Here's last Wednesday's picture:

And this is what it is:

Rus was the first to guess correctly: "Any chance it's a close up of the mechanism of a beater? Right you are, Rus!

silverwillow "Surely it is the latest invention by Xenophilius to ward off Death Eaters?" and DebR "I think it's part of a Sneak-o-scope!" gave me my Harry Potter fix, thanks!

As always, thanks for playing! By the way, all photos used in What Is It Wednesday are marked as "private" in my flickr account...that's so no one can view the picture at a bigger size to get a better look!

So this week...

What is it?

Thirteen Things I love that begin with the letter V

1. Vampire: I've always liked vampires, the idea of vampires, the sexuality of vampires.

2. Veil: Reminds me of the Order of the Phoenix, when Sirius fell through the veil.

3. Vague: Luna Lovegood is described as being vague and dreamy; although she is viewed by the other students as an object of ridicule and scorn, she is serene, calm and utterly sure of herself. She's my second favorite character in Harry Potter. Who's my first? Look up!

4. Vacation: Who, besides MaryEllen, doesn't like vacations? I could use another one! What was your favorite vacation?

5. Vino: Delicious red wine, cold, crisp white wine...it's all good!

6. Vinegar: Mmmmm...balsamic, apple cider...it's all good!

7. Vanish: Sometimes, I have to vanish for a bit to get my fix of peace and quiet.

8. Vegetables: I love my veggies! Can't think of a single kind I don't like! Had fresh corn on the cob last night, first time this summer. YUM!

9. Velvet: Love a man who's secure enough in his masculinity to wear velvet *cough* Robert Plant *cough*

10. Verandah: Sitting out on the verandah sipping a sweet tea...sounds so southern, doesn't it?

11. Veterinarian: Took me awhile to find one that clicked with Wolf...shibas are notorious for being disliked by vets. Dr. Smith loves him...or pretends to, but if so, it's a great act!

12. Vicar of Dibley: Saw this show recently for the first time, and I was in STITCHES! Stitches, I tell you! Did you know Johnny Depp was on this show once?

13. Volcano: By Jimmy Buffet...such a fun song at his concerts!

No time to count what I'm worth,
cause I just left the planet Earth.
Where I go I hope there's rum.
Not to worry monsoon come.

I don't know, I don't know,
I don't know where I'm a gonna go
when the volcano blow. (Mr. Utley!)

Don't want to land no San Diego.
Don't want to land in no Buzzards Bay.
I don't want to land on no Ayatolla.
I got nothin' more to say.

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!

The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It's easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

I'm so excited!!! I'm trying something new this month; let me introduce you to the host (each Thursday for the month of August) over at Create a Connection for Photo Thursday: me!!!

Go check it out, and please play along if you're so inclined! Just leave a comment there if you play so others can come visit you :-)

Also, while I have your attention about Create a Connection, I'd like to tell you a bit about Melba's other efforts. Melba is the creator of not only Create a Connection, but of justBe...connected and The Creative Bazaar

If you click on the justBe link...you'll see she's organized a gathering for creative bloggers this coming October...and it's going to be located in my home state, down the cape, Hyannis to be exact. There will be a craft fair and workshops, friendships (old and new), food and fun! I hope to go down on Saturday to meet up with DebR, among others...LOVE the cape in the fall!

Anyway, on to my entry for Photo Day Thursday!

Once you get to know me, you'll know that "fun" is a top priority in my life. Maybe this makes me simple...maybe this makes me smart...who knows!

This week, I'd like to see you post a picture of what is "fun" to you! This could be watching the waves roll in on the beach or eating an ice cream cone or seeing your dog/cat/kid/significant other smile or knitting something or reading a book or cooking dinner for your family or yourself! There are so many fun things in life...and you know, life is too short not to get out there and enjoy those things! So...go ahead and show me what you enjoy, what you consider fun--I want to see!

Here are my pictures of things I consider fun:

Fun! And funny :-)

A stack of books, just waiting to be read...WICKED fun!

Captain Jack Sparrow AND the ocean...swoon-worthy fun!

Stopping to smell the flowers...enjoyable fun (as long as no bees are sharing the flower with your nose)!

My Wolf...a fun dog

Being pulled along on a tube - FUN!

Getting to see a GREAT movie for free, and collecting poppets - FUN!

Rumor is having fun!

So many ways to have fun...so little time! Show me how you have fun!

If you play, please link back to me and leave me a comment letting me know you played, so I can come visit!

Thank you all for playing last week; and I apologize if I didn't reply to all of you! I was up in Vermont with friends for the weekend, and with 3 kids underfoot, it was hard to get online, never mind concentrate!

Here's a picture of the terrors tykes:

That's Audrey in the middle in the top pic, Chloe beneath her, Rumor beneath her, and Meri off to the right.

1. Last weekend, I was thinking that _____.
2. If the weather continues like this, _____.
3. Will my _____ ever grow?
4. Often, on a summer's night, I think _____.
5. Right now, I could use a good strong _____.
6. My favorite summertime meal is _____.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to _____, tomorrow my plans include _____ and Sunday, I want to _____!

Don't forget...have fun!

