The Week That Was

This week has been a bit hard. Bad news came boom boom boom - knocked me back a step. Most of the bad news only affects my heart & other people, but still... But then last night the CUBS won their way into the WORLD SERIES! And they're going to be playing the CLEVELAND INDIANS? Does that mean that there's still hope for the world? I say yes!

Therefore, since there's still hope in the world, I will share things that I did last week. First, after reading on a blog post (hi Steve!) about how many people don't really like makeup, and having been considering that I was about tired of all of that rigmarole, I decided to do a photo shoot to see if I could tell a big difference (I actually think I've done this before, but humor me).

Left - all natural Bug; Right, my full complement of makeup (which took four minutes to apply, even with photo breaks after each step). I was going to show ALL the steps along the way, but since I can barely tell any difference between the first & second photos I decided to spare you. Actually, the second picture looks like I used a filter to soften up my features (or maybe it's not in focus). Verdict: I shall use makeup on a case by case basis (yes for church & work, no for the grocery store).

When I wasn't peering at my face in a mirror, I crocheted (I know - shocking).

Do you see that? BLUE!!!

At one point during the week I ate a salad. Actually, I eat a salad almost every weekday - I took this picture because I was laughing at all the toppings. There is actually some spinach under there...

Last weekend, Dr. M & I went to the Renaissance Festival. He wore one of my favorite t-shirts :)

Finally, I got a lovely surprise from Rita - cards that she colored & made her self. I think I might have to share one or two of them with some of the folks on my heart...

The Moon Man Strikes Again!

Other Things That Happened While I Wasn't Blogging

These photos from our yard are all courtesy of Dr. M.

Our hibiscus decided to have a second blooming. 

And so did the Rose of Sharon behind the garage!

Ms. Pinky is winding down. If it ever cools off she might even come inside for the winter!

Take me to your leader!

Such a pretty kitty!

I sense a disturbance in the force - has a raccoon been here?

Things I Did Instead of Writing a Blog Post

1. I went on a Vestry retreat & stayed in my usual room. For obvious reasons. The retreat center has a new labyrinth, with a watch cat. Very nice!

2. I crocheted some things. The temperature monster is still on track to be 10 feet long. 

These are two different square patterns - I didn't realize how similar they looked until I put them together here.

First attempt at a Batman logo - now that I understand the pattern better I think the next one will look a little better.

3. Put some bling in the yard & on the Daisy-mobile. 

4. Grew a pokeberry bush (actually, it's been growing all summer - I just took its picture this week). I know, I know - they are quite UN ideal to have in the yard, but look - purple! I think it's lovely. Ha!

5. Voted. I think that's probably the Most Important Thing of All. 

Next, in hopefully less than a month, pictures that Dr. M took while I wasn't blogging!

"Wordless Wednesday" (You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.)

I am in Austin, Texas for work & I was going to do a post about my wonderful visit on Sunday with the fabulous Ellen Abbot of Stuff from Ellen's Head, but she beat me to it. You can read about the visit here. As is usual these days I didn't take very many pictures - and she has posted the best one that I took (the one of her). Ellen figured out that I first commented on her blog in August 2009, so we've known each other for quite a while. It was so good to meet in person!

Since Ellen took care of that post, I'm going to share some of what Dr. M has been up to since I've been away, plus a bonus moon. We get some of the strangest birds!

Love Your Spouse

The other week I participated in one of those Facebook memes where I had to post pictures of my spouse & me for seven days. (Note: I guess I didn't have to, but I did it anyway.) You've all seen these pictures before, but! These captions are totally new. So that's something. Also, I don't have to think about anything new to write here. Win win!

We've been married 25 years, so finding just 7 pictures was quite a challenge! This first one is one I've posted many many times before, but it might be my all time favorite picture of us, from our wedding, 12/15/90.

This picture is from the year after our wedding - 1991. We were at our friends Jay & Beth's wedding. I think Dr. M looks really swell in this picture!

This picture is from 1991/1992ish. We used to be camping fools. I'm not sure why I'm wearing a dress, but I AM sure that my perm is ridiculous. Ha! And isn't Dr. M the cutest thing?

This picture is pretty bittersweet. It was from the day of my mother's Celebration of Life service - Easter Sunday, 2005. I was determined to not wear anything that resembled mourning attire. It was a hard day. But looking back, this is another one of my favorite pictures of the two of us. I was so grateful to have Dr. M to lean on! 

This is another of my very favorite pictures of Dr. M and me. We went to Hilton Head for the new year, 2006. I love the beach in the middle of winter - it's just my speed. Of course, this isn't a picture of the beach - it's a picture of us in a restaurant. Very appropriate! Ha! 

Here's a beach picture :)

2007, this was the day that Dr. M received the hood for his Ph.D. I was SO PROUD of him! But once again, I question what was up with my hair (Note: in point of fact, my hair looks very similar today - ha!).

This picture is from our 25th anniversary cruise this past December. We had so much fun - we were trying to figure out ways to just live there. These past 25 years have been wonderful, hard, joyous, desperate, hilarious, so very married. I'm so glad I've spent them with my best friend.

Stupid rules...

Monday Menagerie

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