Well, I've had my new toys for a week and thought I'd let you know what I think of them. The new Verizon wifi hot spot works so much better than the broadband we had. Some of us have a hard time remembering to turn it on and off. It really does work so much better if we turn it on. I guess we should check into upgrades more often.
I really like the Nook Color. The more I play with it, the more I like it. By reading one of the 3 owner's manuals last night, I discovered I can change the color of the screen from white, to gray, black, butter sepia and mocha. The black says it's for night reading and it really made a difference for me having white letters on a black background last nigh. Right now, I have the screen set to butter, which is an off white.
I have downloaded several epub books from different sites. Today, I think I will download a library book to read. I downloaded a Mahjong game that said it work on the Nook Color, gut it doesn't, and now, I can't figure out how to get it off. I also haven't come across how to but the epup books into the book file. I do know how to add them to my bookshelf and archive them when I'm done reading them.
Going on the internet is easy. It's nice you can turn the Nook Color and have the screen landscape. You can also make the images much larger.
All in all, I think both were good investments, especially living out in the sticks. Ok, they'd be good even if we lived in town, but for me, I can get books and not have to drive to town to buy one or check some out at the library.
Last weekend, when we went to Barnes and Noble, I ask about their membership card, and the very chirpy, chipper, girl working there explained that they are $25.00 a year and the whole family can use them. I almost told her I just got a Nook Color and didn't need to go there anymore. I wonder what she would have done if I did say that?
There is a down side to the Nook Color. I had to get a bigger purse. For years, I've been trying to carry less and use much smaller purses. All of mine are too small, so I just had to go and get a bigger one. I ordered it from Amazon and I should get it in a week. Mail ordering is more convenient, too. I like purses made by Baggallini because most of them have really nice built in wallets. I ordered one called the Everything Bag, and it actually looks like it might be. Tim has finally come to realize, I will probably find the perfect purse. Looking at the pictures of this one, it just might be the perfect purse. I guess I'll know soon enough. This will be my third Baggallini.
Today for excitement, we are going to get the oil in the truck changed and I'll bring the Nook Color to read. Now the question of the day is, what do I want to read?
The cracks in my fingers are healed again, so what I should do when we get home from or really exciting weekend outing, is crochet again. Times going by fast, and I don't have that much done.
Friday, February 18, 2011
Sunday, February 13, 2011
New Toys
I got 2 new toys this weekend. Well, ok, one is mine and the other is ours. Mine is a NookColor. I really like it. I was beginning to have my doubts about using it up here in the sticks.
To start with, it had to be registered and you can only do that through wifi. We don't have any wifi out here, so we were going to town to go to Barnes and Noble and use theirs.
On the way there, we stopped by Best Buy to look for a TV antenna, since we don't have cable or a dish or anything, since we're cheap. We found one, and then we stopped to look at their ereaders. One of there continuous, overly helpful until you need them, staff came over and I told him about no wifi and not being able to register the Nook. He mentioned being able to get our own wifi for home and sent us over to the computer department. When the man helping us found out we were using broadband, he sent us over to the cell phone department. The employee we had there was very helpful and told us if we just got a new broadband thing, we still wouldn't get any wifi, but he showed us this little thing that was wifi.
Verizon, and probably other companies, make a portable wifi hot spot. We looked at Verizon because our broadband is through them. This neat little gadget is the size of a cell phone, plugs into the wall and we can run up to 5 computers on it at the same time. You can use it unplugged for as long as the battery lasts, as well. Now, my Nook works and the old computer is faster than it has ever been. You can even get a car charger for it and use it in your car. It's range is 54 feet, so you don't need to really worry about anyone getting your signal. I have since discovered we can get the signal for more than 50 feet. I hope no one is using our signal and using up our allotted air time, or what ever it it.
Another thing we were going to do yesterday, was get an upgraded broadband device at the Verizon store. Now, we didn't need to. The guy at Best Buy told use were were eligible for an upgrade 3 years ago. So, we're a little slow. Anyway, this little gizmo is our upgrade. We did have to sign a new 2 year contract to get this thing free, and our bill is $10.00 a month cheaper. If we didn't sign the 2 year contract, the gizmo was $249.99 plus tax and whatever other fees they could dream up.
