yummy!!

 We had dumplings for supper tonight

    Julia has had them several times back in the land she misses, so we made them toinight.

    Friend Sheri came over and she was put to work with Jackie and Julia.  I was told to not get involved because it took some manual dexterity, and I am lacking in that department.

    Julia mixed pork cabbage, mushrooms, ginger and who knows what else in a big bowl.  Then the ladies put filling in the dumpling and rolled it.  After all were rolled, Julia cooked them in a pan, first in oil, then steaming them in water.

    It all turned out pretty darn good.  If you go to a restaurant, they would be called pot stickers.

    It is a social meal.  You visit, roll, drink some wine, visit, and finally eat.

    I am full and ready for bed....almost.

    Have a  great weekend and stay warm.

Peace and Love

This was a great wine!  Too bad I only brought 2 bottles of it home....wish I had more.

on the road, again

 I got a little flustered today

    First off, I got up at 6 to take out the recyclables.  Yes.  6.  Me.  6 a.m., to be clear.

    I did go back to bed for about half an hour, but I had a worker coming to fix my window blinds.  So I showered, dressed and sat in a chair until he showed up at 8:15.

    He was here less than 20 minutes.  Job done.  Should have called my friend Carrie.

    Jackie always gets me up by 8:30.  But today she slept until almost 10!  

    I finally got her up and dressed and the second repair person came to check our fireplace.  We noticed that after about 15 minutes. it cuts off then comes right back on.  The guy was here once to fix it, replacing the ignitor, but when we used it again it still cut out and came back on.  Three times in a 5 minute period.

    Today he ran it for a while, it did cut off once, and he checked with the manufacturer who suggested it was the wall switch  So he replaced the wall switch, turned it on and we spent the next half hour watching the gas logs.

    We have run it since and the problem seems to be fixed.

    I had a chiropractor appointment at 2, so I started getting ready at about 1:40.  But I could not find my phone.  I used the Tile button on my car keys, but nothing happened.  So Julia called my number and heard,"This is the Kohl's Service Desk speaking.  We have your phone."

    Yesterday Julia and I stopped at Kohl's to look for a new bathroom rug for our bathroom.  I remember using my phone to take a picture of the rug, but Julia used her phone to take the picture so I must have set mine down to hold the rug.  I have no idea how it got from the rugs to the service desk.

    By now it was almost 5 to 2, so I put on my shoes and left.  Jackie was still in her wheelchair and I had not made her lunch.

    Julia had to make her lunch, get her into her chair, and wait on her until I got home.

    It was not a totally wasted drive.  I did get the hand cream I forgot two days ago.  And I did get a pistachio latte for the drive home. 

    I went almost one full day not missing my phone.  No one called, texted, or anything, so in one sense I feel neglected.  I mean, not even the car warranty pests called!

    But all is well that ends well, I guess.

    I am kind of tired tonight, hopefully I will sleep well.....and I bet a certain lady wakes me at 8 tomorrow.

Peace and Love

oh, when?

 I have to get up early tomorrow

    Due to a misunderstanding two weeks ago, my recycles did not go out.  I should take them out tonight, Wednesday, for Thursday morning pick up.

    But it is supposed to be windy, so I hate to think that my crap will be blowing all over the neighborhood.  So I will set the alarm for 6:30 and take them out then.  I hope you all see the false assumption in my plan.

    We have people coming tomorrow between 8 and 10 to work on our in-window blinds, which seem to have broken.  So.....up at 6:30, shower, and then take a nap until they get here.

    Jackie will either get up or wait in bed, which is kind of obvious, isn't it?  I don't believe there is another choice.

    Took the car in for an oil change today and Julia went along.  We stopped at Woodman's for "a few things" and I ended up spending over $100!  The cart was full, but I had not planned on buying all the stuff I bought.   

    For example:  They had huge packages of Bounty towels for $20.  If you bought $30 worth of P & G product, you got $10 off at the register plus you can send in for a $10 gift card.  So that means the paper towels only cost.....$20.

    It doesn't matter that I now have a lifetime supply.  I saved $20!  I thought it was a good bargain.....now I am wondering if I should have bought TP also.

    Last thing.....remember how history repeats itself?

    When I went to the antique mart with John and Emily, I found this calender.

    Now, what is today's date?

    Funny, huh.  These folks had the flu, a world war, and a great depression to look forward to over the next 25 years.

    We'll see.

Peace and Love

and they're off

 We had a little excitement tonight

    Emily came home with Tesla from the vets.  Tesla had some tooth work done, I believe an extraction.

    Anyway, when Emily opened the back end of ther car, Tesla took off like a shot.

    She had never done that before.  Tesla, Emily has opened the back end lots.

