What's Good??

There is a lot of good stuff going on on the home front...

and since I had a long stretch of being home because of the blizzard,

I am going to share all the random, inconsequential stuff here. 

This is actually a very boring update, only exciting to me...

and truth be told, it is not even that exciting to me.

My "blizzard" flowers are still looking awesome,

this is how they look today.

I finally got my new glasses, purple of course.

I love my new MacBook, I mean love, love, love!!

I planted some indoor herbs, Chives and Parsley!


I got snail mail...
this beautiful handmade card from Connie at Connie's Crafty Creations,
and yes...it "is" a card!
She makes the most amazing cards, so beautiful and personal,
I hope you will stop by and say hi.
Many thanks Connie, I am going to find a special frame and frame it.


Yesterday, I picked up these 2 planting kits at 
The Christmas Tree Store.
$ 1.50 each, I have used these kits in the past and they are awesome.
I will wait about 2 weeks to get them started.

I made some REAL Hot Chocolate...

2 Cups of Milk

2 Cups of Heavy Cream

8 oz of Chocolate Chips

1 Teaspoon of Vanilla

1 Teaspoon of Coffee (I used a large pinch of instant coffee granulars)

1 Pinch of Cinnamon

1 Tablespoon of Sugar

Heat in a saucepan till warm, top with real whipped cream and a drizzle of chocolate syrup.

This was very good, but very sweet. 
I will make a few adjustments next time I make it!!

Friday I had lunch with 2 friends from high school

that I still keep in touch with but don't see often enough.

I know Anna reads my blog, I'm not sure about Louann...

Thanks girls, lunch was awesome but the best part was seeing both of you!!

Saturday Critters ~ 111 ~

During any snow storm, the birds visit here like there is no tomorrow.

Last meal, last supper...

I have no idea how in the world they are able to consume the amount of food that they do.

It is non-stop, standing room only...good thing I can fill the feeders

from inside the house.

 

Male Cardinal

Goldfinch

Male Downy Woodpecker 

Chickadee

Female Downy Woodpecker

Goldfinch

Female Cardinal

Male Cardinal

Sunday January 24, 2016

Sharing today's images with

Eileen at Viewing Nature With Eileen

and 
Anni at I'd Rather B Birdin'

Days End...

It started out pretty, but I knew it was going to get better.

In fact, I knew it was going to be spectacular.

Here it is, days end...after the blizzard!

What a way to end a blizzard!!

Sunday January 24, 2016

Good Fences ~ Edition 97 ~

You may remember our visit to the beach on January 16th.

 It was a warm, beautiful day and we had a nice walk up on the boards.

I adore the beach in winter, the clouds, the sky...

the sound of the waves crashing and the smell of salt in the air.

It is a feast for all the senses!

Sharing today with my good friend 

Theresa at The Run*A*Round Ranch
for Good Fences stop by and consider joining in!

Yarn Along!!

It snowed at the Jersey Shore...

hehehe, I know you know that, hehehe!!
Point being, you would think that I got a lot of knitting done, I didn't.
I did knit some but as I look back, not that much.
I don't know what I have been doing...
some work, a "little" cleaning, cooking...but seriously,
I'm not really sure what I do.
I water the plants, I planted some herbs, I framed some pictures,
I took some pictures...
it all adds up to a whole lot of, not much.
I only put the t.v. on at night, never during the day.
I am always busy, I have been home since Thursday and I don't 
have much to show for it.

I started this 400 Yard Scarf last Tuesday.
It is the second one I have made.
I am using Cascade Yarn...
a blend of Baby Alpaca (70%) and undyed Merino Wool, (30%)
it's a pretty color that will go well with everything.
I'm just making it for who knows who,
I was getting tired of knitting hats.
I really need to move on to bigger and better things,
but when I do, I really struggle and I want knitting to be fun.

I am still reading the same book, zero pages this week,
so I guess that equals, I am not really reading at all.

This week, I vow to binge knit and read more!
Stay tuned!!

I am joining Ginny at Small Things 
for

Warm Skillet Bread Artichoke Spinach Dip

If you never make, bake or cook anything else in your entire life,

 please make this,

Warm Skillet Bread Artichoke Spinach Dip,

I beg you...it is delicious!!

I didn't take blow by blow pictures...

it was night time, the kitchen was dark and I didn't realize 

what a hit it would be.

Next time, and believe me, there will be a next time!!

 I did not make the bread as called for in the recipe, 

I used one tube of Pillsbury, ready made french bread.

Cut it into bite size pieces and it worked perfectly.

I did not change the recipe, otherwise.

And do you see that red pot holder/heat protector on the handle,

buy one, you'll need it, it works great!

If you are interested in the pot holder, you can find it here

at Amazon.com.

I was not able to find one in stores!!

The recipe is here, in case you missed the link above!!

Sharing with
Stephanie at The Enchanting Rose 

The Day After...

The sun came out on Sunday.

 The sky was blue, the sun was bright, the air was crisp, calm and silent...

The snow was pristine...shimmering in the sun's light.

There were mounds of snow, an accumulation of tiny snowflakes 

that had fallen, one flake at a time. 

Here's a peek at my "Morning Surprise"

WoW!!! Just like a miracle!!

Did any of you wake up to the same view??

But...and now this is a big but for me, after talking with the hubs last night,

(whom I have not seen in three days)

and going over the final numbers of what it will cost us to clean up this snow,

(we have a lot of income property),
I have sadly circum to the fact that I don't want any more snow. 

The clean-up from this storm is going to cost us a small fortune

and we do not bill our tenants for this expense.

So there you have it...no one in this house will ever wear

her pj's inside out...never, not ever again!

"Snow" Much Fun!!

We, I had a blast in the snow yesterday, the hubs worked the snow blower,

thank goodness for that awesome machine...and I just played.

I did make a few obligatory passes with the snow shovel, two, I believe,

the rest of my time was consumed with throwing snow "cannons" at the hubs

and taking way too many pictures.

I think the final snow total for us is 25 inches.

Today the sun is out and everything looks beautiful.

Time to put on the "boots" and head on out, 

today's images will be gorgeous!!

But before I go, I'll share a few from yesterday!!

 Love...

 Back Yard...

 Front Yard...

 The hubs, blowing the driveway...

 Front Door

 At 1 p.m. we had 18 inches

 I do love my purple Hunter boots, they kept my feet dry and not too hot.

Dove nap, can you even imagine??

It must be male, they can sleep anywhere, anytime!!

So who got snow?? Were you excited to see the white stuff??

Did you go out and play or stay in and cook??

I did both!!

Saturday Critters ~ 110 ~

We've Got Snow!!!

Unless you live on Mars, you know that

the Jersey Shore is covered in a beautiful blanket of snow.

Images from the back yard this morning, everybody's wet,

and everybody's hungry!!

Male Downey Woodpecker

Male House Finch

Female House Sparrow

Male House Finch

Male House Finch eating snow...

Male House Finch

Female House Finch,

it looks like this little cutie has some sort of beak deformity.

Catching snowflakes...

Chickadee

Gathering in the trees...

Backyard...

Frontyard...

 Pretty...

 Pretty...

We have at least a foot of snow with no end in sight.
  I know it's wrong but I could not be more excited!!
And yes...for those that are concerned,
I have plenty of yarn!!

Sharing today's images with

Eileen at Viewing Nature With Eileen