One of the most important things I did get yesterday, is some more O'Keefe's Working Hands. It works great on my poor cracked fingers. Now, in a few days, I will be able to crochet again.
The NookColor is great. I can get the internet, gazillions of free books, play internet radio on it, download Mp3's and play them on it. I read that eventually Barnes and Noble is going to make it so you can get apps and download programs for it. It is the only ereader out there, besides an iPad or some such, that has color. It's kind of like an iPad. I can also read at night if the power goes of since it is back lit. I'm going to have to play with it a lot to figure it out. It's a good thing we bought cookies yesterday, too, so I'm not baking today.
The antenna is great also. It makes everything look high def, like our converter box was suppose to, but now, it really does, and the picture is so much clearer. There is still nothing to watch on TV, but at least it comes in clearer.
Also, yesterday we made it up to 52. A heat wave. It is so muddy here. You sink and slide in the mud and then you manage to track it all over the house even after taking off your shoes. The wind really blew hard last night. At least there was no snow. There is rain and more snow in the forecast, just so we don't get too excited about the heatwave.
To start with, it had to be registered and you can only do that through wifi. We don't have any wifi out here, so we were going to town to go to Barnes and Noble and use theirs.
On the way there, we stopped by Best Buy to look for a TV antenna, since we don't have cable or a dish or anything, since we're cheap. We found one, and then we stopped to look at their ereaders. One of there continuous, overly helpful until you need them, staff came over and I told him about no wifi and not being able to register the Nook. He mentioned being able to get our own wifi for home and sent us over to the computer department. When the man helping us found out we were using broadband, he sent us over to the cell phone department. The employee we had there was very helpful and told us if we just got a new broadband thing, we still wouldn't get any wifi, but he showed us this little thing that was wifi.
Verizon, and probably other companies, make a portable wifi hot spot. We looked at Verizon because our broadband is through them. This neat little gadget is the size of a cell phone, plugs into the wall and we can run up to 5 computers on it at the same time. You can use it unplugged for as long as the battery lasts, as well. Now, my Nook works and the old computer is faster than it has ever been. You can even get a car charger for it and use it in your car. It's range is 54 feet, so you don't need to really worry about anyone getting your signal. I have since discovered we can get the signal for more than 50 feet. I hope no one is using our signal and using up our allotted air time, or what ever it it.
Another thing we were going to do yesterday, was get an upgraded broadband device at the Verizon store. Now, we didn't need to. The guy at Best Buy told use were were eligible for an upgrade 3 years ago. So, we're a little slow. Anyway, this little gizmo is our upgrade. We did have to sign a new 2 year contract to get this thing free, and our bill is $10.00 a month cheaper. If we didn't sign the 2 year contract, the gizmo was $249.99 plus tax and whatever other fees they could dream up.
One of the most important things I did get yesterday, is some more O'Keefe's Working Hands. It works great on my poor cracked fingers. Now, in a few days, I will be able to crochet again.
The NookColor is great. I can get the internet, gazillions of free books, play internet radio on it, download Mp3's and play them on it. I read that eventually Barnes and Noble is going to make it so you can get apps and download programs for it. It is the only ereader out there, besides an iPad or some such, that has color. It's kind of like an iPad. I can also read at night if the power goes of since it is back lit. I'm going to have to play with it a lot to figure it out. It's a good thing we bought cookies yesterday, too, so I'm not baking today.
The antenna is great also. It makes everything look high def, like our converter box was suppose to, but now, it really does, and the picture is so much clearer. There is still nothing to watch on TV, but at least it comes in clearer.
Also, yesterday we made it up to 52. A heat wave. It is so muddy here. You sink and slide in the mud and then you manage to track it all over the house even after taking off your shoes. The wind really blew hard last night. At least there was no snow. There is rain and more snow in the forecast, just so we don't get too excited about the heatwave.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
My Mom's Cookie Recipes
I know, I said in the last post I'd put my mom's cookie recipe on here, but I've been busy. I thought I'd put a picture of what I've been busy with.
Here it is. The Christening afghan for my sister-in-law's brother. It's crocheted with thread, and I have 5 whole inches done. Now, I have 31 more inches to do, and then the border.
