Welcome to Small Reflections


"Nothing is ever achieved without enthusiasm."
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Duck photo source: Lisa's Chaos
I hope you enjoy your visit. If you're looking for something specific, check out the links to posts by category in my sidebar and down a ways. They'll assist with tracking down different types of posts found on each of my three blogs. You might also enjoy checking out the other sites: Sacred Ruminations, Blog Rolls, Bling & Blurbs, and Happily Retired Gal.

I hope you'll look around & leave comments
then visit me at my new blog ...

Giraffe Journal

and/or website ... Labyrinth Journal
both self-hosted at WordPress
where I publish as myself
rather than under a
pseudonym.

I've not had much time for posting or blog visits, but if you're interested I hope you'll find time to check out my new blog, Giraffe Journal or my Labyrinth Journal website ... both self hosted at WordPress.

Thanks for your visit and have a delightful day ;--)
Hugs and blessings,

Saturday, May 31, 2008

PhotoHunt#5 - SmileySaturday#5 -Saturday9 #4

This week's theme: self (or part of me)

In 2005
I spent several months
reclaiming my front yard ...
see my left foot
(complete with toe rings I've worn for decades)

and my 'gloved hand' ...

It took WEEKS to eliminate the Korean Grass
from this 'rock bed' by hand ...

~ ~ ~

For those who may not know ... my front yard is small, but I have lots of flowers and two prolific citrus trees ... a Meyer lemon and a Bartender lime. I shared the 'yard reclamation' process in 4 parts ... here, here, here, and here.

(Click for others participating in Photo Hunt this week)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~


The phone rang last Monday evening and the 'readout' showed a name I didn't recognize, but something caused me to pick it up anyway. Interestingly (especially in light of the Saturday9 questions for last week and this ... all about high school experiences), I heard a voice asking for me using my maiden name. Forty-six years after my HS graduation, this is the second friend from those days to contact me (the first was through email a couple of months ago). We chatted for a little more than an hour and she gave me email addresses & phone numbers for a few mutual friends ... so perhaps I'll be reconnecting with more 'old friends' (can you hear Simon & Garfunkle singing in the background?) in the days, weeks, and months to come.

~ ~ ~

I'm a happy camper 'cuz
the French Open's 'TENNIS' does
keep me entertained for two
weeks with matches I can view
at my leisure thanks to my
DVR ... Behind, I'll try
catching up on visits while
multi-tasking with a SMILE!


Of course it is sad to see
Williams sisters out of the
tournament so early ... yet
new young players soon may get
opportunities to show
off their talent ... maybe go
all the way like Chrissy won
way back when ... That would be FUN!

Photo Source: Yahoo Sports

Radwanska's match with Cornet
exciting to watch today ...
Youzny against Verdasco
close as well ... while Almagro
battled against Murray and
Schneider got the upper hand
against Emily Loit ...
Intense competition! Ah
how I enjoy tennis when
players give their all to win!!!

Odesnik (a huge surprise)
fought Djokovic well with wise
strategy & skill ... 3rd round
match a loss, but Wayne's a sound
player to be watched in the
future. What delight to see
Matthieu defeat Schwank (who took
Moya out in 5 'by hook
and by crook' while 'cramping' ... Rules
changed because of Chang, but school's
out (at least for me) ... it seems
players use this as a means
all too often just to take
advantage of 'trainers' ... break-
ing the 'flow' of matches to
gain 'an edge' through much ado.


Chardy came from two sets down
to defeat Nalbandian ...
and as I watch 'time-delayed'
Tursenov must feel dismayed
being down two sets to him.
Once again, the veteran
player may be down and out
to a 'newby' on the scene ... about
to step up, making a name
for himself. I love this game!!!

