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iris lilies
9-14-18, 10:23am
We are in Pittsburgh of all places and have found the most wonderful architectural gems. The enormous stained glass windows in the Heinz Chapel that represent world civilization and are 50% women in history are unique. The Cathedral for Learning and its Nationality classrooms are also special. I never thought I would say that I have to come back to Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh and nBaltimore have architecture very much like St. Louis. I will bet there are clones of my house in both cities. For that reason, I have wanted to visit Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh had some beautiful churches- even in the suburbs- when I was growing up. Lots of stained glass and superb stonework. Pgh.Plate Glass "cathedral" is new and beautiful. The inclines, too! The aviary, Phipps conservatory and all the libraries. I haven't been back since 1990...lots of changes for the good I think.
IL, I never thought of St. Louis having similar architecture to Pgh. and Baltimore. Pgh. and Baltimore even have similar speech patterns. I assumed it was that they had the same immigrant groups settling-lots of Italians, Czech, Hungarian craftspeople.
iris lilies
9-14-18, 11:31am
IL, I never thought of St. Louis having similar architecture to Pgh. and Baltimore. Pgh. and Baltimore even have similar speech patterns. I assumed it was that they had the same immigrant groups settling-lots of Italians, Czech, Hungarian craftspeople.
Our architecture here is the most Eastern of the Midwest.
One reason I loved The
Wire (tv series) is because it all look like it was shot in St. Louis. It actually was shot in Baltimore.
St. Louis is often said to be a confused city because we are Eastern in our architecture, Midwestern in our climate, a little bit Southern in our culture.
Teacher Terry
9-14-18, 11:36am
My sister and I spent 4 days in St. Louis about 30 years ago and it was a nice city.
Gardenarian
9-21-18, 1:33pm
DD got into the very selective chamber choir she had her heart set on. Her voice is an amazing instrument; I'm so happy she's getting back into singing and appreciating and sharing this wonderful gift!
Teacher Terry
9-21-18, 1:38pm
G, that’s wonderful!
That's great! Good for her!
What a great accomplishment! I'm happy for you and your DD!
I got a rejection from a publisher for my picture book, but more encouraging than the last one...this left the door open to submit other manuscripts!
Teacher Terry
9-21-18, 7:35pm
Well that’s a bummer. Keep trying.
I look at it as a rave, because I never dreamed I could write picture books, finish them and submit. So, it's a good thing. JK Rowling had lots of rejections....
Teacher Terry
9-21-18, 11:18pm
Yes now I totally remember that and it only takes one!
Gardenarian
9-23-18, 4:51am
Thank you! She gets music from her dad's DNA. I would love to have that kind of magical gift myself - but I get a lot of vicarious pleasure from it :)
Fall, fall, glorious fall with crisp temperatures and low humidity, perfect for all things active.
iris lilies
10-9-18, 10:54pm
This is not exactly a rave, but it was something odd that was interesting and I liked it. I was strolling around a local antique mall and I ran into product tags that were hand written. The handwriting was very very similar to my own handwriting. It was so odd! Two or three words on the level were exactly as I would write them.
iris lilies
10-9-18, 10:55pm
Fall, fall, glorious fall with crisp temperatures and low humidity, perfect for all things active.
Really wish you would stop hogging all of that crisp cool weather.:)
Teacher Terry
10-9-18, 11:05pm
Ours is awesome!
Williamsmith
10-10-18, 4:28am
I awoke in the middle of the night as usual but this time pleasantly had warm memories of my youngest son who is far away and whom I greatly miss. He recently told me he is coming home for a week in December to hunt deer with me and his brother. I don’t care about the hunting, I just want to sit with him in the woods like we used to when he was a child. Not needing to really say anything but just sharing time together. I want to answer silly questions, share a hot cup of cocoa and a pop tart and pass him a hand warmer. I miss him and regret not being around more as a father. I’m thankful though for the capacity to recall good times with him.
Really wish you would stop hogging all of that crisp cool weather.:)
Well today it will be near 80, but Friday when we plan to hit some haunted houses will be crisp and cool again.
Teacher Terry
10-10-18, 10:57am
WS, it’s sad that in the past many dads had to put the kids on the back burner for their job. My ex had to also. I loved to hunt with my dad. He rarely shot anything. He hunted pheasants and rabbits so I loved the time we spent walking and talking. We would take the dogs to flush out the prey and just enjoyed being together. As a kid it didn’t bother me when he killed something and we ate it. Now of course I couldn’t do that.
Gardenarian
10-12-18, 12:51am
Picked out a very cute pumpkin today :)
Teacher Terry
10-12-18, 12:50pm
We spent the day at farms eating goodies and looking at the vendors stuff. Also did some wine tasting. Ran into my youngest son BF from high school and his parents who live in Kansas. Small world!
Gardenarian
10-19-18, 2:09pm
I wanted to give myself some flowers (difficult week) and there was a gorgeous huge yellow mum outside the food co-op. It said $4.99 and I figured, it will last longer than roses. When it rang up it was only $1.50 :)
So I got to pamper myself and feel frugal at the same time. Nice!
My husband cut one huge hydrangea bloom , tucked it in a beer bottle and put it on the kitchen table for me to see when I came home from a 4 day reunion of my 6th grade friends to celebrate our 70th birthdays! What a fantastic week and husband!
iris lilies
10-26-18, 12:49am
I am going to rave about myself! I experienced satisfaction tonight because my past work of the year came to fruition.
I had gone through an updating process of my neighborhood organization’s bylaws, a tedious little process that interested few.
And then a piece of business came up suddenly where we needed to call a special meeting. We have not had a special meeting in at least 20 years. It was a special meeting to spend a shit ton of money, and It was controversial.
This is the time that challenges bylaws. But —yay! Our bylaws were up-to-date, they were easy to find on our website, and officers were able to read them, talk about them, and understand our limits and prescribed process.
One year ago today We could not have carried out this special meeting because we actually didn’t even know who is on the Board of Directors, the bylaws were chaotic.
Frankly, I do not like being the bylaws queen because it worries me I’m going to miss something important. Our bylaws are silent about so many things, but in this I am learning to read state statutes and Roberts rules of order. I keep thinking in my work on the board that someone more senior, a wise person, should be taking on this role. Then it occurrs to me that I am the senior person! All hail me!
Yes, you should be impressed with your kingdom bylaws queen.
SteveinMN
10-26-18, 8:25am
All hail IL! Well done!
You should be proud, Iris Lily, if not downright smug!
My neighbor's house went up for sale, and sold in about two weeks for 4K over the asking price, which I found rather jaw-dropping. So I'm happy to see that the oft-predicted Seattle-area real estate slump isn't happening. Yet. I guess it's holding off until I put Chez Decay on the market...:~)
Jane, where will you go after you sell?
Jane, where will you go after you sell?
I try not to think about that. It would be logical to return to the Portland area where I have friends and family, but I'm strongly bonded to this area, where I essentially have no one. I'll probably just put off the move until death does its part. :devil:
iris lilies
10-30-18, 11:05am
This is either a rave or rant.
Rant, because we have had 4 interactions with AT and T about their screwups in combinng all of our service on one account.
Rave, because we got $10 off for jumping through their idiotic hoops.
SteveinMN
10-30-18, 12:09pm
$10 is nice, but how many hours of your life did that take?
I hate having to argue with telecomm companies.
iris lilies
10-30-18, 12:30pm
$10 is nice, but how many hours of your life did that take?
I hate having to argue with telecomm companies.
i HATE problem solving with them since they do not ever solve the proble. No, $10 wasnt enough. One of these communications required that DH get into the car, drive to the nearest office, pay the bill, and return home. 40 minutes.
The sky is that glorious blue of fall...the leaves are starting to turn- a little late this year, but I'll take it!!!
Had a wonderful double rave today.
As I was waiting in line to buy a ticket to the encore of the Metopera HD transmission of Aida, a woman in front asked it I wanted a ticket. She had bought a series of tickets to the HD productions for her mother who could not attend today. She would take no money but was glad that the ticket wasn't wasted.
The whole production of Aida was truly wonderful, the hour drive there was uneventful despite the construction and I came home to take a long walk with no rain after so many rainy days.
Had enough time afterwards to vacuum the house, make some homemade mustard and did a load of laundry as well. Very productive day!
iris lilies
11-3-18, 9:06pm
That Sounds like a great experience, razz. Good going!
iris lilies
11-3-18, 9:07pm
Yesterday the sun was out for a few hours and I drove around Hermann for some minutes and was knocked over by how beautiful the fall color is, it is just stunning.
catherine
11-3-18, 11:12pm
Yesterday the sun was out for a few hours and I drove around Hermann for some minutes and was knocked over by how beautiful the fall color is, it is just stunning.
Yes, it came late this year, but worth waiting for!! It's been raining almost steadily here, but DH and I went for a drive on Wednesday in the late afternoon. The sun was breaking through clouds on the west, which created a surreal luminescence from the foliage. It was gorgeous
Williamsmith
11-4-18, 10:08am
I was pretty much growing up in the seventies. As music was the prime ingredient for inspiration for most teens of that era, what I listened to continues to influence my life. Last night, my daughter, SIL, wife and I attended a concert by Elton John. He is on a farewell tour called the “Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour”. Having been on the road and in the music business for over fifty years and selling over 200 million records....he wants to spend more time with his family. He played for three hours. Almost every song brought back the feelings they inspired forty to fifty years ago. Cool night.
Teacher Terry
11-4-18, 11:36am
I saw Elton 20 years ago and he was awesome.
I was pretty much growing up in the seventies. As music was the prime ingredient for inspiration for most teens of that era, what I listened to continues to influence my life. Last night, my daughter, SIL, wife and I attended a concert by Elton John. He is on a farewell tour called the “Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour”. Having been on the road and in the music business for over fifty years and selling over 200 million records....he wants to spend more time with his family. He played for three hours. Almost every song brought back the feelings they inspired forty to fifty years ago. Cool night.
Wow! Lucky you. At one point I was going to buy tickets to this tour for DH for his birthday, which was three weeks ago. Elton John music is tightly woven into my memories of our early days dating, and of course well past the early days. And one of my favorite songs is "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road." There are so many great songs, but I also really love one of his later hits, "I Want Love." I'm happy for you that it was well worth the ticket.
Williamsmith
11-4-18, 7:09pm
Wow! Lucky you. At one point I was going to buy tickets to this tour for DH for his birthday, which was three weeks ago. Elton John music is tightly woven into my memories of our early days dating, and of course well past the early days. And one of my favorite songs is "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road." There are so many great songs, but I also really love one of his later hits, "I Want Love." I'm happy for you that it was well worth the ticket.
I think you would enjoy this concert immensely. His encore songs were “Your Song” and then “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road”. As well, he played the other song you mention, “I want love.” And the stage had a wonderful screen that showed a related music video along with the song. Photo attached.....
2570
What a great concert! Yesterday I heard a wren chirping, singing exuberantly. I peered around the corner of the porch and there it was! We had a wee chat and off it flew. The brightness of that song, the glorious blue sky and sun made for a perfect moment.
Williamsmith
11-5-18, 10:59am
What a great concert! Yesterday I heard a wren chirping, singing exuberantly. I peered around the corner of the porch and there it was! We had a wee chat and off it flew. The brightness of that song, the glorious blue sky and sun made for a perfect moment.
My father loved to build wren houses. He said that a wren will build a nest in almost anything you can slap together but it was almost always something with a pitched roof like an A-frame, a small hole and a little convenient rod under the hole for the wren to perch on.
I love being triggered into remembering those redeeming qualities of my father. Thank you.
I got cleared from the orthopedic surgeon yesterday at my first post-op appointment to start occupational therapy on my wrist! First appointment is next Tuesday. Meanwhile, I managed a full day of driving to and running around Santa Fe with errands, lunch with a friend visiting from Michigan and four loads of laundry at the laundromat. That alone just did me in for the day; I am completely exhausted but now I have three weeks worth of clean clothes.
sweetana3
11-13-18, 6:50am
Made an apple pie with bottom and top crust and it turned out delicious. Dont know why I have always been afraid of it. Used this recipe and a Trader Jo crust set. Note: my husband finally got mad at the crusts on his earlier pie and just balled it up and rerolled it. TJ crusts start out very dry but get softer when warm.
https://smittenkitchen.com/2018/10/even-more-perfect-apple-pie/
We have such a wonderful library. If we move I will miss it very much. Got three promising books and Shadow of a Doubt and The Third Man to rewatch.
I am so enjoying going to our local pool for length and leisure swimming. I started recently to try it out. I have been welcomed by other participants some of whom I have known for years.
I tread water for 15 mins, 10 mins of chin lifts alternating with leg exercises and 15 mins of lengths 'riding a bike' motion using a noodle or floatation belt. A few mins of stretches, a wonderful shower and I am home by 9am to start my day. I get the special senior rate of $77 for 3 months and access options 4x/day during the week. I walk around my neighbourhood for 30-40 min in the afternoon. Wonderful!
iris lilies
11-13-18, 3:22pm
Cautiously raving here—
there have been two problematic fixes on our house that we, DH and me, cannot converse about. They are like The Black Hole of Marriage. Both are physical issues with our city house, one small and one huge.
dH finally, after 20 years, fixed the small one. It was a security system light and wiring that hung out our front door porch. He refused for 20 years to touch it, to do anything to it after halfway installing it. For a reason I no longer remember, it was somehow my fault (in his mind) that system ended up this way.
Anyway, he fixed it by just removing the damn thing in his work to paint and fix up the porch.YAY!!! While technically I,could have done that myself years ago, I did not dare touch it due to Marital Harmony Retention.
So, the second Black Hole of Marriage has been our roof that has leaked for 15-20 years. A major step forward has been completed in that we hired a roofer to fix it.
I am only cautiously optimistic because I am fearful that the leak will not be solved. DH spent years tracking it down and applying fixes. But hey, it is one big step toward saving my sanity.
Teacher Terry
11-13-18, 4:38pm
You are a lot more patient than me:))
I would have to move out. He could visit me. I would not visit him. 😄
I love your phrase "The Black Hole of Marriage." We have concluded that negotiating house purchases is our Black Hole of Marriage, just something that creates to much stress it's almost impossible to go there.
it is 36 degrees here. A dark and humid 36 which is really cold for us..............
My orchid is starting to send up a bloom! It was a pathetic throw away that I bought at an estate sale last summer, all unwatered and dusty and dying. I think I paid a dollar, bought it as an act of mercy, really. I brought it home and repotted it and watered it and it started to grow two new leaves and now it is sending up a little bloom thing.
Very exciting!
catherine
11-16-18, 10:31am
My orchid is starting to send up a bloom! It was a pathetic throw away that I bought at an estate sale last summer, all unwatered and dusty and dying. I think I paid a dollar, bought it as an act of mercy, really. I brought it home and repotted it and watered it and it started to grow two new leaves and now it is sending up a little bloom thing.
Very exciting!
Wow! Very exciting!
iris lilies
11-17-18, 11:19am
I havent tried getting an orchid to bloom. I dont think I could do it.
My rave today is my experience with Amazon. I bought a watch from Amazon.
The last time I bought a watch I had to go to a big box store and take what they had. This time I could choose exactly what I wanted which was the absolute stripped-down model of big face watch.
Gardenarian
11-22-18, 1:37pm
Oops, that's "doesn't sag", not say.
Autocorrect fail.
Oops, that's "doesn't sag", not say.
Autocorrect fail.
One of the groups I follow calls it "autocarrot." Apt. :~)
I havent tried getting an orchid to bloom. I dont think I could do it.
.
I didn't do anything except repot it and water it, so I wish I could take credit, but I can't. My mom used to grow orchids and every day she would put them in the kitchen sink and water them with the sprayer, so I do that, but not every day--more like 3-4 times a week, maybe?
I was shocked because it was so pitiful when I got it. I got another too, but it died.
The emptiness and lack of lines in the grocery store on Black Friday.
My family and I went to see the Anthropocene exhibit at the Art Gallery of Ontario yesterday. It is very well done and presented a unique photographic including videos view of the impact of human activity on our earth.
https://www.tribute.ca/trailers/anthropocene-the-human-epoch/24615/
After that, the four of us moved to Grange across the road for a bite to eat enjoying a delicious and filling Thai dish each with the total bill $29.28.
Will return there another time.
Bought some Hills violin polish ad polished my viola and cello. They look astonishingly beautiful!
Gardenarian
12-4-18, 2:13am
I didn't know you played - how wonderful!
catherine
12-4-18, 10:26am
So thrilled! I'm in San Diego working, and I spoke with DH last night on our nightly on-the-road call. He called me back a few minutes later--I figured he forgot to tell me something. He had just gotten off the phone with our son, who had reported that my DDIL is pregnant!
What makes this particularly exciting is that they had a very difficult time getting pregnant the first time around and had to go to IVF, which worked. But this was a totally unexpected event!! They did the pregnancy test 3 times and couldn't believe it, so she went to the doctor and he confirmed it.
Their son was born only last May, so this baby will be very close in age, much like my 3rd and 4th--(very similar situation--I, too, was taken by surprise).
I'm so happy for them.
That is a wonderful call to get.
Catherine, that's exciting! Congrats to all. My first with with fertility treatments and my 2nd was a bonus!
So thrilled! I'm in San Diego working, and I spoke with DH last night on our nightly on-the-road call. He called me back a few minutes later--I figured he forgot to tell me something. He had just gotten off the phone with our son, who had reported that my DDIL is pregnant!
What makes this particularly exciting is that they had a very difficult time getting pregnant the first time around and had to go to IVF, which worked. But this was a totally unexpected event!! They did the pregnancy test 3 times and couldn't believe it, so she went to the doctor and he confirmed it.
Their son was born only last May, so this baby will be very close in age, much like my 3rd and 4th--(very similar situation--I, too, was taken by surprise).
I'm so happy for them.
That is so wonderful!!!
SteveinMN
12-4-18, 12:53pm
Great news, catherine! I hope all goes well with the pregnancy.
Teacher Terry
12-4-18, 1:08pm
What great news!
I got the green light the other day in Occupational Therapy to start picking up my guitar, not necessarily playing it (yeah, right....). And I have been able to do more and more on the jeweler's bench.
About five weeks post-wrist surgery, things have really started really turning around. I have been able to do more and more with my left hand in the last two weeks. Last week I started ditching wearing the splint, as I felt it was impeding me. Now it is all about combating the stiffness in the tendons. The area where she did the cartilage repair at the bumpy part of the wrist bone is still pretty tender and swollen though and I can actually feel the metal plate holding the ulna together as it heals which is kind of weird. I have a nice 5 inch long scar along the outside of the lower arm from the wrist bone bump going upward toward the elbow.
So last night I was able to eke out a fairly weak version of Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here." I can tell it is going to be awhile before I will be able to manage bar chords. All I know is that being able to do the things I love to do, to do the things that make me tick is making my mood improve quite a lot!
Wonderful to hear of this progress, SiouxQ.
Teacher Terry
12-6-18, 6:19pm
That’s good news.
Great to see this progress, SQ!
iris lilies
12-6-18, 7:04pm
I am sitting in Hermann enjoying our new gas fireplace just installed by DH. It is so easy— turn it on, and it is on. Turn it off, it’s off. Want a fire to warm up for 7 minutes? Done! Need to leave the house suddenly? Turn off the fire, easy peasy.
This gas fireplace world is great!
2613
After the wood fireplaces that we had for years, the gas fireplace is wonderful for just the reasons that you listed. Enjoy!
Williamsmith
12-7-18, 10:49am
I guess I’m nostalgic for the old wood burning stove days. But I’m not so far removed to forget the endless task of cutting, splitting and stacking firewood before each winter. In the seventies during the Carter Administration we had the energy crisis and that’s when our gas forced air furnace was switched off and two wood burning stoves were installed. One in the living room fireplace and one in the basement. Keeping those going was a big job. It was messy, dirty work but I did enjoy the crackling of of the wood and the sparks dancing and he licking flames. After a long day hunting in the cold of winter, there was therapy in that arrangement.
Now, I have a deluxe gas fireplace with four lighted ember settings to simulate the coals, five fan settings to blow out the heated air at might discretion and five flame settings as well a a constant pilot, all behind a special radiant glass and inside a jet black metal firebox. I am spoiled. And I like it.
Nice IL.
Your fireplace looks very inviting and I love the arch on the doorway.
But you can't burn your ID sensitive trash in a fake fireplace, can you?
ToomuchStuff
12-8-18, 4:40pm
Do any of you remember what that old fireplace spline was called? I am thinking it was similar to Oakum, which is used in plumbing.
iris lilies
12-8-18, 10:55pm
Nice IL.
Your fireplace looks very inviting and I love the arch on the doorway.
I talked to the artist you know in Hermann today, the metal artist. Ann? Maybe, already I forgot her name. I told her I have an online friend who knows her, and decribed you as someone who did glass work with her husband until recent years and who lived near Branson. She said to tell you Hi.
iris lilies
12-8-18, 10:56pm
But you can't burn your ID sensitive trash in a fake fireplace, can you?
no. Will we eventually have to get a shredder thngie? Who knows. For the moment we can still make real fires in St. Louis.
I saw my orthopedic surgeon today for the follow-up on the wrist surgery (almost two months ago - dang, time flies!) She is really impressed with the progress I have made; I haven't been playing much guitar because it got aggravated the other day, but I am working away at the jeweler's bench, seven weeks post-op! I am going to go to OT for twelve more visits to work on the stretching and strengthening. The first month was really difficult, but now that I know what it all entails, I'll probably end up getting the other hand done (my dominant hand) at some point but not any time soon. It is pretty sore but not THAT sore yet - maybe next fall, which is my surgery season (always in October)!
Teacher Terry
12-17-18, 11:47pm
That’s great!
Good news on your medical progress, SiouzQ. It can be discouraging when you're right in the midst of it, but now that it looks like you're on the other side I'm sure it's a relief.
Float On
12-18-18, 11:09am
That's great SiouzQ, I know you are working hard on improving it. "Surgery Season"....funny!
SiouzQ, that IS good news. Progress and from your hard work, so it makes things more hopeful. Bask in the glow of hope and progress. Hang on to that in the dark days.
iris lilies
12-18-18, 4:36pm
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xoxhDk-hwuo
This video made me so happy today! “A well engineered thing is a beautiful thing. “Gosh yes I guess.
This video shows how a nerdy Robot maker creates a package to thwart package thieves
ToomuchStuff
12-18-18, 4:41pm
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xoxhDk-hwuo
This video made me so happy today! “A well engineered thing is a beautiful thing. “Gosh yes I guess.
This video shows how a nerdy Robot maker creates a package to thwart package thieves
Revenge on, but not thwart (package still stolen).
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xoxhDk-hwuo
This video made me so happy today! “A well engineered thing is a beautiful thing. “Gosh yes I guess.
This video shows how a nerdy Robot maker creates a package to thwart package thieves
I watched that right before seeing your post. So satisfying!
Gardenarian
12-18-18, 5:08pm
"Let it Snow" by Captain Picard
https://youtu.be/oiSn2JuDQSc
Granddaughter No. 2 born, a little cutie with rosebud lips. That's the big finale, kid-wise, so now my son and d-in-l will have the fun of caring for 2 babies under age 2. Woo hoo!
Teacher Terry
12-19-18, 11:39am
Congrats Lainey!
SteveinMN
12-19-18, 1:19pm
Congratulations, Lainey!
catherine
12-19-18, 3:57pm
Congratulations, Lainey!
Granddaughter No. 2 born, a little cutie with rosebud lips. That's the big finale, kid-wise, so now my son and d-in-l will have the fun of caring for 2 babies under age 2. Woo hoo!
And you get to dote on her and her sibling. Enjoy!
A wonderful gift for the season!
Thanks for the good wishes. And as a related note, do any of you have a birthday close to Xmas, or know of someone who does?
I'm asking because it's already on the mind of the new baby's parents how to make sure her birthday doesn't meld into Xmas or get overlooked or rushed because of it being so close to Xmas.
First world problems, I know.
One thing I read was a family who made it a tradition to drive around to see Christmas lights on their child's birthday and not before. So it was a special perk for birthday girl because of course her other siblings didn't have entire neighborhoods lit up during their birthdays.
My birthday is Dec. 26. My mother always made it special- changed the tablecloth to match the good china, not Christmas, cake, ice cream, a party with the neighborhood kids. 3 of my friends had Dec. birthdays and all were made special by the parent- separate from Christmas...although the one born Dec. 31 had to share it with an open house her parents always had. But she did have a separate party. One perk I had with my cousin whose birthday was near Thanksgiving...because the Aunts and Uncles were all together they would remember we had birthdays so would slip us a dollar. It didn't happen with those other cousins whose birthdays were not around the holiday. Neither one of us ever fessed up about it until we were adults.
My gdaughter has a birthday a couple of days after Christmas. I make sure to send presents separately and call her and it will get easier to separate them as she gets older. It works out well for her because everyone is in a holiday mood and she gets more attention in a way than the ones who have more regular birthdays because everyone is kindof overcompensating, if that makes sense. It's harder with the granddaughter whose birthday comes in a big clutch of birthdays, the same week in the summer, and it's hard to make the focus on her when it's also her great grandmother and uncles' birthday weeks.
Teacher Terry
12-20-18, 12:45pm
My step son birthday is the 22nd and we always made it special.
iris lilies
12-20-18, 2:09pm
My step son birthday is the 22nd and we always made it special.
yes. I think she is asking “how.”
SteveinMN
12-20-18, 2:13pm
Early December birthday for me and DW's daughter; an aunt of mine has a December 28 birthday. IMHO it's important to note the day as if Christmas didn't exist. Few people who wanted to give a gift to an August baby would show up with it in October and call it a combination birthday-Christmas present but I saw that surprisingly often as a kid and my birthday wasn't even as close to Christmas as some. I send my aunt a birthday card that has absolutely nothing to do with Christmas. DD's rule growing up was no Christmas decorations in the house until after her birthday; I notice that rule gets broken (by her) now that she has kids). Certainly it's up to the individual. I never minded Christmas decorations in the house during my birthday; different strokes. I think the guest of honor will provide the best guidance.
Teacher Terry
12-20-18, 2:25pm
The “how” is different at different ages and the child’s interests.
My sister-in-law was born on Christmas day, her parents named her Merry Christmas but she goes by Chris. Her husband (my brother) birthday is Dec 16th and they have traditionally celebrated together.
ToomuchStuff
12-21-18, 9:18am
What would have been my stepson, was born on Christmas day. When he was old enough to have friends over for a birthday, they decided to have his parties in the summer, mid July.
Thank you for this reminder!
My dad's birthday is the 28th so I just ran out and bought him a card and gift certificate. He'll be here visiting so I'll have to make him a cake too!
Gardenarian
12-22-18, 3:28pm
Beautiful frosty morning. The oak tree has 2 Downy woodpeckers and a bunch of Steller's Jay's flitting about. Sweet!
iris lilies
12-24-18, 11:14am
Chicken Lady doesnt get ALL the fun.
Here is DH with two baby goats he is helping to bottlefeed. On 12/21/2008 these goats were born as a litter of four. It was the same day his father died, so DH and his brother had a lot going on. The goat mom cannot care for all of these kids so she has two of them and the humans took two to care for. They are fed every two hours.
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What a wonderful picture, IL!
Teacher Terry
12-24-18, 11:33am
That’s so sweet IL!
Baby goats are cute and delightful especially when they dance through the air, over fences and through the woods. Great fun taking care of them.
I went ice skating for the second time recently (none of you probably know this, but I was a competitive figure skater as a child and teenager, and spent many years coaching skaters). I no longer have my own skates, so I used the rentals. It was almost scary at first (dang, the ice is FAST) as muscle memory and balance struggled to regain hold. Today was a bit easier, and I was able to start doing crossovers and some little spins and turns. It is fun, and great exercise! And I think it will really help the pain I have been experiencing in my hips because it actively engages the gluteus medius muscle group.
But of course I really want my own pair of skates!
SiouzQ, that is so neat! I loved to skate as a kid and I got one of my sons into hockey. He called me out of the blue the other day to say he'd gone skating and had such a wonderful day--he is 36--and wanted to thank me for all the time I spent taking him to hockey and teaching him to skate.
I actually got him into it because he was having trouble with reading and skating builds up both sides of the brain.
Now I want to go ice skate!
Teacher Terry
1-16-19, 12:37pm
Growing up we skated all the time. Now I would be afraid to try it.
Most random thing that's happened to me in quite a while: we stopped in at a small local thrift store. Turns out that any customer who was wearing purple that week got a 50% discount. And what do you know, I was wearing a purple vest! So we ended up paying $30 for what would have been $60.
Technically, the items were wants, not needs, but it was still very fun.
Reminds me of a small local bookstore here. Years ago they had their cash registers set up where it would pop up an image of a star (or something similar, can't recall) which meant that your entire purchase was free. It only happened occasionally but I was a lucky recipient one time. Of course, the first thing out of my mouth was, Thanks, and I wish I'd bought more! The clerk just smiled and I realized he'd probably heard that same thing from everyone who won.
So, Lainey's wish for retail stores: do some more of these random Free or Half Off Everything surprises for your customers. It helps customer loyalty and could be a nice little boost for sales.
iris lilies
2-5-19, 11:55am
Yesterday our doofus bulldog performed a miracle: he quietly and calmly went up to the gate to sniff another dog walking along on the front sidewalk.
Instead of acting like a maniac, barking and charging the pedestrian and his dog as he usually does, Bozo sniffed the other dog through our gate and stood quietly while we talked with that dog owner. The other dog was a bulldog who didnt bark or make any noise, so that had something to do with it.
We sent our tax preparer our info Sunday and she is already finished. she is wonderful!
My doctor's visit from when I had the flu will cost me less than 20.00. Still waiting for the lab bill EOB.
iris lilies
2-10-19, 7:17pm
Sometimes, at the end of the day, I sit here looking at my ridiculous bulldog chewing on his “ rabbit” toy while I sip on a Scotch and think this is the apostheosis of senior living. This dog is the love of my life. He is SUCH an idiot.
A really nice woman at work is starting a lunchtime book club.
Sometimes, at the end of the day, I sit here looking at my ridiculous bulldog chewing on his “ rabbit” toy while I sip on a Scotch and think this is the apostheosis of senior living. This dog is the love of my life. He is SUCH an idiot.
I get it. I miss my dog--I didn't realize I'd miss her so much, but she was my "empty nest" dog. The family used to ridicule the way I spoiled her--in a male-dominated family, she was my canine soul sister. I was thinking about her today, watching the dog agility competition on TV. The border collies were brilliant at the course--and they reminded me of my dog, who was a border collie/labrador, but she definitely had the border collie attitude.
So, enjoy your scotch and your bulldog tonight, IL!
One of the bed casters on my bed broke.
I decided to visit Walmart, have a coffee and see if they had some bed casters for sale. I met a friend who invited me to join her for a coffee and I 'invited' ;) her to help me replace the bed caster when I found one. Imagine finding two staff members who helped me find the casters.
This Walmart has so few staff. Not sure if that is the norm.
I set up the wooden blocks and a crowbar and the caster was replaced with ease. It is a 2-woman job with one lifting the bed frame using the crowbar and the other pulling out the old and tapping in the new caster. The whole effort just unfolded perfectly. Love it when that happens.
Teacher Terry
2-10-19, 9:31pm
I can’t be without a dog. I love them sitting in my lap and following me around.
We just got back from a trip to Europe and I have to rave about the European TSA and airport check in at Charles DeGaulle airport. The TSA was friendly, fast, competent, and did not treat us like we were living in a police state. We even missed one step in the check in process and the gate attendant walked us over to get our sticker and brought us back so we did not have to stand in line again. Might help that we have grey hair and are older but that never seems to make a differnence in the USA.
Oh, and we were often asked if we needed help, offered seats in a variety of public transport and treated extremely well by everyone. Wonder where the comments come from that Paris treats its tourist badly? Maybe it is better to travel in the off season where the tourists are few and far between?
iris lilies
2-12-19, 8:22pm
That is great that you hadsuch a good experience!
My tires, which despite being over a year old got me up the unplowed hill and into my driveway on the first try in our most serious snowstorm yet this season.
TabbyCaticus
2-16-19, 12:12pm
I'm a bit of a night owl. I started taking melatonin a couple hours before bed and now I can sleep at a decent hour, and then wake before noon. I work 2nd shift so I used to stay up all night and wake up 2 hours before my shift. I have mornings again!
I answered my doorbell to find a young woman in her 30s there who was in a wheelchair. Her speech was halting, but she introduced herself as a new neighbor on the next street over. She asked my name and said she was just wanting to meet her new neighbors. I thanked her for coming by and that was basically that as she was already backing up to get to the next house, but I am very admiring of her gumption to go out by herself to do that.
I hope to run into her again if she's out and about.
Teacher Terry
2-17-19, 11:20am
L, very cool. I no longer open my door to strangers during the day because a guy was going around and as soon as they opened the door he shot them and then robbed them. He targeted people 50 and up in good neighborhoods. They got him but most people I know are also doing the same. With Noki gone we are getting a security system.
I still open my door, I probably should be more careful. Once a man who appeared disheveled and confused asked “what year is it?” I answered him. He asked again to confirm. Looked confused. Then thanked me and wandered off.
I may have met a time traveler ...
Many of my neighbors have that doorbell camera, and when they catch someone unfamiliar ringing their bell, they post the picture on our closed FB group. A high-tech Neighborhood Watch strategy.
I open my door and I'm usually regretful, because it's usually someone selling siding or windows or solar energy. If my husband hears me talking to someone soliciting those things, he's better than a Great Dane at scaring them away.
Teacher Terry
2-17-19, 4:45pm
These people were all shot in the head the second they opened the door. Then he killed their spouse.
iris lilies
2-17-19, 6:05pm
People! This is a rave thread not a complaint-about-murdering-vagrants thread. (Just kidding you all, pulling your chain.)
After this talk about small dogs, I am jonesing for a portable one. Sticking with my brachychephalic preference, I am thinking Pug or shih tzu. We will take geriatic and senior dogs. But I do not want to expose the little dog to big mondo Teddy Bear, the bulldog.While he is usually laid back about foster dogs in his house, he does like to stare them down and rumble a little. Tiny Pizzaz, our Frenchie, took him on and cuffed him now and then,.bUt I dont want a senior Pug to have to do this.
My father had a shih tzu. She was sweet dog, not too small, and able to breathe. He loved Dalai; I assume they're together again. :)
iris lilies
2-17-19, 6:27pm
My father had a shih tzu. She was sweet dog, not too small, and able to breathe. He loved Dalai; I assume they're together again. :)
Please tell me they are not yappers. The yapping! Cant do that.
And, in other news, I recently--and unfrugally--bought an Origami all-purpose cart, black powdered steel and wood, to park some of my appliances on, since my counter space is woefully inadequate. It definitely sparks joy!
2669
Please tell me they are not yappers. The yapping! Cant do that.
I don't remember yapping; I think she had a standard bark, but she apparently didn't bark often, since I don't remember it.
rosarugosa
2-17-19, 8:07pm
Iris: My little doggy buddy who I walk every day is a Shih Tzu and he very rarely barks. He has a sparkling personality and to know him is to love him. He has fans all over the neighborhood!
If someone is ringing my unit's buzzer, it's unexpected. If someone actually knocks on my unit door, I don't even go to talk through the door without my pistol in hand. A few times there have been very sketchy people, probably buzzed in by other neighbors who let anyone in. If I don't know you, I'm not opening the door. Friends never drop by unannounced.
Teacher Terry
2-17-19, 8:36pm
Shitzu and Maltese are not big barkers unless you have more than one. Then it’s different.
A homemade chicken & green chile tamale brought to the gallery by the lady and her young daughter from the Santa Domingo pueblo nearby. It is heavenly, especially on such a bitterly cold and windy day!
We made chicken/chili tamales (with cheese) some years ago; they fell outside my SO's comfort zone (not his mom's tamales...), but they turned out well. Sounds like a perfect cold-weather snack.
Beautiful deep snowfall here last night and knowing that when we go "home" to Austin next week, it will be the opposite with spring in full regalia - bluebonnets and all.
Enjoying the many many feet of snow at the cabin. Snuggled in for 2 days of relaxation and escape from the rat race in the city where people are idiots on the snowy roads (with 1 inch).
Right after all of the rain here we had a huge beautiful rainbow with a faint second rainbow. Especially beautiful.
We have daffodil leaves coming up!!
We have daffodil leaves coming up!!
I can't see my lawn for the two feet of snow cover.
Oh, dang. Wrong thread....
frugal-one
2-24-19, 6:43pm
I can't see my lawn for the two feet of snow cover.
