"Religious Freedom" Shoes

Went mall walking yesterday while it rained outside. Well, we just walked both levels, bought two shirts on super sale, then went home.

BUT as we passed a shoe store, I noticed the name brand of shoes I'd never seen before. They are called "Religious Freedom." (Truth!)

I turned to my dear husband and quipped: "When you wear one, it will give comfort to your sole."

A Wilderness Adventure with Kids

We were in the Canadian wilds. We'd paddled up the Little Madawaska River for a couple hours without seeing any other canoeist or hikers since our campground. Loons dove in the water near us; we'd passed a swimming beaver; there were frogs the size of our fists; we ducked under fallen trees as we paddled past. Ahh... the wilderness.

The river opened up into the next lake. It was ten times the size of the lake where we'd set up camp. We could see the road which ran through the park. It traveled alongside the lake, about two miles from the mouth of the river where we were.

Suddenly, we passed a boat ramp. How odd, we thought. no boat trailer or car was in the small gravel parking lot and grass grew between the pebbles. Then, we came to a picnic table along the beach. Curiouser and curiouser. We pulled in by the picnic table in order to stretch our legs and eat our snack lunches.

Our young boys spotted an outhouse back in the woods. Again, how odd to have such a sign of civilization in the wilds. They suddenly "needed" to go. I looked around at all their tree choices, and shrugged an "okay." My husband and I stood on the shore watching the waves on the large lake and taking in all the beauty and wonder before us.

Then, from the woods behind us, came a "ker-flush!" It took a moment to identify the sound. There were no sinks, but the outhouse in the middle of the wilderness had a flush toilet. Surprise! Guess we weren't as far away from civilization as we thought.

Life in Our House

I started complaining about something or other to my husband (Me complaining? Go figure.) when he rose and said, "All right, I think I'll let that anger be."

As he left the room, I started "buzzing" in his direction. Then I squinted after him and started buzzing angrily. I never knew one could buzz angrily before. It's more like a growling buzz.

My hubby's pace quickened, and he threw over his shoulder, "That would make a one-star sci-fy movie."

A Bird Fell Out of the Tree!

When a teen friend of mine was even younger, she went up north (northern Michigan, that is) to a cottage. She stood by the lake when suddenly she shouted out, "Oh, no! That bird just fell out of the tree!" (and into the lake). A little later, she said, "Oh, no! It fell out of the tree AGAIN."

The bird was a kingfisher, just doing what kingfishers do -- fishing.

Icon Times Are a'Changing

I'm feeling old again.

When I was a kid -- don't you HATE that line? I do. -- there was a time when there was a hillbilly icon on each bottle label of Mountain Dew. (And, side-tracking here, we all know what REAL Mountain Dew is, don't we? I can even sing the fun song in a slangy voice:"They call it that good old Mountain Dew. Yahoo! Better not refuse it, or feud. Quite a feud.")

Yesterday, my husband pointed out the new orange guppy as the icon sign for Long John Silvers. When did that switch happen? Trouble is, we remember what that guppy USED to be. Arrrgh. It be a pirate back in dem days, ye scallywags. Maybe that Long John Silvers' done have a visit t' Davey Jones' Locker, and comes up a'lookin' all orange and fish-like. Arrrgh.

May Day (one day after)

I remember May Day as a kid. It was a big deal. We'd make baskets. We'd gather flowers and leave them on our neighbor's steps. And if we were really lucky, with enthused adults, we'd dance a twisted dance in and out, around a May Day Pole. What fun!

I've been feeling old, thinking how much times have changed. For instance, when today I say "pole dancers," it's not quite the same image which pops to mind as when I was a kid (or for people in the 13th century, for that matter). See? Old, old, old.

But in honor of May Day, 2010, yesterday I walked about my yard and took photos of various flowers we have in bloom. So here comes one May Day Flower (azalea) from my e-yard to yours.

Poison Ivy Poem

In honor of National Poetry Month, and the fact that I stuck my arms in a jacket I haven't worn for two years (because the zipper sticks), and I consequently got a return of the poison ivy I had on my arms from two years ago (Yes, I washed the jacket 3 times before wearing it again!) ... Here is my Poison Ivy Poem. It was written yet another time I contracted the lovely rash, when I knelt in a Michigan bog one fall to get a close-up photo. (No, I wasn't taking this photo; all the leaves had died back into the swamp by that time.)

Can be sung to the tune of "Clementine."

Oh my darling, Poison Ivy, I don't like you, don't you know?
Oosing rashes, itchy patches, from my knees down to my toes.

I just wanted a little photo, simple picture of nature sweet.
So I knelt down on the wet ground, through my jeans your oil did seep.

Just a little poke in my little hip, my doc said would do the trick.
Then the nurse came: "Drop your drawers, kid. Don't you give me any lip!"

I'm on steroids, lovely steroids, feeling pretty, fast and strong.
I'm so smart, too, till the pills are through, so I wrote this perfect song.

Oh my darling, Poison Ivy, I don't like you, don't you know?
Oosing rashes, itchy patches, from my knees down to my toes.