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Post by Mini Mia on Nov 13, 2010 18:33:05 GMT -6
Have a safe move, Siren. Hope everything arrives to the new place in tiptop shape.
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Post by Phalon on Nov 14, 2010 8:50:23 GMT -6
That is an "OMG!" good, or "OMG" bad? I was thinking about this the other day...we've had our heat on for awhile. We kept it set low, especially at night when it gets turned down to about 65 degrees. The unseasonal warm weather the past couple of weeks means it hasn't been getting very cold at night; it's been hovering in the 40s. In the mornings, 65 degrees feels frigid inside the house, but when I go outside with my coffee to let the dog out, the colder outside air actually feels balmy. Why is that?
You are definitely embarking on an exciting journey, Siren! I'm looking forward to hearing more once you get settled in.
It took our cats a while. When we got Quetta, we put a kitty door on the door leading to the mudroom, which is unheated, and where we moved the litter boxes to keep the dog out of them. At first, neither cat would go through it, not liking the heavy rubber flap rubbing up against them. It was especially difficult for Dusty, the Hell Cat, who has never liked anything to touch his back; he loves to be stroked on his head, under his chin, and even his belly - but touch his back, and you're asking for it.
At first we taped up the flap so they'd get used to going through the door. After a couple of weeks using the flapless door, we put a towel over the opening, getting them used to pushing something out of the way to get through. Finally, we let the rubber flap down, and they haven't had a problem since. You'd think because they use it so often, the Hell Cat would have gotten accustomed to having his back touched, wouldn't you? HA! He still gets the heebies and does that low growl if a person even thinks about petting him on the back.
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Post by katina2nd on Nov 19, 2010 21:04:03 GMT -6
 A "little" late but none the less sincere; really great news Siren, hope the move goes/went successfully and that the job is everything you hope for. Sounds ideal, back doing what you love, plus the bonus of the location, I couldn't be happier for you.  *Gotta check around the different threads more*
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Post by Phalon on Nov 20, 2010 7:57:15 GMT -6
I hope she had a good first week; it sounded like it would be a busy one!
My week was busy too - grueling actually, putting nearly forty acres of nursery stock to bed for the season. But it's all ready for winter now, and yesterday was my last day until spring. Just in time; I don't think I could have held out for much longer. Ouch - my aching muscles!
Uhm...yes. Yes, you do. Of course, to do that, it helps if you stop in a little more often, yes? I miss my favorite Aussie when he's not around. Wondering how you've been doing, Katina?
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Post by Siren on Nov 20, 2010 18:19:11 GMT -6
Me, too, Kat - wondering about you. Glad to see you here! And thank you for the good wishes and sweet hug. I feel very fortunate for this new opportunity, and to have great friends like you all.
I'm still not settled, but am here at the "old" house for more packing and moving. Started the new job Wednesday. Just as I predicted, I'll need to learn fast. But the guys I work with are exceptionally nice and supportive. They keep saying "No pressure. Don't worry.", but I do. Hiring a new member for a very small staff is a big deal, and expectations are high. I hope it doesn't take me too long to pull my weight.
Good grief, Gams! 40 acres? After reading that post I wanted to reach for the Bengay ointment. Thanks for the suggestions for teaching Bud to use the kitty door. With all the changes ahead in his life, that'll be just one worry.
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Post by katina2nd on Nov 20, 2010 20:47:25 GMT -6
Uhm...yes. Yes, you do. Of course, to do that, it helps if you stop in a little more often, yes? I miss my favorite Aussie when he's not around. Wondering how you've been doing, Katina? Very good point you make there Gams, gotta pull my socks up a bit in future and get here more often. I be doin' fine thanks, getting ready for a bout of hot weather over the next three days, although speaking of heaters *we were?* had ours going several times of an evening up until a week or so ago and we're just three weeks away from the start of summer so that's very unusual. Chuck some Radox bath salts into a tub of hot water and have a good soak, that'll do wonders for those aching muscles, you'll come out feeling like a new woman. Just as I predicted, I'll need to learn fast. But the guys I work with are exceptionally nice and supportive. They keep saying "No pressure. Don't worry.", but I do. Hiring a new member for a very small staff is a big deal, and expectations are high. I hope it doesn't take me too long to pull my weight. Just take it nice and easy Siren and you'll be fine, worrying isn't going to help any [ easy to say I know ] and just puts extra pressure on yourself. You'll have the job mastered in no time I have no doubt. |
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Post by Phalon on Nov 21, 2010 8:45:01 GMT -6
Yes, pull up those socks, Katina...cuz being caught with droopy socks is most definitely a fashion fax paus, unless of course, you've remembered to shave and want to show off those silky smooth legs of yours.
