On MY!

 I almost greeted you saying "Kitties!"  However Katie is taking a sunpuddle break so it's up to me.

Yesterday was another sunny day with the temps in the middle 40's.  I was silly enough to go out in a very light fleece jacket.  Who was sorry?  Me.

I came home mid morning, or just past. made me a strawberry smoothie (all strawberries..the idea of putting green stuff in there make my tummy lurch at the thought). Anyway, made me a smoothie, laid out the ingredimunts, as I call it, of another attempt at a great coconut cream pie.  The last one tasted like a zillion dollars, but it didn't set up right.  Too loose.  (But supreme in taste). Came to the computer for about fifteen minutes and hauled myself into the kitchen after that.  I remeasured everything and had various bowls etc. laid out and then, with the oven heating up, I started with the crust.  Guys, talk about amateur (which I certainly am) mistake...I used my glass 10" pie plate and rolled out insufficient dough for that size.  Sigh.  Well, I stretched the dough and moaned about it but carried on.  Used dry beans on parchment to blind bake. That done as I went about whomping up the filling in a bowl and then on the stove, I had a knock on the kitchen door.  Oh no.  I was reading instructions, I was busier than a one armed paper hanger...I was stirring, whisking, going back and forth for added ingredients, oops, ingredimunts, and had to holler "come in".  (I recognized the truck across the street).  The feller said he knew from my text what I was doing but he wanted to come by anyway as he had something for Katie's fave bro.  I mentally rolled my eyes at the timing.  (I hope it was mentally...) but one soldiers on.

I apologized for continuing to refer to instructions and measurements and said that I could not stop and chat at that point.  (MY way of saying "come back another time!"

Crust came out of the oven and ooo la laaa.  It was golden, and thinner than a thin crust pizza but what there was, was flaky!  And my thumb busted the edge on both sides getting it out of the oven.  However...I scraped the filling out of the pot and I want you to know that when I licked the pot and spoon clean after my guest left, it was magnificent tasting.  It set up right.  First recipe wanted 3 Tbls. flour.  and this one, corn starch.  Made a difference.

Now to the point (I warned you about Southern women yesterday)!

I knew I couldn't have any (too fattening) there is 14 oz. of coconut milk, a cuppa half and half, 1/2 cuppa sugar, salt, vanilla, 2 Tbls. unsalted butter and the coconut..a cup full. So who can eat for goodness sake?  One fave bro is in NC, so he couldn't help.  I forgot that the one that sees Katie all the time doesn't like coconut, and the other fave bro, wife and child have given up desserts for Lent.  They like coconut.  So...I have to throw it away.  I took a forkful of it cold from the fridge this morning...OH. MY. WORD.

I'm headed out with my new Nikon binoculars to bird watch.  No pics today I don't imagine.  Landscapes aren't pretty right now...no flowers.  So...just gawking at birdies. 

Another "Good Grief"

Howdy!   Just thought as I was typing that a co-worker once said when I uttered that phrase "Good Grief" ..."Carole.  There IS no such thing as "good" grief". Still, though I always remember my co-worker saying that, it is a phrase I use frequently.  Beats some of the foul, soul -cringing and useless filthy nastiness I read and hear.  Best thing to do is use no phrases, and just get to the point.  But Southern women are not known for getting to the point.  When I was married once upon a time, the husband (a Yankee if there ever was one)  said "you people go circling around a topic until it comes unravelled and then, you might get to the point".  Have to agree.  I can hear myself talking (or writing as I am now... beating around the bush) and I know I am guilty of all charges re: evading the salient point.   I don't talk in a straight line as that is not how I was reared.  I yam what I yam.  Oh, I can do so...I simply have to gird my loins and set my mind to it.  Now in thinking...I am rather a linear thinker surprisingly.  

So.  Yesterday I went to the dentist.  I had my first ever all around x-ray.  That was different.  New dentist...latest stuffs I guess.  What it all came down to is the need for implants.  I watched a video.  They will work up the cost estimate on his side of the playground and after I recover from that (titanium and a gold "bar" to hold the implants I guess above the bone) I would head to the oral surgeon and my word...I'll have to hear HIS estimation of $$$$$$$$$$$.  You know the insurance would be hardly anything.  I don't need a mouthful.  Just the bottom 4.  What I have now is giving me trouble.

I came home after two hours there and by the way, I and the doctor and the two techs had a belly buster laughing fit with me there in the chair.  Never met any of them untill yesterday.  This was my first visit there.  He made a comment to the two techs about what he had just done there in my mouth while examining and what my tongue had done  reflexively in response...and in the 2 seconds it took to process what he said, it made me start laughing, I couldn't help myself.  I apologized and said  I'd compose myself, but  I started howling with laughter again and so did the three of them.  Real laughing, all four of us.  Took a good minute to calm down.  Then, on with the news he had as to my possibilities. 

So, all this adventure was on a peerless beautiful sun drenched day, at 55 degrees F.  12.8 C.  Made me want to get up out of there and have a great day. Here's another day like that and I am sitting here!  About to go do my face and get out of here! Let's head to a couple of stores, what say?  If you got the money Honey, I got the time.   (No honkey tonkin' though).

This and That

 Well, I worked hard for awhile today but the bulk of that was yesterday. I have a thing about Westerns on TV so I hurried for hours to be ready to watch them in peace while glancing around at my groomed carpet and shining wood.  Seriously.  It's my reward.  And if the sun is shining which it was not...believe me!  then I get to see the late afternoon sun on the carpet and walls looking beautiful. while I watch my beloved Westerns.  I started that craving to watch them a good 8, 9 years ago. I have seen them all several times but that doesn't stop me.  

Got the cleaning mostly done yesterday including the bathroom.  That's my least fun.  Well, the kitchen too.  Have to do the refrigerator next.  Hate that job with a passion.   But it feels so nice to open it and see it all gleaming.  

Got the wash done, dried and put away.  The bed changed today.  You have read about those weighted blankets?  I don't have oner and won't buy one BUT I have put a lightweight throw over my regular blanket on the bed, that is puff filled with something very soft and light.  The throw goes totally across the bed (double bed) and down to my ankles (I am short!) and it is just heavy enough to make a difference in feel.  To me, it feel heavy-ish. I got to sleep sooner and stay asleep longer.  Katie loves lying on the puffed squares too.  Leopard won't let her on my head so she parks up on my upper chesticles to where her nose is about even with mine.  Now when I turn off the bedside light she gets mad and leaves.  She comes back soon though and draws up next to my waist on top of the blankets and has learned to leave it at that.  I still feel badly about it.  He face is so disappointed as she pointedly looks at Leopard the entire time she is on my chest. I hate disappointing her but oh, it's good to breathe better.

Dusted where it doesn't show today and glad I did.  *I* will know I did.  Cleaned Katie's box today and of course new litter atop baking soda. Rats.  I will quit now and get up to scrub all her water dishes. I forgot.  

Nellie Bellie,  Admiral and I having a tea date
This sweet picture was created by Barb @  https://cats-astrophic-events.blogspot.com

The Way is Was...

 Until what is commonly called "Vanity Sizing" started, somewhere in the 70's to present, here is an example of a size 14.  The way it really is. 

I found this on ETSY, it is a pattern for sale.  Patterns had that same sizing up until things started changing in order to sell more by appealing to our vanity in the 70's.  This sizing would be likely a so-called size 0 now.

Hope this comes through.  I see Google has me mystified with not allowing pictures to be uploaded as per usual.  Now you have to sit up, bark, and beg.  So I took a screen shot and dragged it ere  Hope it stays when I hit publish.  So, you can see the the ego stroking size 0 now, that the Chamber of Commerce got started in order to sell more clothing to embarrassed at-their dimensions- ladies.

A size 12 now with the new sizing is a 20 or more back then, if you went back in time to buy a dress or pattern. 

Bedee bedee bedee bedee... that's all folks! 

Looking Toward Spring

 Fellers, Spring literally is around the corner.  I can't believe one twelfth of the year is gone and working on two twelfths.  March is almost here.

Here's some pictures from last Spring I know I had to have shown you.  My gardenias, my roses, and the very very fragrant wild flowers, reminding me of honeysuckle, are up at the park that I love walking around in.  Thought I would share them with you as we have them to look forward to.  With blue skies and fresh green leaves on the trees and bushes.

All of these flowers  are surrounded by their own fragrance.  They almost shout joy! 

My Azaleas

Caught him have a sip...

Found these on a walk...