Existential Ennui

~ Searching for Meaning Amid the Chaos

Existential Ennui

Tag Archives: geology

Blue Spray

25 Friday Jul 2008

Posted by Sherry in Art, Essays, Geology, Photography

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Art, essay, geology, nature, photographs

Done by LeRoy Grannis 1968-2007 period, it is entitled “Waimea.”

This photo intrigued me. I recall as a teenager I was most enthralled by California and the beach scene as portrayed in the Gidget and Beach movies and the songs of the Beach Boys. I guess I longed to go there and live like that. I certainly recall wanting to learn to surf. Such is not possible of course in Michigan.

Being from Michigan, which has a lot of water, and spending so many summers at the lake, I had a fond and deep love for water. I swam all day every day for weeks on end each summer. It was often mentioned that the only part of me likely to become sun burned were the bottoms of my feet. I was a underwater swimmer, coming up just long enough to grab a breath for another dive. We were blessed with clear water and sandy bottoms which made the experience pleasant.

I visited the sea in Connecticut and can at least lay claim to seeing the Atlantic, albeit not the vast expanse so much, since the Sound land is visible from most places still. I have never witnessed the Pacific. As water go, I’m sure it is similar. I am always mesmerized by vast anything, whether it be sand, water, sky or mountain. I marvel at nature and the forces of geology that shape and reshape our planet.  Up on my sand hill, I can gaze out at the vastness of fields of corn and soybeans. While to some, it may not seem as dramatic, I can lay claim to knowing that it is.

When I sit there looking over the land, I imagine some Native People who might have camped there, close to stream, and forest alike. A secret wish of mine is to have one of those metal detectors and traverse my land, seeking, well, something that indicates who else has walked these hills.

I get of course, a much different feeling with water. So changeless yet ever changing. I’m reminded most especially of the wonderful metaphor of water and God. I am the drop of water in the ocean of God. I am of God, but just a speck of God. God in me, me in God. Sliding with the waves, gliding along in the silk of the medium of hydrogen and oxygen, magically melded into this liquid caress, stress melts, spirit soars, oneness is granted for the briefest of moments in time. 

I love water, but of course that is natural, since I am mostly water. The affinity is what I would expect. I know she can be dangerous and is to be respected, yet if I am careful, she will do her best to dance and fly, spray and crash, shimmer and shine in wondrous colors that cross the spectrum, all for my delight. Us inlanders miss something that you coasters know. But then the mountain folks have their own glory as do the desert roamers. But us midlanders have our precious waving fields to hold up in competitive bid as well.

If there is a place on earth that combines it all, then that is where I should like to live.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)

Like this:

Like Loading...

15 Tuesday Jul 2008

Posted by Sherry in Art, Environment, Geology, Photography

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

Arizona, Art, environment, geology, Photography


The Contrarian and I have been watching the 5-part series called “Earth: A Biography” on the NGC. One of last night’s offering was on atmosphere, and the delightful host showed us this amazing and stunning rock feature. I’d never seen it before, which is saying something, since we watch an awful lot of nature shows. The location is Paria Canyon in the Vermillion Cliffs Wilderness, near the Utah, Arizona border. It is composed of 190 million year old sand turned to stone. The constant wind and loose sand continually changes and sculpts this area. Only 20 persons a day are allowed to hike in the are to preserve it. You can find lots more pictures by simply googling “Arizona Wave rock formations” or Paria Canyon.

I can but imagine what it must be like to see these close up. The host of the show showed close ups and the ridges are so defined its quite spectacular. These are the kinds of things that fill the soul and cause it to soar. People of course love the Grand Canyon for obvious reasons but this is a stunner that I simply was unaware of until last night.  It makes it all the more sad that we are doing our level best to destroy our nest with pollutants and unwise practices around the globe. How I pray we will wake up before it is too late.

Here’s another photo for your enjoyment.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)

Like this:

Like Loading...

Breathing Life Deeply

26 Thursday Jun 2008

Posted by Sherry in Archaeology, Breads, Breakfast, Cakes, Desserts, Environment, Evolution, Fruit, Geology, History, Human Biology, Italian, Literature, Medicine, Pasta, Potatoes, Psychology, Quilting, Salads, science, Social Science, Sociology, Vegetables, World History, Zoology

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

Archaeology, Breads, cake, coffeecake, corn, Crafts, dessert, dieting, evolution, fruit, geology, Italian, Literature, pasta, Pizza, potatoes, psychology, quilting, recycling, salad, science, volcanoes, world history


These haunting eyes are of  a Nova-Walpi, North American Indian. I sadly don’t know if Nova-Walpi is a tribe or Nova is his name. Such things didn’t seem important enough to record I guess. The picture was taken by Edward Sheriff Curtis in 1904.

