Oil Change

I did it! Now I just hope that I did it correctly. I changed the oil in my new lawn tractor, it was pretty simple...assuming I did it right. My only real concern was not adding enough oil after I drained the old stuff. But, if I read the dip stick correctly, I'm good. The problem is that you can't see the oil level at all. The gas level is also hard to see. I'll probably try to fill that before I mow again. After I changed the oil, checked for leaks (non, thank you very much) I mowed inside the fenced part of my lawn. It worked-so it's promising I did a good job. Now I just have to figure out what to do with the old oil!

Photo Phriday - Napoleon in a Drawer

I let the new boys free range for the first time while I cleaned their cage. I looked to see Napoleon in a drawer!

Pillows

I sleep with 2 regular sized pillows. Lately, I noticed that my pillows were getting really flat, hardly pillows at all. I realized that I've had them for years...honestly, I don't think I've changed them since I've been in this house, which, if you remember I celebrated my anniversary, has been over 8 years. While at Target I was wandering in the bedding aisles and decided to get 2 new pillows. They were nice and fluffy. So I brought them home and stripped the bed-new pillows deserved fresh clean sheets. When I put the pillows in the pillow cases, I noticed something a bit odd. The cases were MUCH longer than the pillows...I mean MUCH! The pillows, in the meantime, seemed as high as they were long. While they are nice and fluffy, they are much higher than my old squashed pillows and are taking some getting used to. Still, I guess I'll squish them into shape soon enough.

Catch Up

I'm behind in several series, both TV and book. I need to catch up...Top Chef, Bones, Ugly Betty (I missed the whole final season), and too many mysteries to name!

Vodka

I like vodka. I enjoy both vodka made from grain and potato...I've even had, and enjoyed, vodka made from honey! Generally, I like my vodka cold (I store it in my wine fridge) and straight up. Sometimes, I'll add a squeeze of lime. Although I generally don't mix at home, I do, periodically, enjoy a vodka cocktail. At The Johnson House I almost always order a Cosmopolitan and I'm still dreaming about the caramel apple martini I had in Ohio. Now you don't have to mix to get a flavored drink; there are a multitude of flavored vodkas to choose from. There are many fruits-cherry, grape, orange, pineapple (great mixed with lemonade); I hear my favorite fruit also exists as a vodka-but I've yet to see my lychee vodka in stores. There are also more unique varieties. I've seen root beer, caramel, espresso, cotton candy, and whipped cream! I have heard there is also a bacon flavored vodka. Now, while I do believe that everything is better with bacon, this example seems a bit extreme. However, it would make for one hell of a Bloody Mary! Have you tried any different vodkas? I just couldn't resist a bottle of whipped cream flavored vodka-I think I'll add it to a cup of hot chocolate!

6 Word - Today's Horse Ride

We were an off-balance, tripping mess.

My Anniversary

Today is my anniversary. Nine years ago today I arrived in Rochester from Austin and eight years ago today I got the keys to this house. So, what did I do on my special day? I went to the Spencerport Canal Days. Then I did some errands-post office, dollar store, library, liquor store, and Target-where I scored some deals. I dead headed the roses and did a load of laundry, which is now drying on the line outside. I've got the champagne chilling! Welcome home.

Humidity & Headache

Today's humidity was unbelievable. Walking out of work at 7AM was like walking into a furnace. I stayed in all day. I have a nasty headache too, due, I'm pretty sure, to this weather. I'm hoping tomorrow will be nicer as I have plans. For now, it's almost time to pour a drink and watch the season finale of Doctor Who followed by the season premier of Being Human. Cheers!

Photo Phriday - Roses of Sharon

Why do I Look?

Why do I look? I've been virtually fostering a dog (actually 2 dogs and 2 cats) on Facebook. These are actual animals in shelters, available for adoption. Well, I've fallen for Sheila. However, she's just north of Toronto and I don't even know if they'd adopt to someone in the US. Then, I was browsing the web and found Lucy Dolan...and I want to bring her home. She's an 8 year old German Shepard/Greyhound mix whose owner lost his house and had to move in to a hotel. She's near Cuba...but Cuba, NY, which isn't that far away. Closer than Toronto. And in the same country. It doesn't say if she's good with cats. I certainly don't need a dog. It's certainly easier without one. But that face...

AM/PM

Aughhhhh. I woke up and it was dark. Not good in summer. I looked it was after 9PM. What happened to my alarm?!?!?! Stupid AM/PM. I missed my programs, so much for my gnocchi with garlic scape pesto. Now I'm rushing so I'm not late for work.

Badger Balm

There is such a thing as great customer service. I recently placed a large order of products from Badger Balm. A friend ordered some things and I ordered a lot, mainly as gifts. The order arrived quickly and I just went through it. All my friends items arrived, and most of mine did. However, I did not see the 2 gardener gift packs I ordered, but did see 2 lip balm gift packs. Hmmm. I looked at the packing list and saw the 2 gardener packs listed...and no balms. So I called the company. Sure enough I was charged for the gardener packs, but somehow, the lip balms went into my box instead. So they will ship out the gardener packs tomorrow-and I get to keep the lip balms. Since I was in no rush to get the products it works out great for me-I love their lip balms too. I highly recommend their products and their company.

