcMYJ4_q7Ni2_5KiV_wy9WNW3dxUXGZgG4-RJQ1NrjmDiNGZfUCqrjKLSOShMtPEnHXfcG/s1600/Miracid.JPG"title="From pink... to purple... to blue"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpUDx86Loa7u4Vtib7DGIT91HgxOgRlDhTgfvNqysQpiH2bH85QZnMZVz8HhmULRbBGVkSbS0jO3jy1xN0WwgImpI3WrEwryaWS72dSjCIN3nDqkkQe3_1vy3iBSohOQq77lYa/s400/Miracid.thumb.jpg" alt="From pink... to purple... to blue"></a></td></tr></table>CarlaCarlaCarlaCarlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13102993757093515208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38916923.post-70118720628171028662010-03-30T09:00:00.006-06:002011-12-12T12:35:10.088-07:00Lesson (re)learned<blockquote><dl><dt><b><font face="times new roman"><font size=4>Q:</font></font></b></dt><dd>How many fruit fly eggs come with an 18 lb. bag of fruit?</dd><p><dt><b><font face="times new roman"><font size=4>A:</font></font></b></dt><dd>Doesn't matter, since a well-prepared homemaker prevents the eggs from hatching by washing fresh produce when it's brought indoors.<p><i>And one day I hope to remember this lesson.</i></dd></dl></blockquote><p><table cellspacing=5><tr><td><b>It begins innocently enough ...</b><br /><br />There I am, casually pushing a shopping cart through the produce aisles when it finds me — <i>mmmmm the sweet aroma of Texas Ruby Red grapefruit!</i> And for the thrifty price of those great big bags, who could resist?</td><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieZtVV32cY-yYFMOOc8hT4U3zLQlTw_gCWfxFvlw5HAZ1DeiUFBb7NDkX6lXAO7vE0wle9f2-DJ4jkcln0ute8eedIZ6I7PRv62OJK_70IbZrmGMrr2dUns4aFXc1AQxHqMCbZ/s1600/18lbBag.jpg"title="18 lbs. of goodness"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixfJ6ppmFxLNmfKfN7bpmYKTSxNDBtLNWhHmUJQR41C1hAq6MV1Y0H6vd5xeKfSrPLbQnMr7dwl0_lehMXGQDSpDOTh8OR5a9kuKykRJo4cAxbFjZo4VxEwBaEubcGVFJI_VQ4/s400/18lbBag.thumb.jpg" alt="18 lbs. of goodness"></a></td></tr></table><b>A lovely drive home ...</b><br />No way do I put the fruit in the trunk, or even the back seat. I drive home surrounded by its scent.<p><b><i>Looky what I got!</i></b><br />The family's tickled to see the unexpected treat. Quick as we can haul the groceries indoors and stuff everything into the pantry, we grab a few knives, slice those suckers up and dig in!<p><b>Impaired judgement, poor decisions, regrets ...</b><br />Perhaps a belly full of fresh citrus is like that third glass of champagne you should've politely refused at your boss's wedding reception. I begin to realize that confining the remaining 15 pounds to the fridge would be foolish. Last time I tried that, we forgot we even had grapefruit and they all spoiled. The crisper bin isn't big enough to hold them all anyway. Besides, no Glade Plug-In can match the fragrance of a basket full of Ruby Reds on my kitchen counter. And <i>of course</i> I forget to wash them.<p><b>But I do eventually remember ...</b><br />Despite enjoying the grapefruit for breakfasts and betweeen-meal snacks, pushing them on guests and sharing with neighbors, I realize too late that I've repeated a tiresome mistake — but only after a gazillion fruit flies hatch and swarm throughout the house, where I suspect they continue to breed for several generations. I'm also reminded why I typically purchase ready-to-eat grapefruit slices in jars marked Del Monte.<p align=center><a href="http://monkeytrials.blogspot.com/2008/10/palin-vs-fruit-fly-research.html"title="photo credit – Scott Hatfield · Monkey Trials · www.MonkeyTrials.blogspot.com"target="blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_iOdj3A92mYpf39fyXjmYrXReoi08xKgrj_Exw8SSTONraky-Le8XWVe0FWBsf0JBJwLqB56Pd_N5WAR1VxnOnunMphImg4nRll6Hf-c8RIhSw9x_4C04xqsf8I_RFGOlENd2/s400/FruitFly.jpg"alt="photo credit – Scott Hatfield · Monkey Trials · www.MonkeyTrials.blogspot.com"></a><p align=center><b><font face="arial">Saving the fruit to dispose of the rinds —<br>but too late to kill off these annoying pests</font></b><p align=center><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjugfW0Q0CKoKqVw8p7HRtUsvEpBQoNBcOVlPeAlCGzdHXBUZxWLL6aXjdfQLUrqWv7t2NjTjQ9JQjY8phyphenhyphend-sWDzcYHtrqEffQ-dwRyKwTr-TzyWDA67pZ0JuZX0pMB9BigAd5/s400/Grapefruit.jpg">CarlaCarlaCarlaCarlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13102993757093515208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38916923.post-15710908890851187682010-01-29T09:00:00.005-07:002011-05-28T14:51:33.697-06:00Unwelcome reminder of the past<blockquote><dl><dt><b><i><font face="times new roman"><font size=4>Crisis du jour:</font></font></i></b></dt><p><dd><b>Sewage backup!</b></dd></dl></blockquote><p>I don't know what the average septic tank life is, but the one buried in my back yard has efficiently collected my household's wastewater for nearly 18 years with only occasional <a href="http://www.rid-x.com/about.shtml"target="blank"><font color="blue">Rid-X®</font></a> treatments. So when it recently began showing signs of age and wear, I wasn't all that surprised — but I was certainly disgusted by the filthy water that was seeping back into my tub and shower.