What a difference a day makes

 It rained enough to encourage the grass to green up a bit and start to grow. 

This is the view out the kitchen window on Thursday November 10. 

Then it snowed overnight and the Juncos came...they are snowbirds after all. They were all over in the yard pecking at the grass/dirt.

We just got enough snow to turn the ground white.   Far Guy says there was no ice.  I did not go outside to shovel or to do anything else outside.  

Inside kept me busy...one afternoon I began cleaning the pantry...not done with it yet.  The next afternoon I finished the Spring cleaning in the Fall in the bathroom...yeah me!  I tasked Far Guy with the horrid job of updating the Christmas Address list....the program we use sucks big time...I threw my hands in the air and gave up...AND then he said "Didn't I enter all those addresses last year on my computer?"   Yes dear...you win!!!!!  

Far Side

Spots

 We have computer spots, not side by side but across the room.  Andy and Jen gave up their office space for us. 

Far Guy can watch the street and see when someone goes down the street, mail man, delivery trucks, school bus etc...

The couple next door hired a guy with the tallest ladders I have ever seen to decorate the trees in his yard...should be interesting.  I was outside when the guy was way high on his tall ladder I almost hollered "Hello be careful"  but I showed great restraint in being quiet. 

My spot!   No view but thats okay I have space in the corner for all my stuff.  

Work is progressing on my Winter Wonderland Afghan...you can see it there on my desk.  Slow but sure! 

Far Side

Making Progress

 I finally saved all the photographs on my old computer, photos were copied to flash drives and the  HP Simple Saves were wiped clean.  Simple Saves are awesome if you use Windows.  They are not compatible with a Mac. 

Kind of bittersweet as I had that old Windows 7  Desktop since 2011 and it had great photo editing software! AND it still worked a bit slow but it worked...they no longer did updates to Windows 7 so the writing was on the wall. ... the hard drive will be smashed and the rest recycled.  I did run into some great photos...they still need to be organized...a good project for the winter!  I may even order some prints over the winter.  Added bonus is the table that computer sat on is now all cleaned up...one area looks less cluttered!

I have been busy with lots of projects.   I am finishing up a Christmas gift and spent some time upstairs organizing stuff...one thing leads to another to another.

130 Christmas Cards were mailed.  One last ornament was mailed to someone special!  

Here is part five of my afghan. 

I am still waiting for the yarn for the Winter Wonderland afghan to get here.  It is being held hostage in West Fargo ND, I finally had the Post Office nice gal that has a working brain track it down as it has been in West Fargo for eight days.  In the meantime I began working on part six of the afghan pictured.   It has one more part and then the border. 

My fever blisters( from the fever I had after the Covid Shot) are just about healed up.  That is a relief! 

We had a quiet Thanksgiving Day. 

Far Side

Glasses

 I have a prescription for new reading glasses...not sure that I will get it filled as I am doing okay with the reading glasses I have ...the change was minor...and probably just because they want to sell glasses. 

In the mail was an envelope with glasses...all colors. 

They are from Jen and they are for the owl May baskets! ( Jen has a Cricut and can cut all kinds of neat stuff out!)

I am going to use some sparkle on them...glitter...and maybe some jewels...before I glue them on the owls...putzy fun stuff. 

I was working on the baby blanket when Far Guys new computer arrived...his old computer was on its last legs...he needed help...so I helped him as much as I could....and by George I think we have most of it!  

It snowed a bit more and it is cold.  The car made it into the Dealership for an oil change and tire rotation.  Cross something else off our list!

  Far Side

Some Forward Progress

 We lost Internet, TV and phone again completely.  The repair guys finally showed up, it took them about an hour to find two problems...good thing all the equipment is theirs because two whatchamacallits had to be totally replaced.  So far so good, but Far Guy says "Don't hold your breath."

In our area of the boonies our only other choice is a Satellite Company that I hear is unreliable. ...so it is what it is.  

The quiet in our home was horrid, I could hear the clocking ticking away in one ear and Far Guy snoring through his afternoon nap in the other ear.   I finally resurrected the DVD player in an old computer and apparently played the Bee Gee's One Night Only too many times ...the last time I played it Far Guy started to sing Na na na na  and he wouldn't stop.  He put in an old Bob Dylan DVD which he quickly rejected  and he embraced the quiet for a few minutes until he started.singing Bee Gee's songs just to irritate me.   Well at least he was singing to me... :)

I got a number of projects done over the weekend.   I finished up some hearts for a charity( Peyton Heart Project)  I packaged them up to mail. 