The Heat

I'm ready for winter. OK, maybe not winter, but fall. I'm definitely ready for fall. For some reason the heat is really getting to me this summer. I'm sweaty, dizzy, and dehydrated. Well, not right now, but you get the idea. I'd love to partake in more summer outdoorsy activities-but the heat just makes me ill. I'm going to 2 outdoor events in August-an art festival and a wine festival. I'm praying for cooler weather so that I can enjoy myself!

Vladimir Nabokov

I write like
Vladimir Nabokov

I Write Like by Mémoires, Mac journal software. Analyze your writing!

I guess I really need to read Lolita! I used a wine article for this test. I'll have to test using a blog entry too.

Pickles and Scapes

I went to the farmer's market this morning to get garlic scapes. I want to try a recipe for Garlic Scape Pesto from Kevin, a great gardening blogger (if you have any interest in gardening, you MUST read his blog, A Garden for the House). While I was there I saw the perfect cucumbers for pickles-so I got the ingredients to make those too. I made the pickles, but I think I'll wait to make the pesto tomorrow. I need to prepare containers (I plan on making a bunch) and it's getting late. I feel quite like a homesteader-putting up my own food. If only I could get it all from my own garden.

Photo Phriday - Pollination

Pollination in action! A bumblebee with pollen on his butt inside my Rose of Sharon.

No Time

I have stuff to say....but no time to write. I did mow inside the fenced area. Wish I didn't have to go to work.

Newtons Fruit Crisps

I don't care for fig newtons...although I admit, I haven't tried one in ages. Still, I'm not a huge fig fan (although I did try a Giada fig recipe that was fantastic...but that's another story). Anyway, while browsing at the grocery store I saw Newtons Fruit Crisps Snacks. They are think crisps made with real fruit and packaged so that they'd make a good take to work addition to lunch. I got the mixed berry flavor. They are VERY good! Different too. Quite light and crispy. There are 2 bars to a pack (about the length of a candy bar, but much thinner) and you can eat both bars for 100 calories. I highly recommend them, especially if you pack your lunch!

Tendinitis

It's official, I have tendinitis. I went to the doctor this morning. My regular doctor wasn't playing around-he didn't send me to a podiatrist, he sent me to an orthopedic surgeon! This guys was real nice. He confirmed what my doc thought-tendinitis. I had x-rays done, digital is so neat. The doc pulled them up and let me look (the best part, he said). My foot bones are pretty cool. Anyway, my bones are good, with good cartilage. My problem-flat feet! I got some inserts to put in my shoes to support my arch a bit better. It's possible my insurance will cover it-if not, they weren't too expensive. I'm supposed to take it easy for a month-no Wii Step or Boxing (or jumping or too many stairs). Swimming is the best-but I don't do that. He suggested biking or elliptical machines. We'll see, I think those are out too. I also believe that the spelling of tendinitis should be changed-tendonitis is the way it should be; I've had to be careful spelling it properly. But my problem is with my tendon, darn it all, not my tendin.

If I had a Million Dollars...

I've been hearing that song on the radio quite a bit lately and I wondered what I'd do with a million dollars. Unfortunately, reality is not like the end of the song, "If I had a million dollars...I'd be rich!" A million dollars would really help, but it wouldn't make me rich. So, what would I do with a million dollars? Well, the government would take about half, so the real question is, if I had $500,000, what would I do. The first thing (after getting a lawyer and jumping up and down for a bit) would be to pay off my mortgage. Then I'd pay off my window loan. I'd pay any outstanding bills for my folks. I'd have some fun and blow some on stuff I'd like. I'd contact an architect/engineer and work on revamping my house-I honestly don't think I'm move. I would redo the kitchen (finally get a dishwasher), open the closed space in the basement and put in a full bathroom there. I'd also work with an organizer and redo the craft room-and well, every room! I'd do more landscaping-and get a waterfall! If I had enough...Unfortunately, I doubt I'd be able to quit my job. I need an income with health insurance. Assuming I had some more money I would donate to some charities (animal welfare and environmental) and maybe travel. With all my ideas...I think the song should be, "If I had a billion dollars"!

Corn Hill Arts Festival

Today I went to the Corn Hill Arts Festival for the first time. I had a nice time, buying lots of Christmas presents, plus a few goodies for me. They had all sorts of neat things-including furniture (I wanted some things, but no way could I carry it-and he wasn't local), fountains, neat garden stuff (cute ducks with a body of a rock and metal for the head and feet), paintings (I added to my animal art-The Pet Adoption Network has paintings by cats in their care! Cheap and for a wonderful cause.) jewelry, recycled items and much much more. Unfortunately, a lot of my purchases were from a metal worker. My arms are so sore. And it was so hot! I didn't realize just how huge this thing was either! I had to park quite a ways away, then I walked to the neighborhood, then I walked around...half the time lugging all my metal! I just wanted to get out-but it was a long way back. Of course, the guys hawking the cold water when I first came in were nowhere to be found as I was leaving-but I did manage to find a freezie pop, and helped send a girl to camp with the purchase. Still, I knew I was getting dehydrated. I managed to get home, guzzle down some water, stand under a cool shower, and drink more. I'm still not properly hydrated. I'm happy I went, although I wish they'd have these festivals when the weather cools down!

