RevGalBlogPals - Trivia Challenge

Do you like trivia? Would you like to play trivia challenge with the RevGalBlogPals? Well, we have set up a Trivia Challenge just for RGBP and their friends. Here’s how it works.

Go to here - go ahead and blogroll it!

If you do not have a created a user name and password, that will be your first step.

After that you are set to go to play in the challenge. The challenge involves:
1. 10 questions – right now it is set to “Mixed Bag”, but that is subject to change.

2. Go to “Play Now” and begin the game.

3. Getting the answers correct and length of time determine your ranking.

4. Playing daily increases your chances of winning the monthly tournament.

5. Monthly winner(s) will be recognized – we’ll give your site meter a workout along with YOU getting to choose a topic for the day during the month!

6. You can monitor your ranking at the “standings” link at the top of the page of the quiz.

7. You do NOT have to be an official RevGalBlogPal ring member -

8. Say hello in the "Shout box" - that's a fun part of the trivia challenge.

9. A new tournament begins every month.

ON your mark, get set, GO!!!!!

Here is a button to place on your web site if you choose.

Let me know if you played!

Rude Awakening - it's inevitable

I have had my head in the sand for the past couple of weeks. I am pretending that it wasn't going to happen, though I knew it was inevitable.

And.... I love my job. Why the feelings of dread?? ??

Well, I think it is the reason of time - I have plenty to keep me busy, and about the time I get adjusted to being off, the time to go back to work begins.

The first couple of weeks after school starts - there is an adjustment period. I feel a bit lost of what to do with the 40 hours a week of time that is now "free" - then the summer begins. Youngest daughter spends 4 weeks with us in the summer, children come and go, and this year was THE MOVE - 2 whole blocks away.

The first four days of school is planning - filled with meetings, getting the room ready, and open house. I am fortunate to have 2 paraprofessionals who are WONDERFUL - they are truly a gift to have in my room and for 3 women in one room to get along is a blessing - we work as a team and no one gets ruffled.

For the little ones, it takes several weeks for the class to "gel" - for the group to get some form of togetherness. Separation anxiety can be a part of the issues we address during the first weeks of school - let's hope that they will be brief.

Once we "get on the train" there's no stopping! Trying to get psyched up for the big week. Wheeeeeeee!!!!!!

Annie goes to the Rainbow Bridge

It happened in a split second. Before anyone could do anything about it. The week was filled with family coming in and out of the house. First my niece, and then youngest daughter, then oldest son for 10th high school reunion. Funfilled and never long enough. As oldest son was departing, the dogs were excitedly jumping at the chance to escape out with him. Finally they got out jumping around frolicking. Then Annie, Mama's dog, who is the friendliest and most spirited and happy go lucky started to run - right to the street. She was at the wrong place at the wrong time. We heard a small noise, and knew it didn't sound normal. And then we saw it. Lying in the road........ her tiny, less than 10 lb body was lifeless. One look at her and we knew... she bore no pain as it was immediate. The driver probably didn't see her, nor did they realize what they had done. At least we hope so.

I ran to the house and told Mom - that it didn't look good, to prepare her for the loss. Dear son gently lifted her from the pavement and brought her to the side of the road. "Mom, it was instantaneous...her neck is broken." He brought her to the house in case Mom wanted to see her one more time.

We got the shovel and looked for the right place to bury her. Before we began, son and eight year old had two big containers of water. I wasn't sure what it was for, and when they came back I asked. "To cleanse the road to make it less painful" - he is so thoughtful......

We find an oval basket just the right size, and found the shady spot. Gently placed, Annie goes to a place where there are no cars, and where she can romp and play to her heart's content. She loved frogs and would hold a point with them, so I am sure she would want a few of those there with her too.

A small cross made from polished rocks was placed on her grave as dear 8 year old wanted something special there.

Dear son stayed a couple of more hours to make sure all was taken care of and to allow us to grieve during the initial shock. I'm proud of my son for having such a gentle compassion during such a traumatic time - times like these that though I was not a perfect parent, that I have a wonderfully compassionate son who can offer comfort and hugs at the right times and knows the right things to say.

