New Things and Old

  

Yesterday I planned to put up a “Did You Know?” post.  Had the outline all put together, just had to fill in with comments and pictures.  Obviously – that didn’t happen.  My vision has been acting up lately and being on the computer longer than an hour causes all sorts of problems.  So, I went to my ophthalmologist.  Turns out – my eyeballs are all healthy (yay!) but, my eyes are not focusing in tandem which makes my eyes very tired and vision out of focus.  Another of those “it happens as we get older” things.  Ugh.  And, by the time I got home from the DR, my eyes were so dilated, seeing anything was difficult to “not happening”.  Anyway, getting new glasses. 

So – this will encompass a few things from yesterday and some things from today.

First of all.  The big thing about today is

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LITTLE SISTER!!!

Now, Did You Know? that yesterday was - - -

Poem in Your Pocket Day

You could celebrate by:

1 Read a poem out loud from your porch, window, backyard or outdoor space and/or

2 Select a poem and share it on social media and/or

3 Email a poem to your friends, family, neighbors, or local government leaders

I’d planned to celebrate with #2 – share a poem – here goes

Put Something In
Draw a crazy picture,
Write a nutty poem”
Sing a mumble-gumble song,
Whistle through your comb.
Do a loony-goony dance
‘Cross the kitchen floor,
Put something silly in the world
That ain’t been there before.
A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein

Yesterday was also –

Zipper Day

The first patented zipper with a slider, filed in 1891, was designed by American Whitcomb Judson and it was called a ‘clasp locker’, and originally invented for use on shoes.  However, it didn’t work well and never caught on.

Then, in 1913, American scientist and inventor Gideon Sundback received a patent for a curious contraption he called “hook-less fastener” and thanks to the military, this contraption caught on quickly.

There are 4.5 billion zippers of all kinds used in the U.S. per year.

A zipper is also known as a zip fastener or a zip and fly.

Zippers might seem innocent enough but 1,700 men seek help in the ER each year due to zipper related injuries.

I think my cat Daryl can teleport.

Honest to god, he can be 6 feet across the room and the minute I open any door anywhere in the house he can be through it and someplace I don’t want him to be.

No, no “Beam me up Scotty”

No combadge

He has figured out how to get out the door without being seen (fortunately, once out he rolls onto his back and looks cute possibly so I won’t throttle him).  And, how to get into a cabinet without making any noise until he starts bumping into things.  

Currently the moon is waning gibbous.  Which means - this phase starts after the Full Moon and lasts until half of the Moon's face remains lit-up at the Third Quarter (May 3).  Things to do now?  Traditionally banishing spells are the best magic to do at the waning gibbous moon.  Another traditionally done thing – clean house, home, and anything else.  Also it’s time to plant biennial and perennial flowers, and vegetables that bear crops below ground (such as onions, carrots, and potatoes). 

And, lastly, I was awakened early this morning by thunder, lightning, and RAIN.  Not, the pitter-patter of raindrops but a deluge of water falling from the sky.  My rain gauge broke during the IRON WINTER OF 2021 so I don’t know how much rain we've gotten so far, but at 9AM, the very deep ditch looks like this –

so, a lot.

When I looked out in the wee early hours this morning, this is the sight that greeted me.

That’s my brand-new shade canopy.  AAAARRRGGGHHH!!!

I’m okay, okey-dokey, just fine, breathing and everything.  Not running screaming down the street. 

Thinking that’s what I had for breakfast!

30 Apr 2021

 

Strange and Unusual Things You Find When You’re Not Really Looking

 

This is the last post about my brother’s visit.  

We had one day when we three “Did Wharton”.  Went to the Farmer’s Market which currently takes place every Saturday down nearly on the Square.  Right now, there aren’t any fruits or vegetables – even for us it’s early.  But there are a number of sellers of other good stuff like local honey, home baked breads and other yummy things, crafted items, canned items (pickles, jellies, sauerkraut) and such like that.  Then we walked around the Square.

One store must have had umpty bazillion marbles.  All sizes, all colors.

Never seen a phone quite like this.

Stacks of 45’s.  Sure, I see lots of LP’s but 45’s seem fewer and farther between.

I didn’t realize these were back in style/demand.  All thicknesses and lengths.  Do you think wearers can actually open their eyes without monumental eyelid muscle!  Hmmm – how do you train for that, I wonder – Eyelid Muscle.

And, then we went to the local (and new) Sweet Shop.  Myself, I was hoping for chocolates and caramels.  Nope, lots of gummy things.

 

Plus these – just have to pass.  I'm not a big fan of sodas anyway these put me off it all together.

 And then, of course, there was the day we went to Galveston.  Like all the tourists, we walked the Strand.

That just sounds wrong.

Yeah – ok, bad to worse.

I don't know . . .

Uhmm – pretty sure I’d have to pass on that also and I'm a tea drinker.

You can rent these and drive little Model T’s around town.  Guy said he’d resurrected Henry Ford to help with the design.

Yep – works for me!

My sister is ready too!

Well, whatever works for you.

Dish towel – honest to god, I think I need this!

And finally we went down to Seawall and walked along the beach.

 

I still miss it – every day.

 

23 Apr 2021

Independence

  

Here not too long ago, Bobby and I made a drive to Independence, TX.  Actually we went to the Antique Rose Emporium.  I wanted a couple of shrub roses and it’s a nice day trip.  The drive into the hill country this time of the year is beautiful with wildflowers.

