(And will be getting another bath this weekend!)
Showing posts with label Nicky. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nicky. Show all posts
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Saturday, August 04, 2012
But Does It Toast?
Last weekend I bought a $7, no-nonsense, not-oversized toaster. Mom asked if it toasted.
"Yes."
Note to self: after purchasing a new toaster, check to see what setting it's on before using it for the first time, especially if the bread isn't frozen. Try something lower than mega-char.
I think she actually wanted to know if it toasted both sides. After picking off the burned parts, here's the other side:
And the really toasted side, after:
It could be more symmetric, but it'll do.
(Note: the bread is "missing" parts because these are the slices where the paddle was, and the paddle was angled such that there really wasn't much left on the other side of the hole, so I ate those bits before toasting.)
PS: Also accomplished today, since the last post:
1. Laundry
2. Primed closet shelves and supports for ends.
3. Gave doggie another walk.
Doggie is funny... it's like he speaks sign language. At one point when I looked out the kitchen window, he spotted me. He looked directly at me, then went over to the gate and looked out. Then he came back to where he could see me, looked directly at me, and then back over to and looking out the gate. (Lather, rinse, repeat.) Yes, doggie, I'll give you another walk, but not right then. ;)
"Yes."
Note to self: after purchasing a new toaster, check to see what setting it's on before using it for the first time, especially if the bread isn't frozen. Try something lower than mega-char.
I think she actually wanted to know if it toasted both sides. After picking off the burned parts, here's the other side:
And the really toasted side, after:
It could be more symmetric, but it'll do.
(Note: the bread is "missing" parts because these are the slices where the paddle was, and the paddle was angled such that there really wasn't much left on the other side of the hole, so I ate those bits before toasting.)
PS: Also accomplished today, since the last post:
1. Laundry
2. Primed closet shelves and supports for ends.
3. Gave doggie another walk.
Doggie is funny... it's like he speaks sign language. At one point when I looked out the kitchen window, he spotted me. He looked directly at me, then went over to the gate and looked out. Then he came back to where he could see me, looked directly at me, and then back over to and looking out the gate. (Lather, rinse, repeat.) Yes, doggie, I'll give you another walk, but not right then. ;)
Why I Hurt So Much
Aka what I've done so far today.
1. Baked bread in bread machine.
2. Had breakfast & brushed teeth.
3. Washed dog.
Holy crap, dog shampoo is expensive!!!! Granted, I bought it at a drug store (normally more expensive) rather than the grocery store (didn't have any), but *still*... I think it cost around three times as much as the stuff I use on myself!
Doggy before:
Doggy after:
Does he look less stinky? I think he's somewhat less stinky, but would need several more washes before I got it all out. (Even though I was using warm water, he was starting to shiver, so I just did the quick wash. Maybe I'll try again tomorrow when it's supposed to be warmer.)
Surprisingly, I didn't get my clothes wet at all while washing him! However, the whole time he thought he was going to get a walk, so...
4. Took doggy for a walk. (Doggy pulls... the "leash" dad loaned me has a large loop to wrap around your torso, to give you more leverage. I still have a knot in my neck from the first walk on Thursday evening.) On the last loop around the block, doggy spotted two wandering kitties at the same time, and went nuts. I stood and held my ground for a bit while he whined and howled, finally I used the whistle and dragged him off.
5. I washed off two plastic patio chairs that dad hasn't taken yet, so that I could sit and pet doggy for a while. (The two were stacked, and I figured I might as well wash the second while the first one dripped off.) I forgot to take before and after photos of these.
6. Petted doggy for a while. (Got dog hair all over my hands and clothes.)
7. Weeded for a while, so that I would be outside in the yard with him (or at least nearby, when I was weeding the part along the back lane.) I filled two trash cans with the weeds from along the back lane. The weeds from the back yard (not including the back-back area, which still needs weeding) probably could have filled two more, but I'm down to a half can (dad put some stuff in the last trash can earlier this week), and so I figured I'd save a bit of space for household stuff. So the back yard weeds are wilting in two piles on the patio for now.
8. While weeding, I also sorted the random firewood into two piles: "probably short enough" and "needs to be cut shorter". My dad told a neighbour he could have the firewood, and I'm hoping that having it in two piles will make it more likely to leave. There's still more out in the back-back yard, but I think I got pretty much all of it in the back yard (besides the dead tree that needs pulling down) into the two piles.
I forgot "before" photos, so you'll have to take my word that these photos represent an improvement in the condition of the back yard:
Weeds and short firewood:
Big pile of weeds:
(Previously I had the thought "if I pull the weeds before they go to seed, I can probably compost them"... flaw in that thought: it's been way to hot to get out and weed, and they've pretty much all gone to seed. Yeah, I could have composted some of this, but I figured pulling was enough of an accomplishment... some time when they're less out of control I'll have more energy for sorting and composting them.)
Yay, virtually no weeds:
(There's a maple that I need to attack, but it's under the sawhorses full of crap, and I was just doing stuff I could pull without tools or just that little dandelion-weeder thingy today.) Also, considerably less crap! (Moved firewood and a bunch of random crap into more organized, "hope it will leave" piles on the patio.)
Random crap, but also virtually no weeds (big maple behind the dead tree needs bigger tools):
Fewer weeds:
(More maples, and I wasn't in the mood to wade into the brambles today. I did pull what I could reach, though.)
Considerably fewer weeds, but lots of junk:
(Any tips on what I should do to the dandelion roots between the pavers? I'm thinking maybe pouring boiling water on them?)
Hmmm... apparently I didn't take a photo of the big pile of "needs to be shorter" firewood, but that could be because my battery died at this point. A lot of it was just branches, but there were also some logs that were around four feet long (at a guess) that contributed to sore muscles. Also no photos of the weeded laneway or full trash cans. Oh well, maybe later.
9. Had shower. (Boy, was I *dirty* after weeding! Plus the dog had jumped on me a couple times at one point.)
When I went in, the doggy was sitting on the garage step where he could see me in the kitchen for a bit. When I came down after my shower, he was still there.
Sleepy doggy:
Or not:
10. Doing laundry (first small load of dirty-doggy clothes and towels in dryer, second real load in washer).
Dryer buzzed (washer still going), which means the shorts I need for painting shelves are now clean. I think I may let myself sit for a bit more before painting, though. I hurt. Plus I'm hungry.
Off to find food....
1. Baked bread in bread machine.
2. Had breakfast & brushed teeth.
3. Washed dog.
Holy crap, dog shampoo is expensive!!!! Granted, I bought it at a drug store (normally more expensive) rather than the grocery store (didn't have any), but *still*... I think it cost around three times as much as the stuff I use on myself!
Doggy before:
Doggy after:
Does he look less stinky? I think he's somewhat less stinky, but would need several more washes before I got it all out. (Even though I was using warm water, he was starting to shiver, so I just did the quick wash. Maybe I'll try again tomorrow when it's supposed to be warmer.)
Surprisingly, I didn't get my clothes wet at all while washing him! However, the whole time he thought he was going to get a walk, so...
4. Took doggy for a walk. (Doggy pulls... the "leash" dad loaned me has a large loop to wrap around your torso, to give you more leverage. I still have a knot in my neck from the first walk on Thursday evening.) On the last loop around the block, doggy spotted two wandering kitties at the same time, and went nuts. I stood and held my ground for a bit while he whined and howled, finally I used the whistle and dragged him off.
5. I washed off two plastic patio chairs that dad hasn't taken yet, so that I could sit and pet doggy for a while. (The two were stacked, and I figured I might as well wash the second while the first one dripped off.) I forgot to take before and after photos of these.
6. Petted doggy for a while. (Got dog hair all over my hands and clothes.)
7. Weeded for a while, so that I would be outside in the yard with him (or at least nearby, when I was weeding the part along the back lane.) I filled two trash cans with the weeds from along the back lane. The weeds from the back yard (not including the back-back area, which still needs weeding) probably could have filled two more, but I'm down to a half can (dad put some stuff in the last trash can earlier this week), and so I figured I'd save a bit of space for household stuff. So the back yard weeds are wilting in two piles on the patio for now.
8. While weeding, I also sorted the random firewood into two piles: "probably short enough" and "needs to be cut shorter". My dad told a neighbour he could have the firewood, and I'm hoping that having it in two piles will make it more likely to leave. There's still more out in the back-back yard, but I think I got pretty much all of it in the back yard (besides the dead tree that needs pulling down) into the two piles.
I forgot "before" photos, so you'll have to take my word that these photos represent an improvement in the condition of the back yard:
Weeds and short firewood:
Big pile of weeds:
(Previously I had the thought "if I pull the weeds before they go to seed, I can probably compost them"... flaw in that thought: it's been way to hot to get out and weed, and they've pretty much all gone to seed. Yeah, I could have composted some of this, but I figured pulling was enough of an accomplishment... some time when they're less out of control I'll have more energy for sorting and composting them.)
Yay, virtually no weeds:
(There's a maple that I need to attack, but it's under the sawhorses full of crap, and I was just doing stuff I could pull without tools or just that little dandelion-weeder thingy today.) Also, considerably less crap! (Moved firewood and a bunch of random crap into more organized, "hope it will leave" piles on the patio.)
Random crap, but also virtually no weeds (big maple behind the dead tree needs bigger tools):
Fewer weeds:
(More maples, and I wasn't in the mood to wade into the brambles today. I did pull what I could reach, though.)
Considerably fewer weeds, but lots of junk:
(Any tips on what I should do to the dandelion roots between the pavers? I'm thinking maybe pouring boiling water on them?)
Hmmm... apparently I didn't take a photo of the big pile of "needs to be shorter" firewood, but that could be because my battery died at this point. A lot of it was just branches, but there were also some logs that were around four feet long (at a guess) that contributed to sore muscles. Also no photos of the weeded laneway or full trash cans. Oh well, maybe later.
9. Had shower. (Boy, was I *dirty* after weeding! Plus the dog had jumped on me a couple times at one point.)
When I went in, the doggy was sitting on the garage step where he could see me in the kitchen for a bit. When I came down after my shower, he was still there.
Sleepy doggy:
Or not:
10. Doing laundry (first small load of dirty-doggy clothes and towels in dryer, second real load in washer).
Dryer buzzed (washer still going), which means the shorts I need for painting shelves are now clean. I think I may let myself sit for a bit more before painting, though. I hurt. Plus I'm hungry.
Off to find food....
Monday, July 04, 2011
Father's Day
Back on Father's day, I went out to dad's new place for dinner.
It's starting to look like a home! (A home in progress, that was recently threatened with flooding, that is.)
My dad with his new old topless Mercedes:
Does this mean he's having a mid-life crisis? (It has a hard top that comes off.)
Dad's dog doesn't like his wife's cat.
The dog is an outside dog, and the cat is an inside cat, but I don't think things will go well for the cat if they ever end up on the same side of the door! (Or, in this case, window.)
I call the rest of this series "taking a portrait photograph of a cat is hard":
Cat has not yet noticed the camera:
Cat notices camera:
Perhaps if we distract the cat:
Cat: "Why do you retreat from me? I come closer to you!"
"Let me rub up against you!"
I realize the cat is fascinated by the dangling strap, and try using that to my advantage:
Cat: "You fascinate me! Please let me rub up against you!" (They *know* when you're allergic to them, I'm sure of it!)
Dad pulls out the laser pointer.
Ah ha! Dad tired him out! He's sitting still!
Success! (Not perfect, but he is finally posing reasonably well.)
It's starting to look like a home! (A home in progress, that was recently threatened with flooding, that is.)
My dad with his new old topless Mercedes:
Does this mean he's having a mid-life crisis? (It has a hard top that comes off.)
Dad's dog doesn't like his wife's cat.
The dog is an outside dog, and the cat is an inside cat, but I don't think things will go well for the cat if they ever end up on the same side of the door! (Or, in this case, window.)
I call the rest of this series "taking a portrait photograph of a cat is hard":
Cat has not yet noticed the camera:
Cat notices camera:
Perhaps if we distract the cat:
Cat: "Why do you retreat from me? I come closer to you!"
"Let me rub up against you!"
I realize the cat is fascinated by the dangling strap, and try using that to my advantage:
Cat: "You fascinate me! Please let me rub up against you!" (They *know* when you're allergic to them, I'm sure of it!)
Dad pulls out the laser pointer.
Ah ha! Dad tired him out! He's sitting still!
Success! (Not perfect, but he is finally posing reasonably well.)
Sunday, June 06, 2010
Some People Walk Dogs...
...Today I walked my caretaker.
He had a stroke last fall, and found out (while being treated for the stroke) that he has high blood pressure and diabetes. Among other things, he was told to get a certain amount of exercise. However, since the stroke came on while he was out for a walk, he's been rather scared to go far from the apartment, since he wouldn't be able to phone for help then. Instead, he's been walking the apartment hallway.
Now, if this was a real sized apartment, this wouldn't be too bad. But it's a tiny apartment block... and so the length of the hallway is two stairways less than the length of my apartment. He uses a deck of cards to keep track of how many times he's paced back and forth. (Each time he moves a card from on step to the lower one.) I feel bad for him.
Tonight, after putting a load in the dryer (~58 minutes), I saw that he was doing his pacing. Rather than going upstairs and washing dishes so that I could cook dinner, I decided to take him for a walk around the block instead. After circling twice, I asked if he wanted to go again, or if he had enough. He decided that was enough for today.
Usually when I see him pacing, I'm busy with lots of other stuff. I think I'll try to make time for him more often, though. (It's not really exercise for me, because he doesn't walk very fast.) I'm thinking I should also introduce him to the 96-year-old gentleman in the neighbourhood who still walks daily, but has been getting more and more frail looking... the two of them could act as security for each other. They only live half a block away from each other, and if they made arrangements by phone (and called afterwards), they'd even have some security for that half block that one of them is alone.
While out and about on our walk today, I introduced him to my dad's dog, Nicky. He noticed the chives beside the sidewalk that were blooming. I think he recognized that they were related to onions, and remarked that they looked nice. I said I planned to put some in the apartment garden, and said that they were edible. I picked one for him to try. Then I said that even the flowers were edible, and picked one of those for him too. He said he planned to put it in his potato salad. I picked one for myself, and ate it on the spot. I hadn't eaten one of the flowers before... they're quite good. I thought they were supposed to be stronger tasting than the leaves, but it seemed milder to me.
In other news, weather conditions have not been favourable for gardening yet again. (The ground is sopping wet.)
Today I washed the shower walls and tub (that took quite a while, since it's still draining slowly... the landlord is going to have his plumber friend in), did laundry, washed dishes, cooked shrimp pasta for dinner, made hummus for lunches, and baked bread. I also sat and talked to the new neighbour for a bit (I'm trying to get his dog used to me, so it doesn't bark whenever I go to my mom's), and called my grandma.
I meant to bake banana muffins for the neighbourhood barbecue tomorrow, but it got too late to start them tonight. I should be able to manage that before it starts. I also want to try the "grandma's chocolate cobbler" recipe I saw on Pioneer Woman Cooks (a Tasty Kitchen recipe). I'm not sure how much cocoa I have, and I know I don't have milk... but I do have skim milk powder, and that might work just as well. If it looks like I have time, I'll check what ingredients I have. ;)
He had a stroke last fall, and found out (while being treated for the stroke) that he has high blood pressure and diabetes. Among other things, he was told to get a certain amount of exercise. However, since the stroke came on while he was out for a walk, he's been rather scared to go far from the apartment, since he wouldn't be able to phone for help then. Instead, he's been walking the apartment hallway.
Now, if this was a real sized apartment, this wouldn't be too bad. But it's a tiny apartment block... and so the length of the hallway is two stairways less than the length of my apartment. He uses a deck of cards to keep track of how many times he's paced back and forth. (Each time he moves a card from on step to the lower one.) I feel bad for him.
Tonight, after putting a load in the dryer (~58 minutes), I saw that he was doing his pacing. Rather than going upstairs and washing dishes so that I could cook dinner, I decided to take him for a walk around the block instead. After circling twice, I asked if he wanted to go again, or if he had enough. He decided that was enough for today.
Usually when I see him pacing, I'm busy with lots of other stuff. I think I'll try to make time for him more often, though. (It's not really exercise for me, because he doesn't walk very fast.) I'm thinking I should also introduce him to the 96-year-old gentleman in the neighbourhood who still walks daily, but has been getting more and more frail looking... the two of them could act as security for each other. They only live half a block away from each other, and if they made arrangements by phone (and called afterwards), they'd even have some security for that half block that one of them is alone.
While out and about on our walk today, I introduced him to my dad's dog, Nicky. He noticed the chives beside the sidewalk that were blooming. I think he recognized that they were related to onions, and remarked that they looked nice. I said I planned to put some in the apartment garden, and said that they were edible. I picked one for him to try. Then I said that even the flowers were edible, and picked one of those for him too. He said he planned to put it in his potato salad. I picked one for myself, and ate it on the spot. I hadn't eaten one of the flowers before... they're quite good. I thought they were supposed to be stronger tasting than the leaves, but it seemed milder to me.
In other news, weather conditions have not been favourable for gardening yet again. (The ground is sopping wet.)
Today I washed the shower walls and tub (that took quite a while, since it's still draining slowly... the landlord is going to have his plumber friend in), did laundry, washed dishes, cooked shrimp pasta for dinner, made hummus for lunches, and baked bread. I also sat and talked to the new neighbour for a bit (I'm trying to get his dog used to me, so it doesn't bark whenever I go to my mom's), and called my grandma.
I meant to bake banana muffins for the neighbourhood barbecue tomorrow, but it got too late to start them tonight. I should be able to manage that before it starts. I also want to try the "grandma's chocolate cobbler" recipe I saw on Pioneer Woman Cooks (a Tasty Kitchen recipe). I'm not sure how much cocoa I have, and I know I don't have milk... but I do have skim milk powder, and that might work just as well. If it looks like I have time, I'll check what ingredients I have. ;)
Saturday, February 21, 2009
Change I can see!
Painting in Progress
Yes, I can! (Can you? I don't need to post side-by-side before and after shots, do I? Do I need to remind you what I'm trying to paint?)
One of the comments at the club: "What's the blue thing?" (I'm not finished yet!! ;) My caretaker hasn't seen it recently either. ;) )
Speaking of "change"... I'm still loving Obama! I love how he actually says things when he speaks, and doesn't just spout "spin" nonsense. *swoon*
Friday, February 06, 2009
Now with 100% more grass!
Painting in Progress
Well, maybe not 100% more, especially since the new grass needs another "layer". ;)
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Painting and Palette
When I put my paints away, they looked like this:
When I opened the palette today, they looked, um... "moist":
Today there was light (wow!), so I could get before and after photos without the flash:
(If you're having trouble telling the difference, I worked a bit on the snow in the distance.)
When I opened the palette today, they looked, um... "moist":
Today there was light (wow!), so I could get before and after photos without the flash:
(If you're having trouble telling the difference, I worked a bit on the snow in the distance.)
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Mah Nu "Sta-Wet" Palette
Don'tcha hate it when a product butchers spelling? Here it is at the start of tonight's painting session:
and at the end::
Look! Grass highlights! More snow!:
Doesn't it look amazingly different? Aren't you waiting on tenterhooks to see the next incremental update? ;) Yep, this is a gradual process.
For your viewing pleasure, here's a comparison between the current version and the previous version:
and between the current version and the photo I'm working from:
and at the end::
Look! Grass highlights! More snow!:
Doesn't it look amazingly different? Aren't you waiting on tenterhooks to see the next incremental update? ;) Yep, this is a gradual process.
For your viewing pleasure, here's a comparison between the current version and the previous version:
and between the current version and the photo I'm working from:
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Painting WIP
When last I updated you about my painting in progress, it looked like this:
and, to unconfuse you, I showed you what I'm attempting to paint:
Well, since then, mom and Bob gave me my birthday present early... an easel!!! Folded:
Unfolded with the drawer pulled out:
Paints in the drawer:
Painting being supported by the easel:
Isn't it awesome!?! They had been going to wait, but decided I could really make use of it for the acrylic classes I'm taking this month. I *love* it! It makes packing up and setting up so much easier. :) (I still have two other bags... I have too many paints, brushes, etc. to all fit in the easel, plus there isn't room in the easel for my palette, water container, or mediums.)
I have also been making progress on my painting. After the underpainting shown above, we were given homework instructions to paint the lightest lights, and the darkest darks:
I completed this homework shortly before I had to leave for the lesson when it was "due". Whoops. ;) Then, at the lesson, I continued working on the snow and sky:
I asked the instructor how to approach the painting, and she said to work in layers, from the back to the front. So, next I worked on the sky:
(I did that last night at home. I'm actually finding time to paint at home! Well, a tiny bit of time...)
Tonight at class I spent two hours adding the thin, flat clouds of winter, and the farthest off bit of grass:
Yeah... I don't know how it can take that long to paint that tiny bit either. ;) I think it's because I keep having to stop to let what I paint dry, before continuing to work my way forward.
Even if it isn't that much yet, I think I did a rather nice job on the sky and far-away grass/bulrushes. (The bulrushes may require some highlights before I get to the next closest bit, and the snow in front of those bulrushes definitely needs another layer of paint.)
So, once more, here's the painting side-by-side with the photo I'm working from:
Yep, that faraway bit definitely needs some highlights. (Those also required me to wait for the current layer to dry... and there wasn't enough time at class, so I just cleaned up and left it at it's current state.) I think this is a painting that is best done in many short painting sessions. (Perhaps I should get a stay-wet palette for that, so that I waste less paint.)
So... whaddaya think? ;)
and, to unconfuse you, I showed you what I'm attempting to paint:
Well, since then, mom and Bob gave me my birthday present early... an easel!!! Folded:
Unfolded with the drawer pulled out:
Paints in the drawer:
Painting being supported by the easel:
Isn't it awesome!?! They had been going to wait, but decided I could really make use of it for the acrylic classes I'm taking this month. I *love* it! It makes packing up and setting up so much easier. :) (I still have two other bags... I have too many paints, brushes, etc. to all fit in the easel, plus there isn't room in the easel for my palette, water container, or mediums.)
I have also been making progress on my painting. After the underpainting shown above, we were given homework instructions to paint the lightest lights, and the darkest darks:
I completed this homework shortly before I had to leave for the lesson when it was "due". Whoops. ;) Then, at the lesson, I continued working on the snow and sky:
I asked the instructor how to approach the painting, and she said to work in layers, from the back to the front. So, next I worked on the sky:
(I did that last night at home. I'm actually finding time to paint at home! Well, a tiny bit of time...)
Tonight at class I spent two hours adding the thin, flat clouds of winter, and the farthest off bit of grass:
Yeah... I don't know how it can take that long to paint that tiny bit either. ;) I think it's because I keep having to stop to let what I paint dry, before continuing to work my way forward.
Even if it isn't that much yet, I think I did a rather nice job on the sky and far-away grass/bulrushes. (The bulrushes may require some highlights before I get to the next closest bit, and the snow in front of those bulrushes definitely needs another layer of paint.)
So, once more, here's the painting side-by-side with the photo I'm working from:
Yep, that faraway bit definitely needs some highlights. (Those also required me to wait for the current layer to dry... and there wasn't enough time at class, so I just cleaned up and left it at it's current state.) I think this is a painting that is best done in many short painting sessions. (Perhaps I should get a stay-wet palette for that, so that I waste less paint.)
So... whaddaya think? ;)
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