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Tuesday, May. 7, 2024

4:25pm EDT

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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

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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

July 30, 2021 at 9:54pm

#1014773

When to take a bath

Not too much excitement today. All but a small bit of change in the temperatures. It is almost tolerable as I sit now on the porch to compose this message. Still no rain. I watched radar last night. Rain west and south, rain west and north, rain north and east. No rain here. Almost like we are in some sort of impenetrable bubble. Strange.

DId anyone take notice of this blurb on the CNN Facebook feed?
https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/27/entertainment/ashton-kutcher-mila-kunis-bathing

Seems these two celebs have quite a dim view of bathing, themselves and their children. Well, that is all well and good. To each his own. The modern norms are to beat down any normal smells. Heaven forbid anyone has any dirt or grime. Any normal smell at all.

Not all that long ago it was not normal to bathe as often as we do now. Showers daily, or as some do two or three times a day, were not normal. Once a week a bath. And perhaps if you were on a farm, such as in this area, you shared the bathwater. Water is precious here.

In medieval times bathing was considered evil. Of course, people never washed their clothes either, so, there was some strange thinking among the peasants. From what I understand, they wore their garments til they rotted off, kind of an ugly thought. Some people now change clothes several times a day.

As the population on Earth grows, water will become scarce. I think we are already seeing that happening in parts of the US. In our part of the world, there are now water restrictions in Billings, MT. Roundup gets its water from a well, and so far hasn't restricted water usage. But I can see that happening if this drought continues much longer.

We personally have stopped watering our grass, we only water our trees, our shrubs, our garden is drip irrigated. We also are watering 3x a week some sod we laid a few weeks ago. That's it

I saw some rain on radar tonight. Maybe it'll make it here before it evaporates.

1 Like • Comment • View 2 comments

July 27, 2021 at 12:26pm

#1014534

Hot Again

So another hot one in the forecast for today. Maybe as high as 110° What the h***l!! Jiminee yikes gee whiz. Enough already. We were woken by the fire siren at 6:45 AM. I pray it wasn't for a fire. Pretty bad when you pray for an ambulance run, not a fire run.

Did anyone see this news blurb? A sandstorm in Utah caused a multivehicle crash. They say there were 51 MPH winds associated with this storm.

https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/26/us/utah-sandstorm-multi-vehicle-crash/index.html

A dry year so far this year in Musselshell County where I live - only 4.5 inches of any kind of moisture since January 1, 2021 per the National Weather Service. Many areas get that in a good rain storm.

Everything is dry; the grass, the trees, the air. I feel that if God lit a match in the sky and dropped it over us, the entire county would explode in a giant fireball.

But perhaps maybe possibly we will get some rain come Wednesday night. But I'm not betting the house on it.

1 Like • Comment

July 26, 2021 at 11:08am

#1014348

God is Good

For the 30 Day Blogging Challenge, the prompt today is What is a challenge you faced and how did you overcome it?

As I have posted before, I have had brain surgery, for a benign brain tumor. That was by far the biggest challenge in my life. Everything else pales in comparison to having your head opened up and your brain pushed aside to remove a lump the size of a lemon.

Praise the Lord it was benign and I have had no complications from it, besides a spinal fluid leak a few years back from a blow to the head. I needed no chemo, no drugs, nothing further. Just repeat checkups for about five years, MRIs, and a pill to prevent seizures.

The incident did change my personality, so says my hubby. I did notice some changes and now try to remember the person I used to be.

I had a lot of time to think as I recovered for a month after surgery. I took a month to rest with no reading, no computer, no writing. It gave my scrambled brain time to reboot, so to say.

Things could have been so much worse. I could have awoken paralyzed, blind, or not at all. But the Lord was gracious and gave me many more years of life. For that I am thankful. I thank God every day for life and health.

4 Like • Comment • View 2 comments

July 24, 2021 at 8:40pm

#1014255

The Heat is Back

So it's ramping up the heat again here. No rain to speak of after that last thunder boomer. That's right, hot and dry for the forseeable future. Terrific.

https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?lat=46.44734500000004&lon=-108.5434899...

The garden is doing okay. We irrigate, so all the plants get a drip of water for 45 minutes twice a day. I also water two trees, a wildflower patch and a twig that was to be a rose bush. I think I will give up on the rose bush. We also water the sod we laid two weeks ago. We've been faithfully watering that twice a day. I think it is rooting in most areas. Nice green grass, the only part of our yard that is green.

