tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39680401945736573002024-03-13T12:22:52.159-07:00Shirley Bahlmann BizWARPED HUMOR, GENERAL MAYHEM, AND A SIX-FOOT-TALL VIEW OF LIFE FROM AUTHOR SHIRLEY BAHLMANNShirley Bahlmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15613281300605173576noreply@blogger.comBlogger874125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3968040194573657300.post-34955432302864684442023-12-30T07:05:00.000-08:002023-12-30T07:05:40.762-08:00Carolyn singing "We Wish You A Merry Christmas" with Adult Special Needs Performance Group<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dx2kJUKWSZve5pEPw3Y3Gq56LKml-O6H9ytxUBHn-z5V8ywrG5_VL8wFaKuC47_LY9idLwQm2artQh69E9GdQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /> <p></p>Shirley Bahlmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15613281300605173576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3968040194573657300.post-15587744759301352372023-09-26T18:22:00.005-07:002023-09-26T18:22:38.445-07:00Hide, Seek, and Panic<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">A few weeks ago, Carolyn was in the bathroom. When I heard her open the bathroom door, I went to see if she needed help choosing clothes.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">But she wasn't in her room.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Carolyn?" I called.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I glanced into her bathroom on my way past to check the living room, but didn't see her in there.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">There was no answer to calling her name repeatedly as I looked in the three other rooms in our house.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Heart beating faster, I went out on the porch, wondering if she'd decided to go for a walk by herself, which is not okay.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Nope.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Called her name again.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">No answer.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Heart racing, I ran back to her room and looked in her closet and on the far side of her shelves.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I couldn't see her anywhere.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Carolyn?"</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I almost passed her bathroom again as I wondered how long I should wait to call the police. </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">Then I decided to go inside the bathroom, just to check, and look who I found standing behind the curtain?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEV6c1uzMJLqmKQ_1xCEtrOtcfWwHTjUo6im7hERfxKnaq--yAvEvdf7OE9oCRmvyb0Mho45gtQEFN9H3354BxT2joprOZdGvbkJP0cCZ2Jx3cFNFku2YtUkipuKBSLsgvvt1EHFLgj8lCfPZ5jOeGYrjf4F_AB6eWWrDtXcyUTMcuigz6UxwSaf0yKa4/s4000/10%20July%202023%20Carolyn%20smile%20in%20shower.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="630" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEV6c1uzMJLqmKQ_1xCEtrOtcfWwHTjUo6im7hERfxKnaq--yAvEvdf7OE9oCRmvyb0Mho45gtQEFN9H3354BxT2joprOZdGvbkJP0cCZ2Jx3cFNFku2YtUkipuKBSLsgvvt1EHFLgj8lCfPZ5jOeGYrjf4F_AB6eWWrDtXcyUTMcuigz6UxwSaf0yKa4/w472-h630/10%20July%202023%20Carolyn%20smile%20in%20shower.jpeg" width="472" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">She was delighted that I finished the Hide and Seek game that she hadn't bothered telling me that we were playing.</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP175Fa7TAuHBOimQ3Y8wY7PDK_Cwrtx8mQb3OQspdK50f6XFWyWLa9bajgrNUiVDJ7Jbp5u_krIGcdC5Fs5jpDAKX3EVJuhaCIFvZQ87yXWc8RGmHjABX2w1JZdMNqhS8dgotGpjWebIhLk0z02eUOo144-nlU3bD28iosJ5GKZXrIg0MKIC3A5poxcA/s4000/10%20July%202023%20Carolyn%20smile%20shower.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="3000" height="621" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP175Fa7TAuHBOimQ3Y8wY7PDK_Cwrtx8mQb3OQspdK50f6XFWyWLa9bajgrNUiVDJ7Jbp5u_krIGcdC5Fs5jpDAKX3EVJuhaCIFvZQ87yXWc8RGmHjABX2w1JZdMNqhS8dgotGpjWebIhLk0z02eUOo144-nlU3bD28iosJ5GKZXrIg0MKIC3A5poxcA/w466-h621/10%20July%202023%20Carolyn%20smile%20shower.jpeg" width="466" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">It's an adventure a day around here! I love this baby sister of mine.</span></div><br /> <p></p>Shirley Bahlmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15613281300605173576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3968040194573657300.post-70237925373092970652023-07-09T18:47:00.001-07:002023-07-09T18:47:53.363-07:00Carolyn Takes On Chopsticks!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">When we went to an Oriental restaurant, Carolyn asked what the chopsticks were for. When I told her, she was determined to eat with them. I thought she'd give up before she ate all her salad, but that little sister of mine, who calls herself "stubborn," finished the whole salad using two little sticks of wood.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8g9Jt_AM6n5ySMLPevlL_MKjSHGeDx4qnUfyyYfPK4fvK3y28OVxZsjs-DRK9CC-gESxb-wrPxsqVf39RVELe0G6I1hOb_JbMxMF_zzeMZodz4xdUeIsqXlW-8_mABP3TfVkenF4K4cww4D1TIzgK9sE4SkYDFjAqN52Sli6J8_BMYIM6wSleUSuVK6M/s656/1%20July%202023%20Carolyn%20ate%20all%20her%20salad%20with%20chopsticks.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="492" data-original-width="656" height="364" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8g9Jt_AM6n5ySMLPevlL_MKjSHGeDx4qnUfyyYfPK4fvK3y28OVxZsjs-DRK9CC-gESxb-wrPxsqVf39RVELe0G6I1hOb_JbMxMF_zzeMZodz4xdUeIsqXlW-8_mABP3TfVkenF4K4cww4D1TIzgK9sE4SkYDFjAqN52Sli6J8_BMYIM6wSleUSuVK6M/w485-h364/1%20July%202023%20Carolyn%20ate%20all%20her%20salad%20with%20chopsticks.jpeg" width="485" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: x-large;">I would spell determination "C-A-R-O-L-Y-N."</span></div><p></p>Shirley Bahlmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15613281300605173576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3968040194573657300.post-70418769052477483202023-06-12T12:28:00.004-07:002023-06-12T12:28:48.849-07:00NOW YOU CAN EAT YOUR GREENS!<p><span style="font-size: large;"> I've tried lots of hacks online, and most of them haven't been very impressive. But THIS ONE WORKS FOR ME and is very helpful.</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLNNSfiMVnul9HSnkP-MuUdJ2rX0sgCHYgzN5GqtlHXtSlt66bOLRhdLC93eddcT9YrJAlS-O6ngSR5WkPaE9eUdQXXLlxSruDNalZhHYrHQWZ3uW4StKYXm6vnUD3LIhZk5XlAPGm_4ONpq32ZqRywIfDLQx6rhCmqezXmSLvT-hWbFV1ok5Q0Gtn/s492/Wrap%20lettuce%20in%20foil%20%232.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="492" data-original-width="369" height="353" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLNNSfiMVnul9HSnkP-MuUdJ2rX0sgCHYgzN5GqtlHXtSlt66bOLRhdLC93eddcT9YrJAlS-O6ngSR5WkPaE9eUdQXXLlxSruDNalZhHYrHQWZ3uW4StKYXm6vnUD3LIhZk5XlAPGm_4ONpq32ZqRywIfDLQx6rhCmqezXmSLvT-hWbFV1ok5Q0Gtn/w265-h353/Wrap%20lettuce%20in%20foil%20%232.jpeg" width="265" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">If you wrap your head of lettuce tightly in foil, it stays fresh longer in the fridge. Not forever, but definitely longer, enough time that I can have three heads of lettuce in the fridge for a week, and eat them all before they turn brown.</span></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcAtuWQGog1oCkXF6oN7GwLHLoTlv-s4JCBCWOUKVCxQEigu8jYOPLAZCIHj9_b9UhScCiprpbTZLKXFpFy2_tYdHW20kO4igQU4WORUujgcm9gpitNqS1mGDFXxCoBG5Kwr1EW7uXT4PdqRT6VjaXY88i5i51TGNCczPTb3mAyZD5lrbBqlW-dkjj/s492/Wrap%20lettuce%20in%20foil%20%231.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="492" data-original-width="369" height="367" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcAtuWQGog1oCkXF6oN7GwLHLoTlv-s4JCBCWOUKVCxQEigu8jYOPLAZCIHj9_b9UhScCiprpbTZLKXFpFy2_tYdHW20kO4igQU4WORUujgcm9gpitNqS1mGDFXxCoBG5Kwr1EW7uXT4PdqRT6VjaXY88i5i51TGNCczPTb3mAyZD5lrbBqlW-dkjj/w275-h367/Wrap%20lettuce%20in%20foil%20%231.jpeg" width="275" /></a></div><br /><p></p>Shirley Bahlmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15613281300605173576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3968040194573657300.post-30026131203562626582023-02-20T17:10:00.002-08:002023-02-20T17:10:15.098-08:00Carolyn's Cute Hands<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I gave Carolyn one of the Pop Corners chips that she said felt good in her tummy after her hospital stay last month for colitis and septic shock. Trying to stimulate her memory, I asked her what shape it was. She studied it for a moment, then looked up at me with a big smile and said, "Pizza!" </span></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVPrCtGg19JQ5LLX4X7eg8FqspcmFtJ4NryMWobv4CBVUnh69bfkS-NiCpfJMmQzRQbJZxMmaM9wJghjmTlkme3-QVhBikt7vKyeA21_yNizxQLuRCYtLvkjI5BH2NVU0L4UqVFveG3nIU2Kg8rh0o5-NxIJTPpP4Ok_h3eypZ-5UUWfOnO5JIUBTY/s485/Carolyn%20pizza%20shape.