Hello Vietnam, colorful Vietnam, pen and ink on graph
paper, doodle © 2009 by ybonesy. All rights reserved.
Hello red Raviners, lurkers, and those who stumble upon us quite by accident!
QM and I have been working hard for what feels like a long time, keeping this blog full of interesting tidbits and more, and, well, it’s time for a short vacation.
I’m heading to Vietnam, where I hope to take photos and eat exotic fruit that I dream about. (Oh yeah, and work. In fact, mostly I’ll work.) QM’s going to putz in her garden and write and get ready for an art event at her studio.
Here’s the basic idea behind our vacation:
- From May 11-26, we’re allowing ourselves to be free from the pressure of posting several times a week on the blog;
- We’re also likely going to be absent from other blog-related stuff, like reading and commenting on friends’ blogs (although I’m going to miss you guys, and I’ll probably lurk, and what the hey, I bet you one lonely night in Saigon, I’ll even comment);
- If we start having withdrawals from red Ravine—itchy fingers, twitchy keyboards, cameras run amuck—we’ll do a spontaneous post or two, but we’re still technically on vacation;
- We will tweet now and then, QM from her garden and me from Saigon, so watch our new Twitter widget, which is down the right-hand side of the page;
- Mostly we’re going to relax and enjoy the hiatus from electronics.
In the mean time, consider this an Open Mic on red Ravine.
If you’re a regular reader and commenter, a part of this community, drop a line about whatever moves you. And if you’ve never commented before (maybe you worried that we were a bunch of hoity-toity writers, which surely by now you know we’re not) then venture out and let us know you’re there.
One of the things we’ll be doing while on hiatus is thinking about where we want to take red Ravine. So we’d love knowing that you’re out there and hearing what it is that floats your boat.
Thanks, and have a great 2+ weeks!
I’d love to discourage soda drinking for my 6 year old –
can you do a time lapse video
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ybonesy, beautiful pen and ink and great post to send us off on vacation. I feel relaxed already. The good news is that we can come back refreshed and ready for a big summer!
Have a good flight to Vietnam. And it’s a long one. But I know you love the travel. Will look forward to your updates when you are able — either comments or Twitter. Will be following your progress. Have a good trip!
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vmo2001, I assume you’re referring to ybonesy’s post: This Is Your Tooth On Pepsi (LINK). That’s not a bad idea, actually, to do a time lapse on the tooth in the Pepsi series. That would be a great experiment for a kid interested in photography or video as well as science. Cool! Good luck at stopping the soda drinking. I wonder if some parents switch to sugar-free Kool-Aid? Sometimes it’s a nice break. In fact, we have started doing that more, whipping up a pitcher of Kool-Aid or Iced Tea; we’re not drinking nearly as much pop.
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Yeah for QuoinMonkey and ybonesy! Though I’ll miss checking what’s new on red Ravine for the next few weeks, I’m glad you’re making the sane choice to take a vacation to recharge your batteries.
Enjoy your time off. 🙂
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Teri, thanks for supporting us in our efforts to take a break. It means a lot to hear that our readers will hang in there with us! We do have some tentative plans for summer that will be kicking off in a few weeks. It’s exciting to think about. But we have to take a little time away to create some room.
I was telling A~Lotus, I do plan to keep my practices going. So I’ll drop my haiku in, maybe comment now and then. But, for the most part, I really want to work in the garden, concentrate on writing and art, and keep looking for work.
Hope you’ll keep us posted on any writers you see or anything going on at the Fair. We’ll still be checking in once in a while. But probably more frequently on Twitter.
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ybonesy, forgot to mention, love the one blue toenail on each foot. Oh, and the Flower Power theme running throughout!
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Hey yb & QM, have a great blogcation (sort of a new word I invented for taking a vacation from blogging!) Sounds like both of you will still be plenty busy in other ways.
yb, I love the repeated patterns in your doodle (shirt and sky, hat and waves) and of course the bright colors. Hope you have a chance to take more photos in Vietnam. Happy travels and work.
QM, blessings with all your endeavors: garden, art event and job search.
