Is It a Bird? Is It a Plane? Is It a UFO?

A heart-shaped UFO?  (They come in peace...)

  ♥ ♥ ♥

The other night my hubby came in from the patio, grabbed my camera, and took these pictures. He was actually going for the crescent moon, but didn't fool with settings -- but, you know, I kind of like the blurriness of the way they turned out.

Through the trees...

That cool heart shape....

I see the moon and the moon sees me.

April Showers ~ Wednesday Wanderings and the Shops Found Along the Way

March winds and April showers bring May flowers...

Well, we're smack dab in the middle of those April showers, I'm afraid! A night or two ago, an April shower big huge storm woke me up 4ish in the morning with what sounded like hail on the roof.  Sounded like the skylights would bust out! But, it was nothing but an April shower that, by a more reasonable time in the morning, had become a beautiful sunshiny day!

I wish these were the raindrops that had fallen on my skylights -- they are too pretty to be so loud! Have a look at this shop; it's full of rainbows and rainbow colors! You'll feel happy just peeking in her shop windows! Rainbow Raindrops Cloud Mobile by The Rainbow Room on Etsy.

How about this little cutie! He wouldn't be so loud on my skylights! Magnets keep him sitting nicely on his cloud, floating around the sky. So sweet...  Lil' Magnetic Rain Cloud by Animal Magnetizm on Etsy.

Fleecy soft rainbow scarf! This is so cute it would make your day happy just to wear it! Rainbow Scarf by  Oolahoolah on Zibbet.

This is a fun rainbow from one of my Facebook buddies! Max does beautiful 

bead work and this is no exception. She says it's inspired by her daughter 

who's really into peace signs and anything hippy! 

A Rainbow of Peace Handwoven Bracelet by Krafty Max on ArtFire.

Do you remember the Smurfs? We absolutely loved them at our house! 

These are vintage rain boots just right for puddle splashing! Have a Smurfy 

Day!!! Vintage Smurf Rain Boots by Stardust Vintage on Etsy.

Only light showers from now on, April ~

Bring on the May flowers!

A Little Privacy, Please!

Not long ago, I treated Oliver to a new kitty box -- one with a top to give the boy a bit of privacy.

Sometimes, when I am in the laundry room where his kitty box resides, he zooms in, squishes his immense bulk inside, turns around, and looks so serious while tending to his bathroom duties. I can't help it, Oliver! You're just too hysterical!

  

Going in.

I'm not even going to look at you and your ever present camera.

Can't you just give a guy his privacy?

Leaving.

Oh, by the by, his kitty litter is in the one with the yellow top on the right. The others are for storage of various things. I'm kind of like Hoarders when it comes to litter containers.... :o)

and

 >^.^<


P.S. ~ Oliver wanted to show you his new signature, above. He just learned to sign his name and is very proud of it! (It is a tad messy, but writing is hard to do when you don't have thumbs....)

April Fool's Backfire

I'm not sure how old I was, but I was old enough to know better...

I got a bright idea to play an April Fool's joke on my older brother. Way older, 12 1/2 years older.

He always had cereal for breakfast -- Cheerios -- with sugar.

I got up early and filled the salt shaker with sugar... 

and the sugar bowl with salt...

He ate one spoonful and it was bad news for me...

The worst joke ever. Total backfire.

Moral of story: head for the hills if you have a way older brother.

This April Fool memory is part of the EtsyBloggers Blog Carnival which is being hosted by Devine Designs Jewelry. One of the topics to choose from was to tell about a joke you played on someone -- and although this didn't turn out to be such a great joke, it's definitely one that I remember!! 


P.S. ~~ A bit of shameless promotion ~~ The salt and pepper shakers are in my Etsy shop, and the sugar bowl is in my ArtFire shop, just in case you want to use my April Fool's "joke" for yourself..... ;-)

Rachael Ray move over ~ Chef Noli is in the house!

I almost dropped my teeth when I walked into my kitchen not long ago and saw this!

Needless to say, I thought "OMG, what are you letting her do??" (directed toward my daughter who, of course, was standing near my five-year-old granddaughter's precious fingers). "Don't worry," says my daughter, "We do this all the time."

ALL THE TIME?? I'm used to her cutting things with a butter knife, but that's a sharp steak knife for crying out loud! Well, to the steak knife's credit, it's not really all that sharp!

My second thought was "BLOG!" and ran to grab my trusty camera...

One of the funniest things that Noli does is to yell "Wait for me! I want to help!" and runs off to grab her trusty stool and runs back in, plops it down, and jumps up on it ready to "do it myself"!! She's like a whirlwind. Like the Roadrunner zooming away from Wile E. Coyote in the cartoons.

Photo from http://www.looney-tunes.cartoonspot.net/

So, after I calmed down a bit, I stood back and watched. And she did a great job of chopping and cooking veggies for our spaghetti dinner!

Now, if I could only get her to clean up.....

Mystic Wynd ~ Featured EtsyBlogger for March!

Karen of Mystic Wynd is this month's featured EtsyBlogger! If you haven't visited her shop, you really must! It's chock-full of lovely jewelry -- some elegant, some feminine, some exotic.

These just jumped right out as I was looking through her shop, intent on deciding which beauties to share with you. Enjoy!

I love this glass heart with its rings, much like a tree's rings growing ever outward. Perfectly named "Love Grows." I can just picture this worn with a sweet sun dress made of lacy cotton, very girly but with an old-time feel. Aqua and White Glass Heart Necklace.

This turquoise pendant reminds me of a ring that was my mother's, and that I have passed down to my daughter. I do so like the copper swirls over the top! They bring to mind the piece's name, "Winds of Change." Turquoise Pendant with Copper Swirls.

