i've got a lot

to do today.  I need to head to Brazoria to look through some Scentsy and if I'd been thinking, I would've left early with camera in hand so I could've caught the sunrise.  Call me obsessed.  But instead I'm sitting here catching up on what's going on in the world.  Again, no morning news to fill me in.  It sucks because yesterday morning I checked the weather on my phone.  According to iPhone, it was 39 degrees outside.  I put on a long sleeve shirt with a coat.  As I'm running errands, I notice the car is telling me it's 60 degrees outside.  I felt like a schmuck so at my first stop, the coat came off.

Speaking of my first stop, I ran out the door to get my plat over to the fence company.  They're getting my building permit and hopefully getting my fence up next week.  We'll see.  After I left the fence company, I noticed a section of hair sticking out from the tightened part of my pony tail and doing its own thing.  While I'm not known for carrying a brush or keeping my hair combed, I did brush it before the pony tail and I STILL managed to run around with bed head.  I just left it.

Anyway, before I'm off to start today's errands, I thought I'd share this piece of info I read online this morning.  Sure, she's probably in her 20's which is about right for a "celebrity" in his 40's but when you think about him taking a much younger girlfriend to Disneyland.  It almost sounds disturbing and illegal.

And just to clear it up, they're referring to the last Mr. Jennifer Lopez.

what is it with the

sky lately?  I posted a few pics of the sunset from a few days ago.  It was really similar last night and this morning, as I walked past the front door, this is what I saw.

It's just been really pretty lately.  Oh well.  I guess cats are out and the sky is in.  (Unless you watch my Instagram feed.  The word for today's challenge is playing and that'll be a no brainer.)


Today's one of those days where I just want to lie around and watch tv.  Since there's no tv until noon, I can't.  I have errands to run and as pretty as the sky is, it's cold out there.  Maybe I'll bake a cake.

there was a full

moon last night.  I tried my best to get it.  This is it through the neighbor's tree.

What's a little creepy is when I zoomed in on one shot, it looked like the neighbor's tree branches were hands grabbing the moon.

Along with a full moon yesterday, we had really high winds.  Instead of all the rain that I'd seen predicted the day before, we had wind.  Sure, we had a light drizzle in the morning but that left us with a sunny, windy day.  I was really counting on that rain to water my new tree and strawberries.  I haven't been outside yet but maybe, once the sun's up, I'll go check.  Here was my clementine tree before the strong winds.  (In case you missed it on Instagram or Facebook.)

I hope it's still standing.  Oh, and to make it all SO much better, I read this morning that we're scheduled for near freezing temperatures tonight and a really cold weekend.  I really picked a bad time to take up gardening.

for your

Monday morning viewing pleasure, I give you a southeast Texas sunset.  As seen from my backyard.

I can't help myself but when the sky is all pink and blue and purple and orange, I must grab a camera.

I posted a similar picture on FB but that was done with my phone.  These were with an actual camera.

ps- The HOA approved our fence!

it's friday and that means

it's a good night for dancing.

I was looking around on the internet yesterday and came across this outfit.  Let's forget the fact that it's ugly but look at her pants.  Why would the manufacturer do this?  They should have thought about the position of the darker spots of fabric.  It looks like somebody didn't make it to the bathroom in time.

 I have an appropriate picture and I hadn't even planned this.

Speaking of drinks, I ordered something.  I can't wait for it to come.  I'm going to try and keep my mouth shut.  I'll post about it with a review when it gets here.  I ordered three bottles so I hope it's good.  I wanted to order 6 but figured I'd try it out first. 

I need to start my chores now... and maybe have a small glass of strawberry milk.

sometimes you

just have to follow the rules.

And sometimes you just need to sit down and have a glass of strawberry milk.

That's all I've got.

UPDATE: Sometimes you just need to know when to cut yourself off on the strawberry milk.  ugh.

maybe i should

get a sign.  "Beware of cat"  It looks about as threatening as it sounds.

But this might work.  "Beware of crazed cat.  He will eat your soul."

I wouldn't come near this place.

there's a fence

place on the highway.  I drove over there yesterday with my plat.  I figured if they were closed for Presidents Day, I'd write down the name and number.  If they were open, I'd go in.  They were open.  They have put up fences in my neighborhood and I think might have put up what fence I do have.  Anyway, they said it'd be no problem to fence over the easement.  I had someone come out to measure so I could have someone call me back with an estimate.  We walked along the back and he was keeping his eyes on his rolling measuring thing.  He got to what the plat shows as my property line and said, "okay".  I asked him if he sees what I meant and pointed behind him to the neighbor's house.  He then said, to clean it up for the public, "oh, crap".

I, being the worry wart, am now coming up with other scenarios on why the HOA might reject the placement of my fence.  I'm hoping it all ends well.

Yesterday I made dinner and I was about to throw a can out but then I took a second look.  I stripped it of its wrapper and grabbed my camera.

