Pork n' Beans

Happy Saturday from the land of rain and gloom.  Yesterday hit above 40 degrees with sun. Time to bring out the summer-wear...well, not me but there were those that felt the need to show off their hairy, white legs.  And speaking of white legs, I will be showing mine off in less than 2 weeks, a flight to Miami, overnight stay there and then off to Cuba for a 10 day photography trip. Oh man am I looking forward to viewing something in my camera lens besides Gracie, TJ's flowers, and whatever bird decides to land on my bird feeder. I'll be in the land of color....yea!!

I wasn't too good, what am I saying, I was horrible at blogging about my trips from 2018. Such great places, what fun, I don't know if I could pick a favorite.

Began the year with my usual trip to Arizona. Always look forward to visiting with old friends and enjoying the warmth and sun, cactus and birds, trips to Butterfly Wonderland, and to the Desert Botanical Garden.  I would probably be there about this time, and it snowed....that would not make me happy.  I go there for a little respite from winter and if I was greeted with the same weather that I came from, not good. Unfortunately this year I'm not making the trip. My good friend, Rich has been battling Cancer with procedures, chemo and radiation. They don't need a visitor to muddy up with what they are dealing with right now. I'm praying for a good outcome, he's been through a lot in the past months. Please remember Rich and all others who are suffering thru the battles with Cancer in your prayers.

It's amazing what a $4.99 bouquet from TJ's can do to lift your spirits when the weather is so gloomy outside. Even tho today is gloomy I have had a great week with movies, dinners, theater tickets, a concert. I have a group of women, some single, some married that love to go to concerts and to the theater. This is my 4th year at having season tickets to the Paramount Theater in Aurora, IL, with presentations that are absolutely outstanding.  Wednesday night we saw "The Producers", amazing talent and ridiculously funny.  And then a group of us dubbed "the rowdy church ladies" love to go to the movies and out to dinner. We are having an Oscar Party Sunday night so we've been hustling to see all the movies nominated. Last night and a couple of weeks ago we gathered at my house, because I have Amazon Prime and watched "The Wife" and "Bohemian Rhapsody", both good but I have to say my favorite this year was "The Green Book". Great casting and heartfilled story. The only two I have not seen are Roma and Black Panther and both are on Netflix. Might have to crawl in bed and watch these tonight....not much time left. We did see "The Favourite" it was not my favorite. And to think the lead in that will be playing Queen Elizabeth in the next go round of "The Crown" on Netflix.

Gracie at her finest....she has bitten me a couple of times with those fangs and they are a might sharp.

I  pulled out my trusty 50mm 1.4 to take all these pics. Probably one of the first lenses I purchased. Stays true and is the lightest weight lens I own. Too bad it's not a good landscape or macro lens or I would have it on all the time. 

And fyi, that first image is my latest succulent addition. Wasn't planning on adding another but a trip to Hobby Lobby (another dangerous place along with Home Goods) produced this cute little vase and it was just calling to me to add to my windowsill. It reminded me of a little pig and when I shopped for a new succulent I found this one, perfect name, "Pork n' Beans".

See you next time...