I've Spread it Around ...

Oh dear.  The Hubby has come down with my cold - at least an extremely sore throat - for which I feel responsible.  He says it can also be the result of the woodworking he was doing yesterday with a saw and the dust particles.  He's doing all he can with gargling and a neti pot to relieve it, but had a bad night's sleep.  He started to feel it last night after dinner.  Oh dear, oh dear ...

I've been fussing around trying to attach a signature to my blog.  Had one finally figured out - that html code reading is like reading Greek to me - but it ended up splitting into the end of the post and looked a little garish and obnoxious.  When asked for comment, The Impudent Angel said it simply wouldn't do, and I nixed the horrid little gadget until I can make it more tasteful.

Until later ... (pretend signature)

Introducing Our Tonkinese Kitties

Our Tonkinese Pussy Pile
Originally uploaded by tonkitty

Presenting Pong, Paddle, Ball, and Ming Poo ...

Another tweaking of my blog design. It's like playing with paper dolls - trying on different dresses and hats. I still don't know what it's all about (my blog, that is) so until I settle on something that takes root, I'll probably be changing it around.

It's very gray outside. The Tonks are out checking their haunts, except for Ming Poo, the little house cat. She's never been out - well, except when she's made a mad dash and escaped - because we're afraid she won't stand a chance out there. She's so friendly and such a beauty that she'll be scooped up by someone - or perhaps a hawk.

I want to work in my craft room this afternoon. I have an idea for organizing my various crafts and projects. My problem is that I have so many varied interests - sewing, knitting, painting, beading, papercrafting - and limited space. Just like everyone else, I'm sure. I'm going to take measurements of the cubby holes in my wall unit to see if I can find some open baskets. That would make things easier to get to and more orderly. There are door on the wall unit, so once they are closed, it's neat.

Cough, Cough ...

Had a tough night last night. I've managed to pick up a cold, and coughed much of the night. Not much rest. I had so many things I wanted to do today, but I can tell there won't be much getting done. I'm going back to bed in a few minutes.

Spring Centerpiece

Spring Centerpiece
Originally uploaded by tonkitty

Spiffing up my Blog

I added some decor to my blog today. A little wallpaper, as it were. I think it looks nice. I'm grateful to the bloggers who offer free graphics for other bloggers. My new bling is from Shabbyblogs.com. Thank you!

Not feeling 100% today. I've managed to come down with a cold and have been coughing all day. My experience with colds the last few years is that a cold usually ends up as bronchitis for me, so I'm going to go to the doctor's in the next couple of days if the coughing gets worse. I need a Z-pack in that case.

It's very blowy outside. So much so that the outdoor the umbrella went over twice and the patio furniture took a tumble. The wind is coming from a different direction than it usually does, and it's still windy.

Hope everyone has a good week ahead.

Saturday

Cathy and I went yard sailing this morning - Sharon was sick and Carolyn couldn't come, had previous plans. It wasn't a very good day for yard sales, so afterwards we went to Big Lots and Tuesday morning before having lunch at Cobblestone's. Mikeljohn's was sold and is now uner new management, and was lunch was pretty good. I have been ordering reuben sandwiches often lately when going out. Today's was ok, not great. Brought home half of it. Jim brought home spare ribs from Costco, and that was dinner.

Didn't accomplish much of anything today. Tomorrow must be better. Off to bed to pick up on the current book, Atonement. That's pretty good, at least. Author is Ian McEwen.

