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Friday, May. 10, 2024

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PORCH PONDERINGS

by QueenNormaJeanGreeneggs&vegham

Rated: 13+ · Book · Biographical · #2198921

Norma's Wanderings around a small section of Montana

Well, hey there!
Welcome to Roundup, Montana! If it's a nice day, we'll sit a spell on my porch and talk awhile.

"All the resources we need are in the mind.” Theodore Roosevelt, our 26th President of the United States of America.

Another quote I find interesting: "Creativity is intelligence having fun." Albert Einstein

What's on your mind today?

Signature for use by anyone nominated for a Quill Award in 2020

Signature for nominees of the 2019 Quill Awards

Show Recent Comments

10 Most Recent Blog Comments:

Schnujo is Late to Lannister

Apr 28, 2024 at 7:30am
In response to "Oscar and Tony and Grammy winner !!!"

I know carpal tunnel can be really bad. My friend's son has it really bad. At only 21, his hands were already numb because his dad wouldn't let him learn to drive so he couldn't go to the doctor and his dad wouldn't take him. He's finally moved out and learned to drive. His hands are better after he got a different job, but he's still got issues.

Have you tried learning to do speech-to-text? I hear it's quite a difficult transition for some folks, but once you get it, everything is a breeze after that. I keep meaning to take a series try at it. I did a few sentences one day, just to test it out, but didn't get too far. I need to really buckle down. It seems slower because the words don't appear on the screen as fast as when I type. But in the end, I can talk faster than I can type and I don't have to wait for it to catch up after ever sentence. lol I do need to figure out how much I can talk before it loses the thread, though.

But then, when writing fiction, I have to stop and think a lot, so it will probably be fine. lol I just need to do it enough that I feel comfortable not watching the screen anymore. I hear that's the real sticky point -- watching the words slowly appear as you are talking can be really distracting, so they recommend you don't do that. I will for a bit, just to get a feel for things and to satisfy my curiosity. But hopefully, if I take this seriously, I can let go of that need with practice and really get going.

Hmmm...I know I talk a lot. And I can talk while doing things I can't do when typing like getting dressed or making dinner or whatever. I wonder if I could actually finish a project through speech-to-text or if being bored sitting there typing isn't the real problem.

It's something to ponder and play with. Thank you! As usual, you've helped me with my writing YET AGAIN!

You're the best!

1 Like

QueenNormaJeanGreeneggs&vegham

Apr 28, 2024 at 1:37am
In response to "Oscar and Tony and Grammy winner !!!"

schunujo I don't worry about NaNo or OctoPrep. I think that event is far enough in the future. I am bummed that I cannot garden this year. I've been typing and writing all this time with just one hand and three fingers so...

I am excited to get the pain level lessened. Then I found out from my daughter the other day that she suffers from carpal tunnel as well, but as is typical for her, she won't get it treated. The problem with that syndrome is if it gets too severe, you could actually lose total function of your hand. Now that is the worst case scenario of course. I am scared enough by that prospect, I'll endure a few more months of recovery pain to heal the problem.

QueenNormaJeanGreeneggs&vegham

Apr 28, 2024 at 1:32am
In response to "Oscar and Tony and Grammy winner !!!"

Kåre Enga in Montana

When are you arriving back in Montana? And which airport? I'll be tied up for a few days after surgery. But I think once my husband goes back east to get our car, perhaps sometime in May we pray, I could make a road trip.

1 Like

Schnujo is Late to Lannister

Apr 25, 2024 at 7:13pm
In response to "Oscar and Tony and Grammy winner !!!"

Wow! You have so much going on!

I'm really sorry all of this is happening at the same time.

But I am super glad the doctor thinks he can fix you, even if you won't be good as new. But new things are too expensive anyway.

I'm certainly glad you'll be in much less (hopefully no) pain in the (hopefully not too distant) future!

I've also had times when a specialist told me I should have seen him sooner. Well, maybe if I hadn't been required to get a referral...

The surgery timing sounds pretty good with a 6-month recovery time. You'll be pushing it for NaNo, but I think you can do it. After all, I need my best cheerleader out there!