    Emily called and Julia and I joined the search party, which luckily included several VCCT members who were meeting at their house.

    Julia and I drove the perimiter while the others searched the neighborhood on foot. 

    After what seemed forever, Will caught sight of the miscreant and was able to get ahold of her leash.  Luckily she never left he subdivision, but she was awfully close to getting into the fields.

    Julia and I thought we saw her in one of the corn fields, but it turned out to be a deer.  Actually, 5 deer.

    Several times I put the car crossways on the road so we could better search the fields, hoping to see her.

    All's well that ends well, but it sure was a nerve wracking time.  Greyhounds can run fast for a ways, and while Tesla always comes to me in the house, she does not come to people outside the house.

    I'm just thankful for all the people who joined the hunt.

Peace and Love

cut ups wanted

I have amassed a large collection of boxes 

    They are all over the garage.  But they have a purpose.  (Not a porpoise, but that was a fishy joke.)

    When I expand my wildflower garden in May, I will put cardboard down around the plants.  This helps prevent weeds and holds in the water.  

    I like to use cardboard hat is up to 12 inches long and 6 inches wide.  Hence the cardboard boxes.

    At some point I need to start cutting the boxes down to the right size.  Since it is work in the garage, I would like a warmer day, but cutters can't be choosers.  Hopefully tomorrow I will start, but I know I won't finish.

    It is not fun.  My hands usually hurt, my knees ache from kneeling on the garage floor, I freeze, and I get angry at myself for even thinking this is a good idea.

    But, I will do it.  Eventually.

    Today I got a new blade in my Fat Max cutter, and that is a start.  You can't cut cardboard with a dull scissors.

    So if you are driving by and happen to stop, check out the mess I am making in the garage.  And if you bring a box cutter you can even join in the fun.

Peace and Love

PS....just to clarify, a porpoise is not a fish.  Its a mammal.  That's not as funny.

and another thing

 I have another mystery I forgot to mention yesterday

    My cuckoo clock is, well, cuckoo.

    I pull the chains up at about 10 at night, or sometimes in the morning.  Lately the clock has been stopping at odd hours, like 2 a.m. or 3 a.m.   (I did get in trouble when it stopped on day at about 10 a.m. and I asked Jackie if she had looked at it.  She did say I was number 1 in her book, sorta.)

    So why does it work for 3 or 4 hours then sudenly stop?  It's a vexing issue.  (Covid is a vaxing issue, on the other hand.)

    I know we have to get it cleaned and oiled periodically.  Usually we take it to a man in Sycamore who repairs watches and clocks.  Maybe it's time to do that.

    Or, maybe I need to redo the hanger.  Sometimes I notice it is leaning forward, which I guess could cause it to stop.

    And I can't rule out the possibilities of ghosts or aliens.  

    In any case it bugs me.  

    Speaking of bugging me, I watched a video on how to change the blades in my Fat Max cutter.  Looked pretty easy.  The problem is, the replacement blades are all stuck together and I can't get them apart! I have to look for my cut proof gloves so I don't accidently slice off part of my anatomy.

    Spent a pretty quiet day today...a football game, reading the paper, straightening up the den......nothing too taxing.  

    At some point I have to make a list of things I need to do.  That does help. 

    Jackie was doing the checkbook and asked me for a composition notebook.  I have about 7 in my desk drawer.  Every notebook I picked up had either the first couple of pages ripped out or writing on the back pages.

    One notebook has, written on the back page:  ate 70s      early 80s.  (I assume I missed the l and it is late.)

    Another one has four numbers:   10:24, 10:27,10:30, 10:48.

    I imagine at some point in time those had some meaning....but I have no idea what the hell it all means.

    Yet another mystery to ponder.

Peace and Love

I don't get it

 I wish I was smart enough to understand today

    For instance:

    How do QR codes work?

    Why does flammable and inflammable mean the same thing?

    How does my printer get the information from the computer when I want it to print?  It is a wireless set up and the printer works with several devices, which don't even have to be in the same room.

    When Sirius is updating in my car, how does it know where I am?

    How can someone use my home phone number to telemarket in Florida, resulting in complete strangers calling me at 8 a.m. because they missed my call and my number showed up on their phone?  Twice!

    Why didn't I buy Apple when it was $9 a share?

    Do  rippled potato chips actually taste better than regular chips, or is it just me?

    When a football team is up by 2 touchdowns and has the ball with less than one minute to go, why can't they just call the game instead of having the QB kneel three times?

    How can houses or buildings burn up and down at the same time?

    How do you write yes in a binary system?

    Why can't I figure out how to change blades in my Fat Max cutter? 

    Why are fitted sheets so hard to fold?

    If you have answers, I would appreciate them.  Meanwhile, I will continue to ponder the mysteries of life.

Peace and Love