When the Voices In Your Head

get too loud, do something with your hands. Paint some papers. Build a sand castle. Bake a cake. Get busy and make something beautiful.

I was reading iHanna this morning and she linked to DaisyYellow and I went there and was impressed with the number of ways I could manipulate paper and paint. So I asked G if we could drive into Portland and shop at the Art Supply. I purchased the list mentioned in the brayer card stock post.

Eight tubes of water soluble Speedball Block Printing Ink and 2 two inch rubber brayers. It cost seventy dollars but I think I will have more than seventy dollars worth of fun with the supplies. I plan to stop at my favorite print shop tomorrow and ask for any card stock trimmings they might have in their wastebaskets.

I just couldn't purchase the Golden Fluid Acrylics. $17 for a small bottle. Not. Going. To. Happen. Especially when I would need 8 bottles or more. Doesn't matter how exceptionally wonderful the color and texture of the paint is and how wonderful it would be to experiment with high quality paint. This is the same reason I have never used oils. Too much money to spend for what is really only an experiment. How do I know I will like it? Perhaps everyone using them has gotten a sample package from the supplier. That's really the only way to get an artist to "want" your product. If it's that expensive.

The greenhouse Open House on Saturday was well attended and my vegetable gardening class was full. We had to add seats and not everyone got a information package. The donuts on the refreshment table were delicious and I ate 2.5 raspberry jelly filled donuts. It was cloudy with misting rain all day and today it's colder with harder rain falling. We sold quite a number of pansy flats and I answered all kinds of questions.

I worked on my Twelve by Twelve "window" challenge piece this morning while G walked the dog. It's a reworked piece I began a while ago using an envelope of blue scraps I got from one of the Frayed Edges. It looked like a window and it looked like the window I had wanted to make. So it is. I think I will add some hand work to the piece because that always makes it better. And bind the edges. Not all of my challenge pieces are completely finished. But it doesn't matter. They have no where to go. I will try Simply Robin's new binding tutorial and see if it's easier to use than the way I have been doing bindings. My corners are always bumpy and lumpy. Ick.

So I'm going down to make something beautiful. You go do the same.

Painted Papers

I found time (made time) to paint paper on Wednesday. Even though it was a very bad idea for my back which was unhappy from a long day of standing behind the cash register at work. We are being "trained" for the Open House that begins today.

I had a limited range of colors (four plus cream) and only the one book of old pages. the older cheaper books take the paint better. Shiny, smooth pages just make smeary messes.

I will tear these pieces into bits and then apply them to a surface of magazine images or other pages of text from maps, dictionaries and atlas. My favorite is foreign language newspapers and fashion or decor magazines from Europe. The disconnect of not being able to "read" the words, makes them more a texture and less of a distraction. And I'm all about texture.

Work today. Work tomorrow. Falling asleep while watching television. I slow cooked a bunch of pork over night with an onion and some garlic and this morning (ick) shredded the meat and added brown sugar and BBQ sauce and put the slow cooker back on low for the day. Pulled Pork for dinner. Nothing as disgusting as smelly meat before breakfast.

Got to get dressed and drive the dog to day care. We will be having cookies, doughnuts and potato chips for the Open House today and tomorrow along with truly awful coffee. Tomorrow I teach Vegetable Gardening in the morning and work the cash register for the remainder of the day. Woo Hoo!

I will take the camera today and try and get you a few images of the glorious flowers. I can't send the awesome SMELL of wet, organic dirt to you. Sorry!

Last Trash Out Of The Day

I was reading about a company in California that cleans out foreclosed homes on the New York Times website. Anything over 35 cubic yards is considered a "big job". We dumped 40 cubic yards at my dad's house. And we need to get another smaller dumpster when we return to finish the job.

Yesterday, no plant watering at work. I learned how to serve the customers at the cash register. I did better than some of the high school girls who will be cashing people out later in the summer. That is something. I had to call for help a few times. And I had to, purposely, remember where I was was working before answering the phone. Not the library.

Today I will be organizing my thoughts for my Vegetable Gardening talk on Saturday morning. Tomorrow or Friday I will copy my "handout" for the people who come to listen to me talk. I give them Chapter 13 in the Master Gardener Class Book. More than they wanted to know but everything they need to know. I will focus on "location" and "containers" this year as sometimes (often) the only south facing part of the property is the driveway or patio. Or it's the front lawn. And not many homeowners are willing to dig up the lawn so they can plant beans. I used to grow cherry tomatoes in front of the porch steps in my front yard. Nice little sunny spot. Two big wooden containers. Easy and delicious.

I received several excellent hints for getting through my list of detestable tasks. "Eat the Frog" was my favorite. Do the worst thing on the list first. I spent a very amusing bit of time on that. Trying to figure out which item was the worst. LOL.

Monday I went out to the grocery store and bought supplies to make meatloaf for dinner. It was excellent (I used Lipton's dry onion soup recipe) and made all the remaining potatoes into a large pot of mashed potatoes. We had the leftovers yesterday. I sliced the leftover meatloaf into thick slices and panfried them in a bit of oil and butter.

Today I am making soup. I know. I'm not supposed to make soup on Wednesday. But G is working late today and soup is a good thing to eat at 7:30. Chicken Noodle for him and Bean and Escarole for me.

My lunchtime salads continue to be remarked on by my co workers. They are amazed by how good the salad looks and by the number of interesting and colorful ingredients. I have said many times that "I am worth the effort it takes to make a nice lunch". And really, it's not all that much effort. While preparing dinner, I prep a few vegetables for my salads (not all of them the same evening) and pack them into containers. In the evening, or in the morning, I just open containers and spoon a bit of this, some of that, into my larger salad container. And I mix Ranch, mayo, corn syrup and honey into a small container as the salad dressing. It tastes GOOD. Carrot sticks, black olives (sliced), diced red bell pepper (on sale this week), romaine, wheat berries, Chinese lo mein noodles (crispy instead of croutons). I have Greek olives, Feta, and homemade croutons if I want to switch it up. K had sprouts, green onion, shredded cheddar and grape tomatoes in containers for our salads in Atlanta.

If I don't care enough about myself to take "good care" who will? We (G & I) spend a bit extra on really good coffee beans, fresh salads, linen sheets, down comforters, 100% cotton or linen clothing (which I iron on good days), Smartwool socks and TiVo.

I have my "cheap and thrifty" side also. I wash and reuse aluminum foil, steam bags and plastic storage bags. I rarely raise the temperature in the house above 64 degrees (most zones are at 60). I compost everything (a pail sits on my kitchen counter), recycle every scrap of paper, cardboard, glass and aluminum can. Grow vegetables and eat them. Wash clothes in cold water. I have been asked to try and NOT use my clothes dryer. I don't think that will work for me, though my daughter had G install screw eyes in the beams in her basement ceiling. Marked out in precise rows. She hangs her wet clothing on plastic hangers and then onto one of the hooks and everything is dry by the next day. And nothing fades or shrinks. Or needs ironing. The laundry resembles soldiers in formation. OCD.