<p align=center><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_4kg-2mJfovDKnAy6pfklSIUh8zFmBYdbmlNhaiVv-MeCOkmf6dppE8_fglNwtHuzfn5E4T-6f27MzGK9h0fO_fP7Uo97gWATf-sk-05FADPqYn-53M3tWue3-f_66VwDt6ZX/s1600-h/WaterBackupL.jpg"title="An inch of backed up wastewater in the shower floor"><img src="http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q2/carlacarlacarlacarla/cccc/WaterBackupS.jpg" alt="An inch of backed up wastewater in the shower floor"></a><p>When the <i>ignore-it-and-it'll-go-away</i> approach stopped working after a couple weeks, a local sump pump service promptly drove out and did its duty. What a relief to put this unpleasant matter behind me!CarlaCarlaCarlaCarlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13102993757093515208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38916923.post-13578988964440434202010-01-21T09:00:00.007-07:002011-05-28T14:53:30.428-06:00Hoytie Toytie<b><i><font face="georgia"><font size=4>Presenting ...</font></i></b><p align=center><font size=3><i>Miss Hoyte Bounds</i></font></font><p align=center><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9rPf5iBhWlL2N66TFO6bksCTjXnXLzUEB1U8fQknU29nQ1VHziWPcTqegVtkm8y85bKT_7tsovRITpiaMRe2mdoxI1lGfWccWKIUW7pED8EYONfrLKC58QXArOjZ1nRblJGbC/s1600-h/HBS.jpg"title="Cute little thing, ain't she?"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiahMh5EyJUj6aVtcZj6jNDbtRNx7ptQZAJRCwapvIbx9TuYL2rAf7WPWgrn59lWcO4Rp3RImBPsXpHGzZvseWLwkInkWawy_we8iM4VHORaQOI3ALVH6tx2OWeYVJby-dXsp0I/s400/HBS.thumb.jpg" alt="Cute little thing, ain't she?"></a><br><b><font size=1><font color="gray">circa 1912</font></font></b><p>This adorable baby girl eventually became my grandmother — and lots more.<ul><li>The school librarian who handed down the district's unwanted Dick-and-Janes from which I learned to read</li><li>The farmer's wife who could out-shuck, out-can, out-freeze and out-cook any other</li><li>A <i>green thumb extraordinaire</i> who lovingly created and tended Tippah County's most glorious daylily garden</li><li>An outstanding seamstress that kept my kids' closets packed with everything from heirloom garments to playclothes</li><li>The dedicated quilter who lovingly handstitched dozens of patchwork quilts for her family, along with countless gifts for St. Jude patients with fellow members of her local quilting guild</li></ul><p align=center><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHLhn4l4XRd91W4gof1u0XX6ybtTNstuNo6Kp6yb7yjg5-M1V7rkNmqnzQsi2hyphenhyphenEe1VYs2pAm1mxVWVyy7xsYmF-X64m0K_hOKxCk_M5IKEyLOkF6djOzrltGe0obSf-Zc9eUB/<br />1600-h/Pinky.jpg"title="More genteel Southern Belle in her poised pinky finger than I have in my whole body"><img src="http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q2/carlacarlacarlacarla/cccc/Pinkythumb.jpg" alt="More genteel Southern Belle in her poised pinky finger than I have in my whole body"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxOjeSAU0iZiW65SKEmt7Hg2h5P2v8AxmvXbzjIy15__8FdW_ZXwN02MvxPMyI6w5xqds2Nx7RfWo0K-ZUXj2u7qhbyEbZwG65Acom6gR7I5S8VfpQrPItwyVqtJbft3TRt3YO/s1600-h/Thirties.jpg"title="circa 1930's"><img src="http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q2/carlacarlacarlacarla/cccc/Thirtiesthumb.jpg" alt="circa 1930's"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuk4hIYJtIjPdTmswGVK6wCl-2dZ_hDoUSeEnPiLActyS2qfJC8G4zvo0iYX04V-dpYhYw3fghTreITYAjI6EUoGEvpzgpcPkvCZMARBKmT3APIK6bPqTfoPPvqboB9qsMoXSp/s1600-h/Dumplins.jpg"title="Up to her elbows in dumplins"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMuYLvRgn_U39pnG8IxAmExaMWrwtzeirMfPW8ZKyBK0jlHmYH1WL8x_ghKLmAxHLnJhwzycqzMLXrvrX1NDyOpcpiCdxWMri9EtPx5g0A7t846QRQpt0iZU_wuTPUj2VNu3ps/s400/Dumplins.thumb.jpg" alt="Up to her elbows in dumplins"></a><br><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg18TSs_tce2B0pFp3le1o2D0euq4gB3gCU2Os0FBkJrlsgAKOFrP_d-IH_lFM9jWxqCRlupajQVD2iPXPf0_S925KZ9pinG9g2nImAJfXKdKiKo8EPJOxNhftxTlst7AGypUEe/s1600-h/Daylilies.jpg"title="The Daylily Diva"><img src="http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q2/carlacarlacarlacarla/cccc/Dayliliesthumb.jpg" alt="The Daylily Diva"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2o1uppYSlL8Neq-bgSZacRG2-3UeqYWaEwFKrfpLvNNdfDDnA2mz-3pRgmmL4HjhM3BxLgcJQbuPpntoSuV3IekiW13wDWkWTWRxzxxXjHbPv4plv8msDzIJz4bIO7P0V-nvG/s1600-h/Aprons.jpg"title="The Christmas she made aprons for all her girls"><img src="http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q2/carlacarlacarlacarla/cccc/Apronsthumb.jpg" alt="The Christmas she made aprons for all her girls"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7wGS_a9laPAyK0pJ5tj3NFxmueDdiZ2NCURwem1XbQp5dagwbtLr7XGYNZ3cYTA8jpnmb5t0ACCfQlEL6Rn0RM5wK88oR-H6GZzG1GbnK2Ru8YBtgJcKRmTznKnFcsoSHAL1G/s1600-h/DWRquilt.jpg"title="So many hand-stitched quilts I've lost count"><img src="http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q2/carlacarlacarlacarla/cccc/DWRthumb.jpg" alt="So many hand-stitched quilts I've lost count"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqBA2l4Hqj1XuAi_Z8tjVXEdrttYuYidgnLiC-aPqOT05b0u8jiKT93gm7b-LYqV2YPnAlEznipT52Z4NmK4H8FdrZHOf076qx9drZUdlvdkD1RFuQ7R94CuAWAkadFIjfdScE/s1600-h/MasonJars.jpg"title="My favorite was her Garden Tomato Soup"><img src="http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q2/carlacarlacarlacarla/cccc/MasonJarsthumb.jpg" alt="My favorite was her Garden Tomato Soup"></a><p>My daddy even published his mother's Cornbread Dressing recipe in his first cookbook, <i>Wendell's Favorites</i>. Takes several days to fix properly, and every bite's worth all the work! Click on the image below to discover its location on the World Wide Web:<p align=center><a href="http://www.reluctantgourmet.