Well Now

 Quarantine.  It's something weird that I'd hope we'd never have to experience anymore.
Not leaving home is not difficult for me, as I love being  home, and even if I didn't I really cannot go out much at all due to something beyond my control.
So because of that (Do you know anything about IBS? Because I certainly do.) I have an abundance of things to keep me busy at home.
By the way, I'm not all that interested in cooking or cleaning, so I'm only doing as much of that as is necessary for survival.

What DO I do?  A lot of things.  Mostly, I read.
In January I became very concerned about what I was reading about the corona virus.
I even tried to persuade Oldest Son to wear a mask on the plane when he traveled to California on business.  He did not.  Of course, now we know that wouldn't have helped much, but still.  Children should listen to their concerned mothers, should they not?
Please say yes.
One thing I have done over the years is to collect piano music as I find it at thrift stores, consignment shops, and antique malls.
Earlier this year I sorted through all that I had, and donated nearly half of it back to a thrift store, or to my sister who probably didn't even want it, but I was rather pushy that she take some.
This still left me with plenty.

Today I've been working my way through hymn books and this collection of Reader's Digest song books.  I LOVE them, and they STAY OPENED.
I do best with what can only be described as "easy" so these are great for me.
THGGM doesn't mind my playing, which is a good thing since we are now together 24/7.
I don't know how he can stand it though, I would be complaining about how horribly off my timing is.
Timing is math.  I hate math.

Anyway..,
That's what I did today.
And I'll probably do that again tomorrow, but will add something else too, just to keep it interesting.
Well, interesting to a boring person like me!

Yawning About Awnings

I know it isn't an interesting topic, but this is what is happening with our awning situation.  The top picture shows the awnings last week, after THGGM painted them a light color with a bright blue stripe.  I didn't like it.  Thankfully, I did not whine nor complain about them, I just stated that I did not like it.  You can like them if YOU want to, but you don't live here, so your vote doesn't count.  I DO live here, and felt that mine should.  But I wasn't given that option.

 Anyway.., THGGM decided on his own that he didn't like it either.  So this morning he painted the blue stripes a brighter maroon than the original color.  I do like this.  This side of the house is ugly.  And since we have lost a very large old maple tree, more of it shows than in the past.  On the bright side, things might actually grow there now.  That would be a plus.  I'm wondering if morning glories would climb all the assorted poles and wires, or is that not a good idea?  My parents had hollyhocks on the south side of their house, but I'm still not sure what I'll try.  Any suggestions? (no, really.  even though you don't live here, i'll take suggestions!)

I'm also thankful that THGGM didn't paint the front awnings until today.  At least he will not have to repaint those!

Where the pile of sand is in the picture above (nothing on blogger is lining up like i want it to) is where the large maple was removed.  THGGM called the city to ask who was responsible for fixing it up.  They said that they were, but there are 500 people in line before us.  Ugh.  This does not help the ugly side of the house.  No.  It does not.  And see the blooms on my magnolia tree?  There are still a few more left to open up, but certainly not the gorgeous showing we were used to.  While driving around today we noticed several other magnolia trees in this same condition.  I know it's just a tree.., sigh...
Anyway.., the awning debacle has been solved without my whining or complaining (to thggm) and I didn't even have to paint a clown mural over the fireplace to prove my point!  Don't you just love it when things work out?!

Finds. Some Fun, Some Not So Fun

Last week I caught the bug that the grandchildren had been passing around.

Of course, being the proud grandmother that I am I must brag about their sweetness of sharing everything with me.  Isn't it darling? One hears of so many children these days who do not share, or even take turns.  So rest assured, dear reader, that MY grandchildren do it often, and do it well.

Anyway, so while I was sick and recovering I read more Jane Austen.  I also watched Sense and Sensibility.

And, I noticed a few things around me that needed to be photographed.

See the three new canisters on the bottom shelf of this cabinet?

 I found those three at my local thrift store!  They were part of a larger set, but I settled on these three, and one smaller spice jar.  Sometimes I use the blocks from the block box for my own intents and purposes.  Shh.  Do NOT tell.

