These Foolish Things Remind Me --

At lunch time today, I found the refrigerator lacking in leftovers, having consumed the last of several "I'd like a to-go-box, please"  meals yesterday evening. I'm currently involved in a much needed sorting/trashing/cleaning activity in my stamping/crafting room, and didn't want to take much time out to prepare a meal. When I'm on a roll, I'm on a roll.  

I did spy a partial jar of Marinara Sauce in the frig that needed to be used soon and so I decided to have pasta, the skinny, quick cooking variety. 

After the pasta had boiled for the recommended time, I tested a strand or two to determine if it was ready.  That simple task reminded me of --

Carmen Sandiego!

Why should cooked pasta remind me of her, you might ask?

If you never played, or your children never played, any of the Carmen Sandiego games, you missed some funny, but educational playtime.  If you are familiar with the elusive Carmen, you will, of course, remember one of her henchmen --  Al Dente!

OK.  I'm up and away --  back to the craft room.

Tomorrow is also a day.

A Trip

Crystal Bridges Museum, Bentonville, AR

photograph - Pat Phillips

My sister from Hot Springs Village invited me some weeks ago to go with her to visit the Crystal Bridges Museum in the northwest corner of Arkansas, a little over four hours drive from where I live, and so we did, on the Friday just past.

The museum has a number of wonderful works of art in its permanent collection, but the special exhibit she wanted to see featured the work of artist Norman Rockwell, perhaps best remembered for the hundreds of paintings he created as cover art for the Saturday Evening Post.

Thinking that my son and his wife, who now live in extreme southeastern Kansas, might also enjoy the Rockwell exhibit, we invited them, and their younger daughter and her husband, who live not too far from the museum, to join us.  All being in agreement, we met at a lovely restaurant in Bentonville at the noon hour, had a leisurely and delicious lunch, then went to the museum about a half hour before the time assigned to us.  

I knew beforehand that Crystal Bridges was quite an attraction, but I truly was not prepared to find perhaps a thousand persons already on premises.  It appears it's a popular destination for coach tours, as several "Greyhound"-type vehicles were in evidence.  

After a quite reasonable wait for admittance to the Rockwell gallery, we greatly enjoyed the exhibit, which included actual covers of all of the three hundred twenty six (326) issues of the Saturday Evening Post featuring his work.  Many of these I remember fairly well, as the Saturday Evening Post was delivered to our home in New Mexico for many years. 

After leaving the Rockwell exhibit, we made a fairly quick trip through the rest of the galleries.  The permanent collection contains more than a few highly recognizable and well known works of art, including "Rosie the Riveter,"  a famous Rockwell painting, and works by Gilbert Stuart, Georgia O'Keefe, and Mary Cassatt. More than a small smidgen of the Wal-Mart wealth has been spent to good end.  Thank you, Ms. Alice Walton.

My son's and daughter-in-law's home being less than a two hour drive from the museum, we had already made plans to spend Friday night with them rather than making the longer trek back here.  I don't get to see them as often as I would like since they moved to Kansas, and greatly enjoyed the time spent with them.  We had dinner at one of their favorite restaurants in Joplin, then drove about 20 minutes to reach their home in Baxter Springs, KS.

Sister dropped me off at my home yesterday afternoon, arriving here early enough that I could get in a short nap before bedtime!

Tomorrow is also a day.

What Season Is It, Anyway?

I turned on the air conditioner this evening after I "broke a sweat" just sitting at the computer with Missy Cat on my lap.  It's snowing in some parts of the U.S. but it was almost 90 degrees here today!  

I might have just opened a window to let a bit of cooler air inside, but there is so much pollen in the air that it's visible even to these old eyes. My dark green automobile has a heavy chartreuse colored coating. Driving the speed limit in the neighborhood doesn't seem to budge it.  I guess a rolling car gathers more pollen.

Tomorrow is also a day.

All Done, Uncle Sam

Yay!  I had to look for only one item I needed (filed in the wrong place) and that took just a few minutes.  Forms are completed, signed, sealed, and delivered (into the hands of the USPS.)  Even better, I'm due small refunds from both state and federal governments.

