Things I've Seen In March

I don't know if you are aware of this or not, but it's hot in NY in March. As in, 70+ degrees for weeks on end, now. This is unprecedented. At least in my memory/lifetime. It's like we're in fast forward. Spring? What spring? Winter segues into summer here, baby. It's the exact opposite of last year. I mean, last year in March we were just making it out of the deep freeze of below zero.

This weather is bringing out the crazies, let me tell you. I saw a car with a bra on it the other day. Are we not done with those? Dear bra-ed car owner, 1980 called and it wants it's terrible idea back. What are we even trying to say with that? Your car's tig old bitties are so big that they need to be contained? Your car has polateeters and you don't want anyone else to see them? I mean, I've seen truck nuts and for the record: I get it. I get what people are saying with those things and I think it's pretty funny. But not in the "laughing with you" kind of way.

I also saw a man walking down the street in jeans and no shirt today. Dude. It's not that hot. It's 72 degrees, here. Let's keep it together, Rochester.

I've also seen a bunch of great stuff, namely: vegetation. Like I said, on fast forward! These things usually don't even start coming to life until April and then it's weeks between seeing the first green sprout to getting flowers on trees. It's happened this year in about a week and a half. Scary. Check it:

Hostas from this week.

Hostas from last year, mid April.


Lilac tree from this week.
(Please overlook the fact that this is a craptastic picture.)


Lilac from last April.

Look at these gorgeous little party people! I stared at them for a long while. Their color was so deep and mesmerizing!

At this rate the lilacs will all be come and gone before the Lilac Festival goers have a chance to enjoy them!

One more quick thing. On Saint Patty's day we went out for sushi. Obviously. Trying to stick with the main Irish traditions and all. Imagine my surprise and delight when this was delivered to me!


Green rice! I'm pretty sure I squealed with delight. I mean, come on! I love this kind of commitment and creativity. It's making me totally hungry looking at this. Mmm...suuuuushi.

So, in summary:
Mother Nature Is Pissed
Vehicles Oughtn't Have Naughty Bits
This Junk Be Growin' Like One Of Them Speeded Up Videos In Science Class
A Little Green Food Coloring Makes My Day

It's Really Happening

After what certainly feels like the worst and longest winter in recorded history (including the ice storm of 1993 or whenever that was, in which we had no electricity for a week and nearly my whole extended family came to stay at our house) I am seeing signs that spring might actually, finally be here. Might. Don't think about it too hard and jinx it.

Can I get a witness:

And introducing, for the very first time in my back yard...these!

This color delights me so! I can't wait to see my big, beautiful peonies! Right now they are just small red spears sticking out of the ground. But, when they start to grow, things happen fast! Hopefully this year my lilac will bloom. That's never happened yet in the three years that I've had it. It seems so enthusiastic this year. Trying to be the first to have real leaves. Come on little guy, I believe in you!

OK, I'm done anthropomorphizing plants for the moment.

In other news we went to that church sale last week. By all accounts it sucked. But, it was their bag sale day and we got a large bag of stuff for $3. I ended up with 4 small white plastic Christmas bells on pipe cleaners...covered in glitter. Mom got some clothes for her man, Alicia got a comfy gray sweater, Vig (Side note: New friend Sarah needs a nickname. Her last name is Vigoren so I've been throwing around "Vig" but I also really like "OS", pronounced OZ which stands for Other Sarah. But that is kinda mean, I guess. But OS sounds cooler than Vig. Anyone care to put it to a vote?) Anyway, OS got some...interesting sweatshirts, a pair of socks, if I'm not mistaken and a ashtray with a mallard duck on it to catch coins and such. HB ended up with a very cool cake plate with lid that will fit one of her very tall, very layered, very delicious cakes. I can't remember what else. I have to get better at documenting this stuff, stat! The giant rainbow is for OS & Andrew's hallway of heinous art. You are jealous, just admit it.

