TELEPHONE CALLS A THING OF THE PAST

 

My hubby has a job that keeps him on the road more than not these days. And it keeps me here pining away for him throughout the day. Even though we couldn't afford for him to be retired... I got used to having him here at home. And now that he's elsewhere I get a little lonely without his company. So we've found a way to keep in touch that is better than the phone and cheaper too. We Skype via the computer. It's video chatting. I get to see him and his surroundings and he gets to see me here at home. It's a win, win situation for both of us. We also Skype with my parents back east. And my best friend. It's the next best thing to being there. Do you Skype???

 

 

NEW NOTEBOOKS NOT LAPTOPS

 

It's that time. The time when all the schools send home their lists of what is needed during the upcoming year. My girls are grown and long past this yearly ritual. But when they were growing up I had a cupboard full of school supplies so they never had to want for a thing throughout the school year. They had Trapper Keepers and dozens of folders to put inside decorated with kittens and unicorns. I remember when I was a kid the thrill of making book covers out of plain brown grocery bags. And buying those standard black and white composition books. Now they come in every color. And... I go a little crazy, every year, when the new school supplies come out... because I scout out super cool notebooks for my writing. And  get pens to match. My pens have to be color coordinated matching the color of the notebooks. I'm still a bit old fashioned,  in that regard... preferring pen and paper to typing the words on a computer. Even though, that is ultimately where those words will end up. I will tell you that transcribing from paper to computer is a royal pain, however. That's why a book I wrote a couple years ago is still sitting there in longhand waiting for me to take the time to put it in the computer. I doubt the story is as good as I once thought. That is why I'm sitting on it. Besides I'm not sure I can read my writing, at this point, anyway? But I keep plugging along with new ideas, in new notebooks with new pens hoping that something I write is entertaining enough to take it a step further. When that happens I'll let you know. In the meantime, you can find me in Aisle Seven with the school supplies, giddy with excitement about the new assortment of colors and designs available in paper products and writing utensils. 

 

 

OUT WITH THE OLD, IN WITH THE NEW

 

Three or four years ago we bought a Lexmark printer. It had a 5 year warranty. It copied, scanned and faxed. We loved it. But the ink was expensive. $90 to refill.  We didn't like that. Not to mention, the print head in it went bad. It was replaced at least twice. So when it broke this time, we said, "Enough is enough!"  We decided not to replace the bad part again. Out to the recycle bin it went. This meant we had to go without a machine for a while.  Not an easy thing to do. I usually use the printer everyday.

 

So... my hubby got online, did his homework

and headed to stores trying to scout out a new printer.

 

After two weeks, he finally found one he liked and bought it. It's an Epson. He spent the weekend getting it hooked up with our home network. It's faster than the one we had and it holds twice as much paper. And the ink is cheaper. Now... I have no excuse, not to finish that book I've been working on, for most of  my life.

A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE

I could go shopping at the mall for NEW things. But in my spare time I like to explore antique stores. I always delight in the things you can find there amongst the clutter. Sadly, many of the items I see are more than a little familiar at my age. And to be candid I am surprised to hear them called antiques.

 

 

YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT YOU MIGHT FIND?
A CHANGE OF CLOTHING, PERHAPS.

 

HOW ABOUT A CAMERA
OR TIMEPIECE?

 

 

 

THIS HAS GONE TO THE DOGS
POODLES, ANYONE?

 

 

MAYBE SOME PAPERWEIGHTS OR VASES?

 

 

 CUPS AND SAUCERS

 

 

  ORNAMENTAL GLASS

 

 

TABLES AND CHAIRS

 

 

A GOOD OLD FASHIONED TYPEWRITER

TO PEN A LETTER OR WRITE A BLOG

 

 

A SEWING MACHINE TO MAKE SOME CLOTHES

 

 AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST...

 THIS CONTRAPTION

TO ADD UP THE COST OF ALL THESE THINGS

IN TODAY'S WORLD.

 

A GREYHOUND AT MY DOOR

 

I grew up loving dogs not cats. I had a beagle, as a child. Got her on a Christmas Eve. She meant everything to me. But during a vacation to my grandparents in California I saw my first cat and fell in love. I was devastated I couldn't bring it home. It was back to dogs then because that's what my parents liked. A collie mixed breed and later a poodle. When I met my husband he had just lost his two German Sheppard's, but he also had a calico cat. I was smitten with him and it. And to this day have given up dogs in lieu of kitties. So imagine my surprise to see this odd creature lounging  on my front porch the other day. He growled at me when I came out my own front door. And that made me leery of him. I tried to chase him away but he lingered a while. I was able to immortalize him in photos before he disappeared from sight. I wonder who he belongs to and if we'll see him again. I thought he looked kind of ugly, in a cute way.

 

A GREYHOUND, I THINK???

 

 

POWER BACK ON, CRABS IN FRIDGE

Power came back on. So I packed up my stuff at the motel and came home. Now I have to go through the refrigerator and take out what spoiled.

 

  This is our anniversary weekend. So before this all happened we ordered half a bushel of steamed crabs to celebrate.

 

 

 Late this afternoon they arrived, from the Eastern Shore in Maryland packed in a big styrofoam box loaded with cold gelpaks. So I have to make room for them in the fridge after I count them and dispose of the bad stuff, ruined from the storm. Want to make sure we weren't shorted. Especially since most of our grocery bill went to the crabs this week, not knowing we were going to have this other expense of having to replace things.  BLAME IT on Mother Nature and her wrath. It could have been so much worse. So we can't complain. You never know when she will strike. At least a taste of home will help us forget. And now we have an anniversary to enjoy!

 

POWER OUTAGE

I am holed up in a motel a couple miles from my house. Our power went out at 2pm yesterday, during a ferocious storm and isn't due to be fixed until sometime Friday. Normally I would have lit a million candles and stayed put at home. But with cats roaming the house that can get tricky if not downright dangerous.  So I decided not to rough it or risk it. And I am monitoring the situation there, but still enjoying those creature comforts we are all so used to here at the motel. The camping lanterns at home were quaint but you can't beat the light, tv or computer access here. Because only three families are affected on our street, we do not have the power company's undivided attention. So they are  doing what they have to do, elsewhere first.  This is frustrating to be sure. Not to mention the fact, we're going to lose everything in our refrigerator and freezer. And it will be costly to replace. So I will post again when I can. Say a prayer we get restoration soon. Thanks.

A CHANGE IN SEASON

 

I am used to seeing Christmas in July.

 

 

But the other day I went to the store and low and behold, guess what I saw? My favorites... autumn florals and pumpkins. Even Yankee Candle has it's new fall scents out to sample this early. Imagine that! Are they rushing the season? What do you think?

 

 

 

 

 

 

LOOSEY GOOSEY

 

Last time I was at the lake I shot pictures of ducks and I shared them with you. I took another trip there and this time focused on the geese and other feathered friends I saw. I thought you would enjoy seeing them too.

 

 

GOOSE DIVES IN

 

 

 CONTEMPLATING SOMETHING DEEP

 

 

THIS ROBIN WANTED TO TAKE A BATH
BUT THE LAKE WAS TOO BIG

 

 

THIS STARLING WOULDN'T STOP TALKING

 

 

DUCK! DUCK! DUCK! GOOSE!

 

 

 THIS TRIO OF FRIENDS HAVING A GET TOGETHER

HONK! HONK! HONK!

 

 

 LOOSEY GOOSEY

 

 

HAPPY 4th OF JULY

 HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY HOLIDAY