A Day at the Park

I took my camp chair down to the Great Miami River again this afternoon. A dog walker I saw the last time appeared again. His pooch was unmistakable, though I wouldn’t have been able to pick the man out of a lineup. lol Seeing them approach today I spoke up.

“What a beautiful dog. Is that an Irish Wolfhound?”

“Yes,” he answered, seeming delighted.

“Can I come say hello?”

Heartily encouraged by the man, we two had a lovely nose to nose meeting with me scratching behind those soft floppy ears. Unfortunately I forget the three year old pup’s name and also failed to ask if he’s a show dog. I hope we’ll meet again.

Don’t even the healthiest and well cared for dogs often receive too short a life span? Did you know commonly bred pet store ferrets suffer the same fate, often succumbing to cancer?

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Looking on the Bright Side

I’m not having much luck with my coveted Super Sauce Roma tomato seedlings. The ones that sprouted are really leggy and others are stubbornly not sprouting at all. On the bright side, we have a backup plan; Burpee sells living plants as well as Super Sauce seeds. I don’t know how much those cost and probably don’t want to know. If my husband is that determined I grow them, I won’t complain about price.

The one on the far left got moved earlier in its growth;
I guess this variety needs bright light and less heat.

Sisters Terra and Polly usually follow me whenever I go downstairs. My little greenhouse setup is behind a closed door and they’ll sit outside waiting. But not every time. The pair might have been asleep when I went down the other day. I came out and saw them from the foot of the staircase.

My snoopervisors...

Do you think the vine-like little plants might survive? Did you know they shouldn’t be fertilized until their first mature leaves appear?

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Back to the State House

My friend Scars received an invitation to restate his testimonial regarding kratom. I agreed to tag along once again, for which he was extremely grateful. He called me his hero (!) just for riding along.

Now Somewhat Familiar and Beautiful Smiling Faces;
Scars is wearing a sweatshirt that reads:
Plants over Pills 

Expecting to be in the same room, I was happy when our entrance coincided with that exact hall. But we were wrong. Instead of the House of Representatives we were to attend a Congressional forum.

Fortunately, everyone we encountered was kind and helpful as possible. One expensively suited, very tall government employee even escorted us. I don’t know his name but he must be someone important because when we passed a female staffer sitting on a bench she quipped that we were honored to receive this VIP treatment.

I hope folks’ efforts see the destructive synthetic derivatives removed from gas stations and convenience stores while allowing responsible adults access to the pure leaf powder. Scars gave another powerful delivery ending with the words, “It’s not perfect but it is enough. Please don’t take this away from me.” Unlike the others he didn’t even use notes.

After another long trek from the car and getting lost both before and after the hearing, our wanderings elevated his leg pains to an encroaching numbness. I’m thankful his cane prevented him stumbling and falling. He always gets back up yet I’m sure such injuries take a lingering toll.

Isn’t it crazy that the kratom proponents have been struggling over five years to get this legislation passed? Can you believe that after attending a mere two hearings I’m feeling frustrated? It’s annoying how often questions from the podium were answered minutes before. Do these people even listen?

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What a Difference a Day Makes

On Sunday I decided to go down to the Great Miami River. There is a parking lot a few minutes’ drive away. As expected, the place was packed and I anticipated people watching except the heat drove me away. It neared 90°F (about 32°C).

Upon waking this morning I discovered that temperatures had dropped around 40°F (!), which isn’t terribly unusual for spring in the state of Ohio. I donned my winter coat with two thinner layers underneath, grabbed a folding camp chair, and headed out.

I saw two dog walkers and a brave bicyclist. The former carpet of yellow wild flowers now looked like polka dots on a green canvas. If I’d known such a cold front was on the horizon I would have photographed them in full bloom.

Smart blossoms, no?

There were also a few locals out and about – two fast flying mallard pairs and these Canada geese. It’s a shame their feces makes such an abundant mess. I definitely watched where I stepped.

I do look forward to seeing goslings...

