Last month, after my egg run down to the farm, I delivered a couple dozen to PJ. We spent a nice hour chatting and I don’t think we talked about eggs once.
Then as I was leaving, Hans came down and when we told him I had delivered eggs, he starting telling me about his little egg cooker. It wasn’t long before I was in the kitchen and he was demonstrating the various parts. (There aren’t actually that many parts, so it was a short demonstration.) It seemed very intriguing and with the internet at my fingers, I had ordered one before I knew it!
It’s a fabulous little contraption. It makes soft boiled and hard boiled as well as omelets and poached, if you want to use one of the little plates that are part of the kit. And it’s extraordinarily easy. I’ve been using it pretty regularly – mostly for soft boiled eggs, which I haven’t had for years since I can never get them just right using a pot of water. I also made a few hard boiled with eggs from the farm and got the brightest orangey-yellow egg salad I’ve ever had.
Unfortunately I can’t use it for the dyed eggs this weekend. The cooker requires a teeny pin prick in the top of each egg and that pin prick will let all kinds of dye into the eggs when they are submerged. Oh well, not the end of the world and my little cooker won’t be side-lined long!
Thanks for PJ and Hans for introducing me to my latest kitchen gadget!
Getting dressed is the official start of my day. All the things I do before I get dressed (Connections, crossword, Wordle, Duolingo) don’t count. This part of the day I am still in my jammies. While there were a couple of times I never changed out of my pajamas for the entire day (working from home, no zoom meetings), those were complete anomalies. Once I get dressed, I get on with my day.
Of course the problem is Wednesdays and my doughnut habit. For some reason, all bets are off about going to the bakery early in the morning and there are a sizeable number of Wednesday that see me at the bakery in my nighttime garb. Mind you, this is in colder weather when I can cover up with a sweatshirt or a winter coat – my summer nightgowns don’t lend themselves to early morning bakery forays.
This past Wednesday morning, I looked down as I was getting into the car and realized I was still wearing my slippers. Long story as to why I still had my slippers on, involving having to let the dog out earlier and it being quite cold that morning. I did sit for about 15 second debating whether to go back in the house to put on shoes and decided “what the heck”. Really what’s the difference between my Birkenstock clogs and slippers anyway, except for the faux fuzz.
This made me think about fashion in general. There aren’t really any rules about going out in slippers, are there? For that matter, except for not going out naked, are there any rules at all? Even the never wear white before Memorial Day or after Labor Day is just silly, right? And what’s the difference between my jammie pants and overshirt and any other nylon/orlon pants and matching shirt? In fact, why do we even HAVE pajamas?
I love house plants. Unfortunately so does Nimue. In the first few years after she joined the household, she has decimated ALL the plants. Nothing was safe from her. I can’t even start seedings.
As I realized she was laying waste to my house plants, I was able to train her to stay off the bookcase in my bedroom. YA’s fish, Sheldon has come to live in my room and I hoped that maybe a couple of plants could survive there. I pulled out all the books and them stacked them sideways at all different angles. When Nimue tried to climb up (as she had done many times before), her weight would shift the books and down they came, cat and all. it took about a month before she gave up; Sheldon and my two plants had found a safe haven.
Then about six years ago, I found an inexpensive coat rack at a garage sale. Just plain black metal but the arms stick out from the rack about 10 inches so it’s made a fabulous plant rack. I found some inexpensive macrame pot holders so they hang very prettily. Sheldon has since gone to that great fishbowl in the sky and a couple of succulents have taken his place on the bookshelf. In all these years since her catastrophic attempts to scale the books, Nimue has left the bookcase completely alone.
So when I saw class at Gertens for making a terrarium I thought that might make a nice addition to my small greenery collection. It was a Saturday morning – one of the only really cold mornings this year – and about 40 hardy souls had ventured out. They supplied everything: a little fish bowl, rocks, charcoal, soil, piece of screen and itty bitty plants. The two folks running the class walked us through the various layers and then let us loose to chose which plants we wanted, which rock, etc. I actually took notes – in case I wanted to make any more on my own. This turned out to be very helpful and most of the folks at stations around me took a peek at my notes while we were making our layers. The class was only about an hour but I really enjoyed it.
