Snow Days

 

Hi guys. Here we are on this Monday night, snowed in and crazy. 

Whatever happened to snow days, they used to be so fun? Hot chocolate, oatmeal cookies, red cheeks and wet woolen mittens. Those days are gone.

I can't get any of the doors open! All have drifts up past the door handles. Can't expect anyone to come dig us out, the roads are closed. My car has died an untimely death, so if flooding occurs or the power goes out, Baby Mo and I are stuck here, waiting to freeze to death. [If only in my dire imagination.] So much for counting on my Jeep always. .Its computer/ dashboard went berserk Sunday, a reaction to  those coldest days, Thursday, Friday. And you know, it really wasn't all that freakin cold, mid-20s. [The gale winds made it awful but that shouldn't affect a car. My Jeep was serviced and winterized just six weeks ago, too]. I am upset, stranded, disappointed. My friend will try to come Wednesday or Thursday to work on my car, no worries.

Mo too is very unhappy and confused. Even if he cannot go out he likes to peek out and decide for himself. But the doors, as mentioned, are firmly drifted shut with heavy wet snow, about chest high on a human. And he refuses to use his potty pads, poor little man. 

In honor of the coming snow, yesterday I made pot-roast in my new Crockpot. The result was---I'd give it a D-, not a Fail because the beef tasted good. But it fell apart in dry dry dry strings. And the veggies were grey. Needed some of that browning stuff my mom secretly used: Kitchen Bouquet? Edible if the power goes and/ or if I have no car to drive to the store. But I expect more than that from a labor intensive and fairly expensive meal. Recipe link, previous post.

And did I mention my Kindle died? My friend had an extra, brought it over yesterday when my car went wacko. Who has an extra unopened Kindle just lying around anyway? They cost about $175.oo with new chargers. I was amazed. 

I am rereading all the early Robert Parker Spenser books. LOL--- they have car phones! Kindle is pretty awesome how one's library just appears on the new device, like magic. But the Spenser books are before my time, before Kindle time, so not in my archive, not free.

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The past week I worked on a few white linen hearts. [sold] 

and a couple more suncatchers.

More to come. Made when ordered, so email me if you want a rusty heart suncatcher. I only have two or three to offer.

This is my Weird Collections haul from January alone. I always think that rain/ snow/ windy weather make the odd disks rise to the surface.

How strange.

Wonder what will show up when the snow melts this February.

How much snow did you get?

love

lizzy

gone to the beach....

It's Time to Start Our Indoor Bulbs!

 Hi guys! Brrr, The polar vortex has come to the beach! Wind from the north at 36 mph, wind chill is 1*. [-17*C]

AccuWeather Alert: Arctic blast may be followed 

                                              by a big snowstorm

It feels like my work desk is outside, I think I need to add a hat. Mo is wearing his Duckie pjs and I have my heated throw going, fingerless gloves on my hands as I type. 

I found  wonderful soft brushed thermal tops at Old Navy. Very oversized so lots of room for layering even if it makes me look like a polar bear.

click HERE        

Despite the cold, the weather is sunny and beautiful and it's time to have a little boost of springtime.

Soo...did you stock up on prechilled spring bulbs last October? 

No? Amazon can fix that, as can a visit to your local grocery store. Today my store had pussy willow branches 4.oo, cut tulips , 5.99 a dozen, 2" and 4" forced hyacinths and daffodils at 2.99 and 4.99---and yes! boxes of paperwhite bulbs on sale. Amazon selection: click here

A couple years ago I switched from forcing in interesting containers, using seaglass and beach pebbles--

to reusing this very modern but perfectly shaped for function glass cylinder from Costco. You can use whatever you have on hand.

The glass cylinder came with this scary pointy vicious looking ''frog'' or bulb anchor.

I carefully store it each year after use, protected in a takeout box, firmly taped shut. Imagine stepping on that if it went astray on the kitchen floor.

This year I bought my bulbs at the garden center when we visited for Christmas. 

                                                          

Instead of paperwhite Ziva bulbs, the fragrant all white classic narcissus for forcing, I chose a new variety, called Winter Sun.

                                                  

They look so sweet and happy and cheerful with their pretty yellow trumpets. I hope they live up top their pics.

Only four bulbs but they look crisp and healthy, with nice green sprouts already.

Nestle the bulbs in their base supports, add water. Easy peasy.

   

                                                       

I was planning on starting the bulbs in this crock but it was too hard to monitor the water level. It's important, especially until roots form,  to top up the water daily. The water should just touch the rounded base of the bulb without covering the bulb.

I moved the jar to the pine bench where they've sat all week doing nothing, lol. But they should get going soon and bloom in about four weeks.

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And here is my little indoor nursery garden by the back door where it's cold but gets warm morning sun. 

My amaryllis is doing great! 

What a thrill. It's red by the way, for those who asked. And this is its third year.

And here is my white orchid, a birthday gift last year. [Or is it pink? I forget...]. It too is doing really well. I let it hibernate all fall then gave it Miracle Grow when I fertilized the amaryllis. Its leaves and now glossy and strong, they stand up all perky.  Nice green air roots, too. No hint of buds yet. Later when it's warmer I'll move it to a warmer more humid location. Or maybe it can go in the narcissus's glass cylinder when they're done blooming? Like a little terrarium?

Both plants need more Miracle-Gro, but I'm out. Amazon?

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Mel sent me a link for my new to me Croc Pot, it was something like 75 Best Slow cooker recipes. I plan to make  a pot-roast, just like Mrs Plum, hahaha. It was odd because it called for a bone in cut of roast beef, something I have never seen. And the other recipes seemed quite odd, [sorry, Mel] heavy on spicy chicken, where are my Rolaids, and oddities such as warm creamy crab dip. Ptomaine waiting to happen. HERE

Yes I know I am way way behind on slow cooker usage; I only used mine to make pulled pork, then it went to the ski house in Vermont and was never seen again. One big drawback for me is they mostly require one to cook before noon, the earlier the better. I just can't, no I cannot cook  at 6 AM.

                                         "We are having roast beef, mommy?"//

                                            "Not tonight, little man!"

Mo is proud his warm plaid coat still fits!

PS, in regard to my previous post--I should have called it a Wish List, not a To Do List. Obviously I cannot do most of the things on my list, I was just, like, day dreaming, I suppose? And I always feel it's better to have lots of ideas, better than having no ideas at all. 😍🙄

Have a warm and cozy weekend!

love

lizzy

gone to the beach.....

After the beach pics are a couple of wonderful links about beach art/ community installations organized by a woman in New Jersey. Pretty wonderful, I hope you'll click and enjoy. 

Let the sunshine in, the sun shine in....

Seashell community art installation, NJ click HERE

And the same community/ woman's Christmas Tree on her Beach: HERE