In truth, you have a big impact on my success in NaNo, but I could probably do it without you if I had to. Most importantly, I want YOU to be okay -- happy, healthy, and pain-free! If that means you miss a year of NaNo, so be it. YOU are more important.

QPdoll

Apr 25, 2024 at 6:00am
In response to "Oscar and Tony and Grammy winner !!!"

QueenNormaJeanGreeneggs&vegham

and Kåre Enga in Montana

I hope you both can find transportation on Monday! Good luck to you!

Norma, it's good you have your surgery scheduled. I think you'll feel so much better with pain relief. My husband had carpal tunnel surgery and he is happy that his fingers don't go numb anymore.

Safe travels to you both!

1 Like

Kåre Enga in Montana

Apr 25, 2024 at 2:42am
In response to "Oscar and Tony and Grammy winner !!!"

I don't have to explain my trip back to Montana as you get the picture.

I've been stressed for so long...

I can relax at the hostel and in Seoul airport.

Need to arrange a ride home though...

I assume you'll not be available.

1 Like

QueenNormaJeanGreeneggs&vegham

Apr 25, 2024 at 2:05am
In response to "Drama"

Elycia Lee ☮

Try cutting back your plants. Then try dusting them gently. They breathe through the surface of the leaves.
I found this on Google about rubber plants:
Water when the soil is almost completely dry. ...
Spray with a mister every few days, they like to keep their leaves moist.
Place in a bright room, but keep away from super sunny windows to avoid sunburn Between 15°C to 25°C is their optimum temperature.

Kåre Enga in Montana

Apr 20, 2024 at 11:50am
In response to "Drama"

I should be in Missoula May 1st. Chance of 20° or 70° ... sun, rain, snow, tornadoes, earthquake, Yellowstone blowing up?

Elycia Lee ☮

Apr 20, 2024 at 11:02am
In response to "Drama"

I never overwater them, but I think I'm underwatering them. The leaves are curling. When I put them out, their leaves burn. When I wipe them, lines appear on them... I really wanna start over, but I don't know how to... My rubber plants bottom stem leaves have dropped. Only the top is growing. For one of them, their baby leaf hasn't been growing for over 6 months now... Sounds like you've got quite the green finger there.

QueenNormaJeanGreeneggs&vegham

Apr 20, 2024 at 11:00am
In response to "Drama"

QPdoll

It was good to be out and work in the garden. We were both tired after, but that's okay. Digging in dirt always helps. There is always dirt in our lives. We have to dig up through it to get to the shining world on the other side.

1 Like

April 27, 2021 at 12:25am

#1009202

Still Waiting for Spring

We are still recovering from our trip to Ohio. Gone are the days where we could drive and drive. Sleep a few hours and then drive and drive. Seems hubby got a bit of a sinus infection so he is down for the count. And no, it is not the dreaded virus. Just overtired and overaged.

Things here in our neck of the woods are still chilly. 50° during the day, barely above freezing at night. But I have seen my daffodils up and blooming. Hooray! Still no leaves on any of the trees. Darn. I know what is going to happen. It will suddenly get hot. Happened last year. It was cool and damp and then suddenly 80°. Almost overnight.

Not much else is happening. I have been appointed as the coordinator for the National Day of Prayer for Roundup. But all the preparations were underway before we left for Ohio. There was another meeting when I got back, and now we just wait for May 6. I think the key to these types of events is getting the right folks on your team. I have a few friends that I asked to help, they do some of the work, I did some of the work. All gets done and no one person gets overwhelmed.

Yesterday we had a book club meeting. This meeting was fun. We had to read a book about geography. So on the trip back East, we listened to a book on tape in the car. "A Walk In the Woods" about the Appalachian Trail. Great fun. I also read the book years ago. I also hiked a bit of it with hubby, who has done many parts of it in the past. So that was my contribution. Oh, and for extra credit, and because I am a nerd, I took my full-size poster-mounted map of the AT with me to the meeting. Ha. 2,100 miles of hiking - from Maine to Georgia. Or Georgia to Maine. Depends on where you want to start.