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="485" data-original-width="364" height="542" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVPrCtGg19JQ5LLX4X7eg8FqspcmFtJ4NryMWobv4CBVUnh69bfkS-NiCpfJMmQzRQbJZxMmaM9wJghjmTlkme3-QVhBikt7vKyeA21_yNizxQLuRCYtLvkjI5BH2NVU0L4UqVFveG3nIU2Kg8rh0o5-NxIJTPpP4Ok_h3eypZ-5UUWfOnO5JIUBTY/w407-h542/Carolyn%20pizza%20shape.jpeg" width="407" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: x-large; text-align: center;">Besides eating chips, Carolyn uses her fingers for stacking (on the right) and challenges me to do the same. I try, but it's not as easy for me (on the left, with the metal watchband), and it's certainly not very comfortable. She laughs when I have a hard time, and does it over and over again to show me how. She's a bendy girl.</span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii5TbM7l3_haHzL2qIE7cLhETqvfTv--PM_4KOsnuJXLbZflOMd5j8C6r_Kj5uQsjNXAghy-8_gW2oeBlx_cJh_d7z31LmN6suZkqXYPo8zvsIw4hI-FJE_9-JrmigWdrPMgeyc8UeLEnOiWxwlspmo0ThNrU_wWfroVQaTOmYhNwhuI6pNVTc7lof/s485/BLOG%20Carolyn%20likes%20to%20stack%20her%20fingers.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="485" data-original-width="364" height="560" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii5TbM7l3_haHzL2qIE7cLhETqvfTv--PM_4KOsnuJXLbZflOMd5j8C6r_Kj5uQsjNXAghy-8_gW2oeBlx_cJh_d7z31LmN6suZkqXYPo8zvsIw4hI-FJE_9-JrmigWdrPMgeyc8UeLEnOiWxwlspmo0ThNrU_wWfroVQaTOmYhNwhuI6pNVTc7lof/w420-h560/BLOG%20Carolyn%20likes%20to%20stack%20her%20fingers.jpeg" width="420" /></a></div>Shirley Bahlmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15613281300605173576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3968040194573657300.post-57202011356230285002022-10-19T12:01:00.005-07:002022-10-19T12:01:55.341-07:00Carolyn's Got Talent!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">For Carolyn's most recent talent show, she COLORED PICTURES, princess pictures, of course, since she's Princess Carolyn in a sparkly red dress and classy black and red sparkle jacket!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsB2nsQM6h1zrmLJP7UaHISBUY3rGsON63ZzKKJK_aG7dOC4znPQNUD0CHRqSudZ_Ap2882DL-0POD8JCLq7-rQwB5D3Eqakbw9PwNwpoNkXr2ghBN6iI5KgpnbxuEQxrPCEuVKc2R6oDuK6gmMr14zXDUDN56p0CCT9UAmn0KxjxseLMvfn4iT4oR/s4624/20221006_205115.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsB2nsQM6h1zrmLJP7UaHISBUY3rGsON63ZzKKJK_aG7dOC4znPQNUD0CHRqSudZ_Ap2882DL-0POD8JCLq7-rQwB5D3Eqakbw9PwNwpoNkXr2ghBN6iI5KgpnbxuEQxrPCEuVKc2R6oDuK6gmMr14zXDUDN56p0CCT9UAmn0KxjxseLMvfn4iT4oR/w556-h418/20221006_205115.jpg" width="556" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">There were so many pictures that her friends Sam and Brailey helped hold them up.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">In past years, Carolyn has sung a song, but she's so talented she chose a new one this year.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">What's one of your talents?</span></div><p></p>Shirley Bahlmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15613281300605173576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3968040194573657300.post-86213019211703014972022-08-29T21:38:00.001-07:002022-08-29T21:38:10.038-07:00Carolyn playing a Native American drum with Terry<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This nice Native American from the S'Klallam tribe let Carolyn play this awesome Native American drum. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='295' height='245' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyYxKKppgv2LhO7Zj3wMUM5JzpMobcSLpTNPC1u_2t7JLAX_qGLDCl_p_31b83V9vH7kYM5JlZCHwM9ZeylHQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /> <p></p>Shirley Bahlmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15613281300605173576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3968040194573657300.post-5122552050451683082022-06-29T12:36:00.008-07:002022-06-29T12:37:49.491-07:00A Minute of Fame in Walgreens<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Well, wasn't I surprised to see a familiar book on the shelf at Walgreens in St. George. Which one, you ask? The second one down on the right.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh42JI2DqKqdIM03WaX11TZMpjI8-i4-SaEwNzBQnQVgytX80A8hYtoWl3z-PWEi0BKmETM027KvxwoS6Iel7Rwg9kwMSmo58Ec6JF1bYPNYg32D3_gCzTB61B7hiuxSbXqvqNZPvp9CKG0ATLODBqicazUBMQG7PA7qf3FsVU376Cu6aqfH-bXbFSh/s537/Shirley%20famous%20in%20Walgreens%20book%20rack%202-2022.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="537" data-original-width="403" height="515" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh42JI2DqKqdIM03WaX11TZMpjI8-i4-SaEwNzBQnQVgytX80A8hYtoWl3z-PWEi0BKmETM027KvxwoS6Iel7Rwg9kwMSmo58Ec6JF1bYPNYg32D3_gCzTB61B7hiuxSbXqvqNZPvp9CKG0ATLODBqicazUBMQG7PA7qf3FsVU376Cu6aqfH-bXbFSh/w386-h515/Shirley%20famous%20in%20Walgreens%20book%20rack%202-2022.jpeg" width="386" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Yup, that's the compilation I remember being asked to contribute to several years ago, along with some of my author friends, by Monte Bona of Mt. Pleasant, Utah. I was glad to see that it's still alive.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAYs-8GbBFd6LXZ1MgqKGm-4sTVvnf94fi9Ua5K5kZMNcr1PniPCA7qMP44Yx3uTQdQKe0YoMU8uZrPG3J6_BXyN8IwsM8xJD4E0Z2KaypKJtXOJv8fLuMdHFsuJc8YSo6wvj8dsREfZr8jVEu7xvZm4pANsOLFWjba1TKb5rGOSLU_o0MSi7Qyyjx/s537/Shirley%20famous%20in%20Walgreens%20book%20cover%202-2022.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="537" data-original-width="403" height="523" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAYs-8GbBFd6LXZ1MgqKGm-4sTVvnf94fi9Ua5K5kZMNcr1PniPCA7qMP44Yx3uTQdQKe0YoMU8uZrPG3J6_BXyN8IwsM8xJD4E0Z2KaypKJtXOJv8fLuMdHFsuJc8YSo6wvj8dsREfZr8jVEu7xvZm4pANsOLFWjba1TKb5rGOSLU_o0MSi7Qyyjx/w393-h523/Shirley%20famous%20in%20Walgreens%20book%20cover%202-2022.jpeg" width="393" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">And there's my author page where I'm doing the look-up-at-the-camera picture trick to avoid the tiniest suggestion of a saggy chin.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQYdSglaaQzsuJ3y7BVuNlHTIBeyLCx2_jFCZLeKdgbndj-7n1rGL2E3TfX2dYWUYDeLDiAW1kGauA0KxcOwh4AOxMqvXnATj-A6StuS-bF8Q4rOldOqQZSY_YuLOYhrt_b0-m9n80SmfUMaxCbRTOFxnUz5qftM3zetZyWKNm3-KV3pTNdfXeRdq_/s537/Shirley%20Famous%20in%20Walgreens%20author%20page%202-2022.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="537" data-original-width="403" height="532" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQYdSglaaQzsuJ3y7BVuNlHTIBeyLCx2_jFCZLeKdgbndj-7n1rGL2E3TfX2dYWUYDeLDiAW1kGauA0KxcOwh4AOxMqvXnATj-A6StuS-bF8Q4rOldOqQZSY_YuLOYhrt_b0-m9n80SmfUMaxCbRTOFxnUz5qftM3zetZyWKNm3-KV3pTNdfXeRdq_/w400-h532/Shirley%20Famous%20in%20Walgreens%20author%20page%202-2022.jpeg" width="400" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">It's fun to see my old writing resurface, proving that stories are magic, they never wear out.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">What do you like to read?</span></div><p></p>Shirley Bahlmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15613281300605173576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3968040194573657300.post-23831981240541312932022-06-07T18:24:00.005-07:002022-06-07T18:24:48.835-07:00Lost Beads, Found Sponge<p><span style="font-size: large;">I really like watermelon, so was very happy to get a pair of beaded watermelon earrings last summer. They were big enough that it's hard to imagine that I didn't discover I'd lost one until after I got home one day. How did I not notice that it had fallen out of my ear?</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmrDeSyqgnxGNP1lCt49cUhTTap6BvfmUCU8Nh64dl45qCNNWXzHceAoeZ3lp9H3lxMeFkiowwZk8F9r7B0WcqYd405040PorFsaoLRJfNsmaH3PqpxNfl9x0DNJUqPSglbw7CLXdWHQNndwRY1zciLGQQnWYz2G1KGmfJyJ9zQ-YijT7ZvxBAdsfB/s517/Waremelon%20missing%20earring%203.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="517" data-original-width="388" height="580" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmrDeSyqgnxGNP1lCt49cUhTTap6BvfmUCU8Nh64dl45qCNNWXzHceAoeZ3lp9H3lxMeFkiowwZk8F9r7B0WcqYd405040PorFsaoLRJfNsmaH3PqpxNfl9x0DNJUqPSglbw7CLXdWHQNndwRY1zciLGQQnWYz2G1KGmfJyJ9zQ-YijT7ZvxBAdsfB/w435-h580/Waremelon%20missing%20earring%203.jpeg" width="435" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I only felt a sense of loss until I found a watermelon-shaped kitchen sponge in Grapevine, Texas, while visiting my sister Bev.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The extra size was a bit of a puzzle...