Friday, December 30, 2011

Gnome Home

Mr. Gnome with Golden Bunny
While spending time with family on Christmas Day, we had a surprise visit from Mr. Gnome. He was delivering a special Christmas bunny to show his appreciation for being allowed to live in one of the backyard trees. {Mr. Gnome's home}

Monday, December 26, 2011

Friday, December 23, 2011

Our Mountain

An Add-On Poem by Kit & Johnnny
Title: Our Mountain
Date Written: September 19, 2009
(Line 1: Johnnny, Line 2: Kit, etc.)
Copyright © 2011. All rights reserved.

Our Mountain

Good neighbors are worth a lot
Count your blessings for what you got
All on a ship together we ride
North to forever, I'm on your side
Strolling together in any direction
Our hands reach each other for protection
Maintain our mountain to keep it safe
Like Vikings with swords, our hero Leif
He married his queen, mother of five
Their love kept the family more than alive
Every weekend was spent in a state park
The sun through the leaves ignited a spark
Fireside chatting in the moonlight til two
What won't we do? What will we do?

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Pork Wellington

A resting pork wellington
Kit tried a pork wellington tonight. It's resting now. It's a pork tenderloin stuffed with semi-pulverized dried apple rings, then wrapped in prosciutto bacon, and then rolled up in a mustard-brushed puff pastry. Brush the outside with egg & cook @ 400 for about 40 minutes. Enjoy!

Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Green Tea Party


Sitting neath a big green tree
Sipping cup of hot green tea
Warm cool tracks to north daylight
Nicely resolve into neutral night

Originally posted as a comment at
Casey Klahn's: Green Tree

Snowflake Of The Week

Dartboard Snowflake
Snowflake Haiku:
Three darts in your hand
Thrown at six-sided snow flake
Quick before it melts

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Christmas Tree 2011

Before Decorating (click to zoom in) 

After Decorating (click to zoom in)

Self Portrait

How To Hold A Camera

Saturday, December 10, 2011

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Friday, November 18, 2011

Oak Leaf Art

Click to zoom in
A simple idea to create a quick table decoration is to put some oak leaves into a glass. I first formed the leaves into a cylinder shape in my left hand, and then pushed them down into an empty drinking glass. This is a simple and quick way of creating an attractive piece of art by using things available to you in nature. It helps to gather the leaves before the rain (or snow) moves in.

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Monday, October 24, 2011

Hallowed Eve


An Add-On Poem by Kit & Johnnny
Title: Hallowed Eve
Date Written: October 22, 2011
(Line 1: Johnnny, Line 2: Kit, etc.)
Copyright © 2011. All rights reserved.

Hallowed Eve

Sleeping in a haunted house
I woke to my pulsating blouse
Hallowed eve of ghostly meetings
Blooshot eyes and creaky greetings
Downstairs spiders catching other bugs
Boogey men hiding under rugs
Trick or Treat me with a scary song
Plagued with nightmares all night long
Witchy concoctions bubbling in a pot
Count up your candy and see what you got.

Saturday, October 22, 2011

Twilight Zone

Click to zoom in
October Haiku:
Autumn rainbow sky
Acorn trees rising so high
Glad to have seen it.

Friday, October 21, 2011

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Pattern Of The Week

Hospital Linoleum
Pattern Haiku:
Pattern of the week
Hospital linoleum
How do you top this?

Sunday, September 25, 2011

Apple Pie

Just add ice cream
Award Winning Recipe for Apple Pie Milk Shake:

Into a clean blender, add one (1) healthy piece of fresh apple pie (can substitute any type of pie here). In addition, into the same blender, generously add three (3) large scoops of vanilla ice cream. Finish by topping the mixture with 1/4 cup whole milk, 2% milk, or even some half and half. Blend well, but not ad infinitum. Spoon out into waiting small chilled bowls. Top with a cherry. Serve with spoon and napkins. Enjoy!

Saturday, September 17, 2011

Fall is Falling

Reflecting back on our summer
Autumn must be around the corner, because Fall is starting to fall. Our neighbors' leaves are beginning to blow into our yard (as our leaves are blowing into the neighboring yards). The Minnesota ViQueens have already lost their opening game to the Chargers. Geese are zipping up their down jackets. Jack Frost has even stopped by for a short early-morn visit, a few daze ago. All these signs are a good indication that just around the corner, it is going to be: Spring (in the southern hemisphere)!

Thursday, September 8, 2011

Cheek Bone

Prince Charles' Cheek Bone

Monday, September 5, 2011

Saturday, August 27, 2011

Pattern Of The Week

Aloe

Open Door Policy




















Follow your bliss and the universe will open doors where there were only walls.
--Joseph Campbell

Saturday, July 16, 2011

Pattern Of The Week

Click on pic to zoom in.

Monday, July 4, 2011

Elvis Aaron Presley

Looks just like Elvis.
Another Elvis sighting, never fail
Altho the King is looking a bit pale
This here dude's nearly an identical twin
All womanquins fall for this mannequin.