One  can but guess at his thoughts, a whole different life and wayy of seeing the world are hidden from us, but we are called  inward and can somehow feel him through his penetrating eyes.

Oh a busy day, in fact, they are all busy at this point, trying to catch up for long days spent inactive while the rains continued. Now we are a buzz with busyness. The garden seems okay, but as i said, much may be so stressed that it will simply put on a quick flourish to set some seeds and then die. Nothing to do but wait and hope for the best.

I did my cleaning today and then went for my walk, something I started yesterday. Trudging up the hill is hard, so I don’t go far yet. It’s a half mile to the road, and i went at best 2/5 of a mile. Not far. At one time I walked sometimes six miles, though four was more normal. I’ll extend the distance next week. Bear went along with me, going into the corn fields to take a pee. Not very nice of him. I am as always enchanted by what I see, the lovely green fields, the sounds of so many birds, the tracks of so many animals.

A buck must have walked down the lane, since I saw a very large track today. No doubt following what was obviously a doe and her fawn. The cute little tracks of the baby, no doubt fascinated by all he or she saw. A coon also passed by, and a pheasant for sure. The coyotes have stayed away of late. We also think that a big cat is about though we only saw him once. He was running across the field to the north, and had that tale so like a cat, long and kind of swaying. It was definitely not a coyote. Such tales are always around, but nobody has every killed or found one dead, so it always remains mystery.

I made meatballs and sauce for spaghetti today. I had made foccacia a couple of weeks ago, and I got the leftovers into the freezer for just such a meal as this. I don’t think I’ll bother with a salad. Plenty to eat without it, and we had one a couple of days ago. I did the Cilantro Chicken from last weeks blog recipes. It really was good. Plenty of leftover chicken breast and that will make a nice chicken salad for Saturday. Tomorrow is hamburgers with some of that chipotle-cheese sauce that I also featured last week or the week before.

We watched something on the news that caught us up. Dogs and cats who have been given up due to floods or losing homes in the mortgage foreclosure disaster. We’ve decided to take in a new dog, and later I’m going to try to locate where to go here in Iowa. It just broke my heart, so many of the little guys in shelters not understanding what has happened to their world. Our two dogs are 9 and 11 respectively, so it’s a good time to transition we thought. We love them so much, and nothing can replace them, but we have room for more, and can’t stand to see so many lost when we can offer them a good home and safety.

