Simply A Musing Blog

After our teepee debacle a couple of weeks ago, I thought I would post some identifying photos "just in case" you find yourself cleaning up in the yard or taking a nature hike...or your kids decide to decorate their teepee with some poison ivy. This is the front side of the tree, perfectly harmless little suckers (I'm not being vulgar - that's what they're called) growing all over the front: But walk around to the back with me. Yep. Just as I suspected. Poison ivy. Can you see it? If ever in doubt, remember this little poem, "Leaves of three, leave them be." So simple a toddler can remember it - if you ever teach them, that is. Let's take a closer look. Hmm...1...2...3. I'm itching already. How about you? Look on the bright side! Subscribe via my RSS feed.

I'm gearing up to finish some projects around here, so I am basically posting to tell you that I'm not posting. I've taken a couple of days off because I haven't been feeling well (I thought it was just nerves before Tuesday's show that made me so sick), but apparently, it was some sort of nasty stomach bug that I caught from my kids. Good to know, huh? I am feeling MUCH better today and am hoping to catch back up on the designs. But never fear! I have fresh new blog fodder for you - it's just not here. I have a guest post up at Heather's place - she's on vacation and asked some folks to fill in for her and I raised my hand as though I didn't have anything else going on and volunteered! (I'm a glutton, I tell you!) So please don't leave me hanging as a guest poster - go visit Heather's blog and read my post - and it wouldn't hurt my feelings one bit if you left a little comment luv as well. :) I've got a delicate psyche, you know....

Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom, must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it. ~ Thomas Paine Look on the bright side! Subscribe via RSS.

I may not have been raised in a barn, but I know a good thing when I see it. Chick-Fil-A's 4th annual Cow Appreciation Day is coming up on July 11th, where your family can get a free meal just by dressing up like a cow. Click on the first picture to enlarge so you can read it. If you click on the second photo, it will take you to the Cow Tipping Book, which is loaded with page after page of costume ideas and what is acceptable. Remember the day! Bon Appetit and remember to "eat Chikin!" Look on the bright side! Subscribe via RSS.

¿ǝsoɥʇ ɟo ǝuo ǝʌɐɥ ɹǝʌǝ ˙sʎɐp uʍop ǝpısdn ǝsoɥʇ ɟo ǝuo ʇsnɾ sı sıɥʇ ǝɹǝɥ ʞuıl ǝɥʇ ǝǝs Look on the bright side! Subscribe via RSS.

This year's winner of the annual Charmin Toilet Paper Wedding Dress contest cleaned up. (sorry, I just can't help myself)I still have a hard time believing anyone would spend three months working on a toilet paper wedding dress for the chance to win only $1000. I mean, you'd think that they'd at least throw in a lifetime supply of Charmin, wouldn't you? Look on the bright side! Subscribe via RSS.

Just a couple of weeks ago, I asked for some help - and y'all delivered in a mighty big way. I thank ye kindly. :) Now, one of my blogging friends needs some help - the coolest thing has happened - she has had three of her photos chosen to be included in a gallery for Nikon. Even BETTER is the fact that she could win a prize for click-throughs! So I'm asking from one blogger to another - can we help a sister out, here? She's an awesome person - if you've never "met" Robin, you don't know what you're missing. Head over to her place to see what all the hoopla is about and let's get her a prize, shall we? Look on the bright side! Subscribe via RSS.

Has this week just flown by at mock speed or is it just me? It's already the middle of June and I haven't accomplished one thing around my house that I said I was going to do - I've got sewing projects galore, scrapbooking items strewn from one end of my house to the other, a painting project for one of the kid's rooms, I need to finish texturizing my hall and finish painting it as well. I'm thinking I might just continue to procrastinate on it until July - I work so much better under pressure. :) A couple of things to let you know about - I'm all about the lists (have one right here on my desk with about 42 kajillion items on it!): 1. The winner of yesterday's Mystery Photo was Stephanie from Adventures in Babywearing! Congrats, Steph! You get no prize with-a just-a one-a meat-aball. Er...what I meant to say was - there's no prize for this, just my heartfelt thanks for playing along and a hefty congratulations for being the first to correctly guess th...