There is an empty space in our hearts tonight. Tears have fallen and will fall for a dog that was so loved her short life and gave so much love to us all.

Saturday Sky brought to you by......

!
8 year old. She is part of the Saturday sky team in this area. Pretty nice shot if you ask me!
Well, that isn't the only thing she is good at. We had bubble time - WM had a clearance section for outside play. Some items were 25 cents, some were 1.00 and some were 2.00. So we picked up a couple of different fun things to do. One was making HUGE bubbles. Here is what fun she had.

Notice the whole process required a stripping change of clothes.

Friday 5 - HOT!

I got this picture from here.
RevGalBlogPals Friday five!

1. What's the high temperature today where you are?
According to weather.com - about 97 degrees - that's a lie - it will get hotter. Heat index has been over 110 most days here.
Update: 6 pm - this afternoon - I saw a thermometer register 105. Heat Stroke weather.... where's the relief? Oh yeah, that will be December.

2. Favorite way(s) to beat the heat.
Well, being in A/C is a good way, but a BETTER way is a cranberry slushie from Sonic - which I did the other day. Oh a nice swim is pretty good too, but the swimming pools are over 90 degrees right now. Anyone have a HuGE ice cube?

3. "It's not the heat, it's the humidity." Evaluate this statement.
Ever cut room temperature butter with a knife?
Better yet, ever walk on pavement so hot that it is starting to soften?
Physically the humidity can be so oppressive that when you take a breath, you think, OH MY GOODNESS, get me in some air conditioning!!!!!

4. Discuss one or more of the following: sauna, hot tub, sweat lodge, warm-stone massage.
Sauna - well just go outside
hot tub - any swimming pool right now in "these here parts"
sweat lodge? WHAT? IS? THAT?
Warm stone massage - well that feels mighty fine.... in COLD WEATHER - hmmmm that happens 3-4 days a year around that

5. Hottest you've ever been in your life
I got so hot one time I threw up. It was on the square in town during the Prom's promenade - all the town shows up - I walked up town to see the festivities - started getting sick - and I knew it was the heat. Walked home..drank a ton of water.... threw up.
Ok revgals, you asked.. you got it.

Non-temperature related bonus: In your opinion... who's hot?
My husband - see? that's my right answer! :)

Day by Day we Pray

In listening to Pray-as-you-go, meditations focusing on God being with us, a passage was particularly striking to me which I have listened to several times since I first heard it. I found the quote on this site in how Ignatius invites us to picture the world in which we live:
(This is a little different than what was said on the meditation as it is more in depth):

St. Ignatius and his first companions, in the spiritual experience of the Exercises, were moved to a searching consideration of the world of their own time in order to discover its needs. They contemplated "how the Three Divine Persons look down upon the whole expanse or circuit of all the earth, filled with human beings" and decide "that the Second Person should become man to save the human race." Then they turned their eyes to where God’s gaze was fixed, and saw for themselves the men and women of their time, one after another, "with such great diversity in dress and in manners of acting. Some are white, some black; some at peace, and some at war; some weeping, some laughing; some well, some sick; some coming into the world, some dying, etc." That was how they learned to respond to the call of Christ and to work for the establishment of His Kingdom.
Ignatius invites us to look at the world both in seeing the world, and hearing the world, in how we treat others in our words.

The basis of Pray-as-you-go meditations are based on the St. Ignatian style, hence the novena honoring him. The Episcopal Church observes his feast on July 31, as do the Roman Catholics.

You can listen to these meditations through Itunes or download it to your MP3 player or IPOD.

What continues to attract me to this daily 10 minute meditation? Several things that I can think of:
1. Its beautiful variety of music from every century, from most every part of the world, from plainsong, to sacred music from Africa, to praise music of today.
2. I cannot help to be attracted to the beautiful Irish accents during the meditations.
3. Scripture is read twice - each with a different voice, reading the same text so one can hear it with voices that may touch us in a different manner.
4. Last, but not least - the last part. This week they are using a portion Richard of Chichester's well known prayer:

O most merciful Redeemer, friend and brother,
May I know Thee more clearly,
Love Thee more dearly,
Follow Thee more nearly,
Day by day.

