It's all so green

 I hope you all have had a pleasant St. Patrick's Day whether you are really Irish or only a little Irish like me.  My west coast brother suggested that today I should go looking for shamrocks and four leaf clovers.  That got me wondering if there is a difference.  

There is indeed a difference.  A shamrock is a three-leaf clover and is used as a symbol of Ireland and Saint Patrick.  The name comes from the Irish word seamrog which means little clover.  The three leaves represent the Holy Trinity. 

When I was very young our yard had lots of clover growing in it and we would search sometimes to see who could be the first to find a four-leaf clover.  Everyone knows that four-leaf clovers are lucky.  I did not know until this evening that only one in 5000 clovers possess the extra leaf.  No wonder our searching took a while.  The four leaves are said to represent faith, hope, love and prosperity.

Unless of course you grew up in the country like I did and belonged to a 4-H club.  The 4-H symbol is a four leaf clover with an H on each leaf.  The H's stand for Head, Heart, Hands and Health.

None of which has anything to do with Saint Patrick's Day but it has been fun to remember.

a fishy Finn

 Everyone knows that tomorrow is Saint Patrick's Day but did you know that today is Saint Urho's Day?  This special day is based on a Northern Minnesota legend begun in the 1950s. Richard Mattson, a Finnish American founded the day as a playful reason to celebrate on the day before Saint Patrick's Day. "Why," he asked "Should the Irish have all the fun?" Since the 50s this day has evolved from a joke to a beloved tradition celebrated in many cities throughout the United States, especially by Finnish Americans.     

The serious celebrators wear purple and green, purple for grapes and green for grasshoppers (the bugs not the drink).  The legend goes that Saint Urho drove all the grasshoppers out of Finland, thereby saving the vineyards.  

If you seriously doubt that Finland has vineyards, or grasshoppers for that matter, I suggest that you visit Finland on your next holiday.  It's a wonderful country and I highly recommend a visit.  

But if you want to celebrate Saint Urho's Day you will have to stay in the USA. Saint Urho's Day is not celebrated in Finland.  It is, however, celebrated in Finland, Minnesota and many other US cities, also at least one in Canada.

a misunderstanding??

 My west coast brother informed me that today is "Eat an Animal for PETA Day."  I really don't think this is what PETA is all about but I did have Swiss steak for supper. 

PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) is the world's largest animal rights organization. focused on stopping abuse of animals in laboratories, food, clothing and entertainment. It was founded in 1980.

I only bring this up because last night my spouse and I watched the old John Wayne movie "Hondo" filmed in 1953.  It was a good movie, excellent entertainment, ahead of its time in many ways, and involving what appeared to be hundreds of horses.  

I don't know, nor do I care to know, if any horses were maimed or killed in the filming of that movie, but as I watched it I kept thinking that it must have been filmed before PETA was founded.  I was right; see the dates above.  There were lots and lots of horses running all over the place in this movie.  Soldiers on horses, homesteaders on horses, cowboys on horses, Apaches on horses and horses pulling covered wagons and other conveyances.  It was a very exciting movie, but I can't help thinking that films like this were part of the reason that PETA was founded. True or not, I do recommend the movie.

Oh happy day!!!!!!!!!

 


The big day has finally arrived.  My great grandson is nine days old and I got to meet him and hold him and rock him for almost a half hour.  I had to wash my hands before I could hold him.  Can you tell he's a first baby?  My son (his great uncle) says "They'll be passing the second one around like a collection plate." We shall see.

In addition to the joy of holding him, I had the pleasure of rocking him in this old maple rocker.  I could tell he liked it and he should.  My mother rocked me and my brothers in this rocker and I have rocked my children and grandchildren in it.  And now my great grandson.  Life is GOOD!!

when the bough breaks...

 Rock a bye baby in the treetop.

When the wind blows the cradle will rock.

When the bough breaks the cradle will fall,

Down will come baby, cradle and all.

Isn't that the most depressing lullaby you've ever heard?  Who would sing that as you were trying to lull a child to sleep?  It has been a very windy day here today and I think that's what brought this poem to mind. The more I thought about the words the more I thought that this is not a cheery little ditty. 

So I did a little research.  It turns out that this English nursery rhyme first appeared in print as "Hush-a-bye" in "Mother Goose's Melody" around 1765 but seems to have been sung since about 1688. It seems that the innocent sounding lullaby was actually a death wish aimed at the infant son of the Catholic King James II.  Some of the citizens were wanting him to be replaced by a protestant king.  James Francis Edward Stuart was born in 1688. His birth, as a Catholic heir trigggered the "Glorious Revolution."  He spent much of his adult life in exile in France.  

I'm glad that he got to spend most of his adult life in France and probably in royal splendor but I can't help wondering how he felt, knowing that people were wishing him dead from the time he was born, and even singing about it.  It's enough to give a child a complex.  That's enough tid bits of history from me.  Feel free to do more research on your own.

star light star bright...

 My west coast brother informed me that today is "National Milky Way Day."  While I'm guessing that they (the mysterious they who make up these days) are referring to the candy bar, which is admittedly delicious and worth celebrating, it reminds me of how much I long to see a starry night.  

My spouse and I live in a very comfortable older subdivision which has been surrounded by more and more housing as the city expands around us.  Consequently, there is lots of ambient light even in the middle of the night.  Street lights, porch lights and security lights bathe our nights in soft light.  Which is all good and well unless you want to see stars.  On a really clear summer night I'm able to see two, sometimes three, stars.  Technically one of those is a planet.

When my first husband and I lived in what was then "country" we were able to stand with our children in the front yard and see the Big and Little Dippers, Orion's Belt and sometimes the Milky Way.  Then a traffic light was installed on our corner and it was never quite the same.

Before you feel too sad for me, let me assure you that I have seen stars in recent years.  A few years ago a friend and I were traveling in Finland.  One night our group was taken by bus way out into the country in hopes of seeing the Northern Lights.  They did not appear but the stars were spectacular.  On a cruise that my wonder spouse and I took last year, everyone was invited up on deck one clear night for some star gazing.  We did see stars but, for safety, some lights on the ship had to be left on so it wasn't as spectacular as it might have been. 

However, I see two good star gazing opportunities coming up.  When my spouse and I go on our cruise in May we will be at sea for several nights so I have hope of seeing stars then.  Even better, on the way home from that trip we will be visiting my west coast family for a few days and, if I know my brother, he will indulge me by turning off all the lights if there is a clear night, and we might actually see the Milky Way.  Fingers crossed.

Eastward ho...

 In 10 weeks and two days my spouse and I will be departing on a cruise which starts with four days in Tokyo, Japan.  I have begun to daydream about this trip already.  Part of the reason is to avoid thinking about the crazy weather going on here at home. Today, for instance, began at 60 degrees with warm rain, thunder and lightning, and finished, as of 6:00 this evening at 37 degrees with a cold wind blowing. 

I have no idea what the weather will actually be like in May in Japan but to really enjoy my daydreams I decided I should check it out.  68 to 70 degrees is the average high in May in Tokyo with temperatures gradually warming through the month.  According to one source, May is considered the best month to visit Tokyo, when it's warming up but not yet humid.  Sadly we will be too late for the cherry blossoms but you can't have eveything.  

