tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72741748363211966562024-03-20T23:32:37.790-07:00Bessie Beetum's BlogKEEPING TRACK OF MISS CREATIVE (aka Wendy Watson, Author/Illustrator)Bessie Beetumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09515078234712534503noreply@blogger.comBlogger68125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7274174836321196656.post-60378207748172199292013-06-09T09:19:00.000-07:002013-06-09T09:20:43.114-07:00YARD WORK<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Guess where I am? No, not in the jungle. This is actually dear Miss Creative's <b>yard</b>. SHE calls it a yard, anyway. She's been telling her friends about all the trees she's planted "in her yard." So I made an expedition. I had to make sure she'd planted pine trees. (My favorite tree, in case you don't remember.)</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">But I could hardly tell the trees from the jungle.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">See what I mean?</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;">Now Miss Creative has mowed it. Sort of. I'm still not sure which are trees and which are weeds. And NONE of the trees are pine trees. Can you believe it? Once again, my wishes have been totally ignored. I'm going to postpone any more expeditions to the <strike> yard </strike> <b>jungle</b> right now. It's too depressing. Besides, I might get lost out there. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>Bessie Beetumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09515078234712534503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7274174836321196656.post-40583259238002292292013-04-27T11:25:00.000-07:002013-04-27T11:25:19.796-07:00I'M BACK...YET AGAIN<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It's been awhile. I just <i>had</i> to take some time off. Though I didn't plan on it being two years. But SOMEHOW dear dear Miss Creative messed up my blog so it wouldn't work. Actually I'm pretty sure she did it on purpose. She didn't want <b>my</b> blog competing with <b>her</b> blog. (As if anyone would prefer hers to mine. Mine tells the actual truth, after all.) But I won't let her mess things up again. I'm now <strike>taking over</strike> <strike>infiltrating</strike> posting on HER blog. (<a href="http://thewendywatsonblog.blogspot.com/">http://thewendywatsonblog.blogspot.com</a>) So there's no way she can censor me now. Even if she goes so far as to <b>delete</b> this blog---well <b>I'll still be on her blog</b>. Just to be safe, you'd better sign up on HER blog right now. She'll never guess that it's really ME you want to follow. Sign up now. Before something awful happens to this one. I might not be able to rescue it the next time. And then you won't know where I've gone.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Anyway---have things changed? <b>NO</b>. I've been left <i>sitting on a shelf</i> for months. Again. Well, one thing <b>has</b> changed. The shelf is in Arizona instead of Vermont. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And take a look at her desk. Embarrassingly messy. <b>As usual</b>. She's obviously an old dog who can't learn new tricks. (By the way, no one ever says an old <b>OWL</b> can't learn new tricks...) Time for my afternoon nap. I'll be back...</span>Bessie Beetumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09515078234712534503noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7274174836321196656.post-68152044046176487802011-03-14T19:35:00.000-07:002013-04-16T13:55:16.651-07:00NOT THE FIRST DAY OF SPRINGHow <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">embarrassing</span>. It's NEXT Sunday that's the First Day of Spring. Not yesterday. It's all <b>dear Miss Creative's fault</b>, of course. If everything were up to <b>me</b>, I would <i><b>never</b></i> have made such a ridiculous, stupid mistake. I <b>never</b> leave the calendar open to the <b>wrong page</b>---the way <b>SHE</b> did...(naturally I thought it was the <i><b>right</b></i> page---who wouldn't)...and HER desk is such a <i>mess</i>, not like MY neat desk, so you can hardly <b>find</b> the calendar anyway...how was <u><b>I</b></u> supposed to know?<br />
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Maybe I"ll go back to bed until NEXT Sunday. The RIGHT Sunday. The <b>REAL</b> First Day of Spring.Bessie Beetumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09515078234712534503noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7274174836321196656.post-2855742170531840542011-03-13T19:49:00.000-07:002011-03-13T19:49:33.797-07:00FIRST DAY OF SPRING<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD_RTa0R3ENcv-pEFWsWD-Mlx-OAYa3IXr42CjBaD45g7sJ_qi-oGgs7vOh_lRV7Zyy9d72ETENUt80WQOEti2j7sooMXElKXK4sJJ_PcqbS2jGiKlvZob1bZK4uJJwbvS9DCsV51j5JO0/s1600/Bessie-in-window.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">March 20th...time to wake up...(<i>yawn</i>)...Wonder what's happened over the winter? Miss Creative doesn't seem to be around...(<i>yawn</i>)...nothing different about <i>that</i>. Since I'm alone...I'm just going to check the back yard...maybe she started on my house.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVmKmp1azfesveGtvYIkOcVWjPD67lDzLxGM01ff7xk_x4-fVtWKOm1uEskJx1S_lrBHIZ1uVK7Xaczc2eeQ1w40I35GuutM2T5gQOqstXUWZEDammLXAXSV_e62zAErsdtKYLd4pJsQCt/s1600/bessie-in-back-yard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVmKmp1azfesveGtvYIkOcVWjPD67lDzLxGM01ff7xk_x4-fVtWKOm1uEskJx1S_lrBHIZ1uVK7Xaczc2eeQ1w40I35GuutM2T5gQOqstXUWZEDammLXAXSV_e62zAErsdtKYLd4pJsQCt/s320/bessie-in-back-yard.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I should have known. No house. And the weeds are almost as tall as they were last fall. Before they got cut down, I mean. And they're already...<i>going to seed</i>. Huge disappointment. The whole back yard. Though what did I expect from Miss Creative? Maybe the front yard is more encouraging...I'll take a peek out the window...</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD_RTa0R3ENcv-pEFWsWD-Mlx-OAYa3IXr42CjBaD45g7sJ_qi-oGgs7vOh_lRV7Zyy9d72ETENUt80WQOEti2j7sooMXElKXK4sJJ_PcqbS2jGiKlvZob1bZK4uJJwbvS9DCsV51j5JO0/s1600/Bessie-in-window.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD_RTa0R3ENcv-pEFWsWD-Mlx-OAYa3IXr42CjBaD45g7sJ_qi-oGgs7vOh_lRV7Zyy9d72ETENUt80WQOEti2j7sooMXElKXK4sJJ_PcqbS2jGiKlvZob1bZK4uJJwbvS9DCsV51j5JO0/s320/Bessie-in-window.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Well, galoshes and garters! A <b>garden</b>! Couldn't have been much of a winter. <i>Nothing</i> like what I've seen in New England. I'll go outside. Take a look. Maybe there's something I can eat. I'm nothing but skin and feathers.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdoG4yNHFJO27XoGt_YLMt7w646XGXeIQdmgCHfOjpfIMYzvmnIriPQtKaDoz8vx0gpcyb0n0zw1dEJEQayq6VsNej0EPxf_vrVbFGy4DYZVWwilXgtVJ88hz1NXlM-uAi3cQK5o0eFVE1/s1600/Bessie-outdoors-ok.