House Hunt: 20 Acres and a Billion Bees

We've gotten pretty burnt out on the whole house hunting thing, having explored eight homes, driven by and rejected about three dozen others, and sorted through who knows how many listings. We've walked miles of property lines and Googled a gaggle of addresses, only to arrive at dead ends.

Everyplace is too far away, too run-down, too small, too big, too expensive. Too weird ... one place had an enormous master bathroom with the toilet set on a diagonal about a yard out from a fully mirrored wall. On shag carpet. With an aquarium with plastic fish in it over the spa tub. And a little door halfway up the wall that opened onto the old roof, which was now inside the attic.

The realtor, however, hasn't given up on us yet, and he just may have found us The One. It's out in the country, but only about 15 minutes away from here. It's been empty for a while, as you can see from the weeds. Bees have made nests in the eves, and there are swarms of them around the front of the house, so we only peeked in the back windows. Orkin can fix that, though, provided they're not inside the walls.

There is a long, long driveway through a wooded section of the property. The house is big and seems to be in good shape. There is a new barn on the property that would make a perfect woodshop for the hubby. There is way too much land, but most of it is woods and the rest is out back, where it could be left to be its own wild self. There is a pond, too, though it's stagnant.

It is, again, at the upper limit of our price range. But if it turns out not to need much work, and if they'll come down on the price, it's doable. We're going out this evening to see the inside. Wish us luck!

Photo Hunt: Beautiful

I don't know exactly what this antique brooch is or where it came from. I found it in my mother's jewelry box after she passed away, and loved the old, mysterious look of it.

What's the Story?

Sandcastle Momma left a provocative little comment on this post:

"That is beautiful! And because you don't know the history you can make up something exotic and exciting about it whenever you wear it."

I love this idea. So much, in fact, that I'm inviting all of YOU to make up a story for this piece, too. Post it on your blog, and leave a link here in the comments. The photo is on Flickr. Feel free to use it if you want.

*I'll post your stories in a new entry, with links back to your blogs.*

I do hope you'll come in and play! -- Vicki

Check out the other participants at tnchick.com.

Ruby Raider

For this week's Ruby Tuesday, let's pay our respects to an old Navy warbird.



Once upon a time, her wings split the clouds and her engines shook the sky.


Earthbound, she still watches the horizon and dreams of flight.




*For more Ruby Tuesday entries, stop by at Work of the Poet.

Departure and Destruction

Karen over at Outpost Mavarin has been carrying on the tradition of the Monday Photo Shoot since it was handed off to her by AOL Blogfather John Scalzi. And now, Karen is turning it over to Carly of the blog Ellipsis.

This is Karen's last photo prompt: Departure, preferably involving Destruction.

This discarded shell seemed to fit the bill, split open down the back and abandoned by the bright, green, winged cicada within. I think it's absolutely amazing, with its perfectly intact details, and the gold and silver reflections.

My kids, on the other hand, can't believe I bring stuff like this into the house. To each his own, I suppose.

I'm feeling a bit guilty for not participating more often in Monday Photo Shoot. I'm sorry, Karen. You did a great job with the topics, and I always meant to play along. Mondays are just not a big blogging day for me. I'll try to be a better participant going forward.

To anyone passing through, why don't you come on by to Karen's to see the past topics, and then join us over at Carly's going forward? One of the great things about a smaller group is that everyone gets to know everyone. It's a great way to make some new friends.

Pocahontas Meets Mulan

The Round Robins are exploring public art this week. My subject may not be great art, but I've always been curious about this bronze statue of Princess Mishawaka reaching for her arrows, her bow braced for shooting. I've passed it hundreds of times, but never stopped to see it.

I knew the princess was the daughter of a local chief, and that the city was named for her, but that's about it. From the plaque on the statue, I discovered that there's quite a tale to tell:



(Click photo to enlarge.)



According to legend, the Shawnee Chief Elkhart had a daughter named Princess Mishawaka. Her name meant "Swift Water." The city of Mishawaka's namesake is remembered as a proud, intelligent and fearless maiden, skilled in weapons and horsemanship.

