All posts by verily sherrilee

Directionally challenged, crafty, reading mother of young adult
2026, animals, In Memorium, Nature

Edith vs. Squirrels

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Yesterday was the anniversary of the day we lost Edith, our LIttle Jail Bird. Here is another of her posts – one of my favorites!

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Jim’s comment “The squirrels around here seem to be unusually pesky” got me thinking about how much I hate squirrels. South Minneapolis squirrels seem to be especially hateable. People who say squirrels are “cute” either are crazy or they haven’t seen the squirrels in my neighborhood.

When I grew vegetables in my yard, it was an endless source of frustration to see tomatoes get almost to the point of perfect ripeness and then find it lying on the driveway with a squirrel bite taken out of it. The thought of eating a tomato that had been handled by one of those rodents deterred me from ever cutting off the bitten part; my compost pile was the only thing that benefitted from the squirrel leavings (and, actually, the compost pile didn’t benefit, either – see below).

I now only grow herbs and fruits and flowers in my yard. Squirrels like to dig in the planter boxes on the front porch or any freshly turned dirt and also do things like eat tulips off stems before they open their blooms. But at least they aren’t eating my food.

One time a squirrel got into my house. I’m not sure how…but you haven’t seen pure craziness until you’ve seen a squirrel dashing around your house at full speed.

We’ve all heard about how squirrels rob bird feeders of the bird food. If you have an open compost pile, to which you add food scraps, in your yard in south Mpls, you are basically operating a free restaurant for squirrels.

But the real reason I hate squirrels? They hate me. Here’s proof. Those of you who also live in the city of Mpls know that the big gray garbage bins the city provides us for our trash are pretty tough. But they’re not tough enough for south Mpls squirrels. Our diabolical neighborhood squirrels chewed a squirrel-sized hole in the lid of my trash bin. They would then go inside the bin and enjoy snacks 

(this was before I composted most of my food scraps). Then, I out I came, blissfully unaware of any danger, with a bag of trash to put in the bin. I threw open the lid – and SHAZZZAAAMMM out flew anywhere from one to three squirrels in my face. They ran away, laughing hysterically at my scream, and plotting when they can do that again.

I learned to kick the trash bin several times and then stand back before I lifted the lid. After the squirrels escaped, I gave it another kick, then waited to make sure they were all gone before I carefully lifted the lid and tossed in the bag. But sometimes in my usual spacey way, I would forget to kick – and once again the squirrels would enjoy their dominance over me.

Any “cute” object or animal driving you crazy this week?

2026, Food, home, Mysteries

Half Butter?

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YA and I switched from margarine to butter a long time ago.  It was a hit to our budget at the time so I’ve spent years keeping an eye out for butter on sale.  I have absolutely no brand loyalty to any kind of butter, unless you count the seriously fancy hand churned butter that I get a Kowolskis every couple of years.

I’ve also been lucky enough to have two friends who have worked at dairies.  My friend Tim worked at one of the big names for years and he would regularly be able to grab a pound or two of butter from their “free shop”.  Right about the time he retired, my friend Rita moved to the same company and now part of my solstice gift every year is a gift bag of butter.  Such wonderful friends.

Because of how I acquire some of my butter, I don’t always know what I have in the fridge.  Last week, I opened up a box of butter and was surprised when eight little wrapped bars fell out.  Instead of four ½ cup bars, there were eight ¼ cup bars.  As a baker who goes through quite a bit of butter, I laughed out loud.  I didn’t know anybody packaged butter like this.  I do occasionally need a half a stick of butter but it’s pretty rare and when I do, I just cut a whole bar in half.  Not a reach. 

But I suppose there may actually be a need for these half bars since somebody somewhere when to the trouble to manufacture and package these things???

Butter or margarine?  Any brand loyalty?  Would you appreciate half bars?

2026, Health, Mysteries, Technology

Little Dental Offender

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Backstory to today’s story.   Quite a few years ago, one of my back teeth broke (no pain.)  And I mean lots of pieces broke.  My dentist sent me to a specialist to extract it (no pain).  Then after a few weeks, I got a bridge.   Fast forward about six years and I was having some discomfort (ok, yeah, pain) and it turns out that the very back tooth of the bridge needed a root canal.  Sigh.  Off to the endodontist for this.  That morning she said she was a bit concerned due a small crack in the tooth but she thought she could make it work.  Easy peasy (no pain).  This was two years back.

Fast forward again to about 3 months ago when I noticed a bit of discomfort during brushing (no pain, just discomfort).  I paid a lot of attention to this because I figured it was the bridge/root canal acting up after two years.  The discomfort really didn’t change so I decided to let it ride until my usual dentist appointment yesterday.

I explained it to the hygienist (Kenzie) and when she poked at the area, there was a little jolt (yes, of pain) and she backed off.  When the dentist came in to do her check, Kenzie said “I saw a little something stuck there”.   I wasn’t sure what in heavens name could be stuck there – I am an every-night brusher/flosser, including under the bridge.  I was prepared this time for the discomfort when the dentist poked about (a smidge of pain).  She mentioned a tooth fragment while she was poking and that gave me immediate thoughts of one of those bridge teeth disintegrating and all those implant commercials I’ve seen recently flooded my brain.  Turns out that the fragment is NOT from any of my current teeth.  It is almost certainly a fragment left over from the initial tooth that was extracted eight years ago.  The dentist showed me a couple of past x-rays and pointed out what she thought may have been the fragment slowly migrating to the surface. 

WOW. Seems like science fiction to me and I probably said “wow” more than once.  And, of course, I was instantly so relieved.   I couldn’t leave the little fragment just sitting there on the dental tray so I convinced Kenzie to find a little sleeve to put it in.  I’m pretty sure I won’t keep it for more than a couple of weeks, but really – WOW.

I’ve never had a souvenir from the dentist before – unless you count floss and toothpaste.  Truly I’m pretty sure I ever want another but for now, this will do.

What’s one of your most unlikely souvenirs? Bonus points if you know where the phrase “little offenders” comes from.

2026, animals, Family, Food, Mysteries, Nature, Travel, TV

Buckeyes

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We got to Columbus about 9:30 a.m. on a Friday morning and after picking up the rental car, we got to the hotel well before check-in time… in fact we were there before check-out time.   We knew this was a possibility so we left my phone number with the front desk and headed out.

Started with lunch at The Rusty Bucket.  Veggie burgers, fries and fried pickles.  Best fried pickles ever.  It was a gorgeous day and we sat near the big open windows so there was a great breeze.  Then we headed over for a hike to Indian Falls.  We walked quite a bit down of pathway before we realized that the little gurgling “rapids” we had passed earlier were the actual falls. Guess living so close to Minnehaha Falls, I had bigger expectations.  But it was pretty and we got to pet a few dogs along the way.

I know I mentioned Anthony Thomas Candies earlier; we found an Anthony Thomas Candy Shoppe outlet between the falls and our motel.  Anthony Thomas is a fourth-generation company that started as a Dairy Co-op in 1932 and following a couple of expansions, in 1952 they began making what is now their signature candy – the buckeye – peanut butter filling surrounded by milk chocolate.  They make 14 million buckeyes a year and are recognized by Ohio State University for the licensing of the candies.   We found a little box of what they call their “oops” – seconds.  Neither YA nor I could figure out what was wrong with them.  They were delicious – and cheaper!

Quick stop at a grocery store for a few bottles of pop/water for the fridge in our room and then headed back to the motel for our check-in.  Showers, lunch leftovers for dinner and we found Banana Ball on ESPN.  In a complete reversal of our usual roles, I am a BB fan, YA is not.  However she humored me.

Set our alarms to make sure we got up early enough for our adventure on Saturday.  Not bad for a travel day, no?

Do you have a candy that you would eat, even if it were an “oops”?

2026, crops, Food, gardening, Seasons

Cherry Tomato Delight

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Saturday night was the first downpour we’ve had in a while.  So it didn’t surprise me when my tomatoes, which are really tall for the first week of July, were sagging over, taking their tomato cages with them.  I don’t usually have to shore up tomatoes this early in the season, but …. gotta do what you gotta do.   As I was pushing my stakes in, I found two ripe cherry tomatoes.  Two.  On the 5th of July.  I have never ever had ripe tomatoes this early.

I usually pull out the cookbooks looking for tomato recipes in late July, early August.  But I have the perfect recipe for these two darlings.

First of the Season Cherry Tomato Delight
Ingredients
Two perfect cherry tomatoes
Salt (optional)

Instructions
After harvesting the two cherry tomatoes, rinse thoroughly
Pat tomatoes dry
Open mouth
Pop the first tomato in
Chew
Repeat

Serves just one

What summer produce are you looking forward to the most?

 

 

 

2026, Art, books, Fantasy, Mysteries

Fire Drill

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Last week when I stopped at the library to pick up a couple of things, there was signage at the entrance that at 2 p.m., there was a schedule fire drill.  I asked one of the librarians what was involved and she said “the drill rings, everybody goes outside and stands around until the bell rings to indicate they can come back in.”  She said that they are usually very low-key.

But it made me think about what would happen if it were a real drill and the library was on fire.  It reminded me of the ending scene of Legal Eagles, a wildly improbable film from the mid 80s.  The bad guy sets a fire in a swanky art gallery in New York (where they just happen to be having a memorial service for one of the owners).  As the funeral goers are rushing to get out, there is a quick shot of some folks trying to take some of the art with them:

So, here’s the drill.  You’re in the library when the bells go off, somebody yells “smoke, smoke”.  You have just enough time to save five books.  What books will they be?  I’ll get us started.

  • Gone With the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
  • Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell
  • The Martian by Andy Weir
  • Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
  • The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Us by Heather McGee.

Go.  (elaborate if desired)

2026, animals, Automotive, Computers, Family, Mysteries, Nature, Technology, Travel, Uncategorized

YA in Charge

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We went to Columbus because I love the television show “Secrets of the Zoo”.  It ran for five seasons beginning in 2018 and spawned “Secrets of the Zoo Tampa”, “Secrets of the Zoo North Carolina” and “Secrets of the Zoo Down Under”.  Down Under was resurrected a couple of years ago for an additional season and depending on what you’re willing to believe on the internet, there MAY be a Season 8.  I was (am?) addicted to these shows – loved seeing the animals and the folks who cared for them.  I’ve definitely seen all the episodes of all the show and most of them more than once. 

The original Secrets explored the behind the scenes lives of the animals, the zoo keepers and the zoo vets.  They also shared each episode with The Wilds, a safari park and conservation area about 90 minutes from Columbus.  It looked as fascinating as the zoo.

When Guinevere passed away, YA and I were suddenly free to travel together – something that hadn’t happened for about 5 years.  We decided that going to Columbus to see the Zoo and the Wilds would be perfect. 

As is my norm, I immediately got a binder out and made tabs for air, hotel, rental car, cat boarding, zoo, Wilds and miscellaneous. 

YA used her work “points” for the rental car, spent some On the Fly cards for the air and got a smokin’ hot rate at a hotel using her Iatan status.  Turns out we even got Comfort + seating because she’s got a gazillion Delta miles.  I asked her for confirming emails for everything so I could print them out – she begrudgingly did this commenting that it wasn’t necessary since she had all the info on her phone.  Even the kitty boarding place sent everything via text and email.  But not to be outdone, I dragged the binder with us to Columbus.

Because we were leaving at an ungodly hour from Minneapolis, YA set up Lyft transfers (cheaper than the off-site lots at the airport).  Once we got to Columbus, she did all the driving because it would have cost extra every day to add a driver.  So I let her choose the car.  I didn’t even know what hotel we were going to before we drove up.  She had handled that as well, including making sure it was a double/double configuration. 

Really the only thing I was in charge of was the Zoo and the Wilds.  Even those were handling with QR codes (used our MN Zoo membership to get a discount) and getting emails with links and receipts.  Just had to flash my phone at the entrance of both. 

Suffice it to say, YA was mostly in charge of everything during the trip and I didn’t open my binder one single time.  It felt kind of freeing but sigh… the times they are a changin’.

How has travel changed for you over the years?  For the good or for the bad?

2026, Family, home, pets, Travel, Uncategorized

Meet Freya

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First off, no we did not go get her in Columbus. 

We officially started our dog search about a month ago.  It went quite quickly – adoption application, meet and greet at the foster’s home, a virtual home visit (which we passed with flying colors), more paper work.  Took our Columbus trip, got home last Monday and picked her up on Wednesday!

She is one of five siblings who were “breeder release” dogs from Missouri.  There are a couple of scenarios for this.  Some BR dogs have been over-bred and the breeders don’t want them anymore.  Then apparently many breeders quickly get in over their heads, especially if they get too many puppies around the same time or they just have other issues that keep them from getting their dogs adopted out.  We think she is this latter category of “overwhelmed” as she clearly has not had puppies.  The rescue organization (which is actually in Wisconsin) goes to breeder release events and purchases dogs which they then adopt out.

She came up as “Olga” on the rescue website.  The foster mom said that they just make up the names – theses siblings came with just twine around their necks and little hand written tags.  Olga’s said “37”.  That was it.  Apparently most of her 18 months have been spent in a kennel.

On the way to the meet & greet, YA and I decided we did NOT want Olga as a name so we came up with a short list.  Isolde and Jorinda were completely shot down by YA immediately.  We also added Arwen and Galadriel from Lord of the Rings.  YA wasn’t crazy about these either but she didn’t rule them out.   This lead me to Freya, Norse goddess of love. YA grudgingly thought this was OK. 

As we entered the house to meet the dog, the foster mom said “she responds better to Freya than to Olga”.  YA and I looked at each other and smiled – was there ever a better omen?

She is about average height for a female Sammy, although she is skinny at this point.  Hard to tell with all that fur.  She is extremely skittish and shy but she adapts well.  After the first couple of airplanes overhead, she is now ignoring them although low-flyers that cast a shadow still bug her).  She is very very curious and has already shown a passion for standing on her back legs and looking out the windows.  The cat has decided she isn’t a threat but Freya doesn’t feel that way about the cat yet.  She loves other dogs, so in a few more days, we may introduce her to some of the other canines in the neighborhood.

The rescue organization has some strict rules about adoption; they prefer to still have “ownership” of the dogs until their medical exams and spay/neuters happen.  So right now we as “fostering to adopt” and the adoption will be finalized three days after the spay, which will most likely be towards the end of July. 

We are ecstatic – she is very sweet and we already adore her.  Now the race is on to find an Irish Setter to complete our little household!

What happens after it rains cats and dogs?

2026, books, Business, Mysteries

Grade-B Titles?

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I just finished The Last Mandarin by Louise Penny (5 stars).  The main character has a tense relationship with her mom and early in the book came this:  “My mother loves a monster.  Now there’s the title of a Grade-B movie.”

It made me laugh and lead me to thinking about some other funny titles that I’ve read over the years.

  • Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? (Philip Dick)
  • The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat (Oliver Sachs)
  • How to Tell if Your Cat is Plotting to Kill You (Matthew Inman)
  • The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating (Elisabeth Bailey)
  • The 100–Year Old Man Who Climbed Out a Window and Disappeared (Jonas Jonasson)
  • Everyone Poops (Taro Gomi)
  • Another Bullshit Night in Suck City (Nick Flynn)

Of course, there are a LOT of funny titles out there; I suppose authors think it will hook readers into picking up their books.  It certainly works on me.

Here are a few others I found online…

  • No Matter How Much You Promise to Cook or Pay the Rent You Blew It Cauze Bill Bailey Ain’t Never Coming Home Again (Edgardo Vega Yunque)
  • And To My Nephew Albert I Leave The Island What I Won Off Fatty Hagan in a Poker Game (David Forrest)
  • The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake (Aimee Bender)
  • Shit My History Teacher Did Not Tell Me (Karl Wiggins)
  • Everything I Know About Women I Learned From My Tractor (Roger Welsch)

Of course, now I’ll have to read these too!

Any funny titles on your reading list lately?

 

 

2026, animals, Business, Family, Food, History, Mysteries, Travel

Where in the World Are VS & YA?

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It’s been a few years since YA and I traveled together.  This is a four-day weekend trip that we’ve talked about for a few years now.  Here are some interesting facts about our location:

  • Nearly half the residents of the US live near here
  • The gate to hell is hiding underneath North Street
  • Part of the Berlin Wall can be found here
  • Woody Harrelson was arrested in this city in 1982 before hitting it big in Hollywood
  • The Anthony Thomas Company makes 50,000 pounds of chocolate here daily, including their famous candy named after a state tree
  • The NFL was headquartered here from 1927 until 1938
  • Jack Hanna is Director Emeritus to one of the largest attractions of its kind in North America here.

Where in the world are we?  (Bonus points if you can say WHY we’re here!)