Boy, I’m yacky. Better get on to see if anything new is out there in internet land.

~~~&&&~~~&&&~~~

101 Cookbooks has some tips on making pizza on the grill. Although her ingredients are a bit foofoo for my more pedestrian tastes as far as pizza goes, the tips are still valid of course. If you are thinking of trying this, and it does sound fun, then give it a look.

If scones are something you would like to try, then skip over to A Mingling of Tastes and find her recipe for Oat Scones with Dried Cherries and Walnuts. They are easy to make and serve as a nice alternative to the usual muffins or toast. A bonus, there are two other muffin recipes that lead into the scone one, so you get three great recipes! 

Since the 4th is on the way, I thought I might give you my potato salad recipe. I have only found one other that matched it. But I realize that potato salad  is one of those things that people tend to like the way mom made it. Here goes, and these are estimates on ingredients, I don’t measure a thing.

Sherry’s Awesome Potato Salad

Potatoes, 5-6 medium large or equivalent of waxy potatoes like Yukon
An equal number of eggs hard boiled. 6 if using Idaho potatoes
scallions, about 6, tops and green parts sliced thin
radishes, about 8, chunked so they will hold up for a few days
sour dill pickles, about 2 medium finely diced
about 1/3 cup of green olives, diced
dressing:
mayo, a good cup
dijohn mustard, and yellow mustard, about 3 TBSP's in all
salt, pepper,
celery seeds
a bit of juice from the dill pickles or olives 1/4 c. or so
mix it all together, decorate if you desire with fresh chives,
parsley, and some like sweet pepper slices. That's it.
Adjust anything to the tanginess you like. It's the dill pickles
that make the difference here.

ALemon Glazed Bundt Cake might be just the thing for that 4th of July celebration. If so, Chocolate and has a nice recipe for you. I think I’m going for gooey Molten Lava cakes myself, but I love lemon desserts a lot and this will be on my radar for later this summer.

Garrison Keillor graces us again with his wit. Today he counsels that Barack Obama could learn a thing or two from Jesse Ventura. Do say? Always fun and a nice change of pace from our favorite pundit on life!

One of the things that keeps history interesting, is that there are so many different ways to approach it. It is surely true that history is written by and large by the victors, but today, with so many more tools of examination, historians can look at it from a number of different ways and pull out the threads of unknown facts drawing a clearer and very different interpretation. One way is to examine history from the point of view of colonialism. Read more at History News Network.

Another of those great science things. Archaeologists who look for bones, have uncovered the earliest known 4 legged animal scull. They expect that this will help them understand that important transition between fish and those creatures that first walked on the earth. I don’t know about you, but this stuff always fascinates me. I feel like I’m taking a walk along my family tree. It lived 365 million years ago, and lived in water. They think it looked a bit like an alligator but with fins. Cool eh? Thanks to Live Science for the story.

If you are a baby boomer as I am, this next one also from Live Science may be of interest. Are you blue, and prone to being in the dumps a lot? Seems there is a good reason for that. Boomers, says the Pew Report, are just not very enthusiastic about the future. Looking around the economy, and the world, I can see why. Sigh, boy this bums me out!

On Faith has a compelling question: What book has made a difference in your life? I mean, where do I start? It seems every ten years or so, I would revise the list. Most everyone would agree that the bible or your choice of religious book qualifies. But oh the other possibilities are endless. Mailer’s the Naked and the Dead made an impact on me on the subject of war that I have never forgotten. I think I see a separate post for this. How bout we look at the subject Sunday?

The Scythians were horsemen in Central Asia. A very well preserved body of a Cavalier was found in 2006. Much has been learned about the gentleman since then. He died some 2,300 years ago. An amazing amount is known about him and his life through the use of modern forensic tools. Read this interesting account at Rogueclassicism.

Scientists did not believe it possible. They were wrong. It seems volcanoes are busily blowing their cool, errr, hot in very deep waters in the Arctic Ocean. The great pressures and weight of the water were thought to prevent this occurrence. Not so, not so. Read more at Science Daily.

New news for dieters! If you want to lose weight, stop thinking about dying for crying out loud. And the thoughts don’t have to be directly about yourself. Watching death related material such as crime shows, and the awful news, also contribute. We get the munchies it seems. Wow, somebody will be writing a book about this. “Diet with Laurel and Hardy,” coming to a bookstore near you!

Truly, nothing says summer better than corn salad. You can make this in any number of ways, as long as you start with grilled or seared corn kernels. Then add whatever fresh veggies, (also grilled) and do the dressing and boy you have got a great accompaniment to just about any summer dinner. I’m adding it to my July 4th day menu I do believe. So far that makes the  Texas Brisket barbecue, potato salad, pea salad, and corn salad, and the molten chocolate lava cakes. Simply Recipes has the wonderful recipe.

I just love these copycat recipes. The Secret Recipe Blog today gives us the wonderful  Macaroni Grill’s “Penne Rustica.” This recipe should probably be cut in half for the normal family. I can’t even begin to think about a sauce that requires 8 cups of cream!

Oh I found a recipe that is well, time consuming and a tad expensive to make, but I think it worthy of your attention. Tuscan CoffeeCake Bread. I mean is this made for Sunday on a lazy hot day or what? The wonders of dried fruits and warm fresh bread, with butter melting. Oh, I may get the vapors just thinking of it. I have to get some of the dried fruit, but I am definitely making this recipe. The Sour Dough is to be thanked for this gem of a bread.

The Village Shop Blog shows off some of her work that is going in a new shop as “samples” of what a person can do. I’ve never been asked to do this, and with good reason! I think they are simply lovely and so very encouraging to me as a sometime quilter.

Tip Junkie has a host of tips. They go from fun and funky craft ideas to recycling ideas. The recycling craze is really catching on as more folks realize that with prices increasing everywhere on everything, a premium is now placed on getting the full usage possible out of everything. You can find some good stuff here.

~~~&&&~~~&&&~~~

How about some Murphy’s Laws:

Success always occurs in private, and failure in full view.

Two wrongs are only the beginning.

If there is a worse time for something to go wrong, it will happen then..

If at first you don’t succeed, destroy all evidence that you tried.

It is impossible to make anything foolproof because fools are so ingenious.

Trust everybody … then cut the cards.

All the good ones are taken.
If the person isn’t taken, there’s a reason

Money can’t buy love, but it sure gets you a great bargaining position.

Never share a foxhole with anyone braver than you are.

Friendly fire ain’t.

Logic is a systematic method of coming to the wrong conclusion with confidence.

Tell a man there are 300 billion stars in the universe and he’ll believe you. Tell him a bench has wet paint on it and he’ll have to touch to be sure.

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)

Like this:

Like Loading...

Eat, Craft, Read, Be Merry

04 Wednesday Jun 2008

Posted by Sherry in American Civil, American History, Archaeology, Beef, Breakfast, Cakes, Chocolate, Church/State, Crochet, Cross Stitch, Desserts, Founding Fathers, fundamentalism, Gardening, Geology, History, Presidents, Recipes, religion, science, Soup, War/Military, Women's History, World History

≈ 6 Comments

Tags

American History, Archaeology, beef, breakfast, cake, chocolate, Civil War, coffeecake, crochet, cross stitch, Desserts, evangelicals, founding fathers, Gardening, geology, History, Presidents, religion, science, soup, Women's history, world history

This is Called “The Threshing Floor” and was done by Diego Rivera in 1904. It is located at the Museum of Diego Rivera in Guanajuanta, Mexico.

