Mellow Yellow.....

I am going to fill you up with the daffodils before they get pitched.  I bought these sweet things on Monday and they are already starting to turn crisp on the ends and they never fully opened.  What's with that??  Any suggestions for the proper care and feeding of daffodils to make them open up and show me their bright sunny faces??  Bright yellows are not one of my favorite things to photograph, but it makes me practice my exposure settings  And you know what they say.....practice makes perfect, but perfection is only in the eyes of the beholder and if you are like me, this beholder is far from perfection, and I am not just talkin' photography.

Linking with Deb's This or That Thursday...yikes, just found out that today is the last day for Deb's This or That Thursday.  She is going to focus more on her scrapbooking, but another weekly link-up has hit the proverbial dust.  So sorry.  Also linking to Thursday Favorite Things and Little Things on Thursday.   Danielle's Cool Clicks Thursdays

                                                         

Until next time....

Whew!!

Can you hear it....that big sigh of relief?  I came home Tuesday evening from a lovely dinner with my Bunco gals celebrating 2 birthdays, to a computer whose internal fan was making way too much noise and a blank screen.  Nothing I did would bring my screen back so I shut it down and went to bed.  The next morning, same thing.  Off I went to Bible Study where I even talked about it, stating it was definitely a major concern but trust and faith would get me through.  Trust that even if I lost everything there would be major disappointment, but faith that I would just have to rebuild.

After Bible Study I drove to Hobby Lobby to buy some new candles, didn't find what I was looking for, but managed to come across this sweet thing...it was waiting for me.

Also stopped at Trader Joe's looking for Spring, but Wednesday's must not be good days for flower buying at TJ's because for the last 2 weeks I have been disappointed in their selection.  No flowers this trip, so headed home with the dreaded computer problem lurking in my thoughts.

Arriving home, same thing.  I ate some lunch and thought....ok what is my next move?  I definitely cannot live without my computer, well, I really can, but you know how important this piece of technology is to a blogger and a photographer.  I made the decision to call upon the Geek Squad at Best Buy.  I bundled up my computer, pretty easy since it is a laptop and headed off to BB.

Waiting in line, I have to admit that I was praying silently for a quick fix and no loss to all the stuff encased in that piece of steel and plastic that I held in my arms.  "I can help you over here"....said a young lady with a Geek Squad shirt on.  "What seems to be the problem?"  I explained as she opened the cover and begin to check, removing the battery and reinserting it.  (which by the way, I had already done)...."is this what you were getting?"  OMG everything began to boot up, everything looked normal, everything was there.  Another Geek Squad tech approached and asked the same questions, all the while my computer was booting up, all intact.  I am not sure what the problem was, I don't know what caused it, but I told the Geek Squad lady that she had magic fingers and definitely needed a raise.  And silently I was saying a prayer of thanks for the quick fix and no loss.

And again, the weather forecast is for possible snow.  Yesterday we had blowing snow, you know the kind that comes down sideways and blows around but never accumulates?  I had hopes, but by evening the skies had cleared and so had the snow.  But right now I am just thankful that my computer is back in working order, snow would just be a bonus.

Linking to Deb's This or That Thursday and Little Things Thursdays and Danielle's Cool Click Thursdays.

"Computers must be male.  As soon as you commit to one you realize that if you had waited a little longer, you could have obtained a better model.  In order to get their attention, you have to turn them on.  Big power surges knock them out for the rest of the day."   ~Author Unknown

Until next time....

Wintertime??

I woke up really early this morning about 6:00 AM, dark, and still no snow. (we have now passed the all time record for longest time without measurable snow, 320 days) As I walked outside to pick up the newspaper off of the driveway and gather the mail from the mailbox, the sky was just beginning to get that soft peachy pink color,

there was little sound except for the drone of cars on the busy street a few blocks away and then I heard it....chirping of birds in the tree above me.  I looked up and saw two robins.  This is January 10th, I usually don't see robins until sometime in early March.  What the heck??  Are we skipping winter this year??

I am having great fun trying to come up with different angles and ideas for the "Selfie" Now You project....I know you will get really tired of seeing so much of me for the next year, I know I will.  It's fun right now, but as the weeks unfold, looking at me will become rather boring.  I think the joy is in discovering yourself, knowing that maybe it is somewhat uncomfortable to expose yourself so publicly, but it is also very liberating.

Later a walk with my camera reveals that eventho there is no snow, there is a beauty in the remains of summertime flowers with their textures and promises of returning in the spring.

Linking with Deb at This or That Thursday and Danielle at Cool Clicks Thursday.....

"I've learned that the older I get, the more I say "I don't know."  When I was younger, I thought I knew it all."  ~  Age 65

Until next time....

Oh For Cryin' Out Loud.....

