Snow is cleaned up for now...still snowing out but very fine snow so not accumulating fast. Temp is still 3° and that lazy wind that would rather go through you than around is bitter!!

Rick and OLM , lots to share, have yet to make a small pot of soup.

Rick , I posted a recipe for you. Just use it as a gguide line and put what you want in it. You could even use hamburg (cooked) and go from there. I put turnip, peas and carrots also in ours.

Phyllis that is beautiful!!!

Phyllis, how lovely! Then you must start again to create!  I need company in the Painshop  discussion! AI can be as creative as PSP!  So take the challenge.

Thanks, Amy.  The program is a free download from Google called Co-pilot.

I'll think about it, Bubble.   

Good morning, yesterday was minus 51 while weather soothsayers claimed it was minus 14. Today, they're also claiming minus 14.

We've also experienced computer outages, including 4 hours on Friday, 2 hours on Saturday, and two hours on Monday and yesterday, which were caused by wind and snow. It appears that nature is trying to dump all of winter's promised snow in one fell swoop.

Phyllis, I, too, believe that is a wonderful lab photo via Co-Pilot. I've seen the program but haven't tried any AI. At least ones that I know of.

Amy, yesterday was busy. I took everything out of the refrigerator and washed everything inside and out before heading to the cabinets and kitchen floors.

It's no longer easy to get up and down, inside and out. I think the weather is affecting it.  The snow graders and dump trucks have been out every night.

The grader moves along, filling one truck, and once that's filled, another moves alongside. It's a continuous dance until morning, and they leave, taking their backup alarms along with them.

Today, I'm trying to decide whether to deep-clean the bathroom or vacuum the rugs.

That soup sounded good when I saw it in recipes. I only had one question.

Here's to everyone staying safe and sane this winter season.

Patricia I have not even started to understand AI much less use it - I was surprised to see you created a photo - I was under the impression AI did things like graphs and looked up and categorized information as well as take input and make it into something requested but never imagined that could be in the form of a photo...

Soup and more soup - wow - a magic carpet would be lovely so that I could swoop down and breath in the wonders cooking on everyone's stove top.

Not a good day yesterday - family is and has been very divided politically which to me makes no never mind since I'm remembering it was a joke growing up or rather it was made into a joke that my mother and father would cancel each other out when voting and so the concept of an individual's point of view most likely based on their experiences in life I thought was normal but not so today - and when I tried to change the subject and just stop it all Katy bar the door - yep, wounding - kidney's don't take to a glass of wine and so I tried tension relieving herbs and aspirin and a long nap and still not feeling as I would prefer - not even concerned about the issue just how to protect myself - obviously my attempt to set a boundary only inflames - oh yua yua yua and here I am spilling on here - but frankly don't know where else to talk about it - prefer not to other family members whch in my mind is only spreading gossip and swallowing this stuff I'm coming up to full as I attempt to make life sound as a Spring breeze... shoot - Well if you are the praying kind please a prayer or so that will help me see some kind of solution or protection would be most appreciated - too old for this nonsense - it is not like we can individually do much or anything about any of it... and thank God we are not like Bubble living in the middle of rage and chaos. Hmm maybe that is the answer I need - life could always be worse.

Yes, I could wipe clear the above however, maybe y'all knowing how much this site means to me as a valve that in turn all y'alls posts actually give me direction which is a good thing.

Half way through the month - I've read a bunch and that is a good thing - plus I treated myself - spent just a tad over $100 and purchased from Amazon kitchen floor mats with bright yellow lemons appearing as if on blue and white tile - a sink mat for only $6 that match - a painting of a branch of lemons as if on a clapboard sign for behind my stove top, and some kitchen towels with various designs using lemons and finally two throw pillows that are now on the back of two of the 5 chairs that are the most used in the dining area - everything came yesterday and before I lay the floor mats need to vacuum thoroughly the piece of carpet I've been using so I can use it after these lemons are no longer needed to bring brightness and fun to a winter kitchen - I know, I know a photo would be grand but I still do not know how to take a photo with my phone and get it on the computer.

Hmm I wonder if there is a lemon soup... my fav are lemon bars but that is a sweet which has become a no, no and I'm not found of lemon in my tea but sliced in a glass of water and squeezed on top of salad and veggies even chicken - yes, all out to find recipes that are easy using lemons... 

As to books which I accepted years ago as my life blood - most of the books about Lemon Trees are serious and reminiscent of our daily news that I want to escape from just now - but found two and maybe three - these two are light reads what I call chit chat books - "A Scorpion In The Lemon Tree: Mad adventures on a Greek peninsula" and "The Lemon Tree Hotel: A romantic and enchanting story about family, love and secrets" and then another that is a series of 'fix' ourselves that the 'fix-it' book II with Lemon in the title I'm not sure I want to tackle even for a couple of months or go for some new schedule change and action steps  however, the first without the word Lemon in the title may be just the thing since I seem to be having burnout on news especially when it brings family emotions to a pitch greater than respect for each other... hmmm - title is just that "CONQUERING YOUR BURNOUT: An actionable guide to overcome burnout" --- who knew falling for the idea of filling my kitchen with Lemons would lead me to a new set of ideas - well I'm off to order my 'lemon' books and vacuum my carpet to roll up and lay my new lemon on blue and white tile designed floor mat...

Oh wait can do this directly from Amazon - here are the two mats for yep $27 - not breaking the bank...

