Like 'Brambly Hedge'...

You know the "Brambly Hedge" books... Remember the precious pinafores which all the lady and little girl mice, wear over their dresses?

I want one.

Yes, for me. No I won't look *precious.* ,-)

But I always {Summer and Winter} wear cotton dresses, gathered in front and back. In Summer, I wear them by themselves and in Winter, I put a blouse/top under them. But I'd like an all white pinafore, on top of the dresses.

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All white and it could be washed in clorox with my white wash and should thus, come out nice and clean/bright each time. And such pinafores would be my answer to the apron question. I like the idea of a full apron, but don't like the feeling of an around-the-neck tie.

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So does anyone know of a place which has simple patterns for such an item, for adults? There are lots of such, for little girls. But I mean, for adults. Please and thank you.

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A reminder ~~ Tomorrow {Aug. 28th} is Tasha Tudor Day in Blog Land. Please click on this link to Story Book Woods reminder post. And get the information.

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Will having to "feel different," disappear?

{All photos can be enlarged, by clicking on them}

"Feeling different." Will that eventually be a thing of the past?

At the present time, most everyone knows the angst of "feeling different." Most all go through that, some time in their life. Maybe many times... It's almost a 'rite of passage.' Like the first time your heart gets broken. How can we relate to such sadness in our children, if we've never felt it, ourselves?

But I wonder... Will the happening of "feeling different," eventually disappear?

In older times, people were born into a specific place/group and lived their whole lives there. So did all the other people, they knew. If no one resonated with them, well... that was just too bad. There wasn't any way to find anyone, who did.

As times progressed, many could move elsewhere when they reached maturity. And maybe find more people, with whom they felt more comfortable. But that still left childhood and growing up years, in which to "feel different."

But now, in the age of the Net... children can escape their physical boundaries, as soon as they master a keyboard. And can go searching for more like-minded children.

Will all this Net ability to find new people to be connected with... To find those with similar interests... Via Groups, Chat Rooms, Blogging, IM-ing, Microbloging {Like Twitter, Identic.ca, etc.}... Will the need to ever experience the angst of "feeling different," be nearly eliminated?

And if so, is this a totally 'good' thing?


Plus, with all these ways to find new people {with whom we share interests and feel at ease}, is it any wonder that we can find our time being sucked down the big black hole, which is the Net? >,-)

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Hurry...

Hurry...

{Mmmm, do we see a pattern here, in this blog? Words. Wonder how long this will continue?} :-)

Hurry... Wonder who coined that word for the very first time, in whatever language came first? Probably 'Mog' and 'Grog' and their need to escape from a saber toothed tiger. And then all the dictators and masters, down through the centuries, kept saying it... to their underlings. "Hurry, and do what I told you!" "Hurry and get this work done, for me!" "Hurry and do whatever I demand of you!"

Doesn't sound very good, does it?

I doubt anyone reading in "Pretty Blog Land," has to keep an eye out for saber toothed tigers. Or lives under a dictator or a 'master' or lord-of-the-manor, etc. I see people reading here, as being lucky to not live such lives.

Oh sure, many free people still live under duress of some authority, but only because they allow it. Only because they have given over their free will, to another person or entity.

But for the majority of us, why do we hurry?

If we're mothers in charge of children, we hurry to keep up with them and keep them safe. Same goes for grandparents, in care of grands. And if we want a smooth running life, we keep up with certain duties like laundry, and meals and general cleaning/straightening up. And those who work, have duties to accomplish. But in all these cases, how much hurry is really necessary? And how much is self imposed?

When did it becomes a *virtue,* to always be in-a-hurry? When did it become a *Badge-Of-Honor,* to always be rushed? To have way too many tasks scheduled, for way too little time? What's the saying; "If you want something done, ask a busy person"?

Why? How come? Who decided all of this? Who set the standard, to which all must try to adhere?

Who gave them this right??????? Did you? Did I? Did your neighbor?

Bethca' not many said; "Right! That's how I want to live my life! I fully concur, with hurry, hurry, hurry." So..... Why do most of us, buy into it? Why do most of us feel we have to hurry? Why?

And why do we keep hurrying? When we realize that we never did say "Yes"?

We are NOT in decline...!!!

Today, we celebrate, our Independence and Freedom. ~~~~~~~~ Yes, gas prices are high, and people have been running up way too much credit card debt, and there are job losses. ~~~~~~~~ So how come, we are still over-run with immigrants? Who just want to come here. No matter how bad things are said to be... How come?
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May I paraphrase something I just read...
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No doubt times are tough right now. But the American people are still as creative and hard working as they've always been. Some of our pinhead politicians have mucked up recently. But we are not a nation in decline! We've had tough times before, and come through them. And on this Independence Day, we remain strong, and the world's greatest hope. ~~~~~~~~ {If you disagree with the last line, please tell me who you see, as the world's greatest hope?}
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I only wanted an old fashioned 4th of July. BBQ and red/white/blue desserts and parades and fireworks. ~~~~~~~~ But lately I've been hearing too much Decline... Decline... Decline... ~~~~~~~~ I can't enjoy my old fashioned 4th of July, without addressing what I hear/read too much of.

