A puzzling week or so

We've been doing puzzles lately! Thanks to an informal puzzle exchange at yoga (gotta love yoga), I swapped out a couple puzzles. Everyone's been working on them on our big dining table. I love how it becomes this mini-obsession for all of us as we walk by. ^_^

This one was FANTASTIC because we could all claim a little box section to do, put it together, then slowly join them. For once, I didn't mandate that the edge had to be done first. ;)

More happenings after the jump!

April happenings

This has been a busy month so far! We just got back from a random trip to Texas with A's family to see the total solar eclipse. Was the 4 minutes of total eclipse cool? Yes! Was it overhyped? Also yes! Was the trip worth it? . . . not really! I'm still in recovery mode and adjusting back to regular life -- yoga helped immensely this morning!!

First, to relax and soothe everyone, here is my cat. He's been super cuddly since we got back.

Cookies, books, turkeys . . .

Good morning!

One of my favorite places to go on Tuesdays!

I've been busy lately! E was in the middle school production of Mean Girls (Jr) -- a lead role, Janis! -- so there was a lot of energy expenditure around that, both with her and with me. I went to all 4 performances because that's what I like to do. :) She was AWESOME!!

I've begun some initial gardening, which I'll describe in the next post!

I've been fiddling around testing recipes to try and recreate Osmania biscuits! They're a shortbread cookie that I really enjoy, and I buy a box or two every time I'm at the Indian grocery. (They're made by Karachi Bakery and apparently are a Hyderabad specialty!) I figured I could make them myself, so I've been trying!

Cake!!!! and stuff

First of all, thanks to my newsletter readers who answered my poll about my art! I've only gotten 12 responses so far, so if you haven't filled out the poll yet, go ahead and submit it! I'm getting some interesting answers and I'd love to have a larger sample. Maybe I'll send out these types of polls every so often. :)

I have no idea who said what in this poll, and I guess it would have been smart of me to somehow set it up so I know whose answers are whose. (Probably by making you enter your email address, I'm guessing?) Well, I wanted a very low barrier for participation so I made it as simple as possible. Like I said, I'd never made one before! I kind of like not knowing who said what, actually; it's sort of a mysterious feeling of support from everyone. :)

Isn't this a beautiful gift bag?!

C. picked out these birthday bouquets at the grocery store, to combine into her "fireworks"! I don't really like fake-colored flowers, but these sure look AWESOME!! The pink ones also have glitter!

You've gotta click to see all the cakes!!!>>>

January Beginnings!

 This is the last "life news" post in this series as I get back on track for blogging in the new year! (Be sure to read Part One and Part Two and see my hand drawn Pokemon art cards!)

Here is my sleepy, smooshy cat.

More stories this way!

December, Part Two!

(Did you read Part One? Go back to the previous post!)

More life updates! It's been a busy couple months!

I made these cookies (World Peace Cookies) for a cookie exchange. They're really good -- a chocolate shortbread with chocolate chunks! Pro tip: sprinkle kosher salt on top of each one when they come out of the oven. YUM!

We had a FEAST at the December book club. Seafood cioppino* with optional lobster and shrimp (that would be a giant YES to that option!!), stuffies, yummy salad, bread with roasted garlic, then desserts . . . I had seconds of every single item.

On Christmas Eve . . .

Happy New Year -- But First, Here's December!

Hi, everybody! Well, it happened again -- I have a bit of a backlog here on the blog! But that's okay! Today I'm writing a few posts with some recaps of December, and January so far. :)

We had a good end to 2023, with Christmas and New Year's and other assorted fun! Let's go!

I'm not really into doing my own elaborate Christmas displays, but I LOVE other people's!! These adorable critters were on display at my neighbors' party -- along with thousands of other treasures! 

As always, much more after the jump!

Summer Stuff: cats, compost, radishes, chocolate . . . .

I just thought I'd post a little bit of life from the past couple weeks, especially for my longtime readers. ;) Don't worry, I'll pepper these posts in from time to time! Read on for some summer fun....

Here are my little porcelain cat friends and (resuscitated!) orchid on a sunny evening. A. got me those cats; they're two of a bunch of cats in different poses. They're supposed to be chopstick rests but they live in various nooks and corners all over the house. :)