Hodgepodging a Blue Moon

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1. Did you watch the solar eclipse? Your thoughts? Sun Chips, Moon Pies, Starburst candies, a Blue Moon beer, a Sunkist orange, or a Milky Way candy bar...what's your favorite eclipse related snack on this list?

I didn't watch the eclipse, exactly, but watched 'dusk' coming early and going away again and saw eclipse patterns on the back boardwalk.

One of our sons and his family drove to the PATH OF TOTALITY and observed the eclipse. They thought it was a great experience. I heard that one kid laid a large sheet of white paper on the ground and held a colander above it. That was sure a clever idea! I'll do that next time around - although it would mean driving to the east coast, I hear. 

I'd take a Sunkist orange, or maybe the Starburst candies. Nothing can eclipse them in the sweet/tart/chewy department. Okay, that was lame.

As I was aiming my camera at these cattle, the owner hollered at me, 'There's an eagle nest in that tree. It's a lot more interesting than my cattle.' I hollered back, 'Thanks, but I have an eagle nest too, and I don't have cattle.' (particularly not beautiful Highland and Angus).

2. What are you 'over the moon' about these days? What's something you enjoy doing every 'once in a blue moon'?

I can think of nothing that I'm particularly 'over the moon' about. And once in a blue moon, I enjoy going to a good movie. I love having the family together, which is probably my most over-the-moon experience, and we'll get to see a lot of family this weekend when our granddaughter gets married in South Dakota.

3. Tell us about something in the realm of science that interests you. How do you feed that interest?

Physics interests me in that I can plug in the vacuum cleaner and it works. I try to avoid feeding that interest too often.

Medical science interests me in that joint implants have advanced so much since my dad had his first hip replacement in the Middle Ages. I suppose that might be physics also.

Anyway, I feed that interest (and the surgeon) by making sure to get one every couple years.

4. What are a few things you remember about going back to school as a child?

I remember going to Rice Lake with my mom for that yearly back-to-school shopping trip. My mom and I had differing ideas about shopping. She wanted me to try on ten blouses to find just the right one. I wanted to quickly flip through the rack to the one I could tell I wanted without all that trying on bit. But when I was a kid, I reluctantly used Mom's method of clothes shopping. Now I use mine. I'll know it when I see it. And I'll buy it. But not often. I hate clothes shopping.

5. I've seen several versions of this around the net so let's make one of our own...share with us five words that touch your soul and briefly tell us why.

Mom or Grandma (I shouldn't have to explain that to any mom - or grandma.)

Spring (I shouldn't have to explain that to anyone who lives north of the Mason/Dixon line.)

Forgiven (See graphic)

Joy (See graphic)

Peace (See graphic)

found on Pinterest

6.  Insert your own random thought here.

Jazzie, the sweet grandpuppy, reached her expiry date last week. She was showing signs of waning health and being in pain. The cute pup you see on the left is how she looked shortly after we first met her at the local animal shelter, and the upper right photo is one I took during the family reunion at our place a couple weeks ago. Jazzie would have been 13 years old on Halloween. She was one sweet dog. Her family and we will miss her.

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Tommy & Smokey,
refusing to admit that they're getting too big for that box

Join me on Instagram: @cranberrymorning

Can You Believe that September is Already Here??

Hello Blogland, This is your long-lost blogger, Cranberry Morning. I decided that even though I've not been out getting new photos with my real camera, I'll put up a few pics that I took with my not-so-smart phone.

That fencing you see above is the gate to our garden. The brick is standing in the gap between the post and the gate to try to keep out the bunnies. It seems to work relatively well.

I  have about a dozen tomato plants, but they're determinates so they are all getting ripe at about the same time. (Determinates or determinants?)  I'd really like to open-kettle can them. Does anyone still do that? I know that the County Extension Office strongly advises against it because the 'new' hybrid tomatoes are not as acidic as the 'heirloom' tomatoes were. But if I add a tablespoon of lemon juice to each quart, can't I still open kettle? It would be so much more convenient, because at this point I'm not hauling heavy things up and down (where there's a second range) the stairs, and my kitchen range on the main floor is a ceramic top, so I don't want to use the pressure canner on it. I've heard that they can crack from the sustained heat of canning. Okay, you're right, I'm rambling, and it's not your problem. Sorry.

 Terrible photo, nice dog.

Jazzie is back for a visit. This afternoon she was out in the front yard sniffing the breeze. She's got a smorgasbord out there and is loving it.

Above is the view to the southeast from our front porch. I know I tend to put too many photos of views from our porch or our back deck on Instagram, but I happen to love those views, and besides, if I came across something better, I'd be sure to share to post that too.

At the end of last month, we were at our daughter's home, celebrating the SIXTH birthday of Henry. What a fun kid. What a Lego lover! What a Minecraft lover!  Anyway, it seems impossible that it's been six years since that little guy was born.

