ArtVenture

As an activity to get my mind off fire clean-up, I attended a wonderful event in Mercer County on Saturday. The newly formed Arts Council of Mercer County held its first ever ArtVenture for all artists in our community - painters, sketch artists, writers, photographers, musicians, dancers, etc. The goal of an ArtVenture is to expose all artists to the same environment or inspiration and see what type of art is created.

We meet at Terrapin Hill Farm - a 375-acre organic working, sustainable farm in Mercer County - for a morning trip to inspire our creativity. For me, I was able to write a long poem about the farm, do some sketching of local fauna and take numerous photos, which I will use to help illustrate my poem. At our next meeting, we will bring in our finished products to share with everyone.

Even though the morning started out as gray, overcast and rainy, this was the perfect kind of day for my muse - I love these kinds of days. At the end of the morning, we were treated to a wonderful organic lunch, prepared by Terrapin Hill - most of the food was grown or raised on the farm. We ate several different varieties of tomatoes, dill pickles, bread 'n butter pickles, pasta salad, potato salad, and chicken salad (yes, from organic, free-range chickens). For dessert we were treated to cantalope, peaches, red and yellow watermelon and ice cream.

If you have never visited Terrapin Hill Farm, I encourage you to do so. There annual Harvest Festival is coming up September 24 - 27th.

Free Flowing Friday

Since I missed Free Flowing Friday last week, I've had a lot on my mind. Of course, clean-up from the fire has been tops on my list.

1.) Hoping and praying the electricians can finally get our electricity restored today. I love my mom-in-law to death, but I'm ready to be back in my own home. Two families living together is just not compatible. I like to sleep with the room freezing cold and she wants all the windows shut-up tight at night. Needless to say, I've been sleeping less than usual - and I'm already a chronic insomniac.

2.) As a break from fire clean-up, I'm attending Mercer County's first ArtVenture at Terrapin Hill Farms tomorrow morning. The newly formed Arts Council of Mercer County is going to be holding monthly events for all the artists in our community. An ArtVenture is an activity to bring all art forms together to eventually collaborate on projects with the same theme. I'm taking my notebook, camera and sketch pad, so we'll see what happens.

3.) I'm so excited - I have a new writing gig! In addition to the weekly book review column I do in The Harrodsburg Herald, I will now be doing book reviews for Kentucky Monthly. I'm not sure what my first book will be, but it is in the mail as we speak. I'll keep you updated.

4.) I've been a bloggy fog for almost 2 weeks now and I feel lost without blogging. I never realized until this moment how much I enjoy blogging until I'm not able to do it as much as I'd like. Hopefully, next week will show lots of improvement.

5.) I missed the book launch of a wonderful poet in Lexington last night. Katerina Stoykova-Klemer's first book, The Air Around the Butterfly, is a bilingual collection of poetry, with each poem appearing side by side in both Bulgarian and English. Originally written in English, each work has been translated by the author into her native Bulgarian. The collection is comprised of three sections: My Mother Was Going to War, E. T. and I Phone Home, and The Apple Who Wanted to Become a Pinecone. Check out her official website here. This book is now available in bookstores and online.

6.) My daughter is anxiously awaiting to see if she will be elected as part of the Student Council at school. She has some strong views and great ideas for improving the school. Her big project is an idea for increased recycling for the entire school system. It is amazing the amount of waste one school can generate in a day - and our school system has 6 different buildings!

Fish Out of Water

I feel like a dog without a bone - a fish out of water - Harry without his wand. We've been out of our home for 10 days now and I'm starting to go stir crazy! Don't get me wrong, I love my mom-in-law to death, but her house is just not my house. I feel like we are an imposition, even though she tells us it's fine.

The electricians can yesterday and got all the old wiring and the breaker box ripped out. They are supposed to start on the re-wiring this afternoon. Keep your fingers crossed they can finish by Friday because the electrical inspector visits our area on Fridays. With a little luck we may be back at home by the weekend.

