Z is for Zip in and Zip Out

I'm sure you heard that Kate Middleton, wife of Prince William, had their third child last week. By all accounts, she zipped in and out of the hospital quickly as far as these things go. Kate entered the hospital around 6 am and 5 hours later she delivered a healthy baby boy. She went home a mere 7 hours later. And some time during her short stay they introduced the new baby to the crowds waiting outside.

And Kate looked beautiful. Granted, she is a beautiful woman to begin with. Granted she had her hair and makeup done by a team before she went out. But she looked perfect and she was wearing heels! I don't know how she did it.

After I gave birth to Wally, I was totally wiped out. It had been a long, induced labor, but nothing out of the ordinary. I stayed in the hospital a couple of days as we tend to do in this country, longer than they usually do in Britain. When it was time to bring Wally home we carefully strapped him in his new car seat and I rode in the back with him while Ward drove. We had a fairly short drive I think, but I don't remember. What I do remember is that I was exhausted and not feeling great. As soon as we pulled into the driveway, I went into the house to lay down.  On my way, I asked if Ward could get Wally out of the car and deal with him. I had to lay down. No ceremony about welcoming the baby home. Just an exhausted mother, a proud father, and a crying baby.

Newborn Wally

So when I think about that experience, there's no way I could have done what Kate did. Even with a whole team around me like she had, I don't think I could have faced the crowds. I don't think I could have worn heels. I don't think I would have been ready to leave after 7 hours even if I had been going home to a household of helpers. I just don't think I could have zipped in and out like she did. But who knows? Maybe she didn't feel like doing it either, but she's a royal and that's what you have to do.

Y is for You Choose

I got a potato peeler as a wedding gift (1). It was just like my mother's and the only kind I had ever used. It worked great for about 25 years without any special care--meaning I put it in the dishwasher when I shouldn't have and so on. Then I decided it was getting a little dull so I bought a few inexpensive, new ones supposedly just like the first one. They didn't work as well as my old one, so I got rid of them and used my old one. Then after a few more years, my thumbs started to hurt when I used the peeler and it was still a bit dull, so I tried another kind altogether (2). This one has a place on the back to put your finger through so you hold the peeler in the palm of your had to use it. It was advertised to be gentle on your joints and hurting hands. Well, maybe my thumbs felt a little better, but I could never get the hang of using it. Thus I went back to using the old one.

A year of so later I listened to a friend's daughter give her pitch for Cutco products. These are expensive, fairly good knives that kids sell to raise money for college. I didn't want to spend much money, so I bought one of the cheapest things they had--a potato peeler (3). This one had an ergonomic handle with a good blade. It felt okay in my hand and I actually took care of it like I was supposed to. However, after a little while, I went back to the one I had gotten as a wedding gift. It just seemed to work better.

Then enter Theo who was doing the majority of the peeling in the house. He asked if he could buy a new peeler because none of the ones we had worked very well. He liked the original one the best also but the blade was getting dull. I asked if we could sharpen it, but he said there were several nicks on the blades and he thought that it wouldn't sharpen well. I said sure, so he researched and bought one (4) for $6 on Amazon that was guaranteed to be just like the ones that your mother and grandmother had. Sounded great because it looked just like the favorite one we have. However, when we got it, I found it is not as comfortable to use because the handle was narrower than the one we got all those years ago as a wedding gift.

These days I find myself using a knife (5 or 6) as much for peeling as a peeler. The peels are a little thicker so I'm wasting more of the fruit or vegetable, but that's what works best for me. Someday I'm going to look into having my 35 year old peeler sharpened. It seems to have a design that can't be beat.

However,  you choose for yourself. Which one of these things would you want to peel with?

But wait, before you make your decision. I just found another one (8). I felt like I was missing one and I was. I found it as I was putting the other ones away. So add this one when you make your choice.

X is for an 'Xceptional Afternoon

Recently, Ward and I visited the Meadowlark Botanical Gardens. The weather was warm and the spring flowers were in full bloom.  We had a great time both looking at the flowers and plants, and people watching. Here are some pictures from our eXceptional afternoon.

Tulips provided the major color in the gardens. Notice that daffodils were intermixed with the tulips.

A closer view

There were total white beds, also.

Ward liked the angles on this arbor and thought he might want to build one like it.

There were both paved paths and mulch paths through gardens and woods. The grass there hadn't greened up yet.

I think these are Jack-in-the-Pulpits, but Jack has a rounder, whiter head than I've seen before.

The trees were providing shade for the plants along the path in this hosta garden.

I really liked these dark red tulips.

The yellow tree is a yellow leafed Japanese maple.
 I had never seen one before and was totally fascinated by it. Now I want one.

This is the entrance to the Korean Bell Garden which is part of the park.
 (Next 5 pictures are from the Korean Garden.)

 Ponds provide water for the plants in the gardens.

These statues, representing grandfathers, are used to guard villages.

This is the 3 ton bell that the Korean gardens were designed around. The bell represents peace and harmony.

These totem poles were also used to guard villages among other things.

W is for Windmills

On one of trips across the mountains last summer to see my mother, we drove through a windmill farm. It was located along the Appalachian Front in eastern West Virginia.  The closest windmills I had seen up until that point were olden ones in the Netherlands. (Think Don Quiote). Thus I was fascinated by seeing these modern windmills up close.

Note: All energy sources have advantages and disadvantages and wind is no exception. However, I'm not going to discuss that here today. I'm just going to give you a look at this windmill farm. I didn't get a picture of any of the miles of roads they had to build on the mountains which are a part of the farm.

This is typical of the Allegheny Mountains with their green, parallel ridges.

Along the top of the ridges, they installed windmills to catch the wind. You can see them in the distance.

These were close to the road and Ward was listening to see how noisy they were. That day there was a quiet swish, however I don't know what it's like living by them.

As with any energy source, you have to have a way to transfer the power to the customer as seen with these large towers. There were large substations also, but they were on the wrong side of the road for me to get a picture.

W is also for Wily-Nily
Things are a bit wily-nily around here. And if I don't make a list soon, I may crash and burn. We're getting ready for a trip along with household chores and work chores. I still hope to complete this challenge on schedule. However, I don't know if I will have access to the internet where we're going or if I will get the posts done on time. If not, I will finish them next week sometime. So, I'll see you again when I see you. :)

V is for a Very Good Book

or what is Destiny of the Republic by Candice Millard

This is a well written, fascinating story about the rise of James Garfield and his untimely death.

Millard tells of Garfield's very poor childhood, his education, his time in the Civil War, and his nomination for President despite the fact that he has no desire for the nomination. Then the story really begins. Crooked politics, arrogant doctors, a mentally ill man, and a brilliant scientist all figure into Garfield's six short months in office. Add in a "puppet" Vice President, a letter-writing invalid, and a sweet love story at the end and you've got a book. There are so many facets to this tale, that if it had been a fiction story, I would have thought that the author was being too dramatic. Destiny of the Republic proves the saying, "Truth is stranger that fiction."

My only criticism of the book was that occasionally it would seem as if the author was going off on a tangent. But usually these tangents were background for an upcoming part of the story. Also, I found it hard to read some of the medical practices with my current medical sensibilities.

Destiny of the Republic was originally recommended by an acquaintance and later we read it in my book club. Everyone in the club liked it even those who didn't think they would. So if you want to brush up your history, I'd recommend this very good book.