This evening the air currents must have changed direction.
The smoke got so much thinner and I actually saw some BLUE SKY!!!
At 8pm a tiny breeze started up.
All today there was no air movement.
So thankful for this little break from that thick brown smoke.
California is still on fire but they may get some rain tomorrow.
Unfortunately that may come with more lightening.

Hi CriticalMass
Wishing Bunny Girl feels better very soon.🐰

Your Petunias are so lovely and such a variety of colors and shades. 🌺

WOW! a toaster convection oven!
Hope that inspires you two to prepare healthy gourmet meals all the time. 🥘🍲🍷

YEA! for getting the computer back up task done.
WTG! for keeping at it all that time. 🖥

Soon I will go outside and water the garden.
There is no breeze at all so it's still too hot. 😛

Poor Scooter, and Tillie, and poor people where those fires are and wherever the effects are being felt.

This, I hope, will be my last hurry hurry post for awhile. Because some things are resolving themselves.

My girl bunny is a little under the weather but not seriously I hope. She will eat hay but not her kibble or veggies. Yet she fights like a velociraptor if I try to hand feed her the sick bunny hay mush food. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

We got the microwave running fine. I checked the GFCI but actually what had happened was there was a grounded plug that my roommate forgot on the wall closer to the microwave cart, so that was the one to use. It was hard to reach, so I think she just didn't get the plug all the way in at first.

Not only that - but as we were looking at the microwaves she had gotten interested in those larger toaster convection ovens, and yesterday we ended up going back to purchase one of those to replace the small toaster oven! It's going to open up new possibilities.

And just now I was finally getting the backup from the computer external hard drive task completed after several days of trying. What a relief!

So, some logjams clearing away, and the prospect of much progress ahead, just got to get miss bunny back to normal.

Mornin... 🥱

Very quiet out there.
Not even the birds are making any sounds.

There are 560 fires burning in California.
At least another week of smoke coming my way.

Scooter is either very depressed or not feeling well, maybe both. He doesn't want to play with the toys and spends lots of time in the corner.
His eyes are very sore.

Laundry pile is growing taller.
But the kitchen is still clean.

At least it's been cooling off over night.
A pleasant 70F degrees in here at 8:45am. 😉

Good Afternoon Everyone

I washed dishes and cleaned up the kitchen.
All animals have fresh water in clean bowls.

At 3:30pm I peaked out at the thermometer and it's 104F. 😛

No wonder it's a little bit warm in here 76F degrees
but that's still a really good temperature. 😀

House is all dark with the heavy insulated drapes closed.
Windows are all closed tight keeping smoke out.
The cats are all sleeping.

Will lay low in here until it cools down out there. 😉

Good Morning Everybody
"Clink!"

Sure Tatoulia!
I have the ice cold pitcher right here.
And the deviled eggs are so good too. 🙂

No wonder you thought it was Marty since he became so sickly and I was always nursing him near the end.

So nice that you have cooler days mixed with the hot days.
You get a break and get your energy back up.

WAY TO GO!
Letting go of those books is so wonderful!
Things like that can be so hard and now you have changed so much you could do it so easily! (((HUG)))

So sweet of you to gift the ladies with pretty fashionable tote bags.
YEA! for continuing to fill donate bags too!

I'm sure you already have the perfect purse to start using.
When I don't have to drive or need a purse for my wallet and shopping list I really enjoy not carrying a purse. 😀
I only have one purse, a handmade tooled leather one I bought from the Guy who made it back in the late 1970s.

There is a thick smoke weather/health alert for the next 24 hours.
I sound like a virus victim with the horrible way I am coughing.
Glad I don't have to go out in public and scare everyone.
But they are all probably coughing too.
The high dry heat and heavy smoke is making me so weak and tired.
Praying for rain.
Roku is heaven sent to help pass the time until Autumn.
No ambitious plans until sundown when I will water the grass.

Tillie deviled eggs sound so delicious! What a treat! Oour me a glass of iced tea if you don't mind!

I had the wrong cat! Poor Scooter. You are so good to him, soothing his eyes.

