...musings of the self-proclaimed spajunkie...

Health Update...#??

Sometimes you receive news you don't even want to think about much less talk about...

Many of you read and actually understood my crazy comparison of chocolate and cancer...so, going on from that I guess I would have to say we are having a dark chocolate covered caramel with sea salt kind of day.

Phone rings at 5:30 p.m.  It is the DR office.  She says to Ken "I wanted to give you the good news so that you didn't spend the weekend worrying about it...your scans from yesterday look better than the last ones and show that the CANCER IS SHRINKING."

YES. THANK YOU GOD FOR THE PRAYERS ANSWERED.

We know this doesn't mean an immediate end to the treatments, or even a cancer free diagnosis...BUT, it does mean that all of the trials and tribulations of going through the treatments are worth every single second.  

Who knows, miracles do happen, even for a second time.  Maybe it will all be gone on the next round of scans.

We BELIEVE...and we thank ALL of you for the thoughts and prayers, they surely have been heard.

...and, we just wanted to share the dark chocolate covered caramel with sea salt kind of day ... with everyone.

Love, spajunkie and Mr. Ken

...and a chicken necklace by any other name...

Today the DES and I went to the park.  We were walking along enjoying the weather and he decided to leave a little package in the park.  I, being the ever conscientious (sp?) dog person that I am, proceeded to pick up his offering in my little "poop" bag and dispose of it.

As I was doing this DES was at loose ends, wandering a bit, on his leash, of course, but he veered into the path of a lady, a woman, a female person.  I immediately drew back on the leash and said " Sorry!" .  She said "No problem, I have three dogs at home."  We all continued on our way, her a bit in front of us.

As we rounded a bend I saw this same woman bent forward, holding something out of her hand.  As we got closer I realized she was holding out something to a squirrel...who was very calmly sitting and waiting to receive ..this pecan.  It was a super sweet sort of thing, he (later found out was a she) took the nut and scampered up the tree to a certain limb and chomped down.  I was so wishing I had the camera poised coming around this corner, but, alas, did not, had no idea it would be a "Kodak" moment.

We kept going, round the park.  we ended up meeting the same lady a second time as I was, again, picking up a package DES was leaving and she said "I commend you on cleaning up after your dog, most don't."  I said "Well, I wish most did as my dog thinks those are presents left for him and I have to wrangle the "gift" out of his mouth!"  She laughed with me and said "I have three dogs, I know what you mean!"  (If you don't have dogs, well, sorry, this is just a dog thing!  YES, it is!  Even your precious darling dog does it if they can!)

As we continued walking I said "So, do you always feed the squirrels, or just the one, or??  He (who was a she) seems to know you well?"  She said "Oh, yes, I try every day to come...I've trained them, really, there are three, females (!), they all come directly to me...it has worried me some that they are so accepting...I don't want anyone to be mean to them based on their trust in me...the one female is now about to have babies."  I thought to myself "how sweet is this woman!  OMG, feeding pregnant squirrels in the park...I LOVE her!"

So we continued walking along, chatting...and I said (somewhere in the context of the conversation) "...yes, I would like to feed the ducks but my spaniel, well, he loves them a bit much!  I fear if he could get them, he would, so I just walk and hold his leash..."  She laughed and said "Yes, I had a dog that killed a chicken once, and he continued to kill chickens every chance he got...he never got over it...I even "WRAPPED A DEAD CHICKEN AROUND HIS NECK AND MADE HIM CARRY IT AROUND FOR A FEW DAYS....

...because I heard it cured their thirst for killing chickens. But it never did his.  I eventually had to get rid of him."

DES is never going near those ducks again!!!!  Oy vey.

I am verklempt.

Love, spajunkie.  

 

 

 

 

 

What DO I do all day?

I've had several inquiring minds ask me what it is I do all day?

The easiest answer is that I don't really know.  But then again I started looking around and thought "I do a alot!"  Why, just last week I woke up one day and decided it was time to plant stuff...

I replanted all of my house plants - basil, thyme, mint, lavender, aloe vera and a patio tomato plant (behind the stained glass)...also a christmas cactus, miniature rose and ivy (not pictured)  I've got (one of) my hummingbird feeders ready to go outside the window!

I did this out front...the bunnies were put out at Easter but I've just about decided they are staying all the time...at least until fall.

