Potpourri

First things first.

Happy Lunar New Year!

Welcome to the Year of the Horse.

I made several of these for a postcard swap.

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I've spent most of the icy days catching up on the television shows I've missed.

I'm now caught up with CASTLE.

***

Speaking of icy - how about another Snowman?!

This little angel may be as tired of winter as the rest of us are.

I think she's helping them melt!

No artist listed but there was a suggested 1939 publishing date.

Thank you to Beth for hosting Postcard Friendship Friday.

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Do you have a favorite flower?

I love roses and daisies are such a happy flower.

But there is something about the iris.

It calls to me.

What is it about irises

in the garden

whether blue flag or yellow,

deep purple, white with red

why do they catch the attention, the imagination

more than lesser blooms?

A certain allure

that Georgia O'Keefe didn't taint

a beauty that draws you in to ponder and marvel on

a delicacy that is real

but a perennial that wears well

the seasons in New England too

bitter cold and short summers

whether in bog or flower bed.

~Raymond A Foss

*****

It's time for "Spring" baseball practice.

Even the umpires have to get their practice before the season starts.

The Owls will start the season in California against the Stanford Cardinal.

Go OWLS!

Thanks, Nancy!

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Potpourri

It's been busy and noisy around here.
The kitties have been hiding on the bed under the covers or under my feet.

I have a new roof -- just in time for the winter storm warnings.

New covers for the outdoor faucets.

A new toilet (the old one was leaning).

Some other minor *stuff* that was bugging me. 

I thought as long as the guys were here -- I'd put them to work.

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Talking about winter storms -- how about another snowman?!

Reproduction vintage postcard - no artist or date listed.

He seems so happy -- his feathered and furry friends too.

I love his sandals! 

(Sandals and gloves sounds like the Gulf Coast.)

Too bad all our winter storms aren't this happy.

Thanks to Beth for hosting Postcard Friendship Friday each week.

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My Christmas decorations are finally put away.

Valentine's Day is just around the corner.

While it is cold and miserable outside, I think I'll hook some hearts!

One large hot pad heart and a smaller one in the works.

Cotton yarn, doubled...hard on the fingers, but a quick project.

I'm using stash yarn - Sugar 'N Cream - hot pink and white.

The pattern is from a Leisure Arts leaflet 2741.

Houston is all iced in.

There are still folks who are trying to drive on the icy freeways.

Not me! 

I'm happy to stay at home with the kitties, hot tea, a good book or two, with plenty of yarn.

Thank you to Nancy for hosting Random Five Friday.

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Toast, Marmalade and Tea

If you've visited Twisty Lane for tea,

you know I have a thing for Emma Bridgewater.

There is a wonderful store in my village called British Isles.

I laughingly say I visit their store once a month whether I need to or not.

Not true -- I haven't been there in the last three months.

However, the last time I was there I added to my Emma collection.

I first saw the mug and decided I had to have it. 
Mug of Tea on the outside and English Breakfast on the inside.

Then I saw the Tea container.
Earl Grey and Pekoe on top. 
The bottom of the mug and container is marked 2012:
Toast and Marmalade Emma Bridgewater.

I'm off to have a cup of tea and a piece of toast with marmalade. 

I'm joining some tea parties today:

Tea Time Tuesday

Teacup Tuesday

Friends Sharing Tea

Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Wishing you well much joy and a lovely cup of tea!

Hanging In There

I've been watching the Houston marathon on television this morning.

I fixed a cup of tea and looked out the door and saw this:

This little rose has been through high winds and freezing temperatures and still is

hanging in there ... just like the runners in the marathon.

Join us for a little Sun Lit Sunday.

Wishing you well and much joy!

Rest

Mina would like you to rest and be thankful.

It is the little things.

Wishing You Well and Much Joy!

Soups On!

Soup's On!

or, in this case

Food's On the Note Card Party Table.

It's time for Vee's  Note Card Party.

Vee is celebrating food today and I decided to go along with her.

