Good bye February

Rats!  I was routing for my grandson's favorite team the Patriots!  but the Giants won the superbowl 21 to 17      It was a very exciting game! 

3rd in Milford Middle School

My grandson Jon came in 3rd in his school in the spelling bee CONGRATULATION JONNY!

The family all got to together to celebrate Catarina's 4th birthday we took lots of photos and Uncle Chris made us a delicious dinner!  The kids had a lot of fun with the kareoke machine!    

THE BIRTHDAY GIRL

Bruce and I had a great time at the GARDEN SHOW EXPO in Harrisburg. We got a lot of good ideas for the garden.  My favorite display was a row boat made into a pond!  Our garden project for 2012!

Had a great time at all my classes this month Hypertufa planter, Vegetable gardening, yoga, oil painting and my SLR camera course.  I shot in manual mode for the first time this month.  Here's a phto of my valentine's gift from Bruce that I shot for a class assignment.

Still haven't finished Cheaspeake by James Mitchener, read a few chapters.

Birds at my feeder this month are:  cardinals, titmice, chickadees, goldfinch, house finch, white-throated sparrows, song sparrows, carolina wren, juncos, common grackles, red-winged blackbirds, hairy woodpeckers, pigeons, mourning doves, & starlings.

Eurasian Wigeon

For our anniversary Bruce and I spent the day birding in search of some rarities in the area.  We were lucky enough to find the Virginia's Warbler at Pickering Creek in Easton and the Eurasian Wigeon behind the Holiday Inn at Kent Narrows.   

My favorites this month were:

Movies: Abduction, Dont be Afraid of the Dark, the Rum Diaries, Drive also saw Mirror, Mirror; and the Beginners!  congrats to Christopher Plummer for best supporting actor!

TV Shows: downtown Abbey, JudgeJudy, Fashion Police (although I think Stacy Keebler should have been best dressed at the Oscars NO CONTEST!), Housewives of Beverly Hills, Antique Roadshow, the Oscars and Jersey Shore

In the kitchen this month I made:  BBQ beans & sausage, chicken dumpling soup, Broccoli pear salad, vegetable lasagne and lemon salmon fettucine  Yum Yum

Our big purchase this month was our 27" Samsung flat screen monitor!   Love it and my GALAXY NOTE cell phone LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!

Hope everyone had a wonderful month!! 
I WISH U LOVE!!

Welcome February

This month started off with a lot of banging!  on the roof!!  We thought it was squirrels but it turned out to be a raccoon!  The raccoon had pushed in some of the flashing and taken out some insulation to make himself a nice warm home above our office dormer!!

Its February and time to watch the SUPERBOWL and a little groundhog in Punxsatawney Pennsylvania who saw his shadow and predicts six more weeks of winter.

Catarina age 3

Its time to celebrate Catarina's 4th birthday, Valentine's Day, President's Day and our 18th anniversary!




I made Catarina's Birthday card... card making is fun!!  To make the card I used Repeat Impressions stamp
4520-K and the design team's challenge sketch J2512. 
It's so cute I can't wait to give it to her!!


February is also the beginning of the Lenten season.  What will you give up for Lent?  I will be abstaining from candy, cupcakes and ice cream!  Can I make it...?

Looking forward to attending the GARDEN SHOW EXPO in Harrisburg with Bruce.  and taking several classes this month including two Yoga classes at Chesapeake college and also at Chesapeake a photography course, a Renaissance Art class, and a diet and nutrition class.  At the Adkins Arboretum, I signed up for a class to learn how to make a hypertufa planter.  Attend seminar Starting a Vegetable Garden at the library, And last but not least, my painting classes will continue at the Art Studio! 

PLACES I'd like to walk this month:  Kent Narrows, Sandy Point State Park to look for snow buntings, and the National Arboretum!

TO DO LIST
Scrapbook, make more cards for Christmas, Valentines Day, Anniversary and Catarina's Birthday, continue with therapy for my back and shoulder, and take lots of photos!

BOOK I'm still reading this month is Cheaspeake by James Mitchener

Birds at my feeder this month are:  house finches, cardinals, titmice, white throated sparrows, juncos, carolina wrens, red winged blackbirds, song sparrows, mourning doves and hairy woodpeckers!

