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!