A Not So Good Day

I am punished for bragging about my microwave lasting so long. It went belly up overnight. Karma?

From my Good Day post: "Maybe I can save up enough to replace the ancient tin shower stall next year...that is IF the 38 year old GE microwave oven, which was a gift from my husband and some of our kids as my 1985 Christmas present will keep functioning. I use the microwave oven at least twice a day! Yes I do! It is a real survivor."

Yes, this morning I filled my cup with cold water, a Constant Comment tea bag, put it in the microwave and set the timer to 3 minutes. punched the buttons. NADA! I opened and closed the door several times, reset the timer, checked the plug and the circuit breaker, talked to it.....NADA. It just DIED!

I found a replacement on the internet and have it ordered to arrive April 3. I HOPE! One page showed it was out of stock but a message to the supplier says, "Hi Reed, This should be shipping tomorrow morning with arrival on April 4."

I will show it to you after arrival. It is a bit 'different' and smaller too!

My friend (I couldn't do without her help) came to the rescue later today and took away the deceased for the recycling center. I hope it had a nice ride.

Time Marches On...

 It was a good day! I'm officially old. OLDER! The phone calls came from four of my kids in the early part of the day. The lemon cake and a beautiful card was delivered by my grandson and his sweet lady yesterday afternoon. The "Yard Guy" brought in a lovely new flowering plant from his family. My good dear friend came for visit just before he arrived. The mail lady left a few more cards. 

I am a great-great grandmother again - this time to a little girl named Luna May. All is well.

My first cousin died yesterday and I'm sure she's in a good place now.  Some leave, some come - it is the way.  We were good buddies when young.

This photo I took at the end of my day shows a part of what exactly has made me happy. The plant is one I had never heard of and is so pretty! It is a Kalanchoe. This was a very happy birthday in many ways. Several days ago a large box of assorted skin care supplies arrived from my NJ daughter and family. 

It rained and the winds blew strong today but I really didn't notice!

Good Day!

Good and busy, that is! The sun is out and shining with warmth and cheer. I see the daffodils are up about 5-6 inches and the latest cold weather hasn't hurt nor stopped them at all.

First thing today was a surprise call from the plumber that he is sending his men to replace the kitchen faucet that he installed in August, 2000. "New Delta kitchen sink faucets & installation  $167.37"  with a new one.  It still worked well but I wanted one with a high rise spout so it would make it easier to wash my hair there. Modern faucet and old sink are clashing in style but I'm a happier resident now. (Main project of this year $426.94)

Maybe I can save up enough to replace the ancient tin shower stall next year...that is IF the 38 year old GE microwave oven, which was a gift from my husband and some of our kids as my 1985 Christmas present will keep functioning and the 26 year old Regency propane fireplace heater will hold out for a while longer. 11-01-1997! It was purchased for only $2,346.42 including installation. I use the microwave oven at least twice a day! Yes I do! It is a real survivor.

After the plumbing was finished, I had a follow-up doctor appointment this morning. Indications are that I might be able to stay a little longer than I first believed. Perhaps the past nine months assortment of health issues that took their toll on my declining health is ceasing. I plan to get my buggy out of storage and go for a ride-about very soon! 

Got my hair (what there is left of it) cut and trimmed by a wonderful gal who always knows how it needs to be. She is a merry soul and has been doing this for about 40 years. Now she comes to my home - all bubbly and cheerful and uplifting. Yay today! 

I lit and threw a firecracker at the pair of geese that were on the grassy beachfront. They really are a pain due to the messes they leave. I have only about 8 crackers left and might have to refill the bag this summer. It works at the moment, but they never learn! I  can only light and throw one into the driveway but the noise is enough to get the job done.

Baking Day

**********RECIPE**********

Oatmeal Cookies

Makes 18 cookies

Ingredients:

• 12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter at room temperature
• 1 Cup light brown sugar
• 1/2 Cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2 large eggs
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1 3/4 cups flour
• 2 cups rolled oats (not quick cooking)

Directions:

In the large bowl of stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter for a few minutes on medium-high speed until light and fluffy. Scrape down the sides of the bowl and add the sugars, baking powder, baking soda and cinnamon, beating until the mixture is well bladed. Reduce the speed to medium and add the eggs and vanilla extract, mixing until well incorporated. Reduce the speed to low and add the flour and oats, scraping down the sides of the bowl as necessary and mixing just until they are incorporated. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and chill the dough for at least an hour before baking.

Preheat the oven to 375°. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.

Form the dough into golf ball-size balls and place about 2 inches apart on the baking sheet.  Bake one sheet at a time.  12-14 minutes

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You could add raisins and/or nuts but I don't.

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Another cleanup but worth the energy and time.

"Big Red" did the mixing for me.

Movie Memories - My Night at the Oscars

Yes, I did watch the entire Oscar show and YES, I enjoyed every minute of it. Drama, talent, beauty, joy, and for me, a good show. I especially liked Madonna singing. I surely enjoyed and loved the comments and exuberant movements of Jamie Lee Curtis (one of my most favorite actresses.) The movies were part of my young life and I'll tell you why.

We had four theaters in the town about 2 miles from my childhood home. One high-end, one still affordable but middle, one inexpensive with questionable entertainment and the last not too good to visit. The high-end theater was where my mother bought the tickets to many cultural series plus Disney productions. It was there where I saw Dumbo, Pinocchio, Bambi, Cinderella, Lassie, Tom Sawyer, Frankenstein, and so many others. It was a Saturday thing.

The next theater showed mostly cowboy movies and that is where I preferred to go. Think Hopalong Cassidy, Tom Mix, Roy Rogers, Tonto, Tex Ritter, Gabby Hayes, Gene Autry - well you get the point. It was the action and the music that got me hooked, and of course the horses!

If you went to the less costly theaters you saw corny stuff but could toss your empty popcorn box or candy wrapper from the balcony seats onto the floor customers. Rule: no liquids in cups! It was a fun time and I always went with girlfriends to keep "safe." Screwball comedies were usually the features: Charlie Chaplin, Three Stooges, Buster Keaton and so many others. 

When I was in my mid-teens the heartthrobs surfaced in my favorites including the beautiful actresses. I really loved Charlton Heston, Burt Lancaster, Humphrey Bogart, and several others! Fred Astaire the dancer was always fantastic and enjoyable when both dancing and acting. There were so many wonderfully talented and gorgeous women too. My favorites were Rita Hayworth, Elizabeth Taylor, Veronica Lake, Jane Russell, Lana Turner, Ann Sheridan, Janet Leigh, Betty Grable and so many others. It wasn't just their beauty, it was also their talent and charisma that grabbed me. 

I used to write letters requesting movie star photos (in those days it was usual and surprisingly rewarding) and black and white portraits were sent to me, mostly in 8" x 10" formats!!!!! I had scrapbooks filled with them.  You might wonder where they went, eh? Well I left them all in an old desk drawer when I married and have NO IDEA what ever happened to them!  Sorry for that!

Eat your heart out you younger folk! Try to understand the work of so many in the past that continues today. (Tell the Oscars that I like the red carpet better.)

Maple Syrup Time

My brother was always busy each spring with the syrup-making. I still have some and have a hard time using it up! I created this video today as my project - made it short and simple - One of his favorite sayings was "Keep It Simple Stupid. 

Winner!

Two nights ago a branch fell on the metal roof over my bedroom and woke me up with startling loud rattles. Thank goodness it wasn't larger! My neighbor will remove it for me today. It sure made a racket when sliding down from the metal roof to the ground. And I used to think that a pine cone dropping was noisy! I do love the sound of a hard rain, though. He took the backyard pictures as I can't go out there but I took the first ones from the morning after as I looked out the bedroom window. (Yes, there is a permanent screen on that window.)

Three of my porch wind chimes lost their "dingers" that bang to make the sweet sounds. I've saved them for warmer weather to repair. 

This morning my neighbor took this from her porch that looks over the lake. 

I wonder if she also saw the silly dipper duck - a Bufflehead I believe. Many pairs of ducks and Canada Geese have appeared recently as well.

One Day at a Time...

Today, I have been noodling around on the internet and know I better get off and do something more constructive. I did order a print to try to decopague sometime in the future. All I have to do is get some Mod Podge and a board or a glass surface - I think. Time will tell if this project will ever be completed but I do see it in my head. It has been very long since I've crafted something. I think the last one of this type that I made, was in the year 2010 with Coquina shells on a flowery background cut from magazines. It was called my butterfly garden. I left it in the beach place when we sold. Sorry....

Well, since I have no craft supplies, I decided to bake an old-fashioned 2.5 lb. meatloaf from scratch. My daughter had a supply of ground beef and shared - I had the rest. Nibled a piece and, yes it was very good. Now my shoulder is aching. Perhaps I should have used Big Red to blend but then I wouldn't be able to call it old fashioned! By the way, the pan I used is over 65 years old. I've had it and used it all this time. It is easy to pour off the fatty juices. Of course in these days I do line it with non stick foil! Sliced and now in my freezer.

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