"Just for Fun" Quiz Results

Monday I shared with you the war between my more delicate clothing and Jimmy's multi-velcro-pocketed cargo shorts. At the end of each wash cycle I'd open the machine to the horrifying scene of my nylon underwear clinging to dear life amidst a good choking by his Velcro vipers. Something had to be done, so now my delicates bathe alone in peace and then hang dry in the cool gentle breeze of a fan on low.

Quiz Answer: On behalf of mental exercise, I posed the question asking which side of the clothes line you thought my skirt was hung on to create this particular angle. It bends the mind to think it does make a difference. Believe it or not the long end was on the upslope of the line as it hung on the left side of the clothesline. I would have guessed the short end would have been on the upslope.

I discovered another surprise when washing the skirt a second time to get it back in shape. Rewetting it didn't work. It still came out crooked as an old walking stick. It took me repeating this process a third time to realize that all I had to do was hang it on a "straight" line and manually pull it back into shape. Three washes and two blogs later I have my skirt back.

If you want to hear a true horror story read Cheryl Barkers comment on Monday's blog about her daughter's wedding dress when they hung it on a line two weeks before the wedding. My trial pales in comparison.

Who'd Have Thought?

I have a short laundry line in the basement where I hang certain clothes to dry. Things that are delicate that I don't want harassed by the aggressive apparel that live under this roof, things like Jimmy's cargo shorts. With enumerable velcro strips on a bazillion different pockets, they invariably spring open up in the dryer unleashing a gang of rough and tumble bullies who love to pick on innocent defenseless victims like my silk underwear or favorite top. As any good principal would do, I've assessed the situation, addressed the issue, and made adjustments to protect the more fragile and frail victims of laundry care, hence the clothesline.

Fragile and frail...yeah...to say the least. Even with the greatest of care I've discovered I must be cautious even when suspending these sensitive items. Who would have thought that hanging this skirt on the upper slope of the line would make it dry crooked? Golly, how easily altered can you be? And I thought I got bent out of shape easily. Shoot fire I've stood on a hill for a while and not walked away with a limp, so it is possible.

Needless to say this skirt is back in the wash "alone" and will be hung "properly" so as not to upset its delicate nature.

Just for fun: By looking at the angle of this skirt, which side of the clothes line do you think it was hung, the right or the left?

Speechless...no more

Last week we celebrated Dani's 21st birthday. Forget cars, college, and the latest fashion, all she ever wants for her special occasion is candy, kids shampoo, and early reader books. Her simplicity is amazing and I've learned not fight but enjoy each passing year. Other than baking 35 king-sized cup cakes this year, her birthday came and went without much hoopla. Today, however, brought great cause to celebrate as Jimmy went to pick Dani up from work and her teacher tearfully told him Dani had spoken three words, "mom" "home" and "giraffe."

Knowing Dani had never spoken before, her teacher was as moved as if Dani where her own. Jimmy hadn't left the premises before he called me in tears, leaving me speechless and crying at the heart-warming news. As his words began to sink into my heart, the Lord reminded me what I said to Dani before leaving for work this morning, "Have a good day Sissy, remember God is with you."

Thank you God for showing your power today and for never leaving our little girl. If Dani never speaks again I thank you for allowing her first word to be "mom." May she fulfill the plan you have for her here on this earth and may you receive all the glory, honor, and praise.

Nullified

Nullify (transitive verb) means to make of no value or consequence.

Synonyms: nullify, negate, annul, abrogate, and invalidate.

Yesterday was a day of nullification. I didn't realize it until the end of the day, but like a old-time weight scale most everything I did nullified something or another allowing me to end the day well balanced. For instance, I slept unusually late in order to counteract the exceptionally busy week. I went to bed the night before utterly exhausted, so sleeping late affectively annulled my fatigue.

After enjoying a lovely read on the deck in the beautiful weather, we went to the mall to get the clasp on my ankle bracelet repaired. While at the jeweler I saw the silver twin of my favorite watch. I have five other watches and I love them all, but my shiny gold light-weight elegant time piece is my fave because it's like wearing nothing at all. At work I mouse with my right hand and write with my left and this watch is forever faithful to let me write in complete freedom. My silver baby wasn't cheap, so we went to Wal Mart and used seven coupons to save $10. A definite "A" for effort.

Then, considering the cool non-humid air of Kansas City wasn't going to last forever, I took the dogs out for a run. All three of us jogged the neighborhood with great gusto and though I don't know how the dogs felt about the outing, I returned home pretty sure I'd burned off a portion of the McDonald's lunch we ate before going to the mall. (I might have tipped the scales in the wrong direction when I ate a bowl of M&M's while watching Wipeout, but let's not count that since it ruins my point.)

Clearly nullification works best when anointed with a bit of rationalization.

