A Goldfinch and a Graduate!

      It's not gonna be a long post this morning because I have a meeting to attend, but I wanted to show you my fuzzy photo of who showed up at my hummingbird feeder again yesterday...Yep! Mr. finch! :-) Or, as I now know him, Mr. Goldfinch! I saw a close up of him on the Audubon site HERE.
      When I first saw him I was really excited, thinking maybe I had seen some kind of rare hummingbird! ^_^ But then I took a closer look and realized..."Heyyyyy! He has a short beak!...That's not a hummingbird!!!" :-) Then I realized something else...he WAS rare!! Rare to my feeder!! LOL
      The only visitors I get to the hummingbird feeder are....uhhhh...hummingbirds!! ^_^ In fact, even though we usually hang suet from this same hook for the winter birds, we never get birds landing on the hummingbird feeder, as if they're in some kind of 'Twilight Zone' confusion about where they are!! LOL 
       We have blue jays and cardinals, robins and woodpeckers, and all kinds of birds coming to the suet feeder in the winter, but guess what?!....I've NEVER seen a goldfinch there! NEVER!!! ^_^ So he was a pretty sweet surprise to me anyway, even though he was 'just' a bird, and not a hummingbird! :-) 
      He was a male goldfinch, probably looking for a lady goldfinch, and totally befuddled with my helicopter-like hummingbirds!! LOL Interestingly though, he was pecking and sipping nectar...SOMEHOW!...from the hummingbird feeder!! I know he was getting something because he would peck and then tilt his head backwards and open and close his beak like he was tasting something! :-) He did that a few times. And then he was just sitting on the perch looking around for a while, before he would go to one of the other four perches and repeat the process!!
      Who knew!! Apparently nectar comes out of the feeder if you peck on it!!...But do other birds sip on nectar besides hummingbirds?! O_O How un-bird-educated am I?!!! LOL

      Speaking of education, I wanna send a big 'shout-out' to my baby-girl daughter/girlfriend who just graduated her course at Holyoke Community College yesterday!! ^_^
          

      She worked really hard to get a little more knowledge under her belt to help her out in the financial department in the future, if need be. And with all of her other responsibilities, being a mom, a wife, and a care-giver to her mother-in-law, I'm really proud of the effort she took through all of the wild schedules and exhaustion in order to get it done!! ♥ "Good Onya, Baby Girl!!!" {And, on a side note, she looked so pretty and grown up in her cap and gown standing beside the young people with their purple and blue streaks in their hair, and silver and gold rings and studs in their eyebrows and lips!! ^_^ It's a different world out there...just saying!! ^_^}

    Okay, I'm off!!...Have a good day, Y'all!! ♥ {Below is a little poem in honor of the green I'm seeing in the backyard now...finally!!)

GREEN

Beans, asparagus,cabbage and frogs,
cucumbers, shamrocks, and moss on old logs.

Leaves, trees, and tangy mint jam,
Dr. Seuss stories of green eggs and ham.

Grasshoppers, apples, and new lawn-cut grass,
tropical waters and thick bottled glass.

 Pistachio, collards, and yes...Money too!
And don't forget envy. It's green when you stew!

Ecologically aware, reusably clean,
Or you don't know anything. They both are called "green".

A color, a feeling, a veggie, all fun!
And also my favorite color is one!

Wanna Know Where I've Been?!

(Hand Painted Giraffe Mug by LittleSloth)

      When I looked over at my blog and realized that I hadn't posted anything since May 19th I slapped the back of my hand in a disapproving manner and then started writing!! WOW! How could "I" go this long without spewing something from my frazzled brain and gnarled up typing fingers?! LOL

      I'll tell you how...no time! My days are going by so fast lately! I hardly spend any time online. Especially not this past week. It's French Open tennis time!! ^_^ I've been sitting in front of the tv crocheting like a crazy woman and watching some of the best tennis matches I've seen in a while...between the regular glance down at the chain one, double crochet, chain one, etc I mean. ^_^

      What have you all been doing?!...Here's my list:

    - crocheting

    - a quick virtual date night trip to aruba

    - chatting on the phone with old friends

    - consoling family members...(dont ask!!)

