<a class="proll" href="https://shop.Writing.Com/main/books/item_id/2198921-PORCH-PONDERINGS">PORCH PONDERINGS

about 23 hours ago
In response to "OSU Marching Band"

As a transplanted Buckeye, I just love that school and team.

We have buckeye trees growing along Main Street in Roundup. I love collecting them in the fall.

about 23 hours ago
In response to "OSU Marching Band"

Dotting the 'I' is a big honor. I always enjoy watching that band. Such precision. And rare to see that these days.

Kåre เลียม Enga

a day ago
In response to "OSU Marching Band"

Love dotting the i.

2 Like

Wordsmitty ✍️

a day ago
In response to "OSU Marching Band"

As a kid, our family went to a few OSU games. We drove over from Springfield where we lived when I grew up half a century ago. The band is so amazing. Football team was pretty good, too.

Go Buckeyes!

Aug 27, 2025 at 3:14pm
In response to "Letter Battle"

Soldier_Mike

I hear you! The misspelling, grammar errors, punctuation errors. And to think you can use a computer application that will prompt you to correct them. Hmm. Just pure ignorance and laziness.

I think it is also the dumbing down of the world. Especially here in America. Most people don't read, don't write, don't do anything that makes them think.

Soldier_Mike

Aug 25, 2025 at 11:53pm
In response to "Letter Battle"

One of my "favorite" things is spotting misspellings and grammar errors on HQ-issued posters at the Exchange (department store) on base, knowing that dozens - if not hundreds - of identical posters are misrepresenting the English language all around the world.

Aug 25, 2025 at 12:38pm
In response to "Ice Cream Today"

Thanks for all the comments, friends.

The ice cream event was fun. We made our expenses, so that is good. Got a lifetime membership. That is better. Some little ones ate ice cream. That is the best.

I just spoke with the newsletter lady and again pleaded my case for a paper newsletter, at least 2 copies for each Adventist church in Montana. Perhaps that will happen. Per the lady, evidently it cost $6K each time this thing went to print and the powers that be thought it was too expensive to continue. And they perceived that no one read it. But conversely, information to people that have no other way to receive it other than by mail and paper, is never a waste. Especially the faithful churchgoers.

But then I 'preach to the choir' about such things. QR codes I cannot use. No phones or clocks in motels. Ugh. Modern inconveniences.

Kåre เลียม Enga

I too use cash quite a bit now. And there will come a time, I think soon, when cash will be outlawed. All transactions will be digital. All the easier to cut off your money if you disobey.

But that is just me. being cynical.

50° here this AM. Leaves on the trees starting to turn. A kiss of fall.

Kåre เลียม Enga

Aug 24, 2025 at 9:22pm
In response to "Ice Cream Today"

Huckleberry isn't my favorite but I had a rootbeer float with it yesterday (local Big Dipper ice cream).

Daylight slides away August 21st - October 21st. Looking forward to a break in the heat come Thursday.

Paper, receipts, passport stamps... Very hard for those who want a paper trail... like mail-in paper ballots. Not everyone has a phone that can pay digitally or has access to the internet, especially the poor in rural areas. I use cash. Personally, I think cash should be accepted everywhere... by law. Personally, I prefer my privacy and digital cannot promise that.

Is it possible to ask people whether they would like a paper reminder of news and events? Perhaps have paper copies available at church?

There are many religions that count the day sunset-sunset. Not as common among Christians though.

WW is Monk WDC's 25! CopShop

Aug 24, 2025 at 7:12pm
In response to "Ice Cream Today"

Ice cream social is a lovely way to end the summer.

I'm sorry about the whole digital v print form of the newsletter. More and more print is falling aside in this world of quick delivery on electronic devices.

I do notice the days getting a little darker earlier here in New England.

But I remember living in Wyoming when the shorter days of sunlight started early. Of course having mountains around gives the sun an opportunity to hide faster!

My only saving grace is that I winter in Florida. Being closer to the equator, daylight is a little bit longer there.

SandraLynn

Aug 24, 2025 at 12:44pm
In response to "Ice Cream Today"

Yes, the change to earlier sunsets heralds shorter days and winter weather. Sigh. It happens every year, but it doesn't mean we have to like it.

Oops - You're out of order here

December 27, 2020 at 6:57pm

#1000912

Nutty Fruitcakes

27. National Fruitcake Day
Write about your opinion of Fruitcake.
If you don't like them, you haven't had mine.

I used to like my mother’s fruitcake. It was made with the real mincemeat you used to be able to find. Wish I knew how she did it. She wasn't a good cook or baker usually. So the fact that I remember anything she cooked or baked is unusual.

I don’t make fruitcake anymore. My husband makes stollen. But the last he made didn’t really rise very much. I think it was the yeast. He seemed to think they were okay. I thought the dough was too heavy. The jury is still deliberating. I did switch out the yeast that was in the refrigerator. I threw it out. So some new from the freezer to replace it should help. But he only makes stollen around Christmas.

I made an Amish Cinnamon Loaf. Now that was good. A sweet quick bread with a cinnamon sugar swirl. Yummy. I like to make easy things. Brownies, cakes, cookies, corn bread, quick breads, muffins, coffee cakes. I really should try to do some more difficult yeasty things. But we don't need the carbs and at this stage of my life, I don't need the aggravation.

We get catalogs starting in October, like everyone else, and lots of places were selling fruitcakes. Now come on, would you seriously pay $50 for a 2# fruitcake? I think not. So if you would buy one of those, you would be nuttier than a fruitcake.

So for all you nutty fruitcakes out there, you evidently are in the minority.

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December 26, 2020 at 7:34pm

#1000867

25. Pumpkin Pie Day
Are you a fan? Why or why not.
It’s okay. It’s a good source of Vitamin A - but by the time you put all that whipped creme on top, you’ve ruined it.