Thanks to you both for all your effort to build this outstanding community. Enjoy your well-deserved break.
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Well, my first day of vacation from the blog lasted not even a full morning. Ha!
Checking in from San Francisco, after having drank a nice strong cafe latte (I had to keep having the waiter bring out more steamed milk) and eating granola and yogurt for breakfast. I also picked up a man’s book…Tree of Smoke by poet and writer Denis Johnson. It won the National Book Award in 2007. It’s about the Vietnam War, and what better book to read on a long flight to VN, right?
Except, this one will test my stick-to-it-ness, being as how I don’t generally like books about wars, and I tend to like female novelists more than male. So wow, I’ve landed on a male theme by a male writer. (And from the looks of his book jacket photo, he’s a male’s male.)
Oh, re: the woman in the doodle…I was sitting in a shuttle bus in Saigon last December and looked out the window at that exact woman (well, an older version of her, and not so dark…). She was wearing a top and pants that were intricate flower designs but completely different colors. I fell in love with her outfit right then and there. 8)
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I should have said, my first of “blogcation.” Good one, breathepeace. Is that anything like a staycation?
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I guess QM is taking a staycation and a blogcation at the same time. 8)
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yb, great story about how you came to draw the woman out your window in Vietnam. And glad you have bought a good book for that long, long plane ride. Just talked to you in San Fran and you are well on your way!
Yeah, I know what you mean — my vacation hasn’t quite started yet either. Wanted to make a few comments, but I’m heading out here pretty soon. YES, I am taking a Staycation and a Blogcation at the same time!
breathepeace, great term for a vacation from blogging. Blogcation. That’s our Word Of The Day! And thanks for the support!
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Good for the two of you! I can imagine how exhausting keeping new posts coming can be. But, I must admit, I’ll miss you both! However, I also plan on gardening & yesterday on the spur of a whim, I booked J & I a hotel room in Ocean City MD. Just the two of us. (Ocean front) I had been to this particular hotel 2 years ago on my vacation from hell. QM might remember that I was there with a friend & her 2 out of control slobbish children AND housekeeping took my underwear & socks. And then my friend set off the smoke detecter by heating something too long in the microwave. Brought the fire trucks & cleared out the hotel, while I sat unknowingly on the deck. Funny now, but not then. But, the hotel is beautiful. So, work this week in gardens & rest next week. We check in the 17th & out on the 22nd.
YB, have a safe & wonderful trip. QM, enjoy! Gardening is good for the soul & the outcome is so worth the aches & pains. Love to you both, D
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diddy, thanks for your support. I’m weaning myself off of red Ravine today. 8) Wow, you two are going to Ocean City, Maryland? That sounds wonderful. I love Ocean City, one of my favorite beaches. Clean and fun. I do remember your vacation from hell story. lol, now why would the housekeeper want your underwear and socks?
I’ll be thinking about you on the 17th. I take it you’re driving? Have fun. And relax. It’s beautiful here this Spring. I don’t know, something about the last few weeks of greening. I’ve been paying particular attention. I’ll be working in the garden more next week than this one due to Art-A-Whirl this weekend. So much to do, so little time. I’m really looking forward to it. Have a great time J. and diddy. Say Hi to the Atlantic Ocean for me. And don’t forget to Boogie Board at least once!
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QM, I think housekeeping saw a vision of Elvis or the Virgin Mary on my undies! Who knows? 🙂
I’ll think about the boogie boarding, but I’m afraid of Jelly Fish.
The Art-A-Whirl sounds cool. Can’t wait to hear more. Love to all! We’ll have Brant Friday night into Saturday & yes, we’ll be driving & taking photos! D
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I hope you both have wonderfully refreshing blogcations!
Will be here when you’re back!
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Great “time off” wish to both… I’ll send one telepathically in case you don’t read this
It’s always a pleasure finding new things here and QM…the Casket Building…how the heck did I missed that post! So very cool… best wishes on the show
yb, “lurker”…a favorite word of mine 😉
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Have a wonderful time in Vietnam! 🙂
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Enjoy your time off, and come back refreshed and full of ideas. 🙂
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Ybonesy,
Looking forward to more pics.