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBzWFiD5P_cfdGyIG0x-Vd84DKPmmDNDglNHxdrXEd-xFEuppzXJSuzbHBkaTtin4N-u8fTkYmjcOrQQ4vf29KE0mTD6GNXzIQJmsDgdXWyoHfj_Oev5Rco841LOW0-Mzalyz4ZMbNB9OYYA_V7861XcaaVnurKaQoyRU6vVvpxRe0HG7OPxs9Kj5i/s766/Waremelon%20missing%20earring%201.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="574" data-original-width="766" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBzWFiD5P_cfdGyIG0x-Vd84DKPmmDNDglNHxdrXEd-xFEuppzXJSuzbHBkaTtin4N-u8fTkYmjcOrQQ4vf29KE0mTD6GNXzIQJmsDgdXWyoHfj_Oev5Rco841LOW0-Mzalyz4ZMbNB9OYYA_V7861XcaaVnurKaQoyRU6vVvpxRe0HG7OPxs9Kj5i/w456-h342/Waremelon%20missing%20earring%201.jpeg" width="456" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNLqFLDdZ8feqCxiPfUc58F9hsufL9K3TCcMT5WWeoUaV7zBxwx-VyCktk25AaGDkdALz_XkZ0GUUxEB-qKXIgJn7UW7hgGcKc6jVPJ64PiUiVEidTkHeYvfFU-e6vwqdbcv_tX3gsgRAROq1TJocyZtUJmGz5Y-P59ZiQGs2mvocL41KXnOgu-JFy/s689/Waremelon%20missing%20earring%202.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="517" data-original-width="689" height="353" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNLqFLDdZ8feqCxiPfUc58F9hsufL9K3TCcMT5WWeoUaV7zBxwx-VyCktk25AaGDkdALz_XkZ0GUUxEB-qKXIgJn7UW7hgGcKc6jVPJ64PiUiVEidTkHeYvfFU-e6vwqdbcv_tX3gsgRAROq1TJocyZtUJmGz5Y-P59ZiQGs2mvocL41KXnOgu-JFy/w471-h353/Waremelon%20missing%20earring%202.jpeg" width="471" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-large; text-align: left;">...but not too hard for my creative mind to solve!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">A bread knife, scissors, permanent marker, Mod Podge, and earring hooks made my new watermelon earrings a reality.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG9vQffi-XuPNXBwTBENeM7koINckCx04_2W73NFKOXuId7pWXYCMM3bQYXdRydrwuHcrWHx4lbb0bHEsr44DwBkYOMwWat81hFMwovT3QlLJdV0zXxQFSTD8TKSKKg3HpYMDifSvxFBOxK_pSutE7yvYN2IgNdAhV2kaVEKG6QYHo0_4Oqndh0y9W/s517/May%2021%202022%20watermelon%20earrings%20made%20of%20sponges.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="517" data-original-width="388" height="713" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG9vQffi-XuPNXBwTBENeM7koINckCx04_2W73NFKOXuId7pWXYCMM3bQYXdRydrwuHcrWHx4lbb0bHEsr44DwBkYOMwWat81hFMwovT3QlLJdV0zXxQFSTD8TKSKKg3HpYMDifSvxFBOxK_pSutE7yvYN2IgNdAhV2kaVEKG6QYHo0_4Oqndh0y9W/w535-h713/May%2021%202022%20watermelon%20earrings%20made%20of%20sponges.jpeg" width="535" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">(They look good enough to eat, but I don't recommend it.)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">How do you feel when you lose something you like? What do you do about it?</span></div></div></div><p></p>Shirley Bahlmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15613281300605173576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3968040194573657300.post-31242660870332309522022-05-21T16:18:00.001-07:002022-05-21T16:24:32.567-07:00Adventures Of Carolyn<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">As a Special Olympic Cheerleader, Carolyn rode in the Washington County parade with style.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi_qdsyZdx4ssRkNv3sxhiEOthc50mNIiRyrzRd_fo2jHVR8HcJYNzXDqGNYdAAT5piwL3JLzgXU8qe7IAK_1sYnIXGrLKxheGQOfM1NiaCBZOSIg7wLjF5J-nA8AUkVYtGR8vN9Mk2J6m23xbjz1bEyN94lQ-JfPM9pTHF41QBBYP7xD03AAa5PgR/s517/17%20May%202022%20Carolyn%20funny%20wave%20in%20a%20parade.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="517" data-original-width="359" height="777" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi_qdsyZdx4ssRkNv3sxhiEOthc50mNIiRyrzRd_fo2jHVR8HcJYNzXDqGNYdAAT5piwL3JLzgXU8qe7IAK_1sYnIXGrLKxheGQOfM1NiaCBZOSIg7wLjF5J-nA8AUkVYtGR8vN9Mk2J6m23xbjz1bEyN94lQ-JfPM9pTHF41QBBYP7xD03AAa5PgR/w539-h777/17%20May%202022%20Carolyn%20funny%20wave%20in%20a%20parade.jpeg" width="539" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">If you know Carolyn, you know that she loves anything tropical, or Hawaiian, and especially loves pineapple, so she had a blast at a Special Needs Mutual Polynesian Dance with lots of friends and sparkly pineapple dealy boppers on her head.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSoy5iPHYjUhG5axOIONKshZKaYD6mejmoH0bx1YYOF9ywZgDedWzxXfOwG5Bf8MoXUvu4uT1tbYpZJ1IGCRu2feg6Jlckt6tS5lKYIK-1HBijJ6FkmAuEOHloNd0luww9LfqtUuSRz6UCkkarUaIMj5fh20cYGU0vRE2HS1P7rhc29Ind-q649jf-/s515/17%20May%202022%20Hawaii%20dancing%20friends.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="515" data-original-width="358" height="788" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSoy5iPHYjUhG5axOIONKshZKaYD6mejmoH0bx1YYOF9ywZgDedWzxXfOwG5Bf8MoXUvu4uT1tbYpZJ1IGCRu2feg6Jlckt6tS5lKYIK-1HBijJ6FkmAuEOHloNd0luww9LfqtUuSRz6UCkkarUaIMj5fh20cYGU0vRE2HS1P7rhc29Ind-q649jf-/w546-h788/17%20May%202022%20Hawaii%20dancing%20friends.jpeg" width="546" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Carolyn was also happy to have pictures taken with me at the tropical island setting...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTcKQempgjD6fycTRPaSWrqWvebk5AEbYnWXjPsMjUuaFmpjALeZ8jYAT1XyMNKwNIwL8PyYDFNhOXcSixEBcRjfEwI3q6Zajsesaw5z90XuWih57GSB5lhhVXQfyAhC8ApvsdkxIZgDjfWWYKWRgiKoMqDQrcj7kG8jlr4zsJcRggAzRHVBWbmeEU/s689/17%20May%202022%20Shirley%20and%20Carolyn%20in%20Hawaii%20not%20really.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="517" data-original-width="689" height="439" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTcKQempgjD6fycTRPaSWrqWvebk5AEbYnWXjPsMjUuaFmpjALeZ8jYAT1XyMNKwNIwL8PyYDFNhOXcSixEBcRjfEwI3q6Zajsesaw5z90XuWih57GSB5lhhVXQfyAhC8ApvsdkxIZgDjfWWYKWRgiKoMqDQrcj7kG8jlr4zsJcRggAzRHVBWbmeEU/w586-h439/17%20May%202022%20Shirley%20and%20Carolyn%20in%20Hawaii%20not%20really.jpeg" width="586" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">...but didn't take kindly to me "eating" her pineapple.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHpe0J4YCtvCBM36C4t_IfraGFcBdOoAGh0P3D8e-ODMCfYFsYLkCTI2UDqnS08dYMkXUunyoFQvTx3uqOZvRvuV4IVQFswm-UrGk7AHeX-HA8FD_gNi7gMfAoD10mggUdQ1dxVh1YQ-r23HGlxvCvIR6VkH-47tx9FyXT6hyvPmOcrlWOER5KP2eT/s517/17%20May%202022%20Carolyn%20didn't%20like%20me%20eating%20her%20%20pineapple.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="517" data-original-width="388" height="739" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHpe0J4YCtvCBM36C4t_IfraGFcBdOoAGh0P3D8e-ODMCfYFsYLkCTI2UDqnS08dYMkXUunyoFQvTx3uqOZvRvuV4IVQFswm-UrGk7AHeX-HA8FD_gNi7gMfAoD10mggUdQ1dxVh1YQ-r23HGlxvCvIR6VkH-47tx9FyXT6hyvPmOcrlWOER5KP2eT/w554-h739/17%20May%202022%20Carolyn%20didn't%20like%20me%20eating%20her%20%20pineapple.jpeg" width="554" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">We have housecleaning jobs that Carolyn loves to do, but sometimes it takes her longer to finish than others.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWdh2ow0QbsqH39zoMYMNtBPrt4yZJICz7Y4-6CFEDHDa8Wr3nVmYJ1a0UGCEJ061eHzALBm7rOWLUXkPYhPLD0GdwKYgsLLOU4hgNgVJsO9ZEVrfZLf7jfC0wjlfmsXQYNj0tCkVo1BbKfZw_33_ZZDoy4Vh18CcQS6ba1HJr077M7RwoLvI3Tv21/s746/17%20May%202022%20sometimes%20cleaning%20takes%20longer.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="516" data-original-width="746" height="407" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWdh2ow0QbsqH39zoMYMNtBPrt4yZJICz7Y4-6CFEDHDa8Wr3nVmYJ1a0UGCEJ061eHzALBm7rOWLUXkPYhPLD0GdwKYgsLLOU4hgNgVJsO9ZEVrfZLf7jfC0wjlfmsXQYNj0tCkVo1BbKfZw_33_ZZDoy4Vh18CcQS6ba1HJr077M7RwoLvI3Tv21/w589-h407/17%20May%202022%20sometimes%20cleaning%20takes%20longer.jpeg" width="589" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">When we're not working, we like to walk in the Tonaquint Nature Park. This time, Carolyn was excited to find a swan sitting on a nest! Because there was a barrier, this was as close as she could get, but it was close enough.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE6bX0osYFBPcqhqVr3vvo5si5guxY44P-_uhNP96tRwUqdUIEMrpCQpoLf0WkVRNVpbW2U9pvjVvRN_s5sOqadQjhgT6C4KiadtM3bbL_2RhG1we2jInD3_Oni7luzBLvX7dojF4UOrMJEIndj0zTyYdG1ad-bJmWCwQ9-ZgHJzB5vlOYwhv-5UOU/s735/17%20May%202022%20swan%20on%20a%20nest.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="516" data-original-width="735" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE6bX0osYFBPcqhqVr3vvo5si5guxY44P-_uhNP96tRwUqdUIEMrpCQpoLf0WkVRNVpbW2U9pvjVvRN_s5sOqadQjhgT6C4KiadtM3bbL_2RhG1we2jInD3_Oni7luzBLvX7dojF4UOrMJEIndj0zTyYdG1ad-bJmWCwQ9-ZgHJzB5vlOYwhv-5UOU/w580-h408/17%20May%202022%20swan%20on%20a%20nest.jpeg" width="580" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">We found a bridge that offered a great chance for a sister picture.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBzeVsknylwN0JLlX5gRVhXmNS47NgtAf8fTVypKsYcsjQ9m_vHKGCa_MPZNN2PnIhySRpPxxSSpoAZzAbzLU3S--fRid4i9vtEv3P6Fv9sYQK8drE-pxpGNXieBgyam0NjasQruKxhHvplf4apjSCE8ZNpBosOPCWoKPgI00CLd3zuKD3K31Mx9ZZ/s567/17%20May%202022%20Shirley%20and%20Carolyn%20on%20a%20bridge.