Overcast although the weather prediction for yesterday was severe thunderstorms they must have gone around us...and today just overcast but no rain - w'ell see...

So proud of myself - for a desert I like an individual size container of yogurt with fruit and the real treat, a bit more expensive, is Qui - they say French but probably made here and only uses the French names and labels - special is inside the sealed aluminum lid is a short quippy saying in both French and English - anyhow it comes in these cute jars and found to my surprise a product on Amazon that are plastic lids to fit specifically the Oui brand jars - a hot water wash and the label is easily removed.

I finally used my first jar with its plastic lid and it contains another idea - had purchased prepared tarragon chicken pecan chunky salad - I like sandwiches and trying to get protein in me when I first wake up is a challenge since I've become allergic to eggs - I can eat hardboiled if I take a tablet to digest protein but even they don't keep the bloat away that lasts a couple of hours - anyhow tired of cheese and so...

I've a small Cuisinart like chopper made by Krups that only does max a cup - and so, I peeled a shallot and a small carrot - chopped them for a bit and then added equally as much of the chicken salad - when finished I added a tablespoon of Sesame Honey syrup and a tablespoon of mayo - put it on my slice of toast along with one lettuce leaf and oh so good but best of all I have enough for probably another sandwich and a half and yep, it is the frig in my empty Oui jar with the plastic lid - tra la 

Sally's sister Sue is visiting for the week - up from San Antonio - they both have labs. Sally's lab is off white but not quite yellow and Sue's is light brown - well Monday they put white sheets around the dogs and over the sheet they each had placed a colorful Mexican Sarape and put a Mexican wide brim straw hat on each dog taking their photo sitting next to each other for Cinco de Mayo - a riot - the dogs are such proper looking animals to begin with and both are sweet sweet dogs - Sally and Sue were like kids playing dress up with their dogs.

Well hope the sun peeks out where you live and you have a fun day...    

Twas a busy day out of the house today.  First of all, Cooper Doggie spent the night with me so I had to take him for a walk firsrst thing this morning.  Then I had to get a shower and get ready for a Dr. checkup. (all's well, there).  Then I came home, had lunch with Cindy and Cathy and then got ready for a trip to the foot Fr.  This included another walk with Cooper!

Now greanddaughter Frankie has picked up Cooper Doggie and the rest of the day is mine.  Tomorrow is a day off and then I have another Dr. Appointment.  I'm trying to get them all in before I take off for Oklahoma with Cindy.  and down there, I'll be involved with the kids and I'm also teaching Granddaughter Ali to become a canner.  I'm taking my extra supply of jars for her to use and keep!  I think her plan is spaghetti sauce and barbecue!  I'm also carting along my pressure canner and, depending on how things go, I might leave that with her and order a new one for me....or order a new one for her as her Christmas present and take mine home!  We shall see!

We've had lots of rainy days here but I've been able to walk Cooper in the interims between the storms!  So far, that's working!  I wish you all Spring and nice weather and happy days!  Do as you darn well please.  Time is yours!

Jane you really should think about getting a family member to film your canning project and then after it is edited the film would be wonderful to make available for others who do not have a family member who can teach them how to can

Good morning..

Plans got changed yesterday with the threat of a weather warning, delivery of the has been put off till Sat. Have a Dr appointment.this morning and the  home to stir up dirt if weather permits.

Jane, copy your recipes also for Ali.

Barb, I like those plastic lids makes it much easier to remove.

Enjoy your day and stay safe.

Good Moring Everyfriend!  Today is "another trip to the dr.".  I think there might be one more before I leave for my visit in Oklahoma.

BARB, If ALI's husband is off work when we're canning, he's busily filming the process so that if I'm not around, he can help Ali through the process.  I don't think I'm at a point where I can film my procedure but I pretty sure Ali will be filming as she learns.  And I don't think she'll need me at some point!

I have to get a shower and get ready for my dr. appt.  So this is a shorty!  I just wanted to make an appearance.  I hope upi a;; jave a great dau/  Dp wjatever [;eases upi!

