Monday, June 18, 2012
PicMonkey Rocks
Just a quick note to you ladies who said to try out PicMonkey! It rocks and so do you!! I'll be back with pictures soon! Yay!
Saturday, June 16, 2012
P365-Weeks 16, 17 & 18
I haven't done well keeping up with posting my 365 pictures now that Picnik has closed down. It was so easy to edit photos using that site and I haven't found anything that fills in the gap. However, I promised myself that I would do my best to catch up, not only for myself, but for my sis-in-law who keeps up with our life by reading my blog.
So, I've spent considerable time this afternoon putting together the rest of April and the beginning of May. I hope to catch up by next weekend so I can participate in Sarah's next linky party.
Week # 16:
Sunday, April 15 -
Monday, April 23 -
Thursday, April 26 -
Saturday, April 28 -
Week 18:
Sunday, April 29 -
Thursday, May 3 -
So, I've spent considerable time this afternoon putting together the rest of April and the beginning of May. I hope to catch up by next weekend so I can participate in Sarah's next linky party.
Week # 16:
Sunday, April 15 -
The pool cover came off today. Nasty. Ready to be serviced!
Monday, April 16 -
I got out my English mug rug and had tea and lemon cookies!
Tuesday, April 17 -
wrote about People Colors in a separate blog post
Wednesday, April 18 -
a wounded bird Mark packed up
and took to the local wildlife rescue center
Thursday, April 19 -
German candy from a new friend
Friday, April 20 -
We showed Tara the tiles that Ashley & Rhett
made for the floor of the local Nordstoms many years ago.
Saturday, April 21 -
Happy Birthday to Tara - lunch out to Red Robin, her favorite!
(love the fashion glasses!)
Week 17:
Sunday, April 22 -
Katie's birthday present to Tara - a Big Sister/Little Sister Necklace
(ok, it was the night before, but they wore the necklaces to church the next day!)
Monday, April 23 -
Mail to go to the post office
Tuesday, April 24 -
Charms getting cut for a quilt swap
Wednesday, April 25 -
Tara was in a play entitled, "We're the best."
She was a lady bug. Aww.
Thursday, April 26 -
Caramel Apple Cake.
Extra decadent because I made it with twice the amount of caramel that it called for. Oops!
Friday, April 27 -
600 charms packed and ready to go.
Saturday, April 28 -
Oops! Missed this one!
Week 18:
Sunday, April 29 -
I found this orange-soaked pound cake on the back of a Betty Crocker pound cake box and gave it a try. So yummy!
Monday, April 30 -
Oops! Missed another one.
Tuesday, May 1 -
My kids were gone for a few days so Mark and I
cleaned the LR furniture! So romantic.
Wednesday, May 2 -
Spring rain. No time to close the barn door.
Thursday, May 3 -
First dip in the arctic pool! Brrr.
Friday, May 4 -
A good wind before another rain
Saturday, May 5 -
Rhett played Mr. Valentine in the play Twelfth Night
with his Shakespearean Youth Acting Troupe.
He also wrote or arranged all the music for the show.
Good job, son!
Saturday, June 9, 2012
Update
Sometimes life is too funny! I whine about being busy and then announce a goal with the hopes of keeping on task. Then...
my computer crashes.
Blue screen.
Beeping.
My husband emptys the poor thing and reinstalls a fresh Windows and I'm still getting a blue screen every once in a while.
Diagnosis: a new hard drive next. Sigh.
So if I can get on, I'll be sure to do so. If not, I'll be back.
BTW, have you all seen We bought a Zoo? (movie on DVD) We just watched it tonight and I highly recommend it.
Have a blessed Sunday, everyone!
my computer crashes.
Blue screen.
Beeping.
My husband emptys the poor thing and reinstalls a fresh Windows and I'm still getting a blue screen every once in a while.
Diagnosis: a new hard drive next. Sigh.
So if I can get on, I'll be sure to do so. If not, I'll be back.
BTW, have you all seen We bought a Zoo? (movie on DVD) We just watched it tonight and I highly recommend it.
Makes me want to go have an adventure!
Have a blessed Sunday, everyone!
Monday, June 4, 2012
Goal for June
I don't have much time today, but after posting only 3 times in May on this blog, I I feel lazy. Would it help if you knew I was super busy and will have photos to show you once I get them off the camera? Nope? Didn't think so. Just like I tell the kids, good intentions don't account for much.