Based on previous excellent experiences with Viking, there will be a guide to greet us at the airport (we are flying first from Chicago to Tokyo).  And, if things work out as they did in Cairo. that same guide will spend the first couple of days of our visit showing us aound Tokyo, then make sure we get on the ship for the rest of our trip/cruise which will include several stops in Alaska.  

I know this might not sound as adventurous as some people's travels.  It doesn't compare to scaling the Himalays or finding the remains of a lost civilization in a jungle but it works for us.  We enjoy our creature comforts like good food and a comfy bed.

'Arigato gozaimasu' is a very polite way of saying thank you in Japanese.  I am by no means a linguist but I think that would be a good phrase to learn.   I should be able to learn that in 10 weeks, don't you think?

the end....

 It's finished!! Finally this silly puzzle is complete.  If you would like to assemble it next, just let us know.  

According to my west coast brother today is the "International Day of Awesomeness." I think that all of the people in my family are pretty awesome but tonight I must celebrate my wonder spouse who, once again, won a hard fought and long drawn out Scrabble game, even though I led for more than half the game. Ah well, my turn will come.

even more puzzling...

 

This is a picture of the jugsaw puzzle my wonder spouse and I are currently working on.  It is being a beastly puzzle, but we're making progress.  While the puzzle is being very difficult, I do love the picture.  It reminds me of the International Balloon Fiesta that a friend and I attended in Albuquerque, New Mexico several years ago.  We did not go on any balloon rides at that event (too expensive) although I have been on two rides since then.  They are amazing.  

We were at the site early on the day of the festival and were able to walk among the balloons and talk to the participants as they were inflating their beautiful balloons.  When it was still pretty dark, about a half hour before dawn, they had the GLOW!  While they were all still on the ground, every balloon flared it's fire, so every balloon glowed from within.  An amazing sight.  There were at least a hundred balloons there.

What we learned in conversation (my girlfriend will talk to anyone) and I found very interesting was the reason for the festival being in this location.  In this particular spot the wind blows two ways.  You really can't steer a balloon but buy rising to a certain level the balloonist could catch the wind going one way, then after traveling for some distance, he could let the balloon go higher and catch the wind blowing in the opposite direction, allowing the pilot to land on the same field where he took off,  According to the people we talked to, this is one of the very rare places in the world where this phenomenon occurs.  Maybe the only place. I really don't remember. 

I do know that when my spouse and I took our balloon ride in Egypt, we were picked up after the 45 minute flight at a spot quite a distance from our take-off site.

I have experienced two hot air balloon flights, one in Australia and one in Egypt, so I've flown over pyramids and kangaroos.  It is an excellent experience, lots of fun and not at all scary.  I highly recommend it.  Now back to that puzzle.

forward March...

 Today was 'spring forward' day when we set our clocks ahead one hour, supposedly at 2:00am, but really, who waits til 2:00am.  We're already losing sleep. even though we try going to bed an hour early so we still get enough sleep.  That's a nice idea but if you're accustomed to falling asleep at 11:00pm, even if your wonder spouse has set all the clocks ahead, your body knows that it's not really bedtime.

As a result of this 'spring forward' business, It was dark when I got up this morning and I've been sleepy all day.  

Attendance at Sunday school and church seemed a little sparse but that could have been because it has been a lovely sunny day and I'm not the only one suffering from EOSF.  It's a highly contageous condition.  

I did see one lady walking into church while we were singing the last hymn.  She doesn't have a wonder spouse to take care of things like setting clocks ahead for her.  

My west coast brother has an interesting theory about the twice a year time changes.  He says that the time changes induce something similar to jet lag and keep us from focusing on election day in the fall and taxes due in the spring.  He doesn't think that the timing is a coincidence and he may be right.

But enough speculation about why it happens.  Tomorow morning I will face my biggest challenge - setting my car clock ahead.  I know I can do it, and I know it's a simple process.  It's just remembering the process that's the challenge.

Brunch anyone??

My wonder spouse, who, everyone knows, is the cook in our family, surprised me this morning by asking if I wanted pecan pancakes for breakfast.  Usually our breakfasts are a do-it-yourself event.  I like cinnamon toast while he favors graham crackers.  

Since this was a no rush Saturday morning, I said YES, and quickly started the coffee and put the butter and syrup on the table.  I like to do my part.  We each had two plate size pancakes - light fluffy and delicious (one at a time while they were hot) - with butter and real maple syrup.  We are admittedly syrup snobs, nothing but pure maple syrup will do.  

It was a delicious breakfast, turned into brunch, finished while it was still morning, but only by a little bit. 

Then I received my west coast brother's daily text informing me that today is "National Flapjack Day."  Well, everyone knows that flapjack is just another name for pancake so we were pleased to learn that this time we had correctly celebrated the day.  

I should mention that today is also "Descendants Day" so, not too surprisingly my mind has been on my youngest little descendent (two days old today).  See yesterday's blog for details.  

While working at my desk I spotted this four generation picture, taken 25 years ago.  The baby in this picture is the proud and shaggy daddy in yesterday's picture.  I hope to get a brand new 4-generation picture when we all get together sometime soon.

New Life!!!

 Today was the day we have all been waiting for.  Today I became a great grandma and my spouse became a wonder great grandpa.

Here's the proud papa with his 6 lb 15 oz 19.5" long bundle of joy.

Here's little M. J. His first solo shot.

And here's the proud and understandably exhausted mommy.

They have requested some alone time as they adjust to their new life style so there will be no picture of me holding the baby for a couple of weeks.  It's ok, I can wait.  Not patiently, but I can wait. And I do understand.

When each of my two children was born I had what the hospital called "rooming in" meaning that the baby was with me the whole time, not in the nusery, and only my husband could visit. Back then the hospital stay was five days.  It was so good to have that private bonding time first.

Old School....

 I've been hearing a lot in the news lately about AI and the fact that it will potentially replace many jobs that humans do now.  Since I am happily retired this does not concern me over much although I do wonder about the jobs of my children and grandchildren. 

Thinking back over jobs I have had, I realize that some could easily have been done by AI controlled robots.  For example, I saw a piece in the news last night about robot arms mixing and pouring drinks in a bar.  Lucky for me that technology wasn't around the summer I tended bar.  I had just moved to a new town and needed that job.

Then there was my first career as an elementary and middle school  art teacher.  I can imagine a robot rolling up and down the aisles, critiquing students' work, but I'm not sure how much work would actually get done, although the visual aids might be pretty spectacular.  Students in our area have already adapted to e-learning days when the weather is terrible, but according to a teacher I know, there isn't always a lot of work getting done because there aren't any parents home to supervise.  Maybe, in addition to the laptops that are provided to most students in our local school systems, homes could be provided with AI "teachers" to keep the children working??? 

Finally, let's consider real estate sales where I spent 25 years of my working life.  When I started that career, we were thrilled to have one little postage stamp size picture of a house for sale on our computers.  By the time I retired we could show clients virtual tours of many houses, saving endless hours of driving people from house to house.  Not really AI but a nice improvement in technology.        AI closings would be great. 

And yet, as I look back on those jobs I realize that what I enjoyed most in each of them was the interaction with people, real live people.  I think I may have retired just in time.

March Forth...

 I'm sorry to keep depending on my west coast brother for blog ideas but some are just too good to resist.  Today, for example, is "Marching Music Day."  Having spent many hours cheering on my children and then two of my grandchildren as they marched in parades and competitions, I feel qualified to write on the subject.  

