Colorado's 16 Weirdest Hikes

 One thing about the Centennial State, it's chockful of unusual places, people and things. It makes for unusual stories -- and books. And including:

Colorado's strangest hikes -- 16 of them. I notice this list missed a few we've thought odd, like the Chinese Wall, in an area frequented by the Woodknockers,** and the Flattops, a well-exposed trail used originally by the Indians to move quickly through the Rockies. But they managed to include one in our old neighborhood on the list: up to the burst dam in Castlewood Canyon State Park!

Enjoy...and take a hike.

**Yes, we're talkin' about Bigfoot.

One Gorgeous Ocean Waves Quilt

 (I'd say more, but I'm breathless.)

Thank you, Julie Silber, for sharing this 19th century beauty with us. Go to Julie's website for more.

Another Great One Is Gone

     Roberta Horton died on Feb. 4, 2021. (Some accounts say Feb. 8.)

I could find little information about her passing, except for announcements and this bit from the Minnesota Quilters' FB page:

Roberta Horton passed away on February 4th, 2021, from Lymphoma. She was at home with her family by her side. It has been requested that cards only be sent to The Quilt Show (The Quilt Show, 2468 Armstrong Street, Livermore, CA 94551) where they will be gathered and passed on to her family.

Roberta attended her first quilting event in 1970 that turned her into a quiltmaker. In the following 50 years, Roberta impacted the Quilting community as a Teacher, Author and Fabric Designer. Some of her quilts were featured in Quilters Newsletter Magazine. In 2000 Roberta was awarded the Silver Star Award by the International Quilt Association. The award was given in recognition of my Roberta's body of work and the long-term effect it has had on quilting. Roberta entered her quilts in many Quilt Shows around the world ( including the Minnesota Quilters Quilt Show).

A fascinating woman. She won many awards, and one of C&T's first authors. Roberta was one of the earliest quilt teachers on "the circuit," back when I started teaching in 1984. Her book on quilting with plaids and striped fabrics was one of the first in my library; in fact, she was one of the first to teach students how to use these 'essential but a little scary' weaves and prints. Her work on patterns and styles was one of the first to introduce me to the color-drenched beauty of Amish quilts.

    She was a strong teacher who wanted to be sure her students learned her techniques -- and learned them well. When I was an editor at Quilter's Newsletter, one of our recurring assignments was to take a class from a famous quiltmaker, then use their trademark techniques to come up with something we could feature in the magazine. One of my artist buddies at QNM took a class with Horton, and learned the basics. She was quietly experimenting in the back, when Horton called her out -- and scolded her for not following directions! 

For a good long look at Roberta Horton, her work, awards and influence, see this page on her website. What a talented, amazing quilter. Our thoughts and best wishes go out to Roberta's sister and quilting partner, Mary Mashuta (Mary's website is here). A GoFundMe fundraiser is in place.

Rest in peace.

                                                        (Teleflora)

Advocating Violence

 

This happened to Daughter #2...except her little boy was kicking her in the shins. (I suspect that this was his way of professing undying love toward her. The teacher knew, but did nothing.) After this happened over a few weeks, I told her to kick him back! 

     You guessed it -- Little Boy went howling to the teacher. Daughter explained, and I got called into the principal's office. I told him what had been going on, and he looked at me sternly.

     "Mrs. Brick, we do not advocate violence," he said.

     The little boy never kicked her again.

Frugal Hits & Misses: February Report

     This month, the gardening urge hits hard -- but there's little I can do about it, except drool on The The Prudent Homemaker's greenery and garden progress. (She lives in Las Vegas, with a tiny frost period.) I keep a few green plants in the trailer for encouragement, but there is little to look at here in McNeal, AZ, except crunchy tan grass and leafless sagebrush, with a few green Spanish bayonets (yucca) here and there. It may be warmer here than in Colorado, but nothing much is growing outside. A light frost hits now and then, which doesn't help, but there's not much water, either. Everything looks either tan or brown, but the mountains are gently outlined in lovely creamy pink and peach tones during sunset.

     We're not the only ones volunteering -- three other trailers are in the 'park' (really a gravel lot) with us, and others are staying in housing further in. The Sowers are here working, as well as a church group from Indiana. Some of these leave in early March; we'll probably stay longer. 

     Although we had traveling expenses, as well as extra to attend our friends' wedding in Phoenix, it's been even more frugal living in McNeal. The closest store is nearly 20 miles away.; others are 50 miles away.  As the Brick points out, it's not that much further, really, than we used to travel to Denver. It just looks more isolated. Nonetheless, we've had plenty of necessities, and I stocked up on other items before we came. There doesn't seem much need for buying anything.

