Blog fog...

That's kind of where I am right now. I think I have things to say, but I just don't feel like talking right now. You know...I used to try to really write, I mean really put an effort into it. Lately I feel like I'm just going through the motions, if at all. I'm not down or depressed, but a couple of disappointing things have happened lately that have me thinking. And so that's what I'm doing. Thinking.

I'm headed off to a training with Jim. The training is for him. I'm just going along to keep him company. We're getting put up in a hotel for two nights and we don't have to pay! I'm taking my Kindle, a couple of books, a notebook and my daughter's laptop (and some snacks :-) ). I think I may just hibernate in the hotel for the day and do whatever...sleep, read, write, or doodle around on the computer. Or I may take off and explore. We'll see.

And I'll be thinking.

Simple Sunday...Birthday Edition!

I am the youngest of four. I have always counted myself as lucky to have been blessed with my two sisters and my brother.

My sister, Teri (who celebrated her birthday yesterday), was born
the day before my sister, Sylvia (who celebrates her birthday today) turned one.
Every year they are twins for a day!
Happy Birthday to my sisters.
I love you!

Poetry on Wednesday

I've decided to start sharing poetry. If it's not your thing, then go ahead a pass me by for today. If so, stop and take a look. I may have something that amuses you, or moves you or brings back a memory or two. I've always loved most poetry - some I just don't understand. One of those goals that I keep making has been to take more time to read poetry. So, once a week, I will share something that amuses me, or moves me or brings back a memory or two. I hope that you can enjoy it with me!

This is one of the first that I can remember:

There was a little girl, she had a little curl
Right in the middle of her forehead;
And when she was good, she was very, very good,
And when she was bad, she was horrid.
                                ~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Monday's Musings...

Jeepers! Is it Monday already?

Jim and I were away from home again this weekend. For a homebody, I sure do a lot of traveling! This time we drove up to northern Michigan (Traverse City) for a meeting. We had heard they were expecting snow up there so we decided to leave early in the day on Friday. At least then it would be daylight for the trip up. The roads weren't too bad till we left I-75 and started heading west. Still...not as slippery as we expected. We did make a stop at an antique mall on the way up. I may have gotten a few photos there. Our intention was to stay Friday night, do our meeting on Saturday and head home afterwards. Somewhere along the way, on Saturday morning, Jim decided to extend our stay by a day. No objections here! We ended up having lunch with a couple that we only get to see at these meetings and then went back into Traverse City. Somehow (and it really was Jim's idea!) we ended up at a lovely bookstore (with three floors!). After spending over an hour just browsing and picking up a couple of books, we decided to head out. There happened to be a jazz band warming up in the coffee shop. So, we decided to stick around a little while. Jim got us coffee and a couple of very yummy homemade gingersnap cookies and we enjoyed listening to a little jazz.

Yesterday, we woke up, cleaned up, got dressed, I did my hair and make-up, and we headed down for the hotel's complimentary breakfast. Seriously! A complimentary hotel breakfast does not mean roll out of bed and drag yourself down to the lobby! We have been in five hotels in the past couple of weeks, three offered a free breakfast. We usually take advantage, but at every single one there's always at least one family in their jammies. Yesterday, it was a large group. It kind of kills the appetite. I mean at least run a comb through your hair! And, as an aside, we had a "Pat" (remember SNL?) sighting yesterday. We never did figure him/her out. Never would have taken notice if he/she wouldn't have been constantly yelling at his/her kid during breakfast. At least he/she was dressed (and not still in his/her pajamas or nightgown or whatever) though.
Really...it was a low-priced and clean place to stay. We've been there before. Yesterday though...

Okay so we left and headed to an antique store that we really wanted to wander through. We were early and ended up taking a very chilly walk around the block and then some. Brrr....but that was invigorating! We enjoyed all three :-) of the antique stores we took a walk through yesterday. We both found "a thing or two" too!

I took but one picture all weekend. We stayed at the Grand Traverse Resort
on Friday night and this was the view from our balcony Saturday morning.
It was cold!

I'm looking forward to sticking close to home till March and convention time!

Just a little...

Jim rarely uses gift tags when he wraps Christmas gifts.
This was one of my gifts from him.
I ♥ him.

Monday's (err...umm I mean Tuesday's) Musings

Just so you don't think I dropped off the face of the earth.

Before the show. I'm over there. Excited and waiting for the show to begin!

Jim and I did indeed go to Nashville over the weekend. You can read about the highlight of our trip here at Beyond Little House. It was more than we could have imagined. We didn't stick around Nashville long. I insisted to Jim that we do what he wanted to do on the way home. I really wanted to stay around Nashville another day and I know that if I said the word that's what we would have done, but I figure if this man loves me enough to make these treks just for me then I can give him the "on the way home" part. He was able to go to Mammoth Cave in Kentucky - something he's wanted to do for a long time - so I'm happy. We also did a bit of antiquing, but is that a surprise?

So...well that's about it. Time is now spent catching up, doing year-end prep stuff for our business and clearing out the living room for a remodel.

A Quick Stop Before I Go...

This week ended up being busier than I anticipated. Hmm...or am I just getting less done in the same amount of time?

Well, at any rate, Jim and I are taking a short little trip. We're going to Nashville to a PBS taping of  "Pa's Fiddle: America's Music" (Pa being Charles Ingalls, father of Laura Ingalls Wilder). Learn more about it here and here.

Want to learn more about Pa's Fiddle Music and buy this cd (and others)? Visit The Pa's Fiddle Project.

I always get nervous about such things. So, I am nervous. But excited? You betcha!

We'll most likely be coming home soon after as we'll be away next weekend for a meeting also. Would have loved to see more of Nashville. Maybe next time...