Tuesday, March 25, 2014

Tuesday-7:45am

I didn't plan on being up before the sun.
Woke up Sunday with a dreadful sore throat where it hurt to swallow, but it lessened up during the day and wasn't too bad yesterday.  But then late last night the sniffles turned into a running faucet.  I don't know how a person's nose can run so much and still have a head that's stuffed to the eyeballs--LOL!
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I discovered why I'm having troubles taking pictures out the living room windows and getting reflections.  They're so dirty!  I need spring and a few good thunderstorms to clean them off. 
I took these shots from the porch a couple days ago when it was 21 degrees (-6 C).  Since then we've had another dusting of snow and this morning it is 7 degrees (almost -14 C), but the sun is shining and the sky is clear at the moment.  I don't expect cleansing thunderstorms any time soon.   
I got the best surprise yesterday!!  A box arrived with this inside--a cute bag with bright tissue paper stuffed inside. 
An early birthday present from Andi!!  Totally unexpected and greatly appreciated!!  (You should stop by and visit her if you haven't met her yet--super lady!) 
Look at this fancy dish towel!  Beautiful., isn't it?  Looks too pretty to use...but I will.  :) 
I hung it over the chair and it looked like Karma was looking at the rabbit--LOL!  (As you can see, Karma claimed the tissue paper immediately.) 
And look at these little bird's egg candles!  Now these really do look too pretty to burn, don't they? 
But, when I finally do...I wonder what I could use those three little egg shell cups for when they are empty?  I'm sure I could think of something.  ;)
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Cats pouncing on imaginary victims always cracks me up.
I'm sure the faint crackling from the crisp new tissue paper (which I will recycle for sure) made her momentarily believe in mice or some escaped cat toy (you know how cats believe toys can move on their own).
Karma does not like me laughing at her when she's a dead serious huntress. 
Pounce!  I know--lazy pouncing...but she was fast.  
She's still got her claimed tissue paper...for now.
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Since I hadn't consistently felt too badly before last night, really, I did get a bit done before this bug completely moved in.  I love my new paper drying rack!!  All the sheets now have Dylusions spray, Distress paint, a watercolor swatch, a smear of gesso, and another of modpodge.  I used the rack to dry between each addition on the test papers. 
I can fold the rack back up now today because next I plan to use markers and pens.  Well, unless I plan a good puddle of black ink...hummm.
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I finally googled how to soften leather and found an easy suggestion--rubbing in some coconut oil. 
I used my fingers and just worked the oil into both covers--front and back sides.  The coconut oil darkened up the leather quite a bit as you can see here as I worked my way across the inside of the cover. 
The leather soaked up that oil like a thirsty sponge!  Especially on the rougher front side.   
I got the first layer on yesterday and plan to put a few more on...when I am functional again.  Doesn't seem to be greasy or oily at all, either, so far.  I can tell already that the leather isn't as stiff as it was.  Cool!!
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Oh, and note for the T-Tuesday folks--last night after I finished rubbing leather--I made a big old banana, raspberry, strawberry smoothie.  Was wonderful on my sore throat!  :)
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I warned Dagan and Leah that I might be getting sick yesterday afternoon (but I was in better shape at that point) and I'd let them know today how I was doing.  So, despite me desperately needing my tech support team, they may well and wisely choose to stay away until I am better.  I have to email them this morning to tell them I am most definitely and undeniably sick now.  So, if you don't see me around online for a while...you know why.
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Meanwhile, I guess I'll stay right here under my blanket and catch up on what TV shows have recorded and watch some Netflix movies...and maybe nap a little, if I can.  Might have a better chance here in my recliner, actually.  ;)  I'll be back when I feel better.  Stay well and safe!!  :):)
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"When the waves close over me, I dive down to fish for pearls."
Masha Kaleko

37 comments:

Furry Bottoms said...

Feel better, Rita! It started out as a sore throat for me too. Progressed into a full blown cold with the body aches and all. It is finally slowing down a bit. Have lots of tissue or toilet paper to blow your nose into ready on hand!!

Divers and Sundry said...

watching a cat play with tissue paper sounds like a good tonic :) i hope you feel better soon!

Linda Kunsman said...

so sorry to hear you're ill Rita. Yes, stay warm and cozy and relax. Karma is certainly enjoying that paper:):) Beautiful gifts-the lovely tea towel and those adorable egg candles! Nice paper drying rack-I just end up with papers drying on any clear surface I can manage-you should see when I'm doing gelli plate prints:):) Feel better soon.

Carol said...

Hope you are feeling better!!! I've been fighting the same stuff for a week and a half now. It just keeps hanging in there :( I swear I have gone through two boxes of kleenex!

~*~Patty S said...

Hope you are feeling much much better very soon dear Rita...
(my Mr Magpie has been battling a nasty cold for a while that we were afraid may have turned into walking pneumonia but luckily it is not that!)
That is one lovely package full of good things that you received and Karma got to have fun with it too ;)
Happy T day to you...take care!
oxo

Mersad said...

I hope you will feel better soon. This seems to be universal right now. Karma sure has a lot of fun with that paper.

Mersad
Mersad Donko Photography

TexWisGirl said...

i am hoping the sore throat and sniffles are just a cold or allergies from weather changes. stay well!

Halle said...

Hope you are feeling better soon. Gracie was doing the pounce thing on my feet in bed last night. She only gets playful like that once in a while in bed...thankfully. Makes going to sleep kind of hard. ;)
Happy Tuesday!

Anonymous said...

Maybe Leah gave you the disease...

Love Karma and the bunny and the tissue paper.

Anonymous said...