Isn’t it amazing that I sweltered yesterday and my ears almost froze today? Can you believe I sort of like the unpredictability as long as conditions aren’t dangers?

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A Second Thought and Two Minor Frustrations

A new thought occurred to me after reading all the kind comments regarding the kind farmer displaced from our summer market. It’s very possible he and his family found another lucrative venue.

Frustratingly, I wish I’d started vegetable gardening years ago. Online resources have been a tremendous help but I can’t get back the missed growing seasons. Ah well, it is what it is.

While organizing supplies I discovered my all-purpose fertilizer bag ruined. I’m sure it was mice. ~sigh~ Not wanting to handle the soiled packaging more than necessary, I don’t know what drew the rodents. The destruction could have been worse. One year our sedan stopped running because nesting rodents chewed through some wires.

There were nibbles all over this bag...

A vermin nesting in an engine compartment is rather amusing, isn’t it? Did you know that some invasive creepy crawlers will happily ingest wallpaper paste?

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Springing into Action

Last spring my husband was undergoing serious health issues. I still attempted vegetable gardening. Besides rotten weather conditions derailing my efforts, I also confused some of my seedlings.

What grew most successfully were cherry tomatoes. That’s fine except that we grew tired of the rather limited ways of eating them. Only one super sauce hybrid plant survived to provide a single, solitary fruit. After tasting that perfect tomato I was devastated by its singular harvest.

This March I’ve started eight seeds of the super sauce hybrid tomato and eight of the Jungle Parrot sweet bell pepper. Last summer those peppers were tasty but not very sweet because I didn’t foresee cross pollination with hot peppers. Oh, well.

Two tomato seeds sprouted already...

To avoid confusion when moving seed pucks for logistical reasons, I color coded all sixteen with paint on the ends of toothpicks as shown above. Fingers crossed, I’ll get the desired harvest. Despite technological advances like our heated seed starting mat and various other gear, there are zero guarantees.

A lifelong professional at our farmers market once confessed, “If farming was easy, everyone would do it.” He’s a cool dude and I missed him and his excellent produce last summer. Since our town moved the market his truck and heavy wagon have nowhere to park.

Isn’t that a shame? Should I implore our city to allow him space elsewhere?

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A Lazy Spring Update

During these last few nice days I’ve been busy preparing for the growing season. Yesterday I sowed several Swiss chard seeds outdoors. It’s a very pretty and cold hard plant offering tasty spinach-like leaves. Today I watered them due to high, drying winds.

Not This Spring Harvest, Yet...

Reliable Yellow Crocus

A Surprise of Spreading Purple!

Do you enjoy spinach or other greens? Have you ever eaten decorative edible flowers?

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My Interesting Wednesday

On Monday morning my friend Scars reached out with a text message stating he planned on attending an Ohio State House of Representatives review. The Agriculture Board considered a new bill regarding the supplement kratom. He asked if I’d consider attending in support. My initial instinct to refuse, I’m glad my decision changed.

He said my presence alone kept him from simply leaving on multiple occasions and thanked me countless times all throughout this venture. And I understand why. I don’t know how he endured the walk from our parking spot (the attached garage was full) followed by many minutes wandering both outside and within the massive building. Amongst throngs of folks all were kind, including the security staff, but nobody we met within this maze could help us find the right room. But we persevered and he attained his goal of meeting an online friend just a few minutes later than planned.

To my surprise the proceedings seldom bored me. I found the process enlightening by not only personal testimonials but also judicial, scientific, and medical terminology. Not a single attendee opposed the new legislation. Most of the Representative’s questions seemed appropriate and keen, giving me hope.

Time dragged on, however. Mere minutes before Scars succumbed to crippling numbness in his left leg and extreme back and hip pain, the Lead Chairperson called his name.

Did you know Asian grown kratom tree leaves have been harvested medicinally for centuries? And why is kratom considered a dangerous controlled drug like heroin while being regulated under agricultural rulings?

