Ten on Tuesday - Powerball!

Okay, this week's Ten on Tuesday post is about the 10 things I'd do if I won the Powerball jackpot. Hm. Well, first of all, you realize I have to buy a ticket to do that, and I've never bought one of those (just one for our little Lotto here, and only on rare occasions - I really don't believe in gambling, even tho' I know that the proceeds from this go to our educational system, which at least is a good thing). But I will play along today, since it won't cost me anything to dream!

1. Pay off debts. (Doesn't everyone say this?)

2. Buy a home. Here's a dilemma. I'm not sure if I'd buy the loft, or town/patio home, or if I'd head out to the country to buy the small homestead I've always wanted - where I could grow veggies and herbs, have the chickens. I do know what My Sweetheart would say to that - I think we'd end up with the former, rather than the latter! ;)

3. Fund my retirement and school funds for my 4 grandchildren.

4. Do something nice for my friends and family (not sure just what, but I'd try to help them with the things that are the toughest for them right now).

5. Create endowments for the nonprofits I've worked for. And probably give nice gifts to some of the others in town - I'm particularly interested in the arts, so there and public TV/Radio is where most of the "contributions" would go. I have a few kitty shelters that would benefit, too.

6. Make sure My Sweetie has the cute little sports car he's always wanted - I don't exactly know what that is, as I've heard about a few of them. But HE will know.

7. I'd think about maybe opening that yarn/book/coffee shop I've always wanted (but not sure I'd really do it...see below)

8. I'd quit my job. I know there are a lot of folks who say they wouldn't but here's my reasoning: I'm getting older, and would enjoy retiring now. I'd make sure the replacement person was in place, and get them well trained (volunteering my time), but I wouldn't just up and quit. That would open up a decent job for someone who maybe doesn't have one right now. I'd like to think that someone in need might benefit from my abdication! I'd make sure that My Sweetie could also retire now, if he wanted to.

9. I think I'd travel. I'd love to buy a little vintage camper to redo to my heart's delight, and I'd pack up the knitting, and the cats, and head on out. Sweetie is of the same mindset, I think, so we could have great fun trundling all over this country that I, for one, have never seen much of. I think I'd like one that looked like this one but I expect I'd have to rethink this if Sweetheart comes along - it's just too girly for him!

10. Mostly? I'd make sure there was enough money left that when I learned of someone in need, I could just leave the money necessary to help them out, in an anonymous way. While money doesn't answer everyone's needs, if you don't have to worry about the money, you can move on to do the things you really want to do in life.

Yup...Makin' that Move...

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Ten on Tuesday

Today's post is Ten Random Things on My Mind! Oh, random I can do, let me tell you, and my to-do list in my head will suffice, I believe...?

1. I'm weeding out things. Thoughts of a yard sale, but probably just a Craigslist sale, and then Goodwill donations. It's just not yard sale season quite yet.

2. it's tax time, and I've got to get busy and get that done. I have no idea whether I'll end up with a refund or not this year, and it's bugging me! I had some substantial things change this year, so I can't parse it out in my head, I've got to get it down on the software to see!

3. I normally don't do spring cleaning, just my usual slap-dash around the house, but after hearing a report on NPR's Morning Edition today I think it would be a good idea to try to do that. After all, I have allergies, and so does My Sweetheart, so do the grandkids and it might make for some improvement! Especially since I'll be in the house a good solid week after the shoulder surgery next month and won't have the ability to use one arm for 8 weeks (someone else will have to vacuum!).

4. during that convalescence, I am hoping to really learn to crochet! I'll have the ability to use the fingers of my left hand, but my right hand and arm will be fine. I'll probably still work on sock-knitting (I'm a thrower), but would love to try to do a better job with the hook.

5. since the Olde Liberty Fibre Faire was cancelled this year, I have a bit of time to try to beef up the stock in the etsy shop. Please let me know if there's something you'd like to see more of in the ready-made section? (there's precious little in there now, so anything would be an improvement! LOL!)

6. with spring comes all the wonderful veggies and fruit and that puts me in a mind to cook and make great stuff with it all. Being committed to the principle of buying from local vendors, I can't wait for the farmers' markets to really begin to flourish again! Our Saturday mornings are fun excursions to a couple of the markets in our area for really fresh yummy salads & great vegan recipes - THOSE are what I adore...

7. another big random thought for the season is that NOW we can get out and hike, and bike, and walk on the Greenway looking for those great photo ops that My Sweetheart loves. He's very into these things and really a good photographer! So we'll be "killing two birds" so to speak - getting the exercise we both need to be heart healthy, and also having those wonderful photos to record the days together. We're even considering "birding!"

8. then I'm also looking forward to September when I'll be at the National Capital Cat Show again. So as soon as possible after the convalescense, I'll be at the sewing machine, making all sorts of cat-themed items. See that ticker up there for dates.

9. in September, too, is My Sweetheart's son's wedding. We're so excited for them both, and looking forward to celebrating this big event.

10. and now that I'm at the end of my random list, I'm realizing that most of this list has to do with things to keep me busy. I really need to put "quiet time" on my to-do list. You know, the time for meditating and just "being." I'm bad about that. I can't tell you the last time I tossed myself down on the bed, and stared at the ceiling (with both cats sniffing at me to be sure I'm still alive! LOL!). Downtime. It's a foreign concept. And I need to "schedule" that in. (beyond the enforce down-time of the surgery, of course!) ;)

Green on Tuesday...er...TEN, Yeah, Ten on Tuesday!