Poster Source

"No big thing..." :-)

{Tuberous Begonia}

We always have Tuberous Begonias in a pot, on the front entry step. There is lots of shade there, and these flowers love this. They always make a lovely display for us. I found this blossom lying right beside the pot. It was still so lovely that I had to bring it in, and simply put it in a custard dish. It won't last that long, but it's lovely, while it does...

{New Guinea Impatient and a 'Silver Leaf' ???}

Also in the shady out-front, New Guinea Impatient plants thrive. I think they look pretty, next to whatever that 'Silver Leaf' is. With the wild ferns behind them... A more simple planting this year. Usually my husband fills this spot with lots of Impatient. I like this, for a change.

{Hydrangea}
If you look closely {click on pic, to enlarge}, you will see the couple of bunches of little round things. The first signs of buds on the Hydrangea, way on the left of the front grouping. Hooray! It will again bloom, this year! ~~~~~~~~~~ We are getting a bit tired of waiting for the matching one, on the far right, which has not yet bloomed. :-( ~~~~~~~~~~ And yes, my husband does give them 'extra helpings' of Mir-Acid, which they like and need.

{Pink Spirea}

The Pink Spirea keeps changing and developing... I thought it was done, but it's not. It's simply "taking its own sweet time," as the old saying goes. Which, brings me to the title of this entry!!! :-) "No big thing..." :-) ~~~~~~~~~~ Isn't that a saying, from those warm and gentle islands of the Caribbean? Where life is lived at a slower pace than the rest of 'civilization'? And probably, life is enjoyed more. Maybe... Less stress anyway. Which sounds good. ~~~~~~~~~~ The book The Blue Zones certainly points to shedding stress as being in the recipe for a long, happy life. This and other things of course. But, not many would disagree with the idea that... shedding stress sound good. :-) Sooo, how to shed stress? ~~~~~~~~~~ Needle point that saying {'No big thing'} on lots of pillows and keep them casually thrown on furniture, throughout the home? Mmm, I can't needle point. Paint it on canvas and hang them, around the home? Too many nail holes in the walls. Type it up in bold colors, and print it out lots of times, and make it into 'post it notes,' alllllllll over. Home, car, etc., etc. Well, this sounds like the simplest way, in the long run. :-)


-Grinnnnnnn- Well, that's being funny. But you get the idea. I'm still trying to find a smoother life style. Add smooth... Increase calm... Eat in more healthy way... Regular, gentle exercise... More time with nature... More time with loved ones... More quality time, that is, for all these things. Not just paying lip service, to nice ideas. Really incorporating them, into my daily life...

Me and who else? Who else likes these ideas? Who else did it? Who else is still trying to? Any other suggestions, which you have found helpful? Any other books? Any discussions? Any blogs? :-) ~~~~~~~~~~ I know... -sigh- I write one of these {nearly identical} posts, every month. -sigh- Ya, I do. I admit it. I admit it. Maybe this should really depress me. But, I'm not gonna' let it! I'm going to look on it as... I have not mastered it yet. But I have not given up on mastering it. That sounds good!!! And not giving up, is always a good thing! :-))))

Addition: News of 'Big Brown'...

Photo of 'Big Brown', from Belmont Stakes reveals.........
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Of haze... And just being ourselves...

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Look at that haze, through the trees, this morning... ~~~ This is the view I see, from the patio window. ~~~ The view I love, at all times of the year. ~~~ Per usual, you can click on pictures, to enlarge. ~~~ I think it's probably kind, to post them in Medium Size though. So as not to take up too much band width {whatever that means -smile- But it used to be a catch-word for geeks complaining about pages taking too long to load and all that stuff...} ~~~ Without needing to be a geek, I figure that the bigger my pics/photos show on a page, the *harder* it is... somehow.


