Good News But Not Always.

 I'm just 'down in the dumps' this morning. Don't know why. The weather is gorgeous outside, warm and sunny. I got up feeling good. What happened? 

 I had a wee altercation with a fellow resident yesterday and I never ever do that. I think that is bothering me. He's a pain and he always dominates our female conversation at our 'chat and chew' gathering. And, that would be ok but he talks about the weirdest things and picks them apart and won't let go. 

Yesterday he was on a tangent about things changing. I told him things do change, that's progress and I'd be bored to death if things stayed the same all the time. Then it was about a building he couldn't figure out what it was and I said, 'it doesn't affect me so I don't know' and he says 'but everything affects us' and I said, 'no, a building down on the other side of town isn't part of my life so I don't care to know what it is and he said he'd prove it to me that everything affects us. To say the least, I was ticked off. Leave me alone! 

Anyway, that's off my chest. Thanks for listening. 

On a happier note...

I am preparing for a wedding! Nope not mine. haha. Never, ever!! My grandson that lives in New York is marrying the sweetest girl. It's about time they tied the knot! 

She wanted a destination wedding so we will be going to Sea Island, Georgia for the event. It's going to be wonderful and exciting and I've been busy trying to find clothes to take. The wedding is May 9th. Here is a photo of the dress I will wear. 

I hate taking selfies. I never am good at it. 

Guess I will get up from this computer and go get busy. Maybe that will cheer me up. Like doing chores always cheers me up. ha ha. 

Have a great weekend. Don't forget to spring those clocks forward Sunday!! 

A Drive in the Country

 There's nothing like a drive in the country, especially those not planned, that just happen.  

I left my car in a nearby town one day last week so that Shirley could drive me to a further town for lunch. When we finished she automatically got on the road to take me back to my apartment. Whoops, mistake there. 

So, she started taking little side roads trying to find the one she should have been on in the first place. Hence the drive in the country. 

The winter's been long and cold so this was a welcomed treat, even if it was a mistake. 

I love dead trees and saw lots... Here is a favorite.  Just so many branches reaching in every direction. 

We came to a pasture filled with goats. Loved the one stopping his munching to check us out. 

Some of them had escaped the fence and was wandering about in another field. 

There were geese, too. We have lots of geese around the area. They are everywhere.

Finally we got on the correct road, I retrieved my car and came on home. A nice drive. Glad we got lost! 

Knit one, Purl Two

 Last night as I lay in bed I started wondering what title I'd give myself. It's tough. I've always been way too hard on myself and never given myself credit for what I have done. So... Let's see I could be called an artist. I am a published author... but let's be realistic. I think I am a doodler! 

Looked it up. A doodler is someone who doodles!! Doesn't fit. I have been creative all my life but I never doodled!  

The first thing I ever did was learn to crochet. A newly wed with an infant on the way and I needed to act like Moms do... I needed to make that kid some clothes! So, a friend helped me learn the stitches and I crocheted some booties for that little bundle.  and yes, I won a blue ribbon at the county fair with them.

I made doilies. Oh my.. did I ever. Remember the day when every room in every house had doilies all over the place. They were on tables, the backs of  couches, draped over chair arms. Yep, I  was way into the crocheting craze. 

I made a toy or two and made myself a crocheted pin cushion (I still have the pin cushion). Those were very popular at one time. 

Those, like all crafty things do, lost favor. So, I started to knit. Made myself a sweater.. it's a pretty shade of green and do you know... I still wear it and it must be a "hundred" years old by now. 

And, I made my daughter one when she was in high school. Of course it's long gone. After all she is shall we say, AARP age. That got a blue ribbon, too.

I couldn't give up that urge. So. I started crocheting baby things again. After all, I had grandbabies and then great-grandbabies. Having that motherly instinct I needed to make those kids some clothes!! 

and don't forget the blankets!

Have you ever crocheted or knitted? I really miss it but it's a thing of the past now. The old hands just won't cooperate! But, if I could, I bet I'd still be doing both. 

A Romaine Tale

 Sometime you just stumble upon something and then you say, 'Why have I not known about this before now?'

This post is about romaine lettuce. Yep... just lettuce.

I grew up on iceberg, then switched over to butter lettuce and occasionally use mixed greens but you might say I was 'stuck in a rut.'

Then came that surprise grocery delivery on Jan. 26th and there was this bag with 3 heads of romaine lettuce in there. I started to give it away. I really did but then I thought better of that idea.

Fast forward to Feb. 20 when I ate the last of that lettuce. It was still fresh, green. I only lost 3 outer leaves in these 3 weeks that I had it. 

Living alone I'd get so mad when I'd buy lettuce and in a couple days it would wilt, turn brown and in the trash it would go. Then, I got smart. I started wrapping my lettuce with a wet paper towel (don't wash the head of lettuce first) and dropping it into a small plastic grocery bag. Didn't close it or anything, just tossed it into the crisper drawer of the fridge. 

Let me tell you... it works wonderfully with romaine! Like I say. I ate the last of that 3 weeks after getting it. 

Now, I am hooked on that stuff! Just think what a surprise someone gave you can change your life. Well, maybe not my life but certainly my taste in the green stuff. 

Boy, you can tell that I have run out of anything interesting to post about. Reducing to talking about lettuce is pretty low!

Feeling Blessed and On Top of the World

 I am so excited. The dress I ordered for my grandson's wedding May 9th came today and it fits!! And, it's so comfy and the shoes I already had match great. I couldn't be happier. Check that off my 'to do' list!! No sneak peak... you'll have to wait! 

I guess I am finally getting old! Arthritis has attacked my hands and I've had to make some adjustments. I suppose it's time something slowed me down (grin). I have used those hands heavily over the years. Poor ole things, they are tired! 

I made me something to eat that I hadn't made in a hundred years (grin). Time to try stuffed peppers once again and they turned out great. I used yellow pepper (didn't have the green ones), I  used bulk sausage 'cause I didn't have any hamburger and I believe I like the sausage better. Gave it more flavor. And, I had rice in the freezer just waiting to be thawed. You make do with what you have. 

   I'm tacking on the recipe in case you are interested. 

On Valentine's Day I got a delivery. Susan sent me a large bouquet of white roses, one of those cheesecakes that has all the different flavors in the selection and a bag of Lindor truffles. I was one happy gal. 

She called and woke me up this morning so I am still in my nightgown when she says that I have another delivery due at any minute. I scurried around to find my robe in time to answer the knock on the door. It was my breakfast. What am I gonna do with that girl! but I love it. We gals always love attention and she's having so much fun sending some my way. 

Enough for this morning and tomorrow morning, as well. Wow. 

Hope you all are doing great. Each of you is such a bright spot in my life and I just want to say 

Hugs and Kisses For Valentine's Day

 It's spring.... 

No, not really but we did have a couple days of near 60 degrees. It was gorgeous and a precursor to what we can expect a little later on if we can just hang on through the rest of the winter. 

So, naturally I took advantage of it being so nice. Had lunch with dau Shirley and granddau. Brittany on Wednesday. Then the very next day I had lunch out with Shirley again.... Tomorrow we are having a valentine's day party here at Centerbrooke.

What do you all plan to do for Valentine's Day? Guess it depends on who your sweetheart is! I'm my own best sweetheart these days. We gals decorated white lunch bags and tomorrow we'll drop our valentine's into each other's bags. Do you remember those days in school when you'd do something like that?  

I still have Valentines that were given to me as a child not yet school age... Here's one or two of them.

Valentine's don't look like that anymore.

You all have a wonderful Valentine's Day! 

Hope you get lots of chocolate and flowers and hugs and kisses!