It was a perfect project for bits and pieces of scrap yarn.  I would like to do more someday.  For now it is a project I can cross off my list. 

I have a few other new crochet projects that are rattling around in my head at the moment.  I have decided that a trip to Hobby Lobby and the local yarn shop will happen around April 1st (two weeks after my last shot)...although yarn could be ordered online....I want to line up the colors and look at them in my cart.  

 I am still working on wasp nests using up all the grey yarn I have on hand.  She who sees robins first dropped off a whole skein of grey yarn for me.  I will have enough nests for the entire neighborhood and even a few to mail off to friends.   The pastel mosaic scarf is almost done, and I have a cashmere shawl in the works too. 

I have made absolutely no progress on the milk can project this winter.  The rollags are stored in paper bags until I can figure out how to spin on that old wheel I have...I have a friend who said he could help me or maybe a cousin I could ask for help...next summer....after Covid...if there is such a thing. 

Far Guy has his wood carving out...so far it looks like a bunch of holes in a piece of wood.  Only he knows what it will be. 

Far Side

Better?

 I am much better, the swelling in my arm is now the size of a golf ball instead of a softball!  Wow I can move my arm!  I did have an afternoon nap yesterday!   Far Guy says he is just perfect...so I let him cook while I napped!

We ran some errands in town, Post Office drop off, gas fill and a car wash, a curbside pickup at Ace Hardware, a stop at the tire store and DQ!  

Gasoline went up in price again.  Since I keep track of such things the price per gallon has increased by 60 cents a gallon since Election Day.  Gasoline is now $2.59 a gallon here.  I imagine that the price of food will go up also as transportation prices increase.

Progress is being made on Line Three, it is a big deal here in our area of Minnesota...it replaces old line three that was built over 30 years ago.  It transports crude oil to Lake Superior.   The Highway Department put up a bunch of no parking signs along the highway...I suspect that since it is now warmer some people will be laying down along the line...a few weeks ago a few crawled inside one of the pipes and wouldn't get out.  

I am learning more and more about the iMac computer everyday.  Some things are very frustrating...my windows brain has a hard time shutting off sometimes.  One thing I learned yesterday is that if your Magic Mouse is upside down it will just make crazy movements that make no sense on your screen and no matter what you try or how much you sigh in disgust until you use the mouse in it's proper position it will continue to go crazy!  

Far Side

Still cold and a new computer

 It was -40 F when Far Guy got up on Saturday morning.   I snuggled back in for a bit and then got up to take a photo. Which at some point will appear on this blog....maybe.

***** Update: I had a facetime tutorial with Jen...I loaded this photo from my old computer onto a flashdrive and got it to the new computer and drug it over to the desktop...all by myself.  It might be a miracle!  Jen gave me a great tour...and now my head is full of stuff to process. 

After household duties were taken care of we moved my old Windows 7 across the room.  Then we unpackaged and set up the new computer an IMac...desktop.  I ordered it a few weeks ago. 

So...I am learning more about Magic Mouses and Lightning Cords and red, yellow and green dots... and I have no idea where or how I got that photo up there but there it is..I took that photo this afternoon and found it under ...recents.  It is someplace that has liquid water! AND get this the screensaver changes with the daylight etc...now the stars are out...:) 

I tried to import bookmarks from Chrome...I got some really really old ones...but it was better than nothing.  It all takes time.  I have sound now...I didn't for a while and it was bugging Far Guy....so he fixed that for me.   I stupidly plugged in my old speakers which obviously were not compatible.

We are cozy and warm and we are expecting another brutal night of sub zero weather.  At least we have electricity...some people do not in all the ice storms around the country.  What a bunch of crazy weather.

Oh yes Happy Valentine's Day to my husband!  He is a keeper! Everyday is Valentines Day around here!!

Far Side

Brrrr

 Friday morning it was -35 when Far Guy got up...I asked "How cold is it out there?"  He said -35 so I covered up and went back to sleep while watching the morning news.  

I eventually got up and cleaned the bathroom, did some laundry and dusted. 

My other baby brother delivered our mail.  I poked my nose out to get the mail...brrrr. 

While cooking supper I kept announcing the falling temperatures...-14 to -20 when we did the dishes.  Announcing the dropping temperatures irritates someone I love ...but I do it anyway...I think he expects it.  

We are warm and cozy.  The new furnace seems warmer than the old furnace...another heat register was added upstairs.  It is noisy in a different way...but quieter than the old furnace...this one sounds like a jet engine warming up.  I CAN hear the television over the noise of this one...

