This and That and a Brand New Hat

Oh my goodness, such a busy week! I haven't had much time for photo shoots or making, but that's ok. Life is moving along at a swift clip and I'm just going along with the ride. I thought I'd share a few of my happy snaps from the Instagram to show what's been going on 'round here.

Firstly, the Engineer and I had a real honest to goodness date night last weekend! Pony Girl was on a sleep-over at the cousins so we had the whole night. It all began with a trip to the haberdasher for a new "gentleman's" hat for the Mr. Oh and did he ever look handsome!
Later we met a couple of our friends for a feast at a Japanese Pub and enjoyed a most delicious cocktail called a "Twisted Kite". It was warm enough to sit on the patio so that our laughter floated out on the breeze. It was lovely!

Though our weather has been all over the place lately, I couldn't resist picking up some flowers for the garden. I love these English Daisies, such happy flowers...I imagine they are the sort of flowers that Muppets might plant.

As I was planting flowers I noticed the sale sign has gone up on the house across the street. For a moment I had a little daydream about buying this house, if only to save her. She was once most certainly a grand lady, but years of neglect and mistreatment have done her in I'm afraid.
In her large overgrown yard there is a magnificent Dogwood tree, one of the tallest I've ever seen, with fat butter-yellow blossoms. I do think given some serious TLC and a fresh coat of paint, she would make for the perfect Lola Nova headquarters, don't you?

And whenever I have a moment here and there, I've been slowly unpacking boxes from my grandfather's house. Finding pretty vintage treasures.

Well now, I see by the time that I must run; errands, chores, meetings and much to-doing!

I hope that all of you are having a swell week! Take care.

Things I can't do

I was catching up with a friend on the phone the other day, we were trading our current goings-on and I told her of my latest projects, school mum what-nots, my diabolical plan for home made energy bars. That is when she jokingly asked me, "Is there anything you can't do?" I've been asked this before and it makes me feel awkward. I'm never quite sure how the question is intended. Are you asking me this sincerely, is it a compliment of sorts, or is it an obtusely veiled snarky comment? How does one answer such a question, is an answer needed, it is rhetorical yes? One thing I do know, it is blatantly clear that I over think things. I also know my friend was just chatting along as we do, with no ill thought whatsoever, still...

It got me to thinking...

Well, of course there are lots of things I can not do.
I also imagine, there are lots of things that I can do.
Let's make a little game of it, let's name a few of the things I can't do. Also, let's name some of the things I can - do.

For example:

I can't - fly a 747 airplane. Although, I don't know if that is strictly true as I have never tried. It is entirely possible that I can fly a plane if only given the chance.

I can - can. I have been making my own jams, preserves, canned veg and fruit etc. for years. I have taught the engineer to can, we are teaching Pony girl to can, so we all can - can.

Well, you get the idea.

Things I can do but would rather not:
I can change a flat tire on my car, on a blind curve, in the pouring rain, in a party dress and heels.

I can make meatloaf. And it's really good, if you like meatloaf, which I do not.

I can hem your trousers.

Things I can't do but feel no pressing need to do:
I can not do advanced calculus.

I can not climb Mt. Everest. ok, this one is a bit tricky because I do have that "You can do anything you set your mind to" belief but the truth is, I have set my mind to no such thing besides, in my current physical condition, it would mean certain shame if not certain death.

I can not name all the US presidents in chronological order.

Things I can do that are quirky and that I am strangely proud of:
I can make a decent meal out of a practically nothing. Why just last night I turned an old potato, and a bit of stale cheese into a fine dinner. It's a gift.

I can talk to anyone. I can commiserate with old timers, I can curse with sailors, I can make friends with farmers, I can pontificate with philosophy majors, I can harmonize with hippies, I can space out with UFO abductees, I can discourse with delinquents, I can gossip with gilded Lilies, I can converse with cowboys and criminals. Yup! And that's just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. Whilst I am strangely proud of this quirky can-do, it can feel like a curse, as I am far less talented at extricating myself from these conversations.

I can fish. In fact, I am a rather decent fisher-woman.

Things I can not do but wish that I could:
I can't Speak a second language. While I do have very limited recall of my 8th grade Spanish class and my High School French, none of it seems particularly useful. I don't know when "I am a cat, I don't like to work." would be appropriate conversation in Mexico. However, if I were in France, I could ask everyone I see, "Do you have a red sweater?"

I can't Surf. My brother has been a surfer since we were small, he never taught me. I would love to know how to surf, how cool would that be?

I definitely can ramble on and on about things I can and can't do but, I'm done for now.

How about you?