Oh, dang. Wrong thread....
The only positive ... you are not alone!
iris lilies
2-25-19, 6:46pm
It is a freeeking miracle at the irislily house.
see what is going on here? Roofing. Professional roofing. The leak from hell will be fixed I hope but honestly I am worried about it. DH has been chasing that leak for more than a decade. He fixes it in one spot and then it shows up in another spot.
2673
It is a freeeking miracle at the irislily house.
see what is going on here? Roofing. Professional roofing. The leak from hell will be fixed I hope but honestly I am worried about it. DH has been chasing that leek for more than a decade. He fixes it in one spot and then it shows up in another spot.
2673
Nice! Congratulations! It looks like such a cool building! Sit back, have a glass of wine, and enjoy the miracle, IL!
Had a nice, low key interview with another location of my company closer to home. Fingers crossed!
iris lilies
3-13-19, 7:38pm
Had a nice, low key interview with another location of my company closer to home. Fingers crossed!
I TRULY want this to go well for you.
Rave, I made a loaf of no knead cheese bread and it was fantastic. First time. No crazy ingredients and it only took about 15 minutes of my time which was mostly gathering ingredients and pans.
Crispy crust, easy to cut, could slice thin, still moist, stayed nice for the 48 hours it lasted. We used it plain, in a fried egg in a hole, and as a toasted cheese sandwich bread.
Teacher Terry
3-13-19, 8:08pm
Y, holding a good thought that this is your perfect job!
I'm very excited because the wheel of cheddar I made on the weekend was in danger of being too rubbery because I added too much rennet (I forgot I had already added the rennet so added some more). But it seems fine and I'll wax it later on this afternoon. And I tried making ricotta out of the whey from the cheddar and had it last night in a mini lasagna and it was great. It's the little things :)
iris lilies
3-14-19, 10:57am
It is a freeeking miracle at the irislily house.
see what is going on here? Roofing. Professional roofing. The leak from hell will be fixed I hope but honestly I am worried about it. DH has been chasing that leak for more than a decade. He fixes it in one spot and then it shows up in another spot.
2673
In real life my house is not upside down.
I do not want to jinx my New roof. It scares me that DH and I are both apprehensive about the solidity of our new roof. But I want to say that the new roof has been through one pouring rain and one gentle rain.
And so far, no leaks. This is a big giant deal.
DH is in Hermann felling trees, and we talked about the big rain the other night. I told him hey I have no idea how much it rained because it didn’t rain in my bedroom so how would I know how much it rained? I can no longer use that rain gauge in the bedroom. Ha ha
A bluebird couple is checking out the box!!!! We had a family there last year and I am hoping they will feel good about coming this year, too. The female sat on a crook for a good 5 minutes soaking up the sun! The male was hanging out on another crook then the electric wire- their favorite spot in the summer along with the hummingbirds. Luckily I can see this bird box from the dining room window!
Yesterday I sold my two favorite pieces of my jewelry I have ever made; my sterling silver cuff with a large piece of Royston Turquoise and a necklace in sterling with a beautiful piece of Fossilized Fern and turquoise. It will be a very handsome commission next month; the biggest one day sale I have ever had!
I really needed this validation as a silversmith, as the past few months has been pretty slow for me. I am starting to have some faith that the upcoming tourist season is finally beginning.
Teacher Terry
3-24-19, 10:45am
S, wow that jewelry is gorgeous!
I agree! So beautiful! Do you have an Easy account?
S, wow that jewelry is gorgeous!
SteveinMN
3-24-19, 12:27pm
You do beautiful work, SQ!
Raving for my wife today, she's excited because one of her teacher co-workers just reminded her that they are down to 40 school days left before summer break. That's apparently 8 Mondays and 7 Fridays.
Teacher Terry
3-24-19, 5:28pm
Alan, are you guys going to travel with the RV this summer?
Alan, are you guys going to travel with the RV this summer?
We'll be travelling but the exact mode of transportation hasn't yet been decided. It will either be a slow trip in the RV up to Maine, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia or a quicker international trip to Budapest, Vienna and Prague. Decisions, Decisions....
Teacher Terry
3-24-19, 7:59pm
Both trips sound great. I have heard Prague is awesome. One of my favorites is Kraków. I would visit Europe while you are in good shape because most of Europe is not handicapped accessible.
iris lilies
3-24-19, 8:13pm
We'll be travelling but the exact mode of transportation hasn't yet been decided. It will either be a slow trip in the RV up to Maine, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia or a quicker international trip to Budapest, Vienna and Prague. Decisions, Decisions....
Prague is great but crowded as hell when you hit the Charles bridge and etc.usual tourist paths. The best hotel I’ve ever stayed in was the Hotel Paris in Prague, but I will explain that is because it had a fabulous art nouveau architecture, the restaurant was gorgeous with mosaics and high-end food. The rooms were averagevsixe, and that it’s OK. There was an extensive art collection throughout the hotel and I just thought it was soooooo charming.
When you are in Prague, seriously consider taking a day trip to Karlovy
Vary which is a gorgeous little spa town.
We’re it me, I would skip the big giant city of Vienna and just go to Romania. But that’s me. Currently I am all about small to medium size Europeancities and I am done with the big giant expensive European cities. Believe it or not, I have not even been to Paris or Rome. And I’m probably not gonna go at this point in my life. Here’s the thing about Romania: it has wonderful medieval architecture, so interesting.
Currently I am all about small to medium size Europeancities and I am done with the big giant expensive European cities. Believe it or not, I have not even been to Paris or Rome. And I’m probably not gonna go at this point in my life. Here’s the thing about Romania: it has wonderful medieval architecture, so interesting.
During the 90's and early 00's we went to Europe every 18 months or so, starting in Extreme western Europe and working our way east. So, we've done England, Belgium, France, Austria, Switzerland and Germany, with major cities such as Paris and London multiple times. This next trip we're really just working our way further east and identifying bases within a larger area for day trips.
Teacher Terry
3-24-19, 8:54pm
Wow Alan you have seen a lot of Europe! Poland is so green that it’s almost glowing. Poland is also cheap not being on the Euro. We went to Rome twice many years ago.
Had a colonoscopy today. Did cologuard (spell?) and it came back positive so had to do the full procedure. The rave is the gal who did the paperwork on me. We talked and I said I was not going to take statins that my doctor was insisting upon and talked about other issues as well. She (under her breath) said "don't take them, don't take them." It is good to see others in the "traditional medicine" field are realizing this is not the way to go! I have decided to do some lifestyle changes and see if it helps. If not, I still am not taking those dangerous statins.
Teacher Terry
5-7-19, 8:06pm
I totally agree Frugal. Neither my husband or I will take them. People have had irreversible damage done to their muscles and memory even after stopping them. Plus they have not proven to save more people than injured. They have mostly been studied on men.
Some day we'll look back on statins as we look back on thalidomide. So much damage for no benefit--except to Pharma and shareholders. Only a tiny, tiny amount of patients--middle-aged men with a history of heart attack--have been shown to have any benefit, and that a small one. Most people can improve their lipid profiles with lifestyle changes.
Today is my last morning at my house in New Jersey. Grateful for so much, but particularly grateful to my mother-in-law. When we were in the crapper, she co-signed the lease to rent this house in 1985. We paid the rent every month, but we never would have qualified without her help.
When the owners were interested in selling, there was no way we could have even paid for the title insurance, never mind a down payment. My MIL's mother had just died and left her the savings she had socked away as a receptionist her whole life, and my MIL gave us the down payment for this house. It took me many years to understand how generous that gift was.
So it seems fitting that her grandson is the next occupant of this place, and that I'm, in a sense, paying it forward. I hope that I can live up to her love and generosity as I continue on in my years.
Today is my last morning at my house in New Jersey. Grateful for so much, but particularly grateful to my mother-in-law. When we were in the crapper, she co-signed the lease to rent this house in 1985. We paid the rent every month, but we never would have qualified.
When the owners were interested in selling, there was no way we could have even paid for the title insurance, never mind a down payment. My MIL's mother had just died and left her the savings she had socked away as a receptionist her whole life, and my MIL gave us the down payment for this house. It took me many years to understand how generous that gift was.
So it seems fitting that her grandson is the next occupant of this place, and that I'm, in a sense, paying it forward. I hope that I can live up to her love and generosity as I continue on in my years.
Wise woman to see and acknowledge this as you move to the next step in your life. Enjoy the wonderful adventure unfolding ahead, Catherine.
Teacher Terry
6-6-19, 11:32am
That was a very generous gift. It will be cool if the house stays in the family.
I have to hand a rave to Lowes.ca. I am having trouble starting my riding lawn mower, spoke to the dealer rep and it will require a visit to the shop, etc.
I wanted to research the alternatives so checked the reviews online for an electric, corded and cordless, before heading to Lowes. The staff there gave me so much information, empathized with my dilemma and offered a number of workable options as well as the name of a local repair person who might be able to come to my house and fix the problem.
I love my riding mower, little cart for hauling stuff and have the mower hoist for servicing so well equipped for the 2 1/2 acres of lawn that I used to mow. I am now down to a small lawn area which I can mow in 10 minutes. I use my tractor for hauling pots, mulch for the beds etc so find it really handy. I don't want to give it up but spending $500 for a service job which includes the pick-up and delivery return fee starts to make one look at the options.
iris lilies
6-20-19, 7:53pm
I have to hand a rave to Lowes.ca. I am having trouble starting my riding lawn mower, spoke to the dealer rep and it will require a visit to the shop, etc.