The grasshoppers are not too bad. We're putting out biological bait, seems to be helping. Other parts of the county have them bad.

No one has any hay for their animals, so everyone is crying about what to do with their cattle and sheep. The big debate, sell them all, keep a few, keep them all. How to feed them this winter? How to feed them now? No grass is growing. Heck of a deal.

I finally got word about the play with the Illustrious Musselshell Players, so I'm in the cast. I have a part, and for once more than just a few lines. The play is goofy, of course. They seem to like this type. 'Every Little Crook and Nanny'. Okay, you can probably guess. Crooks, mistaken identities, little old nannies, robbery. Comedy. I now have to memorize lines. And not hit suicidal deer on my 20 mile weekly jaunt to play practice.

Wish me luck!

1 Like • Comment • View 2 comments

July 22, 2021 at 12:43am

#1014109

It's gonna be fun!

Last night we had a wingding of a thunder storm. Gracious sakes. The thunder and lightning were so close. At one point, I swore it was right overhead, in my back yard. That moment when the lightning and thunder are simultaneous. Astounding. We had to walk outside to check for fire.

Then it rained. A lot it seemed at the time. But the rain gauge only showed 1/2 inch. That was depressing. But at least we got some moisture. And rain is a lot better than any kind of watering we can do. Our city water is sad. Such bad quality. It's full of iron and manganese. We filter it for household use, then drink reverse osmosis water. Filter it with six filters and still cannot drink it, it's that bad.

I went to play practice tonight. Musselshell Community Players is back on again this year. I have a bigger part. I lobbied for one and got it. Should be fun. But the show is mid-September, so the push is now on to learn the lines I have. Yikes. I always have fun with this group, lots of laughs. It started again tonight with one lady telling of her escapades as she fell in her bathroom. Now, she is a large woman, not fat, large. As in tall and big. And a small bathroom. After taking a shower, falling and hitting the toilet, and bruising and trying to get up and scaring a grandchild and being naked and calling a husband who was fixing breakfast somewhere else for friends and on and on. Oh my. Then it got better. After a week, she went to the doctor, got some pain pills for the pain. So she takes 1/2 of one, it helps then waits several hours, takes another 1/2 of one. Now this 1/2 of one affects her differently, with heart fluttering, she's had a stent, and high blood pressure, and rapid heartbeat, and then husband says, 'Well, let's go to the cafe and put you in the walk-in freezer, the cold will help bring down that blood pressure.' (they run the cafe in the small town) Now that's gotta be a redneck solution if I ever heard of one. She's popping nitroglyercin and he's suggesting a walk-in freezer.

You just cannot make this stuff up. No one would believe you. It's gonna be fun!

3 Like • Comment • View 1 comment

July 19, 2021 at 8:24pm

#1013957

The Chicken Fire

We had a fire callout this afternoon. Seems a bird hit an electrical wire, got electrocuted, dropped to the ground and started a small grass fire. They're calling it the 'fried chicken fire'.

Well, let me tell you. That bird could have just flown through the air today and become fried chicken. The high was 107°. The newscaster for Billings said, "What? I looked at my phone and said 'I don't live in Vegas'."

Crazy hot weather. No rain.

1 Like • Comment • View 7 comments

July 19, 2021 at 1:02am

#1013916

Professor T

Professor T was on PBS tonight. This series is about a Cambridge professor of criminology. He has OCD, triggered by a childhood episode. It is interesting in only the way a British series can be. Quirky, intelligent, and thought provoking. He told his class to write an essay about who they thought a criminal could be. Then after the class turned in their essays, he proceeded to proclaim them all worthless attempts, threw them in the garbage and read a previous student's paper.

Anyway, it's all wrapped up with this professor being asked to consult on police cases around Cambridge. And of course, difficulties in his private life. Quite well done, quite intelligent, and quite fun.

It's the end of a hot day here. I just opened all the windows and doors. We don't use A/C. The cool air at night we pray cools off the house enough to stay the day, since we insulated the heck out of it. We use ceiling fans and close everything back up once it gets warmer outside than inside. Hubby and I both hate A/C. So this is our way of coping during this hot spell.

The high today at our house was 102°. The low this morning was 58°. Crazy.

More hot days to come. We pray no one does anything stupid to start a fire.