The gal doing most of the teaching also mentioned that if we wanted any little critters or fairies or gnomes, we should check out the fairy garden section of Gertens. I hope she got a commission as I think ALL of us stopped by there. I got little bunnies and a crystal sphere on a tree stump (it just spoke to me).
I don’t know if I’ll make more… I’ll have to research how to get the very small amounts of some of the layers (rocks, charcoal) without buying whole bags of the stuff. And, of course, I’ll have to find a spot where it will be safe from the Plant Ravager!
I’ve been a vegetarian for 51 years. At that time there was a company in California called Loma Linda who made a handful of meat analogs; here in the Midwest you could find them in the occasional health food store. I only tried one of their products once. Too much money and the taste didn’t appeal too much. It looks like they are still in business but I haven’t seen their products around here for a few decades.
Meat alternatives have never been a big draw for me. We do some vegetarian sausages regularly and occasionally a veggie hot dog or veggie bacon, but that’s about it. I’m not interested in fake tuna or fake corn dogs or fake chicken filets. There are TONS more vegetarian/fake meats out there these days but I don’t pay too much attention.
Last week Trader Joe’s featured “Vegan Pepperoni” in their monthly flyer and it caught my eye so I stopped by when I was out and about and picked up a package. Also got some herbed pizza dough while I was there (pizza dough is in the refrigerated section right beneath the pepperoni – coincidence?
I made the pizza the next day – tomato sauce, pepperonis, green olives, black olives, provolone, shaved parmesan/romano, mozzarella. It was quite yummy.
There is a half package of the vegan pepperonis left – I will probably make another pizza in the next couple of days. I’m pretty sure that the pepperonis won’t ben a regular purchase for us. While they were OK, they certainly didn’t make the pizza stand out. There are so many good things that can go on a pizza; pepperonis just aren’t necessary in my book. I’m not sorry I got them, just not looking forward to getting them again.
Yesterday afternoon, after doing a boatload of errands, I came home feeling… joyous. I’m not exactly sure why – it’s not my normal go-to reaction to doing errands. The only think I could think was that yesterday, I finally handled two issues that have been on my back-burner for months. Neither of the issues is the biggest deal, so it’s been easy to put them off.
The main reason that I addressed both these issues is because this meme has popped up a couple of time the last two weeks:
It’s funny because it’s true of a lot of us, especially me. But seeing it multiple times felt like an omen that needed addressing.
Anyway, when I got home in my great mood, I asked Alexa to play “Sugar, Sugar” by the Archies. I’m not putting the song up here because if you have any liking for it at all, you remember it. And if you don’t like it, I don’t want to torture you. But it’s a happy tune and it’s great to dance to in the kitchen while you’re putting away groceries. Alexa then went on to play a lot more bubblegum rock – more good boogie music. Gave the dog and cat some extra afternoon treats. Texted YA that I love her.
It makes me wish I had more things I’ve been putting off; wondering if I can recreate this mood at will by playing a silly song by a made-up cartoon group?
Do you ever dance in the kitchen? Sing in the car? Or the shower?
This weekend Husband and I are going to have a shred fest, disposing of lots of unneeded documents that we sorted through and discarded last Saturday. For some reason probably having to do with all the renovation in the basement, our housekeeping has really gone south over the past 18 months.
What with Covid and our busy schedules we have had very few guests over to the house in the past couple of years. Last Sunday that changed when Husband gave a cello lesson to one of our church choir members. The aspiring cellist brought his wife along, also a choir member, and we had to do a lot of house cleaning before they came. The dust was awful, and there were countless dog nose prints on the bay window that needed to be cleaned. We even cleaned out closets and brought lots of stuff to the thrift store. We also gave the basement a good cleaning now that the renovations are completely done. We were exhausted by the time we were finished.
