quinnkdotme

As you can see from the title, I am off to French class this morning.  Actually, it’s an assessment this morning to determine how abysmal my conversational French has become.  Given the dearth of French speakers in State College, my only on-going use of the French language is in correspondence to my bank and my former neighbors who have moved to Cambodia.  And, sadly, my correspondence to them is much overdue.  (As has been my blogging).

So, I did a quick review of grammatical items that tend to trip me up… and away we will go.

The pre-spring weather has been wonderful here.  Yesterday, I snuck out for a bike ride – with Verbal in his doggie trailer.  I had no idea that there were so many hills around my parents’ house.

Who knew?

I was inspired to drag out the bike yesterday after witnessing a child’s glee at riding down the bike path hill that is in the neighboring park.  At about 7AM, I was walking Verbal up the bike path.  A man riding his bike was approaching, and it had one of the little pull carts behind it.  As the bike passed me, I saw a little boy in the cart who was raising his hands over his head – a la roller coaster style- and in a tiny voice called out, “Yahoooooo!”  Very cute.

So determined to give Verbal the same thrill ride, I pulled out the bike and cart – and off we went.  I didn’t realize that to even get to the bike path required several inclines, and then once you go down the bike path and hit the main road, there are only 3 choices to take.  All three paths are straight up hill.  Within 5 minutes of leaving the house, I was sweaty, hot, and at the bottom of a hill.  Verbal, however, seemed to enjoy the cruise.  I don’t think he quite understood the exertion involved, and frankly, I doubt he cared.

Switching from physical to mental exertion, I need to head out and be bilingually humiliated. 

À demain, au revoir!

As ever,

K. Quinn

Hard to believe that a week ago, I was outside without a coat.  In fact, my winter coat felt superfluous to my travel packing.  Harder still to imagine that exactly a week ago, I was waiting for a tornado to pass.  Meanwhile today, I am bundled up against the wind and snow!

Even yesterday, it was 65 degrees and walking in the rain with Verbal was somewhat of a pleasure.  Today, however, there is no such luck.

It was cold enough today that before our afternoon walk, I took the trouble of bundling up Verbal.  Which meant enduring what we call his ‘fleece-rage’ – a canine version of teenage petulance..”Awe, mom…”  Despite his moping, glaring, and general doggie disdain, I bundled him in a fleece and we headed out to face the forces of nature.

I confess that if Verbal wasn’t a senior dog, I wouldn’t have had the patience for the fleece-rage.  Unfortunately, these days I notice a bit more of the slowness of step, lack of sure-footedness, and a general loss of vision and hearing.  So, when Verbal wants to wander outside in a snowstorm in search of doggie delights in the form of scented bushes and a visit to the horse paddock, I really can’t deprive him.  I know only too well that his time is precious and fleeting.  The least I can do is make all of his days pleasurable.  I endure the weather I loathe so that he can enjoy the elements that bring a little spring to his step.

Verbal is now curled up on his bed, which I have brought out beside the desk.  I have rolled the electric heater nearby, and Verbal enjoys his dog nap pampered, warm, and adored.  I am hoping that he is beyond content.

So while the rest of my day feels less productive than I would like, I am comforted by the fact that I have provided one sweet soul a blissful winter afternoon.  Not too shabby for a gray day in March.

As ever,

K. Quinn

And, I am referring to true birds of the avian species not an Austin Powers slang for women.  Remember inBambi, when Thumper and Bambi ask owl why the animals are acting so strange in the spring.  Flower meets his match or mate, and ultimately so do Thumper and Bambi.  10 points if you remember Bambi’s ‘bird.’

Yesterday, I observed the twitterpating of two birds who have decided to bill and coo in my mother’s topiary arrangement on the back porch.  What was incredibly convenient about the occurrence was that the topiary sits next to a mirror so while the birds are flirting amongst the back of the bush, the mirror reflects their goings on.  I sat and drank my coffee in the kitchen and watched as these two birds chirped and cheeped their love and the joy of a warm late winter day.

I am finally back in Pennsylvania after 3 weeks on the road.  I hadn’t planned on 3 weeks, but oh my how the days do fly.  Verbal and I have been well-traveled and that culminated with a short weekend in Michigan, and then Verbs and I driving back to State College last Sunday night.

I proceeded to spend the next three days with a vile headache induced by a health cleanse, the cure for a rash of sugar and salt that I seemed to have been inhaling at the speed of light.  I feel like I have come out of a tunnel, and today is the first day when I don’t feel like I will pass out at any second from lack of sugar.

