Pork and kraut on new years

or the day after, is a tradition to supposedly bring good luck in the new year.  And if mine is any indication, I'm in for a hell of a ride in 2019. 

 

I set the Instant Pot or crockpot on top my range with a padded towel beneath when using those appliances. It saves counter space and is easy clean up from any spills.  The range's controls are facing out and when I bent over to add the potatoes, I inadvertently pushed it in, setting the front burner to high heat.  A few minutes later I noticed a very odd odor and the pad beneath the crock was on fire. I grabbed tongs and threw what was left into the sink, started the exhaust fan, opened two exterior doors and four windows.  Smoke swirled but failed to leave.  Needless to say, after what I went through because of the outdoor fire I did not need a house filled with heavy smoke. 

 

The smoke wasn't leaving but cats did.  Nit was rolled in a fight yesterday and came home completely covered in clay mud.  Completely.  Could not see his fur for the thick goo.  And of course when they don't allow you to touch them, it makes for a difficult situation.  He was worn out and I decided to barricade him in the back room and keep him inside (not an easy task).  About a half hour into the smoke fiasco, I happened to look outside and saw the little devil wandering away looking somewhat like a chocolate iced yule log.  He obviously found his way out the open doors.

 

I am still choking and after Fabreze, candles, fans, exhausts, and a good cleaning, all stinks.  ALL.  Everything was 100% cotton so I am surprised at the rank odor.  What really surprised me is that the stove top was saved.  These marks from the fire would be, so I thought, permanent.  But after using two soaking applications of Affresh and really hard scrubbing, most all is gone.  On top of that, the pork was terribly dry and tough, the raccoons are feasting tonight.

 

The large oval crock pot is ruined but we took it apart and discarded the electrics, recycled the metals.  The inside yielded an aluminum inner liner that can be painted and used as a planter, and the removable white ceramic liner can be also.  Jess will love both.

 

I'm eating a few oranges and will simmer the skins with cloves in one pot and vinegar in another to try to rid the smoke odor.

Off to a good start!  Hope yours was better.

 

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Like riding a bike

But do I enjoy it as much as I used to?

 

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Seeing dots and pink spots

I was browsing Pinterest this morning and came across a lot of really sweet smalls for Christmas.  This one made me smile through the lingering but mild headache.

 

 

I purchased the dot linen a while back, also the checkered, and haven't come up with a chart for them.  I do love this guy!  Wonder who designed him.

 

Made my Nona's onion pizza.  Simple pizza dough topped with sliced onions (not sweet) tossed in a good olive oil, sprinkled with oregano, salt and pepper.

 

Packing up the decorations today while Mr. Bud snores the morning away.  He has had only two accidents inside in the years we've had him, but to prevent future I am insisting he go outside for a bit late afternoon.  If it's cold or rainy (which is the only time they come inside), he can use the box in the garage.  It's much larger than the one in the house and I plan to sprinkle catnip in it.  He loves that stuff.

 As for the house I referred to, I don't have a phone to photograph it, nor would I.  Their massive home with red lights in every window, red lamp lights, red house light, red garage lights, 5 red spotlights, and blue and purple lighted treetops with green trunks, is their choice.  Red is nice, but the theme is lost in the excess.  Could be what they love, could be what a special needs person inside loves.  Maybe they have small children who get to choose.  They display it proudly and any jet flying over appreciates the guidance.  Personally, I saw pink for an hour after.

 

Have a happy and healthy 2019 everyone!

 

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Edit - Thanks for the tip on the "bell" to subscribe.  When I click subscribe, it changed to subscribed so I assumed that was it!

Things that make me nuts

Hope your holiday was enjoyable and your loved ones are well. 

I've been shamed by friends into getting a phone.  Which one?  LG?  Samsung?  iPhone?  What carrier?  Verizon?  AT&T?  No contract?

About Flosstube …. Teresa Kogut has a new one as have others over the months, and although I subscribe I never receive a notice.  How come?  Do you get emails or notifications of new videos?  What am I doing wrong?

About Instagram …. I started viewing the photos of people I follow, and they only go back a day or two.  If I click on their icon or name on the right, I am directed to their stories.  So I need to click on their icon over their photo/post and do this for everyone to see what I missed in the last week?   Many posts mention a blog, webpage, or site to go to for more info or a source and I can never find it.  I click on the arrow to view the entire post but the writer does not offer a link, only to go there.  WHERE?  Are links not allowed in posts?

