T Stands For How My Garden Grows

With some nice weather on hand, I decided to go outside to do a little yardwork and to get some fresh air.

People in town were putting teddy bears in their windows so parents could drive the littles around on a Teddy Bear Hunt. Left to right, Bink (panther), Ted (bear), and Blue (polar bear) wait to be counted.

Though a few days early, I decided to put out the Spring decorations. The wreath was made by Lady Caer Morgana from The Wiccan Life 

I really needed to see the bright colors of the April garden flag

Spring has arrived about 2 months earlier than usual. A single crocus greeted me as I made my rounds.

The little crocus is on the far left of the garden under the Japanese maple. A few daffodil shoots are coming up, too.

A few daffodils by the brick path that leads to the oil fill. I might have to relocate these bulbs in the Fall so the Spring flowers won't get trampled on when the oil man makes his delivery.

Still a little too early for the Lily of the Valley

My tea where I left it while working

Rotrow! Leaves of three! Let them be! Poison Ivy still in her Fall colors

A tulip among the daffodils

Just like being mindful of where I was grabbing dead leaves and sticks, I had to watch where I was placing my big feet so I wouldn't trample the daffs.

Some early show offs

The last load of the day in my little, red wagon

I made a dent.

Dedo agreed I should call it a day.

How does your garden grow?

Drop by hosts, Bleubeard and Elizabeth's blog to find out what the rest of the T Stands For gang is up to. If you want to play, include in your Tuesday post a beverage or container for a beverage. Don't forget to link your blog to Bleubeard and Elizabeth's page.

Another Garden Kite

to St. Jude, patron saint of hope and lost causes. More about this later in the week.

Alphabet Sunday

From Enders Island, the letter, r

Saturday Afternoon at the Movies

This idea came from a Facebook meme:
Over 10 days, post your 10 all time favorite films. What movie has really made an impact on you or what films can you watch over and over and never tire of? Post either the movie poster, DVD cover or even a screenshot on your timeline. No need to explain.

Only I had a hard time picking out just 10 movies so my favorites over the next few hundred Saturdays 😸 in semi-alphabetical order:me favorite films. What movie has really made an impact on you or what films can you watch over and over and never tire of? Post either the movie poster, DVD cover or even a screenshot on your timeline. No need to explain.

Only I had a hard time picking out just 10 movies so my favorites over the next few hundred Saturdays 😸 in semi-alphabetical order:

Pollyanna (1960) Hayley Mills, Jane Wyman

If you haven't seen this movie and you have the Disney Channel, you can stream this movie.

The Friday Five Good Things

Heath and me

Five good things that happened this week.

1. Touched base with a friend from high school to see how she was doing. She's an Infection Control Practitioner at Stanford University Hospital. We had a good chat.

2. While Himself was in a Zoom meeting, I thought I'd see if there was something I could watch on Starz, and I found one of my favorite shows, The Big Valley

3. Seeing a rainbow on the kitchen wall made me smile.

4. Got a text from the Eldest that her company decided she could work from home and didn't need to apply for unemployment.

5. Another Dawn Patrol trip to a different store, but I was able to find my beloved King Arthur flour.

How was your week?

For The Hitchhikers

Anne, I don't seem to see 42 when I'm out. I mostly see the number when I'm sitting at the computer. Hmmm, maybe I need to get out more. 😺

An interesting story from Finnbadger's blog. Thanks for letting me use the 42

Wordy Wednesday

T Stands For...

Sad Face.

While I was doing the dishes, the Pyrex measuring cup slipped out of my hands and broke the handle of my favorite mug. The mug the Young One gave me for Christmas a year ago. It's not good to drink out of anymore. Can't re-heat a cold cup of tea in the microwave. What to do?

Give it a new life as a pen and pencil cup. Placed where I can see it because it makes me laugh. So me. 😺

Drop by hosts, Bleubeard and Elizabeth's blog to find out what the rest of the T Stands For gang is up to. If you want to play, include in your Tuesday post a beverage or container for a beverage. Don't forget to link your blog to Bleubeard and Elizabeth's page.

Happy Mail

It's always a nice surprise to get a bit of happy mail, but especially when there's so much chaos around us and the news is dire.

From Nan, a lovely St. Patrick's Day card and decorated envelope. Nan always sends me a St. Patrick's Day card which makes me laugh because I'm only Irish through marriage. I suppose everyone is a little Irish on St. Patrick's Day. 

With all that is going on it feels like St. Patrick's Day was forever ago, but it was only last week!

Alphabet Sunday

Another gift from the sea, the letter, Q. Enders Island

Saturday Afternoon at the Movies

This idea came from a Facebook meme:
Over 10 days, post your 10 all time favorite films. What movie has really made an impact on you or what films can you watch over and over and never tire of? Post either the movie poster, DVD cover or even a screenshot on your timeline. No need to explain.

Only I had a hard time picking out just 10 movies so my favorites over the next few hundred Saturdays 😸 in semi-alphabetical order:me favorite films. What movie has really made an impact on you or what films can you watch over and over and never tire of? Post either the movie poster, DVD cover or even a screenshot on your timeline. No need to explain.

Only I had a hard time picking out just 10 movies so my favorites over the next few hundred Saturdays 😸 in semi-alphabetical order:

The Polar Express (2004) Tom Hanks

If you haven't seen this movie, it's available to rent on YouTube, and you also might find a free version if you hunt around a bit.

The Friday Five Good Things

Five good things that happened this week.

1. Made Himself corned beef, an Irish soda bread, and brownies for St. Patrick's Day

2. We watched The Quiet Man on TCM

3. Texted the Eldest to see how she was doing. Most likely she'll be laid off her new job which she started 3 weeks ago. The hospital is still interested in her for the lab job.