    - crocheting!

    - eating

    - helping hubby look for a job

    - filling out paperwork...UGH!

    - crocheting slippers

    - writing greeting cards

    - watching the hummingbirds at the feeder...and the cutest little yellow finch who has decided that my feeder looks interesting as a resting place to watch the world from. ^_^ 

    - throwing my shoulder out of place....YES I DID! OUCH!!! It's been a whole week now!!

    - coughing, wheezing, and blowing my nose.....It's allergy season again...UGH! :-(

    - crocheting and shipping necklaces and slippers

    - breathing in and out at a slow pace!!!...and sometimes counting to 10! LOL

      I'll be waiting to see what YOUR list looks like!! ^_^

      ANYWAY!!! ^_^ Here's a few of the projects I've been working on lately:

      I've really been into the stripes lately. They work great for using up leftover bits of yarn that I don't want to waste! :-) {If you're interested in purchasing any of my slippers you can click over to my wuglyees etsy shop on the right side of my page. --> }

      Okay...that's enough talking for now. Hubby and I just got back in the house from our 'virtual' trip to Aruba. ^_^ I've got to do some 'virtual' unpacking, and get myself to bed!!! Have a good rest of the weekend, Everybody!! ♥

A Little Doze'll Do You!

I enjoy my sleeping, and a doze,
a nap, and such.
In fact I might enjoy a snooze
entirely waay too much!

At any time of day,
you'll find me like a weeping willow.
Head hung low and dragging,
looking for the nearest pillow.

No, there's nothing wrong.
I'm not depressed. I've still got bounce!
And I can stay awake and be
quite witty when it counts!

But I have been awake for things
when I could've been asleep.
And now my time's so valuable
I don't treat it like it's cheap.

My sleeping, dozing, napping,
is to my life a special key.
It unlocks and refreshes
and dispels anxiety!

Most people try to fill up
every hour in the day.
But me, I'd rather be asleep
and waste it all away.

There's plenty hours left
for all the flit and play and chore.
An hour for a nap right now?!
Why not?! There's 24!!

Do You Have Different Times For Different Kinds Of 'COMFORT FOOD'?

 (Size 8, Crochet House Slippers, Autumn Red, Autumn Maize, Bedroom Shoes by wuglyees)

      I know the header question is kind of an odd question to be asking when you're looking at a pair of crochet slippers, not food! :-)) But I didn't have any pictures of the food. I ate it all up!! LOL So you'll just have to settle for the conversation we're about to have about it...while you look at a few of the 'comfort slippers' I have listed in my wuglyees shop right now! ^_^

 (by wuglyees)

      Why am I talking about 'comfort food', you ask?!...Because I was having one of those days over the weekend where I was slowly eating some 'Ben & Jerry's' ice cream off of a big soup spoon while thinking about a well-done cheeseburger. That's why! LOL It was at that moment that I realized that some of the incidents of late, incidents where I would have had one kind or the other of a certain kind of 'comfort food' to get me through it, had crossed over each other, and I wasn't gonna be able to comfort myself with food to get through it!!...Well, not with one kind of food anyway!! LOL

      Money problems, health problems, disappointments, discouragement, people I love getting into trouble with the law....you know, things that make you need huge vats of some kind of comfort food!!...or hours and hours of hugs, and lots of prayer!!

      Frankly, what's really getting me through it is lots of love from friends and family, prayer, Biblical reminders, my brand new Bible student's attentiveness, and projects to crochet! :-) 

 (by wuglyees)

 (Size 9, Crochet House Slippers, Autumn Maize and Autumn Red, Bedroom Shoes by wuglyees)

      
         Okay....and food!!! ♥ ^_^ ... When there's not enough money at the end of the month I focus on the comfort of a great big chef salad with ham and cheese folds, ripe-thin sliced tomatoes, black olives, lettuce, green and red bell peppers, black pepper and hot pepper flakes!...YUM!...and it all seems better! ^_^

