Thinking
Saturday, March 06, 2010
Bought a new iron and ironing board
A few years ago when Husband was wearing a different brand of button-down work shirts, I searched all over the place for an iron which had a flat surface aka a DRY iron so that ironing did not leave marks on the fabric. Bought one online, using only a picture and short description. It works fine, and will have use in the future.
Those other shirts were made of good quality materials, and did not need steam to unwrinkle nicely.
He wore them out, literally. Frayed cuffs, buttons hanging loose. I did my best mending to keep them going, and he searched all over the place for updates. The company had discontinued that style.
Finally, he bought several shirts at a big box store. These are okay, but they really need steam to keep them looking nice for the job behind a desk.
Before Christmas, I went looking for an iron. I was not satisfied with any I saw in stores where I usually shop, so I went hunting by online descriptions. For some items, I would prefer to have and to hold what I want, just to make sure it’s worth my hard-earned money.
Then I worked with a group from church who gathered for an evening to be sewing tote bags for the Relief Sale.
There was an iron there like no other I have ever seen! and its owner raves about using it for all her sewing and quilting projects.
Today, I finally went out and bought a new steam iron. At a store which I enter only when online tells me it is the only store in the county which has what I want.
ROWENTA Focus, which is sold at Amazon, but I didn’t do a link because let me tell ya, the advertisements finding my Inbox are too many already It is made in Germany, with a warranty.
I think I will like it. It took some long looking to just get it out of the box, and then I started reading the directions. Twice in different paragraphs, it says to use Spring Water, Never 100% distilled water, to make the steam. This is a complete turnaround from what I learned in high school Home Ec class.
While I was at it, I bought a new ironing board. The wobbly one which I’ve been using was bought at a Yard Sale when we lived in Tennessee, but we’ve lived almost 27 years in this house on the prairie, so I’d say that a new ironing board is fine.
Where I stopped shopping was a padded cover.
I’ll use the one that came with it awhile.
Some folks might think I’m nuts for spending $100 on a Saturday afternoon because I am a woman old-fashioned enough to iron clothes. Especially when my new dryer has a buzzer to tell me to take clothes out as soon as the cycle ends.
Different activities considered important.
~~love and Huggs, Diane
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Outside my Window
what I see when I sit in my chair, then turn to the window
~~love and Huggs, Diane
Sunday, February 07, 2010
Time Has Passed
Sunday evening
and I’m wondering “How did the weekend pass so fast?”
It doesn’t seem as if I kept so very busy
Helping to shovel out from under 3” of snow
Time with Husband, who seems a bit more relaxed somehow, but I cain’t really pinpoint any exact cause. Maybe because the house is behaving itself, after all the updates we have been dealing with. Although a new water heater is expected soon. He says he got some “needed for the job” studying done while I was at church.
a few loads of laundry, feed the cats, swept a corner of the kitchen floor
crochet a couple bookmarks for sympathy cards
and knitted a couple baby hats to carry to the hospital
I left folding towels, and ironing, for later
On Monday, I will attend a memorial service for a really nice lady, a “pillar in our church congregation”. I was already off the job because of a meeting, which was cancelled so we might attend the funeral. Events have a way of getting sorted out in my little planner book.
Here’s hoping your week begins with your best foot forward.
~~love and Huggs, Diane
Monday, February 01, 2010
Necessary Appliance
our dryer died Saturday evening
Sunday afternoon, went shopping
new dryer arriving Monday morning
the United States of America
A Great Place to Live 
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Sad News about Actress Jean Simmons
Online info tells me that the actress Jean Simmons has passed away on today’s date. I really hope she meets my dad in heaven because he sure had a “crush” on her back in the day. She was a beauty, oh yeah.
My first memory of her in the movie The Big Country was at a drive-in theater, with Dad behind the steering wheel telling Mom to turn up the music from the little box hanging on the passenger side window.
The sound track for that film was lovely, the acting by all quite believable (Burl Ives = outstanding).
I’ve rented the video a couple times, just to get perspective as an adult, and I’ll allow that the movie stands fine by itself, even when clouded by my childlike wonder.
I thought she did a great performance as a Judge on Star Trek the Next Generation.
When Captain Jean Luc Picard tells her to get off his ship, her service was no longer needed, well, that was a woman put in her place, acting ability or not.
