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Showing posts with label Strawberryness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Strawberryness. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Like my new banner?
I have to admit that I'm very pleased with it. That's a picture I took of a few of the strawberries we picked over the weekend (lots of stories to come on that adventure!!). I have been wanting to individualize my blog for a while now, and when I actually sat down to do it, I found out it wasn't nearly as hard as I had thought it would be. (That could be a metaphor for my whole life, I think.) Anyway, I have lots of strawberry thoughts bouncing around in my head and lots of strawberry pictures trapped in my camera, so please don't give up on me...I will be posting again very soon.
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
Strawberry Sightings
Have you ever read Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life? If not, you should. It's quite enjoyable, light reading. One of the entries is about marshmallows. The author and her friend had randomly declared it to be The Week of The Marshmallow and throughout the week unexpected marshmallow events kept occurring. Her thought was that the universe somehow presents you with what you're looking for. I look for strawberries. And these are some of my recent strawberry sightings.
On Sunday I followed a link that turned out to be, meh, not really that interesting to me. I hated to see it be a wasted click, since it had been such an effort ;) so I started scrolling to the right to see bridges I might actually travel on. After several seconds I realized the scale of the map was really tiny and I had only scrolled from California into Arizona. Sheesh. I stopped and the first town my eye landed on was Strawberry Hills.
A couple of weeks ago we were watching Elf (yes, in January) for the millionth time and suddenly I noticed a store in the background of Mary Steenburgen's scene. It was called Strawberry, with a red and green neon strawberry in place of the "a." I had never seen it before.
I walked past the storage closet at Katie's ballet school and glanced in as I hurried by. I hope Miss Linda will forgive me for this, but it was a WRECK. Two steps past the closet, I stopped and thought for a second, then turned back to look back in. Sure enough, in the midst of the cleaning supplies, old papers, old costumes and old who-knows-what-else, was a coffee mug with a big strawberry painted on the side.
When we were in Oregon for our Christmas vacation, we drove from the airport in Portland down to where Scott's family lived. It's about a 90 minute drive down the interstate. Like any interstate, it has bridges crossing over it. The only one that I looked up and saw--coming and going--was labeled "Strawberry Lane."
I ordered a little something for my niece's Christmas gift from this lady. When it arrived, her return address label had a strawberry on it. I felt an instant kinship with her.
When we went to see Enchanted in the theater on the day after Thanksgiving, we had to stand in line to get into the theater. We were surrounded by lots of kids. Lots of loud, squirmy kids. There were exactly three who weren't getting on my nerves. My two and a little girl of about four who was standing with her mom and siblings. As the usher-type teenager moved the velvet rope that had been (miraculously) restraining the crowd, the little girl turned to me, made eye contact for the first time and said, "I like your bracelet." (I was wearing my strawberry bracelet, which I wear everywhere.) I just knew there was something about that kid I liked.
Another time I will tell you about the day that the universe wanted to talk about cheesecake.
On Sunday I followed a link that turned out to be, meh, not really that interesting to me. I hated to see it be a wasted click, since it had been such an effort ;) so I started scrolling to the right to see bridges I might actually travel on. After several seconds I realized the scale of the map was really tiny and I had only scrolled from California into Arizona. Sheesh. I stopped and the first town my eye landed on was Strawberry Hills.
A couple of weeks ago we were watching Elf (yes, in January) for the millionth time and suddenly I noticed a store in the background of Mary Steenburgen's scene. It was called Strawberry, with a red and green neon strawberry in place of the "a." I had never seen it before.
I walked past the storage closet at Katie's ballet school and glanced in as I hurried by. I hope Miss Linda will forgive me for this, but it was a WRECK. Two steps past the closet, I stopped and thought for a second, then turned back to look back in. Sure enough, in the midst of the cleaning supplies, old papers, old costumes and old who-knows-what-else, was a coffee mug with a big strawberry painted on the side.
When we were in Oregon for our Christmas vacation, we drove from the airport in Portland down to where Scott's family lived. It's about a 90 minute drive down the interstate. Like any interstate, it has bridges crossing over it. The only one that I looked up and saw--coming and going--was labeled "Strawberry Lane."
