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! 

Time Does Fly By!

 It's Sunday morning and the wind chill factor is in the single digits. BRRRRR!! Okay, countdown to spring starts right now. I am so over this bitterly cold weather. 

One thing about it being too cold to get outside, you try to find things to do inside. I decided I'd try a new recipe. I did  make a couple changes to suit what I had to work with. I had large chicken tenders instead of the breast and I used balsamic vinegar instead of regular vinegar. I was happy with my choices. And, it was so quick and easy. I'm all about quick and easy these days. 

Are you watching the Olympics? I don't follow any of the sports until they go head to head in the Qlympics and then I am hooked. Loved the American couple who ice danced the story about the matador. So well done. 

And, how about that Ollie ? Doing the Big Air at 17 years old, a broken arm and he was unbelivable!! 

It all is a nice diversion from the usual mundane tv stuff we have to watch. I stream everything now. Feel like I can be more selective, when and if I want to.

Today would have been my husband's 96th birthday had he lived. He's been gone 15 years now. I can't believe it's been that long and too, that I am still here. I feel very blessed in that regard. Also very blessed to have been married to such an amazing man for 60 years. God's certainly been good to me. 

This was taken at the last birthday he celebrated (2010). He was in an assisted living facility then and some of the family joined him for his big day. 

and here he is in happier times with his grandson, Griffin. This was taken in 2001 at the beginning of his Alzheimer's journey.

How time does fly!! And, the older we get the faster it goes. 

As the author, Elizabeth Keebler-Ross, wrote:

"It's only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth - and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up - that we begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had." 

I Escaped The Apartment

 Shirley had a doctor appt. so she swung by and picked me up. it was so nice to get out and be with people again. 

We'd been wanting to go to a new restaurant that opened nearby. First Watch... ever heard of it? The place has been packed since opening but with this snow around, it's easier to get a table and that's what we did. 

I got the Farmers Breakfast (eggs, bacon, cheese all piled on top of country potatoes). 

That was good but my favorite is the breakfast with turkey sausage gravy over a biscuit with an egg. 

She took some pictures while we were out so I will share those with you. It's interesting how the terrain changes at different times, constantly being different. Makes looking at this world exciting every time you take time to do that. These are from around my apartment building. 

It's gonna be 40 degrees today, folks!! Wow. But. later today we have a dusting of snow coming back in. It's a bad winter that's for sure. 

I just finished a painting. What's a gal to do when she's stuck indoors? Right?

The Snow Falleth....

 Well, it got here. Such fun to watch the snow falling and so thankful I was inside and warm and safe. The wind was horrific... 

That is supposed to be a video that shows the wind but something happened in the transfer. Oh well. 

Someone went for a walk. I don't see dog tracks so they weren't out walking their dog... Who in the world would be out in temps in the teens just to stroll around!! I don't get it. 

Not my car but the view looking out my dining room window. 

I did venture out ONE STEP on my balcony so I could take the picture below. 

Pond half frozen over with snow on the ice. First time I've seen that! 

So, now it's here. I just wish the temps would warm up. Wind chill factor when I got up. -3 degrees. Now, folks that's cold in my book! 

Winter Weather

 So, here I sit... waiting once again for a winter snow. 

Last weekend it was a dud. I wonder what this one will be. At least I am prepared... lots of groceries, plenty of warm snuggy blankets, plenty to drink, no alcoholc at least at this time. haha) and a tv to watch. 

The wind chill factor is supposed to be -3 degrees in the morning. You know, I could sort of just skip winter if you don't mind. I don't dare stick my head out the front door. I might just freeze into an old popsicle! 

How are all of you doing? Hope you are keeping warm. 

I watched a couple cute movies on Netflix just recently. The first was 'Eleanor, the great'. The second was 'the Last Word'. Both entertaining, about two old ladies, very different, but nevertheless totally interesting. 

One was a liar, the other was a cantancarous old goat... 

I wonder how I am labeled!!! I certainly hope not one of those two. 

Have a safe and warm weekend! 

Surprise fun!

 I know you girls are dying to find out what happened about the surprise grocery delivery yesterday. We never did find out who they belonged to and baby, come to Mama, do.... I had fun unloading each bag. It was quite a trip! 

Well, I've come to the conclusion that it wasn't meant for this 55+ community anyway.... not with what I found in those bags. These are older people living here, lots of apartments with only one person and certainly not more than two and they eat 'old-timey'. Well, some of us are more adventurous but you know what I mean. 

I mean, there was some STRANGE stuff in there. How about jalepeno stuffed olives? Or three bags of large bell peppers, a huge bag of basmati rice, coconut milk? I could go on and on... There was no bread, eggs, milk or cleaning supplies. Strange.  

Here is a pic of a few of the odd things.... At least they seemed odd to me. The amount of bell peppers just blew my mind.

There were two huge packages of chicken tenders, 3 packages of smoked sausages. Nah... noone from here ordered that stuff. But, I am the happy recepient and I am experimenting. 

I am guessing they are coffee drinkers. I am not. But, I have me two huge bottles of coffee creamers.... flavored. Any idea what to do with those?

Made myself an omelet this morning adding some of those peppers, pimento stuffed olives, some fresh spinach that was in a bag. Man, it was good. I topped it all with shaved parmesan cheese. Happy camper, that I am! 

I consider it a gift from God. I hate some one had their order messed up. I wouldn't wish that on anyone but I am so thankful that it was my apartment that it happen to land at. I am going to have so much fun trying some of this stuff.

Now, what will I make with coconut milk? I've never used it... any ideas? 

Manna From Heaven

 Pooh! It barely snowed but it's colder than a chicken's behind in an ice storm. Okay, maybe not that cold. You northern folks would call me out on that. But, it was below freezing and we southern gals aren't comfortable with those temps. It's not warmed up enough to keep the melting snow (what little there was of it here at my apartment) from freezing. Shirley lives 30 miles northwest of me and they got it all. Should have gone up to her house if I wanted some white stuff. 

I had the strangest thing happen to me today. I opened my front door to put my garbage out for pickup and there were 13 bags of groceries sitting on my stoop. Lordy mercy, 'honey chile, I ain't ordered no groceries.' 

pardon the washed out look... my lens fogged over the minute I opened that door!! 

Did some phoning around, been waiting for hours for someone to claim them but so far.... no sign of any hungry people looking for grub. So, it looks like I may have won the grocery lottery!! Hey, it's Christmas all over again! 

I'm a bit down today. Not sure why. Maybe it's the weather... and they say that there is cold, cold air around for days yet. I cancelled a dental cleaning for tomorrow. I am not going to get out in that mess!! 

I did a watercolor a couple days ago. I usually don't do line and wash (where you draw the outline in ink then watercolor in the hues) but I liked it. I do like to sketch so maybe this will give me the best of two of my artsy worlds. 

I sure hope you all are staying warm. The older I get, the colder I get so I have been bundled up pretty well during all this frigid air. It's nice to sit in my recliner with a warm blanket pulled up to my chin and watch tv. I saw 'Eleanor the Great' on Netflix. It was cute and I enjoyed it a lot.