Have a day.
November 2005 Archives
Have a day.
If you have high speed internet, this is worth seeing. It will take a minute or two to download. It is an extended Sony Bravia commercial. To demonstrate their high-resolution imagery, 250,000 brightly-colored rubber balls were released to bounce down a street of San Francisco. It is set to music and I think it is such a neat concept.
Katrina obviously couldn't read.
Taken at Janine and Michael's place Thanksgiving Day.
It was another great Thanksgiving at Janine and Michael's.
I've made another web page for posting pictures to the blog. Some of the screen saves didn't turn out the way I wanted them to but I think you'll get it, anyway. I hope this page helps better than the last one did. If you have successfully posted pictures to the blog, please look and see if I've missed anything that might have made it a bit more helpful to you when you were trying to figure it out. For those delving into it for the first time, please don't hesitate to ask.
Happy Thanksgiving to one and all! I did my food prep last night so I can have a morning of relaxation and pet care. A bath for Miss Daisy before we go to Joan's for dinner and cage cleaning for the parakeets. They're both moulting so I guess a quick vac is needed also.
This year I was in charge of the cranberry/orange relish, cherry chiffon and three pies. I made Pumpkin, Apple and Turtle. I cheated with the apple pie because my apple peeler/corer/slicer died on me. I admit it, I used canned apples but doctored them up so maybe noone will notice? We'll be a small group at Joan's this year. The 4 of us plus Mom and Joan, Ed, Mark and Mark's girlfriend Colleen. Beth has to be to work at 5 a.m. on Friday and this year wants to take it easy on herself so she's staying home. Mike and his family rotate years between Joan's and Jodi's sister's home.
Joan has Grandma & Grandpa Tompkins' old dining room table and buffet. I wonder how many Thanksgiving dinners it has had laid upon it? Aunt Ginnie, do you remember what year they bought it?
Samuel is 9 months old today. He's such a big boy! He finally has two teeth and is doing so many new things.
Joey will be deer hunting this entire weekend. He'll leave early Friday morning and be back late on Sunday. He attempted duck hunting last week, but was unable to get to his duck ponds because all of the canals were blocked by debris from the storm.
I have to make a small correction to yesterday's entry. I asked Lois the price of her Amtrak ticket and she told me it was $35. So. An even bigger bargain than I thought.
I saw the city and now I won't need to see it again for a long time. Very sad. Very depressing. We took a route that had a major detour and took us through a part of town I may have never seen before, and it was just awful. There are no traffic signals, only STOP signs that have been hurriedly set up at most intersections. We drove around and under all those overpasses that three months ago were shown on television with thousands of people gathered to avoid the flood waters below. Actually seeing with your own eyes is SO different from looking at a picture.
We loved the ambience and service at The Bourbon House, but proclaimed the food good but nothing special. We decided -- for the hundredth time I guess -- that we'll have to do it again. There are so many wonderful restaurants here and we owe it to all of them to give them our patronage. Especially now when it's make or break time. If they'd only ALL reopen. And they will. It's just taking time. Besides, we're not in any hurry. We can go in January or February or July, even.
This morning I'm taking the girls to the beauty parlor. They're going to be house guests, along with me, at Katie's tomorrow. I'll probably take a bath of my own before I head out in the morning. Turkey is being served at Janine's for all Ferraras, and I believe some extra faces will be there too.
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone.
I'm working on getting my house ready for company and listening to XM radio on satelite. I absolutely love it! Here in the New Orleans area we don't have any decent radio stations. Hard to believe a city that bosts incredible music doesn't have a decent radio station, but it's true! And now, after Katrina it's even worse! We lost a few of the better stations to the storm. Kevin's work truck (which I drive when he's home) radio is stuck on some of the worse stations I've ever heard, and the scan button doesn't work. To my knowledge, no one in our family listens to those stations ever, so how the radio buttons got stuck on them I'll never know! I am the only one who ever has problems with that truck breaking down and now the radio, I do believe I have a poltergeist.
About XM, it is so great! We have always had music stations, but XM is new, and I'm thourougly enjoying it! Does anyone have the service on their car stereo? If so, how do you like it? Is it worth the service fees?
Then (February 2, 2005)
Now (November 22, 2005). After Hurricane Katrina.
The new facade came crashing down. It's in the front parking lot. Looks like it has been looted in addition to being flooded. Its not open and it looks to me like no one has started cleaning up or rebuilding. The water line is at about the four foot mark. You can't see it on this building but you can see it clearly on the houses and fences leading up to it.
Today I'm joining Chrisina as she takes her mother-in-law, Lois, to the train station. This is located in the CBD which I haven't seen since Katrina. Lois is taking Amtrak to Jackson, Mississippi, a three-hour, 150 mile trip by automobile. Her round trip ticket is $38. Driving my car for 150 miles would run somewhere around $40-50, plus some wear and tear. I think it's a bargain. I wish I knew someone I could visit in Jackson, Mississippi. Christina made a reservation for lunch at the Brennan restaurant, The Bourbon House, on -- where else? -- Bourbon Street. From what I've heard, the time to see New Orleans is after dark because the no-lights are so telling that this is a city in trouble. During the day, it looks okay because there are people and businesses open and looking like a normal day. Maybe I'll do a follow-up report. Could anyone possibly be interested?
Taken Today Near City Park in New Orleans
Hello all! This is the only "turkey" walking around at my house. Thankfully, he's not as dumb as the turkeys you've described Rob, but he sure does love to make noise. Bark, bark, bark!
Hope you are all well and enjoying what's left of the fall. It's getting COLD here! Happy Thanksgiving!
Katie T.
'Twas the night before Katrina, when all thru the state
Not a gas pump was pumpin', not a store open late
All the plywood was hung, on the windows with care,
Knowing that a hurricane, soon would be there.
The children were ready, with their flashlight in hand
While rain bands from the hurricane, covered over our land
And mom with her Mag-lite, and me with my cap
Has just filled the bathtub, for flushing our crap.
When out on the lawn, there arose such a clatter
I sprang from the closet, to see what was the matter
The trees on the terrace, and the neighbor's roof torn
We feared we'd be dyin', in this terrible storm.
With a little wind gus, so lively and quick
I remembered quite clearly, our walls were not brick
More rapid than eagles, her courses they changed
And she whistled and wafted, and surged all the same.
Off shingles! Off sidings! Off rooftops! Off power!
Down trees! Down fences! Down trailers! Down towers!
On the street of New Orleans, she continued to maul
Screaming Blow away! Blow away! Blow away all!
As the wind ripped and tossed, the debris thru the sky,
I peeked out the shutters, at the cars floatin' by
So go to the attic, my family did do
With a portable radio, and some batteries too.
And the in a twinkling, I heard on the set
The end was not coming, for a few hours yet
As I calmed down the kids, and was turning around
Thru the window it came, with a huge crashing sound
A tree branch it was, all covered in soot
The wind blew it smack-dab, on top of my foot
A bundle of twigs, now lay in a stack
And my living room looked like, it was under attack.
The wind how it howled, the storm very scary
Myself and my family, were all too unwary
The dangers of hurricanes, are serious ya know
They're taken for granted, as Betsy did show.
With the winds dying down, and the danger beneath
I noticed my tool shed, was missing its sheath
So I grabbed my last tarp, and nailed it on down
Then got in my car, and drove into town.
The traffic was awful, and stores had no ice
My 5-gallon cooler, would have to suffice
Generators was scarce, not one left in town
There were trees on the roads, and power lines down.
FEMA was ready, with people to work
Electrical companies, came in from New York
I sprang to the car, gave my family a whistle
Then away we all went, like a Tomahawk missile.
You could hear us exclaim, as we drove out of sight
"To heck with this place, Texas seems just right!"
(Author unknown)
The turkey saga continues at CrabAppleLane:
This sight greeted me as I went for my second cup of coffee this morning.
Grill.........Turkeys............Grill............Turkeys. There’s a connection there but its just beyond my grasp. The male is puffing up to challenge me but he runs in the other direction if I move toward him. The female looks headless here. She’s looking right at me.
Have I mentioned that these birds are monumentally dumb? I said that the female was particularly dumb and annoying the other day. Her mate has been working extra hard at his dumbness and I think he has surpassed her, now. He’s trying to squeeze through the bars to get away from me rather than fly over the railing like his mate did. Patsy has named them Trisch and Troy but I think Dumb and Dumber might be more appropriate.
Have any faves?
The picture below was taken this morning.
When I bought these (I have two), I was under the impression that they were ground cover. Katie seems to think they're mums. They've been blooming for almost a month now. I like them but I don't remember what the store said they were but I think I would have remembered if it was some sort of mum. It does look like stuff I saw in Minneapolis and New England to me. Any ideas?
Readers who want to comment here or at any of the CrabAppleLane blogs are no longer required to preview their comments. That was an anti-spam measure that I hope is no longer required. It served us well but it was a bit of an obstacle and a delay. Most overcame it and I am grateful for that. We know we can go back to doing so if it turns out we have to at some future date. For now, enjoy the ease of use.
I was asked to post this recipe a few weeks ago. It’s my favorite salad. It’s from the restaurant Zea. I buy the jar of dressing occasionally, but I’ve eaten a similar salad at my friend’s house and she uses pepper jelly and makes her own dressing.
We had our roof finished last week. No telling when the inside repairs will begin. If I had to guess, they would start right before Christmas and ruin my anuual Bonco plans. My Bonco party will be on Dec. 23rd this year.
The link below is a tribute to the hurricane victims. The pictures are great, but I wish it could be slowed down a bit.
Zea Spinach Salad with Pepper Jelly Vinaigrette dressing
6 oz. baby spinach
1/3 cup pepper jelly vinaigrette
2 tbsp. Sundried tomatoes
2 tbsp. Golden raisins
4 calamata olives
2 tbsp. Roasted pecans
¼ cup blue cheese crumbles
serves 2-4
I sat with Kevin a few miutes ago and watched him load the last entry. Janine was very instrumental in assisting us to finally figure out how to post multiple pictures. So after Kevin had his fun, I decided to give it a try.
These are pictures of the Bluff Top Bed and Breakfast, in Natchez, MS. It's a beautiful house that overlooks the Mississippi River. We had such a lovely time! The first morning there were two other couples there that were also celebrating anniversaries. And if that wasn't enough to indicate what a small world it is, one of the men was a childhood friend of a friend and co worker of Kevin's. And, the woman from the other couple, did some temp work for Kevin's company. I thouroughly enjoyed the weekend and would love to go back!
Here's what Mom's had to deal with since Katrina. Now she's just stumped.
We celebrated our 23rd at a B&B in Natchez, MS. Mom stayed with Lars and Amy for the weekend (happy birthday Mom and thanks a lot). The picture was taken in the Quitman Lounge at Monmouth Plantation where we had dinner Sunday night.
I'm certain some of us are going this weekend. You?
Happy Birthday, Mom
Have a great day.
Love,
Robbie
I was looking through the box for something else and stumbled across this one. I don't know who took it (Probably me) and I don't remember the event. Maybe one of the radio girls or Mom can help? Neither one of them look all that happy. Did someone tell them they couldn't play their loud rock music in the house?
I finally got my phone back this past Monday. I have been making up for lost time, yet I haven’t been motivated to check the blog yet due to this very slow computer and the lack of patience to sit here and wait five minutes after hitting “enter” to get the next page I am looking for. I persevere. Plus, when Mom asks if I have seen the blog so she can discuss the particulars, I will be informed and conversational.
Every day is a new day. This one has the ear-markings of a great one. The weather is gorgeous, the birdfeeders are full, and the lawnmower cart is loaded and ready to be hauled to the street. The debris is infinite and we wish to get as much of it as possible out to the street for the final pick-up. I hope they don’t hit our phone lines again. I had a phone a couple of weeks ago for approx. 2 hours before a debris truck snapped the line. It was most frustrating.
I am going to have to lock Chip up so he doesn’t follow me onto the highway. He scares me. Last time I went out there, I had to throw a stick for him to get off the street because he didn’t seem to notice the big, fat truck barreling down. He doesn’t listen very well to my commands, but throw him a stick (or anything else) and he is powerless to do anything else but retrieve. I wish someone would train him to do other things.
Halloween night at Elizabeth's.
Julia is on the left. I took this of her and her friend right behind one of our sheds. One used to be able to park where they are standing.
This tree hung perilously in the balance until Michael got help from a friend and a winch. It was threatening to come down on my kitchen.
I am standing atop a layer of downed trees and looking to my right. My kitchen window is just 20 feet from this mess. It is the view from my windows.
Sometimes nature is cruel but there is also a beauty in that cruelty.
The crocodile, as one of the ultimate predators, can fall victim to the kind of implemented 'team work' strategy, which is possible due to the pack mentality and social structure of canines.
See the attached and remarkable photograph courtesy of Nature Magazine
- but not if you're squeamish!
Continue reading Pack of dogs savage crocodile in Florida.
| You Passed the US Citizenship Test |
 |
Give it a go.
This is a picture of Patsy's mother. Notice the resemblance? If that was first grade, that picture is from 1936 or thereabouts. I can't imagine what Norco looked like in the 1930s but it looked 30-40 years behind the times when I used to ride my bike to it in the 1970s. That picture looks like its from another century. I love it.
Well, my big pecan tree is out of my yard. Not the root ball. That requires a different piece of equipment and a different crew with a different set of skills. They will show up in a few days or weeks. The young men closed off my street in order to accommodate their super-sized equipment and set to work. It was a pretty amazing display of hard work. They cut the tree into 3-foot pieces and then with the giant crane, lifted the pieces to my front yard where the bobcat waited. He scooped everything up and hauled it ACROSS THE STREET to my neighbor's public access (the space between the street and his yard). The pile is tremedous and blocks his "for sale" sign. He came to my front door last night and asked me -- with a sweet smile never leaving his face -- to call Express Tree Service and have them come to remove all of the tree to my front yard where it belongs. He has consulted with them; he has called his lawyer, and now he's ready to call the police and get them involved. I talked to Express Tree Service this morning and was told that the material is legal where it is and that it will be picked up by FEMA as soon as they can get to it. Since FEMA has already cleared my street twice, I fear it may be some time before they get here, and I asked Express to see if it could be expedited or could they come back and put it on my property? That would be all right with me and I do sort of agree with the fellow that it should be here and not there. Except that when it was being done, the logistics dictated that it be dealt with as it was. If they set those huge pieces of trunk in front of my house, there would be no maneuverability for the bobcat to pick up more. Going across the street was the only thing to do, but it did embarrass me a little. I wasn't prepared for his smiley face last night though.
Today Angela and I are going across the lake to have a picnic lunch at Janine's. Elizabeth can't come because Polina came down with a fever yesterday. No other symptoms and today she's feeling fine and getting into things but she believes in waiting 24 hours for the fever to be normal before resuming social activity. Katie will meet us there. Today is half-day at school, so Aaron and Julia will be home and maybe Amy will come with Katie. I'm sure Lars has either work (McDonald's) or something more interesting than picnicking with children and elders. Isn't he 17 though?
And that's my Friday, November 4. A beautiful fall day. If we were anywhere near normal down here, I'd say come for a visit.
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