Sunday, May 8, 2011

Why I haven't but need to mow

If you look closely you will see a red cable running across my oil tank and beyond my TV antenna. That is my phone line at the moment. It runs from the phone access around the house across the front and around the barn to a pole up the driveway. Windstream needs to move the pole so this is how they gave me temporary access. It all lay in the grass until today when I really need to mow. I raised it so I don't cut it. I hope they install the pole soon!
This is one reason I really don't want to mow. I LOVE violets and the yard is full of them this year. This is just a small sample. The daffys are mostly gone and need to be dead headed. Someday.
Both photos are embiggenable.

Monday, April 25, 2011

Friday cat blogging on Monday

The crew at breakfast this morning. Tim ate then demanded scritching. She is the most vocal of the bunch. At the top is Jellico who is eating with Tommie. PuddyTat (orange) is eating with LittleOne. Dudie is barely visible on his own level.
After they ate all retired to one place or another. LittleOne and PT were in the boxes while Jellico decided that the top of the boxes was a good place to do his toilette. I had to put reinforcement up there because he kept collapsing the boxes.
The heating pads are still out - one is barely visible under LO. I keep hoping I can remove them but I had to have the heated water bowls on a couple of days ago when the temperature plunged to 28. Someday our spring will come.

Sunday, April 17, 2011

Angry sky, angry lake

We had a brief period of sunshine Saturday but it was between storms. This and the following were taken on my way to Cleveland to get the Macbook fixed.
Obviously the weather deteriorated quickly.
The following photos were taken today, Palm Sunday. This is the view out from our bay toward the beach. The long island is on the left.
This is from the "tracks" looking up the lake toward the Century Club. The wind was from the west which is across the lake. We rarely see wind strong enough to make waves across the lake but we had it today. The ponding in the foreground is unusual as the lake is very high. My neighbor had photos of the water overflowing the spillway earlier in the week. We've had a little rain.
Looking across the lake again from farther up the tracks.


Saturday, April 9, 2011

Friday not cat blogging


Two of the three additions to Bible study tonight. The third wouldn't stand or sit still enough for a photo. Fred's color is a bit weird for some reason. He isn't this dark red. They are the parish livestock or so I'm told they are called. Lovely, friendly quads all. Like the bipeds.

Friday, April 1, 2011

What you've been waiting to see

The new bumper stickers on the new Prius. Thought about leaving it bare but have so many choice stickers to use. Wish the Episcopal ones were still available on CafePress.



Wednesday, March 30, 2011

30 March 2011

This was NOT fog on the way to choir tonight.
Obviously. When I got home.
Meanwhile, in Jamestown...

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

New Prius

Yes, that is frost. 14 this morning, A record apparently.

There are both good and notsogood features about this Prius. I love the headlights. Well, the dims are about as before but the brights really work. Should be much better for deer spotting. Traction control is turnoffable, I'm told. Yea! Sometimes it is good but it prevented getting out when I did get stuck the first year I had the old car. Since this is a cheaper model, the rear view mirror doesn't automatically "dim". Another Yea! Dimming was not evident with the old mirror. I don't have the garage door opener in the mirror now but I have no problem using the separate device now that I can dim the following headlights myself. The visibility out the back is limited by narrower sides but straight back is much better. The divide is still there but is higher. I don't think there is a backup camera now which I'll miss in parking lots but it was usually covered with grime anyhow. Love the fuel countdown. Started at 500+. If I can actually fill the car with gas, I will be very happy! In cold weather I could only drive 250 miles or so before refilling because the tank would only take 6 gallons. Even in warm weather more than 7 was unusual. The tank should hold 11+ gallons.

The main thing I don't like so far is the intrusive console which lacks good storage, takes up too much room and is very distracting with lights everywhere. The cup holder may make spills common as it looks to be elbow vulnerable. The second one in the retractable armrest looks even worse. Must have been a very tall designer who pushed the seat way back. I already miss the secret compartment where I kept laundry money. The tray under the console is all but useless. It will provide a safe place for the iPhone while charging but that's about it. The two pockets in the doors will hold waterbottles but I used mine for napkins and maps. Not sure they are long enough for maps. The upper glovebox doesn't have a shelf. I keep papers in there but the lack of a shelf will mingle them inconveniently.

The car feels more solid. It is a bit larger. I hit something underneath loudly in the driveway so it must be a bit lower. Hope everything underneath is protected as my driveway is very rutted.

I have not tried the garage yet.

Or put on bumperstickers. Disappointed that the Episcopal ones on CafePress are no longer available. Have plenty of others in my collection from which to choose.

Episcopalians seem to bless everything but couples who love each other but happen to be of the same sex. I'm wondering if I should ask to have the Prius blessed to, hopefully, avoid the deer that seemed drawn to the old one...

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Friday cat blogging on Sunday

Tommie and LittleOne share supper while Tim mugs for the camera. PuddyTat's tail is visible in her box.
Dude doesn't like the flash.
This new little black cat showed up Saturday.
It ran past while I was trying to get a photo of this new cat who usually runs away when I appear.
This critter was not happy when its meal was interrupted.
This critter wasn't happy either but is now in its happy hunting ground, I assume.

Monday, March 21, 2011

Prius down again

This is what the latest deer encounter did. No, I was not hurt.
The damage may be somewhat limited, I hope. I really don't want a new car especially car payments!

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Friday cat blogging on Sunday

Jellico stayed still long enough for me to take a photo of him on the cathouse roof.
It's hard to see because of the dirty window but PuddyTat is on top of Tommie in the right box. Tom is in terrible shape. I need to get some flea stuff on him but that isn't easy as he isn't fond of petting or scritching.
This new lovely showed up again? this afternoon and didn't see me before I got this photo.
Now I'm going to wash all the windows.

Friday, March 18, 2011

Friday cat blogging

All but LittleOne came for breakfast. Left to right: PuddyTat, Tommie, Dude and Tim with Jellico below. iPhone photos.

Friday shuffle

1. Mambo Italiano - Rosemary Clooney
2. Washington & Lee Swing - Jan Garber Orchestra
3. tórramat do nóebaengil - rajaton
4. Que Será, Será - Doris Day
5. Just My Imagination - Temptations
6. Cold on the Shoulder - Tony Rice
7. Please, Please Me - Beatles
8. Bainton: And I Saw a New Heaven - Westminster Choir
9. Elgar: After Many a Dusty Mile - Finzi Singers
10. Schubert: Mass in G, Kyrie - Shaw, Atlanta
11. Alexander: Jesus Met the Woman at the Well - Chanticleer

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Freesia for St Patrick


These flowers are REALLY appreciated as is the sun today!

Sunday, March 13, 2011

Snow on 3.11.11

The clothesline holding the feeders pulled the siding away from the house in the wind. When they sided the house they didn't make sure the hook went into the house. Ugh.

Friday, March 4, 2011

Friday shuffle

1. It's Getting Better - Mama Cass
2. For Once in My Life - Stevie Wonder
3. Easier Said Than Done - The Essex
4. Brahms: Symphony 2, IV Allegro con spirito - von Karajan, Berlin
5. I-Feel-Like-I'm-Fixin'-to-Die Rag - Country Joe and the Fish
6. Baby I'm Yours - Barbara Lewis
7. Chesky: The Agnostic, Sam's Prayer - David Chesky
8. Villa-Lobos: Suite Populaire Brésilienne - Pepe Romero
9. Spanish Eyes - Zamfir
10. Walton: Jubilate - Trinity Choir
11. Yellow Submarine - Mrs Miller

Friday, February 25, 2011

Friday shuffle

1. Along Comes Mary - Association
2. Stoned Love - Supremes
3. Liszt: Venezia e Napoli, 2. Canzone... - Berman
4. Make Me Smile - Chicago
5. Nabucco, an analysis, Act II - Anna Russell
6. In the Sweet By and By - Jerry Douglas
7. Hurt So Bad - Little Anthony & Imperials
8. It's My Party - Leslie Gore
9. Persichetti: Celebrations, You who celebrate - Bach Choir Pittsburgh
10. How High The Moon - Benny Goodman

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Other impatience

The world is a scarier place than usual at the moment.  Tunisia, Egypt, perhaps Bahrain protesting and hoping for representative governments.  Libya, Iran and other places mercilessly murdering their own citizens.  Border wars and religious wars in Africa.  And elected men in the US who are determined to destroy women's health and the middle class to protect their oligarchy. 

People who tend to side with the underdogs have lots of people to champion. 

Those of us who try to follow what the Bible says Jesus taught have great difficulty loving dictators whether foreign strongmen or Republicans whose goal is to destroy all possible organized opposition to their getting as much money as humanly possible with no regard for others.

I'm getting impatient for revolution in the US.  The Tea Party people blindly elected government officials who have no interest in anyone's welfare other than their own.  They fiercely believe in survival of the fittest and are trying to legislate that.  But who is the "fittest"?  The oligarch or the father with a gun who can't feed or provide health care for his kids?  The Republicans want to arm everyone.  That could be their downfall. 

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Impatient

Nothing like melted snow and a little sun to get the Croci, Freesia and Daffys excited. There may be snow tonight but the flowers won't be defeated.



Friday, February 18, 2011

Friday cat blogging II

This is the first time since she discovered the boxes on the cathouse roof that Tim has had Dudie next door.  She just kept looking at him.  He usually vacates the box eventually so I expect PuddyTat will be there later.

Told ya.  And Tim is still watching.

Friday shuffle

1. Mellow Yellow - Donovan
2. Weekend Cruise to Catalina - Almeida/Barbosa-Lima
3. From Me to You - Beatles
4. Anything Goes - Harpers Bizarre
5. Strauss: Des Heldens Friedenswerke - von Karajan, Berlin
6. Whoever's in New England - Reba McEntire
7. Washington & Lee Swing - Jan Garber Orchestra
8. Feudin' Banjos - Smith & Reno
9. On a Night Like This - Howard Lanin Orchestra
10. Callejon Del Muro (Minera) - Paco de Lucia