1 Like • Comment

July 18, 2021 at 11:58am

#1013860

Hot and Dry

Well, Hi There! By order of Queen NormaJean, there will be no sitting on the porch today to ponder. We'll adjourn to the inner rooms of the castle for this update from the realm.

It's going to be another hot one here in Roundup. There is an excessive heat warning by the National Weather service til Thursday for daytime temperatures from 102° to 109°. And then another warning for fire weather for wind and hot temperatures as well. Hot and Dry, no rain forecast. Wonderful.

We've pretty much decided not to water the yard. It can go dormant til fall. We water the garden, the new sod we put down to cover bare ground, the new trees, and some flowers. I shudder to see my next water bill.

But, since I cannot change the weather, on to better topics. I've had my work noted in three recent newsletters! Check these out:
The Mystery newsletter "Mystery Newsletter (July 14, 2021)"

featured "Pick up Some Grapes"

.
The Fantasy newsletter "Fantasy Newsletter (July 14, 2021)"

featured "Gary the Gnome"

The Action Adventure newsletter "Action/Adventure Newsletter (July 14, 2021)"

featured "They Came"

That is pretty darn spectacular if I do say so myself. And there is another flash fiction story I want to tout. This was to be entered last night, but for some reason I forgot to post it. I got to watching a movie on PBS.

STATIC

Hanky Panky

(E)
Daily Flash Fiction 7/17/21 W/C 208
#2254832 by QueenNormaJeanGreeneggs&vegham

Let me know what you think of it.

That's all the news from the kingdom for now. Off to the 30DBC. Lots to read there. "30-Day Blogging Challenge ON HIATUS"

Queen NormaJean

Like • Comment • View 2 comments

July 13, 2021 at 12:39am

#1013551

Sheriff's Report

So hubby and I were sitting at lunch today. I was reading the weekly local paper. I came across the Sheriff's report from 6/11 to 6/28.

Let me tell you, we had a few hoots and hollers about it. So I thought I just have to share some of the entries. Now folks, you can't get better than this. Small town Montana emergency calls.

I'll skip some in interest of space.

Here we go:

*Hang up
*Fire reported at Gage and Allen Road
*Male found in a ditch and was initially not responding to verbal cues
*Caller updating on the condition of the man in the ditch
*Child playing with the phone
*Two 911 calls regarding dogs on the highway near the Liberty Gas station
*Pocket dial
*Male called to report a cow on the road
*Female called to advise that a male committed suicide in her yard
*Female called back asking about clean up from the previous call
*Male called, unhappy with the citations he received on a traffic stop
*Caller reported a calf near the road - the owner was notified
*Caller advised of horses on the road - the owner was notified
*Caller advised of a vehicle on the side of the road
*Caller reported a cow walking down the highway - the owners were notified
*Caller reported a possible intoxicated male that fell into the road - Montana Highway Patrol responded
*The call dropped, it was regarding the previously mentioned male in the road
*Male requested an office to his home, possible prowler
*Same male requested that the officer return to discuss possible entry zones the prowler could use

You can't make this stuff up. Good ideas for stories.

You're welcome.

3 Like • Comment • View 1 comment

July 11, 2021 at 1:24pm

#1013468

It's Crying Time Again

Do you remember the song 'It's Crying Time Again'? Well, that thought just came to me, with my different lyrics,

It's crying time again, the fires are starting.
I can see the smoke a'billowin in the sky
I can hear the sirens blowing
It won't be long til all are crying, all is gone.

Fire season is here. So many fires all over the region. There are three nearby. The fire siren gives everyone the jitters when it goes off. The fairgrounds has firefighters camping out there. The stalls used for the 4th of July rodeo now hold horses and cows people evacuated from their land.

We've only had about 3/10 of an inch of rain in the past two weeks. Drought conditions are now the norm. Grasshoppers are moving in. Farmers are scrambling to find hay for their animals.

The other day hubby bought some sod to cover the dirt in our backyard. This is ground left barren by the big dig some months ago that repaired our sewer. So on a very hot and buggy day, we laid sod. Oh my. Several hours later, bug-bitten, sun-scorched, and irritated with each other, we finally laid all pieces. I have to admit it looks wonderful. Now the challenge is to get it to stay green and root.

After the Big Bang of the 4th celebration, all in Roundup is back to the summer normal. Except for the fires. We pray those don't become the new normal each summer.

Another day of 100°, YIPPEE. At least it has been cooling down at night. But it is summer. Better than -40°.

3 Like • Comment

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