Verbal isn’t too happy with my comatose behavior, or he thinks that the three weeks of travel was much more exciting than what I am currently offering.  From Verbal’s point of view, he had different scenery, people, and animals almost each week.  In South Carolina, he had the ocean, sand, another dog, birds, and a variety of friends to pet and fawn over him.  In Illinois, he had a lake, woods, open fields, ducks, and a new dog to meet.  He also met up with goats and cattle both of which caused him to become so excited that he finally burst forth in howling barking delight, and in the matter of the goats, he created a goat stampede.  So you can understand why the prospect of me and walks in the park pales by comparison.

It’s another gorgeous day in State College, but according to the weather report we will lose twenty degrees by this afternoon.  Such is life outside of sunny So. Cal.

As ever,

K. Quinn

Yes, according to weather forecasters, more storms are coming our way.  Tonight we are expecting severe thunderstorms followed by more severe thunderstorms for all day Friday.  Tornadoes are possible, i.e. likely?  Sort of a daunting prospect, but what can we do?

Strange because today is absolutely beautiful.  March 1 and it’s 64 degrees outside, sun shining.  Verbal and I walked along the lake, and he barked at the ducks that are visiting us today.   Seven of the shoveler ducks have graced us with their presence.  They have been paddling this way and that across the lake.  They are rather funny when we can see them up close to shore.  They tend to bob their heads up and down, a little like their own version of ‘strutting.’  I wish I had the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack for them.

Sad news, Verbal manged to get stuck under a rowboat.  Sort of my fault. 

Let me explain.  My grandmother’s dog Ginger is about 40 pounds heavier and, thus, bigger than Verbal.  She is also youthful and playful.  Ginger was chasing Verbal who sought refuge in the only viable way, digging through the sand to get under the overturned rowboat.  Unfortunately, once under the boat – he began to panic, and I could hear him ricocheting around the underside of the boat and digging in every which direction.  Finally, I was able to reach under and drag him bodily out from under the boat.  All in a day’s adventure.

In preparation for the coming storm, we are having a dinner party, of course.  A cousin is coming over for our version of dinner and a movie.  Eton Mess has been requested, so I made meringues this morning.  And continuing on the Anglophile theme, I am making Thatched Chicken Pie tonight, and we are watching Lost in Austen.  Did I mention we will be drinking cider?  How twee of us!

Hopefully, the storm will hold until after the movie, and until after our cousin has safely driven home.  And, while we are on the subject, why not after I have walked the dogs tonight.

I look out the window, and the lake tremors slightly with the gentle breeze.  Hard to believe that in less than 10 hours we will have gusts of wind and pounding rain.

Tomorrow is also my last full day at the farm.  Saturday, we head to Michigan, and Sunday I head back to Pennsylvania.  Hoping the warm weather follows, but I will give a miss to the storms.

Hoping spring is calm and balmy for you.

As ever,

K. Quinn

Yes, according to weather forecasters, more storms are coming our way.  Tonight we are expecting severe thunderstorms followed by more severe thunderstorms for all day Friday.  Tornadoes are possible, i.e. likely?  Sort of a daunting prospect, but what can we do?

Strange because today is absolutely beautiful.  March 1 and it’s 64 degrees outside, sun shining.  Verbal and I walked along the lake, and he barked at the ducks that are visiting us today.   Seven of the shoveler ducks have graced us with their presence.  They have been paddling this way and that across the lake.  They are rather funny when we can see them up close to shore.  They tend to bob their heads up and down, a little like their own version of ‘strutting.’  I wish I had the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack for them.

Sad news, Verbal manged to get stuck under a rowboat.  Sort of my fault. 

Let me explain.  My grandmother’s dog Ginger is about 40 pounds heavier and, thus, bigger than Verbal.  She is also youthful and playful.  Ginger was chasing Verbal who sought refuge in the only viable way, digging through the sand to get under the overturned rowboat.  Unfortunately, once under the boat – he began to panic, and I could hear him ricocheting around the underside of the boat and digging in every which direction.  Finally, I was able to reach under and drag him bodily out from under the boat.  All in a day’s adventure.

In preparation for the coming storm, we are having a dinner party, of course.  A cousin is coming over for our version of dinner and a movie.  Eton Mess has been requested, so I made meringues this morning.  And continuing on the Anglophile theme, I am making Thatched Chicken Pie tonight, and we are watching Lost in Austen.  Did I mention we will be drinking cider?  How twee of us!