I've set a goal to post to one of my two blogs each weekday in June, beginning today. Hopefully, you'll see more of me around here. I figure if I tell you now I will be more likely to keep my word. Thanks for being there for me. : )
If you have a party with kids in attendance be sure to check out the tricky summer treat on my cooking blog (link in the sidebar.) It's a fun one they will enjoy making and eating.
Until tomorrow,
I've set a goal to post to one of my two blogs each weekday in June, beginning today. Hopefully, you'll see more of me around here. I figure if I tell you now I will be more likely to keep my word. Thanks for being there for me. : )
If you have a party with kids in attendance be sure to check out the tricky summer treat on my cooking blog (link in the sidebar.) It's a fun one they will enjoy making and eating.
Until tomorrow,
Saturday, May 26, 2012
Aunt Epp
I have a page on my blog where I record the books I've read during the year (see above). I keep this list mainly for me, but when I come across something interesting, I share it here on my home page.
I recently finished:
Aunt Epp's Guide for Life by Elspeth Marr
The subtitle of the book is Miscellaneous Musings of a Victorian Lady, which is an accurate description! My daughter, Ashley, picked up this book and thought it was entertaining so she decided to share it with me. The book is broken down into an alphabetical list of categories that Aunt Epp writes about, everything from Apples to War. She has many home remedies that make you glad you live in modern times. :)
This book gave me a new perspective on the Victorian lady, one that shows how transitory intellectualism was during her lifetime. Aunt Epp can be conservative through one entry and quite open-minded (Darwin) the next. I certainly didn't always agree with her, but I felt I got a fresh view of the changes that occurred between the 19th and 20th centuries.
Aunt Epp was a writer, a journaler. I can imagine she would have been a blogger had she lived in our time, despensing knowledge and sharing opinions about everyday topics to a worldwide audience. (Don't you marvel at how cool it is that we get to share our thoughts with people we would have never met, if we didn't live in the computer age.)
My favorite excerpt from the book:
Diaries
Maintain a diary all your days. A diary is a doorway to a second life, running parallel to the one you live, and produces even a third life, for by recording the day's events, you preserve the days like berries. You may return to that day, taste it, and live it over again, but without that act of preservation the day has gone; it is nothing. More than this, by preserving your days, you will allow others to live that day for themselves, that hour, that afternoon, should they read your record, a day culled from the past, perhaps even hundreds of years from now; and this indeed is the aim and enjoyment of all writing, however humble, to seize the day, and to store it away on a secret shelf, out of reach of the Reaper and his swinging scythe.
An original poem by Aunt Epp:
WEEPERS AND SWEEPERS
Wars are made by busy men
Just an hour or more,
Women do the clearing up -
Loss a longer chore.
When your boy has done his bit
And lies on foreign plain,
Sit out your life on window seats -
Watch the falling rain.
If the broken bits they brought
Lie under yonder leaf,
Fit with your heart, cross-stitch the grass,
Take time to mend your grief.
Leaders have no time for us,
Heroes do as must -
We are the sweepers-up
Of centuries of dust.
I recently finished:
Aunt Epp's Guide for Life by Elspeth Marr
The subtitle of the book is Miscellaneous Musings of a Victorian Lady, which is an accurate description! My daughter, Ashley, picked up this book and thought it was entertaining so she decided to share it with me. The book is broken down into an alphabetical list of categories that Aunt Epp writes about, everything from Apples to War. She has many home remedies that make you glad you live in modern times. :)
This book gave me a new perspective on the Victorian lady, one that shows how transitory intellectualism was during her lifetime. Aunt Epp can be conservative through one entry and quite open-minded (Darwin) the next. I certainly didn't always agree with her, but I felt I got a fresh view of the changes that occurred between the 19th and 20th centuries.
Aunt Epp was a writer, a journaler. I can imagine she would have been a blogger had she lived in our time, despensing knowledge and sharing opinions about everyday topics to a worldwide audience. (Don't you marvel at how cool it is that we get to share our thoughts with people we would have never met, if we didn't live in the computer age.)
