A Day With Alison (The First)

You may be familiar with my friend, Alison, of Bonney Lassie fame.  The first Alison in my life is my eldest niece who I don't get to see very often as we live a couple of thousand miles apart.  We're spending a week together, a gift to us both from her mother.  (Too bad it didn't come with a return receipt:)   Come join us for a little shopping fun!

We shopped the day away but didn't think of taking pictures until we hit Trader Joe's and I saw these fun offerings.

For those who wish they had a greenhouse - poof, your wish is granted. 

Kalanchoe delagoensis (Mother of Thousands) and Aeoniums.  Watch for a special Aeonium post soon!

We are both very fond of shopping and of stuff!

 I'll admit that I like nice-looking silk flower arrangements (saves a lot of watering and clean-up time) and realistic cacti and succulents can fit nicely into spaces where other plant life won't thrive.  This one, for example, would look great in the right context.

These make it hard to picture a flattering setting.  Oscar the Grouch has a place all picked out. 

Neither Alison nor I is fond of misused apostrophes.  Don't be dangling your participle around us either!

Having too often felt powerless, Alison is now armed with a defensive weapon. 

Looks like she needs to add a Sharpie to her arsenal!

To make matters worse, there wasn't a knife to be found in the box. 

On a lighter note (see what she, who's writing this over my shoulder, did there?)  This interactive hanging light fixture at Ikea blew our minds, what's left of them.  See the two spherical pulls dangling from the bottom?  Pull one and the exterior is a solid sphere, pull the other and the Death Star explodes. 

Serious lust!

I hope you have an equally entertaining day!