Don't you wonder what your Christmas surprise will be?
#1
#2
#3
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
DON'T YOU WONDER?
Now that fall is officially here our thoughts start turning to the rapid succession of holidays that is upon us, do they not? The Party Place is loaded with Halloween costumes; grocery stores are loading up with turkeys and putting out those extra displays of spices (Best get your sage now as they run out when the day approaches.); Hobby Lobby already has out its full racks and counters of snow globes, wreaths, and Christmas tree ornaments at 40% off. Maybe by December they'll pay us to take them. We're definitely on overload.
Don't you wonder what your Christmas surprise will be?
#1
#2
#3
Don't you wonder what your Christmas surprise will be?
#1
#2
#3
Monday, September 7, 2009
WEEKEND: NOT AS PLANNED
On Friday and Saturday Jazz and I were finally going to have the big yard sale we have tentatively planned since April. For a variety of reasons we kept postponing it until summer was here, and it was just way too hot. 100+ degree days just don't lend themselves to that much work AND trying to be pleasant to potential shoppers. On Thursday morning it began to rain, and the weather forecast at noon predicted the same through Sunday. So after a hurried consultation early that afternoon we decided not to place an ad in the newspaper and start setting up that evening. As luck would have it not a drop fell after 7:00 p.m. on Thurs., but what the hey, we were now free to cruise the estate sales the next day.
Background for next part: For over seven years now I have been unable to play these.
Can you tell that these are phonograph records from the past? They have had a long and hard life, and I have refused to put them in any other yard sales because I was convinced that I would one day listen to them again. [Side Note: When Dagromm, (remember him?) was away at his liberal arts college he signed up for a course called American Culture. That surprised me since he was an American, and I thought he'd be well versed in that. When I asked him about it he replied, "In that class we watch all those videos you MADE us watch and listen to all those records you were always playing." I never asked if he regretted enrolling in that class.] Alas every time I found a suitable working phonograph it was a vintage console that was way too big to fit into my house. But . . . my luck changed when I went to the first estate sale I would have missed if we'd followed our original plan. Here's my great find.
O.K. I still haven't found just the right spot for it, but it won't have to be such a big spot. The wooden part I'm currently using to hold the phonograph is my old cassette tape holder. Right! I haven't let go of those either, and the only place I've had to play those was in my car---usually on long trips, and there haven't been many of those lately. But this wonderful little Magnavox has a working record player (33 & 45 rpm.), working radio (AM & FM), and working dual cassette player which can be used for high speed dubbing. This wonderful little treasure was only $28.00. My next goal is to find additional needles for the phono; the current one is o.k., but you never know . . . .
Friday night I was zipping through various tasks while singing along with The Kingston Trio, and Peter, Paul and Mary. Imagine me grinning like Lee Marvin in Cat Ballou when he said, "It was fine, just fine." Tonight it may be Ella Fitzgerald.
At the second estate sale I found one of those Little Playmate by igloo, a small cold storage carrier just right for a lunch or two or three cold sodas, which I thought was $1.00. When I got it into a better light it turned out to be $4.00, and my Scot's blood came to the fore, and I left it there. However, as I pulled into my driveway I noted a neon green poster on the power pole at the end of the block. Couldn't read it from that distance, but there was no need. Sure enough a garage sale on the next street. I feel I must support my neighbors so I drove on around the corner. Look what I found.
Price: 50 cents Can you believe that?
Since Jazz and I hadn't had our own sale I wasn't exhausted on Sunday as anticipated so I treated myself to a movie which I loved, and it was a great bargain too. If you haven't seen it yet, do go.
Background for next part: For over seven years now I have been unable to play these.
Can you tell that these are phonograph records from the past? They have had a long and hard life, and I have refused to put them in any other yard sales because I was convinced that I would one day listen to them again. [Side Note: When Dagromm, (remember him?) was away at his liberal arts college he signed up for a course called American Culture. That surprised me since he was an American, and I thought he'd be well versed in that. When I asked him about it he replied, "In that class we watch all those videos you MADE us watch and listen to all those records you were always playing." I never asked if he regretted enrolling in that class.] Alas every time I found a suitable working phonograph it was a vintage console that was way too big to fit into my house. But . . . my luck changed when I went to the first estate sale I would have missed if we'd followed our original plan. Here's my great find.
O.K. I still haven't found just the right spot for it, but it won't have to be such a big spot. The wooden part I'm currently using to hold the phonograph is my old cassette tape holder. Right! I haven't let go of those either, and the only place I've had to play those was in my car---usually on long trips, and there haven't been many of those lately. But this wonderful little Magnavox has a working record player (33 & 45 rpm.), working radio (AM & FM), and working dual cassette player which can be used for high speed dubbing. This wonderful little treasure was only $28.00. My next goal is to find additional needles for the phono; the current one is o.k., but you never know . . . .
