The News From Whispering Pines

It's been a pretty good week. We have had winter! I actually enjoy the snow as it's been such a brown winter. White is prettier, and I like to see my flower beds covered with some insulation. Now that it's March, I'm anxiously awaiting the day when I will see tiny green shoots poking through the earth. The Home and Garden Show was this week-end at the State Fair Center. Lenny and I strolled through the displays this morning after a big breakfast at Kroll's Diner. ("Sit Down and Eat".) I was especially interested to see the garden aspect of the show, but most of it was siding and windows! While necessary, they don't do much for my imaginative side. I was disappointed that there was only one gardening vendor. I love flower gardens and was hoping for some inspiration. That was not to be. The monthly flea market happened to be across the hall from the Home and Garden Show. We poked through tables laden with all sorts of old and some new stuff. Every once in awhile I happen upon a treasure, but mostly it seems like flea markets are folks buying each other's junk! Lenny always paws through the LP records in search of an old country music album he doesn't have (he has most of them; George Jones, Hank Williams, Whalen Jennings, Willy Nelson, Loretta Lynn, Conway Twitty...., he has intimate knowledge of their music and their lives). I found a tiny orange sock monkey that made me smile, so for just $4 he was mine! He now has a home on my "whimsy" shelf.

My grandmother had stuffed animals and dolls around her apartment and she liked to say they kept her company. I think I'm becoming my grandmother! (That's OK with me.)