Life Last Week (2-8 March 2026)

We sprang forward this weekend so it's time for a springy graphic.  Anyone else look this up - Sprang vs. Sprung:  Difference Explained?  I think I should have been an English teacher.

The weather for the week ahead:::

OK, rain, I think everything is green enough!

On my reading pile:::

 

Working my way through this, a recommendation from Amy at Coffee and Cocktails at the Casa.

The Champagne Letters

On my TV:::

Outlander did not disappoint on Friday!

Thursdays are for The Pitt - Tanya at The Other Side of the Road said she wished there was more to each episode and I have to agree!  It's a great show.

Checked off the list:::

• Took my car in to get the Check Engine light checked and it was the thermo control valve that failed so they replaced that.  I had a tentative appointment for March 9, but they gave me a loaner (brand new 2026 Subaru Forester, 29 miles on it as I drove off the lot!) and said they should be able to squeeze it in over the next few days.  They also recommended Walnut Blasting since they were working in the intake manifold, and the blasting would clean it out.  Anyone ever heard of this?  Because they were already replacing the valve, the blasting was 50% off.  

• Our Viking luggage tags arrived - it's really getting real!

• Decided to destash some of my rubber stamps - some of them have never been used and never will be.  Do you have craft supplies for that project you're going to do one day and then you never end up actually using them?  Thank goodness for resale sites.
• Lunch Bunch at a local Vietnamese spot which was delicious then a quick trip to Costco (ok, maybe it wasn't a quick trip, could it ever be on a Saturday, lol?).

Crafts roundup:::

Paris planning in full swing so no crafting this week, or for the next few weeks.

And in other news:::

I could get on board with this, but the to-do is long today and the laundry is calling!

Spring Forward

Do you spring forward in your area?

Life Last Week (23 February-1March 2026)

 

How are we in March already?  We are going to France and England NEXT month, can't believe it!

The weather for the week ahead:::

Spring in Washington - keeping things green.

On my reading pile:::

 

Finished this on Saturday, haven't picked up anything new yet.

On my TV:::

Finished up Outlander in preparation for the new season that starts on Friday.

Checked off the list:::

• Watched the Closing Ceremony for the Winter Olympics - great show.  On to the French Alps in 2030!
• A quiet early start to the week.  Vic finished up the project he's been working on - a base for Sophia's cats' litter box.  We are heading up there on Saturday.
• We celebrated our 33rd anniversary on Thursday.

• Vic took Friday off to be on hand for the delivery of the new range.  The installation went without incident, and I am ready to start baking.  Still haven't decided what to do about a backsplash.
• We dropped Malone at the kennels and headed to Bellingham.  About five minutes before we were to meet Sophia to pick up the keys, the Check Engine light came on so we headed over to the local Subaru dealership to have it checked out.  Not much they could do on a Friday afternoon, but they checked the error code and said it would be ok to drive since we were heading home the next day.
• Quiet evening at Sophia's and then on Saturday, Vic and Fayez installed the new dryer parts and got it running without the awful noise that it had been making.
• We headed for home, the Check Engine light came on again after about five minutes on the road, but we made it home safely (switching to Vic's truck when we got home to pick up Malone) and I'm heading to the dealership today to get it checked out.

Vic and the rascals having a little post-dryer repair and pre-lunch snooze - that's a Rover dog on the far left - there are always more four-legged members of the family than two-legged

Crafts roundup:::

My London photos arrived so I'm ready to spread everything out (photos, paper, stickers, embellishments, memorabilia) and make a game plan.

And in other news:::

Friday Favorites - St. Patrick's Day is coming!

 

It's time for another wander through Williams Sonoma.

This Braising Sauce looks amazing

Icon mugs

Bringing a little o' the green to your spatulas

This Staub braiser is such a gorgeous shade of green

A little touch of the Emerald Isle on your tea towels

For those of you who love the icon glasses, World Market has all of the Valentine's designs on 75% off!

  They have cute icon glasses for St. Patrick's Day but wait ten days or so and pick them up for a bargain price.  I know it will be too late for this year, but you'll have them from here after.

And here's that trending Dubai Chocolate, this time in a Bailey's dupe.

Monthly Musings - February 2026

 

1.  Paper planner, digital calendar, or other option?  Paper Planner.  I've used Erin Condren planners for years, but I couldn't resist this diary/planner when I was at the Buckingham Palace Shop in London.  It looks so pretty on my desk.

2.  Meal planning, meal prep, or wing it?  Meal planning is iffy these days.  After being on my own for so long with Vic in Okinawa and then in Maryland, I sort of lost interest in cooking, and I've had a hard time getting it back.  Vic does enjoy cooking so a lot of time he'll come up with something, but I feel bad that he works all day and then comes home to cook.  I'm making a commitment to do better as soon as our new stove is installed tomorrow.