When Chief Elkhart was severely wounded in a battle with the Potawatomi, Mishawaka rallied the Shawnee. While leading the attack, she was captured and held hostage. During her captivity, she fell in love with a young white scout named Dead Shot.

Gray Wolf, a Shawnee subchief, also wanted the princess for his wife but had been rejected. Gray Wolf rescued Mishawaka from her captors to return her to her father to gain favor.

Dead Shot intervened, and the suitors fought. Sensing defeat, the vengeful Gray Wolf stabbed Mishawaka before his death.

Dead Shot nursed the princess back to health and married her. They lived in a cabin by the Saint Joseph River, and worked for peace between the settlers and the Indian tribes.

You'd think they'd have made it into a movie by now.

The artist is Sufi Ahmad, about whom I have been able to find absolutely nothing. I imagine there's an interesting story there, too.

For more art in public places, check out the Round Robins Homepage.

Ruby Tuesday: British Soldiers

This is my first entry in Ruby Tuesday, a neat photo meme from theteach at Work of the Poet. Every Tuesday, she posts a photo of something red and invites us all to come play along.

I really enjoyed doing Project Black, and I kind of miss it now that it's over. There's something about focusing on a particular color that makes one pay attention to the world in a new way. Even more interesting is that different colors lead to different places. I look forward to exploring Red for a while, and seeing what all the other participants find.

And so...

The vine growing on this old stump caught my attention, with its purple flowers and fruits that look like little Roma tomatoes. But look closer, and you'll find that the lichens growing on the wood itself have little red fruiting bodies, too.



A few minutes on Google helped me identify them as species Cladonia, A.K.A. "British Soldiers". Along the way, I learned a good deal about lichens in general. For example, did you know that lichens are really a symbiotic system, composed of fungi and algae or bacteria, all cooperating to form one organism?



The tallest of these is about a third of an inch high. And me without a tripod. Still, for a hand-held macro shot it came out pretty well, I think.

Just Sharing a Smile

I heard this song on The Front Porch radio show on NPR Sunday night, and I've been humming it ever since. I found the lyrics online, and a sample of the music. I thought you might like it too.

Click here to listen: Little Green Buttons.

Lyrics:

Little Green Buttons
--Shel Silverstein and Fred Koller

The honeymoon ended a decade ago.
If he still loves her, he don't say so.
So she's taking her blues to the House of Tattoos,
Getting little green buttons on her birthday suit.

Little green buttons, all in a row
From her face to the place they ain't never gonna show.
Might sound crazy but they sure look cute,
Those little green buttons on her birthday suit.

She had supper in the oven when he came home.
Now he's snoring on the sofa to the Late, Late Show.
It was ten days later before he knew
'Bout those little green buttons on her birthday suit.

But now she's living in a house of love,
She's got his attention, he can't get enough.
He spends every evening trying to undo
Those little green buttons on her birthday suit.

Photo Hunt: Colorful

We saw this guy in front of a small-town art center in New York, and just had to pull over for a closer look. Could there be a more colorful moose?

I thought the lantern was a nice touch.


Stop by at tnchick's place for lots more.

*Click photos to enlarge.

To Want or Not To Want

That is the question.

House hunting update: This is a nice one. We viewed it last night, and it's the first one I'm really excited about. It's three acres, but seems bigger. Beautifully landscaped, with a stream running through the back yard and a little wooden bridge over to the other side. AND, back in the woods there is a whole separate cottage, like a playhouse for grownups, that would make a fabulous writer's retreat. There's plenty of flat land on the other side of the stream for hubby's woodworking shop. There are four bedrooms, hardwood floors, a big formal dining room, and a kitchen big enough to rollerskate in, all newly updated.

Here's a view of the back deck.

Now for the bad news: The neighborhood is run-down, and the place is only two blocks off a brand new four lane highway. The traffic noise is awful, and it will only get worse once the highway is connected to another major road. There is a crawl space instead of a basement, with a sump pump full of water that never stops pumping. A constant stream of water goes from there through a buried pipe out to the stream. That can't be good. Fully an acre is in flower beds, and another is in lawn, which would take an awful lot of time to maintain. There's only one full bath. And it's at absolute upper limit of our price range.

