Just one more thing

 The SD card slots on both of our Macs quit...must be a glitch or an update where they forgot about all the people that still use SD cards in their cameras...are we a dying breed or what?  I fiddled with it and swore a bit...nasty word...nasty word.  Researched the problem and ended up ordering a thingy.

What is one more wirey thing to hook up anyway...and it works...it transfers my SD card images flawlessly for now to the C slot in the back of my Mac.  Kinda the pits that it has a short cord as my computer has to be moved to put the SD card in.  Oh well. 

In other news.  Far Guy has relapsed a bit and he gave the crud to me.  I am on antibiotics and a steroid.  Both meds help with my Lymes Arthritis so I have less pain some of the time.  

This weeks meals:

Scalloped potatoes and ham, pulled pork and salad (Thanks Andy and Jen), omlettes with ham and cheese, pizza from Pizza Hut, a new to us chicken hotdish and one fend for your self night, last night was chili and grilled cheese. 

Company last week: My Other baby brother, my baby brother and his bride with Baxter and Smudge.   Last week Saturday we saw Jordan and Paige and Cole.  Paige helped with Spring House cleaning so I might have a handle on the house cleaning for now.  Cole helped with projects outside...we are very thankful for their help. I still have more drawers, cabinets and cupboards to clean out...a purge. And beds upstairs to wash up and windows to wash.  Enough to keep me busy when I feel better. 

The grass is turning greener every day after our rain.

And then I broke my toe...stubbed it so hard on an old trunk when I was barefoot that my toes cracked. Clumsy.  It is very sore...no need to go to the Doctor as they would just splint it to the next toe or three. 

I do my own pedicures obviously I could do better. 

Far Side

Early Morning Trees

Surprise Surprise we got more snow Christmas Day evening and night.  About 4 inches plus or minus fell.  It made the roads slippery.

We have another winter storm moving in.  Not sure if this one has a name yet.  This one should last three days....we shall see.  We will be safe at home. 

The light in the early morning caught the snow filled branches of the Oaks very nicely.

There are 11 inches of snow at the snowstick as of yesterday.

We ran errands up north yesterday.  Delivered baby shower packages to Maddie.  Her baby shower is today and we will miss it on account of the weather.  Their trip back to Michigan will be delayed a day or two.

 After dropping off packages we stopped by Hobby Lobby for one skein of yarn and I came out with two...so that's not so bad!

I stopped by and gave Savannah a hug and then we visited our oldest daughter.  We got home just at twilight.  The moon was a beautiful sliver of orange in the western sky and straight south was Venus very bright in the night sky.

My computer went all wonky on Friday morning, Andy got it into safe mode and I copied everything I wanted to keep.  While we were gone the computer fixed itself...but who knows for how long. ..Windows 7 was a long time ago.

Thursday;  Andy and Jen came down to my baby brothers for a holiday meal and then they went to Bingo with my Dad and I.  Jen and I both bingoed so it was a good night and we can go back again next week.

Far Side

Vanes and Fall Projects

We have a whole bunch of windmill vanes in the grain bin.  They are from long ago and a farmstead in North Dakota.

They may be a project for next summer.

Earlier this fall we saw this just leaning up against a tree and we both liked it.

Yesterday LumberMason and I dug up, moved and stacked a whole bunch of landscape bricks that were all around one of the old gardens. We were working really hard and getting tired… then the reinforcements came in Mason’s Mom and his sister, many hands make for lighter work. I think the blocks weigh about 20 pound each, I am tired.  It will make that wild garden easier to mow in the fall.  I will put the blocks up for sale.

The kitchen and bathroom are tore apart as we are trying to string the cable for the computers.  If I look on the bright side I will have some cabinets cleaned before winter. But what a mess…we barely had room to eat at the dining room table last night. Chance is certain we are doing something drastic as his dog food has been moved out of the cabinet and it is sitting against a wall…he doesn’t like change either.

Update: The cable reached it’s destination and we have great Internet Speeds!!  Yeah for us old folks!! We came out of the utility room along the top of the kitchen cabinets, down inside a cabinet, then out the cabinet back wall through the wall into a bathroom cabinet and from there through the wall into the Living Room.  For awhile there I was wondering if I might have to get real creative disguising a cable wire with twinkly lights running through the kitchen into the living room.  I am relieved that this project is done.

Fall Projects

I am making headway.  The leaves were mulched again, I believe that is the sixth or seventh time. Far Guy accused me of waiting on the lawn tractor and as soon as a leaf hit the ground I mulched it…I don’t think it was quite that bad.

One more nice day and the lawn should be done for the winter.  I trimmed most of the limbs that I have been fighting all summer…the limbs never seem as bad when they are leafless.

