Random Rambles

lifted from ladyoceanstar

NEVER again plan any science experiment involving moth balls or owl pellets ever , ever, EVER again.

( Weirdness meme )

Yesterday we finally got the mow next to the two mows of rowen in order enough for it to be used for the latest load.

Today we went down to Noho for a few appointments, both of which went well. Stopped by Big Y and Dave's Soda and Pet Food City while we were down there to get green tea and cat food, respectively.

The weather has been holding this week, so the latest load of rowen has been baled and is sitting down in the field. Even though the tedding, raking, and the sun and wind have done much of the drying, another day in the sun probably won't hurt. Moisture and grass together in a compressed space is a bad combination for a wood barn, as anyone who's thrown grass into a compost pile/bin knows. If the composting process has slowed down then some fresh grass thrown in can be quite useful -- in a barn, this is never a good thing.

My mother-in-law Marian put out a hummingbird feeder this summer and has both succeeded in attracting hummingbirds and finding a way to defeat the local ants' attempts to steal the sugar water. I believe she said she used bag balm around the hanger, across the path the ants would need to take to get there.

In general the area seems to be getting a little wilder over time. There are more sightings in all the hilltowns and even in Greenfield of bear, deer, coyote, eagles, hawks, various members of the mink family, and a certain type of great cat -- the presence of which I believe is still being denied by the state government's 'experts'. Interactions between the worlds of humans and animals are increasing, and not always to either party's benefit. On one side, human society as it currently operates does a good deal of harm to the environment, as many folks seem to have forgotten that we're a part of that environment. On the other, I was reading somewhere last week about an increase in aggressive animal behavior towards humans -- a sign of increased pressure on limited resources perhaps? In this area more pets seem to be disappearing, in particular cats. My father-in-law William's cat Henry seems to have joined those ranks, unfortunately. No proof, but he hasn't been seen in nearly two weeks, so it seems likely he fell prey to something -- and he isn't a small cat himself.

The great egret is still spending time with the geese in the field. We've been wondering if he's decided he's a goose. Come September, I hope he's able to find his way to his proper winter destination.

When I awoke this morning, the cool of the air and the taste and smell of it reminded me of school. A cool, dewy, bright morning, it caused me to remember walks to school with my school bag slung over my shoulder, gathering chestnuts on the way home, and the beautiful autumn leaves to come. For all that the day warmed up quickly enough, still, autumn proper is on its way.

I have discovered what is truly evil and diabolical in this world. It lurks in just about every home in America where children live , during the summer months.

It is called the Popsicle.

Not just any popsicles, mind you, but those ones that come in the plastic sleeves in lurid colors and weird flavors. Yep…that is the one.

We have been doing so very well with our weight loss journey, eating very healthy and exercising in some form every day. The result has been the scales are showing less and less of us and our clothes are all falling off. Son adores a wide variety of healthy foods, we say no to deserts, read food labels and exercise as a family. We plan for things like parties and outings( food allowance wise) and support each other 110 percent. So how did these evil little things enter into our house and why are they bad ? Like all things, ,it began with good intentions. I like to keep a few zero point things around for when you are feeling nibbly but want something other than raw veggies- which we consume in mass quantities at meal time. So the choices have been sugar free jello and sugar free popsicles. Those were at first these wonderful little Philly Swirl sugar free guys that they carry at Sams- 10 calories per pop and contain fruit juice. However, in a cost cutting move I decided to do these plastic sleeve things , which are 25 calories each and dirt cheap. I drink about a gallon and a half of water every day, always has to be cold, but sometimes ice water is not cold enough. Enter in the popsicle. And …when one enters it brings friends. Several of them ! Suddenly I find myself munching almost 10 of them through the day .

I don’t care what kind of voodoo math you are using, 10 popsicles at 25 calories each adds up to 250 calories by days end. This is a full 5 points according to the Weight Watchers program.For some this can amount to one fifth of your daily allotted intake. Damn their plastic coated heads !

I am still losing in spite of these evil frozen confections, but I know it will catch up to me. I vow that once these are consumed to never bring them into the house again. And then I will check myself into the closest chapter of P.A. (popsicleeaters annonomys)

Hello. My name is Diane and I have a problem…..

lebaneselove
A wealth of resources for fans of the Lebanese entertainment world.

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This collaborative screenwriting community will accomplish an entire film script--each scene by a different writer--over the course of one year. It's destined to be crazy. Along the way, a slew of smaller challenges will be offered.

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Beetlejuice fans!

Decoration Inspiration: I thought I'd share a Halloween collage I made with images found on the net.





Antique baby doll heads - ebay, Garden cracked hands - ebay,
1846 Phrenology print - ebay, Parisian fortune teller,
Day of the Dead, three masks - Horchow.com, "Drawings and Whatnot" - Brian Morris,
Halloween decorations - Grandinroad.com, "Black Cats Bewitched" - Nicole Sayre,
"When You Sleep" - Christina Bothwell, Mirrored Disco Skull,
"SpOoky" - Ballard Designs.com, Mummy hand urn - Grandinroad.com,
Halloween skeleton candles - hostesswiththemostess.com, Potion Bottles - ebay,
Medical X-ray, Halloween walkway pumpkins in Sweden.