My phone camera doesn’t do them justice.

Although I went to buy one rose, I left with two –

Lady of Shalott

Souvenir de la Maimaison

OK – at least I limited myself to just two – I only saw around 92 I liked a great huge amount and 14 or so I really wanted!

Purchases made, we set out to explore the thriving metropolis of Independence. 

Today, Independence, TX is a small unincorporated town of about 140 residents. 

However, it once was a significant center for religion and education in the Republic of Texas.  In 1845, Independence won the bid for a Texas university, which was named after one of its founders, R.E.B. Baylor, a former U.S. Congressman.  Baylor University opened its doors in 1846 with a total of 24 students, both male and female.  Later the women were separated into an independent institution, known as Baylor Women's College (today it’ called the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor).  At its hey-day, Independence had a hotel, a Masonic Lodge, a stagecoach depot and a small commercial center.  However, when the Santa Fe Railroad wanted to establish a line through town, the city leaders refused to grant it a right-of-way.  And, by 1880, most railroads bypassed the town, taking trade with them.  Both Baylor universities were moved in 1885. 

Interesting – yes?  no?  maybe??

More interesting was the discovery of The Old Independence Cemetery (no – I don’t know if there is a New Independence Cemetery).

Established in 1823, the cemetery was an early community graveyard used by pioneers of Texas, with many prominent figures of the Republic being buried there including several of the Original 300, the son of Sam Houston and the grandson of Moses Austin. 

And so endith the tour!

 22 Apr 2021

Galveston, Oh Galveston

  

This past Thursday, we three – sister, brother and I, went to Galveston for the day.  And, like all tourists, we walked the Strand – the street that has some of the most interesting shops and buildings on the island.  One of the shops we went into is called “Christmas on the Strand”.  And, yes, they have half of their shop dedicated to Christmas stuff year-around.  I like looking at ornaments no matter the date.

There were many interesting and unusual things.  Some really pretty, some odd, and mostly having to do with the ocean and ocean related things.  But, by far, the most eye-catching ornaments were these - -

December Diamonds Merman

This December Diamonds Beached Whale merman has black and white glittered Shamu tail.  He is bald, brawny, wearing black shades, a whale tail necklace, and holding an ice cream cone!

Relaxing on a unicorn pool float

Anyone care for a little pup play?

That is one hot unicorn! With a drink in hand, gold belt, unicorn horn, and rainbow sparkle tail, this Rainbow Merman is ready for Gay pride! These are not your average merman ornaments.

Pet the Puss

There were a bunch more if none of these appeal to you.  Everything from Cowboys to Doctors; from  to Vampires to Hard Hat types.  Great, just great!

 18 Apr 2021

A Story

  

My brother, John, came down (from the frozen northlands of WA) for a week-long visit.  It has been very nice.  Before he got here, he suggested a few things we three (sister, brother, me) might do, plus he said he’d help me out with anything I might need to do at the new house.  And so, I made a little list.

Now, my brother is a very

handy guy.  He builds beautiful furniture, cabinets, decorative boxes, little bitty collector cars – an artist in wood.  He also has a firm knowledge of plumbing, electricity, general home repairs, and so forth. 

Last time I was in the frozen northlands of WA, for Christmas, he gave me a special bathroom faucet.  It is very cool.

And, while he was here, he’d put it in for me.

This was, I believe, a job he thought would take an hour or two. 

Not the case.

Because, as it turns out, nothing in this house is a standard size.  Nothing.  Nada.  Zero.  Zip.

Anyway, I started with a bathroom faucet that looked like this

And, after a day and a half, 837 trips to every hardware type store in a 30-mile radius, an order to Amazon, a buncha muttering and stomping out the door, a variety of curse words (my guess is the builder of this little house no longer has ears – they’ve burned off), I now have a faucet that looks like this

TOO COOL!!

A DRAGON IN THE BATHROOM!!

 

The End.

 

14 Apr 2021

Wild

  

Today is a sort of catch-up day preparing for my brother to come for a visit.  Since I'm sort-of caught up for a minute, I thought I'd share some

W I L D  Things

I’ve seen over the past day or three . . .

Bluebonnets

Paintbrush

Bull Nettle

(just a couple of odd facts - )

Brush against Bull Nettle and you’ll immediately experience a painful burning and stinging.  Between the bull nettle’s leaves and flowers are tiny threads that contain histamine and other chemicals, including folic acid. These chemicals can cause mild to severe irritation of the skin.  There are many theories for relief from an encounter – everything from tobacco and spit to a baking soda paste.  However, there is one remedy that is most often recommended – urinating on it.  Urine contains something that reacts and soothes the pain instantly.  So, pee on yourself or get a buddy to help you out!  And so you don’t think this is a totally baaaaad plant, the seeds are edible.  I would suggest that you wear long pants, long sleeves, boots, and gloves to pick the seed pods using a pair of tongs.  Then, drop the pods into a paper sack and wait for the them to burst open and expel the seeds.  They are said to be appetizing and tasty with a nutty flavor.

Meadow Pink

Texas Groundsel

And, I’m not quite sure what this is.
  Do you know?

Well - I just found out what this is.
White-eyed Phlox

 

7 Apr 2021