Blondie's Journal

The other evening when we were relaxing around the fire, I took a picture of Milo with my phone. I rarely use my phone for pictures since I have a small simple camera that fits in my purse. I have never really wanted to upgrade to a bigger and more complex camera as I have so little patience for technical things. I don't even use Photoshop, although I enjoy seeing what people come up with. The pictures in this post were taken using an application on my android called Retro Camera. I think they are awesome.
The weather here seems to be warming up. It is 42 degrees as I write this and the sun is trying very hard to come out. I don't know what I would do outdoors besides take a walk as the ground is still frozen and we can expect more frosts and snow in the next few weeks. No sign of any of my bulbs coming up yet. I did sit down and order some vegetable and flower seeds from Renee's Garden. If you haven't been to this website, have a look. She has beautiful heirloom seeds and now has 2 cookbooks all about cooking with ingredients from your garden.
You would think that being in the city I would have to buy my vegetables at the grocery store {and I do, we have a marvelous selection year round}, but we also have some great farm stands. When I used to work in downtown Chicago, across the street was The Daley Plaza, named after our mayor. Fun events were always happening there and I walked through it everyday several times going to court. One of the things I loved best was the Wednesday Farmer's Market. Vendors came from all over, including Michigan and Indiana and sold fresh vegetables, flowers, jams and baked goods. Sly as I am, I found that if I was hanging around at closing time, I could usually score some free flowers.
While the weather still makes it too cold to do much other than sulk, I have a few projects going on in the house {other than the Laundry Project, a never ending endeavor}. I brought home a few frames from my Dad's house and I am in the process of painting them and then I am going to do some different things with them. I have seen so many great picture frame projects and I really want to start working on wall art for the family room. Remember that project? It is still waiting to be done as son Jeff is still at home while he house hunts. I'm not able to order furniture until he takes the furniture that is in there. After seeing the slip covered couch at IKEA, I have had that on my mind so I did a little research online and sound that JC Penney's has a beautiful white slip covered couch that I am really impressed with. But for now it is just a far off plan, depending on when my son moves...and I'd rather have him here.
Plans are being finalized on out trip to Asheville. I feel like the only person in the world who has never been to the Biltmore. Today I read a little more information on it and I can't believe all there is to do there, besides tour the mansion and gardens. There are many different types of restaurants and shops. I am wondering if I should bring an empty suitcase with me to bring my goodies home in. And The Husband has not stopped looking for things to occupy his time with, although I am really lucky that he likes to shop, maybe more than me if that's possible. He wants to take fly fishing lessons. I am still mulling that over. Believe it or not, I'm pretty good at fishing, being near all these lakes here in the Midwest. I mentioned the gourmet kitchen we have in our suite...maybe we will have a fish fry. I am also really excited that I will be meeting and having lunch with Penny from The Comforts Of Home. That is really going to be fun.

Well, this is just a random post as usual, I hope I didn't bore you. I am off to get some laundry done, even though the cleaning ladies do all the sheets and towels, somehow I feel the need to let them know I do something around here! lol! Have a great week! :-)