Colorful Saturday!

 (CROCHET Couture Cupcake Scarf PATTERN by FiercePixyBoutique)

      We're still alive, hubby and I, after our 'virtual date' of sleep...sleep...and more sleep....our trip to dreamland! ^_^ ... Yeah! We stayed home, ate catfish and sausage, and got us a long earned, much needed 'nap-o-rama'!! LOL

      It was a good date!...but, of course, no good date goes unpunished!...This morning I can barely move my left hand! LOL Well, not the whole hand...just the middle finger up to the palm of my hand. I think it's an arthritis flare-up, because it's all swollen at the joints and knuckle...And I hope it goes away pretty soon! That's the hand I hold my thread in, when I crochet!!! O_O

      So, for now I'll just have show off other people's crochet! :-) That's why I shared the colorful cupcake scarf in the header photo!...And this one below!...

 

 (CROCHETED Candy Scarf PATTERN by FiercePixyBoutique)

      I'm sure I'll get back to my crocheting after I rest my hand for a couple of days...Or, at least, I hope so!! O_O That's what I get for napping too much!! LOL...And being too old!...and being too....! Ugh! This could go on forever!! LOL I'll just stop there. :-))

      Instead of going on and on about my age and ailments, I'll share some more Saturday color!...

 (12 Homemade Easy Bake Oven Cake & Frosting Mixes by buildacakebakeshop)

 (Knee High Knitted Socks by fizzaccessory)

 (Crochet bib Necklace by HAREMDESIGN)

 (Women's Dress Coat by happyfamilyjudy)

      Now I'm off to finish my green tea...and see if I can soak my aching finger/hand!...What next, right?!......Well, stop asking!!! LOL I don't ask questions like that!!...Something new might happen!...And I wanna keep my feebleness and pain spurts to a minimum!!! LOL

      Enjoy your Saturday, Everybody! Go and play, or something! :-)

(Watercolors paintings originals – "Promenade rue Saint-Martin" by NicolasJolly)

Do You Play?!

I had some 'Play Time' in my youth,
back when my hips could take the heat.
I couldn't wait to find someone
that I could race, chase down, or beat!

How many times did I 'Hopscotch',
play some marbles, skip a rock?
And a game of 'Tag' could go
until you couldn't see the clock!

All my games were very active.
So much energy, people! WOW?!
But things have changed. It's different,
because I'm so much older now!

I still have 'Play Time' at my age,
but the games are slow and rare.
I like board games, playing cards,
things you do right from your chair.

The games I watch can't be too long.
I'll fall asleep! I'm kind of nod-dy.
And I have to use my mind.
No running round now with this body.

I play with things like yarn,
and with hooks...even thread.
And I play with pen and pencil,
pulling poems from my head.

Whichever way, I have to play!
It's my excuse to have a laugh.
I just have to keep it slow.
Don't want a charlie-horse in my calf!

It's...'Virtually'...Friday!!

 (Hawaii Shooting Star Fine Art Photo by ShanaFineArtPhotos)

      If you follow my ramblings on this blog, you know that today is 'date day' for hubby and I. We 'virtually' go somewhere in the world on a date 'get together' every Friday...Today...Uhhhh...we couldn't decide where to go! ^_^

      Hubby has been home all week, so the whole week has already felt like a date! :-) We haven't even had much rain this week!...

 (Waiting for the Rain to Stop 12 x 8 photo print by LeShopUK)

      We 'did' have some windy days...And it is kinda cold out there! But nothing too bad...So, where shall we go?!...What shall we do?!...As, per usual, it has to include good music, good food, and maybe some thing good to look at!...

 (Lake Louise Canada Rocky Mountains Greeting Card by spirithelpers)

      We'll figure out something!...Or not. ^_^ I can get all of the above elements right here at home right now...so maybe we'll keep our eyes out of the skies today...

