Friday, April 17, 2009

Well-Read

It's no secret that I am an avid reader. I consider it an emergency if I don't have a book to read. I'm not a book snob except when it comes to cheesy romances; if it looks good, I will read it. Fiction, non-fiction. And I must confess that I just finished reading Eclipse and am itching to crack open Breaking Dawn. (Hey, it's better than Harry Potter!)I am flush with books right now, as the boyfriend supplied me with not one but two lovely new books.

In the past year or so, I have become a fan of blogs. I don't even want to admit how many are on my RSS feed. From craft blogs to thought-provoking ones, food-related blogs and those of friends, let's just say there are a lot.

Today, the wittiest blog award goes to Dooce.com:
http://www.dooce.com/2009/04/16/job-opening
Sure, it might offend some, but not me. I may add her books to my reading list.



Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Happy Tax Day!

So it's not a holiday many people celebrate (unless they are getting a refund), but happy Wednesday anyways!

For the record, I AM a procrastinator, but my tax forms went out last week. I was thankful I didn't have to include a check in the envelope.

I had a great birthday yesterday -- thanks to all the well-wishers. I am now at the age where I just say "29" when people ask me how old I am. Remember the days when we counted down the hours until we turned 21? What the heck were we thinking?

I think spring may officially be here to stay. I am absolutely itching to start planting seeds in my flower gardens! I may just get some plants for my hanging baskets so I can have some flowers on the porch & satisfy my itchy green thumb. In the meantime, my lawn is begging for some mowing and weed-whipping.

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Etsy

I've had an Etsy shop name saved and ready to showcase some "pretties" from my craft studio for over a year. Now, I finally committed to setting up my Etsy shop.

Please check it out:
http://www.cottagestudio.etsy.com/

I will be adding seasonal & special occasion cards and albums over the next few weeks (including the popular baby albums). I wish I could have included some Easter cards, but it is a little late in the game for that. Oh, well, here's a preview of some cards I'm sending out this week.




The butterfly card is one of my favorites! It's really more of a spring-themed card & may still show up on my Etsy shop.

I'm hoping Spring is here to stay -- after some very cold nights and gray, windy days, we've had a day of much-needed sunshine.


Monday, April 6, 2009

Caution: Explosive

Last time I checked, propane was an explosive gas.

However, my propane delivery guy must not have gotten the memo. He usually arrives at my house with a lit cigarette dangling from his mouth. He's even gone up to my propane tank and opened the valve with the cigarette still smoking. I'm not sure if he has no fear...or what. Draw your own conclusion. I should also mention that his first name is hyphenated with -Bob. It freaks me out and I try to stay as far away as possible when he is here. (The cigarette, not the name.)

Propane has been the bane of my existence (and budget) over the past six months. The regulator on my tank went out in January, leaking a couple hundred bucks of propane out into thin air. And since I have such a big-butt tank, I have to put quite a bit in it to keep the pressure up. Low pressure means that my tankless water heater pilot goes out all the time. Which means cold water!

Lest you think I am complaining too much, I should say that I am grateful that my house didn't blow up from the leak, and that I have enough money and support to keep putting propane in the tank. Here's to a warm house and hot water!

Friday, April 3, 2009

April showers bring April flowers!

After a stuttering start to spring, I think the warm weather is here to stay! I covered up my tulips last night, and was glad I did because we had some frost. I'm hoping that was the last one of the year -- I am itching to plant some spring flowers and hang baskets on my patio!


The Redbuds are bursting, and other trees are budding here in southwest Missouri.
nybody want a beagle? Or even two? We have had two strays in the "neighborhood" for several weeks now. They are friendly but are becoming a nuisance. They are also lonely and would really appreciate a loving home!