How Does Your Garden Grow?

Buds on the Hydrangea

Day Lilies

Sunset making the woods look like its on fire

No rainbow here after storms and heavy rain, but

my cousin's daughter captured this gorgeous rainbow at Revere Beach.

How does your garden grow?

Happy, Little, Time Waster

 

From 2025: Welcoming the Sunrise on Glastonbury Tor - Summer Solstice

The Summer Solstice is finally here!

The Friday Five Good Things

 Five good things that happened this week.

1. I watched a Downton Abbey that I some how missed.

2. Quill and I hung out in the bedroom and watched The Great Waldo Pepper

3. The Eldest and I watched the live action Ruroni Kenshin. We agreed we liked the anime better.

4. Nothing helps a sore throat like Luigi's Italian Ice

5. My gift to me arrived.

How was your week?

TBT Reprints from CJ's Whine and Cheeze

   In 2003, Ma had a stroke. Dad was her full time caregiver until he he had a car accident that totaled the car. So in 2006, I became their chauffeur among other jobs.

At the time, to deal with the stress of running two households and working, I kept a blog entitled CJ's Whine and Cheeze. Egged on by some friends who enjoyed the first read through, you'll see your part when it comes by.

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

The Man Who Never Returned

Today, we had a trip to the orthopedist. The parking lot at the medical center was filled, but there were a dozen handicap slots open. That is the plus side to hauling weeble butts around, being able to park in the handicap spots. I pulled into one very close to the building. Ma would have no difficulty pushing her walker to the entrance. I asked Dad for her handicap parking placard. He was rummaging in the pockabook, but couldn’t find it. Ma was halfway out of the car and across the parking lot. I told Dad not to worry, but to get out of the car and to see Ma got to the appointment. She had dillydallied so she was a half an hour late for the appointment. I pulled out of the handicap slot and started trolling the parking lot. After the sixth circuit, I felt like an Indy driver. On the seventh circuit, I started humming a line from an oldies tune changing “he” to “she” and taking poetic license with the lyrics. “Did she ever return? No, she never returned and her fate is still unlearned. She may ride forever round the hospital parking lot. She’s the gal who never returned.”

The song I was thinking about is the story of “Charlie on the MTA” by the Kingston Trio. You can crank up the Kingston Trio Jukebox to listen to it. Background for those of you too young to remember the song and/or those of you who live in The Land of Here There Be Dragons and have no clue what I’m talking about. The song commemorates an election campaign of a Boston candidate and his protest of the fare increase on the subway imposed by the MTA, The Massachusetts Transportation Authority. The fare is raised from 10 cents to 15 cents. The extra nickel was to be paid as an exit fare. As the song goes, poor Charlie doesn’t have the extra nickel so the conductor wouldn’t let Charlie off the trolley. Charlie is forever known as “the man who never returned.” As I’m singing along, it occurs to me Charlie isn’t just caught without exact change, but he’s caught in the middle of OPD.

Charlie's wife goes down to the Scollay Square station

Every day at quarter past two

And through the open window

She hands Charlie a sandwich

As the train comes rumblin' through.

Every day, Charlie’s faithful wife goes down to the Scollay Square (pronounced Sculley Skwayuh) station. It used to be the burlesque area of Boston and is now Government Center. Anyway, she’s handing Charlie a sandwich, right? Why the hell doesn’t she hand Charlie a nickel so he could get off the train? OPD! She controls the purse strings! Standing on the subway platform before “the train comes rumblin’ through”; she can tell her captive audience crowd what a stupid ass her husband is. He didn’t pay attention to her reading the notice of the fare increase in the paper, and now she has to come down to the station every blessed day to make sure Charlie got something to eat. Woe is her! She has to leave her children every day so her husband can have a sandwich!

Of course, OPD is a double-edged blade, and it cuts both ways. What about Charlie? To some extent, we might be able to extend the benefit of doubt to poor ol’ Charlie. Just about the time the song came out, the city of Boston had a building boom and make over. The seedy Scollay Square got a make over when the mayor’s office and a pedestrian plaza were built along with other government buildings. Scollay Square was renamed Government Center. Charlie could look out of the subway window, but wouldn’t know where he was because that wouldn’t be a stop he was familiar with. Why didn’t he ask someone about the new station and where he was? Why didn’t Charlie bum a nickel from a fellow rider? Maybe Charlie didn’t want to get off the train! He wouldn’t have to listen to the “He’s Stupid” song. He could be a good time Charlie and regale other captive passengers with stories from his youth and war service, over and over and over again. His wife was there with a sandwich every afternoon, and the roar of the train would drown out her yelling, “You stoooopid assssssssss!” Yup, Charlie just didn’t want to get off of that train.

