tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4908631417818582132024-02-19T04:01:21.932-06:00Debbi's Random Thoughts...whatever comes to mindDebbihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08145735953197313094noreply@blogger.comBlogger81125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-490863141781858213.post-48584821362962460542012-08-06T18:08:00.002-05:002012-08-06T18:08:46.510-05:00I've been gone from Blogland for awhile!
I don't really have an excuse for not writing a blog entry in almost a year. It seems like I just didn't have that much to say!
I've been thoroughly enjoying retirement. I do a lot more reading, needlework and genealogy than I ever had time for before, but my running has suffered some major setbacks.
I have had six surgeries (seven, if you count cataract surgery!) in Debbihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08145735953197313094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-490863141781858213.post-34132458555275186332011-10-26T12:37:00.001-05:002011-10-26T12:39:28.090-05:00The King's Grace by Anne Easter SmithBook Description:
All that history knows of Grace Plantagenet is that she was an illegitimate daughter of Edward IV and one of two attendants aboard the funeral barge of his widowed queen. Thus, she was half sister of the famous young princes, who—when this story begins in 1485—had been housed in the Tower by their uncle, Richard III, and are presumed dead.
But in the 1490s, a young man Debbihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08145735953197313094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-490863141781858213.post-86216831650923824572011-03-26T12:04:00.001-05:002011-03-26T12:04:53.170-05:00Wolf Hall by Hilary MantelBook Description:
England in the 1520s is a heartbeat from disaster. If the king dies without a male heir, the country could be destroyed by civil war. Henry VIII wants to annul his marriage of twenty years and marry Anne Boleyn. The pope and most of Europe oppose him. Into this impasse steps Thomas Cromwell: a wholly original man, a charmer and a bully, both Debbihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08145735953197313094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-490863141781858213.post-62311949322572072072011-02-03T12:18:00.001-06:002011-02-03T12:19:40.925-06:00A Woman of Substance by Barbara Taylor BradfordBook Description:
In 1905 a young kitchen maid leaves Fairley Hall. Emma Harte is sixteen, single and pregnant.
By 1968 she is one of the richest women in the world, ruler of a business empire stretching from Yorkshire to the glittering cities of America and the rugged vastness of Australia.
But what is the price she has paid?
A magnificient dynastic saga, as impossible to put down as Debbihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08145735953197313094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-490863141781858213.post-72132157906818612392010-11-03T16:39:00.003-05:002010-11-09T09:26:52.490-06:00My PlaylistI have eclectic taste in music — I like just about anything except rap and hip hop, which aren't really music at all in my humble opinion but chanting of poems or something! But, I've never really liked listening to the same artist song after song. So, I finally got an iPod Nano, and I set it to Shuffle. I thought it would be fun to write down an hour's worth of music in its Debbihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08145735953197313094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-490863141781858213.post-88154285973861198652010-11-02T15:26:00.000-05:002010-11-02T15:26:27.115-05:00Information about Gonorrhea Lectim (joke)The Center for Disease Control has issued a warning about a new virulent strain of this old disease. The disease is called Gonorrhea Lectim, pronounced "Gonna re-elect 'em," and it is a terrible obamanation.
This disease is contracted through dangerous and high risk behavior involving putting your cranium up your rectum. Many victims contracted it in 2008...but now most people, afterDebbihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08145735953197313094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-490863141781858213.post-38513375705874633122010-10-26T17:29:00.000-05:002010-10-26T17:29:21.452-05:00Knitting up a Storm!Now, I realize many of you may not find this as hilarious as I do, but I couldn't resist!
This is a page from a very old craft catalog, circa 1973. The LeeWards company doesn't even exist any more, having been bought out by Michael's many moons ago.