Oh for cryin' out loud!!  As I sat and read the newspaper and drank my coffee this morning there were 2 articles in the morning newspaper, one from a regular columnist and one on the editorial page discussing a new series coming to TV on the OXYGEN cable network entitled "All My Babies' Mamas."  A reality TV series based on an Atlanta, GA rapper, Shawty Lo (where do they come up with these names??) his 10 former girlfriends and their 11 children.  They live together in a fancy mansion in the Atlanta suburbs along with his skinny new girlfriend that is as old as his eldest child.  How would you like to be their neighbors??  Not only does this reality show de-mean all women, but it truly is a slap in the face to black women everywhere.  And we the American public TV watcher are asked to laugh at this situation.  Along with this disgusting new show we also have the chunky blond girl called Honey Boo Boo who is being sold these days as some kind of new Shirley Temple (they're kidding right??).  Quoting from the Chicago Tribune...."To get her energy level up, the 6-year-old Boo Boo's parents give her a combination of Mountain Dew and Red Bull.  They call it "go-go juice." That's not the Good Ship Lollipop.  That's child abuse."  I refuse to watch either one of these TV shows and I encourage you to do the same....maybe with no viewers the producers of such trash TV will be out of a job.

There are plenty of good shows on TV that are definitely worth watching (The Good Wife, Parenthood, Nashville, Scandal, and Showtime's Homeland are a few of my favorites) all with strong women.  Not always the picture perfect woman, but definitely honest portrayals of today's woman and would never depict the role of a woman like those in "All My Babies' Mamas."

I think I have ranted enough....but issues like this really try my soul.

Sharing with Deb Duty at This and That Thursday and Danielle at Cool Clicks Thursday....

"I've learned that you can live with choices you have made yourself, but you live to regret the choices you let others make for you."  ~  Age 29

Until next time....

It's All In Your Prospective

Good morning!!  I am anxiously awaiting this evening for two reasons...tonight is our annual Book Club Christmas gathering at my house where there will be lots of good food, good friends & good fun AND snow is on the way.  We officially broke the record on Monday of this week for the longest streak in Chicago's history with no measurable snow.   With today being Day 290 without, the weathermen have predicted 3-6 inches of that glorious white stuff to fall here tonight.  Now you must understand, this is coming from a woman that does not have to get up early and travel to work thru the ice & snow, all I do is rise and shine, (? that's debatable) drink coffee, and gaze lovingly out my living room window.  It's all in your perspective, folks.

Last night I finished addressing all of my Christmas Cards....I know, late as usual, but as I sat listening to Christmas music, gazing at the brightly lit Christmas tree, and watching the candles glow I felt very blessed.  The only thing missing is my sweetheart, but God (and all the staff at his memory care facility) is watching over him carefully & lovingly.

Blessings to you today....!!  Enjoy.

Now for more tidbits....

"I've learned that I shouldn't call my identical twin sister ugly."  ~  Age 12

"I've learned that there is a great feeling of satisfaction in checking off that final item on my "things to do today" list."  ~  Age 34

"I've learned that you shouldn't eat in a restaurant where the cook is skinny."  ~  Age 55

"I've learned that while progress means change, change doesn't always mean progress."  ~  Age 75

Sharing with Deb at This or That Thursday and Little Things Thursdays, and with Danielle at Cool Clicks Thursday.  

Until next time.....

Moving Things Around

Good morning....I hope your week is going well, can't believe it is already Thursday.  In less than 2 weeks we will be celebrating Christmas and my Jewish friends are in the midst of celebrating Chanukah. Still many things left on the "to do" list and the "I want to do" list.  But I think I am finally finished decorating.  I truly think this was the absolute LONGEST and most DRAWN-OUT Christmas decorating in the history of this household.  I do tend to move a little slower than I did several years ago when I decorated 3 trees (that thought makes me shiver), but this year was ridiculous.  I have collected so many beauties over the years that it's difficult not to want to get them all out, but honestly I have just ran out of space and time.  And if you are anything like me, I tend to move things around from year to year.  I don't know if it's because I can't remember from year to year (which is a great possibility) or I just think it's fun to try a new look with an old piece.  I'm going with the "new look" theory.

Like this Santa and sleigh...this has always been in the dining room, but this year I moved it to the living room coffee table.

And instead of the Santa & sleigh in the dining room, I now have these candles (electric).

How about you?  Do you keep things the same year after year, or do you move things around to get a "new look"?   Sharing with Deb's This or That Thursday....

"I sometimes think we expect too much of Christmas Day. We try to crowd into it the long arrears of kindliness and humanity of the whole year. As for me, I like to take my Christmas a little at a time, all through the year. And thus I drift along into the holidays–let them overtake me unexpectedly–waking up some fine morning and suddenly saying to myself: ‘Why this is Christmas Day!’”~  David Grayson

Until next time.....

