still running . . .

around trying to get everything done.  i will be missing in action for two weeks in may here and there.  hooray.  two whole weeks.

but in the meantime, i ran to the alterations lady to pick up my dress that went from floor to midi, except it took a vacation.  she looked.  i looked.  we both looked.  it must have gone to zanzibar.   finally, twenty minutes later it peeked it's little spaghetti strap out of the corner of a bag and giggled.  i wasn't near as upset as the little woman who ran the joint.  whew.

and then on to the mall for the third pair of reef flops.  i love those boys.  they take a long time to wear out but i manage it.  and to the bookstore for an l. a. times crossword book with which to entertain myself.  a little stop at chipotle and finally wally world for wine and batteries.  the man behind me said he wasn't touching that combo with a ten foot pool.  kidlet made a strangling noise.

meanwhile the house smells good.  a bunch of chocolate chip cookies are baking.  and another load with chocolate chips and toffee chips and finally one with both chips and some nuts . . .  in case we get hungry glamping.

oh, and my new washing machine is happily, (i hope), washing its first load of sparkling white clothes.  life is good.

just trying to tie . . .

up loose ends.

picking up dry cleaning. 
starting to clean out the garage.
crossing stuff off my list.
and of course, lunch with the hens plus one.

i missed the call from the delivery peeps . . . i somehow flicked off the answering machine.   i'll have to call first thing to find the window for delivery.  meanwhile i did one last load of laundry in the rust bucket.  made sure it was all dark clothes that could take the abuse.  i'm going to miss the machine that walks across the laundry room.  the cats will not.   

check . . .

car reservations made . . . check.

insurance policy printed out . . . check.

dr. appointment rescheduled . . .  check.

nail appointment scheduled . . . check.

to do list printed . . . check.

paperwork in file . . .  check.

getting ready to paddle . . . check.

on saturday . . .

i will no longer be the owner of a washing machine with a very special cycle which deposits rust stains onto my clothes and sheets.  i know i will miss this all important feature but it just isn't available on my new samsung.  but what i do get, is my very own washboard.  you know what i'm talking about . . . those wooden or metal boards with ridges that you scrub your clothes against to get them clean . . . only this one is plastic and sits above the tub and it is made for hand wash and pre-treatment and, i get steam.  what will they think of next????  cough!  oh and i am most happy to be 5 '9" so i am tall enough to be able to bend down to the bottom of the tub to gather those recalcitrant socks.  otherwise i would need a step stool.  color me happy and excited. 

and then there was this i need to share.  pippin the clown:

i love this little girl.

namaste.

stationary stationery . . .

walk with joanie.

lunch with nancy.  first time i've seen crab bisque on the menu.  it was good.  slurp.

off to the office supply store for paper clips, ink and flair pens.  and of course something extra always hops in the basket.  this time it was colored flair pens . . . they were on sale along with the black, some multi-colored tabs and some metallic clip-on tabs.  i know.  but it's genetic. my father was a stationery store stalker and truth be told, so is kidlet.  it's a family affair.

did i ever mention that my father left me boxes and boxes of stationery supplies.  all sorts of goodies. and an ancient guillotine style paper cutter.  an art deco tape dispenser made from metal what weighs a ton.  a brass clipboard with his name engraved on it.  an old bankers light.  a leather covered ink well.  a brass oil can . . .  that sits in my living room.  various t squares and rulers made of wood.  and a couple of items that have stumped me for years.  oh and grommets.  the man loved grommets.

back home to work on a journal project for the summer and a second one for the paddle across the pond.  things are looking up in black rock.

the sun . . .

update:  the sun came out:

and so did the frog:

the sun is not cooperating but look at the difference, and by tomorrow, when the sun does stick his bright red face in my business, it will look even better:

 see, i even cleaned the toys because it is supposed to hit the high 80's by the end of the week.

 and if mr. sun does come out later on today, you'll know where i will be . . .

 with a drink . . .

to be truthful, it's a gnarly job which i despise it but the results are well worth it.  i confess i started out doing the deck and furniture every three months and am down to every six months or so . . . oops!