Today’s Draw- Stone Hallow

Spiritual exercises- morning exercise, altar devotion

Today’s reads-The Druid magic handbook, High Temple of Witchcraft

Yesterday’s exercise- 45 min housework,10 min Wii

 

Latest research has shown that infections may play a bigger role in preterm birth than previously believed. A recent study shows that one in seven women experiencing preterm labor have harbored bacteria in the amniotic fluid. To most of the world this sounds like just an odd bit of news that runs on the ticker. To me, it is conformation of something that I have long believed in my heart of hearts. My first son died because I am a Beta Strep carrier. There was no genetic flaw, no chromosome abnormality, no physical deformity whatsoever. I was found to be free of any known problem that causes or contributes to loss factors . For reasons not understood at this time, I am a beta strep carrier, and it was more than his immune system could handle in the normal process of development. Understand that this does not make me feel guilty in any way, but rather that it brings an incredible sense of closure. It also leads me to believe that the main reason we experienced infertility for 8 years is because of this strep factor. Expect the revelation of the connection between infertility and bacteria to be come sometime in the future.

 

However, with the good comes the bad. In the research, it stated that the materials they used in this study was a collection of samples gained through amniocentesis, to insure the purity of the data. 15 percent of the women from whom the specimens were taken through a routine amniocentesis procedure showed a high level of 17 different forms of bacteria, and every one experienced pre term labor.  The medical industry being what it is, expect that every pregnant woman to be pressured to have an amnio done as a routine screener in pregnancy within the next 5-10 years, just as a preventative. Yes ladies, this means you will now need to go through blood draws, urine specimen, gestational diabetes screening, alpha feta protein blood draws AND an amnio during pregnancy so we will best know what machines you must be hooked up to at the time of your delivery.( What can you do Mrs Smith- nothing ! you are not qualified ! We have the big machine that goes “bing” and it will take care of everything, AND it is the most expensive type of equipment we can get !)

 

It certainly does make for a big double edge sword.

I have been stuck home with a bum knee and have been in a real Halloween mood and decided to get an early start on making a few things for the season. Below are pictures of some of my stuff.
( Read more... )

The picture is fuzzy, but so am I. This is the double row of tomatoes at our garden in Kirkersville. Notice that instead of driving an individual stake into the ground for each tomato or putting up expensive, bulky cages around each one, I used suspension lines. I drove boards into the ground at each end of the rows, ran guy lines from those boards to anchors (rocks) buried in the ground, then strung high tension lines between the boards. I used four-foot 2x2s to prop these lines up along their length, and then tied strings from those lines down to the tomatoes themselves to pull the plants up off the ground. The point of this is to keep the fruit from touching the ground, which could blemish it or even cause it to rot.

Very good form. Never before have I so looked forward to hearing you speak, and my anticipation was rewarded tonight. Very good speech. Thank you.

So this is total self-indulgence, but I just finished these two things for my shop last night:

made from an old band-aid tin and collaged and resined

made from sculpey. Im working on a bunch of things, but I dont want it to seem like a shameless plug!

I've x posted to baby_names but I figured I'd pose this question to the experts...

For some reason I love collecting baby names ANNNND... I completely adore Autumn (Fall...the season) and Halloween (DUH!) and I'm looking for baby names to add to my wish list that have strong associations to either. I love the name Autumn but I'm a fan of more unique names (but not so out-there that it's silly, I'm looking for something usable).

Can anyone think of actual usable, practical names that are associate with Autumn and/or Halloween? Some good ones I've heard are Anonna (Goddess of the harvest), Opal (October birthstone), Bram (Stoker). Boys and Girls names wanted. Thanks, lovelies!

Farewell little lettuce farm !

You served us well for a few weeks, but something about the current angle or position of the sun has made you turn very bitter, no matter what the age of your offerings.

It seems that lettuce is meant to be something enjoyed in the spring and early summer, helping us lighten our frames and thin our blood. Come late summer the emphasis is more on cereal crops, with the promise of squashes and root crops to follow. Tender lettuce cannot seem to hold its own against such heavy hitters. So I shall allow you to fade into the shrinking days and resume your efforts in the coming spring. Meanwhile, I shall feast on your cousins from far away as i wander through the remainder of the year. We are too reliant on lettuce to switch to other offerings in the meantime.

As one door closes, another opens. it seems that a few alien "weeds" have chose to sprout in the pot that contains my small Norfolk pine. I am not positive what these are as of yet (  one may be cranesbill), but I plan on letting them thrive for a time and see. Brings back memories of our last home, where our landlord raised a jungle mainly through letting whatever planted itself bloom. I really miss that place !



The invaiders

Hi everyone!

Does anyone have recommendations for any websites to peruse with discussions of and/or reviews of horror movie soundtracks and scores?

Thanks!

Hi everyone!

Does anyone have recommendations for any websites to peruse with discussions of and/or reviews of horror movie soundtracks and scores?

Thanks!