Topsy Turvy Tomatoes

The Topsy Turvy Tomato planter is all the rage this summer. It's on TV about a hundred times a night, especially if you're watching lots of wee am hours TV like the Viking does sometimes. He really wanted to try this out, but I was the wet blanket who didn't want to buy 2 and spend the $20. One, ok.

I found them by the onesies on Amazon, so for Father's Day I indulged the TV spurred craving to grow his own tomatoes. To be fair, I don't like tomatoes so I really didn't have a hard time throwing cold water on the idea. Selfish, huh?

He got it put up and planted immediately. It's surprizingly well made and I do think he'll get more than one season out of it. The planter even included the swivel hook to hank it from. Gotta admit, the plant is quite healthy and already has 3 nice tomatoes on it. Plus, it's nice to see it growing on the patio without sacrificing any floor space.

We already have precious little patio space, thanks to last years Father's Day gift... what was intended to be a modest size grill for our 2 person family with only a tiny size patio ended up being a behemoth that the Viking is truly in love with. What the heck; it was Father's Day.

Life Goes On

Life isn't always as we plan it. This mama swallow and her mate worked for 2 weeks building this nest. Mouthful by mouthful, the mud drops built up reinforced with bits of dried grass. The nest was built in exactly the same place as the year before, and the year before that and probably for the last 10 years that this building has been here. We've lived here for 3 seasons now and somehow, each summer they build within an inch of where the previous years nest had been. Even though the nest had been cleared away, they knew just where to build. Safely tucked away under the roof of the porch above, they'd have their family and life would go on as before.

Until this year. When the rains came this year, they just didn't seem to stop for very long. And when they did stop, the air was heavy with dense humidity. Everything seemed ok for the swallows. Lots of rain meant more bugs to eat. We watched them feeding in the evenings, admiring their graceful, swooping and soaring flight. Each feeding in turn, assuring the nest was protected at all times. I took this shot just as Mama was setteling in for the night. She'd gotten so use to us, she didn't even care. I have read that swallows mate for life and the same pair will return to the nesting grounds. Who know what they thought of us, but we certianly enjoyed their presence.

The day after I shot this photo, the nest slid to the ground, smashing the four tiny eggs to bits. The adults kept flying in and darting out. They seemed confused by the disaster. I can relate. I think most of us can. Who hasn't had an unexpected event turn their world upside down? One minute life is going along just as you planned and in the next, you are reeling in reaction to the fact that life will never again be as it was. And what do you do from here?

Well, if you're a swallow, you pick up a mouthful of mud and you spit it at the underside of a porch and then you fly off and get another. And then another and another because to stand still is death. And life goes on. And so must we all.

Boys Toys

They say the only difference between men and boy is the size of their toys. What do you think?

Bees

Look what I saw yesterday while out doing errands. There is a huge stump less than 6 ft away of a newly cut tree. I'll bet the bees lost their home and now are apartment hunting. I'm glad I don't live on this corner.

M-I-A- Mafia Wars

So, I've been M-I-A for a bit and if you're family or real life friend, you know why. If you're not. well, then you probably don't care. It's just that I've been busy holding up stores, knocking off rivals, running from the FBI and taking out rouge cops. And racking up a milions and millions of dollars, buying armored cars, casinos and gifting my family with things like napalm and c4 and tommy guns.

And that all takes time. And energy. It takes a lot out of a girl. Literally. I've been killed at least 4 times. Poor sports, I have learned, exist in the virtual world as well as in real life. Where is all this mayhem taking place? Mafia Wars on Facebook.

I've never been a gamer until this past week. It started with an innocent request on Mother's Day to join the my daughter's mafia in her game. "Even if you don't play, Mom, it will help me" she said. " And by the way, I need an energy pack when you do". So I did.

