FRIDAY FUN DAY WITH PENSIEVE'S POETIC LICENSE

So Robin, the inventor and sponsor of the PPL (Pensieve's Poetic License) says this:

"Oh, how I hope you've written a back-to-school poem for Pensieve's Poetic License! If you haven't already, it's never too late! This month's theme--"back to school"--could lead you in a thousand directions, and for once, you have freedom to choose poetic form!
Don't believe the lie you can't write poetry! My heart melts when writers step outside their respective comfort zones to tip-toe on uncertain ice, only to find the footing is more sure than they anticipated."

Okay, ladies (and possibly gentleman), what are you waiting for? I'll go first, and then, I expect for you to try your hand at it:). Go over to http://www.pensieve.typepad.com/ when you finish reading mine and see others' poetry submissions. I'm not sure if mine is even an official, recognized poetic form (although I can do those), but it rhymes. Works for me. Enjoy.

Just when I thought I was rid of one,

I get a another high schooler "for fun."

Then look around, a middle schooler. That's great!

One in fourth too--just my fate!

So, one out who should be in college,

Hopefully, he'll increase his knowledge.

Oh, I forgot. He already knows more than me.

After all, he's eighteen, you see.

Then there's Public School Pete,

Where our tax dollars pay for his seat

That he'd better stay in, and to his teachers listen,

Before we make that "back end" of his glisten!

That means we're left with two girls at home.

Where the Mommy Teacher doth roam.

Making sure they learn this, that, and the other,

And if they don't get it, we go no further.

We've got kids going in every direction.

I'm afraid of an insurrection!

I'm hearing "we've got fees for this and that."

Over my ears I want to pull my hat!

I may even hear, "Mom, let's leave the boys,

And home, and all the toys

For a homeschool field trip. Yeah, that's it.

Meaning at the park we'll skip, talk, and sit."

"Girls, don't give away our secret. Don't tell.

A rat the boys will smell.

They'll think we're not serious in our "learning,"

Our education we're not earning."

Whether it's home, college, or public schooling,

With our education, we're not fooling.

It's learning time, my dear, sweet babies.

Oh no, I don't mean maybes!

So let's pray and ask God to impart

His wisdom to us as we start.

I pray for a great school year for all,

While another round gets started this fall.

Have a wonderfully fun-filled Friday!

(Sorry folks. This wasn't supposed to be all run together, with no spaces in between the stanzas in the poem, but I tried to space while typing, tried to go into "Edit Html," you name it, and couldn't get this thing to double space, or I couldn't figure it out. If you know me, by now you know about my lack of computer skills.)

FRIDAY FUN DAY WITH 40 WORDS OR LESS PC

Sorry I'm getting this up so late. My 15 year old has a strained back muscle and ligament and we've spent most of the morning in the doctor's office, yes, while Mommy is recovering from a nasty virus and not feeling quite that well still, though, praise God, it's not as bad as day 1 or 2. You know though, we do what we have to do for the "younguns" don't we? Anyhooty, Robin at http://www.pensieve.typepad.com/, has submitted our next photo for the 40 words or less challenge, and I'm happy I can get back to participating. You can look through my Friday Fun Days label to see ones I've done before, and go over to Robin's place for rules on how to play, take a peak at her caption, and look at others' submissions.


So, what does the picture speak to me in 40 words or less? Check below the picture to read.

One day, this will be an Olympic sport. I'll be the Michael Phelps of skating the board, hoping for my chance to win gold. Eight times like Phelps...I can only dream, but... that's where it all starts isn't it?

Have a great day!

FRIDAY FUN DAY WITH 40 WORDS OR LESS PC

Oooh Robin, you snake handler. I never knew!! Just kidding, but Robin over at http://www.pensieve.typepad.com/ is playing around again. This time with snakes. Okay, she's really not a snake handler and probably not a snake lover, but she's holding two harmless snakes that are pets of a friend of hers, so, she decided to submit a photo of her and "them" for this week's 40 words or less photo challenge. Me...,I never would have thought to want to do this and then have someone take a picture. While I'm not afraid of snakes, I don't want to play with them either. Seeing them in nature (slithering AWAY from me) and behind the glass at the zoo is enough for me. Go over to Robin's place to get the official rules if you want to play along, or if you just want to read others' submissions. Mine is below the picture. Thanks for stopping by.

