Fun Monday

The georgeous Gattina of Writer's Cramp, is the Fun Monday boss this week, and this is what she orders:

As I am a very curious person, I just want you to show us a picture of your blogging place ! Your room or bed or whatever space(s) or place(s) you have to write your posts.

You should probably read my previous post, it will explain why I have two spots to blog in.
The first is really Bob's pc, in a corner of our kitchen. This is my temporary blogging home, until tomorrow.

Below is a photo of my blogging corner, in the office. It's really messy, especially right now with the electrical re-do going on.

So, there you have it, my blogging spaces. Be sure to visit everyone at Gattinas' place

Fun Monday - trivia

This week's hosts are the Drama Queens at Mama Drama, all of them, I think. This is what Stephanie, Margaret, and Mindy decree, (imagine getting 3 women to agree on this):

What funny trivial fact do you remember that you probably should have forgotten a long time ago?


Did you know that the study or collection of trivia is known as spermology, which literally means collection of seeds.

What do Gregory Peck, Sidney Poitier, Desi Arnez and Elvis have in common?
They were all truck drivers before coming famous.


All clams start out as males; some decide to become females at some point in their lives.


An ostrich's eye is bigger than its brain.

All photos from Google images

Fun Monday

Well, Lisa couldn't make up her mind this week. So, we can pick our assignment, at least she came up with something, even if it is two things. Here are the choices:

What is one thing you would like to ask your readers? Come up with a question to pose to your visitors and throw it out there on Monday. As we’re all visiting each other’s Fun Monday posts we should answer the various questions we come across.

OR

Show&Tell me about a bird, I’m easily made happy.

I'm going with the second choice. Thanks to all the Fun Mondays I've participated in, since January '08, I know a lot about Fun Monday People, and have made some great blog pals, including our wonderful hostess, so I couldn't think of just one question to pose; but I have a bird story, or two.

One

When I was a girl, a long, long time ago, my family had a parakeet and a Pomeranian dog, Ginger. When the parakeet was out of the cage, it would fly down to the dog and clean her teeth! Yes, clean the Ginger's teeth. Never a problem, Ginger had her own dental hygienist.

Two

When I was in my late 20's, I was working at a Porsche dealer. One day the service manager approached me, she knew I was an animal lover; she had two parrots she needed a home for. She and her husband had gotten a new, larger parrot, and the birds did not get along. Her home was full of screaming birds. I said sure, I'd take them. I became the owner of two Mexican Half-moon Parrots.

Bob was not happy, seriously not happy. The parrots lived in my office, so he wouldn't have to deal with them. They were really great birds, very pretty and vocal. They're names were Gomez and Sanchez. The office was re-labeled The Bird Room, and when Bob was home, we kept the door shut.

About 14 years later, we had lost one, Gomez, and Sanchez was lonely. One day during the summer, Bob and Sharon were out in our garage, and Bob heard a Mexican Half-Moon in the front yard. He told Sharon, "Go in the house and see if Mom's bird is there. If it's outside, Mom's going to kill me."

Sharon checked, and Sanchez was in his cage. So, they brought the cage into the garage, the stray flew to the top if the cage, got on Sharon's finger, and she put it into the cage. I was up to two parrots, again. See, Bob didn't hate the parrots as much as he pretended, the big faker.

Fun Monday - Photo

This is what Angela wants, this week:

Show me your favourite photograph and tell me why it's your favourite.

It can be one you've taken yourself or one someone else has taken, a snapshot or a more professional image. Is there a story behind it? Do you love it for the memories it gives or just because it's pleasing to the eye?

I had a hard time choosing one. My house is full of art, and much of it is photography. So, I limited it to my photos, then I narrowed it down to three. Sorry Angela, it's the best I could do.

This beautiful girl, I snapped at a baseball game, with her Dad's permission.

I love the timeless quality of the shot.

This is Dudley's nose.

This photo always makes me laugh, that's why I like it so much.

Laughter is good.

I love this photo, of the center of a white rose, because of it's mysterious quality.

What is it? Would you have guessed,if I hadn't told you?

