tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58181116378983131842024-03-19T02:19:45.154-07:00Kissack AdventuresNancy, Cooper,
Jessie and JonathanNancy Kissackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03225296192386107554noreply@blogger.comBlogger4094125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5818111637898313184.post-37649872020245639132024-03-18T06:26:00.000-07:002024-03-18T06:26:13.187-07:00A Working Sunday<p> The sunshine is working again in California. It's been gone for quite a long time, hiding out behind the clouds and rain. We should actually get up to 75 degrees this week. What an odd weather year. There are two things about all that rain .... the first one being it makes the weeds grow like they are on steroids. </p><p>That's a bad thing since we have some fireworks fanatics around here that could set my back corrals on fire. And so I spent the first two hours of the day carrying around a large backpack, spraying said weeds. My back complaineth. It wasn't a full 4 gallon load, but enough for me to call the Weed folks today. I didn't quite finish the left side and never even TOUCHED the right side corral. </p><p>It's worth the price I guess since if the weeds are gone, the grubs are gone and the SKUNKS are gone.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5zc1i9G3QSuA3uxKM8G2DZliz85HnLT8EbDECM5qzYFMudyubxDIj1ge5FzfDn1Iir9BhleD0HT6_255b7iYxo0HH_1surck8uoSBulbRQ4iuQTEuJEcDYxfjzUYaYopd5RanqxdN-jvUQwrLxZGA2oUxSsD4WCdsrw_YB1mfczzSyv6gZ5Y5zZRfVGe3/s640/0318weeds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5zc1i9G3QSuA3uxKM8G2DZliz85HnLT8EbDECM5qzYFMudyubxDIj1ge5FzfDn1Iir9BhleD0HT6_255b7iYxo0HH_1surck8uoSBulbRQ4iuQTEuJEcDYxfjzUYaYopd5RanqxdN-jvUQwrLxZGA2oUxSsD4WCdsrw_YB1mfczzSyv6gZ5Y5zZRfVGe3/w400-h300/0318weeds.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On the other hand, the roses are starting to bloom like crazy. As long as it doesn't require any care at all from me, plants seem to thrive. If I get involved, they die.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis0O-vjktnQyjMztQSRjYEmVwPT6Tr3D9Z54pLoiwVwtIdF-bI8heUzrbLXMfFEHVJLHgZvguK9TodQNDYu6QmN52Wl63wj6he2aV-iPrGweqkRJGITIRpv1SWOBsQevg_QanWr8lu-h1fSWx24g4Thskz4rMUWOQibXvr2e8Jr0_QXLz00EdkLm2cv3ZZ/s640/0318roses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis0O-vjktnQyjMztQSRjYEmVwPT6Tr3D9Z54pLoiwVwtIdF-bI8heUzrbLXMfFEHVJLHgZvguK9TodQNDYu6QmN52Wl63wj6he2aV-iPrGweqkRJGITIRpv1SWOBsQevg_QanWr8lu-h1fSWx24g4Thskz4rMUWOQibXvr2e8Jr0_QXLz00EdkLm2cv3ZZ/w300-h400/0318roses.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Next up ... empty the tanks on the RV. Why oh why they would put the dump handle right over the axle, I don't know. This has to be a MAN engineering job. Us women would put an extension on it so we didn't even have to bend over. On the other hand, you do get a nice splash of water in your face to wake you up when you pull the handle. I now reach in with a very long hay hook from my days of bucking hay for the horses.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixhZbPlye35-_c0LfA5XsGXU5YI9HI8qI99VF2I8rr_hTkLEKMGDxqBgwv8KMGpDqf6NV54_YKBTP6tiNKTa6F18UZR5BnpRZmypG8RqKgKZGQLF4SATg3yiHuB9gVGE6btqrQX_NwCODb-oSI2Fx36czMbB4P4AwBTZTmBhxq4OLEGnfent7dIN45u5KR/s640/0318water.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixhZbPlye35-_c0LfA5XsGXU5YI9HI8qI99VF2I8rr_hTkLEKMGDxqBgwv8KMGpDqf6NV54_YKBTP6tiNKTa6F18UZR5BnpRZmypG8RqKgKZGQLF4SATg3yiHuB9gVGE6btqrQX_NwCODb-oSI2Fx36czMbB4P4AwBTZTmBhxq4OLEGnfent7dIN45u5KR/w400-h300/0318water.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Next up ... the hot water tank. My old rig had endless hot water that I never had to do anything with. This one, it's a lot of work remembering exactly what to do to empty and fill it. If I'm on super saver mode, it takes one plastic bottle full before it becomes hot. In the other rig, it took three bottles ... so there's that. Why use bottles to capture the water? So I could last well over a month before refilling.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The little green cutting board is just to keep water off the directions on the door. The last time I removed some directions like that (on a house), it cost me a chunk. DO NOT remove those labels.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnF0On367C9U4tOm4eGrG2TNypV7xZzLVsz1O79At7n3lPjTkUum-gBvE_8SdxKNoOAGoNkc2MxDC2UCul6qzFQwcUFi3wxj2TzRIPh-eun0y58VeMLCHwyw2nbSFEe_c-QiXjSfYxoPg8NcKivto9yTMO5b6kOpgqzbFNhqoRKkHejCAgF7JG3WPPMKIT/s640/0318heater.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnF0On367C9U4tOm4eGrG2TNypV7xZzLVsz1O79At7n3lPjTkUum-gBvE_8SdxKNoOAGoNkc2MxDC2UCul6qzFQwcUFi3wxj2TzRIPh-eun0y58VeMLCHwyw2nbSFEe_c-QiXjSfYxoPg8NcKivto9yTMO5b6kOpgqzbFNhqoRKkHejCAgF7JG3WPPMKIT/w300-h400/0318heater.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Along the path to the rig, I discovered my rosemary was blooming like crazy. I guess spring really is here and summer is on the way. I don't know what variety this is, but it makes the BEST tasting pork loin.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmsAkI4VnvxpT69ixwRPHSSv99TU-2XXxyf7rNlcOoTIn1k4j9WZgizUL9D_tvaFhy-oVrPJ_DCWj02R1GEVilVWxV9OfGsobOKbvB7JKx4eCDJeDbApOUnhWdH-pSDR-J39P-WAPwRbhXeOO4qzipw2XxJv0gj1LinCRlr5XM4MLrhDPwaeTHql9MJHPi/s640/0318rosemary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmsAkI4VnvxpT69ixwRPHSSv99TU-2XXxyf7rNlcOoTIn1k4j9WZgizUL9D_tvaFhy-oVrPJ_DCWj02R1GEVilVWxV9OfGsobOKbvB7JKx4eCDJeDbApOUnhWdH-pSDR-J39P-WAPwRbhXeOO4qzipw2XxJv0gj1LinCRlr5XM4MLrhDPwaeTHql9MJHPi/w300-h400/0318rosemary.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">With three things on my to-do list marked off ... which gives me great satisfaction ... Cooper and I watched the Houston Rodeo Finals. So far this rodeo year has been about as weird as the weather. The top guys are all out with injuries and the 19-21 year olds are taking over. They look like they are 14!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">While that was going on, I began yet another "wonderful" dinner from Hello Fresh. Honestly, I don't think I chose these meals. If you forget, they send whatever they want. Mistakes can be made ... this came with chicken instead of PORK. I also just noticed the calories listed at the bottom. This is what it SHOULD look like.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi-_QNGHAIBoMkBB9GH0dBHjw1o17EksRpArQhDH7gYgEqPJ_yLQvk_7oWVxR7ESHTYuA26hZ3raJ6vlTjvfgjlCMNGVfbyqH7g2nHyqmtnuI_OLIzKsSRZxVkUF939AQHLNP5SZXV7QTJmm40qjjgg_6Eo60-iFsyZAUPd9Ll10spSzsb8lAEz2Ng_lRU/s640/0518should.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi-_QNGHAIBoMkBB9GH0dBHjw1o17EksRpArQhDH7gYgEqPJ_yLQvk_7oWVxR7ESHTYuA26hZ3raJ6vlTjvfgjlCMNGVfbyqH7g2nHyqmtnuI_OLIzKsSRZxVkUF939AQHLNP5SZXV7QTJmm40qjjgg_6Eo60-iFsyZAUPd9Ll10spSzsb8lAEz2Ng_lRU/w300-h400/0518should.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here's what it DID look like. Carrots must be in season because I seem to be getting them with every order!! AND everything once again was roasted in the oven. I admit, it's a quick no-dirty-dishes way to fix dinner. The sauce on this one made my mouth pucker up like eating a lemon. Woohoo that balsamic vinegar was SOUR!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I didn't make the potatoes. If I have to choose between roasted or mashed, it's mashed every time. I'll have them later with something else. At least this time I got a WHOLE piece of chicken.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx1h9buntWJKARvUCCUHbMdBf_RKQUyOBDzJQgHk2M2Vc7rFYNL2GfPs-puaL2BcDCbqKTwXMNr4XDhFLSiSbXdL82wEx50XVFLONOXa6Gr-rdX9m5EmxCjRF3XjIfIEMWd3Mh9513-XbLl_lwKmz1JgrW1-2DDw3SYWEdEnyFnnGrWNASmOz1L4RqKDl9/s640/0518did.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx1h9buntWJKARvUCCUHbMdBf_RKQUyOBDzJQgHk2M2Vc7rFYNL2GfPs-puaL2BcDCbqKTwXMNr4XDhFLSiSbXdL82wEx50XVFLONOXa6Gr-rdX9m5EmxCjRF3XjIfIEMWd3Mh9513-XbLl_lwKmz1JgrW1-2DDw3SYWEdEnyFnnGrWNASmOz1L4RqKDl9/w300-h400/0518did.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I really can't complain ... it hit the spot and was semi tasty, but I won't put this one on my order again. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Lucky me, I have a dentist appointment today. Just cleaning so no big deal. Then it's Amazon return time. That reminds me, while at the fundraising dinner, there was a table next to us purchased by a BID company. I finally asked who they were. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It seems all that merchandise that's returned to Amazon, doesn't go to Amazon after all. It is picked up by these guys and sold at auction (kind of like Ebay) several times a week. It's not shipped to you, you have to go pick it up in person. Anyone know if this is legit? Surely Amazon just doesn't give it all away. I'll let you know what I find out!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Nancy Kissackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03225296192386107554noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5818111637898313184.post-10793138462978583282024-03-17T06:34:00.000-07:002024-03-17T06:34:00.019-07:00BID FAST, BID HIGH!!<p> </p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;"><b>HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!!!!</b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAW1C52Aj7rZxJYVj2wDpQ5qwr05MozDWmJwE7UYy3G-CGfdHBluZPOxuEEQsqG-p-r8ic2rre3d3Nd9iP8oRZTKLrfRqQDVI9fdFsmwLPzKONYwh7JWELNWUzeEYlr8m6bVQsAO_H5lSoqWeWXp-6JhmOVx9ArR12_gVPGJ1tnsmxLNjJAfIjGv12NCOX/s640/0317stpat.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAW1C52Aj7rZxJYVj2wDpQ5qwr05MozDWmJwE7UYy3G-CGfdHBluZPOxuEEQsqG-p-r8ic2rre3d3Nd9iP8oRZTKLrfRqQDVI9fdFsmwLPzKONYwh7JWELNWUzeEYlr8m6bVQsAO_H5lSoqWeWXp-6JhmOVx9ArR12_gVPGJ1tnsmxLNjJAfIjGv12NCOX/w400-h400/0317stpat.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I hope ye be wearing green something or other, or the locals will be pinching ye!! Seriously, I don't know where that came from. I got pinched a lot as a kid because there was hardly EVER any green in my wardrobe. There still isn't, but lucky for me, there is no one here to pinch me ... except maybe Jonathan!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And so today ... I'm as sore as I can be. Lifting those heavy cages appears to have given me a workout I didn't know I was getting. After a lot of cleaning and a little more sewing, I was off to the Elks Lodge once again.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">THIS time it was for an event I usually do not participate in. This is like gambling to me ... it never fails that you get carried away and spent WAY more than you wanted. This is the Merced Search and Rescue fundraiser dinner.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here's how it works ... the Elks Lodge donates to this charitable organization, which means we get a table for ten at the dinner. It's prepared by our Sheriff, and since everyone knows how good his food is, the place is packed to the brim. It helps that he's the most popular Sheriff of all time around here, but I won't go into that.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7v-moeqIItvTUZ83seAxIfd18xyxJrw8ZLwBOZOc3E2ZCRkdBYa275azTIQitGYTLwlixqdleqO2XgmD8wbfvgTO6v0kxwpunOJaupA-iBdbKQftgF3AXKf1yAg7VHQwBdJIENmAcG84fyRp1h1K95ZovnxunY4aXyPJp72QDXJsZ1UEoYJq_gyiwUqUw/s640/0317auction.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7v-moeqIItvTUZ83seAxIfd18xyxJrw8ZLwBOZOc3E2ZCRkdBYa275azTIQitGYTLwlixqdleqO2XgmD8wbfvgTO6v0kxwpunOJaupA-iBdbKQftgF3AXKf1yAg7VHQwBdJIENmAcG84fyRp1h1K95ZovnxunY4aXyPJp72QDXJsZ1UEoYJq_gyiwUqUw/w300-h400/0317auction.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is truly a fundraiser. You buy tickets, about 25 for $20.00, that you tear up and place in bags by the items you would like to win. Then there is a silent auction of similar items. Of course we all paid double for dinner, and add to that a live dessert auction AND a live auction with probably another 30 items. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDsBoA5daN2w2bItZy1lr9l-DvM9G_azlpsoKOGjI78bmk9pM2eFQGt9Og1LMkNl93XdMfQcgyyyGRVH9AwJTK7yQLf8PXXIIpL1SFW8gQ81H0GdQi65o9jRbOeRc5hfOw3e2cz2qwa4p92S-J6XlVMHwliW0xVI7I8SQi2gEpP4PAmu652MB7jJJ_fs6d/s640/0517full.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDsBoA5daN2w2bItZy1lr9l-DvM9G_azlpsoKOGjI78bmk9pM2eFQGt9Og1LMkNl93XdMfQcgyyyGRVH9AwJTK7yQLf8PXXIIpL1SFW8gQ81H0GdQi65o9jRbOeRc5hfOw3e2cz2qwa4p92S-J6XlVMHwliW0xVI7I8SQi2gEpP4PAmu652MB7jJJ_fs6d/w400-h300/0517full.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And the most popular event ... yes there is one more ... is the gun raffle. Here's how that works. They pull out a deck of cards, and you pay $20 for each card you pick. They are torn in half and placed in a bucket. When the drawing is held, if you have the other half, you win the handgun. I think there were EIGHT. Here's the kicker. They throw all those cards away and bring out the NEXT deck of cards and do it all over again. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One guy bought half the deck, and of course won. He did that THREE times. I don't have that much money to throw away. I think if I did, I would just go buy the gun at the Gun Shop.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixsptgES9w7cYXgg0iHx4v2qRgiHO-LNJ6I01k-2yRE1dhxxAnrtuCs5lNQ5Vkt3PW91j3jHdzs6_N8LA2ma5o_5ZDSvLVAEx6Hd8LFy_9g5cA5TvnDR2gvAytMQVJoeiaBtdHmSQkQUIDcrw_UjerYT93G8-DBYLThkUQCRSTnMJtAXVUsS44xBajz1ye/s640/0517cards.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixsptgES9w7cYXgg0iHx4v2qRgiHO-LNJ6I01k-2yRE1dhxxAnrtuCs5lNQ5Vkt3PW91j3jHdzs6_N8LA2ma5o_5ZDSvLVAEx6Hd8LFy_9g5cA5TvnDR2gvAytMQVJoeiaBtdHmSQkQUIDcrw_UjerYT93G8-DBYLThkUQCRSTnMJtAXVUsS44xBajz1ye/w300-h400/0517cards.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Nor did I win anything with the 50 tickets I placed in the bags. It's okay though, it's going for a good cause. By the way, the entire time, the actual search and rescue DOGS were roaming around the room. One was even posing for pictures with you ... barking up a storm. That was pretty fun!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On to the dinner (you can see all my losing tickets there), we had to wait quite awhile to be served. There had to be 20 tables, and we were at the back end. It took well over an hour before we got a plate, but it was full to the brim. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Barbecue chicken and tri-tip, scalloped potatoes, green beans and vegetarian lasagne (??) with a roll. It was good, but not up to the normal Sheriff standards. Turns out he has a brand new barbecue on wheels that isn't seasoned yet. It's okay though ... I was stuffed to the gills.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwLBdkFViW99_vLmHFjBjDOIKipo-mKLkAKSw79q6iQ9Ns9Nt_ZBWp9jd3Br5G4gt4MqiDIhRiTnYVicBGgAj4Ivz7WE57FCier1nVRfacu3HF9BBnMj-juggRXOhyphenhyphenI8ZGJL2EeC_DATCplzDMGltWaE2RKEzlS6EMNm6xULwWfJKKc2oe8vjujAMbvgrH/s640/0317food.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwLBdkFViW99_vLmHFjBjDOIKipo-mKLkAKSw79q6iQ9Ns9Nt_ZBWp9jd3Br5G4gt4MqiDIhRiTnYVicBGgAj4Ivz7WE57FCier1nVRfacu3HF9BBnMj-juggRXOhyphenhyphenI8ZGJL2EeC_DATCplzDMGltWaE2RKEzlS6EMNm6xULwWfJKKc2oe8vjujAMbvgrH/w300-h400/0317food.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I bid a couple of times on the dessert auction items, but as usual, things went crazy. Four dozen cookies went for $375.00. The pistachio cake that was bought by someone at our table was $325.00. It was good, but not THAT good.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">If it looked like an item was only going for $125 or so, I would bid it up, then drop out. It's crazy what these things went for. The last one was a dutch apple pie in a beautiful red and white dish. My favorite!! I bid on it just for kicks. I'm not kidding here ... that pie went for $1,150 ... that's ONE THOUSAND ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS!! There would be NO pie for Nancy!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sadly, this was one of the last things to go, and I couldn't stay and watch. This is the sweetest, quietest, most well behaved little girl EVER!! She is a rescue ... and I wanted to take her home, just to be sure someone didn't buy her and not take good care of this sweet baby.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje-Q6QgRDKBzY2_y2NmNAVxwzht8sv4rat5qGRZrxsT8iJqplRyJvEvo20rChZXvPl_SqxU4bIOTStOX-P420_1MmQ_nCKz1lRJvHmpZqMod-xufi_3pMiL9f4I4L1YelWJOkC0EF5uHJ4drGVPn_uGFuA8nuKbmcT8uwygqylJca11FGz5Ao6kpgjAXrL/s640/0317puppy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje-Q6QgRDKBzY2_y2NmNAVxwzht8sv4rat5qGRZrxsT8iJqplRyJvEvo20rChZXvPl_SqxU4bIOTStOX-P420_1MmQ_nCKz1lRJvHmpZqMod-xufi_3pMiL9f4I4L1YelWJOkC0EF5uHJ4drGVPn_uGFuA8nuKbmcT8uwygqylJca11FGz5Ao6kpgjAXrL/w300-h400/0317puppy.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I couldn't stand it any more. No I didn't buy her, but I had to leave the building. My Elks friend sitting next to me MAY have though. He and his wife would give her the BEST home. He was very tempted ... loved the little girl, but they really didn't want a puppy. I'll find out today who she went to. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On the other hand, you know those little cars that kids drive around the yard? The little Jeep went for $1,000 as I headed out the door, with $80.00 less in my wallet. For once I showed great restraint!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So bless your little Irish heart and every other Irish part ... and never iron a four leaf clover, you don't want to press your luck!! Hope you have a Happy Green Day!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Nancy Kissackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03225296192386107554noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5818111637898313184.post-72562035224423733072024-03-16T06:26:00.000-07:002024-03-16T06:26:06.578-07:00Very VERY Destructive<p> Mother Nature just doesn't want to give up the ghost this year. It was bright and sunny here, but I heard rain and hail in Arizona. In spite of the heavy wind warnings, we had a beautiful day. Not so much far up in the Sierra Nevada mountains. The forecast ... spring is here ... oh wait ... winter is back ... noooo, it's toasty warm ... and then it snows. </p><p>While working on that new cage for Jonathan, I finally decided to put on my Maid outfit and get to the next big project .... cage cleaning.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikX7IvS8ezuh4Pf0-16NaQjb1JAN0OGt03t_EpGVnbfkTeOkiP3qaqrigcWllL6CB9jYpedfJt82HdLZ0GGRUAfwlANpjz_7rfJhdbONmkEXBtwhGJM6PHIbddTBiL8d7pTAUaBsP7JpeplxQBcEXFpME8ot1XuR96BBq9_ASbQqCl4WajwT5zL9BHX5UF/s640/0407jon2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="466" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikX7IvS8ezuh4Pf0-16NaQjb1JAN0OGt03t_EpGVnbfkTeOkiP3qaqrigcWllL6CB9jYpedfJt82HdLZ0GGRUAfwlANpjz_7rfJhdbONmkEXBtwhGJM6PHIbddTBiL8d7pTAUaBsP7JpeplxQBcEXFpME8ot1XuR96BBq9_ASbQqCl4WajwT5zL9BHX5UF/w291-h400/0407jon2.jpg" width="291" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There's lots to learn about parrots. The first one is they can bite VERY hard and take your finger off if you aren't careful. Handfed birds like Jonathan are not quite as bad. He has given me some terrible bites in the past, but all my fingers are still intact. Yes, he bites the hand that feeds him.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">They are also very destructive, as evidenced by his cage. Parrots chew on wood things ... like furniture ... to keep their beaks short. If I didn't give Jon pieces of wood to chew on, his beak would become so long he could no longer eat. They also chew on their perches and anything they can pull into their cage.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEist55EOMZZUNhmaMMEMaQaRigag0iSA4SvAsGAKkmXpT_Uye4IN_v0ZjuUP9MbJY9dY5Zr_d5_uHG7QiiHQGczpOLTblifiW-NZN9pCaX6Ct3iPU-cwHIL6vkqhlMbeaiUXcEBH_eVyAvx_SYEDFunnXx27zPUus1NxlX5lrsXJREclR-5-KGwam4v_zYw/s640/0316parro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEist55EOMZZUNhmaMMEMaQaRigag0iSA4SvAsGAKkmXpT_Uye4IN_v0ZjuUP9MbJY9dY5Zr_d5_uHG7QiiHQGczpOLTblifiW-NZN9pCaX6Ct3iPU-cwHIL6vkqhlMbeaiUXcEBH_eVyAvx_SYEDFunnXx27zPUus1NxlX5lrsXJREclR-5-KGwam4v_zYw/w400-h300/0316parro.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">These were two huge bath towels at one time. You can see what's left. These go on the cage first because you KNOW they will be gone in about six months. Over that go the other blankets that help keep them warm. Parrots come from tropical countries and cannot tolerate the cold. That is always the problem with traveling ... keeping Jonathan warm.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKgV0FdkoFNPm2_6DlpVu0qeGPAYCspxBedB9yE7JpDfiPrtAoIbhl94M1cRP2s_lAHrWjch8R9GL5y04aB9GuUZcAsPgo2jt-pwOMkYxHgwGYgXQuvnZGACM8uzEEzx9EAlWK_NanWzk-shaWUU4bKgIqMI8yTqqoZXMCEhib08m_PGGPCom3YPnYoG5R/s640/0316parrot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKgV0FdkoFNPm2_6DlpVu0qeGPAYCspxBedB9yE7JpDfiPrtAoIbhl94M1cRP2s_lAHrWjch8R9GL5y04aB9GuUZcAsPgo2jt-pwOMkYxHgwGYgXQuvnZGACM8uzEEzx9EAlWK_NanWzk-shaWUU4bKgIqMI8yTqqoZXMCEhib08m_PGGPCom3YPnYoG5R/w400-h300/0316parrot.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Birds also have dander like cats and dogs ... only they are worse. It's one of the things some people are allergic to. Luckily I don't have a problem, other than cleaning the floor where it all lands.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Not trying to scare you, but if you see a dead bird, don't touch it. Outside birds can carry a disease called psittacosis or bird flu. Jonathan is never allowed outside because he caught this disease when he was young. It took several months of me giving him shots in his belly (yes really) to bring him out of it. It's absolutely a miracle that he survived. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On to cleaning ... I probably haven't done this in maybe 5 years? I mean I clean the cage, but I haven't taken it apart and deep cleaned. Note to self ... you really need to do this more often!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMtD3D2tCd39DsVB3D6hseJf-KeBvSX4v40uFyCQ0jDf6XBcIpQDAMvAZ1S5IF0m3BZ45Wrn6LZ3K9EvNBfMRGw3se-wzBFxRGyLPHv9XZu52ZPmfc6ixNceEMT05xoHlGaKqc9U5GF39L8aHOrXLiHIHc8JDhzUFYxE8W05ldX1GMVxackqxGgwS5EWgU/s640/0316dirty.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMtD3D2tCd39DsVB3D6hseJf-KeBvSX4v40uFyCQ0jDf6XBcIpQDAMvAZ1S5IF0m3BZ45Wrn6LZ3K9EvNBfMRGw3se-wzBFxRGyLPHv9XZu52ZPmfc6ixNceEMT05xoHlGaKqc9U5GF39L8aHOrXLiHIHc8JDhzUFYxE8W05ldX1GMVxackqxGgwS5EWgU/w300-h400/0316dirty.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I brought in his second house from the garage after giving it a good cleaning. It's easier to switch cages and clean the other one with a power washer.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhATUiXhOIBDC7hKBFeFnVAcfTer5y9ZhZ4HdgSBRB-CFlS_Ixd5A8WSixS-bF08vTnIjzhHqPUPN22S5YlUvF40KQlc4AvRFs19pJkzTC5i0O43aE1aBnDcb4jYJv2eJ1Qlw_yIuEhG5eBpVzZn2AYScat5NTaNhwZUDZv64wkyRzJL6TiyGl5LD9h8bu5/s640/0316cage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhATUiXhOIBDC7hKBFeFnVAcfTer5y9ZhZ4HdgSBRB-CFlS_Ixd5A8WSixS-bF08vTnIjzhHqPUPN22S5YlUvF40KQlc4AvRFs19pJkzTC5i0O43aE1aBnDcb4jYJv2eJ1Qlw_yIuEhG5eBpVzZn2AYScat5NTaNhwZUDZv64wkyRzJL6TiyGl5LD9h8bu5/w300-h400/0316cage.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It took me all morning to get it situated with new towels and freshly washed blankets. This side is left open because the heater sits here. If he's cold, he moves closer to this side.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDZztaKvnYLc_E2K7fOC8EZsWmUzHemkOudtD9CrBv6ZpOol5LzDTYWkUFb1Riero3vWCN6LRZ3vpHnvTxMmfp0gyVySIenRjs_SXZLCy_LK0Tn2_c5IFHkHhZZHsCS9Q_U1e6w-8kzy30NgGgX_QmlamV7JLjwukwax965J9fEmdTj9XdO55EI3C1yJk2/s640/0316cage2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDZztaKvnYLc_E2K7fOC8EZsWmUzHemkOudtD9CrBv6ZpOol5LzDTYWkUFb1Riero3vWCN6LRZ3vpHnvTxMmfp0gyVySIenRjs_SXZLCy_LK0Tn2_c5IFHkHhZZHsCS9Q_U1e6w-8kzy30NgGgX_QmlamV7JLjwukwax965J9fEmdTj9XdO55EI3C1yJk2/w300-h400/0316cage2.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here he is all tucked away. You can't see his head because they sleep with their beak under their wing. Looks pretty awkward and uncomfortable to me, but that's how they sleep.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij3CQFJPdi5DuCG9wxkuibkEWc5rKY-z8Xyu1qAYRmG-5-a85DbhYJsQNqiZqrphOgmaZpdfau5WFqMy91oeYOKfE3yQw5Li1V2wck1CcKFAXRzWeegnAxBf8jJBvCV50lAgJjmE-SzgdYDn6qm9v58pFRzXrRyYfnfyrAbPxFp-Hq2mr646-WO1aWxPES/s640/0316jonathan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij3CQFJPdi5DuCG9wxkuibkEWc5rKY-z8Xyu1qAYRmG-5-a85DbhYJsQNqiZqrphOgmaZpdfau5WFqMy91oeYOKfE3yQw5Li1V2wck1CcKFAXRzWeegnAxBf8jJBvCV50lAgJjmE-SzgdYDn6qm9v58pFRzXrRyYfnfyrAbPxFp-Hq2mr646-WO1aWxPES/w300-h400/0316jonathan.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The rest of the day involved several conversations about budget stuff .... boring .... while I tried to watch the Houston rodeo in the background.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">At last I was able to get back to a little sewing. This is the new quilt I'm working on. If only I would have known how much I'd like the colors, I would have stuck with just two. Unfortunately there are EIGHT colors being used to make separate squares. I hope I like it when done, because this thing is a terror when it comes to sewing all those pieces in the correct spot. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Jack is really getting a workout. That's Jack the Ripper ... my SEAM ripper. No one ever said quilting humor was funny!!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBoffzr_OVAmuFc24kpIa56HoPEVfCHSenIAQsRqUxOTfyftNSviWA4bYmEL7BCC5vtlWfahlLn4Qk4aSbSf42_mc6Bs4uazXoBoUjJhknw1E0Xyfc56tGu7I-pGCTJodIToFFsRgi9br4uACm7dYY700WhcLt2ziYEFuoRgutSVKAarLP6MAIPWpqOkPr/s640/0316quilt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBoffzr_OVAmuFc24kpIa56HoPEVfCHSenIAQsRqUxOTfyftNSviWA4bYmEL7BCC5vtlWfahlLn4Qk4aSbSf42_mc6Bs4uazXoBoUjJhknw1E0Xyfc56tGu7I-pGCTJodIToFFsRgi9br4uACm7dYY700WhcLt2ziYEFuoRgutSVKAarLP6MAIPWpqOkPr/w300-h400/0316quilt.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And so the weekend has arrived. There's a big dinner tonight, a fundraiser for the Sheriff's Department, to be held at the Elks Lodge. Lucky me, I've been invited to partake. Our Sheriff can cook like a Master Chef. It should be fun!