shirley gives us
a peek of her hometown
my goodness, she has a way
with words~~
Beauty is my home
by Shirley
The river: It's cool water bubbling and gurgling over the rocks and fallen branches. Carrying leaves and twigs blown from nearby trees into the lake at the end of it's journey.
The ocean: It's majestic power so soothing as it crashes against the rocks. Each wave inches a little farther onto the sand. The sound is hypnotic. The smell is unique. The sight is unbelievable.
The forest: The sun playfully dancing through the branches. Foliage green and lush. Life everywhere yet unseen. Trees swaying gently in the breeze. The smell of wild flowers fill the air.
This is my home. Shelburne, Nova Scotia, Canada. Founded in 1783 by the United Empire Loyalists. Population approximately 2300. It's where I was born. I have walked through that forest. I have fished in that river. I have seen that ocean.
Where do you live? City? Town? By the ocean? In the mountains? On the prairies? In the desert? I want to know what you see when you fly home from the nest each day.
I want to dedicate this blog to my Dad, Orison A. Hartman. He walked in that forest with me, fished in that river with me and stood on the sand by that ocean with me.
259 comments:
1 – 200 of 259 Newer› Newest»Wow!! I came to read your wonderful comments from yesterday and what a surprise!!
Shirley, Beautiful post so early in the morning!!!! Thank you!
Good morning owls! Now I'll go read yesterday's posts.
Good morning !
Well, Bear, I just read your post from yesterday. What can I say? Maybe ditto. Don't want to have anything to do with either one of them. It was a very thought provoking and controversial post. Owls, you have all written your comments with so much respect. Kudos, you owls never fail to impress me!
Good morning want2sleep!
Good Morning! Congrats Grandma Moses on being first!
SHIRLEY: I live in the desert southwest..Arizona. We have the most beautiful sunsets and sunrises. Not too much changing of the seasons though. Our summers are really pretty awful..there was one year it got up to 121 degrees. At that point, most folks go into hibernation and you won't see neighbors outside in the daytime for weeks. The nights don't cool down either, it's not unusual for it to be 100 degrees at 10pm. I love and hate the summer monsoon. The lightning just explodes and crackles across the sky. It's something to see. But the dust storms, or "haboobs"..yep that's what their called, are scary as hell.
The Grand Canyon is gorgeous, as are the red rocks of Sedona. Funny though, I don't like cactus at all.
Sometimes I wonder why I live here. I don't really have an answer. I guess I'll go with the old line that if you can stand the four months of heat, the rest of the year is beautiful.
Plus we have IN and OUT!!
Morning WANT2..great to see you!
Good morning Grandma moses and want2sleep.
Breakfast
asst. muffins
asst. bagels
fresh fruit
eggs (any style)
toast
ceral (hot or cold)
milk (white, chocolate, soy)
juices
water
tea coffee
asst. cream cheese
jams, jellies, PB
marmalade
I look forward to reading where everyone lives.
Good morning Zona.
Sounds too hot for me, but I would love the sunrises and sunsets.
SHIRLEY: One thing you can always count on here...the sun will always rise and thank God in the summer, it will always set! ;)
Great blog!
Good morning Zona and Shirley!!
I didn't realize I have missed so many days reading.
Bon'Oregon, I just read and enjoyed your post and viewed the 60s video from Saturday. I was born in 1953 and grew up on the lower east side of Manhattan, 7th street between 1st and 2 ave., to be exact. Well in the 60's our Loews Theatre became the Fillmore East (on 2nd ave. between 6th and 7th st.) and The Electric Circus opened on 8th St. My parents were always talking about the beatniks moving in (lol). I don't know if these places were even known outside of NY. Bon'O, TY for the memories - bittersweet!
Good Morning
want
Hello, always good to see you!
zona
You have set a picture in my mind of a beautiful sunset, thks..
barbwa
Thanks!
shirley
I love your blog today, I can picture everything you have described, what I love the most is that you dedicated it to your dad. It seems he was very special to you, and I have no doubt that you were special to him..
I asked to write your thoughts of where you lived and you did, never ever quesioning me!
Thank You, Shirley...
And to Orison, Cheers!!
grandma moses
Respect is important, thanks for noticing!
Well its early, so I am allowed a typo
"questioning"
I hate typos, they drive me crazy!
I am off to start my day, Its Monday, so you never know what will be brewing!
I feel really bad for Aloha Airlines, 61yrs in business and they had to shut down. I am thinking of all those employees you have vested so much of their life to Aloha. And now nothing. No retirement, No pension..So many have lost jobs today!
Ok, time to get to work...
Everyone have a great day!
And as I leave...I hear Tiffany in the back round...
"I think I'm alone.....
Good morning night.owls.sb!
Shirley, I love where you live. I have been to Nova Scotia more than a few times. Just gorgeous there!!
Good Morning Early Owls, Grandma Moses (Congrats on lst), Want2 Sleep (You are up early), Zona (My Baby), Shirley (Glad it's yellow again,) and night.owls.sb.(the leader of us all). I hope everyone is fine today. I must feed my babies and I will be back to read your post Shirley.
Morning Glories!
Grandma Moses snuck in and got 1st! Wahoo! Congrats!
Shirley beautiful blog! I could see the river and ocean as you described them.
I live in Rainier WA a very small town SE of our state capital Olympia.
This area is known as the prairie in the Nisqually Valley. It is primarily a farming community but is changing very fast into a commuter community.
We have rolling hills and evergreen trees everywhere. A short drive and then there are rivers and lakes. I think we are very lucky as we see all kinds of wild life. From Eagles to Elk. Of course because we are a farming area cows and horses all over!
Almost anywhere you go you have a spectacular view of Mt. Rainier. On a sunny day this sight is breath taking!
I have lived in WA state my whole life, actually I am 5th generation. I feel very lucky to be here as I can drive to crashing beaches, Snowy Mountains, or desert like terrain in Easter WA. We even have a rain forest. When you enter you feel like time has stopped. If feels so primal.
What is crazy is that there is so much of my state that I have not explored!
Thank you Shirley for making me stop and appreciate where I live.
Good Morning Wants, Zona,and Carol!
Waving at anyone I missed!
Well, I was born and raised in the small town of Dixon, Illinois (now known as the boyhood home of Ronald Reagan)! It was exciting that he visited our town while he was president (even though I didn't think a lot of his "presidency"). We had secret service roaming the halls of the high school for weeks before he came!
