Timmy and Burt's Big Day

Tomorrow is Friday, and it's Timmy and Burt's Big Day!. They are going to love what Nanny Joan has in store for them. They are going to see Ann at Doggie Styles for a day at the spa. Actually, they hate it. Oh, they love Ann, but hate getting beautified. They look pretty mild in this picture, but right now, both dogs are a disaster. It has been a while since they have been professionally groomed. Both dogs look three times their actual size. When they get to Ann's they will be two angry little dogs-barking at every thing they see and hear all day long. Actually, Ann says they stop barking as soon as I leave the premises, but I think she tells me that just to be nice. When Ann finishes with them, they will look " all sweetness and light. " They will smell fabulous, have a new little prance about them, and look like they have been on a major diet. Best of all, our son Dave will have a weekend off by not having to give them a Saturday night bath.

In Praise of Homemade English Muffins

Friends are the most important ingredient in the recipe of life.-Dior Yamaski

I was not the most energetic of people Monday morning. I went to the doctor last Wednesday morning for my regular check-up, and by Wednesday night I had the beginning of a head cold. The weekend was a total washout. I just moped around the house with my scratchy throat and bulging sinuses. But Monday morning, it was back to work, bringing with me a cough that just couldn't seem to resolve itself. My husband brought me cherry Ricola's which did help to relieve the urge to bark into everyone's face. And the Germ-ex bottle was a necessity for good customer relations. But more importantly, Linda Jean appeared. Linda Jean-one of my dearest friends of whom I just don't see enough. We have been friends for over 50 years. Having a friendship of over fifty years would qualify us as old by other people's standards, but to us we are the same little girls that we always were-laughing, teasing, sharing, and chattering non-stop whenever we get the opportunity.
Linda Jean-one of the best cooks whose food I have had the pleasure to partake. Linda Jean-the marriage saver. Yes, that's right, the marriage saver. Meals this weekend were not of the gourmet variety. We didn't even get to go out to eat for our usual Friday night date. Enter Linda Jean-the baker of a half dozen of the most delectable, light, perfect homemade English muffins that anyone could sock a tooth. There was real food on the table last night! And we took her suggestion and had hot tomato soup along with the muffins and grilled spicy mini burgers. Um-um-good!
It's 10:00 in the morning, and I don't work on Tuesdays. But guess what? I'm having one the last of those homemade English muffins spread with melted butter for my mid morning snack. My cold feels so much better now. Thanks, Linda Jean! Friends are God's way of taking care of us.

An Eggs-tra Special Collection

This is a very special collection that I have been working on for over fifteen years. At the turn of the century, milk gass blown eggs with hand painted decorations were a very popular gift to children and adults at Easter. My mother-in-law was the inspiration for me to work on this collection. She was a collector of everything, and this was her collection originally. She always put her blown milk glass eggs out in the Spring in the dough bowl. She gave her grandchildren two of her special eggs to add to their Easter baskets when they were preschoolers. When she passed away, I could not help but add to the collection, looking for examples that she did not already have. My new additions have been embossed ones with the word "Easter" raised and painted. Lately, my best source has been on Ebay. I am trying to find an egg that has a chick hatching from the top in great condition. That is the thrill of the hunt!

Joan's Bucket List

I am going on a trip to Tampa, Florida with Cathy next month. It has been a very long time since I have been on an adventure. Being with Cathy is always an adventure. She lives actively; I live vicariously. She is spontaneous; I sit back and watch the world go by. So, she is about to get me active and hopefully a little spontaneous on our trip. My assignment from her is to research some things that I would like to do while we are together. She has planned a visit to the Everglades to kick off our trip. The last time we were together, she took me to a Korean restaurant which I would have never visited on my own.
I started thinking about things that I would put on A BUCKET LIST. Actually, making such a list is a bit of a chore for me because I am not that adventurous. This must be part of my German genes although I really can't put the blame on my German ancestors either. My German forefathers on both sides of the family took a leap of faith in the mid 1700's and left their German homes to come to America. That's another story.
Let's get back to the bucket list. What would I put on it. I'm thinking hard and here is my beginning.
1. Visit Montreal, Canada.
2. Go to Scotland.
3. Plant a raised bed garden.
4. Get a massage. (I told you I am not that adventurous)
5. Have brunch at the Jefferson Hotel.
6. Take a flower arranging class.
7. Go to the horse races.
That's it for now. I told you I'm having a hard time.

It's Time to Do a Little Spring Fluffing!

The sun finally came out this morning after a week of cloudy and rainy skies. So it's time to put Old Man Winter back into hibernation and do a little Spring fluffing! Here is my egg wreath that I put on our Keeping Room Door. It was one of my TJ Maxx finds.

Even my rabbits are getting ready for a little spring action! But, oh my goodness, what a lot of landscape care there is to do after the cold and blustery winter we had in the Shenandoah Valley! The Mulching crew can't come too soon!