Out Like a Lion

The last day of March roared in with clouds roiling, rain pelting, and wind sweeping up everything in its path. The stormy conditions, punctuated by sunshine, couldn't hold us back for our errands, however.

Hubby and I jumped in the car, drove to the clinic, had some routine tests taken and headed for home to put in a productive day. At noon I received a frightening phone call from my sister, who was at work nearby. She might be having a "heart issue," and would I take her to the doctor?

We bundled her into the car and headed back to the clinic, a half hour drive. From there, after many tests, she was loaded into an ambulance and driven across the county to St. Joseph's, the sprawling hospital on the hill. The doctors still weren't sure if she'd had a heart attack. There were too many unanswered questions and too many conflicting test results. After the last doctor examined and questioned her he said she did not have a heart attack. With his good wishes, a plan of action, a follow-up appointment, and a list of suggested lifestyle modifications, we gratefully returned home. She's taking it easy tonight and tomorrow.

The quarter moon slipped out between the trees and glows silvery white in the west. The wind is down to a mere breeze but the air is as bracing as ever. One more freezing night, no doubt, a fitting end to a month of unexpected events from health scares to nasty and unwelcome little weather events. That moon tonight is optimistic, though, with a promise that tomorrow will be a better day.

Good-bye March, just march on outta here!

Wake Up America!

I found some interesting quotes that sum up my take on the Marxist counterrevolution now taking place in the United States. Though it has taken well over 200 years to develop, make no mistake, we are in a counterrevolutionary period. The restoration of taxation without representation, the establishment of a monarchy or other type of non-elective leadership, a legislative body controlled by a political and ideological oligarchy, a narrow and elitist propagandist media, and primarily the suppression and punishment of dissent, all point to a vigorous counterrevolution, perpetrated from the top down. The obstruction of the Constitution is the most grievous, but it allows all the other offenses to take place. James Montgomery Flagg's poster visually expresses my feelings, but others have expressed it verbally, clearly and succinctly. I agree wholeheartedly.

A wise fellow who is also worthless always charms the rabble.
~Euripides

It is the old practice of despots to use a part of the people to keep the rest in order.
~Thomas Jefferson

For what avail the plow or sail,
Or land, or life, if freedom fail?
~Ralph Waldo Emerson

I love my country's good, with a respect more tender, more holy and profound, than my own life.
~William Shakespeare

Wake up America! If you don't today, there will be no tomorrows that even remotely resemble our yesterdays, the good or the bad. It will be all bad and it will be very bad. Unimaginable. Wake up and take action! Don't sleep through the end of America. Step up with your fellow citizens and stop the destruction of our nation!

Grandma Was A Flapper

My Grandma was the ultimate party girl in the 1920s. Always dressed to the nines, with perfectly chosen accessories, and a natural but complete makeup and hairdo, she held court in the modest family home in suburban Seattle she shared with her husband and son. She ran it like a drill sergeant, with everything always in place and ready for company, so that when Grampa came home on Friday evening, from his job at the Pike Place Market, the weekend round of parties could begin. The Federal Prohibition Act wouldn't stop them from having a good time!

They either went out to dinner and dancing at various speakeasies with friends, or they hosted a huge potluck dinner and beer party. Once in a while, they would have guests in for cocktails and a fancy dinner behind closed doors. But every weekend night, the party was on! Louis Armstrong, Grandma's favorite entertainer, blared from the Victrola, lending a frenzied and jazzy edge to the festivities. The food, usually spicy goulash, five alarm chili, or clam chowder, was followed by a huge cake with French vanilla ice cream. Neighbors and friends brought salads, fruits, and breads to round out the meal. The dining room table groaned under such a feast! But the real star of those parties was Grandma's homebrew. Her German immigrant father had taught her well. She made the best brew on the street!

She stored crocks in the huge upstairs bedroom, each with a date when the brew would be ready. When it was, she would provide the beer to the party. The following week someone else in their circle would bring their homebrew, and the following week another family would bring theirs. Grandma taught everyone how to make good homebrew, how to bottle it, and how to store it. Everyone had at least six weeks of brew curing in hideaways around their homes, so at least once a week, someone in their circle of about eight neighborhood families would have a batch ready to serve. The law allowed for the home creation and consumption of alcoholic beverages. [It did not allow for the manufacture and sale of those items.] As the circle of friends grew larger, and more families were added, at least two couples were required each week to provide enough beer for the party. Men often filled their hip flasks and brought that to the party, too. The corner bootlegger provided the stronger spirits for the neighborhood.

The house on the corner of 16th Avenue and 124th Street had a bedroom window on 16th that the bootlegger used to keep open on nice days. Pedestrians could sidle up to the window, trade a few bucks and continue on their walk with a pint or a quart of good Canadian Whisky in their pocket. When cars drove up, they usually parked across the street, the driver dashed across the street for his or her pickup. Funny thing, the house they parked in front of was the home of Grampa's older sister Aunt Maude who taught Sunday School and was a pillar of the Presbyterian Church. She frequently held church committee meetings at her house and it wasn't uncommon for a lot of cars to come and go in front of her place. What's another car or two parked there? Needless to say Aunt Maude heartily and vocally disapproved of the wild lifestyle of her younger brother and his pretty young wife. She and her husband never went to the weekend parties, though they would have been welcome.

Grandma's long gone to the Big Speakeasy in the sky. My Dad, who died recently, recalled that when he as a very small child, every weekend the boisterous house parties kept his Mother happy and in her element. She was a fabulous hostess, serving up good food and drink to their friends. It's her birthday today. Thanks for helping me take a quick look back at her lighthearted and carefree days so many decades ago.

Happy Birthday, Grandma!

Hey-ho, It's A Drizzly Saturday

It's a drizzly Saturday at the Ranch.

I love the way each raindrop streaks across the picture.