It's amazing how much better I feel without that pathetic eyesore of a printer. I feel so much better!

Our heat will be creeping back up today. That's okay. I enjoyed our cooler days and am grateful for them,

I need to get to goodwill to this weekend, I went through two boxes of books in BF's basement, They are books from my childhood with an overarching theme of cats. Little golden books and others. I didn't even keep one, They are in the car now and ready to be donated. About five years ago, I went through the box and was having problems. So he brought up a box and it took me not even four minutes. Then he brought another one up and that took even less time, so I need to donate those ASAP. They are in my car. I'll carrying the clothes up today too.

I had ordered tote bags for a couple of the neighborhood ladies who sit outside and watch the world go by, I dropped them off at one lady's house last night. She'll be stoop sitting with the other lady tonight so they'll have their tote bags. They had admired my tote bag and when I told them that the artist had redone them in a more inclusive fashion by using a dark skinned woman figure, I asked them if I could treat them to the tote bags. So that was great fun, I like the dark skinned woman version better but alas I need no more tote bags so I will enjoy my original one til it's time to pass it along.

I have two other tote bags to wash and donate in my batch of things. I'm going to have to start carrying a purse again. I need to up my game. I'll feel better.

Okay back to work. Today started with a 9 AM meeting.

Hi Tatoulia

WAY TO GO! with laundry and mailing packages and working on another donation bag!

Amazing on how just removing an eyesore can improve outlooks so much.

Marty had healthy eyes.
It's Scooter who has the weak sickly eyes and they are looking so painful today.
I soothe them with a cool wet washcloth and he just lays there appreciating it.
He has been keeping his eyes closed as much as possible, cuddling and napping.

Have fun doing your laundry 😀
Mine is starting to pile up because I won't hang it out in the smoke.
I'm really looking forward to when I can freshen up my blanket.
Sharing the blanket with Scooter every night it needs regular washing. 😾

I made deviled eggs using up my last 7 eggs.
Then I decided I needed to eat so had an English muffin.
Need to brew more raspberry zinger tea with some fresh squeezed lemon now.
So refreshing ;D

I thought I had posted earlier today but apparently I had not. Probably something I started but didn't finish.

Am doing a bit of laundry now. Sheets. Good to get those done. I do love my new washer.

SubC glad that you have been able to work things out so that you won't have to lose out on seeing the baby!

Cm good luck with the microwave.

So I am keeping up with things pretty well right now. I took a package to ups to send off and I'm making another bag of donations. I might run the donations up to the car tonight.

I'm doing better these days, which I completely attribute to having the printer out of my way.

Tillie, I remember how you used to take care of Marty's eyes with the smoke and fire.

Good Afternoon Subclinical

So happy your Dd's talked things over!
I do understand the in-laws coming being a downer.
At least they will have the RV.

WAY TO GO! for all those beans dehydrating and icecream mix cooling.

LOL yes, company coming we need to remember to dress adequately. 😀

Goats are the best way to control weeds and grasses.
Would be nice if people returned to simpler solutions and away from damaging chemical use.

After the final late Autumn cutting of the alfalfa here the ranchers/farmers fill the fields with cattle who munch the alfalfa down, churn up the soil with their hooves and drop fertilizer all around.

Fed cats & refilled water bowls.
Haven't done much else.
Have the house all buttoned up tight and drapes shut.
2pm so I guess I will get moving now. 😉

Good afternoon!

A thought on that outlet - is it connected to a gfci? The old microwave might have tripped it when it caught fire.

I love the rain garden idea. - someday. I do not have the time and energy right now.

I have been watching videos on no till and regenerative forestry using goats while I worked in the kitchen today. I have the dehydrator running nearly full of beans (my steamer doesn't blanch quite enough to fill it in one go) and ice cream mix cooling in the fridge.

The dishwasher is running for the second time, but the house is still a mess.

Dh made me cry not on purpose this morning and I think he understands better Now. Then apparently Dd1 had a long discussion with Dd2, and Dd2 called me and I think we are all understanding each other better now. Still not looking forward to my inlaws. But I will try to focus on things I can enjoy this weekend.

Oops - gotta go start a wash! I just remembered I need clean shorts without holes in them for the next three days!

Good Morning Everyone
Cough cough cough...

Hi Subclinical
That rain garden workshop sounds very interesting.
After being in a major flood in the San Francisco bay area I always make sure I live on high enough ground to never flood again.

So very sorry you have to worry about Dh social distancing.
Breaks my heart to think you may have to quarantine away from Bean. (((HUG)))

Really hope Dh wakes up and realizes his actions affect everyone.

Hi CriticalMass
Have you been resting your eyes away from computer screens? 😀

That's unsettling, a flame in the microwave.
One night Steven was heating his dinner and the microwave blew up.
Actually went BANG! and blew up with sparks and smoke.

Your new microwave problem could possibly just be that outlet.
The old microwave may have burned it out.
Replacing an outlet is a very easy fix, I could do it for you.
Light switches and outlets DO wear out over time and need replacing.

I must have been exhausted cause I slept until 10:30am.
The smoke rolled back in and the air is a thick brown haze again.
Absolutely no plans until sundown when I need to water the garden.

A positive spin on all the choking smoke...
everybody is forced to stay inside so maybe the virus spread will be greatly reduced.
Quarantining away from the smoke is something people do willingly.
Quarantining away from a microscopic virus is something they argue against.

Welp.

Got the new microwave home, roommate plugged it in, and said the cord had no power. So now we're troubleshooting. But she got called to go online for her work suddenly so it's all on hold. Sigh.

I pray we don't have electrical problems. We don't need that kind of hassle right now. Hopefully it's just something with the cord not being plugged in properly. I hope.

Hi

Quick quick update

Yesterday roommate had a doctor appt which gave some info that will shape a surgery decision but there is another doctor to see before things will get firmed up.

Last night the microwave had flame in it so today we will get a new one. We're just fussy that way.

I have a computer thing I may need to go to the library to do so I've been checking if it will be safe.

I'll get the backlog of your posts read soon and make a more detailed one.

Good morning.

I can't imagine living in a place where fire is basically part of the weather. I just got an email from the soil and water conservation district alerting me to a free rain garden workshop. They want to help people capture and slow the runoff to avoid erosion and flooding.

I grew up in a coastal area. I understand flooding. My home is on high ground. (Which doesn't mean the basement never floods - it has.)

I've seen a house burn, it was awing. I've seen a field burnt on purpose. I can't imagine even dozens of acres burning at once.

I have to clean up the house today.

Dd and I are both stressed about this weekend. She more than I. If Dh doesn't keep his distance from dd2 properly, I won't be able to go back and see the baby for two weeks.

This is going to be very stressful and no fun at all.

(((((HUGS))))) Tatoulia
Thank you for worrying about me and the cats. 🙂

We will be alright.
The evaporative cooler filters the incoming air through the wet excelsior pads and reduces the indoor smoke, making it more bearable.

Northern California is burning.
Videos are terrifying.
People we know are losing their homes and cats.

The smoke here is irritating but knowing why is depressing.
Compared to their problems, mine are so small.

Just took a refreshing shower and the cooler blowing on my wet hair feels so good. 🙂

Tillie I am worried for you and the cats. Is there anything at all that I can do for you? I know how you are self sufficient but of course I need to worry. I'm good at worrying.

Looked at a map of wildfires and there are so many burning in northern California right now.
There is one active fire in Nevada to the East of me and another one farther away to the West.
The air is so thick with smoke coming in from the West.
My eyes hurt.
It's dark outside with a creepy looking orange sun that you can just look straight at without burning out your eyeballs.

Hope you are having a very nice restful nap with no bad dreams and with a Kitty napping with you.

YEA! for your 30 seconds of big rain drops!
You officially got more rain than I've gotten all Summer. 🙁

The smoke has gotten much thicker here.
Cough, cough, cough...........
Too dangerous to be outside for more than a few quick minutes with the smoke & heat.
Really hoping the wind can start this evening and help clear out the air so I can get out and water.
Tonight the grass is scheduled for watering.

