Category: Opinion

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Summer or Fall

When I should be doing things in the gardens and also sprucing up the rest of the yards and patio, for the last four days, I’ve been stuck in the house because of the cold, damp and rain. It’s kind of a bummer.

Of course there are lots of things to do inside. I’m trying to find carpet that I like for the living room, the exact paint color I want also. I just haven’t gotten up the Ommph to do any of this, because it’s so dismal outside. I did however have the furnace cleaned out, since I had to actually turn on the furnace because it reached the low of 52 inside, and that is way too cold for me.

Hopefully we will have a proper summer, but if this weather right now is any indication of what we are actually in for, I’m not going to be a happy camper. I should go back to Florida with my daughter when she has to leave next week.

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Visiting vs Using

One of my Rants or Raves…

There is a new neighbor down the street. She is close to my oldest daughter’s age…35 or so. At first visits from her were short and I could tell she just wanted to get out of the house. But now, after only about one month of these frequent visits, when she comes over, it’s usually to borrow something. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind sharing if I have it. But now I’m realizing that she has items of mine that she hasn’t brought back. I don’t like this.

Yes, I am rather forgetful at times. That is just me. Age contributes a bit to it also, I suppose. But this young woman should remember that I did tell her, “When you are done, I need it back”.

When she visits chats away, but I work from home and it’s hard to concentrate if I’m in the middle of work with the chatter. She obviously sees that I’m working. I’ve even bluntly took her that I’m working and have a deadline. SO, it looks like I’m going to have to be a bit more hard core about this. My friend Lindsay is going through the same thing with a neighbor who lives on her road. I can at least have someone to commiserate with. SMH!

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Planet Lady is Conscious

Thanks to Roman May

I’ve become really conscious of my impact on the environment since I watched a couple of documentaries on the impact of people on the planet. I really worry about the state that we’re going to leave this place for our kids and also how quickly the planet’s resources have been degraded just in the last century or so. I know it’s all part of modernization but I worry about whether or not we’re being really short-sighted when it comes to our energy and our carbon footprints. I went online the other day and looked into http://www.electriccompaniestexas.net to find out who in my area had the best record of giving back to planet-related causes and I think I’m going to make a switch. I’ve been making small but meaningful changes in my life to try and reduce my carbon footprint, personally, like switching to organic produce and turning off the heat when I’m able to burn a wood fire in my fireplace. I try to take it back to the 19th century, that’s what I say, because they knew what they were doing when it came to not hurting the planet for their own good. I don’t want to become a crazy hippie about it all, you know, with dreads and chaining myself to trees and whatnot, but I need to make sure I’m doing my part where I can and not just expecting other people to pick up my slack. It’s important to me to be a good citizen of the earth and I’m trying to make small changes in my every day life to do just that without totally changing the way I live. I like to think some of my efforts will have an impact on my friends and coworkers but who knows. Sometimes you just have to do what you know is right and hope other people follow suit. There’s nothing you can do to make others better people and that’s something you have to accept early on or you’ll drive yourself crazy!

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Spring thoughts

While letting the dogs out this morning, I walked into the back yard and despite the snow and ice we had this past week,  there were dandelions growing next to my old well. There they were…four perfect small yellow flowers poking out through the snow. That is what I call either determination or real hardy plants!

I happen to love dandelions. While the kids were growing up, we called them dandy flowers and to be honest, I still do. They are great for a lot of things and make tasty spirits if made and fermented properly. There is a convent of nuns or used to be, in Ohio that made the best dandy flower wine and used to sell it to help with the convents upkeep. I was too young to try it at the time, but I hear that it had an exceptional bouquet. (pun intended).

The dandelion greens are quite tasty also, if cooked the right way. I’ve never tried this with the family, but I like them. To me, dandelions are not a weed. I know people who battle dandelions every year trying to have a lawn that is dandelion free. The roots, which are good for you also, grow very deep and they are indeed hard to kill. Myself, I figure why try and kill them off. I like how they make the acreage in my back yard look. To me, they are a sure sign of spring.
 

 

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Home automation and awsome renovtions to a home

Through out most of my blog I’ve mentioned in blog posts that I would love to have a place for my sons to play their music, and have other innovations added to my house. I was doing the hit and miss play on words to find a sight that was what I was really looking for. One of the sites I happened to land on was, home theater scottsdale. Of course I clicked on this since how great would it be to have a big theater, since the guys like to have a get together and watch their music movies and such. All of this keeps running through my mind and of course the financial aspect comes to mind also. It is home improvement, a great asset and may even help with bringing the family closer together. At least in my way of thinking.

What I totally am into is the home automation scottsdale. Truth be known it totally blew me away to know what this company can do for a home and also for the residents…especially me! Unreal! Everything from control of the music in the whole house, the movies and video. To security, lighting and oh shoot, the list goes on. I actually have to say that I’ve visited a lot of sites on my own and some that friends have recommended to me, but this one did indeed strike my fancy. I don’t generally rave about businesses, but then now and again one comes across and just flat intrigues me.

