Happy Monday my friends. How you livin’?
This is one of those Mondays I feel like I got cheated out of a perfectly good weekend. I spent most of it at a depressing casino or cleaning out the garage. I’m not going to tell you what was in the garage, but might have started with “dead” and ended with “rats.”
So that was fun.
In other news, I’m working hard on setting up an online shop to start selling art, and, I discovered that if you ask the people at McDonald’s realllllly nicely, they will sell you club soda on ice same as a fountain coke. It’s in the soda gun it’s just not on the menu. Shazam! For former Diet Coke addicts such as moi, this is the best secret since Deep Throat. You’re welcome!
Quick question – Does anyone recognize this sort of tree? All the leaves are different shapes. Some are pointed ovals with serrated edges, some are nearly round with smooth edges, some have 5 rounded points, and some are round with notches? It does not appear to be reflective of a bug or growth cycle (all shapes come in all ages/sizes). Thoughts? I sat under this tree at my friend’s house last week and the obsession has stayed with me since.
Now, onto other distractions!
10 of the most colorful places on earth.
Adult puzzle: How well do you know your 50 states?
DIY portable air conditioner for under $50. Whoa.
Tie dye s’mores. Suddenly my campfires seem way under-groovy.
How long does it take you to read that first paragraph? This is what dyslexia feels like.
Have you heard about the #ilooklikeanengineer hashtag? Brilliant.
Eight ways to refresh your home with watermelon.
Last but not least, I was honored to be interviewed by my wonderful friend Jade. Pop over to read my take on blogging, creativity, and Groundhog Day.
Word of the Week: Heteroscian. n. Dweller of a temperate zone.
Also, my friend Dale’s photo exhibit is opening this week at the Skokie Library and will be up until October 10, 2015. I told you a bit about his work last year, but you should really check out his site and read his stories yourself. This video is a terrific introduction! See more here.
How weird. I live in a 3story townhouse wit 2 AC units and it is STILL 80 deg. on our 2nd/main living floor! Way too warm for sleeping, dressing, watching TV. Was just looking for portable AC..and voila! Sending link to handy husband…WAY cheaper than a 3rd unit! Thanks!!!
Let me know if it works!
I think the tree is a white mulberry. I’ve never seen one, but apparently they are characterized by all sorts of different leaves on the same tree. Very cool 🙂
Just googled — looks about right! Thanks!
Definitely a mulberry. Folklore says the leaves were formed when an old lady was trying to knit gloves and couldn’t get the fingers right, and threw her rejects out the window where they landed on a bush.
I for one am pretty excited about your online shop!
Why did you spend time in a depressing casino? Where there showgirls and feathers with glitter involved?
No feathers at all. Just a bunch of drunks at a country music concert. It was still fun, but, slightly depressing.
Ooh, what a great list this week! I totally needed this list today.
Regarding your tree question. I suspect it’s some sort of oak–young leaves are boring, and the mature ones have lots of curves. You might contact a county extension agent for clarification, though. Extension agents can ID just about anything related to flora and fauna. (Search at your local county courthouse for the extension office.)
And I must know my 50 states well, because the adult puzzle declared that I am now the President! Thank you Mrs. Helt in 11th grade Geography. Finally, that A+ final grade is coming in handy for something!
That’s a Mulberry tree, essentially a giant weed. I’m always digging seedlings out of the yard. The birds eat the berries and then poop the seeds out everywhere. They sprout and grow quickly.
Your online art store sounds fantastic. I wish you much success.
Mulberry I think – they always have such a weird assortment of leaves 🙂 The leaves are supposed to be edible… But I think that’s stretching the definition of edible.
Silkworms think they’re tasty!
It’s a mulberry tree. Very tasty fruit a little earlier in the season… =)
Yep, it’s a mulberry tree! I learned how to identify trees when I took the forestry project through 4-H as a girl, and I’ve always thought mulberry trees had the coolest combinations of leaves. None of the leaves are quite the same.
That’s a wonderful interview over on Jaderbomb. I hope everyone goes over there to read it.
I did the U.S. States puzzle and only missed New Jersey, but I was pretty much guessing on most of that region. I take that as a sign that I am way over due in life for a trip to New England. Where my lobster roll at?
Peaches, I read your interview with Jade and was agreeing about wondering why getting together to make stuff died out too. A few weeks ago I saw this amazing video about the ladies of Gee’s Bend who quilt and sing! Some like quilting more, some like sewing more! I think you’ll like it, also their fabulous use of color.
Here’s the link, it’s about half an hour but mesmerizing! https://vimeo.com/50454661
And you don’t want to know what’s happened to them lately, a bit of squabbling 🙁
Oh my gosh! I LOVE those women. I saw them featured in another documentary about quilting on PBS — this is spectacular. Thank you!!
I can’t decide which is worse: Dead rats or live rats. Every time I decide on one, the other pops up as just as horrible. Either way, yikes.