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br />Nancy Kissackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03225296192386107554noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5818111637898313184.post-30733320730762221362024-03-15T06:10:00.000-07:002024-03-15T06:10:51.417-07:00Let Sleeping Dogs Lie<p>And so we did, though we all didn't lie down long enough. I could have used another couple hours of sleep. Visions of numbers were flying through my head and my brain just would not stop talking. This little guy is so lucky he can just nod off at the drop of a hat and sleep through jet engines and trains.</p><p>It happens I live NOT all that close to the old Castle Air Force Base that closed down years ago. As a kid on the ranch, we used to sit and watch the B-52 bombers fly over during their practice runs. That happened every time the wind changed directions. </p><p>NOW it has been leased by Fed Ex or UPS for their incoming freights. Their outgoing flights occur every morning at 2:30 am with a ten minute screaming warmup of those jet engines. I'm sure most people just sleep through it. Not me. The train schedule starts at 3:30 am. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzyK920LNct2BXOY-BIVUm5i-lefDBBkm3Kcw9nfUFNWNDtkMkVJXFTy4t_ObEx6i8Pn2df5MeO0rZhNE_gbVdHXrB_vmUI68fRVMpq0bX4ihXgYzifoh0_vy1NqT9xNkGPsprTQ65Kjdw0mXw4O_Iq4Se2zZgOKxgBmD554qt7S11RFFwg93bsm2gSEv-/s640/0101coop.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzyK920LNct2BXOY-BIVUm5i-lefDBBkm3Kcw9nfUFNWNDtkMkVJXFTy4t_ObEx6i8Pn2df5MeO0rZhNE_gbVdHXrB_vmUI68fRVMpq0bX4ihXgYzifoh0_vy1NqT9xNkGPsprTQ65Kjdw0mXw4O_Iq4Se2zZgOKxgBmD554qt7S11RFFwg93bsm2gSEv-/w400-h300/0101coop.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here's Mr. Jon hanging out while I fix his breakfast every morning. I attribute his longevity to his diet, which is about as easy as Cooper's. He's just as finicky. Sunflower seed mix, chopped apple, Cole slaw, bananas, a bird biscuit I bake to make sure he gets the vitamins he really needs and his all time favorite (only once in awhile) RITZ crackers. Jonathan want a cracker?? It's YES every time.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFAmlaiZhBlI-OIRGl-O40n9YehROc-FvwyGSIRRl736Ho4RnoQNS-zLzvcmF8eTeDuzDofd9SI6_bCTnsTpY6CHlBw6CSgHk2a_CwJdYuDvOMHgo63bW1wX4Eg-KBb28bviUiUOXrcwv_vNubh6oby3O4oxRlUrYi8PRSDZFN_5rC_-gP4STJi30vaDTX/s640/0118Jon.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFAmlaiZhBlI-OIRGl-O40n9YehROc-FvwyGSIRRl736Ho4RnoQNS-zLzvcmF8eTeDuzDofd9SI6_bCTnsTpY6CHlBw6CSgHk2a_CwJdYuDvOMHgo63bW1wX4Eg-KBb28bviUiUOXrcwv_vNubh6oby3O4oxRlUrYi8PRSDZFN_5rC_-gP4STJi30vaDTX/w300-h400/0118Jon.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I'm sure you are aware, birds molt. They lose all their feathers at one time or another throughout the year. For the last couple of months, it's been the downy undercoat of white fluffy things that fly through the air with the greatest of ease every time you walk by. At this point in time, it's his flight feathers. You would hardly know he has RED feathers, along with some very dark blue. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2osf4mRQIMuehayIY75RiQL2ezg3oR7M5GdT1bAnzeRZaVEam68NGcHWIul1BpVaiLsBrcb4plg89PAoHkhYixenLv4YbhFYKyVucjShGMfReL-j11Kp81HZ3ajoz-KDzkH34t2j2NBElpth0R622HpyrnEk6cq_vSUnPNl3gGso_6UpzZ1AYP1op3yRk/s640/0315feather.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2osf4mRQIMuehayIY75RiQL2ezg3oR7M5GdT1bAnzeRZaVEam68NGcHWIul1BpVaiLsBrcb4plg89PAoHkhYixenLv4YbhFYKyVucjShGMfReL-j11Kp81HZ3ajoz-KDzkH34t2j2NBElpth0R622HpyrnEk6cq_vSUnPNl3gGso_6UpzZ1AYP1op3yRk/w300-h400/0315feather.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Oh ... and that picture of him on my shoulder? He left a nice deposit that dripped all the way down my back. You never see, hear or feel it ... I'm now cleaning up the couch.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">While looking for perches that would work for that OTHER cage, I remembered this one in the garage. This was Jon's permanent home in the Class A. It's not too much bigger, but VERY heavy. I think it will fit perfectly in the 5th wheel. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I drug it down off the shelf and got it inside to be cleaned up. I dismantled everything, scrubbed it clean, put in perches and food dishes. This is IT! It will be PERFECT!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I drug it all the way back out, scrambled up the stairs, barely slid in between the table and the fridge, only to find it is half an inch too tall to fit under the cabinet. All the wind got knocked out of me. I spent two hours getting this thing fixed up and it's the tiniest bit too tall. TRIPLE RATS!! I once again managed to get it back in the house ... barely!! I need to contemplate this for awhile.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDWioJZpdedaRUXZw2qEfxCx7nwpB-fFTn9p-CU0KiLSCQT5acS-UG1otABL-cYLtpdHzgRSIcGGNtSUV70WC8SxSP7xJQSXsqXEdbZLkjsE_sRDYe5S67bT6KL4gYGPpSASpVAGf2GavxsA4CiaeY_okYNQcXbtmkpdCpCosBluRWAEB98pj6_2QSQ5uE/s640/0315cage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDWioJZpdedaRUXZw2qEfxCx7nwpB-fFTn9p-CU0KiLSCQT5acS-UG1otABL-cYLtpdHzgRSIcGGNtSUV70WC8SxSP7xJQSXsqXEdbZLkjsE_sRDYe5S67bT6KL4gYGPpSASpVAGf2GavxsA4CiaeY_okYNQcXbtmkpdCpCosBluRWAEB98pj6_2QSQ5uE/w400-h300/0315cage.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Since I was going to be gone for dinner, I whipped up the next Hello Fresh meal for lunch. This is coconut curry chicken. I don't know what happened to me when I was younger, but I absolutely LOVE Indian food, which is why I picked this one. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqzfuu2MEt9ab8GYqqN7ISSFQEi5vZJQ-UHbn0P3Ga_XU9l1KbPzVXL1NGQRQ0T4XyO6Aep_d_8-NWexRYvrWZfur4kN3fMAMl4VoDJiG5evr0yEe7EEhiL5S-bG3-TsdHqTKnLZeD6PyYWokghNiLZ4WASs2Njl4OvRFu92AAUxjnT_7YTgWHV3Je2P0y/s640/0315sshould.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqzfuu2MEt9ab8GYqqN7ISSFQEi5vZJQ-UHbn0P3Ga_XU9l1KbPzVXL1NGQRQ0T4XyO6Aep_d_8-NWexRYvrWZfur4kN3fMAMl4VoDJiG5evr0yEe7EEhiL5S-bG3-TsdHqTKnLZeD6PyYWokghNiLZ4WASs2Njl4OvRFu92AAUxjnT_7YTgWHV3Je2P0y/w300-h400/0315sshould.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It obviously doesn't even resemble the picture. First, they don't give you THAT much chicken, and two, the colors are enhanced on theirs. I also didn't use tweezers to lay on each piece of green onion! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But let me tell you ... this was SO GOOD!! It's definitely a recipe I'll make again. Tomato paste, curry powder, coconut milk, sour cream ... a very easy meal to prepare. And I got three MORE meals out of what they give you for just one person.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2SY0juDclbVdAw4pA1eVVcPyyuNtGge3iEsUzmTF_j83T7o6rhMo-bpCIK8x4CW6vo4PrlR7sxxoqPfzQbuFCInYacM0DbQbt0oZ5o4jHehyzrDuLI8SRqJhzRu_Fu6I1-hLOUUtuqnyDcMwmIX64uFGk9MTs-YfI4qz1uzLTh4s7lHvytyNrDSt90Bxd/s640/0315dinner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2SY0juDclbVdAw4pA1eVVcPyyuNtGge3iEsUzmTF_j83T7o6rhMo-bpCIK8x4CW6vo4PrlR7sxxoqPfzQbuFCInYacM0DbQbt0oZ5o4jHehyzrDuLI8SRqJhzRu_Fu6I1-hLOUUtuqnyDcMwmIX64uFGk9MTs-YfI4qz1uzLTh4s7lHvytyNrDSt90Bxd/w300-h400/0315dinner.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I then spent an hour on the computer downloading all the financials for the Elks Lodge Trustee Meeting. It's a lot to go through since we are responsible for the health and wealth of the group. It was your normal meeting, but at least this time there was no yelling ... loud voices, but no yelling! It's hard to get twelve people to agree on everything.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXe2ZyutzbuMJZ7FMjsTxyGyLawbab0KEbzUjnBsmVAkWlkJBMe5gzhVhHt9bJruhiyB8tGQYRka9D8zTT276tkq4auKEvRgHyidVi1iCrKWg1ojswue-4nlwfiTPnCRnSWXCBi5FnW7ouFpVp3mJYTatEXg2U_cPkfgLg_b5mUmCl5BT_VeJ5XwHGuTG_/s250/0314elks.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="250" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXe2ZyutzbuMJZ7FMjsTxyGyLawbab0KEbzUjnBsmVAkWlkJBMe5gzhVhHt9bJruhiyB8tGQYRka9D8zTT276tkq4auKEvRgHyidVi1iCrKWg1ojswue-4nlwfiTPnCRnSWXCBi5FnW7ouFpVp3mJYTatEXg2U_cPkfgLg_b5mUmCl5BT_VeJ5XwHGuTG_/w400-h400/0314elks.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p>PLUS it's time to change the Captain of the ship once again. It happens every year, which doesn't make sense to me. It seems if it's all going well, we should just stay the course. That's what the Trustees do ... keep the ship from sinking.</p><p>I'm happy to say everything turned out well, but I didn't get out the door until 9:30. Ugh ... another short night. Hopefully I'll catch up today, because tomorrow there's ANOTHER ONE!!! At least that one comes with a nice dinner!! </p><p>Today I'll pretend I'm a dog, and along with Cooper, we'll be lying (laying?) on the couch!!!</p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Nancy Kissackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03225296192386107554noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5818111637898313184.post-11300503921093697022024-03-14T06:34:00.000-07:002024-03-14T06:34:12.501-07:00Cages and Wages<p>Good Morning California!! They say we are going to have an entire THREE days of sunshine. Woohoo ... maybe I can finally take off two of the three layers of clothes I wear every day! Unfortunately, the heater for Jonathan will continue to run day and night. This kid is happiest when he's toasty warm.</p><p>I've been feeling bad that he had to spend two months in a tiny travel cage. If we are going to keep driving around, he needs a better hangout. After many hours on the internet, I finally found what I thought would be a good fit for him and the RV, keeping in mind it's much easier to heat a small cage than a big airy one.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8LmhJlXbqUCfwyHbNFJbxhtDRRsFDM28psHJAREC8m2mOZa796vpxFKLBrKosS2r6HZ9iJcrZ3Ont3WFoO-IYahUFBlzBSqm-PUWL8TZRx8amPRXj07BFoCQdBfGQUrEIuR-Q7eVnbvtz4BCnY-RCC5TiWgbaULAAiBcq1XirgquZob1hwPFiL2T9HbMR/s640/0101jon2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8LmhJlXbqUCfwyHbNFJbxhtDRRsFDM28psHJAREC8m2mOZa796vpxFKLBrKosS2r6HZ9iJcrZ3Ont3WFoO-IYahUFBlzBSqm-PUWL8TZRx8amPRXj07BFoCQdBfGQUrEIuR-Q7eVnbvtz4BCnY-RCC5TiWgbaULAAiBcq1XirgquZob1hwPFiL2T9HbMR/w300-h400/0101jon2.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It came yesterday in a small box, meaning it had 15 pieces to put together. I'm not so good at that, especially when the instructions give you no help whatsoever. I don't know why I felt this wasn't going to go so well, so I took a picture of how it was packed. That way if I have to return it, I could get it back in the box.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwCo9p4p_3UU3lLIK_H7QdAoDNZhIBwlIGSPGry-8jfhyphenhyphenllsbwzkGIehy5wfr6-5XNtRI9A_SV7YKJUoFXBIzGSDWSyZM_KAUBp_PZEt-eU5lp343bi1-TzbilvTzBlfxwDOJVE3nfFKVRjj1QdoCIMkgY6-zGa15PlIVpzqeQ1GNAieW7qf3xwLSZ1q-F/s640/0314cages.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwCo9p4p_3UU3lLIK_H7QdAoDNZhIBwlIGSPGry-8jfhyphenhyphenllsbwzkGIehy5wfr6-5XNtRI9A_SV7YKJUoFXBIzGSDWSyZM_KAUBp_PZEt-eU5lp343bi1-TzbilvTzBlfxwDOJVE3nfFKVRjj1QdoCIMkgY6-zGa15PlIVpzqeQ1GNAieW7qf3xwLSZ1q-F/w400-h300/0314cages.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After much wrangling, turning stuff around and trying to fit bent pieces into too-small holes, I got it together. It's the perfect size and will even be easy to clean. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But wait .... those two black squares on the back side are for the feed cups. Where do I put the perches? There needs to be at least two. One in front of the cups and one crossways. The only way to put one in front of the cups is to attach it to the door. Well that won't work. The cups are far enough apart that you can't use just one perch. Food and water need to be accessible side by side. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It took another 30 minutes to get it apart and stuffed back in the box. This just won't work for Jonathan. Too bad. If they had just put the door in the front and not the side. Stuff ... cram ... I'll return it today -- or at least I thought I would. Maybe I should rethink this.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Uv5GnqY3D6pKXZTicck0trpWpe6m2J0ON-cpSiVBiea6O_HwEIo1BtNkJ-mcP3035X-VAEA0XbM5DC7xO5_f6UGB4g1x7cmQq4B35sOB0RKQZGhZEv0fw3F2nSQ44u304z-LP0ufAINM2DwyEOmo2xCYNw3sgYTI41yJ0vU4Z-BjpA9giFJxqACRxpVn/s640/0313cage.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4Uv5GnqY3D6pKXZTicck0trpWpe6m2J0ON-cpSiVBiea6O_HwEIo1BtNkJ-mcP3035X-VAEA0XbM5DC7xO5_f6UGB4g1x7cmQq4B35sOB0RKQZGhZEv0fw3F2nSQ44u304z-LP0ufAINM2DwyEOmo2xCYNw3sgYTI41yJ0vU4Z-BjpA9giFJxqACRxpVn/w300-h400/0313cage.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I worked on the Elks budget a bit before getting frustrated. They took the PERFECT accounting spreadsheet we were using, and forced us to switch over to their convoluted massive system where nothing is as it was. I can't even tell what is in these accounts, let alone figure out exactly how much we spent last year. I'll bet a dollar to a donut that some accounting firm is making a killing off this.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Mr. Cooper wasn't impressed either. He slept through most of the melee and my grumblings.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxL9VKGa4FQyMpqJmbxRG7awXUKfHCARK12ikGz20-_u5aup8qjWw8b9PZl11kB0bFRLMq0CC6smRbb0XFFVDtXOZZJxxkrz52Rz_0_Jy1MI9tPPq8_DargxQCH4WOjwHlRwfa9q3g1u71feFkrt9VLdtYo1WZFdzPlZoYDAUSYuzdtXpIsfIH1naR7lnq/s640/0314coop.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxL9VKGa4FQyMpqJmbxRG7awXUKfHCARK12ikGz20-_u5aup8qjWw8b9PZl11kB0bFRLMq0CC6smRbb0XFFVDtXOZZJxxkrz52Rz_0_Jy1MI9tPPq8_DargxQCH4WOjwHlRwfa9q3g1u71feFkrt9VLdtYo1WZFdzPlZoYDAUSYuzdtXpIsfIH1naR7lnq/w400-h300/0314coop.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">At the appointed hour, I sauntered on down to the Elks Lodge to meet with the man in charge and two more trustees. After an hour we were done with the Income portion, but had 39 questions about what was actually IN some of the accounts. That means I have to meet with the bookkeeper ... hopefully today.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The expense portion? Who in the world can guess what the cost of things will be the way things are going now.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Lucky me, there is yet ANOTHER Elks trustee and board meeting tonight. If I didn't like these people so much, I think I might resign and just be a plain old volunteer. You see up until now, I've been smart and stayed out of state this month. Next year I'll be sure and plan a trip in March!!!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSvRzTPGGcXbpq2Ehh4ky3ppdz1LZ1b7s_Cg3Bx4aXomLaDQbAe0J5E6xzoo6aWCQWq_cI3E31UOS62H0ULCkGkq-6XXT4Yl_jlobiW6XiGj2Tpfk2I3hensQSFIrqpumQ27n3BuZdwFWZs-T-CYHbjitpUPcFGZ0egSLxQlHjaLObbdZxrGOPgw2SGH5V/s250/0314elks.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="250" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSvRzTPGGcXbpq2Ehh4ky3ppdz1LZ1b7s_Cg3Bx4aXomLaDQbAe0J5E6xzoo6aWCQWq_cI3E31UOS62H0ULCkGkq-6XXT4Yl_jlobiW6XiGj2Tpfk2I3hensQSFIrqpumQ27n3BuZdwFWZs-T-CYHbjitpUPcFGZ0egSLxQlHjaLObbdZxrGOPgw2SGH5V/w400-h400/0314elks.png" width="400" /></a></div><div><br /></div>It's 6 AM and I already feel a nap coming on. I'm sure visions of numbers will be dancing in my head for the next two weeks. Funny how you usually think of that stuff at about two o'clock in the morning!!! I hope your day will be as sunny as mine!!<div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /><p><br /></p></div>Nancy Kissackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03225296192386107554noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5818111637898313184.post-83680970256329138802024-03-13T06:31:00.000-07:002024-03-13T07:12:32.937-07:00The Knights and Ladies<p> I'm hesitating a second or two. It's cold and my brain is slow to go with little sleep. That means it was BINGO night!! But first ... let it rain once again. The weather guessers missed this one altogether. I admit however ... it was my kind of rain. Just a nice soft drizzle for about three hours. This is of course killing my solar numbers, as well as adding more dollars to the pockets of the problem. It's natural gas heat and it has quadrupled in price (no exaggeration) in the last two years, as has everything else I guess.</p><p>You think .... I have solar so I can turn the heat up .... but you would be wrong. When you get that gas bill, it turns you into a salt statue!! Just the gas is now as high as my entire electricity bill used to be. Put on a coat my Mom would say!!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5rHb-W4Y2APeghcouLDgjIJ08udBTqQyZ0FswiAI3TwQrO-TYBPyQ7BIpUDlM38kIWWhMTNugzVqVqEDI1srl4bO0phfI76q-x6xw1jxfcfiHFJEiLI9x6sBSqwlJ82JQyIdO3cyngUpRi4sO8SaHrJl_GNevP-S_u0Ee2jC6iScVEyxVyAn2wjNGx8q2/s1920/disneyland-castle.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5rHb-W4Y2APeghcouLDgjIJ08udBTqQyZ0FswiAI3TwQrO-TYBPyQ7BIpUDlM38kIWWhMTNugzVqVqEDI1srl4bO0phfI76q-x6xw1jxfcfiHFJEiLI9x6sBSqwlJ82JQyIdO3cyngUpRi4sO8SaHrJl_GNevP-S_u0Ee2jC6iScVEyxVyAn2wjNGx8q2/w400-h225/disneyland-castle.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">SO ... on with the day! It started off with a nice bowl of corned beef hash. Yes I did ... I put ketchup on it. All the mustard lovers now have me using the yellow stuff on corn dogs and hot dogs, but I'm holding out for ketchup on hash. Boy do I love this ... it brings back memories of the ranch kitchen where once in a great while we got THIS instead of cold cereal for breakfast. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">To make it even better, when I got home last night, the kitchen still smelled WONDERFUL!!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIw4e1jsyD7WcaK9nqt943nl2t92tqz0hZLI0dZ2BO_BA52GGivo1mGqF_7P3CbQqLrQg5EA4qugcU0w3gZqzHIgkFwvZkRdgdz5Q8H42AwekIWJIJl5qcsHHWmVRuG4fJSbHKRvEmkzEL5lGvf5SlMbpqru4JZ8mOni0WtgQim_IXfj_8I7PKwEiCJOiy/s640/0313hash.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIw4e1jsyD7WcaK9nqt943nl2t92tqz0hZLI0dZ2BO_BA52GGivo1mGqF_7P3CbQqLrQg5EA4qugcU0w3gZqzHIgkFwvZkRdgdz5Q8H42AwekIWJIJl5qcsHHWmVRuG4fJSbHKRvEmkzEL5lGvf5SlMbpqru4JZ8mOni0WtgQim_IXfj_8I7PKwEiCJOiy/w300-h400/0313hash.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">More moving of fabric around happened, which funny enough, ended up in just as much fabric as before, but fewer piles. I checked the game camera, but alas, the batteries had died a horrible death, so I've got nothing on that front. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I worked on the budget stuff for a couple of hours ... how boring ... and spent two hours trying on every pair of Levis I have (which is a LOT) to see what fits at this particular point in time. I swear those things multiply in the closet when I'm gone.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So here we are again in the dungeon of the Castle. This time my Fairy Godmother wasn't there to set everything up. Add to that the fact that the safe was locked. By the time I got ahold of the King, the Member peasants were getting antsy, even if it was 90 minutes before we started selling. You see if you become a member, you get to come in any time, meaning you get your preferred seating. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Lucky for me, there are some VERY nice Peasant Ladies who are more than happy to help me prepare. See ... it's not ALL bad!! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8RLR7iKZjQor2JI-5I3k1ADn_1ZD6JRHoUWqB9ZfyLwVdrk-4bvMNLGOSlc2MLjylBMk89cisrL8g3VXsNrQU5HQdfkKl1yrKysjbMtQeYDv9pZtpH_bQKMWq0V1daPpT5j7VRSYAVMgylttb7QlhyphenhyphenEBye03E6AAm1MRibAFwdT82Zat6d1v3fG43TtPt/s640/1214bingo.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8RLR7iKZjQor2JI-5I3k1ADn_1ZD6JRHoUWqB9ZfyLwVdrk-4bvMNLGOSlc2MLjylBMk89cisrL8g3VXsNrQU5HQdfkKl1yrKysjbMtQeYDv9pZtpH_bQKMWq0V1daPpT5j7VRSYAVMgylttb7QlhyphenhyphenEBye03E6AAm1MRibAFwdT82Zat6d1v3fG43TtPt/w300-h400/1214bingo.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The Knights do the heavy lifting for me now, and are always at the ready. I don't know what goes on when I'm gone, but one of the Ladies comes up and gives me a big hug every week, saying she is so GLAD I'm back. Of course there is always ONE who probably doesn't agree.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">She helps, or at least SAYS she does, but mostly I just see her upstairs. We had thirty minutes before opening and she was panicking because no one was there to count the cards. No worries, I can count AND run the infernal machine. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">She even went so far as to call my Counter's HUSBAND to see why she wasn't there. It's okay ... she has 20 minutes to get here. Nothing would calm her down. I thought she was going to have a heart attack because I began selling a whole 5 minutes later than normal. You would think she was a player. Oh WAIT ... she DOES play!! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Believe it or not, we had a fairly quiet night. The pitchforks only came out once when our caller made a mistake. They almost had his head in a basket before the King stepped in. These people know the bingo rules better than anyone on the planet ... and if you make a mistake, WATCH OUT!!! Heads will roll!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The rest of the nice went well, thanks to the Knights and Ladies who work the floor. It seems the nicest people EVER volunteer here every Tuesday for 50 weeks of the year and I appreciate them all.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I've no idea what's on my plate today other than maybe falling asleep on the couch for a time. It's too early for my brain to be in gear. Oh wait ... I have a budget meeting tonight. The fun never stops!!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>Nancy Kissackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03225296192386107554noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5818111637898313184.post-78960954162308636312024-03-12T06:57:00.000-07:002024-03-12T06:57:59.253-07:00Noisy Kids In The House<p> I'm in total shock. I actually slept in until 5:30. I must be sick. To make it even better, I didn't have ANY nightmares. It's going to be a good Bingo Night!!</p><p>Yesterday started out pretty nice with a little sun and a tad bit of warm. Not that warm because I'm still wearing two shirts every day. It didn't last long however, as rain began to fall yet again. It's truly like the days of yore when we could grow a few fields of hay without having to irrigate. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUceAlqAvBpj_s46gnTfn14cNieBPoQV5V4qdA3o1WdQsSPeRMyyRVzIhtbu3lS3tUlI68pjkH0L7TYw28WA0vaMFjGQB1u5TlQRBCRycFoLCyh9UxssbJGesQRhGHI_YpF3oh6PhA-Ml128Gs8BP07uRjodjUVOugnaL-VXVY7Y8HmHJmEmnWo8tTY0iJ/s640/0312clouds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUceAlqAvBpj_s46gnTfn14cNieBPoQV5V4qdA3o1WdQsSPeRMyyRVzIhtbu3lS3tUlI68pjkH0L7TYw28WA0vaMFjGQB1u5TlQRBCRycFoLCyh9UxssbJGesQRhGHI_YpF3oh6PhA-Ml128Gs8BP07uRjodjUVOugnaL-VXVY7Y8HmHJmEmnWo8tTY0iJ/w400-h300/0312clouds.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">That's when I got the message loud and clear. Hear the growly sounds? I get that all day long. He's become quite the talkative kid. In this case, he had to wait for his breakfast to be cooked ... a hamburger patty supreme. He doesn't get much of it .. just enough to prime the pump so he will eat his dry kibble.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dw5i86b8LiFgk5e05qV8O1wPxsO10t5QOe0SN06v9ZWi92UqCAU0hXscAt1Vyx-X4dDacHUFgtW03Nzb-ldqw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I still had stuff in the rig to unload ... I don't know how that can be. Over time it just grows I guess. I put the wheel covers on to keep the sun off the tires. These haven't lasted long at all and I need new ones. Anyone know if old blankets would work just as well? Oh wait ... not waterproof. Does anyone else use these?</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXEZ0v5vN1UqcBx2sc2c7N16Eo3xSJxKRrUVOaR7wXQX9Ugz7X8okkUUgnPTZk_uZQwdUbnPmYrZT5VBhPru-autmWwrQqlU1cnB4HyFn_PMxegW5fJPRWDkgAI8PI7DHUsJ5FtucnEit-9SRh9zoeO46wfEe0pR1RmXh2naIW_SjMj6WF9CgrsmlhjTJp/s640/0312covers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXEZ0v5vN1UqcBx2sc2c7N16Eo3xSJxKRrUVOaR7wXQX9Ugz7X8okkUUgnPTZk_uZQwdUbnPmYrZT5VBhPru-autmWwrQqlU1cnB4HyFn_PMxegW5fJPRWDkgAI8PI7DHUsJ5FtucnEit-9SRh9zoeO46wfEe0pR1RmXh2naIW_SjMj6WF9CgrsmlhjTJp/w400-h300/0312covers.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">While rummaging in the tiny storage spaces, I found my Guardline alarm system. It worked really well in Arizona. It sets off an alarm inside if anyone walks by OUTSIDE. I had to scrounge around in garage boxes before I found all the parts and pieces. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After installing the perimeter detectors, I found out I could change the sound it makes to a siren. Perfect!! It scared Cooper and Jonathan, but worked just fine.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXJZDnTe05S94rgQtrw3ODMh-ILf7TKMUahjKfSwBYLHru8KtVpyWT5vl6MXL15ROCoQqYGxCFxva7bV0j_HESJwHx79N1s21vCa5IGefrOVDZrazk6VtKc9HMMWvPU2uOxfmL6pOGiHAE5ysu3TGkFx7UPlhM3_ZKLAJQQ3e6nuCfwGnAAqV2DkKxfaew/s640/0312guard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXJZDnTe05S94rgQtrw3ODMh-ILf7TKMUahjKfSwBYLHru8KtVpyWT5vl6MXL15ROCoQqYGxCFxva7bV0j_HESJwHx79N1s21vCa5IGefrOVDZrazk6VtKc9HMMWvPU2uOxfmL6pOGiHAE5ysu3TGkFx7UPlhM3_ZKLAJQQ3e6nuCfwGnAAqV2DkKxfaew/w300-h400/0312guard.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">That brought on a little snuggling for the OTHER kid in the house. You can't leave him on your shoulder very long because he pulls your hair out. It's weird that a bird likes to snuggle up.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD2Z_kB8GLFoZwXZpG4RkDuPnU9Xh7QJUZrDOIoCa7rR83A1oevuAs_JrGFChIWg2Ef8pL3YfoZzaTLp4khHdxqqFic_DfubFTu58WSLZwGO6GdDLtddGTwIQka8RwLR-Svl7ouv2mtxwbIRrtdmaDy_6apSZ4vf103JgGyuFdylmk3L22H_l1omZHfRKw/s640/0312jon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD2Z_kB8GLFoZwXZpG4RkDuPnU9Xh7QJUZrDOIoCa7rR83A1oevuAs_JrGFChIWg2Ef8pL3YfoZzaTLp4khHdxqqFic_DfubFTu58WSLZwGO6GdDLtddGTwIQka8RwLR-Svl7ouv2mtxwbIRrtdmaDy_6apSZ4vf103JgGyuFdylmk3L22H_l1omZHfRKw/w300-h400/0312jon.