Some days I wish I was on that trail. Walking in the woods. No people. No cars. No worries except for water and food. Oh, and a shower every now and then. I think I heard that the oldest person to do the AT, the entire thing, was 82. I still have time.

2 Like • Comment • View 1 comment

April 21, 2021 at 6:03pm

#1008936

Rivers and Stuff

So as I mentioned in my earlier BLOG, we went over rivers to the wooded East.

Here are the ones I noted.
We crossed:
Yellowstone - twice
the mighty Missouri - four times
the Mississippi - two times
Lamine
Platte
Belle Fourche
Powder
Soldier
Nodaway
Nishnabona
Wabash
Tongue
Little Big Horn

A few other interesting tidbits - evidently you can find all you need, ladies. Just go to "perfectman.com". And in Iowa, the highway sign read "only the casserole should be baked - don't drive high'. All the truck weigh stations were closed, except in South Dakota. The St. Louis Arch is still standing guard. We saw an Amish horse and buggy parked in the WalMart lot in Mt.Vernon, OH. My granddaughter from California didn't think that was real. I made her walk with me to the horse to prove it was an actual live horse. Also in Mt. Vernon they have a dog fountain. Cutest thing ever. The Days Inn in Terre Haute, IN advertised themed suites. You could stay in the Arctic Suite, the Pirate Suite, or the Tarzan Suite. Hmm... Still thinking of those.

We drove east in snow and drove back west in snow. And I learned it snowed here at home. At least it's moisture. Spring will soon catch up to us. Maybe in June.

1 Like • Comment • View 1 comment

April 21, 2021 at 10:10am

#1008907

Over the Rivers to the Woods of Ohio

Across the great plains to the Eastern woodlands we drove. It took us only three days. Think of Lewis and Clark, on horseback and dragging a boat. Inconceivable to us now. We know we could've flown, but needed the car at the other end.

We crossed many mighty rivers. We passed so many trucks. People were more fearful as we traveled East. Sad.

But once we reached Ohio, we rested for a night, then hubby continued on to Virginia. I stayed in Ohio to care for my aged Mother. My granddaughter got to meet her for the first time. My grandson drove up from Southern Ohio, he got to meet her for the first time. My brother and wife came, they stayed for lunch and took granddaughter back to the airport. Then my niece came over. Quite fun to see everyone.

We had fun feeding Grandma. I baked almost everyday. My mother is like a little baby bird, small and frail. But she ate whatever I prepared, as long as it wasn't a salad or a vegetable or a fruit. But she will eat anything that is made with white flour and white sugar. Amazing.

My granddaughter and I once again got into mischief. Seems we always do when we're together. We took the golf cart out on the golf course. The course is right behind my sister's condo. Well, the next day we get a phone call. 'Don't take the cart out on the golf course.' Oops. Then I broke a glass jar of pickled jalapenos on the wood floor in the kitchen. Oops. Then we put out the trash dutifully the night before. The container for the recyclables disappeared. Oops. Our 'Oops' always seem to come in threes.

But like they say, be it ever so humble... Sister's home is a condo. Or as I will tell everyone, a palace. A 3,000 square foot palace. Four living rooms, 2 1/2 baths, three bedrooms. The lower level walks out to a golf course. Two car garage. Holy cow. But the kicker, I had to walk food up and down a flight of steps for each meal. Mother lives in the lower level and can't do steps. So my exercise for a week was the stair climb.

I can honestly say, after driving home yesterday, even through a blizzard in Wyoming, it is good to be home!

Like • Comment • View 1 comment

April 16, 2021 at 9:35am

#1008614

Family Time

We are almost through the stay at my sister's condo. In Ohio, my mother is now living in the bottom level of Joanne and Matt's beautiful, spacious condominium,.

This place is huge. I could fit two of my homes in here. Good grief. Mom stays in the bottom level in basically her own little apartment. She has a bedroom, bathroom, living area and a walkout to a golf course. Wonderful space.

