Do not write much when I'm bummed. Had a good time with the "kids" Jason and Laura Friday night but then we always do. Russ was a no show today. Do not know why because it didn't rain until late afternoon but then we got another 1/2 inch. Maybe the mud was a factor. We certainly have plenty of that!
I went to an auction but I am believing that the auction was an accumulation of things that had failed to sell at former auctions. They did not fare much better today. I did not buy a thing.
I have a headache and just do not feel up to snuff. Perhaps tomorrow will have more substance for me.
Later...
Saturday, June 28
Friday, June 27
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Another rainy day...
Colleen and I went to Carroll (30 miles west) yesterday. She needed a new printer so that was the main feature of our trip.
We also stopped in the Verizon store to talk Internet connection for Colleen. Butch and I have come to the conclusion if we have a connection here and another connection in Texas we can get by in between. The only reason this works is because we can suspend service at little or no cost at each end. On the Texas Time Warner end we pay $4.99 a month for the months we do not use it and on the Jefferson Telecom end we disconnect in October at no cost and reconnect in April/May for a $35 hook-up fee. It has taken us quite some time to get all this ironed out to our satisfaction. The main problem with Verizon is the two year contract and/or the large fee($250) to buy the equipment to not have the contract and then the connection itself does not quite hold up to the others. Streaming video or movies is not going to work well on a 3G mifi. Buffering, buffering, buffering...we have all been there!
We returned to Colleens and hooked up her printer and some other computer issues and maintenance. Full but busy and productive day.
When I came home Butch had enjoyed a day of rest and watching Longmire on Netflix. It looks like today will be another one of those napping -watching the rain kind of days until this afternoon when we are going to Costco and activate our membership. We are sharing a membership with Jason so will pick him up in Boone. He is not at all sure he needs a membership but then I wasn't either until Peggy got me hooked. And MyPoints offered me 1000 points too. And Costco threw in a bunch of free items. It penciled out as they say.
This rain may put another crimp in the room construction. I would out and out cuss using the biggest and nastiest cuss words I could think of if it would do a nickles worth of good. #$%^ it.
Thursday, June 26
Chugging along
We have been doing the ordinary things of everyday life so nothing earth shattering to report.
Russ stopped by last night and says he will be here Saturday...unless it is raining.
Butch is getting some pre-cancerous areas burned off of his face this morning. That may slow him down a bit. Maybe, just maybe. Might need to stay out of the sun until it heals a bit.
I had an echocardiogram yesterday. Have not seen the results yet but expect it to be okay. I had forgotten how long those take- 45 minutes to an hour. Geez!
The river is down a little from where it was a few days ago.
We had unstuffed cabbage rolls for supper last night. I gave it 5 stars last time I made it and the 5 stars still stand. It is yummy!!
Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls
Ingredients:
1 1/2 to 2 pounds lean ground beef
1 tablespoon oil
1 large onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 small cabbage, chopped
2 cans (14.5 ounces each) diced tomatoes
1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce
1/2 cup water
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon sea salt
Preparation:
In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the ground beef and onion and cook, stirring, until ground beef is no longer pink and onion is tender.
Add the garlic and continue cooking for 1 minute.
Add the chopped cabbage, tomatoes, tomato sauce, pepper, and salt. Bring to a boil. Cover and simmer for 20 to 30 minutes, or until cabbage is tender.
Yield: Serves 6 to 8
Russ stopped by last night and says he will be here Saturday...unless it is raining.
Butch is getting some pre-cancerous areas burned off of his face this morning. That may slow him down a bit. Maybe, just maybe. Might need to stay out of the sun until it heals a bit.
I had an echocardiogram yesterday. Have not seen the results yet but expect it to be okay. I had forgotten how long those take- 45 minutes to an hour. Geez!
The river is down a little from where it was a few days ago.
We had unstuffed cabbage rolls for supper last night. I gave it 5 stars last time I made it and the 5 stars still stand. It is yummy!!
Unstuffed Cabbage Rolls
Ingredients:
1 1/2 to 2 pounds lean ground beef
1 tablespoon oil
1 large onion, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1 small cabbage, chopped
2 cans (14.5 ounces each) diced tomatoes
1 can (8 ounces) tomato sauce
1/2 cup water
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon sea salt
Preparation:
In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the ground beef and onion and cook, stirring, until ground beef is no longer pink and onion is tender.
Add the garlic and continue cooking for 1 minute.
Add the chopped cabbage, tomatoes, tomato sauce, pepper, and salt. Bring to a boil. Cover and simmer for 20 to 30 minutes, or until cabbage is tender.
Yield: Serves 6 to 8
Tuesday, June 24
A one-sided conversation with me
Butch found deer prints in our backyard! That would be quite a surprise to get up in the night and see a deer in the yard. Better than some crazy guys looking for a cat!
