Monday (er, Tuesday) Stuff On the Way to Other Stuff: Waiting On the Mama...In More Ways Than One

 (Had this done on Monday -- just didn't get it sent out.)

Still in Michigan, helping out with the Mama's rehabilitation. Or whatever you'd call it. She is doing much better -- but still has a ways to go. She takes care of herself, but does it very slowly. I am learning patience, standing by and waiting. However, I know that being able to care for herself will come in handy when I'm gone in a few weeks.

 So I wait. 

Actually, I am doing better in this department. But there's definitely a learning curve.

    Meanwhile:

Easy coleslaw -- grab a bag of shredded cabbage, and it takes five more minutes!

Jennifer Lopez forgets to take off the price tag from her very fancy Dolce Gabbana cape. (Or maybe she didn't, and is planning on returning it!) The million-dollar question: how much WAS the price? I sure couldn't read it...

Ever wonder how the famous song "Under Pressure" got written? 

 "I'm not supposed to take any questions." Will the President's handlers get mad at him for saying that?

     Shoot, would Donald Trump have ever said that?? How about Barack Obama?

An ancient Aztec manuscript describes seismic activity -- the oldest manuscript from the Americas to do so.

A bunch of very funny teacher stories.

A button shop owner wins a huge fight with a real estate investor -- over a 6" wide strip of land. I am not making this up.

A pistol once used by Billy the Kid sells: SIX MILLION DOLLARS.

15 helpful money tips.   (From Millenial Money Woman)

Harvard was meeeaaannn to Farrah Abraham, educationally speaking. Or so she says. Be sure to read her badly-written, misspelled Yelp review as proof that she's doing Master's degree quality work. 

A news flash for ya: The "liberal news media" may be biased. (Actually, the "conservative news media" might be biased, too. Just a bit.) 

DON'T step off the boardwalk at Yellowstone -- or look forward to jail time and a fine. (Or being boiled to death...)

Cool repair hacks for non-food items, using...food.  (A couple of these are stretching it, but why not, Listverse)

James Madison University students get some very interesting training sessions -- did you know that if you're 1) white, 2) male, 3) straight and 4) Christian -- you're automatically an "oppressor?" And this from... 

In an earlier statement, the school backed the training as an effort to "create an inclusive and community for all students."

Guess I'm lucky I only fit three categories. 

A military veteran lives in her car -- because she can't legally evict the tenants who haven't paid for months from her rentals. (Said tenants say they can't pay because  -- listing several reasons.)

Korean beef & rice (bulgogi)-- 15 min. to prepare.  (From Taste of Home)

Have a great week.

Waiting -- And A Franklin Expedition Update

     The floor fan is roaring away -- and I'm wearing the lightest thing I've got, so it will flap occasionally in the breeze. If anything, it's the hottest, sweatiest day yet-- and that's saying a lot. 

     The Mama is better, which makes her restless. Trips are still limited to the bathroom and kitchen, which means I stay home to keep an eye on her. Thankfully, the swelling in her legs and feet have gone down, as an odd "weeping" effect: one leg (and only one) 'weeps' a clear fluid that looks like water. Compression stockings and keeping ones feet well-elevated are the solution. But then she feels better...and gets restless.

     She likes watching television -- but only at night. And her favorite shows are I-could-gag festivas like America's Got Talent and American Ninja Warriors. So I wait it out...and watch late-night cowboy shows like Gunsmoke, after she goes to bed. 

      No movies. No music. And no tv until after the news. It gets pretty quiet around here, which makes it easy to doze off now and then. Makes up for the lack of sleep at night. (Just too hot.)

===============================

In better news, there have been developments on the fate of the Franklin Expedition. Y'know, that 1845 trip to oblivion that swallowed up 128 men from the British Empire, plus their commander, John Franklin, while they were searching for a way through the Northwest Passage. In the centuries since then, their paraphernalia and bones have been stumbled upon...and finally, in recent years, their ships: the Erebus (2014) and the Terror. (2016)

(If explorers had paid more attention to Inuit witness accounts, they would have found the ships a lot sooner. Erebus and Terror were right where the Eskimo said they would be.)

Parks Canada has started a new DNA matching program for relatives of the Franklin men. Lo and behold, they got a hit! One of the skulls found in 2013 was actually Warrant Office John Gregory, an engineer on the Erebus.  (His great-great-great grandson Jonathan Gregory gets the credit for this discovery. Go here for an interesting backstory on Gregory's skull.)

