Easter Photos

 Every year we try to get this pose.....they were not very cooperative this year....and neither was the sun!

 And yes they all wanted to do an Easter egg hunt.....competitive like their mama's?

 I cannot believe how tall these two are! On the left is Owen, who will be 13 this June. His mom and especially his dad are very tall. On the right is Connor who just turned 15 in November. Taller than both parents but he has grandfathers who are tall and other family.

 The dogs werent too happy about this photo - maybe Ralph is complaining about the pink ears and Bella about the blue?

 My lilacs were in all their glory for Easter. I just wish they would last longer than the do. They are really getting beaten down by the rain today. This year we really have to figure out how to cut this back a bit.

The prettiest daffodils I have ever seen....got them at the Pleasanton Farmer;s Market the day before Easter and they are still looking lovely

I Hate Spring

Spring is so decieving.
You think it is beautiful - kind - a nice exit to winter and entrance to summer.
No it isnt....sure all the flowers are beautiful, the grass is green again, and the trees have leaves coming out and maybe beautiful flowers.
But it is a mean and hateful season.
You see - every year spring tries to kill me.
Sneezing and congestion - coughing - itching ears and eyes.
Spring hates me.
Maybe because it knows my favorite season is autumn?
I hate spring and cannot wait for it to be over - seems like it is starting earlier every year.

So the other night we decided to have pasta for dinner.....
Side note: when I was growing up, it was spaghetti, The long thing noodles. That was the only spaghetti I knew about. Well, that and the macaroni used in salads and in mac and cheese.
Then all of a sudden a new generation came around and spaghetti became "pasta" with hundreds of different shapes! La de dah! But that night we had spaghetti - the long thin noodles.

And so we decided to have a glass of wine with dinner and hubby chose red wine.
Side note: we are both learning to appreciate red wine. He has always had some sort of reaction to most red wines, and I just dont really like the taste of red wine. But he has learned to try it, has learned a trick or two about it, and I am becoming more appreciative of some.

So we found an open bottle of cab and decided we would finish that off. I poured two glasses and we sat down to eat. Before I was even 1/2 way thru my glass I felt my face catch on fire - whoomp! From my jaw to my forehead it was steaming hot! DH asked what was wrong - I told him and turned towards him - and he said my face was bright red. By this time the skin all around my eyes was starting to itch - not the eyeballs themselves - just the skin. So then he started to lecture me on how this was karma for all the times I would not respond the way he wanted me to when he was having the flushes and all from the red wine.

I waited a few minutes and the heat was starting to subside so I pushed the wine away but continued to eat dinner. And after dinner I fed the dogs. Then I went into the bathroom - no heat coming from my face anymore and my face was not flushed - but I looked like a demonic raccoon!

The skin all around my eyes was bright red and they looked like skin that was swollen and is starting to return to normal looks.  About an hour later my eyes were fine......maybe just a teensy bit itchy still but not red and swollen/deflated looking.

Needless to say I am not drinking any more of that wine!

So the question remains - I had partaken of wine from that bottle before without any problems - was it because of my allergies? Because of my allergy medication or the other supplements I take? It didnt appear to be the garlic/basil/tomatoes that were in the sauce on the spaghetti because this happened after several drinks of wine - not many bites of food plus I was able to finish the food without issue.

Probably be something I will never figure the answer to - and I dont know that I will ever have the courage to try that wine again!

Side note: many years ago we went out to dinner and I had a glass of my usual white wine. After several drinks of it all of a sudden my lips were numb!! That was the first time I had a reaction to any wine. And for a long time I remembered the name of that wine and made sure I didnt have it again. Alas, I have forgotten the name of it but even when I order the house wine I ask where it is from now....

Going into a 3 day stretch - Thursday/Friday/Saturday. Was hoping to have Saturday off but no, I got call last night. All because of a schedule switch ..... when I am on call I have two choices: get some sleep or try and stay on my night schedule and stay up all night. Unfortunately I get sleepy while at home.

And last night I was barely able to keep my eyes open past 2330 so went to bed and.....yuppers, wide awake! Finally must have fallen asleep because I was wide awake at 0222.....and 0435.....and 0530.....and 0617.....and 0730......finally gave up and got up at 0830. Every time I wake up I have to check my phone to see what time it is, and to check and make sure I did not sleep thru a phone call (which has never happened - knock wood! but I still have that awful feeling it might have happened!). I gaurantee I will nap well this afternoon - but now I dont think I can afford to ask for call on Saturday night darn it all. But the good news it - I only have 2 nights in a row to work now.....until next week.

Happy Easter!

 Not as many pierogies this year - but they are larger! And I am TIRED!

 It fell apart in 3 pieces as I turned the bundt pan over.....and then when I moved the plate - well, it is now in 5 pieces! So I think it will be sliced and served with ice cream if anyone wants some - and I can nuke the frosting adn dribble it over all! Still need to frost the carrot cake....

Look what a friend made and sent to me! The candy is gone.....it us just lovely

And this is from our daughter, son in law, and their 3 boys. The chocolate covered strawberries are very good!