I like it both in color and black and white.

Fun Monday - Words

Today's Fun Monday was demanded by Emily and Jennifer of Mothers of Brothers. They claim to just love boys, weird, but they seem OK, so I decided to play. This is what they demand:

Words are our building blocks, our stepping stones, and, for many of us, our salvation. We string them together so quickly at times, we often lose sight of how precious they are. So tell us about your favorite word… or if you can’t pick just one, tell us about a few. Are there certain words that feel good the way they roll of your tongue? Do some words make you feel smart? Or silly? Or happy? Which words do you find yourself selecting to put in your posts? Since this response could be a short one, feel free to poll your family and friends and include some of their favorite words as well. If you think a definition is required, please share one. Please keep the words rated G for all audiences. Any language is acceptable, but please provide a translation. And stick to real words as opposed to ones made up along the way. We then challenge everyone to visit the posts on Monday and try to use other bloggers’ favorite words in your blog next week. We can’t wait to expand our vocabulary!

Many of my favorite words are descriptive and colorful, there are times I’d make a drunken sailor proud; they are not represented in the above mosaic of Wordles, taken from my blogs. When I write my blogs, I am not writing a novel, I'm having fun and I don't know everyone who will read my words; so I keep it clean, and try to keep it positive, and thoughtful.

As you can see, some of my favorite words have to do with books. Book. Novel. Read. This is no surprise to anyone who knows me. I almost always have a book with me, I’m never bored, if I have down time, I rarely day-dream, I read; I escape or learn by diving into the pages of a book.

But, I think the word I love most is Love, really.

Definitions of Love on the Web:
• a strong positive emotion of regard and affection; "his love for his work"; "children need a lot of love"
• any object of warm affection or devotion; "the theater was her first love"; "he has a passion for cock fighting";
• have a great affection or liking for; "I love French food"; "She loves her boss and works hard for him"
• beloved: a beloved person; used as terms of endearment
• a deep feeling of sexual desire and attraction; "their love left them indifferent to their surroundings"; "she was his first love"
• get pleasure from; "I love cooking"
• a score of zero in tennis or squash; "it was 40 love"
• be enamored or in love with; "She loves her husband deeply"
• sexual love: sexual activities (often including sexual intercourse) between two people; "his lovemaking disgusted her"; "he hadn't had any love in months"; "he has a very complicated love life"
• sleep together: have sexual intercourse with; "This student sleeps with everyone in her dorm"; "Adam knew Eve"; "Were you ever intimate with this man?"

Love can be a noun or a verb, (some of the nouns and verbs are not G-rated, so don't read this part if you're a G-ster):

Noun

(n) love (a strong positive emotion of regard and affection) "his love for his work"; "children need a lot of love"
(n) love, passion (any object of warm affection or devotion) "the theater was her first love"; "he has a passion for cock fighting";
(n) beloved, dear, dearest, honey, love (a beloved person; used as terms of endearment)
(n) love, sexual love, erotic love (a deep feeling of sexual desire and attraction) "their love left them indifferent to their surroundings"; "she was his first love"
(n) love (a score of zero in tennis or squash) "it was 40 love"
(n) sexual love, lovemaking, making love, love, love life (sexual activities (often including sexual intercourse) between two people) "his lovemaking disgusted her"; "he hadn't had any love in months"; "he has a very complicated love life"

Verb

(v) love (have a great affection or liking for) "I love French food"; "She loves her boss and works hard for him"
(v) love, enjoy (get pleasure from) "I love cooking"
(v) love (be enamored or in love with) "She loves her husband deeply"
(v) sleep together, roll in the hay, love, make out, make love, sleep with, get laid, have sex, know, do it, be intimate, have intercourse, have it away, have it off, screw, fuck, jazz, eff, hump, lie with, bed, have a go at it, bang, get it on, bonk (have sexual intercourse with) "This student sleeps with everyone in her dorm"; "Adam knew Eve"; "Were you ever intimate with this man?"

Why wouldn't I love LOVE. I love to live, read, cook. I love my family, friends, and blog pals. Recently, my daughter described Bob and I as California granola hippies! Yes, we were around for the Summer of Love. Gotta love her, and I do.