1. Last weekend, I was thinking that I was glad I don't have kids [I love my friends' kids, tho!]
2. If the weather continues like this, my lawn will turn brown.
3. Will my tomatoes ever grow?
4. Often, on a summer's night, I think about how much I love the summer! [the sunset here last night was incredible!].
5. Right now, I could use a good strong white blueberry iced tea from Starbucks [my new favorite drink, SO good!].
6. My favorite summertime meal is corn on the cob [what, corn's not a meal?].
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to catching a movie, tomorrow my plans include hanging out on the beach in my bro's back yard, rereading The Deathly Hallows and Sunday, I want to do more of the same thing I did Saturday!

Grab the Scavenger Hunt code. Photo Theme. Join the blogroll. Visit participants.

A martini from an alternate universe. I had one from this very place tonight, and good karma was abundant. Thank the universe!

This is Nina's first week as the Dialog Day hostess this month. She says: So today I am hoping to hear a little bit about what YOU have been up to this summer. Where have you been and what have you been doing?

This summer I did something I've never done before; two things, actually!

1. Turned 50! It's a memorable birthday, to be sure. It makes me feel...well, I'm not sure how it makes me feel, to be honest! I think that since most of my friends are significantly younger than me, it might be embarrassing to them to have a friend who is now 50, and I'm not sure why I think that. Certainly, none of them have expressed such a thought! But there it is, I throw it out there for discussion.

2. Visited Las Vegas, a place I never had a desire to visit (The Stand, anyone?). What made me want to go? One thing; the Cirque du Soleil show, Love, which not only met but exceeded any expectations I might have had (I don't generally have expectations; it seems a sure fire way to get disappointed). It was HOT the 4 days we were there, hit 117 one day, I believe.

I've also taken quite a few day trips (mostly to NH) and a couple of long weekends, one to my cousin's and one to Vermont.

Lake Winnipesaukee

Portsmouth, NH

Hampton, NH

Newburyport

Vermont

Coming up are three weddings (and no funerals, I hope!) that I will be photographing, one in St. Thomas! Woohoo!

1) Which are the latest doors in your mind, your world, you had to close, to feel safe, to stop bearing grudges, to just learn to say goodbye and to move on?

I recently ended a friendship because it was causing me more frustration than pleasure. Life's too short, and you know, people do change...sometimes not for the better!

2) Do you believe in Helen Keller's famous quote ... when a door closes another one opens?

Oh yes, I sure do! As an example, I went to my boss awhile ago and told her I wanted to resign from one aspect of my job (I wore two hats at work). Unfortunately, there were already two full time people doing the other aspect of my job and the company didn't really need me to do that. But...what do you know? One of those folks gave her two week notice, so voila! I had a job again! Funny how that works...

3) Sometimes all doors are closed, but there are Windows the third eyes is the biggest window of our mind. How do you escape this way? how do you heal traveling by that window?
What are the thoughts that appease you when all doors are closed in your life or on your path?

If all doors and windows are closed, I know it's a temporary thing, and I wait it out...I have endless patience. I enjoy life while waiting, because, what's the alternative? Not fun :-)

4) Eyes are often seen as the windows of the souls; would you agree?
Do you feel people's soul this way? Is the gaze something important to you?
Do you feel you're an open book when someone reads in your eyes?

Staring into your lover's eyes is an amazing thing! I don't feel that all people are an open book through their eyes...some people are very deceitful. I don't feel I'm an open book at all. I tend to not let people get to know me very well...even when they think they do :-)

5) Tell me about the door you need to close and open right now? think. look around. your goals. your regrets. your anger. memories. anything. make peace with yourself.

There's a BIG door I need to close. And another I need to open. It remains to be seen if I am able to do either.

If you'd like to play, click here!

I say ... and you think ... ?

1. Voices :: carry
2. Have to :: get going!
3. Machine :: shop
4. Seventh grade :: confusing
5. Beach :: Surf Drive
6. Roommate :: ironically, I was thinking about that today...and wondering if I'd need to get one when I buy the condo next year!
7. Cyclone :: tornado
8. Theater :: Orpheum
9. Pregnant :: not me!
10. Phoebe :: Baby Phe ;-)

Irony: Sunday, you decide to stop at Lull's Farm on the way back from Parker's Maple Barn. It's a bright summer's day and while you're at Lull's, you remember how much fun you had when you went there with Monique last fall, taking pictures of sunflowers and pumpkins. Then you check your email that evening and find out Monique had just this day favorited some of those very same sunflower pictures you were thinking about today.

She didn't favorite this one, but it just struck me :)

Saw this at sognatrice's and thought I'd play along! You fill in the blanks, if you please :-) As Sognatrice said: "Come on, make me smile"!

Fondofsnape is...
Fondofsnape needs...
Fondofsnape's best friend is...
Fondofsnape's dog is named...
Fondofsnape smells like...
Fondofsnape drives like...
Fondofsnape craves....
Fondofsnape's favorite TV Show is...
Fondofsnape hates* loves the actor whose name is...
Fondofsnape's alcoholic drink of choice is...
Fondofsnape's NON alcoholic drink of choice is...
Fondofsnape's favorite musical artist is...
Fondofsnape's favorite cupcake flavor is...
Fondofsnape's hair is...
Fondofsnape's celebrity crush is...
Fondofsnape's occupation is...
Fondofsnape's favorite book is...
Fondofsnape's favorite color is...
Fondofsnape hates* loves...
Fondofsnape wishes...