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">That brought about THIS! He went on and on for the entire day. Dis ... disco ... kitty kitty ... ALL DAY LONG! It must be spring!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxatSngOEWN8UOa3tz_Wo8N_Z7xBLObF3iFt8SFzrDpbqan4vd2SeoI20xmesb-CjbdSFLjy386t1NNv2P_hQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I still don't have door closures for the cabinet, but it's getting full. Large pieces of backing are on the top, the rest are quilts I've made. It will be completely full by the time I'm done, and a much better storage place, out of the dust and sun.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnq4N-Ts3PdBqBQjfQn_KZLD4_uft3Hwwr3uHykgOTCU3_xiVZ6p72_fElbOatm3CSbYEP2CEfTDR4uj5RJuHK1PAc4Ur0VByir22IyO-FWl4YawtwfO7geUpbrXRf5E24ZZObXkvXLDeeibgDPTyOrQqfDQfXV9JgxX42axycV07NKUu251dzjoys_tZR/s640/0312cabin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnq4N-Ts3PdBqBQjfQn_KZLD4_uft3Hwwr3uHykgOTCU3_xiVZ6p72_fElbOatm3CSbYEP2CEfTDR4uj5RJuHK1PAc4Ur0VByir22IyO-FWl4YawtwfO7geUpbrXRf5E24ZZObXkvXLDeeibgDPTyOrQqfDQfXV9JgxX42axycV07NKUu251dzjoys_tZR/w300-h400/0312cabin.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">At last, it was time to start dinner. Here comes another one. Truly, all the ingredients are packaged very nicely between two big bricks of ice and lots of insulation. So far all of the meals have taken less than 30 minutes to cook ... which is good for me.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIG47amqaS7w9BBV1nzFjdRqJcghmHvOxDndTlHi1wsWtQwxBubPPib5sQI-n9yQFaMEe0Rf4UQeo5plhnOvPTGmieBRA5GSFGLtqJT3eeAwSGQYd_z0tojL1s0h5V593St5JGlnZj01dl4E1ORrhgNDQiSOTdwtzPpcP2EYNiJndLvDFoxfYLrjJ2PhLM/s640/0312din.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIG47amqaS7w9BBV1nzFjdRqJcghmHvOxDndTlHi1wsWtQwxBubPPib5sQI-n9yQFaMEe0Rf4UQeo5plhnOvPTGmieBRA5GSFGLtqJT3eeAwSGQYd_z0tojL1s0h5V593St5JGlnZj01dl4E1ORrhgNDQiSOTdwtzPpcP2EYNiJndLvDFoxfYLrjJ2PhLM/w400-h300/0312din.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Don't ask me why I picked this meal ... I don't REMEMBER picking this meal ... and I WON'T be picking this meal ever again. This is the SHOULD LOOK LIKE .....</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVbErt6I9hJ1z-yZLw_x1xxwIQz5NIHvMJcWhTdFuyf2fhMU3U1K_B9e7fcU3HltxNw1mWLzUcXUuCj7qhu9jINbKpbcceSvR2oHAA9cx2A6YRLyyI_0TAf1UfuDaAN4E-JZ0A3ZGv1r8zpUqZAN_ftndOQgxebPAsXzFiygc6V7VvfIzvjH4Vg2WBVnme/s640/0312dinn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVbErt6I9hJ1z-yZLw_x1xxwIQz5NIHvMJcWhTdFuyf2fhMU3U1K_B9e7fcU3HltxNw1mWLzUcXUuCj7qhu9jINbKpbcceSvR2oHAA9cx2A6YRLyyI_0TAf1UfuDaAN4E-JZ0A3ZGv1r8zpUqZAN_ftndOQgxebPAsXzFiygc6V7VvfIzvjH4Vg2WBVnme/w300-h400/0312dinn.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is the DID LOOK LIKE. They must have put those green onions on with tweezers. I actually cut the chicken in half ... it was bigger this time and too much for me to eat. They definitely should have left out the hot chili powder. Woohoo!!! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The carrots have lemon zest on them, which you can't even begin to taste. The white stuff ... couscous I think they called it ... was completely tasteless, even with the garlic butter. This is also a small plate because the serving size is just too big. Mmmmm yeah it's a big NO from me. I think this is the first time that's ever happened. Maybe it was the sour cream on the chicken that held the breading on. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpmuvPvUz7k28foKLjkSa6uDoiZbNu78BG784sG8Q-t5oi7Yfs-UCplasxrCnmWK5vUiuMWb3q6nI5i762Bvk3rn2uSXWZ76V_cqdqorNBp6ikOAehp3fCwZUmxZSRIejB1W8YtP5RZdqDIUpweF8Lo2HL2JaW7Is5J4O-9mb4JphnWVAquf6Uk9WeXgBH/s640/0312dinne.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpmuvPvUz7k28foKLjkSa6uDoiZbNu78BG784sG8Q-t5oi7Yfs-UCplasxrCnmWK5vUiuMWb3q6nI5i762Bvk3rn2uSXWZ76V_cqdqorNBp6ikOAehp3fCwZUmxZSRIejB1W8YtP5RZdqDIUpweF8Lo2HL2JaW7Is5J4O-9mb4JphnWVAquf6Uk9WeXgBH/w300-h400/0312dinne.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Hopefully I made better choices with the next batch!! I'm only doing this every OTHER week, but must have gotten my dates wrong. Another box will arrive tomorrow.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And GUESS WHAT ... it's BINGO NIGHT AGAIN!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>Nancy Kissackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03225296192386107554noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5818111637898313184.post-17640496389374550692024-03-11T05:56:00.000-07:002024-03-11T05:56:03.315-07:00Goat Goats!!<p>It's still cold in California. We go from 45 at night to 60 every day with cloudy skies that keep the sun from shining and we've got several more days before she decides to peak out and warm up the land. No sunrise and no sunset ... but we have GOATS!!</p><p>Cooper was barking like crazy yesterday morning. Mostly it's at the ghosts that frequent the neighborhood. Every time I look out the window, there's nothing there. It could be a kitty, a fox or a car driving by ... but on this day when I finally went to look ... THIS is what I found. </p><p>We call them goaty goats on the ranch. About that time my phone started going off. I wasn't the only one who saw him and the Facebook postings began. This time however, I knew where he lived. Right next door at "THE" neighbors house ... you know, the one. It's the house who walked their dog in my flower beds. Thank goodness they no longer have any dogs. I digress.</p><p>These guys are pretty funny ... they walk with long steps, their heads high in the air. Prancing comes to mind. I thought we were completely done with the raising of goats for the 4-H kids to show at the fair, but apparently there are still some residing in their back yard. I love the critters ... the people, not so much.</p><p>About the time I went outside to round him up, they came out, shocked to see them running around outside on the street. They put the goaty goats back inside. Good job Cooper!!!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZTebiOMw28G8kdUyYV8A2VXbx0iqJ39pI6Z1fBfDA2rJrgyxvAlspQ1qtjsf5KyoJoz1KcRpKe_QBRI3J_URcHivRGUeEx5z4Vo5Xs7wCAxYTKOA-4ncu_-TP3MeVSRrGs4C_RK3ZDvRU6h2NBAq_eErE0paHOY_H59EOT1UlsxoOjfOdG9RBCwDAKsFO/s640/0311goat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="539" data-original-width="640" height="338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZTebiOMw28G8kdUyYV8A2VXbx0iqJ39pI6Z1fBfDA2rJrgyxvAlspQ1qtjsf5KyoJoz1KcRpKe_QBRI3J_URcHivRGUeEx5z4Vo5Xs7wCAxYTKOA-4ncu_-TP3MeVSRrGs4C_RK3ZDvRU6h2NBAq_eErE0paHOY_H59EOT1UlsxoOjfOdG9RBCwDAKsFO/w400-h338/0311goat.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I could have ... should have ... gone back to bed. This spring forward time change is the one that gets me the most, even though I stay on Arizona time. Looking at the clock messes with my brain, making for a definite lack of sleep. That means I'm moving pretty slow.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I did get out once again to mail more tax documents and got some diesel in the truck to the tune of $5.09 a gallon. Gas for the jeep was a whopping $4.59 a gallon. I didn't fill it up. Summer is coming and the prices are going through the roof. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I spent the rest of the day ... you guessed it ... sewing binding. It's the penalty I pay for buying all that gorgeous fabric and happily making quilts. I could probably use my sewing machine, but my binding skills are lacking. They never turn out as nice as when I do it by hand.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioGWEGcoa1Dg6eJ92wY2wYahs7KM9ozwLM1w2yS4YlXMyWh_fEY6rsFdL9gKRIleaTpm8gz7jLeLefPDrQBu6VrIRfZwQw44nALlK7ztaNRtocjc8tesSbVJg9h19KR33DvUUWqEFnlrpXzyb1758aDehlkGmHI_qi-PDc8u6VLTfbN2Rk6DCwjPeAagbR/s640/0311edging.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioGWEGcoa1Dg6eJ92wY2wYahs7KM9ozwLM1w2yS4YlXMyWh_fEY6rsFdL9gKRIleaTpm8gz7jLeLefPDrQBu6VrIRfZwQw44nALlK7ztaNRtocjc8tesSbVJg9h19KR33DvUUWqEFnlrpXzyb1758aDehlkGmHI_qi-PDc8u6VLTfbN2Rk6DCwjPeAagbR/w300-h400/0311edging.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There is one bad thing about staying home all day. All these thoughts of stuff you need go flying through your brain. Amazon makes a fortune. The drivers wish I would just buy it all at once so they don't have to keep coming to my door every day. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The little heater I have in my rig just doesn't do it for me in spite of what the ad said. It ran all night and could barely keep the temperature at 65. Yes I can use the rig heater, but that makes sleep elusive as the train rolls through every 30 minutes. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This one should do the trick. It's twice the size, heats up quite nicely and even has a remote control. That's it laying on the top. It even oscillates, though I'm not sure that helps. This is obviously for when I'm plugged in, which I've discovered is much nicer than worrying about how much battery I do or do not have. Jonathan will thank me.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_RVRmDMfz-DthwEwNg67j_JVqZdlLmMlxgXtmbtWzIM__gLy-afc8ezJT5d382Q2FaLHckVOMTJBNI1OS1sFcN4w9ybyJzaYf1ZQmnwakKhrVHU00jxbHOMRPjoyBxB6JmsUGzNdURfw82_nm3hO_Y9Q8N83bKaWXZifb8LxQOa_gQteUvAY2p0YtDhCD/s640/0311heater.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_RVRmDMfz-DthwEwNg67j_JVqZdlLmMlxgXtmbtWzIM__gLy-afc8ezJT5d382Q2FaLHckVOMTJBNI1OS1sFcN4w9ybyJzaYf1ZQmnwakKhrVHU00jxbHOMRPjoyBxB6JmsUGzNdURfw82_nm3hO_Y9Q8N83bKaWXZifb8LxQOa_gQteUvAY2p0YtDhCD/w300-h400/0311heater.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Dinner was simple. I found some tiny potatoes and whipped up my latest recipe. What could be better than lots of butter, garlic and parmesan? This will be the last dinner because there's something much better to make with corned beef. Corned beef HASH! It's why I buy the thing in the first place. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's an old time favorite, one you can rarely find nowadays. On the ranch we had lots of hash made from top round roast beef that was left over because no one would eat it. It's not the most tender, nor the most flavorful ... but mix it up with potatoes and onions and VOILA!! A quite tasty dinner. That's what I'll do with the left over corned beef. YUM!!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMGMU_TTwdCbdOkA4c3wjsDABL2XlvnLa0MVllYXCny-OVFrI37WMuhnHZYeTpM8fBScNYpwlO_2XS5O718NOFrRcS2bwSnUornsQmU0ryVGlFVd_SKoIj3TNCrf1JdBy982t6oG237Z81TnrpNqShhd0ePYz0eRm3Mvh0md2cT20c8o9EZ7FY3JpBt1hS/s640/0311dinner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMGMU_TTwdCbdOkA4c3wjsDABL2XlvnLa0MVllYXCny-OVFrI37WMuhnHZYeTpM8fBScNYpwlO_2XS5O718NOFrRcS2bwSnUornsQmU0ryVGlFVd_SKoIj3TNCrf1JdBy982t6oG237Z81TnrpNqShhd0ePYz0eRm3Mvh0md2cT20c8o9EZ7FY3JpBt1hS/w300-h400/0311dinner.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's Monday morning, which means absolutely nothing because I'm happily retired. Cooper and I will hang out before I begin the awesome task of working on the Elks Lodge Budget. That should take a week or two ... more accounting fun!!! Oh yay!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>Nancy Kissackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03225296192386107554noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5818111637898313184.post-75159633608390368052024-03-10T07:16:00.000-07:002024-03-10T07:16:23.990-07:00Baseball Gyrations<p>Mother Nature is trying really hard to make summer happen. Lows in the 40's and highs barely hitting 64 make Levis and coats linger. Cooper and I tried hard to sleep in under the warm covers, but it's difficult when the ridiculous rules of California get in the way. Oh yes, there's another time change coming up. I try to stay on Arizona time, but it makes me stay awake at Bingo an hour longer. That's a tall order.</p><p>I don't know what time we went for a walk ... I try not to think about it ... but the sun was shining and it only required an extra shirt. The grass isn't as high as an elephants eye, but it's getting there.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikZStabaBzSKEe67E-xGj8IuPFJsBpC9vvXi6DOj-SfNUm842hpcwxMaZG1WQS7hqZKooMI2hP9MhK4cu-h4p5Vua3q-zvIIplAjlrvxqkrUL-mtCy4k010t40PJt4gzMaKJe9vtkRTLmSNa763D2uxVbiy6K8j0QTvC74RtxWRAB2nNKKzVesl8mmM0k6/s640/0310walk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikZStabaBzSKEe67E-xGj8IuPFJsBpC9vvXi6DOj-SfNUm842hpcwxMaZG1WQS7hqZKooMI2hP9MhK4cu-h4p5Vua3q-zvIIplAjlrvxqkrUL-mtCy4k010t40PJt4gzMaKJe9vtkRTLmSNa763D2uxVbiy6K8j0QTvC74RtxWRAB2nNKKzVesl8mmM0k6/w300-h400/0310walk.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Weeds are blooming everywhere. I have to admit, this neighborhood doesn't have any gardeners who grow lots of beautiful flowers, which is a good thing, because then I don't have to keep up with the Jones.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjDJ0ATCJrJWhDZb-RtWJ5WJt9rKqMkMpcxRLdePdgeV-UxlMXIPW3jTaS1E7wnktmaUa3Hi0t-rdYV5ISg71k4DZnjk9XB4ErzdoxkVG3PFTZA9NjIziaTpvhcOWpnOZu78uiXoHXTsML_NFbKQW9qvmZtflP-o7rvDCNP3Jm4FKaRHKISrxaUkv28DKn/s640/0310flower.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="458" data-original-width="640" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjDJ0ATCJrJWhDZb-RtWJ5WJt9rKqMkMpcxRLdePdgeV-UxlMXIPW3jTaS1E7wnktmaUa3Hi0t-rdYV5ISg71k4DZnjk9XB4ErzdoxkVG3PFTZA9NjIziaTpvhcOWpnOZu78uiXoHXTsML_NFbKQW9qvmZtflP-o7rvDCNP3Jm4FKaRHKISrxaUkv28DKn/w400-h286/0310flower.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This however ... I wouldn't mind planting one of these, even if I have no idea what it is. Is this a tulip tree? It certainly is gorgeous.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbuQU_d1wYyAEp2NNNiWw_3ylpe6ayvHSWAnvNhRfs8fmuNpj_CccNo9HjEHm8MJXyXTyGXq72MsYjF9DgV-WWX3PIcgu9m4cQf5L2INYiImZbyy6gmddEL4tytXxGSRUHH5mHfaN7LbSecApxDEUbHYh0w2mu_DjnUn7YBnaNFJsHN-aRmE3zxj15ECC9/s640/0310tuli.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbuQU_d1wYyAEp2NNNiWw_3ylpe6ayvHSWAnvNhRfs8fmuNpj_CccNo9HjEHm8MJXyXTyGXq72MsYjF9DgV-WWX3PIcgu9m4cQf5L2INYiImZbyy6gmddEL4tytXxGSRUHH5mHfaN7LbSecApxDEUbHYh0w2mu_DjnUn7YBnaNFJsHN-aRmE3zxj15ECC9/w300-h400/0310tuli.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As is this one. Anyone know what it's called? I would love to plant one in my side yard. This is at the neighbor's house. When the house was empty and for sale, I contemplated going over at midnight and digging it up for my yard, since that's probably where it came from in the first place. There was lots of transplanting going on around here when I moved in.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg20EOpwH5CN5EvUhOKrMFFV20Y7ZYk3ud5rntm2u3k5Oz14pkS8o5hDqx6STqKRxN6Y2puCVMdprCXo87HZKtzmaXp4JvVugTH4laHsF3rD1Ydi94UfSTQ2W-a0kv6SstR8xK1l-OE58tZWdDX4Ru3b8uI1G_iBl3nNrvDoXRoJYwbXM_en6TNwmAJCdHU/s640/0310trees.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg20EOpwH5CN5EvUhOKrMFFV20Y7ZYk3ud5rntm2u3k5Oz14pkS8o5hDqx6STqKRxN6Y2puCVMdprCXo87HZKtzmaXp4JvVugTH4laHsF3rD1Ydi94UfSTQ2W-a0kv6SstR8xK1l-OE58tZWdDX4Ru3b8uI1G_iBl3nNrvDoXRoJYwbXM_en6TNwmAJCdHU/w300-h400/0310trees.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Remember Peggy? The organic gardener around the corner? This is her yard. It's been this way for as long as I have lived here ... sixteen years so far. Big piles of leaves and yard trash. She does have one thing going for her ... no gardener to pay for.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3TLj-oWFBA9pL2X9eOuX1zX4DidIya5SZbpRgmkblGrQChEfjXWpkTmyCMlBmXRbZU8Dkg3zKzzUVRLpSLO4W1vCGIXUDW1y2OSnxNeRaMOX98bf9jXqTJJj2s0fPedK4jNjMiLOPYTWpnYuGhSluNY5xgZ2NGbDW4mtVGt_6isrbHOU_R637LawByD-K/s640/0310peggy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3TLj-oWFBA9pL2X9eOuX1zX4DidIya5SZbpRgmkblGrQChEfjXWpkTmyCMlBmXRbZU8Dkg3zKzzUVRLpSLO4W1vCGIXUDW1y2OSnxNeRaMOX98bf9jXqTJJj2s0fPedK4jNjMiLOPYTWpnYuGhSluNY5xgZ2NGbDW4mtVGt_6isrbHOU_R637LawByD-K/w400-h300/0310peggy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Cooper probably could have continued on, but I was getting overheated ... finally ... so we headed back to the house for some sewing. I didn't get much done because THIS came on.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I know you're going to laugh ... maybe you've heard of the Savannah Bananas and the Party Animals Baseball teams. These guys will make you laugh, even if you don't like baseball. Every one of these players are from the Major or Minor Baseball Leagues. But here's the difference ... the pitchers try to see how fast they can get through one inning, often with no shirt. That usually happens in less than two minutes. Then they dance between innings ... crazy dancing to loud music like Dirty Dancing. It's hilarious!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Their scoring is crazy too ... so in the end it's usually 3-2, no matter how many runs they got. One guy bats while on stilts making him 10 feet tall .... and runs to the base. One pitcher wears short shorts (woohoo) and several wear cowboy hats. The antics will make you shake your head.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">They tour the U.S. and play at Minor League parks ... but THIS time they played for the first time ever at Houston's Major League Minute Maid Stadium. It was sold out. Roger Clemons pitched for the Bananas along with another pitcher whose name escapes me. He didn't do all that well, but he sure had fun. The stadium was completely sold out. These guys can play baseball like no other and make everyone laugh at every play. If you've never seen them, you might give it a try, just for an embarrassed-for-them belly laugh.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibqIVq957Vtgpj_Ql0gfgX0D8duWqzgO_aKml9_Xy1sS1Uy-LucD1uPVzMxcI-4BqV4Vnb2mTDA3McFvFxPNyCNg7QSg24Rukhe9Pu6in17zSBImZqeDqrToNGQ-ez7VJzYNiNGFwS_AwMIZkHgsPh3Qn2OxAPSed5L9mnk38tgYXK7xthrf7PG6EiZy6m/s1178/0310baseball.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1083" data-original-width="1178" height="368" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibqIVq957Vtgpj_Ql0gfgX0D8duWqzgO_aKml9_Xy1sS1Uy-LucD1uPVzMxcI-4BqV4Vnb2mTDA3McFvFxPNyCNg7QSg24Rukhe9Pu6in17zSBImZqeDqrToNGQ-ez7VJzYNiNGFwS_AwMIZkHgsPh3Qn2OxAPSed5L9mnk38tgYXK7xthrf7PG6EiZy6m/w400-h368/0310baseball.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">In the meantime, I got a jump on St Patricks Day. I picked up a good piece of corned beef at Walmart (because it was cheaper) that I threw in the instant pot. NINETY minutes it took to cook, but it came out perfectly!! Boy do it love this stuff ... salt and all. </div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7wpzopPjwWVe2MIUO2pgifvqt8TUSVxwSIiQRq6fD4HaWnGH_xYdBv0Cqk73_-lWpU_agUSbHS6z_GwphQxLDwsN5csfF2X3ZCumluSrsEF1IrORZuvFtciI-0FM9VnIfcB_xb_I97ef_kgMQUtYG0rOBczu78YjNx1lZIszkDZKbuslZvyaxh8Za8uj9/s640/0310beef2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7wpzopPjwWVe2MIUO2pgifvqt8TUSVxwSIiQRq6fD4HaWnGH_xYdBv0Cqk73_-lWpU_agUSbHS6z_GwphQxLDwsN5csfF2X3ZCumluSrsEF1IrORZuvFtciI-0FM9VnIfcB_xb_I97ef_kgMQUtYG0rOBczu78YjNx1lZIszkDZKbuslZvyaxh8Za8uj9/w300-h400/0310beef2.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Since I had a strange hankering for carrots that came right out of left field, I roasted some along with a few Brussel sprouts that were WAY past their prime. It was my nod to cabbage. A big pile of mashed potatoes would have made it better, but this was more than I could eat. I have enough leftovers to last until the next time change.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFVLKe9XxslotCg1ZN7pvnrkjgGvvoIpz7eX_NU4857CA-hnLN9g0JOeqejQtV6dpUzyPpM_K90Mdwgd8E_hOdw5_VvkaiMvJcp3e7ItYQ7I3jtQqYIo7CzwMqjJQf5RwqK1CkdD5fXSeTr7L9dYJQgsKBcCFWGIPHYZsuOH6mDsdh2yVLgaXRkPmqu7UC/s640/0310beef.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFVLKe9XxslotCg1ZN7pvnrkjgGvvoIpz7eX_NU4857CA-hnLN9g0JOeqejQtV6dpUzyPpM_K90Mdwgd8E_hOdw5_VvkaiMvJcp3e7ItYQ7I3jtQqYIo7CzwMqjJQf5RwqK1CkdD5fXSeTr7L9dYJQgsKBcCFWGIPHYZsuOH6mDsdh2yVLgaXRkPmqu7UC/w300-h400/0310beef.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br />And so I ended another short day with a little rodeo. I don't know about you, but it sure feels like the days are just screaming by. One second I'm crawling out of bed and the next I'm crawling back in. What's up with that???<br /><p><br /></p>Nancy Kissackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03225296192386107554noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5818111637898313184.post-23946079194084412132024-03-09T06:38:00.000-08:002024-03-09T06:38:21.354-08:00A Very Big Surprise!!<p> You know how out of the blue something amazing happens ... something you didn't expect at all? Sort of like that quilt I sent to <a href="http://jimandbarbsrvadventure.blogspot.com">Jim and Barb</a> ? Well it happened to me. How amazing are blog readers!! </p><p>Brenda Hart, from Kentucky no less, sent a message that she had a little Nikon Coolpix camera, perfect for picture taking when I was on the road. She reads several of the same blogs I do and just happened on mine. It just amazes me how you can meet wonderful people you would never otherwise get to know, just by reading blogs. </p><p>So here it is ... the entire setup AND an extra battery. She wasn't sure it would work since she had not used it recently, but it worked like a charm. I went around the house taking pictures of everything one-handed. </p><p> I'm back in business. I just can't tell you how amazing people can be and how thankful I am!! Brenda, if I ever get back to Kentucky, I'll drop in and say hello in person!! I just can't thank you enough.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKeQWMVtb8y_Y8zaYS5sYB8KhrPESK9xqAiUtOkw-fXOL6oIHYdkC7kwUswADQYuYAYfbym4E58KgXHkahOg5Ril0f3GmDvJ8NddNSqjNCM_Tc42JTNQqYlntcjqnioTZXkGOGGH6sVEMGrK0K8Enwe2bsfTm7vOSMU6TBNPT1abfzmGHmK7TIqVN2Xnv0/s640/0309camera.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKeQWMVtb8y_Y8zaYS5sYB8KhrPESK9xqAiUtOkw-fXOL6oIHYdkC7kwUswADQYuYAYfbym4E58KgXHkahOg5Ril0f3GmDvJ8NddNSqjNCM_Tc42JTNQqYlntcjqnioTZXkGOGGH6sVEMGrK0K8Enwe2bsfTm7vOSMU6TBNPT1abfzmGHmK7TIqVN2Xnv0/w400-h300/0309camera.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">That surprise got me so excited, I decided to see if I could get these little Canadians to work on those screws. Robertson bits ... who knew?? I struggled a bit at first ... this is really OLD wood and they were really hard to turn.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh2oSjavbyEWzReToW1DaDr0TZhyt9WdZ9GzgvU1AId-FUbFw4PV239kzKcemTXF_FfbPj5tuh_usQ6H3cdku8O2KADXi2FF1B2mZH96eq8hR7OcfBhpiL07wIfaP-K2uiJObiGbZn9ckvdF19G4CUHMk7_ka4uFGJiSkFQ3-9L7aGw7ZLLQwNgYa3Vc6m/s640/0308square.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh2oSjavbyEWzReToW1DaDr0TZhyt9WdZ9GzgvU1AId-FUbFw4PV239kzKcemTXF_FfbPj5tuh_usQ6H3cdku8O2KADXi2FF1B2mZH96eq8hR7OcfBhpiL07wIfaP-K2uiJObiGbZn9ckvdF19G4CUHMk7_ka4uFGJiSkFQ3-9L7aGw7ZLLQwNgYa3Vc6m/w300-h400/0308square.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">At long last, I got them out. As you can see, the rollers are disintegrating and most were completely broken off. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvTPPS6bJeg1ftuqKjkgNEq65rCvspNKRJK4wDy03uQ-Ey7IlIRFqrNhi-nvooCOasWZGbJOnoIgDW57FAzA_S-5wlUTbFa9ZERNljdB8-azjlu3IrNW0r6IAcKcBjfRyzZATqxDaFOboxj8Y6JYhoaOaaurl9gKou0Z0mLPS05fiOAhhhjPIrW-oHlpgV/s640/0309latch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvTPPS6bJeg1ftuqKjkgNEq65rCvspNKRJK4wDy03uQ-Ey7IlIRFqrNhi-nvooCOasWZGbJOnoIgDW57FAzA_S-5wlUTbFa9ZERNljdB8-azjlu3IrNW0r6IAcKcBjfRyzZATqxDaFOboxj8Y6JYhoaOaaurl9gKou0Z0mLPS05fiOAhhhjPIrW-oHlpgV/w300-h400/0309latch.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The problem now is that the NEW latches are not the same size nor as tall as the OLD. Plus, I have to drill new holes because they are not as WIDE either. Someone said to try magnetic latches. I'm not sure that's going to work either. Whatever I use has to be screwed down on the bottom because there's nothing else to attach it to.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA7ubSXXSlczR0I8JqngqvgsoYvYw7VT-RJrc90UowuVLPslBCEcgEKOsogvj8jYGWmakoX1fcnjD7zvrmyBmu5LO_N0ZKPThEDmXtGbJDZU5Sy6OVZCGfHdjfFkRnNZcH07Vzk7A-x0e7tFk3q9jmsAg92DVHHEcG8sdsHMDtfMv0eJ0t_26WrkdBJdF1/s640/0309new.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA7ubSXXSlczR0I8JqngqvgsoYvYw7VT-RJrc90UowuVLPslBCEcgEKOsogvj8jYGWmakoX1fcnjD7zvrmyBmu5LO_N0ZKPThEDmXtGbJDZU5Sy6OVZCGfHdjfFkRnNZcH07Vzk7A-x0e7tFk3q9jmsAg92DVHHEcG8sdsHMDtfMv0eJ0t_26WrkdBJdF1/w400-h300/0309new.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here's the cabinet ... perfect for showing off quilts. Mostly I've just had fabric stuffed in it, so that all has to be organized also. I won't show you the stack on the wall that covers the entire window. It's an addiction I tell you!!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPyVhLn1K6117M6bexL_qBrm05q8P5gekZOk1CFteXf3EkqFPr8vkk1saIbysEh-rZI7x13yaw3374xrOv8x2ifv9xHkQ4JbDGv84trwv1Omg48lyFpB7Lb1FHDDX7sv6l_Hx0b_xoG54fU5yFzbL6KCaxBZp-h8o7N-ihco6B9KidAqsohNRL_c8O5PII/s640/0309cab.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPyVhLn1K6117M6bexL_qBrm05q8P5gekZOk1CFteXf3EkqFPr8vkk1saIbysEh-rZI7x13yaw3374xrOv8x2ifv9xHkQ4JbDGv84trwv1Omg48lyFpB7Lb1FHDDX7sv6l_Hx0b_xoG54fU5yFzbL6KCaxBZp-h8o7N-ihco6B9KidAqsohNRL_c8O5PII/w300-h400/0309cab.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After lunch, I hung outside for awhile. The nice warm sun finally came out, so I pretended I was <a href="https://patsyischillin.blogspot.com/">Patsy</a> and read for a time. No, I did NOT put on shorts ... it's not THAT warm!!!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyu4BmLD6Ghzh_WxcRPQWetNx9dgj2RZhnBJ2enKNPORVNxQk3Crh37YfUTRT0u3WS80cCoCE2Gzwqbw89J9VfAkpqbd6ECsi5yYU3z0V7EObx3HNkfvd1zcoGFCA8J5yP3aK6HOQAd30MthapbMdJgGLcy91d2IQvG-OMcnOF6pizr8gU9J8coX7-h_iZ/s640/0309sun.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyu4BmLD6Ghzh_WxcRPQWetNx9dgj2RZhnBJ2enKNPORVNxQk3Crh37YfUTRT0u3WS80cCoCE2Gzwqbw89J9VfAkpqbd6ECsi5yYU3z0V7EObx3HNkfvd1zcoGFCA8J5yP3aK6HOQAd30MthapbMdJgGLcy91d2IQvG-OMcnOF6pizr8gU9J8coX7-h_iZ/w300-h400/0309sun.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Another one bites the dust. I finally finished the binding on this quilt. I looked around the room for space to hang it, but alas, there is no room anywhere. It will probably end up in that cabinet. I do love this pattern, so there may be another one soon. Gee ... only five more bindings to go!