About Blogger ….. Because I am not Google+ and do not want to be, I can't leave posts on blogs that are, can't see their profiles, can't get their email address, can't leave a message. 

New Year's Eve I am planning on doing what I usually do.  Nothing.  In the afternoon we will take a ride to Dunkin for the last day of the $2 cappuccino sale.  Then we'll ride around for one last time in the expensive home developments, and I'll make fun of their decorations.  That's not nice, but contrary to what you believe, I'm not.  I can't help it!  Everyone has their own style and memories of Christmas past that they may want to continue.  But a million dollar home that looks like a whorehouse in Disneyland, ya' gotta wonder.  My bad.  None of my business!

Have a great new year, please be careful if going out!

 

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It's rude to ignore a gift

So down the steps I go.  He paid a lot for this candy from our local chocolatier Philadelphia Candies.  We don't have a Macy's, we don't have a Sears, we don't have a K Mart, but we have TWO chocolatiers, both excellent.  Now.  What's more important?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Top layer is gone, bottom soon to follow, probably within hours.  He went through the expense and trouble for me, I can't let him down.  It's best to get these over with as soon as possible.

 

A friend remodeled her kitchen many years ago (well … decades) and I took her painted plywood cabinets to install in our basement.  Candy safe is in the corner.  At the time, I was a gung-ho gardener canning beets and peppers and such.  So we bought the cheapest gas stove we could find and moved the old fridge in, and then I quit canning.  We still use the fridge for extras and the stove for larger gatherings, the cupboards are full of canned goods, the bottoms with those extra baking pans and punch bowls, crock pots, large coffee pots, and things I never use.  My sister has a huge cut glass punch bowl and tray with all the cups, hard to find that size, but no where to sell it around here.  Maybe I could check with caterers?

 

Above the freezer is my Coca Cola mirror.  That was long before colonial style caught my eye.  I have a Pepsi too but it's not as big or as nice.

 

Yesterday morning I took advantage of the gloom and enjoyed the lighted tree. We stopped at Kraynak's for the big sale and I found a perfect prelit tree, but it was only in the large 7 1/2' size.  I'm used to smaller trees and that tree will be a lot larger in my room than it looks in the store.  I'm ready to take it all down but Mark wants another week so it will stay.  He got his way with the black handles on the cabinets but I didn't admit to him it was because of your advice. 

 

I went to Walmart to exchange the kids' jeans for size and although their website did not show them available locally, there they were.  All three!  So that was taken care of quickly and I was the second in line at Customer Service for the exchange.  As I turned to leave, there were at least 12 people lined up.  Luck was with me!  In and out in 20 minutes the day after Christmas.

 

Dinner tonight with friends, doc appointments, and a warm weather forecast for Friday. 

 

Hope your week ends well.

Thanks for visiting.

 

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Soggy shoes

Hope your Christmas was special.  All went as planned here, but my sister is very pale and not looking well at all.  Even though she has not done any shopping or meals, she is very tired, but her tests are all normal.  We'll be getting together at her house Saturday when her great grands come and tear apart the house.  She will do anything when they are involved, whether it's advisable or not.

 

I do like the baskets with burlap ribbon and will hopefully remember this next year. I wonder if wrapping a strip around the galvanized pieces would look odd.  Since there are four large ones, I'm thinking it would.

 

 

If you look closely, you will see a pair of moccasins outside the door.  They weren't a part of the plan, but Bud decided to let loose an entire day's worth of wetness at our front door.  Inside.  For some reason, litter boxes are not his thing and I can't trust him since he roams.  Mark is not happy about his shoes!

 

 With hardwood floors and no way to prevent urine from seeping between boards, we really need to develop a plan.

 

Meanwhile, they enjoyed their Christmas.  Three brat cats.  I carefully touched Missy, and picked up Nitzy for a minute.  She flinched and pulled back, he looked like I was close to losing an eye.  Flea meds today if it rains, otherwise they won't come in.

 

And I found the biggest bags EVER at the $ store.  They're huge!  So much easier to transport the kids' gifts.  I used to wrap but really, do they care?  Nope.  Just get to the gift as soon as possible.  I bought several for next year since they are the only I've seen this size.  There's three pair of boots in boxes, a pair of jeans, and pajama pants in this bag!  I sure do miss all the stores that closed locally, really limited options now.

 

 

 So relieved the headache is gone. I plan to relax and do a little shopping this week.  Maybe I will get back to the sampler I started.  Where the hell is it?

 

Thanks for visiting!

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