In the back I planted a few things - but more importantly I filled up the bird feeders.  Well, I tried, anyway.  One of them as I filled it the seed just pored out of it...never filling up just spilling over.  Well, in a very blonde moment I thought maybe it was the seed I had bought and switched to another type.  Yeah, sure, like that was the issue!  Turns out over the winter the wood broke under one of the holes and, well, it is more of a slide than an opening so the seed just slides right on out!  Not that someone minded...

Pretty pear tree!

With pears!

More flowers I did plant...but man, oh man, was I sore the next day from hauling all the dirt and pots around!  I thought I'd never be normal again!  

Today I woke up and decided to do this -

I like it, really could work for spring or fall.

Later in the day I trimmed the roses of the old blooms and I'm ending the day with this!  A simply heavenly way to repurpose rose petals...

So...the real truth is I have no idea what I do all day!  But, I try to find beauty in them all and enjoy them to the fullest!

Hope you are enjoying your day!

Love, spajunkie

 

 

Random Thursday

Let's go!

1.  Sounds as if a shelter in place alarm is going off...gotta love living in Pasadena!  I went to the back door, turned the knob, all the while asking Mr. Ken "is that a shelter in place alarm?"  "Sounds like it, perhaps you shouldn't open the door."  DUH.

2.  A certain part of me misses boots, FRC's and hard hats...does that make me weird? It probably is because I feel like my reaction time is off...see #1 above.  I mean back in the day I would have already called the 311 help line, shut off the A/C units, donned safety glasses and been taking my breathing appratus out of the package!  Just kidding!  Sort of...

3.  I am in a conundrum.  A real conundrum.  A few weeks back I had asked my friend about this seasons "Mad Men"; as in, where and when is it?  She had also not seen anything.  Well, I completely forgot I had 'friended' the FB page of "Mad Men" long ago and last week suddenly it was popping with the upcoming season which starts...SUNDAY.  I was so excited to see anything about this that I have interacted, commented, and yes!  I admit, even played paper doll dress up with "Joan" and "Megan" on the FB page.  (Personally I must say I wasn't all that thrilled about Megan as one of the dolls - I completely would prefer Betty because, well, let's face it, talk about the original "Desperate Housewife"...plus there is no getting around her fashion sense!  We own the same dress for heaven's sake...and she IS blonde...need I say more?)  I would be SO excited about this Sunday except, here is the conundrum.  Live "Mad Men" or live "Revenge".  I must admit I have missed that long, tall, cool drink of water that is "Don Draper" so much I just may have to change my Sunday night viewing habits.  I have them both set to DVR.  Just in case.  But, my oh my, can I give up my night with the lovely "Emily Thorn" and company?  A conundrum, you see.  The other thing is they say only two more seasons of "Mad Men", this one and next....NO!  Perhaps that seals the deal!  Thank you for this time helping me resolve my Sunday night TV issues.   I couldn't do it without you guys.  I so appreciate this little talk...it has helped immensely.

4.  Did anyone catch the "How to Live with your Parents (for the rest of your life)" premier last night?  Two things - I quite like Elizabeth Perkins, especially after her hilarious performance in "Weeds" (a fantastic series if there ever was one), and oddly, also fond of Sarah Chalk.  Yes, it was silly and quirky but well, have you met me?  I loved the show.  So much so that ~ Mom - we are moving back in!  Only, I'd prefer if you were the responsible one in the scenario and I was the one who partied all the time...umm, nevermind!  NEVER MIND!!  What is that you say?  I COULD have children move back in with us?  SHUT UP.  (I mean that in the fun sense of how people say - SHUT UP - GET OUT - sense of the phrase.)  Okay, I'm done now.

5.  Just kidding about #4, entirely.  JOKING.  JOKING.  REALLY.

6.  I am CLEARLY watching too much TV!  

7.  Give me a break!!  For the last two+ years no good TV!!!

8.  LOTS of capital letters involved today!  Must mean I am YELLING!  Not really.  Did  I ever say how much I don't like using capital letters yet here I am doing it?

9.  Do as I say, NOT as I do!

10. So, the late night TV wars.  Can I just say this?  WHO CARES???  I must be too old or something but I could care less who is on TV at 10:30 every night, on ANY channel.  None of them are funny to me.  Jimmy Kimmel is okay...just okay.  No one, in my personal opinion could EVER take the place of the late, great and amazing Johnny Carson.  (Am I showing my age or what?)  Now, put "Mad Men", "Revenge", "Desperate Housewives", "Scandal", "Nashville"...even repeats on, and different story altogether.

