This is day 2 of a respiratory flu---but since it is the weekend(and a snowstormy weekend) I am getting some rest and getting some knitting and reading done. Which brings me to this rant(you know how it is when you are grouchy and under the weather). I ordered this purse kit for a family member and then loved it so much, I ended up buying myself one also. We were both excited and decided that although we lived 1500 miles apart, we would have a long distance knitting club. Well, the directions were poor! I sent emails to everyone from the online knitting shop to the designer and got one reply which said " I will pass this along to Mary who will get back with you" NOT! Not only that, but I ran out of the beautiful silk ribbon yarn and my handmade wooden knitting needle splintered! Needless to say, I will not be buying anything from that online knitting shop. But---the finished product is beautiful. I lined it with some gorgeous chartreuse fabric and all it needs is a button to finish the project!

Cookie of the Week

I do love to bake! And my favorite thing to make are cookies! They are easy(usually) and the results can go in my cookie jar or get sent through the mail as gifts! I have some old favorites and am constantly on the lookout for new ones. This week I landed in cookie heaven when I tried this recipe from Martha Stewart.com. It has fresh ginger AND chocolate in it and when you bite into it---it tastes like melted chocolate in a gingerbread base. So good--too good and too tempting. Here is the link to this recipe-http://www.marthastewart.com/recipe/chewy-chocolate-gingerbread-cookies. Wicked good!!

This guy has got to go--it is time. No more stuffed snowman proclaiming Let it Snow on his hat! Don't feel bad for him though--he isn't going into the garbage. Just being packed away until he will be appreciated again next winter. We are definately ready for Spring but Mother Nature is giving us more Snow-Snow-Snow.

Thirty years ago today, Americans watched, hugged and cried together as the US Hockey team defeated the Soviet team. I remember how wonderful that time was. It was all we could talk about as we were captivated by this young team. Looking at the footage of that team on ESPN today I was struck by how incredibly young they looked-----they didn't look that young 30 years ago! Of course, I am now 30 years older so that might have something to do with it. We watched the movie Miracle last Friday and if you are old enough to remember that magical time, you will LOVE this movie.

I have been having fun re-acquainting myself with my rather large CD collection. I am ashamed to say that since I have had my Ipod, and our satellite radio, I haven't really been listening to this great collection of music that I once took the time--and money--to collect. It has just gotten too easy to tune the satellite radio to whatever genre I am in the mood for---or to set my Ipod to shuffle and listen to whatever the little gadget selects for me. And in the process, a lot of old favorites and great music has been gathering dust on my shelves. And not just any shelves--custom made shelves that Dan built to house my beloved collection. But no more!! My CD collection and I are one again. And in case anyone asks me "what albums would you want with you if you were stuck on a desert island?" it would be these! Miles Davis "Kind of Blue" and Van Morrison's "Poetic Champions Compose"---two of the best albums ever(in my opinion anyway).

The last months of winter are a lot like the final month of pregnancy. You have totally forgotten what it feels like to not be in that condition. So here is a picture to remind us snow-belters what Summer looks like. It won't be too long now---I saw the first Robin today and MLB pitchers and catchers reported for Spring Training!

Sigh---------there just isn't much excitement around here today to post. Lots of snow on the ground. Work-home-laundry etc. But the house does smell like Choco chip Oatmeal cookies and these beauties are going to be packed and headed to Vermont this weekend with Matt on a ski trip. So here are a few random thoughts I am going to throw out there

• Did you see K D Lang sing Hallelujah at the Vancouver Opening Ceremony. I can NOT get that beautiful haunting song out of my mind. Yes--it is on my Ipod!


• Who would plan a potluck on Ash Wednesday? My coworkers--and my Lenten resolution of giving up chocolate lasted 2 hours. Instead I am going to give up saying anything negative---only positive comments. Help me people, this is going to be tough---


• Somebody send me a plane ticket to anywhere--------I would love to go on an adventure.

Okay---back to the mundane for me. Have a good one!

Spring is on the Way!

Just when it seemed like Spring would never arrive---------the UPS man delivered a little patch of Green to our door. The Baseball Prospectus 2010 is HERE and Spring Training isn't far behind!