The  end of that message should say    I hope you have a great day! Do whatever pleases you!

We Got it Jane   

                  

hahah love it Patricia

Good morning..

We had a frost overnight and starting temp is 35°. Noticed the trilliums were in blossom on our way to the Drs. We have yet to have any flower in our area, wild leeks are out but no trilliums. Mowed the lawn with my winter coat on yesterday!
Today we will pick up PT lumber to lay the firewood on, plus a few things at the farm supply.Then home after having coffee with friends to  work.

Enjoy your day  and stay safe.

Good Morning Everyfriend!  We'll be off this morning for granddaughter Courtney's graduation ceremony.  She's getting her Doctor's Degree from Westchester University and I'm so proud of her I'll probably burst!  We won't be back until tomorrrow night so don't look for me on here until sometime after that!  Now I have to go finish my breakfast and get ready to go.  I wish you all a good day!

Good morning, well morning anyway. It is raining again and the temp is at 48^o predicted to get only to 53^o today after having weather in the mid-seventies. This past week some areas have had wind damage and the day before yesterday we had a round of hail. Somewhere in Mechanicsburg, a large maple tree fell one a house. Fortunately, no one was in the bedroom at the time.

After a week of feeling much better and eating well, Oscar decided to get picky about eating again. Otherwise he seems to be doing okay. This morning I discovered I did not order enough of Shan's special diet food, so now I have to scramble to get some sent early. Meanwhile, there is an extra case of food Oscar just loved until he didn't sitting on the shelf. Sigh!

Yesterday I finally got my hair cut. When I got back home to make lunch for us, I discovered the ants have finally begun exploring for the summer. The cats got chased out of the kitchen while I ran the vacuum around, sprayed around the baseboard where they come in, and set out a bait trap. I decided to put the water dish in this room and the cats wet meals are relocated to other areas as well. I only ever see the teeny-tiny ants in the kitchen. They have yet to find their way to other parts of the apartment.

Today I will continue my online hunt for small display cases for my mineral and small carving collections and check out bedroom furniture. Next week I expect to visit at least one of the furniture stores nearby to get an in person look at a couple of pieces I like so far.

This year, PA is finally hitting electric car owners with an extra fee to compensate for the gas tax money they have been losing as many drivers switch from gas to electric. I will be curious to see what their latest calculations for hybrids are. Also, the proposal several years back was for a set fee, not calculated on how much you drive the car. I don't drive much. There is probably something posted on the PA motor vehicle site; I haven't looked at it yet.

Quote from: MarsGal on May 09, 2025, 07:22:40 AMan extra fee to compensate for the gas tax money they have been losing

If you stop driving completely have they come up with a way to recover the tax money from you?  Sort of a tax for not driving a non-polluting vehicle.

Anyone read the book - Titled something like Pay no Income Tax - sent a copy to my son-in-law for his birthday this weekend - saw an interview with the author and it sounded like he has some solid ideas.

MarsGal you have ants while we've started with the mosquitoes - one under my sheets last night that woke me with bites itching away on my arm and my fingers. Hate mosquito repellent on me while in bed and even purchased a couple of those electronic devises that are supposed to kill bugs including mosquitoes but Houston area mosquitoes are not having it, they will do what they darn well please -

Then on top, for over a month every bird in the neighborhood has been crashing onto my one bedroom window wanting in - thought at first they too found ants crawling up the side of the house but they kept coming and coming - by pulling up the blind thought they would be scared off seeing me and a room full of furniture but nope they just tried harder and longer starting at 6:30 in the morning till about 9: then the black bird and the pigeon pick up again after 4: in the afternoon. Well yesterday Sally and I put these mirror like disks together in a long chain and after Paul suggested any wind and they would drive me bats tapping the window worse then the birds so we hung the string of disks on the inside - Voila - this morning one bird came did two window taps and flew off then a couple of tiny starlings stopped by and did the same with two taps each and they flew off - then nothing - absolutely nothing - the disks are on the inside of the window between the blind and the window tra la...

Now Paul and Sally are thinking they may get a set of these disks because they have a bluebird trying to be an inside member of their family for months now.