* [ed. note: you can go with hate...but I dislike that word ;-)]

I got tagged by Jenn, aka five dollar shake (what does that mean, anyway?)

Here goes!

4 things that should go into Room 101 and be removed from the face of the earth.

* People who annoy me (no, wait, there would be no one left) um...how about gum snappers, people who talk during a movie and people who talk loudly on their cell phones while in public places?
* big hairy spiders
* cancer (stickin' with Jenn's answer)
* cars with really pumpin' loud bass

3 things people do that make you want to shake them violently

* rudeness
* treat animals cruelly
* Interrupt other people conversations (again, stickin' with Jenn's answer)

2 things you find yourself moaning about

* Being overweight
* Not being attractive

1 thing the above answers tell you about yourself

* I have low self-esteem (shocking, I KNOW!)

5 people who will be annoyed you tagged them

* MaryEllen
* Laura de (who NEVER rises to these challenges)
* Carmen
* Fleur-de-Lisa
* MissMeliss

RULES
* Link to the original meme at freelancecynic.com so people know what it’s all about!
* Be as honest as possible, This is about letting people get to know the real you!
* Try not to insult anyone - unless they really deserve it!
* Post these rules at the end of every meme!

Here's last Wednesday's picture:

Alas, no picture of it in the bowl as I forgot to upload it to Flickr! You'll just have to take my word for it that it was, in fact, wax beans!

Michele was the first to guess correctly: "I think it looks like wax beans. I do not like wax beans. Mmm, more for me, then! I love 'em!

Robin "I think they're wax beans, but if not then white asparagus." and Auntie Antiquity "It looks like wax beans laid side by side." also guessed correctly!

As always, thanks for playing! By the way, all photos used in What Is It Wednesday are marked as "private" in my flickr account...that's so no one can view the picture at a bigger size to get a better look!

So this week...

What is it?

Thirteen Things I love that begin with the letter W

!. Wolf: My dog, my beautiful little shiba inu! Course he doesn't think he's little...he'd take on a Nazgul for me if he had to...and probably kick it's ass!
2. Wicked: A typical New England expression that I use often!
3. Wingardium Leviosa: A spell used to levitate things, from the Harry Potter books. In The Sorcerer's Stone, Hermione says: "Stop, stop stop! You're going to take someone's eye out. Besides, you're saying it wrong. It's Levi-OOO-sa, not Levio-SA." and Ron makes horrible fun of her for it later.
4. Weasleys: Ron is my favorite character of the trio, the one I identify with most (of the trio; of all the characters I identify with Luna most...and Snape). The Twins are my favorite Weasleys...I've got a thing about twins, did you know?
5. Walking: I love walking, especially with the dogs!
6. What's Eating Gilbert Grape: One of my favorite Depp movies, he was, as always, amazing brilliant in it.
Momma: You're my knight in shimmering armor. Did you know that?
Gilbert: I think you mean shining.
Momma: No shimmering. You shimmer, and you glow.
7. Wine: With cheese, by itself, red or white, it's all good!
8. Whimsical: I love those word, it makes me smile :-)
9. Worn: Applied to your favorite jeans, it's a great word!
10. Wander: I enjoy wandering...here and there...there and here...wherever my feet and/or car takes me.
11. Wizard: Altho there are wizards and witches in Harry Potter, whenever I hear the word "wizard" I think of Gandalf. Always!
12. Windy: I love when it's windy out; when the trees shiver in the breeze. We had some STRONG gusts of wind last night. I left poor Wolf outside in the beginning rain...he just looked at me like: "How COULD you!"
13. What Is And What Should Never Be: One of my favorite Zep songs:
So if you wake up with the sunrise
And all your dreams are still as new
And happiness is what you need so bad
Girl, the answer lies with you, yeah
Also, Whole Lotta Love, which, I SWEAR I didn't know was also called the orgasm song, off the record. I TOLD you I didn't like Zep back in the day!


Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It's easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

This is my second Thursday of hosting Photo Thursday at Create a Connection.

The theme I chose this week is summer...all these photos represent summer to me, in some way, shape or form.

Summer means great childhood memories!

Summer means a beautiful sunset on a lake...

Summer means cherry tomatoes, fresh from my garden...

and summer was when I met the princess and her tramp ;-)

Summer means to me outdoor concerts...

and hotdogs with my cousin's homemade pickles

and fields of flowers

and shibas in the sun!

Summer reminds me of mushrooms and fairy houses...

and dragonflies.

and being towed in a tube behind a boat!

Grab the Scavenger Hunt code. Photo Theme. Join the blogroll. Visit participants.

1. A series of objects placed next to each other, usually in a straight line (not quite in a straight line, but it'll do).

3. A line of adjacent seats, as in a theater, auditorium, or classroom.

4. A continuous line of buildings along a street.

Saw this one over at MamaLee's blog and thought it would be fun...let's see if I can remember back that far...Sherman, set the way back machine for 1972-1975, please:

1. Who was your best friend? Pat! Closely followed by Michele. Andrea was in there for awhile, til she freaked out ... it WAS the 70s, yanno...and Calvin and Todd :-)

2. Did you play any sports? *snort* sure, hide the salami, frisbee, tennis...but not IN school.

3. What kind of car did you drive? My Dad's car...but I don't remember what it was. I just remember being late...ALOT...for picking him up from work at Raytheon. Sigh...I put my parents thru SO much!