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=957&sid=caccfcb1fc21e7bff5a9fea231884e72"title="Hoyte's Cornbread Dressing recipe"target="blank"><img src="http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q2/carlacarlacarlacarla/cccc/Dressingthumb.jpg" alt="Hoyte's Cornbread Dressing recipe"></a>CarlaCarlaCarlaCarlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13102993757093515208noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38916923.post-88724507227217487422010-01-18T09:00:00.004-07:002010-05-29T17:02:09.285-06:00Power breakfastThe most important meal of the day in my household oftentimes includes scrambled eggs. One morning during a recent visit, <a href="http://carlacarlacarlacarla.blogspot.com/2008/10/gorillabeans.html"><font color="blue">Uncle Hugh</font></a> honored this dish's distinctive mixing technique with an official name:<p align=center><object width="400" height="324"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/PToXE4w7qug&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/PToXE4w7qug&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="324"></embed></object><p>The trick to perfect <b><font face="arial">Eggs Dewalt</font></b> is choosing a reliable power drill. And since they're not limited to plain scrambled, this morning I added cheese and sausage to create the perfect omelet.<p align=center><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn3Vs51QiV__Pq2TJxM9jIvGyHIxGy14DyilzZDcij9ppHOzlWkg8uuXY6WjKNY4OFA74ajZeM38dPAALvtRPKXf0Yiuo-QyRHno_gAaYldFx3-uZaSNTy1ElGPBTo712L5QQx/s1600-h/Drill.jpg"title="Power Drill"><img src="http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q2/carlacarlacarlacarla/cccc/Drillthumb.jpg" alt="Power Drill"></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAMYIvPg9NPYA19k2X-3fMUIE8Chn9ZGdVW0OrW79860cjbD2eXdL5gwXwo5O3Z3ZCL1m-Rwf-6zputyfQKwbZvaYv6IrwNPjzCLkug6DAdET_LaQ4K1XVVjGQ1rSXTlK3TUbR/s1600-h/Unbeaten.jpg"title="Attach a single mixing device"><img src="http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q2/carlacarlacarlacarla/cccc/Unbeatenthumb.jpg" alt="Attach a single mixing device"></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnSqhsMemGXxMPQkoU2CENFaQDFwZvD3lfWmrjMpQJ6RKYbf7n8Llui53DARR7UAWbz_BOBVvYx-hsI5NHI1IgiSLqnxWLDk1v2r6hdzKvYLZa6BG-w8FsZEmfZB1J-Qpkjyg4/s1600-h/Omelet.jpg"title="Omelet"><img src="http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q2/carlacarlacarlacarla/cccc/Omeletthumb.jpg" alt="Omelet"></a><p><b><font face="times new roman">Note:</b> A pliable plastic bowl is recommended, since the vigorous mixing may damage glass or hard plastic.</font><p>After discovering that I'd used about half as much salt as needed, I decided my <i>perfect omelet</i> wasn't fit for human consumption and offered it to other hungry mouths to appreciate:<p align=center><object width="250" height="203"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/KKbLknAaIAg&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/KKbLknAaIAg&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="250" height="203"></embed></object><p><blockquote><p><b><i><font face="arial">And real men <i>do</i> eat quiche after all ...</font></i></b><table cellspacing=7><tr><td><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Real-Men-Dont-Eat-Quiche/dp/0450055604/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1264178289&sr=1-1"title="Remember this 1980's bestseller?"target="blank"><img src="http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q2/carlacarlacarlacarla/cccc/Quiche.gif" alt="Remember this 1980's bestseller?"></a></td><td>Even the sissiest egg casserole can be made suitable for Real Man consumption by scooping a generous helping into a large flour tortilla, adding picante sauce (the more the manlier), then rolling up into a breakfast burrito.</td></tr></table></blockquote>CarlaCarlaCarlaCarlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13102993757093515208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38916923.post-72594408072318544862010-01-15T09:00:00.048-07:002012-12-30T10:39:07.634-07:00My own piece of hydrangea heaven<blockquote><p><i><b><font face="arial">In 1975, I was given a gift of a blue hydrangea. It was love at first sight. As I explored the genus, my passion grew. A few years later, I learned I was not alone; many gardeners share my addiction. By 1994, I was convinced that the world's perfect shrub deserved a plant society to celebrate and explore its versatility.</font></b></i><p><a href="http://www.americanhydrangeasociety.org/penny.html"target="blank"><font size=1>Penny McHenry</a> <font color="white">·</font> 1925-2006</font><br><font size=1>Founder of the American Hydrangea Society</font><p></blockquote><p>It is with deep respect and humility that I report my recent inheritance of an adolescent hydrangea shrub. It belonged to my mother-in-law, who has tended it carefully for at least a decade.<p align=center><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_N3MOUk45NbzzHKmRBe4S0qFOn2xFQFsMohyPYDPnnd8yru5A_qqOPD9HlwDO3ncb8TFMtqyeRkKjJlFRQBAXsjDpopwP59WNsOs8aIPeys0Wev3U25S4lZR8DAKrlaKf9CKI/s1600-h/Hydrangea+Winter+L.jpg"title="Hydrangea shrub"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhruYzOnahJNx_BZRzYJYUjDY27AuLl-GVA9uSrnb3JVWHZpSfqMVn4P3pa4UmhtppEIBWtvVh2B1SJvMFAypxCJj3b8-vJ3q82q4wcBMhNb3OQYURUl4s_OVybDR-JHbffiGRo/s400/Hydrangea+Winter+S.jpg" alt="Hydrangea shrub"></a><p><table cellspacing=2><tr><td>Nevermind all that overgrown Bermuda grass. The summer blooms that grow on this plant are stunning!