Hopefully, the storm will hold until after the movie, and until after our cousin has safely driven home.  And, while we are on the subject, why not after I have walked the dogs tonight.

I look out the window, and the lake trembles slightly with the gentle breeze.  Hard to believe that in less than 10 hours we will have gusts of wind and pounding rain.

Tomorrow is also my last full day at the farm.  Saturday, we head to Michigan, and Sunday I head back to Pennsylvania.  Hoping the warm weather follows, but I will give a miss to the storms.

Hoping spring is calm and balmy for you.

As ever,

K. Quinn

Yes, according to weather forecasters, more storms are coming our way.  Tonight we are expecting severe thunderstorms followed by more severe thunderstorms for all day Friday.  Tornadoes are possible, i.e. likely?  Sort of a daunting prospect, but what can we do?

Strange because today is absolutely beautiful.  March 1 and it’s 64 degrees outside, sun shining.  Verbal and I walked along the lake, and he barked at the ducks that are visiting us today.   Seven of the shoveler ducks have graced us with their presence.  They have been paddling this way and that across the lake.  They are rather funny when we can see them up close to shore.  They tend to bob their heads up and down, a little like their own version of ‘strutting.’  I wish I had the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack for them.

Sad news, Verbal manged to get stuck under a rowboat.  Sort of my fault. 

Let mee My grandmother’s dog Ginger is about 40 pounds heavier and, thus, bigger than Verbal.  She is also youthful and playful.  Ginger was chasing Verbal who sought refuge in the only viable way, digging through the sand to get under the overturned rowboat.  Unfortunately, once under to boat – he began to panic, and I could hear him ricocheting around the underside of the boat and digging in every which direction.  Finally, I was able to reach under and drag him bodily out from under the boat.  All in a day’s adventure.

In preparation for the coming storm, we are having a dinner party, of course.  A cousin is coming over for our version of dinner and a movie.  Eton Mess has been requested, so I made meringues this morning.  And continuing on the Anglophile theme, I am making Thatched Chicken Pie tonight, and we are watching Lost in Austen.  Did I mention we will be drinking cider?  How twee of us!

Hopefully, the storm will hold until after the movie, and until after our cousin has safely driven home.  And, while we are on the subject, why not after I have walked the dogs tonight.

I look out the window, and the lake trembles slightly with the gentle breeze.  Hard to believe that in less than 10 hours we will have gusts of wind and pounding rain.

Tomorrow is also my last full day at the farm.  Saturday, we head to Michigan, and Sunday I head back to Pennsylvania.  Hoping the warm weather follows, but I will give a miss to the storms.

Hoping spring is calm and balmy for you.

As ever,

K. Quinn

Yes, according to weather forecasters, more storms are coming our way.  Tonight we are expecting severe thunderstorms followed by more severe thunderstorms for all day Friday.  Tornadoes are possible, i.e. likely?  Sort of a daunting prospect, but what can we do?

Strange because today is absolutely beautiful.  March 1 and it’s 64 degrees outside, sun shining.  Verbal and I walked along the lake, and he barked at the ducks that are visiting us today.  He also manged to get stuck under a rowboat.  Sort of my fault. 

My grandmother’s dog Ginger is about 40 pounds heavier and, thus, bigger than Verbal.  She is also youthful and playful.  Ginger was chasing Verbal who sought refuge in the only viable way, digging through the sand to get under the overturned rowboat.  Unfortunately, once under to boat – he began to panic, and I could hear him ricocheting around the underside of the boat and digging in every which direction.  Finally, I was able to reach under and drag him bodily out from under the boat.  All in a day’s adventure.

In preparation for the coming storm, we are having a dinner party, of course.  A cousin is coming over for our version of dinner and a movie.  Eton Mess has been requested, so I made meringues this morning.  And continuing on the Anglophile theme, I am making Thatched Chicken Pie tonight, and we are watching Lost in Austen.  Did I mention we will be drinking cider?  How twee of us!

Hopefully, the storm will hold until after the movie, and until after our cousin has safely driven home.  And, while we are on the subject, why not after I have walked the dogs tonight.

I look out the window, and the lake trembles slightly with the gentle breeze.  Hard to believe that in less than 10 hours we will have gusts of wind and pounding rain.

Tomorrow is also my last full day at the farm.  Saturday, we head to Michigan, and Sunday I head back to Pennsylvania.  Hoping the warm weather follows, but I will give a miss to the storms.

Hoping spring is calm and balmy for you.

