Monday Miscellany

I forgot it was Monday because I had the day off. And, actually, it's a wonder I went to church yesterday because, really, I've had no clue when and where I am. I haven't worked since December 22nd. This must be how being retired feels... So, in keeping with the random that is my brain today, here is a list:

1. Go check out Dr. M's last post here. It has sheep (Gasp! I know!), and cows, and birds seen at my dad's house, and hilarious captions.

2. We found a house to rent while we were in NC over Christmas. It's not quite, but almost exactly between my dad and Dr. M's dad, in a little subdivision, but in the country. There's a gas station not too far away, but it's almost 10 miles to a grocery store, fast food, or pizza. That will take some getting used to! I think Dr. M plans to do a lot of cooking (I HOPE Dr. M plans to do a lot of cooking!).

3. We plan to be moved by the end of February.  That little sentence is quite exhausting. I'll just move on to the next item.

4. There is no next item. Oh, yes - I'm sort of close to being done with the temperature monster, but not really. I only have two more rows to crochet (ran out of purple). but I still need to weave in a gazillion ends and then do the border. I'll post a picture of it later because...

5. I'm doing Project 365 again next year! And I just this minute realized that I haven't taken a picture yet today... So, I guess I'm done with this post & off to find a subject worthy of photography.

Later!

Monday Menagerie

Our back yard, as seen through Dr. M's lens...

Tuesday Twaddle

Dr. M and I are emerging from our shock, and we've started making plans for moving forward. We really appreciate all the kind things you guys said on my last post! And meanwhile, life continues to move along. 

On Saturday I got most of my hair chopped off. I'm So Glad to have all that hair off of my neck!

When I first started making Hello Fresh meals I was using a 10" x 8" cutting board. Entirely inadequate! Then Dr. M remembered that we had a really nice cutting board that we'd been using as a base for our table-top Christmas tree. So we brought that sucker in from the garage, cleaned & oiled it, and it's just the best thing ever.

The other day I was mowing and G-Man had a bit of an accident. He was supposed to be guarding the sunflowers so that I didn't accidentally mow them. As I said on Facebook, "G-Man was valiant in his effort to protect his charges from the evil lawn mower. Although he fell, the sunflowers still stand; a testament to his bravery." And then two days later we had a bloom! Great job G-Man!

In her last post, Nance from The Dept. thereof, was talking about how she has too many tables in her house. I mentioned that we only have one table that I think of as superfluous, but that I didn't want to part with it because it was a manicure table from my grandmother's beauty shop. Plus, my sister-in-law refinished it so that it looks great. Right now it's in our bedroom with the plant from Dr. M's office on it (he had brought it home for the summer). It's kind of in the way, but I think it might just have to live there. It's Pinky's table in the winter, and after all, you do have to make sacrifices for your children. 

Finally, for your viewing pleasure, some gratuitous pictures of our girl that clearly show why we call her Miss Pinky Two Tone.

Monday Monday...

Let's see, I think I might have some things to talk about... hmmm... I could talk about the Braves' miserable season, or the fact that I've had to use BLUE yarn twice recently on my temperature blanket (blue = 44-53 degrees - brrr!). Or I could talk about the fact that I'm doing Weight Watchers again (did I tell you?) and I'm averaging losing 1.35 pounds per week which is pretty textbook. At this rate I'll be at my goal weight by... Wait a minute - telling you that would tell you how many pounds I have to lose. Which I won't mind telling after I've lost the weight.

We received this clock at a wedding gift. (I could tell you who gave it to me, but I can't find my box of index cards that has our wedding gifts listed - it's in this house somewhere & if Dr. M weren't grading papers I'd insist he find it for me. Ha!) Anyway, I think it's a great clock & I've enjoyed it in all of our homes. For the past several years it's been temperamental. Every time the time changed we had to replace the battery. This year, finally, it lost its mind. I guess a 25 year old clock is allowed to become senile. Dr. M performed the battery changing ritual & set the time. Later we would notice that it had reverted back to the old time. Dr. M would set it again. Again, it would lose an hour & then just stay there. I suppose it was Done with daylight savings time.

So I bought a new one. It makes me smile.

To complete the random, here are updated pictures of the blankets in progress.

The end.

A Post that Looks Like Project 365 But Isn't

We are home from NC & life is shifting back to normal (whatever that is for us). Amy's service was really good, with great music & great stories about her sassy self. I had a moment when I saw her choir robe draped across a chair at the front of the church. She loved singing alto in the choir...

I was going to to a series of posts about things that have happened around here, but I've decided to just dump everything in one post - it'll be like old P365 times! Except not sorted by date.

First up, Crochet Land, which includes my latest afghan squares, a temperature blanket update (as of tonight!), and a cowl that I made by request.

Next, I made five more Hello Fresh meals, with varying degrees of success. I'll put them in order here by tastiest. The Jamie Oliver spaghetti one was way too worky for me, but did taste ok. I have to say that I don't enjoy spending all evening in the kitchen, but it's been fun to try these different things. I think I might actually cook real food more often!

Next, here is something that caught my eye in the grocery store in NC. Um, just no. Okay?

Finally, from Facebook last night: I've been trying to walk at least 10,000 steps every day during the week, but I was a thousand steps short this evening. So I marched in place while I brushed & flossed my teeth (tricky!), & washed & moisturized my face (trickier!). That got me 300 steps. Then I trotted through the house for 7 laps* & hit my goal. Whew! 