Good morning, Amy and I are sharing weather again today, yet the weather folks are talking about the state being on a warming trend with climate change. I'd liked to see their information because to me, we are about twenty to thirty degrees cooler than what's normal for this time of year.

MarsGal,
    "Household items like citrus fruits, black pepper, peppermint oil, cayenne, thyme, and lavender can create natural ant repellents. Great for avoiding pesticides or conventional ant traps!
    Mixing parts of these substances with water in a bottle and spraying the solution around the house can keep ants at bay.
    Sprinkling them in raw form around entry points and ant traffic areas disrupts the ants' navigation and prevents them from infesting your home."

Barb, Some people say mosquitoes are our state bird and tourist shops sell tiny leg hold traps. But all kidding aside, they and the noseeums are bad here in the summer. Even worse if you're in the woods. At one time the city would spray, but now that's no longer allowed.

People try various remedies and try to avoid any puddles of standing water, or piles of brush and put up birdhouses for black capped chickadees, or starlings who eat more than their weight in mosquitoes daily.

was not familiar with noseeums bugs - looked it up and the disease they carry is no fun is it... you too with no city or state spraying - don't know which is worse - having a reaction to the spray or getting bit - I need to pull out my citronella candles - they did the trick in my bedroom last year and hope they do the same this year. 

Tried whole cloves on the front porch for the mosquitoes and nope - might just as well have saved my money - I'm thinking though of replacing the ceiling lights on the front porch with those screw in fans - the cheapest is only $29 and I notice where ever the fans are turning, I guess it is the breeze being too much for them but no mosquitoes and if I could get them away from the front door they wouldn't pour into the house everytime I open the door although, I think they find other ways to get in... grrrr
Patricia what is your secret mosquito chaser.

I tried one of those home remedies to get rid of the ants at the house. It didn't work at all. My sister, on the other hand, had great luck with it. My ants were small at the house and even tinier here at the apartment. The ant traps do not work well on the tiny ants. They don't even try to climb in for the bait. These ants here are about as tiny as the ones I found years and years ago when I opened a new bag of cat food. Needless to say, I disappeared the bag and the ants in a hurry.

Rick don't give them any ideas. PA comes in third on the chart of the highest gas taxes in the country, just after California and Illinois. It looks like about 60% goes to road and bridge repair, while the rest is divvied out to the State Police, the state's Motor Vehicle Services, and the Pennsylvania Turnpike. That last sounds a little off because the Turnpike makes money on tolls, and I remember my Ex telling me once that the Turnpike Commission pays for a state Police unit to patrol the pike. Might be interesting to find out what the Commission does with the money they get from the state. Probably help with road repair and such.

I forgot to mention that the other day I saw a pair of mockingbirds. I was delighted. I don't recall seeing any for at least 40 years. I would love to see the titmice, chickadees, and catbirds I used to have visit my yard when I lived in York County. Oh, and all the different sparrows. My house was in just the right spot for the birds I guess. We even had an oriole visit a few times one year. We were also on the flyway for the migrating swans; they would gather at the lake at Gifford Pinchot State Park for a rest before moving on north.

I have  Mockingbird that comes to my back window - for raisins.  They move to attract attention, then go to the roof and wait till I put food out for them. The Robin from last season didn't come back. It would almost grab raisins from my fingers.

How to keep mosquitoes away;

https://www.thespruce.com/how-to-keep-mosquitoes-away-8621811

Good morning

Frost again this morning with a temp of 29° We are delivering the trug today and then home to do?? Got the trimming done yesterday so that is one less joband checked oil in lawnmower all is ok.

MG, I tried Irish Spring as they said mice don't like it. Well they don't, not without a bath towel because it didn't stop them. So the traps smeared with peanut butter are set. Crow doesn't mind the taste of pb either.

