tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33845710Mon, 09 Sep 2024 02:56:12 +0000floyd countySpencerEmersonwar in IraqFloydScottSpringsummerApple treeEconomyPresident BushScott (husband)Colleen RedmanDemocratsGardeningIce StormIrelandLEAF festivalPeachesPower outageSnowSnow Daydeerfamily visitsicesouthwest Virginiawriting#72.9 Trillion Dollars2000 Presidential election911 callADDAl GoreAlzheimersApril 16Billy Joel in AtlantaCD releaseCass ElliotCharlie in the Chocolate FactoryCheckChocolove barDark chocolateDavid St. LawrenceDreamsFannie MaeFederal ReserveFloyd Five MinutesFoster Care ProviderFreddie MacFresh StartFriday Night JamboreeFriday nightGetting Things DoneGrandmaHarvest MoonIndianaIndy 500IranJackJim NaborsMarchMardi GrasMayor Michael BloombergMiscellaneousMondayMorel mushroomsPLENTYProfessor LonghairRachael Ray magazineRecessionSeinfeldSen. Jim WebbSoupSt. Patrick's DayStimulus checkTax DayTeaThe Country StoreThe Crooked RoadThe Pickin' PorchThe Poisonwood BibleThich Nhat HanhTitlesTom BurfordU.S. FY 2007 budgetUsed booksValentine's DayVernal EquinoxVirginiaVirginia TechWhoo hooWinterZen momentsangerapple blossomsbirthdayblossomsblueberriesbroken armcatscollege onlinecredit card fraudcrittersdandelionsdogsdrivewayeducationend of the yearfact or fictionfarm lifefinishingforsythiahailhome schoolhome schoolinghonestyhouse cleaninglessons learnedmilkweedorganicorganizingpet deathspetalsposting without titlesquotesred hat ladiesschoolschool grading scalesistersleepsockssportsstartingtankathird-party candidatesturtlevegetableswisdomwoodstoveyaktraxzen habitsDCRW is an online journal. It discusses nature & the environment, politics & the economy (local & national), current events & snippets on my family.http://darkchocolateredwine.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Lisa Kae)Blogger78125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33845710.post-3706223645774190129Sat, 23 Jan 2010 18:36:00 +00002010-01-23T13:36:32.589-05:00catsdogsfloyd countysleeptankaI was awakened rudely by my favorite Border Collies last night. They had one of their frequent mid-morning meetings with the neighbor dogs, though it was more likely a party since it was Friday night after all. They barked and barked, then took a break. In the pre-dawn quiet, I heard owls hooting. A pleasant sound! Calming. Soothing. Lulling me back to sleep... when the barking began again. Dratshttp://darkchocolateredwine.blogspot.com/2010/01/tanka-or-why-i-love-my-dogs.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lisa Kae)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33845710.post-5156719486244529233Sat, 09 Jan 2010 00:16:00 +00002010-01-08T21:00:30.921-05:00Emersonfloyd countyhome schoolingPLENTYschoolScott (husband)SpencerOkay, so here I am, in case you were wondering. I'm baaack. Just please don't count on me hanging around long and writing regularly. I have a bad habit of showing up to write a marvelous personal essay, only to duck and cover for the next few (few? several?!) months.By now we're all aware that this is 2010. Is that 20-10 or 2,010? Does it matter? Nope.My 'big' news that isn't, I returned to http://darkchocolateredwine.blogspot.com/2010/01/its-new-year-right.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lisa Kae)2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33845710.post-9030224585737985194Sun, 26 Apr 2009 13:23:00 +00002009-04-26T11:19:25.689-05:00apple blossomsApple treedandelionspetalsSpringWe are blessed to have many fruit trees on our farm (we're fruit rich!), but I refer to the old, yet still graceful, Stayman Winesap tree as "the" apple tree. The smaller, younger apple trees don't make me swoon when in full bloom. They don't hold a special place in my heart--and won't live in my memory the rest of my life.The last two nights, I stood on the porch in the dark and took in severalhttp://darkchocolateredwine.blogspot.com/2009/04/petals-like-snowflakes.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lisa Kae)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33845710.post-540469086377098344Fri, 24 Apr 2009 13:23:00 +00002009-04-24T11:32:44.415-05:00Apple treeblossomsCheckFloydfloyd countysouthwest VirginiaTom BurfordVirginiaThis is my humble paean to the hundred-year-old Stayman Winesap apple tree that graces our farm, and thus, our lives.We moved to our farm in Check (northeastern Floyd County) in October 2000. We've been privileged to witness the tree's blossoming to full glorious bloom nine times.I wait for this day and when it arrives, it nearly moves me to tears.I stand close to the end of a low-hanging branch http://darkchocolateredwine.blogspot.com/2009/04/apple-tree-splendor.