As David Woodman, author of Unraveling the Franklin Mystery, points out:

"He was one of the oldest guys and he was from the Erebus, so when did this happen? Was he one of the early succumbers?" Woodman said. "We know he wasn't the first to die because other work has been done …. so what was it about John Gregory that he ends up at Erebus Bay?"

No work was done on the wrecks in 2020 or this year, thanks to Covid. Archeologists did remove 350 artifacts in 2019 that are still being analyzed. Including a hairbrush...what could those stray hairs communicate?

Why is this important?? Erebus' position, at least, argues that someone on the Franklin Expedition may have found a way through the Northwest Passage. And if that can be proven, it means that Canada, who acquired the rights to the Expedition from Great Britain, has the right to asset ownership. Which could mean big bucks, charging tankers for passage rights. 

Hmmm.

Meanwhile, excavation will continue on the shipwrecks next year.

No rush, says David Woodman:

"The wrecks lay undisturbed for 150 years. They can afford to have another two years off,"

The North-West Passage by Millais

Frugal Hits & Misses: August Report

 A strangely dull month comes to an end.

August has kept us stuck at home, thanks to a nonexistent truck. Ok, it exists, but our only vehicle doesn't work. We've made it to church and errands only because kind friends loaned us their extra vehicles. By the time I'm writing this, the truck should be in the repair bay at our local shop. I hope. 

     It's been hot. And unless you count The Mama's frequent stops in and out of hospital and rehab, uneventful. Nothing sounds good to eat. (Only drink--except potato chips.) The fifth-wheel's stuffy,.even though we've got air conditioning going. (Temps are even worse elsewhere.) No good movies. And when you can get out, the roads are crowded with either construction or tourists. It's been a BIG summer for tourists in Colorado.

Gripe, moan, complain. 

     I'm currently in Michigan, running chores and keeping track of The Mama, as she learns how to care for herself again at home. She badly wants to stay here, rather than go to a care facility. And we want to help her do just that. I think it's possible, with hired help coming in for a few hours daily. But it means I needed to be here for a while, rather than home with the Brick and the dogs. 

Things could be worse. I know that. I keep reminding myself of that. 

This report is a little early.  I needed to finish up my appraisal work.

FRUGAL HITS

*The Brickworks website is finally back up! We should have a working shopping cart shortly, along with several other pages. 

*Green chilis from Hatch, NM: 99 cents/lb.  Snagged on sale as a present for the Michigan cousin who generously picked me up at 1 a.m. (That's what you get with a...

*Discount plane ticket for Michigan -- on short notice. (Thank you, Southwest, for this sudden sale.)

*Finished off a $25 gift card -- $1.88 left to use up before Aug. 31. (The rest of the story will be in the September report.)

*Kept our granddog, Ms. Karmie, while Daughter #2 and Son #1 were taking care of The Mama in Michigan. Saved them money, and gave Charley something else to think about besides scratching. (Allergies have been giving him a merry chase this summer -- he's licked so much fur off, and scratched so hard, that he looks like a scarred-up prizefighter. Fortunately, that's improving.)

*Mended a pillow, t-shirt and my sandals. (The strap had been nibbled by Something last summer, and I'd limped along with it half-cut for a year. The Brick fared worse -- his pair of sandals just disappeared -- or at least one sandal did. (The animal never took both at a time.) My missing sandal was found, at least -- even if it was half-nibbled. Our landlord friend thinks the culprits were foxes.

    Somewhere in the world out there's a fox wearing just one sandal. Because two would be too big for him, I guess.

*Did some judging and appraising for the Cheyenne Heritage Quilters show. (Love these girls.) My appraiser colleague Gina drove us there and back, and stayed with to help out. (Thank you so much, friend.) I got some nice buys in fabric at the show boutique...plus a handkerchief angel ornament for The Mama.

     I brought along thank-you gifts and books for my scribes, plus the ladies who hired me. The guild got $5 from each appraisal written, too. A win-win on both sides.

*Free OJ and pumpkin pudding from friends headed out of town. (It was delicious.)

*So grateful for the extra-large ink tanks on our new printer. We not only don't run out of ink so quickly, especially during a heavy appraisal report session...but it's a good bit cheaper.