11.  Speaking of "Nashville"...delicious!  LOVING the storylines.  Speaking of "Scandal" ...my goodness, it is just so...scandalous!  Love it.

12.  Did I perhaps mention I MIGHT be watching too much TV and using too many capital letters?

13.  My "Friends" blog was the most read blog in about 20 blogs! Yes, like 120 hits... Interesting.  You didn't know I know that stuff did you?

14.  I don't think this one will be...too random!  Some love the random, some don't!

15.  I think I should ADIOS now!  Do you remember that line in "Notting Hill" when the character played by Alec Baldwin said to the "room service guy" (Hugh Grant pretending to be a room service guy), "Can you ADIOS these dishes, oh, and that trash can?"  LOL.  How was his poor little book store owner self to compete with such a big "star"?

16.  Favorite "Don Draper" quote ever:  “You don’t cover for me. You manage people’s expectations.” Season two, The Benefactor.  Don't we all Don, don't we all?

This has been your Random Thursday update.  

Love, spajunkie, TV junkie, randomness junkie...

Friends

That's a big word, Friends.  It means a lot of things to a lot of people.  There is, of course, FRIENDS, that marvelous sitcom we all watched for years - and rooted for Rachel and Ross...and later Monica and Chandler.  Or at least I did.  There are old friends, new friends, acquaintances, non-friends, people you "friend" on FB, people you unfriend on FB (at least if you are me!  I do this on a whim, often.), family/friends, best friends, couple friends, ... You get the drift.

I have been blessed my entire life to have many, many people I consider friends.  I have friends from just about every single thing I've done in my life.  I have my first ever best friend from third grade (Hey Tam!), I have many friends from elementary and middle school (still to this day), I have many friends from high school, I have friends from every career path I've taken, I have best friend(s) I met along the way (Hey Sharon) and then there are FB friends...and non-friends (LOL).  And, of course, my family bestie forever, my cousin (Hey Sheila).  Of course, we could never, ever forget, Ken, the main BFF.

I could list them all day long, honestly, and every single one of them means something different to me and fills a different part of my life to make it whole - friends.  Isn't that part of what makes it all worthwhile?

I know, you are thinking "get to the point spajunkie!"  Okay, I will!  I've said it before and I will say it again.  For whatever FB is, or isn't, it is a great way to find people you may have lost along the way.  I lost a good friend along the way the last 30 years...or maybe she lost me.  Nonetheless, somewhere along the way we disappeared from our collective sights.  Only by the technology of FB did we actually find each other again.  

A lot of my high school memories are wrapped up in our friendship...I must admit every single reunion I've been to I was asked "where is Carol?"

Well, I am happy to say, I've found her!  Alive and well and living not too terribly far away from me.  The funniest thing is - she is totally different, yet exactly the same.  She is totally different in that she has successfully raised three great children and has beautiful grandchildren to boot; she is the same in that she still reminds me of sunshine and the beach!  And HEART....and Bad Company, and Lynard Skynard, and Eric Clapton, and Foghat, and the Eagles, and....well, I think you get the picture.  We did some serious concert going...and some very SERIOUS singing into hairbrushes.  Umm, dare I say partying??  Oops, there I said it!  Shame on me.

You have to admit she kinda reminds you of sunshine!

So, the thing is - to ALL my friends - thanks for being my friend whether new, old, lost, found, whatever, I love all of you much.

Carol - thanks for bringing some sunshine my way!  Let's don't have 30 years of shade ever again!

Love, spajunkie

 

 

Restaurant Critic?

Maybe that's a new career for me!  No, I'm not a restaurant critic though I can certainly be critical of restaurants, and frequently am!  

If you lived in Houston back in the day, way back, in the 1970's, you probably remember Ninfa's on Navigation.  Mama Ninfa (Laurenzo) introduced the first tacos al carbon and fajitas I think had ever been seen in Houston.  I remember frequently going to Ninfa's on a Friday or Saturday night with my parents, friends, and/or family and waiting in a long line down Navigation to get a table.  They had this huge, ginormous (is that a word?) bowl of chips along with bowls of green and red salsa right outside on the sidewalk for everyone to snack on while you waited.  I remember one or two adults were always inside at the bar getting margaritas (or Miller Lite Daddy!) for everyone, well, cokes or something for the kids.  It was almost an event in and of itself to go there.  You could wait for hours and still be highly entertained out there on the sidewalk...