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lisa Kae)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33845710.post-7571823737587670441Sun, 29 Mar 2009 22:51:00 +00002009-03-29T19:25:39.968-05:00911 callcredit card fraudfloyd countyFriday nightFriday late afternoon I checked online for a credit card payment. Yes, I had paid it. I had a vague memory and wanted to double-check, but something else caught my eye. We have two Chase cards, one with a small balance and the other with a zero balance. Except the second card didn't show a zero balance. It showed that we owed $2,187.40 and six purchases had been made to NewEgg.com in the last http://darkchocolateredwine.blogspot.com/2009/03/country-friday-in-floyd.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lisa Kae)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33845710.post-823714656718470594Wed, 25 Mar 2009 10:14:00 +00002009-03-25T16:50:58.444-05:00#7finishingstartingThis is embarrassing. Last Friday I ran into a friend from my mortgage broker life (it surfaces as I bump into former clients/friends). He asked when I would write again, pointing out my last post--three months ago--with Shock! Outrage! No, neither.Then, today, at a food order pick-up, less than a week later, one of my food group 'co-workers' told me she was #7. Two of my now seven (SEVEN!) fans http://darkchocolateredwine.blogspot.com/2009/03/starting-again-and-again.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lisa Kae)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33845710.post-3480082203809363709Wed, 17 Dec 2008 18:26:00 +00002008-12-17T16:05:09.695-05:00EconomyEmersonfact or fictionfamily visitsFloydLEAF festivalPeachesRecessionScott (husband)SpencerTo the five of you that read this forlorn and forgotten blog, bless you. In the last ten days, I ran into two of you I seldom see and you both mentioned that you've read my blog. I was humbled, appreciative--and embarrassed--I haven't published since July.Truth is, this falls under the 'fact' category, I have been distraught on & off (not constant, so don't worry), by the news of Fannie &http://darkchocolateredwine.blogspot.com/2008/12/fact-or-fiction.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lisa Kae)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33845710.post-7980768741698391358Mon, 21 Jul 2008 22:12:00 +00002008-09-08T11:15:33.809-05:00EconomyFannie MaeFederal ReserveFreddie MacI went to college in the early 80s. The Talking Heads were then a popular band; I attended house parties on campus (don't tell my parents!) where a packed wall-to-wall roomful of people swayed, with a barley pop in hand, to Take Me to the River, and a couple years later to Burning Down the House.[We also sang Rick James' Super Freak, but that's another story. If you aren't familiar with The http://darkchocolateredwine.blogspot.com/2008/07/burning-down-house.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lisa Kae)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33845710.post-8352739900210357149Sun, 20 Jul 2008 03:41:00 +00002008-07-21T18:51:44.768-05:00deerEmersonGardeningsummerBefore this summer, I had not considered deer a nuisance. Now, having had some experiences with them, I do. Lately, instead of thinking "What beautiful, graceful animals they are," my thoughts have tended towards "Wouldn't it be nice to have venison this winter?"The deer have repeatedly leaped our garden fence and dined at their leisure, noshing on dwarf and espaliered apple trees (but never http://darkchocolateredwine.blogspot.com/2008/07/daydreaming-of-venison-stew.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lisa Kae)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33845710.post-5586620735522429073Tue, 08 Jul 2008 19:11:00 +00002008-07-08T14:58:30.973-05:00deerEconomyGardeningStimulus checkvegetables"Uncle Sam says -- GARDEN To Cut Food Costs," sound advice from a WWII-era poster. Would that our dear Uncle offered us this sage advice in 2008.Instead the "advice" we've received from the Big Cheese, is to spend our Stimulus checks on cheap Chinese crap. (Did I say that?) We, the American Consumers, ARE the U.S. Economy. Without us spend, spend, spending, our economy begins to fall off the maphttp://darkchocolateredwine.blogspot.com/2008/07/stimulus-gardening.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lisa Kae)3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33845710.post-8803145046330385968Sun, 29 Jun 2008 20:18:00 +00002008-07-07T18:19:03.596-05:00blueberriesfloyd countyhonestymilkweedsummerwritingMy brain has been stuck in mired muck since late May. But if you're the type that doesn't like to be left in the dark, especially when someone brought it up (me neither), let's say it involves everything from the grandiose (Peak Oil, the faltering economy), to the sublime (living with a bad haircut), to the gray middle in-between (which, I'm sorry to say, I can't reveal what I originally wrote http://darkchocolateredwine.blogspot.com/2008/06/lone-june-post.