As they begin the end, they begin with one voice, and then another is added, and it continues until a community of voices end the prayer. It's a beautiful way to end the meditation. And a beautiful way to begin or end your day.

Worldly thoughts about blogging

I've been thinking about blogs in general lately and how they fit in the scheme of things when it comes to life in general and technology. Part of it is because I have been reading The World is Flat - the other reason is because I am participating in a blog that focuses on a knitting book - Mason Dixon Knitting. On that particular blog, folks post their creations and thoughts and comments about the book, but mostly it's about what they have finished, or a question they have about a particular pattern in the book.
Another blog I participate in is a group of mostly women, but there are some men on there, that are involved in the church life - many ordained, but some not - but all have the common thread of being believers and having church being an important part of their lives.
However, I do not know if this is my particular direction or if this is where others are also doing, but I am finding that blogging and reading others thoughts, or seeing what others have to say about a certain topic, especially knitting, church, and education, which are the blogs I tend to gravitate towards is replacing email lists. (whew that was a long sentence and probably needs revising) - I am finding that I am participating in fewer email lists, and using blogs more to get the pertinent information I am most interested. Is it because it replaces some of the drivel that you get on email lists (how many "me too's" and "I agree" does one have to read to get to some meat?)? Is it because of the ownership of the blog that folks reveal more about themselves than they would on a list (I don't think so). Is it because the blog takes on a flavor of its own and it is somewhat predictable and you know what you are going to get?

I find blogs fascinating most of the time and I almost always learn something. I also find those that I hope I never happen upon again (ever hit the "next blog" on the top of Blogger? Whew! Sometimes that'll wake you up!)

After reading a chapter in "The World is Flat" about the history of the Internet, which is fascinating, I got to thinking, what would happen if all of a sudden, we went back to no email, no digital images and attachments, no Internet, no blogs, no online purchases. The thought of it almost gives me a panic attack. Our world would hit crisis mode for sure! However, we survived years upon years without it.

I am thankful that I am a part of this digital age - think I will end my blog posting on that note.

Scenes from Childhood

Here are some scenes from childhood. In 1838, Robert Schumann wrote a selection of short piano pieces (13 of them to be exact) under the collective name of "Scenes from Childhood"- none of them included jumping rope or playing hopscotch. Here you see both. Don't see children doing this much anymore. Dear daughter here was running off some energy and having fun! Perhaps #5 - Gluckes genug, in D major -translated to "happy enough" will fit.

Notice the hopscotch was created for people who have tinier feet than she does, but she didn't take that into account when creating it. It's all in the process - right?

Sing it over and over and over again...

This evening I was listening to Friday's Pray as you Go meditation (a day late, but just as meaningful) each meditation begins with a piece of sacred music - may be chant, classical, or contemporary. This music selection was Cantique de Jean Racine by Gabriel Fauré - what is it about that piece of music that mesmerizes me - that I could listen to it countless times and never tire of it (I could say the same the same of the requiems of Faure and Mozart. Is that a sign of GREAT music? Do you have music that puts you in a different world? If so, what is it?

Saturday sky - but more importantly....

Yes, today is Saturday Sky day and you see the image that I took of the sky around noon. Hot, humid, and nary a sign that it was going to rain. We have had teasers of clouds, of thunder claps, and even a drop or two of rain. We have looked at the radar on tv and have seen what appear to be torrential downpours just a stone's throw away. Frustrating, since we have only gotten 2 inches in 4 months. The grass looks as though it wants to die, and hydrangeas and even the pine trees were starting to show their lack of hydration. Dismal and frustrating for a place that usually gets more rain than we want.
What does it take to get it to rain? Well, I think I found the solution. I picked up the furniture my Mom had purchased. Go ahead and tempt the clouds to do WHAT THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO DO! - So.... move over Saturday Sky, we are making room for Saturday RAIN. I went outside to take pictures. I even took a picture of the drain to show we got REAL RAIN. Of course the furniture was in the truck (table and chairs, no upholstery, thank goodness, so wasn't quite as frantic).
How many rain drains make it into a blog? (or whatever you call them) The beauty of the rain flowing out of that drain - I all but put my feet in it. (oh - and the plant to the right of the drain is Dutchman's Pipe, larval food for pipevine swallowtails as well as some others. It has a bloom on it, but it looks a little ragged - it's also known as the Calico plant because of the unusual bloom.

