Stepping Away from the Edge

The Last Five

Saturday. . . means. . . five more things about me.

16.  When I was a little girl, I didn't go to Kindergarten.  (It just wasn't part of the school system back then.)  When I started First Grade as a 6-year-old, I was several exits past Ready-for-School, and I could already read almost anything.  School was easy for me, and I loved it!  (Of course, that was before I experienced geometry and chemistry a few years later.  Those subjects nearly did me in!)

17.  All of my reading-life, I have had some sort of book "going."  Through most of my life, I have passed spare moments with something-to-read.  I know a lot of my blog-readers are more apt to carry a knitting project -- and I do that some, too -- but, for me, it's a book.  The hardest thing about being in college, for me, was that I had so little time for "free-reading."  I used to go home for breaks and just dive into books-of-my-choosing.

18.  My mom taught me to knit when I was about 8 or 9.  I caught on right away, but found it was too slow for me.  I was all about the finished product back then -- and I figured it would take about a million years to finish a scarf, so I turned my scarf into a doll blanket and put the needles away.

19.  I taught myself how to crochet from a magazine sometime in the junior high school years.  I liked crocheting -- because it was quick!  I made lots of little things -- hats, mittens, scarves, potholders, and animals.  Many of these items are still hanging around (I'm talking to you, Dad, with that ratty old scarf I made in high school!). 

20.  When I was little, I used to dream about what I'd be when I grew up.  Back then, I thought it might be nice to be a ballerina or an astronaut; maybe a teacher or an author.  I didn't grow up to be any of those things. . . but I do still dream about what I'll be when I grow up!

 

 

Five More Things

It's Saturday again. 

This week, since FOOD is on my mind (big-time), I'll share five food-related Things About Me.

11.  I hate oatmeal.  I have always hated oatmeal.  My mom knew I hated oatmeal.  But once, when I was about 8 or 9, the advertisements on TV for NEW, INSTANT, FLAVORED Quaker's oatmeal convinced me that maybe NOW I would like oatmeal.  I begged my mom.  I pleaded with my mom.  She told me. . . you HATE oatmeal.  I said No-No-No, not this new, instant, flavored oatmeal; it's different!  She reiterated that. . . you HATE oatmeal.  Finally, though, she caved.  With the caveat that I would HAVE TO EAT IT.  Guess what?  I HATED it!  The new, instant, flavored oatmeal was even more hideous than the old, old-fashioned, regular-flavored oatmeal.  My mom, though, stuck to her guns (she was like that!).  She made me eat it.  When I finally whined my way out of it at breakfast (I'm sure I had shattered every nerve in her body), she assured me I'd have it for lunch.  And. . . I did.  It became a standoff.  I sat at the table -- with that gross, new, instant, flavored oatmeal in front of me -- for about 3 or 4 hours.  She would not let me leave the table.  I would not eat the oatmeal.  Finally, in a fit of parenting brilliance, she pretended not to notice while I poured it down the sink.  I have not eaten oatmeal since.

12.  I love appetizers.  Love. Them.  I adore tapas restaurants!

13.  I love chewy chocolate chip cookies  Tom loves crispy chocolate chip cookies.  I bake more than he does, so I tend to win that battle!

14.  I love olives!  I have always loved olives.  As a child, one of my cousins and I used to get in trouble at family meal gatherings because we would eat ALL of the olives from the pickle trays before anyone else had a crack at them.  As an adult, no one else in my family likes olives.  That doesn't stop me -- I cook with olives all the time.  More For Me!  That 's my mottos!

15.  I am not a vegetarian, but I don't eat much red meat.  Just don't like it all that much. 

Have a great weekend!

6 Through 10 Out Of 20

 

Happy Saturday! 

It's time for five more things about me!

6.  Shrub roses are my favorite flower.  I love their non-stop blooming and how hard they work in my garden.  I also love the fact that they aren't fussy, and really don't require much from me at all.  A little deadheading every week, and they just bloom and bloom and bloom.  They're even lovely when the frost comes.

7.  When I was in high school, I drove a 1964 Chevy Bel Air station wagon.  (Mine was white.)  It was in bad shape when my Dad brough it home.  Truth be told, someone paid HIM to take it . . .  because it had no front seat!  (I think he drove it home with a lawn chair; I was horrified.)  My Dad, ever resourceful, found an appropriate front seat for me -- but it was red. . . while the rest of the interior was blue.  I have many, many, many stories about this car.  Today, I'll share only one:  It could be started without a key!  Once people in my high school found this out, they used to hide the car on me.  Usually they just moved it from one side of the school to the other, but once it was parked in a nearby golf course parking lot for 3 days before I found it.

8.  I have a standard daily beverage progression.  I start out my day with two cups of coffee (with cream, thank you very much).  Then I move on to tea (typically Earl Grey, although I'm open to almost any type of tea) for the rest of the day.  After dinner (and sometimes during) it's time for wine -- usually red.  (I love cabs, pinots, and the occasional syrah!)

9.  My first job was at Dairy Queen.  I can still make the little swirl.

10.  I don't have a favorite color.  I like them all.  I tend to go through little "color jags" where I get in a bit of a color-rut for a while, but I don't tend to prefer any specific color. 

And there you have it.  Five more intriguing things about me.

Enjoy your weekend!

Twenty Things

I've been having a slow-blog period lately.  My schedule has changed.  I'm knitting gifts that I can't talk about on the blog.  My garden is quiet.  My kids are gone.  I thought about taking the NaBloPoMo challenge for inspiration. . . but I missed posting on November 1, so that was out.  But.  Now Margene and Carole are posting Twenty Things about themselves on Saturdays (5 each week during November), and I decided to (uninvited) join them. 

So.  To start things off, here are five things . . . that you probably don't know. . . about me.

1. I'm a Master Gardener.  I took the class six years ago, passed the exam, and now do a lot of volunteer gardening in the community.  I really enjoy this part of my life.
2. Once I served as the chauffeur for Gloria Steinem when she did a couple of speaking engagements in Michigan.  I was a young, mini-van driving mom at the time, and actually had to move Brian's carseat and brush away the crumbs so she could take a brief catnap in my backseat!
3. I have a "collection" of college degrees. . . with a whole slew of "careers" to match!  I tend to reinvent my professional self every now and again!
4. I had never been to Europe before last fall, when I travelled to London with my sister.  We both had such a great time (GREAT) that we're planning another trip.  This time. . . France, with maybe a little Amsterdam thrown in for good measure.
5. I really like birds -- real birds out in the garden, birds as art, bird motifs on clothing and household items, almost anything with birds.  But.  I don't like to be close to them when the flap around.  (Which is a bit of a problem, because now I'm caring for Brian's parrot, Puck.)

And there you have it.  Five things.  Intriguing, non?