I never thought this process would be so hard. We're waiting for a disclosure document about water issues. But even if that turns out OK, can I learn to ignore the noise? This one has so much going for it. But... again, I just don't know.

Photo Hunt: Dark

Summer light pours through the window and leaks through the sides of this dark, old barn.
*Click to enlarge.

Check out the rest of the entries this week at tnchick.com.

Round Robins: Night Shots

The Robins are out and about under the cover of darkness this week. I had high hopes of getting in some learning sessions on this one, but time just plain ran out. We were out this evening looking at some property we're considering, and I snapped a few shots of the night sky before heading for home. The little light in the sky is a firefly.

One thing I did learn from all the dark areas is that I apparently have a couple of hot spots on my sensor, stray pixels that are stuck on red. I've read that this is an issue with the G9, but I didn't think it affected mine. I used the Photoshop program I got for my birthday to heal them. It's the only thing I know how to do with it so far, but it's a dandy trick.

I'm becoming more and more discouraged with my attempts at photography, and more and more disenchanted with this camera. Maybe I should have sprung for an SLR. Or maybe I'm just a really slow learner.

At any rate, there are lots of new entries to see from the other Round Robins participants. Stop by and check 'em out, OK?
*Special thanks to Steven at (Sometimes) Photoblog for this week's topic!

Almost Home

There's a reason I haven't been around much lately. Well, actually there are several. But mainly, it's because we've been house hunting.

You see, hubby has always wanted a woodworking shop. A big one. We're talking a major, stand-alone structure, with a log milling machine on the side. However, we live in a suburban development, where the homeowners association gibbers and drools if you stack your firewood in the wrong spot. It's been a great place to raise kids, but the kids are grown now. And we've suddenly reached the realization that at our age, it's now or never.

Personally, I'm OK with never. Twenty years ago, I would have killed for a place in the country. I'd look at old farmhouses on lots of land, and I'd dream about where my pottery shed would go; how the gardens would look; a little stand by the roadside filled with vegetables and flowers in French tin holders, with an honor box for the money. There would be a wooded section, cool and deep, and maybe a little pond. I'd fill the place with antiques and quilts, and there would be an attic room for writing. Now I look at these places and I think, Who the hell is going to mow all that?

So we're in compromise mode. I need a manageable house within easy driving distance of work and shopping. He needs acreage outside city limits. So far, everything we can afford is too far out, too expensive, or needs too much work. Which brings us to this little gem in the photo.

Isn't it pretty? It was built in 1900, and all the original wide-plank pine floors and woodwork are still there, never painted. It's in great shape for its age and has lots of quirks and charm. There are ten acres of land, a huge bank barn (we think it was for dairy cows), the original chicken coop and a couple of newer outbuildings. It's only fifteen minutes from where we are now. And it's in our price range.

On the other hand, the kitchen and eating area are very small, there's only one bathroom, and you have to climb a scary set of very narrow, steep stairs to get to the two upstairs bedrooms. Being in there feels like being home, but it also feels like being in a museum, which is both cool and weird. And while the kids are grown, they are not gone. Hubby and I could manage there quite well, but all four of us would never fit.

Still, I keep coming back to it. It would have suited my old dreams so well, and it would accommodate hubby's new ones. I don't know. I just don't know.

What do you think?

Obama Arrives in South Bend IN

Senator Obama's in town, and speculation is that he's here to tap Indiana's own Evan Bayh as his vice presidential nominee. I was hoping it would be Hillary. Actually, I was hoping she'd be the Democratic candidate, but you take what you can get.

Some wag commented that if Hillary were his vice president, Obama would have to hire a food taster. There's probably a grain of truth in that. Still, as much as I like the guy, and as thrilled as I'd be to have someone intelligent and charismatic to represent the country, I'm not sure he's experienced enough to be president. I'd feel better if he had Clinton for backup.

Whoever the VP is, I'll vote for Obama. The important thing to me right now is that it's not another Republican. I've had more than enough of this crew--and I'm a registered Republican myself.

At any rate, the whole town's talking, and tickets were sold out in no time. You can follow the local news here at WSBT TV's website. Stay tuned.

*Update 8-06-08 6:52 PM. As everyone no doubt knows by now, Obama did not announce his pick for vp today in Elkhart. From all accounts, the speack was pretty much run of the mill. Here's a link to the local coverage: WSBT TV.

Up, Up and Away

My pilot son sends me links sometimes, just because he knows I'll wig out. Check out the kid's latest attempt to rattle my cage: Cluster Balloon Flight Page.

Cluster ballooning is the thing where you tie a mountain of helium balloons to yourself and float off into the sunset. Because if you're going to kill yourself, you may as well go out with flair.

The site belongs to a guy intent on popularizing the sport--though he won't answer any specific questions about how to do it "because I don't want to be held responsible for your possible injury or death."

It's nuts, but the pictures there really are pretty cool. Just don't let your kid see it.

AOL Photos Users: Move 'Em or Lose 'Em

AOL has found yet another way to cut costs by screwing its users. They're closing AOL Photos, along with Xdrive and Bluestring.

I got the news over at Steven's place, (Sometimes)Blog, and I recommend you click the link for details.

What this means for those of us with photos stored there is, we need to move all those photos ASAP. As Steven points out, AOL has a history of making changes with no warning or consideration for its customers, so it would be unwise to wait.

I don't have a lot of images stored there, thank goodness, but I'll be finding new homes for them today. While I'm at it, I will move the posts from my old AOL Journal into Blogger--again, there aren't too many. And then, I'll probably delete the AOL Journal. I'll be surprised if J-Land isn't closed soon, too.

That leaves few reasons to still have an AOL account: My email address, which is linked to a boatload of subscriptions; my extensive favorites lists; and the extra security of browsing the Web from inside the service. Those, and the hell on earth that comes with cancelling through AOL's customer disservice department. I'll be better off when I'm out, but it will be a sad day.

Once upon a time, AOL truly was America, online. Its content was of, for, and by the people. True communities and lasting real-world relationships were forged between members who would never otherwise have met. Things like race, gender, age, looks, nationality, and wealth were irrelevant; all you really knew about the person behind the screen name was the quality of their mind and character. Nothing mattered but what one could bring to the table. It was heady stuff, and I loved it. I spent many happy hours there in chat rooms and on message boards, all moderated by dedicated and friendly volunteers.

Alas, the subscription business model could not sustain the service, especially after access became easier and cheaper elsewhere. And once advertisers became king, it was game over.

The service first usurped the most popular member-created communities, putting employees in charge of them and selling ad space to the audiences those ousted members had built. Over the years, management has launched one abuse after another. The last straw for me was when they pasted banner ads on paying members' private journals, with no notice, after promising never to do so. Their response to the resulting uproar was simply, "It fits our business model."(And if you don't like it, tough.)

And still a loyal core of members stay. Why? For the communities in which they participate, for the communities they helped guide and build, for their online friendships.

AOL never got it. Management never understood--and do not understand to this day--what it was they had. Its magic came from the inside out. They're all on the outside looking in.

Best. Present. Ever.

I don't know when I've been so tempted to snag a photo.

Absinthetic, of the blog Hall of Wreckords, wanted to make a special birthday present for his obscenely lucky girlfriend. So he created this Wonderland Expedition Kit, a field case filled with specimens and notes from the land of Alice's adventures. Every item is beautifully handcrafted, and so believable you'd swear it was the real thing.

I haven't seen anything quite like this since I discovered the books of Nick Bantock, filled with relics of an imaginary world you can hold in your hand.

So go. Look, already.

Photo Hunt: Clouds

It seems like the best clouds show up when I don't have a camera handy. These are about the best of the lot.
If you tilt your head to your right this one looks like a howling face, which is appropriate, given the ferocity of that particular storm.

Check out more cloudy entries today at tnchick.com.