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="517" data-original-width="567" height="525" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBzeVsknylwN0JLlX5gRVhXmNS47NgtAf8fTVypKsYcsjQ9m_vHKGCa_MPZNN2PnIhySRpPxxSSpoAZzAbzLU3S--fRid4i9vtEv3P6Fv9sYQK8drE-pxpGNXieBgyam0NjasQruKxhHvplf4apjSCE8ZNpBosOPCWoKPgI00CLd3zuKD3K31Mx9ZZ/w575-h525/17%20May%202022%20Shirley%20and%20Carolyn%20on%20a%20bridge.jpeg" width="575" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">We had to stop at the end of our walk to get pictures of Carolyn with a wall of her favorite colored flowers.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3d9JTaXUyAfy-pzaT_kTL2tCe6jn9GE0xvhDHS7tP-nANNCraUchoaLfGwGw2iBTSgw68CI20KlkJFwA4XvyXaTcd35RZOdi7RUVLnlF8NkbTb8taI9ensqz0A0fi3JvWYx3ol4Qo0TumnMsoSjKOm_dz52gIkaAFvrCdhHqGHvB2qB19mCfjJ_S_/s516/17%20May%202022%20print%20red%20flowers%20for%20Carolyn.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="516" data-original-width="246" height="1165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3d9JTaXUyAfy-pzaT_kTL2tCe6jn9GE0xvhDHS7tP-nANNCraUchoaLfGwGw2iBTSgw68CI20KlkJFwA4XvyXaTcd35RZOdi7RUVLnlF8NkbTb8taI9ensqz0A0fi3JvWYx3ol4Qo0TumnMsoSjKOm_dz52gIkaAFvrCdhHqGHvB2qB19mCfjJ_S_/w557-h1165/17%20May%202022%20print%20red%20flowers%20for%20Carolyn.jpeg" width="557" /></a></div><span style="font-size: x-large;">What's your next adventure?</span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> <p></p>Shirley Bahlmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15613281300605173576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3968040194573657300.post-21275019639834015632022-05-08T21:43:00.005-07:002022-05-08T21:43:51.306-07:00Old Made New<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><i>You may have noticed that I don't know how to turn this picture, but I have faith you your ability to see what it is anyway.</i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> I discovered how to avoid buying a new under-seat suitcase for someone I live with who loves princesses and doesn't care for the personal-item sized case she already has, royal color that she chose in the first place! <a href="https://www.history.com/news/why-is-purple-considered-the-color-of-royalty" target="_blank">(Purple is an ancient dye color reserved for royalty.)</a> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXCtFBSOoK45OzeBsmjmIASribui13UJwUmN4zwzQnemxiCyCutohYCIe6vkwtupnWWMhIR7cdQ6twGU7F4myxQmhVYAaMFbgIfoDNJcnPRzw3lc6FB5kw4EOn8fvB95pITQbqwO5BdlucYDZWFwEMVDgfOLRkpwLo1jqZC0Sc8wqbp3QKnkrDZadU/s517/FINISHED-UN%20SUITCASE%201.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="517" data-original-width="388" height="773" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXCtFBSOoK45OzeBsmjmIASribui13UJwUmN4zwzQnemxiCyCutohYCIe6vkwtupnWWMhIR7cdQ6twGU7F4myxQmhVYAaMFbgIfoDNJcnPRzw3lc6FB5kw4EOn8fvB95pITQbqwO5BdlucYDZWFwEMVDgfOLRkpwLo1jqZC0Sc8wqbp3QKnkrDZadU/w578-h773/FINISHED-UN%20SUITCASE%201.jpeg" width="578" /></span></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Spending enough to buy a princess-covered gift bag and a jar of <a href="https://modpodgerocksblog.com/what-is-mod-podge/" target="_blank">Mod Podge,</a> (which, I was happy to discover, costs LESS than a new suitcase) I rounded up a pair of scissors and a ratty little paintbrush and managed to transform Carolyn's 4-year-old suitcase into an adventure all by itself.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK1rk5zkiIWIMRruTMxYQnlOGbBAQ3uIiEGx4bfEkpZG_RY30ckhpE6hMnFlzGeUzhDhwemfQuvU6V6Dnv1-tducg1_QkcswRKKxHe1apX3fi7O8n2VytqsqY0L7viihjG8pmRv-tCqT2A-uUWKbfhyk1v8Fllc6su5tsdq8hqXfhokLfb-z-ZRrAb/s517/FINISHED%20SUITCASE%201%20of%205.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="517" data-original-width="388" height="564" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK1rk5zkiIWIMRruTMxYQnlOGbBAQ3uIiEGx4bfEkpZG_RY30ckhpE6hMnFlzGeUzhDhwemfQuvU6V6Dnv1-tducg1_QkcswRKKxHe1apX3fi7O8n2VytqsqY0L7viihjG8pmRv-tCqT2A-uUWKbfhyk1v8Fllc6su5tsdq8hqXfhokLfb-z-ZRrAb/w383-h564/FINISHED%20SUITCASE%201%20of%205.jpeg" width="383" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxogPukQoF2evDKY8nCH76HFiDBuhdjvJRH4_Y6EJuD244DORRa-bJcyWKSKhQpEZ5CwFfn6plyowZSq-hNqT_ZiFMeJPm9M9tVs6Me752qSj5a-qIn2U9Rpbwux_e12GdX1uUrTKjRgr9AA7wC8NHdOeJ8JvBB1N4pPo61D3uMzpC2M6ZY0ZK_t8C/s689/FINISHED%20SUITCASE%202%20of%205.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="517" data-original-width="689" height="334" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxogPukQoF2evDKY8nCH76HFiDBuhdjvJRH4_Y6EJuD244DORRa-bJcyWKSKhQpEZ5CwFfn6plyowZSq-hNqT_ZiFMeJPm9M9tVs6Me752qSj5a-qIn2U9Rpbwux_e12GdX1uUrTKjRgr9AA7wC8NHdOeJ8JvBB1N4pPo61D3uMzpC2M6ZY0ZK_t8C/w445-h334/FINISHED%20SUITCASE%202%20of%205.jpeg" width="445" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQcyDJpL69qYE0uvVOEcyCPCeWATLQIML0vDcv277oDMCLPdYXHWkEQ9TLrJosllAFei1G7cqK8CtZ6DOBlrCX1r4-9KFjwpqfnyKcNc8yvM8frCuuPvlHribu79bsd1_nLIlVFy5xKFS40y-zjhDHPpO5FJvUXQ6p8btTBTd2Z4CcGJYiJ-up7xLS/s689/FINISHED%20SUITCASE%203%20of%205.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="517" data-original-width="689" height="342" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQcyDJpL69qYE0uvVOEcyCPCeWATLQIML0vDcv277oDMCLPdYXHWkEQ9TLrJosllAFei1G7cqK8CtZ6DOBlrCX1r4-9KFjwpqfnyKcNc8yvM8frCuuPvlHribu79bsd1_nLIlVFy5xKFS40y-zjhDHPpO5FJvUXQ6p8btTBTd2Z4CcGJYiJ-up7xLS/w456-h342/FINISHED%20SUITCASE%203%20of%205.jpeg" width="456" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuOWa3KaS6FX64lZIjKmmqDznZD26mOqn7cbstzsjNsVFrBvMSa5pkJIlFKrP7LjH3NUty-VnTsotfr85DG6by6RKsXkQAchM5_mdVDidbj8VkVlLKGNd8hS6M5aML1z-uKgUWNC3cz2x8ua9QMKOlhpMRi6UAipcWaz8BRjVGXuZOhduWhQpbs9q1/s689/FINISHED%20SUITCASE%204%20of%205.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="517" data-original-width="689" height="343" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuOWa3KaS6FX64lZIjKmmqDznZD26mOqn7cbstzsjNsVFrBvMSa5pkJIlFKrP7LjH3NUty-VnTsotfr85DG6by6RKsXkQAchM5_mdVDidbj8VkVlLKGNd8hS6M5aML1z-uKgUWNC3cz2x8ua9QMKOlhpMRi6UAipcWaz8BRjVGXuZOhduWhQpbs9q1/w457-h343/FINISHED%20SUITCASE%204%20of%205.jpeg" width="457" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIOIVvUUF_0GcKlrQXH3de5ItW2YNzGjnUSr20EfSq-g6_nuc7NBgT6nF3IZhTJ69Oh2JsqtopwnsSlerJT7Rtxij-gZFowXnamByFJqm6RHVw_mNZGJQglMgcwkX83PmQLAxtcD8NJX7oLtRktBE2AJIT2XWOz3hEqXUE4Q-PreNWS5qDXdMgI9bD/s689/FINISHED%20SUITCASE%205%20of%205.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="517" data-original-width="689" height="337" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIOIVvUUF_0GcKlrQXH3de5ItW2YNzGjnUSr20EfSq-g6_nuc7NBgT6nF3IZhTJ69Oh2JsqtopwnsSlerJT7Rtxij-gZFowXnamByFJqm6RHVw_mNZGJQglMgcwkX83PmQLAxtcD8NJX7oLtRktBE2AJIT2XWOz3hEqXUE4Q-PreNWS5qDXdMgI9bD/w449-h337/FINISHED%20SUITCASE%205%20of%205.jpeg" width="449" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"> Now Carolyn chooses this suitcase over the slightly larger hard-sided one she has with spinner wheels that she <i>used to</i> choose every time we went somewhere.</span><div><span style="font-size: large;"> The final chapter of this story is that after 40 years of not using the stuff, I didn't know how much soap was required to clean the Mod Podge off that ratty little paintbrush.</span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiELkPlh0LyOSqFizEDjXJFZkQNegOv00GiAjwOsJmY5X7niDXaOIPhsuim5XBGKNB89eb-MDYIgSm-gPYTXK8JlilP1CsHFz0bJ2xppBjgT7J7a0mjaz5KFNE01SGbBsXLUsMnAQ7lknxCOdFsqhbXP9AyrxygJfvCWeHtxNnLAARo2YarPCRyKA2M/s4624/Soapy%20Sink.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3468" data-original-width="4624" height="448" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiELkPlh0LyOSqFizEDjXJFZkQNegOv00GiAjwOsJmY5X7niDXaOIPhsuim5XBGKNB89eb-MDYIgSm-gPYTXK8JlilP1CsHFz0bJ2xppBjgT7J7a0mjaz5KFNE01SGbBsXLUsMnAQ7lknxCOdFsqhbXP9AyrxygJfvCWeHtxNnLAARo2YarPCRyKA2M/w596-h448/Soapy%20Sink.jpeg" width="596" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This was enough.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Do you like to fix things that you already have?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Or would you rather buy new things?</span></div></div>Shirley Bahlmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15613281300605173576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3968040194573657300.post-24813616588310958072022-04-26T12:37:00.000-07:002022-04-26T12:37:00.085-07:00Windows of the Soul<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The eyes are the windows of the soul.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">~<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Phaer" target="_blank">Thomas Phaer</a>~</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_YMSuqPSjVdgJHucZkNHVprjvsLulWCn0xjGpOpCnTs6au6K2K5V66Ea20EVoO5LT-0p7eaR0NqOV6hT62CPfofuMi_anYupYfhPH2qfDAEu0f4Li06xv2AIF4B08HsALDNqCnw23WMN6z-o3_B4hJX-zogdZkmXfTyV6tQUqDsNGp0UOGGtkNd7k/s4624/20220410_130813.