Clean-up is coming along very slow - it's hard to clean adequately with no hot water (our home is all electric). One good thing has been my ability to purge items I've been hanging on to for years. I'm looking forward to having a more organized home when we finally move back in.

Thanks for all the thoughts and prayers - they have helped us get through from difficult days!

Way Back Wednesday - Labyrinth

As you can probably tell from my avatar, Labyrinth is one of my favorite movies. Labyrinth is a 1986 fantasy film, directed by Jim Henson, produced by George Lucas, and designed by Brian Froud. Henson collaborated on the screenwriting with children's author Dennis Lee and Monty Python alumnus Terry Jones. The movie stars David Bowie as Jareth the Goblin King, and Jennifer Connelly as Sarah Williams. The plot revolves around Sarah's quest to rescue her little brother from the Goblin King while trapped in a world that is an enormous underground maze. Most of the other significant roles are played by puppets or by a combination of puppetry and human performance. It was shot on location in New York and at Elstree Studios in the UK. It was the last feature film directed by Henson before his death in 1990.

Favorite lines from the movie:

WORM: 'Allo.
SARAH: Did you say hello?
WORM: No, I said 'allo, but that's close enough.
SARAH: Your're a worm, aren't you?
WORM: Yeah, that's right.
SARAH: Do you know the way through this labyrinth?WORM: No. I'm just a worm.


ALPH: You can only ask one of us.
RALPH: It's in the rules.
RALPH: One of us always tells the truth,
RALPH: and one of us always lies.
RALPH: He always lies.
ALPH: I do not! I tell the truth!
RALPH: Oh, what a lie!


JARETH: If I thought for one second you were betraying me, I'd be forced to suspend you headfirst in the Bog of Eternal Stench!


WISEMAN'S HAT: Ah! It's so stimulating being your hat.


KNOCKER2: It's no good talking to him. He's deaf as a post.
KNOCKER1: Mumble, mumble.
KNOCKER2: You're a wonderful conversational companion. All you do is moan.
KNOCKER1: No good. Can't hear you.


JARETH: And, Hoggle, if she ever kisses you, I'll turn you into a Prince.
HOGGLE: Y-you will?
JARETH: Prince of the Land of Stench! Ha ha ha!


FIREY: Hey, her head don't come off!


DIDYMUS: And none may pass without my permission!


SARAH: Through dangers untold and hardships unnumbered, I have fought my way here to the castle beyond the Goblin City,for my will is as strong as yours ... and my - and my kindgom is great. Kingdom is great ...damn! I can never remember that line. My kingdom is great. My kingdom is great. You have no power over me. YOU HAVE NO POWER OVER ME!

Slow and Steady Wins the Race ...

... or at my house, gets the clean-up done. Progress on our clean-up effort after the fire is slow but sure - the slowness is mainly due to no electricity, so, no hot water. Hot water helps to clean a multitude of messes. Because the house wiring has to be reworked, it may be Wednesday before we have power again, so I'm just making due at the present.

They say, "everything happens for a reason" - we just don't usually know what the reason is, or the reason will come to us later. I have come to the realization that I'm a pack-rat married to a pack-rat and these 2 things don't lead to a neat and tidy household. During the cleaning process this week, the evidence of my pack-ratty ways has been staring me in the face - screaming to be thrown away.

So, while I'm semi-cleaning with cold water and waiting on the electrician to do his magic, I am also taking this time to clear out years of "junk" we have accumulated after 20 years of marriage. Do I really need to keep every single school paper my children have every brought home? Yes, No, I am systematically going through years of papers and picking out the best pieces to save. Do I really need to save every single glass jar I've accumulated in the past 20 years? Yes, No, the majority of these can go to the recycling center - one or two is all any household can use at one time. Do we really need to keep every plastic cup my hubby brings home from Speedway because their soft drinks are so cheap and his commute is so long? Yes, No, there are only 3 of us, and even with the older girls are home with their family, we still don't need a gazillion cups.

The list could go on and on - accumulated sports equipment that hasn't been touched in 10 years, review copies of books I've read but really have no desire to read again, the clothing in size 8 to 22 that I may loss enough weight to wear again, every pair of glasses the 3 of us have ever owned, etc. etc. etc. etc. ....

Thanks to everyone for all your thoughts and prayers this past week. We have been blessed with wonderful families and outstanding friends. I may never know why this happened to us, but I do know it has helped me appreciate life more and I never plan to take life for granted again.

A Big Thank You

Thanks to everyone for all your thoughts and prayers! Clean-up is going slow, but at least it's going. We still don't have electricity restored, but it should be any day now. I guess on the bright side, this is a good time to do all the painting we've wanted to do - hehe. It is heart-warming to know we have so many friends sending up prayers and well-wishes. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Blog posts, stories and poems are going to be hit and miss this week - can't understand why I'm not in a writing mood! Although I have been jotting down notes, quotes and feelings, so I feel a large writing piece coming on. Hopefully, when we are finally back in the house, I'll be able to relax and start writing again.

We are taking a few hours off clean-up detail this afternoon to go see Quentin Tarantino's INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS. Maybe "killin' nahtzeys" will make me feel better! It'll be 2 1/2 hours won't have to worry about cleaning.

"You probably heard we ain't in the prisoner-takin' business; we in the killin' Nahtzeys business. And cousin, Business is a-boomin'."

Tarantino is in that hit or miss category - people either love him or hate him. As you can probably tell, my family is in the LOVE HIM category. I love his screenwriting (True Romance, Pulp Fiction, From Dusk till Dawn, and Kill Bill Vol. 1 and 2), I love his directing (Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, Jackie Brown, Kill Bill, and Death Proof) and I even love his acting (From Dusk till Dawn, Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, and Death Proof). He also produced Iron Monkey, Four Rooms, Hostel, and Hell Ride.

Prayer Request

I would like to apologize for no Way Back Wednesday post yesterday, but my family is in the midst of a major clean-up effort. We had a fire at our home on Tuesday morning. The major damage was to the laundry room - apparently our deep freezer shorted out. We lost everything in that room, but thankful there is no structural damage. We have smoke and water damage in the kitchen and living room, but this can all be cleaned up.

One of the hardest things has been losing our 3 cats - Frankie, Bella and Elinore. For those of you with pets, you can imagine how hard this has been, especially on our daughter. Thankfully, our dog, Rusty, appears to be uneffected, even though he was in the house with the cats.

Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers over the next few days. God spared our home because we very well could have lost everything we own. Thankfully, we weren't home, so God also spared our lives - He is truly great.

Letting Go

As most of you know, I'm having trouble adjusting to my youngest daughter being a senior in high school and a new driver. Every day she leaves the house and I pray God will keep her safely in his hands, and I try not to worry, but I think I was born with the worry gene.

She is used to going places with friends and family, but this weekend is the first time she has gone to Lexington with just her friends - no adults. I really wanted to tell her NO - No you can't go without an adult, No, No, No! But I've realized, I can't keep her a baby any longer. Yeah, I know, she'll always be my baby because she's the youngest, but my brain and my heart are having trouble accepting the fact she is growing up.

The young lady that was driving to Lexington is really an excellent driver - and she has her full license, not just a graduated intermediate license. There was a total of three girls going, which is a good thing because I was picturing a carload of giggling, talking teenagers. Less people means less distractions for the driver.

And the thing that impressed me the most - the young lady driving came in and introduced herself to me and my husband. She wanted to let us know she was a good driver and she would be very careful driving our daughter to Lexington. I about fell over in the floor! There are still decent teenagers in the world, and my hats off to this young lady's parents.

Did this keep me from worrying about my daughter? No, but it did make me feel a little better. When my daughter got home six hours later she was overjoyed to tell us about her day and I felt a weight lifted off my chest.

I know I can't change things, and really, I don't want to. Children are supposed to grow up and lead their own lives; parents are supposed to give them a firm foundation to begin those lives. The Serenity Prayer is one thing I try to keep in mind when the worries of the day are heavy on my mind.

