Rest in Peace Charlie Kirk

 

Rest in peace, Charlie Kirk.

"You can't silent an opinion by ending a life.  
You only prove its weight."

Free with Prime!

 Good morning,

You get all kinds of perks with Prime!  Look carefully to see our most recent freebee perk!

 A new pet?

 No, just a little Wall Lizard.  Harmless.  I took him outside and let him go.  

You never know what you'll get Free with Prime!

;),

Lois

Flashback - Happy National Dog Day!

  Good morning,

It's National Dog Day here in the USA and of course we celebrate!

Today's image is a flashback to eleven years ago.  It popped up on my Facebook page yesterday and it was so wonderful to see so I'll share it again here after eleven years.

In the image are Penny (2005-2020) and Erik (2009-    ) swimming together as they did so often.  In fact, I had a blog post about it.

It is great to see the image of Penny and Erik together and to see them having so much fun.

Such memories are wonderful, aren't they....

 Lois

Face Mask Saga

 Good morning,

A few days ago I posted about the three masks I received at my Meijer store when I entered to do my weekly grocery shopping.

This week I received three more N95 masks (see above) which was great because my family members haven't been able to get them.  This time the masks are equipped with valves.  What makes these interesting is our hospitals don't allow the masks with these vents that allow the air exhaled by the wearer to leave the mask, thus contaminating the nearby air.  

Soooooo, that means the person wearing the mask is somehow protected, but anyone nearby not wearing a mask is not....

The Saga of the Government Issued Masks continues.

Your tax dollars at work.

An aside:  I have recently had two teeth replaced with dental implants. The teeth aren't in the center front, but close enough that they would be missed if I spoke or smiled.  After the initial surgery to place the implants, the bone had to heal for four months, then the gums were surgically opened, impressions made, the new teeth made, then mounted.  All of this took another month.  During this time, it was good to be able to wear a mask in public so that I could hide my role as a cast member of the Beverly Hillbillies show.  I just love dental implants, but the journey to get them is a long one.

Lois

N 95 Masks

 Good morning,

If you live in the USA, have you gotten your N95 masks yet?

As I walked into my Meijer store this week I was handed these three masks.  It struck me as funny that the woman passing them out was not wearing a mask.  I was already wearing a mask of my own at the time.  In my household we are all fully vaccinated and boostered, but I am careful.... I feel it's a personal choice whether we wear masks or not. I'm not out often, only do what I need to do outside the house, so wear the mask for the short time I am exposed to others.  I not only want to avoid Covid and all it's various spin offs, but even the common cold. Maybe by next winter I won't be so conservative about this....

It wasn't until I got home that I saw in the news that our US government is passing out the free N95 masks to everyone from our reserve stockpile.

Again, I'll say I believe it is a personal choice to wear a mask or not.  I'll not comment on the political implications, but I do wonder how many of my tax dollars paid for my three masks.

Hmmmm....  Food for thought....

Lois

Here We Go Again

 Good morning,

For three or four weeks it seemed the grocery shelves were stocked again.

But, not this week.

 Of course, I was able to buy plenty of groceries for our family, just not necessarily the items I would normally buy and definitely not at the prices I would have paid just a year ago. 

Be informed and vote.

:(,

Lois

Quail Hatchlings

 Good morning,

The saga of the quail continues.  Our daughter, Catherine, supplied these pictures of quail eggs hatching.  Her friend, Erica, is now the proud owner of quail who are producing eggs at an alarming rate.  Above are quail hatching in an incubator.

 I must say these babies are cute!

Here they are in motion.  ;)

Very, cool, Catherine!  Thanks for the images.

Lois

Empty Shelves

 Good morning,

I snapped this picture last week.  These are the shelves in my grocery where I used to be able to buy butter.

I took the above picture this week at my same grocery.   This is where I used to be able to buy whole milk.

Don't ever let anyone tell you that central planning and socialism are good things.

Be informed and be sure to vote!

We now return to our regularly scheduled blogging....

Lois

Gas Prices

 Good morning,

We live where the gas prices aren't as bad as they are other places, but this is bad enough.  The $2.879 price on the pump is already with a 10 cents per gallon discount because we are filling up at Kroger and I used my Kroger Plus card.  

So, our gas prices are now ready to hit $3 per gallon.  Last year gas was under $2 per gallon.  

Don't forget to vote!

Lois

PS - For those family and friends in Norway, I know, I know....

A Tribute to the Fallen - May They Rest in Peace

 Good morning,

This is not a political blog, but politics are driving our lives this week.  We are appalled and devastated by what has happened this week in Afghanistan.  We grieve for those who have fallen and we pray for those trying to escape the violence.  We pray for our dear friends in Israel who are in the same neighborhood with those who would annihilate them.  

I'll quote my eldest brother (RIP), Lt. Colonel USAF and pilot.  As the chaos of pulling out of Vietnam happened, he and so many others were totally frustrated.  He said, "The politicians take us into war, but won't let us win it."  It has happened again.

Please know that not everyone in the USA voted for this administration and what is happening.  In fact many of us saw the writing on the wall and voted to try to prevent it.  We will be voting again soon and this time I believe more people will have awakened to the truth.

We now return to our regularly scheduled non-political blogging....

Lois

Just Plain Rude

 Good morning,

Catherine snapped this picture through her windshield as she was trying to leave for work one day last week.  That's a parked car across our driveway.  Living near a large university brings all kinds of rude and stupid people to the neighborhood.  Catherine drove over the curb and grass to get out to get to an appointment at her office on time.  She also called the university police who are able to match the plates to the student and pull them out of class to come move their car. 

*sigh*

Lois

Thank You for Asking

Good morning,

Thank you so much to those who have written to see if I'm OK since I haven't had a blog post for a couple of days.

My blog was rudely interrupted by Acute Appendicitis.  I'm home, recovering, and all is well, but I'm not moving around taking many pictures or doing much more than recovering.

That is a picture of my night shirt.  Appropriate, isn't it!

Thanks, again, for your concern.  It was so very kind of you and inspiring to hear from people who read my blog daily and missed seeing it.

All the best,
Lois

Engineering Problem Solving Flow Chart

Good morning,

I've seen some of these before and get a kick out of them.  Here's the engineering version of a Problem Solving Flow Chart.

Fun stuff....

Lois

Finally! A Sunny Day!

Good morning,

Yesterday was a rainy day, but we grilled outside anyway.  Today is a gloriously beautiful sunny day, although still quite chilly.  Of course, I had to go take pictures of the front garden.  I'm sure it will look very different in the next couple of weeks as these flowers fade and others bloom.

The daffodils we planted around the flag post last year are returning in all their glory.

Do you see the window on the right on the second floor?  Above that window is a decorative lion.  That spot behind that lion is home to a bird nest again this year.  After the babies are gone, we will try to figure a way to block that area to keep it from being a nest site again next year.  We don't think the moisture of the nest will be good for that lion.

Sweet buttercups. :)

 I've planted many different types of daffodils over the years, but these have been most permanent.  These King Alfred Daffs from 20 years ago have returned just as beautifully as the King Alfred's planted last year.

 The magnolia will soon be in bloom...

...to provide a huge bouquet of pink flowers.

 Ah, yes, Spring!

Enjoy,
Lois

Leaves for Leontien

The sun shines through this beautiful tree dressed in brilliant color for our friend Leontien.

All the very best and huge hugs, Dear Leontien.

xoxoxox,

Lois

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Click the image below to join in sending greetings to Leontien.

Happy Father's Day and Boarding Freedom of the Seas in Port Canaveral

Good morning,

Happy Father's Day to all the Dads out there especially My Honey and our two sons.

In real time this is a very busy day for us.  We are boarding Freedom of the Seas in Port Canaveral, Florida, and will be here for ten weeks.

You can see the ship on the Port Canaveral Web cam from 5:00 AM to 4:30 PM EDT (-5 GMT) on Sundays.  If you would like to watch us depart this afternoon you can do so on the web cam beginning about 4:30 PM.  I have added a link to the web cam in the right side bar.

Regular readers of this blog know that my posts continue daily while we are at sea, but the images will lag a few days.  I only upload images and visit other blogs on days we are in US ports where I have a connection with enough bandwidth to avoid timing out.  Of course, we do have email 24/7 while at sea.

Those pretty flowers up there on the top of this post were given to us by a friend on board the last time we were here in April.  Jeff, we are thinking of you and will miss seeing you aboard Freedom this time.

All the best,
Lois

Flowers and Hugs for Leontien

Dearest Leontien,

These flowers are for you to let you know you are in our thoughts and prayers. 

 

Love and hugs,

Lois

Black Friday Shopping!

Good morning,

It's Black Friday!  No, we don't go out and do the door busting thing, but shopping on line in my jammies with a turkey sandwich and cup of coffee is pretty nifty.

I have quite a few things to do in the next short month including baking, hosting, knitting, shopping....  I'll also be assembling gifts for clients of daughter's CPA practice, attending holiday parties for two organizations, wondering when I will sleep....

