Retirement

No big surprise, I'm retiring the blog. I haven't posted anything new in a month... I guess I've just been too busy. If I ever bring it back, I'll send y'all an email. Thanks for reading my random musings for the last couple of years -- and thanks most of all for commenting and participating.

So here's to you, loyal readers, and the Devil in Stripey Orange Pajamas raises his mug! Cheers!

Got One that Will Match All Three of Our Cats?

Origami Wrapping

Saturday was Carole's birthday and I stopped by in the morning for coffee and cake with all the WaterMonkies. I made a paper flower pot to gift wrap a pound of sun dried, organic, fair trade coffee. Aaron and Lauryn made an insanely delicious chocolate cake with fresh strawberries -- mmm, mmm, good! They also made her Bart and Homer Simpson hooked rugs which were very cool. There were all kinds of original cards for Carole and she made us each special Valentines. Missy brought her fancy canned veggies from her garden, Lauryn knit her a scarf to match the hat she made her a couple years ago... Roger did all the dishes... and this was all before noon! I think Carole had a very Happy Birthday indeed.

Advanced Techniques and Tender Moments

There are a couple special moves on this latest Battle Cats video -- and a lot of prolonged touchie touchie where I was thinking "Are you two gonna kiss?"

If you've got time and inclination to watch until the end, you'll see what a petulant (but lovable) varmint Leo really is. If I knew how to edit video and add sounds I would have recorded, "This is what I want to do to your face!" at 4:39

Peanut Butter Cookies and Brownie Bites

Cynthia, keep your eyes open for a package in the mail. Karen, you'll have to visit Gram to get yours! Erica, did your PB cookies make it back to Maine or were they highway fodder?I like to make brownies in muffin tins or mini-muffin tins... that way they're ALL corner pieces. Yum!

Newburyport Studio

Yesterday I was in Newburyport, MA and I stopped by the Jewett Farms & Co. Studio. It was opened in September, but I had not been there before. I helped build the working kitchen (fully plumbed, functional stove, refrigerator, etc.), visiting designer's desk, and the benches of the trestle table near the the desk. It was cool to see everything installed and finished.

Super Bowl XLIII

Michael says he's sick of reading all the gibberish about the Super Bowl. Here are some pictures of your favorite player, Honey -- with no commentary.

Next SUNDAAAAAAYYYYY!

Michael will be glued to the television for SuperBowl XLIII. Don't forget to wear your lucky undies, Honey, or they won't win! Hee, hee, hee, I'm only kidding. He's got lucky sweatshirts, t-shirts, coffee mug, baseball hats and beer mug... but no magic undies.

BattleCat Show Down... SUNDDAAAAAYYYYYY!!!!!

Here's a video that's 5 minutes long -- if you've got some time to kill. I had to take advantage of actually having my camera nearby when the boys started scrappin' it up... I never seem to have it when something good is going on. The action gets a little subdued at times, but there are a couple good head thumps and take downs.

Tuesday, Wednesday, Surprise!

Last Tuesday was the inauguration and I left work early to watch it live on television. I was plugged in all day, watching history unfold.

Wednesday morning was like the morning after the best first date I ever had.
Tingly.
A new president.
Sigh.

And when I got home that night -- surprise!
Michael brought me bright, springy flowers.
He IS the best first date I ever had.
What a nice Honey.
Sigh.

Amaryllis

I started this bulb 4 or 5 weeks before Christmas, and I thought it was going to die during the cold days of the ice storm/power outage. It has finally bloomed and was worth the wait.

The Promise of a New Day

I've been soaking up all the radio, internet and television news about tomorrow's inauguration of our 44th president. I don't know if I can listen to it live while I'm at work, because I know it's going to make me cry. We might be heading to Matt's house during lunch to watch it on television... but I'm not sure if I want the shop guys to watch me lose my composure. Just listening to yesterday's concert at the Lincoln Memorial had me teary eyed. I was okay until Pete Seeger sang "This Land is Your Land."

Post Facto Christmas Tree

I've got to take the Christmas Tree down this weekend. I don't really want to, but I'd leave it up until February and hang hearts on it, if I could.
Look at the beautiful counted cross stitch ornaments Julie has given me over the years...

Today's Speed Bump Strip

I loved this one...
I remember vividly the plastic Tupperware tumblers we had when we were kids (green, yellow, blue and red). Erica's milk always had... um... sediment at the bottom. Yuck.

Michael's Christmas Present

Here is the oak wine cabinet that I made for Michael. It's not completely finished, but I wanted to surprise him Christmas morning. I'll apply another coat or two of finish and get the glass into the upper doors. I also supplied him with the first five bottles of wine to start filling it up! Jason gave him white wine glasses and a 6th bottle... Karen gave him bottles 7 and 8... and I think there were a couple bottles purchased for Christmas dinner too. Wine-o! (That's okay... I'm a wood-o.)John, I'll call you in a couple of hours after my phone battery charges. One of these days I'll pony up for a new battery...