Accomplished

I did a load of laundry-letting it dry on the line. I mowed the front and side yards. I fed the roses and did a smidgen of weeding. I cleaned the Ohio rat boys' cage. I didn't do my Wii Fit. Nor did I do the dishes. I still have litter boxes to clean...and 2 more rat cages. I felt I got a lot accomplished-until I realized what else I really needed to do. Oh well, at least I'm off tomorrow.

Photo Phriday - Cheektowaga Boys

Here are 3 of the 4 rats I adopted from a rescue in Cheektowaga: Marlin, Wallace, and Napoleon. Baron was in the tube.

Heat Wave Continues

"We're having a heat wave...a tropical heat wave." Feel free to dance like the rats in A Muppet Christmas Carol. Another day in the mid 90's with humidity almost the same. We've also been having Ozone Alert Days. You open the door and can't breathe. It's even unbearable at 10PM! and even nasty at 7AM! All I can say is, "Thank God for Central Air"!

7/7 Memories

Today would have been my Grandpa's 95th birthday. Sadly, he's been gone a long time, but the fun we used to have at his place...great memories live on. The party always started the weekend before the 4th of July and continued through the weekend after the 7th...his birthday. I remember playing catch with water balloons...and raw eggs, jarts, and just kicking back in the back yard. And the food! Enough to feed 10 armies! I remember 7/7/77 especially-what a special day! Those were the good old days.

Highway Robbery!

We just heard an update about our salary at work. We've been waiting for some time to receive our retro pay. You see, our contract expired years ago and they finally reached an agreement...of course that new contract has since expired and we still haven't gotten money due from the old one. The powers that be said we'll be getting the money-hopefully by August. This is about 4 years worth of retro pay-money we should have been getting all along. Now we'll get it in 1 lump sum. That's never good. Especially in this state, which is crying broke. So, I find out this morning that we'll get our money, but it'll be taxed-taxed 48%!!!!!!!! Yes, they'll be taking half of the money we should have had, and been investing ourselves for the past 4 years. Nooo NY has kept all that money, reaping its interest and now will keep half of it! As my co-worker said, "It's highway robbery!"

Overdue!

Aakkk! I've begun to rely upon e-mail notification to determine when my library books are due. I often renew online-so the slip I get when I first check them out doesn't do me any good. I have a ton of books left from my visit to the great mystery library across town-in fact I had several ready to go back. I don't recall getting any e-mail alerts recently so I decided to look online to see when they were due-OMG-they are ALL PAST DUE! They were due last week!!!!! They did allow me to renew all but 1 online, but I still have late fees...for all of them. Ugh. At least I know that the library needs the money, but this is an unexpected expense. Sheesh!

Independence Day!

Happy 4th of July! I spent the day with my folks. We watched the great Disney film Summer Magic. I love that movie. I just bought it on DVD, I had it taped from TV that was started to look poorly-it was time for a good film. We had tons of great snacks, consequently, I wasn't that hungry for dinner. We had ribs and salt potatoes with cucumbers. I had to take a quick nap, then had dessert: vanilla ice cream with raspberries, blueberries, blackberries, and whipped cream. Our tribute to red, white, and blue. Back home I watered the plants, cleaned a rat cage, and now am relaxing online. My show isn't on TV tonight-so I'll watch something before bed. Who knows, I may sit on my bench outside and see if I can spot any fireworks!

Trying

I'm trying to be more diligent in an attempt to lose weight. I will not diet (we all know they don't work in the long run), but I need to make some lifestyle changes. It's tough, working nights, living with injuries, and loving food while hating exercise-but I need to try to get more active. I'm working on a routine with Wii Fit, other Wii games, and Harley. When curling season arrives, I can add that sport to the mix. I'm also reading a blog of a woman trying to lose weight, Losing It. She was actually 2 years ahead of me in high school. I'm hoping she will help inspire me too. So what did I do today. I've already met my step goal for my pedometer and I walked with Harley. I had hoped to get a Wii game in, but didn't make it. To eat: I had 2 camel's eyes with iced tea (unsweetened-can't stand sweet iced tea). I did have a candy bar..and now that my Brit Coms are on I will have alcohol and food. However, I'm making a grilled turkey and cheese sandwich with a salad from my garden, and perhaps some fried sage leaves...well, it's a start!

Photo Phriday - Seneca in a Bag

Cats and their bags, what can I say.

Did it Early

I stopped at the grocery store after work this morning; forgetting the Greek Vinaigrette salad dressing. The weather is glorious-sunny and cool. So I decided to mow the front and side lawns-predicting I wouldn't be able to get out of bed early (yesterday being a prime example). I did that-I got the backing up thing figured out with this new mower now, almost caught up on line...now I'll get to bed. I can sleep in late-just have to be up to check the results for So You Think You Can Dance, then back to work.