Brief sunshine, February's done, Trash to treasure

1. I sat on the wet grass this morning and had to change my clothes when I got inside.
2. The air is soft and balmy. It isn't long before the heavy rains come and begin the greening-up process.
3. I began painting the dresser that we found by the roadside last fall. It will add a little interest to an empty corner in the kitchen and I will use it to store our dining linens.

Awakening, Chad's day, Staying up late

1. The Forsythia and Lilac buds are swelling. Daffodil buds hang their demure heads and yellow fields show tints of green. There is nothing sweeter than the promise of spring.
2. I served a delicious Beef Bourguignon Soup poured over egg noodles for lunch, in celebration of Chad's birthday.
3. We got comfortable around the TV and watched the Oscars, sharing our own commentaries as they went along.

Big plans, Fun to be with, In our dreams

1. A very early morning flurry of activity as Steve and Tess leave for a day of skiing. They are excited and happy to go. I am excited and happy to stay.
2. It may be a sign that this teenage daughter is growing up. She doesn't bring her ipod when we go out together and instead, we talk and interact for hours.
3. Testing mattresses, neatly lined up in long rows. First this one, then that one; lie this way, then that way. Finally she says, "I just want to jump on them all." I gaze down the expansive row and imagine what fun that would be. We look at each other and smile.

* I would like to make note of three different salesmen who were exceptional today. I complain a lot these days that stores don't hire good associates, but today we hit the jackpot. The gentleman at the Mattress Depot was professional, knowledgeable, and friendly. He made us comfortable to look around. The owner of Leatherhous assisted us while we chatted, discussed business, and he explained the variety of products. Lastly, the young man in Advanced Auto Parts even asked if he could carry my bag out for me. (It was a single plastic bag.) I thanked him but told him the day I needed help with a bag like this, I was in trouble. Kudos to these businesses for their customer service!

Shine!, An enemy, What I made for dessert

1. Brilliant sun breaks through the clouds and brings the world back into sharp focus.
2. I experienced the strange sensation of the wind trying to push me off my feet. It was that strong today and a gust caught me off guard, pushing me sideways so that I had to fight back. It was nothing like my dreams of flying : )
3. I love the little pearls of tapioca in the pudding.

We need the rain, Abe Lincoln had good eyes, No problems

1. It is a dark and dreary day. The kind of dreariness where something sinister would happen if this were a novel. But for me, nothing to do but laundry and ironing. Such a mundane day that lunch is the main highlight. A fried red pepper and egg sandwich with a slice of Provolone melted on top and eaten on a hard roll.
2. So dark and dreary in fact, that the power went out around 8PM. I lit an assortment of candles and little bottles filled with oil and wick. We came from our separate rooms and gathered around the lights. Steve read aloud (by headlamp) while we chatted.
3. Retreating to our beds in order to keep warm, I'm surprised how cozy and comfortable it is under the down. The rain still sounds nice, too.

Refreshing news, Love these guys, Out with it

1. Roba Dolce would like to spread some kindness. Check out their blog to see how you can help spread good news. ( The Coconut Gelatto is my personal favorite.)
2. I watched an entertaining documentary called The Parking Lot Movie. It takes place in nearby Charlottesville, VA and offers an interesting glimpse of humanity through the microcosm of a parking lot.
3. I reduced several stacks of papers, receipts and magazines to trash. Why I hold on to things so long is beyond me. Maybe it's just so I can have this good feeling when I finally do throw it away.

Today's view, Her battery is dead, Eats candy and watches soaps

1. The fog closes in and the day becomes more subdued. Woodsmoke scents the air while large, wet snowflakes fall heavily from the mist.
2. Our high school is a 20 mile, round-trip drive over back roads and mountains. I wouldn't say it's convenient, but it is interesting in a scenic way. And a manual transmission is always fun on country roads : ) I drive it twice today.
3. Yesterday, Tess' hair stylist asked me what I'm doing now that Tess is in school and I have all this free time. My mind went blank and I had nothing to give. So, today I printed a daily planner in 15 minute increments and decided to fill it in for one week, to see exactly what do I do all day?