Burning
wood during the winter comes with the collection of the dregs of wood
pieces, splinter pieces and general wood rubble. Son decided to clean
out his wood box and wood shed of said rubble and a couple pallets. A snowy night bonfire seemed good entertainment.
A hot, quick fire lit up his back yard
and in the process, he took another excellent photo that I would
kill for in the planning and taking. He seems to come to these easily and often
and is able to capture not just a picture, but a life photograph.
His
fiancee and their dog lit by the night fire is more than worthy for starting out this weeks blog.
The
dog's name is Herman and is a red Golden. Most folks we know cannot
help being pulled into this breed. Something about a Golden Retriever
that says come wrap your arms around me, hug me, love me and give me a
cookie. Herman is the quintessential Golden with eyes that will melt
your heart and his bark
at the door for strangers will make them back up several steps. When
I go to visit, he barks several times and then turns into a bowl of
shaking and wagging jelly as he physically checks out both of my
hands. If they are empty, he sits down in front of me oozing happy
anticipation. We have each other well-trained to both know one or two dog treats are always ready when I visit. I love his dog.
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“I
TRY TO KEEP ON, KEEPING ON”
A
lyric from the song My Silver Lining by First Aid Kit.
Quite
often in these later years when I discover something, I like sharing.
What I have learned is how late I am now to most all games now. Folks
already know, have known and it is history to them. To me though, it
is a new discovery. “I like it.”
I
have not found much music these days that gets me where I like being
got when a tune plays or voice and instruments start to sound.
I
have no patience for much music on radio or on TV anymore. I have
enjoyed a few of the “new singing star” series and every once in
awhile, a worth listening to singing voice/song. This last year I did
not even bother to record any of these series because I could not
wade through all of the associated old singer antics or interactions.
No patience. No new talent.
I came across the group First Aid Kit in the YouTube video; Weightless by
Jean Baptiste Chandelier awhile ago. What a marriage of video and music. Totally
absorbed for nearly 6 minutes. Enjoy.
..............................................
SS
Thermos vs Stanley vs Plastic
Thermos vs Yeti
I
did a test of the above 4 bottles. I wanted to find out
how well they performed holding hot beverages in a challenging
environment. Bottles were all warmed with hot tap water for five
minutes, emptied, re-filled, sealed and set on the wooden steps of
our non-insulated garage (30 degrees F) for five hours. The short version of my
findings is the SS Thermos jug failed. The Stanley won with just a 15
degree loss of temperature followed second by the Plastic Thermos
with a 20 degree loss of temperature. The Yeti failed.
Exposed
stainless steel to the cold of winter for 5 hours must transfer that
extreme cold to the contents. If I was to make a judgment on
purchasing a new bottle for keeping my coffee warm while I was out
sporting or working in winter conditions, I would purchase the
Stanley, hands down.
The
blue plastic thermos must have been designed by the very folks who
use bottles for hot/cold beverages in their work/outdoors living. It
comes with two cups and a carafe type top that allows controlled
pouring of the beverage. No slopping or over-spilling. The two cups are indicative of sharing and part of the design. It also has a closed
small cap built into the “cork” top that will hold a dry
sweetener or creamer. If one is going to go through the work of
putting together an on the road or off to work hot beverage container, why not
maximize the design?
This
was a hard environment test of these bottles. I will not rule out the
two that failed and further test in more friendly environments.
................................
“As
of 11:30 Monday night, the markets are dropping and the VIX is rising,
and both are accelerating.”
I
have been watching the VIX for the past several years. Takes just a
second or two to check the number. The number has always been around
10 (+-) over the past year. It is a measurement of market volatility and may be used/judged to predict market trends.
................................
Caught on camera with play-by-play announcer.
Did you laugh?
...................................
Could not land on any P&M this week. Not there is not enough to find fault with and add to the pots of the unhappy. Just could not sum up the energy to further any comment.
Big game tonight. Starts at 6:30 PM here on the east coast and kills any party or gathering for us. Besides the wife is dead set in her discontent for all things Patriots. She will acknowledge with quiet voice that Brady has skills, but if you do not hear it the first time, she will not repeat it. Beyond that, the Super Bowl lacks. The only emotion I can summons is a numbness at all inside of the NFL circle.
I will tune in to listen to Pink sing the National Anthem. I will give her the opportunity to do it right. I am hopeful.
NO, I will not be watching the half time show. I like Justin, but not like I like Lady Ga Ga from last year. That was a show.
I am not hopeful of great commercials. Use to be worth the wait. But like most things NFL and kneeling, I am all but gone from this national past time. History and habit will have me glancing at the game tonight. Just one Bud Lite with puppies or Clydesdale's could change this for me though.
A Super Bowl snack that wife is making today.
A small tube of Jimmy Dean hot sausage fried and drained.
Add a can of Ro*tel original diced tomatoes and green chilies
Add one 8 oz of creme cheese.
Mix well in the (off) hot frying pan from the sausage. Stir, fold and mix.
Serve immediately in the frying pan. Party goers have got to come to this, not this to them on the couch.
Fill favorite chip and eat. Say it with me: "yummmmmmmmmmmm"
If you are a fan of "hotter", than use a hotter version of the Ro*tel.
This can re-warmed, but not hot-heated. Whew!
....................................
A product of Thailand
I am guessing that folks who frequent the dollar stores may be grouped for general comment. Social status, financial status and maybe lesser than. So be it; add us.
We stop often for the little things and to see what is on the shelves. The wife finds do-dads for finger nails, cheep throw away easily lost reading glasses and so forth. We also find from time to time good deals on canned fruit. I have mentioned this before. It is hit and miss and also a matter of like/dislike going in.
We have found best ever canned peaches from South Africa and just this past week Apricots from Chili and Mango Slices from Thailand. Apricots are good, but lack only for our take on any Apricots; not the quality of the canned product.
The Mango Slices are to die for. We get four servings @.25 each per can. The broth in the can has got to be something for a mixologist to try a shot of this or a shot of that in. Right now I get it all.
...............................
The weatherman has forecast every kind of weather possible today along with fatherly comments on driving. Thus I have an immediate date with the tractor for the next hour; recent snow removal; fill wood box and best "I keep on keeping on."
Thanks for the visit and have a wonderful week.
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