4. It’s Friday night. Where were you? LOL here, there and everywhere, usually getting there by hitchhiking.

5. Were you a party animal? Um...yeah...pretty much.

6. Were you considered a flirt? Um..."flirt" wouldn't be the word...

7. Were you in the band, orchestra or choir? Not in high school. I did sing in the church choir til I was 12, tho.

8. Were you a nerd? Um...no...

9. Were you ever suspended or expelled? Um...yup.

10. Can you sing the fight song? Huh?

11. Who was your favorite teacher? Probably Mr. Bannister, he taught History.

12. What was your school mascot? An American Indian

13. Did you go to the Prom? Um...no...not my thing ;-)

14. If you could go back, would you? No, altho....if I could go back knowing what I know now and do things differently, I would.

15. What do you remember most about graduation? The caps and gowns and being amazed at the fact that I graduated at all.

16. Where were you on Senior Skip Day? Salisbury Beach, baby!

17. Did you have a job your senior year? I'm sure I did, but I'll be damned if I can remember what it was I did...I remember working at Marshall's, at Bradlee's and at a Jewish deli...

18. Where did you go most often for lunch? The cafeteria...

19. Have you gained weight since then? Hell yes, unfortunately. I weighed 125 in high school and thought I was fat then ... sigh...

20. What did you do after graduation? Like...immediately after graduation? Went out for dinner with my parents and Nana. Like...what did I do in life? Moved in with my boyfriend and partied alot.

21. What year did you graduate? 1975.

22. Who was your Senior Prom Date? Dude, the prom? Nah...not my thing.

23. Are you going/did you go to your 10 year reunion? I did...and I think it was the last reunion I went to.

LEO - The Lion:
Great talker. [check]
Attractive and passionate. [check]
Laid back. [sometimes?]
Knows how to have fun. [check!]
Is really good at almost anything. [check]
Great kisser. [she says so!]
Unpredictable. [check]
Outgoing. [check]
Down to earth. [check]
Addictive. [check]
Attractive. [you already said that fer crissakes, but I guess it's worth repeating...check!]
Loud. [can be!]
Loves being in long relationships. [check]
Not one to mess with. [check!!!]
Rare to find. [check!!!]
Good when found. [check]

For your 32nd birthday, I wish you much love and happiness, oh friend o' mine! I value your friendship, and although it's been a rocky road at times, maybe that just makes our friendship all the stronger :-)

Pop over and send her some happy thoughts, won't you?

If you'd like to play, click here!

I say ... and you think ... ?

1. Voyage :: journey
2. Patricia :: Pretty Pat McLaughlin ;-)
3. Transformation :: complete
4. Vocabulary :: vast
5. San Francisco:: flowers and sea spray and a big bridge
6. Edward :: Scissorhands, of course!
7. Sawyer :: Dexter Bundy, oh wait, that was Sayer, NOT Sawyer!
8. Literary :: agent
9. Tiger :: powerful
10. Seal :: Prayer For The Dying

Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.
He is rich who owns the day, and no one owns the day who allows it to be invaded with fret and anxiety.
Finish every day and be done with it.
You have done what you could.
Some blunders and absurdities, no doubt crept in.
Forget them as soon as you can, tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely, with too high a spirit to be cumbered with your old nonsense.
This new day is too dear, with its hopes and invitations, to waste a moment on the yesterdays. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

I saw this quote recently, over here, and I want to post it somewhere were I will see it every day.

Life is short...enjoy the ride!

Here's last Wednesday's picture:

And this is what it was cropped from:

It's a marble!

I think this is the first time no one got it! Anybody know for sure? In any event,
DebR's answer amused me the most :-) "Glitter on a warthog's belly?" ME? Remember Warty? Ahhhhh, the old days ;-)

I'm with SwordGirl, tho, who said: "...My first guess from afar was a constellation...". I thought it looked like a constellation, too!

As always, thanks for playing! By the way, all photos used in What Is It Wednesday are marked as "private" in my flickr account...that's so no one can view the picture at a bigger size to get a better look!

So this week...

What is it?

