THE LIGHTER SIDE CAFE SATURDAY FEBRUARY 20

Good Morning, WW Friends ~

Happy Saturday!  We woke to beautiful sunshine this morning, even though the temp is only 18 with a RF of 6!!  Looks certainly are deceiving with the sun reflecting off the snow. I will walk, but not until later. We were up looking out our bedroom window at 3 a.m. at the small herd of deer cavorting around outside our window.  We face into a wooded area and they have a "trail" along the tree line, so we see them often, but last night they stopped here and were digging around in the snow. DH first saw a couple and by the time I woke up, there were 4.  They looked beautiful!!

We ended up going out for fish 'n chips last evening.  I honestly don't remember the last time I ate out in a restaurant.  But we went somewhere very familiar and it was good to receive the friendly greetings. DH stops in there regularly either to check on a piece of equipment or just have a cup of coffee on his way home (sort of his version of "Cheers" LOL). The write-up I had seen on FB about "four pieces of fish with potato and salad" was right on!  Most places around here serve fish with fries and coleslaw (no other choices) and those are not necessarily my favorites.  Last night we had salad and Tater Tots. YUM!!  We both brought home half of our dinner and they are resting in the fridge as we speak.  

This week at school, we received four big boxes of Panera "left-overs".  They bake daily and get rid of what is left when they close.  Our school is fortunate enough to be on their donation list.  A co-worker and I had distributed them to our Head Start classrooms in the afternoon. On Thursday we provide a bag with breakfast, lunch and snack for each HS student to take home for Friday (since we don't have school on Friday).  Then we added a bag of Panera treats to the pile and they were surely weighted down on the way  home.  Anyway, after we distributed them, there were still some left so I brought home two cinnamon buns, which became mine and DH's breakfast today.  

I have started my pot of veggie/bean soup for this week.  I finished up the last one yesterday and brought up all the necessary cans from the basement, so it was sitting here at the ready.  That is certainly a wonderful fill-in during the week (and beyond sometimes). 

Add my name to that list of "need the house all to myself to clean properly".  I have always cleaned when DH was working, so I don't know if he even knows our house requires regular cleaning.  But on second thought, he does comment on the fresh smell of cleaning products when he comes in the door - and he does notice things like clean rugs, etc. But if he was under foot all the time, I don't know when I'd get done the things that get done when he's gone.  

Ann ~ Yay for pizza last night!  Happy Birthday to Carl!  I can't wait to hear what you decide on for dinner.  Whatever it is, I am sure you will enjoy it.

Pam ~ I had heard some not-so-complimentary things about the newer washers - not to mention the price!  I was looking on Craig's List yesterday and found a set that looks like mine and is reportedly in great condition (as the seller includes a warranty). I think I would stick with a used one that is more familiar to me.  I would prefer a matching set, and most of them come that way.  We'll see ......

Anyone have a recommendation for a product to clean my portable room humidifier.  I have been doing it with vinegar but it may be due for a "deep cleaning"

BBL.  Make a great day!!

Good morning all, 

good to read everyone’s notes this morning. Pam, great to catch up with you. Good news on your husband’s foot and how nicely it’s healing as well as getting the inserts. Sounds like you had a fun day with Abby yesterday.  

i agree on the water saving features. We have a new dishwasher and two relatively new washers (less than 2 years). It does take forever to do dishes unless I choose the one hour cycle. Good luck, Sue. I’m sure you’ll find one.

I’ll have to make more soup this week,too. This cold snowy weather is getting very old. You are right, Pam, in surviving these long winters.  February is always the longest shortest month. Unfortunately, March and April bring in mud season and it isn’t till May that things start to feel like spring. But, after three years, we are pretty used to it here! And there are so many things that we do love about New England. The ocean and the mountains are only about an hour or less away and we have so many beautiful lakes as well and nice towns and cities. I love living in area with so many different great hospitals, great educational opps, universities and culture. So weather in winter is not so terrible in perspective. We get a lot of sunshine as well and rarely have terrible weather events like hurricanes and tornadoes. I’ve lived all over this country and especially was glad to escape tornado alley in Joplin though I miss great friends.

im off to run a few errands. Happy birthday to Carl! Sue, glad you had good fish n chips! Yum. 

judy709, keep forgetting to say how much I just LOVE 'D's' picture.....

Ann ~ You made me LOL about the supper dish and guzzling the lemon water!  I know exactly what  you mean.  Thanks, BTW, for the tip about my humidifier.  Because it is a cool mist ultrasonic humidifier and I only put distilled water in it, I don't worry much about other "deep cleaning" but I did look it up and watched a video that was very helpful.  However, he had put his away with water in it and not cleaned for  "end of season" and I would NEVER do that!  I learned about Cleaning Vinegar (who knew?) and I may get a bottle of that. I also learned I can put a few drops of hydrogen peroxide in the tank after it's cleaned, so I did that today. I had given it a good cleaning yesterday and then rinsed it out today, so we'll see if the peroxide works?  Actually I don't know what I need to have "work' because it's working great!

Judy ~ Good to catch up with you this morning as well.  It was great of you to share your thankfulness of the area where  you live.  All too often, we tend to forget to be appreciative of it, so thanks for reminding me.  When we moved here, I loved that we have lakes and wooded areas as well as shopping close by and restaurants, etc.  You certainly helped me lift my mood today!  Thanks!!

So while I was sitting at my computer paying some bills for next week, I heard a familiar sound and it was the ringer on DH's phone.  It was here at home with me (and he was not). So I set it out by the back door in case he wanted to grab it without taking off his boots.  He did come home and get it, and while he was here he took a look at my washer.  He is pretty sure he knows what it is (the belt) but needs his tool box to undo the water lines so he can pull it out and take the back off.  I am so glad I didn't waste time worrying about it. I did tell him I had shopped on Craig's List, so if he takes it apart and says it can't be fixed, then we'll have a Plan B. Other than that I'll put it out of my mind.

It is past noon and I haven't walked yet, but I think I'll go put on something warm and get that done.  I also got a text that my new mask order is in my mailbox (at the front of the complex) so I can take my keys and retrieve that package on my way back from my walk.  Yesterday I ordered DH four more MSU Spartans masks.  The company I get them from puts the double straps which he finds extremely helpful for work, because he can just pull it down around his neck, and then pull it back up with one hand. Unfortunately he lost one of those, as well as one of the two heavier ones I got him for Christmas. I got an email yesterday that they are on clearance, so I ordered him new ones.  I have a feeling we will be wearing them for a good long time yet.

Last evening when we went out to eat, I drove and DH rode.  We were a block from the house when he said "Oh no, I didn't grab a mask" (he keeps some of his in his truck).  I had a baggie with two clean ones in my car (one Pooh and one Dr. Seuss).  He chose the Pooh to wear and got cute comments on it at the restaurant.   

Ann ~ According to the You Tube video I watched, regular vinegar has a pH (or acidity or something) of 5 whereas Cleaning Vinegar has is a 6!  Wow!  Don't know why, but the guy swore by it.  I will buy some when (or if) I see it and try it out. For right now I have put a few drops of hydrogen peroxide in my water tank.  Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

I got my walk done and the sunshine was wonderful.  Even though it is cold, there is no wind, so it was actually quite comfortable (with my down coat and knit hat and polar fleece gloves, etc).  I am really enjoying my new snow boots that I got for Christmas as they are comfortable, warm and safe.

I am thinking of doing a bunch of nothin' the rest of the day. I still need to clean out my Kindle.  I paid bills and balanced the checkbook this morning and got a few envelopes ready to go in the mail. Why, oh why, are there still companies who don't receive e-checks?   I by far prefer paying my bills online through the Bill Pay function on our Credit Union website.

DH is downstairs taking my washer apart so I may have good news yet today??

Speaking of enjoying meals, DH changed his mind again, and had a hankering for pizza (for which he offered to make salad to go with). I got half of a deep dish pizza out of the freezer and defrosted it and it is almost ready to go in the oven.  I am looking forward to it as well.

We decided we'd reheat our fish dinners with tater tots Monday night by placing them in the hot oven so they crisp up like the pizza does,  I just could not justify the cost of an air fryer when I would get so little use out of it.  Not to mention, our condo has a small kitchen and right now there is a place for everything. I had to get rid of a couple of things when we got the Instant Pot (but well worth it!) and again when we got the larger George Foreman (also well worth it).  Right now I have the right gadget for everything.