Why haven't I blogged lately?

There's not a really good answer. I've had time to watch a movie or two, to play some computer games and to fill up the yard waste barrel nearly every week. I guess I just don't have anything specific to write about, so I write nothing.

Instead, I'll just ramble.

A friend at work just bought the Kindle 2. He brought it to work and let me play with it a bit. On the plus side it is lightweight and thin, it has good resolution, you can change the text size up and down, you can shop for new books right from the Kindle itself, and it keeps track of your place in each book you're reading. On the minus side the screen is pretty small compared to the overall size of the Kindle, it doesn't show as many words per page as a normal paperback book, you can't really read it in direct sunlight, the little button you use for navigation is way too tiny and awkward, the response to a click of the button is so slow that is caused my friend to accidentally buy a book he didn't want (you can cancel right after you buy it so that turned out okay), and you can't just flip through the pages of a book to find something quickly. I guess it's not for me. The Kindle also will read a book out loud - this could cut into the audio book market, unless you're like me and you really love the voice of the reader for the Harry Potter series.

I had a real treat this week on a video chat with my niece - HOORAY! I loved watching her dance. She even drew me a ballerina - her sketch could turn into the future ballerina potato-head! And I got to talk to my sister, which doesn't always work out because we both tend to be so busy that we just get 5 minute chats most of the time.

I activated my new work cell phone. I am now on an AT&T business plan, so I can no longer call most of my friends and family except for nights and weekends. But I can still text, within some limits. I don't like the new plan, but I love my new phone. The sound quality is a lot better than my old phone, and I like having a camera so I can set my own background images. The downside is that it doesn't have a normal headphone jack - I have to use a wireless headset.

And my mom just called to let me know that she drove all the way out to Safeway to find out that I had already used the gas discount. Oops. She never used to fill up at Safeway. And 70 cents off per gallon was really really nice.

Things I've taken pictures of lately:

My Valentine:


The Car:


Flowers (from my yard) and a Tree (not in my yard)

Want a Present?

I saw this idea on my friend's blog. Here is the deal: The first five people to comment on this post will get something made by me. This offer does have some restrictions and limitations:

-I make no guarantees that you will like what I make.
-What I make will be just for you.
-It'll be done this year (by the end of 2009).
-You have no clue what it's going to be. Who knows? Not you, that's for sure!
-I reserve the right to do whatever I want!

The catch? Oh, the catch is that I'd really like it if you re-post this on your own blog and offer the same deal to 5 of your own lucky blog readers (I do not demand this). So, the first 5 people to leave a comment telling me they are in, win a FAB-U-LOUS homemade gift by me! The definition of FAB-U-LOUS is really up to me too. Oh, and be sure to post a picture of what you win when you get it.

Please make sure I can tell who you are so you can get your present.

Spring is COMING!

There are always a few months of the year when I start to doubt that the days will ever get longer and warmer. Last year I was completely surprised when the crocuses popped up. This year I was watching more carefully, and I spotted the green shoots poking out of the ground early this week. Today there were three flowers already! Also, the daffodil shoots are starting to poke out of the ground too. Spring is really coming!

(Thank you to Dan and Annie who made the daffodils and hopefully the tulips possible this year!)

Start with Chocolate

Melt chocolate. Spread some in a small paper cup. Freeze and peel off paper. With the rest of the chocolate, add whipping cream, eggs, vanilla, etc. Think very happy thoughts for your friend who shared her family's recipe with you many years ago. Pipe into chocolate cup. Top with blackberries frozen last summer.

SNOW

A little over a week ago I walked out of church into a snowfall. Not a blizzard, not even a snowstorm - just a pretty little snowfall. The flakes fell individually or in small clumps, and as they sat on my sleeve I could see the delicate crystalline structure of each individual flake. Pretty.



P.S. That rough-looking fabric is actually some very smooth skirt fabric - I am very impressed that my point-and-shoot camera could take these pictures. I actually took about 50 pictures, trying variations on camera settings, and these were the good pictures.