*Got rolls, cheese and sandwich meat for the Brick while I was gone...so he'd stop trotting off to fastfood. I also picked up some frozen meals on sale: pizza, lasagna, teriyaki chicken. (Have you noticed how any kind of takeout/restaurant food prices have gone up?? Yow.)

*Some serious cleaning and putting-away. (More to do when I get back.) A suitcase full of books (46 pounds worth!) brought back for storage in Michigan. 

*Gave a piano lesson. Plus 28 appraisal reports. 

*Made cinnamon rolls for a neighborhood brunch. The first time we'd turned the oven on in ages. (Normally, the pilot light stays out, to keep the trailer kitchen area cooler.)

*Started clearing out the trailer freezer.  I can actually see bare space in there! That hasn't happened since we first bought the fifth wheel. That meant that we ate a lot of leftovers. (The dogs  had some set aside for them.)

*Birthday presents for everyone -- both daughters and The Mama's birthday are this month. (We do still owe them a dinner out.) A few Christmas presents stashed away, as well, thanks to Amazon sales and some very nice video sets from the library booksale room. (Whoo hoo!)

*Clothing sale at Sally's (Salvation Army) in Boulder: $2 each, no matter the original cost! I found myself a swimsuit and a gold sharkskin skirt. (Daughter #2 didn't like it -- too flashy, I suspect. But she did like an olive green tunic: basic but nicely cut. As for the skirt -- it got cut up, too -- for its fabric.) My best buys: vintage Staffordshire plates ($1.19 ea) and brown leather fringed moccasin booties: $3.99! (They were mislabeled as size 11, but fit me perfectly.) 

*Found at the Cheyenne Goodwill store: 1 large tube of Christmas wrap ($1), some stocking stuffers, 3 t-shirts for $1.50 each; a sequined shell for $3.50; a high-end Worthington dress for $4.95 (for a girlie, or I'll sell it on Ebay) and a Cold Creek embroidered jacket for $5.95 (ditto).

      Helpful hint: always check the better-known thrift stores in a higher-income city. Boulder not only has these, but 'Sally's' fills up periodically with items from students who think nothing of discarding Good Stuff. 

*Found at the Sparta Mel Trotter thrift store:  A lightweight t-shirt dress and sleeveless dress. (Even the t-shirts and jeans I brought from home seem too 'heavy' and sticky right now.) Walked away from some items, though it was hard to do so.

*Combined errands a lot -- we had to, still without a vehicle. 

*Didn't buy any flowers -- made do with wild ones, plus greens. The Brick did buy me a small bouquet toward the end of the month. (Sweet man.)

*Celebrated The Mama's birthday with several cards and a package...as well as packages left for her, hidden on the stairs at her house. (I didn't make it here until about a week later.)

*Had to be really picky at Sprouts to get the best deals -- but 99 cents each for head lettuce and celery works. So does endive (reg. $3.85) for $1.50.

*Just a few Amazon bargains, including coffee and Asian noodles. The sales on noodles were so good that I ordered an extra package for a friend who's going through a lot right now, as an encouragement. 

*Stopped at the Friday/Sat store -- for the first time in months. (They have great prices, but are out of the way, unless we're headed to Boulder.) Best buys:  $6.79 for 20 oz. coffee beans; 1.99 bottles of 100% fruit juice; 50-cent Campbell's Cream of Mushroom soup cans (I bought a case)...and a huge bag of tortilla chips for $2. Walked away from a case of baby sausages at a screaming price -- we promised our landlords that we'd "eat down" the freezer, to make room for hunting results. (I guess this was a Miss -- but I really needed to do it.) 

*Back to Daily Deals in Michigan. If you live in this state, you should definitely stop and take advantage of this discount outlet:  16-packs of Go-Gurt yogurt -- 49 cents! Chopped 'power' salad: 79 cents, and a huge container of chive-and-onion cream cheese (48 oz!) for $3.99. Chocolate bars: 25 cents each. A large seedless watermelon:  $3.99. You never quite know what you'll find, but it's invariably lower-priced than anywhere else in town.