I said hubby and I could come out here to watch mom while sis and hubby went on a week's respite to Florida. Mom had a few strokes in the past year. But she is doing remarkably well.

So my granddaughter, Jade, flew in from California. She spent several days. That was fun. She and mom had never met. Then my grandson Kaden from southern Ohio drove up. He met his grandmother and Jade for the first time. We spent a wonderful afternoon with him. Yesterday my brother and his wife came over. They met Jade for the first time, we had lunch, and then they drove her to the airport.

What a blessing it was to have all this family! Mom got to see family, I got to see family, Jade got to meet her family. Kaden got to meet his family. Wonderful.

Hubby went back to Virginia for a few days during this visit. He had to pick up some antique chairs from one of his sons. He was disappointed that he couldn't stay with one of them. He wasn't even allowed in their home because of the virus. Whatever. But then the other son, just down the road, welcomed him in with open arms. Let him stay the night, fed him dinner. I hate what this virus is doing to us.

We leave tomorrow, maybe. Depends on my sister. I just pray I don't destroy the condo in the meantime.

1 Like • Comment

April 10, 2021 at 12:07am

#1008143

CLUE Game

Friday, April 9
The Sims Family Murders in Tallahassee

On October 22, 1966, Robert and Helen Sims and their daughter, Joy, were found dead in their Tallahassee, Florida home by the Sims's oldest daughter, Jeanie, when she returned from a babysitting job. “A massive search was launched to find whoever committed the crime,” a local news station recounts. But the Sims had no enemies, there was no discernible motive to the crime, and although there were suspects, no one was ever charged.

Tell us what happened, who did it, and why.
Did you do it?

I can tell you I didn't do this. I was 15 years old. And I lived in Ohio. Now that's not to say a determined 15 year old couldn't get to Tallahassee and do a dastardly deed. And isn't it odd that the elder daughter shares my name? Hmm. Norma.

https://www.projectcoldcase.org/2018/07/09/robert-helen-joy-sims/

I came up with three theories.
1.The boyfriend of Jeanie did it. Father said “You’re not good enough for my daughter.
2.A customer was mad. He did it.
3.The oldest daughter did it. She was mad about being under the thumb of her father. Her father always took her babysitting money.

But with no real evidence, perhaps it was the Hebrew Death Laser from outer space that was in the news a few months ago. The gunshots were the real McGuffins, or red herrings if you please.

I still maintain my innocence. I have my birth certificate. I swear I was not 17 in 1966. Honest.

W/C 159

5 Like • Comment • View 5 comments

April 8, 2021 at 8:12pm

#1008060

Sacred Jars

Thursday, April 8

Plain of Jars

Location: Xiangkhoang Plateau, Laos

More than 2,000 large ancient stone jars are spread across a plateau in Central Laos. Some stand 10 feet tall and weigh several tons. Archaeologists estimate the jars are 2,000 years old, but their purpose is unclear. The most common theories are that they were used as funeral urns.

What do you think these urns were for?

Missionaries from other religions made the mistake of trying to convince the Hmong folk that their religions were better. Now the Hmong at this ancient time were Animists. They held in high esteem the idea that plants and animals were gods. Among their gods were the tree god and the salamander god.

One day missionaries from the far-away country of Indus made the mistake of cutting down the sacred trees in a grove near one Hmong village. Then they roasted the large salamanders that wandered freely among the weeds nearby.

Hmong people were horrified at such sacrilege and wondered how they would appease the gods. As luck would have it, they had large stone jars nearby that were used for storing grain and water. But they were quickly put into use for another reason; for torturing the missionaries.

The large stone jars were filled with oil. The oil was heated with hot stones dropped into the jars. Once the oil was heated to boiling, they put the missionaries into the jars. The lids were then placed on top so the screams could not be heard.

After a time, the bones of the missionaries were taken out of the oil, the oil drained. The Hmong ground the bones to fertilize any sacred trees that still grew nearby. Salamanders soon came back to the village. They erected a shrine to the trees and salamanders. Oil from the stone jars was now considered holy and used in worship at the shrine.