I may be woman, but you're not fooling me.
My name's not Eve, and I've got your number.
Mary is more my character, by the grace of God.

Look, He has you wrapped around His fingers.
Who's your Daddy boys!!

FRIDAY FUN DAY WITH 40 WORDS OR LESS...AND A PHOTO!

Join us in a round of Friday's 40? Click here for complete details, but basically you have 40 words (or less) to respond to the weekly image--a caption or title, poem, word association, abstract, concrete--however it hits you. Write a post, then be sure to come back here on Friday morning to link your permalink, and after, visit the other participants to see their varied perspectives on the same image.

I'm always up for the challenge. Well, this one was a challenge for me. What can you say about it besides the fact that it looks absolutely refreshing!! It made me go pull out my pink water bottle (just a different shape than this one), and take a long, cool, sip. I needed that!!

So many cc's of summer chill

Bottled up inside me!

I'm skating on thin ice.

I'm walking the chalk line.

Be cool! Be cool!

It's all good.

I'm just waiting on someone who is deep enough to move me.

Okay, whew!! DONE!! Have fun! I sure did! Go to http://www.pensieve.typepad.com/ for more.

FRIDAY FUN DAYS W/ 40 WORDS OR LESS PC

I love the picture submitted by Robin at http://www.pensieve.typepad.com/ for this week's 40 or Less Photo Challenge. It's so neat and heartwarming. Click on Robin's link to get all of the details, but it's as simple as looking at the picture, saying in 40 words or less what you think of it, and then submitting your thoughts. It's fun. Join us every Friday. Click on the link above to see what others think of the photo. Look for the 40 PC icon. Meanwhile here's what I have to say about the picture below:

"The time has come," the walrus said, "to talk of many things: of shoes--and ships--and sealing-wax--of cabbages--and kings--and why the sea is boiling hot--and whether pigs have wings." (Lewis Carroll)

I envisioned Granpa stopping by the wayside and telling his granddaughter fanciful stories. The picture reminded me of Lewis Carroll's quote of storytelling above. I used to quote this to my daughter all of the time, before her story time.

Have a fun Friday!

FRIDAY FUN DAY WITH 40 WORDS OR LESS PC

For anybody visiting me that doesn't already know the deal on Pensieve's 40 words or less photo challenge, here's the quick scoop: You study the photo prompt given (courtesy of Robin at Pensieve), ponder over it a while, and then, in 40 words or less, write a caption, phrase, short story, poem, etc. that comes to mind. It's that easy folks. And it's fun!! We look forward to it on Fridays. When you finish reading my thoughts below the picture, go over to http://www.pensieve.typepad.com/ and check out all of the other participants.

"Think he might be dead boys? Who knows?! Kick his seat."

"No, I'm just exhausted. She's constantly riding my back!"

"Poor Spokes. He can't handle it."

"Let's go boys. No use wasting time and spinning our wheels here."

Have fun today!

FRIDAY FUN DAY WITH A PHOTO AND 40 WORDS OR LESS

Robin at Pensieve is at it AGAIN!! Giving us these really interesting pictures and asking us to write 40 words or less expressing what it says to us. In fact, here are her words exactly:

Ebony & Ivory, Black & White, Night & Day

This week's Friday's 40-or-less Photo Challenge is simple but with the potential for great fun.
Salt and pepper shakers.
Taken for granted and nothing trendy or glamorous about 'em, salt and pepper make THE difference in everything they season. While I've never known either to be the "secret ingredient" in a recipe, leave one or both out, and even if you can't put your finger on it, you KNOW something's missing.
A weekly photo prompt, Friday's 40 participants compose a 40-or-less-word response and then link it on Friday (please click the button for additional details).
Hope you make plans to join this week; next week we'll be taking the day off in commemoration of Independence Day.

What do I have to say about the picture below?

(Pepper says to salt) (I'm not counting the words in parentheses)

You're fresh as the ocean.
But, I'm hot!! Sorry, you're not.
Life with you though...EXCITING, not dull or bland.