<p>I'll admit that this isn't my first hydrangea. I've purchased several small ones over the past 20 years, but promptly killed them.</td><td><a href="http://www.colorchoiceplants.com/moonlight.htm"title="Pink hydrangea bloom - www.ColorChoicePlants.com"target="blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlL_-3OPvGa48VpTCEihNCOx1yz0e8PKdQoymNOkSNTv9DFE4GCPWEahXpBcnKy7k_YS7T8kocUYpbW5_Nh4JyX_eLLDFXD3xUok0w6XmbdCpVD2dGA7OqBvptVZaMekfiZjnx/s400/Hydrangea+Pink+thumb.jpg" alt="Pink hydrangea bloom - www.ColorChoicePlants.com"></a></td></tr></table><p>And from what I've been told, I ended up with this precious hand-me-down ... because no one else wanted it?CarlaCarlaCarlaCarlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13102993757093515208noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38916923.post-37542654437262736442010-01-04T09:00:00.085-07:002011-12-12T12:33:58.988-07:00Enough is enough!<blockquote><p><i><b><font face="arial">Never go to excess, but let moderation be your guide.</font></b></i><p align=right><a href="http://www.iep.utm.edu/cicero"target="blank"><font size=1>Cicero</a> <font color="white">·</font> 106 BC - 43 BC</font></blockquote><table cellspacing=1><tr><td>I've already begun Spring Cleaning, but not by choice. Instead, the pantry got cleaned up after I accidentally turned a Family Size box of cereal upside down and spilled its contents on the three lower shelves.<p>After emptying, sweeping, vacuuming and wiping, I faced the task of deciding how to fit all that stuff back in — until I began to realize that much of it was better suited to the local food pantry than my own.</td><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9WyJhHGEhFdexFDzIDx3j7sNUQOi4PWO-3UUQuhXs1xOo1Oh4xs4erkaxRMkL1oY9MSbHpHEXXPPa5Xo6poF88d28egvlY4Q0ppgngs1lsrov2vA7y9WSpO4fnz15wpbDrbJw/s400/PeanutButter.jpg"title="FIVE open jars of peanut butter?"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9WyJhHGEhFdexFDzIDx3j7sNUQOi4PWO-3UUQuhXs1xOo1Oh4xs4erkaxRMkL1oY9MSbHpHEXXPPa5Xo6poF88d28egvlY4Q0ppgngs1lsrov2vA7y9WSpO4fnz15wpbDrbJw/s400/PeanutButter.jpg" alt="FIVE open jars of peanut butter?"></a></tr></td></table>The overabundance of food was baffling. Specialty items purchased for recipes that were never made, stuff that no one in this household would dream of eating, and so many multiples you'd think we've been preparing for a global famine. The examples pictured here are a small taste of how many un-necessities we've been stockpiling.<p align=center><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6HuCpHEKWahem31pUn7u0VT1ZFzNhey83o8Sk-3oFs0JTGrODbt-ZILWpHwCUZE9FTqR-D56Ajhjj5XjS_yQ16ahuX2lXX9vEosVWrvbhB4tmahnuK1li8o1CXXs8Pbkwmoib/s1600-h/Canned+BEP.jpg"title="Gee-Are-Oh-DoubleEss — canned blackeyed peas"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBks1P2zcdpJ6dht4oonsB2rHfAB8oc-L55UAqxbi-9CsYAcgpSACEWv13Yv9A1JRixE3iz6GFu8uOdc9gLp2onq3fq9xNc4Zxu4AJNnSQM1KjMR0upeYsPZWfFeaWKGETre-k/s400/Canned+BEP+thumb.jpg" alt="Gee-Are-Oh-DoubleEss — canned blackeyed peas"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5az96dQ4jjhpunnL1tdWDJSMkzBQUxH9r5fgWj4QP-hiL_sI0VugW6Uz1MvbCojZd_R6sMFAgL_uimd1k6yKCiMCallp-KZ-bQpDPjL6ZDT0hORqobzzantxFIaQjiMOPWNl7/s1600-h/Dinosaurs+MiniBites.jpg"title="Sarah finally decided she's outgrown this stuff"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi19I1AnR9saQrPvJ-1UdiRVTmmXHRb0olzxwdRMKHvRPSwk3ZqGjcB2x2mLIDQHTwTzMllGLt7OtR6H1YH81rlv8hl3HHs9vjaCRVIaHpsXcaD_-YVCljqkJMEWc8G3h58kEfC/s400/Dinosaurs+MiniBites+thumb.jpg" alt="Sarah finally decided she's outgrown this stuff"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbC0fQl_aYGInUqOwry6DzqLuX8v17PvO-xaAe98UmsHGYFHuAFAO-m2P0s_fLXL1gS4WH-qDEbqSvEJcGjjaDRv98SdcLyO1YhAfkJ5KZoJeJ0yzZdqUNTM3zQ_S-UOMYbTtq/s400/RiceRiceRice.jpg"title="Anyone for rice?"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqm9UcK_w8IIHnVE6cehRSWBgJ-OrgbKO4hgjQJFqelHCTCGs3zyrxZDplm2wZ5qJLzUq8Qg_eSCmi5ev7NlDHz4czeTEj13rQOJOTVBcUIxFgarU3G5pRx1n2HgCdBJWVW-QC/s400/RiceRiceRice+thumb.jpg" alt="Anyone for rice?"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnBQo3hpP5qCEpwAwTX-NXj0KbgkjBWY1NGP4XL6M94b-0_-UWqAuGZaR-878mfLtCDy7eOt5Fr57nEeve5FnSSGxTQb3Ja8yQB93VZdKoLy1rbpY1y-dJ7pX_7R1lXbrAmS7g/s1600-h/Unopened+Birthday+Candles.jpg"title="Unrealized birthday plans?"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyEP4d2hoLyFX1cDGEj20CYFGzCYns_sRKzNra5rpQljpV49UQFw0QV7ZGtObhW6P29vz8S_AAEBfYT_A6vvYywcQGBrqj_54lTkLjrnixTtTERP6q3Qi2waBfeVvr29EJAs2u/s400/Unopened+Birthday+Candles+thumb.jpg" alt="Unrealized birthday plans?"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfCDELjZuFdZ3V5s_CbRLx8Q0_CU1pdD3VeSGJumGwWZpLlxO2lFlMZG2kEJtOE5bFAqaxWACrcWkYvEB1_8dyja64aCkW_0YnrmcGCOk-jThWEZdZCQ0bwrMuxFOTj4RDtD7a/s1600-h/First+Birthday+Candle.jpg"title="How many 1st Birthday parties does one family throw?"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKeGiC7CNqudoSgXPk1TrM9oNSYkOT80YunkbjbbMuEL7Yngt5pFTL1LCG-oYANy49XSNFJvaKIlibP7RbQnvg-Uk2n_OjhuCW1A_KoW-9fjZVlXtXP1rxF_rq9jBNG_tCGBXQ/s400/First+Birthday+Candle+thumb.jpg" alt="How many 1st Birthday parties does one family throw?"