      There's even what the group calls a "Missions Barrel" (really a thrift-store-in-a-room) that I've been encouraged to help myself from -- no charge. Shades of the time I went with cousins Tim and Joan on their deputation, and were encouraged to pick out stuff from the church's 'mission' area. Most of the things were worn and a little seedy, but T & J were very kind and thanked the church ladies for their 'generosity.' Meanwhile, it made me more determined that if I was going to send anything to missions, it was going to be from the good stuff -- not the leftovers or worn-outs!

     February is the Brick's birthday month -- but we weren't here soon enough for him to get cards in the mail. He did hear from both girlies, as well as his brothers and The Mama, and several friends. He also got some birthday presents from yours truly...and a homemade cake: carrot and walnut.

Thank you, Gentle Readers, for continuing to visit regularly! In spite of some gaps, due to travel, the blog is still consistently hitting more than 6200 visits a month. I'm honored; thank you. 

FRUGAL HITS

(Some of these are from late January)

*Free electricity, water, sewer and internet, with free laundry nearby!  Ethnos360's way of thanking us for volunteering. 

*Safeway's $5 special. This one was bread, luncheon meat (roast beef), sliced swiss cheese and a ten-pack of Capri Light drinks. All for five bucks. (Safeway charged me near-full price for Coke 6-packs on sale...but I will get that money refunded. Is this how they make up their sales?)  

    Other grocery specials: Chunky soup (our favorite) for 99 cents each, 2 jars of spaghetti sauce for 18 cents each, whole chicken for 59 cents/lb and a bunch of 50% off fried chicken pieces and tenders. (Plus I had an online coupon for same.) Eight pieces of chicken worked out to $2.24. Total. Pork chops were a stunning $1.08/lb at Sam's Club. 

      Food prices are higher here in Arizona: no surprise there. But I was amused to find that milk is approx. 50 cents cheaper a gallon. Cheese, eggs, veggies and other basic prices make up for it, though. (Is this how the Arizona grocers make up their sales?)

*Used up meat we brought from Colorado, including a large ham I got for $1.23 per pound. We've had several meals, plus a pot of split pea soup, using the hambone. Ham will feature for a few more breakfasts, as well.

*Got a Mr. Bean solar bobblehead and marked-down chocolate for family Valentine presents. (Our daughters were suitably impressed. Not.) Sent birthday and Valentine cards far ahead of time, knowing we'd be on the road when they should have gone out.

*Another stop to our friends, bringing food from the freezer -- only to get beat at Ticket to Ride. Again. (This time, it was the Brick -- but barely.)

*A scholarship to Williamsburg's yearly conference!! It's online this year...we can stay here in McNeal, and I still can attend. (Plus, it helps cover the educational credits I need for my appraising.) 

 I am very grateful for this opportunity. Thank you, Williamsburg. 

*Whenever I ran out of a specific ingredient, I adapted, rather than run to the store.

*A small bouquet to keep me going -- carnations last for weeks, unlike many other flowers. Part of the bouquet was shared with nearby trailer neighbors, with another bouquet going to a friend.

*Meal invites from kind friends at McNeal, including a church potluck we contributed to, as well.

*Reports are DONE. Now it's up to me to finish the quilt restorations I've had on tap.

*More books, videos from Amazon, Ebay and the Castle Rock library's used sale room-- including a few for presents. I found a surprising new source: a 'free book' box parked next to the tiny post office in McNeal! (Some of my books will end up there after I finish reading them.)

*Did up three Amazon orders -- and cancelled them all when one critical item disappeared from the basket. (In each case, it was a Warehouse Deal, and sold before I could pay for it.) Put the others on hold until I could find something else worthy of pairing with them. When I did finally order, I got a $1 reward for being willing to have it shipped a little later -- but still shipped free. This has been a surprising way for me to feel luxurious-- yet save money!

*Rarely ate out in the beginning of the month. except using up bonus bucks and coupons. (Little Caesar and Del Taco was the major exception.) I used up a free meal at Del Taco, as well. While traveling, we were careful not to spend much, eating at Burger King and McDonald's, and choosing sale items. Even out to lunch for the Brick's birthday this month, we had the special. (Hollanders will be Hollanders, I guess.)  

*Mantel clock from the thrift shop: a dollar. I bought a cheap battery clock from another thrift shop ($2.23) and replaced the defunct works in my clock with the workings from that one. Now it sits proudly on the bedroom shelf -- no more guessing the time in there!

*Picked up a new gig! The first in two years...the rest were cancelled, due to Covid. I'll be judging and appraising for the Cheyenne Heritage  Quilters' 'annual' show in mid-August. (Actually, it's the first in a few years -- they've had the same problems as other guilds in being able to host shows.)

*Used up rest of the gift cards that were expiring. 

*Free online classes - the latest  was on William Morris, which I got to enjoy while waiting for our truck to be repaired in Albuquerque.