Hope everyone has a wonderful month!! Enjoy the outdoors!  There's still time for sledding and building snowmen! Watching your birdfeeders! and Snuggling up in your flannel PJs with hot cocoa and a good movie or book!
I WISH U LOVE!!

Saying good bye to January

Hard to believe January is coming to a close.  Hope u had a great month! The month left me with some more happy memories.

I worked on my New Year's Resolutions and lost 2 pounds!  Hurray I now only have to lose 8 more pounds by April 30th! to make my goal and hopefully get off the blood pressure meds! 

I am making progress on my second goal to spend less busy time and more quality fun time!!!  I started a painting for Terri at the Art Studio, and finished 26 scrapbook pages (22 at the crop and 4 at home), I made a few Christmas cards for next year and a few Valentines and I started crocheting myself a grannysquare scarf!! 
Hi-lites of the crops for me were winning a cricut cartridge in the raffle and spending time with my daughter, Paulette!! 

I walked to and from therapy twice this month so I definitely got some exercise it was a 20 minute walk one way so that totals 80 minutes of walking.  It's a start! and I do several exercises at therapy for  my back and shoulder.  I am also taking a yoga class at Chesapeake College. 

The TV show Alcatraz wasn't all that hot!  I took it off my agenda but I did see some good netflix movies this month including Water for Elephants (I read the book and still enjoyed it), Super 8, Midnight in Paris (typical Woody Allen film), The Guard (a real surpise! dry comedy, I loved it), Moneyball (another surpirse, I'm not a sports fanatic but loved this movie), Rise of the Planet of the Apes (enjoyed it).
TV shows that I enjoyed this month are Housewives of Atlanta and Beverly Hills, Judge Judy (always reminds me of my Mom), Divorce Court, Antique Roadshow, Jersey Shore (reminds me of my old friends from Philly), Kim Kardashian (I have no idea why I watch that dumb show) and I watched Luther a BBC detective show on netflix I don't like a lot of detective shows but this one is good!  

Had a checkup this month at my Cardiologist.  She sent me for a carotid doppler test and no problems were found!!  GOOD NEWS! 

Still reading Carribean - it's worth finishing but its a slow read for me and it weighs a top!!

Black headed gull front

Western Kingbird on fence

Cornell feeder watch is going good.  One day I had over 80 red-winged blackbirds in the yard.  LOVED IT!!  Other birding hi-lites included adding 2 new birds to my life list - received email regarding a black headed gull in Hunt Valley Maryland - the hunt was on and Bruce and I found the bird in the shopping center parking lot  - second alert sent us in search of a Western Kingbird.  Luckily we found it!!  These birding trips gave me an opportunity to do some photography and use my big 500mm lens!

Did a lot of cooking and eating this month! but I tried to keep it low calorie and healthy some of my favorite recipes for the month were: bacon corn chowder, spiced pecans, pear & blue cheese salad, clam chowder, Paulette stopped for lunch on our way to the crop and gave me a thumbs up on my red lentil soup, and Terri gave me a thumbs up on my bean soup! Bruce and I enjoyed our weekend dinner of Pork Chops, sweet potatoes, squash and green beans; I accompanied mine with a glass of apple cider yummy! 

Our dinning out included a visit to one of our old favorite Chinese restaurants in Annapolis, a new restaurant highly recommended in Easton, Maryland El Dorita where I tried a Peruian dish, sangria and flan for dessert.  Fish & chips at Rams Head shorehouse on Kent Island with blueberry streudel for dessert are you hungry yet?  and a nice meal at Ichiban including miso soup, port dumplings and a Philadelphia roll! yum-yum! 

Bruce and I also visited Friday Creek Winery in Owings Maryland and enjoyed tasting the wine and brought some home with us.  and that was fun! 

HAPPY NEW YEAR

Its a new year time for new beginnings.  Time to make our new year's resolutions.  What will mine be.....

  - My new doctor said she would try taking me off my blood pressure medicine if I 
    lost 10 pounds by the end of April so thats my 2012 resolution to lose 10 pounds

  - My second resolution to make better use of my time - I'm retired and I need to stop
    doing chores and start doing more of what I really enjoy like painting, scrapbooking,
    crafts, shopping, sightseeing, birding and gardening.

  - My third goal is to get more exercise by walking more, taking scheduled bird and
    photoshoot walks.  and do more exercises at home for my back and the arthritis in
    my neck, hip and knee

     I thinks that enough for me to handle. 

