All about frost flowers.
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Sit down, have some coffee, and try not to get newspaper ink on your clothes.
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Please recommend (and unrecommend the Cafe/Lounge from earlier)
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Froggy Bottom Cafe — TFSMIF
121 Comments
Happy First Day of Hannukah!!!!!
This is a dedsign that I will put up for next uears. LOL I wanted to have something special for you this am, Miss Andi!!! May the Season bring joy, love, Happiness and a sense of redidication to you and your loved ones.
— for the design but even more for the wonderful holiday wishes.
The holiday doesn’t start until sunset but this is a fine way to get ready for its arrival.
You are most welcome. I should have said HH as of Sundown. I know it doesn’t start till then but on the first cup of java the brain doesn’t always work as well as it should. LOL
I just took a batch of maccaroons(sp) out of the oven and put in a pan of miracle bars to take to work today.
I’ll happily let you can keep the macaroons all to yourself (and your workmates) ’cause I really, really don’t like coconut.
But I’m thoroughly impressed you can get up and bake.
I am not a gtreat fan of coconut but love maccaroons for some reason. LOL I will be dipping them in milk chocoalte later this am. It will be fun trying to keep people away from them at work while they cool. LOL
RF! If any avoided the coat bath, send a few my way. I love unadulterated macaroons.
Chanukah tov, y’all! (I’m posting this a little early because I’ll no doubt forget by sundown.)
That is amazing … I read down below what SN said about it looking like an angel/ghost … and I agree. I love how you can see the lines, and the rounded edges on the left. 🙂
And I’m not done yet — I’ve got 2 or 3 more frost flower fridays to go.
Good morning,all.
Are we all getting ready for this event next week?
for an event like that is absolutely required for us geezers.
Yup, written in on the monthly and weekly plan…
Say, did you go put a link to your briefcase on that guy’s website?
No.
But I posted a comment that linked to CG’s News Bucket yesterday. There is a comment there with the image.
I saw that — that’s what made me think it would be fun if you linked to the image on his site.
Since actually reading about frost flowers I am totally blown away by how cool they are, and I remember coming across them when I lived up north and wondering what the heck they were.
This photo is especially cool because it looks like an angel. Ok, more like a halloween ghost but it is the Chrismahannukwanzaa season.
It’s funny that all these years of living out here, I would see them but never actually wondered about how they came to be or to try to take pictures of them — one more thing to thank Olivia (and her teaching me to look at the all the wonderful details in nature) for.
I’ve always loved looking at small details in nature – probably because I’ve always loved just sitting in one spot and really looking at what’s around me. I wish I had the energy to search around for my 35mm macro prints that I used to take with my Canon AE1. Loved that thing.
I think I always loved being out and among nature and when I kept still I tended to just drift — I didn’t have your or olivia’s eye for and appreciation of the fantastic detail. I don’t think I’ll ever have the same quality as you and olivia because I’ll never have the same patience but I’m really enjoying working on it.
That was me putting the best possible spin on my inertia.
nah, this is you finding a way to downgrade yet another of your wonderful qualities. 😛
Heh. 🙂
I have big, no, huge plans for the day. Let’s see how many of them slip away in favor of a nap.
Totally off topic. I realized yesterday that it would have been my father’s 85th birthday had he not died 33 years ago. I can’t believe I am this old. Sigh.
The birthday that I dreaded the most was my 42nd because after that I would always be older than my father. And the ensuing years haven’t made me feel any better about that thought.
This year I am married to a man that is the age my father was when he died. I remember thinking my dad was a very, very old man. I’m having trouble coming to terms with what that makes me now. :/
I used to tell Jim that we were through when he started to lose his hair like his dad because I didn’t ‘marry no bald guy’. Somehow despite the fact it’s almost all gone, we seem to still be married.
Fortunately we women never age. 🙂
Guess I better do something. Later, AndiF.
