ONE RULE OF FAILURE - - MARVEL -- STEM CELL INJECTION UP-DATE

One of life's rules is that nothing ever breaks or fails until late at night, or on a weekend or holiday. And the failure is always something that has to be lived with until a repair man can come. So, the home well-water pump failure early last week was in keeping with all of this.

First problem out of the box is the inability to flush the toilet. Yes, one flush left in the tank, but then what? In our case, there was enough pressure left to fill each toilet once. Good for 24 hours max.

A trip to the store to purchase 6 gallons of water for toilets, making coffee and some hand-washing. I could have tapped some of our emergency storage but it was quicker and easier to go to the market. Four dollars!! Those 6 gallons can disappear in a heartbeat and they did.

We have always counted on being able to run the water pump in a long emergency with a generator. But when the pump or low pressure switch fails, that plan fails.

A call to the pump guy brought him the next morning, prepared to replace the pressure switch, the pump and or the holding tank. Replacing a well water pump with a 400' vertical run is not a quick fix but this kid had pre-planned having to do any or all of this project.

He thinks that the motor is starting to fail and that the motor stopped on a dead spot in the turnings where the electrical current would not turn it on. This is not a hundreds of dollars of repair, but thousands!!

He got the pump started and working with some fiddling. We ruled out a leak in the system and now are running the system until further notice. We are fortunate to have a repair man that is reliable for repair in a short turn around. The other positive is that this repair man has been with us since we built the house and knows the system well.

The lack of water in the after will be a killer: quickly. But it can be pre-planned for. With fresh portable water storage and a rain water collection system, this problem can be managed.

The storage of fresh water and a rain collection system is short money. How much water do you and your family need on a daily basis. Figure that out and increase the gallonage by 25%. How many days will that give you? Think Venezuela!!

Lesson for me this time, was how much water 2 people use through the day and night in everyday living.

Here is an excellent project, again, short money. Make one, set it aside for back up along with dry sawdust. I have mentioned this option before.

https://humanurehandbook.com/store/Lovable_Loo_Compost_Toilet.html

…...................

MARVELS AGENTS OF SHIELD...

...aired last week and I need to dredge up the bottom of a crap vocabulary to adequately cover my disappointment in how low this series has sunk. The entertainments industry agenda is alive and well this season, but there is no story line. None. Nada, Kaput! An excellent series to turn on and then go outside to do chores.

Many new actors now that need to be developed and old favorites completely destroyed in a desperate attempt to keep the series moving ahead with meaning and interest. The lack of talent of the writers and producers is the best story line of all. I can go on, but only deeper in disappointment and a fans contempt for the literal destruction of a television series.

Maybe Marvel is taking notes from the last of Raymond Reddington and Elizabeth Keene's fall from a series crew utter failure to keep a good story line alive.

We were loyal fans, but then again what do we know?

…...................

THANK YOU JOHN WICK 3

Don't ya just love the dogs?

https://youtu.be/CbI3VBLxOno

…....................

PLANTING SOME HERBS

No more gardens for us. All taken down last year and now just some dabbling in a few fresh herbs and flowers for color yard happiness.

Cool temperatures and rain holding on to the beginning of continuous warm dry spring/summer days. Yes, we middle New England folks are complaining about this too.

As the growing season progresses, my wife and I are again going to sell our act as older folks and just happen to stop by more often at our younger neighbors and friends homes. They always seem to have some extra home grown garden veggies.

“Oh, you don't have to do that, but if you have extra and need to get rid of some of these fresh tomatoes, zucchini, string beans and green onions, we will be happy to help out.” “You don't have chicken yet, huh?”

We do not have them fooled at all. Our acting is not that good.

…...................

STEM CELL INJECTION UP-DATE

Been 4 weeks now and I can confidently say that the injection is working. Little things I could not do a month ago without noticeable pain I can do now. Lifting a cup of coffee off of the table next to my arm chair all the way to taking sips to returning it to the table. The downward motion of buckling a safety belt in the passengers seat. Lifting a half gallon of milk out of the fridge using my left arm. Others!