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="3468" height="740" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_YMSuqPSjVdgJHucZkNHVprjvsLulWCn0xjGpOpCnTs6au6K2K5V66Ea20EVoO5LT-0p7eaR0NqOV6hT62CPfofuMi_anYupYfhPH2qfDAEu0f4Li06xv2AIF4B08HsALDNqCnw23WMN6z-o3_B4hJX-zogdZkmXfTyV6tQUqDsNGp0UOGGtkNd7k/w555-h740/20220410_130813.jpg" width="555" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">So what do you think is going on in the souls of these guys?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">;o)</span></div><br /><p></p>Shirley Bahlmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15613281300605173576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3968040194573657300.post-88696226468601212152022-04-20T21:26:00.003-07:002022-04-20T21:27:45.111-07:00No Bad Bananas<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>I like to take food with me when I travel for six hours. I ate the apples, I THOUGHT I ate all the bananas, but when we got to my Uncle Paul's house, I found a spotted straggler banana that didn't look like much compared to Paul's pretty yellow banana collection.</span><span> </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9NoIFW8JBUGmx3LKC0Hp585kZiAZICGSUGgKqgnB5QQXEcIviXeJoL3yCi2pkYnBRe6rTulFcN1y6f-q56EIArWFA7pFvIrv8OmsM44iPRMCgJd3N1bi1O5ShjQXVRgw5O8uNonnoVUq0crtfxe7jtgYwwbNtaXljnkRQ1tudzYqvVDoAhIW9LvO-/s689/BLOG%20banna%20pie%20bannas.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="517" data-original-width="689" height="392" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9NoIFW8JBUGmx3LKC0Hp585kZiAZICGSUGgKqgnB5QQXEcIviXeJoL3yCi2pkYnBRe6rTulFcN1y6f-q56EIArWFA7pFvIrv8OmsM44iPRMCgJd3N1bi1O5ShjQXVRgw5O8uNonnoVUq0crtfxe7jtgYwwbNtaXljnkRQ1tudzYqvVDoAhIW9LvO-/w522-h392/BLOG%20banna%20pie%20bannas.jpeg" width="522" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">But to my surprise, Paul greeted my lowly banana with the greatest compliment a food item could enjoy. "That's a perfect pie banana!"</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Scanning the fruit, I asked, "Really?"</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Really," Paul insisted. "That one is sweet."</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">So Paul made banana cream pie.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuMqy5toL-M0mP4OQLNdakyGOL1nPOeAHIYm8wUJzAZj7O7jL82nl373eDUAJ_GsWMiHFuS3IcXmeiuurzbnL8zNxLJmrGWx8BP6d_YAsm3w16XCqdq-aYeGHv-a4RkCD5GosKeN3_52yCQ2HWKx86nLs_Vl4dH3YPVjTTyXYyCVS3MaaJaP1NJYyP/s517/BLOG%20banana%20pie.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="517" data-original-width="388" height="617" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuMqy5toL-M0mP4OQLNdakyGOL1nPOeAHIYm8wUJzAZj7O7jL82nl373eDUAJ_GsWMiHFuS3IcXmeiuurzbnL8zNxLJmrGWx8BP6d_YAsm3w16XCqdq-aYeGHv-a4RkCD5GosKeN3_52yCQ2HWKx86nLs_Vl4dH3YPVjTTyXYyCVS3MaaJaP1NJYyP/w463-h617/BLOG%20banana%20pie.jpeg" width="463" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Do I really have to spell the moral out for you?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">No.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">You've got it.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">EAT THE PIE!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">What's your favorite pie flavor? (My Dad's favorite flavor was the round one.)</span></div><p></p>Shirley Bahlmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15613281300605173576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3968040194573657300.post-19678130090837060932022-03-30T07:46:00.003-07:002022-03-30T07:48:52.791-07:00This is the stuff novels are made of.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I found this stuff of novels on my daughter-in-law, Heidi's, site. It's simply delightful.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGZzHdP4MBR-7CaOEUNRQ6hdCc6B8CfzQnvlobWr2S4RzohwWwMWnnyKPn68-JZb8f7EASvVsB2Os_2eA7MdTiHpzC56cb6ebe_E47M8h8iTbiCjiw-HFtK0i71eYGQB1Xiz7oVE02483CCW70tbDYuIzuZ2gvewqjTipEVD1yKQryAlUj47X18bSn/s730/SOCCER%20Samurai%20send%20fax%20to%20Lincoln.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="730" data-original-width="640" height="630" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGZzHdP4MBR-7CaOEUNRQ6hdCc6B8CfzQnvlobWr2S4RzohwWwMWnnyKPn68-JZb8f7EASvVsB2Os_2eA7MdTiHpzC56cb6ebe_E47M8h8iTbiCjiw-HFtK0i71eYGQB1Xiz7oVE02483CCW70tbDYuIzuZ2gvewqjTipEVD1yKQryAlUj47X18bSn/w553-h630/SOCCER%20Samurai%20send%20fax%20to%20Lincoln.jpeg" width="553" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>Shirley Bahlmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15613281300605173576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3968040194573657300.post-58328909251892758872022-03-14T22:03:00.002-07:002022-03-14T22:03:51.541-07:00Who Knew?!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I honestly didn't realize that this required written instructions.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhwEYjs8ImDgSqDPGm3_VteG78FBJwuenRpm-HZDhta7A3GKAuKgIv9rn2c9h2R9fYr5oJmXak4KUo86I2ypD4c40q_IvIXYF4hKTMVvbOvyb5weD5Vw4tpRV6AzWWQ0DKuv8Yo0PJllfMaMBXiPeyO9gbJtW_7X9ILyldtBiE-Z1bCSKMDuSfxhWqS=s4624" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4624" data-original-width="3468" height="769" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhwEYjs8ImDgSqDPGm3_VteG78FBJwuenRpm-HZDhta7A3GKAuKgIv9rn2c9h2R9fYr5oJmXak4KUo86I2ypD4c40q_IvIXYF4hKTMVvbOvyb5weD5Vw4tpRV6AzWWQ0DKuv8Yo0PJllfMaMBXiPeyO9gbJtW_7X9ILyldtBiE-Z1bCSKMDuSfxhWqS=w577-h769" width="577" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: large;">At what point in your life did you learn this skill?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am speechless...</span></div><p></p>Shirley Bahlmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15613281300605173576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3968040194573657300.post-22937029848832091812022-02-25T20:11:00.000-08:002022-02-25T20:11:01.430-08:00North and South<p></p><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Here is a snowman we found in northern Utah on February 5, 2022, flanked by my two oldest sons who are each 6' 7",</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgXCvWHr4yZNfxyC4RbIQbW1N8HvZ45NhQnQpQmdx6kaTSLjkfaVfr9mkRS69RsLm4YbnQYEHqVnE9TD1JZl-EneSSncTSER7qFjQXS_JzDSC4NG2KQyD_ytXMUeyr7Hns3lPNQwUj9LS38uKvHB4i65eaCalV9-QbCEDPkjmjrICqy3xNt3J521Vlx=s537" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="537" data-original-width="403" height="810" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgXCvWHr4yZNfxyC4RbIQbW1N8HvZ45NhQnQpQmdx6kaTSLjkfaVfr9mkRS69RsLm4YbnQYEHqVnE9TD1JZl-EneSSncTSER7qFjQXS_JzDSC4NG2KQyD_ytXMUeyr7Hns3lPNQwUj9LS38uKvHB4i65eaCalV9-QbCEDPkjmjrICqy3xNt3J521Vlx=w607-h810" width="607" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">and here is a "snowman" from southern Utah on February 17, 2022, which is a little shorter than my own 5' 11.5" height, but has more potential lasting power than its northern cousin.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg_6Ylnk63yqAyi2qfTytDNi77VrP4bIxTITpKTKK5i1pX1PQvKpus7FBMjYUP5y59AlG3fG3OvUJasLavM-YC1YFme7brXaa49Z0AvFwUsjmpmFF4gvRJcqUu-vAw-YN4gLW9Tm50SgSZZ-ySChBFCm9aB8G4Tv1ORNIppwZ1Lg3pQ6gMBrq7zibHX=s537" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="537" data-original-width="403" height="806" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg_6Ylnk63yqAyi2qfTytDNi77VrP4bIxTITpKTKK5i1pX1PQvKpus7FBMjYUP5y59AlG3fG3OvUJasLavM-YC1YFme7brXaa49Z0AvFwUsjmpmFF4gvRJcqUu-vAw-YN4gLW9Tm50SgSZZ-ySChBFCm9aB8G4Tv1ORNIppwZ1Lg3pQ6gMBrq7zibHX=w605-h806" width="605" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">This shows that even though Utah isn't the largest state, it's a diverse one. Bob's parents are natives of the Netherlands, and one summer when his grandmother visited from the old country, the family drove from Salt Lake City to a National Park in southern Utah. Along the way, Grandma asked a time or two, "What country are we in now?" The Netherlands do, after all, take up much less space than Utah.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Now I'm wondering, which snowman's territory do you prefer?</span></div><p></p>Shirley Bahlmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15613281300605173576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3968040194573657300.post-46475201489143204222022-02-13T23:30:00.004-08:002022-02-25T19:55:58.305-08:00Gender Wars<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">My elementary school aged granddaughter is the only girl in her family, so I had to laugh when I saw this sign on her bedroom door, especially the tagline, "My mom said."