My father had a short phase when he wanted to be a Pentecostal and one of the first things I was taught by them as his child was that denying the Holy Spirit was an unforgivable sin. In my teens I did everything that I could bring myself to do that I wasn’t supposed to do at least once. I smoked marijuana once and it sucked. I had to smoke it a few more times in front of my friends though before they really believed that marijuana and Tracy were not really a good mix unless they wanted me to sleep all day. I lost my virginity once……Bawahahaha. I smoked hash once. I smoked opium once. I did acid once. I did shrums once on New Years Eve and did not go to sleep that night, I was up cooking breakfast for all my friends and they threatened my life if I didn’t stop calling them while they were all trying to pass out. I did cocaine once and then a few more times just to make sure I really knew what cocaine was really all about and I did inhale. And I did deny the Holy Spirit because I was tired of living with this horror that somehow someday I would do it and destroy my life and reason for being forever and ever and I just wanted to get it over with so that black cloud would stop following me around raining on my parades! Now I find out that I’m not off the hook yet in that department! FUCK! Hold it, I did sort of believe them because I did feel like I had this black cloud hanging over my head. Maybe I am off the hook? What say you all?
I say you’re thinking too hard.
right now and I’m trying to dicker for some free shipping too. I think you are a 1000% right and I’m just going to check out now and stop dickering. You gotta understand though Omir, they get ya when you’re just a tadpole and they scare the HOLY shit out of you. I must have a quiet meeting alone with my inner child now friend so we can work this tension out….CIAO ;).
How is everyone?
I managed to survive the Great Seattle Wind Storm of 2006, but not completely unscathed. A big ol’ tree branch at least dented the roof and may have done more than that. The property manager is most likely going to have to cut down the tree, which is unfortunate because I really like having it in the yard, especially in the summer when it helps to shade the roof. But this is the second time branches have fallen off of it in the past week, and the first time it knocked out our power. The neighbors’ power was out for over four days; thankfully we were only off the line for about eight hours.
Glad to hear you’ve fared well, Omir! I’m sorry your tree is slated for sacrifice, though. If it’s diseased or dying — which, I guess, would account for steady limb loss — I suppose it’s best to take it down; if it’s healthy, I’d choose for select trimming, myself; maybe it’s been a while & a trim is overdue ..?
I think they already trimmed some off of it earlier in the week. I haven’t been around to watch. If they do take it out I’ll be sad to see it go. I can actually see that tree when I look at the house in Google Earth. But, it’s not my decision.
I’m sorry to hear that.
happening? We have such high winds at times in CO Sprgs and if your tree is sick it could be suffering some weaknesses. Maybe it needs some tree medicine. I just hate for you to lose your tree when it provides summer shade and beauty is all. Be well and hope things run smoothly from here.
They’ve never been this bad in the 15 years I’ve lived here. We’ve had a few hum-dingers, most notably one on inauguration day in 1992. I was out looking for a job at the time and got caught in it — I hadn’t been paying attention to the weather. It was a pretty odd feeling when the high-rise building I was in started swaying!
My wife’s office used to look down on a flower-shaped sculpture somewhere in downtown Seattle. She said during one windstorm that huge, steel flower started blowing in the wind just like its smaller counterpart.
No, windstorms are not all that common, although we get them every two or three years. A tree surgeon is coming out to look at the tree in the next few days. It’s possible they’ll keep the tree, and I hope they can; but if the storm has weakened it enough, or it looks like it’s too weak to support the weight of its remaining branches, I’m sure they’ll take it down. The tree has already cost the property manager a fair amount of money to repair the damage it caused on Monday, and it’s going to cost more to repair the damage it cost last night. Sad but true.
some credit for calling the tree surgeon. It’s nice to know that at least they are giving the tree a chance if it has one and if it doesn’t it will be removed so that it won’t damage anything else or anyone else. We had to cut down one of our huge oaks after a hurricane last year. It was doing poorly. We attempted to save it but when a huge branch came off and knocked out the power for the neighborhood (except for our house, I don’t think the hood was fond of that) we had to cut it down. My husband cut it himself and harvested the wood. I have heard pines hit the ground in that Western state of Colorado but hardwoods don’t grow there like they do here. When that tree hit the ground, damn….it quaked the whole house. I had no idea what a hardwood weighed in the world of trees!
This tree sounded like a hardwood when it hit the roof. 🙂
I don’t know what species it is. I think hardwoods are relatively rare out here. We have a few maples and oaks, and of course the cedars the First Nations used to make blankets and canoes and the like out of, but the vast majority of trees in the Evergreen State seem to be evergreens — pines, firs, spruce, hemlock and the like. Go figure.
Hi Omir.