We accomplished all the soup making, the freezer has an assortment of meals ready to warm up.  Vegetable Soup, Chicken and Noodles, Chicken Tortilla Soup and Chili.

My glass flowers are all cleaned and put away for the winter.  We took the rain gauge in before it froze!

We are working on a carving project so most days we spend a few hours carving. 

We finally discovered what our Internet problems are and we are in the process of figuring out how we can hardwire both the HP Computers that are supposed to be wireless but are slow and experience dropped signals…which puts someone in a very bad mood.  His computer which is still under warranty drops the signal quite often…he is a regular at HP Support.

I have a theory about the Internet problems but what do I know?  When the lightening damaged our Router I believe it also damaged our Wireless connection on the two Desk Tops…the HP Laptop is just fine as is the Ipad… those signals are strong. The router was replaced and nothing has been the same since with the Desk Tops.   We had a Technician over who could not find the problem and had no answers.  Thanks to good friend and computer guru Intense Guy we are on a better track now. 

Since we built this house we think we know a way to run the wires from the Utility Room to the Living Room…we will see. It could be an adventure.

Trees and Windows 10

Two Trees are up.  One has lights, one never gets lights just Shiny Brites.  The downstairs tree has lights and some of my favorite ornaments are on my desk ready to hang.  I have everything I need to decorate that tree lugged downstairs.

We had a work stoppage for everything on Sunday when Far Guy’s computer got the blue screen of death and died.  Luckily he used drop box for some of his important files.  He also backed up most of his photos.   His computer was new back in November of 2011….so it made it four years. I think that is pretty good considering it is in use almost constantly.

 
Windows 10 is quite an adventure.  He is reading, watching his old videos and rarely cussing so it must be doable for him.  I love Windows 7 and hope I croak before my computer does.


I have two Simple Saves that backup my photos. After the first of the year I have a big project planned to purge some of those old files, getting rid of duplicates and cleaning up everything.  I plan to re save all of the photos of the grands to a flash drive.  I have them on many Cd’s now, but by month and year only.  Wait a minute I am getting way ahead of myself...onward to the Christmas trees! 

Computer Cookbook Woes

I finally got my Laptop out of the repair shop.  The problem I was having is weird.  Nothing seemed to fix it.  The computer gurus were baffled.  Now it is partially fixed.  My laptop does not recognize SanDisk Flash Drives ( It used to…but not anymore)…only HP or PNY devices so far…recognizing something is an improvement!

The Virus Software (Avira) I was running was blocking updates and driver software and not doing what it was supposed to do.  Now I am back to AVG as a Virus Software.  That is what we have on the other computers.

I wanted the Flash Drive to work so I could copy the cookbook I have been working on and give it to cousin Kathy so she could print it out to proof read it.  Instead I ended up emailing copies and three of us proof read it.  Talk about time consuming.  The corrections have been made but now I am waiting for a gluten free section to be added.  Just when you think a project can be put behind you…it stalls.

The Cousins would like to print out the cookbook and sell it for a nominal fee next summer.  I have spent many hours on the project.  I am tired of it and I just want it to be over. Good thing I like to read recipes or it could drive you to drink.

Connie's Vodka Slush

7 Cups of Water

2 cups of Sugar

Cook until sugar is dissolved

Cool. Put it in an ice cream pail.

Add:

4 Cups Vodka

12 ounce can of Frozen Lemonade

12 ounce can of Frozen Orange Juice

Stir Well and Freeze.

Mix equal parts of slush and 7UP for a slushy summer drink.

Recently I was told by one of my children that this is great straight out of the freezer…they just needed to remember to grab a spoon.

March 13 2013

The gremlin in my computer reared his ugly hear again.  I finally surrendered and took him and my desk top to the repair shop.  It has been giving me fits when it had updates where it had to restart. System restore didn’t work this time from any of the recent restore points and system recovery was the pits.  So I gave up.

I have most everything backed up.  My photos are on the Simple Saves.  Some of the files on the Simple Saves are duplicates..I will get it all straightened out sooner or later. It is discouraging..but not devastating.

I will struggle along with the laptop until my desk top is fixed. Some people like laptops..not me. I have one for it’s portability when we travel and as a backup.

I am still exhausted from the time change.

We finished with the cleaning of the grout..yeah!  Cross something off the list!!

It is supposed to snow again…bet you wish you lived in Minnesnowda!

This is my flag for March..my other little garden flag is totally buried by the snow:)

Connections

Last summer we were having issues with our Internet Connection that used the bottom part of our phone line.  Far Guy was having problems watching his music videos online.  We needed to upgrade, I called our provider and the service that we had could not be speeded up..so they suggested a Fiber Optic Connection. The work was done before freeze up..the line had to be dug in and brought over to the house.