But I have stopped wearing baggy sweatpants and blue work shirts as my "daily uniform". All the sweatpants are gone and it's time to send the dozen blue shirts off to Goodwill. Now I wear corduroy pants and a sweater. And can "go out" in public looking less like a postal or prison employee and more like .... well, whatever I look like. Someone's Nana? The dog's walker?

I wish I looked more like an artist. Crazy colored spiked hair, outrageous clothes. Oh. That would be more along the lines of "Rock Star". Could that be what I really want to be when I grow up? A Rock Star? The "Rock Star" of Fabric Collage. O La La!

Confused Thoughts

I think that best expresses what is going on here. With me. For a few weeks, perhaps even more than a month or two, I was focused, directed and pleased with the "domestic" results. The house was clean-ish, the laundry done, floors swept, dog walked, dinners cooked, bills paid, piles cleared. I even vacationed.

Now I am home again and the debris of life is weighing heavy on me and I have lost focus. There are bills waiting to be paid, floors waiting to be swept and, lately, no dinner defrosted and ready to be cooked. Yesterday I served myself a very strange, if not delicious, meal of leftover boiled dinner vegetables and broth. Yes, a bowl of rutabaga, potato, carrot and cabbage in broth. G had the remains of Chinese food with steamed rice and some steamed broccoli. Today? I have "nothing" as they say. Plenty of frozen stuff and pantry ingredients. But no ideas.

Yesterday my daughter came by and walked the dog with me. Springlike weather. No scarf wrapped around our necks. No gloves. And later in the day. SNOW. The ground is wet and squishy (a good sign of thawing), daffs are peaking up out of the mud over the septic tank, the streets are clean, snowbanks decreasing in height. Warming. Sun shining. But it's 19 fricking degrees.

I do have Art Rule # 9 for you. Feel joy in self generated sweat. And Art Rule # 10. Fall in love with the working process. I think both of these rules are easy to follow IF you have a dedicated space in which to work.

My dad had a huge workspace in his basement. Filled with every sort of tool and material. If he wanted to go down and work. It was all there. Ready and waiting. He just had to push a few things aside and begin.

In order to work, I have to clear a space. In order to clear a space I have to find a place for the stuff begin moved. And this is where the creative urges end. Because the urge to create is sublimated by the need to "clean", "organize", "pack". I become increasingly frustrated and just quit. I have wanted to paint pages from an old book for two weeks now. I have no where to work. No where to let the pages dry. I have my little squares ready to applique but...... I don't actually have a reason why I'm not sewing. Perhaps I enjoyed sewing in the company of my friend K?

Other things I need to do: (Cross off my list)
Taxes. I have my Turbo Tax program installed and I need to just start doing my taxes.
Annuity. I need to decide. Fill out the papers and send them to settle.
Bills. Pay them and balance the checkbook
Ohio Banks. Settle this.
List the Ohio house for sale. Now I am having to sign contracts (as the new owner) for gas, water and electric services and pay all those bills in addition to my own bills and it is becoming increasingly depressing.
Find someone to cut the grass in Ohio.
Go to Ohio and empty the remainder of junk from the house and drag what we want back here and trailer the car back here. I can't begin to tell you how much I DO NOT WANT TO DO THIS. Driving a U Haul truck with a car trailer all the way from Ohio to Maine is a living nightmare for me. I have imagined ALL the things that might go wrong, accidents etc.

Is ART anywhere on this list? Is going back to work anywhere on this list? Is reading a book for fun anywhere on this list?

I am thankful for the 12 days at K's. I relaxed. I had no bills coming in the mail each day. I had no responsibilities. I just enjoyed each day, sewed my squares each evening and had ice cream. Life was good.

And don't tell me to choose ONE item on the list and just accomplish that. Because I DETEST every item on that list and would rather NOT EVER do them at all. Which is why they have NOT been done in all these months. Oh, the bills get paid. I write checks all the time. But I have ignored all the other items for as long as possible. My dad should have made Sam the executor not me. She gets things done. I just make a mess of everything.

So on that self pitiful note: I will get dressed, walk the dog, defrost something, pay the bills, sign the water and sewer contract for the Ohio house, and paint some pages in the old book. On the kitchen counter top. I may even paint the little baked Skulpty legs I made months ago for the little dolls I got on mark down (because they had missing body parts).

Don't cry for me. I just need to whine in public every once in awhile.

Belated Holiday Cuteness

Riley is celebrating St Paddy with the big green spider. Well, he celebrates everyday with the big green spider. And the bunny. And Hippy the Hippo. And the squirrel. And the squeaky Fire Hose. That dog loves his toys.

Well, I made it through two days at work (thank goodness there was a day in between) and I am feeling my age. Today, after my shower, I climbed into my jammies and called it a day. Not that I did alot. I just am not used to doing anything for hours at a time.

And lunch was my favorite time. I made salads. Lettuce, green peppers, carrots, Chinese crispy noodles, wheat berries, olives and I made my own dressing. A squirt of Ranch, some mayo and a squirt of honey. Sort of like the dressing Applebees puts on their Oriental Chicken Salad. I have forgotten the almonds each day so far. Tomorrow I'm going to use corn syrup instead of honey and see what I think.

I get to drop off and pick up the dog. It's been easy and Riley is being very decent about it all. But I am driving the Jeep. Can't pick up the dog in the truck. I don't think the dog actually enjoys riding in any vehicle. He stares down at his paws the entire time. No looking out the windows. No joy riding. Stoic. And in the truck, in the front seat, he is absolutely desperate to have the ride end. Pressing his head into the seat, misery etched in his handsome face. Even worse is riding in the BMW roadster. Yikes! He seemed to like Sam's Fit but still won't look out the windows until the car comes to a complete stop and the engine is off. No drooling or lip licking so I don't think he gets sick. And it took MONTHS to get him to jump up into the Jeep. We had to lift him. Too old for that, I can tell you.

So here I am in my jammies, tired, ready for some dinner (oh, am I supposed to cook?), no Survivor to watch, plenty of TiVo, and a late start tomorrow (11 am) so I can sleep late or stay up late tonight (ha ha). That's all I got. Not an interesting thought in my whole head right now.

Miles of Walking

Today I switched from the heavy leather, waterproof, boots I have worn everyday to walk the dog, to sneakers. It may be premature of me. The weather people are saying we'll have snow later in the week. I think we have had enough snow, thank you very much. But the sneakers are lighter and springier (because they are new). I have gone through three pairs of sneakers since I began this new healthy lifestyle. Still a work in progress.

The people from the Maine Unemployment Service are a bit disgruntled because I have not been "looking for work" and filling out my work search diary. Because, I keep telling them, I HAVE a job. There just is no WORK in the winter. And, just like I keep telling them, I will return to work in March when there is WORK. Tomorrow. Because I HAVE a job!!!!