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lisa Kae)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33845710.post-1906302011082366680Sat, 24 May 2008 04:57:00 +00002008-05-24T00:29:27.714-05:00AlzheimersGrandmaIndianaIndy 500Jim NaborsThis time of night (long past Midnight) I'm fast asleep, though it is often aided with a Melatonin tab (to keep me asleep once I drift off).Tomorrow morning (that is, later today) we're going to a wedding on the Perry side of the family, everyone is expected to be there. For the last 20 years since Scott and I have been a couple, we've driven to see my family in Indiana over Memorial weekend. http://darkchocolateredwine.blogspot.com/2008/05/grandma-and-memorial-weekend.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lisa Kae)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33845710.post-1550877856704391143Sat, 17 May 2008 15:51:00 +00002008-05-17T10:02:37.029-05:00educationHarvest Moonhome schoolSpencerIn the span of two short weeks this March, our oldest son, Spencer, celebrated his 18th birthday (which implies that he is now an adult); he passed the GED test, he attended the License Presentation Ceremony at the Floyd County Courthouse and received his permanent plastic driver's license--and last, but not least, he bought his first car.It was a moment in time when every day was a Big Deal.Whenhttp://darkchocolateredwine.blogspot.com/2008/05/in-span-of-two-short-weeks-in-march-our.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lisa Kae)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33845710.post-7927143964582944457Fri, 16 May 2008 22:25:00 +00002008-05-16T18:07:20.870-05:00farm lifeFloydPeachesI had to give it a second look. It was a banner on top of Calculated Risk, a website I read about economics and finance.An ad from WaMu, short for Washington Mutual Bank, advertised their WaMu Free Checking (trademarked). As I glanced at the ad I thought I saw a trademark symbol after the word "Whoo hoo!" but wasn't sure. I clicked on the ad which became large enough for this reader to see while http://darkchocolateredwine.blogspot.com/2008/05/wamu-has-trademarked-whoo-hoo.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lisa Kae)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33845710.post-7143080555669617189Sun, 11 May 2008 19:42:00 +00002008-05-16T18:15:59.643-05:00writingI'm reading Writing Alone and With Others by Pat Schneider. I'm on page 33 but it is the best book I've read thus far on the subject. The first chapter, "Feeling and Facing Fear," contains three exercises, one of which I did today during a long soak in our claw foot bathtub.I ran into a friend at Emerson's soccer game this past Saturday. He mentioned that he read my blog and, while I'd be less http://darkchocolateredwine.blogspot.com/2008/05/writing-alone.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lisa Kae)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33845710.post-8246152828071345026Tue, 11 Mar 2008 15:05:00 +00002008-03-11T11:42:32.905-05:00family visitshouse cleaningSpringYes, indeed. It's almost Spring, wahoo! We have tackled major house cleaning for a visit by my Dad, not for the return of Spring. A relative is coming to visit!There are various levels of cleaning:1. Cleaning for Everyday - vacuuming downstairs & putting stuff away and/or stowing it somewhere to put away later.2. Cleaning on Sunday - add bathrooms, putting away stuff on the stairway, http://darkchocolateredwine.blogspot.com/2008/03/almost-spring-cleaning.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lisa Kae)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33845710.post-2690586316761979460Thu, 06 Mar 2008 21:49:00 +00002008-03-06T21:31:20.225-05:00red hat ladiesSeinfeldsummer[Note: This was a draft post written 7/13/07. Today I decided "What the h*ll, why not?!" That statement reflects my current frame of mind and is apropos.]I spent the month of June wearing lavender, or at least I tried. In July, it's red. Today it's red with hot pink--with purple eye pencil to boot. And I think I look good!I'm too young for the purple and red hat ladies, but I'm getting there. I http://darkchocolateredwine.blogspot.com/2008/03/summer-of-44-to-45.