Spring Maybe?

Today, we are having a guest photographer. A big round of applause for the photos from Son #1. Clap, clap, clap. yeah!!!Last week, the lake melted. We had a big storm front come in with lots of wind. The wind and resulting waves really did a number on the ice. One day, you could walk on the ice (NOT that I would with all that water around the edges), and the next-water.
Warm days helped spring come alive. I know this by my itchy eyes and sneezes. Oh, yeah, it has just started. Just buds on the trees . . . think how much fun I will have when everything blooms.I really want to plant flowers because it has been so pretty. But no one plants until the end of May. mannnnnnn-that's going to drive me nuts. However, there aren't any flowers to plant yet, and who wants to plant flowers that will die with a cold spell? Maybe mid May I will buy flowers from Costco and keep them in the sun room until the end of May. We shall see.

No more ice fishing

What a difference a day makes. A big front came in on Thursday. Lots of wind. Lots and Lots! As the day went by, the ice began to disappear. It was all ice and then it was mostly water in the deeper areas.

Late last night, #1 went outside to get the crazy cat inside. He called us out. Wow, the lake was alive. Most of the wind was gone, but the waves were still very much around. As we stood outside, we could hear the water/ice sloshing about. And big chunks of ice were bumping into each other. Very cool. I tried to take pictures, but it wasn't happening. Lots of black frames.

Lake is almost all ice one day and then mostly all water the next.

Ten on Thursday*

I know you like pictures, but I don't wanna deal with a camera. So, you get words-just words (maybe).

1. Spring is here-flowers are just starting to peek out of the ground, a little bit of green in the grass.
2. But its gonna be cold tomorrow: low of 9 F. Does that mean the little delicate green will get a little frosty?
3. MainMan is taking next week off. Yeah!
4. Thinking very hard of driving down to the states-maybe next week with MainMan?
5. #2 puts EVERYTHING in his jeans pockets. Those pockets can hold a LOT (over $20 in change, pencils, pens, wallet, keys, occasional cookie, etc)
6. #1 is feeling better! :)
7. Love taking a nap with cool wind blowing into the room.
8. Cats are almost back to normal-you decide if that is a good thing or not
9. Lake is still frozen but more and more water can be seen at the edges. :)
10. I realized the other day that I like it here and the move was good. Ok, fine, it took me a while but I finally made it.

Nope, I didn't take this picture but thought you would enjoy something Eastery.

Ten on Thursday is based on Ten on Tuesday made famous by Susie. I just couldn't get it done on Tuesday so I changed it just a bit. Hey, it's only two days late.

Huh?

I went to the grocery store last night around 5 pm. First off, not the best time to go. Lots of folks getting off work and running to the store. Then of course it was raining. And I ended up getting more than I went for in the first place.

I went for ice cream. #1 has a cold. And doesn't feel well. And wanted ice cream. Yeah, I know, you are not supposed to eat dairy products when you have a cold. But he was pathetic all day, huddled under a quilt and watching tv but saying he was cold and nothing was on tv. He then decided he really really wanted/needed caramel ice cream. At first I declined. He was OK with that but was pathetic. After a while, I looked at him and asked- Do you really really really want that ice cream? He brightened up a bit and said oooooohhhh yes.

Fine. So off I went.

I was loading my groceries in the back of the car-the hatch covering me from the light rain and spitting of snow. A little truck drove by and parked. A young man jumped out and ran to the car beside me. I thought, hmmm, I need to watch when I put my cart up because he will be pulling out. I put the last bag in the car and suddenly a voice behind me says loudly " des sail aye Madame (ok, I am not sure about the first word, I was sort of shocked and don't remember-and the phonic spelling is probably off cause, well, I don't speak French). I turn around and the driver of the small truck was running past me to the store and waved at me as he went on. Hmmm, I have NO idea what he said but it was for me. I look at his receding form and wonder. Did he just warn me to look out for his friend in the car next to me? Did he just call me an old bag? Or did he just tell me in a happy tone to F#$% Off?

I am going with "Be Careful Lady". I was. Thanks.

Comfort Food Made Easy

When I was a little girl, a neighbor in Savannah made potato soup for me. It was good. So good that I begged my mother to make it again and again. It became one of my little comfort foods that my mother made for me when I was sick.

And now when I am under the weather, I sort of whine and ask MainMan to make me potato soup. It's not hard to make but when I want it, it seems so hard to peel, cut and cook the potatoes and then make the soup.

Bring in the easy. I found pre cut and peeled potatoes that you cook IN the bag in the microwave and then dump in milk for the soup. Sort of expensive, but great for me when MainMan isn't up to making soup for his whinny wife. Just keep a bag in the freezer and make soup.

Of course I am not sure if this product will stay around. It's new and expensive for what you get.

Hair update: #2 went to school with his pony tail. The first two people who saw him didn't like it. The pony tail didn't last. Good, I didn't like it. And even though I hate to admit it, there are times when I really like his hair now. But he still needs a haircut. LOL

and your little dog Toto

I am thinking this post will get a comment from Dawn . . . let's see what does it for her. I am pretty sure I know what she will say. Let's just wait and see.

