JACKS, Mother and Daughter and childhood games

Depending on how old you are, you might or might know what this is a picture of.

• It's Jack's. This picture is rather traditional in appearance. I remembering having multi-colored ones too. My Mother taught me to play Jacks. I love to play with her sitting on the front stoop in Marion where I grew up. I can see us there now. The stoop was small and off to the right side was a metal box for the milk man. It was a great game for mother and daughter to play because it really didn't take much time, you could stop and start if you got interrupted easily. Which Mom, usually did to run inside and start a load of laundry, or to hang another load on the clothes line out back. As I got better, we'd play with 2 sets. You really had to get good at bouncing the ball higher to scoop up that many Jacks. You also had to have a bigger hand. Somewhere along the line I remember a friend showing Mom and I a "special ball" she had that really bounced; allowing you more time to scoop up those Jacks. It was the inside of a golf ball. You'd crack open the golf ball, unwrap the rubber bands that were there and inside you had a "special ball".

A fun memory, Thanks Mom.

Did you play Jacks?

If you're new to my blog you might not have seen these Alphabetical Memories of My Mom:


A=Advice, Afghan, Apples
B=Bread, and Bernie
C=Camping, Creativity and Courage
D=Dancing and Delaware Dam
E=Energy and Etiquette
F=Friday
G=Gown (wedding gown), grape pop
H=Hammocks and Holidays
I=Ice Skating and Isaly's

No No, Not SNOW

Snow, that's what this is folks. Ugh. Remember it will soon be this time again. Moving pictures from memory sticks, CD's, and my old computer; trying so hard to get everything on the computer and into proper folders then do a massive back up and pitch the old stack of stuff. Always trying to get more organized. In so doing, I came across this picture. Sorry it's a bit blurred and dark. I took this looking at the window at my fabulous neighbor. You've gotten a glimpse of my bad neighbor with his dandelions...now you can see my wonderful good neighbor as he's snow blowing for me.

Thought you'd get a kick out of this, if it's still hot wherever you are. And sadly, it's a reminder to us all of the season ahead. Can you imagine being homeless, living outside without a roof over you head in these conditions? I can't either, and yet I know it happens. If you're not aware of my homeless project, please hop over Here and read about it. See if there's a way you can help. Thanks.

Do you dread winter and snow?

Do You See What I See?

"Do You See What I See?" Way in the sky little lamb? As I typed the title to this post that Christmas Carole came to mind. Though that's not what this post is about.

Do you? See what I see? This tree is huge, the circumference that is. Not very tall anymore; as it's been cut so many times. Damaged through storms and time, not much is left. This tree speaks to me. Partially I think because given it's size, the hundreds of years it's grown; think what all it could tell us. This tree truly does call out to me. It's located in Green Lawn Cemetery here in town. Green Lawn is the 2nd largest cemetery in the state. It's quite old, historic and interesting. It's not possible for me to go to this cemetery without stopping to visit, my tree. Even my friends call it, Sandy's tree. I feel quite spiritual when I'm there. This is the front of the tree, I see a body; do you? Like a person is facing you.  And below

Is the back of the tree.  Do you see the back of a body? I do.

The first time I photographed this tree was almost a bit spooky. I was driving by on my way out of the cemetery,(had photographed for people doing their genealogy). I spotted it and had to stop. After parking the car and walking over I felt a chill, an odd sensation. I walked in silence around the tree and wondered about it. I started to leave after photographing it, when I felt compelled to stay a bit longer. Almost like I was visiting. Once again I decided I really needed to leave, choose a different path to exist by and there in front of me a tombstone of Frank Schoenfeld. I looked at it several times, as well as his family members around him. I didn't know he had died. Frank Schoenfeld had been my favorite teacher. He was my 7th grade homeroom teacher, taught Ohio history. He was a fabulous teacher, which I think is why I loved history so much. Now to appreciate how odd it was for me to find the memorial you need to understand the size of Green Lawn. It is 360 acres, founded in 1848 and has hundreds of thousands of memorials.

Until they painted a couple of the roads it was not uncommon for people to get lost there. Even now with the roads painted, I never go without a map of the cemetery in hand; and I'm pretty familiar with it. People used to joke about leaving bread crumbs so they could find their way out.