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lisa Kae)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33845710.post-9071695653879815331Wed, 27 Feb 2008 22:32:00 +00002008-03-06T21:38:25.208-05:00Is that how you spell it? I don't know. I haven't said that in years, and yet, it just came out of my head and I KNOW it shows my age. Who cares.I like my age, mostly. Actually, I do like my age--being 45 is so much better than being 35 (for me), but it's the sagging jaw line and the rest that I can do without. I heard on NPR recently--of all places--that Botox did $1B in sales last year. I told http://darkchocolateredwine.blogspot.com/2008/02/whoopee-do.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lisa Kae)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33845710.post-4981780665295433150Tue, 15 Jan 2008 18:41:00 +00002008-01-15T14:59:02.401-05:00A new year can feel exhilarating and so full of promise.We're barely into 2008 but we've had enough 'life experience' that it seems the first month should be over. Bring on February, please.We knew this month would prove challenging; our new individual "L" (male, age 37) moved in 12/29 and we're knee deep in adapting to new schedules, meds, and appointments, our oldest son began attending http://darkchocolateredwine.blogspot.com/2008/01/down-up-and-in-between.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lisa Kae)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33845710.post-5373039483354948124Thu, 27 Dec 2007 12:47:00 +00002007-12-27T08:59:59.114-05:00end of the yearorganizingsocksA baker's dozen of unpublished posts rambling in my head and two months later, we're fast approaching the end of the year. This seems to happen with increasing regularity.The Christmas rush and pressure is over--all except thank-you notes, which will be written and mailed within a week. We don't usually put away Christmas decorations and take down our tree until we're knee deep into January (http://darkchocolateredwine.blogspot.com/2007/12/bakers-dozen-of-unpublished-posts-and.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lisa Kae)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33845710.post-5865452021388554128Sun, 21 Oct 2007 01:00:00 +00002007-12-27T09:16:13.391-05:00to write another day. That would be me. I start, get on a roll and stop. Repeat. Why? I don't know. Part of it is my frenetic life but I'll spare you the details (some of which make it into a post here and there), yet don't we all have crazy lives? Some are crazier than others.Part of my lack of blogging is that I expect too much of myself. Yes, darn high expectations get me every time. I think Ihttp://darkchocolateredwine.blogspot.com/2007/10/struggling-blogger-surfaces.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lisa Kae)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33845710.post-8249867091999615886Fri, 10 Aug 2007 13:34:00 +00002007-08-10T11:24:40.641-05:00organicquotesTeawisdomWhat is it with some tea companies? They smartly impart snippets of wisdom, or just darn good quotes or thoughts on tea bag labels (Yogi Tea) and underneath bottle caps. It always gives me something to ponder and sometimes makes me smile which is probably the point. In the last two weeks, thanks to Honest Tea, I've enjoyed the refreshing Sublime Mate (pronounced mah' tay). It is organic yerba http://darkchocolateredwine.blogspot.com/2007/08/wisdom-from-tea.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lisa Kae)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33845710.post-8828728463397454221Thu, 09 Aug 2007 18:46:00 +00002007-08-09T17:37:49.432-05:00April 16floyd countySnowTax Day...it's good to think about snow for a couple minutes, but this isn't a meditation exercise. This was taken just down the road from our farm in Floyd County on Sunday, April 15. The day was crisp and innocent (although it was usually "Tax Day", so not entirely easy on the mind), and none us knew then what would happen the next day. But on this one day, we celebrated what was most likely the last http://darkchocolateredwine.blogspot.com/2007/08/on-hot-day.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lisa Kae)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33845710.post-7910886108256499632Fri, 20 Jul 2007 21:55:00 +00002007-08-04T15:54:46.742-05:00floyd countyschool grading scaleA new blog fan said he "appreciated my commentary on political issues" and encouraged me to continue. They had home schooled four kids all the way through (hear my wild applause), so I had to reply. I thanked him for his kind words and said that he was right, I do wonder if anyone reads my "blatherings" (borrowed from Scott) and worse, it ticks me off that it matters to me. They now have three http://darkchocolateredwine.blogspot.com/2007/07/b-or-not-b-thats-question.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Lisa Kae)0