Ice pellets. That is what they are calling it.
Ben dropped in at noon, so I took him to see the chiropractor, and we shopped for a heavy coat---poor guy has a most practical mom for Christmas. He has lived on his own for almost two years now. He has an apartment about five miles west of us, and has a roommate, and two rescued kitties. But, this is a lean time in the solar panel business. And I'd rather buy stuff he needs or picks out so that he will wear it.
Bob had a much too exciting morning--but I will let him blog about that. I don't want to steal his thunder. But, when he prays about it over supper---it makes me giggle, and when I get started giggling, and trying to suppress the giggling, well, it turns into hysterical giggling. Very disrespectful during prayer. I hope God understands.
I did beat Bob at Scrabble. again. 282 to 279. It was close.
I just turned on the electric blanket, so our bed will be toasty.
I am thankful I do not live in Montana. They have the low temps for the whole nation. Minus 27
Isn't that colder than in Alaska?
Showing posts with label daily. Show all posts
Showing posts with label daily. Show all posts
Monday, December 15, 2008
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Today is Tuesday
While chopping on my hair this morning, I had the puppy cam up, and noticed that the puppies were being very naughty---they shredded the pee pads and scattered the mess all over their playpen area. Wow. They wore themselves out, and were still biting at the plastic underneath part and even choking occassionally. I wonder why the owners don't monitor them while they are at work? Then the owner came home for lunch about 1pm California time, and tripped and fell stepping over the sides of the pen, and hit the camera. But, after about an hour and a half, the owner had it all cleaned up, and back on. I also watched the NASA website. Turning urine into drinking water is just so hard to get excited about. But, the pictures from space are wonderful. And listening to them talk back and forth with the ground about where to stow stuff, and whatall to bring back is a hoot.
Since I had cooked so much yesterday testing recipes, it was easy to snack on nutritious stuff today. And Bob and I just finished the last of the blackberry cobbler after supper, and talking to James.
Clothes got folded, but there is still a dryer full needing hung up. And I knitted a few dishrags and a hotpad and got the box set up to mail my friend in Ennis as I had completed ones overflowing the shelf here. Soon as this box is full...I will put it in the mail.
I even called my neighbor one block over and told her about the puppy cam and the naughty puppies. She walked over with her grandson to see. Her little grandson is so cute. Three years old, and big brown eyes. I pulled out the Chevron cars for him to play with. Those are always a big hit.
Bob is home on vacation until Monday. Whoop. Five days at home !!!!! Wow
And my firstborn helped the grandchild call me this evening. I heard a little voice say, "mom?" "mom?" I was able to say, wow, are you riding in the car with Daddy? and are you going home to see mom?? I then heard, "car" and "mom" again. Too cute.
Andy said the ducks in Ohio were walking ON the lake. It dips below freezing there at night.
Since I had cooked so much yesterday testing recipes, it was easy to snack on nutritious stuff today. And Bob and I just finished the last of the blackberry cobbler after supper, and talking to James.
Clothes got folded, but there is still a dryer full needing hung up. And I knitted a few dishrags and a hotpad and got the box set up to mail my friend in Ennis as I had completed ones overflowing the shelf here. Soon as this box is full...I will put it in the mail.
I even called my neighbor one block over and told her about the puppy cam and the naughty puppies. She walked over with her grandson to see. Her little grandson is so cute. Three years old, and big brown eyes. I pulled out the Chevron cars for him to play with. Those are always a big hit.
Bob is home on vacation until Monday. Whoop. Five days at home !!!!! Wow
And my firstborn helped the grandchild call me this evening. I heard a little voice say, "mom?" "mom?" I was able to say, wow, are you riding in the car with Daddy? and are you going home to see mom?? I then heard, "car" and "mom" again. Too cute.
Andy said the ducks in Ohio were walking ON the lake. It dips below freezing there at night.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Bob won again. 325 to 277
Give that man some blanks and he can bingo twice in a row ! Yikes. I had to take the blanks away from him. He is just too dangerous with blank tiles. Whoa.
Yesterday, my adventure at Walmart will make me think twice about using their "site to store" service. I received the email saying part of my order was in and they would only hold it until December 9th. So, I printed out my email notification as instructed, and I even read the warning that you must sign for each item. Well, the "site to store" pick up area is way in the back behind the yarn, behind the shoes, way back by the bathrooms. And the employee break area must be back there, too. A parade of employees walked by, and most were looking for dates. I feel sorry for the women employees at this Walmart, as the male employees hit on them. Yikes.
I handed the clerk the printout, and she went to her computer screen and made it spit out the receipts. She handed me the receipts and asked me to sign. I assured her that I would be glad to sign when I was actually eye-balling the actual order. So, she stuffed the receipts under the printer, and went to look for the order. I should have taken advantage of the bench. I should have eaten lunch first. I should have brought my camera and practiced taking pictures. I had my yarn with me, but there is just something nasty listening to the toilets flush. It is just not the shopping ambiance I enjoy.
The order was in a big bag. Every item I had been notified about was there and so I dutifully signed five slips. The clerk could not find number six, but assured me that if I needed to bring something back, just bring my printout. Sure. She called for someone on her microphone to come change out the printer paper, but they couldn't get it to spit out more paper, either. I continued shopping for things on my list, and checked out with no problems.
The online Walmart shopping experience is convenient in that I found sizes the store is usually out of. But, it might be worth it to pay the extra 97 cents for delivery.
I regaled Bob with this boring Walmart story on the way back downtown to fetch his memory stick. Memory on a stick, is that not funny?? Bob worked downtown Fort Worth yesterday, and had forgotten his little memory stick, so we fetched it before it got to late. Who knew Fort Worth does suffer five o'clock traffic jams?? Who knew? Now we know. Bob said that seeing the pump truck parked by Ruth Chris was off putting. I agree. Any opportunity to bad-mouth Ruth Chris is a good day to me. Ruth Chris and Del Frisco are literally on the same block off Main Street in downtown Fort Worth, and their competing valet parking is a joke. I have never used valet parking in my life. And I am an old woman. But I have waited outside Bob's building many a time watching the valet folks literally drive the cars twenty feet to the curb and charge people $5 plus tips for that privilege. But, I digress... Outside Fort Worth, on the less pleasing east side, I noticed a store dedicated to "Romance". Their list of products promised to meet all your romance needs. Not a half mile away is a massuage business. I commented to Bob that the romance and massauge folks should combine resources for a one-stop romance convenience. There are all these industrial tile and rock shops along the east side. Great gas prices, but I think the bars on the windows swayed Bob in wanting to stop. When a passenger and not the driver, I had the opportunity to observe more. Bob drove down streets I would never venture in broad daylight. But, then, I am a chicken.
Bob watered the grass shoots last night. Our rye grass crop is doing well. The promise of months and months of winter green. Ah. Restful to the eyes.
Wow--that James has the brains for this Chemical Corps training. He said he made a 98 on a re-test on radiation. And a 100 on another test yesterday. Way to go, James!! Somebody keeps whispering that they won't need this information, but I hope when James finds out he did need to know something, that he comes back to these instructors and correct them. Between al qada and iran making bomb noises, there will be a need for the Chemical Corps. Just today, the Zawaheary terrorist called obama a bad name which the press will not accurately report because of pc, and obama has not even taken office yet. The enemy sees obama as weak. Yikes.
I did find a cone of beautiful copper and brown shades Peaches and Creme yarn at Walmart yesterday. And I have knitted two dishrags from it already. Certain colors just sing to me. And the cones are so much cheaper than the skeins. I have a thank-you bag of dishrags and hot pads all ready for our neighbor that gave us some cookie dough. Now to catch her at home in order to give it to her...
On this Wednesday, I am trying to remember the good pass scheduled for tonight at 6:18 pm---just as Bob is pulling into the drive, we need to look SSW for a pass of the space station and shuttle fly overhead. 84 degrees means right overhead. and minus 3.0 means very bright. Should be fun. Then church and the second half of the Expelled movie. Then Scrabble. What more??
Time to vacuum, and put some hang-up laundry away. And the birdfeeder needs refilled. This new feeder is indeed squirrel proof. And my new addiction to the live puppy website. (No, I don't want a puppy---I'd rather watch someone else pick up their poop) And cake wrecks oughta have a new post up now...
9:44am---wow, I just saw this email from James: 299 on his PT test. 300 is maximum, I think. I will email for clarification. Way to go, James !!! And in super cold temps, too. (super cold compared to what he is used to in Texas)
12:34pm after lunch. Wow--I sit down to write, and think I don't have anything to write about, and fill up a page. I read somewhere that to become a good writer, you just need to write. And to think I used to write letters to friends and relatives all over the country--and blather on and on, when this method is better---they can read if/when they want to.
The sheets are changed, the washer is humming, the puppies are barking (online) and Rush is going on about what conservatism means. And I worked on the hall closet. It is time to donate a bunch of Bob's old suits. Our boys are past needing them for plays or costumes. I moved some stuff to the other guest room closet so that we can access our coats easier.