(11X14 Earth and Sky from an Airplane Fine Art Color Photo Print by StefaniePoteetPhoto)

      ...and just continue the 'virtual' date we've already been on this week...right on onto the weekend! :-) ..."It's alright by me!!!!!!" ^_^

      Have a good day, and weekend, Everybody!! :-)

Weekend

Weekend Folderol;
Lollygagging, having fun;
Makes working up to Friday
worth the paperwork you've done.

Your job, all week, came first,
but now it's time for a little jaunt;
or to lay around the house
and just do nothing, if you want!

A little this. A little that.
A bit of fun had out of doors.
A little weeding in the garden.
And a little bit of chores.

Some weekend folderol,
all alone or with your friends.
Or some chit chat with your neighbors,
new acquaintances or kin.

A Weekend that's all planned,,
or simply finding things to do;
Because every Monday will be back
and you'll need something to look forward to!

Let's Talk About Shepherd's Pie!

(Shepherds Pie/Cottage Pie Recipe by InternationalChef)

      I know what you''re thinking...You're thinking: "Wug, why are you talking about Shepherd's Pie when most people in your area are eating turkey today?!" ^_^
      Well, I'll tell ya!...The reason is because my husband made the best Shepherd's Pie ever last night!...Sooooo good!!...{Plus the fact that I don't celebrate Thanksgiving! Therefore, I'm not eating the traditional meal that everyone else is eating today...turkey...I'm one of Jehovah's Witnesses. (If you wanna know more about why we don't celebrate it, just email me and I'll talk to you about it.)}
       Hubby's recipe was not his own though. He made Rachel Ray's Southern Shepherd's Pie, with sweet potatoes instead of regular potatoes!! :-) ...
      

(Sweet Potato Flavor Oil by SaharasSupplies)

 

      If you've eaten Shepherd's Pie before, you know that it usually is made with lamb or ground beef, and has potatoes, onions, carrots, and sometimes corn and peas.
      But Rachel's recipe has other stuff!! :-) Besides being made with a combination of ground pork and beef, it also has cider vinegar, brown sugar, a banana, heavy cream, nutmeg, and flat-leaf parsley!
      And those still aren't the ingredients that gave hubby a mental struggle yesterday, trying to do this recipe justice! ^_^ The recipe also has parsnips!...

(Parsnip Seeds by seedslt)

 

      Now, I think I've told you all before about my husband's coordination challenges when it comes to cutting up stuff! Imagine him trying to cut up parsnips that look like carrots, but aren't gonna be shredded with a potato peeler, but rather, cut up with a knife!...into thin chunks!! O_O
      The green peas were no problem. They were frozen!! LOL...Open box...dump in bowl! ^_^

(Meteor Pea Seeds by thegardenstudio)

 

      But then there was the swiss chard!...*shaking my head*...Oh, the questions I got!!! ^_^ ...
 

(Swiss Chard Seeds by seedslt)

 

      But...he did it! He cut that Swiss chard up perfectly! ^_^

      After a little arranging of sweet potato mixture up on top, and popping it in the oven, out popped the most delicious shepherd's pie ever!! ^_^
      I did forget to tell you about the hilarious incident with the zesting of one orange though! ^_^ Let me just say that some things need a visual!...and I'm thankful his zesting of an unwashed dirty-peeled orange didn't have a visual!! LOL YUCK!!...But typical of my husband, he didn't waste time trying to scrub down to a perfectly clean orange peel...which he couldn't do anyway, because he had a thin-skinned, not correct to use to zest, kinda orange anyway!! LOL {If you need some instructions on zesting an orange, here's some help --> HERE! ^_^}
      He went back to the store and bought thicker, more dimply skinned, oranges...came home and washed them!! ^_^ THEN he zested one like a big old chef...boy-AR-dee!!! LOL In the end...YUM!!!...I just had a tiny bit for breakfast too! ^_^ Who needs turkey?!! LOL
       Have a good day, Everybody! :-)

Struggle To Raise Your Head

Now, who am I to say
the way that others ought to live;
But my pep talk, to help you through,
I'm  motivated, now, to give.

The struggles of this system
are an alert-to raise your head;
To put one foot before the other,
and not lay down like you are dead.