Today is also "National Pound Cake Day" which surprisingly reminded me of a marching band incident I will never forget.  Actually the bands weren't involved, just some parents along the parade route. 

While my first husband and I stood watching the parade go by in a small town north of Fort Wayne I overheard this conversation on my right - 

Fat slob sitting in a strained folding chair to his harassed looking wife who had just walked up behind him "Did ja bring me a beer?"  Wife responds with a quiet "No."  Slob says "Well, go fetch!" and she turned away and walked submissively off.  

I saw red!  Who says 'fetch' to a person? I wanted to pound this throwback to the cave dwellers into a pulp.  Fortunately, my long suffering first wonder spouse, who had often accused me of being a closet 'women's libber' saw me seeing red and quiclky walked me away so I could cool off.  Thereby preventing a scene which would definitely have detracted from the parade and posssibly, gasp, embarassed our marching children.  Everyone knows how easily teenagers are embarassed by their parents.

"hand, hand, finger, thumb...."

 My west coast brother informed me earlier today that it is "What if Cats and Dogs had Opposable Thumbs Day/"  While my wonder spouse and I have had pets in the past, we don't now, but we do get plenty of entertainment value from the squirrels who frequent our bird feeders.

After witnessing one remarkable (and fairly chubby) squirrel perched on a feeder that we thought was completely out of reach, because it had a large squirrel guard protecting it, and was far away from every tree and bush, we began to wonder if squirrels have opposable thumbs.  It could explain some of their amazing gymnastics. So of course I did a little research. 

It turns out they do, kind of.  Squirrels have four long fingers and claws on each paw plus a small stiff digit - a vestigal or pseudo-opposable 'thumb.'  It's actually called a pollex. 

I wonder??? Could it be that our squirrels are a little more evolved than most?  If we could trap one (just catch and release for observation purposes of course, not for stew) I bet we would see that they have nice long pollexes.  It would explain so much.

good old stuff...

 My west coast brother informed me that today is "Old Stuff Day." Since I am now in my 81st year, it will come as no surprise that I have accumulated an abundance of old stuff.  Even after downsizing twice and having an estate sale I still have old stuff.

But sometimes old stuff isn't all that bad.  Last year one of my granddaughters saw a sweater I had pulled out of the closet, thinking I might donate it.  She declared it "vintage" and asked if she could have it.  Of course I said yes, and gave her two more besides.

Just this week the same granddaughter told me that she is still using a handmade blanket that my west coast sister-in-law made for me over 40 years ago.  I had let her take it to college.  She and her boyfriend spread it out on the floor to relax on while eating popcorn and watching TV.  Just what it was made for.  

And even better, thinking about old things, yesterday my wonder spouse and I delivered an old but still beautiful maple rocking chair to my grandson and his very expectant wife.  The baby is due any time now and it gives me a happy glow to think about him being rocked to sleep in the same rocker in which my mother rocked me and my younger brothers to sleep.  I also put a lot of rocking miles on that chair when my babies came along.

Isn't it good that some old stuff just gets better with age?  

What's in a name?

 My westcoast brother has informed me that today is "Namesake Day."

By defination, a namesake is a person or thing that has the same name as another. There is a line in Psalm 23 (King James Version) "He leads me in paths of righteousness for His namesake."

I've always enjoyed hearing people's stories of how they were named. I was named after my mother's father's favorite sister.  I always liked that story except for the part where she died when she was 12 years old.

Sometimes people get a little carried away with certain names. For example my brother, first husband and son were all named Tom or some variation of that name.  My second husband has the same name as his brother-in-law and nephew.  It can get confusing at family gatherings.

Names and naming practices change with the years.  When my son was born we named him Thomas and called him Tommy.  Interestingly, my first husband's legal name was Tommy and a cousin of mine born the same year had the legal name of Jimmy,  I think it was a fad at that time.  My father was named after his father, but with three middle names added.  These were the names of his three uncles.  Happily. my west coast brother was able to name two of his sons from that pool of names.  

I clearly remember a day when I was in our front yard with baby Tommy and a neighbor lady I didn't know well, while pushing her baby in a stroller, stopped and asked me what my baby's name was.  When I told her it was Tommy, she responded "Oh, that's a very common name."  I then asked her what her baby's name was and she said "Jason."  I laugh at this now because all through his school years my Tommy, later Thomas, was the only Thomas in his class while there were always three or four Jasons.  I guess it was a popular name in 1971.

My advice, name your children with care.  If all goes well, they are going to be stuck with that name for a long long time.

 

a cautionary tale...

 I generally like to write fun, light hearted articles for this blog, but my experience today must be shared.

The day started off early, but very well, with a church bus ride to a Presbytery meeting in Indianapolis.  The ride was uneventful and the meeting was good, providing those in attendance with up-to-date information about what's going on in the Presbyterian church regionally and nationally.  In addition one of my good friends experienced her 'examination for ordination,' a Q&A session in which she answered a variety of questions from random members of the gathering (almost all of whom were ministers).  I am happy to report that she did very well and has been approved for ordination.  She has already been called to be the pastor of a local Presbyterian church, and will be installed there later this spring. 

That was the good part of the day.  On the way home, driving north from Indy on I69, traffic slowed to a halt, and we sat in our bus not moving for more than an hour. Then gradually we could crawl along at about 5 miles per hour, left lane only open.  People checking their phones learned that there had been an accident involving a semi and a car. I was sitting on the right side of the bus so I had a view of everything.  At one point a huge tow truck, suitable for towing a semi, passed us on the right.  We could all guess where he was headed.  Finally, finally we passed the site of the accident.  Before I realized it, I was looking at the car involved in the accident.  It looked like a lump of charcoal.  I hope and pray that whoever was in that car got out before it burned and I grieve for everyone involved (including the first responders) and the families of all those involved.  

Please think of this, say some prayers, and drive a little more carefully when you're out and about, for your sake and for the sake of all those who love you.

travel ideas

 My wonder spouse and I are going on a rather long cruise and family visit in May.  I know that's still months away but something came up recently that made me think about luggage security. 

A friend told us the story of her suitcase (bright red and easy to spot) getting "lost" when they landed at an airport in a European country, along with the luggage of several other travelers.  I don't remember which country, they have travelled extensively.  Since they were planning to spend two weeks in the city where they had landed, and she really needed her clothes, she went back to the airport the day after they had arrived.  Still no sign of her suitcase.  On the next day she went back again.  This time she found her suitcase just sitting out in the open, unattended, in a cluster of about a hundred suitcases.  

Even though she had filed the requisite paperwork and turned it in at the airport, no one had contacted her to tell her her luggage had arrived.  When she asked one of the workers what happened to all of these suitcases if no one was notified that they had arrived.  The answer "Oh, we just auction them off."  

My friend's story had a happy ending, but it did remind me of the time I had a suitcase stollen in the Seattle airport and never got it back.  Coincidentally, in a conversation today with another well traveled friend I learned about Air Tags (available from Amazon for about $20).  These little tags can be placed inside your luggage and allow you to use your phone to track your luggage if it doesn't arrive at your destination.  

