Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Random Bits, Brain Fog and Head Colds

Is it just me? When I have a head full of cold and sinus and a weekend full of children's activities I have zero creativity. Nada. Nuthin.

Granted the weekend activities were things such as wrestling kids in and out of car seats and costumes. And with a head full of unmentionables that alone is a challenging task. But it was Halloween weekend with a party, a trunk or treat and the main event. 

And I did finish three articles that were due for the Out of the Frying Pan book tour. And study for and teach a Sunday School class. And varnish cabinet doors. And create and make a recipe for The Book Fun Magazine column I write. 

Monday night after the trick or treating this grandma crawled into bed slathered in oregano oil and slept like a mummy. 

And last night I unapologetically watched television and cleaned hedgehog cages and snuggled with pups who've been feeling neglected. Oh, and I got my oil changed since I was about 2k over the recommended oil change sticker that has been inducing guilt for a few months. The receipt says I received a "pretty girl" discount. Holy moly wonder how many times a feminist has jumped over the counter and punched the cashier/mechanic right in the man bits when that discount appears on her receipt. I'm guessing angry feminists only get the "pretty girl" discount once. 

Also, an adult without a child, wending it's way through the child packed trick or treat streets, wearing a creepy costume. At least it wasn't a crazed killer clown, simply possibly the oarsman who silently rows people down the River Styx. Fun times. Fun times. 

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Too Many, Too Much...

I'm counting my blessings. If you need help identifying yours here's a few suggestions.

The little people in your life.

The older, wiser people you respect.

Fur babies who look to you for all their care and need-meeting.  And respond by licking your hand, staring at you while you sleep, leaping with joy at the door, or ignoring you.


Health. Or life. Or even just that next breath.

Family, or friends who have become your family.

Warmth. Whether its a roof over your head, a used parka, or in a smile.

Money in any form to meet your expenses.

The Thanksgiving meal whether it's turkey or not, whether it's in your home or someone else's, even if it's in a hospital spent with someone who cares, or alone knowing that God loves you.

The point is to remember how very much we have. And ultimately to remember that God is an intimate God Who loves us and wants a relationship with us. 

I hope your Thanksgiving is filled with too many blessings to count. 

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Walnut Rain

Remember the YouTube sensation that rocked the world? Chocolate Rain? Well, I'm not going to sing or do a video about something similar. I'm just going to ramble a bit about walnuts. And rain. Not even rain. I'm just going to ramble about walnuts. 

You see, we have a walnut tree in our back yard. This would be great except for the fact that we are talking Black Walnuts vs. English Walnuts. Black Walnuts taste....looking for an appropriate word....nasty. That's it. To my palate, they are horrible. I love English Walnuts. Black Walnuts are their sweeter, mapley, burnt tasting cousins that grow in my back yard. 

Our neighbor has a shop building 100 feet down from us. And when the walnut tree sheds the walnuts it is sometimes real loud. And I've had the dog alarm sound at the bang of a walnut hitting the shed. Not pretty. Even when one of the walnuts, which by the way is encased in a covering that will turn your fingers black for two weeks if you try to pry it open, drops onto the dirt from 50 feet up it makes a thud AND leaves an indentation. I have yet to get hit in the head with one, but there is evidence of this phenomenon all over my yard and patio And if I wanted to make up a song about it and put it on YouYube it would be a scary thing indeed. It would would contain words that imply violence.  So for all out sakes Walnut Rain is just going to remain rambling. You are welcome.  

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Holes. Oh So Scary

stupid hole! 

 Here's an odd coincidence for you. (Or coinkydink as we often say referring back to Toad Boy's early reading days.) 

One of my high school buddies is a current co-worker who also happens to be named Kelly but with an I not Y. 

Not too long ago another co-worker was headed out to a local grocery store to use her free $10.00 gift card that came in the mail. That was a sore point for me, but I didn't say anything until other Kelli spoke up. You see, I have a hole in my wall and like an IDIOT I put important things on a little metal box that is near the hole. When I say hole I mean there is no drywall covering a small stud post. The kitchen counter butts right up to it and there are working lights within this column but there is no drywall. But there is on the other side. Finished drywall that is painted. And since my talented husband is building custom cabinets the cabinets under the countertop are sealed boxes. So anything that would slide down the hole is pretty much there for life. One day while looking through my important papers on top of my cute little metal box I heard a sliding sound followed by a plasticy wooden thunk. Immediately, I knew. 

