I play Damsel In Distress, and Martha Stewart in a day.

I had meant to spend the day yesterday working on the kitchen in Salem House. Eldest and I drove through the snow to get there, roads weren't great, but I wasn't expecting much more than flurries. We arrived at the house and proceeded to get to work shoveling the driveway. It is a short drive- lucky for us, but iced over, so it still took about 40 minutes. In that time the cleared area behind us was getting covered with snow again, and the flakes had saturated our heads, and found their way under my collar. I abandoned the idea of spending the day there as the snow continued in earnest.
So, I dropped Eldest at her dorm, and proceeded to head home. I was doing okay until I got behind some slow moving cars in the section of road Huz calls the "whoop de dos". They are thusly named because the road goes up and down and curves like a roller coaster (well, a pretty tame one anyway, this is Ohio).  I tried stopping at the top of a hill to give the cars in front some time to clear the next hill before I went down then up again, but cars behind meant I had to continue on. Sadly, about the third "whoop", my car, which had little traction to start the hill, lost most all it's purchase and we crept along by inches, wheels spinning wildly. But it soon became apparent that I was "going nowhere, fast" ( I finally understand exactly what that means), as I pushed the gas and moved not a bit. So, about 30 yards from the hill's crest, I put it in park. After a few minutes, folks started going around me. My main option was to push, or be pushed. But, this is minimally a two man job. Someone needs to push, someone needs to steer. I watched a blue pick up truck come over the crest of the hill towards my stationary vehicle and slide sideways for about way too far. But, he corrected before running into us. Yay. I got out of the car to attempt to recruit a likely pushing candidate, wishing I was looking more helpless. Paint-smeared coveralls and well worn muck boots don't scream "HELP ME" nearly as much as more lady-like fashion. And, no matter my fashion choice or my sex, I needed help. One lady rolled down her window as she passed and asked "Are you having trouble?" I thought that funny! And another two drivers thought honking at me to move would help. Also funny.
Eventually, a kind fellow offered to push. He was shortly joined by a mother and teen aged son who all joined in to get me pushed up the hill. Thank you, thank you, kind strangers. You paid it forward.
I also had an offer of help from a friend via telephone, but, frustratingly, my cell phone just for this period of time, decided to not accept button pushing, so as my supporter made the phone ring and ring, no mashing of buttons would allow me to answer. UGH. God is in all things.
Which brings me to the relief of finally getting back to Cowfeathers and watching the snow fall from the comfort of tea and the windows of a home.

With the wonder of unexpected time, I embarked on an experiment. The evening before had been our 4-H Club Chinese Auction. There was nearly 450 items available to win, including some really big, amazing things. Alas, I was the winner of but one lot. Two pressed glass, heavy bowl shaped candle holders. I appreciated their simplicity, and we do live in the pressed glass capital- Anchor Hocking country. So, I dug them out of the box of 4-H paperwork and decided to experiment with bake on enamel paint. I had picked some up on my last trip to the craft store, and then God (again, in all things, did not think I needed the paper shredder or the soft leather couch, or the enormous gas grill, or the garden cart or the..... ) thought to put these little candle holders in my hands, and brand new enamel paint with no home.

So, I selected the green apple color and proceeded to paint the inside of the candle holders. In between stages, I did a cross word, and read "Dear Abby". Above is one painted, and one pre-paint. After I was done with these, I like them so well, I delved into the pantry shelves to claim the array of cheap floral vases on hand and continue to play.
 I added royal blue and a happy yellow to my repertoire. Then I put them in the oven and baked the suckers. 

 Note that there are three green, three blue and one yellow. Odd numbers are more pleasing to the eye in groupings of things.

Now, I'm not sure where they will actually end up. I think they are most suited for display- up high, because the paint shows streaks when seen from above. But, they are dishwasher safe, if not food safe, so I think they can be given a chance with flowers again.
I see a handful of dianthus "pinks" in the petite yellow vase with their little spear-shaped curly blue leaves and cheerful pink faces, and a collection of generous, boozy peonies in the tall blue one. How about lilacs in the tall green? Or a strong-stalked purple globe of allium?
Could I be hankering for spring? The joy of warm feet and hands? Certainly plausible!