Enjoy your day and stay safe





 

One particular mockingbird I will never forget would show up on the back deck banister and holler until I let Sammy Katz out, then it would play the broken wing game with him. What always amazed me is that it was able to distinguish between Sammy and a neighbor's cat (suspected father of Sammy) and bombard that cat mercilessly when he went through the backyards. Dingy never wasted time crossing open ground. Sammy and Dingy looked almost alike. Other times the mockingbird would make a swooping low pass over me when I was hanging laundry or over at a neighbor's, he would holler down their chimney pipe. It took them a while for them to figure out what the racket was. That bird was with us for about three summers.

Oscar and Shan got a treat yesterday. They had freshly cooked pork roast for dinner.

We will be back up into the sunny 70s today after a rainy, chilly day yesterday. Aside from some light cleaning, I will be rearranging my shelving a bit to finally get some of my mineral collection out where I can see and enjoy them again.

MarsGal by any chance are your itsy bitsy tiny ants fire ants - in one of the backyard mounds the fire ants were tinier and they did get into the house having traveled a bit underground and came up next to the shower in a small bath that is in the center or the house - if they are fire ants the only thing that I found that will work is Spectracide fire ant mound killer or something of that title and used it on the ones that got into the house with equal success - one of these where the ant brings the grain back to the nest kind of thing.

As to the suggestion you found Patricia for mosquitoes - we have a problem - first Houston is pretty much built on a boyue and along the front of all our property is a ditch - sometimes a bar ditch but never the less an open at least 8 feet deep ditch on either side of the road to take the rainwater and in Spring the ditch pretty much fills up but the water evaporates within a day or a couple of days according to the amount of rain and so the concept of emptying open water sources is for other areas - even Austin did not have this issue however, Austin is at the beginning of the Hill Country and the mesa that brought Austin up from the clay Gulf bottom runs along the west side of town - when I lived there all those years the house was up on the Mesa however I could look out my front door and it dropped just past my house so the Jr. High was at the bottom.

Tried a few of the plants recommended but then even those who post on the neighborhood web page decry no luck with plants and I've not experienced much luck with putting cloves and cinnamon sticks out either. 

Now one trick has helped keep the Gecko's from scratching up the plants just under the soil in my flowerpots and hanging baskets - I find if I put a couple of tablespoons of crystal camphor or crush a few camphor balls and put that on the soil the Gecko's leave the plants alone.

About the best so far on the mosquitoes has been to have a fan at about mid speed works - I have them on the back porch and the back screened in porch but not on the front porch and that I think would behoove me to add a few in those light bulb sockets replacing the porch lights.

Sun yesterday and now this morning - so maybe the rain rain rain has moved on.

Has anyone heard anything about the Sputnik that is supposed to drop back to earth today?

No, not fire ants. Thank goodness they have not reached this far north yet.

ah ha learn something everyday - looks like years, if ever will Fire Ants hit your area MarsGal - found this... "Fire ants are active as far north as the northern borders of states like Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee, and North Carolina, with some also found in coastal Virginia and Maryland. They generally spread north and west about 120 miles per year, but their northern limit is determined by their need for warmth, water, and suitable soil"

Lots of stuff to think about but my mind is still filled with my granddaughter, Courtney's graduation with her Doctor's Degree and you're not interested in that.   /so I'll just talk with her mother, my daughter, about that.   I wish you all a good day!  Do what pleases you most!

Good morning..

 Nice sunny day with a temp of 30°. We delivered the trug yesterday and oh boy the blackflies are out and so far just scouting the prospects. Home to do some laundry and wash floors and our vehicle.

Today is a day of rest!

Jane, yes we are interested! This is quite an accomplishment!! Everyone should be so proud of her hard work. What field has Courtney choosen to work in?

Time to get the day started.....just remembered need to pick up gas for the lawnmower.

Enjoy your day and stay safe.

 

Wow Jane that is quite an accomplishment - I bet y'all are so proud - where will your grand do her internship?

Well sputnik or whatever it was called came down in the Indian Ocean - sorta anti-climactic

Seems strange to be celebrating Mother's Day at our time in life but it sure brings back memories of when our children were young and all the milestones we experienced with them... Happy Mother's Day...

🌷🌹 HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY  🌹🌷