Then when I got married (back in 1990) I moved to the "booming metropolis" (note sarcasm)of Sterling, Illinois. (It is "slightly" bigger than Dixon). Even after my divorce, I still reside here in Sterling (but work in the "twin city" of Rock Falls, Illinois....where iteach lives).
Hhhmmmm...there is beauty if you know where to look. I do love to live here as I enjoy the change of the seasons. However, sometimes it often feels like we only have 2 (summer and winter) instead of 4!
We have some beautiful parks in the area. I do love to take a drive toward the far northern part of Illinois (in and near Galena) where the scenery is breathtaking with hills and bluffs!
I like that I am only 2 hours from Chicago. I do hope to someday move a little closer (perhaps in one of the many suburbs). I enjoy the "culture" that the Chicago area has.
Great post Shirley! I am glad to see you in the nest more. You really should consider writing (and writing some more). I think you could have a career as a writer!!! I am SERIOUS!
Hi to all! (I am at work...so I need to get going)!
Thanks for the breakfast again Shirley...I didn't eat today!
LYNND: OK..I'm moving to Washington State.
HEY and HI to TINKA and CPGEM!!
JENNIFER: Or maybe I'll move to Illinois...hills and bluffs you say?
Good morning!
Tinka, I'm glad your mom is ok. I never got on line last night to send you a MS message.
Congrats Grandma M on being first!
Shirley, your post was beautiful. I am going to do a web search on your home. It sounds gorgeous!
I live in the San Francisco bay area, east of Oakland. I grew up here, although I was born in NY. We moved here when I was 8, my dad was in the Air Force and he settled us here when he got a civilian job as an airline pilot.
I grew up in a small (well small back then) town in Marin county (north of SF). I moved to the East Bay years ago when I got my first nursing job.
This is such a diverse area, it's truly a melting pot. There are areas around the bay that have predominant cultures.
Down by where Whab lives, there is an area called Little Saigon (there has been recent controversy about that, people don't like that name), there is Chinatown, Little Italy, Japantown, etc. In Fremont there is a large middle eastern population.
We are right on the delta, a branch of the SF bay. It turns from fresh water to salt, as it is fed from the Sacramento river.
We are near wine country, gold country, the redwoods, dairies, you name it. There is always somewhere to go and something to see and do.
We are near the city, yet I can drive a few miles, and be out in orchards, where in the summer you can pick your own fruit.
The best corn I've ever had is grown right here, Brentwood sweet corn.
Shirley, I wish I had your way with words. I can picture exactly what you are saying. I don't quite have the gift as you do.
Thank you for such a wonderful topic! I'm looking forward to reading where everyone lives.
Have a wonderful day!
I should have added that WA state is known for it's apples and wines and many produce crops! Most of these are grown in Eastern WA.
Zona: LOL I was just thinking I can't tell Mr. Lynn D how you described AZ as he has been trying to get me to move down that direction for years! He went to college there and has always wanted to move back. 121 degrees!!!! I don't think so! LMAO
Hi Tinka and Jennifer!
EBJ: The Bay area sounds wonderful...orchards, redwoods...
I am back. I see Lynn, Jennifer and East Bay J. Good Morning. I will read the post and see what is for breakfast.
LYNND: That was only the one year. Most summers it doesn't go over 118! ;)
Thank you Carol for asking me to write this blog. It took a couple weeks but here it is.
Good morning Lynn D,Tinkatia,Jennifer abd EBJ.
Lynn D your state sounds beautiful. You got what I was trying to say. So often we go about our daily lives and never notice the beauty around us. Just for today, please take a minute and go outside and really look at your surrounding. Take in the beauty of where you live. Enjoy it.
It sounds like everyone lives in a beautiful part of the world.
Wow, Shirley you have described both my homes so beautifully. I was born in Nova Scotia and for the first 5 years of my life played on that landscape. Now I am on the opposite coast and the scenery is similar. The only difference is the fact that when we look across the water we see the most beautiful snow capped Olympic mountains, including Mt. Baker. On a sunny day the view takes your breath away. Your hometown sounds wonderful.
I am ready for breakfast. I will have my usual today. Orange juice, shredded wheat, (Heated) and tea. Thank you for making it. You are a dear.
Shirley I love your blog!
I think it would be so cool, if more people wrote about their hometown.
Shirley thanks for helping my day turn yellow.
Jennifer, I marched in that parade when President Regan came back for his birthday.
I was so nervous. The secret service looked up my clairnet to make sure I didn't have a gun in their.
Wow, Iteach. My helping you has helped me. Thanks. I am glad your day is looking better for you.
SHIRLEY: Ok...let's see what I can find.
Crystal blue, cloudless skies.
Sunsets of deep gold and orange. Sunrises of purple, orange and pink.
The wonderful aroma of orange blossoms.
Gorgeous wildflowers covering the desert floor.
Skies so clear it seems you can see forever.
Just a couple hours away to the north, snow and pine trees. Indian ruins built into the mountains. Crystal clear streams.
Yep. Guess it isn't really so bad after all.
ZonaBaby - I think your hometown is the most wonderful place to visit. We spent 5 days traveling from North to South in AZ. It is about 400 miles isn't it? We saw the most fascinating things I had never seen before. The vegetation and the red mountains, I love the Grand Canyon. Your description is that of heaven. However I don't think I could live with that much heat. You should spend summers with me and I will spend January and February with you. I wonder if Mr. Z would mind that.
Lynn- I love your description of Rainier. I have been there many times and loved it.
Jennifer - I have never been to Illinois. I would love to someday. When I was traveling with my friend I was trying to visit every state.
You must eat breakfast my dear. It is the most important meal of the day.
East Bay J - Thank you for asking about my mom. Time will tell whether she has caught a cold from being chilled for so long. Sparks are going to fly in that lodge today. It had better never happen again.
I love the area where you live too.
Good Morning Iteach - How did it feel to get back to school?
Good Morning..
Shirley, thank you for your blog today..
As most of you know - I would much rather live in Colorado instead of where I am now - I miss looking at Pikes Peak every morning and the wonderful changes of seasons.. I miss the snow and the crisp cold air in my lungs!!!
