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Tulips and Jadeite

March 27, 2019 at 10:41 am by Claudia

Tulips are so darned beautiful. I’m enjoying watching the flowers scattered around our house slowly open and reveal themselves. I’m one who thinks flowers are beautiful in all their stages, even when they’re withering and drying out. This little show they’re putting on for us is standing ovation worthy.

Still battling insomnia. I can’t keep my eyes open when I’m sitting downstairs on the sofa with Don. Then I get in bed and am wide awake for hours. It’s very frustrating. But I did sleep and I feel fairly good this morning. I am pulling away from all news (I can’t help thinking that is a major contributor to my erratic sleep) and I’m going to concentrate on all that’s beautiful and good and positive. I have to.

I stopped at another Michaels on my way home from TJs and found something miniature. I’d seen a few pictures on IG, but hadn’t been able find them at my local Michaels.

Miniature jadeite.

They’re hanging in the fairy garden section, and as are all things fairy garden, they’re not quite to scale. The plate and bowls are pretty close to scale but the glasses are huge – big, big, big gulp size. They’re made of lightweight plastic, so picture my frustration as I tried to get them to stand up in this cabinet without being knocked down again as I tried to maneuver another plate into position. Many swear words were heard in the office. I finally resorted to the tacky wax I use for other items in my dollhouses and that did the trick.

I love jadeite, though for some reason I don’t own any. The manufacturer did a great job with the color.

Anyway, if you’re interested, go to Michaels and make sure you visit the section where they have the fairy garden stuff.

Have I told you how much I love this hutch? One of my best miniature investments.

And have I told you how much I appreciate you? I do. Thank you for your support and the wonderful community we have created here.

Happy Wednesday.

I Must Have Flowers

March 26, 2019 at 10:23 am by Claudia

“I must have flowers, always, and always.”

Claude Monet

Expect lots of flowers this week.

I made that trip to Trader Joe’s and came back with four bunches of flowers, which, on reflection, I worried might be too many. We have only so much surface space around here and I have a beloved husband who is a big guy and sometimes knocks things over. So that meant that the kitchen counters – where he concocts our dinners – were out of the running.

I did manage to find homes for each bouquet; on the bistro table in the living room, on the coffee table in the den, in a McCoy vase (see above), and on the wee kitchen island.

I can’t tell you what a difference it makes around here! And how my mood lightens when I see them. I love photography and my favorite subject is flowers. Truth be told, it doesn’t take much skill to capture the beauty of a flower. The flower does all the work.

So right now, as I write this, I’m looking at a beautiful bouquet of just-about-to-open alstroemeria on the coffee table and a big, bright splash of yellow daffodils in amongst the turquoise McCoy.

This bunch of alstroemeria has yet to open. That’s why I chose them. Alstroemeria always lasts a long time; getting them this early is a bonus.

I just remarked to Don that I should make this trip once a month. TJs has such great flowers and they’re so affordable. It’s worth the drive, especially when it’s too soon for any blooms in the garden.

And you know what? Four bouquets are not too many. In fact, I’m going to do five next time, so I can have some on my desk, as well.

It’s a beautifully sunny day and my one request of Don is that he move the snowblower from the porch back to the shed. I want access to the porch, because it’s time to start sorting and cleaning. I can put a couple of the chairs back on the funky patio. I’m not sure yet whether I can put the chairs and table in the secret garden. It may be too soggy back there. But I can do something, right? At the very least, I can remove the blue tarp that is covering the sideboard, aka former kitchen island.

We starting watching The Power of Myth last night after seeing it listed on Netflix. We saw it when it first aired on PBS, but we’re getting so much more from it this time around. Joseph Campbell was brilliant.

I’m reading a spy thriller that I will be reviewing in April. In fact, I was so into it last night that I read a bit too long and had trouble getting to sleep. But all is well.

Happy Tuesday.

Entering the Bubble

March 25, 2019 at 9:47 am by Claudia

Like many of you, I am surprised-but-not-surprised that Attorney General Barr shaped his summary of Mueller’s Report to provide cover for That Man. That I am disgusted and disillusioned is not to be denied. But the truth will come out. The Democrat-led House will investigate and their mandate is much broader than Mueller’s was. There are already investigations going on in the SDNY, EDVA, DC, and the NY Attorney General’s Office – and NY will very likely bring down Trump’s business, and indict his children.

I can’t guarantee any of this, of course, but the wheels of justice do work. Except when you have a biased political appointee in the office of Attorney General, of course.

We need to see the entire Mueller Report. If you do anything, demand that of your Representatives and Senators.

Anyway, after my anger and disappointment subsided a bit yesterday, I decided to take a break from the news and Twitter for a few days and climb into my little bubble. I’m locking out the sordidness of the world for some self-care – with the occasional quick check-in.

Today, I’m going to make the drive to Trader Joe’s to buy some flowers. I’m craving them. And I’m going to stop at Michael’s to buy a lighter shade of paint for the stonework on the dollhouse. And then I’m going to read. And listen to music.

Hang in there, my friends.

Happy Monday.

Tulips and Jadeite

I Must Have Flowers

Entering the Bubble

Lambs Like to Party

A Note

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