Notice the *lovely* brown and yellow afghan. Yes, we found things like that lovely in those days — don't ask me why! We never Debbihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08145735953197313094noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-490863141781858213.post-34033868827870857052010-10-25T17:43:00.004-05:002010-11-19T08:56:39.044-06:00Enjoy Your Children While You Can!I came across this poem I clipped out of the newspaper when my sons were babies. I'd completely forgotten it, but I am thankful, and proud, to say I did not make this mistake, even though reading the poem still makes me cry! My sons are now young men, and even though I love how they have matured and grown, I wouldn't mind a bit if I could go back in time to when they were Debbihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08145735953197313094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-490863141781858213.post-46754254594899238342010-10-07T15:31:00.000-05:002010-10-07T15:31:56.398-05:00Highlander Series by Karen Marie MoningI just finished reading the first seven books in this series. (I've been told the eighth book is not really a necessary part of the series.) While I wouldn't classify these books with the usual historical fiction I'm partial to, they were still fun to read. Some of the anomalies in the earlier books really grated on my nerves, but they got more historically accurate as theyDebbihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08145735953197313094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-490863141781858213.post-76574532400160700672010-09-29T18:57:00.000-05:002013-01-09T13:54:49.922-06:00Where Have I Been Lately?
Beats me! I'm enjoying my retirement and doing something every day -- I just can't figure out what!
Here is a new needlework project to show off. It is the 2000 DMC Christmas ornament, which I finally got around to stitching in 2010. Ten years is not too bad, right? The photo really doesn't do justice to the sparkly gold and red threads and the detail.
This will go to Debbihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08145735953197313094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-490863141781858213.post-19198527106936925152010-08-23T16:13:00.002-05:002010-08-23T16:48:00.766-05:00My Engagement & Wedding Pictures - 1983I was so thin! And Bob had so much hair! The funny thing is, he only wore glasses for about 3 months and then switched to contacts, although he is back to glasses these days — just not quite so big!
Debbihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08145735953197313094noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-490863141781858213.post-12154016090792839042010-08-22T13:27:00.001-05:002010-08-22T18:01:22.787-05:00"Three Junes" by Julia GlassBook Description:
An astonishing first novel that traces the lives of a Scottish family over a decade as they confront the joys and longings, fulfillments and betrayals of love in all its guises.
In June of 1989 Paul McLeod, a newspaper publisher and recent widower, travels to Greece, where he falls for a young American artist and reflects on the complicated truth about his marriage. Six Debbihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08145735953197313094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-490863141781858213.post-55590091326794952822010-08-18T20:53:00.001-05:002013-01-09T13:55:29.544-06:00A Little Bragging (and some Shame)In 2005, I took my Dad to Norway. We had a wonderful time and we met dozens of cousins! And, I got a wild hare that I needed to cross stitch something for every one of the female cousins we met — all 14 of them! So here is the bragging part because I finally got them all done (and the shame part, too, because it took me so long!)
"Families are Forever" (Familier er Alltid inDebbihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08145735953197313094noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-490863141781858213.post-90687440038437188192010-08-18T20:02:00.002-05:002010-08-18T20:05:58.248-05:002010 Family ReunionFor family members, here are the photos I took at the impromtu family reunion while I was in South Dakota. Just click the photo and it will take you to a slide show.Debbihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08145735953197313094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-490863141781858213.post-16790349264560936922010-08-15T18:13:00.000-05:002010-08-15T18:13:54.356-05:00Natural Well, Monte Sano State Park, Huntsville, ALYesterday, I decided to hike to the Natural Well for a change of scenery. It is a big black hole in the ground that is technically a "pit cave." A pit cave is a type of natural cave passage which is vertical rather than horizontal. According to park officials, Natural Well has an initial drop that goes more than 180' straight down and then goes 325' under the mountain.
I alwaysDebbihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08145735953197313094noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-490863141781858213.post-12263602309692240212010-08-11T19:33:00.001-05:002010-08-11T19:35:29.479-05:00Our Nightly Visitor/Pest!This little critter has been visiting our house nightly for the last two weeks or so. We wouldn't mind that very much, except for the fact that our cat goes nuts, running from window to window, pawing at the blinds, knocking things off windowsills and just generally making a racket! All at 3:49 AM...
