Freeform Friday

More On The Moon

The response to my Neil Armstrong post keeps coming. I love that so many of us remember it. It's good for us to talk about it and rememnicse so that those who don't remember it know just what a monumental moment in our history it was.

My father sent me this story (source Urban Legends and my father's memory) this morning and it was too funny not to share.  Apparently Mr. Armstrong had a pretty good sense of humor in addition to everything else he had going for him. 

"When Apollo Mission Astronaut Neil Armstrong first walked on the moon, he not only gave his famous "one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind" statement but followed it by several remarks, usual communication traffic between him, the other astronauts and Mission Control. Just before he re-entered the lander, however, he made this remark 'Good luck Mr.Gorsky'. 

Many people at NASA thought it was a casual remark concerning some rival Soviet Cosmonaut. However, upon checking, there was no Gorsky in either the Russian or American space programs. Over the years many people questioned Armstrong as to what the "Good luck Mr. Gorsky" statement meant, but Armstrong always just smiled.

On July 5, 1995 in Tampa Bay FL, while answering questions following a speech, a reporter brought up the 26 year old question to Armstrong. This time he finally responded. Mr. Gorsky had finally died and so Neil Armstrong felt he could answer the question.

When he was a kid, he was playing baseball with a friend in the backyard.His friend hit a fly ball, which landed in the front of his neighbor's bedroom windows. His neighbors were Mr. & Mrs. Gorsky.

As he leaned down to pick up the ball, young Armstrong heard Mrs.Gorsky shouting at Mr. Gorsky. "Sex! You want sex?! You'll get sex when the kid next door walks on the moon!"

It's just too much, that amidst everything else that Armstrong had to remember that day to land safely, he remembered this moment in time from his childhood and gave Mr. Gorsky a nod. 

Speaking of the moon again...did you catch sight of the Blue Moon?  It's big and full and bright.

Work at the desk today. I'm designing and email campaign and working on a brochure design. Then of course the obligatory pool time with our Dublin visitors. Oh how I wish I'd had a camera in my hand for the moment my brother in law plopped my godson in the pool water yesterday. The expression on his face was priceless.  Tonight we'll probably be out at the campfire. Maybe we'll even roast a marshmallow or two.

Freeform Friday

Well, this was an easy pick given what we've been talking about this week on the Muse and what's happening.  Ba, ba, ba, ba, ba, ba, ba, ba Ba, ba, ba, ba, ba, ba, ba, ba Dang, dang, dang, dang Dang, da, ding, dong Blue moon blue blue moon.

Make it a good one,

One Bright Smoothie

Energy In a Glass

My friend Kath, who is one of my bookclub/champagne ladies, owns a Blue Moon Evolution....cafe by day, restaurant by night. She's had the most wonderful Green Bliss Smoothie on the cafe menu for years. Yes, you saw and read right. GREEN Bliss Smoothie.

I made my own little take on it this morning.

First thing I did was go out to the garden and pick fresh kale. Yup. You read that right too. Kale. Just trust me on this, ok.  Here's a little bit about kale from WebMD.

"One cup of kale contains 36 calories, 5 grams of fiber, and 15% of the daily requirement of calcium and vitamin B6 (pyridoxine), 40% of magnesium, 180% of vitamin A, 200% of vitamin C, and 1,020% of vitamin K. It is also a good source of minerals copper, potassium, iron, manganese, and phosphorus.  Kale’s health benefits are primarily linked to the high concentration and excellent source of antioxidant vitamins A, C, and K -- and sulphur-containing phytonutrients. Carotenoids and flavonoids are the specific types of antioxidants associated with many of the anti-cancer health benefits. Kale is also rich in the eye-health promoting lutein and zeaxanthin compounds." (Did you catch that part Dad?)


Suffice it to say, Kale is a powerhouse. It also makes a wicked good green bliss smoothie.

I used 4 Kale leaves (rip the leaf from the stem, as the stem can be a bit tough), 1 small (3.5 oz) vanilla and honey yogurt, 1 large banana, 1 cup orange juice and ice.

Blend and viola.

This is good stuff. It tastes fresh and clean. You can always add some honey if you need it sweeter, but I find between the yogurt, the fruit and the OJ it's sweet enough for me.  It made a good batch. Gar, bil Niall and I all had glasses.

Oh, did I tell you I had a helper?  I did.  The next wave of Dubliners arrived yesterday afternoon-- The Bates of Lucan (yup, the hound is named after the town that they live in, just outside the city).  My niece Leah helped rip the leaves of the stems for me.