But what I remember most of all were the homemade tortillas.  Made right in the front window while you watched.  They were melt in your mouth good.  Amazingly good.  Wait in line on weekend nights good.

Then along came expansion and those restaurants were everywhere but they never, ever quite captured the magic or the flavor of the original.  The family later sold all of them.

Last week Mr. Ken read in the paper that the Laurenzo family opened an El Tiempo Cantina right on Navigation a block from the original Ninfa's.  Until I just now researched it I had no idea there were four in Houston already, the newest being this location.  Maybe you've eaten at one before, I never had.

Until today.  Mexican breakfast might actually be my favorite Mexican meal of all.  So as soon as Mr. Ken read the article we made a plan to have breakfast at the new El Tiempo Cantina this weekend.  

To start with, along with chips, red and green salsa (both replicas of Ninfa's ~ in a yummy good way), they also brought us pan de dulce.  A nice little surprise.

The inside of the restaurant is lovely in a Mexican cowboy sort of way, quite large, online says it seats 400 inclusive of the outdoor patio.

This is Mama Ninfa's portrait (from the 1960's) right behind Mr. Ken.

Our breakfast was muy delicioso!  Huevos Mexicana para mi y Huevos con Chorizo para el Sr. Ken.  You didn't realize yo habla espanol!

Another thing I liked was they gave you a little fruit cup with a very light sugar/mint sauce on the fruit.  It showed really good attention to detail over just fruit in a cup!

But, the STAR of the show was certainly this:

They were exactly as I remember them!  Melt in your mouth good.

The wait staff was so attentive they bordered on too attentive - but I will take that any day over the opposite!

Well he was perhaps a better waiter than a photographer!  But very accomodating, polite and as mentioned, attentive.

I have no idea what the other four El Tiempo locations are like but I can tell you we will definitely be returning to this one!  El Tiempo Navigation

We might even wait in line on a weekend night to eat the tortillas again.  Yes, they were THAT good.  The only thing missing was watching them be made in the window!

I hope you enjoy this restaurant critique as much as I enjoyed the trip down memory lane...and the breakfast.

Love, spajunkie

P.S. I won't go into too much detail on the "getting there" part.  It seems we went via downtown only to find where we needed to be closed due to a fun run, the second way we tried closed due to construction of the new east end light rail, but the third way worked out fine.  (Why oh why this was repeated on the way back home is still a mystery to me, but I will leave that argument in the car just as I did four hours ago.)  My advice is this - exit lockwood off 45, head east, and turn left on Navigation.  Proceed down through the 'hood until you see the restaurant on your left.  It's an old school route but then again it's worked for the last forty years.  And, even with all THAT said, it was totally worth the trip!

 

 

 

Food Glorious Food

Last night we talked about driving to Brenham today to see the bluebonnets.  This morning we got up a little late and by the time we had made it to Panera well...

1.  We were going to take Desi to Brenham and take pictures in the bluebonnets.

2.  We were going to do same but only drive the back roads to Waller and back.

3.  We were going to grab some lunch boxes at Nielson's Deli and go to Memorial Park and have a picnic.

4.  We were going to just head "that way" and see what happened...and leave Desi at home just in case whatever happened included an indoor restaurant.

Here is what ended up happening!

Literally on the beltway at the split for 45 N or S - we decided to go to Froberg's!  We didn't exactly decide to pick our own strawberries until we got there.  And by we I mean me and the mouse in my pocket because nobody else was picking...but Mr. Ken did take the photos.

Thank goodness I had the presence of mind to finally ditch the purse and really get busy!

This is approximately 5 lbs of strawberries which I picked in oh, 10-15 minutes!  I later split this bucket with my momma surprising her that I even picked them myself...I was even more surprised when she didn't tell me the story about how as a little girl I frequently picked the berries in our backyard, even though I was NOT supposed to.  Not because momma was mean or anything but because I was highly allergic to strawberries and besides the fact I came in with hands, face and clothes covered in red juice I also broke out in hives all over!  And yet, I still professed to have NOT been in the strawberry patch at all.  Her favorite part of that story is that she could actually see me from the kitchen window and always remembers seeing the little white legs, and then the little ruffle-y covered backside as I spent all my time bent over inhaling the berries as fast as I could pick them.  Kind of like the photos above only with cuter ruffle-y pants!

Now, you may think what a lot of trouble for nothing...and to that I will say this!  Strawberries that are freshly picked and have never even thought of being in a refridgerator of any kind have a completely different, and far more delicious, strawberry flavor than anything you have ever purchased at a grocery store or even a farmstand (depending if truly fresh picked or picked yesterday and refrigerated overnight).  Just saying.  

We also picked up a few other homegrown at Froberg's items - Celery (I chop and freeze it because it has more leaves than you will ever, ever find on celery at the store), Leeks, Broccoli, Radishes, Mustard Greens, Cabbage, pickling Cucumbers and lots of Dill Weed.  I give you Food Glorious Food!

We also grabbed a smoked pork chop from the smokehouse next door and viola!  Dinner is pork chop, mustard greens, blackeyed peas and for dessert - Strawberry Shortcake, of course!  

Here is the link to the Shortcake I made:  Pioneer Woman Mixed Berry Shortcake  Here are the few changes I made ~

I halved the recipe for the bisquits (it made 5 large ones).

I only used strawberries, natch!

I used lemon juice and sugar only to marinate the berries - I prefer lemon to orange, just me.  Secondly, I don't use much sugar or lemon juice...about  three tablespoons of sugar or so and the juice of two small lemons (no zest).  I've used that recipe for years and I feel it is just enough to bring out the sweetness of the berries.

I whipped 1/2 cup heavy cream until almost at peaks, then added 1/2 TBSP of powdered sugar and 1/2 TSP of vanilla and whipped until peaks formed.  

So, technically I could have rewritten the recipe with my tweaks and called it my own but ... either way, is this beautiful or what???

 Yes, Food Glorious Food.  I'm full!  Love, spajunkie

 

 

 

 

 

The Concert

Yesterday I actually asked FB friends if I could take a camera into a concert.  Some really nice friends messaged me and said I could hide it at the bottom of my purse and another sent me the link to the info online.  The results were I took the baby camera in my sunglasses case - I just didn't think I could get away with the big camera and lens.  At any rate, then I started thinking so do I dare even mention the concert we went to on the blog or not?  So I decided not though I am going to post the pictures the baby camera took.  I'm not sure in this day and age that cameras are so easily dismissed - I mean just about everyone has one on their phone.  I do, however, agree with the no recording devices rule because then you have the whole concert...still pictures, not so much.  Can't see what it hurts but whatever!

It was SO nice to have a night out!  I was really excited ~ so much so that I had a spa day and even got a haircut and highlights.  I dressed up a little bit too.  It has been so long since we went anywhere I just decided what the heck?  We took a cab because even though we were given parking passes - those were given to the customers Mr. Ken invited.  We thought with a cab we could be dropped off right in front, go in, up the elevator and into the suite super fast and easy.  For me this accomplished several things - 1) Mr. Ken was not around 1000's of people and their germs; 2) the walk was short and easy; 3) I didn't have to drive!!  

The first part of that process (getting there) worked out perfectly!

 

It is doubtful I will ever attend another concert or rodeo that doesn't involve a private suite!  It is just way too cool and completely stress free!

First up were the "guests" whose music I really like!

Then, it was the main event!  Here is a bit of trivia I learned last night thanks to some new friends Ken invited!  Do you know why he is nicknamed slow hand?  Because when he broke guitar strings he was always the slowest at repairing them!!  Kind of funny for a legendary performer like him.  Pretty sure he's got people for that now!

He opened the show with...Hello Old Friend...which hasn't been played live since 1976.

The music was simply fantastic.  I have to admit I am not his biggest absolute fan ever though I have always liked him...I mean in 1980 there wasn't anyone I knew didn't like/love him.  The only single thing I would say is he could have totally left out ...I shot the sheriff...and instead included... Layla...which has been played live at every concert since 1994.    I mean, come on!  At any rate it was a fabulous concert and I am so glad we were given the tickets.

After only two encores...Sunshine of Your Love...High Time We Went...they were off the stage and we were out looking for a cab.  We had previously decided we would walk over to the Hilton to catch one so we did.  We were met with this crazy scene!

We still don't actually know what happened but it did delay the cab process by a good 1/2 hour.  At the end I had tipped a valet guy $20 to go find us a cab.  While we were waiting this "young-er" couple came up and seemed as if they were thinking they got the next cab in line since they walked right in front of us.  I said to them something like "The next cab is ours, we've been waiting awhile" and he said back to me "Maybe you are just too slow to get one".  What IS IT with people anyway?  So, in about two minutes a cab came around the corner and I stepped in front of it, put my hand up to motion stop, and my valet guy hopped out and said "Sorry, I had to go three blocks over to find one for you".  I turned around and said  "Fast enough for you?" to the "young-er" man .  It brings to mind the movie...Fried Green Tomatoes...where Evelyn Couch (played by Kathy Bates) says something like "...Face it, girls, I'm older and I have more insurance...".  

Thanks for the lovely night out Mr. Ken!  Love, spajunkie

 

 

Fresh Air, Sunshine, "No Quiero Taco Bell" and Mud?

There's a title for you!

Is the weather in Houston glorious this week or what?  We are loving it!  When we watched the weather over the weekend I decided then and there that this week would call for walking at the park with the DES.

True to that we've walked every day 2-3 miles and loved every minute of it (almost every minute of it - but that's a bit later in the blog).  The park by our house is really nice and features a big pond in the middle complete with plenty of ducks.  If you are my friend on FB you might have seen a few pictures already but I've got some others I uploaded to my laptop.  

To say that the DES wanted the ducks would be like saying he wanted bacon for dinner!  Here are some pictures of the duck adventures.

The duck in the middle is truly sounding the horn about the spaniel! Incoming, Incoming!!!

He thought he could sneak up on this one...and he almost got him!

Or not...dang it!  

LET ME AT 'EM

My personal favorite!

 Truly beautiful fresh air and sunshine, nice people saying hello, good morning/afternoon, you know just LOVING being in Texas in the spring.

And then.  Then I see about six people plus three kids coming down the trail...and running round them are three chihuahuas, with no leash.  On any of them.  Okay, the park does have a leash law.  At any rate.  Fearing this would not be good, I took DES leash down to "heel" and got him right beside me, with me between him and the rather large group of people and dogs taking up all of the actual trail, width wise.  I even went off on the grass with DES.  So, let's just say I felt like I was doing my part.  Well sure enough two of the chihuahuas ran over snarling and yapping so I kneeled down and put my arms around DES because it there is going to be a dog fight, I'm going to be damn sure they bite me and not him!  I've got insurance...well, actually, technically, DES is insured too but that's irrevalent.  I don't exactly know what I was doing to be honest.  At any rate, they came over all snarly and yappy and I said in what I think was my nice spajunkie voice "there is a leash law, as in they should each be on one".  It might have come out more a not nice spajunkie voice "put your damn dogs on a leash".  Or somewhere in the middle of the two, but I know I didn't curse because they had kids with them.  So, what did they say back to me?  Are you ready for this?  Well, I can't actually print what they said but they sure didn't mind their children heard them curse!  It was a three word sentence and the first word started with F, the second word was you, and the last word ended in H and it was not witch!  Are you kidding me?  It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood people, lighten up and get your damn dogs on a leash because it they come at me or my dog again I promise to drop kick them in the pond!  Nothing against the breed I just no quiero taco bell today!  (If you don't remember this commercial with the famous chihuahua, well, sorry, you sure would be lost about now.)

Now for the mud.  This morning when we got up I let DES out in the backyard like I do every morning.  Then he comes in for "cookies" and we go about our day.  When he came in this morning I noticed his feet looked wet but thought it was just dew...until he took a few steps, then stepped on the white rug and oh, good grief!  The dog has mud from head to toe almost!  Where did it come from????  It hasn't rained since Sunday.  He hasn't had any mud up to this morning and he runs in his yard frequently, off and on, all day long.  How does this happen?  So, next stop my bathtub where he unceremoniously got an inpromptu bath with my Aveda shampoo and left my bathtub a muddy mess!  So before tea, breakfast or anything else we've got muddy, then clean, but wet dog and a muddy bathtub to clean!   

I still cannot find where he even found any mud. .. But he sure is enjoying the spring!

 

 Enjoy the fresh air, and sunshine!  (Admit it, you're hungry for a taco now aren't you?)

Love, spajunkie

 

 

Bunny Love

Well, if you know me at all you were sure to know if the peeps are out of the box, or in the box as it were, then the bunnies are not far behind - to be out of the box.

The first step is always admitting you've got a problem.

I've got a problem, an affliction, an addiction, to bunny rabbits.  In all forms and fashions.  And, chicks, cannot forget the chicks!  And, eggs, pretty painted eggs.  I simply cannot help myself.  