I usually plan several months in advance and execute the plan as we get close to the holidays.  This year we just got home after ten weeks away.  I have all the holiday shopping to do very quickly so I better get to it. :)

Are you holiday shopping yet or will you wait until the last minute?

All the best,
Lois

------------------------------------------

And now, a word from our sponsor...  ;)

We hope you will come on over to our Etsy Shop EvensensProductions.com where you will find free shipping to USA addresses on all items in the Fashion Dolls (fits Barbie Dolls) and 18" Dolls (fits American Girl Dolls) sections. At this writing the outfit at the top of this post and many others are still available in the store.

We also have fantastic fashions for the family and wood ornaments just in time for the holidays.

And today, Black Friday, with all orders over $25, we will include a free Crocheted Turtle - $8 value!  Our pretty "painted" turtles are approximately 7" from nose to tail and are lightly stuffed with fabric.  They are completely washable.  Colors will vary.

Come over and see us at

EvensensProductions.com

Thank  you and we now return you to your regularly scheduled blogging.  ;)

Seven Links Challenge

Good morning,

My fellow blogger, Quay Po over at Quay Po Cooks tapped me with the Seven Links Challenge.  If you haven't found her blog yet, stop over and take a look at all of the wonderful things she cooks.  AND, she shares her recipes.

I hadn't seen the Seven Links Challenge before Quay Po named me to take it up and do it myself.  It seems I am to search into my own blog and answer seven questions about it.  I am then to name three others to whom to pass this challenge.

OK, I'm game.  ;)  Here we go with the seven questions I am to answer about my blog.

1.  Most Beautiful Post

That has to be the posts about my family.  The most recent is the post about My Honey's Birthday Party.  The image at the top of this post is from that party post.

2.  Most Popular Post

This one still gets hits constantly.  I think it's because Google picked up my images and people come in from there: Oasis of the Seas and Freedom of the Seas in Cozumel, Mexico

3.  Most Controversial Post

Uh, I avoid those since this blog doesn't address controversial issues (as far as I know.) :)

4.  Most Helpful Post

From what I am told, that has to be my Bread Making posts.  If you click that link, you'll go to the Bread Making label where you'll find 56 bread recipe posts.

5.  Surprisingly Successful Post

This was a post I did about the Yacht Cakewalk that I saw in St.Thomas, U.S.V.I.  That one continues to get many, many hits. I think others see the yacht out there sailing around, go to the Internet to find information about it, and find my post.

6.  Post that did not get the attention that it deserved.

I couldn't answer this one.  I don't make the decision about which posts are most popular.  You, the readers, do that.

7.  The post that makes me most proud.

I enjoy blogging and enjoy capturing images and writing about them.  I guess I am quite proud, though, of my Free Form Crochet Techniques post.  I love creating with yarn and creative crochet is a great deal of fun for me.  I am very proud that this post was very well received when it was first posted, is linked from many other sites, and continues to get hits regularly.

OK, I've done it!  Now it is time for me to name three other bloggers to answer the same seven questions.  All three of these bloggers have gorgeous, outstanding blogs. 

If you don't have time, I certainly understand, but I would love to read your answers to the challenge and follow your links:

Wanda of Moments of Mine

Elaine of Arctic View

Mona of Montana Girl

I have enjoyed this exercise.  I hope you have, too.  ;)

Best,
Lois

Liebster Award!

Good morning,

I received a wonderful surprise from my friend Debbie of Happy Days when she named me for the Liebster Blog Award! How very sweet of her!  Debbie and I have followed each other's blogs for quite some time now.  I've enjoyed her friendship out here in blog land.  She has two beautiful granddaughters I've watched grow for more than a year now.  Thanks again, Debbie!  How very sweet of you!

The Liebster Blog is for bloggers who have blogs with fewer than 200 followers.  Part of this award is to pass it on to three more deserving bloggers so here are my nominations:



Welcome to my World - Diana - This lovely lady just had two knee replacements and is doing a fabulous job with her recovery.  She is such a positive personality!  Always up and supportive of the rest of us out here in blog land.

Cactus Needle - Nedra - I love following this lady's blog and seeing all the different quilts she shows us.  Not only does she do beautiful work herself, she visits museums and stores with gorgeous quilts that she photographs and shows us on her blog.  She also shares images from the road trips she takes with Mr. Cactus.

Life According to Jan and Jer - These folks enjoy life, publish beautiful pictures, and are great contributors to the blogging community.

I follow many, many blogs and there are so many deserving ones of this "friend blog" award. It was difficult to pick only three to whom to pass this award.

Thank you, again, Debbie!  This is such fun to pass around the love.

All the best,
Lois