BTW your doodle is great!
MM
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A very nice post and a very helpful blog. Keep on posting interesteing articles that can help bloggers specially the newbies like me. Thank you very much.
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yb & QM, everyone needs a blogcation or staycation, especially as hard as the two of you work on this space. What was the lyrics from that 60’s? song, “You don’t know what you got ’til it’s gone. They paved paradise and put up a parking lot.” Looking forward to where red Ravine goes in the future. Take care of yourselves.
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Bob, welcome back. It’s nice to be missed. Yes, that’s a Joni Mitchell song — don’t know what you’ve got til it’s gone! I think I have almost all of her albums. Speaking of albums, Liz and I have a huge album collection and one of the hits last night was when we played Earth, Wind & Fire and the Temptations on vinyl, very LOUD, as we were leaving the studio. Everyone was dancing, and Liz and I had one last dance before we left last night. A lot of fun. You can’t not dance to the Temptations.
BTW, Liz just had an alarm go off on her phone and we could not for the life of us figure out what it was. Alas, I finally remembered — it’s our anniversary today! Six years and going strong. I can’t believe that much time has gone by! And what a way to celebrate with Art-a-Whirl! I feel blessed. Also blessed for all who visit red Ravine and keep tabs on ybonesy and me. Thanks for all the vacation well-wishes in this comment thread. Gratitude!
BTW, ybonesy and I are checking in frequently to Twitter (down our right sidebar in the Twitter widget) while we are on blogcation. It’s been kind of fun. I think haiku practice makes it pretty easy to distill everything down to 140 characters. 8)
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QM & Liz, happy anniversary! Candy and Iron. What a combo of elements for an anniversary…golf while eating candy bars, perhaps?
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yb & QM, hope you both are enjoying your blogcations! J & I arrived safe & sound in OC, MD. First 2 days very cold! But, today it is near 70 & the next few days are to be upper 70’s & low 80’s. Gosh, the beach is just gorgeous & our hotel room is so nice! We are on the 6th floor, front & center on the ocean.Great view.
Happy Anniversay QM & Liz! You make a great couple, for sure! Love, D
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QM, writing and art can coexist in the body and brain. You don’t have to chose one or the other. I don’t think of them as competing for space as much as feeding each other. My experience is that the more different kinds of art I engage in (painting, writing prose, writing poetry, sculpture, gardening, cooking…all artistic pursuits in my mind) the more I can produce, the more encompassing each piece of art is.
For example, I garden. The act of gardening which is art then feeds my desire to write prose and poetry about the experience. The results of my gardening become subjects for my photography.
That’s how I think it works.
I don’t want to write all of the time or to do any kind of art all of the time. If I vary what I create, I give my brain a rest from that particular type of creative activity.
I would comment on Twitter, but after I kicked the Facebook addiction I swore off any other consuming computer communications, other than blogging.
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Bob, thanks for the anniversary wishes. We almost forgot about it. Thank goodness for those little calendar reminders. 8)
diddy, glad you arrived safely in Ocean City. I can picture it now. Last time I was there was with Liz, MOM, gritsinpa and her family. Was a lot of fun. We staked out the beach every day and planted our little camp. VERY relaxing. I hope it’s the same for the two of you. Being up on the 6th floor and able to look out over the ocean and beaches would be great. Thanks for the anniversary wishes! Here’s to 7 years!
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Bob, it’s just fine to reply to Twitter updates on red Ravine. We sure aren’t expecting everyone to hop on to Twitter for the very reasons you are mentioning. Twitter is a way that ybonesy and I can stay connected to red Ravine when we take breaks from posting or can’t be as present for one reason or another. And we are strategically planning how we will use social networks so that they don’t eek away more time.
You are so right in that social networks can be time sucks. It’s the very reason I’m not on Facebook yet. I plan to integrate that into my other creative endeavors so am still researching and thinking about how I want to make it work to my advantage. red Ravine is my primary social network and allows me the most creative say over what I post. It’s also got a structure I can get behind and in which I feel I can thrive. The social networks are nice for expanding ideas, communities, reconnecting with people from the past, etc. But this is the place I’d like to do most of my back and forth about creative issues.