*Added The Mama to our family phone plan. (In a completely unrelated decision, Daughter #1 decided to switch her phone to her partner's plan; we got her call while working with The Mama. Ironic.) Got The Mama a free phone in the bargain -- provided we stay with Verizon for two more years. Which we planned to, anyways.

FRUGAL MISSES

*Yes, we used up the gift cards...but I had to waste a bit more than a buck on one.  But I saved $3 on the order I used it on, and got some Swagbuck points, as well. (By the way, sign up for Swagbucks yourself -- and you'll get 300 SB to start. And it's free.) So why does this $1.10 loss niggle at me more than...

*Nearly $260 lost on a single share of GameStop stock. Thank God it was just one share.

*Repairs needed on the truck. Sigh. At least they were less than $500.

*Had a furnace scare! We thought it was broken...a reset solved the problem.

*Broke a few more dishes, including one of our nicer cups, and a green canning jar I'd just gotten. Both dog watering dishes/pans also cracked and leaked. These things happen.

*Had a crown come loose, entailing a special trip into town, and visit to the Gomez Clinic in Douglas, AZ. Another $105 down the drain...or down the throat, however you look at it.

                                             Waiting for Dad to come back from the "office"

January's report is here.  No February reports from 2020 -- we were still on the ship, with little or no internet. But here's Feb. 2018's version. 

     Were we really on a world cruise last February? It seems like an eternity ago.

                                                           Etsy photo, via Pinterest

 

Monday Stuff On the Way to Other Stuff: Arizona

 ...Specifically McNeal, AZ, where we're currently living. We can see for miles, right up to the plain-rock mountains all around us -- but what we see is sand, gravel, an occasional cactus and sagebrush. For miles. A few trees are evident, here and there, but the crucial element is water. And there's just not much of it out here. Temps have been fairly constant in the 40-70 degree range, and the winds blow a LOT.

                                  (photo from Wikipedia. This must have been taken during the                                                                     monsoon season, when, we're told, things are greener.)

    This isolated area makes it perfect for training pilots who have to land and take off in Third World countries around the world. Ethnos360 does just that, using professionals who've spent years in places like the Philippines and Indonesia, and know what it's like to ferry teachers, doctors, medical and other supplies to places wayyyy back in the boonies. And do it successfully, over and over. ( More about Ethnos360 here, if you're curious.) Our friends David and Allison have been working here, getting ready to go overseas on a missions assignment. They suggested the volunteering assignment we're doing now.

 Neither of us has pilot training, but we can help out in other ways. The Brick has been helping renovate a house, and learning framing in the process. Opportunities for me have been fewer, but I have a few jobs coming up this week. And I hope to help out more. 

     It's a heck of a lot different than Colorado, though, which has had snow and cold temps ever since we left a few weeks ago. 

A United Airlines plane loses an engine flying out of Denver...and barely makes it back. But it did. Bravo for the pilot!

Publishing a book: pros and cons for self-publishing, vs giving it to a publisher. I've got some definitely opinions about this, having done it both ways.  (From Financial Samurai)

Is it ok for a bank to put in bids for interest rates? Can a banker go to jail for doing so? A closer look at the UK's Libor scandal. (Red face -- I'd never heard of this before, but it's enlightening.)

A close-up look at the "handsome priest" whose murder during the Spanish Civil War was a catalyst for change -- but there's a decades-old mystery about this man, as well. A fascinating BBC documentary you can watch in just a few minutes.

Jet Blue's changed its policy. From now on, no more overhead bin access for those buying the cheapest air ticket. That's right -- your carryon must fit under your seat.

Nineteen of the shadiest scammers of all time. Including my buddette, Anna Sorokin.

Custom-made tiles with a batik look -- using Sharpie markers! This lady (Salmonde) uses them for coasters, but I could see them used as a kitchen or bathroom accent, as well.

How to make a firepit with leftover bricks. (From Hammers N Hugs. And watch it with the smartypants Brick jokes. We hear them enough, already.)

Practical prep for preparing for disasters.  (From Surviving and Thriving) Speaking of:

One person's account of what it's like to live through a Texas snowstorm and cold temps. (Thanks, Living Richly in Retirement. We've been wondering.)

Are we in for a stock market crash soon?

A 300-pound Warsaw Grouper -- bigger than the fisherman who caught him? Yes...yikes.

Three-ingredient bread -- and an extra ingredient that turns them into stuffed bagel balls.  (From Hometalk)

"Why I say no." An interesting defense from Johnny D.

Would you be beating the market if you'd followed CNBC's and Bloomberg's financial advice? The answer is illuminating...

Political fact-checking on President Biden's recent town hall.

Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmer gets nominated -- for Indiana Business Person of the Year!