    Let me know what your resolution will be!!  

Looking forward to my back pain going completely away!

I'm been able to sleep since December 20th and THAT'S A VERY GOOD THING!

Hoping my therapy sessions this month will leave me back to normal!!!

Looking forward to the RESOLUTION CROP WEEKEND in Frederick Maryland!!
Its always a good time for me to share with my daughter, Paulette.   Last year I finished 23 scrapbook pages and Paulette won a prize for the funnest page!  Crop till
you drop!!!  and the hot tub at the hotel is nice too!!!!

THINGS TO CELEBRATE IN JANUARY!!
GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS 15th
CHINESE NEW YEAR 23rd ITS THE YEAR OF THE DRAGON

PLACES I'd like to walk this month:  Terrapin State Park, Eastern Neck NWR and
Sandy Point State Park

TO DO LIST
Visit some wineries on one of Maryland's Wine Trails 
Check out the new TV servies Alcatraz starts 16th at 8pm

BOOK I'm reading this month Cheaspeake by James Mitchener

Hope everyone has a wonderful year!! Enjoy the outdoors! Its time for sledding and building snowmen!  Watching your birdfeeders!  and Snuggling up in your flannel PJs 

I WISH U JOY!!

 

This is what I'll be up to in June

Its June and this is what I'm looking forward to this month.

My first priority is to finish my BIG CUP at pick n paint pottery in Centreville MD. 

 

Finished by oil painting of my darling grandson Jimmy.  Can't wait to have it framed and presented to my son for Father's Day.

June 10th  - Is my grandson, Jonathan's Elementary School Graduation at his school in Milford Delaware. 

June 11th - Is my granddaughters Liz and Phee-Phee's dance recital in Glenside PA.  Always love to see the girls dance!!!  My dancing queens!!

June 15th - Is my GREAT GRANDSON SHANE's First Grade Graduation from Lake Forest in Felton, DE!  Look forward to celebrating with him!

June 20th thru June 24th My three little granddaughters come to visit.  I have lots of fun things planned for them!!  Can't wait to visit with them!

June 25th - Is my GRANDSON TERRY'S 16th BIRTHDAY!  Paulette's is hosting a barbque and pool party for him at her house!!  Can't wait to celebrate!!!!!

Hoping to squeeze in a trip to the Aerospace Museum in Washington as Terry's Birthday Gift!  I know he would really enjoy it and so would I!

 

I'm looking forward to receiving all our fresh local produce this month from the Homestead Farms coop.  Made Radish Top soup yesterday.  It was delicious!!  reminded me of my Mom's potatoe soup. I will definitely make it again and again.  Veggie box for the first week of June contained NAPA Cabbage - I plan on making stuffed rolls with it; radishes, turnips, lettuce (making a strawberry feta cheese salad for dinner tonight); dandelion greens - plan on making an anchovy salad with them; and broccoli.  I love eating green!! 

I'm hoping to take two weekend day trips with Bruce this month, one to Chestertown to just stroll around and have a nice lunch!  Another lunch and strolling trip to Northeast Maryland.  and just maybe we can squeeze in a birding trip to one of the NWR to pick up the new Duck Stamp!  Helps the duck hunters, refuge and wildlife! 

This month I want to continue with my goal to scrapbook a page a day - an exercise in finding my own scrapbook style.   And making my own Birthday and Father's Day cards for my son, father-in-law  & son-in-laws!

Another goal for this month is to garden an hour a day at least 3 to 6 times a week.  Still working on my rose garden. The work I have planned includes finishing the weeding and grass removal, and walk-on-me plants for my rose arbor. My biggest challenge is fighting rose spot and spider mites.  I would also like to weed my vegetable circle.

This month I would like to take more backyard photos and portrait shots!

My new bed around my gazebo needs dirt and planting too. I'm sure I won't have enough spare hours or strength to finish all the things that need to be done in my garden. A garden means never ending work and joy!!!

Hopefully I can lose a few pounds by the end of June. Two or Three would be nice!

Hope everyone has a wonderful month!!  Enjoy the outdoors! 

Time to get busy!

Whats up in my world this May

Its May and this is what I'm looking forward to this month.

Started the month with a trip to Bombay Hook NWR in Delaware.  Spotted 42 species of birds.