Barb, so sorry you are upset by, and with, your family.  My family, too, is divided by political, etc., opinions so in order to keep peace we simply refuse to discuss sensitive subjects with each other.  Such discussions only hurt someone's feelings.  Each of us has right to our opinions even when they  differ.  I feel that love and support for each other is far better than trying to change our differences.  And, far less upsetting to any of us.

I like the kitchen mats.  Thanks for posting the pic.  They will brighten any area as well as the kitchen.

Almost dinner time here and it has been  a busier day than usual for me so I will just wish all a peaceful and restful night.  Take care,  All.

Quote from: Amy on January 15, 2026, 11:14:15 AMRick , I posted a recipe for you. Just use it as a guide line and put what you want in it. You could even use hamburg (cooked) and go from there. I put turnip, peas and carrots also in ours.

Copied, and saved. Now all I need is inspiration. Using Hamburger meat has my attention.  If anyone tries it that way let me know.

The Cowboy Stew goes over big here. I like it also because we (two of us) get a three days out of it.

Barb, - about the Politics thing. It's the same here. I live here with my son and we are just opposites as far as Politics goes. So, --- we rarely even mention it. Nothing said, nothing heard.

Barb, first it was Phyllis who created that lovely AI graphic. I haven't done anything with AI that I'm aware of.

Secondly, in my family growing up, as well as in today's era, there are three forbidden subjects: sex, politics, and money. I totally agree with Phyllis's stance on the subject. And I believe that anyone who attempts to force me to discuss my feelings on any of those three subjects is not worth my time.

Once, I was at a gathering where someone questioned me and others on a private matter. I told them that any library had several self-help books that could explain the subject for them. For some reason, that upset them.

Good morning...
As Joan  would say this is a geemogotchie day!!
On the bright side it is not snowing......but it is -27° outside! I am glad I went back out last night and had another dance ,snow was easy to move but I broke a shear pin when going too far into an ice chunk...thankfully it is an easy fix and not one back in the machine!

My job for today is replace the shear pin after we come back from town, I still need to clean off the clothesline stand and bring another load of wood in.

Rick, I have even had the soup without meat but prefer the meat in it. You can throw in a can of beans and or extra vegetables to make it your own.

Better get at the day.

Enjoy your day and stay safe.

Shan survived his "spa day" yesterday, and Oscar got his nails cut too. Since Shan had to be sedated, I had to get him in by 8AM. He got the tangled mess around his bottom clipped to clear the tangled mess and his nails got clipped. Oscar and I went to pick him up in the afternoon. Oscar got his nails clipped. They had no problem with getting the two thick nails that started growing into his pads. Nail clipping is always a project for me, especially the nails thickening. I also found out that Oscar is not getting cataracts or going blind. The slightly milky sheen on his eyes I have been seeing is something the vet says they get when the get older, much more frequently in dogs, but doesn't cause blindness. Good to know. Upon arriving home, Shan kept pacing around in circles, looking a bit wide-eyed. He eventually settled down, but is was an odd thing to see. It was like he wasn't sure what to do (other than eat) or what to think. No lap cuddles for me last night from either one. By this morning all was forgiven.

Quote from: MarsGal on Yesterday at 12:51:00 PMBy this morning all was forgiven.

       

Mars, I am so glad all went well Shan & Oscar.  It sounds like Shan may have been still experiencing the sedation once he got home.  Cats are finicky but when it comes to snuggle time, they can't resist the lap for too long.  So happy there are no signs of cataracts. 

Barb, I LOVE the lemon floor rug and the decorations you mention for your kitchen. I am Italian and our heritage is known for loving lemons!  I have lemons in my kitchen as well.  My granddaughter for Mother's Day a couple of years ago gave me this kitchen towel and I placed it in a matted frame and keep it on my counter with a bowl of plastic lemons beside it.  She was my first grandchild, and I was attempting to teach her to call me Nonna which is grandmother in Italian. She kept saying "Nonnie", so we just went with it and now all the grands and my great grandson call me Nonnie! Lemons can surely brighten up your room and mood.

I think every family and many friendships are experiencing the same things you are where politics are concerned.  I use Facebook daily and had to unfriend and block family members and friends due to the hate filled posts they put up.  My neighbor and I attend the same Catholic church, but when it comes to politics you would never know we are of the same faith listening to her views.  At our book discussions with Fr. Jim, she has a tendency to attempt to bring politics into our conversations when we are not at all discussing anything remotely to do with politics.  Fr. Jim is not shy to correct her on our doctrine and scripture then moves on.  When she attempts to get me to engage, I simply tell her I am not going to discuss politics with her.  She gets angry and I just say I have to go. 

As adults we all should be able to respect each other's differences and try to keep our relationships intact, but I am not at all opposed to loving some from afar to as you say, "protect yourself."  No one is ever going to change the mindset of someone and it's sad there are those who insist on being hurtful because you refuse to see it their way.   I will pray for you and your family. 

I read an article recently on that very subject and have seen previous recent posts here. So, it is a large issue.

As I've mentioned, there are three subjects I consider private, and if anyone continues to argue or discuss, I will stare at them until they stop, without otherwise engaging. A friend of mine will turn and walk away.

Good afternoon

Well, you must be getting tired of hearing about the dance, started off not toobad but something was wrong. Checked the snowblower and another shear pin broke, one not as easy to fix but did it then finished the job.  Looks like another dance come morning, ohhh to be a wall flower.
Birds are hungry and have been fed a couple of times.At least the temp is warme for them.

Time to do the job I like most...put my feet up and relax.