Thursday, February 28, 2013

Crazy Sweater Day


Crazy Sweater Day

Every month I meet with a group of jolly ladies that all originated in the United Kingdom.
It is a time to chat , give each other support and have a laugh and relax.
Every month the hostess for the meeting will pick a theme and most are pretty usual for meetings- white elephant exchange, tacky dress, plant exchange etc.
This month we were challenged to look in the back of our closets and find that sweater that we just haven't managed to throw out yet but would never wear outside of the house.


Well most of the ladies bravely came up with some wonderful  crazy  sweaters and yes we did have a laugh about them. 
Strangely enough no one wanted mine and I offered to give it to anyone who wanted it so I have put it at the back of the cupboard again.

Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Penny Memories



See a penny, pick it up,
all day long you'll have good luck,
give it to a faithful friend,
then your luck will never end


As Mike and I were walking back up our driveway after digging another 6 wheelbarrow loads of wood chips ( phew!) he bent down and picked up a shiny penny lying there.
How it had come there I don't know but I could have dropped it, it could have fallen out of a pocket etc etc.
As we both grew up when a penny actually meant something we always pick them up and put them in a penny jar. Pennies also seem to grow in my change purse although these days spending actually cash is a thing that has been overtaken largely by plastic. When I get a purse of coins full I load them in the penny jar.

An English penny was something you couldn't miss as it was big and heavy. Many candies  (sweeties) could be bought for a 1d. It counted for so much that there even were two smaller coins, a halfpenny 1/2d and a farthing 1/4d. So when we were kids we collected all the small coins and felt we were really rich . If we collected 12 pennies we then had a shilling.

So what's a shilling? A shilling was a shiny silver coin and worth 12d. 1s=12d. Not 10 but 12 you notice. This led to complications at school and in arithmetic ( it wasn't called math then).It got even more complicated as 20 shillings were collected into pounds, £1. However pounds were paper money so we rarely saw those as kids. You had to learn the complicated conversions back and forth 12d=1s, 20s= £1 and when I became a teacher it was really hard to teach especially as the metric change was just about coming in when old money had to be changed to new money and new conversions had to be taught. A penny then became new pence.
So a few memories came to light brought up with picking up a penny and not a true penny at that.- a cent. Must be a lucky day.

Find a penny, pick it up.
All day long you'll have good luck.
See a penny leave it there,
bad luck comes! So beware



So it seems you'd better pick it up- pennies or cents as luck is hanging on the action.




1

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Is it Spring in Texas yet?


Is it Spring in Texas yet?

I often get asked from friends that live in Canada, where it continues to snow and also England , where it continues to rain “ Is it Spring in Texas yet?”
Well this year in our part of Texas which is North towards the border with Oklahoma is that it is starting but we aren't quite there yet. Some of the days are sunny and it begins to feel like Spring then the evening comes and on goes the heat and we bundle up in our slippers and sweaters and it feels quite chilly.
No not quite Spring yet but there are signs as you can see.

Monday, February 25, 2013

Briana, the calico cat.


Briana, the calico cat.