This month I'm looking forward to my oil painting classes at the Senior Center and completing my painting of my littlest grandson, Jimmy.  Hoping to get it done in time to present to my son for Father's Day.

I'm also looking forward to finishing my huge ceramic cup and saucer at Pick N Paint in Centreville MD.  After it's finished, I plan to plant the beautiful begonia in it that I received from my daughter, Terri on Easter. 

May 1st - the start of my online photoshop class which last all month!

May 3rd  - Is my grandson, Jonathan's Mother's Day Breakfast at his school.  Hopefully I can get up early enough to be in Milford Delaware by 7:30 a.m.  Which means I need to be on the road by 6:30 a.m.  Ugh!!

May 8th - is Mother's Day   WISHING ALL THE MOM'S A VERY HAPPY DAY!

May 14th - Acadia (my Maine Coon) celebrates her birthday - she will be 9 years old which is 52 in cat years!  Happy Birthday Acadia - hope you live forever!!

May 16th - Taking a trip to the Ocean to do some painting!

May 22nd - Blackwater NWR's Bird walk

Hoping to make it to one of my great grandson's Soccer games some Saturday this month!  Go Shane!!!

May 30th - MEMORIAL DAY - the first official day of the Summer Season!   

The month of May is the start of our organic farm coop.  I'm looking forward to receiving all our fresh local produce.  I have some good recipes from last year and I'm looking forward to trying some of the new recipes I've collected over the winter. 

This month I want to continue with my goal to scrapbook a page a day - an exercise in finding my own scrapbook style. 

Another goal for this month is to garden an hour a day at least 3 to 6 times a week.  I'm hoping to finish my rose garden improvements by the end of the month.  The work I have planned includes finishing the weeding and grass removal, transplanting some mint from the backyard around my blooming small yellow rose, finding plants to go around my antique rose on my umbrella trellis, and walk-on-me plants for my rose arbor and a plant that repels spider mites or japanese beetles to go around my flagstaff rose.  I would also like to get the seeds planted in my vegetable circle.  I have corn, bean, leek and squash seeds. 
Update planted corn seeds today May 2nd
Another job is weeding and transplanting mint in the small bed under my powder room window.  My new bed around my gazebo needs planting too.  I'm sure I won't have enough spare hours or strength to finish all the things that need to be done in my garden.  A garden means never ending work and joy!!!

Hopefully I can lose a few pounds by the end of May.  Two or Three would be nice!

Time to get busy!

What I'm up to in April

Its another new month April and I have so much to look forward to this month.

Its time to say good-bye to my fur coat and send it off to cold storage until the frost is back on the pumpkin LOL!!!

Its also the end of Project Feeder Watch on the 8th.  It was fun counting and identifying the birds at my feeders for Cornell - Hey! I had an unusual visitor today! a turkey vulture was on my deck feasting at my ground feeder under my upside down thistle feeders!  Took this photo thru my door with screen.  He was sitting on top of the thristle feeders when I snapped it.

This month I'm looking forward to my oil painting and Mahjongg classes which will continue thru the month.

April 6th is time for my yearly mammogram - as a breast cancer survivor I urge all you lady friends to keep up with your self exams and annual screening!

April 9th - I have a trip planned to the Aerospace Museum in Washington DC with my grandsons!

April 15th is the native plant sale at the Adkins Arboretum!! 

April 16th - Meeting my daughters and their families at Friendles to celebrate

Lar's 16th Birthday!! 

April 22nd I'm looking forward to the opening of the movie "Water for Elephants" - I read the book and can't wait to see the movie!!

April 23rd My grandson's are Baptized in the Catholic faith! and its my great grandson Shane's Birthday!

April 24th Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge has their early morning bird walk

April 26th I'm planning a trip to the Philadelphia Magic Garden

April 30th is my great grandson's Soccer game! 

This month I want to continue with my goal to scrapbook a page a day - an exercise in finding my own scrapbook style. 

My cooking plans for April include Salmon Salad, Fettucine & smoked Salmon, and several chicken dishes: Rosemary Potato, Garlic Orange and onion, and Mushroom.

Another goal for this month is to keep moving and walk 3 times a week, do some strength training twice a week, and yoga once a week to stay flexible.  And continue my 1200 calorie a day diet so far I'm losing a pound a week.

This month I hope to find time to clean up my garden (weather permittting and the ground dries out).

Time to get busy and have a great month!!