As soon as our work happy hour is over, I need to take a nap. We had big raindrops for all of 30 seconds here,

Good Afternoon Everyone

Hi Tatoulia
YEA! for the cleaning Fairies!!!
Another fresh clean start every time they come. 🏰

So wonderful moving the printer is not a big long drawn out ordeal to get out & put back. 😊

The "secret" to storing anything is to make it as easy as possible to get out to use and easy to put back when done. 🧚‍♀️

That spitting rain is kinda annoying.
Have the hose slowly watering a tree.
Fed lots of cats canned food breakfast but they are lying that I didn't.
Been tidying up a bit and keeping up with washing dishes to keep the sink area clear.
Having some coughing fits due to the poor air quality.
They have issued another warning about excessive heat danger.
So I am staying inside with the cooler running, cats and birds have lots of fresh water.
Later taters 🥔

SubC! Congratulations on your 30 year anniversary! So happy for you! I love your celebration! Sounds like great fun. I used to have a girlfriend who would go to a McDonald's drive-thru to christen her new care. I got to go once!

Cleaners have come and gone. The doctors are out of town so when she went upstairs to clean their house, I gave her their bag of mail and packages. So happy with the printer being out of my way. And it took under 30 seconds to put it back. What an absolute relief.

Okay back to work. It's spitting rain here. Nothing to write home about.

Good Morning Everybody

It's been a nice cool morning 72F.
9am and starting to warm up quickly.

Lots of thin smoke in the air making the sunshine look all yellow orange.

Plans for today?
Guess just do stuff as I go.🐰

Good Evening Everybody

Congratulations Subclinical on 30 years! 💞

Yes, you do always seem to think you won't be able to manage doing all the things you need to do but then you always find that you can. 🌹

You do good with time management when it comes to teaching and animal care.

The jelly beans are in a post Tatoulia wrote in Lizzie's thread that is just below this thread.

Riding in the new truck, burritos and chili spaghetti...
I love it! 🌯🍝❤

Hi Tatoulia
I do remember you let go of a lot of nice boxes and bags.
So very happy you are enjoying that freeing feeling and are keeping up with repurposing them and sending them on to others.
So sweet of you to gift someone with a dollhouse table! 🏠

I have some wood glue but I like the wood hot glue sticks too.
Sets fast so I don't have to "clamp" pieces together for 24 hours.

When cats are homeless, feral, their fur is not soft.
It's bristly. But after a while inside some cats fur changes and is soft & fluffy.
I have noticed that petting helps the fur soften and get shiny.

Glad you are taking your attorneys advice and pleading the fifth. 😉

Glad you have BF to look out after you and that he has you to look out after him.❤

Got the lilacs and garden watered tonight.
So much easier only going out when the sun is almost set.
The heat generated big gray clouds again and there was a tiny bit of "spitting" rain.
Drops smaller than rain drops and you wonder if it really is kinda sorta raining.
Even Cowgirl Kitty wasn't sure if it was rain or not cause nothing got wet.

Tillie I know the box thing. Remember so long ago when I got rid of all the boxes I was keeping? Boxes and bags from Filenes and Marshall Field and Jordan Marsh and all the other places no longer in existence. It was so freeing, getting rid of the boxes including the cute ones. Now if I do get a cute box, I have to use it immediately and by use it I mean, put something in it that I am giving away. I had a very dear box that my botanical postcards came in. Today I mailed a piece of dollhouse furniture in it to a friend. Otherwise I would've tossed it. But it was the perfect size and sturdiness. It is so great to be capable to do get rid of the cute boxes.

I ran to the post office at 5:40 so I could mail my paper shredding to the office and I also mailed the dollhouse table. I have put away the printer and I am truly excited about how easy this is. I use the new nesting tables and it is working out just fine.

