THE DUST WILL WAIT

We have a new cat.  She belonged to our granddaughter who moved away.  Now she belongs to us.  Or we belong to her. Our first worry was that she would pee in our house.  She hasn't.  There were three dogs in the other home that makes us believe Bean had dog anxiety.  Her litter box is used and refreshed daily. The second worry was that she would not be happy as an indoor cat.  She is?   She has enjoyed the view of the back yard from her cat tree and has figured out how to access every window sill in the house.  (We have no plans to let her out where she would encounter one of the feral cats that recently bullied their way into our neighborhood. Oh! That's another post story, for sure!) The final worry was that we might not be able to adjust to another pet.  .... crickets...... Well here's the deal.  Bean is part Siamese.  All the bad parts. For instance --  last night.  Bedtime. We crawl into bed. Yawn. ...

Propped up in bed, 7 a.m.  (To me that feels like sleeping in and that I got close to 8 hours of beauty rest.  But, that's not where my thoughts should be spinning right now.  Damn "SQUIRREL!" inerference.) Anyhoo..... I grabbed my cell phone and opened FACEBOOK.  (Yes, I'm one of those oldies)  A friend said she didn't WORDLE.  Another SQUIRREL! So I searched for it immediately.  New Trend, Everybody is doing it.  (I mean - like - everybody!) The trick would be to read the directions first.  Which I didn't.  Simply put you have five blank boxes, six lines deep.  Six opportunities to guess a five-letter word from no hint whatsoever.  You type in a word, hit enter.  If a letter is correct it will pop yellow.  If correct and in the correct space it will pop green. I got three green letters on my very first attempt.  I hadn't read the WORDLE instructions so I wasted the next attempt.  (That is why cooking in my...

Twelve years ago there was remodel work done to both bathrooms in our house.  Installed in one bathroom was a new low-flow toilet that was supposed to be environmentally friendly. It never made friends in OUR environment for several reasons: #1.We had to keep a bucket and a plunger handy.  It was always getting plugged. #2. There was no such thing as a one flush.  It always required two flushes to get the job done, and sometimes three. #3.  It wobbled when you sat on it. So now we have a toilet installed that is GUARANTEED to never get plugged.  The plumbers even said they would pay us $25 if it did.   They also did some shimmy work so that it won't make you dizzy if you're planning a long visit. So, Merry Christmas to me.

Last evening we saw our first snow.  Obviously someone was very happy about that and it wasn't me.

After yesterday's feeding frenzy,  I woke this morning in a fog.  When I looked out the window I realized that I was in good company.  It was also freezing.  The calendar says it isn't winter yet.  Nobody told the weather. I checked the heater in the bird feeder. I set it on the rock waterfall because the birds already flock to that spot.   That little device has been working overtime by several years.  I've wondered if it would wear thin and produce an electric shock.  It does look a bit worse for wear. Jack Frost creates delicate filigree for such a cranky old fellow.  The Yew is evergreen.  The berries are poisonous. The Burning Bush.  Also warnings about Toxicity. The Star Magnolia.  Harmless! Mizelle's face has her own creative efforts from chowing down on leftover pumpkin pie.  Pumpkin pie - very edible.  Eating it at grandma's computer?  Dangerous!

I claim ignorance because I don't have the shopping gene. My complaint about the sizing of women's slacks/jeans came back to bite me yesterday.  I took my granddaughter shopping.  She's almost 17, so we toiled through places I rarely see. Look at this: cell phone shot I stand corrected.  But remain unfitted.

The people at our bank have always been wonderful.  They are just local yocals as are we. A few years back a larger bank bought them.  Yet we still had the same friendly atmosphere. This fall the bank decided to upgrade the computer system.  They chose a three day weekend and we were advised that during those three days we could not access our accounts. We didn't think that would cause us any problems.  Well, we were wrong. The first thing that happened after the switch  was our inability to view all of our accounts on line.  It isn't as though we have lots of accounts.  We have three.  One of them is a business account that we use to keep our small business ( and I mean minuscule) items separate. My husband, WR,  called in the following week and the customer service person at the call center was able to work the problem through which had something to do with passwords.  The customer service representative asked WR if he used t...

It was a dark and stormy night.  Well, that is what the weatherman predicted.  So far, he was right only about the dark. In fact it got dark way too soon.  Booo to the time change. There is snow on The Blues and the furnace is happily chugging away at the expense of our pocketbooks. ElGee, the cat, has started draping herself all over us if we happen to sit down anywhere.  Her  favorite spot is on my computer desk...especially if I'm sitting there.  I get frustrated when she keeps rubbing back and forth on the screen in front of me.  Sometimes she even steps on the keyboard and clicks on something that causes me to pick her up and set her on the floor and shoo her away. The trees have deposited their attire on top of roads and yards and rooftops.  The leaves fly into our garage when we raise the door and accumulate on our shoes for deposit on my floors and carpet. The geese and ducks have chased the light of day from their far north ...

It all started the first week of June when a door to door salesmen knocked on ours.  My husband opened it to    "Did you know you can Insulate your house up to the new recommended code for very little investment, or maybe none at all?"  Take advantage of the  "stimulus package," rebates, and an insulation company not only knowing how to do the job, but how to get it done free. By the time the young man had finished his spiel, we had an appointment for someone to come by and give us a bid.  Within two weeks we had a crew from this company in our attic. Part of the plan was for the gas company and/or the power company to send someone to take a look at the job, fill out the report, and then you file a Conservative Incentive Application and get the rebate through both energy companies.   It turned out to be not so easy.   The inspector came, and left us with six out of the nine objectives under the word FAILED.  On top of that there...

Traveling the 3500 miles in June, we never once thought to check the Garmin to see if it could locate rest stops.  We were always looking. The Interstate Highways provided full service stops at regular intervals until we got into Arizona.   According to the locals, the state is out of money. Most of the rest stops are barricaded. Fortunately the main gate facilities at Grand Canyon National Park (south rim) had restrooms with all the right stuff:  running water, sinks, and toilet bowls.  And, on the backs of the stall doors you could read the details of how the water got there (from the north rim) and an intricate drawing to explain how it is recycled back to your next flush.  (A few of the particulars confused me, but ..oh~ never mind.) Farther into the park, where no water is available, there are outdoor chemical latrines with huge black vent pipes.  I don’t know the physics involved, but I can tell you this:  when...

Spring has been cool, windy, and a season of catching up on annual precipitation.  That last bit has been threatening the local cherry crop.   I wonder if that is why the small orchard close to where I walk has been surrendered to the birds.   If the rain splits the cherries they aren’t very marketable. Or, maybe the farmer wasn’t prepared for the birds .  (Insert a little Alfred Hitchcock mood music here.)  The past week provided the valley with an unusual migration population of Western Tanagers.  Like I’ve never seen.  Thus, the orchard was full of Tanagers chowing down on the partially ripe fruit.  They were accompanied by a fair number of Cedar Waxwings, Robins, Finch, Starlings, and probably more.  There was no saving that crop. WR captured the Tanager with the cherry in its mouth.  I snapped the gorging Waxwing and Robin. I’ve not...

  Frog duet from pamela on Vimeo . The week before last I recorded a froggy duet coming from our fish pond.  Yes -- the pond is covered with a net to protect our little fishy from the hungry Great Blue Heron and his side kick, the Kingfisher. Conjoined Frog from pamela on Vimeo . This morning I was cleaning the filter when I spotted what I thought were two frogs mating.  We've had so much wind lately - and the pond has been a magnet for all the flying debris. Part two of Freaky frgo from pamela on Vimeo . The second part of my video shows what appears to truly be a conjoined frog.  I think there are two sets of eyes, two sets of back legs.  Two backs.  But the front set of legs on the top half appear to be atrophied and do not move. UPDATE:   Two frogs.  I put on a different pair of glasses and I can see  the little guy hanging on for the ride of his life.  Naughty boy.

Elvis lovers will recognize that song.  Many others songs in his repertoire came to mind yesterday when Willowtree (of the infamous A Dingo ) was chatting with me on Facebook.  He informed me (and provided a news link) that The King’s personal physician wrote a book with a disturbing revelation:  Presley died from chronic constipation.  If you don’t believe me – google it. Then, WT and I changed a few words in his long list of performed songs.  You know, to go with the constipation theme.  I laughed. But I sure felt sorry for the legend.    GI Blues.   Elvis,  March, 1960. The birds are going through two tubes of sunflower seed daily.  (I don’t know what to do about the Starlings!) When I hurried out to feed them this morning there were hot air balloons over the housetops.  Its the “festival’ weekend. I Believe in the Man in the Sky.     Elvis. October 1960. Also...

