While The Cat's Away . . .

This mouse will play :-)

In this instance the cat would be my husband.

He is gone for the week on a business trip. I enjoy when he goes on these occasional trips because it is a nice break from the normal day to day schedule.

Of course I still have commitments, work, etc. But when I don't have to do any of those things I can do what I want ~ when I want. I don't have to stop and think "what's for dinner?"

I can spend all the time I want to rearranging stuff in my cupboards. Nobody will be asking me tonight what I did all day.



Today I cleaned a few bathrooms and did some laundry. Not much different from other days except if I felt like stopping to read a few chapters, I did.



Last night I took a huge armload of books to bed with me. Mostly they were cookbooks and decorating books. They were sprawled out all over my husband's side of the bed. I was up well past midnight and didn't have to worry about my husband wanting to go to sleep before I was done having my book party :-)

I spent a little time one day making this little shadowbox with some of my vintagey kitchen stuff. I did it right around the time I would normally be making dinner. So relaxing.

I wish I could tell you that I made this apron, but that would not be true. I did hang it up in the kitchen in the middle of playtime though.

One day I decided the living room could use a little attention after the holidays.

Played around in there for a while.

I have been talking about painting this room for a long time now. I even brought home several paint samples and painted a few poster boards. I'm planning on a shade of green, but so far haven't been thrilled with the selections. I considered going back to the paint store to try some others, but decided I wasn't up for that today. Instead I made a loaf of banana bread.

Then it was time to play with the mantle a bit. I ran out of black plate holders and had to use one gold one. Considered going to Michael's for some more black ones, but it was very windy here all day so I made a cup of tea instead.

It's still too early to do much in the garden so I have been giving my houseplants more attention. This lipstick plant is just starting to come into bloom.

One day I tended to these pots on my patio. Last fall I planted some Swiss Chard and pansies together. Anybody out there eat Swiss Chard? I hear it's very nutritious but I have never tasted it.

Now, don't get me wrong I do love my husband and am glad he doesn't have to travel too often. But every so often it is a nice break from the routine. Kind of like a mini vacation. Hmm . . . I wonder what I should do tonight?? Chick Flick Marathon?? A glass of wine and a bubble bath???

I guess I will have a few slices of banana bread and a cup of coffee while I ponder that big decision. Only a few more days until it's back to reality around here.