Another Monday update

Hope

Busy, busy, busy. That descibes the past few days and the next few weeks!

Last Friday I attended a reading and signing of one of my favorite authors. Laura Lippman is a fantastic writer. She write a series that features a private dectective, Tess Monaghan, in Baltimore, as well as some non-series books. I love them all! Her newest, Life Sentences, is wonderful. I'm almost finished.

I enjoy going to signings. Especially when I have met the author in the past and/or adore their books. But it will be a while before I go to the bookstore this signing was held at! Not a store that was located here in Mahattan but off the "beaten path" in Brooklyn. The subway directions looked pretty easy.

Yes, you guessed it. Not easy AT ALL! It took almost 30 minutes on what was supposed to be a 5 minute walk from the subway station to the bookstore!! Except for the fact that it was getting darker and after 20 minutes I had absolutely no idea where the subway station was I would have given up. Oh, I eventually found the place but not before missing the first part of Laura's reading. But I did get to chat with Laura and get my book signed. AND got better directions to a closer subway station to get back.

Saturday looked to be another busy day. I ran to the grocery store to get that done. Then home to change and head over to one of the local St. Patrick's Day parades. Where I was to meet my Uncle, Aunt and cousins for the day.

The pre-parade Mass was bittersweet for me. The last time I was at a pre-parade Mass was the year my Uncle was one of the aides to the grand marshall in THE St. Patrick's Day parade in New York. I took Mom in to see him march and we made a day of it starting with Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral. So of course that memory was going 'round my mind and then the choir went and sang one of my Mom's most favorite Irish songs, Our Lady of Knock. Do you know how hard it is to sing and cry at the same time? Not easy but I did it. For you, Mom.

Aidan, 4 months old

Following Mass (which was a standing room only.) I met up with my Aunt and cousins. One of them being one of the youngest members of the family. Little Aidan was born in November to my cousin, an Army nurse stationed in Texas. So except for photos I hadn't seen my newest little cousin. He's a real cutie. Well, I think so. The parade was fun. Being with my cousins was wonderful and by the time it was over I was numb from the cold wind that had been blowing and tired. Unlike many of the other parade watchers I knew I was driving so liquid warmth wasn't a good idea. :) It was time to find a comfortable seat and a hot cup of tea. I didn't care which came first.

Wearing the green and getting windburn. :)

Sunday was another busy day. Catching up on chores, laundry, vacuuming and all that fun stuff. (I so wish the dust would just disappear on its own. The cat hair too!) I also wanted to cook my corned beef and cabbage dinner. Since it takes a while it's not the kind of dinner I can make during the week. But the leftovers are wonderful Home-made hash. Yummmmmmmm.

A view of my backyard

The weather was cooperating and while the sun never came out it wasn't as windy and it did get to the 50s. Perfect weather to work out side in the gardens. As you will see in the photos there is plenty of yard work to keep me busy. And I did make a pretty good start yesterday. I know you can't really see it. I also discovered a bunch of crocus blooming and the daffodills are growing. Spring really is coming. Gotta get those gardening muscles back in working order.

One gardening dilema that I have before me is the neighborhood feral cats. They have broken into my shed and used my wheelbarrow and gardening gloves, bags and anything on the floor as a toilet and nursery. I have repaired the hole in both the backwall and the door numerous times but nothing helps. I so wish I could find a sure fire method to keep them out. I have tried a number of different agencies. "You trap em" "We'll trap them and you pay for the neutering and we'll bring them back and release them" and various other answers in that vein. I DO NOT want them in my yard! And I can't afford to pay for their neutering. Nothing else for me to do except trap them and turn them to the local shelter. Unfortunately the trap waiting list is months long. Oh well this is an on going problem. It just gives me something to complain about. :)

As for stitching, I didn't get much of that done this week. No finishes and not a lot of progress. And now that I can spend more time outside my stitching will slow down for a little while. But I do have one stitchy photo to share. My partner in the ILCS "Color my World" exchange, Renae B in New Zealand, sent me some lovely things. Isn't the little kit and stuffed bird cute? Thank you Renae. I hope mine to you has arrived?

Until next time......................

Love and stitches

Kathy