*Picked up dish detergent and other necessities at the dollar store, instead of Wal-Mart. Their cookies are cheaper, and they stock 5-packs of English muffins and bagels. Found some kids' toys for donating to a Mexican orphanage for Christmas -- a pack of two huge bubble wands for $1! (Our friends are headed there just before Christmas...and planning to bring toys with them for the kids.)  Our local dollar store finally started carrying my beloved potstickers again. (Although now they're 6 to a pkg, instead of 8.) They also have 5 oz. cheese packages -- cheddar and Monterey Jack.

*Vegetarian meals for the biweekly get-your-butt-kicked-at-Ticket-to-Ride contest. Our friends enjoy sponsoring this. 

*Used up some shampoo and conditioner that had been in the shower forever. We have bottles of conditioner leftover from two years ago -- but our shampoo? Forget it.

*Our friends left -- again. This time to Hawaii. We took them to the airport and picked them up (again).  We counted up the roundtrips to the airport this summer: 8, so far. With the exception of my current Michigan trip, we didn't go anywhere. Just took people to the airport and picked them up. (But we did get to borrow their vehicles!)

*Played Vehicle Musical Chairs again while the truck was out of action. (See below.)

*Air conditioning's fixed, thanks to the Brick's wonderful fixit skills. Other stuff fixed, as well. The air conditioning's been going a lot, due to our higher temps -- it would have been just plain miserable without it.

*Another $5 off $5 coupon from Safeway -- plus a free bag of candy, package of cheese, personal wipes AND a free reusable bag. Grapes for 97 cents/lb. (The usual now is around $3.) King Soopers finally came up with bargains, too -- as long as you bought 5: $1.25 Oscar Mayer hot dogs, 99-cent bags of sugar and jars of peanut butter. (We use creamy peanut butter to get Charley to take his allergy pills. Naturally, Ruby also needs a spoonful, too.)

FRUGAL MISSES

*Lost a can of Coke -- it flew out of the fridge, and exploded on the floor. Yikes! (What little left tasted flat, anyways.)

*A package of vermicelli also exploded -- two, in fact. Scraped up what I could and rebagged it.

*I try to laugh about the truck repair follies -- but it's hard. Price tag to fix the truck: currently at $10,500.

*The Higher Ground Fair was cancelled. One less gig for the year. (Surprisingly, I am not that crushed. Gigs are taking more and more energy to accomplish, and I've had more than my share of appraising work.)

*Went out to lunch at a Chinese restaurant we used to frequent-- and discovered that the $5.99 lunch specials were now nearly $10.  (Kept leftovers and had them for supper over rice -- at least we stretched it to two meals.)

*Tried hard not to waste anything. Generally succeeded. Sorta.

*'Fahncy' no-grain dogfood for Charley; it really seems to help his allergies. The Brick renewed his prescription: nearly $2.50 A PILL. For a dog?!? So glad his really bad struggles only last for about a month.

Here's last month's report -- and last year's, for comparison.  Goodbye, August -- it's been nice enduring ya.

Free Museum Day Sept. 18

The Smithsonian has gotten its buddies to sponsor a free museum day on Sept. 18.

Go here for the list -- but essentially, it gets you into the museum of your choice. For free! And that includes TWO tickets.

Whoo hoo.

Updates...And More

      I thought it was beginning to edge toward fall, not only in Colorado but here in Michigan.

     I was wrong.

     It has been hot. And sticky. And hot some more. When Michigan forecasters talk about what they call "brutal heat," you'd better pay attention. 

     After two months in and out of hospitals and rehab centers, The Mama is home again -- and slowly starting to do the everyday things she found so easy before. My job is to help out with meal-making, clothes washing, running to get the little things she needs, doing errands -- and being here, just in case she needs me. It's not exciting work, but I need to be doing it. 

      The hard part: the heat is making it difficult for me to get any sleep at night. And I have some appraising work to finish up. In between getting bottles of water and washing dishes, the time seems to drift.

I just need to keep doing what's needed. Cousins and my brother have been helping out  with The Mama-- it's my turn to give them a break for a while.

The Brick is holding the fort in Colorado. We still do not have a working vehicle -- but the diesel shop is set to start on it in the next few days. We've been making do by borrowing yet another friend's truck. Hopefully we won't need to soon.

Everything else goes on. If we can hang in there for a few more weeks, a lot of things will be resolved...and hopefully the weather will cool down. 

Other updates:

The eviction moratorium is over -- thanks to the Supreme Court. Renters, it's time to pay your bill.

