Friday's Quote

If I had my life to live over, I would start barefoot earlier in the spring and stay that way later in the fall. ~Nadine Stair

My mondegreen

Last night I had the radio on while I was sweeping the porch, and the song "I'd Really Like to See You Tonight" by England Dan & John Ford Coley came on. I've always liked this song, with my main reason being the beautiful line "there's a warm wind blowing the stars around." As I was singing along, I heard my husband chuckle. "It's not blowing the stars around," he laughed, it's the stars are out - how could stars blow around?" So I dropped my broom, went on a lyrics website and sure enough he was right. Much to my dismay, that warm wind was not swirling the stars above me. The stars were simply "out". The website went on to explain that this was a commonly misheard lyric, also known as a mondegreen. So now I don't feel quite so embarassed to have gotten it wrong, but I must say I like my version better and will continue to sing it that way!

A Sad Goodbye to Men in Trees

Tonight one of the final episodes of Men in Trees will be aired on ABC. I don't watch a whole lot of television and very seldom watch any program religiously, but MIT was one of my favorites. It was often lovingly compared to Northern Exposure, and I enjoyed all the characters, the music, and the beautiful scenery (it was filmed in Vancouver). I am so sorry to see it go. :(

Memorial Day Flag Etiquette

My husband is very knowledgeable about flag etiquette, and last night he was explaining the proper procedures of Memorial Day flag flying to our son. The flag is to be flown half-staff until noon and at full-staff from noon to sunset. If the flag is being flown particularly for Memorial Day (as opposed to a flag that is up all the time), it should first be hoisted to the peak for an instant and then lowered to the half-staff position.
We have purchased a new flag to fly on Monday, and over the weekend we will deposit our worn flag in the old white "mail box" located outside the Legion Hall. The wonderful Legion members will then burn the collected flags in a beautiful ceremony on our lakefront, and we are thankful.

Friday's Quote

"It is a great art to saunter."

- Henry David Thoreau

My Bittersweet Relationship - Any Advice?

For the past two years I have tried, unsuccessfully, to get Bittersweet vines growing on a section of fence in my yard. I planted both a male and a female, and still haven't had any luck. Maybe I need to try lighting some candles and playing my Romance in Venice cd! I just don't understand why it grows rampantly in the wild along old fences and stiles along the train tracks and not in my yard where it is cared for so tenderly. If anyone has any advice, I'd be so thankful.

Favorite Dinner Music #1- Romance in Venice

One of my favorite things to do is serve a meal to my family or friends with the most appropriate music for accompaniment. Although this can illicit a playful eye-roll by my husband when he enters the kitchen, I know it is appreciated and really can add to the dining experience. There's a French cafe not too far from here, and the food is not the greatest, but we go anyway because the music makes us feel like we're on vacation. Anyway, tonight I'm serving a simple Spinach Lasagne, garlic bread, and wine (grape juice for the kiddos) and I'll be playing my favorite Italian instrumental cd - Romance in Venice. I'm not Italian and have never been to Italy but I sure do love this collections of songs. On Amazon. com, the cd is described: Imagine you are gliding through the moonlight canals of Venice as your gondolier serenades you with an Italian romantic classic such as "Santa Lucia" or "O Sole Mio". That's where this instrumental collection of favorite Italian love songs will take you through strings of the mandolin, chords of the accordion, and sweeping notes of the violin. Romance yourself around the world with this elegant Italian musical tapestry. And so I'm off to Italy tonight, that is until the meal is over and I'm scrubbing the lasagne pan!