We've got the usual errands today and a relaxing dinner and movie planned for later tonight. For dinner, I'll probably fix a light meal of veggie and shrimp stir fry with sticky rice, garnished with fresh orange wedges, and a pot of sweet and fragrant jasmine tea. Hubby has been talking about how he wants chocolate cake, so I'll have to work that in, too -- or grab something decadent from the bakery when we go out later. [I should have plenty left for company tomorrow.] Nothing like a generous wedge of cake and a cup of strong, hot java. Lately, my favorite whole coffee beans have been coming from Cascade Pride Java from WinCo Foods. I love the Sumatra, ground into espresso and brewed strong. I urge you to try it! [Half the price of good old burnt-roast Starbucks and as smooth as silk.] It's likely there's a 24 hour WinCo Foods nearby, if you live in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, California, or Nevada.

We love classic movies. Once you've seen all the "must-see" noirs touted by the critics, you're free to pick and choose what resonates with you. We picked out a few of our off-the-list favorites for a possible showing tonight. It's a toss up between Born to Kill, Laura, Double Indemnity, or White Heat. All really exciting melodramas with a timeless quality that transcends their era, yet of course all possess the necessary elements of true film noir. There will be some shooting, a slinky femme fatale, a tough guy, and several great action sequences. Which movie we watch tonight will be determined solely by which mood we're in. [Love those open-ended evenings! LOL]

Hope you have a great evening yourself and catch you tomorrow!

Ooops, this is what the rain turned into!!

AND IT'S STICKING!!!
Global warming, anyone??

Happiness Is...

Happiness is a warm puppy and her little friend.

But, of course, it's also a lot more than that. In his Notes on Virginia, Thomas Jefferson, who authored our Declaration of Independence, wrote,

"Our greatest happiness ... does not depend on the condition of life in which chance has placed us, but is always the result of a good conscience, good health, occupation, and freedom in all just pursuits."

Sounds good to me! Snuggle up with your friend and have a weekend filled with happiness! Thanks for visiting Sunflower Ranch -- you'll always be welcome!

Notes: Poster by photographer Alfo, is titled Kitten and Puppy Under Newspaper and is available from All Posters.

Save Money with Your Own Serenity Spa

Why spend a fortune to de-stress at a fancy day-spa, when you can do the same thing at home for a fraction of the price? All you need are a few special items and a little thoughtful preparation.

Preparation: Clean and freshen up your bathroom. You don't have to paint or put in new fixtures -- just give the room a good wipe down and clear the clutter. Box and remove all the kids' bathtub toys, their towels, shoes, etc. -- all that extra stuff that so easily finds it's way into the bathroom. Clear off the counter. Put hubby's stuff in a box under the sink. You're going to need room for your stuff. Arrange for a friend to take the kids for an hour or two on "the day." You can return the favor to her in the future.

What You'll Need To Buy: A good spa experience will include the things that bring you serenity and peace and treat your tired mind and body well. Choose your favorite candles, flowers, music and relaxing beverage. Add your own oversized quality towel, washcloth, soft robe and slippers. And don't forget to include your favorite natural soaps, bath oils, body scrubs, shampoos, sponges, brushes and other equipment. You do not have to shop for these items at the most expensive store in town. You can pick up excellent items at the corner discount store and online for a fraction of the price. First, go through what you already have on hand. Set a budget for yourself and stay within it. Invest in a basket [plentiful now before Easter] to store all your spa items.

You can find your flowers and music at no cost. As long as you aren't allergic to weeds, you can make an attractive and natural looking bouquet out of those wild plants in the backyard. Branches from shrubs and fruit trees work well, too. [Grocery stores often put their cut flowers on sale for half price on Monday.] Put your bouquet in a favorite vase or funky old canning jar. You don't need to buy a new CD for your music. Visit the library and pick up a variety of CDs or find an FM station with a soothing sound. New Age and classical are the best. If it's a sunny day, you don't even need the candles! Add them next time. The whole point is to get into the water, unwind, and relax your worries away! This isn't going to be that quick morning shower and run around while you get the family packed off to school and work. This is going to be your time.

The Experience: Make sure the TV, radio, and all telephones are OFF. Start your music, light your candles, arrange your flowers, set your tea or cool drink beside the tub, and run the water! Slip in and enjoy the slowing down of your busy, strenuous life. Don't worry about anything. Let the music and the warm water and the lovely scents sooth you and empty your mind of all your cares. You haven't spent a fortune. You have all the equipment you need for this experience and except for the flowers, you have everything you need for the next one. [If you prefer a massage before or after your serenity bath, arrange for your significant other to be there for you. You might also want to arrange a sleepover night for the kids...]

You work hard every day. Lots of people count on you to do your best. You will be able to keep up with your grueling days if you feel your best. Your serenity home spa is one small step in the right direction. Enjoy!

A Republic in Ruins

"Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect everyone who approaches that jewel. Unfortunately, nothing will preserve it but downright force. Whenever you give up that force, you are ruined."

~Patrick Henry

Photograph of The Capitol, Roman Ruins at Dougga, Unesco World Heritage Site, Tunisia, North Africa, Africa by David Poole, available from All Posters.

Lost In Translation: The Truth About Cinderella

This interesting little blurb was taken from the out-of-print book by James Charlton and Lisabeth Mark, The Writer's Home Companion.

"The earliest versions of the story of Cinderella have her wearing slippers of white squirrel fur ("vair" in Old French.) The story was rewritten by the French author, Charles Perrault, and in his version of Cendrillon, published in 1679 in a collection of fairy tales, he mistook the word "vair" for "verre" (glass) and the error has remained in use since."

But this factoid is disputed in the Wikipedia entry! So what's the real truth? And does anyone really care? It's just a fairy tale, right? Or is it?

This just goes to show you events and characters from hundreds of years ago can be contested even today. How can we be expected to sort out our own controversies? What new facts will come to light 300 years in the future that will illuminate the problems of our times? Something to think about.

Visit the Sunflower Ranch store for more thought provoking items.

Many thanks to the great website Cardboard Cutouts for providing the Disney graphic and thanks for stopping by!

