Cheryl B. Dale's Blog: RANDOM MUSINGS, page 24
February 26, 2014
CATS AND THEIR LITTER
I have finicky cats when it comes to their bathroom habits. They want their litter clean.
If it isn't up to her standards, my girl cat sometimes uses the floor next to the box. Even an extra litter box doesn't help if it isn't clean.
I usually feed them in the mornings, then scoop their litter. I was running behind the other morning, putting some dishes up that had been in the dishwasher overnight, and heard a "meow." She was sitting in the door of the utility room where their litter boxes are, looking at me.
"Hold on. I'll be with you in a minute."
"Meow!"
"Just wait a minute!"
"MEOWL!"
Only it sounded like "MY LITTER!" And she looked quite huffy. Like she was about to spit.
So I gave up, cleaned the litter box; she got in and did her business.
Not even a thank you.
Ungrateful cat. At least it wasn't on the floor.
If it isn't up to her standards, my girl cat sometimes uses the floor next to the box. Even an extra litter box doesn't help if it isn't clean.
I usually feed them in the mornings, then scoop their litter. I was running behind the other morning, putting some dishes up that had been in the dishwasher overnight, and heard a "meow." She was sitting in the door of the utility room where their litter boxes are, looking at me.
"Hold on. I'll be with you in a minute."
"Meow!"
"Just wait a minute!"
"MEOWL!"
Only it sounded like "MY LITTER!" And she looked quite huffy. Like she was about to spit.
So I gave up, cleaned the litter box; she got in and did her business.
Not even a thank you.
Ungrateful cat. At least it wasn't on the floor.
February 17, 2014
POST VALENTINE'S DAY, CAN SPRING BE FAR BEHIND?
I'm tired of all the cold weather and I know a lot of other people are, too. Those ice and snow pictures everyone keeps posting are bad enough. But those people on FB talking about power outages are the ones I feel for.
Not to brag, but the temps down here are back in the sixties and I'm so happy! I'm ready to be able to get our and enjoy the sunshine without feeling that chill breeze down my back.
We went for a walk and found this harbinger of spring in a neighbor's yard. (At least, I hope it's a harbinger.) A tulip tree blooming. Isn't it pretty?
Not to brag, but the temps down here are back in the sixties and I'm so happy! I'm ready to be able to get our and enjoy the sunshine without feeling that chill breeze down my back.
We went for a walk and found this harbinger of spring in a neighbor's yard. (At least, I hope it's a harbinger.) A tulip tree blooming. Isn't it pretty?
February 12, 2014
MORE CRIME BLOTTER
Love the local paper, but it's the daily crime reports I can't wait to read.
Okay, we had the report of a theft of four razor blades the other day. Now we have another report of stolen razor blades. Two packs shoplifted from a store came to a total of around ten dollars.
I'm thinking maybe people are using them to cut heroin? Or is it cocaine you cut? Not that I know anything about drugs, but really! Seems to me they could cough up ten dollars or so considering what the drugs cost!
And here's one that made me scratch my head. A man had his daughter and her boyfriend arrested after they admitted breaking into his residence and eating his chicken. Yep. Ten dollars worth. Hope it was cooked.
Then I read a little further. They also stole a blank check and cashed it for three hundred dollars.
Hey, yeah! I can see letting them have the chicken, but three hundred dollars? I'd have turned them in, too!
Okay, we had the report of a theft of four razor blades the other day. Now we have another report of stolen razor blades. Two packs shoplifted from a store came to a total of around ten dollars.
I'm thinking maybe people are using them to cut heroin? Or is it cocaine you cut? Not that I know anything about drugs, but really! Seems to me they could cough up ten dollars or so considering what the drugs cost!
And here's one that made me scratch my head. A man had his daughter and her boyfriend arrested after they admitted breaking into his residence and eating his chicken. Yep. Ten dollars worth. Hope it was cooked.
Then I read a little further. They also stole a blank check and cashed it for three hundred dollars.
Hey, yeah! I can see letting them have the chicken, but three hundred dollars? I'd have turned them in, too!
February 9, 2014
NEW BOOK OUT
My sequel to TAXED TO THE MAX is now available from Amazon. Ebook only right now but in a few days, the print copy will be out too. And if you buy the print copy, you can get the ebook version free.
Not sure why anyone would want both but anyway, that's the deal.
Here's the cover for OVERTAXED AND UNDERAPPRECIATED. Collin Beishir designed it, using one of the pix my guy took in Old Town. Pretty, isn't it?
And here's the link on Amazon if anyone's interested. http://www.amazon.com/Overtaxed-Underappreciated-Cheryl-B-Dale-ebook/dp/B00I25JU9C/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1391961620&sr=8-1&keywords=overtaxed+and+underappreciated
Whee! I see I have a review! That's exciting since I don't get many! And it's a good one!
