Things that make me happy...

Words just cannot express...I love anything Frida, and these emojis are pretty hysterical!  They add so much to my meager text messages.

I totally love Trader Joe's.  We visited the location in Louisville this past Saturday and now my fridge and pantry are stocked with delicious items!  I know that Aldi is a "sister" company, and I do lots of my shopping there locally.  TJ's is the fun place though!

Another fun place to shop...grocery items from around the world, and fun household items.  I usually shop this place online, but Louisville had a location in the same shopping center as TJ's.  They also had another of my favorites...

For several years I would buy spices and herbs at places like Rural King...all priced at 99 cents or less.  After trying Penzeys spices, it's impossible to revert.  They have so many blends and individual herbs and spices...something for everyone!  They are also located in that same little shopping center in Louisville.  Almost one stop shopping...awful traffic in the lot, but still...all of my favorites in one location!

March 13...the first real snow of the 2016/2017 season...

This had been a pretty spectacular winter...plenty of blue skies and sunshine, and more importantly, plenty of warmish weather.  When the temperatures are in the 60's and 70's for most of February and the beginning of March, it's such a good thing!

Today (worst Monday of the year...the Monday morning after DST becomes a "thing"), it was super-gloomy.  By the time I got to work, snow started flying.  Granted, it isn't sticking to the roadways, but it is piling up on the grass and trees.

Our little daffodil garden is covered!  According to the weather service, this will all turn to rain this afternoon, and by the end of the week it should be near 60 again.  No real complaints...we aren't in the mess many along the upper midwest and east coast are in.

Making crepe paper flowers...

A few weeks ago, a friend donated a gigantic batch of books.  Most of these were crafting books, knitting, stencils, embroidery, and several clip art books/cd's.  I've been going through them and putting together library programs.  This is a super interesting one from 1922:

 Note the price...ten cents!  It has directions for making over thirty different flowers.  I want to try to make a lotus flower...looks easy enough, but we'll see!

Lotus Flower directions

My little world...

Currently reading:  I See You by Clare MacKintosh (really good so far)

Currently listening to:  The Police and Tom Petty Radio on Spotify

Watching:  Most anything interesting on Hulu, Netflix, or Amazon Prime.  Live TV...not so much

Amazed at:  Getting packets from China, free shipping...hourglass charms for knitting progress markers. $3.54 for 75.  How does that happen?

Still waiting for:  A dress from China.  The price was right, and I hope the quality is too!  I've decided to start wearing dresses again.  I really like the looks of this one, and I have a few patterns to make some simple dresses.

 Love, love, love the free download pattern from Fabrics-Store.com.

I still need to do the cutting on my Alabama Chanin poncho.  I'm rather afraid to take the scissors to it!  It is the perfect color for spring...blush!

Topsy Turvy World

As noted on my "Facebook Memories", in general February 7 is a pretty awesome day.  I've taken photos of me and my wineglass on the front porch after work on two years.  Yesterday was warm...70 degrees...but wet.  By the time I got home at 6:15, there was no rain, the temperature had dropped to 65 or so, but it was seriously dark!

Feb 7, 2013...a fine day!

This has been a super unusual winter here in Evansville...we've just had one dusting of snow, lots of really nice days folded into regular winter weather days.  Not hard to take, but hard to get used to.

Early February

I started a "kittenhat" for Vivian yesterday morning before work.  Megan will be getting one also. Heck, I might even make one for myself, if only to have a place to pin my button!

What are we...16 days into the new "administration"?  I'm exhausted with all of the shenanigans going on in Washington.  I really just want someone to put their foot down and (A) smash the patriarchy, (B) impeach the president, (C) make our representatives grow up...get it together and make our country what we've always been taught that it is {{although some of us may have skipped school on those days!!}} I've cut way down on news consumption, and I really should just ban myself from Facebook.  I want to know, but I don't want to be inundated...burying my head in the sand will not be a good thing.

Blooms!

Yay!  The primroses have arrived at Aldi.  Still such a bargain at 99 cents!  I only bought two the other day...could have filled a cart with them, but I know too well that it would have been mass plant murder.  Those colorful blooms make me so happy!

1.21.17

Mid-winter mini vacation!

On the beach...a first!

I spent a wonderful, warm few days in Florida with Megan, Vivian, and Kyle.  The flight from Evansville was pretty amazing. One hour and forty four minutes from Evansville to Sanford/Orlando. We stayed on the beach at Cocoa Beach for the first two nights, then moved inward to the Orlando area for the last night of our trip.  Megan, Kyle, and Vivian attended a wedding on Saturday, and I "hung out".  We flew back on Sunday morning.  Quick trip, but pretty enjoyable.  It was good to have Monday off before returning to work today.

Another first!

Delicious seafood tower from Florida Fresh Grill.  Really good.  Going to have to replicate this at home! The cocktail was also delightful...Dark & Stormy--dark rum, ginger-ale, fresh lime.

Wednesday before snow...

While I was sitting at home on holiday break, I kept thinking about wanting to get back into my routine.  Now that I'm in the midst of the routine, I just have to wonder why I was so out of sorts for the past two weeks.  I really should have called the break a 'practice for retirement', so that maybe I would have enjoyed it more.

Speaking of retirement, I received my first pension check yesterday, from a company I haven't worked for since 1984.  Pretty sweet.  There really wasn't much difference it taking it now or holding off for two more years, so I thought that I'd just enjoy that little monthly bonus. I'm thinking it will fund my three day workshop at Ephemera Paducah--TALISMANS WITH SUSAN LENART KAZMER. I can't wait!!

Workshop with Susan Lenart Kazmer at Ephemera Paducah in May

1.1.17

Grateful for:  sleeping all through the night, until 8AM!  I can't remember the last time that happened.  Could the 2 Blue Moons have had anything to do with it?

Currently doing:  scanning through streaming channels to find something interesting to watch. Not having much success.

Thinking about:

• what's for dinner
• Folding laundry
• Running the dishwasher
• Coffee, tea, or wine?

Accomplished so far today:

• updated planner
• Meditated
• Stretched...baby steps 

Currently reading: Lauren Graham's Talking as Fast as I Can