Is it spring YET?

I know the calendar says it is -- but my yard full of snow says otherwise! 

So how are you, my friends? I know - I said I was still going to keep posting even though I'm not all crafty-like anymore. Time just whizzes by, though. It's Monday, then it's Friday. Then it's Monday again. Where are the days in between? Work .... 4H .... guitar lessons .... errands & cleaning & laundry .... track season just started .... then comes baseball .... I definitely can't complain about being bored! 

One big thing on my to-do list is to learn how to use the camera I bought last July. Luckily, it takes phenomenal shots in the Auto mode - but I want to learn more. I will never be a fancy schmancy photographer, because the camera I bought is a bridge camera -- not quite an SLR because I can't change the lens, but so much more than a point & shoot. All the manual settings of an SLR - now I just need to learn them all! There's just so much! So ... I printed off the entire manual & will concentrate on ONE thing at a time. I also joined a discussion forum for my particular camera - a great place to meet people, ask questions & ogle other people's pictures. 

Here are a few of my recent favorite photos - still just taken on Auto:

This is my mom's cat Petey. Isn't he gorgeous? He's sitting at the kitchen table, wondering why everyone has a plate of snacks but HIM. If you can't tell, he's a bit ... um ... WIDE. But he is the most LOVING cat. A total baby :)

This is Puddy, my mom's other cat (that's PUDDY, like in Seinfeld). Very lean & sleek - we think he's part Maine Coon - & also gorgeous, but not as cuddly as Petey. BUT he's way more active & therefore way more entertaining. Depends on what you're in the mood for. Laughter or snuggles. 

I don't know why but I love this picture - a dark & rainy day in Milwaukee. You can see the Calatrava Art Museum right in front of us. I love Milwaukee - we just don't take advantage of all the things it has to offer. On this day we were at Discovery World - if you're ever in the area it's a must see!

I like how this one turned out too, with the snow in the background. And it looks like he's trying to tell me something. Maybe he's saying "#*$(# WINTER! When is spring going to be here?". Don't worry, little birdie - we are ALL saying that. 

I've been spending most of my free time in the kitchen & have really made some yummy things lately. No pictures - but I do want to share some amazing recipes. All courtesy of Pinterest (which is what I do in the rest of my free time):

Paula Deen's Mountain Dew Cake

Strawberry Nutella Braid

Cheesy Chicken, Bacon & Tater Tot Bake (I'm sure this one is EXTRA healthy)

Strawberry Cream Cheese Coffee Cake


What can I say - I love to make (& eat) things that probably aren't the best for me LOL. 

**Oh - I wanted to ask you - I understand Google will not have Reader anymore. That makes me sad! I depend on that! I wonder why they made that decision? What do you use to keep track of blog updates? I have about 80 blogs that I follow!

I don't have a recent Easter card to share, but this is one I did for an Etsy customer a couple of years ago. Custom made - & she didn't like it :(  I ended up selling it to someone else. Sheesh, no wonder I don't make cards anymore LOL!

Thanks for hanging with me for a while. I hope you all have a fabulous Easter!!!