Now for the information on the cookies. My mom got this recipe in 1955 from a Wesson Oil cookbook, that she sent for and paid a quarter for. It has a lot of good recipes in it.
I don't remember having cookies often as a child, and that could be because it was a loooong time ago, but I remember watching my mom dipping the bottom of a glass in oil, then sugar and stamping the cookies.
I've made these a lot lately for Tim's lunch. I don't know if the Canola oil I use is healthier for you than the butter or margarine in other cookies, but, that's my reasoning, and I'm sticking to it.
I never did dip the glass in oil and then sugar, since I have an official Ryecraft cookie stamp. I think they are sweet enough with out the extra sugar on top, also, so I've been leaving it off, as well. I figure it saves us a few calories.
For some reason, one of the recipes comes out with too much oil, even though you use the same amount for all three recipes. The only thing different is, one has all brown sugar in it, and the other one has all white sugar in it. The one with all the white sugar is the one that comes out too oily, so I use less. I couldn't tell you how much less. Also, I always double the recipes, since the recipe doesn't make many.
I hope you like the recipe and give the cookies a try. You'll find the recipe in the recipe section. Just scroll down to the end of the recipes. Once again, I really wish I could put the newer recipes on top instead of at the end. Oh, well.
 |
| Christening Afghan |
Here it is. The Christening afghan for my sister-in-law's brother. It's crocheted with thread, and I have 5 whole inches done. Now, I have 31 more inches to do, and then the border.
Now for the information on the cookies. My mom got this recipe in 1955 from a Wesson Oil cookbook, that she sent for and paid a quarter for. It has a lot of good recipes in it.
I don't remember having cookies often as a child, and that could be because it was a loooong time ago, but I remember watching my mom dipping the bottom of a glass in oil, then sugar and stamping the cookies.
I've made these a lot lately for Tim's lunch. I don't know if the Canola oil I use is healthier for you than the butter or margarine in other cookies, but, that's my reasoning, and I'm sticking to it.
I never did dip the glass in oil and then sugar, since I have an official Ryecraft cookie stamp. I think they are sweet enough with out the extra sugar on top, also, so I've been leaving it off, as well. I figure it saves us a few calories.
For some reason, one of the recipes comes out with too much oil, even though you use the same amount for all three recipes. The only thing different is, one has all brown sugar in it, and the other one has all white sugar in it. The one with all the white sugar is the one that comes out too oily, so I use less. I couldn't tell you how much less. Also, I always double the recipes, since the recipe doesn't make many.
I hope you like the recipe and give the cookies a try. You'll find the recipe in the recipe section. Just scroll down to the end of the recipes. Once again, I really wish I could put the newer recipes on top instead of at the end. Oh, well.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Fog Season
I see by not seeing far, that it's fog season up here. I've never really paid much attention to fog until we moved up here, not even when we lived close to the ocean in CA. I don't like the fog down by the ocean, because I wear glasses. What, you may ask, does wearing glasses have to do with fog? As a fog non expert, I've found fog by the ocean messes up your glasses with salt or something. You go to wipe the fog off of your glasses, and it smears and makes a bigger mess than the fog was. I also don't like the smell of ocean fog.
Up here in the sticks, I like watching the fog roll in. I can see the fog quite a way in the distance, and it creeps in, covering the world in a swirling, white mist. Have you ever seen the movie "The Fog"? That's what it reminds me of, the way it rolls in, surrounding the house so I can see nothing and then rolling out again. Yeah, I know, I have waaay too much time on my hands and I watch weird movies.
I open the door to let the dogs out and I can actually see the fog swirling around as tiny drops of water. I've decided I like to watch the fog from the comfort of the house. I decided years ago, that I don't like driving in it. There is always some idiot going way too fast for the conditions, and some other idiot in on coming traffic with their high beams on making a really nice glare. I also just know there is going to be some animal standing in the road that I can't see through the fog.
We have freezing fog up here. I like the look of the world covered in the aftermath of the freezing fog. Everything has a nice frosted look. Great for taking pictures. Freezing fog changes the way the snow looks on the ground. It makes the snow look like different shaped crystals. Some of the crystals remind me of the stuff you used to be able to get, (still might be able to get, for all I know) to paint on the back of aquariums and it gets that crystal fan look.
