cff January 2017 | Simple and Serene Living

Tuesday, January 17, 2017

CRAZY WEATHER , A FLAT TIRE, AND WHERE IS THAT LAMP?

Is your weather as crazy as ours?

This is January, RIGHT???

It definitely feels much more like March. Showers and warm temperatures are prevailing and with temperatures not dropping below freezing at night I am afraid that things will start to bloom. 


My other worry is that when March does roll around winter will decide to rear its ugly head. I am not a fan of winter and love these mild days, but if we have to have cold weather I like for it to be in January. 


Now, about that flat tire. GRRRRRR!!!

I noticed on the way to clean up my booth yesterday that I heard a strange noise. Just as I pulled into the mall, boom my tire went flat. 
SIGH! 

Thank goodness for AAA, but tomorrow I will be heading off to the tire store to get, I'm sure, two new front tires. 

I hate the fact that I keep having to put money into my old car, but every time I start saving money for a new one something goes wrong with the old one. I think I am going to have to have a serious conversation with it about its behavior. 


I also noticed yesterday that a lamp was missing from my booth. It isn't on my sales report so I will have to talk to the manager to see where it has disappeared to. I don't think anyone could walk out the front door with a large table lamp, but nothing really surprises me. 

Things there do have a way of going missing. 

Today I am having a day at home. I like those days.
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Saturday, January 14, 2017

WINTER HOUSEPLANT CARE

I love my houseplants, and because I don't have a pet at the moment they are like my babies.

I want them to remain healthy, and that is not always easy in the winter.

houseplant care

So I have made a pretty tray that holds things I need and is easy to carry around. Scissors for trimming. A new watering can and mister that were Christmas gifts from my sweet granddaughter Sidney. A hand towel for drying my hands as needed. 

houseplant plant care

One problem for houseplants in the winter is inadequate light. There are just too many gray gloomy days, and sometimes I feel like the color is just being leached out of my plants. 

I do have a grow light that I can use if I feel like I am losing one of my precious plants, but of course I always prefer natural light, which is why I move my plants around to see where they do best.

houseplant care

Lack of water is also a problem along with dry air in the winter. My apartment is really dry. I feel like my skin is turning into sandpaper, so I know that my plants need more moisture. I am very diligent about watering my plants (make sure not to over water) and I love the new mister Sidney  gave me. I also have a humidifier to help add moisture to the air.

winter home cottage houseplants cut flowers

I also love cut flowers, so I do add them to my decor. Freesias work great for me because they don't seem to aggravate my allergies, and they are very inexpensive at Trader Joe's. 

freesias cut flowers home decor

I don't know about you, but when I look around at all my beautiful plants winter just seems to recede into the background.

Monday, January 9, 2017

ME AND THE QUEEN

I know you are probable reading this right now and saying WOW is that where Laura has been for the last three weeks?

Has she been meeting the queen? Sipping tea? Eating cucumber sandwiches? Touring Buckingham Palace? Playing with the queen's Pembroke Welsh Corgis?

Well, in a word, NO. 

(Not the queen, but love those muddy feet)
Maybe it is that they both wear crowns, or are guarded by men in funny uniforms who never smile, or spend their time lounging about. (Well that last one might be true for me)

(No stopping these two)
So what is it about me and the queen. Apparently we both have "heavy colds". To be honest with you I was calling it the creeping crud, but I guess that is not refined enough for what we have. 

I came down with whatever this is on the way back from visiting my family in Atlanta. (BTW other than the night I had a stomach virus, I had a wonderful time.)


I don't know how the queen is doing, but my guess is she has a lot more personal care than me. I have had to slog through it on my own with lots of tea and Hulu binge watching. 

Other than a lingering cough I seem to finally be throwing it off. In fact, I am heading out the door to a tai chi class and to walk on the treadmill. It's part of my plan to burn the past and have a bright future. 


I am also starting a pottery class, and yes, I 'll be happy to show you whatever lump of clay I end up with. 

A belated Happy New Year to one and all (including the queen).
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