I wanted to research the alternatives so checked the reviews online for an electric, corded and cordless, before heading to Lowes. The staff there gave me so much information, empathized with my dilemma and offered a number of workable options as well as the name of a local repair person who might be able to come to my house and fix the problem.
I love my riding mower, little cart for hauling stuff and have the mower hoist for servicing so well equipped for the 2 1/2 acres of lawn that I used to mow. I am now down to a small lawn area which I can mow in 10 minutes. I use my tractor for hauling pots, mulch for the beds etc so find it really handy. I don't want to give it up but spending $500 for a service job which includes the pick-up and delivery return fee starts to make one look at the options.
wait what? You have a riding mower? I don’t even know what to say about that.
We bought a riding mower for our 1 acre in Herman. I got a lesson on it and yeah. Nope. I will not ride on the hill, that is beyond my skill level. But we never had a riding mower for our city gardens.
i take my hat off to you for running the big mower.
I have just recently decided that I can use the rider mower to haul buckets of mulch/ compost in the little attached cart. Six of the 5 gallon bucket’s fit into the cart. I can use it on the front part of our Hermann place, it is flat but I will not get on that hill, that is too scary.
Iris, my sentiments exactly!
Many years ago, hubby let me drive the riding mower...I drove it right into the swimming pool filter, and thus drained half the pool.
In NC, we have an acre and a half. Our motor home was plugged into an outlet and the cord strung across the yard. First go round, all was well. Second lap, when I ran over the cord, it ripped out of the outlet and literally whipped me - still have a bump in my forearm a year later.
I leave several rows for the hubs, since I don't do slopes. You do know that the mower shuts off if your behind leaves the seat, right? I didn't. That's partly the "scare factor", that it will run you over if you fall off or tip.
Funny comments about the riding lawn mower. I don't mow serious slopes either. You have to remember that I am a farm girl driving farm machinery for years so the riding lawn mower is a snap except when the switch goes and I have to have it fixed. Have someone coming on Monday to repair it. DH used to do all those sorts of repairs routinely keeping our last riding tractor going for 25 years.
iris lilies
6-26-19, 12:04pm
Sofa Olympics!
Here’s how you tire out a 9 month old bulldog with not a whole lot of effort on your part:
Get him excited to jump up on sofa, to floor, to Chair #1, to floor, to Chair #2 to floor.
repeat twice.
Then he flops down to rest.
frugal-one
7-3-19, 12:21pm
Just joined a fitness club. I am taking classes and working on strength training. I can't believe how good it makes me feel. I am hoping to lose some weight and firm up, as well as, have more energy. Frugal me will stick with it since I am paying good money for it! Actually, it is not that expensive. I bartered to get the cost to where I was comfortable. Just learned that that is the rate I will pay for as long as I go there!!!
What a lovely day! It finally rained and I've finished my chore and am waiting for the Instant Pot to produce brunch. Meanwhile I'm enjoying tricked-out coffee and alternately playing Outspell on the AARP games page (just got shellacked) and reading a library ebook. Exciting times. :~)
iris lilies
7-23-19, 8:33am
We have no ant infestations this year.
In recent years we’ve had ants at both houses. This year we have Nada.
IL did you do anything to get rid of the ants? Or did they go away on their own?
iris lilies
7-23-19, 6:25pm
IL did you do anything to get rid of the ants? Or did they go away on their own?
Did nothing.
The little buggers did have a try at an entirely new place in March. But there wasn't many of them.
Nothing beats being able to stand in the middle of a charm of hummingbirds flying around your head as they flit between the two feeders I have on the deck ! I have yet to get them to feed from my hand but they are very used to me standing out there among them. I have black-chinned, broad-tailed, Calliopes and the ever-aggressive Rufous that chase all the others away from the feeders so they can get all the food. I go through at least three cups of sugar water per day! The other day I even saved a little Calliope that had stunned himself (probably ran into something on the deck). I heard some rustling outside one night and thought it was a pack rack but soon discovered the poor little thing fluttering about, unable to lift off. I managed to get him into a box and covered it with a pillow case to keep him safe for the night and he was ready to fly off the next morning. It was so amazing to see this teeny creature up so close!
iris lilies
8-2-19, 9:48am
The tiny hummers are darling. I cant commit to being in one place and to feeding them every day, so I appreciate those who do. Yesterday I was at the home of a fellow garden club lady and she feeds lots of hummingbirds so I saw several different kinds, including a tiny skinny one. The kind that comes around my house is bigger.
After 7 weeks rehab from a hip fracture being able to sit on my own porch and watch the hummingbirds and butterflies all over the flowers that thrived in my absence, due to a magnificent husband who added weeding to his list of chores, has lifted my soul. I am healing well, spending time moving with a cane and hope to be on my own two feet soon. This morning two female hummingbirds SHARED the feeder space for at least 2 minutes! Don't know why they were sharing, but it made me smile. My husband rescued a yellow swallowtail from a spider web at the cone flowers.
iris lilies
8-2-19, 10:09am
After 7 weeks rehab from a hip fracture being able to sit on my own porch and watch the hummingbirds and butterflies all over the flowers that thrived in my absence, due to a magnificent husband who added weeding to his list of chores, has lifted my soul. I am healing well, spending time moving with a cane and hope to be on my own two feet soon. This morning two female hummingbirds SHARED the feeder space for at least 2 minutes! Don't know why they were sharing, but it made me smile. My husband rescued a yellow swallowtail from a spider web at the cone flowers.Beautiful image you painted here with your words! Swallowtails, hummingbirds, coneflowers – – we have them all this time of the year.
Hope your healing continues well.
Teacher Terry
8-2-19, 11:11am
A hip fracture is serious. I hope you continue to heal well.
Marijuana legalization. I was able to try out this drug in an edible form so no nasty smoke in my lungs, no fear of arrest, no fear of what a street dealer may have mixed in with it.
This could work as a sleep aid for me, but overall I was not impressed. My vision annoyingly blurred some, it jacked up my appetite and I am trying to lose weight, I felt very lazy like I didn't want to stand to talk to someone so I sat on the floor, and I would not describe the product as good tasting. I did not get the giggles like I did in the past with a contact high. It was more super relaxing and I guess I am not anxious enough to crave that. But yes it should be legal for those who like it.
Marijuana legalization. I was able to try out this drug in an edible form so no nasty smoke in my lungs, no fear of arrest, no fear of what a street dealer may have mixed in with it.
This could work as a sleep aid for me, but overall I was not impressed. My vision annoyingly blurred some, I felt very lazy like I didn't want to stand to talk to someone so I sat on the floor, and I would not describe the product as good tasting. I did not get the giggles like I did in the past with a contact high. It was more super relaxing and I guess I am not anxious enough to crave that. But yes it should be legal for those who like it.
I have been reading about it and apparently different strains have different effects. Like Indica is supposed to relax you. And Sativa is supposed to give you some pep.
I am no expert, but there are experts out there.
iris lilies
8-3-19, 9:13am
Jep I played with recreational MJ in edible form last year, purchased in Colorado. Gosh it wasn’t nearly as much fun as I remembered from my youth. And yes it jacked up my appetite, the last thing I need, the very last thing. I gathered up all the remaining edibles and gave them to my cousin.
Finding the right strain to do what you want it to do--in just the right form-- is practically a part-time job. Leafly.com is a lot of help in that regard, but in the meantime, I'll make do with OTC analgesics.
Driving back late yesterday afternoon from an out-of-town class for work, I saw a beautiful large rainbow. Also saw a coyote successfully run across four lanes of interstate.
rosarugosa
8-22-19, 12:36pm
Driving back late yesterday afternoon from an out-of-town class for work, I saw a beautiful large rainbow. Also saw a coyote successfully run across four lanes of interstate.
Nice - lucky coyote!
catherine
8-22-19, 12:36pm
Driving back late yesterday afternoon from an out-of-town class for work, I saw a beautiful large rainbow. Also saw a coyote successfully run across four lanes of interstate.
Sounds like a good day, beckyliz!
The other day, I flushed a bunny from front yard thicket. Yesterday I flushed a chickadee from my living room. At least I think I did--I left the door open and made myself scarce. He seems to be gone...
My nail tech. Unlike the Cambodian couple I have written about elsewhere she works hard at a low paying job with exposure to chemicals while being pleasant. Her language skills are extremely limited but she hasn't let that or her age (late 50"s judging by the age of her kids and her gray roots) keep her out of the workforce. I gave her a good tip.
iris lilies
9-13-19, 12:54pm
Today I am loving and respecting the woman who bought this Scottish castle, Cassillis House, a decade ago for $3 million ( or maybe that was Euros.)
https://search.savills.com/property-detail/gbedruedr100016
She put millions into the careful restoration of this important Scottish historical artifact. She loved it nurtured it and did everything right. Oh did I mention that she spent millions?
She now has it on the market for $3.9/ or Euros. In other words she is losing a ton of money but that’s OK with her because the property is now renovated and stable.
She is a goddess of historic renovation!
