Friday 5 - in honor of Independence Day

Friday 5 from Rev Gal Pals

1) Do you celebrate 4th of July (or some other holiday representing independence?)
Yes, in the past we have cooked out and had hamburgers and hot dogs. However, this year will be different - with husband's job as golf professional, this is one of his busy days. Not sure what we will be doing, but I do believe that I will be watching the Boston Pops in the evening!

2) When was the first time you felt independent, if ever? Hmmmm, that's an interesting question since my feeling of independence has come in stages - driving as a teenager is certainly one, going to college, getting married. However, after my divorce, I felt like I had finally grown up and could truly be independent - and it allowed me to feel the gift of receiving from others, while still feeling independent.

3) If you're hosting a cookout, what's on the grill? We usually host a cookout, but probably won't this year. We'll gladly accept any invitations that are offered, however, anyone that shows up, we'll try to do something fun!

4) Strawberry Shortcake -- biscuit or sponge cake? Discuss. I like it with biscuit, but just recently had it like that - it was sort of strange, but I like the texture better than a sponge cake or those little cake shells.

5) Fireworks -- best and worst experience - Stone Mountain has an awesome laser show with fireworks. Worst..... I went to a fireworks show at a lake when I was a child and a bug got in my ear....gross.....

1776 - have not seen it so won't get to do the bonus!

Joyce Prince - St. Maarten

There are times that you run across a jewel of a person and know she touches each and every person in the same way. Joyce Prince, from St. Maarten, offers tours to those that visit this beautiful island. Joyce gives the individual attention to the tourist in such a way that you feel as though you are a VIP that just rolled into town. We left the ship on Thursday morning and Joyce was waiting for us and she seemed to know who we were before we found her. From then on, we were on a trip around the island to see the beauty and uniqueness of the island.
Joyce arranges her trips to what YOU want to see. We were lucky that day as we were the only ones on the tour, as she sometimes takes more than one family. Since it was only my husband and me, we were able to cater the island trip to what we wanted to see. Of course I wanted to see the Anglican Church, (which she happens to attend right now - she is Methodist, but somehow she has a women's group in which she is a part and it prevents her from attending the Methodist Church, so she is attending the Anglican Church). On a tiny street in Phillipsburg, was the Anglican Church, which looked as though some construction was going on.
The streets were narrow and parking was pretty packed, so I only got a picture from the car. I am sure that Joyce would have bent over backwards to find a spot, but we had places to go and see.
Joyce took us to the Guavaberry Emporium, where they make Guavaberry Liqueur and Rum (and jelly, and honey, etc) - Guavaberry grows prolifically on the island so they have marketed these items and made a niche for themselves for this unique flavored fruit - tasty and unique! Husband has the idea of making a guavaberry cheesecake - that sounds yummy! Oh yes, we were graced with the presence of Sint Martin himself, right in the store. (Ok, I tried to upload the image of Sint Martin, but somehow Blogger won't let me).
We saw where the rich and famous lived, as well as the housing projects. Schools were also on the tour where children were still in school, both on the French and Dutch sides. Children wore uniforms. Noticeably, many had their jalousie windows open and clothes hanging on the line. When I asked about this to Joyce, she said, this was their way of living - their island provided the breezes and few people had the luxury of airconditioning and a dryer, some by choice, others because of the cost.
The economy and politics were discussed, especially in light of two countries on a very small island. I know why two countries claim it - its beauty is breathtaking!
So, if you ever find yourselves at St. Maarten, look Joyce up whether it is for a guided tour (in which you will NOT be disappointed) or to rent a car, or even need a babysitter.
We got much more that day than the tour, we felt as though we had a new found friend - she places her customer's happiness and satisfaction above everything else, however, she has room in her heart to be a friend.

I can't wait to go to see St. Maarten Joyce again.

Thought you have seen all kinds of knitting projects?

Thought I had seen about everything in knitting projects. Some people are over the top in their creativity.
http://greenmountainmama.blogspot.com/2006/05/whiplash-color.html

Get your swiffer out and start knitting!

Potpourri of thoughts

• I know where my digital camera is - that is a good thing. I know where my laptop is - another good thing. However, the cord that connects the two is out of pocket through the move. I KNOW it will show up, just when is the question.
• Church today had two hymns with descants I knew. However, it has been several weeks since my voice has hit a HIGH A - and I should have known better....
• Knitting - I am still working on pink basketweave baby blanket, but for the past several days, while knitting, my hand is going to sleep after several rows. Any suggestions as to what might be causing it?

Friday 5 - June 23 from Rev Gal Pals

Seems like I just did last week's Friday five (I did) - suitcase found, house moving still in progress, but I couldn't resist the ice cream meme.
1. Ice cream: for warm weather only or a year-round food?
Ice cream is year round food - it's comfort food. mmmm

2. Favorite flavor(s)
Baskin Robbins Chocolate Mint (note specifically the brand name, though Breyers does a pretty good job.
Ben and Jerry's Cherry Garcia
Raspberry Truffle from Working Cow Ice Cream (I want to know how they put the raspberry goody inside that chocolate chip).
Edy's French Silk

3. Cake cone, sugar cone, waffle cone, cup?
All of those sound pretty good to me, but I do like a waffle cone :)

4. Childhood ice-cream memory
Well, this is sort of an off shoot of ice cream, but I remember learning this song in school - does anyone else remember it and remember the rest of the words?
If you have a nickel,
You can buy a popsicle,
You can buy it from the popsicle man.
You can have any flavor,
that you wish or you favor,
You can buy it from the popsicle man.

