Can you tell me how to get, how to get out of Funky Town?

Can you hear the opening song to Sesame Street and NOT smile?
No. You can't.




The Coach and I were able to see the sunset via the boat this past weekend.

The beaches are closed, but luckily the Gulf of Mexico is still open.
For now. 

I've been in a bit of a funk. Not sad; just feeling funky.

I'm itching to get some garden work done; updating my veggie garden. I have a plan but need to execute it and finding a day where my arm isn't bothering me is a problem.

Also, I'm itching to get to my happy place; my local nursery.
They're open, but I'm not going because it's really unnecessary.

I'd like to be acknowledged for actually following the rules.

Should I wait by the mailbox for my acknowledgment gifts?  

If you say I need something for my itching, you're not wrong.


I started rereading this book this week; It's been about 20 years since I read it last.

I don't remember the details of the story, but if I kept the book this long, I must've really loved it.

I am staying busy with daily household chores and my butterfly raising. 

Our yard is a flurry of butterflies; lots of different flavors; not just monarchs. 

I found a slew of zebra longwing and gulf fritillary larvae in my bed of plumbago the other day and I was so excited I might have had to change my outfit. 

Their host plant is Passion vine...so, apparently, passion vine found it's way into this bed without even asking me.

THAT fills my little funky heart to the brim. 

How are my people on this fine Monday?
Wait, Tuesday?
Yeah, Tuesday.

XOXO

The one where I thought I had nothing to say. Also, Bev's birthday.

Do you ever have those days, weeks, or months where you have nothing to say?

Me neither.

But this week I've been quiet.
It's been a weird week. I've had some things come up; some distractions.

Can I say that I miss doing my puzzle?

Lord. I'm hopeless.

Things I also miss:

*Hugging people; mostly my girls. But also my friends.

*My gym, my fitness coach, and my gym people. (I may be the youngest at our gym and it's literally like Cheers, where everybody knows your name)

{Am I the Norm of our Gym? Maybe}

*Marshalls, Home Goods, TJ Maxx. I know. It's petty, but I do enjoy my outings.

*Publix. I miss just running in for one or two things. I know, I will NEVER take grocery shopping for granted again. Never.

*Dining out. The Coach and I have had a standing Friday night date night for many years; I miss going out for dinner. But, we've been ordering in (or picking up) at least one night a week.

Listen, this is my petty little list and really, I'm NOT complaining. It's just things that I miss.

Can I count my blessing? Oh HELL yes.

*My people are healthy.
*Our business is still in motion.
*I have money in the bank to pay bills.

We are fortunate.
I wish everyone was as fortunate.

***

Tomorrow would be my Mom's 77th birthday. For the past few years, one or two of my favorite people (when available) join me for two of my Mom's three favorite things:
Mexican food and a margarita.

Her third favorite thing? Latin men.

We, being married women and all we generally skip those.

Plus, she was known to be a bad pecker picker; starting with my Dad and she went downhill from there. I'm not badmouthing her; she knew it too.

So, tomorrow we are going to attempt to have margaritas together via Zoom; it will be my first time.
For the zoom, not the margarita.
Now I'm wondering how I can get some Mexican food too.

{Suz and Bev at her 72nd birthday. Guess what we were eating and drinking?}

My mom LOVED my blog. She would call me and say: YOU are so funny.
OR she'd say: Who were you referring to in that post?
Or she would complain that I didn't blog enough.

Now that I write all that, she sounded demanding.

For someone who had nothing to say, I found some words to share today.

Wishing you all a good weekend and if you have the ingredients, have a margarita in Beverly's honor on Saturday. She was the best Mom I ever had and I miss her terribly.

If you are fortunate enough to have one or both parents, call them this weekend, it's the least you can do.

I'm not even a Jewish mom, but I can make y'all feel guilty, can't I?

XO

Captains Log: Day 28 or 399? Garden vlog, puzzle upgrade and a plethora of smokers.

Friday morning I did a little garden vlog. Hold onto your seats, it's riveting.

Excuse the noise; pool equipment, pool fountain, and air conditioner because Florida.