Do you think government work is meant to be so mean spirited? How on earth do the welfare cheats manage to suck off the government teat for 20 years, with little effort, and a tax paying, hard worker gets abuse for collecting unemployment for 10 weeks and then returning to work? I can imagine the abuse the newly jobless are taking, filling out endless job applications, bothering people trying to work in businesses (who aren't hiring anyone), just to fill in the blank lines in the "job search diary" and get a check that may pay for food and utilities but not rent or mortgage. The check could buy a tent. Once the weather is warmer the jobless could move to a tent city and pretend they are camping. But they will still have to fill out the useless "job search diary". Most people who lost their job desperately WANT another job. The rest will just fill in the diary with lies.

And then there is more government business in the PILE of envelopes from Medicare that came in today's mail. My dad's usage in 2008. From January 1st to the day he died. I had shredded them by mistake while cleaning out his file cabinet. So I had to get duplicates. Because, now that I have written a few checks to doctors and medical offices, there is "blood in the water" and the welfare cheats (sharks) are moving in for their share of the money. So I, yes, it's up to me!, must prove they do not qualify, have already been paid, or are lying. Delightful. Medicare was kind enough to copy and send me all these duplicates. And they wished me well in my fight.

My dad's taxes are complete. He's getting a $14 refund.

My taxes aren't done. Not even started. Perhaps it's time to seek medical advice and some little tablets that will make me "feel better".

I made a wonderful pot of garden vegetable chowder on Saturday. Broccoli, carrots, corn, tomatoes, onion and a small potato surrounded by cream and cheese. And yesterday, G's day off, we went and had some Mexican food. No Margarita for me. The rice and the black beans were excellent. I had the special fajita dinner and didn't eat the flour tortillas (lots of calories) along with the steak and chicken. Mucho delicioso. Tonight, leftover soup for G and some salad for me. Tomorrow, my special cherry tomato pasta. Wednesday, New England Boiled Dinner. Thursday, more boiled dinner leftovers. And Friday is pizza night again.

And there's popcorn if either of us can stay awake long enough to pop some and eat it. Thank goodness for TiVo. We can "rewind" to see what we missed when we drifted off to sleep.

I watched the second half of David Copperfield on PBS (hate the begging for money) and some of Moonstruck with Cher. Why do I remember the name Uriah Heap? I didn't read David Copperfield and have never seen any other version. But I "knew" him. Not the actor. Any reason? So I watched the first hour, when David was born and the last 90 minutes of the second part. I don't know what his life was like after they sent him away or what happened to his mother. Guess I'll have to read the book. Or not.

So Many Changes

G's new schedule (which changes each week), my new work schedule (and getting used to it), Riley going to Doggie Daycare (with me this time and not G) and walking the dog after work. I'm going to be pretty excited and pretty exhausted for awhile.

I took a blurry photo of my rutabaga. Turnips have such a lovely watercolor-ish surface. (a rutabaga is a larger variety of a turnip) I was thinking I really should have the rutabaga "model" for a nice watercolor or perhaps an oil pastel. Perhaps the surface is more of a wax encaustic? But, let's be realistic, this turnip's destiny is a New England boiled dinner.

The weather, yesterday, was delightful. Mainers were out in short tee shirts. Not me. I had removed the down under coat from the lineup but still had on two layers for the dog walk plus a light hat and light gloves (which I removed). I will never be a Mainer, as I wasn't born here, so I don't have to demonstrate the "cold hardiness" that they enjoy so much. It was in the 40's.

The snow in the yard is compacting with the sun and "heat" making it easier for Riley to chase and chew sticks and small tree limbs he drags around. Small. Like 5 to 8 feet long. I'm hoping the snow has melted enough to get the gate to the garden open so I can dump my compost bucket in the compost bins. I certainly won't be planting my peas this week. Unless I shovel the snow off a raised bed.

The Art Group organizer sent photos of the group working on collages. Everyone looked exactly as I remembered them looking. I have to come to realize that the photo of me is what I look like. Old. Not thin. Double chin. So depressing. And I hate the way my hair looked. The double chin thing has always been a problem for me if I don't hold my head UP. And I am NOT photogenic. I deleted all the pictures.

Today: G has the day off so we will do something together? I have laundry to do, I'd like the floors vacuumed, the garden gate dug out, the collage materials on the dining room table returned to their proper places, sweaters to hand wash. My work clothes are washed and ready to wear, my lunch bag and keys have been located, the Jeep has gas in it. Ready to begin.

Still Blooming

A good couple of days. Lunch with the Frayed Duo was perfection. Good Food. Book Sale Chat. Craft How To. And the weather that day was frightful. Snow. Sleet. Rain. All in one morning before 11 am.

I learned how to make a rag rug with a toothbrush tool (needle/pusher/thing). Well, I saw one being made and watched the tutorial and now just have to try it.

Finally made a short forage in the grocery store. G needed breakfast supplies. Orange juice, bagels, yogurt. So, while there, I also purchased supplies for the St Patrick's Day corned beef and cabbage boiled dinner. All on sale. Today I return for pizza supplies cause it's Friday and Friday is pizza day.

I have packed up two bags for Goodwill. And yesterday (at Goodwill) purchased three green shirts for me to wear to work and three for G to wear to work. I used my $25 unemployment stimulus check. I return to work on the 17th. Nineteen hours the first week, so I will report that income on next week's unemployment report and see what happens.

Today, I need to get dressed, walk the dog, go to the grocery store and get some sleep. I must have gotten coffee with caffeine yesterday at lunch because I was awake ALL NIGHT. I am SO tired. And because I was awake, in the dark, I ran through all the things that worry me, make me crazy, such as why was the furnace going on every 5 minutes. And, by the way, the furnace is still going on way too often for my comfort (and nerves) and it isn't cold or warm in here. So why? I may have a nervous breakdown by noon. Would a banana calm me down?

I have to organize doggie daycare for the dog when I go to work. And drop him off and pick him up. Now that G is back to managing a restaurant, he can't just leave when his shift is over. He has to stay and finish things. And doggie day care ends at 6 pm on the DOT. And your dog better be on his way home by then. More and more of the daily dog care is now my responsibility, and really, I don't care for it. I don't get any of the doggie adoration. G walks in the room and you'd think the dog won Megabucks. I walk in and he may lift his head off the dog bed and he may not. Saving all the love for G.

But I'm going back to work in the greenhouse and the fushias and geraniums are waiting for me already and more coming in each day. Such a riot of color, earthy smells and LIGHT streaming through the glass ceiling. I won't even mind the wet socks.

Dearest Dreams Coming True

Remember when I was so sad? Well, I'm happy again. Enjoying the sun shining on my face, the gray sky full of snowflakes, the smell of spring in the damp, warmish air, opening the windows for the first time in 2009 to let fresh air into the house (only momentarily), eating cereal out of my favorite Pottery Barn bowl, coffee from my favorite polka dot cup, collecting sticks and branches for the dog to chase and chew, watching Riley run like the wind back to the house where G has just driven the truck. Little things. Happy things. It feels good. Real good.

