Whatcha Doin'? Showing 751-800 of 1,288

[Peggy]

Sarah wrote: "Grr! Our landlord just rang to say he's putting the rent up, immediate effect! Just as well we're moving out. I am still going to dispute it though as our contract says that rent increases can only..."

So funny, me colleagues were talking about spaghetti squash yesterday and I never heard of it before!

Not so funny about the rent, hopefully it will not go through, if your contract doesn't allow it.

[Sarah]

Thanks for the recipe link Rusalka - looks great - I'd use veggie mince balls for us - looks pretty easy and straightforward.

[Esther]

Sarah wrote: "Grr! Our landlord just rang to say he's putting the rent up, immediate effect! Just as well we're moving out. I am still going to dispute it though as our contract says that rent increases can only..."

The easy way is to cut the squash in 2, removed the seeds and cook it. Then scrape the "spagetti" out and serve as you would pasta. that's one my weeknight evening rush supper option.

I am sure there are rules about raising the rent. There sure are some here.

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Sarah wrote: "Thanks for the recipe link Rusalka - looks great - I'd use veggie mince balls for us - looks pretty easy and straightforward."

Of course. Sorry, forgot :) Sure it will still be delicious.

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Esther wrote: "The easy way is to cut the squash in 2, removed the seeds and cook it. Then scrape the "spagetti" out and serve as you would pasta. that's one my weeknight evening rush supper option."

Exactly, and I think this is what my sticker told me. No doubt it is stuck to the back of the fridge wall or something.

[Almeta]

Sarah wrote: "Oh and I'm really excited as I bought a Spaghetti Squash! I know ages ago we talked about spaghetti squash and I'd never heard of them before (nor seen any in shops here). Over the months I've been keeping my out for them. I was wandering past a grocers shop on my way to meet some friends for lunch yesterday and I was a little early so thought I'd ask on the off chance and they had one left! It was meant to be! My partner wasn't as excited as me when I showed him the squash when I got home. I guess I'm easily pleased. Now I need to find some recipes for it! .."

I take its name seriously!☺ SPAGHETTI

I just poke it full of holes, so it won't explode and microwave it until it begins to collapse in on itself. Cut it lengthwise, remove the seeds and shallowly scrape the pulp with a fork, in to a bowl, to get that "spaghetti effect". Then cover it with my spaghetti sauce or Alfredo sauce.

[Janice, Moderator]

Here, the landlord must give you 3 months notice in writing, and they can only raise the rent once in a 12 month period. I'm expecting a letter towards the end of next month - a Christmas present from my landlord. I'd much prefer they'd replace the centuries old appliances to merit that rent increase.

I've never tried Spaghetti Squash.

[Sarah]

Well I read my contract and it says an increase once in a 12 month period but states 1st January specifically or at end of fixed period (which happened yonks ago). I texted the landlord and he's agreed to start it from January (although he did disagree with my interpretation of the contract). Works out well as we're handing our notice in then anyway!

Me neither Janice - this will be my first spaghetti squash and I'm desperate to make it taste nice so my partner likes it and it will be the first of many (unless I hate it ;-))

[Tejas Janet]

I've been wanting to try doing something with spaghetti squash for ages, but my spouse is resistant to trying new things, and I just haven't gotten to this one yet.

Will take a look at the market today and see about availability. If in luck, I'm going to go for it. I can modify my meatless "meatloaf" recipe (with mushrooms, lentils, and oats or quinoa) to make mock meatballs. Will use ample fresh basil from our garden, too.

[Travis]

My wife made spaghetti squash and regular one night. I didn't know there was a difference so I sti haven't tried he squash.

[Janice, Moderator]

Here's the quilt top I finished on the weekend. The exposure on my camera was pretty yellow. I tried to fad it out somewhat. At least it shows the contrasting values. As soon as I spread it out on the bed to get a better picture, the queen (Cleo) had to claim it. She even begrudged me straightening it. This one gives you the richness of the colours.

[Peggy]

Beautiful Janice! Cute cat too ;-)

[Stephanie]

Awesome, Janice and Cleo is adorable :-)

[Cathie]

Awwww, Cleo loves her new blankie! Beautiful quilt Janice ☺

[Lisa]

Love the quilt cover Janice! What a beautiful cat Cleo is too! :)

[Tejas Janet]

Love the photo of Cleo on the pretty quilt - that you made - how awesome!

[Tasha]

Beautiful, Janice. and like everyone else, love the princess. ;)

[Esther]

Janice wrote: "Here's the quilt top I finished on the weekend. The exposure on my camera was pretty yellow. I tried to fad it out somewhat. At least it shows the contrasting values. As soon as I spread it out..."

Beautiful! I really like it.