Pattern Of The Week

Happy 4th of July

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

LeeAnn Chin is a Win

Our New Favorite Chow
A new take-out food store just opened at our local mall on Monday. We now have a LeeAnn Chin in Fargo. I tried it for lunch. Then we both went back for take-out supper. LeeAnn Chin is our new favorite take-out food restaurant. Besides how wonderful the food is, they do not use any MSG. I was not paid to say any of this. Excellent chinese food, for very reasonable prices. Here is their menu: LeeAnn Chin Menu

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Friday, June 24, 2011

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Saturday, June 11, 2011

Highway Of Life

To All Graduates:
Congratulations on surviving skool.
As you drive down the highway of life,
watch out for bad drivers,
and pull over whenever you get tired.

Sunday, May 22, 2011

End Season Ten

Scotty McCreery and Lauren Alaina
Season Ten of American Idol is winding down. Pia Toscano is gone. Stefano: gone. Casey Abrams is gone. Haley (and the Jets): gone. James Durbin is gone!? I would have liked to see either Casey and/or James make it 2 The Finale, but neither made it. Either Scotty or Lauren will be the next American Idol. Thoughts? Predictions? Reactions?

GooGoo GaGa

Lady GaGa is really starting to blossom
American Idol is just two weeks away from the Big Finale. After this week we will be down to our Final Three. Here is how I called their performances on tonight's big show. Round 1 was inspirational songs followed by Round 2 with Lady GaGa dodo mentoring.
  • Tied for First Place this week: Lauren Alaina and James Durbin.
  • Third Place: Scotty McCreery
  • Bottom: Haley Reinhart
Show notes:
  • James got a pair of #9s for Don't Stop Believing by Journey, and Love Potion #9. Awesome singing with great performances.
  • Lauren hit a pair of homeruns. She really sounds like she has improved a lot in a short period of time. Seems to be peaking at the perfect time. Her voice on that first song (Martina McBride) just flew away. Loved it.
  • Scotty "The Cashier" will probably not be going home. He picked two perfect songs that showed his range of comfortability (is that a word?). But on the first song, he did not stand out from the backup singers, and that just ain't gunna cut it, dude. 
  • Haley double dropped the ball and it landed on my ears. Steven Tyler positively proved he is incapable of any negative criticism. Chances are very good Haley will be joining Casey in American Idol statistics. Both of her choices magnified her weakness(es).

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Crow Your Boat

Let me mentor you
Our final five American Idol contestants were mentored by Sheryl Crow. Each singer sang one current song and one from the 1960s. Who do you like? Who should get eliminated this week? Who is going to win?

I have a three-way tie for first place this week: James Durbin, Lauren Alaina, and Haley Reinhart. Scott McCreery is in fourth place. For me, Jacob Lusk is in last place.
  • James: Sometimes pitchy but like when he sings normally with a softer voice.
  • Lauren: Always on pitch and picks good songs.
  • Haley: Started out last song acapella and really nailed it. She can do so many things with her voice.
  • Scott: Hopefully will not win but certainly is going to get a lot of country music votes.
  • Jacob: Who votes for this guy? This ain't a High Note Contest. He loses control and repels me.

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Queen King

You've Got A Friend
Our six American Idol finalists faced song of Carole King this week. Here is how I saw it, on a scale of 1-10: James & Casey topped the group, each with a 9. Lauren scored an 8. Haley & Scotty trailed with a pair of 6s. Jacob bottoms out the group with a 5.
  • James: Incredible acapella start. Nice to see soft side of hard rock turtle.
  • Casey: Can't get much better. Full package. Good entertainer.
  • Lauren: Really sold it. Felt like a concert. Still improving.
  • Haley: Trainwreck of a performance. Bad choice. Done poorly. Nothing worked.
  • Scotty: Picked a great song and ruined it. Almost terrible.
  • Jacob: Shrill yelling sounds like crying, whining, complaining. Enough already.

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Back To The Future

  American Idol goes to songs of the 21st Century. Seven contestants will soon be down to Six. Here is how Johnnny ranked them this week: #1 Casey Abrams: A+ In it to win it. So frickin good. Matches his best so far. #2 James Durbin: A- Awesome as usual. Not that crazy about it. Bit extreme. Futuristically cool. #3 Haley Reinhart: B+ My favorite of hers so far. Not too growley. Bit of the yodeler. Great choice for her. Nicely confident. #4 Scotty McCreery: B+ Nice medium upbeat performance. On pitch. Safe but boring. #5 Lauren Alaina: B+ Enough to stay in competition. Just OK. Needs to step it up. Enough make-up for a week. #6 Stefano Langone: C+ Tone of voice is shrill. Stopped singing half way thru. Trying to be too sexy man. #7 Jacob Lusk: C+ Don't pick songs that make you start crying. Tired of Mr. Overly Dramatic Scream Fest.