It was a nice day yesterday, so I took the bike out late afternoon. I rode to the mail box. In case you didn't know, we don't have our mailbox close to the house. It's a couple blocks away. When its below zero, those few blocks can seem like miles. On days like that, I DRIVE to the mail box. But, hey, I have a bike, and its warm. Ok, fine, its warm for the frozen north.

Bike-check. Helmet-check (it belongs to MainMan but he is working in Orlando). Jacket-check. Mail box key- check. House key-check (cause you KNOW the boys will lock me out).

Off I go. Hmmm, if you live by the lake, it tends to be sort of low. Which means its uphill to leave. It also means its downhill coming home. Coming home can end up going a tad too fast. But that's another story. I got the mail, folded it and put in my jacket. I need a little basket. Think of The Wizard of Oz and the mean old lady who put Toto in her basket (I kept hearing that music of her riding away with Toto as I rode my bike). Anyway, I made it home juuuussst fine.
And finally, for those who were asking, here is a picture of #2's hair. First day of a pony tail. Yeah, my son went to school with a pony tail.

bikes, cats and weather-a little about not much

Update on the stupid cat: He is slowly adjusting to the "new" cat in the house. However, he didn't like that I wouldn't let him out. He showed his irritation as most cats do. After I found his message on top of the dirty clothes, I relented and let (threw) him out. He is happy again. Only hissing occasionally.

Update on MainMan: He is in Orlando for the week. Nope, I didn't go. He would be working day and night with no time for me. So, we decided that I wouldn't go-for several reasons, but mostly because of the cost of plane and food. So, last night he emails and says-gee, I got a corner room with views of the water on both sides. Suggestion to MainMan-let's not say that when wifey poo is home and its raining and she is dealing with a pissed off cat (in more ways than one). Hmmm, I guess I am glad he got a great room.

Oh, did I say I got a bike? Yeppers, I am going to ride around. They were half price at . . . go ahead and guess. You can do it. Think . . . . Ok, fine, they were half price at Canadian Tire. I took #1 and got a bike. The guy who helped couldn't really speak English but decided that #1 could speak French and promptly started speaking to HIM and ignoring ME. But, but I am buying a girl's bike-its MINE. Oh well. Got it and its just an old fashioned bike. It has internal three speeds (how does that work I wonder). And NO hand brakes-just pedal brakes.

We get home and the other child comes out. They both think I can't ride it. When I become such an idiot? Yes, boys, your mother can ride a bike. And I know how to use pedal brakes. And I don't need my helmet on for the driveway. I promise NOT to fall off. Then #1 suggests that when I do start riding around, I need to go the back streets and stay off the main road -not that the main road has much traffic but the side road doesn't have any traffic. Damn, next thing they will tell me to put on a sweater.

I didn't ride yesterday because it rained. It rained because the day before I bought a bike. Weather works that way.

Cesar is having a life problem.

Recently it was time for kitty shots. Since I was a bit late, I had KC vaccinated one week and then took Cesar a week later. Same day Cesar got his shots, we had KC shaved. He had such terrible mats and knots. C got his shots, KC got a little happy shot so grooming would go easy.

****before****

We took C home and left KC. Then we picked KC up a few hours later. All was well.

C was asleep. Then he woke . . . and totally, and I mean totally, freaked out. Hissing and spitting and hissing-then hiding. He didn't recognize KC and was sure a strange cat was in the house.

It's been a couple days. He is still upset. Not as much, but still is sure a new cat has invaded his home.

****after****

Sighhhh. I give it two weeks before he settles down.

Flickr and cats

I am having fun. Last week Pioneer Woman had a contest for cat pictures. I thought for a bit and decided to put a couple pictures up. Not that my pictures will win (I mean, some of the pictures entered are just wonderful) but because I have always wanted to do Flickr but never took the time or effort.

I have been looking at kitty pics all weekend. Over 44,000 pictures. Wow. Needless to say, I have only seen a small fraction of those but there have been some wonderful, funny, sweet pics.

The only problem is I want a new, super cool camera. Not happening, but it was fun to think about for a few minutes.

Lunch anyone?

I am enjoying my sons. It's really nice to talk to them as adults and not grumpy teens. Yeah, it was worth the wait.

#1 asked me out to lunch today. Really. Then I said I would like to go to Costco to shop-and he said he would go (love that in terms of loading all my goodies) He wants to shop for food. Well, he is in his "cooking" mode and wants to experiment. I started making spaghetti sauce yesterday and he took over. I suggested he split the sauce into two pots-just in case. His was pretty darn good. I think the extra garlic and wine really added to it. Home made garlic cheese bread was a special treat too.

It's spring break for #2. He is enjoying playing on his games all day and night. Oh, and he really needs a haircut, but then again, it looks pretty good. I do believe his hair is now longer than my nephew's hair when he went through his long hair phase. But #2's hair is bone straight. I will try to take a picture, but you know how that goes. Everyone in the house hides when I have a camera in my hands.

It's going to be above freezing during the day all week. Does that make it spring? Snow is melting (yeah, yeah, it has a long way to go) . I look forward to having the lake as a water filled lake again. And flowers. And letting KC out. He wants to go out so bad but just hates the cold. I think falling off the icy roof might be part of that too.

So you folks in the warmer climates (that's just about everyone, isn't it?), think of me when you walk by a flower. I want some color around me.