></a><br><b><font face="arial">And the most ridiculous discovery of the day:</font></b><br><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhidmtJ1ver4CNR4Iup2ZSo_npPT5_fB20G6bMtjdgGsJKWC9BMQH45BD8Y6C8pbLTBYlGxCVDoYsHpIUE_JKP7wYbk4i7qsXQIITkAqSvWvMOMzE7ZqNcfuW-0O-AiZ0eFZj8A/s1600-h/Expiration2008.jpg"title="DESC"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhidmtJ1ver4CNR4Iup2ZSo_npPT5_fB20G6bMtjdgGsJKWC9BMQH45BD8Y6C8pbLTBYlGxCVDoYsHpIUE_JKP7wYbk4i7qsXQIITkAqSvWvMOMzE7ZqNcfuW-0O-AiZ0eFZj8A/s400/Expiration2008.jpg" alt="Expired 4/18/2008"></a><p><blockquote><p>Since I try to learn from my mistakes, I'm gonna go reorganize my pantry so that full cereal boxes are no longer placed on the top shelf. For more ideas, here's a good one to start with <a href="http://fromtheheartoftexas.blogspot.com/2008/03/functional-pretty-pantry-one-of-my.html"><font color="blue">from the heart of Texas</font></a>.<p></blockquote>CarlaCarlaCarlaCarlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13102993757093515208noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38916923.post-9930435276400451772009-12-27T09:00:00.014-07:002010-04-25T06:34:26.559-06:00How I Spent My Christmas VacationOf all the nerve! A less fashion-concious member of this household recently suggested that my Christmas footwear looks goofy. Okay so it's different, but there's always the chance I'm starting a new trend.<p align=center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/carlacarlacarlacarla/4276122697"title="PJ's and houseshoes"target="blank"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8HNJWkseIdc0aeUMTfPWW56MPsGSRVctC1liboqVvP1iaJ_BO2Nk4FRIQJzN_tbJlJqTED62SswG3DYTKpycaaQeYv9YXzgaEpDIh-Wj10ye1wIMSgxsxFBQpxiaa94R7MM6w/s400/Househoe.jpg" alt="PJ's and houseshoes"></a><blockquote><p>While I sit down to watch my favorite classic holiday film, <i>National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation</i>, I'll leave this laying around for you to amuse yourself with.<p align=center><a href="http://www.lubbockonline.com/news/122996/erma.htm"target="blank"><b><font face="arial"><font color="blue">Another Christmas season bites the dust</font></font></b></a><br><font size=1>Erma Bombeck <font color="gray">·</font> 1986</font><p></blockquote>CarlaCarlaCarlaCarlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13102993757093515208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38916923.post-9230017095743589272009-11-30T10:00:00.032-07:002012-12-29T18:00:26.049-07:00On my way – to where the air is sweeeeeetMost weekday mornings at 9 am, I turn on Sesame Street for Maggie to enjoy its <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cmcdBnj4ZOg"target="blank"><font color="blue">catchy theme song</font></a>, after which she sits on her own little stool and watches for as long as the average magnificantly brilliant one-year-old can stand (ten minutes or less). It's charming to see its guest stars in classic Sesame Street segments. Today's episode featured <i>environment</i> as its Word On The Street, with Jimmy Fallon giving an outstanding performance as <i>Wild Nature Survivor Guy</i>.<p align=center><object width="390" height="237"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/5dZ2ATb0rEw&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/5dZ2ATb0rEw&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="390" height="237"></embed></object><p>More Sesame Street guest spots worth sharing:<ul><li><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdx7dWu87Vc"target="blank"><font color="blue">Paul Rudd <b>·</b> <i>Earth Rocks</i></font></a> <font size=1>:37</font></li><li><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hHC3M7KL2ns"target="blank"><font color="blue">Billy Joel and Marlee Matlin <b>·</b> <i>Just The Way You Are</i></font></a> <font size=1>4:37</font></li><li><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H75eQX006jA"target="blank"><font color="blue">Johnny Cash <b>·</b> <i>Nasty Dan</i></font></a> <font size=1>2:13</font></li><li><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8eiBr8T8On0"target="blank"><font color="blue">Arthur Ashe <b>·</b> <i>ABC's</font></i></a> <font size=1>:54</font></li><li><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=my7zH7YfqNE"target="blank"><font color="blue">Christopher Reeve <b>·</b> <i>ABC's with Ernie</font></i></a> <font size=1>1:19</font></li></ul>CarlaCarlaCarlaCarlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13102993757093515208noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38916923.post-39124826113417182732009-11-25T09:00:00.017-07:002012-11-19T17:39:57.090-07:00Watch your step around here<blockquote><dl><dt><b><i><font face="times new roman"><font size=4>Crisis du jour:</font></font></i></b></dt><p><dd><b>Someone's been outside eating grass again.</b></dd></dl></blockquote><p>Let's face it, there will always be those times when the drive to quickly eliminate a distraction will override my otherwise mindful approach to the situation at hand. Last night was one of those times. During <i>Dancing With The Stars</i> Season 9 finale, I thoughtlessly made a dash across the kitchen's tile floor to free a meowing cat that had gotten stuck in the garage. Before making it to the door, I slipped in cat vomit and fell to the floor, twisting my left knee — the same one that was operated on early last Summer. Then to add insult to injury, I was admonished for trying to one-up Kelly Osborne's bold freestyle fall <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kihnkcgOgI"target="blank"><font size=1><font color="blue">fwd to 3:15</font></font></a>. Call me stubborn, but this knee <i>better get better</i>, because no way will I have surgery on it again. Between last Spring's broken hand and this slow-to-heal knee, I've learned that prevention is key.<br /><br />Speaking of DWTS, Donny Osmond and his curvaceous partner Kim Johnson were crowned the new champions shortly after my fall. I recognized Osmond's chance of winning first place after watching how well he compared to his professional teammates during Week 7's Team Tango:<p align=center><iframe title="YouTube video player" width="400" height="300" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/YbCZg4VSTL4" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> <br><font size=1><font face="times new roman"><font