Have a great day!

Soar Like An Eagle

"Other birds fight in flocks,
but the eagle fights his battles alone."
~Anonymous

The eagles are returning to the rivers and streams near my home. Their wing beats and cries pierce the solitude of our quiet and forested days like no other bird. With spring now upon us, our spirits ascend like the eagles -- fierce and yearning for achievement, success and happiness. You can document your own soaring spirits in this very cool Bald Eagle Graph Paper Journal notebook. It's perfect for notetaking, journaling, sketching, and designing. Check out the Sunflower Ranch store for more cool graph paper journals, including lions, elephants, and the Statue of Liberty. Thanks for looking and have a great day.

Let your own inner eagle soar!

From the Porch

"Autumn arrives in early morning,
but spring at the close of a winter day."

~ Elizabeth Bowen

Green Shipping Tips

If you sell online, you ship. The cost keeps going up. Your cost for supplies shouldn't -- but they do. The solution is to recycle and reuse as much as you can and still ship out an attractive package to your customer. Here's how:

Recycle Boxes and Bubble Bags: Remove all previous labels and use a black marker to obliterate all UPC codes. Use only clean boxes or bags that did not contain chemicals, peanuts, or scented items, so your package won't trigger allergies or contaminate your products. Always use the correct size box to safely protect your product in transit. Too small and your product will probably arrive damaged. Too large and your customer is swamped with too much packing material. Make your own boxes from recycled boxes to fit odd sized items. Re-enforce weak boxes.

Recycle Packing Materials: Save and reuse packing peanuts. Or buy green peanuts or smart packing noodles. Shredded newsprint adds too much weight to keep your postage cost low. [Use only in the US Postal priority flat weight box.] Reuse all clean bubble wrap, plastic grocery, produce, or product bags. Do not use crushed poly foam blocks as packing. The mess is extremely unattractive and too much energy is used to vacuum it up. [Uncut blocks would be acceptable, however.]

Personalize Your Packages: Your customer will overlook a re-used box or bag if your mailing label and other business labels are clear, informative, and appealing. Decorate your shipping boxes and bubble bags with recycle stickers, and personalized business and address labels. To protect against inclement weather, always cover your labels with clear tape.

Keep Your Customers Happy: Recycle, reuse, and always ship out the best looking package you can. Visit the Sunflower Ranch store for neat stuff I can ship to you! LOL

Attracting Birds

It's the First Day of Spring and now is the time to put up your birdhouses. The weather might be iffy and still seem a bit cold or dreary, but your houses should be ready for their little tenants when they are ready to occupy them.

Before you put up your houses and expect a family to move in right way, there are a few more things to do.

Provide plenty of fresh water. You don't have to be fancy. An old kettle resting on some flat rocks, filled with a few large smooth stones will provide a place to stand on to drink and still leave plenty of room to bathe. Keep it clean and filled with fresh water. Disinfect frequently.

Provide food to attract specific birds. But also repel squirrels, crows, and pigeons, as well as any four footed vermin that might invade your feeding area. It is extremely important to keep this area clean and swept. Or you will have problems. And it's not pretty! Clean and disinfect your feeders frequently.

Provide the proper sized house for the birds you want to attract. Build or buy your birdhouses to your bird's exact specifications. For example, house sparrows will nest in anything that fits them. But chickadees prefer something small and cozy. Robins must have an open side to their home. Wrens will even nest in a mesh bag! Blue birds like the little one shown above have very specific requirements. Check out these photos from Bickleton, Washington, the Bluebird Capitol of the World. Explore the site for more info on local birdwatching and festivals.

You don't want to encourage starlings or cowbirds, as they are destructive to songbirds. [English sparrows are so common we call them house sparrows, but they are actually finches and not native to North America. One of our first immigrants, they've been in the US for 100s of years. They're gregarious family birds and often hatch six broods per season! They like people, farms, cities and suburbs and are the easiest birds to house.]

If you furnish a clean, utilitarian, and safe area for your birds, they will more than return your hospitality with hours of delightful antics and expert insect control. All those babies need to be fed and the parents prefer to gather their meals close to the nest. As the birds mature they add seeds and other vegetation to their diets. They love weed seeds!

A good bird book to get started with is one of Roger Tory Peterson's Field Guides. And check this link for more wonderful bird books.

Good luck with your feathered friends! Happy Spring! And thanks for stopping by!

Books for Our Orwellian Times

It's a wise thing to understand the principles that have driven our capitalist economy in the past and compare them to the principles of the new world of socialism/communism now being thrust upon us. Meet Karl Marx, a new and unwelcome father of our country.

In no particular order, here's a brief list of books that clearly will help you sort out the political/economic mess as we rapidly change from a market-based economy to total government control. You'll learn all about the class struggle, redistribution of wealth, the means of production, and other tenets of communism and how they are now being ruthlessly applied to our own society.

The books below are linked to different sites where you can obtain a complimentary copy, read an online copy, or get a great deal on a new or used book from a reliable seller. [I've bought books from all the online stores below & recommend them. Also check the "Recommended" section for additional products and alternate links.]

1. The Communist Manifesto, online version
   
2. The Road to Serfdom
3. 1984 by George Orwell, online version
4. Animal Farm
5. The Forgotten Man
6. The Constitution of the United States of America
7. Liberal Fascism
   

In addition to the great stores linked to above, you'll find a good selection of political thrillers and spy novels at the Sunflower Ranch store. All are priced low and are part of the "Any 4 books" offer. I'm also offering hard-to-find and vintage political histories/biographies covering the political spectrum. Thanks for looking!

Don't forget to add your favorite "Orwellian" reference book in the comment section, below, too. Thank you!