Click for other participants in Smiley Saturday today.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

This week's Saturday 9: Another High School Meme

1. Can you sing the fight song?
Yes I can ... wanna hear it? "Fight fight fight ... the Eagles have the ball ..."

2. Who was your favorite teacher?
Helen Webb who taught Business Machines (typing, shorthand, etc) ... classes I took during my Senior Year because I'd completed all my requirements for graduation by the time I was a Junior (at the age of 15) ... but didn't feel ready for college just then. I also worked as an aide in the Library and School offices ... making for an easy final year of HS ;--)

3. What was your school mascot?
the Eagle

4. Did you go to the Prom?
Yes ... and I wore a lovely blue and white utterly gorgeous formal floor-length gown

5. If you could go back, would you?
No ... been there, done that ... would NOT like to do it again, though it was okay at the time.

6. What do you remember most about graduation?
Actually, I don't remember much about graduation, but since it was 46 years ago in 1962 ... I'm really not surprised.

7. Where were you on Senior Skip Day?
In my day, there WAS no such thing. We went to school EVERY day ... no excuses ever!

8. Did you have a job your senior year?
My parents believed my job was to get an education, and that's what I did. My 1st job came the summer after graduation, before entering college ... and I was a playground director.

9. Where did you go most often for lunch?
Go? We weren't permitted to leave campus ... so I didn't go anywhere but the 'courtyard' where I ate lunch the lunch (I brought from home) with my friends.


Thought for Today
"The past is never dead, it is not even past." William Faulkner

30 comments:

Cats~Goats~Quotes said...

Reminds me of how bad my yard needs me!

~

Heather said...

We have a HUGE yard and are happy just to have green stuff growing. :) Fun shots.

Anonymous said...

oh, i dont have a yard but we have a huge mango tree in front of the house..

Kwizgiver said...

Visiting your Saturday 9. Great trip down memory lane.

Anonymous said...

I love your toe rings! I haven't been able to find any that fit my toes well enough to wear for long. I have some seriously skinny toes I guess.

Happy Saturday.

Anonymous said...

Great toes. I can't see the ring, but that's ok.

storyteller said...

Cats~Goats~Quotes – I’m smiling as I recall those months of ‘reclamation’ after more than a decade of essentially benign neglect after my divorce. The gardener I hired just didn’t pay enough attention … and neither did I. Today, however, my yard is lovely … but I have more time to keep up with it now that I’m retired.

Heather – We had a huge yard when I was growing up (and with our 1st home in the 1970s), but I’m relieved to have a small yard these days … though Molly would like a bigger one I’m sure.

Bingskee – Mango tree … I love mangos! I wish my lime tree was a peach tree instead, but digging it up would be costly … so I’ll let it be.

Kwizgiver – I’ll try to get to yours in a little while. I’m catching up on TENNIS … watching three women’s matches currently (Jankovic vs Cibulkova, Kuznetsova vs Azarenka, and Zheng vs Safina) recorded earlier this morning, but Molly needs a walk soon so I’ll be visiting blogs later on.

Vixen – I bought my 1st set of 3 toe rings about 30 years ago at a Mother’s Day Craft Fair in Sunset Beach and have worn them ever since … replacing them twice so far after they wore down to nothing. I have thick toe joints so the only way they come off is with soap and determination ;--)

Alice – Thanks … the 3 slender silver rings are on the toe just to the left of my big toe. If you click on the photos they ‘embiggen’ …(I forget where I first saw that word, but it stayed with me).

I hope you’re all enjoying your Saturday! Thanks for dropping by Small Reflections and making my day by leaving a comment!
Hugs and blessings,

Tina Coruth said...

Storyteller,

You sure know how to make great use of your space! Your yard is beautiful.

Love the toe rings.

I would never go back to high school. Even after all these years, I still have a dream that I have to go back to high school to get my diploma because they miscalculated my credits and I am a credit short! LOL

Have a great weekend!

hugs,
Tina

Mary said...

Storyteller,

I enjoyed your Photo Hunt as well as your meme. Yes, we ate our lunch that came from home when I went to high school too. No such luxuries as going out to eat. The first time I ever ate out was when Mom & Dad took us to Niagara Falls when I was six. The next time I ate out, I was with my brother and a friend and we had lunch at a burger joint. I was fifteen.

Enjoyed my visit. Hope you are enjoying your weekend.

Blessings,
Mary

Betty said...