Friday night I was zipping through various tasks while singing along with The Kingston Trio, and Peter, Paul and Mary. Imagine me grinning like Lee Marvin in Cat Ballou when he said, "It was fine, just fine." Tonight it may be Ella Fitzgerald.
At the second estate sale I found one of those Little Playmate by igloo, a small cold storage carrier just right for a lunch or two or three cold sodas, which I thought was $1.00. When I got it into a better light it turned out to be $4.00, and my Scot's blood came to the fore, and I left it there. However, as I pulled into my driveway I noted a neon green poster on the power pole at the end of the block. Couldn't read it from that distance, but there was no need. Sure enough a garage sale on the next street. I feel I must support my neighbors so I drove on around the corner. Look what I found.
Price: 50 cents Can you believe that?
Since Jazz and I hadn't had our own sale I wasn't exhausted on Sunday as anticipated so I treated myself to a movie which I loved, and it was a great bargain too. If you haven't seen it yet, do go.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
ROLLING THUNDER
It just goes on and on. We can hear the storms coming. First the thunder, then we see the lightening, and in a little while the rain starts---and it comes down very hard, and then it lessens, and then it's hard again, and it just goes on and on and on. We've been in a moderate drought, so I'm not complaining, but so much at once? It's very tiring. WHEW!
And then a little sunshine comes---very bright---but the rain continues even then. This is so weird.
The dogs are bored with being kept inside, but they definitely do not want to go out in the rain. On the other hand, the cats swat at me, meow, and run to the door when they hear the thunder, and if the door is opened will run out. I, however, do not want them to go out when the weather is so unstable.
Drivers keep driving into flooded streets and acting like it's a big surprise when their cars float off the road, or they lose control and careen into someone's house. Are they this desperate to be on TV? Does rain bring out the stupidity of the human race?
Another storm rolling in so I need to shut down and unplug AGAIN! Pitiful old computer that it is, I don't want it fried by the lightening. See ya!
And then a little sunshine comes---very bright---but the rain continues even then. This is so weird.
The dogs are bored with being kept inside, but they definitely do not want to go out in the rain. On the other hand, the cats swat at me, meow, and run to the door when they hear the thunder, and if the door is opened will run out. I, however, do not want them to go out when the weather is so unstable.
Drivers keep driving into flooded streets and acting like it's a big surprise when their cars float off the road, or they lose control and careen into someone's house. Are they this desperate to be on TV? Does rain bring out the stupidity of the human race?
Another storm rolling in so I need to shut down and unplug AGAIN! Pitiful old computer that it is, I don't want it fried by the lightening. See ya!
Sunday, July 19, 2009
IT ALL STARTED WHEN . . .
Chill and Jaz were shopping at Sam's. This was about three to four weeks ago. According to her Chill dragged her half way across the mammoth shopping area to see this wonderful thing they had displayed. It had originally been priced at $799.00. The price had been cut to $515.00. Jaz said he thought that it would be great for them to go in on with moi (I'm feeling a little Miss Piggy-ish, I guess) and extend our gardening efforts. Apparently, those tomatoes, zucchini, basil, etc. are appealing. Anyway, she called me and described it, and we planned another trip to Sam's Club for another look and a conference. That was about June 30.
It looked really good, and I did some on-line research, and everything seemed to be just about what it said it was. The only down side was that the customer reviews were all done about one month after purchase, so there was no response about how things actually grew there; on the positive side they were all pleased with the assembly end of it. So, all things considered it seemed like an o.k. deal. The next hurdle was that we had to pick up the two LARGE boxes (one weighed 150 lbs. & the other 165 lbs.) from Sam's the same day as the purchase, and we couldn't seem to connect with Chill---he who has pick-up and muscles. It was finally resolved, and we made the purchase on July 9. Guess what! The price had been reduced to $398.00. YEA! YEA! And Chill even opted to hire a friend/customer to build it for us. Yesterday was the big day.
Doesn't this look like a giant Lincoln log set?
Our hired guy called the night before to say he'd be at my house at 7:00 a.m., and he was. I'm always surprised to see that people actually function at this hour, but they do---eventually. Come on, Jaz and Keith. Hands off hips, and apply to construction.
Well, one of them got the message.