My favorite excerpt from the book:
Diaries
Maintain a diary all your days. A diary is a doorway to a second life, running parallel to the one you live, and produces even a third life, for by recording the day's events, you preserve the days like berries. You may return to that day, taste it, and live it over again, but without that act of preservation the day has gone; it is nothing. More than this, by preserving your days, you will allow others to live that day for themselves, that hour, that afternoon, should they read your record, a day culled from the past, perhaps even hundreds of years from now; and this indeed is the aim and enjoyment of all writing, however humble, to seize the day, and to store it away on a secret shelf, out of reach of the Reaper and his swinging scythe.
An original poem by Aunt Epp:
WEEPERS AND SWEEPERS
Wars are made by busy men
Just an hour or more,
Women do the clearing up -
Loss a longer chore.
When your boy has done his bit
And lies on foreign plain,
Sit out your life on window seats -
Watch the falling rain.
If the broken bits they brought
Lie under yonder leaf,
Fit with your heart, cross-stitch the grass,
Take time to mend your grief.
Leaders have no time for us,
Heroes do as must -
We are the sweepers-up
Of centuries of dust.
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Crazy May!
I'm so thankful the A-Z Challenge was not in the month of May! Good thinking, folks! Anyone else feeling the pressure of the end-of-school activities?
Writing everyday for the challenge was enjoyable and I thought I would just naturally continue writing more often than once or twice a week. Then life happened. :) You know the one!
We just wrapped up our Awana program and one of my girls, Katie, was working feverishly down to the end to get two books completed this year. If she knew the word ogre I think she would have called me that. She had set the goal for two books herself, but lost motivation just two weeks before the finish line. What? I pushed, pulled, prodded, cajoled, maybe yelled, threatened and all the other nice things mommies do. Two days before the final meeting she was barely talking to me. She was next to tears with anxiety, but I knew she had the last sections that she needed memorized. She was good to go, but didn't believe in herself. It's sad when that happens to your child. Anyway, she pushed through it and when she finished on Sunday night she came to me beaming with pride wanting a high-five and a big hug! I'm so proud that she hung in there and got it done! We might have taken her to IHOP that night for a small celebration! :)
Speaking of celebrations, I have two college graduates this weekend! My daughter Ashley will be graduating with a Youth Ministries major and my husband will be finishing up his Bachelors in Business Admin. They will get to walk together! I will be a crying mess, for sure! I'll be sure to take lots of pictures to share with you.
Ashley and her husband plan on moving to the Denver area to attend seminary in the fall and Mark will continue on towards his MBA. Super proud, can you tell?!
Other plans for May: out-of-state family visiting during the month, Mother's Day with both our mothers and daughter, our end-of-year concert (my handbell group and children's choir will perform), finishing up our own homeschool year and taking achievement tests, a year-end party at our farm for my volunteers that serve with me at church (22 families), a year-end picnic for our CoOp, and the regular chores of running a farm: lots of mowing, chicken herding, weeding, and swimming. :)
I'm exhausted just reading the list! Today I did what any self-respecting procrastinator would do, I took a nap. Ha! Really. Sometimes you gotta do, what you gotta do, right? Anyway, it gave me the energy to share with you all that's on my plate. I have high hopes of blogging every day on one of my two blogs. I figured if I set a high goal, you might see me at least a couple times a week. :)
Feeling like...
How about you?
* Participating in the Pinterest Post Party on my cooking blog (see link in sidebar.)
Writing everyday for the challenge was enjoyable and I thought I would just naturally continue writing more often than once or twice a week. Then life happened. :) You know the one!
We just wrapped up our Awana program and one of my girls, Katie, was working feverishly down to the end to get two books completed this year. If she knew the word ogre I think she would have called me that. She had set the goal for two books herself, but lost motivation just two weeks before the finish line. What? I pushed, pulled, prodded, cajoled, maybe yelled, threatened and all the other nice things mommies do. Two days before the final meeting she was barely talking to me. She was next to tears with anxiety, but I knew she had the last sections that she needed memorized. She was good to go, but didn't believe in herself. It's sad when that happens to your child. Anyway, she pushed through it and when she finished on Sunday night she came to me beaming with pride wanting a high-five and a big hug! I'm so proud that she hung in there and got it done! We might have taken her to IHOP that night for a small celebration! :)
Speaking of celebrations, I have two college graduates this weekend! My daughter Ashley will be graduating with a Youth Ministries major and my husband will be finishing up his Bachelors in Business Admin. They will get to walk together! I will be a crying mess, for sure! I'll be sure to take lots of pictures to share with you.