Now - I live in a small town that was "townshiped" in 1996 - just South of Tucson, AZ - 50 miles from the Mexican border. The dessert is mostly rocks and cactus!! We are fortunate enough to have a nice lake in our community - so it makes the sky seem blue and the grass green.. We do have the most spectatular sunrises and sunsets that I have ever seen. The summer temps do get extremely hot.
and that is about all I can think of right now.....
I hope everyone has an excellent day!! :-)
SHIRLEY - Thanks for a beautiful blog!! I can picture it perfectly. And what a great tribute to your father - I'm raising my coffee cup to him!!
GRANDMA MOSES - Congrats on first!!!
Good to see Want here this morning!!
ITEACH - LOL @ the secret service looking up your clarinet!! I just about choked on that one. Like a gun would fit in there.....;)
I LOL at the clarinet too! Then realized you could put poisoned dart in there! LMAO Iteach Clarinet assasin! ROFLMAO!
Hi Hodi,MEK and EBJ!!!
ZONA - You truly have missed your calling. You are so totally a writer!!! Sounds so beautiful - although I could do without the extreme heat of your summers!!!
MEK - I read your blog this morning. So glad you were able to connect with your perfect stranger. Luv U!!!!
As most of you know I grew up right here in Oregon, Wisconsin. I have lived here since 1967. My parents moved here with me (1 1/2 yrs old), my brother Eric (6 months), and my mother was pregnant with my brother Dale. I love Wisconsin - especially the change of seasons. Although - the joke in Wisconsin is that there is only 2 seasons - Winter & road construction!!! I think my favorite time is fall - when the leaves all turn a beautiful array of colors......red, yellow, orange....all exploding across the sky!!! I think the most beautiful area is right in the city of Madison on the beltline - it's on the backside of the arboretum (Goldie if you are reading this - it's right after you pass American Tv heading west on the beltline). Nothing beats a crisp fall morning.....a big sweatshirt (Badgers, of course)......and a hike in the woods!!! Just about an hour north of here is an area called the Wisconsin Dells. Beautiful bluffs, rivers, and lakes. It's rather overcast here today, and raining, but I love that even tho the grass is still somewhat brown here, I have some beautiful pine trees on my property to look at!!! Oh, and the birds are singing this morning.....I hope everyone has a great day!!!
LYNN D - Luv the apples from your state!!! We seriously go thru about 30 apples here every week!!!
Morning Mek and Jodi.
Jodi thank you for raising your coffee cup up for my Dad.
I can't picture myself trying to teach Dad how to use a computer, but I am sure he would love to read what everyone writes here.
Jodi and Lynn D you guys crack me up!
I hope everyone is enjoying their breakfast. I may make something else for later. But it will be a surprise for now.
Zona and Mek I have to ask...with temps that extreme do you have humidity problems too? Humidity just sucks the life right out of me.
Jodi your little part of the world sound beautiful. And I love that you only have two seasons..."winter & road construction". Lol!!
Good grief.....we're actually having a thunderstorm right now. I'm going to get off the computer while it's storming. I'll check back in later. :P
MEK: I've been to Colorado Springs and it is so pretty. My uncle lived near Garden of the Gods. Just gorgeous. I can see why you miss it. I loved the Aspen trees when we visited Boulder.
JODI: Awww..thank you. I think I want to live where you live. LOL @ your two seasons. We seem to have never ending road construction too. The picture you paint of the changing colors of the trees, and the surrounding lakes and woods. Sounds beautiful.
SHIRLEY: When the monsoon rolls in during July, our temps go down a little..to about 108 but the humidity rises. The dew points get into the 60's. It feels like you are moving in slow motion. There isn't even a cool breeze in the summer. You know how it feels when you open the oven and the heat rushes out? That's what you feel when you step out into a 'breeze' in July.
Shirley - yes, it is NOT a dry heat as you may have heard -
Zona - I loved how you answered Lynn D - it is usually 118 - instead of 121!!! and funny enough, I get it - those few degrees mean the world, don't they!!!!???
And 100 degrees at ten pm, is the norm during the summer!!
Jodi - I love you too and thank you!!
Right this moment here it is beautiful! We have blue blue sky and whispy white clouds and the sun is out in all it's glory today! In WA we soak up these moments because Hodi the joke here is we have have two seasons in Western WA Rainy and road construction! LOL
Shirley glad I made you laugh this morning!
I love reading about where everyone lives. I have been to Wisconsin it is beautiful but I was there a very short time for a family funeral years ago. Maybe I will write a blog about it.
What I was impressed with was the fact that you could buy beer anywhere there. Motels in the middle of now where had signs! Cracked me up!!
EBJ: I have been to San Fran and throughly enjoyed my trip. I was really amazed at how the weather was like WA state there. On the way home we stopped and went through the red wood forests. It was beautiful another place that feels like time had stopped.
I have never been to Nova Scotia or Illinois but I am going to add them to my must see list.
Ok I have to get something done! Be back later.
Zona - i just read your "open the oven" and YES, that is exactly what our "breeze" feels like!! I will let you tell everyone about our fine state - OH, and where I live is usually 5 degrees cooler than where Zona lives!!
Okay - I am out of here - got WAY too much to do and have been spending WAY too much time on the computer. The real world awaits me...
Hey Jodi!!! Just a quick glance at what you wrote! I have been to the Dells (a few times in fact). I have a cousin in Madison! Perhaps this summer we need to meet (and you too Goldie)!
I do love Wisconsin. It is a beautiful state (that's what I like about Northern Illinois (close to the Wisconsin Border) as it has the beautiful hills (vs. the flat corn-fields)!
We've been having storms here too! I think I am the only person smiling on this dark, cloudy day!
Hey...SOMEONE has to enjoy it, right?!
Tink! You are too funny! I really don't believe I will ever "starve" by not having breakfast! (I have to be up for a couple hours before I eat...and I just don't have time a lot of times). I do know it's important...but I'll settle for my coffee instead!
Thanks for caring though! ; )
MEK: And where you are, don't you actually get rain...and then flooding during the monsoon?? Sometimes you just can't win here. We get the wind and the lightning, and if you're tall enough--a raindrop might hit you before it evaporates on it's way to the ground!!! ;)
My class recieved some postcards today and they were so excited!!!!!!
Shirley...Great blog! I am enjoying reading about everyones home towns. Someday, I would like to get in an RV and travel everywhere...Small towns, big cities and everything in between.