It seems that there was more to this song than this. Please let me know if you know this song, remember it, and even if you don't remember any of the lyrics, let me know. Mrs. Wooten was the music teacher at Kate Sullivan school and we sang on long benches in the music room.

5. Banana splits: discuss.
I like Banana split blizzards better than regular banana splits.... discussion over.

Friday 5 from Rev Gal Pals Zzzzzzz

Better late than never.....

1. In what kind of environment do you sleep best? (e.g. amount of light and noise, temperature, number of pillows, breathe-right strip, sleeping in the buff, etc.)
I like low light and the radio on NPR - usually 2 pillow, and I wear a gown. If I fall asleep in the recliner - do NOT wake me up to tell me to go to bed. (I HOPE my husband might read this).

2. How much sleep do you need to feel consistently well-rested?
7-8 hours - with a catnap in the after noon

How much can you get by on?
6-7 hours

What are the consequences when you don't get enough?
I start crashing in the late afternoon and I get quite testy.

3. Night owl or morning person?
Morning person - but you would have never guessed that on the cruise.

4. Favorite cure for insomnia
changing locations

5. To snooze or not to snooze? Why or why not?
Snooze just a little, it's like getting a little extra wake up time and an opportunity to think about the day as I slowly wake up. When I "snooze" I never really go back to sleep, just lie there and anticipate the day in my thoughts.

Have you seen....

my luggage?
Last seen on cruise ship.
Nowhere to be found on terminal - someone who thought it was their red suitcase must have gotten it.

Hope they take care of the dirty laundry in there, and turn in my overdue library book. If they were looking for anything more valuable, they picked up the wrong suitcase!
If you have seen my luggage, it's red, with a super big ziploc bag with dirty clothes in it and the Debbie Macomber book A Good Yarn in it. Will greatly appreciate it.

Out in the Atlantic

Just a brief note since Internet usage on a cruise ship is a bit pricier than at home, but wanted to let you know we are having a wonderful time and will be returning home Sunday. We have visited St. Thomas and St. Maarten and have enjoyed the relaxation on the boat.

Will give more information when we are on terra firma and have an unlimited amount of time to spend online.

Finished a pair of socks, but not needle to graft at the end. It's in the truck at the cruise terminal.

Daylilies, socks and there's always a first time

I believe if you click on this image you will get a more impressive picture of the thousands of this daylily garden. Over in Whigham, Georgia, Farmhouse Daylily Gardens has acres of daylilies which offers a feast for the eyes. My visit over there was my end of the school year visit to pick up some daylilies to special folks that work with me.

Fraternal socks, these are - these blue striped socks were knit for Laura - but I am not sure they are going to fit - they are knit from Regia socks on size 2 needles. This yarn doesn't have the substance that Socks that rock do, but I guess that is comparing apples to oranges, since one is 100% superwash merino (STR) and Regia is a superwash wool/nylon blend.
Wasn't too successful in making them identical, but in producing two of the same, just like twins, sometimes you get identical, sometimes fraternal.

Went to get my haircut today and in a whimsical moment while getting my hair done, my beautician, who I have been using for almost 20 years, said, "Want to get your eyebrows waxed for that cruise you are going on?" I said "Sure", so I got my first waxin' - well, I won't say what I said when she peeled the wax off the first eyebrow - because I will keep this blog G rated. Anyway, all I can say is "that was an experience" - Actually I haven't plucked a single eyebrow since high school and have been perfectly content. I don't see much difference myself and my husband couldn't see a difference with it either.
I believe my hairdresser holds some spell over me, since I have been going so long to her, that once when she couldn't do my hair, I felt like I was betraying her. She even knew I was going to someone else... I wrung my hands in anxiety like I was violating some code of ethics that was written in stone somewhere. How long have any of you readers been going to the same hairdresser?

Oh, cruise information - Royal Caribbean, Mariner of the Seas travelling to the Eastern Caribbean.

Tomorrow, we close on our new house. Stay tuned for more information.

Summer Haircut

Dear Davis,

Though you now live a good bit further away from me, I still keep up with you. I do miss your visits and our chance to get to see caterpillars grow into butterflies. Your mom tells me that you like birds too and have binoculars to watch them. Maybe one day you will grow up to be an ornithologist.

However, Davis, I don't think your calling is going to be as a barber. Your Mom sent me a picture of your self given haircut, and I think it is a good idea to leave your haircuts to Mr. Kim, the "Super Barber" - he seems to know more about haircuts than you do. I think it best to keep on honing those birdwatching and caterpillar catching skills than getting scissor happy.


Here is a picture of Mary G. - rumor has it she is exploring the possibility of her profession as being a soil sampler. Beautiful picture!

Mr. Squirrel wants to ask you something...