***

We had a nice, quiet and productive weekend.
Saturday we got our first delivery (insta-cart) from Costco; it went well.
The funny thing is they won't deliver to our house, but they will deliver to our rental condo.
(zip code snobs)
So, I set up the delivery time and we chilled and waited: (our big outing for the weekend) our delivery guy was right on time.

The Coach was watching a fishing show (also riveting) on TV when I said I was ready to go home with our goods.

He said, "what do you need to get home for?"

I replied slightly embarrassed: "I have a new puzzle."

Good lord. Send help ASAP. 

We got everything on our list aside from

*ONE THING*

Can you guess what we couldn't get? 

***

Speaking of puzzles, because apparently, I can't NOT speak of them. The new one that Linds stumbled upon in Target while getting her essentials is THE. BOMB.COM.

The one I had been struggling with for many weeks, and finally finished, well, it turns out it might have been from the bargain bin at Wally World.

The one Linds picked up? Ummmm...it's top freaking shelf. Like Nordstroms top shelf.
Wait, does top shelf mean liquor? Well, then it's way better than Albertsons Vodka; that sort of top-shelf.

I didn't even know there was a hierarchy in the land of puzzles, but I'm here to tell you, there is one.

The pieces feel different; like they're made from the remnants of a baby bird's feathers that have been mixed with the recycling goods from the Taj Mahal.

Wait. That sounds kind of gross. WHO AM I? 

I'm just a girl. Standing in front of a puzzle. Hoping it will help me to solve it. 

 

*ahem, almost a quote from Notting Hill which I watched a few weeks ago and It's one movie Ernie
can quote*

Such a good RomCom.


***

On Sunday I pressure washed the pool lanai and outside furniture while the Coach put together his newest smoker.

Not only is he a Goldilocks with his chairs/office, but he's also Goldilocks with his smokers.

He has the HUGE tow-behind one that requires a big azz truck and a small smoker/box but needed a medium-sized one too.

{Small and Medium side by side; the new one looks like a time machine. I suppose it IS a time machine for meat.}

He doesn't complain about my shoes/plants/garden/skincare addictions, so, would I ever complain about his smoker issue? 
Hell.to.the.no.


So, it's Monday. Let me check my calendar and see what's happening this week.

Well, it looks like I'm TOTALLY open if anyone wants to get together.

Or not.

Have a good one my people.
XO

I'm certified and I'm finished.

My gardens are officially certified.
And you thought I was just certifiable.

Notice my Monarch model; he approved the signage.


Bona-fide.
Authorized.
To be prized.
I'm rambling here.

I wish I could ditch the electrical boxes and irrigation stuff off the walls, but electricity and irrigation are essential to me.
Also, this is the side of our house, not the front. The front is prettier. But don't tell the sides and back; they've never met.

I'm sure the signs will lure even more butterflies to my lair.

I really try to keep my posts short and sweet so I don't lose anyone, but I never know where exactly to stop.

Stop here? 

Maybe stop here?

Nope.more.to.chatter.about

The puzzle is finished.

Can I stop talking about that damn puzzle already? 
No. I can not.

I know, you were probably not sleeping a minute wondering how I was doing with it; it's finally done and yes, I was missing two pieces. MAX!!



























I complained to Linds that it was hard to do because my right arm hurt so much.

Linds: Do it with your left arm.

Why do my children use logic against me?

When I was finished, I wrote a note on the box for my future self or someone else's future self that two pieces are missing and I sharpied the spots on the box.

If my arm felt better, I'd pat myself on the back for that.

Actually, my arm is feeling a bit better. Thank you all for your wonderful advice; it's appreciated.
Also, icing it a few times a day has been awesome and something I didn't think to do before. *duhh*
It's no picnic being me.

NOW, I'm done.

Kidding.

Does anyone have plans for the weekend?

Suzanne, that was cruel and uncalled for.

Oh, wait.
One more thing.

Our marina has opened back up (with VERY limited contact) so the Coach is excited to get on his boat and go fishing tomorrow. He's been working a lot and being home with me a lot.
He needs some fun because I can only entertain him so much; that wasn't a part of our vows.

I DO wish you all a nice weekend doing something you enjoy with people that you can semi-stand being around.
I consider myself fortunate in that way.
I never thought to ask my husband how he felt about it.
Probably just as well...

Bee good
Bee silly
Bee well

XOXO