Sunday, March 1, 2009

Salutations!

It is a rather odd Sunday morning for me. I am awake before my husband which rarely happens. I am glad that he is catching up on some sleep but there is one little problem. He always makes the coffee. I don't even know how to use this newfangled coffeepot which basically picks the beans, grinds them, and brews a decent cup of coffee in seconds flat. There are so many buttons, buzzers and lights on this machine you need an engineering degree to use it. So here I sit, trying to decide if I should attempt to make a pot of coffee or just make a cup of tea. I really want a cup of coffee so I will just keep typing loudly and maybe he will wake up. I just made some blueberry muffins (from a mix) so I am hoping the aroma of those will stir his nostrils awake!


I am also trying to ignore the weather report I just heard. The good news is that we are not getting a snowstorm in the next 24-36 hour period. Nope. We are supposedly going to get hit with TWO snowstorms, back to back, over the next couple of days. Enough already! But the reality is that I can't change the weather so I will just sit here quietly and watch the beautiful white flakes fall from the sky, pile up on top of the other one zillion snowflakes which have already landed. Okay, I probably won't be sitting here quietly - I am rarely quiet. So come on already...bring it on...my shovel is ready...let it snow!



Today I am going to make cookies (from scratch). I obviously am in some type of Betty Crocker mood since I started my day by making blueberry muffins which smell delicious - ooh, if I only had a cup of coffee. I am going to make butter Spritz cookies for my husband. They are his favorite type and I just never got around to making them at Christmas so...better late than never! I am going to make peanut butter blossoms also. Maybe I am in the baking mode because my body senses there is another snowstorm coming and I need one more layer of fat to protect me against the cold! I am also going to make a humongous batch of beef stew - one for us and one for my daughter who just had our grand babies. The twins are home now and doing well but they are a little confused about the difference between night and day. As much as I have sometimes missed my baby making days I am not missing the sleepless nights. So later on today, before the first of the two snowstorms hits, I will deliver some beef stew and cookies at their door so they won't have to worry about making dinner.





I have a comfy, overstuffed chair by our fireplace which is where I station myself in the winter. I plan on reading some more of the book which my daughter highly recommended I read 'Jitterbug Perfume' by Tom Robbins. I have only read a couple of chapters but I have found myself wondering what Mr. Robbins might have been ingesting or inhaling as he wrote. I will no doubt be calling my eldest daughter at some point today so we can have a book talk. It will give me a chance to whine about the snow and allow her to tell me about the California sunshine.





And then when the day has quieted down I will work on my never-ending project. My pride and joy of the moment ~ my mermaid rug which I am hooking by hand. This is not a kit. This is a traditional hooked rug - just like they used to make in the old days during those long, cold winters when all it did was snow. My goal is to finish this rug by the end of summer. Yes, I am a slow hooker! I shouldn't show her to you until she is complete but what the heck! Who knows what tomorrow might bring besides more snow?! Here she is. I am trying to figure out what color to make the baby mermaid's hair. I started hooking it in the brunette but I don't like it so much. What do you think? I don't ask for opinions very often so here is your chance! :)









Another way to get my mind off of the snow is to think about summer. And when I think about summer I think about lemonade stands. These last two sentences are a lame attempt to tie in the wonderful award which my dear blogging friend and mentor Akelamalu awarded to me a few weeks ago. It is a refreshing award this time of year. I have now collected three awards and they are all from my dear friend, Akelamalu. Thank you Ake and I will pay you off later. Just kidding! Please go over to her blog today - I promise you won't be disappointed. She is one creative lady! Now let's get serious. I am supposed to award the 'Lemonade Award' to ten people. Yikes. This is hard. I don't have that many blogging friends and I hate to hurt the feelings of the few I have ~ so to all of my blogging friends I award to you the Happy Snow Day award. Here it is :

























Notice it is all white. That is due to the fact that it is a blizzard with white out conditions. Okay. So I am trying to avoid having to pick ten blogging friends for the Lemonade award. Let's see... Lemonade is sweet with a tart, zingy taste mixed in. It is refreshing. It is reliable and has withstood the test of time. So I am going to choose ten people who are sweet but zingy, refreshing and reliable. Here are the winners of the March 1, 2009 Lemonade awards, listed in no particular order. Please take a minute to visit their blogs and congratulations to all who made it to the end of this rambling post.



Here is the award. Please take yours as you exit the stage.




The rules of this award are quite simple. Choose ten people to whom you would like to give this award. No easy task I warn you! And then please link back to the person who gave you the award. And here are the winners. If I didn't choose you and you feel that you are worthy please feel free to take this award also. All I ask is that you link back to me - I need all the help I can get!