</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg_bcurOCnt1tBWHHUITC9Zw_SkPvnb1qHM67EAVIMllImxLnYF68eZNuntHGMPeog0gq98sUAIo5MZfXx8WCtgVcVJj_F2ZH5quMGDuTxdgfPv7iHL8vI7TiWEPF5TYL7hJ68n6x0aaRsRZ08Daw9aEiKKp0Em7z6sceZ2Wk7wOAwV-hgxC0Rst-MO=s969" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="545" data-original-width="969" height="384" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg_bcurOCnt1tBWHHUITC9Zw_SkPvnb1qHM67EAVIMllImxLnYF68eZNuntHGMPeog0gq98sUAIo5MZfXx8WCtgVcVJj_F2ZH5quMGDuTxdgfPv7iHL8vI7TiWEPF5TYL7hJ68n6x0aaRsRZ08Daw9aEiKKp0Em7z6sceZ2Wk7wOAwV-hgxC0Rst-MO=w682-h384" width="682" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">At least where brothers are concerned, she's not in the mood for Valentine's Day!</div></span><p></p>Shirley Bahlmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15613281300605173576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3968040194573657300.post-60182795084221003172022-02-06T23:30:00.001-08:002022-02-18T07:15:25.098-08:00Happy Shoes<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Someone had fun making these sunny yellow shoes. I'm not referring to the high heels. High heels aren't fun, at least not for wearing. I used to wear high heels, but they did not make my knees happy.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjfZXZe376xJXDNEOu2TV5Gau185i673Rf7-2BtHBQev5yI1nAaxmHbcW0b4gP_4XCPPXRyaZ-xLr5IdqhAaxYVRu1DXWK3vqROvwFLci0Rp0-AJZRjNnl-cn1BmU6uDk0zivDoMRrar4yii35fcdtrwem6SYprkCYT2bIHGW5FSnWN19ZnK9UeF9CO=s537" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="537" data-original-width="403" height="720" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjfZXZe376xJXDNEOu2TV5Gau185i673Rf7-2BtHBQev5yI1nAaxmHbcW0b4gP_4XCPPXRyaZ-xLr5IdqhAaxYVRu1DXWK3vqROvwFLci0Rp0-AJZRjNnl-cn1BmU6uDk0zivDoMRrar4yii35fcdtrwem6SYprkCYT2bIHGW5FSnWN19ZnK9UeF9CO=w540-h720" width="540" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> Still, if someone were to make these into smiley flip flops, I'd be the first in line to get some.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEibYrWNmNj4-e4e3_pd_rP2kp-IGsvpjFoGAOwvaCFCuToYzLv9tVCCiv3GjPkWbRluzAulRqvVSXSCWMzQR_LvQah2kF4mbgrKxDsKpM2W-rB68dkq89s_zCvKJP8NB2amm01E0NilAiYnm7AdpB2b8CCMGbgshCLr2neaGLZOqRWupO-gAOtMQxAy=s716" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="537" data-original-width="716" height="408" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEibYrWNmNj4-e4e3_pd_rP2kp-IGsvpjFoGAOwvaCFCuToYzLv9tVCCiv3GjPkWbRluzAulRqvVSXSCWMzQR_LvQah2kF4mbgrKxDsKpM2W-rB68dkq89s_zCvKJP8NB2amm01E0NilAiYnm7AdpB2b8CCMGbgshCLr2neaGLZOqRWupO-gAOtMQxAy=w544-h408" width="544" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"> Would you wear smiley shoes?</span></div><p></p>Shirley Bahlmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15613281300605173576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3968040194573657300.post-69826945077106761052022-01-30T23:30:00.011-08:002022-02-18T07:15:58.925-08:00Hold Me Back!<p></p><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Hold me back! It's a SALE! What's the deal?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEizCmkbChxlJ6hIMQrHWolokduHNwLYC-Bdn-SusKBjBLp8gHefg2wFm4XDb6gEb_9eTLT6hXnSPbKfZZGUNijbWWmZVAs99WDv7lMsROZMpdhqPdV13S-EGkcktLRFDalk-m4SCcdqhzLjFYBkhVnfRft4xce-GcPHd5O4s2bnrqc9cjYtyEphHwI-=s716" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="537" data-original-width="716" height="481" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEizCmkbChxlJ6hIMQrHWolokduHNwLYC-Bdn-SusKBjBLp8gHefg2wFm4XDb6gEb_9eTLT6hXnSPbKfZZGUNijbWWmZVAs99WDv7lMsROZMpdhqPdV13S-EGkcktLRFDalk-m4SCcdqhzLjFYBkhVnfRft4xce-GcPHd5O4s2bnrqc9cjYtyEphHwI-=w643-h481" width="643" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Oh. What a surprise!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Would you buy a $170.00 pack for the benefit of a dollar off?</span></div><p></p>Shirley Bahlmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15613281300605173576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3968040194573657300.post-45581267329432408102022-01-24T06:20:00.011-08:002022-01-29T21:02:33.130-08:00Best Intentions Burned!<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I try, we <i>all</i> try, but sometimes efforts don't match expectations. I've struggled with writing since November 2021, but I've always struggled with cooking.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>O</span><span>ne night after making soup and grilled cheese sandwiches, one of our six boys said, "Thanks, Dad, it's good."</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Yeah, I love these sandwiches," another son added. "Thanks for making dinner, Dad."</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Surprised, I asked, "Why do you think Dad made this?"</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Puzzled eyes turned to me. "Because the food isn't burnt." Then, with a gasp of sudden realization, my son asked, "Did you make this, Mom?"</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Yes, I did!"</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Good job," said another son, genuinely impressed.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">"Yeah," said another of our boys. "You did it, Mom!"</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span><span>You'd think I'd improve as I went, but just last week </span></span><span>I was trying for this:</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi9uCUcqCyaHRr4cXjgQ1Pz7ATo_jiVN9F3_57a484JD2O8FOTZMhi3gv4LopLaNk2kyfSSQlBPeXeb0aWp0YIIac71QxfhcwQggsyzZubi9JRUgKlJcrgqvZ6D0mS7K-y1Iau83e3bAA0WF2_WQIbRvK4fnwcNDtUpMmDxbPtbIqjvL2kT-k-uK_wQ=s537" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="537" data-original-width="403" height="649" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi9uCUcqCyaHRr4cXjgQ1Pz7ATo_jiVN9F3_57a484JD2O8FOTZMhi3gv4LopLaNk2kyfSSQlBPeXeb0aWp0YIIac71QxfhcwQggsyzZubi9JRUgKlJcrgqvZ6D0mS7K-y1Iau83e3bAA0WF2_WQIbRvK4fnwcNDtUpMmDxbPtbIqjvL2kT-k-uK_wQ=w486-h649" width="486" /></span></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">But got this:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjfQDok8dbe3KKe3PWZxM8BKh2iXt_Q8h2sXZBw312VDStxRx7CNeVLlyRwt7mOZZuykOTmgCPxYGA-pd2vHE9B4lGnonPlOaBFTW5btquIxY14Hlmjj8o5tjUnQZpsfxCINvoKJrWWt7zTelvfu2wICMQCoiTleP6TzCtG1enxBG_VNNBe4pImuqC8=s537" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="537" data-original-width="403" height="665" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjfQDok8dbe3KKe3PWZxM8BKh2iXt_Q8h2sXZBw312VDStxRx7CNeVLlyRwt7mOZZuykOTmgCPxYGA-pd2vHE9B4lGnonPlOaBFTW5btquIxY14Hlmjj8o5tjUnQZpsfxCINvoKJrWWt7zTelvfu2wICMQCoiTleP6TzCtG1enxBG_VNNBe4pImuqC8=w498-h665" width="498" /></span></a></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">(I was SURE I'd turned the oven off!)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">And, honestly, how hard is it to microwave a potato?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgMYbU0I9DbbkoGfDJdJ6CkAn4_tXPHtrTqf3p9l6kmTBCKqP68A42C9PB9SzTfu7IpciFZj_I4RUJRzsVnCJfTXT8zJ_ntkZHG4QRfzATgXH8AUI_JpCGeVOewmvDeP6GO4765KIbchhVmp0Vcz8zLx4s9iZKUprZRpFb46cgX2R7Zj5iK6me8NDy3=s537" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="537" data-original-width="403" height="538" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgMYbU0I9DbbkoGfDJdJ6CkAn4_tXPHtrTqf3p9l6kmTBCKqP68A42C9PB9SzTfu7IpciFZj_I4RUJRzsVnCJfTXT8zJ_ntkZHG4QRfzATgXH8AUI_JpCGeVOewmvDeP6GO4765KIbchhVmp0Vcz8zLx4s9iZKUprZRpFb46cgX2R7Zj5iK6me8NDy3=w404-h538" width="404" /></span></a></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">It depends on whether Bob or I am doing the microwaving, and my hard potatoes prove that it's hard for me. (Haha!) </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">(Guess who made the GOOD vegetables? Yep. Bob.)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">In the writing world, I had the best intention of writing for an hour a day beginning November 2019. I wasn't 100% with my intentions, but I got three books done. (Dessert!)</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">When I presented the daily writing class at a Kanab Conference in November 2021, I was so scared I felt sick to my stomach!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Say what?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I've taught a decade of writing classes to children and adults. I created and ran the "Write Here in Ephraim" conference for six years. I was the Storymakers Conference chair. I've presented many conference classes, school presentations, and storytelling in several venues.