Spiders are busy spinning webs in the grass, in the bushes, wherever there is prey to be caught… made of silken strands only a few millionths of an inch thick but stronger than steel. Structures that are pure beauty when jeweled with morning dewdrops. ~Hal Borland, Seasons, 1973 Before I began spending so much time with […]
The greatest spinners of all time Read More »
Growing old is mandatory. Growing up is optional. ~Chili Davis Recently I requested responses to a poll that asked, “If you didn’t know how old you are how old would you be?” I got some interesting responses. The answers, incidentally, were more for the participants than for me. You know, just to get you [some
How old are you, anyway? Read More »
“Well,” said Pooh, “what I like best,” and then he had to stop and think. Because although Eating Honey was a very good thing to do, there was a moment just before you began to eat it which was better than when you were, but he didn’t know what it was called.” ~ A. A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh
Anticipation and its impact when realization hits Read More »
This house has enough nooks and crannies for an English muffin. ~Kathy Bryson Yes, I’m well aware I write about food quite often. There’s the one on coffee and the one on grits, and on ice cream. I could go on, but this blog is all about thought, and I do think about food with
A rose by any other name: English muffins? Really? Read More »
We are like books. Most people only see our cover, the minority read only the introduction, many people believe the critics. Few will know our content. ~Emile Zola Why is a glass of tea the focus of the featured image, but the quote has to do with books? Good question. Technically, this post is not
Does your tea look perfect? Does it matter? Read More »
Attitude is a choice. Happiness is a choice. Optimism is a choice. Kindness is a choice. Giving is a choice. Respect is a choice. Whatever choice you make makes you. Choose wisely. ~ Roy T. Bennett, The Light in the Heart In case you’re wondering about the image, one of my favorite ways to relax is blowing
Look inside your head for the key to happiness Read More »
On this Independence Day, let us be grateful that we have such words and such examples to follow… that others were willing to sacrifice so much to create a land in which liberty and law can be protected. Let us not destroy our history. Let us learn from it by preserving and celebrating what was
JULY 4. 247 YEARS OF LIGHTING UP THE NIGHT SKY Read More »
Never ask a woman who is eating ice cream straight from the carton how she’s doing.~ Nitya Prakash The topic of ice cream has come up a number of times in the past week. Of course, two of my grands were in town, and that might account for conversational bents. Before you start thinking this
Sweet and creamy – have it your way Read More »
To eat is a necessity, but to eat intelligently is an art. ~ François de la Rochefoucauld Sometimes I understand why hermits built shanties deep in the woods and disassociated themselves completely from information that might be disturbing. A few weeks ago I either heard or read that the order of food consumption can make a
What food group is up first? Savory or sweet? Read More »
The quote today is the Free Dictionary’s definition of the phrase “one’s way out of a wet paper bag”: A phrase used to emphasize that one is particularly dimwitted, unintelligent, incompetent, or unable to do something basic, simple, or straightforward. It’s me. I can’t find my way out of anywhere I have to say I take exception to the above definition since I get lost quite easily. Perhaps I could, in fact, find my way
Getting out of a wet paper bag Read More »
Cotton candy is the most amazing form of caramelization ever invented by man. ~ Jose Andres I don’t remember the first time I tasted the sweet, delicate flavor that defines cotton candy. I don’t even know what made me start thinking about it last week, but I’m glad I did. Learning new things about old
Cotton candy – how sweet it is! Read More »
Yawning feels good, it aerates the mind. ~ Alain Bremond-Torrent So it does. For some reason we find it hard to resist the urge to yawn once it begins in the back of our palates. The involuntary process forces our mouths open wider than if we were trying to wedge a Burger King Quad Stacker
Why do we yawn? A look at causes & cures Read More »
Doo never actually made moonshine, but he hauled about an ocean of it. ~Loretta Lynn The South has long been given more credit than is due for an industry that achieved great notoriety in the 1920s. That would be manufacturing a beverage for pleasure and profit—making moonshine. This type of distilling operation actually began in
A Taste of the Moonshine Story Read More »
English is not logical, it’s expressive. ~ A.D. Aliwat, In Limbo Speakers fortunate enough to live in their native country are often unaware of the idiosyncrasies of their own language. Of course you use the rules correctly, because they are deeply ingrained by hearing English from birth. By the time you become rebellious, it doesn’t occur
English: What you don’t know you know Read More »
Children need the freedom and time to play. Play is not a luxury. Play is a necessity. ~ Kay Redfield Jamison I had a wonderful childhood. I’m sure there was some not-so-good stuff in there, but my brain prefers to retain the positive. One of the pleasant aspects of my early life was the time
Thoughts about an unplugged childhood Read More »
What lasts forever? It’s not our worries that last. After all, one worry will be displaced by another worry and another and another. There is no end to them. That devilish cycle. But being silent in God’s presence. That’s the chance of a lifetime. And lasts your whole life long. As you do it, again and
Mary and Martha & the rest of the story Read More »
Listen with curiosity. Speak with honesty. Act with integrity. The greatest problem with communication is we don’t listen to understand. We listen to reply. When we listen with curiosity, we don’t listen with the intent to reply. We listen for what’s behind the words. ~ Roy T. Bennett, The Light in the Heart Peacocks are one
Acting with Integrity, Encouraging the Quality Read More »
It’s weird how the mind remembers the silly details. I still can’t remember the colour of my wife’s eyes, but I can remember that we were arguing about mayonnaise. ~ Matthew Munson, Shoal: A Thanet Writers Anthology Survey results Clearly, I am some sort of masochist. I know this, since I once again sought to confirm my
Forget brand squabbles – Mayonnaise or Miracle Whip? Read More »
Logic, Like whiskey, loses its beneficial effect when taken in too large quantities. ~ Lord Dunsany A Dram of Whiskey history As I’m sure you’ve heard, necessity is the mother of invention, and 1,000 years ago Scotland and Ireland needed a little help on the brewing side. In case you’ve never been to either of
Whiskey history (in brief) & a shot of specifics Read More »
I’m always sketchy of people who don’t like grits. ~ Jaycee Ford Well, not always sketchy, but I did think that quote was funny. Also, in the interest of fairness, I did include a quote with an alternate opinion; you’ll find it below. Way down below the “fold.” Seriously, though, the love of, or aversion to,
Too gritty to be good? Read More »
The less you talk, the more you’re listened to. ~ Abigail Van Buren I began my first non-babysitting job when I was 16, and that was a number of years ago. I’m sharing the timeline so you will grasp the great number of managers I’ve dealt with during my workforce experience. Yes, some of these
The more you say, the less I hear Read More »
I don’t know where my ideas come from. I will admit, however, that one key ingredient is caffeine. I get a couple cups of coffee into me and weird things just start to happen. ~ Gary Larson Sadly, coffee doesn’t transform me into the creative genius that is Gary Larson, but I do find comfort
Good to the last drop, but how did we get the first one? Read More »
The game of Chess is not merely an idle amusement. Several very valuable qualities of the mind, useful in the course of human life, are to be acquired or strengthened by it, so as to become habits, ready on all occasions. ~Benjamin Franklin I won’t lie. Up until a few months ago I hardly thought
Chess: pastime or innovative learning tool? Read More »
Things that are too perfect for us don’t attract us. They are like a slippery floor having no friction at all. We desire some friction… some flaws… something to work upon.~ Shunya Some of us avoid people and things that are too perfect. As a society, we only seem to actively pursue stellar when there’s
Too perfect to be tolerated? Read More »