Time Well Spent

Although I did not intend to, I spent the whole evening looking at various blogs on the internet - all of them bloggers who are artists and most all of whom share, for free, clip art images for the use of other bloggers. I was looking at the old Victorian images mostly, those that are not protected by copyright laws because they are so old, and are in the public domain. Here is one of a dragonfly in exquisite detail, and another of Ophelia that I think is quite beautiful:

Volunteer Day

If it's Thursday, it must be library volunteering day. Spent 5 1/2 hours working on the Book Sale, my weekly job at the Finksburg Library. Since we were on vacation last week, I wasn't there, and there was a pretty big mess to tend to. But I love it. Sometimes there are unusual donations that come in, but today's lot wasn't too remarkable. It's an interesting job, and I look forward to it every week. Nice people, I feel as if I'm performing a necessary service, and I find new books to read all the time. I usually work through without taking a lunch, just have a trail mix bar or apple, but I scored a leftover turkey sandwich and potato salad from last night's business meeting at the library. Plus, snickerdoodle cookies for dessert. How cool is that?

Day's End

The patio is clean! And I'm achy. Jim and I finished up when he got home. The waterfall needs to have some of the stones rearranged, but just a few of them. The water in the pond is dirty and needs to be cleaned out. There is a frog living in the pond, but we don't have any fish any more. I may lobby for more this year. We had some a couple of years ago and it was nice. Tonight we had our first use of the outdoor grill. Jim cooked a steak, and it was pretty good.

Tomorrow I work at Finksburg library again. I missed last week while we were on vacation, so there may be a lot of things to do. I expect it. But I also love it.

Working on the Patio

I spent about 3 hours outside this afternoon raking leaves around the waterfall and out of the waterfall, blowing off the patio, and numerous other little gardeny tasks. Once I get my second breath, will return to tidy up.

Shabby, Shabbier, Shabbiest

Watched a DVD of Rachel Ashwell's called Shabby Chic to get some inspiration for decor or whatever. It left me a little cold. She's just too over the top with her sentimentality. A little of the inspirational poems and sentiments hanging around the house goes a long way for me. I know it's a look, but she carries it too far. The nightly notes on her daughter's milk and cookie tray were just too dear for my taste. Once in a while, but every single night? Sigh ...

I did like one of the sayings that was on a vintage watercolor she found at a flea market - "Happiness is a perfume you cannot pour on others without getting a few drops on yourself." That's nice. I may try to do a watercolor and put the saying on mine.

The missing library CD is still evading me. I'm getting worried ...

Made Yakamein for dinner tonight, and it turned out pretty well. Also some corn bread that was very tasty but very crumbly.

Appointment with the Guru

The guru has left and all three computers are running better. It's worth the $80 to have them run faster. I'm feeling uptight - should go lay down and take a nap.

Early Tuesday

Off to the library this morning in Westminster. I need to be back by 1:00 for an appointment with Jim's computer guru. Oi! My mind is going in too many directions to focus. Waiting for the coffee to kick in.

Irreverent George Carlin

Sorry, but this made me laugh, and I had to share: "Religion convinced the world that there's an invisible man in the sky who watches everything you do. And there's 10 things he doesn't want you to do or else you'll go to a burning place with a lake of fire until the end of eternity. But he loves you! ...And he needs money! He's all powerful, but he can't handle money!" - George Carlin

Monday morning after the Vote

An overcast day, but noticed the yellow daffodils in bloom from the upstairs window, and they made me smile. Spring is here - my favorite season. The deer ate their grain last night.

Stayed up late last night watching the House voting on the health care bill. I don't know what all the procedures mean, and don't know what all the details are, but I'm very happy that the bill passed. Very historic, and just another reason I'm so glad Obama is our president. That's a whole 'nother blog subject.

Spent hours yesterday looking for a lost library CD. It's still missing, but I'm still hoping to find it.

Book Club is today at Sharon's. We'll be discussing "Born on a Blue Day," my choice last month. I'm looking forward to the discussion.  Loved the book myself.

My Virgin Blog

I've blogged before, but not for over a year. There are times when I feel the need to reach out, so I've started anew. I find a blog fills my writing needs - an outlet for expression; clarification of my thoughts. My creative self is constantly searching for ways to be imprinted upon the earth, to show that yes, I am alive, I'm a part of all of this. And then, when I'm gone, little pieces of me will still float in electrical impulses through cyberspace ...