I ordered a little something for my niece's Christmas gift from this lady. When it arrived, her return address label had a strawberry on it. I felt an instant kinship with her.
When we went to see Enchanted in the theater on the day after Thanksgiving, we had to stand in line to get into the theater. We were surrounded by lots of kids. Lots of loud, squirmy kids. There were exactly three who weren't getting on my nerves. My two and a little girl of about four who was standing with her mom and siblings. As the usher-type teenager moved the velvet rope that had been (miraculously) restraining the crowd, the little girl turned to me, made eye contact for the first time and said, "I like your bracelet." (I was wearing my strawberry bracelet, which I wear everywhere.) I just knew there was something about that kid I liked.
Another time I will tell you about the day that the universe wanted to talk about cheesecake.
Saturday, December 22, 2007
Strawberry Goodness
One of my birthday gifts this year was this stamp set from Papertrey Ink. (warning: I am Not Responsible for any actions YOU CHOOSE to take after clicking this link! I can't click it myself without wanting to buy, buy, buy!). Who knows, maybe one of these days I will branch out and use some of the other images in the set.
Monday, August 06, 2007
100 Things About Me
It is customary in the blogosphere to post 100 things about oneself when one reaches the 100th-post milestone.
1. I am named after the song "Windy" by the Association. It's one of the songs that instantly puts me in a great mood.
2. I have trouble telling my right from my left. I have to stop and think about it and even then, I get it wrong just about as often as I get it right.
3. I will always think of myself as a Strawberry.
4. I'm a "cat person"
5. who currently happens to own a dog.
6. I'm a bit of a Prairie Muffin wanna-be.
7. Invite me for a scrapbooking getaway. I'll clear my calendar.
8. I think my husband's a hottie.
9. I get panicky if there's no chocolate in the house.
10. But cheesecake is my favorite dessert.
11. Unless it's chocolate cheesecake...I can take or leave chocolate cheesecake.
12. I snore
13. And it doesn't embarrass me at all.
14. I was a ridiculously picky eater as a child.
15. I'll eat just about anything now, even greens;
16. Except pork, I really don't care for pork.
17. One of my favorite quotes is, "You can never get a book long enough or a cup of tea big enough to suit me." (C.S. Lewis)
18. I have a favorite child.
19. It's not always the same child.
20. Sometimes it's J.B.
21. I once dreamed that I had dinner with Paul Newman. It was an awesome dream.
22. In the same week, I dreamed that my mattress was filled with rats. I woke up screaming and scared the snot out of Scott.
23. I have a small tattoo on my left ankle
24. and what used to be a birthmark on my back. Over the years, it has atrophied into a really weird looking patch of sunken skin. I don't like to wear anything that might show it.
25. I am an ugly cry-er.
26. I have a loud sneeze.
27. After being made aware that some people are annoyed by said sneeze, I started trying to sneeze quietly, but it wasn't as satisfying.
28. My favorite books are Crazy in Alabama and Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe.
29. Another favorite quote: "To those who have fought for it, freedom has a flavor that the protected will never taste." (Thomas Paine)
30. Between 1995 and 2001, I lived in six different states.
31. I've lived in two more states since then.
32. Um, yeah, married to military; why do you ask?
33. July 26 (last Thursday) was our 10th anniversary.
34. I still feel like a newlywed.
35. I despise urban legend emails.
36. But I love get-to-know-you ones.
37. I would like to get my vision corrected (can't think of the name of the surgery)
38. But I'm notoriously squeamish about anyone messing with my eyes, so it'll never happen.
39. My love language is "words of affirmation."
40. My favorite Bible verse is Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
41. I loved being pregnant!
42. I was horrified when one of the midwives casually mentioned the baby sleeping with us.
43. Seven years later, we still have an open bed policy.
44. Except the dog...Scott's not budging on that.
45. I can still remember a nightmare I had when I was about three, and thinking about it makes my heart beat faster, just because I remember how scared I was.