  • Marg at Home Again ~ Marg is honest, kind and one of my first blogging friends. She is very energetic, loves her family and friends and lives each day to the fullest.
  • Willow at Willow's Cottage ~ She knits. She reads. She sews. She travels. She has a good heart. She is mindful of moments and reminds me to appreciate the small stuff.
  • Daryl ~ On the M104 ~ Daryl is the City Mouse and I am the Country Mouse. If I ever get to the Big Apple I will have deja vu because of the virtual tours I take on a regular basis over at Daryl's blog. She is a very talented photographer and she is zingy! I love zing!
  • Louise ~ Potted Frog ~ Lousie is an artist - on many levels. She writes from her heart with honesty and humor. I love her photography as well.
  • Jennie at View from My Camera ~ I love Jennie's blog. She hasn't posted in a while but I am hopeful that maybe this award will lead her out of hibernation. I miss you, Jennie and I hope you are well.
  • Sandy at Writing in Faith ~ I am a newbie to Sandy's place but I always enjoy my stay. Whether it be her words, her reflections or her photography I feel refreshed after my visit. I urge you to stop in and say hi.
  • Rapunzel at Rapunzel's Castle ~ Rapunzel deals with life with honesty and real emotions. She tells it like she sees it which is refreshing. Life has given her way too many lemons lately so please stop in and share a glass of sweet lemonade with her. Thank you.
  • Sandi at Holding Patterns ~ I love visiting Sandi and I love it when she visits me! She leaves honest comments with a positive outlook. Her blog is full of great stories of her adventures in life and let me tell you - she has had many! She is sweet, she is loyal and reliable and she has lots of zing!
  • I'm Being Held Hostage ~ An Air Force Wife, J writes with incredible humor and honesty of raising a family. I swear she could be a stand up comic. I feel guilty sometimes because I find myself laughing at her various life adventures with a house full of kids. I often think to myself that I have been there, done that and I am so glad that I am past that stage in life! She deserves a medal!
  • Beth ~ One of my newest places to hang out! Warning - do not have food or drink in your mouth because you could choke or spray liquid all over your monitor. Beth is funny! Beth is real! Beth has zing! And I love what she has to say!

And now... I am going to drive to Dunkin' Donuts. I need my coffee!

23 comments:

Louise said...

You are exactly the kind of mother I want to be when my kids are grown. Making stew and cookies and taking it over. I love that.

I'm sorry about more snow.I'm a little miffed that I'm sitting here typing with cold hands.

Congratulations on your award!!!! Hurray for you! And humble thanks for passing it on to me. You know I'm way behind and not even posting right now (but I think I might be able to start again tomorrow), so it will be a while... probably a long while... before it gets acknowledged on my blog, but I will do it. (I don't know if you saw it or not, but I acknowledged your last one while you were on a break.)

Have a lovely baking day! I wish I had a fireplace!

Willow said...

Ummm, yes, there is sunshine out here today (again). I'm so sorry about the snow. We would be happy to take it if you'll send it to us. We need the moisture.

Congratulations on your award! You are certainly deserving of it.

Awww, you are really very sweet to give me the award. I blushed when I read your description of me and my blog.

Akelamalu said...

What's going on? There's something in the air today yours is the fourth blog I've read where the owner has been baking! :0
Congrats on the award m'dear.

Melissa said...

the snow had best be done with before I arrive! I made a huge mac and cheese last night. It was pretty good - first time I'd ever made it from scratch! the mermaids hair I think would be best done as gold / blond (like really rich warm yellowish gold shades). Looking good!

Natalie said...

I love the mermaid, she's gorgeous.

When my baby was born last year, my M-I-L cooked and visited with meals and cookies. I could not love that woman any more than I do - she is a treasure.I SO appreciated her thoughtfulness and i am sure your daughter thinks the same of you. :D

SandyCarlson said...

Thank you for this! You are very kind.

Two storms? I last heard about one. I am kind of hoping for a day off with my daughter...!

I hope the cookies went well.

Michele said...

First of all, the mermaid is *stunning!* You *know* how much I love mermaids....swooon....

Thank you so much for the award, I am honored! I hope to do it justice.

And, thank you for "being" there, my friend, through all of the lemon-y experiences I've had lately. This, too, shall pass.

xoxoxoxo

Sandi McBride said...

OMG...you have my coffee pot! My coffee pot now sits boxed in the shed for the next person who thinks they're smart enough to be a brew master! One day I hit the wrong button and we had coffee for 24 in a 10 cup pot...not good...so I'm back with my good old steady fella, Mr. Coffee! Go getcha one Deb...you're gonna thank me on this one! I'm gonna thank you for such a sweet comment and a lovely award...oh yeah, I'm zingy alright...course Mac calls it Nuts!
Hope you get dug out soon...our snowstorm just plain fizzled out for us. Charlotte got it all, lucky city!
hugs
Sandi

Tillybud said...