Last, but not least, a hummingbird at the feeder.

Happy Blogiversary RevGalPals

I just found out that it is RevGallPals' (sic - typo but will leave it in just to see if someone sees the sick slip) 1st blogiversary - I did not know it was so young! Here is the Friday Five and I will answer it to the best of how my feeble memory will allow my ability

1) What is your first memory of the RevGalBlogPals?
I think I stumbled upon Hazelnut Reflections' blog - perhaps saw a link to the ring, and saw RevGalPals blog - how I got invited, I think I would have to look at the comments on my blog to see who was crazy nice enough to invite me.

2) Have you met any of the other ring members in real life?
No, I don't think I have met anyone - I don't know everyone who is on here yet - since some are anonymous - however, I am pretty sure I have not!

3) Of those you haven't met, name a few you would love to know in person.
I can think of a few -- Mary Beth - we have emailed and found we know some folks in common and have crossed paths, but at different times (how do you explain that?) We have been to common places but in different years that are near and dear to our heart.
Others I would like to meet:
Songbird, Hazelnut Reflections (I am still enamored by her blog title since I am a fan of Julian of Norwich), LutheranChik, and St. Casserole (Still lover her blog name too)
I am going to leave a comment to these folks so they know!

4) What has Ring Membership added to your life?
I know I have "met" some neat folks and it has broadened my concept of the larger church - not just of my church tradition, but of those that go beyond that. There are some blogs, by just reading their blogs, I would feel right at home in their church homes just by reading what they have to say.

5) Describe a hope for the future of the WebRing.
Do we go out searching for others to join us? Or do others find us through the links on our page? (sort of like real life evangelizing isn't it?.. well sort of..) and then...when does a web ring become too big? Will we become a mega church ring?
Ooooh, wouldn't a trivia tournament be fun? :)
Is there a birthday calendar? We can hit their blog on their special day! Site meter would love that!

Happy Blogiversary RevGalPals!

Snake in church? Snow and hail in July?

Well, it's been an interesting day in the sultry south today. Church was a typical Sunday in July - attendance so so - folks that are typically there were there. After church, our senior warden was looking up at the ceiling fan at the church and said... do you see anything up there? -- Well, all I could see was beyond that close to the belfry what looked like could have been a dirt dobber nest. So nope, my eyes were of no help to her.. senior warden believes she is seeing a snake. Well, we have had our share of wasps up in church, and an occasional dog comes visiting so we figured another of God's creature may appear. We needed younger eyes. Younger eyes are few and far between in our little congregation. Case was unresolved as I left the church to go to lunch with my mom and a friend.

So.... we go to lunch and have a GREAT meal with great company. I look outside by the pool and I thought the sky was looking rather ominous, which I should think that because any rain cloud we might see today should not be descripted like that because we should embrace it. As we were departing, a huge clap of thunder boomed and so I thought I better get a move on to the van so I can pull it up to the door so not all of us would get wet. I run to the car through the rain (though I really wanted to get soaking wet from the rain - to remember what it is like). I get to the car and go to the covered walkway where all of the golfers and their carts had pulled under to protect them from the elements. As Mom and Naomi come into the van, Mom says... "do you see that hail?" - I said no... I didn't feel or see any. She said, look - there it is.. all over the ground. Then she said..you know it looks like snow..it's floating (mind you it is 100 degrees outside) and I see the floating white specks as the wind is blowing from the storm. I look in my rear view mirror and see it all over the ground.. and then I see the culprit. There, standing beside the parking lot, pretty as you please, was a white crape myrtle, whose flowers had experienced no wind nor rain for who knows how long. So this little bit of weather we experienced got us so excited we had blown it to epic proportions of hail and snow. To see crape myrtle snow, go here

Oh yes, the suspect snake church attender - we believe it is now a cord that connects the fan to electricity. Whew, thought we were really going to get a reputation in town.