And I got a notice that the other items are in at Walmart---so I can finish that order, and pick up some toothpaste for Bob.
I don't think these puppies--Shiba Inu, are a very calm breed. Their little bark can be quite shrill. They are so funny to see playing. They fight over toys, but sleep together in a heap.
10:53pm Bob and I almost tied. We played Scrabble, and I kept Bob from using the blanks, so I won with a final score of 219 - 218. I wonder if anyone has ever tied at Scrabble?? Then what happens?
Yesterday, my adventure at Walmart will make me think twice about using their "site to store" service. I received the email saying part of my order was in and they would only hold it until December 9th. So, I printed out my email notification as instructed, and I even read the warning that you must sign for each item. Well, the "site to store" pick up area is way in the back behind the yarn, behind the shoes, way back by the bathrooms. And the employee break area must be back there, too. A parade of employees walked by, and most were looking for dates. I feel sorry for the women employees at this Walmart, as the male employees hit on them. Yikes.
I handed the clerk the printout, and she went to her computer screen and made it spit out the receipts. She handed me the receipts and asked me to sign. I assured her that I would be glad to sign when I was actually eye-balling the actual order. So, she stuffed the receipts under the printer, and went to look for the order. I should have taken advantage of the bench. I should have eaten lunch first. I should have brought my camera and practiced taking pictures. I had my yarn with me, but there is just something nasty listening to the toilets flush. It is just not the shopping ambiance I enjoy.
The order was in a big bag. Every item I had been notified about was there and so I dutifully signed five slips. The clerk could not find number six, but assured me that if I needed to bring something back, just bring my printout. Sure. She called for someone on her microphone to come change out the printer paper, but they couldn't get it to spit out more paper, either. I continued shopping for things on my list, and checked out with no problems.
The online Walmart shopping experience is convenient in that I found sizes the store is usually out of. But, it might be worth it to pay the extra 97 cents for delivery.
I regaled Bob with this boring Walmart story on the way back downtown to fetch his memory stick. Memory on a stick, is that not funny?? Bob worked downtown Fort Worth yesterday, and had forgotten his little memory stick, so we fetched it before it got to late. Who knew Fort Worth does suffer five o'clock traffic jams?? Who knew? Now we know. Bob said that seeing the pump truck parked by Ruth Chris was off putting. I agree. Any opportunity to bad-mouth Ruth Chris is a good day to me. Ruth Chris and Del Frisco are literally on the same block off Main Street in downtown Fort Worth, and their competing valet parking is a joke. I have never used valet parking in my life. And I am an old woman. But I have waited outside Bob's building many a time watching the valet folks literally drive the cars twenty feet to the curb and charge people $5 plus tips for that privilege. But, I digress... Outside Fort Worth, on the less pleasing east side, I noticed a store dedicated to "Romance". Their list of products promised to meet all your romance needs. Not a half mile away is a massuage business. I commented to Bob that the romance and massauge folks should combine resources for a one-stop romance convenience. There are all these industrial tile and rock shops along the east side. Great gas prices, but I think the bars on the windows swayed Bob in wanting to stop. When a passenger and not the driver, I had the opportunity to observe more. Bob drove down streets I would never venture in broad daylight. But, then, I am a chicken.
Bob watered the grass shoots last night. Our rye grass crop is doing well. The promise of months and months of winter green. Ah. Restful to the eyes.
Wow--that James has the brains for this Chemical Corps training. He said he made a 98 on a re-test on radiation. And a 100 on another test yesterday. Way to go, James!! Somebody keeps whispering that they won't need this information, but I hope when James finds out he did need to know something, that he comes back to these instructors and correct them. Between al qada and iran making bomb noises, there will be a need for the Chemical Corps. Just today, the Zawaheary terrorist called obama a bad name which the press will not accurately report because of pc, and obama has not even taken office yet. The enemy sees obama as weak. Yikes.
I did find a cone of beautiful copper and brown shades Peaches and Creme yarn at Walmart yesterday. And I have knitted two dishrags from it already. Certain colors just sing to me. And the cones are so much cheaper than the skeins. I have a thank-you bag of dishrags and hot pads all ready for our neighbor that gave us some cookie dough. Now to catch her at home in order to give it to her...
On this Wednesday, I am trying to remember the good pass scheduled for tonight at 6:18 pm---just as Bob is pulling into the drive, we need to look SSW for a pass of the space station and shuttle fly overhead. 84 degrees means right overhead. and minus 3.0 means very bright. Should be fun. Then church and the second half of the Expelled movie. Then Scrabble. What more??
Time to vacuum, and put some hang-up laundry away. And the birdfeeder needs refilled. This new feeder is indeed squirrel proof. And my new addiction to the live puppy website. (No, I don't want a puppy---I'd rather watch someone else pick up their poop) And cake wrecks oughta have a new post up now...
9:44am---wow, I just saw this email from James: 299 on his PT test. 300 is maximum, I think. I will email for clarification. Way to go, James !!! And in super cold temps, too. (super cold compared to what he is used to in Texas)
12:34pm after lunch. Wow--I sit down to write, and think I don't have anything to write about, and fill up a page. I read somewhere that to become a good writer, you just need to write. And to think I used to write letters to friends and relatives all over the country--and blather on and on, when this method is better---they can read if/when they want to.
The sheets are changed, the washer is humming, the puppies are barking (online) and Rush is going on about what conservatism means. And I worked on the hall closet. It is time to donate a bunch of Bob's old suits. Our boys are past needing them for plays or costumes. I moved some stuff to the other guest room closet so that we can access our coats easier.
And I got a notice that the other items are in at Walmart---so I can finish that order, and pick up some toothpaste for Bob.
I don't think these puppies--Shiba Inu, are a very calm breed. Their little bark can be quite shrill. They are so funny to see playing. They fight over toys, but sleep together in a heap.
10:53pm Bob and I almost tied. We played Scrabble, and I kept Bob from using the blanks, so I won with a final score of 219 - 218. I wonder if anyone has ever tied at Scrabble?? Then what happens?
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Saturday Stuff
Here we are, sitting around reading blogs. Bob is working on his Sunday School lesson for tomorrow. We have watched the NASA highlights, and talked to our daughter-in-law in Ohio, and our Army son in Missouri. Our Air Force son has had a funeral every day this week. And looking at the weather websites, I bet today's funeral includes rain. Snow "bursts" for the Army son in Missouri today. What, praytell, is a snow burst?
It was so cute to hear our daughter-in-law talk about keeping the grandchild coloring on the paper. Every few sentences would be interrupted by, No, ____ color on the paper. Like paper training. All the world is your canvas. And she said that washable crayons come off walls, and the couch, but clothes, not so much. What fun.
Cool and windy here. We have opened the south window just to listen to the breezes, and the birdies sing at the birdfeeder. Our backyard is such a pretty green. We are so thankful for the rain of a couple of days ago. Spaced just right to give us a green backyard until January.
Breakfasted upon fried eggs, muffins, and coffee.
I am knitting a pink and grey pot holder/hot pad for a sweet neighbor that gave us some cookie dough last night. Here I was, just walking to the mailbox, and she handed me a bag of frozen cookie dough medallions. So, I am making up a gift bag of knitted dishcloths and hot pads as a thankyou.
More later...
Should be a good ISS pass on Monday night at 7pm if the weather stays clear.
LATER: Wow. Great movie over at Mudville, called, KHARTOUM, with Charlton Heston, made back in 1966. Helps look at where with are today with osoma. Wow. Thank you, Mudville for linking to this fantastic movie. Wish they had played that in my high school history classes. I found a book the Christian General wrote: http://books.google.com/books?id=6TBHAAAAIAAJ&dq=1883+Gordon&printsec=frontcover&source=bl&ots=FtFkMv0NU9&sig=-8dRkbApqCAbXTWqfJqFPt4ARgk&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=5&ct=result#PPA43,M1
Amazing stuff. How come I never heard of General Charles George Gordon (1833-85) ??
He was my age when he died trying to help the people of Khartoum. And I read online that the people of England mourned his death in a big way. Names things after him, and honored his memory. Amazing.
Army son in Missouri saw his first snow, and Air Force son said he saw/is experiencing sleet wherever he is in the five state area near Ohio today.
It was so cute to hear our daughter-in-law talk about keeping the grandchild coloring on the paper. Every few sentences would be interrupted by, No, ____ color on the paper. Like paper training. All the world is your canvas. And she said that washable crayons come off walls, and the couch, but clothes, not so much. What fun.
Cool and windy here. We have opened the south window just to listen to the breezes, and the birdies sing at the birdfeeder. Our backyard is such a pretty green. We are so thankful for the rain of a couple of days ago. Spaced just right to give us a green backyard until January.
Breakfasted upon fried eggs, muffins, and coffee.
I am knitting a pink and grey pot holder/hot pad for a sweet neighbor that gave us some cookie dough last night. Here I was, just walking to the mailbox, and she handed me a bag of frozen cookie dough medallions. So, I am making up a gift bag of knitted dishcloths and hot pads as a thankyou.
