Foto Finish

I'm posting over here.
For this week's theme, let's go with: Growing.

Taken last March, first buds in garden, will we be so lucky this year???

Pink Saturday

I'm linking up over here today.

Town Square in Rivas Nicaragua at New Year's.

Saturday Snapshot

Saturday Snapshots is hoted by Alyce at At Home With Books.
To participate in the Saturday Snapshot meme post a photo that you (or a friend or family member) have taken then leave a direct link to your post in the Mister Linky below. Photos can be old or new, and be of any subject as long as they are clean and appropriate for all eyes to see. How much detail you give in the caption is entirely up to you. Please don’t post random photos that you find online.
Taken at the Honolulu Zoo - a wonderful place to visit!

Friday Favorite Finds - Recipes

Please link up to a post containing your list of recipes to try -- do not link up individual recipes please, save those for other linkys.  Be sure to leave a link back here to Finding Joy in my Kitchen.

This week's finds are small as I have been away for a week and haven't managed to catch up on my blog reading.

Baklava - I've wanted to make this since we went to Greece.

Easy cheesy dilly loaf

Friday Finds - Books

What great books did you hear about/discover this past week? Share with us your FRIDAY FINDS  hosted by MizB over at Should Be Reading.

Synopsis here. Ever since I read GB84 a couple of weeks ago I've been wanting to read of David Peace. I've already bought it and read it!



Synopsis here.

Synopsis here.


Found while looking for the above book on Goodreads!!

Synopsis here.

Was at Chapters and found this:

Synopsis here.

2012 Decluttering

I haven't posted recently but the 2012 purging and decluttering continues. I have been keeping a running recap in draft form but sadly with few photos. I will do better.
You can see more of my 2012 progress over here from January.

Embroidery thread to a friend's daughter who has taken up the hobby. Should the urge to embroider come over me again, I will just buy new thread.


Charity/Give away
Sweatshirt I washed it and decided I wasn't ready to part with it!
One pair of socks
One dishtowel
Two shell necklaces (free from Hilo Hattie's in Hawaii).
One pair old eyeglasses
Old phone holder
Blank notepads
Two pairs of cords
Two pairs of really warm mittens for a friend who will enjoy them when walking her dog.
One brand new winter sweater to a GF
Computer video camera to a friend
Unopened deck of cards
Blue dressing gown
One pair of DH's crocs abandoned in hotel in Nicaragua
One pair of DH's old bathing trunks


Garbage 
One old mop
Cleaned out old business cards and filing from computer desk. This is an ongoing activity around here.
Two ceramic ornaments - chipped
NY Pass Guide from our July trip
iPad handbook
2 Lipstick
Travel eye concealer
Old compact
Two wart kits
Mattress cover - it has seen better days
Old can of leather protector



Using up
Cleaned out the bathroom closet
These are the multiples of various items that need to be used up, thrown out and not replaced.
So far, three opened bottles of body cream have been finished
One jar of face cream
Combined two open bottles of the same item.
Cologne bought on impulse, will be used as air spray.



Garage Sale
I am trying to decide if I should have a garage sale in the spring and at least make some money of some other stuff that I want to declutter. For now I am going to keep a running list of these items here until I make up my mind. If I don't do a sale then they can go into the charity box.
Green leather bound binder with blank pages, a ruler and several pockets for holding items. I used to use it to record household measurements or pictures of things I liked for the house. I took all the relvant information and updated my House spreadsheet, took some photos of some pages (old house paint colours) and tore out pages.

One curtain rod
One shower rod
Minnie Mouse wall hanging
Two air purifiers
Two scarves
One gold basket
Two roasting pans
Four ceramic door knobs
One hanging space saver shelf
One wicker soap dispenser

Wordless Wednesday - Isla Rosario Columbia

I'm posting over here today.