Happy Valentines Day



Faces from Carnival in Venice . . . Erin and Donaleo had a chance to see the parade of beauties.   

Thoughts . . . Words . . . Deeds, a wonderful chance to share YOU with your loved ones.    A special day to open up those arms and share a lot of hugs.   Considered yourself hugged.    Go . . . have a great day , giggle, laugh out loud and share a valentine or two be it a call, a card or text or a tweet . . . Hugs to all.



Ash Wednesday

Brian Berg is a card stacker.  He doesn't use glue  or tricks, just stacks the cards and creates unimaginable and clever reproductions of beautiful cathedrals and cities or whatever comes to mind.  He has hands like magic as I cannot put three or four cards together and have them stand;  I've tried that more than one in my lifetime.    

Well today is Ash Wednesday the start of forty days of fasting and behaving oneself to get ready for Easter Sunday and new beginnings.    Here's your chance to change your ways, if you so desire....and a lot of us should desire....maybe work on a better disposition;  or maybe practice how to be a friend, or even a bit more generous and loving.  Only you can decide what it is you need to do for yourself but this is a good time to really put on your thinking cap and get busy to 'behave' for the next forty days.

The trick is to give up what you really enjoy and see if you can do it....if you are successful then you will find that you have a new understanding of who you are and what you can accomplish in what really is a very short time;  of course it feels like forever, but, you can do it....think now of something to give up for lent . . . and do it. Good luck.....try it, you might find that you have a lot more stamina and are a lot braver than you think.  It isn't easy but then that is what makes you stronger when you succeed and you will . Today is the starting day . . . let's do it!   Hugs to all.

Let it Snow, Let it Snow!



And the sun was shining in the morning but oh what happened in the afternoon . . .



Pictures from Andrea and Bob showing a surprise snow storm in the desert of Arizona.  Yes, they went for a walk and enjoyed it as they remembered like days when they lived in the Sierras.    



Our friend John M. received this picture from his friend.   Can you imagine opening your door to this?   Wonder how long it took him to dig out.



A satellite picture of Lake Tahoe from space.    a real gem, so beautiful and this year covered in snow.  the storms have been many this year so the water supply will be good come summer.    I kind of think of a big foot print as I look at the picture, a little like Big Foot.



Moonalice has a way with pictures and words.      Finally one  that fits me.   

So today, if you are feeling normal, good . . . if not that isn't all bad either . . . enjoy your weather patterns as there really is nothing you can do about it.  '  Let a smile be your umbrella '  and hum your day away, or get out the shovel and make that stingy path a bit wider so folks can pass bye.    Just remember it just doesn't last forever and soon you will be watching the yellow jonquils popping up right through the snow.     Don't forget to go out and buy some valentines and make  those special people in your life know how much you really do care . . . something we should do every day even if cupid is not around to remind us.     How lucky I am to have YOU to care about . . . wouldn't have it any other way.     Hugs to all. 

Hello

Erin and Donaleo sent a few pictures on their travel blog.    Looks like they are getting around without any troubles and having the time of their lives.     Eating and dancing your way from one spot to another cannot be all bad.  They are on the move so we should be hearing more soon.



Italian pizza . . . yum. . . . not round like ours but this one sure has some luscious toppings.     Rome is calling . . . are you ready?     I am.



"Ain't it the truth!"

A new week,  hopefully filled with good news and lots of interesting things to see and do.     This past weekend went by quickly with daughter Christine here.    We took a ride over to the Chocolate Fair and found booths of homemade chocolates of every size and shape, along with some jewelry makers who are very talented and have exquisite taste.   It is difficult to make a decision on a gift of jewelry as the stones are more beautiful as you attend to each booth.   I came across one that was different and found a valentine for my girls.   The lady had a unique idea and is talented so she put together the large oyster shells and made up delightful picture with a unique painting talent; and some were made into fish and whales and pelicans.   They were really well done and fun to look at.  Most were local scenes along the Oregon coast line, some of Brookings harbor and the beaches as well as Gold Beach and Bandon.   Some driftwood made good stands but the shells were fantastic.   A thought just crossed my mind about 'hindsight';  sheesh;  I could have had my Christmas shopping done for this year.....oh well!