(Salt says to Pepper)

You're small, dark and round, just like I like 'em-
A little "corny," but you "crack me up."
We're inseperable!





Okay readers, go over to http://www.pensieve.typepad.com/ and read everybody else's!

FRIDAY FUN DAY WITH PENSIEVE'S 40 WORDS (OR LESS) AND A PHOTO

Robin says: For Friday's 40-or-less Photo Challenge this week, share your response to this photo. You don't have to be literal, although that's fine, too. Does it make you think pollution? Needing to find a bathroom after drinking mass quantities of liquid? Can you see a spiritual correlation? Does a snappy caption come to mind? Are you challenged to step up your environmental stewardship? And, I dare anyone to wax poetic over TRASH!
Give it your best shot, post the photo (if you'd like) and a 40-or-less word post on your own blog, then link that post here on Friday. I can't wait to see your interpretations...it's always fun to see how similarly AND how differently we think.
New to Friday's 40? Please! Join us! Just click the badge (or the link) for details.

My thoughts are below the photo.

Let's put a ban
On those who miss the trash can
That's so obviously nearby.
So why
Was someone too lazy to hurl a little farther?
Maybe too tired after soccer?
Nevertheless, this is litter.
Litter makes me bitter.




MAYBE I'LL DO ANOTHER ONE.


Seeing this picture brings back to mind the little simple rhyme that you teach your kids at home or the teachers teach them in pre-school when you want them to help you tidy up their mess. You know the one...
CLEAN UP, CLEAN UP, EVERYBODY EVERYWHERE. CLEAN UP, CLEAN UP. EVERYBODY DO YOUR SHARE!

Okay, I think I've gotten elementary enough. I shall sign off now. Enjoy everybody else's post. Maybe I'll be more creative next week.

FRIDAY FUN DAY WITH PENSIEVE'S 40 WORDS (OR LESS) AND A PHOTO

Folks, I knew I had to join this week's 40PC. Just check out the picture below. YUMMY!! Robin just asks that we look at her submitted photo, think about what comes to mind when we see it, and then write 40 words or less in a caption, phrase, title, poem, short story, whatever, about the photo. If you want more details and to see what others have said about the photo, hop on over to http://www.pensieve.typepad.com/ and join in the fun!! In the meantime, look below the picture for what I have to say about it. Too bad when we see the photo of corn on the cob, we have to limit it to 40 words. Lord, I could say "yummy" 40 times and still feel like I need to say it more. My family and I love corn on the cob!

Betty said you'd better butter those babies before I become bitter over Buster betting that Bobby could eat them before me, Betty, who believes that beautiful, hot, buttered corn is better than butter pecan bites in blustery Buffalo.

Don't ask me where this story came from in my head or why this form of poetry popped up, but I just attribute it to the fact that once I saw this picture, I just lost my mind!

MORE FRIDAY FUN WITH A POETIC LICENSE

JUNE'S POETIC LICENSE -- DIAMANTE




If you know me, it's all about tea and poetry...well not all, but I do love these two thing a lot!! When given the opportunity to do at least one of them, I jump at it! Look out below for details of June's Poetic License info. from Robin (who is always challenging us to do something; she's cool like that!) at http://www.pensieve.typepad.com/. Send some traffic and interest her way by clicking on the link. She'll be glad you stopped by. Anyhooty, she says:

This month's poetic form, Diamante, is Italian in origin, it's a simple, seven-line formula, and when it's complete, it will have the shape of a diamond (if centered). It's an easy exercise in writing poetry, and if you're a fan of haiku or cinquain, diamante is reminiscent of those forms.
Begin with a subject, in line four you'll transition using two words to describe its opposite, and the last line will be a single word for the subject's opposite.
As for this month's theme, once again, you have two choices: the great outdoors or emotions. If you're feeling particularly diamante-prolific, write two!

subject
two adjectives describing the subject
three words ending in "ing" telling about the subject
four words, first two describe subject, last two describe its opposite
three words ending in "ing" telling about the opposite
two adjectives describing the opposite
opposite


HERE'S MINE:


Anxious
Jittery, Nervous
Waiting, Watching, Thinking
Nerves, Stress, Tranquil, Bliss
Praying, Meditating, Wishing
Practical, Effective
Hope



Another one from me:

Forest

Green, Woody

Growing, Spreading, Hiding

Dark, Alive, Concrete Structures

Building, Housing, Rising, Surviving

Gray, Cold

City

Enjoy!



