Manna

Laura was home for Easter weekend.  Saturday morning she had to "run some errands".  I heard her come home and then as she dashed out the door to go to work she said, "I brought something home - you can't get rid of it! It's out on the deck, I'll be home at 11:30 tonight.  Bye!"   Hmmmmmmm.

I went out on the deck where a huge cage was covered with blankets.  I lifted the blanket and studied the animal within.  Calling Laura's cell phone all I could ask is "What is it?"   It is a chincilla.

Some friends of hers wanted to get rid of it before their baby is born, so naturally Laura volunteered.  This is the same person who is leaving for Ohio this summer for an internship.  I asked her if she had googled this animal and knew how to care for it.   Not yet.  So I did.

So, it cannot get wet (it's fur won't dry), it can't handle heat over 80 degrees (too much fur to cool itself), it can only eat hay (it has a sensitive digestive system), it can jump up to 6 feet,  and it is nocturnal -- so it is lively at night, it's teeth never stop growing so it needs wood blocks to gnaw on....

I showed Karl when he got home, he said exactly the same thing I did, "What is it?", followed by "she's just babysitting it right?".    At Easter dinner we were discussing what to name it,  suggestions included "Laura's mistake" (in Spanish because it is a native of South America) and then "Manna" which means "What is it?"

It is friendly, doesn't bite and we are told that the white variety is rare, most are grey.

Monday morning she listed it on KSL.com for sale.  Any takers?

For my peeps



I found this idea on another one of the blogs I followed, and had to give it a try.  It was so easy and quick.  I used 2 different forms of chocolate, blocks of real white chocolate and when that ran out I used white morsels (they don't call them chocolate chips).

I preferred the morsels- they melted easier in the microwave and dried harder, quicker.

I just dipped and spooned the melted chocolate and then put sprinkles on when still wet.

I put them on a (diposable) easter plate with easter grass and a bunch of jelly beans and chocolate eggs.

I made a little sign saying " For some of my favorite Peeps" and took them to the sisters I visit teach.

They were a hit.

Laura loves peeps and she said they were even better-

Karl hates peeps and he said that is the only way to eat them!

Bathroom mirror

The last major thing I wanted to do to the main floor bathroom is done.  The builder's grade mirror had to go.   So Handyman Hone took it away and replaced it with an "off the rack" mirror from Lowes.

It required a little sanding, painting and priming but what doesn't?

 It looks so much better!

 A little more painting, this time a little spray paint on some old garage sale finds and I could update some assessories to match.

Should have done all of this stuff years ago!

I believe in Spring

It snowed this morning.  Again.  But I have faith.  I believe warm weather will come back.  Despite cold winds, snow, gloomy skies I am certain it will warm up because...

 My pink tulips are getting ready...

Last year's pansies are beginning to blossom...... 

 The rhurbarb is poking up in the garden ....

And the 'early' tuplips are in bloom!!!

And  mostly, the CADBURY EGGS are in the store!!

Hurry up sunshine!!

April Fools follow up

Had a little April fools fun....The pizza cake was a big hit at the company party.   I was told it tasted great too, which is a relief since I can't sample food like that to be sure.  One of my coworkers made this Sushi from Rice krispie treats and fruit roll ups, with a swedish fish in the middle.

Some one brought a jar of pickles for the pot luck and I poured the juice into cups and set it on the table with sodas and ice.  Two people grabbed these cups and took a drink without realizing what it was...not sure if they thought it was Mountain Dew or lemonade or what, but it was funny!  (They were the only 2 cups with liquid on the table, the rest were cans.)

My husband takes a small jug of juice with him everyday, it's orange juice watered down (we call it H2 orange), so in the morning I dissolved some knox gelatin and mixed it in.  I waited for him to call all day and comment on it, he never did.  Finally, in the afternoon he called to see if we should go grab some dinner because he was starving because he left his juice home.  He did take a swig before it set up and wondered about it, and got home to grab it only to find it in jelled.

My Mom pulled a bunch of tricks on us growing up.   I remember eating my sack lunch in high school, taking a bite out of a sandwhich to find a paper between 2 pieces of bread with the word's "April Fool" scrawled on it.  My brothers tied popper-type fireworks ( the type with strings on each end) to doors and toilet seats leaving the house booby trapped at every turn.  Yeah, good times.