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPQ_h1fF3ukltBPt687z1MYJtpDIDBNh8k6IEb3vortD_Et6SFl-GwmS1JnqIS79NUWpHyT58nJolGN0284BUBuZIsRhNg7B57LfC7a-iVmeej8yFqTF0g5iwTuRWwpd578rMJgqdIDAFtt8faXe96I2IlVYbXu2QBV8i1WnO_HWNhuE08fGt1HeFC40Mp/s640/0309quilt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPQ_h1fF3ukltBPt687z1MYJtpDIDBNh8k6IEb3vortD_Et6SFl-GwmS1JnqIS79NUWpHyT58nJolGN0284BUBuZIsRhNg7B57LfC7a-iVmeej8yFqTF0g5iwTuRWwpd578rMJgqdIDAFtt8faXe96I2IlVYbXu2QBV8i1WnO_HWNhuE08fGt1HeFC40Mp/w300-h400/0309quilt.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Hello Fresh visited me again, dropping off two meals, each for two people. That equates to 6 meals for me, at about $7.00 each. Not too bad ... especially when the food is this good. I've no idea what it's called, but it has pork and purple slaw with carrots, in a yummy sweet Thai chili sauce, with crispy fried onions ... over rice. I could eat this every day. This is of course the SHOULD LOOK LIKE picture.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizAuf98Z7heAdCkwBCEtb6AnpwfAlMhwvo4NSEgXl-ny8QlvaJ-HNX-KKt2PLV9r2gIjT-Rz73rH9ry4eI7GFCNIr8nJEEDK0Z88zBMLA9on6zGbQYMUqi6BN3KvJTT8_gcfyIZ-m0EGZ1B5JfVIejpJStDUnDmMsELwnQIbSpWljoyzA-nIhhyphenhyphenbrg9my4/s640/0309should.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizAuf98Z7heAdCkwBCEtb6AnpwfAlMhwvo4NSEgXl-ny8QlvaJ-HNX-KKt2PLV9r2gIjT-Rz73rH9ry4eI7GFCNIr8nJEEDK0Z88zBMLA9on6zGbQYMUqi6BN3KvJTT8_gcfyIZ-m0EGZ1B5JfVIejpJStDUnDmMsELwnQIbSpWljoyzA-nIhhyphenhyphenbrg9my4/w300-h400/0309should.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Yeah, not so great looking. There wasn't near enough rice, but boy was this a tasty treat. I would make it again, but would have to buy all those bottles of sauce ... which would lounge in my refrigerator for three years before I threw them out for non-use. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Why is it not the same color you ask? At least "I" asked. I ran it through my Photoshop program and make it the same color as the one above. AHA ... they enhance those pictures to make it look better!! Oh ... and this is a BRENDA photo! That's what I'm calling my Coolpix pics.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjELux5lKcncz2aq8L-T99Z3jr_1tUI6bOng6Mhzh_aMFXpknMlJT_ASHVINSIW3sKKXUl1XvHY10bB3Ab5cAIORntAkeuVjcospKBR5pPQ3by4jJdN4GTceAf9oWdPCR0lqj7LO6wLHSA0lNChhG3AQ6QDDumlcfebK8zIvPifSnc0_G-P-mJ3FZkcSu1A/s640/0309did.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjELux5lKcncz2aq8L-T99Z3jr_1tUI6bOng6Mhzh_aMFXpknMlJT_ASHVINSIW3sKKXUl1XvHY10bB3Ab5cAIORntAkeuVjcospKBR5pPQ3by4jJdN4GTceAf9oWdPCR0lqj7LO6wLHSA0lNChhG3AQ6QDDumlcfebK8zIvPifSnc0_G-P-mJ3FZkcSu1A/w300-h400/0309did.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Two more servings went in the fridge for today. YUM!!! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And so it's Saturday. As much as I would like to sit on my butt and watch rodeo, I'm going to head out and see if I can find something for those doors, along with some Cooper treats. He has wiped me out being such a "good boy" lately. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">P.S. My bestie Patty also gave me a camera ... a Canon Powershot. Sadly, at this point I still have not been able to get it to work. I think the battery is toast. BUT ... it just goes to show you how many wonderful people there are in the world ... who help me with this blog every day. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br />Nancy Kissackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03225296192386107554noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5818111637898313184.post-67113807307782307342024-03-08T06:50:00.000-08:002024-03-08T06:50:44.714-08:00Sleep? What's THAT?<p> You know how sometimes you get up and you really should have just stayed in bed? Oh yeah ... this was me yesterday morning. Right out of the box I dropped my bag-o-carrots (or rather Jon's bag-o-carrots) right on the floor. I called for a do-over ... a Groundhog Day ... but it never happened.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs9JamDbtNziytE4lXpnhwSXHtpNmayWGcREo19M9seLR4gC8DVYhlQykSs-nC-B-Ag6cIyOYU61XFpv7XvDpZdjcNTn15oP9SQlVbKMiykqzdlH6aOovol_GqD31zTw25bFu4SHv9xePfF7_S2P1N2QgHE9HKIouEcGGc3FE0RqZ1vIVbMrgN-lKjN7BW/s640/0308carrots.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs9JamDbtNziytE4lXpnhwSXHtpNmayWGcREo19M9seLR4gC8DVYhlQykSs-nC-B-Ag6cIyOYU61XFpv7XvDpZdjcNTn15oP9SQlVbKMiykqzdlH6aOovol_GqD31zTw25bFu4SHv9xePfF7_S2P1N2QgHE9HKIouEcGGc3FE0RqZ1vIVbMrgN-lKjN7BW/w300-h400/0308carrots.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Maybe the kid will pick them up for me. Unfortunately, Cooper is NOT like Mikey, and carrots are not on his list of edible things. I tried. Miss Jessie used to eat them all the time. I picked them up and washed them off, but no telling what manner of disease is lounging on my floor, especially when I saw the paper towel I wiped the floor with. I guess mopping is now in order.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVcMUVESAYtKEeNOtaTpcrBNC7ySub40LPyKTyFRzKqcRDewpOn-s7hP3qQB-CkqTePB01V2NnlVGvhzOxLcQIkumLWTfrfYBD1XZzVsCz4ePCdO5o5b_qlFZ_rTdUAJuun8SXbLTM5bTws6_fB8nr4DnMeKq63IwolWzGySKK1W3c33fzxsFxy_ivz4MT/s640/0308coop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="632" data-original-width="640" height="395" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVcMUVESAYtKEeNOtaTpcrBNC7ySub40LPyKTyFRzKqcRDewpOn-s7hP3qQB-CkqTePB01V2NnlVGvhzOxLcQIkumLWTfrfYBD1XZzVsCz4ePCdO5o5b_qlFZ_rTdUAJuun8SXbLTM5bTws6_fB8nr4DnMeKq63IwolWzGySKK1W3c33fzxsFxy_ivz4MT/w400-h395/0308coop.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It was going to be a L. O. N. G. day. I started out sewing binding yet again. All those quilts I prepared for sewing when I was gone? Not a single one of them was touched. I was either too sick or too busy. They are now stacked up on the kitchen counter to remind me I need to sew faster. The good thing about that is I get to watch lots of Rodeo action at the same time.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilGbRV-VTjrhlvYtpbPkoDcQrhYB7f3BGlkCfDOwEw1_l0E252_DZGQ9qjE2Eqwqc_T6_VgQB4eJgT9a7kgpha445k7EaZuq2g9WCVQv1I6l3HKbRsYGDWEgmjy7Jd3TWICRIRa-kTu8WEOiPTCqvV0GaQqwi5RzcGJ0JCeNTE9r8gL80m_ePAlwc9h2Cc/s640/0308quilt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilGbRV-VTjrhlvYtpbPkoDcQrhYB7f3BGlkCfDOwEw1_l0E252_DZGQ9qjE2Eqwqc_T6_VgQB4eJgT9a7kgpha445k7EaZuq2g9WCVQv1I6l3HKbRsYGDWEgmjy7Jd3TWICRIRa-kTu8WEOiPTCqvV0GaQqwi5RzcGJ0JCeNTE9r8gL80m_ePAlwc9h2Cc/w300-h400/0308quilt.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">When the doorbell rang, well not really the doorbell because Amazon never rings the bell ... it was my Mr. Cooper doorbell ... I made a beeline to open it. I was expecting two things. Here's my set of Robertson SQUARE drill bits. I'm going to get those door hinges out one way or another. The good news ... they were really cheap and I now have every size. Hopefully they don't break. If I want to use them by hand, I even have a screwdriver adapter. Woohoo!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTQnUkKXNl7v-6FWkdRUz3Bvpjl4BgTkNoSkaBS5WfgNMsdPMn82VRKJzXsvOjbT0u1cRiMW31x36l2n9mih8gETuVMMkDokhdDlSmWUov60dKUsiOQ2H17F8OA-f1er6loHR-futQzmSs6jiQ859tMp_0m-UC27lcoKD3aevQOgB3bdE3cbFiyNKEPFmp/s640/0308square.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTQnUkKXNl7v-6FWkdRUz3Bvpjl4BgTkNoSkaBS5WfgNMsdPMn82VRKJzXsvOjbT0u1cRiMW31x36l2n9mih8gETuVMMkDokhdDlSmWUov60dKUsiOQ2H17F8OA-f1er6loHR-futQzmSs6jiQ859tMp_0m-UC27lcoKD3aevQOgB3bdE3cbFiyNKEPFmp/w300-h400/0308square.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And then there was THIS. I was talking to my horsey friends who have had horses with the same problem as I do with my back. They said this stuff has done wonders for them and I should try it. Why not ... can't hurt I guess, though I admit, I did buy the HUMAN version. This stuff isn't cheap ... I may have to switch to the HORSE version.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXq5KptcOJx6cjrMT3-F4MZq4MA37YXkw-4A0y4Zd0F84dlqs6KZVgZS0gFFNyMcx8Gqm4Z1EEO7fln4Fb3QsyPFbc0clhR5brLNe8fAD28nWmKkFcSEIz7Z7cDI2WN5rUworNMH_19MwWMidLl4NhiKIzs0f-QOYtdddXm6tCli6-_ba2xPmULlILABVR/s640/0308glucco.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXq5KptcOJx6cjrMT3-F4MZq4MA37YXkw-4A0y4Zd0F84dlqs6KZVgZS0gFFNyMcx8Gqm4Z1EEO7fln4Fb3QsyPFbc0clhR5brLNe8fAD28nWmKkFcSEIz7Z7cDI2WN5rUworNMH_19MwWMidLl4NhiKIzs0f-QOYtdddXm6tCli6-_ba2xPmULlILABVR/w300-h400/0308glucco.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I removed the lid. You should have heard the words that came out of my mouth!! Good grief! THESE ARE HORSE PILLS!! How in the world can I be expected to swallow not one, but TWO of these? I'm thinking I can smash it with a hammer and spread it on my morning English muffin ... you know, the same way I disguise pills for my horses. Maybe this wasn't a good idea after all.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg12OqZVyDM-Pj1p2vKWxF8iDQLUSiEiO-ohZqallJtEXr4ro0XbXtmFn4MAVpyk4DYrIsXa0J1kkU4vbAIS31N8xkRK_nlmnmdz36OYt6TCPeAra3DbDOCqWmALemsPuMl2-kMIYQQ2Ymgd02CeL5vtQTkysSv1UHjlFUeTqIbJ52AMj1iGeF0ckypAySH/s640/0308pills.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg12OqZVyDM-Pj1p2vKWxF8iDQLUSiEiO-ohZqallJtEXr4ro0XbXtmFn4MAVpyk4DYrIsXa0J1kkU4vbAIS31N8xkRK_nlmnmdz36OYt6TCPeAra3DbDOCqWmALemsPuMl2-kMIYQQ2Ymgd02CeL5vtQTkysSv1UHjlFUeTqIbJ52AMj1iGeF0ckypAySH/w300-h400/0308pills.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In no time I headed on off to the Elks Lodge Initiation Night. Sometimes they combine two "events" into one. This was also Old Timers Night ... where we give out very nice pins to long time members. You're not going to believe this, but we have a gentleman who has been a member of this lodge for 75 years. Yessirree ... that means he's at least 93. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I want to drink what he's drinking. He looks 60 and is sharp as a tack. No pictures because I was too busy taking dinner tickets. We fed 235 people New York Steaks with baked potatoes, fresh green beans, salad, rolls and dessert. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNiPo8RGFiQQcQ8H149D5LnUO-4m1OvfIHMO3FR2aWIvXYCU4Yut5ZWL927SPIf8mQlPVQdBkVbn7EHzdTxJ9pKElYV2uZjK6V-Z2_WvxbNJoglXjZz9vOeHx0PuwTOEnZuLaxIEdVmWY6r_FwmiteaqyrGempoMG70OAFT0a5KtD-19yyxObDT02ipdNr/s640/0308elks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNiPo8RGFiQQcQ8H149D5LnUO-4m1OvfIHMO3FR2aWIvXYCU4Yut5ZWL927SPIf8mQlPVQdBkVbn7EHzdTxJ9pKElYV2uZjK6V-Z2_WvxbNJoglXjZz9vOeHx0PuwTOEnZuLaxIEdVmWY6r_FwmiteaqyrGempoMG70OAFT0a5KtD-19yyxObDT02ipdNr/w300-h400/0308elks.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Too bad we had to go upstairs afterwards for the initiation, because after dinner, I was ready to go home. We had another 23 people join our lodge. Right now we are up to 1640 members. I attribute that entirely to our patriotism and good food. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Finally back home, I settled in for a long night's sleep. Not really. Some nights are like those carrots all over the floor. It was late ... my back hurt ... and visions of budgets ran through my head. It's that time of year where the Trustees have to do the budgeting for the next year. Two are leaving, which leaves only three of us to do the work, two of whom are brand spanking new. Won't this be fun.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I finally fell asleep for an hour, only to be awaked by what sounded like a small caliber gunshot to my windows. Cooper jumped up like a rocket. WHAT THE HECK? I waited for the alarm to go off, but there was nothing. It took me 30 minutes to figure out it was the window covering falling to the floor and hitting the window shade on the door. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Okay, don't laugh ... that window covering is a heavy piece of RV insulation to keep the patio light from blinding me at night. It was hung up with duct tape. I thought that stuff was supposed to last forever! Apparently it doesn't stick well to windows. I was up another hour trying to calm down, when the budget blues came back in spades. Please PLEASE just let me go to sleep!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The last number I saw was 5:00 ... I was wide awake at 6:00. Sleep is highly overrated. In the hopes of gaining some of that THIS night, I'll be working on the budget by myself so I don't fuss over it any more. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Tomorrow I have some fabulous news, but I have to ask permission first. I'm sending good thoughts of sunshine to everyone today!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Nancy Kissackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03225296192386107554noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5818111637898313184.post-18690956519599536552024-03-07T06:21:00.000-08:002024-03-07T06:21:06.166-08:00A Slow, Lazy Day<p> I'm not sure what the really bright round thing is in the sky. It seems to be putting out a little heat mid afternoon, then disappears into darkness and cold. Could it possibly be the sun? Maybe sunny California is going to turn sunny after all. I don't even see rain in the forecast for the next ten days. I think laying out and soaking up some rays might just be the ticket.</p><p>I can't believe how fast the days are going by. Is it just me? That usually happens when I'm busy ... and believe me, I am NOT busy! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUHmPgs_IaRFGv6-TAvmF1lc7Rw4SW5X1vu7lD8BEDKCtF01S7KNLUA8PLYdY0Mv_6ogFq2Vx6ZW0ObfJcdUn3KrPILZ9FM3PNiXXw8nfDxEB-7qctLO_jjldcOb56sPRzZz2dZCUFx6skFoeRE5hg_xvarejbp-9w8b4k4rWmv3llwUfb8G5mpa9zjvas/s640/0507sunrise.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUHmPgs_IaRFGv6-TAvmF1lc7Rw4SW5X1vu7lD8BEDKCtF01S7KNLUA8PLYdY0Mv_6ogFq2Vx6ZW0ObfJcdUn3KrPILZ9FM3PNiXXw8nfDxEB-7qctLO_jjldcOb56sPRzZz2dZCUFx6skFoeRE5hg_xvarejbp-9w8b4k4rWmv3llwUfb8G5mpa9zjvas/w400-h300/0507sunrise.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This week has just flown by ... like Jonathan trying to escape through the big picture window. No worries, from takeoff to landing, it's a downward spiral straight to the floor. Birds have to have muscles like we do. Although he does get out to wander around, he doesn't flap his wings much, so they are not strong enough to hold him up. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">You've probably seen on TV ... babies flapping their wings like crazy. Jonathan actually still does that as he hangs on for dear life with his claws. Yes, occasionally he falls. Sometimes I think he is as coordinated as me. Spring must be in the air, because he's flapping and talking up a storm. Disco Disco!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga0tzBlnA5f1xVut7rb-RvfQiGSNCWa763_1F2s3oDjVBrtSXzqeYZ6FSVqrI95E8OAwnTi-sNTvBF6QwbjFyXuRSXo-ACV0biFBhabR3jO3jMuarF2Y7KkeGt9iKN1CNeC832huRgdHmU6C1rFji-9Mv9qYGigjL51swxc0XRtxvZZQLkwIlXzcGcMPAq/s640/0507jon.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga0tzBlnA5f1xVut7rb-RvfQiGSNCWa763_1F2s3oDjVBrtSXzqeYZ6FSVqrI95E8OAwnTi-sNTvBF6QwbjFyXuRSXo-ACV0biFBhabR3jO3jMuarF2Y7KkeGt9iKN1CNeC832huRgdHmU6C1rFji-9Mv9qYGigjL51swxc0XRtxvZZQLkwIlXzcGcMPAq/w300-h400/0507jon.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I've been locked in my sewing room since the next quilt requires I cut 8 pieces of fabric into 50 pieces each. It's taking me some time, so there's no sewing going on yet. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Suddenly I looked down and it was lunch time. I knew exactly what I was having ... tuna salad on some of that Walmart French Bread. By the way, here's some interesting facts ... Walmarts Cashiers make $15-19 an hour, but probably don't get that many hours because their annual wage runs $28,000. I haven't seen a cashier there in ages. Managers got an $11,000 raise this year to $128,000. Maybe I should apply! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So they took all the wages and jobs away from the cashiers and gave it to management. And they wonder why people are poor and cannot afford to feed their families. Oh ... and they can get bonuses ... big bonuses apparently, but they don't want to talk about that. Isn't this store employee owned??</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Anyway, the sandwich was delicious ........</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL7pWYkwG5vMcwRSmGk_FuoIzgNGWJne2X8k13N2KIJDfJWtnXvByHRrMDehKrj_ZZ37RcvT-o6W8Mzx_W4AqpxSoe-dTYCyiDiGmCl00W8AWMNvAItveW0awrZDl24vTROmej70AZVAYf5lwQgZ2uL26JSRFbgzVB9Kq33cvyFw2iCLgmk1sD7vSdBNgS/s640/0507bread.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL7pWYkwG5vMcwRSmGk_FuoIzgNGWJne2X8k13N2KIJDfJWtnXvByHRrMDehKrj_ZZ37RcvT-o6W8Mzx_W4AqpxSoe-dTYCyiDiGmCl00W8AWMNvAItveW0awrZDl24vTROmej70AZVAYf5lwQgZ2uL26JSRFbgzVB9Kq33cvyFw2iCLgmk1sD7vSdBNgS/w400-h300/0507bread.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here's my latest money saver. Patsy knows Nancy loves peanut butter and chocolate, so she sent a recipe to me for sweet oat bars. I actually buy these at the store for a whopping $6.50 ... six bars. They are perfect for eating when I'm driving. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">How could I go wrong with peanut butter, honey, butter and oats? I added some of Jon's peanuts. Don't tell him!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuxoJwl3DnFeZGl4SZo-UZoykicn6Mq_LYUPUAu4vJ_OSkdxcFx5uiz8OG8xU8-g8tPSZ6SmFP_uOstQNiYgwn97VH6AEt0wAm72Df7tuWorrfn8Hm0dt9pom2SR22VfRsOb6-mDZNnaYBkzbXYX59rcClzXPAiOw3mHWyJ7hO8d5G2627n1D57RTqwj0Q/s640/0305bars2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuxoJwl3DnFeZGl4SZo-UZoykicn6Mq_LYUPUAu4vJ_OSkdxcFx5uiz8OG8xU8-g8tPSZ6SmFP_uOstQNiYgwn97VH6AEt0wAm72Df7tuWorrfn8Hm0dt9pom2SR22VfRsOb6-mDZNnaYBkzbXYX59rcClzXPAiOw3mHWyJ7hO8d5G2627n1D57RTqwj0Q/w300-h400/0305bars2.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">When it came to the chocolate on top, I could only find half a bag each of peanut butter and chocolate chips. Perfect!! So here they are. A little too much honey for me (can you imagine that?) but quite tasty! I fool myself by saying the oats are good for you!!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVyDJCkYJ-4D-MfETC9I3md-hVoEG46-TaANCu2RGjU9a9IGE6fLJgVXWgdLvkPw8v-KPw2aDObsRieEi13O430YkP7RvBM75FiLEwFf_M0hME1oLSGUVuGHuhyphenhyphenqzVgwfkqoo1Hg-tkDBB9UT9VhOli3gHA6OCCA20wdq2AJTDVVbT9wvqlLyFOOh_Uz2W/s640/0507bars.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVyDJCkYJ-4D-MfETC9I3md-hVoEG46-TaANCu2RGjU9a9IGE6fLJgVXWgdLvkPw8v-KPw2aDObsRieEi13O430YkP7RvBM75FiLEwFf_M0hME1oLSGUVuGHuhyphenhyphenqzVgwfkqoo1Hg-tkDBB9UT9VhOli3gHA6OCCA20wdq2AJTDVVbT9wvqlLyFOOh_Uz2W/w400-h300/0507bars.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The afternoon was full of Houston Rodeo, with some crazy wild bull riding. It's a good thing these kids are young or every bone in their body would be broken. No one ever said Rodeo was a safe sport.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEintwDQ3B3ry6wvCz0yPsY81ImL0E5bU_JlAhuv9j4i3K4Njk-ugbXnRINLIRq7PuEIWe8Oq1LHSRg_oeJ6yjk2_9UDZsGwXq_vtD9HTslkyaj2D-rI5NA62wd2oT9jadfY7rIFEfMDCuF3gLwSD2YAbDOhYLwj086ZXMeqZyztLIT4tzXpAqvf6xc9cVVN/s251/0307rodeo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="148" data-original-width="251" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEintwDQ3B3ry6wvCz0yPsY81ImL0E5bU_JlAhuv9j4i3K4Njk-ugbXnRINLIRq7PuEIWe8Oq1LHSRg_oeJ6yjk2_9UDZsGwXq_vtD9HTslkyaj2D-rI5NA62wd2oT9jadfY7rIFEfMDCuF3gLwSD2YAbDOhYLwj086ZXMeqZyztLIT4tzXpAqvf6xc9cVVN/w400-h236/0307rodeo.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">After much knee scratching and barking, I took Mr. Cooper out for a walk. This kid ... he's absolutely wild about walking around the neighborhood. I can barely keep up with him he goes so fast. At least here I don't have to carry him up and down the stairs. I don't know what kind of trees these are, but they sure are beautiful right now!!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMGgQWr31ZVNTpkBzrSerPi-W_PqC6QnZxBAe21jHjYXgaRQKGz_ESTUcPS7Qvfag8LzQdgBYI9KDlar6Qb9piuPf8SAB_dxLBpfvmKWwvJuwDSwc_lhetJg1BgljulwoXgB-X7azOtXYkTLP7iizyqV_Bb3jdkWu_xB0V3kRhYw4BfYL9m_8hU3dLnWsO/s640/0507walk.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMGgQWr31ZVNTpkBzrSerPi-W_PqC6QnZxBAe21jHjYXgaRQKGz_ESTUcPS7Qvfag8LzQdgBYI9KDlar6Qb9piuPf8SAB_dxLBpfvmKWwvJuwDSwc_lhetJg1BgljulwoXgB-X7azOtXYkTLP7iizyqV_Bb3jdkWu_xB0V3kRhYw4BfYL9m_8hU3dLnWsO/w300-h400/0507walk.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Along the way I met a neighbor Peggy. Peggy is in to organic gardening. Her entire yard is covered with huge piles of leaves and cut grass. It looks like a gardener dumped all the trash from other yards into hers. I'll have to get a picture for you. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I was a little concerned when she first said hello because I didn't see her sitting on the ground amid the piles. I thought maybe she fell. Are you okay? Oh yes she said ... I'm just doing my gardening. Okaaaay. She was digging in the dirt with a bucket. I have to admit she didn't have any grass, but she didn't have any weeds either. And she doesn't have to pay a gardener. I may have to get to know Peggy better!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Back at the house, Cooper crashed and I reheated some ugly leftovers for dinner. Truly, it's a good thing no one else has to be subjected to my cooking.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The sunset was rather weird on this night. It's facing the wrong direction, which is quite unusual for us. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlaEKSS6fsP9K7b23zjzVCcanSPWQyfeY2SWRh5CqfKpzU5j5FGYYsEttJoI-bvM7I5Cavyi8PzHooIPfDU2TMF9Xzs3pFMf1fGejKTRwheVF2W7F-XPalEBULTeDzIjChhWgrz1aaiYpFHqYQwRpeqZQ69OaUlJEH_MVrRKvoFyWJw0SkY6-Y6sO_7BLd/s640/0507sunset.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlaEKSS6fsP9K7b23zjzVCcanSPWQyfeY2SWRh5CqfKpzU5j5FGYYsEttJoI-bvM7I5Cavyi8PzHooIPfDU2TMF9Xzs3pFMf1fGejKTRwheVF2W7F-XPalEBULTeDzIjChhWgrz1aaiYpFHqYQwRpeqZQ69OaUlJEH_MVrRKvoFyWJw0SkY6-Y6sO_7BLd/w400-h300/0507sunset.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This morning I will be frantically washing the tuxedo shirt that, even though was hanging in my closet, is too dirty to wear. We have yet another initiation tonight. Really, I can't believe we have so many people joining our club. I mean we are very nice people and all, but because of what we do, we have one of the higher dues amounts. Or maybe it's just the Bingo gals who want to get in the building FIRST to get their lucky chair. No, I'm not kidding!! See you tomorrow!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>Nancy Kissackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03225296192386107554noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5818111637898313184.post-75556349685811535182024-03-06T06:35:00.000-08:002024-03-06T06:35:27.922-08:00Half Price Melee<p> B. I. N. G. O !!!!! Oh yes my blogger friends ... we are back at the headache-producing local Elks Bingo Hall for some fighting fun! I mean where else can you go for action like this with the odds of winning cash? Last night the odds were 129-1.</p><p>I always try to sneak in a nap before I go. I'm up so early in the morning (with absolutely no chance ever of sleeping in), that I have trouble staying awake until I can cash out. Mr. Cooper waylays that effort most every time. It's hard to nap with a 15 pound dog sitting on your chest, tapping with his foot to see if you are awake for the ball game.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZyXHOSFcrbz5ZzYOTBcFCRc5iDh2XQVpZqLin_yQ8hWAFzpiOXAsOBYSx4jTCZqffNKgnjkb9B_Q6f6MzjHRfpPKPhk6G7kytEwoluFSYTcReqCKHVKxmUtsHW4V9yl-7gZ1-bPAW1pRGyWW5w4_EgNpue-tF5n645GCWAZiRSNrkK_ApFDZtcIJNzSMO/s1920/disneyland-castle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZyXHOSFcrbz5ZzYOTBcFCRc5iDh2XQVpZqLin_yQ8hWAFzpiOXAsOBYSx4jTCZqffNKgnjkb9B_Q6f6MzjHRfpPKPhk6G7kytEwoluFSYTcReqCKHVKxmUtsHW4V9yl-7gZ1-bPAW1pRGyWW5w4_EgNpue-tF5n645GCWAZiRSNrkK_ApFDZtcIJNzSMO/w400-h225/disneyland-castle.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I did a little sewing and some paperwork, but that was it. I MIGHT have been on my phone since Facebook crashed at 8:00 for me. My phone is basically my lifeline to the world. It wouldn't let me log back in for 3-1/2 hours. Mostly on Tuesdays, it keeps me informed of who's here and who's out of town so I know if I need to panic and find someone to count cards.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrWDKFOLt3YvKMZwNjlVrDPEptr6r8w0MhXL_hceI1fCBto4ycI9yLkjIQhB7aFc0KBOL4T749zyicMrSWpSaQOhG_rJcAj0NVmT_yYBKXLxMPTiRl_r_IT14imOtsF-SG_a2CH2S0frFCVK-JoHbDHcT8IjSXmR0ulhGz7RoCuZzuGwHvwrWKb641b6W-/s272/1026bingo.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="185" data-original-width="272" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrWDKFOLt3YvKMZwNjlVrDPEptr6r8w0MhXL_hceI1fCBto4ycI9yLkjIQhB7aFc0KBOL4T749zyicMrSWpSaQOhG_rJcAj0NVmT_yYBKXLxMPTiRl_r_IT14imOtsF-SG_a2CH2S0frFCVK-JoHbDHcT8IjSXmR0ulhGz7RoCuZzuGwHvwrWKb641b6W-/w400-h272/1026bingo.png" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I went in early to get the paperwork for my OTHER Elks job. It seems I'm now only one of two who know anything about being a trustee. We have three new people and it's budget time. Won't THAT be fun!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So here we are in the Bingo Hall. Probably 15 of those seated here have their SPECIAL chair and SPECIAL place at the table. They show up at 2:30 to be sure they can sit in their lucky spot. I start selling cards at 4:30 and we don't play until 6:30. Oh yeah ... we are serious and oh so superstitious about this game.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibk1b4UCEjtB0Nr89bbaNY6jZwNHEh1EtgygyGipNkNmuYty9Bsgv9r7W9guRMeBOgQtC9Z1bInkGUcA6X4we5no_3jGWOfhnxNnWpuZsnh2lnVjelL0yvB2mkhl_K4pFcli498MS0B-__3xn4bZlGOn6nLeJxz34SzjetCFHq5Dr2XOH7-d_NsrQIpyBa/s640/0419bingo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibk1b4UCEjtB0Nr89bbaNY6jZwNHEh1EtgygyGipNkNmuYty9Bsgv9r7W9guRMeBOgQtC9Z1bInkGUcA6X4we5no_3jGWOfhnxNnWpuZsnh2lnVjelL0yvB2mkhl_K4pFcli498MS0B-__3xn4bZlGOn6nLeJxz34SzjetCFHq5Dr2XOH7-d_NsrQIpyBa/w400-h300/0419bingo.