Talked to Thankful for three hours tonight, and phone disconnected us, then no dial tone for a half hour, so don't know what she thought, lol! Prolly the Universe telling us to go to bed. . . . Ya think? Not ready yet.
And very ready to welcome the month with a heart in the middle. For me, all snows (if any) are SPRING snows. . . .
Supposed to be about 60 degrees in these parts today. This is the weirdest winter weather-wise I can remember. I expected the winter would be bad as the summer was pretty bad. But no, It's like never-ending early Spring. Good for low fuel bills, but unsettling nonetheless.
Will be on the go today with a long "outside errands" list.
Ya. Fuel bills blessedly low. But. . . . Just checking out Frontline for Giant Dogs on eBay, since Beau still has fleas! Last dose: December. . . . Winters are supposed to give ya break, for goodness sake. Guess not.
For example: last winter's electric bill (I heat mostly with space heaters, 3) was $600+ for DEC/JAN; this year? $300+! Now grant that some of that is Scotty's tightening project. But not *that* much!
Home again. When I was in one store I saw those little outline car window decals to represent members of your family. For a moment I was tempted to buy one little lady figure and then many, many cat figures. It amused me, but I didn't do it.
Here's an interesting blog post about a Japaneses ceremony for putting broken needles to rest. The Japanese fascinate me. Their rigid protocols and ceremonies would drive me insane in less than a week. I admire Tonya for adapting so well to it. I would be the very odd foreigner that people would shake their heads over (never in public, of course).
Day began with freezing rain, but Mah*Sweetie got to work safely. It's been spitting snow ever since. It's pushing 30 degrees.
"Not contagious" says my doctor. :-) Apparently this upper respiratory infection is going around and is contagious only for the first few days (when the fever happens). It lasts three weeks, but the first week is the worst. (I'll say it was!) Plus I got some cough medicine. Hope helps.
Yes, today's predicted high was 61. Currently 56, windy, and the earlier sunshine has gone away. But in Chicago, it would be wierd if the weather weren't weird.
Just checked our gas bills. The most recent was $245. A year ago it was $410 and two years ago $395. Went back two years because that was before we got our high-efficiency heating system. Obviously the colder temperatures in December 2010 more than offset the improved efficiency. This year we not only have the improved efficiency but better windows upstairs. And we're benefiting not only from milder temperatures here but the fact that a generally mild winter everywhere means lower gas prices per therm.
When I heard that it's the Library Director who filled in for me today, I offered (since I'm not contagious) to come in to work. She said, "Nope. You're sick, so rest and just get well." She's so nice!! I decided the better part of valour was to get tomorrow's errands completed today so I could just be home for three days straight and Mah*Sweetie could take the Mini to work (instead of his ol' truck). And I needed to get the last of the supplies needed for candle making. The hardest thing to get was a simple juice can! They don't package fruit juices in cans anymore. But I found tomato juice in a big can, so bought two. Then I bought freezer bags so I can store it in just the size needed to add to recipes. (I figure that if it's okay to freeze tomatoes, it's okay to freeze tomato juice. Tell me if I'm wrong!) :-) The gas light came on in the car, so I gassed up and after my long drive on salted roads yesterday, I drove the car through the car wash. Came home and made dinner and now I'm nestling in for three days of R & R.
I'd think that tomato juice frozen in an ice cube tray, and then put the cubes in a bag, would work very well, lol! Another creative one. I save my cans from year to year, along in a box with my forms. But then I don't do dipped candles (well, usually. . . . )
Oh, I do too, puddle. I have about 6 cans already. But since I heat them in a double boiler on the stove the bottoms of them warp after awhile. Betweentimes, I store the wax in the cans it was warmed in. So when I start a fresh batch, I usually need a new can to make a new colour!
Goodbye January, and HelLO, Howard Dean!
ReplyDeleteTalked to Thankful for three hours tonight, and phone disconnected us, then no dial tone for a half hour, so don't know what she thought, lol! Prolly the Universe telling us to go to bed. . . . Ya think? Not ready yet.
And very ready to welcome the month with a heart in the middle. For me, all snows (if any) are SPRING snows. . . .
Supposed to be about 60 degrees in these parts today. This is the weirdest winter weather-wise I can remember. I expected the winter would be bad as the summer was pretty bad. But no, It's like never-ending early Spring. Good for low fuel bills, but unsettling nonetheless.
ReplyDeleteWill be on the go today with a long "outside errands" list.