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Another First World Problem

I am overweight AKA fat and also morbidly obese in medical terminology. ~sigh~ I recall being thin and even dream about those days sometimes for whatever reason. It is what it is.

Thus when I buy a shirt online the garments are often too long, sometimes way, way too long. This happened when I supported a dog rescue website. The t-shirt I looked forward to wearing out and about hangs absurdly down to my knees.

I considered having it tailored. While this would have supported a small local business I decided to instead spend the money on an embroidered baseball cap. The super soft “Tell Your Dog I Said Hi” shirt is now loungewear and the phrase makes me smile.

I appreciate the worn look and chose this nice green color...

I like all sorts of hats. And this cap will get plenty of use.

The message here might stimulate conversation, as well... 

Have you ever been diagnosed with a terrible sounding medical condition? Wouldn’t it be nice if clinical terms excluded depressing words such as morbid and chronic?

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Misheard

I discovered a fun post by Blue Country Magic featuring often misunderstood song lyrics. I forever misheard a line from the pop band Toto’s “Africa”. Instead of I guess it rains down in Africa, the words are I bless the rains down in Africa. I have no idea what that means.

This theatrical masterpiece gets an honorable mention...

Metallica caused another such conundrum, this one far more embarrassing. For decades I thought the tune “Sad But True” was actually Sound Patrol. It makes zero sense but the notion remained until car radios began listing this information. ~rolls eyes~ Yes, I’m so old that I remember tuning in with a dial, a fidgety operation until you reached the exact desired frequency.

The Beatles are on my personal list, as well. Georgia on My Mind sounded like Jo Jo on My Mind, as if Jo Jo was an old flame in the song “Back in the U.S.S.R.” A crisp digital version on my iPod Touch corrected this misconception. The same technology changed my perception of many Meatloaf tunes.

Are you familiar with seventies era ‘rabbit ears’ TV antennae? The youngest child was charged with both adjusting the wires and switching channels, something my husband and I both did. Now we teasingly call ourselves the original remote controls. Isn’t it amazing how many experiences we share despite an eight year age gap?

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An Early Morning Mystery

After Dandelion joined me on the bed this morning I didn’t notice at first that she had dark brown staining behind her right ear. I can only imagine Terra or Polly swatted her ear and drew blood sometime overnight.

She ate kibble as if nothing happened...

My husband asked if I wanted to make a vet appointment. She acted her normal self, even alongside the sisters, so I didn’t see the point of stressing her. Dani later cleaned up a good portion of the stains.

The three have been doing so well. I hope this is an anomaly. At least Dandelion’s blood didn’t spatter the ceiling as happened years ago. That night she ran high onto a cat tree and swatted at her tormenters with her wounded paw. Ugh… Worse still, our beloved angel Tilly once received a mysterious slash to her neck.

We had no idea at the time, though she acted a bit uncharacteristic. My parents were visiting and the four of us went out for breakfast when my husband decided to leave and check on her. He discovered her downstairs, bleeding.

Aren’t I lucky to have married a man with great instincts and even greater compassion? Wouldn’t it be wonderful if all beings who lack communications skills could express themselves?

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Pre-Vet Visit Nail Trim

Despite the side-eyed expression, she was a doll...

Our Fun Morning – A Movie Review of “Send Help”

My husband and I saw a trailer for a new Sam Raimi film when we last visited the cinema. Happy that the director returned to his darkly comedic horror roots, I immediately wanted to see “Send Help”, its unique premise deciding me.

Right away we witness mousy corporate employee Linda Liddle get shafted by her arrogant new boss Bradley, heir of the company founder. Giving her long awaited promotion to a college crony, he promises her a fresh opportunity overseas.

The company jet crashes and dynamics take a drastic turn between the two sole survivors. A key term here is survivor, as in the television series by that name.

Who’s the boss now?

Like Raimi’s early “Evil Dead” movies this contains some shameless jump scares and overtly disgusting scenes. Neither were overdone, though I did avert my eyes a few times. I also laughed more often than I avoided gagging. Various character and plot twists kept us riveted and on edge. I even appreciated the survival tip illustrations sprinkled through its end credits.

Do you think her surname Liddle implies her ‘little’ timid nature? And if you enjoy the movie theater experience, do you ever stay until the lights come up?

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Kitties in Repose

These three cats make me laugh every day. I cannot imagine life without them.

Are crossed paws not the cutest?
(Dandelion)

Do you see the milk dots on her nose?
She only gets a taste, by the way...
(Polly)

Doesn’t she look contemplative?
(Terra)

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Repurposing with a very Specific Purpose

Sitting in my comfortably warm brick home electricity on and backup heating solutions in place this afternoon, I heard the most pitiable cat cries outside. I’m not aware of many strays around and our winters tend to be mild. But tonight’s forecast predicts icy wind chills as low as 15 degrees Fahrenheit below zero.

I tracked the sound and stepped onto our back patio but the yowling had stopped. Regardless I called out, willing to let the poor creature into our basement and deal with any future consequences after this weather emergency. Shivering, I stepped back through the basement sliding door and wandered in search of sheltering possibilities.

My eyes landed upon a tall litter box that our girls left untouched. I covered the unused litter with two outdoor seat cushions, overlapping them at the bottom while tucking the rest up each wider side. Scrounging two soft foam packing pieces from amidst old computer boxes, I wedged them into each narrow end.

Once complete, top latched into place, this makeshift shelter got placed near the freshest prints. I’m crossing my fingers that this might do some good. I need to plan ahead for potential future emergencies.

Those poor, cold toes...

I’d appreciate any feedback from all those heroic folks helping animals year round that might read this humble post. Please be honest if my efforts today are misguided.

Can you imagine how wild critters survive such extreme weather anomalies? Are you surprised that I wouldn’t last long trapped in an unforgiving wilderness?

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I Did it Again - This Guy is So Awesome...

Only Me…

My husband and I stopped drinking soda a few years ago, so recent prohibitive costs didn’t affect us. When our local Kroger runs a buy two get three free (!) sale we can’t resist. However long the shelf life, grocers apparently need to rotate their merchandise.

Dr. Pepper has always been a favorite of ours. Today I tried opening a cold can and the following happened…

The tab broke off...

Are you a fan of carbonated drinks? What do folks in your region call them?

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A Movie Review of “28 Years Later: The Bone Temple”

2025’s film “28 Years Later” didn’t impress me nearly as much as the franchise’s first two installments. And my husband and I didn’t even know the follow-on “Bone Temple” had been released until a positive review came out on YouTube.

We only watched until The Critical Drinker warned there would be spoilers. His opinions, good or bad, have never let us down. So my husband and I braved the icy winds to attend a showing the very next day.

The Real Handsome Man, Mostly Sober...

Upon returning home, we finished watching, agreeing as The Drinker opined that the two flicks could have each been condensed a bit and combined for a more cohesive story. The obvious bridge ending left us baffled outside clear plans for a sequel.

But I guess that’s Hollywood greed for you. Anyway, here are my thoughts. First off, it’s not for everyone, even some horror fans without a strong stomach. I’m a confirmed scary movie aficionado and looked away several times during the first act.

I enjoyed the second and third acts far more than the violence repulsed me. Ralph Fiennes’ reprised character performance brought humanity, heart, wisdom, hope, surprising humor, and even some amazing theatricality.

It’s understandable if you’re no longer reading this post. I just needed to share my thoughts. And if anyone does decide to watch “28 Years Later: The Bone Temple” or are otherwise curious I have two silly, innocuous related questions. And if you do, below is the spoiler review...

Are you a fan of Duran Duran’s eighties pop music? Do you know what an ossuary is?

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The Muppets Perform Kodachrome

This video makes me so happy. My husband discovered it a few years ago. Knowing the characters from childhood makes this really special for us.

Are you familiar with the music of Paul Simon and Art Garfunkle? Do you believe puppetry is a true artform?

Addicted

I cannot stop playing Word Carnival on my Kindle. Today I sat with my husband actively listening and watching something unrelated while word challenges scrolled through my mind.

Some levels stump me, particularly those that (sometimes loosely) follow a theme while forcing me to assemble each word. The most useful clue is how many letters each word contains.

It takes a lot for me to admit defeat and seek help. Instead, I’ll start randomly poking at the scrambled tiles. It often proves successful like the following example.

Now I remember; a derailleur switches gears...

I understand wrench and pump, but how are the rest of these related to bicycle repairs? Have you ever obsessed over a hobby to the point it encroaches upon your dreams?

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Oh, Come On! I am so addicted...

I Cannot Stop Sharing This Man's Videos

Quiz Fail

After my husband discovered the trivia YouTube channel Detormentis we’ve enjoyed playing along. We usually rank on the third tier but this most recent humbled us further.

I can hear his South African accent in my head...

Funny enough, I learned a featured word thanks to Andrew. You can read that recent post here. And, of course, I couldn’t remember it at the time.

Do you think the word ‘bollard’ will stick with me now? And how ironic that my small town installed some of these electronic retractable posts just last spring?

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Raising a funny swamphen

Coffee With Scott Adams. Just sipping. 1/9/26

Sad End of an Era - Not Yet!

I don’t know how many of you are familiar with the comic strip ‘Dilbert’ or its creator Scott Adams. While we never followed the comics, my husband somehow discovered his live streaming videos about five years ago. At first Mr. Adams’ repetitive phrasing annoyed me, the same words standing out over and over. When I listened closer, his intelligent and humorous commentary hooked my interest. My fondness grew to the point I would inform my husband when his video was about to start.

Alas, over the last few months we saw his health decline due to terminal cancer. I honestly don’t know how long he fought. An experimental treatment did not cure him and, suffering lower body paralysis about a week ago, he didn’t foresee ever going home. 

I’m glad that wasn’t the case. As of today, however, he reported a cognitive decline and plans to end his life. California law permits physician assisted suicide. So he has the means. Religious suppositions aside, I truly hope his scientific contribution will help others. In December I purchased the 2026 page-a-day Dilbert calendar and I’m glad because we never fail to laugh.

The man has not given up yet. He is doing a livestream as I type (!), which made me happy for today.

Can you see the perfect graphic on his coffee cup?
Oh, happy days... We will miss you, sir.

Have you ever read the ‘Dilbert’ comics? Can you believe that Mr. Adams had a degree and career in finance before his comic artistry took off?

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Annoyances Fixed & Money Well Spent

One of our bathroom faucets fell apart years ago. It still worked but the diffuser was toast and the spray was intense. The most annoying thing didn’t occur to me for a long time; buildup wasn’t getting properly flushed. And purging the gunk meant getting spattered with hot water from the offending faucet.

Also, I noticed a heavy load caused our entire dishwasher to tip slightly forward. That didn’t seem ideal for a unit less than a year old. Fixing this myself turned out to be impossible. Apparently, working on a metal machine plugged into an electrical socket is dangerous. ~rolls eyes~ Ask me what our electrician said a few weeks ago…

I grew increasingly frustrated until the proverbial dam broke. Our water heater stopped working properly. My husband immediately called our plumbing company and two technicians arrived the very next day. While they weren’t warned about the smaller issues, the guys kindly took care of them while the water heater drained.

Now I’m in heaven with gently flowing water and my husband luxuriated in a steamy shower. The dishwasher fix was simple yet complicated. The guys finally realized that two screws were missing. Two. That’s all it took for the thing to overbalance. Meanwhile, a new water heater cost one hundred times more than replacing the burnt out heating element. We plan on flushing that system on a regular basis thanks to the recommendations. Fingers crossed, we’ll get a few more years out of it.

Do you pay monthly for a municipal water supply? Is your water ‘soft’ or ‘hard’?

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