St. Patrick's Day Morning After Cures

The morning after a St. Patrick's Day Binge might leave you feeling a wee bit under the weather. I found some excellent remedies that might help. Of course, a couple of fizzy tablets in water followed by a good night's sleep often help the Joe Whirlys -- but you still might not feel tip-top when you roll/crawl/flop out of bed and try to rush off to a busy day ahead. Here's where I turn to an expert and have found some great ideas for coping with the Morning After. The 6 Surefire Hangover Helpers can give you a great overview and more than likely you've got most of these common helpers right in your refrigerator -- or at your local fast food joint. Don't overlook the basics! Another, more in depth review of what can help is Munch's Hangover Eraser from Mr. Breakfast. Both links can give you some terrific insight on the nature of hangovers and all their permutations. While you're waiting for your coffee to perk or you're having trouble choosing fruits for your smoothie, here's a silly Irish joke to distract your head from the pounding and help you get the day started.

Two guys alone in a bar. The first guy asks the other guy if he can buy him a drink.

"Of course," comes the reply.

The first man then asks him, "Where are you from?"

"Ireland," replies the second.

"I'm from Ireland, too! Let's have another round, to Ireland."

"Cheers!" replies the other, and they both toss back their drinks.

The first man asks, "Where in Ireland are you from?"

"Dublin," comes the reply.

"I can't believe it!" says the first man. "I'm from Dublin, too! Let's have another drink, to Dublin!" Then he asks, "What school did you go to?"

"St. Mary's," replies the second. "I graduated in '65."

"This is unbelievable," the first man says. "I went to St. Mary's and graduated in '65, too!"

About this time another man comes in and sits down at the bar. "What's going on?" he asks the bartender.

"Not much," the bartender replies. "The O'Malley twins are drunk again."

And here's another one to wind up the St. Patrick Day's celebration for another year:

Three Irishmen, Paddy, Sean and Seamus, were stumbling home from the pub late one night and found themselves on the road which led past the old graveyard.

"Come have a look over here," says Paddy, "It's Michael O'Grady's grave, God bless his soul. He lived to the ripe old age of 87."

"That's nothing," says Sean, "here's one named Patrick O'Toole, it says here that he was 95 when he died."

Just then, Seamus yells out, "Good God, here's a fella that got to be 145!"

"What was his name?" asks Paddy.

Seamus stumbles around a bit, awkwardly lights a match to see what else is written on the stone marker, and exclaims, "Miles, from Dublin."

And on that happy note, we'll say good day to you and thanks for stopping by to help us celebrate our favorite springtime holiday! If you're in the mood to shop for some neat books and might enjoy perusing an ever changing selection of mysteries, spy novels, self-help classics, histories, political biographies and more, drop in at the Sunflower Ranch store. Great products, fast & friendly service and FREE shipping when you buy any four books! See you there!

Top o' the Morning

Happy St. Patrick's Day! Springtime and laughter, green beer, and music -- and food! Ah, yes, the food! At the Ranch this evening we'll be enjoying a traditional Corned Beef and Cabbage dinner, but earlier in the day, we're going to try our hand at making some delicious Irish Scones. We found the recipe by Ruth Burkhardt at St. Patrick's Day Recipes while looking for something quick, easy and "Irish" to serve for breakfast that wasn't oatmeal. It's not that we don't love oatmeal, but in any version, it's hardly what you'd call special. But if you want some oatmeal to start the day, go for it -- you're fixing something very Celtic and very good for your heart. I'm looking for something a little less good for you but something that tastes very good. Here are some delicious variations on oatmeal if you're an oatmeal fan. [I found quite a few I'd love to try, too.] Today, though, we're sticking with the scones.

At this collection of great Irish Recipes you'll also find an additional ton of links to Irish lore, St. Patrick's Day history, games, quizzes, clip art, movies -- and a whole lot more, all suitable for the whole family. Bookmark this site for everything you'll find here, as it's definitely a great resource for the day! However, the best resource I found was The Recipe Link, Irish foods. It's easy to go wild the Recipe Link, checking out all the fabulous recipes!

Start the day the Irish way with Irish Breakfast Tea or strong hot coffee and these fantastic Irish Scones and your favorite jam or preserves. Delicious!! And easy and quick to bake, too! But so full of Irish country flavor, you'll be speaking Gaelic without even trying!

Irish Scones

Ingredients:

1 cup white flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 pound butter -- softened
2 ounces sugar
1 egg -- slightly beaten
2 ounces milk
Sultanas (white raisins) optional
Walnut halves (optional)

Preparation:

Mix flour and baking powder. Add butter, blending until mixture is butter-colored. Add sugar and continue to mix well. Add half the beaten egg and all the milk. Add raisins or some nuts, if desired, mixing well to make a sticky dough. Turn dough onto floured board and knead at least 5 minutes or longer. Cut dough into rounds and place on greased baking sheet or hot frying pan. Brush tops of scones with remainder of beaten egg. Place walnut halves on top, if desired. Bake at 350 to 375 degrees for 15 to 20 minutes, or until brown. If preparing over an open fire, heat frying pan till very hot. Place scones in pan and cook 7 to 8 minutes. Turn and cook 7 to 8 minutes more. Makes 6 scones.

After a busy day of appropriate St. Patrick's Day festivities with family and friends, we recommend the classic corned beef dinner. It's easy to make, always tastes scrumptious and your guests will gobble it right down and ask for more!

Corned-Beef Dinner, Irish Style

Ingredients:

3-4 lbs corned beef brisket
2 onions, sliced
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 bay leaves
6 whole cloves
6 medium potatoes, pared
5 small carrots, pared
1 medium head of cabbage, cut in 6 wedges

Preparation:

Place corned beef in Dutch oven, and barely cover with hot water; add onion, garlic, cloves, and bay leaves. Cover and simmer (do not let boil) one hour per pound of meat, or till fork tender. Remove meat from liquid; add potatoes and carrots. Cover; bring to boiling and cook 10 minutes. Then add cabbage wedges; continue cooking 20 minutes longer or till vegetables are done.

Optional Spice Glaze:

If you like, glaze the corned beef while vegetables cook. Spread fat side of meat lightly with prepared mustard. Then sprinkle with mixture of 1/4 cup brown sugar and 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves. Place in shallow pan. Bake in moderate oven 350 degrees 15 to 20 minutes or till nicely glazed.

Notes:

My own variations have included the use of Pickling Spice to sprinkle on the meat [when I've been caught without bay leaves and cloves, but it came out great], more garlic [because I love it] and more cabbage, cooked in a large kettle [take juice from meat when other veggies are finished, add to an already large kettle of boiling water, toss in some pickling spice and cabbage and cook quickly to al dente. I hate limp and soggy cabbage!] Also I use red potatoes, whole, smaller rather than bigger. If you're short of carrots, use celery for an added "green" and a good crunch.

Add a loaf of fresh baked soda bread served with butter and your favorite jam or marmalade. Gather friends and dig in!!

For dessert, dark chocolate cupcakes with green tinted buttercreme frosting and dark minty chocolate drizzled over them, paired with French vanilla ice cream and a mug of strong Irish coffee is a nice and easy finish to a great meal. [For those who consume adult beverages, a wee nip o'their after dinner favorite would also be appropriate.]

Enjoy your St. Patrick's Day feast and have a safe and sane celebration! See you back here tomorrow for our final installment on the Sunflower Ranch St. Patrick's Day shindig, or should that be "blog-dig"? Thanks for visiting Sunflower Ranch today!

Have You Heard?

There was a young lady of Cork,
Whose Pa made a fortune in pork;
He bought for his daughter
A tutor who taught her
To balance green peas on her fork.

A mouse in her room woke Miss Dowd
She was frightened -- it must be allowed.
Soon a happy thought hit her --
To scare off the critter,
She sat up in bed and meowed.

An elderly man called Keith
Mislaid his set of false teeth --
They'd been laid on a chair,
He'd forgot they were there,
Sat down, and was bitten beneath.

You can pick up some funny Limericks here and here. Or write your own! These little ditties are a time honored poetic form, consisting of five anapaestic lines. Lines 1, 2, and 5 of Limericks have seven to ten syllables and rhyme with one another. Lines 3 and 4 of Limericks have five to seven syllables and also rhyme with each other. Now you know the secret formula, try your hand at writing one! [Even William Shakespeare wrote Limericks!]

For more inspiration check out Poetry On-Line.org and Wikepedia and one of my favorite pages of famous poems re-written as Limericks. All very clever, very funny, and the mood is very Irish!

Thanks checking out today's post, the third in honor of St. Patrick's Day in our impromptu celebration of all things Irish. Tomorrow is the Big Day! Have a safe and sane holiday and stop in tomorrow for more Irish lore!

For Edwin, An Irish Prayer

An Irish Prayer

May God give you...
For every storm, a rainbow,
For every tear, a smile,
For every care, a promise,
And a blessing in each trial.
For every problem life sends,
A faithful friend to share,
For every sigh, a sweet song,
And an answer for each prayer.

A Fine Irish Lad

The fellow depicted on the vintage postcard above brings to mind one of our old family stories. Many of the details have been lost in the mists of time, but here is how I remember it from my Grandfather.

One fine spring day sometime in the late 1600s, in a seaport town in one of the Northern counties of Ireland, a young and handsome fellow named Daniel was out for a stroll. Heading off to the village for a pint with the lads, he was dressed in his better clothes and sported an attractive wooden walking stick he had carved himself. Employed as a servant on a huge estate, he had a bit of responsibility and was allowed off the premises for estate business and on his day off. No finer fellow sauntered about the village, and his flashing dark blue eyes and shock of black hair and strong figure made many a lass smile. As he approached the town, a rider on an impressive and spirited black horse galloped up beside him. A stern, authoritative voice called out in English, "Stop, you!"

Daniel turned to look at the rider, but continued walking. He could see the man on the horse was a high born Englishman, decked out in velvet coat, plumed hat and rich leather boots. Daniel sidestepped the horseman, but didn't speak.

"I said stop! I expect to be obeyed," the rider said.

Daniel stopped but stayed on the road, avoiding the brambles nearby. "Yes, sir?" he said.

"I've been admiring your walking stick. I want it. Give it to me." He man on the horse held out his hand.

Daniel said, "No, sir. Tis me own stick. I made it meself. Tis not for giving, nor tis for sale. Good day to ye, sir," he said with a tip of his hat. He took a step to move beyond the horse and rider blocking his way.

The rider fumed and frowned. "I said I want that stick," he bellowed. "You must give it to me! Do you know who I am?"

"No, sir," Daniel said, "I've never seen nor heard of ye."

"I'm a nobleman in His Majesty's Service and I demand your stick!" The horse reared up at the sound of the angry and shouting man on his back. Daniel quickly stepped aside to avoid the stallion's hoofs.

"An English lord, sir?" Daniel asked.

"Yes, of course, you piece of Irish filth. I demand you give me that stick!"

"Of course, m'Lord," Daniel said with low bow. "Come and get it."

The enraged Englishman turned several shades of crimson and began to flail at Daniel with his sword. The horse grew more skittish and twisted and turned against the rider's movements, further angering the rider. "Unruly Irish beast! Steady boy."

Daniel ducked the rider's sword and blocked the thrusts with his walking stick. The horse threw the rider and galloped off toward the fields. The Englishman scrambled to his feet and fell on Daniel's neck, beating at him with his fists. Daniel dropped his stick and fought back.

The Englishman grabbed the stick and swung it at Daniel. Daniel wrestled it back from him and turned on him, raining blow after blow on the hapless man. "No one takes what is mine!" Daniel screamed at the man as he beat him. "Do ye hear me?" Soon blood pooled on the ground near the Englishman's head.

When Daniel realized the man was unconscious and might be dead, he knew it meant he would die, too, hanging from one of His Majesty's gallows. An Irishman's life meant nothing to the Crown and he knew it. Daniel wiped the walking stick in the grass, gathered up his hat and rucksack, and strode toward the village docks. He wasn't too messed up himself, though he did look a bit more worse for wear than he usually looked when he went to town. He avoided the pub but said hello as calmly as he could to all he met along the path.