Ashley and her husband plan on moving to the Denver area to attend seminary in the fall and Mark will continue on towards his MBA. Super proud, can you tell?!
Other plans for May: out-of-state family visiting during the month, Mother's Day with both our mothers and daughter, our end-of-year concert (my handbell group and children's choir will perform), finishing up our own homeschool year and taking achievement tests, a year-end party at our farm for my volunteers that serve with me at church (22 families), a year-end picnic for our CoOp, and the regular chores of running a farm: lots of mowing, chicken herding, weeding, and swimming. :)
I'm exhausted just reading the list! Today I did what any self-respecting procrastinator would do, I took a nap. Ha! Really. Sometimes you gotta do, what you gotta do, right? Anyway, it gave me the energy to share with you all that's on my plate. I have high hopes of blogging every day on one of my two blogs. I figured if I set a high goal, you might see me at least a couple times a week. :)
Feeling like...
* Participating in the Pinterest Post Party on my cooking blog (see link in sidebar.)
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
May 2 - Hodgepodge
I thought I'd participate in Joyce's Hodgepodge today.
If you'd like to participate you may click here.
. 1. My (Joyce) daughter2 is graduating from university this month and plans to teach elementary school. What are three qualities you most want to see evidenced in a teacher?
the ability to find something loveable/redeemable in each child,
a sense of responsibility,
and a love of learning
2. You can tell a lot about a person by_____________________.
how they respond to something negative,
how well-behaved their children are,
and how they listen
3. What song makes you think spring?
Just singin' in the Rain
4. May 1st is Mother Goose Day...share your favorite nursery rhyme.
There was an old lady who lived in a shoe
She had so many children she didn't know what to do
She gave them some broth without any bread,
She whipped them all soundly and sent them to bed.
Why are nursery rhymes so creepy?
5. What makes someone unforgettable?
Being gracious,
being attentive to others,
and a smile
6. Should music and/or art be part of a well rounded education?
Yep, at our house music and art are as important as all the other academic studies. I think music and art are ways that God displays His creativity - ones in which He allows us to participate. (I can't create a universe, but I can draw a picture, put together a flower arrangement or play a song on an instrument.) I feel a little strongly about this one!
7. What social situations make you flustered or nervous?
I'm not a huge fan of my husband's work parties where I have to make small talk with strangers. Do they hate it as much as I do?
8. Insert your own random thought here.
Joyce will be joining the Our Front Door Pinterest Post Party.
The challenge? Try some of my Pinterest pins and blog about them every Tuesday and Thursday in the month of May. (Hint: you can follow my Pinterest boards by clicking on the button in my sidebar.)
I'm with Joyce, I may not post about this every Tuesday/Thursday, but it might motivate me to give some a try!
You A-Zers with Pinterest should join us!
Monday, April 30, 2012
Z - Zillion
Zillion: very large indeterminate number.
Have you ever wondered what came after a trillion (quadrillion...)
You can see the numbers up to 600 zeros here.
Whew, who made up those names?
Anywho...zillion. I love when kids dramatically use that word to describe something.
"Mom, there were a zillion mosquitoes out there!" (probably true)
"When I grow up I'm going to live in a zillion dollar house." (eh, probably not)
"If I sell my pictures I will probably make a zillion dollars." (yea, nope)
Cute!
When I think of zillion, I more often think of
clothes to wash
dishes to clean
chores to be done
papers to file
lessons to teach
and
errands to run
Can you relate?
What zillion things are facing you this week? Hope it goes well!
I've enjoyed participating in the A-Z Challenge; it's been lots of fun!
Thanks to all my new followers!! I hope you stay around and enjoy a glimpse into our crazy lives. I love sharing it with you all.
Blessings to you!
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Y - You!
I kept trying to think of something for "Y" that would entertain, but the harder I thought the more I felt compelled to write about YOU, my fellow-bloggers.
Just so you know, I can be a very sappy sentimental person so if I get a little too personal, I'm not really creepy, I'm just an effusively gushy person (at times.)
The first blogger I want to share is Sara at Make Music From Your Heart.
