January/February

Wow, I didn't realize it had been quite so long since I posted.  I've been keeping busy, and here are just a few of the things that have been going on around here:

Our washer died on us after 8 years, and my husband left the decision of what new washer to get up to me.  So while I compared and made up my mind, I went to the laundromat for a couple weeks.  I didn't mind going, other than carrying out the heavy loads of wet laundry to the car.  I had just had a cyst removed off my back so it was tender when that area was pulled.  Other than that, I looked upon it as guilt-free reading time!

J picked up a bug and started showing symptoms the morning after his birthday.  Eventually it led to bronchitis, but other than an occasional cough, he is all better now.  He missed nearly a week of school, and spent some time snuggling with his Milo.  

And then I caught the bug too, which in me turned into tonsillitis, and a trip to Urgent Care on a Saturday, where a nice nurse practitioner hooked me up with an antibiotic and some good cough medicine.

My sweet Mr. GV gave me a wonderful box of Rose City vegan chocolates for Valentine's Day.  I thanked him, then asked him to just put it on my dresser.  (I was sick in bed at the time.)  However, the delicious chocolates inside the beautiful box have since been inhaled.  

We had planned an overnight trip away for Valentine's Day, but I kept busy with these little guys instead.

I did a little magazine reading while waiting for J in the car rider pickup line at school.

J unfortunately missed his Valentine's party at school while he was sick, but he did have a whole bag of them to bring home the next week.  He saw this one that says "Puppy Love" and immediately said he was going to give it to Milo.  It was so sweet.  He had been adamant that Milo get a Valentine.  

I had to throw out some food.  *Sigh.*  When you eat a lot of produce, it is easy to have waste when you've been sick or just busy.  We should just stop buying lettuce mix, as it seems that's what I mostly throw out.  But I did manage to rescue a bell pepper that got lost in the back of the fridge.  I cut it up and froze it, and we'll put it in chili or a couple other dishes later.  

I also had 3 wrinkly apples.  While the outside was not pretty, the inside was just fine.  I ate several pieces while on a car ride, then shared some with Milo.  After that the browned leftovers went outside to the critter feeder, where either the birds or squirrels will enjoy.  

One day it actually warmed up enough to take a walk in the park.  Milo was thrilled to get out and do some exploring!

And I gathered up more of my unneeded items from our spare room.  Here you see 5 more boxes of items going to the Goodwill donation truck.  It always feels so good to get rid of things you just don't need or want anymore.  Mr. GV even let me get rid of 3 of his coffee cups.  

I've been doing some reading too.  As you can see from the picture, I enjoy cozy mysteries.  I have a whole shelf full of ones to be read.  I do read some regular fiction as well, and the occasional nonfiction.  

This is the second in the County Cork books, a series by Sheila Connolly which I am thoroughly enjoying.  I won this one in a contest and promptly read it, then sent it on its way through Paperback Swap.  (By the way, if you are interested in joining Paperback Swap and put in my nickname as a referral (pheochrom), I will get a referral credit.  There's also an icon on my homepage you can click. And if you want to join but not click on my icon or use me as a referral, that's cool too.)  

Everybody pays their own postage to mail out on PBS.  I save and reuse the envelopes I receive my books in, which is of course a better use of resources, not to mention saves me money.  And I can tell you others do too.  The white one in this picture was being used for at least the 4th time.  

I hope you all have had a good January/February!  I know it's been a fun (ha) weather time for much of the US, those of us in the South included.