So if you have a talent, put it to work and enjoy.    The artisans have new type of scarves, colorful and very different.   They had some paintings that showed so much talent as you stand and look at it wishing you could pick up a paint brush and make some beautiful scenes.     Maybe you have this talent, if so, don't waste it, get busy and paint away.    Knit, crochet or weave.  Friend Jane is making some beautiful woven towels and leaning towards some curtains;  that I'd like to see.    All in all each of us has a talent and it is up to us to make good use of it for the pleasure it brings to your life and that wonderful sense of patting yourself on the back for making good use of it.  It takes some effort on your part but once you get over feeling lazy, then you can reach heights you never thought you could reach.   This is a great week to start   Go show me what you can do . . . Hugs to all.



Ideas

The attachment to an e mail yesterday was very interesting as it gave some hints on a few ideas I had not thought of.  So often we reheat left overs and they do not seem to get as hot as when the dish was originally made so it has less flavor, but now I know a secret and will try it and hope that my left overs will be hot and tasty all over again.  We had shrimp with white sauce and angel hair pasta for dinner last night to celebrate the arrival of daughter Christine so lunch today will be the first time to try out this idea.   Hope it works.



Once upon a time I used to drink ice coffee on a hot summer day, but that was a long time ago.   I'll have to try it out in the summer time.  Right now hot coffee is first on the list, then a green tea or a Lipton which puts a little sparkle in the taste buds.   Speaking of tea, daughter Pat and I found an estate sale and there on a beautiful side table were four collector tea pots.   I put in an offer and came home with them for daughter Christine and her upcoming teas at the Gallery.   They really are lovely, almost to fragile to use, and too beautiful to give away but I don't collect tea pots;  hard to believe as I have ten on the dining room credenza.  Well, she does have eight or ten tables set up for their tea parties and this is the second sale I attended this month with lots of tea pots.   One lady had twenty-eight in her collection and had put out four, but I left those behind as her prices were much to high.  The whole idea  of picking up a few tea pots started when I saw those cute tea pots and cups that are all in one,  but they proved to be very expensive so just  then small tea pots came to mind.   As soon as you say you collect something then you know you are going to get a few more than you bargained for, such is life and I wouldn't have it any other way . . .now what shall I get into next?   Um . . . I'll let you know when I find it.

It's Sunday and the huge storm back east has left some folks adrift in snow up to their eyeballs.  One fellow had been digging his car out of a snow drift for over an hour and still hadn't gotten it clear.    Many stories coming out of this huge storm and some very sad.    Son John had a bit of rain and sunshine in Delaware so is fine as the storm passed them by.



Now this could come in handy when you sprain an arm or leg, or need a bit of cold on your backside.     Good to know.



This one made me smile.   I never thought to put two slices of bread in the same slot;  makes sense as you get a crusty outside and a nice soft inside to house the BLT you want for lunch today;  sounds good to me. I'd try it if I had a toaster but I use a toaster oven and it wont work.

So today, a day to rest, do that . . . take some down time and catch up with yourself.   Try out a new idea or two, or even come up with one to share.    If you go to church today, be sure a light a candle for all those who are suffering either from poor health or from terrific storms.   There was a write up in the local newspaper about a possible big earthquake overdue here on this coast and it went on and on about how much devastation is predicted for the coast line, sounds like it will disappear and the talk was all about inland and the damage that would occur.   The words were about having not a few days supplies but weeks of supplies before anyone could get into the areas to help.   My thoughts are if the coast line is to disappear they don't have to worry about getting here as there would be no 'here' to get to so I guess there is no sense in setting up a survival kit if the supposed quake is to create a tsunami that will wash the coast away.   When Mother Nature is on the rampage there just isn't any 'safe' place to hide.   So it is best to live our lives one second at a time and not stew and worry about things we cannot change, or cross bridges before we get to them;  today. . is today....live a little.    Hugs to all.  