This morning I was browsing through my drafts folder and realized I start alot of entries that I never finish. I have the best of intentions - I plan on finishing them...but for whatever reason I don't. The longer the draft sits, the harder it is for me to complete it. Part of the reason is that I am a forgetful soul and the prompt "New pool blues" just isn't enough of a hint for me to remember exactly what it was that I was planning on writing about. Oh, I'm sure it was something deep and theological (not), but the fact that I have at least 22 drafts sitting unfinished is slightly disturbing to me. I mean, you'd think I could at least finish one of them, right? Here are some examples: 1. Chuck and his tomato plants. How everything grows twice the size in Alaska due to the sun. The desire to grow things and yourself should never stop. With age comes the desire to create new life and nurture it. Now, I'm sure that was going to be a good one, but I have for...

"What starts out as a hobby for some can end up permeating their lives and minds. Some of the diarists post repeatedly throughout the day, juggle several blogs and feel anxious if they don't write. Most dedicated bloggers say the endeavor has enriched their lives, but some worry about finding balance and keeping their obsession in check." I don't want this to ever be me...so I'm taking the day off to enjoy with my daughter, who is coming home from camp today. I'm seeking some serious balance - my brain is fried from all the design work and Wordpress studying I'm doing. Y'all have a terrific Friday and I'll see you back here Saturday, bright and early! And guess what? I might just have that giveaway to announce...who knows? Look on the bright side! Subscribe via RSS.

Four of my six brothers served in a branch of the military - three in the Navy and one in the Army. None of them were harmed. Some men and women don't make it back home. Today is the day set aside for honoring them. Have you ever read the history of Memorial Day ? Every man and woman that is serving our country is somebody's brother, sister, aunt, uncle, son, daughter, mom, or dad. If you know someone who has served or is currently serving, please take a moment today and thank them for staying awake on their watch so we can sleep in peace. Look on the bright side! Subscribe via RSS.

The autopost feature on blogger is driving me a little bit nuts at the moment. I can't figure out what time zone it has me in, so the post I had scheduled for midnight is being held hostage in my drafts folder. "UnHAND it, I say!" Also, did anyone notice that the last three posts all ended with exclamation points? Apparently, I was very excited. That is all. Look on the bright side! Subscribe via RSS.

That title really has no bearing on what I'm writing, I just felt like using it because yesterday someone told me that I was a woman of great testicular fortitude - and it made me laugh so hard that I thought about that song. We have had some mighty severe thunderstorms here in my neck of the woods the past couple of days, so that's why my writing has been sorely lacking. Every time I sign on to blog, I have to shut it down because lightning is shooting across the skies, threatening me that if I don't shut down, it's going to blow up my new computer. Which means I haven't been able to finish the new projects I'm working on. It's a tad bit difficult to work on a web page template when you can't be online. (My laptop doesn't really work for trying to do "fine detail" work, either) Thankfully, the rain has stopped, so maybe I'll get some of my work done on the computer now. :) I did make good on my promises to my two youngest ones yesterda...

Between homeschooling, caring for my mother, running our family business, and my design business, I'm finding myself a tad bit overextended. My blog is seriously neglected and I'm starting to wonder if I'll ever find the time (or energy) to sit and write a post that doesn't include youtube or my design blog's newest header. So this is what I'm going to try -- a schedule based very loosely on topics I like and enjoy - along with some of my more serious postings when I can fit them in. (which will be often) I spend my days living life, listening to the hilarious things that come out of my kid's mouths, and then when I sit down to write, I have amnesia. I can't remember a thing that happened during the day. Only that I'm tired. That's pretty much it. Oh, and the fact that this week? "Aunt Flo" came for a visit - and she's been kicking my behind. And my back. Not to mention giving me an ache in the side. But I digress...I want to write...

