Friday, February 26, 2016

Heading out

I'll be looking at this scene along Highway 30A in South Walton, Florida later today, as I head out with friends for a much needed break from routine.  See you guys in about a week!

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Desert island feast, fab pen holder and warrior angel

- My dinner group met last Friday night at the home of some real cooks.  I was asked to bring the appetizer and then got conflicted about what to make - many online recipes and magazine appetizer recipes were poured over.  But in the end - I decided to bring what I would want with me if I were stranded on a desert island:  cheese, bread, olives and nuts.  I loved that heart shaped Brie that I found at Publix (I guess leftover from Valentine's offerings,) The other cheese is Le RoulĂ© herb cheese - found at Fresh Market.  It was a hit.  The heart napkins belonged to the hostess - leftover from another party.

 - More refrigerator magnets (it's been a slow Good Things period).  This pottery pen holder came from a shop in Winchester, Virginia (near where sister #1 lives.)  My fridge is full of photos of loved ones and the piper in the magnet above it advertised a Highland Games in Savannah, Georgia.  I didn't attend, but loved the image, so there it has stayed.

 - The battered warrior angel magnet came from the gift shop at Stirling Castle in Scotland.  I laughed when I got home and saw the sticker on the back:  Made in Oklahoma City.  :)

Friday, February 19, 2016

Finding her, secret garden and filling it in

- This cemetery is around the corner from my office and on a whim yesterday, I stopped by to see if I could find a beloved great aunt's grave.  She passed away in 1983.  And I did find it.  Someone had told me the there was a great view of the Atlanta skyline at the top of the cemetery, and so there is.

- Friend Leisa gave me this "grown-up" coloring book for my birthday.  I've been wanting one, because I secretly love to color.  As it turns out - apparently a lot of grown-ups do, because these books are turning up everywhere.  Interesting that after I ordered the Prisma colored pencils from Amazon, this exact book was suggested to me by Amazon as something I might like.

- I chose an easier page to start with, but this is only as far as I've gotten.  (Click to enlarge.)  Can't wait to finish it though.  I wish there was more time to color.

Maybe this weekend - I'm ready for it!  Have a great one, my friends!

Tuesday, February 16, 2016

Bananas for you, just a white building now and beautiful broth

- My great nephew Sawyer's contribution to the preschool Valentine party snacks.  The teacher asked for "healthy" snacks from everyone - so niece Abby came up with a creative idea, I think.

 - Late Friday afternoon - a lone building painter worked on this building.  My boss was in over the weekend and said the painter worked all day Saturday to finish up.  Someone wanted the graffiti covered up, I think.  Street artists had painted these two sides when they were hidden by trees (click to enlarge.)  Someone took down the trees and all was revealed.  On Monday morning, the whole building was white.  We admire the effort that took from one man, a ladder and a brush.

 - When my sisters were visiting several days ago - my sister Jo was talking about Southern Living magazine's Peanut Chicken Stew that I made for her last February when she was visiting.  She said she daydreams about how good it was, so I was inspired to make it this weekend.  Click on the red link above for the stew recipe.  The base of it - sweet potato broth - is pictured here.  It's so beautiful that I snapped a photo of it.  Last time I made it, I had some broth left over and froze it; later using it for a vegetable soup base.  It was the most delicious soup I ever made.  Let me know if you make the stew.  I used rotisserie chicken from the grocery store instead of cooking it myself.

Friday, February 12, 2016

The Girl & Frida, hummingbird & moon, & the Hokey Pokey

How's that for a title?  In my last post, I had a photo of a birthday card that had owl magnets on the front.  (One of them is shown below.)  Joe commented, "I picture you as a fridge magnet type of person. Now you are going to tell me you aren't. Ha."  Well - so I am.  And so this is a good excuse to post about refrigerator magnets. Thanks Joey!

- Friend Leisa and I visited the High Museum of Art, here in Atlanta, for an exhibit "Dutch Paintings from the Mauritshuis" in 2013.  It featured the lovely painting, "The Girl with the Pearl Earring."  So of course I had to get a magnet at the gift shop at the end of the tour.  And the same museum had an exhibit of Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, "Passion, Politics and Painting" in the same year - a banner year for the High, I think.  Friend Barbara and I went to that one together and both of us bought a Frida magnet. 

- I share my parents' love for hummingbirds and this magnet came from my late mom's fridge at the assisted living facility.  It's carved from wood - I bought it in the North Carolina mountains, I think.  I use it to hold up the nectar instructions.  And I've always loved the man in the moon - I've had that crescent moon magnet for years and years.

- And really, "What if the Hokey Pokey IS what it's all about?"  I mean, really?

Happy Friday, y'all!

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Three beautiful things, cake and along the way

- Friend and coworker Bren gave me this card for my birthday last Thursday (with a gift card for lattes).  I love the owl magnets attached and those truly beautiful words.

- And then friend and coworker Joanne brought in this delicious little cake around lunchtime and sang happy birthday.  If I had to work on my birthday, all of these things made it so nice.

- Aaaand - Mr. C's sign made me chuckle, as it so often does.  It's probably not always good to be lucky - I just wonder what happened to inspire that.  :)

Tuesday, February 2, 2016

Little bit of green, nothing in particular and Lenten Roses

Since I've been under the weather a little lately, I've missed my Saturday morning walks.  This past Saturday was a glorious day and I was feeling better, so off we went.  I had to wait a few minutes for my walking companion, and so was able to admire the scenery around me for a bit.

 - This pretty little bit of greenery was popping out in a sea of mulch - reminding me that spring will be here before we know it.

- A man and his young son emerged from the trail on their bicycles, chatting about nothing in particular.  I loved their companionship.

 - And just in time for Lent, which begins next week, beautiful Lenten Roses, bobbing their sweet heads.  Lovely.

In the parking lot across the street, a motley crew of young men and women were marching up and down in formation.  We figured them for an ROTC group out of uniform, working on their skills.