I live just outside a fairly large city in Massachusetts. The city was (is) known as the city of homes because of the grand old Victorians sprinkled about. Unfortunately, many of them are in a not- so-nice part of town now and have fallen in disrepair. There is a wonderful historical society that is trying to reclaim them.
The wonderful thing about living here is the easy access to beautiful green rolling farmland and quaint New England towns to explore. It's really amazing how quickly the landscape changes. If you not in the mood for farmland, you can go about an hour and a half in the other direction and be at the beach.
We have all 4 seasons and, of course, the Fall is absolutely beautiful. There are many things to see and do in the surrounding area. Anyone who is a history buff would have a field day. We are also about an hour and a half from Boston, which is a terrific city to visit. There are fabulous buildings, both old and new and great museums. A popular activity in the summer is taking the Duck tours, which are tours of the city in amphibious vehicles along the Charles River. The eating, shopping and antiquing (although a bit pricey) are also worth the trip.
Well now...writing all this has actually cheered me up on a dreary, SNOWY day
Hi ITEACH! I remember being thrilled as a kid to receive mail!
SCIRISH: Massachusetts sounds great. I love Victorian houses and the history behind them. "Quaint New England towns..." sigh..
50 was for MEK!!
Zona...I love the Victorians too, it makes me so sad to see them crumbling. I always wanted one, but now I'm glad I have my little cape, can you imagine the amount of cleaning involved?
Shirley- very nice blog. You made me feel like I was there.
congrats on 1st GM and welcome to the blog
Jodi- BAAHAAAHAA- almost spit my coffee- thanks for the directions! Now, is west a right or left turn from my street?!
I live in Madison, with all our lakes, greenspace and the same 2 seasons are Jodi. She forgot to mention our state bird the mosquito.
I think I live in one of the prettiest cities in the midwest. i grew up in a town about an hour south of here,with a town square and beautiful old Courthouse as the centerpiece. AS place where everyone knew your name (and your business) :)
jennifer- would love to meet you too.
Zona- did they find you at the hospital yet?? LOL
MEK- :)
Hi Want- long time no see!
Hi everyone- its rainy and gloomy but kind of enjoyed the thunderstorm this morning. Spring has sprung finally, maybe?
SCIRISH: My mom always called them "Gingerbread Houses". The cleaning aspect always stopped her in her tracks too.
GOLDIE: Geez, did I forget to mention someone did finally come to get me? I just sat there and waited like a doof. ;)
Oh and in AZ we have lots and lots of wildlife. Rattlesnakes. Four inch long cockroaches, that fly. HUGE grasshoppers. Scorpions. Lovely creatures.
I wonder what the Chamber of Commerce would think of my descriptions?? LOL!
This is SO much fun, Shirley~~Without paying $4.00 a gallon or dragging luggage through crowded airports, we get to 'visit' each others' hometowns and view them through the eyes of native OWLS. What a precious gift you have given us today! After a couple errands (Darn it!), I'll be back. Can't wait to read more stories and contribute a bit. Thanks again for opening the window to each Owl's world!
Great TOTD Shirley!
Grandma Moses waving hello to you. I just hooked my headset back up and hope to find time for chatting with you very soon.
GardenerGirl ditto!
As for me I live by the beach and love it. I have the best of both worlds because Texas also is known for its ranch country, beautiful wild life and farm animals.We have flat lands and hill country and right now tons of colorful wild flowers. The weather is wonderful now so my winter blogging has switched over and I'm back outdoors.
Hi Goldie, Scirish, Bon'o and Dreama.
I really am enjoying reading all the wonderful places you guys live. I hope everyone comes here today and shares their world with us.
Dreama don't forget the dishes in the living room. Some of the owls like to eat while watching the morning news programs. Thanks. Lol!!
58
just because
Ok GOLDIE - West.....as in heading to West Towne Mall!!!! So sorry.....I forgot!!
60
left, left, left, right, left!!!
left, left, left, right, left!!!
left, left, left, right, left!!!
left, left, left, right, left!!!
Well let's see.... I awake every morning to the breezes passing thru the palm tree outside my door and the smell of Awapuhi (ginger) thru the door (which is rarely ever locked as the neighborhood I live in is so guarded by the Aunties and Uncles...lol.
I live in the back of a green, sometimes wet valley but the sounds of the birds, some exotic are amazing. From my lil perch atop the hillside I can see all the way down into Honolulu (see my myspace page) and enjoy the sunsets and the city lights when they appear.
And at any time I can jump on the motorcycle and within 20 or so minutes can be on a beach and be the only one there.
I love the peacefulness of Hawaii, the beauty, the culture. I feel at home here.
Hi to all the peeps already checked in and the ones to follow!
69
69
69
almost there!!!
69
TURTLE!!!! Where did you come from? But it looks like I got it anyway!!!
why did you have to step on me like that?
Gotta love a good march!!! So sorry I stepped on you TURTLE....next time GET THE HELL OUT OF THE WAY!!!
KGRL: Smell of ginger..exotic birds..green landscape..kay, I want to live in Hawaii.
JODI: Or Wisconsin...
Hawaii...
and Zona....it ain't hot~! Peeps think Hawaii is hot and it isn't. Infact with the trade winds it gets downright chilly....especially in the mountians where I live.
KGRL: You do know you're torturing me, don't you? ;)
Thanks for the blog today shirley! Beautiful!
Congrats on 1st today GM!
LOL at zona's QOTD!
I love where I live! LOVE IT!!!! There are not many places I would choose to live other than right here is SW Washington. I have visited many beautiful places, but there is just a comfort here, a knowing that you are home. I guess that just comes with being born and raised here. I have been some places and wonder to myself "Why on earth would someone choose to live here?" But you know, it's what they want. It's where they want to be. I am a true believer in "If you don't like where you are or what you are doing, then it's up to you to make the change." I know it's not all that easy to change everything, but little changes help a lot.
So just what is it that I love about SW Washington? Pretty much everything. The location is perfect. 1-1/2 hours from the Coast to the West. 1-1/2 hours from the Cascade Mountains to the East. 15 minutes from downtown Portland {depending on traffic :-)} 2-1/2 hours from Seattle. Lakes, rivers, forests, The Columbian River Gorge Scenic Area. It's just so beautiful here.
