ROCKS & RANGE BALLS

I suppose there's a bit of a rock collector in all of us. Our 6 yr. old Rosa has more than the normal amount. No rock, stone or fossil with a sparkle is safe and if spotted it will be going in her pocket. The collection isn't in a fancy case with labels below each specimen. The gems are helter skelter, on top of the counters, in drawers, window sills and scattered on the floor of our house.

When Rosa was about 3 yrs. old, we were shopping in a store that had some sparkly rocks, which found their way into Rosa's pockets. She was like the crying kid in the grocery store line who thought the world would end if they didn't get that bag of skittles,which they brilliantly display at the one place in the store you can't just roll on past. How do you explain to a child that it's okay to pick up rocks at random from creek beds, forests, the neighbors landscaping etc. BUT you have to pay for the ones in this store?

It was a similar situation lately when we walked over to the local golf course to get a glimpse of the wild deer. There were range balls everywhere. Of course the kids starting gathering them up. Stella was okay with leaving them behind but Rosa wouldn't have it. It felt like stealing but we decided to just borrow the practice balls for a day or two and take them back.

farmers market

i can't believe i'm starting this blogging business. I don't even like the word and would like to have a talk with the party that invented it. There's nothing anyone can do about it now so i'll just deal with it.

We went to the local farmers market yesterday, where i have the idea to buy all of this lovely produce, you know FRUITS AND VEGETABLES. Amy's idea is more about these flax seed cookies some guy bakes. They are a 1.50 for one cookie or 2.00 for a bag full of broken ones. Well, Amy looks in the bags and doesn't see any flax seed, only raisin cookies, which she wouldn't touch. It was late in the day so the baker takes some of the nice round flax seed ones and breaks them up, throws 'em in a bag and there you go. Everyone is happy.

Today, i'm still not doing much with this plate & screws still trying desperately to hold my left clavicle in place. i could go on for a while about this bicycle racing accident but that's already on another forum.

My mother came by today and they headed for China Town. You didn't realize we had such culture in this Metropolis of Springfield IL? No, there isn't a concentration of Chinese people, restaurants, asian grocery stores and touristy gift shops. It is Ceramics 101 and it spelled China Towne, i think. You paint glaze on pre-fired trinkets or you can "make" your own set of personally designed dinnerware.

I passed up the opportunity to paint my very own troll and stayed home to finish up the last chapter of David Sedaris' latest book "When you are Engulfed in Flames".....and start this blog!

We'll see how this goes.