Here is a video if her work with this splendid structure:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=J-VFlRxWy_I
That is an amazing video of the restoration, iL. I cannot begin to imagine the cost involved. Wonder who would be interested in buying it?
iris lilies
9-13-19, 4:30pm
That is an amazing video of the restoration, iL. I cannot begin to imagine the cost involved. Wonder who would be interested in buying it?
Foreigners would have the money to buy it and keep it up. Or British movie stars and rock stars. The woman who renovated Cassillis is Australian. Jeremy
Irons renovated a similar type castle in Ireland. There are many small Scottish tower houses/castles, many! They and Victoriana are my main interest in architecture.
Many years ago when I was 25 years old I went on a solo trip to the UK and one of my areas of interest was tracking down some of those Scottish tower houses. I’ve visited several, some in ruins, some all fixed up. One of the ruins was Stuart castle outside of Inverness. I took a few photos of it. It was wonderful when 25 years later DH and I were able to stay in that castle. It was by then a high end bed-and-breakfast. It was great to compare the Before and After photos. It had been purchased and renovated by someone with the last name of Stuart who is a Canadian businessman multimillionaire.
Gorgeous castle, IL! So nice to see love poured into an old treasure. If that castle had been here in America, someone would have torn it down and built a gaudy McMansion.
We just saw a castle in Kentucky. It is on Wiki. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Castle#/media/File:Martin_Castle_Kentucky_2009.jpg
Amazing what money will buy or create. Post Castle does look lovely though. Definitely needs more trees as a picture frame.
iris lilies
9-14-19, 10:27am
We just saw a castle in Kentucky. It is on Wiki. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Castle#/media/File:Martin_Castle_Kentucky_2009.jpg
we have a similar folly, also created in the 1960’s, outside of St. Louis. These are various degrees of hideous. What were the builders thinking!??
We have our very own peach tree and there are hundreds of really yummy peaches right outside the side door! The tree is overladened and bowing with the weight of them; I had to prop up a branch with a 2x4 underneath. They are almost at peak ripeness right now. This year I do not have the time or energy to learn how to can them, so I have been inviting anyone who wants to come and pick however many they would like!
We have our very own peach tree and there are hundreds of really yummy peaches right outside the side door! The tree is overladened and bowing with the weight of them; I had to prop up a branch with a 2x4 underneath. They are almost at peak ripeness right now. This year I do not have the time or energy to learn how to can them, so I have been inviting anyone who wants to come and pick however many they would like!
How wonderful! I wonder if you could make peach wine or schnapps or something?
My rave is a repeat rave about my riding mower. I did a grooming of the little pasture yesterday and all woody material is cut down and we are good for winter!
frugal-one
9-19-19, 2:28pm
Fresh peaches in water is good. Also put peaches in vodka and strain in a few weeks.
iris lilies
10-8-19, 1:11pm
Thumbs up for home remedies!
I have been fighting a cough snotty nose cough cough for weeks now. It was getting so bad that I even considered going to the doctor. I mean I thought I probably needed antibiotics. I flat out rested for three solid days recently and did not get better.
So long story short, I remembered a remedy that my parents used to do and that was gargle with salt water. So I made myself some warm salt water. I gargled. Instant relief! Instantaneous! I immediately felt 50% better! My coughing stopped, the irritation was lifted immediately.
In the next 24 hours I use cough syrup that I had purchased and the nasal sinus cleaning equipment. It is so much better and what’s going on now is clear to me that it’s a an irritation and probably fall allergies. My nose is stuffed up but that’s kind of common for me. It is been many years since I’ve had plant and pollen allergy hit me this hard, but it all started a few weeks ago when I was doing a flower show event and I was working for eight hours a day over 3 days in an airless cold room full of plant material. That made me very sick.
Anyway, the point of this post is that a salt water gargle a godsend! costis $0.
Salt water gargle and nasal lavage (use boiled, cooled salt water for that) are what I use when I feel a cold coming on. That, plus zinc and vitamin C work every time
iris lilies
10-8-19, 1:24pm
Salt water gargle and nasal lavage (use boiled, cooled salt water for that) are what I use when I feel a cold coming on. That, plus zinc and vitamin C work every time
I read that nasel cleaning liquid should be sterile and also salt should not have iodine.
the boiling to sterile I cN do, but my salt has Iodine. What is the deal do you suppose with no iodine?
When this purchased saline solution runs out, I will probably just make my own because there’s no reason not to.
I read that nasel cleaning liquid should be sterile and also salt should not have iodine.
the boiling to sterile I cN do, but my salt has Iodine. What is the deal do you suppose with no iodine?
That is odd, since iodine is used in some parts of the world to clean water for drinking.
There are other additives in common table salt, like dextrose, that I don't need. I'm always swabbing myself with iodine (for my moribund thyroid) and it absorbs quickly. I'm not sure how the tiny amount in a lavage would hurt anything, but I use sea salt or pink salt anyway.
sweetana3
10-10-19, 1:43pm
I just have to rave about my experience with our online Mayor's Action Line. First I reported a building with dangerous broken glass windows (single pane and non safety). They got the building boarded up.
Then I complained about sawhorses on a public sidewalk with no particular purpose other than impeding foot traffic. Too insubstantial to protect anyone from something falling down and dangerous to the blind or handicapped since hard to see and very high. Next thing I know, the whole building is surrounded by very heavy duty one story scaffolding with a roof above to protect pedestrians from something that is wrong with the building. Wow. Those original sawhorses had been in place for months.
iris lilies
10-25-19, 12:47pm
I am Not usually tuned into techno improvements, nevertheless
i am excited about the Samsung phone that folds into a tablet.
I will not give up my Apple environment, but maybe Apple will chase that trend.
frugal-one
10-25-19, 4:22pm
I am Not usually tuned into techno improvements, nevertheless
i am excited about the Samsung phone that folds into a tablet.
I will not give up my Apple environment, but maybe Apple will chase that trend.
I'm with you!! Very cool.
catherine
10-25-19, 4:26pm
Wow! I just looked it up! Very cool.
Yesterday was such a beautiful day. It finally got into the 60's so it actually felt like fall and our Chinese Pistache tree was a big golden ball and I could see it from the living room and kitchen. I spent a lot of time just looking at it and soaking in the beauty and being in awe of nature.
And as if that wasn't enough, I felt really good, lots of energy and no pain after battling a painful issue for a few months. It was just a lovely and simple day. The best kind.
And this morning we got a tiny amount of rain. Not enough to really be rain, but enough to give the air a nice fresh feeling. And! On my morning walk with my pups I discovered that the school at the end of my block has a teacher conference today so we were able to walk in the field and enjoy all the trees there and the pretty hillside. And!!! When I walked out the door I found a box of beautiful persimmons that a dear friend dropped of for us.
I found a missing earring this morning!!!
I found a missing earring this morning!!!
Congrats!!
I do love the Internet for figuring out how to fix things. Just figured out how to reset our tv after it went out during power surge, and we can watch the hearings.
I do love the Internet for figuring out how to fix things. Just figured out how to reset our tv after it went out during power surge, and we can watch the hearings.
Yes, and when you can't find the manual you stuck somewhere 10 years ago when you first bought an appliance--if you can find a model number, you can find a manual in a fraction of the time it takes to try to figure out where that manual is!
iris lilies
12-4-19, 4:30pm
This could’ve started out as a rant but it ended up a rave !
Today at the grocery store the checkout guy was taking forever . I couldn’t see exactly what was going on because DH was checking out and I was mostly in the floral department looking around . anyway , this was easily a ten minute to fifteen minute wait for one customer . the checkout guy kept writing something down and then he would talk to the customer and then they would fiddle around with something and then he would write something down and anyway he finally got her checked out and on her way .
DH reported later what was happening. The customer had a coupon of some sort, either WIC or food stamps, not that it matters for you SJW types I know, and she was buying a bag of grapes.Her coupon did not cover all the grapes in her bag. The checker kept removing a grape or two and trying to get the cost down to the amount of her coupon. Finally he reached into his own pocket and paid the difference for her.
He’s a young guy we haven’t seen before, and he is really a nice guy, and this is a good grocery store. So nice story
This could’ve started out as a rant but it ended up a rave !
Today at the grocery store the checkout guy was taking forever . I couldn’t see exactly what was going on because DH was checking out and I was mostly in the floral department looking around . anyway , this was easily a ten minute to fifteen minute wait for one customer . the checkout guy kept writing something down and then he would talk to the customer and then they would fiddle around with something and then he would write something down and anyway he finally got her checked out and on her way .
DH reported later what was happening. The customer had a coupon of some sort, either WIC or food stamps, not that it matters for you SJW types I know, and she was buying a bag of grapes.Her coupon did not cover all the grapes in her bag. The checker kept removing a grape or two and trying to get the cost down to the amount of her coupon. Finally he reached into his own pocket and paid the difference for her.
He’s a young guy we haven’t seen before, and he is really a nice guy, and this is a good grocery store. So nice story
Wow. Great story.
happystuff
12-4-19, 7:16pm
This could’ve started out as a rant but it ended up a rave !
Today at the grocery store the checkout guy was taking forever . I couldn’t see exactly what was going on because DH was checking out and I was mostly in the floral department looking around . anyway , this was easily a ten minute to fifteen minute wait for one customer . the checkout guy kept writing something down and then he would talk to the customer and then they would fiddle around with something and then he would write something down and anyway he finally got her checked out and on her way .
