Between the dusk of a summer night

Between the dusk of a summer night

And the dawn of a summer day,

We caught at a mood as it passed in flight,

And we bade it stoop and stay.

-William Ernest Henley

Local Wonders

"The sky is like old blue denim just before dawn, with one round hole worn through, exposing the cold bony knee of the moon. I have been hearing the trilling of tree frogs. That frog - even one with the chirp of a bird - would live in a tree (not even in but on) , clinging with little suction cups to keep from falling, is the height of craziness, but forty feet in the air, light as leaves, their tiny hearts are slow and steady under kite paper skin, and their black eyes shine with moonlight. Let us praise all who ascend to such high places ont he sheer face of the world."

- From the "summer" chapter of the book Local Wonders Seasons in the Bohemian Alps by Ted Kooser

Thrift Shop Blues - The One that Got Away

Awhile back, Nan at Letters from a Hillfarm posted a photo of the most inviting Adirondack chair. It brought to mind a pair of weathered Adirondacks I saw for sale at the local thrift shop - they were $36 for both. I decided to sleep on it and stopped back the next morning, only to find them gone, their two marks still left in the grass. That day I vowed to never let that happen again - if I see something I love and can afford it, it comes home with me immediately.

I read about a similar experience in one of my favorite books - Garage Sale America by Bruce Littlefield. I don't buy many books because I'm always visiting the library, but this one I loved enough that I needed to own it. Here's his tale of "the one that got away."

There's nothing worse than the one that got away. It haunts you for weeks like a bad dream, eats away at your psyche like a termite on softened wood. I recently found myself attracted to a delicately aged pair of Bert and Ernie puppets sitting on the lawn of an otherwise innocuous sale of miscellany. My brother and I had them growing up. Ernie slept on the bottom bunk with Brian; Bert slept up top with me. I didn't buy them, leaving them to be taken by some more thoughtful brother, and I've regretted it ever since. It would have been fun for me to send Brian an Ernie with a mysterious note - definitely worth the ten bucks. It was a real missed opportunity, and I try not to let those happen too often.

-Bruce Littlefield

Help prevent birds from crashing into windows

I'm using a computer at the library right now, as my home computer is again on the fritz. While I hat to spend the money, I think it's time we get a new one...
Anyway, I feel like I have to hurry up here but I just wanted to post this link to a silhouette pattern you can print out for your windows to prevent birds from hitting them...

www.dteenergy.com/environment/pdfs/raptor.pdf

If this link doesn't work, just google "raptor silhouette window decal pattern" and it will come up.

My husband's grandma had so many little birds accidently hitting her patio doors and hurting themselves - we printed out a few of these raptors, taped them up, and haven't had a collision since.

Recipe for Preserving Children

I read this yesterday and thought it was so cute - it may have been around awhile and I somehow missed it until now. When I read it to my sister, she told me she heard it before - I was reminded of the time I excitedly told her about a new great recipe I tried called Jello Poke Cake. I was then informed the recipe had been around for years and years and was certainly nothing new! (I then politely reminded her of our 25 year age difference, me being the youngest).
Anyway, here's the "recipe" which supposedly originated on a vintage cookie tin.

Recipe for Preserving Children

Ingredients
• 1 grassy field
• 1 half-dozen children (or more)
• Several dogs (and puppies, if available)
• 1 brook
• Pebbles

Method
1. Into field pour children and dogs, allowing to mix well.
2. Pour brook over pebbles till slightly frothy.
3. When children are nicely brown cool in warm bath.
4. When dry, serve with milk and fresh baked gingerbread.

lovely little cocktail night

Here's a new cocktail recipe I tried & enjoyed last night. I think I've found a new favorite!

Fresh Green Gimlet
1 TBSP sugar
juice of 1 lime
4 TBSP vodka
fistful of crushed ice
dash of carbonated mineral water

Spoon sugar into large tumbler, squeeze over the lime juice and dissolve. Add vodka and ice. Swirl to mix and top with a dash of carbonated mineral water.

The recipe says to add mint leaves if you like. Makes only 1 drink!

Serenity Now!

Holy smokes, I haven't posted for so long that I almost forgot my sign in name!

In the last few weeks I have:

- Participated in the First Communion plans, preparation, and parties for my 2nd grader

- Been in a car accident

- Dealt with a skin cancer scare of my husband's

In the last few weeks I have NOT:

-Planted any flowers

-Read any books

-Listened to any music! :(

So I very much look forward to getting back to a normal routine! I think I'll start with going blog visiting!