Lots to do for Spring

Today I had to run a few errands in the city and while there decided to check the lawn and garden section of the store I was in. Ended up buying two flats (20) of ground coverage plants.

The previous owner's of this house Husband and I bought from were very exuberant in landscaping it. There are large flowerbeds every where. They're old beds and haven't been properly tended for a while before we bought it. I have been fighting weeds every Spring for years.

And every Spring I try something new to get rid of the weeds and keep them out. And every Spring following that the weeds have taken over the beds and are trying to kill my flowers.

The flowers I picked up today are Purple Phlox and Sea Pink. Hopefully, having quick spreading ground coverage plants in the beds will choke out the weeds. I spent 2 1/2 hours today pulling weeds and planting my new flowers. I will have to go out next week and pick up another flat or two to finish the flower beds in the front yard. Also, I would like to pick up a bird feeder, a shepherd's hook to hang it on, some hanging plants, and pots and plants to put in them.

So, any plans for Spring planting this year?

Doing It!

I noticed recently that my writing style is short and exact. Probably because all that time I did research. I have written a lot of non-fiction. Not published but still there. I've been trying my hand at fiction and I am having a hard time expanding myself to a large word count. I don't know if this is due to a lack of experience or if this is just a natural occurrence. So, I've been experimenting with Flash Fiction. And I like it. Maybe in the future I will be able to extend myself further but for now I'm happy.

Smoke Long Quarterly gave me my very first rejection. I'm so happy! I know that is weird. But, it shows to me that I'm doing it. Not just saying it. And they liked my piece but it didn't fit their style. Since then I have received two more rejects for the same piece. Second publisher stated the same as the first. And the third publisher said that he liked the story until the ending but that was his personal taste. Still happy. I need to spend some more time researching publishers to see if I can find a place for this story. I'm getting ready to start a new class on the 20th. It's for writing short stories. If all goes well hopefully I will have another piece that I can submit and get published.

Also, I finally talked myself into calling the dentist. I have an appointment on the 21st. Oh, joy! Not looking forward to it but something has to be done. My teeth are getting so bad that I'm having a hard time eating.

No I Haven't Left the Building

Sorry I haven't posted in a while. I've been crazy busy. Realized today that I haven't posted in almost a month. In that time I have hosted two birthday parties, watched one of my giant pine trees fall during a storm, finish a class, start a new class, write a short story, and start a throw I'm crocheting. Also, the usual suspects of Wife and Mom duties. Plus, I started my exercise regime back up. Weight lifting twice a week and cardio twice a week. Then Daylight Saving shows up and my ass is tired. TIRED. I haven't bounced back quickly this year. My daughter has been having a hard time with it too. Oh. And in my free time...ha ha ha ha...I'm reading (and my slow ass has been reading it for a while now) Crave by J.R. Ward. Half - way through and so far it's really good.

Featured

I am so excited! Mr. Cat got featured in the STAT team challenge brown treasury today. WooHoo!

Link to treasury http://tinyurl.com/4avv7po

Frogs

I prototyped a pattern for a hat today. As you can see from the picture it didn't go so well. Time to frog this one. After I rip it out it's back to the drawing board for me. I need to tweak this pattern a little more so it will fit a more normal persons head. Ugh! It is always fun writing up new patterns and then having to test them out. Hopefully, I will work all the bugs out of it. Then only have to make it one more time to see if it works.

For Valentine's Day my husband got me a huge heart shaped box of chocolates. Ah, so sweet of him. I love chocolates. Unfortunately, it didn't come with one of those papers telling you what the different flavors are. Well, one of them was coffee flavored. I'm extremely allergic to coffee. Took a big bite of this chocolate and swallowed it before realizing the flavor of it. Now my stomach is all upset. Ugh! I feel so sick. Thank God, it was diluted.

On a different note, I started a new hat and am almost done with it. I enjoy making the hats because they are small, easy to take with me, and quick to make. Almost, instant gratification.

Finish Line

Yesterday, I managed to finish up a few projects that I had in the works for awhile now. My daughter's knitted hat and a knitted throw pillow for the living room. Also, tacked down the straps on my daughter's ballet shoes. I'm glad that one is done. I can get a break from, "Mom! Is it done yet!?" Mind you we just got them only a few days ago and I had to consult with her teacher to make sure I tacked them in the right place. The impatience of a tween. Now,I'm working on a new project for my shop. A knitted hat with faux zippers. When it's done I'll post pics.