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdoG4yNHFJO27XoGt_YLMt7w646XGXeIQdmgCHfOjpfIMYzvmnIriPQtKaDoz8vx0gpcyb0n0zw1dEJEQayq6VsNej0EPxf_vrVbFGy4DYZVWwilXgtVJ88hz1NXlM-uAi3cQK5o0eFVE1/s320/Bessie-outdoors-ok.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Let's see...anemones...can't eat them...poisonous, actually (very inconsiderate of Miss Creative). And some yellow stuff back there...</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi_OoC1_RTMAebWOjrT-dznaHDkX1cHNPdLYJzqZ-IdGLNDHcJsRI5DjQ-4i6H72fI4S374a_IgRSQyWV5D6h4OL_C9MuFJi4SU9cTqjpDR97JIaq5oODugDJoPHg9QS-QQjb_96F2aqg4/s1600/lettuce-OK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi_OoC1_RTMAebWOjrT-dznaHDkX1cHNPdLYJzqZ-IdGLNDHcJsRI5DjQ-4i6H72fI4S374a_IgRSQyWV5D6h4OL_C9MuFJi4SU9cTqjpDR97JIaq5oODugDJoPHg9QS-QQjb_96F2aqg4/s320/lettuce-OK.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><b>Lettuce</b>?</i> Not my favorite food. And it's bolted. <i><b>Flowering and going to seed</b></i>. Just like the weeds out back. Totally inedible. Typical of Miss Creative to have <i>bolted</i> lettuce, of course. (Not that I would have eaten it even if it <i>hadn't</i> bolted.) </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9NiqaAztrAFy4N13Eo4FZqHlbdAsZvuDAnyfsZS2W4LVjGZuZZG_jLrqGAVsl2bmfqO75eNxwwTb6fopyuuWlVBbAVa-cjJwFjo8lLD3-rtdORfcrjzf2LHxwVNmx2Nx3teOzfT6lTFJG/s1600/broccoli-ok.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9NiqaAztrAFy4N13Eo4FZqHlbdAsZvuDAnyfsZS2W4LVjGZuZZG_jLrqGAVsl2bmfqO75eNxwwTb6fopyuuWlVBbAVa-cjJwFjo8lLD3-rtdORfcrjzf2LHxwVNmx2Nx3teOzfT6lTFJG/s320/broccoli-ok.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Broccoli??</span> Also not my favorite. <i><b>And it's flowering. Going to seed. </b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">Just like the weeds and the lettuce. </span></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">Uh-oh. </span></i>Here comes dear Miss Creative. Back from wherever. Wonder if <i><b>she's</b></i> going to seed. I'll let you know...</span><br />
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</span>Bessie Beetumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09515078234712534503noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7274174836321196656.post-50597970698291006122010-12-17T13:11:00.000-08:002010-12-17T13:27:23.329-08:00WINDING DOWN?<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Not sure I'll be blogging as much these days...winter is here. Though you wouldn't know it from the weather. Sunshine...and warm enough for Miss Creative to grow broccoli and petunias in the front yard. (They're not doing very well, actually. I think she's lost her green thumb---maybe the other fingers, too.) And there's no snow. Of course. But my <b>gizzard</b> knows it's winter. Time to settle in, sleep, dream. I'll let Miss Creative take over on the blogging for now. It's the <b>Wendy Watson Blog</b>. Visit her at <u><b>http://thewendywatsonblog.blogspot.com</b></u>. Give Miss Creative the illusion that she's...oh, INTERESTING or something...(<i>yawn</i>). Me? I'm (<i>yawn</i>) off to my nest...</span>Bessie Beetumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09515078234712534503noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7274174836321196656.post-33990188271589341652010-11-30T16:39:00.000-08:002010-11-30T16:39:22.048-08:00COOPERATION...UGH<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">What choice did I have? Cooperate...or lose my blog altogether. I'm cooperating. With Miss Creative. (Whom I am <b>now</b> supposed to tell you is <b>Wendy Watson, Illustrator and Author of Books for Children</b>. Such a ridiculous, pompous long title.) Not useful. Cooperation, I mean. Takes <i>too</i> long. Too much <i>fuss</i> and <i>bother</i>. Too much <b><i>talking</i></b><b><i> with others</i></b>. <s>And I never get my way</s> And no one likes.... Oh. Look at the sunset.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcIKu3kMr9z_5_y31Qurr2LvGU32xLLnoA8oe9u-UDB1l1LCJvzhUDRXpOtUPjIV-jqDSU0XoPIdzG2a9kFCZizHlebKN5uh_XzEEhtKcnqleBvOC05QWrI6AR4JiirZ7vrJtZVEL1UMgB/s1600/sunset.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcIKu3kMr9z_5_y31Qurr2LvGU32xLLnoA8oe9u-UDB1l1LCJvzhUDRXpOtUPjIV-jqDSU0XoPIdzG2a9kFCZizHlebKN5uh_XzEEhtKcnqleBvOC05QWrI6AR4JiirZ7vrJtZVEL1UMgB/s320/sunset.jpg" width="272" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I'm going out for a fly-around...soothe my jangled nerves...</span></div>Bessie Beetumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09515078234712534503noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7274174836321196656.post-88611328298226328902010-11-27T11:47:00.000-08:002010-11-27T11:47:41.879-08:00TIMES ARE CHANGING...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Too many things to think about. Miss Creative is apparently <b>starting her OWN BLOG</b>. The wretched copycat. She never would have thought of it if <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>I </b></span>hadn't done it <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>first</b></span>. And it sounds like she's expecting MY blog to cooperate with HER blog somehow...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">and</span> she's even started up on Facebook (whatever THAT is) and is expecting ME to be on Facebook with HER. ON <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">HER</span> FACEBOOK SITE. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i>Can you imagine???</i></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>(I have to admit that I <b>have</b> been thinking lately about retiring. This blogging and travelling about has worn me down to skin and bones. I've lost even more feathers. In fact I'm practically bald. My hat blew away twice. My shoes are full of holes.)</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">On the other hand, if I retire, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">who</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> is going to keep track of that---that </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><i>ridiculous creature</i></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> and all her---all her </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">shenanigans</span></b></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">???</span></b></i></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In the meantime, here's the new washer/dryer after its first load of laundry:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Kbxy4AwBI3IhMoM1y9IupVRA-o3EYyqjWOzsjcZHcQxKAPkyxqjp6BvgFBUXHPaRIQgcFC_yhrZIi9HbtOEEe7DoCJqxjdFC7MpDJtk8IZK6FIFGiKTQ3nLltx0uCrrTBdr5WBeD73Ib/s1600/IMG_0665.