i only had the baby

until lunch yesterday so I decided to get out and TCB.

As I got out to the car, I saw a different kind of plane headed to the airport.  I got a really bad picture of it with my phone.

Like I said, it's a bad picture.

Anyway, I headed to Kroger to pick up a few things and then made my way over to Walmart.  I was looking for a cookie cutter and candle and they didn't have either.  I forgot about the cardboard file boxes I needed but did stop to price a few car seats.

Then I left... with an empty cart.  Do you know how disappointed I was?  It was my perfect opportunity to shop and TCB and I left with nothing.  The weather was nice and I actually felt like being out so I was determined to think of something I could get done.  I headed to Lake Jackson.  I decided that Target might have the cookie cutter.  Before Target, I stopped in Dillards to look at baby shoes.  The girl needs more shoes.  I finished there and as I pulled into a parking spot at Target, Cosme called to say he was on his way home.  Since Jimmy John's was right there, I suggested it for dinner.  I took my time in Target, still not finding the cookie cutter I wanted but then finding more stuff for the baby.  I picked up a couple of sandwiches and with Gigi's Cupcakes being next door, I figured I should at least stop there too.

That was my afternoon of pretty weather and attempting to TCB.  I didn't find the one thing I wanted and forgot about the one thing I needed.  Aww man, I should've stopped at Hobby Lobby.  I'm sure they'd have the cookie cutter.  Oh well, too late now.  Honestly though, when it comes down to it, I probably won't even make the cookies I have in mind.  It's been a long time since I've made cutout cookies.  You know why?  They flopped and I decided then that cutting out cookies wasn't worth it.

I guess it all worked out.  I had something I was looking for and it really doesn't matter that I didn't find it.  Also, having something to look for kept me out and gave me something to do, even if my baskets weren't as full as I'd expected.  Oh, and I got cupcakes.  I'd say the mission was a success.

i hate lying in bed at

night, unable to sleep, thinking about what all I can do the next day.  Last night this morning, when it was 1:00 and I still wasn't tired, I was thinking about how today I could straighten out the garage.  This morning, as I'm trying to figure out where I can sneak in a few more minutes of rest, I looked out into the garage as Cosme left and wondered where all that oomph and excitement about straightening the garage went.  Was that just the delirium of tiredness coming up with all those grand ideas?  I'm pretty sure it was.

It's similar to my idea of hanging artwork with photographs.  I got frames for those drawings I shared last week.

The highlights to go with The Minster.  By the way, Mom said you can't really see what it is when you're sitting on the couch.  Maybe these two need to be moved.

The skull.

Sleeping Eric.  I decided the wall needed something to bring it together a little.  That something will be blue.

Now what?  Seriously, someone tell me what to do now.  I have no idea where to start.  I guess I could just start hanging and playing around, I don't know. 

And to make things a little more overwhelming, I forgot about these two drawings that I love and took from Dodo. 

So.  Now what?

Cleaning out the garage is looking a little more doable now.

i finally got around to

shaving the cats.  Strat didn't like it at all.  He was doing that growl that cats do when they're not happy and about to lose their crap.

It was fine though.  I told him to shut up and that he didn't make the rules today.

Lucille mostly liked it and she took a lot longer.  She has had all that long hair, but she just sat there and licked me.  Now, when I got closer to her butt, she got a little anxious but who wouldn't?  She looks much better now.  She went into it as a little kitty and now she's a fierce lion.  Well, a lion.

"WTF???" - Strat

That went so much better than expected.

It's also time for the sprinklers again.

I don't know why that makes me so happy.  There's just something about having the sprinklers going first thing in the morning that I like.  Maybe it's the sound or maybe it's just TCB.

I figured since I was out there watering the yard, I'd also get my new stuff in pots.

I'm hoping for better luck with cilantro this year.

I got rid of my dead rosemary and filled that pot with basil.

I also pulled a few weeds from around my few sprigs of chives.

And then there's Dodo's azalea in the former basil pot.  It's still looking pretty good.

Maybe we'll get a little rain today to help out.

Spring has sprung and I'm really liking it.

Next up this week: making vet appointments for the cats.  They need to get back on their flea drops and that stuff we got Strat on last year was awesome.  The only down side is it has to come from the vet and the cat vet is in Houston.  That's just not something I can do anymore so I asked on fb for a good cat vet and I'm going to call this week for an appointment.  I wonder if they'll see a lion...  Speaking of vets, I noticed Archer walking weird so I need to keep an eye on him and hope he gets to feeling better.  I think it might have to do with his stomach.  He's walking slow and his hind legs are spread a little.  I saw that walk once before, right before he crapped on the sidewalk.  I'm going to see if he goes to the bathroom today.  If not, I'm wondering if he might be constipated.