A nice thing when somebody famous dies is all the films they made in their lifetime, so we can buy a video and watch over again.
the rest of us leave a few pages in a family photo album
Rest in Peace, Dear Lady.
our world is better for having you in it
~~love and Huggs, Diane
haven’t coded in a link to anywhere because it seems when I do, the trash ads come so much more often to my In-box. I get enough of those already whenever I go to a Crafts site
Monday, January 18, 2010
Complaints being taken care of
Our kitchen is wanting all kinds of attention today.
It must have known we would have a holiday off.
My plan of putting our bedclothes through the laundry has been set aside because the water to the whole house is shut off.
The reason for doing so is that Husband is replacing the kitchen sink and plumbing. My morning routine and shower had to be all accomplished early, plus we filled a couple containers for drinks and rinse if needed.
He’s taking pictures, so if he puts them on the Web somewhere, I’ll fix a link.
The other What’s the Matter? is the refrigerator.
It’s been tired for awhile now, making an odd clicking noise on the Defrost cycle. When son Chris mentioned that the orange juice was not quite cold enough, I went investigating and found a bag of frozen peas shoved up against a place where there is supposed to be a gap.
The whole back wall of the freezer was covered with an inch of ice.
We cleared out EVERYTHING from both sections, carrying 2 full trash bags to the curb (thank goodness it was Pick-up Day) then putting what we wanted to keep in coolers and boxes in the unheated garage. Outside is 31o so I hope all will be fine.
Geo unplugged the fridge overnight, then we wiped up melted ice/ water this morning. He suggested we go out for breakfast since the kitchen is in such disarray. I was happy to agree.
When we got back home, we set to work, cleaning each of the bins and shelves of the fridge, washing the floor underneath.
for the sink, he had to loosen pipes and connections which have been rusting in place at least 30 years. Like I said, he took pictures.
Right now, the fridge is humming like it is supposed to sound, and the thermometer inside says the temperature is dropping properly.
After checking to be sure the new sink will fit correctly into the hole (Yes, It Does!) he is busy connecting new hoses and drains. From the amount of profanity, I think the plumbing job is moving along good as can be expected.
Wow, is he alot like his DAD!
I’m going to do the ironing, a task which does not need water.
~~love and Huggs, Diane
Update Tuesday afternoon: Decrepit Old Fool did write about kitchen woes also has a link to his photo album.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
The Power of a Popular Show
There is hearsay evidence that the State of the Union speech by our US President Obama was re-scheduled because of a conflict with the Season Premiere of the television show LOST.
Must go verify this non-news.
~~love and Huggs, Diane
Monday, January 04, 2010
Blank Pages now have Scrawls
My hand has writer’s cramp from filling in all the spaces in my new planner/schedule/ Holy time-keeper.
First was days School is closed, next is days I’m already booked for a TA Sub job, then Child Care Volunteer, then appointments, weekly Yarn Group, monthly meetings, special events.
All caught up until my birthday in June.
Then I came over to the computer to tell SubFinder when I’m Unavailable so the phone doesn’t bother me when.
Yep, the New Year is looking mighty Fine.
~~love and Huggs, Diane
Wednesday, November 04, 2009
A Little Time Free
Well, last evening there was one TA Sub job on the schedule, but I decided to wait until later to see if anything else bubbled up. Early this morning, SubFinder said No Jobs Available so I guess this glorious autumn day will have to enjoyed in a way which does not bring in wages.
I went out into the yard to fetch the newspaper which had landed in the grass about 12 feet from the steps, swept leaves off the front porch,
taking awhile for leaning on the railing to just breathe in, breathe out, moving my neck and chin but feeling no pain jab through my jaw. That moment is one to savor, to remember for all my days. I realize that I have had pain in my left cheek pretty much since last year at this time. The tooth second from the back and its broken crown is what gave me trouble all through December, to the time of misery so that I called off being in the church Nursery, yet still ended up with a root canal in July. And now a month feeling the tooth behind it, work done on Monday.
Yesterday, the endodontist’s office gal called to check with me about any complications, but I asked if I can reduce the pain meds, they tend to make me sleepy. If I don’t need it, then don’t take it!
