Saturday. January 21

[Colliemom]

Morning all. January sure is flying by. It seems like we just celebrated New Year’s and in another week we’re going to be heading into February. It’s a cloudy morning here and the camp is 26° We got about 4 inches of wet snow on Thursday. That is the first snowfall we have had since the Christmas blizzard which of course melted. Thursday morning and again yesterday morning were the first days I have had my snowblower out since December 26. It’s not enough snow to really help the winter sports any, although the snowmobilers can ride if they want to. It also gives the private plow drivers some work. I was just reading in our local paper, about how so many of the towns that rely on winter tourism Up here, are having to make adjustments in their festivals and other things that they do this time of year due to the lack of snow and insufficient ice in lakes. A lot of these small towns that are along snowmobile trails are hurting because there’s no business. Thty are like ghost towns. I have been enjoying being able to get out and walk the dogs on nice dry roads though. The county plowed our road yesterday just before we were getting ready to go out for a walk which was great. So I just put my traction devices on my boots and off we went. There was just a little bit of wind and the temperature was around 24 I think when we went out. We had a nice walk.

I enjoyed reading about misplacing things the other day. I think we all go through that. I am usually careful to put things back in the same place, but sometimes something still disappears. This time of year, because I wear the same coat when I go shopping and to church and other things, my wallet and my car keys stay in my pockets. That way I know where they are. During the summer months I keep them in my waist belt and that stays in my dresser drawer when I’m not wearing it. My cell phone is always on my kitchen counter. I built a little box a few years ago that fits the whole thing and also has a little bit of space behind it to keep pens and and note paper. I have one of those cell phone carriers that you can clip on your waistband or belt, and that is what I carry my phone in, during the warmer weather. That is the one thing I like about having the Apple devices. If you misplace the phone, the IPad can find it. I quit carrying a purse over 25 years ago. When it boils down to it, most of the stuff we carry in a purse we never use anyway. All I need is just my wallet which is very thin, and m car keys. I only carry my medical cards, in case of an emergency, drivers license and my charge cards in my wallet. Along with a minimal amount of cash. I have no need for checkbooks or any of that stuff so I don’t carry them. I like the freedom not having a purse, especially being by myself. I don’t have to worry about dragging it with me if I’m eating out or shopping and I have to go to the restroom, going someplace with the dogs for a day outing and having my hands free. My waist belt is under my clothes so nobody knows I’m even wearing it. We all find what works best for us.

I finally started into one of my house projects that I’ve been wanting to get going on. I’m making a top for base kitchen cabinet that I got from my neighbors, when thry were remodeling the kitchen last summer. It’s one of those that has four big drawers in it. I have it in my office and I’m going to use it to store what office supplies I have, as well as maybe some other stuff. Being that was underneath the kitchen counter, it doesn’t have a top. I just happened to have a 12 inch wide shelf that I removed from my basement that is a nice piece of wood, and I found that if I cut two pieces off of it, they are wide enough if I put them together to cover the whole top of the cabinet. So I attached the two pieces together and went and picked up a piece of molding for the edges yesterday. Now I have to sand down the whole thing and prep it for staining. Was waiting for the Wood Filler to dry, where I needed to put some.

So I guess I had better get going here if I want to get that part accomplished today. Have a nice day out there.

[Redetotry]

Good Morning all, Sue I agree time is flying by! I am seeing signs of spring in our yard, the Easter flowers are about to bloom. It is only 35 today but it is sunny. It goes down hill after today though with rain and snow predicted for the next couple of days.
I'm meeting friends for drinks this afternoon so that will help pass the day. We go on Friday afternoons around 2:00 and it is usually not crowed not sure how it will be today. I had one of my cataract lenses cleaned with a laser yesterday and I can already see much better. They will do the other one next Friday. Is this normal after cataract surgery. One of my brothers and his girlfriend both had to have theirs cleaned and they went to the same doctor.
I need to get DH out of his painting frenzy and send him to the store. He is working on a project and looses track of time. He is painting wood panels for a cabinet our neighbor is having a local cabinet maker build. He has done this on a couple of other pieces and the cabinets are all made by hand no modern tools.

[PeggyinCT]

Good morning Everybody from sunny and hot Papeete, Tahiti. It’s my birthday and I’m celebrating. I board the Aranui 5 for a cruise to the Marqueses in French Polynesia in a few hours. Just hanging out until we can board. This is the long awaited trip that was canceled twice due to Covid. C’est la vie… Enjoy today. Peggy

[monik7]

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Peggy!. What a wonderful way to celebrate your birthday. Have fun and take some pictures for us.
Sandi

[JudyJB]

What a wonderful trip, Peggy! Do you have a blog you can post photos and tell everyone about your trip? If it really not hard to set one up, as I did for each of my last two UK trips.

Moved sites for the last night here and am headed to Lake Pleasant in the morning. I don't know where I can get a haircut, but I am really getting desperate!!

[cnq50b]

Happy birthday, Peggy! You really know how to celebrate! So fun!!!!!

I'm sure you'll enjoy every minute!
Catherine

[Cudedog]

BJ, the painting on the cabinets is SO exquisite! I hope the owners of the cabinets appreciate such precise artistry. Your husband is a real talent!! Thanks for posting the photo!

Anne

[OregonLuvr]

Good evening. Well HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANNE AND PEGGY I know Peggy is doing something fun and hope Anne is too, even if it is singing lol Mine is coming up soon also, dang they sure do start to come faster each year.

Did mostly housekeeping things today. Used my upright vacuum as my Robot vacuum is having some issues. Might be another one in my future as I use it alot. Tomorrow I will head to the grocery store as I need some fresh fruit and veggies. I need lettuce so I can use my new taco bowl maker for a taco salad. I bought the guacamole cups and have sour cream and salsa, and all the other fixins to go in it. Now just need the dang lettuce.

[Bethers]

Two sneaky people that I don't know your birthdays. Happy birthday Anne and Peggy. And here's hoping for many more.

And BJ, your husband is so talented. Thanks for sharing the picture.

[snowball]

Happy birthday Peggy and Anne how fun for you to share your day...
Peggy have a great trip... that would be a great gift and so glad that you finally get to go...
I feel like I did a lot today but sure nothing to show for it
trip to the store... made sloppy joes for supper... it's been awhile and every so often they just sound good... now I will need to replace my can of chicken jumbo soup it's hard to find so hopefully I will find it....again
got a e-mail from Mavrick telling me it was a free cookie for me if I just stop in so did so I really like their cookies.. of course I bought a couple as well
I had hopes that some of my family would show up today just cause... but they didn't one can only wish right it's just that it would be nice to have them come over... last time was New Years so guess that wasn't that long ago but it feels like and it was just for an hour or so... sounds like I'm complaining doesn't it??? well probably could be because I am...
I wish we could see signs of spring... it's pretty deep in snow and still hoping for more...
I didn't know that the cataract lens could be cleaned...haven't been back since I saw the dr after the 6 week was it check up.... it's like everything else that I put off... when my eyes don't work as well I use my drops for dry eye... another thing I don't use as often as I should the type the dr recommended is harder to dispense and I just forget to do so...
saw what looked like a chickadee today wish I had a feeder up... but didn't get up before the snows came and not can't get to the hook I keep thinking that there is berries there but they haven't eaten any next spring I need to identify what plant it is...
you all have a great day
sheila

[Acadianmom]

I went to the Cattlemen's Banquet tonight and had a great steak dinner. I guess if anyone knows where to get good steaks it would be cattlemen. lol We had bread pudding for desert.

Happy Birthday Anne and Peggy.

I agree, the days sure pass fast. The freeze and warm weather have the plants confused. I saw one of the magnolia trees that blooms pink flowers in the spring blooming today. That seems a little early to me. The freeze did a number on my rose bushes. They were blooming away and there hasn't been a bloom since the freeze. It's back in the 50's again. At least it's not 30. It rained for a while this afternoon but I think it as moved off now.

BJ, your husband is sure talented. I have never heard of having to have cataract lenses cleaned. My sister is looking into cataract surgery and one doctor she talked to wants $1,900 for each eye in addition to what medicare and her supplement pays. He says it costs that much for her to have 20/20 vision. I told her I have never heard of that and she needs to talk to another doctor.

Martha

[BarbaraRose]

Good evening gals!

BJ, your hubby does beautiful work!

...he obviously thought my singing was WAY cool, as he pranced around me as I was doing my fast-walk, red-ball-in-mouth.

Er. . . no. I didn't have a red ball in my mouth, Joe did.

I was gonna ask about that! I couldn't figure out how you could sing with a red ball in your mouth but you may have talents you haven't told us about until now! Glad you clarified! Happy birthday to you!

Happy birthday Peggy! Enjoy your South Pacific adventure! I would love to travel down there!

Worked for half a day today. Wasn't very busy for a Saturday. Tips were bad. On weekends we get a lot of Hispanic/Mexican families in, and they don't tip. Then went to the other shop to have my old manager give me a haircut. I had her chop off the long hair in back. It was fun to have longer curly hair but it was starting to drive me nuts on my neck. I got an inverted bob cut. Much better. I have a longer face shape so the shorter cut around my face works to help round it out some.

Went to bed late last night so I was tired today. Fell asleep when I got home for a few hours. I had stopped at 5 Guys for a mushroom cheeseburger and strawberry shake for dinner, so I needed to relax and digest that for awhile. It was so good! Have any of you heard of or made smashburgers? You roll up hamburger loosely in a meatball shape and then put it in a hot pan and smash it down quickly, pretty thin. It gets crispy on the outside. Because it cooks fast, it holds all the flavor and juice in. There is a SmashBurger fast food place in SoCal and they have the best burgers! We don't have any here in the valley tho. I want to try to make them at home. I like thin, well-done burgers.

Last night I talked to my real estate agent and we decided to lower the price on my house. I hope it helps get some interest in it now.

Karen, I have always wondered how to eat a taco salad? Do you eat the shell as you eat the salad or wait until after, or don't eat it at all? What is the proper way to eat those?

Romeow has been so sweet lately and very little zoomies at night now. Such a good boy and so affectionate as always! Must finally have gotten past his "terrible two's" phase! Got his claws clipped last night. He is very tolerant now of the sling I put him in to do that.

Too tired yet to watch TV so I'm gonna go to bed early. Back to work tomorrow and then 4 days off. Will leave for Q early Tuesday morning.

There are tons of sirens going down the main road by the park. Wonder what happened? Sometimes there are bad accidents at the intersection there. Sounds like lots of cops and firetrucks, so maybe something else going on.

Have a good night!

[Acadianmom]

Barbie, there's a chain hamburger place in Lafayette that make hamburgers like you described. The chain is Freddy's Steakburgers. I don't know if they are all over the country. Our Meetup group went one time and I have been back several times.

Martha

[MandysMom]

BJ , they don't "clean" the IOL (lens implant)! Typically laser is done to make a hole in the capsule membrane that's left intact during cataract surgery. That capsule was what enclosed the natural lens, which was removed because it was cataracted/ clouded by age or injury. If that capsule at its rear becomes scarred or cloudy (more rare that Drs sometimes imply), it prevents light from passing through to the retina as a clear image. Using laser they vaporize a hole the right size to allow light through so your lens implant can do its job properly.
Velda

[Redetotry]

BJ , they don't "clean" the IOL (lens implant)! Typically laser is done to make a hole in the capsule membrane that's left intact during cataract surgery. That capsule was what enclosed the natural lens, which was removed because it was cataracted/ clouded by age or injury. If that capsule at its rear becomes scarred or cloudy (more rare that Drs sometimes imply), it prevents light from passing through to the retina as a clear image. Using laser they vaporize a hole the right size to allow light through so your lens implant can do its job properly.
Velda

Velda, I don't know what they did but I can see better and they referred to it as cleaning. While he was doing the laser on my eye it took at least a minute and he kept moving the laser I could see the red flash moving back and forth and up and down on my eye. They said it would take awhile to be able to see clearly as my eye was diliated but I could see better right away and all that I experienced after was seeing more floaters which he said would clear up in about a week. I have the other one done next Friday.