Finally February

January is such a long dull brown month.

Flower shopping.

Aren't Hyacinths incredible?

Their scent is quite amazing, like springtime itself.  When I came across this amazing tableau of all of them gathered en masse at Trader Joe's I just had to document the sight.

Now I use this photo as my wallpaper on my Galaxy S5.

 A visit to TJ's is always a treat. I love how there's the flower display right at the front door of my store, then there's all those beautiful fresh fruits & veg, too.

What I've been eating:

Ihop has had  all you can eat pancake special going on and I've got to eat here twice.  I ordered that same tasty breakfast both times and then went out thrifting afterwards with my fav people.

One morning I woke up with the word 

Nalisniki 

stuck in my head.  I recalled it was a polish word that reminded me of my childhood & my grammy but I couldn't quite recall what it meant, something about food.  
Thought I'd have to give my momma a call but I figured a 5am call would be inappropriate. So I whipped our my trusty Galaxy, said, "ok, Google" then questioned, "What is Nalisniki?"  Try it!
{I LOVE Google!!}
Turns out Nalisniki, say naaa LISH knee key it's Polish for pancakes or crepes. 
So i wonder if i dream on other languages??
Anyway, I've had a hankering for pancakes.
Don't you LOVE going out to breakfast?

Thrifty Finds:

I've found a great deal of nice books lately

I comb the shelves looking for anything that catches my eye, tickles my fancy.  I collect books.  I'm always on the lookout for beautiful old books, books with interesting covers, classic books and books by my favorite authors.  

I like to collect Pyrex & milk glass but only if I can get it for less than a few dollars.  Besides being useful I like the nice bright sunny happy colors of Pyrex.

My eyes almost bugged out when I spied that exquisite glass with the lovely delicate etching, and it was only .25!

Aren't maps cool?  And travel books are nice to thumb through when you want to dream about vacations in far away lands.  

Here's what I'm Obsessed With: 

Trader Joe's version of my beloved old fashioned candy treat, Swedish Fish.  
I think they're new.  
But these are yummier.  
Cool different shapes & flavors, each delicious and I ate the whole bag myself. 

So lots of great finds recently.  I discovered some Dickens, Daphne du Maurier, Jane Austen, Agatha Christie and a few Stephen King I didn't have yet.  Also spotted that pretty minty colored box from Target at the Goodwill.  It will be perfect to store my treasures in.

Here's my List of  -   Stephen King Book I Still Need:

Bazaar of bad dreams 11.3.15
Finders Keepers 6.2015
Joyland - June 2013
XDr. Sleep - September 2013
XJust After Sunset 2008
Green Mile 1997
DESPERATION 1996
INSOMNIA 1994
XDOLORES CLAIBORNE, Viking, 1992,
X THE EYES OF THE DRAGON Viking, 1987
X SKELETON CREW, a collection of short stories, Putnam, 1985
X THE TALISMAN, Viking, 1984 (co-authored by Peter Straub)
CUJO, Viking, 1981
FIRESTARTER, Viking, 1980
DANSE MACABRE, Everest House, 1980
THE DEAD ZONE, Viking, 1979
THE STAND, Doubleday, 1978
NIGHT SHIFT, Doubleday, 1978
THE SHINING, Doubleday, 1977
SALEM'S LOT, Doubleday, 1975
CARRIE, Doubleday, 1974

Just lately I've added some nice checks to my SK List so now,  I need to look for, find & obtain mostly the oldest books and a few of the newest titles.  

I'm a BiG FaN of List Making! 

I'm an idea person.  But I'm not so much a remembering person, so list making is a must. You name it, I have made a List about it!  About the only thing I can think of that I don't have a list for is a List about all my many Lists!

 What do you make Lists of?

I keep a folder on my computer entitled Books I've Read that houses not only my chronological list of books I've finished reading but also more lists of all the names of authors I like and each book they've wrote and year each book was published.  Then I check off the books that I've read, very tidy like.  

What I See When I Walk:

I adore sunsets.

Almost as much as sunrises.  

I like when the light goes all soft and pink and mysterious.

Like so many great moments, it's fleeting.

What's Blooming in my Garden:

I was so thrilled this cute Helleborus I planted a few years ago in the Fairy garden was finally was going to bloom.  With a name like, "Christmas Snow" I though for sure it would be lovely.  But it is quite boring as far a Helleborus go, no cute pink shading, no darling speckles or freckles like some of my other cultivars I grow.  The leaves are evergreen though, like my others, and are among the first welcome blooms.

Go ahead, use that pic for some adorable cellphone wallpaper!

Highlights of my Week

How My Garden Grows:

Our peaches our getting a blush

Tiny baby pumpkin and gourds growing in my garden.  

I'm enamoured by how cute they are! 

It's so fulfilling watching something grow from a tiny seed.