I first saw Brianna at the animal shelter where she was in a cage with her 4 kittens. I go to the shelter most every week to take photos and then help the shelter publicize the pets so they can get adopted. At that time, the cat room was full to bursting with both young and old cats of all colors and especially new momma cats with babies. They were desperate for room so I broke my self inflicted promise of “ NO MORE FOSTER PETS” and took Briana and her kittens home.
Installed in my studio, they all soon became very much at home. No longer were they in a cage but had room to roam and play . Briana was a good momma and made sure the kits did not stray far from the little nest she had made for them- under the kitchen sink. I have noticed this is always the favorite place for cats and especially mommas with babies to go.
I estimated the kittens to be about 4-5 weeks and they were soon playing and having great fun. As I remember and this was about 4 years ago now, they were fluffy light colored kittens with calico coloring and so cute I knew they would find homes quickly. They went to new homes just as Briana was getting very tired of them so it was the right time.
Then it came to Briana's turn to find a home. She was all ready to go. Fully tested with her shots and spayed ,she was socialized and loving but still not really a lap cat. She liked to play and would rather do that than be petted. I guess she was only about a year old herself. We were about to go on vacation so I arranged for her to stay in the cat condos at Petco and hopefully get adopted. When I put her in there , I felt this probably would be the last time I would see her as I felt she had an excellent chance of being adopted before I came back. It's always kind of sad when a foster pet goes as you get very attached to them but you realize you can't adopt them all and the point is to get them a good home.
When I came back from my vacation after 3 weeks I was told she was still at Petco waiting patiently. I went and got her out and brought her back home and she soon was back to her old place and enjoying running around again.
She went into the the condo for 2 more times after that and still was not finding a new home . Each time it got harder to leave her there. So after the third time I said enough I would continue to try to adopt her from home. She was too active to keep solely indoors by herself in the studio so gradually I let her out and she started to run around the yard and before long found the doggy door and was in the main house.
Four years later she is still here. In the end we decided to adopt her . She is a lovely cat with an playful independent nature. Most mornings she is the cat that will meow at our bedroom door to come wake us up and to sit on the bed while we drink out coffee. She also has an evening routine where she will walk with Mike every night right around the yard and will be quite upset if he doesn't go. She is still not really a lap cat but has lots of personality
Someone missed out on a GREAT cat and we are glad they did.

Watching Movies


Oscar Day
February 24 and it's Oscar night and I will probably watch it to see some of the movies and stars that I should have seen in 2012. I very rarely go to the movies these days . Mike doesn't like watching movies so he doesn't go and I never seem to get to the movies although I am always meaning to go. I certainly would like to see 'Lincoln” and I sure hope it wins an Oscar.
I do most of my watching movies using Netflix having an old Wii player so I can stream movies straight to my TV. Easy! ( well most of the time)
I have watched over the past few years most of the old classical movies , a lot of the newer movies and a plethora of BBC series of dramas and mystery detective films.
Also from time to time I watch international movies.
The man from Beijing is such a movie. It was originally written by a Swedish writer Henry Mankell translated into English, bought by a German company who produced the film. So the film is all in German, but filmed in Sweden and China and I watch it with English subtitles.
It is an intriguing mystery of a mass murder in Sweden where a whole family with the same name is murdered. Then it is linked to history in North America and China. It is a long movie ( 3 hours plus) and covers many aspects of International corruption and political intrigue.

Surprisingly enough I find watching these foreign films quite easy because after about 5 minutes your brain is automatically reading the subtitles and you are fully involved in the plot. I was equally surprised to actually remember some German as well. Obviously some learning is never lost.

Saturday, February 23, 2013

The Bricklayer by Noah Boyd


The Bricklayer by Noah Boyd

This was the book I read this week. It starts out with a mixture of suspense and action ,
The sentence inside the front cover says it all-
Someone gives you a dangerous puzzle to solve, one that may kill you or someone else and You're about to fail...And there is no other option. No one can help. No one but the Bricklayer.
The bricklayer turns out to be Steven Vail, an ex FBI agent turned bricklayer who has been fired by the service because he couldn't work in the tight restrictions of the bureaucracy. The FBI faced with a huge seemingly insolvable puzzle involving a lot of money end up by calling him back in to figure it all out and not get killed off while he is at it. It reads like a complicated action Bond novel and if you like these kind of very complicated and somewhat unbelievable ,fast paced, mystery novels it will appeal to you.
I found the first half of the book good and gripping but then it get unbelievable and I almost gave up on it. Then the story revs up when a main character gets kidnapped and you are hooked again trying to see if it all get solved. Well it does but I never guess the endings to these mysteries before I read the very last chapter and word. And yes there is a romantic slant with a beautiful FBI lady
I think it would make an excellent movie.

