Garden Brain is a phenomenon that strikes me in early March and continues to afflict me through October. I start dreaming about planting schemes, I look out the window and see vinca and impatiens draping over the stone wall instead of snow. I think about how early I can expect to cut my daffodils and whether or not my creeping phlox will do better this spring than last, and can I prune that boxwood in the spring or should I wait til fall?
I miss my garden.
Sometimes, there’s just not a lot going on. I’m quiet inside, I don’t have any fun stories or good pictures, I just can’t think of what to say. And this is ok, except that I feel pressure to post– like if I don’t post, I’m a boring person.
ANYWAYS.
Hi!
I know some of you are going to laugh at me when you read this post, but that’s ok. I have something to admit:
My name is Allyson, and I am addicted to The Grocery Game!
Since I started playing the Grocery Game five weeks ago, I have become the biggest coupon nerd around. I bought no less than three newspapers yesterday to get the coupon inserts. I couldn’t sleep last night for thinking about all the great deals out there. Think I’m crazy? I also practiced my math skills to come up with a pretty good reason to continue on my dorky way:
Since 1/22/06 I have purchased:
$561.02 value in groceries, health & beauty, pet, household/paper/cleaning stuff
I have spent only $266.80 on it all! I have saved $294.22–52%.
Ok, here is my biggest dorky thing. I actually lined up everything I bought last week on my counter and took a picture of it so I could gloat over it in my spare time:
Full price for this stuff, I would have paid $123.61. But I only paid $58.19. Some of it I got for free. On yesterday’s trip I got salad dressing, marinade, conditioner, aspirin, deodorant, and a toothbrush for free. I took Chad with me, so he could experience the GG magic–he’s totally sold. He kept walking out of the store reading the receipt out loud, exclaiming, "Wow, that means you got two 4-packs of razors for like, $1.15 each! That’s awesome! Hey, you saved more than you spent!" Of course, having him with me, I bought more than usual. He has this cute little habit of saying things like, "we really need some chips."
If you want to know more about the Grocery Game, go to www.thegrocerygame.com and check it out. But beware. . .it’s addicting!
We had a fantastic Valentine’s tea party today. We made valentines, potpourri, had readings about love and friendship, and ate LOTS of FAB food!!
I usually walk on a paved trail when I go walking. It winds along beside a watery "Inlet" and scythes through fields of golden grass and bleached cornstalks. But yesterday, I really needed to walk in the woods. It was snowing, and while walking against wind-driven snow is painful in open country, amidst trees it’s just beautiful. For some reason, I was drawn to little pictures, spots of color in the black and white landscape.
So, I’m feeling better today! Yesterday was all right, too. I just felt empty and tired, and my heart was beating waaaaaay too fast from going up two flights of stairs!
We went to the Superbowl party at church last night. I was stupid and ate pizza and Doritos. EXACTLY what one should eat after having a stomach bug! Oh well, the spirit is willing, but the body is weak. [Is that how that goes? Or did I lose some brain cells along with the contents of my stomach this weekend??]
The Good: we had a fantastic pot-luck last night at our house. Great food, great company. We watched Strictly Ballroom, a quirky little Australian movie. We laughed a lot, and I went to bed feeling rosy and happy and right with the world.
The Bad: Woke up at 4 am feeling distinctly uncomfortable. Spent the next several hours running to the bathroom, keeping Chad awake with my weird sick sounds, and feeling just generally miserable.
The Ugly: I still feel like death–in fact, at one point, I even prayed to die. Of course, I’m still typing so this one wasn’t answered. I had to cancel my Stampin Up workshop I had this afternoon, and still can only keep down popsicles and Wheat Thins. My jello is still gellin in the fridge. And I’m definitely rosy no longer. No, I’d say my color is something between Certainly Celery and Barely Banana. Faith will know exactly what I mean.
I really hope none of the others got sick last night. But then, I’ve been changing the poopy diapers of two sick kids all week, and that might have something to do with it.
It was gloomy earlier, so I went for "cheerful" for my Bible Study ladies:
Ada and her newest toy.
That’s a Christmas ornament they kept taking off the tree. Found it the other day behind a chair.
The lovely and talented Jenn (link won’t work: www.thewordcellar.blogspot.com ) updated her blog today with a photo of her cutie-pie kitty.
So I thought I’d post my favorite photo of my favorite cat.
Emma
And because I don’t want #2 to fell left out:
Ada-the-Nanny:
Well. it wasn’t really warm but it wasn’t January-cold and snowy either. And it worked for my alliterative title. Dragged Mr. Chad with me on my walk on Saturday (ok, ok, he came willingly! I can hear him protesting already). We spent much of the time skipping and galloping to keep Warm.
This is me skipping.
No visual evidence of my rollerskating adventure!
My funny friend Linda told me today, and I repeat this totally without permission, that she "had [the tattoo place] burn www.allyanne.typepad.com on the inside of [her] nostril- BUT THE LETTERS ARE BACKWARDS!!!!! "So now, when I look in the mirror, I can see the lettering aright, and write it down and run it into the computer. But it doesn’t show when I wear a sleeveless dress."
This, after telling her my blog address for the fifteenth time.
Lonely tonight. Chad’s away. This is how sad it is: I’m listening to that soft rock "Delilah" show on the radio. Where people call in and make these really sappy requests. And then they play 80s love ballads. It’s awesome.