April Fools

I'm just going to say it. It was nice out today. Nice. Not bone chillingly cold, not snowing and not even rainy. Sunshine. Everyone in Rochester was outside. Rolling around in the fools gold that is the spring sun. We know it won't last, that it's just some crazy dream sent to taunt us into further seasonal mania. But, let us have this beautiful dream while it lasts. We need the lie.

We went to a small church sale this morning. As my mother dutifully predicted, it was pretty picked over by the time we got there and was very small to begin with. But, new friend Sarah ended up with two nice pieces of furniture and a swatch of funky vintage fabric for $5 total, so it wasn't a total bust. The side table is Lane!


Then we went to lunch and then to Stevers. Easter candy...check!

Also, and you may want to sit down for this, I went to an actual store and bought clothes that FIT. Two sun dresses at Old Navy. They were on sale. TWO! FIT! I can't believe the rare beauty of this day!

Easter Decorating 2011

Last year, I felt like I maybe had too many Easter decorations. This year I don't have enough. Let me tell you how I worked that magic. One word: expansion. New areas, new frontiers. An no, I'm not talking about the bathroom or garage. Yet.

This year I put decorations in the cabinet. I did it with Christmas, why not Easter? The real beauty part of this is that I don't even have enough to fill said cupboard. Room to grow baby, room to grow! So let's jump right in, shall we? Vintage candy containers. Vintage Strawberry Shortcake minis, a little chick sitting on a bunny (the chick is covered in....glitter!) and a felt crafted egg.


Middle cupboard: What is it with plastic? God, I love plastic. Plastic chicks in plastic baskets with plastic flowers. Oh mama. I made the chick and the bunny in the metal wire basket out of eggs. Real eggs. Then there's the box of mini chicks.


Last cupboard: More plastic. Chick head easter basket. For an actual easter basket it's a bit...much. But as a decoration, pretty cute!


Look at how skimpy the green cabinet looks! Oh so much room to fill!


This is the top of the cabinet. Would anyone care for a darling amuse bouche?

Cake plate and sundry trinkets.

I just love the things in this pre-made Easter basket. I bought this from a thrift store. What we have here is a card, a hat on a stick, a plastic rabbit, two plastic chicks in plastic eggs and a knit easter egg. Then there is a bracelet like thing covered in yarn. I have no idea what that is. I can imagine some kid in the 60's getting this on Easter morning and being like...., "What the shit is this? No chocolate?"

Red shelf. Middle top bunny made by me!

This garland always reminds me of a picture from the Little Golden Book, "Baby Dear". The baby has a chew toy that looks a lot like this garland. Which I'm sure you all find very fascinating.


I have a string of Peep lights. They are covered in the sugar-like glitter that I love so well.


Turns out I had a ton of tiny little things that fit nicely into my shadow box. The rule is, if it's tiny and plastic, I'm probably going to love it.

The Easter Mantle.

Happy Spring, everyone!

Things What I Miss

Continuing in the same vein of winter hatred/impending cabin fever madness (or as the husband calls it, "hibernation sickness") I'd like to present you with a list. A list of things that I miss, haven't done for months, and am nearly positive I'll never get to do again. Feel free to add items.

1-Bracelets (currently covered up by layers and layers of long sleeves and coats)

2-Dangle Earrings (currently get snagged on thick winter scarves or hidden by sweaters with turtlenecks)

3-Necklaces (currently get covered up by layers and layers of shirts, scarves and coats)

4-Dresses (currently have to wear long sleeves with them which covers up a lot of the pretty bits, can only currently wear thick/warm dresses which don't exist and have to wear tights with them which is limiting)

5-Sandals (currently must wear two layers of socks and clunky practical man boots)

6-Peep Toed Shoes (see above and add to that the distress of finding at least two great pairs of said shoes at the END of last season!)

7-Eating Outside (currently can't think too much about this or might go insane from longing)

8-Cold Beverages (Currently must imbibe warm beverages or room temperature at least. Remember the clinking of ice in a glass and the refreshing feeling. Think it will be never before I get to enjoy this again)