When Valentine's Day starts with heart shaped pancakes, how can it not be a wonderful day. And it only got better---Dan replaced my under cabinet lights with Xenon lighting. I know--what a romantic guy huh!. I used cookie cutters to make the pancakes. I have seen shaped pancake makers for sale, but I just HATE to buy something I will use once a year and then have to store it so I improvised. The only thing I can say is, now I know what the little handles are for on the shaped makers--prevents burning of the fingers when you have to remove the cookie cutters!

We are starting to get caught up in the Olympic excitement----as we usually do! This picture is from 2006. Dan was out shoveling the driveway and I heard him yelling "Hey-hey-Look out the window"---------and there he was smiling like he won a gold medal!! And I have to mention how much I love the Canadian National Anthem. "With glowing hearts we see thee rise,The True North strong and free!" That phrase gets me every time I hear it.

When your legs are 4 inches tall it makes your frequent trips outside difficult. Dan shoveled a Cul de Sac for Magglio so he can go outside, do his "business" and keep going without having to turn around. But every now and then, Magglio gets a gleam in his eye, gives us a quick glance and bolts for the door at the other side of the house!

I was just over on Facebook and they have this theme going on where you post a picture of you and your Valentine and post how long you've been together. So in the keeping of things, here is Dan and Michele who have been together going on 32 wonderful years. And may I say, he has been working very hard at keeping me sane today. I definately have cabin fever and his school district had a snow day--so he is doing his best to make me laugh today----and helping me clean house!!

Snow, Snow, and more Snow!

This pretty much sums up the day-and tomorrow. Snow and weather related cancellations. Too windy to play in it. Time to peruse the Burpee catalog to ease the cabin fever!

I spend a LOT of time in the gym after work and then come home and make cookies? Doesn't make sense, except I had the urge to bake and I didn't sample any. And it is Valentine's Week after all. Forecasters say a HUGE winter storm is knocking at our door and, to quote the weatherman--"Northwest Ohio is in the wheelhouse on this one". One report even went so far to say it would be the biggest storm in the last 6 years. We are ready-------books, yarn and wine!!

The best things in life are actually, well----free! We spent a winter afternoon in one of the most architecturally beautiful structures in our area listening to beautiful music. It was part of the Cathedral Concert series at Rosary Cathedral and it was-----free!

What a Storm!

It was quite a storm we had last nite. It was predicted but most forecasters said we were on the border and wouldn't be hit hard. The snow started falling around 3 and then the winds came! By 5pm it was getting bad and by 6 we were in total whiteout conditions. Luckily, we had no place to go but in front of the fireplace. Late morning it ended and the sun came out to punctuate the beauty of the drifts. Supposedly, another storm is coming next Tuesday!

I feel compelled to post a pic of something red today. Not only is it Women's Heart Health Day but it is also Project Red Shirt Friday where people wear Red in support of our troops. Anyway. there is a lot of RED out there, what with Valentine's Day and all but on the other hand, we are in midst of a snowstorm with whiteout conditions. So---I am not going outside to take a picture so you will have to be content with my red hearts decorating my green bottle collection. Or, I could have taken a picture of my glass of RED wine or my blazing RED fire. Enjoy your Friday and if you are in a storm area, PLEASE be safe-it is dangerous driving conditions out there!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I find it really refreshing----and surprising that high school students still have the same school spirit we did when we were younger. These shots were taken at a girls--YES Girls!!--game last nite and the stands were packed, the bands were playing and the student sections were cheering wildly---including the Green Men!!

I suppose I have to post this picture. These handsome gentlemen won our annual Catch Phrase competition on our annual ski trip. That's right---snatched the trophy right out of the reigning lady winners hands. And they weren't very humble or gracious about their win either. But a win is a win----and in all fairness, I need to post this pic. Family tradition dictates that this picture will replace last year's winners on a Wheaties Box at my Mother in Law's house.

It's not a groundhog--but something at our house came out of the snow and took a peek! At first glance, I couldn't figure out what these were but closer inspection showed them to be a Carruth garden sculpture that I forgot to bring in last fall---a family of baby birds that are emerging from the frozen landscape!