I think this is on target!

Your Brain is 60% Female, 40% Male

Your brain is a healthy mix of male and female You are both sensitive and savvy Rational and reasonable, you tend to keep level headed But you also tend to wear your heart on your sleeve

What Gender Is Your Brain?

Saturday Sky - Saturday Baby

It's another hot day in Georgia with our car thermometer registering 103 degrees - heat index has been hovering around 115 - it's sweltering and we are in desperate need of rain - I am even praying for a tropical depression to sit on us for a few days. The lows have been in the mid 70s and going outside is exhausting.
The Saturday sky was particularly pretty at noon today and I caught a glimpse of it today while getting in the car.
Now Abby is the Saturday baby -- do you notice that Abby and baby have the same letters in it? I think that is pretty cool - she came with her Meme and my Mom and me to the local bakery while we ate sandwiches. She stole the show as she sat and watched us while we ate - if you look very very closely (maybe even click on the picture) you might notice she has toe nail polish on her little toes. Her first, I am sure, of many "pedicures" in her life. Everyone say hello to Abby!

Pet Peeves - Friday Five

This has been added to since last evening - I forgot a couple of things!
1. Grammatical pet peeve - oh I have a few -

• she don't, he don't
• placing apostrophe's (sic) just because it ends in an "s" - in town there is a sign - "lot's for sale"
• I have more, but it is not necessary for me to come across as the grammar police - for I know I have my own errors in grammar.

2. Household pet peeve - leaving a gob of toothpaste in the sink...bleh

3. Arts & Entertainment pet peeve (movie theaters, restaurants, concerts) - well, there are a few - however wearing too much perfume can get on my nerves.. In a concert, rattling the program during the performance and talking can make me get pretty testy.

4. Liturgical pet peeve - I have a few pet peeves here, however my biggest one is when the layreader is reading the Scripture and people are following the insert and they are reading the Scripture instead of listening to the reader - I mean, what is the point of READING the scripture while people are reading it in the order of worship? And, when you are reading the scripture and you look at the congregation, all you can do is see the top of people's heads - only a token few are looking and listening (hopefully) to the reader.
Also another pet peeve is folks leaving before church is over - it's like leaving a friend's house before the visit is over.

Addition: Prayers that request that God/Jesus/Holy Spirit to "be with us" - is there a time they are not??? Would it not be better to ask "let me/us be aware of your presence"???

5. Wild card--pet peeve that doesn't fit any of the above categories- you know, I had one to put here, while I was doing #1, I said I would put that down as the wild card - but my memory is so poor, I can't remember it now... will post later if I remember it.

Bonus: Because all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God: What do YOU do that others might consider a pet peeve?

Now.... would I do anything that would drive someone crazy or be a pet peeve of someone? Well, actually yes, I can think of one - "K" my dear dear friend yelled at me when I called a book a "chick lit" book - she said that that was a derogatory remark - fluffy with no substance. So let me clarify what I consider "chick lit" -

I think chick lit literature is literature that women tend to enjoy - and that it is of a lighter nature - one that we might read for pure enjoyment.

So I will not use that in front of "K" and try to be careful not to use it, though I do not mean it in a derogatory manner. She has approved of "brain candy" as an acceptable replacement.

I do not like it when my friend "K" yells at me...

Christmas Baby Bib

Mason Dixon Knitting has a KAL blog and it has taken off like wildfire. After looking at the completed works one cannot help but get bitten by the knitting bug. The book, Mason-Dixon Knitting : The Curious Knitters' Guide: Stories, Patterns, Advice, Opinions, Questions, Answers, Jokes, and Pictures, has wonderful simple knitting patterns as you can see on the Knit Along. In looking at this, it looks like it could be a purse, but it is a baby bib. I like the way the tri color yarn self patterns itself - it's a cast on of 40 using size 6 needles - that is how I got the pattern. Cotton yarn on a cone from Elmore Pisgah . Watch out these babies (no pun intended) are addicting.

