It's Valentines Day

 Valentines Day.  It's a tough day to spend alone.

The early morning bathroom call came at 4 am. I crawled back into bed immediately after and tried to sleep, but thoughts of my pottery shelf invaded my mind, clutched my heart, and left a knot in my stomach. Yup, it's that bad... *deep breath* Needless to say, I had a hard time getting back to sleep and when I finally opened my eyes in the morning, I found myself a little short of time to get ready for church. I made it there for worship, but just barely. 

I've been on my own long enough to know there are certain days of the year when I need a distraction. Last Tuesday I sent a message to my friend Laura. "Are you busy on Valentine's Day? I was wondering if you might want to get breakfast together," and she agreed. (I love her!) So on this very chilly Valentines Day, we met at the Coal Tower Restaurant for breakfast. It's so good to have friends.

Stuff, Just Stuff

Emotional. Not sure if it's because I've drastically reduced my carb and sugar intake, the lack of sunshine, or something else weighing on my heart and mind. There are certainly a number of things it could be...

Tomorrow morning I will rise early and head off to Bethany's house like I did in November when she was sick in the hospital, but this time she is not sick. Our sweet Henry is scheduled for surgery tomorrow morning and I will go to stay with my other grandchildren while Beth and Adam are together at the hospital waiting for Henry. (Prayers are appreciated.) I haven't been to Bethany's house since Christmas and am feeling a little out of the loop.

I'm also grieving the loss of my shelf at the pottery studio, even though I haven't been there enough to warrant paying the rental fee. This tells me I will be back in the studio one day, and probably not too very long from now. 

Sunday is Valentine's Day. This could throw me off a tad too, so I just connected with a friend and we have plans to meet for breakfast after church. I feel better already! Ha ha!

Valentine Tea

My favorite Leta hosted a fabulous Valentine Tea this afternoon. Hannah was able to be there for a short time before going to work.

Bethany was not able to make it, so I took Jilly. She was very excited.

Leta is a natural when it comes to hosting parties. Everything was beautiful!

I may have cheated on my diet. Ha ha!

And That's the Weekend For Ya!

I spent Valentine's Day at work with the Littles this year, and afterward I went to my class at the pottery studio. It was a good day and I was thankful for the evening activity. It meant not going home to a quiet, empty house. I thought we might be missing a few class members, but everyone was there. I guess it was good for all of us.

Saturday evening brought a potluck dinner with my friends from the Divorce Care group I attended last winter. We all have different stories and are in differing places of healing. They are a great group, but even so sometimes I feel lost in the middle of it all. Much of it is my own tendency to build walls of protection around myself and to put distance between me and others. I'm still working on this.

After unsuccessfully trying to sleep off a (most likely) tension headache this afternoon, I met a friend for coffee at Barnes and Noble. It seemed a good place to sit and talk because they have comfy chairs and a built-in Starbucks. I went for something simple and got a regular coffee and a giant oatmeal raisin cookie. We sat for several hours and when I left my headache was gone. Friends are good medicine.

Although I'm rarely ever looking forward to waking up while it's still pitch black outside, I am ready to get back to work and those sometimes smiling, sometimes squalling children. Love them (most of the time) either way! Ha ha!

Grabbed a photo from 2015. A sleepy kitty. Maybe one day I'll get another...

My Dinner Date

I had a Valentine's Day dinner date this evening. He was short, dark, and very handsome. I found him quite charming, even if he did eat with his hands and dip his bread in his milk. We had a very nice night, watched a few Simon's Cat videos, did some puzzles, and read a bunch of books. I think I am in love.
:0)

Valentine Snow Day!

We got a blizzard for Valentines Day! Well, it looked like blizzard conditions for part of the day. The wind is still whipping the swirling snow into drifts that block the driveway. My Darling has already been out with the snow blower twice.

 Big, fluffy, white flakes falling fast.
Piling up on branches,

Obstructing our view.

Transporting me back in time

To days of walking home from school in a snowstorm.

It wasn't exceptionally cold this afternoon. I went out on the back porch for a minute and the snow almost made me feel giddy. I should have grabbed my boots and mittens, tossed my jacket on, and gone for a walk. Instead I snapped a few photos while I waited for the dog to do her business and then went back inside where I snapped a few shot through the windows.

I hear it's going to be a good night for snuggling with temperatures at record lows. Hope you've got someone to keep your feet warm tonight!

Smiling

Valentine's Day is full of stories, but the best Valentine story this year is the upcoming marriage of one of my best friends, my sis in law Lori and her ex husband Dave. Next week, on what would have been their 31st wedding anniversary, they will be remarried. I smile every time I think about it. :)

See? Miracles do happen! But I already knew that.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Yes, I do know I am a day late, and probably a dollar short as well, but I do appreciate the man who made me his so many years ago. I let far too many special occasions creep up and overtake me before I am ready, so I thought perhaps I could grab this one by the tail before it gets away altogether, and tell you once again how much I love That Man of Mine.

E is for Ew

My daughter and I were driving home yesterday when I asked her if she could think of any good E words for Valentine's day. She looked at me sideways and said, "Ew..." And so here we are. E is for Ew.