A Late Cup a Day

Oh for crying out loud....here I announce that I am doing a cup a day and then what?? ....I blow it and don't post one for yesterday.  Well, honestly I do have an excuse (sort of).  I woke up yesterday morning with aches & pains & a little scratchy throat and almost turned over and didn't get up.  But since it was the last day of this year's Wednesday Bible Study and I also had a Book Club Luncheon scheduled, I hoisted my body out of bed, took 3 ibuprofen and went on to attend both events.  By the time I got home, I was feeling poorly again, took 3 more ibuprofen and promptly fell asleep on the couch with the sun warming my aching body.  Now, honestly I didn't know if I was getting sick (horrors, no time for that) or just too much lugging boxes and bins up and down the basement stairs causing my body to react to all that exercise.  I think it was the extra stress on the muscles (??) because this morning I am feeling better.  So hopefully I am back on track.  Whew, that was a long paragraph to explain why I didn't post.

Looks like my little angels are paying homage to my morning cup of coffee...that is exactly the way I feel every morning, a little love for that sweet cup of brown liquid.  Do you have a favorite brand of coffee?  Right now my favorite seems to be Dunkin Donuts original.  For years I loved 8 O'Clock, but then the price started rising and I backed off from buying it.   While I was in the store last week, I noticed it is now priced at $18.80...yikes.  When I was a regular 8 O'clock drinker it was less than $10.  I am not a fan of Starbucks (does that make me un-American?).  Sure would love to hear what your favorite bean is.

"Forever: Time it takes to brew that first pot of coffee in the morning."  ~  Author Unknown (altho could have been quoted by me)

Linking up with Deb at This or That Thursday and Kim for Little Things Thursdays.

Until next time....

Slimming Down

I have been busy slimming down...unfortunately the body hasn't slimmed down, but the amount of e-mails I receive daily has been reduced considerably.  There was a time that I felt the need to subscribe to all decorating sites, scrapbooking sites, photography sites, rubber stamp sites, travel sites etc. and because of that my inbox was swamped daily with emails that were never read and went directly to the "trash" box.  But sometimes I would forget to send them to "trash" and they would accumulate in my "inbox" until it was over-flowing (literally) with junk mail.  For the last week every time one of these emails that I so strongly felt I NEEDED but now no longer WANT lands in my inbox...I immediately perform an "unsubscribe".   Oh it feels good and my weighty inbox has certainly slimmed down, oh wouldn't it be nice to hit the "unsubscribe" button and lose a pound or two?   Now, if I could just do something about the mailbox, altho now that the "vote" is over, the political ads will stop.  Oh what better ways that money could have been spent than on ads that stuffed my mailbox and ended up in the trash?  I don't want to even think about it.

The crab apple tree in the side yard has certainly slimmed down....very few leaves or "apples" left on the tree.

And because of the frost, the roses are almost gone from the bushes...hopefully the last of the buds will bloom if the sun ever shines again.  So gloomy.

Sure hope the sun is shining in your corner of the world.   Sharing with Deb's This or That Thursday and Nancy's Rural Thursday.

"Make each day your masterpiece."  ~  John Wooden

Until next time.....

Half Way Down on the Oasis Trampoline

Do you watch the TV show "Once Upon A Time?"  Fairy tale characters come to life each week and that is exactly the way I felt as I attended Tracey Clark's Oasis for 4 wonderful days in Palm Springs, CA.  People that I have only "seen" on-line, only "talked to" on-line and now here they were, in full living technicolor....walking and talking, smiling and laughing, real people.  What an absolutely wonderful time I had, one that will be forever in my Top Ten life experiences.  Meeting those who I have admired from afar are exactly how they seem, warm - loving - kind- appreciative - inspiring.

Have you ever bounced on a trampoline?  If you have then you know the feeling you get as you bounce high into the air, the exhilaration you feel as you leap upward....that exhilaration is how I felt the entire time.  Like I had jumped onto a trampoline, leaped high and didn't land.

We stayed at a delightful hotel on the main street in Palm Springs, a short drive from the downtown area called The ACE Hotel.  Comfortable quarters, terrific staff, a wonderful private area reserved just for us where we ate, drank, learned & played and with our own  swimming pool.  The weather was just about perfect...in the 80's, sunshine and dry.  But I think that is fairly status quo for this part of the country.  Altho a week prior to us arriving it had been up in the 100's so 80's was most welcomed.

But what really made this a memorable experience for me was not necessarily the spot, but the people, those fairy-tale images that came to life for me.

I am still in the air, only about 1/2 way down on the Oasis Trampoline....still thinking and dreaming about 4 fun filled, amazing, spirit filling, joy-giving days.  Thank you all (and believe me, not all are shown here, so many more photos yet to come).  Linking to Deb's This or That Thursday...

"Hold every moment sacred.  Give each its true and due fulfillment."  ~  Thomas Mann

Until next time....