(Side note: Apparently, I don't know what I'm doing I typed my diamantes in a diamond shape; they wouldn't post that way. I even re-edited them twice and space-barred them over back into place, and they still wouldn't save or post in the shape I put them in. Either it's this Blogger program or, more likely, me and my blogging ignorance. I apologize, but hope you like the diamante attempts I made anyway.)

FRIDAY FUN DAY WITH 40 WORDS OR LESS PC

Robin says...

Surely this photograph should warrant some interesting responses for this week's "Friday's 40"! Just a few weeks ago, beautiful wisteria blooms were flowering in the midst of these mature vines; now, they're barren and entangled, to me beautiful in their own way.
What do you see or sense or feel when you glimpse this image? Does it make you think about convoluted life circumstance or simply make you wistful for the flowers? However it strikes you, you've got 40 words--or less--to play with--prose, poetry, captions or titles, word (or syllable) count is your only guideline.
New to Friday's 40? Write a short post in response to the above photo prompt anytime between now and Friday; then, come back here on Friday to register your link with Mr. Linky so you can visit others who've joined in. Click the badge for all the details, and feel free to invite others to join you. (In case you can't click on the badge from here to get there, click on this link: http://www.pensieve.typepad.com/.)
See ya Friday!

Well, I'm joining in the "40 Words or Less" fun again. Here's my response to the photo:

YOU'RE SO TWISTED!!

CHOKING THE LIFE OUT OF THE STRAIGHT LIKE THAT!

UNCOIL YOURSELF! LET GO! IT'S OVER!

YOU'RE DOOMED.

NO MORE BINDING, ROBBING, OR STEALING THE JOY OF WHAT SHOULD BE THRIVING AND BLOSSOMING FOR ALL TO SEE!

FRIDAY FUN DAY WITH 40 WORDS OR LESS (Challenge #5)!

Okay, you all know the drill by now, but in case you don't, Robin at http://www.pensieve.typepad.com/ takes a cool picture, like the one below, and for a fun Friday challenge, she asks us to write about it in a caption, phrase, poem, title, what have you, in 40 words or less. What does this picture say to you? Oh yeah, you can play along too. Just click on her link and look for the green and black icon like the one above. Here's what I have to say about it...

Nothing but net! Wanna bet!

From this perspective, it would be easier for me to reach the sky.

But I can try.

Me trying to hoop is like putting the post of the goal

Through a small, nylon, net hole.

Okay kids, now your turn. I enjoyed this Friday's challenge once again!!

FOR FRIDAY FUN DAY--40 OR LESS PHOTO CHALLENGE #3

I'm participating again!! With whom and to what?

Robin at http://pensieve.typepad.com/pensieve/2008/05/turndown-servic.html Friday's 40 Words or Less Photo Challenge. Forgot the challenge (if you want to play along)? Look at the picture below. Then, in 40 words or less, give it a caption, a poem, title, post, or whatever you want to say in 40 or less. Check out my "welcome letter" below the picture, that would be found in the room for my own 40 word challenge! (The picture is Robin's, brought in from her blog)

Welcome to the Roberts-Wright B & B where luxury is not additional; it is the norm. Your room comes equipped with all of the latest amenities and sophisticated modernity. You are in the Feathered Down Room. Two words--LOSE YOURSELF!

Now, go over to Robin's (http://www.pensieve.typepad.com/) to see who else played along. I bet there are some good ones out there!

Robin, I had fun with this one!! I wanted to jump in the picture! Thanks for choosing that picture.

FRIDAY FUN DAY WITH "40 WORDS OR LESS PHOTO CHALLENGE"

Robin over at http://www.pensieve.typepad.com/ is up for another challenge! She wants us to "join PENSIEVE early every Wednesday morning to pick up the current week's photo prompt. Inspired by what you see and how you interpret the picture, write:
- A 40-or-less-word caption
- A 40-or-less-word title
- A 40-or-less-word post
- A 40-or-less-word poem
- 40 or less syllables of either!
Short...sweet...and hopefully a lot of fun!"
Well, I'm up for the challenge. How about you? This is a great opportunity to ponder and express yourself by journaling a little bit. Trust me, it doesn't take long to come up with 40 words or less. Look out below for my own 40-word-caption of the picture and then click on the link above to see the picture.