Fun Monday - I'm the Boss

This is our challenge, this week, from Mommy Wisdom: If you were ruler for a day/week/month/year (your choice on the time) you would...ex...make coffee free to all citizens. Or you'd abolish the penny. You may also specify if you're ruler of the world or just your country. Have fun with it; be creative.

Excuse me, perhaps you weren't aware, I am the Ruler of My World. There is only one draw-back, I have no one to delegate to, except Bob, and he just doesn't co-operate all that much. So, this is how it works. I am in charge of just about everything.

✓Most decisions
✓Purchasing

✓Accounting

✓Hiring

✓Firing

✓Scheduling

✓Entertainment

✓Meal Prep, or Dinners out

✓Gardening

✓Reading

This is what I'm not in charge of:

✓Dishwashing

✓Dogwalking

✓Watching TV

It is not an equal division, but it has worked for quite some time.

I have run companies, but I can not imagine ruling the world or a country. But if I could, or did, drumroll please, I would change Adult Reading Habits. I strongly feel that many of the problems we have in the world would be solved, if adults set a better standard (example), regarding reading and books. It's hard for a child to suceed, at many things, if they don't read.

I see it every day, at work. A parent comes to the bookstore with their child's required reading list, and the adult has no idea what these books are. More than half the parents are not readers, and many can't tell you the difference between fiction and non-fiction. True.

So, that's what I would change - Adult Reading Habits. I think we would be a better country, and a better world if everyone enjoyed a good book on a regular basis.

Fun Monday - Careers

Fun Monday is all about Careers, this week. The host is Irish Coffeehouse, and she wants to know what career we aspired to, as a youngster, and what career we would seek out, now.

Well, my tale is simple. I wanted to be a Math Teacher. Of course, I was anything and everything, but never a Math Teacher!

Now, for what I might aspire to be, now that I'm retired, what about Strange Fruit, with the proper training, of course.

Be sure to visit all the participants this week:

1. chrisb 2. Susan 3. Lisa's Chaos 4. Aoj & The Lurchers 5. BS 6. Sayre 7. Rebecca (Ramblings by Reba) 8. Nikki 9. the planet of janet 10. Alison11. mamalang 12. Sarah
13. Mama Drama Stephanie 14. Molly 15. storyteller 16. Arkansas Songbird 17. HOOTIN' ANNI 18. Lisa 19. grace 20. Peter 21. iPost 22. Hula Girl 23. faye 24. SWAMPY-WITCH
25. Gattina 26. Jan2 7. Karina 28. Karisma 29. ari_1965 30. MommyWizdom 7/28 HOSTESS 31. Kaytabug 32. Cruise Mom 33. Judy

Fun Monday - Fave B'day

My all time fave birthday was my 43rd.

This is the back story - When Bob turned 40, he's 4 years older than moi, I threw him a bang-up surprise birthday party. I rented adjoining suites at the Newporter Inn, right on the Bay. With the help of some of his cop buddies, we filled the bathtubs with beer and wine, and I had all kinds of nibbles, all over. I only invited his friends, none of mine, unless they were mutual friends. No one spilled the beans, either. That evening. I took Bob out to dinner at a swank place. He commented during dinner, Gee, you seem kind of excited tonight.

So, I pulled a hotel key out of my jacket pocket, this was in 1980 and hotels still used actual keys, and wiggled my eyebrows. Oh, he thought he knew what was coming. So we finished dinner and drove to the hotel. Boy, was he surprised. Both suites were full of his friends, police and civilians. It really was a wonderful night, eyebrows are wiggling. My Dad and Mom had been divorced and were remarried, and not friendly, but they and their spouses came. My Dad brought Carrie and Sharon, who were 10 and 12. It was great. So, Bob's 40th is one of my fave b'day stories.

Now, forward to my 40th, I was expecting payback, and nothing happened. Oh, I had a nice birthday, of course, but I was thinking Bob might try to get even for giving him a heart attack on his 40th. Nada.

