At the Shop

The prediction was snow, so of course this happened: 

...followed later by clouds, hail, snow that didn't stick, and more sunshine. You won't hear me complaining. 

Some of the ladies at work, sporting their finest outdoor attire. You thought I was exaggerating about wearing coats all day, didn't you? 

B working on thank you cards while we wait for the Grab Bag sale orders to be ready

Wearing several layers (on my SOUL)

Awww, the heart shadow

The Grab Bag sale was so fun. I hope we have another one sometime. Production put together bonnets using fabrics and poms from our last few sales, which made for some funky styles, most of them one of a kind. As the designated bonnet "puller", I decided who got which bonnet - the only things customers could specify were the size and category. Beyond that, the bonnets were MINE TO CONTROL. 

::::laughs maniacally::::

Of course, when people receive their bonnets and can't stand them, it'll be all my fault. But I'll take it. Today was fun.

Later, this child tried to inhale all my almond crackers and hummus:

This child watched her first "snowfall":

Now I'm at home, warming up, while Hubby (home sick, Day 2 - this virus's a baddie) is conked out next to me. I'm very thankful for OTC cold meds and paid sick leave. We're taking full advantage of both this week. 

Later: making chicken and dumplings for dinner and helping a very tired and upset Baby R to calm down and fall asleep.

They'll never get hungry, they'll never be old and gray

Sitting here in the chill and darkness at 7:26 am, in my trusty minivan Sherlock, listening to my summer mix CD and dreaming of warmer, brighter days.

The furnace at work hasn't been working since before Christmas, and we've all been keeping our coats, scarves, hats on all day. One of my coworkers even brought a heating pad from home since she sits near the window. Today I brought gloves and a nylon sweatshirt thing of Hubby's, just for an extra layer. I foresee more cold days in our future, since the plan is to move the shop to a new location in a few months. No sense in the building's owner listening to our frostbitten gripes or keeping us warm now. I give this situation two dusky blue thumbs down.

(Update: The shop will be moving to the new location on May 1.)

Yesterday I started my bikini body project (sounds a lot more fun than "weight loss", doesn't it?). I stayed within my calorie limit and stuck to the Mediterranean food list - not an easy thing. I like looking at recipes online, but so many of them require weird crap I would never buy. Then there's all the prep. I want to walk into the kitchen, grab the food, cram it in my yap and be full. 

Which brings me to the new phrase I'm trying to live by: ENJOY THE PROCESS. I'm terribly impatient and Verruca Salt-like. Along with the bikini body, here's hoping I gain a better perspective of enjoying each little step. 

Meanwhile, here's a shot from last summer to tide me over:

August 2019 - H, C and R goofing at Bonneville Dam

In other news: Baby R had shots today. What the whaaa??

Later: enjoyed a quite comical grocery run with C and R after picking them up from school; cleaned the kitchen and reorganized pantry; roasted chicken for soup; ate a Burgerville cheeseburger (naughty) and brought one to sick Hubby (nice); took C and R thrifting at Goodwill, where I found this adorable skirt for $2.50:

Then, of course, we had to run to Fred's for some matching navy tights ($10) and these sweet boots on sale for $19.95:

...All to go with the $2 skirt. That's the way it goes sometimes.

Generations

My maternal grandfather's family ca. 1945. Grandpa Carl is in back, second from right; his wife, Grandma Dot, is in front with the white headband. Mom just found this in an envelope of Aunt Miriam's stuff today. (Miriam is top left). 

And then:

Our beautiful baby R, almost three months, wearing a dress Neenaw gave her. Neenaw is her great-great grandmother. 

Speaking of Neenaw: we were able to talk to her and Uncle John via FaceTime tonight. Neenaw wanted to see Baby R, so we held up our iPad to Baby, which Baby totally dug. She was completely enthralled. Neenaw loved it too. I was excited to learn how to use FaceTime. (We're Android people.) 

🍒

Baby R in her Neenaw Dress

Saturday So Far

Stuff from this morning's walk that I liked:

Showered, picked up C at Noah's house, bought groceries at Winco, started laundry, roasted some tomatoes, ate breakfast, and now this is happening:

And then this:

Later: A Charlie's Angels marathon with R. ("Angels In Chains" was on!!!)