Standing on top of the world,

the wind beneath my dress.

The swans pay tribute

crouched below.

I'm free I tell ya! My wavy hair

tumbles where it may; my arms stretch,

welcoming the wind and warmth to join me.

And that my dears, is all I have to say about that!
Join in and HAVE FUN!!

FRIDAY FUN DAY (# I DON'T KNOW ANYMORE)

My precious readers, you want to know what kind of fun I had this Friday and what kind of fun you can have on some Fridays? Bloggy Giveaways and finding blogs that either you can relate to or that you just enjoy looking at because the pictures are so cool!! I don't get to do this often, nor do I want to (have other priorities), but there are so many interesting, talented, gifted, knowledgeable people out there in the blogosphere! Because I visited so many today for the giveaways, I got to come across some of the most wonderful blogs that I would love to go back and visit. One day, I will create a blogroll for my blog page, and share some of my blog finds with you. Then, you can enjoy them too. I know you would.

One of the interesting ones I found, that I will surely go back to and read more on, is http://www.kettleandcup.com/. This weekend, they were giving away an exciting book that I would love to have...FOR FREE...and I hope I win it! Before now, the only site I've gone on concerning winning something is http://www.pensieve.typepad.com/. It's because I know Robin and this is all safe, etc. Plus, I wasn't really into trying to get freebies from people for the most part. I didn't really care and this wasn't my thing, although receiving something nice from someone was nice. Well, while that's still pretty much my character and way, I have really enjoyed looking at the things offered during this "bloggy giveaway weekend." It was really FUN!! Next time, maybe I'll be better prepared and invite you to join in and see what all of the fun is about. I really think my readers will like and appreciate it...I think! Well, at least go to the two websites I mentioned above. You will enjoy these, one especially if you're a tea lover like me, and the other for the sheer "conversation" and some beautiful pictures to boot. I pray you had fun with your family or...with yourself in whatever you enjoy this Friday!! I sure did!!

FRIDAY FUN WITH PICTURES AND POSTS

Okay, so I'm trying to think of something to do for a Friday fun post and I got inspiration from several of my favorite blogs out there, so, I'm combining all of my newfound ideas into one...A PICTURE, A POEM OR A POST.

Here's how it's going to work: You view or re-view the pictures I've posted on my blog. There are a handful of them; just click on earlier or older posts on the left side of the blog page, go to previous months, or, more simply, click on the label "photos." Look at them very carefully. My desire is that you write a short, little, simple poem about it, preferably something funny, since it's Friday Fun day, but you can do something serious or just thoughtful. I like that too. If you just feel you can't pull out a poem (I hope you are not intimidated by that--we're talking just something simple!), then post me a thoughtful comment about what you thought when you saw it; what did it make you think of? What stuck out or surprised you about it? Whatever you want to say. I can't wait to hear your comments or POEMS!! I'll start us off. This poem will be about me in the mint green prom dress. Lord help me!!

She wore mint green to her prom.
Where did she get the idea from?
It was mermaid style.
I was so chic!
I wore it awhile,
While the prom hours did tick.
Finally I shed my frock
That I now view with shock!
Wait! No! For my time, my look did rock!

Find the post that has me in my mint green prom dress.

Have FUN this Friday. I'm outta' heah!!

FRIDAY FUN DAY

VINTAGE OR ANTIQUE?

I love antiques and vintage things as much as I love tea. I'm not sure which I love the most. Actually, I think I can afford to love them equally because there is no compromise. They're in completely different "enjoyment departments," thank God; one you can drink and enjoy (or sip and savor) and the other you can look at, enjoy, and collect.

I have no idea what caused me to want to know Webster's definition of the two words (antique and vintage), but I did. I knew there was a difference, but I hear people using the words interchangeably ( I may be guilty, at some point, of doing it myself), and I wanted to clarify. I guess this all hit me when I was out looking during my Friday Fun Day with my family, and we stopped at little places along the way of getting to the actual errands we were supposed to be running, that had sweet little reminders of old and such. We also stopped at a friend's, and her house is wonderfully decorated with whimsical things and filled with antiquity. I love it. She had some vintage but more antiques than anything. What do I mean?

Webster describes antiques as "something of ancient times; ancient; old; a piece of furniture, silverware, etc. made in a former period, generally more than 100 years old." The last definition here is the key definition. Actual antiques should be things that are at least 100 years old, so some things in an antique store aren't actually antique, they're more vintage than anything. And what does vintage mean? Well, Webster describes this as "representative of or dating from a period long past (vintage clothes, etc.), or the type or model of a particular year or period (a vintage car)." The funny thing is, Webster's first definitions for the word 'vintage' have more to do with the crop or yield of a particular vineyard or grape-growing region in a single season, so really vintage in some circles could conjure up a whole different image than what we typically think of.

Either way, I'm nuts about antiques and vintage articles. I love it whether it's just of recent years gone by or it's more than 100 years old. I have a friend who owns a vintage clothing store and I can literally spend hours in this store looking around and trying on, whether I purchase something or not. I have a few things I've purchased from her over the years, and my husband just loves to see me in vintage clothing. This stuff is not "old" or "outdated" to him. He loves to see vintage clothing come alive in the 2000's. He likes to see me modernize the old look or be brave enough to wear it in our modern time and set my own trend. I've always been different and I love to wear these fine articles of clothing that once looked so great on women from decades ago. I may not do the clothes as much justice as these women, but I wear them anyway.

Anyhooty, if you like old stuff or things from the old days, go antiquing and vintage shopping, and no matter what name is on the door, you'll know the difference:)!

FUNNY OR FUN STUFF WITH FAMILY

What's your idea of having just plain fun with family? I can think of lots of things. Here's some silly things we do, and while they seem simple or maybe even lame, I've never laughed so hard and/or had so much fun!!

The first thing that comes to mind are days when my family and I go to a store that sells sunglasses and we purposely try on ones that don't go with our face shape, don't fit our personalities, or that we know are completely outdated. We look in the provided mirror at ourselves and crack up!! We look around at each other and quickly give our opinions of what we look like (a fly, a 70's hippie, a chicken, or just plain "wrong!"), and we look at the stares from people passing by, not only looking at us in these weird sunglasses but are looking at us laugh and point at each other.


Another thing that my son likes to try is seeing if he can "one-up" himself by scaring his siblings and then telling my husband and I about it after the fact. What he does to them is so hilarious!! He told us of one time when he hid in his sisters' closet and waited for them to get something out of it. The oldest one reached in to hang something up, and my son silently just reached out and grabbed her hand tightly. She was so scared that she couldn't even scream right away. She looked like she had gone into shock. Her reaction was so late, that she, many seconds later, buried her face in her pillow and then screamed. By then, my son thought she was either never scared that bad or dead. He realized later that she was really scared SILENT!! She almost started crying. He was laughing so hard he couldn't even sympathize. He promised not to do it again for two reasons: one, it was so classic he knew he could never repeat this and get the same reaction again, and two, he thought he would give her a real heart attack next time. He has scared everyone in the house but the adults since then, but different. He never "strikes" the same.

On a whole different note, we like to go and smell freshly ground coffee in the stores, or freshly brewed. Don't you LOVE the smell of this stuff? Now, we don't just walk up to people and sniff their coffee while they're trying to grind it, we just like to be in a store where that goes on so that while we're shopping and looking around, we get the pleasure of smelling it. Just the other day, my husband found whole bean French Roast in a store that was selling it buy one get the other bag free (they were a few days from being outdated on the shelf) and wanted it ground right there in the store. We stood there and just drank the scent in while it was being ground. Even after we got home, and I transferred it to an airtight container, one of my daughters kept me from throwing the bag in the trash and saved it so that she could get up and sniff the bag the next morning. Yes, we're a PECULIAR family!! But we love it!!

I like the fact that even though we have teenagers, we all still like to go to the movies together. No, we don't all go in the same theater room all of the time (the older ones don't mind being seen with us in public, but they say sometimes our movie choices are lame), but we all go together. Sometimes we just have to wait for each other in the lobby area just a few minutes until the other ones' movie lets out. Last night though, we all saw the same one!! The kids liked our choice!! Hey, we take what we can get while we can get it from them. They only stay with us for so long (Thank God...just kidding!!). BTW, the $2.50 movie theater is a hit with our family. Great price, great movies!! Eventually the same films that are at the $8.00+ theater reaches this one, so we're in no hurry to see anything that we can't wait a few weeks or couple of months for and save BIG!!

Have fun with your family today, the weekend, and maybe during your family night next week. If you don't have family night, see if you can create one. Maybe I'll do a post later about great ideas for a Family Fun Night, from something simple to something far out and BIG.

Catch me tomorrow for Saturday Shopping and Savings Day!

FRIDAY FUN DAY!!

RECIPES FOR RELAXATION (FOR ANYBODY-MALE AND FEMALE)

I'll tell you a little story about one of my daughters and then I'll follow up with recipes of things you can concoct to relax as much as she likes to. Little Missy (we'll call her because of how she acts about certain things) thinks that you can't take a bath without milk and floating dried herbs or flowers. Well, she used to think that anyway. She's a little better at handling reality now that she's a little older. I guess I "messed her up" early on when I introduced her at age 2 1/2 or so to "milk baths." We didn't do just any old milk bath either; we're talking quality milk, honey, and herbs and flowers ("botanicals" as she might call them). Now Little Missy takes showers 99% of the time, but occasionally, she will ask me to get her a milk bath going or at least help her gather the ingredients so that she can take her own, and you guys, it's all I can do to pull this child out of the bathtub. Our hot water heater goes on overkill just trying to accomodate her constant need to re-warm and refresh the water. Needless to say, we don't encourage these baths that often anymore, not if we ever want to get into the upstairs bathroom anyway. Otherwise, on those rare occasions, we resolve to trek downstairs and use the other one. This might be my fault:). I love to create natural bath products, I introduced her to this world early on in her life, and these things are easy and usually inexpensive to make. Oh yeah, and I enjoy them on occasion too and I'm assuming she picked the enthusiasm up from me (you think?:) Anyhooty, since spring is coming you can get your creative juices flowing and make some cool stuff and...RELAX!!

First up, My Goat's Milk Bath recipe:

1 cup of powdered goat's milk (you can usually find it in your grocery store, but if you can't, go to a natural foods store or specialty grocery store)

1/2 cup epsom salts (if you're diabetic, you may not be able to use this milk bath because of the epsom salts. Check with your doctor.)

1 Tbs. of baking soda

1 tsp. of cornstarch

Essential oil of your choice. I like 5 drops of lavender and 4 drops of rose

Mix dry ingredients together, add essential oils, mix again, store in airtight container, use within 3 months, enjoy! Use 2-3 Tbs. or 1/4 cup directly in the bath or in a tea bag or tied cheesecloth. Play around with this recipe by using your choice of dried botanicals. It's pretty floating around in the tub, and it's fragrant. We like to throw in dried lavender blossoms and rose petals.

Next up, body powder--when it gets hot and you sweat, stay cool and keep moisture absorbed with this great mix:

For medium fine- 1/4 cup arrowroot powder

1/4 cup cornstarch

3 Tbs. rice flour (leave out if you want fine powder)

Essential oils of your choice. I like 6 drops of rose, 4 jasmine, 3 violet, and

3 pikaki (the only artificial fragrance I use)

Run thru a sifter, store in a pretty, airtight container (up to 2 years). Use a powder puff to apply. If you'd like to use this on your boys, just change the essential oil scents. For a baby, leave out essential oils, especially if you're not sure if this will irritate baby's skin.

Try this cooling and refreshing foot spray:

1/2 cup of distilled water

1/2 cup of liquid witch hazel (you can find this on the shelf next to or near the alcohol and peroxide at the store--Wal-Mart, whatever)

4 drops of tea tree oil

4 drops of peppermint

blend well and store in a spray bottle. Shake well before using each time. This can be a coolant and a deodorizer. This can last for the whole summer and after. Another alternative is to use 4-6 drops of eucalyptus oil only (no other essential oils). My family really liked this cooling spray.

