Another Bird Sighting!

I saw my first Great Blue Heron of the 2008 season.  I just read in the Strib that they usually come back in March but thought with all the ice they may be delayed.   Well, there it was near the open culvert water just as you turn onto the Golf Course Road from 79.   I spied another robin near our house today today too, only the second one so far.

Chilly and gray here today.  I'm making my easy tetrazzini and carrot cake.   Mom shared a recipe with me so I'm giving it a try.  

Another sign of spring....the Twins opener is Monday night, 6:05!!!

More fun pic's!

All these pictures are from the Smith Christmas 2007 at Jim & Shelly's.

Fun Pic's I neglected to post!

Harold and Margaret

Shari reminded me that I had a great picture of Harold and Margaret from Royce and Lynn's wedding.  I cropped it for this post and it really is nice.  Shari has this photo and is going to send some copies to Harold and his kids.  I went to Margaret's funeral this morning with Mom and Dad.  It was very nice and well attended.   I think the most touching thing that I noticed  was that her flowers inside her casket said "Honey."   She had a birdhouse with flowers and hummingbirds popping out of the flowers....a lady after my own heart.  

Tribute to Jon Hassler

The Literature Lovers (my book club) met today to discuss Staggerford by Mn author Jon Hassler.  Sadly, Jon Hassler passed away last Friday after a long struggle with Parkinsons.   If you haven't read any of his books you should try Staggerford as it was his first and introduces you to some characters such as Agatha McGee who is a prominent character in my favorite Hassler books Dear James and A Green Journey.  Despite his illness, he wrote up until the last days before his death.  I read that it is an autobiographical novel, Jay O'Malley.  That will make it a very interesting read whenever it's published.  Jon Hassler is one of my favorite authors and I look forward to reading the few that I have yet to read.   Thanks for the great stories Mr. Hassler!

Margaret

In yesterday's post I mentioned seeing our Cyrus neighbor Margaret on Strange Foods with Andrew Zimern  and just found out that she passed away last night.  She was 81 and had been in poor health the last couple of months.  She was just the nicest lady, very kind and always interested in others.  I wouldn't have posted this but since I had just mentioned her it seemed like I should.

Andrew Zimmern

Did you catch Andrew Zimmern's Strange Foods in Minnesota on Tuesday night?   The lutefisk dinner in Cyrus was featured close to the beginning.  Did you see Harold Kjeldahl right away?Margaret was just barely in there.  There were many others but it was neat to see Mom and Dad's neighbor right off the bat.  Pastor Smith who married Nancy and David stood right in line with Andrew.  There were lots of folks I recognized and I will have to go back and watch it later so I can freeze the frames and search the crowd.  The whole show was very interesting, fun and a nice look at our state.  Was that Marilyn Syverson from Morris teaching him how to polka?  It also looks like Jere Solvie dined right next to him.

Another GREEN Post

Tip 7) I think!  Make your own natural cleaning products.  I posted this recipe a year ago but bears repeating.  One part water, one part vinegar, one part rubbing alcohol and a few drops of dish soap.  Use it to clean windows, counters, floors-you name it.  The alcohol helps it dry quickly. I save old spray bottles and keep one filled with this formula.  Baking soda is another great cleaning product.  I sprinkle it on carpeting, rugs, furniture and then vacuum to clean and remove odors.  It's great for cleaning my stainless steel sink and smooth stove-top.  But wait, there's more...it makes an effective, gentle facial scrub when you mix some into your favorite cleanser too.  You can't beat the price either.

Tip 8) Drive the speed limit.  I read recently how much we'd save if we all did this and it was a LOT!  Sorry, I don't remember the exact amount.  Sometimes on my way home, I set my speed at 55 if there's nobody behind me.  I do feel like I'm going pretty slow but it probably makes less than a minute in my arrival time.  I can do more bird watching too.  If I got up earlier, I could drive 55 on the way to work but it would only annoy Jan to have to pass me every morning, so I might as well get the few extra winks of sleep.

Tip 9) Can't believe I haven't used this one yet but REUSE by donating and shopping at your closest thrift store.  I can't tell you how much I enjoy having the BB in town.  Most people I know don't mind getting their birthday gift from a thrift store or rummage sale.  I got Shari some fun items for her birthday and she liked them although I don't think she liked playing "Guess if it came from a thrift store or not" because she really couldn't tell!  I just got a fantastic framed & matted floral picture today for someone else....can't tell.  My cousins Tami & Teri donated some gorgeous prom dresses to the BB and for less than $10, they are going to make some girls pretty happy.   They are gorgeous and very much in style.  Thanks for the other items you donated too, Tami.  We need stuff for teenagers.

How cute are these guys?!!

It looks like these puppies are made out of mums.  Are they adorable or what? I was going to save these for the first day of spring but I'm not sure if I'll have time to post later.

Paperwhites

Paperwhites are so pretty but their odor leaves a bit to be desired.  I started these a couple weeks ago and they popped right up with all the sunshine we've had.  However, when Dan and I come home from work our first thought it that it smells like urine in the house!  Not a pleasant scent to greet you.  Amazingly, the cats have left them alone too.

Warning!

I have had some unusual comments on some of my posts in the last couple of days.  I have deleted them but if you run across any in the future, do NOT click on any of their links or blog addresses.  