Serenity Prayer

God grant me the serenity
To accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can;
And wisdom to know the difference.

Free Flowing Friday

1.) 3 words - Ragweed, Ragweed, Ragweed! My seasonal allergies are killing me: stuffy nose, congested head, sneezing, watery eyes, post nasal drip, sick to my stomach - you name it and I'm feeling it right now. Sorry to be gross, but the allergies are ruling every part of my life right now - Benadryl is my friend.

2.) The foot is finally feeling much better. Just the past 2 days, I've noticed a tremendous improvement - new skin, decreased redness, scant amount of drainage. I'm alive, thank goodness, and I think I'll live.

3.) Mercer County Arts Council meeting last night was awesome! I'm totally amazed at the amount of talent in Mercer County. Many of the artisans brought items and we had a "mini art gallery." I'm so excited about the prospect of what this council can do.

4.) Started reading a new book by my bloggy friend and native Kentuckian, Laura Frantz - The Frontiersman's Daughter. Laura was born in Kentucky, and still has family here, but she now lives in Washington state with her family. This is her first book and I've fallen in love with her writing style. So much research went into this book and the details, in combination with Frantz's prose, give the reader interesting characters and a wonderful story. I'll keep you updated about when the book review will be posted. Check out Laura's journal, Imagination.

5.) After weeks of putting up with a defective DVR from Time-Warner cable, we have finally had the box replaced. I know to most people this may not be a big deal, but after you've put up with the remote turning the DVR off almost every time you push a button, being able to flip thru the channels with ease is a joy.

6.) We've just finished the first full week of my daughter driving to school - it has been terrifying for me. I know she is a wonderful driver - it's the other drivers I worry about. Every time the phone has rang in the mornings or afternoons, my heart starts beating faster because I'm afraid it will be her - or the police. I know I need to lighten up, and I will eventually, but right now I just can't help myself.

7.) WTF?? Pine Valley is really starting to get weird. My fascination with All My Children has left me scratching my head wondering what some of these characters are thinking. Really? Zach and Jessie have smuggled Kendall away from jail and replaced her with a look alike? Really? What women would voluntarily go to jail in Kendall's place? And really? After all the publicity, how come the jailers don't realize they have the wrong person? Oh, what a tangled web we weave.

8.) The commerical I've laughed my head off at this week - the one with the car and the pothole. I don't even remember what the commerical is advertising, but I love that talking pothole and her Southern accent.

... "Oh no, your tires all flat and junk - did I do that? Here let me get my cellular out and call you a wrecker. Oh shoot, I got no phone, 'cause I'm a pothole ... so ... 'k bye" ...

Welcome to Ragweed Season

Have your allergies kicked into overdrive? Blame it on Ragweed. Check out my new article on Examiner.Com.

Way Back Wednesday - From Dusk till Dawn

While waiting anxiously for the release of Quentin Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds, I thought I'd highlight one of my favorite movies by him. Although Tarantino is normally behind the camera or writing the script, in this movie we get to see his acting abilities on screen with George Clooney.

From Dusk till Dawn is a 1996 action/horror film directed by Robert Rodriguez and written by Quentin Tarantino. The movie stars George Clooney, Harvey Keitel, Quentin Tarantino, and Juliette Lewis.

The movie starts out with fugitive bank robbers and brothers Seth (Clooney) and Richie Gecko (Tarantino) fleeing the F.B.I. and Texas police. The Fuller family — Jacob (Keitel), the father and a pastor who is experiencing a crisis of faith; his son Scott (Ernest Liu); and daughter Kate (Lewis) — are on a vacation in their RV. They stop at a motel and are promptly kidnapped by the Geckos, who force the Fullers to smuggle them past the Mexican border.

This unlikely group ends up at the "Titty Twister", a strip club in the middle of a desolate part of Mexico which turns out to be a haunt for vampires (yeah, I know, you're probably tired of vampire movies, but I do try to rein myself in - if not, I'd highlight vampires several times a month).