This lovely Dresden pitcher was an antique store find, and for a great price.

Charming pictures on BOTH sides!

Presently I have the sweet scene of the child rocking a baby showing.

But, someday I may want to look at the back of two Dutch men, and all I shall have to do is turn it around to do that.

That is a "win/win" in my book.

Over the weekend I found a cute colorful spring floral bush at Michael's for 40% off.

I think it works well here.

If you don't, don't tell me, as I like to maintain my illusions.

This pitcher was also found at my local thrift store.

The flowers were also a Michael's find, but alas, only 30% off. There are times, and causes, for which I will splurge.

It's like nothing else I have, which may seem odd, but I DO have a few other pieces of transfer ware in other colors, so it does SORT OF go with things I already have, if one is willing to use one's imagination.

In other news, THGGM is painting our awnings.  I don't like it.  He loves it.  I was not consulted about the color.  It's a GOOD color, actually my FAVORITE color, but not for awning stripes.

I add this only to show you that my life is not perfect.  I have to put up with a stubborn Dutch guy who thinks he can make important decisions about things like the color of the awning stripes on his own.

But mostly, I am upset about our magnolia tree.  It only has about a dozen blooms on it this year.  I believe this means it is dead, or nearly dead, and this saddens me.  Then last night I found a dead little bunny in our backyard.

I love Spring, but like everything else, it has it's downsides.

Rainy Friday

Today was cold and rainy.  Although I didn't realize it was cold until I watched the weather report at noon.  The weatherman told me it was in the low 40's.  I hadn't noticed.  My windows were still open. So as I went to close them I passed the thermostat.  It read 68 degrees.  I closed the windows anyway.
Most of the day I puttered around between laundry, closet cleaning, and kitchen tweaking.  Oh, and I made stuff too.  I'd post a picture (surprise!) but I'm not sure what I'm going to do with it yet.  Might be a present.
When THGGM got home from work we went to Olive Garden for dinner.  I am crazy about their lasagna.  After dinner we went to the mall.  Well, I only went to Barnes and Noble.  I looked at a lot of books and magazines, but I already have books and magazines at home.  So I went to Michael's Craft Store next and perused the clearance stuff, and there was A LOT of clearance stuff.  But I left some for the other kids.  I had in my hand a 40% off coupon but I couldn't find anything that I needed.
And that is how I spent my Friday.
 Always boring, never bored.  That's me.

Diabetic Candy

For St. Nicholas Eve I filled my wooden shoes with the only kind of candy I can have.

The inedible kind.

There has always been something intriguing to me about glass candies.

When I found these eight pieces in a baggy at the thrift store I knew that I had the perfect place for them.

Don't worry.  They are up high where no small children can reach them.

The picture above is the one we found in October at an antiques mall in Wisconsin.

Speaking of antiques malls,29th St., one of our favorites in Grand Rapids is closing on December 31st.

This makes me very sad and has me hunting for my black arm band.

Independence Day Breakfast

 The family all came for breakfast this morning.

It was wonderful.

Vegetable quiches, fresh fruit, sausage, blueberry cinnamon bread, and donuts.

Note how carried away I got with my decorations.  Paper flags on picks stuck into my salt and pepper shakers. Seriously now.  I need my own show.

 We are quite the kissy bunch, it seems.

 Sometimes it's hard to remember what we did before there were babies.

We do like babies around here.

 And what smells better than a fresh baby head?

Nothing!

Some of us adjourned to the Grandville parade, others to see Spider Man.  There was even some napping and lounging.

What did I do?

After I cleaned up a bit I sorted a box FULL of old obituaries and funeral cards that my dad had collected over the years.  I do know how to live it up on a holiday!

In about a half hour I will be able to see the Grandville fireworks from right where I am sitting at the computer.  All I have to do is turn my head to the left, and there they will be, in the distance, right over my kitchen sink.