BTW Keith was apparently feeling the pressure of the on-line information that said two people working together on this project should expect to finish in 6-8 hrs. (Of course, I think they meant ordinary klutzes who only half know what they are doing.) As he didn't seem to need any help from us for a while I commandeered Jaz to the front yard to help me trim away some hedge to apply a Y spigot attachment to the front outside water supply so we could run a hose to the new garden. Well, that woman is manic when it comes to cleaning out something. Pretty soon we were pulling out vines, weeding, pulling up volunteer trees, hacking out lantana that just won't give up, and we managed to harvest five yard bags of debris. (Unfortunately, this tells you something about the state of my alleged flower beds as well.) They haven't looked so good ever.
When we went back to the back yard this is what we found.
At this point we discovered between Keith's and my treasure trove of drill bits we didn't have one to make a hole big enough to put a garden hose through, and he had to make a run to a nearby hardware store for a bit, and I begged him to pick up the Y connection for the faucet as well which he did. He was a joy to work with.
Jaz did some helpful holding of things as work progressed and figuring out the placement of the plastic liners for this giant container for plants. She really did good things. And what did I do to help this process along? Well, my job was to get water for everyone. Did I mention it was hot? Ten degrees cooler than a week ago, but 90-92 is hot enough to keep a good sweat going. It is likely that each of us drank at least two quarts of water out there. I was also fetching things like soap for screws, band-aids and wound cleaning foam, an array of bits of wood for leveling, etc. We were a pretty good team. Jaz decided to go get us something for lunch (Church's chicken) as she and I were beginning to walk into walls. But Keith, the real competitor, just wanted a Coke. Here he is putting in the final screws.
When it was done he asked, "What time is it?" I immediately looked inside at the clock in the kitchen and reported it was 2:00 p.m. Seven hours from the time he arrived which included getting the boxes into the area from the carport, opening, reading instructions, cutting a finger, conversation, and just being pleasant and courteous the whole time, and working mostly alone. I love it when people know what they're doing.
So what does this new construction look like? Well, it's gorgeous. Just take a look! (It's not tilted; I think I was.)
This afternoon, the day after, I was doing even more yard work; I won't bore you with what that included, but when I was taking out all the stuff to the curb for trash pick-up in the morning my backdoor neighbor was doing the same. I invited her to come see what we'd built. As she came up the drive she asked, "Oh, are you going to raise chickens?"
It looked really good, and I did some on-line research, and everything seemed to be just about what it said it was. The only down side was that the customer reviews were all done about one month after purchase, so there was no response about how things actually grew there; on the positive side they were all pleased with the assembly end of it. So, all things considered it seemed like an o.k. deal. The next hurdle was that we had to pick up the two LARGE boxes (one weighed 150 lbs. & the other 165 lbs.) from Sam's the same day as the purchase, and we couldn't seem to connect with Chill---he who has pick-up and muscles. It was finally resolved, and we made the purchase on July 9. Guess what! The price had been reduced to $398.00. YEA! YEA! And Chill even opted to hire a friend/customer to build it for us. Yesterday was the big day.
Doesn't this look like a giant Lincoln log set?
Our hired guy called the night before to say he'd be at my house at 7:00 a.m., and he was. I'm always surprised to see that people actually function at this hour, but they do---eventually. Come on, Jaz and Keith. Hands off hips, and apply to construction.
Well, one of them got the message.
BTW Keith was apparently feeling the pressure of the on-line information that said two people working together on this project should expect to finish in 6-8 hrs. (Of course, I think they meant ordinary klutzes who only half know what they are doing.) As he didn't seem to need any help from us for a while I commandeered Jaz to the front yard to help me trim away some hedge to apply a Y spigot attachment to the front outside water supply so we could run a hose to the new garden. Well, that woman is manic when it comes to cleaning out something. Pretty soon we were pulling out vines, weeding, pulling up volunteer trees, hacking out lantana that just won't give up, and we managed to harvest five yard bags of debris. (Unfortunately, this tells you something about the state of my alleged flower beds as well.) They haven't looked so good ever.
When we went back to the back yard this is what we found.
At this point we discovered between Keith's and my treasure trove of drill bits we didn't have one to make a hole big enough to put a garden hose through, and he had to make a run to a nearby hardware store for a bit, and I begged him to pick up the Y connection for the faucet as well which he did. He was a joy to work with.
Jaz did some helpful holding of things as work progressed and figuring out the placement of the plastic liners for this giant container for plants. She really did good things. And what did I do to help this process along? Well, my job was to get water for everyone. Did I mention it was hot? Ten degrees cooler than a week ago, but 90-92 is hot enough to keep a good sweat going. It is likely that each of us drank at least two quarts of water out there. I was also fetching things like soap for screws, band-aids and wound cleaning foam, an array of bits of wood for leveling, etc. We were a pretty good team. Jaz decided to go get us something for lunch (Church's chicken) as she and I were beginning to walk into walls. But Keith, the real competitor, just wanted a Coke. Here he is putting in the final screws.
