This and That

My Robin friends are back.

I took their portrait through the dirty glass door.
Wonder what they were saying to each other?


*

Did you do anything special for Valentine's Day?
I had a lovely dinner and some Prosecco.

My knight-in-shining-armor and I would have been together 36 years this year.
I still feel like we are together.
Just living in different spots -- one on earth and one in the stars.

He liked Valentine's Day.
It's one reason why I have so many Teddy Bears! 
My favorite flowers -- iris and tulips.


*

I'm a big tea lover.
Nothing better than a cup of tea.
Taking the time to brew the tea.
Then taking the time to sit and enjoy the tea.
Sometimes I have tea in a fancy cup and saucer.
Other times I have tea in a mug.

The mug for February is BIG LOVE by Emma Bridgewater.
Tea and Chocolate!!!

*

College baseball is starting!
Rice Owls held their second annual Baseball Fest.
An opportunity for the fans to come out and meet the team.
Get autographs.
Take batting practice with Andy Pettitte or Jose Cruz, Jr. pitching. 

Phillip Humber was there.
He was on the Rice team that won the 2003 College World Series.
On April 21, 2012, Humber pitched the 21st perfect game in MLB history
for the Chicago White Sox, defeating the Seattle Mariners.

Things were just getting started when I was there.
I picked up my season tickets. 

*

I'm still crocheting.
I finished making all the patterns in the Mirror Image Scarf book.
Now, I'm putting the patterns together for different looks.
Have to use up the stash!

I did order the cottage charm baby afghan (pattern and yarn) from Mary Maxim.
I loved the pattern and thought it would make a pretty lapghan.
The pink flower is the beginning of the lapghan.

Now reading I Shot The Buddha by Colin Cotterill.
It is a Dr. Siri Paiboun mystery set in Laos.
I've been reading the series from the beginning and always look forward
to the next Dr. Siri and friends adventure. 
You get a feel for what Laos was like in the 70's.
Fear, angst, and amazingly, humor. 
In this one animism, Buddhism and communism are center stage.
If you think you might be interested in this series you must start with the first one --
otherwise you will get lost and only Dr. Siri will be able to find you......!

Oliver had to supervise while I was taking photos. 

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Five on Friday

Willy Nilly Friday

Mosaic Monday

Make It Pretty Monday

A Valentine Day Chuckle!

Vintage postcard from "A Box of Kisses". This one is worth a smile or two! No information on the artist or publishing date. (From Chronicle Books)

Wishing YOU well and much joy

on this Valentine's Day.

This and That

This is what is going on in Houston.

No, I'm not going.
I'll watch on television.
Houston traffic is bad enough without the Super Bowl in town.
I'm staying home!


*

I finally got a good face shot of Oliver.
He is a good boy.
He doesn't meow -- he sort of yodels!
Yack, Yack, Yack! 


*

The morning after some medical tests.

Eggs Florentine at Hungry's.
Delicious.

*

Tulips from the grocery.

*

I've been a big fan of Shelagh Duffett's art.
I read her blog and follow her on FaceBook.
When she announced her book was published,
I knew I had to get a copy.
It's a lot of fun.
Page after page of cats and the alphabet.
Perfect for bedtime reading for the kids or for me! 

I also finished another of the Mirror Image Scarves.
I'm keeping this one!

Wishing YOU well and much joy!


Five On Friday

Willy Nilly Friday

Mosaic Monday

Yarn-A-Long

SaveSave

This and That

The Liberate Your Art postcard swap has been announced.

I've participated for a number of years and it is a lot of fun.

In the past I've sent one of my photographs.

This year I decided to send one of my art pieces.

Since so many are dealing with a harsh winter,

I thought they might like seeing a little "Spring Fling"! 
Watercolor on Index card.

Before the big freeze,
this little guy came to visit.
I think he enjoyed the buffet.





The green you see in the photo is now brown. 
I would have had to cover the whole back yard in preparation for our big freeze. 
Seeing what makes a triumphant return to life will be an adventure!

I'm going to Commit To Sit!
Now in it's seventh year, this free 28-day challenge is an exploration of the tools of meditation led by teacher,
 Sharon Salzberg.
I joined this group several years ago and I need a refresher course.
It starts February 1.
If you are interested, you can find more information here.

I'm still reading The Glass Universe by Dava Sobel.
I found my copy of Real Happiness and am ready for the Commit to Sit month.
Paintbrush in Paris is about a cat in Paris written by illustrator Jill Butler.
Seems like I've been looking for a copy for ages -- adorable and a fun look at Paris.
Last, but not least, by Leisure Arts, Mirror Image Scarves. 

Rainy days were made for reading and crocheting.
So far, I've made two of the Mirror Image Scarves.
I'm using up my stash of Caron Cakes -- bought when they were on sale.
I'm liking how they are looking. 

When I work on a pattern from a book,
I make a copy of the pattern.
Do you do that?
I like to mark up the copy (instead of the book) ---
marking what row I'm on ... any "funny" directions that I had to figure out,
notes to myself -- even about the yarn. 
Just wondering!!!!!!!! 

Wishing YOU well and much joy!

Yarn A Long

Hooking On Hump Day

Five on Friday

Willy Nilly Friday

Mosaic Monday

Happy New Year!

It's 2017!

Did you stay up and bring in the New Year?

Did you make some noise -- beat a drum or pots and pans -- 
set off fireworks?
Have to do something to frighten off the demons!
 

Did you eat lucky food?
In my neck of the woods, black-eyed peas are the tradition.
I like the tradition of eating 12 grapes like they do in Spain.

Did you drink a special beverage?
Wassail?

I didn't make it to the magic hour.
I climbed into bed with the kitties, listened to the New York Philharmonic's
New Year's concert and had a glass of Prosecco. 

If you missed all the festivities, 
you can celebrate the new year again later in January
on the Lunar New Year.

Thank you to SageGoddess.com for the photo.



My Christmas cactus started blooming the day after Christmas.
Close enough!

Santa was full of Walkers Shortbread and now has what is left
of Trader Joe's mini-gingerbread men.

All the outdoor decorations are down and put in their resting place,
but the tree is still up!
I've had back problems and decided it was just easier to leave it,
enjoy it and maybe by Valentine's Day it will be down! Ha!

My friends and family know me well.
I love Tea anything!
I have a new holiday mug -- nice, big, sturdy and I love the red and white. 
Yes, the teapot was a gift, too.
My beautiful step-daughter sent me a box full of "made in Washington"
goodies -- the chocolate covered Chukar Cherries go well with tea!
The towels have lovely snowflakes.

This is the second Shin-yu Infinity Scarf I've made with Caron Cakes.
My beautiful god-daughter saw the first one and walked out the door with it
before I got a picture of it. 
This is a wonderful crochet pattern by ChiChi Allen.
The directions are clear and precise and she includes photos.
The pattern can be found on her Ravelry site or her blog.

I just started The Glass Universe.
An interesting look at astronomy (before it became astrophysics)
and the role women played in the early days.









Wishing YOU well and much joy!


Mosaic Monday

Yarn A Long