What I’ve noticed about Twitter is how I can compare it to a shorter practice of something like haiku. And if I keep a mission and vision in mind while using it (much like red Ravine) I think it can plug in well. Too many social networks leave my head spinning. It sure has been good to take a break from posting on red Ravine. I’m checking in on comments today to see what’s happening here.
I like what you say about writing and art feeding each other. Intellectually, I know that’s true. But some days I wake up and feel torn about it. I guess that’s where structure and being able to be fluid within a structure comes in. And when I’m writing a Chapter or essay, that consumes me. So where is the room for art? Maybe on the breaks. We’ll see as I move more into it. Glad you stopped by. Your gardening is coming along. I plan to do my gardening practice this week, too. Probably more at the end of the week.
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Hi all. I’m in the Hong Kong airport, and instead of tweeting this comment I just had to say that I feel I’m in a cultural timewarp. I just found out that Adam lost on American Idol. I am bummed. Yes, I liked Kris, but Adam was edgy and wild and out there. Sigh.
Sorry, haven’t had a chance to read all the comments before. Just hoping to get someone to commiserate with me.
Also, I’ll be on a plane until Thu morning, so wish me luck on the long flight. xxoo
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ybonesy, great to hear from you. Looking forward to your return from Vietnam. Will be thinking about you on the long plane ride home.
Yes, it’s true! I couldn’t believe it myself when Kris won. I was actually rooting for him (because I generally root for underdogs) but I loved Adam as well and thought he was a much better, more versatile artist. I probably like Kris’s music style better though.
But wow, were Liz and I shocked. They both had great humility and I think they’ll go far in their careers. I totally believe that Adam will do just fine, even coming in at #2.
It kind of reminds me of the way America is kind of crazy in its values. It will vote for the underdog to rise every time. Yet has to have a #1, someone who’s on top. Both of those things are part of our values in this country and I guess we learn to hold both of them.
Safe travels!
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yb, you should be on the plane now. Thinking about you.
QM & yb, I was so shocked that Kris won. I was so sure Adam would. His talents were far greater as far as range, originality, & taking chances with all kinds of music. I think Kris took alot of Danny’s fans when he was eliminated. More all American boy. I don’t know, but I think they should limit the amount of votes one person can cast. I guess that wouldn’t sound as good as 100,000 votes though. Oh well…I liked Kris, but don’t think he is the big seller that Adam will be.
BTW, we got our room for an extra night & now will check out Saturday! Warm here for the rest of our stay! D
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I have a theory about why Adam lost, and it has to do with who the voters are. I believe a large number (enough to swing an outcome) of American Idol voters are young women and girls, teens and tweens, that vote according to who they view as the heartthrob. At the beginning, Adam was an early leader, and I think that was because these tweens and teens saw him as the heartthrob. Then those Entertainment Tonight shows published photos of Adam kissing a guy, and it came out that Adam was gay. Shortly after that was when Adam surprised us all by ending up in the bottom three. I think the heartthrob voters had switched allegience to Kris.
The other thing that Kris had going for him was his hometown (Milwaukee, was it?). It was the kind of town that can rally around such a huge accomplishment such as having an American Idol top guy, whereas Adam was from the too-hip-and-too-jaded-to-care Los Angeles.
This AI thinking-aloud comes courtesy of a layover at the Denver airport, where I was rerouted after my HK-SFO flight got cancelled. I was rerouted on a later Cathay Pacific Airlines flight, and boy do I love Cathay. I got to watch movies that *I* wanted to watch, not what the whole plane had to watch. I saw: The Wrestler (excellent!), Milk (totally excellent), Frost/Nixon (enjoyed it 100% more than I thought I would), Bride Wars , (ditto) and got started on Benjamin Button (cut short and I didn’t much mind).
But the upshot of getting rerouted was that I had to come via Denver since I missed the connecting flight from SFO-ABQ. So I get in eight hours later. Ugh.
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yb, UGH, so sorry about your flight. I didn’t check in after poetry group last night and didn’t know you had gotten stranded in Denver. Are you home yet? You are going to be exhausted. I bet you’ll sleep hours as soon as your head hits the pillow. Good thing it’s a long weekend coming up.
Yeah, your theory about Adam is probably on target. Sad, but true. After someone is seen as gay, it seems to change everything for some people. And it’s true, if the competition is about singing (as they say) he should have won hands down. That guy can sing anything and do it well. He’s also got a star quality that will carry him far. I think Kris is from Arkansas and his fans really did seem to rally around him. I truly thought Adam would win and it was obvious the judges thought so, too. So I went with the underdog because that’s what I tend to do. 8) Adam seemed like a genuinely warm and caring person. I imagine it hit him hard. I really felt for him the next day.
Let us know when you get home. Hope you’ve made it by now!
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Well, it was a LONG time getting home. I think I crawled into bed shortly after 2a. Arrived in Albuquerque at about 1:15a, picked up my luggage and took a taxi in. Boy did it feel good to finally hit the sack. And I slept until past noon. I briefly remember Em coming in and saying something before school, and I remember Jim saying he and Dee were heading out for errands, and then I woke up when I heard the smell of food being cooked. I could have slept all day, but that would have messed up my body clock. I think I won’t have any problems falling asleep tonight and will probably go to be by about 8 or so.
Oh yeah, Kris is AK. I think it was Danny who was from the Midwest. After I left my comment last night, I read two good articles theorizing that homophobia was the reason Adam lost. Also, that there was a Twitter campaign from Christian groups against Adam and for Kris.
I wish American Idol didn’t let people vote more than once. When we were in Denver, we sent in votes for our favorites but they didn’t get through. That was my only experience voting. Well, I take that back. Way back when, on Dancing with the Stars, when the postman from the old Cheers series was on the program, I voted for him. It was a sympathy vote. I think that’s the only time I’ve ever voted, besides when I was in Denver. Watching the show with my sisters and niece, two who had free text voting, was the incentive.
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yb, welcome home! Heading out the door but will catch up later. And say more on American Idol. Participated in a LitChat on Twitter this afternoon that was quite enlightening. Lots to catch up on. More when I check in again. Glad you are back! I missed you!
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Ditto, QM. I missed you and rR. But it was also nice to get off the internet. I didn’t visit a single blogger friend while I was in VN and still haven’t. I’m so pooped, and even right now if I sit in front of the computer I feel like falling asleep. It stopped raining enough to go out and weed my garden. Wow, everything went from pretty lush to super lush. The roses are all in full bloom, the wisteria bushed out, and the weeds popped up everywhere. The Spanish broom is bright yellow. I feel definitely like I’m in a nature timewarp.
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Beautiful pen and ink ybonsey. Wonderful for you and QM to take a break. I’ve enjoyed reading the replies in this post. Just stopped by to say hi to you both and looking forward to reading more here.
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Just checked to see if ya made it home safely. Whooya! Haven’t seen American idol in years (I think since that red haired kid lost who I think was also gay). I remember he did a gospel song with a choir behind him that gave me goosebumps …it was that good. I think he was “too Disney” for everybody.
I never saw either of these guys sing but I can tell you I’m watching the last of Leno and the kid that won was on. He was the sweetest, most genuine guy (sharp too) and I liked him immediately (I sure hope he can sing ;). He spoke about his new wife of 8 months and how she told him not to tell anyone that he was married “cause we need the votes”. I guess he was too proud of her not to say so.
Anyway, I think the other guy (Adam)is going to go on tour with the remaining members of Queen. I heard Paul Rodgers (Bad Company) was supposed to be the front man but now its this kid. It won’t matter cause no one is gonna fill Freddie’s shoes anyway but it might be interesting to see what he does.
Welcome home!
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[…] back after a 2+ week blogcation. How time flies. On Sunday ybonesy sent me an email titled: Getting Back in the Saddle. We both […]
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Another classic YB drawing. Hope your vacation from blogging renews and energizes you both.