I haven't found a home for the tables so they are in front of the fireplace and they look really pretty. I need to buy some wood glue to fix. I had to run out to get BF's lunch today and although pleasant outside, the sunshine was strong and a bit uncomfortable so I didn't want to go to the hardware store. He's basically the only employee right now so I'm going to have to go on his bank accounts to do some work transactions for him. And I don't mind getting his lunches it's a small way to stay close in a time where we really aren't spending any quality time together. We are actually secretly glad that his full time employee left. BF has seemed so much more relaxed. Another of his employees will be going to a four year school and living with his friend's parents. He just finished his associates degree and his friend's parents are helping him with college. I'm so happy for him. He is decent and kind and we've known him since he was a kid. So he won't be able to come each night since he'll be living in the suburbs. So we have one young woman who can't really work on her own and one neighborhood kid who helps during the day. This will end once school starts again.

Gee whiz Tillie I am worried about your drought and high temps. Not a good combination.

I'm glad Jack's fur is better. Mom's cat had fur like bristles when we got her, poor thing. Now she's all soft and sweet. Although she has pretty big mitts, she hasn't grown much in the year that we've had her. She's filled out and looking nourished. On the advice of my attorney, I can neither confirm nor deny that I snuck in and saw mom and the cat last night.

Off to bed. Cleaners come tomorrow but the city has resumed ticketing for street cleaning so I've asked them to come later in the day so they have a better shot at parking.

Shout out to Joan, CM and SubC.

I do not understand about the jelly beans. Did I miss something?

Sorry about the ginger.🐈

Tatoulia, I hope the printer solution works smoothly.

Very busy lately. I don't know how I am going to add school back in. I can't keep up with everything now. But somehow I think I always feel this way and it works out more or less.

Dh and I have been married 30 years.

We had a redneck celebration and drove the new truck through the pick up window to get burritos and chili spaghetti.

Tatoulia
I had to chuckle about the bag of jelly beans taped to the chocolate bunny.

Yes, so much is pretty and useful and could come in handy.

Steven hoards boxes, bins, bags, jars, cans, containers......
Anything that something could be stored in.
Even the small prescription pill bottles and even smaller containers.

When he does use any containers he fills them with non sorted out random items then labels it "STUFF".
Then he always complains that he can't find anything and ends up dumping out containers looking for something and doesn't put the stuff back from where it came from.

I have to be extremely careful to keep him from seeing what I have deemed to be trash and have thrown out.
But he digs through the garbage.
So I must break jars and smush or otherwise completely destroy anything I put in the trash.
He is not discouraged by litter box scoopings.

Good Morning Everyone 🌞

Hi Tatoulia
So many thousands of people will be ecstatic when they can get all that office/work stuff out of their homes and get their homes back to just being home.

Well I must admit that Jack's fur has been improving a lot.
His coat is thicker and shinier.

Today's temps will be well over 100F.
Looking at the extended weather forecast makes me want to puke. 🥵
This is so not normal, this time of year we should be cooler.
And the drought is just devastating.

The kitchen is clean, laundry is all done, house is tidied up.
Nothing pressing to do until evening when I'll venture out and water.
Thank heaven for WIFI and Roku to help keep my mind occupied and distracted.
Did a food inventory and won't have to grocery shop this week, YEA!
Currently there are 45 active cases of virus in the county but nobody needs hospitalization, yet.
Knowing that many people are not tested we can safely triple that number.
People are not getting tested unless it is a requirement or they are feeling very sickly or they are hypochondriacs. 🦕

The cat mint gives him the munchies.

Okay I'm working, Will let you know how it goes. Yes I am thrilled with the printer hidden. I am shocked to learn how much it was bothering me. In fact, one of the surveys from my office, discussing the return to work, asked what I was most looking forward to upon my return and I said seeing everyone and getting the printer out of my house,

Okay back to work.

Good Afternoon Everybody

Hi Tatoulia
YEA! for the PUPA! 😀

I think not having to see the printer in there all the time is worth the hassle of having to drag it out.
Seeing visual clutter all the time really does wear on us. (((HUG)))

The lightning storm had that lightning storm smell to it.
That heavy wet dusty scent.

Jack has a huge thick patch of catnip that he rolls around in every day.
Wish he would allow me a tiny bit of ginger plants.

Watching "On The Beach" on Youtube.
Old black & white movie but still good.