Driver Error

How can anyone approach a car (truck, really) open the door handle which is seen on the left in the first picture, and not notice the gas cap cover is open?

I don't know, but I did. Perhaps if I had walked to the car from the back I would have seen the "traffic cone" orange funnel sticking in the opening.

It seems L. was adding some additive to the gas tank. We backed out, drove merrily on our way to the first stop sign and a kind man pulled across the intersection on his way north, slowed and told us our gas cap cover was open. How thoughtful and nice! We pulled into a church parking lot and
removed the funnel, replaced the cap and closed the cover.

Perhaps we should take an observation walk around the vehicle like pilots do before they take off.

(These photos were staged to illustrate the incident.)

Buds in Danger

Early this morning these buds were looking good. The temperature is on the way down from 44 to who knows where. At 6:00 p.m. it's 34 and there are reports of snow at Great Bend and Salina and it is headed this way.
Weatherman says that no matter what falls, it will be gone soon because it's late March - HA. Memories of last year's blizzard on the 29th linger on.

A Two Event Day

This morning was Third Thursday Coffee at the Cosmosphere. This is the first time we had gone. The speaker was J. Oberg who has written several books about his work as a researcher. He has helped NASA answer those who think our astronauts did not go to the moon.
Oh yes. The coffee and the goodies, some made by Patsy, were delish.

His talk and the slide show were great except for the times when the information was a little technical for me. I did understand the explanation of the shadows on the moon, why the flag appeared to "wave in the wind" and the photo of the earth in relation to the stars as seen from the moon!

This evening I went to the library for a new class on Mini Memoirs. Sheila Lisman, a retired English teacher, is in charge of the class. She has funny stories to tell (and write about) and a sense of humor that I admire. The object of the class is to have us write down our memories. It sounds like it's going to be really fun. We have an assignment to write about a photo that shows a scene from our youth. This will go way back!

The Works

This whole morning was spent at the clinic - another day - another doctor. Don't misunderstand; I am so grateful for the wonderful health care we have here in our small town.

This was the annual checkup and overhaul. EKG, chest x-ray, fasting lab. Not quite the whole list but near enough.
Feel much better since potassium has climbed to normal in two days (how many bananas can one person eat in 48 hours?) We discovered, however, that the most potassium available in the least amount of food can be obtained in meat. So we immediately left the doctor's office and went to Skaet's and had a steak.
Please notice that Skaet's is steaks spelled backwards. The local story is that the sign painter at the new restaurant was painting Steaks on the front window and got it backwards. Works for me. They have great breakfasts, delicious hamburgers and outstanding pork chop dinners. So now I'm stuffed and trying to avoid a nap.
It's still cloudy and chilly but tomorrow may see 64! Can't wait.

Winter blahs

I am tired of cold weather and clouds and windy gusts. This afternoon the sun has come out.
Over the week-end I felt like going to bed and just waiting for 67 degrees - that's the temperature that Captain Kangaroo said the thermometer had to reach before the kids could go out without a coat.
There is a national junior college basketball tournament in town. The local school is not in it so I imagine there are plenty of available seats. Maybe we should take in a game or two to break the boredom.
Maybe I'm not bored - just disappointed. Looking forward to some classes at the library this month. Maybe I'll make some new friends . . . .a person can never have too many friends and I'm down to only two that I can count on. I hope they know they can depend on me.

Didn't mean for this to be a pity party but I've always tried to be kind and outgoing but maybe others don't see me that way. I learned a long time ago not to say what pops into my head as a fast retort. I wouldn't hurt anybody's feelings for anything. Guess it hasn't worked in my favor!

Better day tomorrow!

Puffy Pancake

I really like to try new recipes. There have been some successes (Mama's Potato Salad) and some failures (think sausage cake - it still tasted like sausage.)
This sweet pancake recipe was in a supplement to the Hutch News and I had to try it. It rose around the edges and climbed above the skillet in the 425 degree oven. The reason the middle didn't puff up was that I didn't see the added note at the bottom of the recipe that the eggs needed be out of the fridge for at least ten to fifteen minutes.
Even without the lemon juice, powdered sugar and berries, it was delicious!


2 tbsp. butter
1/2 cup 2% reduced fat milk
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup sugar
2 eggs (removed from refrigerator for at least 15 min.)
1 tbsp. butter, softened
Pinch nutmeg
Lemon wedges
Powdered sugar (optional)
Fresh berries (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 425 F.
2. Melt 2 tbsp. butter in 10-inch skillet over medium heat, tilting skillet to coat bottom and sides of pan.
3. Whisk together milk, flour, sugar, eggs, softened butter and nutmeg in bowl. Pour into skillet. Cook 1 min.
4. Place pan in oven and bake 12 to 15 minutes until puffed and golden. Squeeze lemon over top and sprinkle with powdered sugar and fresh berries. Cut pancake in pan and serve with a spatula. Serve immediately. Serves 4.
Be sure to use an ovenproof skillet and remember the handle will be very HOT!

Lunch

Went out to lunch today with a good friend. We tried Jillian's...a first for both of us.
I've decided it's my new favorite restaurant. It's stylish, comfortable and the food was great.
Wonderful wait person and friendly manager/owner all made for a delightful lunch.
Advice from manager: arrive early. They get busy around noon.