I finally met my godson Harry face to face. Live. In person. Not via Skype!!! He would have helped too but he was too busy chillin' with Lucan and eating watermelon.

Get a load of the shirt we gave him - 'I get all the chicks'.  I just love peanuts. 

Gorgeous day here. Perfect for pooltime with the kiddos later.  First, some work on my desk though. What about you?

This post makes me think that I really, really need to make a 'recipe' page on the Muse. Put that one on the too do list.

Loved all your comments about Neil Armstrong yesterday. Off to reply now.

Have a fantastic day,

Write On This

Such A Tease

Hi gang. Happy Wednesday. Today is the day our next Dublin visitors arrive. In fact, they are currently at Dublin airport waiting for their plane. There will be lots of hugs later.  As many as when our most recent visitors from Dublin left last Friday.  Before my brother in law and nieces left, Ali and Caroline were itching to get at the new chalkboard wall.

It was a practice in patience you see. First I had to prep the wall with a good wipe down. This is always one of the most important steps. This wall being in the kitchen made it even more important.

Then it was a blank slate.....

...just asking for some chalkboard paint.

I was pretty happy with the way the stuff went on. It wasn't messy or drippy. Coverage was pretty good, though I still went with two coats.  *Fuzzy focus alert.*  The only thing that took any amount of time was cutting in along the ceiling and around the bathroom door. I know, the bathroom door is UGly. Please ignore. (Another project on the to do list. We would have replaced it by now, but nothing in this house is easy. It's a completely different size at the top than the bottom. Oh yeah, somebody needed a lesson in plumb when they built this place.)

Back to the wall. Remember that patience thing I was telling you about. Well, we needed it. Once I finished painting, you had to wait THREE days before you could write on it.  Between myself and my nieces, were were chomping at the bit to try it.

I gave them the honor of 'chalking' the wall first. The three day wait was up just as they were leaving for the airport. Perfect timing.

I finally picked up some chalk Saturday morning and left my mark.  Since they'd added a little Dublin touch, I thought it was my duty to remind us of Rome (which we're still dreaming of returning to 5 years later).

 

I'm pretty pleased with the way the wall turned out all in all. It did make that area of the kitchen darker, but of course that is to be expected since it's BLACKboard paint.

Can't wait to see the little ones have at this when they get here later. I mean most of the time kids are told not to write on the wall.

Man on The Moon

Upon hearing of the passing of Astronaut Neil Armstrong this weekend, I added a quote of his to the wall.

"There are places to go beyond belief."

Isn't that the truth? Can you imagine what it felt like to fly through space? Speed through the stars?  To view the Earth from outer space? To be able to block out the earth with your thumb, as he did looking out the window of the Eagle?  To be the first man to walk on the moon? To have the guts to be such an adventurer that you're willing to sit on a can of rocket fuel, be sent into space and land where nobody has ever been before?

To be able to say you where up there?

Way above the Earth looking down?

Standing on the Moon looking at the Earth?

I was little. I was only 4.  You'd think I wouldn't remember any of it, but I do.  I can't say for sure I remember the first moon landing, or subsequent landings. My dad was involved in the space program for a time and maybe that's why I was in tune to the event at such a young age.  I can see the black and white pictures on TV, watching these images on the porch at my parent's house.  I also remember as I grew older and missions continued, the feeling of pride that our country was doing extraordinary things. We were explorers. I know we still have a sort of space program, but nothing like it was. No more space shuttle.  The excitement of the first missions waned.  Disasters happened. Priorities changed. I find it sad. One of the most important things in our history, one that defined our strength and ingenuity, that looked beyond our own boundaries and broke them, that dreamed of what could be, is no more. I for one, long for the time when our country and our world came together in the excitement of the possibilities of what our universe might hold.

“That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind…”

Goodbye to a true pioneer. Goodbye Neil Armstrong.

Make it a great day,

What I Found & Overheard At the Party

Day Late & A Dollar Short

Hi guys. Missed posting this yesterday. Got involved and other things and then all of a sudden it was time to go to bed. These things happen, right?

Well, the party is still going on and there is still time to link up your shop or blog. 

If you haven't had a chance to check out the Gotta Have It/Gotta Blog It link party, there's lots of great stuff people left behind. Here's a few of my picks, and let me tell you, it's never easy to choose.

