This Tree Is Now Naked

Okay, so maybe that's a little bit of hyperbole ... there are a few leaves left on the tree. But high winds and a bit of rain have decimated the foliage. 

It's a lovely Saturday afternoon with sunny skies and 57 degrees F. (Why do we say "skies"? There is only one sky.)

I have spent waaaay too long at this bloomin' computer trying out my new cable ($20 from Verizon) to download pictures directly from my phone picture gallery. Apparently, my laptop (which I use as a desktop) is going through a "I'm old, so leave me alone" stage.

I did. Went downstairs and loaded a laundry after fighting with the packaging on Tide pods.  Normally, I use liquid detergent but when I got back from California last April, the detergent was like sludge due to the cold in the basement. I thought I would avoid that ... and I tried the pods. The packaging was almost Tina-proof but I did figure out how to open the plastic container, making me wonder if it is indeed child-proof. I was surprised that the pods are squishy.

Before I came upstairs, I gathered some household items to give to the church White Elephant Sale. It's big stuff -- like the extra large serving plastic bowls that will either hold macaroni salad for 15 people or a six pack on ice. I'm probably not going to do that type of entertaining any more.  

Anyway, I need another break (and this program keeps telling me there's an error so I will give the computer a break) and I need to clean that glass baker's rack. The layers of dust remind me of a geologic site with stratifications ...

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Second load of laundry is in; baker's rack is sparkling and dust free. You know how nothing is easy? I was setting up the sewing machine in the living room next to the Ott light. (It's a bright light that shows true colors without a yellow tinge.) Mindful of Emily's exhortations to never use extension cords, I plugged in the new energy saving multiple outlet unit (from MassSave) and grabbed the extension cord to roll it up. I did not realize that cord was wrapped around the metal ladder-style quilt rack which promptly closed but did not fall because my foot stopped it. It did, however, dump the half dozen quilts and UFOs (UnFinished Objects).  Sigh.

Yes, I did make keto biscuits this morning. Over easy fried eggs were good on them, but my next project is to learn how to make a perfect poached egg. My goal is to make myself eggs benedict, which I love.

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Speaking of maddening  technology, I was at a friend's house the other night watching TV with her. Suddenly, we heard, "Yes, o.k." in a woman's voice. My friend thought it was my phone and I knew it wasn't. We heard one more snippet. It turns out, it was her ipad and Lexi was responding to ... ? My friend said, 'That's the only time that has happened.' I observed that she could be in bed asleep and her ipad was having a whole conversation out in the dining room. She wouldn't know it.

Also, I think my Chromebook (the one that won't let me do anything with my pictures except look at them) is listening to me. I was telling Mom and a friend (two different occasions) about how I like "Below Deck" on the Bravo TV channel. The next day I got an email inviting me to a yacht sale in Florida. Out of curiosity, I looked at the rentals for a yacht that holds 8 passengers, 6 crew. It's quite a bargain since the rental starts at only $145,000/week. 

The next day, I got an email offering to help me sell my "current" yacht. I laughed out loud since I had just had a debate with myself on whether I should go to Aldi's after Stop and Shop because Aldi's eggs are 50 cents cheaper. (I didn't -- I splurged.)

One last technology rant. When I turned down an aisle in Stop and Shop, I saw an older man do a quick side step to get out of the way of the robot who seemed to be advancing on him. The robot stopped abruptly but the guy managed to get out of the way. "And how did you get this injury?" "I was run over by the store robot in Aisle 3."

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Halloween 2013

Left to right: Lisa, Tina, Sue 

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It's Sunday now and it's raining like a summnabitch. I'm hoping it goes above the current 46 F. but we are predicted to get as much as one inch of rain. 

Was hoping to eat breakfast with CBS Sunday Morning but came back to the orange one giving a press conference about the death of an isis leader. (Yes, the lack of a cap is due to my disrespect for the organization.) I wonder if anyone has ever counted how many times he says "great" and "very."

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Remember in the old days when we all had wire hangers from the dry cleaners? We know those were multiplying overnight in the closet. I used to take out bags of them and there would be more the next day. I think they were having hanger parties. 

A few years ago, I decided to go with plastic hangers, one package at a time. With them, there's no danger of rust on a hand washed blouse. Anyway ... these guys disappear. I have donated two or three bags of clothing and I don't have enough hangers! I haven't bought anything since last winter. Do you suppose they are snow birds too and I'll find them in Palm Springs?

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I think people finally know that Palm Springs is in California and not Florida. Why do they say, 'When are you going down there?'? To me, "down there" is Florida and "out there" is California. Am I wrong?

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My breakfast is over and the food's all cooked and he's still rambling about nothing. Now what do I do? No Sunday Morning to enlighten and delight me.

Yes, I cooked for the week: turkey meat loaf and four different seasonings on chicken thighs. Oh, yes, and a cute squash.

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WOW! WOW! Two UMass graduate students have discovered a whole NEW galaxy! They said it was unseen prior to this because the light from them took 12 billion years to get here (how can they measure that???) and there has been a veil of dust hiding it. 

I'm so glad I switched channels to the local news!

