What's Happenin'

Outside my window: Cheery sunny morning to start. Supposed to rain later. Cold.

I am thinking: How much I have to do in the next couple of weeks leading up to the Cajun dinner we're hosting with the Broussards. For years, we offered this as a fund raiser. This year, the bid went to $800 for our Church. We planned the menu last week on our ski trip: BBQ Shrimp, Corn and Crab Chowder, sorbet to cleanse the palate, Crawfish Etouffe, Shrimp and Eggplant casserole, Banana Crepes Flambe. We'll get together to do the food. I had Mindy pick up some mini Tobasco bottles in NOLA last week to use for the men's table favors. For the women, we're making pralines. Plus, we give them a cookbook of all the recipes we serve. That's my job. I better get on it this weekend. I'm no kind of book publisher, so it takes me awhile to get everything aligned. I'm thinking there's probably an easy way to do it on my Mac---like choose the "brochure" setting. We'll see.

I am thankful for: My health as I continue to remain prednisone free.

From the kitchen: Having Butch cook once a week has "taken." He's actually doing a lot more than that. He's making me breakfast as I type. Maybe I just needed to ask years ago.

I am wearing: Still in my robe.

I am hoping: to get that closet cleaned out---it's hanging over my head. I'm procrastinating. Dreading it. This is what I'm dealing with. 

I am reading: The Paris Wife. It's told in the voice of Ernest Hemingway's wife. She was from St. Louis and was 9 years older than him. I didn't know that. Really good. Really.

I am busy creating: I've actually accomplished a lot this week. I unpacked from my retreat 2 weeks ago. Planned two classes, put kits together, finished a layout for AYM, finished the Easter craft for Stephanie, Mindy and friends, and started my new project: The History Project by Keri Bradford. I'm all about telling our stories---so passionate to the point of being fanatical. Each week you are assigned a topic. You simply tell the story. No huge scrapbook responsibility. A buck a week. Worth it.

I'm bummed: I decided to add this new category because I'm always "bummed" about something. This week, it's because while I was at the theater last night, Butch had some people here for a meeting. One of them wanted to see my scrapbook room. Of course, after listing all of the above that I did this week, you can imagine how it looks. I'm bummed. It's not like this person will ever see it again in it's proper light. On second thought, I guess the chaos is the proper light. Still, I'm bummed. I guess I'll forgive him. After all, he just served me breakfast here in the living room---scrambled eggs, sausage and toast. Plus, he refreshed my tea. I guess I'm not quite so "bummed" after all.

I am hearing: Sarah Brightman singing "Time to Say Goodbye."  Love her.

Around the house and garden: Getting new cocoa liners for my planters around the pool. My garden girl emailed me yesterday after I called her about a bill. I guess she's afraid to spend a cent without my approval now. She's always had carte blanche. I tell her what I want, she makes it happen. Love that. 

Also something fun happening around the house too. More on that later.

In other news: We're going back to England in 2014!!! I'm so excited. Highclere Castle and Hampton Court on the itinerary for sure! The Potters invited us. Can't wait.

One of my favorite things right now: Skipping my workout for the comfort of the living room, hanging with my computer, tea and fire. I'm ashamed to admit that. I've got to come up with a plan to figure out how I can do this and still get the exercise in. I'm just the type that HAS to work out first thing if it's going to happen. But I don't want to. I was doing great---back in to a good routine. But then, I was gone for two weeks. Hard to get back to it. Hard. Really hard.

I appreciate - a husband that continues to work so diligently in retirement---just for the family's enjoyment. At least now he does what he loves. No stress. Keeps him busy.

I remember - how agile I used to be after seeing Traces last night. Need to get back there. It falls in with "one of my favorite things right now." I'm the only one that can make it happen. Help me Louis Zamparini! He's the one that got me through my hive episodes. If you haven't read Unbroken---you MUST!! A solid 10!

I forget - more than I remember. Right now, I have a feeling I'm forgetting something important. Something elusive---hanging just on the edge of my brain. I hope it comes to me soon---before it's too late.

I regret - that I can be so darn lazy---even when I'm not really lazy at all.

How the weekend is shaping up: Butch leaves for Dayton today. I'm planning to get a lot of work done. But there are a few fun things to look forward to. I'm having lunch with a friend I haven't seen in a year. Then it's happy hour with the "kids" and a dinner celebration for Steph's new promotion (actually, she got the promo last year, but finally got the title last week.) Way to go Steph!