I'll share more recipes with you another time. Your essential oils will last you a long time. I use pure essential oils instead of the fragrance oils, but it's your choice. Once you make the investment, you will get your money's worth because you only have to use a few drops at a time. The other ingredients listed above are pretty inexpensive too. Use these recipes for home and for family and friend gifts. If you find cute jars and containers, and find the right ribbon, twine, etc., throw on a cute homemade tag, you've got yourself a pretty neat gift to give. The recipient will be quite happy. Have a fun Friday!

A POETIC FRIDAY

I must apologize to all of my regular, everyday readers (okay probably none:)) for not having a fresh post up yesterday. Yesterday was really busy in our home and lives. Sick kids, dr.'s appointments, waiting in the dr.'s office, waiting at the pharmacy, waiting, waiting, waiting, then...exhaustion. Typical day in the middle of "gunk" and "flu" season. Gotta' love the way those good old germs come in and wreak havoc, leaving behind the aftermath, while they move on to their next victim. Oh, at The Fall, at The Fall, where it all began. Thanks to our first parents. Yall know who they are.


Anyhoo, Since today is another gloomy day in Tennessee, I thought I'd do poetry. My Friday posts don't have a theme like some of the other days I post on, so we'll let it be our hodgepodge day. Anything to cheer us toward the weekend and celebrate the end of the sometimes monotonous work week. Let me give you a little history on me and poetry. I've written it and loved it since I was a little girl, elementary school age. I'm not sure if any of my friends were writing it back then, but I was and I really enjoyed it. I even checked out books by famous poets from the school library when I was that young. I used to try and interpret the really hard ones and memorize the easy ones. I still recall some lines from some of the famous poems by well known authors. I was really intrigued by poetry written by people of African American or foreign culture and descent. There was always lots of passion, vibrancy, feelings, artistic language, heart, and culture in them. As you read, you danced with the words; you were sometimes "there," you could "feel" the author, you were snatched into the poem itself. Okay, I really liked poetry and I still do!


At Pensieve.typepad.com (Robin's blog--she won the tea through my contest, remember?), there is a challenge to just simply write poetry once a month. There is always a theme, but you don't have to be professional and you don't even have to go with the poetry theme if you don't feel comfortable with it. I would encourage people to try the theme though. This month, it is sonnets. I love sonnets. Well, I love all kinds of poems, but for this month, I LOVE SONNETS. I wrote her two and sent them over. I'll share with you my two, and I want to challenge you to try your own. Send it to me in your comment at the bottom of this post. I'd love for everyone to click on comments to see what everyone else has written. It'll be bad if there ends up nothing there but mine, but, oh well...such is life! Just enjoy mine then. One of mine is serious, so it may not "cheer" you on toward the weekend, but the other one IS!! Just read them both for poetry's sake and be inspired! Here we go....

WHERE ARE YOU MY BOY?!

"I am desperately looking for you, my sweet boy!

Where has my little boy gone?

Come out of hiding son; don't be coy,"

Mummy's been praying since dawn.

"What were you running from? Where did you go,"

I asked once my sweet boy returned?

"He called me, Mummy. He beckons me so,

That I ran where my foolish heart yearned."

"Just ignore him, sweet boy. Stay near to mum.

We will keep you safe; all the more we'll pray."

"But if I don't go, mum, here he will come,

And then he will want to stay."

"Then we'll take our scrip, sweet boy of mine, and we'll look to Him.

He'll make small of him, in your sweet rest, once the lights grow dim."

The one above is personal to me. I still thought I'd share the poem itself with you. The meaning will remain personal.

CHEER FOR THE SONNET SOULS

I thought a sonnet only for Shakespeare;

For he is the man of soul with words.

I am surprisingly wrong, it appears.

You people are responding in droves and herds!

Keep writing dears; keep writing!

I love what I see and read!

The poetry bug is bitterly biting!

Think; ponder; write; take heed!

And now, my friends of new-found gifts,

Off I go too, to make a sonnet my solace.

I just have to come to grips

With the poetry plague that will befall us.

What is that from afar off I hear?

The song of a sonnet in my ear!

HAVE A WONDERFULLY POETIC, FRESH, FRAGRANT, FABULOUS, FRIDAY!!