Butch put some insulation on the inside of our foundation blocks. Brother Bill suggested it and it seemed like a smart move. Still waiting on Russ...
We went uptown for the farmers market tonight. We have been forgetting about it. I will be more anxious when the cabbage, cauliflower, corn and tomatoes come on. I stay away from the baked goods but there is always a great selection.
I rode the trail then walked with Colleen this morning. Too bad you weren't with us because the conversation was fascinating. It always is!
My cactus, the one the boys gave me for mother's day many years ago has grown too big to make the trip to Texas last winter so we left it in the house. We set the thermostat at 52 degrees. Jason watered it once with melted snow water. Next winter I will leave some plant water in the shower so he won't have to wait for the snow to melt. You will be gobsmacked when you see the current picture of it with over 20 blooms on it!
And here it is!
Butch put some insulation on the inside of our foundation blocks. Brother Bill suggested it and it seemed like a smart move. Still waiting on Russ...
We went uptown for the farmers market tonight. We have been forgetting about it. I will be more anxious when the cabbage, cauliflower, corn and tomatoes come on. I stay away from the baked goods but there is always a great selection.
I rode the trail then walked with Colleen this morning. Too bad you weren't with us because the conversation was fascinating. It always is!
My cactus, the one the boys gave me for mother's day many years ago has grown too big to make the trip to Texas last winter so we left it in the house. We set the thermostat at 52 degrees. Jason watered it once with melted snow water. Next winter I will leave some plant water in the shower so he won't have to wait for the snow to melt. You will be gobsmacked when you see the current picture of it with over 20 blooms on it!
And here it is!
Monday, June 23
Jefferson's Belltower bathed in a setting sun.
Leo emailed this photo to me. It is a great shot!
Today's pics plus
Colleen and I skipped Sunday's walk because the weather looked threatening. I have been biking to the river every morning and then getting back to the depot to walk with Colleen. Later on Sunday Jason came over and we attended an auction. Butch purchased a golf pushcart that had previously belonged to Colleen's husband Jim. Butch was very glad to get it because it is a design that he has wanted to have for quite some time. We picked up a few other items as well and isn't that the nature of auctions.
We had a very good time at the auction but the long hours of standing was hard on both of our backs.
The pictures were taken this morning near the trailhead.
Sunday, June 22
Saturday, June 21
This and that
Little Leo is excited about camping. snipped from Facebook
Butch and I rode out to the bridge yesterday to see the rising water. Swirls, eddies and whirlpools are abundant.
Friday, June 20
Thursday, June 19
This mornings ride
Quite a day on the trail. First off a raccoon crossed my path headed for the backyard of a Jefferson resident. A rabbit was a few feet from the raccoon. Neither were concerned. I rang my little bell on my bike and he quickly waddled away from me. The rabbit hopped off the bunny trail.
When I arrived at the bridge I was surprised how high the water was up. I took a few photos. The sound and the rushing water bothered me a bit so I walked my bike back across the bridge. I turned to look back wondering if there might be a biker. It is hard to hear approaching people either on bikes or on foot. The trail is a quiet place. There stood a deer! She was in the shade so getting a picture would have been difficult on several levels. So I went on my way.
The contrast of color was the attraction.
When I arrived at the bridge I was surprised how high the water was up. I took a few photos. The sound and the rushing water bothered me a bit so I walked my bike back across the bridge. I turned to look back wondering if there might be a biker. It is hard to hear approaching people either on bikes or on foot. The trail is a quiet place. There stood a deer! She was in the shade so getting a picture would have been difficult on several levels. So I went on my way.
The contrast of color was the attraction.Wednesday, June 18
Hands and Mower
Butch had an appointment with a hand man today. He has had trouble gripping and drops things frequently. He thought it was carpal tunnel. The hand guy doesn't think so. He says he thinks it is tendonitis so first we will try treatment for that. He had steroid shots in both hands. It hurt much worse in the hand that has been bothering him most. (left)
After that we stopped by Jason's to "look" at his mower. 2 hours later we left. Jason has a nice mower despite the fact it is going to take much fixing to get it just so. Jason can do it-no problem. It is a Cub Cadet.
There is more but I won't go into it. Suffice it to say I had not had my morning coffee or breakfast.
After that we stopped by Jason's to "look" at his mower. 2 hours later we left. Jason has a nice mower despite the fact it is going to take much fixing to get it just so. Jason can do it-no problem. It is a Cub Cadet.
There is more but I won't go into it. Suffice it to say I had not had my morning coffee or breakfast.
Tuesday, June 17
On a lighter note.
My friend Colleen is home! We had our first walk this morning against a pretty stiff wind. It is great to have her back so now my walk will seem so much shorter and informative. We have much to catch up on.
No more progress on the room but Butch has been in touch with Russ and he said maybe next weekend.
Butch is off to the golf course. We had a windstorm last night with much rain. He checked the rain gauge before he left and there was 2 inches in it.
Saw this on my walk this morning. The nearest tree was quite a distance from the machinery.
We may go to the lumber yard and pick out windows when Butch gets back.
No more progress on the room but Butch has been in touch with Russ and he said maybe next weekend.
Butch is off to the golf course. We had a windstorm last night with much rain. He checked the rain gauge before he left and there was 2 inches in it.
Saw this on my walk this morning. The nearest tree was quite a distance from the machinery.We may go to the lumber yard and pick out windows when Butch gets back.
Strange Things Happen!
Sunday night I rolled out of bed at 12:15 AM to make a bathroom trip and looking out the front door I spotted 3 garbage cans sitting behind our car. They were not ours and it was not garbage pick-up day. I hollered at Butch and woke him up. Meanwhile in the backyard there are people with flashlights wandering around, looking under our locked motorhome. Butch turned on our outside lights and that did not concern them at all so he opened the window and yelled,"What the H--- are you doing?!!". They said looking for a cat. I look again and the garbage cans are gone. Never did find out what that was about. They had an 8 year old with them. Supposedly his cat. I called the cops and they came by with their spotlight. Strange, very strange. There is something wacky with our neighbors to the south. It is a house of men. 3? 4? Not sure. Sometimes there are kids there. Rarely a car. Rarely a woman. They are nocturnal. It is always all closed up. No window is ever open and you cannot see inside anywhere. AC is always running. Weird. In the light of day they are friendly and will visit if asked but still very odd.
It took me two hours to get back to sleep!!
It took me two hours to get back to sleep!!
Sunday, June 15
A Special Fathers Day
Yesterday was the 2014 Belltower Festival and one of my classmates was the Grand Marshall- Dr. Jim Hanson. He and his wife Elizabeth hosted a party at his house and we were invited. It was a big fancy tado-catered-open bar etc.
Butch and I were eating at a table and some "older folks" joined us and we began talking. The Brooker name is well known in Jefferson so all those connections were acknowledged and then a fellow asked me my maiden name and where I came from. I said I am from Jefferson but my family hasn't been here for many years. My maiden name was B-R-O-C-K. He said, "Francis Brock?". I said yes, Francis was my father. He said he knew him and remembered him very well! My dad died in 1956 at the age of 33 so this gave me goosebumps I kid you not! He shared a story about my dad working at a hamburger joint. It was named 4 Star or something like that. Open 24 hours. He was training a new employee one night and stepped out for a break. I am guessing a cigarette break. A customer came in and ordered 5 hamburgers and it flustered the new guy. As he was slicing open the buns he cut into his hand and there was blood all over the place but when my dad came back he was cool as a cucumber and handled it all seamlessly. It was a special treat for me to run into someone who knew and remembered my dad.
Bob Owen remembered my Dad:
Here is a picture of my dad, Francis Brock.
Butch and I were eating at a table and some "older folks" joined us and we began talking. The Brooker name is well known in Jefferson so all those connections were acknowledged and then a fellow asked me my maiden name and where I came from. I said I am from Jefferson but my family hasn't been here for many years. My maiden name was B-R-O-C-K. He said, "Francis Brock?". I said yes, Francis was my father. He said he knew him and remembered him very well! My dad died in 1956 at the age of 33 so this gave me goosebumps I kid you not! He shared a story about my dad working at a hamburger joint. It was named 4 Star or something like that. Open 24 hours. He was training a new employee one night and stepped out for a break. I am guessing a cigarette break. A customer came in and ordered 5 hamburgers and it flustered the new guy. As he was slicing open the buns he cut into his hand and there was blood all over the place but when my dad came back he was cool as a cucumber and handled it all seamlessly. It was a special treat for me to run into someone who knew and remembered my dad.
Bob Owen remembered my Dad:
Saturday, June 14
Strawberries Romanoff
I just tried this recipe and it IS a keeper. Sounds simple but it is very good!
Strawberries Romanoff
Strawberries Romanoff
(Makes 4 small servings, recipe inspired by Strawberries Romanoff at Le Parisien Restaurant.)
Ingredients:
1 pound fresh strawberries
1/2 cup sour cream (I use light sour cream, but never fat free)
1 T brown sugar
(You can use all Stevia or all brown sugar, or any combination of sugar/ sweetener that you prefer.)
Instructions:
Be sure to buy the reddest and ripest strawberries you can find for best flavor. Rinse strawberries, then cut big ones into fourths and smaller ones into halves. Put cut strawberries into a medium-sized bowl
In a small bowl, whisk together the sour cream and sweetener, brown sugar, or a combination of the two. Taste for sweetness to see if you want to add more sweetener. Gently combine sour cream mixture with cut strawberries, divide into four small dishes, and serve.
Jefferson's Belltower Festival Parade 2014
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