BARB/WA: We were offered transfers to New Hampshire (too cold), Denver (too high), Oregon...I don't know why we said no, I think it had something to do with the boss there, S Carolina (too humid). In the end, we decided to stay where we are. I think you're right, we must be comfortable here. Though not necessarily, comfortable..if that makes sense. ;)
TINA's in Utah..
MARY's in Michegan..
k-grl...palm trees and not hot??? sounds like heaven...is it humid?
ugh....typo....
Columbia River Gorge. Columbian is our newspaper!
I got foaded and that must be a sign...
JODI's in Wisconsin..
DIANNE'S in Denver..
KGRL's in Hawaii...
TINKA's in Canada..
VIG's in Vancouver..
CPGEM is in New Jersey...
BARB's in Washington..
SACBARB is in California..
WHABBEAR is in California..
GOLDIE is in Wisconsin...
BON'O is in Oregon..
..and I am marching alone..
trying to get to 100..
which looks likely..
makes sense zona. like i said, people have reasons for liking where they live. i love visiting arizona! but VISIT is the word! i could never live there full time. waaaaaay too hot for me. i need rain, and green. i think that may be why i love hawaii too. whenever we have been there it rained at some point during the day. just a cloud passing over and then it would be gone. but besides the ocean, i love the smells. the flowers there can not be described because you have to smell them. the just scent the air. when we take to drive up the Road to Hana, we roll the windows down so that we can smell the flowers. so fantastic. everyone needs to experience hawaii once in their lives.
except the phone is ringing...
99
100
100
100
LOL!!!! I was typing away and there was 98! But when I said 99, it was actually 100!!!!!!!
Yay!
That was for MEK!
OMGosh! I stole it from zona! I'm sorry honey!
off to do some work!
Later Taters!
OK, chalk up another Washingtonian! I wasn't raised here, but there is no place I would rather call home.
I grew up in Maryland and thought the Chesapeake Bay was all I would ever need. Then I traveled to Europe and decided to test drive a few other places. I lived in London (Highgate) and in Wales, plus lived for short stays in a few European countries but never felt like I totally fit in. I came back to the States and moved to Las Cruces, NM~San Diego, CA~ back to DC~ then down to Dallas TX where I lived with my husband Berry. The heat and large insects were not for me, so I begged him to transfer with work up to Seattle. And 10 years ago we did!
I am not at home here... I am in heaven. People always say how can you live in a place that rains all the time? Well, I try to look at the positive aspects of rain. The land is lush and green (did you know that the grass here is green year round? I was shocked my first winter.) And the air is cleaner than any other place I have lived.
You may have actually seen my town on TV. This is where they filmed the series Twin Peaks. It is also where the Greys Anatomy gang went fishing/camping last season on one of the episodes. Now if only I had known McDreamy was literally in my backyard... angels would have been singing.
Zona and MEK:
My sister lived AT the Grand Canyon (as she was an employee). First she was at maid at the El Tovar Hotel on the South Rim, and then she lived and worked down at Phantom Ranch at the bottom of the canyon. I did get the chance to visit her there. I seriously did "complain and nearly pass out" (as my shirt in my pic. says)! If you click on the actual picture and click it again it will enlarge so you can read my shirt!
Yeah...a bit too "sunny" for me! I would love to move to the Washington/Oregon area where it rains all the time!
I live in the Willamette Valley wine country of Oregon, just an hour over the Cascade Range to the Pacific Ocean and a couple hours to Oregon's high desert on the other side of the Cascades. In the Northwest, where "if you don't like the weather, just wait a few minutes", it's possible to surf or beachcomb, waterski the lakes and snow ski in the mountains--all on the same day. Our record high is 108, record low is -12, but normal winter lows are in the 30's, summer highs in the 80's. Although winters can be grey, it isn't at all unusual to go from late May to mid-September without even a sprinkle orf rain.
My heart still lives in and around Seattle. My current home is in Eugene (pop. approx 260,000), home of the University of Oregon, and known as "The Emerald City" or "TackTown, USA". I'm old enough to remember when Bill Bowerman introduced the world to jogging/running. Before Bowerman, adults NEVER ran, unless they were fleeing the police or a burning building. Then, he borrowed Mrs. Bowerman's waffle-iron to invent a better running shoe sole and the rest is history.....the birth of Nike!
(more next post)
Eugene has won many national and international "Most Livable City" awards, due largely to beautiful rivers and forests, diverse recreational activites, abundant agriculture, excellent medical facilities and a dedication to the arts usually only found in much larger cities. It is, however, best known for its liberal leanings, and as a haven for the hippie counter-culture. It is big on open-air Saturday Markets, craft and music fairs, and takes alternative transportation VERY seriously, with hundreds of miles of paved bike paths along the McKenzie and Willamette Rivers and throughout town.
If one is ever longing to return to the 60's, I'd encourage you to attend the Oregon Country Fair, held annually just outside Eugene (It is so worth Googling----check out the photo galleries). Talk about a time warp! It's a 3-day festival of music, dancing, facepainting, crafts (tending heavily to tie-dye and beads!). Clothing (if any!) is straight out of that bygone era, but ~~except for performers ~~not 'costumy'. For the thousands upon thousands who converge from everywhere, it's their every day wear. See the dreadlocks? Smell the patchouli yet?
Donna Jean...I hope you see this...I read your post from yesterday concerning Lauries benefits and just wondered if you had Medigap ins. available to you? I don't know if it would help with the charges you are facing due to the COL increase, but if you cannot resolve the issue any other way it might be an option???
Wishing you and Laurie the best
Oh! and a little update...I cannot access anyone who has added me on My Space lately..So please don't think I'm rude...kgrl, jennifer and shirley..I'm probably missing someone...but it's not my fault :)
Tink is your Mom ok?
scirish:
let's try this.... I am going to delete you from my page, then I will send you a friend request. Let's see if that corrects it.
tum dee dum, tweedle dee...I seem to be alone in the owl tree...well that was lame.............
hi k-grl!!! that sounds like a plan!
ok go see if it worked!
Scirish - I just checked in and saw your question. My brother in law just got back from down at my mom's lodge. She of course has no memory of being so scared and cold yesterday. That is the only good thing about short term memory loss. You have no bad memories. Harold said she wasn't too bad and they are starting an investigation into how the incident happened. I hope they watch her more carefully from now on. Her guardian angel is really being put to use.