       When I get that 'out-of-the-blue' phone call that harbors a brick-load of bad news, followed by an email saying that the news is even worse than I first thought....UGH!...I sit down with a big spoon, and a pint of 'Ben & Jerry's' 'Chunky Monkey'...and chew my way to calm!! :-))

(Size 13 Crochet House Slippers, Dark and Light Grey Heather, Bedroom Shoes by wuglyees)

       When I move unexpectantly and throw my shoulder out of place...OUCH!...I holler for hubby to bring me a bowl of chicken noodle soup, or a hot chocolate to sip on...and eventually I relax enough to fall asleep...where I'm not in pain, or thinking about pain, for at least a little while!

       Of course, food isn't the cure all to end all!! In fact, it usually doesn't change anything really! But I sure have enjoyable comfort thinking it does!! ^_^ ... Am I the only one who does this?...I think not!!...I'm sure some of you have what I call 'Go To' comfort foods!

      When someone has lied to you.......French Fries!

      When the check that they said was in the mail...isn't actually in the mail!....a grilled cheese sandwich!

      When there's no more money to spend on comfort food!...an egg sandwich with pickles and mayo! LOL (Sometimes you have to find comfort with what's left in the fridge!! LOL)

       Yes! There are loads of other comfort foods that are not so bad for you, like baked chicken with a vinaigrette dressing, cabbage soup, cottage cheese topped with a pineapple ring and fresh tomato, and many many more!! I'm sure you could name a few! ^_^

      

      But whatever the food, for whatever the situation, my question is why does it seem to work?...Even if only temporarily?!...I suspect, in my case, that it has something to do with the way I was comforted through hard times as a kid.
     It seemed that through all of the hard situations of my childhood...having to move from place to place, watching my baby sister being given to other adoptive parents, my parent's divorce, and OTHER stuff! Some of it really YUCKY STUFF!...there was always food!
     I sometimes dream about the food of my childhood: homemade biscuits and gravy, peach cobbler, turkey cornbread stuffing, bacon, fried chicken, meatloaf, hash browns, homemade french fries, hamburgers, homemade jam, etc....*drooling*...Oh yeah!...COMFORT!!! :-)
 

 (Size 12 Crochet House Slippers, Silver Grey and Black, Bedroom Shoes by wuglyees)

      And today, with aching joints because of the rain, what do I have...uhhhh...comfortable slippers, and a dream! LOL And prayer!! ^_^ There's no 'comfort food' in sight!!...unless you wanna call leftover cabbage and a boiled egg 'comfort food'!! LOL But, for that to be the case, you'd have to be comforting a walrus whose been cooped up at the zoo!!! LOL I guess I'll stick to my dreams!! ^_^ Have a good day, Eaters!! ♥

Fast Food!

Tasty, salty, satisfying.
Bloating, coating stomach lining.

Greasy, cheesy, burger grinder.
Gassy, thick, intestine finder.

Crispy, long, french fries a-plenty.
Chocolate, peppermint, green and minty.

Salads; veggie, seafood, chicken.
Fried and floured, finger lickin'.

Hoagies, subs, and roast beef stew.
Catfish, dash of hot sauce too.

Pizza, mushroom, peppers, tomato.
Apple fries instead of potato.

Catch-up, mustard, condiments.
Onion rings? I'm on the fence.

Frosty, frothy, milk shake sip.
Coffee Coolata, do-nut, dipped.

No matter if it's hot or chilled.
Definitely a happy meal.

So...Like...I Took A Little Pause, And Then.....!!!

 (Purple Hair Clip Crochet Flower by TwoSeasideBabes)

      So, it was like this...one day I was in my groove, talking my head off and crocheting every chance I got, and then something serious happened in my family...and here I am, a week later, wondering where I am, and if somebody got the license plate of the train of life that hit me!! ^_^ I can't tell you what happened because then I'd be talking about somebody else's business on 'my' blog! But just trust me when I tell you...it was SERIOUS!!

