Wordy Wednesday

 

Garden Planning

 Is it too early to talk about gardening planning. I have spring fever. Above the picture is of my current seed stash. I did order 2 packets of seeds from Floret - Vintage Rose Celosia and Victoria Wedding Zinnia.  

My oldest son actually picked those out to grow. Picture below is the very rough sketch on what I think things will look like in the back yard. I am pretty comfortable I can manage this amount. Last summer I planted Lavendar, Texas sage, coneflower, and cotton tuff. I would like to add more Texas sage or Russian sage and the most expensive long-term thing I will be adding is an Angel face rose. 

 I will have to use the afternoon shade of the shop for my dahlias. We had a brutal hot summer last year, so I learned that dahlias need afternoon shade and boat loads of water. 

I will be starting my seeds the middle of March. depending on germination rates. Our last frost is the middle of April. Yep, I will be trying the seed method again for everything except sunflowers. Those I will direct sow. 

Weekly Roll

Linky Love

One Man's Fight to Save a Mental Hospital's Forgotten Cemetery - This is about Northern State Mental Hospital located near Mount Vernon. 

I have hiked around it during trek for the treasure.  This is interesting but haunting place. Great Article about John Horne and his efforts to recognize those buried there.

Colorado's National Historical Site Amache now a National Park and in the past, I have posted about the Amache Rose thought to be brought to Amache by those interned there. 

For Ukrainian Gardener, Flowers Offer a Way Forward - So glad Alla was spotlighted by the New York Times.  She was featured on Floret's You Tube Channel too.  

Inappropriate Thoughts 

The other night Robin Lopez former Milwaukee Buck was courtside reading a book and eating popcorn. His twin brother was out on the court. It was hilarious. He seriously was acting like a little brother brought against his will to the game. It just made me laugh out aloud. Robin had been traded and then waived earlier in the day. This article is about how the author found out his book was being read courtside. How small the world is that the author's son would be at the game.

Deep Thoughts

Well this happened this week. I couldn't go back to sleep after that. It was something.

Surprise Thrift Find

My husband is a picture framer and often gets glass for his framing projects by buying old picture frames. Well, he bought this large picture for $17.99. He didn't realize the print was somewhat valuable. It is a signed and numbered Scott Nellis "Clouds". The mat has some damage and the frame itself is not great. However, the print is worth about $150. Not too shabby. I really like this 80s style print. It reminds me of the PNW. I plan on a new frame and possible reflective glass as well. In case you didn't know it, the glass is usually the most expensive part of a framing project. 

Wordy Wednesday

This is another easter egg from my recycled art piece. Some of the bottle caps have interesting sayings.

"Quietly Work Let Success Speak Up."

 Should you take advice from a bottle cap?

Love Walls

 In my old house, I had a long wall at the top of the stairs where I displayed my love gallery inspired wall. I currently don't have that kind of set up at my current house.  I do have a long hallway between two bedrooms so I decided to display all my Loveland Valentine and love themed items.  Below is the start.

I have a lot more stuff to hang but this is a start. So much more stuff to hang but it feels good to have some of it up.

Recycled Art Show

I thought I would show some of the entries from the Recycled Art Show held at the library.  I sadly did not win but I think I got an honorable mention for Artesia Sunrise.  It is hard to compete with a 2-foot-tall bulldog. The bulldog is the high school mascot as well. Maybe I could become the people's choice award.  

Weekly Roll

 

I don't know if anyone else follows Ghostly.archive she has been documenting tombstones that have recipes and recreating them.  The try guys went with her to visit a tombstone with Red Lantern Dip. It is really interesting.

Roots Tech - one of the largest genealogy conferences. I have attended virtually for the last couple of years. I have to say it is something I look forward to.  The classes are extremely helpful. 

The Millennium Camera - interesting but weird, right. I think I have posted this before. 

Oregon Trail Sourdough Starter  - I guess they are currently overwhelmed, but you can get free starter with a self-addressed stamped envelope.

Inappropriate Thoughts

I think my new band name should be Feral Housewife.  

Deep Thoughts

Gosh some exciting stuff is coming but it also scary. It is closing a chapter for our family and that makes me nostalgic.  

If you got a chance take it, take it while you got a chance. If you got a dream, chase it, 'cause you a dream won't chase you back. 

52 Health

Doing great on taking those blood pressure pills. Even took a walk not great to chase after a scooter. Missing my walking buddy Mama T. Though she probably would have made me do 2 laps. LOL

What I Read February

 I am linking up with Modern Mrs Darcy's Quick Lit. Check out what everyone else is reading.

The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray

I breezed through this book in almost an afternoon. I technically finished after dinner. It was a great read. The book was about Belle Greene who was the Personal Librarian of J P Morgan. Modern Mrs Darcy Quick Lit November 2023. I thought this was a great read and thought provoking too.

Mrs Kennedy and Me by Clint Hill

This was part of a Back List Challenge for 2012. I enjoyed the stories that Clint Hill, Secret Service Agent, talked about being part of Mrs. Kennedy's protective detail. It was a real look behind the curtain. 