Many things are just not fair.
They seem to happen just to you;
But is crying and complaining
all that you can find to do?

Use the logic of your mom-
who made you finish every drop,
and think of others who were hungry
for the food you left for slop.

In other words, just say
to yourself-when feeling bad:
"Look at all the other struggles
that the ones I love have had."

It doesn't  make it go away.
It doesn't  make your trials less real;
But it may make you raise your head,
and how you think,-and how you feel!

A Day For Smiles...And Large Umbrellas?!

 (Girl Toddler Cowl and Muff CROCHET PATTERN by JocelynDesigns)

      I'm gonna start this blog post off by saying that I hope all of you are dry...having no torrential rains coming down on your head, I mean! ^_^...and that you're cozy by a fire somewhere, or sitting at your kitchen table with a nice hot cup of coffee, tea, or cocoa, looking out the window at birds or squirrels flitting here and there, or sniffing at the cooking cornbread chilli smell wafting through the morning air....Oh wait! That would be ME! ^_^

      Or...you could also be like me!...staring into a backyard full of wet (pictures below), while intermittently looking up and down at the tiny crochet flower pins I'm making for a dear friend. A little thank you for gifts galore of late. ♥ ... I love my friends, and their big spiritually secure hearts!!! :-]

      Before I show you my dreary backyard though, let me say a big thank you to Jocelyn for including my flower pin in her new Etsy treasury!...

(Violet Etsy Treasury by Jocelyn Sass)

 

 (Variegated Violet and White Clutch-Back Flower Pin Boutonniere by Wuglyees)

      Wuglyees thanks you!...and I thank you!! :-) And I'm sure all of the other shops listed in the treasury thank you too...just saying!...without permission to represent!....just saying that too! ^_^

      Anyway!...on a late November day in Massachusetts, what does the sky look like?!...

      ...It looks like it's raining! LOL And it looks like it's raining so much that if your umbrella isn't big enough you might get slammed in the head with a cat or a dog!!!...cuz it's 'raining cats and dogs'!! LOL
      But is there happiness about this storm of rain, wind, and wintry snow mix?!....Yes there is!....I'm sure.....SOMEWHERE!...But not in the Wug household!!! LOL...I'm sure there are Massachusetts' kids somewhere smiling in gleeful spurts about prospects of snow boots, hats, gloves, snowmen, snowball fights, snow sleds, and toboggans!...or at the very least, galoshes! ^_^ ... Good for them!!!...My aching joints beg to differ!!! LOL
       Rain crab that I am though, I do love looking at the rain on the backyard lawn when it looks like this! :-) ...
 

      But I'm not the only one that doesn't wanna be out there in it!!!...
 

      We found our 'woolly moth' friend cowering on the patio. Either the wind blew him here, or he was running in slow motion away from the rain...and didn't make it far. ^_^ Either way, welcome to the backyard my bushy friend! ^_^ And don't worry, if you lose any hair, with my new hormonal situation and hair growing in all manner of wrong places, I'll be happy to share a few strands...or hundreds!!! LOL

        Oh yeah, I guess I should say, by way of full disclosure, that the WHOLE backyard isn't that happy about all of this rain!!...
 

      Hubby's little flower bed and gardening section is taking a royal beating!!!...

       I just won't look at that part any more today! ^_^...
 

      Okay...off to finish my crocheting, and share some hair with a new friend! ^_^ Have a good day, Everybody! ♥

Reasons To Smile

I don't really need a reason,
to let out a great big grin;
But I do from time to time,
just to exercise my chin.

Sometimes I do it just to see
what reaction I will get,
in the places where I've gone,
and the people that I've met.

Sometimes it's just for me!
To amuse some silly thought;
Or to show just how excited
I have been at what I bought.

Sometimes a smile can change my mood,
when weather forecasts make me blue;
Or when I see a baby playing!
Oh yes! Oh Yes! I smile then too!

Truth is, I really don't need a reason.
Frowns just,frankly, aren't my style.
I could sit and write about it,
But even that would make me smile.

It's A Soup & Crackers Tuesday!

 (Campbells Tomato Soup Mugs by CraftyCatsVintage)

      Hi Y'all!...It's Tuesday!...That's right, right?!...It is Tuesday, isn't it?! O_O I'm a little bit fuzzy about it this morning. It was a looooong night...and a looooong day yesterday. That's why it's a soup & crackers day for me today!

      I keep finding reasons to smile, no matter what happens, but my 'wonky, up and down feeling' body doesn't make it easy! And yesterday was no exception!...I must've eaten something that didn't agree with my stomach's delicate disposition these days, because I was 'tossing my cookies'...in other words, throwing up...over and over last night. :-(

      It started early yesterday afternoon, with an overly full feeling in my stomach. But as the day went on, it was a dull ache, and then a pressured pain, and then...queasiness...and then...UPSY-DAISY!!! ^_^ In other words...up she came!!! LOL

       So today it's me...some hot soup...

 (Andy Warhol Campbell's Chicken Noodle Soup Can Wall Art Print Poster by CoolPoster)

      ...Some crackers ...{By the way, the above poster can be yours with free shipping. Just add the coupon code: THEWUGSBACKYARD at checkout!}...

 (4 Vintage Stoneware Soup Bowls by PlayfullyVintage)

      ...Some soup and crackers together...

 (4 Vintage Soup & Crackers Mug Bowl by UnderHerBed)

      ...maybe some hot green tea with honey and lemon...and a blanket!...

(Baby Afghan Throw Blanket "Up up and Away " by AmerVella)

      Thankfully I already finished writing my talk for the meeting. All of my sold items were wrapped and sent off (one to Greece!)...And also, thankfully, hubby is home again today! :-) I need 'babying' today. :-] Tomorrow it can be his turn. ^_^ ... For all of YOU bloggers...stay UN-sick!...and have a good soup & crackers Tuesday!! :-)

This I know!

I am breathing every morning,
moving limbs and reaching out.
And while my brain cells might be fuzzy,
of one thing I have no doubt...

I know I don't do this alone,
even though some don't agree
I know the fruit tastes good that falls,
but someone had to make the tree!

I have respect for other's views.
I don't push my beliefs on them,
but on a daily, weekly, basis,
I give all my praise to him.

Hubby's Home!

 (Miniature little village, five houses by Intres)

       I had quite a weekend!...of which I slept through most of. ^_^ It's a good thing I have hubby here today to help me take care of and put things back to their rightful place. Otherwise there's no telling what my house would look like!! ^_^ He's a 'good egg'! ♥

      What did I do for the weekend, you ask?!...Well, football...sleeping...eating...giggling with friends...surprises (not in a good way)...brain lags (LOTS of them! ^_^)...more football...a couple of old movies...and taking sand out of my 'virtual' shoes after a trip to the canary islands! ^_^ And did I already say 'Football'!!! LOL

       Ahead for today?!...Trying to finish my talk for the meeting later this week...more grocery shopping...crocheting (I have to re-make 3 lapel pins that sold overnight)...a hair washing...and some other odds and ends....Oh Yeah!.....and getting prepared for this week's cold, snow (maybe), wind, and rain!! O_O...

 (Man with Umbrella 8x12 Original Photograph by SonjaCaldwell)

      Yes, winter is trying to let us know that it's coming!...although it's still not that bad considering the time of year it is, and considering that the states to the south seem to be getting worse weather than us!!...What's that all about?! O_O Although, don't get me wrong, I'm certainly not complaining!!!

       Noooooo!...This lone half-brained Wug is just talking!...as usual! LOL...

(Baby Sand Cat The Totem Nursery by HandyMaiden)

      And you are my captured audience! ^_^

      By the way, some really great things happened over the weekend too! Like, for instance, my dad finished his bathroom remodel...including shower tiling, and painting! :-) I have pictures, but I didn't ask if I could share, so I won't. But trust me, it came out beautiful!! :-) ... And hubby made pork chops! :-) YUM!

      How was your weekend?!

All The Things I Love

If I listed all the things I've loved
I could rattle on forever!
Whether by 'order of importance'
or by a poetically quick endeavor.

Right now it's Tennis...Well, all sports,
and reading informative magazines.
And crocheting, food and music.
Well..that might be in my genes!

I've loved teaching and line dancing,
So many things in my short life.
But I've never jumped from a plane,
or whittled anything with a knife!

With every passing moon
I find some other thing that I love.
Whether grassy patterns on my lawn,
or phenomenal skies above.

Yes, if I listed all the things I loved
my words could fill all space,
It comes from curiosity,
and an Ooo-ing Awww-ing place!

      Thanks to all of the Etsy shops for letting me share their goodies while I tell my stories...I just had to say that! :-] And have a good week, Everybody!! ♥

What Is That On My Backyard Lawn?!!

      Hubby and I were awake early this morning. We didn't get up right away though. We just lay there talking about how we slept...him, good. Me, Ugh! :-)) ...Then there was a conversation about what our plans were for the day...making a grocery list, going to the meeting, and some other pre-Monday things!
      Then hubby opened the blinds, and WHOA!! O_O There was snow on the ground!!...
 

      Where did that come from?! O_O We watched the weather report last night and there was NO talk about snow! NONE!...Oh well, I guess weather people can't know everything, right?! ^_^
 

      Other than a surprise snowfall, there's another surprise this morning....I'm craving pancakes! ^_^ Out of the blue I said: "Ummmmm...I'm feeling like having some pancakes."...Hubby said: "Ha! Ha!...Me too! That's why I bought some mix yesterday!! ^_^"
      So, needless to say, it's a 'Pancake Sunday' revisited!! LOL Somehow I knew it would come around again. You can't keep a good pancake down for long! LOL...Or a good snow!...
 

      They both will demand their time in the sun from time to time. ^_^ And I'll be here to talk about it!! LOL...Have a good Sunday, Everybody! 

Precisely

I'm  often alone,
but not lonely.
I'm  often at home,
but not homely.

I'm  proud of myself,
but not haughty.
I do some things wrong,
but not naughty.

I'm  outgoing-Yes!
But not rowdy.
I sometimes dress down,
but not dowdy.

I'm  bookish, I know,
but not nerdy.
A poetry hound,
kind of wordy!

A New Brooch! :-)

      Oops! O_O I almost forgot to put a post up! ^_^ I woke up late...like, around 9:00 a.m.!!!...and then it was breakfast, giggling and making the day's plans with hubby, finishing up the new brooch I was working on last night!... YAY! :-) ...and a few other things!
 

      Then it dawned on me..."Hey! O_O What about your blog?!"...Yikes!...What am I gonna do with this brain of mine?!!! ^_^
 

      So, since my brain is severely 'wonky!', the only thing I could do was share the new brooch, and these two new pins...
 

      No...there's nothing special about a tiny white clutch back lapel pin, or a white clutch back flower boutonniere...
 

      ...Nothing new except that they're new...again!...in my shop! :-) I had some sales yesterday and I had to replace them. :-) ...
 

      I'm heading over to list them in my Wuglyees shop right now...Then I've got a talk to write!!!...*deep breath*...So much to do today, and so little brain power or time!! LOL...BUT...I always have just a little bit more time for poetry!! ^_^ Have a good day, Everybody! ♥ 
 
Poetry

Poetry, the gift of words,
that help you say whats in your heart;
that puts your thoughts of life together,
but pulls emotions all apart.

Poetry, your quiet friend,
that gives your voice a place to land;
that gives the things you'd  never say
a way to jump out from your hand.

Poetry, done to a beat,
a beat of words, said right in time,
without confusion of the music,
but just the rhythm and the rhyme.

Poetry, phrase harmony;
the way a noun and adverb meet;
the way they line up side-by-side,
and all Not needed they delete.

Poetry, the passing thoughts,
and all the others I hold dear,
of all the people and the places
that I've  written down right here.

Poetry, the gift of words,
and putting them together too;
Without the pen and paper
what in the world would my mind do?