46. I find life very exciting, and it genuinely confounds me that some people don't.
47. I would like to learn to sew and knit,
48. but I won't because I don't have time add reading all the sewing and knitting blogs to the homeschooling, stamping and scrapbooking blogs I already read.
49. I am actually not online as much as some people think.
50. I have a book inside me that I want to get to work on.
51. I hate food-scented candles. But most of you know that already.
52. Reading bedtime stories is my favorite time of day.
53. To this day, if I listen to my mother read aloud, I fall asleep.
54. I don't really like popcorn; I usually feel sick after I eat it.
55. Real Coke, please. No Pepsi--ever.
56. If I ever happen to catch "Grease" on tv, I have to stop whatever I'm doing and finish watching it.
57. My sister and I once sat in front of the TV for literally the entire weekend, watching a 48 hour marathon of Stand-up Spotlight on VH-1.
58. Speaking of my sister, when I'm with her, I often laugh until my face hurts.
59. I always say that "A promise is a sacred thing," and I never, ever promise something lightly.
60. I would love, love, love to go to Italy someday.
61. Having my husband in the car with me turns me into a very nervous driver. He doesn't care for it much, either! HA!
62. I don't really like the color yellow. I just never seem to be in the mood for it.
63. I have a plant that I've kept alive and thriving for almost 3 years. That's a record for me.
64. I don't even know what kind of plant it is. That's how brown my thumb is.
65. In general, I prefer gold jewelry to silver jewelry.
66. I volunteered for Hawaii's Race for the Cure for 2 years and absolutely loved it.
67. I love to bake bread.
68. I wouldn't last a day on the Atkins diet.
69. Have you heard of the grapefruit diet? I didn't make it through one meal on that one. I despise grapefruit.
70. I sleep in my contacts even though I know I shouldn't.
71. I don't listen to popular music at all. My sister was astonished that I even knew who Fergie is.
72. I would eat red meat every day if I could.
73. I'm seriously considering a Betty.
74. No matter how awful it feels the next morning, I love staying up later than everybody else and having the house all to myself.
75. A disproportionate number of shirts that I buy for myself are red.
76. I cloth-diapered both my kids. (It's WAY easier than you think!)
77. This year I will be homeschooling both my kids.
78. I can't really swim.
79. I'm currently struggling with the decision of whether to let my hair go gray or fight the inevitable.
80. I like to have A Plan. Once we make A Plan, it takes me 24 hours to adjust to the idea of changing the Plan. At that point, going back to the original Plan is just as unacceptable as changing from it in the first place. This makes my go-with-the-flow husband a little nuts.
81. Actually, now that I typed that all out, I realize I'm a lot more laid-back than I used to be.
82. I hate getting a massage from anybody but Scott. It makes my skin crawl.
83. If I ever get another tattoo, it will be a strawberry.
84. I love to eat soup on rainy days, especially with a grilled cheese sandwich.
85. I will be 37 on my next birthday.
86. I have to force myself to eat breakfast.
87. I am easily distracted by background noise, so I know without a doubt that a career in telemarketing is not for me.
88. I really didn't want to change my name when I got married.
89. Ironically, many of my friends have a tendency to refer to me by my first and last name. (Not when they're talking *to* me, but when they're talking *about* me. Wait, that sounds less than positive. I mean, as in, "Let's call Wendy A* and see if she can go.")
90. I miss the party aspect of selling Pampered Chef.
91. I would gladly be responsible for folding all the laundry in the house, if someone else would do the washing and putting away parts.
92. I generally have pretty thick skin, but I cannot take even the mildest, most constructive criticism from Scott.
93. I have beautiful eyes.
94. I check my email first thing when I wake up and as soon as possible after coming home from anywhere. If my computer had a flashing light for new messages like the phone does, it would add a substantial amount of time to my day.
95. If I were a crayon, I would be red. But my favorite colors are purples and blues.
96. I know a fair bit of French, a lot of American Sign Language, and only a bit of Spanish.
97. I had surgery on my right foot when I was in college to remove a small bone that had mysteriously disintegrated. Still have the scar, and still treat that area very gingerly.
