Day One Hundred Twenty Six 2013

We’ve had a very expensive week at our house. Last Monday, the starter died on our [late 20th century] car and had to be replaced. Saturday, Neil discovered our water heater was leaking [and had been for some time apparently], so that had to be replaced. To complete this trilogy of unfortunate events, we were forced to replace our TV [after lots of denial, as in ‘maybe it’s the cable’]. Folklorists say the concept that three bad things happen together is an ancient superstition that remains a strong modern belief and is based on the psychological need to believe that a bad cycle will end. I’m not a superstitious person, but right now I’m feeling that psychological need to believe. I'd say wish us luck, but that would be superstitious.

Day One Hundred Nineteen 2013

Once again, our roof is covered in Maple tree seeds ~ a rite of Spring, I suppose. They clog the gutters and stick to the bottom of your shoes and get tracked through the house. I call them helicopters or whirly things. I know they are necessary to carry on the Maple tree population, yet I loathe them. I mean, why does there have to be so many of them? But, what are you going to do? Chop down all the Maple trees? It’s a thought, but I enjoy the shade they provide in the Summer, and I love their colors in the Fall. It’s my rite of Spring to complain about them. Thanks for listening.

From a small seed a mighty trunk may grow.
~Aeschylus

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One year today. Miss you, Mom!

Day One Hundred Seventeen 2013

Neil spent a lot of time today hanging new mini blinds on our living room windows. The old ones had been there for nearly thirty years. Back then, we couldn’t find blinds to fully cover our rather large, old-house windows.

I don’t have a before picture to show you, but take my word for it, the after blinds look so much better. And brighter. And definitely cleaner. Hooray for my handy man hubby!
Happy Saturday, y’all!

Day One Hundred Ten 2013

Ever Lovin Saturday!






Grandson Knox is here for a visit with his mommy Kelly. While mommy Kelly enjoyed some ‘me time’ with her friend, Grandpa Neil and I took Knox to the playground at our church. He loved every second of it, especially going down the slide. The sun was out. The sky was blue. And Knox was oblivious to the cool wind. That’s what being a kid is all about ~ happy oblivion! He wore us out. I think I need a nap, too. Happy Saturday, everyone!

Day One Hundred Four 2013

Neil and I enjoyed frozen hot chocolate and a little people watching at Poet's On The Square coffeehouse this afternoon. The frozen drink gave us a delicious brain freeze, and the people watching was interesting to say the least. I wanted to take pictures so badly but my inner censor said better not. A walk in the park after the frozen hot chocolate would have been great, but the rains came down and the temperature dropped, but that's OK cause it's all good. Happy first day of the week!



Day One Hundred Two 2013

T G I F

Trying a new recipe ~ Hearty Beef and Barley Soup in the Crockpot

I bought a very small bag of pearled barley (I want to say ‘Pearl Bailey’ ~ if you’re under the age of 50, you have no idea who I’m talking about ~ anyway ~ I digress) because, let’s face it, who cooks with barley? Not I. But the soup recipe called for it ~ three-fourths of a cup. Lots left, of course. I put the rest of it in this vintage freezer Ball jar. I collect old jars. This one’s pretty rare.

One of the reasons I bought that jar is because of the galvanized lid. The original owner (I’m assuming) apparently put up some cherries and wrote the date on the lid ~ which dates back (way back) to when I was but a sixteen month old baby. Pretty cool. And old.

Neil took the day off to do some much-needed yard work. He bought a couple of truck loads of black mulch and spent most of the day spreading it, which will (we hope) look good and keep the weeds at bay.

Couldn’t have asked for a more awesome day which was a cool-ish 60 degrees. Felt more like spring after the eighty degree heat wave this past week. The rain yesterday evening washed away some of the pollen, thank you very much.

Spring is nature's way of saying, "Let's party!" ~Robin Williams

“Tell me the story about how the sun loved the moon so much that he died every night just to let her breathe.”  ~Anonymous

The strong wind yesterday blew petals from our cherry trees around like pink snow ~ a very pretty sight to see but wish they’d stay on the trees a bit longer.

Grandson Elijah after school. He was thrilled that it’s Friday and did a happy dance when he got inside the house.