When he arrived at the docks, he found a spot behind some crates and hastily but quietly dropped his stick into the bay. He then sought out the captain of the biggest the best looking vessel in the harbor, where men loaded cargo and animals in a steady and rhythmic stream. "Are ye sailing, soon, Captain?" Daniel asked the tough looking older man who stood before him on the deck.

"Aye, lad. When the tide turns this afternoon."

"Can ye use another hand, sir?"

The Captain stared at the slightly disheveled Daniel and asked, "In trouble, lad?"

Daniel returned his steady gaze. Small and muscular, with a thicket of curly carrot-colored hair and a fellow Irishman, Daniel knew if he couldn't trust him, he'd be a dead man soon. "Maybe, sir," he answered hesitantly.

"You'd better tell me the truth and be quick about it or I'll turn ye in for sure," the Captain said. "Follow me, lad." They went below to the Captain's quarters. Daniel told him of the incident on the road. With no hesitation, the Captain said, "I hate the English. Welcome aboard. And stay below decks until we sail. The soldiers might come looking for ye."

"Oh, the saints be praised, sir! God's blessings on ye!" Daniel reached out to shake the Captain's hand. "I'm mighty grateful to ye. Where are we going, might I ask?"

"The New World, lad. To the King's new colonies on the other side of a wide and terrible ocean."

Daniel became a sailor and learned his trade well. As an older man, he was a captain himself and sailed out from Boston and Portsmouth. His children and grandchildren thrived in the New World. One of his direct descendants and namesakes was a hero of the American Revolution. As an old man, that descendant went on to rise to the rank of general during the War of 1812. More descendants went on to pioneer all across the US and in every generation the men fought in the wars against the enemies of freedom, proudly adhering to the unspoken family motto of "No one takes what is mine!"

Business Day Frenzy

Hubby is stretched out on the couch laughing out loud at the old Disney movie The Absentminded Professor, (starring Fred MacMurray) while I'm trying to get my paperwork in order for a busy busy "business" day ahead. All that laughter and fun is too distracting!!! Not at all very business-like!!!

True, it's more fun to watch the Flubber classics and it's just terrible how the old prof is double-crossed -- but I've got appointments to prepare for and on top of it all the dang phone has been ringing itself into a frenzy!! But at least those calls don't last long, just a telemarketer or two, someone who doesn't speak and whose number doesn't even register on the caller id. My theory is if they don't speak when I say "hello," I hang up immediately. (I don't even wait to hear the heavy breathing.) It's their call and my time, so they get the old heave-ho. A robo-caller wouldn't know the difference, anyhow. So I don't get too exercised.

It's Friday and the last sunny day for a week and I've got to get serious about doing something productive before the weekend and a long spell of rain arrives. Around here Saturday and Sunday always turn out to be more than we expect. Usually good, but sometimes not.

It's not a bad thing to start out the day with a couple of good belly laughs, but isn't business supposed to be serious???

No?

Really???

[Light bulb snaps on.] Ooooooooooooooooh, I get it. Not every day! Not all the time!!

Well, then, let me say right now, I dedicate myself today to business -- but it's got to be fun! I hereby promise that my meetings and appointments [no matter how bad the news might be] will be approached with an upbeat-it's-Friday-so-let's-have-some-fun spirit. I also promise not to keep my TV locked onto the Bloomberg Channel and not worry about futures, utilities, the so-called stimulus package or the Industrial Average for the day. Got to back off and let the economy implode on it's own. It's been doing that just fine without my feeble and contrary imput now for months, anyhow. And I lastly promise, that except for the Weekend Journal, I'm not going to read the Wall Street Journal today. I will live by the "No news is good news" motto, which probably should be "If I don't read the bad news, it's not bad news, cause I don't know it," theory.

Well, it's time to skin out the door and I can hear hubby settling in for the start of Son of Flubber, so I'm going to put my theories into practice and have a great Friday and a wonderful weekend ahead. You do the same and I'll see you again on Monday!

Red Tails and a Sunset

Today at the gym I enjoyed my treadmill workout on the corner machine, flanked on the south and east sides by floor to ceiling windows. The brilliant blue and cloudless sky stretched endlessly above and ahead for miles and miles. Mt. Rainier loomed in the background, majestic and ruggedly cloaked in fresh snow.

For a half an hour or so, I had a perfect spot to watch a red tailed hawk circle in the updrafts over the village. Starting from a corner of the village parking lot, the bird slowly and methodically flapped its wings a bit and then drifted southward. It rested briefly on the top branch of one of the alders behind the gas station, then took off again, circling closer to the ground in ever tightening arcs. For a moment, I lost track of it as it dipped down below my line of sight, obscured by traffic and parked cars on the other side of main street.

When it regained altitude and I was once again able to see it, its back was to me. It rose quickly and headed straight for the scrub behind the post office, about 500 yards away. I had a sneaking suspicion it held some small furry animal in its talons, perhaps a mouse, vole, rat, squirrel or even a cottontail rabbit, somehow missed by the coyotes. I only saw a flash of the red tail before it was lost in the jungle of the empty and neglected fields just off main street.

That was hours ago and now the sun is dropping below the horizon and it's funny, but the color of the sun is the same shade of intense reddish orange as the bird's tail feathers. I shall think about connecting the dots, relating these two events and their significance. It's probably nothing more than coincidence. But possibly a case could be made for "Start the day boldly and with conviction, but end it with radiance and reflection. "

Maybe. Maybe not. At any rate, I did so enjoy watching that bird today. And I always love a good sunset, no matter how brief it might be or how obscured by clouds, terrain or vegetation. Today I encountered both -- a bird and a sunset. Definitely a 5 star day!

Now, I'm off to list some new items for the Sunflower Ranch store. Last night I sold quite a few books during the Wednesday Wave and I definitely need to restock my "cyber shelves." Thanks for reading and have a wonderful evening.