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>I'm not afraid to speak, so when I suddenly</span><span> hated presenting, I didn't even feel like myself.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Why did my best intentions fall short of grabbing the cliff edge?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">My best guess is that immunotherapy cancer treatments for recurrent malignant melanoma changed me. Since the 13 months treatment ended in June 2021, I can't make myself eat meat. I was even surprised that I spit out my first bite of comforting bread pudding last week.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Then I found this article:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/coping/physically/diet-problems/types/taste-changes-and-loss-of-appetite" target="_blank"><b>"Food and drink can taste peculiar when you have some cancer treatments."</b></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I also feel best after sleeping for 10 hours, and then having a nap in the afternoon! Here's a forum about that:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #2f353e; font-variant-ligatures: no-common-ligatures; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>"<a href="https://forum.melanoma.org/forums/topic/long-term-optivo-side-effects/" target="_blank">The fatigue is a real thing, but there are so many different side effects that various patients experience.</a>"</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">For my being unreasonably scared to teach a class comes this little gem of information:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Open Sans", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1c1d1e; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://wchh.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/pnp.555" target="_blank"><b>Immunotherapy is still a relatively new cancer therapy... psychiatric teams...consider immunotherapy as a possible factor in psychiatric presentations. A woman...developed signs of personality changes and acute mania after treatment with checkpoint inhibitors ipilimumab and nivolumab.</b></a></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Open Sans", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1c1d1e; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;">That's what they gave me! One of those is also known as "Keytruda," mentioned in this following article:</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face="Inter, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.goodrx.com/pembrolizumab/long-term-effects-of-keytruda" target="_blank"><b>Keytruda has been reported to cause some neurological (brain-related) side effects. </b></a></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Open Sans", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1c1d1e; font-size: large; text-align: start;">You just never know what's next, do you? When choosing a backpack color, I wanted the gray one. GRAY! Not blue, red, purple or orange. That is so Not Shirley!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span face=""Open Sans", sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #1c1d1e; font-size: large; text-align: start;">Have you ever felt not like yourself? What happened?</span></div><p></p>Shirley Bahlmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15613281300605173576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3968040194573657300.post-9069716034637168152022-01-16T23:30:00.169-08:002022-01-16T23:30:00.187-08:00Never Unpick Again!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I began sewing as a 9-year-old after I was given a toy sewing machine that really worked. I excitedly traced my hand and thumb in a mitten shape on two pieces of red calico fabric, cut the mittens out, sewed them all around the edges, and then was extremely puzzled that my hands wouldn't fit inside.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">What was going on? I'd traced them to my actual hand size.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">I didn't know about seam allowances then, but I learned all about them, and unpicking, as a 12-year-old Home Ec. student. It also helped that my grandmother Alta was a professional seamstress. As a nearly 6-foot-tall teen, I sewed a lot of clothes simply so they'd fit my long arms and legs. If something didn't get put together right, I unpicked it, even though it wasn't easy to cut all those tiny little tight threads and avoid cutting the fabric itself, I knew if I didn't, I'd never want to wear that puckered article of clothing.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">So I was amazed to see this dress in a store, actually for sale rather than stuffed in a rag bag alongside my sewing failures. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgX4-F8XfdV9vQ8NK_2DevGE7RhyTYUl5qTppHuIJXVU8CzSWtp7-3j8-_UpC0AsY3eImCLHheymKMDd5oS6s0hVGyE71X8cGRIv94cJcJcCYgl5ax14UJx6oU06ANfAEds7q1NVAKGCTe5dqSL6DC5rcCAlK8QRj4qEULBW3g3DU0yAqUlQbQ2ca8K=s537" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="537" data-original-width="403" height="577" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgX4-F8XfdV9vQ8NK_2DevGE7RhyTYUl5qTppHuIJXVU8CzSWtp7-3j8-_UpC0AsY3eImCLHheymKMDd5oS6s0hVGyE71X8cGRIv94cJcJcCYgl5ax14UJx6oU06ANfAEds7q1NVAKGCTe5dqSL6DC5rcCAlK8QRj4qEULBW3g3DU0yAqUlQbQ2ca8K=w433-h577" width="433" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Do you see what I see? You may initially think, as I did, that perhaps a clueless new employee simply buttoned the dress buttons wrong, but LOOK AT THE HEM! IT'S EVEN! So why isn't the collar even?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhutJvYh7X_TMH4H99SdlAYkLqXwgCcbgW4oiAdvpq1ghXZLwP4lkDth9uZOnL6pHtkxgMfTnA0uv-p2hVKFDikzk3VnaoWIPWQUyUkU3NCmNqbYQOz9uhFhLHd79iZuMvYuF2NmKt9B37DtAporR_z5KSuP5DLRCG3Dmrn4zl4dc3oeDj0MX4H_nvU=s537" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="537" data-original-width="403" height="585" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhutJvYh7X_TMH4H99SdlAYkLqXwgCcbgW4oiAdvpq1ghXZLwP4lkDth9uZOnL6pHtkxgMfTnA0uv-p2hVKFDikzk3VnaoWIPWQUyUkU3NCmNqbYQOz9uhFhLHd79iZuMvYuF2NmKt9B37DtAporR_z5KSuP5DLRCG3Dmrn4zl4dc3oeDj0MX4H_nvU=w439-h585" width="439" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Even the front placket is off. Who thought that this design was worth selling? A 9 year old with a toy sewing machine?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">However it was created, I can imagine that it was sent to the runway in order to automatically turn it into the next big fad.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">One thing it proves is that if I'm willing to wear whatever I sew with pride, and perhaps a high priced tag trailing from the sleeve, I never need to unpick again! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Do you like fads? </span><span style="font-size: x-large;">Do you sew? What kind of handiwork do you do?</span></div></div><p></p>Shirley Bahlmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15613281300605173576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3968040194573657300.post-71083989565734430952022-01-09T20:47:00.002-08:002022-01-09T20:47:14.612-08:00It just looked weird<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">While driving along the highway with Bob and Carolyn, I spied this most interesting cloud that seemed to have bumped up against a mountain wall. I asked Bob to take a picture for me, but he suggested that I just stop and take my own picture.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjU1QMETrlizCnZRPdBWvV1P3ZtVbqGS6hQEAVdAeXFgphzsvu2dtlmUTLgVxJh3PP8soMCUSr8QsbCUirl0avuWKMPkVjEYoYVXGBisFzEAvKcmXhSn2uyqmpalzlrLkem8zzAezmYdCF7Nr2QT0z1W-lGDLh7DfZXULChAct9Mpza2zBsUF84bLvL=s792" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="594" data-original-width="792" height="423" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjU1QMETrlizCnZRPdBWvV1P3ZtVbqGS6hQEAVdAeXFgphzsvu2dtlmUTLgVxJh3PP8soMCUSr8QsbCUirl0avuWKMPkVjEYoYVXGBisFzEAvKcmXhSn2uyqmpalzlrLkem8zzAezmYdCF7Nr2QT0z1W-lGDLh7DfZXULChAct9Mpza2zBsUF84bLvL=w563-h423" width="563" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">So I did.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Have you ever seen a cloud formation that looks like it could be steam coming from the ground?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">*Gasp* ARE WE TURNING INTO YELLOWSTONE PARK?!