Thank goodness no one was hurt and I hope it wasn’t too much damage.
Hi FM. Yeah, we came out of it pretty well, all things considered. One poor woman got trapped in her basement utility room with water pouring in, the water pressure sealed the door shut and the room filled with water to the ceiling. The firefighters were able to break her out and take her to the hospital, but she died there.
This past couple of months has been a lollapalooza, weather-wise.
Good to hear that your damage was minimal. I was looking for information about the fires that keres is dealing with and saw an article about the winds up your way. You’ve had some interesting extremes lately. Kinda makes you long for the routine daily drizzle, eh?
Wow! Andi, I’ve just got to compliment you on yet another gorgeous woodland photograph. This is a great one! The delicacy of form you’ve captured is truly amazing.
Nature’s got it all, I tell you — meaning, I haven’t felt particularly bereft by inaccessible museums/galleries.
Thanks so much for continuing to share these astounding images!
As for me, it appears that some of the difficulties I’ve experienced with my current environment can be attributed to the onset of menopause.
Yet again, I do ask indulgent forgiveness of my beloved pondmates for my kvetching & do plan on initiating nature therapy asap, compimented by a renewed supportive relationship with certain silky quadripeds.
Hope everyone’s looking forward to a terrific day & if suitable, a brilliant beginning to Hannukah.
you can’t spell it wrong. 🙂
I hear you, WW. I’ve been asking complete strangers “is it hot in here or is it just me?” It’s just me.
For some odd reason, it’s a comfort to me to know you’re ‘in the change’ too.
I’m very fortunately armed with Susan Weed’s excellent book, Menopausal Years, which advises naturopathic remedies for the various hassles. Interestingly enough, she lists contributing factors for hot flashes:
The book is quite a fine resource, imo, especially if you’d rather not get into common conventional treatments (hormone therapy, surgery) or traditional treatments (mental ward).
I’ve been putting off making the decision about HRT because it’s too confusing right now and I’ve been trying to do thinks like eat better and incorporate soy into my diet, but it’s reaching critical mass.
The announcement yesterday of the remarkable drop in breast cancer that they think is related to women stopping HRT is real food for thought.
I’ll say.
Frankly, I’d move through a decision on HRT very carefully & not before checking out the work of holistic experts in women’s health like Christiane Northrup — her book Women’s Health, Women’s Wisdom is absolutely terrific — or Susun Weed, a brilliant feminist herbalist. There are plenty of ways to deal with the change that generally aren’t funded by BigPharma’s ad dollars.
😉
I do have Northrup’s book and have attempted some of the things she suggests, but the problem is that I’m not consistent enough if I don’t notice improvements right away. I’m really really impatient. 🙂
Aha. You might like to try the homeopathics, if you haven’t already. They tend to provide dramatic results with minimal effort. Susun’s book goes into those in detal.
In any case, every time I hear a woman’s equipped with Northrup’s book, an angel gets her wings.
It’s true that with naturopathic health care, patience & consistency is key. I find it generally pays off very well & it’s generally very cost-effective.
Ergo increased governmental efforts to regulate it, with attitude support by Pharma-friendly media.
Dr. Northrup’s book is Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom.
Here it is.
And here is Susun.
I’m sure you can also find these at Powell’s, but for some reason in my initial search the word ‘amazon’ occurred to me.
😉
Have you considered or tried natural progesterone cream from the healthfood store? Long story, was 36 and had an IUD placed. It didn’t have progesterone in it. Didn’t know that an IUD shuts down ovulation and I was 36 not 26 and no progesterone was being made in my body. Progesterone props up and contributes to your bodies ability to produce and use thyroid. My hair started falling out. By the end I was having hot flashes before it was discovered what was happening to me. I was really fucking mad at the Army midwife things that were my OBGYN choice. I changed my insurance to 80/20 and found a good DO. I had to take thyroid supplement and use natural progesterone cream. He refused to use progestins because he thought they were potentially dangerous too, and apparently they maybe are. I had to use the cream for two years though before my hormones were balanced again and things were working right again. I know he used it though with women who had symptoms of menopause and he told me that because of the diet of many Asian women they never experience menopause.
Thanks for sharing the info, MT. The more the merrier, I say.
