Where Were You When the World Stopped Turning?

I am participating in Candid Carrie's Friday Foto Finish Fiesta, today. Go visit her, OK?

Fx4's Friday Floral Fiesta

FYI: Voting has opened in the Mommy Blog of the Year Contest. Vote for Veggie Mom and Aunt Julie...Pretty please? Thanks!

Since my flower garden is on its way out, thought I'd share some of the blossoms that won't be seen in my front yard again anytime soon...Brought to you by Candid Carrie's Friday Foto Finish Fiesta.

Happy Friday!

Friday Foto Finish Fiesta: I'd Like to Thank the Academy...

Wow...I can't believe it! I've made the finals in Project Mommyhood's Mommy Blogger of the Year Contest!

I guess the tales of Uncle Lynn, Aunt Julie and The POPrs Family have some entertainment value, huh? Voting gets underway on August 15th. In the meantime, I'd like to recap my week at the beach. The highlights, of course, centered around the wildlife.

We saw ghost crabs burrowing in the sand during our evening walks on the beach.

We saw majestic pelicans soaring over the ocean. Incoming!

On the other end of the spectrum, we saw birds of a much different feather...

And, of course, we saw lots of wildlife of the human variety!

These shots were brought to you by Candid Carrie and her Friday Foto Finish Fiesta. But of course, you already knew that, right?

Calling All Winners!

Wanted to tie up some "loose ends" before I start my Big Beach Bash. I've heard from most of the winners in my Everybody Wins POPrs Giveaway...the rest of you need to give me a holler!

If you're one of those fabulous readers who recommended a great beach read for Aunt Julie, please make sure you send me your contact info. Just shoot me an e-mail: veggiemom@poprs.com, and your prize will be on its way.

Looking forward to sending you some beach reports from North Carolina's beautiful Outer Banks...stay tuned!

This update is brought to you by Candid Carrie's Friday Foto Finish Fiesta. So, there!

Friday Foto Finish Fiesta...at the Beach

Have a great weekend, everyone. Thanks for the reading suggestions for the beach. My POPrs Giveaway is open through tomorrow, and everyone's a winner! The countdown begins today with a Friday Foto Finish Fiesta!

In honor of Candid Carrie, here are some favorite beach shots!

College Girl & Soccer Boy

College Boy & The Wild One, way back when

Uncle Lynn & Soccer Boy

One more thing. All of you nice bloggy buddies who recommended a beach read for my upcoming vacation, be sure to send your contact info...including a phone contact...to veggiemom@poprs.com . I want to get your prizes out to you ASAP! And don't forget to let me know what you think of POPrs when you've tried 'em!

Public Enemies

We're back from our short stay in the beautiful North Woods of Wisconsin. We had a great dinner at the Little Bohemia Lodge, the sight of the infamous gunfight between John Dillinger and his gang and the FBI.

We drove past the Lodge on the main highway on the way to the cabin, so when we hopped in the car to go to dinner, I teased Uncle Lynn for hooking up the GPS. Men and their gadgets!

We followed the directions until it had us turn left AWAY from where we thought the Lodge was.

"Let's just follow it" Lynn said, so we wove through the woods, between small lakes and tall trees for miles. One of us commented that it would make more sense to have a hide-out back in the woods than on Highway 51, so we kept following the Garmin. Finally, we looked up the address to the Lodge, and found ourselves at the end of what seemed to be a long driveway. By then, I was willing to follow its directions and go down the road to my dinner! But Lynn said it must be someone's house, so we went back through the woods to the highway and found the Lodge.

When we had ordered a drink in the bar.

Lynn told the bartender that we took the "long way " to find the Lodge. "Let me guess," he said. "You have a GPS!" Turns out that the previous owner worked from a home office, and had his home address as the mailing address for the Lodge. Despite numerous phone appeals, the GPS folks have not made this change. Imagine the traffic in the woods during the making of the film Public Ememies this summer! All those women trying to get a glimpse of Johnny Depp!

The gangsters were having dinner in the private dining room at the end of the main Lodge. The original windows have been preserved, complete with bullet holes.

There are also bullet holes in the wall, directly across from those windows.