Out & About

The sunshine!! The blue sky!! A New day!!

The frost encrusted roads slowly melting!! The highway into town clogged with morning traffic, demented SUV tailgaters, and reckless lane changers!!

Got errands?? Yes!! The Official Sunflower Ranchmobile is gassed-up and ready to go, clean inside and out, with reusable cloth grocery bags loaded.

Got a trip to the gym and errands in the village. Then it's back to OLA and the Wednesday Wave this afternoon and evening. There are a lot of great sellers signed up already, so this is going to be a lively session.

Here are a few brand-spanking new items I listed for the sale: The Complete Healthy Back Book, purple Butterfly Tapestry Pillow, and an orange/tan Butterfly Tapestry Pillow.

Here's a picture to give you a quick peek:



You can bookmark anything in the Sunflower Ranch store and purchase during the Wave for game credit. See you there!

Have a great day!

Tuesday Blues

Introducing the Stellar's Jay, the common "blue" jay of the Pacific Northwest. A year round resident, both sexes are alike, not only in coloring and marking, but in personality. Talk about clever, bold, and screechy, these cousins of crows are very smart birds. All winter long we had at least one pair hanging around the fir trees, flashing those electric blue wings from tree to tree to ground to porch and back to the trees with a quick stop at the bird baths. And noisy!! Squeaking and squawking at each other, yelling at us, demanding peanuts, and on many occasions warning the other birds [chickadees, juncos, siskins, downy woodpeckers and flickers] of a hawk approaching or hiding in the trees. I just love these birds, with their inky crests and agile bodies so brilliantly blue, flitting across the fields and through the forests. Today's sky is a shimmering blue, the color of this little fellow's breast. Yesterday's snow sugarcoats the firs beside the house, reflecting the sparkle of a long day of sunshine ahead. The jays cavorting between the branches impart a mischievous mood with every wing beat of those gorgeous blue wings. It's the kind of "blues" I love to have -- glorious, scintillating and full of promise.

I've been sorting through storage tubs of items I've collected to sell online and found a few things to write up and list for tomorrow's Wednesday Wave at OLA. Yesterday I modified several items by lowering the prices and altering the headlines to include "clearance" or "sale" or "reduced" into them. I will be letting books and housewares and other one-of-a-kind treasures go for much less than they are worth or what they cost me. It's March Madness at the Sunflower Ranch store. Stop in and check it out. Just put "clearance" or "sale" or "reduced" into the search box and get a complete list for each of those types of sale items -- or skim each page of the store and look at all the bargains at once. Remember the buy four books get free shipping offer is still valid. I hope you'll take advantage of it! Thanks for looking and have a great "blue" day!

A Snowy Monday

It's a snowy Monday in central Pierce County. I snapped this photo from the front porch by my office this morning before I'd had my coffee [!!!], and within a few minutes of stepping back into the house the snow had stopped. The sun came out and cottony clouds are now sailing across a powder blue sky. How beautiful! This might be the only snow we receive today -- or we could experience the full force of today's forecast and get up to four additional inches. This is, however, from my point of view, ENOUGH! For the rest of the season, heck for the rest of the year!

It's still quite cold and will be dropping into the subfreezing category later this afternoon. My office is surrounded by a wall of windows and a glass door, just off the porch where I snapped the picture. It seems more like a loft or as hubby says, "a hangar" than a home with the wide open floorplan. A huge undefined room can have a drafty edge on these frigid days, making the cold bite a little sharper, the comfort zone considerably diminished. Naturally, every time the door is opened, the cold seeps in. True, I've given up the heat for the view -- but, on the "other hand," I am prepared!

From Rosebudcottage, I bought some adorable hot pink fingerless gloves on OLA in January and believe me, they really have come in "handy" this winter. My hands actually stay warm while keyboarding! Add layers, lightweight fleece and my favorite wool socks and I'm good to go for a long and varied day. This winter has hung on much longer than is typical, with far too many snowy days disrupting the routine. Rain, we can handle, but snow -- forget about it!

This week at the Sunflower Ranch store, look for some new mysteries to be added today and tomorrow. And also look for new markdowns in the vintage department. We're trying to clear out inventory and it's all got to go -- either to a collector or to the Salvation Army. We're out of room and this is where push comes to shove. The Wednesday Wave will be a good one this week with all sorts of great bargains. Hope to see you there. Thanks a bunch and have a great day!

The Moon, The Weekend

The moon popped out behind a bank of low clouds and fog last night and cut through an inky, starless sky. Nothing disturbed the midnight quiet.

In the morning, brilliant sunshine gradually melted the heavy frost encrusting cars, fence-posts, stairways and exposed decks.

A busy Friday lay ahead, open to the blue sky above and full of promise. Beyond that, an active weekend beckoned.

Despite the end-of-the-week whirlwind ahead today, I know I have to remember to spring the clock ahead tomorrow night when we finally fall into bed. The moon might be out, enticing us with her quicksilver smile, but by golly, if you want to be on time Sunday and the new week ahead, don't forget to set all your clocks ahead!!

It's happened to me more than once or twice over the years and despite the inconvenience, it's extremely embarrassing! "Where've you been??" "Huh, late again??" "Oh, look who just waltzed in!" "You missed the coffee & donuts, now get to work!!!" Thank goodness we're "retired" and we don't have to put up with that anymore!!

Actually, hubby took early retirement for health reasons and I basically hadn't worked for years -- just played the part of the thrifty housewife. Once he retired, I had to take on that role full time, doing a few part time jobs here and there.

I think that's why I like buying and selling on OLA so much! No outrageous listing and final value fees, no hard to follow [frankly incomprehensible] rules and procedures and no fellow users ready to lie, cheat, or steal from you. Online Auction is an open, helpful place with determined, ethical users. What a refreshing change from the "other" site, the site that shall remain nameless, the site where most of us cut our teeth buying and selling and getting screwed by dishonest users.

