|
|
Post by nybuckeye on Dec 14, 2019 9:50:15 GMT
This is a thread devoted to those in their 50s & 60s and beyond who don't have children or grandchildren but live rich, full lives. Please feel free to join our stroll thru life and come back often for support and to share.
———————————————————————————
National Free Shipping Day is Saturday, December 14. Top retailers will ship your online orders for free today.
Sunday, December 15 is National Cat Herders Day. It is not about cats. It celebrates those who can manage others and themselves no matter what chaos is thrown their way. The idiom, “like herding cats,” was popularized during a Super Bowl commercial in 2000 by Hewlett Packard.
Errand day here since I have a willing driver.
|
|
|
|
Post by texasless91 on Dec 14, 2019 15:20:32 GMT
Thanks for the early start, Chele. Who is your new avatar friend? You are definitely getting lots of photos at the feeders. Did your willing driver also serve as sherpa? I hope you got everything done that you planned to do and that weather cooperated. I used to be one of those cat herders, and I guess I may be again in the coming year. I remember that commercial. We used to occasionally play it during leadership meetings. I was watching a show on birds in the Smokies and an expert said that chickadees just take one seed and fly off with it, rather than gorging themselves at the feeder as a lot of birds do. Have you noticed that with your visitors? Arya was totally fascinated with the songs of the birds and watched a bit of the show, which is unusual for her. Do you do just seeds or also suet cakes? Do you have any water sources you provide in the winter?
Kathy, I forgot about the Dickens Doctor Who episode. I liked that one, too. Hope your skies are sunny today.
Enjoy your warmth, Becky. 84 is a bit above normal for this time of year, isn't it? I like that WW has finally figured out that one size doesn't fit all and has come out with a number of options. With Kathy losing on Purple and your success with Green, it appears the new programs are working.
Liz, how did the week go? Are you still using cabs between GCS and St. Crazy? Still racking up high step counts on the Alta? How goes PT? Do you do any of your shopping in "the big city" or is it mostly closer to home? Have you finished it all yet?
Enjoy lunch with your former colleagues today, Linda. How is Bob feeling today? The house looks amazing! Does Micki pay any attention to the lights?
Dale is doing a half marathon this morning and, thankfully, the rain moved out for him but it's still a dreary and damp morning. My little girl, who is sacked out next to me on the couch, had us up before 6, so I've been a busy bee. Bed is changed and bedding laundered, Arya has eggs for the week and ground turkey and sweet potatoes for dinners, and I dug out my smaller springform pans for the pending ice cream cakes. I plan to get Dale's presents wrapped today. Happy Saturday!!
|
|
|
|
Post by kaycee on Dec 14, 2019 18:22:41 GMT
Chele, thanks for the start. Is that a woodpecker in your feeder? Nice picture! I remember that Super Bowl commercial. Herding cats was a popular phrase in software development at least as far back as the 90s, so we all thought the commercial was hilarious. Karen, there is a woman that posts short videos on Twitter where she holds her hand out and birds will come and take nuts. The chickadees usually take one nut or seed and fly off. I wonder if part of it is a protection mechanism to not stay in one place for too long. Her Twitter handle is @jocaphotography. She has some great pictures in addition to the videos. We had some strong storms come through overnight, but it's sunny and warm right now.
Waving to all. I'm off to brave the store. Hope you have a great Saturday!
|
|
|
|
Post by lizzyr092 on Dec 14, 2019 20:09:27 GMT
Hello Chicks and thanks for the start Chele.     I am just fit to be tied as I was just finishing up a long post to all of you after catching up on your news for the week. I am done and disgusted. I hate when this happens and there is no rhyme or reason. Waving hello to all and sending hugs. I'll be back to try again. Week was crazy busy, broke a front tooth. Long days and no respite in sight. No cabs to and from Grand Central; taking the subway and all the wonderful stairs at GCS since the escalator is down until further notice. Ciao for now~ |
|
|
|
Post by texasless91 on Dec 14, 2019 20:26:41 GMT
Kathy, I don't have a Twitter account, but I was able to find Jocelyn Anderson's website and she does amazing work. It sounds like the "single serving" is a chickadee thing. Enjoy your sunshine. I hope the storms didn't wake you up over night. How were things at the store? Were you solo or did you take DM? Should be about exam time, so students should be exiting for the holidays soon.
Did you try the Garmin Vivosmart 3, Becky? I'm thinking about changing trackers. The Vivosmart 4 is just too narrow on my wrist and seems to hit my wristbone oddly, which makes it uncomfortable to wear. I like the look but not the feel and think I would do better with a wider device. I think I am sleeping better since I stopped wearing it to bed. It does tell me when I took it off and put it back on (which usually isn't exactly my going to sleep or wake up time), but I get not stats, and that's not a huge issue.
Liz, I'm sorry you lost your post. That seems to be happening to you frequently of late. OH, NO on the tooth! Were you able to get it fixed? You would think GCS would have more than one escalator. I hope they get it back up and running by Monday. That's just ridiculous! How's that cranky knee doing?
Dale is on his way home. He finished his half marathon in under 4 hours. I decided it was soup weather, so I made a big pot of vegan potato gnocchi soup for lunch--and for lunches the rest of the week (I said it was a big pot) Definitely hit the spot. The thermometer has only moved about 5 degrees since we woke up and we've had light rain from time to time. The sun is trying to peak out right now, so I hope it will be successful.
|
|
|
|
Post by kaycee on Dec 14, 2019 23:17:40 GMT
Liz, so sorry about the post and the long week. Unbelievable that GCS doesn't have a working escalator. That's awful on the tooth. Hope it's not too bad and you're able to get it fixed quickly. You deserve a great weekend after all that! Karen, I'm pretty sure you can read Twitter posts without an account. Here's the link: BirdsThe store was quieter than normal for a Saturday. DN is done with school until next year, so I think a lot of students have left already. DM went with me to the store. Was that a new personal record for Dale? Sounds like he made good time. The storm did wake me up, but I fell back asleep. We got some really heavy rain while I was sleeping. |
|
|
|
Post by retiredinaz on Dec 15, 2019 0:45:22 GMT
I believe they have no working escalator! Had that happen a lot in London. ouch. Hope the tooth is an easy fix. Some actually are with luck.
Cute birdie.
Isn't it kind of cold for marathons!
Lots of cooking here. I am trying to get off the chair to make sandwiches.
We dashed early over to Phoenix to get DH's marzipan stollen from the German bakery.
Then I was back in the car long a long annual Dec lunch with little gift exchange at Jewish deli...got a bubble light night light, Christmas dish soap and a mug with crazy socks! Brought home deli stuff for supper.
Zipped into Safeway for stuff to make the cranberry cream cheese pound cake tomorrow for my art class end of term eat and critique. Put potatoes on to boil for German potato salad to go with pot roast tomorrow. Walked dog and out in car again for another set of shrub net lights to finish yesterdays bush..,grew a lot! Micki does not seem to notice them. We walk just as it starts to very little compared to some.get dark to enjoy our street...mine are
Finally got to sit...phew.
|
|
|
|
Post by borntexan on Dec 15, 2019 0:57:40 GMT
Thanks for the start Chele.
Karen They are still predicting 84 for tomorrow which will be another broken record high.It got up to 75 today and it was so beautiful outside.I'm glad WW finally listened to us.
Kathy I like your avatar.I hope the store wasn't too crowded.Walmart was a zoo today.
Liz Oh no on the broken tooth.I'm sorry nothing has changed with work.I wish you could keep telecommuting a few days out of each week.
Karen I did not try the VS 3.I had the Vivofit 3 and 4 I think but then skipped to the VS 4.I love my Fitbit Versa 2 but if you don't like wide bands then you wouldn't like it.You must have cooler temperatures if you decided it's soup weather.Send that rain here.We are all in a drought again and even if we get rain with the front Monday morning it won't be much.
|
|
|
|
Post by retiredinaz on Dec 15, 2019 4:19:47 GMT
Wow Becky, we are heading for lows!
Made sandwiches and settled down to a bit of time reserved watching something with dh...headache began, felt cold, started coughing. 99 degrees is high for me...this better go away! I have too much going in next ten days. Gave up, took hot bath , Advil, and crawled into bed. Bah humbug!
|
|
|
|
Post by nybuckeye on Dec 15, 2019 12:53:16 GMT
Linda, I hope you haven’t caught a bug. I bet your street looks pretty with all the lights. How is Bob’s tummy doing?
Liz, did you get to the dentist to fix the tooth? I am not surprised the escalator isn’t working? How are the joints doing with all the stairs? Sorry you lost your post. I had trouble signing in a couple of days ago. I kept getting the “Oops, sorry” message. Are you having a busy weekend?
Becky, great picture of you and your friend. You look lovely and svelte. Great outfit.
Kathy, I love the new duck picture. Can’t wait to try the Twitter link and see the bird pictures. Lucky on the grocery not being busy. The picture is of a red bellied woodpecker. He’s a little larger than the downy woodpecker.
Karen, the house and goldfinches will park it and chow down but the chickadees pick a seed and eat in the tree. The woodpeckers don’t stay long either. Getting their picture requires luck and\or patience. I put bark butter bits in the feeders. They are small pieces of suet. The woodpeckers like those. I don’t have a water source since my bird bath is not freeze resistant, bit there are a couple of ponds in the area. How big of a pot do you have to cook your soup in? Our largest pot is 11 quarts. Glad Dale did so well on his half marathon.
We got our errands done. We would have done more but Iggy’s back was bothering him. I finally found a picture I had taken a couple of years ago of a weird looking bird in the backyard, so we stopped at Wild Birds to talk to the experts. Two of the young guys were stumped but were persistent. Then the older man came up, looked over their shoulders and said “Isn’t that a bittern?” We looked it up online and, sure enough, it is a bittern which is a small heron. We think it is a Least Bittern. There is some marshland in a Metropark near us from which it may have come or it was migrating. 2 year mystery solved. The picture is not very good and the bird is small in it and would not post well. We are expecting 2-4 inches of snow overnight but it should clear up by mid morning, so it shouldn’t affect Iggy’s flight which is at 2 pm. I wonder if my birdies will show up tomorrow morning.
|
|
|
|
Post by borntexan on Dec 15, 2019 20:15:24 GMT
Linda I hope you are feeling better today.So far the high has been 81.Tomorrow morning we get another front in.
Chele Thanks.That picture was taken at my November WW meeting when I was recognized as a LT member and that is my leader.She posted the pic on our Taylor FB group.Stay warm and I hope the snow doesn't affect Iggy's flight.
Waves to all.
|
|
|
|
Post by retiredinaz on Dec 15, 2019 20:53:09 GMT
Great picture, Becky.
Better today after allergy meds...So I guess something is blooming....usually problem with juniper about now.
Well...tomorrow the class is getting sliced panetone!
Spectacular FAIL ....
not everyone likes cranberries, so I substituted 3/4 the amount of well-drained canned sour cherries......holy cow! 20 minutes into baking it foamed up and over the sides and cooked on the oven like weird pancakes! Lucky to able to wipe it off fast with wet paper towels held by barbeque tongs. So I guess if you make it, you had best stick with fresh cranberries.
Expensive...big jar cherries, large cream cheese, and two sticks butter
recipes.cookingpanda.com/cream-cheese-cranberry-loaf/?utm_source=rm-cpall&utm_medium=social-fb&utm_campaign=cream-cheese-cranberry-loaf&fbclid=IwAR0sOuUZLUw1Hehcl-m3wk7j2t21iTZ5qeHrCIGZb4D5C02f7cQmM7yNjrk
|
|
|
|
Post by texasless91 on Dec 15, 2019 23:40:48 GMT
Kathy, the Twitter link worked. That's an amazing video of the birds landing on her hand for seeds. University being done for the year would explain the quietude at the supermarket. I think it was a new PR for Dale. Good that you were able to fall back to sleep with the storms. I used to be able to sleep right through them, but someone who shall remain nameless is afraid of loud noises and wind, so she usually wakes me up now.
Quite a haul at the gift exchange, Linda. You have been busy, as usual yesterday. Did you get the new lights installed? I was noticing coming home on Thursday how a lot of people don't seem to have their houses decorated this year for some reason. Guess they aren't in the spirit. Apparently it's never too cold for a marathon, at least for some people. So sorry about your kitchen failure. Sometimes substitutions aren't our friend. I'm sure the panetone will be fine. Hope the potato salad came out well.
Becky, skinny lady, you look great in the photo. I avoid WM any day of the week but especially on Saturdays. I don't even like to drive by on the weekends. Enjoy the heat. We didn't get out of the 40s yesterday low 50s today. I would love to send you some of our excess rain, especially since they say we will be getting more Monday night into Tuesday. Glad it's not snow.
Where is Iggy flying to, Chele, and how long will he be gone? I'm glad your bird mystery has finally been solved. There are Least Bitterns in TN but I don't think we have many on our lake. They are apparently very reclusive, so it's difficult to catch sight of one. You have a rare photo. I used my 6 qt. Revere Ware Dutch oven. I have a 12 qt. Chef's stock pot as well, but it's a bit more difficult to get out.
Liz, how are you feeling? Did you get some rest and are you recharged for the week?
Great news! RE agent called this afternoon and we have an offer on the house. And, it's a pretty decent one, better than either of us expected. Fingers crossed everything goes smoothly for a 30-day closing. It's been waking me up in the middle of the night. Been on the market for just about a week, compared to several months 3 years ago. I spent most of the afternoon outside working in the raised beds. They have fava beans as a cover crop and fresh soil. I took out a tree and 2 large patches of bee balm. I also pulled up 7 rutabaga, which is the last of them. I got decent foliage, but no kohlrabi bulbs. Not sure what went wrong there. I still have kale and the Egyptian walking onions seem to be doing well. I put rope lights on Cactus Jack because his mini twinkle lights had pretty much disintegrated.I also did 3 loads of laundry and am beyond tired. Knees and back also don't feel that great. We have to go to the bank tomorrow to sign some papers and I hope after that I can get some rest.
|
|
|
|
Post by borntexan on Dec 16, 2019 0:29:43 GMT
Linda and Karen Thanks for the compliment.
Linda You have been very busy.
Karen It only got up to 81 today and didn't feel too bad out there with the breeze.When the front comes through tomorrow morning it may bring a slight chance for rain but very little.I think Wednesday it won't get out of the 50's with lows in the high 30's.It has been warm in the house today so I have the ceiling fan on and tomorrow we will probably have the heater on.I'm glad you already have an offer on the house.
Scooter was being a pain last night so neither of us got much sleep.She kept wanting outside so Kenneth would get up to let her out.Then she kept wanting to come up on my recliner.I hope she tires herself out today outside.
|
|
|
|
Post by retiredinaz on Dec 16, 2019 3:48:17 GMT
remaining fingers crossed for the closing on the house, Karen. yea!
just back from urgent care. Sliced end of my ring finger in caving knife that fell into the dishwater. DH has tremor , so I somehow managed with left hand to get a steri-strip on it to pull edges together. they kept asking at urgent care if I am a nurse...did a good job.
It finally stopped bleeding right after we got there, and sat an hour waiting, but it needed soaking in betadine and tetanus shot.Not sure what would happen after strip was removed, but it stayed closed. Fingers bleed a lot when you take a lot of fish oil and a baby aspirin daily. Have to keep it dry , no pressure and not bump it
|
|