Granted, it may not be much help to know that your suitcase is in Aruba if you're in Detroit, but at least you'll know your clothes are having a wonderful time.  I think I will gift my wonder spouse with some Air Tags before our May trip.

more good food

 I fear that I might be getting in a rut here, writing about restaurants so often, but I feel that I really must share this experience.

A friend and I had lunch today at a Japanese restaurant called Ichiddo Ramen.  It's on Coldwater Road in case you're interested.  We started with drinks - Classic Black Milk Tea with tapioca beads, then on to appetizers.  We shared an order of calamari (chewy but yummy) and an order of very tasty short ribs.  

Then on to the main course.  The portions were beyond ample, we both ended up taking some home.  My friend had fried rice which did look delicious, but I decided to be a little more adventurous.  I had the beef ramen which was served as a soup with a delicious broth.  In addition to beef the dish contained mushrooms, fungus, green onion, noodles, corn, other vegies and excellent seasoning.  It wasn't hot and spicy, just very very good.  We decided against dessert although there were some very tempting looking ones on the menu.  

That was another thing I appreciated.  Each item on the menu had a picture beside it.  Even though the menu was all in English, I thought the pictures were helpful. For example, one of the ingredients listed in several dishes was a "half cooked egg" but the picture clearly showed half of a hard boiled egg (obviously thoroughly cooked).

All in all a fine fun place to eat.  I hope this encourages you to try it.  

good food

 My west coast brother informed me that today is "Let's All Eat Right Day" and also "National Chocolate Covered Peanuts Day."  I'm really not quite sure how those two go together unless you're supposed to eat the peanuts with your right hand.  I wrote a blog a few weeks ago expressing my view that not everything is edible just because it's covered in chocolate, but I do think chocolate covered peanuts are ok.  My lefty wonder spouse is pretty ambidextrous when it comes to eating so he could handle using his right hand for snacks.  But sadly he's allergic to peanuts. Ah well.  

We did make an attempt to Eat Right this evening. We went to dinner with friends at Zianos, one of our very favorite Italian restaurants. There we ate salad (definitely good food) and bread sticks (also good food I think).  I will refer you back to my recent blog about the importance of grain in our diets in defense of bread sticks.  The fact that these bread sticks were puffy, slathered with butter and covered with grated parmesan should not count against them.

Then the main course, and this is where the question of whether we were Eating Right becomes a little more problematic.  The food was, of course, delicious and the helpings were beyond bountiful, but I have a feeling that the sauces, thick and creamy and buttery and oozing calories did not exactly fall into the Eating Right category.  On the other hand, we certainly ate well.  Close enough. 

quite a speech

 I just finished watching President Trump's State of the Union speech.  Regardless of your political persuasion, I think we can all agree that it was long,  

But seriously, it was also full of honors and stories of brave men and women who have served our country in one way or another.  I did appreciate those accolades.

I could do that

 Even though the winter Olympics are over I'm still thinking about them and I have realized that there is one event in which I could compete.  I'm talking about the Luge.  Not the Skeleton. There is no way that I would go zipping down a slippery curving ice coated slide at 60 miles an hour, or more, on my back, head first,

But I watched the Luge teams, for the two person sleds, and I'm pretty sure I could do that. On my back feet first so I could see where I'm going.

Of course there would need to be some modifications made to the event.  I can't see myself running beside the sled pushing it to get it up to speed and then leaping in.  I would rather get in the sled and recline carefully while it is securely held in place, then hold on tight while someone else gets the sled going. It does look like a fun ride.

If they ever build a luge slope here in Fort Wayne and offer an Octogenarian division (maybe limit us to 30mph) I'll sign up.  Our colors could be gray and silver.  Does anyone want to be on my team?

great expectations...

 My spouse and I had dinner this evening with my grandson and his wife.  It was a very joyous get together.  They are expecting their first child in two weeks.  I'm guessing it might be sooner.  She looks ready to pop.

Although it's been many years for me, I can remember the excitement of waiting for that first baby to be born. Every birth is exciting but that first baby catapults its parents into a whole new life style.  Sleeping through the night will probably become a thing of the past, at least for the first several months.  Your whole life revolves around this new being come to live with you.  

Some things never change but I am intrigued by the things that have changed since I became a mother.

1. They know the sex of the baby, it's a boy. They decided on his name months ago.

2. They know how much it will weigh at birth, six pounds.

3. They know it is healthy and normal with the correct number of fingers and toes.

4. They know it's in the head down position.

5.  My grandson knows that there will be a chair for him in the delivery room in case he feels faint.  It could happen. 

And the one thing that hasn't changed - they know that the baby's grandparents and great grandparents are ready, willing and able to pitch in and help as needed, especially with rocking the baby. 

As it happens, I'm a champion baby rocker.  If it was an Olympic sport I'd have a gold medal for sure.  Can't wait to get back in the game.

new guidelines

 My west coast brother informed me, earlier this afternoon, that today is "National Grain Free Day."  Unfortunately, or maybe luckily, depending on how I look at it, I didn't read his text until after my spouse and I returned from a trip to our favorite Amish bakery where we had stocked up on our favorite breads and cookies. (I'll admit it, the molasses cookies are my downfall, not my spouses, but I do limit myself to one a day.)

Thinking about a grain free day, even though I'm not observing it, led me to wonder where grain falls on the newly designed food pyramid. here's what I found out. "The 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans released in January 2026 feature a new 'inverted' food pyramid, prioritizing high-quality proteins, healthy fats and produce at the top, while placing whole grains at the (pointy little) base."

Luckily my spouse and I do have access to high quality proteins thanks to generous family gifts from the Omaha Steak Company. Also, if you were to look in our refrigerator right now you would find an ample supply of apples, oranges and grapes so that covers produce.  Also celery, but nobody counts celery.  I'm pretty sure that the real butter that I slather on my Cinnamon Swirl toast counts as a healthy fat, at least today.  Butter like coffee is one of those foods that gets flipped from the 'good for you' list to the 'bad for you' list with some regularity.

I don't really have any argument with the new food pyramid except for where it places grain.  Let's face it people need bread.  What are you going to spread your peanut butter and jelly on? What will hold your ham salad sandwich?  What will accompany your bacon and eggs if not some form of bread?  I'm ok with grain at the bottom but I think the pyramid needs to be replaced with a semi-circle or U shape.  

"The Good Food U for You" sounds catchy to me.  Maybe I should write a letter to someone.

the Olympics

 I have been watching the winter Olympics every night since they started over a week ago.  Like everyone else watching, I marvel at the amazing performances whether it's on skates, snow boards, skis, luges or skeletons.  I groan when someone falls and cheer when they pull off an excellent performance, even if the judges don't think it's perfect. 

As a mother myself, I do find myself wondering what their parents feel as their children compete.  All of my children marched in high school bands and I have felt a little bit of what they might be experiencing.  I've watched our bands compete and come in third or fourth when I thought their performance was perfect.  

But there is one big difference.  I could relax while watching my offspring compete, knowing that they will not be flying down a mountainside, up an incline, doing triple and quadruple flips then landing gracefully on their feet (usually).  Or, better yet, twirling up into the air on skates, doing four or five spins. then landing perfectly.  It's all so exciting to watch and I assume that the athletes' parents have been supporting them through years and years of practice and competitions.  

So here's to our wonderful Olympic contenders and here's to all those who have supported their dreams all along the way. 

feeling lazy....