As ever,

K. Quinn

Yes, according to weather forecasters, more storms are coming our way.  Tonight we are expecting severe thunderstorms followed by more severe thunderstorms for all day Friday.  Tornadoes are possible, i.e. likely?  Sort of a daunting prospect, but what can we do?

Strange because today is absolutely beautiful.  March 1 and it’s 64 degrees outside, sun shining.  Verbal and I walked along the lake, and he barked at the ducks that are visiting us today.  He also manged to get stuck under a rowboat.  Sort of my fault. 

My grandmother’s dog Ginger is about 40 pounds heavier and, thus, bigger than Verbal.  She is also youthful and playful.  Ginger was chasing Verbal who sought refuge in the only viable way, digging through the sand to get under the overturned rowboat.  Unfortunately, once under to boat – he began to panic, and I could hear him ricocheting around the underside of the boat and digging in every which direction.  Finally, I was able to reach under and drag him bodily out from under the boat.  All in a day’s adventure.

In preparation for the coming storm, we are having a dinner party, of course.  A cousin is coming over for our version of dinner and a movie.  Eton Mess has been requested, so I made meringues this morning.  And continuing on the Anglophile theme, I am making Thatched Chicken Pie tonight, and we are watching Lost in Austen.  Did I mention we will be drinking cider?  How twee of us!

Hopefully, the storm will hold until after the movie, and until after our cousin has safely driven home.  And, while we are on the subject, why not after I have walked the dogs tonight.

I look out the window, and the lake trembles slightly with the gentle breeze.  Hard to believe that in less than 10 hours we will have gusts of wind and pounding rain.

Yes, according to weather forecasters, more storms are coming our way.  Tonight we are expecting severe thunderstorms followed by more severe thunderstorms for all day Friday.  Tornadoes are possible, i.e. likely?  Sort of a daunting prospect, but what can we do?

Strange because today is absolutely beautiful.  March 1 and it’s 64 degrees outside, sun shining.  Verbal and I walked along the lake, and he barked at the ducks that are visiting us today.  He also manged to get stuck under a rowboat.  Sort of my fault. 

My grandmother’s dog Ginger is about 40 pounds heavier and, thus, bigger than Verbal.  She is also youthful and playful.  Ginger was chasing Verbal who sought refuge in the only viable way, digging through the sand to get under the overturned rowboat.  Unfortunately, once under to boat – he began to panic, and I could hear him ricocheting around the underside of the boat and digging in every which direction.  Finally, I was able to reach under and drag him bodily out from under the boat.  All in a day’s adventure.

In preparation for the coming storm, we are having a dinner party, of course.  A cousin is coming over for our version of dinner and a movie.  Eton Mess has been requested, so I made meringues this morning.  And continuing on the Anglophile theme, I am making Thatched Chicken Pie tonight, and we are watching Lost in Austen.  Did I mention we will be drinking cider?  How twee of us!

Hopefully, the storm will hold until after the movie, and until after our cousin has safely driven home.  And, while we are on the subject, why not after I have walked the dogs tonight.

I look out the window, and the lake trembles slightly with the gentle breeze.  Hard to believe that in less than 10 hour

Yes, according to weather forecasters, more storms are coming our way.  Tonight we are expecting severe thunderstorms followed by more severe thunderstorms for all day Friday.  Tornadoes are possible, i.e. likely?  Sort of a daunting prospect, but what can we do?

Strange because today is absolutely beautiful.  March 1 and it’s 64 degrees outside, sun shining.  Verbal and I walked along the lake, and he barked at the ducks that are visiting us today.  He also manged to get stuck under a rowboat.  Sort of my fault. 

My grandmother’s dog Ginger is about 40 pounds heavier and, thus, bigger than Verbal.  She is also youthful and playful.  Ginger was chasing Verbal who sought refuge in the only viable way, digging through the sand to get under the overturned rowboat.  Unfortunately, once under to boat – he began to panic, and I could hear him ricocheting around the underside of the boat and digging in every which direction.  Finally, I was able to reach under and drag him bodily out from under the boat.  All in a day’s adventure.

In preparation for the coming storm, we are having a dinner party, of course.  A cousin is coming over for our version of dinner and a movie.  Eton Mess has been requested, so I made meringues this morning.  And continuing on the Anglophile theme, I am making Thatched Chicken Pie tonight, and we are watching Lost in Austen.  Did I mention we will be drinking cider?  How twee of us!

Hopefully, the storm will hold until after the movie, and until after our cousin has safely driven home.  And, while we are