Sweetnesses

Last night when we got home from the meeting, when we got out of the car and went to walk into the kitchen I smelled the tea olive which is the first I knew it was blooming. The flowers are so miniature that I always notice their scent which is not miniature in any way, before I notice the blooms. I love the way they smell so much. I call it angel perfume. 

As to the meeting which we left before it even really got going- the results are in and I got a text from my neighbor who said everyone there had been opposed except for one person and the commission opposed the request. Now. What this means exactly, I do not know and my neighbor said that she bets Love Truck Stop will come back with another proposal. 
Sigh. 
But for now...
We are good. 
Personally, I wish they'd put in a hotel and a Waffle House. That would be dandy. I mean, hotels can be pretty ugly and they aren't the most charming things to look at, at least not the big chain ones they put up now, but they are tolerable and a Waffle House- well. You know how I feel about Waffle House. I am pretty sure that won't happen because there already is a Waffle House just one exit to the west which is about ten minutes away. 
But as I said the other day, eventually something is going to go in there. That property is just too ripe for development, especially as Tallahassee is growing this way so quickly. Huge housing developments are going in where there were only large tracts of woods. 
It is a sorrow and it is a reality.

I took this picture this morning because of the way the sun was shining through those petals. So tender, so lovely. We have many buds, waiting their cues to come on stage. I do not know exactly what their cues are, but they do. They have the script and I trust them to have memorized it. 

I was pretty busy today and it felt good. The weather was absolutely perfect. For a time I was even barefoot and sleeveless and yet, it was not hot. The sky clear blue all day long. 

I even managed to get the sheets and a few towels and new placemats hung on the line. I got those placemats at the thrift store Hank and I visited yesterday. I call them "fancy" and I think they are a fabric fiesta for the eyes. My eyes at least. 

I finally got to what needed to be done on the front porch which was to bring in all of the sheets and blankets I had out there to wrap plants in. I should have done that a month or so ago when I brought the plants inside. I don't know why I haven't. I gave the porch a good sweeping and set the plant stands where they should go and I brought one little old wicker table that's falling apart around to the side of the house where I'll see it and remember to take it to the dump. It has lived its life, it has served its purpose, it has brought me pleasure. 
I even carried a few plants back out there, just smaller ones, to get more light. They're still okay inside but gradually, we'll get them all back out. I'm a little leery of doing that yet though. I've seen freezes in March. 

I did several more loads of wash after I did the sheets, dried them in the dryer and folded them and put them away. I brought in the things hanging on the line and made up the bed. 

I also made the ganache for the truffles I'm making for Mr. Moon's Valentine's Day. We have agreed not to do anything special but any reason to make chocolate truffles is welcome. I haven't made any in so long and they're just the easiest things to make. Also, they are divine. I mean- chocolate, cream, and vanilla. And a tiny bit of butter. The ganache is in the refrigerator and I'll make the truffles themselves tomorrow, rolling them in cocoa and perhaps some in crushed pecans and some in coconut. They are a messy thing to make, as rolling them heats the ganache in your hands so it's a thing best done quickly, keeping whatever you're not working with in the refrigerator. But so worth it. I imagine that beyond that we'll just be giving each other a few extra kisses and hugs. 
We know we love each other. We do not take that for granted. We do not need a particular day to express that. 

I'm not sure what else I did but I know I must have done other things as I kept moving from one thing to another most of the day. This is housekeeping though, isn't it? All of the little things that must be done to maintain order and at least a modicum of tidiness. 

When Hank and I went to that thrift store yesterday, I not only bought those placemats, I also bought a new purse. 
I know. Shocking, right? 
And the shocking thing is that it's not really the sort of purse I usually fall in love with but for whatever reason, I did. It cost $14.99 and it delights me. 

The leather is very soft and I love the weaving in the design. Also, these tiny buckles just made me swoon for whatever reason.

I'm not big on decorative blah blah on purses but in this case, I am charmed. 

Oh, those little brass clasps which connect the strap to the bag! And the strap has small gold links woven into the first few inches of both ends of the strap which I would normally disdain but in this case, I do not. The strap itself is thin-ish and delicate, but strong. Quality leather indeed. And already broken in and ready to go. 
Although it is quite small, it easily holds all I need. Three pockets inside, one of them zippered, and those two zippered pockets outside. 

This post is very lighthearted. I am not talking about what I have come to think about as the horrors. I have needed this day at home spent in doing the simplest of tasks, being outside and inside, loving where I live, loving whom I live with, taking note of the blooming things, looking up and feeling at peace. 

The Japanese magnolias are beginning to open. They are always late, perhaps due to the fact that they are of the magenta variety rather than the normal pink. Or, because they don't get all the sun they need. I look forward to them blooming every year and I am patient. 

And here's a funny little cartoon from the New Yorker that made me smile. 

Happy Valentine's Eve. I raise my martini to all of us. We are all worthy of love, we are all worthy of being cherished, we are all worthy of buying little things that bring us pleasure. We are all allowed to eat truffles and to sleep on clean sheets and smile and laugh. 
Even now. Even in these times. 
Especially in these times. 

Happy Friday, y'all. 

Love...Ms. Moon