The day breaks gloomy as it has been for days now, with little break. We got about two hours of showers yesterday, but after it stopped in mid-late morning, we got no more. So far today, we have gotten none, but as I said, its overcast. The air is thick because there is literally water everywhere, if not on the surface, then just below. Mostly it’s spongy wherever you walk. The dogs lay out, mostly on the porch or some dry place, the cats venture to the their porch as well, nobody wants to walk around much.

The cake by the way, was excellent, moist, and really tasted of root beer. The marbling worked nicely as well. If you make it, make at least a half more of the frosting if you want enough to frost two large layers which this batter does give you. The recipe is over at the old blogger site of the same name. Just put in rootbeer cake in the blogbar search engine and it will pop up for you.

Today I am doing a stir-fry with chicken and various veggies and some rice cellophane noodles for a change of pace.  Just finished the general housework, featuring the living room today. The Contrarian cleaned off the hearth for me, so I’ll address the stove itself tomorrow. I like to oil it down lightly once a year. It just looks so nice and brand new for a while.

Well, lets see what we can find around the arts and crafting world today and see what historical facts pop up.

~~~&&&~~~&&&~~~

Sandi’s Crochet Blog has a lovely looking pattern that really caught my eye. She calls it offset shell. As always she gives you the pattern and gives you the opportunity to use it in both a shawl or a granny square.

American Revolution Blog dissects quite thoroughly a new book by another religious right person determined to turn America into a Christian nation. This time the claim is that George Washington was an orthodox Christian. While he was no doubt a deep believer in God, Washington was very careful about NOT imposing religion on the resultant new Democracy. Read this excellent post and enjoy. If you are interested in this subject, you might want to back track to his original site and pick up the new blog he and others are starting about how the nation was created and the impact of religion on it.

Baking Delights has her Saturday surfing of recipes from around the net that she thinks you might like. I saw a couple that caught my eye, like a strawberry pie that sounds very luscious. Pulled pork is always a summertime favorite as well. Run by and see if you see something that you just have to make before the week is out.

Apparently Dick (Darth Vadar) Cheney made some “joke” about West Virginian natives that was stereotypical in its allusions to intermarriage. While this would usually put it into the political sphere, Catholic Anarchy does a fine job of explaining a good bit about Appalachian life that I thought was quite good. Hope you enjoy learning a bit more about a segment of America that most think they know a lot about.

Belle Boyd is the lady featured on today’s Civil War Womeninstallment. Belle was a lady who came from a family able to send her as a young girl to college, and from there on we learn that she was an ardent Confederate supporter. She killed a Yankee and became a spy for the Confederacy in the war years. She was a fiery person and had a long life after the war, always doing what she wanted, and not necessarily what was conventional. Read more.

Epicurious has great recipes, mostly I suspect because she reads some of the best culinary magazines around. These are both from Bon Appetit and I think both are lovely ideas for the summer season. Chilled Tomato Tarragon Soup is the first offering, followed by Chili Beef Skewers. I’m thinking together they make a meal!

We are in luck whenever Garrison Keillor has a new posting. This one is about kids and pools and is a nice relaxing respite from the busyness of the day. Take time to read this stress reducer!

Gardening Tips ‘n Ideas has a humorous take on compost and why it is like a man. You must take a look if you want to get a good giggle, so slip on over via the link and do just that.

History of American Women focuses on North Carolina today and zeroes in on the colonial period. The first two colonies started by Raleigh failed, otherwise NC would have been the first of the permanent English colonies. Originally named for the French King, it became associated with Charles II later on. As always, Maggie does an excellent job in giving us this little biography of another of our states.

Ever wondered about Old Faithful and what makes her tick, or should I say spout? It turns out that the amount of rain affects the timing of her explosions. That was news to me, I thought it had to do with pressures and venting underground that had to do with magma and all that geological stuff. Live Science gives you the low down on this icon of Americana.

I’ve suggested to some of you that the evangelicals in America, the mainstream ones that is, are frankly tired of being yoked to the reactionary right and their two-issue campaign, abortion and gay rights. In a refreshing report, the NYTimes reports on these mainstream evangelicals and their determination: “Taking their Faith, but not their Politics to the People.” An excellent article you shouldn’t miss. Our thanks to Religion in American History for the heads up.

Here’s one of those great ideas that your kids might love and benefit from. Certainly this is also true of adults. UofM archaeology and members of the team from Israel are doing an excavation this summer. They plan to run a website that you can use to follow their progress as they examine the Tel Kedesh. What a wonderful educational tool for all of us, most of whom will never have the opportunity to join in a dig. Rogueclassicism provides all the information and the link and when the site will start up. Have fun.

This was one scandal I can tell you. The murder of Lana Turner’s gangster boyfriend Johnny Stompanado in the late 50’s rocked Hollywood and even I recall it, though I was a mere child at the time, not even old enough to be in “love” with Troy Donahue yet. In any case, Scandalous Women brings us all the steamy, sexy, and hush hush details of the killing by Lana’s daughter, Cheryl. This is just the most fun to read about!

I am a fool when it comes to chocolate cake, and this recipe, well, it’s gonna be made very soon in the Peyton household I can tell ya. The idea of marrying chipotle with chocolate cake makes me swoon with delight. Simply Recipes has this one, so you can count on it! It’s Chipotle Flourless Chocolate Cake. Try it or you’ll be sorrrrry.

I enjoy cross stitch a lot, and am stuck on a Native American one now that I lost my way on and am rather off pattern on. I don’t know how it happened, I try to count carefully, but it did, and I haven’t touched it in more than a year, because I can’t face taking out so much of the threads to set it aright. I do get a lot of inspiration from Threads of Desirethough. She is simply a master stitcher and her stuff is beautiful to me. See what you think.

Uncommon Artistic Endeavors has a delicious sounding coffeecake for you. I love sweets for breakfast, though I tend to eat the same thing, day in and day out, peanut butter and toast. Maybe some french toast on Sunday, but that’s about it. This one looks easy and tasty and I’m sure to give it a try quite soon. Right after that decadent chocolate cake that is. Try the Cream Cheese Coffee Cake and see what you think.

US History Site Blog has an interesting report on the relationship between Martin L. King, jr and JFK during the 1960’s election. The actions of the Kennedy family to assist the King family during that time may have been an important reason that Kennedy ultimately beat Nixon. Nixon, on the advice of his handlers did nothing, while the Kennedy’s went out of their way to help the jailed King and his family.

Women in History reports that Australia has consecrated it’s first female bishop in Melbourne, Barbara Darling.  She is only the second woman so honored in Australia. This is to the Anglican faith of course, not Catholic, which still doggedly remains a male bastion, because, well, just because it’s always been that way.

World History Blog reports that Google Earth allows a lot of fun things, such as tracing the routes of Alexander the Great as he moved around the East and won battles and confiscated vast tracts of land. He also has some other suggestions and so stop by and take a look and get the instructions for how to do it.