The cat too but she already knows it.

[Janice, Moderator]

Thank you so much, everyone. Cleo was daring me to kick her off. She's such a brat!

I got a bit of a scare this afternoon. Two fire engines pulled up right alongside my apartment this afternoon - sirens blaring and lights flashing. They turned the sirens off, but just sat there. I was beginning to wonder if there was a fire in the building. But after about 10 minutes, they left with their lights still flashing. They must have had a wrong address.

Truth be known, I was disappointed no hunky firemen jumped out of the trucks. :(

[Stephanie]

Phew, glad it wasn't your building, Janice :-) but darn about those firemen ;-)

[Joanne L]

Nice pic!

[Sarah]

Love the quilt Janice and Cleo has definitely made herself at home there!

I bet seeing the fireman show up was a little scary! When I lived up North about 10 years ago, I'd been out for the night, coming home late and as we approached our house we saw smoke and one of my friends joked it was my house (nice I know), anyway turned on to my street to find chaos - people everywhere in the street, cars being bumped out of the way so that the fire engines could get closer to the terrace. The end house on my terrace (3 doors down) had been abandoned for a while and I think it must have had squatters in as a fire had started in there. The houses luckily weren't the old style where all the loft spaces are joined so it didn't spread beyond the house next door which was lucky for me - we did have to stay out on the street though until it was out. I can't remember much about the fireman though 0 I was too worried about where my cats had gotten to!

[Pragya]

The quilt looks amazing, Janice and Cleo is such a cutie. I adore her already. :D

[Tejas Janet]

We had a fundraiser for a nonprofit that I belong to where some local fire fighters attended and were part of the big ticket auction item. The highest bidder got to have 2 fire fighters come to their house and cook dinner for 4 people. Included a bunch of good wine, too. My friend won the bid and invited me, but I had the flu the night of the dinner and couldn't attend. My hubby stayed home with me in solidarity, and we sent some other friends in our stead. The 2 fire fighters actually brought 2 associates with them who did the clean-up shift. The whole group wound up sitting down to dinner together and had a blast, so I'm told. I hardly ever get sick, but that was a very stressful time (shudder shudder) with all kinds of hell breaking loose.

[Janice, Moderator]

I worry about fire. It would be a nightmare to try to recover my clients' paperwork. Scary just to think about it.

Too bad you had to miss your friend's dinner party. Sounds like it would have been fun.

Last night, I was lying in bed reading and I heard a clicking sound. I finally realized it was coming from the foyer. So I peeked out the eye hole on the door, and there was a man standing there, looked like he was clipping his nails. Eventually, he said, "OK", and turned away to the elevator. "Security" was across his back. When the elevator door closed on him, I went and looked out the window over the parking lot and the security company's car was parked there. I really need to move.

[Almeta]

Janice wrote: "Last night, I was lying in bed reading and I heard a clicking sound. I finally realized it was coming from the foyer. So I peeked out the eye hole on the door, and there was a man standing there, looked like he was clipping his nails. Eventually, he said, "OK", and turned away to the elevator. "Security" was across his back. When the elevator door closed on him, I went and looked out the window over the parking lot and the security company's car was parked there. I really need to move. ..."

That's just creepy. Stay safe!

[Tejas Janet]

Creepy, and he's the security guy. Ugh.

I was sad to miss the fire fighter dinner party, but on the other hand we'd had a fire at our house 2 months before, and a part of me didn't find the thought of hanging out with fire fighters entertaining. Maybe that contributed to my getting sick just then.

That was the year from hell 2010/2011 - my dad died, my husband had a massive heart attack, we had a fire in our home, I broke/dislocated my foot, I was working 60 hours a week, and my brother moved from Texas with his wife and my only nephew half way around the world to Malaysia. Not a good year for the memory book.

[Tejas Janet]

Oh, and we bought a house and had to move. Had 2 unsold homes on the market for sale simultaneously. What a crazy year. My nickname was Jobetta (as in Job from the Bible).

[Stephanie]

Scary, Janice! Did you see what security company it was? I would call and see why they were there.

[Janice, Moderator]

Wow! That was a nasty year, TJ! After having a fire in your home, you deserved that dinner party. :(

I thought about calling the security company to confirm that they had an officer in the building. It's not likely they would tell me why he was here. He could have just been checking the premises, but I've never seen them in the building before. But then again, I'm not usually aware of who comes and goes at midnight. I wouldn't have been aware of him either if I hadn't heard that strange clicking sound. I'm beginning to feel like I'm "THAT WOMAN" who peeks out the windows and knows the comings and goings of everyone in the building.

