This is a test

This is only a test. . .to see if indeed I can post from my iPod.

Mea culpa!

The other night I was tweaking my post categories, only to find that made them show up in Google Reader as brand new posts. I’m sorry to all who had to wade through them; I used to use Bloglines which did not pick up edited posts in that way and so I had no idea!

Just thinking

After sharing a couple youtube videos recently it occurred to me that I could do the same for quite a few of my posts, if I were so inclined (I’m not). I tend to think in phrases, often though not always musical. If you browse through the titles of my blog posts, you’ll see scattered borrowed phrases. Not a lot; sometimes the working title (ie the way I contemplate a post while showering or chopping vegetables) doesn’t actually get used because I’m afraid no one else will get my little joke. But some of them do make it past my self-editing.

If you’re not convinced you can ask my kids–talk about a hypotenuse and I’m likely to start singing I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major-General (poor Drama Boy. . .he’s now in Pre-Algebra and is going to hear many cheerful facts about the square of a hypotenuse! far more than any 13 year old boy wants to hear such a thing). Spelling tests also lead to eye rolling because my sentences often are actually lines from a song and therefore must be sung rather than spoken: Mountain. Climb ev’ry mountain; search high and low; follow every byway, every path you–MOM!!!! I’m waiting for the next word. Sigh. Poor little dears.

Phrases from literature have also lodged themselves in my head, and tend to come out when I’m contemplating something completely different. I think I can, I think I can. . . I haven’t had watermelon since Hector was a pup. (that would be Pa Ingalls in Little House on the Prairie, and I’ve never been sure who Hector was or when he was a pup, but I was cutting up watermelon yesterday so there you are). Marilla, isn’t it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet? It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. To be or not to be: that is the question.

So. . .now you know the rest of the story.

Housekeeping

There–I think I’m done tinkering with the appearance of my blog. What do you think? I wanted to update the picture, and added a couple widgets while I was at it. I’ve taken down my blog roll for updating, although I’m not sure if anyone actually uses it. I do most of my own reading through Bloglines so I usually only view the actual blog if I want to leave a comment.

Pay no attention. . .

to the fact that I’ve been tinkering with the appearance of my blog tonight. I’ve run out of steam before settling on a new design so I’m going to bed. I’ll finish fixing it tomorrow. . .

Drawing a blank

Or rather a block–writer’s block, that is. Between Larry needing his/our laptop at church last week and setting up my new laptop this week, I found that when I finally had time to blog I couldn’t think of something to write. So I wrote nothing; after all, I blog not because I am required but because I enjoy it. And writing when I have nothing to say isn’t particularly enjoyable to do (and makes for dull reading).

It isn’t that nothing has happened here in the past week, of course. I tried some new recipes and did plenty of laundry. We rearranged our living/dining room and took an overnight trip so we could combine shopping with Larry making a hospital call. I finished knitting a shawl for Twirly Girl, cast on my second mitten, and ate my first strawberries of the season. Any of these things could be material for a blog post.  . .but I didn’t write one.

I hope to resume my normal habit of posting regularly, but if I don’t. . .I’m still here. I’m still thinking of all of you, whether I have time to share what’s on my mind or not.

Conversation

A blog is a bit like a one-sided conversation. . .I talk, and you reply–or not. The funny thing is that I never know which posts will generate lots of comments and which will have none. There seems to be  no connection between including photos or not, nor does it matter how long I spent composing a particular post. No particular subject has a monopoly on comments (or lack thereof), either.

Then again, I read quite a few blogs and my own commenting tends to be sporadic. I use Bloglines to read, so it takes an extra click to get to a blog to comment. That isn’t a big deal, but it does make me think twice about whether I have something worth saying or not. Then there’s the annoying “word verifications” which are specifically designed to make sure you really wanted to leave a comment.

Back to my own blog, I sometimes comment on your comments but I’m never sure if you see those. After all, I usually can’t remember when and where I left comments on other blogs, so I seldom get back to see if the conversation continued! I try to remember, though, and some blogs do allow you to receive follow up comments via email. . .usually checking the box only guarantees no one else will ever comment on that post.

AWOL and PIF

AWOL. . .I am back. I did not drop off the face of the earth for two weeks! I apologize for leaving abruptly but I was traveling cross country for a belated birthday surprise for a dear friend, so mum was the word! I will share pictures from our travels later; our whole family made a lot of fun memories but we are glad to be home again. I see, also, that I have been tagged or awarded by a couple friends; I’m not ignoring you, I’m just buried under dirty socks, gas receipts, and all the other stuff that followed me home from vacation!

PIF. . .So the date I set had passed in my absence, but today I received my 3rd request to play so that worked out after all. Lis, Crystal, and Adria: if you could please email your mailing addresses to me at agnusdei @ bresnan.net (minus the spaces). My hope is to get something made and mailed before Christmas, but I ask that you not hold your breath. Advent is right around the corner and I am only human.

Now. . .back to looking for the top of my desk while catching up on Issues Etc!

Pay it forward

Awhile ago I read about Debbie’s pay it forward challenge; I signed up and, of course, promptly forgot. Until, that is, I received a package in last week’s mail! She sent me these almost too pretty to use kitchen linens:

Thank you, Debbie! I had to say almost because I actually used them already.

And now it is my turn to pass it on. The guidelines are as follows: I would like 3 people to participate in my PIF challenge. In turn you must agree to post your PIF challenge on your blog and send handmade gifts to *3* people. You have 365 days to make and send your gifts. If more than 3 people sign up, I will draw names from a hat. If you do not think you can make and send 3 gifts within a year’s time, please don’t sign up. Please leave a comment by November 8 if you would like to participate.

Fall meme

When does fall begin for you? With the new school year, right after Labor Day.

What is your favorite aspect of fall?  The not too hot/not too cold weather; the colors.

What do you like to drink in the fall?  Hot cider is good once in awhile.

What’s your favorite fall food?  Almost anything with apples in it.

What is fall weather like where you live? This is my first Wyoming fall; so far it’s been lovely.  

What color is fall? Golden.

What does fall smell like? Warm and crisp.

Holiday shopping in fall: yes or no?  All year.

If you could go anywhere in the fall, where would you go? Covered Bridge Festival in Indiana.

What is your favorite fall sport? Whatever Larry or the boys are playing, usually soccer.

Do you have a favorite fall chore?  Getting out everyone’s winter clothes.

What is your least favorite thing about fall?  Leaf burning gives me headaches.

What is your favorite fall holiday? Reformation Sunday.

What’s your favorite kind of pie? Apple.

What was your favorite Halloween costume? I was Laura Ingalls in 2nd grade.

What was your favorite Halloween candy? CHOCOLATE!

What was your least favorite Halloween candy? Anything not chocolate.

Which do you prefer, the Farm or the Fair? Farm.

Do you have a favorite fall book? None in particular, other than all the new books for the new school year.