Thursday, June 29th

[Colliemom]

Morning. 60° Brief rain shower just passed through, more coming over the course of the day. 80/60 today.

Might be a bit hazy as Air Quality Alerts are still in effect till midnight. Monday was the worst day for smoke we have had so far this year. AQ was in the hazardous range for awhile. Visibility to maybe a mile if that. And of course a very strong smell of it. It was being pulled in from Quebec behind the low pressure that is now off east. As the front moved east, the smoke went with it and by evening was gone except for the haze. Couldn’t even smell it. I hauled out my face mask I wore during Covid when I went to town in the morning. It’s double layer tight woven fabric. Think I’m going to order the filters for it. I could barely even smell the smoke while I was wearing it. I’m sure, unless rain helps out up there, we will be having the smoke all summer depending on the winds. So I just stayed in and worked on woodcrafts. Was a really nice day yesterday though.

Trip to Chiropractor and Dermatology were the adventures yesterday. Got the spot n my neck removed and then he stitched up the area. Came home with some dressing on it, which will fall off by itself. No further action required, no followup needed. Stopped at Hobby Lobby, picked up a few craft paints, made a wasted trip to Walmart, had lunch out and headed home. Today is finish the woodcrafts and get things ready to put out for 4th of July. Will probably make a run to store as don’t want to be in town tomorrow with all the traffic coming up for y weekend and the start to peak summer vacation season.

Sharon, glad Buddy is dong What kay and healing up good. My neighbor just had her one dog spayed last week as well. She had a clever idea in that she put a male dog diaper on her. Protects the incision and she can’t get at it.

Beth, glad you found somebody to fix the door and hopefully the light. I took a hint from Birdie and took out the screen in lower part of my door and then had a piece of plexiglass cut and installed it in there. Had a second piece cut to use on top if I wanted. Just fastened it in with Velcro. That way I could leave outside door open regardless of it being hot or cool outside. Let n a lot more light. And had the upper screen for ventilation the other times.

My handyman is coming out this morning to look at the rotted part of porch beam I discovered a couple of weeks ago. Will give me the estimate and get it scheduled in. I’m hoping to get the second coat of paint on the deck area I started, this weekend and maybe get the other section done next week as well as the porch floor. Then big projects will be done. Slow and steady and it gets done.

[Shirlv]

Morning All, hazy from smoke, red alert 154 Ali. Will wear a mask to water geraniums. Men are still working construction across the street. Warning that even healthy people will suffer symptom from this smoke. Is the US trying to help put out Canadian fires? Hope silly people aren’t going to the ocean to sit in the smoke. Going to cook barbecue chicken drumsticks in the small crockpot green beans. Baked a loaf of Oat, nut bread so that will be dinner.Hope the mobile rv guy has a cancellation so I can stop worrying about Beth’s needed repairs. Lol All those dealing with this smoke stay indoors, be safe

[Cudedog]

My heart goes out to all of you who are suffering from the smoke from the Canadian wildfires. Trust me on this, us northern California gals know whereof you speak. The smoke thing is positively dreadful.

I have a portable Holmes HEPA air filter that I run about 24/7 when we have had bad smoke here the last few summers, and it helps tremendously to keep the air clean and not smelling of smoke inside my house.

https://www.amazon.com/Holmes-Allergen-Remover-Purifier-Spaces/dp/B002QUZGV0/ref=sr_1_5?crid=9W7RDBHDMP6X&keywords=holmes+air+purifier&qid=1688049410&sprefix=holmes+air+purifier%2Caps%2C155&sr=8-5&ufe=app_do%3Aamzn1.fos.006c50ae-5d4c-4777-9bc0-4513d670b6bc

But these are probably in short supply with what is going on in the smoke areas.

No wildfires here this year, at least so far. Knock wood! But the hot weather is finally rolling in - looks like we have a week, probably more, of 100+ temps in store here. Saturday looks to be the current cooker, with 109 predicted. I know from past experience that temps are generally a couple of degrees higher than predicted for my immediate area, so I'm thinking maybe 110 - 112. Ugh.

With the major precip we had here last year, of course the wild grasses and chaparral have all had a growth spurt. And with all of this new growth drying out in the broil, and no rain in sight until maybe October (as per usual here). . . well, we just keep our fingers crossed. That's about all we can do.

I don't even like to go outside when it is this hot. My garden is on a timer and drip system, so (thankfully!) I don't need to stand outside with a hose in my hand to water. I'm stocked up on groceries as well - store-bought tomatoes in the refrigerator are running low (again - I eat a lot of tomatoes) so I might need to make a quick early-morning grocery run in a couple of days. However, my grape tomatoes are starting to ripen, cukes are on the vine, so I may be able to avoid going to the store for a little while. When my Cherokee Purple start to kick in (I am very thankful to seem to have an abundance of them this year) I should be good tomato-wise for the rest of the summer. I will freeze most of the tomatoes I can't eat immediately (and a few chosen friends will get a few), and frozen tomatoes should keep me in salsa (I can make a dinner out of salsa) for the rest of the year.

That is, if the tomatoes all ripen. Keeping my fingers crossed!

With the temps so hot, I'll try to get my walk in before 8 a.m. Hopefully it won't already be too hot by then.

You all take care, and have a nice day. And stay out of the smoke as much as you are able.

Anne

[OregonLuvr]

Good morning. A nice morning today 55/91 so the heat is on for the next week anyway. I have had my shower and getting ready to head to the store, just finishing up my second cup of java. Need to go to two stores to hit the sales. And Lowes to pick up some paint and a couple of other project supplies.
Put my hearing aids in this morning, haven't been wearing them but need to wear them for a while each day just to get more used to them. Struggled a bit getting the little plastic type wire in the circle of my ear. Almost cut it off myself LOL LOL but now I think I have the hang of it, Apparently it keeps them in my ears so figure they are important.
No major projects today outside or inside. I need to rearrange my pantry so might do that this morning when I am done at the stores.
No smoke here and we have only had some small fires started from the lightning. No major ones and hopefully none coming. When we had all our fires I had to change my heat/AC filters every week or more. I still have a stash of N95 masks and I even know where they are ha ha
Had pot roast last night and it was really good. Just threw it in the crockpot and thickened the juice for gravy. Not sure what I will have tonight yet. Want to see if the store has any good fish. I am going to make terriyaki chicken kabobs but sometime this week. Want to use my grill.
OK time to get my butt in gear....later folks

[Cudedog]

Good morning. A nice morning today 55/91 so the heat is on for the next week anyway. I have had my shower and getting ready to head to the store, just finishing up my second cup of java. Need to go to two stores to hit the sales. And Lowes to pick up some paint and a couple of other project supplies.
Put my hearing aids in this morning, haven't been wearing them but need to wear them for a while each day just to get more used to them. Struggled a bit getting the little plastic type wire in the circle of my ear. Almost cut it off myself LOL LOL but now I think I have the hang of it, Apparently it keeps them in my ears so figure they are important.
No major projects today outside or inside. I need to rearrange my pantry so might do that this morning when I am done at the stores.
No smoke here and we have only had some small fires started from the lightning. No major ones and hopefully none coming. When we had all our fires I had to change my heat/AC filters every week or more. I still have a stash of N95 masks and I even know where they are ha ha
Had pot roast last night and it was really good. Just threw it in the crockpot and thickened the juice for gravy. Not sure what I will have tonight yet. Want to see if the store has any good fish. I am going to make terriyaki chicken kabobs but sometime this week. Want to use my grill.
OK time to get my butt in gear....later folks

Hey, Karen, I love pot roast in the crockpot. Just throw it in in the morning, do other stuff all day, dinner is ready at dinner time. I also like the pot roast out of my Instant Pot, but I find the crockpot to be less muss and fuss.

The problem I have always had with crockpot pot roast is thickening the gravy. Have tried various methods, none ever seems to work to get that yummy beef flavor into the gravy, the carrots, and the potatoes.

What is your secret?

Thanks.

Anne

[OregonLuvr]

Anne I dont have a secret I do it 3 ways LOL Pkg of brown gravy or, Bisto powder or, flour and butter slurry. Just depends how hard I want to work at it. I season my potroast heavily as I like the rich flavor.

Came back from the store managed to get a pack of Rock fish for dinner. Went to 3 different stores. Lowes for paint and carpet tape, Safeway because they had several of the things I like on sale, and then Sherms for a few of their sales items also.....so a good morning. I bought another little personal watermelon and this one is big for $5. Henry just took off and I had to look to see what he is vacuuming....the hallway, guest bathroom and laundry room...well allrighty now. I didnt remember I programmed him for that. Now to make my meatloaf sandwich for lunch and a few chips.

[Colliemom]

Shirl, here is your answer to the question of who is helping Canada fight the wildfires


They say our AQ should start moving out for some tomorrow. It isn’t too bad today, at least not now. Can’t even smell it. It is hazy, but also a bit humid and that makes it a bit hazy too.

Meet the international firefighters battling Canada's worst wildfire season in a century
102 firefighters from France in Quebec.
327 firefighters from the U.S. in Alberta and Quebec.
218 firefighters from Australia in Alberta.
40 firefighters from New Zealand in Alberta.
40 firefighters from Costa Rica in Alberta.
More items...•

Some Interesting facts on the smoke. Don’t think people realize just exactly what is in the smoke.And it doesn’t apply just to Michigan
https://www.9and10news.com/2023/06/28/w ... g-plastic/

This is where those of us in the north do gain a little advantage
https://www.9and10news.com/2023/06/27/a ... r-quality/

[Shirlv]

Sue, I couldn’t retrieve the link. I thought maybe Us was helping. Sure hope so especial since it is affecting us now too. Dangerous conditions. Great grand daughter is a lifeguard and they shut the pool down, glad of that.

[OregonLuvr]

Shirl yes the USA is helping Canada fight the wildfires.

[Bethers]

Sue, I'm not sure if this is the article you were trying to post or not, but I think so.
https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/wildfir ... f-in-sight

I couldn't sleep last night and I'd love to nap but then it would be the same situation tonight. Yesterday I moved everything around in my Casita. Should be easy in a small space, right? Wrong. There's no place to put things until the new space for them is ready. There's one piece I still want to trade out for another, but I'm not sure I can do it by myself. And that one's no hurry. I still have to do a lot of reorganizing now, but I think I like it. It'll take seeing if it works out or not. Otherwise, I'll be doing it again. If it does, I'll switch out the last piece. Or decide not to lol

Tomorrow's the last official day for Ty and I to walk for St Jude's, but since we went more than double the miles I'm not keeping close track now. Ty might not let me get away with sleeping in mornings now that he's used to use being able to get a good walk before the heat when up early. We shall see. He needs the exercise so I probably have to keep this up.

[Cudedog]

Anne I dont have a secret I do it 3 ways LOL Pkg of brown gravy or, Bisto powder or, flour and butter slurry. Just depends how hard I want to work at it. I season my potroast heavily as I like the rich flavor.

Thanks, Karen! I have always just used a packet of (dry) Lipton Onion Soup. I have never tried a packet of brown gravy mix - never even thought of it! I'll definitely try this next time, I LOVE a rich pot roast flavor.

LOL, now I'm hungry for pot roast, but I'm not going out until the heat wave abates a bit. Currently 102 outside.

Anne

[Colliemom]

I removed that link. That was from Reuters, , but for some reason it won’t come up. But that’s a good one you posted Beth

[Bethers]

I removed that link. That was from Reuters, , but for some reason it won’t come up. But that’s a good one you posted Beth

I almost removed mine because it showed you had posted while I was typing. We'll just have an overload of things to read.

[Shirlv]

Thanks for the info Sue and Beth. I should have know if smoke is bad here it’s worse in Canada. O have smoke not fire so will stay indoors and stop whining. Glad we are helping our neighbors. Bless the firefighters.

[Acadianmom]

The high here was 101 again and it's still 99. The news said that it was 102 in Abbeville. Not a record we want.

When I went to the grocery store they had pot roast for $8 something and they were about the size of a large steak. I didn't look to see what they wanted for ribeyes. The next time I go to Lafayette I need to go by Sam''s and see how much their chuck roasts are. If I'm going to cook a pot roast I would like for it to last more than one day. I had never heard of Rock Fish so had to look them up. Not something we ever see for sale.

This morning I decided to mix a gallon of Roundup and spray the places I can't mow. In just a few minutes I had sweat running in my eyes. Maybe I can finish spraying before dark.

Martha