Is Winter Really Over?

After months of drab colors......yellow bursts from the ground.

Green has always been my favorite color hands down but yellow is taking a place in the top! What a welcome sight!

Maybe tomorrow I will fill a vase for my table but....they are so pretty and add so much to the yard that I hesitate to pick them.

What's For Breakfast?

I'm not a breakfast person......I try but I just don't enjoy eating anything until 9:00 or 9:30. Coffee makes me content in the morning. When my hunger pain finally strikes, I've been eating a grapefruit. The season for these beauties runs from October to June.



They are exceptionally juicy this year and oh so sweet. I love a little salt on top. If you like grapefruit, I urge you to buy a big bag while they are so good!

Monday, Monday

History says that years ago each day had its own task, and so the work got done in a logical, orderly fashion as the week progressed. It went like this:

Monday: Wash Day
Tuesday: Ironing Day
Wednesday: Sewing Day
Thursday: Market Day
Friday: Cleaning Day
Saturday: Baking Day
Sunday: Day of Rest

Logical and orderly....oh my!
As you see above I can't even pour the detergent without making a mess.

I do remember my Mom following the schedule. Do you have a schedule? I seem to do laundry several times a week. If I saved it all for Monday it would be a mountain of clothes. I'm glad to see ironing and sewing day disappear.

Have a good Wash Day all!

Crowbar and Hammer

When it comes to remodeling it seems to always begin with a crowbar and a hammer......and then a mess!

We decided the ceramic counter top had seen it's better days. We've wanted to change it for some time and finally are taking the plunge. When we scheduled the installation the weather was beautiful but then the blizzard hit and really it worked out well. No work due to weather so it gave hubby time to demolish the kitchen.

When he started to take it up, I heard the comment....."this is not going how I thought it would"
And I am thinking to myself, this is going to be a long day!


It didn't take long for him to try removing it another way...crowbar in hand....prying it loose and lifting up (with brut force) it came off in a large piece.

Notice this area:

Yes, you guessed it.....the cooktop goes there, or went there! You know what that means....NO COOKING. Thankfully the weather is perfect and will be until the job is complete, so the grill, fishcooker (and maybe a night out) will complete the meals.
It's kind of like a vacation not to be spending so many hours in the kitchen doing dishes, etc.
Other than having stuff scattered all over the house, I'm enjoying a break and looking forward to my new top arriving Wednesday!

Have a good weekend all. I hope the sun is shining on you.....it's wonderful!

Black Heels & Tractor Wheels

Just in case you live in a cave (or have been snowed in for weeks) and haven't heard the news........the funny, smart, talented, hardest working lady in blogland has released a novel..........

It started with chapter posts on her blog. If you read any of those posts you know that this will be a great read. Anyone that can make a recipe funny and interesting to read is bound to become a best selling author. I can't wait to start this one!

Wordless Wednesday

Painted Sky

What a beautiful day.

The brightest blue skies

The clouds seem to be dancing as they float by.


With a forecast of 8 - 10 inches of snow tomorrow, today I will enjoy Blue

Special Edition

Another stop, grab camera moment. This VW (I think) would be so much fun to run errands in.......if everyone is as taken aback as I was, it would be a blast. Just think of all the conversations you would have as you parked at Wal Mart...ha

It looks like a combination of several luxury models scaled down to fit VW!

I love it! Now I'm wondering what the sticker price could be?

Tree House

Do you ever just stop the car, grab the camera, and shoot? I did when I saw this awesome tree house. Someone is going to have many hours of fun in this house. I'll have to keep a watch for the finished product! Or maybe this is it!!! Either way, I'd have to say.....Good Job!

Trumpeter Swans

I have heard about the swans on the news and read about their arrival in the paper.
The weather was perfect to take a short trip to see the much talked about swans.

Nobody can fully explain why these birds took a liking to this one small oxbow lake a few miles east of Heber Springs, Arkansas.

With just one look, I could see what all of the publicity was about....

The swans were so graceful as they glided across the lake. Each one had small variances of color. They get whiter with age. The sun shining on them was breathtaking.

The lake was covered with swans, ducks and a few geese. A couple standing beside me said they had counted up to 200 on the water.

Normally, these guys live in the Midwest, Alaska and even Wyoming, but never as far South as Arkansas. For some reason, this certain group has chosen Heber Springs and returns there every year.

The phenomenon started when 3 swans showed up on the lake in the winter of 1991. The following winter a Minnesota swan that had been banded visited the lake with her mate. In 1993, that same swan was spotted with her mate and three baby swans. It's believed the original 3 got knocked off course by a storm. They must have liked what they found, because they came again...and brought their friends and family. I think the word spread far and wide that an automatic feeder with shelled corn was waiting for their arrival.