So, my 43rd comes around, this is seven years later. My birthday was on Wednesday, a work day, we had a nice family dinner out, and that was about it. At the time I was running a garage, auto air conditioning, and we were open 1/2 day each summer Saturday. We were so busy in the summer, I'd tell Bob, See you in the fall or not at all. So, Saturday 7/11, four days after my birthday, I worked my 1/2 day and came home. I was in jeans and cowboy boots, and I was tired; didn't even notice all the extra cars on the street. I walked into my living room, and I just didn't get it.

The entire ceiling, including the adjacent kitchen was filled with pink helium filled balloons with silver streamers hanging down. (It took Bob and the girls several trips in the VW van to get them all.) When I got half way in about 60 family and friends yelled SUPRISE!!! Boy I sure was. Every one I could think of was there; it was really the best ever. Since this was 7 years later, my girls were 17 & 19, and were able to help Bob a great deal.

This guy wasn't there. But I got his photo and all the others from Google images.

So, guess what I got for my birthday, my 64th, last week? We've been in our house 10 years, and after that time things need to be replace or updated. So, last week we got 2 new toilets. Super Duper mega water saving, mega power flush toilets. Jen would be so proud of us. Woo Woo.

I just thought of another fave b'day. I spent my 24th birthday in labor, with Carrie. She was born 27 minutes after midnight, a logical girl that she is, arranged to have her own birthday. Boy was that a relief.

See why I love birthdays? They're the best.

Now go visit all the other Birthday revelers at our hostess, Penny @ Dungarees Ablaze. She's quite a party girl, and I can't wait to read her post, and all the other great Fun Monday'ers, (a new word!!)

Fun Monday - Fish

This week Fun Monday is hosted by Olive, who declared a brain fart when she thought of hosting. This is what she demands of us, this week.

I would like to hear about your *whopper* of a fishing story. Yes, you heard it correctly whether it is fictional or non fictional I want to hear a fishing story from you. An example would be if you catch a minnow and tell it that you caught a swordfish (exaggeration is the operative word here). Did you hear me say show your photo(s)? Of course you did – be creative.

I'm really not participating in FM, because I don't fish. I do like fish and I like to eat fish, I just don't fish. I haven't owned a fishing rod since I was a little girl, and that's eons ago.

Neither of these children are me.

These guys aren't me either.

Here's a fish lesson, on something.

Maybe something you always wanted to know.

Here's some kissy-face fish humor.

One last laugh.

I created the mosaics here, from imaged I found a Google images. Now, visit all the FMers at Olives.

Fun Monday

This week Fun Monday is brought to us by one of my fav blog-pals, Lisa. This is what she wants: I would like to know what your quirks are. Confess to one, confess to ten, you decide. Just come back Monday ready to spill the beans, the rest of the world may look at you like you are from Mars, but you‘re among friends here. We won’t laugh, in fact that eccentricity just may endear you to us more.

The truth is, and don't repeat this, I'm not normal. I've always marched to my own drummer, and just gotten on down the road the best I can. So, you see, it's hard for me to identify a quirk or two, because I'm not normal. I asked Bob what he thought my quirks were and he's so acustomed to me, he was equally stymied. However, I really wanted to play, today, so I did come up with one or two. I know there must be more, but......

My first quirk, I'm sure almost no one else has, I eat oatmeal most mornings, this is not the quirk, year round; and I don't like a bowl of plain oatmeal. I like my oatmeal jazzy, that's it.

So instead of getting out all my jazzy ingredients each and every morn, I make up Jan's Jazzy Oatmeal packets, in assembly fashion, about 40 at a time. This way I don't have to do it all that often. I used the ingredients I like the best. They give my oatmeal the Jazzy part.

I add a heaping soup spoon full, this is very scientific you know, of walnut halves,

dried cranberries

golden raisins to a sandwich-sized zip-lock baggie.

Doesn't that look beautiful, yummy and jazzy?

Then I add a half cup of oatmeal, zip it up,

and store it on top of the fridge, next to the dog treats.

