Forever Learning

I followed the lead of Ellen from FifteenandMeowing to investigate the word colloquy. As Andrew from The High Rise suggested, it’s an antonym for soliloquy. Colloquy means, simply, discourse between two or more people.

Outside the straightforward challenges, unrelated words are counted separately. Each round resets this list and simple words like ‘he’ or ‘she’ or ‘the’ alongside more complicated words all add to this tally. After discovering this, I challenged myself to reach 30,000 or more Words Found. Each completed level displays the latest figure. Imagine my surprise upon seeing the following…

Isn’t it amazing that I reached this precise number? Should I play the lottery?

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Word Games

I continue obsessing over Word Carnival on my Kindle. Some rounds are difficult and others super easy. The changing format and difficulty level keep me hooked.

One subject forced me to ask my husband for assistance. It involved American football. I would never have completed it without his patient help. Other times I just start poking around, picking tiles at random. The photo below displays one example: colloquy(lower upper right).

Are you familiar with the word colloquy?

Shoe Upgrade

It’s impossible to guess when I purchased some very comfortable sandals with adjustable Velcro straps. The soles were charred a few years ago when I carelessly stomped out some burning coals.

My sloppy insole repairs have not aged well...

They still serve a purpose as footwear during brief sojourns outside. I want to keep my cheap new Amazon purchase cleaner and intact.

Socks with Sandals; Classy, eh? Heh...

How ridiculous was it for me to think those rubber soles wouldn’t melt? Letting fire burn out of control is worse, though, isn’t it?

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Marble Soda

Marble soda is something I discovered on a gourmet restaurant menu somewhere (?) after playing around on Apple Maps. This was a few weeks ago and I’ve been meaning to share my Amazon purchase of it.

Tasting a Classic Japanese Summer Treat

Unfortunately, I didn’t film myself releasing the marble. There’s a minor trick to it but nothing too difficult. The flavors underwhelmed me. I think the original tasted most refreshing and least synthetic.

Isn’t it amazing how many sodas, created generations ago, were marketed as health tonics? Are you familiar with the related insulting term ‘snake oil salesman’?

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Unintended Consequences

When my very old Kindle Fire finally died I figured we could do without. E-books are accessible on my phone, after all. My guy had other ideas. We often play Scrabble on it while dining out and he didn’t want to give up that tradition.

He found a decent deal and I discovered a new addiction. Love of language and word play led me to the game Word Carnival. I refuse to either spend money on this or watch their obnoxious advertisements.

Instead I simply take my Kindle offline. At least, that is, until I’m utterly stumped. Watching an ad or two grants me ‘gems’, fifty of which give useful hints. Then I log off again to resume play.

Why I still can't upload video stumps me. Oh, well.

It’s a first world problem, isnt’ it? Does it surprise anyone that moving graphics sometimes enchant Dandelion?

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Driven

Joking around with my husband is one of my favorite things. Not all my quips land, but the other day he laughed until he started coughing.

He’d been asking me to drive him somewhere local (grocery store, maybe?). Preferring to stay home, I decided to remind him of my previous day’s favor driving him to our primary care physician’s new location.

Christ Hospital is a bit further but an easy twenty minute drive south and directly off the freeway. I thought about what to say before approaching him and my mischievous mind took over. Standing beside his desk chair, I let that impish side speak.

“You know,” I said, “just yesterday I drove you to Christ.”

At least I haven’t driven him to drink or go crazy. Yet… He wants to co-write a book called, “The $h!t My Wife Says”.

Isn’t laughter one of the best medicines? Should I start on that manuscript?

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The Water Bear

I adore tardigrades (aka water bears and/or moss pigs). The extreme tiny survivor endlessly fascinates me. This newly discovered article taught me lots I didn’t know. If you’re interested and have time, it’s an informative and often entertaining read.

I named my plush friend Snuffles...

Do you know how many types and levels of hibernation exist? Don’t you wish you could extend your life by sleeping through hard times or inclement conditions?

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Change of Blogging Plans – A Bird in the Hand is Worth Two in the Bush

I’ve been having technical issues uploading videos these days. Planning to share my experience tasting a Japanese drink known as marble soda, instead I have an old video of a bird in my yard.

I no longer spend money on commercial bird seed because my perennial garden keeps many species fed while entertaining me. Purple coneflower provides a popular feast.

Have you ever fed local birds? Are you familiar with safflower seed and its many useful properties?

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Polly the Punk

For several minutes Dandelion and Polly peacefully shared a tabletop the other day. Then I turned and found this little hooligan alone.

I like how this closeup makes the harmless
fluff ball look menacing...

Isn’t it nice that Dandelion didn’t let this stop her getting a drink? Do you think she will ever join in our younger twins’ play fights?

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This Made My Day

I spied this at the YMCA on Friday and could not agree more. A few years ago I painted a giant sign stating this sentiment.

My sign lacked these adorable graphics…

On a far different take, do you enjoy eating mushrooms? And did you know there is a culture of mushroom hunters in Ohio?

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My Little Baker

Terra definitely enjoys being the center of attention. My husband enjoys urging her to knead my flesh before I get out of bed. Waiting until my guy left the room a few mornings ago, she accepted his invitation.

Doesn’t she look pleased? Are you at all surprised that most of my smart phone usage involves recording our pets?

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Sweet Dreams

It’s always an endearing compliment when a pet goes into REM sleep. Dandelion went there the other evening. 

What do you think she dreamed? Have you seen the following video?

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Seriously?

When my husband showed me an image of a cat shaped gravy boat I assumed it was fake. But it’s available on Amazon.com here if you want to take a peek. I also found a YouTube video, which I advise skipping if you have a weak stomach.

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Final chance to look away.....

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Who do you think would buy this? Who would even dream up such a thing?

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Texture is a Matter of Taste

As it happens, my first lemon dump cake proved superior. My fastidious placement of the butter pats on top made for a more even and tender crust. The dessert won’t be tossed out, though I have chucked a few tough bits of topping.

As requested by dear Strayer, I took a photo. This does taste better than it looks. lol I’m amazed how many factors affect food’s appeal.

I guess you could call this a crumble cake...

I knew someone who slipped on ice, knocking her head on the concrete driveway so hard she completely lost her senses of smell and taste. Still, she remained upbeat.

But isn’t it sad that she couldn’t lose the weight she wanted to drop? Can you guess that texture explained her tendency to continue unhealthy snacking?

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My Little Helper

I was in the kitchen making a grocery list and moved away to check my spice cupboard. After taking inventory, I turned around and saw this…

Remember to get treats, Mom...

Do you think Terra really is trying to tell me something? Or is her (most likely) motive a plea for attention?

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Curled Up for a Long Winter’s Nap (Caution: this post includes images of a creepy crawler, however adorable to me…)

My husband helped me take down my heavy deck umbrella for the winter and it seems there was a little creature snuggled up inside. I found it lying on the deck floor, fully exposed to weather. Since we had another chore on the back patio, I carried the critter down with me to tuck in amongst some leaf debris.

Lady, put me down. This is actually my defense pose.

I’ve known these particular caterpillars as ‘wooly bears’ my entire life. Folklore states that if the central brown band takes up more than a third of its body length, we’re in for a mild winter. Scientists have determined that the segment colors tell about the creature’s past, such as weather conditions like humidity and the animal’s age.

A Better Photo: Credit to American Gardener

The larva (Pyrrharctia isabella) will emerge in spring as the Isabella moth. Our gorgeous and sweet blogger friend Katie Isabella should be flattered by sharing a lovely name with a beautiful flyer.

Does your region have similar weather related folklore? Are you aware of the flannel moth larvae?

Spoiler alert: The flannel moth caterpillar’s pretty off-white coat hides highly venomous hairs that cause excruciating pain. Yet the equally adorable fluffy adult is harmless to touch.

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