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Kbxy4AwBI3IhMoM1y9IupVRA-o3EYyqjWOzsjcZHcQxKAPkyxqjp6BvgFBUXHPaRIQgcFC_yhrZIi9HbtOEEe7DoCJqxjdFC7MpDJtk8IZK6FIFGiKTQ3nLltx0uCrrTBdr5WBeD73Ib/s320/IMG_0665.JPG" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Here the crew is working on the roof:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeXHy8TzfjjCQ1UyBZGzxMRttOnfalonsjR3u632dSR85SEWAsPhj3Xe694OwuCQ4kgMtFOE5b8zTynCqsDDAg0NRKrdgXaFoPjW7JLSA2J3opUgNKCWa_RGxXZfLO2UPJZHxp2jcooWJr/s1600/IMG_0669.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeXHy8TzfjjCQ1UyBZGzxMRttOnfalonsjR3u632dSR85SEWAsPhj3Xe694OwuCQ4kgMtFOE5b8zTynCqsDDAg0NRKrdgXaFoPjW7JLSA2J3opUgNKCWa_RGxXZfLO2UPJZHxp2jcooWJr/s320/IMG_0669.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And here the new roof is done---all ready for me to perch on tonight. It's the perfect color, I must say---even if Miss Creative <b>is</b> the one who picked it out...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7NppCjV3joEjNoG8EWLetBD_KgXjZuZFfZl7i7CH5FNcQm6dv8x45Va1j12AAz7mk2LJVkCUnMH83JMO-j3N1ljaq85qyUClOi13jDkJOy4M-M_gygBIR8NygVhgrUmRkGLt0mnnraBCz/s1600/IMG_0670.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7NppCjV3joEjNoG8EWLetBD_KgXjZuZFfZl7i7CH5FNcQm6dv8x45Va1j12AAz7mk2LJVkCUnMH83JMO-j3N1ljaq85qyUClOi13jDkJOy4M-M_gygBIR8NygVhgrUmRkGLt0mnnraBCz/s320/IMG_0670.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">As for all that blogging and facebooking nonsense...well, you may never hear from me EVER again...</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span>Bessie Beetumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09515078234712534503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7274174836321196656.post-47898630201936333302010-11-07T16:22:00.000-08:002010-11-07T17:45:25.246-08:00BEFORES & AFTERS<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Lots of goings-on around here. Officialdom, first, of course. Even we owls understand about that. So---<u>automobile registrations and licenses</u>. </span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Before:</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b></b></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-7L1pM-JWBT81e5kRmm7uYSywly9NFobURBJUq0GD9-tbXms7UREg0bmAqScvuVYt_p1v8dbbW6wlcFkxh2LOY1aUneyUok6rctQQoXOv-XABYrRN5QDFf7LFQrfQhL5XKwMcTtTYmh_j/s1600/car+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-7L1pM-JWBT81e5kRmm7uYSywly9NFobURBJUq0GD9-tbXms7UREg0bmAqScvuVYt_p1v8dbbW6wlcFkxh2LOY1aUneyUok6rctQQoXOv-XABYrRN5QDFf7LFQrfQhL5XKwMcTtTYmh_j/s200/car+1.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> <b>After:</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk7zKZP2-IV5m5eUZugfPy-0VPFM0AUXckvbf9qKmFsyHIqKvtzHPxQML2SyOh0rlhy9HmJWz3-cgPgDHjs95mSU9tdiFyDQtt5v3g8psEUfTVnUV4Ot3HxEtTGVwQHY1Dn4jxwmfvFHbf/s1600/car+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk7zKZP2-IV5m5eUZugfPy-0VPFM0AUXckvbf9qKmFsyHIqKvtzHPxQML2SyOh0rlhy9HmJWz3-cgPgDHjs95mSU9tdiFyDQtt5v3g8psEUfTVnUV4Ot3HxEtTGVwQHY1Dn4jxwmfvFHbf/s200/car+2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Next, landscaping. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><u>Plants for the front yard bed</u></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">. Well, that was the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>original</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> plan, at least. But now there are going to be roofers throwing shingles down all over the place. (So messy, those roofers.) Therefore, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><u>plants for the front yard pots</u></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">. </span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Before:</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPjANDo8XOClNeguY97JnJPBZ6XXyJOYTLS0L4cOds8FKByoT1hwCskZOUiuwrKYbGsbcvxXjgEoBNk_-Pyj6AsjSy095u_h199sgbLZtcTXRQQCdr5XvgxPsZz9G4SkXIIg7NLadOUwpC/s1600/flowers+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPjANDo8XOClNeguY97JnJPBZ6XXyJOYTLS0L4cOds8FKByoT1hwCskZOUiuwrKYbGsbcvxXjgEoBNk_-Pyj6AsjSy095u_h199sgbLZtcTXRQQCdr5XvgxPsZz9G4SkXIIg7NLadOUwpC/s200/flowers+1.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>After:</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmppjlyPoHw9y3zbolmK_XFs1L2h2DbrzvjLTylQFmaAuMP_y7QAPO347i5QXihJVGDA20jFsvfCzqkxxTkWuRJpuUmog16St_sOXotBOpDU8TXw6AoHtO_OAxQzGM9DzTpqVl62nd-V-2/s1600/flowers+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmppjlyPoHw9y3zbolmK_XFs1L2h2DbrzvjLTylQFmaAuMP_y7QAPO347i5QXihJVGDA20jFsvfCzqkxxTkWuRJpuUmog16St_sOXotBOpDU8TXw6AoHtO_OAxQzGM9DzTpqVl62nd-V-2/s200/flowers+2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And lastly---Miss Creative never can get organized, so the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><u>washer-dryer saga</u></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> continues. NOW the washer and dryer are going to be <i>inside</i>, not <i>outside</i>. (And let's hope that Miss Creative doesn't change her mind again about this. For her sake. Which really means, for <i>my</i> sake. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>I'm</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> the one who ends up living with </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>her</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> mistakes, after all.) Since SHE never tells ME about anything ahead of time, I couldn't get my "before" picture for this one. </span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>In-the-middle:</b> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzIrMF5Rv2umpg3DTL9wY3XvJQsaH5KHxwqO-P34qtrTqGxs-LdMTGxw2QWi3R7W_P_1oqUV9dhjX-wyUEH3_k1yknWZSOtcZlHt8XqDoUR-E5BGjYVP1wzDyJI1Xo3b-aXEP21BuT3klg/s1600/laundry+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzIrMF5Rv2umpg3DTL9wY3XvJQsaH5KHxwqO-P34qtrTqGxs-LdMTGxw2QWi3R7W_P_1oqUV9dhjX-wyUEH3_k1yknWZSOtcZlHt8XqDoUR-E5BGjYVP1wzDyJI1Xo3b-aXEP21BuT3klg/s200/laundry+1.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Not-quite-after:</b></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0whWZbydJp5hA0X-eX1auI5DlzZb1tB71unf5hr3KUpW-WwzM44p1f8HRBxFhKiQVz7uEBXMALJuUcqsyrDlT6wRNl_Pmz9ladxOkkGd9MD0aaXfaQr-QW4HI9tHEUW6V-AvGt4TmXPVx/s1600/laundry+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0whWZbydJp5hA0X-eX1auI5DlzZb1tB71unf5hr3KUpW-WwzM44p1f8HRBxFhKiQVz7uEBXMALJuUcqsyrDlT6wRNl_Pmz9ladxOkkGd9MD0aaXfaQr-QW4HI9tHEUW6V-AvGt4TmXPVx/s200/laundry+2.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Tune in later for the <b>FINAL-AFTER</b> picture for this one.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div>Bessie Beetumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09515078234712534503noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7274174836321196656.post-32670283415947823182010-11-04T10:20:00.000-07:002010-11-04T10:20:26.544-07:00NOT AGAIN!