Thirteen Things I love that begin with the letter X

1. Xavier, Professor Charles: One of my favorite characters in X-Men; portrayed by one of my favorite actors, Patrick Stewart. Yum!
2. xylophone: A musical instrument in the percussion family which is much fun to play!
3. Xyrophobia: A fear of razors, which only happens to me in certain horror movies LOL!
4. X, Malcolm: Someone that I admire. I really didn't know much about him until I read The Autobiography of Malcolm X, and found he was an amazing man!
5. Xanthus: Means yellow, a beautiful sunshiney color!
6. Xenophilius Lovegood: A new character that we'd heard about in other Harry Potter books referred to as "Luna's father"; in the last book, we finally get to meet him.
7. Xiang: Means Fragrant, and we all know how much I love scents (good ones, that is!) [Chinese]
8. Xiomara: Teutonic for beautiful forest.
9. Xochiquetzal: An Aztec god, she is Flower Feather, the ever young and pretty goddess of flowers, love, pleasure and beauty. She is a patron of artists. Xochiquetzal is often displayed surrounded by flowers and butterflies, and accompanied by a hummingbird or an ocelot.
10. Xochipili: Xochiquetzal's twin brother, he is called the Flower Prince and is the god of flowers, pleasure, feasting, frivolity and artistic creativity. [Aztec]
11. Xochipilli: is a day for creating beauty and truth, especially that which speaks to the heart who knows it will one day cease to beat. Xochitl reminds us that life, like the flower, is beautiful but quickly fades. It is a good day for reflection, companionship and poignancy; it is a bad day for repressing deep-seated wishes, desires and passions.[Aztec]
12. Xolotl: the Twin, the Shapeshifter, Venus as the Evening Star, the Lord of the West, Double of Quetzalcoatl. Xolotl is the dog-like deity, often depicted with ragged ears. He is identified with sickness and physical deformity. As a double of Quetzalcoatl, he carries his conch-like ehecailacacozcatl or wind jewel. Xolotl accompanied Quetzalcoatl to Mictlan, Land of the Death or the underworld, to retrieve the bones from those who inhabited the previous world (Nahui Atl) to create new life for the present world, Nahui Ollin, the sun of movement. In a sense, this re-creation of life is reacted every night when Xolotl guides the sun through the underworld.[Aztec]
13. Xiu: A girl's name, meaning beautiful plum. [Chinese]


Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It's easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Today my prompt over at Photo Thursday at Create a Connection is "love".

This week, I'd like to see a picture of "love". What love means to you, what makes you feel loved, what you love! This week, no ideas, just take that word, "love", and show me what it means to you.

Come play!

Vines in love

Wolf loves corn!

Love...or lust...

A tribute to love

Things that some people love

If you play, please link back to me and leave me a comment letting me know you played, so I can come visit!

Julie, of I Love a Good Book, came up with the questions this week, check her out! She lives in Australia, works in a bookstore, plays guitar and loves Zeppelin! Thanks, Jules!

1. There's _____ and then there's _____!
2. Subscribe to _____ because _____
3. I love a good book because _____.
4. My favourite position is _____.
5. I need to quit _____.
6. I need to start _____.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to _____, tomorrow my plans include _____ and Sunday, I want to _____!

Don't forget...have fun!

1. There's hot and then there's Uncle Fester hot!
2. Subscribe to kindess because karma's a bitch!
3. I love a good book because reading is so much fun!.
4. My favourite position is reclining ;-).
5. I need to quit selling myself short.
6. I need to start exercising.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to Diana's wedding rehearsal, tomorrow my plans include photographing Diana's wedding and attending Megan's engagement party and Sunday, I want to relax, but I'll be photographing Diana's wedding reception!

Grab the Scavenger Hunt code. Photo Theme. Join the blogroll. Visit participants.

Two pictures of two newlyweds :-)

If you'd like to play, click here!

I say ... and you think ... ?

1. Darling :: duo
2. Majesty :: regal
3. Pebble :: Beach
4. Fate :: intertwine
5. Instant :: Karma
6. Screen :: name
7. Unplugged :: Led Zeppelin
8. Dairy :: cows
9. Benefactor :: need one!
10. Market :: vegetables

Ok, I think enough time has passed that I can post this...if you haven't read Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows, there are lots of spoilers below, so please don't continue reading!!!

My thoughts after reading the book:

First off...I KNEW Snape was innocent!!! Didn't I say it! Yes!!! Ahem...ok, that's out of the way.

My absolute most favorite chapter was the last...I LOVED knowing that they thrived and went on...and when we found out Harry's middle son's name...omg. That made tears pop in my eyes, yet I smiled at the same time. And then Harry said to his son that Snape was the bravest man he knew...wow!

Second favorite chapter was The Prince's Tale. Everything explained, and beautifully, sadly so! Oh, to think he loved Lily for all those years. Such a thing to have to live with, to have been responsible for the death of the woman you loved.

As I was driving to work the Wednesday before the book came out, a deer jumped out of the woods on the opposite side of the road and ran in front of my car. Not so close that I was in danger of hitting her, but close enough that I could see her beauty. I thought of this when I found out the doe Patronus was Snape's!

Third favorite chapter was King's Cross, when Harry was talking with Dumbledore...yet more questions answered, even some that were raised just within this book!

There was one sentence that Harry said in the 34th chapter: "But he was home. Hogwarts was the first and best home he had known. He and Voldemort and Snape, the abandoned boys, had all found home there..." That was amazing...just brilliant!

The theme of this book, the theme of the whole series, in fact, seems to be love, kindness, forgiveness & caring are of the utmost importance.

See...John Lennon wasn't far off when he said "Love is all you need".

I just wish we knew what happened with Luna! She's my new second favorite character, altho, as with Snape, I learned to love her from the movie, more so than from the book.

My thoughts after listening to the audio book:

I'm so glad I did this! There were so many parts I just rushed past in reading the book to see what finally happened which wasn't conducive to enjoying the book.

I STILL don't like how Lupin was in this book; he seems so very different from the Lupin of the other books. I STILL didn't like the deaths, mainly because they just seemed so rushed, but in listening, I didn't feel they were here and gone. Poor Fred! I hate to think of the twins being separated :-(

Here's an interesting excerpt from JK Rowling's interview on the Today Show:

"... J.K. Rowling [said] she “probably will” publish a Potter encyclopedia, promising many more details about her beloved characters and the fate of the wizarding world beyond the few clues provided in the seventh book’s epilogue.