98. I miss the overly-oaked Chardonnays of the '90s.
99. I ate a duck skin sandwich on squooshy white bread--among other things I'd never had, seen or heard of before-- at a celebratory dinner in Hawaii. [Oh my gosh, I just googled duck skin sandwich and found this recipe! The one I had didn't have enough duck meat to register in my memory, but I do remember the scallion brushes as described at the end]
100. I felt significantly more interesting when I started this list than I feel at this moment.
1. I am named after the song "Windy" by the Association. It's one of the songs that instantly puts me in a great mood.
2. I have trouble telling my right from my left. I have to stop and think about it and even then, I get it wrong just about as often as I get it right.
3. I will always think of myself as a Strawberry.
4. I'm a "cat person"
5. who currently happens to own a dog.
6. I'm a bit of a Prairie Muffin wanna-be.
7. Invite me for a scrapbooking getaway. I'll clear my calendar.
8. I think my husband's a hottie.
9. I get panicky if there's no chocolate in the house.
10. But cheesecake is my favorite dessert.
11. Unless it's chocolate cheesecake...I can take or leave chocolate cheesecake.
12. I snore
13. And it doesn't embarrass me at all.
14. I was a ridiculously picky eater as a child.
15. I'll eat just about anything now, even greens;
16. Except pork, I really don't care for pork.
17. One of my favorite quotes is, "You can never get a book long enough or a cup of tea big enough to suit me." (C.S. Lewis)
18. I have a favorite child.
19. It's not always the same child.
20. Sometimes it's J.B.
21. I once dreamed that I had dinner with Paul Newman. It was an awesome dream.
22. In the same week, I dreamed that my mattress was filled with rats. I woke up screaming and scared the snot out of Scott.
23. I have a small tattoo on my left ankle
24. and what used to be a birthmark on my back. Over the years, it has atrophied into a really weird looking patch of sunken skin. I don't like to wear anything that might show it.
25. I am an ugly cry-er.
26. I have a loud sneeze.
27. After being made aware that some people are annoyed by said sneeze, I started trying to sneeze quietly, but it wasn't as satisfying.
28. My favorite books are Crazy in Alabama and Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe.
29. Another favorite quote: "To those who have fought for it, freedom has a flavor that the protected will never taste." (Thomas Paine)
30. Between 1995 and 2001, I lived in six different states.
31. I've lived in two more states since then.
32. Um, yeah, married to military; why do you ask?
33. July 26 (last Thursday) was our 10th anniversary.
34. I still feel like a newlywed.
35. I despise urban legend emails.
36. But I love get-to-know-you ones.
37. I would like to get my vision corrected (can't think of the name of the surgery)
38. But I'm notoriously squeamish about anyone messing with my eyes, so it'll never happen.
39. My love language is "words of affirmation."
40. My favorite Bible verse is Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
41. I loved being pregnant!
42. I was horrified when one of the midwives casually mentioned the baby sleeping with us.
43. Seven years later, we still have an open bed policy.
44. Except the dog...Scott's not budging on that.
45. I can still remember a nightmare I had when I was about three, and thinking about it makes my heart beat faster, just because I remember how scared I was.
46. I find life very exciting, and it genuinely confounds me that some people don't.
47. I would like to learn to sew and knit,
48. but I won't because I don't have time add reading all the sewing and knitting blogs to the homeschooling, stamping and scrapbooking blogs I already read.
49. I am actually not online as much as some people think.
50. I have a book inside me that I want to get to work on.
51. I hate food-scented candles. But most of you know that already.
52. Reading bedtime stories is my favorite time of day.
53. To this day, if I listen to my mother read aloud, I fall asleep.
54. I don't really like popcorn; I usually feel sick after I eat it.
55. Real Coke, please. No Pepsi--ever.
56. If I ever happen to catch "Grease" on tv, I have to stop whatever I'm doing and finish watching it.
57. My sister and I once sat in front of the TV for literally the entire weekend, watching a 48 hour marathon of Stand-up Spotlight on VH-1.