The food was great, and not expensive. We had a little adventure finding the place. If you want to learn more about the Little Bohemia Lodge and it's history, go to http://www.littlebohemialodge.com/. It's very interesting. And when you see the film Public Enemies, which now I HAVE to see, you will have some background. And if you go there, forget the fancy GPS. It's right on highway 51! (must not have been so well traveled in the 1920's)

Candid Carrie, who's also from Wisconsin, brought you this travelogue as part of her Friday Foto Finish Fiesta.

Fx4: We Have a Winner AND a Loser!

See these kiddos? They're enjoying the yummy taste of POPrs on their yogurt. You know, POPrs, created by Uncle Lynn. That fun and good-for-you seasoning that makes your food "sing"!

I had my first POPrs Giveaway this week, and guess what? We have a WINNER!

CONGRATS to Blue Violet, who resides over at A Nut in a Nutshell. She wins a 10-pack of Poprs magic color changing pop'n crystals. These magical crystals, when stirred into yogurt or applesauce, begin to "sing." Fun AND good for you...can't be that!

Hey there, Blue...please send your contact info to veggiemom@poprs.com. We'll make sure Uncle Lynn gets your POPrs Prize in the mail to ya!

The crystals are red, and when stirred into into yogurt, applesauce, or even your morning oatmeal, as Blue Violet suggested, they turn it BLUE! You can feel them pop in your mouth! They are sooooooooo cool. Kids...both young and old...just love them!

Do you remember the photos of my UGLY PATIO the other day? Well, I don't know if you looked close enough at my pictures from that post, but there's a petunia poppin' (get it?) up through the bricks!

I was just wondering...why does this petunia survive, with no attention at all, when the ones I deliberately planted, fertilized, watered and hung on a hook by the mailbox are all dead?

These sad little flowers, plus my glad winner, are brought to you today by Candid Carrie's Friday Foto Finish Fiesta. Have a great weekend!

Fx4: Aunt Julie Airs Her (formerly) Dirty Laundry

I know, I'm a throwback. But in my humble opinion, there's something special about crawling in bed at night and falling asleep with the smell of sheets that have been dried on the line. Nothing like it!

In honor of Candid Carrie's Friday Foto Finish Fiesta, I'd like to share this little verse. I don't know the author, but it reminds me of my Mom and my grandmother and days gone by, when everything just seemed to smell sweeter!

Clothes Line Poem

A clothes line was a news forecast

To neighbors passing by.

There were no secrets you could keep

When clothes were hung to dry.

It also was a friendly link

For neighbors always knew

If company had stopped on by

To spend a night or two.

For then you'd see the 'fancy sheets'

And towels upon the line;

You'd see the 'company table cloths'

With intricate design.

The line announced a baby's birth

To folks who lived inside

As brand new infant clothes were hung

So carefully with pride.

The ages of the children could

So readily be known

By watching how the sizes changed

You'd know how much they'd grown.

It also told when illness struck,

As extra sheets were hung;

Then nightclothes, and a bathrobe, too,

Haphazardly were strung.

It said, 'Gone on vacation now'

When lines hung limp and bare.

It told, 'We're back!' when full lines sagged

With not an inch to spare.

New folks in town were scorned upon

If wash was dingy gray,

As neighbors carefully raised their brows,

And looked the other way.

But clotheslines now are of the past

For dryers make work less.

Now what goes on inside a home

Is anybody's guess.

I really miss that way of life.

It was a friendly sign

When neighbors knew each other best

By what hung on the line!

POPrs Alert! A new POPrs Giveaway launches Sunday! Want to make your veggies...and your yogurt...sing? Make sure you tune in for Aunt Julie's maiden voyage in the world of bloggy giveaways!

See You in September!

This is Aunt Julie, guest writing for Veggie Mom today, so she can have a day off. I wanted to take this moment, and this medium, to brag about her girls, College Girl and the Wild One, a little.

I have known them since they were tiny, (naturally, since I am "Aunt Julie" and all) and just wanted to say what lovely young women they have matured into! Uncle Lynn and I could not be more proud. Their cousins are too, thought they won't admit it!