</span></div><p></p>Shirley Bahlmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15613281300605173576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3968040194573657300.post-1378583680433455142021-12-25T16:21:00.006-08:002021-12-25T16:50:31.666-08:00Dead Christmas Tree<p> <span style="font-size: large;">My neighbor and her husband were so busy, they just put lights on the front of their tree this year. No one walks around between the Christmas tree and the wall anyway.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">When their granddaughter visited, she was eager to help finish decorating the front of the tree, the only place where everyone could see the decorations anyway. Good plan!<br /></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgqqrOdGDn1rSzQRjG_3h-RvMHc57_AVm1wbNW_RVBZ9P0jE5wKy1mvaRfNZl2bxIYFe49EAf7uctwskNwM62kvS61FkITPy3mtSMq3lCh5NwWWaRrCb-tNXk3_qNpDoy-HKKaTsSTKhY3CTtR2k73O_l-ZyidjwUKmEtCxsSlUqCJJjbF49ocsE2pE=s537" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="537" data-original-width="403" height="753" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgqqrOdGDn1rSzQRjG_3h-RvMHc57_AVm1wbNW_RVBZ9P0jE5wKy1mvaRfNZl2bxIYFe49EAf7uctwskNwM62kvS61FkITPy3mtSMq3lCh5NwWWaRrCb-tNXk3_qNpDoy-HKKaTsSTKhY3CTtR2k73O_l-ZyidjwUKmEtCxsSlUqCJJjbF49ocsE2pE=w565-h753" width="565" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The next day, everyone went to work and school, everything going smoother because they anticipated Christmas cheer in the joy of going home to a cheerfully decorated tree.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">No one expected to see what was in their house when they opened their door.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgOvXIDMeZLSOasp3LbPGvexN-HEmUa76jqVTjKRE45bYZYlgprZEBC70BzJ1BMLEGwv4sUGw9lTN6kcM26ap3qTCbkOIdffx0-mXTnAmvvS0JrNqHnhYTKDgOldwpQoAh0ShFG8vyMUMTO88H-rfoSzvS_vRKMrJ6becklnwW3NV4Mr3nboGSEC1XW=s537" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="537" data-original-width="403" height="757" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgOvXIDMeZLSOasp3LbPGvexN-HEmUa76jqVTjKRE45bYZYlgprZEBC70BzJ1BMLEGwv4sUGw9lTN6kcM26ap3qTCbkOIdffx0-mXTnAmvvS0JrNqHnhYTKDgOldwpQoAh0ShFG8vyMUMTO88H-rfoSzvS_vRKMrJ6becklnwW3NV4Mr3nboGSEC1XW=w568-h757" width="568" /></a></div><span style="font-size: large;">The Christmas tree died from front-heaviness. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">What do you think?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Shouldn't they just roll it over? I mean, it was already decorated.<br /></span></div><p></p>Shirley Bahlmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15613281300605173576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3968040194573657300.post-70693650675174772192021-12-04T14:09:00.000-08:002021-12-04T14:09:00.200-08:00What Kind Of Store Is This?<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">With Christmas coming, consumer spending, and money being shelled out for things people might not need or even want, I was actually stopped still by this sign I saw in a retail store.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGeKmtwfv2XuTbZKseAuWiCHAH36H9mJGItN0q5i5M0P1NqUraag3uoS81CDptqETf5edNk3BXELcP_Xy_UtSfNY6SKcQicmUtugDhJulL3qCRA3l2mKCVqxN2QQ20YuCTuWyGVzAE49w/s716/Retail+Store+sign+-+spend+low%2521.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="537" data-original-width="716" height="444" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGeKmtwfv2XuTbZKseAuWiCHAH36H9mJGItN0q5i5M0P1NqUraag3uoS81CDptqETf5edNk3BXELcP_Xy_UtSfNY6SKcQicmUtugDhJulL3qCRA3l2mKCVqxN2QQ20YuCTuWyGVzAE49w/w593-h444/Retail+Store+sign+-+spend+low%2521.jpeg" width="593" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: large;">I mean, honestly, what retail store in its right mind encourages shoppers to spend less money?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Is it a trick?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Is it some kind of reverse psychology?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Are they trying to make shoppers think that all the stuff in their store is high quality, thus matching high standards?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Or do they really care about helping people save money?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Maybe they just don't want to process a lot of returns.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">What do you think? Is it a store with a real heart? Or is it subtly messing with shopper's minds?</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">And Merry Christmas! This reminds me of the family tradition we adopted with our three youngest sons (since we didn't think of it with our three older ones.) We told them that Jesus got three gifts, and it's a celebration of Jesus's birthday, so each of them would get three gifts.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Wow. Simple, focused on the reason for the season, and no more counting gifts or tallying costs.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Now there's a sign I'd put up in my store!</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">"3 Gift Christmas. Happy birthday, Jesus."</span></div><p></p>Shirley Bahlmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15613281300605173576noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3968040194573657300.post-46841808896659606992021-11-07T23:30:00.000-08:002021-11-07T23:30:00.189-08:00Besides the Bathroom...<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">When Carolyn and I were on the road, I stopped for gas and she went into the gas station to use the bathroom.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">After I filled the car, I went into the gas station, too, and found Carolyn, not using the bathroom, but PLAYING BASKETBALL!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwUgemPNpZuTF3Lb2e6_GJqn77kImpl3ssmoHooQY3XmJ2bRgI8LhMlQTjFy_XP9SF1LLFuxpxkejOC2iSRW-672PdooKn9kfzLJbA_6SNIcprbrjWy-ZT4cL0KLd7Z0CFhac0UR7F_7Y/s716/Carolyn+basketball+girl+4.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="537" data-original-width="716" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwUgemPNpZuTF3Lb2e6_GJqn77kImpl3ssmoHooQY3XmJ2bRgI8LhMlQTjFy_XP9SF1LLFuxpxkejOC2iSRW-672PdooKn9kfzLJbA_6SNIcprbrjWy-ZT4cL0KLd7Z0CFhac0UR7F_7Y/w578-h434/Carolyn+basketball+girl+4.jpeg" width="578" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqKa-qFkARjm4dx3eIvLSApix1UvLgzxlggii73k2QBPS9x5FFwFv04OvAsY2Ke_Ab9xcP8Eu7oSrEPtrgYLNmC11nrJUzlL4qHCArnrZFISkN-C8a0Z6wzVAHFGegZvGAluzXkbGkjTM/s716/Carolyn+basketball+girl+3.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="537" data-original-width="716" height="429" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqKa-qFkARjm4dx3eIvLSApix1UvLgzxlggii73k2QBPS9x5FFwFv04OvAsY2Ke_Ab9xcP8Eu7oSrEPtrgYLNmC11nrJUzlL4qHCArnrZFISkN-C8a0Z6wzVAHFGegZvGAluzXkbGkjTM/w571-h429/Carolyn+basketball+girl+3.jpeg" width="571" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6cE06l0yKEfA7CtohmZ6kszibRCy9eC7ZZiWsjQQsAdyXa5idSG6iBuPCXm65c5DrDxTEaYFycm0q-L8qzZFMFfCy1mYUeiMAIBRr8wDKO63_XA0_TgQmYym-NxWOkiQESpb7l9t_GHs/s716/Carolyn+basketball+girl+5.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="537" data-original-width="716" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6cE06l0yKEfA7CtohmZ6kszibRCy9eC7ZZiWsjQQsAdyXa5idSG6iBuPCXm65c5DrDxTEaYFycm0q-L8qzZFMFfCy1mYUeiMAIBRr8wDKO63_XA0_TgQmYym-NxWOkiQESpb7l9t_GHs/w576-h432/Carolyn+basketball+girl+5.jpeg" width="576" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMRX3an59-cGkggM4XmL1ZKVVOP4VhXy91kV6VcewCbVrd3yTRMDI50d4NMK3yPS01ReDHk9Kuib06gQaxqGaDidswH3d6imRppNgFJmS3fxXChMPw_RivuZDlPrATGf9y9O63qfmj-UA/s716/Carolyn+basketball+girl+2.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="537" data-original-width="716" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMRX3an59-cGkggM4XmL1ZKVVOP4VhXy91kV6VcewCbVrd3yTRMDI50d4NMK3yPS01ReDHk9Kuib06gQaxqGaDidswH3d6imRppNgFJmS3fxXChMPw_RivuZDlPrATGf9y9O63qfmj-UA/w562-h422/Carolyn+basketball+girl+2.jpeg" width="562" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvdRKqSOi7rlWkvxZBx7YA2ri8AES4g8jRToexXIQb_CD4MTHlx8j_uIY4yZHmuPHjAqvuPLMAFiviBheELhHBGUWnYaFZzaAR1i5OY4vTl47ZHZjSnLychF993lUuhFt89VSxZtGCgPk/s292/Carolyn+basketball+girl+1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="292" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvdRKqSOi7rlWkvxZBx7YA2ri8AES4g8jRToexXIQb_CD4MTHlx8j_uIY4yZHmuPHjAqvuPLMAFiviBheELhHBGUWnYaFZzaAR1i5OY4vTl47ZHZjSnLychF993lUuhFt89VSxZtGCgPk/w568-h426/Carolyn+basketball+girl+1.jpeg" width="568" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">It was clearly worth the wait.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Do you like playing basketball?</span></div><p></p>Shirley Bahlmannhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15613281300605173576noreply@blogger.com0