4. The Dawn Patrol went to the grocery store during the special Senior hours of 6 - 7 AM to reconnoiter toilet paper, paper towels, and facial tissue.

5. Score!

How was your week?

Welcome, Spring!

Today is the Vernal Equinox, the first day of Spring. As I hung the garden kite out, I was thinking I've never been able to hang the garden kites out this early. We're about 2 months ahead of where we usually are at this time of year.  BTW, not complaining!

Wordy Wednesdy

T Stands For How To Prevent Going Stir Crazy While Staying Home

My cup a tea while I prepared today's blog post

For some of us, working from home is nothing new. If we need to take breaks, there's always something to do: clean out a drawer, procraftinate (procrastinate by making a craft), reading, Netflix. But after awhile, even those things become boring. What to do to prevent yourself from going stir crazy while we all figure out some sort of new normal?

First of all, take a break from the news. Washing hands, social distancing. We get it. Listening to how many stores have been, dare I say, wiped out of toilet paper isn't helpful. Especially, if your supply is getting low.

Fortunately, with Internet access, we have the world, without fear of getting a contagion, at our finger tips.

Travel and Leisure has a list of 12 museums that are offering Virtual tours.

Like opera? The Metropolitan will offer free streaming of performances.  this week. Follow the link to see the schedule.

If you're feeling especially anxious about what's happening. Virus Anxiety has links for meditation, financial worries, and other resources so you don't feel like you're all alone. They even have a random and amusing section To Take A Break My favorite was a virtual drawing app called Silk

Unleash your Inner Child and download free coloring illustrations from museums. These would be great for those of you who make mixed-media, art,  journal pages.

Many libraries have closed so if you've exhausted all the books on your night table and shelves, you can visit the link to your local library. I bet you can apply for an E-card and download e-books for free. You don't even need a special e-reader device, you can read on your computer monitor.

And today is St. Patrick's Day, but many St. Patrick's Day parades and festivities were also cancelled.  If you're feeling sad that you didn't get to watch the parade, you can watch Boston's St. Patrick's Day parade from 2016 on YouTube.

Boston's The Dropkick Murphys will be Live Streaming Up From Boston a full, free concert on March 17. Follow the link to check time and details.

If your cable provider includes TCM, you can watch John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara in The Quiet Man at 8 PM EDT. Check your cable provider for station number.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of Riverdance. You can watch a 1995 performance on YouTube.

This is a stressful time for all of us, and we need to be patient and kind to one another. Keep in contact with your family and friends. This is the best part of social media. You can practice social distancing, but remain in contact with family and friends. Remember, we're all in this together. If you need an ear to bend, email me. I'm a good listener.

Drop by hosts, Bleubeard and Elizabeth's blog to find out what the rest of the T Stands For gang is up to. If you want to play, include in your Tuesday post a beverage or container for a beverage. Don't forget to link your blog to Bleubeard and Elizabeth's page.

First Garden Kite of The Season

With milder temperatures and Spring about 2 months ahead of schedule, it seemed like the perfect time to put things out in the Zensical garden.

The recent trip to Harry's to find the restaurant wasn't offering Whoopie Pies on the dessert menu made me decide to make Whoopie Pies in order to celebrate Pi Day which was on March 14. (Wow, is that a run on sentence, or what?)

I also decided to make a garden kite to put out in the Zensical garden.

For those of you wondering what Whoopie Pies are, they aren't technically pies, but two, small-ish, (4 in.) round, chocolate cakes with a marshmallow creme filling. This is the recipe I followed since it used a cake mix to make the cake/cookie.

 Himself's mother used to make the best Whoopie Pies. He also said the Whoopie Pies I made were better than his mother's. High praise, indeed.

Did you celebrate Pi Day?

Alphabet Sunday

The letter, P. Enders Island

Saturday Afternoon at the Movies

This idea came from a Facebook meme:
Over 10 days, post your 10 all time favorite films. What movie has really made an impact on you or what films can you watch over and over and never tire of? Post either the movie poster, DVD cover or even a screenshot on your timeline. No need to explain.

Only I had a hard time picking out just 10 movies so my favorites over the next few hundred Saturdays 😸 in semi-alphabetical order:me favorite films. What movie has really made an impact on you or what films can you watch over and over and never tire of? Post either the movie poster, DVD cover or even a screenshot on your timeline. No need to explain.

Only I had a hard time picking out just 10 movies so my favorites over the next few hundred Saturdays 😸 in semi-alphabetical order:

The Quiet Man (1952) John Wayne, Maureen O'Hara

If you haven't seen this movie, and have TCM (Turner Classic Movies), the movie will be shown on 17. March 2020 at 8 PM. EDT

The Friday Five Good Things

Photo courtesy of Pexels.com

Five good things that happened this week.

1. I made elderberry syrup. Delicious!

2. While I hate the Spring forward and Fall back routine, it's nice that it is light out later.

3. Enjoyed the warm temps and sunshine working out in the yard, but boy howdy,  am I out of shape

4. Saw the first robin of Spring.

5. Went to the store to pick up a few things to make whoopie pies for Pi Day on Saturday. Shoppers in the store were in full blown panic mode. Liquid hand soap and paper towels were wiped off the shelves. Waiting in check out lines was close to an hour.  😱 I don't like the self-checkout, and rarely use them (if I wanted to work at the grocery store I'd get a job there), but did this time as I didn't want to wait that long for a few items.

How was your week?

Weathered Garden Kites

While doing yard clean up, I found three garden kites that survived the elements. The three flags celebrate my long-time, virtual, friendship with Tiggy as part of an exchange last year, a quote to remind me to be patient, and our anniversary last year.

I'm always amazed at how tough Kraft paper is. The kites are faded, wrinkled, crumpled, but still legible. May we all be so resilient.

Wordy Wednesday