College Girl recently graduated with honors from Lawrence University, with a degree in History. In the fall, she will be off to the University of Wisconsin Madison to study law.

The Wild One is studying photography at Lawrence, and just completed her freshman year.

UW-Madison is Moker, their Dad's, alma mater. And also that of Uncle Lynn, who got his law degree from there, when tuition was about $1.50.

As part of Candid Carrie's Friday Foto Finish Fiesta, thought I'd share some photos, taken by Veggie Mom's sister, Miss Jo. I also want to wish the girls a safe and happy summer!

Friday Foto Finish Fiesta: Family Matters

Going to a "family reunion" of sorts this weekend. Don't know if all of these members of the extended POPrs Family will be there, but quite a few of them will be.

I'm sure I'll have some tales to tell. Stay tuned!

Just had to dip into the POPrs Family Archives once again for Candid Carrie's Friday Foto Finish Fiesta. Happy Friday, once again. Happy Friday, everyone!

Friday Foto Finish Fiesta: Reading is Fundamental

In March, those of us who love to read commemorate this joie de vivre by celebrating Dr. Seuss' Birthday and National Reading Month. I'm sure there's a month for everything and every cause under the sun, but reading is fundamental to me.

Why do I bring this up now? Because I just uncovered this cute shot in the POPrs Family Archives. Meet College Boy in his younger years, showing off one of his favorite authors. Mine, too!

I can read in red. I can read in blue.

I can read in pickle color, too.

I can read in bed, and in purple, and in brown.

I can read in a circle and upside down.

I can read with my left eye.

I can read with my right.

I can read Mississippi with my eyes shut tight.

There are so many things you can learn about, but

You’ll miss the best things if you keep your eyes shut.

The more that you read, the more things you will know.

The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.

If you read with your eyes shut, you’re likely to find

That the place where you’re going is far, far behind.

So that’s why I tell you to keep your eyes wide,

Keep them wide open ... at least on one side!

~From I Can Read with My Eyes Shut, by Dr. Seuss~

This Seussical Tribute is brought to you by Candid Carrie, and her Friday Foto Finish Fiesta!

Fx4: Confessions of a Google Junkie

Those of you who have grown used to Veggie Mom's prolific posting and commenting must have been sorely disappointed this week. She's been fighting with Google, and let's just say it hasn't been pretty.

Starting Monday night, the Search Engine That Owns Me started throwing hissy fits. First, I couldn't access Blogger, which of course, means no Eat Your Veggies! Then, I could get to Blogger, but I couldn't sign on. Then, I could get the EYV Home Page to load~well, half of it, anyway.

The long and the short of it is that I've felt a tad off-kilter all week long. At one point, I discovered that if I wanted to search for something, that was fine, but YouTube, Blogger, GMail and Picassa Web were all off-limits.

Google 's only been around for 10 years or so, but I'm feeling like Google Apps have been running things for centuries. When will the madness end?

Finally, last night, things started settling down. No more fragmented screens. No more odd dips and cyber-blips. I could open up Blogger, start a new post, and write something.

Only one problem. The program let me compose this post and post the graphic above. But posting photos seems to be out, for now. So I'm celebrating Candid Carrie's Friday Foto Fiesta with all that I've got. Words.

POPrs Sing for Candid Carrie

Wanted to share a couple more photos of Uncle Lynn's first foray into retail. Here's Soccer Boy trying to act all "professional," at the Festival Foods Store in Fon du Lac, WI...


...and a young customer who is SO SURPRISED that POPrs make her yogurt "sing"! Isn't this expression priceless?

Playing along today with Candid Carrie's Friday Foto Finish Fiesta. If you're in the neighborhood, come on out to Festival Foods and try some POPrs. This fun, delicious and good-for-you seasoning is in the yogurt aisle.

Candid Carrie's: A Multicultural Place to Hang

To enter the fantabulous POPrs Give It Away Now Blog Carnival Contest, please click here. Contest closes at 11:59 p.m. EST tonight!

Of course, it's Friday. TGIF, everyone! That means it's time for Candid Carrie's Friday Foto Fiesta, known in these parts as Fx4. Or FFFF, if you want to get technical about it.