Finally Monday morning a young man came to change our hookup..after much fussing and farting around he declared it done.  It seemed to work…until I noticed that my computer was intermittently losing the signal.  ( Everything is supposed to be wireless.)

I spoke with the help desk many times..they ran connection tests.  We rebooted and reset..and waited overnight.  To make everything worse they put all the “stuff” the router and a power box high on a shelf in the utility room..the shelf is about 7 feet tall.   Every time something had to be checked Far Guy had to stand on a stool and lean over the top of the pressure tank behind the stacked washer and dryer..it was not fun.

The next day, Tuesday I could not send an email without timing out.  I was DISGUSTED.  By this time I have spoken to everyone at the help desk..I am sure they thought I was nuts as everything on their end looked good.

Finally they said they wanted to run a test..and I was to hook up the laptop directly to their cable and a test would run for two hours.  FINE.  I charged up the laptop..Far Guy put the laptop on top of the stacked washer dryer and teetered on his step stool to put in all the proper codes.  THEN the tech guy said it would have to run for 24 hours and if we wanted to use the Internet to just use the laptop.  ( I could not see myself with my chin on the washer dryer peeking at the screen to type anything. )

I called them yet again and said what in the world are we trying to find out anyway..they said we want to see if your router is the problem..we have to isolate the problem.  I said fine run your stupid test I am going to Wally World to buy a new router.  So we did and hooked it up all by ourselves..and had a perfect signal.   Far Guy and I are computer geniuses..at least we must be because the problem was solved.

My thoughts:

The install guy should have seen/known that our router was not large enough or powerful enough to handle the signal.  

When you call and email the help desk..they should just assign your case to one person..I was sick and tired of explaining everything to Jose, Tim and Evan..I sent them several emails..and phoned many times..I am sure they shuddered every time they found it was me again with a complaint. 

I called them after the install of the new router when everything was working hunky dory..and told them what the problem was so perhaps the next person will be spared some aggravation. 

I was so stressed out on Tuesday night..I slept for nine hours straight without waking up once.  Stress exhausts me and that is the way my body deals with it.

I absolutely hate it when something is supposed to work and it doesn’t.  So far, so good we have had a couple of great connection days so hopefully we can put all the new connection hassle behind us:)

January 31, 2013  Snowy Pines

Saving National Geo’s and Time

The other night whilst watching Hockey..I searched for a photo I did not find..but I found lots of other things.

Like these.

I had a whole bunch of 1930’s National Geographics and then these two.  Then I remembered the day that Far Guy and I were at a garage sale that had hundreds of these.  We searched through stack after stack until we found  one for each of the girls from the month and the year they were born..just for fun.  It could be worse..they could have been photos of half dressed natives of some foreign country. Jen is not going to appreciate those Eels or whatever kind of weird looking albino fish those are.

I tried to save some time yesterday..by typing fast and not saving..I was almost done..and then the blankety blank old dying Historical Museum computer hiccupped..and lost everything I had written.  I was working on the February newsletter.  I came downstairs..disgusted.  Went back upstairs after I was done feeling sorry for my stupid self..and every five minutes Far Guy would holler “Save your work!”  I finally got it done, came down to print it out and discovered that I could not access a pub file from either of our computers.  I called Jen to make sure I wasn’t missing something.  I wasn’t other than a  Microsoft Publisher Program on one of our computers.  That program costs about 120 dollars…the Museum may have to spring for that software after their computer crashes. I believe a former Director loaded her personal copy onto the Museum Computer.  So anyways we had to haul my printer upstairs and hook it up so I could print the Newsletter..and then I ran out of ink…twice.  So now I need to go get ink before I can finish…I figured as much..but I held out hope that I had enough ink on hand to finish the project.  It is not quite February yet..I still have time.

We tried one of those thingys from Wally World Electronic Department.  It is a thinga mabobber  that you plug into your USB port and it makes your old computer wireless..it worked as advertised on the Historical Museum’s piece of junk computer.  Eventually I will use it on my old computer upstairs that has lots of games on it for the Grandkids.  For now it limps the Museums Desk Top Computer along for the winter..which saves me the hassle of having yet another computer downstairs..but I am not sure it saves me any time at least not yesterday:( 

Computer Woes, Works and Word

Far Guys computer has been on deaths door for over a year.  He has been babying it along.  It has been in the repair shop, he has replaced the power supply three or four times over the past six years.

I bought the laptop so we would have an extra computer if we needed one and when we go away from home it is really nice to have our own computer.

My last desktop lasted eleven years..it was kinda repaired once..and was really getting slow.  Now it is upstairs loaded with games for the Grand's to play. 

When Far Guys computer crashed..he took it to the repair shop.  She said “ It is not worth repairing, a capacitor was bulging and who knows what else.”

Far Guy was sad.  He told me “Well I guess I can bring your old computer down stairs and use that one for awhile.”  Can you hear the nickel  squealing yet?

He used my laptop for a few days..it was not a pretty site..he had it hooked up to his monitor. Every time he went to type he brought out his keyboard..and cussed because nothing was showing up on the screen.  For a short time one day he thought about taking the laptop apart, so that he could get rid of the that screen…he restrained himself.

His new computer came in two days.  It has a wireless mouse and a wireless keyboard..and I think it is probably nicer than the new desktop I got last June.  He let me pick out his computer and we consulted with my baby brother who works for HP…hopefully this computer will serve his needs well.  He watches music videos, plays games and keeps the moderators  in Yahoo news on their toes. 

The computer repair gal made a disc for him of all his photos and data.  Most everything I had backed up to my simple save anyway.

For some reason..he had Works on his old computer.  I only have Word on mine.  So I cannot read some of his files..and I cannot read some of the files from the museum that were created in Works that I have in dropbox.

I am not sure what the solution is yet.  I tried one of those free converters..no luck.  I think I must need to purchase Works.

We are now a five computer household..and there are only two of us living here.  I have the Historical Museums laptop that I use to write their blog with.  I keep it updated and use it once a week. 

The computer repair gal says “ The new computers are meant to be disposable..three years is about all you will get out of them.”  I am not sure that I agree with her..but what do I know?  Years ago when Far Guy said we needed a computer..I said “Really?  Do you suppose it is just a passing fad?”

Well we need a pretty picture..because I had a friend once who said no post was complete without a pretty picture.

Beautiful Begonias from last summer:)

Just Like Magic

Last June when I got a new computer..I tried to load my very old obsolete Photoshop Elements on it.  It kept telling me that the scan disks were full.  ( Note>> It was so old it was called Photoshop Elements 2.0)  It loaded just fine on my laptop..but it just would not load on the new computer.  FRUSTRATION.

I had my baby brother look at it..he said “ Maybe you should just buy a new Photoshop program.”

Duh..I guess so..I have lots of photographs that I would like to repair over the winter.

Far Guy and I went to Wally World..and I picked up Photoshop 9.   As we were going through the checkout..a loud alarm began to sound.  The cashier quickly put her hand over the ear damaging noise coming out of the plastic case that was enclosing my Photoshop 9.  She called for help..people were backing up in her lane.  It is a small town Wally World..only about three checkouts are open at any one time.   Far Guy said really loudly “ If we were real thieves I bet people would come over here faster.”   We waited and waited.  Half the people in the store were staring at us.  Some were waving like Blog Reader Ann…and smiling!  Finally some supervisor takes off with the plastic box wailing down the aisles toward the electronics desk where it took three people to get it to stop making noise.  In the meanwhile we paid for it and Far Guy and I just sat and waited on one of those wire benches where old people wait and watch people go by.  FINALLY.  The supervisor shows up with our Photoshop 9…minus the alarm and the plastic box.  We walk toward the doors.   I have my receipt out..the buzzers go off..and we are apprehended and hauled off to jail. ( I just put that in there to see who was really reading.)  The greeter at the door shuts the alarm off and says “ I saw that you two had quite a time at the checkouts.”  She marked my receipt and we escaped to the car.

Well let me tell you..this new version is just a tad tougher to maneuver through..however I did change this

  To this!


Success is sweet..and so is Photoshop 9. Just like magic..it will make my bad photography better!   I am busy watching videos on the net..my daughter Jen took a class last year to learn how to do “stuff.”  Her class was filled with so many old people that the instructor barely got through the basics of how to use a computer, so she didn’t learn a thing, and suggested that I just watch videos.  So I am watching and taking notes and learning:)

Crash!

Crash! Bang..my computer could not handle daylight saving time.. it might be a goner. It will be going in for repair tomorrow..yes I found some back woods guy to fix it. We hope the hard drive is not totally fried.

Luckily I backed up most of my photos..not those I took in February..or March.. but the backwoods guy says he may be able to retrieve those. I took some great photos yesterday too.. oh well.

Far Guy is letting me use his computer..everything is strange..he uses Fire Fox, I use Explorer. His chair leans to one side because he likes to lean back in his chair and put his feet up. If I did that I would end up in a heap on the floor, either that or have to holler every time I needed help straightening up. His keyboard is strange too, it is much better than mine..his monitor is smaller... he also has a messy area and does not use a mouse pad.. my area three feet away is much neater..and forlorn looking..with a black monitor and a mouse that does not glow red..sad.. very, very sad.

Now the adventure starts.. lets see what photos Far Guy has!

A crooked, scanned in photo....taken in February 1987, back when Far Guy managed the Hockey Arena. That would be him driving the Zamboni! Back then, what hair he had was really silvery grey! This could be fun..well maybe not..but it is nice of him to share his computer with me:)