This week's Ten on Tuesday was something I groaned about when I saw it. Ten Green Things. Ugh. I'm not a GREEN person (obviously if you've seen photos of me), or rather, I don't WEAR green. With the possible exception of forest green and a shade I rarely find of olive green, you can believe me when I say that it's just not in my wardrobe. So I sat idly at lunch yesterday flipping thru photos of green things on Flickr, looking for inspiration. I'd come up with about 3 things on my own, and that wasn't good enough. So what happened? Guess! Suddenly, I was getting excited about GREEN! Who'd a thunk it?

So here goes, my Ten on Tuesday list of GREEN stuff:

1. grass and green growing stuff - along with the onset of the warmer weekend we had, I've noticed a lot of green growing things: flowers, buds on trees (not so many leaves yet, but they're on their way!)...

2. Greens: when I think of the color, I think of the vegetables - lettuces, spinach, Swiss Chard, kale, turnip greens, mustard greens...It's almost Chard time!

3. Kiwis. I love them in fruit salads, I want to try them in a green smoothie (oh! There's another one!)

4. 4-Leaf Clovers - my mother could walk into the lawn (any lawn), look down, and find 2-3-4 at the very least, in less than a minute. Just look down! I have the ones she found the day my aunt and uncle called to tell her they were taking her to Austria, Hungary, and Bavaria with them. She knew it was truly her lucky day and she pressed those clovers in her dictionary. She had so much fun on that trip!

5. Emeralds - which conjured up thoughts of my mother's "emerald and diamond" earrings and pendant set that my late brother bought her as a child. That must have meant something to him, because his second wife (who'd been married before) was given an identical ring - the real deal not the paste ones from his childhood! - for their engagement!

6. Jadite. That marvelous creamy light green from the 1930-40s that my mother and many others had in their kitchens. I grew up in a church that used jadite mugs for coffee hour. I still love them.

7. Wine bottles. Hmm. Especially for red wine - 'Nuff said.

8. Praying mantises. I remember as a child, my mother letting them crawl up her arms and perch on her head before lifting off to a nearby bush. She adored these odd critters. (My brother got his love of bugs honestly - I.DID.Not.)

9. Limes, which make me think of gin and tonics. I rarely indulge but I love them.

10. Finally, there is green in St Patrick's Day outfits...or rather in what I've managed to put together for MY St. Patrick's Day outfit. In the photo below you will see a bracelet I made last night. It's green, black, white, and silver, and I landed a kelly green and black striped top at the local Discover shop tonight for a song (not really, just a real deal of a price). The yarn behind it? I doubt I'll finish it before the St. Patrick's Day Parade our town always has on Saturday (I've never been, my Sweetheart hasn't ever been, but we are GOING on Saturday and I must NOT be pinched) but I WILL have it ready for next year.

What's it going to be? Gaenor. Hmm...I won't ever be pinched for not wearing green again!!

edited to add: I forgot about this:

One of my all time favorite fabrics for Nana Sadie Rose knitting items: Knit Wits! In the green shade, I even still have a bit of it, and a must smaller amount of the red. They make me smile every time I see that little gray kitty using Knitting Needles as stilts!

Ten on Tuesday

This week? Ten on Tuesday is going to be a challenge for me. It's ten reasons you're glad it's March. That's a tough one, as I don't normally think of being GLAD about March.

1. I'll go with weather related things: It's the month of Spring's arrival - and while that doesn't always mean good weather in this neck of the woods (we're expecting snow tonight into tomorrow, and possibly a lot of it!), it does mean that we're marching (!) towards warmer stuff.

2. It's My Sweetheart's birth month. So we have a celebration upcoming.

3. Daffodils and tulips. And hopefully, REDBUD!

4. By month's end, I should be in a position to wear a light jacket to work out in. I don't step a foot outside the door to exercise unless the weather is warmish. So...

5. I usually have a bit of a breather in March to work on designs for Nana Sadie Rose. So I'll be looking forward to that this month. Oh! And YOU can, too!!

6. Oddly enough, things have eased up enough that I'm usually finishing my taxes and getting them submitted. I'm later than most folks, but that's because I produce the things everyone NEEDS to do their taxes.

7. Of course, there's St. Patrick's day. I'm not a fan of green, and I usually completely forget about the day. Which means, I'm getting pinched. This year it's on Sunday. Whew!

8. March gets us closer to April, when I start really feeling that I'm finally able to shed those winter clothes and maybe even spend the month with little to no usage on the electric bill. THAT will be a very welcome change.

9. Easter is the very last Sunday of March this year. I love Easter IF it's warm weather. We used to celebrate with a release of helium ballons at the UU Church I grew up in, and that changed when my daughter was little - it was determined that those popped balloons were killing wildlife. I miss it, but I don't miss feeling guilty about that.

10. This Easter, I'll be learning more about My Sweetheart's Episcopal faith on Easter Sunday (ok, I have been doing so all year round). I know it's going to be a special day for us. Ok. Not the easiest Ten on Tuesday, but I made it! :)

Meezer's Tearstrip

The other day, I received a treasured Priority Mail envelope (they're few and far between these days) and don't you know, the tearstrip made it home in my bag...I pulled it out on top of a stack of things making their way upstairs, which of course, landed on the bed. I forgot about it...and at bedtime, guess what?

Yup. The Meezer discovered it and you can see the gleam in her eyes, right? (Ok, I admit that's the flash)...The Tonk was almost instantly interested (he heard us playing with the strip, of course)

Tonk, it's just the very best toy evah! said The Meezer, but you know that was a big mistake because...

I thought I'd have to intervene and take it away from The Tonk before The Meezer lost all interest (she's a good Mama cat and lets the "baby" take all the good toys, but she looks after them longingly...he NEVER lets her play.

But then,the next thing I knew...she had it again.

and when we all retired for the night, I draped it around her neck for safekeeping.

It's mine, Tonk, hush now, go to sleep, I'm keeping it safe, no worries.

:)