Taps

{Taps}

Day is done,

gone the sun,

From the hills,

from the lake,

From the skies.

All is well,

safely rest,

God is nigh.

Go to sleep,

peaceful sleep,

May the soldier

or sailor,

God keep.

On the land

or the deep,

Safe in sleep.

Love, good night,

Must thou go,

When the day,

And the night

Need thee so?

All is well.

Speedeth all

To their rest.

~~~

Sky Watch Friday

Do join us!

Well, Imagine That!

Just a quick note today -

The {VA blogfest} I had an absolute blast at earlier this month with 20 or so other gals (and a few lovely guys), made the {front page} of the local paper! And I'm sayin' it here - I vote we redescend on Mathews County VA for our second blogfest as well! Watch out {Chesapeake Bay Woman}, you just might get exactly what you asked for! All of us next summer!

Gotta run!

~~~

xoabb

expect nuthin' from me some days!

Not a Holiday...A Blogiday?

I just can't seem to find a rhythm to my daylight hours.

A discombobulated mess, that's what I am!

And while combobulation* will soon again reign supreme,

It's just not happening right now.

Pooh!

~~~

xoabb

expect anything!

*Combobulation: "A combination of things. Usually in a hectic and chaotic manner, but connected enough to make sense."* (From Urban Dictionary)

*~Combobulation~

That describes me perfectly!

How could I not know???

Golfing with the Birthday Boy...

Dude! We really need to work on your form....

And that would be called a whiff.

It's certainly not a practice swing.

Men!

(young or old, whatever their age, they're all the same!)

~~~

xoabb

Loving a GREAT round of golf with the Con-Man!

P. S. What a lovely afternoon birthday boy Connor-Man, his mom and I had! We played a 9-hole par-3 course and had just the very best time! I've definitely decided this is the kind of golf course for me! To heck with 18 holes! Who needs them? We three had a perfect afternoon - think we'll repeat it often!

Sunday Serenity

First Harvest

~~~

xoabb

expect anything!

P.S. The above ~harvest bag~ was a gift from my dear friend Kate.

Do yourself a very big favor and visit her blog!

It's most worthwhile!

The World According to Stella

WOOF!

~~~

xoabb

expect anything!

P. S. See those four pitiful looking baskets of what are supposed to be lush and gorgeous petunias? They were - lush and gorgeous that is - until I took my little side trip to Missouri. The two hanging baskets are both in spots that get no rain...and no one thought to look and see if possibly they were wilting. The two that are on the pedestals do get rain, but wouldn't you know, the week I was gone was the week we had the least rain, and no one thought to look at them. I keep on watering them hoping for a miraculous resurrection, but my hopes are being dashed upon the cruel rocks of despair. They were so beautiful once...(sigh).

Stella has thanked us profusely for taking those bushes out (remember "Give a guy a chainsaw"?). It gives her an ideal place to watch her world even under rainy conditions. We are always happy to oblige our Stella's every desire!

SWF - One Last Look

Ms. D taking in the magnificent Chesapeake

one last time...

And a last Chesapeake moment of enchantment for me.

Oh, the memories that were made here

with friends, be they old or new...

Simply put? Magical!

~~~

xoabb

expect anything!

Skywatch Friday

Do join us!

A Taste of Home

Got home from VA Blog Fest last Sunday night to an ongoing fishing fiesta taking place at our Sasqua Pond. Daughter Brynn and friends had already caught 4 bass, but I only got to photograph the fifth bass caught, (all 5 of which were between 2 and 5 pounds!). Below is a pic of Josh and his personal first-ever-caught-large-mouth-bass! (The fifth & final fish caught.)

We're circle of life eaters, so, of course, all decent-sized fish caught were dressed/cleaned and became part of a wonderful dinner. Must tell you, there's simply no better eating than fresh-water fish.

Brynnly's been taught very well by her Grand Roger about the art of cleaning fish, and by her Grandma Mary about the art of cooking fish. Thus, I, (mom) have nothing to do other than to eat the fish and love every single bite! Simply nothing better! (Leftovers make for the best breakfast you'll ever have! Do plan to have leftovers.)

~~~

xoabb

expect anything!

Feeling a Bit Crabby of Late...

Do NOT mess with me!

I may be in a basket,

But I still can snap!

It's an ~Old Crab House~

On the Chesapeake Shore -

Something I've not seen.

Imagine this dock

With it's full bushel baskets -

Teeming with blue crabs.

Quite a modern scene,

But the look of something old...

Tales to be told here!

Such perfect tumblers!

Full of memories spent with

All my ~blogfest~ friends.

~~~

xoabb

expect anything!

P.S. The Waterman'sWife and her hubs took all us VA Blogfest attendees on a wonderful boat tour all around their part of the phenomenal Chesapeake Bay. While we saw incredible sights on the bay, I was really taken by the blue crab-related story told while nearing shore.

And the Tervis Tumblers? Aren't they just wonderful?? Angie took it upon herself to special order them for all of us! I LOVE them! (I think it was Angie who did the tumblers - if it was someone else, oops, sorry and let me know!)

Oh, and take a minute to visit Chesapeake Bay Woman - she has many memories of our wonderful time...excuse me, I'm fogging up....

Still Life

Flowers...wine opener...very relaxed cat...

(Maybe we humans could learn a thing or two...)

HUH???

~~~

xoabb

expect anything!

A Groggy Hello...Definitely Groggy...

Above is Farley - one of the many fairies that watched over we intrepid VA Blogfest attendees this past weekend. Farley is a Sea Shanty resident - she took very good care of the six* of us while we were staying in her Sea Shanty home.

I'm tired, exhausted, verklempt - and all because of a weekend of unbelievable fun & frivolity while meeting folks who will be a part of my life for years to come.

I do hope CBW (our intrepid hostess, along with BHE) knows we're all descending on her Mathews County home next year for a repeat of this year's VA blogfest gathering (though next year, we're doin' the work and she's doin' the relaxin'!).

I've been on a lot of vacations in my life (I'm old, remember??), but there are only a few I remember as purely magical. This past VA blogfest weekend most definitely was magical - purely magical. I'll treasure the memories forever. Yup, forever! And I thank you all for that!

~~~

xoabb

expect anything!

*Sea Shanty residents: Moi, Mental Pause Mama, Country Girl Kate, Daryl of the M104, Asthma Girl Di & The Baroness

VA Blogfest!

I don't know...

Perhaps I could still fit the kitchen sink in there?

For cryin' out loud, it's just 3 days!

So why is packing so hard???

~~~

xoabb

expect anything!

Cocktails & Pellets Every Evening @ 5-ish...

Cocktail time for the humans....

And feeding time for the albino catfish...

...and the mallards

Part of the daily routine at my parents home is feeding time. Every evening around the cocktail hour for we humans, dad also feeds the ducks and catfish. All you have to do is walk to the edge of the pond and the catfish are there swimming about waiting, impatiently it seems, to be fed. I took over the feeding several days while there, and dad - he who claims not to be a dog guy - told me it was very important when flinging the food pellets to be sure to let several "accidently" fall out of your hand behind you for Cody. Yep, dad is definitely not a dog guy.

Oh, and if we don't get around to feeding the ducks when they think they should be fed? Up they come on the deck, to the porch windows. Then they stand there peering in and all the while quacking rather indignantly. Such demanding fish and ducks my parents have!

~~~

xoabb

expect anything!

Sunday Serenity - Two Thoughts...

Flowers are the sweetest things God

ever made and forgot to put a soul into.

- Henry Ward Beecher, Life Thoughts

Are we, finally, speaking of nature or culture when
we speak of a flower (nature), that has been bred (culture)
so that its blossoms (nature) make men
imagine (culture) the sex of women (nature)?
It may be this sort of confusion that we need more of.
- Michael Pollan, Second Nature, 1991

~~~

xoabb

expect anything!

Contemplation

More Sweets & A Little Night Music

It amazes me that one sweet pea plant can have so many different colored blossoms - and on one plant! No true blue but every other shade in between blue and red. Above is a closeup of the bouquet dad picked for mom Tuesday. The vase they're in is a beauty that Bari Precious (and yes, that really is her name) of Precious Pots created - all of her ceramic works are wonderful. I'm pleased to tell you they all came home this afternoon! All is good. And it look's like it's finally only going to get better. Slooooowly better. But better all the same.

Cody and I went down to the edge of mom and dad's pond last night to ~commune~ with nature. Well, I communed. Cody thought it was her sworn duty to protect me from all the swooping bats, white catfish and frogs in and around the pond. Speaking of frogs, at one point I could make out at least five different frog songs. It was quite a lovely symphony. And so very very peaceful. I also slept well that night, again without Cody as she was still taking care of Dad during the night since mom was still in the hospital. I fully expect to have my roommate back with me tonight. That tickles me pink!