More later...
Should be a good ISS pass on Monday night at 7pm if the weather stays clear.
LATER: Wow. Great movie over at Mudville, called, KHARTOUM, with Charlton Heston, made back in 1966. Helps look at where with are today with osoma. Wow. Thank you, Mudville for linking to this fantastic movie. Wish they had played that in my high school history classes. I found a book the Christian General wrote: http://books.google.com/books?id=6TBHAAAAIAAJ&dq=1883+Gordon&printsec=frontcover&source=bl&ots=FtFkMv0NU9&sig=-8dRkbApqCAbXTWqfJqFPt4ARgk&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=5&ct=result#PPA43,M1
Amazing stuff. How come I never heard of General Charles George Gordon (1833-85) ??
He was my age when he died trying to help the people of Khartoum. And I read online that the people of England mourned his death in a big way. Names things after him, and honored his memory. Amazing.
Army son in Missouri saw his first snow, and Air Force son said he saw/is experiencing sleet wherever he is in the five state area near Ohio today.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
330 to 271 I won !
This has been your daily Scrabble report. Mom beat Dad, 330 to 271. Poor Dad drew bad, bad hands. I ended up with five "I"s.
How was my day, you ask? I got up early to the smell of coffee brewing because I remembered to set the coffee maker on auto start last night. Bob worked in Fort Worth today, so he did not have to go so early. I headed to Walmart and got some grocery shopping done. Bob asked me to pick up some more rye grass seed. I walked into the garden department at Walmart first thing. Their garden center is quickly turning into Christmas central. But, Bob told me where he found the grass seed a few weeks ago, so I headed there, but no seed. Lots of fertilizer left. And a worker pushing a grocery cart of bags he had taken off the shelves...so I wandered over to him and asked where the seed was. He told me to my face that they were out. Did not have any. I pointed to the seed bags in his cart, and said, I want those two. He reluctantly pulled them out. To. My. Face. Amazing. Thankfully, I had watched my four year old nephew yesterday, so it was fresh in my mind how four year olds say, "no" to save time.
Armed with victuals, I headed home, ate breakfast, put groceries away, and later Bob called home saying he needed something from home, and so I made him lunch. Bertolli bag and a bag of frozen corn. It is so rare for him to come home for lunch. Armed with quarters, he went back to downtown Fort Worth.
Boring enough yet? It was a beautiful day. Leaves falling at a steady rate. Kinda overcast until later when the sun came out and fluffy clouds drifted slowly by. I got a dishrag knitted watching Brietbart TV. They featured a most disturbing story about a church in Lansing, Michigan targeted by criminals last Sunday who disrupted their Sunday morning service chanting, yelling, pulling the fire alarm, making out on the stage in front of the shocked pastor. Sadly, former members or members children raised there that knew the layout, and how to get to the upper level to release a banner. It is a crime to pull a fire alarm, isn't it??
What would our church do if attacked? How do your drown out deviants? How do you fight back? I noticed the same symbols used by criminals during the holocaust. They can't come up with anything original. Have we learned nothing from history?
Catering to the teens and being afraid to harm their self-esteem hasn't worked out so well, has it. Wonder where the criminals got the money for banners, outfits, megaphones, glitter...some school that uses the word, "like" a lot. Such tolerance. not.
Time to open the Bible and read the book of Romans again.
How was my day, you ask? I got up early to the smell of coffee brewing because I remembered to set the coffee maker on auto start last night. Bob worked in Fort Worth today, so he did not have to go so early. I headed to Walmart and got some grocery shopping done. Bob asked me to pick up some more rye grass seed. I walked into the garden department at Walmart first thing. Their garden center is quickly turning into Christmas central. But, Bob told me where he found the grass seed a few weeks ago, so I headed there, but no seed. Lots of fertilizer left. And a worker pushing a grocery cart of bags he had taken off the shelves...so I wandered over to him and asked where the seed was. He told me to my face that they were out. Did not have any. I pointed to the seed bags in his cart, and said, I want those two. He reluctantly pulled them out. To. My. Face. Amazing. Thankfully, I had watched my four year old nephew yesterday, so it was fresh in my mind how four year olds say, "no" to save time.
Armed with victuals, I headed home, ate breakfast, put groceries away, and later Bob called home saying he needed something from home, and so I made him lunch. Bertolli bag and a bag of frozen corn. It is so rare for him to come home for lunch. Armed with quarters, he went back to downtown Fort Worth.
Boring enough yet? It was a beautiful day. Leaves falling at a steady rate. Kinda overcast until later when the sun came out and fluffy clouds drifted slowly by. I got a dishrag knitted watching Brietbart TV. They featured a most disturbing story about a church in Lansing, Michigan targeted by criminals last Sunday who disrupted their Sunday morning service chanting, yelling, pulling the fire alarm, making out on the stage in front of the shocked pastor. Sadly, former members or members children raised there that knew the layout, and how to get to the upper level to release a banner. It is a crime to pull a fire alarm, isn't it??
What would our church do if attacked? How do your drown out deviants? How do you fight back? I noticed the same symbols used by criminals during the holocaust. They can't come up with anything original. Have we learned nothing from history?
Catering to the teens and being afraid to harm their self-esteem hasn't worked out so well, has it. Wonder where the criminals got the money for banners, outfits, megaphones, glitter...some school that uses the word, "like" a lot. Such tolerance. not.
Time to open the Bible and read the book of Romans again.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Now I am hearing things
Maybe it was a conversation in a dream. Maybe it was Bob's gentle snoring. And I do have very vivid, active, wear-me-out dreams...but I awoke this morning to one of the boys calling, "Mom". Sounded like James when he would come home late and wake me up to let me know he was home okay. But, it was tempting to call around and see if everyone was okay. As I pondered which one it might be, I realized I would not be falling back to sleep, and best to get up and make the coffee. So I did.
And I had been putting off window cleaning for days now. It was time. Assembling the tools, and the taking down the south window heavy black drape we use to block light for computer screen viewing, I slipped the huge black velvety cloth into the washer and set it going. I don't know if it was heavier with dust or cat hair. It did not seem hot enough to need a sweatband, but soon sweat was dripping down my nose. So, on with the sweatband, and that headband is proof I can knit something other than dishrags.
Even after a good scrub, there is a fine paint spray on the windows that I will have to leave for him who can use the razor tool thingy. But, it was good to take down the screens and give them a good brushing, and it was amazing how dusty they were. Spiders like to leave their little white cotton-ball-type nests. It is not a perfect job, but I did my best. And they sure look better. By the time I was done, the washer and then dryer had the huge black drape ready to rehang. Looks nice all dust and cat hair free. Sallycat wanted to jump up into that window and check out the yard and re-install her hairs on it, but I discouraged her for today. There are other windows in the house she can do her patrol work from. Wow---if the blue star two star flag was not hanging in the kitchen window, I would think there was no glass. Hum...analogy there---God scrubs us so clean that we can show more of His Son??
WBAP here at 2pm is warning of a "frost advisory" tonight again. Wow. Is frost dangerous? Slippery on grass, but unless you have tropical plants like a banana tree or something growing in your garden, what other dangers doth a frost bringeth?
I see painting in our future this weekend. In the bright, bright sunlight of midday, Bob will spot the places that need more covering with the new paint. There are a few spots out front, on the wall on on the facia, and a few spots in the back of the house. I was tempted to glue up the stars on the front of the house, but they would be in the way just yet of painting.
Beautiful weather here in Texas. We close the windows at night, and our house stays at a comfortable seventy degrees. Then, I open them mid-morning, and it feels great in here. Our back wall is brick, and gets full sun from the south and heats up all day, and will possibly make us close up and turn on the AC this evening, but maybe not.
I got so tickled yesterday reading a new military blog called, Embrace the Suck. This guy is headed on his first deployment, I think, and he writes beautifully. But, he also writes honestly, and tells all. Even less than flattering things, and life in a barracks of guys can get crude, but he ends each posting knowing his mom is probably reading this with, "I love you mom". Sounds like something my boys would do, too.
And I had been putting off window cleaning for days now. It was time. Assembling the tools, and the taking down the south window heavy black drape we use to block light for computer screen viewing, I slipped the huge black velvety cloth into the washer and set it going. I don't know if it was heavier with dust or cat hair. It did not seem hot enough to need a sweatband, but soon sweat was dripping down my nose. So, on with the sweatband, and that headband is proof I can knit something other than dishrags.
Even after a good scrub, there is a fine paint spray on the windows that I will have to leave for him who can use the razor tool thingy. But, it was good to take down the screens and give them a good brushing, and it was amazing how dusty they were. Spiders like to leave their little white cotton-ball-type nests. It is not a perfect job, but I did my best. And they sure look better. By the time I was done, the washer and then dryer had the huge black drape ready to rehang. Looks nice all dust and cat hair free. Sallycat wanted to jump up into that window and check out the yard and re-install her hairs on it, but I discouraged her for today. There are other windows in the house she can do her patrol work from. Wow---if the blue star two star flag was not hanging in the kitchen window, I would think there was no glass. Hum...analogy there---God scrubs us so clean that we can show more of His Son??