Sorry I missed it earlier.
at just the right time to share all my wisdom about menopause — which is that I was delighted to go through it (yay! throw away that last box of tampons) but I also know I had it very easy — no real problems with hot flashes (I mostly only had night sweats) and other big physical discomforts. My biggest problems were the wildly erratic periods and a lot of trouble sleeping.
Cry, cry, cry. You women always cry about memopause. I’m going throuh male memopause and I don’t have he money to buy a $200,000 sports car. Now how am I supposed to get through that? 🙂
Helmet On!
You get through it by finding a hot young thang.
Yeah but with my condition now, I afraid a hot young thang might break bones. Then again, that would be the way to go if I were going to break some bones. 🙂
You might as well break them in a blaze of carnal lust instead of falling out of your rocking chair.
Iirc (ahem), carnal lust can actually keep you in your rocking chair. Just make sure the chair’s well constructed. No antiques!
And probably no arms either. 🙂
I guess that depends on your positional preferences.
so much you want a new headache?
LOL, andi! You’re way better than I am. With advanced age comes wisdom I guess. 😛
… or a long time to accrue snappy comebacks.
FM! I’ve missed you!
No doubt my evocations weren’t sufficient to draw you from your dreams of a $200,000 sports car.
But at least you’re not dreaming of a Hummer.
😉
See his above comment about hot young thang. I think he is dreaming of a hummer. 😉
Talk about an opening big enough to drive through .. with a sweet young thing on the roof.
That would work. 🙂
Hi WW, I’ve missed you too. Heck at the moment I settle for an old VW just as long as it ran good.
How’s life in the tropics been?
Extra hot, FM. See above.
😉
However, just evoking your name was enough to enact a magical weather shift for both Olivia & I. Quite a feat, O Wizard! We thank you.
I’d add my wish for functional wheels to yours, too. Not so necessary here in the urban jungle, but it sure will be essential once I’m back home.
It sounds more like a small truck would be more usefull to you in the wilderness.
Yes indeed, it would. A friend just offered (in jest, of course) to give me a Prius for Christmas. I told him I’d have more use for a jeep.
Sounds like you made out very well, Andi. I’m guessing your lifestyle had much to do with it — coupled with your luck!
I think genetics might play into it too — my mother said she didn’t have much trouble (can’t tell about my sisters since both of them had hysterectomies).
I certainly did a lot of stuff on the list — like caffeine, spicy food, acidic food, and … (smirk).
Hot monogamous sex with an old arthritic man while consuming illegal substances? Just a guess.
you mean stuff like contraband personal lubricants?
Four ounces or less, of course.
Yeah, I’d pretty much filed genetics under your luck.
Me, I asked my mom about her experiences today, but she underwent hysterectomy also, at about age 36 & remembers no symptoms. They were wild to do ’em in those days, for things like fibroids.
I’ve found no consensus among all of my sisters; each of their experiences are/have been different. So I don’t know what to expect.
Just another little gift from Mother Nature, I guess — an incredibly wide range of normals, with so much to choose from!
The one thing that I think does get overlook, though, is that no matter what form it takes, the process is still relatively short term. Mine went from about age 50 to 53 with the night sweats going on for maybe six months or so after my finally, at last, no kidding this time last period.
I’d definitely call yours a best-case scenario, Andi. Couldn’t ask for better myself.
It’s true that in the wider scheme of things, the change is short. According to my readings, it seems the entire process can last for 7 or eight years, which is also a relatively short period, in view of lifetimes.
In any case, I’m glad I’ve figured out something about what’s happening to me. I thought I was just falling to bits on my very own.
😉
7 years seems a little long but if you count the very beginning of symptoms to the very last of them, I suppose that’s not unreasonable.
The not sleeping was pretty miserable but the upside is that I’ve now learned how to get by on 4-6 hours of broken sleep.
Anyway, I hope you find ways that work well for you to deal with whatever shape your menopause takes.
Mine is taking the shape of an enormous electric fan and lots of cotton tank tops to sleep in.
Have we driven away all of the men yet?
Hey, if they can’t stand the heat …
it isn’t like we went all graphic.
Frankly, there’s not much we can add, and I doubt wisecracks would be appreciated.
Yes, the 7-8 year time frame reflects the whole process — in the interests, I think, of prepping the uninitiated.
Thanks for well-wishes, Andi. As with every other aspect of my life currently, I’m sure return home will help — especially with solitude.
