Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head

So many possible titles for this post.  Into every life a little rain must fall?  Just look for the silver lining?  A house divided?

Remember GG's daring do?  Well that took care of that until the next storm with 80 mph winds.  We arrived home to find the tree branches full of.....guess. Blossoms? No? Shingles? Yes.  Monday the roofer arrived, bid accepted we settled down to wait for the workmen. But first, today, came the rain.  A steady rainfall that brought us 3 inches outdoors and some indoors .So while Mr. Johns made the loo sparkle, the kitchen ceiling was weeping.

A few early morning polite phone calls brought the roofers out in the rain to cover up the holes.  Another call has landed me an appointment with an insurance adjuster on Monday.  Manners seem to be an effective method of achieving desired results, manners and a sense of humor. Never discount the value of a few laughs.

Kitchen and bathroom have been cleaned and a few pictures taken.  We have kept the original tile installed in 1938.  Though my first wallpaper choice was a black and white butterfly print, when the book fell open to Retro Starburst, we were sold.  Just a tiny bit of metallic glimmer and some strokes of black to tie it into the tiles.

And a vase of frittilaria to remind us all the April showers are on the way, eek.

What's that Irish blessing about a roof over your head? Could you say it for us?

Please?

2Girls 1 Lab & A Sports Car

My good friend Rina picked me up from work today.  She has a two seater sports car.  I had the Lab at work with me today.  She weighs 70 lbs.  It was a rather uncomfortable ride home with a car full of nervous dog.  She had no place to go, no place to hang her hat so to speak.  I was also a wee bit nervous because she kept resting her weight on one paw delicately placed near my pelvis.  We proceeded at a decorous pace.  I tried to keep my mind off what would happen when we arrived home and I opened the car door.....Finally after a very long ten minute drive we were home, I opened the door, picked her up and placed her on the ground.  I heaved a huge sigh of relief and came in to make us an espresso, caffeine being so calming to the nerves.


I was excited to be home though, for after several months wait, my bathroom was going to be wallpapered.  Mr. Johns had hoped to finish it today, but when I came home I found a wall full of buckets and ladders in the dining room. The prep work on my teetiny bathroom was more extensive than expected.  But the plaster is drying, the walls are stripped clean of 2001's paper and he looks good to go tomorrow.

So I guess I'll be taking the Lab back to work with me.  I hope for a roomier ride there and back.  And some pictures to show you of my Retro Starburst  walls. 

The post title was a lot sexier than the contents,yes?

Etiquette 101

When having the ex and his new to the house for brunch, remember to ask a few questions in advance.

For instance, how tall is she? This is a key question, especially if you stand  5' 2 "( and a 1/2 inch)  in ballet flats. You will find yourself  being dwarfed  by a 6 ft man, your own 5'10' girlfriend  and the new who is 5'8" but wearing boots, which added inches. You might develop a crick in your neck if the goodbyes go on too long.

And please remember to ask for any food likes, dislikes or allergies.  Then you won't be sauteing up a pan of delicious sausages from The German Store in front of a 3 month pregnant vegetarian.  It was touch and go there for a minute folks.  But if you open windows and doors to the great outdoors, the scent dissipates quickly and stomachs settle.

You can move the plate of thinly sliced Swiss ham to the other end of the table and focus on granola and berries and cheeses and rustic farm breads, soft boiled eggs and a quickly prepared plate of tomatoes and avocados.

Though the most important questions are asked face to face.  When is the baby due? September.

And will you come back to visit soon?

Our family is getting bigger.  We are thrilled. 

Back By Popular Demand

Hey guys, it's me, Nika!  I heard Miss P. was asking for me ( preen) or was it the hound? I wish but there is chatter in the canine community that he doesn't swing my way, if you catch my drift.  There is also talk of pictures that prove this theory, but I haven't been allowed to see them.  Yet.


Now back to me.  What's for dinner is a BIG question in our house.  I ask it first thing in the morning, after breakfast, as soon as one of them gets home and while walking them.  I walk them in the morning, before and after dinner.  Sometimes it's late,10:00pm, and I would rather be sleeping.  But they get all bundled up with hats and gloves and scarves on, Jane even bought a long sleeping bag to wear when it's cold ( she calls it a down coat, whatever), so how can I refuse?  They look adorable. Plus there are hardly any people about that late at night so I don't have to keep one of them at the end of a leash.  We call it AWOL, a walk off leash.  I worry they might run out in the street while a car is driving by, but so far they look and listen for traffic very well.   

Speaking of, I think I'd better take Jane for a walk now.  She's been working all day and by the time she gets home, all wired up from drinking a double shot latte at 3:00PM, she can be a little jittery.  And I have seen no signs of cooking.  This is all very worrisome.

So enough of this "what flowers do you have in your house stuff". I ask you.....what's for dinner at your house?

Further Signs Of Spring

We arrive at work red eyed and sneezing, the maples are budding.  Cool sunny days full of wind  are blowing the maple pollen about.  We unlock the door and enter the garden of Eden, pre apple.

  We walk into a shop full of cherry blossoms and pussy willows. There are saucers of oaxalis plants and buckets filled with ranunculus in every color imaginable. Vases of pastel sweet peas, cut hyacinths, and locally grown calla lilies almost make your teeth ache.

If it wasn't called work, I would think I had arrived in Candy Land.


P.S. Are you tired of looking at flowers yet?

P.P.S. I was totally knocked out by all the  people who linked up for Flowers In The House.  And I especially loved how everyone went around and visited one another and left comments and compliments, became followers and friends, welcomed new bloggers  and new to me bloggers to the community.  It's a big world out there.  It's nice we can make it a  closer one by sharing just a little beauty  and wit with one another. 

xo Jane

In The House: March Flower Power

Like any good hostess, I spent a good chunk of Sunday preparing for  Monday's Flowers In The House.  Unfortunately I spent it in the garden.  So while one flower bed is clean and ready for spring, our house is in  complete disarray.

Luckily I had to take my pictures after dark .  Thus no one should be distracted from the poppies by the dust in the dining room.

 

Hopefully you won't be so dazzled by the light reflecting in the glass jar of snowdrops from our garden, you won't remember whose idea this originally was. 

And the Oscar goes to "cropping".   This magic tool allows you to drink in the beauty of the bedside vase of sweet peas, without seeing the unmade bed  and what might even be a pile of laundry lurking about.

Now I am off to visit again with the mysterious Mr. Linky.  I have invited him to join us today so we can leap about from house to house, oohing and ahhing  over one another's blooms and rooms with no fear of bad weather or flat tires.

Looking forward to seeing old friends and new.  Flowers from the garden and flowers from your local florist.  Flowers in the house.

Your Place Or Mine?

Since this little spot of loveliness won't be appearing in my garden till April, I'm more than ready to see some indoor goodness.


Are you up for another Monday Flowers In The House?   This Monday the 28th.  The day after the Oscars.  I shall attempt a Mr. Linky.  If he doesn't appear, just leave a comment and I'll rush right over and link you up myself.

Everybody ready?  Flowers, bulbs, blooming plants, branches, whatever your little heart desires to show, our eager hearts are ready to see.

Are you with me?