WBAP here at 2pm is warning of a "frost advisory" tonight again. Wow. Is frost dangerous? Slippery on grass, but unless you have tropical plants like a banana tree or something growing in your garden, what other dangers doth a frost bringeth?
I see painting in our future this weekend. In the bright, bright sunlight of midday, Bob will spot the places that need more covering with the new paint. There are a few spots out front, on the wall on on the facia, and a few spots in the back of the house. I was tempted to glue up the stars on the front of the house, but they would be in the way just yet of painting.
Beautiful weather here in Texas. We close the windows at night, and our house stays at a comfortable seventy degrees. Then, I open them mid-morning, and it feels great in here. Our back wall is brick, and gets full sun from the south and heats up all day, and will possibly make us close up and turn on the AC this evening, but maybe not.
I got so tickled yesterday reading a new military blog called, Embrace the Suck. This guy is headed on his first deployment, I think, and he writes beautifully. But, he also writes honestly, and tells all. Even less than flattering things, and life in a barracks of guys can get crude, but he ends each posting knowing his mom is probably reading this with, "I love you mom". Sounds like something my boys would do, too.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Cold Front
We made it onto the wind chill map again. And actually had to close windows, as a cold front blew through. We even got a few sprinkles of rain, and are thankful, as our yard needs watering. This morning, as the front approached from the west, the radio helicopter lady, Laura Houston, reported seeing a beautiful rainbow.
And our vanity license plate story made the vanity plate site. Now we are famous. It is a cute story about James, our middle son. And a way to honor Mrs. Farnsworth. I'll never forget seeing her at Kroger one day when the boys were a little older, and it bothered them to see their teacher at a grocery store. They were only used to seeing her at school. I don't think it occurred to them that she had a life.
And our vanity license plate story made the vanity plate site. Now we are famous. It is a cute story about James, our middle son. And a way to honor Mrs. Farnsworth. I'll never forget seeing her at Kroger one day when the boys were a little older, and it bothered them to see their teacher at a grocery store. They were only used to seeing her at school. I don't think it occurred to them that she had a life.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
The Monarch Butterflies are Migrating
Light rain most of the day. Now we are on the backside of the front and the Monarch butterflies are using the north wind to trek south. It is not unusual to see one or two these days, but on my trip to the mailbox, there were one or two every six feet. Like floating flowers. Windows open. AC off. at 5pm---usually our AC is on at this time of day !
The weather has been so strange, with the country truly divided: hot in the east, and cold in the west. The rain seemed to track from west Texas all the way to Canada but it got closer to the DFW area today and we got some much needed rain. Whew. The weeds out front pulled out so much easier being rain soaked. But, I did not even make a dent in them. We have levels of rocks that have not been weeded all summer. Stickers abound. I gave the purple Lantana breathing space. Sallycat wandered out and fussed at me. Didn't I realize it was sprinkling??
We will not blog about Bob locking his keys in his car at the train station. Because I will need rescued another day. I will say that the air filter inside the car was almost overwhelmed on that drive to the train station. I saw a new gas well, and stakes in preparation for widening the road called Greenbelt that winds through the bottom lands over the Trinity River. Wow. With more traffic going to the train station, and people using other roads to get to the airport, that two lane road has needed widening for years. It was no fun driving to downtown Dallas to give Bob his keys because of the rain. Rain on a heavily traveled freeway is dangerous. Parts of I-30 are under construction for the Dallas Cowboy Temple being built in Arlington, and the lanes are thin. It is terrifying to be caught between two huge semi-trucks, and in a rain cloud and the lanes curve, and you cannot see a thing. Lanes come and go, and people change lanes without looking. Yikes. Even a light rain is rolled up like a curtain, dirty and bouncing off trucks and tires. It was like driving in a car wash. The windshield wipers could not keep up. You'd think in such conditions that folks would slow down. You'd think.
I'm going to go count butterflies.
Update: For ten minutes, I counted, and over 200 Monarch Butterflies flitted by. Some float like falling oak leaves. Some pump their wings as if that will make them sail faster. When they get too close to each other, they circle and whirl in a dance, as if saying:
"Madge, is that you?? Oh, Madge, could you believe that freeway? I almost got sucked in, Madge."
"Betsy, Betsy, where are we going? Does anyone know?"
"No, dear, probably Mexico. It doesn't matter that we know. We just go." "Try to keep up, dear."
"I wonder how Sam did as he flew right over DFW and the planes are landing to the north." "These oak trees are pretty." "They sure are tall."
"Look out for that cat---a tiger in the long grass over there---don't dip too low."
"Look at that silly lady knitting in the lawn chair. Did you see her, Henry?"
"She had better close her mouth when looking up, as a flock of grackles are headed this way."
"Why don't the birds eat us, Francis?"
"Because God made us taste nasty to them, Sweetie."
"Oh."
"How do they find out?"
"Each bird probably has to find out the hard way; its best not to think about it."
The weather has been so strange, with the country truly divided: hot in the east, and cold in the west. The rain seemed to track from west Texas all the way to Canada but it got closer to the DFW area today and we got some much needed rain. Whew. The weeds out front pulled out so much easier being rain soaked. But, I did not even make a dent in them. We have levels of rocks that have not been weeded all summer. Stickers abound. I gave the purple Lantana breathing space. Sallycat wandered out and fussed at me. Didn't I realize it was sprinkling??
I'm going to go count butterflies.
Update: For ten minutes, I counted, and over 200 Monarch Butterflies flitted by. Some float like falling oak leaves. Some pump their wings as if that will make them sail faster. When they get too close to each other, they circle and whirl in a dance, as if saying:
"Madge, is that you?? Oh, Madge, could you believe that freeway? I almost got sucked in, Madge."
"Betsy, Betsy, where are we going? Does anyone know?"
"No, dear, probably Mexico. It doesn't matter that we know. We just go." "Try to keep up, dear."
"I wonder how Sam did as he flew right over DFW and the planes are landing to the north." "These oak trees are pretty." "They sure are tall."
"Look out for that cat---a tiger in the long grass over there---don't dip too low."
"Look at that silly lady knitting in the lawn chair. Did you see her, Henry?"
"She had better close her mouth when looking up, as a flock of grackles are headed this way."
"Why don't the birds eat us, Francis?"
"Because God made us taste nasty to them, Sweetie."
"Oh."
"How do they find out?"
"Each bird probably has to find out the hard way; its best not to think about it."
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Cleaning the Oven
It is time to clean the oven when every time I cook, the oven smokes.
It is time to clean the oven when it is cool enough outside to open the windows.
We have a "self-cleaning" oven. It is wonderful. I don't use the oven much in the summer as it seems silly to run the AC and the oven. And the AC runs here in Texas at least six months out of the year. Our self cleaning oven comes with a locking mechanism, and three dials that must be set just so to make it go. It pumps smoke out into the kitchen as it burns off the grease, grime and spills. And one of my muffin expressions overflowed, so there is muffin poop on the bottom of the oven.
With the windows open, and the fan set up blowing to the north having checked the weather websites to see which way the wind is blowing, the oven is working away. My eyes are smarting. But, most of the smoking seems over.
Sallycat, however, is not convinced. She meowed to get out. She meowed to get back in, but then took one sniff, and stayed out. She is meowing at me now as if fussing at me for staying inside. I may pull the white plastic couch out front and watch the dawn. The birdies are starting to sing, and the sky has that inky-purple color.
I remember back in my Mother's Day, before the invention of self-cleaning ovens, you had to buy this nasty toxic stuff in a can, spray it on the walls of the oven, and scrub away. It was best to wear rubber gloves and not breathe. I remember that sometimes, it took two cans to get the oven clean.
I'll never forget one cold, winter day when I decided the oven just needed to be cleaned and could not wait until another day. I needed my head examined. We opened windows, and the smoke was still so bad that we had to go outside, and wouldn't you know it, but these people show up at our front door for a visit. They had kids our kids age, but it was not a pleasant visit. Those people moved to Clear Lake, so we have not seen them in years. I wonder if they thought we started cleaning the oven when they showed up just to get rid of them. It made it memorable.
I have been drooling over the weather maps. There is this cold side of the country just a few miles to the west of us. Wow. And rain, just out of reach headed the other direction. It is colder in Dalhart, Wichita Falls, and Sweetwater than here. Talk about a divided country. Envy is a sin. Our six months of cooler weather is coming.
And we are suppose to be memorizing Psalm 117 this week: Praise the Lord all nations; laud Him all peoples! For His lovingkindness is great towards us, and the truth of the Lord is everlasting. (some translations say, "tower over us" instead of "great towards us") I had to look up "laud", too. Applaud? Only God can give us the spirit of thanksgiving and praise. Anything I try to do on my own and in my own power is pitiful, and suspect. I marvel that God even gives us the ability to learn about Him and that He goes to a lot of bother to get through to us, don't you?