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Did I mention I found another victim ... I mean "volunteer" ... to learn the infernal machine? Her name is Nancy ... no relation. She came along after we began selling and wanted to try it again. Last time she got so terribly nervous she only lasted 20 minutes. I did my very best to calm her.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's hard when you are not familiar with the infernal machine, but are expected to work at lightning speed. Like little kids on the playground, Bingo players can be cruel. I whispered in her ear a few times, and although she was pretty slow, she did VERY well and only made a couple of mistakes. I walked away for 30 seconds ... MY mistake.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The infernal machine did a "received on account" transaction. We don't have any accounts. It will be fine ... just keep going. When the line got too long, I stepped back in. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwtwY9N0fQY6G21R6Wy6oNoWwTd1HXk29o4EZ-Mr5yAAZ7fWMS-rObPr_4nXevr4hGy7W4l6c_CU6UN6FtXEWR1C9wMkN8okPmd469daJLrudlyw_ZOmUrAE-I-EgeBqmE_5SlJxuhIVSH35Vw04vK7L5vqPu-JlyIAyX6Dl7rM-ySVtEVOsGWghzhrhCN/s640/1012bingo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwtwY9N0fQY6G21R6Wy6oNoWwTd1HXk29o4EZ-Mr5yAAZ7fWMS-rObPr_4nXevr4hGy7W4l6c_CU6UN6FtXEWR1C9wMkN8okPmd469daJLrudlyw_ZOmUrAE-I-EgeBqmE_5SlJxuhIVSH35Vw04vK7L5vqPu-JlyIAyX6Dl7rM-ySVtEVOsGWghzhrhCN/w300-h400/1012bingo.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There were a few skirmishes over who got what cards. Never EVER grab a card until the person in front of you has completely finished picking their cards. Papers get torn in half and tempers flare. The winning card goes in the trash can and it becomes World War III.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Once the line got back down, victim Nancy came back and tried it again. She did good and I fixed most everything that went wrong. Later in the evening I let her make all the payouts. I have no doubt she can take over in a pinch. YAY!! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The best part is she's a no nonsense gal like me. No one is going to pull the wool over her eyes. She's also an RV person who has invited me to her property in Oregon. It's a win-win!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Things did get a little crazy towards the end of the night. One of our long time players decided she should get more cards for half price. The only ones half price are the TWO buy-ins and only if you come late. Extra cards are full price. She wanted two more cards for cheap and I wouldn't comply. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">She went on to rail at me because she's been coming here for 30 years and they are HALF price in the second half. Sorry ... not true. I've been here thirteen years and extra cards have NEVER been half price. I dodged the pitchfork twice. Come to find out, if she had just told me she dumped an entire Pepsi on all her papers, we could have completely ignored the fight all together. Bring me your wet cards and I can replace them for FREE.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">She did ... I gave her two new cards ... and off she went. NOT happy as a clam, but not screaming at me either. I missed the pitchfork, but not the knives stabbing me in my heart when she left. Such in Bingo every Tuesday night!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There was no balancing the infernal machine, though I did get within $5.00. My back wasn't very happy and I just wanted OUT. I'll have to rest up today, because tomorrow is Penguin Night ... tuxedo time. And then there are the budget meetings ... oh the fun!!!</div><br /><p><br /></p>Nancy Kissackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03225296192386107554noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5818111637898313184.post-48747288350399408032024-03-05T06:06:00.000-08:002024-03-05T06:06:44.583-08:00VOTE VOTE VOTE!!!<p> It was a little froggy on this morning, much more than you can see here. It was also VERY froggy last night. I'll see if I can get a recording. I haven't heard frogs around here since I moved in so many years ago. You should hear them now! On the ranch they were so loud at sunset that it was hard to sleep. Many times we would go out with a flashlight and come back with frog legs for dinner. I'm glad to hear them in my back yard again.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikBzSHZ5f99LHlsoZHPqjzCfKmm4EuXTCg5WilBxGJEpzQvyhRaYpQXGqflho3wQnssuTcaAl1Y9NFn8LrbLVfwAo8lQ7cQOdnzlNHXEILYb59q5qKbwToqMD7BgmK9QxiDyNTmkeeU9HSbswLwYUIAtIbYC31z2rgMlbyru6bq1EgakqkWdYKUPkzTM16/s640/0305foggy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikBzSHZ5f99LHlsoZHPqjzCfKmm4EuXTCg5WilBxGJEpzQvyhRaYpQXGqflho3wQnssuTcaAl1Y9NFn8LrbLVfwAo8lQ7cQOdnzlNHXEILYb59q5qKbwToqMD7BgmK9QxiDyNTmkeeU9HSbswLwYUIAtIbYC31z2rgMlbyru6bq1EgakqkWdYKUPkzTM16/w400-h300/0305foggy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It looks like the boys who cry wolf have changed up their forecasting after this last weekends lack of snow and tornados here. They got lambasted pretty good by people who live in the mountains. The forecast now is cloudy with a chance of frogs! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I tried to get up and out early to do some repairs in the back yard, but it's hard when you are nailed to the couch. If I move, he falls over with a "what do you think you're doing" look!! It's hard to do that to the sweetest dog ever!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7cc-fIV66bOJuf6ZRdW6WOim75bOQoklX710an4XY5RFlGvbre9Ky4c5L15_iqjI3xAzDttNRWUx5mYMLCdk9BII-wMKUuGoGEnhCLMyvKQr5d4SgwzpukwzJ82YAp5X7M6Poq4_Ge6GqcQ1crqspuVgU1-WlU_LJYoSD1lNCYAohgjLlMN7YLmEYjyRv/s640/0305oop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7cc-fIV66bOJuf6ZRdW6WOim75bOQoklX710an4XY5RFlGvbre9Ky4c5L15_iqjI3xAzDttNRWUx5mYMLCdk9BII-wMKUuGoGEnhCLMyvKQr5d4SgwzpukwzJ82YAp5X7M6Poq4_Ge6GqcQ1crqspuVgU1-WlU_LJYoSD1lNCYAohgjLlMN7YLmEYjyRv/w300-h400/0305oop.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I was finally out the door with my long list in hand. I just love it when a plan comes together. VOTE VOTE VOTE everyone. Remember you get what you vote for, and we've gotten nothing but grief and high prices from this administration. Over a million people have crossed the border, all of which are getting free housing and medical attention, free phones, free money in their pockets, and all of it is coming out of OUR pockets, while our Veterans get NOTHING. The price of everything is through the roof!! We need to change that up and now is the time to do it!! Let's get a leg up on the November election. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">First stop .. I turned in my ballot. Don't ask me what this picture is because I'm not sure. Okay, it's my finger in front of the lens. This new phone is not the easiest I've ever used. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSet1dWogff5q3iP54i9-Y0USvFBqnMIB7RbP_lyH0b9P5kVDQqc5WAgxaW8BF1fIzBNV1Fzpi2w2G6hcJPZZT1tdAog6evv_e2wvpLHc0VWuXCrqf8sQhOe1XslURV3L_nCueKP1ZSq5ffMevJUxU_lfzp-yNCXqQ5y9KPrkm-VPeOarW4iIeMPan3tpm/s640/0305nothing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSet1dWogff5q3iP54i9-Y0USvFBqnMIB7RbP_lyH0b9P5kVDQqc5WAgxaW8BF1fIzBNV1Fzpi2w2G6hcJPZZT1tdAog6evv_e2wvpLHc0VWuXCrqf8sQhOe1XslURV3L_nCueKP1ZSq5ffMevJUxU_lfzp-yNCXqQ5y9KPrkm-VPeOarW4iIeMPan3tpm/w300-h400/0305nothing.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Next ... the car wash. My poor truck has been dirty for six months. It was so bad, I really didn't think it would come clean with just a car wash. But wait ... where are all the pretty colors?? You mean I'm not being entertained any more with flashing lights? It's just a plain old water and soap wash? $14.00 now, because we have to pay these kids $15.00 an hour. The wash used to be $6.00.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOiNA7KDpGVdNPzMAfhDQjTQkLKVcsxuQ_Pqk3mtGyZWlzYtCCohc6jk6vgHSjq60HoIzXV9lmVYVRWA_flX24SWgN5VSex30o0GH2zi0by8TkslQSfdOz52gamXRTu4iQTEVEFFQ3TnA4gqHTDraHpu_noTMZpJOCN0Wj_zOZ5K5U9d-R1jrrklyY0ajW/s640/0305colo%3F.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOiNA7KDpGVdNPzMAfhDQjTQkLKVcsxuQ_Pqk3mtGyZWlzYtCCohc6jk6vgHSjq60HoIzXV9lmVYVRWA_flX24SWgN5VSex30o0GH2zi0by8TkslQSfdOz52gamXRTu4iQTEVEFFQ3TnA4gqHTDraHpu_noTMZpJOCN0Wj_zOZ5K5U9d-R1jrrklyY0ajW/w400-h300/0305colo%3F.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Just look at this baby! She's sparkling clean. Not bad for a 19 year old truck!!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAbO7o0WR0YpOd8XCm-D0Y1HsISCOJR3ZrBtyYcqampro3A2IWMEhIPXZo-hRbEWmR2kXFLPcwKBCihGYoQfkTgziiZJjG2G4XCtSR7zTE9csxFNmqsY4wmXXtt_gbS1bZmnhNcdBzmm9AWt6EJG4gc0RVVgrM7k-9hPsKvQbywuxxFwn2JyinJT90-Wyl/s640/0305truck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAbO7o0WR0YpOd8XCm-D0Y1HsISCOJR3ZrBtyYcqampro3A2IWMEhIPXZo-hRbEWmR2kXFLPcwKBCihGYoQfkTgziiZJjG2G4XCtSR7zTE9csxFNmqsY4wmXXtt_gbS1bZmnhNcdBzmm9AWt6EJG4gc0RVVgrM7k-9hPsKvQbywuxxFwn2JyinJT90-Wyl/w400-h300/0305truck.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So far I'm cruising right along. Now for some fuel at $5.00 a gallon. Remember to VOTE!! And then I was off to Wally World. Luckily we have a nice clean store and I don't mind shopping here since their prices are so much lower than anywhere else within 100 miles. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">What a shock to see this! Fresh baked bread ... baked in house? Really, my Walmart is now baking bread? You won't believe this ... it is $1.00 a loaf. No kidding ... I picked up two. I don't think I can even make it this cheap myself! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Is it good? You bet it's good! I could have eaten the whole thing but I cut them in half and put it in the freezer.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIIRCm_-2edrZKejs5mxv_QOKYXN0YmL5QfuJDcBhTJL3ETdLUQQh0NBecobM-8y2HB_gROWA2woWAgnFD7kRVYqKmyn2sn-LwqWZ5HjuBjaggcxhtd8CmGlq-4_mQY9dMIBO9yeBZJeqMKLmAuhVqQklOa1oZkP5iU9nZ0eDtdSm6Fk1ByzVbMByDHgM5/s640/0305bread.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIIRCm_-2edrZKejs5mxv_QOKYXN0YmL5QfuJDcBhTJL3ETdLUQQh0NBecobM-8y2HB_gROWA2woWAgnFD7kRVYqKmyn2sn-LwqWZ5HjuBjaggcxhtd8CmGlq-4_mQY9dMIBO9yeBZJeqMKLmAuhVqQklOa1oZkP5iU9nZ0eDtdSm6Fk1ByzVbMByDHgM5/w300-h400/0305bread.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">$100 later (would have been at least $150 anywhere else), I headed to the Post Office. I had finally finished up all those tax papers to be mailed to my accountant. It's complicated ... and now has a house sale involved. I was so excited when I got home to call and tell them it was on the way.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My accountant and I have been best buds for about 40 years. RATS!! He asked me for papers I didn't have and didn't include in the packet. Once I got home, I spent another hour digging through the "dump" box and amazingly found some. There's another trip to the post office in my future.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">All of that happened before lunch. Can you believe it? I got everything done (well almost everything) in one fell swoop. Time for some sustenance. I used up the last of my old bread for a grilled cheese sandwich. SO many calories ... I try not to do this too often!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7s8QEufZKERQrNmIm0LXUX0hT1h1nnU8dqh6FUMWjc0snW3IanLR7REFkLqU7Z_rLbbiFMWfCiyaJHuTQf-YqF277tPHEoX30Y1RsAwFC4Qi7Juj8NZ4BMINgpRvkeHzt0HE38d-aBVdA19duxXzf5-i49aNzmmQJcoavFz9gYU9RQhK_uoSW1GiSup-j/s640/0305cheese.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7s8QEufZKERQrNmIm0LXUX0hT1h1nnU8dqh6FUMWjc0snW3IanLR7REFkLqU7Z_rLbbiFMWfCiyaJHuTQf-YqF277tPHEoX30Y1RsAwFC4Qi7Juj8NZ4BMINgpRvkeHzt0HE38d-aBVdA19duxXzf5-i49aNzmmQJcoavFz9gYU9RQhK_uoSW1GiSup-j/w300-h400/0305cheese.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I spent the afternoon trying to organize my fabric collection, to no avail. The more I try, the worse it gets, so I grabbed a pattern, picked out some fabric and began cutting. The accuracy required is troublesome. These pieces had to be cut into 3-3/8 inch squares. Make a mistake and it throws off the entire quilt. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipF1GLVCEqznCVMK66lRm6ejO06-6WG4UEdodpBgNJtmqNkTcVP3XmrFZRGyNSoM3263HgjKdT5ze3GBoKuWJ9pGwhRF0nderlsj0qX9z6XqUcSzSOBZTPDZVRhxQvwqRFEPAip9gZFf215pXg-a9HqAENRtb8ChKSxCEj3EHd7GkGuA3WwfFHpbfJxctj/s640/0305fab.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipF1GLVCEqznCVMK66lRm6ejO06-6WG4UEdodpBgNJtmqNkTcVP3XmrFZRGyNSoM3263HgjKdT5ze3GBoKuWJ9pGwhRF0nderlsj0qX9z6XqUcSzSOBZTPDZVRhxQvwqRFEPAip9gZFf215pXg-a9HqAENRtb8ChKSxCEj3EHd7GkGuA3WwfFHpbfJxctj/w300-h400/0305fab.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Which is why I didn't work at it for very long. The peanut butter was calling my name. <a href="https://patsyischillin.blogspot.com">Patsy</a> sent a recipe to me that sounded pretty good. I'll report on that later, since you know what day it is. It's time for some BINGO ... meaning I need a nice long nap before the appointed hour. Let's see what happens on THIS night.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Nancy Kissackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03225296192386107554noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5818111637898313184.post-73078583882905848822024-03-04T05:37:00.000-08:002024-03-04T05:37:29.515-08:00IT'S DONE!!<p> I'm sad today. No part of California that I know of, fell off into the ocean. Maybe, just maybe that storm dumped enough water in San Francisco to clean up the sidewalks. Not that I will ever go there again, which is sad, because it used to be a fabulous place to visit. </p><p>So .... I cheered myself up with a nice big cup of chocolate!! And SUGAR!! There's actually cocoa underneath all those marshmallows. Hey, I'm just doing what my mother told me ... waste not, want not. What else can you do with these sweet little morsels of sugar?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNJENDOw9yPgkU_MJgh8OYM_h1GmczGYqjTabL6k5N2TnjcPFJ_UBT7tjEZ5NQrw06GDPTwikbtYccYI51FkkSa2NCOmjHS7GHVOiajlkE9lgLZD7wZcDOMzcByCKFELFdWM7vQibj-5WBMMVG-78CBtCUeFJaJPMkdj78_sjEfEftPZ73KvE_5qKwSJAU/s640/0303choco.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNJENDOw9yPgkU_MJgh8OYM_h1GmczGYqjTabL6k5N2TnjcPFJ_UBT7tjEZ5NQrw06GDPTwikbtYccYI51FkkSa2NCOmjHS7GHVOiajlkE9lgLZD7wZcDOMzcByCKFELFdWM7vQibj-5WBMMVG-78CBtCUeFJaJPMkdj78_sjEfEftPZ73KvE_5qKwSJAU/w300-h400/0303choco.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Luckily I don't have to share with Cooper. What I DO have to do is give him his four little nuggets of Beggin' Strips and a small piece of Pepperoni. I think that equates to sugar for him. It was time for the ball game!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyA4KCMGdR_YwnJ7p-huXqkgM0ZHIRKjHW5n6HDlyfKsbE9q_GllGCxD6-AZy8N59rMfkSIgvuO37lHKbRdhQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It was a relaxing Sunday in the beginning. I picked up a 3-pack of bacon at Costco a while back ... something I never do. It's been in the freezer, and I need more space. I drug out the big air fryer and went to work. It's actually much less messy to use that than the barbecue. I'm thinking some bacon cheeseburgers are on the menu for later this week.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeIliv5vIK98jDbfJRRStv9Dh40OXQ7SRhp-X0mr-DZlMsKoWJkXCp5E5DehSQKmNiHf5wnAsJun4aPvGhqKXgRabfj4W6iTQzchB7sraJm1WHK997V7GwlAzLrKK05Kg6R69dwTWAU16lsjKOu2AZKF9yEAoITgvoeXbR76X947WiDmCuN-2fIQ2dmP95/s640/0303bacon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeIliv5vIK98jDbfJRRStv9Dh40OXQ7SRhp-X0mr-DZlMsKoWJkXCp5E5DehSQKmNiHf5wnAsJun4aPvGhqKXgRabfj4W6iTQzchB7sraJm1WHK997V7GwlAzLrKK05Kg6R69dwTWAU16lsjKOu2AZKF9yEAoITgvoeXbR76X947WiDmCuN-2fIQ2dmP95/w300-h400/0303bacon.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Though I really prefer to sit around and watch the Houston Rodeo, I finally installed the last of the toilet guts. Really folks, these are the cheapest made pieces of thin plastic they could find. Instead of being on the uprise of manufacturing and quality, we are in the gutter with cheaply made, dare I say crap, from China that will last a few months before you have to go buy it again.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The years of making things to last have ended. Now they make products that will die in a few short years so you will have to buy it again and again. My oven in the old ranch house was 45 years old and worked like a charm. Never had to have it repaired. My oven here worked for about 5 years and there's not even anyone who can repair it. A sad commentary for such a once great country.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr1zd4p-Ka2jL8EnVL72pz0gaVwTPZAAFzIA7oeAbIo7kuGxFkWLAlupMboDZkQToOp7GZHAhvSoH1G8Jy9vMB7PI_a88cxF-Orl51dA6KVbZz-quvhJvwRzxIZanmSbFz6VBb0ocQlOAWlalgjSMFLBoYqWbbKY3pLhyphenhyphenzqe3pWXVsEFZxlBwgJIbO05yH/s640/0303guts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr1zd4p-Ka2jL8EnVL72pz0gaVwTPZAAFzIA7oeAbIo7kuGxFkWLAlupMboDZkQToOp7GZHAhvSoH1G8Jy9vMB7PI_a88cxF-Orl51dA6KVbZz-quvhJvwRzxIZanmSbFz6VBb0ocQlOAWlalgjSMFLBoYqWbbKY3pLhyphenhyphenzqe3pWXVsEFZxlBwgJIbO05yH/w300-h400/0303guts.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Okay .... throw away the sad and get on to the laughing at oneself at how many times I can get stuck by pins. Here it is ... the King sized gorgeous-in-my-eye quilt top that is finally done. There are FOUR borders on this monster. Each one had to be divided into quarters and marked with pins, as was the quilt edge, in order to be sure it all matched up and was straight. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I stuck my legs, my arms, twice on my chin and many MANY times my fingers, manhandling this thing on my lap while seated at the machine. At long last it is done ... and I don't even have a room with enough floor space to show the whole thing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Just a note ... when I got this, I thought the fabrics were ugly, didn't match and would not turn out at all. Boy was I wrong!! I love it. This is why I let others pick the fabrics for me.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisSM7mvkdqRFrMYz_zoxdaTjBfkJp5mjfjnTYTh8pwNL705vJoAfqLRFCcSQzMuS-6vteVzNKqYi7tbsmMS2maX5YbN8gLva4kjH66GyBANndnw548301Bf2wxPaFnKEGy5N_2qfRcLz7O2msfz4jcTqJkPuQjS3iMPJSeDw6IkiU6XBhym6ib8HCSKV0K/s640/0303quilt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisSM7mvkdqRFrMYz_zoxdaTjBfkJp5mjfjnTYTh8pwNL705vJoAfqLRFCcSQzMuS-6vteVzNKqYi7tbsmMS2maX5YbN8gLva4kjH66GyBANndnw548301Bf2wxPaFnKEGy5N_2qfRcLz7O2msfz4jcTqJkPuQjS3iMPJSeDw6IkiU6XBhym6ib8HCSKV0K/w300-h400/0303quilt.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Since it didn't rain at all on the second day of the huge storm (they even handed out sand bags to everyone), Mr. Cooper and I went for a walk. He's like a little kid ... he walked through every puddle he could find. He came back soaking wet, but happy. And then it was time to cook the second Hello Fresh dinner.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Here's the SHOULD LOOK LIKE picture. That's a hamburger steak, though they call it meatloaf. It's meat, onions and garlic powder. I have to admit, their hamburger is some of the best I've eaten. Seems I pick the recipes that require roasting. That's much easier cleanup.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnCGl_lIKlmJmPaC9rH3crQw8Er3LABt41mnLIb9ypisBh_IHWcjt68BKB430CTilIKm-H4K0V57srmTj6xDqHhMBuQYcygUdi1j0dV7u5b2ZD55QPPzz69EoCOmJCUSWoqQiS6JdpiT65Bh25ZZCL9_0LqDQyHB6_m8ayrEUVdtO5F0r6FtZlTYSkYO87/s640/0303should.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnCGl_lIKlmJmPaC9rH3crQw8Er3LABt41mnLIb9ypisBh_IHWcjt68BKB430CTilIKm-H4K0V57srmTj6xDqHhMBuQYcygUdi1j0dV7u5b2ZD55QPPzz69EoCOmJCUSWoqQiS6JdpiT65Bh25ZZCL9_0LqDQyHB6_m8ayrEUVdtO5F0r6FtZlTYSkYO87/w300-h400/0303should.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And here's what it DID look like. They shorted me a bit on the brussel sprouts. They look yummy, right? Just like the picture ... only turn them over and they are black as can be. The hamburger topping is onions and sour cream which looks pretty disgusting, but tasted really good. The potatoes, well you just can't mess up mashed potatoes in my opinion, had sour cream and butter whipped in. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTnmgKiuvwWW4l3jpX2AVnoTOXwIcp477OH5hNUXwRYYf3E9lozZgbBp6D4iX9tSgMqf9bLkzz_albhXNntzNPQfFg_g51ifgFX02BASI9te92ZQI4VbHbVodObuxa7lcRFg1gHyOtLNhlIxNaPvRJ2q5uJDG1W_bNJK8EnGrJiDH5yD9O8VJbNuY48PaX/s640/0303did.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTnmgKiuvwWW4l3jpX2AVnoTOXwIcp477OH5hNUXwRYYf3E9lozZgbBp6D4iX9tSgMqf9bLkzz_albhXNntzNPQfFg_g51ifgFX02BASI9te92ZQI4VbHbVodObuxa7lcRFg1gHyOtLNhlIxNaPvRJ2q5uJDG1W_bNJK8EnGrJiDH5yD9O8VJbNuY48PaX/w300-h400/0303did.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">All in all, it really was a very good meal ... quite tasty. Especially when you get the ingredients delivered to your door. I divided the leftovers into 2 meal containers and stuck them in the fridge. No cooking for TWO MORE DAYS!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6JjsxOkjY2zEFXXpmcHqd-CqcLg22dGpsHfdt1QXLejTxhG165Ral9mHl9evlJ1Nau0OVlVBaB7_TYxghGez10BDmJKllq2Ugt5sDp2TrwnQjTIYuvua5HMLd1x8Has4odhbW68BxFpQRznxFta7yfkF4RFyofcBpEWVdC26hyTiqWP-X6dixd5MSvqfk/s640/0303boxed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6JjsxOkjY2zEFXXpmcHqd-CqcLg22dGpsHfdt1QXLejTxhG165Ral9mHl9evlJ1Nau0OVlVBaB7_TYxghGez10BDmJKllq2Ugt5sDp2TrwnQjTIYuvua5HMLd1x8Has4odhbW68BxFpQRznxFta7yfkF4RFyofcBpEWVdC26hyTiqWP-X6dixd5MSvqfk/w300-h400/0303boxed.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">My to do list is getting long again, so I suppose I'll have to get out and about today. Taxes have to be mailed, voting needs to be turned in, screwdrivers have to be found or ordered ... all before gearing up for another fun filled night of Bingo tomorrow!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br />Nancy Kissackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03225296192386107554noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5818111637898313184.post-79883585906651667832024-03-03T05:33:00.000-08:002024-03-03T05:33:35.949-08:00Cancel The Ark<p> The weather forecasters cried wolf again. Makes you wonder what would happen if it really DID rain like they say. This was the projected rainfall. My area was 1-1.5 inches. I'm guessing we got less than half an inch. No 45-60 mph winds (though there was some in the mountains), no tornados and snowmagedden didn't happen. In Colorado and the Dakotas, they wouldn't even require chains on their vehicles for this storm. Here they closed the roads.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggWnGoIXEjotYLB76FTneJf5tsoilFotytNcj9ZcYLGH69t28MrGCSck4WJpBoBoh-Ooj7JgvjVsW4dUmtR0BQS3xT0YlcFV3NAMMZ9nivvzeefHazUUY_r0awX5axttfBt1IAn6IZOF2eKtC6C0E3J0ZY1w3rdsHbBNMJZTjuVtKAnpQcYGsEsiEmffNc/s640/0301storm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="490" data-original-width="640" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggWnGoIXEjotYLB76FTneJf5tsoilFotytNcj9ZcYLGH69t28MrGCSck4WJpBoBoh-Ooj7JgvjVsW4dUmtR0BQS3xT0YlcFV3NAMMZ9nivvzeefHazUUY_r0awX5axttfBt1IAn6IZOF2eKtC6C0E3J0ZY1w3rdsHbBNMJZTjuVtKAnpQcYGsEsiEmffNc/w400-h306/0301storm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This was the morning view, which didn't change much all day long. I think it actually only rained here for maybe 2 hours total in a 24 hour period.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ4buZWHkAIhAr6NtPl0ensN-xpFBSAQkSepBaFxdb16QoZlcvF2hMg1TrDh7uLy1TeNHxDnJ7jlNLfz_qBwNnBM-0chxrOcnx7qFfEgF6uRgp0TL6iUcUQ-yvCKMohVd_hQzeRoEqybSiycpHd89YlT7OiXRKtBzNEkeIVhYotsn5zcJd-MmgTWq4LuYJ/s640/0303storm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="382" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ4buZWHkAIhAr6NtPl0ensN-xpFBSAQkSepBaFxdb16QoZlcvF2hMg1TrDh7uLy1TeNHxDnJ7jlNLfz_qBwNnBM-0chxrOcnx7qFfEgF6uRgp0TL6iUcUQ-yvCKMohVd_hQzeRoEqybSiycpHd89YlT7OiXRKtBzNEkeIVhYotsn5zcJd-MmgTWq4LuYJ/w239-h400/0303storm.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I guess it's good to be prepared, but is it necessary to put everyone into a panic? There is one big problem, and that of course is PG&E. Their ancient lines and equipment are breaking right and left so people don't have power in the mountain areas. Prepare for higher rates to pay for the repair of all that. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So here's my question. The more solar they insist users install, the less money they will collect, right? How will they make all those repairs with less money?</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here's what it looks like now. Those red markers are located at places where I check the weather if I'm traveling.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaGO1FboBc9IYJftj1W7ea-d0wzaAoZghOw0cq-knHkXUZRLpDOlsZCkpWDfzRomTxP9WQUAef7Kszi6lzwY_ekFCj-sJ3Rc2W-mkFXhh6WpTjwRsMfEhzqrgDhusrcAyQ4wB86R15gDMho9d8arzLpH7rla9PC2fgdxWLlnT9v_FjF6zDjNfTuodrnfVN/s1761/0302last.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1761" data-original-width="1179" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaGO1FboBc9IYJftj1W7ea-d0wzaAoZghOw0cq-knHkXUZRLpDOlsZCkpWDfzRomTxP9WQUAef7Kszi6lzwY_ekFCj-sJ3Rc2W-mkFXhh6WpTjwRsMfEhzqrgDhusrcAyQ4wB86R15gDMho9d8arzLpH7rla9PC2fgdxWLlnT9v_FjF6zDjNfTuodrnfVN/w268-h400/0302last.jpg" width="268" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here's what it looked like at my house most of the day. Yes I too wish half of California, including the part where the governor lives, would fall off into the ocean, but alas, it doesn't appear that is going to happen any time soon. We can cancel the Ark order.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRTDsSEF2GiruMQqRhoyfZxgdxhdj7-x7QZnrtU5qvm1i5TiMZkfMnryoCezfQrYCHnKpTClYS9F4QFgXLfM2Pyrdj1hzAh9wEEO51aPilsdobxbq4YcfaMJN1FT0vHj-Y1vXr-UK9tU2SspEwoRzWRf9ilOmLbD-ZpHzs-AcGQ1Jk2PR1gq_229-AQtfE/s640/0303startstorm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRTDsSEF2GiruMQqRhoyfZxgdxhdj7-x7QZnrtU5qvm1i5TiMZkfMnryoCezfQrYCHnKpTClYS9F4QFgXLfM2Pyrdj1hzAh9wEEO51aPilsdobxbq4YcfaMJN1FT0vHj-Y1vXr-UK9tU2SspEwoRzWRf9ilOmLbD-ZpHzs-AcGQ1Jk2PR1gq_229-AQtfE/w400-h300/0303startstorm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here's my sweet kid as we play the ball game at 5:00 am. There is no reprieve when it comes to play time. He is so funny ... as he has aged, he has become quite the talker and more of a snuggle bunny. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjurkIjYRY5vV6R-V0EwvN118bLaW1i4x94jOAbgy9npyh_c1umP8TY-dVMgaFWS5FJDqfU31JntT2x5KWAKcpuU8gj8eOP0-tGLU0rnJe6YVcN7qV8F1Dz_2q3XwfnaerS6bHV8CSlgHJTQ7h3jHOJXHE8g5AuWp1jOMZnsdTb9UrCihSZW5Oo3ZO5nl4F/s640/0303coop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjurkIjYRY5vV6R-V0EwvN118bLaW1i4x94jOAbgy9npyh_c1umP8TY-dVMgaFWS5FJDqfU31JntT2x5KWAKcpuU8gj8eOP0-tGLU0rnJe6YVcN7qV8F1Dz_2q3XwfnaerS6bHV8CSlgHJTQ7h3jHOJXHE8g5AuWp1jOMZnsdTb9UrCihSZW5Oo3ZO5nl4F/w300-h400/0303coop.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Once that was done it was MAPLE SYRUP time! My apologies to the Canadians about their screwy screwdrivers ... but their maple syrup is AMAZING!! No I didn't eat it all. There's just no way to make fewer pancakes even when I halve the recipe. I'm pretty sure however that all that syrup on the plate magically disappeared. Thank you again Patsy and Bill!!!!!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkZ23DXJQwkS1gzur-qP4oZEvMOr8sFKkostkicERzpp7OK6LznP5aEzezQQzgvH1dE-Z7PnzbLQ8uJvQ-cYqOQqF9MNxUpJJodPQOeBUfYmcSTuuTKiKdFY0r01bJC1YBHujNTgud92inencw9viQ5dBAR7StIsVZuNz_NHq1j-lsdDojYMXlU4_pNbdg/s640/0303pancakes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkZ23DXJQwkS1gzur-qP4oZEvMOr8sFKkostkicERzpp7OK6LznP5aEzezQQzgvH1dE-Z7PnzbLQ8uJvQ-cYqOQqF9MNxUpJJodPQOeBUfYmcSTuuTKiKdFY0r01bJC1YBHujNTgud92inencw9viQ5dBAR7StIsVZuNz_NHq1j-lsdDojYMXlU4_pNbdg/w300-h400/0303pancakes.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I was very happy to find upon my return that the foxy family was still hanging out. Actually two new kitty kitties wandered into the back yard first, each taking a few bites of chicken. Then this guy showed up. I never give them anything they wouldn't normally eat, but if I have leftover chicken that Mr. Gourmet Palette Cooper won't eat, I leave it for these guys.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dziersNslE0PhCbSePWCOYkUKerK-I2kwhp6vxpDDMh2m605hnWCsyPizbjapM-mgJAxA0_X94287Q4mxfY7w' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On the rare occasion I have raw eggs that are past dated, I'll put them out too. There are now four fox ... foxes(?) and three wild kitties. My what big ears you have!! The better to hear those big dogs next door!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzhMqcCxLtBA223SUAi4SVC8Ivey2PFzlWtymRwFVNb-DkF34rMZa66dEf5L0Un5kR1tZgjxQhzbUc-tmJ0Bg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I worked on one quilt the rest of the day. It's a King size and has to be manhandled. Oh my aching back. I still have one more round of border before it's done. Maybe I'll finished it today if I'm lucky.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Dinner was awesome, but I'll leave that to tomorrow. According to the weather predictions, I need to drag out my rowboat and find some paddles. This will be the last day of humongous storms heading our way.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Nancy Kissackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03225296192386107554noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5818111637898313184.post-11734341117680369242024-03-02T06:02:00.000-08:002024-03-02T06:02:41.499-08:00TORNADOS ARE COMING!!! RUN!!!!!<p> Good Morning! I'm happy to announce California is still on the map. We haven't floated off into the ocean as predicted and as far as I can tell, the 100 mph winds and 12 feet of snow didn't join the party. Someone made a mistake yesterday and admitted the 100 mph winds would be off the highest peaks of the Sierras ... maybe. We were warm and cozy yesterday morning as my sidekick never gets far from me. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF_QAXDb-j4kSA6U8xnuji4VDc7O-onAgM-lyywIhCXXRa_uTgZBcTqaCPqQMQPz9A9JOFUf1kajCCGoCyRFuqkISyFYOsHzoLI2c_tY019fStdhUQ1v_4qbw-rTtuZCaDbVqfbRXqKT1CW-T7G7j23cjFPZcALanZ4XYYra7rkgtD8_NQqw-RdE3ZAeya/s640/0302coop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF_QAXDb-j4kSA6U8xnuji4VDc7O-onAgM-lyywIhCXXRa_uTgZBcTqaCPqQMQPz9A9JOFUf1kajCCGoCyRFuqkISyFYOsHzoLI2c_tY019fStdhUQ1v_4qbw-rTtuZCaDbVqfbRXqKT1CW-T7G7j23cjFPZcALanZ4XYYra7rkgtD8_NQqw-RdE3ZAeya/w300-h400/0302coop.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It did rain a bit for about an hour, but that was it. A little on and off during the day and a bit more last night, but no deluge worthy of the crazy predictions.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGp-jq5mNgg6bQmMU0NIikygqjEbrW-wrQETwItFVq-DDjBG9cexQflFuRvrGUDsryXSIij3n4LxzkahtIanqaGddrh2Bv25P2BzsgrWUwLpgFhqwKWwQstdcRiYhd0I_sYuDrDxJDs-vxgV-y21h4SfrJ_6OP3Snw-4PoDa09WYSNRrDTqkSZG4s_ltFl/s640/0302rain.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGp-jq5mNgg6bQmMU0NIikygqjEbrW-wrQETwItFVq-DDjBG9cexQflFuRvrGUDsryXSIij3n4LxzkahtIanqaGddrh2Bv25P2BzsgrWUwLpgFhqwKWwQstdcRiYhd0I_sYuDrDxJDs-vxgV-y21h4SfrJ_6OP3Snw-4PoDa09WYSNRrDTqkSZG4s_ltFl/w300-h400/0302rain.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And then it happened. TORNADOS ARE COMING ..... RUN!!! A gigantic tornado was spotted about 40 miles away. Hmmmmm doesn't exactly look like the midwest tornados they have been predicting. I think Dorothy and Toto would agree. Is this even a tornado????</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In my very long life in the Central Valley of California, there has only been one tornado, possibly two. The worst damage reported was a 2 x 4 that went through a dead palm tree in Chowchilla. What the heck is wrong with the weather reporters. I think their motive revolves around drama drama drama! If they make it sound terrible enough, people will watch their news channel and make their ratings go up. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's the old Chicken Little ... the sky is falling trick and people are falling for it right and left. How sad to scare people like that. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In the OLD days, we used to go skiing in the Sierras every weekend. The snow was so deep on the way up the hill that we couldn't see over it. It was like driving through a tunnel. It was as high as the roof on the lodge, so they cut steps in the snow DOWN 20 feet so we could walk in the lodge door. This is nothing compared to those days. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbFRhF_zqMcOutAS437jX6yvqPPtrjeX0VxAqM_5K5nH6C2BudPQEEEz0zx9OcMrG50IZPySJIN28nErhg-nx8HWquzaoj43iPiG4k1yIAzshGYoIobhbP68jiRikVzOOo38-xmnx4Y3O6B8a4o3O2nYMqpu5ZQEdNx5AUFvCi16clYoMEVESHyiMKMdhG/s640/0302tornado.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="478" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbFRhF_zqMcOutAS437jX6yvqPPtrjeX0VxAqM_5K5nH6C2BudPQEEEz0zx9OcMrG50IZPySJIN28nErhg-nx8HWquzaoj43iPiG4k1yIAzshGYoIobhbP68jiRikVzOOo38-xmnx4Y3O6B8a4o3O2nYMqpu5ZQEdNx5AUFvCi16clYoMEVESHyiMKMdhG/w299-h400/0302tornado.jpg" width="299" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Anyhoo .... my plan was to get Cooper out for a long walk, but that never materialized. Material got in the way. I finally unloaded the under-bed storage in the rig. Who bought all this fabric???????</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Good grief ... there was TWICE what I thought I had! I tried to do some organizing, but it was a waste of time. I did find a small quilt ready for backing, so I stitched it up and hung it in the "to be quilted" closet. This was some wild and crazy backing fabric!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSRVRvPMBV4sOYd1rFPNohhyjkZqEb7Wue8EY4YsWjRTfgFvg7nbCbhPJy9cqGv26crFJ7WLaita85ysuN22DchiLGM5Yd_QofJiHhu422DFCv7L23ILMXtgl3wz9A-VzFF9mLpgmAfbsC3a5gWuOSY8pXNO_NzNG1XuR_7JbiSCF8-W7es21pcatyheiV/s640/0302sewing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSRVRvPMBV4sOYd1rFPNohhyjkZqEb7Wue8EY4YsWjRTfgFvg7nbCbhPJy9cqGv26crFJ7WLaita85ysuN22DchiLGM5Yd_QofJiHhu422DFCv7L23ILMXtgl3wz9A-VzFF9mLpgmAfbsC3a5gWuOSY8pXNO_NzNG1XuR_7JbiSCF8-W7es21pcatyheiV/w300-h400/0302sewing.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Then I got completely distracted by this problem. This is a very old glass front china cabinet I use for fabric storage. Anyone remember these roller thingies that keep the doors closed? The rollers are broken and the doors cannot be shut at all. I thought to replace them, but come to find out it must have been made in Canada. Those darn screws that I need to take out .... they have square holes!!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWkJo1JDemv_IjgWLZ_u-skvPXWPBzmAa9jQrsuznkLbWRogeHmnCmk915Rvj3BuMBQqQ5v8Gc8go8TX1ZXHWehmeerqmAICqQM1fgVewQ0XL4dlCVcfuO_rk8TtPB19UUnOYHaQKHz5aD4pumMDCMrfIu9EsFLhGDi_MVQtelcReV2mRNno85ByQKtNa3/s640/0302hinges.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWkJo1JDemv_IjgWLZ_u-skvPXWPBzmAa9jQrsuznkLbWRogeHmnCmk915Rvj3BuMBQqQ5v8Gc8go8TX1ZXHWehmeerqmAICqQM1fgVewQ0XL4dlCVcfuO_rk8TtPB19UUnOYHaQKHz5aD4pumMDCMrfIu9EsFLhGDi_MVQtelcReV2mRNno85ByQKtNa3/w400-h300/0302hinges.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Why would you not build it with Phillips head screws? I have a screwdriver Bill Richards told me about, but it's for larger screw heads and won't work. Apparently there's another trip to Harbor Freight in my future. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Someone suggested getting magnetic gizzies to keep the doors closed, but I don't think there is anything to screw them to unless they are bent at a right angle. If I buy more like the new one above, I have to drill sixteen new holes. This is not my idea of fun!!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHPDecLVJFpL5kBiVb0ZN5ucHsteLrVPZ6MJcEsUBFTpsblPcuZ2PdAAn8HkG0tCAhtcdi3a1ehV87EZJbnC72SU7bBsv-u1sazCoxObuj7Wvz0mBQAHFoD9NOYcH0QEfTwAhbKvAbUABlRrF-VvUBa11mIgbE7U6NNSlh5H4LxulDAONLsL08jIFTFiDb/s640/0302quare.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHPDecLVJFpL5kBiVb0ZN5ucHsteLrVPZ6MJcEsUBFTpsblPcuZ2PdAAn8HkG0tCAhtcdi3a1ehV87EZJbnC72SU7bBsv-u1sazCoxObuj7Wvz0mBQAHFoD9NOYcH0QEfTwAhbKvAbUABlRrF-VvUBa11mIgbE7U6NNSlh5H4LxulDAONLsL08jIFTFiDb/w300-h400/0302quare.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I did laugh at this one though. I stole it from Mr. Ed. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAZo6OMtjTNWSu43CNGEr0sZUwxh5g_rNYyo4LVUf4NBtOHXU2298-s7w7Fw_fGkLfU3e2pjDJsmDm75SmWiXauZFLwdlIQO4YnPBxpkhiZ8Y97_q6PNQRTr65VdqDE_HUMmZHl32MjQqF7foSsKSFp67XQ8OTGBaB7iLk274XtzAegyi2jGAd8lQpA5C7/s1178/0302sign.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1112" data-original-width="1178" height="378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAZo6OMtjTNWSu43CNGEr0sZUwxh5g_rNYyo4LVUf4NBtOHXU2298-s7w7Fw_fGkLfU3e2pjDJsmDm75SmWiXauZFLwdlIQO4YnPBxpkhiZ8Y97_q6PNQRTr65VdqDE_HUMmZHl32MjQqF7foSsKSFp67XQ8OTGBaB7iLk274XtzAegyi2jGAd8lQpA5C7/w400-h378/0302sign.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I suppose I could head on off to Harbor Freight, but Snowmagedden and Tornado alley may just keep me glued to my couch for the day. I'm trying to recover from eating all that food!!! I hate throwing out good food, so I just try to eat it all instead.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Coming up tomorrow .... my foxy kids are still hanging out. Thankfully none of them are wearing tuxedos.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Nancy Kissackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03225296192386107554noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5818111637898313184.post-50570571592825725362024-03-01T06:17:00.000-08:002024-03-01T06:17:58.824-08:00We Are Going To Float Away!!<p>Here's my little sidekick, never more than a few feet away. If only I could sleep so well. Thirty minutes after we are up, he's asleep at my side!! Probably because it's so quiet this morning. A nice soft rain has been falling for a few hours. It seems to quell the morning ruckus! </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidxjBeIwpAwSSsS9OIhs26P2QTqbLFOZPDQbBrcGRL4cVYUplLop7y02F9hdy10nmujPqSH_c0aTEXZWCLGDiyZrGSLbbBDwD-bZvOoZzL6UaJdXmKX6xu2DOW1V6QkrOpfImR1eXUafq2sjfYEFad-zmkHGHNOQBAjEeGMW7t7DrG5LaQN1kb5scc8-_n/s640/0301coop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidxjBeIwpAwSSsS9OIhs26P2QTqbLFOZPDQbBrcGRL4cVYUplLop7y02F9hdy10nmujPqSH_c0aTEXZWCLGDiyZrGSLbbBDwD-bZvOoZzL6UaJdXmKX6xu2DOW1V6QkrOpfImR1eXUafq2sjfYEFad-zmkHGHNOQBAjEeGMW7t7DrG5LaQN1kb5scc8-_n/w400-h300/0301coop.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Back to the day before ... I received my Hello Fresh food order. I'm doing this about every two weeks just to get some good food with good recipes. On this occasion however, they forgot the recipes. Things used to be so much easier. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I got someone who lives in a cave with an echo that would impress the Grand Canyon. I couldn't understand a word he said, so I hung up and tried again. You've got to love these "service" centers in some obscure corner of the world. This time it was some guy in Bangladesh who couldn't speak hardly any English. I could hear him typing in the question ... the problem was he couldn't read the answer. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">He finally said he would send the recipe to my email address. He also mentioned I could find all the recipes on their website. REALLY? My brain kicked into high gear. If I have the recipes, I probably don't need to buy the expensive food from them as often. I'll let you know if that works out.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In the meantime, here's the SHOULD look like picture .......</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCQSFhJoSJQAaKy9BWIluckWuq_yuTiBvAs9B6BKIaEwiOQRQCsjmzkDMVEDSIC20Ic5yZHjwDqds7rZWrvD9swxCvlSqpm3ywVgNYo5DVhIVOvVbTHH428ZZmr1BuceG_Q_U4GhC66kIQH7U4aWA9voL2FPWv6rBbrA-GbubMwIRq9RMvQZl2WQdobXY3/s640/0229shouldlook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCQSFhJoSJQAaKy9BWIluckWuq_yuTiBvAs9B6BKIaEwiOQRQCsjmzkDMVEDSIC20Ic5yZHjwDqds7rZWrvD9swxCvlSqpm3ywVgNYo5DVhIVOvVbTHH428ZZmr1BuceG_Q_U4GhC66kIQH7U4aWA9voL2FPWv6rBbrA-GbubMwIRq9RMvQZl2WQdobXY3/w300-h400/0229shouldlook.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And here the DID look like. Although two of the potatoes were past their prime, the carrots were the biggest sweetest I've had in ages. As with everything else however, they don't give you the REAL picture. See that chicken breast above? That's a WHOLE one. But look here ... they give you ONE for this two person meal. They cut it in half!! That's false advertising, yes??</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Actually, though short on chicken, it really was quite tasty and only took about 30 minutes to make. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCduL7DCUGIwBzCnvNgFE1LkMc2-_yrA2YOeh5btZZkAAc3tc1qfuzeIveVwCedWdVdxtteE4-9Aq4MFik4lDoocrAtiqy2a2DBhgDzliDzH7bBSZzg-onYrl8Fbq82f4p8YmbJE6hm-ZMLJBOYCD7c3VYaYFOrxirzOWcp6dJMXHW_M4-QAGKFmlTccEs/s640/0229looks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCduL7DCUGIwBzCnvNgFE1LkMc2-_yrA2YOeh5btZZkAAc3tc1qfuzeIveVwCedWdVdxtteE4-9Aq4MFik4lDoocrAtiqy2a2DBhgDzliDzH7bBSZzg-onYrl8Fbq82f4p8YmbJE6hm-ZMLJBOYCD7c3VYaYFOrxirzOWcp6dJMXHW_M4-QAGKFmlTccEs/w300-h400/0229looks.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On to the present ... I don't understand why the weather guessers always try to scare the crap out of us. This is going to be another STORM OF THE CENTURY! They even CLOSED Yosemite National Park. No kidding ... they shut the gates and are making everyone leave the park. Why do they do that???</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">BRING OUT THE ARK .... we're all going to die under 50 feet of snow and water! Good grief ... when I first learned to snow ski, we had 12-15 feet of snow in the Sierras every single year! As you drove up the mountain, you couldn't see anything but white walls. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here, they have put out sand bags ... we are all going to be washed away. Why oh why do they think it's okay to scare people like that? Seems to me it's all about control, but that's just my opinion.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAsym9c585oKErYfdjKOb-AxkLb1q2mnLvP-ZQ3VM8cLys3mZdOlCpollvuUL7R4GtnLA_U7D6sqZ8b-y3GtvmgmHSaktXdEkB4zt9moDLduY7k9p0WdmYsgfNlZmTtf8xybLfmgAERGnkq6YiPN6kKiIEe9Y1TQKqjy5xi-bYWT1HnpvfJzsfVNFZHnLT/s640/0301storm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="490" data-original-width="640" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAsym9c585oKErYfdjKOb-AxkLb1q2mnLvP-ZQ3VM8cLys3mZdOlCpollvuUL7R4GtnLA_U7D6sqZ8b-y3GtvmgmHSaktXdEkB4zt9moDLduY7k9p0WdmYsgfNlZmTtf8xybLfmgAERGnkq6YiPN6kKiIEe9Y1TQKqjy5xi-bYWT1HnpvfJzsfVNFZHnLT/w400-h306/0301storm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So to pass the time while the great floods come (it never rained a drop at my house) I whipped up a batch of peanut butter cookies for the freezer. If I have a sugar attack, I just take out ONE and savor every bite.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0QR_H2_bEmjC4huUcryP901l3prderliEOV2xc283ltMRJLRQ-aF4y518Wv0Nw8ginLQz7o5ocns2YvsjtyMVLDBh-wDPA8HyY5S10A2kXJhDOxRTmDnHfOmDYjwvZjBwCbz6ZU1VvePI5rxXNPPar83Wyk2eySlPwX6i34GndkPoO3-ku2ck5X0kYNMR/s640/0301cookies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0QR_H2_bEmjC4huUcryP901l3prderliEOV2xc283ltMRJLRQ-aF4y518Wv0Nw8ginLQz7o5ocns2YvsjtyMVLDBh-wDPA8HyY5S10A2kXJhDOxRTmDnHfOmDYjwvZjBwCbz6ZU1VvePI5rxXNPPar83Wyk2eySlPwX6i34GndkPoO3-ku2ck5X0kYNMR/w300-h400/0301cookies.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Finally it was time to head out ... still no rain ... to the Elks Lodge for the Volunteer dinner. Workers and their spouses (or your friend from down the street) get a wonderful dinner for free. It's amazing to see so many people volunteer for something. Seems like it's hard to find volunteers, but not here! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This is my long time girlfriend Diane that I worked with at the County offices, along with her good friend and Bingo player Cheryl. Diane's husband couldn't come, so Cheryl sacrificed her time for a nice steak dinner. Diane is my counter supreme. She counts the cards and calls out what they are so I can enter it in the infernal machine. Two really GREAT gals!!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE13B0OlhQ9rk5TECjHHHwofLCaO2CXT42yasv23CCoSwvUAK2ikEHTx2xSB3fZT5VZPPoW16JEVXPSrmMaN0FGPwxQHgCNJ5zIRNgTYVD94HtYxNGzyGhIqWfKzGr_rz5LjgX06STcCpBt1h43TJMLYhrZWGBayRQwhyphenhyphen5vpPjGvxrsTaPwT-DOBxFI-Lq/s640/0301dinner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE13B0OlhQ9rk5TECjHHHwofLCaO2CXT42yasv23CCoSwvUAK2ikEHTx2xSB3fZT5VZPPoW16JEVXPSrmMaN0FGPwxQHgCNJ5zIRNgTYVD94HtYxNGzyGhIqWfKzGr_rz5LjgX06STcCpBt1h43TJMLYhrZWGBayRQwhyphenhyphen5vpPjGvxrsTaPwT-DOBxFI-Lq/w400-h300/0301dinner.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I ordered the chicken because steak isn't my thing. The steak was one big slab, cooked to rare perfection and sliced just for you. This is one of those large containers, so you can imagine how big that chunk-o-chicken is. It's what's for dinner today!! Along with this was green salad, asparagus, scalloped potatoes, rolls and the best peach cobbler, smothered in Thrifty ice cream!!! Oh ... and two free drinks for anyone that wanted them!!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBq1zpOalNPwmaO9A-Iuhx2PdaPlTc139MDDfvea5bLcPOiPEaE4Oqi_JMOiUnRNyMNW4b0xiCWQ7GWjlfYqDa2hGHTbJDKqG3DOi1WqAN_4OvUmulfJRv6sSG08dhL_WW2gNN5S4q9ks02top2uqyTm-4kW7nRmNbkJ4ONXWxotBnwc14hOG0vjs5Eaw4/s640/0301chicken.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBq1zpOalNPwmaO9A-Iuhx2PdaPlTc139MDDfvea5bLcPOiPEaE4Oqi_JMOiUnRNyMNW4b0xiCWQ7GWjlfYqDa2hGHTbJDKqG3DOi1WqAN_4OvUmulfJRv6sSG08dhL_WW2gNN5S4q9ks02top2uqyTm-4kW7nRmNbkJ4ONXWxotBnwc14hOG0vjs5Eaw4/w300-h400/0301chicken.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">By the way, on any average Bingo night, we have 17 volunteers working. I'm always amazed that so many people help out. This last year we donated over $80,000 to local charities, schools, burn centers and hospitals. Our Elks RV Park donated about the same amount. We work closely with them because all their proceeds are donated also. It's a great organization in our little town. And so ended a really nice but late night. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This morning I'm going couch sit for awhile and recover from not enough sleep. Then I'll get out my blowup raft and tie it to the fence so I'll be ready for the great flood of '24.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>Nancy Kissackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03225296192386107554noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5818111637898313184.post-20004539111172327002024-02-29T06:11:00.000-08:002024-02-29T06:11:37.477-08:00My Luck Runneth Over<p> I awoke this morning to roosters crowing, dogs barking, tires squealing, sirens wailing and some other noises I couldn't identify. Oh yes, I live in the QUIET countryside. Can you say SNEEZE TEN TIMES? It's going to be a bumper almond crop year when the trees look like this. All this rain has helped tremendously, but that means a very low price for the product. </p><p>I tried to log on this morning, only to find my computer telling me my hotspot could not be located. Ok, I'll try the Verizons MiFi. It said my SIM card was locked. WHAT? The next message said it would burst into flames and die if I put in the wrong SIM card ID number. Thankfully AT&T finally decided my phone hotspot would work just fine. I guess there's a trip to Verizon in my future.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgRYXiiyLbPDA22vjYulxRSFIUg3eB3WscaD5OToNN3uN5PKBQhmjENCHTV-umDg7xNxWb7dASzOYu57KwZVFDtzK2s_JhhG_RgX6FMEuLZ3j_U_9-PjXrnKqP6s9fZSyr8JSd8Oqq8PxDKv4Vw1lxLValmQNqOxdl0uFMeRYy_t7NeWCnKepPuhk3MwEQ/s640/0229trees.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgRYXiiyLbPDA22vjYulxRSFIUg3eB3WscaD5OToNN3uN5PKBQhmjENCHTV-umDg7xNxWb7dASzOYu57KwZVFDtzK2s_JhhG_RgX6FMEuLZ3j_U_9-PjXrnKqP6s9fZSyr8JSd8Oqq8PxDKv4Vw1lxLValmQNqOxdl0uFMeRYy_t7NeWCnKepPuhk3MwEQ/w400-h300/0229trees.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As much as I like to lounge around the morning after Bingo, I was off in minutes to Home Depot. Jonathan needs some sticks to chew on.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXuhFrzqTwnH7CN2ye8Xgpx0Gmr2kLE1PonMgzVNHaCkJETUZ15vdn9mSl41Pc_6BoP6hwp4-jITJbiM-tqTPFAVxDt1jEYGFLtWXSEkcLU4mqfWkI_KxwpS-VN4ECVxl_Sb8bycu4x3sdSvz_vK77EO3m9D0zjerDAI0meDAHdnRhfD7zeEXBd4b2byCn/s640/0229jonsticks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXuhFrzqTwnH7CN2ye8Xgpx0Gmr2kLE1PonMgzVNHaCkJETUZ15vdn9mSl41Pc_6BoP6hwp4-jITJbiM-tqTPFAVxDt1jEYGFLtWXSEkcLU4mqfWkI_KxwpS-VN4ECVxl_Sb8bycu4x3sdSvz_vK77EO3m9D0zjerDAI0meDAHdnRhfD7zeEXBd4b2byCn/w300-h400/0229jonsticks.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And of course the resident plumber needs yet another set of guts for the guest bathroom since the cheap plastic stuff breaks at the drop of a hat while trying to make adjustments.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAW6L4OM0xbyuIwCG03x_nV6hfyZqyv-WqA-gMj6Tm8Z0UsaLKD1uym8r4BjER8fi9BG4uaOSWxyY1M73czvu2BVe5J8DgxXtbLCyCqtkwEPtCnr0-XYXKLoaDOdE251E5CNP9JaT4LUrTUj1go7-1NKTyPNOUR_HOzB0S_xNJRGpBgm-ZN0e7OepfMdNL/s640/0229valve.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAW6L4OM0xbyuIwCG03x_nV6hfyZqyv-WqA-gMj6Tm8Z0UsaLKD1uym8r4BjER8fi9BG4uaOSWxyY1M73czvu2BVe5J8DgxXtbLCyCqtkwEPtCnr0-XYXKLoaDOdE251E5CNP9JaT4LUrTUj1go7-1NKTyPNOUR_HOzB0S_xNJRGpBgm-ZN0e7OepfMdNL/w300-h400/0229valve.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I hit up Chase Bank to cancel a bank account I no longer use ... which was a breeze to do ... before heading to Harbor Freight. I've used rope lights under my RV's in Arizona since forever to keep the rats away. You know the saying, while the cat's away the rats will play.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Sadly, they don't have the same kind. My old ones were simple, easy to throw out and flashed. I don't know what these are going to do, but they were my only choice. Patsy will recognize my new bread slicing gizzy underneath the box.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUKjCobw1ZlXhgcTKRYt522N8EOlttC3wQ1nCOsoio1gxh013z6cdNug0O-Kwzd7myzp9sX_9fyPfEaAs6iKo2CVDuMvgPIXnv4tA2tefxrQhfZwa3VndFextXvnAWS-dQzJfL7E5JUUvSLdpbfmYdwlvDm7jHn0_Eqvi0ZdzuCdrLn17t0WNf71OUyDQM/s640/0229ropelite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUKjCobw1ZlXhgcTKRYt522N8EOlttC3wQ1nCOsoio1gxh013z6cdNug0O-Kwzd7myzp9sX_9fyPfEaAs6iKo2CVDuMvgPIXnv4tA2tefxrQhfZwa3VndFextXvnAWS-dQzJfL7E5JUUvSLdpbfmYdwlvDm7jHn0_Eqvi0ZdzuCdrLn17t0WNf71OUyDQM/w300-h400/0229ropelite.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Another present came in the mail. Not my choice of brand, but paying $350 for a tiny handheld Cannon camera was not in the books. Driving down the road trying to use my phone for pictures is a really bad idea. This works one handed ... and hopefully will keep me from crashing into something.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfhvLpeksiBfYy-OiOW3hL2TKjXFb76YWQ7X2ymN_Zp_qJ45PfPe_GMfhboQyXUDyJ4EAOg5SiYHgsEex5riSTO4GQ_NOwz4mU7hXtvcMqEbDGNu-rZOXHO4i_iCwRaVKAfldsL0gEgz6yoYKg54vk0OCXxzlVteAMl3fAGShLHc9LJXMxsB1zUhS4Oowk/s640/0229kodak.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfhvLpeksiBfYy-OiOW3hL2TKjXFb76YWQ7X2ymN_Zp_qJ45PfPe_GMfhboQyXUDyJ4EAOg5SiYHgsEex5riSTO4GQ_NOwz4mU7hXtvcMqEbDGNu-rZOXHO4i_iCwRaVKAfldsL0gEgz6yoYKg54vk0OCXxzlVteAMl3fAGShLHc9LJXMxsB1zUhS4Oowk/w400-h300/0229kodak.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">All that good luck with fun purchases went right out the window the minute I got home. This was on my TV screen, and then it said refreshing. Stand by - refreshing. It did that for 30 minutes. I turned it off, turned it on and messed with it for an hour before I screamed. My bad luck began to runneth over. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I called Dish, where upon we went through 30 minutes of testing and checking, to no avail. It all worked fine, but my TV screen was black. They finally said they would send a technician out in a few hours. Okay ... that's good service I guess.