When it was done he asked, "What time is it?" I immediately looked inside at the clock in the kitchen and reported it was 2:00 p.m. Seven hours from the time he arrived which included getting the boxes into the area from the carport, opening, reading instructions, cutting a finger, conversation, and just being pleasant and courteous the whole time, and working mostly alone. I love it when people know what they're doing.
So what does this new construction look like? Well, it's gorgeous. Just take a look! (It's not tilted; I think I was.)
This afternoon, the day after, I was doing even more yard work; I won't bore you with what that included, but when I was taking out all the stuff to the curb for trash pick-up in the morning my backdoor neighbor was doing the same. I invited her to come see what we'd built. As she came up the drive she asked, "Oh, are you going to raise chickens?"
Sunday, June 21, 2009
LIFE IS INTERESTING, ISN'T IT?
Friday I had a call from my friend, Travis, a retired airline pilot. He was wondering if I could drive him to the airport to start his journey to Stockholm to join Janie, his significant other. Since I owe him two or three favors I told him yes. When I picked him up a half hour later he related that he'd been to the airport the night before (driven by a neighbor) but had missed the flight. Fortunately, the neighbor had waited to make sure Travis was on his way, but, obviously, that had not worked out. He had called me at one in the afternoon.
Travis outlined his expected itinerary, but the catch is he has to fly standby. It's apparently part of his retirement package---free, but with hitches. The plan was he would be flying from here to Dallas; from there to Heathrow, and from there to Stockholm.
Friday night I had just stripped out of my clothes and about to put on the nightie when the phone rang. It was eleven p.m. Travis asked if I was in for the night through much static. When I finally figured out he needed assistance I learned he had been to Dallas and was back here. Donning a jumper Plug made a hundred years ago and gave to me when she outgrew it but serves as something I wear in the yard when I have to wear something other than night gown, I returned to the airport to give Travis a ride back home. He was really depressed about the whole adventure which I understood. Lest it sound like I was a big martyr in this scheme, not true. Though I don't live close to the airport, thanks to the freeway, I was back home at 11:45. Moved pretty well for an old lady, don't you think? Travis said he would be back to the computer to try to figure another route.
All through Saturday I kept wondering how he was rerouting and where he might be and hoping everything was working out. Finally, Saturday evening I wrote an email:
From: LIT
Sent: Jun 20, 2009 8:15 p.m.
To: Janie
Subject: PLEASE tell me
when Travis gets to Stockholm. Was the third time the charm?
Also, Janie, let me know if you, or you and Travis, need a ride from
the airport on the 30th. And let me know your air line & flight
number so I can check online to see when you'll arrive. My two
grandchildren from Tx will be here, but they would be delighted to meet
you, and we can handle the drive---day or night. It would be an
adventure.
LIT
Today I was delighted to receive an answer. Here it is:
From: Janie
Subject: Re: PLEASE tell me
Date: June 21, 2009 4:10:36 PM CDT
To: LIT
Reply-To: Janie
Hi LIT,
I am here! Went to LGA and taxied to JFK to catch an 11:30pm departure, but it all worked. I had so little confidence I would actually leave, I drove myself so will incur the tremendous parking fee, but all seems minor compared to the time I lost with Janie here. Thanks so much for the rides and offer of more, but we will have to just drop by to meet the kids.
See you in early July,
Travis
I can't believe he finally made it. J
So, you're wondering why Janie was in Stockholm ahead of Travis. Well, here's the skinny. She was presenting her data to a group of scientists there, and her ticket was paid for by the scientists. She's not really expecting a Nobel prize from this, but they were excited about seeing Stockholm and environs together. I'm excited about having such interesting friends. They also play musical instruments at Renaissance fairs, and their appearance reflects that era. Travis is also as addicted to estate sales as I am, and she is a fantastic cook. Very interesting people.
None of this would have been available to me if I'd stayed in the little town where I retired. There were those who couldn't understand why I'd want to move at that point in my life, especially to a place where I knew no one but one son and one daughter. But I think life is interesting--- especially when you go out and look for it.
Travis outlined his expected itinerary, but the catch is he has to fly standby. It's apparently part of his retirement package---free, but with hitches. The plan was he would be flying from here to Dallas; from there to Heathrow, and from there to Stockholm.
