Out the window: brown grass and no leaves on the trees – but the birds are singing and we heard the peepers for the first time last night! That means – no matter what the date is on the calendar – that SPRING is here! I was sitting in the den last night and thought I heard a peep, so Don and I went up the stairs to the window, opened it wide, and we heard one peep followed by a chorus of peeps. I cannot tell you how happy this makes us. We responded with a hearty “Welcome!” I have yet to hear the bullfrog. I hope he’s still there.
I read a lot yesterday: Orfeo by Richard Powers. His writing is beautiful, his intellect unmatched. It’s been a bit of a slow go, only because there’s so much to take in, and Powers’ build to the climax is always slow and steady. I refuse to be a speed reader because, to me, the beauty is in digging in and savoring every word. I should finish it today.
I don’t know if you’re into stickers. As a rule, I’m not. But, I saw this book of stickers on Amazon and was attracted to the subject matter; vintage and bibliophilia. I think it was about $20. I love the illustrations and the book is truly jam-packed with vintage beauty. I use a planner religiously, as you know, so I sometimes add a sticker to that day’s page.
Don’t get too excited by the Country Living feature coming up. They only used two of my egg cups and frankly, they’re fairly mundane. No enchanting figurals at all – just a jadite egg cup and a small Delft egg cup from Holland. I’m happy, though, that they’re using the Delft, as it was a present from my mother and it’s precious to me. But that’s the world of art direction and stylists. Clearly, they had a certain look in mind.
Still, it’s flattering to have even two of my cups featured!
Stay safe.
Happy Friday.
Love it when the peepers announce that Spring has arrived!
Have a safe, restful, healing weekend!
Me too! They make me so happy. They were very loud last night.
Stay safe, Amy.
I haven’t really used stickers in years, though I used to in some of my art. Except it felt like someone else’s art, not mine to use them, apart from alphabets for titles. But that’s a gorgeous book and I could see getting that one myself. Like you, when I use them, it’s for something in my planner, something for the boys (generally trucks or dinosaurs!) or on the back of an envelope, like a seal. Those are stunning.
I don’t know what peepers are — crickets? A certain kind of bird? General description of birdsong? New to me.
I’ve been spending the morning looking at old posts and considering doing one of those Blog2Print books and archiving the 2020 and later the 2021 posts. There are so darned many I don’t think I can afford the book, even with one of their discount coupons, but I can probably pick and choose the posts in the final edit. Before that, though, have to proof those old posts, perhaps take out some of the pix that I put in because I could but don’t tell that much more of the story. What I thought would be an easy project isn’t going to be but it will be a good record of this topsy turvy time.
Hope you two have a wonderful weekend. We will visit the toddlers and do a belated birthday for the five-year-old. Rick’s guitar teacher is coming and will sit in on his practice with his violin buddy. I’m still debating if I should join them for dinner — the table is a tad close for comfort — but look forward to hearing them play at a little distance.
Peepers are tiny frogs. They sing their song every evening. Our neighbors have a pond. Look them up, you’ll find them fascinating.
I used to create those books, but since I blog every day, I stopped because they were too cost prohibitive.
Have a good time with the toddlers!
Stay safe.
I do think it’s such a great thing they used any of your egg cups but yes art direction! I have that sticker book also. It was a gift and I enjoy looking at the vintage images. I don’t use it often but I’ve been starting into the world of junk journals or making vintage journals and its great fun.
hugs to you and Don.
It’s a beautiful book, isn’t it?
Have a lovely weekend, Linda.
Stay safe.
glad you have been enjoying a good book and heard the peepers. welcome indeed!
i am not into stickers, but those are lovely and i’m glad you treated yourself.
while i am disappointed for you that country living’s staff didn’t decide to show all the egg cups you sent, i am very pleased for you that they will feature one that your mother gave to you! will they be in the may issue? if so, that should be out soon and I will get a copy! :)
been raining here for hours. love it!
hope you are all having a good day.
kathy in iowa
Yes, I believe they are going to be in the May issue, Kathy.
Raining here today and I guess we’re going to get some thunder this evening.
Stay safe.
Claudia, would you ever like to share anything about your wedding ring? The design is so unique.
My wedding band is sometimes all I wear, and I have my engagement ring, which is now too small for my finger. I also had another gorgeous ring I used to wear with my band. This one was a gift to myself when Don was doing Margaritaville – to commemorate 10 years of blogging. I bought it on sale, thinking I would wear it with my wedding band. It’s by a NY designer and it’s called a flex ring. The four rows of diamonds are connected at the back of the ring, but are separate in the front. Somehow, that design allows them to flex as they move over the knuckle. It’s great for those of us who sometimes have swelling due to heat or arthritis. The designer is Sonia Bitton.
xo
Stay safe, Vicki.
Well, thanx for detailing all this; I enjoyed the lowdown; I currently have some rings buried in my house that I can’t find and it’s worrying me; one is amethyst and the other is topaz, had belonged to my auntie and they’re probably not wildly valuable but I remember them as having been very well made and from the 1940s; I’m otherwise not so into jewelry although I appreciate it and formerly wore a lot of it; I too, due to arthritis and swelling, can no longer wear my engagement/wedding ring unless I spend some cash to get them re-sized; maybe a flex ring is in my future! I need to recheck the contents of my safe deposit box at the bank; I know my grandmother’s wedding ring is in there. I really need to be more organized!
Speaking of the safe deposit box at the bank, I went to pay its annual rental fee yesterday and, so oddly, the bank was closed ‘for lunch’ but it was too early for lunch. I didn’t make the connection of a police officer standing on the sidewalk on his phone but learned later that JUST before we arrived, the bank HAD BEEN ROBBED. I guess Friday is a typical day for a bank robbery, or so I was told. Anyway, scuttle is that they found the robber, so I hope they recovered the money he stole as well. The whole thing made me feel pretty creepy; my husband and I could well have been customers in the bank when this happened had we not gotten detained at the drugstore, waiting for our turn in line when picking up a prescription. It’s all in the timing.
I had my great-grandmother’s wedding band and my grandmother’s topaz (my birthstone and hers) and they were stolen from my apartment in San Diego. Never got over it.
xo
How awful; I’m so sorry.
xo
What an interesting book on stickers….I haven’t used stickers since my kids were little.
We spent yesterday eating and visiting with friends we haven’t seen in two years…it was fun to get all caught up.
There was lots of bird song yesterday morning, the red winged black birds are certainly back in full force. Today, we have a cold windy rain. And more is promised for tomorrow….bring it on! ;)
I’ve been hearing the red winged blackbirds as well! I love their call, which always evokes hot summer days.
Rain here today with thunder as well!
Stay safe, Donnamae.