An Irish Blessing

"These things I warmly wish for you: someone to love, some work to do, a bit o' sun, a bit o' cheer, and a guardian angel always near."

Happy St. Patrick's Day to all of you whether you are Irish or not! Laurie

Robin Sighting!

On Sunday afternoon, we spotted our first robin.  Gary, Jan, Dan and I had just walked up the hill from the cabin after moving the dock.  We were watching a cardinal in the woods near the dumpster corner who was attacking his reflection in Jan & Gary's car windows.  All of a sudden, another bird flew by and landed in a nearby branch.  We thought it was the female cardinal but it was a robin!  The first one is always exciting to see because everyone knows it's a sign of spring.  The males come 2-3 weeks ahead of the females to claim their territory.  Their breasts are a redder orange than the females who have more of an orange breast.  Have you seen a robin yet?

Maison Bourbon Jazz

Maison Bourbon is a jazz bar located on Bourbon Street.  The music is free and the drinks are expensive so it evens out.  We spent a couple hours here on Thursday and Saturday night.  Sat. I brought my camera so I could do some video taping.  The sign says not to do it but they just thought I was taking pictures.  They do shake their fingers and ask people to stop so I had to be discreet.  I had to do it for you, my faithful readers.  The guy on the clarinet was AMAZING!  I think I got him on this video.  This is the place that Harry Connick Jr's parents brought him to as a child.  He spent Sunday afternoons here according to a magazine article that I read.  He says it's still one of his favorite spots in New Orleans.  Enjoy!

LaFayette Cemetery

Lafayette Cemetery is the oldest in New Orleans.  It's located in the Garden District and is only 1 block off the St. Charles Streetcar line so it's easy and safe to get to.  Generations of families are placed in each crypt.  The coffin disintegrates along with the body and your bones join the rest of the family.  That's what the curator at the cemetery told me anyway!

Shari & Al

Look who Shari met on Saturday!!  Go to her blog and read the full story.

A Hard Day at the Office

This is Becky's grandpuppy.  He belongs to Janelle who is a former 2nd grader of mine.  She actually has two of them!  Isn't that adorable?  If they could only stay that size......

A new shirt

Cath Kidston fabric

My coworker(Dede K. our librarian) was wearing this pretty floral shirt 2 weeks ago and I complimented her on it as I love anything with flowers on it.  She brought me one of my own last week and she got it for $1 at Walmart!!  It's a White Stag which is a good line.  I really love it and wore it last week with a green skirt and brown boots. I have a pink corduroy skirt it will look nice with too.  It totally looks like a Cath Kidston print and to prove it I have the fabrics posted above.  I definitely have spring fever.  Wasn't that nice of her?!  You can hardly buy a card for $1!

Celebrity Homes-New Orleans

Nicholas Cage

John Goodman

Author Anne Rice

A lady at the bookstore gave me the addresses. She said John Goodman is around a lot.  I do not know where Brad and Angelina have their new home.  Anne Rice no longer lives in the above residence but has some others, she restores and moves on.  I haven't read any of her sexy vampire books but she is pretty popular.

I've been trying!

In front of the famous Napoleon House, established 1737.  It has great rustic decor inside and a little courtyard.  Napoleon was supposed to stay here in hiding but died before he made it.  Great prices and the best mufalettas around.  We thought they were awesome.  It's a big round sandwich with meat, cheese and lots of green olives.  It's only open from 11-5 so it's easy to miss.  Do you like Dan's new look?  Shirt is NOT tucked in!  He looks nice in this photo but I look a little dorky. :)
Dan in a St. Charles streetcar.  Aren't those old wood benches great?  When they reverse, the conductors flip all the backs of the benches the other way.
This is my favorite New Orleans picture.  This is the first time I've ever seen anyone out tending their flowers or even just out on their decks.  That's not counting the drunks on bourbon street mind you!  Click on this picture to get a close up of this man.  Do you know what the third flag represents?  I don't, that's why I'm asking...France?

Blogger has not been cooperating and I've been trying to download some photo's however it usually fails.  Finally, I got three to come through.  I might try some more this weekend.

We were in NOLA last Th-Sunday.  Weather the first two days was very cool and isolated showers.  Sat-Sunday were very nice but only in the 60's, which felt pretty good actually since there was plenty of sunshine.

On Saturday we toured a Creole plantation that was representative of most plantations during it's time.  Not like the one you imagine from Gone with the Wind.  It was excellent even though it wasn't the one we signed up for.   I'll definitely try to post some pictures of that.

People have asked me how the French Quarter held up from Hurricane Katrina and we couldn't tell a difference from pre-Katrina(April 2005-our first visit) The reason is that it's above sea level, we could see damage in other parts of the city but not where we stayed.  More later.

Good night and have a great weekend!!

Pandora Music

Go to www.pandora.com and listen to your favorite music for free!  I just learned about it over the weekend and used it in my classroom today for quiet reading time and it's playing right now as I'm posting.  You simply type in your favorite genre of music or performer and it will play random music in that category.  Sign up and create a free playlist and save your music for future use-better than a radio!  Has anyone else discovered this website? 

Tomorrow

I told Sophie that I'd post this on my blog if she'd sing it for me.  She's a good little performer.  Great job, Sophie!!