Hello!

Here's a quick look at some of what I've been up to since I posted in August. Sorry for the boring column of shots--I'm rusty at blogging and still learning my lovely new laptop's ins and outs.

Wishing everyone a wonderful healthy, happy New Year that's the best ever.

Type more at you later.

Oh baby, it's Christmas all over again!

Love me some Tom, even with the old short haircut.

Happy Christmas, all!

wonderous

Is anyone else out there watching this show and as captivated as my family is?

(Edited: it's been a month with a grand total of ZERO comments, so I guess I have my answer.)

sneak peek

I'm told that the designer has created for many famous names......


I'm hoping for something in this vein



Not so much these.



Or perhaps we could try this



But let's not go here.



Here's the frame.


Oh-so cool, yet sadly, black just isn't me.

Are you ready for the colour?

.
.
.
.
.





I'm ready.
They're not.
Maybe in October.


They'll be worth it, but I again quote Tom Petty:

So sweet

Thanks, M, for taking me to the show. I liked them (and like them) more than I expected to.

Is that picture still too big?

I like the photo, but I'm wondering about dropping down one more size. Love the water droplets.

Copious thanks to A Foothill Home Companion for the tutorial. Way cool blog, too--go have a look!

Finally Friday

OK, I've puttered and re-sized and noodled a bit. Now it's looking a bit tidier here. Off to the outlet stores tomorrow in search of shoes....then, mayhap, to clear off the desk and do a bit of crafting. Ideas for some creatures are dancing in my head; let's see if I can get them past the imagination stage.

More on these stories as they develop. Watch this space. (I'm not sure what it will look like when next you come to call, but please stop by again soon!)

Oh wow.

Ye Gods, what have I wrought?

I just wanted a new header, not one that would eat my entire title page.

Back later to fiddle.

smitten

I'm in love.

We met last year, shortly after I moved to this tiny house. It was a fairly quick infatuation on my part, fading somewhat as the days shortened and winter crept in.

Now it's spring again, and everyone knows just where a young woman's fancy turns lightly to in spring. As Charles Schultz says, oh-so-eloquently,

*sigh*.

Pacific Dogwood has captured my heart. Everywhere I look this month, those pale creamy or soft, rosy bracts are bobbing in the breeze, or bejeweled by the light rain, jostling and waving in an all-too-successful attempt to capture my eye. They are so compelling that I am stooping to deceitful behaviour. Last weekend in the early evening, I unabashedly lied to my dear husband. I told him that I was going to sit out on the patio with glass of wine to enjoy the lingering daylight. Hah! A likely story.

In fact, I was eager to spend more time gazing at the tall specimen in our yard. It's come into bloom (into bract?), and is beauteous to behold. I noticed last year that the crows were actually breaking off thinner branches; for nest building, I suppose. Our tree appears a bit slighter this year. Perhaps I'll need to shoo away those meddlesome corvids.

I was delighted to find that my 1990 World Book classifies my crush as Cornus Muttallii. A fitting moniker, I thought gleefully, for a Dogwood. Moments later, modern-day technology disabused me of this whimsical notion and gently corrected the species name to Cornus Nuttallii.

Drat. I think I'll stick with old book knowledge on this one. I prefer the prior designation.

bb makes me feel like Cary Grant in "To Catch A Thief"...the stuff she blogs is really tempting, and unlike him, I can't resist stealing it.

bb makes me feel like Cary Grant in "To Catch A Thief"...the stuff she blogs is really tempting, and unlike him, I can't resist stealing it.

That and the fact that I'm still coming out of a bad slump and am too lazy to be creative right now.

a meme from the Crazy Mom

1. Do you like bleu cheese? No.
   
2. Have you ever smoked? No.
   
3. Do you own a gun? No.
   
4. Favorite type of food? Crunchy things.
   
5. Favorite type of music? Lots-.
   
6. What do you think of hot dogs? Needs to be a well-done one with mustard and sauerkraut, please. (My dad has been known to eat them raw....ugh!)
   
7. Favorite Christmas movie? It's a Wonderful Life.
   
8. What do you prefer to drink in the morning? Some form of coffee with 1/2 & 1/2.
9. Can you do push-ups? Can I ? Yes. Will I? I'd rather not.
   
10. What’s your favorite piece of jewelry? My wedding rings.
    
11. Favorite hobby? words.
    
12. Do you have A. D. D.? Nope.
13. Do you wear glasses/contacts? Glasses.
    
14. Middle name? Ann.
    
15. Name three thoughts at this exact moment: I want Cheez-Its. We need to dye the eggs. It's cold.
    
16. Name three drinks you regularly drink: Water, milk, coffee.
    
17. Current worry? Long work week ahead.
    
18. Current hate right now? Now, as ever, lima beans.
    
19. Favorite place to be? Home.
    
20. How did you bring in the new year? Quietly.
    
21. Someplace you’d like to go? Ireland.
    
22. Name three people who will complete this. Liz....
23. Do you own slippers? Just uber-thick socks.
    
24. What color shirt are you wearing? Springy-green.
    
25. Do you like sleeping on satin sheets? No.
    
26. Can you whistle? Yes. With and without the use of fingers.
    
27. Where are you now? In the office.
    
28. Would you be a pirate? In a perfect pirate world, yes.
    
29. What songs do you sing in the shower? Can't recall the last time I did that.
    
30. Favorite Girl’s Name? Emma.
    
31. Favorite boy’s name? Sam.
    
32. What is in your pocket right now? Lint.
    
33. Last thing that made you laugh? Marion's morning joke.
    
34. What vehicle do you drive? A PT Cruiser.
    
35. Worst injury you’ve ever had? Bitten in the face by a dog. Don't like German Shepherds much.
    
36. Do you love where you live? Yes and no. It's an evolving relationship.
    
37. How many TVs do you have in your house? 1.
    
38. How many computers do you have in your house? 3.5.
    
39. If you changed your job, what would it be? Baker.
    
40. If you were granted three wishes, what would they be? Stealing again from bb: Health, wealth and happiness.

old meme

Blog maintenance has turned up this one from last May.
Answers from now.


What are your current obsessions?
James May
chocolate
birds

Which item from your wardrobe do you wear the most often?
Work wardrobe: my red, insulated raincoat
Life wardrobe: my Lee Valley sweatshirt in a chocolatey-grey-brown
(check out the catalogs; you won't be sorry)

What's for dinner?
Hellifiknow. Steak?

What is your greatest fear at the moment?
Anything happening to my family

What are you listening to?
ELO "Showdown" (thanks, Pandora)

If you were a god/goddess what would you be?
Unemployed and fairly unfettered, Zeus willing

What are your favourite holiday
Halloween

What is your guilty pleasure?
HGTV shows
James May fan website

Who or what makes you laugh?
My Dad, my dear husband, my girlie, my old dog, Hazel my !amazing! co-worker

What is your favourite spring thing to do?
Revel in flowers, especially bulbs here in the NW-daffodils, crocus, hyacinths

Where are you planning to travel next?
YES!
Maybe Europe this summer?

What is the best thing you ate or drank lately?
An icy Rolling Rock beer and a slice of rosemary bread, although I had
a crab cake last night that was yummy, too

Who was your first ever crush?
Craig in 4th grade in Glenview, Ill. Dark hair and glasses. Mmmmm.

What is you favourite ever film?
tough question
don't tell anyone, but one of them is
Valley Girl
(it was before Nicholas Cage got his teeth fixed, and he was gorgeous....)

What is the biggest life lesson you've learned from your kids?
Be flexible, and make sure they've slept, eaten and pooped recently

What song can't you get out of your head?
Pretty much anything ELO

What book do you know you should read but refuse to?
Silent Spring

What is your physical abnormality/abnormal physical ability?
Hmmmm.. I can cross just my left eye...

What is your favourite color?
grey

DISCLAIMER: I am not tagging. Do it if you want. Don't if you don't. Whatever.
The rules of this meme are as follows:- Respond to and rework the meme.- Answer the questions on your own blog.- Replace one question and add one question.- Tag 8 people.