Hi Owls, I am cooking dinner right now but I wanted to thank all of you for congrats on 1st!!
Tinka, Jodi, Barb in Washington, goldie, LYNND and anyone I missed ~ thank you!
Loved reading about where everyone lives!!!!
JENNIFER - I would love for you to come up for a visit this summer!!! That would be great. :P How was your first day back from break?
Hello Feathered Friends!
SHIRLEY...What an awesome blog! I can picture you and your dad sharing those special moments together. How sweet that you dedicated this to him. I am waving upwards to Orison and saying thanks for letting us know his daughter!
I live in a Southeast suburb of Cleveland, OH called Twinsburg. I like to call it rural suburbia! We still have a big old working dairy farm adjacent to $300,000+ homes...on a main street! We also have a town square that hosts concerts, and festivals. Our rec center shows ourdoor movies in the summer. We are most famous for International Twins Days, every August. Twins (and triplets, etc...) gather from all over the world. As you may have guessed, Twinsburg is named after a set of twins!
We are also about half way between Akron...once the rubber capital of the world! NO Tina and Hodi, not that kind of rubber...TIRES!
Cleveland is much more then the comedians make it out to be! There are theatres, clubs and museums...regardless of your level of culture, Cleveland has it. From the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Museum to Science to Art. We have a couple of areas that are heavily populated by artists...almost artists colonies. Music is a big part of our culture...from the Cleveland Orchestra to the rock and roll that originated here.
We do have beaches, too. We call ourselves the North Coast...as we sit on the banks of Lake Erie. We even have Islands!
We have 4 seasons...even though they often run into one another! It can easily snow in May! Or have a major heat wave in November. The worst part is the humidity! I hate it!
There is a fault line that runs under the lake, so we are treated to earthquakes every now and then. And the tornados! And as you know, the snow! But in the fall, when the leaves change it looks like god has painted a pallete of vibrant colors wherever you look. Quite stunning.
Cleveland has been my home since I wsa 8, when we moved here from Milwaukee. I did leave to live in Allentown, PA and Los Angeles for about a total of 10 years, but returned after the big earthquake of '94! And also because my mom was ill. I don't regret returning home...to my family that I didn't realize how much I missed until I came back. And the cost of living here is much more reasonable then Los Angeles!
I did it again! Another novel from me!
I haven't read gthe posts yet, did Ronnie get back? I know...read and see for myself!
GRANDMA MOSES - What's for dinner tonight? We're having left-overs......sloppy joes, green beans, and augratin potatoes. I have some chicken, but will save that for another night for chicken pot pie. I hope you have a great night!!!
TINKA - So glad your Mom is ok and that you have a guardian angel watching out for both of you.
I want to come visit ALL of your locales! How picturesque they all sound.
We need the owls nest RV and travel the country (and of course Canada, too!) and visit each others cities, towns and townships!! I know, we need a yacht to get to Turtle's!!
MO - I have a great Aunt that lives in Lima - we used to drive down there every 4th of July when we were kids. It was always an adventure - us three kids in the back of the station wagon!!!
125!!!!!
Stopping in while preparing an early dinner and watching Oprah. Was it today's that Joey said friend,Jeff, might be on.
Grandma Moses let me add my Congrats on 1st AND thank you for your comments about the Saturday 60's blog. Anyone who loves music remembers "Live at the Fillmore". You grew up close to a vast musical history! I've missed you here in the nest.
More stories.....I want more stories!!
Jodi, thank you for asking. We are having kielbasa smothered with onions and mashed potato and peas. Sloppy Joes sound delicious! Enjoy your dinner!
Shirley,
Ooops, I didn't wash the dishes. I thought they were Chinette paper plates so I put them all in the trash. My bad. :0) I should be green and wash dishes instead of using Chinette.I know..I know!
Grandma Moses
I keep trying to remember what Kielbasa is. I'm thinking a type of sausage.
Okay, I've got to get rolling. This is just one of my typical fly bys.
Dreama, yes it is a Polish sausage, but I am not polish. But I enjoy a lot of Polish food. I have a few very good friends who are Ukrainian, so I guess I picked it up from them.
grandma moses...what interesting stories you must have about growing up in NYC. I had an album titled "Fillmore East" I forget who it was by...but I know it was a 60's type band....
KGRL....IT WORKED!!! woot! you didn't answered my question tho...is it humid there? I am seriously doing research on a more even temperature type place with low humidity...I love New England...but it is no longer the best place for me to live
Grandma Moses.. kielbasa is a staple here as well....although we have to go for the low fat turkey kind..it's all good and I'm not polish either
Just flying in to say good night HOoters!!! I'll catch the late night crew when I get up for work.
Scirish: It is VERY humid in Illinois in the summer (actually it is very much so right now as we are having storms)! I hate humidity too (along with MO).
I actually think Hawaii is very humid...but will wait for K'girl to confirm!
Bon'o: I love wine (and Galena has a neat winery). Dry Reds are my favorite!
Grandma Moses: I have a friend that is Polish (who unfortunately moved back to Poland)! I would love it if you could share any Polish recipes with me...
Well, back to the books! : P
Jodi and Goldie: We will have to try to meet this summer!
I just went back to review all the great stories. Now I really want to take that 3-month luxury RV trip that's on my 'Bucket List'!
Skimmed through my own post (should have done that earlier). "TRACK TOWN", not TackTown, although there are a lot of horses in the 'burbs.
Scirish, NO humidity here! I can't bear humidity. We usually have a couple weeks in late August when we'll have several days near or over 100. I don't know how people survive in those temps for long periods or with humidity.
I have always felt like I must have lived a previous life in New England, as it feels like "home" to me. Maybe we should house-trade one summer---take a new coast for a test-drive. :o)
GRANDMA MOSES - My hubby loves kielbasa smothered in sauerkraut!!! I put the whole thing in the slow cooker with potatoes. A tasty meal.....but best to have with a side of beano. LOL!!
BTW: It was a good day at work (iteach will confirm that I was very happy since it was a nice cloudy day)! I think everyone was annoyed by my smile! (Now they know how "I" feel on a SUNNY day)! I know....I admit that I am strange!
Good night JENNHOFER!!! Happy studying to you. :P
nite JodiHO!