DH reported later what was happening. The customer had a coupon of some sort, either WIC or food stamps, not that it matters for you SJW types I know, and she was buying a bag of grapes.Her coupon did not cover all the grapes in her bag. The checker kept removing a grape or two and trying to get the cost down to the amount of her coupon. Finally he reached into his own pocket and paid the difference for her.
He’s a young guy we haven’t seen before, and he is really a nice guy, and this is a good grocery store. So nice story
I love hearing stories like this. Nice people rock!!
Teacher Terry
12-4-19, 7:22pm
What a great guy!
Went downtown yesterday to see a movie and the parking garage was permit only, which changed our plans. We parked on the street and went shopping-- just went to two local bookstores and had nice conversations and I bought a great bumper sticker. The snow was light and there was no ice and it was so fun to just wander around without an agenda--husband is on vacation from work this month, so it was like retirement living, no pressure. We live in a tourist area, so it's fun to go places in the winter where there is no one around, and you have all the scenery at a lovely, pace, and you can talk to people and there are no crowds and no rushing.
Went downtown yesterday to see a movie and the parking garage was permit only, which changed our plans. We parked on the street and went shopping-- just went to two local bookstores and had nice conversations and I bought a great bumper sticker. The snow was light and there was no ice and it was so fun to just wander around without an agenda--husband is on vacation from work this month, so it was like retirement living, no pressure. We live in a tourist area, so it's fun to go places in the winter where there is no one around, and you have all the scenery at a lovely, pace, and you can talk to people and there are no crowds and no rushing.
Sounds wonderful, Tybee! I LOVE those kinds of simple meandering days, especially in a pretty town.
Along those lines, while not in a small local town, my rave was about my walk yesterday, too! I've been in Tokyo since Tuesday and have been on the fence about sightseeing choices. I have to work in-between this week, so my time is limited and tours are usually at least 3-4 hours.
Yesterday was picture perfect, and I was sitting in my hotel room working on a report and said to myself, screw this! I have to find some thing to do! I grew more and more frustrated looking for just the right tour/event, but couldn't find anything. I finally found an app called GPSmywalk, which is a self-guiding app through any major city. Since I'm in the same "prefecture" as the Imperial Palace, I thought that would make a nice destination walk, however it was too late to get into the Palace itself
So I figured, I'd just walk to the gardens around the Palace. It's a 1.5 mile walk--and then I knew I'd walk around inside and then have to get back for interviews at 4pm. My thinking was, I may get tired, but I'll just take a taxi back to the hotel if I have to.
What a great walk! Walking is my favorite way to see a city, so I walked through this business section of Tokyo. It was so much fun even just getting to the Imperial Palace. I passed a whole block or more of snowboard/sports shops! I've never seen so many snowboards in one spot! The route took me along major roads, and side roads, restaurants, office buildings, bridges.
When I got to the grounds of the Palace and entered into the East Gardens, I was amazed at how lush it was in December. Not many flowers obviously (although a few hardy ones left) but the landscape design of that place was amazing!! Just what I had hoped to see, being such a lover of Japanese gardens after going to the one at Portland. So much thought into pathways, and color and form.
Well, being in the garden actually energized me, so I walked the return, too, along a different way back.
And I was back in time to take a nap before my evening interviews! Perfect day.
rosarugosa
12-5-19, 6:50pm
Catherine: That sounds delightful! I think if I went to Japan I would spend a lot of time eating. :)
Oh, Cath, that sounds so delightful. I was part of a 10 day tour of Japan and never thought about the idea of finding my way around using a phone and GPS. When has that been available?
I got lost on a walk after shopping with some others who afterwards went back to the hotel. I had a terrible time finding my way back. No one spoke English, I couldn't read the signs and felt really strange. Finally a young couple from Hong Kong rescued me and took me back to my hotel. Ever since, if I see anyone hesitating and looking lost, I strike up a conversation to see if help is needed.
Catherine, what a wonderful day, and how great that you made it happen.
That is a memory of a lifetime.
Oh, Cath, that sounds so delightful. I was part of a 10 day tour of Japan and never thought about the idea of finding my way around using a phone and GPS. When has that been available?
.
I used the GPSmycity for information on the things I was interested in, but I actually used the regular map on my phone to get me to/from the destination/hotel. The regular iPhone map is great for directing you on foot, although sometimes it takes a few seconds to catch up with where you are and where you're going. I felt very comfortable with it.
Today I moved hotels from Chiyoda, which is more of a business district, to Shinjuku, which is more touristy (for the weekend). Hoping to get to more gardens and also a couple of shrines.
I'll go back to Chiyoda for Monday and Tuesday's interviews, and hoping to put in a couple of hours in the National Museum of Modern Art. I'm particularly interested in an exhibit they have on windows (https://www.momat.go.jp/english/am/exhibition/windows/), which looks absolutely fascinating!
Windows are all too familiar to everyone. They let light and wind in the room while protecting us from coldness and heat. Through them we can have a fresh view of the outside world while indoors.
This exhibition, organized jointly with the Window Research Institute that advocate “windowology,” focuses on windows from various viewpoints. In addition to Henri Matisse’s paintings and cutting-edge contemporary art, the contents will include non-art topics such as the global history of windows. The galleries will showcase cross-genre exhibits including scenes by window loved and painted by artists, and useful tips about windows.
We hope we can offer an experience that enables you to see familiar windows differently after you leave the galleries.
SteveinMN
12-6-19, 11:31am
I got lost on a walk after shopping with some others who afterwards went back to the hotel. I had a terrible time finding my way back. No one spoke English, I couldn't read the signs and felt really strange.
DW#1 and I visited Tokyo maybe 30 years ago (so no GPS and not even my current very rudimentary knowledge of Japanese) and managed to get lost walking late at night. Before we left, someone had advised us to carry around a piece of paper with the name of our hotel/ryokan on it (for just such emergencies) so, after some fruitless walking around, we presented ourselves and our piece of paper at another hotel we had walked past. The clerk looked at the name, puzzled a little, and ended up calling our hotel to find out where they were -- pretty much right around the corner from where we were at that moment. Apparently not having one's bearings happens to locals, too. :-)
DD2 was telling me last night that on a recent bus tour to Europe, the tour director actually gave them access to phone maps to find and follow their interests on their own. They were really pleased with it. Sounds as though this is the new way of travelling around the world. I think that this is truly wonderful and exciting. I'll have to try it next time I head to Toronto for a couple of days.
Add this development to the reasons for celebrating the advances and benefits in today's Technology.
Had to share my day. All around my area are reports of snow falling or threatened. It is cold and breezy. My wonderful contractor came and installed the chain link fence and it looks wonderful. The posts had been cemented in a couple of weeks ago. My little dog now has a safe roaming area.
Earlier this week, someone had mentioned to me how she had gone for a long drive for a coffee. My first reaction was surprise at her traveling so far for a coffee and then realization of how much of rut I am in. After the fence contractor left, the sun came out so I took my little dog for a drive in the sunshine. We went to an area with a well-maintained public trail that runs along a series of deep large ponds. It was so amazing to hear the waves lapping against the shore and amble along in bright sunshine for an hour on December 6th. Usually it is all frozen over or snowy. Complete escape from my normal routine and wonderful to do. Now I can finish my Christmas cards,(the few that I still send as most have been replaced with ecards) and bring up the Christmas inside decorations.
iris lilies
12-6-19, 6:06pm
Razz, yes! I find myself in a rut even tho our rut now extends to two different towns. I am energized by just taking a different path or purposely driving 20-30 minutes someplace new. And yes, our cool,weather has been sunny as well, a good time to do it.
Had to share my day. All around my area are reports of snow falling or threatened. It is cold and breezy. My wonderful contractor came and installed the chain link fence and it looks wonderful. The posts had been cemented in a couple of weeks ago. My little dog now has a safe roaming area.
Earlier this week, someone had mentioned to me how she had gone for a long drive for a coffee. My first reaction was surprise at her traveling so far for a coffee and then realization of how much of rut I am in. After the fence contractor left, the sun came out so I took my little dog for a drive in the sunshine. We went to an area with a well-maintained public trail that runs along a series of deep large ponds. It was so amazing to hear the waves lapping against the shore and amble along in bright sunshine for an hour on December 6th. Usually it is all frozen over or snowy. Complete escape from my normal routine and wonderful to do. Now I can finish my Christmas cards,(the few that I still send as most have been replaced with ecards) and bring up the Christmas inside decorations.
So nice to venture out! Especially in the winter the temptation is to stay in. We are right on the lake, as you know, and the sunsets are always amazing. One morning I looked at the local newspaper FB page, and they had posted pictures of the unusually beautiful sunset from the night before. I was in my house the whole day and never saw it. I felt it was such a missed opportunity. Glad you had a great day--and the fence sounds awesome! If DH would consent to a fence, I would consider getting another dog, but without a fence, I'm just not up for the full responsibility of walking it 2-3 times a day in all kinds of weather.
Teacher Terry
12-6-19, 7:26pm
Catherine, our small dogs are trained to potty pads.
rosarugosa
12-6-19, 9:01pm
Catherine, our small dogs are trained to potty pads.
Yes, the little dog I walk is also pad trained.
SteveinMN
12-13-19, 9:41pm
DW and I visited our financial advisor today and crunched some numbers. DW will be retiring on or around May 29 of next year. Both of us feel like a weight has been lifted.
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