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Why haven't you heard from me for a while? Because <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">THOUGHTLESS, INSENSITIVE, SELFISH</span> Miss Creative has been <b>hogging the computer</b> again. I mean, <b>REALLY HOGGING IT</b>. (Sorry, Hogs. That's just a <i>figure of speech</i>. You Hogs really aren't <i>hogs</i>. It's <b>Miss Creative</b> who is so...so...well, so <b>HOGGISH</b>.) Just think of all the wonderful blog entries that I haven't been able to make. And what does Miss Creative have to show for all those computer hours? She <i>says</i> there's a revised sketch dummy for her book called "ONE BROWN TEDDY" buried in all this mess:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEito1BTEiyeJSWw6wuNlpf0Y2V4fpC37ENg5Lw9vcDb5SbD5CwmtHSv0vdRAosySxhh0xEAzV58FNQrj4lL1sXcHvym2mB4CU4NhJf7QckUTa-AMMuaFxuAb4v-oQjEKp03_YiwuRKHHdyy/s1600/messy+desk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEito1BTEiyeJSWw6wuNlpf0Y2V4fpC37ENg5Lw9vcDb5SbD5CwmtHSv0vdRAosySxhh0xEAzV58FNQrj4lL1sXcHvym2mB4CU4NhJf7QckUTa-AMMuaFxuAb4v-oQjEKp03_YiwuRKHHdyy/s320/messy+desk.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Well, if there </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>is</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> a dummy in there, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b><i>I</i></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> sure can't find it. Another one of dear Miss Creative's fantasies, no doubt...</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span>Bessie Beetumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09515078234712534503noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7274174836321196656.post-59905401998104435132010-10-22T10:05:00.000-07:002010-10-22T10:05:44.529-07:00A DIVERSION<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I haven't seen THAT CAT for days. There are all kinds of places where he <i>could</i> be hiding. (Too many places. Miss Creative <i>still</i> hasn't put <i>anything</i> away.) But actually I think he's <b>gone</b>. Not that I <i>care</i>. He means <i><b>nothing</b></i> to me.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjooMACGZZhnb5Y_L9zmcJizlxWHp6qyw82IBn5nlrfzMq8Qs6eiQZBAyhNNfjcDgkNy6vp3WqTzGKaA5pouOEY3NOjZORh5y8OrGsxJH4SQlUYX3oMp1SwtlIpQiVopCNxDpM7VlwVlrJ7/s1600/bessie+sees+elijah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjooMACGZZhnb5Y_L9zmcJizlxWHp6qyw82IBn5nlrfzMq8Qs6eiQZBAyhNNfjcDgkNy6vp3WqTzGKaA5pouOEY3NOjZORh5y8OrGsxJH4SQlUYX3oMp1SwtlIpQiVopCNxDpM7VlwVlrJ7/s320/bessie+sees+elijah.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>Oh. </b> I guess I was wrong. Too bad...oops. I mean...well...<i>thank goodness</i> he's <i>fine</i>...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(JUST IN CASE MISS CREATIVE READS THIS...)</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></span>Bessie Beetumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09515078234712534503noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7274174836321196656.post-71021732749300820492010-10-20T17:12:00.000-07:002010-10-20T17:12:45.971-07:00DEMOLITION DAY<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Miss Creative of course did not bother to tell me <b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">this</span></b> was going to happen. (Or even <i>ask</i> me if I <i>cared</i>.) But it <b>did</b>. <i>TODAY.</i> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">And what happened? <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-large;"><i>The destruction of my house.</i></span> Thanks to the OMNI-PROFICIENT ONE. Or actually <s><b>thanks to insensitive, thoughtless, stupid Miss Creative</b></s> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(oops---I forgot this was a public blog)</span> So---thanks to just <i>plain Miss Creative</i>, who <b><i>hired</i></b> the OPO to do it. I went outside to watch. At first. But it was too...stressful? (And maybe too...<i>exciting</i>? If a <i>newer, better</i> <i>house</i> should <i>replace</i> it?) </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv372fI8pEpfQprjuca4CDt9eTtvQCebso3-OJPyQK1irsFU_Q9IBemhyphenhyphendz7PbA1mrn931TSO4yD9OF7tUJj-6g0soTvR2urA1MNPzDKvYmhLgaZRY2aI61bHIeR4MPjKIHEKMFzv5E_VZ/s1600/luke+starts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv372fI8pEpfQprjuca4CDt9eTtvQCebso3-OJPyQK1irsFU_Q9IBemhyphenhyphendz7PbA1mrn931TSO4yD9OF7tUJj-6g0soTvR2urA1MNPzDKvYmhLgaZRY2aI61bHIeR4MPjKIHEKMFzv5E_VZ/s320/luke+starts.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So I watched from inside. Through the kitchen window. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9lao3PCYKkkj43wfLkRNkM6nlklayZB0A8iOiCTryBJdSSBp6woANjIkKZ-vBNeTMbSgqkz6gOmfU3iTzMX-HBZVqKpsKMDyGkSlHEZOaC6Rap8Ec1zdVrHuoWXRHft5DB_9Kd6YDi5cU/s1600/now+the+walls+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9lao3PCYKkkj43wfLkRNkM6nlklayZB0A8iOiCTryBJdSSBp6woANjIkKZ-vBNeTMbSgqkz6gOmfU3iTzMX-HBZVqKpsKMDyGkSlHEZOaC6Rap8Ec1zdVrHuoWXRHft5DB_9Kd6YDi5cU/s320/now+the+walls+2.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">First the roof...then the walls...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl5PqcwZ0ivBZblyFnl5baN9Fxz5Vds5UpxSJYTnQg2nVwdQU7dQrmQ2J3CEjzD4eipwLvsaWygsHAUoL1lN9V-B9AOAtHT7rsjhV4zDzhxN1TSZ2blq0FKiglxzjo3Yv5ssSPbDjLJqKR/s1600/3-a+pile+of+debris.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl5PqcwZ0ivBZblyFnl5baN9Fxz5Vds5UpxSJYTnQg2nVwdQU7dQrmQ2J3CEjzD4eipwLvsaWygsHAUoL1lN9V-B9AOAtHT7rsjhV4zDzhxN1TSZ2blq0FKiglxzjo3Yv5ssSPbDjLJqKR/s320/3-a+pile+of+debris.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">...now the floor...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-mHRbZCA0jVNJjlVk_wJ70Eqds-zoZiwFmyO02saJHkV2X2CTLbdVTdFULOJEmrFQgsghi7-j975aOAS013JwqgsdztIaGgfDyGMrTk1pEhrfsseX8mYtHybrq618Kb-Vyrjsn1lsSaG6/s1600/4+final+bits.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-mHRbZCA0jVNJjlVk_wJ70Eqds-zoZiwFmyO02saJHkV2X2CTLbdVTdFULOJEmrFQgsghi7-j975aOAS013JwqgsdztIaGgfDyGMrTk1pEhrfsseX8mYtHybrq618Kb-Vyrjsn1lsSaG6/s320/4+final+bits.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">...and then... </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBRRuxnsgaRW5IHoOFTisdnUTyhQFmJHJpFlwOM-FiNaumLI2nuXVy3vge9QBT25m-9dIkfQlvxEm6AKTsQfA7A3bMDloHyQUcnx_j0rLyOyGP95BJ7g8zOhrkdRH0FWUDJFGMk7u8QMxp/s1600/5+all+gone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBRRuxnsgaRW5IHoOFTisdnUTyhQFmJHJpFlwOM-FiNaumLI2nuXVy3vge9QBT25m-9dIkfQlvxEm6AKTsQfA7A3bMDloHyQUcnx_j0rLyOyGP95BJ7g8zOhrkdRH0FWUDJFGMk7u8QMxp/s320/5+all+gone.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">...nothing left at all. Except a big colony of black widow spiders. Living right underneath MY HOUSE (see how <i>convenien</i>t it would have been?). In that grassy area you see. I plan to...um...<i>visit</i> them...later on. I've had a craving lately for...well, for <i><b>candy</b></i><b>.</b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> (And if you don't know what I mean by all that...well, check out my blog "ALARMS". I don't want to have to explain it all </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">over</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> again.) </span>Maybe that will <i>somehow</i> take my mind off the whole HOUSE PROBLEM...