Monday, February 14, 2022

Goodness And Graciousness



Well, it is sweethearts' day and although it is a concocted holiday I can't help but love seeing big burly guys in Publix, picking out flowers and cards and chocolates for their Valentines. To my mind, there is nothing wrong at all with a day for lovers and friends, young and old, to take a moment to say sweet things and exchange tokens of love. 

I was in Publix today. I did my weekly shopping there and at Costco. I got ingredients to make that cake, which is called a Chocolate Almond Tiger cake. I picked those flowers from my yard, of course, and the card came from my darling boy. He also bought me coffee and chocolate. It's like he knows me. I have ordered him a Cuisinart ice cream maker and it will be here this week. Lis got one from her sister-in-law and says it's her favorite kitchen thing and Mr. Moon does love ice cream so much and so I thought, well, why not? And ordered. 

I have two Valentine's dates tonight. Lon is in the county and is coming over for dinner. That is going to be delightful. The men are going to cook us steaks outside as men do, and I will make the rest. As you can see, the cake is done. All I'm going to do is bake some potatoes and make a salad. Never too much salad around this joint. And bake a loaf of bread that I have rising. And make a little appetizer plate with some salmon I got at Costco, capers, goat cheese, and mustard. Probably some apples or pears, too. 
So yeah, that's all. 
Do you think that whipping some cream for the cake would be overkill? 
Nah. 

So that's what I've been doing on this beautiful day. I just went to the dump and got a very nice...bookcase? 


It is quite sturdy. When the attendant saw me eyeing it, he said, "Take it." I told him that one of my children could surely use it and indeed, within seconds of posting a picture of it to the kids via text, Hank had said that he would take it if no one else wanted it. 
I do love the dump. 
I actually saw Hank today, very, very briefly but long enough for a hug at Costco. He was on his way to do something that he needed to do immediately so we didn't get a chat but it sure was good to see him. 

The one truly not good thing that happened today is that my earbuds appear to be dead. Dead, dead, dead. 
I cannot believe this. 
And yet, I have used them for hours on a daily basis for over a year. Since listening to audio books and podcasts is my life, I may be back at Costco to buy another pair tomorrow. Don't even talk to me about built-in obsolescence. I KNOW! But. Sometimes one has to just go along with the game and when it comes to earbuds, I am a grudging player. 

Here's a picture I like that I took last night when I put the chickens up. 


Chickens can be sweethearts too. 

Here's the card I gave Mr. Moon. 



It is one of Lis's cards, of course. And by the way- she is doing very well with the card business. When she was here last week the gift shop at a local museum AND the eternally cool and funky Quarter Moon shop wanted them. 

Happy Sweetness Day to all of you. I would gladly be your Valentine if you would have me. 

Love...Ms. Moon

 

29 comments:

  1. Nope! You would not be my Valentine as you have got Glen and I don't believe in two-timing. Besides, I am already in love with that chocolate almond tiger cake.

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    1. I'm afraid your Valentine was a bit dry and disappointing. But whipped cream helped.

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  2. I love your joy. And that cake.

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  3. That card is beautiful! Mr. Moon will really enjoy the ice cream maker. I have a cuusinart and my favorite flavor to make is passion fruit. Dark chocolate with chunks of candied orange is pretty fabulous too. I’m drooling at the cake! Happy love day!
    Xoxo
    Barbara

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    1. It seems a little dangerous to have an appliance that makes ice cream in twenty minutes but hey! Let's live dangerously, right? Those flavors sound divine.

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  4. I wonder what that "bookcase" used to be? Both your cards are pretty neat.

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    1. You know, I am still delighted at moon-themed things whether cards or jewelry.

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  5. Happy Valentine's Day, Ms. Moon! Glad you had such a nice day. You are a sweetie!

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  6. That cake and that bookshelf are both lovely. Especially the cake:)

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  7. That Card is gorgeous... the Chicken pixs are always Adorable, they're so Photogenic. Glad your Valentine's Day went so well. Ours began at 1:00 am with the Main Line from the City rupturing and Flooding our Front Acreage... it took 'til 8:00 am for the City to resolve it and thankfully nothing got damaged but it made for a long Night, no Sleep and not the most ideal way to begin Valentine's Day 2022... but, let's face it, the last 2+ Years has been one Wild Ride with lots of other crazy Memories.

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    1. Oh dear Lord. That does not sound sweet or fun in the least. What a mess that must have been! I'm so sorry. And yes, one more story to add to the memory book for the last two years.

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  8. Happy V Day Mary! You're always my Valentine.

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  9. I'd have you as a Valentine any day...Enjoy your cards and dinner and I hope Mr Moon loves his new ice cream maker.

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    1. I hope he loves it too, e!
      And yes, let us be Valentines!

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  10. That cake looks yummy and a little whipped cream on the side would never go astray. One of my daughters had an ice cream maker, but the motor burned out on the very first try.

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    1. What? What brand of ice cream maker did she have?
      Whipped cream was quite helpful with the cake. As opposed to the cake itself, that may have been the best whipped cream I ever made.

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  11. I love Lis's card! (Well, Mr. Moon's card, now.) Whipped cream is ALWAYS called for in my book. And speaking of books, what an interesting bookcase. For some reason I'm thinking it's made for cookbooks.

    We didn't even acknowledge Valentine's Day here!

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    1. Too true about the whipped cream!
      Lis's cards are unique and artistic and evocative, I think. I love them!
      I think that anonymous below may have guessed the fuction of that book case thingee.

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  12. That "bookcase" may have been designed for video tapes (remember those)? The slanted shelves display the book-sized flat tape boxes so you can easily read the spines, and boxes are easily grabbable. The VCR might sit on top.
    This would explain not only the design, but why it was tossed out.

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  13. Hard to tell the size of that bookcase. I thought of encyclopedias but maybe it's not that big. I bought an ice cream maker when the grandkids were little and coming for their Granny Camp weeks. Haven't used it in a decade probably.

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    1. I thought of encyclopedias too but I think that the anonymous commenter may have gotten it right. Possibly for VCR tape storage.
      We have an old churn type ice cream maker which we haven't used in years too but this one makes ice cream in twenty minutes. And hopefully not in such vast quantities. There is no doubt I will be reporting in about it.

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  14. Let's definitely be each other's Valentine!

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Tell me, sweeties. Tell me what you think.