Favorite quotes:

Richie: Shit, I started to get worried. Where the fuck ya been?
Seth: Sight seein'.
Richie: What'd ya see?
Seth: Cops.

Seth: Rule number one: No noise, no question. You make a noise...
[holds up gun]
Seth: Mr... 44 makes a noise. You ask a question, Mr. 44 answers it.

Kate: Where are you taking us?
Richie: Mexico.
Kate: What's in Mexico?
Richie: Mexicans

Seth: So what are you, Jacob? A faithless preacher? Or a mean motherfuckin' servant of God?
Jacob: I'm a mean, mhm mhm servant of God.

Seth: And I don't want to hear anything about "I don't believe in vampires" because *I* don't believe in vampires, but I believe in my own two eyes, and what *I* saw is fucking vampires!


Seth: All right, ramblers... Let's get ramblin'

Seth: All right, vampire killers... let's kill some fucking vampires.

Seth: Well, your best better get a hell of a lot fucking better, or you are gonna feel a hell of a lot fucking worse.

Seth: Fight now, cry later.

Kate: Are you okay?
Seth: Peachy, Kate. The world's my oyster, except for the fact that I just rammed a wooden stake in my brother's heart because he turned into a vampire, even though I don't believe in vampires. Aside from that unfortunate business, everything's hunky-dory.




This movie is rated R for strong violence and gore, language and nudity.

The Morning After WEEDS

I haven't done a "morning after WEEDS" in a few weeks, mainly because I've been too busy. But last nights episode left me scratching my head and wondering if the show is headed totally into left field.



Weeds season 5, episode 10 - Perro Insano (Insane Dog)

*****SPOILER ALERT*****
In last week's episode, Esteban and Nancy go outside to talk, and Shane goes outside to eavesdrop on their conversation. A gangster walks up the path outside the Botwin house and attempts to shoot Nancy, but misses his target and the bullet hits Shane. The would-be assassin is then killed by Cesar.

This week starts off with Cesar fixing Shane's wound in the car on the way to Esteban's house, because they can't take him to the hospital because they will report it to the police. Audra comes to Esteban's house to fix up Shane's arm - she promises not to report the incident to the police. Audra also gives Shane a bottle of Percocet.

I think the saddest part of last night's episode is when Shane confides in Silas that he hasn’t taken any of the pain medication because he likes feeling pain since it helps block out all other thoughts. This really made me stop and think about what Nancy is actually doing to her children. She may try to save them from physical harm - although this hasn't worked (i.e., Silas being beat up in season 3 and Shane being shot) - but she can't save them from emotional harm.

Later, Nancy confronts Cesar, who admits he was involved in the assassination attempt, which was organized by Pilar. Nancy shoots him in the arm, as 'an eye for an eye' for Shane's wound.

Doug finds out Celia is selling weed with her cosmetics. Celia freezes out Dean from her business venture. Doug and Dean form an alliance to bring down Celia. Doug paid Dean back for the d**k in a drawer gag by having Dean dip his b*lls in hot coffee - hilarious! These 2 are such juveniles.

Pilar has had Esteban replaced as candidate for governor, but on Nancy's encouragement he decides to run for election independently. This could eventually cause problems for her family, so Nancy encourages Silas to travel Europe, to ensure his safety. Silas declines Nancy's offer, concerned for the safety of his family. He demands that Esteban provide protection for the Botwin family. Esteban agrees and Silas moves into Esteban's house. No we're one big happy family.



Esteban decides he really does want to marry Nancy and raise their child together. I was surprised to see Andy so compliant when Nancy had him removed from the birth certificate as Stevie Ray's father - for some reason, I thought he'd put up more of a fight. Nancy and Esteban get married at the house, in front of Silas, Shane, Cesar and a group of other bodyguards.

The shocker of the night was Nancy visiting Guillermo in prison. She pretends to be his wife so she can take advantage of "conjugal visits" in order to be alone with Guillermo and ask him to organize an assassination of Pilar. Oh what a tangled web we weave ...