I now have more fabric. More blues and more browny greens. More squares and more circles. I made a huge error in cutting up the half yards of focus fabrics. I could have used them for the borders if I had left half uncut. But I didn't so later when I am finished with squares and circles I will have to go searching for a border fabric. I intend to search here at home and not in the stores. I noticed the strips I cut yesterday were not "exactly" perfectly cut. That's because I am sloppy and the ruler slides. Which means I will have to be patient and fix the problems when I do the quarter inch seams. Doing things right the first time is easier.

I now have all the fabrics I used for the French Hens (not chickens!) quilt. It took some digging but I found them. I pinned the new squares on the padded board which is leaning against the Hens. It was, then, that I realized I needed the rest of the fabrics for the new quilt. It was my intuitive mind sending a message. I like when that happens. Or else, the first time I went looking for the Hen remainders, I only found half.

My neighbor asked me yesterday evening if I would be interested in a joint garage sale in May or June. I said yes. So now my sorting will have more purpose.

Tomorrow I am having lunch with two members of the Frayed Edges. We'll be discussing library book sales and not fiber art but I am pretty excited about seeing the two of them. Now would be a great time to use my "linking" skills but I didn't plan ahead.

I haven't had to go to the grocery store. Still plenty of stuff to eat in the pantry and fridge. I may be able to wait until Thursday (a whole week) before picking up supplies for G's breakfasts. I would encourage you to try this yourselves. Use what you have stored in the freezer and pantry and don't go shopping for a week. No stockpiling. Just decide to do it without planning ahead. And, if you need 1 to 3 items, like milk, eggs, butter, go ahead. But only three. And the three items should be necessary ingredients for recipes. As an example: If I had dead bananas in the fridge and wanted to make banana bread but didn't have an egg or enough flour, then I would buy some. Or better yet, ask my neighbor for some.

Right now I have two leftover flour tortillas in the fridge and I am trying to think of something to make that would use them. A sandwich wrap? I also have a 1/2 cup of baked beans, some sour cream and a jar of of pickled jalapenos. And, of course, the three dead bananas in the fridge which will be turned into incredible banana bread this afternoon.

Incredible Banana Bread 350 degree oven, greased 9" loaf pan (I spray with Pam)

4 Tablespoons of butter, room temp or softened in micro
1/2 cup sugar
3 dead bananas, peeled and mashed
1 egg (I use egg beaters in everything)
1/4 cup milk
1/3 cup of ONE of these items, not all. Yogurt, cottage cheese, sour cream

If you don't have any of these items, use 1/4 cup milk plus 1/3 cup milk and add a teaspoon of vinegar. Let sit till curdled. About 5 minutes. Half and half and whipping cream can also be used. No milk? Use an additional 1/4 cup yogurt, sour cream or cottage cheese. Or use liquid coffee creamer. I have used "bad" sour cream in the bread and it was still incredibly good.

2 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
mix all the dry stuff together and stir.

Cream all the butter, sugar, egg and milk. I use an electric hand mixer. Add bananas and sour cream (or one of the others) Mix well.

Now mix all the wet and dry together and then : (Add the optional 2/3 cup raisins or chopped walnuts. I add walnuts. But if you feel crazy and wild: add chocolate chips.) and scoop into the loaf pan and place in the preheated oven. Bake for one hour. Let cool for 10 minutes on a rack before tipping out of the loaf pan.

I wrap in foil when completely cool (after I have sliced one of the crispy ends off and eaten it alongside a cup of tea). Best kept in the fridge so it doesn't develop "banana bread blue spots". I know there are fans of banana bread mold, but I'm not one of them.

This is the very best banana bread you will ever make. My gift to you today.

Never Enough

Fabric variety when making a scrap quilt. I can see now that I need more choices and after digging through piles in the workroom, I found the remains of the French chicken quilt and will be cutting that fabric into 5.5 inch squares and 4 inch circles. More varieties of blue and yellow and some greens and browns. And I think I will remove the lime green.

Each time I go to visit K, I come back wanting my house and activities to match hers. We have the same coffee maker, sitting next to a small tray with cream and sugar. My cups are on a metal stand and hers hang under the kitchen cabinets from cup hooks. I have 6 mugs and she has more than a dozen. I have a little container full of small spoons next to the two Polish Pottery sugar bowls (one cream and one sugar).

When we burn brush, we have lawn chairs nearby and big cups full of ice and the "beverage". K's own mix of lemonade and green tea. I have all the ingredients but it just doesn't taste right here in Maine. K suggests I use the same jug to prepare the "beverage". I have it on my shopping list. When G and I did the big burn pile here in Maine last fall, there were no lawn chairs and no beverages. What a bummer!!!

On this visit, K had salads with "all the fixings" in little screw top containers. Ready to use. I already have the generous salad bowls K uses (bought those three or four visits ago) and we enjoy salad as an easy lunch and supper. K had diced red pepper, sliced almonds, green onion, shredded cheddar cheese, croutons, chinese noodles and a whole shelf of salad dressings. I added julienned carrots (cut with the chef's knife I made her buy last year, to match mine at home). We also had leftover chicken from Zaxby's. I think she had dried cranberries but we didn't use them. We had salads for lunch and each day we thought we had made the best one ever. I brought home little screw top containers for my own salad "fixings".

Another good idea Kay has is a sewing tray. Just a small, wooden, tea tray. K has glued a magnet (one of those things businesses mail you) in one corner to hold needles and pins, a painted card stock box with a lid holds more pins, another small flat box holds thread, thread clippers, masking tape etc. The remainder of the tray is open and in my usage of it, while there, it held my freezer paper circles and the embroidery floss I use to applique the circles to the squares. Everything close at hand and easily picked up and moved. And no need to stick pins and needle into the arms of the couch or chair. Or into the knee of your pants. Well, I don't "stick" them into my knee, but I do "pin" them into the fabric over my knee. I'm at that point in life where I lose the needles and pins constantly. And with a dog, I have to be more careful.

I don't think K has ever taken any ideas home from my house. She has taken home fabric. And she has asked for and used recipes for food I cook when visiting.

What brings all this to mind today, is the fact that I prefer the spare, clean home that K maintains and not the cluttered, messy place I call home. Here I sit at the computer desk and I am surrounded by little piles of "junk" that no one uses but is still here. The top of a pen, a clip, some Christmas evergreen made of paper, a film canister, paper clips, a coaster, 2 phone cards, scissors, post its, bills, articles clipped from the newspaper, business cards, magazine labels (used to get refunds), menus. I don't toss it all because I was raised by parents and grandparents who saved things "just in case we need it and there isn't any more". In fact, I filled a 40 cubic yard dumpster with 86 years of my Dad's "saved junk". I need to do the same with my own junk. Not a dumpster, but several boxes and bags each week. The boxes to Goodwill and the bags to the dump.