My other quirky thing, that I admit to, also involves food. No, I don't weigh 300 lbs., yet. When I make tuna sandwiches, I add diced celery, chopped sweet pickles, mayo and sliced almonds to the tuna. Bet you haven't heard of that one, either.

Now go visit all the FM playes, at Lisa's Chaos.

Fun Monday - Old Clothes

This is what HulaGirlAtHeart wants: After much thought and consideration I’ve come up with the following topic….clothing…specifically clothing you can’t get rid of. We all have at least one or two items of clothing that we can’t part with, even if we can’t or don’t wear them.

So that's what she gets, old clothes. I have a system in my closet, and not much gets saved for too long, if I've stopped wearing it, or it's out of style, it's history.

Here are the Few, The Proud, the Exceptions:

A pink satin LAPD jacket, can you say IRONIC?

This sweatshirt is over 30 years old. I rarely wear it, but it's a keeper.

I've blogged a lot, recently, about my wedding, and my wedding dress. Last month was our 44th wedding anniversary. So, I pulled my creation from the closet, and took a couple of close-ups of the details. On the back, 34 hand covered buttons, and an addtional 11, on each sleeve. Thats 56, little covered buttons, a dressmakers Hell, but I did it, I was on a budget.

The last photo is of Bob and I with my Grandma Sorenson, she passed five months later, at 80.

No modeling, sorry.

Be sure to visit all the Fun Monday participants at HulaGirlAtHeart, and thanks for stopping by.

Fun Monday - Participants

Announcement: Next weeks Fun Monday Host will be the fabulous and fun HulaGirlAtHeart, I can't wait to see what she has planned.

Now, visit all of this weeks Fun participants:

Molly, Return of the White Robin

chrisb, Mscellania

Heather, Heather's Recipes

Janet, from the planet of janet

Junebug, godputasmileuponmyface

Aoj, Aoj & The Lurchers

Judy, Grand Life

SwampAngel65, A Florida Journal

Peter, holtieshouse

Gattina, Writer's Cramps

HulaGirlAtHeart, Growing Older But Not Up

Nikki, My Husband Calls Me Weird

Faye, Summit Musings

Rose, La Vie en Rose

Sayre, SayreSmiles

grace, mamarehema

Cazzie!!!, I Don't Do Mornings!!!

Hootin' Anni, Hootin' Anni's

Jo, Jo Beaufoix

Arkansas Songbird, Quarter Notes

Lisa, Lisa's Chaos

Olive, Ur Olive

Cruisemom, Confessions of a Corporate Escapee

ellen b, Happy Wonderer

Margaret, Just Me....

Mariposa, Mariposa's Tales

ari_1965, Beyond My Slab

Cori G.
http://gingerbreadcrumbsandcompany.blogspot.com/

Baba
http://babaslog.blogspot.com/

Erin
http://www.runningatlarge.wordpress.com/

Mamalang
http://mamalang.blogspot.com/

storyteller
http://smallreflections.blogspot.com/

Betty
http://bettysthisandthat.blogspot.com/


If you've decided to participate, and your name isn't on this list, just leave a comment.

Fun Monday - Walls

P is for Prytz Family.

These two photos are in my office.

The top one is Babe Ruth paying his bail at the Long Beach Police Department.

The bottom on is Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig, duck hunting with a local car dealer, Glenn E. Thomas.

I love Cowboys, and these two prints of photos by Douglas Kent Hall, are in our bedroom.

And, below is the wall of bikes, and wheels, in the garage.

This is the art in our dining room.
The first on is one of Bob's watercolors.

I love this print; with it in the room, I don't think you really need a window.
I've had it for about 35 years.

These two are on the side and back of the niche for our TV.

As you might guess, I love Black and White Photography.

In the Living Room, we have lots of mirrors.
They bounce the light around in a small room.

In the guest room, used mostly by grandchildren,

we have a couple of groupings.

Thanks for visiting, now check out everyone else's walls.

Fun Monday - Walls

I will host Fun Monday on June 16th. The subject is walls. We all have walls of some sort. What I want to hear about and see, if you're going to show off your amazing photo skills, is what is on your walls, what color are your walls, what is special about them, what is your favorite or least favorite, is it inside or outside. You get the idea, let's show and tell about walls. Leave a comment to let me know you're playing on the 16th.