 First, here's a picture of our latest accomplishment puzzle wise.  It has been a very rainy day with nowhere to go so we puzzled more than we usually do.

I'm sorry that it's side ways but that's how we looked at it much of the time we were working on it.  It's a 500 piece puzzle, so fun to work on. 

Before you judge me too harshly for spending this warm rainy day in frivolous pursuits I did manage to put together an agenda for an upcoming meeting this morning before the laziness totally overtook me.  

Further in my defense, I am convinced (although no doctor has diagnosed me) that I am suffering from EOSF.  Have you ever noticed how most of the TV commercials touting remedies for various ailments refer to the diseases by their acronyms? I seldom know what illness they are "curing" but, by the time they finish telling about all the possible side effects of the medication they are touting, I'm pretty sure I would rather have the disease. 

This is certainly the case with EOSF, the symptoms of which include sleepiness, laziness, and general lack of ambition.  

If you haven't figured it out by now, EOSF is Early Onset Spring Fever.  I know it's only February, I know it will get cold again, but for now I will enjoy my malady.

it's puzzling...

 Since my wonder spouse and I are retired we do have an ample amount of discretionary time.  Some of that time we spend doing volunteer work and other worthwhile things.

However, when all of the important and semi-important things are done, we sometimes indulge in our greatest weakness (no, not drinking).  We enjoy putting together jigsaw puzzles.  We have a large table and excellent lighting in our basement rec room, and can take many days if necessary to finish a puzzle.

When you think about it logically, putting together a jigsaw puzzle is a huge waste of time.  First we sort through all the pieces to find the edge pieces, then assemble them into the frame of the picture, then piece by piece fit all of the other pieces together.  

Finally, finally it's finished.  We can look at it with a great sense of accomplishment.  We have completed 500, 750, 1000 and 2000 piece puzzles over the years.  Then we break it all apart, put the puzzle back in its box, being very careful not to lose any pieces, and set it aside to donate somewhere, sometime. 

Recently we discovered a way to keep our hard work.  If a puzzle was particularly challenging or we just like the picture, we can save it by putting specially made backing material on the puzzle, then framing it in a poster frame and hanging it on the wall for all to see and admire.  But only if they come down to our basement rec room.  We have not yet resorted to hanging preserved puzzles in our living room.  Give us credit for a little couth.

a childhood scam...

 Writing about my ironing chore yesterday reminded me of another, much less pleasant chore that my oldest brother (two years younger than me) and I were expected to do during the summer months.

I should explain here that my mom was a loving, kind, wonderful mother, but she was also a teacher, and used to working with a schedule, so during our summer breaks she liked to keep us on something of a schedule.  The schedule did include delightful things like a 10am break to eat sugar glazed donuts on Wednesdays after the bakery truck came by, TV time while we all watched Captain Kangaroo with my baby brother, and, my favorite, a half hour, or longer, break after lunch to relax in our bedrooms and read or nap.  This was supposedly so my baby brother could nap.  I didn't appreciate, until I was a mom myself, that it was also my mother's chance to rest.  

The schedule also included her expectation that we would get up in "the cool of the morning" to weed the strawberry patch.  Usually this chore was only for 30 minutes after which we went in and had breakfast.  One particular morning my brother kept running inside and looking at the clock.  Finally he announced that it was 8:00am and time for breakfast.

Everything was fine until my father came home from work that evening  and didn't understand why his TV news show didn't come on until fifteen minutes past the hour.  Very mysterious.  He finally checked the clock on the wall in the kitchen against his pocket watch and realized that the kitchen clock was fifteen minutes fast.  

I honestly don't remember what my brother's punishment was but I think it involved more weeding for him and less for me and mom.  My parents were not spankers but they did believe in letting the punishment fit the crime.  They also, happily, were blessed with good senses of humor.

a childhood chore..

 As was true of many children of my generation, there were chores I was expected to do.  While the oldest of my two brothers mowed grass and did other outside chores, I washed and dried dishes and set the table for meals. My mother, meanwhile, was being kept pretty busy with my baby brother. 

The other chore I did regularly was to iron.  These days, thanks to synthetic fabrics, I seldom iron at all but I was reminded of the ironing of my childhood when my wonder spouse informed me today that he was going to iron the top edge of our top bed sheet.  The sheets had just come out of the dryer and I thought they were just fine but he wanted to do it, so who am I to argue?  I like things smooth.

The reason this situation reminded me of my youth was because ironing was one of my chores and the first things I learned to iron were pillow cases.  I don't think my mother ever ironed sheets, unless we had out of town company coming, but she did like smooth pillow cases.

I don't mean to brag but I must have been quite precocious, because I quickly 'graduated' to ironing my father's and brother's dress shirts.  As chores went, ironing was the best because I could watch TV as I ironed.  The better the show, the slower I ironed.

answers and a memory

 First the answers to yesterday's Valentines quiz:

1. most popular flower - rose

2. Cupid's father - Mars

3. Cupid's mother -Venus

4. amount spent on Valentine's day in 2023.  None of the choices given were actually correct so I decided to give an up to date answer.  27.5 billion dollars were spent on Valentines Day gifts, etc. in 2025.

5. most popular Valentines Day activity - going out to dinner

6. classic Valentine's Day gift - chocolate

7. the USA produces the most chocolate for Valentine's Day

8. the meaning of XOXO - hugs and kisses

9. Valentine's Day originated in Italy.

10.  Teachers receive the most Valentine gifts

And that is quite enough about Valentine's Day, except to share one of my most embarrassing moments.  When I was in 8th grade, already 5'9" tall and less than graceful, my teacher, at our little parochial school, brought a sheet cake pan of bright red anise candy to school as a special treat for all of us students in the class.  He had the candy sitting on the corner of his desk and had promised to share it with us after lunch.  During a study time, I walked up to his desk to ask a question and bumped that pan of candy which fell to the floor and shattered into at least a million little pieces.  I really don't know how it happened.  At that point my face was as red as the candy.  I was mortified (and obviously not very popular with my classmates).  My dear long-suffering teacher, who I did like very much, just sadly shook his head and said "Get a broom and sweep it up."

He did not act at all surprised.  He had, after all, been teaching 8th graders for a long, long time.  

hearts and flowers

 Happy Valentines Day everyone.  Just for fun, here's a trivia game to keep you occupied when you're trying to resist eating more candy.  Your children may score better than you on this.

Valentine's Day Trivia Game

1. What is the most popular flower to give on Valentine's Day?

        a. lily   b. daisy   c. rose   d. tulip

2. Who is Cupid's father?

        a. Jupiter    b. Mars     c. Neptune     d. Apollo

3. Who is Cupid's mother?

        a. Minerva    b. Ceres     c. Venus     d. Diana

4. How much did Americans spend on Valentine's Day in 2023?

        a. 30.2 million   b. 27.5 billion  c. 29.1 billion  d. 75.5 million

5. What is the most popular Valentine's Day activity?

        a. watching a movie    b. taking a walk    c. going out to dinner              d. taking a trip

6. What item is the classic Valentine's Day gift?

        a. cards    b. wine    c. jewelry    d. chocolate

7. Which country produces the most chocolate for Valentine's Day?

        a. USA    b. Germany     c. Switzerland     d. Belgium

8. What is the meaning of XOXO?

        a. joy and happiness   b. love and peace   c. hugs and kisses                 d. hope and faith

9. In which country did Valentine's Day originate?

        a. France    b. UK    c. Italy    d. Spain

10. Who receives the most Valentines gifts?

        a. children    b. mothers     c. teachers     d. girlfriends

Answers tomorrow.

the answers

 Hi everyone, I hope you enjoyed yesterday's quiz.  Here are the answers:

!. Turkey, dressing, potatoes and peas

2. William A. Mitchell also invented Pop Rocks and Cool Whip.

3. Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins

4. Tom and Jerry

5. Gilligan, the Skipper, Ginger, the Professor, Mary Ann, Thurston         Howell III and Eunice "Lovey" Howell

6. "Let It Be" though "Abbey Road" was the last they recorded                 together.

