Wednesday, January 14, 2015

A Bulb, Birds, and Book Business

 When our son-in-law was over for a pizza dinner, he commented that the hyacinth bulb I am forcing was probably an onion.  Funny!  I sent him a text, "NOT an onion!" It bloomed!  I wish you could sniff it.  It smells like spring.  Perfect!
 The squirrel who frequents my seed supply made a huge mess on the porch, but these cutie pies are providing a sweet show from the front window.
 Three!
 And the FLICKER came!  Isn't he cute?
 Do you hate the apple and orange stickers?  I do. There were no stickers on fruit when I was a kid.  I have to watch for them when I am photographing fruit (which I do way too much!  Sorry!) 
 My bear is wearing one of the first sweaters I knit over 30 (gasp!) years ago. Wow!  It was LITTLE!  Could it be that sweaters fit smaller back then?  Ha!  No!  This granny has grown in girth, A LOT!

 I made some raspberry tea with the cool device that Jenny gave us.  See?  I want SUNSHINE and spring to come.  Whine.
 So my "lady" book club meets today and we read A Tale of Two Cities.  It took me a while and halfway through it, it got more interesting.  I had to talk to Kim (My Field of Dreams) and our sons in order to gain appreciation for all the details. I am ready to read something soft like the Rosamunde Pilcher books above (I have read them many, many, many times already.  So?)

 The book club ladies are good at discussion. I learn from them and enjoy their company.  

I had so much fun reading with two eleven year olds yesterday (at my old school).  They are lovely little lambs and they did such a nice job reading aloud.  They'll be pros in no time!

 I like to stay in the house, hiding under my toadstool.  I have to get going and do my work for Bill before book club, so it's off to the post office for me.  
How IS January going for you?  Do you like it?  Are you cold?  Are the birds visiting your patch?
Love love love that YOU come to visit ME!  Thank you!  


22 comments:

TexWisGirl said...

i don't like fruit stickers, either, but i'm grateful for them at the check-out line so the checkers can i.d. stuff quickly!

Anonymous said...

I am doing o.k. so far this dark January because 1)it hasn't been dark *enough* - that is, no rain! and 2)I still have my Christmas lights around my kitchen window to keep out the dark, and this year they haven't burned out early. :-)

I detest those stickers - I found myself spending an extra few seconds arranging the fruit bowl so that the stickers were (mostly) facing down, and looking like normal fruit. argh!

Nancy McCarroll said...

Now I want to force some hyacinth bulbs! Wonder if it is too late.

Glad you are reading and enjoying retirement. Wish you could come over and have bread pudding with me!

Julia said...

I'm having a good January so far, not being sick and having lots of energy... It was a tad too cold this morning at -27 °C or -16.6°F. to work in my unheated end of the barn. Everything frozen in pipes, buckets and water bowls. I'm happy that it's warmed up some and the sun is shining.

Never read a Tale of Two Cities. It's not a book I can get interested in. I prefer something lighter also.

I detest stickers on fruits but love the convenience at the cash register. If I can remember to remove the sticker before washing the fruits, they come off easy.

Cute little sweater and it has stood the test of time.
Have a nice day.
Hugs,
JB

Julia said...

Now I have to try forcing a Hyacinth bulb. They are such a sign of spring.
JB

Flavia Sunshine said...

january has been quite good for me\us so far. A lot of projects going on together with my doughters (which is lovely )some snow, more light ( darkness is impressive here in the north )and yes, a lot of birds in my feeders, but no squirrels ! They are up on the big trees but they never come down, I'm envious :)
Not a fruit sticker lover myself, I hate when I don't notice it and my little one bite it !!

Janettessage.blogspot.com said...

Oh I had to laugh about the comment on the bulb being an onion, that sounds sooooooooooooooo much like my sons. How fun to have a book club and also enjoy the reading with Kim. I think I am going to go get me a bulb to force to bloom. LOL

Leslie said...