That's what I brought back from K's this year. And the need to paint my rooms the same tan color with bright white trim. I had spent a great deal of time (years) trying to buy the same dishes K has (no longer made) but in beige or tan and have now settled on using my Polish Pottery daily and no longer treating it like a decor item.

So today: fill a garbage bag with debris, fill a box with Goodwill, walk the dog, cut out more squares, serve leftovers for dinner. G got promoted to manager this weekend and is at his new restaurant today instead of having a day off. Never a dull moment around here!

Winter Blooms

I have been lucky this winter. I have managed to have something blooming for all these cold, dark winter months. First amaryllis, then christmas cactus, then the lovely clivia with yellow flowers touched with pale orange. I now have a gorgeous orchid in bloom for the next several weeks (multiple stems) and another clivia (this time in a deep orange) still in bud. Not so spectacular, a geranium, has been in bloom since summer, even though I have pruned it back, hard, several times. Just keeps making flowers.

It is just about time for me to set up the bay window for seed starting. I need to get my peppers going as they are very slow to start. I plan to try Fava beans this spring along with kale, beets and little turnips. I already have garlic planted. The peppers will spend the spring months in the house along with the tomatoes I start from seeds. It will be a long time before it's warm enough outside for anything "tender". My friend Patty and I may plant onions and potatoes in her larger garden to share. I will try leeks again this year and plant them in deep furrows this time. Shallots also.

I was going to photograph the little blocks I worked on while at K's. I need to do that while the sun is shining and the dog is sleeping. I made over 40 five inch squares with a 4 inch circle of another fabric appliqued in the center. Sort of the center. I decided not to measure but to "eye" the center and just let them be a bit off. So after I stop blogging, I will run down to the workroom and get pins and tack blocks to the display board and snap a few pictures. I wanted a French feel and you'll let me know if it works?

I saw a quilt made this way in a show in Damariscotta a few years ago. In fact, there were two pieces in the show that got me interested in quilting again. And I hadn't been interested for quite awhile. The second was a strange but wonderful piece titled Red Lanterns and I think it was made by Schultz. From New York or New Jersey. The most outrageous patterned commercial fabrics sewn together into this wonderful, vibrant piece. Made me want to go shopping for big prints. Huge prints. I drew it into my journal but hadn't brought a camera to the show. So I only have my "selective" memory of both pieces.

I did get into one quilt shop while on vacation to buy another "French" green for the quilt. And two little fat quarters for my Gingerbread quilt which I will make "someday". I am looking for a few commercial pieces that look like candy. The one I bought looks like a fat red and white stripe candy cane. It will be nice as window shutters on the candy houses. The other is a petite pink and cream stripe with tiny hearts. It looks delicious.

Riley and I finally got going and walked yesterday in the drizzle. We met a baby dog who is just 10 weeks old. So adorable. Riley walked up ahead and the baby dog followed. They have named her Spice but I thought the owner said Spike. I have to remind myself of the correct name by saying Sugar and Spice.

The sun is shining today. It makes such a difference.

I won't be returning to work until after the 15 th so I have another week to entertain myself. I have two books to read, the little blocks to sew and I am having a bit of fun trying to feed us with what is in the fridge and pantry -- no shopping. Last night I threw together grilled cheese sandwiches using stale hamburger buns cut side down and served the little round sandwiches with canned baked beans I doctored up with ketchup, mustard and brown sugar. We opened a jar of the zucchini pickles I canned this summer.

As long as I have garlic and onions, we should be okay. Today I'll be making pork roast and potato dumplings with sauerkraut. Comfort food from my grandmother's kitchen. I hope I have some sauerkraut in the pantry!!!!

Some People

Go on vacation and bring back stuff that is a whole lot more interesting than four big containers of coffee creamer. I even had to check a second bag (for $15) to bring this stuff home. Yes, I have tried the local brands of coffee creamer and they just aren't as "wonderful" as the Publix brand.

I also returned home with 6 (maybe more) pairs of Smartwool socks. Some were expensive and some were marked down to $5. I like them because they stay warm even when wet and they feel cozy. Not itchy.

So here I am back home after 12 days of having a very good time with my best friend K. We started the vacation with three full days of burning brush and pine straw. Big. Hot. Smoky. Fires. Man, did we stink! And after a full day of burning, we relaxed with cocktails. Lots of gin. I tried to stay on my diet but fell off the first evening with the spaghetti and meatball leftover's from K's husband's birthday dinner and the chocolate birthday cake and ice cream. It was downhill from there with Meatball Subs and birthday cake the next night. And I had Hooter's wings a day or two before I returned home.

It even SNOWED while I was there. Not the 20 inches that fell in Maine on the evening I traveled to Atlanta, but a decent 4 inches of wet snow on the ground. And no snowplows. Lots of snowmen showed up the next morning lining the streets in K's subdivision. They sported hats made from baskets and beer cap eyes. No carrot noses.

Riley has returned from his 11 days at the kennel looking very trim and exhausted. He's been asleep most of the time since we picked him up yesterday. And I think he had another bath which probably is a very interesting "story" the kennel isn't sharing with us. They only said he was a "very good boy".

I am still in my robe and socks. Drinking coffee with Publix creamer. Tired but happy. Even though I had an enormous stack of Medicare "this is not a bill" statements from my dad's last month to open. The bills will arrive at some point in time.

My dad's empty house has used $79 worth of water and sewer and $13 worth of electricity this month. Guess it's time to have the caretaker shut off the water and then turn off the heat ($166). The lawyer is sending me things to sign and the bank has STILL not transferred the accounts into my name. It was delightful not to have to think about all this for 12 days.

I think I'll check the fridge for supplies and then make a trip to the grocery store for something to make for dinner tonight. Vacation is over.

Traveling, I Hope

The weather forecast for tomorrow is "Winter Storm" with 100% possibility of snow or rain. The temperature? The weather people are saying 38 degrees. The snow wasn't supposed to begin until afternoon but now the forecast says morning. UGH!

But until I hear different from Orbitz, I'm just going to keep thinking I'm traveling tomorrow.

I made the Lemon Ricotta Cheesecake for G's evening desserts while I'm away. It smells and looks lovely. I fiddled a bit with the recipe, which reminds me, I should made notes on the recipe card. I also turned the remainder of the No Knead Loaf into croutons for salads. Waste not. Tonight G is having Sausage, Mushroom and Onion Pizza again because he liked it so much the last time. And there will be extra to have with soup or salad one night this week.

This coming Sunday, a group of foodies is having a "No Shopping Week". They are going to try and make all the week's meals out of the freezer and pantry. You know, all that food we buy and then just store. Until it goes bad. I am so bummed about being gone for this. Sounds like good fun. Inventive meals. Everyone will be making suggestions of recipes for the odd assortment of things we have available to cook. Especially as they get closer to Saturday. I may have to do it when I get back home. No stockpiling. Just roll with it. And, yes, you can go get milk or eggs if you really MUST in order to make something. But no cart of groceries.