7. The Ed Sullivan Show on February 9, 1964

8. The Hula Hoop

9. Bobby Riggs

10. Theodore Geisel

If that wasn't enough for you, here are three questions to pose to a family member or friend:

Would you rather be Abraham and told to sacrifice your son OR      be Isaac knowing that your father was willing to do it?

Would you rather face Goliath with only a slingshot and stone OR wander in the wilderness for 40 years?

Would you rather see Lot's wife turned to salt OR hear Balaam's donkey talk?

a quiz for you...

 Several of us who attend the same Sunday School class most Sundays decided to meet for lunch today just to socialize.  We gathered at Hall's Gas House, always a great place to eat. The friend who first suggested this get together really out-did herself in making it a fun pre-Valentines Day event.  The tables were decorated with red tinsel and heart shaped cups full of candy and she provided some paperwork to entertain us as we waited for our food, giving us plenty to talk about, around the tables.  I have decided to share one of the games with you. Enjoy:   

A BOOMER'S QUESTIONAIRE  (If this doesn't bring back some memories, I don't know what will.)

!. What was the first Swanson TV dinner?

2. What two other "junk food" favorites were created by the inventor of Tang?

3. Name all three astronauts who were part of the Apollo 11 moon landing in 1969.

4. What did Simon and Garfunkel  call themselves before adopting this name?

5. How many castaways can you name from the TV show "Gilligan's Island?"

6. What was the last Beatle's album to be released?

7. Who hosted the Beatle's first appearance on American TV?

8. What toy became a worldwide sensation when it was popularized by Wham-O in 1957?

9. Who was tennis player Billie Jean King's opponent in the "Battle of the Sexes?" 

10.  What was the real name of "Dr. Seuss?"

Answers tomorrow.

so much fun...

 I started wearing glasses when I was seven years old.  The first pair I had had brown squarish frames.  I never minded wearing glasses, and yes, in case you're wondering, boys do make passes at girls who wear glasses. 

Over the years I've worn wire rimmed, cat's eye and various other styles.  I also wore contact lenses for about 20 years.  But there came a time when I needed reading glasses with my contacts.  That's when I decided it would be easier to just go back to wearing glasses.  

I'm bringing all this up because today I had my eyes examined and my new glasses will be ready in a week.  My wonder spouse wondered if I could just have new lenses put in my current frames, but I explained to him that there is really no fun in getting new glasses if you don't get new frames.  Interestingly, the new frames I picked out are squarish and brown (really more copper). My wonder spouse went with me to the appointment because we were going to lunch with friends right after.  He told me up front that he would not assist me in selecting frames but when the time came and I had narrowed my choices down to three he picked the one I liked best.  So we're both happy.

What I find interesting is how much new technology is involved in eye exams these days.  This morning the tech, who looked like such a sweet young thing, put a 'football helmet' on my head, then clamped a pair of goggles that rivaled anything I've seen on Olympic skiers to the helmet.  It was heavy but I did manage to hold my head up and follow directions.  A voice in my ear told me to watch the bouncing ball, keep my eyes wide open, blink when instructed and watch the orange target.  That AI voice kept telling me that I was doing very well which was nice to hear.  I have done visual field screening exercises in my ophthalmologist's office but he doesn't make me wear a football helmet.  Interestingly though, today my optometrist still took me through the very familiar slide show with the same old questions that eye doctors have been asking me since I was a child - which looks clearer, this one or 'click' this one?  Which line of print can you read?  And on and on it went.  It felt like a long time but the actual exam only took 25 minutes.  Then I got to pick out my new frames, the final reward.  I will enjoy having new glasses, (and I will be able to read small print more easily) even though I realize that most of my friends will never notice the difference.  

one of those days...

 Do you remember, when you were very young, long lazy days during summer vacation?  Those days when school was out and it seemed like summer would go on forever?  You could lie on the grass and watch the clouds form and re-form pictures of fantastical beasts and pirate ships or rocket ships or whatever. 

When you get to be an adult those lazy days are much harder to come by.  Even when, like me and my wonder spouse, you're retired, stuff like doctors' appointments, necessary shopping trips (groceries are important), and volunteer work tend to fill up at least part of every day.

But today, thanks to a series of pleasant coincidences, was one of those lazy days for me.  

After weeks of below freezing temperatures, the sun is blazing down from a clear blue sky, the temperature has soared to over 40 degrees, snow has disappeared from the streets and sidewalks (although it does still cover the grass) and I have had nothing to do that must be done today. I did walk out to get the mail and was able to breathe deeply without feeling my lungs freeze up.  

I have read a book and worked on a stitchery, but only because I wanted to.  A lazy day for sure and I am loving every minute of it. Is it possible that I have early onset spring fever???

mud pie anyone?

 My west coast brother informed me earlier today that this is "Chocolate Day."  I am happy to be able to report that I did enjoy some really excellent chocolate this evening.  I do like to celebrate these special days. 

But first the rest of the story.  Yesterday was my brother-in-law's birthday.  When we said that we would take him to dinner to celebrate and that he could choose the place, he accepted with alacrity and selected Cork and Cleaver, an excellent local restaurant with an amazing salad bar. I tried to make a reservation for yesterday, his actual birthday, but they said they would be closed, so we went this evening instead.  

It is one of those restaurants where you really do need to make a reservation.  As we were leaving after our dinner I heard the receptionist speaking on the phone saying "I'm sorry but we're completely booked for the rest of this evening."

But about that chocolate - after the three of us were full to bursting with huge mounds of salad bar salad, steaks, sweet potato, baked potato, mushrooms, broccoli with cheese sauce and molasses bread with cinnamon butter (none of us had all of that but you get the idea) they brought out a humungous slab of mud pie for the birthday boy.  Of course they also brought three chilled desert plates so we could share.  Their mud pie is a frozen mound of coffee ice cream coated with a delicious chocolate shell and topped with a mound of whipped cream. So now you know how I got my chocolate for today and why I am now waddling off to bed to sleep it off.  Sweet dreams everyone. 

New and Improved...

 My eye doctor suggested that I should use a larger monitor and key board for my writing which, of course, includes this blog.  The new computer arrived yesterday and I am using it right now for the first time to write this blog. 

So far it is being very nice to use but I had really hoped that I would suddenly, magically become a more competent typist.  So far that is not happening.  Thank goodness for spell checker. The closest I ever came to failing a class was when I took typing in high school, back in the bad old days when carbon paper was my nemesis. 