1. Revisiting Celebrity Retouching (rethink that diet and those botox shots, ladies) 2. Etsy Pounce (hat tip to Chili - this is an easy way to see new shops @ etsy without being overwhelmed) 3. Start Sampling (A try before you buy site offering quality samples for free) 4. File it under "Weirdos" (Russian mobile saunas) 5. This is why I don't have chickens. and finally...from someone who isn't into Intelligent Design or Creation, but presents an excellent case for ID and Creation through this movie, (heck, even Ken Ham who is the President of the worlds largest creation museum in Kentucky said this was a film no one should miss), which I urge you all to see: 6. Have you been hiding under a rock? Look on the bright side! Subscribe via RSS. Technorati Tags: sunday links , expelled the movie , Texas

Fabulous 70's Look on the bright side! Subscribe via RSS. Technorati Tags: trivia , 70's trivia , Texas

This month marks the one year anniversary of The Recipe Roundup and Rebecca , our founder, if giving away one awesome cookbook to one lucky participant. This month's theme is "Sandwiches" and is hosted by my new friend Dorothy over at Field Stone Cottage . Get your best sandwich recipe ready to post and then link up on Thursday, April 17th with Dorothy! Now, a few things you may not know about the love affair we Americans have with the sandwich: According to industry experts, the average American eats 193 sandwiches a year, the all-time favorite being ham. The average American student will have consumed approximately 1,500 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches upon graduation from high school. It is estimated that Americans eat 300 million sandwiches each day - that's more than one for every man, woman and child in the nation! The Dagwood is named after Dagwood Bumstead, Blondie’s husband from the popular comic strip called, “Blondie.” Every game day, basketball supersta...

A couple of weeks ago my husband and I were having our weekly-stay-at-home date night, watching our $1 Redbox movie, and munching down on some buttery-goodness microwave popcorn when our unusually affectionate cat jumped from my lap down into the floor and proceeded to limp away as though both her hips had been broken. She was crouched down on the floor and every time her back legs would try to gain footing under her, her hips would give out and she couldn't move. I paused the movie and watched her intently for a few minutes, noting how she kept wincing in pain and trying to get back up on the couch. She was bawling like a baby and really had stirred my feelings of empathy when I asked my husband what he thought we should do about it. I was concerned that she had hurt herself in some way and we were going to have to take her to the vet, something we couldn't really afford to do at the moment. He said, "Turn the movie back on, Karen." I thought he was so heartless. Ang...

Yet again I find myself making an apology for leaving everyone hanging about a prayer request. Thanks so much for your concern and your prayers - I have to say that I have been overwhelmed by the amount of emails from y'all checking on my mom and I truly appreciate it. She is resting comfortably at home now after a brief stint in the hospital that began on Friday night when she was rushed to the ER via ambulance. I had gone over to her house to help my SIL with her meds (mom's pain management Dr has her on such high doses of painkillers for her back that she has been blacking out and her Internist is trying to wean her off, but her body is CRAVING the drugs) and mom told me she felt like her heart was about to jump out of her chest and she was extremely shaky. I thought her blood pressure might be elevated, so I went to get her bp cuff and after taking her blood pressure, I turned to put the cuff back into its holder. When I turned back around, she was having what I would call ...

Mom's appointment for her MRI was a huge DISappointment, as we found out she could not have one. She has a tens unit implant from several years ago in her back for relieving her back pain, and because of that, they were unable to do an MRI. The nurse said that her back would fry in that spot, so wisely, we elected not to go through with it. Instead, her Dr. was called and she ordered a CT scan of mom's brain. We should know the results sometime on Monday. Last night, mom was doing much better - she was still tired, but she had no memory of yesterday morning's events. She is of course, frightened and concerned that she's having mini-strokes. She does not want to end up like her sister, who was incapable of caring for herself for the last seven of eight years of her life and had to end up staying in a nursing home. I feel guilty, because my brother and his wife live with my parents and they are both so tired and burned out from his illness that they no longer have the en...