My walking buddy is back here in Maine for a few days (been away 6 weeks) and she is eating anything that is open in her cupboard. Crackers, cereal, stuff like that. She did purchase some milk and eggs but nothing else. She will be trying to fly back to Florida tomorrow.

G has arrived home to joyous doggie greetings. The pizza was another success and my re heated soup and two large salads was very filling. The croutons so much better than store bought.

I had a very bad time today, trying on clothes and finding that most of last spring's wardrobe is way too tight. Mostly in the waist and hips. I am happy that I tried things on instead of just packing and thinking they would fit. So now I have to chose and pack.

Clothes for gardening. Clothes for going places. Clothes for cutting and piecing a baby quilt......... I selected, ironed, cut and stacked fabric for my applique circles. The 8.5 squares were WAY too big so I went with 5.5 inch squares and an appliqued 4 inch circle in the center. I also chose thread to go with the fabrics and have needles and clippers. I even packed some freezer paper in case K doesn't stock any in her quilt room. I have a journal, pens and a glue stick for the daily updates.

Now I guess I need to go stuff things in the carry on and be ready to go. Tomorrow I have to have the dog walked before my daughter picks me up to drive to Portland. So dog walk followed by shower and a quick check to see if I have everything.

I need to smear peanut butter on the Kong and stick it into the freezer overnight so Riley will have something to do when I leave. Before he falls asleep. Monday, Riley goes to the kennel for 11 days. He'll be exhausted and dirty when we pick him up. And "So Happy" to see his nice cushy beds and toys. He'll be "roughing" it at the kennel.

Now to pack. And then set the TiVo to record things that I might miss seeing. So much to do. I will NEED a vacation after all this stress! Cheers!

Not Over Until the Fat Lady Sings

We have a preview of Spring with swelling buds on the forsythia but they have been that way for several weeks now.

Last night and this morning we had heavy wet snowfall. Heart Attack Snow. G and I worked together to clear off the long driveway and garage apron. And the huge pile the plow heaps up at the bottom of the driveway. That's the heart attack part. We are wet, tired and later today, we'll be sore. Best part. While G is in the shower, after shoveling, the power goes out. I had to go in and light the bathroom candle (no windows). Nothing as exciting as a shower in complete darkness. When the town plow comes back he will certainly plow all the shoveled snow right back into the drive. It's what they do for laughs.

I have two estimates for my leaking chimney. One for $6600 to take down the 24 year old chimney and replace it with a properly built (ahem) new chimney. And one for $5600 to take down the chimney and replace the roof shingles and put up cedar clapboard, fascia etc. I have one more estimate to get. Take down chimney and replace with windows.

The brick faced hearth inside the house was built with proper bricks and is in good condition. And the hearth is a design element of the great room. So removal will change the look and character of my home. I wonder how great the importance of this brick is to the house's value? If I leave the hearth, I can eventually get a gas fired wood stove to replace the wood burning stove that I detest. No need for a chimney with a gas "wood" stove. And once we have opened Pandora's box (propane service), then I can have a gas stove and gas logs in the living room fire place. Of course, there is installation of gas lines and tank etc. $$$$.

I am certainly spending money (or thinking of spending money) like a sailor on shore leave. I can hear that fat lady warming up in the wings. I wonder if G and I could take down the chimney ourselves. A little do it yourself project. I don't like paying $75 an hour for someone to do something I could do for free. I can't build a chimney, but I can haul bricks in a wheelbarrow. It might take me 4 months to finish but I could still do it.

Lunch at 111 Maine today after we do errands. We need to visit the post office, bank, Petco (Riley's food for his kennel vacation) and Home Depot. I need to revisit the grocery store for some Graham crackers, cream cheese, eggs and a lemon. I'm making Lemon Ricotta Cheesecake for G's desserts next week (while I'm gone). I think I added cream cheese last time I made this. I wish I could buy three eggs, not six.

Pot Roast tomorrow in the crock pot. With mashed potatoes, green peas and cole slaw. My all time favorite meal. What's not to love about a good pot roast, huh?

Tuesday

I made it through Monday. I got all four of my items on the list accomplished. Today the sun is shining and I have an appointment to get my hair cut. But first, walking the dog.

I wanted to talk about this. On Sunday evening, the dog decided NOT to lay on his dog bed in front of the couch where G and I watch evening television. We tried to coax him but he just stood there. And then he did the most amazing and perplexing thing. He began to make "sounds" while making eye contact. He was trying to communicate. To explain why he couldn't lay on the bed. And when it was obvious to him that we didn't understand, he sighed and lay down on the wood floor.

Last night I removed all the bedding and replaced the cover with one of his favorite beach towels and he lay right down and fell asleep. So something isn't "right" about the bedding. It could be the Febreze. All the bedding will be washed, again today and hopefully whatever "smell" it had, will be washed off. And I guess the Febreze can be used to keep him away from things we don't want him sleeping on.

The soups I made yesterday were (are) delicious. I enjoyed the cutting and chopping. "habit is more powerful than will". I almost made 1200 calories yesterday but went over. As I wrote in my journal. I can only try each day. The next day is another chance. Today I begin with oatmeal and coffee. And I have no idea where they day will take me.

When I go to work outside the home, the "habit" of employment takes over. The list of things to get done each morning starting with washing your face and ending with packing your tote and getting into the car. It all falls into place (unless something goes wrong) and each morning is the same as the one before. The evenings follow a pattern or "habit" also. Arrival, dog greetings, dog walk, change clothes, prepare the meal, eat, news, cleanup (laundry) and settle into the couch to fall asleep. Working outdoors, I fall asleep by 9 pm, which is very unusual for me.

So, in order to get any art done around here, I need the "habit" of art making. I need to begin in some small way to include art making in the pattern of my day. Mornings are spent eating breakfast in front of this keyboard. Reading blogs, sending comments and reading the newspaper on line. Then I dress for the day and walk the dog. Errands are done after the walk and the dog's lunch. (he still eats three meals a day) Afternoons are frittered away and this is where I can make the new habit fit into my day. Today. Not too much. Just a start.

My plans for the day. Get Dressed. Walk Dog. Return Book To Borders. Get Hair Cut. Groceries (return tomato paste in a tube/ buy G yogurt, juice, noodles). Throw dog stuff into washer/dryer. Make some small bit of fabric art or paint. Make Dinner.

Wish me luck.

Another Monday

I was reading a post on grief over at the Voodoo Cafe, and got to thinking that maybe that's what's wrong with me these days. Some type of cellular grief. It maybe the reason I am dragging my feet re: settling my dad's estate. This is not depression with all the usual attachments of sleeping all day, wearing pajamas all day (only half the day) and eating a number of grilled cheese sandwiches while reading and re reading the same book over and over. That kind of depression isn't depicted on the television advertisements.

