Happy Valentine’s Day

I hope you are having a wonderful Valentine’s Day. My husband sent me roses at work. I love roses and I especially like all of these different colors. I think I will try to dry them after they fade a bit.

My mama died on Valentine’s Day many years ago and my husband always tries to make it bearable by sending flowers or strawberries or something. I told him he didn’t have to worry about doing it but he always does something to try and brighten my day.

I didn’t do a lot of Valentine decorating this year. I made the small hearts last week and strung them into a garland. I think I will add to them for Valentine’s next year.

It’s been another scary week around here. My brother in law, who I think of as a brother, I mean after all he has been in my family since I was eight years old, had a stroke in his left eye. What seemed like some blurred vision turned into a three day stay in the hospital while numerous tests were done to rule out a stroke in his other eye or somewhere else. As of now he has completely lost the vision in his left eye. His lively hood is using his hands and eyes for close repair work. It is a terrible thing for him. We know it could have been so much worse such as a full stroke that could have affected his entire body. I feel lucky that we still have him here with us. This just proves how fast your life can change. Don’t take it for granted. He is adjusting very well and I am so proud of him for this.

The winter days have really brought out my lazy mode. It seems like I want to hurry home and get warm and cozy. During these cold winter evenings I’ve knitted and crocheted and read. To be honest with you I just haven’t been in the mood to do much. I am hoping with some warm weather I will feel a burst of energy. Yep that’s the plan.

I finally finished the slouchy hat I was knitting and I love it so much I immediately started another one.

I have also been cleaning out closets and getting things ready to take to Goodwill or a similar place near us. I cleaned out some drawers last week and Kitty Kitty was obsessed. While I was downstairs getting my small vacuum she jumped in the drawer and tried to make a bed. Her and Gus were fascinated with everything I was dragging out. I was a little fascinated myself. I couldn’t believe all of the “things” I have that I don’t even need or use.

***Please pardon the mess, oh and what a mess there was. I had everything out of the drawers and I guess it was just too tempting for Kitty Kitty.***

Work has been fairly slow and I am thankful for that. The temps have been all over the place which is really not uncommon for East Tennessee. We have had a lot of rain this week and colder temperatures return to us next week. Maybe even a snow flurry or two.

I hope you have a wonderful weekend and you are able to spend some time with your Valentine ❤️❤️❤️

Always remember

Love your day your way!!!!!

Friday Favorites: Frost Flowers

Hello and happy Friday. Today I wanted to share with you one of my all time favorite things: Frost Flowers or Ice Blossoms or whatever you may call them.

I never really knew about ice flowers until several years ago. When I had dogs, I would walk them very early in the mornings, often just after sunrise. In late fall or early winter, I would notice these white crepey looking things at the base of some of the plants near the side of the road. At first I thought it was paper, litter. Upon further investigation, I noticed that they were icy. I started doing a little research on them and discovered they are quite a phenomenon. The conditions have to be just perfect for these beauties to form. They are only around for a short time. I love them and I can’t tell you how excited I am to see them every year.

What are frost flowers? First they are not easy to spot, especially on a frosty morning when you probably aren’t going to be hanging around outside. They only form on a few herbaceous plants. To find them look for tall weeds, especially in locations that are seldom mowed.

The temperature must be below freezing for most of the night. The wind must be calm. The sky needs to be clear. All of these things are also conditions for ground frost. The soil must be moist but not frozen. The plant has to be alive. Autumn or early winter is the best time to see these. They create beautiful patterns. Ice flowers have water that comes out of the plant, usually wild flowers or weeds. The water from the plant is drawn upward from the ground. It expands as it touches the air and freezes, forming beautiful petals. No two are alike. Ice flowers don’t happen often because of all the different conditions needed to make them form.

I saw my first ice flowers about two weeks ago. I saw them a couple of times after that but I think they are probably done for the season. I took a few pictures of them and I would like to share them with you. Aren’t they beautiful?

If you still have these conditions in your area go look for some frost flowers. It must be early morning before they melt.

Always remember

Love your day your way!!!

Friday Favorites

Hello and happy Friday!!! I have a few Friday Favorites to share with you.

Remember on my previous post I was decoupaging the pumpkins? I finally finished and I guess I’m ok with the way they turned out. I didn’t finish them until the week before Halloween but I think they look fallish. So I will keep them out through Thanksgiving.

I love winter weather folklore. I always find it interesting, all the ”signs”, that the old farmers use to predict planting and just how cold it is going to be. Have you heard this one about the caterpillars. This one is from the Old Farmer’s Almanac.

I also love making chili when it gets cold outside. I made some last week. We always have plenty for leftovers. I also love putting chow chow on mine.

I can’t remember if I showed you this carry-on bag that I got a few months ago. This one holds quite a lot and it can be put under your airplane seat. It has wheels so you don’t have to lug it through the airport. My arms and shoulders are saved. I also added the bigger suitcase. Of course you know I would pick the ones with cats.

Have you ever tried these Sea Salt Caramels? I get them at T.J. Maxx. I know a lot of the food they have is questionable. I have tried some things from there and not liked them. But these caramels are delicious. I always have to get a bag when I am there. See? I already tore into them before I took the picture HA!

Yesterday was Halloween and several of us at work decided to dress as Care Bears. I was the pink Care Bear. I bought a pink sweatshirt at Walmart and ordered the ears and the rainbow iron-on from Amazon. It was super easy.

And of course I love Gilmore Girls and I like to watch it best when the weather turns cool. It’s just the perfect snuggle up and get cozy show.

What are some favorites you have enjoyed this week?

Always remember

Live your day your way!!!!

Friday Favorites

Happy Happy Friday!!! I have a few favorites to share with you.

First of all let me say. I love Dunkin coffee. I don’t get Dunkin a lot so when I do I savor it. I love Iced Caramel Macchiatos. Today when I went to Dunkin they told me it was National Donut Day so I got a free donut. I chose blueberry it’s my favorite.

***Iced Caramel Macchiato. My favorite.***

I baked bread last week. It has been awhile since I baked bread. I was afraid it wouldn’t rise because of the humidity or barometric pressure, but it did. It turned out great!!! I always take two loaves to work with me, I have to get it out of the house so I won’t eat all of it.

I have been enjoying this sewing box that a friend from work gave me. It belonged to his mother in law. After she passed away he nor his wife had a use for it. He knows how much I love to sew and embroider. He brought it to me. I have had so much fun combing through it. It is full of everything!!!

Lavender Ice cream. This is a locally made ice cream. The lady who makes this is a good friend of mine. She owns a little ice cream shop downtown in Sweetwater. Everything there is hand made even the waffle cones. This is some of the best ice cream I have ever had. My favorite right now is Lavender.

Last week we celebrated my niece, Michelle, with a small family gathering at our favorite local Mexican Restaurant. We had so much fun!! They did the traditional cake smashing.

I made the Birthday cake. She loves yellow cake with chocolate icing. We did not smash this one. We ate all of it and gave some to friends who were in the restaurant. We also gave our waiter a large piece. He said the chocolate frosting reminded him of his grandmother’s frosting. AHHHHH!!

We had some yummy drinks.

Several of my orchids are blooming!!!

And I leave you with one of my all time favorites. My happy place with my big boy Gus. He loves sleeping on my lap in the mornings while I drink coffee.