My new computer ( I Mac) came during the furnace adventure...we may set it up today if we feel like having a technological adventure.  We have not unpacked the box yet.  My old computer (Windows 7) still works but it has driver issues and is slow as a turtle crossing the road on a summer day.  We will set up the old computer across the room until I have some photo files transferred.  I plan to transfer some photos by flashdrive and then load them on the new computer. Like I said it will be an adventure. 

In the meantime here is a puzzle for you. 

Stay safe and warm! 

Far Side

Onto February

 As we turn the calendar over we say goodbye to January.

I have fun making calendars with my own photos.

Onto February! 

Since it is someones birthday later in the month he and his new old car are the subject for February.

One month more of the Pandemic...or one month closer to a vaccination and some kind of immunity.  I am still waiting...I filled out a questionnaire from our local clinic.  No news yet.

My computer  Windows 7 is getting really wonky...and slow as molasses...I got this computer back in 2010. So I guess it is time for a new one...it has been ordered...and I hope this old one holds out until the new one gets here. 

I have been going through photo files and taking many off of my simple saves...not sure they are compatible with the new system I am getting.  It may be a real adventure. 

We ran errands in town...dropped off the taxes at the accountants, got the special gas for the new old car and went by the bank...so much for our outing.  The special gas is $3.09 a gallon. 

Steak, Salmon and salad for supper...I am not real fond of Salmon a fork full suits me fine.  The steak was excellent! 

Far Side

Yard Report

We have mulching blades on the lawn mower.  I mulched for the second time yesterday...usually I mulch 9 or 10 times.   Leaves are blown from the rocks at least twice every Fall.  We have so many Oak trees that leaving the leaves on the grass would be the pits in the spring.   BUT you never can tell if you will win or if the snow will win.

We are due to have a killing frost any time now.

The flowers always seem brighter when the weather turns colder.  The high yesterday was 45 F or 7 C eh!
I like Fridays...we rarely have appointments on Friday....it is what we call a "free day."

The  Internet Company we use installed a faster more efficient router for us yesterday, it seems faster on wireless devices...we hard wired our desktop computers years ago.

Far Side

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.

For the Birds Again

The Redpolls left just ahead of the warm front that visited us.  Eighty pounds of thistle seed later they have deserted us.

It was a week.  One difficult situation after another.

I wish I was an Ostrich…don’t they bury their heads in the sand until everything is back to normal?
Far Guy said “Hey I am proud of you, you were stressed out but didn’t fall asleep on me.”

During the infusion this week I could push saline through his port but once the IV was hung (gravity flow) there wasn’t enough of a hole in the fibrous tissue that has grown over the end of the catheter in his vein to drip even one drop.  The drop just hung there  ready to drip but was held frozen in time. Once the protein is mixed it must be administered within three hours.  His port was accessed twice last week and has been properly cared for.  His body must be working overtime to cover up the foreign object that is in his body.  We ended up at the infusion center where of course they cannot hang outside meds…but they could do an IV for him ( and I administered the protein) while they tried to access his port, he had a dose of Cathflow( he has standing orders for that) anyways that sat in the catheter about two hours with no results.

The Surgeon will see him Monday.  We have a back up plan that may work. We will see. I guess I need to become IV Certified….not something I really want to do…but I can access a port now and I thought that would be a big deal too…and it isn’t when the  port works correctly.

He has had this Bard Port-a-cath since June of 2015 seven months plus with no problems. Going to surgery every seven months seems a bit scary to me.  Not only that but what are these clot busters doing to his body and or blood?  He had clot busters on January 4 and again February 18…every six weeks?  I am not a Doctor but there must be something wrong with this picture. 

Friday his computer was corrupted by some super virus.  HP is working on it, and luckily he had back upped his computer.   This computer was brand new December 15 2015…so it is only two months old.  Did you know that warranties are voided if you have a virus.  Me neither.  He runs Virus Software daily. Time will tell  if it is repaired or not.
 

Cousins Family Cookbook

As some of you long time readers know I have been working on the family cousin’s cookbook.  I purchased some Cookbook Software. (Aunt Matildas)  Not sure I would do that again as I did have some troubles with the export.

In the beginning we asked for relatives to share recipes.  Some came in email some came in Christmas Cards, some were hand written on recipe cards, some were all typed out.  I kept sticking them in a huge yellow folder.  I began transcribing them in 2011.  It was a slow process…some were missing pan sizes or baking instructions.  I tried to proof read as I entered the recipes.

I finally called Uncle and said “Hey I need some help.”  My cousins Kathy and Geraldine offered to type for me and then email me the recipes.  After I received them it was just a matter of copying, pasting and sometimes formatting to fit on a page.

I was able to export the cookbook for proof reading to Kathy and Aunt Anna at one point with Jen’s help.  Corrections were made and more recipes were added.  I proofread it again…392 pages.  Uffda.  Then I couldn’t export my files…the software was difficult.  I sent my Laptop in for repair because it wouldn’t take just any flash drive.  PNY and HP Flash drives work just fine.  I finally exported the files and put them on a flash drive and gave Kathy the Aunt Matilda software which had two downloads left on it.   Kathy said there was nothing on the flash drive.  Uffda uffda.  I contacted the Matilda people.  Figured out the problem and did another download.  Success finally.

I nearly bawled when I found the files on my desktop and emailed them to Kathy.

Four plus years of work. Done with the a simple SEND.  What a relief.

My Mother and Dad arrived with a package for me on Christmas Eve.

Kathy redesigned the cover and that was just fine with me.  She used my front on the back.

There are recipes from Pickles to Pie

Kathy added a place for notes and a Table of Contents by page number. I just had a Table of Contents by category.

I was thrilled to finally see it in print. I was really happy that I chose the one page per recipe format.  Kathy did all the work printing and binding it together.  Together we make a pretty good team.  Thanks to all my cousins who submitted recipes, it wouldn’t be a book without you. 

I have not consulted with the rest of my cousins yet…but it will be for sale at sometime in the future to relatives.  When they are available I will give one away on the blog GWATCDR (God Willing And The Crick Don’t Rise).

I worked on this project so long I consider it a hobby.  That is a sick thought isn’t it? 

This project meets two of my Intentions from 2014  Organize and Declutter which I carried over into 2015!  I can burn that huge yellow folder filled with recipes in a ceremonial fire when it warms up outside!

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:( 

Santa Lives In Oregon

“The joy of brightening other lives, bearing each others' burdens, easing other's loads and supplanting empty hearts and lives with generous gifts becomes for us the magic of Christmas.”

I knew the gifts were coming, my baby brother told me that they would be arriving sometime before Christmas or shortly thereafter.

When he was visiting here last week, he saw a need.  As soon as he got back home he put in the order.

The packages were delivered yesterday by Fed Ex..Chance got a treat.

I called my baby brother and asked him when he wanted them delivered.  He said “Anytime you have time to set them up.”

Far Guy and I took off for the Nursing Home so that the ladies would be able to play with their new gifts right after supper.

He sent beautiful new HP laptops to Mom and to Aunt Lila.

Aunt Lila is sharp as a tack, she has rheumatoid arthritis.  She is a computer whiz..the wireless mouse worked perfectly for her when placed on a phone book in her lap.  One of her favorite games is Bookworm..so we loaded that software on both computers.  They were busy playing Bookworm and Solitaire and smiling. 

No one at the Nursing Home knew what the wireless security key was..so they cannot get on the Internet yet..maybe tomorrow.

So just in case you were wondering..Santa lives in Oregon and my brother knows him personally:)

Our Desk

A new addition to our desk came last Friday. I ordered a Laptop with the help of my brother, he researched them for me and suggested three different price points and features. This one is middle of the road, I believe it will serve our needs well. It has Windows 7, which will take some getting used to.

I am really challenged when it comes to the tiny, shiny cursor mover. I tried unsuccessfully for about an hour to click and drag which were the instructions I received to crop a photo. Luckily they make things for people like me, it is called a wireless mouse. Later in the week perhaps daughter Jen can give me a lesson or two, I should learn new things, instead of just becoming frustrated.

We needed a laptop, just in case we do some travelling, and Far Guys computer is giving him the dreaded blue screen every once in awhile. My computer although older than his, has perked up a tad after I dumped a bunch of photos onto the external hard drive.

I tried yesterday to network all the computers to use one printer. Something that should be so simple, as I followed every tutorial there was online, but still could not get Far Guys computer to print from my printer..it recognizes the printer..and things wait in queue..then nothing. My brother tried it when he was here..with no success either...since he is much smarter than I ..I don't feel so stupid. Far Guy just came over and said "It's impossible..you will never get it figured out. " I will eventually..just not yesterday..we must need a driver or have to change some advanced setting..someday I will figure it out. It may be a firewall problem..If and when I get it fixed we can get rid of one printer..which will create more room for one of us. Far Guy can just stack up more books and stuff to dust over on his side.

Far Guy built this log looking computer desk for us, he custom built it to fit the space. It works well for us, since it is centrally located between the living room and the dining area and I cannot see the kitchen or the sink from my spot ..I am happy:)