Could be true? I have no idea. But my imagination had fun thinking of it.

W/C 249

5 Like • Comment • View 6 comments

April 7, 2021 at 10:18pm

#1007999

Flight of the Hornets

PROMPT
Wednesday, April 7

The Flannan Isles Lighthouse Disappearances

In 1900, three keepers of the Flannan Isles Lighthouse off the west coast of Scotland disappeared under the strangest of circumstances. The lighthouse was manned by a three-person team (Thomas Marshall, James Ducat, and Donald MacArthur), with a fourth man rotating in from shore. On Boxing Day (December 26) of 1900, the relief keeper arrived to find none of the lighthouse keepers present. The only sign that anything was amiss was an overturned chair near the kitchen table. No bodies were ever found, which has led to endless speculation. Theories range from drownings to abduction by foreign spies, a ghost ship, or a giant sea monster. Whatever happened back in December 1900 at the Flannan Isles Lighthouse, we may never know.

So, tell us what happened to the lighthouse keepers!

The three keepers sat around a small lighthouse kitchen. Their Christmas gifts were put away. Now the ornaments needed boxed up. They put the tinsel carefully in the worn boxes. Huddled around the potbelly stove, Thomas started the storytelling. He had a few good ones. Then James brought out the old Scotch. Donald added another interesting yarn. Soon they were laughing and not paying attention to a small hornet’s nest above their heads.

This nest was there all summer, but never noticed by the busy men. With the heat of the potbelly stove, some of the hornets somehow were waking up. They worked their way out of the nest, began flying about.

It’s easy to not notice some flying insects after a few snorts of Scotch. The hornets flew around their heads. They batted them away. The hornets returned.
The three men again batted them away. The third time the hornets did not leave. They stung the lighthouse keepers. Thomas screamed, ran down the steps and threw himself into the sea. James fell off his chair and followed Thomas into the sea. Donald tried to use the chair to swat the hornets, but soon followed the others into the sea.

These three men never learned to swim so they soon perished in the high tide. Their bodies were washed out into the ocean.

W/C 223

7 Like • Comment • View 11 comments

April 7, 2021 at 12:00am

#1007915

Day one travels

Traveling in Wyoming today reminded me just how wide open and wonderful the West is. We traveled from Roundup, MT to Cheyenne, WY on our way to Ohio. We ran through rain, snow, rain, snow and rain combined, rain, and more snow, and then the sun and blue sky.

But Wyoming. My goodness. It is the least populous and least densely populated state in the contiguous US. As I looked this up on the internet, the population is only 586,000 and some. That would be a small city in most states.

Now Montana is sparsely populated as well, but much larger. We have over a million residents, and are the third least densely populated state. And the eighth least populated.

But after I thought about this a bit, we've had a lot of folks move into this part of the US the past few years. People want out of the cities, the more populated areas. So soon our towns will grow as well,

We are traveling to Ohio for a short stay. Hubby is then traveling on to Virginia for a day or so and then back to Ohio then back to Montana in another week or so. This is our big trip for the year. A trip to see my mother, probably for the last time. But it is also a time for her to meet her great-grandaughter and great-grandson. I pray that the planning we've made works out.

On through Nebraska tomorrow!

Like • Comment

April 6, 2021 at 11:31pm

#1007912

Fact is Stranger than Fiction

Prompt: Tuesday, April 6

Ghost Ship: The Mary Celeste

On December 4, 1872, a British-American ship called “the Mary Celeste” was found empty and adrift in the Atlantic. It was found to be seaworthy and with its cargo fully intact, except for a lifeboat, which it appeared had been boarded in an orderly fashion. But why? We may never know because no one on board was ever heard from again.

In November 1872, the Mary Celeste set sail from New York bound for Genoa, Italy. She was manned by Captain Benjamin Briggs and seven crew members, including Briggs’ wife and their 2-year-old daughter. Supplies on board were ample enough for six months, and luxurious—including a sewing machine and an upright piano. Commentators generally agree that to precipitate the abandonment of a seaworthy ship, some extraordinary and alarming circumstance must have arisen. However, the last entry on the ship’s daily log reveals nothing unusual, and inside the ship, all appeared to be in order.