Aunt Julie, as you know, is a quilter, a gardener, a baker, a great cook, a decorator, a photographer, AND a crafter. At one time in her young life, she was also into multiculturalism, as you can see from the shot above.

Julie Eliz stitched these Raggedy Anns when my kids were little. She also made corresponding Andys.

I'd say it's been pretty nifty being her SIL all these years. Don't you agree? Maybe we should market these with the POPrs...

May Day: The Perfect Storm

I must go down to the seas again, to the lonely sea and the sky,

And all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by,

And the wheel's kick and the wind's song and the white sail's shaking,

And a grey mist on the sea's face and a grey dawn breaking.

I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide

Is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied;

And all I ask is a windy day with the white clouds flying,

And the flung spray and the blown spume, and the sea-gulls crying.

I must go down to the seas again, to the vagrant gypsy life,

To the gull's way and the whale's way where the wind's like a whetted knife;

And all I ask is a merry yarn from a laughing fellow-rover,

And quiet sleep and a sweet dream when the long trick's over.

~I Must Go Down to the Sea, by John Masefield~

Brought to you by "fellow-rovers" Aunt Julie & Veggie Mom.

Time for Candid Carrie's Friday Foto Finish Fiesta, and we're playing along!

Simon Says?

Susan Boyle Sings on Britain's Got Talent 2009 Episode 1 @ Yahoo! Video

Finally ~ someone who can wipe that nasty smirk off Simon Cowell's face.

You've probably all seen her by now, but I thought I'd share this video as part of Candid Carrie's Friday Foto Finish Fiesta. Not sure if I'm allowed to post a video as part of this weekly extravaganza (the rules, please, Madam Chairman?), but this vid does involve images, so what the heck!

You probably already know the story, too. Susan Boyle, a 47-year-old, single lady from Scotland, who says she's never been kissed. I think she's been "saving" herself for just this moment!

And Simon's actually smiling. A genuine, honest-to-goodness, from-the-heart kinda smile. And he and the other judges look genuinely amazed. Hope it wasn't just staged for TV.

Candid Carrie Helps Big Bear Celebrate His Birthday

A few years back, when the world was slightly younger and so were we, Big Bear entered this crazy world. Today's his birthday, and Candid Carrie is helping him celebrate.

Aunt Julie and I were going through photo albums the other day, and came up with this precious shot. She's the New Mom in this photo. B-Squared was a cutie, wasn't he? Still is!

This celebration brought to you by Candid Carrie's Friday Foto Finish Fiesta. Happy Birthday, Big Bear!

Doing the Chicken Dance with Candid Carrie

Daddy is a Badger ~ that would be a grad of the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Big Sis is considering becoming a Badger in her post-grad life. So it's only natural that The Wild One taught the Badger Band how to do the Chicken Dance at a UW football game so many moons ago.

Playing along with Candid Carrie today. She's the First-Rate Founder of the Friday Foto Finish Fiesta!

Dangerous Dog Alert!

IMPORTANT-Please read!!

If you are an owner of a dog that belongs to a "dangerous breed" category and you also have a small child, please take this as a warning.

Don't leave your dog with the child unattended under any circumstances. Only a little moment was enough for the following to happen...

OK, Aunt Julie put me up to it...it comes from that vast, Cavernous Creativity Central known as The Internet. Thought this would be a Fitting Foto for Candid Carrie's Friday Foto Finish Fiesta. Don't you?

Friday Foto Finish Fiesta: Meet Dave!

Remember the days when gas cost 30 cents? When you could pull up, crank down that window (yup, I'm not talkin' 'bout electric conveniences here!) and yell, "Fill 'er up!"? Well, Aunt Julie still has that luxury in her little ol' corner of Northeastern Wisconsin.

Meet Dave. He works at the Marathon service station in Neenah. Emphasis on "service." With a smile. His services, which as you can see are extensive, cost nothing. Just Fill 'Er Up, for the same price-per-gallon as the self-serves down the street, and you get your windows washed, your oil and window-washer fluid checked, and, of course, your gas pumped, don'tcha know.

Candid Carrie put me up to this. It's her day today. Please check out Carrie's Friday Foto Fiesta Finish. It's Freakin' Awesome!