2026 Project 365 – Week Fifteen

What a busy week! And it wasn’t even work’s fault – I was a social butterfly and now I’d like to just hang out on a petunia for a while.
Sunday, April 5^th                 
Easter! The centerpieces at brunch were so lovely. And the food was great, as usual. I ended up not even eating the piece of French Toast casserole that I made. I took it home & Dr. M had it later.

Monday, April 6^th              
Baby blueberries! I can’t wait to enjoy these gems.

 Tuesday, April 7^th   
The first of several photos of me. This is just a picture to see what I think about this dress on me (What? You don’t do that?). Although it wasn’t really necessary because I got lots of compliments.
                                                                     

Wednesday, April 8^th             
Here we are again, checking ourselves out in the mirror. What did we think of the sash? How about the dress pattern? All very important questions that needed answered!
 

Thursday, April 9^th
I talked my bestie into driving an hour and a half to see Shannan Martin on her book tour! We had a lovely time. I made Shannan stand up to show how very tall she is (although I am very short, so she’s not really a giant).
 

Friday, April 10^th
Since Thursday was a very late night for me, I took Friday off from work. And took no photos. Fortunately, Dr. M came to the rescue with this fine study of "Cat Print on Pollen Bedeviled Automobile".
 

Saturday, April 11^th
I helped my sister-in-law with her booth at the Catawba Valley Trans Pride festival. Her side gig is as a travel agent, so if you need any help with upcoming travel, let me know & I’ll connect you. We had a great time. As per usual I spent a ridiculous amount of money because I have no self control.
 

Who knows what this week holds, but I sure hope it holds a little more routine! How about you – do you like each week to look the same or different?

2026 Project 365 – Week Fourteen

We’re on the cusp of my busy season at work so I’m trying to soak up the not quite as intense days for a little bit longer. Once it starts it basically won’t end until late July. I CAN DO IT! (Just a little pep talk.)
Sunday, March 29^th                
Signs of life in the little planter on the front porch. I love these fuzzy things that turn into actual flowers.

Monday, March 30^th              
Monday was a crazy work day! I sent this photo to Dr. M at 1:18 p.m. with the caption, “Lunch!”
 

Tuesday, March 31^st  
My annual exam, which at my age is pretty quick. Whew!
           

Wednesday, April 1^st            
Where were you when Artemis II launched? I was in my recliner, glued to the TV. I remember Challenger pretty vividly (I was a senior in college), so like most of the U.S., I was holding my breath.
 

Thursday, April 2^nd
Dr. M’s mom’s azalea REALLY bounced back from getting frost-bitten. Wowza!
 

I wore my Easter outfit to work because Sunday’s forecast was cold & wet, & we were supposed to have our service outside. But we ended up moving the service inside, so I wore this to church anyway (except I wore boots instead of sandals).
 

Friday, April 3^rd
I had the day off from work & did a lot of yard work. We’re slowly getting things to where we want them to be. Dr. M went to the store to get a hoe (to help plant some more wildflower seeds) & came home with these lovely hanging baskets! 
 

Saturday, April 4^th
I thought my egg was so pretty with my combo of Penzeys spices on it: Florida Seasoned Pepper (black pepper, citric acid, lemon peel, garlic, orange peel, & onion), & Revolution (flake salt, Tellicherry black pepper, cane sugar, turmeric, orange peel, and coriander).
 

Meanwhile, our azaleas are bouncing back from the freeze too. They’re going to be gorgeous!
 

Dr. M & I got up this morning at 5:00 a.m. to bake the French Toast Casserole that I had prepared the night before. And since we had to get up so early, neither of us slept well (my watch says I got four & a half hours of sleep). But my shower revived me, the service was lovely,  the choir sounded great, and there was a ton of food. And I’m home writing this post at 11:30 a.m.! Winning!

2026 Project 365 – Week Thirteen

I was really sad to hear that Bruce Taylor (Catalyst from Oddball Observations) died last week. He was one of the 5 remaining faithful commenters on my blog, and I always looked forward to his Friday Funnies. His beloved wife Judy (SWMBO) passed away a few months ago and I suppose he didn’t want to hang around without her. I’m going to miss his snarky commentary about DST (Arizona doesn’t have DST) and winter weather.
Sunday, March 22^nd               
I was cutting down some weeds in the phlox & saw so many butterflies that I I told Dr. M he needed to check them out. So he headed out with the big camera & got some good photos. Yellow morph & black morph Eastern Tiger Swallowtails on pink phlox.

Monday, March 23^rd              
Spring beauty from Lincoln County – Mike’s mom’s azalea, phlox, wisteria, & dogwood.
 

Tuesday, March 24^th
My print copy of Shannan Martin’s book Counterweights arrived! I have really enjoyed reading it.
                                                                     

Wednesday, March 25^th           
Our Carolina Allspice (Sweet Bubby) bush is doing its thing. It smells heavenly!
 

Thursday, March 26^th
I posted this on the socials: It’s not even 9am & I already have chocolate on my sweater (mini Butterfingers for the win!). How’s your day going?

 Friday, March 27^th
Girl lunch! It was an excellent combo – salty chips & sweet hummus.
 

Saturday, March 28^th     
Dr. M saw this giant rooster in Worldwide Imports and sent me a photo. My response? WE NEED HIM! Unfortunately, I’m not sure he’s worth $100.
 

Next Sunday is Easter & I’m already pre-grumbling about having to be at church at 7:15 am for choir practice (the service is at 8:00). On the other hand, we have brunch afterward & that will be amazing. See? Counterweights! What are you complaining about/celebrating this week?