Fun

Dropped off knives and a  pair of scissors at the Farmer's Market to be sharpened today (because we keep forgetting to take them on Saturday!) - and then drove over to the bimonthly opening of the www.parisfleamarket.com.

There were several things that I jsut could not (would not affford) or had room for (a lovely little chest of drawers/nightstand/endtable  with the most beautiful top; a beautiful wrought iron planter; and a pair of what were probably angel wings but since they were edged in green of course they are Eagles Wings today!).

So a few of the things I did NOT buy:

 I really should have gotten this bank - cause it says it all!!!

 They had 2 of these sweaters - small, medium, and large. 3 different yarns. Deceptively simple. Lovely. This one is the large - for $120!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 These are the wings I really wanted - but they were $110! Angel wings were very popular in the store today - different sizes, different materials, different presentations.

And then what I did buy (except for the rocky road fudge for husband since he only fussed a little bit about me spending money!!)

 I am going to figure this out for a plantar. Thinking maybe a little ivy - it can come out the bottom and the sides - of a viney-succulent

 Had to buy this for a prototype. I love it. Perfect to clip wallet sized photos on. Or lists, or something. The back has one of those easel stands. Looks like maybe Michael's or Hobby Lobby.

 My husband said NO - several times! - to this but I just had to have it (I walked away from the table, the planter, and wings right????). Going to pot a small plant of some sort and place it inside and hand it on patio. It is sweet. And goes along with the bird themed hanging I have on the back fence!

And this guy says it all for today = FLY EAGLES FLY!!!!!!!!!!!!
So proud of them - and am hoping/wishing/hoping.....(sorry Dad!)

Meanwhile BH has the chili cooking (oh my - it smells so good!!) and the brownies are in the oven (they smell good too!).....bottled coke in the fridge (we usually get a beer but never really drink it.....)

Progress

I dont have a place to hang this yet - but it is done!
I was very disappointed tho that the other piece - which was also supposed to completed by 1/31 - was not done yet. And still not done even tho it was supposedly being worked on yesterday.  I am starting to get suspicious and worried.....

Found out they will mount/mat/frame with your own frame so I will be taking my bird in next. Was going to do my Santa & Jesus but under the bright lights I saw some stains. So it is soaking now.

Got my Phila Eagles shirt - because it has been cold and it is still winter I ordered long sleeves. And of course this week we started with a heat wave!!!

Beautiful beautiful day today - KILLING me just sitting home but now the BH's ankle is hurting. He thinks he twisted it last week at the golf tournament. I thought he was complaining about the bottom of his feet hurting - which had been his previous complaint - but then I saw his foot when he took the sock off and it was quite swollen. SO now of course he thinks he might have CHF.......oh my .....PATIENCE is the word of the year and it is getting quite the workout.

Saw the MD for the F/U on his shoulder - and now he goes back in 2 months. He did ask him about his fingers getting locked and as soon as that doctor heard BH had carpal tunnel surgery.....well, not he has an appt to go back to see that doc. And we made an appt for cardiologist.

And people wonder why I never go to a doctor???? Who has time????????

Got all the plants moved back to their spots and watered them - they were quite dry with the increase in heat. Getting laundry done. Waiting for my order (2/3 of what I need) to do my last semester of my Senior Year at Loopy Academy. And altho I jsut got a hat and a bear done - I realized it is a new month and need to make another of both....

Speaking of which I scored some yarn today at a garage sale. Taking all but 2 skeins to the person who goes to Ethiopia every year (except for last year due to the disease breakouts and unrest). And got one of those little mini ironing boards - those table top ones? I can use it hear but also will be perfect for the trailer (except for the fact that I do not have an iron for the trailer). Missed out on a neat $5 planter by 1 minute at a garage sale.....oh well.....

2018

So I started a binder - it is holding the patterns of things I definitely want to knit this year. And on the pocket of the back side of the binder I put a table listing the items and all 12 months.......

And I have already checked off 2 items for January. I am hoping/planning/wishing to do a hat each month for http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Affiliate/Little-Hats-Big-Hearts so that I will have 12 to send to them instead of just 4. And so I have made the first one - for January - and put a check mark in the box.

Every year I am determined to make a teddy bear each month for my friend to take to Ethiopia when she goes with http://www.doctorsgivingback.org/. And each year I miserably fail (just gave her 4 - a measly FOUR to take this year). Well January;s bear is in the totebag and there is a check mark on the calendar!

Do I think I will really accomplish what I have set out to do?
No.
But I am really trying this year instead of just talking the talk.....

And at some point I have to relearn how to crochet to make the little gifts I want to do for Christmas this year - which means more than 12 of them but they are not very large .....

Do Not Buy THIS Item Part 2

But for a different reason!
I am afraid if I recommend a trip to Trader Joe's for these delicious croissants - then the supply will be wiped out (which has happened for my husband's ice tea there - and the dog goodies we like!).

Got these on a whim to try - believing too good to be true - and they would be all dough and no filling - but I was wrong!

But I will warn you - it is hard to eat just one!