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This weekend is Homecoming for both UMass and Amherst College. I heard fireworks last night around 7:30 p.m. and I'm guessing that was from Amherst College (which is closer to me). I'm glad they had a nice sunny fall day yesterday for the football game(s). I didn't go to any of the events even though I got an email inviting me as a "leader." I always thought I was anonymous at school so I think that was buttering me up to give a contribution.

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I did get to watch a very truncated version of Sunday Morning which closed with spiders in their webs from the National Preserve in Florida. As long as I know where they are (as in not over my bed), I am fascinated and love the patterns of their webs. 

Have a great week! Cheers!

It's a Grey but Productive Sunday

I can't really complain because even though it's grey outside, the temperature is 51 degrees. Of course, that does make it a wee bit chilly indoors. I have friends who refuse to put their heat on until November 1st, but that's not me. So I put the oven on ...

In the works: ribs with Cajun seasoning, a whole roast chicken (how could I resist $1.69/pound?) and Brussels sprouts. I've got broccoli cheese soup in the making on top of the stove. I'm not looking forward to the blender part because it has always seemed awkward and labor intensive to me. Paired with yesterday's yummy crockpot beef stew, I'm all set for the week.  Maybe I should make a quiche for quick breakfasts ...

A Little Sunshine in the Form of Flowers

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Last night I started on a new landscape quilt. I've done it all backwards starting on the top first but I just had to spit out this design. So I may end up doing it all over to add the backing and batting, BUT I finished the layout this a.m. I was working in the living room so I have to put away the ironing board and unused fabric. Most of my fabric is in large plastic totes which are a wee bit heavy, so I'm getting a good workout just pulling the fabrics that I want to use. (They are stacked vertically due to lack of space.) And I'm getting used to the design so I don't mind leaving it on the coffee table for a while. I know this may sound weird, but including the paintings, I have to get used to what I have created.

Seurat's Eiffel Tower 

By the way, Seurat died four years after painting this (the Eiffel Tower was being built) at the tender age of 32!

Tina's Copy of Seurat

My pointillism dots are a lot bigger than Seurat's but I used a brush rather than the cluster of q-tips that Teri Magner gave us to use. I did use them on the border which I resisted adding, but I try to do what the teacher says!

(No, I haven't decided if I will show you the quilt in progress. It is SO unfinished ... )

I'm back. Had to turn off the broccoli so all of the liquid would not boil away and ruin my new pot. Emily gave me her 'old' perfectly good pots and I brought my old loved ones to the Senior Center. They were snatched up in a thrice! Thank you, Emily! (Her pots were not flat enough for her flat top stove.)

Today the Jones Library Knitting and Stitching Group is meeting at a local restaurant. I was going to go, but the combination of a flu shot and seasonal allergies has made me sound as if I have a cold. And just in case it is a cold, I felt I had better not go. But I do hope to add a knitted square to the quilt they are making for the Library's centennial. I have an almost finished square, but I think the yarn is the wrong weight. Oh well, there's still time to make another. Meanwhile, I have three more candle holders to make.

That's a flameless candle in there. These will be sold at the Sleighbell Fair on November 23 (South Amherst Congo Church). No, I didn't crochet the doily -- I bought it on Amazon Smile.

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November 19 is lift off day to go to Palm Springs. I can't wait to see Mom and friends out there, but am a little sad to be leaving. I have a regular routine of serving lunch at the Senior Center and then doing errands (Post Office, CVS, groceries, etc.).

Although last Friday I skipped Mexican Train Dominoes (Monday and Friday) and went to the MGM casino with Nancy P. The best thing about that place is that it's entirely smoke free. I love that! However, I NEVER win there. Nothing. Nada. Zip, Nancy, on the other hand does well and she very nicely bought me a fabulous dinner at the Red Rose restaurant. That eggplant parmigiana was even better than Mario's! Of course, the glass of Lambrusco brought the whole meal over the top. It's a good thing I'm too cheap to buy wine because I might have to have a glass every night if I had a bottle of Lambrusco here!

More later. The ribs should be done for brunch. 

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I'm back. Got the ironing board and the excess fabric stowed. Pant, pant. Learned a very important lesson: when using spray fabric glue, spray, then place. NOT place pieces and then spray. That's what I get for being impatient. I was taught to place the pieces, cover all with tulle, and then pin it like crazy. There really are too many pieces for the pin method so I thought I'd try the spray glue. (Also, my teacher is allergic to spray fumes so she doesn't use it.)

Here's a visual palette cleanser:

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Okay, but remember, this is really raw. It's called Almost Fall.

I cut off the top of the picture for this view because I saw a big correction I have to make. And, now, looking at the bottom I see more changes that must be made. But I have to let the glue dry ...

We don't have any nice color like what you see above. I'm wondering if the foliage this year will be a bust. Some trees have already lost their leaves. Only a few have changed color here. There is a plethora of acorns on the ground, making us wonder if it will be a particularly hard winter. It was very cold last year but not excessive in snow falls.

Now it's time to finish the broccoli soup, put away the chicken, get the clothes out of the dryer, and make the doilies into candle holders. I think I'll take a nap ...