The chaos in Afghanistan is STILL Trump's fault. Although President Biden is pledging, "We will hunt you down," to the suicide bombers and others terrorizing Kabul and the airport. I just hope he does it...

    But hey, on the way to these threats of reprisal, the Taliban was provided a list not only of Americans, but Afghans who helped their cause. Gee, how nice of the U.S. -- the Taliban doesn't have to work at figuring out who to hunt down now. Nick Short tweeted:

“U.S. officials in Kabul gave the Taliban a list of names of American citizens, green card holders and Afghan allies to grant entry into the militant-controlled outer perimeter of the city’s airport.” So we gave them a hit list?!

Harvard's new head chaplain is an atheist. Go figure. 

It's a strange world out there -- best to just keep plugging away, I guess. 

Monday Stuff On the Way to Other Stuff: Doing What You Need To

 Gentle Readers, as you know, The Mama's health has not been good. Daughter #2 and Son #1, bless them, have been staying with her the past week, after she got out from the hospital (again). Daughter #1 and her partner also headed there for a few days. Bless them, too. 

     Monday night, they fly home to Colorado...and I fly to Michigan to take my turn. Hopefully in time our combined help will enable The Mama be able to stay in her own home. She'll need a care taker now and then. That's doable. 

     Unfortunately, this means I have to ditch my responsibilities at home, or leave them to the Brick. He will stay here and take care of the dogs. Neither of us wants this -- but it's important to go. The Mama needs me, and the Brick can look after things here. 

     I'll keep you posted.

              from Country dirt/facebook

Richard Lamm died last month. This ex-Colorado governor had many things to say and do...many of them quite different from the norm. He was 85 -- apparently that didn't apply to him personally when, back in 2009, he announced that "we [old people[ have a duty to die and get out of the way." (More on this in my book Colorado Curiosities, if you're...well, curious.)

Make a resin sun mobile...from resin (of course). 

Six ways to pay off debt -- or keep from going into debt.  A classic from yours truly.

Best recipes from Presidents and their First Ladies.

Olive Garden breadsticks copycat recipe -- good with soup!  (From Cooking Classy)

How to make a tomato pincushion.  (From One Hundred Dollars A Month)

Celebrities (mostly actors) with strange habits.

A decade-long study on honesty is deep-sixed...because the researcher doing it faked his date. Go figure...

Old-fashioned lemonade made easy.  (From Harvest Lane Cottage)

Tom T. Hall died. I've loved this easygoing songwriter's work. Including:

An interesting speech on slavery and reparations, and critical race theory -- from a dad at a Colorado Springs school board meeting.

These three months on the homestead... a welcome update from the Frugalwoods.

Chinese art pieces are being stolen around the world...but is the Chinese government behind the thefts?

An Anglo-Saxon queen's monastery rediscovered. 

Rachel Dolezal, my favorite self-described person of color, starts her Only Fans account -- to show off 'squats' (I can just guess) and sexy foot photos. (I am not making this up.)

Rent collected by two congresswomen on their own properties -- the same people who are advocating that all owed rent payments should be cancelled. (They're actually co-sponsoring the bill with AOC.) Nope, no hypocrisy here...

Unusual historical mementos... found by accident. 

Boston Dynamics' two-legged robot: amazing.

including a backflip!

A fawn is saved by a kayaking crew in Lake Superior. 

A bartender saves two women from a harasser. Nicely done, Buddy!

Shrimp Scampi -- tastes good with gluten-free spaghetti, as well.

Some very funny working-from-home-and-elsewhere appearances...with cats!  (Grand Rapids, Michigan weatherman Bill Steffens is one of the newspeople.)

And...50 famous cat ladies.   Plus 25 musicians with cats.

Disturbing Victorian traditions.  Those kinky Victorians...

"They are chanting 'Death to America --' but they seem friendly, at the same time." Huh????

Afghans desperately try to cling to an Air Force plane as it takes off from Kabul.

Dumpster-dived goodies.

Peaches and cream overnight oats -- for breakfast!

A library dresses up its cat as various literary (and other) figures -- more than 100 different ones! Wonder what the cat thinks about this?

A dad...and his four daughters. A love- and weird-fest in photos and text. (If you have daughters, you'll understand.)

The hoarder from hell... unless you're fond of beer can mountains.

Robbers try to steal a Monet from Dutch museum, but are foiled by a passerby.

Have a good week.