This new monitor does have a lovely large screen, a 24 inch instead of my laptop's 13 inch.  Thinking about this makes me laugh.  I was in sixth grade when my father brought home our first television set.  It was awesome, a Zenith brand 'portable' that sat on a table top and probably weighed at least fifty pounds. It had a 13 inch screen, black and white of course, and received three channels through an antenna on the roof.  Flash Gordon, Captain Kangaroo, Gunsmoke, Saturday morning cartoons and more kept us enthralled. 

Now I can watch a TV show on my computer, through the magic of split screen, while also blogging or answering emails or attending a Zoom meeting.  I can do that all at once, but "new and improved?"  I'm not so sure.

back to the Phil...

 The Fort Wayne Philharmonic almost never disappoints. Almost never. This evening was an exception, at least for me.

First I must say the piece performed before the intermission was absolutely wonderful.  Peter Boyer's "Ellis Island: The Dream of America" was amazing.  Beautiful music interspersed with the narration of oral histories of people who had come to America through Ellis Island over many years kept me spell bound.   

Unfortunately the second piece, performed after the intermission left me cold.  Leonard Bernstein's Symphony No. 2, "The Age of Anxiety" made me anxious to have it finished.  The guest pianist was very good and his encore was the best part of the second half in my opinion.

As I listened to the Bernstein piece I assumed that it was my lack of understanding of more contemporary music that was keeping me from enjoying the music.  Surprise, surprise, when I confessed my disappointment with the second piece to my wonder spouse when we got back to our car, he agreed with me.  He was also wondering about that piece.  He knows much more about music than I do so it was very reassuring to know that he agreed with me.  

It's that time again...

 The Winter Olympics opening ceremony is tonight.  Thank you NBC for televising this.  Thank you MIlano Cortina for hosting it.  It's hard for me to imagine how much preparation goes into hosting the Olympics but it must be an incredibly long and complicated process. 

There are so many things I love about the Winter Olympics.  Figure skating and and speed skating are among my favorites.  Then there are all of the down hill speed competitions on skis, snowboards and, never forget, the luge sleds.  

I haven't been on ice skates for years but when I was a young teen I had my own ice skates, white of course, and we skated quite a bit during the winter.  We would skate at the Coliseum, on the hockey rink when there weren't games scheduled.  It was a wonderfully large space.  

One winter a heavy rain flooded a field across the road from our house and then it froze hard.  For a few wonderful winter weeks we had our own private rink.  The field ice was much rougher than hockey rink ice and I can remember lying in bed at night after a long time on the ice and feeling my feet vibrating, like they did on the rough ice. 

All of this is to say I love ice skating.  It is my favorite part of the Winter Olympics.  

This year though there is an added bonus for me as I watch the Olympics.  On my first trip to Europe, about 15 years ago, I spent some time in Milan, and seeing the Duomo and other famous landmarks on TV this evening brought back some wonderful memories.  

Enjoy the Olympics, I know I will.

Eye see...

 Yesterday I had an appointment with my optometrist.  Because of glaucoma some years ago (now under control) and other vision concerns my appointments are every four months.  Yesterday's appointment included a visual field exam which, to me, is like a computer game.  With one eye at a time I watch as little lights flash on the screen I'm staring at.  When I see a light I press the button on a little hand held clicker. I have very little peripheral vision in my left eye, due to the above mentioned glaucoma, so it's no surprise that my right eye does much better on this test.  It's also why I tend to bump into people walking up on my left side.  So embarrassing. 

Essentially, I see with my right eye and my left eye is just kind of along for the ride, seeing blurry images and helping with depth perception.  Happily there is no macular degeneration, for which I am very thankful.  

When I renewed my driver's license two years ago, I was told that, because of the limited vision in my left eye I would have a restriction on my license.  When I asked what that would be, I was told that I must have an outside rear view mirror on the left side of my car.  I was amazed that that was the restriction.  Who doesn't have out side mirrors on their cars these days?  Even my ten year old Fiat has them.

My spouse was with me for the appointment and in our discussion with the doctor I mentioned that my eyes get very blurry after I have been working on my laptop for a half hour or even less sometimes. It also happens when I'm reading print materials.  She said that it was because, when we are staring at a computer screen, or a page, but more often while staring at a screen, we forget to blink.  Ordinarily people blink every few seconds, but when we stare at a screen we only blink one or two times a minute, not nearly enough to keep our eyes hydrated.  

So here I am, writing this blog and blinking frequently.  It's a habit I must practice.  I also now have some lovely eyedrops to use two or three times a day.  My wonder spouse is a big help in getting the drops in my eyes instead of rolling down my cheeks. 

All of this led up to some decisions for a few changes here at home.  For some years now, I have preferred to read large print books.  Happily our local library has a huge selection of these which may say something about the age of the general population in our neighborhood.  My wonder spouse decided that, in addition to those books, I could also use a new computer with a larger monitor and a full size keyboard.  The laptop I use now has a 13 inch screen and a smaller than standard keyboard.  I already enlarge the print on computer documents whenever I can but this will improve the situation.  

When my wonder spouse decides that we (I) need something he doesn't fool around.  The new computer will be delivered on Monday.  Meanwhile I'll keep blinking and using eye drops and blogging of course.  I'll always keep blogging.

flashback...

 This evening my son, who is fifty-four years old, texted me from Houston where he is spending four days with his company at a conference being held at NASA.  Today was their first day there. The conference presentations, which he will participate in, begin tomorrow.  But today was fun.  They got to scuba dive in one of the astronaut training pools and take a tour of the original Mission Control room.  I know the tour was a thrill for my son because he has been dreaming of being an astronaut since he was five years old and we took him to see the first Star Wars movie. 

When he was 11 years old we sent him to Space Camp in Huntsville, Alabama.  It was a week long program designed to teach students, beginning with fifth grade, all about what astronauts did and the space program.  At the end of the week his father and I and his younger sister drove to Huntsville to pick him up.  I expected him to be happy to see us.

While the students were finishing up their project we parents and other guests were taken on a tour of the facility which ended on the balcony level of a large room where we could look down and watch our kids working on computers getting ready to "launch a rocket."

When our son looked up, with all the other kids, he spotted us looking down at him, smiling and waving, because we were so happy to see him (this was the first time he had ever been away from home for a week) but his face did not reflect our joy.  His face fell like a deflating balloon and you could tell by his expression that he realized his wonderful week was over. 

But don't feel too sorry for him.  He, and his sister when she was old enough, went back to Space Camp year after year, as children and teens and eventually as paid camp counselors during their summers while they were in high school and college.  

In case you wonder if this camp experience did them any good, our daughter, who was more interested in planes than rockets, went on to serve in the Air National Guard for many years and our son has  taught STEM related subjects and worked in Science and Space museums around the country.  He now works designing summer camps and week long programs (which include developing research experiments launched by balloons into the stratosphere) for fifth graders around the US and, coming soon, as far away as Kenya.

Was it worth the cost to send them to Space Camp? Oh yes, absolutely.  

A worm's tail

Today my west coast brother suggested to me that I should blog about Cordova Ice Worms because today is "National Cordova Ice Worm Day."   Since my first search revealed that Cordova is a city in Alaska, and I have a fondness for Alaska, I decided to dig a little deeper.  First of all, it's not just a day, the Cordova Ice Worm Festival is a week long event including a parade, fireworks and an amazing array of other activities. 

