Musical Promotions

Hello, dear blog readers! It has been a while since I've discussed anything related to my musical interests (other that then difficulties in selling my piano, of course). I won't wax on about this, but I DO want to post about what other folks in the world are doing with their musical gifts. Tonight on Facebook I watched two inspiring videos. The links are posted below. Even if you don't like the musical stylings, the sheer talent alone is worth watching both.

The Wizard of Ahhhhhhs: Todrick Hall and Pentatonix

Okay, I will openly admit I'm NOT a fan of hip-hop, but I DO love vocal percussion and thrift stores. This. Made. Me. Laugh. Thrift Shop Video. (I added this in after I originally posted, so technically this makes THREE videos worth watching.)

http://www.landfillharmonicmovie.com/

Happy Sunday, dear blog readers! We hope your weekend went well!

Blog Inhibitors

Hello, dear blog readers! Tonight for about the first time in well over a year, I painted my nails. Only after did such a whim occur to me that I decided I should blog. Oh, the wait time for paint to dry! I think between getting a glass of water and a couple of other seemingly harmless tasks, I managed to smear off most of the topcoats. Oh well. There's always tomorrow!

In other news, I sold our piano that I've had for over twelve years. I realize that to have such sentimental attachment to any one particular object is a little absurd, but I'll admit this particular thing for me was a tough one to let go. Financially, the cheque couldn't have come in the mail at a better time considering our car repairs and extermination bills/bedding/certain household losses due to infestation. I'm just glad the little insects didn't get the chance to lay eggs on the piano!

Anyway, dear blog readers, no new cooking tips or finds here, but I did watch you tube and learn some things about painting fingernails, which can be a little bit fun if you let it.

Happy Saturday (now Sunday), dear blog readers!

Speaking of Pests

Hello, dear blog readers! I've been SO very bad about not watering or transplanting my few herbs/flowers into larger pots this summer. As a result, my mint (which I thought almost anyone can grow with minimal effort), basil, and rosemary are still only about 3 inches high and very anemic.

We apparently got a visit from a squirrel or other digging rodent during the night. I found all the plants and pots lying on their sides this morning with dirt strewn all over the balcony. I'm hoping my neighbors below don't think I'm showering their patio furniture on purpose! Since it was high time to take care of my plants and put them into larger containers anyway, I did that while the kids were napping. Hopefully The Outdoor Pest won't return. I have enough going on with the indoor pest variety.

Happy Friday, dear blog readers!

Reprieve at the Park

Hello, dear blog readers! After the kids spent the afternoon trying to make their own fun (and ultimately battling boredom without toys out and about), we packed a picnic dinner and went to the park. I tried to get some good photos on our camera, but I couldn't figure out what F stop to use (I probably even got that term wrong!) and the pictures turned out really dark. As a result, you get phone photos from Instagram. (I LOVE this app!)

Blossom has decided that she doesn't mind grass after all. This is a first. She usually cries when we put her down on the ground. This was the only picture I got of Lem's face. Every other photo either depicted a blur or the back of his head, but that's pretty normal for a three-year-old boy. Climber of logs, swinger of sticks large and small, and runner of great toddler speeds, he keeps us on our toes.

This girl has really started to get busy. While Blossom is still not walking, she nevertheless loves to climb on things and this week has mastered climbing on/off the furniture, kitchen chairs, and the stroller. She would love to be a connoisseur of the best pebbles that the park has to offer, but Mom got in the way of her taste testing. She settled for sampling a few wood chips instead.

Choking hazards, heat, and gnats aside, they had a great time and came home sweaty, tired, and fairly ready for bed. Thank goodness for trees, grass, and shade on a hot day.

Happy Thursday, dear blog readers!

Holding Pattern

Hello, dear blog readers! I find myself in the strange position of wondering what to do with ourselves for the rest of the afternoon. I currently have some belongings "cooking" in sealed bags in the car so as to kill off any unwanted house guests. Another hour or two ought to do it.

The kids are amazing with the house being turned upside-down. They have been playing with kitchen bowls and empty boxes destined for the recycling bin. They have been doing a great job of making their own fun. The dryer has been fixed and is running again.

Having vacuumed and "dusted" the place with diatomaceous earth, I'm thinking getting out of the house with a picnic dinner is looking like a good idea. I found some delicious hummus from The Fresh Hummus Co. We particularly like their roasted red pepper variety. We also went to Potomac Vegetable Farms the other day. I have to admit that while I'm willing to pay a higher price for great fresh produce, sometimes it's hard to know where to start and where to stop when the cash is finite. We came away with some amazing cherry tomatoes (some of the best tomatoes I've tasted in YEARS) that will go really well with hummus and a picnic dinner!

To anyone looking for a great CSA, they do that too.

Potomac Vegetable Farms

Happy Wednesday, dear blog readers, whatever life may be throwing at you at the moment!

Dusting and Then Some

Hello, dear blog readers! I'm currently sitting on a bed sheet covering the couch since I spent a good part of the day "dusting" the apartment for creepy crawlies. There is something a little bit humbling when one wanders down the aisle of the local grocery/home goods store and one's toddler starts screaming at the top of his voice: "Bed bugs! BED BUGS!!! Look, Mommy, BED BUUUUUUGS!" Yes, folks, your attention may now be drawn to the strange family in the Pest Control section of Aisle 5. Avoid them and whatever you do, don't make eye contact, or you too may suffer from this massive inconvenience.

All of this makes me crave chocolate. No joke. I don't often find myself craving chocolate, but I'm there today. I think I might try a chocolate graham cracker crust that I happen to have in my pantry and some fresh fruit.

Disappearing Act

Hello, dear blog readers! Where have we been, you might ask? Well, as our history of "interesting things encountered while renting our living space" continues, we have had an unsavory and aggressive insect infestation. Our days have been filled cleaning every day with gallons of rubbing alcohol, boxes of garbage bags being put to use, laundry, more laundry, and MORE laundry. At least now I can rule out that I was suffering from some sort of unknown food allergy and perhaps I can cut back on the Benadryl.

I have to say that as Americans, we're not used to this sort of thing. I can say that there is a bright side. 1) As far as we know, bed bugs don't carry disease (yet--that we know of). 2) My kids are happy and very healthy. 3) Hubby has a GREAT job. It helps to keep these things in perspective. While this event in our lives have included the largest hassle factor, we don't have health scares and financial stress on top of it.

In other news, I managed (before and between these events) to get about 22-24 pints of raspberries frozen, not including what we've eaten or given away. Hooray for summer fruit!

Happy Monday, dear blog readers!