Thrifty Finds:

I'm CRaZy about dishes.  I don't know why.  

Maybe because they are pretty as well as useful.  I found the Depression glass plate at Goodwill for $1! 

I  have been collecting 'Florentine Poppy' since I was just a girl so I recognized the pattern right away.  

Got the Pyrex casserole real cheap, too, but there was no lid with it.

 Found these great used books

I saw this adorable polka dot glass on a shelf and snatched it right up!  Never mind that the dots are pink and metallic gold, really now, How Cute is That?!  I found the perfect spot for it on my kitchen cupboard shelf.  Is it too pretty to use?

Found an unusual piece of milk glass to add to my collection

Here's what I've been reading:

So many new good books came out recently from some of my favorite authors.  Then my hold requests for them came through at our library all at once it seems like.  Lucky me, time for some summer reading!

Sookie doesn't seem to enjoy sharing the couch with me while I'm reading.  I like to put my feet on her!  She gave me that funny look, like she was thinking, Really Lady? So I had to snap a few  pics of her sweet silly beautiful face.

Things That Make Me Smile:

Just the other day I got this sweet book as a gift from my daughter, Sarah.  

How Cute is that?  

Two of my Favorite things rolled into one!  It's a parody of the show which makes it all the more funny.

The gray kitty on the back cover {on the right} must be Bates because it has the cane and the ball & chain would cause him limp like Bates.  

The kitties reenact key scenes like this infamously scandalous scene when the Count has the bad manners to drop dead in Lady Mary's boudoir!  She and her maid must sneak his body out!!
                                  ~ Thank you my dear angel kitten pumpkin gumdrop

 On my To-Do List:

Don't you love soft glowing twinkling lights?  

These stars look so pretty and festive 

and I have just the window !

Found it on Pinterest, don'tcha know?

It's the little things isn't it?

Here's what I've been listening to:

One Republic - Love Runs Out 

I just can't seem to get enough of this song!

Listening to it makes me feel good.

When I hear a song I like I just want to listen to it over and over again.  

Does this happen to you?

Have a Lovely Week!
Thanks for chatting,
XO,
♥ Michelle

Highlights of My Week

Blooming in My Garden:

 I just Love how cute the pond looks especially when a Water Lily blooms.  

It's such a Delight!

 In June all the Lilies bloom in my garden usually starting with the ubiquitous, invasive orange daylilies that came with my house. I have so many that I've been planting them in the mowing strip at the curb because they are indestructible. 

Next to bloom is the Asiatic Lilies, like these gorgeous pink ones with the darling freckles.  

Then this showstopper bloomed!   

This fragrant Oriental Lily is named Stargazer. Isn't that a terrific name? 

I have to have them in my garden because their scent is quite breathtaking. 

All through June I get a kick out of strolling through the yard 

seeing what pretty flowers have bloomed in my garden.  

All my fancier daylilies will be blooming all over my yard soon 

in warm summer hues of yellows, peach, pinks and red. 

And I'll have more photos to share.

What I've Been Working On:

 It's time in NC to plant pumpkins so they will be ready to harvest in 

September and use to decorate or eat!  

I prefer to germinate seedlings using paper towel or paper napkins & zippy bags.  

It's super easy! 

I just dump the seeds on the paper towel, 

spray with water to drench it, 

fold the napkin over, 

stuff in the zippy bag and seal!

On the back of the seed packet it tells you how many days it could take to germinate 

and also how many days to maturation.  

I'll leave the bag in a warm place, like my kitchen counter where I can keep an eye on it 

and watch for them to sprout.  

As soon as one or more does sprout I'll pop them in some good potting soil and watch them grow.  

I like this method because the birds don't eat my seeds and then the bugs don't eat my seedlings. 

Have you tried it?

For the past few weeks we have been scrubbing and tidying up the house in anticipation of my daughter's Graduation Party, as well as family coming to visit and stay with us this summer.  

I like to have a house that is cozy, clean and inviting for my guests.  

While waiting to check out at Costco, I took a photo of my shopping cart filled with the cute cake I ordered for the party, flowers and party goodies.  Congratulations to Sarah!  I'm so proud of you!!

My constant companion ...

When I sit, blog or read out on the veranda she is right there sitting next to me.

Or when work out in the garden, Sookie is always near, ready to help or nap 

and if a box is involved -- all the better!

She's such a dear!  

What I've Been Watching:

We went to see 2 excellent Summer Blockbuster movies!

We Loved them both!  They were very well done, amazing visually with good, interesting story lines.

Can't wait to read:

I'm a BiG fan of SK !!!  I've been enthralled with his story telling since I was just a girl and have read every book he has written in the horror genre, not the Dark Tower stuff though.  I put in my request to read his newest book at my library and I am #46 in the queue!

What movies, books and flowers are you looking forward to this summer?

It's been Lovely chatting with you!
XO,
Michelle