Choosing

A friend came over for dinner on Saturday. I like to have flowers around, especially when dinners are made and felt the need for them last week so I splurged at the grocery store. I'm surprised at this market. I can get jicama and gorgeous roses in one stop. Did you know that in my senior year of college I worked at a flower store for a semester? It was one of my favorite jobs. I don't know that I would have enjoyed the business side of it but I did really love putting together beautiful arrangements and enjoyed the thought that people would be getting flowers later that day.
These roses are ridiculously stunning. Really. It's impossible to get a really good picture of them. I finally gave in and moved them to beside my bed. It's where I'll see them the most.

I think everyone should have a milk glass swan vase.

Stitching. I'm hoping to make it into a pillow.



Accessories are important (Says the girl who didn't manage to get any on her today).

I had to go back to the store yesterday to get more paint chips. The dark wall felt like it was going to be too dark. Maybe I need to actually use the samples I have and see how those make me feel. But I looked for chips one step lighter than my favorites. And more white samples. Who knew choosing white would be so hard?

The parental units come in a few weeks bearing furniture. And I have cousins in town for a few days. They're not staying with me but I picked them up from the airport last night.

Also, the brakes are fixed. It eases the mind some.

Four

Happy Birthday Shepherd Boy!
I love you lots and lots,
Tia

Dear legging wearing ladies of the world...

Dear Young Woman,
You were walking in front of me today as I was heading into work. It was hard not to notice your outfit. I know that leggings are very stylish these days. However, please wear something with the leggings that will cover your ass. You may not be aware of this fact but most leggings, once they reach mid-thigh, become somewhat transparent. In fact this morning I had a plain view of your butt and the lovely red thong you were wearing. I wondered how you could not feel a breeze on your backside as it was snowing and cold. And I was concerned that you would be walking around all day like this. Please, for the sake of those around you and your own frost-bitten arse, wear something more appropriate.
Sincerely,
Hannita

You're the inspiration

I've been taking pictures of things I've made lately but not much else. The camera has stayed firmly in its bag only to be taken out for documentation. I miss it. So I made myself look for the interesting this morning before heading to work.

Animals in the kitchen:I kind of love my pig timer:
Bling!
They're hanging from a hook in my bathroom. I like to see them even if I can't wear them all the time.

It is very hard to get a decent picture of myself. But the light was pretty and I had done up my hair (yes, a blowdryer was purchased) and put on makeup before I went to work - a rare occasion.

I like the texture the old mirror adds.

And just so you can have it stuck in your head too:

Feeling All Wanty

You know when you have a child with you and you have to go to Tar-jay and they see all sorts of things they want? And they whine and they complain and pitch a fit? That's how I feel right now.

There are things I really need to do with my tax return - like getting the brakes fixed on my carrito. And then I would feel comfortable making a trip to see friends in other states. Also, glasses. I can tell that my prescription has changed and I need new glasses or else endure headaches from staring at the computer screen all day.

There are also things I really want to do with my tax return. Television. Cowhide rug for the living room. Coffee table. A really good haircut because this hair is getting out of control. And maybe a blowdryer for the hair since it's not so good to leave the house when it's -5 and have wet hair.

I get all wanty and it's not a pretty thing. I want to tell myself to shut-up. Also, I really should stop reading design blogs. Now I know what I should give up for Lent. Except that it is a while away.

Too much?

I painted the knobs for the latest dresser yellow. I'm not sure what I think. Here it is next to its (fraternal) twin. Probably fine enough to be going on with. I do have plans to replace the pulls on them both... eventually.I got an art mannequin and painted and stained him to match the dressers. I stole the idea from somewhere online where someone had painted him hot pink or something.

And that's the kitty. Who was a grumpy old man this weekend. We had our first overnight visitors. Good times - except for Leo who hates everyone in the world but his momma most of the time. Sometimes he hates me too.

I also passed up a coffee table with wheels at the thrift store. I'm regretting that decision this afternoon. I wasn't sure it would look good with my soon-to-come sofa. But now I wish I had gotten it and had more faith in it. Ugh. Not every thrifting decision is a good one.

Visitors means doing touristy things that I don't normally do. Like the Museum of Science and Industry. I seem to recall having gone once about 10 years ago and not enjoying it. It was much more fun this time. Because when there's lightning:
and fun science-y things to do like create tsunamis and stand in crazy wind tunnels and make giant rainbows on the wall, well, it's a good time.
It helped that one of my guests was 8 and his utter glee at some of the things was so fun to watch. He would giggle and jump up and down.

Oh, and I went to the opera. And sat in the third row. Which was crazy. It was an opera about the California gold rush in Italian with exactly two women in the cast. My friend and I were bemoaning the fact that we were sitting so close and the costumes were just dusty coat jackets for the most part. Oh well. Fingers crossed that more free opera tickets come my way.

Snow Day

Yesterday everything was closed because of the storm. Including my school which has almost never canceled classes because of weather. Most of the area universities are closed today as well but not us. I tried to leave through the back door this morning as I had some trash that needed to go out to the dumpster and discovered that we have about four feet of snow blocking the back door. So basically I'm screwed if there's a fire in the front of the building. Perhaps I should call or email my landlord about that situation... It also means that I don't have access to the laundry room and I was planning on doing laundry for my guests that are to arrive tomorrow. Sheets and towels and such. Grrr...
...
OK. Back now. I thought I needed to email my landlord about the snow issue right now so that it might be taken care of sooner rather than later. And so I wouldn't forget to contact him and express my concern.

During my snow day I worked on the second dresser from Ikea. It's almost completely painted. I just need to get the edges of the drawers with glossy paint and it'll be ready to be screwed together. Here's the first one:

Sexy, huh?

Also, did I mention I found some frames for my felt hearts when I was out thrifting the other day? I did. I painted one of them up and distressed it some. (Mel, I probably could have used your experience with that.) And then spent a really long and loud time putting nails in the back of it so I could hang the hearts. It's super cute!

Sometimes I amaze even myself with what I can do. I'm contemplating hanging this over the mantle or keeping it there at the end of the hallway. It looks nice with the white trim there I think.I'm having a hard time with the art placement these days. Part of the problem is that I don't have all the furnishing I want/need yet and until that gets settled, things will be subject to change. I don't want to be poking holes in the wall to hang frames and then figure out later it doesn't look right there.

Who else had a snow day? What did you end up doing?

Also, Kathy, you asked if I like to cook. The answer is sometimes. If I have all the ingredients and correct tools and I'm prepared, yes. This rarely happens at Casa Hannita. Yesterday I threw a Cajun bean soup mix into the crock pot with some nice thick sliced bacon and it was perfect for a wintery day. But I tend to have a stockpile of pasta and frozen pizza around because it's easy and I'm a lazy cook. I need to learn a few more super simple recipes.