Those fruit stickers ARE annoying, especially the ones on apples because they seem extra sticky. It is too cold here, but that is really my only complaint this January. So I guess I shouldn't feel bad about my extra belly achin' about it, right? Ha.

Farm Girl said...

It sounds like a wonderful day.
I love that sweater you knitted. It looks good on the teddy bear. I have never read Rosamund Pilcher.
I am so glad you got a flower out of your onion bulb. That made me laugh.
It sounds like you had such a nice day. Oh, and you mentioned me, thank you. :) I hope you are enjoying you day today, it is warm like spring here. :( I would trade.

ellen b. said...

Love the illustrations you used (Richard Scarry perhaps) Loved reading his books to our kids when they were little. Glad your onion bloomed LOL! January is always full for us at this old house and this year is no different. Birthdays, trips, and catching up...

Thistle Cove Farm said...

bet the hyacinth smells like purple! I take off the stickers and
Pilcher and Binchy are both comfort reads for me...love 'em both! girth is good, provides warmth in winter and shade in summer.

Granny Marigold said...

I love Hyacinths and I love rereading old favourite books. I love birds, too. Just today my DH and I went on a lovely walk in a bird sanctuary. Lots of small birds to see there.

Scrappy quilter said...

I miss our bookclub. When we moved I didn't join another one. .With working it makes it tough to join one.

Gumbo Lily said...

Oh!! the pretty hyacinth! It brings such life and beauty in January. Look at that knitted sweater! Wowsie.

My January has been fairly relaxing. I'm anticipating a busy Feb. with the lambs so I'm enjoying the slow pace right now.

God bless you.

Lisa Richards said...

I'm so impressed that you made your first sweater with such tiny stitches! I've been thinking of learning to knit with really big needles, ha, ha!
After all of our -0 weather we're finally in the 20's and 30's this week.
I had a long newsy email from my step-dad and a long talk on the phone with my little brother this evening. A very sociable time for me! :)
I love Flickers! I mostly have crows in my yard. They come around to clean up the cat's food! And I did see a Pileated Woodpecker a while back.
I love visiting you! Always bright and positive. We all need that! :) Hugs, friend!

ann said...

Kathy Sabien says it is supposed to warm up for an extended period of time. Do you trust her? These were the best of times and the worst of times--I can appreciate your need for light-hearted reading. I am still digging my way through now the 5th in the Outlander series. The books are so dense, the narrative not always easy to read, and the author tends to go on and on and on with minute detail. Still a good story. Love the little bear in the sweater. He's cute.

Left-Handed Housewife said...

I have been sitting in front of my SAD lamp every day to counteract the cold and dark. So far it seems to be working.

I love your teddy bear sweater!

One day I'm going to find a good book on how to force bulbs. I've always wanted to do that.

xofrances

Amy at love made my home said...

I love love love Rosamund Pilcher! Have you read Coming Home by her? It is my absolute favourite of all. In bed at night I am watching the DVD of September right now. Never as good as the books of course, but nice to watch for a little bit at night. I have been reading her books for - ahem - decades now and still love them! So glad that your hyacinth is not an onion!! xx

Elderberry-Rob said...

I love hyacinth but hubby is allergic to their smell so they are banned! Lovely that you are reading with the children, I bet they look forward to it. I have been housekeeping today and a bit of silk painting began in between floor washes!

April said...

I like your bear's cowl! He looks very cozy.:) Love you!

happyone said...

I've read a Tale of Two Cities a few times. I really like Dickens and have read most all of his books. I have a collection of his books. I love his characters!!

M.K. said...

January is spinning by. I've been meaning to buy some bulbs to force, but I keep forgetting. Actually, I tend not to leave the house unless I absolutely HAVE to, and buying bulbs would involve a little drive of about 10 minutes. Sigh. I'm a home-body. Your hyacinth looks lovely. I meant to say on the other post -- your d-i-'s knitted dolls are absolutely lovely. She could make and sell those, if she cared to. Really nice job :)

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