Hogwarts, for example, has a new headmaster (“McGonagall was really getting on a bit”), and Rowling said she can see Harry going back to give the “odd talk” on Defense Against the Dark Arts. That class, by the way, is now led by a permanent professor, since Voldemort’s death broke the jinx that didn’t allow a teacher to remain in the position for more than a year."

Frigga (NO idea what her name is about, you'll have to ask her!) asked me the following questions, which I answered :-) Yes, I've done it before, but damn it, I like questions!

1. If you could play any character in the Harry Potter movies, who would you be and why?

That's easy: I'd be Luna. We're alot alike, she and I :-) (well, mentally, not physically, doh) I admire her way of letting insults and slights roll off her back, and concentrating on the things she likes.

2. What's your favorite subject to photograph and why?

Nature, without a doubt. I love to photograph clouds, flowers, mushrooms, the ocean. In fact...I think most of my photography is of those types of things!

3. Why do you blog?

Why indeed? One reason, and one reason only: cause it's fun!

4. You once mentioned you stopped going to church at 13 - do you consider yourself religous or spiritual, or atheiest or agnostic?

It's something I struggle with, especially as I get older. I'd say I'm spiritual, more than anything else. Walking through the woods with the dogs, I feel at peace, more so than in any church. Church, for me, has always been a place filled with judgments and gossip...I try to avoid those things, although I'm not always successful.

5. If you could choose to live in any reality (book, movie or different era in time) which would you choose?

Oh, man, I'd TOTALLY be a hobbit! I'd snag Bilbo, and live with him in Bag End, eating and drinking and reveling in nature. Definitely! "We have some cold chicken and pickles... Here's some cheese here- oh no it won't do. There we got raspberry jam and apple tart... Not much for afterlunch - oh no! We're all right. I have some cake." - Bilbo Baggins

Okay, now for the rules directions (I dislike rules):

Interview rules directions:
1. Leave me a comment saying "Interview me."
2. I will respond by emailing you five questions. I get to pick the questions.
3. You will update your blog with a post containing your answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.

Here's last Wednesday's picture:

And this is what it was cropped from:

Raindrops on a varnished picnic table :-)

Tommiea was the first of many to get it right: "looks like a water droplet on a wooden table...".

Laura gave me a good laugh: "oh, this one is easy.....that's a cross section of someone's liver!". Monique (who apparently has a very interesting story of where her first name came from) cracked me (and Nancy) up: "it's a drop of sweat on your nightstand... obviously from Mr. Depp after a hot night of monkey love."

As always, thanks for playing! By the way, all photos used in What Is It Wednesday are marked as "private" in my flickr account...that's so no one can view the picture at a bigger size to get a better look!

So this week...

What is it?

Thirteen Things I love that begin with the letter Y

1. yako imo man: In Japan, in the late autumn, you start to hear the yako imo man selling his wares. What might he be selling you ask? Roasted weet potatoes! Not like anything we have here...so sweet, so delicious, just one of the many things I miss about Japan.
2. Yankee: I'm a damn yankee and proud of it! I live in New England, the best place on earth! Well...ok, I really love Japan and France and Scotland and Hawaii, but still...And I certainly don't mean that baseball team from NY!
3. Yawning: How many of you yawned when you read that word? You KNOW you did!
4. Yin Yang: I've always loved the symbol for yin yang, it represents the feminine and the masculine, the spiritual and the physical, and the emotional and the rational.
5. You-Know-Who: A nickname spoken instead of a person's name...like for Voldemort and an old boyfriend of mine (but not SFSSDMF!)
6. yellow: I always wanted a yellow kitchen, bright and full of sunshine :-)
7. Yesterday: Hindsight is 20/20, eh?
8. Yippee-ki-yay, Motherf*cker: One of the funniest lines ever in a movie!
9. Yikes!: I love this exclamation, always have. I was friends with this guy, Scott, at Hanscom AFB and that was his license plate: YIKES, lol!
10. Yes: Who doesn't like to hear yes in response to "Can I have ____ or Can we go to _____ or Do I have enough of a downpayment to buy a house, or a thousand other questions!
11. Yum: I say yum to the yaki imo man!
12. Yakota Air Base: Where I was lucky enough to work for almost 2 years; met some great people, some interesting characters and made a lifelong friend or two!
13. Young Frankenstein: One of my FAVORITE movies!
Frau Blucher: I am Frau Blucher. [horses whinny]
and
Dr. Frankenstein: For the experiment to be a success, all of the body parts must be enlarged.
Inga: His veins, his feet, his hands, his organs vould all have to be increased in size.
Dr. Frankenstein: Exactly.
Inga: He vould have an enormous schwanzstucker.
Dr. Frankenstein: That goes without saying.
Inga: Voof.
Igor: He's going to be very popular.


Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It's easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

Yuletide

Today my prompt over at Photo Thursday at Create a Connection is "unique".