I do realize I am long past the age when this is "charming" or "cute"...but I don't care!  It is my favorite time of year to decorate and I cannot even bring myself to apologize for the silliness of it all.  I look forward to the time of year when the bunnies, chicks and eggs come out of hiding.  I do!  Even more so, this year, since Easter is early, I have skipped right over St. Patrick's day decorating and gone right on to Easter.  Well, at least inside the house, outside is all about St. Pat's - I am, after all, Irish!  Eirinn go Brach (sorry no accent marks came up over those - and that is the correct spelling in Gaelic)!  

Here we go!  Laugh if you will but just know it all brings me a serious amount of joy!  Joy is a good thing...  There just isn't enough joy in the world in my personal opinion so I hope they make you smile!

The general idea:

A close up of the baskets!

Is this the cutest thing ever?  That's a baby duck inside there!

Those two sugar confections I have had for about fifteen years.  Yes!  I freeze them every year evey in a Christmas tin; and when we went to Malaysia my momma kept them frozen for me!  Crazy - yes or maybe no!  You just don't find those anymore!!  What amazing detail...how did they get the baby duck in there anyway?

And, bunnies abound!

Why, some of these bunnies I've had since I was a child!  The blue and white one here since I was a baby and the white one on the cake stand was the last bunny I got from "the Easter Bunny"....and I've moved approximately 17 times in my adult life!  That's some bunny love.

I also must admit I've been joyous with the bunnies, chicks and eggs since March 1st!  This year I am totally in love with these sassy chicks and the bunch of carrots both of which I found at Pier 1 for $5.95 (for 3) and $4.95 (for 4).  Too cute!  And, of course the peep love affair goes without saying.

Yes, my original Easter basket from when I was a little girl.  Did I mention I've moved approximately 17 times in my adult life?  This just proves that if you are crazy you keep things that bring you joy.  Maybe even if you aren't crazy.  

But let's not go there as I prefer crazy.

Love, spajunkie in bunny love.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dancing with the Daffodils

Life is crazy.  It really is.  And, it is random.  It really, really is.  Sometimes the randomness is confusing and I just want to say let me off the crazy train...next stop sanity!  (LOL, Sandra!)

For instance, today I had a random comment on the "Peep Show" blog which asked if said person, Nikki, could copy my blog to her website.  Well, the thing is her email is bogus as is her website.  So, I reported her as spam to the powers that be on this blog site.  Well, yes, I had to.  I mean the mind really reels when you think about someone possibly using your blog entitled "The Peep Show" without your permission and with possible non-existent email and website addresses!  The next thing you know the peeps will be ... just marshmallow ... no pretty yellow or pink sugar coating!!!!  THEN what?  We all know that equates to n-k-d peeps!  Oh my.  NOT on my watch.  Good grief.

Funny how some "peeps" misinterrupted the peep show blog as my introduction to spring!  Okay, PEEPS, let's settle this once and for all.  I am no longer of the employed, but of the retired!  It is okay, super okay, I tried to go out and do something but I didn't like it, at all, and so, I'm back, at home, where apparently, I belong.  That is a LOL statement if there ever, ever was one but still.  I'm loving being here!

So, random.  Acts of kindness.  We have a wonderful sweet lady who cleans for us, Edith.  She cleaned for us for years and years before we moved to Malaysia and when we got back she came back to us. Edith also cleans for my mother.  We LOVE her, she is part of our family, truly.  Today, randomly, when she arrived, she brought me a pot of daffodils, a big bouquet of flowers, and some home grown grapefruit.  It's just how she rolls.  What a lovely, completely unexpected, and beautiful, surprise.

Even more random still, when I was in high school English I was required to memorize a poem.  We could choose most any poem and the poem of my choice was this (I know you wonder, spajunkie, that was EONS ago, how do you remember?  Well, I could have memorized only three stanzas but I chose four, that's what I most remember because when I had to stand up in class and recite it - I thought WTH?  three stanzas would have been JUST fine!):

Daffodils

"I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced; but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:
A poet could not but be gay,
In such a jocund company:
I gazed--and gazed--but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils."   William Wordsworth

Yes, indeed, Mr. Wordsworth, yes, indeed.  THAT is why I chose four stanzas.

 

"...Fluttering and dancing in the breeze..."

Love, spajunkie