Art in the Wild

 

The Baby Block I submitted to the All Staff, Faculty and Docent art show is now on display in the Higgins Education Wing of the Worcester Art Museum.

The show is running  6/6/2026 - 7/12/2026 during museum open hours. Entrance to the Higgins Education Wing is free. 

T Stands for Coffee

 

The Eldest loves her coffee. Well, coffee that's flavored: raspberry chocolate, blueberry, vanilla. I found a cute tee shirt for her for her birthday next month. Of course, the cat could be holding a cup of tea, too.

Drop by hosts, Bleubeard and Elizabeth's blog to find out what the rest of the T Stands For gang is up to. If you want to play, include in your Tuesday post a beverage or container for a beverage. Don't forget to link your blog to Bleubeard and Elizabeth's page.

Monet and Me

are admiring the new front doors installed by our Nephew

Monet shows off the fancy lock. Like lots of things, it requires an app to work from your phone. You can also gain entry by using a fingerprint, passcode, or if the electricity and the Internet fail, you can use a key.

Monet is showing off the fan window and the fact the mullions are embedded inside the glass making glass cleaning a breeze.

The Nephew also fixed the storm door and now it closes and locks properly.

How Does Your Garden Grow?

By the woods, a rambling rose. It smelled very pretty

Corn in a bucket

I see marigolds so there must be tomato plants in here

Green stuff

Nasturtiums and cucumber

A sunflower in Ink's garden

Lettuce

How does your garden grow?

Happy, Little, Time Waster

Last week, I showed how I put together a traveling journal kit in an old pencil tin. I swapped out a bone folder for an old plastic card as it doesn't have much depth.

I had asked what other things I should include. The answer was paper. Yes, paper would be necessary but not just loose sheets of paper, I would need a small journal. 

I found instructions on how to make a small, no sew journal out of two sheets of watercolor paper. Instructions in the video below.

The book measures 3 in. tall by 4.5 in. wide and has 32 pages to write on.

Teague and I have been travelling to Ogunquit, Maine for four years. I printed out a tourist map of Ogunquit that I found online and used that as the front cover and front inside cover.

Another spot we frequent is Weirs Beach, Laconia, New Hampshire on Lake Winnipesauke. So I found another online map to use as the back and back inside cover. I covered the spine with some Washi tape.

DIY Mini Sketchbook Art Journal Tutorial // Bookbinding No Stitching or Staples

The Friday Five Good Things

 Five good things that happened this week.

1.  I cleaned the front porch.

2. It's nice to be able to open the screen door and get a breeze.

3. Himself was tired of the Oak Barrel so we had dinner at the Texas Roadhouse Restaurant. The place was noisy but the food was delicious especially the bread.

4.  I was meeting a friend for lunch. Himself parked on the good side of the driveway and set the radio to my favorite station.

5. It's a head cold. At least it happened before Two Old Ladies On the Road

How was your week?

TBT Reprints from CJ's Whine and Cheeze

  In 2003, Ma had a stroke. Dad was her full time caregiver until he he had a car accident that totaled the car. So in 2006, I became their chauffeur among other jobs.

At the time, to deal with the stress of running two households and working, I kept a blog entitled CJ's Whine and Cheeze. Egged on by some friends who enjoyed the first read through, you'll see your part when it comes by.

Monday, October 15, 2007

The Will

While chatting on the phone with Ma, I played Scrabble Blast on the computer with the sound turned off. I made sure to un huh, and yeah in the right places. Ma was riding the gravy train again, how she was going to win $2 million this week. It's always this week. Un huh.

I used to try to reason with her, to tell her people didn't gift you with huge sums of money. Her little trolley wouldn't slip the track, and I ended up with that familiar, pulsing pain behind my left eye. The Brother, ever the brilliant tactician, gave me a way to cope and to save me a pain blinding run to the Excedrin bottle. He said when she starts in on something (no one does anything for me, no one helps, I'm winning $2 million) just say "Oh, wow." Simply elegant.

She was saying Nostradumbass (she consulted with a psychic) told her she was born under a lucky star. Oh, wow. Didn't PT Barnum of circus fame say there was a sucker born every minute? The conversation took a turn onto the no one does anything for me spur. I tuned Ma out concentrating instead on how to make a word with 4 eeees.

"You do things for your father, but you won't do them for me." She was still sore that I wouldn't take her pile of sweepstakes entries to the post office.

