It's a Poppy Kind of Day

LOOK! POPPIES!

I finally found you, my beautiful poppies! I've wanted to plant you so long and could never find you.....  but now.....

I HAS POPPIES. 

Collection of Late Night Thoughts

Sporadic thoughts late at night.

 Do you know I slept over 11 hours last night? It was glorious.

For some reason, I was so ready to be off work this weekend that when I locked the door at 5 I almost did a victory dance. (I withheld until I was safely at home.) I think it was just a long week. Not a bad week. Just one where you're ready to be anywhere but work by the end of it.

We actually had another wedding last weekend that was a setup. If I would ever remember to edit the pictures I might post some of them here, but alas. I do however have a quick shot of the bridal:

Midnight blues & whites.

Holly asked me the other day if I was enjoying the unseasonably warm winter we've had so far. I LOVE it. In fact, we're supposedly going to get up to 70 on Monday. I'm so excited.
It's not that I'm against cold winters entirely - I really do like the change of seasons. Its just that we've had such bitter winters the past two or three years that I'm soaking up whatever warmth comes our way. I would love to scrape by with a mild winter this year.

Seriously, if you haven't listened to the Megas album yet, you're missing out. And once you listen to the original, go listen to this acoustic version. They're both incredible. These guys are awesome. They're on bandcamp, so you can listen to their albums on those links for free.

Okay, so I know I'm really, really late to the game here, but Newsies is awesome.
Wait....we know you've listened to Newsies before now. Right? Right...??
No worries! I have!
This is my history with Newsies: I had never even heard of it until probably high school when my cousin Jeff couldn't believe I had missed it. I was getting into musicals at that time, so I watched it and thought it was good. Really good. But I never really got into it. I never had the nostalgia factor with it and just never really attached to it. However, I've had my iPod on shuffle a lot more than usual recently and "Carrying the Banner" came on. Oh man! What a knockout! So much punch in one song. I've listened to it so many times in the past few days. I definitely plan on rewatching it.

This Wednesday Jeff & I are going to see the Addams Family musical! Yaaay! It's been awhile since I've seen a show.

Sleepy, sleepy.... Good night everyone.

I hugged a bucket of daisies today.

You know it's cold when...
You're going to get flowers out of the cooler at work. And upon entering said cooler you flip around in a panic to check the thermometer. Certainly it has gone out again since it feels like a sauna. But then it dawns on you, no, it's at its regular 50 degrees, where it always stays and you shake your head. :)

I have to say though: the shop usually feels like an icebox, and this time around it was not nearly as bad. Maybe its because Bobby was okay with leaving the temperature up to 80 degrees. Or maybe it's because I finally have this clothes combo of tights, jeans, two pairs of socks, boots, tank top, thermal top, long sleeve top, vest, hoodie, hat, scarf, gloves down. Either way, I am content.

I did go back into work for Thursday and today. I have not driven since Monday home from work - my bosses have kindly been picking me up. The roads are still pretty treacherous in parts, particularly the side streets. While we're hoping to get out at least once this weekend to pick up some essentials, I won't be traveling out much beyond that. Three more inches fell this morning, and I have to say that it was really beautiful.

The being said it is causing problems. The story for us is funerals. Within three days of February we had nine services on the list (our total for January ended up at 60, by the way). A few were postponed earlier in the week preparing for this snowstorm and after today's snowfall a couple were postponed again. We haven't been able to get any flowers in since Monday and are working strictly on what we have in the coolers for family pieces. That is why when I desperately ran to the cooler, expecting to find my white daisies already missing, I hugged the bucket that held the few precious blooms left.
And then turns out the funeral was postponed and I didn't need them after all.

As for me, I have to admit I'm relishing this "trapped in the house" thing. Certainly by Monday my tune will have changed - it will be Valentine's week, I will be tired of it and want to get my car out. But since the last few weeks have entailed my leaving the house almost every single night, I love that I'm snowed in. Haha, you can't get me. I'm trapped in my house. It's pretty glorious. My own personal snow moat. The introvert in me is so giddy I skipped around the house all of Tuesday.

But that will be over on Monday. Our flower arrivals for the big day were supposed to be here this past Tuesday and they're trapped in the city (we did finally get some in today). We're expecting more flurries Sunday night and "significant snowfall" Tuesday night. I've been looking to figure out what "significant" means in this case. Will our flowers be frozen? Can our vans make the deliveries? Am I going to be sleeping at the shop? Details, weathermen, details! Your flower shops are hanging in the balance! ;)

On the bright side of the snow, check out this sweet face:


Aw...such a doll. Little Lex was certainly excited to go out and play! :) I love that girl.

It's a magical world....

Current weather conditions: No more falling snow, but blowing snow still remains. 12 degrees with a -10 to -20 wind chill.

Early this morning I made the phone call in to my boss, who informed me there would be no work today. After sleeping off another few hours, I'm now gleefully skipping through the house. The term 'snow day' still holds that magic touch. My plans today include possibly cleaning my room and watching Wall-E.

And honestly, since we're not supposed to get above freezing before Friday or Saturday - and there's an 11" drift in my driveway - I'm not sure how tomorrow or even Thursday will go. And that brings some complications in, but those concerns can be dealt with later.

For today, bliss. :)



We averaged 10" - 11" of snow, with this being our tallest drift.


Winter Wonderland...




Let's go exploring.

PopSci Image: This Is Your Massive Snowstorm, America

Step 1: Panic.

If you're not living in Oklahoma, you may be unaware that we're about under a state of emergency and was upgraded to blizzard warnings for this evening, even though there was no snow on the ground yet. Our weathermen are having a heyday. Historic Blizzard. Major, Major Storm. Travel Impossible.

That being said, it is sleeting outside now and has been plunking along for awhile now. Also, I heard/saw thunder snow for the first time, which I was pretty excited about. We're supposedly going to receive blizzard conditions tonight and throughout tomorrow morning and potentially receive 8" - 12" of snow depending on which way the wind blows.

So, if all that happens, we're hunkered down pretty well here. My tank is filled, we've got ice scrapers and blankets, food, cat food... My boss told us not to rush to work tomorrow, that we'd call each other and figure it out. If they're still going in, they can pick me up. And I'm pretty excited about the storm, just because I like the crazy weather for a change.

We did manage to rescue our paper early though (read: just now), which made my grandma very happy. (note: freezing rain hurts ears.) So thank you to our awesome paper thrower.

I'd be remiss if I let this day go by with no mention: today is my mother's birthday! She would have been 52. :) Love you momma!



Okay, so not the greatest pic of my dad, but I love that one of mom, so it wins out anyway. ;) Besides, I love that it looks like they took it themselves. :)

And the world's turning inside out...

Ah, September. You've swept in with your 80 degree days and 60 degree nights. I fully admit I was not looking forward to your cooler days. How could I? It means winter is right around the corner and I work at an icebox. Brr.

But this week has been gorgeous. Maybe I was ready to shed some of those 100 degree days (maybe). For a week (maybe). Maybe I'll be ready for winter when it rolls around in potentially late November. Maybe.

Fall: you're my favorite season. Sunflowers come into the shop in full force. Oranges, yellows, reds abound. All of nature seems to give one last flourish of beauty before winter sets in. Perfect temperatures. Ushering in the holiday season.

And despite what I say, winter, I actually like you too. For a little while. I love snow and being cold at Christmas. I would be sad if you were not there. But after February I'm giving you notice. Move it or lose it.