Dessert, bread, and a visitor!

 

Trying to cut back on carbs and sugar this week - so hard for a bread lover

and dessert maker!

We have been eating too much of both - only because there's not much else

to do.  No, that's a lie, there's plenty to do, but once 5 PM rolls around and 

the kitchen aromas of roasting and simmering ramp up, the fire crackles on

the hearth. . . . . . . .and the TV calls out "turn me on", our evenings seem

set and meals have been including crunchy bread and a sweet dessert

perhaps too often.

We've missed walking for few days as the rain and chilly air have been

miserable, and my sciatica painful.  Today the sun is back, the birds are

hungry, and a naughty squirrel has spent much of the morning on the

 front porch eating the birdseed we scattered for the birds!

Photos of the squirrel this morning - staring in the window and whom I'm

 sure would have a meaningful conversation with me if it could!!!

I'm in a fog!

Beyond the fog lies clarity - Anonymous

What a dreary morning it was here. 

Any color in the garden was drained by a heavy fog wet fog. 

I stepped outside with my iPhone at 7:15 AM. I could feel the moisture

 envelope me as I took a few quick photos . . . . . . . . then hurried back
 inside to flip the switch on the coffee pot.

Later:   the sun didn't shine today and more rain coming this evening.
Tomorrow cooler with sunshine - sounds good to me.
Meanwhile - the good news is Magnolia liliiflora survived last week's
snow and ice storm. . . . . . . . and is now blooming brightly.

Tomorrow is a special day for me. . . . . . . . an anniversary!

Corners of my mind. . . . . .

There's not much of interest to share for this overly warm for February week. 

 The heating is turned to OFF and the upstairs windows are opened a little,

 the fresh air feels so good. Later today though severe storms will roll in,

heavy rain, wind, and possible flooding in some areas, then a return to

more seasonable temperatures.

I visited a dear friend of many years yesterday. We laughed a lot recalling our

 younger days over a cup of tea, while watching several birds visiting the feeders

 on her front porch. When time permits I'm going back to teach her how to make

 that great no-knead bread.  

The house is getting messy as we prepare to start the bedroom makeover. 

I'm asking myself what in the world I was thinking getting myself involved  

in another home project. Hopefully it will all be worthwhile after the disruption.

Now storing art stripped from the walls, emptying and de-cluttering the dresser and

 chest of drawers - too much stuff not enough room.

 Bob uses the walk-in closet so has a huge job ahead clearing that out - Marie Kondo

 where are you when I need you. . . . . Bob has a hard time saying goodbye to stuff!

I'm going to replace the bedroom carpeting with the same awesome laminate we

have in living and dining rooms, and hallway. I was so upset when our flooring

 company told me my grey 'farmhouse style' wide plank had been discontinued,

 BUT then found out the manufacturer has just enough remaining in their

 warehouse to do the bedroom!  Hopefully that will be making its way here

 soon and the floor can be done following the painting.

We're heading to the coast for a quick break over the weekend - and 

hoping the sun will shine and the Atlantic will be sparkling.

Let it rain. . . . . . . . .

We're not quite waterlogged yet. . . . . . . . . . but playing

 with the Waterlogue app on the phone is always fun, especially
 on a chilly, rainy February day!

Our weather has changed and rain may fall every day 

for the next week. Glad I didn't put my waterproof booties
 away. . . . . . and the raincoat will certainly come

in handy by the sound of it.

"When it rains look for rainbows, when it's dark looks for stars". . . . . . Oscar Wilde

Patience. . . . . . . and what about Blogger?

All we need is a little patience and tiny miracles appear right before our eyes.

Yesterday, to start the week the first few brilliant daffodils opened their golden trumpets.

Just one of many clumps scattered through the garden, the others still just green leaves, 

they positively glowed from the piles of brown leaves and twisted tangles of ivy.

For those of you still in the grip of bitter cold, perhaps buried under snowy

 landscapes - here's my little gift to remind you that springtime is on the way.

Of course it's still winter here in the southeast, however we are throwing off coats

and jackets this week with temperatures reaching into the seventies, as high as

77F tomorrow - but that won't last and often this month, and even March, can bring

harsh days, even snow, and bitter nights.

So what's all this happening with Blogger?  If it's your blogging platform

 did you get/understand the message received this morning regarding 

changes? Some of you apparently feel Google is going to scrap Blogger

all together in the near future - I do not think that will happen.  

The changes seem centered around Google+ and the way we leave

Comments. I have had many problems with this and find it so frustrating

when after writing a lengthy comment it just won't publish. Please know

 I try but often have to give up. BTW, I myself, never signed up for Google+

on my blog.

This morning I've been reading more about alternative blogging 

platforms such as Wordpress which seems popular and easy to use.

Any of you on Wordpress.org or Wordpress.com who would like

to comment here are welcome to share both positive or negative

thoughts. I'm especially interested in whether or not old Blogger 

posts can be migrated into a newly opened Wordpress blog. 

Enjoy your day - and perhaps change is good, sometimes!

Fog rolled in. . . . . . . .

We don't get fog here often. 

This morning it's quite thick, a white blanket veiling the

 garden and trees beyond. 

 Silence is heavy only interrupted by occasional birdsong.

It should lift by afternoon, get warm and possibly rain lightly.

Snow is not in the forecast here for the remainder of February,

I do believe springtime is on the way.

From the garden - a foggy morning via iPhone

Blue skies. . . . . . . .

Yesterday the skies were so pretty and

Carolina Blue was just that, really brilliant blue.

The clouds were white with shadow moments of grey,

 puffy, billowing, but slow sailing. . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . . .and in the early evening they were 

tinged with gold as the sun dropped down to the west.

Branches are still mostly bare up there, reaching

for the heavens, a still and silent canopy above. 

Today, close to 80F expected again.

Birds think it's spring, they are full of songs and 

seem to be property hunting in the shrubbery.

This morning I've filled the feeders and suet holders,

 and topped up the bird baths. . . . . . .a robin was bathing,

 first I've seen in a while.

 The garden is lively and starting to get little pockets of

 color from daffodils, pansies, camellias and periwinkle.

Have a fine weekend everyone.

Winter white and a promise of Spring. . . . . . . . .

Hoping those of you who may still be digging out and trying to stay warm in

 your snow covered homes up north in the USA, Canada, and perhaps other

 far away places, will find some respite from the storms as you go about

 your weekend.

A small bird twitters on a leafless spray,

Across the snow-waste breaks a gleam of gold:

What token can I give my friend today

But February blossoms, pure and cold?

Frail gifts from Nature's half reluctant hand.....

I see the signs of Spring about the land.....

These chill snowdrops, fresh from wintry bowers,

Are forerunners of a world of flowers.

~ Sara Doudney, "Snowdrops (Consolation)," c. 1881 ~

Sending warm thoughts your way.
I don't have any snowdrops in bloom, but these daffodils are
 peeking out on a chilly but sunny morning here.