Finally, this sweetness:

Therapy

The Quotable Husband

"Bunny, you put the 'whore' in 'horrible'."

(Cue me dying laughing; "That's so getting quoted somewhere.")

Mediterranean Diet

....is what I'm currently attempting.

Here we have a lovely baked piece of cod and roasted grape tomatoes, baby carrots, and pea pods on a bed of whole wheat rotini. It was quite good.

I've decided my favorite way of cooking involves tossing stuff in olive oil, then baking or roasting it. This diet is inspiring me to try cooking more vegetables. I'm a big fan of roasted Brussels sprouts. Mmmm.

THE BONNET FAIRY

Every so often the Bonnet Fairy shows up with something new.

This is bonnet #6 for Baby R.

It's called "Babka".

L and I both wanted this one, badly, and I was so excited to discover there was one left.

Baby's eyes are blue (at the moment) and the blue in the fabric looks stunning on her.

Out to Breakfast with Sandy

(Here you go, Sherri.) 

Us after breakfast. Hubby met his friend Steve at Starbucks, and Sandy and I went to Doulin's on Main Street. Food was just okay, but good service. We'd never eaten there before and now we know to go back to Christine's or Hudson's. 

This one, making her escape. "No pictures!"

Later:

"I love you madly, though you treat me badly"

This girl in my bed eating a bagel

This girl in my bed eating my arm

Later B went into her room to get dressed and shut the door. R found this impossible to live with and retaliated by rolling pencils under B's door. Gotta love wood floors.

Later: Lunch at Dairy Queen with Hubby and R and lots of relaxing.

"In need of a winter adventure. Must include travel, secrets, a dark Gothic church where hats are required, throwing rocks into an icy river, string quartets, flannel underthings and warm stockings, smiles from strangers, fountain pens, cream-colored paper, and of course, pastries"

That's right, Friday.

Yeah. You're on notice.

(Getting out of bed today was stupid and dumb.)

Gearing up

                      LOOK AT THIS MESS

These three ❤❤❤

Positive things that happened today include a good day at work, the semimonthly ritual of sushi and See's, playing with the amazing grandbaby, and watching Yar with R, who brought me toast and leftover creamy veggie soup. Other things about today were very hard, but we'll all be okay.

"All I can say to you about life tonight is that whatever your situation is right now, it will change. You won't have it forever. Take pictures. Write stuff down. Preserve the good stuff because someday, it will be gone."

CNS*

*aka Cat Neck Syndrome

Chad and his brother Wednesday are four months old now. 

Chad is happiest when he's invading personal space (see top picture). He also enjoys getting accidentally kicked in the head, having his paw pinched in the crack of a closing door, running outside or into the garage and becoming paralyzed with fear, trying like heck to climb in the dishwasher, and generally being a silly boy. 

"Life is simply the time that passes between beach trips and river floats."

"If someone slams a door in your face, nail it shut."

All Is Quiet On New Year's Day

With half the kids at friends' houses and the other half busy/sleepy/disinterested, Hubby and I found ourselves with a rare day to spend together.

We slept in/hung out in bed till around 10 am, then decided to go out and use the Dinner and a Movie gift cards B & L gave us for Christmas.

First some window shopping at Sportsman's Warehouse, JoAnn Fabrics, and the store at the mall that smells like incense - EarthBound, I think? And I made the mistake of speaking to a bratty little 20-year-old tattoo artist about her prices. Hmph

Some fun, possible future purchases:

ladyboots

watercraft #1

#2

#3!!!!!

oh yeah. mama needs a miniskirt out of this

hubby found something to fondle :)

DALI'S MELTING CLOCK. Cute

Then we saw Knives Out. So funny! So many previews of stuff we want to see! When will it STOP

Yes this is a hat on my head

Hubby admits to falling asleep (twice) before the previews began. We were just so comfy.

Then: Linner at Applebee's. I'm usually not a fan, but I found something I liked and didn't freeze my butt off, for once! Aww yeah. 

So far I approve of 2020.

And now: our gorgeous smiley granddaughter models the dress we bought at the beach.

🍒