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Good morning.

"Anybody there?" is actually the first line of my favorite poem, "The Listeners" by Walter de la Mare.

I'm thinking that everyone this morning is either snowed in (I'm thinking the term "chill out" has a brand new meaning for our mid-western and north-eastern members), or out trying to get things done.

Sue is probably down there in her basement finishing up.

For me. . . Bright sunshine today, the wildflowers are poking up out of my back yard (I have a quarter acre here, not sure where the wildflowers come from, but come they do) and I noticed that the crocus that I put in the planter next to my mums out front are beginning to bloom, daffodils are pushing up, probably they too will bloom in another week or so.

Going to be a fine and lovely day. Coffee is on the stove, help yourself.

Anne

I'm here. I made it into the Pacific Time Zone. After about two weeks in the desert of Quartzsite I used all that unspent BLM rent money for a quiet night with electric, a couple of TV stations, a shower with unlimited hot water and a grocery store not too far away with a chance to resupply.

I have a drive of between 2-3 hours today so am moving slowly again this morning, reading updates on my computer and listening to the Sunday morning news shows. Dogs will even get a second walk this morning before I head off. Hope to be walking on the beach by this afternoon. I have already had to make some adjustments in my wardrobe. Weather is warmer out this way though I can see that bit of snow on the very tops of the mountains.

Tina

Today is experiment in the kitchen day. I browned some sausage that needed to be cooked and poured part of a jar of tomato sauce on it. Don't know what I will do with that. Guess I will look for some spaghetti to put it on. I haven't looked to see if I have any spaghetti yet but the Dollar Store is only about 3 miles. I dug the bread machine out and found a blender I forgot I have. I have been wanting to try making some bread but wanted some oat flour which I found yesterday. I didn't find the manual to the bread machine until I started the bread so didn't put ingredients in the right order. We'll see how forgiving the bread is.

I went to Hobby Lobby yesterday and it was full of people. I thought I was going to pass out before I got checked out. It seems like everyone in line wanted to argue with the cashier about the price of things. Managed to go to TJ Maxx without buying anything.

We have a sunny day and the temperature is 62. It's a good day, I got my Sunday paper.

Tina, enjoy the warmer weather and the beach.

Martha

I'm here. Ty and I had our last long morning walk in Q, as we'll head out this afternoon. I'm staying until after Sheila returns from church to have one last gabfest with her and Lyn. I'm not going far today as my destination is only near Phoenix on Tuesday. But this gives me time to check out a place or two I haven't been to. And, like Tina, I love short drives.

Anne, it sounds like you're getting some nice flowers.

Martha, let us know about the bread.

Actually Anne, I have been out and about all morning in the cold and snow. First to church and then out to breakfast and off to some errands. Not a great day to be out with Lake Effect snow bands moving around and winchills of -18. But tomorrow is supposed to be worse, so wanted to pick up a few things. Molly is bugging me for a walk, but not gonna happen. Usually we go pretty much in any kind of weather, but this windchill is too cold.

My basement project is pretty well done except for 3 minor things which I will do tomorrow morning. Today is a “day off” which I am spending time looking at paint colors on Behr’s paint visualizer and also looking a new bedspreads. Time to paint two bedrooms. Beth, I did just paint inside this house a couple years ago when I moved in. It still had original colors from original owners in the rooms except for the two bathrooms that the lady I bought it from had repainted. She was only here 2 and never did anything else to the house. When I moved in, I painted the entire inside except one bathroom from ceiling to floor and used a neutral beige all the way through except for the guest bathroom. It’s time to “pop” some color in the bedrooms for a change. And change the color in my bathroom. And swap two rooms around.

Martha, hope your bread turned out good. I’ve got a pork roast going in the oven shortly for tonight’s supper. Have a nice afternoon and evening everyone.

Good morning!
Anne, my Jasmine is blooming & tiny shoots of something green is coming up on the outer edges of the patio... Gotta love CA!
Tina, glad you've made it to Pacific time & weather. Looks like we'll have beautiful temps for your visit. As Barbie mentioned, rain is forecast for Thursday - although we appreciate the rain, it just isn't as much fun as sunshine - especially when I have to walk Sadie in it several times a day.
Beth, safe travels to your next stop. I've learned to enjoy short drives - hope I'll get back on the road someday.
Martha, I browned some ground beef the other day, poured a jar of marinara sauce on it & have enjoyed it over pasta. I rarely have pasta anymore, but it was soooo good. Hope you enjoy your sausage in tomato sauce as much I enjoyed this. I wouldn't be able to trust myself with a bread machine (I love good bread way too much) - hope yours turns out yummy.

Got some spring cleaning done yesterday - so nice outside, it felt like springtime. Have my son & son-in-law's birthdays (on the same day) coming up in a couple of weeks - trying to get the older 2 kids out here for it. We'll see how succesful that effort is. Then I'm heading up to WA to see the twins again in mid Feb.

That's about it for now. Take care everyone.
Catherine

Sue, how about some photos of your basement when you are finished??

And Catherine, stop by Eugene on your way north and I'll meet you for lunch someplace. Armitage Park is a very nice place to stay in Eugene, although I am not there because it has a two week limit. Daffodils are up here, but not enough to see buds yet. Maybe before I leave at the end of February??

And Martha, the only unforgiving thing about bread is that you have to dissolve the yeast in water before you add the other ingredients. i think the rest should be fine.

I have really been sleeping in lately. And then as soon as I wake up, i have to take my new pills with food right away because the research study requires I take them at the same time each day. I do NOT like eating as soon as I wake up, but I have to fix something and eat before I take these expensive little devils! (At least I am not paying for them because I could not afford even the copay!) At least I am back on schedule, however, and doing well.

I made reservations today for Plymouth Park, at Lake Umatilla, WA, if anyone wants to join me between July 27 and Aug 2. This is a COE park, near but not on the Columbia River, but it has a very homey feel and is very pleasant with water and electric, and hopefully a working dump station this year. $13.50 per night fits my budget. I will get a spot at LePage Park from Aug 3-10--It is on the LePage RIver, next to the Columbia River and also COE. Might be hot at both places, but they are both cheap and good places to hang out,

Sorry, Judyb, wish I could, but I'm flying up there - quicker & cheaper. Would you believe $134 round-trip LA to Seatle?

I made spaghetti with meat sauce the other day and it was SO good! I don't know why I don't make it more often since it is quick and easy to make.

The other night my roommate didn't get home until 3 am (she was helping her daughter and 7 grandkids get away from her abusive husband). When she pulled into the park, she saw a pack of around 20 coyotes running down the road past my house and then down to the creek. That is a lot of coyotes!!! I would have been afraid to get out of my car if I saw that! Yikes!

Was super busy today at work! I did 14 haircuts in just under 5 hours! Whew!

Another beautiful day here. Was in the mid 80's here yesterday. Mid 70's today. No complaints here, especially considering the frigid cold and snow back in MN this week! I think I might go to La Jolla tomorrow and hang out at the beach there for awhile. it is pupping season for the sea lions that hang out down there so that could be fun to see! I need to figure out where I can go to see the wildflowers around here next month. With all the rain we have had, it should be a great spring for it.

I frosted my hair last night and it turned out pretty nice.

I love my little West Bend Just for Dinner Bread Maker!! It was discontinued years ago but when my old one quit working I found one new in the box on eBay!! Bakes a small loaf in 45 minutes. I heat the milk for 45 seconds and after I add the butter and other dry ingredients it is just the right temp for the yeast. You just sprinkle the yeast on last and you don't have to pre mix. I only eat one or two slices a day so I don't have to bake that often.
https://www.amazon.com/West-Bend-41077- ... B00005KIR0

Barbie I doubt I would have been brave enough to get out of the car if I saw that many Coyotes!! They are moving into our neighborhood and I guess all around town. One followed my friend the other morning while she was walking her dog at 5:00 AM! She took a short walk!!

by tomorrow we will be all by our selves ...Lyn leaves tomorrow
have so enjoyed having everyone here
once we said bye to Beth went in and took a nap a long nap
that was the day that and reading those "news " things on FB what a time waster they are
but sometimes I do it more than perhaps I should scary hotel experiences co workers being fired on the spot that type of "news" some you so have to shake your head at and wonder
right now watching NCIS LA do like my NCIS'S regardless which one
sheila

Good Morning from Mile Marker 99 area of Quartzsite. Dan and I are in full swing with the SKP Geocacher's rally. We are helping to teach the newbies how to use their GPS devices and find cache's around the area. Having fun but the cats are pouting that they cannot go outside till Friday when we go back home to Yuma. Had a great time seeing the gals over at Sheila's on the 24th.

Ladies, the coyotes are more frightened of humans than you need to be of them. They WILL hunt small animals, that's what they do but they want nothing to do with humans and certainly DON'T hunt them. Remember their normal prey are rabbits, squirrels, etc. All small things. You look huge to them.

Years ago when I lived in San Diego one of the fancy, high priced neighborhoods raised hell about all the coyotes in the canyons and got permission to poison them. Well, fast forward about a year and they were being over run with rabbits and rats. They reintroduced coyotes, end of vermin problem. Isn't smart to fool with mother nature.

I am not afraid of coyotes per se, but if I saw a pack of 20 or even 6 it would unnerve me, especially at night.

we hear them at night here although not every night...and if Shadow hears them they have to communicate I walk Shadow at night for a short ways I wouldn't want to meet one or more while out even though they don't hunt adults that is a small dog and wouldn't want to have to fight them off
we have to be prudent when it comes to being around animals especially in their territory
sheila