~~~&&&~~~&&&~~~

And now for something completely different:

If the sky is the limit, then what is space, over the limit?

Aren’t the ‘good things that come to those who wait’ just the leftovers from the people that got there first?

“Cute as a button” Is that supposed to be a compliment? Since when are buttons cute?

Are marbles made of marble?

Why did Yankee Doodle name the feather in his hat Macaroni?

Who was the first person to say, “See that chicken over there … I’m gonna eat the first thing that comes out if its butt”?

If electricity comes from electrons, does morality come from morons?

Can you get cornered in a round room?

In that song, she’ll be coming around the mountain, who is she?

“Have you ever noticed that if you rearranged the letters in mother in law, they come out to Woman Hitler?”

Isn’t it funny how the word ‘politics’ is made up of the words ‘poli’ meaning ‘many’ in Latin, and ‘tics’ as in ‘bloodsucking creatures’?

That’s all folks!

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)

Like this:

Like Loading...

Nothing to Do But Laugh

02 Friday May 2008

Posted by Sherry in American History, Bush, Catholicism, Crafts, Current Issues, Ethnic recipes, Evolution, fundamentalism, Gardening, Gay Rights, Geology, Greece, History, Immigration, Individual Rights, Italian, John McCain, Pasta, poverty, Presidents, religion, Rome, science, terrorism, US Ethnic Issues, Vegetables, World History, Zoology

≈ 13 Comments

Tags

Crafts, evolution, Gardening, gay rights, geology, Greece, immigration, Individual Rights, marriage, pasta, poverty, Rome, science, torture, vegetables


Done by Umberto Boccioni in 1911, this piece is entitled “The Laugh” and can be found at MoMA. Given that the rains have returned in force and undone all the slow seepage we have so painstakingly watched for the past several days, I figured there is not much else one can do.

We have a good lead on a nice Bronco, problem is, that now, with these additional rains, we can hardly expect to get out to see it. The Contrarian and I laughed about telling the dude to drive it to us, and then to the bank and we would drive him home and drop him off. I doubt anything but a 4×4 can get back here for another couple of days, and we have no idea how much rain is yet to come. This is just the worst winter and spring I’ve ever seen here. I hope the guy has some patience, but he wants to sell, and won’t wait surely if another offer comes his way.