This week, I'd like to see a picture of "unique". I was once told I was unique by my ex-husband, and when I tentatively smiled at him, he added..."but not in a good way." I felt sad for him, sad that he didn't appreciate uniqueness, that he didn't appreciate expressing enjoyment or delight in life. He would rather I was like everyone else...perhaps you understand this? I can't say I do, but to each their own! That's what makes life interesting...can you imagine if everyone was exactly the same? Eek!

So go ahead and post a picture that represents "unique" to you.

Come play!

I find this book unique, as well as the Poppet on it!

This, which used to be a Barbie, is certainly unique!

This giant statue of a dog by the side of Route 495 is definitely unique!

This sculpture more than defines the word "unique" LOL!

The writing on this ring is surely unique!

If you play, please link back to me and leave me a comment letting me know you played, so I can come visit!

1. I see _____.
2. I hear _____.
3. I touch _____.
4. I taste _____.
5. I smell _____.
6. I sense _____.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to _____, tomorrow my plans include _____ and Sunday, I want to _____!

Don't forget...have fun!

1. I see the ocean.
2. I hear Robert Plant's gorgeous voice singing in my head.
3. I touch many lives, some positively, some negatively.
4. I taste of sweet peaches and chocolate, laughter and tears, blueberry tea and honey.
5. I smell of citrus and smoke.
6. I sense too many things.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to getting a new tattoo, tomorrow my plans include dinner with a friend and Sunday, I want to take the dogs for a nice long walk!

Grab the Scavenger Hunt code. Photo Theme. Join the blogroll. Visit participants.

A Happy Shiba:

Wolf: Hahaha, that's SO funny!!!

My new tattoo, on the left and my new future tattoo on the right

Yesterday and today were quite the days!

I got a new tattoo last night; Megan came with and got one, too! We had fun talking with John, he's such a great guy and so damn talented! And no, I don't have hepatitis, my foot is just yellow & orange from the ink!

Had dinner at the The Peddler's Daughter on the way home. Nice place, lots of drunks tho ;-)

Today I got lost going to my brother's...turned around and missed the exit I needed, and decided to go the eff home LOL! Saw a great blue heron feeding in a pond, went home, picked up Dad and my camera. Got a couple shots, the bird was too far away, so sad. Took Dad for a ride with me to Nashua, where I was going to pick up a wireless router. I also ended up getting a new phone, which has...best of all...navigational capabilities, which I MOST DEFINITELY need! I love it!

Navigated my @$$ over to Michelle's; we were going to take a bus in town, but decided against that as it was HOT AS HADES here today! We decided instead to see a movie. Went to The Blue Room first for a bite, and we loved it there so much we passed on the movie LOL! The food was fantasic, I had light fluffy little pillows of gnocchi (Michelle said they were too soft, but this non-Italian didn't know any better) that were flavored with a lemon sauce. YUM! Our waitress was incredibly, passionate about her job which was nice, VERY nice!

My phone got me home the shortest possible route, even tho I took a wrong turn, recalculating the route, she told me, I named her Jessamyn :-)

How has your weekend been so far?

Night, all!

If you'd like to play, click here!

I say ... and you think ... ?

1. Uneven :: bricks
2. Wonder :: world
3. Spider :: YUCK!
4. Emma :: line
5. Swing :: shift
6. Orbit :: planets
7. Flirt :: Michelle
8. Donation :: charity
9. Veil :: of doom
10. Atmosphere :: is thick

The Sunday before last, I came home from a day away to discover my Tivo wasn't working. My brother took a look at it and diagnosed a failed hard drive. So sad...bye bye to all my saved recordings, to all the Eurekas which I was saving up to watch at one time, to who knows all what!

Last Friday, I contacted Tivo and told them about my hard drive problem. The first person I talked to said: "Oh so sorry, you bought it, it's yours, there's nothing we can do". I asked him to connect me to the proper person so I could cancel my service.

That person said: "Oh, your hard drive died? I see your unit is only 2.5 years old, that's MUCH too soon for a hard drive to have died, we'll ship you a new Tivo free of charge.

ROFLMAO! Talk about opposite ends of the spectrum! So I have to ship my Tivo back, and since they don't have any of that particular type of Tivo in the warehouse, they're sending me an upgraded model :-)

FREE!

While I heart my Tivo, I must admit I've enjoyed being tv-less lately. I've noticed I eat less (seems I enjoy eating in front of the tv), read more, walk Wolf more, have more/longer conversations, just DO more.

So I'm in no hurry to return my old Tivo, nor in a hurry for the new one to arrive. Once that connection was severed, it seemed to also sever a dependence I didn't realize I'd had.

In the meantime, I hope my brother comes over soon and hooks up that wireless modem I bought yesterday, so I can enjoy my laptop, which I got a few weeks ago, and haven't used much (it IS convenient for watching movies on when I housesit and can't figure out how to work someone's tv, or when I'm staying in a motel with no cable)!

How about you? What are your addictions?

Your Life Path Number is 5

Your purpose in life is to live freely and collect experiences. You love life - new adventures, new people, new ideas. [true] You are very curious, and you crave novelty in all forms. [lol true] You tend to make friends easily, and you enjoy the company of all types of people. [sometimes] In love, you are fun and even a bit intoxicating. But you won't stick around for long. [first part, am I? second part ... I don't think so, but...] You are impulsive and spontaneous - which sometimes leads you to do things you regret. [first part yes, second part-no regrets] Sometimes you can be overindulgent with food, sex, or drugs. [heh, yes] You have many talents, so many that you are often scattered and unfocused. [is that the reason?]