Here's some of what I found:

 "The Iceworm Festival is one of Alaska’s best known winter festivals, and Cordova’s oldest community festival. Each year, we come together to put on a jam packed week of fun for all ages. We’d love to have you join us!"

This year the festival runs from January 31 to February 7, so you still have time to get there. It's always held at the end of January and into February to celebrate the increasing light each day and the anticipation of spring. I think this sounds like a lot more fun than Groundhog's Day.

Another note I found said that the ice worm in the parade is very long and looks something like a Japanese parade dragon. The tail of the dragon is removed and hidden at the beginning of the week. The person who finds the tail wins $100.

"Believe it or not, Iceworms are real ice-dwelling creatures! They existed long before our beloved festival. In fact, they were first discovered in the 1800's by Dr. G. F. Wright on Muir Glacier in Glacier Bay. They live as far south as Washington, and can be found in Southeast and South Central Alaska."

I find the above paragraph particularly interesting because my west coast brother actually lives in Washington State. Since he brought this whole ice worm event to my attention, I think he should find one (there's probably one lurking somewhere on his farm) and take a picture to send to me. Since he reads my blogs I'm telling him right now do NOT send me a worm, just the picture.

As soon as I receive a picture, I will share it.

fine dining...

 My spouse and I tutor children on Monday afternoons after school.  We go to their school and meet in the media center (aka library). Because of holiday and weather interruptions, today was our first tutoring session in three weeks.

My third grader was happy to see me and we had a good time reviewing some materials and reading together.  Among the things we reviewed was a list of his favorite things that I had typed out for him to read.  On the list was his favorite food - chili dogs.

Having worked up an appetite with all that hard tutoring, and having chili dogs on my mind, I mentioned this child's favorite to my spouse at the end of the lesson.  We both agreed that, since we would be driving through down town Fort Wayne on the way home, and since it was almost supper time, having chili dogs for supper seemed like a really excellent idea.

And so we stopped at the original Fort Wayne's Famous Coney Island, in business at the same location on Main Street for over 100 years, where their 'buns are steamed' to have our supper.  We each had two of their original chili dogs.  My wonder spouse added catsup and I added cheese and they were soooooo good.  It's surprising how filling and satisfying two hot dogs can be. This may not sound like gourmet fare to you, but trust me it's an experience not to be missed, and having dined their once, you will go back.

just for laughs

 My west coast brother has informed me that today is "Spunky Old Broads Day" and also "National Dark Chocolate Day."  Well, it goes without saying that I'm always happy to celebrate anything involving dark chocolate, but I needed to think about spunky.

At 81 I'm pretty sure that I qualify as an 'old broad' but I'm not so sure about being considered spunky, so I looked up the definition.  It turns out that spunky means courageous and determined.  It can also mean feisty, energetic and daring.  There's a whole other meaning in the UK but I won't go in to that.

I have been daring, courageous and determined in my life. Moving to a town in upstate New York for a teaching job and tending bar when I ran out of money comes to mind.  

Much more recently I think it took some courage to decide to remarry at the age of 79.  Of course that may have taken more courage on my wonder spouse's part.  I think we both were pretty spunky during our trip to Egypt last November, although I didn't ride a camel so maybe he was more spunky than I was.

All in all though, after giving it careful thought, I think that yes indeed I am a spunky old broad.  I think I'll go eat some dark chocolate to celebrate.  

Oh happy day

 Today is January 31.  My west coast brother informed me that it's "National Hot Chocolate Day" which does sound like a very fine day indeed.  But for me January 31 has an even greater significance.  It is the LAST day of January and that means there are only 48 days until SPRING!!!

Snow is lying deep on the ground around here, and the high temperature each day continues to hover around 15 (that's 15 above, thank goodness).  Snow is beautiful when the sun shines on it, but honestly I am getting tired of snow.  

So I am focusing on March 20th and envisioning green grass, little yellow flowers, clear pavements and no snow anywhere.  That's my vision, what's yours?

How well can you yodel??

 My west coast brother told me, earlier today, that this is "Yodel for Your Neighbors Day."  Just seeing the word yodel brought back an avalanche of memories.  But before I get into that, let me assure you that I have not, nor do I plan to yodel for my neighbors.  There are three very good reasons for this constraint on my part:

1. It's bitter cold outside, not at all a good day for yodeling.

2. Many of my neighbors don't know me very well and this would not be a great first impression.  Even though, if I stood in the middle of the cul-de-sac, I could entertain several neighbors at once.

3. And, probably most importantly, I can't yodel.

That brings me back to the memories.  When I was young our heroes were cowboys.  Many of the shows we heard on the radio and later watched on television starred singing cowboy, and sometimes cowgirls.  Gene Autry, Roy Rogers and Dale Evans were our favorites.  I liked their singing (who can forget "Happy Trails to You"?) but I was especially impressed with their yodeling.  They could all yodel beautifully.  At about that same age, 10 maybe, I read the novel "Heidi" about a young girl raised by her grandfather in the Swiss Alps.  Yodeling seemed to bounce from every page of that book, even if I was only hearing it in my imagination.  'Yodel ay hee hoo' is how they spelled it out. and when they yodeled people far away could hear them.

I have tried and tried to learn to yodel but alas to no avail.  Lucky for me, I have never been lost in a snowstorm in the Alps (or anywhere else for that matter) with a need to make enough noise to be rescued.  

good fortune...

 I had Chinese food for supper tonight and with it came the inevitable Fortune Cookie.  My fortune said "Your perseverance will be a key to achieving your goals."  Well that sounds very nice and positive, as they always do.  I mean, fortune cookies are nice, mildly flavored cookies that go well after a large dinner, especially with hot tea, but I don't think people would be so eager to eat them if the fortunes were less positive.  For instance, if the fortune above was rewritten like this "If you give up now you'll never amount to anything." I don't think it would be as well received by the cookie eater.  

But pondering fortune cookies got me wondering who came up with the idea of little folded cookies containing bits of wisdom.  Naturally I turned to Google and here's what I found out. Wikipedia says they most likely originated as cookies made by Japanese immigrants to the United States in the late 19th or early 20th centuries.  The Japanese version did not have the lucky numbers or fortunes and were eaten with tea.

There is a hot dispute between bakers in Los Angeles and San Francisco, each city claiming to be the site of the origin of these tasty little cookies.  Whatever the truth, which we may never know, I wish you good fortune in life and on paper.  

Almost time...

 I've been working on this stitchery off and on for months.  I actually strung the loom for this piece way back when I first learned that my grandson and his wife were expecting, but before I knew the gender. 

To create a stitchery (my term for what I do) I first weave the background.  Because my loom is a New Zealand lap loom I can only weave pieces that are up to 15 inches wide, hence the long narrow format.  After I take the woven piece off the loom I stitch my design on it. 

I started making these stitcheries during Covid when I had lots of yarn and lots and lots of time.  The tulip piece is an earlier project.  My wonder spouse has encourages me to take over half of the finished area in our basement for my 'studio' and I have happily adapted the space to my needs.

The piece on the right is the one I just finished.  The top four squares contain the letters B A B Y and the bottom square has the baby's name and will have his birth date as soon as the big day comes.  

This has been a long process and I'm excited for it to be over but not nearly as excited, I'm sure, as the new parents are for their long wait to be over.  Six weeks and counting.