2025 Project 365 – Week Seventeen

A programming note: there will be no further nail updates for the foreseeable future. It’s time to move on to a new obsession. I’m taking submissions as to what that should be. 

Sunday, April 20th

Happy Easter! This is the Professional Ladies table. Some are married (to each other!) and one is single. All are fabulous.

A very sad before and after. Many (many many) thanks to Dr. M for getting up at 4:30 a.m. to bake the French Toast Casserole!

Monday, April 21st

When you accidentally let your sushi brush up against the wasabi. 

Tuesday, March April 22nd

Dr. M’s dad’s blueberry bush is FULL of baby blueberries!

Wednesday, April 23rd 

Seen around the yard. Ms. Peaches is getting ready to shine!

Thursday, April 24th  

My friend Marcel is hosting a snack drive for the students at the elementary school where he works. He’s good people!

Friday, April 25th      

Our sweet bubby bush has been great this year (otherwise known as Carolina Allspice).

I was trying to remember which friend gave me these little yarn skein earrings for Christmas. I texted this photo to a few of them & fortunately one of them was the culprit. 

Saturday, April 26th

Sue’s birthday is the 27th, but they’re traveling, so my brother and I celebrated with them today.  Happy birthday Sue!

Finished another square. And now I’m taking a brief break from squares to make a hand that can flip the bird. Fun!

I’m having another endoscopy/colonoscopy on Thursday, trying to track down why my iron is so low. I was telling someone that I think I’m fine - I just apparently have a slow leak somewhere. All I need is some Tireject!

What do you think? Will that work?

2025 Project 365 – Week Sixteen

Stay tuned until the end of the post for an exciting manicure update! 

Sunday, April 13th

The Pink Moon, slightly past full. 

Monday, April 14th

The world seems like it’s turning upside down, but I’m wearing Mary Janes & polka dotted socks so you can’t tell me nothin’.

Tuesday, March April 15th

Pretty!

No explanation required.

Wednesday, April 16th 

There wasn’t another photo for today, so you get my giant green linen tunic THAT LOOKS LIKE IT HAS POCKETS BUT IT DOES NOT. A travesty.

Thursday, April 17th  

I was feeling greedy & had TWO (small) bowls of soup at our Maundy Thursday meal. (I also posted a very salty commentary on RFJ Jr. & autism - in a sea of mostly terrible things that just seemed extra cruel - and also eugenics much? Grrr.)

Friday, April 18th      

Work. Unravel the work. Work. Not at all an analogy for anything in particular. 

Saturday, April 19th 

Tomorrow is Easter and I have to be at church at 7:15 so that the choir can practice our anthem before the 8 am service. I’m taking Dr. M’s French Toast Casserole for the brunch afterward. He was going to supervise me (I’ve never made it before), but I was a Sneaky McSneakerson & assembled everything before he woke up this morning. Now it’s stewing in its own juices until I get up at Oh Dark Thirty to cook it. Let’s see, it takes an hour to bake, and I have to leave at 6:45. Factoring in preheating time, I think I’ll set my alarm for 5 am. It’s fine. Really. 

I posted this on the socials: I’m as guilty of buying fast fashion as the next person, but these are actual cloths that I use. 

Finally, my boss is selling press on nails. I wouldn’t normally partake, but I thought I could help her out - especially since these aren’t supposed to harm your nails like some others do. So far I’m a fan - they’re not too long (and could easily be trimmed), and the color doesn’t chip. Note: these feet have obviously not seen the light of day since fall. Ha!

I’ve been spending a lot of time feeling hopeful and despairing about our nation. And last night I dreamed that I was at Mar a Largo and pilfered some jewelry & spent the rest of the dream terrified that I was going to be deported. I woke up & then after I fell back asleep I dreamed I made subversive cookies. All righty then! What does your mental health look like?

2024 Project 365 – Week Fourteen

My brain doesn’t want to brain today, so just imagine that I wrote something witty here.
Sunday, March 31^st               
Easter! Also included, a photo of a completed puzzle at my dad's house.
 

Our phlox has just been so lovely.  
 

Monday, April 1^st  
A new month! Also, Adam is the worst.
 

Tuesday, April 2^nd                           
Dad & Sue weren't home when I stopped by during lunch, but that didn't stop me from finishing another puzzle. 

Dr. M says: 🎶This is the blooming of the Asian Wisterias, Asian Wisterias, Wisterias!🎵 This looks to be Wisteria Sinensis (Chinese Wisteria), and it has been growing in Laboratory for many decades. Asian Wisterias bloom in Spring. Japanese Wisteria, when viewed from above, climbs in spirals that run clockwise. These spirals run counterclockwise, indicating that this is Chinese Wisteria.

 

Look what Dr. M brought home for me!
 

Wednesday, April 3^rd    
Dr. M’s mom’s azalea is always gorgeous around the time of The Masters golf tournament.
 

This is posted specifically for Ellen Abbott who seems to frequently find weird flavors of familiar things. You know I’d try it. I’m a little surprised Dr. M didn’t bring a bag home for me!
 

Thursday, April 4^th                                
That puddle in my salad is me “using up the last bit of dressing in the bottle.”

Friday, April 5^th            
Wore my D.J. Burns NC State shirt to work. They played in the final four on Saturday, but alas were defeated by Purdue. It was a great run!
 

Saturday, April 6^th                             
Dr. M says that there’s nothing so verdant in spring as a field of wheat.

My little life seems to be rolling along without too much drama, but when I look at the wider world I feel hope and despair and rage and joy. It’s all so big and I feel ill equipped to handle it. So I concentrate on what’s right in front of me. And vote.