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I sat on the couch staring at it ... getting mad as a wet hen while missing my favorite rodeo. Surely I can fix this. I finally unplugged everything from the fancy dancy surge protector, turned it off and on, then plugged everything back in. It worked ... sort of. At least I had TV, even if none of the other features worked.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The nice young kid arrived and I explained the problem. I think he knew less than I did because he kept calling his boss for help. Eventually he gave me an entire new box. We laughed over that one because we both know Dish lies to you. Let's face it ... none of these are NEW boxes. They have all been refurbished, as proven by all the scratches on the top when it came out of the "new" box.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thirty minutes later, between the two of us, we got it working like it should. I did miss the rodeo I wanted to watch, but YAY I have TV again and several of the features that didn't work at all before, now work.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVRCiBCdb_sOknrVt8mfBoyMBoPpLzulqpyZiQzcYXt6TNSevYL3TiSYyenKpesZcjTW5-TMotbogJvhAcihy0Mnj_7R91Fen3ls5X4PtxSopUeOYMzOIeraNP87WTUrYH54hrUiit2_Ei4_5rLtojQogWkL0OO2Z-NfDzVuqC7G8TxWuLwogsvtcKMAVm/s640/0229hopper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVRCiBCdb_sOknrVt8mfBoyMBoPpLzulqpyZiQzcYXt6TNSevYL3TiSYyenKpesZcjTW5-TMotbogJvhAcihy0Mnj_7R91Fen3ls5X4PtxSopUeOYMzOIeraNP87WTUrYH54hrUiit2_Ei4_5rLtojQogWkL0OO2Z-NfDzVuqC7G8TxWuLwogsvtcKMAVm/w400-h300/0229hopper.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The afternoon and evening didn't get any better, but I'll relate that story tomorrow. Right now I need at least THREE cups of coffee to get my brain going. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The good news is Bingo is having their volunteer appreciation dinner. For the first time in about five years, the King said he would wait to have the castle celebration until I returned from Arizona. WOOHOO!! How lucky am I! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Until then, I'll be on the couch with my coffee .........</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Nancy Kissackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03225296192386107554noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5818111637898313184.post-91001103964264966412024-02-28T06:20:00.000-08:002024-02-28T06:20:18.520-08:00IT'S BACK TO BINGO!!!<p> You knew it was coming up today ... I'm BACK TO BINGO!! Oh yes, back to confrontation, impatience, cheating and screaming. And that's just ME!! I'm kidding ..... that's the Kingdom peasants AND me!! For those that don't read my blog often, the word peasants is used because just like in Frankenstein, where the peasants storm the castle with flaming torches and pitchforks, they do the same at Bingo. It's a kick in the pants to see them again, and I love them every one. Well maybe MOST of them!!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX8dqGK_ju3B-Y7UbwL5xVQM5PAe_u8DALmtZCn61mBD_7o4BdADZdB-nCwWksLeScsnyM5DYG-HObWgPyH2oOUlSKInB12kK2cVKXoWciGT2nNRtmX_yvtEprUmhDAozPLxsfIX6z_qWLM4sgsDjH2GVYRuCC7mIqKgZmmKhndtSXez8Fb8fs7SwQ1SdE/s1920/disneyland-castle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX8dqGK_ju3B-Y7UbwL5xVQM5PAe_u8DALmtZCn61mBD_7o4BdADZdB-nCwWksLeScsnyM5DYG-HObWgPyH2oOUlSKInB12kK2cVKXoWciGT2nNRtmX_yvtEprUmhDAozPLxsfIX6z_qWLM4sgsDjH2GVYRuCC7mIqKgZmmKhndtSXez8Fb8fs7SwQ1SdE/w400-h225/disneyland-castle.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So if I'm going to carouse with the rebels, I need sustenance. CAKE comes to mind, and I just happened to have an angel food mix. It went into my brick oven that knows not how hot it is. Yes that's a temperature gauge sitting in there, but its head is a little scrambled too. I would use the big oven, but it takes 30 minutes just to heat up. They both need to be recalculated, but no one around here knows how.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoc2wIoAHIXgRpPhpsSv92BkImZ11bGk34ewr81OhSq1GNFcF26-x2bbEm8g4AfkYddKSjusljtBWrAH4f9nut3konJvoMZ9cQyng0Eu_0Mty_aOt-iLrt20f_34rP9LeFIr9byfBzfTD2pzPn4EWfoDJoSd5ggPKaSRdoq9Zs0hYi5P_EXDOlIRS4CLY4/s640/0228cake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoc2wIoAHIXgRpPhpsSv92BkImZ11bGk34ewr81OhSq1GNFcF26-x2bbEm8g4AfkYddKSjusljtBWrAH4f9nut3konJvoMZ9cQyng0Eu_0Mty_aOt-iLrt20f_34rP9LeFIr9byfBzfTD2pzPn4EWfoDJoSd5ggPKaSRdoq9Zs0hYi5P_EXDOlIRS4CLY4/w400-h300/0228cake.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I watched it like a hawk. You cannot under bake these beauties. It's sitting upside down because I didn't want you to see the very VERY dark brown spots on top. No matter, it worked its magic and I was sufficiently sugared up to do two things.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZS1Uu41xuwQlWTk3Az5VHZ5rXdFHt8kLLaImlQvpAZLy58Wf84Lhx5Fim7GrBtsJsntQFWZEiS9kcIpZqWh8mUqwLyaBZSsiBgPzsImOPlKuGFBBdurzo6-MKBupupq-Od3A2lLlogOr4t-t77pFvJYsuoZHZA5cDyu3g7RUJVczPHkkxCsO0BnUNLcPI/s640/0228angelfood.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZS1Uu41xuwQlWTk3Az5VHZ5rXdFHt8kLLaImlQvpAZLy58Wf84Lhx5Fim7GrBtsJsntQFWZEiS9kcIpZqWh8mUqwLyaBZSsiBgPzsImOPlKuGFBBdurzo6-MKBupupq-Od3A2lLlogOr4t-t77pFvJYsuoZHZA5cDyu3g7RUJVczPHkkxCsO0BnUNLcPI/w300-h400/0228angelfood.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The first was make the bed in the rig. I discovered the biggest problem was the huge comforter that was 3" thick. It took up WAY too much room. This nice quilt I made is much better and should be just as warm. Also, I cheated. I only used the bottom sheet. I know, that's weird, but boy is it easier all the way around!!! I'll see how that works out on my next trip.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuFFAgJjsjuppnpgA9Z-uqg2ITkWvW06v5zX6ZxBuLcC6ydkYSHmgQgDlbLAANmXyseupvYZDEjxffQPcPy4yE2lg83bREde8EXBtgHXZRS5DJl_ME12O3HLscw8cxK3mmLjn0GT4ahRsY9OgNvRbDxqJBs9rIMSI-Cu4-M_KiZOXIzWEDHswpOXQsI-iv/s640/0228bedspread.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuFFAgJjsjuppnpgA9Z-uqg2ITkWvW06v5zX6ZxBuLcC6ydkYSHmgQgDlbLAANmXyseupvYZDEjxffQPcPy4yE2lg83bREde8EXBtgHXZRS5DJl_ME12O3HLscw8cxK3mmLjn0GT4ahRsY9OgNvRbDxqJBs9rIMSI-Cu4-M_KiZOXIzWEDHswpOXQsI-iv/w300-h400/0228bedspread.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">That wasn't exactly fun on my back because it brought about a frenzy of switching out bedspreads in the house. I could barely drag the one king sized comforter to my bedroom, whereupon I discovered it was WAY too big. Yeah, I had to drag it all the way BACK to the closet.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Time for a little more chocolate sugar before heading off to the Castle. I gathered up more items to donate to the peasants that I don't need since I have three of everything. An instant pot, a blender ... just stuff. I loaded it all in the truck. It's time to go ... I jumped in the Jeep and took off. It needed to be driven. I completely forgot all the stuff in the truck. Maybe next week.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuPAIJnpx2GMg_vMXsVUtLfUfPogEc8YY2u7ZlTqx7bGS_D3FTJjnMQAZnBE7EpucmKPsx4QAq-Apu5ZB2fbbi-U2-bTJgLqSMgn1D7W1KVlfx4LPgIjU-OUFoYlT097GuOS044VegZVNoOlkoslPMymrdDOcC59FCriRn6QUpGvENQjpN_cpzWHOwf2U_/s640/0228choco.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuPAIJnpx2GMg_vMXsVUtLfUfPogEc8YY2u7ZlTqx7bGS_D3FTJjnMQAZnBE7EpucmKPsx4QAq-Apu5ZB2fbbi-U2-bTJgLqSMgn1D7W1KVlfx4LPgIjU-OUFoYlT097GuOS044VegZVNoOlkoslPMymrdDOcC59FCriRn6QUpGvENQjpN_cpzWHOwf2U_/w300-h400/0228choco.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I was hoping I didn't forget how to control the infernal machine. Sure enough, it worked just fine, with one small glitch. They forgot to clear it out last week, meaning the bookkeeper thinks we made $10,000. With that cleared up, we were off to the races.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">And then the most amazing thing happened. The other Nancy who works through those doors to the left, volunteered to learn the infernal machine for when I'm gone. You could hear me yell OKAY the next block over. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">She wanted to watch, but there's no better way to learn anything than to just do it. In 15 minutes she was a nervous wreck, but she did a GREAT job!! YAY ... another VICTIM .... I mean volunteer!! I gave her a break, but we were too busy to continue, so she got a reprieve until next week. The King was a happy camper. I was smiling ear to ear!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlei5lQarKNL973wVrZ5igt9HpkrVKwsfKtjoPKCcQhTkXCOu7jd6JFGeeoig9yyAALtZt1TI18fI-o4Ze33COMabUCyPGxU9y3hrmLzpdPcGsDNF61ngb5gN1OTNAnjOryRUefh9UV1-JHY9xQkVQPWQsB9ewzGURDMEE9sruMQMJ7jv3U7GROM55nRSd/s640/0228infernal.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlei5lQarKNL973wVrZ5igt9HpkrVKwsfKtjoPKCcQhTkXCOu7jd6JFGeeoig9yyAALtZt1TI18fI-o4Ze33COMabUCyPGxU9y3hrmLzpdPcGsDNF61ngb5gN1OTNAnjOryRUefh9UV1-JHY9xQkVQPWQsB9ewzGURDMEE9sruMQMJ7jv3U7GROM55nRSd/w300-h400/0228infernal.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">As for the 123 peasants, there were the normal good guys that all were happy I was back, only because I'm fast on the infernal machine, and then there were the OTHERS. So many people I've never seen before. Sadly, we have lost a few of our regulars, but there seats have been quickly filled. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Let's face it ... most of these players are older. Two young girls came in for the first time and won TWO games. You could hear the grumbling across the room. First timers luck we call it. When the regular gal won two big pots, including $1199, the pitchforks and flaming arrows came out. If looks could kill!!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYcKLdEOFIaaqOr27YLfdUTcT_jll1q7ZL-2k1O95AdsTcFHESV8NwlDyJnlc6VcrNLEDd6igyTqCkXeRRGjzfAzX4HDm7kaJ5BS1aQK7DaP6Cz7RdR4JTNwVjybNJMJyvtx6icVPJJhAMia33iF34RJuUDIF-zXR7sa_5f_lV80ggXNFi4hHOSpSR6zaR/s640/0228bingo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYcKLdEOFIaaqOr27YLfdUTcT_jll1q7ZL-2k1O95AdsTcFHESV8NwlDyJnlc6VcrNLEDd6igyTqCkXeRRGjzfAzX4HDm7kaJ5BS1aQK7DaP6Cz7RdR4JTNwVjybNJMJyvtx6icVPJJhAMia33iF34RJuUDIF-zXR7sa_5f_lV80ggXNFi4hHOSpSR6zaR/w300-h400/0228bingo.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I only had one problem ... and she's always a problem ... an elderly peasant who never can make up her mind. She buys two cards and uses her debit card to pay. She never gets her PIN number right. Then she comes back six times and buys one or two more cards, using the same "wrong" PIN number. After the sale is completed, she'll grab one more of something and we go through the whole rigamarole once again.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The players standing in line don't like it any better than I do. I admit, I ran out of patience last night. BAD Nancy! I'll try to improve next week ... when she will do it all over again! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Lucky for me the infernal machine balanced, once I remembered I had to borrow cash from the pull tab side in order to make the payouts. We actually give cash back when buying cards because they will turn around and buy pull tabs. On this night I gave out so much cash, I didn't have any to pay the jackpots.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I was exhausted. I had completely forgotten just how much work it was to run the machine, make change, put up cards, deal with people, turn around and grab dobbers and get up and down 35 times. My back complaineth! Today you will find me on the couch ... eating angel food cake!!</div><br /><p><br /></p>Nancy Kissackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03225296192386107554noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5818111637898313184.post-34639344714221648812024-02-27T05:34:00.000-08:002024-02-27T05:34:29.683-08:00Death and Taxes<p>Here we are again, lounging on the couch. Mr. Cooper gets in lots of sleep in the mornings, probably because his Mom keeps him up most of the night, tossing and turning. It's weird ... the older I get, the more sleep evades me. </p><p> It didn't help that I was trying to get fabulous chicken in an ice cream container out of the store freezer while the owner was throwing everything out. Then my truck got stolen, so you can imagine how the rest of the night went!! All in my dreams ... or rather nightmares when it involved my truck.</p><p>I hit the ground running by reconnecting the battery cables on my Jeep. I admit, that 2012 Jeep Liberty is one of the best things I've bought. Never a problem with it, runs like a top, has power and speed when I want it and 4 wheel drive when it's muddy or snowy.</p><p>Time to give it a little TLC. It needs a smog check and an oil change. It's not just California. If I was in Tucson, it would still need a smog test. The problem here is that the smog guy gets to work at 4:00 in the afternoon. I've no clue why, but that meant a late appointment.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiDAM6a7KBgngc-jxHWS7HOy9A94o-WuEINGLoB8UoOEqQyISFlLkX1W2OulCy0fpIdqNPbMX-LHtw2WiGQ4tQTcUQRFjFO1LgylptztXqYbBCxk1GzRzaoq2avXwkMxDfBIomqe8PMYrzrxtuTGVQ2pAj9ZTHs5ibElUAuzXMo5uXiwcph0atuLy2vzlv/s640/0227coop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiDAM6a7KBgngc-jxHWS7HOy9A94o-WuEINGLoB8UoOEqQyISFlLkX1W2OulCy0fpIdqNPbMX-LHtw2WiGQ4tQTcUQRFjFO1LgylptztXqYbBCxk1GzRzaoq2avXwkMxDfBIomqe8PMYrzrxtuTGVQ2pAj9ZTHs5ibElUAuzXMo5uXiwcph0atuLy2vzlv/w400-h300/0227coop.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In the meantime, though the weather guessers said sunshine all day, it looked like this. It's cold and dreary, which makes Nancy just want to sit on the couch. So that's what I did, phone in hand. I called Arizona Department of Motor Vehicles to let them know my 5th wheel registration was not due since it moved to California (where it is half price). No kidding, California charges half price for that registration.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">She said I should contact California and have them send the paperwork that it was registered there. We both got a big laugh out of that one. No way is that ever going to happen.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Nj-ucsV-NE0Lt2ivLVc8mv7yANryW9qb01ws0qKAG3cLXcsGblHjmmB550lrEcPv8Dhk8mBVDID6GV1qp8nHiqn4WHLrwD1BJ2FmDWnfm8Kg__OSE49zMaJHY7Kv0_1_USHDwc_qLEzE42muKZezIhAaFttjYL3qRyvPZBPHlip-jHyRddqgd4Ft90Dp/s640/0227storm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-Nj-ucsV-NE0Lt2ivLVc8mv7yANryW9qb01ws0qKAG3cLXcsGblHjmmB550lrEcPv8Dhk8mBVDID6GV1qp8nHiqn4WHLrwD1BJ2FmDWnfm8Kg__OSE49zMaJHY7Kv0_1_USHDwc_qLEzE42muKZezIhAaFttjYL3qRyvPZBPHlip-jHyRddqgd4Ft90Dp/w400-h300/0227storm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Next problem that I have been procrastinating about ... taxes. You know the saying, the only sure thing is death and taxes. So I gathered up what I thought was everything I needed and began to sort through it. Uh oh ... I can't find ANYTHING on the house sale. How could that be? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">No kidding, I spent the next two hours looking through every drawer and cupboard I could find. Nothing ... nada!! I'm hoping and praying it's all still on my computer, but it had to wait. Time to head to the repair shop with the Jeep.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I waited ..... and waited ..... and waited! Good grief!! Finally the guy came in with my air filters in hand, followed by a trail of dirt. did you know there is one in the glove compartment that cleans the air "inside" your car? Where have you been, he asked. These are REALLY BAD!! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Arizona ... and to be honest, I don't think anyone has ever changed the inside filter, probably because I said no. The cost for that one was $43.00. Oil change, smog test and filters came to $243.00. YIKES!!! Oh well, you can't take it with you.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">THREE HOURS LATER, I was finally out the door. You can go blind playing games on your phone for an entire 3 hours!!!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXBdZpVS2BeEX8J6fcZolK6dtshNnpEcYiDcaFVDE-uNODKzHDAvwS5zh0gZTxlLoZJGfufZupvmcAvTdePN8jSFI2TLae62naLdyXweT3c8qJiPLe78ewpoJkXIMi_6zA-bZMPDo5VzFIFMUNaZhXMlXQmjo3vzWDYMkb7KC09TU4hfbfNUL-JaWzasin/s640/0227waiting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXBdZpVS2BeEX8J6fcZolK6dtshNnpEcYiDcaFVDE-uNODKzHDAvwS5zh0gZTxlLoZJGfufZupvmcAvTdePN8jSFI2TLae62naLdyXweT3c8qJiPLe78ewpoJkXIMi_6zA-bZMPDo5VzFIFMUNaZhXMlXQmjo3vzWDYMkb7KC09TU4hfbfNUL-JaWzasin/w300-h400/0227waiting.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Onward and upward, I'll keep looking for those tax records today. Nancy will be a happy camper if she can just get that monkey off her back!! Then I have a choice to make. Clean this house or go shopping at Marshalls and Harbor Freight. I guess you know which choice I will be making on THIS day!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p>Nancy Kissackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03225296192386107554noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5818111637898313184.post-86740988090251542732024-02-26T05:45:00.000-08:002024-02-26T05:45:54.644-08:00It's SNOWING!!!<p> Just kidding ... it's not snowing, but looky here ... it's the SNOW MOON. In case you were wondering, they call it that because it comes in February when there is the most snow on the ground. Sounds good to me. In spite of it being the smallest, it did shine quite brightly here last night. Note to self: Close those blinds so my bedroom isn't lit up like a car dealers showroom.</p><p>Did it look small to you? Not really? Me either, but it is the smallest moon of the year because it is the farthest away from earth at this time. Who knew?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZA3vBmxfwLGTAu-JoNhde73N-kxybNcCKx9ChLshBURnFbp71DgIOIdv3M-qhBphhylHVgIXxGqWB4X51qe1-xEYWxlk752iBznNJemxtbWZ5P6OSbe5ESisnQwPjIRxrOI1OHDa6M3GVvnbIwvAJ00We0YFIcZjQ5nvG7852CpiFKalTGjOIvAq6EtVf/s727/0226moon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="408" data-original-width="727" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZA3vBmxfwLGTAu-JoNhde73N-kxybNcCKx9ChLshBURnFbp71DgIOIdv3M-qhBphhylHVgIXxGqWB4X51qe1-xEYWxlk752iBznNJemxtbWZ5P6OSbe5ESisnQwPjIRxrOI1OHDa6M3GVvnbIwvAJ00We0YFIcZjQ5nvG7852CpiFKalTGjOIvAq6EtVf/w400-h225/0226moon.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">On with less exciting things ..... it took awhile for Mr. Cooper to wake up on this day. Not even his smiling fish toy could motivate him. It didn't motivate me either for the first couple of hours.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHBijh82RIWUuiK2gLw2V3tN5cBqrCKxgW7jSa8Q0Q4bHs5WedKCyjT8tQTSuznfsOe_yfu8f3o2N7phd69igFSFh0LKhrSNbyMcP4uYSrJ0pimoqHXKdcJUQLsLFi-6QQnCZ0CEtz6zI-_paFrSjsx2M22BvP7jqhiOiFm7A2YBjneRFi-FUFVupnGDmv/s640/0226coop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHBijh82RIWUuiK2gLw2V3tN5cBqrCKxgW7jSa8Q0Q4bHs5WedKCyjT8tQTSuznfsOe_yfu8f3o2N7phd69igFSFh0LKhrSNbyMcP4uYSrJ0pimoqHXKdcJUQLsLFi-6QQnCZ0CEtz6zI-_paFrSjsx2M22BvP7jqhiOiFm7A2YBjneRFi-FUFVupnGDmv/w400-h300/0226coop.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">At last I got my act together and headed out to the rig. I'm lucky I don't have to launder sheets very often. There's just me so I can sleep on the other side of the bed!! Kidding ........ maybe! I stripped the bed in the rig and grabbed the dirty rugs.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There must be SOME way to modify these beds so it's easier to get the sheets on and off. My problem is the step up on each side of the bed. That means you have to bend over and work at knee level. Oh my poor back!!! I don't know the answer, but there MUST be an easier way.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAg7O93_aTixaBOhhGZtwI-qsFwF34Oqt63Eu55mW8eBHlX7Mfb7z0QsqaTm9iQraihfwBtjQIHLu3sHkxHC0gJlchG0_viKwsdBIIcBa5VUXMovTeyVj659uE9BkBDqYONG693b2L-gc3Dov1-NJdXWmA2ytd_yumpQchmGlLkiIAiDIVPzYnjN68S1gW/s640/0226laundry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAg7O93_aTixaBOhhGZtwI-qsFwF34Oqt63Eu55mW8eBHlX7Mfb7z0QsqaTm9iQraihfwBtjQIHLu3sHkxHC0gJlchG0_viKwsdBIIcBa5VUXMovTeyVj659uE9BkBDqYONG693b2L-gc3Dov1-NJdXWmA2ytd_yumpQchmGlLkiIAiDIVPzYnjN68S1gW/w400-h300/0226laundry.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I waited until the sun came out, then spread out the rugs on the patio. Yes I swept it off first. Maybe I need an old fashioned clothes line put up in my yard. It sure saves on the electric bill. I have solar you say? Yes ... yes I do ... and I love it. It would be nicer if I had remembered to turn BOTH heaters off while I was gone. One of them kept the house at a toasty 70 degrees for the last two months. I'm crying over that one!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_kaMAbt-1Uyd9dx4QRX6C_dD_5Zel8w216IxrYYG5tJhzz7t3z7t1U-x8kPgj5YItyndGTIZgQWqpjkcRSnqsybBBVvCwVIxwHHiOw5YM4jBZRvo_P0aoNURulCTSwAy7VTCuceKVRIcXB6H6LI3lweyOqKl2uJfie_9ypWLp3VFKlPybMLSYU6nTE2zt/s640/0226rus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_kaMAbt-1Uyd9dx4QRX6C_dD_5Zel8w216IxrYYG5tJhzz7t3z7t1U-x8kPgj5YItyndGTIZgQWqpjkcRSnqsybBBVvCwVIxwHHiOw5YM4jBZRvo_P0aoNURulCTSwAy7VTCuceKVRIcXB6H6LI3lweyOqKl2uJfie_9ypWLp3VFKlPybMLSYU6nTE2zt/w300-h400/0226rus.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Since my fridge and freezer were pretty sparsely populated, I made a trip to the grocery store. I wanted to stop at three other places, but forgot it was Sunday and they don't open until 11:00. Who made up that rule? </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I wasn't even in the door when I was accosted by the Girl Scouts. You just can't say no to four young girls learning about being ignored. Come of people ... support your local Girl Scouts!! And so I did. I bought 3 boxes. Boy do I LOVE these peanut butter patties!! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">How much are they? $6 a box. How many did I buy? 3 boxes. How much did the sweet girl try to charge me? $24.00. Okay, how much is 6 times 3 I asked? I shushed Mom so the girls would have to figure it out. They finally got it right, but complained they were having to do ALL the work! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFucB__mcgmpTANuxqQ9U4e46JwmbDBEBxkGb3c2dP5ox_sqnwLw_sbNIwOlEuCGq-GCMsPip_PNPYr-S-ImKGlDhWdZAF51_exfCqJrE2Y4RA_fcbmefAwCyvud-JivZuvBHIa48zLmkeUCZc1CHqa5ksdujorTZOJv4gDvPIVplyS-lFXPLVUx3cZWxD/s640/0226cookies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFucB__mcgmpTANuxqQ9U4e46JwmbDBEBxkGb3c2dP5ox_sqnwLw_sbNIwOlEuCGq-GCMsPip_PNPYr-S-ImKGlDhWdZAF51_exfCqJrE2Y4RA_fcbmefAwCyvud-JivZuvBHIa48zLmkeUCZc1CHqa5ksdujorTZOJv4gDvPIVplyS-lFXPLVUx3cZWxD/w300-h400/0226cookies.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Back home I messed with the new Hopper ... I tried recording. It didn't record. I tried again and it recorded, but it didn't want to play it back. Next thing I know, I have a black screen with my program running in the top right corner, about 3" square. Hopper and I went around and around, with no success. I had to reboot it three times just to get my regular programming back. Anyone know how to get back to live TV??? I think the problem is I'm using a universal remote so I don't have to use THREE of them.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Frustrated, I decided to try and cook something. What better way to get even MORE frustrated, since as you know, my chef skills are getting worse by the day.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirVEXOjSt-OzBh-oGIeGHZEetUSod7O9cj3jgcbL917TXJy2O90PuuK2L5OHzUmstFbfsRlt7IWoAUlDpw2zmSCOM_kIDODJXlpgUYTSHB2urBrfrkmyj4cSYB4pMyV5AZF9sB_LeV2LGJ2NjJJRAKzdm-3Auelsxgn7_TEQc5AWOdlyonbKbtu7wQ3V2F/s640/0226cass2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirVEXOjSt-OzBh-oGIeGHZEetUSod7O9cj3jgcbL917TXJy2O90PuuK2L5OHzUmstFbfsRlt7IWoAUlDpw2zmSCOM_kIDODJXlpgUYTSHB2urBrfrkmyj4cSYB4pMyV5AZF9sB_LeV2LGJ2NjJJRAKzdm-3Auelsxgn7_TEQc5AWOdlyonbKbtu7wQ3V2F/w300-h400/0226cass2.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here we go ... enchilada casserole in a cheesecake pan. I took the sides off too soon. I tried to cut a slice and made the biggest mess you ever did see. There was casserole all over the counter tops. Next time I'll make it in a regular dish like I ALWAYS do!! </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnsHMXdxkEDFM7uBQjtTWAsBqbR38SsLyJxUc5VEG5qW50mKaJp2XN9OOQVLlh8jWWq6cUSScyn9xXGpJvQIyWOH1Q_w_wb14vP0CBYMkBFrlpXbzmSHu4S3dnbz7zBjwMbkuTa__KxZ-s35mDMEabCiili_RP5NrTBov9fy1LbMEgJOS7ypeBUvekD6o7/s640/0226cass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnsHMXdxkEDFM7uBQjtTWAsBqbR38SsLyJxUc5VEG5qW50mKaJp2XN9OOQVLlh8jWWq6cUSScyn9xXGpJvQIyWOH1Q_w_wb14vP0CBYMkBFrlpXbzmSHu4S3dnbz7zBjwMbkuTa__KxZ-s35mDMEabCiili_RP5NrTBov9fy1LbMEgJOS7ypeBUvekD6o7/w300-h400/0226cass.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In between all of this excitement for the day, I continued to put away and organize the boxes of stuff from the other house. Yes, I'm still working on that. Mostly I think I just moved them from room to room, making my back really mad at me. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">At least I got a couple of things off my laundry list ... more of which will get worked on today. It all involves telephone calls and checkbooks, so I'm not expecting it to be all that much fun. Still, it's better than the alternative ... becoming glued to the couch with a phone in my hand.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">What about quilting? I have yet to remove all that fabric from the rig. Maybe tomorrow. Thanks for stopping by and hanging out ... I appreciate the company!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><br />Nancy Kissackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03225296192386107554noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5818111637898313184.post-65660680691701504522024-02-25T05:48:00.000-08:002024-02-25T05:48:06.504-08:00A Day With Used Car Salesmen<p> Good Morning California!! What happened to the sun and warm weather? Great galoshes, it's COLD!! Most of my back patio is covered in moss, but at least the entire yard front and back is gorgeous green!! I'm even shocked that the yard is no nicely trimmed and maintained. That's a first from THIS gardener!