There are still places I cannot go with my arm. I do not know how well all of that will improve. But I think that when all is said and done, my every day comfort and basic close in arm movements will be worth the endeavor. Anything beyond that will be lagniappe.

A 15-20 pound loss of weight has also helped. The diet is working and I have not cheated once. I have wanted to: a gin and tonic, the warm bread and butter, the chocolate cake and ice cream at a social gathering this past weekend. Hard and all of me wanted just a sneak taste. But that would have meant starting all over and 28 days of good behavior lost. So, on with the program.

Now the 4-8 week of healing and additional activities begin. Some lifting of weights. A little testing of what is working until the shoulder reports it has had enough.

Maintain the diet, no alcohol, no stress and practice cautious optimism. A check up visit with the nurse recently reinforced that this is a 6 months healing process. He explained it does take time, but from our discussions he noted that my progress is positive. I will continue to exercise good sense and work the time table.

Canceling two shoulder replacement surgery appointments over the past 3 years have been two of the best decisions of my life.

FOILING THE ROBINS

For some unknown reasons, the robins have found that sitting on my tuck mirrors to poop is their only option here. Over and over and over. Every time I walk out to the truck, a robin is sitting on a mirror. I moved the parking spot and the robins followed.

"Not Today"

…..................

Living in a crazy world continues on high. Coast to coast and around the globe. No one I visit with has any good news about our tomorrows. The divisions amongst us seems to be getting more pronounced. Regardless: work the days, the family, the happy and prepare one more thing this week. Check it off your list.

Thanks for the visit. 

GOT S8 EP2 "THE THINGS I DO FOR LOVE" - - RIBS - - BIG TURKEYS

If you are not a GOT fan and or been with the series from the beginning, the start of this post will be of no never mind. 

"The Things I Do For Love" titles the latest episode of Game of Thrones. The wife and I came to the series late over a couple years ago. We started from the beginning, caught up and have been invested in the story and characters ever since. There is not a lot of good entertainment "out there" these years; however, GOT is getting it right and setting a high bar. 

This most recent episode well writes and plays out families and individuals all coming together after 8 seasons and these final moments before a long dreaded battle. And as this past week has worn on, spoilers and opinions abound.  

Jenny of Oldstones Full screen and sound up. If you recognize each clip shown here, you are a fan's fan and you will enjoy this very much.

...................

 RIBS AND PORK CHOPS

Mid-week pork rib smoker test. Marinated over night, smoked nearly 3 hours in the photo above and then individually wrapped in foil and back in the smoker for 3-4 more hours. Diet now does not afford my option of smothering these in BBQ sauce. Need to learn to make very low carb sauce.  

Best pork chops ever now made in the air fryer at least once a week. I find on sale when possible, two center cut chops for little money. We have them for breakfast or lunch or dinner. Salt and pepper only and about 11 minutes give or take depending on the thickness. I always pass a paring knife between the meat and bone in several places too. Helps in the full cooking. Quick, easy peasy and clean up the same.

I have shared here many cooking ideas as seasons change. It is time for the smoker and grill getting in our meal loops. Now instead of all those carbed up foods, ohhhhhhhhhhhhh I miss em, I will be sharing low carbs. 

..................... 

NEIGHBOR'S YARD WITH HUNTING SEASON NEXT WEEK. 

Apparently there is a very close by hunting trail and it could be fresh turkey breast on the table and in the freezer for him soon. No feed, they just come in and peck away in old gardens and surrounding fields. Big birds!

Check off another box for country living.

..........................

ROBOT DOGS PULL TRUCK

A new sound and something I have never witnessed.  

I still want one.

..........................

Mid week I awoke to early morning light, birds chirping and chirping, a slight left over rain mist, low celings on surrounding hill tops and that special fresh air that has been washed clean from over night rain. The yellow dasies on the girls final resting site is again bringing long needed color. A smile if you will. 

The driveway, having been recently swept free of sand and the yards beckon to be addressed. 

............................

Not sure why I have had some difficulty this past week figuring out which day it is. Quite a few times I thought the day up coming was Saturday. Or Friday. This morning I am thinking it is Saturday and my wife convinces me it is Sunday. It is and my day to post. Thought I had one more day. 

But I can still find my way home when out and about and when that goes, there will be trouble in River City. But not today. Sunday? Right!!

I appreciate the visit. 

STEM CELL INJECTION; LEFT SHOULDER - BEAR VISITS

Left shoulder, Monday last. 

Shoulders have been deteriorating due to old age and arthritis for the past  years. A little at a time. Scheduled shoulder replacement surgery twice and have canceled twice. The doctor described the procedure - likening that to a chicken wing tear down - forever set that procedure in the WTF bin. For me!

Years ago, one of our doctors told us that stem cell therapy would replace most all joint replacements with in the next 20 years. I doubted I would live long enough back then. But one thing for sure, a replaced shoulder could never benefit from that therapy.

I have learned to live with discomfort, reduction in range of motion and zero strength at arms length. A little Ibuprofen here and more Ibuprofen there and I managed. An outdoors busy day activity ahead of me was started with a dose of three Ibuprofen. I did ok.

But time had come and after asking a lot of folks and doing more and more research, I found a stem cell therapy clinic in Portsmouth, NH. I have my PA-C, family health care provider, to thank for the research help. 

I find it interesting that many healthcare folk and physical therapists are not up to speed on this procedure or close by regenerative medicine facilities . Maybe because it is out of pocket for the patient, does not bring in patients to them and or the procedure may simply be overlooked. I think this is changing fast. I think now that the interest is there in some of these health care providers. 

The injection into the shoulder joint did not hurt. A single shot of stem cells mixed with some of my enriched blood (3cc or so total) was injected into the joint. Procedure lasted 20 seconds. My son, who stood behind me and watched the procedure, said he could see the fluid go into my shoulder joint as viewed on the screen monitor. The doctor who did this procedure, along with office staff, have skill sets that are appreciated beyond words. 

A million stem cells were injected. They double every 28 hours or so for the next six months. 1 M -2 M- 4 M- 8 M and so forth. As they do, they set to repairing and replacing cartilage in the joint. Generally speaking, stem cell therapy has a 55% to 85% success rate.

It will be a few months before I can speak to exact improvements or not. I have do's and don't over the next several months on activity and a major change in diet. Sugar is the enemy of stem cell therapy. My diet  and eating habits have to be permanent for my remaining years. I will lose weight and and that in of itself will be of great value. 

That small bag of Cheetos that use to pop up two weeks into a diet, is but a memory; a wonderful memory.

My father had a heart attack when he was around my age. The doctor told him to quit smoking or die. Dad quit smoking that day. After that he often said he would give a thousand dollars for a cigarette, but would not smoke it for a million. Perspective huh?

For me it is the similar. Either change and work improving my old age health or not.

SO, I have lived long enough to have this treatment option available to  me and associated therapies. Stem cell injection therapies are improving rapidly.

If you find that think you may be a candidate, research a top clinic in your state or nearby state. Visit the office and see for yourself if they are a fly by night facility or seriously invested in the technology and procedures. Do your home work, ask a lot of questions. They should have an already proven track record, too. 

I will know more as weeks wear on. At the end of the 6th day now; are there noticeable improvements? I think so, but these minor and simple arm movements/motions need to be repeated daily to see if, indeed, they are improved. More next post. 

.....................

THE BEAR HAS RETURNED

I am surprised that this little bird feeder fared as well as it did.

This one has been knocked down so many times over the past years that I think it has adapted to the bears visits.

...............

FOUND ON ACE OF SPADES

Girl and howling wolfs.

I share this for absolutely no reason other than it puts a smile on my face.

..................

EASTER MORNING....

...here and a blog posted on time.  A chunklet of lamb awaits my wife's touch along with the recipe she knows. Her explanation. A string bean dish of some sort will accompany. 

Just her and me, a "Happy Easter" to each other, to friends, family and to you too.

I appreciate the visit. 

HUNTING THE SABER TOOTH CHUCK AND PRAIRIE DOG @ 50 YARDS

Winter weather has kept me from the range for months now. Saturday last was an official first outing for plinking and final zeroing in the .22 rifle. The warm sunny day was an anomaly and I was out to take advantage of that too.

After a little time on a first target for centering and a one click adjustment for windage and elevation, I decided I was ready for one-shot tests on critters at 50 yards.

As good as the rifle finally zeroed in and as good of glass as I have mounted to the rifle, I cannot hold a perfect stillness on any center shot. Close, but the rifle will do perfectly. On a bi-pod, good breathing, good trigger squeeze, good on center cross hairs, the slightest of movements I could not control, still resulted in some good shots. My goal of every-round-a-dependable-center-shot waits for another day. 

I will repeat this round of practice soon, but this time, at 100 yards. 

......................

TEACHING NEW SHOOTERS

I was also able to join in helping and doing a little teaching with a young group class of two dozen (20 somethings) later that day. They had requested a class from The Women's Defense League of New Hampshire. The gals teaching monthly gun classes are all NRA certified and on top of the training curve.  Fun folks to be around.

The young college students took to the instruction like ducks to water. Many had never shot a pistol before, a few others had some experience. One young gal I visited with said she had never shot before, but that her grandfather and father had rifles and were hunters. She explained that she wanted to learn safety of guns and gun use. She was also ready for the experience. Simply put, "I want to learn how to shoot a gun."

......................

BALLISTIC PENETRATION TEST VIDEO.   

Impressive .22lr, .22wmr and 9mm hollow point.

.......................

FROM THE BURNING PLATFORM. A good read

“If you don’t want a man unhappy politically, don’t give him two sides to a question to worry him; give him one. Better yet, give him none. Let him forget there is such a thing as war. If the government is inefficient, top-heavy, and tax-mad, better it be all those than that people worry over it. Peace, Montag. Give the people contests they win by remembering the words to more popular songs or the names of state capitals or how much corn Iowa grew last year. Cram them full of noncombustible data, chock them so damned full of ‘facts’ they feel stuffed, but absolutely ‘brilliant’ with information. Then they’ll feel they’re thinking, they’ll get a sense of motion without moving. And they’ll be happy, because facts of that sort don’t change.” ― Ray Bradbury, Fahrenheit 451

This book was published in 1953

......................

Thanks for the visit

FIRST WEEK OF APRIL - - OUR FINAL INVENTION (thoughts)

Day after day now more and more snow sinks into the water table or runs off in small streams. We will start the warming seasons with water tables topped off, wells full of precious fresh, drinkable water naturally filtered through layers of sand, soil and rock. 

Spring clean-up started and even though I notice a little bit picked up, swept up and less clutter in a few areas in the garage, there is along way to go. But it has started and each day is a little more motivating from the work done the day before. 

Our little birds are back picking up where they left off. Hit and fly, hit and fly from the feeder. Quail are back scouring new uncovered ground. There is order in the world. Bears waking up according to the news reports, they are thin and hungry. 

Mid-week I would have enjoyed my first sitting in the warm sun outside. But there was just enough breeze to kill that first perfect moment. Soon!

........................

PAY BY WRIST WATCH

I witnessed new technology at work this past week. The gentlemen ahead of me at the store today paid his $90 grocery bill by holding his watch over the credit card gizmo. The first time he tried it did not work. The check out gal re-set something and the second time holding his wrist upside down with watch face over the credit card gizmo, it "binged" his payment. 

I am dating myself here. I bet it is obvious to most. But to me it is Dick Tracy come true. I outwardly admitted that the technology is cool. I do think that. But I cannot wrap my mind around all of it and fear that this new technology is something I could screw up a hundred fold. 

Getting my chipped debit card into the gizmo slot and having it work is achievement for me. Remembering my pin, too. I know better to never say never, but in this case I doubt seriously I will ever be using this method of making payments. 

................... 

PANSIES are on display and ready for sale. I could not pass up this simple photo going into WallyWorld earlier this week. Another sign that winter left overs are about gone.

....................