Published 2010 by Harper Collins  PUB.
ISBN 978-0-06-182701-3  Fiction

Friday, February 22, 2013

Sunshine Glaze

Shirley & Chrissy  at Sunshne  Glaze

Sunshine Glaze

At Christmas, Laura, my daughter in law, gave both Chrissy, my granddaughter ,and I a coupon each to visit Sunshine Glaze. We found out that Sunshine Glaze was a Paint-Your- Own pottery Studio in Southlake. Sounds like a fun thing to do so we planned to go.
Well just before my birthday we arranged to meet at the studio on a Saturday morning and give it a go!!
It is a very pleasant little studio with lovely staff so willing to help especially with “first time” painters. The main idea is you pick one of the many white unfired pieces; vases, plates, dishes, jugs etc and then pick your paint from a multitude of colors,there are over 50 from which to choose, Gab a couple of brushes and get painting. It was hard to decide which piece to paint but I chose a tall white vase and Chrissy chose a lidded jug. It is harder than it looks to figure out what to do next but there are many examples around the room to give you inspiration. Pretty soon we were painting away and wondering if we had the right colors , if we were putting them on thick enough and if we could keep the lines straight etc.
Chrissy and pots pre glaze

In the adjoining party room was a birthday party of kids having great fun as they joined in painting and eating birthday treats helped by the Moms and the ladies of the shop. I think the Dads were having as much fun as they spent most of the time at a table behind us chatting away while waiting for the party to finish.
Finished pieces

It was great fun and a different kind of experience. I really enjoyed spending some time with Chrissy , chatting and catching up on her news while we did our masterpieces.
Then came the waiting game. We were told the pieces would be sent away to be fired and glazed and we could pick them up in a week's time. Well a week passed and then anther before I went to pick them up. I am glad I did
They turned out very nice and will be a great memento of a lovely day.
Thank you Laura and Chrissy.

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Playing Sudoku


Sudoku

For anyone who is not aware of Sudoku yet, you have to know it's a number game, akin to a puzzle type crossword game using numbers. There are 9 squares each with nine numbers 1-9 and some of the numbers are missing and the job of the puzzler is to figure out the missing numbers.
Mike looking at the game on the pad

When it first came out about a year or so ago , I tried it and soon gave up even when I started on the very easy beginner section. Mike however did not and soon he was sitting engrossed in the puzzle. He likes Free Cell the computer card game as well but quickly Sudoku became his favorite leisure occupation. He has books of Sudoku and not only does he do them but he keeps the time on each one and if he gets stuck on a solution will work at it until eventually he gets it . Only 2 have defeated him so far and he has done literally hundreds by now. As a back up he will always call Joe or Sally as they too are great Sudoku players.
I think you have to have a very logical mind that works in a very specific way so that's me out but suits Mike fine and he gets great pleasure in finding all the answers.

On my new ASUS 300 pad ( no, I do not have an I Pad) there is an app to play Sudoku so I have started again to see if I have the skill ( and patience) to play when I can just tap squares. This is a lot easier than writing numbers with a pencil and then erasing them. The game makes it easy enough for beginners like me. Any number in the wrong place gets a red line drawn through it so you can't get too far off track. Plus there is an eraser to wipe out a wrong number. So far so good but I can't see me sitting for very long doing it.
Cartoon from the Argyle Sweater  day calendar
I'd rather read a book.!!

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Soup day again, Spicy Carrot and Garlic Crouton Soup


Spicy carrot soup with garlic crouton soup



You know it's a miserable day when all 3 cats and 2 dogs are curled up on cushions and chairs and don't want to go out. One step outside the door gave the reason why. A cold wet front had blown in from the west, blanketing Arizona and Oklahoma with snow and giving where we live showers of rain and sleet pellets. Cold and nasty! Just right day for hot soup.

So Mike got right with it especially as the golf game that he was watching from Arizona was postponed due to snow. Most unusual.He found in his favorite Soup Bible,the hot looking soup,Spicy carrot with garlic crouton soup.

Spicy it certainly was- black pepper , cilantro ,cumin and cayenne pepper added to the carrot and onion.
The garlic on the croutons you could smell from outside the kitchen. Strangely enough there wasn't much taste of garlic in the actual soup.The croutons, floating in the soup were fine and the garlic gave them just the right amount of flavor. The texture was okay and once I got used to my mouth being neutralized, I found it very nice. Mike found it only so so and gave this soup an 8.as did I.