I even had time to go outside and pull a few weeds.  Life is GOOD!

Tomorrow is also a day.

A Friend, Indeed

The yard police won't be sending me a letter this week, thanks to a good neighbor.  He came across the street yesterday afternoon with his heavy duty riding lawnmower, which handily gobbled up the overgrowth in both front and back yards. What a difference!  It's safe to walk about, again.

I fear a new lawnmower is in my future.  The one I've used for years, which was already well used when I acquired it, has seen its best days. It's almost too heavy for me to use, even if it is self-propelled.  I hope I can find a lighter weight one which has enough power to tame my jungle.

I still need to use the trimmer around the edges, but that's a task for later -- after the tax returns are filed.

Tomorrow is also a day.

Crunch Day

"Julia Child" Floribunda Rose

(photo from my LG Phone)

Gardening Daughter brought me this beautiful rose the evening we buried Sweetie Pie.  It eventually will be put in the ground over her grave.  It's a lovely old fashioned rose, with a very strong sweet fragrance of licorice and spice (so the tag states; to me, it just smells like all roses should smell.)  The buds open to a deep, sort of orangy-pinky-yellow, and fade to a light cream color (the tag states "Butter Gold.")  I love it already. 

GD and I transplanted a "Lady Banks" climbing yellow rose from her garden to my fence last year, but it has not yet bloomed. We shall see what we shall see.  The few other roses I have in the yard are white (John F. Kennedy), pink (Dainty Bess) and one of those continually blooming "Knockout" roses -- deep red in color.  I am extremely fond of yellow roses; I don't know why I didn't plant one when I moved here.  Ah, well;  now I have one.

Today is Crunch Day...the day I acknowledge that I simply cannot put off working on my federal and state income tax returns any longer.  I have used a popular software for this purpose for several years and the process is not much more difficult than falling off a log.  I probably could do it without resorting to any outside help at all, as my income is minimal and my itemized deductions no longer exceed the standard deduction Uncle Sam allows.  Despite of the ease of doing it, I simply detest the process.   Perhaps I don't like to be reminded of how little money I have.

Tomorrow is also a day.

All's Well Weather-wise

We had a willy-waw of a rain storm yesterday, in two installments, early and late, complements of the latest winter storm. The severe weather in Arkansas passed to the west and north of us in mid-afternoon.  The small town of Clinton, where I graduated from high school, and the surrounding area suffered considerable damage, whether from a tornado or fierce straight winds I know not at this writing. Most of the photos shown on TV are of mobile homes, of which there are a plentitude on the outskirts of town.  I've no longer in touch with any one with whom I went to school, so there are no dear ones to worry about, but I'm sorry for those who were affected. No deaths reported so far, and only a few injuries, despite significant damage. 

This morning, I spoke with youngest daughter who lives in eastern Nebraska.  She reports a newly-fallen additional 4" of snow at her place.  Like many other areas of the country, they had been enjoying very temperate weather for the last few weeks.  She's been preparing her new garden space, but had nothing in the ground but onions and carrots.  They should survive the snow all right.  Time will tell.

This time yesterday, our temps were in the high 70's.  At this writing it's 45 degrees. My feet are cold.  This cold spell won't last too long, and I hope it dries out, soon.   The chickweed is so thick in the back yard that it's like a blanket over the grass. I haven't heard from the city fathers, yet, but the front yard could use a hair cut -- when it's warmer.

Tomorrow is also a day.

New News -- Not Good News

RIP, Sweetie Pie

August 1, 2002 - April 9, 2013

I regret that my first post of 2013 is sad news.  After a 3-month long illness during which she lost more than half her body weight, Sweetie Pie has gone to play with the kitty-angels in heaven.  She was gentle to the end and, if one can attribute such things to animals, appreciative of the loving care she received.  I am extremely sad tonight, and will miss her very much.

Gardening Daughter and I will bury her in the back garden, not far from her companion, Squeak.

I hope to be back in blogland with happier news, soon.