Yup. Works as a cane in a pinch, too. Good for fishing anything with a strap or handle out of water or down from a high shelf. Must be kept away from dogs, though, cuz they will chew on it.

My metric for "hard frost" is the catalpa trees. We have three of them. Usually the first night with below freezing temps makes them jettison all their leaves at once, still green. They never color up. This morning they are still holding on, though looking a bit wilted. Other color went last week.

But I need to find my shepherd's crook for reaching across under him to grab those bands... We don't have sheep any more, but the crook still hangs around 15 years later.

Just crickets. But that's what I expected.

Yep. Most Walmart stores around here suffer from the same error. All the fabric is pre-cut into pieces no larger than 2 yards, mostly 1 yard. "You need 4 yards? Well just buy four 1 yard pieces." 🤔

I filled out their customer survey as best I could, telling them why this doesn't work. Hard to get it across in less than a thousand characters and I'm not sure they will get it. If you sew and are going to have to depend on Michael's, I urge you to put a word in there now.

They suggested I order from the website for delivery by mail. Went home, tried that. Unless your order exceeds $49, they charge shipping fees of $9.99! Fine print: they won't guarantee a single cut of fabric, but may send several smaller pieces. Fine for quilters, but not for clothing.

Looking for four yards of blue denim, I tried Michaels' web site. Yes they have it Closest store with stock is Crystal Lake. I was dubious but it is a 15 minute drive so I went to see. The store's stock of sewing fabric consisted of less than a dozen bolts of cloth. Denim yes, but only 2 yards.

Update: Governor of Illinois (my state) signed a new law last week that makes book bans illegal here. Some nearby states are not so lucky, though.

It's always lunchtime somewhere. 🤗

I have been spoiled by the precooked rice in sealed packets. Goes in the microwave for 90 seconds and you eat it. Cooking for two, no pot to wash. (Yes, I'm growing lazy as I get older.)

Depends on the design of the rice cooker and the kind of rice. In ours, medium grain rice will often stick to the cooking vessel unless the water is already in motion.

Toe soup! Doggy favorite, right after bird bath water: "Ares! Don't drink that, you could get bird flu."

"But Dad, you know I love birdseed and feathers... Smells so good."

Sounds like WEIRD water to me. Probably should not be drunk by anyone. 😋

I'd much rather hear you read any day. Stuff getting blown up? Leaves me cold.