Ya. Fuel bills blessedly low. But. . . . Just checking out Frontline for Giant Dogs on eBay, since Beau still has fleas! Last dose: December. . . . Winters are supposed to give ya break, for goodness sake. Guess not.
ReplyDeleteFor example: last winter's electric bill (I heat mostly with space heaters, 3) was $600+ for DEC/JAN; this year? $300+! Now grant that some of that is Scotty's tightening project. But not *that* much!
ReplyDeleteHome again. When I was in one store I saw those little outline car window decals to represent members of your family. For a moment I was tempted to buy one little lady figure and then many, many cat figures. It amused me, but I didn't do it.
ReplyDeleteLol! That would be cute! Nothing I do now would be interesting, But ten years ago, Lady plus a line of 12 cats would have been kinda cute. . . .
ReplyDeleteWas laughing a bit ago at Tanya's post about the difficulty of creating their Christmas cards with so many cats plus the dog. . . .
ReplyDeleteHere's an interesting blog post about a Japaneses ceremony for putting broken needles to rest. The Japanese fascinate me. Their rigid protocols and ceremonies would drive me insane in less than a week. I admire Tonya for adapting so well to it. I would be the very odd foreigner that people would shake their heads over (never in public, of course).
ReplyDeletehttp://plays-with-needles.blogspot.com/2012/01/hari-kuyo-my-book-of-needles-and-next.html
Awww, Ma Bell really ought not to scold you for talking with THANKFUL! Gosh!
ReplyDeleteDay began with freezing rain, but Mah*Sweetie got to work safely. It's been spitting snow ever since. It's pushing 30 degrees.
ReplyDelete"Not contagious" says my doctor. :-) Apparently this upper respiratory infection is going around and is contagious only for the first few days (when the fever happens). It lasts three weeks, but the first week is the worst. (I'll say it was!) Plus I got some cough medicine. Hope helps.
Home sick from work anyway.
Yes, today's predicted high was 61. Currently 56, windy, and the earlier sunshine has gone away. But in Chicago, it would be wierd if the weather weren't weird.
ReplyDeleteJust checked our gas bills. The most recent was $245. A year ago it was $410 and two years ago $395. Went back two years because that was before we got our high-efficiency heating system. Obviously the colder temperatures in December 2010 more than offset the improved efficiency. This year we not only have the improved efficiency but better windows upstairs. And we're benefiting not only from milder temperatures here but the fact that a generally mild winter everywhere means lower gas prices per therm.
Good to know what it is and that it should be getting better from now on.
ReplyDeleteIndeedy!
ReplyDeleteWhen I heard that it's the Library Director who filled in for me today, I offered (since I'm not contagious) to come in to work. She said, "Nope. You're sick, so rest and just get well." She's so nice!! I decided the better part of valour was to get tomorrow's errands completed today so I could just be home for three days straight and Mah*Sweetie could take the Mini to work (instead of his ol' truck). And I needed to get the last of the supplies needed for candle making. The hardest thing to get was a simple juice can! They don't package fruit juices in cans anymore. But I found tomato juice in a big can, so bought two. Then I bought freezer bags so I can store it in just the size needed to add to recipes. (I figure that if it's okay to freeze tomatoes, it's okay to freeze tomato juice. Tell me if I'm wrong!) :-) The gas light came on in the car, so I gassed up and after my long drive on salted roads yesterday, I drove the car through the car wash. Came home and made dinner and now I'm nestling in for three days of R & R.
ReplyDeleteSounds wonderful!!
ReplyDeleteI'd think that tomato juice frozen in an ice cube tray, and then put the cubes in a bag, would work very well, lol! Another creative one. I save my cans from year to year, along in a box with my forms. But then I don't do dipped candles (well, usually. . . . )
Susan, I find the concept outright lovely. In practice, possibly wearing, lol! Beautiful, wonderful blog visually!
ReplyDeleteJanuary! Whaaaa, don't leave yet. I'm not done with you!
ReplyDeleteOh, I do too, puddle. I have about 6 cans already. But since I heat them in a double boiler on the stove the bottoms of them warp after awhile. Betweentimes, I store the wax in the cans it was warmed in. So when I start a fresh batch, I usually need a new can to make a new colour!
ReplyDelete:-D
What's left to do Januarywards?
ReplyDeleteDunno, but the hurrier I go the behinder I get.
ReplyDeleteYou too?
ReplyDeleteHmmm, we could add a subtitle for our blog:
ReplyDelete"HowardEmpoweredPeople: The hurrier we go, the behinder we get"
LOL!