NOW what???

Guys I cut and pasted my words here from my FaceBook.  That's why it looks awkward.


Read about what the grocery stores are doing these days. It answered my question of "WHY"???!!! a week ago when I went to a very large grocery & market center here in town where they are "inviting" you to take some bags and a scanner and do your own scanning throughout the store. Then, ante up over at the self serve lines I guess. To enforce this, they have closed all but two checkout lines....and surely those will go too. Since I am not the only one who doesn't like the do-it-all-yourself, the 2 lines are filled with huge creaking carts full of stuff- and there you are with them. So, it looks like if you want outta there alive, you had better do what they are trying to make you do or stand and wait f o r e v e r. I read right after that, that all the stores are going to the do it all yourself mode. Sure saves them money and I don't imagine we will see any lower prices with the money they are saving. Having them do the shopping for you and picking it up outside means a tip for the person who delivers and puts them in the car. One store makes it a mandatory 5$ tip. So, that gets grocery buying more expensive. Others may or not make it mandatory, but you are expected to do so. Bet they issue brooms and ties them to us and make us clean the floors as well as we go. Save more money.

One store just finished remodeling inside and the price of an 8 oz. can of baked beans rose 20 cents.  Just sayin'.

The Beat Goes On

That title was a trick.  What I really meant is the internet problems are still ongoing after a few weeks off from them.  They are back and in spades.  The newest Tech was here today.  That's 5 calls I've made in 3 days.  Turns out it may not be on their end but on mine.  He went to pains while here to show me with an experiment that is was the wiring that needs looking at  so I have a call in to the electrician.  He unfortunately can't make it till Tuesday on his way back from another town.  So he jury rigged me a way to have uninterrupted internet in here.  The TV...well, that'll have to wait till Tuesday of he can get me up and running.  Katie will be devastated.

I always say, things COULD and they have been worse.  So I can usually not complain too much.

I was lucky that my tech is/was a cat man.  My Katie has a buncha human brothers so she loves men.  Not so much women except me.  When a man comes in to fix anything, Katie is all over them like paint on a wall.  Purring, weaving in and out of their ankles...little chirrups.  My newest man came in to look after my internet problems and Katie came hurrying in to greet him.   He just stopped what he was doing and petted and rubbed her face and head.  I said to him that he must have a cat.  He has two and always had them.  I like when I don't have to 'apologize' for and try to distract my sweet girl.

That's all I have to say today really.  I have other things going on but they will stay here with me until there is a resolution that I can mention as well.

Have a great rest of your Sunday.  I will too.  Just cleaned the bathroom and tub and surround and sink and potty.  So got something done.  Did the rest of the house Saturday.

Seeyabye

A Tale of Three Friends

Once upon a time, there was a little corner house near a forested park but still in the City.

The lady (that would be me) was walking along quickly in the frigid air when she saw a flash of white on the ground in the fenced yard of the little home on the corner.  Since it took her eye she stopped very briefly and looked closely.  It was a small white Duckie walking slowly with a companion at her side.   Right alongside of the Duckie, the lady saw, was a rooster!  A banty rooster to be sure.  AND with the two of them who seemed  very bonded even to someone looking upon them for so short a time,  there was a cat. It was a Tortie cat, so a girl cat accompanied them on their breakfast tour.  She was walking along with them as the Duckie and Rooster stopped to examine the yard for part of their breakfast.

About that time while the lady tried fruitlessly to take their photo, their mom came out of the house and the lady (me) called across the street and inquired if the rooster, duckie and kitty were hers.

She said they were, and nodded toward her daughter, who was perhaps 10 years old saying that they had been, the two of them, at the Tractor and Feed store and the daughter saw the two little ones there at the store;  and that they were for sale at $2.50 each.  So the little girl bought them out of her allowance.

Now the two feathered ones have a home right there on the edge of the woods in the City with the cat who already lived there.   And now they are all bonded feathery and feline friends and a family of three friends.  Their mom said the three were inseparable.  They will live happily ever after delighting the lady (me) and the others who walk past.  Everyone tries to take their picture and there are a lot of "Oh, I love them" speechifying type talking going on.

The End

The rooster is so dark you can't see him but he is facing the duckie.  Cat was off eating.

 This was taken from well across the street and cropped.  Very bad.

What a Surprise

Went to the garage...

Well, I made a bunch of from scratch Tollhouse cookies two days ago.  I had bought the morsels and assumed I had all the other ingredients.  Got the two baking pans out and the parchment paper.  The mixer and the wooden spoon and the two knives to cut in the butter to the flour gradually.  I laid out the half a pound of butter to soften in room temperature, and left so as to take a walk.

 On my return, I laid out the sugars, brown and white, the vanilla, the morsels, the two eggs, the baking powder, the salt and all I had to do then was haul the flour out of the fridge where I keep it in its bag after I insert it into a thick gallon sized ziplock bag for safe keeping.

I reached into the place I keep the flour in the fridge and drew it out.  The surprise was just a minute away.  I could certainly see there was not much flour in the bag.  Certainly not the 2 1/2 cups I needed.  I took the bag out off its ziplock and something made me look to see if there was a use-by or expired date on it.  Guys, there sure was.  November 2009!  I used that flour rarely and forgot I even had it as I rarely bake and just don't need flour.  Until then.  I had to go to the grocery immediately and get a bag of flour.  October 18, 2018 is on the bag in Sharpie black!   I guarantee you that embarrassing thing won't happen again.

