lydamorehouse: (Default)
 Well, the doctors want Shawn to see a urologist ASAP, which does not comfort either of us very much. On the upside, she stopped taking the medicine that had the side effect of darkening her urine and she says that had an almost immediate result (as in, things are clearer and much more normal-colored.) So, I am still hopeful that this is, in many ways, a false alarm. 

But, so that's a fun new stresser. 

Will keep you all posted as we learn salient details.

Looks like the governor of Minnesota will be issuing a "shelter in place" order, which we've been ready for for some time. However, just to do one last stocking up, I dashed off to the grocery store to pick up fresh vegetables and other things we might run out of, depending on how long the order is in place.  

My anxiety quilting has been going gangbusters! (I will post some pictures of my progress once I fix one of the squares.)

In the meantime, I took some pictures of houses we passed when we were last out for a plague walk, as my family has been calling our attempts at daily outside time.

painted Victorian
Image: a "painted lady" on Goodrich Avenue in St. Paul. Not exactly "typical" of our local architecture, but not at all uncommon.

When I travel, I love to look at the kinds of houses that are common in the area.  St. Paul (and Minneapolis, of course,) actually have a surprising number of houses like this one. This one is just really well kept up and neatly painted to accentuate the detailing.  Obviously, like most places, there are also newer houses thrown into the mix on any give block, as well as apartment buildings, etc. But, I don't know what people from other places think our houses look like, but this is... one of the many options, and, we tried to find one like this for ourselves, but they were mostly out of our price range.  We did get a house built in 1912, but just not quite as fancy as this.

slightly different style of fancy house
Another house on the same block.  Really liked some of the detailing, but harder to see as the house is all white.

One of the things that I had really hoped to get when Shawn and I were house hunting was a house with a tower, like this one. This tower is a little fatter and squatter than the ones I usually love, but I would still love a round room with a witches' hat.  Alas, we traded that for a sun porch, which we adore.   

If you are from a warm climate, the grass and plants are not actually DEAD in this picture, merely in hibernation. The trees will also all green up over the next several weeks. Yes, several weeks. We just got a dusting of snow this morning. We are still in winter-like conditions, even if Spring Equinox has passed. 

The first time a friend of mine in Wales saw our spring, she asked if there had been a fire. I was like: ??  OH! This is just how we look until May.  

Anyway, I hope to take more pictures as we go out for more walks. Let me know if this is the sort of thing you appreciate. 

The other bit of news is that my newest book (the Precinct 13 sequel, Unjust Cause) is looking like it will hit the shelves in April. I just spent the weekend--actually the whole family helped me--reading through the page proofs. I have cover art, and everything so I'm kind of excited that my book should be out in time for some apocalypse reading! It's light and fluffy, so it might be just the thing!

So, how are you all holding up?
lydamorehouse: (ichigo irritated)
 I'm sitting on the porch because the weather is so nice.

It's 50 F / 10 C out, which probably doesn't really warrant wide open windows, but, after the last bit of winter we've had here, it's just what I need.

I spent a good portion of this morning cleaning.  Shawn is on her bi-annual or semiannual (or whichever word means twice yearly) fairly deep cleaning kick. I say "fairly" deep, because we are NOT the sorts to move the fridge to clean behind or anything of that magnitude. But, I scoot around on the floor and scrub-up bits of cat puke and dust that have become part of the decor over the past several months. Of course, the frustrating part is that when I'm finished with all of this no one will be able to tell that I've made a dent. Our house generates cat puke and dust spontaneously, I believe. Like, I bet if we moved everything out and hosed the place down, the very next day it would look Miss Havisham's.

I decided today would be a good day for housecleaning because, for reasons known only to the universe, I woke up incredibly sleepy.  It might have been the weird dream involving the sushi place that served their sushi with a bucket of live minnows and prawns, as well as a side of roe-encrusted nan.  Perhaps that wasn't restful. It seemed wise to take advantage of my sleepiness to do some mindless drudgery. 

Right, back to it!

lydamorehouse: (Bazz-B)
 Well, maybe you're not pagan, so you're not on her list!  But, the Ostara bunny came to ours.  She left her usual basket and a few Goddess themed eggs:

Ostra egg with Brigit's Cross
Image: blue Ostara egg with yellow Brigit's Cross

The actual basket:
Easter basket with treats and a smiling cat toy
Image: Ostara basket filled with eggs, candies, treats, and a smiling cat toy.

One more of the Goddess eggs:

purple moon Ostara egg
Image: a mottled purple Ostara egg with a silvery-blue moon.

Mason told me that he feels too old to do the actual HUNTING for the eggs, but he does still like getting the basket. I told him that he can keep getting an Ostara basket as long as he wants. I'd even send one to college, because WHO DOESN'T LOVE PEEPS AND CHOCOLATE COVERED MARSHMALLOW BUNNIES???!!!???  

Yesterday, I also changed over the altar to its spring clothes... no that that's stopped the snow from falling. When we headed out to school/work this morning, a light dusting was falling. I can see the it's sticking in places. I don't like to complain about the weather too much, but, OMG, the snow could stop any time now. People I know in Chicago are posting pictures of flowers in bloom.

Ah well.
lydamorehouse: (me)
Dang it.

I want to be outside planting stuff in my gardens... even though it's WAY too early for that.

*sigh*

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