Spring cleaning is proceeding just wonderfully however. I’d say half of the room is done. Mostly its pulling tables from walls and getting the dust trapped against baseboards. Yes I know, I should do this regularly. I do not of course. You have no idea, if you don’t heat with wood how incredibly dirty it is. Cobwebs are created literally within a month, everywhere. I figure three more days and it will be done. Then I may try to get busy on the painting. But I really don’t want to stop the cleaning now. I’m in a good comfortable rhythm and I want to do a good job with the kitchen, tearing the cabinets apart and reordering the entire thing.

On to the news of the day:

~~~^^^~~~^^^~~~

When you have a moment, drop by (Mis)Adventures of a Crafty Wifey and see her extraordinarily creative jewelry. I think she has an Etsy store as well. Her work is quite eclectic and you just never know what to expect. Today, she decided to do something unusual with the flies that were tormenting her!

Okay, so maybe I am to blame for this lousy spring we are having. May is the month named after the Greek goddess Maia.I know I forgot to pay whatever homage is required. Should I burn something like a chicken or check some entrails or something. I’ve offended the Goddesssss! Whatever is needed, I’m willing to do. I want to get outside and plant and well just walk without getting my feet wet. Oh and some fine Roman victories occurred over the millenia too today, or yesterday I guess. So if you’re Italian, give a cheer for the victories over Sabines, Samnites, and Macedonians and others. Or just visit Ancient History Blog and follow more links to interesting information.

I personally detest the idea of building a wall in some asinine attempt to close off Mexico from the US. First of all, it will not work as any common sense examination of the issue shows, and secondly, IT WILL NOT WORK. Oh, and it violates tons of state laws, disturbs eco-systems, and IT WILL NOT WORK. Read more at Alternet‘s “Immigration: Do Fences make good neightbors?”

C’est La Vie reminds us of a sad statistic- Poverty and its impact on children. Canada doesn’t do a good job of carrying for children, but the US is even worse. Of course, that would be nothing new. How can we allow this? We are the richest of the rich and we let this go on. How our legislators and government can look people in the eye is beyond me. The shame is profound.

I do a lot of container gardening, mostly because I want to sit outside and be utterly surrounded by beauty. I take all my houseplants out, and arrange them, add some herbs in a container or two, a couple of hanging baskets and the rest filled with impatiens, those wonderful cascading petunias, and any and all sorts of things like lobelia. Everything sits amongst some hostas that hide in corners that don’t get much sun. Sally’s Gardening Tips has some ideas for you. Take a look.

Anybody gotten any asparagus yet? I’m sure wanting some fresh from the garden. We don’t get much, because we never kept up well with the initial planting but we do get some. Epicurious has a wonderful spring idea for you that sounds decadent to say the least. Asparagus Ravioli with Parmesan Sauce has simply got to be amazing.

Some new offers from Free Sample Forager. Today’s include a free download of a Star Wars novel, Yomommy Yogurt, Planet Heroes free DVD, and a free Comic book. Enjoy.

I’m sure you think you know why Teddy Roosevelt didn’t win the Republican nod in 1912. Newer research suggests that you might not have known at all. As we hurdle toward a Democratic convention that may prove to be more than we expected, read about how Roosevelt and Taft met heads on in a battle for the GOP nomination. Lewis Gould, (Four Hats in the Ring: The 1912 Election and the Birth of Modern American Politics) tells you all about it.

Oh, gee, another thing I can begin to obsess about. It seems that our recent shimmy shake here in the good old Midwest was not an anomaly, not something to regard as a freakish event, unlikely to happen again. No, no, you should be scared, very scared, in fact California is looking good right about now. We are on some fault line called the “New Madrid” line. I knew it was a mistake when the Spanish sailed for America. Does hopping up and down help? Or does that only work for elevators?

It appears that the marriage issue will be back on the ballot this year in California. I have not kept track of this, so I don’t know what is likely to happen. The National Reviewof course, thinks it’s just super. The Catholic wingnuts (insert right wing nutso minority) also thinks its super. I think it’s utterly horrid and mean. Nobody, not one of these dolts has yet to explain in claiming that they are protecting marriage, has told me what they are protecting it from? Not one. Seems that given that 50% of all marriages end in divorce, that it’s pretty much on life support now. I remain a supporter that anyone who wants to be married should be able to and receive all the attendant civil rights that so attach. I’m not threatened by homosexuals. I don’t think they intend to force me to divorce and marry a woman. Most importantly, I don’t try to speak for God, and since I don’t think the Bible is God speaking directly, I don’t place any real emphasis on those few passages that the wingnut religious use to claim to speak for God. So there.

More news on the torture front. The Bushites have finally released a few documents, but not many and continue to stonewall a good deal. The are trying to ride this out until after the elections I presume. They cannot keep it up for long. More and more, people are starting to predict that when all is said and done, a bunch are heading off for prison numbers. Read today’s editorial in the NYTimes and see if you agree. More and more we hear the sounds of impeachment in the air. I’m thinking it’s a tad too late for that.

The Contrarian caught this yesterday, and frankly I’m rather surprised there has been so little media coverage about it. It seems that West Coast Dock workers went on a one-day strike to protest the Iraq war. Ten thousand participated and that is quite a statement I would say. I echo Tom Cat at Politics Plus. Hats off to the Union.

Remember when Democrats stood up and refused Bushes amnesty for the Telecoms in his latest greatest eavesdropping law? Well that seems on the verge of being upset as some Dems are apparently secretly trying to pretty much give Dubya what he wants. Jay Rockefeller is implicated in this latest heist of the FICA bill. Read Glenn Greenwald’s excellent and thorough report on what is cooking behind closed doors.  

It can only be weeks away before we can somehow convert this to human beings. I mean the desire to do so on the part of any rational woman is so clear. Surely modern science can make the connection and for a change, the shoe, errr, fetus can be on the other foot, errr womb, or well, someplace. Male pregnancy is getting a long look see in seahorses. Now we just have to find some men with brood pouches and we are all set.  

Another good article on Cufi master, Pastor John Hagee and his Armaggedon scenario.Turns out it’s not just the Jews who are scheduled to die in the conflagration that Hagee prays for daily. It turns out that most of America goes as well. Course, he and his minions are all safe by then in the Rapture, watching us burn into crisps while they praise God. Old Mac it seems cannot get this at all because of senility, or perhaps he really agrees with it as well. In either case, you are aware of the type of endorsement that McCain both sought and continues to hold dear.

Have you heard the name Sami Al Hajj?Nope I didn’t think so. Mr. Al Hajj is a cameraman for Al Jazeera. He has been in Guantanamo Bay for six years. He has been released, with no charges. I always ask this same question: How to do Dubya and his band of thugs sleep at night? They do not of course ever answer me. I don’t think they have feelings like the rest of us. And who exactly are the terrorists? I’m getting more confused daily.