When I first started blogging in 2009 I came across Sara's blog and was immediately drawn to the sincere way she shares her life. I love that she has a page on her blog where you can share prayer requests! I love seeing the stage and props she and her team come up with for children's church. She is a pastor's wife who truly serves others and she shares so much of her life on her blog-even daily through the P365 weekly post. Taking a picture each day has changed the way I view life. It's made me more thankful, more willing to create memories and a better photographer. Sara's transparent posts about God's working in her life are always encouraging and often a little convicting. I'm glad to call Sara a bloggy friend!
The second blogger is Traci at Beneath My Heat.
Traci started blogging around the same time I did. She first started off sharing Wednesday posts about her mom, who had passed away from cancer and her posts were so endearing. I think I cried every Wednesday! Traci has a love for all things decorating and she has a beautiful style. She's turned into quite the internet sensation and I still enjoy stopping by to see what new decorating project she's been up to. She's a sweet lady who loves so many things in life; her enthusiasm is infectious.
Many of you know Joyce From This Side of the Pond. Joyce talked a few of us into joining her in the A-Z Challenge and I have really enjoyed her tour through Asia this month! At church a few weeks ago a volunteer who serves with me started telling me about her spring break trip to China and I was so well-informed because of Joyce's blog. This friend asked if I had been there and I had to admit I just had family and friends who had shared that part of the world with me. Thanks for making me look so smart, Joyce! :) I enjoy Joyce's posts about her family and adventures and I'm thrilled to have her as a bloggy friend too!
How many times can I brag about Sarah from In the Midst of It? A lot! Sarah has literally changed my life. When I speak about her (and I do) I call her my bloggy friend from Texas. Sarah is another pastor's wife who embraces a simple country life. Sarah eased me into the idea of living on a farm and now with 41 chickens, horses and a dog I'd say I've fully assimilated! Mark just came home from the farm store and is trying to talk me into turkeys. Stay tuned! Anyway, Sarah is such a wonderful mother who has made her family a priority. She is super crafty and I decided to give quilting a chance after seeing the blankets that Sarah has made. I heart Sarah!
My two favorite bloggy grandmas are Nel at Fastenau Facts and Jewel at Down in My Little Valley. These are the sweetest ladies, y'all! Nel is such a sweet lady who takes a real interest in other bloggers. I'm sure many of my readers can call Nel a friend. I love how she shares her life, with candor and openness that's refreshing. She's such an upbeat person and I love that we've connected via bloggy-land. Jewel is darling. I love how much she loves those grandbabies. She makes me miss the older women in my own family! She is so spunky and honest. I love that she used to have to go to the library to blog; that's dedication! Thanks, ladies, for sharing your lives with us!
How about some new friends before we wrap up? Gail from Gail's Great Atlantic Northeast has become a faithful commenter on my blog. I thank you, Gail, for all the feedback! I enjoy going to visit Gail's blog - you truly never know what you're going to read. She keeps the variety flowing. Gail strikes me as a pretty honest person and I'm all for having more of those kind of people in my life. I appreciate Gail's encouragement and her new friendship!
My fellow blogger at Soscrappy has changed my crafting life! This woman gets a LOT done in a week; I sometimes get a little jealous. She quilts the cutest blocks and blankets and hosts the weekly Rainbow Scrap Challenge in which I participate. I mentioned in my quilting (Q) post that she keeps me motivated with a different color each month. This blog has introduced me to several wonderful quilters and everyone has been so encouraging. I'm blessed to have found someone to lead the way!
Then there's Brenda from It's All Good! Ok, this lady makes me laugh! From her falling in the fountain header to the funny way she looks at life...she makes me giggle. I love how she finished up the A-Z (you'll just have to go see it). I would have stressed and apologized for not posting for each of the last few letters, but Brenda, no way, she had fun with it and I wish her well dog-sitting. Wish I could have a week off with no computer. :) Brenda is someone that would be fun to hang around with, so I do...on her blog.
I appreciate everyone who stops by my blog and leaves a comment. I've enjoyed this A-Z Challenge, so much so, that I have a folder in my Favorites of the new friends I've made this month.
Thanks, everybody, for sharing your lives with us! I am blessed to call you bloggy friends!
Just so you know, I can be a very sappy sentimental person so if I get a little too personal, I'm not really creepy, I'm just an effusively gushy person (at times.)
The first blogger I want to share is Sara at Make Music From Your Heart.