I enjoyed reading your meme and also the photos of part of you for Saturday's Photo Hunt. That was a nice take for today's photo hunt. Like you, we were not allowed to leave the campus for lunch. Several other things you said about school holds true for me. Thanks have sure changed.

peppylady (Dora) said...

My patriotic flowerbed is sure got in a mess.
Not sure what is good or bad in there.

my photo is up.

Eve said...

I feel I know you so much better now that I've seen your toes and your work gloves.

Ari_1965 said...

I use a thick layer of newspaper under the rocks. It keeps the weeds down and you don't have the ugly black Hefty bag stuff showing around the edges.

Jane said...

So now we know you have a foot and a hand! Funny - today I went prom dress shopping with my daughter. It went much better than I had hoped - we bought the first dress she tried on at the first store we went into. We drove 2 hours to get there and we were done shopping in about 15 minutes.
I'm NOT complaining!
Hazelnut

sammawow said...

What a wonderful take on the theme of you in your garden! I am always impressed with the ones who can take care of gardens - I'm not so good with plants but I like looking at and photographing them!

Rebecca (Ramblings by Reba) said...

I want to plant a few things in our yard. But I hate yard work. This is not a good combination. :)

storyteller said...

Tina – Thanks … I certainly enjoy working in my yard and sitting on my front patio to read and/or write. I know I get carried away doing so much sometimes, but I only want to post once a day … so I ‘multi-task’ as I did today.

Mary – Times were different when we were young. We didn’t eat out until I was in college … and then only occasionally. Glad you enjoyed your visit. I’m hoping to catch up with you sometime soon … perhaps tomorrow?

Betty – Being ‘a nonny mouse’ … I needed to come up with a way to share myself w/o posting a typical self-portrait … and including the two Saturday memes (along with the links to my yard reclamation posts) seemed a way to round things out. I wrote the ‘tennis’ updates Friday night as I watched matches … then added a bit more in the morning before publishing.

Peppylady – I tend to choose plants that grow with minimal effort on my part so that most of my energy goes to watering and weeding these days ;--)

Eve – Hahahahah … you’re pretty funny! LOL One of these days perhaps I’ll share more of me … but not right now.

Ari – Originally we put heavy-duty plastic under the rocks (way back in 1980) and that worked well for about 15 years. As I cleared the grass out in 2005, I sprinkled salt under the rocks … and so far, so good. I do pull bits out of there as things start to take hold to keep the rock area clear now.

Hazel Nut – I’m glad the prom dress shopping went well with your daughter. I recall shopping with my mom way back when … and it went pretty fast too.

Sammawow – I’m glad you enjoyed my approach. I do enjoy gardening now that I’m retired. Actually, everything on both of my blogs ‘reflects’ pieces of me … perhaps showing more than I intend at times … but I’m gaining a measure of comfort with ‘being known’ gradually.

Rebecca – I suggest you find plants that will ‘thrive on neglect’ if possible ;--)

I hope you've all enjoyed your Saturday! Thanks for taking time to visit Small Reflections and share your thoughts.
Hugs and blessings,

♥.Trish.♥ Drumboys said...

hi
I'm here from Smiley Saturday

Great reasons to smile - tonight I am catching up with my long time school friends - over 29 years we have been friends. Umm now I feel old ! LOL

I don't mind a bit of the ole' tennis - hope your favourites win

My Little Drummer boys
warm regards
Trish

Melli said...

Well! I am certainly IMPRESSED by the retaking of your yard! I had to check out here, here, here, AND here! I was wondering though where the finished product was! ??? I am NOT a gardener... as a matter of fact, the flowers that I planted a month or so ago are already dying -- and that is with GOBS of rain! You can imagine how quickly they go when we don't get rain... I'm pitiful.

Thanks for stoppin' by today!

Momisodes said...

I love that you wear toe rings :) I was never able to keep them on for long. Lemon and lime trees huh? Perfect for so many recipes!

MaR said...

Fun self pictures!!!
Happy weekend :)

Hootin Anni said...