But, I'm old.  Sorting obituaries does tend to wear one out.  So, I'm just going to go to bed and read some more about Mary Chesnut's life in the very trying year of 1864.  All the booms and bangs of the local fireworks make the reading seem more realistic.

Playing Catch-up

Today I was planning to have some cute grand kids to play with.  Jonge had a dentist appointment.  But during the night he began vomiting and running a fever, so that didn't happen.

Poor Jonge.

But that left me with an entire day to play catch-up on things like laundry.  I seem to have lost my momentum on sorting and purging.  I'll have to watch another episode of Hoarders to get myself motivated.

Speaking of purging.., I found this cute little Dutch girl bookend in Holland last weekend.  I've had my eye on it for quite some time.  It was marked half price so I got it.
Did you notice that had nothing at all to do with purging? Yes.  So did I.

Now what to do with these cans I covered in scrapbook paper a few weeks back?  I'd planned to fill them with Valentine's cookies.  But I didn't. I have two more larger ones just like them. And five more not like them at all.  Except that they are covered in paper.

And it appears I went a bit crazy spelling "LOVE" with my blocks.

 I do get carried away.

Have you noticed?

I try to hide it, but sometimes I just can't.

So, today I grabbed a garbage bag and loaded up all of my pine cones.

Not to throw away though.  No.  I could not do that.  They are safely in the basement.

This is my favorite magazine EVER.  This exact issue.  From 1998.  Every single thing that I loved in it in 1998 I still love.

So every night this week I've been going through it page by wonderful page.

I think this means that I am terminally boring.  I wonder if the people who are actually IN this magazine still like all of the same things?  Probably not.  I'm sure this isn't a GOOD thing, but I have two copies of this one, as I love it sooo very much.

Was it bright and sunny by you this morning?  Here it was.  Then, in the afternoon it started snowing those HUGE flakes and hasn't stopped yet.

While it was bright and sunny, I put away all of my snowman dishes and mugs.  That may have been a bit hasty.

I'm looking forward to spring.

Next on my list is dismantling this one last tree.

It's just not as pretty when it's only half lit.

The lights have been on for almost three months straight.  

I'm going to miss it.

But now it's on to Spring!

And it couldn't get here fast enough.  Our boiler is starting to make crazy groaning sounds.

On the menu tonight is Cauliflower Cheese Soup.  Yum.  Perfect weather for it.  But now the entire house stinks.  Why couldn't cauliflower have a more pleasant odor?   So many questions, so few answers...

Party On

Can't say that I felt any better today.

But did that stop me from getting out the ink pads and rubber stamps?

No.  It did not.

Jonge made this sweet card of his family.

Kado had more success AFTER he realized that he had been using the wrong side of the stamp.

I now have some adorable blue Valentine stamps

But once he got the hang of it, he had a great time with it.

Famke cut all of the remaining heart and circle doilies into teensy bits which she announced was a salad for her mommy.  

And although I did not feel like it, we did have our Valentine Tea.

Sadly, we forgot to dress appropriately, leaving our wigs, hats, and scarves in the dress up drawer.

Famke's name was Sweet Cheeks and her guest was a stuffed tiger.

 Kado was my husband, Mr. Nesbitz, and the doll Jack was our guest.

Attempts were made at polite conversation, but actually Famke enjoyed pouring every one's 'tea' and Kado made off with way more than his fair share of the chocolate cake and everyone was happy.

That is what made it a success for me.

Then Kado spilled tea and required a complete change of clothing.

He felt so terrible about it that to cheer him up Famke pinned clothes pins to their lips.

It would appear that now Feintsje has the cold.

He had a few bouts today when it was very difficult to console him.

But then, so did I.

Corner Cupboard Fun

Last week I found a GREAT Dutch girl cookie jar. She looks just like me, don't you think? She does. Trust me.

Of course, I had to rearrange everything to fit her in.

Slowly but surely I'm adding things to my Simply Thrift blog, if you care to look.

Everything takes time. But you already knew that.

It seemed when I came here tonight that I had something somewhat profound to say.

Apparently, I was mistaken.

Oh, well.

I'm off to bed to read about history...