</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div>Bessie Beetumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09515078234712534503noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7274174836321196656.post-58203705012034200812010-10-17T10:46:00.000-07:002010-10-17T10:46:39.141-07:00PEACE & QUIET<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Finally. Miss Creative is back at work. On a </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>book</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">, that is. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>What a relief.</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> No more of that horrible unpacking. (At least for now. I hope.) No more rustling paper. Ripping plastic. Thudding cardboard boxes. No more mounds of STUFF to trip over and get lost in. (Well, there are still lots of those. But at least I know my way around now. No more NEW mounds of stuff.) No more of HER moans and groans...</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdRjjBnM552qQ12lhkTljOQqSsM_bJO41rRQ6oEg3-O03lkYMd9E9iZFl7evqDHeq2wRQpB-6I6M5zUANO4LJo_KTfY-L0oPMdGx4YLqk3ANju7WT4K_-Dcs9LOd_hLam6nDSiRiLD-9Nc/s1600/wendy+at+desk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdRjjBnM552qQ12lhkTljOQqSsM_bJO41rRQ6oEg3-O03lkYMd9E9iZFl7evqDHeq2wRQpB-6I6M5zUANO4LJo_KTfY-L0oPMdGx4YLqk3ANju7WT4K_-Dcs9LOd_hLam6nDSiRiLD-9Nc/s320/wendy+at+desk.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Wait a minute. Moans and groans. Plenty of <i>those</i> when Miss Creative works on a book, too. (Unlike ME. I <i><b>never</b></i> moan and groan. About <i>anything</i>. I'm <i><b>always</b></i> upbeat and optimistic. And <b>cheerful</b>.) But still. Things are much better this way. Calmer. More...<b>normal</b>. (<i>Yawn.</i>) I think I'll go sunbathe on the couch for a while...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div>Bessie Beetumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09515078234712534503noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7274174836321196656.post-7971911142731141472010-10-10T20:20:00.000-07:002010-10-10T20:20:17.224-07:00BACKTRACKING<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I <i>knew</i> Miss Creative was making a stupid mistake. Ordering three appliances in one day, I mean. Today I found out that she ended up <i>cancelling</i> the washer and dryer. Too bad she didn't listen to me in the first place. Could have saved herself a lot of trouble. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTjuM-iVMzOxZly05tD9mA4AH0etU_VUxurGJlge4pKYzbKX33TKqrI6STig3A6SoGG_llKlorbQZ0J00hXh1wz7l23cxvFf4fYV4qHujds2Pjmvr3PnUL7Tg7zsePnz1IU3aU4lgZjT1k/s1600/waher+hook-up.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTjuM-iVMzOxZly05tD9mA4AH0etU_VUxurGJlge4pKYzbKX33TKqrI6STig3A6SoGG_llKlorbQZ0J00hXh1wz7l23cxvFf4fYV4qHujds2Pjmvr3PnUL7Tg7zsePnz1IU3aU4lgZjT1k/s320/waher+hook-up.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I tried to tell her, of course. Hook up a brand-new dryer and washer <b>outdoors</b>? <b>RIDICULOUS</b>. But when does Miss Creative<i> <b>ever</b></i> listen to <i><b>ME</b></i>? (Actually it seems that a lot of people here DO put their washers and dryers outdoors. But that's beside the point.) So now there's <i>no</i> washer and dryer <i>at all</i>. Not that <i><b>I</b></i> care. <b> </b>I <i>never</i> use a washer and dryer. A complete waste. Totally unnecessary. Just fly around in a rainstorm. (Wearing your clothes, of course.) Then do wing flaps and bough jumps until dry. Although...that <i>might</i> not work for Miss Creative...</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span>Bessie Beetumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09515078234712534503noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7274174836321196656.post-503081729535657432010-10-09T18:22:00.000-07:002010-10-09T18:22:36.996-07:00MORE CHANGES<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Remember that big gaping hole in the kitchen? As of 9:30 this morning---no more hole. Now it looks like <b>this</b>:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7H-XGIqJq7HShMq9SSCFLXgYWNyUYJQN-YqdeYOKZczkpbMXbNUlVkJZnVoJvmYjLM06aXkMJJKNRx9QndjX7iqAYlq1YzZbLI6Z-SLvw6Jo-ZYCtlVshGZZiosjLS3J_-ZlajURA90Ys/s1600/bessie+and+stove.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7H-XGIqJq7HShMq9SSCFLXgYWNyUYJQN-YqdeYOKZczkpbMXbNUlVkJZnVoJvmYjLM06aXkMJJKNRx9QndjX7iqAYlq1YzZbLI6Z-SLvw6Jo-ZYCtlVshGZZiosjLS3J_-ZlajURA90Ys/s320/bessie+and+stove.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">It never mattered to <b>me</b>, of course. Whether there was a stove, I mean. (I eat everything...um..<i>.raw</i>.) But Miss Creative seems quite excited. About cooking and baking with her new stove. Though I see she is going <i>out for dinner</i> tonight. Well, with HER, things don't often make <b>sense</b>, do they?</span>Bessie Beetumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09515078234712534503noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7274174836321196656.post-23310766907336220392010-10-08T09:00:00.000-07:002010-10-08T09:00:41.793-07:00METAMORPHOSIS<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The OMNI-PROFICIENT-ONE finished attacking the back-yard jungle yesterday afternoon. I had to check up on his work, of course. See how many mistakes he had made. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So I decided to brave the heat. Venture outside. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">(It <i>was</i> cooler by then. I <b>love</b> sun and heat, but even <i><b>I</b></i> have my limits.) </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKniuWoS1SSlKoGQiK4-3HcB8q0MNofUSjziRHICK7Xs0zj3K3LQDZixLAJC42PJtEKVrAsBdcmtvR2BRQ1qYoPnRlZyhiDwVf1i4f9bdXzyrKQuJmbjFiqhCaQruKAo7NjLPbv-skDSIp/s1600/bessie+in+yard+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKniuWoS1SSlKoGQiK4-3HcB8q0MNofUSjziRHICK7Xs0zj3K3LQDZixLAJC42PJtEKVrAsBdcmtvR2BRQ1qYoPnRlZyhiDwVf1i4f9bdXzyrKQuJmbjFiqhCaQruKAo7NjLPbv-skDSIp/s320/bessie+in+yard+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I couldn't believe my eyes. The place was TRANSFORMED!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmAsmIDqOz7-6QmpXf5ygEgI1Qs0CBR13o-Fb0KBNLyYpvrMns-QgZQzC7kzJewfYl_unoPXrOgW7WHXxxZA0ifldGpkB2skszKO2Y8Qn1eM7ywRu97ldZ6dHbmXPIj4lSycDfcg5pzK1E/s1600/bessie+in+yard+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmAsmIDqOz7-6QmpXf5ygEgI1Qs0CBR13o-Fb0KBNLyYpvrMns-QgZQzC7kzJewfYl_unoPXrOgW7WHXxxZA0ifldGpkB2skszKO2Y8Qn1eM7ywRu97ldZ6dHbmXPIj4lSycDfcg5pzK1E/s320/bessie+in+yard+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Now Miss Creative can begin on <i><b>my</b></i> house...