I had prepared myself for tasting with a combination of a very nice sweet sherry ( pre dinner drink )and then some bread dipped in olive oil and balsamic vinegar( just lovely) and then to cap it all, a nice white Californian Sterling Chardonnay. If we are to believe the bottle it has the flavors of peach, guava. (what is that), pineapple. tasty oak and vanilla. I admit I really couldn't detect any of those tastes but maybe the spicy soup and left my taste buds a little ragged.

All in all it was a lovely lunch and we feel warm and cozy now. I hope the weather gets better soon. I have gardening to do

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Lilies for Easter? Maybe.


Lilies for Easter? Maybe.

One of my presents for my birthday from my granddaughter and her husband was a lovely big box of lily corms. I got sick just around my birthday and it was almost 10 days before I could get outside and find a spot for planting. I know my regular orange day lilies appear very early each spring so I knew I had to get the new ones in the ground as soon as possible or it would be too late for flowering this year.
When I opened the box I found that some of the corms were already sending our tiny shoots so it must have been the right time. I put them in with some good potting soil to help them along, mulched them with some leaf mold ,- we have lots of that and I thought it might still be necessary as we are still having fairly cold nights and I didn't want the new shoots to freeze. I have been making sure to water them fairly regularly as we have had little rain this Spring so far.
Lily shoot appearing already

Now we will wait to see if they look anything like they appear on the box. It will be interesting to see.What ever happens I think this was a lovely birthday present which hopefully will give us all a lot of pleasure. Thanks Chrissy and Ben.
I shall be happy even  if only a few lilies bloom. It will be a delight for Easter although Easter is early this year. If not there's always next year. That's what it's like to be a gardener in Texas!

Monday, February 18, 2013

The Mountain Diminishes (sort of)


The Mountain Diminishes ( but not by much !!)
A continuing tale
If you read my plog on the Mountain of wood chip that I have in my yard , I bet some of you are wondering why we have so much. My fault. I did tell the woodcutter to leave me some chips for the yard then forgot about keeping my eye on things and then when I looked again there was the mountain.

Anyhow Mike and I ( mostly Mike) have now moved 32 wheelbarrow loads of chips to make a garden path. The path will eventually stretch from the front deck and wind around the flowerbeds and then back over to the front gate. It looks fine and we will have a lot less grass to keep cut and watered. Plus it is environmentally sound and hopefully will not all float away if we get a gully-washer rainstorm.


If you look really hard , you can see the pile is getting smaller as least we think so.
We haven't figured out what to do with the remainder of the pile we will have over when we finish the paths. If you have suggestions let me know or if you want any come and get it.
I did suggest a wood chip parking area but that was turned down.
I guess it will be more paths around the back and side of the house or mulching every bush and tree we have.
I hope our backs and arms are up to the challenge!!

Sunday, February 17, 2013

"The House of Cards" times Two


House of Cards” x 2


I have just finished watching all 13 episodes of the series 1 of 'House of Cards” produced by Netflix. After watching quite a few mediocre films lately on this service, quite a few which were turned off after a short while, I found this latest series, the first of its kind actually produced by Netflix to be very gripping and entertaining. You will like it if you like political drama and intrigue and have the staying power to see all of the episodes. I think they could have shortened it to about 10 episodes with out losing the plot lines. The length of the series if you miss any episodes, you will find the main plot gets lost in the subplots . The cast led by Kevin Spacey is excellent and really makes you wonder about what goes on in Washington and the seat of power.


I had watched the original BBC version of House of Cards a while back also on Netflix. This series was not so long only about 3 or 4 episodes but it was just as intriguing with an all star cast. There are similarities in the plot but not so many that you feel that you are watching a carbon copy. The American and British governments are very different but obviously political manoeuvrings is common to both.

So if you like political thrillers and involved plots try watching them both. You will learn a lot of political knowledge of how the governments work just by watching or then again , you might not.

