As you can see, I haven't blogged for a bit. The internet here has been doing fine (frantic knock on wood!), but my phone died! Since that is the only way I have to get online, I was a bit stuck.
I ended up using my old phone, temporarily. It works... After a fashion.
It, however, doesn't hold a charge. And it cold last several hours, or a half hour, and no rhyme or reason for it. When this happens, it doesn't save what I had been typing. This lead to very unladylike words, and giving up on the blog until my phone was fixed. Fortunately, it was still under warranty, so it was just the time and effort getting it there. I must say, the company was very good about it.
So, the phone is back. I am slowly getting it back the way I had it before, (they wiped everything off it, we had saved things in the card, Google had some of the rest...) But it's still getting it back. Yoiks!
But, I can use it again, and I have a phone that I don't have to scream "Phone's dying, Bye!" Randomly during calls, that's fun.
Not...
Showing posts with label blog. Show all posts
Showing posts with label blog. Show all posts
Monday, July 13, 2020
Tuesday, January 14, 2020
Pop! Pop! Pop!
(Almost got 2 o's in that title, that would have given SUCH a different meaning... Eeek!) 😆
So, I don't get a great amount of comments on my blog. I appreciate the ones that I do get, but still, I wondered if something was blocking folks... And, Retired Knitter emailed me...
Turns out, the embedded bit for comments was blocking her. Odd. So, I tried to change it to Pop Up version.
I picked the wrong time to change anything on my blog. I have to remember, any body and fender work HAS to be done when our internet works... So, I thought I had changed it, but no. Sigh.
Today, since I have good internet, I decided to check if I could change it. YES! Success!
So, I was also asked if I could get a email delivery of my blog. Sure! Uh. As soon as I figure out how... Tech support? Help?? Cough..
But wait! She goes into the depths of the stylistic stuff and nonce to make the blog... Dig here... No... Is that... No... What about... Is this it? Well, boys and girls, I think that I found the send it by email thing, now at the left side, if I did it right...
I find that I have this habit of just rambling through things like this, while others I know, could have the blog up and have little blinking arrows pointing to the various important parts.
But, hey, I get there. Just takes a bit longer.
So, hopefully, if you've not been able to leave a note on my blog, now you can... And maybe get email, too... (Let me know if you do on the email, I still am not sure I did it right... Please?? Thanks!)
So, I don't get a great amount of comments on my blog. I appreciate the ones that I do get, but still, I wondered if something was blocking folks... And, Retired Knitter emailed me...
Turns out, the embedded bit for comments was blocking her. Odd. So, I tried to change it to Pop Up version.
I picked the wrong time to change anything on my blog. I have to remember, any body and fender work HAS to be done when our internet works... So, I thought I had changed it, but no. Sigh.
Today, since I have good internet, I decided to check if I could change it. YES! Success!
So, I was also asked if I could get a email delivery of my blog. Sure! Uh. As soon as I figure out how... Tech support? Help?? Cough..
But wait! She goes into the depths of the stylistic stuff and nonce to make the blog... Dig here... No... Is that... No... What about... Is this it? Well, boys and girls, I think that I found the send it by email thing, now at the left side, if I did it right...
I find that I have this habit of just rambling through things like this, while others I know, could have the blog up and have little blinking arrows pointing to the various important parts.
But, hey, I get there. Just takes a bit longer.
So, hopefully, if you've not been able to leave a note on my blog, now you can... And maybe get email, too... (Let me know if you do on the email, I still am not sure I did it right... Please?? Thanks!)
Tuesday, March 19, 2019
The good, the bad, and the hopefully better...
As you can see, I've not blogged for a long bit... The internet is getting WORSE out our way. So, I have tried, and had, (obviously), no success. I try to blog or upload pictures, it overloads the system, throwing me, and my writing out, unless I get up in the wee hours to do it.
So why haven't I gotten up in the wee hours?
That's the good news. For me, at any rate. I found a class, approved by my doctor, to learn meditation and relaxation. It seemed a tiny bit foo-foo at times, (Using all your senses to eat ONE raisin. I am not fond of raisins overmuch. The councilor was admonishing us to listen to the raisin, that was a physical sense, too. I told her that if that sucker talked to me, I was out of there. It did make a slight noise, if you hold it near your ear, you can hear the sugar crystals crunch on it while squishing it a bit. We were in a quiet room...) This was an intensive class, and while I can't say I am now perfectly sublime and saintly blissful, I am slowly learning to be hopefully less irritable, at least sometimes... And, the biggie, I CAN SLEEP! I notice I am awake, I go to a couple of the practices that she recommended, and I am dozing again quickly, as a rule. Which makes me less groggy, but not awake during the small window of "usable" time for internet.
But we have called the company multiple times, even threatening to leave them. Basically, they said, you are finished with your required contract, "we give you permission to leave." (Husband rarely gets angry. I thought he was going to break something when THAT phone call was finished...) So, we have been looking, and considering our next plan of action.
We noticed a gent that was in construction wear, with a transit, and he kept showing up around our place, measuring... Something? I missed him the first couple times. It's not terribly unusual to have power folks come out, because the farms need power put on, and taken off of the water pumps seasonally, and they have to check on some of the poles, as they are, um, extensively used by cows for derriere scratching. I do hope no one has to climb one of those messes in the near future!
Anyway, finally, he was stopped right near our driveway, and Husband walked out to see what he was up to.
After a bit of a chat, Husband comes in and tells me the 2 local schools, which we are more or less in between, are getting fiber optic high speed cable.
Okay. Good, I guess.
No, they are putting it in for the schools, and he is measuring pole distances to install lines, for anyone who lives near the schools, and is on the power company's system... So they can sign up for FIBER HIGH SPEED!
Um, is that good? (No, I am not quick on the uptake, occasionally.)
He explained that yes, it was very good, and because it would involve the schools, there would most likely be a built in "make sure it works" as it is not just the usual one or two people, but a 'business'.
(I hope he's right, we had a national carrier tell our county law enforcement that they would come fix a problem with the call in lines being down at DISPATCH... with in 10 working days. After a something call, I was never told exactly what happened, but it did get fixed. The next day. But that's when the Sheriff decided that that company was no longer the supplier of the phone for them. Yep, good times...)
So, somewhere along the lines of September, when the next school year starts, is what the goal for the set up is. Will we get it? What's the speed? How much data allowed? What's the COST? All of that will be found out later. But, there is a chance that we might, just maybe, be able to have real internet that doesn't compete with 2 cans and a string for quality! Hope, hope, hope...
So, I kept considering, I want to write my blog BEFORE September, but how? I haven't had much luck with some of the stuff I had been trying at home.
At home...
Hey, I am on the computer when I am at the sub! DING!
You know those stupid trees make it very hard to see that big forest I am looking for!
So, I will save up, and try and write my blogs at least on Tuesdays, if possible. I might occasionally write more than one, and then I will time them to release over a few days, too, but I won't be able to answer as often. Oh, and at this point, no pictures, sorry. The IT guys are wonderful here, but they getextremely paranoid a little jumpy about uploads that aren't protected, so I don't want to have to do all the happy dance work arounds to get a picture on. If it's important, I might try, but right now, I am just happy to have a brain cell light up again with the concept, hey, you can do this at work! YAAAY!
So why haven't I gotten up in the wee hours?
That's the good news. For me, at any rate. I found a class, approved by my doctor, to learn meditation and relaxation. It seemed a tiny bit foo-foo at times, (Using all your senses to eat ONE raisin. I am not fond of raisins overmuch. The councilor was admonishing us to listen to the raisin, that was a physical sense, too. I told her that if that sucker talked to me, I was out of there. It did make a slight noise, if you hold it near your ear, you can hear the sugar crystals crunch on it while squishing it a bit. We were in a quiet room...) This was an intensive class, and while I can't say I am now perfectly sublime and saintly blissful, I am slowly learning to be hopefully less irritable, at least sometimes... And, the biggie, I CAN SLEEP! I notice I am awake, I go to a couple of the practices that she recommended, and I am dozing again quickly, as a rule. Which makes me less groggy, but not awake during the small window of "usable" time for internet.
But we have called the company multiple times, even threatening to leave them. Basically, they said, you are finished with your required contract, "we give you permission to leave." (Husband rarely gets angry. I thought he was going to break something when THAT phone call was finished...) So, we have been looking, and considering our next plan of action.
We noticed a gent that was in construction wear, with a transit, and he kept showing up around our place, measuring... Something? I missed him the first couple times. It's not terribly unusual to have power folks come out, because the farms need power put on, and taken off of the water pumps seasonally, and they have to check on some of the poles, as they are, um, extensively used by cows for derriere scratching. I do hope no one has to climb one of those messes in the near future!
Anyway, finally, he was stopped right near our driveway, and Husband walked out to see what he was up to.
After a bit of a chat, Husband comes in and tells me the 2 local schools, which we are more or less in between, are getting fiber optic high speed cable.
Okay. Good, I guess.
No, they are putting it in for the schools, and he is measuring pole distances to install lines, for anyone who lives near the schools, and is on the power company's system... So they can sign up for FIBER HIGH SPEED!
Um, is that good? (No, I am not quick on the uptake, occasionally.)
He explained that yes, it was very good, and because it would involve the schools, there would most likely be a built in "make sure it works" as it is not just the usual one or two people, but a 'business'.
(I hope he's right, we had a national carrier tell our county law enforcement that they would come fix a problem with the call in lines being down at DISPATCH... with in 10 working days. After a something call, I was never told exactly what happened, but it did get fixed. The next day. But that's when the Sheriff decided that that company was no longer the supplier of the phone for them. Yep, good times...)
So, somewhere along the lines of September, when the next school year starts, is what the goal for the set up is. Will we get it? What's the speed? How much data allowed? What's the COST? All of that will be found out later. But, there is a chance that we might, just maybe, be able to have real internet that doesn't compete with 2 cans and a string for quality! Hope, hope, hope...
So, I kept considering, I want to write my blog BEFORE September, but how? I haven't had much luck with some of the stuff I had been trying at home.
At home...
Hey, I am on the computer when I am at the sub! DING!
You know those stupid trees make it very hard to see that big forest I am looking for!
So, I will save up, and try and write my blogs at least on Tuesdays, if possible. I might occasionally write more than one, and then I will time them to release over a few days, too, but I won't be able to answer as often. Oh, and at this point, no pictures, sorry. The IT guys are wonderful here, but they get
Saturday, January 28, 2017
hot glue, duct tape, string...
In other words, what do you use on something that you break. I said I was going to write a blog a week, and I do think I forgot to put one up last week. No reason, except I spaced.
So, I will work on getting the blog up today.
What's been happening. I have been selected for county jury duty. Husband and Mom both commented that it starts "Greetings", that I should count my lucky stars it's not for the draft. However, as 'old', and broken down as I am, I think it wouldn't be much of a problem... Sigh.
I am working diligently on getting boxes, and yarn, and needles, and paper, and and and and put away in my craft room. I am pleased with how it's progressing, but have had to change a few things, as I receive items from Grandma's estate. (I am now the 'proud' owner of probably 70 or more crochet hooks... Sorting, much figuring on what I want to keep, and who I can help with craft enabling is ensuing...) I have donated nearly a small pickup load of items to charity, and working on my second. I will be going through clothing, and then...
The dreaded closet of doom. Also known as the craft closet. It's probably as bad, or more likely worse, than the craft room itself. I want the craft room WELL cleaned before I start on that bad boy...
I also found out a design element I did to make my yarn easier to access...
Didn't.
It's a nasty crawlspace effect that I'd not realized when planning it. I am hoping to transfer some items I don't use often under there, and move the yarn out into the light of day, so to speak. Or at least within reach.
Oh, and I managed to snag a CD of the music from Hamilton. I promised Husband I would not play it with him around... He detests rap. I find a lot of it rather fun, though, and this is no exception. So, I listen, when he's not in the house, he doesn't have to hear it...
And we're both happy!
Oh, and I am knitting a project, just for me. I have, since high school, wanted a Doctor Who scarf (4th Doctor), to wit: I have had the pattern well before I ever learned to knit. I finally looked at my stash. Hmm. Have that color, yep, that too. That's pretty close...
The only color I didn't have was a sort of yellow mustard color. I started looking, and found one. I am now about a foot or so up the left side, as seen in this picture. Just starting the red part, as a matter of a fact. I made it narrower, the original is 60 stitches wide, I am knitting about 30. I want a scarf, not a blanket. Otherwise, I am trying to follow it as written. I know that mine will look a bit different, but not outrageously so, and I really just want it for me, so who cares? I hope to wear it at faire sometime, there are enough Who Geeks there, I should get a response.
More info as things congeal...
So, I will work on getting the blog up today.
What's been happening. I have been selected for county jury duty. Husband and Mom both commented that it starts "Greetings", that I should count my lucky stars it's not for the draft. However, as 'old', and broken down as I am, I think it wouldn't be much of a problem... Sigh.
I am working diligently on getting boxes, and yarn, and needles, and paper, and and and and put away in my craft room. I am pleased with how it's progressing, but have had to change a few things, as I receive items from Grandma's estate. (I am now the 'proud' owner of probably 70 or more crochet hooks... Sorting, much figuring on what I want to keep, and who I can help with craft enabling is ensuing...) I have donated nearly a small pickup load of items to charity, and working on my second. I will be going through clothing, and then...
The dreaded closet of doom. Also known as the craft closet. It's probably as bad, or more likely worse, than the craft room itself. I want the craft room WELL cleaned before I start on that bad boy...
I also found out a design element I did to make my yarn easier to access...
Didn't.
It's a nasty crawlspace effect that I'd not realized when planning it. I am hoping to transfer some items I don't use often under there, and move the yarn out into the light of day, so to speak. Or at least within reach.
Oh, and I managed to snag a CD of the music from Hamilton. I promised Husband I would not play it with him around... He detests rap. I find a lot of it rather fun, though, and this is no exception. So, I listen, when he's not in the house, he doesn't have to hear it...
And we're both happy!
 |
| https://www.tombakerofficial.com/fourth-doctor/ |
Oh, and I am knitting a project, just for me. I have, since high school, wanted a Doctor Who scarf (4th Doctor), to wit: I have had the pattern well before I ever learned to knit. I finally looked at my stash. Hmm. Have that color, yep, that too. That's pretty close...
The only color I didn't have was a sort of yellow mustard color. I started looking, and found one. I am now about a foot or so up the left side, as seen in this picture. Just starting the red part, as a matter of a fact. I made it narrower, the original is 60 stitches wide, I am knitting about 30. I want a scarf, not a blanket. Otherwise, I am trying to follow it as written. I know that mine will look a bit different, but not outrageously so, and I really just want it for me, so who cares? I hope to wear it at faire sometime, there are enough Who Geeks there, I should get a response.
More info as things congeal...
Sunday, August 07, 2016
Returning from hiatus...
Why was I on hiatus? Because I didn't write. I actually had time, off and on. Just puttered about, doing things that weren't blogging.
I finished The Grapes of Wrath (The ones about the Oklahomans, not the World War 1 book...). I thought it was a riveting book, and I am going to look up some more of Steinbeck at a later point.
Because it was a good book, but not exactly a laugh riot, I picked up Wyrd Sisters by Terry Pratchett. I enjoy his work, and knew that he had written quite a few of the Disk World series, I decided to look up how many in total he'd written. 40, which is great! More to read!
And also, he died. Er... Oh. Guess I missed that one. Crap.
Had my birthday, which had people giving me flower seeds. (I had requested this. I thought it wouldn't be too much of a problem. However, turns out, I didn't request early enough, and most places have quit selling seeds by the tail of July... Meh, still have a great variety...)
I finally was able to get someone out to shear my llamas. These poor girls have been unshorn for nearly 2 years. I was getting to the point, I was concerned someone might turn me in for neglect. I had checked with shearers all across the state. I had responses from "We don't DO anything less than ten animals", to "sure, I will be there Monday", and they never showed. I called my local extension agency, who, very, very disappointingly, never got back to me. So, I saw a neighbor that had a llama. It was ONE llama, shorn. So, I went and asked.
He told me he didn't do shearing, but he'd look up the number of the gent who did. L, L. L, L, L, hmmm. No, it's not under L.
Oh, wait, I didn't put it under L for llama, I put it... Yep, under S for Shearing! (Organized like me... Hee hee.) So, he gave me the number, and I called. And couldn't figure out if I had managed to leave a message or not. I am still working the bugs out of mybrain phone... So I called the next day, and the gent was happy to come out. You... will? Great, when?
Is Saturday too soon?
I groaned inwardly, as I had another appointment, but decided that I was going to take a chance on this guy. I told him where I lived, and he said, oh, blah, blah... Turns out, it was 8 minutes from my house!
Saturday came, I was up at a little before 5. Husband had put the chute out, I was out cleaning the area. (We use the chicken yard, and I raked up the little land mines, so it would be less of a mess, especially if the guy had to kneel.) Fed, watered, haltered up the girls, and the phone rang about 6:15.
Do you mind if I run into to town for coffee?
No, we have it all ready for you, so when ever you're ready...
Oh, do you want me over there now?
I tried not to bray laughter, I assured him that a cup of coffee was fine, and we were just a bit ahead of the game, not to worry.
He arrived, a big gent, with a grey t-shirt and camo shorts. Huh. Well, he'll get his gear on when he starts, I guess... Husband set up orange cones over the extension cord, as one of our neighbors has a bad habit of driving in and running it over, because he's busy watching what we are doing.
I get Dolly into the chute, and see he's oiling the clippers. Huh. I watch, as he comes up, lets Dolly take a sniff of him, pats her on the back, then starts in. Starts in while wearing his t and shorts. Most people I know have coveralls, and wear heavy boots. I even wear a jean jacket to keep the biggest majority of fiber, spit, and dirt off of me. Not this guy, and other than dust, he seemed to do fine.
Again, huh. Husband was tired, and his back wasn't doing so great, but I'd forgotten to ask the gent about doing the llama's toes, which needed trimmed. The gent looked up when Husband said to keep Dolly in so he could do that, and the gent pipes up, I have snips, would you like me to?
I kept looking to see where this guy was hiding his camo colored angel wings. He was gentle to my animals, enjoyed what he was doing, and certainly took the burden off the two of us for the 'grunt' work involved with this part of livestock ownership!
I gave him some extra for the effort, he looked so surprised. He then asked if I would like him to call next season, BEFORE the hot season, to shear and trim them. I nearly dropped my teeth. Yes, oh, thank you, yes! So now we have two very defluffed llamas (I told him to basically cut off all the hair, the llama equivalent of a buzz cut). He did, and the darker one, Dolly, actually looks like a deer with a long neck at the moment. A mutant deer? But they are doing much better, and it's supposed to get hot by week's end, again, so they will not be so overwhelmed with fur...
Husband did a job, and was paid with some of the company's product, which means that I now have 2 really beautiful, as well as excellent quality kitchen knives. We had made a trip just shy of 2 hours away for him to do this job, and I went, just for the day out.
I knew it was taking a bit, when Husband came out, he had me come in to choose said knives. I picked a bread knife, and Husband chose a chef's knife. Meanwhile, he and the maintenance man were having an intense discussion about machines, tools, and such. I was half listening, while watching two of the employees work on the knives. Next thing I know, the guy is offering Husband a job...
I really think that if they ever get this cloning thing figured out, I am going to have to hide my husband, or there will be several dozen of him about. At least if all the people who want help from him are any indication! (And no, he didn't take the job. 2 hour commutes are NOT his cup of milk. He doesn't care for tea...)
I picked a lot of black berries, and made jam. I did this over two days, so I picked, crushed, then put the juice in the fridge. Normally, I do all this one day, and so I never thought about it, just do. Well, I had this 'stuff' on the top, and I skimmed it before I made jelly. It was mostly fruit solids and such, but when I made the jelly this time, it was so much prettier than what I've made in the past. I might just have to do that again! So I have around 8 pints of jelly. Yay! Now I will have to bake up some bread...
(The chickens enjoy the seeds and leavings from the berry picking, but let's just say that the landmines around of late have a definite violet tinge...)
I also have been drawing up the t-shirt for the Ren Faire. I gave them several ideas, they narrowed it to two. I worked on both, just knowing they would love the one.
Nope, the other.
Oh.
So, I worked on the other. They then wanted a change to that one, too. Hmm.
So, I did the changes, (fortunately, some of it I had on computer, so I didn't need to start from square one, thankfully). Finally, I was able to send a completed logo she liked, so I will get it out tomorrow, if all goes well, and we will have a new t-shirt for faire. I laugh a little about this, I draw well enough, but I know there are some that are astounding in the arts.
But when I ask around, would any others like to draw the shirts, we even had a competition, I was the only one that turned in anything. So, I have been the 'shirt artist', for something like 5 or so years. Hey, I get a free shirt out of the deal, so it works out.
Oh, and I have been knitting a pillow for a friend, I don't think she reads this blog, so I can get away with telling. She is a big Doctor Who fan, so the pillow is dark grey with speckles, like space, and the TARDIS will be centered on the front. She, and her husband, have helped me quite a lot, and I wanted to give her something nice. She is going through a rough patch at the moment, and I thought something nice and cushy would be good...
I finished The Grapes of Wrath (The ones about the Oklahomans, not the World War 1 book...). I thought it was a riveting book, and I am going to look up some more of Steinbeck at a later point.
Because it was a good book, but not exactly a laugh riot, I picked up Wyrd Sisters by Terry Pratchett. I enjoy his work, and knew that he had written quite a few of the Disk World series, I decided to look up how many in total he'd written. 40, which is great! More to read!
And also, he died. Er... Oh. Guess I missed that one. Crap.
Had my birthday, which had people giving me flower seeds. (I had requested this. I thought it wouldn't be too much of a problem. However, turns out, I didn't request early enough, and most places have quit selling seeds by the tail of July... Meh, still have a great variety...)
I finally was able to get someone out to shear my llamas. These poor girls have been unshorn for nearly 2 years. I was getting to the point, I was concerned someone might turn me in for neglect. I had checked with shearers all across the state. I had responses from "We don't DO anything less than ten animals", to "sure, I will be there Monday", and they never showed. I called my local extension agency, who, very, very disappointingly, never got back to me. So, I saw a neighbor that had a llama. It was ONE llama, shorn. So, I went and asked.
He told me he didn't do shearing, but he'd look up the number of the gent who did. L, L. L, L, L, hmmm. No, it's not under L.
Oh, wait, I didn't put it under L for llama, I put it... Yep, under S for Shearing! (Organized like me... Hee hee.) So, he gave me the number, and I called. And couldn't figure out if I had managed to leave a message or not. I am still working the bugs out of my
Is Saturday too soon?
I groaned inwardly, as I had another appointment, but decided that I was going to take a chance on this guy. I told him where I lived, and he said, oh, blah, blah... Turns out, it was 8 minutes from my house!
Saturday came, I was up at a little before 5. Husband had put the chute out, I was out cleaning the area. (We use the chicken yard, and I raked up the little land mines, so it would be less of a mess, especially if the guy had to kneel.) Fed, watered, haltered up the girls, and the phone rang about 6:15.
Do you mind if I run into to town for coffee?
No, we have it all ready for you, so when ever you're ready...
Oh, do you want me over there now?
I tried not to bray laughter, I assured him that a cup of coffee was fine, and we were just a bit ahead of the game, not to worry.
He arrived, a big gent, with a grey t-shirt and camo shorts. Huh. Well, he'll get his gear on when he starts, I guess... Husband set up orange cones over the extension cord, as one of our neighbors has a bad habit of driving in and running it over, because he's busy watching what we are doing.
I get Dolly into the chute, and see he's oiling the clippers. Huh. I watch, as he comes up, lets Dolly take a sniff of him, pats her on the back, then starts in. Starts in while wearing his t and shorts. Most people I know have coveralls, and wear heavy boots. I even wear a jean jacket to keep the biggest majority of fiber, spit, and dirt off of me. Not this guy, and other than dust, he seemed to do fine.
Again, huh. Husband was tired, and his back wasn't doing so great, but I'd forgotten to ask the gent about doing the llama's toes, which needed trimmed. The gent looked up when Husband said to keep Dolly in so he could do that, and the gent pipes up, I have snips, would you like me to?
I kept looking to see where this guy was hiding his camo colored angel wings. He was gentle to my animals, enjoyed what he was doing, and certainly took the burden off the two of us for the 'grunt' work involved with this part of livestock ownership!
I gave him some extra for the effort, he looked so surprised. He then asked if I would like him to call next season, BEFORE the hot season, to shear and trim them. I nearly dropped my teeth. Yes, oh, thank you, yes! So now we have two very defluffed llamas (I told him to basically cut off all the hair, the llama equivalent of a buzz cut). He did, and the darker one, Dolly, actually looks like a deer with a long neck at the moment. A mutant deer? But they are doing much better, and it's supposed to get hot by week's end, again, so they will not be so overwhelmed with fur...
Husband did a job, and was paid with some of the company's product, which means that I now have 2 really beautiful, as well as excellent quality kitchen knives. We had made a trip just shy of 2 hours away for him to do this job, and I went, just for the day out.
I knew it was taking a bit, when Husband came out, he had me come in to choose said knives. I picked a bread knife, and Husband chose a chef's knife. Meanwhile, he and the maintenance man were having an intense discussion about machines, tools, and such. I was half listening, while watching two of the employees work on the knives. Next thing I know, the guy is offering Husband a job...
I really think that if they ever get this cloning thing figured out, I am going to have to hide my husband, or there will be several dozen of him about. At least if all the people who want help from him are any indication! (And no, he didn't take the job. 2 hour commutes are NOT his cup of milk. He doesn't care for tea...)
I picked a lot of black berries, and made jam. I did this over two days, so I picked, crushed, then put the juice in the fridge. Normally, I do all this one day, and so I never thought about it, just do. Well, I had this 'stuff' on the top, and I skimmed it before I made jelly. It was mostly fruit solids and such, but when I made the jelly this time, it was so much prettier than what I've made in the past. I might just have to do that again! So I have around 8 pints of jelly. Yay! Now I will have to bake up some bread...
(The chickens enjoy the seeds and leavings from the berry picking, but let's just say that the landmines around of late have a definite violet tinge...)
I also have been drawing up the t-shirt for the Ren Faire. I gave them several ideas, they narrowed it to two. I worked on both, just knowing they would love the one.
Nope, the other.
Oh.
So, I worked on the other. They then wanted a change to that one, too. Hmm.
So, I did the changes, (fortunately, some of it I had on computer, so I didn't need to start from square one, thankfully). Finally, I was able to send a completed logo she liked, so I will get it out tomorrow, if all goes well, and we will have a new t-shirt for faire. I laugh a little about this, I draw well enough, but I know there are some that are astounding in the arts.
But when I ask around, would any others like to draw the shirts, we even had a competition, I was the only one that turned in anything. So, I have been the 'shirt artist', for something like 5 or so years. Hey, I get a free shirt out of the deal, so it works out.
Oh, and I have been knitting a pillow for a friend, I don't think she reads this blog, so I can get away with telling. She is a big Doctor Who fan, so the pillow is dark grey with speckles, like space, and the TARDIS will be centered on the front. She, and her husband, have helped me quite a lot, and I wanted to give her something nice. She is going through a rough patch at the moment, and I thought something nice and cushy would be good...
And a pillow will last a lot longer than a jar of jelly.
Wednesday, March 23, 2016
Blog ideas...
So, this is more of a query, than a detailed blog entry.
How do you get your blog ideas?
I had realized that most of my entries came from either what I was doing at the moment, or had been doing, or my animals. I don't mention a lot of stuff about my volunteer work, as some is confidential. I don't write politics or religious items, as I don't want a fight.
(Which according to one acquaintance, makes my blog boring... May I reply, Super Meh!)
I have thought about seeing some of the online blog inspirations, like this one, and see if it gives me some variety to my writing. Let's see, today is March 23, the blog prompt is: Write an entry about a local experience as though it's an entry in a travel guide.
Uh...
"The jingle of bells, swish of skirts. Haughty Lords lead elegant ladies about, examining the offerings of vendors wares. Turning a corner, you might see a giant juggler, or a ragamuffin playing the violin for coins. Or perhaps a knight, on his way to vanquish his foe in the tourney yard.
Where is this fabled land? Shrewsbury Renaissance Faire, where one can find peasants and royalty, fun and food, and even, perhaps, magic and wonder, if you know where to look."
Well, it was short. But you get the idea. So, in the comments, if you feel so inclined, your genesis for blogs. Do you think the prompts would be a good add-in for my blog, so I am not continually going over plowed ground, so to speak...
Thank you!
How do you get your blog ideas?
I had realized that most of my entries came from either what I was doing at the moment, or had been doing, or my animals. I don't mention a lot of stuff about my volunteer work, as some is confidential. I don't write politics or religious items, as I don't want a fight.
(Which according to one acquaintance, makes my blog boring... May I reply, Super Meh!)
I have thought about seeing some of the online blog inspirations, like this one, and see if it gives me some variety to my writing. Let's see, today is March 23, the blog prompt is: Write an entry about a local experience as though it's an entry in a travel guide.
Uh...
"The jingle of bells, swish of skirts. Haughty Lords lead elegant ladies about, examining the offerings of vendors wares. Turning a corner, you might see a giant juggler, or a ragamuffin playing the violin for coins. Or perhaps a knight, on his way to vanquish his foe in the tourney yard.
Where is this fabled land? Shrewsbury Renaissance Faire, where one can find peasants and royalty, fun and food, and even, perhaps, magic and wonder, if you know where to look."
Well, it was short. But you get the idea. So, in the comments, if you feel so inclined, your genesis for blogs. Do you think the prompts would be a good add-in for my blog, so I am not continually going over plowed ground, so to speak...
Thank you!
Friday, January 01, 2016
Happy New Year, and all that stuff!
So, what is it with me and blogging, or, more accurately, not blogging? In three words, "I don't know". I can't say I have writer's block, exactly, I have written at least a dozen or so blogs, in my head. They just didn't go to my fingers, and out the computer. In fact, when I was at the computer, I would just look.
Yep, the cursor is blinking.
Yep... (sigh) (crickets chirping.)
I have looked at Face Book, I didn't write much there, either. I now have found that I know much more about some of my friends and family than I ever, EVER wanted to know. Until I found some controls, I found out about the heavy right wing political leanings of one family member, the heavy left wing leanings of a friend, the ultra Christian leanings of another friend, found out another friend checks in with her coven online, via FB. Yet another lets the virtual world know of his personal proclivities and choices, sexually.
Mr. Chatterbox, when you said I had a good seat in the asylum, you have not one idea how accurate you were!!!
I have been taking care of the animals, we had to finally remove several of the roosters, they had decided to get out of the pen and go, literally and figuratively, all around the house, leaving holes that they dug in one of the gardens, throwing dirt all about, or just... deposits. I was sort of sad to have to do it, Cop Car was one of the first, and worst, offenders. But, we have lots of chicken in the freezer now...
We had to take some wild turkeys to a local wildlife center, Husband had been walking up to check something for a neighbor, and some (censored) driver just blew through a small flock of turkeys crossing the road, with Husband in the road nearby! Didn't slow, didn't look to see if there was damage, nada. Husband and I took the two injured birds to a wildlife rehab place, and we found out they had pretty bad damage, but are recovering... They were kind of impressed how we'd put them in a kennel deep with hay. Um. Well, they like to hide, and they are used to grasses, figured it would put them a little more at ease...
After a ridiculous summer, with cracks in the ground that would catch feet, and nearly turn legs, (one crack in the back yard measured about 14 inches deep by about 5 inches wide at one point!), we are now getting rain. Lots of rain. All the cracks are closed, and our "half moat" around the house is draining a lot. In fact, I have to be careful feeding the llamas, as the drainage by the feed area is more than ankle deep, and I really don't care to fall into cold, running water... BUT, there is snow in the mountains, and we are not worrying about the wells in the area running dry. So it all balances out...
Husband bought me raised beds for my birthday, so I will be setting those up for use in the spring. I am hoping to have flowers on the side of the hill where the raised beds will be, to attract pollinators... And hopefully not too many deer. Meh.
And 2016? Major plans? Resolutions? Nothing much. I am going to scale back on one volunteer group I am with, I have come to the point I still like working on prep for the group, but it's been made clear to me that I am not "necessary", so I have decided to join with some other folks there, and let the proverbial chips fall where they proverbially may. It will help the ones I am joining with, so they can have some free time, it will help me, so I don't have to lead or round up anything, and will, hopefully, stop the continual headaches I have each year, from pounding my head against what's turned out to be a very hard stone wall...
A-Hem. "Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results," Yes, Mr. Einstein, I am finally listening.
I am seriously considering joining Nanowrimo, maybe then I will have motivation to get some sort of book like thing written, if I have a set time I need to do it in. Maybe. November is sometimes a busy month, however, so I am a bit gun shy. But, what have I been told, I do my best work when I am under pressure? So, maybe I need the internet version of a C-clamp...
And, I really need to sit down and catch up with all of your blogs. CenturyDink is slowing our speed down to the point that we rarely get the speed we are paying for, and sometimes are at near dial up speeds. So, we get on early in the morning, or late(er) in the evening, and that helps. Some.
Rudee is doing well, if a little stove up, he is getting to be an old dog, and seems to have arthritis a bit. He is losing his hearing, and I think might be getting a little questionable in the sight department, too. But he's still a great dog, and we are working out the problems, to help him out as much as we can.
Ding, well, she has taken over the house, we have learned to cat proof what we don't want her into, and most of the time it works. (I am SO glad cats do not have opposable thumbs...) She and Husband get into mock battles, I find toy mice in the strangest places, she and I have conversations that would have me burned as a witch, in another life, and we all get along great. Now if we could just convince her 4 a.m. is not the time to figure out how the door works...
The llamas are doing well, they will be shorn next spring, but now, the heavy coat they have is serving them well. And eventually, when I have it made into roving, it will serve me well, too!
Lastly, Buzz is fine, fat (sorta) and so lovely fuzzy. Her winter coat would put a mink to shame. She loves being a barn cat, and except for one or two unwelcome visitors (guesses are either other cats or possibly raccoons), she has the run of the area, and seems to genuinely enjoy staying close, assaulting vermin, playing coy with Rudee, then getting scritch time with Husband and I.
So, here's hoping for a great 2016 to all, and may it be a happy one!
Yep, the cursor is blinking.
Yep... (sigh) (crickets chirping.)
I have looked at Face Book, I didn't write much there, either. I now have found that I know much more about some of my friends and family than I ever, EVER wanted to know. Until I found some controls, I found out about the heavy right wing political leanings of one family member, the heavy left wing leanings of a friend, the ultra Christian leanings of another friend, found out another friend checks in with her coven online, via FB. Yet another lets the virtual world know of his personal proclivities and choices, sexually.
Mr. Chatterbox, when you said I had a good seat in the asylum, you have not one idea how accurate you were!!!