color="white"> Paul Simone - DO NOT HIRE THIS MAN - lying sack of shit - Memphis Cordova landscape landscaper landscaping mow mower mowing - CONTROL FREAK</font></font></font>CarlaCarlaCarlaCarlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13102993757093515208noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38916923.post-14983959066032597952009-10-10T09:00:00.020-06:002010-04-28T09:46:19.403-06:00Unsuccessful, but not fruitless<blockquote><p><i><b>Seek truth in all things — even when the truth hurts.</b></i><p align=right>— <font size=1>Me</font></blockquote><br />Despite good intentions last June for my first <a href="http://carlacarlacarlacarla.blogspot.com/2009/06/watermelon.html"target="blank"><font color="blue">watermelon patch</font></a>, this growth-stunted specimen is its lone survivor. Looking back, I can't help but wonder what inspired me to brag about the spot I'd chosen for planting, which is poorly drained and doesn't receive enough sunlight for growing fruit.<p align=center><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixPikb_A6IMnhGGsCSr5GOXSTpbXoaACTbC2jZYysSx28OxI59eUOXKxcATq1XDCOGWMecbYczFvL9xHF7L0JeINSZfg8UhC5LC1L-yxCZN4pmNGztWl7sImUiLGAKWXEdC54F/s1600/StuntedWatermelon.jpg"title="Stunted growth"><img src="http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q2/carlacarlacarlacarla/cccc/StuntedWatermelon.jpg" alt="Stunted growth"></a><p>Although the melon grew only slightly larger than a canteloupe, I sliced it open and discovered it was juicy, sweet and oh-so-tasty.CarlaCarlaCarlaCarlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13102993757093515208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38916923.post-87321763903256222342009-09-04T09:00:00.009-06:002010-04-25T07:37:25.459-06:00Clutterbugs<b>Why MegaBloks are scattered all over the family room:</b><dd><font color="999999"><i>Psssst</i> it's not Maggie's fault</dd></font><p align=center><object width="400" height="324"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/4-q5YX--n1Y&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/4-q5YX--n1Y&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="324"></embed></object>CarlaCarlaCarlaCarlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13102993757093515208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38916923.post-1774998983104938872009-06-21T09:00:00.003-06:002009-06-24T07:57:20.956-06:00Ghost of Fathers Day Past<b>A greeting from the heart:</b><p align=center><object width="400" height="300"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/HiNOMEUwdbk&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/HiNOMEUwdbk&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="300"></embed></object>CarlaCarlaCarlaCarlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13102993757093515208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38916923.post-25963781112210972392009-06-13T09:00:00.042-06:002012-12-30T09:30:07.240-07:00Whirlwind afternoon<blockquote><dl><dt><b><i><font face="times new roman"><font size=4>Crisis du jour:</font></font></i></b></dt><p><dd><b>In the path of a tornado!</b></dd></dl></blockquote><p>No warning siren, and boy was it fast! One minute the Bradford Pear tree was there, then when I looked again it was in pieces on the ground. Very little structure damage in our neighborhood, but the place is a mess of broken trees, some torn up by the roots.<p align=center><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5-CIH-QMmKFqJksikKAZRGa9UOb_S5t2qYIjGlfpr-sDqdiOX54-g82cOEKYoAG11_dFiLk4qyB_AwyWdbbKBcVw8V4d8qe_Fb_rs6T1q5zSKETMnmVnb_oDnm1d6nhBChc_A/s1600-h/TornadoBP.jpg"title="Bradford Pear trees are the first to go"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMixjYX-HNvvtizXCE2OOKwOHeUKLUPUQFr_Sw7BknF749dycIOpOBy2g0ICtBo5AIRfdzh2rpZ5aRjwn-vbjjDfoywi28EEDkx8Ctuy_YxAqqpAQSYBwh7BSShQLQH6an0rnO/s400/TornadoBP.thumb.jpg" alt="Bradford Pear trees are the first to go"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmoVubntt3B1eZYQmZ22pbKc5_opQ6PhmKk-Yg-x-Ny5zPJ9k1gX_1WpCiN8DBwxrpJbqWlFSqU74TO6p0XcTuzJHbDor2wW3nr3VDtHZGor_hzdQKykiC4qgqxgOZ-PVk3Nle/s1600-h/TornadoBirdhouse.jpg"title="Birdhouse askew"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTlQcyh_0EYEw9BGNgpc6fmGJxIE2KMgTer7a1a-vkUHptW_cVCKDMZezthch1dVOYahXy6XtlcWR4rhUkn3h0RPH7HY0sdrysrOYvBE900U8UPPIG972KGnyWE7BZHVSt9E6y/s400/TornadoBirdhouse.thumb.jpg" alt="Birdhouse askew"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEAytaRS5pjXh6Q5eCbNSkAlvRo3qm5yqnaVZNqlmqZIraPHYiByqgg4lzAyCrkfotsDWMEAaS5umFrLjtzJW8kXZ9oxmHb0NLIwTv909pHSxI-NGm7w4FULz1VFzuwLVONzbE/s1600-h/TornadoRoots.jpg"title="Torn up by the roots"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh20gcTY2ReSVRhh-KhS1qhYlwQhD1RW3r7p5HUcaPXpLZhjU1v6nMQwCX5pGuzZSfQr34gvJNYUEhf3aiEOwyZhHt2RwwkD8KGJZGf-nTQUeCGiQGX-Uba-qXXGZa_IxOYkyRW/s400/TornadoRoots.thumb.jpg" alt="Torn up by the roots"></a><table cellspacing=20><tr><td>Thankfully, my brave little ginkgo is standing strong and healthier than ever. It's barely taller than me now, and at ginkgo speed may even reach six feet in several years.