Tips That Save You Money -- No Matter What

 Here goes.                 (Do we use these? You bet.)

1. Don’t spend more than you earn. (This is REALLY important.)
2. Get a second job — even if it’s a small one. Save the income from that job. Or pay your expenses from that job — and save the money from the first one. (Jay Leno is a good example.)
3. 
4. Only buy the clothes you absolutely need — and try to get those either from the thrift shop (they still need to be good quality), or on sale.
5. Figure out what you can spend for food — and stick to it. (Or try to come up a couple of bucks less every week. Save that money.)
6. Always check the clearance and marked-down bins at the grocery store.
7. What’s on sale? That’s what you’re going to eat this week.
8. At least once a month, take a week where you don’t go in any shops at all — including groceries.
9. Make your own coffee. Invest in a good travel mug that keeps it hot.
10. Get a clear savings bank. Stash your extra cash in there, along with change. When it’s full, put it in a separate bank account from your regular one.
11. Do NOT use money from that separate account, unless you absolutely have to.          
12.        It adds up!

Speaking Your Mind

 

Thanks, Vince Rozmiarek...and you're right!

Something Squirrelly Is Going On Here...

 I read this on Facebook...

And immediately thought of this!

Thank God

 Life is so uncertain right now.

Our hearts break, seeing the turmoil in Afghanistan -- and knowing, in spite of the Taliban's glib promises, that women, children and men there are dying.

Now that unemployment benefits and rent 'holds' are evaporating, with no further stimulus checks in view, what will people do who haven't planned ahead and saved for this? 

What will the Covid-19 variant bring? Has Covid loosened its grip...or will it just get worse? 

What will our country do, with all the insults, foot-dragging and fussing over Every Single Thing?

It isn't any easier on the homefront. Our truck is still not fixed -- our only vehicle. (We have been so grateful for two sets of friends who cheerfully loan us their cars as needed.) And once it is fixed, a whopping big bill awaits.

     The Mama's health is not good. For the past two months, she has been bouncing regularly from hospital to rehab facility to home -- and back to the hospital. (I will be heading to Michigan next week to stay with her, while the Brick holds the fort here.) 

This makes me so grateful for being a Christian. God has worked in so many parts of our lives, and I can see His hand in even these things, too. 

Will I trust Him? 

Is He worth trusting?

Yes.

      A detail from 'Susan and Aslan' -- from Panjool   (see it here)

Hopefully this is true...well, maybe not the 'old' part.

The Higher Ground Fair Has Been Cancelled

 I went online today to double-check dates...and found out the Higher Ground Fair has been cancelled for 2021. 

Covid concerns.  (I know -- neither you nor I are really surprised at this.)

They're already planning for the next Higher Ground Fair on Sept. 18-19, 2022 in Laramie, WY. Mark your calendar -- it's great fun, and much more multi-cultural. I especially enjoyed the Arapaho dancers and the 'lace lady' who gave demos. 

                       Llamas on parade -- and more!

More news next year. That sounds weird...but it's true. Mark your 2022 calendar for Sept. 17-18. Meanwhile, the Fair website lets you in on all sorts of photos and info from past years -- and lets you know what to expect for next.

Interruptions

 

Thanks for the reminder, The Prudent Homemaker.

Monday Stuff On the Way to Other Stuff: Cheyenne -- and Fires

     I spent a good portion of last week hanging out with the girls in the Cheyenne Heritage Quilters guild. They're clever quilters who enjoy experimenting; even when they make a kit, they'll often improvise a new border or setting. Which makes judging and appraising for them a pleasure. 

     Fellow appraiser Gina went along...and was willing to drive. Which was wonderful -- our truck is STILL out of commission. We have at least another week or two in this situation. Maddening.

     At least it's a little cooler here. The smoke in the air (from the California fires) has been everpresent. If you left your windows open, you woke up choking from the smoke. That's lifted some for us Coloradoans. It's still tough for Californians, though.

Meanwhile:

A new (to me) blog I've been reading a fair amount of: 'Little Dorrit Does.' She has plenty to say about frugal living. You might enjoy reading her, too.

Seven ways to get free groceries.  (From Surviving and Thriving)

Melania Trump and the White House Rose Garden  Did she eviscerate it...or save it?