I loved watching them turn upside down to feed off the bottom....little feet just paddling away.

The long neck was perfect to reach in the hollow tree, looking for corn that got away.



They are the largest waterfowl in North America, weighing 25 to 30 pounds. Wing span is about 8 feet.....

I stayed for over an hour watching them. They were fascinating. There were cameras snapping all around me. Some had tripods and lens to die for......

When I got home and loaded my many, many shots on the computer, one really stood out and brought back a wonderful memory....

This one looks just like a planter that my mother had. The top of the swans back was hollow and she always had a green plant in it. I wish I had that planter......

Enjoy

Before

After

Yes, it is a window up day!!!!

Even the jonquils think it is time to pop out of the ground.

I know this weather is just a teaser, there's winter yet to come....but for now, it's outdoors for me!

Since we are all dreaming of Spring and warmer weather I am going to share a link with you...I really want one of us to win this.....10-Day Hawaiian Getaway For Four.
The ad states, "Experience the trip of a lifetime on the beautiful islands of Oahu and Maui. Stay at the Hilton Hawaiian Village and the Grand Wailea, featured in the film(click on film title) Just Go With It. Plus a $10,000 Hilton Worldwide gift card to spend,......wow!

Wordless Wednesday

Shhhh

I was literally to this point yesterday.
While getting a haircut, I was serenaded from the stool for way too long. I talked, asked questions....read any good books, seen any movies, when is spring break, what apps do you have on your phone.....blah, blah, blah. But at soon as the question was answered the singing resumed (a bit too close to my ear). Don't get me wrong, it was good but gosh enough is enough. I guess I discovered one more pet peeve to add to my list!

I have wanted to photograph these beauties for some time but either haven't had my camera with me or they flew away. Last week Lila and I went for a walk and the timing was right. They were perched on the feeder enjoying a snack but flew away when we walked by. We crossed the street and in a matter of minutes they made there way back to the feeder after a short stop in the tree to see if it was safe to continue. There were four of them but I could only get two in a shot.

I think they are Macaw. What do you think? Aren't they beautiful?

The feeder is hanging in front of a window and must bring so much pleasure to the home owner. I imagine they are rare to this area as they have been featured in the newspaper.

Just under the feeder, dove, sparrow and cardinals. Under the leaves......green grass!! Dallas, you gotta love it!

Have a good Monday all!
Nanny

Weather Delay

I just can't bring myself to fly home when the radar looks like this.......

Texas is cold but no bad stuff like Arkansas, therefore, I'm staying!!! It could be a bad drive from the airport to my house. My husband's reply was, "I know it breaks your heart to stay longer" hehe

I hope you all are warm , safe and happy!

Barney and Friends

Lila enjoys sitting in her car and watching Barney. The singing fascinates her, as you can see. She was so absorbed by Barney singing "You Can Count On Me" while Nanny watched thinking.....If you only knew how much you can count on me!

I treasure my time with Lila and look forward to every minute. We spent the morning at Target playing with balls and baby dolls. She has the concept of NO perfectly, if I picked up the wrong one... she let me know, No, No complete with a shake of her little head. It was fun. Then we had lunch at a great little cafe with home cooking. Now she is napping and I am dreading the trip home tomorrow....time flies when I am with my girl!

Sandra & Ryan

They can deny it all they want......I still hope it is true! What a great couple.

And if they are not a couple, it is so good to see them both looking so happy.

Moon Boots

My husband asked me where I got the moon boots?

Let me tell you about these babies...

I bought them from a Lands End sale catalog 2 or 3 years ago. I have worn them in snow and ice ....they still look new.... and are like wearing house shoes in the snow and are as light as a feather! So warm you don't need to wear socks.....I wouldn't trade my moon boots for anything.

Maybe this year I'll get a red pair!!!

A Roll In The Snow

Sorry for so many pictures, but I got so tickled at Trixie working so for a dried up roll that I had to share them with you.
Yesterday as we were out walking, she stopped dead in her tracks and started the mission. She got a whiff of something in the snow.

Buried her nose in the snow for further investigation.

Decided to dig, right here!


Went a little deeper.

Aw, there it is.

Looked at me as if to say, "Hey look what I found".

And away she went. She wasn't actually walking on her front legs....ha. I caught this one as she jumped off a rock.

The last I saw of her, she was going into the woods.

You see, she doesn't eat her treasures as she finds them.....she buries them for later.

She worked harder finding and burying the roll than it was worth...ha....well maybe not to her!

Have a good day all!