I have been taking care of the animals, we had to finally remove several of the roosters, they had decided to get out of the pen and go, literally and figuratively, all around the house, leaving holes that they dug in one of the gardens, throwing dirt all about, or just... deposits. I was sort of sad to have to do it, Cop Car was one of the first, and worst, offenders. But, we have lots of chicken in the freezer now...
We had to take some wild turkeys to a local wildlife center, Husband had been walking up to check something for a neighbor, and some (censored) driver just blew through a small flock of turkeys crossing the road, with Husband in the road nearby! Didn't slow, didn't look to see if there was damage, nada. Husband and I took the two injured birds to a wildlife rehab place, and we found out they had pretty bad damage, but are recovering... They were kind of impressed how we'd put them in a kennel deep with hay. Um. Well, they like to hide, and they are used to grasses, figured it would put them a little more at ease...
After a ridiculous summer, with cracks in the ground that would catch feet, and nearly turn legs, (one crack in the back yard measured about 14 inches deep by about 5 inches wide at one point!), we are now getting rain. Lots of rain. All the cracks are closed, and our "half moat" around the house is draining a lot. In fact, I have to be careful feeding the llamas, as the drainage by the feed area is more than ankle deep, and I really don't care to fall into cold, running water... BUT, there is snow in the mountains, and we are not worrying about the wells in the area running dry. So it all balances out...
Husband bought me raised beds for my birthday, so I will be setting those up for use in the spring. I am hoping to have flowers on the side of the hill where the raised beds will be, to attract pollinators... And hopefully not too many deer. Meh.
And 2016? Major plans? Resolutions? Nothing much. I am going to scale back on one volunteer group I am with, I have come to the point I still like working on prep for the group, but it's been made clear to me that I am not "necessary", so I have decided to join with some other folks there, and let the proverbial chips fall where they proverbially may. It will help the ones I am joining with, so they can have some free time, it will help me, so I don't have to lead or round up anything, and will, hopefully, stop the continual headaches I have each year, from pounding my head against what's turned out to be a very hard stone wall...
A-Hem. "Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results," Yes, Mr. Einstein, I am finally listening.
I am seriously considering joining Nanowrimo, maybe then I will have motivation to get some sort of book like thing written, if I have a set time I need to do it in. Maybe. November is sometimes a busy month, however, so I am a bit gun shy. But, what have I been told, I do my best work when I am under pressure? So, maybe I need the internet version of a C-clamp...
And, I really need to sit down and catch up with all of your blogs. CenturyDink is slowing our speed down to the point that we rarely get the speed we are paying for, and sometimes are at near dial up speeds. So, we get on early in the morning, or late(er) in the evening, and that helps. Some.
Rudee is doing well, if a little stove up, he is getting to be an old dog, and seems to have arthritis a bit. He is losing his hearing, and I think might be getting a little questionable in the sight department, too. But he's still a great dog, and we are working out the problems, to help him out as much as we can.
Ding, well, she has taken over the house, we have learned to cat proof what we don't want her into, and most of the time it works. (I am SO glad cats do not have opposable thumbs...) She and Husband get into mock battles, I find toy mice in the strangest places, she and I have conversations that would have me burned as a witch, in another life, and we all get along great. Now if we could just convince her 4 a.m. is not the time to figure out how the door works...
The llamas are doing well, they will be shorn next spring, but now, the heavy coat they have is serving them well. And eventually, when I have it made into roving, it will serve me well, too!
Lastly, Buzz is fine, fat (sorta) and so lovely fuzzy. Her winter coat would put a mink to shame. She loves being a barn cat, and except for one or two unwelcome visitors (guesses are either other cats or possibly raccoons), she has the run of the area, and seems to genuinely enjoy staying close, assaulting vermin, playing coy with Rudee, then getting scritch time with Husband and I.
So, here's hoping for a great 2016 to all, and may it be a happy one!
Wednesday, April 29, 2015
Y is for...
YOU!
In my list of blessings, this one was really at first, rather unexpected. I started writing a blog, because I wanted to, but really had no thought that that many people would actually read it. I was using it more as a general journal. If someone read it, great.
Then I started having people comment. Wow. People were reading my blog! And I found other folk's blogs. I started commenting back. I learned about other peoples hobbies, lives, and loves. Some were truly new things for me, some were quite familiar.
And then my parents purchased computers. They wanted to read the blog, too. I am not sure, but I think this was the first webpage my Mom looked up by herself. (Way to go, Mom!) They have become much more proficient with computers, but let me know they've read the day's missive. (But neither have commented online... Yet.)
Husband reads my blog, too. I don't hear a lot from him about it, but occasional things he says leads me to believe that he doesn't miss much of what he reads!
So, Mom, Dad, Husband, love you all, and hope you enjoy my 'flights of fancy'. To all who read my blogs regularly, thank you! To those who comment, bless you! If you are just visiting, welcome, feel free to look around... And I hope to give you more to read and enjoy, as time goes on!
In my list of blessings, this one was really at first, rather unexpected. I started writing a blog, because I wanted to, but really had no thought that that many people would actually read it. I was using it more as a general journal. If someone read it, great.
Then I started having people comment. Wow. People were reading my blog! And I found other folk's blogs. I started commenting back. I learned about other peoples hobbies, lives, and loves. Some were truly new things for me, some were quite familiar.
And then my parents purchased computers. They wanted to read the blog, too. I am not sure, but I think this was the first webpage my Mom looked up by herself. (Way to go, Mom!) They have become much more proficient with computers, but let me know they've read the day's missive. (But neither have commented online... Yet.)
Husband reads my blog, too. I don't hear a lot from him about it, but occasional things he says leads me to believe that he doesn't miss much of what he reads!
So, Mom, Dad, Husband, love you all, and hope you enjoy my 'flights of fancy'. To all who read my blogs regularly, thank you! To those who comment, bless you! If you are just visiting, welcome, feel free to look around... And I hope to give you more to read and enjoy, as time goes on!
Thanks!
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
Colds, and musings on da blog...
Just so you know, colds are nasty, evil things. I swear they are some demented demons idea of a joke. I mean, you sneeze, blow snot every where, look like death warmed over way too long in the microwave on "high", and sound like a circus elephant with a clothespin on its nose.
And that's the GOOD points...
So, after nearly a full week of this, I am back to (relatively) normal again. I will assure all who care, I am not allergic to my new cat, (even though there was much arguing and disagreement from my Doctor... I went in for a pain problem, and we spent more time musing on mucus then my shoulder), and I am alive and doing well, if not blogging worth a darn.
Is it because I have nothing to blog about? No, in fact, I really need to start writing down notes so I don't forget things I want to blog about.
Is it because I don't have time... Well, yes and no. I really probably could manage my time at home better, there are times that I don't have a minute to sit in front of the computer, then there are times when I have the better part of a day, if I so want. But, like today, I have time at the sub (and remembered my dang password) so I have plenty of time to blog.
So, what's the hang up? Hmm.
I guess I don't get started, and so don't do anything. Then, when I do start, I tend to write just one blog, and leave it for much time, before I go back again. Huh.
This is where I think I will take a blog friend's advice, Messymimi had suggested some time ago that I might do several blogs at a sitting. I would then just queue them to come up one at a time. I think I should maybe start doing that. I know when I would have time to blog, most weeks, and then I could get several little blurbs out, letting people know that I had not, as of yet, at least, run over my computer with a truck.
You never know...
And that's the GOOD points...
So, after nearly a full week of this, I am back to (relatively) normal again. I will assure all who care, I am not allergic to my new cat, (even though there was much arguing and disagreement from my Doctor... I went in for a pain problem, and we spent more time musing on mucus then my shoulder), and I am alive and doing well, if not blogging worth a darn.
Is it because I have nothing to blog about? No, in fact, I really need to start writing down notes so I don't forget things I want to blog about.
Is it because I don't have time... Well, yes and no. I really probably could manage my time at home better, there are times that I don't have a minute to sit in front of the computer, then there are times when I have the better part of a day, if I so want. But, like today, I have time at the sub (and remembered my dang password) so I have plenty of time to blog.
So, what's the hang up? Hmm.
I guess I don't get started, and so don't do anything. Then, when I do start, I tend to write just one blog, and leave it for much time, before I go back again. Huh.
This is where I think I will take a blog friend's advice, Messymimi had suggested some time ago that I might do several blogs at a sitting. I would then just queue them to come up one at a time. I think I should maybe start doing that. I know when I would have time to blog, most weeks, and then I could get several little blurbs out, letting people know that I had not, as of yet, at least, run over my computer with a truck.
You never know...
Sunday, October 02, 2011
Returning. In which I compose a blog. Or compost one...
I actually had written "compost" to begin with. Not exactly an auspicious start, I would say.
Eh.
So, what have I been doing? Well, faire, obviously, since that's what the last (long, LOONG, LOOOONG ago) blog was about.
I finally took a make up class for the one day I had missed in the Citizens academy (cough2008coughcough), and then have been an Ambassador for a class. Which means that I make GALLONS of coffee, for a lot of very intense young (mostly male) people. Where I have seen several of the classes, people are chatting, interacting, and generally seem to be enjoying themselves, this group takes copious notes, and looks like there will be a pop quiz that is half their grade at the end. (One detective even commented on it during class. Only the other deputies laughed, and me. The class took more notes. Strange...)
I went to a fiber fest. Husband would probably have been upset had I brought these home... Actually, I think my ride might have too, since we were in a Prius, with a baby in the back... (But, Honey, it's yarn on the hoof!)
Eh.
So, what have I been doing? Well, faire, obviously, since that's what the last (long, LOONG, LOOOONG ago) blog was about.
I finally took a make up class for the one day I had missed in the Citizens academy (cough2008coughcough), and then have been an Ambassador for a class. Which means that I make GALLONS of coffee, for a lot of very intense young (mostly male) people. Where I have seen several of the classes, people are chatting, interacting, and generally seem to be enjoying themselves, this group takes copious notes, and looks like there will be a pop quiz that is half their grade at the end. (One detective even commented on it during class. Only the other deputies laughed, and me. The class took more notes. Strange...)
I went to a fiber fest. Husband would probably have been upset had I brought these home... Actually, I think my ride might have too, since we were in a Prius, with a baby in the back... (But, Honey, it's yarn on the hoof!)
I also saw several llamas. I was surprised, there were some babies, but the only llamas for sale, were adult males. This cutie kept flirting with me, I suspect he thought I had food in my carry bag. Or he has a thing for plump gals making goo goo eyes at him...
My usual shift at the substation. We had the computer melt down, so this month has been re-writing the newsletter from scratch, which includes digging up logos and such. That has been a bit of a challenge. One of the days I was there, I had a woman nearly demand I look up a license plate, because...
She wanted to buy the vehicle in question. (No, the Sheriff's Office, Police Department, etc. do not do this.)
I have picked quite a few vegetables, found out the kohlrabi is a hit with a friend of mine, so much so, that one day when I was gone, Husband offered several of the remaining ones to him. Uh, Husband, THOSE WERE MINE... Sheesh. There is a couple left, so I at least will get a little try of them... However, I do have several cups of vegetable soup from my garden that I have frozen for winter. Quasi-recipe, for any that want it:
Lazy Gardener's Veggie Soup.
5 cups water.
Vegetable Soup Mix (I used Knox)
Tomatoes.
Beans (I used Navy and Pinto)
Onions
Zucchini
Crookneck squash
Carrots
Cook beans until tender. Remove skins from tomatoes and chop. Chop all other veggies from garden. Put in pot, simmer until tender. Add beans, mix. Freeze. Add Garlic powder if Husband doesn't catch you.
Like I said, lazy. There may even have been more stuff than that, but that's what I can remember.
I finished an Edwardian Cape and matching hat for a new baby and her older sister (pictures to come.)
Finally got some blackberries picked and, for lack of a better term, mashed. I now have several cups of juice that Husband loves dearly on ice cream. I now only wish I had picked more...
I also picked apples...
(Tea box for scale.) I have most of this batch made into applesauce, and then I have some more to pick and sauce-ify. Then I can work on my Walnut trees, if I can beat the deer, squirrels, and turkeys.
And the rainy season is starting here, just in time for it to warm up, figuratively speaking, for Halloween. Most costumes match the raincoats, around here... Halloween falls on a Monday this year, I have decided if I get my act together, I might go as a hippie this year. We shall see.
Baby Hal has been (frantically knocking wood), doing quite well. There seems to be some problems behind the keyboard, but it has been improving, and it certainly does much better than our TV. Our news has almost entirely been from the computer of late, which tells you the quality of our reception here...
I also started a Twitter account, but it looks like it will probably be as hit and miss as the regular blog. I guess I have to realize that I have to actually WRITE something for it to show up, since I can't blog or tweet by telekinesis. Pity, that.
I am also knitting... A scarf or two, and a blanket, for my charities. Some socks for myself. A present for Mom. A baby blanket for a different charity. A new sweater for me.
And I am still working off and on on my book. Right now more in my head than on paper, but it's still in the queue, at any rate.
That doesn't take into account the normal I have to get groceries, my spinning days, and just running around when we need something.
Still exercising, too, Rudee is getting arthritis, so I am doing some things to supplement, as we can't walk as much. Well, he can't anyway.
So, I guess, perhaps I should shut up, and check some other blogs... Certainly been away long enough!
SHHEEEESH!
And just 'cuz, more pictures of veggies.
Saturday, July 09, 2011
Hang on just a little longer...
Well, now that I have the cure for being able to write on my blog, and write comments on others' blogs...
My computer died.
I believe this computer must be Hindu. It keeps dying and coming back in a slightly different form each time. (sigh) So, right now, I have nursed it back to working again, for this short period, and will hopefully be able to get back on track for read/posting on blogs, as well as actually sitting down and writing my own! I mean, I haven't written about the garden, about stepping down from one of my volunteer jobs, about... nothin'! I really need to get going here on writing.
I have two cute things I will put down before I forget:
In the "I am so glad I am not the only one that does this" department, I was at the substation, and we happened to be talking about gardening, and what people had planted, how late the planting season was, and so on. I mentioned that I had raised several plants from seed, and mentioned one of them being eggplant.
My boss piped up with "Oh? You grew an eggplant from an egg?"
(She did quickly correct herself, but we all assured her that that phrasing was just hilarious. I am sorely tempted to get an eggplant, and put it in an eggshell for her sometime! )
Next incident, we had 4th of July dinner at Mom and Dad's. Mom had several beverages at the table, including raspberry lemonade, and tea. Dad looked at the tea, and the lemonade, and said, wonder what that would taste like? Poured it about half and half, and I told him that would be an "Arnold Palmer" if it was regular lemonade. I then thought about the pinkish color of the drink, and added, "I think that, however, might be 'Arnold Palmer in a Tutu'...
I have been reading several books, (TV is on the fritz, computer isn't far behind. And people wonder why I don't care much for technology on occasion...), if you want to have a pretty good mystery read, I recommend Sue Henry. I just read Murder on the Yukon Quest, and, like her other books, it was a story that goes from sedate to thrill ride in short order. I wouldn't recommend this as a first book, although the books can be read as stand alone, she has a lot of character background that would make more sense if you read them in order.
These aren't 'cozy' books, she has her main characters get hurt, and blood and gore, but not to the point of ridiculousness, but if someone is shot, she doesn't hide it under the rug, so to speak. So, there is my 2 cent review. I did read some others, but except for a cookie recipe that I want to try, I can't even remember the title at the moment, so I guess that I wouldn't call it a gripping novel... Cookie Murders, or something like that, it was definitely a 'cozy'. Not that I don't like cozies, just some are... Not as thought provoking.
So, hopefully, I will be blogging and commenting more tomorrow! Or soon, anyway...
(I hope...)
My computer died.
I believe this computer must be Hindu. It keeps dying and coming back in a slightly different form each time. (sigh) So, right now, I have nursed it back to working again, for this short period, and will hopefully be able to get back on track for read/posting on blogs, as well as actually sitting down and writing my own! I mean, I haven't written about the garden, about stepping down from one of my volunteer jobs, about... nothin'! I really need to get going here on writing.
I have two cute things I will put down before I forget:
In the "I am so glad I am not the only one that does this" department, I was at the substation, and we happened to be talking about gardening, and what people had planted, how late the planting season was, and so on. I mentioned that I had raised several plants from seed, and mentioned one of them being eggplant.
My boss piped up with "Oh? You grew an eggplant from an egg?"
(She did quickly correct herself, but we all assured her that that phrasing was just hilarious. I am sorely tempted to get an eggplant, and put it in an eggshell for her sometime! )
Next incident, we had 4th of July dinner at Mom and Dad's. Mom had several beverages at the table, including raspberry lemonade, and tea. Dad looked at the tea, and the lemonade, and said, wonder what that would taste like? Poured it about half and half, and I told him that would be an "Arnold Palmer" if it was regular lemonade. I then thought about the pinkish color of the drink, and added, "I think that, however, might be 'Arnold Palmer in a Tutu'...
I have been reading several books, (TV is on the fritz, computer isn't far behind. And people wonder why I don't care much for technology on occasion...), if you want to have a pretty good mystery read, I recommend Sue Henry. I just read Murder on the Yukon Quest, and, like her other books, it was a story that goes from sedate to thrill ride in short order. I wouldn't recommend this as a first book, although the books can be read as stand alone, she has a lot of character background that would make more sense if you read them in order.