today . . .

let's see.  first thing out of the shoot, i set off the alarm by going out the sliders to the pool.  i run inside and turn off the alarm but it doesn't want to turn off.  finally agrees to do my bidding.  i wait for the alarm company to call.  they do not.  i start to clean the deck when who should arrive but my friendly neighborhood police officer.  yes, officer, everything is fine, so sorry to bother you.  then my phone rings and it is joanie.  the alarm company called her.  i call the alarm company and so on and so on.

anyway, i'm back there to clean up this mess:

 yes, i'm lazy.  i leave the deck alone all winter long. i know, i know.  stop yelling . . .

and tsk, tsking.

tomorrow this time it will be sparkling clean and shiny.  just not so much right now.

i'm taking a break.  i have the three chaise lounges to go and then i start the deck.  i need a break.  and maybe a nap.  yes, a nap.  definitely a nap.

it's been a nail biter . . .

but the seller finally agreed to all our conditions.  kidlet will be a homeowner in a month and a day!!!!

she is so excited.  she can't wait to make it her own.  and meanwhile back in the cave, expect some change in decor.  

so stinkin' excited.

color me dork . . .

it's friday, time to meet the hens for lunch.  we all took separate cars due to previous engagements and travel direction.  i get there early . . . 11:20 for 11:30 lunch.  i wait for them.  and i wait.  i'm thinking lee is caught up in traffic and joanie's meeting ran late.  i wait.

finally, it decide to call lee because the hens are, if nothing else normal, an on-time group of poultry.

i ask her where she is.  she asks me where i am.  i tell her waiting for her.  she says, i don't see you.  i'm right here!!!!   where????  here, as i walk around through the restaurant.  so now i think she is busting my chops and is stuck in traffic for sure because that is what lee does.

finally, dimly in the recesses of my brain, a light flickers.  i still think she is running a scam but that light is growing brighter.

i'm in the wrong flipping restaurant.  me.  me.

thankfully, it is connected to the right restaurant by a massive parking lot.  i saunter over.  lee is in the window flapping her wings and losing feathers.  i sit down and pretend sitting in the wrong restaurant for 20 minutes is normal.

gah!!!!

lee and her ribs.  slurp!!

so much better than joanie's and my choices.

p.s.  we decide we are going to ask the sellers to fix the plumbing issues.  none of which are major.  please keep your fingers crossed that they decide that is fair and either hire a plumber or reduce the asking price by that amount.  please!!!!

the inspection . . .

nothing major.  no termites.  now she has to decide what she is going to ask the sellers to pay for and what she is willing to suck up. 

personally, i think the place has terrific bones.  it was built in 1979 and needs a cosmetic facelift, which is fine since kidlet wants to make it her own anyway.  the report came back color coded.  things in blue need attention.  things in red are warnings.  but again, nothing major. 

it has some doggy issues but nothing some flea bombs, carpet cleaning, tile steaming, and trim paint can't fix.  i don't even know if it has fleas but usually where there are beasties of the canine variety in florida, the fleabers are there too.  it certainly has an aroma.  i love that the curtain next to the front door is two feet short of the floor so said beasties have an unobstructed view.  nothing my singer can't fix.

one burner is out.  the ice maker doesn't work.  the toilets upstairs need to be resealed.  the rollers on the back slider are worn out.  the electrical box may or may not be accepted by an insurance company . . .  something about the brand?????  the plug mechanisms for the upstairs tubs are non-functioning.  the air handler needs to be cleaned out and it needs a filter . . . no biggie.  the hot and cold water are backwards in the tub in the guest bathroom.  the dryer doesn't shut off when you open the door so it needs a new switch.  i asked the inspector if the peeling paint was due to damp walls or a not so wonderful paint job . . .  it's the paint job.  again, kidlet wants to repaint anyway. 

the a/c was new in 2011.  the water heater is questionable.  the roof has another ten years.  what am i missing.  she has the report with her at work. 

she is so excited i am afraid she will explode.  she is giddy.  happy.  hysterical.  yay!!!!

not much . . .

running errands . . .  lunch, dry cleaners, alterations, funny money, bleach.  that deserved a nap.

tomorrow is inspection day.  fingers crossed please.

starting the deck tomorrow.  too nice not to be able to read outside.

annie creates havoc and other things . . .

joanie is coming home today.  fed the girls for the last time.  good thing too because things were going downhill fast over there.  annie wants her mom and wants her now.  chaos has ensued.

 things are tossed off shelves:

 pictures are flying.  candles are askew.  she is not a happy camper.

and on the home front, things are chugging along.  the sprinkler guy has fixed the two fountains zooming out of the ground out front and checked everything else.

i finally got around to replacing the padding on the bench at the end of my bed.  the only hiccup was my staple gun decided to be feisty.  i used a three inch foam instead of one so it looks a little cumbersome until i get used to it but it feels so much better and the cats approve.  nothing more needed.

dishes and hand wash once again up-to-date.  leftover eggplant parmesan for lunch. slurp.  the pool deck cleaning starts tomorrow.  life is good.

the things i find on my bed . . .

this little girl, tucked in all tight.
a  random paw from under a blanket.

and guess where i ate my dinner tonight?  pork roast with gravy, onion taters and acorn squash.  slurp!

and yes, i spilled wine on my bedspread.  good thing they are the same color.

got all the paperwork done that needed to be done.  finally.  thanks to the bank, the attorney and FedEx.  we can take a break until the inspection on thursday.  fingers crossed.

namaste.

buzz . . .

been to the grocery store.  marinara is simmering away.  the dishes are done.  litter is changed. iced tea is cooling.  joanie's beasties are happy and fed.  and my brain is going round and round about all the things kidlet is going to need for her new abode.

paper towels, kitchen towels, pot holders, dish washing detergent, dawn, scrubbies, sponges, canisters,  can opener, measuring cups and spoons, sugar, salt, pepper, dishes, glasses, mugs, aluminum foil, waxed paper, saran wrap, plastic baggies, garlic salt, oregano, flour, rice, utensils, olive oil, a hand mixer, garbage bags.  that's just part of the kitchen.  she has pots and pans and knives.  my brain is a buzz.  buzz.  buzz. 

i'm thinking: toilet paper, towels, toilet bowls brushes, bleach, hand soap, comet, windex.  kleenex.  times three.  buzz.  buzz.

thankfully she has her bedroom suite.  her futon. a t.v.  a dinette table and chairs.  buzz.  buzz.

and once she picks her color schemes:  i'll help her reupholster her dining room chairs. make some accent pillows and pieces. she can pick out linens.  buzz. buzz.

go to the closing. get the place cleaned.  get the floors done.  paint.  deflea.  find a mover.  buzz.  buzz.

change her address.  drivers license.  homeowners insurance. turn on the electric.  water.  cable.  buzz.

oops . . .

remember that post a month or so back where i said i joined an on-line dating site. ?  i did.  i really did.  it was an adventure.  well worth the $30 smackaroos in entertainment.  except in the long run, it  wasn't.  here a few reasons why:

"let's have sex first and then see how things go.  after all we haven't lost anything right?"  um.  no!!!!

"your bio says you're a little bit romantic and a little bit patient.  even a friend wouldn't want an impatient frigid woman"  i politely thanked him for his advice.  two days later, he posted again, "do you sleep in the freezer?" this time i wasn't as nice and typed back, "well, we know why you're divorced."  he blocked me.  HE blocked ME!!!!!  chortle.

then there was the guy willing to move from colorado to be with me . . . after one text conversation.

or the elvis impersonator who assured me he wore his "suit" on all occasions.

i also seems that i appeal to bikers.  rather large furry riders with a noticeable lack of incisors and canines, but an abundance of chest fur pelting over beer bellies. 

it was a mixed bag for sure and i did meet the one fellow for breakfast and another for lunch.  they were pleasant but banal.  give me a 9TS anytime.  i didn't renew my subscription.

kidlet . . .

barring any unforeseen incidents with the inspection, is a HOMEOWNER!!!!

through much teeth gnashing and armpit leaking, she got the call.  they picked her.  yay!!!!  so she will have her very own two bedroom, three bath nest with a tiny fenced in yard with a wood patio deck.  animals not included:

and her tiny, perfect for a kidlet kitchen:

 she will totally be able to make it hers!!!!!!  life is good.

it's a nail biter . . .

there are FOUR other offers on kidlet's cave.  ACK!!!!!  they came back and asked for a best and final.  we will hear around 3:00.  we bid over asking the first time around.  so apparently, did others.  we upped the ante but at some point, you're offering more than it is worth and we have to say uncle.  fingers crossed we made the right decision.

playing with Nancie Rowe-Janitz's new coloring page:

lookie lou's . . .

had a bunch of trouble getting home today.  our neighborhood opens onto a four lane road, if you turn right and right again and right again and right and right one last time, you've made a very large square of several miles.  i tried to get home the via the shortest route but there was a huge accident at the intersection and traffic was rerouted back around.  but then came the lookie lou's.  another accident backed up the major egress from town.  while gawking at that one, the guy along side me plows into the guy in front of him.  i get around the last corner and bam . . . another accident.  now i can't get into our neighborhood because traffic is backed up from the original site.  finally someone let me cross over.

i was trying to get home because kidlet found an adorable condo in a safe area at an affordable price and wanted to show it to me.

i also needed to feed the beasties across the street.  particularly the one who tossed her dinner plate down behind the credenza and tried to tell me i forgot to feed her this morning.  sorry, annie, i know a guilty cat look when i see one.

so we finally are able to get back out of the neighborhood and go try and play lookie lou at the condo.  the owner was there and i couldn't help myself.  now we are in a bidding war.  apparently we aren't the only people who think it's a good deal.

kidlet is a little beyond excited and looking forward to hearing tomorrow.

trivia . . .

they looked at three townhouses today.  nothing to write home about.  they are headed back out tomorrow.  fingers crossed. 

a nice big cobb salad for dinner.  i could be a salad.  kidlet made herself pancakes.  talk about independence day a comin'

i'm kitty sitting joanie's two animals:  shebs and annie.  annie thinks i am stoopid.  i didn't bother to read joanie's note first.  piled a clean plate with annie's wet food and headed out to the spring porch with it.  no annie.  now annie is a tiny thing but she does not miss a meal.  i walked back inside to see her standing on the credenza waiting for me.  her food waiting outside.  huh?  well if i had bothered to read joanie's note, it seems she now eats inside.  duh.  mix-up fixed.  both are happy campers.

i have two errant sprinkler heads.  gah.  spring is here.  the deck needs to be scrubbed and bleached.  the gutters need cleaning again.  there are froggies living behind the clock on the pool deck.  maybe i'll just leave kidlet the house and go check into a hotel.  permanently.

we started looking . . .

for a kidlet home today.  we start in earnest tomorrow with cousin stacey as our realtor.  looking for a nice little cave, in a nice area, with nice people for my nice kidlet.  somewhere close by so i know she won't starve to death.  it's time for her to test her wings.

it's a good thing  for us both.  yay us!!!!!!

got my peepers checked today.  everyone of them is perfect.  i don't need a new script.  Yay, me!!!

still keeping my head . . .

pretty much in the dark except for an early morning meander for the soul.

lots to do tomorrow. 

been studying my camera manual.  i took a break and now it's time to get back on the horse.  my cell shots are lovely but nothing is clear as glass, especially when blown up.

big news is brewing.  betcha can't guess.

down and out . . .

with a migraine from yesterday.  tomorrow will be much betterer.

i've been playing again . . .

when i should be outside in this glorious weather:

 but sometimes, i just can't help myself.

this is an oldie i reworked using anna aspnes art.

and then just for fun, there is this:

but so true . . .

verdict on last nights dinner . . .

it is going into rotation.  oh slurp!!!!

a couple of things to change.  15 minutes was not enough to make it nice and bubbly.  when i warm up the left overs tomorrow, i'm going to 25 or 30 minutes and the lasagna should have been cooked just a tad more.  maybe 15 minutes.  the only other problem?  i couldn't stop eating the eggplant before it made it into the dish.  oh, which reminds me. i breaded the eggplant first and 86ed the tomatoes.  lol.  whatever, it is most delicious:

namaste.

my jelly bean . . .

is a happy camper with new oil, new windshield wipers, some spilled oil off her engine and tires checked out.  with a mere 50k miles on her, paul says she is good for another 17 years.  best medicine ever!!!!!  oh, and if i ever want to sell her, he wants her.  sorry paul, no dice.  kidlet's car goes in next monday.

trying this new recipe tonight, from Proud Italian Cook:

Eggplant and Burrata Lasagna

 

Ingredients

• Ingredients are for two servings, feel free to double or triple.
• 3 balls of burrata
• 1 medium eggplant cut into circles, roasted or pan sauteed in olive oil until golden crisp
• 1 pint of colored cherry tomatoes, left whole, roasted in olive oil with fresh basil
• 1 quart of marinara sauce, preferably homemade, (you'll have leftover)
• 6 pasta sheets, three per serving, the kind you have to boil, cooked al'dente
• fresh basil for garnish

Instructions

1. Heat oven to 375 degrees. Brush 2 individual gratin dishes with olive oil.
2. Spoon marinara on the bottom of each.
3. Place one sheet of lasagna down and spoon marinara on top then add three slices of cooked eggplant.
4. Gently tear into the burrata and place pieces on top of eggplant.
5. Scatter the roasted tomatoes on top with some shredded basil.
6. Then repeat two more times. pasta sheet, marinara, eggplant, burrata, tomatoes and basil.
7. Place gratin dishes on a rimmed baking sheet for easy in and out of oven.
8. Bake for about 15 minutes just until warmed and burrata has gently melted.
9. Let it rest a few minutes before serving when sauce has stopped bubbling.
10. Garnish with more shredded basil.

the cheese isn't available so i am back to plain old mozzarella,  slurp.  but the idea of lasagna noodles, eggplant, mozzarella and fresh basil is making me salivate.  gravy is thawing on the counter.   i need to make a fresh batch for another new recipe later this week.  oh, and goat cheese might be added on top . . .

if you have a sensitive stomach . . .

bypass this post.  please.  your significant other will thank you.

at a little after 4:00, kidlet decides she needs a nap before dinner.  not a problem.  i am on my laptop on one side of the bed and she decides to nestle on the other side.  we have a couple of fleece blankets we use if it is cool like today.

so there i am, on my laptop tapping away.  kidlet reaches for the smaller throw and snaps it in the air to unfold it to make her nest.  i'm sitting there stunned as i watch gobs of what looks like chocolate chip cookie dough fly across the rooms and land on the mirror over the low bureau.  if ever there was a time to say WTF, this would be it.

she starts rolling in laughter and squealing with delight while i am still trying to take it all in.  and then i realize the truth.

someone with four little legs and a tail had apparently vomited on the blanket which because airborne with the snap of kidlets hands:

 and there across the entirety of the room is cat vomit glued to the mirror, its frame and several of the photo frames.

little feline patties of vomit.  note the furry edges.

i'm sorry but this is one of life's little impossibilities come to fruition.

namaste.

it got chilly again . . .

more posies . . .

don't cha just love spring?!?!?!?  i thought it was gone but this morning it was 57• and the flowers are blooming all over the place.

 i want weather like this all year round!!!!  please mother nature. please!!!

my nose is still stuck in a book.  this time the memory keeper's daughter.  didn't like it even a little but i am, apparently, the only one.  and a couple more historical romances because it is, after all, spring.  and then on to another patterson . . . NYPD RED 3, 4 is on wait list.

doing a happy dance, just because i can!!!!!!

this is . . .

who i want to be when i grow up:

spring . . .

 namaste.