      It's taken me a few days to digest the news and try to get my land-legs back under me. Now I'm back to the hunt for smile-worthy things, and flowers, and hummingbirds! :-) Yes! The hummingbirds are back!!! They've been entertaining me for about a week now. A necessary flying smile in the sky, and sitting on the feeder. ♥

      This post is not 'me, back to usual'. But it is my forced post to try to get me back in the mood to blog...because, frankly, I haven't wanted to do much of anything lately! I think it's my brain trying to take a hiatus, or re-group, or veg-out, or whatever!! LOL I know it'll get it back together soon. In the meantime I'll just say a quick "Hi!", ask if you all have any news to share, and share a couple of etsy items that made me smile today. :-) ...

 (Summer Crochet Long Sleeve Top by ArtasStore)

 (Colorful and Light Crochet Shoes by ShiSharka)

      And share a couple of flowers I made for a repeat customer this week...

 (Crochet Flower Brooches by wuglyees)

    And share a pair of slippers I just listed in my wuglyees shop! ^_^ ...

 (Crochet House Slippers by wuglyees)

      Hopefully over the next few days I'll get my 'talking groove' back! Until then, just hang in here with me, will ya!...And talk amongst yourselves. LOL See you soon! ♥

Head High, Little Girl

Keep head high, little girl.
And your heart as an open book.
Think good thoughts of who you are,
so other girls can take a look.

Your self esteem, little girl,
should be pumped up wherever you can.
But shouldn't depend on prettiness,
or the sugary words of a man.

Your self esteem needs to be balanced.
Not arrogant or smug at it's core.
For the sun does not rise and set on you,
but nor is garbage dumped at your door.

So keep head high, little girl.
And your heart as an open book.
Your self esteem will then be lifted,
and the whole world will take a look.

Pretty..............Ugly?!

 (Black Butterfly Headband by kaang)

      Hi! ^_^ I'm not here for a long drawn out conversation tonight...*and you can stop hooting and clapping at any time! LOL*...but I did wanna share some pretty things, and some ugly...*scratch that*...some 'not so pretty' things that I made myself! ^_^

      The header photo is showing one of the pretty things! I love pretty butterflies on a headband, don't you?!!...And the only thing they have in common with my 'Ugly Wuglyee' style bedroom slippers is that they both have black coloration included on them!

 (Crochet House Slippers, Gray, Black, and Olive Green by wuglyees)

      Of course, my slippers also have other colors! Some charcoal gray and black print, and olive green soles! :-) ...

      They're like some 'throw-back' colored slippers from my favorite generation...the 70s!! ^_^ *♫ Staying Alive, Staying Aliveeeeeeeee! ♫ :-)) ... What can I say?!....Oh! I know what I can say! I can say that what they lack in 'pretty' they make up for in 'comfortable'!! ^_^

     Moving on to the other 'pretty'! :-) ...
 

 (Crochet Chocolate Strawberry Coaster by MonikaDesign)

      I love Monika's coasters!! :-) They almost look like real chocolate-dipped strawberries!...but..like...chocolate-dipped strawberries that you can eat your peanut butter cookies and milk off of!! ^_^

      Speaking of peanut butter cookies! :-)) ...

      These are my other 'ugly'! :-] They were a quick meal for some desperately 'desserty' bakers! ^_^ Me and Mr. Wug I mean...of course!! LOL...

      Our cupboard was kinda bare, but we found a way to make some deliciously ugly cookies anyway!! ^_^ There were only three ingredients: a cup of peanut butter, a cup of white sugar, and an egg! Seriously...that was all!!!
      We had to preheat the oven to 350 degrees, mix the three ingredients until they were smooth, and put them on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper for 6 to 8 minutes!! :-) (Our oven took a little longer, so I guess that old adage about a watched pot never boiling has some truth to it!!...at least it does when it comes to watching ovens for cookies to brown!! LOL) 
      They weren't 'pretty' when they came out, and they weren't as crisp as I like my peanut butter cookies to be, but they sure were good!!!! ^_^ Our dessert craving was thoroughly satisfied!!