[Stephanie]

No shame in being aware of your surroundings :-) it is better to be safe :-)
I freak myself out a lot anymore..I watch way too many cop shows I think. Then when my dog stares out the window if I'm home alone cause hubby is at work or school, I have to close all the curtains. Yep, I'm a wuss :-)

[Roz]

Lovely quilt, Janice. It a very strong pattern. I like that. The cat's beauty.
I definitely think you should check out any unusual activity in your building. Call the security company and check if they made a visit to your building at that hour and why. No shame in being safe. The alternative isn't good.

[Cherie]

Almeta wrote: "I just poke it full of holes, so it won't explode and microwave it until it begins to collapse in on itself. Cut it lengthwise, remove the seeds and shallowly scrape the pulp with a fork, in to a bowl, to get that "spaghetti effect". Then cover it with my spaghetti sauce or Alfredo sauce...."

I never thought of doing it in the microwave! I am goint to try it!

I like it no matter how it is fixed and whatever is poured on it. We tried it smothered in chili the last time we cooked one. My daughter's kids only like it with spagetti sauce, but she likes it sweeter and adds butter and brown sugar with hers.

[Sarah]

I'm off work now until Tuesday so lots of time to do useful things in the house, like sort through stuff, sell stuff, take things to charity shop. But I can't be arsed! I need some motivation!

[Janice, Moderator]

Hop to it, Sarah! LOL! When you figure out how to motivate yourself, let me know. I keep putting things off until "tomorrow".

[Sarah]

Well I gave myself the morning off and then guilt made me do the washing up, a load of clothes washing and sorting through old paperwork. Maybe I should use the same tactic today!

Last night I cooked the spaghetti squash, filled it with veggie meatballs, topped with a tomato and garlic sauce and plenty of mozzarella cheese. My partners reaction was "So we're going to start having boat themed food now are we?" He did enjoy it though and I did immensely. He did also comment that "It would have been better if it could have been moored up" as it did roll around the plate a little. I'm counting it as a success!

[Tasha]

hahaha! Those comments of his are so funny! Glad you enjoyed it, sarah.

[Pragya]

"Moored up" *snort* Funny that.

[Janice, Moderator]

I went to see the movie, St Vincent, last night. What a wonderful movie. It had me crying and laughing. I was expecting a comedy, but I'm not sure I would classify it as that. While it had quite a bit of humour in it, I thought it was more a drama. Lots of heartfelt moments in it.

[Mariab]

I'm struggling with a vermin in my home library!
TERMITES.
I had new shelves delivered (the many new shelves from everybody in YLTO were catching) and when the carpenters had begun to put it together and replace the old ones, we saw there was termites there!! Luckily they (the termites) had just begun to make they way towards my books. Now I had to replace many wood-parts in the library. But the books are safe now!
Because of all that had no internet for a couple of days (and could not post anything in YLTO)
Besides all that, I had a killer week at work (with seminaries and people coming from abroad)

[Stephanie]

Oh no, Mariab! Glad to hear though that the termites were caught in time :)

[Stephanie]

Oh no, Mariab! Glad to hear though that the termites were caught in time :)

[Janice, Moderator]

Yikes! What a shock that must have been. I'm glad you have it under control now. I hope you have a better week coming up.

[Cherie]

Yikes, termites! Never thought about them eating the books. I knew about bookworms.

And I thought it was hard to keep my books out of harms way from my little cockatiel when he was alive. He loved to chew the covers of paperbacks and gave them pretty scalloped edges. It taught us all to put our books away instead of leaving them around where he could get to them.

[Sarah]

Sounds like you caught them in the nick of time Mariab!

[Sarah]

Anyone else been voting in the Goodreads Choice awards? I'm really surprised how few books I've actually read that have been showing up as nominees. Last year, I could have sworn I was able to vote for more categories than this time around. And surprisingly, I can't vote in the fantasy section which is the main genre I read as the vast majority of those are series books which I haven't got to yet.

[Peggy]

I wanted to vote, but I haven't read any of the nominated books! I thought that was a bit strange. Several are on my tbr though.

[Lisa]

I have been voting but like you Sarah, I had to skip quite a few categories, particularly in the final round, as I haven't read any of the nominated books. There seems to have been quite a lot of YA books nominated this year in the various categories and although I do read them, I prefer adult books.

[Mariab]

@Cherie.
Termites eat cellulose. Books are made of that. And are soft. Fur termites books are a gourmet food

[Lilisa]

I did vote in the Goodreads Choice Awards, but like many of you I haven't read as many of the books on the list as last year. Some of them are on my TBR list like The Book of Life and The Long Way Home and Sally Ride: America’s First Woman in Space, but I haven't had a chance to get to them. I voted for The Opposite of Loneliness: Essays and Stories, Everything I Never Told You, The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry and The Invention of Wings!