Ewwwwww, that looks like a LOT of work removing the grass from the rock garden! But oh when it's done...so worth the effort, right?

Enjoyed your High School meme. My answers would be so different tho. I'm working on a meme right now that is very long...and it'll have some bits about my schooling too.

Great stuff this weekend Storyteller!!

Unknown said...

So you had your lunch the same way as I did.


My answers are ::here::

Enjoy your day.

Anonymous said...

Very clever showing us your foot and gloved hand! That's kind of what I'm doing this weekend trying to reclaim my planters from the weeds. have a great week...

Karen said...

I'm so with you on not wanting to relive the high school years--mine were perfectly fine, but oh how I'm glad they're over...

storyteller said...

Baby~amore - How fun for you! I’ll try to get over to read your answers in a little while. As for my favorites … since Andy Roddick’s injured and the Williams sisters are out early (along with all the other American’s except Robby Ginepri) … I guess I’m just enjoying the tennis with an open mind. There are some YOUNG players doing amazing things (like Gulbis & Chardy on the men’s side and Suarez-Navarro, the qualifier, on the women’s side) that we may be seeing a new champion in the making ;--)

Melli – Ohmygosh … I guess I got sidetracked and didn’t finish with the ‘after’ photos. Thanks for taking the time to click the links provided. You’re the first to ask about this. Let’s see … there ARE photos of my yard posted. There are two links in my sidebar (in the About Me section) that will take you to all posts with my flowers … and that should give you a pretty good idea.

Sandy – You’d probably like my earrings then too … left ear is pierced 3 times on the lobe and once near the top while right ear is double pierced. I’ve got 5 diamond studs in my lobes and a small ring in the one up top … but occasionally take out the lower two studs to wear dangling earrings to dress up.

Mar – Glad you enjoyed them ;--)

Hootin’ Anni – It was a HUGE job at the time and there was lots more to be done as well … but I did it a bit at a time … and now my yard is easy to maintain. I suppose I could post an ‘after’ photo in some future post … since I apparently neglected to do so. I’ll look forward to your meme about schooling when you finish and share it.

Laane – Yes, it seems we did. Thanks for visiting and leaving the link to yours. I left a comment there for you as well.

EllenB – I debated not participating this week until I thought of these pictures. Until I give up being ‘a nonny mouse’ … those are the only kinds of photos anyone is likely to see of me. Hope you got a handle on the weeds in your planters this weekend.

Karen – Actually … I’m not sure I’d like to repeat ANY part of my life because I’m happy to be as I am right now … and pretty much have been all through my life (with only a few brief exceptions).

Thanks to everyone for taking time to stop by and share your thoughts here. You know how I love comments! Hope you’re all enjoying your Sunday.
Hugs and blessings,

Anonymous said...

We don't have much of a yard too but I love doing what I can with our plants and flowers. I just don't have much time for the outdoors now. I'm really hoping 3to get back it.

storyteller said...

Mama Meji – Trying to balance everything can present challenges, but gardening is a great way to keep myself ‘centered’ and calm. Hope you get back to it too. Thanks for stopping by and Happy Monday to you!!!
Hugs and blessings,

Mary P Jones (MPJ) said...

What fun to see parts of you. And what fun to hear from an old high school friend.

I liked your answers to the high school meme -- I'm younger than you are and think many of my answers would be the same. I guess times have changed recently! :)

storyteller said...

MPJ – Being ‘a nonny mouse’ yourself, I suspect you relate to my ‘minimalist’ sharing of myself in this post. I like the way you’ve handled this idea by finding & sharing photos of ‘others’ you feel are ‘similar’ (as you did with the wedding photo a while back) … and I’ll keep it in mind for future reference.

As for changes in the world, they do seem to be speeding up exponentially … however considering TV didn’t exist until I was 7 or 8 … sometimes I feel like a dinosaur in the midst of today’s technology.
I appreciate you checking in periodically and I promise I’ll get back to reading & responding to your posts soon. I miss my visits to and the interaction with you (and others). I hope all is well with you and yours.
Hugs and blessings,

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