      There was only enough milk for one of us to get a glass to sip on with their cookies...You'll just have to guess which one of us drank it...and shared a sip or two. :-)) No...those kind of manners are not 'pretty'!...I'll have to work on that...tomorrow!! Ha! Ha!...Goodnight, Y'all!! ♥

Cooking

Flipping, Frying,
Flambeing, Filleting,
Burning, Browning,
Paring, Pureeing.

Boiling, Baking,
Mixing, Making,
Simmering, Scaling,
Sifting, Shaking.

Cooking, Crackling,
Cutting, Coring,
Sprinkling, Spattering,
Patting, Pouring,

Broiling, Battering,
Steeping, Steaming,
Timing, Tossing,
Cubing, Creaming,

Slicing, Scrambling,
Turning, Toasting,
Melting, Measuring,
Rinsing, Roasting.

Dipping, Dicing,
Skimming, Sauteing,
Poaching, Peeling,
Mincing, Microwaving.

Gathering, Grilling
Basting, Barbecuing,
Hacking, Heating,
Scoring, Skewering.

Standing, Stirring,
Rough, Tough,
Kitchen, Ditching,
Had Enough!

It's All About Being Blue Around Here...But Not The Way You Might Think!

 (Blue Leather Bag/Backpack by MadamEliseeva)

      Considering how many blog posting days I've missed lately, and the fact that hubby is out of work again, it would be reasonable for you to think that I might be emotionally blue!...and I wouldn't be mad at you for thinking that, considering I do have my days!! :-) But all of our immediate bills are paid and we're still not at each other's throat from being too underfoot of one another, so we're good!! LOL

      The blue I was talking about was first this!...

      It's a gorgeous blue leather bag I found in this Etsy Treasury!!...

(Dark Blue/Light Blue Etsy Treasury by Jelena)

          If you like at the items in the treasury you'll see how much fun I had clicking onto each shop and checking them out! ^_^ All I can say is that it's a good thing I don't have any money!! LOL If I did, this bracelet might now be mine!!! :-) ...

 

 (Blue Sponge Coral Bracelet Set by GreeneGems)

      And, then again, maybe not. All of my extra money would be going to yarn for slippers!! ^_^ Although I didn't have to buy this yarn...

      ...I've had it for a while. I haven't known what to do with it!...Should it be a baby blanket?...a baby sweater?...baby booties?...
 

          ...Eh!...baby booties are kinda close to baby slippers, so that's what I'm making!! ^_^ Why not! I'm already in slipper-making mode!! ^_^
 

      I'm gonna be making some boy's sizes (3,4,5,6,)...
 

      If they come out nice, maybe I'll make some girl slippers too...in pink! ^_^ I have LOTS of pink yarn already too!! And I know how to 'girl up' some slippers...with some flowers!! ^_^ ... Okay! The flowers aren't for the girls. They're for me!! LOL

      Anyway!!! ^_^ ... I made a pair of 'Ugly Wuglyee', size 11, slippers yesterday! O_O I took photos of them today, but I haven't gotten around to editing them, or listing the slippers in my wuglyees shop! But I will!! ^_^ And, some time or the other, I'll show them too you......When I get enough self-esteem, so as to not care what anybody thinks of my ugly babies!! LOL I'm not quite there today, but....maybe tomorrow!! ^_^

      Enjoy the rest of your weekend, Everybody!! ♥

Everything Is Getting Older

Everything is getting older,
past it's time, and rusting fast!
No matter how many times you oil it,
Somehow, still, it doesn't last.

Everything is getting older.
Even veggies just from the store,
have now browned and withered up.
They're not all shiny like before.

Everything is getting older.
Old dogs included, people too.
Even babies, from the womb,
start getting older, just past brand new!

Everything is getting older,
like real good books, with tales all told.
But, Wait a minute! Some books are good!
That's why "To read" will not get old.

Everything that's getting older
doesn't harm us and displease.
Just think of wisdom in the aging-
that's with people and with cheese!

All the things, those getting older,
showing marks and scars of time,
just need a tad bit more attention,
or just a small aged glass of wine!