Not sure why anyone would want both but anyway, that's the deal.
Here's the cover for OVERTAXED AND UNDERAPPRECIATED. Collin Beishir designed it, using one of the pix my guy took in Old Town. Pretty, isn't it?
And here's the link on Amazon if anyone's interested. http://www.amazon.com/Overtaxed-Underappreciated-Cheryl-B-Dale-ebook/dp/B00I25JU9C/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1391961620&sr=8-1&keywords=overtaxed+and+underappreciated
Whee! I see I have a review! That's exciting since I don't get many! And it's a good one!
February 1, 2014
CATS AND ALARM CLOCKS
I had an early appointment yesterday that meant setting my alarm early. The cats came staggering out, wondering what was going on. But, game little things they are, they waited patiently to see if I intended to put out food or if they needed to go back to bed.
So this morning, guess who forgot to turn off the alarm. This time, there was no staggering out. This time cats rushed into the bedroom with strident demands for food. "Meow-eat! Meow-eat! Me-now!"
When I fumbled with the alarm and tried to go back to sleep, one got up in the bed and stared.
The other one--it's hard for him to climb up in our high bed--mewled piteously while pacing around the room.
I really need to check that alarm so it won't go off tomorrow.
So this morning, guess who forgot to turn off the alarm. This time, there was no staggering out. This time cats rushed into the bedroom with strident demands for food. "Meow-eat! Meow-eat! Me-now!"
When I fumbled with the alarm and tried to go back to sleep, one got up in the bed and stared.
The other one--it's hard for him to climb up in our high bed--mewled piteously while pacing around the room.
I really need to check that alarm so it won't go off tomorrow.
January 29, 2014
CRIME BLOTTER
Time for some more random snippets from our sometimes strange crime report in the local paper:
Today, a woman reported the theft of a pot worth $300.
-- Wow, that must have been a humongous pot. Oh, wait! Maybe it was an elite name brand pot. Or, after more consideration, maybe the 'a' before 'pot' should have been omitted. Oh, the possibilities are endless!
Then last week, a man reported the theft of two Johnny Walker bottles filled with change. At least twenty dollars worth of coins. In each bottle!
-- Poor guy. What a loss. Guess he'll have to empty some more bottles before he starts collecting again.
But the strangest incident occurred a few days ago: a man reported the theft of four razor blades.
-- Four. Not five or three? I wonder how he knew how many were stolen. Heck, I wonder how he even knew they were missing. He must be a lot more organized than I am. Or at least have a better memory!
I love our local newspaper!
Today, a woman reported the theft of a pot worth $300.
-- Wow, that must have been a humongous pot. Oh, wait! Maybe it was an elite name brand pot. Or, after more consideration, maybe the 'a' before 'pot' should have been omitted. Oh, the possibilities are endless!
Then last week, a man reported the theft of two Johnny Walker bottles filled with change. At least twenty dollars worth of coins. In each bottle!
-- Poor guy. What a loss. Guess he'll have to empty some more bottles before he starts collecting again.
But the strangest incident occurred a few days ago: a man reported the theft of four razor blades.
-- Four. Not five or three? I wonder how he knew how many were stolen. Heck, I wonder how he even knew they were missing. He must be a lot more organized than I am. Or at least have a better memory!
I love our local newspaper!
January 27, 2014
WALK
The temperature climbed up into the sixties today and for the first time in a while, we felt like getting out. So we took a neighborhood walk and enjoyed the weather.
Along a sun-dappled road, different yards held cars, and a couple of bumper stickers caught my eye.
The first made me realize I may be one of those people out of the loop! I have been called a nut before.
The second made me think. And then laugh. Of course, I wonder how long it will be true.
A great idea for a story, isn't it? I can see the burly detective accosting the bespectacled author bent over his computer at a Starbucks. "Sorry, sir, but what you're doing is illegal."
"But I'm just writing my grocery list!"
"Ah. But you're also thinking about what to buy. I know you're about to add broccoli on there."
Scary!
Along a sun-dappled road, different yards held cars, and a couple of bumper stickers caught my eye.
The first made me realize I may be one of those people out of the loop! I have been called a nut before.
The second made me think. And then laugh. Of course, I wonder how long it will be true.
A great idea for a story, isn't it? I can see the burly detective accosting the bespectacled author bent over his computer at a Starbucks. "Sorry, sir, but what you're doing is illegal."
"But I'm just writing my grocery list!"
"Ah. But you're also thinking about what to buy. I know you're about to add broccoli on there."
Scary!
January 25, 2014
COOKING
Another hassle to get in. For some reason my Nav app isn't appearing at the top of my site. I've redone the stupid thing and still can't get it to show up. I have no idea what I'm doing wrong, but I'm joining the crowd who hate blogger!
Anyway, thought I'd post a picture of my lemon ice box pie.
Yes, I made another one for my disappointed guy. And it was Good with a capital G!
We're rationing it. One slice a day so it'll last longer. Although my guy got enough stuff to make one more since we have another huge lemon!
Anyway, thought I'd post a picture of my lemon ice box pie.
Yes, I made another one for my disappointed guy. And it was Good with a capital G!
We're rationing it. One slice a day so it'll last longer. Although my guy got enough stuff to make one more since we have another huge lemon!
January 22, 2014
COOKING
I do not cook very much. My guy knows this and is okay with it.
But before the freeze,our neighbor gave us some of those wonderful big lemons that taste so lemony and not bitter at all. You could almost eat them like oranges. (I once gave a friend several we'd brought back from a relative's yard in Florida, along with some oranges and grapefruit. Her husband ate one and later told her it was the sourest orange he'd ever tasted.)
Anyway, our neighbor has a bush of them and we were the happy recipients. So my guy decides he wants a lemon ice box pie.
Now, a lemon ice box pie is one of the few things I do make. It was the first thing I ever made on my own at like ten or twelve, and the only hard part is the meringue. But I'm a good meringue maker (I make divinity, too) so a lemon pie is no trouble.
I mixed up the filling, whipped up the meringue, stuck it in the oven and let it cook. Ten or fifteen minutes later, I checked and the meringue was a perfect light brown. I took two potholders, went to lift it out of the oven and...
Disaster. The pie tin slipped and flipped, meringue first. Pie went onto the oven door and into the oven.
"Aaiigghh!" I squeal.
My guy comes rushing in, sees the mess and his face falls, then turns hopeful. "Want me to run to the store and get you another pie shell to make another pie?"
"I don't think so!" I just don't feel like this is the best day to try again, especially when both cats throw up shortly after.
He did help me clean up. Maybe we'll try again tomorrow.
But before the freeze,our neighbor gave us some of those wonderful big lemons that taste so lemony and not bitter at all. You could almost eat them like oranges. (I once gave a friend several we'd brought back from a relative's yard in Florida, along with some oranges and grapefruit. Her husband ate one and later told her it was the sourest orange he'd ever tasted.)
Anyway, our neighbor has a bush of them and we were the happy recipients. So my guy decides he wants a lemon ice box pie.
Now, a lemon ice box pie is one of the few things I do make. It was the first thing I ever made on my own at like ten or twelve, and the only hard part is the meringue. But I'm a good meringue maker (I make divinity, too) so a lemon pie is no trouble.
I mixed up the filling, whipped up the meringue, stuck it in the oven and let it cook. Ten or fifteen minutes later, I checked and the meringue was a perfect light brown. I took two potholders, went to lift it out of the oven and...
Disaster. The pie tin slipped and flipped, meringue first. Pie went onto the oven door and into the oven.
"Aaiigghh!" I squeal.
My guy comes rushing in, sees the mess and his face falls, then turns hopeful. "Want me to run to the store and get you another pie shell to make another pie?"
"I don't think so!" I just don't feel like this is the best day to try again, especially when both cats throw up shortly after.
He did help me clean up. Maybe we'll try again tomorrow.
January 18, 2014
OLD TOWN
I am still having problems with this idiotic program. I had to diddle with every button on my blog to finally find a way to get in. For techie ignoramuses (ignoramusi??) like me, it's torture!
Anyway, I wanted to post some photos I sent to the guy working on my new light mystery cover.
We went over to Old Town on the mainland, where there are lots of old houses. Some are renovated and spiffy but some, sadly, are falling down. Anyway,my guy snapped away to his heart's content. Many of the houses he photographed weren't suitable for a cover, lovely as they were, but three were kind of what we needed. He's worked on them to take out power lines and cars, naturally.
The interesting part came later, when I read the crime blotter in the paper. Evidently, the same day we were walking around taking pictures, police arrested a man wandering naked in that part of town. I don't think he was taking pictures.
Come to think of it, I don't know what he was doing! It was a fairly warm day but...
Anyway, I wanted to post some photos I sent to the guy working on my new light mystery cover.
We went over to Old Town on the mainland, where there are lots of old houses. Some are renovated and spiffy but some, sadly, are falling down. Anyway,my guy snapped away to his heart's content. Many of the houses he photographed weren't suitable for a cover, lovely as they were, but three were kind of what we needed. He's worked on them to take out power lines and cars, naturally.
The interesting part came later, when I read the crime blotter in the paper. Evidently, the same day we were walking around taking pictures, police arrested a man wandering naked in that part of town. I don't think he was taking pictures.
Come to think of it, I don't know what he was doing! It was a fairly warm day but...