"You know that's not true. You didn't push your walker to the emergency room when you fell and broke your wrist. In fact, I was a God send that day because I almost decided not to visit, but I got a feeling something was wrong so I showed up." She likes the supernatural and it's a handy hole card so I played it.

There was some grumbling. "When I get my $2 million, I'm going to go to a lawyer. I'm gonna have a will made. All I'm leaving your father is $1, so you better make up your mind."

"About what?"

"Whether it's him or me. You jump when your father asks you to do something, but you never do anything for me. So you better make up your mind!"

"I'll take the dollar."

Disclaimer: This blog is not a legally binding written document. 😘

Doodling for Stress Reduction

 

On Mondays via Zoom, I participate in a class where we spend a half an hour doodling our stress away. 

Since the weather is predicted to be hot by the end of the week, the suggestion for the doodle was to draw ice cream or frozen treats.

We are always free to interpret the instructions as we wish. I thought of Teague and I getting ice cream last week when the temps. were close to 90°.

T Stands for Scorcha

 

With temperatures expected to soar this week, don't forget to stay hydrated

Drop by hosts, Bleubeard and Elizabeth's blog to find out what the rest of the T Stands For gang is up to. If you want to play, include in your Tuesday post a beverage or container for a beverage. Don't forget to link your blog to Bleubeard and Elizabeth's page.

Monet and Me

 

and Miro are showing off the bottom panel for the baby gift. I still have to add my name and particulars. 

The baby block will be on display at the Worcester Art Museum All Staff, Faculty, and Docent Exhibit. Exhibition Dates: 6/6/2026 - 7/12/2026 There will be an  Exhibition Reception: 6/9/2026, 11:30am - 1:00pm

I'll have the baby gift back in time for the annual family gathering in July when we will get to meet the new baby.

How Does Your Garden Grow?

A Cardinal flaps his wings in the breeze

A delicate Iris

A Bluebird

and a Hummingbird flap their wings in a breeze

A Cardinal spinner

Deep, purple Iris buds in Ink's garden

A Bluejay spinner

Sweet Williams

Pansies

Bird or critter gifted a sunflower in the blue pot

Cornflowers look like they're running away.

How does your garden grow?

Happy, Little, Time Waster

 

I had seen a couple of reels and videos with people putting together a small journaling kit. One of them was done using an Altoids mint tin. Tiny and twee, but too small.

Since the Two Old Ladies will be on the road at the end of the month, I thought I'd like to put together a kit to take along. The main criteria was to make the kit with things I already have and not to run out to buy stuff.

First up, was finding something to put everything in. Not too big and not too small. I have this set of Arteza watercolor pencils. The tin has three trays and measures 9 in. x 7.25 in. x 1 in. 

Some of the Arteza pencils over time have found their way into cups and bags, here and there. I wasn't too thrilled with the pencils. They're okay, but not as good as the Prismacolor and Derwent pencils.

I like watercolor pencils because you get two art supplies, but only have to carry one. They work as regular colored pencils, but can turn into watercolor by brushing over the color with water.

The Prismacolor pencils are getting pretty short, and I have a new set so the old pencils will work just fine in the bottom tray of the travel kit. 

The top tray (I only used two of the three trays) holds some of things I might need for journaling. A protractor to be used as a ruler, a bone folder, pipette, fountain pen, mechanical pencil, Micron Pigma Pen, a small pair of scissors, a kneadable eraser, a tape runner, water brush, and a wooden pen/brush rest.

Did I forget anything? Is there anything you would add?

I do have one other item to go in the kit, but I'll show that next week.

The Friday Five Good Things

 Five good things that happened this week.

1.Over the weekend we had a rainy, dreary day, and I was not a slug

2. I had the first lobster roll of the season

3. One of my students taught herself how to make chainmail. She made me a bracelet.

4. I cleaned the flat file aka the dining room table

5. Thursday was the perfect weather for eating lunch outside and ice cream

How was your week?

TBT Reprints from CJ's Whine and Cheeze

 In 2003, Ma had a stroke. Dad was her full time caregiver until he he had a car accident that totaled the car. So in 2006, I became their chauffeur among other jobs.

At the time, to deal with the stress of running two households and working, I kept a blog entitled CJ's Whine and Cheeze. Egged on by some friends who enjoyed the first read through, you'll see your part when it comes by.

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Me Iuva, Domine

Me iuva, Domine. Help me, Lord. Dad’s phone bill arrived. My fingers trembled and beads of sweat dotted my forehead as I ran my finger under the flap. I wished the kid was here to recreate his role. I even have the cape he wore as a chasuble. No nevermind. I could play both parts. I took a deep breath and began the chant. The words of the prayer and responsorial familiar in the old language.