Use this format to R.S.V.P:

Your Name

Your Blogs Name

http://hello.world.com/

Fun Monday

Molly is hosting this week, and this is what she wants:

For your assignment tell us about a happy memory from your childhood. If you have pictures, please show us your pictures.

Many of my happiest memories from my childhood involve camping.

We weekend tent camped, frequently at a place called Black Canyon. Sounds ominous doesn't it? It was a beautiful spot deep in the San Bernardino National Forest. At the time, about 55 years ago, it was quite remote. It was reached by driving down, down, down a long and twisting one lane road, with the canyon drop-off on one side and the mountain on the other. If two cars encountered each other, the one coming downhill, had to back up, until there was a place for them to pass each other. Very scary for a child. Once we were there and camp set up, we could roam at will. Fish, climb rocks and boulders, hike, generally have a great time. Since we were girls, sometimes we would go to our favorite huge boulder, climb up and have a tea party.

When we were young pre-teens and teenagers, our family frequently spent a week or two in August, camping in the Redwoods in Northern California. A favorite was Humboldt Redwoods State Park. It was long drive to get there, over 635 miles, but it was well worth the drive. It was and is, a paradise. Redwood trees as tall as the sky, and as big around as a truck. Lots of places to roam and hike. Each summer that we ventured there, Mom and Dad brought canning supplies, and we picked blackberries for blackberry jam. Making jam in the Redwoods was traditional in our family. We had many lazy days, too. Sometimes we would sit on the split-rail fence that bordered the Avenue of the Giants and wave at the logging trucks that zoomed by. Logging was still going strong in the '50's. At night there were Ranger talks in an outdoor amphitheater. There was always a huge roaring campfire going and after the talk there'd be community singing. It was a wonderful time for everyone.

When we were in 7-12th grades we were active in Mariner Scouting, a branch of the Girl Scouts. Camping with our "ship", frequently involved co-op camping with our brother Sea Scout "ship". Since these were co-ed camping trips, my Dad took his vacations to go with us. When we arrived at out destination, usually a near-by State Beach on the California coast, we'd set up a huge group tent for everyone: boys, girls and adults. The theory was that if every thing was out in the open, there'd be less 'trouble' (that meant s-e-x), and they were right. Our tent was made of parachute nylon, strung between the available trees. In the morning, if you wanted breakfast, you made it yourself. After all we were scouts, and knew how to do things, and there was plenty of ingredients available. The same went for lunch. This was much less work for the adults, and we cleaned up after ourselves. For dinner, there were rotating teams in charge, and everyone ate together. During the day we were free to do as we wished, hiking, fishing, exploring the nearby towns.

Of the couples who met through our scout groups, all are still married except one.

Jan and Bob - that's us, 44 years

Sue and Steve - that's my sister, 43 years

Ginny and Lloyd - 45 years

Dianne and Dick - 40 years

Denny and Carlene - divorced, then Denny married Sherrilynn - divorced, then he married an outsider, but very nice, and that marriage lasted.

Now, go visit all the happy memories at Return of the White Robin

Fun Monday

Karisma is hosting Fun Monday this week and this is what she has to say:

The topic for Fun Monday this week is......

I MADE IT MYSELF!

I think the title pretty much says it all, but for those of you who may still be wondering, I would like to see or hear about things you have made with your own two hands (or feet, I'm not fussy!) We all have different talents and abilities, maybe you like to sew or knit, chisel or sculpt, draw or paint? Whatever your talent is, please share it with us this week.

Da Rules.....

Well there are not any really! But you know, we all know that you made your kids so lets NOT choose them this time. (After all you did not make them with your hands or feet did you?)

And for those of you who are freaking out because you make "everything" with your hands, how about you just choose a few of your favourites!)

Those of you who are freaking out because "You never make things with your hands". Get off your lazy butt and make something! You have four days.....now get to it! (You could always bake a cake!) The possibilities are endless!