"The best financial advice you ever received." Another winner from Quora. My favorite is one dad's advice to his teenaged son: "Show up on time and don't drive drunk."

A dozen prizewinning recipes you can make from regular pantry staples. (Thanks, Taste of Home)

 A 10-year-old dies, trying to save his little sister in a frozen pond.  (He succeeded...wow.)

"What I keep on my nightstand:" Apartment Therapy will be asking a number of unusual people this question. Here's Marie Kondo's version.

Are frozen wind turbines to blame for Texas' power woes?

Black singers who need to be remembered -- and celebrated.

This pharaoh may have been executed on the battlefield -- his mummy shows some evidence that way.

Mount Etna is erupting! This could mean big trouble for Italy.

Grubby sneakers? This trick is supposed to whiten them up again. 

Pizzadillas! These Italian-engineered quesadillas sound delicious...and are certainly easy to make.

A new twist: a scarf facemask. Full instructions here.

Have a good week. Put a green plant in your window for me.

                                                     Teacup garden, Country Living Magazine

The Power of Not Giving Up

 

(thanks for reminding us, Black Sheep Shoppe.)

A Mr. Beanathon

 If you've had a snowy, gray or just plain harried week...

You need a little Mr. Bean to brighten your day:

We have a Mr. Bean solar-powered dancer to keep our other dancer, Queen Elizabeth, company. He always makes me laugh.

(Her Majesty was picked up in London before our world cruise, and spent her time on the boat waving to anyone outside our window.)

If you don't have Mr. Bean wiggling in your front window to cheer things up --

Try these seldom-viewed clips from various Mr. Bean episodes. (This answers the burning question as to how he ended up with that huge turkey in his Christmas special.) 

Or watch him 'ice skate' his way to a well-deserved punch in the nose from Torvill & Dean, in another rarely-seen episode:

Enjoy.

I Played GameStop... And GameStop Won.

 Some of us are not the brightest crayons in the box.

The recent brouhaha about GameStop and other stocks-in-play caught my attention. Have a stock account? Buy a bunch of shares and make a big profit --Yay!!!

It sounded great. I wouldn't mind making big bucks...but just to be safe, I'd only hold onto the stock for a day or so, then sell quickly.

And I wasn't going to be grabby-- just one share. (After all, that was all Robinhood would allow you to purchase, anyways.)

I set the buy up on a Friday after hours, so the share would purchase first thing Monday morning. It did, for $316 and change. Time for the money to start rolling in.

By the end of Monday, GameStop stocks were down to $90. But there were still investors on Reddit saying the stock would go back up. They were hanging onto their shares, knowing that was true.

By the end of Tuesday, GameStop was down to $60.

I sold my share. Glad I did -- because shares have stayed in the $49 range ever since. (I just checked -- and it's down to $40, as of 2/18.)

At least one expert thinks we came very, very close to a complete meltdown in the stock market, thanks to GameStop and other speculations. I'm not so sure about that. It seems more that a lot of greedy hedge funds got their comeuppance by holding "shorts," waiting for GameStop prices to fall so they could cash in. 

Meanwhile, I lost more than $250 in less than 24 hours. Why in the world would I think I could do this and make big bucks, particularly when GameStop was being advertised so heavily as a 'sure thing?'

Because I got greedy too, that's why. Disregarded all the rules I'd set up to follow when investing in the stock market:

*Research -- then wait at least 48 hours before you buy. 

*Buy shares a few at a time, rather than all at once. If you're really not certain, buy just one test share.

*Stick to stocks that are considered blue-chip...or have a reasonable price-to-earnings ratio. Or were dependable before, but have suffered because of recent events. (Airlines, for example.)

*Buy stock of companies whose products you use -- and like. I read Peter Lynch's statement about this decades ago, and have used it ever since. It's also why stock like Red Robin and Apple has been among my stock purchases. And Southwest. 

     My stocks often emphasize things people will continue to buy, no matter how hard the times get. Toilet paper (Johnson & Johnson). Birthday cards and potato chips (dollar stores). Discount stores -- especially places like Wal-Mart. Cheaper food products -- after all, everyone has to eat and drink. And they may still go out to eat, just to cheaper places. (Covid has affected this viewpoint, of course, but restrictions are easing up. Sort of.) 

     So I buy Wendy's and Burger King.  (McDonalds stock is way too high at present -- I'm waiting for it to go down.)  But I've had some major purchases in Coke and Coke Europe. We saw so much Coke sold during our world cruise that it just made sense.

*Buy stocks that pay dividends. This has eased the sting, when a stock goes down... I still make some money, even though it's less.

*Sell the stock when you'll make at least 20% profit. You can always buy more later, when it inevitably goes down. This has worked extremely well for me -- except in the case of Apple. (Stupid, stupid, stupid. I should have kept it.)

