Errant, covet and annual visit

- These two errant peppermints discovered in the bottom of my purse from Christmastime, looking so pretty in the little dish niece Abby put in my stocking.

- They are sitting on top of a book that I covet reading time for: Southern writer Pat Conroy's, "South of Broad." A Washington Post reviewer says about Conroy, "No one can describe a tide or a sunset with his lyricism and exactitude." Maybe this weekend - I hear there is rain on the way...

- An annual visit to the emissions place for the required test on my car, and the guy with the Barry White voice is still there, blasting his soulful music. Calling my mother while I wait, she says "Where ARE you?"

Here's where I hope you are: about to have a really great weekend. Hope it is truly great!

What???, her turn and no tomfoolery

- So this made me laugh! and turn in Mr C's parking lot yesterday morning. I had not heard of this misfortune, but looked it up. He is out on bond posted by a 'Diff'rent Strokes' fan.

- My family's newest grandmother having to get off the phone because "it's my turn to hold the baby!"

- My funny friend Steven wants me to go with him to a restaurant he knows I'll love, called "The Iberian Pig" - a tapas place. He describes it best, "Cell phones are not allowed, men have to remove their hats, you're not allowed to talk about religion or politics, no tomfoolery or jackassery is permitted (that's my favorite!)"

Content, traveling flowers and dreaming

Traveling flowers

- Taking a few moments to sit beside my kitty on the futon that she camps out on in my home office. I have not been home enough this week. Her contented purr fills the room. While we sit, the screen saver slide show on my computer displays the photo above.

- It was taken with my camera phone a couple of years ago of flowers friend Ginny picked from her garden for me on the day I was leaving for a trip. I put them in a vase and they traveled in my car's cup holder to my sister's mountain house in western North Carolina.

- Dreaming of the day when I can go back there and sit beside the river. It is calling my name.

Bright flowers, comparison and unsweet

Sunflowers by Bob Trammell

- Bright flowers on a chilly morning from an artist who believes that life is abstract.

- A woman who serves meals at the assisted living home where mom lives, remarking last weekend that I am "just like" my late dad, in that he always wanted plain, unsweetened iced tea with meals, too. I like that comparison!

- For those of you not from the South - at restaurants (or anywhere) down here, if you order tea, and unless you specify hot tea, it comes with ice and is typically loaded with sugar, and known as Sweet Tea. A waitperson will ask you upon ordering tea, "Sweet or unsweet?" I am an unsweet kind of gal - preferring it just as it comes.

Reflection, friends and recommendation

- This Cat Quilt by Susan Harlan, from the State of Georgia art collection and hanging at Georgia Public Broadcasting. I especially like the square on the upper left that shows the cat's reflection in water.

- Overhearing two elderly women at breakfast at an assisted living home chatting and discussing what they did in their past lives. Both were teachers. One says, "We are lucky to be friends here, aren't we?" They smile at each other.

- Two little girls at the church potluck lunch studying the dessert table. "Hmmm - what should I get?" I ask. One of them points to a tray of layered bar cookies and says her mom made them. I tell her if that's so then I know they will be good and select one. She beams.

Box of cheer, nestled and welcome

- It is so exciting to get an unexpected package in the mail, this one from a friend who has the word "fun" right in her blogger name. It made my day with its cheery note (on beautiful stationery) thanking me for blogging! :) There were also fun photos and four little wrapped packages containing Snickers bars. I love the thought of her wrapping these packages - each one a little different. A box of cheer.

- Something (probably a squirrel) dug a crater into my pot of hens & chicks. This morning there is a pine cone nestled in the crater. Probably the squirrel was feeling guilty. :)

- A wee new family member, with lots of hair and a steadfast gaze, has arrived. Welcome to the world, baby girl!

No mainstream, more shifting and goat free

- The top of this delightful building sporting energetic fish jumping out of the top of it. The Sweetwater Brewing company is on the same street as the industrial looking building that I met in earlier in the week. The entire street is kind of hidden away and full of warehouses. This place is a bright spot on the outside and with their slogan "Don't Float the Mainstream" - my kind of place.

- A favorite client who works for a cool art school asked me to estimate business cards for her new bakery effort. Upon my inquiry "what's up with that and do you make cupcakes? Love a cupcake" replied, "I bake a lot on the side... (one of the teachers) made my identity one of the projects in one of his classes and I got to pick my favorite to use! I came up with the name and maybe, one day, I'll do more with it. Right now it's just on the side for fun and a little extra money that I make out of my kitchen. :) I'm working on more recipes these days when I can find the time too!" Good for her! More of that paradigm shifting.

- So dad's Jeff Foxworthy calendar made me laugh out loud this morning, "You might be a redneck if...You've taught a class on how to keep goats from jumping on your car." So much more entertaining than the cat of the day. :)