~~~^^^~~~^^^~~~

“I take my wife everywhere, but she keeps finding her way back.” Henny Youngman

“You know everybody is ignorant, only on different subjects.” Will Rogers

~~~^^^~~~^^^~~~

More Bumper Stickers!

Buckle up… it makes it harder for the aliens to suck you out of your car.

There are 2 types of pedestrians, the quick and the dead.

All men are idiots, and I married their king.

Very funny Scotty; now beam down my clothes

We’re not old people we’re recycled teenagers!

IF THIS STICKER IS GETTING SMALLER, THE LIGHT IS PROBABLY GREEN

I love to give homemade gifts, which one of my kids do you want?

~~~^^^~~~^^^~~~

Well, the claims made by Barack Obama’s pastor former pastor, I guess, are getting more and more bizarre. He now says the high price of gas is due to Dick Cheney and all his friends — O.K., he’s right on that one. Jay Leno

David Blaine, that street magician guy, was on the “Oprah” show, where he held his breath while he was underwater for 17 minutes. Underwater for 17 minutes without breathing — or as Dick Cheney calls it, “interrogation.” David Letterman

As Americans were asked in the latest CNN poll to name worst president in their history, Harry Truman came in with an impressive 65 percent, then followed Richard Nixon with 68 percent but the all-time record with a whopping 71 percent was Dick Cheney. – Eugene Cappuccio 

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)

Like this:

Like Loading...

Bumps, Con’t

11 Friday Apr 2008

Posted by Sherry in science

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

cross stitch, dessert, fruit, fundamentalism, geology, GOP, knitting, Mike Huckabee, neo-conservatives, Women's history

Have you heard of Madame Restell? I sure had not. Scandalous Women has nailed another one in her ongoing histories of women we mostly have never heard about. This one was reputed to be the wickedest woman in New York. Quite an accomplishment. Read all about her and find out what made her so controversial.

~~**~~**~~**~~

Wow, it’s all I can say. Scientists at the Pole have found a “window” to the center of the earth, and boy are they discovering new things. Rocks found on the Arctic Ocean floor are the key. It offers an opportunity to study the mantle which makes up 70% of the Earth, better than ever before. It all means somehow that our geologic history is much more complicated than was thought. In a different vein, but still dealing with geology, the Grand Canyon may be older than we thought, and those darlings of museums, the dinosaurs may have taken their fair share of peeks over the edge.

~~**~~**~~**~~

I don’t know about you, but Mikey Huckabee scared the bejeesus out of me. Such a nice acting man, and such a thoroughly idiotic mind set. I feared this was only the beginning. And true to that fear, Huck is starting his own right wing political organization. He will be making a serious try for the presidency again in 4 years, you may be sure. Be sure you know exactly what is going on. Read Talk2Action to get the scoop on the nefarious doings of the wacko right.

