Guess what this is?

It has something to do with cleaning vegetables.

Changing the seat material ourself.

We thought this was going to be simple. It's just a simple round seat. It has 4 screws to hold the seat down. We didn't think they'd also staple all the way around plus put glue on the material edge. But what is even worse is those staples are in for good. That round thing on the table is the seat upside down. We had cut the piece of material to fit than realized we wouldn't get the old staples out.So now we are just putting the new over the old. Then we realized we had the material but no staples the correct size. Joe had already stapled his hand by mistake. In the end we will put the seat back together and try to find something that will work.

So if you come to visit make sure you don't sit on the chair with no seat. You might be trapped in that chair a long time.

Accident

I got up this morning and look out the window. Nothing different. So I go eat breakfast. Next thing I know Joe is asking if I looked out lately. It seems a few vehicles were in a accident after my morning look out the window. It removed our mailbox. This happens sometimes. Now Joe is busy putting in a new mailbox before the mailman arrives. The good thing is this is our trash pick up day which we didn't get out by the curb till after the accident.

Halloween

Tonight is trick or treat. I thought I made it clear how much candy we needed. I said we will need enough for three trick or treaters. He came home with THREE BAGS full. He wanted to make sure there were enough for us also. The question is should I  make him put on a costume, ring the bell, and say, "Trick or treat,"  before he gets the left overs?

Birthday Ritual

Here we are gathered around for the ritual of blowing out the candles. I'm puckered up ready to blow  but it seems we are having a little trouble getting the candle lit. I'm gripping the cake dish to steady it because when lit I'm giving it a huge puff which could scoot that dish across the table. The fire starter was having trouble lighting the candle. I've used that candle for ten years because we never lit it. It was getting even with us. So we ended up pretending the candle was lit and I blew out the flame from the fire starter. What are those things called?

It seems the Swiss in 1881 was the first documented case of birthday candles being blown out with one candle representing one year. I got that info from Wikipedia so have to take that info with a grain of salt.

How to find lost items

We thought Joe had more jeans then 3  pair but couldn't find them. Today I needed batteries. You'd think the difference in size would limit where I look. But that is the secret to finding things that you can't find. You have to look in abnormal places. We still haven't unpacked some boxes and even though it was sitting in the bedroom, you'd think we'd look there first. For jeans not batteries.

We did find the batteries too. They were in the TV cabinet.

The thought did enter my head that if we had unpacked everything and put them where they should be then this wouldn't happen. But then that takes the fun out of it.

Ah Oh.

"Hee hee," giggled Dusty who just got caught in the act.

 Now we know what she does do while we are gone.

Holes

This squirrel is hiding nuts for the winter. He seems to be hiding them so his squirrel friends can't find them. This is not working because we have seen many empty squirrel holes. Either that or he finds a better spot and moves the nut.

This brings me to the fact that I'm not much different than squirrels.    I keep my goodies in the oven. It is a big hole which I don't even have to dig. The trick is to not turn the oven on when there are goodies in it.

The squirrels have been very busy. Hope that doesn't mean a hard winter. Anyone using my oven be sure to check if the oven is empty before turning it on.

Scenic Iowa

We drove through farm land and small towns where you do not see any fast food. Also no trash along the street. This is the trouble with fast food. Take it on the road and people use their windows to dump the trash. Maybe instead of enlisting people to pick it up they should campaign not to throw it out the window to begin with.

Sometime naps are needed

Naps are needed for everyone sometimes. Specially in this case when it's hot out and Dusty is an old dog at 12 years old. We won't mention Joe's age.

Who says if it is really burnt.

Joe says this pizza is burnt. I say it is just surface browned. We cut into it and sure enough, it wasn't burnt all the way through. So we just ate the inside part and skipped the crust on the edge. I like my meat well done, not my pizza. I don't like my meat burnt either. Don't they say that eating burnt stuff makes your hair curl?

Lost in Confusion

Today I couldn't find my shoes. Until I discovered them hiding in the carpet. I must have worked them hard yesterday at the family reunion. When I picked them up I heard them say,"I knew that sole would give us away."

Let us take a ride

We took a ride last weekend and drove through 3 states. This is Ohio. Or was it Indiana? I don't think it's Michigan. I guess it really doesn't matter. The reason I didn't get a picture before it got dark is the camera was in the back. A barn is still just a barn. A field of corn is still just corn. But we did see a giant chicken sign. And a sign with an egg. Joe suggested going back for the shot but sometimes lazy is still just lazy. Yawn.Yawn.

Big Boys Toys.

Even big boys have their toys. It doesn't show up very well but it's a remote control helicopter. If it was any higher even Joe couldn't reach it.

Officially move is over.

 

Here is the last part of the move. This is garage stuff. It has been in the low hundred degrees but the break should be tomorrow. So we just put things on the patio and will wait to unpack the stuff when it cools off. We are currently in a drought condition. This is not usual weather. The good part is there are no mosquitoes. Also we don't have to mow as much as the grass isn't growing. Makes you want to go north till the heat wave breaks...or go out and get ice cream and take a siesta.

New Tile

The tile is done. So here it is. I think I like it.

After the move

The boxes aren't unpacked yet but Joe decided to tile the kitchen. The old stuff buckled and he thought it was a tripping hazard. So here he is studying the plan. This is what happens when you age, you take your glasses off to read. Then lay them on the floor. They have been known to get swallowed by the couch also. In this case he did pick his glasses up before anyone stepped on them.

Don't try this at home!

Dusty found this scorpion on the living room carpet. Joe sort of touched it (he said he just thought it was a piece of dust) and Dusty jumped back. She must have had contact before. Joe has too, and it hurts! So when he saw what it was he got a pill bottle and managed to trap it. Then we put it in the freezer. The pill bottle does have a lid on. This morning I checked it and it is pretty frozen but I didn't want to take off the lid to photograph it. We had one in the past that we froze and when we unfroze it, it was still alive. These guys you don't want to fool with.  They can climb walls. Joe was lucky this time. If you ever come to my house I'd advise to open containers carefully. We've been known to use butter containers also.

Avalanche

When you leave a room you never know what you will find on returning to it. Someone was looking for something and that triggered an avalanche. It couldn't have been my fault cause everything was stacked neatly at one time. But I draw the line at rewashing clean clothes just because they touched the floor.

 I did save clothes that I call painting clothes.  But what tends to happen is they put on a decent shirt and turn it into a paint shirt. And then they wonder where all their good clothes went. I guess it's hard to wear a shirt to paint in when it already has paint on it. Don't they know that is artistic?

Myth - Everybody loves ice cream-Can I have yours then?

We love ice cream. I think this ice cream is happy too. It smiled at us when we opened the container. If you look closely at the lid, it is saying, "NO, eat some more." This makes it very hard to lose weight. Why doesn't healthy stuff talk  to you. Like broccoli.

It seems ice cream was invented  in Italy during the 17th century. To read more about ice cream try The Food Timeline.

It's a buggy kind of day

First thing Joe had to leave for work. I was wandering around looking for his keys (he took the spare set) and wandered into no man's land, the garage. I only had the door open a second and in flies  (should I even call it) a mosquito. I tried to shoe it back to the garage but it insisted going it's own way, into the house. I closed the door to the laundry room thinking I'd at least keep it confined. When... it outwitted me. Somehow disappeared. Now I've got a 2 inch mosquito hiding in the house. So I go back out to the garage and there is another, probably waiting for it's turn. I took a picture of this one who seemed to be inactive. It had blood in it's belly. Uggh. I had to prove it didn't I. I went out to get a better picture and it was gone. Maybe looking for me. Ekk! So here I am scanning the rooms every couple seconds knowing it's out there some place. Maybe retired Joe won't be so bad. I'd put this under a Honey= do.

Tools of Retirement

Joe is excited that retirement is almost here. He's dreaming of sleeping in late, not worrying about the time, and working on his hobbies. I think he has forgotten 'The Tools of Retirement. Da Da Da Dom.

1) List of household chores not done because it's too late and he has to get up in the morning and go to work.

2) Any thing that needs fixing that he said he'd do when he had more time.

3) Do you really think we need a number three? Everything else, just in case I missed one, I'd cover with a 'Honey Do'. "Honey do this and honey do that."

And he thought retirement was going to be fun.

Easter

Well today was a day to record in history. We were invited to Bill and Martha's house for dinner. Now you have to keep in mind that we have lived in the general area for a total of 15 years. Plus the car was given 6 months of use free on a GPS. So we had a voice telling us where to turn. We still lost our way twice. Not once but twice. We did eventually get there. Joe likes the voice. If so than why doesn't he like my voice telling him where to turn? Maybe that is best left unanswered.

It was still a good Easter. Everyone waited for us and we got sweets to take home. Ah! Life is good.

Yesterday

Here is the van where it broke down. I know I used this picture in the last blog but it applies to the old van also.

Yesterday it's not what it used to be
For they towed you away forever to be lost to me.
Now I believe in yesterday.

Suddenly you're not the car you used to be.
There is a storm cloud hovering over me.
But the air went out so wet I'll be.

You were running strong.
It was that transmission deserted you.
But you kept going on to get to the driveway you knew.

Now it's time to say goodbye cause they have taken you away.
Others will determine your fate and so Joe will say,
"It's a good car that breaks down in your own driveway."

Out with the old

Our faithful minivan which has 250,000 miles finally is done. It looks fine till you look closer. The transmission has been acting up and Thursday on the way to work someone ran Joe off the road into the median and the van decided to have an anxiety attack and kick the transmission out of order. Joe limped to work and limped home but when he went to drive it again, the wheels locked up. He had been on the phone to make arrangements to buy another car. All he had to do was pick it up. So since the van wouldn't roll he called the dealer and asked for a ride. Now we have an itty bitty car. The back seat is only good for dogs or groceries. Now no one is going to want to eat at our house because of the dog hair in the groceries and if going someplace with friends, they will have to drive cause there is no leg room. So we are really saving money. Plus the 40mpg helps. But what really got Joe salivating was the verbal commands to operate the cell phone. It must be a guy thing.

Update on Dusty

For awhile there we thought we might have to put Dusty to sleep. But then when things got darkest she passed something and the vet said that was good. As long as she was eating and eliminating she would be OK. She did have a fever last night (her forehead was warm-no we didn't use a thermometer) but today is normal. She liked the tuna favored laxative mixed with rice. Sounds yummy. I'm just kidding. She still doesn't feel real good as she is extra jumpy but improving. So I continue to make her meals of rice, chicken and broth. It's easier on her digestive system. Joe made a comment that I'd cook for her and not him. The day she grows thumbs than she can cook for herself. If she cooks for herself she may as well cook for us too.

Joe says I have to put a disclaimer on what he said because my twisted CBD brain remembers it wrong. He says he didn't say that. It's probably the PD medication. May as well blame the meds for everything.

If you are eating-don't read this

Yesterday Dusty had to go to the vet. She was throwing up bile and mucus with a little blood coming out the other end. I didn't know how I would get her to the vets but Richard came over and took us. The vet thinks she ate something that is obstructing her colon. So he gave her a laxative. I'm to give her a second dose this morning. Dusty dislikes cats and much to my surprise, the laxative is for cats to dislodge hairballs. I don't think I'll tell her. This morning I'll mix it in with egg, chicken, and rice. It's tuna flavored. Chicken and tuna together? I wouldn't want it but maybe she won't mind. I'm to watch for the foreign object to come out. So last night had to follow her around the yard with a flashlight. At first I think she was shy about this light following her butt. Today I have to continue the watch but at least it's light now so won't need the flashlight. If it doesn't come out today I'm to call the vet and he will want to x-ray her. Don't want that so today to encourage it's arrival, I'm feeding her lots of broth and rice and chicken. She's not going to want to go back to dog food. I decided not to post a picture with this post.

Joe and I

This is Joe and I at the wedding reception. I thought it was the best picture of us but that could be because it was darker than the others. If you are wondering why I use a picture of us instead of the bride and groom...read the title. It's all about me. Ha! Just kidding. It's about you too.

Today is Valentines Day! Now you know the real reason I used a picture of us!

Wedding feet

My son got married yesterday
Now I have a daughter today.
She is smart and sweet
So I have to shout
For everyone to hear,
I have a daughter today!

Don't they look like a great couple?

Skeletons we have

Everyone has a skeleton in the closet. Politicians running for office bring them out. In our case we had one in the door. A gecko got smashed when we shut the door a couple years ago. It just this morning fell out on the threshold for all to see. Poor little gecko!
Now I wonder how long it will take to pick up the skeleton and dispose of it.

To see close-up click on picture.

Cold

We turned the furnace off yesterday cause the house was warm. Forgot to turn it back on. This morning it was cold in here. I looked at the thermostat and it said 70 degrees. Why are my feet so cold? They are saying it's 46 F outside and my feet must be going by that.

Ok. I just turned the heat back on cause no one wanted to leave the blanket and get off the couch. My fingers don't want to type.

erererer. see. Or is that what the car says when it doesn't want to start. I think we are getting Wendy's chili for lunch.

Toast

As I was making my morning toast, I began to wonder who invented toast. I googled 'toast invented' and found the Egyptians did 6000 years ago when they invented fluffy bread. Before that it was all unleavened. Toast came shortly after that. In the process of looking for truth I found a lot which was not... and it was obvious and some not-so-obvious. This should be a warning that you can't believe everything you read on the Internet. Just like photos now a days can't be relied on.

Changing Times

I never thought when I was a young adult that my generation would see as much change as my parent's generation did. My kids have never seen a keypunch machine. Here I am at work punching little holes in cards to be run into the computer to either tell it what to do or input data.








Here I am more recently doing the same thing at home! I mean inputting data, not punching holes in little cards. Who would have thought just 40 years would bring this much change.

My parents would tell us kids how hard they had to work weeding fields from sun up to sun down. Now I tell mine I had to work hard making holes in cards. The difference is I've got pictures to back me up. And you know what they say about that: "A picture is worth a thousand words."

What an adventure life is in the future!

The Crystal Ball

Sometimes you just don't know what you want but sometimes you just think it's not possible. Maybe to make it possible you just got to believe. Be positive. Look into your future and make it what you want. If it doesn't turn out the way you thought then at least you tried. Maybe it will be better. Gaze into my crystal ball...