So -- have a great weekend, take some time out to admire the moon, and don't forget to spring forward Saturday night. Also, check out the Wow Sale at OLA this weekend. You're likely to find some fabulous bargains!

See you on Monday!

Last Night's Treasures

Last night's Wednesday Wave at onlineauction.com was a lot of fun! The buying and selling chugged along at a fast clip. I sold some books and bought an interesting variety of items.

From Crochenlady I picked up some handy "green" mailing labels. She writes, "Each sheet will have your seller name on it if you like, to show you recycle. Keep it clean and keep it green! We only have one earth to live on, let's help keep it green for the next generation!" Absolutely!

From Stubsinc I bought a neat vintage mustard yellow salt glazed pot for my collection. I love neutrals and textured items and this one will be a handy pot for a small plant, or as a napkin holder for the table or a pen holder or maybe something I can't even think of right now.

I like to re-decorate rooms with seasonal themes and re-do accessories, paintings, and other small furnishings to reflect a new outlook, or a celebration, or a new season. I don't know what that means psychologically, but I do know it's fun to freshen up a room every now and then. And talk about recycling! It's fun to edit a room's furnishings and find new uses for them in other rooms. Of course anything chipped, broken, cracked or otherwise not in perfect condition goes straight into the garbage. It's very bad feng shui to have any damaged crockery around the house, so when something becomes damaged through misuse or accident, out it goes. That hardly happens around here -- but it does happen and it promptly gets the heave-ho. That's one reason I'm always on the lookout for additional items.

From Socklady I bought some adorable zippered purses in chicken and rooster prints. These are going to be used for Easter gifts [filled with little goodies] to young family members and friends. How cool is that? They can put their lip gloss and hankies and lunch money in there and be very grown up -- of course, after they've eaten their chocolate bunnies and peeps, and played with whatever other little items I stick in there.

Two Wavers snatched up some great deals from me and I'm so glad those books have found readers who will appreciate them! I'm hoping to have another batch listed by next week's Wave. The more popular my special has become, the longer I want to run it. When the postage rates change, I may have to take a serious look at the terms of the special, do some modifications and re-issue it in a slightly different form. So while the "buy any four books, get free shipping" special is still on, if you're looking for something interesting to read or add to your collection, check out the Sunflower Ranch store. You just never now what you'll find -- fiction, non-fiction, collectibles, used but good condition, new reference essentials, and more! I've got a nice variety of vintage self-help, history, and mysteries listed right now, if you're looking for something offbeat or hard-to-find. Until next time, have a wonderful day and thanks for looking at the blog!

Riding the Wave

It's that time again -- Wednesday!! Time for the Wave at Online Auction! Had a busy day and it's fun in the late afternoon to drop everything and take some time out to buy and sell and of course, chat!

Every week there's a great mix of new people and experienced buyers and sellers scrambling for bargains and chatting up a storm with each other. I'd have to say easily everyone is having a ball! I know it's been a lot of fun picking and choosing just the right gift or item for my own collection.

All OLA members are welcome. And buyers, only, too, if you don't have anything to sell. Visit the chat room and then go to the Special Sales and Weekly Games. And the Wave isn't the only game in town -- [sorry, just had to say that!] You can participate in selling contests, scavenger hunts and bingo! The big weekend sale is just that, not a game, but you can get some fantastic bargains!

I listed some "new" collectible mysteries today. These Grafton mysteries and the Murder She Wrote series usually fly off the shelves -- always to find just the right mystery fan.

Here are three among those I listed today:



I haven't yet figured out how make these links to the page where they're for sale -- but I do have a logo at the bottom of the page that is an active link back to the store -- or just click here to visit the Sunflower Ranch Store.

We're still running the Book Lovers Special -- buy any four books and get FREE shipping! There has been a very good response to this special. Buyers love a deal and I love the idea of seeing these books go to readers who will appreciate them!

Going back to the sale, now. Have a lovely evening and see you soon!

First Spring Lightning

Wow, what a day! Had a lot of business in Seattle [about 50 miles to the north] and on our way home we were enthralled with the majestic black-edged clouds swirling and churning ahead in the distance. As we traveled southward, we joked about a thunderstorm -- not a very common occurrence here in the Puget Sound area of Western Washington this early in the year. But we hit some pelting rain in Edgewood and by the time we were in downtown Puyallup it was pouring hard and the lightning was flashing and the thunder was booming!! All very cool! But as we passed through Puyallup and drew closer toward the mountains, the clouds cleared and the rain stopped. We arrived at home to dry ground, a bit of sunshine and a modest breeze.

Yes, the photo is not Puyallup but one of the most beautiful buildings in the entire world. And to see it as a lightning rod is simply spectacular. So central Pierce County isn't France by any means, and Puyallup isn't Paris, and the Eiffel Tower isn't the Puyallup Fair Ferris Wheel -- but how cool is the first thunderstorm of the year? In my book, very cool. So I am commemorating it with the utter coolness of this stunning photo, and awarding today with the Sunflower Ranch Eiffel Tower Lightning Award of Excellence.

As you can see here on the blog, I did get some gadgets up and running! Once I sort of knew what I was doing, it was fun deciding where I wanted them and of course picking just a few wasn't easy. It's likely the selections may change over time. I actually made a one for the Sunflower Ranch store at Widget Box. I also put in some links to a few items at Amazon I'm enjoying right now and recommend. I do love the concept of gadgets/widgets/blidgets or whatever cute little name someone calls them. They deliver a lot of content in a small package and they're always changing. I like that variety and fluidity very much!

I hope to list a few more new items for tomorrow's Wednesday Wave. If/when I do, I will post some photos here. Until we chat again, have a great Tuesday night and thanks for stopping by!

Rainy Sunday

I picked out some cool gadgets to add -- then couldn't get them to show! Not too happy about that! But will try again later. Have to run out now for a while. Will try to embed a gadget here for you to enjoy:

Oops, it didn't work!!! Will try later.

See you later & have a great day!