This delicious fruit tart was my birthday cake one year.

I used to have veggies delivered straight to my door.

This was one of the first deliveries.

The cupcakes are from one of my god-daughter's wedding showers.

His and hers shower -- fun -- the shower and the strawberry cupcakes.

Last, this was a low tea held at the museum.

It was fun to take a look back on food at Twisty Lane.

Thank you, Vee.

Wishing you well and much joy!

Isn't She Lovely?

Isn't she lovely?

She was a gift from a dear friend.

I've mentioned Vivian before.

We worked together at the museum before Vivian went off to China --

this last time as a Fulbright Scholar.

I was fortunate to have lunch with Vivian and her husband during the holidays.

Vivian is off to D.C. for a few months -- all part of a fellowship. 

Smart gal. 

She is a YiXing teapot.

The YiXing teapot came into favor in China around 1500.

The small teapot, made of unglazed red or brown stoneware,

is well suited to bring out the flavor, color and aroma of the leaves

and it's size makes it easy to balance the ratio of water to tea.

It should be kept for one type of tea only.

Isn't she lovely?

Isn't she wonderful?

Isn't she precious?

Yes! 

I'm joining some tea parties today:

Tea Time Tuesday

Teacup Tuesday

Friends Sharing Tea

Tuesday Cuppa Tea

Wishing you well much joy and a lovely cup of tea!

Sun Lit Sunday

I walked into the Village yesterday.

Lovely sunny day and I took my little point and shoot thinking about Sun Lit Sunday.

Didn't find anything on my walk that grabbed my attention.

While waiting for the Seahawk game to start,

I looked into the kitchen and there it was -- the sun hitting the Christmas Cactus.

My Christmas cactus was late blooming this year.

Better late than never.

I love the color.

Hope the sun is shining where you are today.

Won't you join us for Sun Lit Sunday?

Wishing you well and much joy.

Potpourri

It's Friday.

Another week has flown by.

My Christmas trees are still up, but the outdoor decorations are put away.

I spent a lot of time making sure outdoor pipes were ready for our hard freeze.

**

Now that the temps are on the rise, the rain is here and a drip has arrived, too.
This one is in the fireplace.
I have a call in to the roofer.

***
I LOVE mail-call.

Information for the Liberate Your Art Swap for 2014 is up.
I participated last year and I'm going to do so again this year.
Last year I handmade my postcards.
They were all different images.
In theory we should hear from those who receive our cards.
I only heard from two.
So, this year I made my postcards at Moo -- they did a wonderful job.
And, only one image.
I'm ready to go as soon as the postcard rates change and the stamps are available.

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Another reproduction vintage postcard featuring a snowman.
I'm getting the idea that the postcard theme for the month is Snowmen! 

The artist is unknown as is the publishing date.

I really like this one.

You think the little girl and the birds are looking forward to spring?

Thanks to Beth for hosting Postcard Friendship Friday each week.

*****

For all you purple lovers.

Did you know the Pantone color of the year for 2014 is Radiant Orchid?

Thanks to Nancy for hosting.

Wishing you well and much joy!

What a pair!

There's nothing like being comfy and cozy.

I have small feet -- which can be a blessing and a curse.

I found these cute slipper socks 

(the ones with the little bumps on the bottom to keep you from slipping)

at Tuesday Morning. They are kids socks and they fit perfectly.

It really is the little things that bring such pleasure and smiles!

Comfy and cozy -- what a pair!

Thank you to Kim for hosting Little Things Thursdays.

Wishing you well and much joy!

It's Monday!

It's Monday and What Are You Reading?

I finished two books that really went well together.