I was immediately recruited by my sister and brother-in-law for their mafias. Then my neice. Then a whole bunch of people I have no idea of where they came from, but now are a part of my "family". And now, just a week later I am level 38, have 75+ million in the bank, massive amounts of armaments, cars and protective body armor. And laundry to do. And vacuuming.

What is it about this game that gets people so instantly hooked? Would it be so incredibly popular if we weren't in a recession and feeling that we have no control over so many things in life? What do you think?

Giants Roaming the Road

This is what kicked up the rock that broke my windshield. Considering that I drive a Saturn that seems to barely come to the top of the tires, it was hardly a fair fight. And some people think there are no giants!

Another view of my ride home, just cause I know no one believes I have such a horrible commute. Harbine, NE. Pop 66 - 5:30 pm on a weeknight.

Drink Coffee

It's Friday. Cloudy and pretending to rain. I had car issues this morning. Had to turn around, go home, not be able to open the damn coolant reservoir cap,discover we don't own a wrench large enough to do so, take the Viking's car, put gas in it and remember where the wiper blade control was.

A very, very large piece of farm machinery caused a new crack in my windshield yesterday evening.

I have coffee now. It will be a good day. It will be a good day.

Project 52 - Week 16 - Wedding Favor Koozie

We've all finally beat the illness that laid us low last weekend. We did miss a wedding, but the bride was thoughtful and brought favors to those who weren't able to attend.

This is the most unusual wedding favor I've ever seen. The other side has the bride and groom's name embossed in hot pink.

Of course, I've not been to many weddings in the last 20 years, and times change. I'm guessing there were no frilly little bottles of bubbles at this one!

This is a marryin' place. We've been invited to another wedding in a couple of weeks; the third in less than a year. Weddings are hopeful celebrations. We need more of those.

Project 52 Week 16 Our Own Pandemic Outbreak

Everyone is sick at my house.

And I do mean everyone.

Jack and Cat Curio Makes Me Crazy

Every work day at lunch, I visit my favorite blogs while I eat. I catch up with my family. Then I go and drive myself totally crazy and visit Jack and Cat Curio. Today, I was delighted to see Mr. Jack has added me to his blog roll. So now I must confess how I really feel about this....

See Mr. Jack, you drive me crazy... here I am stranded in the middle of artistic nowhere farmland, with no craft stores within hundreds of miles, no access to that group vibe that happens on "art day" with a group of friends and inspires you all to greater creativity, and worst of all..... my sister is your neighbor (so to speak) and actually gets to go to your classes!

You tweak my artistic nerves and make me restless. You stir up such a sense of longing to make something for the sheer joy of the process, that I can barely stand it. Just the thought of warm pots of beeswax ( or whatever it is you'd melt it in) almost makes me want to weep. And I keep coming back for more.

Thank you for letting me not forget that art is the journey.....no matter how your journey twists and turns, art exists as a state of mind. Art is.

Creepy or Cute: Your Call

I work for an animal supply company. I spend my days writing and thinking about pets and their well being. It's not completely unheard of to be engrosed in my work and suddenly be brought back to life by something furry brushing against my leg or a slobbery face poking at my knee. It's a great way to spend the day.

That was at least, until these guys showed up. 

I don't know if they are going to be window props or actually for sale or just lined up along the entry way to see who'll be the first to actually throw a ball toward them. It could happen.  Actually, they're meant to be topiary forms and are densly packed sphagnum moss and wire. I can kind of envision them covered in ivy or trailing petunias. Almost. Sort of.

 Truthfully, they make me think of the Shining. 

And then there's the rabbit...whom one of my coworkers suspects of steroid abuse.  So, I leave it to you; cute or creepy? 

Digital Hybrid Scrapbook Project - Big Brother

My boss welcomed a new son to her family Friday. She and her husband already have one unbelievably cute little boy, who is about to turn 5. I got the idea as I was picking up a baby card for them, that the new big brother needed something too. Surely,  I thought , Hallmark has thought of new siblings. 

Apparently they haven't. 

