I hate this:

Last night I stopped at Joannes to hunt further for cow buttons for the baby sweater, but alas and alak, all they had were more boring plastic round ones, or silly cartoons.  No cows at all-  well actually what I wanted was a cow print on a plain button.  So, I bought the darn plain buttons and now will paint them to be cow-like.  Why do I get these dumb ideas that things I need are actually available? 

So, while I was there Nate called with a long involved story so I was wandering around because it was warmer in the store than out and I wanted to finish talking before standing in line.  Here's what I found (pardon the low res of my cell phone):

NO, I don't hate Irish people, beer or leprochans- I hate the fact that they are selling New Orleans beads, confetti, boas, and other various flotsam and jetsom in January like we have to stock up now for the festivities two months down the road. Maybe the corned beef is in the stores now, I haven't looked. I bet I can find one of those blow-up snow globes for the front yard too, if I was so inclined. Maybe line green lights around the roof overhang. Maybe green shamrock deely boppers for the dogs portrait. I am a decorations-curmudgeon!

Here are some of my rookery coming in for the night- most were against the sun so I couldn't take those pictures- just the stragglers. What a racket.

And finally, my latest portrait: