The More Things Change...

 You probably know the rest.  "The more they stay the same." Well, the thing that seems to stay the same right at this hour is, people aren't very nice many times.  

I okayed a plumbing inspection a couple of weeks ago and the plumber, from the company that services my HVAC unit-- who wasn't very nice-- tried scare tactics on me.  After a while, I told him "I don't care easily." He was trying to pressure me into things I didn't need and at great expense. I had my HVAC guy who came for the winter inspection trying to do the same thing last month.  I also told him that I don't scare easily.  And that a second opinion would be necessary.  He was an OK guy with that from me...and quit trying.  But the plumber...he went under the house, that part I knew, and while there he bent my copper water pipe.

 Found THAT out when I called a stand-alone plumber who came out Saturday to repair something in the bathroom.  He'd gotten under the house for that problem and found a severe crimp in the water line.  I know for a fact it wasn't there even three weeks ago...as I was over there looking at the water heater.  So while I can't prove it, it was the unpleasant plumber who was here being disrespectful.  Things were remedied.  I would write more paragraphs but I will spare you. 

See what I got myself for Christmas in November?  These are pink pearls, real ones, and almost too big for my ear lobes.I took this in the car before starting home.

Colder'n kraut out there today~ but it is January after all.  I was going to take a long walk, but I think I will just double up on aerobics instead. 

Look at the flowers....wish they were actually blooming here but...again, it IS January after all.  

Well, trying to get up the impetus to get UP and start exercising.  Join me?  

Oh BOY!

 Guys, Ladies, doggies and Kitties!  This cake looks home made, and no attention to smooth icing, it's all just slathered on.  Ooo la laaa!  The boys licked the beaters and the big bowl I made it in.  I scraped off what would be a tablespoon full of icing from the bowl sides before I handed it over.  I know *I* made it..but I don't care!  I outDID myself with that icing.  PERFECT balance of chocolate, real butter and peppermint.  Whatta woman!  Sure not looking magazine worthy but, oh MY! My My MY!  We will all have it tomorrow.  I tried to make the cake tender and moist. 

The cake is bustin' out with peppermint inside, baked in, and the icing...same thing.  

I am looking forward to having Christmas dinner at one of the kids' home...opening presents there, and hoping I don't bust wide open from eating too much!  

Tonight I will make this boy staying here for the week marinated pork chops...marinated with a rub..bought already put on the chops..I have only to cook it.  Strictly Southern sides to go with it......you don't wanna know.  We don't do 'fancy' in this house or try to imitate being chefs, or adding odd stuffs like leafed greens, and other not liked stuffs around this house, in it. Fancy cook I certainly am not. :-) 

This is in the Fridge so it doesn't decide to slide the top layer any from nascent heat still in the cake part.

Now.  I hear my son chopping vegges so I am headed to the kitchen.

Merry Christmas to those who come to see me.  XX

Look! Sound asleep after baking in the window ledge. 

 
 

things-im-suddenly-tired-of.html

Hope you'll click and read.  Included comments. From 2012

 Howdy!  Think I mentioned that I always host Thanksgiving and my youngest and his wife always host Christmas.  This is a fun and successful Holiday for us...and we ate well.  I thought I was never going to quit cooking!  I took the easy way out and made boxed brownies with ice cream if anyone wanted that with them. 

I totally hate that stupid gizmo Google put in here right on the page you are typing on so that you might accidentally hit it..hooray for Google!! Or, make a typo that you can't see to correct because it obscures that part of the page.  I will never use it!  I wish they'd get flippin' rid of it. 

In this part of the Country it was exceeding hard to buy a turkey- or a turkey breast.  And when a few of each were available, they were of an unknown brand and extremely costly!  A 7.7 pound breast was a couple of cents under $20.00.  May as well say $20.00. I bought it as they were having a sale..saved me a couple dollars, and it was not really meaty (I try to buy larger,  up to 9 pounds but this was the heaviest one I could find in all three grocery stores.) The turkey breast when carved revealed not what I expected for the breast meat,  puny and pale; and it was not meaty elsewhere either.  We're tired of ham...one of the kids detests roast beef...sigh....things will likely be better next Thanksgiving.  The bird flu was blamed.

 I took this in an acquaintance's yard.  The deer were in there eating them almost faster than I could get out there and take some pictures.  

Don't be sad seeing these.  I think they were dear, and worth seeing.  It is what we wish so much; depicted to express what cat parents feel like.  And dog parents too  of course.   Oh. can you imagine the joy if that happened? 

Peace at Last

 Almost called you all "Kitties!" as I just finished helping Angel Admiral with hers a few minutes ago and Katie had my strict attention with hers early about 0900 this morning as well.

This title is meaningful.  ALL the work in and on the house is finished, thank YOU!! all of the people I managed to get to show up.  AND I may actually be getting the $400.00 extra I had to spend because the "workers" who brought the washer and dryer didn't do anything but get it in the house and filthy up my carpet and wood floor with muddy dirty boots.  I had to hire someone in town to come and do a job, like I didn't know  I needed doing the cleaning of the dryer vent. I hired them in their second job to install said machines and level them.   I complained in a reasonable and polite way both to the seller- who was not at fault and the installer.  I enlisted the seller  manager to please call the other manager in Nashville as I knew HE could get in touch whereas me, I would be lucky to talk to him at all  to the delivery management in Nashville.  (I always spell it Gnash-ville and just did!  Had to stop and change it.)  It's been quiet again after three weeks of upheaval. 

I have a new TINY camera.  First one that isn't a Nikon, ever.  I feel nekkid without one, but my youngest advised me to get this one.  There is a learning curve for me.  It is still a technical camera.  It is mirrorless...so no long lens on it as with my Nikon Digital.  It is amazingly small.  I  took it out to take pictures--- and came straight home after the drug store. Furthermore, left it in the car for pity sake.  I'll go get it in a second.  They're going to be my always closeups, but not like the ones with my good trusty Nikon DSLR. 

Happy Thanksgiving!!  

I'd move here to Charlotte in a heartbeat if I could

This is true.  Every word and one of THE single most amazing acts there is on technology.

What a Week

 Monday started with a visit to the Vet for another Vitamin B shot and mats cut, nails done and earsies cleaned.  House work etc. when home plus a lot of asked-for snuggles.

Tuesday started with doing the wash, drying, folding and putting away.  Just at the last, the dryer gave up the ghost and that was that no matter how I pled.  I went out immediately and started looking for a new dryer (it was old and iffy anyway and didn't do a good job...not worth the $$$ for repair.) Found one and a washer too...both on sale for some fancy money.  I stayed quite a while waiting on their appliance specialist to come over and we got an order made, payment made (gasping for breath at the cost) and the machines will show up tomorrow.  Wednesday, I got the peacock green chair back!!  I got rid of the behemoth as I called it.  The Behemoth is way too large and hard as a rock.They took it back after 6 months and gave me back my original chair I had paid for already but traded.  No charge for trucking it here to the house.  The cat and I are delighted.  So it doesn't recline the way it should; but after that Behemoth, I have learned my lesson.  Had to wait till 5:40 in the evening to get the chair.  

Thursday, they store came with the door...an hour later the installer came and it took him the better part of three hours to get the evil vicious old storm door off..and the new one on.  Some of you may remember that *$@# door locking me out at 0530-0600 while I was outside with the Nikon taking pics of the sunrise in my gown!  30 some degrees.  You see it,  You had better get out there NOW as it changes every second as the sun rises.  I went out and got locked out a good 4 times.  The kids had to come from Knoxville to let me in the window...as they couldn't;t make it open either.  Neighbors were wakened for the same reason.   Well, the stinkin' dirty mannered door locked me IN.  Could not get out to the deck for 3 weeks.  Paid the horrible fee for the door AND just as much for installation.  The same fee to install it! 

Then, today I have to stay all day till I can sign for my new camera coming from NYC.  They aren't here yet.   They came, did not ring the doorbell or knock and left me with a door tag ND Fed Ex does not have a way to contact them but a so-called virtual assistant.  0 help.  

Tomorrow, they rip the washer and dryer out...showing the filth under each of the old ones and the walls... the same there..and install the new machines.  That's Saturday. Tomorrow.   

the two old appliances...

The one in charge.

colors are starting

new storm door and they fixed the wood one too

Peacock is back. 

That's all I guess.  No camera thanks to the loony bin who refused to knock or ring the bell and went trucking off. 

What a Neat Day

 Had to take Katie in to see if she could have more Vitamin B12.  And get mats shaved, and clean her ears and cut her nails.  But she was also weighed and went from 6 and a half pounds last month after that 5 days of not eating anything to 7 and a half pounds today.  An entire pound.  She was eating 2 cans of Fancy Feast a day for close to a week, and a can and a half  a day up till about a week ago.  

Welp...my storm door didn't get here when I said it would.  There was a snag.  However it will be here Thursday.  The guys are going to pick it up for me and bring it with them instead of it lying against the house for several days.    The one guy who came over to measure and... I wanted to pay for the door since the guys ordered it for me.  They volunteered  to because though I am good at academics and certain other things, I am NOT good in a hardware store.  I said to him on the phone when I first called inquiring if they would like the job of taking the old and installing the new door, that I really need a man to do these things.  I am useless as those mammary glands I keep talking about on a boar hog.  So he upped and said he would.  They are handymen who have been taken over by ACE Hardware.  SO cool! When the other guy came and measured just as happens so many times, he wound up staying for 2 hours...just over...and we talked about every weapon we both had ever had to qualify on.  Don't get your panties in a wad with that statement.  It's me you know...a total maid servant to the cat.  You know me. 

Meanwhile, guess what?  That pretty peacock green/blue recliner that I had and loved for a week will be on its way back here in 2 more days; after 6 months ago when I complained at the furniture store that  it wouldn't hardly recline..I was given the option of trading it back for another since I barely had it at my home.  What I chose I call "the behemoth".  It is too large...hard as the pavement outside and ew-glee.   Even Katie won't get on it and I probably have been maybe 10 times since mid May.  

The chair doesn't fit me but the peacock colored one does as it is for petites. My feet are on the FLOOR!  Heavenly days.  Can't wait to get it here again.  They never could sell it again probably because of the color. 

I have three frozen bowls of that heavenly chili left in the freezer.  Better tunnel on over, cat parents.  I bought some Swans Down Cake Four--- and I may make a home made chocolate cake  and the frosting too.  Better git on your horses and come on.  

OOXX