These aren't 'cozy' books, she has her main characters get hurt, and blood and gore, but not to the point of ridiculousness, but if someone is shot, she doesn't hide it under the rug, so to speak. So, there is my 2 cent review. I did read some others, but except for a cookie recipe that I want to try, I can't even remember the title at the moment, so I guess that I wouldn't call it a gripping novel... Cookie Murders, or something like that, it was definitely a 'cozy'. Not that I don't like cozies, just some are... Not as thought provoking.
So, hopefully, I will be blogging and commenting more tomorrow! Or soon, anyway...
(I hope...)
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Responses. Decisions. Blather. We got it all, folks.
I was out of the house and on the go a lot this week, so I didn't get the chance to respond when I put up the answers to my last blog. So:
Sharon: I found out, via Wikipedia, trust at your own risk, that Grape Nuts have no grapes, nor nuts. They, in fact, have barley and wheat in them. The reason given for the moniker was that Mr. Kellogg, the guy making the stuff, thought sucrose was made during the process, which he called "grape sugar". Then he ground the cereal in a grinder, calling the end products "nuts". Hence, Grape-Nuts.
Louise: :)
messymimi: Yes, Rudee is quite astounding on what he does when highly animated. Even more so on ice!
And thank you!
Judy's Corner: Might try that, as well, but I tend to have a pen and paper at nearly all times, where I don't always have the computer. (This never ceases to amaze my "boss", who rarely writes anything. If she can't type it, it usually doesn't get written down...) But I will have to find out what form of 'saving' I will use. Right now, all I have is my poor little broken down computer in the back I use for a typewriter, that uses 3" floppy disks... Composting? Yes, I would know about that. The neighbors wondered why it snowed just on my garden one year, after I'd put all the miscellaneous paper I had shredded on there! LOL
John Gray: YES! You are lucky. Our hen house is shaded, and I have to cover the windows during winter. Even with the windows having clear plastic, it's gloomy within. I think that makes the gals less inclined to lay for a bit. But they are back to nearly full production now! And chicks are coming up for sale soon, so I am going to get more feathers, for Fur 'n Feathers Farm! (But, I do envy you about mid December...)
So. Decisions.
I took the 'write everyday for a month' pledge. And now, after saying I would go back to only Wednesdays and Sundays... I find I think I want to write more than that. Probably not everyday, (definitely not much on Mondays, that's my one "busy" day), but I hope to write (and comment on other's) blogs more than I have been since January started...
I have also decided not to do the country fried 5K.
Yet.
I said I would this spring. I am up to a mile, but after this week, where I was walking a lot, I found I don't feel in shape enough yet. Husband has been sort of my sounding board, sometimes he registers that I am overdoing it before I do. For example, he has been encouraging me to use my cane when I go out and have to be on the go.
I have had selective hearing about this... To my deficit.
Well, he took me out for an early Valentine's day treat, (it was to a Sportsman's Show. I asked. He didn't care if he went or not. Yes, I am crazy. Yes, he is wonderful), and he suggested that I really needed to use the cane.
Grumble.
It's really annoying when he's right. I went through the whole day, and was TIRED. I was not, however, in PAIN. This is an astoundingly big difference, folks! Especially when we thought it was 3 large buildings. Nope, it was FOUR large buildings. Walking all the way, most of the day. I didn't really do much the next day, let me tell you! But I am finding that that stupid a$$ cane is a relief.
Now if I could just tolerate having the stupid thing as a companion. (Maybe I should get this one. Or this one? Perhaps this one? But I would not abide this girly girl one... Just so NOT me.) The cane I have needs some repair. I have been getting slivers from it, so sanding and repainting are in order. Husband rolled his eyes when I suggested painting it white with a curling red stripe to make a 'candy cane'. But if I used it, not him, I don't know that he would care. But, I would probably be only inclined to use that during Christmas. So, we shall see where I go with it. If anywhere. I find it annoying to be 43 and need to worry about a cane. Blurble. Guess it could be much, much worse. (And it was supposed to be, but I had some fantastic doctors...)
Finished two projects. Messymimi, I finally have your Christmas stocking finished, so I will email soon for some info. (Just roaring right along, hurrying, yes? Only took me HOW MANY months to finish the project?) Finished a pair of socks for myself. That part's sort of funny, everyone lurves them the color of the socks, but when I looked it up, the color isn't there. Whether it's discontinued, not made this time of year, what, but it's well known yarn company, so I assume it's just been discontinued. Oh, well. Guess that makes them rare and collectable, right?
Right now, I am trying to get a baby blanket or two ahead.
And my "boss" has asked that I knit more hats for the Christmas party this year. She said that the kids liked the ones I had made. Eeep. I think I hear a call for hats that I might make into something here on the blog, but I will have to see what my boss says. Let's just say, 50 hats was a lot for me to knit, and I really have a few other projects I should finish. Like baby blankets for my charity, since I promised them first.
I really need 12 more hands for knitting. Or several pairs of Mrs. Weasley's magic knitting needles from Harry Potter...
Sharon: I found out, via Wikipedia, trust at your own risk, that Grape Nuts have no grapes, nor nuts. They, in fact, have barley and wheat in them. The reason given for the moniker was that Mr. Kellogg, the guy making the stuff, thought sucrose was made during the process, which he called "grape sugar". Then he ground the cereal in a grinder, calling the end products "nuts". Hence, Grape-Nuts.
Louise: :)
messymimi: Yes, Rudee is quite astounding on what he does when highly animated. Even more so on ice!
And thank you!
Judy's Corner: Might try that, as well, but I tend to have a pen and paper at nearly all times, where I don't always have the computer. (This never ceases to amaze my "boss", who rarely writes anything. If she can't type it, it usually doesn't get written down...) But I will have to find out what form of 'saving' I will use. Right now, all I have is my poor little broken down computer in the back I use for a typewriter, that uses 3" floppy disks... Composting? Yes, I would know about that. The neighbors wondered why it snowed just on my garden one year, after I'd put all the miscellaneous paper I had shredded on there! LOL
John Gray: YES! You are lucky. Our hen house is shaded, and I have to cover the windows during winter. Even with the windows having clear plastic, it's gloomy within. I think that makes the gals less inclined to lay for a bit. But they are back to nearly full production now! And chicks are coming up for sale soon, so I am going to get more feathers, for Fur 'n Feathers Farm! (But, I do envy you about mid December...)
So. Decisions.
I took the 'write everyday for a month' pledge. And now, after saying I would go back to only Wednesdays and Sundays... I find I think I want to write more than that. Probably not everyday, (definitely not much on Mondays, that's my one "busy" day), but I hope to write (and comment on other's) blogs more than I have been since January started...
I have also decided not to do the country fried 5K.
Yet.
I said I would this spring. I am up to a mile, but after this week, where I was walking a lot, I found I don't feel in shape enough yet. Husband has been sort of my sounding board, sometimes he registers that I am overdoing it before I do. For example, he has been encouraging me to use my cane when I go out and have to be on the go.
I have had selective hearing about this... To my deficit.
Well, he took me out for an early Valentine's day treat, (it was to a Sportsman's Show. I asked. He didn't care if he went or not. Yes, I am crazy. Yes, he is wonderful), and he suggested that I really needed to use the cane.
Grumble.
It's really annoying when he's right. I went through the whole day, and was TIRED. I was not, however, in PAIN. This is an astoundingly big difference, folks! Especially when we thought it was 3 large buildings. Nope, it was FOUR large buildings. Walking all the way, most of the day. I didn't really do much the next day, let me tell you! But I am finding that that stupid a$$ cane is a relief.
Now if I could just tolerate having the stupid thing as a companion. (Maybe I should get this one. Or this one? Perhaps this one? But I would not abide this girly girl one... Just so NOT me.) The cane I have needs some repair. I have been getting slivers from it, so sanding and repainting are in order. Husband rolled his eyes when I suggested painting it white with a curling red stripe to make a 'candy cane'. But if I used it, not him, I don't know that he would care. But, I would probably be only inclined to use that during Christmas. So, we shall see where I go with it. If anywhere. I find it annoying to be 43 and need to worry about a cane. Blurble. Guess it could be much, much worse. (And it was supposed to be, but I had some fantastic doctors...)
Finished two projects. Messymimi, I finally have your Christmas stocking finished, so I will email soon for some info. (Just roaring right along, hurrying, yes? Only took me HOW MANY months to finish the project?) Finished a pair of socks for myself. That part's sort of funny, everyone lurves them the color of the socks, but when I looked it up, the color isn't there. Whether it's discontinued, not made this time of year, what, but it's well known yarn company, so I assume it's just been discontinued. Oh, well. Guess that makes them rare and collectable, right?
Right now, I am trying to get a baby blanket or two ahead.
And my "boss" has asked that I knit more hats for the Christmas party this year. She said that the kids liked the ones I had made. Eeep. I think I hear a call for hats that I might make into something here on the blog, but I will have to see what my boss says. Let's just say, 50 hats was a lot for me to knit, and I really have a few other projects I should finish. Like baby blankets for my charity, since I promised them first.