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QM & yb, Ahhhhh, I’m finally back on home ground. After the trip to Ocean City I made a trip to my parents. I was able to visit every Aunt & Uncle on both sides of the family in addition to a few cousins. I also saw friends I hadn’t seen in 20 plus years & we reunited with exchange of phone #’s plus. Heard from 2 of them shortly after arriving home! Eight day visit & just arrived home yesterday. Today starts my first day of having Brant for the summer. J has my garden planted as we had sooooo…much rain, but we planted by the waxing moon. Tomorrow I will stake the tomato plants with limbs from the dead trees we felled. Brant can help to plant the herbs.
QM, sorry I missed your birthday call. Thanks for remembering!
I’ve really missed redRavine! But, now that I’m grounded again…I’ll be here.
Hope all is well with you. Love & many hugs…D
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Hey diddy, we missed you! Sounds like you had a great time. Isn’t it wonderful to reconnect with friends from that long ago? I believe that my friends from when I was a child myself, even if a teen, are the ones with whom I share a most special connection.
I’m in Las Vegas, Nevada, and getting ready to hit the strip. So not on home ground, unless it counts as having been a familiar place for my parents. Last time I was here was when I was about 21 or 22, and I was with my parents. Hit a jackpot at a casino, and they carded me because I looked too young to gamble. First and last time, I thought, but here I am again. Just passing through, though.
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ybonesy, Las Vegas, Nevada! Say hi to the Wild West and safe travels! Looking forward to more check-in’s along the road.
diddy, I’m so happy your’re back! Yes, it was fun to catch up with J. So sorry I missed you. But glad you were away and having fun reuniting with friends and family on your birthday.
And glad you got the garden planted! J. said it was pretty wet there in PA, raining for days on end. We had been having really dry weather. Then after I talked to him, it rained for 4 days straight here! I think he sent it this way.
We still haven’t gotten our tomatoes into the ground. They are in pots on the deck. We’ve got some kale, lettuce, and peanuts to get into the ground. Yes, peanuts! We found a hearty brand for Minnesota.
BTW, we had boiled peanuts with a friend at a Chinese restaurant a few weeks back. I had no idea they served them in China.
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QM, I think you sent us your rain now. I wanted to stake the tomato plants today, but we had heavy rain last night. We have Brant today & he & J are out at the moment. I’m making good old fashioned ham pot pie (my Grandmothers recipe) for supper. Brant leaves tomorrow for a cruise to Mexico with his other Grandparents.
I just heard from one of my friends from long ago & we are planning a visit for them to come spend a week-end. My visit home was good for the most part & everyone I ran into was so happy to see me that I have made many plans for visits with a few of them. Feels good. Hope all is well with you & Liz & it’s still not too late to plant.
Oh, the boiled peanuts! I’m jealous! I wish I had asked Mom to bring us some raw ones from GA so we could boil our own! D
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diddy, sorry about the rain. 😦 That ham pot pie sounds so good. Have I ever had that one of yours? I may have to get the recipe. It makes me hungry just thinking about it (and knowing what a good cook you are). And it’s your Grandmother’s recipe? (Elizabeth’s?)
Glad you are reconnecting with old friends. That sounds fun, too. I hope Brant has a good time in Mexico. J. told me he was going to be going. That’s quite a trip, something I’m sure he will remember.
Yes, those boiled peanuts! Liz didn’t like them when I made her try them in Georgia at that little sidestand. Or maybe it was S.C. She said I told her to suck the salty juice and then take a bite and she didn’t like the juice. I love the juice. Do you like the taste of the salt in boiled peanuts?
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QM, can never get enough of the salty taste of boiled peanuts. Just found out today that Daddy & Judy will be visiting with us next Thursday. Perhaps he will bring us some. They will stay with us, but it is a short visit. We’ll have a cook-out Friday night. Wish you could be here!
The ham potpie recipe is indeed my Grandma Elizabeths. I think I have it down to her standards. I will gladly share it with you. She was the best cook in my family.