Theories over the years have included mutiny, pirate attack, and an assault by a giant octopus or sea monster. In recent years, scientists have posed the theory that fumes from alcohol on board caused an explosion that, as a result of a scientific anomaly, did not leave behind signs of burning—but was terrifying enough that Briggs ordered everyone into the lifeboat.

Give us your opinion of what happened. Maybe you were even there?!

“Get on the boat, woman. We have no time for that.”
Hope Briggs stopped at the edge. She had in one arm Peace and in the other her sewing basket.

“But I have to gather the music, the sewing, all the clothes. We must have those things.”

Captain Briggs grabbed his wife. He threw her into the life boat. Their daughter, Peace, flew into the air. She was caught by a sailor on deck. The sewing basket fell into the sea, soon dropped out of sight.

“We have not the time! All into the boat!”

Soon the lifeboat was loaded and floated to the wide open ocean. The Mary Celeste grew smaller and smaller as they drifted away.

“We are doomed, doomed I say!” Hope Briggs grabbed her husband’s arm. “What of my sewing machine? My piano?”

“Good grief woman, we have bigger worries. Sit down. Be quiet.”

The men rowed, the Captain surveyed the ocean.

Suddenly the lifeboat bumped into a large round, gray object floating in the ocean.

“Stop here men. Get ready to be boarded.”

The gray object had a lid that opened. Several bodies stepped out. The occupants of the lifeboat suddenly found themselves floating through the air and down into the body of the floating gray object.

“Welcome aboard. We will take care of you now. Hope, we want to know how you make a second skin for your people. We also want to know how you make sounds from ivory, ebony and wire. You will teach us. Captain, you will teach us how to steer by your stars. We will teach Peace our knowledge. The other workers will be our slaves. Make yourselves comfortable. This may be a bumpy ride.” The bodies transformed themselves into the aliens known as Argons. The humans sat transfixed and uttered not a sound. The ship sped off through the air to the planet of the aliens.

This little known story of the Mary Celeste was hidden for a few centuries. It just now was revealed when Peace Briggs gave an interview on the Oprah network just last week. She wanted to talk about the aliens, but all Oprah was interested in was the fact she didn’t look a day over 144.

W/C 373

4 Like • Comment • View 3 comments

April 5, 2021 at 12:52pm

#1007810

Crooked Trees and How They Grew

April 5, A Crooked Forest in West Pomerania in Poland

Who remembers this rhyme?

There was a crooked man, and he walked a crooked mile.
He found a crooked sixpence upon a crooked stile.
He bought a crooked cat, which caught a crooked mouse,
and they all lived together in a little crooked house.

That was the first thing that popped into my feeble brain when I saw those trees. So they are in West Pomerania. Poland. Hmm. Of course I had to go on to the source of all knowledge now, the internet. Seems that West Pomerania is the fifth largest voivodeship, province, of Poland. And a claim to fame of that province, among others, is that crooked forest.

How did it come to be? No one seems to know.

I think it was the crooked man of the rhyme. He needed crooked trees to make his crooked house. And being a man of means, he was able to hire a crew to trim all the trees in the forest and train them to grow in a crooked way.

“But sir, that will take years for those trees to grow crookedly!” the workers complained to the crooked man.

Crooked man leaned his crooked staff and laughed his crooked laugh.

“I have many years to wait. I have nothing else to do. Cut the trees.”

And so the trees were cut. And so the trees grew in a crooked way.

All the trees weren’t cut for the crooked house. Some were left for a meeting place in the crooked forest. Crooked man had many family members. They all were in the West Pomerania area and hoped to some day settle nearby.

But alas, as life would have it, the family members left this earth before they could build their crooked houses. And so, the crooked trees remain to this day.

There is no other proof. Do you have a better story?

W/C. 313

5 Like • Comment • View 6 comments

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