3.  Do you choose your outfit the night before?  Not any longer!  Being retired means jeans and a top on most days.  I did plan my outfits when I was working right down to my accessories because when you get up at 4:30am, you're not really in the mood to put together an outfit!

4.  Tips for managing laundry and ironing.  I do laundry every day which is crazy for two people, but it works.  Whites on Monday, Vic's darks on Tuesday, towels on Wednesday, whites again on Thursday, kitchen linens and dog towels on Friday, and bedding on Saturday.  My darks go in once a week, usually after Vic's on Tuesday.  For the most part, it's quick and easy, I start one load when I get up, have coffee, put it in the dryer, and by the time I get out of the shower, it's ready to hang or fold and put away.  I don't iron but Vic's great at it!

5.  Grocery shop in store or online?  In store.  When I've got it all together, I menu plan, make a grocery list, and head to the store.

6.  Best tips for getting out the door in the morning without chaos?  Have everything ready to go.  Outfit selected, lunch made, handbag with everything in it, and out the door I go.

7.  Share your easiest dinners for crazy weeks.  Trader Joe's Mandarin Orange Chicken.  Quick, easy, delicious.

8.  Best tips to keep your house organized during the week.  I've said it before "A place for everything, and everything in its place".  I do a quick ten-minute whiz through the house before I go to bed to make sure that there's no clutter.

9.  Share your easiest breakfast.  Costco's muffins - the cinnamon chip ones are yummy!

10.  Share your best overall tip not covered yet.  Make cleaning enjoyable - Air pods with an audiobook, podcast, or music makes the time go by quickly.

Around the 'Net

Our trip to la belle France is not too far away and I've been looking at restaurants, menus, and dishes I'd like to try.  Croissants, crêpes, crème brûlée, and macarons are all checked off the list, but the others would be new to me.

  

The only one I'm not too sure about is escargots but Vic assured me they are delicious.  How many of these dishes have you tried?

Wednesday Hodgepodge - Volume 642

  Welcome to the Wednesday Hodgepodge!  Here are this week's questions, which you should answer on your own blog and then pop over to Joyce's blog (click on the graphic for the link) Wednesday to add your link to the party.

 

1. America celebrates turning 250 years old this year. Primary cities set to lead the celebrations on July 4th are Boston, Philadelphia, New York, and Washington D.C. Other significant locations for celebrating will be Charleston SC and the 'historic triangle' which includes Jamestown-Williamsburg-Yorktown, Virginia. 

Of the cities listed how many have you seen in person? Of the cities listed which would you most like to visit this year? Any plans to do so? What's one place in America you think everyone should see? If you're not American what's one place in the US you'd like to see?

I have been to Boston, Philadelphia, New York and Washington D.C. as well as the historic triangle of Jamestown-Williamsburg-Yorktown, Virginia.  I have not been to Charleston, South Carolina.  We made trips to Boston, Philadelphia, and New York when we lived in Rhode Island and to Washington D.C. when we lived in Virginia.  We made many trips to the historic triangle - they held a great homeschool week every year at Williamsburg which we really enjoyed and loved touring the area.  Vic and I often went to Williamsburg for dining and shopping and spent a weekend at the Williamsburg Winery for Vic's 50th birthday.  We also made several trips to Jamestown and Yorktown, both with our homeschool group and as a family.

Sophia in Williamsburg, 2006, in her new mobcap and bonnet

Williamsburg Winery, 2017

It's hard to pick which one of the four mentioned I would recommend everyone should see.  They all play such an important part in our history, and all have so much to enjoy.

2. Three sounds you love to hear? 

Rain falling, the waves at the ocean, Lee Greenwood singing "God Bless the U.S.A." (especially at a ship's homecoming)

3. Three sounds you hate to hear? 

Fingernails on a blackboard or any such screeching sound, scampering feet as in the sound a rodent would make, police or ambulance sirens

4. February 24th is/was National Tortilla Chip Day. Are you a fan? With salsa, guacamole, queso, or just plain please? Do you like nachos? With what on top? Is there anything (besides nachos) you make that calls for tortilla chips?

Yes, I am a fan and with all the toppings/dippers listed.  I love nachos, especially with shredded brisket on top.  I can't really think of anything else that I make with tortilla chips.

5. We March into March with next week's Hodgepodge...what's one thing on your March calendar that makes you smile? 

We're off to Seattle for an overnight to see Michael McIntyre in concert.  If you have not heard of him, please check him out on You Tube, he is hilarious.

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Have you served cheese fondue?  I'm thinking about busting out the fondue pot and having it for dinner one weekend.  What do you have for dippers besides French bread?