1. Remembering to be Grateful, via Bridgits Bell

2. Beautiful Mosaics, via Earth Mother Mosaics

3. Silver and Moonstone Necklace, Efrat Jewelry

4. How To Freeze Garden Tomatoes, via Cubits

(loved this....since I usually roast my Romas and then freeze.

nice to have a new option)

5. the loveliest country kitchen reveal, Knick Of Time Interiors 

6. Mosaic of another sort, a beautiful quilt, DJW Quilts

7. A rememberance keepsake box, via Paint Brushed Boutique

Having crazy fun trying to post. Internet Explorer seems to be causing me computer issues. You know the 'keeps shutting down kind'. You can't even imagine how many times I've been ready to hit post and ......woosh, shut down. So, sorry this is shorter than usual. Please do have a look around the party (link in right hand sidebar), people have been adding links each day.  Let us know what you find that tickles your fancy.

Enjoy your Tuesday. Up tomorrow, my chalkboard wall reveal!

Ciao for now,

Family Time

Fun Time

Yesterday was the last day of The Bates Of Clonsilla's visit. We took time off to just enjoy the day.

My sister brought our grandniece Sophia over for a swim and my brother's daughter came over again to chill with our Irish nieces. 

Luckily it was a perfectly wonderful pool day at the Bates Estate.

Sophia loved the pool. We all pulled her around.

And around, and around.

She can be a bit timid with new people but she loved playing in the pool with Ali and Caroline.

By the time we got out, we were singing Sir Mix A Lot....'I like big butts and I cannot lie'.

Luckily our family had a late flight so they were able to enjoy the whole day before heading off the airport.

Of course, I had to get our 'traditional' leaving shot of the girls in front of the lilacs. I've been taking their picture like this when they leave since they were very little.

Do not adjust your monitor. That is Carolina's real hair color. She's a Ging. No denying it. We chalk that one up to Granny O'Toole, who nobody knew had red hair because it was gray. That was until one day when Garrett was making fun of the girl next door with red hair and Granny O'Toole set him straight, telling him she had beautiful flame red hair when she was young.  Which he found eventually for himself when his beard grew in red. Just his beard. Weird, huh?

Back to the visitors.

They were all sad to go.  Lucan was sad to see them leave.

Goodbye for now Bates of Clonsilla.

The Bates of Lucan will be arriving on Wednesday for a longer stay.  Yup, Bates of Lucan. It's a town just outside of Dublin's city limits. That's where the hound got his name.

Oh, I almost forgot. The girls got to be the first to put their John Hancock's on our new chalkboard wall. Stay tuned for the chalkboard reveal in the coming days.  Either tomorrow or Tuesday. We'll see how the chips fall.

Monday's post will be my picks from the current Gotta Have It/Gotta Blog It Link Up Party. If you have an online shop or blog, be sure to link up your stuff. If you don't, you're still invited to the party. Have a look around, you never know where it might take you and what you might find.

Sunset Meadows

I've said it before and I'm sure to say it again. We're so blessed to have the most beautiful sunsets right at our front door. I never get tired of them.

What's hot for your Saturday?  I'm doing laundry and general prepping for the next wave of Dubliners. I'll be heading into the pool later, then we're planning on a campfire and burgers if all goes well. Doesn't get better than that.

Ciao for now,

Drum Roll Please.............

Someone's Day Just Got Better

I know how badly some of you wanted to win this giveaway, and I don't blame you.  My sponsors helped make it not-to-be-missed.

There were a lot of entries. A LOT. It would be a scene and a half to pick without rafflecopter. However, with Rafflecopter, it's as easy as pie.

If you are Beth Gal, I'll assume you're pretty happy right now, because you my dear ARE THE WINNER!

Thanks to all of you who entered and visited my sponsors shops and other links. They've all got such great shops and deserve the exposure.

I'd like to thank each one for their participation and support of Mercantile Muse. It means the world to me.

StarlightWoods

Bleu Oiseau Photography

DreamPillowZzz

Lee'sWhimsy

{PaperKeeper}

HayleysPaperLove

Lia Artisan Concrete Design

If you haven't visited their shops, even though you may have missed the giveaway, I'd highly suggest you take a look. It's worth your while.

If you're interested in being a sponsor for the next giveaway, shoot me an email and I'll send you some info. There's an email button right under my profile in the righthand sidebar. I've already got some super things you are all going to want. Would I lie? Look at the stuff Beth just won!

Visitors

Our Dublin family goes home tonight, before the next wave arrives next Wednesday. We've had a great week with them and topped it off last night. My parents came over for dinner, along with my sister Di and my niece Maddie.  My Irish nieces and Maddies have known each other a long time now and are 'across the pond' pals, so they were all happy to get to see each other. 

After we got some pics of Sunset Meadows.......

Maddie, Carolina and Ali

Mom, Ali, Maddie, Carolina and Di

.....we started the Friday night dance ritual a day early.  The girls were teaching us the 'Saturday Night Dance'. Even Gar gave it a whirl.