Friday night I had just stripped out of my clothes and about to put on the nightie when the phone rang. It was eleven p.m. Travis asked if I was in for the night through much static. When I finally figured out he needed assistance I learned he had been to Dallas and was back here. Donning a jumper Plug made a hundred years ago and gave to me when she outgrew it but serves as something I wear in the yard when I have to wear something other than night gown, I returned to the airport to give Travis a ride back home. He was really depressed about the whole adventure which I understood. Lest it sound like I was a big martyr in this scheme, not true. Though I don't live close to the airport, thanks to the freeway, I was back home at 11:45. Moved pretty well for an old lady, don't you think? Travis said he would be back to the computer to try to figure another route.
All through Saturday I kept wondering how he was rerouting and where he might be and hoping everything was working out. Finally, Saturday evening I wrote an email:
From: LIT
Sent: Jun 20, 2009 8:15 p.m.
To: Janie
Subject: PLEASE tell me
when Travis gets to Stockholm. Was the third time the charm?
Also, Janie, let me know if you, or you and Travis, need a ride from
the airport on the 30th. And let me know your air line & flight
number so I can check online to see when you'll arrive. My two
grandchildren from Tx will be here, but they would be delighted to meet
you, and we can handle the drive---day or night. It would be an
adventure.
LIT
Today I was delighted to receive an answer. Here it is:
From: Janie
Subject: Re: PLEASE tell me
Date: June 21, 2009 4:10:36 PM CDT
To: LIT
Reply-To: Janie
Hi LIT,
I am here! Went to LGA and taxied to JFK to catch an 11:30pm departure, but it all worked. I had so little confidence I would actually leave, I drove myself so will incur the tremendous parking fee, but all seems minor compared to the time I lost with Janie here. Thanks so much for the rides and offer of more, but we will have to just drop by to meet the kids.
See you in early July,
Travis
I can't believe he finally made it. J
So, you're wondering why Janie was in Stockholm ahead of Travis. Well, here's the skinny. She was presenting her data to a group of scientists there, and her ticket was paid for by the scientists. She's not really expecting a Nobel prize from this, but they were excited about seeing Stockholm and environs together. I'm excited about having such interesting friends. They also play musical instruments at Renaissance fairs, and their appearance reflects that era. Travis is also as addicted to estate sales as I am, and she is a fantastic cook. Very interesting people.
None of this would have been available to me if I'd stayed in the little town where I retired. There were those who couldn't understand why I'd want to move at that point in my life, especially to a place where I knew no one but one son and one daughter. But I think life is interesting--- especially when you go out and look for it.
Friday, June 19, 2009
Thursday, June 18, 2009
TAKE N. KOREA SERIOUSLY
Seldom do I enter political statements, but sometimes I feel prodded to do so. This time the prod is a vegetable.
As you know I belong to the local orchid society, and we recently visited the greenhouses of one of our members who happens to come from S. Korea. She is married to an American who was in the service there, and I assume is now a citizen since she works at the local Air Force base. They have a son who graduated from high school this year. In addition to the impeccable greenhouses she also had a vegetable garden in the back yard with four cucumber plants growing along the fence. She said they were Korean cucumbers; she had brought the seeds here.
My cucumber plant label said to harvest when the cuke was 3-4 inches long. Well, I was a little over eager, and the one I cut was 2 1/2 inches long. I stand corrected. However, I think you will agree that another half inch would not have made it look anymore impressive.
American cucumber on the left; Korean cucumber on the right. (The Korean cucumber has a very tender skin. No peeling necessary.)
Now if the Koreans are growing cucumbers like this without genetic engineering, etc., don't you think it's time to consider their exploration/building of nuclear weapons very seriously?
As you know I belong to the local orchid society, and we recently visited the greenhouses of one of our members who happens to come from S. Korea. She is married to an American who was in the service there, and I assume is now a citizen since she works at the local Air Force base. They have a son who graduated from high school this year. In addition to the impeccable greenhouses she also had a vegetable garden in the back yard with four cucumber plants growing along the fence. She said they were Korean cucumbers; she had brought the seeds here.
My cucumber plant label said to harvest when the cuke was 3-4 inches long. Well, I was a little over eager, and the one I cut was 2 1/2 inches long. I stand corrected. However, I think you will agree that another half inch would not have made it look anymore impressive.
American cucumber on the left; Korean cucumber on the right. (The Korean cucumber has a very tender skin. No peeling necessary.)
Now if the Koreans are growing cucumbers like this without genetic engineering, etc., don't you think it's time to consider their exploration/building of nuclear weapons very seriously?
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