Saturday, February 16, 2013

Old Friends


Old Friends

You have heard about little Pug the cat before but what you don't know is that she has a Best buddy. Usually very much a loner, Pug does her own thing.She ignores the other cats, and is very pushy around the dogs even though she weighs a very small proportion of their weight and size. But there is one pet she likes and that is Mocha , our old chocolate lab. Mocha is a very gentle dog,she agrees with everything and everybody and like Pug has one thing in common with her;- they both love food although Pug eats hers a teaspoonful at a time whereas Mocha will gulp the whole meal down in seconds flat.

But often you will find these 2 friends sitting together and during the winter months will both share Mocha's bed. I think Pug thinks it's her bed and Mocha is sharing it as she will often jump over Mocha and snuggle up at her back. We worried at first that little Pug might get damaged if Mocha got up quickly and fell on Pug but she is very careful and it's as if she knows who is boss and also who is her friend. Just so sweet.

Friday, February 15, 2013

" The American Boy" an intriguing book

The American Boy by Andrew Taylor


This is definitely not a book that will appeal to everyone. When I picked it up I did a provisional glance at it and saw that it was in fact a historical novel with a mystery entwined in it. I like both of these kinds of books so I thought I'd give it a try.
It takes place in the early 1800, the early Regency period mostly in the area around London.
As a critic writes “it is 20th century novel with a 19th century voice, and that's very true.
It is a thick heavy book and probably I would not have continued reading it but I was sick with a cold an there it was on my book shelf so I picked it up and before I knew it I was heavily into the mystery of an American boy living in London.The story itself is told by a young man Thomas Shield,who is a schoolmaster ,who is a tutor to the American boy. Without meaning to, he gets very involved in the  mystery.
When you read it you think at once of Charles Dickens novels because there are many very colorful characters in the book and even the writing has a Victorian air about it.
It covers the despicable conditions in the slums of London as well as that of the measured and highly set ways of the gentry living in Gloucester shire .
The main aspect of the book is a well thought out mystery and murder which is very convoluted and so in the end you keep reading because you have to know Why and Who. 

Thursday, February 14, 2013

Valentine's Day 2013


Valentine's Day 2013

When did Valentine's Day get to be such a big day on the yearly calendar? Its so overwhelming these days where red hearts and color pink invade our world as soon as New Year has passed. For me it has really become too commercialized.

That said it doesn't hurt to take time to remember your special person in a way that suits you both .Mike and I rarely go out for a meal on Valentine's day because the restaurants are crowded and it does seem the prices ( and noise)get higher. Sometimes we will send a nice card or funny cards to each other. Most often, these days Mike will get a nice box of chocolates for me, which we will share.



I noticed today that the African violet I bought a couple of years ago for him for Valentines must have know it was the special day as it put out it's first bloom of the season. Now that surely isn't a coincidence is it?





When we were young teenagers cards were always sent to a secret admirer and half the fun was trying to guess who your admirer(s) was and how terrible you felt if you didn't get even one card.

I remember when I was teaching grade one kids we had a special post box for Valentine Day and in it would go all their cards, homemade and bought, which we would distribute later on in the day while we had a party with the lovely gooey pink and red cup cakes that the moms had made. It was my job as teacher to make sure EVERY child got at least one card!! I know how important that is!

So have fun on Valentine's day in what ever way you choose to do it.


Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Fascinating Owls

My painting of owls

Owls, fascinating!!

I like all birds but owls have a big fascination for me for some reason. They seem different to other birds. We don't see them at our bird feeders or chasing little birds around the sky. Invariably in books and stories they are considered wise.
A friend sent me some very interesting photos of owls and all were so well camouflaged it was difficult to actually see the owl even in broad daylight so that explains why we don't see many. They are there all in plain sight if we but look it seems.
Look hard for this owl

The saddest thing I think I ever saw concerning owls was when we went to a rehabilitation center for damaged wildlife in The land between the Lakes near Paducah, Two poor old owls were sitting in a box tethered to a branch and looked so sad. When we asked about them we were told they had been there for many years both severely damaged in accidents so neither could fly anymore.Yes they were kept alive but seemed to have so little joy in life.