Scirish: It is only humid when the trade winds die... and that is not very often. And if you live at the back or the hill of a valley it is cooler as well. The average temp all year long is between 80-85, so It rarely get HOT here. It does get a lil humid in the winter season as that is our rainy season, but the humidity dies off by late morning.
And England. That was a trip I made a year ago December. I won it on a radio station promo. I actually use to live outside of London for a while in a little town called Wantage (near Oxford). I entereed the promo cause I never thought I would win it...lol.
I at one time had considered moving to England but then came to Hawaii on vacation and fell in love with the islands.
jennifer: I was born in Oak Park, and raised near Ohare airport so I am well aware of the Illinois humidity and we have nothing like that here.....THANK GOD!!!! lol
Jennifer~~Hi! Survived 'Back to School' Monday? We must have been doing our anti-humidity posts at the same time.
Has anyone heard Fish Stories from Ronnie yet?
Is JustLin still in the 'recovery room'?
ok I just ate the last of my jelly beans.....the only candy I crave besides jawbreakers....lol.
Good Evening gang!
Been running my long owl legs off today!
I have now added to my list. Hawaii and Massachusetts, Ohio, Texas, Oregon.... Gee It looks like an Owls Nests list to me! LOL
Glynis, BarbWa: We better stop bragging about WA (((shhhh))) We don't really want people to know how nice it is (said in a hoarse whisper) they might move here! It rains all the freakin time!!! You are wet and mildewy 11 months out of the year! At the end of the 11 months you look like a bathtub prune. ROFLMAO
Bon...I would certainly trade (I looked at your pics...very different coastal view than we have), but why don't you come visit...I can show you all the typical "New England" stuff...Even the cape (2hrs) or Nantucket...Martha's Vineyard...which takes a bit of planning in the tourist season
Sorry, Scirish...no time to reply....I'm busy packing! How long can I stay??
Please stay tuned for a wonderful graphic description of Rock Falls Illinois.............
hey y'all!
Needing alone time today!
Miss you all!
♥joey
Bon...as long as you like...I have extra bedrooms that are lonely
Joey...hope you are ok?
OH NO, K'girl - NOT the jelly beans!!! what are we going to do??
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Good evening Maureen and K-girl.
I have enjoyed reading all the different places that you live. The place with the four inch cockroaches would not be my vacation destination. Bugs and me are not a good combination.
I decided to bring everyone a treat tonight. Oh, and Dreama we will be using real plates,so please don't throw them out. Lol!!
I hope everyone likes cheese cake! We have:
cherry cheesecake
chocolate cheese cake
white chocolate cheesecake
raspberry swirl cheesecake
turtle cheesecake
carmel cheesecake
mocha cappuccino cheesecake
key lime cheesecake
pumpkin cheesecake
tea
coffee
soda
water
No turtles were harmed in the making of these cheesecakes.
Good evening to you too Joey. Sending you ((HUGS)). Stay and have some cheesecake.
LMFAO!!!!
SHIRLEY THAT WAS GREAT...
"No turtles we're hamred in the making of these cheesecakes"
My boss just asked me what was so funny....
Yumm! Shirley, it'll mean adding a few blocks to my evening walk, but before I go I'll have some mocha cappuccino, please.
I thought maybe Glynis would invite us all up for coffee and pie at the "Twin Peaks" cafe, but guess not. :o) Maybe she got sidetracked by the Log Lady. What a creepily wonderful show that was. I still have the original movie and the episodes on tape. Remember who killed Laura Palmer, anyone?
Thanks again for kicking off the hometown tour. I bet there are still more good stories to come.
Top Five Reasons Why you should come visit Rock Falls, Illinois
1. Wal-Mart was voted the best place for men's fashion, because that is the only place for men's fashion in my town.
2. You can take the burnt down factories tour.
3. Our idea of traffic is being stuck behind a tractor on Rte 40.
4. You will feel very safe, because we have two cops on duty at all times.
5. Restaurants serve all types of cuisines except seafood, Japanese, Thai, Greek, French, Indian, Lonestar, and Brazilian.
All kidding aside- I love my town!
Yes, we are a poor town.
Yes, we are culturly backwards.
But it is my hometown and I love it.
may I have some chocolate cheese cake pls? I think I shall have as a bedtime snack....I have new stupid a$$ pain meds...supposed to be twelve hour time release....I think all the time got released in the first hour...night night owls
Iteach sounds like you live in Mayberry. Lol!!
Here is your chocolate cheesecake Scirish. Make sure you don't get crumbs in your bed.
Good-night.
Thanks for making today fun.
Actually our town is a little bit bigger then Mayberry. However, at times we feel like it.
iteach:
mailed the postcards today! Let's see how long it takes to get to Mulberry!
G'night Scirish. Rest that back, and thanks so much for the invite! We should talk seriously about your New England tourguide service. Might have to take you up on that!
Turtle thank you so much!
My students will freak out. Today they got Bonnie's postcards and they were very excited.
The office calls my room when they come and the "helper of the day" goes and gets them. It is a fun moment in the classroom.
Night scirish- fell better!
iteach- lol, I love that you see the humor of the small town life.
Shirley- ROFLMAO at your No turtles were hurt.... Turtle sundaes, turtle chocolates, turtle cheesecake I love my turtles. ~waving at turtle~
Iteach can we still send them? Is it just postcards from our town or could they be from other parts of Nova Scotia?
Iteach: LOL at your town description! You are so lucky you have two policemen! Rainier has none! LMAO Oh we do have tractor traffic tho!
Hi Bono and Kgirl and MEK!
Shirley enjoyed the blog today! I am going to take a small piece of each kind of cheesecake! Oink Oink!
Scirish: Have a good nite's sleep!
Joey hope you are ok!
K'girl: What made you move? I love the Chicago area! I think I was from England in a previous life (even though I am "Catholic" I can't help but wonder about past lives...it would sure explain a lot)! I would love to live in England too! (I'm so envious of your travels)!
I guess I could handle Hawaii if it wasn't as humid as it is here! The summers have been reaching the upper 90's (some days the triple digits)WITH the humidity! YUCK! You can't even breathe! (I'm sure you remember)!
Hawaii does sound wonderful (no wonder it's called "paradise")! I was a huge fan of Magnum P.I. in the 80's!
Joey: Hope you are OK! HUGS to you!
Shirley, I'll take a piece of my favorite cherry cheese cake please! Do you know how to make Tiramissu?!
Well, I am off to bed soon! It has been a long day....
Night all!
ITEACH~~Just googled your town...tell us about the river, the little red schoolhouse....glad the postcards got there ok :o)
Shirley, it can be anywhere.
My students love getting mail. I never knew that this would be so exciting for them.
iteach: LOL@ the description of Rock Falls! You forgot to mention that your high school is directly across from the SEWER TREATMENT plant! (I have to drive by it every day on my way to work. Let's just say, in the summer...it's not a very good smell)!
"Sterling" is the "fancier" of the two twin cities (Rock Falls being the REALLY poor one)! We have the "mall" in Sterling! LOL!! (How many stores in it iteach? Ten at the most?)!
LOL@ the burnt factory tour! (How TRUE)!!! LOL!!!
We should send them photos!
OK....I HAVE to go to bed now!
NIGHT!!!
Wow it is storming! Better get off the computer. Damn,just got back on.
Have a good night everyone!
Our park district has a preschool and it is in a "Little RedSchool House". It is really pretty and a nice feature to our town.
Our river has just become a home for the Bald Eagles. We are very proud of watching them fly through the sky very beautiful.
Our river is also know for large catfish. However, I think the river really really smells. It sure does look pretty from a distance.
Lynn D you made me smile. My Dad would always say he would have a little piece of each kind of pie or cake we had. He could never choose.
Good evening,
Wow! I had a long post to publish and got thrown out of the Nest.
Let's see if this works.
Jennifer I don't even know how to pronounce it. Lol!!
Hi hooters!
Iteach, I must have missed the blog about sending postcards. Can you give me details, or send on Myspace?
Shirley, the cheesecakes sound delicious. I can't decide which one I want, so will have to try a bite of each.
I've enjoyed reading all the posts today!
Joey, hope all is ok xoxo
LOL Shirley! It's an Italian dessert (my FAVORITE)! It's espresso soaked lady fingers with rum & cream....YUM!!! Here, I'll try to spell it out the way it sounds: teer-a-miss-oo (I may have spelled it wrong, but the spell checker thing didn't have anything even close...so I'm not sure)!
Goldie: I'm hearing rumbles here too! YIKES! (I'm not surprised as it is so WARM right now and HUMID)! My hair is frizzing on my due to the humidity!
OK...REALLY....I am OFF to BED!!!
NIGHT (Again)!
Shirley: I would have loved your Dad! I confess I love dessert and always take some of everything! I can here Tina and Hodi now.... Lynn D is a dessert Ho! LOL
Hey Tina: I think you will enjoy this. My friend was doing her laundry, and yes she put the clothes in, but she kept hearing a clunka clunka clunka ran to see what was making all the racket. She had thrown in the handset from her phone! LMAO She dried it out and amazingly it still works! She only gets and occasional zap! ROFLMA Her husband has been following her around singing Crazy!
Good evening again,
I have a lot of catching-up to do.
Shirley, what a beautiful post you made this morning. I can just see you standing beside your Daddy in all those lovely places you call home. What a beautiful tribute to your father.
I loved hearing about the wonderful places all of you live and I have been to many of your areas. We really do live in a beautiful and diverse country. As everyone knows, I'm from a large city and have "done" Houston for many years. Actually, I love the peace and quiet of smaller towns, though.
I'm going to take this in shorter posting's. When did you EVER hear me say that???
Ronnie
grandma moses
I forgot this morning!
Congrats on first!
Shirley
Thanks again for you blog today!
So fun reading everyones stories of their hometown
east bay j
Click on the blog link, on the main page of the blog titled
"For the Children" its iteach's blog and she included all the information!
joey
We are here...
Sending you lots of smiles...
:O)
ronniegirl
Hello, and welcome back!
Thank you Carol.
Would you help me catch-up? Have you heard from Lovey?
It keeps saving 'my comment has been saved' Is that a nice way of saying...FOAD?
Thanks, everybody, for your provocative comments yesterday!
Mary/MI and MEK: I won't promise to give up an occasional political or religious comment, or the even more occasional political (or religious) blog, entirely. But I really regret the fact that you found the nest aversive yesterday. I like the positive and peaceful aspects of it, too, believe me. So, I promise... politics and religion? Sometimes, but not all that frequently!
Shirley: That was a great description! How far is your town from Big Island? I have relatives with a cottage there.
My favorite part of where I live is a river bank.
Actually, I'm talking about a Mountain View park, called Steven's Creek trail, that tracks an urban stream right past my condo complex, and on down to the marshlands that ring the south end of San Francisco Bay.
My usual running routine is to start out at my place and head down the trail to the same location on the trail, right on the edge of the estuary (and right beside NASA Ames, where I work). I duitifully turn around there and run back, taking about 45 minutes for the round trip (NOT a fast runner, LOL!).
By a neat coincidence, Steven's Creek runs almost directly north-south along my entire route, after taking a dramatic 90 degree change in direction in the foothills of the Santa Cruz mountains.
This means the trail can be used for various visualization tricks. When I'm "outbound" (running north), the trail acts as a pointer to the location of the north star, even in broad daylight.
But it's the return journey, facing due south, that is most useful. I am learning to visualize where the stars making up the signs of the zodiac (and hence, the sun signs themselves) are currently positioned. I'm particularly focused on figuring out the sign (constellation) that's currently positioned along an imaginary line that joins the southern with the northern horizon along the north/south meridian, thus bisecting the sky in half.
That, in turn, helps visualize the signs that extent down from that center sign to the left horizon where the sun rises, and to the right horizon where the sun sets.
That kind of chance alliance in orientation between the creek and the north/south direction could happen with any stream, anywhere. Still, it's a really neat little local feature of where I live, and one that I appreciate greatly!
Thank you Carol for asking me to write todays blog. It's been a fun day. I needed it.
Welcome home Ronnie! Have some cheesecake.
VIG~~Eager to hear if you got to see Elizabeth Gilbert in Vancouver tonight.
RonnieGirl~~Welcome home. Missed ya! Feeling refreshed?
Whabbear I have never heard of Big Island. I looked at the map and still couldn't find it. Maybe it is in Cape Breton which is at the other end of the province from me.
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Well that wasn't any fun.
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