And, oh my! -- this dramatic piece! I'd wear it with a simple black V-necked top and gorgeous pants! Set off with a cuff of red leather and strappy heels with a pop of red! This one is named "Scarlet Blade" and I think that fits it perfectly. Murano Style Red and Black Glass Necklace.

These are only a few of the beauties you'll find in her shop -- go visit and see what jumps out at you!!
Oh, and visit her blog too!

Hooray for Chips and Dips! ~ Wednesday Wanderings and the Shops Found Along the Way

Today is National Chip and Dip Day!! Can you believe it?! I know I am on pins and needles until it gets here every year on March 23! National Potato Chip Day is March 14, but this holiday is better 'cause you get DIP! And not just potato chips, but ANY chip!! My personal fave: Kettle Chips! And Corn Chips with a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and milk! (I know, that's weird.)

So today I'm hunting down the chips and dips and finding the yummiest, cutest and best smelling!!

Ruffles have ridges! But these chips are soap! And a sour cream dip! (Really a vegan soap!) This shop is a must-see, but be prepared to get the munchies after you look! Potato Chips and Dip Fun Food Soap by AJ Sweet Soap.

Like Mexican food? You can always count on this appetizer when you're eating out! Tortilla chips and salsa, or the best, guacamole. Forget the tacos, just give me chips and guac!  Felt Corn Chips and Dips by LisaJHoney Sweet Things.

Cheetos!! Oh the yellowy goodness all over your hands! No way you can sneak these chips -- everybody will know what you've been doing! And you know you secretly love Chester Cheetah, 'cause "It ain't easy bein' cheesy" ; )   Shout out your cheeto love with this Cuff from Repurposed Cheetos Bags by Squigglechick Designs.

Bring on the Fritos! (Don't forget the pb&j and milk!) Maybe I could keep my secret stash of Fritos in this cute wallet! Do you remember making those gum wrapper chains and seeing who could make the longest one? That looks like the technique used for this wallet! Too cute! Frito Wallet/Coin Purse by Sweet Candy Purses.

How about a little spicy dip for those chips? This one sounds good! And if you've just gotta have veggies, it's great for that too : ) Kick Me Later Medium Salsa Seasoning by Jamn Salsa.

Well, you've gotta have a bowl to put all those chips and dips in, don't you? How about this vintage set -- maybe it will keep the chips where they're supposed to be, and not on the couch! Vintage Chip and Dip Bowl by Domus Modern.

Want a little snacky dessert after all those chips? Try this 'cause tomorrow is National Chocolate-Covered Raisins Day! I kid you not! Mark your calendars - it's on March 24th every year!! Paca Beans Chocolate Covered Raisins by Well Criated.

After all those chips I need a big glass of Sprite with lots of ice!!

Eye Spy...Something Red! A Look Back...

I just found a fun link party to join! Creative Friday Features is hosted by Little Andalucia and each week she will post a new theme. Then, you can join the party with a post you have written that fits with the theme. Fortunately, you can use an old post if you'd like! Yahoo! I'm saved!

Here's what she says about her linky party: "I like the idea of us supporting one another and the bigger the playground for creative entrepreneurs and bloggers the better it is in my opinion."  I totally agree!

This week's theme is "red" and my choice is a post I did back in August of 2009:  Eye Spy...Something Red!
It will be my entry on the link party, with an updated edit.


Here's how to get to the party:

Have fun reading the various blogs!
And you're welcome to join the party anytime!

Disturbing Oliver

Oliver is a very laid-back cat. Likes to do what he wants to do when he wants to do it. He is very solemn -- even when he's playing he seems pensive. His expression is always so serious!

So it's really fun to sneak up on him and catch him in the act of being oh-so-Oliver...

Asleep in one of his favorite spots. Happily snoozing away. Snoring.

Until my camera catches him.

"Oh why won't you let me sleep. I was having the nicest dream."

"I'll just glare at you until you go away."

He only moves his tail and eyes! He looks skinny here but he's really a butterball and sinking down in the chair pillow.

"OK, I'm going back to sleep. But I'm keeping my eye on you..."

Funny how they can sleep with their eyes a tiny bit open. Eerie.

=^.^=  ♥  =^.^=  ♥  =^.^= 

Do you like "catching" your cat?

=^.^=   

Spring is in the Air!

Thank goodness for the Bradford Pear! This small tree with its sweet white flowers is one of the first things to bloom in my part of Texas. It greens up, the tiny clusters of flowers bloom.....and then the flowers go away. The tree stays green but I miss the profusion of white.

I had a Bradford Pear in my side yard, but unfortunately it met its match in some evil bug that spun big pouch-like webs over the limbs. These bugs were all over the place -- few varieties of trees were immune (fortunately our oaks were!) You could see the webs on trees all over town. We tried to save our Bradford, but nothing helped and we eventually had to have it removed. It saddens me every time I look at where it was; it was such a pretty little tree.

But, the Bradford Pear is blooming everywhere right now and it does my heart good to see them! They are like dots of clean, white glory where there has only been the gnarly, witchy looking bare branches of trees during the winter.

And the pansies and petunias and such! They are starting to appear in street medians and entrances to subdivisions. I love all the colors!

Spring is almost here! The weather keeps changing from week to week but the days are getting warmer and the flowers are starting to bloom!

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I have recently joined the EtsyBloggers team and one of the fun things to do is to participate in a bi-weekly Blog Carnival. The current topic is titled "A Touch of Spring Fever" and I chose to write about the first signs of spring that tell me that winter is finally over. Everyone posts the links to their blog in the comments section of the Blog Carnival post -- so you are welcome to click on them and enjoy the posts! And be sure to leave comments on each if the spirit moves you! 

Happy Spring!!!