And now I'm off to get ready and visit my cousin in the hospital.  She's been there for a few days but is having surgery today.

the time for

privacy has come.  We need a little separation from our neighbors.  We've lived here for eight years and one side of our fence has never been completed.  There's a bit of a dilemma.  There is a 30' easement between us and our neighbors.  Assuming I'm reading this right, said easement is within our property line with the outer edge of the easement being the actual property line.  The dilemma has been do we fence in our yard just inside the easement which is basically handing a 30' strip of land to the neighbors to use or do we go without and be totally exposed.  Today I'm calling a fence company to ask about the possibility of an idea.  If it's doable and I am reading this correctly, I'll then email the HOA architectural control committee and ask beg for this to happen.  My plan is to put a straight line of fence on the outer property line from the back fence to however far up possible.  That will make me happy for right now.  Next on the to do list might possibly be a shorter fence on this side of the easement to actually fence in my yard.  Here's where I'm going with this:

So you see, when they break the rules and drive their car around to park in their backyard, they're actually driving on my property.  I mean unless I'm reading this totally wrong (in which case this post will SO be deleted...)  One more thing which I'm not too happy about is a big oak tree.  They've taken care of it and even had it trimmed back a few years ago.  Ends up it might possibly be on our property line.  Guess what.  I don't like it.  With that tree comes worms nests and leaves and possible hurricane destruction.  I wouldn't care if it eventually had to come down.  If this happens, and I'm really hoping they let me, we can enjoy a little privacy in our backyard.  So yes, I might be paying to have a partial fence put up for them but if I'm reading this right (it's been a while since I've dealt with plats and all that) I'm also paying to claim what's mine.  So everybody pray, hope, cross your fingers, grab a rabbit's foot, do what you need to do so we can make this happen.  And in the meantime, would this even look good?

let's back this

thing up.  Okay.  So Tuesday I made pizzas.  I don't remember if I mentioned it and I don't feel like checking.  Anyway, Tuesday... pizza... The dough recipe I use makes three pizzas.  (Again, I've really got to start cutting these recipes in two.  I don't need seven pans of cinnamon rolls or four loaves of bread.)  Normally I probably would've done them all pepperoni, maybe a pepperoni and mushroom if I felt like going to the trouble.  This was the first time I'd made pizza dough with only two of us in the house.  What I decided to do was extra vegetables since Cosme likes his like that.  I usually cut up mushroom and maybe red bell pepper and saute in a pan and add to the pizza.  (I don't want uncooked vegetables and pizza time isn't long enough.)  Since I've been on this kick lately of roasting things, I figured I'd chop everything up and roast the vegetables while the dough was rising.  (Killing two birds with one stone.  The vegetables are cooking while the dough is using the warmth of the oven.)  Easy enough.  (But apparently not easy enough to use a real camera and get a decent shot.)

It hit me while the crust was in the oven.  Friday means no meat.  Perfect.  I'll have my pepperoni and mushroom while Cosme has his pepperoni and everything else and the third crust will be minus the pepperoni for lunch on Friday.  And here's part of what I ended up with:

Pepperoni, mushroom and red bell pepper for my lunch yesterday

Mushroom, red and green bell pepper and onion for lunches today.

I know of a back that needs patting.  Not to brag or anything but it's pretty good.

i tried to scan

an old Valentine postcard for today but there's an issue somewhere and I feel like a) dealing with it right now isn't something I have time for and b) the postcard isn't actually necessary.  I wanted to post it because I don't have a picture to share.  So here's a pictureless post. 

For the most part, today's a good day.  I have a sinus headache and am out of Zyrtec D and the pharmacy isn't open yet but I'm sure I could find something else to take, even if it does knock me out.  My stomach is funky and I'm hoping I don't have a bug but the only place I need to be isn't until later and if needed, I can always let them know I can't make it.  If I were going to lie down to try to sleep off the headache or bug, I wouldn't be able to watch tv (at least not until noon) but I do have books and an iPad.  I have plenty of cleaning to keep me occupied but it's not overwhelming.  So there you have it. 

I will share this while I'm here.  If you go to a participating Which Wich today, draw a heart by your name on your bag for ordering and they'll give you a free cookie.  I guess if you do it and they're not participating, they'll just think you're really weird and are looking for a Valentine.

today is

Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent.  Not only is there no meat today but it's a day of fasting.  Well, there is one meal allowed and a couple of snacks (but those snacks put together shouldn't equal a meal).  Anyway, that's that.  We usually save our Ash Wednesday meals for dinner and go to La Casona for shrimp.  I've decided to give up morning television for Lent.  By morning television, I mean the tv is off until noon.  No catching up on dvr, no news, nothing.  I usually like to eat breakfast and clean with the tv on and then I usually get distracted way too easily. 

Speaking of the news, I watched the news the other day and saw that Wednesday was going to be sunny and all the rain would have passed.  Not so.  And apparently, a cool front came through too.  So much for that morning walk.  I wonder if it counts if I check their website for the weather.  Hmm.

If that light glowing across the driveway was the sun peeking out from behind a cloud, I'd think the forecasters were right.  That, my friends, is only a street light.  Oh well...

it's dreary

out today and I like it.  I have no errands to run.  Today is about computer, camera and pizza dough.  I think I can handle it as long as motivation enters the equation pretty soon.

the other morning

I walked past the front door and saw the sun starting to come up.  Without brushing my hair, I grabbed my camera, phone, keys and ear buds and ran out the door.  I headed west. 

I took a picture of this windmill a few years ago.  Here it is again, but done differently.

There's something about old sheds that I like.

There's something about mailboxes that I like too.

on the count of

three... 1, 2, (enter long sigh here).  I'm bored.  I've really been wanting to use my camera lately but honestly, I'm bored with the cat pics.  (You're welcome.)  Seriously, we all know they're cute.  Point made.  (Not that there won't ever be another one...)  I'm alone during the day and I've been busy doing my usual thing.  Today I'll be waiting on the exterminator and probably cleaning house.  Did I mention that I'm bored.

For now though, my dad's having cataract surgery today so a song is in order.  Even though this song isn't about surgery and reminds me of Iron Eagle and fried chicken ("gimme, gimme, gimme... FRIED CHICKEN"), it is about vision.


I guess I'm off to clean now.