Update: The thermometer on a stick says the oven is pumping out 180 degrees out the vent. Wow. No wonder I am sweating. It is seventy degrees outside, and I have the fans going, but the inside thermostat says its 78 degrees in here. I should have waited until a much cooler day to do this. Oh, well. One more hour oughta do it.
Sallycat stuck her nose in and went right back out when I was putting clothes in the dryer in the garage. She is a smart cat. Smarter than me.
Uh-oh. I had a thought. Look out. How about a Texas version of Psalm 117?? Is that blasphemous? Here goes:
Praise the Lord, y'all. Yes, all y'all. Because His lovingkindness towers over us and His Truth is forever.
I don't know. What is the Texas word for lovingkindness? watchcare? supervision? or, in Texican, would God say, "don't make me come down there!" That would be the t-shirt version. But, He is already HERE. He sees everything. He is as close as a sigh. And He knows your are gonna sigh from eternity past. Abraham's Friend. King David's Strong Arm. Solomon's Wisdom.
Creator. And I just love that story of how God uses pirates to protect His Special People, Israel. There is this ship from Iran loaded with radioactive material and explosives that Somali pirates captured. Blogger Blackfive wrote about it. The pirates hair started coming out. The pirates started suffering radiation symptoms.
Go to Blackfive.net and scroll down to read it yourself. He also links to the story at another site at stop the aclu.
9:30am update: I survived. It got up to eighty degrees inside the house. And the oven pumped out 185 degree hot air for an hour. But, it is coming down now. I sat outside for a while as it was cooler out there than in here. Sallycat is trying to escape the neighbors overly friendly cats. She is too smart to come back inside just yet. And I saw her eating grass--so I wonder if that lunchmeat Bob gave her is causing a tummy upset.
Lunch with my friend, Mary today. We plan on going to Chick-fill-you-up. Good salads. I will pick her up at noon. Doesn't my life put you to sleep? Boring enough? If they are giving a boring prize, I'd win. I think that is why Ben moved out almost two years ago. We were just too boring.
It is time to clean the oven when it is cool enough outside to open the windows.
We have a "self-cleaning" oven. It is wonderful. I don't use the oven much in the summer as it seems silly to run the AC and the oven. And the AC runs here in Texas at least six months out of the year. Our self cleaning oven comes with a locking mechanism, and three dials that must be set just so to make it go. It pumps smoke out into the kitchen as it burns off the grease, grime and spills. And one of my muffin expressions overflowed, so there is muffin poop on the bottom of the oven.
With the windows open, and the fan set up blowing to the north having checked the weather websites to see which way the wind is blowing, the oven is working away. My eyes are smarting. But, most of the smoking seems over.
Sallycat, however, is not convinced. She meowed to get out. She meowed to get back in, but then took one sniff, and stayed out. She is meowing at me now as if fussing at me for staying inside. I may pull the white plastic couch out front and watch the dawn. The birdies are starting to sing, and the sky has that inky-purple color.
I remember back in my Mother's Day, before the invention of self-cleaning ovens, you had to buy this nasty toxic stuff in a can, spray it on the walls of the oven, and scrub away. It was best to wear rubber gloves and not breathe. I remember that sometimes, it took two cans to get the oven clean.
I'll never forget one cold, winter day when I decided the oven just needed to be cleaned and could not wait until another day. I needed my head examined. We opened windows, and the smoke was still so bad that we had to go outside, and wouldn't you know it, but these people show up at our front door for a visit. They had kids our kids age, but it was not a pleasant visit. Those people moved to Clear Lake, so we have not seen them in years. I wonder if they thought we started cleaning the oven when they showed up just to get rid of them. It made it memorable.
I have been drooling over the weather maps. There is this cold side of the country just a few miles to the west of us. Wow. And rain, just out of reach headed the other direction. It is colder in Dalhart, Wichita Falls, and Sweetwater than here. Talk about a divided country. Envy is a sin. Our six months of cooler weather is coming.
And we are suppose to be memorizing Psalm 117 this week: Praise the Lord all nations; laud Him all peoples! For His lovingkindness is great towards us, and the truth of the Lord is everlasting. (some translations say, "tower over us" instead of "great towards us") I had to look up "laud", too. Applaud? Only God can give us the spirit of thanksgiving and praise. Anything I try to do on my own and in my own power is pitiful, and suspect. I marvel that God even gives us the ability to learn about Him and that He goes to a lot of bother to get through to us, don't you?
Update: The thermometer on a stick says the oven is pumping out 180 degrees out the vent. Wow. No wonder I am sweating. It is seventy degrees outside, and I have the fans going, but the inside thermostat says its 78 degrees in here. I should have waited until a much cooler day to do this. Oh, well. One more hour oughta do it.
Sallycat stuck her nose in and went right back out when I was putting clothes in the dryer in the garage. She is a smart cat. Smarter than me.
Uh-oh. I had a thought. Look out. How about a Texas version of Psalm 117?? Is that blasphemous? Here goes:
Praise the Lord, y'all. Yes, all y'all. Because His lovingkindness towers over us and His Truth is forever.
I don't know. What is the Texas word for lovingkindness? watchcare? supervision? or, in Texican, would God say, "don't make me come down there!" That would be the t-shirt version. But, He is already HERE. He sees everything. He is as close as a sigh. And He knows your are gonna sigh from eternity past. Abraham's Friend. King David's Strong Arm. Solomon's Wisdom.
Creator. And I just love that story of how God uses pirates to protect His Special People, Israel. There is this ship from Iran loaded with radioactive material and explosives that Somali pirates captured. Blogger Blackfive wrote about it. The pirates hair started coming out. The pirates started suffering radiation symptoms.
Go to Blackfive.net and scroll down to read it yourself. He also links to the story at another site at stop the aclu.
9:30am update: I survived. It got up to eighty degrees inside the house. And the oven pumped out 185 degree hot air for an hour. But, it is coming down now. I sat outside for a while as it was cooler out there than in here. Sallycat is trying to escape the neighbors overly friendly cats. She is too smart to come back inside just yet. And I saw her eating grass--so I wonder if that lunchmeat Bob gave her is causing a tummy upset.
Lunch with my friend, Mary today. We plan on going to Chick-fill-you-up. Good salads. I will pick her up at noon. Doesn't my life put you to sleep? Boring enough? If they are giving a boring prize, I'd win. I think that is why Ben moved out almost two years ago. We were just too boring.
Monday, October 13, 2008
362-242 I won !!!
Bob recited the day ritual for James:
He gets on a train, and goes to work, and at 4:50pm, he calls me and says he is headed home. He walks in the door at 6:10pm and I have a hot meal ready and waiting. Then we play Scrabble. And James calls. And I knitted a dishrag while we played Scrabble.
Since I gave a box-of-dishrags to a friend at church Sunday morning, I knitted one for my sink, and five more to give away to someone.
I don't want to forget Bob smooching me on the back of my neck while I was making coffee this morning. I have been thinking about that all day.
Thirty-one years ago we met, and started writing letters to each other, and a Scrabble board was one of our first purchases as a married couple. We did not play much when the boys were little. But, now we try to play each day. And every once in a while, I win ! Bob lets me have as many letters as I want. I can make big words. And there are funny two letter words we use a lot to build other words. Tonight, I wondered, what does OE mean?? (a whirlwind off the Faeroe islands)
He gets on a train, and goes to work, and at 4:50pm, he calls me and says he is headed home. He walks in the door at 6:10pm and I have a hot meal ready and waiting. Then we play Scrabble. And James calls. And I knitted a dishrag while we played Scrabble.
Since I gave a box-of-dishrags to a friend at church Sunday morning, I knitted one for my sink, and five more to give away to someone.
I don't want to forget Bob smooching me on the back of my neck while I was making coffee this morning. I have been thinking about that all day.
Thirty-one years ago we met, and started writing letters to each other, and a Scrabble board was one of our first purchases as a married couple. We did not play much when the boys were little. But, now we try to play each day. And every once in a while, I win ! Bob lets me have as many letters as I want. I can make big words. And there are funny two letter words we use a lot to build other words. Tonight, I wondered, what does OE mean?? (a whirlwind off the Faeroe islands)
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Saturday Morning
A day we can usually sleep in, but I got up early because my back was hurting. Reading blogs. Improving my mind. I watched Brietbart TV yesterday afternoon, but showed it to Bob yesterday evening, as Scott did a good show all by himself. Liz was sick with a cold. I knitted a dishrag for a lady at church while we watched it on the computer. I have a whole box for this dear lady at church. She can have them all--over a dozen I have done up for her, to keep or choose a color she likes.