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Rewriting History

A curved flat roof prevents water accumulation
Back when Christopher Columbus first discovered that someone else had already discovered America, all the "experts" thought that all buildings should be flat. But after each heavy rainfall, these flat roofs had chronic leakage (the earliest form of domesticated running water). Then, when the Wright Brothers took their maiden voyage, their maid discovered that all this unwanted roof rain retention might be solved by curving the roof to emulate the earth's horizon. Now, normal flat roof construction has added a curve (or "convexation") thus allowing all the rain run-off to come down in a controlled area and be routed directly into your garden or fish pond.

Saturday, April 16, 2011

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

Songs From The Movies

The countdown continues with songs from movies
American Idol marches on with Songs From The Movies night. There are so many tunes from which to choose. How could you ever pick just one?

My notes in groups from best to non-best:
Top
James: I'm not a heavy metal fan. T'was incredible. He's being true to himself.
Casey: Great jazz version of Nature Boy. Successfully takes chances. True artist.
Lauren: Best woman left in the competition (only one other). Great song for her.
Middle
Paul: Crowd pleasing singalonger. Unique but limited.
Bottom
Stefano: Not pleasing to my ears. Strained. Wouldn't want his CD even if it twas free.
Scotty: Opryland here we come. (He should have sung his first choice.)
Haley: Average performance. Bad choice of song. Nicely dressed.
Jacob: Overly dramatic. Self indulgent. Predictably lusky.
Going Home
Stefano or Haley!

Saturday, April 9, 2011

Through The Looking Glass

Read the directions and directly you will be directed in the right direction. --Alice In Wonderland

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Rockin Roll Week

American Idols rockin the house
Tonight's American Idol show was Rock and Roll night. What a great theme for our nine singers to perform within. Everyone did well but someone will have to be eliminated. Sorry! I really enjoyed seeing Todd Rundgren (my favorite musician) get introduced from the audience, right after Pia had finished her yelling.

My performance notes in grouped order:

Top Group:
James Durbin sang Guitar Gently Weeps. Started a little boring but quickly got great. Very Adam Lambertish. Quite Durbinesque. Love that he takes chances.

Middle Group:
Haley actually did justice to Janis Joplin! Really liked it.
Jacob sang Man in the Mirror. This was the most that I have ever not disliked him.
Lauren did a nice job of Natural Woman, but bad hair and too mucho makeup.
Stefano: Surpri-sing-ly good sounding performance but could he ever open the eyes?
Casey sang Have U Ever Seen The Rain? Mist some due to a DVR pause mishap but saw the final recap. Why does he have to end every line with "eeee-ah" and look intensely evil for a second?

Bottom Group:
Paul McDonald had a farm: E-i, E-i, No! Johnny Cash would have gone thumbs down, but Rod Stewart probably loved it.
Scotty (beam me down) needs to learn how to hold the microphone normally. His Elvis didn't move the Pelvis.
Pia picked a nothing song that I didn't care for and she didn't do anything great with it.

Going Home: Paul. (Really going out on a limb!)

Saturday, April 2, 2011

Sun Shade

Photon Mitigation Device
Here is another addition to my blog's Art Gallery. We're calling this Sun Shade. Any sunlight that makes it into the room, is painted a nice shade of peach. The scientific name for a window shade such as this is a photon mitigation device (PMD), but most folks still just call them curtains. As with any blog picture, you can click on the picture to see it a bit bigger. Happy Saturday!

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Eleven 2 Nine

Follow the Yellow Brick Road
American Idol performance show on March 30 featured songs by Elton Johnny. Singing an Elton John song is a difficult task because he sings them so wonderfully. How do you think everyone did? Here are my notes in order of performance:

1: Scotty with guitar, Country Comfort, my favorite song by him so far. (B-)
2: Naima goes reggae, loved it, made it her own. (A-)
3: Paul tries Rocket Man, OK, but actually not OK. (C)
4: Pia sings yet another ballad, every week seems the same, getting old. (B+)
5: Stefano sings an excellent karaoke version of Tiny Dancer. Not great. (B)
6: Lauren attempted Candle in the Wind, nothing special, didn't do it for me. (B)
7: James leads an OK singalong version of Saturday, not my fav of his. (A-)
8: Thia sang Daniel, just barely OK, nuthin spec, average karaoke, pitchy. (C+)
9: Casey, Your Song, really nice, loved it, nice new look too. (A)
10: Jacob sang Sorry and that's what it was, way too overly dramatic, lusky. (D)
11: Haley with Benny and the Jets, started loungy, weak imitation, jets crashed. (C-)

Bottom Group Wish List: Thia, Haley, Jacob. Sorry!

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Eleven 2 Ten

Ryan John Seacrest: The Next Johnny Carson
Ryan Seacrest will once again play host to American Idol. As a child, young Ryan would always have a little microphone and "do shows" at his home. On his next show, we will go from 11 to 10 finalists. The Top 10 finalists get to go on tour this summer. Who do you think will be eliminated this week? Going out on a limb, I predict Haley Reinhart will not make the Top Ten. Sorry!

A one-of-kind Ryan Seacrest tapestry