I’m reading a book about a boy in Africa who built a windmill. He is a bit younger than even my youngest son, but seems so observant and knowledgeable. Like many of the Africans I have met in real life, he has a nice way of telling a good story, almost like I can hear the lilting accent as well.
There are many other things calling me, so staring at this blue screen seems lower on the list.
You all have a nice day.
Mine looks open and promising.
~~love and Huggs, Diane
Wednesday, August 05, 2009
It’s Not You, It’s Me means I’m Busy
Yesterday morning, some terrible storms blew through the area, so dark at 9:30 that the streetlights came on. I didn’t have anywhere to go in a hurry, so I sat in the breakfast nook crocheting. Oscar is so scared of thunder that he scurried down to his hidey-hole under the basement steps. When I went down to check for water in the basement and to empty the dehumidifier, he slinked out and cozied up to my ankles whilst I was standing beside the sink. Poor widdle kittycat….
I went out for errands a little while after Noon, when the weatherman said the worst was over. We had a beautiful sunset, and some cool breezes through the evening.
This morning, there was the sound of chainsaws coming from the north and the south, and a leafblower three doors down. Clean-up from the storm, I would imagine. All I had to do was sweep the front porch. There are a few small branches down on the grass, but I’ll wait until the ground dries a bit more before going to fetch them and tidy up.
Our front stoop is on the west side of the house, facing the Court. The newspaper is delivered to the front yard, and I can usually sit in the shade out there reading or doing a yarn project, until 10am or so, when the sun is high enough to be shining over the last eave of the house. One of my most favorite activities of the Summer, sipping my second cup of tea and listening to the neighborhood.
The sign on the corner of the Court has a yellow sticker saying NO OUTLET. There are only 8 houses, and we have nice yards and driveways to provide living space.
However, an overlander/ intercity bus, full of passengers, decided it might be a shortcut, turning a bit too quickly around the corner where the fire hydrant stands. From up high where the driver sits, he saw his mistake and slowed down, but did not come to a full stop until he had passed three properties.
I let my crochet hook rest in my lap to watch.
The end of the Court has a tall black walnut tree growing fairly close to the pavement. The loop is just about big enough for the garbage or a fire truck to maneuver slowly, but this driver may not realize that.
He began to back up, the noise scaring every bird away from every tree and nest.
As he got to the corner, there is really no way to see if cross traffic is coming. Luckily most drivers are watchful, so a fella in a pick-up truck stopped to allow the bus to get back out onto Gregory Street. It headed west toward Main, where making a left turn takes awhile.
Just as I was getting back into hook rhythm (the Diagonal Box Stitch pattern baby blanket is more than half done just since Saturday!) a cranberry color Niszan Altema pulled up at the end of the walk. Two middle-age women inside stopped to ask directions to Old Fort Jesse Road.
The passenger asked what I’m working on, so I had to show the yarn, and my new hook with the square wood handle. She wrote down the name and said she would look it up. I gave them directions using “turn right and turn left” phrases, which doesn’t usually help as much as saying “go East on” but I hope they make it to their meeting alright.
Sitting on my front porch is interesting enough, so I can sorta imagine being on the balcony of a nearby complex watching this building When Things Roll Over
It’s about time for me to be getting on with the rest of the day. At Noon (Illinois time), I have a dentist appt to make repairs to the crown drilled through for the root canal. After that, who knows?
~~love and Huggs, Diane
ps You will be glad to know that my camera is returned from young son, complete with new memory card, the battery charged, Husband cleaned the lens.
Now if only I remember what I wanted to get pictures of…..
Friday, July 31, 2009
in the Aisle of the Craft Store
Alright, I will confess. My little trip to deliver the old newspapers to the recycling bin was actually an excuse to drive onward a few streets to visit H L the craft store. I had not been there in awhile, and I found a 25% off coupon at their website (although it had not been printed in the paper—marketing alert)
The item I’m looking for is holiday colors in 3-ply sport weight acrylic yarn. There is a red twist which might work, but I have time to keep looking.
While standing and staring at shelf after shelf full of yarny goodness, I overheard a mother talking to her youngun in the seat of a cart. The boy was maybe a little over a year old, and he kept slapping his mom’s arm, or tummy, and tugged on her shirt. I remember that being a signal from my pre-word son that he was umm, thirsty.