Don't get me started on cans in the back of the cabinets.  I finally sorted them through a week or so ago and found some canned tomatoes from 2010.  Some northern beans coming in at 2011.  The only good thing with the cans is...I always look before I use one.  The flour, not so much.  I did dredge chicken in it occasionally...sigh.  But I ain't dead.  🙀

The cookies were so good I couldn't stand it.  I put a few dozen in a plate and while they were still warm, I took them to the mechanics and owner at the garage I go to.  It's only a mile away.  They went above and beyond for me on three occasions.

I only had 4 in 2 days (2 each day)  so I am proud I could keep mostly away at 80 c. per cookie.  The rest are in the freezer for visitors.

2009!  I still can't believe it was in there that long.  That was All Purpose.  The Self Rising is fairly current.

I loved the McCormick ads in magazines a few years ago.  They showed a photo of a spice can and jar and asked if ours looked like them.  If so, they were like, 15 years old!  That was a good service besides making them money.

AND I didn't eat all the morsels so my cookies weren't bald!

All in a Day

Ladies and Gents; cats and dogs of all ages!

With taking krill oil, as told to  do by my cardiologist, I have said goodbye to a good night's sleep.  One of the side effects is that very thing, a lack of sleep as well as flushing occasionally.  I don't know how (or if) red my face may be when there is a krill oil inspired heat but...if it does me good- then I can take it.  I'll find out when I get the next blood test done to see how my cholesterol is.

Meanwhile back at the ranch, I have risen for the day of course, fed me and her...gone out to find the impossible...a bedding set with comforter, sham and bed skirt.  Make that twin size for the guest room.  HARD to find.  Now, I did find a few in garish colors and equally garish prints, but at 100 $ plus. I went everywhere in town that I could.  Very little to choose from, and ew-glee as well as expensive.  On-line is not a lot better and you can't see the fabric in person of course.

 Had lunch.  Strawberry smoothie.  NO strange green stuff in it. If I wanted a spinach and haddock or whatever smoothie (oh my cod) I'd make one.  (ain't no way).  I prefer fruit, milk, a bit of lite choco syrup and ice cubes all whirled.  140 c.  Pretty soon we'll see recipes for liver smoothies with green beans thrown in for veggies.  Maybe peas.   I'll eat the greens on my supper plate as part of a cooked meal.

 Milady is still indisposed taking her rest on the recliner.  I was going to see about having the car's oil changed until I remembered I have a 2-6 window pm (sheesh!) to get the heat and air unit serviced.  Talk about the whole rest of the day ruined... that would do it. I hate giving up most of the day to this.

I wonder if I don't get the memo about not turning on windshield wipers?  I've noticed more folks driving in the rain without the use of the wipers or the rest seem to put them on pause and get a swipe every 15 seconds in driving rain.  I'll use mine when it's raining untill I get the memo.

I used to smoke.  I quit 15 years ago cold turkey.  Look what I found in one of about 5 totes and zippered carriers I had jammed into one of the closets.  Remember I said I was cleaning closets and accumulated 4 leaf and lawn bags filled up with stuff from the closets along with clothes?  I found THESE in one of the totes.  I wonder if they still make those brands.  I used to smoke Salem brand.  How I got these two...who knows.  Musta felt desperate back then.

The Earth Keeps Turning

In the scheme of things...looking out of your "self" meaning simply not always for and about yourself, but at the life surrounding you and that you are in with the rest of the inhabitants here on earth, you see just where you are in that.  It can be enlightening.  I doubt think great masses of people do that however.  The human condition seems to be "it's all about me".

We all of us went to Asheville NC last week and to the Blue Ridge Skyway.  WHAT a totally beautiful place to be.  Biltmore of course but I am referring to Blue Ridge Mountains.   Oh, the serenity, the peace, the beauty...unsullied and undeveloped.  Worth the trip.  Biltmore too but not in quite the same way,.

We went as a complete family.  All the boys, wife, child, etc etc me.  It was a birthday gift to me.  One of the boys rented a van so we could all fit in and ride together.   All went beautifully. And outside of being out into the pouring rain walking from Biltmore-- down to the parking lot one had walked up to Biltmore from  (the rain that the weather man did not predict that very day, right up to when it started raining like a waterfall...and while we were all  getting drenched...I found none of us cared.  It added to the texture..the warp and woof of the day...a day I nor the rest of us will forget very soon as it was the first time to ever take a trip together as a family.  Rain'll never kill ya.  I am so grateful for that loving gift from the boys.

We stayed at a very very good hotel while there...very quiet and comfortable.

Wonderful weekend and as I found while I was focused on this loving event...life kept happening.  How about that?

By the way, a good friend took me to a large roadside seller over an hour away..that sells jams, jellies and honey made and bottled by the Amish community close to them. I have NEVER tasted commercial jams, preserves, whatever from grocery stores anywhere in the world that I have been and that's a lotta places, that tasted like these.  I bought 6 jars for pity sakes, pint sized...and if I allowed myself to, I'd eat them all at once.  Even if I busted wide open. Expensive and worth every dollar.

Chow..Ciao..Chew...or..good bye.

On the way to the Blue Ridge Parkway. Getting late.