</p><p>Once in the door, which I literally had to drag Cooper through, I turned on everything including the heater and the TV. I have had dish Network for twelve years with very few problems. Until yesterday. Oh it came on, but my channels were not there. That's normal ... I call them, ask for a signal to be sent, it updates the box and I'm good to go.</p><p>Let's call the first SALESMAN Joe. Joe knows nada. Can you send a signal to my receiver please? His answer of "what's that?" threw me completely off my game. He continued on to tell me I needed a NEW receiver. No I don't, just send a signal. "I don't know how to do that". I hung up.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEc4Tc93nyNadBfoe3F4VufOm1AF7txwQUOCPRQcaLD3a8uO9TQjoqb1K_bkZUADb_u53_kv008qGRNelDSE1Ixo4_Zo5yPqXoK4aTQMbhtnAeMvunSF3K0zWFshlmzbwtRxyvb25fbsTqRDPFDCpCP0-iLDDJ-5lGyYsPzqeLII15Vr0vXs8PUuenQjYd/s1178/0225hopper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="752" data-original-width="1178" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEc4Tc93nyNadBfoe3F4VufOm1AF7txwQUOCPRQcaLD3a8uO9TQjoqb1K_bkZUADb_u53_kv008qGRNelDSE1Ixo4_Zo5yPqXoK4aTQMbhtnAeMvunSF3K0zWFshlmzbwtRxyvb25fbsTqRDPFDCpCP0-iLDDJ-5lGyYsPzqeLII15Vr0vXs8PUuenQjYd/w400-h255/0225hopper.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I know, grumpy old lady ... but I've been doing this with both my house and the RV receivers for years. They should train their people better. I called back and got another lady. At least she knew what a signal was. I then asked for a Tech Guy because I had questions about the Hopper, which records. Mine does not.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We discussed that ... and then I asked him to change my local channels from Tucson back to Merced. He wanted to change the address on the account. No ... just change the local channels zip code. That brought on an argument whereupon he got so rude with me, I hung up again. Gosh .... I'm not getting anywhere.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Maybe if I eat, I'll be nicer to the NOT well trained or knowledgable Dish employees. Sadly, there was nothing in the fridge. How could that be? I finally found a can of chili. Beggars can't be choosers ... I ate half the can. It's Stagg chili, and not bad, if you like chili.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOKlXyaCispVi-2Zx931O6d7ooQN9NuTPxtDQBMpC9rPKCE4-0iuJXE7Nj_-Qx_DikEGBYgRMOUGQJ58SqnGP4dJ-oiPT1xTP-GNARuOQQZANnMwmhwwq_52KeVtUxLhnGV725NFenniIBjnnn5jL934oaoTeL5xViVGFeqCc2wAK6OhBzdiATdOtltk9z/s640/0225lunch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOKlXyaCispVi-2Zx931O6d7ooQN9NuTPxtDQBMpC9rPKCE4-0iuJXE7Nj_-Qx_DikEGBYgRMOUGQJ58SqnGP4dJ-oiPT1xTP-GNARuOQQZANnMwmhwwq_52KeVtUxLhnGV725NFenniIBjnnn5jL934oaoTeL5xViVGFeqCc2wAK6OhBzdiATdOtltk9z/w300-h400/0225lunch.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Back to the used car salesmen once again ... they were all telling me my TV didn't work because I needed a new receiver. I knew that wasn't true ... JUST SEND A SIGNAL!! PLEASE!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">One more call ... and I actually got a guy who knew what he was doing. He sent a signal and my channels came up instantly. Then we talked new receiver because not only do they no longer provide service on mine, they discontinued it completely two years ago. One day soon they will just turn it off and I will be FORCED to get another one.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Since he was so nice and seemed to be honest ... he even told me it would mean a new 2 year contract (something no one else mentioned), I decided to go with the Hopper. It's what everyone else has and I can record shows. There was no charge for the receiver or the installation. The appointment was made ... noon to 5:00.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I got a text message ... 11:45 to 1:00. He never showed up. How frustrating after dealing with used car salesmen!! I had to laugh!! At long last he knocked on the door at 2:00. This was supposed to take two hours.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Change out something on the satellite dish ... change out the receiver ... and turn it on. How hard can that be? Well pretty hard apparently. He had a new surge protector that my Sony television didn't like. See the pretty picture? It took over an hour to figure that one out. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDJGlYmsN_l0jlp6_omPBhphqUb-SqxklXirU7HMEda8rNds6gP4d4p4aOmKLDIe0Z-CHAUAAo0MP13VqvH84DZ4jFOBs2Ig9XG2DzinBeWPC54pdx0LiIkBczNo3F2IGj2BqkiAk02Mmbvkv7UCRbp7g52vkulhIHvHvPgHFRCkWIVFOL8PsYdMM5xXaA/s640/0225repair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDJGlYmsN_l0jlp6_omPBhphqUb-SqxklXirU7HMEda8rNds6gP4d4p4aOmKLDIe0Z-CHAUAAo0MP13VqvH84DZ4jFOBs2Ig9XG2DzinBeWPC54pdx0LiIkBczNo3F2IGj2BqkiAk02Mmbvkv7UCRbp7g52vkulhIHvHvPgHFRCkWIVFOL8PsYdMM5xXaA/w300-h400/0225repair.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Now the Used Car Salesmen are telling me I need a new "updated" television. No I don't. I'm not buying a cheaply made throw-away SMART TV that is nothing but a pain in the patoo. My fabulous Sony TV works just fine. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In the end, it all works, as long as I don't try to change any of the settings, like the annoying bright red and black guide that is so small you can't read it unless you are two feet from the TV. I did that and my picture ended up being 2" square in the top right corner. No kidding ... I had to change it back and reboot the entire system.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So why don't I just stream stuff? Well for one, I like live programs. I guess I'm just old fashioned. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It took the guy 3-1/2 hours to do that 2 hour job that he said would only take 90 minutes. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The good news (hopefully) I don't have to deal with any used car salesmen for the next two years!! I'm going to celebrate with PANCAKES and REAL MAPLE SYRUP for breakfast!! </div><br /><p><br /></p>Nancy Kissackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03225296192386107554noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5818111637898313184.post-5032737925377058562024-02-24T05:07:00.000-08:002024-02-24T05:07:12.108-08:00Beware The Chicken!!<p> It's DARK! We are in beautiful not-quite downtown Bakersfield. It's an almost full moon trying to light up the sky. Interestingly enough, it's not a DRY night. There's no rain, just a layer of water covering everything. It's not really a good thing to walk Cooper in the dark, since he just plows through all the big puddles of water and mud, but walk him I must.</p><p>I didn't mention yesterday that the little roadside stop of Ludlow looked like the swamps of Florida. Every little depression in the sand was completely full of water. It was like driving through a lake, just above the water level. They have certainly had a LOT of rain!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_68ESXu_7_Y-UaaFIzNvrqfZ5aWENsS4KPoNegFae1Lwi1BgCaC6o2cDlXa1L1XhPYM404DSi0wpiAiWOrfMpuy35P5Wl2sL5pwYIkDiZTRKq9cA6yWTBMMIjhGbg9n-YNLBp47ta3VboRC9Dz5RaHaIxbFMTjD9x5fRp8TqAbnMn8s9Z-L2LcEmc2VQY/s640/0224moon.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_68ESXu_7_Y-UaaFIzNvrqfZ5aWENsS4KPoNegFae1Lwi1BgCaC6o2cDlXa1L1XhPYM404DSi0wpiAiWOrfMpuy35P5Wl2sL5pwYIkDiZTRKq9cA6yWTBMMIjhGbg9n-YNLBp47ta3VboRC9Dz5RaHaIxbFMTjD9x5fRp8TqAbnMn8s9Z-L2LcEmc2VQY/w300-h400/0224moon.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I wasn't in a hurry on this morning since I only had a 3-1/2 hour drive. I was meeting up with bestest friends Barbara and Tom Westerfield along the way. That meant I had to keep Cooper occupied, which for some reason always involves ME being on the floor. Just look at this concentration!!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHpzQvzrPyHWFMlP48Q8kMFkX7FqR5A7gMhDK7EYKytcxaq6-Qe5TthF7XHDKlJrHQG-8kXrBqs9j2vahWl6ljbGo3mhUDLmZPBVz9W0s0AEBgGBZy4-_5wiIuubIOG02nmZDGEIQLYP2h_aDljveqykfXyraj3f3-rpqeqXSsts0pF-XzxG_ik_PeAkWX/s640/0224cooper.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHpzQvzrPyHWFMlP48Q8kMFkX7FqR5A7gMhDK7EYKytcxaq6-Qe5TthF7XHDKlJrHQG-8kXrBqs9j2vahWl6ljbGo3mhUDLmZPBVz9W0s0AEBgGBZy4-_5wiIuubIOG02nmZDGEIQLYP2h_aDljveqykfXyraj3f3-rpqeqXSsts0pF-XzxG_ik_PeAkWX/w300-h400/0224cooper.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">He was of course waiting for me to throw the ball. He catches it mid air, then holds it in his paws before letting it roll down so we can do it again ... and again ... and again ... you get the picture.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj40zRpUjuxTSw0GM-NeUN2Vw0egGws6KWJr5VEUHupyE0Cd30085Ho7OY-fV2dflsMABLIPm5zTAjLmUwflDWujArXawPxpy5w7JjHG-0yJP8IpnSYfoHNUqwiCIKp4vZGX-6t7ahTiHRTZEgbxCIz73NePLBgPUQruq_wuDn5LLrGJkRiqK_gpzhCW6MO/s640/0224ball.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj40zRpUjuxTSw0GM-NeUN2Vw0egGws6KWJr5VEUHupyE0Cd30085Ho7OY-fV2dflsMABLIPm5zTAjLmUwflDWujArXawPxpy5w7JjHG-0yJP8IpnSYfoHNUqwiCIKp4vZGX-6t7ahTiHRTZEgbxCIz73NePLBgPUQruq_wuDn5LLrGJkRiqK_gpzhCW6MO/w300-h400/0224ball.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Here he is in action, only this time he got down to bury it in the blanket on the floor. I definitely give him all the credit for my flexibility!!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzuYTMhudksdeB7fOhJAhsNhDPJePwuErKUxhVmkZAL6SApaB58eRguJLnVrzTbjccGvWaeUgfcvUuSwPHY4g' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">At 8:30 I stuffed everyone in the truck and we were off!! I kept it just above 55 because the Westerfields are night owls, unlike me. I didn't want to get to Fresno TOO early. Traffic was awful as usual for a Friday. I'm glad I wasn't going the other direction though, because there were 10 trucks going south for every 2 going north. Do you think they were going to the border??</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Thank goodness I WAS going North, because the southbound lanes were at a complete standstill from Tulare to Visalia. That's TEN MILES!!! This is another one of those epic failures of road construction. They take 3 lanes down to 1 lane with little or no notice. It was a parking lot!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">At last I reached my exit and pulled in to McCoy's coffee shop. It's one of those secret places truckers stop. In less than five minutes, in drove Barbara and Tom. These two full timers taught me as much as anyone about my Class A rig when we drove to Maine and back. Through pouring rain, tornados and windstorms ... I survived because Barbara is the best navigator there is!!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzl-xk8YniUZvjO-UVju2U9LJu8l37ggw30hjdYVI8uMdfjI5NWuJ5AboHCBsuK4t5Ki9wg6sZAFfxhy8ZFJRD1LWTeaiAHZh4PFf46pMmQ4KqbfSfGldV9k-9LvPKLNOr8ItFGws1agnVhdyqG_g4qxGhZtKsyXqHAHXUtkxCiBn5UNJqxt0Q0A0DUE1e/s640/0224barb.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzl-xk8YniUZvjO-UVju2U9LJu8l37ggw30hjdYVI8uMdfjI5NWuJ5AboHCBsuK4t5Ki9wg6sZAFfxhy8ZFJRD1LWTeaiAHZh4PFf46pMmQ4KqbfSfGldV9k-9LvPKLNOr8ItFGws1agnVhdyqG_g4qxGhZtKsyXqHAHXUtkxCiBn5UNJqxt0Q0A0DUE1e/w300-h400/0224barb.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Husband Tom showed me all the ins and outs of repairing broken cupboards and drawers I tore up along the way. He's a master woodworker. We met here because Barbara knitted this beautiful sweater/wrap/coat for me. She is a knitter extraordinaire and can whip out a sweater top in no time. She tried to teach me as we worked our way back East, but I never could quite get it!! I could have used this in Tucson's snow!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf_5ZPgLRVtg9uYFCH-eXI7MbRens8OcEcxjzUWs9GPyC2MO-Lvg3TltUJ4fHIjxmGf_8T5frNcf5DaDe3waw0guYNj5OU58AmBIEHdLXL3BZzBYHRs5PywXbiFiUTpo6SqO6KMRMDTAOEFdD2TTGWXWtXmssVhbB0D5Kb7c89c2UWDQAaOGLUL9AMCBjw/s640/0224tom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="360" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf_5ZPgLRVtg9uYFCH-eXI7MbRens8OcEcxjzUWs9GPyC2MO-Lvg3TltUJ4fHIjxmGf_8T5frNcf5DaDe3waw0guYNj5OU58AmBIEHdLXL3BZzBYHRs5PywXbiFiUTpo6SqO6KMRMDTAOEFdD2TTGWXWtXmssVhbB0D5Kb7c89c2UWDQAaOGLUL9AMCBjw/w225-h400/0224tom.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We said our goodbyes (we'll see each other again soon since they just hung up the keys not far from me) and I was off yet again. Finally the traffic thinned out and it was a good ride home. My backing skills might have improved just a tad ... or I was just lucky. I backed in to my dog leg with a curve and a narrow gate in TWO tries. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Cooper refused to leave the truck. I literally had to carry him into the house. He was having none of it. I uploaded his favorite toys and he sulked on the couch while I cleaned out the fridge. I searched and searched for something to eat, but hamburger buns and ginger were all I could come up with.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">AHA ... I found some chicken tenders I stuck in the freezer. I do remember there being something on the packaging about HOT, but really, how hot could they be? I'll just smother them in cold barbecue sauce. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Out of the air fryer they came. I took a big bite. Okay ... a little hot, but not bad. Next bite ... ooooh that's getting hotter. I admit by the third bite I was on fire. GOOD GRIEF!!! I ran for the faucet and some cold water. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I was really hungry by this time ... and with nothing else in sight, I thought I would peel the coating off and at least eat the chicken. OH HECK NO!! The chicken was drenched in even HOTTER sauce. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgstkQBYbQgFmOztcJPE1UsW_5rRH7VhWNkAiYr78V4rAliwOoVmFOtWD_zrc3y-qOwccTtoD-isNCNbzWshlni9aGQpCVyxNNn10xYM5H1ddQX9QclfTSvoR9v7pGv82rigDKE7B05V5OXbAleWY1pSAk0c3i2Yao4v9JCPrb1gA0lLfjIudBLr_JfXQJ/s640/0224chicken.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgstkQBYbQgFmOztcJPE1UsW_5rRH7VhWNkAiYr78V4rAliwOoVmFOtWD_zrc3y-qOwccTtoD-isNCNbzWshlni9aGQpCVyxNNn10xYM5H1ddQX9QclfTSvoR9v7pGv82rigDKE7B05V5OXbAleWY1pSAk0c3i2Yao4v9JCPrb1gA0lLfjIudBLr_JfXQJ/w300-h400/0224chicken.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Yup ... I had yet ANOTHER cupcake for dinner. My tip of the day ..... BEWARE THE HOT CHICKEN!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The next big problem to raise its ugly head was of course DishNetwork ... my TV provider. It's a long story, so it will wait until tomorrow. These guys are like used car salesmen!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">The good news is I have less unpacking to do than normal, and I already ran two loads of laundry. I have to get to the store not only for MY food, but for Cooper food. Then I will tackle that huge laundry list of stuff I need to do!!! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It's good to be home!!</div><br /><p><br /></p>Nancy Kissackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03225296192386107554noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5818111637898313184.post-80506320219025750632024-02-23T04:38:00.000-08:002024-02-23T04:38:53.512-08:00That Was A LONG Drive<p>Morning came once again. This time with clouds and beautiful colors. Suddenly I spotted a dog running loose at the end of the road. OH NO!! Cooper and I made a beeline for him, hoping to snatch him up. Suddenly Bill appeared from behind a palm tree. It was GIBBS!!! (and he was on a leash).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVryLWxH9q33uA9ORK6YGrYhH9Nu1fqK3M7lJZ5y5oCedkYzz7adYEHvWGGkKH4-n3lwU84JsNuT4vufc4RmR52Lsso2cu816gyQhpnQk87NGnuEk3UH681qlfSyijlr1govLg9-0i_SWN6mmXJpuqfpdXn2OseOyNWhMuNVwZZgIHWSDRD8OgtNwJT0yw/s640/0223bsunrise.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVryLWxH9q33uA9ORK6YGrYhH9Nu1fqK3M7lJZ5y5oCedkYzz7adYEHvWGGkKH4-n3lwU84JsNuT4vufc4RmR52Lsso2cu816gyQhpnQk87NGnuEk3UH681qlfSyijlr1govLg9-0i_SWN6mmXJpuqfpdXn2OseOyNWhMuNVwZZgIHWSDRD8OgtNwJT0yw/w400-h300/0223bsunrise.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It just got better as I began the takedown. Time to pack up and hit the road. I got all of maybe two feet before Cooper began going crazy. One thing he doesn't want, is to be left behind. So first things first ... he goes in the truck. THEN I can begin putting stuff away.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl72UQR2zEFlxQkwLAOkcn1c5sub3CM3rY48uZRg1gwXWtUQCqBM4rzRxzDLe08vCINUdePg3HvfguKyOdSLQ4TFm-8WRP3CCJSsY54AiWPT4l2WEXSt-RoeI88i22OdO-Bz2q1pDBACLQnm7BMNxUVZ8_gOE73qOV1CM-D2uQBxzXKeaJdzDgWejtqgf3/s640/0223asunrise.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl72UQR2zEFlxQkwLAOkcn1c5sub3CM3rY48uZRg1gwXWtUQCqBM4rzRxzDLe08vCINUdePg3HvfguKyOdSLQ4TFm-8WRP3CCJSsY54AiWPT4l2WEXSt-RoeI88i22OdO-Bz2q1pDBACLQnm7BMNxUVZ8_gOE73qOV1CM-D2uQBxzXKeaJdzDgWejtqgf3/w400-h300/0223asunrise.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There were too many pictures yesterday to post this beauties. All day long the clouds floated over our RV park. How can you not love this!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA6uqZ-5NyTRkaRep0Yzx4EaKXws8hDzliVCa0vUlS3aPTpWMdqMpoF989Gb6KxrItFZ6cBjvb3A7hWMZFXu0NzKZNXTLw6o772o0TATKLDoD-XH_mXYgkL9lk2GmMXLFPQakTfVuX9HmjSgpYgMVkDjFLmjtOwo1Jw-tKS357CpbUt9hkouGZlN2qgOzo/s640/0223sky1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA6uqZ-5NyTRkaRep0Yzx4EaKXws8hDzliVCa0vUlS3aPTpWMdqMpoF989Gb6KxrItFZ6cBjvb3A7hWMZFXu0NzKZNXTLw6o772o0TATKLDoD-XH_mXYgkL9lk2GmMXLFPQakTfVuX9HmjSgpYgMVkDjFLmjtOwo1Jw-tKS357CpbUt9hkouGZlN2qgOzo/w400-h300/0223sky1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">There seemed to be three different layers. Mother Nature sure can put on a show.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEYGq6Rkee_c5MeaGoNcEXPdT8efENJ3XRhqWqVdBXDRpohJkIO2DI2eQmzVIl9ubiYnQDA0HYC6T4d45N3te2GsAHsQW7yxe2VcvSush6JIb5BBQaoO2_DlUe493Vm8CBGBB0nDYzLCn-REcDzYd9MIFHMf7xg-gKz1OcfPJfGGZtxDu1gNmWAuMdnZ-r/s640/0223sky2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEYGq6Rkee_c5MeaGoNcEXPdT8efENJ3XRhqWqVdBXDRpohJkIO2DI2eQmzVIl9ubiYnQDA0HYC6T4d45N3te2GsAHsQW7yxe2VcvSush6JIb5BBQaoO2_DlUe493Vm8CBGBB0nDYzLCn-REcDzYd9MIFHMf7xg-gKz1OcfPJfGGZtxDu1gNmWAuMdnZ-r/w400-h300/0223sky2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It looked like you could just reach up and touch them.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSuxVrsQwTkwZUIkwLejh8xVsIteDrGyeumN7Xy2MlKTG3MPaKScmZ8LkysywIrqahpNcUzTnFtCwXKUpC2jIN1ZGQfTim5Z0Yi1kyznnOdb4QMACjjOjHMZdYXPpRrn3ac_ACsh-nXGhyphenhyphendy1Vg0bQOWWcfuw4Ud0KsFzWO4AX8_leSRlIWFjsIBEzsSwk/s640/0223sky3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSuxVrsQwTkwZUIkwLejh8xVsIteDrGyeumN7Xy2MlKTG3MPaKScmZ8LkysywIrqahpNcUzTnFtCwXKUpC2jIN1ZGQfTim5Z0Yi1kyznnOdb4QMACjjOjHMZdYXPpRrn3ac_ACsh-nXGhyphenhyphendy1Vg0bQOWWcfuw4Ud0KsFzWO4AX8_leSRlIWFjsIBEzsSwk/w300-h400/0223sky3.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Finally just before 8:00, we were all loaded up and ready to go. I said sad goodbyes to Patsy, Bill and Gibbs and headed out. This isn't Cooper's favorite part of traveling. I think he gets rather car sick. Some times he will sleep, but mostly he lays with his head up ... my poor baby boy!!</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_uUpcCctSp_wqvGaLV-9U9_uiJHhyhUFZvLHbIbEPfzOajDkNf5bkeGglp-jkZml-aSIqVaHABy-5vrnjo8ohVNNYoB4tsHPGRN_evat0IOKfh-ooUChtY4bUr8iLJHsyuGmVIZzSWP-jnckhz3pLEmW9e5kFCgQTJCmTDw2D2O9hUok6IE4gWbXlJvOR/s640/0223cooper.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_uUpcCctSp_wqvGaLV-9U9_uiJHhyhUFZvLHbIbEPfzOajDkNf5bkeGglp-jkZml-aSIqVaHABy-5vrnjo8ohVNNYoB4tsHPGRN_evat0IOKfh-ooUChtY4bUr8iLJHsyuGmVIZzSWP-jnckhz3pLEmW9e5kFCgQTJCmTDw2D2O9hUok6IE4gWbXlJvOR/w300-h400/0223cooper.jpg" width="300" /></a><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Under beautiful sunny no-rain skies, we headed off toward Needles.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho_NHkgg43myMpkm7zNdT7ZPeqRY_V8faa0FsrwD7f6VMsX4JP_6kF5GtvC9rTgDqz-PehQduK82RQbWkOvm4lyJBH7jyDZdYT4-iST559nnrbYBjK9LzsuHVD5zUDy4Z7Jr6n1pnmNCXygMllgPrlEwEDJGJUkFMQyppZosbRhhTpBaDkvlT4suPnXYAZ/s640/0223needles.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho_NHkgg43myMpkm7zNdT7ZPeqRY_V8faa0FsrwD7f6VMsX4JP_6kF5GtvC9rTgDqz-PehQduK82RQbWkOvm4lyJBH7jyDZdYT4-iST559nnrbYBjK9LzsuHVD5zUDy4Z7Jr6n1pnmNCXygMllgPrlEwEDJGJUkFMQyppZosbRhhTpBaDkvlT4suPnXYAZ/w400-h300/0223needles.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It was a very long 4-1/2 hours of driving as we headed to Barstow. Traffic wasn't bad, so we went along at a good clip. If you've taken Highway 40 before, then you probably know what this is. This crazy long train is stopped, I think waiting for another train to pass. It's much longer than what you see here.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx18yZHb1vkNOwdi_3cdp9LqL3MQp0bkg7aJPA-i7r5HCIafxcZg0zFLVIWoEPj2gbfyq9HlEH_GDCl2fiA3E6slGSIJ8AQtVoUpYr45NlyENj5cMrY5t92uTRugdNzAf61BxYpexmuSjym7gqz4nhnA0ikghpUE3Ohi3l59T7MgEMcxB28FByWVd7twR1/s640/0223ctrain.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx18yZHb1vkNOwdi_3cdp9LqL3MQp0bkg7aJPA-i7r5HCIafxcZg0zFLVIWoEPj2gbfyq9HlEH_GDCl2fiA3E6slGSIJ8AQtVoUpYr45NlyENj5cMrY5t92uTRugdNzAf61BxYpexmuSjym7gqz4nhnA0ikghpUE3Ohi3l59T7MgEMcxB28FByWVd7twR1/w400-h300/0223ctrain.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I wish you could see the colors of the hills. Some are grey, some purple, some black ... the colors are just amazing.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWsWLeaMQ4uEwia0SLCiUsIe-ZCm-Oc_VXN_9MnM_w1A-mS5c-OjYVg05avpGDNudFPhDU9zYpn6kMVE4Xd5FtrM5qHfhGUMiY2rDNkZM_yhp-sHfjCOMtJ6TQdfHeABd49ZsaU-WFudO0z9gxU3TrHcAIey2jRf1tQOzRpWPzMn5dzOTS2SmKeStVniJW/s640/0223ludlow.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="321" data-original-width="640" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWsWLeaMQ4uEwia0SLCiUsIe-ZCm-Oc_VXN_9MnM_w1A-mS5c-OjYVg05avpGDNudFPhDU9zYpn6kMVE4Xd5FtrM5qHfhGUMiY2rDNkZM_yhp-sHfjCOMtJ6TQdfHeABd49ZsaU-WFudO0z9gxU3TrHcAIey2jRf1tQOzRpWPzMn5dzOTS2SmKeStVniJW/w400-h201/0223ludlow.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">At long last we hit Barstow where I stopped for fuel. $5.39 was the price for today ... not the most expensive I've found here. I was hungry and Cooper needed a walk. He got to smell the smells and stretch his legs while I got another piece of this most fabulous wondrous pizza. Mostly I wonder what's in it. If they added more sauce, it would be much better. $4.00 a slice I think. No matter, the slices are 8 inches across and it filled the hole in my stomach.</div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSYH5hM5rLMNU11DA-yGD3MvLhPxxX36Fy4-TKEww7pnq_M1FqJwgvQejk2a4X13UJ0AMLTVVFncLO81OmOKNfaBekv2YF3D1vQWfy_tsxNXmX8ZRa66fP-Lpq5DEVzADcKvJ_4YkrO5v-DYPpvNczBb8f8IF02t0Pla15hyNkk-3N51WqR36wJDRo4Xpw/s640/0223pizza.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSYH5hM5rLMNU11DA-yGD3MvLhPxxX36Fy4-TKEww7pnq_M1FqJwgvQejk2a4X13UJ0AMLTVVFncLO81OmOKNfaBekv2YF3D1vQWfy_tsxNXmX8ZRa66fP-Lpq5DEVzADcKvJ_4YkrO5v-DYPpvNczBb8f8IF02t0Pla15hyNkk-3N51WqR36wJDRo4Xpw/w300-h400/0223pizza.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Off we went again ... this time with more truck traffic. I followed one trucker down Tehachapi Pass for a ways. He was going really slow ... and every time he hit the brakes, huge clouds of smoke came out from under the truck. YIKES!! </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Eventually we made it to our favorite Orange Grove RV Park. I grabbed my envelope taped to the front window and headed to my site. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA6IeGGJD6KU05O_ZWbNQWOnCtvfoDqkv9GRucJHFwi4SNdFKFkAYAUEJfOqGbQIhfYbiJftHoIbIaRUj6avxAAG-_eegvSgO4fX4J2csywsvqDB_C2yGzevcPdtQPCjwFLB95SI4RIzA8yOZc-MBfsdDpdjWUdBtb1tnShJTLrOC7cvt7BC_1sokbHX9i/s640/0223rig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA6IeGGJD6KU05O_ZWbNQWOnCtvfoDqkv9GRucJHFwi4SNdFKFkAYAUEJfOqGbQIhfYbiJftHoIbIaRUj6avxAAG-_eegvSgO4fX4J2csywsvqDB_C2yGzevcPdtQPCjwFLB95SI4RIzA8yOZc-MBfsdDpdjWUdBtb1tnShJTLrOC7cvt7BC_1sokbHX9i/w400-h300/0223rig.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Look what I found on the table! Someone left a big pile of oranges along with a nice painted rock. I appreciate the thought, even if the oranges aren't the least bit ripe. I kept a few that I hope will ripen, and am leaving the rest on the table for the next person. There actually are still some good oranges at the tops of the trees, but I'd rather pretend I'm a rock in my chair.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS2zUWjRMUiUKTt_lmM1IvqqEeg5i5UdvMQSJ29Edk0ebL1riaHUdLTHitNfzewsVuXWNNuhPSWccJYTq5HHYWojlmWpThH5iUk2tNcGn1FaehRsVW3ir3ZJbgwOxaGHSF1sYMnDgB0o6PAp-UeQuqAUDqujD1gSzhLJ5BU4KR279uFcBvlcIvo1IXZ8yd/s640/0223oranges.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS2zUWjRMUiUKTt_lmM1IvqqEeg5i5UdvMQSJ29Edk0ebL1riaHUdLTHitNfzewsVuXWNNuhPSWccJYTq5HHYWojlmWpThH5iUk2tNcGn1FaehRsVW3ir3ZJbgwOxaGHSF1sYMnDgB0o6PAp-UeQuqAUDqujD1gSzhLJ5BU4KR279uFcBvlcIvo1IXZ8yd/w300-h400/0223oranges.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Oh LOOK!! CUPCAKES! I wonder where those came from!! Just ONE made an excellent dinner!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH1H2rP9u2-Xpc3b0EIVDhlyjDJjqD79YACUn-AyhjCCPT_aRDDJXdIDRREjtV5hRQdqQ1UKFaFLsVDyz2LhzOkwGkrX5A4vHUcVztBWPdu7e0nxwzwbRDtakaWIHxrTx9QWTyDp8jO5iqW2M8kWsV5YWh37xHLOKDBO6PiaUnQ38o43k6HdwrM1vWTj3u/s640/0223cupcakes.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH1H2rP9u2-Xpc3b0EIVDhlyjDJjqD79YACUn-AyhjCCPT_aRDDJXdIDRREjtV5hRQdqQ1UKFaFLsVDyz2LhzOkwGkrX5A4vHUcVztBWPdu7e0nxwzwbRDtakaWIHxrTx9QWTyDp8jO5iqW2M8kWsV5YWh37xHLOKDBO6PiaUnQ38o43k6HdwrM1vWTj3u/w300-h400/0223cupcakes.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Which reminds me ... I have ice cream!! And so ended the longest travel day. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Nancy Kissackhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03225296192386107554noreply@blogger.com16