My dear favorite

 

I love yellow roses.

After all when I was a young woman, there was a song about "The Yellow Rose of Texas."

But Wikipedia answers the whispered remarks that I never quite heard when enjoying being from Texas in a northern state! 

"The earliest known version is found in Christy's Plantation Melodies. No. 2, a songbook published under the authority of Edwin Pearce Christy in Philadelphia in 1853. Christy was the founder of the blackface minstrel show known as the Christy's Minstrels. Like most minstrel songs, the lyrics are written in a cross between a parody of a generic creole dialect historically attributed to African-Americans and standard American English. The song is written in the first person from the perspective of an African-American singer who refers to himself as a "darkey," longing to return to "a yellow girl" (that is, a light-skinned, or bi-racial woman born of African/African-American and European-American progenitors).^[3]

The soundtrack to the TV miniseries James A. Michener's Texas dates a version of the song to June 2, 1933, and co-credits both the authorship and performance to Gene Autry and Jimmy Long. Don George reworked the original version of the song, which Mitch Miller made into a popular recording in 1955 that knocked Bill Haley & His Comets' "Rock Around The Clock" from the top of the Best Sellers chart in the U.S.^[4] Miller's version was featured in the 1956 motion picture Giant, and reached #1 on the U.S. pop chart the same week Giant star James Dean died. Stan Freberg had a simultaneous hit of a parody version in which the bandleader warred with the snare drummer, Alvin Stoller, who also featured prominently in Miller's arrangement. Billboard ranked Miller's version as the No. 3 song of 1955.^[5][6]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Yellow_Rose_of_Texas_(song)

I also just discovered Roy Rogers and Dale Evans made a movie of the same name, with more songs, in 1944. I may have seen it, but don't remember it.

I'm pretty sure before I left Texas at 7 years old, that I'd learned some version of this song, along with "I've been working on the Railroad," and "She'll be coming round the mountain." The last two kind of merged in my mind. But there was definitely a chorus where "I'm in the kitchen with Dinah, strumming on the old banjo." And that chorus goes on to sing, "Fee Fi, Fiddle-dee-I-O," and so on.

I may have been scurried off to Missouri where I'd receive a less "southern" education. But it was still white-washed. It wasn't till I was in college that I ever even met a black person. And a few years later, married and living in Connecticut, I signed up to help blacks get equal housing. Big changes.

Today's quote:

We do not need to travel around the world when the source of all joy and all beauty is right within us.

EKNATH EASWARAN

Sunset

 

Looking west just had a bit of glow to the sky.

But the clouds to the south said "we're in the pink."

Today's quote:

Start where you are, use what you have, do what you can.

ARTHUR ASHE

Sometimes the plant tells you

 

The Thanksgiving cactus was looking pretty drab in the bedroom window, with full sun and a strange heating unit that insists that 65 degree settings means it should heat my little room up to 75. I moved the cactus and found about a half dozen buds that had been shed there on the bedroom shelf. So now more "indirect sun" in the living room, and cooler temps. I hope it's not too cold for her.

So for the last week no new blooms. I also found my frequent watering had left the bottom of the pot quite waterlogged. Hope to let it dry out a bit. We shall see.

Today's quote:

Hofstadter's Law: It always takes longer than you expect, even when you take into account Hofstadter's Law.

 -Douglas Hofstadter, professor of cognitive science (b. 15 Feb 1945)

When it's cold and grey outside

 

Enjoy some color inside!!

It's been a long time since I treated myself to a bouquet of flowers. Ah, they don't follow the seasonal coloring either! That's just fine with me.

I'm not a shopper, so Black Friday sales have no interest for me. I have to remind myself to avoid all retail stores though.

I don't know if this has ever happened to you but...the other day, I noticed that I am not just the medical diagnosis that I carry around. I am separate from that medical person...which is like a blouse I put on and can take off. I'm also separate from other identities that many people may see or know as myself...the elderly woman, the person living simply on a fixed income, the person who lives alone, the matriarch of my family, the climate activist, the church volunteer, the person that sometimes gets silly.  

All of those shirts definitely belong to me...but hey, I'm still the one inside wearing them.

Todays Quote:

They know enough who know how to learn. 

-Henry Adams, historian and teacher  (1838-1918)

Tis the season

 

"What?" you might be asking. "And why?"
The first question is easier than the second. Let's start with what's in "classic" Spam: pork, sugar, water, salt, potato starch, and sodium nitrate (a preservative).
The new seasonal Spam includes additional "fig and orange flavors, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, ginger and all spice." And as ever, it is shelf stable in case of the apocalypse.

"If you do get your hands on Spam Figgy Pudding, it can be fried, baked or grilled, though it's already fully cooked and ready to eat straight from the can. Hormel recommends making skewers of red onion, figs, and cubes of Spam, broiled and coated with a balsamic glaze and a sprinkle of rosemary.