We went to a friend’s house. She has a ranch. She and her brother raise cattle, sheep and she has some chickens and a good size garden in the summer. It is pretty ramshackle. She and her husband live in a run-down single-wide trailer. There is stuff, and I am being kind, everywhere. The house is a mess. She is not a good housekeeper. But what we go for is the company, not the environment.

My hubby goes in the spring to help with lambing. He also helps when it is time to shear the sheep. Quite an eye-opening time for a guy that used to commute to NYC each day and work on Wall Street.

She brings us fresh eggs each week. But I think that is just an excuse to sit at our kitchen counter and talk for an hour. Which is just fine.
We need to talk.

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December 26, 2020 at 7:31pm

#1000866

Wining won't help

26. National Whiner's Day
Whiner or winer... you pick.
Maybe you'd like to whine about wine...
Or perhaps you forgot to mention a grievance from Festivus…

Do you want cheese with that whine? I love wine. I know wine is good for you, especially red wine. A glass a day is good for your heart.

But a bottle of wine a day is not.

A box of wine a day is dangerous.
Therein lies the rub.

I got snockered on wine quite a few years back. It was before a funeral. A family event. When I woke up in the morning, I discovered my head as large and bruised as if I had been in a prize fight. Nothing like going to a funeral with a swollen bruised head, especially when it is a family event. When I went to the ER after a few days, they told me, yes, you have a concussion. Seems I hit the wall and the bed frame a few times before hitting the hay that night. I don’t remember any of that.

Oh, and by the way, we see there is a brain tumor on the MRI. So see your doctor when you get home.

I don’t do wine anymore.
To my addled brain, wine = brain tumor = brain surgery = major life change = no more drinking

Queen Norma Jean

December 24, 2020 at 6:19pm

#1000791

No Nog 4 Me

24. Last-Minute Shopper's Day also National Eggnog Day
I should think good strong eggnog would hit the spot after a day of shopping.
See what you can come up with for that one.

I hate eggnog, barf. Eggs you drink?

I’d rather fry mine sunny side up, or in an omelette. Or perhaps in a custard or ice cream.

I don’t shop for more much more than groceries anymore. Anything I buy usually comes from a thrift store. I don’t do presents any more. I regift. Deal with it.

And I don’t drink anymore either.

We went to the Senior Center at 10 AM to watch a movie that was filmed in Roundup some time ago. https://www.montanafilm.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/Montana_Production_List1.... "Christmas Miracle in Caulfield USA". It was filmed in 1977 and revolves around a coal mine. Coal mining was still big business back then. Not so much now. Kurt Russell and Melissa Gilbert were in it, some other actors. But several people there recognized themselves, the old buildings, and remembered the locations. Then we stayed for lunch. Now the sun is setting and nothing is left to do.

I need a really good massage right about now. That would hit the spot. Yeah - that spot right there, right above that trigger point. Perhaps we'll watch "It's a Wonderful Life". Love that movie and George Bailey and mean old Mr. Potter. Frank Capra, now that director could tell a story.

Ho-ho-ho. Merry Christmas to all.

Queen Norma Jean

December 23, 2020 at 9:00pm

#1000757

Humbug

23. Happy Festivus!
Let the 'Airing of Grievances' commence…

I don’t know what this is about. Really, I don’t.
Humbug.
Buggers.
Grumpasaurus.
Leave me alone.
Go hunker in your bunker.
Mask it or casket.

I’ll be in a better mood soon.

Beethoven is still popular folks

December 22, 2020 at 10:36pm

#1000697

22. Today in History
Look up some events that happened on December 22nd,
select one, and tell us about it.

In 1808 Beethoven's Symphonies No. 5 and No. 6, Choral Fantasy and Piano Concerto No. 4 (featuring the composer as soloist) premiere at the Theater an der Wien in Vienna, Austria. It happened on this day.

Seems the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra had a celebration of this event. Nice.
https://www.cincinnatisymphony.org/tickets-and-events/buy-tickets/cso/1920-cso-s...

I love Beethoven. I think of the wonder of his creativity. The amazing gift he gave us, even with the disability of deafness. To hear the music in his mind and transfer it to paper and then never be able to hear it. Truly remarkable.

Symphony #5 is the famous “da-da-da-DUM”. You’ll recognize the opening notes when you hear them. I found a link to the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra that did a recreation of that concert by Beethoven. As I read more about it, seems that Beethoven was almost completely deaf when he performed in that concert.

Classical music is a favorite of ours. I used to listen to it often. Not so much any more, not sure why. I used to listen to it when I went to sleep, but that was when I was single. Hubby is a big classical fan as well. We have dozens of classical CDs. Remember them? Back before streaming music, YouTube. But after cassette tapes, and 8 track tapes, and 45 RPM, and 78s. I really am showing my age now. Now all the music he loves is loaded on his Apple desktop computer.

Beethoven in the modern era.

Classical music is calming. It has been shown to work wonders on babies. I think it is the rhythm, the scales, the lyrical qualities. I listen to it when I drive by myself. I especially loved the ‘1812 Overture’ by Tchaikovsky when I drove home from play practice last summer. When the cannons went off, and you have to have the version with the real cannon fire, I would honk the horn. I know, I’m a geek. So how, you say, is that calming? Well, I felt that it kept the deer away. It worked all but that one time.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1812_Overture

But this is about Beethoven, a German composer. His name means “beet root farm”. What’s that saying? “How you gonna keep them down on the farm once they see Paree!” It’s a song popular around the era of WWI and all those GIs coming home from Europe. (And I assume you know that Paree is a referral to Paris. Come on people, don’t you listen or read?)

Check out on YouTube a few entries for this song, pretty fun.