Necessary Lies by Diane Chamberlain

This is a story about a new social worker Jane and her clients the Hart's. The setting is North Carolina. This is during the era of forced sterilization of poor or disabled people.  This story is told well. This is another book for the 2013 Back List Challenge. You can't but help but root for the main characters in this story.  Maybe the ending was tied up a little too neatly.

Happy 54th Anniversary

 I have been thinking about enduring love and I wrote this in my journal. I think it applies to my parents. Happy Anniversary!

Enduring Love

not always executed perfect

is wonderfully imperfect

a love that shows up when things are tough

it is not a love that tolerates everything

it's a working type of love 

a love that says I have seen you at your very lowest

and at your very best

a walking with you type of love

2024 Valentine

Well, this one I struggled with this year. I made it harder than it needed to be. This is the first Valentine I ever created with a cupid. I thought that was interesting. My youngest claimed this looked like Cupid's tombstone. Now I can't unsee it. I had several variations of this card. I even included Cupid jokes in some of them. I used my Cricut and some blank cards.

I was inspired in part by Martha Stewart's valentine. Sample below

What is Saving Me

Modern Mrs. Darcy has a link up for when we have reached the middle of winter and "What is Saving Us." Check out what is saving everyone else.

I always find it is the little things that save me.

Hoka's - Yes, the tennis shoes recommended by my podiatrist are saving my feet.  I have arthritis in my big toe.  They have just the right amount of cushion. They are pricey. Wish they had more normal colors in the wide version. These are my number #1 walking shoes.  

Morning Outside time - It really helps me get a grip on what I need to do for the day. It isn't completely screen free but close. I have fallen off of this a bit, but it really does help start the day right. Cold and lots of wind have discouraged me of late.

Being creative! I am not an artist, but I am a creative person. I challenged myself to enter a recycled art show this week at my local library. I won honorable mention for my piece out of magazine and cardboard called Artesia Sunrise. 

I also made my annual Valentine's to mail through Loveland, Colorado. So, I have spent this January working out my creative energy.

The Keep App

I have been trying to eliminate some of my paper mess. I love that I can mark things off my list. I am not usually an App person but I like this one.

Weekly Roll

 Not watching that BIG game or need some mindless scrolling below is some linky's

Here all the Song's in "The Summer I Turned Pretty"

Midwestern Mom's Midwest Sushi - She cracks me up and I would make this except the lactose. LOL

$20 Dollar Tree Bowl Party

Mama Kelce's Chocolate Chip Cookies - My best friend is sending me some of these. This is an interesting recipe.

Shout Out

Happy Happy Birthday NONNA

She asked to watch the big game as part of her party. She is especially looking forward to seeing Usher at halftime. 

Operation Fun - Recycled Art

Sometimes I get a wild idea. The library and Artesia Clean and Beautiful were having a recycled art show. I decided to give recycled art a go. I don't consider myself an artist. I am a crafter. The top photo is called Artesia Sunrise and made of cardboard, newspaper, and magazines.

The art above is called ThRASHer.  It was made with trash we collected at the skate park. I won't lie this piece kinda smelled alcoholic. You know how movies have easter eggs little nods or hidden things.

My oldest gave himself a nickname in like elementary school. He wrote Ace was here.  

Stuff We Love was a happy accident in the Artesia Sunrise piece.

I call this process art.  This was fun for me.  I did it only to have fun and stretch myself. Mission accomplished.

Update to Heather's Hideout

This is the space I use to call Heather's Oasis, but I think Hideout has an interesting ring.  It had a bookcase, chair, and plants. I decided a while back it would be nice to have a work surface, so my husband built me a bar top out of a piece of bowling lane. I think it turned out. I do a lot of writing and typing and reading in this space. I would like a spot to do some creative projects too. The stool was clearance from Sam's.

Wordy Wednesday

 

RIP Toby Keith - So many good songs - Beer for My Horses, Red Solo Cup, Red, White, and Blue, How Do You Like Me Now.

Weekly Roll

Can't help all the YouTube videos on songs stuck in my head. This is an oldie but who doesn't love George Strait. This is my husband and I's song. Definitely it is an oldie. 

 Floret YouTube - movie on their breeding program

Amelia Earhart's Plane - It looks like just maybe it may have been found

The National Park Service is killing at these social media posts. Made me laugh.

Inappropriate Thoughts

This is totally me!

Deep Thoughts

I hate how people waste disabled people's time.  It is like their time isn't valuable.   My son had a meeting, and it was made telephonic which was okay because he doesn't drive BUT he had to make arrangements to get his documents scanned which resulted in a 45-minute drive each way. At the initial meeting they could of easily asked him to bring those documents and no separate trip would be required. 

Then my husband pointed out that Government tends to waste everyone's time just not disabled people's. All this to say, you know what he is right. Oh gosh did I just type that. Good thing he doesn't read here.

So, if you need to waste time involve government it really doesn't discriminate between able and disable in regard to wasting time.