Ethnic Mail

Seen on my travels - "Mexican Mail" what an odd name.... or is it only mail from Mexico? Migrant workers? Close to a field so my guess is that it is the catchall mail for many.

Today, after church, the afternoon was spent over at the other house moving more stuff - I really should join the minimalist movement - we have TOO MUCH STUFF - ridiculous. When will I learn?? Now I am walking like I am "stoved up".

Saturday Sky over Georgia

On a Saturday evening right before sunset, a surprisingly nice summer evening in the 80s (cool for this time of year at this time of evening) with the humidity that seemed to be lower than usual. Could actually sit outside for a bit. For that we should be truly thankful!

Would love to take a skyful of raindrops.... rain come on and stay and play a while!

Short Friday Five

RevGalPals come up with the Friday 5 - and it's a brief short theme this week.

• Short People -A few of my favorite short people - My Mom and Davis (who is featured here with his antics - the latest with his own haircut when he was an aspiring barber) - Davis, I need more of your antics - your mother tried to outdo you by killing a rattlesnake.
• Short Hops - My Hops get shorter as I get older
• Short Stories - My favorite short story to tell - Three Billy Goats Gruff since the kids in school love it so
• Short Lists - Why make a list when you lose them?
• Short Stops - Are we talking about stops on the organ or baseball? oh - maybe a short stop is when you leave the air conditioning running in your car so the folks in there don't roast.

Oh yes, here's a short rattlesnake that Davis's mother killed by the pool in the country - don't worry Davis - you will come up with more ideas to get into the blog.

Peas, please and pot liquor

Any one that knows me well, and even for those that don't know me well, would ever consider me domestic. In fact, I really don't cook, unless it's for a holiday, and when I do, I always feel a little out of sorts, like "what am I doing here?"

Well, in looking at our local paper, I saw an ad for a produce stand (ok, I admit, the softserve ice cream was a selling item to make the trip) - but they also had shelled peas and "lopes" and "maters". So friend Kit and I trekked over to the produce store (which was like a old country store and was air conditioned - yay). And there it was..... a industrial refrigerator full of shelled peas of all kinds. Now in these here parts, cream peas, or white acres, or cream 40s, 8s, or 12s, are the creme de la creme of peas.

We came home with yellow squash, butternut squash, Vidalia onions, and REAL tomatoes... maters. Oh yes, the lopes (I never heard of them called that - but saw it on a sign) - these put the store bought ones to shame ( I realize I bought this in a "store", but you know what I mean).

So, yesterday, I put up some peas, and since the dear husband was driving by there today, I asked him to pick up more peas. Yes, I was feeling a bit domestic - WHAT HAS COME OVER ME??? And I put up some more. Now if we had a big freezer, I would fill up with these peas. Nothing better than these peas and the "pot liquor" -- any one heard of that? Anyway, here is a samplin' of what I did. Notice the okra in there, it adds a little something to the peas - they need to be small and tender and just one or two per package will take care of it.

Oh yeah, the ice cream - softserve - but the difference was that there was fresh peach puree on top. I could have eaten myself sick.

Update on missing items: digital cable cord has been found as well as charger, so things are good...
Missing bag of Socks that Rock yarn has also been found - three skeins of that yarn was in there along with a pair of socks already knitted. I feel better now.

Knitting items will soon be posted. Nothing too much exciting, but knitting is taking place.
Rain would be much appreciated too - we have had less than 2 inches in 4 months. That's unheard of here.

Summertime blogs -- missing items

Hazelnut Reflections said it...not much to blog about. Except I think I can outdo her today. You see, we have moved, and in the move, we can't find the digital camera cable to unleash the pictures that are in the digital camera. They are being held captive inside the camera - and neither husband nor wife (moi) are happy about not being able to locate it. Nor can I find my sock knitting that is in progress - another reason to be cantankerous, so I can only work on one project in progress. Anything else would have to be a NEW project. (Well, I do have a sweater in progress for Davis, but he won't need a sweater for a bit and it can wait.)

I can't even post a picture of a dog sleeping.... or a Saturday sky...

Back in search of missing items in the move. I should have known better and moved those in my hot little hands with nothing else....