The list of who's who buried in this cemetery is very impressive, from President G.W. Bush's grandfather, to Governor Rhodes, to Eddie Rickenbacher, to slaves in unmarked graves from years back. The tree surely has witness much.

Do you see what it speaks to me?  Do you see what I see?

Chemicals Needed, lots of them.

For YEARS everyone in the neighborhood has threatened to slip over during the darkness of night in super stealth mode and spray this yard. Not just spray, but SPRAY like there's no tomorrow. Regardless of how well we all weeded, or sprayed our yards (and many have it done professionally), we could not get rid of the dandelions. Can you see why? What a constant eye sore, on top of the additional work it caused the rest of us in the neighborhood....and let's talk allergies. ERRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

He would wait and wait to mow, then when the grass was about a foot tall, and his weeds and dandelions had blown all around the neighborhood; he'd give in and mow the tops off. He never sprayed, he never pulled a weed. The yard was either full of yellow dandelions, or the fuzzy seeds of the dandelions, or those purple weeds (can't remember what they're called.)

But, there's more. When he did decide it was time to mow, he mow at night and bagged it. Well generally only 2 strips could be done because the grass was so tall so it would take him forever to mow. Which meant everyone had to hear the mower for hours and hours during their quiet time. And because he hated to mow, he had the mower set to the lowest possible setting and the yard look scraped the next day or so. So pretty. Thankfully, we spend most of our time out back and not in the front.

Good news, after 20+ years, he put the house on the market and moved out. YIPPEE. However, the house has remained empty for almost 2 years. The only good part of this, he finally hired someone to cut it. Thus the above photograph. Big mower, he could do it quicker. At least we had less noise to deal with. Then after the house had been on the market for ages, someone convinced him he needed to do something about the yard. FINALLY, he sprayed it; but as you can imagine once was hardly enough. Now, we have our fingers crossed that if the house sells (he has it way over priced), we'll get more considerate neighbors that take care of it better than he did. Only time will tell. He's tried selling it himself with no luck; and just recently we've learned he's getting a Realtor. Fingers and toes are crossed.

Do you have bad neighbors like this?

The waiting is Painful!

Look at the patience! These pictures were taken 2 summers ago on my deck just about dinner time. My kitchen window looks out onto the deck, which I love. I'm able to look out as I prepare meals. I quickly got my camera. Initially took the a photo from inside; but wanting a better photo actually was able to step out onto the deck to get these photo's. Neither moved. They both were quite intent.


So, what do you think?
Want to see and read more about animals? Please visit my SIL's blog

Homemade Noddles!

This is my niece who helped me with making homemade noddles. Realized I never edited these pictures, there were in the wrong folder on my computer and are from Thanksgiving a few years back. We make homemade noddles...TONS of them, believe that year we made about 6 recipes worth. We are a huge bunch when we gather for the fest and everyone loves my homemade noddles. Then we had to make more so my little helper had some to take home. We made egg noddles for the meal and for her to take home, then we made tomato basil angel hair...bird nests for her to take home. She was a good worker, but tired at the end. It takes lots of time and energy...and all day project.
My daughter usually helps me, but wasn't getting home from Baltimore until late the night before Thanksgiving and so wasn't able to. She was teaching 5th and working on her Masters at the time, and they didn't get off early.

Walmart, why I don't shop there.

I don't shop at Walmart for a variety of reasons:

• They made a senior citizen a paraplegic
• They put good small businesses out of business

This came to mind because of the recent incident regarding a crying baby, a man slapping the baby at Walmart. I don't like the store on several levels; but several years ago vowed I would not shop there again.

A senior citizen had a battery in his pocket to be assured of getting the right replacement size. An over zealous security guard followed the man, beat him up when the senior tried to explain the situation. His injuries resulted in his being a paraplegic. This was in our local papers some time back and I just have never been able to get over it. I don't know if the guard lost his job, I certainly hope so.

They take over in small towns, putting wonderful family owned businesses out of business. You know the type where people know people and have served the community for a long time. I really dislike that. Vermont I believe from memory is one of the states that's been successful in keeping them out. From memory I don't know if that was the whole state or just a particular area.

So, I choice to spend my dollars elsewhere; just my personal statement. Certainly hasn't hurt them any; but somehow it makes me feel better not to support them.

Drum Roll, Please!