I really would love to have all of these home improvement ideas in my house. Unfortunately Scottsdale is a very  long way from here. But ya’ll living down that way, check it out. Like I’ve said, I’ve been wanting this this kind of innovation in my home for a long time. I love the whole concept.

 

 

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Checking out architects in Phoenix

Libby, a dear friend of mine is checking out architects in Phoenix and has been telling me about the plans she has for remodeling and adding on to her home. She really likes the contemporary style and I have to admit, from what I have seen about some of the ideas she wants to put into action her home is going to be beautiful when the building and landscaping is completed. She has waited a very long time for this change and needed help with her plans, so she has been really putting a great deal of time into finding the right builders to make her visions and dreams come into an actual reality.

Phoenix architecture firms know the area, the land and also the best way to construct a building for the needs of the clients along with knowing what they are looking to build and how they want it built also if it is able to be done in the type of environment the land is surrounded by. This makes for maximum durability and function. Also from what I have seen, they can indeed turn a dream into a living space that is perfect for their clients. This is a major plus, considering Libby is very set in what she would like.

After I browsed through a site I had been told me about, I was totally amazed at the work and beauty of some of the homes that were designed and the craftsmanship of the smallest detail. Everything is considered when using these Phoenix architects and it shows in the photographs. I just wish I could see the work in progress once it starts. Of course I’ll visit and see the finished home inside and out as this is my friends dream house and everything is going to be unique and exactly what she wants, combined with the expertise of the architects.

 

 

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Wanting to be independent

Title is exactly what my dear friend Lindsay and I are going though with our daughters. They will be leaving very early in the morning. My daughter’s flight is at 6:00 am, but it’s a two hour drive to the airport. Lindsay’s daughter’s flight is about the same time and it takes her two hours to get to the airport if not a bit longer.

Our daughters want to be independent yet we get two or more calls a day. I cherish those calls as it means that she misses me and misses being home. But going so darn far away really messes me up. Almost every blogging pal or “real life” friends  know that I want my kids close. I don’t consider this being over protective. I think one day that we are going to have to depend on  family and close friends sticking together because we will need to .

I wish both of our young ladies a dream come true, a prosperous life to come and  also the knowledge they will always have a home to come home to.

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Vacation and no internet service

Usually when I take a vacation, it’s on the weekend, but I decide to take a few days during the week and go to some flea markets in Indiana. It was a great ride, and I loved taking in the scenery, but it’s so darn dry in that state from lack of rain…like most places I’ve visited that everything looked very dry.

I decided to take my lap top and at the little motel I stayed at advertised that they had free internet service, but they didn’t. Or, there was something wrong with the connection. I’m will however never stay at this particular motel again.

The owner or manager of the motel was not helpful at all, and actually acted like he had never heard of the internet or for that matter, computers in general. Even at the desk, everything was done by hand in a log. Guess I was sort of roughing it, but it was kind of relaxing and they had a pool.

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A perfect hard boiled egg

After trying dozens upon dozens of tips on how to make the perfect hard boiled egg, I decided to wing it and try to make the perfect egg without using these tips. I didn’t want a green outside for the yolk and I didn’t want my eggs whites, to turn out like rubber. Below is what I did and the results were perfect for me.

Put one dozen eggs into a large pan big enough to hold them without crowding. Cover with water, an inch or so over the eggs. Put on burner at high heat, until it comes to a rolling hard boil. Boil for one half of a minute.

Take pan off heat source and cover. Leave it alone for 9 minutes. Drain and stick in the sink filled with cold water and ice cubes. I waited until the ice cubes melted to take my eggs out. One tip is, to use old eggs. I bought eggs especially for cooking hard boiled and let them sit in the refrigerator for two weeks. Took them out and got them to room temperature before I put them in the water. My eggs peeled perfectly, and were a nice yellow color with no grey or green tint to them! I’m not saying everyone’s will turn out like mine. I think it’s trial and error…like to each their own in the cooking department when it comes to hard boiling eggs. That is at least my opinion.

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Shopping for residential address plaques

Since my daughter moved into a new home, I’ve been looking at residential address plaques that I think she may like since there isn’t one on her house. It’s hard to tell which house is hers and even her mail man has been messing up when delivering the mail. It’s been bothering her since she had to change her address and important mail has ended back at the post office for her to have to go into town and get. To me, this is basically the mail carrier’s fault, but people do look for a name and address when trying to find the right house.

Personalized address plaques are a nice gift. It has both the name and address on the plaque and it gives it sort of a homey touch, I think. I haven’t asked my daughter which kind she wants though, so I’m holding off on buying one. I don’t know if she and her husband want their last name on the plaque for privacy reasons. Which us understandable to me.

I personally like the bronze address plaques and think that one would look really nice on my daughter’s house. There are so many various plaques to choose from, I might just wait and let my daughter look at them and choose the one she wants. That way, since it’s her choice, I’ll know I got her exactly what she wants.