So here I am, in my pajamas, trying to avoid walking the dog. Once I'm dressed and outdoors, it's good. I'm just not that interested until I am outside the house. And, while it isn't as cold, it is very gray and icy outside.

I made a lovely Valentine's Day dinner. Steaks, baked potatoes, asparagus and wild baby green greens in a salad with homemade croutons. Dessert (for G) was a nice deep chocolate brownie. Dessert for me was finishing the bottle of merlot. Yes, I did.

Yesterday, spent out shopping thrifts with my daughter, I threw together a pasta with fried onion, bacon and mushrooms with Parmesan cheese for G. I had some toast with peanut butter.

The diet isn't going all that well. I just don't care. I'm not motivated. I look old and flabby and lumpy and my skin is still hanging in wrinkles like a deflated old balloon from the last diet. There isn't even any food that would "comfort" me. There isn't any book I want to read or reread. I have trouble falling asleep so sleeping all day isn't even possible. I have things I could be doing but it's like I'm dragging a 1000 pound weight around with me called procrastination.

So small steps today. Get Dressed. Walk Dog. Make Soup. Clean Sheets On Bed.

The Art Rule for Today: Number 8. Use Intuition/ Master Technology. Did you notice the link? I think intuition requires a "leap of faith" and so does technology. Every time I press the publish button--- I wonder.

Une Balance

I had forgotten how complete the concentration was with the 1200 calories a day. Deciding what to eat, when. If I have this now, can I have that, later. It is day four. I have been hungry only in the deprived "I want that" sense. I want bread.

I went back and read my food diaries from the 365 days. The first diary had the best food choices. An actual breakfast of toast and an egg. An actual lunch of soup or a sandwich-- with bread. Dinner was usually a large salad. Later diaries had a slice of cheese and 15 almonds as lunch. For the same calorie count I could have had a few ounces of good bread and an ounce of 50% reduced cheese. Or an apple. In the first diary, I always had an apple with me, in case. so I have packed up all the other diaries and have the first one sitting next to my journal. These next few weeks will be noted in the regular journal. As I won't be thinking of anything else anyway.

I bought my plane ticket and will be visiting K in Atlanta later this month. Riley will go to the kennel to run with the "big dogs" and G will get to come home from work and sleep on the couch after eating restaurant meals. In other words, we all get to do what we enjoy.

I will be returning to work after I get back from my vacation. I miss working. It adds stability to my days. Purpose. And I get everything else done in the time after work.

I am now considering what sort of project to take with me on my vacation. I usually bring some sort of applique. I have a French inspired quilt top I have wanted to make. All I need to do to get ready is cut out squares (need to decide on the perfect size square) and cut out freezer paper circles (that fit on the chosen square). Then iron the freezer paper circles onto more squares. I'll hand stitch a circle onto each square and when they are all finished, sew all the squares together. Simple. The fabric is the star. And since I truly, deeply, adore fabric, this seems like a good small project. I can make 5 or 6 each evening while watching television.

When I made my chicken quilt, I stitched a chicken head each evening for 12 evenings. My dad would watch me work and I always gave him the finished work to look over. He would run his hands over the surface, concentrating on the design and technique. I loved sharing my work with him. And in the afternoons he would come by the front bedroom in his house (I had made it my workspace) and watch me cut and select the applique pieces for that evening's chicken. Later he watched me piece the 13 baskets and start putting it all together. I have it on my wall, right here, where I see it each and everyday. An emotional journal.

We bought some ShamWow! towels at Target on Monday and they have come in handy as the woodstove brick fireplace has water running down the back wall. And I need to keep soaking it up and wringing the towels out into a pail. I called a local woodstove company and they repair chimneys (???) so I have them coming out next week to look see. Probably a cracked flue liner along with a number of broken and cracked bricks on top. I would really like the whole thing removed (even though it is beautiful) as I don't like the woodstove (dirty and smelly), the smoke makes it hard for me to breath (allergy to smoke), and we only use it in ice storms. I would prefer a gas fired stove if we have to have one, and, really, I would rather have windows where the brick fireplace is now. We will settle for the solution that is least expensive. And after the chimney is repaired ( or removed) we will have new roof shingles put up. I think there are a few places near the many skylights where the shingles are leaking. The shingles up there have lasted, in good condition, for 24 years. We'll replace them with the same quality shingles.

And a new furnace. And a new refrigerator. Both because a newer one will be more cost efficient. The furnace is 24 years old and the fridge is 18 years old. And I have hated that fridge for each and every one of the 18 years. As you can see, I will be doing my part to stimulate the economy. Une Balance in everything.

Southern Winds & Warming Sun

The January thaw has arrived. Forty four degrees. I had to take off my hat, my scarf, my gloves and the short down underjacket on the walk today. And then I pulled out the lawn chair and took a short rest in the sunshine.

My photo today was taken many weeks ago and I still haven't cracked the thriller on the left open but I have read parts of this vegetable gardening book. I like it. I might want to own it. It would certainly come in handy if I return to work at the greenhouse (please let me return to work at the greenhouse). Since my wish hasn't been granted yet--I filed online for my next week's unemployment check. I file on Sunday and the check is here in my mailbox on Wednesday. Like magic. Who knew the government could be this efficient?

I have been reading VooDooCafe and really enjoy the way Rice writes. I need to link to this blog but do not have the url handy now that Paula has given me very good (most excellent in fact) instructions on how to "link". That little card was here yesterday...........

Today is Sunday so we are having SOUP. I used the last "broccoli crown" in the veg drawer. Thank heavens it was lurking in there because I didn't have much else to work with. I melted the last few tablespoons of butter and sauteed a diced onion and a big carrot, also diced and the aforementioned broccoli chopped up with the stems diced. I salted and peppered lightly. Added some dry basil and paprika. Then spooned 2 tablespoons of flour in the pot and mixed it in so as to make a roux (of sorts) while the water kettle heated up. I added 2 cups of water and 2 vegetable boullion cubes and let everything simmer till "not raw anymore" which I guess is 10 or 15 minutes on low. I also added one 15 ounce can of corn, drained and one can (same size) of diced tomatoes, drained. That's where we are right now. When it's time to eat, I'll heat the soup up and add 1 pint of light cream (I have some half and half and some milk in the fridge) and 3/4 cup of shredded cheddar. Once the milk and cheese goes in--no boiling or you get vegetables and curds soup. Not as popular around here.

The sausage, mushroom and onion pizza was VERY popular on Friday evening. I browned the sausage first till it was crispy. I don't like juicy meat. I like meat that is dark brown and crispy. I like it past done. G's best friend, Charlie, always asks in diners and restaurants, for "the roast chicken you have in the kitchen, the one that's overcooked and dry and you're planning to pitch". What they serve him is never dry enough. Charlie always starts my hotdogs early and doesn't call me to the grill to pick them up until they are blackened charcoal. Got to love a guy who makes that kind of effort.