"Lest you say this is a perversion of figgy pudding, let's look a little more closely at that British holiday tradition. Figgy pudding is a dense, steamed cake (not an American-style pudding) full of raisins, currants, and brandy — and the modern version doesn't actually include figs!" 
Thanks NPR

I've never eaten either version, and I really don't feel inclined to do so.

For my Sepia Saturday friends, this is what Americans can do with English ideas! I wonder if each of these women learned how to make an English Figgy Pudding!

Today's Quote:

Sometimes decision making is best done after marinating with all the information, creating a decision that is made with full intention. 

Perhaps marinate a pudding or cake or something in a bit of an alcoholic beverage...mmm?

Breathe in evergreens

 

As I approach the market on Tuesday before Thanksgiving, this is what my eyes beheld.

And oh, the scent of fresh evergreens! Though they were probably harvested over a week ago, they really looked good.

Lots of identical trees, with about 7 foot in height, and pretty well rounded. Price? About equal to $10 a foot...a sweet $69.

It was sunny and mild yesterday (Thanksgiving) so I pulled my cap on and walked a bit...and found out walking in grocery stores is nothing compared to going up and down hills! I ate a nice serving of turkey with mushroom gravy, sour cream mashed potatoes (prepared by Lil Sprout Catering) and a kale salad with Caesar dressing and even parmesan sprinkles...pretty good. I've got left overs of everything. My thrill was the Scarlett Pie, (Whole Foods) with pears, apples, cranberries and walnuts, and a crumb topping. I even had another piece as my supper later on watching a movie. "I Know Why the Crawdad Sings." Very good.

Today's quote:

If we would only give, just once, the same amount of reflection to what we want to get out of life that we give to the question of what to do with a two weeks' vacation, we would be startled at our false standards and the aimless procession of our busy days. 

-Dorothy Canfield Fisher, author, reformer, and activist (1879-1958)

Happy Thanksgiving

I hope everyone enjoys Thanksgiving.

I'm very grateful for old and new friends, my wonderful family, living where I do, just being who and what I am!

Today's quote:

Anchor the eternity of love in your own soul and embed this planet with its goodness.

JOHN LEWIS PS:  Arlo Guthrie's - Alice's Restaurant.

Sigh, and a treat for me!

 Dermatologist annual appointment yesterday morning. No big deal...just a couple little tags frozen off...with a bit of pain.

This says exactly what my animal brain thinks of doctors...they use snakes...of one kind or another. And my animal brain says, staya long way away from them.  But then my rational brain says, ok, they've proven useful at times, so we'll try to trust them, this time.

ThenI had to get some groceries for the feast for one. And I had to treat myself good for having my head frozen in spots.

I brought home a slice of Tuxedo Cheese Cake!

Which went very well with a hot cup of honey-sweetened coffee. I'm finding giving up creamer has helped my cough, a bit anyway. I know, I've made up for decreasing that dairy by adding the cheesecake, but nobody said I was logical!

Today's quote:

The secret of joy is the mastery of pain. -Anais Nin, writer (1903-1977)

(and a piece of pie and coffee!)

Look what drove up beside me!

 

I don't know the year of this Cadillac Eldorado convertable, but it was so smooth when it pulled in beside my car as I was about to leave. The guys got out, and I could have probably walked around it taking more pictures, but I'm too shy to do more than think of that in retrospect.

So I backed out, and checked that I wasn't blocking traffic, and click, this photo was mine.

I acutally didn't want to edit it, because it seems like a modern expresionist painting, those bright flat colors set against each other! Well, ok, I could take out the trash can and the ac unit. 

There, the edited version!

Now somebody tell me about that car! To me it looks like what presidents would ride in in parades in the 70s-80s. 

Today's quote: (Sorry about his misogenistic view of the world.)

 "A good sermon should be like a woman's skirt: short enough to arouse interest but long enough to cover the essentials."  Ronald Knox, writer/priest.

Simple pleasure

 

I feel like a new parent. And I'm becoming a bit obsessed with this simple little cactus. 

Two days open and the white frilly things have kind of shrunk up.

And another bud is opening...

I can't wait to see what happens with this multi-budded leaf.

But it's all about balance. The outside plants have died. So having one inside that's blooming, just pleases me no end. 

What's your simple pleasure these days?

Today's quote:

It seems that for success, in science or art, a dash of autism is essential. For success the necessary ingredients may be an ability to turn away from the everyday world, from the simple practical, an ability to rethink a subject with originality so as to create in new untrodden ways. -Hans Asperger, physician (1906-1980)

Some of my favorite things

 

The Doughnut Economics model simplified, showing that the area of Safe Space for Humanity coincides with sustainable economic development. This is one use for this model, and several others look to all human needs on the inner circle compared to the environmental needs on the outer circle. See my earlier post HERE.

Spaceship Orion takes a photo of earth, to replicate the time in 1972 an astronaut took the same view. Orion is about to go around the moon and obtain scientificd data. Something about moving toward more trips to Mars...

These are a few of my favorite things!