We really don’t have a schedule for cleaning. We just do what needs to be done when we see it. I think that when we are both fully retired it will be easier to be more intentional housekeepers. Cleaning closets is pretty low on the list, but it sure feels good when I open the closets and see the organization and fewer things. I have the same approach to cleaning and organizing my desk at work. I have a far too grand, u-shaped desk at work that allows me to have stacks of papers that get bigger and bigger and still leave me room to do my work. You can see how ridiculously big this desk is.
I also have some odd figures that I have acquired over the years that hold pride of place in one corner of the desk. You can see them in the header photo. When the paper piles start encroaching on Moishe and Sigmund, then I know it is time to file things and straighten things up.
What did or does your desk look like at work? What is your decorative style?
It’s winter again for a few days in Minnesota in February. In Rochester we have a dusting of snow and we had 13 degrees one morning. Good thing I plugged in the chickens’ water bucket. I had to keep moving in my sleeveless shirt or it was almost chilly.
And at least we don’t have mud for a day or two. But now I have frozen ruts. Boy, I’m just never happy with the weather.
I am making satisfactory progress on the farm bookwork and even getting some minor stuff done in the shed. I replaced the dust collector chute on the miter saw (after a minor woodworking mishap broke the old one.) The new one is 3D printed!
That whole concept is really neat! I don’t want to get my own yet, but I’ve got a buddy who had made me several parts with his 3D printer.
I’m a hack carpenter and even with the best of intentions, things don’t always work out the best or like I thought it would work out. The worst part is feeling like I’ll be judged by better builders than me. That’s the part that hurts the most. I got some tin on a door frame and was able to finish the lower part of the steel on the north wall of the shed.
I still need to frame the window and add the upper steel on the North wall and there’s a lot to do on the East wall yet.
Spring will be coming. I’ve ordered 50 baby chicks due to arrive the first part of April. And I’ve got seed ordered, so I’m gonna need a place to put that seed. Usually, it goes on this wagon.
Anyone see a problem with this? I don’t know, last summer when I started this shop project, I guess I didn’t see this coming. As we get closer and I can get machinery back outside, I guess I’ll just have to put pallets down and pile stuff on them so I have a place on the wagon. (I don’t put the seed on the ground on pallets so I don’t get mice in it.) Maybe if I was a harder worker. But I’m also trying to decide HOW I want to put things back. Where should the bolts go? What am I doing with tools? I don’t like pegboard, and I don’t have the same wall space I had before. Maybe I need a rolling toolbox? Maybe I need the slatwall display stuff? I’m almost paralyzed with indecision!
Speaking of design choices, we’re going to have our main bathroom remodeled later this fall. We have a builder lined up and Kelly has been perusing the bathroom remodeling sites for months. This bathroom and the adjoining laundry room are mostly original to the house built in 1968. We’ve painted and done wallpaper and added a wall in the laundry room when we put on an addition in 1995. But the tile floor, and the woodwork are dated, and it is finally time. Kelly has been very patient. The plan is to take some of the square footage from the laundry room, move the washer and dryer to the opposite wall, and gain a little room in the bathroom. It’s all pretty exciting to think about. Before photo:
This is mainly Kelly’s bathroom. I have the mudroom bathroom and that was remodeled a few years ago as part of the entryway remodeling.
Years ago, I had a jacket I wore all the time. I wore it for years (it came with a free tractor!); it was comfortable and I liked it. Once day I misplaced it and a friend of mine said “oh, you mean that ratty jacket?”…and that was it; it was tainted, and I got rid of it. As I told him about the bathroom project he said, ‘When are you remodeling YOUR bathroom?’ I was kinda flummoxed. I just did my bathroom. I mean, it could use a cleaning… but… What’s wrong with my bathroom?? Maybe he meant the basement bathroom with the 1960 pink retro look. But I hear that’s coming back.
YOU CAN 3-D PRINT ANYTHING WITH ANY MATERIAL. WHAT ARE YOU MAKING?
Over the past month I have had to move from one suite of offices to another suite of offices three computers we use for psychological testing at work. Our tech guy has been instructed by his superiors that he can’t assist me with the move. He is only responsible for making sure the electrical outlets in the new rooms are working. He is allowed to help if we have trouble getting the computers to work if they don’t work after I move them and reconnect all the cords.
Well, it is the reconnecting the cords that is the challenge. I am proud that I was able to keep the computers and monitors connected while I moved them so the set up wasn’t too hard. It was somewhat of a challenge to make sure the speakers were set up correctly, since I had to unplug them for the move. I used a cart to make the move.
Now that the gas stove is set up and working again in the family room, I face the task of reconnecting the TV, cable box, DVD player, and ancient VHS player to one another and get them working. When we disconnected them to move them so that the carpet installers could do their work, I tried to keep the cords plugged in to the players as much as I could. We couldn’t keep all the things connected like I did at work. I fear I may need to phone the cable company, who is also our internet and land line provider to come and help with the set up, which they will do, but I hope I can figure it out on my own. I just hope all the cords are there and not somewhere odd in the furnace room where everything was stored and where we still have too much clutter. I also have to figure out how to clean the lens on the cd player in the living room. Uffda!
What has been your greatest technological set up challenge? Is it hard or easy for you to ask for help?
I have never really had trouble saying “No” to people. I was a pretty strict parent, and I don’t often find myself doing things with or for people that I don’t want to. Husband is pretty different, as he is the oldest child in his family and since he has been small has catered to others. When his younger sister was still in a play pen, he took it as his job to retrieve all the toys she threw out of her play pen. It became quite a game for her, I understand. He just kept retrieving the toys, though.
When our children were young and were home and bored, Husband couldn’t stand it if they looked unhappy, and was always rescuing them from their boredom and devising things for them to do. This used to drive me crazy, as I was worried they would never learn to entertain themselves. I guess that is due to my experiences as an only child, since I always had to entertain myself.
Our Cesky Terrier, Kyrill, is a lovely and affectionate boy who is really spoiled. He has pegged Husband as an easy mark for constant play and cossetting. Kyrill goes up to Husband and sits at his feet and whines. Husband can’t standi it, and finds things for the dog to do, or else gets him a snack of ice cubes. The dog loves ice cubes. The dog knows better than to try it with me. I have to admit, though, that no matter how often I tell Kyrill that I am done tugging with him, I invariably end up tugging with him again. After that I say “Go to Daddy”, and the dog takes his tug over to Husband and they tug. It is nice to have a partner who takes care of me, too, although I think I am taking advantage of Husband’s weaknesses!
What creature(s) do have trouble setting limits with? How do you and your siblings get along these days?
The last time I said “I think I’m the only person left in America who hasn’t had covid” I should have knocked on wood.
Went to a party on a Saturday night 10 days ago and had a great time, met up with some current and former neighbors for a 70th birthday celebration for a friend. Good food, drink, company. Had a wonderful time.
On Tuesday morning as I was starting to get ready to go to the art museum, one of my Saturday night friends texted a group of us saying that she had covid and was pretty sick. Even though I felt fine I thought it would be the responsible thing to do to test before I went on a tour at the museum. And there it was… a big pink “T” line. I’ve taken a lot of tests since the beginning of pandemic and I’ve never gotten the “T” line before. Shocking. The good news is that I am still asymptomatic so all those jabs did pay off.
The bad news is that I’m feeling sorry for myself – although I’m not sure why. Except for cancelling my museum tour with my friend at the last minute, I haven’t really done anything differently the last week. Thank goodness for the Target pick-up, the Aldis pick-up, the post office drive through and the library drop box. I did send YA to the library to pick up a book for me on Friday so I wouldn’t have to go in. YA is avoiding me like… dare I say “the plague” and seems fine so far. I’ve done stuff around the house, read a lot, worked in my studio, labored on a 1000-piece jigsaw of a dragon in a “dragon forge cave” (it’s a doozy) and binge-watched the Colombo marathon on Sunday. I’m not sure why I’m feeling weird about this… but it does feel like the first couple of weeks of pandemic when I remember feeling trapped in the house.
As of yesterday, still positive but the “T” line was very faint so I expect in the next 48 hours I’ll be clear and free to break out and roam the neighborhood again. I’ll have to shut the pity party down.