A Delightful Day

Dani had a great day celebrating her birthday at work (Day Hab.) She shared her 4" king size cupcakes with everyone and Jimmy said they were a hit. Praise God too because baking them wasn't a breeze and not a total success. My friend, whom I borrowed the fancy cupcake pans from, guessed it would require three boxes of cake mix to make 35 treats. As I mixed up the last box it became clear I was going to come up short a dozen, maybe even a baker's dozen. Thankfully my sweet cupcake, Jimmy, ran to the grocery store to buy two more cake mixes. It took a total of five boxed to complete the order.

When all was said and done we had 35 fancy cakes, but a few weren't cooked fully even though they baked along side ones that came out a success. I picked the best of the batch for her to take to work, sending a tidy few that were a bit "soft." I felt horrible but there was nothing else I could do, so I prayed over the fragile treats. "Lord, this is all I have and I hate to send even one soft cake to disabled adults who deserve so much more. Please make is so the good ones are handed out first and if someone gets a soft cake, prompt it to strike them as the yummiest thing they've ever had. If you want to fix the softies overnight you can do that too." (If Jesus can feed a multitude with a few fish and loaves of bread, I knew He could make these treats a delight.)

Thankfully word has it everyone loved Dani's cupcakes. A miracle no doubt.

Here's Dani with 32 handmade

birthday cards given to her today

by her co-workers.

(Could it be three people didn't show up

and a few softies were never served?

That's one way God may have

answered my prayer.)

She also came home with wonderful birthday presents:

lotion, hair ties, and head bands.

All her favorite things.

Happy 21st Birthday Doodle Bug!

Happy Birthday Dani!

We celebrated Dani's 21st birthday today by making 35 king size cupcakes for her work tomorrow. She was tickled pink to mix the ingredients and add sprinkles to the tops in order to make treats for all her friends.






Happy birthday little girl. We love you and thank God for giving you to us. May the Lord guide, protect, and keep you all of your days!

Love,

Mom and Dad.

Look Who's Jumping Now

Eccesiastes is a pro. He jumps into the pool with vim, vigor, and precision. He's been doing it for years and is a retriever from head to tail. Cocoa Bean has been watching and learning all summer and is finally taking the plunge after his big brother. Ecclesi is a long distance jumper. He can jump into the pool and nearly hit his nose on the other side. Cocoa, on the other hand, is smaller and jumps with a spring that makes him fly high in an arch.

The hoot is we found out our neighbors a couple doors down thought Jimmy and I have been doing cannon balls into the pool over and over each evening. We nearly died laughing as we told them the loud splashing was the dogs not us. Can you imagine?

Third Time's A Charm

Why would it take three attempts for me to get my summer flag faced in the right direction so it could be read from the street? The first time I threaded it onto its hanger I walked in the front door with no self-doubt whatsoever. But, as I was about to close the front door, something (the Holy Spirit I suspect) prompted me to question my little decoration.

As I unlocked the glass door to take a second look I noticed I could read the flag from inside the house. "Maybe it says 'Summer Welcome' on both sides" I rationalized. But no. Two steps onto the lawn revealed I had indeed hung it wrong.

Hoping no one, especially our brand new neighbors, had witnessed my flag fax pau, I rehung the festive critter and stepped back for a second look. And would you believe, in spite of more fiddling, it still welcomed summer backwards. What are the odds? Honestly, I don't think I could have thought of three different ways to hang a flag if I tried.

Determined to meet the challenge, I flipped the crazy thing around another new way thus solving the Rubik's "flag" puzzle. Fortunately I don't have to do this again till fall.

Handy FYI: I hang all my little flags on a pant hanger in the coat closet inside the front door. It's keeps them organized and ready for the next season or occasion. (I wonder how many times it will take me to face Autumn toward the street in September.)

After Dark...No Problem

One of my favorite summer activities is reading a good book on the deck. I swing and read as the dogs romp around until they're too pooped to play and plop at my feet. Since the longest daylight hours have come to pass, valuable reading time is beginning to dwindle be it ever so small.

Defying nature I decided to get a book light. I've seen them for years but never felt the need for one, until recently. I used it for the first time last night and discovered it is handier than a pocket on a shirt! The sun set and I kept reading. Dani got tired of swinging and went into the house and I continued on. Even Ecclesiastes headed indoors to get a break from the fireworks over head, leaving Cocoa and me swinging in the dark as my "Mighty Bright" light illuminated every word.

I bought this handy little thing at Barnes and Noble for $14.95. It uses three AAA batteries and gives 22 hours of reading time. I absolutely love my new little buddy and look forward to using it again tonight. If you haven't tried it I'd say it a good investment for all avid readers.

Reaping Big

You reap what you sow and we're reaping big. This cucumber and green bean proves the TLC Jimmy's been giving the garden. We've never grown green beans before and I suspect we let some stay on the vine too long. Bigger may not better because these beans were dry and stringy. We'll try picking them sooner.

Are you tending a garden this year? If so, what are you harvesting and how is it turning out?