This mother told him to “No Hit! Not Nice!” a bit too loudly, considering she was standing close enough for him to smack her arm again.
Then she backed up a little so he could not reach her, and said “If you hit mommy again, I will have to spank you.”
I walked around the end of the lane and almost bumped into a clerk who was busy counting stock. She turned and looked at me with a wrinkle in her forehead. “Did I just hear that?” she whispered. “If you hit again, a spanking?”
I nodded, just as cart with child and young mother came into the aisle.
The clerk winked at me as if we shared a secret.
I’m still not quite accustomed to seeing people the same age as my sons as being parents. The girl most likely did not realize about her choice of words and actions, and does not have the years of hindsight that I do. The toddler looked fine enough, tho there did not seem to be any other interaction between mother and son.
Neither the clerk nor I said anything, but I smiled at the child. I smile at every child I see, but the “stranger! danger!” lessons don’t allow a kid to smile back very often. This one did not.
I used the coupon on a 4-ply acrylic yarn called Earthy Ombre a bunch of lovely shades of Autumn and it will peg loom knit into a fine hat—maybe nice enough that I’ll keep it for me.
~~love and Huggs, Diane
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Her Speech at Commencement
Why I am sitting indoors on a lovely evening
I am watching/ listening to a speech by author J. K. Rowling
at graduation for Harvard class of 2008
it’s well worth the time and inspiration
the InnerNet is a wondrous place, bringing the world to my keyboard
~~love and Huggs, Diane
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Interruption of my Solitude
When will I learn to not answer the phone during the day?
it’s what the machine is for, yes?
When the phone rang I was sitting on the couch, the last song on the cd playing, the last few stitches in the latest seam of the granny squares. My timing is good, I often have to set a limit for myself so that my butt and my hands don’t get too tired.
But Phone, it could be urgent! so I toss aside the humongous aphgan, touch the Pause button on the stereo, skitter past the edge of the coffee table, hop over the corner of the treadmill and the leg of the weight bench, grab up the receiver saying Hello even before I have it settled properly over my ear.
The chirrup on the other end mispronounces my name.
Without correcting her, I settle in and get the computer to put a game of Solitaire on screen.
She is from the cancer society and seems to be all in a tizzy about how our fair state is going to increase taxes on a pack of cigarettes, saying that in two years, the things will cost $2 more than they do today.
A higher price of cigarettes will often deter someone from ever starting to smoke.
Do I support a tax increase on cigarettes?
just as I find the last King and drag it to the empty space
I like to play dumb hillbilly now and then, which often gets my husband and sons climbing the walls, but I did live in hill country the first 22 years of my life before college, so I can drop back into the mindset.
With a light touch of disinterest coming through my voice, I told her I don’t care how much they tax cigarettes.
I don’t smoke ‘em.
There was a bit of sputtering on the other end, but she managed to come up with secondhand smoke effects everyone in the vicinity.
She couldn’t see me shrug, but I told her that we all gotta die of something, that she is wasting her time, I am not interested giving anybody else any money when I have the co-payment for a root canal coming up next week.
Before giving her a chance to say anything else, I took the receiver away from my face, said “Have a good day” and hung up.
And now I’m having second thoughts about being so rude because I figure she’s a gal actually trying to earn her way in the world and I’m a part-time Sunday School teacher who should act like a pillar of the community.
Next time, I’ll let the machine answer.
~~love and Huggs, Diane
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Reading the other section of the newspaper
This morning’s paper has an announcement that a movie star couple are able to welcome twin baby girls into their family.
The main reason I am interested is the babies were born to a surrogate mother, in the same hospital in eastern Ohio where I was born and later worked my clinicals for LPN training.
Some connections and feelings are going strong still….
~~love and Huggs, Diane
Thursday, May 21, 2009
So Glad the Sons are Bigger Now
found via Google Reader, hat tip to George
Iffen I were not so tired, I might have a few stories of mine own to go along with what he said
No, your kids are not adorable
but there are others who did not agree with me when I ushered a toddler out of the hot and busy church kitchen
or sent a 16 month old away from the table because he was dropping art items on the floor beside his chair
I raised three strong-willed sons, worked daycare for years
children learn early how much they can get away with
and very little gets by ME
~~love and Huggs, Diane