Typically, our esteemed Liz Emrich guides the OS foodies through the first season of Top Chef Masters, a spin-off featuring celebrity chefs competing for charity and ego.  Yet, this week Ms Liz is off playing with the SCA (Society for Creative Anachronism) at Pennsic and I graciously offe… Read full post »

For those of you who have been jealousing and/or resentful, just shut your claptraps and see Freaky Troll's comment under Emma Peel's post.  It was all about you, you, you.

Those of you who know me and, being a semi-professional OS gathering meetup attendee, a few of you… Read full post »

This morning, I read with interest Jon Henner's post about our city's plight.  Contrary to others, I don't think Phoenix is a dying city, perhaps because I live in far North Scottsdale, just beyond where the rich and beautiful people live, just out of their city limits, but close enough to… Read full post »

Okay, I begrudgingly became a fan of yours.  I mean, your first album came out when I was in high school and, since my musical tastes developed during the “Disco Sucks” era, I thought you were uncool and that, by liking your tunage, I would be uncool as well. … Read full post »

Stillwater, OK, December 2, 1983.  I am 20 years old and gathered in a nondescript three bedroom/two bath ranch rental house with a group of fellow Oklahoma State students and co-workers.  To set the college scene, the big event was preceded by a blindfolded beer tasti/… Read full post »

I have written this post in different carnations (incarnations) the past few years.  This is the newest edit.

Pardon my triteness, but my father was my hero.  Unlike anyone else in this world before him, he possessed the innate ability to make me feel better when I was lower than down,… Read full post »

I made a mistake today; I skimmed Gary Justis’ post.

Okay, to clarify, I lurve Gary.  He’s a great writer, great storyteller, great all-around nice as pie guy.  But today, he wrote about dolls.  This was over 30 minutes ago and my pulse hasn’t quieted yet.&nb… Read full post »

There once was a Thursday tradition

Haikus, dirty, were written

They became tired and old

And an axe scrolled in gold

Was offered to end their affliction

Stellaa then spoke up and cried

“Kill Haiku” on OS and worldwide

Limericks are better… Read full post »

Saturday, we had some fun playing the no makeup meme.  And yes, I took some heat for my camera placement but, after trying multiple poses from multiple self-portrait angles, I decided on that one.  The others gave me a definite funhouse effect.

Today, I thought I'd try a little eye makeup… Read full post »

He still watches over me after all this time.  Just when I thought he was gone forever and just when I was ready to poke my eyes out with dull knives, I find this, written by him and saved by my mother.  Thank heavens for the small (and large) gifts.  I… Read full post »

Not exercising, mind you, that would be counterintuitive to my nature, just getting in that big ass pickup truck, cranking highway tunes like “Radar Love” and “Mexican Radio”, tunes I never listen to otherwise, and pressing the gas pedal hard, no cruise control for rebellious… Read full post »

In that flux time between awaking and wakefulness, I hear the air conditioning kick on and my mood, not yet established for the day, plummets before it has a chance to do otherwise.  It’s not yet 6:30 and the temps are already in the eighties.  Strike the farm time, the gardening,… Read full post »

One of the following is a lie, a dirty, nasty lie:

1. David Lee Roth propositioned me. (true, I turnd the skank down)

2. I stole Brett Favre's fork. (false, my friend Kerry did however)

3. I am a member of the Prussian royal family. (true, my great grandfather Noble… Read full post »

Recently, I received an email from fiber friend and fellow farmer/ blogger, Michelle McMillen, inquiring as to the state of my heart; as in, is it beating?

The last post you put on Open Salon was all about what could have killed you in your life but didn't. Now… Read full post »

A lot of things in my life could, or perhaps, should have killed me. 

At four, I broke a glass milk bottle, slashing my wrist, in a botched attempt to make myself cereal early one weekend morning.  My quick thinking father, who ripped my favorite green and… Read full post »

Stupid girl at home

Feeling sad on her birthday 

Nobody to share it with.

(Denise, aka Verbal Remedy, made me do it. Well, not the haiku but the feeling sorry for myself on my birthday post.   My truck is in the shop, David has meetings all day, and I… Read full post »

Verbal Remedy, AZ David, and Pretend Farmer, Pacific Beach, CA, February 7th, 2009.

So Many Knobs (on Denise's camera).  Read full post »

 We found her this morning, still warm but gone, sheltered in the sheep birthing stall.  She came to us over two years ago as a rescue.  Some bright soul had purchased her as a kid, small and cute and cuddly, and raised her in the house.  The fact that she… Read full post »

This morning, The Child of Four proudly patted his genitals and declared with great excitement, "It goes up and down and down and up!"

Oh my goodness.  You males.

I'm taking off for the weekend.  As a bonus to my San Diego trip, I get to see the lovely Verbal Remedy.… Read full post »

Devil's Food with marshmallow frosting and cherries on top.    Read full post »

A multitude of pulchritudinous puffballs arrived yesterday around lunchtime, peeping sweet nothings but looking a little worse for wear.  We ordered them from Murray McMurray Hatchery last November when it became apparent that the chicken attrition rate had gotten to the level that/… Read full post »

After reading Rob's great post about what we consider our best writing here, I spent an inordinate amount of time searching through my archives.  What did I discover?  Well, I haven't been putting the effort into my writing as I did initially.  I was the 449th person to enter… Read full post »

Waaa!  Boohoo!  Sob!  Sigh.

You can hear a pin drop in Arizona this morning.  It's as if the entire desert is in a state of shock.  The glass slipper shattered in our Cinderella story.  Why the hell did Whisenhunt have Warner pass the ball in a crowd known for in… Read full post »

Gramma Dorsee (nee Kroneberger) was a force of nature, tall and big-boned with the work ethic of ten men.  She was also one of the many blessings of my life.  When I was a young child, I spent just about every weekend with her, eating her homemade applesauce, playing Uncle Wiggly… Read full post »