Grandpa Neil, granddaughter Shelby and grandson Elijah (and moi) treated ourselves to some Mae Pearl’s frozen yogurt. Elijah got a brain freeze.

This is a terrible washed out picture, but the Hearty Beef and Barley Soup turned out great and was pretty tasty. Barley adds an interesting texture and flavor. We’ll have it again. Leftovers, you know.

“There's a sunrise and a sunset every single day, and they're absolutely free. Don't miss so many of them.”
~Jo Walton

Happy TGIF, y’all!

Day Seventy Three 2013

Grandpeeps Elijah and Shelby spent the day with Neil and me as their spring break winds down. Lunched at KFC. Elijah was playing with his Jell-o and flipped some on the wall. Shelby is making the universal ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ gesture. Elijah did eventually wipe it off the wall.

Landed at the DQ for frozen treats with more peeps. Daughter Holly, sister Jane, granddaughter Shelby, niece Julia, and niece Sarah having a laugh which I missed cause I was taking this picture.

And here’s one with Elijah in the mix ~ the only man in a sea of cooties. Or is that cuties?

After stuffing ourselves with chicken and ice cream, we spent some time in the sunshine. Neil pitched ball to Elijah who is signed up to play T Ball this spring.

Batter, batter, swing, batter! He can really pop them out of the park (or into the street).

I love this picture of Shelby. She doesn’t even know I took it as she walked away, going after the big ball she’d been kicking around the yard. She’s eleven and such a great kid who is quickly growing into her teenage years. Nope. Not gonna think about that right now. Sure did enjoy spending the day with my peeps. Always do.

Day Seventy Two 2013

Housework is always open ended. I feel a bit like Cinderella when I sweep the hearth with this worn out fireplace broom. [I always think of her as Cinderelly, like the Disney movie mice called her.]

Neil had the day off and was back out in the yard, getting it ready to put down some mulch. I didn’t envy him that, as it was a cold windy cloudy winter day ~ not much sun here. When I snapped this picture, there was a brief moment of snow flurries. Thought I was seeing things because at that moment the sun was out. They were here and gone in a blink.

We treated ourselves to a frozen cookies and cream drink at Poet’s coffee house this afternoon. Crazy thing to do on this cold day. It was delicious, but, living up to its name, froze us half to death.

Neil built a fire when we got back home. Took the chill off for sure. So much for Cinderelly’s hard work sweeping that dirty hearth.

Day Sixty Four 2013

Fed the birds. They should enjoy the seeds and peanut butter tomorrow when the weather is back to winter again.

Fed the humans. Homemade chili (although there was nothing chilly about it) was tasty comfort food on a cold, windy, wet winter’s night.

Day Sixty One 2013

Ever Lovin Saturday

We’ve had some snow here, starting this past Thursday.

It started coming down again late last night.

We got maybe an inch. Maybe.

Really pretty. We don’t get big snows any more. I miss those. But we’ll take what we can get.

A bird in hand is worth four in the bush. Inflation, you know. I think these are waiting their turn at the feeders.

Since daughter Kelly and grandson Knox are visiting this weekend, Neil made yummy blueberry waffles for (a late) breakfast.

His blueberry waffles are the best. Did I say they are yummy? They are.

Grandson Knox didn’t care for any waffles. He just wanted to take his socks off.

We went to Starbucks for some coffee (what else?), squeezed in at a little table by the window, all cozied up next to about ten other people, and watched it snow. There’s something about Starbucks that just makes you want to kick back.

And fall asleep in Grandpa’s lap. Not even the aroma of caffeine could keep him awake at this point.

The proverbial blanket of snow, sliding off the hood of the car into fluffy white folds. It snowed again tonight and replaced all that was lost with a fresh blanket.

Neil finally got to celebrate his birthday this evening. He turned 62 on February 28, but due to other stuff happening in the family, we postponed the party until a more opportune moment which turned out to be tonight.

Happy Birthday, honey/hubby Neil! We enjoyed cake and ice cream and punch and a whole lot of chatter and laughter, as always when our family gets together. (Not that there’s always cake and ice cream and punch but that would be nice.)

And Neil enjoyed lots of cool cards and great gifts, which as you can see, he gave a thumbs up. Fun party. Worth the wait. Let’s do it all over again next year.
Happy Saturday, everyone!