Monday (okay, Friday) Stuff on the Way to Other Stuff: Taking A Little Time Off

      Yep, that's right. 

      We have some commitments coming up -- and I won't always be able to post. So I'll be incommunicado for at least a week, plus a day or two.

      Be good while I'm gone. Mama don't allow no rowdiness playing 'round here.

Meanwhile (just a few this time):

Want to save on milk? Dilute it, the Mavis way.  (Thanks for listening, One Hundred Dollars A Month!)

The ten best scammer conversations from 2025:

Frugal tips from TikTokers.  Some good -- some just plain weird. But inspiring, nonetheless.

An easy quilt pattern that uses up a LOT of scraps -- a classic from yours truly. 

Do you have this Pokemon card??

If so, it just sold for more than $16 MILLION DOLLARS.

Robert Duvall died - age 95. An amazing actor who did his work subtly -- and very, very effectively.

Chernobyl workers' children are showing some odd DNA mutations. Fortunately, it doesn't seem to be disease-causing. But still, it makes you wonder. 

An easy way to make meatballs! 

And finally -- a song inspired by getting caught in Colorado (actually, the Boulder area) during a blizzard. Ridin' The Storm Out  by REO Speedwagon. (The Brick knew this song -- I did not.)

Take care -- talk to you soon.

Nocturnal Bliss

     I was looking for something else when I bumbled onto an old favorite...and thought you'd like it, too. 

Her Morning Elegance - by Oren Lavie.

Enjoy.

Mew!

 I missed out on this wonderful antique photo on Ebay -- but you don't have to. 

Especially if you like cats. 

Details are here. 

Makes Sense...

I once used one of those drinking bird toys

 to keep a motion detector from turning the office lights off.

 ...especially if you've ever been in one of those National Parks bathrooms -- the light turns off every few minutes. Maybe I should start bringing one of these on vacation!

More "it's not stupid if it works" ideas here.

Woof!

 “When your children are teenagers, it’s important to have a dog so that someone in the house is happy to see you.” —Nora Ephron

And will anxiously wait until you get home...

Monday Stuff On the Way to Other Stuff: Still Shuffling...

 Or plugging along. Trudging. Flying. Whatever.

This flu will not let go. If I stay quiet, I have a reasonable speaking voice -- for a while. If I stay down and quiet, I'm generally okay. But get up and move around, and the nausea/achiness/headache gets worse. Sing at church today? Ha -- I can only get 5 or 6 notes out, then the voice completely goes. So the Brick went, and took care of business. I am very grateful for him. 

I have several things to finish up. The Brick has some items on his roster, too. And we must get done before commitments this weekend. 

Upward and onward, I guess. 

We got more snow than the weather people posted -- about 6". The dogs went nuts because the local herd of 'teenage girls' (does) decided to weather over in our woods. However, it (the snow, not the deer) is melting fast.

Meanwhile:

Overheard remarks -- that hurt.

The hermit painter of Purgatoire Canyon.  Fascinating. 

How much does the average American have saved for retirement?  I really, really hope this isn't completely true.

A very classy apology -- and gracious response -- at the Winter Olympics.

Mickey Lolich dead?  Say it ain't so, Detroit Tigers.

A rare strain of rye found on a Michigan shipwreck may lead to a whole new revival in whiskey.  You'll want to read both articles -- here  and  here, too.

Have a good week. Hopefully you're on top of the world.

Happy Valentine's Day!

 

Enjoy...it's okay to buy candy hearts for yourself!

Under the Weather...

 What exactly does that mean? Aren't we always 'under the weather[clouds], anyways?

Photo via FiftyClub

I made it back from the Denver appraising trip in good form, but have been dealing ever since with congestion, aches, off-and-on feverishness-- and a headache that won't quit. 

And now the Brick has his own share. Poor guy. 

It makes you grateful for old tv programs, canned soup and freezer goodies.

And rest. 

We do have a blizzard fixing to come in, via the weather predictions. That may mean that any Valentine celebrations are on hold.

Monday (er, Tuesday) Stuff on the Way to Other Stuff: Shuffling Off...

  ...but not to Buffalo.

Just got back from an appraising trip to Denver. The Brick was supposed to go with, but Bo and Tiger, let out for a 'quickie' run before we left -- never came back. I had appointments to keep, so had to make the trip solo, while the Brick waited for the dogs to come home.

     Sigh.

Eventually they did -- but not until after dark. 

     At least I had time for lunch for an old friend, and a few nights spent with Daughter #1 and Adopted Son #1, as well as more old friends. I even had a few slices of pizza with Tommy and Chris, who made the trip to Europe with us last July. Some flu came along as a passenger, but I persevered. 

     Life goes on -- including a snowstorm set to hit on Friday. 

Meanwhile:

'Lovers Eye' jewelry -- a simple (and curious!) way to immortalize your lovey's eye. (Especially if the romance is an illicit one.)

If it works... is it really stupid?   Like this photo of Amish men moving a barn...

 A Very Good chicken salad recipe; thanks, One Hundred Dollars A Month. (And skip the raisins, in my humble opinion.)

How do you insure a priceless national treasure?  The Brits are trying to figure this one out, thanks to the Bayeux Tapestry being on loan. 

These stories sound fake -- but according to the tellers, they actually happened.

What are the fireplace options to keep your RV or camper warm? 

Have a good week. 

Garden Fantasies

 

Better than a potato, I guess...

Dig It?!?

Brrrr -- in Rainbow Shades!

 

Six More Weeks of Cold Weather...

 ...at least according to our groundhog buddy, Punxsutawney Phil.

Better bundle up with some hot coffee, and go watch Groundhog Day by the fire.

Monday Stuff On the Way to Other Stuff: A New Grip On Life

      Soooo close to being finished -- that in itself is means for cheerfulness. Fighting off some flu -- but hanging in there. Hope you are, too.

Our Karmie -- a Good Dog, sorely missed

Meanwhile:

Now there's a social media platform exclusively for AI -- and what the bots are talking about is downright creepy, if not terrifying.

One hundred dollars a month -- for the food you eat? YES, and nutritionally good, though a bit repetitive.  (From One Hundred Dollars A Month) She even had food leftover...

Were there really 'giants in the earth?'

Mother of two sells her house to send money to romance scammers -- FOUR DIFFERENT TIMES.  Now she's whimpering about being homeless.  Do you feel sorry for her yet? Perhaps she should take a few minutes to read Charley's response to this phenomenon.  It should help. She says now:

    "I did wonder if I had gone too far, but I got addicted to spending this money. I have this attention from someone and I am liking this attention."

Honestly -- I'm speechless.

Peddling hot chocolate and snowshoveling during a snowstorm -- smart!

Scamming -- and us. It's gotten more and more doable. A good warning here. 

New discoveries about the "cloud people" of Mexico.

How to withdraw wisely in retirement -- some actual examples.  (From White Coat Investor)

Saving money -- the 2025 results of an "extremely frugal year."

After years of 'guns are evil,' The View hosts are now advocating gun ownership. Huhh?!?

 The 'Quality Learing Center' in Minnesota is now closed.  Go figure.

Some of the strangest security cam videos --

Have a good week.