If you would like to join up, leave me a comment and I will add you to the list! (If you have more than one blog, please leave a link too! Cheers!) are about things you have made with your own two hands (or feet, I'm not fussy!) We all have different talents and abilities, maybe you like to sew or knit, chisel or sculpt, draw or paint? Whatever your talent is, please share it with us this week.

I've made a lot of different things over the years. I knit, crochet, paint and make jewelry. I've made stained glass and art prints. I love to cook, and have a cooking blog, with some original recipes.

One of my favorite memories is making Blackberry Jam while we were camping near Sedona, in Oak Creek Canyon. We were there for a month, in August of 1977. Our daughters were 7 and 9. We were camping on our trailer, not really roughing it in a tent.

I hadn't planned on making Blackberry Jam. We weren't prepared for it, at all. But when I found blackberries ready to be picked, tons of wonderful, ripe blackberries, I couldn't resist. We were down in the canyon picking blackberries by the bucketfuls, and the rattlesnakes were rattling away; warning us of their presence. Bob ascended to the top of the canyon shouting, Be Careful, Get Away, Come Up Here; you know warning things.

I was determined and used a stick to keep the rattlers at bay; and got all the blackberries I needed, and a few extra. After gathering the fruit, we had to go into town to buy canning jars, sugar and pectin; I had a large dutch oven for cooking. When we got back to camp we proceeded to make a huge batch of jam.

While the cooking was going on, our camping neighbors wandered over to our campsite to see what the wonderful smell was, and what we were doing. When we were finished and the jam was cooling, it was fun to hear the pop, pop, pop of the Ball canning lids sealing. We ate this camp-made jam for a couple of years.

This brought back wonderful memories of camping with my Dad and Mom in the Redwoods. Many summers, in August, as a youngster we would tent camp, and we always made Blackberry Jam. August is Blackberry Jam making time.

CREDITS: Most photos are from the University of Wisconsin (Madison) botany gopher. The large Texas pink blackberry flower, and its associated berries, were photographed by J.R. Manhart, for the TAMU Botany Department Herbarium image gallery, and National Geographic.

Fun Monday - Vacations

This week's hostess is Alison at RDH Mom, and she wants to know:

Vacations...this is the time of year when most of us go on vacations. Show us and/or tell us about your favorite vacation - where you went, what you did, etc. Pictures would be great. Let's all take a trip around a the world via our FM friends!!

I have a lot of favorites, but one I'm hoping to repeat, soon, is this one:

A cruise to Bermuda!

The first time we were in NYC, I decided we should do something New Englanders do for vacation. We'd been to the Carribean several times and we've seen most of the U.S., all but Alaska, so when we were ready to leave NYC, we got on a cruise ship and sailed to Bermuda.

This was our itenerary:

Sun New York City - 4:00 PM
Mon At Sea - -
Tue At Sea - -
Wed King's Wharf 8:00 AM Overnight
Thu Overnight Kings Wharf, Bermuda - -
Fri King's Wharf - 7:00 AM
Fri Hamilton 9:00 AM 5:00 PM
Sat At Sea - -
Sun New York City 8:00 AM -

We had a wonderful time. Bermuda is a British colony and they've chosen to remain so. And the men really do wear Bermuda Shorts with their suit jackets, for business attire. The islands are connected by bridges, and it's very easy to get around. A day-pass for their bus/ferry system allows all the rides you want on land or sea.

I had brought my handy Frommer's travel guide, and I was our tour guide. We walked our legs off, total fun.

Bermuda is very historical, and very connected to the U.S. It was discovered by via ship-wreck, the ship was bound for Jamestown. The survivors re-built their ship, went on to Jamestown, decided they like Bermuda better, and recruited settlers to return to Bermuda with them.

During the War for Independence, England used Bermuda to launch attacks on us. Bermuda is about 650 miles due east of North Carolina.

These are from Bermuda Images 001

These are Gombe Dancers, photos by nelsy. We were facinated by these dancers.

Fun Monday

This week's host is Mariposa, and this is the assignment: FUN Monday is for us to have