I've written a few more posts than I thought I would this year, although having no incentive to do anything and less incentive to write about that lack thereof.
I'll add some pictures I had forgotten and see how that goes.
The amaryllis finally bloomed, and it was beautiful for days. It was almost white with just a little outline of pink or purple. Now comes the decision on whether to plant it outside or leave it in a pot outside - or what.
Emily's finally came in about a week after mine.
I wish we knew how and when to plant them to enjoy them again next year. I think mine did bloom twice last year in the same pot. I'll have to go back and check.
Pictures from school. Making their Valentine boxes.
It hasn't been a fantastic month weather-wise, but it hasn't snowed either, so I'll take that as a positive. I had a wellness visit with my doctor yesterday here in town, and that went pretty well. No new ideas about how to get me some energy, but we have "plans" for a few things to maybe help. I got a pneumonia shot, my blood pressure was high - but it usually is - and we made a few minor changes in my medications. I have to go back in a month after labs, but I'm not expecting too much. Nothing really hurts, and I don't feel bad. I just need about 10 hours of sleep at night and sometimes a nap. I feel like I'm wasting what little life I have left, but I did some positive organizing in the sewing room, and now I feel like I will finish up a few projects in there. All the pins, ribbons, art supplies for the girls, thread, and most of the buttons are organized. Fabric is fairly neat, and knitting and crocheting needles and yarn are corralled in baskets. I cleaned all the surfaces and washed the window and window sill, so it's pleasant to come and go in there. I can't make the decision to let the embroidery machine go, but I don't know if I'll ever remember how to use the program on my old computer and organize my files.
This week is Winter Break, and Emily and Ryan had planned to go see Dune last night while I had a sleepover, but she started having back spasms Saturday and postponed any type of movie-going. My offer still stands to have some company, but I'll need to know ahead of time so I can take a nap before they get here.
I'll scroll through my pictures and see what I've been interested in these past few weeks. I took a picture of the first piece of furniture we bought to show a friend - a $35 desk from a thrift store in Summerville, GA.
We were only 21, so I think we did a pretty good job of redoing it and choosing something we would love through the years. It's a little wobbly, but after 55 years, if I haven't tightened the legs yet, it's not going to get done unless someone inherits it who will do it. I think I now remember that Ryan did that for me when we first moved here, but it seems to need it again.
The sampler above it was done so many years ago that I don't remember. Back when samplers were in style. I loved this pattern and enjoyed making it more than anything I've ever done. We had friends in town who had opened a framing shop - the Varners - and they did an excellent job on everything they ever did for me, this one in particular.
I'll try to take a better picture tomorrow when the light is better. Graysen showed an interest in the sampler one day, and I loved telling her about young girls in the past learning their ABCs and numbers by embroidering them over and over and showing off their skills and artistry. Grandmothers love a teaching moment, but she looked at it a minute and said, "Why do you have it?" I said, "I embroidered it myself, all those thousands of little stitches, just to hang over this desk." Far from being impressed, she said, "Why?" Children know how to take the wind out of your sails.
I've had this up all day waiting for something interesting to happen to write about. Actually, I just forgot to post, but at least it's a few words. I haven't seen the girls this Winter Break and miss them, but I know they're having fun being at home and resting up from the last few weeks of being so busy. Soccer and basketball still goes on in spite of the week off too. I'll go listen to my audio book until I get sleepy and see if I can get back on a better sleep schedule. Unfortunately, I slept a few hours this afternoon, but I do enjoy afternoon naps. I'll soon have the sewing room cleaned up enough for a few pictures. My heart isn't in sewing right now, but I do have some things I want and need to do in there.
I feel like I've done a few posts on Facebook - lots more than usual - about birthdays and don't really want to do it again. But I will, because Facebook might be a thing of the past one day - and so might this blog. Who knows.
I can count on three birthdays the first 6 weeks of the new year, and this year we celebrated one more. The girls' friend upstairs turned 10 while everyone was shut down for a few days over the snow, ice, and wind, so we just gave her good wishes in passing. Her grandparents from Florida also spent the week with them, so we didn't see her except in passing. That would not do for Graysen and Katherine though. They wanted a REAL party and wanted to plan and do it themselves. They're amazingly good at planning and carrying things through. Sometimes the preparation and decorating are more fun than the actual event.
I was in charge of food, and I knew it would be simple. I'm glad of that decision, because the grapes and popcorn I put on the table were completely ignored, although the Lemon Loaf was devoured. It wasn't what you would think of for a 10-year-old's party, but they all love Starbucks, and I found a copycat Starbucks Lemon Loaf I wanted to try. It turned out pretty well.
Without the lemony glaze, there wasn't much to it. I didn't have any lemon zest and don't think it would have made much difference. The combination was just right - to me. Mary, Noreen, and I had a piece on our Scrabble morning, and I think we all thought it was pretty good. I was going to post the recipe, but I can't remember the one I used. It seems to be a fad right now, and I'd like to try a few more versions - and there are many.
Before I iced it, I had it on the counter and mentioned to Graysen that that was the birthday cake. She looked at it for a few seconds and then politely said, "I don't really like cornbread." Poor baby. Once that sugary lemon glaze covered it, she dug in and didn't leave a bite.
As soon as the girls got here, they got to work. Kate wanted to make a Pin-the-Tail-on-the Cat game. I think one of the overpriced kits Emily had bought for Graysen's party last year had one, and they loved it, although I would have thought that particular game was long out of style.
Kate asked if I had a big piece of white paper, and when I gave her a piece of white foam board, you'd have thought it was the best thing EVER. I love all that excitement. She got busy and drew a cat.
I offered her black markers and black construction paper to make it show up better, but she reminded me that the players had on blindfolds, so it didn't matter. Makes sense. She spent more time fighting with the double-stick tape to hang it with than the actual drawing.
It was a hit though. I can't imagine a game they would have enjoyed more. I gave them a sleep mask that was perfect - except if you look at the ceiling, you "might" could see the cat. It didn't matter, they spun each other around and shrieked and make some strange pins.
The "prizes" were well received. They had cats on them, and then they had more screaming and tumbling around to do. I loved every minute of it. It makes me to happy to see them thrilled over simple things.
Such a fun day.
Emily had a birthday on the 31st and Alan had one on February 4th. I'm not sure they had quite as much fun as these girls did, and I don't have any pictures, but I'll work on a mention later when I have more time. They deserve their own posts! I just need more time.
I have so many problems with videos. Just when I think I've figured it out, something else comes up to frustrate me. On this last one, I was able to watch it, but at the end there were "suggestions" of disturbing videos to watch. I've tried over and over through the past couple of years to end a video without this stuff, but I've failed. Right now, it just shows a frozen one, which may be best after all.
