Today was stressful.  So I ended the day in the garden.  I had major errands to run — van inspection, medications to pick up, a book for school that had to be picked up.  The latter two errands took me on an out-of-town trip.  Basically, the day was “shot” as far as any productive school work that I could be directly involved in.  Some days are like that. 

I was in the midst of a million thoughts when I finally arrived home.  Do I start supper?  Do I start cleaning house before I have to be at my work desk tomorrow?  Do we try to get some more formal lessons done than what they did on their own today?  Or do I just lie down and take a nap?!

I almost opted for the nap.  Almost.

But none of the above.  I put on my gardening overalls and went outside for half an hour to clear my mind.

Bed #4, before:

Bed #4, after:

Old, dead growth from last year removed.  A layer of mulch placed.  By the end of February there’ll be daffodils all in this bed.  They usually bloom around the first week in March. 

You know where I went today while I was out, right? 

Goodwill. 

And why not.  The day was consumed anyway, and believe me I needed a mental health break.  I found a Mario Lanza album in near-mint condition.   Hubby and I listened to it this evening while sitting and trying to hold our eyes open.  One of our old-age pasttimes.

Michele, I couldn’t help but think of you.  I found a lovely, medium-size bowl — old and shabby chic, to put my Q and A cards in!

Lynn

Chris asked about my framed print in the previous post.  It’s this:

Lunch Atop a Skyscraper, c.1932 Buy From Art.com

Doesn’t it just make your hands sweat?

Lynn

Who knew Polonius was so wise?  (But I bet he’s nosy, too.)  And actually, of course, it would be Shakespeare who was the wise one, seeing how Polonius was a creation of his mind, in his play, Hamlet.   

Polonius gave some grand advice to his son Laertes.  Really grand. 

• Those friends thou hast, and their adoption tried, Grapple them unto thy soul with hoops of steel, but do not dull thy palm with entertainment of each new-hatched, unfledged courage.
• Give every man thy ear, but few thy voice; Take each man’s censure, but reserve thy judgment.
• Neither a borrower nor a lender be, For loan oft loses both itself and friend, and borrowing dulls th’ edge of husbandry.

And did you know it was Polonius who said “to thine own self be true?”

In addition, I guess it shouldn’t shock any of us that even way, way, way back then there were people who couldn’t seem to live within their means:  “Costly thy habit as thy purse can buy…”

Go to!

Can anyone enlighten me as to what this little phrase — go to — really means? 

When Polonius is speaking to Ophelia, commanding that she make herself less available to Lord Hamlet, she answers him:

“My lord, he hath importuned me with love In honorable fashion.”

Polonius seems about ready to blow a gasket over Ophelia’s lack of understanding concerning Hamlet’s advances, and he says:

“Ay, fashion you may call it. Go to, go to.”

In Genesis 11:3 we noticed that “they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick…” when they were planning the tower of Babel. 

I am wondering exactly what “go to” means.  It’s obviously not a phrase we use now.  Joseph felt like it means just to go about your business.  It makes me think of the phrase used today, “hold up,” as in when you want someone to stop and think about something.  Go to, makes me think “let your mind go to this” or “think about this.”  Joseph is probably right.

Anyway, just one of the joys of reading Shakespeare.  Great word debates.

On a frugal, musical note, Princess of the Universe and I are continuing to work on piano lesson here at home with our keyboard and some really good books I found at the thrift store.  I wish I had time to work with her daily, but alas that has not worked out for us so far.  I keep thinking I should make it a higher priority, but there are a dozen other things that I feel that way about and they all take turns occupying the front of my mind. 

I wonder what Shakespeare would say?

Lynn