This was Henry on his introduction to winter, back in 2010. That's kinda how I feel about winter, Henry.

Can I ever publish a post without a barn? Not usually. And I like the star on the front of this one. I hope everyone has been well and enjoyed a great summer. My summer was non existent, so I'm going to try to make the most of autumn and hope that it lasts about six months.

Trying to ease back into Blogland.. maybe.

***

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Rainy Day From the Front Porch

It's been raining since Sunday night. Poor Jazzie is exhausted from the trauma of fireworks on the fourth and the thunder and lightning on the fifth. I think she's getting a good nap in today, though. Only the sound of the rain and the wind chimes. It's quite lovely to sit out on the front porch, protected from the rain and yet hearing the sound of the rain on the roof and the occasional deep tones of the wind chimes. We also had a classical music radio station on for a while. It was the perfect accompaniment to the morning rain.

 Jazzie, on the rug next to my desk

Currently sleeping to Ralph Vaughan Williams'

Charterhouse Suite for Strings 

I think she'll recover. :-)

***

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This post might possibly be linked to one of more of the following:

Mosaic Monday and Roses of Inspiration and  Treasure Box Tuesday and Tuesday with a Twist  and  Tweak it Tuesday  and  Good Fences and  Freedom Fridays  and  Saturday Critters and  Vintage Inspiration Friday  

Waiting...

Being her best patient self

When it's warm out (like two days ago, not today), I like to eat lunch on the front porch. Jazzie loves to go out with me, hoping that I'll drop another tidbit of chicken onto the floor for her. I do. She's rewarded for her patience. Good dog!

Hope you have a nice, warm Saturday!

This post is linked to

Saturday Critters

Winter Storm Watch on Veterans' Day

Remember Our Veterans

Two Beloved Veterans

Who Served in WWII

My Dad

My Father-in-law

Vintage Dog

 'Don't just stand there, open the door, let me in, and give me a treat!'
Just look at those begging eyes, poor dog!

Poor dog my foot.  She's outdoors whenever she wants and indoors whenever she wants. She hops up onto the sofa and lies with her head on a pillow. She gets a wee dog cookie every time she comes into the house, spends her early mornings on the window seat where she can watch for deer in the yard, and afternoons lying outdoors on the porch or deck or indoors next to the all-glass storm door. She's got it made. This happy grandpuppy is going to be 10 years old the end of the month.

Ever Vigilant

It's a Wonderful Life

So does your daily schedule also consist of 'Let the dog out; Let the dog in; Let the dog out; Let the dog in...' ??

***

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Although I usually forget to do it, there is a chance that this post will be linked to one or more of these great linky parties:  Amaze Me Monday and Inspiration Monday and Mosaic Monday and The Barn Collective and    Treasure Box Tuesday and Vintage Bliss Tuesday and KatheWithAnE and Rubbish Tuesday and Tuesdays at our Home and Tuesday with a Twist and  Knick of Time Tuesday (vintage)  and   Tweak it Tuesday and Vintage Inspiration Wednesday and Ivy and Elephants Wednesday and Adorned From Above  and Artsy Corner Thursday and  All Things With Purpose and Home & Garden Thursday and Good Fences on Thursdays and  Time Travel Thursday and Freedom Fridays and Vintage Inspiration Friday and Saturday's Critters

Morning Light

Early Morning Light, Burning off the Fog

 "Whether I retire to bed early or late, I rise with the sun."

- Thomas Jefferson 

That is true of me too. Even if, like last night, I have lain in bed awake from 3 AM until 6 AM, once there's a hint of a rising sun, I'm up. And usually before that. I love those first minutes of morning worship, thanking God for his mercy and grace, and pondering his willingness to reveal himself to us in Jesus.  After putting on my cozy long robe, I check to make sure the kitty has enough food in her dish, then walk downstairs, push the button on the coffee pot, and take the dogs out. My day has officially begun.

I love morning.

 Ready to alert us to the occasional car

 Mr. Cranberry, leaning on the porch rail, 

enjoying the morning air and a cup of coffee

Question:

So, are you an early riser? Late riser? Hate morning? Didn't realize there was a morning? Maybe you need to stop in sometime and sit at my kitchen counter. I'll pour you a cup of coffee and scrounge up some dark chocolate to go with it.


Do you have a morning routine? Inquiring minds want to know!

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Mud Puddle Reflection

The mud puddle, a favorite drinking spot

Having secured a house sitter/dog sitter for the weekend, this evening we'll be off to visit the grandkids who just moved to Wisconsin from Indiana.  Can't wait.

See y'all next week!

Cloud Watcher

I'm not the only one who likes to watch the clouds.

December 17, 2013

Have a great Thursday!


I will be away from the computer today to spend time with my daughter who is visiting from Texas. Have a wonderful day!
 

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Happy Thanksgiving!

May all of you have a wonderful, relaxed, delicious Thanksgiving Day as we reflect upon the many blessings God has bestowed on us individually and as a nation.