I really need 12 more hands for knitting. Or several pairs of Mrs. Weasley's magic knitting needles from Harry Potter...
Monday, January 31, 2011
Thank you, thank you, and you, too! reverb 31
Ok, plan B is in effect, folks...
I was working on my computer. It crashed, twice. I fixed it. Twice. I then received a notice from my virus protection that IT wasn't working. No more nothing on that, until I can figure out what happened, and how to fix same. So, I figured, well, I will go in and watch TV. And promptly had that go mammaries skyward.
I have decided to stealth on Husband's computer while he isn't home. I will try NOT to change anything, but I really want to make my 31 days of blogging complete. I suppose it's just the darn principle of the thing now...
So, I want to thank everyone that has been following my navel gazing for this month. I think I will return to my Wednesday and Sunday blogging. This was a slow month (hence the reason I chose for a blog everyday. Even then, I cut it close on a few of 'em...) I know I didn't put responses on a lot of the stuff people wrote to me, and I didn't like that, I try to respond when people say something, and it felt like I wasn't able to as easily. Probably could have, but just seemed like a bit to do... (Excuses, excuses...) :)
Huh. I might write on other days, as well, when the mood strikes me, but I found I like reading other people's blogs and writing comments, so that will probably be more the 'thing o' the day'. And there is that book I keep talking about. I don't know about growing extra sets of arms to type, knit and so on, so I guess perhaps I need to get the time in on the book. Silly thing still won't write itself, no matter how much I try to convince my computer...
And here, for... the last one of the month, is reverb 31.
My core story? Gee, make it an easy one. My core story is what I am, and what I do. There's no mystical wonderment, no grand enlightenment (that I know of), it's just a bit of this, a touch of that, and see whence it goes.
You know how that people put things on Facebook, and so on that later comes back to bite them on the posterior? I guess I am sorta boring. I have very little that I would avoid putting on FB. (I wouldn't put my pictures on there anyway, but that's because of the agreement with my husband, more than anything else...)
I suppose my core story also is how I feel and react about things. I have been called a lot of things. (Recently been called a witch quite a bit, but I really feel that it's not meant in an insulting way, if you can believe that.) I can be upset with the tags, titles, and names, (Ma'am sort bugged me... I am a ma'am, already?), but I can learn from them, too, if I make an effort. Am I being called stubborn? Is that because I am being obnoxious? Or am I finally learning how to stand up for myself? Am I called shy? That could be because I am shy, but it can also be because I have found people intensely interesting to listen to, watch, and (try to) understand. Fascinating stuff, if you pay attention.
And for the bonus question, I saw no unexpected threads, animals, writing, health (both physical and mental), my family. Yep that's the biggies.
Oh, and Tom Petty. How'd he get in there? Heh.
So, if there is a blog here tomorrow, great. If not, I will see you Wednesday. If I don't manage to destroy any more computer stuff.
I was working on my computer. It crashed, twice. I fixed it. Twice. I then received a notice from my virus protection that IT wasn't working. No more nothing on that, until I can figure out what happened, and how to fix same. So, I figured, well, I will go in and watch TV. And promptly had that go mammaries skyward.
I have decided to stealth on Husband's computer while he isn't home. I will try NOT to change anything, but I really want to make my 31 days of blogging complete. I suppose it's just the darn principle of the thing now...
So, I want to thank everyone that has been following my navel gazing for this month. I think I will return to my Wednesday and Sunday blogging. This was a slow month (hence the reason I chose for a blog everyday. Even then, I cut it close on a few of 'em...) I know I didn't put responses on a lot of the stuff people wrote to me, and I didn't like that, I try to respond when people say something, and it felt like I wasn't able to as easily. Probably could have, but just seemed like a bit to do... (Excuses, excuses...) :)
Huh. I might write on other days, as well, when the mood strikes me, but I found I like reading other people's blogs and writing comments, so that will probably be more the 'thing o' the day'. And there is that book I keep talking about. I don't know about growing extra sets of arms to type, knit and so on, so I guess perhaps I need to get the time in on the book. Silly thing still won't write itself, no matter how much I try to convince my computer...
And here, for... the last one of the month, is reverb 31.
***
Prompt: Core story. What central story is at the core of you, and how do you share it with the world? (Bonus: Consider your reflections from this month. Look through them to discover a thread you may not have noticed until today.)My core story? Gee, make it an easy one. My core story is what I am, and what I do. There's no mystical wonderment, no grand enlightenment (that I know of), it's just a bit of this, a touch of that, and see whence it goes.
You know how that people put things on Facebook, and so on that later comes back to bite them on the posterior? I guess I am sorta boring. I have very little that I would avoid putting on FB. (I wouldn't put my pictures on there anyway, but that's because of the agreement with my husband, more than anything else...)
I suppose my core story also is how I feel and react about things. I have been called a lot of things. (Recently been called a witch quite a bit, but I really feel that it's not meant in an insulting way, if you can believe that.) I can be upset with the tags, titles, and names, (Ma'am sort bugged me... I am a ma'am, already?), but I can learn from them, too, if I make an effort. Am I being called stubborn? Is that because I am being obnoxious? Or am I finally learning how to stand up for myself? Am I called shy? That could be because I am shy, but it can also be because I have found people intensely interesting to listen to, watch, and (try to) understand. Fascinating stuff, if you pay attention.
And for the bonus question, I saw no unexpected threads, animals, writing, health (both physical and mental), my family. Yep that's the biggies.
Oh, and Tom Petty. How'd he get in there? Heh.
So, if there is a blog here tomorrow, great. If not, I will see you Wednesday. If I don't manage to destroy any more computer stuff.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
This is a blog, yes, it's only a blog...reverb 25
So, we are winding down the daily blogging. I have found this to be an educational experience, but I have also come to the decision that daily is a bit much. Let's face it, I have to come up with things, and on days like this, where the most exciting thing I did was laundry, things are a bit harder to get wound up writing about...
I have been looking on line a lot lately, it's been really weird on TV, can't get most of the channels. One or two programs I want to see don't seem to be online, but I think I will live. Very annoying, but I will live. The strange thing, I don't know why, but I am watching TV less and have been reading a lot. This isn't good or bad, just an observation. Husband has been doing much the same. (And since I have finally, but finally managed to get his subscription to a magazine he wanted, he will have more to read!)
So, I think I will call this my blog, and see what's on the... (inter)Tube.
This is okay, except for one detail. Husband and I agreed, I don't put photos of me online.
I will put this one up, instead.
Let's see, the image, my plants that I had just taken out of the green house and planted, taken by me, on my porch.
And what it reveals about me. Obviously, that I grow tomatoes, and will use dang near any container when I need to plant something. But I suspect that's not what the question was going for.
I suppose it looks like my ideas of myself. I am not finished "growing". Learning, acting, DOing, getting new ideas. And look at the amount of plants. I don't do one thing. Just off the top of my head, knitting, my writing, caring for my animals, gardening, walking, getting back to the guitar, (and still looking for the darn video... grrr...), blogging, drawing, volunteering. And that is most certainly NOT an exhaustive list.
And the greens. Living, growing, trying to improve myself, become more than I am. (And I recycle a lot, if you want to go that route.)
And the kennel. My animals are always about, somewhere! :)
I am sure I could think of several more words, (I don't think it's a thousand, yet...), but this at least gives you an idea of my thoughts on it.
I have been looking on line a lot lately, it's been really weird on TV, can't get most of the channels. One or two programs I want to see don't seem to be online, but I think I will live. Very annoying, but I will live. The strange thing, I don't know why, but I am watching TV less and have been reading a lot. This isn't good or bad, just an observation. Husband has been doing much the same. (And since I have finally, but finally managed to get his subscription to a magazine he wanted, he will have more to read!)
So, I think I will call this my blog, and see what's on the... (inter)Tube.
***
Prompt: Photo - a present to yourself. Sift through all the photos of you from the past year. Choose one that best captures you; either who you are, or who you strive to be. Find the shot of you that is worth a thousand words. Share the image, who shot it, where, and what it best reveals about you.
I will put this one up, instead.
Let's see, the image, my plants that I had just taken out of the green house and planted, taken by me, on my porch.
And what it reveals about me. Obviously, that I grow tomatoes, and will use dang near any container when I need to plant something. But I suspect that's not what the question was going for.
I suppose it looks like my ideas of myself. I am not finished "growing". Learning, acting, DOing, getting new ideas. And look at the amount of plants. I don't do one thing. Just off the top of my head, knitting, my writing, caring for my animals, gardening, walking, getting back to the guitar, (and still looking for the darn video... grrr...), blogging, drawing, volunteering. And that is most certainly NOT an exhaustive list.
And the greens. Living, growing, trying to improve myself, become more than I am. (And I recycle a lot, if you want to go that route.)
And the kennel. My animals are always about, somewhere! :)
I am sure I could think of several more words, (I don't think it's a thousand, yet...), but this at least gives you an idea of my thoughts on it.
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