Cheer up, there’s no snow on the ground.

This is the way most of us are feeling at this point…

I finally learned how to add a proper caption to the photos I post. Hooray for me. Just one trick a day and I’ll have this thing mastered in no time.

This picture reminds me of The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh, a sweet book I just finished:

Ahh, the green background is supposed to perk you up. I think of it as the color of Boston lettuce, one of my favorite colors. I didn’t have anything to say yesterday but figured changing up the background would give some people a boost.

I suggest a new project indoors to get you through the next few (maybe several) weeks. Pick a time-consuming project, really detail oriented and maybe you’ll even end up getting into it. And try to get moving with some sort of exercise. The endorphins really do help you feel better.

In the meantime, here are some pictures to make you happy. Most are from tumblr, Pinterest and elsewhere on the internet:

Coming attractions: Pansies!

Do you know that until this very minute I had forgotten about pansies? I was just wandering around on Pinterest and came across these:

And I am now remembering that I love lilies of the valley which bloom in May. And June brings peonies. Yay! Something to look forward to.

(All photos from around the web and Pinterest.)

(photo on stylemepretty.com by Blumenthal Photography)

Spring is trying to come.

These creatures are taking advantage of one of the recent nice days we had:

(Random photos from the internet. Top one says MONDAYSHIFT)

Home is where the ironing board is

I may not post quite so often over the next week as I am picking up stakes and moving to a new spot. No worries, the blog stays where it is, which is marvelous if you think about it.

I have been slowly and methodically moving over all the items I can manage and one of them is the ironing board and as my new spot has its own washer and dryer (!!!) this works out well. So now if I want to look nice I need to be based there. So I can do laundry and iron and polish silver while waiting between 11 and 6 on Friday when a new mattress is being delivered. This betwixt and between does not suit my personality at all but fortunately I only found my spot a week ago and I am set to move on the 24th. I’m making steady progress and am so excited I can’t stand it.(!!!!!)

I just finished watching the ladies’ figure skating short program which I loved. The Korean who is currently in first place had the most exquisite program I have ever seen.

Do not go into a decline after the Olympics end. There is a life to go back to: you can do your taxes, read some good books, get to exercise class. House of Cards Season 2 is out for binge viewing. I believe the Oscars are coming up. And you can find some way to give back either with time or money.

These are flowers I made for the dining tables at Part of the Solution’s soup kitchen.(www.potsbronx.org). I think they will be nice and cheerful.

Be mine, Valentine.

I went to elementary school with a girl who works at the pharmacy and the other day we were reminiscing about Valentine’s Day at school way back when. We would decorate shoe boxes with construction paper, doilies, what-not and cut a slit in the top. It was really loads of fun and in those days we gave one to each person in the class. I think I had my best days in elementary school. It was not too hard to understand the subjects and I was a fantastic speller and had great handwriting so that helped. Then in the fifth grade we encountered New Math and life was really never the same again. As I said, those were my best days. Until now … and these days things seem to be going along just fine…

Hate to be the one to tell you but it’s going to be a while before we can go for a spin …

(all photos from tumblr)

Sources

First, fun pictures:

Snacks at Sochi. Love this.

(random tumblr photo)

He’s glued to the tube watching snowboarding.

(random tumblr photo)

Today’s post is about nothing in particular. Just some things I want to pass along to you before I forget.

postsecret.com This post is postcards people send to one place, post secret.com with a secret about themselves that no one else knows. It gives one a place to come clean about something, kind of. It’s a bit chilling so don’t read it if you’re having even a so-so day.

theburninghouse I love this site. Granted the premise is scary, i.e., what would you grab before you run from a burning house. But if you can look at it as what are the absolute essentials I need to live my life then it’s cool. I’m going to work on a list of what I would take.

Sources

Linda’s Bras at 552 Third Avenue in NYC. Between 36th and 37th Streets on the east side of the street. Getting fitted is somewhat mortifying but they do it with respect and grace and you will leave feeling like a new woman. I won’t go into details because of male viewers. If you live anywhere near NYC it’s worth the trip. I’m just squeezing this recommendation in the middle of the post so no one gets embarrassed.

Thoughts

Feel better about yourself by helping others.There are people in America who still don’t have enough to eat. Try working at a soup kitchen to get a feel for the real tough world out there. If that’s not up your alley then give money. If you live in the NYC metro area try looking up POTS (Part of the Solution) in the Bronx. They are a very well run organization and can always use volunteers and most certainly need money. Otherwise find one in your area and give / send some help.It’s like anything else: you get out of it what you put into it. Working at POTS has been an amazing experience for me, much more than I ever expected.

Winter wonderland theme for the tables at POTS, including valentines. Snowflakes are mixed media: felt corrugated paper, glitter paper, felt and crocheted, all hot glued to twigs I gathered on my walks. Glass stones in the bottom with fake snow on top. Made by yours truly. Photo by sarahb.