Travel Break: Life is So Good

Life here has been a little bit on the chilly side!

I went in to record some pledge breaks for WKAR and the outdoor seating area didn't look terribly inviting!

I've been warding off the cold with a little cooking. If you like lemon you MUST try this drizzle cake from Marie's blog -- here's the link to the recipe. Easy and delicious. If you don't have medium eggs (I didn't), three extra large worked for 4 medium. I didn't have self-rising flour either, but just added some baking powder to the flour. It was great!

I made these lemon ginger cookies, too.

They're from this delightful cookbook, which I adore. All lemon recipes. (Thanks, Monique, for turning me on to this one!)

Note to self. Carry the timer with you when you go to another room.

And scones. Perfect with tea!

Lizzie, of course, is always showing off, flirting, and doing her cuteness thing in hopes of a treat. Well, can't resist. Could you?

Bushy D. Squirrel also wants treats -- from the bird feeder. We have a continuous battle but he is awfully cute! Bold, too!

A little bit of painting. I am especially pleased with this one. It's the cottage we stayed in near Bath during our trip. The owner posted a winter photo of it. Might be my best so far.

Here's the cottage in autumn from one of my pix. It's pretty accurate but it lacks the mood of the snow and the gray!

Sometimes I like them a little better when I'm just starting!

And this one I'm getting ready to totally mess  up. It's the Baby Grands and actually, Little Little Guy's mouth is already messed up. He is not wearing his mother's lipstick. As soon as I put in the eyes, I'll probably need to tear it up because it just won't be them. Although, it might just be two cute little guys in the sink getting a bath. Just not my little guys anymore. (Postscript. It's now cut up into swatch pieces. I totally blew the faces.)

Getting a little color in the house. The daffs are just so bright and cheery. Our gray and snowy days are a little too monochromatic for me!

I also got some hyacinths. Pretty in pink and I adore the smell but I fear it's why I'm having a little more trouble breathing these days! Better in the garden, I think, but I'll soldier on as long as possible because I love them so much!

We had a lovely Valentine's Day. Rick made a wonderful dinner and we exchanged cards and gifts. He chose the prettiest earrings for me. Maple leaves, which he knows I like because we both love Canada so much. Each year I make him a book. This one was our year in photos and haiku. Haiku can be hard!

And I've had some wonderful mail lately and some nice surprises! This pretty heart arrived on the day before Valentine's Day and was made by Laura Ingalls Gunn of Decor to Adore. (This post shows how she did it!) I was so touched and surprised! (It will stay up long after Valentine decor goes down!)

Last month I won a free canvas in a drawing at Wayside Treasures, Sandi's blog. I chose one of my photos from the Cotswolds and they did a terrific job with it. When I get a few things down, it will find a spot on the wall but for now, the easel is just fine!

(Can you tell I've been felting a lot?!)

So far, several more hearts, a couple of sheep, a very cute bunny and a cat that looks a little bit Laurel Burch-ey and a little bit deranged.

And then some wonderful books arrived from my friend Joan! Perfect for the snowy days!

I really am over the snow. But life is good. Very good. And every day I feel like the luckiest person in the world.

And that's good.

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