When I first started blogging in 2009 I came across Sara's blog and was immediately drawn to the sincere way she shares her life. I love that she has a page on her blog where you can share prayer requests! I love seeing the stage and props she and her team come up with for children's church. She is a pastor's wife who truly serves others and she shares so much of her life on her blog-even daily through the P365 weekly post. Taking a picture each day has changed the way I view life. It's made me more thankful, more willing to create memories and a better photographer. Sara's transparent posts about God's working in her life are always encouraging and often a little convicting. I'm glad to call Sara a bloggy friend!
The second blogger is Traci at Beneath My Heat.
Traci started blogging around the same time I did. She first started off sharing Wednesday posts about her mom, who had passed away from cancer and her posts were so endearing. I think I cried every Wednesday! Traci has a love for all things decorating and she has a beautiful style. She's turned into quite the internet sensation and I still enjoy stopping by to see what new decorating project she's been up to. She's a sweet lady who loves so many things in life; her enthusiasm is infectious.
Many of you know Joyce From This Side of the Pond. Joyce talked a few of us into joining her in the A-Z Challenge and I have really enjoyed her tour through Asia this month! At church a few weeks ago a volunteer who serves with me started telling me about her spring break trip to China and I was so well-informed because of Joyce's blog. This friend asked if I had been there and I had to admit I just had family and friends who had shared that part of the world with me. Thanks for making me look so smart, Joyce! :) I enjoy Joyce's posts about her family and adventures and I'm thrilled to have her as a bloggy friend too!
How many times can I brag about Sarah from In the Midst of It? A lot! Sarah has literally changed my life. When I speak about her (and I do) I call her my bloggy friend from Texas. Sarah is another pastor's wife who embraces a simple country life. Sarah eased me into the idea of living on a farm and now with 41 chickens, horses and a dog I'd say I've fully assimilated! Mark just came home from the farm store and is trying to talk me into turkeys. Stay tuned! Anyway, Sarah is such a wonderful mother who has made her family a priority. She is super crafty and I decided to give quilting a chance after seeing the blankets that Sarah has made. I heart Sarah!
My two favorite bloggy grandmas are Nel at Fastenau Facts and Jewel at Down in My Little Valley. These are the sweetest ladies, y'all! Nel is such a sweet lady who takes a real interest in other bloggers. I'm sure many of my readers can call Nel a friend. I love how she shares her life, with candor and openness that's refreshing. She's such an upbeat person and I love that we've connected via bloggy-land. Jewel is darling. I love how much she loves those grandbabies. She makes me miss the older women in my own family! She is so spunky and honest. I love that she used to have to go to the library to blog; that's dedication! Thanks, ladies, for sharing your lives with us!
How about some new friends before we wrap up? Gail from Gail's Great Atlantic Northeast has become a faithful commenter on my blog. I thank you, Gail, for all the feedback! I enjoy going to visit Gail's blog - you truly never know what you're going to read. She keeps the variety flowing. Gail strikes me as a pretty honest person and I'm all for having more of those kind of people in my life. I appreciate Gail's encouragement and her new friendship!
My fellow blogger at Soscrappy has changed my crafting life! This woman gets a LOT done in a week; I sometimes get a little jealous. She quilts the cutest blocks and blankets and hosts the weekly Rainbow Scrap Challenge in which I participate. I mentioned in my quilting (Q) post that she keeps me motivated with a different color each month. This blog has introduced me to several wonderful quilters and everyone has been so encouraging. I'm blessed to have found someone to lead the way!
Then there's Brenda from It's All Good! Ok, this lady makes me laugh! From her falling in the fountain header to the funny way she looks at life...she makes me giggle. I love how she finished up the A-Z (you'll just have to go see it). I would have stressed and apologized for not posting for each of the last few letters, but Brenda, no way, she had fun with it and I wish her well dog-sitting. Wish I could have a week off with no computer. :) Brenda is someone that would be fun to hang around with, so I do...on her blog.
I appreciate everyone who stops by my blog and leaves a comment. I've enjoyed this A-Z Challenge, so much so, that I have a folder in my Favorites of the new friends I've made this month.
Thanks, everybody, for sharing your lives with us! I am blessed to call you bloggy friends!
Friday, April 27, 2012
X- Xanthemia
Now that we are about to embark upon the tanning season are you ready to face all the fake-n-bakes? Or would that be Fakin' Bakes? Yep, both. (I googled!)