The fog is rolling away right now. I guess I'm safe from what ever hides in it for now. At our place, what hides in it are wild turkeys and deer.
Up here in the sticks, I like watching the fog roll in. I can see the fog quite a way in the distance, and it creeps in, covering the world in a swirling, white mist. Have you ever seen the movie "The Fog"? That's what it reminds me of, the way it rolls in, surrounding the house so I can see nothing and then rolling out again. Yeah, I know, I have waaay too much time on my hands and I watch weird movies.
I open the door to let the dogs out and I can actually see the fog swirling around as tiny drops of water. I've decided I like to watch the fog from the comfort of the house. I decided years ago, that I don't like driving in it. There is always some idiot going way too fast for the conditions, and some other idiot in on coming traffic with their high beams on making a really nice glare. I also just know there is going to be some animal standing in the road that I can't see through the fog.
We have freezing fog up here. I like the look of the world covered in the aftermath of the freezing fog. Everything has a nice frosted look. Great for taking pictures. Freezing fog changes the way the snow looks on the ground. It makes the snow look like different shaped crystals. Some of the crystals remind me of the stuff you used to be able to get, (still might be able to get, for all I know) to paint on the back of aquariums and it gets that crystal fan look.
The fog is rolling away right now. I guess I'm safe from what ever hides in it for now. At our place, what hides in it are wild turkeys and deer.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Nothing New Happening Here
It's sad to say, life up here is so quiet, nothing is going on. The turkeys visiting for their bread is about the high light of my day.
I've been crocheting the Christening set and now have the bonnet finished. It didn't take as long as I thought it would. I had to take a break from the booties because the pattern was making no sense what so ever. I've been looking on the net for another bootie pattern using no. 10 cotton crochet thread and can't find any I like, so I guess I'll have to figure out the pattern I have. That's tomorrows project.
This weekend was pretty nice. Yesterday was kind of foggy, but not bad. We did our monthly shopping. Today was so nice, Tim went and cut down some dead trees and trimmed others up. I stayed in because it's icy and made cookies and bread. Yesterday, when we were in Wal-Mart, I ran across some Nestles dark chocolate and mint chips. The bag says limited edition. That's too bad, they made good cookies.
I guess since nothing is going on, it's time to waste time playing Mahjong on the computer. Later this week, I'm going to put some cookie recipes on here that my mom made when we were kids, and I have been making lately.
I've been crocheting the Christening set and now have the bonnet finished. It didn't take as long as I thought it would. I had to take a break from the booties because the pattern was making no sense what so ever. I've been looking on the net for another bootie pattern using no. 10 cotton crochet thread and can't find any I like, so I guess I'll have to figure out the pattern I have. That's tomorrows project.
This weekend was pretty nice. Yesterday was kind of foggy, but not bad. We did our monthly shopping. Today was so nice, Tim went and cut down some dead trees and trimmed others up. I stayed in because it's icy and made cookies and bread. Yesterday, when we were in Wal-Mart, I ran across some Nestles dark chocolate and mint chips. The bag says limited edition. That's too bad, they made good cookies.
I guess since nothing is going on, it's time to waste time playing Mahjong on the computer. Later this week, I'm going to put some cookie recipes on here that my mom made when we were kids, and I have been making lately.
Monday, January 17, 2011
Busy Crocheting Lately
I was once a docent at the Antelope Valley Indian Museum in Lancaster, Ca, and was told that Native Americans left a small flaw in all their work so the evil spirits don't get trapped in their work. I have no evil spirits in any of my work. I know where all the imperfections are, but I don't make any that detract from the finished product.
Now, I am ready to start a Christening afghan, bonnet and booties out of no. 10 crochet thread. They will take me quite a while to make and will not have any noticeable flaws in them.
Our snow has pretty much melted due to lots of rain and a heat wave in the 40's. I'm sure more snow is to be expected. The ground is so soft and squishy, the trailer hitch on our travel trailer has sunk just about as far as it can go and Tim has to wait for the ground to get hard again to get it out, which will, I'm told, take some doing.
We had about 40 turkeys in our yard Saturday. They come to "here turkey, turkey" which, I think, is funny. I guess I have to get my laughs where I can.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Oh Look! It's Snowing Again
The snow was the really fine powdery stuff at first, but it is changing to the bigger, wetter flakes. In my snow viewing from the safety of being in the house, I have decided a lot of the snow coming down looks like feathers. Sometimes it looks like a huge pillow fight is going on and all the feather pillows have torn apart.
Chip likes to sit on the ottoman or a chair arm and look out the window at the snow. I think he is
Yesterday, the turkeys came around for more bread. They stayed for 6 hours. They drove the dogs crazy. They were huddled up under the eves by the back windows. They've never been that comfortable here before. It must be the homemade bread. I do know that you're not suppose to feed the wildlife, but I'm not the only one, which is no excuse. I doubt they'll be around today.
I have a nice sky light in the middle of the kitchen and all this snow makes it pretty dark in there. Sunday, I noticed the kitchen was really bright for a change since all the snow had melted off of it. It was
After today's snow, we are suppose to have many days of rain and even a heat wave in the low 40's. Hopefully, the sheet of ice that's under the snow will have a chance to melt before this all starts again.
Who knows? Maybe mud season will come early this year. I really don't like mud season.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Just Here For The Bread
Yesterday, the turkeys came around again. They haven't been around for a week or so. I think they were finally able to get through the snow, since it's only about 5" deep. I thought I'd see if this batch of turkeys liked bread. I just happened to have some stale homemade bread that I needed to do something with.
I quietly opened the door and threw a piece of bread out. A turkey saw it and ran up to the door to get more. Just as the rest of the turkeys saw the bread, Chip ran out the door and scared them off. It's a really good thing the turkeys didn't decide to turn on Chip. With their long sours and their sharp beaks, they could have done some damage to the goofy dog.
The turkeys came by again today. Jake and Chip let me know by barking at them through the front window. I put both dogs up, and got the bread and opened the door a crack.
The turkeys weren't really close to the house, but I threw bread anyway. One turkey saw it, so he and 2 others came and gobbled (sorry) up bread. When it was about gone, about 7 others came running.
Now, I need to get them to come when I gobble at them. They might get the hang of it. Some years, the turkeys seem stupider than other years.
It was funny watching them slipping and sliding on the sheet of ice to get some of the bread. Maybe, they'll come back tomorrow. I still have more bread. If we hear this tapping on the front door, we'll know it's turkeys looking for bread. It would be funny if they came tapping to let us know it was feeding time.
Saturday, January 8, 2011
I Am A columnist. Who'd A Thunk?
I write for another blog, http://www.thewmpetconnection.com/, and have bee made their first columnist. My column is called Deep Pet Thoughts by Laura Ast. You should check it out sometime. Others write for the blog also. I have things posted on Thursdays.
I still find it funny/weird, that I have regular followers on the blogs. Besides these 2 blogs, I occasionally write for http://www.thewmreviewconnection.com/. I don't write for this blog much, and have only recently started it.
I now spend even more time on the computer. I am making progress. I no longer play Farmville or Frontierville, due to lack of interest. I am beginning to think I am Wii challenged. I have an Agatha Christie And Then There Were None game, and it took me 1/2 an hour figuring out how to make the guy walk where I wanted him to walk. I'm really bad at Mario, and I bowled so much I made my shoulder hurt. I did start using my NordicTrack cross country ski thing at the same time, so maybe it wasn't all bowling. Since we still have snow on top of a good sheet of ice, that's the way I'm getting my exercise.
We are suppose to get another 7-10 inches of snow Wednesday. Usually, that means we'll get more. That could mean more snow pictures. I have some snowy sunset pictures I will post on here eventually.
Well, I guess it's time to waste more time on the computer playing Bejeweled Blitz. I might be playing it too much because I'm having terrible luck matching jewels. I do much better on Vegas Nights. Betty White was right when she said Facebook was a terrible waste of time. I should know. I'm on there enough.
I still find it funny/weird, that I have regular followers on the blogs. Besides these 2 blogs, I occasionally write for http://www.thewmreviewconnection.com/. I don't write for this blog much, and have only recently started it.