Anyway, back to my point. ~~~ Morning haze like that, means the day will be hot/humid. And the weather report concurs. 90's are forecast for Saturday, Sunday and Monday. But, the nights cool off. ~~~ Sooooo, wisdom says, do work early and take it easy the rest of the day. :-)

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Remember the clover in the back yard? Which I took a picture of, before our Son cut the lawns? Well, it came back. :-) Doing what clover does, I guess one could say. ~~~ Cut clover. It grows again. Cut it again. It will grow again. It's just "being clover."
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Maybe that's a lesson, for people too...
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Meaning, why not just be ourselves? Just do what we do. Pay "no-never-mind" to what anyone says, or thinks, or even demands we do. Society, so-called-wise-men, community, family, culture, fashion, the media ~~~ So many voices try to tell us "The Rules." So many voices tell us that they know what is the best thing for us to do. They have the answers. They have somehow, been given a glimpse of The Way. And aren't shy about telling us how we don't fit, either. Or how we don't measure up. Or how we will be sooooooo much better, in so many ways, if only we follow their Way.
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-sighhhhhhhhh-
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When was the last 24 hours, which we spent, doing exactly as we know is "the best" way for us? Is 24 hours too much? OK, when was the last couple of hours, when we did that? Or even, the last single hour, when we did that? ~~~ It may have taken a couple of preliminary hours, to convince ourselves that we have the right to do this! So long have we lived, by the programs imprinted in us, since childhood! ~~~ It may well have felt foreign and scary, to be our own guide. Did we keep looking over our shoulder, so to speak? For someone to 'tsk-tsk' at us, for having the audacity to think and decide for ourselves? :-)
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Then again, some of us may never have done this. ~~~ May never have just been ourselves, for a while. Figured out what's authentic for us, and done it. ~~~ If not, maybe it would be worth a try... Maybe... :-)

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June Is Bustin' Out All O-oo-ver...

Above is "Flaming June," by Frederick Lord Leighton... But she doesn't look like she's bustin' out. She looks more like she's all tired out. And having to take a nap. :-))) {Click the following link, for Pic source All Posters.com}

"June is bustin' out all over
All over the meadow and the hill!
Buds're bustin' outa bushes
And he rompin' river pushes
Ev'ry little wheel that wheels beside the mill!"

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"Fashion Flash"!!! Nude shoes are in! Mmmmmm... When they are ballet style flats, you look like you are barefoot. >,-) Tell me, WHO thinks these things up?!? When did looking like you are barefoot, improve your "Wow, she looks great!" quotient?

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The 3 ducks were back last evening. What is it the French call this sort of thing?
Menage a trois...?
{"Shoot" I can't do the foreign pronunciation stuff, any more.}

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Look above, at this movie promotion photo.
How hard is it to realize, that this is Fantasy???
But I wonder if no one understands the concept of 'Fantasy,' any more???

'Satc' is a movie filled with loads of beautiful/outrageous clothes and shoes. {There's one clue, that it's 'Fantasy'!} It's New York City, and no subway is ever seen. {Clue #2} Females walk four abreast down NYC streets and never get jostled by a crowd. {Clue #3} One woman walks around NYC at midnight, and doesn't get mugged. {Clue #4} No particularly weird/scary looking people on the streets. {Clue #5} These women live in converted brownstones, with beautiful entry stairs. {Clue #6} Or in a high rise apartment, you could fit a regular size house into. {Clue #7} But, not enough closet space? Not to worry. Man has enough money to add closet space, the size of a small apartment in itself. {Clue #8} The characters eat and drink, but don't gain weight. {Clue #9}

And Clue #10... It's Fantasy, folks. So maybe that's why no one seems to get STD's either.

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I had fun.

But I am not pushing the film.

Other mature individuals, might have fun too. Or not. It's their choice.

And there is an R rating. I somehow thought that kept kids out. But I guess I was mistaken there...

And what about the impressionable young women?

If they swallow the whole story line, they have had too little work to do, in their growing up years. ,-) Give them some more chores to do around the house, and they'd know that this film is 'Fantasy,' with a capitol 'F'.

And if they didn't get *brung up* right, that's the fault of Mummy and Daddy. Bring 'em up, with a head on their shoulders. And they can separate real life, from 'Fantasy.'

When I was in college, and went to see Grace Kelly movies, I did not think I would live that life!!!!! It was 2 hours of escapist fun. And I easily returned to Real Life. When did that ability go out of style? :-)

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We had some rain. Sun out again. Come on poppies... bloom!

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.Speaking of going 'rah rah' for coming out... Net friends in London finally had their "Beanlet"! Whewwwww... 4 days of labour, trying to have it at home. Not as if they don't have plenty of money, etc. 4 freakin' days of pain. Just to do the home-birth with midwife-thing.
Well, the 'Beanlet' was in position, at due date. Then with the waiting around, she turned breach, and would not change. So, finally {duhhhh} on Day 4, they got an ambulance to the hospital and had an eppidural and sucked the baby out. I was about to explode myself, with keeping myself from fully saying; "What are you trying to prove? And at the same time, endangering the life of your child!?!"

OK, guess I'm
just not 'with the times.' :-(

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