And there you have it folks, my personal Moon on the Door even outhouse. Sure makes things nicer when we tailgate.

It was a very hot game day on Sat. We won, but Navy almost did. Our team didn't look very impressive. What was impressive to me was the sportsmanship. Often college football lacks sportsmanship. When Navy came out, our fans stood and applauded. The teams ran the field together and stood in silence as each played their song. The teams shook hands before the games. That was a first. I hope Coach Tressel continues that. He's added a lot of class I think to Ohio State University.

Next weeks game is 8 pm, which I'm pleased about. Will make the day shorter; plus it won't be as hot. The noon games are my least favorite of the time slots. We play USC next week, that could be difficult, if we don't play better.

Do Follow Blog Log

I am a DO Follow Blog, and I'm thrilled to have this fabulous list of other DO Follow Blogs:
You'll notice I've started deleting blogs from the list (where the blank spaces are). Some of these blogs are no longer do follow, some blogs aren't there anymore, some are re-directs, some are horribly outdated with no new blog posts. Others have comments closed, which certainly defeats the spirit of do follow. I do not wish to give dead blogs, or blogs not really sharing a link. They certainly aren't sharing if comments are closed, or if you have to subscribe before you can leave a comment. As of today, September 5, 2010 I've moved the several groups of blogs to the bottom of the list to give others a chance at the top. I will do this routinely and will note it here by changing the date.
**Additionally I've been making my way through the large list of comments deleting those that obviously are just list an url to get the link; those that are obviously spam. If there are some that seem legitimate when I visit their blogs, I will add them to the list, provided they have the badge and list on their page. By adding the badge visitors know they are a DoFollow Blog, and by adding the list; they're sharing the linky love. Everyone can benefit from this; but those trying to get and not give will not get from me. They have been and will continue to be deleted.

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Thanks!

The End of the Season

I'm always sad when summer comes to an end. And here that officially happens when football season begins. Tomorrow, we'll begin our Fall routine of attending OSU football games every Sat. We tailgate before the games, and after as we wait for the crowds to clear to go to dinner. It's an ALL DAY activity. The noon games are the worst-longest in my opinion. We'll arrive at the tailgate spot around 9:30, have breakfast together, walk to the game, snack after the game waiting for the time to come to go to dinner.

Now, I'm taking guesses on what this is a picture of.
Girls only is your clue.

And my favorite part of the football is this:


I love hearing and watching The Ohio State Marching Band. The music is always good, the precision in their marching is, in my opinion un-matched. I like the very old style traditional uniform. The incomparable Script Ohio, something you never tire of seeing.

Spring Cleaning...NOT

Ok, I'm NOT one who thinks cleaning is fun, or interesting, or a good way to spend one's time. But, from time to time...it's a necessity. errrrrrrrr

I'm as old as dirt, you've been reading that lately no doubt; and my vacuum was just as old and therefore not picking up much dirt! I think the one I was using was probably 20 years old, or more. The bag kind. Finding the right bags was becoming a real chore, and putting them on even harder. The gasket...the hard rubber thingy that holds the bag on was way to hard to slide. My arthritis perhaps played into this, that and it was just a pain. No one changes their bags as often as they should, and for good reason. It's a pain. But, with the sneezing and the allergies being worse this year having that dust flying around not being picked up, isn't good.

I traveled to Target and made a purchase. A Hoover, bag less. Wow, it sure sucks stuff up. It's a little heavier than I wanted, but the lighter weight ones were much more costly. The ease though of dumping the canister each time you vacuum is wonderful. It's easy and therefore you do it each and every time. Thus...things are cleaner. This is also suppose to be good at picking up pet dander and hair.

Now it's not Spring, it's in fact way to close to Fall; but some of what I'm doing here seems like Spring Cleaning.

Spring cleaning in blogland too. I've been going through my old post for the last couple of weeks. Revisiting folks who used to visit and comment, then deleting the post. Partially because the stuff is outdated, partially to minimize the number of pictures I have here to bridge the bandwidth situation and my storage. Turns out I started this blog back in August of 2005. Wow, that makes me feel "old as dirt". Just had my anniversary. I've cleaned my way to Feb 2006, which as of the writing of this is the oldest post. My stats say I have 161 posts. Numbers can be fun.

Anyway, me and the Hoover are going at it. Hum....wonder how many steps running the Hoover is?