I now spend even more time on the computer. I am making progress. I no longer play Farmville or Frontierville, due to lack of interest. I am beginning to think I am Wii challenged. I have an Agatha Christie And Then There Were None game, and it took me 1/2 an hour figuring out how to make the guy walk where I wanted him to walk. I'm really bad at Mario, and I bowled so much I made my shoulder hurt. I did start using my NordicTrack cross country ski thing at the same time, so maybe it wasn't all bowling. Since we still have snow on top of a good sheet of ice, that's the way I'm getting my exercise.
We are suppose to get another 7-10 inches of snow Wednesday. Usually, that means we'll get more. That could mean more snow pictures. I have some snowy sunset pictures I will post on here eventually.
Well, I guess it's time to waste more time on the computer playing Bejeweled Blitz. I might be playing it too much because I'm having terrible luck matching jewels. I do much better on Vegas Nights. Betty White was right when she said Facebook was a terrible waste of time. I should know. I'm on there enough.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
How Time Flies
Well, here it is, 2011 already. I noticed when Tim and I started having kids, that time went by really fast. Being a grandparent speeds time up even more. When I was a teenager, I couldn't even imagine being a parent, yet alone, a grandparent. You know the saying "time flies when you're having fun"? Well, I can honestly say, it wasn't all fun, but the time did fly.
I didn't stay up to see the New Year in. My movie ended about 10 and I finished my book about 11 and boredom set in so I went to bed. If you've seen 1 New Year in, you've seen them all. At least up here, there were no guns being shot off, like there is in the city, which is odd, since we hear gun shots all the time up here, what with target practice and hunting.
I decided in December I was really going to make a big effort and loose weight, eat better and hopefully get in better shape. I figure, since it was in December that I decided this, it's not a New Year's resolution. For me, New Year resolutions last about a day, so I just don't make them.
I have more things to crochet for Myrna. She says she's going to keep me in business. I guess if that's the case, I should get organized. I'm not very good at being organized. I start out well and it goes down hill from there.
We still have snow and it has been in the teens and 20's for our highs and in the single digits and teens for our lows. More snow is expected.
I saw an immature bald eagle fly over the house the other day. This time of year, we usually see bald eagles flying by. In Wolf Lodge Bay, Idaho, you can go and see many bald eagles as they catch the dying salmon. January and February are the best times to see them. We never manage to get up there in time to see them. Maybe this year, but icy roads and snow aren't good traveling conditions. Also, in February, up in Utt,WA the trumpet swans stop by on their way up to Canada. I'd like to go and see them again, too. It's closer to us, so the possibilities are better.
I hope everyone had a good Christmas and I hope the New Year is good to everyone. I'm off to a good start. I actually folded the towels, just in time to wash more. Maybe I should make folding clothes my resolution, since the clothes folding dryer hasn't been invented yet.
I didn't stay up to see the New Year in. My movie ended about 10 and I finished my book about 11 and boredom set in so I went to bed. If you've seen 1 New Year in, you've seen them all. At least up here, there were no guns being shot off, like there is in the city, which is odd, since we hear gun shots all the time up here, what with target practice and hunting.
I decided in December I was really going to make a big effort and loose weight, eat better and hopefully get in better shape. I figure, since it was in December that I decided this, it's not a New Year's resolution. For me, New Year resolutions last about a day, so I just don't make them.
I have more things to crochet for Myrna. She says she's going to keep me in business. I guess if that's the case, I should get organized. I'm not very good at being organized. I start out well and it goes down hill from there.
We still have snow and it has been in the teens and 20's for our highs and in the single digits and teens for our lows. More snow is expected.
I saw an immature bald eagle fly over the house the other day. This time of year, we usually see bald eagles flying by. In Wolf Lodge Bay, Idaho, you can go and see many bald eagles as they catch the dying salmon. January and February are the best times to see them. We never manage to get up there in time to see them. Maybe this year, but icy roads and snow aren't good traveling conditions. Also, in February, up in Utt,WA the trumpet swans stop by on their way up to Canada. I'd like to go and see them again, too. It's closer to us, so the possibilities are better.
I hope everyone had a good Christmas and I hope the New Year is good to everyone. I'm off to a good start. I actually folded the towels, just in time to wash more. Maybe I should make folding clothes my resolution, since the clothes folding dryer hasn't been invented yet.
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