My aunt called me the other evening and suggested we meet midway between our homes and pick a few blueberries. While it’s still blueberry season.
It’s been so hot. Oh yes, I think I already told you that, but anyway…it’s been so hot I haven’t wanted to go out and pick any fruit, though as a kid we always went strawberry, cherry, and blueberry picking. And as an adult I used to try really hard to carry on the tradition. But picking fruit alone turns out to be less of a fun adventure and more like hard work. Especially when it’s hot. Which it is. As you know.
Anyway, we decided to get there when they opened, early in the morning before the heat became intolerable and as luck would have it we drove into a heavy mist as we approached the blueberry farm.
And I confirmed once again that picking fruit with someone on the other side of the row is much more fun that wistfully listening in on other family’s discussions.
Yum!
I’ve won an award – someone thinks I’m a “versatile blogger!” Check out Carol’s (my nominator) blog to see her own list. Hmmmm. Here I always thought I was just a somewhat disorganized and scattered blogger – you know, talking about whatever whenever. Versatile is such a better term. Don’t you think?
And look! I was even able to get this lovely versatile blogger thingy to show up as well! Amazing. Perhaps what I actually am is a technically versatile blogger. OK. Maybe that’s a stretch. Now stop laughing!
So anyway I’m supposed to tell you 7 amazing and previously unknown things about me. Right. Like you don’t already know all the amazingly interesting things about me and my life. Especially about my dog. Of course there are some of you, the “newbies,” who haven’t been around for my entire blogging ride. So I might cheat a tiny bit and throw in a few things that some of you might already know. Or I might not.
Here goes: Seven Amazing Things You Don’t Know About Me! (This feels somewhat like standing on the high dive above a high school pool)
1. I don’t really have a favorite color. When asked that question I always stall and then say ‘blue’ because somehow that seems to be the color expected. But really I can’t pick a favorite, they are all so special. Just like kids, each is exactly right.
2. I wish I could have a second dog. Without a fenced yard we have to take the one we have outside on a leash to do her jobs or play. She’s somewhat of a full time job and I can’t see us doing all of this times 2. But still. This is why I’m afraid to volunteer at a shelter; the risk of adding to our family is so big.
3. If I could do anything at all without regard to responsibilities or relationships or commitments I’d sell everything I had…well I’d probably have to give it away because it’s not worth anything…and buy a small recreational vehicle and just travel. I’d stop at anything that looked interesting but I wouldn’t live anywhere at all.
4. I wish I could paint and draw the things that are inside my head. What’s there just doesn’t translate onto paper. Alternatively I wish I could accept that what does transfer is still art.
5. I think soup is the perfect food (other than the fact you can’t eat it with your fingers) and like to collect wonderful recipes. I like to make the soup too and even better, share it with family and friends.
6. I never had children, but I would like to put a child through college. Somehow. More than the education, the college experience is such a life-changing experience and so important to the total growth of anyone. I’d like a child somewhere to know that if they stay in high school, get the grades that are required for college, then they’re going to be able to go.
7. Sometimes I forget how old I am. Most of the time I still believe I can do all the things I’ve ever dreamed of doing. And when I take a moment to look back I’m kind of amazed at all I’ve already done. But I’m not finished. Not by a long shot.
So thanks Carol for asking me to play! I think I’m supposed to name some new people to pass this award to…but I’m not good at that. So I invite all of you to sit still for a moment and think of 7 amazing things about yourself. It’s a good exercise – to take the time to think positive thoughts about yourself. Can you come up with 7? It’s not that easy; most of us were brought up to be modest – not taught to toot our own horn. But it’s worth a try. Because each of you have way more than 7 interesting and amazing traits that you could explore.
And if you want to share them – cool! I’d be eager to learn more about you all.
After I “mastered” the new blog look I asked for help from my friend and administrator extraordinaire Spike. He fixed my little problem with logging back in, and then later surprised me with a whole new look to the blog. It’s different than anything else I’ve seen, and as with any change and me, I have to look at it for awhile to see if I like it. He’s pushing the envelope and he knows how I am about that. Way to go Spike…keep pushing and I’ll keep growing.
On another front a blogger friend put together a list of 101 things she wanted to accomplish in 1001 days. She did this a year ago, and at that time I was intrigued. But you know me, the combination of slacker and fear of change meant I never got around to doing my own list. So this week she was writing about it being her one year anniversary and how many of her 101 things she has accomplished so far and I thought “wait a minute, it’s been a whole year?” Suddenly I was motivated to get going on my own list and so far I have 29 things listed. Just working on that list I found out that Microsoft Word within Windows 7 is TOTALLY DIFFERENT AND I HATE IT! Oh wait…that’s more change and it’s Good for me. Really. Sigh. If, I mean when, I get it done I might share it with you. Depending on how personal it turns out to be.
And on a third front…I’m practicing heeling with Katie-girl at the park and in the driveway, all in preparation for a Rally trial I think I’m going to sign us up for in September even though we haven’t been in Rally class since early June. She seems pretty excited about working again; especially excited about that ole treat bag on Mama’s behind.