One Summer: America, 1927 by Bill Bryson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I have to admit that the older I get the more interested I seem to be in history. ONE SUMMER, AMERICA 1927 was interesting and entertaining. Easy to read until the last several chapters that seemed to drag a bit. 1927 was very busy -- Lindberg's flight probably the most exciting event. There were massive floods along the Mississippi and Hoover was put in charge of arranging help for the victims. He was quite a guy, not very likable, but great at organization (as long as he got the rewards). In Bryson's words "Hoover was also extremely intolerant of anything that seemed likely to diminish his eminence." There was Alvin Kelly who was a well known flag sitter -- an occupation that was sure to incite the onlookers. Radio broadcasting. Newspapers and tabloids. The very beginnings of television. Talking movies. Buildings that got taller and taller and cities got larger as the workers poured in. Babe Ruth hits 60 homeruns. The bombing of an elementary school. A secret meeting held at a Long Island estate that would lead to lowering of interest rates and the crash of 1929. Mount Rushmore. .Sacco and Vanzetti. Prohibition. Al Capone. Henry Ford (what a crackpot). And on and on. What a ride!



The Aviator's Wife by Melanie Benjamin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When I finished Bill Bryson's ONE SUMMER: AMERICA, 1927, I was left with a desire to read more about the Lindbergs. I knew of Lindberg's flight, alone, across the Atlantic and Anne's success as a writer before reading Bryson's book, but very little else. When I found THE AVIATOR'S WIFE at Half-Price books, I grabbed it and continued my journey with the Lindbergs. I thought the two books were quite complimentary. Author Benjamin is careful to state in her afterwords where she took liberties and she took very few. The historical facts are all there. Benjamin added the emotion. Shy, thoughtful, Anne finds out just how strong a woman she is by marrying the American hero, Charles Lindberg. From learning to fly and setting a few records on her own, to flying with him, the kidnapping, the constant interference in their lives by the media -- what an interesting ride. I don't give 5 stars to books as I don't think anything is perfect, but I came close with this one. A very very enjoyable read.

View all my reviews

What are you reading?

Wishing you well and much joy.

Happy New Year!

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If you like postcard swaps --
it's time to sign-up over at June's ... A Creative Dreamer.

It's warmer in Anchorage, Alaska than it is in Houston, Texas.
Who would have thought????!!!!!

Chasing Sun Puddles

Sunlit Sunday is back for its third season.
The link-up was started in 2011 to help add a little sunshine to what can be
a rather grey period from January through March.

Today Teddy and Mina are chasing sun puddles.

Wishing you well and much joy.

Stay warm!

Potpourri

Happy New Year!

I'm still trying to figure out where 2013 went.

Yes, my Christmas tree(s) is still up and will be until at least January 6.


It's so nice to have Nancy back with Random Five.

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One of the things I look forward to over the holidays is lunch.

Lunch, you ask?!!

Yep, I have lunch with my friends --
 folks that this year I will make an effort to see more often.

(Resolution Number One and maybe my only one.)

One never knows what will happen at lunch.

It can become an adventure.

Like firetrucks and ambulances and driving down and around streets

 I had never heard of to get out of the traffic jam.

Pulling into someone's driveway to call my pal
 and say "Guess what -- the restaurant is closed".

We did get our lunch.

***

This was the year that I rediscovered watercolor.
What fun!
Here are a couple of my favorites.

This is Hastings. I made him up. Perhaps I'm looking for him in the real world!

This doesn't have a title. I did frame it for myself.

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Last year, after discovering a box of crafty goodies that were my Mother's,

I said I was going to "get these things made instead of buying new projects".

The box is still on my list of things to do and I bought new projects.

I'm not good at resolutions.

I read something in an AARP email that made a lot of sense to me.

Rather than resolving to change myself, 

why not embrace myself.

Embrace my age, love my shape, my looks, everything about the way I am now.

The essence of positive aging.

And yes, I'll try to live healthier.

Perhaps I now have a word for the year: Embrace! 

*****

To all my friends who are living with snow and ice (UGH),

here's a vintage reproduction postcard for you.

The original artist is unknown, 

but it is believed the card was published around 1912.

I'd like to believe these young fellows are wishing us a happy start to the young new year.

Thank you to Beth for hosting Postcard Friendship Friday.

Wishing you well and much joy!