Brant was here overnight & tommorow he will be off on his cruise. They might divert the cruise to Mexico due to the swine flu. He’ll still have fun.
D
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diddy, so great that Daddy is coming up to PA for Father’s Day. I hope you all have a great time; will be thinking about you and the rest of the family. You’ll have to let me know what kind of food you all have! And yes, I’ll definitely have to get the ham potpie recipe from you. Love to try that.
You should have Daddy bring you some fresh boiled peanuts from that little stand in S.C. that he takes us to. I think I have a photo on red Ravine. I’ll have to come back and add the link. They’ve gone up in price though. I think it was $5 for a small bag last time Mom and I brought them home. I will always love boiled peanuts. It may be an acquired taste!
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QM, Daddy & Judy left a day earlier, so we were too late for the boiled peanuts. 😦
So good to have them here. Today, they are spending the afternoon with Gritsinpa. She took half the day off so that they could go the outlet stores in Hershey & then onto one of Daddy’s favorite restaurants. I spent the day making potato salad & a special dip I make for tortilla chips. Everyone is getting together here tomorrow night for dinner as they will be leaving Saturday. I won’t be here. I got word last night that my Aunt passed away, so I will be heading back home for her funeral. I thank God that she went so fast & in her sleep. Although this is a sad time for me I knew she was in pain & suffering so much. She had only been sent home from the hospital for 11 days prior to her death.
Yesterday Daddy, Judy, & I hit the Salvation Army store half price day. I scored a book by Anne Lamott titled Plan B, Further Thoughts On Faith. Have you ever read it? Looks quite interesting. I guess I’ll have a chance to read it if things ever quiet down here enough!
Wish you were here! D
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Very sorry to hear about your aunt, diddy. Was she your father’s or mother’s sibling?
I read Anne Lamott’s Traveling Mercies, which I think Plan B follows. They are both about Lamott’s relationship with Faith and Spirituality. I loved Traveling Mercies.
You should read Carolyn Flynn’s piece on red Ravine about a talk she attended in Los Angeles between Lamott and Elizabeth Gilbert [LINK]. Two different approaches to faith, and one of the things that strikes me in Carolyn’s piece is how much respect Gilbert has for Lamott on account of Lamott’s strong faith, the fact that she is not constantly seeking (as, I presume, Gilbert is) but rather, is grounded in her spirituality.
I hope you have a chance to read the book. And at a bargain price to boot. Good for you. Let us know what you think.
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yb, good to have you back! Hope your travels were funfilled! Thank you on your kind words about my Aunt Boots. She was the wife of my Mom’s eldest brother, but she was the Aunt I felt most connected to. She was awesome & now I have some writing to do about her & what she meant to me. I will be leaving tomorrow around noon.
The book was a great find! (BTW never read & only 50 cents) Now I wish I had Traveling Mercies to read first. I’ve read the post that you mentioned. That is what inspired me to read her works.
QM will be happy to hear that Daddy brought us some raw peanuts & we have been boiling them for hours on end in water & sea salt.
Thanks again for the kind words & I’ll be looking forward to my trip home. I’ve been on the go for weeks & next week I will have Brant again. This visit will be one of my toughest yet. D
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Oh, diddy, I’m so sorry about your Aunt Boots. I can’t believe it. And that you have to leave again and head home for her funeral. I know you were just there last week. I’m glad you got to spend some time with her.
It sounds good to do some writing about it. Maybe when you are home. Write down the details and memories. Give my best to your family, too. You all have had a lot going on this year.
Sad that you will miss the family gathering tonight, too. But they will sure be enjoying your wonderful cooking. So you are making boiled peanuts at home? What do you add to the salt water? Don’t they use something else to help break down the shells?
I think I have read Plan B by Lamott. I own most of her non-fiction books. She’s one of those writers who is honest and lays it on the line. She doesn’t pull punches. I enjoy her writing very much. Maybe it’s no accident that you came across this book at this time.
Liz and I will be thinking about you on your drive back home. Drive safe, diddy. And I’ll be sending good energy to everyone who’s gathering at your house tonight. Wish I could be there!
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