World's Most Boring Burrito

When I'm feeling under the weather, comfort food can come in just about any form. Today a lowly frozen bean burrito sounded like just the thing. I popped one in the microwave, waited seventy-five seconds for the ding, and prepared to enjoy.

Something immediately seemed off. Thinking my impression just a mildly feverish imagining, I took my plate to the table. Then I cut into one steaming end and found this...

My Empty Life: the Story of One Sad Tortilla

Fortunately the next burrito proved fine. Maybe I'll contact the company and see if they send me a consolation prize for this dud.

Has anything like this ever happened to you? Would you let the manufacturer know? Should I perhaps stop eating manufactured food? One has to wonder.

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Ready for 2017

It has been quite a year, full of personal trial and public tragedy with the endless stream of celebrity deaths. I will be so happy to see 2016 finally end.

The news of Debbie Reynolds passing the day after her daughter Carrie Fisher added further insult to another injury. I pray for their grieving family and friends.

Like so many others I have found myself looking up the biographies of those talented actors, actresses, and musicians we have lost. Yesterday was no exception.

This time I enjoyed a surprising upside. I found the movie clip of Ms. Reynolds singing "Tammy" in the 1957 film "Tammy and the Bachelor". While never having seen the romantic comedy I was happy to learn the tune's origin.

You see, my mother sang "Tammy" as a lullaby during my childhood. It's neat to know that the movie made such an impact on her that she sang it to her only daughter twenty years later.

I'll be sure to call my mom and share the memory. My thanks to nednickerson2010 for posting the video on Youtube:

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The Gift of Love

Even though big holiday gift exchanges are a thing of the past, the season got me to thinking about some I have received over the years. Ruminating made me realize how much love has blessed my life. The presents wrapped in pretty paper pale by comparison.

One gift, however, stands out. This delicate artwork has survived three decades, numerous home fashion trends, and three moves. The piece has remained on display throughout them all.

And accompanied by a poem, it represents the lauded emotion in purest (if regrettably ill-fated) romantic form.

Dreams

More fragile than the thinnest eggshell

Sometimes, as hard to hold as the wind

And more elusive than the unicorm

But they can come true

All mine did when I met you

Merry Christmas, everyone. May the New Year be one of joy and prosperity and, of course, love.

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A Good Day to be Indoors

I am so grateful to be safe and warm indoors today. I feel like a little girl again, snowed in on a cancelled school day. Here's hoping all local commuters are driving safely.

Meanwhile, I couldn't resist pulling out my camera.

Even the Weed at Left Looks Pretty Today

My Sculpture Regrets Not Migrating with the Real Buzzards

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Autumn is In the Air

Ever since I graduated high school and thus no longer dreaded the end of summer break, autumn has been my favorite season. Cooler weather, brilliant foliage, and the anticipation of Halloween are just some of the joys.

There are also the brilliant skies:

Outside My Bedroom Window

From My Driveway

Jezebel Enjoying the Cicadas, Another Fall Bounty

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Darla’s Helpful Household Hint

Stick blenders are great, especially when using the larger food processor is unwarranted. Planning to emulsify a small number of dried peppers with tomato sauce, however, I pictured red splatter staining everything within radius. I looked around the kitchen for a potential cover.

What could I possibly use when the blender’s wand needs a hole?

Eyeing a stack of paper plates gave me an idea. I grabbed the kitchen shears and made this:

Wardrobe Saved!

 As you can see, it worked well. I only used a second plate for the photo’s visual contrast, so our bulk supply should last a long time.

Do you have any tips for preventing a seeming inevitable mess? I’d appreciate reading them in the comments.

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Review of David Bridger's "The Honesty of Tigers"

How would you like to live your life over again? Surely there are things you would do differently, especially if you could go through a second time knowing how things went originally. It’s like the old Midwestern US saying: If I knew then what I know now…

Well, David Bridger outdid himself addressing this very issue in “The Honesty of Tigers”.

I have actually been stewing a few days since finishing the book, unsure what to write in a review. Obviously I enjoyed reading. But what can I say without spoiling any of the surprises? Well, that decided me to write nothing more about the plot.

Buy this Book. Keep your mind open to the plentiful twists. And enjoy.

ou can find the book here (USA) and here (UK).

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Tilly Before and After - A Feline Transformation

Blessed though this household is with two sweet tempered cats, one requires a little more help in the grooming department. Meet Tilly, before yesterday's visit to our wonderful local groomer:

They Call Me Woolybear. Go figure...

And that was taken after I trimmed her ruff a few weeks ago! We've postponed the visit to groomer extraordinaire Renee because leaving the house is stressful when one is a sixteen-year-old pampered pet.

Now she looks like a different cat:

I Just Want My Kibble, if You Please

She no longer appears as if she's gone to seed and about to blow away on a summer breeze. Of course that's not likely to happen given her girth. But she is losing weight with a strict regimen since supermodel thin Luna passed away nearly two years ago, so don't judge. ~grin~ I do adore how she crosses her paws.

Anyone in your household have a recent makeover? No fashion expert, I could use any tips you might offer.

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