Ooooh, Toasty!

So much for the coolness. Ha. It was just a tease. The desert is like that. A harsh mistress.

The a/c runs and runs. We keep it at 80/82. I remember when we lived back in NY we kept the a/c at 68 all summer long. That makes me laugh these days. Imagine the cost of running a/c at 68 out here? I can't.

So what do we retired people do when it's this hot? Not much. Siestas are nice, though mine begin early and end late.

Good time to make things and to update blogs. Hop on the Etsy forums. Promote.

Take pictures with my light box. Did I say make new things? (my favorite part)

Life is good.

Enjoy the coming week!

Summer is Coming, but Not Quite Yet...

It has been quite cool and lovely this week in the low desert. Unseasonably cool, actually. In the mid-80's. I remember last year it was in the 100's already. In fact last week it was in the 100's.

I bought some loofah seeds and am trying to figure out where to plant them. I have lots of space, just have to find someplace that's already getting some water on the system (I'm really lazy about setting up new watering lines). We have several empty spots so I figured I'd scout them out in the next couple of days.

I've been busy making some new earrings which you can see at my Etsy shop, http://www.mydesertstudio.etsy.com/. And hunting up vintage finds in the nooks and crannies of my closets for the shop I'm sharing with my sister, http://www.callmeout.etsy.com/.

Today is my birthday. I don't feel any older and that's all I have to say on that subject.

I bought some wonderful yarn recently from a great Etsy seller, http://www.kittygrrlz.etsy.com/

Her yarn is to die for. Seriously. I could just roll around in it, it's so soft.

Well, have a great evening. I hope to post sooner next time.

Getting my Mojo Back

I recently found that my creativity has returned and I've put quite a few new things in my Etsy shop. I have energy and I'm not sleeping as many hours as I used to. Perhaps it's the coming of Spring.

Anyway, I'm happy about it. It has brought on several Spring cleaning projects long overdue. It's amazing the collections I've amassed over 22 years in the same home. Closets full of empty boxes from electronics purchases (sometimes items we don't own anymore), purses galore, shoes, clothing enough for four women. Appalling, really.

Some of it is leaving this Spring, and I'm glad to see it go.

Hope you're having a lovely week!

The trouble with making plans

Ha. Change in lifestyle. If that meant gaining more weight and doing even less exercise, then I have achieved it. Yes, that must have been my intention back in the heat of July. Sure.

Time flies when you're having fun - and also when you aren't having fun. Like when the bottom drops out of the economy and you're not expecting it. Ouch.

As a consequence of this economy I have had to start cooking. We don't eat out as much as we used to. We had been ordering in and eating in restaurants A LOT and it had to stop right quick.

My husband bought me not 1 but 2 of the Barefoot Contessa cookbooks. He is definitely trying to tell me something. "Feed me something that tastes wonderful with lots of butter on it." I think that's the message. The first book has a picture of the BC kind of a little bit overweight. On the cover of her second book she is downright (and even a bit beyond) pudgy. Not a good sign.

I really like stuff in bags from the freezer like Bertolli entrees myself... those can fool pretty much any man into thinking you cooked. Just put on an apron and cook 'em in the oven in a casserole dish. Throw your bagged salad in the salad spinner and you're good to go!

Happy recession cooking...

The Summer Heat

July - hot and sultry. The sun never gives up here.

In my last post I was talking about giving up tv. Ha. We bought a larger tv. We are sad, sad individuals.

My newest project is cleaning up my workspace. I had to start with my computer workspace and that has slowed me down somewhat. Then a bunch of doctor appointments interfered. So I have to get back to it.

There are beads all over the place, pinback button materials, yarn everywhere. I just keep buying yarn. I need to make 2 men's scarves for the charity I send to. By Sept. 22nd.

AND I'm planning a major change in lifestyle and eating habits. But that will be another post.

Tuesday, 6/17/08

It's almost midsummer. Today, driving along the street near our home, it was 103 degrees at 11am. Pretty warm for this time of year. But we'll have hotter. Soon enough.

Nearly 2 years since creating this blog, I have finally figured out how to edit it. Perhaps I am a slow learner. Or just a procrastinator. I couldn't find my username, actually. And resisted asking for it. So what is that about - I wonder?

I'm starting to avoid watching the news. If it isn't a constant barrage of political posturing, it's heartbreaking tales of fathers beating 2 year old children to a bloody pulp because they think they're demonic. Too sad to watch anymore. I wonder why those stories need news coverage. Are they news? Or just tragedy brought to the screen for the sake of generating dollars...

I'm tempted to cancel the dish subscription and return to the old days of 3 channels of TV. No more 24 hours of television. Something to ponder.

My Desert Studio