Lucan wasn't sure what to make of it.

We convinced the girls to give us a step dance like they used to. Obviously my camera was on the wrong setting. Sorry about that. But you get the idea.

My parent's were thoroughly entertained. Again, wrong camera setting. I hate that.

Then Gar gave Ali a whirl around the living room, to which Ali announced..."Gar actually knows how to dance."

Then my Father gave me a whirl around the living room with a little Lyndy lesson to some Glenn Miller. Too bad I'm a rotten follower. However, I'm a wicked leader. We all joined in a parade around the house to When the Saints Go Marchin' In while my parent's got another good laugh. We even did the Hokey Pokey, the Macararena, The Time Warp and sang a song or two, just to make the night complete.

There were a lot of laughs. A good way to end a visit. 

Bon Voyage Bates Of Clonsilla. Until we see you again.

Sunset Meadows

It sure was pretty last night. A big Summer sun going down.

Freefrom Friday

Go on, you know you want to. It's just a jump to the left...and then a step to the rrriiiiiiggggghhhhhtttt.  Click here if you're reading by email.

Get and give it a try. It's Friday! It's silly. It will make you laugh at yourself. Don't forget to bend your knees inside.

Ciao for now,

Celebrate Summertime

via southernliving

SummerTime is PartyTime

No matter what the commercials want me to think, and no matter what etsy merchandising wants me to think, no matter what back-to-schoolers want me to think, I'm hear to tell you that Summer is not over. (Of course, this is only relevant if you live in this hemisphere.) I am not giving up on Summer. It's here for another month people and I intend to eek every last ounce out if it because I love it and because I know what's coming.  [Talk about eeking out Summer, there is still a little time left (only 13 hours!) to enter the August Giveaway for $150 of handmade. Yup $150! So if you haven't taken a moment to do so, there is no time like the present.]

via studio mucci

In honor of the beloved season of fireflies and starry nights (I know it will be hard to believe for those of you new to the Muse), it's time to do one of my favorite things.....PARTY!  Let's celebrate summer and all the places we go to explore and enjoy it.

via potterybarn

This is the the kind of party where indepedent artists and shop owners, bloggers and crafters alike, can celebrate their stuff.  It's the kind of party where other guests have a look-see at everything people brought to share and let it take you where it may. It's the kind of party where guests have a chance to mingle, get to know a little bit about each other and leave friends.  Are you game?

Step up to the buffet for a bite to eat, in honor of mine and Gar's Summer vacation, the fixin's for a NY chopped salad.

via the pioneer woman

Think of this as you wander around the party.....it's one of my shots from NY. 

via Bates Mercantile Co.

Oh I almost forgot. DO NOT MISS the cocktails! It would be downright silly of you to leave without having Summertime In A Glass. Whoever came up with this idea is my new favorite person.

via southern living

Most of all, enjoy what's left of Summer.

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If you are linking up, please read the Rules of the House, before doing so:

*If you take part in the link up, you will go on a list of particpants and receive an e-mail from me (from the address pbates at speakeasyinfo dot net) when the next Gotta Have It/Gotta Blog It link up party is underway.

*If you like Mercantile Muse enough to link up at the party, shouldn't you follow too? I'd love it if you did. There are several different ways to follow in the sidebar to you're right, if you're not following already. 

*You'll also find Bates Mercantile Co. here: facebook, pinterest, twitter. It'd be great to connect with you there too.

*Don't link and run, be kind and check out each other's links. Sure, this is all about celebrating your shop or blog, but it's also about paying it forward and making new connections. You won't believe the wonderful people you meet here on Mercantile Muse. Seriously. They rock. So please have a look around at other links. 

*Share a link to the party, 'you two tell friends, and they tell two friends, and so on and so on'. It benefits us all--- blog, tweet, facebook, share on your etsy team if you're on one, etc. If you blog and are so inclined to grab a button (from Mercantile Muse's button page) and feature it on your blog, that would be, as we say 'round these parts, wicked awesome.  Everyone is welcome here, so be sure to tell your friends. 

*Check back next Monday when I feature some things I've found through the link up. It might even be you.

Time to get our party on (if you're reading by email click here it will bring you to the party). 

If you're not linking up, won't you have a look around at all the wonderful things left behind? I don't think you'll be disappointed about sticking around this party.

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Did you get a chance to travel this summer? Where'd you go? If you didn't get away, where are you dreaming of going?

As always, thanks so much for stopping by the party. I love it when we get together this way.

Here's wishing you more fireflies and starry nights,