Here's something you might not know about me. I'm, like, kinda cheap. Like a $10.00 free grocery card was, like, a big deal. A big deal. That's why it was in the spot where I keep all my important things by the hole. You might be wondering if a) I'm some sort of danger junky or b) an idiot. I would have to vote b. For reals. But enough backstory. 

So Kelli says. "Hey, I got one of those. But I lost it and I'm so p________ about it!" 

I looked at her, I suppose like the duh-duh-duuuuhhhh prairie dog on Youtube, "No way! Me, too. I was so angry. But it was my fault. What happened?" 

"It fell in a hole in my wall! I was carrying it with a bunch of papers down to the car and it slipped off and fell into a stupid hole in my basement wall. I was so p____________!" Kelli may suffer from being a wee bit cheap, too. 

"Mine, too. Mine fell in a hole in my kitchen, and I was so p__________, too!" 

What are the odds? Right? Sigh. Here's to whole walls and cheap groceries for all. 

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Really, Just Move On Folks, There's Nothing to See Here!

I told you. I warned you.

On a positive note, I was asleep by 10:30 p.m. last night! And I ate a healthy oatmeal breakfast this morning. And I even did some exercise, too.

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Pink Skies

I am always slightly frustrated that I can't capture the beauty of a moment. The double rainbow we had a couple months ago was a mere shadow, an apparition of the beauty in the sky when I tried to snap a picture. 


Yesterday I woke to a glorious sunrise. The lightening midnight blue horizon was streaked with vibrant pink. My I-Phone was beside my bed so I snapped a picture of what I saw upon awakening. And this is it. If I hadn't told you about the blue and pink you'd not have a clue why I dropped this picture into the blog post. 

I suppose my inability to capture moments is a powerful truth. After all, "You had to be there" is a statement that occasionally needs to be shared. (In my case it's because I'm trying to tell about something hilarious that happened to me and am usually laughing -- make that hooting and laugh-crying -- and ineptly trying to get a story across to some poor soul who can only stare at me and occasionally nod.)

Writing is part of that drive to capture moments, too. Why do I blog, or write or create? It's to communicate something inside of my mind to others. An attempt to boil down an event or happening or thought or idea into a "photograph" that someone else can benefit from. 

Maybe the unique lens that we see through, the experiences we have, the aha moments, the "you had to be there" adventures, maybe those are treasures for us. Little unique blessings that touch our souls and minds for a searing second or so, and our spirits long to grasp the depth, so we snap a picture or make a memory and try to share it with someone else. And when we can communicate the beauty that touches our souls and changes us (because I believe we are changed by our moments) we possess another beautiful moment. 

My misrepresentation photo is not frustrating, it's beautiful. So I will continue to look at two dimensional attempts to capture the elusive and choose to see behind the anemic shadow to what lies beyond, the vastness, the glory, the gorgeousness of life and creation. 

Scribbles and Scrambles ~ Sweet Moment Totally Not Caught....

I went to a haircut party yesterday. Party might be a little strong. A friend of a friend is a hairdresser I wanted to try out. She didn't have convenient shop hours this week but she was doing a color on someone else at her apartment and said I could come on over. While driving and parking I passed a pretty bush full of red berries. 

And even better, full of fluffed up chickadees. I mean full. The fence was covered, the bush was covered and I was driving. 

So after my haircut I went back with my phone and I parked. The birds were still there...not all of them...but lots of them. And I rolled down my window. Uh. Not close enough. So I got out. And the birds flew away. Not all of them. But most of them. They landed close by, but still out of range. 

Finally, I took the picture and just let it be, before someone called the police on the weirdo lady taking pictures in their driveway. Every time I see this picture I'll be reminded of the scene I did see. Little birds socializing and enjoy God's provision. 

Also. I like my haircut. Just sayin....