*note: I did not actually trot.

So, what's up with you?

Tuesdays are now Mondays...

I have a heavy heart today. I found out yesterday that my boss's boss, who was just recently diagnosed with a brain tumor, passed away on Friday. He was such a good man, a great boss, and leaves behind four high school/college age children & his beloved wife.

I'm also sad about Daddy's wife, Amy. She's been ill for some time and this week found out some more hard news about her heart. It's hard watching people you love suffer.

On the other end of the spectrum, Dr. M's father is doing well - he did have a bit of skin cancer on his scalp, but his surgeon removed all of it and told him to start wearing a hat when he was outdoors.

I'm apparently having trouble getting it together to post on Mondays. Especially this week after the Holy Week Marathon. There was Wednesday night choir practice, Maundy Thursday (soup meal and foot washing), Good Friday, spending a couple of hours on Saturday setting up the altar for Easter, and then Easter. I tried to take a nap Sunday afternoon, but I kept waking myself up snoring. What the heck! Anyway, here are some pictures, plus there will be a surprise later this week.

Good Friday

Easter Sunday

My poor trashed bracket. And now I'm in the uncomfortable position of either pulling for UNC (remember, I'm ABC - anyone but Carolina) or Notre Dame - which is just wrong!

G-Man had a rough night...

I mowed for the first time this season!

Miss Pinky's verbena started blooming - she's such a good mom :)

Dr. M caught Papa Cardinal mid-song.

My latest afghan squares & a progress update. I didn't care all that much for this particular pattern, but mixed in with the other squares, it's not too bad.

Now I'm off to respond to your comments on my last two posts. I'm sorry I haven't gotten around to read posts in a few days, but I'll get there eventually! How are you guys doing?

A Day Late and a Dollar Short

I had a crazy busy weekend and just couldn't get it together to post anything. And, really, I'd like to be snoozing right now, so it's anyone's guess as to how coherent this will be. But, for you, I will trudge on & see what happens.

First of all, I made good on my threat. Ha! We've named him G-man (for Gnome Man). It's highly entertaining.

Next, look at this travesty of an NCAA tournament bracket. It's kind of hard to tell in the picture, but the east is dead to me now. I picked the wrong underdogs to win. Ah well, it makes the tournament more interesting.

On the crochet front, here's my latest square - #3 of pattern #5:

Finally, here's a temperature blanket update. Frankly, I think it's the weirdest thing. And adding red & orange this summer will only make it weirder. I kind of like it though - and I'm certainly paying more attention to the weather than I usually do!

How have YOU been doing?

Monday Miscellaney

Well, I have quite the slate of miscellaneous items for you today. Let's get right to it, shall we?

First, I just finished the most hilarious book. Its brand of humor is probably not for everyone, but I totally enjoyed it. It's a murder mystery, by Mark Schweizer, and the main character is the chief of police of a small NC mountain town. He is also the organist at the local Episcopal church, a millionaire, and a wannabe whodunnit author in the style of Raymond Chandler. The book I just finished, The Mezzo Work Mink, is the 6th in the series. So funny.

Today I posted the last of the seven day nature challenge pictures. Here's a collage, featuring (in no particular order): Pansies from my dad's yard, a stone garden ornament from his yard, moss from Dr. M's dad's yard, Pinky McPinkerson yearning for spring, a daylily shoot from our yard, and an actual crocus from our back yard!

The other day I went into the Rite Aid & did a double take. What the heck? I looked closer and these gentlemen are solar garden lights! I am so excited - totally going to go back & pick up a couple for our yard.

On Thursday I posted this Throwback Thursday picture on Facebook. I love how solemn we all look. And someone should have told me to stand up straight!

Yesterday I went to meet some fellow Ohio Temperature Blanket ladies, but for a variety of reasons I was the only one to show. I stayed for a bit working on another project (a special request braided cowl - she wanted pink & white). Then I went to buy more yarn. Ha!

Speaking of crochet, here is square #2 of pattern #5. Now that I have more yarn I'll get started on this pattern in my third blanket's colors. 

So, how was your week?

Monday Miscellany

Oops - just a bit late today. We're in NC checking up on the Dads, and once again it's a bittersweet trip. You might recall that Dr. M's aunt died while we were here at Christmas. This time, his uncle passed away. We're going to his funeral tomorrow. While we were here at Christmas we were so glad to have spent some time with him at the last funeral. Uncle Barry was a man who always had a quick smile & funny story. We'll miss him!

Dr. M's dad has surgery next week. We'll know more about his condition after that.

It wasn't until Lisa's comment last week that I realized I had never updated about my shingles. That antiviral medication was a miracle drug! I had very little pain after taking it, some itching & burning, but not much, the rash didn't spread, and it was pretty much a non-event after about a week. Amazing!

Dr. M decided that our room at the hotel was designed for basketball players. The dimensions are huge and the beds are SO TALL. I measured to the top of the bed is 31" off the floor. I feel like Edith Ann when I get in it.

Here are my latest crochet squares. I'm caught up with the new colors & on to square #5.

Finally, I was challenged on Facebook to post nature photographs for seven days. I just posted my first one today - some Henbit from my dad's yard. I was happy to see that bee!

I hope you all have a good week!