Problem Solved

My five year old grandson unwittingly revealed my secret stash of Cadbury Mini Eggs to his Grandpa.  In his defense, my grandson didn't know that I was keeping the stash a secret and he had seen me get one or two out to give to him and his sister as a treat. (Yes, I have to hide those precious little things from Grandpa if I want them to last more than ten minutes.)

A little later, I saw that my grandson had taped a picture to the cabinet door that he had drawn of a mini egg with a circle around it and a line through the circle. When I asked him about it, he replied, "That's to tell Grandpa that there aren't any treats in this cupboard so he won't eat them.".

Oh, dear boy, if it is was only that simple. 

I'm in love....

I have a new neighbor.  As I've gotten to know this neighbor since she moved to the neighborhood last week, I've decided that I definitely love her.  My new neighbor is Sunflower Market. She moved into the space where a former Big Lots store was.  What a difference!  The Big Lots store felt cavernous and cold.  Sunflower Market feels warm, cozy and friendly.

I love Sunflower's outstanding produce and meat.  There really is a difference from what I've bought at the local Smiths.  The sale prices are outstanding.  Today, I picked up broccoli crowns and asparagus a $.88 a pound.  Chicken breast were on sale for $1.69 a pound.  Since we eat a lot of chicken, I loaded up. Many of their regular prices are very competitive to Smiths.

Sunflower Market is a natural/organic place.  But it doesn't feel like the larger and somewhat "Gucci" (as my husband calls it) Whole Foods a couple of blocks away.  I rarely shopped at Whole Foods. I haven't even been in the brand new Whole Foods store that opened up two weeks ago.  But I'll be a regular customer at Sunflower Market. I've been there 4 times in the last week and already have a good supply of their reusable shopping bags.  I like the neighborhood store feel, the friendly, helpful staff and, of course, the produce and meat.

Thanks for moving into my neighborhood!

Note:  No, I was not paid to write this endorsement. 

Need for trees revisited

Any of you who have followed my blog for awhile will remember my former neighbors, the Nimbys.  Well, I was on a real estate website site today, and lo and behold, their house is up for sale.  The web site has pictures posted of the Nimby home, including view shots of the yard  and valley that were taken from the inside of the house and the upper, rear deck.

The pictures shown on the website were probably taken last summer since everything is in full bloom.  But it's obvious that without the trees that we planted on the upper hillside to provide some privacy, the Nimbys  would have a great view of everything going on down below.

There is one picture taken in their master bathroom that shows the large picture window that was added when the Nimbys remodeled the house. That huge window gives clear view to the house below.  In the picture, there is a tree that has grown tall enough to provide some screening from that window.  What puzzles me is why the Nimbys wouldn't want some privacy provided by trees when they have a large soaking tub right in front of that window.

I guess the neighbors in the old 'hood are glad that the Nimbys are moving on.

Getting territorial...

The husband has a way of taking over space with his stuff.  Before we even moved into this apartment, I had mentally staked my claim on a large hall closet.  I wanted to use it for pantry, craft and other storage items.  I had to compromise when he declared that's where he was hanging his suits and dress slacks. I only got half the closet. I then had my eye on the closet in the second bedroom.  But, oh, no, that was where he was going to put all his ski jackets, motorcycle jackets and related stuff.  It isn't enough that he has an entire bedroom as his man den.  He also uses the back of the car to store camping and ski stuff.  At least, for now, I have the walk in closet in the master bedroom as my own.

The computer desk and room were pretty much my territory until he quit going into his office on a regular basis over a year ago. Now he has more or less taken that space over as well. He camps out at the computer at about 10 AM and doesn't relinquish the space until 4:30 or 5 PM.

With the addition of the small desk that I bought  last week, I was under the impression that the space was mine without question. Today, he looked at the desk which happens to currently be clear of a painting project and decided that the desk is the perfect place for his laptop, even though he rarely uses it.  I protested, but he told me I could move it when I needed to use the desk.

Well, buddy, I'm going to put the laptop in it's case and get going on a painting project that will take me a LONG time to finish.  You are not going take over my desk.  Got it?  Either that, or I'm moving the desk into the walk in closet.

Thou Shalt Not Covet

Since I started watercolor painting last fall, the only work space that I've had is the kitchen table. It has been kind of annoying to have to put a project away whenever the table was needed for a meal.  I made a comment to the husband that I'd probably paint more if I had a place to work that didn't require me to put a project away. He suggested that I go get a table that I could put in our computer room. 

My plan was to go to Costco or Target and buy a small banquet type table for about $40.. The husband nixed that idea and told me he wanted me to get something that looked a little more permanent.  Last Friday, I made the rounds to some local consignment stores looking for a suitable table that wouldn't cost a fortune. 

What I ended up with is a small kind of rustic looking desk which is actually better than a table because I can put all my painting supplies in the drawers when I'm not working. The desk fits perfectly in the space.  After adding a desk lamp and a chair, I now have a great place to work.  If I'm currently working on a project, I can leave everything out. 

Now the husband is coveting the desk.  He says it would look great inside the wall tent that he has on our property up in Teton, Idaho.  I agreed that it would, but that he couldn't take my desk to Idaho.  He told me I could look for something else.  I told him he could go look for something for the tent or buy the desk from me. 

But in the meantime, he'll just have to covet it because I'm not giving up my desk without a fight.

Saturday...Urban Style

The husband is on ski patrol today and so has our only car.  I had a few errands to do so had to use foot power to get where I needed to be. It was either that or stay home.

So...I walked 2 1/2 blocks to a hair appointment.  Then I walked 4 more blocks to pick up a couple of small items at the grocery store.  After that, I walked another block to get some lunch at a sandwich shop.  To get back home, I got on the light rail train.  On the 2 1/2 block walk back home, I made a quick stop to buy a few items at a shop.  The blocks in the downtown area where I live are twice as long as normal city blocks.  So I was getting in a bit of exercise as well.

This all took less than 2 1/2 hours including the time for the haircut..  And, if I hadn't of had about a 20 minute wait for the train,  the entire trip would have been about 2 hours. 

When necessary, being able to walk where I need to go is a benefit of  urban living and also it is part of the conundrum when considering buying a house. 

Priceless

The other day, my husband and I took a one day road trip.  Our last stop before heading home was for a piece of pie at Mom's Cafe in Salina, Utah.  On the table, there was a small box of booklets. Each booklet had snippets of folksy wisdom and little gems.  The title of one was:

"If Life Was Fair, Horses Would Ride Half The Time".

I wish I had heard that back when I raising kids.  It would have saved a lot of grief.

Please, Mom!

When my husband and I were raising our kids, we resisted going out and buying them the first new electronic gadget as soon as they became available.  It didn't make any difference if ALL of their friends had one.  They were generally the last ones with a Walkman or a Nintendo and the like.  Whatever the latest and greatest new toy was, we didn't rush right out and get it for them for Christmas.  It was even possible that by the time they got their most coveted new electronic toy that the second or third version had been around for awhile.

I want an iPad...real bad.  The iPad2 comes out next week.  I want an iPad 2... really bad.  I have a trip to Denver at the end of April to help out my son and daughter-in-law with their children for a few days.  I want an iPad2 BEFORE I go to Denver....really bad.

So what am I suppose to do?  Beg, plead, cry? Wait until EVERYONE that I know has an iPad2? It just wouldn't be fair if I was the only person in the universe who didn't have an iPad2. That would be, like, FOREVER. 

Please, Mom?  Can I have an iPad2? Please??  PLU.....EEZE???!!!???  (You can beg all you want, but it won't do any good.)

Oh wait, I am the Mom.  I may just have to cave in.