Now, Is This A GOOD Eating Day, Or A BAD Eating Day?!

      My decision to have a happy day yesterday was a rousing success! It seemed that because I was already in a good mood the world decided: "Awwww! Go ahead and give this one to her!!" :-) 
     My crocheted flowers seemed to come out particularly pretty...{that's a lilac purple brooch I made yesterday in the header photo. I just have to decide whether to leave it as a brooch, or to put a necklace on it.}

      I'll show you the other two flowers in a minute, but first I have to show you what else made my happy day even more of a happy day than it would have been......

         FOOD!!!...Starting with the 'everyday FOOD' Martha Stewart magazine I got in the mail! Sad thing is...I don't know where it came from. It had my name on it, but I don't remember subscribing to it! :-/.....WHO CARES! If I never get another issue, I'll STILL be happy...because WOW! It's got some great recipes in it!
     I didn't take a lot of photos of the food in the magazine, because it was nighttime and the light was awful in the house. {I still haven't been able to find a decent natural light light bulb!}...I did try one picture,...this one...Spinach Mac and Cheese!

      Yum!! Even in bad light it looks good! :-)...I've decided to drive you crazy by telling you what some of the other recipes are though, with no photos to substantiate it!.....*giggle*...How about linguine with asparagus and egg...green eggs and ham omelet...spaghetti and meatball pasta bake...brisket and potato stew...mushroom risotto with spring herbs...buttery shrimp and radish pasta...and spring vegetable pizzas!
     Oh Yeah!And there were desserts!!...Okay, I won't name them! I'll stop here!...*giggle* Besides, what good is reading about desserts when you can't see them!!.....Right?...right?!
      Well that's why I'm gonna let you look at the food I actually ate yesterday!! ^_^ I was in such a good mood after I ate it too....Calories?!....Love handles?!....SHUT UP!! I don't care what you're talking about!!!! LOL
      Hubby and I had a conversation the other day about food happiness. About foods we haven't had in a long time, and if they were even still around. Remember these?!

      I couldn't even remember the name of them. But I described them good enough to my attentive, tall, handsome, loving.....*I digress*....husband, and he got them for me! I now know that they are Keebler Fudge Stripes!! :-) Sorta like a short-bread cookie, with chocolate fudge stripes across the front.....And on the back?!

       Totally covered in fudge!!!

        What?!!...*My waistline was trying to say something to me*..."I didn't eat THAT many! Be quiet!!" LOL
       Then, around dinnertime, my hubby came through the door with these!

      More happiness!!...He got all of the kisses and hugs before I realized that they weren't from him!! LOL Some friends had sent them to us....along with a meal they made for us!....FOOD!!!!

         A scrumptious meal of creamy chicken, carrots, peas, celery, onions, and potatoes, etc...with a cornbread stuffing mixed in (I think)...and dessert too!! I was in LOVE!!!

       With them....and with Sponge cake, strawberries saturated in some kind of delicious sauce, with whipped cream!!.....Okay!! So that's not actually sponge cake under my strawberries!! Hubby ate the sponge cake....*nosy!*...I'm not a fan of sponge cake. It reminds me of the packing foam you put inside of packages when you mail them. The ones that absorb all of the shock, so your package doesn't get there broken...My stomach is not worried about being broken! ^_^

      I had Louisiana Crumb cake under mine.....*hanging my head*...I DON'T CARE!!....It was good!!...SHUT UP, THIGHS!!! LOL...Go ahead, call it a bad eating day if you want to!! I have my own opinion on that!! ^_^
     Anyway!!...Back to my flowers! :-) ... To round out my happy day, I made this happy variegated purple and hot pink crochet flower...

      ...and this peach and beige one. I call it a 'Cream-sickle' flower.

      Do you remember 'Cream-sickles'?!!! :-)

      This was one of the other foods that hubby and I wondered if it was still around...We hope  so! :-) People nowadays shouldn't have to miss out on all that ice cream happiness!!...And now I'll be reminded of it every time I look at my crochet flower!....until somebody buys it!...I hope! ^_^
      Okay, I'm full...of food and happiness, and I have a 'lot of things on my plate' for today...NOT food related! :-) I hope you all have a good day!...A poem...and I'm off!!


Nostalgic

Why do we get nostalgic
for the places of our past?
For the music and the people
who were in our high school class?

Why do we get nostalgic
for the foods we used to eat?
Like your mom's banana pudding,
boiled pig ears and chicken feet?

Why do we get nostalgic
for old bikes we once rode on?
And for buying penny candy
at a time thats long since gone?

Why do we get nostalgic
for long conversations had
when our cousins used to visit
(That was-till we all got mad)?!

Why do we get nostalgic?
Frankly, I'm  sure I don't  know,
'cause I sat and wrote a poem
like a true nostalgia pro!   

Some Things In Life You Just Have To Decide...and Then DO!!

          Hello Everybody!!...Come on in and take a seat...Want something to drink?!....Now, I've been going on and on for days around here, about nuclear disasters, phones getting hung up on me by my sister, car problems, dead clothes dryers and any number of things that just 'bring me down'! I've decided that I'm not gonna talk about any of those things today! And as an indication, look at these Happy Clouds Wall Stickers in my header photo. They're from an Etsy shop called graphicspaces. They clearly show my mood this morning. And it's because I've decided that "I AM GOING TO BE HAPPY TODAY!!" ^_^ ......Whose with me?!!
     Alright! Alright! So you're not in that happy place with me yet! Well, let me share some of the things that are making me happy right now, and maybe your mood will turn around! :-) ... How about the fact that the Spring weather, while it's got a battle on it's hands, has decided to be friends with the flowers and trees!

                         {BFFs 8x10 Print by Cadouxdle}
       I know what'll do it...because it made me happy to look at them last night!

                       {Spring is in the Airamels Caramel Bars by haveitconfections}
      If you're not smiling right now....you're probably drooling! That's at the top of the list of the first steps to "happy"!! :-)
      These are a few of the other things making me happy right now...

                          {Cute Tennis Sticks Girls 5x7 Machine Embroidery Designs by justforuembroidery}
       Yep! Tennis! It's the time of year for the Sony Ericsson Tournament. This is the 2nd week and Nadal and Federer are both still in it!!...Oh! The happiness! :-) I need to get me one of these Mens "Here To Serve" tennis tee shirts by crazy4tennis1! Roger and Rafa are doing their part. Maybe my hubby would like to join them....OFFICIALLY! LOL

         He already makes me happy every day, so even if he's not officially serving me...I'm good with the service I'm getting so far! :-)
      Now, here's a little something that should make YOU happy! See this little Red Hot Sleepy Owl Hat, with the little blue bow....SO cute!...by Happyhooks88...

         ...Well, they're giving you a coupon code. If you put the word "SPRINGFLING" in the comment box at checkout, you can get 15% off all orders!! Do me a favor and tell them 'Poetesswug' sent you! :-)} How cool is that?!...Happy yet?! :-)

                            {Happy Happy by farouche}

        The above framed words,....and these below, by artzink,....reminded me that I don't have to be happy just today. I can Wake Up Happy every day! 

        "Happy" is a choice! I mean, all kinds of things can happen to you,....and around you,.....that you have no control over. But inside our head...most of us can control that! {At least part of the time...in my case! LOL} So, today, since it's just the right kind of day for a good bounce, I'm gonna be like the 'little ones'...

       ...and Bounce...emotionally! TummyMountain, where you can find all of the 'little ones', won't mind a bit, I'm sure! :-)

     Now, if there wasn't a flower in the post somewhere you'd know I was just giving this "happy" thing words, and not action....because Oh Yeah! Flowers make me HAPPY!!! Crocheted ones, always!! But truth is, I just love flowers! They are just happy-inducing creations!

        Look at this original oil painting by decorpro, entitled Happy Days, and tell me you don't feel the 'happy' washing over you!

      If you really want to feel it, look at the other flowers in her shop too!}

     Hey! How did they get in here?!....^_^...Okay, they make me happy too!...And so does this!!

      It's mouth watering Chocolate Fudge with Coconut and Almonds!! And they made me so happy just looking at them in the OhFudgeStore on Etsy last night.....that I bought them!! ^_^ I'm insuring myself some "Happy" in the upcoming days as well!! LOL

                             {Happy Place art print by HoneyBoo}

     If you weren't happy when you got here, I hope you are now. Or, at the very least, that you have a grin, if not a full-blown smile going on!! ^_^ And if you wanna keep it going, please check out any of these Etsy shops more fully. Trust me when I say....your 'Happy' will be 'Happier'!!! {You can click on any of the pictures above to take you to their shops too!}

    Now, you know I wouldn't be happy unless there was a 'happy' poem left behind me too, right?!....Enjoy! And have a "Happy" day!! :-)

I will Be Happy!

Today I will be happy!
I've decided, and so "There!"
And it won't depend on clothing,
or the way I wear my hair.

My 'Happy' has to be
from my head down to my toes.
And not coincidental,
but because that's what I've chose.

I am trying to be happy
when there's always such bad news.
But the good news is that happy
is a way to squash the blues!

So today I will be happy!
I've decided. Enough said!!
There'll be plenty of time for sadness,
and for taking to my bed.

Are you thinking that my poem
is too 'Optimistic/Sappy'?
Okay, you could be right.
Don't burst my bubble. I am happy! 

To Fold.....Or NOT To Fold. That Is The Question!

                      {Laundry Day Fine Art Photography by smlowry}

         I love Etsy photographers! They always have just the perfect photo that I'm looking for! Especially this time, because they couldn't have  known that my washer and dryer were gonna be on their last legs...Well, the dryer no longer has a leg! LOL.......It's DEAD!
        smlowry's Etsy shop had this photo that reminded me of what we've had to do the last few days. Go to the laundromat to dry our clothes! {By the way, this shop has some other cute photos in there too, totally unrelated. And, just saying, you can also follow their blog HERE too!...I just did!}
      Yep! We had to 'FOLD' the idea of maybe getting the vent cleaned out and then getting back to the business of doing our laundry as usual. Apparently the lent vent is not our problem...The truth is, we've had the appliance repairman here a couple of times in the past year or so, mainly for the washing machine, but he has eluded to the fact that it may be time for new appliances.

       Sorry...had to take a second to think pretty thoughts! ^_^
    Okay, so we knew the time would come for a new washer and dryer. That time almost came in 2000. Yes! The year 2000!! LOL That's when we moved to Massachusetts. We didn't move here with our washer and dryer. We figured we'd buy a nice set to fit right in our new laundry room once we got here!
    Then a new neighbor offered us hers for only $100!! She was a doctor and had just started a new practice in New York City. She was moving that weekend and had decided that her 'less than a year old Whirlpool washer and Dryer' would not be going with her... She wouldn't have enough room in her new place. And she'd be too busy to wash her own clothes anyway! {Doctors can afford to get SOMEBODY ELSE to do their laundry! LOL...*wonder if it's too late to become a doctor?!*}
     So, we have now stretched that wonderful $100 gift to it's end. Today I'll be comparison shopping for a washer and dryer.

             {Keep on and Laundry on print, and other 'Keep Calm' prints from the KeepCalmShop}

            I've already started checking around to see what brand would be best these days. We're old people. We don't know about the 'New-fangled' gadgets. ^_^ Thankfully, 'Good Housekeeping' is still around! I got some really good info from their site.
      We know we want a front loader, washer and dryer. The top loading washer has gone off track a few times. Has wrapped up, and ripped up some favorite clothes,....

          .....Sorry. Needed a moment......and it also didn't spew fabric softener like it was suppose to (got all gunked up! YUCK!) So this time it'll be front loaders!...What kind of washer and dryers do you have?! Do you have a recommendation?!
     Other than that I'm not doing much today. Crocheting....of course! :-) I've been doing that right along anyway though.

        I sewed a purple bead into the center of this beige and metallic threaded flower. Trying something new all the time!

         And I made a few star shaped flowers too!

      And, of course, the last flower I made with my baby blue thread. All gone now. :-( ...and finished up some multicolored thread I had lying around too, into the tiny purple hued flower below!

      I've got a peach colored flower almost done. I just have to take pictures of it. Then I'll get to listing all of them.
      I'm gonna try not to look at the news too much today. The other night, when they said that high levels of radiation was found in Massachusetts' rain water, I found myself thinking about it all night. I kept waking up...A sure sign that 'ENOUGH is ENOUGH'!! I need to keep my head in the clouds for a little while! LOL

     That's my way of saying: 'Put your mind on things you can do something about! Let those who CAN do something about the world's problems put their mind on it!' I can't even dry my clothes!! LOL


Ease,By Rhyme

To ease my mind,
I jot down a rhyme.

When forced to think,
my brain cells link.

With emotions on paper,
anxieties taper.

With the flow of my pen,
I'm  at peace again.

And to jot down this rhyme,
brought ease to my mind.

Robin To The Rescue!!

     DovieMoon's nest photo reminds me of one of the wonderful things about enduring a hard winter with piles and piles of snow....the fact that one day all of the snow will stop falling from the sky, the backyard will watch it melt away with the Spring sunshine, and the beautiful red-breasted Robins will return to my backyard!!! :-]
     I know....you thought you were going to come by the blog this morning and see me ONCE AGAIN talking about how much I loathe and despise old cars and shifty-mouthed Mechanics, who try to deceive you into paying more than what a job is worth. But Ha! Ha! the joke is on you! LOL
    I am not going to talk about that car....or even my dryer, which by the way, now needs me to plan a funeral for it!...I am going to talk about my love of a Robin!

      No! Not this Robin!....Although I sure could have used him this weekend....POW!.....WHAM! {You know what I'm talking about too! LOL}
    No, I'm talking about this Robin....

      I was lamenting the other day about how the only critter I've seen in my backyard lately, even though the weather seemed to be trying to clear, was a lonely squirrel. There were no birds swooping and playing, or singing and hunting for food, like usual this time of year...But that same day we got another taste of winter! A 'Springtime Snow Storm' the weather man called it...trying to make it sound all whimsical-like!...I say BAH!
    But yesterday, with still a bit of a chill in the air, but loads of sun all over my snow-less backyard, I saw Robins!! Tons of them! They were all over the backyard, hopping around, pecking at the ground; standing still, looking around, scoping out the territory. It was a beautiful sight!
       It was a welcome pause from all the craziness that has been my life the last few days!!

       Those Robins were big...and fat too! Maybe they were all pregnant mamas looking for a place to lay their babies down. {Mamas in a group can get it done!!! LOL} It reminded me that I had to look up some information online about Robins and their nesting habits. 
      I told you about those beautiful gourd birdhouses that SharonsCustomArtwork has. I wanted to get one to hang in the tree out in the backyard. But the hole seemed too small for my Robins...and I didn't know if Robins would nest inside of a gourd!

       I have to thank her for her willingness to help me out too! She convoed me to let me know that she could make the hole larger for me, if I needed her too...I mean, how beautiful would this Sunflower Painted Gourd birdhouse be, hanging in a tree right where I could take pictures?! It could be the jump-start to a beautiful Season! :-)
      So, I googled it!! {I love saying that now...that I, Miss Computer illiterate extraordinaire,  'Googled' something! LOL} And guess what I found out?! Birdhouses 101!..."These songbirds like to stay in open spaces like gardens, farms, meadows and woodlands but they can also stay in the bird houses of your backyards. Robins can nest in artificial structures provided for them or even just about any convenient place they can find..."
      But then there was a glitch...."...Robins don’t like to live in cavities hence, they stay away from boxes. You can, therefore, provide them with a nest shelf where female robins can build her nest. Be sure to include a slope and overhanging roof to protect them from the rain..." 
     Now I'm not sure whether to get the gourd or not!...What would you do?! Get them a gourd with big holes, or let well enough alone and just enjoy them from afar?! :-/ ... Hard to resign myself to the latter though, because they're so PRETTY!!!

     And tanyabond, with her Two Robins Singing..., knows what I mean!
    Oh Well! I guess, in the scheme of things, this is not that much of a problem. Have you been looking at the news lately????!!!!!!!....If not....DON'T!!! LOL The word MELTDOWN could have a whole lot of meanings if you do!

                             {Robins 6 by margiemoore}
       Hmmmmm.....that reminds me...I need to get me some breakfast! ^_^ And just go look out the window at this beautiful snow-less sky! Have a good day everybody!!

Describe The Sky

Evoking awe and bouts of wonder.
Such inspiration, you just want to cry.
With birds high-flying, and winds a blowing,
what words would you use to describe the sky?

Would you say, whether clouds are upon it,
that it blankets a wondrous space?
Or would you be more awed and humbled,
hoping there you would find God's face?

I would say that when standing quiet,
looking up at the sun or moon,
there's a feeling of peaceful oneness
that I hope won't go away too soon.

Evoking bouts of awe and wonder
was probably what it was designed to do;
That is, besides giving off light and weather,
and the most spectacular view!

{By the way, you can click on most of the photos in this post to take you to their source.)