Author: Rene

Last night I experienced the delights of “Nothing Bundt Cakes.” Having never tried the strawberry filled cake, I devoured the little bunting in three bites.

I love strawberries. I know that, but I don’t buy them regularly. If given a choice in ice cream, I pick strawberry. Fresh strawberries on ice cream is the way to go. Malts? Strawberry. Dairy Queen? Strawberry “cheese quake” blizzard. Strawberries on angel food? Of course. It was also about the only jello I could enjoy as a kid. Strawberry jello with strawberries in it.

The next time I go to my beautician for a cut and dye, I’m going strawberry blonde, just to stay with the theme.

Lately I’ve been writing to myself, which as every writer knows, is a pretty caustic audience. My blog has not been notifying anyone of publication, so I just write now for the heck of it and hope it goes through one day. My IT guy did not fix the problem. I’ve probably been hacked at some level? I’ll keep working to resolve it.

My dear daughter actually went to my website and read what I’d posted. She was wondering where I was. I know others have wondered, and I did, too! I get posted, I just don’t get notified and neither do you. Somehow, it’s rather fitting in that I don’t have too much rattling around in my noggin anyway.

It’s nice to have a puzzle to address other than the NYT and LATimes. Working on it…..

Installing the faucets has become our entertainment for the evening. And I have to agree with my beloved, the diagrams make no sense! We have been manipulating supply lines and reapplying nuts and screws in various scenarios. I know my hon will figure it out. That total confidence has led me watch television, dreaming of the day when I can wash my face in my sink again.

For my part, I have been painting that ever-unfulfilling trim. Hopefully, we will have paint cans removed after next week, and water running properly throughout the bathroom. Then, I shall gingerly step into the tub to soak, and pray that I do not fall through to the office below.

We’re living large here!

My IT guy is here and we are running a test. I have written since Easter, but nothing posts. My wimpy attempts to resolve the issue have clearly shown me I need an IT person in the family.

So, here goes. Look forward to witticism and criticism to follow! Happy weekend. (And sorry for the possible spam note …. still working to remove that notice.)

Target sent me an email telling me how to achieve my hair goals. Of course, I then panicked, as I have no hair goals. I really didn’t know I was supposed to have any in the first place, which could explain a lot. Aside from washing and getting it chopped periodically, I hadn’t considered that my hair was feeling unchallenged.

It’s a good thing Target is on the case. I’m going to take a walk there this afternoon to complete a different goal of getting my steps in. I’ll be wearing a hat!

It sounds like a mild curse. “Oh, purse crackers!” I guess my daughter was correct. No one wants to eat the crackers I have in my purse, all perfectly crushed. Even hunger is not enough of an emergency for purse crackers.

“Let’s Make a Deal” would have been my show. I don’t have a single writing utensil in my bag ‘o tricks, but I do have a deck of inspirational quote cards I fully intend to leave on my travels one day. The key to the church choir room is in there, but not a house key.

I’m cleaning out my lovely bag, replacing it with a fresh Springtime satchel and a renewed promise to keep it simple in there. No more preparing for game shows, and I clearly intend to put a pen in there one day. Soon. Very soon.

Easter

by Gerard Manley Hopkins

Break the box and shed the nard;°
Stop not now to count the cost;
Hither bring pearl, opal, sard;
Reck not what the poor have lost;
Upon Christ throw all away:
Know ye, this is Easter Day.

Build His church and deck His shrine,
Empty though it be on earth;
Ye have kept your choicest wine—
Let it flow for heavenly mirth;
Pluck the harp and breathe the horn:
Know ye not ’tis Easter morn?

Gather gladness from the skies;
Take a lesson from the ground;
Flowers do ope their heavenward eyes
And a Spring-time joy have found;
Earth throws Winter’s robes away,
Decks herself for Easter Day.

Beauty now for ashes wear,
Perfumes for the garb of woe,
Chaplets for dishevelled hair,
Dances for sad footsteps slow;
Open wide your hearts that they
Let in joy this Easter Day.

Seek God’s house in happy throng;
Crowded let His table be;
Mingle praises, prayer, and song,
Singing to the Trinity.
Henceforth let your souls alway
Make each morn an Easter Day.

• Sand between my toes
• Ocean waves lapping the shore
• Seafood
• History museum
• Sandals and flip flops
• No television
• A good read
• Old friends and new friends
• No snow

Rinse and repeat for a few more days.

Is it a collection if you have more than two of something? I fear it is.

Years ago, I had an old upright piano which was immovable. The bench was quite portable though, and I kept it and still use it as a coffee table. (It’s a much better height than a traditional coffee table, where you have to bend over to place your beverage lower than the sofa. A piano bench allows for ease of transition between you and the table with your drink. Less spillage. And it has storage! Just saying…)

Of course, I have my bench that came with my current piano, used in the normal fashion. And now, I boast an antique claw-footed piano stool, much like the ones used in saloons where the mustached player hit the keys while Miss Kitty chatted up the clientele. That’s the seating my sister and I jokingly fought over. We actually used it growing up, twirling up and down on it in favor of practicing our tunes. It was featured in many games we played, and provided entertainment just by spinning the seat up and down as fast as possible. So, I collect piano seating now!

I just may replace my piano bench with that stool, as the one I use is a tad too short for proper positioning while I pound on the ivories. (There is no tickling. I pound.) If so, I will have a new coffee table with storage. Good thing, as I also acquired a new hardwood bench from my parents’ home. Oh oh. I add that to the church pew and dining table bench I’m using for seating.

Do I have two different collections now, or a collection with a “sub-genre.” What I have is too much unused seating. Time for a party!