Wantitis

I woke up feeling very old this morning - I no longer have any babies at home. Try as I might to keep my youngest from growing up, she is now a self-assured, independent young lady and I must force myself to see her in this new light.

At 17, she is now a senior in high school with plans of college swirling in her head. She is driving herself to school and to work and "Mom's Taxi Service" has officially been retired. She does her own laundry and many times, cooks supper for the family - thanks Baby, the potato stroganoff last night was delicious.

Although she is happy with her new position in life, I, on the other hand, am having trouble defining my new role. For 27 years I've had a house full of children and our lives were hurdling at full warp speed ahead. Now I feel like I'm moving in slow motion, slugging through a haze of "wantitis." I want my babies back.

I know the world keeps revolving and everything is always in a constant state of change, but just for a moment, I want the ride to stop. Rein in the carousal and let me get off, if only for a few minutes. I'm not ready for this stage in my life - not sure if I'll ever be ready - but it's here and I have to muster on.

Wading through my new role in life, I wonder if this is the beginning of a new phase in life, or if I've wandered into the Twilight Zone. Give me back the times when Mom could fix everything and all was right with the world as long as Christine's "pony" was within easy reach.

What's Blooming Around the Bluegrass ...?

... this week it's Pokeberry. Check out my newest gardening article on Examiner.Com.

Free Flowing Friday

Welcome to Free Flowing Friday - my thoughts, feelings and activities from the past week:

1.) Oh my goodness, I just watched my baby drive away from the house solo for the first time this morning. All I can do is pray God is watching out for her. I know she is a good driver, but I worry about all the other drivers on the road.

2.) John Hughes, Home Alone John Hughes, Ferris Bueller John Hughes and 16 Candles John Hughes - dead at the age of 59. He was the director/producer of many of my favorite movies from the 1980s: Breakfast Club, Weird Science and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. He will be missed.

3.) Yard Sale City has come to town. This may be a strong statement, but I HATE the Hwy 127 Yard Sales! I live just off Hwy 127 and every year for one week and 2 weekends in August, I'm subjected to crazy drivers clogging my street, blocking my driveway and trying to turn around in MY YARD. People - get a life and respect other people's property!

4.) I turned 47 yesterday - or if you ask me, it was the 18th anniversary of my 29th birthday. I know they say you are only as old as you feel, but after suffering with a 3rd degree burn on my foot for almost 2 weeks now, I'm feeling pretty old.

5.) I have devoured the newest book in the Millennium trilogy by Steig Laarson - The Girl Who Played With Fire. Excellent, excellent book! Laarson is the author of last year's book, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo. There is one more book in the trilogy and this will be the last book we get by Laarson - he died of a heart attack in 2004.

6.) My job as the Lexington Gardening Examiner for Examiner.Com is going great and I'm very happy. I am currently averaging over 1800 hits every week and the hits have gradually increased over time - and I've only been writing for them for 6 weeks. If you haven't already checked it out, Examiner.Com is a great place to find all types of information on an infinite number of topics.

7.) I would like to say I wasn't upset with the disruption with Twitter and Facebook on Thursday, but I'm afraid my nose would grow. Although I only use Twitter to post my newest Examiner articles, I have come to depend on Facebook on a daily basis. It was hard to post my status, leave comments or just click the "like" button ... okay, you caught me, I was really upset because I couldn't get to my farm in Farm Town. People, I had crops wasting away on the vine - tragedy!

8.) I guess my cool days of summer are gone - from the looks of the upcoming forecast, summer's heat and humidity are coming back with a bang. I was so enjoying the cool temps and all the rain.

9.) It's time to pull out the knitting needles and start working on Christmas gifts - it is only 144 days until Christmas. I haven't knitted much in the past 2 months because I've been doing more writing, but now it's time to pick out pretty yarn and get to work.

10.) I'm considering putting together a chap book of some of my writing to have for sale at the upcoming Mercer County Arts Festival in September. My daughter gave me the idea after she completed a chap book at the Governor's School for the Arts. Haven't made up my mind yet, but it's something to think about.