~~**~~**~~**~~

This is one of those oldie recipes and I thought it was purely delightful. I love apple desserts and don’t eat many since fruits are a problem for me. I am supposed to stick to mostly the low sugar types. I find that I can eat a little of the sweeter ones, and this one is definitely on my radar. Aunt Rachel’s Apple Pudding is novel, and appealing. It may be more of a fall or winter dessert, but I doubt that will stop me from trying it. Hope you like it too.

~~**~~**~~**~~

If you would like to see some truly beautiful cross stitch, follow the link to Threads of Desire and see her work. I can’t imagine working cross stitch on such a small count linen. Wow, its gorgeous. I’m very envious and wish someone could teach me that one. I’ve bought linen like this and despaired after looking at it of ever figuring out how to count the threads correctly.

~~**~~**~~**~~

I’ve been impressed by just how many crafters make a lot of their beauties for charity. Here is a way you can help too, if you knit. There are links to Save the Children. I’m not sure if there are any patterns but if you hit the link on my sidebar under crafts and Knitting patterns central, you will find dozens of patterns all for free.

~~**~~**~~**~~

I’ve been tooting around for months now here and on forums that Republicans have done an excellent job at convincing the right wing evangelicals that a vote for a Republican is a vote for all those “family values” they think they have a corner on. The hypocrisy is of course outstanding here. Have you heard about the North Mariana Islands, a US territory? The main industry is textiles and they get to avoid tariffs and can label their stuff “made in the USA.” So what has this to do with family values you ask? Women make up the bulk of the workers and they are treated as essentially slaves. What goes on there is unbelievable, forced abortions, sex trafficking, if it’s sordid it’s happening there. Jack Abramoff was their voice in Congress, and Tom Delay and friends made sure that no legislation got through Congress to impose our federal standards for wages and safety on the textile companies. This is a pattern of conduct. It’s talking the Christian game and playing an ugly, immoral alternative. It’s simply money over morality once again and the Republicans continue the big lie to the Religious Right. Vox Nova gives us all the vile facts.

~~**~~**~~**~~

“Nothing is really work unless you would rather be doing something else.” James M. Berrie

“In every work of genius we recognize our own rejected thoughts; they come back to us with a certain alienated majesty.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

~~**~~**~~**~~

Of course, a lot of controversy right now about China. During a speech, President Bush urged Chinese leaders to talk to the Dalai Lama and called him a really fine man. Cool. Yeah. Bush said: “I used to be reluctant to meet with him. Then I found out he was not a real llama.” Conan O’Brien

The pope will visit New York City next week. His Holiness would certainly fit in at a Knicks game. The fans have been known to say “Jesus Christ” a lot too.

Katie Couric may exit CBS News. A handful of people know the exact date. She only told her audience. – Alan Ray, Stockton, Calif.

In fact, when we go to the airport do you know what F.A.A. stands for? Find another airline. Jay Leno

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)

Like this:

Like Loading...

Who We Are

Thinking non-stop since April 15, 1950. We search for meaning amid the chaos.

Giggles

Laugh as Long as You Can

Subscribe

Subscribe in a reader

Donations Joyfully Accepted

Calendar

June 2023
M T W T F S S
 1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
2627282930  
« Nov    

Follow Me!

Follow afeatheradrift on Twitter

Facebook

Sherry Peyton
Sherry Peyton
Create Your Badge

Words of Wisdom

The work goes on, the cause endures, the hope still lives and the dream shall never die. ~~Sen. Edward M. Kennedy~~

Recent Posts

  • We moved to Blogger
  • Moving to Blogger
  • Christianist Doublespeak
  • Next Week I’m Gonna Start Biting People
  • Time to Report for Retirement
  • The Best Little Whorehouse in Boulder? Or How I Loved to Learn Republicanese Gangsta Style
  • The Power of the Post
  • The Exceptionalism of the United States of America
  • Can We Stop With the Illegals Shit?
  • I Laughed, I Cried, I Spat Epithets, I Chewed the Rug
  • *Temporarily Asphyxiated With Stupid
  • Are You Having Trouble Hearing? Or is That Gum in Your Ear?
  • Collecting Dust Bunnies Among the Stars
  • Millennial Falcon Returning From Hyperbole
  • Opening a Box of Spiders

A Second Blog

  • Extraordinary Words
  • What's on the Stove?

History Sources

  • Encyclopedia Romana

The Subjects of My Interest

Drop the I Word

We Support OWS

Archives

The Hobo Jesus

Jesushobo With much thanks to Tim
Site Meter

Integrity

Twitter Updates

Tweets by afeatheradrift

World Visitors

Blog at WordPress.com.

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
  • Follow Following
    • Existential Ennui
    • Join 2,453 other followers
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • Existential Ennui
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
 

Loading Comments...
 

    %d bloggers like this: