Sticks, Sides & Wires (305/366)

TIME: 11:50 am
PLACE: Yard
SUBJECT: Scully and stick

*~*~*

Scully tried to help me out a bit as I moved a large branch that had fallen, from the front part into the fenced-in area of the yard. 



She was determined to carry that branch for me.

It didn't happen.

*~*~*

TIME: 4:24 pm

PLACE: Local tavern
SUBJECT: Side of the building

*~*~*

We decided not to hand out candy at home this Halloween - we figured with all that is going on, we wouldn't get many trick-or-treaters.  As an alternative, HH and I sat in the parking lot of a local bar and participated in a "Trunk or Treat" from 3 pm to 6pm.

There was actually a large turnout. We went through 4 large bags of candy! (about 500 pieces total)  It was nice that the kids were able to collect a lot of treats despite the stupid COVID.

*~*~*

TIME: 4:36 pm

*~*~*

And, just because I liked the pattern made by these power line wires, I am including this photo today as well.

Consider it a bonus!

Now What (304/366)

TIME: 5:38 pm
PLACE: Front porch
SUBJECT: Ladder & hole

*~*~*

All the rain we had this week revealed a leak over the porch.

On my freshly painted deck.

Just great.

The HH took a look today to see where it is compromised - hopefully a not too difficult fix.

Seeing If I Can See (303/366)

TIME: 5:58 pm
PLACE: Optometrist
SUBJECT: Phoropter

*~*~*

Eye doctor time today.

2 pieces of good news:

#1 - My vision hasn't changed since May of 2019

#2 - The cost of my contacts was completely covered by insurance....

Why?

My vision is bad enough that contact lenses are considered "medically necessary"

Yay!

Sleeping Deskmate (302/366)

TIME: 10:16 am

PLACE: Home office

SUBJECT: Tessa

*~*~*

StellaDella had her door closed, so Miss Tessa came into my office to get away from the dogs.

I thought I would get help with some reconciliations, instead she just curled up on the desk and fell asleep for about 2 hours.

Very disappointing.

Mom and Claudia (301/366)

TIME: A bit after midnight on 10/28/1997
PLACE: Hospital
SUBJECT: My mom and Claudia

*~*~*

23 years ago I joined the motherhood club.

It has not been what I expected, but it has been more than I ever could have asked for.

Happy birthday to my favorite first born child - Miss DramaQueen!

(This photo does not have the best light, but is one of my favorites from that night)

Day of the Deployed (300/366)

TIME: I don't know
PLACE: Middle East
SUBJECT: MonkeyBoy

*~*~*

Today is "Day of the Deployed" - a day to honor our deployed troops and their families.

Thank you MonkeyBoy for your service (and for keeping our Johnny on the Spots safe!)

I can't wait until you return home and I can give you a great big bear hug!

Stay safe.

Front Porch Revisited (299/366)

 

TIME: 4:53 pm

PLACE: Front Porch
SUBJECT: Fresh paint

*~*~*

The husband power-sprayed the front porch on Friday, we picked out paint on Saturday and painted the deck and a bit of the rail. 

It turned into a 2-day affair because after we painted it, and to be fair, as we were painting it, I hated - hated! - the color we chose.  It was Behr MQ2-18 Honey Tea; It didn't look like the color chip.  It was just too bright and looked like we were trying too hard to make the floor "pop".

I did not want it to "pop", I wanted it to blend.  Soooo, I went and purchased a different color today - Behr Kaffee (MQ2-49) and painted again.  It looks light in this photo, but it is actually a bit darker.  

We couldn't remember the last time we painted the porch...Project365 to the rescue!

One of the benefits of having this blog since 2009 is that it archives projects we have done around the house.

The answer? Monday, July 6, 2009

 

I tried to take today's photo as close to the same angle and perspective as this one.

2009 had more sun, more shadows.

Funny how the deck color looks the same in both photos.

Lap Dogs (298/366)

TIME: 10:13 pm
PLACE: Living room
SUBJECT: Scully & Mulder

*~*~*

Yes, I'm sitting on my couch for the 2nd night in a row.

Tonight, I have the doggos to keep me warm.

Marlboro Neon (297/366)

TIME: 9:42 pm
PLACE Living room
SUBJECT: Sign

*~*~*

Big Friday night for me.

Watching "The Life of Brian" while working on my cross stitch.

I turned on the neon sign to try to make it feel a little bit like I'm hanging out in bar

- just like in the old days.

Comfort Cat (296/366)

TIME: 5:57 pm

PLACE: StellaDella's room

SUBJECT: Tessa & SD

*~*~*

SD had her wisdom teeth removed this morning.

She came home a bit loopy and chipmunk cheeky and immediately laid down in her bed to take a nap/

I found Tessa comforting her with her soft kitty paw on SD's puffy check.

Target Ceiling (295/366)

 

TIME: 5:24 pm

PLACE: Target
SUBJECT: Ceiling view from customer service

*~*~*

Had to return some clothes to Target that StellaDella and I had purchased on Sunday - Since you can't try on anything in the store, you have to make your best guesstimate to obtain the right size and if you like the way it fits.

It didn't fit and she didn't like it.

Try, try again.

Jack Outside the Box (294/366)

TIME: 12:15 pm

PLACE: Hallway
SUBJECT: Jack

*~*~*

Sometimes?

You just need to think sleep outside the box in order to make things more comfortable for you.

Monday Rain (293/366)

TIME: 5:59 PM
PLACE: Back of the house.
SUJBECT: Pumpkins and pansies

*~*~*

We had a cold rain yesterday afternoon, last night and on and off today - definitely in the midst of fall now.

For a Monday, the day went by super fast.  I work for a financial institution and spent the day working on a section of the quarterly Call Report. I was behind in getting my area done because 1) budget entry 2) auditor requests 3) backing up Accounts Payable for 2 days and 4) assorted account reconciliation fires in general. 

October has never been a very fun month my area of the accounting world.

Sunday Vibes (292/366)

 

TIME: 1:52 pm

PLACE: Front porch
SUBJECT: Grasshopper

*~*~*

Trying to hang on to the weekend as long as possible.

Caturday "Someone Needs to Let the Cat Out of the Bag" Edition & Bonus Pumpkin Lights (291/366)

TIME: 2:03 pm

PLACE: Kitchen
SUBJECT: Tessa

*~*~*

I have no secrets to tell, so I am not going to let the cat out of the bag today.

Besides, Tessa seems pretty happy to be inside it - Yes, that IS her happy face.

TIME: 6:23 pm
PLACE: Halloween bonfire
SUBJECT: Bonus photo - Pumpkin lights

*~*~*

Later, HH and I went to a Halloween-type bonfire (out 2 nights in a row, that is so not us)

Ate some chili, fed the host's dogs some Fritos and drank some Stag beer.

We were home way before 9 pm because that's how we roll.

Night Reflection (290/366)

TIME: 9:08 pm

PLACE: Germantown, IL
SUBJECT: Germantown Lake Park

*~*~*

HH and I met some friends for supper this evening in Centralia.

We drove in the Miata with the top down on the way there - it was slightly chilly, but we had the heater on and the sun was out so it wasn't too bad.

We had to put the top up on the way back - it was much colder.

We pass through Germantown on the way there and back.

The Lake Park looks pretty at night.

Tiny Bubbles (289/366)

TIME: 1:30 pm

PLACE: Kitchen
SUBJECT: Fizzy Narwhal

*~*~*

We had an appointment over in St. Louis early this morning.

Afterwards, StellaDella and I went to Blick Art Materials in the Loop where I spent way too much money on a brush set, sketchbook, sticker book, mini karaoke phone microphone, paint puck, highlighter pencils and a Fizzy Fun Surprise Sea Animal.

In its defense, the Fizzy was on clearance for only 77 cents - so I definitely got my picture's worth on it.

I apologize if I triggered your trypophobia.

 

X (Files) Stitching (288/366)

 

TIME: 9:21 pm

PLACE: Living room
SUBJECT: Cross Stitch 

*~*~*

I am working on a cross-stitch for my oldest daughter's birthday.

It's called "Unexpected Visitors" from NightSpiritStudio on Etsy.

The X-Files is one of her favorite shows - hence why we have dogs named Mulder and Scully!

Boxcars on MacArthur Bridge (287/366)

TIME: 6:22 pm

PLACE: Looking south from the Poplar Street Bridge, St Louis, MO
SUBJECT: MacArthur Bridge

*~*~*

For the past 3 months, I have been trying to engage IKEA in a bit of commerce by attempting to purchase a desk for my home office. 

They were not having it - the desk I wanted was not in stock and could not be delivered. 

I know there is a pandemic on and all, but seriously IKEA? Don't you want to take my money?

Today, however, according to the online inventory, the St. Louis, MO store showed they had it in stock.

HH and I drove over after I got off work.  We were in and out of the store and back home in a little over an hour and 15 minutes - a new record.

We Drove 6 Hours for This? (286/366)

TIME: 12:19 pm
PLACE: Near Charity, MO
SUBJECT: Toilet Garden

*~*~*

The husband passed this one day delivering brewer's grain to a farmer.

He drove me and a very grumpy, sulky teenager 3 hours so I could take a picture.

Then it was another 3 hour drive back.

I did take pictures of other things, but this was the main reason he wanted to take the trip. 

View From Salt Lick Point (285/366)

TIME: 9:53 am 
PLACE: Salt Lick Point & Water Reserve Trail, Valmeyer, IL
SUBJECT: View

*~*~*

HH and I took the dogs and headed for the Salt Lick Trail this morning.

We weren't the first on the trail, but we did arrive before it became crowded.



The trees were beginning to turn at the top....

But there was still plenty of green to see as well.
(looking back from where we came down the trail)


Here are the doggos at the end of the hike.

They are sitting by the old power building - tired, but happy.

Buggy Saturday (284/366)

TIME: 12:56 pm
PLACE: Front yard
SUBJECT: Monarch butterfly

TIME: 1:00 pm

PLACE: Front yard
SUBJECT: Grasshopper

TIME: 6:18 pm
PLACE: Back yard

SUBJECT: Caterpillar

*~*~*

I saw so many insects today when I was outside.

The monarchs were in full force on our butterfly bush.

Grasshoppers were, well, being true to their name and hopping on our ornamental grass.

And while I was sitting in the backyard with the dogs, this caterpillar (I think it may be a fall webworm) dropped on my leg.

He's pretty hairy - what kind of winter is he predicting?

New Sod on the Block (283/366)

TIME: 6:01 pm

PLACE: Front of house
SUBJECT: Sidewalk & grass

*~*~*

The city finally finished up our sidewalk project today.

New sod was placed along the edges of the walks.

I hope it takes.

 

Halloween Decor (282/366)

TIME: 5:09 pm

PLACE: Front Door
SUBJECT: DIY Wreath/Door decor

*~*~*

Here is the Halloween "wreath" in its final form that I alluded to in this post.

Not the most clever/awe-inspiring/unique thing out there, but I am satisfied with my effort.

Instant Noodle Packaging (281/366)

TIME: 11:12 am
PLACE: Seafood City
SUBJECT: Shi Zu Ren Energy & Buldak Kimchi Instant Noodles/Ramen

*~*~*

I've said it before and I'll say it again....

Graphics on imported food items from Asian countries are so much fun.

I wish companies in the States had packaging like these.

Stella Scars (280/366)

 

TIME: 8:46 pm

PLACE: Kitchen
SUBJECT: StellaDella's incision 

*~*~*

SD had her stitches removed today from the surgical incision on her wrist.

It is healing nicely and hopefully within 4 weeks she will be considered completely recovered.

Bunny (279/366)

TIME: 5:37 pm

PLACE: Yard

SUBJECT: Rabbit

*~*~*

After working today, I stepped out on the porch to see if there was anything interesting for a photo subject.

The neighbor's dog started barking and this bunny ran between our houses.  It stopped when it noticed me up on the porch.

I went back inside and retrieved my "good" camera - the Canon, along with the 300mm lens.  I haven't taken many photos with it these days - I've mainly been using my cell phone; it's always handy and takes pretty darn good photos.

The Canon does a much better job taking photos like this from a distance though.

Sunday in Grafton (278/366)

TIME: 2:32 pm

PLACE: Aerie's Resort
SUBJECT: View from the chair lift

*~*~*

The husband, StellaDella, a friend of hers and I took a trip up the Great River Road to Grafton.

We took a chair lift ride to the top of the bluff.  Once there, we ate a bit of lunch; HH and I had some wine and we enjoyed the scenery. 

Normally, on a gorgeous sunny weekend in October? This place would be overflowing with people.

That's COVID for you.

Caturday (277/366)

TIME: 5:17 pm

PLACE: Kitchen
SUBJECT: Tessa

*~*~*

Miss Tessa.

16-1/2 years old and still as sassy as ever.

Flashback Friday (276/366)

TIME: 10/1/2005 - 2:22 pm

PLACE: Driveway
SUBJECT: DramaQueen & Monkeyboy

*~*~*

15 years and one day ago, my husband and I more than likely violated child labor laws by forcing our two children to prime boards that were to be utilized in the re-building our front porch.

They were both very unhappy about having to help out.

They complained about being out in the sun and just to be inside and watch TV.

We made them paint five boards before they could go back in.

Adding insult to injury, I took pictures to document their misery while they were doing it.

Oil & Water (275/366)

TIME: 7:19 pm
PLACE: Kitchen
SUBJECT: Oil & water

*~*~*

I found a quick bread mix in the cupboard that had a best by date of yesterday.

I decided to live life dangerously and make it anyway.

Always fun to measure the oil and water like this.

Speaking of oil and water......

TIME: 8:14 pm

PLACE: Living room
SUBJECT: Scully and Mulder

*~*~*

These two are getting along just a tiny bit better each day.

Sometime they regress, but we are slowly moving closer toward the goal of peacefully co-existing in the same house.

It's a process.