Our favorite journalist brings out his own fashion line! Yes, Shaun King, that paragon of truth and honesty, is also shilling to pay for moving expenses: from a luxury apartment in New York City to a lavish home in NJ, purchased by his wife so he doesn't have to admit it personally. (If you read the fundraiser, you'd swear the family was leaving a slum apartment and moving out of fear to who-knows-what. The truth? Not exactly.) 

     The poor guy is under all this stress for being questioned about his motives -- and house size.  Oops, now he says he's not moving into his 'modest' $845,000 house, after all. Help him feel better about it all. Buy a hoodie or something. Just don't bring up his background while you're doing it.

Traveling overseas during Covid -- what you need to know.

Nineteen wonderful Halloween ideas. Including Wicked Witch Legs!

Using string to help repurposed blinds fit their new space.

Italian biscotti with chocolate and almonds. Oh, cranberries and raisins, too. Yum.

Is $100 a month still possible for a food budget? My Abundant Life is doing it...

One of the funniest commercials ever -- at least for us wives: THE DOGHOUSE.

A classic from yours truly on bullies, confessions...and resignation.   And...

In praise of staying up late. And coffee.

Co-stars who LIKED kissing each other. It often seems to be the opposite!

Grocery store sales tricks -- and how to counteract them.

Ten 'interesting' things lottery winners spent their money on. (And it wasn't always good...)

Message from a "time traveller of 2714" -- except his 'predictions' don't seem to be coming true. (Shades of the people who seem to think that Donald Trump will be reinstated as president on Aug. 13.)

Crumb quilting -- 5 ways to start a block. This method uses up a TON of scraps.

Entitled people who want freebies -- here's a bunch to sneer at.

Monitoring Tucker Carlson's e-mails? No way, says the NSA. (Okay, maybe they were.)

The smallest baby ever to live (so far - less than 1/2 pound and four months premature) gets to go home. 

A swimming pool made from pallets and tarps??

 Bernie Madoff's final days were miserable, thanks to not being released on 'compassionate grounds.' (He tried. More than once.) His lawyer: "There is no compassionate release when there is no compassion." Maybe it also had something to do with Madoff skipping doctor appointments, refusing to follow procedure...and lack of compassion for his many victims??

Target's got some kind of 'Little House on the Prairie' thing going right now for women's fashion. Do you want to get in on it, too?

More very funny photos from the guy who sends these whenever his girlfriend asks, 'How's the baby?'

Lots of ditherings from Thistlewood Farms. I don't normally care for this blogger's overenthusiasm for tiny improvements any doofus could cook up (especially repainting), as well as her version of 'economizing.' ("Spend a ton of money -- you may not need it, but it's 10% off!"). Once in a while, though, she comes up with something good. She's got a lot of interesting links in this post.

Victims of 9/11 -- separating the real from the fakes. (And they're out there, like this girl.)

Weird 9/11 photos...including a photographer who caught the second plane just before it hit

Kipchoge defends his Olympic title in the marathon. Wow.

A camping trip to Yellowstone National Park -- not as good as being there, but a quick visual trip, anyways. (Notice all the people waiting for Old Faithful? Tons of tourists -- oh boy.... from Retire At 40)

Have a great week.

Free Tulip Bulbs in Boulder -- on Wednesday

 Yep, Aug. 18 (Wednesday), Boulder's Parks and Rec is clearing out its tulips, in preparation for fresh flowers. You can snag a 15-bulb pack of tulips at these downtown Boulder, CO businesses. Don't wait to try, though -- they're only one to a family, and bound to go fast. 

It's Probably Me...

 

(Mostly) Animal Things I Don't Understand

Still in Cheyenne...one more day of appraising, then Gina (my friend and fellow appraiser) and I head for home. The Brick called last night: "It's awfully quiet around here," he said. I guess that was a compliment!

We've seen some wonderful quilts at the Cheyenne Heritage Quilters show -- stop by and say hi. The show goes through Saturday.

Meanwhile...another batch of those wonderful Things I Don't Understand.

Ruby does this. A lot.

We had a cat that moved to the next street over...her choice, not ours.

Her new owner knew it, too.

She would come out and visit if we walked down 'her' street,

then stroll home afterwards.

Since when do penguins read bulletin boards??

x

Next time, let him in!

More animal things here -- the hits just keep coming. 

Rest Your Eyes on This Colorado Beauty...

Shrine Pass, in Vail. 

Lovely.