Ben dropped in yesterday afternoon. It was so good to see him. He seemed to have a little better attitude about work, but sees the company folding. Ben says he wants to do the solar panels right but, his boss does not see the need to protect them from a freeze. On the one hand, Ben seems glad to have learned the solar trade, but cynical on the other hand, as it takes years for a system to pay for itself, and maintenance is expensive. Ben told me about giving a Christian a hard time at the coffee shop. And saving a baby bunny story where he gets a lady's phone number. Ben remembered a CS Lewis book Bob had read them, and asked for the title so that he could pass it on to his Christian friend. Little does Ben know that its an answer to prayer to see God bring Christians into his life. I had to restrain myself from a happy dance right then and there. Ben turns 21 in seventeen days. He said he wants a vacuum for his birthday. I told him how much I am enjoying my Walmart one. And I hope he lets us take him out to eat.
James called, and has Monday off for Columbus day, and gets to be Platoon Leader next week. And he cooked himself a steak for supper and had a salad. I wonder what he is eating in the bread/grains department. Maybe cereal for breakfast? And from the fruit group?? When Ben moved into his own apartment, almost two years ago, he figured stuff out, and learned a lot of lessons the hard way. With James, we are enjoying all his adventures in learning to cook, do laundry, and I think we were on speaker phone when he washed his first dish. I told him I needed to put the date in his baby book, but he said I did not have one. I guess he has checked the shelves. He does not know that I have a lifetime of baby book memories in my head. And a whole box of journals of when he was a toddler... I am amazed how different each of my boys are. And our experiences with each of them have been so different.
Andy flew the nest first. Andy went away to college, and there was the band experience from sixth grade through college. Andy woo-ed his future wife that senior year of college, and graduated and got married and entered the military all in one month. That whirlwind month of May 2005. They figured stuff out on their own. We were not a part of Andy's day-to-day military experiences. We did not even know what to ask. Nowadays, we are blessed with calls from the wonderful toddler grandbaby. And wish we lived closer so that grandbaby could know us. And I am so thankful Andy is enjoying being a hands on dad.
Ben was and is Mr. Independent. And enjoys working with his hands. We are hoping he is interested in plumbing school and getting his license, as we know he'd be good at it. He has two black kitties he rescued, and is enjoying. He said that one of them head-bumped him awake yesterday morning wanting to be petted. He has built them climbing apparatus and regales us with their adventures. He says no burger is safe around them.
These cool Texas mornings are wonderful. It will get up into the eighties this afternoon, but we can enjoy the windows open for a while. Sallycat is pestering Bob to be petted as he tries to work at his laptop. Sallycat will walk through the Scrabble board. And across the laptop, or in front of the computer screen. She will then jump down another way, but the only path up is through. And she likes her Greenies in the morning.
A lazy Saturday---time for a bath to stretch out those back muscles, and a walk, for exercise. The sky is a pretty baby pink and baby blue this morning.
Ben dropped in yesterday afternoon. It was so good to see him. He seemed to have a little better attitude about work, but sees the company folding. Ben says he wants to do the solar panels right but, his boss does not see the need to protect them from a freeze. On the one hand, Ben seems glad to have learned the solar trade, but cynical on the other hand, as it takes years for a system to pay for itself, and maintenance is expensive. Ben told me about giving a Christian a hard time at the coffee shop. And saving a baby bunny story where he gets a lady's phone number. Ben remembered a CS Lewis book Bob had read them, and asked for the title so that he could pass it on to his Christian friend. Little does Ben know that its an answer to prayer to see God bring Christians into his life. I had to restrain myself from a happy dance right then and there. Ben turns 21 in seventeen days. He said he wants a vacuum for his birthday. I told him how much I am enjoying my Walmart one. And I hope he lets us take him out to eat.
James called, and has Monday off for Columbus day, and gets to be Platoon Leader next week. And he cooked himself a steak for supper and had a salad. I wonder what he is eating in the bread/grains department. Maybe cereal for breakfast? And from the fruit group?? When Ben moved into his own apartment, almost two years ago, he figured stuff out, and learned a lot of lessons the hard way. With James, we are enjoying all his adventures in learning to cook, do laundry, and I think we were on speaker phone when he washed his first dish. I told him I needed to put the date in his baby book, but he said I did not have one. I guess he has checked the shelves. He does not know that I have a lifetime of baby book memories in my head. And a whole box of journals of when he was a toddler... I am amazed how different each of my boys are. And our experiences with each of them have been so different.
Andy flew the nest first. Andy went away to college, and there was the band experience from sixth grade through college. Andy woo-ed his future wife that senior year of college, and graduated and got married and entered the military all in one month. That whirlwind month of May 2005. They figured stuff out on their own. We were not a part of Andy's day-to-day military experiences. We did not even know what to ask. Nowadays, we are blessed with calls from the wonderful toddler grandbaby. And wish we lived closer so that grandbaby could know us. And I am so thankful Andy is enjoying being a hands on dad.
Ben was and is Mr. Independent. And enjoys working with his hands. We are hoping he is interested in plumbing school and getting his license, as we know he'd be good at it. He has two black kitties he rescued, and is enjoying. He said that one of them head-bumped him awake yesterday morning wanting to be petted. He has built them climbing apparatus and regales us with their adventures. He says no burger is safe around them.
These cool Texas mornings are wonderful. It will get up into the eighties this afternoon, but we can enjoy the windows open for a while. Sallycat is pestering Bob to be petted as he tries to work at his laptop. Sallycat will walk through the Scrabble board. And across the laptop, or in front of the computer screen. She will then jump down another way, but the only path up is through. And she likes her Greenies in the morning.
A lazy Saturday---time for a bath to stretch out those back muscles, and a walk, for exercise. The sky is a pretty baby pink and baby blue this morning.
Friday, October 10, 2008
284-281
Bob went out first, and bingo-ed once, but I beat him by three points. It has been a while since I have won at Scrabble. And Bob lets me have as many letters as I want.
Bob re-installed the vents in the overhang thingies. We had run them through the dishwasher to remove twenty years of dust and grime after a good hand scrubbing. Every time Bob uses his cordless screwdriver we remember the story of taking toddlers to the hardware store. When we were not looking, baby Ben pulled a cordless screw driver off the shelf and into our cart. When we got up to the checkout, Bob thought I had put it in the cart as a gift to him. I did not know he had been wanting one, and this was when they had first been invented, and to me, sounded wussy.
We had eaten cereal for supper, and even though that is quick, we only had 45 minutes before sundown to get the screens re-installed. Four little screws each. By dusk's early light...and the step stool, and the ladder for the end of the house.
I am still having trouble standing up straight, even though I went to the chiropractor the other day. Oh, well. Yesterday, I went out to lunch with my friend and her cute little 2 year old grandson, but my back was hurting before we were done. She had seen the yarn we use on sale at Michael's for one dollar each, and we could not resist stocking up on my favorite colors. I am well-stocked on yarn now. This should last me through the winter ! It sure was nice paying one dollar for the cream color instead of 1.69 !!! And I usually do not buy the smaller skeins at 1.69, but at one dollar, I picked up a few "stripes". And I don't know when I have had so many shades of green in stock. These will make pretty dishrags.
It is Friday. I'd love to blog about female stuff, but it would gross out people. I am convinced there is a female/menstrual connection to my back hurting.
And what is it with memory tricks in your fifties?? Bob and I don't dare buy milk and set it in the back seat. We will get distracted somehow one the way home and forget to take the milk out of the back seat and put it in the frig ! What is with that?? And I will make notes to myself and leave them all over the place...and then forget to read the notes. So, I ride home from Braum's (milk purchase place) with a gallon of milk between my legs. Too funny. We are losing our minds.
Bob re-installed the vents in the overhang thingies. We had run them through the dishwasher to remove twenty years of dust and grime after a good hand scrubbing. Every time Bob uses his cordless screwdriver we remember the story of taking toddlers to the hardware store. When we were not looking, baby Ben pulled a cordless screw driver off the shelf and into our cart. When we got up to the checkout, Bob thought I had put it in the cart as a gift to him. I did not know he had been wanting one, and this was when they had first been invented, and to me, sounded wussy.
We had eaten cereal for supper, and even though that is quick, we only had 45 minutes before sundown to get the screens re-installed. Four little screws each. By dusk's early light...and the step stool, and the ladder for the end of the house.
I am still having trouble standing up straight, even though I went to the chiropractor the other day. Oh, well. Yesterday, I went out to lunch with my friend and her cute little 2 year old grandson, but my back was hurting before we were done. She had seen the yarn we use on sale at Michael's for one dollar each, and we could not resist stocking up on my favorite colors. I am well-stocked on yarn now. This should last me through the winter ! It sure was nice paying one dollar for the cream color instead of 1.69 !!! And I usually do not buy the smaller skeins at 1.69, but at one dollar, I picked up a few "stripes". And I don't know when I have had so many shades of green in stock. These will make pretty dishrags.
It is Friday. I'd love to blog about female stuff, but it would gross out people. I am convinced there is a female/menstrual connection to my back hurting.