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div>Bessie Beetumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09515078234712534503noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7274174836321196656.post-71080824731134771652010-10-06T19:26:00.000-07:002010-10-06T19:29:50.121-07:00UH-OH<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">A short time ago I just happened to peek into Miss Creative's studio. And what did I see? THIS:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5fvaDKK3sFr8slYLIqPRYt1ZUcuL9PEoNmMAYUO4uidt62cK0GY4RB7qPEguojL0n5JpJ9s8lTuydBCjzM41dRJM3LRXY9FsauHQCvEZNJ2kBSWj7BmYjsGBAfOvi-YucEzsMy9AKSbz3/s1600/mc+on+floor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5fvaDKK3sFr8slYLIqPRYt1ZUcuL9PEoNmMAYUO4uidt62cK0GY4RB7qPEguojL0n5JpJ9s8lTuydBCjzM41dRJM3LRXY9FsauHQCvEZNJ2kBSWj7BmYjsGBAfOvi-YucEzsMy9AKSbz3/s320/mc+on+floor.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Now</i> you know what happens when you first organize your <b>entire studio</b>; and then go out and buy <b>three</b> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">(3)</span> <b>appliances</b> (a washer, a dryer, and a stove). <u>All in the same day.</u> Me? I spent my time <i>much</i> more sensibly. As follows: <b>Sunbathing</b>. <b>Watching</b> (through the window---didn't go out into the heat---a bit too much, even for me) the OMNI-PROFICIENT-ONE as he weed-whacked the yard. <b>Nibbling</b> on tasty snacks. Now <b>I'm</b> off to bed. <b>Miss Creative</b>, on the other wing, still has to <u>wash the dishes</u> and <u>clean up the living room</u>. Bad planning on her part, I say.</span>Bessie Beetumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09515078234712534503noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7274174836321196656.post-71328637051822325362010-10-05T19:41:00.000-07:002010-10-05T19:41:45.942-07:00PROGRESS<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The OMNI-PROFICIENT-ONE came today. (<i>Much</i> more accurate word than "handyman".) First task on his list---well, <i>Miss Creative's</i> list---was replacing the toilet. (I never mince words. As you know.) And I was going to help the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">OMNI-PROFICIENT-ONE</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">. <s>Point out all his mistakes</s>. Make </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">tactful </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">suggestions. (I'm <i>very</i> diplomatic, after all. <i>And</i> knowledgeable about toilets.) That was my <i>plan</i>, anyway. <i>Before</i> I saw him. <i>After</i> I saw him...well, my plan changed. Because...um...well, because he was <i>way</i> over six feet tall. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5jKhuLPjpcR9ZB8P7IL78brpWUH8iisRdwZ3mKPWpqBp81EDM-YtvObmOj0Bt8oncjMg2OzpHCvNqAEq25LSyRE5BFW274233uZzLxF7IPDE0QDxg5mwESUp3dp_YhlNVY3s0Mjci05Iu/s1600/bessie+in+bathroom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5jKhuLPjpcR9ZB8P7IL78brpWUH8iisRdwZ3mKPWpqBp81EDM-YtvObmOj0Bt8oncjMg2OzpHCvNqAEq25LSyRE5BFW274233uZzLxF7IPDE0QDxg5mwESUp3dp_YhlNVY3s0Mjci05Iu/s400/bessie+in+bathroom.jpg" width="285" /></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">So I helped Miss Creative organize her studio instead. (In the middle of it all, Miss Creative got a <i>headache</i>. Can you believe it? No <i>stamina</i>. She had to go lie down. It was nothing to do with <i>me</i>, of course.) But I did manage to check up on things just as the OMNI-PROFICIENT-ONE was about finished. He had done a terrific job, I had to admit. <s>Even without my superior</s> Even without my suggestions. </span></div>Bessie Beetumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09515078234712534503noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7274174836321196656.post-90947884914192565272010-09-30T19:21:00.000-07:002010-09-30T19:21:13.098-07:00RELIEF<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisgsAXRSvyhVPzHlF3Q0GxvDk7stZn4ElG4JYL9SQZdkPwI0E8eVvm67bjO-mU3ZqGyUPLhqVu7wX1DFDlrwhlnynZkAPEYnXNTXNoq2zNsXuv52Lum8-gQSMYRVswsquGUZchlfEL_Nvi/s1600/purchases.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisgsAXRSvyhVPzHlF3Q0GxvDk7stZn4ElG4JYL9SQZdkPwI0E8eVvm67bjO-mU3ZqGyUPLhqVu7wX1DFDlrwhlnynZkAPEYnXNTXNoq2zNsXuv52Lum8-gQSMYRVswsquGUZchlfEL_Nvi/s320/purchases.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Miss Creative is in a MUCH better mood today. CALMER. She went shopping. It seems to have cheered her up. She bought:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">TRASH CAN</span> (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>good</b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">---lots of trash around here)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">OUTDOOR HOSE</span> (<b>good</b>---for that dried-up yard)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">BANANAS</span> (<b>???</b>---and they're probably <b>cooked</b> after travelling in the hot car from the store to here)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">LONG OUTDOORS EXTENSION CORD</span> (<b>good</b>---for that weed-whacking)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">DUSTBUSTER</span> (<b>good</b>---plenty of dust here needs busting)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">SUN REFLECTOR FOR CAR WINDSHIELD</span> (<b>good</b>---the next purchase of bananas won't be Baked Bananas before they get home)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">NEW LATCHES TO KEEP INTERIOR DOORS SHUT</span> (<b>bad</b>---makes it hard for me <s>to silently snoop and eavesdrop</s> to...um...to vacuum the whole house...um...in a hurry...) <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(ACTUALLY, WHEN DID I LAST VACUUM THE HOUSE? EVEN <b>NOT</b> IN A HURRY?) ( In fact, have I <b>ever </b>vacuumed the house?)</span></span>Bessie Beetumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09515078234712534503noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7274174836321196656.post-14445405929401826192010-09-29T17:49:00.000-07:002010-09-29T17:49:03.627-07:00ALARMS<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Poor </i>Miss Creative. Wait. Did I just say that? <i>"Poor"</i> Miss Creative? Not <i>"ridiculous"</i> Miss Creative? Or <i>"absurd"</i> Miss Creative? I must be...<i>softening</i>. Not a good sign. Anyway. Miss Creative has been...well, <b>over-reacting </b>to things. All day long. The first episode was about the "evidence of fire ants" in the back yard. But look at this photo. There are <b>No Actual Fire Ants</b> in sight. (Or ants of any other kind, for that matter.) This "evidence" could have been caused by any number of things. Like...um...high temperatures? Cactus spines? The neighborhood dog barking? Probably <i>nothing at all to do</i> with fire ants. And even if it <i>is </i>fire ants---so what? Maybe they're...<i>tasty</i>.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz2_Idvo1D8E5FojS0o-yitmgEUmUBmkSB10mDGUp2p88JR34gun_r_A112jc-CbHXff01Bqe8QznXHrRR2tWzDJ1NewPxUSh3vCFg5RFlejEQcmRIFN0Se-JLzY1uWPu6DPDEf6iCyMIb/s1600/ants.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz2_Idvo1D8E5FojS0o-yitmgEUmUBmkSB10mDGUp2p88JR34gun_r_A112jc-CbHXff01Bqe8QznXHrRR2tWzDJ1NewPxUSh3vCFg5RFlejEQcmRIFN0Se-JLzY1uWPu6DPDEf6iCyMIb/s320/ants.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The next episode was over these five-foot weeds in the back yard. I'm not fond of weeds myself. They're a <b>pathetic specimen</b> of the plant world. Nothing like pine trees---or even oaks or maples. But you humans are always <b>chain-sawing</b> things down. <b>Mowing</b> things down. <b>Weed-whacking</b> things down. Why not just put one of those infernally noisy machines to work for a few minutes? <b>Presto. </b> <b>No more weeds.</b> So <i>QUICK AND EASY.</i> (But not for Miss Creative, of course.)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRn75q6oDpPKdIey1zc93JKch3bPhtQRV4nAXpl9iyml0G8Mv6ZY4SQq5THQltdNTuIVOGhSQBVwKF1SVZALTRrSdKyHtgadwYQ8DV1G7izgLw2GdQ2EwHd9XTyDEuMmvJr86-cSv9Elgq/s1600/weeds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRn75q6oDpPKdIey1zc93JKch3bPhtQRV4nAXpl9iyml0G8Mv6ZY4SQq5THQltdNTuIVOGhSQBVwKF1SVZALTRrSdKyHtgadwYQ8DV1G7izgLw2GdQ2EwHd9XTyDEuMmvJr86-cSv9Elgq/s320/weeds.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The next meltdown was about the "black widow spiders". Look at this photo. A close-up of one of our house windows. Do you see Miss Creative's black widow spider? No? <b> </b><i><b>That is because there is no black widow spider there. </b></i>Black widow spiders <i>do</i> live in this climate. I've <i>seen</i> them. And I'm DELIGHTED about that. Those crunchy black morsels are...well, they're <i><b>candy</b></i> for folks like me. <i>Nocturnal</i> morsels. As I am. (Nocturnal, that is. Not a morsel.) <i> <b>So</b></i> convenient. But <i>poor</i> Miss Creative---oops. There I go again. <i>Pitiful</i> Miss Creative---NO. <b>Stupid Miss Creative</b> over-reacted again. One black widow spider under a pile of leaves doesn't mean <i>thousands</i> creeping all over the house and yard. (Unfortunately. What a repast THAT would be.) </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ySKfoJgyU4tBs1Wt0lGzSGR-asF6zWNdCRCfKYQQDjVtL9rKA0RmiJ5B7LzC4N7gtp_VMFS4n9DjlPcp1dj6YcLCp3NXX44ffUbiBPoJZIHlhhdf5lRa9GENdBthw0qsptvVX3fCy6Sv/s1600/other+spider.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ySKfoJgyU4tBs1Wt0lGzSGR-asF6zWNdCRCfKYQQDjVtL9rKA0RmiJ5B7LzC4N7gtp_VMFS4n9DjlPcp1dj6YcLCp3NXX44ffUbiBPoJZIHlhhdf5lRa9GENdBthw0qsptvVX3fCy6Sv/s320/other+spider.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I'm not sure how much more I can stand. The episodes, I mean. Right now Miss Creative is having tea and cookies. Let's hope she...well, takes a nap. Or something<i>.</i> For <b>my</b> sake, at least.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span>Bessie Beetumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09515078234712534503noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7274174836321196656.post-27293050395655282952010-09-24T18:19:00.000-07:002010-09-24T18:19:46.182-07:00THE TRIP: DAY SIX<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">12:37 p.m.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUCR7v_diLKUEIc0cUB-DybfjaTAlLk9aN0RjBHxWwCNbKL-IU8MAKWYvjy5Impx0P6CfZzN0l_kRe8BEpLlvobC6DSXbXHgAEND_03SBRCG_yyriEvgXzb765tDQGudPCTuGfqNByxuxg/s1600/Bessie+home.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUCR7v_diLKUEIc0cUB-DybfjaTAlLk9aN0RjBHxWwCNbKL-IU8MAKWYvjy5Impx0P6CfZzN0l_kRe8BEpLlvobC6DSXbXHgAEND_03SBRCG_yyriEvgXzb765tDQGudPCTuGfqNByxuxg/s400/Bessie+home.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Home at last!</span></span></div>Bessie Beetumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09515078234712534503noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7274174836321196656.post-71574875332860341392010-09-23T19:11:00.000-07:002010-09-23T19:11:53.459-07:00THE TRIP: DAY FIVE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4aU02FTmFMF6XM3bQPs3LO7cFy5CnWphmcbxI0id-qBLuVtsFbO9doLTng8gSeEdZkHrpG9ozgX_5eqcYpMCYPEBSLOQuHZ5_yvQeNTUJqH1vvGwB7x6xDtcf18qXvbaiGIhzaUcmfvPU/s1600/big+sky.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4aU02FTmFMF6XM3bQPs3LO7cFy5CnWphmcbxI0id-qBLuVtsFbO9doLTng8gSeEdZkHrpG9ozgX_5eqcYpMCYPEBSLOQuHZ5_yvQeNTUJqH1vvGwB7x6xDtcf18qXvbaiGIhzaUcmfvPU/s400/big+sky.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">More big BIG skies today. Too bad about That CAT being on the trip. If it weren't for him, Miss Creative wouldn't have had to be in such a HURRY on this trip. And then I would have had time to take lots of photographs of everything I've seen. Like all the creatures: rabbits, hares, falcons, hawks, cattle, horses, crows, turkey buzzards, armadillos, squirrels, woodchucks. (These are all the LIVE creatures I've seen. I'm not counting the ones that...well, I'm not counting my <b>snacks</b> and <b>meals</b>.) And the miles and acres of crops: grapes in New York and Pennsylvania. Corn in Ohio and Indiana and Illinois. Cattle in Oklahoma and Texas. And all the trees bent permanently to the north in Oklahoma and Texas---from the wind. (No wonder they have so many windmills there.) Tonight we are in Gallup, New Mexico. And tomorrow we will arrive in Phoenix. I actually think I'm going to <i>almost</i> be sorry when the trip is over...</span>Bessie Beetumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09515078234712534503noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7274174836321196656.post-60735911651693867122010-09-22T17:23:00.000-07:002010-09-22T17:23:37.624-07:00THE TRIP: DAY FOUR<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I am now now under the BIG skies of Texas...well, Miss Creative too...and that dratted CAT of course...</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0JEGNiBlgo-XBjZIJApbgB1cS7h0I6ou90qYiwhW_7WRollxSAROzaJI6G1WVZqVOzwrsjTsMrkkZIc_3UnO-DCke42n8hMg8P7cMlhNETqF9iVQhNNGicMMulsmNu2TGzQn0oVNT_XqS/s1600/sky.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0JEGNiBlgo-XBjZIJApbgB1cS7h0I6ou90qYiwhW_7WRollxSAROzaJI6G1WVZqVOzwrsjTsMrkkZIc_3UnO-DCke42n8hMg8P7cMlhNETqF9iVQhNNGicMMulsmNu2TGzQn0oVNT_XqS/s320/sky.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Here we're finishing up our in-room dinner (courtesy of MacDonalds)... </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHPqOe6t81XHwEoX7qV2_DUqpp3Ks_L-4HdNbF_f3c23v284MIERCDDqjZr0QvRS45pTvq8O59uFec1DCKn_anll5g325Aw15l2kHCavCsiBtQrsmTcziOkOeWveJbMxWQaddPrcPjVpZ3/s1600/bessie+and+wendy+in+window.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHPqOe6t81XHwEoX7qV2_DUqpp3Ks_L-4HdNbF_f3c23v284MIERCDDqjZr0QvRS45pTvq8O59uFec1DCKn_anll5g325Aw15l2kHCavCsiBtQrsmTcziOkOeWveJbMxWQaddPrcPjVpZ3/s320/bessie+and+wendy+in+window.