The fun never ends around here.

i started off yesterday morning

having to go to the bank for cash, no biggie.  On the way home, I was thinking about all the people who would be assigned a doll if I was a Voodoo practitioner.  Is it like that?  One doll per person?  Or can you use one doll and you just think about someone as you stick it?  I'm not sure.  Then I remembered that for Lent, I'm not letting other people have a negative affect on me.  I'm letting it all go, well, I'm trying.  For the most part, I've been doing an okay job but I have had a couple of moments.  I start to get amped up and then I have to talk myself down.  What started it all was exiting the back of the neighborhood.  Some numbskull thought it would be a good idea to build a school at the back of the neighborhood, placing the school's exiting traffic coming out into our neighborhood's main road.  I mean, they could've used the county road on which the school is facing but no, let's design this to create an inconvenience for all the people who live in this neighborhood.  Somebody needs Designer of the Year.

A little later there was another incident.  It took a lot but I kept my mouth shut and just tried to forget the neighbor's fb post.  This morning, well, this morning it's just me.  Nobody's done anything but I'm getting myself frustrated.  I'm hoping this Coke will help.  If not, there's more where it came from.  You know what else might help?  Breakfast.  I think I might need something fast.

Sitting at the computer and waiting on Little E to show up reminded me that I took this picture yesterday.

She loves to sit at the computer and play with the keyboard.  Instead of teaching her to leave it alone and not touch it (like I should), I pulled an old one out for her to play with.  She likes it and we can type at the same time now.  The only issue is I caught myself trying to type on that keyboard a couple of times instead of my little one stuffed in the back.

Two hours later, I just got her down for a nap.  She was fighting it hard.  I also saw that second tooth came through.  Man, she needs that nap.  She was crying and fighting it with her eyes closed.  It was making me need a nap just watching her.

I never got around to making breakfast so I'm having a tortilla now.  I also just remembered I bought blueberries for muffins... and Kerrygold butter.  I think I'll make a double batch of muffins.  I'll do that as soon as the baby wakes up.  It might take me twice as long but I won't have to worry about being quiet.  I don't know, maybe I'll start now.  The more I think about them, the hungrier I get and the less appetizing that second tortilla sounds.

Blueberry muffins, it is.  I'm doing this.

i'm considering that a week

off.  I wasn't babysitting and I guess I just decided not to blog while I was at it.

I've been researching bookcase styling lately.  Riveting, I know.  That's one thing they didn't teach us when I took Interior Design, how to arrange things on shelves.  I learned about color and furniture placement to create a good mood and flow, but how do I put my stuff on a bookcase without it looking jumbled?  In the process of that, I've decided the artwork on the walls needs a rotation.  I've been getting tired of looking at the drawing I did of the wine and biscuits hanging at the dining table.  Besides, it doesn't even match anything anymore.  You know what it does match?  The blue bookcase, which needs styling.

My plan is to hang it over the bookcase and try to figure out how to combine art with photos for a gallery wall, another thing I've been researching.

The painting that Dodo gave me is hanging at the dining table now.

I was going to hang the bird picture there because I was tired of looking at it over the fireplace, but Cosme said he likes the bird picture.  I left it over the fireplace and I'm fine with that because it's just one less thing worry about.

I was also looking at this Westminster print he brought back from England.  This was right after I decided I wanted art and/or home stuff as souvenirs.

I went through my portfolio over the weekend and decided I want to see how this drawing looks framed and hanging under the Westminster print.

I know it's nothing great and just a study, but it's still something I did.  Imagine it right there, under the print.  I'd buy another of that frame but maybe matted with white?  It might look terrible but I'll see anyway.

I also pulled this thing out again and wondered if there is somewhere it could go.

I don't know.  I'm starting to think it might look like I have too much hanging on the walls.  Oh, that's another thing I've been researching: maximalist decor.

So, I started going through my portfolio and few hours later, Eric and Paige came by to get the keys they left here.  They told me they saw the drawing I did that's hanging in Dad's office and that it was good.  When they mentioned DC, I said I thought it had gone to a contest at the state Capitol.  I looked in my scrapbook and I was wrong.  I also saw other letters of praise, along with my induction into the National Art Honor Society.  Then I got a little... not bummed out but maybe a few steps before that and thought that I might need to get back with the program.  Not by getting back into high school art programs or art school, but by dusting off a drawing utensil or something.  I know it's easier said than done because, well, I stay kind of busy, but maybe do what I can whenever I can.  Maybe I can start by making myself at least take some pictures.  That's another thing I've just been kind of meh about lately.  It's not that I don't want to but when I have free time, I just find myself doing other things.

The Museum of Fine Arts has a Van Gogh exhibit that started last week that I'm determined to go check out.  It's got some fun interactive photo ops that I would definitely do but it's also got some of Van Gogh's work that has never left Amsterdam.  I will get over there.  If I have to go alone, I will.  If I have to drag someone with me, I will... although, Eric's already said he'd like to see it.  Maybe he can get off a few hours for a field trip.