And what is it with memory tricks in your fifties?? Bob and I don't dare buy milk and set it in the back seat. We will get distracted somehow one the way home and forget to take the milk out of the back seat and put it in the frig ! What is with that?? And I will make notes to myself and leave them all over the place...and then forget to read the notes. So, I ride home from Braum's (milk purchase place) with a gallon of milk between my legs. Too funny. We are losing our minds.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Windows open
Our temperatures dropped into the sixties. And a good rain washed the air or some of the pollen. I could not resist, and opened windows.
But, I was shocked at the number of people wearing coats, jackets and sweaters at Walmart this morning. Good grief. I was sweating inside the store. They keep it eighty degrees in there. I finished getting items I needed to pack a box, and then went to the post office and stood in line and sweated. They keep the post office warm, too. Texas in October is beautiful. You would not know it from the dour faces about the long lines. Our trees have not begun turning. Just a few brown ones that are exhausted from the heat. The Asian Jasmine by the mailbox has orange and red leaves. And James says the leaves are turning outside his room in Missouri.
I woke up rudely at 4:44am with a cramp in my calf. Yikes. I think I will alternate vitamins one day, and antibiotics the next. The antibiotics have this warning about not taking them with vitamins. My foot does not hurt anymore. And trying to keep track of the eight hours around taking the antibiotics is too much for my brain.
I tried keeping the windows open yesterday, but humidity was so high and it got up to 81 degrees inside. So, I turned on the AC before Bob got home. So thankful for the good rain. My violets have perked back up.
But, I was shocked at the number of people wearing coats, jackets and sweaters at Walmart this morning. Good grief. I was sweating inside the store. They keep it eighty degrees in there. I finished getting items I needed to pack a box, and then went to the post office and stood in line and sweated. They keep the post office warm, too. Texas in October is beautiful. You would not know it from the dour faces about the long lines. Our trees have not begun turning. Just a few brown ones that are exhausted from the heat. The Asian Jasmine by the mailbox has orange and red leaves. And James says the leaves are turning outside his room in Missouri.
I woke up rudely at 4:44am with a cramp in my calf. Yikes. I think I will alternate vitamins one day, and antibiotics the next. The antibiotics have this warning about not taking them with vitamins. My foot does not hurt anymore. And trying to keep track of the eight hours around taking the antibiotics is too much for my brain.
I tried keeping the windows open yesterday, but humidity was so high and it got up to 81 degrees inside. So, I turned on the AC before Bob got home. So thankful for the good rain. My violets have perked back up.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Scrabble
Scrabble on Sunday,
Scrabble on Monday,
Scrabble at suppertime.
Won't you play Scrabble?
And he bingo-ed twice tonight.
And a good rain this morning. A little shower this afternoon. More tonight? Warnings on the radio all around us.
And a lady at church called wanting some dishrags.
And I got to play with a toddler this morning, as my friend had to attend a funeral of her next door neighbor. Her grandson is such an easy one to watch. Easily entertained with our bin of toys. He wanted to connect the trains to their cars. And he liked climbing onto the bar stool and jumping on me in the rocker. Too cute. Big brown eyes. He wanted to play outside so much, but it was raining, so we had to stay inside.
It is fun to spoil little kids. Let them have three bowls, three cups, three little sandwiches. And he wanted me to sit and eat with him. Little kids are so social. Learning all the time. Observing how the world works, and not at all scared of the toy elephant that moves and makes noise. He was able to find the button on his own with just a few showings.
Time to go throw the clothes in the dryer.
Scrabble on Monday,
Scrabble at suppertime.
Won't you play Scrabble?
And he bingo-ed twice tonight.
And a good rain this morning. A little shower this afternoon. More tonight? Warnings on the radio all around us.
And a lady at church called wanting some dishrags.
And I got to play with a toddler this morning, as my friend had to attend a funeral of her next door neighbor. Her grandson is such an easy one to watch. Easily entertained with our bin of toys. He wanted to connect the trains to their cars. And he liked climbing onto the bar stool and jumping on me in the rocker. Too cute. Big brown eyes. He wanted to play outside so much, but it was raining, so we had to stay inside.
It is fun to spoil little kids. Let them have three bowls, three cups, three little sandwiches. And he wanted me to sit and eat with him. Little kids are so social. Learning all the time. Observing how the world works, and not at all scared of the toy elephant that moves and makes noise. He was able to find the button on his own with just a few showings.
Time to go throw the clothes in the dryer.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Fish Bowl
Today I live in a fish bowl.
The painters are here.
They showed me the paint color from the inside of the lid. Looks super white with maybe a touch of gray. It will look nice and clean on the outside walls of our house, and go good with the gray brick.
Dear husband wants to inspect before we pay, so when it look like they are almost done---gotta call the husband at work and ask him to scoot home--from 25 miles away.
I am putting clean sheets and pillow cases on the bed. And a sign to myself to be sure and take a shower right before bed. The pollen count is high, and makes me sneeze.
The painters are here.
They showed me the paint color from the inside of the lid. Looks super white with maybe a touch of gray. It will look nice and clean on the outside walls of our house, and go good with the gray brick.
Dear husband wants to inspect before we pay, so when it look like they are almost done---gotta call the husband at work and ask him to scoot home--from 25 miles away.
I am putting clean sheets and pillow cases on the bed. And a sign to myself to be sure and take a shower right before bed. The pollen count is high, and makes me sneeze.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Re-arranging Chairs on the Titanic
As Christians, we try to find that balance between keeping a roof over our heads---and ours is brand new at that...and spending our money wisely. Instead of turning our empty nest into a super-duper-dollhouse-birdhouse, we try to support most worthy causes that count for eternity rather than just for here on earth. This house could blow away in a tornado, or burn to the ground if a spark finds that leaking pressure sprayer in the garage, or if the neighbors flick a cigarette into the dry grass/weeds that compose our yard.
I'd love to remodel. Put down a new kitchen floor, and repaint the inside, but we like to live within our means. So, those things can wait. The tub is slowly rusting out, so a major bathroom remodeling job is also in our future. And remodeling is such a strain on a marriage. Inconveniences, dangers, frayed nerves, jobs begetting jobs, higher costs than originally budgeted, etc. And always, in the back of our minds, keeping the house up good enough to sell if called to serve elsewhere.
In another five months, our middle son will get more semi-permanent digs at his next assignment so he will be taking more furniture with him, like his huge desk, and extra long twin bed. Then we can move the spare room furniture back to his old bedroom, and re-arrange things to repaint easier. It's a thought, anyway.
It is a small house. Just right for two people. But, ready for guests. A new normal begins today. The last to leave the nest came home on a four day pass, and picked up some more of his stuff, and is now driving north to his next school, his next assignment. One last weekend of late night dating, and lectures, and spoiling our last one. We won't have to go to Pei Wei or Cracker Barrel or Red Robin for a while...except Cracker Barrel does have good Lima beans as the vegetable of the day on Saturday.
Our boys introduced us to places we never would have ventured into without their tutelage---Chipotle, Subway Sandwiches, Red Robin, Pei Wei. When we are home alone, we eat lighter for supper than he-who-works-out and needs more calories and who has not gained an ounce in years now, needs.
This morning, before he left, I asked if he needed the lecture on studying hard, and doing his job as unto the Lord. He said no, so it is nice to just have to reference the lectures, and let him know we are ready, willing and able, but no longer needed.
I am thankful for how insurance at least covered half of the cost of the new roof. Bob put the old one on 21 years ago, so it was time. We have two shiny new whirly birds on the roof, and a ridge vent thingy, and heavier, 30-year shingles, so by the time we need another new roof, we will be in our eighties. Maybe someday we can get more insulation in the attic. Our youngest found this cool stuff that adheres to the walls and keeps the attic at a constant 85 degrees. And he is up in attics all the time. So for him to be impressed...it has to be good stuff. I just wonder how long it costs to get back the "savings" from the initial outlay. And not just in a lower AC electric bill, but less wear and tear on that AC, too. Always something with a house.
We moved into this house when our firstborn was just six months old because that baby needed a backyard. We can't wait for that firstborn to bring his firstborn for a visit to run and play in his old backyard. We keep it mowed and free of stickers for just that day.
I'd love to remodel. Put down a new kitchen floor, and repaint the inside, but we like to live within our means. So, those things can wait. The tub is slowly rusting out, so a major bathroom remodeling job is also in our future. And remodeling is such a strain on a marriage. Inconveniences, dangers, frayed nerves, jobs begetting jobs, higher costs than originally budgeted, etc. And always, in the back of our minds, keeping the house up good enough to sell if called to serve elsewhere.
In another five months, our middle son will get more semi-permanent digs at his next assignment so he will be taking more furniture with him, like his huge desk, and extra long twin bed. Then we can move the spare room furniture back to his old bedroom, and re-arrange things to repaint easier. It's a thought, anyway.
