Minimalist Mindset

I feel like when I actually take down the Christmas tree and all the decorations, I could declare myself one of those trendy minimalists. I mean seriously, everything looks so bare! The only decorations left are on the front deck...

The usually covered bucket has snow on it – thanks to the wind that came with the snowstorm.

According to my mathematical research, we got a good 8 inches here on Bluejay Drive.

Which means we can comfortably seat a family of 4 looking to chill out this weekend!

Let's just say our little hot pink/purple spot in the southeast corner of Wood County had 8 inches and added the "plus" in other neighborhoods!

And I had no energy to shovel, thanks to this killer cold. I was able to dismantle the tree, etc and then send hubby on his way to sing at church while I wrapped up a few more episodes of "The Crown." Hopefully all these good cold remedies kick in so I can do something far more interesting and fun on Sunday!

Be careful out there!

Opening Day

It's opening day of the 2023 MLB season. Take that, Mother Nature! 

After driving home in a mild rain-snow-icy mix, I'm glad the Twins were on the road to Kansas City. No one wants to sit outside in this. And yes, I realize April is 30 hours away, but March seems to early to get started! B-r-r-r. Twins won so that's something.

Meanwhile, we'll wait and see how high school sports get the ball rolling. Pun intended.

Hubby's managing to get some indoor golf swings in so he definitely has more than one spring sport on HIS mind. While he does that tonight, I've so far gotten in one episode of The Crown on Netflix (forgot I wasn't done with Season 5) and one of Up Here on Hulu. Not sure how 18 virtual holes of golf take so I'm going to see if I can squeeze in one more of something!

By the say, Old Man Winter is not relinquishing his hold so we've got more sketchy precipitation coming to take March out like a lion.

Be careful out there!

Duped by the Duex Dukes

What a freaky Friday. I went to bed and the Duke of Edinburgh (aka Prince Phillip) was only 40 years old. And I didn't like him. I woke up and learned the real-life 99-year-old Duke had died. Give me another 59 years – or 2 more seasons of The Crown – and I'll catch up and pay my due respects.

This is what happens when you binge-watch a show and you not only dream about it, it impacts real life. That's kind of freaky, isn't it?

It won't stop me from watching. I am one of those Royalty Geeks (besides King Cone, that is). My interest started with Princess Di and has continued through to Meg and Harry – so I'm thoroughly enjoying The Crown series on Netflix. And yes, I fully recognize I'm 5 years late to the royal dinner party!

Still, now I can buzz through the 4 seasons on cold or rainy or free nights and don't have to wait for new episodes.

If you're at all interested and haven't watched it yet, might I suggest you start first with The King's Speech – an excellent 2010 movie that tells the story of King George VI, his impromptu ascension to the throne of the British Empire in 1936, and the speech therapist who helped the unsure monarch overcome his stammer.

Basically, The Crown picks up from there, chronicling the life of Queen Elizabeth II from the 1940s to modern times. The series begins with an inside look at the early reign of the queen, who ascended the throne at age 25 after the death of her father, King George VI. As the decades pass, personal intrigues, romances, and political rivalries are revealed that played a big role in events that shaped the later years of the 20th century. I basically Google something after every single episode!

I just started season 3 and there's mostly new actors portraying the characters as they age. So, I need to adjust to that. Throw in a nonfiction death in 2021 and I'm in a state.

You know what solves that? A royal date night with hubby. Actually dining inside a restaurant – a steakhouse just down the road – and enjoying a good fish fry and dessert...

This seriously was the best piece of turtle cheesecake I've ever had – well half, since I did share with hubby. The top was almost like a thin crust of caramel and I could taste maybe some brown sugar in there? Not sure. Doesn't matter. It was just gooooood.

It was nice – and normal – to treat ourselves out for once. Haven't had a sit-down dinner with just the two of us in an actual restaurant since our anniversary last July. And no concerns about social distancing tonight since we got to the restaurant at a non-busy time between early birds and dinner dates. 

Even got the table by the fireplace. Now that's the royal treatment!

Bunny Duty

Since Peter Rabbit is in the doghouse – thanks to the slap situation above – I had to step in as Easter Bunny around.

Which is the same as other years, but I forget how exhausting it is. Hippity hopping is not for the faint of heart.

I had to get stuff for the "big meal," too. So I ran to one store to get a ham – went on sale today so had to get one while they still had him. Get to the checkout. I definitely didn't get the one on sale anyway. Dumb bunny.

Did get a few goodies for the baskets and went to another store to get the rest. I also got a few ingredients for Easter dinner and realized when I got to the car that I had everything for the cheesy potatoes... except the potatoes. That was the other reason I had to go tonight. Those southern cut hashbrowns go in a flash around holiday time. Every holiday.

So I make my third trip inside a store. Whew. Tired yet? I am.

Got home and made up the baskets now so that's done. But it's 8 p.m. and I haven't sat down. So I'm gonna squeeze in two episodes of The Crown since hubby's at his last golf night!

Note to self: Next year be the Energizer Bunny instead of the Easter Bunny!

 

Beautiful Intro to the Weekend

Right where our house is situated, it's hard to see sunrises (wouldn't necessarily be awake anyway) and sunsets. We've got trees to the east and trees plus houses to the west. So it's always a treat when I'm not at home and can see them!

Tonight was no exception. I had a DQ emergency and I timed it perfectly to see this gorgeous sunset. Yes I was driving and that's why I have one blurry shot to choose from. Still, you can see it was purdy pretty!

Between that and the 4-mile walk around the lake and the Thin Mint Blizzard, I closed out Friday and am ready for the weekend. 

And the most beautiful thing besides the sunset? No one. Single. Thing. On my agenda. Nothing. Zip. Zilch.

Check back tomorrow if I said, "Hello, spring cleaning" or "Hello, Netflix." I took a poll tonight and I NEED to watch both The Crown and Downton Abbey. So I'm halfway through season one of The Crown and will have all 6 seasons of Downton to watch. Then there's March Madness basketball and golf, too, this weekend.

Let's just pretend I had good intentions to clean. 

Have a good weekend!

Secret Reflections

As a self-proclaimed photographer, I've learned over time to not only look through the view finder at the focal point of your photo, but the details surrounding it. 

Don't have a person stand where it might look like the post in the background is coming out of their head. Use your flash if you're taking a photo of someone be a sunset – otherwise the back-lighting will leave their front side in shadows. And so on and so on.

When taking a quick picture out the living room window of the sunset last night, I didn't realize my phone was also picking up the window's reflection of the living room. Thank goodness I was watching something "decent."

Yup, you're eyes aren't playing tricks on you. I was hanging out with Winston Churchill, lighting stogies. Or at least John Lithgow playing WC in the series The Crown. Now you know what I decided to binge next on Netflix. And yes, I realize I am 4 years late, coming to the party. What terrible etiquette!

I really enjoyed the movie The King's Speech. It's like this series picks up where that left off. And I'm liking it! Since this is my "down time" on my social calendar, I figure I can get through all 4 seasons before spring sports starts – with none other than the Royals. 

Just slap me up if I start asking you to bow and kiss my ring or my camera lens. Thank you, loyal subjects... er, readers.