Last night, he showed up just after 9 PM. He's not as mean as he looks inDebbihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08145735953197313094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-490863141781858213.post-11888703010478900202010-08-04T22:57:00.002-05:002010-08-04T22:58:52.547-05:00On the Road Again!So, the doctor said I could start running again at the end of July.
I did 3 miles on the mountain on Saturday morning and 2 miles Monday night and again tonight. The "innards" felt secure — no pain, no discomfort — but the knees didn't get the memo! I walked more than usual tonight, partly because of the knees and partly because it was still 94° with a heat index of 100° Debbihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08145735953197313094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-490863141781858213.post-74035397969269691822010-07-06T21:21:00.000-05:002010-07-06T21:21:02.369-05:00South Dakota, Here I Come!I'm leaving in the morning for three weeks with my Dad in South Dakota. Woohoo!Debbihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08145735953197313094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-490863141781858213.post-75931879206029958532010-06-28T19:15:00.000-05:002010-06-28T19:15:37.511-05:00I am A-OK!I had my final appointment with Dr Richter today, the doctor who did my last two proplapse surgeries, and she says everything is secure, and I can begin running again at the end of July. I'm doing my happy dance!Debbihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08145735953197313094noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-490863141781858213.post-82025625957193463792010-06-19T21:55:00.003-05:002010-06-27T13:19:51.418-05:00A Walk in the RainI am slowly trying to get back some level of fitness, so I have been walking on Monte Sano, our over-sized hill that we lovingly call The Mountain. Today at 8am, the temperature was already 80° and the heat index was 85°, so it pays to go early. The Weather Channel said we had a slight possibility of widely scattered thunderstorms in the evening. No problem, I thought!
I hadn'tDebbihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08145735953197313094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-490863141781858213.post-85415412784861448372010-06-13T19:44:00.004-05:002013-01-11T11:19:13.051-06:00A Pillow for my Dad
I made this pillow for my Dad for Father's Day. He used to love hunting ring-necked pheasants, so I hope he likes the pillow! This is really the first needlepoint I have ever done, other than two tiny little things. I know my pillow is nowhere near the quality that my sister makes at C'est Chouette, but I did my best! I even put a zipper in the back so he can take out Debbihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08145735953197313094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-490863141781858213.post-24933046224682075922010-06-08T21:04:00.002-05:002010-06-08T21:04:58.094-05:00My Newest Favorite Etsy SiteLove handmade jewelry? Have a look at this site, gals!Debbihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08145735953197313094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-490863141781858213.post-50482900090069709262010-06-06T13:55:00.000-05:002010-06-06T13:55:25.784-05:00Lady of LeisureYou may have noticed that most of my posts lately are book reviews! There are two reasons for that. First, I had surgery again at the end of April, and I wasn't allowed to do much; hence the copious reading.
And secondly, I got laid off from my job of 20 years, right in the middle of my medical leave. I'm not as upset about that as many might be, because I have been Debbihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08145735953197313094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-490863141781858213.post-8842419201041547532010-06-06T13:41:00.001-05:002010-06-06T13:44:59.899-05:00She Wakes by Jack KetchumBook Description:
Greece. Ancient land of mystery, legend and myth. It is here that businessman Jordan Chase visits an historic tomb, only to experience a dark vision of the future. And it is here, amidst the beauty of the landscape, that Lelia, a gorgeous but dangerous woman, befriends a group of tourists . . . to lure them into a nightmare of pain and terror. She lives Debbihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08145735953197313094noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-490863141781858213.post-29989587604918937642010-05-26T16:30:00.001-05:002010-05-26T16:31:19.694-05:00Nature Girl by Carl HiaasenBook Description:
Beware! Honey Santana is off her meds, reacting rapidly to the bad behavior of others. This time, the annoyer is a telemarketer from Texas. Honey's revenge? She invites Boyd Shreave on a paid ecotour of the Everglades, where a blue-eyed Seminole named Sammy Tigertail strums an electric guitar on a woe-begotten clump of shells, mangroves, and beer cans Debbihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08145735953197313094noreply@blogger.com1