I suppose Hannah was thinking of all the mushy stuff that comes along with a holiday dedicated to love, but after all, she is sixteen... Perhaps when she has a special someone of her own, she will decide it isn't "ew". (I don't believe she really thinks so now either, but don't tell her I said so.)


To see the other participants in the new round of 
ABC Wednesday, click here!

Happy Day, Valentine!

Happy Valentine's Day to My Darling.

Once I made a list about him. Here it is. Let's see if anything has changed...

1. He loves cookies and ice cream.
2. He's pretty good at driving a Bobcat. (Sold that.)
3. He doesn't wear a watch.
4. He has a mustache and beard in the winter.
5. He usually shaves his beard for the summer.
6. He can find mint chocolate no matter where I hide it. (I'll have to try this out again some day.)
7. He has four older sisters and one younger brother.
8. He likes babies but not their noisy crying.
9. He always buys new clothes for a wedding. (We'll see when Nate and Sabrina get married.)
10. He doesn't like snow.
11. He doesn't know where I hide my candy. (I think he has a pretty good idea now...)
12. He will be looking for it.
13. He likes to have control of the remote. (Now that we don't watch regular television he doesn't mind giving it up.)
14. He cries at Cinderella. (Some things never change.)
15. He cooks great breakfasts. (I wonder if he still knows how?)
16. He was born in Japan.
15. He is Canadian and American.
16. He is not Japanese.
17. He used to live in Albuquerque.
18. He loves green and red chiles. (Need to get some more of those.)
19. He also likes seaweed.
20. He has a 6 year old step sister. (Imani is now almost eleven.)
21. He likes cats. (Um... yeah, but not what they leave on the floor some mornings...)
22. He does not like loud noises.
23. He doesn't like lima beans or liver.
24. He has muscles like Popeye.
25. He does not smoke a pipe.
26. He wears glasses to see far away and takes them off to read. (This one is getting a little iffy...)
27. He is not a grandfather. (Well, he is now!)
28. He owns a sawmill. (Sold that.)
29. He's looking forward to summer.
30. He climbs trees. (I have not seen him in a tree in a while. He should probably stay down.)
31. He has a monkey suit which he wears outside when it's really, really cold. (Not seen that monkey suit this year.)
32. He doesn't ski.
33. He could if he wanted to. (He could also break his leg.)
34. He has blue eyes.
35. He never wrote a book.
36. He needs a new wedding band. (Still... )
37. He doesn't own a pogo stick. (But his birthday's coming.)
38. He drives a big white van. (Hm, he had a big yellow one for a while there, but we're back to white again now.)

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day to my best friend.

Thank you for being such a huge part of who I am, for sharing life's joys and sorrows with me and for allowing me to share in yours. You are much loved and appreciated.

Birthday Fun

What better way to celebrate a February birthday than with heart shaped cookies? Last night I rolled, cut and baked cookies. After preschool this afternoon I spread pink frosting over them and two little girls helped decorate hearts with colored sprinkles. Eight heart shaped cookies for Emma; eight heart shaped cookies for Bella.

I whipped up a fancy little birthday card and Hannah had two little girls write their names inside. Only one mommy had a birthday today but two little girls each took home a plate full of pretty Valentine cookies. I tried to resist tasting, but I couldn't help myself. Mmm, good!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day, James!

I love you!

Sweetheart's Day

It's a cold and snowy day, perfect for Valentine's Day. A good day to snuggle up together and stay warm. In honor of my sweetheart here are a few things you may not know about him...
1. He loves cookies and ice cream.
2. He's pretty good at driving a Bobcat.
3. He doesn't wear a watch.
4. He has a mustache and beard in the winter.
5. He usually shaves his beard for the summer.
6. He can find mint chocolate no matter where I hide it.
7. He has four older sisters and one younger brother.
8. He likes babies but not their noisy crying.
9. He always buys new clothes for a wedding.
10. He doesn't like snow.
11. He doesn't know where I hide my candy.
12. He will be looking for it.
13. He likes to have control of the remote.
14. He cries at Cinderella.
15. He cooks great breakfasts.
16. He was born in Japan.
15. He is Canadian and American.
16. He is not Japanese.
17. He used to live in Albuquerque.
18. He loves green and red chiles.
19. He also likes seaweed.
20. He has a 6 year old step sister.
21. He likes cats.
22. He does not like loud noises.
23. He doesn't like lima beans or liver.
24. He has muscles like Popeye.
25. He does not smoke a pipe.
26. He wears glasses to see far away and takes them off to read.
27. He is not a grandfather.
28. He owns a sawmill.
29. He's looking forward to summer.
30. He climbs trees.
31. He has a monkey suit which he wears outside when it's really, really cold.
32. He doesn't ski.
33. He could if he wanted to.
34. He has blue eyes.
35. He never wrote a book.
36. He needs a new wedding band.
37. He doesn't own a pogo stick.
38. He drives a big white van.

Okay, that's enough for today. Love you, Sweetheart!