AND



There was an attachment that came in yesterday showing a chart of the most expensive cities in the world . . . Tokyo, Japan won 14 years in a row.    Bread $9.06; Milk $2.93 a liter; table wine $15.95 and a three course dinner  for four  cost $1,266.30.  



Osaka came in next with bread at $7.94; Gas $1.96; table wine $17.55; and a three course dinner for four $915.32 .  I didn't go down the entire list but when I shopped at Freddys for a few necessary evils, I found the prices up at least a dollar or two, so I left a lot right there for someone else to buy.   All of this makes me wonder what the Japanese do for a living;  what kind of salaries do they make?  
  We here in America do not shirk when it comes to high prices, we are gaining ground every day...dinner out in a good restaurant for four is at least one hundred and fifty dollars without the tip, depends on whether you have a glass of wine with your dinner.   Cigarettes prices here are hovering around thirty dollars . . . time to give them up, in fact way past time.   They were thirty five cents a pack when I had that bad habit so it was much to expensive for me to continue.  What to give up next?  Well Lent starts the thirteenth of the month so I will start with sugar, maybe cut back on breads and meat is a luxury I cannot afford.  I am sick and tired of fresh vegetables rotting in the kitchen bowl before I get a chance to use them.    I haven't had a decent banana in years as the inside has already started to rot.    Don't you wonder what is going on in the food chain?    Oh for a garden . . . oh for a man around the house. . . oh for a change for the better. . . oh  for a good memory so I can remember the depression food that got us through and kept us healthy and happy.     But most of all . . . oh for a miracle.



Meanwhile Valentine Day is getting closer and the stores are filled with hearts and flowers and candy of every kind  along with prices for every pocketbook . . . will you choose a fancy box of chocolates or a big Hershey candy bar?   A red rose or a dandy lion;  whatever you choose be sure you find a valentine to go with it and open up those arms and give out walk in hugs and kisses.     I'd even stand in line for some of those.....how about you?    Saturday...what a lovely sounding name for a day . . .blizzards back east . . . cold and clear here so far today and the start of your weekend to do whatever it is you choose to do . . . find something fun to do so the corners of your mouth turn up and the sparkle comes right through your eyes.    Hugs to all.



Helpers



Granddaughter Erin is doing her bit to hold up that leaning tower of Pisa.   She tells us that even with the sun shining it is very cold there.  She has found out that it is the season for Pistachios and Pears and the Italian folks make jams, liquors, gelato, sauces and breads with them.   She said the Pistachio cookies dipped in espresso are delicious.  She even had a vegetable called Pinocchio which turned out to be a large green onion with the taste of licorice.  The latest salad was filled with sweet oranges, pistachios, green olives dazzled with olive oil.    She may not have written up the history of the tower but she sure has whetted the taste buds.    We expect to be introduced to some new and delicious recipes when she returns.

I received an e mail yesterday with "Thoughts to Ponder" which I thought you might get a kick out of . . .
"All of us could take a lesson from the weather.  It pays no attention to criticism."  I had to laugh as I complain about weather all the time and it doesn't do a bit of good.    We had a storm go through last evening that must have had a bit of power to it as one click and my entire e mail was lost and I had to do it all over again.  I found that a good reason to complain but as the old adage says 'who would listen?'
Then there is one that says, "How is it one careless match can start a forest fire, but it takes a whole box to start a camp fire."    We all know that one.  I have trouble trying to light one small candle which usually takes more than one match to light it.   

So today, Friday . . . TGIF....a weekend already coming up . . . didn't we just have one?    That's one thing we never have enough of.    Weekends give us a chance to regroup and catch up with our family and friends.    A winter weekend to enjoy.   Go . . . make it a good one as you share YOU with those you love.  You can bring a treat or two and as the song says . . 'make someone happy' . . . and you will be happy too'   and you will . . . try it, you'll like it.   Hugs to all.