*Buy a LOT of index funds. These are much less volatile; Warren Buffett said he would have invested primarily in these, if he was starting over. I may buy more than one type -- a conservative version, plus a more 'iffy' emerging markets fund. But I try to buy at least a few extra shares every month.

*Keep a sizable amount in cash -- so you can purchase quickly when the stock market is really down. I really wish I could have been around last year in March, when everything tanked so quckly -- I would have really made a killing then. But we were on the cruise ship, with nonexistent internet...

*NEVER buy on a Monday. (Stocks tend to move around a lot first thing in the week, and it's often negative. At least that's what I've noticed.)

*NEVER buy when the stock is shooting up like a rocket. Because it will come down just as quickly.

This plan has worked very well for me over the years. Before You Know What, I was up about 25% or more for 2020 til now.

So what did I do with GameStop? No research. Bought quickly. On a Monday. When the stock had just spent the previous week sizzling up the price range. 

    In other words, I broke all my self-set rules, and knifed out a chunk of earlier profit, in less than a day. Because I got greedy. The only smart thing I did was to buy only one share --and that only because I was forced to.

Serves me right.

Better a live piggy -- and a chastened one -- than completely broke. I do feel sorry, though, for those who got caught up in the excitement, though, and are still grimly hanging on, hoping to recover their investment. 

Stupid, stupid, stupid.

Hitler Collectible Sells for $19,000

 A rare painting or piece of furniture, right?

Nope. Hitler's toilet seat, grabbed by a GI from the Berghof, his mountain vacation home, went for 13,750 pounds at auction. 

Other items sold at the same Maryland auction:

Hitler's personal porcelain shaving mug, bearing his portrait, that was taken from his Munich apartment fetched $21,250 (£15,600).

The Fuhrer's personal monogrammed hairbrush was also seized from the Berghof by a member of the US Parachute Infantry Regiment.

Four exceptionally rare small strands of Hitler's hair removed from the brush went for $2,250 (£1,650).

Meanwhile, a pair of floral lace knickers belonging to Hitler's wife Eva Braun, embroidered with her initials, raised $1,750 (£1,300).

Darn. And you were probably going to bid...

Monday (ok, Tuesday) Stuff On the Way to Other Stuff: Arizona, We Are Here

     We spent the weekend in Phoenix, watching a good friend get married. His wife is a wonderful, kind woman, and I have no doubt they'll have many happy years together. 

    The trip to get there, though, had several interesting happenings, including a DEF system breakdown on the truck. That controls emissions, but not the truck's performance. Technically, the truck (our RAM3500) could have kept going -- but the computer automatically would have limited our speed to 5 MILES AN HOUR. (I am not making this up.) And it told us it was going to do this in less than 200 miles. (We were out in New Mexico boonies at the time.)

     With about 30 miles left, we made it to Albuquerque for an emergency stop at the dealer. Two hours and $350 later, we finally got going -- only to get trapped in a two-hour traffic jam. That put us into Mesa, a Phoenix suburb, at 1 a.m. While heading for our parking spot, an overhanging tree branch caught the awning and nearly ripped the awning off. We had to take the rest off the next morning -- another 3 or so hours used up. 

     And THAT got us into Phoenix, but far later than we'd planned. After a while, I was just grateful we'd made it at all. At least we didn't miss the wedding.

Surviving on rats, conch meat and coconuts for 33 days on a desert island. 

Dozens of celebrities attend the Google Summit, and call for more decisions affecting climate change -- including signing a letter urging President Biden to shut down another pipeline. Noble, right?

    Ask how they got there, what they're driving...and how much they're paying for hotel rooms. Shades of John Kerry.

About a zillion candy recipes -- perfect for winter nights. (From Taste of Home)

A close-up look at the aftereffects of an avalanche in Utah. We get these in Colorado, too -- including right onto the highway. Scary.

Fascinating facts about Jay Leno -- including some very smooth financial moves.

Forty things learned in forty years. (from Nomad Numbers)

The New Yorker's insider look at Mr. Money Mustache.

How to negotiate your rent -- down!  (Some good tips on booking Airbnbs, too. From Millenial Revolution)

Buying a hoarder's home may be a mess -- but who knows what you'll find...

Becoming a frugalvore. LOTS of tips here.  (From Surviving and Thriving) Donna's take on quarantine soup is excellent, too.

An interesting millionaire/retirement interview...I enjoy these very much, even if they're working with a lot more money than the Brick and I have available.  (From ESI Money)

A Really Good Idea: if your income was much lower in 2020 than the year before, get your taxes done -- stat! It looks increasingly probably that people with incomes more than $50,000 will be excluded from this latest round of stimulus checks. BUT their eligibility is based on the latest tax return. See why doing your 2020 taxes early is the smart thing to do? (After I wrote this, possibilities strengthened that the income cutoff would go back to $75,000 instead. But just in case...)

Have a good week. 

Head 'Em Up, Move 'Em Out

 We're off to Phoenix tomorrow. 

We finally got approved to volunteer for Ethos360 in McNeal, AZ, but won't start that until next week. First is attending our friend's wedding in Phoenix this weekend.

I came home, after running Yet Another Last Batch of Errands, to find my kitchen stuff piled everywhere, and the Brick on the floor, tools around him. Seems our furnace quit working -- which is critical when you're hitting below-freezing temperatures every day. He eventually figured out the problem. (That's why you marry engineers!) But it meant that we couldn't leave this morning, after all. 

The sun is out. I hope it stays long enough to melt the water hose; I've got a pile of dishes to do. Still a couple of quilts to work on, but they can come with. We're getting better at this packing-up business; it will only take an hour or so to put items on the floor (or away), and block the cabinet doors. (The first time we didn't do this, we opened the trailer door to smashed dishes all over the floor. Stupid stupid stupid.) The Brick has the hard part, unhooking the electric and water lines, jacking up the legs and hooking the truck up to the fifth-wheel.

If you're doing some RVing, or living in one, like we are, you'll appreciate this:

    (Click here to read them)

A Red-And-White Quilt For A Cold Winter's Night

 Karen Hadfield was kind enough to send me this photo of a quilt in Brickworks' collection, taken "sometime in the 1990s" at her shop then, the Quilted Corners.

(That's yours truly in the background, looking distracted and pondering something. Who knows what.)

Do you know what this pattern is?

Turkey red -- and white muslin, of course.

Pieced -- the triangles are stitched to the red to make feathered 'points,' then white muslin curved melon shapes fill in the space. Hand pieced. (It's actually easier that way, because you can "fudge.")

Hand quilted. But then, you figured that. 1890s.

Yes, it's a Feathered Star variation. (Notice the pinwheels at the tip of each star point?) 

Some call it Pine Burr. But you know what name I like best for it?

World Without End.

For you Baptist...or Methodist...or Lutheran... or other...quilters, it was named after the famous doxology: "World without end, Amen, Amen."

I'm pretty sure George Strait's song was influenced by this hymn, as well.

Yep, We Old Folks Don't Understand The 'Green Thing'

The Brick noticed this on Facebook. Since we apparently belong to the 'old folks' category, based on recent comments from both FB and Quora, I thought I'd pass this on.

My grandma would find it hilarious -- after she smacked her granddaughter for being so rude.

Checking out at the store, the young cashier suggested to the much older lady that she should bring her own grocery bags, because plastic bags are not good for the environment,.
The woman apologized to the young girl and explained, "We didn't have this 'green thing' back in my earlier days."
The young clerk responded, "That's our problem today. Your generation did not care enough to save our environment for future generations."

     The older lady said that she was right: our generation didn't have the "green thing" in its day. The older lady went on to explain: Back then, we returned milk bottles, soda bottles and beer bottles to the store. The store sent them back to the plant to be washed and sterilized and refilled, so it could use the same bottles over and over. So they really were recycled.
But we didn't have the "green thing" back in our day. Grocery stores bagged our groceries in brown paper bags that we reused for numerous things. Most memorable besides household garbage bags was the use of brown paper bags as book covers for our school books. This was to ensure that public property (the books provided for our use by the school) was not defaced by our scribblings. Then we were able to personalize our books on the brown paper bags.
     But, too bad we didn't do the "green thing" back then. We walked up stairs because we didn't have an escalator in every store and office building. We walked to the grocery store and didn't climb into a 300-horsepower machine every time we had to go two blocks. But she was right. We didn't have the "green thing" in our day.
     Back then we washed the baby's diapers because we didn't have the throw away kind. We dried clothes on a line, not in an energy-gobbling machine burning up 220 volts. Wind and solar power really did dry our clothes back in our early days.
     Kids got hand-me-down clothes from their brothers or sisters, not always brand-new clothing. But that young lady is right; we didn't have the "green thing" back in our day.
     Back then we had one TV, or radio, in the house -- not a TV in every room. And the TV had a small screen the size of a handkerchief (remember them?), not a screen the size of the state of Montana.
     In the kitchen we blended and stirred by hand because we didn't have electric machines to do everything for us.
     When we packaged a fragile item to send in the mail, we used wadded up old newspapers to cushion it, not Styrofoam or plastic bubble wrap.
     Back then, we didn't fire up an engine and burn gasoline just to cut the lawn. We used a push mower that ran on human power.
     We exercised by working so we didn't need to go to a health club to run on treadmills that operate on electricity. But she's right; we didn't have the "green thing" back then.
     We drank from a fountain when we were thirsty instead of using a cup or a plastic bottle every time we had a drink of water. We refilled writing pens with ink instead of buying a new pen, and we replaced the razor blade in a razor instead of throwing away the whole razor just because the blade got dull. But we didn't have the "green thing" back then.
     Back then, people took the streetcar or a bus and kids rode their bikes to school or walked instead of turning their moms into a 24-hour taxi service in the family's $45,000 SUV or van, which cost what a whole house did before the "green thing."
     We had one electrical outlet in a room, not an entire bank of sockets to power a dozen appliances. And we didn't need a computerized gadget to receive a signal beamed from satellites 23,000 miles out in space in order to find the nearest burger joint.

     But isn't it sad the current generation laments how wasteful we old folks were, just because we didn't have the "green thing" back then?

Please forward this on to another selfish old person who needs a lesson in conservation from a smart ass young person... Especially from a smartass who can't make change without the cash register telling them how much.

Monday Stuff On the Way to Other Stuff: Moving On Up (Actually Down)

 Still snow on the ground...but not much. We have just a few more things to do, then are heading south. We need to be in the Phoenix area by Saturday for our 'landlord's wedding festivities.

It's snowy landscapes like this that make me grateful for Moving with Mitchell's musing on roses.

                                          (from the Summit County Lifestyle Blog via Facebook)

How to hide a stain...add a seam! This is from Upscale Daily, a new Hometalk feature that has had some incredible ways to upscale and restyle thrift shop pieces and hand-me-downs.

Lemon butter -- elegant, and easy to make if you've got sugar, butter and lemons.  (My Abundant Life)

Living very well on a low income.  Good advice for anyone from this single mom.  (Thrifty Mom in Boise) Not to mention:

Ways to save when you're on Social Security.

A strange buried treasure story about Charlie Chaplin.

Curtains...out of sheets. That's not a new idea, but the 'tabs' option is enough to read this clever how-to.

Oops, Maxine Waters eased up just a bit. Sort of. Kind of. A little. (But not regarding Donald Trump.)

New York Post's ten best Superbowl commercials. Including the E*trade baby...

"How I transformed my grandma's vintage dress into something a little more modern." Ironic -- since this was just what people did in early centuries. Fabric was far too precious just to throw away or donate!

The poorest city in each state.

Can a brain be turned to glass? Yep, it happened in Pompeii.

Twenty funny fan moments in sports.

Satisfying examples of petty revenge. It's the little things that matter.

A carved bed, used in a hotel for years, turns out to be Henry VII's marriage bed. Shades of the Bed of Ware.

Valuable things found in abandoned places. Including gold and silver in an abandoned storage locker...more random (and odd) things found here.  Thanks for the fun, Ranker.

What was it like to guard the war criminals in Nuremberg Prison? A rare firsthand account of a man who did just that.

A fascinating interview with sexologists, including the Professor of the Clitoris...or, as it was known back in the 19th century, the "bulb of the vestibule." (WARNING: Yes, this is about sex. Don't click on the link if you don't want specifics.)

Hunter Biden's got up to $2 million advance coming for his new memoir. Good -- maybe he can keep his bills paid.

'Later Prehistoric Finds' group on Facebook is an intriguing way to find out more -- 

Otzi the Iceman's final climb. With an arrow in his back...

Anna Sorokin -- or Anna Delvey, if you prefer -- is paying off her victims, using the $320,000 Netflix gave her for rights to her life events. My first thought: well, at least she's paying them off. And the second: figures, that she'd make $$ for being a scammer. Who's next: Bernie Madoff? (Actually, he's probably considered old news by now.)

Ten human/animal hybrids...including a herd of cows that, according to this report, gave human breast milk. (I'm wincing as I type this, Listverse.)

There's more to the story of the $92 million Botticelli portrait that just sold...it was hanging in a family's 'servants quarters' for decades, and sold for just a few bucks in the 1940s.

The easiest-to-make dress in the world.  I'm actually tempted to try this! Not as nice as this one, but hey...

"Where the Amish go on holiday." This 7-minute video is well worth watching. (Quilters and crafters, you'll love all the colors.)

Top 5 Beaker moments. I love this guy from the Muppets.

including a take on Coronavirus...

How to cover an unexpected expense when you're unemployed. They left one option out -- take a temp job of some kind. 

Twenty people who were fired because they used social media -- stupidly.

A cabin bed for your kid! I wouldn't mind having one of these, adult-sized.

More coins than ever are being found in UK backyards and gardens. The reason? People have to stay home -- so why not explore your property...

Ten people who foresaw their own deaths...including MLK and Abraham Lincoln.  (From Listverse)

Have a great week.

Superbowl, Pooperbowl... Watch the Puppy Bowl, Instead!

 (Hey, the Broncos didn't deserve it this year, anyways)

Go here for the lineup, and when to watch the Pups on Animal Planet.

And for you feline fanciers, a halftime kitten show.

Go, Dawgs!!!

What -- you haven't heard about Puppy Bowl?? This will catch you up to speed:

We Mean Well, At Least...

 

Why I Took Social Security -- Early

      So why did I do it?

The Brick has been retired for about 5 1/2 years now. Our post-retirement income started as:

*His pension (a bit more than $2,000/monthly)

*Whatever my work brings in...which is variable. Sometimes it's:

    --personal property appraising

    --judging for craft competitions   (this dried up in 2020/21)

    --teaching for various conferences  (pretty much ditto)

    --writing articles and books   (fees & royalties)

    --any little jobs I can pick up, including catering, surveys, errands, etc.

Since we'd already learned to live on less income, it wasn't too bad...but meant, as in the past, we had to live carefully. When we needed income, helping out with Daughter #2 and Son #1's wedding, for example, we had to take on work -- or sell something. (That's why our 'extra' vehicle, our Outback, was sold, and the Brick drove a schoolbus for some months.) 

A big change came last year, when the Brick turned 65, and applied for Social Security. That magically added even more money monthly, and eased up any rough spots. We had the profit from the house, true -- but decided to put that into two annuities that would not only cover medical expenses as we grew older, but would also allow us to draw out money in small regular payments. 

We had a third annuity that was ready to pull, using savings we'd gradually saved up over the years.  (We could have used it previously, but managed to keep it intact. Thanks, Lord & Richards, for setting this up and managing it for us!)  But I had a different plan --

Why couldn't I start Social Security, as soon as I qualified?

Here's why:

*The pension would not go away if the Brick died. He optioned to take less, so it would continue for me. (Yes, he's that kind of wonderful guy.) 

*The pension is through Colorado's state government. I pretty much doubt it's going to go bust anytime soon. 

*The Brick's Social Security payment was cut anyways, thanks to "double-dipping." According to Ye Olde U.S. government, if you work for the state, even after you've been working for private companies for decades, you will be penalized. Big-time. The only exception is if you put in 30 years or more. (The Brick put in a little more than 25 years.) That meant a BIG cut in benefits.

     I still think it was cut way too much -- and shouldn't have been cut at all. But no one's listening. (State and religious institution employees, brace yourself. It will happen to you, too.)

*My Social Security payment wouldn't increase that much if I waited a few years.  (We double-checked.)

*We had a solid emergency fund -- and some extra savings, in addition to what we had deposited with Lord & Richards. 

*We could start pulling payments from the annuities -- but if I took SS instead, that money could continue to grow.

Our advisors at Lord & Richards thought it was a good idea. (They double-checked the numbers, too.) After five-plus years following their/our plan, our current funds are holding steady -- and actually slowly increasing. So why not? 

Not only is my Social Security payment "extra," as far as our needs go, but it's allowed us to help out with causes and people we care about. It's given an extra cushion for unexpected costs. (Like that $1000 we paid for November truck repairs -- aargh.) True, the monthly payment is less than it would have become in three or four years -- but it's helping, at a time when that little bit of help means more.

It was worth it. 

If you're considering applying early for Social Security, it's not a bad idea to run it by an investment advisor. (Good ones like Lord & Richards are precious assets. And no, I'm not getting compensated for saying this. They really are.) You can also do a check by using Social Security's "quick calculation" exercise. 

It also means you should be doing what was important, anyways, before you actually retire: go through EVERYTHING.

    -- how much do you owe?

    --how much do you own?  (Should you sell one or more of those things to pay off what you owe?)

    --what income can you count on during retirement?

    --can you work part-time or pick up another "stream of income" to help out?

Something else is important: Your Social Security payment can be penalized by earning too much income. You must be careful not to make too much until full retirement age. As of 2021, that amount is $18,960. Full retirement age depends on your year of birth; for me, it will be around age 67+. (I turn 63 this year.)

The final important thing to consider: think LIFETIME payments. 

    --Does your DNA argue for only a medium life, instead of a long one? (Neither the Brick nor yours truly come from particularly long-lived families.)

    -- Do you have another source of income (like a pension, retirement fund or annuity) that could help flesh out the Social Security you do get? 

    --I am not sure what other countries do in this regard, but know that Canada has a similar program. (Medicare, which you qualify for at age 65 in the U.S., is also a big help.) 

    --If you're married, will you have enough income to keep you going, if your partner dies -- and that SS payment disappears?

It takes about a month, so the authorities say, to apply -- so you should do it the month before your actual birthday. You can start considering this at age 62, and if you're married, your payment can be based on what your spouse made, as well as your income. (However, in this Age of Covid, my actual payment took more than two months.) Your money comes via automatic deposit in your bank account.

You might also consider applying early. At any rate, it's worth looking into.