The Garden

Here is our completed landscaping project. Our thanks to Jathan of Glennscape for hauling large trees, dealing with rain and constant changes from us.

Fairy Doors --

This is coming to my house soon! I can't wait. I have a perfect place in the new flower bed for it and it is going to be very cute!



It is from www.miniature-gardens.com. I have been doing some looking at fairy gardens on the internet and, while I don't think I am up for creating an entire village, I have always wanted a door (introduced to me by my Aunt Velma). So, this one has been ordered and will be here eventually -- hopefully in time for fall because we don't want the pixies to get cold!

Was it Me or my Grandmother?

I am aging. I know this from the obvious signs -- greying hair, wrinkles, an approaching milestone birthday, suddenly sort of liking the color purple which I always, ALWAYS assigned to "old ladies". I did not, however, think I had an old attitude. If I don't look in the mirror, I feel 19. I still remember the words to the songs of my youth, I have a get up and go approach to life and I keep up with the here and now. So, I was shocked last evening when I saw what I saw and when I thought what I thought and suddenly my age closed in on me and I felt old.

AW and I were feasting on soup at one of our usual haunts and, being seated close to the door, we got a good look at all the patrons as they entered the eatery. As I was sipping my soup I glanced to the side and saw some black flats with rather wide grosgrain ribbon attached at the back and lacing around the wearers ankle to be tied in a large black bow. This wasn't a child's foot so I had to look up to see what was north of these outrageous bows. What I saw was a 40-something woman dressed in -- her slip! It was a pink number that was either faded or tie dyed -- not sure which. Under this little number she wore black undergarments and tied around her waist was a floral, floaty apron-like affair that tied in the back (with a large bow, I might add) and came to an assymetrical point to one side of the front. It only covered the front of this get-up, not covering her entire body so from the back she was dressed -- in her slip.

I was shocked. Of course, I had read about women wearing lingerie as outerwear, mostly in the evening and mostly black or white. I never thought I would see someone parading around at the usual dinner time in a family restaurant dressed in this manner. I was disgusted. This woman looked intelligent, carried a status bag and had a trendy hairstyle. I am certain she had something in her closet to wear that would have been more appropriate.

Then I thought about my reaction --- it was certainly not one of hippness, trendiness, or acceptance. It was an old woman's response -- I could see Grandmother Madge sitting there passing judgment on this woman and I realize then that my age was showing and I was equally appalled by THAT.

So, in the world of fashion I would have to say "to each his own" but I would be remiss if I didn't say it was the most laughable thing I had seen in a long time and an enlightening moment to myself -- fight the aging a little harder because it is creeping up faster that I realize.

Friday Fill0Ins #139

1. Iced tea is my favorite summertime beverage. It is my favorite wintertime beverage too -- hey, I am from the south!

2. My favorite John Huges movie is yet to be discovered.

3. Fabric is something I love to touch.

4. The full moon reminds me of autumn.

5. I am getting hungry right now.

6. When daylight fades the soft dusky glow illuminates the spidery branches of the trees in the wood beyond the cabin.

7. And as for this weekend, tonight I am looking forward to another movie, tomorrow my plans include house cleaning and Sunday I want to do my usual Sunday thing.

Netflix Update

Slow to blog, here, but we just viewed two Netflix offers in the last week. The first was "The Women" with Meg Ryan. It is a remake of the 1939 classic -- I would like to see the original again. It was good, typical Meg, but entertaining and I would recommend it.

The second movie was "Valkyrie". Definite recommend and it has nothing to do with Tom Cruise being in it. It was a great movie -- enough action to keep it going and not so much gore to make it disgusting -- a rarity these days, it seems. I have always liked "war" movies (The Longest Day -- thanks JLSHall!) and this one did not disappoint. I would recommend and I might add it to my personal DVD library.

Today is my father's birthday. If he were still with us he would be 86. My dad was sort of a renaissance man, or a rebel, a free thinker or maybe just plain stubborn but whatever adjective you use to describe him, boring would not be one of them.

My dad was born in San Antonio in 1923 but lived in several different parts of Texas during his life. He lived in Austin, Corpus Christi, Quemada, the hill country but his heart was always in San Antonio.

He started working at a very young age as a radio actor. At sixteen he decided to pursue a career in radio which he did until Uncle Sam decided differently. He served with the US Army Communication Corp in the Pacific Theater during World War II. Upon his return stateside he was fascinated by television and got into that as quickly as he could. He was an announcer, a weatherman, an anchorman, an artist. He built sets for such programs as "Shock" and "Captain Gus". He had the privilege of interviewing many celebrities such as Raymond Burr and John Glenn.

Being the creative sort, he was drawn to movies and took a stab at making a few himself. One of his movies has been released after many years on DVD and one stands as a tribute in the garden of Frank Thompson. Realizing that San Antonio was not the "new" Hollywood, Daddy returned to television only to leave again a few years later to enter the comic book world which was an enduring career that lasted until his death.

He was all these things, actor, movie maker, tv personality, politician, and artist but to me he was just "daddy". We were too much alike to always get along but I knew, and appreciated, that my homelife was a bit unusual. I grew up with my dad on tv or my dad splicing movies in the back room or, instead of reading me a story, we talked Egyptology. I wouldn't have had it any other way although I didn't realize that until much later in my life.

To my kids he started out as "Pop Pop" but quickly turned into "Banker" and not for the obviously assumed reason. He used to play superhero with my son -- my son being Aquaman and he would slosh into the "bank" and my father was "the Banker", hence the name Banker or Bank. Nope, no Grandpa, PaPa or PopPop for him -- Banker fit him to a tee. He nicknamed my daughter "Breezy Wheezy Motor Mouth" which stuck with her much longer than I am sure she cared for it to. He absolutely adored my kids and was always there with a typewriter to take apart or to help build a Micky Mouse replica for school. My kids were blessed in having an unconventional grandfather with a brilliant, artistic mind.

I choose to believe that he knows how great the kids grew up to be, how fantastic and wonderful Nathan and Kathryn are and how I am growing to resemble him more every day. And I choose to believe that he knows that we wish him a very happy birthday!

Nurse Jackie

I am not a very organized tv watcher. I rarely watch new things, I forget to watch things, I forget to DVR things so most of my viewing is either DVD's or random, hit and miss channel surfing. That is why I love Video on Demand -- when it works, of course.

Yesterday, as an option to pacing the floors watching the landscapers, I decided to channel surf and hit on "Nurse Jackie". Of course, I got in on the tail end but it held my interest for a little while so I went to my video on demand service and watched the first episode. I enjoyed it even though it is based on a drug-addicted, adulterous emergency room nurse that reminds me of Ellen. I never thought of Edie Falco as an Ellen-esque person -- maybe it is the haircut. I digress -- In any event, I am looking forward to watching the rest of the episodes as it is a pretty compelling program -- drug abuse and adultery aside

Okie Dokie -- 32 Questions It Is

I got this meme off JLSHall's blog. She is a much more serious reader than I so her answers are going to sound much more intellectual than mine but I am going to give it a go.

1. What author do you own the most books by? I probably have owned more V.C. Andrews books in the past but they have gone on to other owners now. So, presently I have more Barbara Taylor Bradford or Maeve Binchy.

2. What book(s) do you own the most copies of? The Holy Bible.

3. Did it bother you that both those questions ended in a preposition. Uh huh -- just not grammar feng shui.

4. What fictional character are you secretly in love with? Blackie from "A Woman of Substance" although it isn't much of a secret because Blackie equals Liam Neeson and I read the book after I saw the movie.

5. What books have you read the most times in your life (excluding picture books read to children i.e. "Good Moon" does not count. Well, if "The Bumper Book" doesn't count then I would have to say "We Have Always Lived in the Castle" by Shirley Jackson.

6. What was your favorite book when you were ten years old? I think probably "The Good Master" by Kate Seredy.

7. What was the worst book you have read in the past year? I haven't read any bad books because I make sure I like them before I start them.

8. What is the best book you have read in the last year? Again, they have all been good but, if I have to pick one, it would be "The Lace Reader".

9 If you could force everyone you tagged to read one book, what would it be? I don't force people to do anything but I would suggest "The Lace Reader", "The Memory Keepers Daughter" and "The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society".

10. Who deserves to win the next Nobel Prize for Literature? Don't have a clue.

11. What book would you most like to see made into a movie. Well, for the most part I think movies made from books are pretty deplorable. If it could be done right, I would say that "The Lace Reader" has the most potential for being a good movie but, with that said, I think it could be really, really messed up.

12. What book would you least like to see made into a movie? No doubt -- "The Shroud of the Thwacker".

13. Describe your weirdest dream involving a writer, book or literary character. Uh, I don't dream of those things but I have had a couple of odd dreams about "Animal Crossing".

14. What was the most lowbrow book you have read recently? None.

15. What is the most difficult book you have ever read? Well, if we eliminate the World Literature textbook in college, I would have to say "London". It is not really difficult, just long and involved.

16. What is the most obscure Shakespeare play you've ever seen? I don't think I have ever seen an obscure Shakesperian play. Most everything I have seen has been movies or televised stage plays but they have been the most well known plays.

17. Do you prefer the French or the Russians? I really don't like talking politics. If talking literature, I would have to say that I haven't read much of either.

18. Roth or Updike? Haven't read either.

19. David Sedaris or Dave Eggers. Who?

20. Shakespeare, Milton or Chaucer. Shakespeare.

21. Austen or Eliot? Since I don't know which Eliot you are talking about I would have to say Austen.

22. What is the biggest or most embarrassing gap in your reading? I am not embarrassed by my reading but I would have to say that I wish I had read more American classics. By that I mean authors like Hemingway -- not just McMurtry although I enjoy McMurtry a great deal.

23. What is your favorite novel? Too many to choose from.

24. Play? Again.

25. Poem? I like "There is a Polar Bear in my Frigidaire" by Shel Silverstein and I am not being disrespectful or trying to be flip -- I really like it and used to get such a kick out of it when reading it to my kids.

26. Essay? I haven't read an essay since college. See what I mean about lack of intellectual reading?

27. Short Story? I have many favorites.

28. Work of nonfiction. Aside from the Bible, I have read a book on the rosary and now I am reading one on the saints.

29. Who is your favorite writer? This is difficult to answer because I have many. Jan Karon comes to mind first, Barbara Taylor Bradford, Maeve Binchy, Shirley Jackson and Grace Metalious.

30. Who is the most overrated writer alive today? The Harry Potter chick.

31. Who is your desert island book? It would have to be something by Jan Karon.

32. And, what are you reading right now? Aside from the saint book, I am reading "The Shroud of the Thwacker" (banging head against wall).

The Landscape Saga Continues

It is Monday, plants were supposed to be in but -- it rained which put everything back a day or two. So, here are the patio pics. It looks nice and is beginning to feel like it has always been there. It is sunny and clear now so maybe, just maybe, tomorrows photos will be a little more interesting.

The Brinkley Landscape Adventure Continued

As the adventure continues I realize I am sort of missing the thick grass that was in the yard -- I don't think we have ever had a lawn that lush. But, now it is just a memory. But, I look forward to good stuff arriving for planting next week.
The tell-tale markings of the landscaper

The French drain

All dug out ready for rebar and concrete! I know, it looks odd but it will look much more logical when the flower bed is put it.

The Brinkley Landscape Adventure

We have always been DIYers. Always. ALWAYS. However, due to the heat, time constraints and loss of upper body strength AW and I have decided to have some "work" done on the back yard. We live in a garden home but our lawn area is bigger than in our old house -- not much of a "garden". When we moved here it was fine because the area beyond our fence was a vacant field with much over growth. Well, the powers that be came and cut down the over growth and erected a "sales office" for the eventually-to-be-built condo for those over 62. In the process, we lost the feeling of being in a cozy, wooded area and immediately felt like we were thrust into a commercial, industrial sort of area with the promise of the condo's dumpster being placed at our back fence. This did not bode well with AW. So, we decided to do some "work" -- plastic surgery so to speak.

This is a photo of our little yard before the massacre -- uh, work, commenced this morning. I will post more photos as it progresses. I guess it is a little late for second thoughts but....