Rain and Wind!

"SACRAMENTO (CBS13/AP) ―

(1/19/2010)
Yet another storm is slamming into Northern California, bringing another round of strong wind and heavy rain to ground that is already saturated from days of rain.

The fourth storm in a series that has lasted all week is working its way across the state with the brunt of the storm to pound the Valley around midday.

A high wind warning is in effect for much of the Central Valley with steady winds from 25-40 miles per hour expected along with gusts up to 50-60 miles per hour."

It  has been really wet & windy here.  We need the rain badly, the wind, NOT at all ! 
 
Last time we had a storm like this one, we had no power for 4 days.  To add to the misery, our generator quit working.  We ended up in a hotel because after the rain stopped, the temperature dropped and we couldn't stay in the freezing house.
 
This time, we have a new generator, which has been test fired recently and IS working.  We can at least have heat on & off and run the pump for the well. (Flushing toilets are pretty important, too)  I think we could probably stick it out this time. 
 
Send California your good thoughts, please?

Brrrr!  Chris

Word Verification

The sad fact is, word verification and comment moderation have become necessary in blogdom!  Many  (most?) of us have been hit by the spammers, at least once.  I stopped getting annoyed by the word verification boxes after I had some offshore gambling ads & non-english comments to deal with. That's when I started making it a game.  I even look forward to those little boxes now.  Sort of...

Might just be me, but I have a very difficult time typing a "word" that doesn't make sense to me.  So I began trying to turn these random strings of characters into something I could get my 61 year old brain to recognize.  Now I have tell you, it's not always easy.  Sometimes I just can't make it happen.  So, I type the letters wrong and get an error message AND a better word.

I've been saving some of the word verifications that tickled me.  Yes, I am easily amused.  I thought I would share...lucky you!

~The AFLAC duck says this when he's got a "frog" in his throat:

~When you're ready for dessert you say:

~Handsel & Gretel's less famous brother:

~The funeral notice for your lost computer data is more properly called:

~When you have completed your second year of high school or college you are:

~What the word verification fairy does when you mis-type the characters:

~If your town has many felines, you live in a:

~What a baby says when he tastes peas for the first time:

~Your favorite Aussie greets you with "Hey...:

~A hurricane contains:

~Mork said to Mindy, "Nannu, nannu...

~If something is really simple to do, it is:

I saw on a blog (wish I could remember who's it was) a couple of years ago the idea that one day we would be seeing this in word verification.  At least I understand this one!  LOL!

bifernao, Chris

Making New Friends - The Recommendations

I just had to add this photo of two "girl friends".  It cracks me up for some reason!

Remember last week when I wrote (HERE) about the fun of making new blog friends?  I had several replies.  Most commented that they enjoyed it too, without any recommendation, for some reason.  One of my favorite bloggers, Mary at "Across The Pond", explained in her comment, why she does not go searching for new blogs to visit.  It was heartfelt and so true to her very dear nature.  And Mary,  you gave me something to ponder!

I did get a few recommendations.  I am posting them here so you can enjoy them too! 
First, here are the two I recommended that day:

Mennonite Girls Can Cook

Blooming on Bainbridge 

~Doodles at Tombstone Tumbleweed, Peanut Butter Etouffee and Imagine for Me recommends:

Bell' Alimento

Kayotic Cooking

~Shirley at Shirley's World recommends:

Cozy Little House

Family Trees May Contain Nuts

Hope you enjoy them!

Chris

A Dream

Can you imagine how wonderful it would be to have one of these right off my dining room? 

I can imagine the french doors leading out to the slate floor, the fireplace, the lush green conservatory trees.  It would be the perfect place to host tea parties, Holiday meals, Friday morning bible study, meetings/parties with my Tupperware team. 

As I build my Tupperware business to the next level, having a dream/goal is important.  This should satisfy that requirement, don't you think?

If you want to dream too, check out this link: Renaissance Conservatories

Cheers!  Chris

A Dizzy Visitor

Yesterday morning, I was sitting in my office when I heard a familiar THUD!

We have 4 big windows in our kitchen. Each one is topped by a transom-style window. I love all the light, but those 4 top windows are bird magnets. The windows face the sunrise, and it seems that for a couple of hours, the birds can't distinguish them from the sky. We have at least one bird strike a week. I always run to see "who" has concussed him/herself. Only once have a seen a dead bird, usually they just sit dazed for a few minutes and then fly off. I am a birder, so this is very distressing to me!

We are having stained glass put in these windows, and two of the four are installed. This seems to help the birds, and the summer heat in my kitchen. But yesterday, again one of my avian friends failed to recognize the glass in front of him! I heard the noise and hurried to the kitchen.

This what I saw. A beautiful California Quail sitting on my porch swing.

He wasn't moving at all, just sitting. When I walked to the door with the camera, he did turn to look at me. I was able to snap this photo before he finally flew into one of the almond trees. At least he could fly! But because these guys stay mostly on the ground, I think he was still a little dazed. Hopefully, he will be okay. We have a bunch of them, but I hate to lose even one!

Make new friends, but keep the old...

¯Y ...one is silver, but the other gold! Y¯ Remember that old song? I think I learned it in Brownies. It has been in my head since I started writing this post.

I know everyone is very busy this time of year. It's hard to think about blogging when you have a million things to do. I understand, really. I have been on forced time off for two weeks, looking forward to really catching up with everyone. While many of you have been there to entertain, inspire & educate, some haven't posted in weeks and others have disappeared for months!




Let me preface this next part by saying that "I am faithful"! I continue to check my favs often, just in case I've missed a post. I'll be thrilled when you return and once again fill my life with your news, inspiration and friendship!

But at the risk of being labeled "fickle", I have to confess to wondering off into blogdom looking for new friends. Not to replace the old ones, just to add to the mix. One can NEVER have too many friends, right?

What's the whole point of this tongue-in-cheek post? I have, over the last month or so, discovered a few blogs that are new to me, and I am enjoying them so much, I wanted to share a couple of them with you.

In return, would you share a blog that is new to you; one that you're so happy to have discovered? Click on the Email Me text in the sidebar and send me the link. I'll publish them all in a week or so. That way, we can all make some new friends!

Here are two of my favorite new finds!

Mennonite Girls Can Cook - My mouth is watering! Do you want delicious recipes and "Bread For The Journey"? You'll find them both on this beautiful blog.

Blooming on Bainbridge - You're going to love meeting Teresa! She's so full of fun and she's loving her life on Bainbridge Island.

Enjoy!