Today's quote:

You can either live with a life based on fear, or one based on love. Can't very well make decisions each day without acknowledging which way you live. Sure we have fears. But I believe that love is the answer to hate, 'cause fear sure doesn't do a thing to it. But fears are real, and need to be addressed with the same love. This is the root of courage. Just my opinion.

Barbara B. Rogers, 2017

Sepia Saturday suggests...

A very popular configuration, with ice and water dispenser on the outside of refrigerator door, freezer is a drawer which pulls out.

I looked for the harvest gold and avocado greens which were popular in the 70s...couldn't find a one. So this is a bit different in a color scheme! Perhaps it had to do with the freon or coolant which was banned in refrigerators. I don't know. This is a brand I never heard of.

Admiral was a known brand of refrigerators back in the day.

I had two refrigerators with this configuration, and liked them both. Until the last one died while I was out of town, and I came home to a flood on the floor and all that dead frozen food. Ugh!

Now this is what a real refrigerator looks like these days!

Another one ...I'm not telling which one is mine!

So that's all I could share today on the Sepia Saturday meme of Refrigerators.

Today's quote:

The first forty years of life give us the text; the next thirty supply the commentary on it. -Arthur Schopenhauer, philosopher (1788-1860)

Nothin' new, to speak of

 

Digital Art by Ion Sounds

Today's quote:

The Greeks understood the mysterious power of the hidden side of things. They bequeathed to us one of the most beautiful words in our language—the word ‘enthusiasm’—en theos—a god within. 
The grandeur of human actions is measured by the inspiration from which they spring. 
Happy is he who bears a god within, and who obeys it.
—Louis Pasteur

A Thanksgiving Cactus

 It's another grey cold rainy day, this Tuesday in November. I probably won't type long because my fingers are numb. (Not that it will make much difference)

I've been saying I wanted a Christmas Cactus...but when I saw this beauty at the grocery store, she came home with me. So a Thanksgiving Cactus will due!

And so far it looks like she likes living on the shelf next to the violet in my bedroom. We'll see if it's too much sun on the next sunny day. She's supposed to have indirect light, so they say.

What's fun is that it is more than one plant. Different stems are just buried in the dirt, and have a bloom on the end. I've heard they are really easy to germinate by sticking in water. I've got all these coleus rooting in the kitchen already...will probably stick them in the pots that are outside waiting for the geranium and the verbena to freeze. Nice recycling.

Sharing with Floral Friday.

Today's quote:

If you want to know who someone is, what is flowing through or not flowing, stay in a listening posture. 
Close your eyes inside your companion’s shadow. 
—Rumi

The new routine

 

On sunny days the plants in the windows are so happy. Not so much on rainy ones. I've found they are dry much more than I expected. I have to learn the routine of watering them adequately with the sun and heater drying them out.

A fond farewell to the outside plants. I'll pull them out and recycle the pots...I just want to wait till they die from the frost (last 2 nights). Somehow I can't make mself throw out live plants.

Today's quote:

One eye sees, the other feels. —Paul Klee

The beauty of the mountains

When it finally got above freezing yesterday, and my cough had settled somewhat, I drove up to Montreat to the 25% sale at Ten Thousand Villages store. As I turned onto Montreat Rd. in the center of Black Mountain, this was what I saw.

No snow had fallen (that I saw) that morning. But on the peaks there sure was a nice coating showing off. Here you see the Fire Station behind the traffic, and the spire of the First Baptist Church. It faces Montreat Rd. which takes a swerve in that direction. I always think it's straight from this intersection, but it curves several times.

So I had to go to my favorite view of snowy mountains over the lake, at the "no parking" place where I parked and said a prayer and incantation that my 2 minutes to take a few photos would keep it invisible.

As you can see, I didn't even walk down the hill to the path around the lake. It was quite breezy and cold off the water, so I set a record getting back to the car.

Today's quote:

Leaving home in a sense involves a kind of second birth in which we give birth to ourselves.

 - Robert Neelly Bellah, sociologist and author (1927-2013)

Catching up at Fire Station

 

 The new concrete has all been poured and it looks like some of the engines are inside.

What is next door?

There's the Black Mountain Police Department.

Of course there are several police cruisers parked outside, but I didn't think I should be taking too many photos. Not that they would really care about an old lady who blogs, but they might think I'm a front for some nefarious organization. (I know, I read (watch) too many action detective stories!)

So let's cross the street.

Across Montreat Rd. is the White Horse...an entertainment venue.

And in the other direction, across Midland Blvd, or perhaps Richardson, not really sure...is the Welcome Center. There are a couple of merging streets there.

The building to the right behind the trees is The Bistro Restaurant, where I frequent sometimes with friends. THis was on Sunday morning, so everything was shut down.

The Chamber of Commerce runs this visitor center, and brochures and maps of the area are available. I remember going there the first few weeks I lived here, and they had so many answers for me! Don't miss the red huge roocking chair bedecked with sunflowers and cornstalks and pumpkins. It says "Black Mountain, The Little Town that Rocks."

Today's quote:

Steve Jobs once said, "Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart."