Boiling the Bacon

I am a sucker for trying stuff I see on tv or on the internet. The latest was a new way (to me) to cook bacon. Since I have had problems in the past with burning bacon while trying to get it cooked through, this looked perfect. Place bacon in skillet and add water to cover. Use high heat until the water boils. Lower heat to medium. Fine so far. At this point the water did not seem to cook away as it did on the video. I spent several minutes spooning out fat that separated from the meat. Yuck. Finally I just poured out the water and let the four slices brown on medium heat. In the example the water evaporated and then the browning began. Oh well. It did turn out ok. There was not as much shrinking as in frying. Our bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwiches were good. Next time think I'll try baking it. I've heard that is another alternative. And there's always the microwave.

First Sign of Fall

It was so cool this morning that I had coffee and read the paper on the porch. Someone decided chili sounded good. By the time it is ready in the crockpot, the temperature may be back in the 90's.

Catching Up

Nothing important has been happening around here except I had run out of Perfect Pink (Rose Parfait, as the French say.) There is only one store in town that carries cheap Red Heart yarn. Three days ago I went to buy more. None on the shelf except Baby Pink and Bright Pink. Asked a clerk, who luckily happened to be doing inventory in the same aisle on the beads. She pointed her reading tool at the label and said they would be getting three in - probably tomorrow. (Only three?) I decided to give them an extra day. Same story only there were no clerks insight. We came home and I decided to call on that wonderful invention, the telephone. The number listed in the book gave me a disconnect message. I tried the other phone book provided by Mid-Kansas. Great! A different number but it was answered, "Bakery." I asked for the store's main number and she gave it to me. When the main number answered, I asked for the yarn department. A short wait time and the operator (?) answerer (?) asked who I was calling. I repeated the yarn department. She told me she thought she had mixed up the calls. Another wait. She would try again. After a total of ten minutes on the phone, a man's voice answered, "Electronics." I told him I was waiting for the yarn department and he offered to transfer my call. After a fairly long wait, I heard, "Electronics." He tried again and I reached a person who could check on yarn for me!! After a walk to the department, she said there was some in the back room. How many did I want? Four! She would leave them at the fabric cutting table with my name on them. I was so thrilled. Another trip back to the store. The woman at the cutting table had no clue what I was talking about. She said she thought they would have left her a note. But she looked and there they were...four skeins of Perfect Pink. There were long lines at the check out so I picked the fifteen items or less row. A gentleman ahead of me had just a few groceries. I said, "Speedy check-out," because there was a problem at the head of the line. He offered to let me go ahead and I said, "No, that's ok." After the problem ahead of him was settled, his groceries were checked out and he handed the clerk what looked like a blank check. She ran it through a machine which promptly chewed it up after rejecting it twice. They tried another check. Same result. Clerk took the machine apart, removed a ribbon and a piece broke off. Another clerk brought a ribbon and the procedure was completed. The man signed the electronic pad (is this a debit transaction?) The clerk returned the "check." The gentleman turned to me and said, "I'll bet you wish you had gone ahead of me." I laughed and said, "Yes and next time the offer is made, I'll say, 'Thank you.'"

The Battle of the Thermostat

This morning when I checked the rain gauge after a small thunderstorm last night, I saw one inch received! The temperature was about 65 wonderful degrees. I went out on the porch and enjoyed it. As I came back in, I noticed how toasty warm the air seemed. I said to L., that it almost feels like the furnace is on. His reply: "It is." When we went to bed the A/C was whirring and the fan was blowing cool air. Amazing. I usually don't touch the controls but I was sure tempted.

Flower

These flowers remind me of holly hocks but they are Rose of Sharon.

When I had a Telescopic Lens

About the middle of the 1970's. He still sings but he looks different. I hate plastic surgery. Some might say I need it but I prefer the normal aging process. I guess if you are a "star" you think it's necessary. Keep singing but quit the face rearranging, Mr. Manilow.

Three Down - One to Go

 

60" x 43"

Just a made up pattern of "grandma" colors.