58. Speaking of my sister, when I'm with her, I often laugh until my face hurts.
59. I always say that "A promise is a sacred thing," and I never, ever promise something lightly.
60. I would love, love, love to go to Italy someday.
61. Having my husband in the car with me turns me into a very nervous driver. He doesn't care for it much, either! HA!
62. I don't really like the color yellow. I just never seem to be in the mood for it.
63. I have a plant that I've kept alive and thriving for almost 3 years. That's a record for me.
64. I don't even know what kind of plant it is. That's how brown my thumb is.
65. In general, I prefer gold jewelry to silver jewelry.
66. I volunteered for Hawaii's Race for the Cure for 2 years and absolutely loved it.
67. I love to bake bread.
68. I wouldn't last a day on the Atkins diet.
69. Have you heard of the grapefruit diet? I didn't make it through one meal on that one. I despise grapefruit.
70. I sleep in my contacts even though I know I shouldn't.
71. I don't listen to popular music at all. My sister was astonished that I even knew who Fergie is.
72. I would eat red meat every day if I could.
73. I'm seriously considering a Betty.
74. No matter how awful it feels the next morning, I love staying up later than everybody else and having the house all to myself.
75. A disproportionate number of shirts that I buy for myself are red.
76. I cloth-diapered both my kids. (It's WAY easier than you think!)
77. This year I will be homeschooling both my kids.
78. I can't really swim.
79. I'm currently struggling with the decision of whether to let my hair go gray or fight the inevitable.
80. I like to have A Plan. Once we make A Plan, it takes me 24 hours to adjust to the idea of changing the Plan. At that point, going back to the original Plan is just as unacceptable as changing from it in the first place. This makes my go-with-the-flow husband a little nuts.
81. Actually, now that I typed that all out, I realize I'm a lot more laid-back than I used to be.
82. I hate getting a massage from anybody but Scott. It makes my skin crawl.
83. If I ever get another tattoo, it will be a strawberry.
84. I love to eat soup on rainy days, especially with a grilled cheese sandwich.
85. I will be 37 on my next birthday.
86. I have to force myself to eat breakfast.
87. I am easily distracted by background noise, so I know without a doubt that a career in telemarketing is not for me.
88. I really didn't want to change my name when I got married.
89. Ironically, many of my friends have a tendency to refer to me by my first and last name. (Not when they're talking *to* me, but when they're talking *about* me. Wait, that sounds less than positive. I mean, as in, "Let's call Wendy A* and see if she can go.")
90. I miss the party aspect of selling Pampered Chef.
91. I would gladly be responsible for folding all the laundry in the house, if someone else would do the washing and putting away parts.
92. I generally have pretty thick skin, but I cannot take even the mildest, most constructive criticism from Scott.
93. I have beautiful eyes.
94. I check my email first thing when I wake up and as soon as possible after coming home from anywhere. If my computer had a flashing light for new messages like the phone does, it would add a substantial amount of time to my day.
95. If I were a crayon, I would be red. But my favorite colors are purples and blues.
96. I know a fair bit of French, a lot of American Sign Language, and only a bit of Spanish.
97. I had surgery on my right foot when I was in college to remove a small bone that had mysteriously disintegrated. Still have the scar, and still treat that area very gingerly.
98. I miss the overly-oaked Chardonnays of the '90s.
99. I ate a duck skin sandwich on squooshy white bread--among other things I'd never had, seen or heard of before-- at a celebratory dinner in Hawaii. [Oh my gosh, I just googled duck skin sandwich and found this recipe! The one I had didn't have enough duck meat to register in my memory, but I do remember the scallion brushes as described at the end]
100. I felt significantly more interesting when I started this list than I feel at this moment.
Thursday, February 01, 2007
Amy, I'd like you to meet Maria!
Who is Maria? Who is Maria?? Oh my, where to start? Maria is my brown friend, a Strawberry from my first year in MOPS. Maria is one of my movie-going friends, but don't ask her to plan the evening; Angie does that. If Maria or I try to plan it, we always screw it up. I think it's important for friends to know their proper roles and this movie group has evolved into a well-oiled machine.
Maria is my prayer warrior friend, my encourager, my first shirt. One of my favorite things about Maria is that she loves me enough to tell me when I'm wrong. Seriously, how many people will really tell you when you're wrong? Maria loves to laugh and has the driest wit you'll find anywhere. More than once she's left me completely speechless with the perfect comeback. Maria is the proud, doting mama of JB, who has one of the sweetest hearts beating. He's four--just about 2 weeks younger than Katie--and I see so much of her reflected in him that it makes me want to be a better mother. I am one of several women at our church who have a girl-crush on Maria, which is one of our ongoing jokes. She is *that* lovable, though--to know her is to love her.
And because I'm feeling silly tonight:
¿Quién es Maria? ¿Quién es Maria?? ¿Oh mi, dónde comenzar? Maria es mi amigo marrón, una fresa a partir de mi primer año en MOPS. Maria es uno de mis amigos peli'cula-que van, pero no pide que ella planee la tarde; Angie hace eso. Si Maria o yo intenta planearlo, lo atornillamos siempre para arriba. Pienso es importante que los amigos sepan que sus papeles apropiados y este grupo de la película ha desarrollado en una máquina bien-engrasada.
Maria es mi amigo del guerrero del rezo, mi encourager, mi primera camisa. Una de mis cosas preferidas sobre Maria es que ella me ama bastante para decirme cuándo soy incorrecto. ¿Seriamente, cuánta gente realmente le dirá cuándo usted es incorrecto? Maria ama reír y tiene el ingenio más seco que usted encontrará dondequiera. Más de una vez que le me dejen totalmente sin habla con la reaparición perfecta. Maria es el mama orgulloso, doting de JB, que tiene uno de batir más dulce de los corazones. Él es cuatro -- apenas cerca de 2 semanas más joven que Katie -- y veo tanto de ella reflejé en él que hace que desea ser una madre mejor. Soy una de varias mujeres en nuestra iglesia que tengan muchacha-machaquen en Maria, que es una de nuestras bromas en curso. Ella es * que * lovable, aunque -- conocerle es amarla.
Saturday, August 12, 2006
Th-th-th-that's all folks!!
Scott finished his ACSC course yesterday!! YAY! I am so happy we (oops, I meant to say "he") won't have that hanging over our (er, "his") heads any more. This is a cause for Great Celebration. I hereby deputize anyone reading this blog to celebrate on our behalf in whatever way you choose. Since ACSC was a long, drawn-out thing--what did it take, sweetie, 18 months?--it seems logical that we should have a long, drawn-out celebration. Maybe not 18 months of celebrating, but maybe one night of celebration for each test. If only Scott liked Mexican food and chocolate as much as I do. Ah, well, we each have to celebrate in our own ways, n'est-ce pas?
Speaking of celebrations, I'm going to see Talledega Nights on Monday. I need a name for this group of friends..."three Strawberries, my stylist and a neighbor" doesn't have the panache this particular group deserves. I must put some serious thought into this. Feel free to leave suggestions. The Strawberries are me, Angie & Maria; Michelle is the stylist and Lona is Maria's neighbor. Is Jana coming? I had better email her while I'm thinking of it. Lona stamps, but not in Katrice's group, and Maria doesn't stamp, so at best we're "5 Stampers and their Brown Friend" if you go that route. Maybe we'll be the Strawberries and Wannabes, a la the Sweet Potato Queens.
Speaking of celebrations, I'm going to see Talledega Nights on Monday. I need a name for this group of friends..."three Strawberries, my stylist and a neighbor" doesn't have the panache this particular group deserves. I must put some serious thought into this. Feel free to leave suggestions. The Strawberries are me, Angie & Maria; Michelle is the stylist and Lona is Maria's neighbor. Is Jana coming? I had better email her while I'm thinking of it. Lona stamps, but not in Katrice's group, and Maria doesn't stamp, so at best we're "5 Stampers and their Brown Friend" if you go that route. Maybe we'll be the Strawberries and Wannabes, a la the Sweet Potato Queens.
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