</td><td><a href="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 294px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNUUBQZlfnS5gaaWJIkDm9_zSnY_J0HE2b3dgqF02PncyGeWNTfYsQh1101GMdlaAxBWTWq6z4G4lfEqC_BPjyvbO9EEMvIAn_vCLHhucFP0FYsgSEvRC6PlmHXjq8UGqX1SHS/s400/Gingko.jpg"title="Growing like a ginkgo (sloooowwwly)"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVvqDu2yARnp1-cgn-CqiKgNj-PCMUDAU896u5Rn0bINe4mKdGthqSzDkUdKzIWPfQ_YL17oPlVlcEg-N9uTR_raenwBVQM0S2EK_ImvtLA1ag2hg64M8atDU9na2dca6iUQEr/s400/GingkoS.jpg" alt="Growing like a ginkgo (sloooowwwly)"></a></td></tr></table><b><font face="arial">Maggie's first tornado</font></b><br><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1CDxATtHEHz0EMgR64xcghyphenhyphen1JM4jYsoMP3UkXX0itZvCOt_udsNddmCYQLJrkNi4sBvtcN6I4dbdgmyj54VvxmmS5Sx1n2eh-2mcftucxuszP41R3a9eokk2RsYjooasQsFzo/s1600-h/1stTornadoL.jpg"title="Maggie's first tornado"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSdAbNmmh9XziSjZJJXRX8nwRGXgk1Lgt2trUnEd_eD1kBTkDiaEUKnQK-pXaLVOlhUKLTTLreJdpHbpy7-6j20OkcXlcgUU9MzviGmK1fwelhmVlpqaqBCtfqBjnyR-uA-KrG/s400/1stTornadoS.jpg" alt="Maggie's first tornado"></a><br /><br /><font color="CCCCCC"><font face="arial"><font size=1><b>Tags:</b> <font color="FFFFFF">·</font> <font color="FFFFFF">"</font>Olive Branch<font color="FFFFFF">"</font> <b>·</b> <font color="FFFFFF">"</font>Mississippi<font color="FFFFFF">"</font> <b>·</b> <font color="FFFFFF">"</font>tornado<font color="FFFFFF">"</font> <b>·</b> <font color="FFFFFF">"</font>Olive Branch tornado<font color="FFFFFF">"</font></font></font></font>CarlaCarlaCarlaCarlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13102993757093515208noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38916923.post-76635691729128740582009-06-11T09:00:00.054-06:002010-04-28T10:53:36.664-06:00Here kitty·kitty·kittyYou know those jokes about the little old lady who has ten cats? Well, there's ten cats around here and I'm evidently that lady. Thankfully, we're only fostering Mama's five kittens, most of which are expected to adopt out to permanent homes. My 16-year-old cat — who hates all other felines — is adjusting to life with Lori's three younger cats, two of which are part-<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bengal_cat"target="blank"><font color="blue">Bengal</font></a>. Her other cat is the strong, silent type who knows how to throw his weight around but wouldn't dream of actually harming anyone.<p align=center><table cellspacing=10><tr><td><b><font size=1>Otep's favorite spot<br>atop the fridge</font></b><br><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2eXHOjv-mD0H7_M3PWjmKuBIaMyT0bHRq7m65BxywLDN25L_jaHUj7nsjZLG8169hQ0XMOeDSZ-9CZG_ZcxVCXgSWgf9XSgShV6_kKsFTgFHB42KlBg-pvUGQId3ZCtQbEw3f/s1600-h/Otep+Fridge.jpg"title="Lording over the kitchen"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRs4BA8lXBhuVapT-V6_srjRS6hoCHeePySsu4uxnxFq2C-JQ7QxOPmJrvtQZ6iGUVkIvapGQrrBVH35I2gaLG8gbPzMnG53aTrUKcc3cAXXEFlt4RYgm5smtLZh1t_xj3m34I/s400/Otep+Fridge175.jpg" alt="Lording over the kitchen"></a></td><td><b><font size=1>Mojo's found the softest<br>blanket in the house</font></b><br><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguxWRNOp2mHo3hx57gnGy_fSsmHlJZlxvEUMenHaX2cd1_zFfebzQS8ESoWX_OLkU56pQoFs3sOAC62Sr8nPRR2jmh-wnquUnj7J6U1GND8r3DWWEE4zwVBImrUE1d2R6OSx3v/s1600-h/Mojo+Blanket.jpg"title="Surrounding herself in comfort"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6-S6nL4miy74HYVpXJagyVmdE10nIKmm_vmM_F6avSGVxSGS1uTF3_nbPEGs85YMkx6oASoHPYf1d1hhBKjgpBMA6hpPpYnRtiTtKhW_C9PUKRcFfFb6VaMWahVPBkmjbSlaT/s400/Mojo+Blanket175.jpg" alt="Surrounding herself in comfort"></a></td></tr></table><p align=center><b><font size=1>Brother is the self-appointed Keeper Of The Stairs</font></b><br><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirBb0Dk0atfTZ0ZHJlpTxy8zC1zfYo_lL2zWxFDEI4deqg3meTjBGvPROE1KTM4NuoPJd89gpPt5U34BzjKzl4O8LtTsf8kAEwflbilySIxGvktES8yduzcCbQY4gpkw84LhWo/s1600-h/Stairs+Brother.jpg"title="Another reason to watch your step on the staircase"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEils_MZoQ1gCyAmBKHRDFDZytRtLx_MOHDLGly86H9a3c-wllxw6s6YegRkP74_tvjLZH_uQ60SvfndD0cI3dYtLiW4s-_s1WfHpxnHRXZwvEouWnyV-gNDVMKm4l616XZTV7_l/s400/Stairs+Brother+thumb.jpg" alt="Another reason to watch your step on the staircase"></a><p><hr align=center color="8FBC8F" width=50%><p>Good thing I'm a Cat Person, ain't it?CarlaCarlaCarlaCarlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13102993757093515208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38916923.post-64022889263888657512009-06-09T09:00:00.035-06:002010-04-28T10:56:47.489-06:00Plan B<blockquote><p><i><b><font face="arial">Of all the wonderful things in the wonderful universe of God, nothing seems to me more surprising than the planting of a seed in the blank earth and the result thereof.</font></b></i><p align=right><a href="http://www.juliemoirmesservy.com/julie"target="blank"><font size=1>Julie Moir Messervy</a></font></blockquote><p>Last summer's <a href="http://carlacarlacarlacarla.blogspot.com/2008/08/homegrown.html"target="blank"><font color="blue">edible tomato</font></a> has encouraged me to grow another tasty treat this season. Before I broke my hand, I'd expected to try tomatoes again. The upside-down planter, though, is a "get dirty" contraption that my cast prevented me from using. Instead, I started off a dozen or so watermelon seeds in a starter tray, then transplanted the five surviving seedlings to a front spot on the west side of the house, where they'll get lots of hot afternoon sun. I hope they're as good as the seed package looked.<p align=center><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVk8kXDa8FLzksVOOcrOXbF_65H13_1iaM6LukCBJMHrPnJ6l0ELaqLWPw1TdzxwZUyM-g_A5hLamuZ-zzknXWNtUDKJkOAOd7WSaJP73K-lS51GLmOW2ieQ5WIoI-pm-kvlRL/s1600-h/WatermelonSproutL.jpg"title="Watermelon Sprout"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1yjZxVDJfVC1jwSfUWn1z1s-rGxiPdP4IKcmAhef7T2hHdLL0ZWzuJa2nFzfbP7dXOXuD2UDz7ljq2ieg5aoKuy4B-NipbtBGpuAzy-R6uNmZXLWit9NFuW1GMXTdPlERQbxg/s400/WatermelonSproutS.jpg" alt="Watermelon Sprout"></a><p><blockquote><br><b>And four months later:</b><p align=center><br><font size=1><font color="gray">CarlaCarlaCarlaCarla</font></font> · <font size=1><font color="gray">10/10/2009</font></font><br><a href="http://carlacarlacarlacarla.blogspot.com/2009/10/stunted.html"><b><font face="arial"><font color="blue">Unsuccessful, but not fruitless</font></font></b></a><p><br></blockquote>CarlaCarlaCarlaCarlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13102993757093515208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38916923.post-16432457583289589202009-06-08T21:00:00.006-06:002010-04-25T08:37:42.118-06:00Clown face<b>Maggie's first Koolaid mustache:</b><p align=center><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEV76b6OX7xSqvd6ifYW8YVTqcjoZW0P76haIggB8QBcuxh0Yfsn3t8KjWEcXpTSkt3SkfRabtZudcs8HHXg0P2BMGw8hDWPNFpWeclmb92bmO9xzG7-rhMnV8fb_JJH-wAXAn/s1600-h/KoolaidMustacheL.jpg"title="Koolaid mustache"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSmeKaltkor14g6T0htAepg83_nWQY44ML1yrSkf9R8xvz8Q6wEEpDIcaHTqeKwiPlirL3MiOx3_UIrb04mBrX0o0RqeEGtBApcElHsx3rU7cTM4gV_Hub73WRfQomCCRw5022/s400/KoolaidMustacheS.jpg" alt="Koolaid mustache"></a>CarlaCarlaCarlaCarlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13102993757093515208noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38916923.post-72961588197654234752009-06-06T21:00:00.029-06:002010-07-30T16:42:33.681-06:00Day Dream<blockquote><p><i><b><font face="arial">Never take Ecstasy, beer, Bacardi, weed, Pepto Bismol, Vivarin, Tums, Tagamet HB, Xanax, and Valium in the same day. It makes it difficult to sleep at night.</font></b></i><p align=right><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eminem"target="blank"><font size=1>Eminem</font></a></blockquote><p align=center><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjraublMJXryRKeqk74HSl1rPvFjwMvJxEquN4P0t0SCIfQ4Owb6_xxlymcSuetC0MFSbwJIssiFQ-RyfdXRvsdTVd8LcXfuENil_juYhIzZbjCYyjNVH-E40skuRC32d1as_yV/s1600/Oxycodone.jpg"title="Oxycodone"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSEXJ46dGXV89aV9KLzb-tP6olte9Q4bChGbCDacAuxg-wipJzdprUxXVquBuBK3sCYwDcgUA8Memsz4X-UEn12gPqt58werBk4fRlbPjVk8-Dtq4yM013D2-69EOc_b9gc9F6/s400/Oxycodone.thumb.jpg" alt="Oxycodone"></a><br><b><font face="arial">Another narcotic-induced dream</font></b><p><i>Okay, so there we were flying down the street, minding our own business, when we came upon a group of Men At Work repairing a leak in a roadside creek. The leak had created all sorts of problems with the purity of the water, so that if the Men At Work came in contact with it something terrible would happen to them. Not immediately, but over time, like they would eventually get a disfiguring and painful skin disease. In spite of this danger, getting into the water to repair the creek was the only way to properly fix it, so two men were up to their chests in it. Since they were both considered unimportant to Society though, their safety was sacrificed for the comfort of more important people.<p>Nevertheless, we ended up flying through the next creek that we came to. This was a foolish and unnecessary risk, but I wasn't given a choice in the matter. Naturally, I hoped the water in the second creek hadn't been infected with Impure Water Disease. And wouldn't you know it, the one time that my feet touched the muddy creek bed, they each fell on broken glass! Although I couldn't see the glass through the dark water, I could tell that it was thick amber glass from a carelessly discarded beer bottle.<p>Once back on dry land, I realized that the soles of my feet had matching lacerations, but not much bleeding. I treated them both with rubbing alcohol to help avoid infection and speed healing, but was unsure if I'd be able to at least hobble around or be unable to walk at all.</i><p><hr align=center color="cc0033" width=75%><p>As soon as my <a href="http://carlacarlacarlacarla.blogspot.com/2009/04/xraypins.html"target="blank"><font color="blue">fractured hand</font></a> healed, I ended up injuring my knee while carrying an armful of kittens around the yard. Last week's surgery to repair a torn meniscus left me with two small incisions on either side of my knee and a promise from the orthopedic surgeon that I'll develop arthritis in that joint one day. Yay meeeeeee!CarlaCarlaCarlaCarlahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13102993757093515208noreply@blogger.com3