Goodbye February

The forecast is for
 endless sunny days 😉 so I took my dirty blue car to the car wash.

And, a new wine. 

And coffee

 

Unmasked

The mask mandate for Mecklenburg County has been lifted. I will still carry a mask in my purse, in case I feel the need.

This was one of my early, cloth masks. At some point, I switched to the disposable style.

I never minded wearing a mask. At least not to the degree that brought some people to violence. 

Time will tell if this is a wise move. I won't be throwing my masks out just yet.

TwosDay

Two Twenty-two Twenty-two 

Beauregard 

Not much sleep last night, busy morning today... I can't even think right now. Maybe later. 

Update: my pain is eased by the fact that the temperature is 70° and the windows are open.

Friday Wine Day

It was a good day weather-wise, baking-wise, and wine-wise. Can't ask for much more than that, I suppose.

Cinnamon Rolls - tasty

Cabernet Sauvignon - also tasty

Mid Week, Mid Month

It's actually more than mid-month, but close enough. Today's weather- rainy and warm. I'll take it.

Playing with yesterdays coffee cup:

Baking: Apple dumplings

Today's in house coffee:

Coffee Shop

I visited a new (to me) coffee shop this morning - Waterbean Coffee. Nice little place, I ordered a flat white. I wanted to try a cortado but they had no idea what it was.

The first chair that I sat in was wobbly so I took a different seat. As soon as I sat down, the first chair fell over! One of the legs was loose and it collapsed. Getting out of one's comfort zone can be perilous. 

"We are only beginning to learn what to say in a photograph. The world we live in is a succession of fleeting moments, any one of which might say something significant."

Alfred Eisenstaedt 

 

One More

As expected,  today is damp and cold. But the roses are still as pretty as ever.

No baking today, only snacking. Snacking is required on Super Bowl Sunday, even if you've no plans to watch the game. More salsa! 🤣

Spring is in the air

Today was a great day. Spring-like weather and spending time with my son and daughter in law.  Lunch at Hobo's in Fort Mill was delicious. One more cold day tomorrow and then I think we're clear... maybe. 

Friday Baking

Blackberry mini pies... delish! 

I've said before that I'm nowhere near the cook that my mother was. I have to follow a recipe explicitly and even then I'm never sure how things will turn out. 

I miss her and her cooking, a lot.

 

Roses and New Growth

I noticed there are buds on some trees. Although the daytime temps have improved,  the overnight lows are still cold. The weather has everything confused.

With Valentines Day just around the corner, roses are aplenty so I brought some home.

Tulip Love

 The afternoon sunlight created a heart on one of the tulip blooms.

"Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year. He is rich who owns the day, and no one owns the day who allows it to be invaded with fret and anxiety. Finish every day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities, no doubt crept in. Forget them as soon as you can, tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely, with too high a spirit to be cumbered with your old nonsense. This new day is too dear, with its hopes and invitations, to waste a moment on the yesterdays." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

See only what you wanna see

 The Facebook hack is not as innocuous as it may seem.

I'm glad I deleted my account but that may not have been enough. 

At some point, you have to hold corporations accountable for their actions and i actions. If you are okay with them spewing misinformation and using the n-word then by all means, keep listening to your tunes.

If you are okay with Facebook (and by extension, Instagram) providing a safe place for hate groups,  then by all means - enjoy.

If I hear the phrase 'cancel culture' one more time, I may scream. There's nothing wrong with canceling hatred. 

And now, as I have been awake since 3:30am, it's time to get up.

Sol & Beau

 Sometimes, you just need a beer.

My friend Beauregard who will be 17 years old next month.

Sunday Trio

 More tulips and a Van Gogh-ish sunflower.

Tulips, Toned

 

Black and white, sepia.

Weather-wise, the sun is shining but it's cold.

Tulip Time

Found some tulips today. :)

Slightly different compositions but I like each for different reasons. If I had to choose it would probably be the second; I like the light at the base of the bloom and the curved leaf in the lower right corner provides good framing. The first one has a lot going on with the leaves and the bloom is almost secondary.  Today is overcast so there wasn't much in the way of window light. Tried a couple with flash and it was too much.

 

Bouquet Details

 Rainy, dreary Thursday.

A couple of blooms... I can't wait until Spring.

Two Two Twenty-Two

 A Sunflower at Sunrise

I envisioned this shot a couple of mornings ago when I couldn't get back to sleep. Did it turn out as I saw it? Not quite but I'm ok with it for now. I think this will be the last decent sunrise for a few days as rain is on the way. 

Year of the Tiger

Happy Lunar New Year!

I bought flowers yesterday for photo ops. I wanted tulips but there were none so I opted for a bouquet of various blooms. 

 I don't think I have a photo of a tiger anywhere. Thousands of images and no tiger? 

Tulips from 2004