So I created my own card.  Searching for a theme, I came across this really cute digital scrapbook kit, Blastoff. If you like it, you'd better hurry and get it, right now until 04/07 its a blog train freebie. 

The inside of the card, has the cutest little space dude and pals. It's a bit hard to see in this picture, but the banner he's holding says "Out of this World." 

I really wasn't thinking space when I started this, but one look at the astronaut  and I was hooked. The new big brother is also a red head. A match made in heaven, right? 

Hear the Train A Comin

There was a little delay in getting home this evening. Seems like the Union Pacific had their own adgenda and it didn't include my plans at all. I cross this piece of track twice a day, rarely am I stopped by the train. A couple of the cars behind me seem to be impatient, edging closer, trying to get a glimpse of the caboose. They didn't have much luck. This was one of the hundred long coal trains that are an every day occurance here. I don't mind at all. Waiting on the train reminds me to remember, to slow down and savor the stories of the past.



All the small towns in this area grew to prosperity and dwindled into shadows of themselves at the dictate of the railroad. Populations grew to provide the workers and services needed by major railroad round houses in Wymore and Fairbury. Even little Odell (above, pop 300 give or take) owes its location to the train. Years ago, Odell use to be located nearby but because of a change in the tracks demanded by the railroad, the entire town just picked up, buildings, kids, dogs, the works and moved to their current location.

When the glamour of railroads began to fade away, so too did the small towns. They didn't totally dissappear but they changed. The older folks have memories of busier days, prosperous downtowns and honky tonk nights. Somehow I doubt my own stories of past days will provide nearly the texture of these small towns. Suburbia, automobiles, fast food, television and life before the world wide web just doesn't seem to have the same texture.

Unpredictable March

Here's how Southeast Nebraska is ending up the weather week. This week we have had sunny days in the upper 6o's, days that haven't gotten out of the 30's, tornadoes, foggy crips mornings and now snow. There are gorgeous,tender little green shoots coming up in the fields and farmers are turing the dark,burnt looking earth. One was actually burning off his fields this week as I was on my way home from work. And this morning, snow. For me, it's just a mental slap in the face. For others who have lived in this region longer than I, this is to be expected. One thing I have learned while living in farmland, farmers must never forget the ultimate power of Mother Nature and they have to be the most optimistic of souls to pin their lives on her whims.

Roadside Giants

Here in Nebraska where I live, yesterday there were tornadoes in my part of the state and blizzards in the other side of the state. Work was nuts and my entire family must have had a bottle of crazy water. It's definitely time for a road trip.

Much of the personality of the US has been absorbed by massive chain stores, restaurants, look alike malls and developements. For some people, I suppose this is comforting and eases the anxiety that a move to a new location may bring. For me, it's not really comforting, it's distressing to know that individualism is dissappearing. Even if it is corporate individulism, it's still a loss.

Happily, there are still interesting things along the way, remarkable icons that haven't been zoned out of existance. Here are a few from my own travels.

This is the largest coffee pot in the US. It's just outside of Omaha, NE on I-80. It's 110 ft tall and use to be a water tower. I've heard that at some times, it actully "perks" and there's a flashing light in the top and steam from the spout. I drive by this one several times a year, maybe one of these days I'll see it perking along!

Next up, a glorious giant peach in Gaffney, South Carolina. It's out in the middle of nowhere and sort of looks like a big golf ball. It's always a lovely color. I think the painters in Gaffney should be complimented on how skillfully they have perfected the blush on this peach.

Proudly proclaiming itself as the peanut capitol of the world is Ashburn, GA. Heading to Florida on I-75, you can't miss it! It's probably a good thing that it doesn't emit a warm peanut aroma, cause in this part of Georgia all you're apt to find are boiled peanuts by the roadside and to someone not born in this part of the world, there's not much less appealing than boiled peanuts. Trust me on this one. I tried them. Once.

