G-Scale? No Sale!

My father has been interested in
trains, I'd guess, for his whole life.

After we said goodbye to my sister,
we went to see a set up my cousin
had told Dad about, at the Maine Mall.

We were part way there, anyway.

That's Dad, in red, on the left.

They had all kinds of scenarios set up.

There was outdoor Christmas tree
decorating,

a waterfall with so much to look at
arranged around it

and even a lumber operation.
(very Maine)

My Dad spent most of his time
looking over a small (real)
electric car that was on display.

The trains were G-scale.
Dad likes HO scale.
He was not very interested
in G-scale.

Our subsequent visit to
a Goodwill store that is
normally out of our range
did a lot more for Dad.

Oh, well.  I loved it! :)

Capturing a Caterpillar

Did you ever try to get close enough to
take a portrait of a caterpillar?

I'm not sure I ever had, before.

Where this caterpillar had been
openly moving along

when it sensed a looming presence
(that would be me)
it headed for the nearest shelter.

I'm not sure I got these pictures in order.

Before it disappeared entirely,
I picked it up.
I wish I could say I enticed it onto
a dry leaf..
How does one entice a caterpillar?
I picked it up.
The obvious reaction
of self protection occurred.

I waited, trying not to shake
the leaf too much.
Uncurled and marching on,
the caterpillar found the
edge of the leaf
and thus my waiting lens.

Then I had only to crop

and crop some more.

Quick Stop at Daneece's (the Niece's)

I am so blessed to
have as my niece
Eva Girl
of
The Opulent Poppy,
who got me interested
in blogging.
She keeps her house
pretty.
Here's the front door.

As I got out of the car I was softly
greeted by the chickens.

I am always blessed by her

artistic touches

outdoors.

I also have to fight off a little
garden envy.

I'm sure, if I put as much time and
attention into gardening as she does
I would have... well, something.

On the back door steps --
for a nicer look go here.

She's busy putting up
flower seeds for
a benefit sale.

Her younger son shows off their
lovely pumpkin.

Older boy is busy with his
artwork.

Oh, great!  Now I have squash envy, too!
;)

After a couple of blurred
photos, I try the flash.
It washed out this handsome
guy's face, but I got a nice smile.

Anybody going outside?

I guess so!  Goodbye, boys!
I'll see you, again.
(Hopefully, soon!)

Hairs Cut!

Yesterday (I think)

my husband, "Uncle Si,"

took our clippers and gave

himself a very short haircut.

He does this from time to time.

I asked if I could do the same.

He said, "No."

He knows that I want to get

my hair cut.

He does not yet know that today...

I decided it is time,

and then some!
I had been taking my straggles
back in a small "elastic"
and popping the ends back
through to keep it
somewhat neat and
out of my way.

Having secured an appointment,
off I went.
What a gorgeous day!

My favorite salon

was not really busy.
I was early, as the clock
clearly shows.

Reception is right next to
the "floor."

I like the cut.
I just look like that because
I'm concentrating...

and concentrating!
I think this shot took
five tries! :)

Be Careful!

When I was a kid I felt a little

out of fashion.

It was my knees

and my shins.

I didn't have much for

scars or scabs.

One does not get

that kind of injury

from reading.

(Constantly)

Well, as an adult

I have aquired a 

scar above my left

knee.

That was from a

shallow dive that

wasn't quite shallow enough.

I also dropped the 

handle of a loaded

pallet jack above that knee

and came down on 

one of my knees

when I dumped 

my moped.

This all happened

about 30 years ago.

Now, today, 

I'm acquiring those

scabs that would have

made me so proud

in elementary school.

No sympathy needed.

I was turned around

to see what a noise

could possibly be

when I turned my

ankle and dropped on the 

pavement like I had 

been rehearsing for

it forever!

My ankle is fine.

My pride is recovering.

My leg doesn't even

really hurt.

When the oozing 

stops, I will move

about fairly freely,

with few reminders

that I took a tumble.

This is a shame, really,

because a little 

reminder to 

watch where I'm going 

might not come amiss.

Oh, well.  

Maybe it will scar.

(Photo not for the squeamish.)

Catching Up

It's been over a year since
my sister blessed me
with
this pair of pillow cases.

I love the colors.
(She knew I would.
She loves them, too.)
This photo is at least twice
the size of the real thing.
This curve is a little
smaller than my
little fingernail --
you know, the end of it.
The stitches are tiny
and beautifully finished.

I was overwhelmed with her gift.
I still am.
I have no intention of using
the pillowcases for everyday.

So, I put them away somewhere "safe."

You know the rest!
 I found them, again,
last week.

Thank you, Sister Grace!

Step, Backstep, Step Home Tomato Preservation

First:  have someone give your
niece, Eva Girl at The Opulent Poppy, lots of tomatoes!
So many tomatoes, in fact,
that she fills her canner several times
and decides she has enough
tomatoes put by.

Second:  Have said niece call
and ask you if you want some tomatoes.

Third:  send your son to pick up
the tomatoes and some Subway.
(If you are canning, everything
else may have to be put on hold.)

Fourth:  wash some tomatoes,
cut out the stem ends, add water
and put them on to cook. 

Fifth:  pull out the big strainer.
After all, nine quarts of tomato juice
justifies the use of the "big guns!"

Sixth:  discover that the "O" ring
for the shaft is missing.

Seventh:  re-box the handy
dandy, gallons in minutes
machine.

Eighth:  go "down cellar"
and get the good old Foley food mill.

Ninth: finally get your two biggest
kettles made into juice.

Tenth: decide the consistency is
too thin and put it back on the stove
to boil down.

Eleventh: decide it's time
for bed.

 Twelfth:  dig out the
BIG slow cooker and transfer
the juice to it.

Thirteenth: turn on the slow cooker
(this step is important.)

Fourteenth: go to bed.

Fifteenth: check the juice in
the night.

Sixteenth: turn the cooker down.
(this may be a mistake)

Seventeenth: Getting up in the
morning, review "tomato juice"
and "tomatoes" in  faithful
old Ball Blue Book.

Eighteenth: cut & core tomatoes.

Nineteenth: mash down tomatoes
to get them juicy enough so they
won't burn right off!

Twentieth: strain more juice.

Twenty-first: Wash the jars and keep
them hot in the canner which
you remembered to fill and
start whilst fixing the tomatoes.
(ahem)

Twenty-second: start the juice filled
jars processing in the canner.

Twenty-third: start a kettle of
tomatoes in the same way,
planning to can some tomatoes.
(Juice is too time consuming.)

Twenty-fourth: sit down with your
Ball Blue Book and discover
that there is a step-by-step
(with photographs)
specifically for canning
tomatoes.

Twenty-fifth:  Mentally
smack forehead, because NOW
you remember that you've
done it that way, many times.

Twenty-sixth:  bottle, salt and
process the unnecessarily hot
tomatoes.

Twenty-seventh: look at your
six quarts of tomato juice

and your five pints of tomatoes
and decide,
"I may be dumb to have
forgotten how to can tomatoes,
but it was worth it, anyway!" :)

P.S.  The proper (and easy)
way to can tomatoes is
a lot faster and less complicated than
my "wing-it-from-what-I-think-I-remember" method.