My friend Kim loves rocks. She also loves to share her love for rocks.  Even now that she has moved far away to Colorado Springs, Colorado, she continues to entertain us with her discoveries. Last weekend she went for a hike and saw this brazen boulder along the path . She photographed it and promptly E-mailed it to me. What do you think?  Proof positive that Rock Eaters really exist?   Or,  just the butt of one of Mother Nature's playful jokes? 

I bought a ffresh at a local hardware store on Thursday. It is a Washer Cleaner that "Removes odor causing residue in all washing machines." If you own a front loader you may recognize that smell caused by bacteria growing in the airtight drum.  I've used another product in the past which worked well. Unfortunately, the store no longer carries that brand. I followed the directions on this new package, but on Friday morning it still assaulted my nose.  I called the number on the back of the package. It connected me to Whirlpool. "Hey, " I told the representative that answered. "The affresh I purchased did not remove the odor from my front load washer." "Did you order it from us?" she asked. "No, but it is your product." “Because you ordered it from someone else,” she emphasized with a very unfriendly tone, “you will have to take your complaint to them." . "Uh..." I stammered,  "…you mea...

There is a very small family owned Thai restaurant one block away from our daughter's apartment in Portland.  We love to eat there. Last week I noticed a couple of interesting things on the lunch menu.  I highlighted the "specials" with a little red stick pin. When Amanda passes her national court recorder test, we're obliged to host a celebratory dinner for friends and family at this yummy little place.  The people who work there are aware of our plans and can't wait to feed us some of our favorite dishes:  Crispy Basil, Pad Thai, and Green Mango Salad. There will be Stir-Fly and Pictures of Water for those who are a bit more adventuresome.

My neighbor bill brought this piece of art over to our house last week. He sees me toting my camera everywhere - so he asked me to snap a picture of this masterpiece before it went away. Looking at the close up above, one might never guess the medium on which it was created. Apparently there was dust on the seat of a child's old metal chair that sits on his back porch. Then it rained. I think it was a mosquito larvae that wriggled itself until it died - or possibly survived long enough to mature. What do you think?

My husband has influenza. No, he did not get the immunization. He has developed bronchitis, sinus infection, and problems with his Eustachian tubes. Miserable is the best description for him right now. I can hear the high pitch wheeze with his every breath -- the sound of a distant ATV screamin ' up a steep hill. Early tomorrow morning I should be on my way to Spokane. My brother is scheduled for triple by-pass surgery. Nick lost his wife to breast cancer in late September. So, his support group would be his only daughter. With me there, at least she won't have to sit and wait alone. Sacred Heart Medical Center is a wonderful place of healing. He will be given the best of care. Great Auntie-Fern will celebrate her 100 th on Friday. I am the co-host of the 2 1/2 hour open house at her retirement center on Saturday. She was very sick for three weeks in February, but is much better and back to her old self. Pun intended. I took control of her daily medicat...

I've been busy doing a million things around here -instead of blogging this week - and figured if I ramped it up a little bit I could increase my busyness to a trillion . You know...get some stimulus going here! Walker at Subtle Oak has c.h.a.n.g.e.d my mind. She directed me to the Trillion Dollar tutorial over at PageTutor.com . You really need to click on the link and view the complete Google Sketchup they prepared. What a perspective! Mr. Red $hirt down here has a million dollars at his feet. Look very closely. Mr. Red $hirt is still there beside this Trillion Dollar Pile. Look again. He's down down here in the right left hand corner. (WT caught me being dyslexic again.)

I saw this sign when I went to pick up Auntie Fern last Thursday. Do you know about Hoodie Hoo Day? I didn't. You can google it, or just check out this link to Holiday Insights. This is what is says: Northern Hemisphere Hoodie-Hoo Day When : Always on February 20 On this winter day, people go out at noon, wave their hands over their heads and chant "Hoodie-Hoo". It is a day to chase away winter and bring in spring. After all, everyone in the northern hemisphere are sick and tired of winter at this point and a little crazy being cooped up inside all winter and not seeing the sun. Did you know? Hoodie Hoo Day is a copyrighted holiday. It was created and is provided, courtesy of the great folks at Wellcat.com Well -- there you have it. We missed it. Thank goodness.