Your rug looks brilliant. I wish I could do something like that! As for the baby mermaid if not dark hair then how about one of the shades of mum's hair -a lighter orange perhaps?

San said...

I am so pleased to meet you. I came over from "Finding Mad Dog." Yours is a sweet blog and I see we share some friends. We also share a love of coffee--I have to have a good cup first thing in the morning or I am desolate.

That new coffee maker does sound complex. But wonderful once you get the hang of it.

Muffins, cookies, stew! TWIN GRANDBABIES!!!!!! Congratulations.

San said...

And how could I forget to mention that mermaid rug? You are some hooker, hon.

;->

MyMaracas said...

Man, I wish I had a mom like you to bring homemade cookies and stew through the snow to my front door!

If anyone deserves her coffee, it's you. Sounds like a lovely day.

Your rug is beautiful! You're very talented and creative to have come up with that design.

Beth said...

Wow! I am honored to receive the award.

And you sound like a Master Baker! I love all the things you are making. And I'm willing to brave the snow (we haven't had any in almost 2 decades). So, where do I send the adoption papers? I'll even make the coffee.

Again, thanks for the award. I can't wait to share it with others.

Daffodilly said...

I feel your pain regarding these snowstorms. I cannot stop baking, kniting and attempting to do creative crafts. Roll on the summer heat when I can drop those needles and warm my old bones!

Love the babies.....

Deb said...

Hi Louise ~ Of all the jobs I have had in my life my favorite is being a mom - and once a mom always a mom - at least in my opinion! You are welcome for the award! And...you are exactly the kind of mom your little chicklets need! :)

Hi Willow - I am glad that you have sunshine. I shouldn't be such a whine baby. Enjoy the warmth and the award!

Hi Ake ~ Baking does a soul good!

Hi Melissa ~ Thank you for stopping by! Homemade mac 'n cheese is a favorite of mine but I bet you know what I am craving for you to make for me when you get home! I am counting down until the day you arrive! xxoo

Hi Natalie ~ My daughter does appreciate any help I can offer. She is so busy right now! Wish I could help her get more sleep!

Hi Sandy - Hope you had a day off with your daughter! Maybe you got to make cookies together if you weren't shoveling all day long!

Hi Rapunzel - I thought you might like my mermaid - she is quite a project! Wish I could do more for you! :)

Hi Sandi ~ Wish I knew how to send all of this snow to all of the people who would like some - I am willing to share!

Hi Tillybud ~ I agree with you - I think I am going to do her hair the same color (or a tad lighter) as the mom. And you could do this - I am really not too talented. Thanks for your kind words. :)

Hi San ~ Thanks for dropping by - it is nice to meet you. And yes, I am a happy hooker! :)

Hi My Maracas ~ I was in a wicked baking/cooking mood yesterday. And thank you for your kind words.

Hi Beth ~ Come on up! There's always room for more! Glad you liked your award -you always make me laugh loudly! ;)

Hi Daffodilly ~ Welcome! The only good thing about a snow storm in March is that it usually melts fast - keep your fingers crossed!

daijoji said...

Hi Dear Deb, I'm just sending big hugs and kisses, and have to run. But I will be back :-) Warmest!

Carole Burant said...

Well I do hope you ended up getting your coffee after all that! hehe When I'm at my son's house, I'm always struggling with their coffee machine because it's one of those complicated ones so I usually wait until he or Wendy wake up! lol Sounds like you were planning on having a nice Sunday. Hope you didn't have as much snow as they were predicting! Winter seems to have lasted so long already and there is no sign of Spring here at all. Good to hear that the twins are now home...how wonderful that you live so near them:-) They are just adorable and hope you post new pictures of them soon!! xoxo

Reasons said...

It all sounds very yummy round at your place. The photo is lovely.

Mean Mom said...

I wonder whether your husband ever woke up to make the coffee?

Congratulations on the birth of your twin grandchildren! Your daughter is very lucky to have you living close enough to deliver food parcels.

Love your rug and congratulations on your award!

SandyCarlson said...

Just contemplating a machine that grinds beans AND makes coffee.

Natalie said...

Thank You, Deb for your words of encouragement and support. I very much appreciated it. I have decided to stay and write it out.Hug to you.♥

Andrea with the Flipflops said...

We are going to get snow this weekend... ggrrr. I am soooo over snow.

Thanks for the hookup on a few new blogs to read. I have gotten out of reading them... and could use a good laugh.

Good luck getting coffee this week!

Kahshe Cottager said...

Wouldn't you just know my coffee maker quit on me today! Luckily I had a back-up but it wasn't the same. I will be shopping for a new one this week ... one that my husband can work!

Thank you for the award Deb ... I am still in a self-imposed hibernation of sorts but your email brought sunshine and the visit to your blog really brightened my day. I actually posted!

♥ Jennie

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