Anyway, that's that.  Memories of my art heyday have creeped up on me and I want to take advantage of it.  For now, it'll probably just be a photograph or two... even if that only means a daily challenge with my phone.  I've got to start somewhere.  After that, I've just got to stick with it.

the other day i ordered

a new doormat for inside the backdoor.  I had one but it ended up outside and got some dead squirrel and maybe a little bit of dog mess on it.  I never brought it back in, but it is still out there.  Lately, we've had wet, nasty weather and it seems like the tile is getting a buildup of dirty dog path from the door to the cage.  It's been cleaned but I don't know, I can still sense it.  Anyway, I ordered a new doormat.  I found one I liked.  I think I might have had one like it in the past but it was the type I was looking for and it was cheap.  It was delivered and I put it at the door.

Then I opened the door to see what the old one looked like.

Observant, much?  Yeah, it does look a little like one I had in the past, minus squirrel blood and dog mess.

I also ordered a stroller and it should be here tomorrow.  Once the weather gets better, Little E and I can start going on walks around the block.  I'm looking forward to that.  I'm hoping she'll enjoy it too.

There seriously has to be something better than Little E.  How about E?  The baby gets used a lot and is fine for now but what about the grandkid later?  Speaking of her, I bought Easter stuff for pictures.  Since she loves the camera, I'm hoping they'll turn out as cute as I think they will.

Lent started yesterday.  That means there was no meat and there won't be any meat tomorrow since it's Friday.  That also means I seriously need some beef for dinner.  I'm thinking about chicken fried steak.  I have some American cheese I bought to grate for mac and cheese.  I need dinner now.  It sounds delicious.  I'll prep the mac and cheese this morning and get the beef in a little bit.

That's about all that's going on right now and that's a good thing.  Out of curiosity (and thankfulness), I looked back to see what was happening this time last year.  My chives were thriving so that's a little disappointing but there was a lot of wedding prep so knowing that's all in the past is very satisfying.  It almost makes me want to sit back, relax and enjoy how much isn't going on right now.  Then I think about that chicken fried steak with mac and cheese... I need to start grating.

well that didn't go

as planned.  I talked a promising talk about caring for Dodo's azalea and bringing it in for the low temps.  I woke up this morning and thought "oh, yeah"... I forgot to bring it in.  I didn't really think it'd hit freezing though.  Maybe the temp didn't drop long enough to do any damage.  Maybe.

I was on top of the food game though.  I made potato soup the other day and was saving it for last night since the cold weather was coming.  I had everything ready and when Paige got here, we fixed our plates and cups.  Before dinner, Eric mentioned that although he does like the potato soup, it's not really a dinner.  "Would you like soup or salad with that?"  He pointed out that the restaurants always ask if you'd like soup with your meal because it's an accompaniment, not the actual entree.  Oh well, it was cold and cold calls for soup.  We all sat down to eat and during dinner, someone mentioned sweet or sour or maybe sweet and sour.  That did it.  We had a menu out and order placed.  I left, in the cold, to pick up Chinese food.

Would you like soup or salad with that?
Soup, potato soup.  We all had soup with our entrees.
So much for plans.

I had planned on going to Walmart this morning and buying mulch but I'm not in the mood to move or be cold.  I really just want to go back to bed and chill under the blankets but I know I can't.  Well, I could but then I wouldn't be showered and the bed wouldn't be made.

Plans, rest, and warmth are overrated.  Not really but I'll keep telling myself that.

i've never had a green

thumb.  When Poppie died, Dodo made me take a plant.  I told her I couldn't keep a plant alive so she gave me an ivy because nothing can kill those.  A week later I had a dead ivy on my hands.  The funny thing is, I got an azalea after Dodo's funeral and Cindy told me those are really hard to care for.  One year later and mine's still blooming.  I don't know.  I did put a little more effort into the azalea since I knew it would be harder.  I gave it Miracle Gro at first and even brought it inside during the cold weather.  It could drop down to freezing tonight so I guess I'll need to drag the azalea in.  I've been eyeing my other pots that had herbs.  Once the cold weather decides to calm down, I'll go buy some more stuff to redo it all.  I did take the time to pull a few weeds the other day and you'll never believe what I found.

Look at that.  Don't know what that is in the middle of all the weeds?  I'll give you a hint.

My chives made it!  There aren't as many, yet, but just give it time.  Really, chives are what I used most of the herbs I had/have so I knew that would be one of the things I replanted.  Looks like I won't need to after all but I might add another in there just to have plenty.  As much as I like rosemary, I didn't really use a lot of it.  I did use a lot of my basil so I'll definitely stick to that one.  I'd like to have cilantro but it didn't do well in the past.  Maybe I'll give it another shot and put it where the rosemary was.  I've thought about getting a pot for strawberries and I might still do that.  Everything I plant has to go in the front yard because of the dogs.  If you don't remember the ill-fated strawberries and clementines, you can refresh your memory here.  I'm still a little bitter.  I'm sure I'd have a flourishing clementine tree right now and wouldn't be paying $5 for a bag.

Oh, if you browse around to different posts around that time, you'll also find a recipe for a snack called Honey Bites.  Whatever.  If I ever need to look it up, I can find it under Honey Bunches or Honey Bites.  That doesn't matter because they don't require any herbs that I might grow in one of my pots.

I've got to TCB now.  I've got errands to run and chores to do.  I also need to research pots for strawberries.