Snow on the Cacus

 This picture was taken near Tucson, AZ, in 1987. It was a white Christmas!
We are all wondering if it will ever snow here again; forget rain.  We have had about half the rainfall that is normal for the year.
Hope some prayers will help!

Mrs. Neighbor's Fried Chicken

We didn't "eat out" much when I was a kid. My mom was a really good cook and besides, it was the depression.
The only thing I remember my folks purchasing outside a grocery store was fried chicken. In this house, which will soon be destroyed to make room for a health facility, another good cook named Mrs. Neighbor (really!) made home fried chicken and sold it from that window on the left. My impression was it was only on Sunday but that may not be correct.
The order was called in from the party line phone - 5555-W - and was picked up. For my mom this was a treat, but I remember her fried chicken was just as good if not better.

An Interesting Person

I noticed this rider this morning.  The World War I helmet combined with the Rebel flag are, as Arty Johnson of Laugh-In would say, "Verrrrry Interesting."

(Double click to enlarge)

Mail Service

This is not a complaint against the postal service.
In fact, I think they should raise the rate for delivery of a letter
to $1.00 and quit increasing the price of a stamp by a penny every year.
They do an amazing job - sometimes in an odd way.
This letter was mailed to me by a friend in Houston, TX, on
November 2nd in the brown envelope. For some reason it was
resent in the white envelope from the United States Postal Service
on November 7th.
Readdressed correctly, even with the the T's in our last name uncrossed as they
were on the original. (Perhaps they thought they were L's.)
We received it November 16th. No postage was due so we do not know why
it was remailed.
If we had been waiting for a big check, we would have been wondering where it
was for two weeks.
Oh yeah.  Now there is direct deposit so forget the check example.



 

Sunday

While I listened on the radio to the Chiefs start their game with two field goals, I made dinner with corn casserole, fried potatoes and more meat loaf. Sliced tomatoes and I just had to open the can of cranberry sauce that only I eat.

The corn recipe was in the newspaper today along with several others from the doctors at our clinic (!) I already had the recipe from a friend and had seen it on the internet too. We'll be eating it for several days cause it makes a bunch! 

And now at the two minute warning it doesn't look good for the KC Chiefs - again!  Think I'll go out for a walk and miss the mayhem.

Black Friday

Today won't find us shopping. The weather has turned to a more fall-like temperature.

Plans change so we'll be eating potato soup and meatloaf instead of turkey and noodles :(

So sorry one of the grands has a cold but very thankful they do not want to bring it to Kansas!

Another day when everybody is well will do.

Menu

Meat loaf sounded good today and I used Martha Stewart's mother's recipe.  Lots of chopped onion, carrots, garlic and parsley ground up in the food processor. I left out he parsley. Bread crumbs, catsup and eggs. Very tasty and we'll have fried meatloaf sandwiches for MN.  Part of the Texas branch will come here  tomorrow. Wish the West Coast branch were coming too!

Another warm day with records broken in Western Kansas and a lot of wind blowing.
I had the monthly trip to the hospital to receive "restorative joy juice." This is not from an ad for rejuvenation but something the doctor ordered to help a body stave off winter infections. So far it's working but it isn't winter yet!

Tomorrow's the big day but we will have our turkey later this week-end.  We found out a long time ago that the date didn't really matter - do it on the day you have off. Air Traffic Controllers and telephone operators have to work a lot of holidays.  So do other professions.

And when you are retired, any day is good to celebrate!

Take a Friend to Starbuck's

I just happened to notice that Starbuck's was having a special Nov. 15-18 for their three Christmas "flavors." Two drinks for the price of one. So I called Miss Linda and we thought it might be very crowded at 2:00 so we met at 3:00.
Not too many people! We ordered, grabbed a table and waited for our order - Carmel Brulee for her and Peppermint Mocha for me (what else?)  There was also a Gingerbread that didn't appeal to either one of us.
A moment before we were served, a long line of girls appeared. They may have been an athletic team and they filled the place with enthusiasm.  Very well behaved....
And after that the crowd was steady. It probably remained that way until 5:00 which was the hour it ended.

We had arrived just in time to avoid the long wait. Our coffee was good and it was so nice to see Linda after she was over her cold. (We avoid each other when we are ailing.)

Worn Out

A decision has been made. This has worked well since we were in Texas but I think it is just tired. It doesn't like to stay connected to the internet. It is very slow which reminds me of its old age.

How many human years is five years in a computer life?

So sometime between now and Christmas, we will have a different piece of equipment.  Yea!

A Warmer Day last Week

It was warm enough to fix the sagging gate.

L.'s two helpers were standing by.

More than Knick-knacks

All these snow people, quilters, girls and an angel were given to me by dear friends.
I enjoy them so much even though they are now residing
in the china cupboard to protect them from two dogs who
wanted to enjoy them too.

How Thoughtful . . .

 I mentioned that I would like to try the pumpkin latte from Starbuck's.
After another errand, L. stopped at the coffee shop on his way home and not only bought
the pumpkin latte, but bought my usual  Venti (Spanish =Veinte) Mocha Decaf.

[My Spanish got mixed up with their Italian.]

In case I didn't like the seasonal option!
Now how nice is that?

Drank the pumpkin yesterday and the mocha reheated this morning.
Yum to both.

Non-Emergency Trip

We had an appointment yesterday for Jack.  A place on his leg seemed to be the object of his attention.

Diagnosis? Something itches from an allergy and the dog continues to lick it and cause a granule to form.

Glad it was nothing serious!

While Jill and I waited in the car, she was a basket case. After about 15 minutes she quieted down but was alert to all the people walking about nearby. Two completely different personalities - even in dogs - is quite interesting to watch. They were kennel mates at the shelter, but not otherwise related. They keep us busy.

More Fall Leaves

These two trees are slowly losing their leaves. In the spring they are full of white blossoms. We are not sure if they are flowering pear trees.

Soon there will be more trips with the mower to pick the leaves up.

Right now it's hard to do Yard Duty with the Scoop-Pup.  Hidden treasures are everywhere.

Fall at Dillon Nature Center

A pretty spot in Kansas Land.

Almost Turkey Time

This tall, handsome fellow now resides in Nebraska.
 L. bought him at a garage sale many years ago. We think he may have been in a restaurant north of town as part of the decor. Our friends admired him - a deal was made, and they now decorate him for each season and holiday.

I never thought to do that.

Harvesting the Bamboo

 Many fishing poles died yesterday.

Before L. chopped the stalks off even with the fence, they had reached the wire you see in the photo.

Sign

A few minutes on the computer today (in between times of no internet) will let me put up this sign.  Beautiful fall weather here!

Later: Thanks to PN who took time out from his oldet daughter's birthday to fix our computer, we're back online!

Happy Birthday, Miss Emma!!!!!

Jobs Done Before the Chill

L. did several things today: replaced two drain pipes, put up the rain gauge which we hope may be useful some day, and put the flag holder back up on the painted post.
Tomorrow our temperature goes back to the 60's, which is normal this time of year. We have been having 70's.

We would like some
moisture before it gets cold enough to arrive as snow.

No Newspaper

Another exciting event at the Ramble house today.

No newspaper. It is usually delivered by 6:00 a.m. Not today. We searched the yard.
I waited till about 10:00 and called the carrier's number. A recording prompted me to leave a message.

About noon, L. was out in the front yard and happened to look up on the roof. There was the paper.  When the carrier's mother called about 2:00, I told her what had happened. She was very sorry. She has told her son not to throw the paper so hard and so high and will definitely see that our paper is on the porch from now on. She was very nice and thanked me for calling her (insert here "and not the newspaper office" because I know that was what she was thinking.) I must say, I was very nice too.  We had two boys who threw papers starting when they were thirteen. We faced a lot of people who didn't want to pay when collection day came around. Thank goodness the kids don't have to do that anymore.

That's about all the news from here today.