My pizza had three slices of bacon, diced and very crispy, red onion and green peppers. Not very interesting (not enough bacon) so I added red pepper flakes after baking. And I tried something new and stretched the ball of pizza dough over my knuckles to make a perfect circular pizza. Chewy crust. I had been rolling it with a rolling pin and it was "breadlike". Stretched over the knuckles is the way to go.

I have surrendered to the knowledge that I have to return to the 1200 calories a day eating plan. I don't want to, but just "trying" to eat right is only resulting in a half pound of weight loss a week. At this rate, I will be doing this for years. I just want it over with. I want the twenty pounds gone by the time I stop wearing my winter clothes.

So I started counting, weighing, adding, multiplying and dividing everything I eat. My blueberry pancakes this morning were already 770 calories so I don't have much to work with for the remainder of today. I made the pancakes because I WANTED THEM and it's best to get those sorts of things out of the way. I also WANTED the nachos I had for lunch yesterday. You can see why I wasn't doing very well on the "honor system".

So all that is now in the past. Not that I eat that way, usually. I tend to eat moderately and am paying for excesses in eating that occurred in the fall and winter at work when I ate bagels and big lunches and bacon pizza and doughnuts and handfuls of fried peanuts. Yes, I did. So now I have to suffer because of all that eating at work. And when I return to work I have to be very careful not to do it again. Or I have to stay home, where I tend to be very good about what I eat. I could blame it all on Kenny. He's the one who kept buying all those pepperoni and bacon pizzas and sharing them with everyone in the lunchroom. I think I will eat in my truck in the parking lot when I return to work. And chew gum.

Friday-The Day I Don't Walk The Dog

G finally has a day off and he will be walking the dog today. I can rest my left foot. I even got to sleep late today (10 am) and haven't finished my coffee yet. I was reading blogs. The dog usually sighs and sits patiently (for as long as he can) while I read blogs and type comments, and then he comes over and wedges his big head over my left typing hand and pushes until I get his message. Or he goes over and rings the bell we have on the back door.

The sun has been strong this past week, even though it's been very cold (yesterday it was 10 when we walked) and my winter tan is shaping up nicely. I look healthy with a tan and tired and old without one. Paste-y. I drag my cheap lawn chair on to the back "stoop" and settle in for a little sun while Riley digs holes all over the yard looking for buried treasure. There are times when only his butt and tail are still visible. I have to be out there with him when he digs. He's social.

We are having a new pizza (for us) tonight. Italian sausage, mushroom and onion with red pepper flakes. I think my pizza will be onion, green pepper and black olives. I could add bacon. I have bacon in the freezer now as part of the "well stocked freezer". Bacon was on sale (sort of) and I bought 2 pounds. I cut long strips of parchment paper and lay 3 strips of thick cut bacon on the paper and rolled it up and placed the rolls in freezer bags. Very convenient to just pull a roll of bacon out and use it for soup, carbonara or pizza. We're having Italian sausage because a nice package of two butcher shop links was in the "marked down meat" bin when I was in the grocery this week.

What I really want and crave is Nachos. And a Margarita.

I had a good hair day yesterday. Usually my hair has given me a "lunatic" sort of vibe this winter. Standing up and swirling around in crazy patterns. I lost my favorite hat from last winter and have been using a combo of wool and fleece to warm my head. This combo itches and makes my head too hot so I am forever pulling my hat off and putting it back on when my head starts to ice over. Where did my hat go? Probably fell out of my pocket one day last spring while I was digging around looking for a hankie.

Riley expects a treat every time I stop to dig in my pocket looking for that hankie. When I was in kindergarten my mom pinned the hankie to my slip. We had to have, and show, a fresh hankie in school every day. I usually lost mine if it wasn't pinned to my slip. And all notes from home to school or school to home were pinned to my slip. I was a real air head, I guess. My report cards always mentioned my complete lack of attention to what was being done at school. Earth to Joanne? And I didn't get high marks for "playing well with others". But, later, my excellent penmanship got me the honor of writing all the vocabulary lists on the blackboard in third or fourth grade. Perfect s's, r's and t's.

I just sprayed the house with a new bottle of Febreze and I'm not too excited about the smell. Woods and rainwater don't smell like this. I may have to open windows. I think the dog smell was better than this smell.

Surrounded By Beauty

I have been rather forlorn lately. But how can I continue feeling this way, when surrounded, as I am, with beauty and happiness? This blooming Clivia would cause any gardener's heart to race and who couldn't melt when greeted by an enthusiastic dog (waggling his tail)?

Two days ago I was stumped with trying to list 50 things that made me happy. The first item I wrote down was: 1. happy the milk for my oatmeal wasn't spoiled (sour).

I am pleased that you liked my chairs. I like them, too, and I loved seeing the other 12. What I loved most was the stories the chairs told. a simple chair. Really, not so simple at all. and that is truly the artist's gift. To take something ordinary and make it say something just by the way you presented it. And why was it that most of the chair seats were pointed to the right? Is it because that's the way we read? from left to right.

I just finished re reading a wonderful book, "Bread Alone" by Judith Ryan Hendricks. I have enjoyed the seemly effortless style of writing this author has and the way the story progresses in a very natural way. Like real life. I have the sequel waiting for me. After walking the dog.

I was pleased to see the President get out of the White House, even briefly, to read to some second graders with Michelle. He must feel so "TRAPPED". I know he wanted the job, but people aren't co operating (and not telling the truth or paying their taxes) and he can't just go for a walk or go visit a good friend down the street.

The Democrats are so delighted to shoot themselves in the foot. Here was a golden opportunity to be THE party and instead they have given the Republicans so much to work with. Such fools. I'm sorry, but every appointee who has taxes owed should resign. Even the ones already confirmed. If I have to pay, they have to pay. And where was the (Republican led) IRS? If I make a mistake on one year's taxes, the IRS audits all my returns just in case I made the same mistake again. Why didn't they audit the new Treasury secretary? Their new boss. Shameful! Really, I am ashamed to be a Democrat. Tim needs to be unemployed.

The crock pot full of pulled pork was excellent. I served it with steamed broccoli and roasted potato chunks. Which leads me to this "tip". The new Reynolds non stick Release foil is excellent to line your baking sheets. The potatoes browned up nicely and didn't stick (slid right off into the serving bowl). Better yet, this is the fourth time I have used the SAME sheet of release foil. I simply wash it, dry it and return it to the baking sheet (which I also wash and dry). Since it's release foil, nothing sticks to it and it cleans up beautifully. Why throw it away? I wash it while it's still on the baking sheet and then remove it to dry flat on the counter top.

Okay, time to dress in every warm item I own, strap the YakTraks on my boots and walk the dog over snow covered, ice covered, streets. And bag any waste my dog deposits on the very tippy top of the highest snow bank he can find. At times the dog leash is stretched straight up over my head. Like I'm walking a dog kite. No wonder my shoulder aches.