Thanks for the bath salt advice. I'll have remember your suggestion in a few days. Now that the nursery is done, I have to start in earnest in my own yard. Wishing we had just a bit of that bout of hot weather you've got coming your way so I could work in the yard a little bit longer without freezing my behind off. Summer's coming your way, but winter is banging on the door here.
More good advice! See, that's why we miss you when you're not around.
I agree with Katina, Siren - I bet you'll be great at your job in no time.
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Post by katina2nd on Nov 21, 2010 19:26:08 GMT -6
What, shave my legs, no no no, waxing is the way to go for that smooth as a babies bottom feel, doncha know that? {see, more good advice ]  Does this mean you'll have more time for posting here, once you finish work on your yard of course, sounds good to me, can never have to much of a good thing I say. |
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Post by Phalon on Nov 23, 2010 5:48:00 GMT -6
Good advice and flattery! It's no wonder we all like having you around, Katina.
It was quite nice here, yesterday morning. I should have worked out in the yard, but decided to play for a bit, and went rolling skiing instead. It's been forever since I've been. By afternoon, it turned rainy and nasty. I got nothing done outside, and will have to do it in 30 degree weather instead of temperatures in the sixties. My morning of bliss was worth it though.
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Post by katina2nd on Nov 24, 2010 19:11:55 GMT -6
Some good rain here as well yesterday afternoon and last night, nice and mild at present after several days with the temp' hovering around the nineties.
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Post by stepper on Nov 24, 2010 19:34:47 GMT -6
Our local weather guessers are suggesting we'll have our first freezing temperatures this weekend. The NERVE of those guys! But then again, maybe I can put it to use. I've been having to rebuild my system and got most of the kinks worked out - finally - but I made a mistake and really, the best way to fix this is format the drive and start over. That's the project for this weekend - start over again. I'll disappear for a few days at least so no fair chucking that fruitcake at me until I get back!
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Post by Mini Mia on Nov 24, 2010 19:39:42 GMT -6
Computer problems are a pain.  Good luck, Step. Hope to see you back asap. I had to uninstall my old firewall and replace it with a new one. The old one kept freezing up my computer. No matter how many times I rebooted, I'd have to hit the reset button again and again. So when I finally managed to get up and running, I got rid of that sucker. Boots up just fine now. Weird how something can work okay for ages and then suddenly cause a boatload of trouble. 
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Post by stepper on Nov 24, 2010 19:55:54 GMT -6
It wasn't my firewall that got me into trouble, it was Symantic. It autoupdated but something went wrong and it killed my registry - made it unreadable. The story gets ugly and sordid after that, but again, if you aren't ghosting then it's just a chance you take. But I've never had so much trouble getting back on line!  |
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Post by Siren on Nov 24, 2010 20:03:59 GMT -6
Hello, sweet friends - Just a quick pop-in while I pick up another load of stuff from this house and move it to the new address. The new job is going fine, and neat things are ahead there. More details soon. It's Thanksgiving at my sis' house tomorrow with la familia. I hope the holiday finds you with those you love best. My best to you all!
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Post by Mini Mia on Nov 24, 2010 20:06:24 GMT -6
Step: Computers are GREAT when everything is going well ... but when the cow-patties hit the fan, computers can drive you MAD! I feel for ya.
Siren: Hey! You have a great Thanksgiving too. Hope you get everything moved to the new place and all unpacked soon. 
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Post by stepper on Nov 24, 2010 20:57:32 GMT -6
In case you never noticed - cow-pattie stuff is NOT evenly distributed when it hits the fan and this time I got more than my fair share.
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Post by Phalon on Nov 29, 2010 7:17:23 GMT -6
I think this is one of the hardest times of the year for me - the transition between fall and winter, (the transition between winter and spring is the other). I love being outside; winter is no exception. But when the cold temperatures hit, for me it's like standing on the edge of a pool of frigid water - I hem and haw about taking the plunge.
After a few days of staying inside with freezing temperatures outside, especially with all the Thanksgiving leftovers in the house, I was starting to feel like a slug. So, I took the plunge. I went skiing - on wheels, because we got none of the snow that was predicted. But Ack! It was brrr-cold!
It warmed up though, I think to the highest temperature it's been in a week, and by afternoon it was in the forties. We finished up the gardens and yardwork for the year, thankfully. Whew! I didn't think it'd ever get done.
I actually started getting in the Christmas spirit by filling my flower boxes with greens, red-twig dogwood branches, and some really neat curly willow branches (which I had left-over from Halloween - they make for some great creepy scenery). I should say I tried to fill the boxes. Shoot! I think I waited too long. Even with the temps above freezing, the dirt was frozen solid. Maybe today; it's supposed to be in the forties again. I'd hate to not have greens for Christmas.
Christmas? Already? Is it time to bring up the winter thread yet?
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Post by Phalon on Nov 30, 2010 5:41:35 GMT -6
Not yet...at least one more day, maybe. It's 51 degrees - at 6 o'clock in the morning! It's already warmer than yesterday, but it's raining; yesterday was nice and sunny.
Kind of a funny thing happened while I was outside yesterday. I made apple bread for Thanksgiving (no, that's not the funny part - it turned out good, I swear). I used the rest of the apples we picked back in September; they'd turned mushier than I like them to eat fresh, but perfect to use for baking. There were a few badly bruised ones though, and I threw them out in the veggie garden, along with the peelings and cores with the apples I did use; adds good stuff to the soil when they decompose.
I was sitting on the back porch while the dog roamed the ravine, looking for something stinky to roll in, I'm sure. One of my crows flew to the maple right in front of the porch, and let out three "caws" bowing in the direction of Quetta each time. I'm sure I've mentioned here before about my fascination with the crows in my yard; I've watched them long enough to understand this was a "warning caw". They have different types of caws for different situations.
After the crow cawed his warning, he sat there, just watching the dog who, not finding anything acceptably stinky, ran up the ravine hill to the porch where I was sitting. At just the right moment - THUD! An apple fell from the tree, landing just inches from Quetta's head as she passed underneath. I looked further up the tree, and saw my other crow sitting silently; I bet if crows had expressions, this one would have had a devious look on its face.
I've read crows play - not the kind of play that other animals do which mimics what they need to do to survive in the wild, but real play just to amuse themselves. Maybe the "warning caw" wasn't a warning at all, but more of a "I dare ya to drop that apple on that beast's head....no, I double dog dare ya." I can see it happening; Quetta, on the other hand, never saw it coming. She musta jumped ten feet when the apple hit the ground.
I wonder if crows laugh?
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Post by Siren on Sept 8, 2011 21:17:40 GMT -6
They do, Gams. It's "Haw..Haw...Haw!" ;D And that crow was surely belly-laughing at pulling a first class prank on that pooch.
Since Gams was posting about bus stop weather in the summer thread, I figure fall has begun. In my book, summer ends and fall begins when school starts. Thus, I'm opening the windows and airing out the autumn thread. Any objections?
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Post by Mini Mia on Sept 8, 2011 22:05:11 GMT -6
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Post by stepper on Sept 8, 2011 22:44:47 GMT -6
Here, schools started opening in the middle of August so that little trick is a promise of things to come - we hope. Bring it on!
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Post by Phalon on Sept 11, 2011 7:06:50 GMT -6
Oooo, fall; I love fall!!!
Me too, Siren.
Another thing for me, that always signals fall has begun is when it's time to go apple picking. We're going to the orchard this afternoon.
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Post by Phalon on Sept 12, 2011 6:20:06 GMT -6
It was a beautiful day here yesterday, a lot warmer than it's been - maybe even considered hot. I went roller skiing in the morning, and Oh!...the new wheels are amazing! I hadn't realized how bad the old ones and their rims had gotten. I don't think the skis ever ran this smooth, or they've been bad for so long, I can't remember the glide being this fast. Great way to start the day.
The night was just as beautiful as the day. The full, or nearly full moon was high in the sky when I took the dog out around midnight. The entire yard was lit by moonlight; it seemed as if it was dusk inside of the middle of the night.
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Post by Siren on Sept 12, 2011 6:41:30 GMT -6
The moon WAS glorious, Gams. As we were on the way back from Tulsa last night, I thought the countryside looked almost magical, it had such a beautiful glow.
Glad you're enjoying those new wheels. What a great time of year for it!
I was wondering if it was near apple-picking season in your area. Like you, I think of that as one of the true signs of fall, like the county fair and the return of football.
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Post by stepper on Sept 12, 2011 20:27:27 GMT -6
I've seen the moon come up full , but pumpkin orange as it rose in the sky. That was an interesting sight.
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Post by Phalon on Sept 13, 2011 6:27:17 GMT -6
That's the perfect word for the moonlight the other night, Siren - magical. And Stepper....given your fondness for the Peanuts, I'm not sure if you're talking about the Great Pumpkin rising, or the actual moon, but my favorite time to see the full moon when it rises tangerine-orange.
It's only the earliest apples that are ready now - Galas and Honeycrisp; the McIntosh are late this year. Hubs' favorite, like so many other people, are Honeycrisp; I adore McIntosh. The Honeycrisps always quick to be picked over so instead of waiting for the Macs, we decided to go this past weekend. It looks like another trip to the orchard this weekend or the next when the McIntosh are ready, (though we did pick a basket of greenish ones; I'm hoping they store better than those that are fully ripe). I never mind going apple picking more than once a season; it's one of those rituals of fall I love.
And football! Did you happen to catch the Michigan/Notre Dame game Saturday night? Probably not, but it was a nail-biter. Michigan was down the entire game, but finally took the lead with just over a minute left. Notre Dame came back and scored. I thought it was over for sure. Then with 36 seconds left on the clock, the Wolverines got the ball back. Two plays later, they won the game. One-hundred-and-fourteen thousand people in the Big House went insane. I love college football!
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Post by stepper on Sept 13, 2011 20:29:58 GMT -6
Well, both I guess. I was thinking of both when I wrote it - and the Halloween special.
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Post by Siren on Sept 14, 2011 22:07:53 GMT -6
Mmmmmmm..Honeycrisp apples! Haven't had one in awhile; they're kind of expensive here. But I'm going to get some. So, so delish! Have you eaten any of the heirloom varieties of apples, Gams" Here's an article about them: www.vvdailypress.com/articles/apples-30087-heirloom-local.htmlFootball? Now, you're talking! Yes, it's that special time of year when my sister, GG, wears her special "Packers yellow" gameday panties. Seriously. LOL!! I have missed football so terribly, and am enjoying every minute. I don't care who's playing, I'll watch. |
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Post by stepper on Sept 15, 2011 18:31:39 GMT -6
My red maple is in trouble. The leaves are going straight to crispy dead brown. This is happening to several of the smaller branches. Some of the bigger branches are still full of green leaves, but it's a sign confirming it's been a tough summer.
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Post by Siren on Sept 16, 2011 21:55:02 GMT -6
My young redbud is in the same shape, Step. I have babied it all summer, and shaded it from the worst of the sunlight. But like your tree, its smaller limbs are showing the strain.
It was beautifully cool and moist today. And as my friend said, the air smelled of fall. Our evening walk around the college football field was a pleasure. First home game of the season is tomorrow. And that's a sure sign of fall!
I love this time of year!
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