Finally, back north in Bemidji, Minnesota we have Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox. How can you not love Paul...strong, dark, tall and handsome. Everything a folk hero should be. And Babe, well she's blue. She's a little crosseyed, but you can count on her.

Hit the road. See what's lurking in your world that refused to be covered in a facade of sand colored brick and stucco.

Princess Luna

Her Royal Highness, Princess Luna

Project 52 Week 11 Photo Tag

So my "evil" sister photo tagged me. I think most people don't care for seeing themselves in photos and I'm no exception. I don't know what deviltry happens inside the camera, but the person I always see in the photo sure doesn't resemble the person I see in the mirror!

But, I am a pretty good sport, so I'll play. Photo tag is all about on the spot photos. So although it's taken me three days to get it posted, here I am as I was "tagged". At work on a Friday afternoon.

Now, who do I tag....hmmm..... maybe my neice who's been missing from her blog for far too long. You know who you are! So whenever you read this, drop what you're doing and take a photo of yourself. Come out from behind that sewing machine and smile for the camera.

Congrats to Confessions of a Pioneer Woman

Congratulations to Ree Drummond of Confessions of a Pioneer Woman blog! She won an astounding 3 awards in this years Best of the Web competition. The web's best blogs have been recognized for the last nine years with "The Bloggies". A geeky Oscar. She won for Best Photography, Best-Designed Weblog and Weblog of the Year.

I'm like thousands, soon to be millions I'm sure, who read this blog daily. I like spying on her life. 99% of her recipes inspire me to get creative. 100% of her photographs inspire me. She's my daily lunchtime companion and doesn't even know it.

Someday,I'll bet she becomes an Oprah guest. Then there will be the cover of People and Time. I hope it doesn't go to her head. Nah, she'll still be writing about dog kisses and cows.

Project 52 Week 10 Unexpected Surprizes

This weekend, cabin fever was setting in again, the wonderfully rich sausage from Frank's in Wilber was gone and both the Viking and I could hear the kolaches we passed over on our last visit calling to us.

Isn't Wilber just the cutest little town?

Remember those inviting little kolaches from a couple of weeks ago? We decided to forego breakfast and have kolaches once we got to Wilber.

First surprize, they weren't really very good. The filling was delicious, but the roll part was just straight, bland white bread. I was expecting a richer roll, like a cinnamon roll. I don't know if this is a typical kolache or just the result of an uninspired baker, but it was a little dissappointing. I decided right then that a nice layer of cream cheese frosting would help redeem the poor little kolaches.

When we got home, I made the frosting and alas, it didn't help tremendously. The roll just wasn't that good. However, a loaf of homemade rye bread we picked up is fantastic. We still like Franks.

Still feeling adventurous, instead of heading straight home, we decided to head north on a road we'd never been. It took us through more of the same farmland that surrounds us, and we were happy with our adventure. Then the second surprize of the day! Driving past a rustic sign for Bluestem State Park, we saw this as we drove by.


We backed up on the road (remember this is the middle of nowhere farmland) turned into a gravel road and within seconds saw this.

A very large lake with a very large, very loud snow geese party happening. The migration is still in progress but we had no idea this lake existed.

It was a wonderful event to see, this stop over on their long flight. We got out of the car and just watched a bit. They're a chatty bunch. It really made me wish I had a better camera and a wide angle lens.

Project 52 Week 9

So, I've gotten a little behind in my weekly image goal thanks to an impressively bad cold that's been trying to consume all my energies. It's managed to span a good part of almost two weeks and finally seems to be on the way out. I still don't sound it, but I am improving day by day.

I missed time from work and probably should have taken a couple more days off, but couldn't. So I did the next best thing, went to work, tried to keep my germs mostly to myself and head straight to bed when I got home. It's hard to be productive and creative when your brain and body seem to be moving through oceans of vaseline.

One unexpected perk of being so sick, gorgeous flowers from my daughter one day!