At our last house we actually had an old tree that had an owl nest in it. Occasionally you would see a little head poking out at the top of the hole but you had to be very quick to catch a glimpse of the little owl.

Also at that house we had a bathroom window that looked over a part of the house that had an outside light hanging from a corner. At night if you were very quiet you could look out hear a quiet shushing sound and there would be two owls swooping in almost silently to catch the moths and bugs attracted to the light. It was fasciating and a sight to behold.
Maybe that is why I tried to paint the owl picture. It reminds me of them.


A wise old owl sat in an oak,
The more he heard, the less he spoke;
The less he spoke, the more he heard;
Why aren't we all like that wise old bird?
Old nursery rhyme.

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Pancake Day



This year we remembered!! Pancake Day!
This day was one of the highlights of the late Winter/early Spring time in England when we were growing up. No matter if you celebrated Shrove Tuesday , Mardi Gras or even Lent, it was a tradition to make and eat pancakes on Pancake Day which just happened to be on Shrove Tuesday.
The day originally came about as a way to eat up all the goodies- the butter, eggs and milk before the fasting of Lent commenced.
English pancakes are much lighter than the pancakes made on this side of the pond. American pancakes are thicker and heavier and very filling. Good but different.


I never was good at cooking pancakes. I get the batter all over the place with drips and splashes. The pancakes are never quite round and seem to cook unevenly. Not a pretty scene.










But no problem. Mike is a great pancake cook. He has mastered the technique so can make a pile of almost identical round pancakes which we smother with pure Canadian maple syrup, fresh lemon and a sprinkling of sugar. They are delicious and just like mother used to make. Brings back great memories.

Mike hasn't mastered tossing them yet but that's a minor detail. He wasn't planning on entering the pancake race anyhow.

Monday, February 11, 2013

The Mountain in our Yard


The Mountain in our Yard

So every few years we call in the tree men. This year we knew it would have to be done because due to the heavy drought we had had in 2012 , which really still continues, a few trees had died and there were others that were looking pretty nasty and droopy . Those close to the house were getting too large ,too bent and probably too dangerous.
So the tree men came for the day. They sawed , climbed ,chipped and shredded for most of the day. They did a good job. You can't really even see where the trees had been.

At one point I went outside to see how they were doing and was asked if I needed any of the wood chippings left for mulch etc. Without too much thought I said. “ Sure . Leave a pile over there pointing to a space just inside the front gate”.

I forgot all about it until they were all pulling out of the driveway and saw the mountain of chippings that they had left.


So now we have a new challenge to lift and spread about 300 plus wheelbarrow loads of wood chips out around the yard. I think we are up to 18 wheelbarrow loads now .
The mountain still looks like it hasn't been touched.
I'll let you know when we finish.

Sunday, February 10, 2013

Daffydown -Dilly


Daffydown Dilly has come up to town,
In her yellow petticoat and her green gown”

The  name 'Daffy-down-dilly' originates from the novel Little Daffydowndilly which was written by the acclaimed American author Nathaniel Hawthorne (1804-1864). Nathaniel Hawthorne was born in Salem, Massachusetts. His most famous novel is 'The Scarlet Letter' (1850).

This painting was one I did a few years ago.Not one of my better attempts!!




Every February we start looking for them. I watch little green shoots appearing in places I hope they will appear. As far back as early January this year I saw the signs and it brightened my whole outlook on life.
 As I walk each morning I check constantly to see if I can see the cloaked flower heads appearing.

I read a story once of a lady who every year from when as a young girl she bought one daffodil bulb and planted it in her garden. Every year it would flourish and by the time she was old , every Spring her yard was a gorgeous mass of yellow and people came from far and wide to see it.
Daffydown Dilly has come up to town in her yellow petticoat and her green gown” and she bought lots of friends with her!!

Well our first daffs are now blooming so everyone rejoice, Spring is on the way , even if half the country is still covered in the heavy wet white stuff!!
Just seeing them cheers you up