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">That is, Miss Creative and I are finishing up. That CAT is eating HIS dinner in complete privacy (which means, in the darkened bathroom, under the sink), so he won't freak out. (And by "freak out" I mean, he</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>won't eat</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">. Very bizarre. I can't imagine anything interfering with MY appetite.)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Later Miss Creative will go off to the INDOOR POOL. And I will watch for tasty...um, flying things...out the <b>open window </b>(no canned air, at least for tonight, thank goodness)..<b>.</b></span></div>Bessie Beetumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09515078234712534503noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7274174836321196656.post-38061295185173782872010-09-21T16:50:00.000-07:002010-09-21T16:50:15.584-07:00THE TRIP: DAY THREE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We've stopped for the night. Near Springfield, Missouri. And I'm looking at this huge pine tree right next to our motel doorway. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqy5VA73dwFqNPs-mNxq_W5WM35p1TiX0PrKzpYYy-v_mlAyXz3vLIq21puLsqSBEaDLulPiTbvwNEzhzy2Xt9F9itwP56QOOT0R_8tDUmpHYSjZWC-6XFLVj8OEVZ3wIm3nowm-cYYDCC/s1600/motel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqy5VA73dwFqNPs-mNxq_W5WM35p1TiX0PrKzpYYy-v_mlAyXz3vLIq21puLsqSBEaDLulPiTbvwNEzhzy2Xt9F9itwP56QOOT0R_8tDUmpHYSjZWC-6XFLVj8OEVZ3wIm3nowm-cYYDCC/s320/motel.jpg" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Maybe it will make up a bit for the less than desirable qualities---all right, sleaze and grime---of our room. A big black fly buzzing around---no, TWO big black flies. No---THREE big black flies. (Actually, the flies have now been, um, <i>taken care of</i>. By me.) The pool Miss Creative was so looking forward to? Out of commission. The next-door restaurant? Closed. The valet and coin laundry? Non-existent. Not that Miss Creative was planning to do <i>laundry</i>. But who am I to complain? This is our only dud in hotel rooms...so far...</span>Bessie Beetumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09515078234712534503noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7274174836321196656.post-40485551711498310902010-09-20T15:54:00.000-07:002010-09-20T15:54:29.245-07:00THE TRIP: DAY TWO<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Here we are in...Ohio, I guess. (Miss Creative doesn't let me see her papers about the trip and where we are. I mean...I <i>did</i> see them, but...well, I can't remember where we were supposed to be on Day Two. Or on any other day. And I can't go poking around in her stuff when she's right there watching me. I have my standards, after all.)</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLKQMez8boLH3L3tdHisLGdbi_15Ytjd4ELfHPi5NQdKmTybCCLNR35FieHz7rUPd0fyekrMK4Q3J06J8rTCmCiiXNiolYdr0HplA9tIDyoq8a2HU3E01QB9wgd8unzVeLeXSC3rVQPEvH/s1600/motel+room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLKQMez8boLH3L3tdHisLGdbi_15Ytjd4ELfHPi5NQdKmTybCCLNR35FieHz7rUPd0fyekrMK4Q3J06J8rTCmCiiXNiolYdr0HplA9tIDyoq8a2HU3E01QB9wgd8unzVeLeXSC3rVQPEvH/s320/motel+room.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Here's our hotel room. Already reduced to a shambles by you know who. (In other words, NOT ME.) We've only been in it for ten minutes. So what else is new? More tomorrow...</span></div>Bessie Beetumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09515078234712534503noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7274174836321196656.post-81753912676606499592010-09-19T16:26:00.000-07:002010-09-19T16:26:57.329-07:00THE TRIP: DAY ONE<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi65t-8Vfnlq5D6EGN6JvIHv_6BKj02to-fkSHJSJCvughWm-O9agDsBImV0EmY8ql7AmAkO_qA6h7PA4DedfC4B7z7vwCa_wW8wn629yvD0f8lxZiLa52gdaLhPvJqTcW1n_AYYV3JoMqH/s1600/bessie+in+trunk+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi65t-8Vfnlq5D6EGN6JvIHv_6BKj02to-fkSHJSJCvughWm-O9agDsBImV0EmY8ql7AmAkO_qA6h7PA4DedfC4B7z7vwCa_wW8wn629yvD0f8lxZiLa52gdaLhPvJqTcW1n_AYYV3JoMqH/s200/bessie+in+trunk+3.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Miss Creative and I packed the car yesterday. (Notice that Miss Creative's brand new backpack is even </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>more</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> embarrassing than mine.) </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Actually Miss Creative packed the car by herself. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLwHPz2Er-qIoWKqhzVUiCDTL3W0ytvl-tTe0XN7erZBGdn5Ll-EWBKMoxYjKNTqbSp3xuQvXPhpHKRBoPO6IikiIX4akNTzYzYKjGkOM95a7fVPtUhJAlqfKpBUXYuTRguuS53rVrJfUH/s1600/bessie+in+trunk+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLwHPz2Er-qIoWKqhzVUiCDTL3W0ytvl-tTe0XN7erZBGdn5Ll-EWBKMoxYjKNTqbSp3xuQvXPhpHKRBoPO6IikiIX4akNTzYzYKjGkOM95a7fVPtUhJAlqfKpBUXYuTRguuS53rVrJfUH/s200/bessie+in+trunk+2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><b>I</b></i> made <i>lots</i> of good suggestions about </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>how</i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> to pack the car. But of course SHE paid no attention whatsoever. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqTpfjp_QMXtc3u-oSTBFBvGJznbOFgQFKVmmhbiudLdwjp50Ml0xlMgKg-TzmxDVCZ9l1AQ6Jch8ZDIoeUGqSsYRnklq9_9LPXi5YkgjDbb3pj5sJfntSd75ct9enbRJt1KCO4ZgbzL8q/s1600/bessie+in+trunk+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqTpfjp_QMXtc3u-oSTBFBvGJznbOFgQFKVmmhbiudLdwjp50Ml0xlMgKg-TzmxDVCZ9l1AQ6Jch8ZDIoeUGqSsYRnklq9_9LPXi5YkgjDbb3pj5sJfntSd75ct9enbRJt1KCO4ZgbzL8q/s200/bessie+in+trunk+1.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In fact she got very annoyed at me. I have no idea WHY.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Well, that was yesterday. <b>Today</b> we completed the first leg of our trip to Phoenix. We're now at our hotel in Rochester, New York. Or maybe it's Syracuse. Or Buffalo. Or somewhere. Miss Creative drove, of course. (No chance of <i>me</i> ever being allowed to even <i>touch</i> the wheel.) But I have to hand it to her. She always keeps to the speed limit. (Well, maybe she goes a tiny bit <i>over</i> the speed limit. Even so, our vehicle is always the slowest one on the road.) Right now dear Miss Creative is off playing in the heated indoor pool and the hot tub, after which she's ordering a steak dinner at the restaurant. (I didn't realize she was such a ...such a <i>sybarite</i>.) She left ME behind in the hotel room. <b>All alone.</b> Except for that CAT. (Not that he's <i>ever</i> a problem for <i>me</i>. All I have to do is snap my beak at him. Makes him cower under the bed for hours.) Ooops---here she comes. Got to shut this down. Try to look sad and lonely... </span></div>Bessie Beetumhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09515078234712534503noreply@blogger.com3