What do you all think of this? Sound like me, doesn't sound like me?

Here's last Wednesday's picture:

And this is what it was cropped from:

Someone holding some playing cards as viewed through a glass of bubbly!

That ANY of you could tell it was a hand or better yet, a finger, was amazing to me! I'm SO not good at these guessing games lol! And many of you DID guess it was a hand holding something, good for you!

DebR: "Ok, actually it looks to me like a hand holding something...a LUSH product maybe?...as seen in a foggy, water-droplet-splattered mirror.".

MissMeliss: "Well, it looks like someone holding a bath scrubby or some such, as viewed through glass or in a mirror.".

Jack: "A hand in ice.".

Shirley: "It's a finger holding a caterpiller, as viewed by someone who's had a few too many drinks.".

My cousin, Mel: "This is an easy one... It's Snape's hand holding a bath sponge as he washes your back. What a bath that must have been! LOL!!".

My GOOD friend MaryEllen: "It's my claw hand coming out of the grave to get you. Cause I don't care, you marry my son and I'll kill you even AFTER you do it over my dead body." (she's SERIOUS y'all!!!).

RacerX said: "It looks like a hand that is just being pushed underwater causing bubbles.".

Indigo: "Michele sent me, and I think that's someone's finger behind a shower door.".

ScaryLoo: "Its a ghost holding a baby's finger".

Monique: "its the smudge of Capt. Jack's thumb on your steamy bathroom mirror... or perhaps the steamy mirrored headboard of your bed?".

As always, thanks for playing! By the way, all photos used in What Is It Wednesday are marked as "private" in my flickr account...that's so no one can view the picture at a bigger size to get a better look!

So this week...

What is it?

Today my prompt over at Photo Thursday at Create a Connection is appropriate for my last time hosting in the month of August!

This week, I'd like to see you post a picture of a "goodbye", a fond "farewell" or even better, an enthusiastic "see you later"! This could be a wave, a sign, a kiss, running away from the camera, any one of many things! Have fun with this!

Sailing away into the night, saying goodbye to the island we just visited!

Thirteen Things I love that begin with the letter Z

Would you look at this! I fulfilled a challenge to myself, and worked my way thru the alphabet, from A to Z in the Thursday Thirteens! How many of you noticed? How many of you are trying this yourselves? Good luck!
1. Zephyr: I had zephyr gnocchi last weekend, i.e., airy and light. And oooh my was it delicious!
2. Zeus: The God of thunder! Do you ever picture him "up there" hurling down lighting bolts? ;-)
3. Zeppelin: My favorite band, took me more than 35 years to appreciate them!
4. Zig-Zag: That's usually how I walk, zigging here, zagging there. I wasn't born under the sign of Cancer the Crab for nothing! We won't talk about the other definition of zig-zags, will we, Megan the Elder?
5. Zodiac: Speaking of zodiac signs, I've always had more than a passing interest in this. My grandmother had an old, thick book that she could chart horoscopes with. It's around here somewhere. I always thought it was pretty funny that for a water sign I had so many fire planets! Steamy!
6. Zinnias: Aren't they such a pretty flower? All sorts of colors, what's not to like!
7. Zinfandel wine: Before I acquired a taste for red wine, I liked white zin...LOL!
9. Zoot: One of the bloggers I've read since I started blogging, she shares my love of Harry Potter and she's got the wicked coolest curly hair!
10. Zinger: "A witty, often caustic remark." or "A sudden shock, revelation, or turn of events."; I've more than a passing familiarity with both!
11. Zip Cars: A great idea for city dwellers, it's a car sharing service where you can use a car by the hour or day without the hassles of owning or renting a car.
12. Zombies: One of my favorite scary movie creatures! Have you ever seen Shawn of the Dead? Freakin' hysterical, but still a bit scary!
13. Zappa: Frank and MoonUnit, in particular, always intrigued me. One of my fav Frank Zappa songs is Montana: I might be movin' to Montana soon Just to raise me up a crop of Dental Floss Raisin' it up Waxen it down In a little white box I can sell uptown By myself I wouldn't Have no boss, But I'd be raisin' my lonely Dental Floss and who can forget his song, Valley Girl, featuring his daughter, Moon, talking in Valleyspeak



Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!
The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It's easy, and fun! Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!
View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

If you play, please link back to me and leave me a comment letting me know you played, so I can come visit!

1. The last time someone flirted with me _____.
2. I am SO glad _____.
3. Where in the world is _____.
4. Long weekends are _____.
5. Coming up next: _____.
6. I adore _____.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to _____, tomorrow my plans include _____ and Sunday, I want to _____!

Don't forget...have fun!

1. The last time someone flirted with me I had no idea he was (and still don't think it was true, but my friend says I'm wrong).
2. I am SO glad it's Friday!
3. Where in the world is my better half?
4. Long weekends are my favorite kind!
5. Coming up next: AUTUMN!!! Yippee!!!
6. I adore going to the beach in the off season.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to a picnic at the beach, tomorrow my plans include seeing this comedian dude, Lewis Black, back up at the beach and Sunday, I want to see a scary movie!