POISON IVY

The urge to get into the yard and surrounding gardens comes with these first dry warm days. And the urge to plant something has to be ignored as cold, rain and frost still have to work their way out in favor of warmer consistent weather. 

A close neighbor friend was doing just that, some yard spring clean-up and, by accident, was hit above his eyes by a bending sticker bush near poison ivy. With in a few minutes his face and eyes started to swell. An immediate helping of Benedryl, but the picture he sent me of half his face swollen with one eye completely shut was proof enough for me to reinforce having Benedryl close at hand in home/car first aid kits and in bug-out bags. These kinds of encounters can happen quickly and when we least expect it. 

......................

ICE OUT usually happens mid to late April. Once passage between major ports on larger lakes of water can be traveled to and from, without encountered ice, "ice out" is called. Another official box checked off of winter past.

The photo above is from one our local smaller lakes (ponds) taken last week. Late night rain storm had passed and skies clearing mid morning. A few back to back warm days and this lake will be ice free.

........................

TREES BUDDING 

Fuzz that protects new growth did not happen last spring. We look every season at our trees and plants that winter over. Last year, our trees did not bud like they are this early spring. Last year was also a year of little to no acorns. Makes sense.

But as temperatures played over sixty degrees this past mid-week, I could not help to notice that  trees closest to the driveway are filled to the brim with fuzzy buds. If I am reading this correctly, there should be an abundance of acorns for forest critters this year.  Cycles of life.

.....................

OUR FINAL INVENTION Artificial intelligence and the end of the human era.

A book written by James Barrat. Published February 2015.

I started reading this book awhile back and just finished. 

"..What then is the Singularity? It is a future period during which the pace of technological change will be so rapid, its impact so deep, that human life will be irreversibly transformed....."  "Computing speeds double every two years...Two years after Artificial Intelligence  reaches human equivalence, their speed doubles....One year later their speed doubles again....six months....three months....1.5 months....Singularity."

Although this book is about 5 years old, I noticed skimming through his research data that discussions and predictions in this book were based 5 year old (or more) data . Generally speaking, today, much of the material covered in his book, is already a decade old. I am sure some of what is talked about in this book is very close to reality, and sooner rather than later. 

There are astounding advancements in the news weekly now from AI, Robotics and how close we are to welcoming these advanced machines into our homes, into our lives. 

(MARCH 28, 2019  2:30pm       1 Billion times 1 Billion calculations per second. Coming in 2021.  A ten second read but this is worth knowing current advancements in computer power.)

If you read daily blogs and news stories, you will continually run across headlines on current advancements in computing, robotics and having digital assistants,  Siri, Alexa or Hey Google at your voice command. They are all vying for you to invite them in. They will continue to increase their powers to answer questions and offer solutions to everyday living. 

Our Final Invention, is worth the time to read and learn. 

...................

Thanks for the visit this week.

CAN SEE THE END OF WINTER FROM OUR PORCH - - TECHNOLOGY -- STUFF

Snow that has fallen off the roof and covered the front porch stairs

Slow snow melt and slow sliding off of the car port

Daylight savings now; a slight warming trend and most all folks are ready for the official weather change into spring. Our cat is ready to once again venture outside and get back into her cat world. Suffice it to say we are counting the days to where we can say that this winter is over and gone. 

.......................

BACK FLIPPING DOG

Right out of the box here, I want one. For all the wrong, right and to-be-discovered reasons. I just want one. 

Did you attach any human emotions to the kicking of the dog? Be honest! How about when it was in another testing phase and flailing around on the floor and its "parents" laughing at it. These dogs will have rights, mark my word. In today's world, you know I am right!!

More abuse!

.....................

GOPHER SINGS QUEEN

Can't help but to put a smile on your face. Yea, you watched it twice. 

....................

737 MAX 8 AND MAX 9.

An eye-witness account

Other sites I have visited on eye-witness reports indicate smoke coming out of the back of the plane, heard rattling noises from the plane and the nose-low attitude. The nose-low attitude is apparently associated with the auto pilot and reported by other pilots. 

The smoke and noise from the rear of the plane is another problem and beyond any second-guessing this early in the investigation. 

I will be interested to note the findings in these two latest fatal crashes.  

...................

"SCRUNGLES"

For us, "scrungles" is a thing we do to the cat when she climbs out of her winter bed, stretches and approaches her morning meal. We "scrungle" her head rubbing between her ears. From our viewpoint, it is a loving gesture to say hello to the new day and we love you old feral barn cat. We measure out daily acceptance in her cat world by the length of time the cat will endure the scrungle before she pulls away.  

Time varies from zero to seconds. Earlier this week I got in a 5 second scrungle and then chose to pull away. Five seconds is an eternity with this cat and a big enough deal that I had to tell my wife when I came back in the house. Funny how things are measured here daily and this morning, a long cat scrungle meant something good. I have long ago given up on any consistency with this cat. Something good will do. 

She has been cat house bound for months now. Coming out for meals, doing her business and then back to the secure warmth of her garage winter house. Day after day. If winter has had its way with us, it sure has with the cat. 

A few days ago the temperature got into the high 40's and cat wondered out, down the drive and over the snow covered ground into the woods. Her woods. I tried to tell her that a black cat moving on the white snow is not a good idea and that the woods are full of bad actors. She would have nothing of my warnings and ventured out twice that day, meowing back at me over her shoulders. Her body language prevents me from translating what she said. 

She has endured another winter. Spring melting has started now and spring starting to be visible off in the distance. Looks like cat is going to get in another year here. 

.................

"STUFF OF NIGHTMARES"

A direct quote from my wife as I set this plate on my dinner mat. She hates peas and carrots. Hates with words and body language!! I, on the other hand, love them cooked, mixed with butter and salt. 

For the past few days, nothing sounds good for breakfast, lunch or dinner. This night was the same and prompted this dish for my dinner. She had other leftovers. No sharing, though.

WOLF RESCUED FROM KILL SHELTER

How do the words Kill and Shelter fit together? Regardless, I want one of these,too. From a pup, though. 

Yep, I know it is a wild animal. I know there is a lot I do not know. But I still want one. What a magnificent animal. 

................

GET YOUR MIND RIGHT from Raconteur Report

GPS TRACKERS ON KNIVES stories that make it clear it is too late to ever come back to middle grounds w/o a major reset.

..................

Saturday Observations.

My wife had an eye appointment at SAM's yesterday giving me an hour or so to walk the isles and shop. I tried and spent the last few minutes waiting for her to finish her appointment. 

Near the optometrist station was a "Hello Google" smart home hub display. Pushing on the screen activated the video/voice advertisement with "hello Google" offering up a myriad of voice/video example advertisements. 

A middle 30s husband, wife and two young daughters stopped by and visited the station. The husband seemed interested as he was the pulling his wife and children to the demonstration. The two daughters bellied up to the display totally taken in and enthralled at the what "hello Google" could do. They could not keep their hands off of the push screen options and wife commented that the price was not bad.  I recognized that was the magic moment for the husband.  

For five minutes "hello Google" owned that family. An example for the wife on a days reminder of things to do, a story book for the two daughters and the husband content with it all. 

I watched in amazement realizing that my time has come and gone and that it is indeed a brand new world. I told myself that is probably best to let go of my old ways and those of my old America. Maybe best now to "just live in the world." Had I offered up any downsides to them  about bringing that technology into their home, I would have been the crazy old man and "yesterday", they would have been correct. I see things totally different than that wonderful family of 4 did/does. 

My S7 phone has an app called Smart Things. I cannot turn it off and at best Force Stop it as it looks for things in its environment to connect/communicate with. We are lucky in our home as all electronics and appliances are pre-home hub days. My poor phone finds nothing to connect to but it is stubborn on a daily basis to keep trying.

Near that Google Home Hub were other devices that could be brought into the home with which to interact over the hub. Weather. Home climate control. Change the color of led lights around the home. A couple others that I have forgotten. 

I am not bad-mouthing "hello Google." It is here to stay and embedding deeper in our lives. We, the public, have openly invited it into our lives. I use hello google when driving to voice text, voice call and navigate. I do love the hands off options. "Hello Google; navigate to yadda yadda yadda." The female voice responds, "Ok navigating to yadda yadda yadda, lets go." A map screen and voice on commands make driving simple to places I have never been. I like the technology. 

A side note:

I stopped at a cell phone display while shopping and asked the fellow in charge some questions. 

I want (repeat want) a Samsung S9 Notebook. Still expensive by my standards. 

I could not for the life of me get my questions answered. He stumbled, his notebook failed to help him and finally I watched him try to add two numbers (prices) with decimals places to failure. He was using pencil and paper. $65.00 plus $38.69 (similar problem). 

He seemed nervous. Apologized on his third attempt. I told him that quite often simple errors like this occur from not neatly arranging the numbers in the problem. I learned that in high school and it works wonderfully. I let him go about his business. Long story short, that new phone would triple my current monthly cost for cell phone coverage and usage. His final numbers completed proved I was paying full-book for the phone with a much higher cell fee. I was so hoping for a deal of deals yesterday. 

So much askew. 

Vermont swears in a goat as mayor; AOC is "just living in the world"; state attacks on the 2nd Amendment Rights are no longer a hidden agenda, but an out right gun grab from law abiding citizens. The After is upon us. 

I leave you today with good stuff. Thanks for the visit.

Dogs Rescued from breaking through the ice. 

200,000 MILES - - A SLICE OF BIRTHDAY PIE - - MOVIE REVIEWS

The Ol' 2003 Dodge truck turned 200K miles this past week. 

She has been a good ol' truck. Driven daily, always garaged, some rust, burns a little oil and maintained by one local mechanic. Oil change every 3000 miles and my son put in a new driver's seat (new=used) as I had worn the other one to the metal framework. A strong, dependable member of the family for sixteen years and has done everything a truck can do and needs to do. From grocery shopping, road trips with dogs to hauling and towing.  

But her time has come and more from an old man's wanting of a newer used SUV that has plenty of room, easier to get in and out of and very comfortable to road trip in.  So come April/May, a good cleaning and a "for sale" sign.  

.....................

QUICHE AGAIN

Probably beating a dead horse here with more pics of quiche and commenting. 

My wife opted for sausage, veggies, cheese quiche this past week over my suggestion of a sausage/cheese omelet. I said that would be fine even though it put breakfast back an hour in the preparation and cooking. BUT, it was well worth the wait. 

A team effort in preparing the ingredients and then a 35 minute bake. I think quiche like this fits into my love for excellent gooey pizza or a plate of perfect spaghetti sauce covering a plate of pasta. The fun thing about making a quiche for a meal is it can be tailored to what you like. The one picture here was left overs. No omelet can compare. 

.....................

It was her birthday last week. Homemade butter pie crust. I used a Martha Stewart recipe and it is wonderful. Frozen sour cherries from the local co-op market were picked up Friday. After lunch, she oversaw the filling and lattice work. 

I said this a year ago here and repeat; her mother always made her a cherry pie for her birthday and I continue with the tradition. It does put a smile on her face and her mother is proud of both of us, I am sure.

...............

POSTING TIME LINES

Not going to get the weekly posts up consistently each Sunday. Maybe hit or miss for awhile. 

.................

Bohemian Rhapsody 2018

Much better than I had expected. The story is well-written, well-acted and the music is in of itself worth your time. After you watch this movie, go here for a follow up. Watch for the kiss to his mother. Turn the sound up. A performer's performer, owning the crowd and the voice and the music. Enjoy.

Free Solo.

Find an hour and a half of uninterrupted time and watch this movie. Find out about this kid and watch him climb. Good stuff. 

Hidden Figures. 

I lived through this time period and remember it well. But I did not know any of this history. Good movie. 

................

A week till day light savings starts. Another seasonal milestone. 

Four inches of fresh power snow this Thursday morning. The beauty is eventually offset by late morning work of snow removal. 

And more tonight. Oh joy!

Thanks for the visit this week. 

I leave you with a treat. Try this once following her video instructions. Great flavor. 

https://youtu.be/I0t8ZAhb8lQ