It is a small house. Just right for two people. But, ready for guests. A new normal begins today. The last to leave the nest came home on a four day pass, and picked up some more of his stuff, and is now driving north to his next school, his next assignment. One last weekend of late night dating, and lectures, and spoiling our last one. We won't have to go to Pei Wei or Cracker Barrel or Red Robin for a while...except Cracker Barrel does have good Lima beans as the vegetable of the day on Saturday.
Our boys introduced us to places we never would have ventured into without their tutelage---Chipotle, Subway Sandwiches, Red Robin, Pei Wei. When we are home alone, we eat lighter for supper than he-who-works-out and needs more calories and who has not gained an ounce in years now, needs.
This morning, before he left, I asked if he needed the lecture on studying hard, and doing his job as unto the Lord. He said no, so it is nice to just have to reference the lectures, and let him know we are ready, willing and able, but no longer needed.
I am thankful for how insurance at least covered half of the cost of the new roof. Bob put the old one on 21 years ago, so it was time. We have two shiny new whirly birds on the roof, and a ridge vent thingy, and heavier, 30-year shingles, so by the time we need another new roof, we will be in our eighties. Maybe someday we can get more insulation in the attic. Our youngest found this cool stuff that adheres to the walls and keeps the attic at a constant 85 degrees. And he is up in attics all the time. So for him to be impressed...it has to be good stuff. I just wonder how long it costs to get back the "savings" from the initial outlay. And not just in a lower AC electric bill, but less wear and tear on that AC, too. Always something with a house.
We moved into this house when our firstborn was just six months old because that baby needed a backyard. We can't wait for that firstborn to bring his firstborn for a visit to run and play in his old backyard. We keep it mowed and free of stickers for just that day.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Sure 'Nuf and A Fire In the Kitchen Story
Yeah !!! My folks and Bob's brother and his wife all got their power restored in Kingwood and Houston last night. 7:18pm for my folks, and 7pm for B & J. Yippeee!!!
I was right---Murphy's Law. I should have mailed the batteries on Monday!
And alas, my rice cooker is no more. Pampered Chef has this nifty, dishwasher safe contraption for cooking rice. I used it for heating those meal-for-two Bertolli meals, too. But, while cooking rice the other day, I thought it would be a good idea to keep all the minerals and vitamins from some carrots I had cooked in the crock pot, and make rice with the liquid. But, the olive oil from the seasoning, and that splash of Newman's salad dressing was just enough to start a fire in the rice cooker in the microwave. I was on the phone with my folks at the time---and the smoke smell started filling the house. I took the smoking rice cooker out of the microwave, and let it cool enough to throw in the trash. Huge melted hole in the bottom. The house still smells smoky. Yuck.
I went to good old Walmart yesterday and bought a pyrex bowl, four quarter, and tried cooking the Bertolli bag in it last night, and it worked out fine. The pyrex bowl cost less than $5 and you have to be careful and use hotpads whenever pulling the bowl out to stir, but it keeps the pasta moist. The skillet method which the package calls "perferred" makes the pasta too chewy for my taste. And like last night, there was a delay in the train, so Bob was about fifteen minutes late getting home, but dinner was fine, waiting with a glass lid on top.
I was right---Murphy's Law. I should have mailed the batteries on Monday!
And alas, my rice cooker is no more. Pampered Chef has this nifty, dishwasher safe contraption for cooking rice. I used it for heating those meal-for-two Bertolli meals, too. But, while cooking rice the other day, I thought it would be a good idea to keep all the minerals and vitamins from some carrots I had cooked in the crock pot, and make rice with the liquid. But, the olive oil from the seasoning, and that splash of Newman's salad dressing was just enough to start a fire in the rice cooker in the microwave. I was on the phone with my folks at the time---and the smoke smell started filling the house. I took the smoking rice cooker out of the microwave, and let it cool enough to throw in the trash. Huge melted hole in the bottom. The house still smells smoky. Yuck.
I went to good old Walmart yesterday and bought a pyrex bowl, four quarter, and tried cooking the Bertolli bag in it last night, and it worked out fine. The pyrex bowl cost less than $5 and you have to be careful and use hotpads whenever pulling the bowl out to stir, but it keeps the pasta moist. The skillet method which the package calls "perferred" makes the pasta too chewy for my taste. And like last night, there was a delay in the train, so Bob was about fifteen minutes late getting home, but dinner was fine, waiting with a glass lid on top.
Monday, September 15, 2008
What Have I Been Doing?
I was so glad to hear that my package made it to Ohio okay.
Sept 11th found me reading all the neat military blogs and remembrances.
The Pentagon Channel has an excellent concert dedicating the new memorial.
I got all the laundry done up when James got home---even washing his uniforms twice as he is battling poison oak. He picked it up off Army knee pads during training out in the field. I even washed all his bedding....before the hurricane, just in case we lost power.
We followed all the weather websites and enjoyed gentle rains from the edges of Hurricane IKE. The rest of east Texas did not fare so well. Bob (dear husband) has storm duty as he works for the power company.
Sept 11th found me reading all the neat military blogs and remembrances.
The Pentagon Channel has an excellent concert dedicating the new memorial.
I got all the laundry done up when James got home---even washing his uniforms twice as he is battling poison oak. He picked it up off Army knee pads during training out in the field. I even washed all his bedding....before the hurricane, just in case we lost power.
We followed all the weather websites and enjoyed gentle rains from the edges of Hurricane IKE. The rest of east Texas did not fare so well. Bob (dear husband) has storm duty as he works for the power company.
Friday, September 5, 2008
Mold
I never thought I'd be SO glad to see mold on the bread.
I know it sounds strange, but my husband and I are empty nesters during the week, as our soldier gets to come home for three more weekends before going on to training three states away.
We don't eat much bread anymore. And I was concerned because, the bread was sitting on the counter for days/weeks, and was not molding. It made me wonder what kind of preservatives were being added to bread these days.
This morning, I found mold on the bread. Yippeee! Mystery solved.
Sorry, dear husband, but that loaf of anemic white bread you picked out had to be thrown away.
And shout out to Walmart: thank you for stocking smaller sized loaves.
I know it sounds strange, but my husband and I are empty nesters during the week, as our soldier gets to come home for three more weekends before going on to training three states away.
We don't eat much bread anymore. And I was concerned because, the bread was sitting on the counter for days/weeks, and was not molding. It made me wonder what kind of preservatives were being added to bread these days.
This morning, I found mold on the bread. Yippeee! Mystery solved.
Sorry, dear husband, but that loaf of anemic white bread you picked out had to be thrown away.
And shout out to Walmart: thank you for stocking smaller sized loaves.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Lantana Looking Lovely
The hardy purple Lantana out front is looking good. It survived the freezes of the past few winters, and is so big it almost blocks the view of the mailbox from our kitchen window. And the wild violets are coming back, too. The Illinois State Flower has two seasons here in Texas if you keep them watered during the summer. It is so good to see new leaves peeking through the dirt.
Dear husband survived his two days of jury duty. The first day in Tarrant County is a cattle call. And I do mean the kind with cattle and shoots and fences. Just making it through security was an experience. Dear Husband said they examined the auto unlock devices on his keychain with great interest both days. Then you get herded into a great room with interlocking seats and get smooshed like sardines into rows so that if anyone has a cold virus, he can share with the rest of the herd. After being culled from this main herd, Bob was told to report today outside a courtroom on one of the floors. Like a sheep lead to slaughter, he uttered not a word. Now, he shared with me his better answers to questions if he had been asked, but only those around him received the questions. I think that kind of hurt his feelings. Being of sound mind and rational thought, he was sure to be struck from this list with his snarky answers of "only if they are Republicans."
And our soldier son is surviving his "field" training. He forgot to pack the mosquito spray and the sunburn prevention, and has complained about slim pickings for their evening meal, but we will try to fatten him up this long Labor Day weekend. At our house, Labor Day actual involved labor just twenty-two years ago...
The Grandbaby's MIMI revealed that the Grandbaby can pray. Wow. Something the firstborn forgot to reveal on the phone last night.
Dear husband survived his two days of jury duty. The first day in Tarrant County is a cattle call. And I do mean the kind with cattle and shoots and fences. Just making it through security was an experience. Dear Husband said they examined the auto unlock devices on his keychain with great interest both days. Then you get herded into a great room with interlocking seats and get smooshed like sardines into rows so that if anyone has a cold virus, he can share with the rest of the herd. After being culled from this main herd, Bob was told to report today outside a courtroom on one of the floors. Like a sheep lead to slaughter, he uttered not a word. Now, he shared with me his better answers to questions if he had been asked, but only those around him received the questions. I think that kind of hurt his feelings. Being of sound mind and rational thought, he was sure to be struck from this list with his snarky answers of "only if they are Republicans."
And our soldier son is surviving his "field" training. He forgot to pack the mosquito spray and the sunburn prevention, and has complained about slim pickings for their evening meal, but we will try to fatten him up this long Labor Day weekend. At our house, Labor Day actual involved labor just twenty-two years ago...
The Grandbaby's MIMI revealed that the Grandbaby can pray. Wow. Something the firstborn forgot to reveal on the phone last night.
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