Kyrie, eléison

Christe, eléison.

Christe, audi nos.

Christe, exáudi nos

Pater de cælis, Deus

Miserére nobis

Sancta María, Regina perpetua clueless

Ora pro nobis

Sancta María, Mártyre solus ipse

Sancte Michael

Ora pro nobis.

Sancte Gabriel

Ora pro nobis

Sancte Raphael

Ora pro nobis

Sancte Concordia, materfamilias

Ora pro nobis

Omnes sancti Angeli et Archangeli

Orate pro nobis

Sancte Josephe, vox nihili

Ora pro nobis

Sancte Josephe, illigitimi imbecillus

Ora pro nobis

Sancte Petre

Ora pro nobis

Sancte Paule

Ora pro nobis

Sancte Andrea

Ora pro nobis

Sancte Jacobe

Ora pro nobis

Sancte Joánnes

Ora pro nobis

Sancte Thoma

Ora pro nobis

Sancte Jacobe

Ora pro nobis

Sancte Philippe

Ora pro nobis

Sancte Bartholomæe

Ora pro nobis

Sancte Matthæe

Ora pro nobis

Sancte Simon

Ora pro nobis

Sancte Thaddæe

Ora pro nobis

Sancte Matthia

Ora pro nobis

Sancte Barnaba

Ora pro nobis

Sancte Luca

Ora pro nobis

Sancte Marce

Ora pro nobis

Omnes sancti Apóstoli et Evangelistæ.

Orate pro nobis

Sancte Sebastiane (because the nuns wouldn’t let me take his name at Confirmation)

Ora pro nobis

Sancte Fratur, nizeboymutasomonabaitch

Ora pro nobis

Sancte Antoni

Ora pro nobis

Sancte Dominice

Ora pro nobis

Propitius esto

Parce nobis, Dómine

Ab omni malo Jamaica

Líbera nos, Dómine

Dómine, exáudi oratiónem meam

Et clamor meus ad te véniat

Dóminus vobíscum.

Et cum spíritu tuo. (The Pope’s telephone number Et cum spriti 2-2-oh )

Exáudiat nos omnípotens et miséricors Dóminus

Amen

Carefully I pulled the bill from the envelope and scanned the International Calls.

Goose eggs.

Deo Gratias!

Doodling for Stress Reduction

 

On Mondays via Zoom, I participate in a class where we spend a half an hour doodling our stress away. 

The suggestion for the class was to draw an umbrella, divide the umbrella into panels, and doodle in each panel. Then to draw some raindrops and doodle in them.

We are always free to interpret the instructions as we wish. I think I was channeling Robin's Robin Jr. 

T Stands for First Lobster Roll of the Season

 

Himself read that someone on the town Facebook page was asking where to get to the best lobster roll. There were quite a few suggestions, but JP's Pub in Westboro (of if you're fancy, Westborough) came up.

We were going to be in Westboro at an appointment so decided to go a little early and stop for lunch. It wasn't the best day to have lobster. It was cloudy and chilly, but we had our minds set for lobster roll.

JP's is a little hole in the wall located in the Ocean Stat Job Lots plaza. The place was cozy, decorated with sports memorabilia and a popular spot for weebles (old people). We fit right in.

The restaurant  had an extensive menu and the lobster roll was a daily special. It came with a choice of Cole slaw or French fries (crisps). I had the fries.

This lobster roll was lobster salad. Lobster meat mixed with celery and mayonnaise. I usually prefer my lobster roll with lobster and a side of drawn butter. Lobster salad is usually more celery and mayonnaise mixed with a little, shredded lobster.

JP's lobster roll was the opposite. There were generous chunks of lobster and not too much mayonnaise. (I'm not a big fan of mayonnaise) It was all packed into a New England hot dog roll. (The opening is on the top instead of the side)

The restaurant didn't have an Arnold Palmer (half lemonade and half iced tea), but the waitress said she could make it for me. 

The only down-side was the restaurant only took cash. There was nothing about cash only on the website or the door of the restaurant so you didn't find out you needed cash until the bill came and the waitress said we don't take debit or credit cards. There was an ATM at the back of the restaurant so we were able to get cash. The ATM fee was $1.00 so not too bad. 

Other than not knowing about cash only, it was a very nice lunch.

Drop by hosts, Bleubeard and Elizabeth's blog to find out what the rest of the T Stands For gang is up to. If you want to play, include in your Tuesday post a beverage or container for a beverage. Don't forget to link your blog to Bleubeard and Elizabeth's page.

Monet and Me

 

were surprised when Miro decided to show off the date panel for the baby gift.