What made you happy today? :)

[Murfreesboro]

Lol. Andy, I read your comment aloud to my husband. He laughed, too.

[Murfreesboro]

I currently have no dramatic vacation plans for 2025, but I'm dreaming of attending a few festivals throughout the year. I want to go to a cornbread festival in late April that's held annually in South Pittsburgh, TN, near Chattanooga. That's the site of the Lodge cast iron factory, and I've been there before, but not at festival time. Then in May my daughter and I want to catch the strawberry festival in Portland, TN, near the Kentucky line.

I found a website earlier today that lists all the festivals in TN throughout the year. I bet you could find a site like that for your state, too.

[Andybev01]

That sounds like fun.

I had a Lodge cast iron skillet but it's sooo heavy, even when empty, so I donated it to Goodwill.

Also, I couldn't wrap my head around a pan that could never be scrubbed clean. The germ-o-phobe in me would have nothing to do with that.

One of my nephews and his wife have moved back from Montana to a coastal town and when the weather turns back to 'good' from 'cr*p' I'm going to drive over and visit with them this summer.

There is a lot to explore in my new hometown as well.

Historic bridges, farmers markets and vegetable stands, museums and parks.

The city is also revamping downtown.

The stop lights are being replaced with stop signs, speed bumps will be installed and benches will be added to encourage pedestrians to shop and linger.

There was talk of closing main street to car traffic but rerouting proved prohibitive.

[Murfreesboro]

I haven't moved in 30 years, but there was a time in my life when I did it often. At one time, during a 12-month period, I had home addresses in Texas, Georgia, and Virginia.

I mention this to agree with you that exploring a new home can be as interesting as a vacation. I don't think it's possible to feel rooted anywhere until you've had at least a solid year in the new place.

[Andybev01]

I finished my 'hide the concrete wall in my apartment' project today.

5 lightweight door mirrors hung sideways using 3M removeable velcro, 2, 3M curtain rod brackets, a pair of clearance sale sheer curtains on a clearance sale brass rod (thank you, Wal*mart) and presto; fake window!

[Murfreesboro]

Oh, now, that really is remarkably pretty! I'm telling you, you could have a second career as an interior designer if you wanted it.

[Andybev01]

Well the only problem with that is I don't listen to other people's ideas when it comes to creating stuff.

It's not that they don't have good ideas.Just that my ideas are the only ones I want to work on.

[Murfreesboro]

Ah, so you are essentially an artist, I guess. But you certainly do create enviably lovely environments. Maybe it's a sort of hobby for you, the way some people grow gardens.

It's a little early perhaps, but I've been bitten by the spring cleaning bug. I've been clearing out my pantry and then intend to go through all the kitchen cabinets.

[Andybev01]

As soon as the holidays are over I'm in full spring mode but this week is pulling me back, as we've had snow and the temptation to watch christmas movies is very powerful.

[Murfreesboro]

I'm not watching Christmas movies, but I did watch Groundhog Day earlier this week. It's my annual tradition this time of year. I'll pull out the religious movies in Lent, but that's late this year. In the winter I tend to gravitate toward costume dramas. Not sure why. Maybe because Victoruan stuff at Christmas puts me in the mood for it. I'm also fond of the rebooted All Creatures Great and Small. I have the first three seasons on dvd and am expecting Season 4 to arrive this weekend.

We've had spring-like weather this week, although it's getting chillier again this weekend. We're not quite done with winter yet, but I hope we're done with the arctic blasts.