Anywhoo...while I was looking for a cool "X" word to write a clever post about, I came across this word:
xanthemia: excess carotene in the blood stream; can cause the skin to turn a pale yellow-red color.
It reminded me of a past experience.
In his lifetime my father-in-law had suffered with a condition called spastic (or Spasmodic) dysphonia.
Spasmodic dysphonia is a voice disorder characterized by involuntary movements or spasms of one or more muscles of the larynx (vocal folds or voice box) during speech.
In adductor spasmodic dysphonia (ADSD), sudden involuntary muscle movements or spasms cause the vocal folds (or vocal cords) to slam together and stiffen. These spasms make it difficult for the vocal folds to vibrate and produce voice. Words are often cut off or difficult to start because of the muscle spasms. Therefore, speech may be choppy and sound similar to stuttering. The voice of an individual with adductor spasmodic dysphonia is commonly described as strained or strangled and full of effort. Surprisingly, the spasms are usually absent while laughing, speaking at a high pitch, or speaking while singing, but singers can experience a loss of range or the inability to produce certain notes of a scale or with projection. Stress, however, often makes the muscle spasms more severe. (wikipedia)
On several occasions Dad went to see a specialist for this disorder and he had some success in it's treatment. We were all thrilled that he found someone who could help him speak, especially since my father-in-law was a pastor! His voice was his livelihood.
Usually Dad would travel to see the Doc, but one time he said that the Doc would be stopping by the church (where we all worked) so we would be able to meet him. We were all anxious to thank him for taking such good care of Dad. I'm sure we figured it would be interesting to hear how he had become a specialist in this field. We looked forward to his arrival.
When the Dr. arrived at the church we met in the auditorium. To our surprise we found a man that looked similar to this one -
Anywhoo...while I was looking for a cool "X" word to write a clever post about, I came across this word:
xanthemia: excess carotene in the blood stream; can cause the skin to turn a pale yellow-red color.
It reminded me of a past experience.
In his lifetime my father-in-law had suffered with a condition called spastic (or Spasmodic) dysphonia.
Spasmodic dysphonia is a voice disorder characterized by involuntary movements or spasms of one or more muscles of the larynx (vocal folds or voice box) during speech.
In adductor spasmodic dysphonia (ADSD), sudden involuntary muscle movements or spasms cause the vocal folds (or vocal cords) to slam together and stiffen. These spasms make it difficult for the vocal folds to vibrate and produce voice. Words are often cut off or difficult to start because of the muscle spasms. Therefore, speech may be choppy and sound similar to stuttering. The voice of an individual with adductor spasmodic dysphonia is commonly described as strained or strangled and full of effort. Surprisingly, the spasms are usually absent while laughing, speaking at a high pitch, or speaking while singing, but singers can experience a loss of range or the inability to produce certain notes of a scale or with projection. Stress, however, often makes the muscle spasms more severe. (wikipedia)
On several occasions Dad went to see a specialist for this disorder and he had some success in it's treatment. We were all thrilled that he found someone who could help him speak, especially since my father-in-law was a pastor! His voice was his livelihood.
Usually Dad would travel to see the Doc, but one time he said that the Doc would be stopping by the church (where we all worked) so we would be able to meet him. We were all anxious to thank him for taking such good care of Dad. I'm sure we figured it would be interesting to hear how he had become a specialist in this field. We looked forward to his arrival.
When the Dr. arrived at the church we met in the auditorium. To our surprise we found a man that looked similar to this one -
Seriously!
Now the man in the picture I believe has a Fakin' Bake (spray on tan, maybe?), but our Dr. was orange because he was a carrot juicing fanatic. He has what we call Xanthemia! Literally, the man was orange because he juiced/drank so many carrots over a long period of time that it turned his skin orange.
Needless to say, we wished Dad had warned us. Cause what can you do/say when you are faced with an orange man? I think we mumbled some thanks, but in our minds all we could think was, "This man is ORANGE!" Ca-razy, I tell ya. Ca-razy! (Thanks, Joyce, for the spelling!)
While I like myself some fake tan (the lotion in a bottle kind), I try to take a second look before I go out in public so I don't end up looking like the ORANGE man. If I ever do, I hope someone will do more than mumble thanks my way. Who knew "X" could stand for orange!
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