Though the sound isn't the best,

here is a little taste of the froggy night music. Enjoy!

~~~

xoabb

expect anything!

Sweet Peas for his SweetHeart...

Dad in the garden picking a bouquet of sweet peas to take to his sweetheart of nearly 60 years. Flowers are such an important part of their lives!

Dad and I couldn't possibly leave the house to see mom without him bringing her a bouquet of flowers from their garden. And sweet peas it had to be. They are one of mom's favorites.

A bouquet gathered for his bride...

(A photo aside: I know, I know! The quality of the photos are seriously lacking...however, I was standing quite a ways from where dad was and he hadn't any idea I was there - as I wanted it to be. Had he known I was snapping away, I would have been told not to. So please imagine the above as the perfect pics I imagine them to be instead of the snuck photos they are! Thank you very much.)

~~~

xoabb

everlasting love is real...

P. S. To all those who've asked, Mom is now truly doing much much better and we expect her to come home from the hospital no later than Thursday. As always, your friendship, thoughts, prayers, everything are so very appreciated. And more than you will ever know. Thank you.

No ABC Wednesday for me this week -

BUT

Go here to join the fun!

Discombobulation Reigns Supreme

I haven't a thought in my head worth sharing with anyone. Amazing how exhausting it is to sit around and worry. (But pleased to tell you there's less to worry about today than there was yesterday - things really are slowly improving.)

I want to thank each and every one of you for your kind thoughts and wishes. It is appreciated and loved by me (and mom & dad) more than I could possibly express. The best, I tell ya, y'all are just the best! Till the next sunrise, my friends, when I hope to be a little more coherent.

On another note...

Here's a bit of some CT side-yard scenery I came across last week while walking with MPM & Jules. Had no idea cactus plants grew "wild" and in this abundance in Connecticut of all places!

~~~

xoabb

expect supreme tiredness at times!

P. S. It is KILLING me to be without my camera! Mom has one, but its transfer cord is AWOL. I could very well have a complete and total melt-down over this. I am not kidding!

Just Another Manic Monday

Been a roller-coaster of late. I'm in Missouri rather unexpectedly as Mom became ill before Dad had the chance to fully recover from the same malaise. They so easily take care of one another, but when both are under the weather at overlapping times...not good is the result! But this too will pass. Dad is looking much better and know Mom will follow suit soon.

And guess what I couldn't find on my way out the door (to fly home to MO) last Friday? My camera! It is always with me! Can you imagine me being anywhere at all without my camera, let alone my parent's glorious place??? Me neither! (In my defense, I had little time to pull it all together and pack, and we all know I need lots of time for that.)

Above is a photo that has absolutely nothing to do with what's written above of some of the glorious wood pilings (I think that's what they're called) that line our Connecticut coast in various places. For whatever reason I love how they look.

Desolate, weathered. But enduring.

~~~

xoabb

expect anything!

Sunday Serenity

“Aerodynamically, the bumble bee shouldn't be able to fly,

but the bumble bee doesn't know it so it goes on flying anyway.”

~Mary Kay Ash

Imperfect by design
Ungainly sporadic jerks define gawky movements
Flawed in nearly every way
A veritable outcast
Among hive-minded conformity
Blissfully ignorant of the overwhelming odds
Heedless of the scrutinizing critics
Who see only inevitable failure
Unaware of its own limitations
In the face of impenetrable skepticism
And aesthetic superiority
And because necessity is the mother of invention
And inspiration the father of hope
The bumblebee flies anyway
Thus the intangible becomes thinkable
The execution of such an absurdity, doable
The lofty goals to which one aspires, attainable
And the bumblebee flies on.

~Sarah K. Jenison, MI

~~~

xoabb

expect anything!

Photos: CT, 7/3/9

Our Great Nation

Happy Birthday, My Beloved America!

May You Ever Be Free!

~~~

xoabb

expect patriotism from me - always!

SWF - Plus Our Very 1st Harvest! (Sorta)

I love the rise and fall of our Long Island Sound tides,

and they've been particularly high of late.

Overlooking the 14th hole of Shorehaven Golf Course

on one of our few semi-sunny days.

(Click pics to embiggen - much better!)

To the left....

And to the right...

On another note, there has been tremendous growth at our CG plot!

Well, except for the pepper plants.

What is UP with the pepper plants???

If they don't start growing soon, I'm ripping those suckers OUT!

Our very first harvest!

Three pea pods!

We cannot feed the masses...yet...

(Hope springs eternal, tho!)

~~~

xoabb

expect anything!

~

Sky Watch Friday

Do Join Us!

LISound photos: 6/29/9

CG photos: 7/2/9

Always More Than First Meets the Eye...

Safe-looking

But what do I see among the lilies??

Stella sees and flushes the suspect out...

Thanks to Stella, my birds are once more safe

From big bad Trey-You.

~~~

xoabb

expect anything!