Rels are getting ready to leave, so I’ve got to go for a little while.
See Ya’ll later.
Hope to see you later, FM.
Check back in after they leave, if you get a chance.
How’s the infection, Teach?
I’d say fair to middlin’. I stayed home today since I had a doctor’s appt this pm already scheduled. It was tough working yesterday. I hope that three days of rest will slay the beast.
I hope so too. Make sure your rest is serious!
😉
I’ll try, but I’m not good at sitting still.
Neither am I — but I do realize that illness is nature’s ‘newspaper across the snout’ & do try to behave myself before that choice is removed.
Have someone tend to you this weekend, Teach. Or pretend you’re FM.
One of the goals for my own country homestead is to provide a place where froggies can disappear to, relax totally & avoid all worldly responsibilities.
IOW, a place where the spiritual discipline of slacking may be practiced guiltlessly, under FM’s masterful (& probably long-distance) guidance.
‘Course, that includes me.
Can I make my reservation now? Nice to see you again, oh lovely of the woodlands. Haven’t been around much myself for a while, or been myself for a while. Take your pick, but great to see you’re all in one piece and back in the pond!
Howdy stranger! Nice to see you. 🙂
IVG! I was just thinking of you, wondering how you’ve been. Hope you’re finding a bit of stability & serenity, if that’s what’s needed.
I’m very pleased to see you & was, in fact, thinking of you when I reaffirmed my Wilderness Hide-away plan.
I’m there, WW, as long as there’s real toilet paper and not dried leaves. 🙂
For you, luscious one, I’d assure both toilet paper and actual toilet. Depending on the time frame, I might even assure a bathroom.
An actual toilet is beyond my wildest expectations! 🙂
I aim to please. It’s also nice to have a toilet when the ground’s frozen.
I’m also aimin’ for a nice rocking chair.
Suppertime here. See you later!
No reservations required — or even practical (yet).
😉
Hi WW and IVG —
IVG where’ve ya been? HOW’ve ya been?
I’m home early getting ready for our office holiday party tonight.
No happy hour tonight?
Maryb, did you see THe Office office party last night? It was hilarious.
No, I’ve never seen The Office. One of the actresses in it is from St. Louis and I keep meaning to watch it, but always forget.
Any tips on making it a better party experience?
Don’t sleep with anyone you work with. 🙂
Last night Michael (the boss) brought his new girlfriend and her friend, both of whom were Asian. Since he really had just met her and as he drank more he couldn’t tell them apart, so while hugging her he marked her arm with a Sharpie.
If you ever met the people I work with you’d understand why I’m not even tempted 🙂
The party is always a good time to people watch. And to check out people’s spouses. I have a theory that meeting a man’s wife explains everything about how they are — not just at home but at work. I find that the men I like to work with are all married to outspoken women. And the men who are babies usually have spouses who baby them.
I always wonder what people think of my marriage in those instances. Like when people I know casually first meet my husband, and the people at his office meet me. I think they’re surprised. Don’t know why exactly, but we’re an odd match. Unexpected, I think.
That’s why it’s always fun to meet people’s spouses. They may be surprised when they first meet you , but after the fact though people may think — well THAT makes sense. NOW I understand how to communicate with Mr. Nature.
Interesting observation! I’ll have to consider the married couples I’m familiar with (all three of them) & see if there’s uniformity there.
Hope you do enjoy the evening, maryb. Personally, I can’t remember ever attending an office party. Not bad for a wench leering at 50, I guess.
I’m actually expecting a Hanukkah Happy Hour, myself (if that isn’t too profane an idea).
Happy Hanukkah to AndiF & all my pondmates celebrating the holiday this evening.
I was just wondering about CG and if she’s around to do a happy hour.
I’m here, I’m here!
We went to my office party a few weeks ago…it was actually pretty fun, but I’ve worked with most of these people for 10 years and at different companies (we all keep winding up together because we like to work with each other).
Those circumstances sound pretty great, CG.
Good to see you!
I am definitely very lucky in that regard. I like what I do, I work from home, and the people I work with are all pretty cool.
Sounds ideal, CG. I can only hope for a similar situation when I return to ‘the force’ (just a matter of time).
Alas, my job at the moment involves dinner prep for Mom — ergo, I’ll see y’all later!