If you know what I mean.
Did ya’ll see the full moon last night? It made me nostalgic for the lake. You see, the last night my husband and I were there we went “bobbing” at the end of the dock. Bobbing is our term for floating using noodles. You can sit on the flotation devise, water up to your shoulders, and chat or contemplate or just enjoy the warm water.
That last night we took a bottle of wine down to the lake, bobbed in the 80+ degree water and watched the moon rise. We were tired and cranky from spending the day working on the house; cleaning, doing the laundry including sheets for all the beds, installing new lighting and a new ceiling fan, pulling the wave runner out of the water, locking up the other boats. All jobs that sadly reminded me I was leaving soon. So it was nice to take some time and finally relax together.
We decided to go down to the water with our bottle of wine in early evening when the sun was still up, but two hours later, having watched the sun set and the moon rise, even though we had turned into prunes, we were reluctant to get out of the water. What is it about bobbing around in warm water in the dark with the bright moon overhead that makes life just seem so right?
Now I’m back in the real world and am resisting it, unsure of myself, not certain that I want to be here. Tonight as I’m watching the moon rise, this time through the bedroom window, I remember how it was to be bobbing in silky waters of a lake in the deep south; the shimmer of the moonlight on the water, the bugs humming in the trees, the ducks murmuring to each other in the shadows.
And I wish I was floating there under the moon this evening.
Our broker gave husband a little rubber pig to bring with him to the south. They give a pig to everyone going on vacation, asking people to take pictures of the pig in different places, photos they then post on their office wall.
So…here’s what Mr. Piggy did yesterday: First he went on a boat ride…
..to an island where he went swimming with all of us.
Then he explored the island…
..finding lots of interesting places to hang out.
Then he climbed a mountain overlooking the giant lake…
…that had a huge fire tower on it.
All in all it was a very good day.
It’s been a heck of a week, so I don’t have any cohesive thoughts for you…just random things I found interesting. I’ve had car trouble, leaking oil hoses and such and the truck has been in the shop for the better part of the last three days. I had a “rent a wreck” type car that the dealership gave me, but I was afraid to drive it far, so I’ve been “stuck” at the lake. Oh poor me! LOL
Meanwhile, here’s a couple of photos of life here in Alabama…the first is the local polling place. Tuesday was a primary runoff election, so it was open for business.
You can’t see in this photo but besides having a big sign on the door that says “Vote Here” there are little signs on either side of the steps pointing inward that say “vote.” Now I’m pretty sure all the locals knew it was an election day, and where to go, and I really doubt anyone needed the additional signage. But it was cute!
Those of you not from the south might not know about kudzu.
It grows on anything and everything down here. It was introduced from Japan in 1876; now it’s a continual battle just to keep it from over taking our homes! It has a blossom that smells like grape jelly, and if it weren’t so invasive it would be kind of pretty. It often looks like topiary..only it’s out in the wild.
Wednesday I took the boat out on the lake by myself. I haven’t been the sole person in a big boat since I was in my teens, ferrying siblings to their swimming lessons across the lake.
Funny how on this trip I’m relearning skills I took for granted 40 years ago. Being out on the lake was nice, though in the back of my mind I was keeping my fingers crossed that I didn’t have any mechanical problems. I remember paddling the boat home as a kid, and the lake I’m on now is MUCH bigger! So is the boat.
I even got the boat back into the boathouse. I’m glad no one was watching, because it wasn’t pretty, but the boat is unscathed, and the boathouse is still standing. So there. I had to wait for the two white ducks to meander across my bow as I idled into the dock…but you know ducks…they were there first so I waited.
I took the jet ski out later in the evening. The lake is beautiful then, with the low sun making the red clay on the banks just glow.
Husband is flying into Atlanta tomorrow morning, so I’ll have company for the rest of my time down here. We’re driving back up to Michigan in the next few days. Katie is at the kennel.
I’m pretty sure she’s forgotten she even has a mama by now.
This past weekend I visited a friend in Gulf Shores Alabama. Turns out it was the same weekend as the free Jimmy Buffet Concert so you’d think things would be pretty busy. But given the oil spill the beaches, those legendary beautiful soft white beaches, were virtually empty. So sad. Here’s just a couple of photos.
There were teams of people cleaning up the tar balls on the beach, looked a lot like sifting kitty litter. But it was so hot! 98 degrees with heat indexes into the 100 + teens…glad it wasn’t my job.
And offshore were the booms and boats skimming oil off the surface….though it might be difficult for you to see this…
I’m sitting in the truck in the parking lot of the local library, using their wifi. They aren’t open but it’s working OK. Except that it’s HOT. So I’m going back to the house where there is air but no internet. I can’t really see what the photos looked like that I chose, but you get the idea!
Gulf Shores Alabama is beautiful, touristy, ugly, sad and HOT! I had never been there before…and I think I’ll wait to go back until it’s fall or winter and the oil is gone. If that ever happens.
On a good note, my friend has two black labs, so I got my dog fix for the weekend…but I’m really beginning to miss my Katie-girl.
Change Is Hard 