Rocky Birthday

One of my Facebook friends made me this for my birthday, so I had to share it with my bloggy friends. And yes, that is my Facebook profile picture in the center. Enjoy!

What's Growing in the Herb Garden?

This week, it's Dill ... check out my article on Dill at Examiner.Com.

Way Back Wednesday - Alice in Wonderland

Alice in Wonderland is one of my favorite books - I even did my college thesis on Alice from Alice' Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass. With the highly anticipated release of Tim Burton's version of Alice coming in March 2010, my youngest daughter suggested I highly the Disney movie on Way Back Wednesday.



Alice in Wonderland is an animated movie produced by Walt Disney, first released in 1951. Based on Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland and Through the Looking-Glass, this film was made under the supervision of Walt Disney himself and is often regarded as some of the finest work in Disney studio history.



Most people know the story of Alice - as she is listening to her older sister read, Alice's mind begins to wander and she ends up following a White Rabbit down a rabbit hole. Upon entering Wonderland, she is surrounded by a world of nonsense as she tries to find her way back home again.



Favorite quotes from the movie:

Caterpillar: Who... are... you?
Alice: Why, I hardly know, sir. I've changed so much since this morning, you see...
Caterpillar: No, I do not C, explain yourself.
Alice: I'm afraid I can't explain myself, you see, because I'm not myself, you know.
Caterpillar: I do not know.
Alice: I can't put it any more clearly, sir, because it isn't clear to me.

Alice: But I don't want to go among mad people.
Cheshire Cat: Oh, you can't help that. Most everyone's mad here.
[laughs maniacally; starts to disappear]
Cheshire Cat: You may have noticed that I'm not all there myself.

Tweedle Dum: If you think we're waxworks, you ought to pay, you know.
Tweedle Dee: Contrarywise, if you think we're alive you ought to speak to us.
Tweedle Dee, Tweedle Dum: That's logic.

Alice: Oh, pooh. I'm not afraid of you. Why, you're nothing but a pack of cards.

Alice: Curiouser and curiouser

Alice: I'm sorry I interrupted your birthday party. Thank you.
March Hare: Birthday? My dear child, this is NOT a birthday party.
Mad Hatter: Of course not. This is an unbirthday party.

Queen of Hearts: I warn you dear child, if I lose my temper, you lose your head. Understand?

The Rose: Just what species or, shall we say, genus are you, my dear?
Alice: Well, I guess you would call me... genus, humanus... Alice.
Daisy: Ever see an alice with a blossom like that?
Orchid: Come to think of it, did you ever see an alice?

Naked Ladies

One of my favorite lilies is currently in bloom in the Bluegrass - Magic Lilies or Naked Ladies. Check out my new article on Examiner.com.

First Day of School

Ah - the first day of school. There is nothing like the smell of new notebooks and paper. I enjoyed going to school when I was a kid, and my youngest daughter does as well. I'm a little sad this morning because she started her senior year today. I'll get to have her home for one more year before she is off to college.

I know, I know, some of you can't believe the Mercer County School system is already back in session, but this is one parent who loves it. Because we follow what some people call "the all-year school calendar," we start earlier in the fall and get out earlier in the spring. We are also scheduled 2 weeks off at Christmas and 2 weeks for Spring Break, but that's not the reason I love it.

I LOVE the 2 weeks we get off in October! October has always been my favorite month and being able to enjoy this great month with my family has been great. Our family doesn't take a summer vacation - too hot, too crowded, too expensive - but we do travel in October. The weather is cooler, the crowds are less and the prices are considerably cheaper.

This will be the last time I have a child starting in high school. After almost 27 years with a house full of children, my nest is feeling emptier and emptier. I had 3 weeks this summer of full-blown empty nest syndrome and I am not looking forward to having this ailment permanently.

But I know it must come - it is time to untether the leash and unclip the wings. It is time to let my baby bird start soloing around the nest and continue to let God guide her course.