Take care--feel better soon!!

andi filante said...

I'm so glad Karma got to enjoy the gift too! Dead serious huntress. :) I hope you get to feeling better...NO being sick on your birthday!

Take care!
xoxo
-andi

Hilary said...

I hope you're feeling much better before too long, Rita. Look after yourself.

I think those little robins' egg candles are so cute. Unless they're smaller than I realize, you could probably burn tea candles in them when these are done.

Beth said...

What a lovely gift Rita!!

I hope you feel better soon. Rest and take care of yourself. HUGS!!

Krisha said...

So sorry to hear your not feeling up to par. Bed is the best place to be when the icky bugs catch you.

Karma must have been a riot to watch with the tissue paper.

I REALLY like that paper drying rack, it has given me a couple ideas.....this first is "I need one of those" LOL

Hope you feel better very soon.

DJan said...

I laughed at the lazy huntress pictures. She really doesn't like to exert herself much, does she? And I am so sorry to hear you are at the beginning of this nasty bug. I am on the tail end of it, but frankly it was just awful and I hope yours isn't as bad. Sending you lots of love, and Andi is a really good friend to you! How sweet! :-)

Denise Price said...

Happy T Day to you and Karma! I hope you feel better soon. Well, at least you have your great early b-day present to cheer you up. The towel and candles are so cute and spring-y. I can see that the egg cups would be cute containers after the wax is gone. Maybe they could hold buttons or other small crafting doo-dads. Oh, and your drying rack is great too. I might have to look into getting one. Right now, I just let my artwork dry on the floor...which is not such a good idea, considering that last week I accidentally stepped on a page and got green glitter glue on my sock, LOL! :)

Neesie said...

Oh poor you Rita...I hope you're over the worst of your dreaded lurgy and on the road to recovery ;D
But what a lovely birthday surprise to cheer you up. Those little egg cups are just exquisite. I love candles anyway but these are gorgeous.
Karma is so cute playing or should I say pouncing like that ^..^
All very serious as long as she doesn't have to move!
I may try the coconut oil on my skin...it's like old leather so maybe it'll do the trick instead of my current moisturizing cream.
Stay cosy and get well soon xoxo

Janie Junebug said...

I'm sorry you don't feel well. Andi is the best. She's nice and she makes me laugh. She's a lot like YOU!

Love,
Janie

Hettie said...

Sorry to hear you are feeling poorly. Sounds like you need some hugs and I am sending you some over.
Love that t-towel.
Hugs and happy T Day!
xx

Jo-Anne's Ramblings said...

Hope you feel better soon, it sucks when we feel like shit.

AliceKay said...

Nice gift from your friend. I bet Karma would agree. :)

I hope you feel better soon. *hugs*

Nancy said...

Oh gosh, hope you get better quickly, not fun! I do like all your storage things and the drying rack :) But I LOVE the little egg candles! I think I'd put candles in them again. Karma is cute as usual!
Happy Tea day.

Dianne said...

sorry to hear you are sick, hope you are better soon...time to break out the chicken soup! love your ingenious drying rack, and the seeing the progress on your leather. heal up quickly!

Victoria Zigler said...

Sorry you're sick; feel better soon!

Yum! The smoothie sounds tasty!

Sounds like that package contained a great early birthday present for you, and a perfect late birthday present for Karma, LOL!

Stop hogging all the snow already!

Vicki Miller said...

I hope Karma is giving you lots of cuddles so you feel better soon.

Intense Guy said...

I hope you are feeling ALL better today!!

I love that bright green paper Karma is playing with - obviously she does too!!

Beautiful sunrise photo!

creatorme said...

Happy (day late) T-Day!
Sorry to hear you are not feeling well. Hope you feel better soon.
How sweet of Andi and the gifts are just lovely. So funny reading about Karma and the tissue paper. Kitties are just like babies/little kids. They are so much fun to watch.
That's a cool drying rack. Will the leather stay dark like that? That's very interesting about the coconut oil. Wonder if you can soften your hands too. I don't suppose why not. Sorry my mind just wandered.

GrandmaG said...

Take care of yourself and get well soon. But isn't it a little fun having a great reason to watch TV and movies all day? :)

ChicagoLady said...

I hope you're feeling better soon!

Bleubeard and Elizabeth said...

I'm finally back, and sad to read that you are not well. Maybe by now you are on the mend.

What a sweet gift you got, and I see Karma got her share of it, too. That green tissue was perfect for her to play with.

Get to feeling better, and thanks for sharing T this week.

Anonymous said...

Hope you feel better. Love that shot of the rising sun.

Linda said...

Happy Birthday!

Serena Lewis said...

Dropping in to wish you a VERY Happy Birthday, my dear friend. I hope you have a beautiful day!!! xo

So sorry to hear you're sick though. I hope you're feeling a lot better since you posted.

What a lovely gift from Andi! Love that gift bag design too. Such cute little candles.

Karma is a great entertainer! lol

Coconut oil is handy for so many things. I always have some in the pantry.

Love and hugs to you and Karma! xo

Unknown said...

I can't believe you have the same virus over there as I've had here for weeks on end! Oh take care of yourself. Thanks for commenting on the blog again. Blogger/Google+'s so annoying. My Comments show zero, yet they are there in the two places. Sigh. If only I understood it all more. Get well soon. x

Sherry Ellis said...

Hope you feel better! Janie says it's your birthday, so Happy Birthday! Enjoy your day!

Far Side of Fifty said...

Hi Rita, I hope you are feeling better by now! Happy Birthday belated!! :)

Harvest Moon by Hand said...

The dish towel and candles are adorable!