Morning Serenity!

Early morning weekend walks are the best!

Heading out just about sunrise is the ideal.  Before others are out walking or jogging or biking, and before there are many vehicles driving by.  Less noise, less exhaust, more peacefulness.

This time of year and with the temps warming up, the spring peepers were still singing!  Crows were cawing, woodpecker banging away and the geese honking.  Here are some pics of the wildlife not yet disturbed by the coming days hustle and bustle -

Turkey vulture -

Canadian Geese -

Red-tailed Hawk -

This is what looks to be a well worn and traveled path leading out of the marshy woods to the street.  Seems a "Deer Crossing" sign would be appropriate in this area - 

I also saw a good sized muskrat come out from the wetland and poke around along the sidewalk.  He was too fast for me, so no pic.  Sadly, the one pic I could get the following morning is not one anyone would want to see here, as the dude was run over in the street, alas.

People Just Suck

This is literally the shits!

I'm not going to get into a huge rant on this but suffice to say, at least in my opinion, this is an example of just how lazy and inconsiderate some people are today!  Your dog, your responsibilities, your shit!  Do the responsible and right thing and take care of disposing of it properly!  Why even bother picking the poop up in the first place if all you're going to do is leave in on the side of the sidewalk. C'mon, it's not like this fell out of the persons pocket right!

Fencing Sitting

I'm happy to report that the Blurbirds are back!

Well, they've actually been here all winter long, however, they're now actively in and out of the bird house that they've used the last several years. One of my favorites!

Spring Garden Prep Complete

I turned, by hand using a shovel and I'm feeling the soreness now, my large vegetable garden this afternoon!

It took a couple hours but super pleased it's done.

I wanted to get the winter rye turned under before it took off and got too long.  Also, the deer enjoyed dining on it and I do not want them thinking they're welcome to come back and continue.  Prolly should have chased them off from doing it in the first place, as they're now used to visiting and eating out of the garden, which will be a problem once I get my veggies planted.

One spring chore completed.

Brandy New H20

How's the old metaphor go, when it rains it pours!

I had my old water heater replaced this morning. It wasn't so much that I wanted to replace it, rather I needed to.  The old one started leaking and puddling on the basement floor a couple days ago.  Also, there was almost no hot water for my shower last night, so it was time. The old one was installed back in 2007 and lasted about 16 years, not too bad really.

Old -

New -

Expensive but one less thing I need to worry about.

Also, what a HUGE difference in just how hot the water is now!  The water coming out of the tap, whether in the kitchen faucet or the upstairs shower, is incredibly hot, SO much more than the old one and it comes out hotter faster!

#blessed

Civic Obligation My Ass!

It finally arrived last month, my jury duty summons, UGH!  Weird how things work somethings, as I was recently thinking about jury duty and feeling lucky to have not been summonsed in a while, DOH!

I don't recall for sure but believe it was early 2000 the last time I was called, and I hated it then too.

Frustratingly, the process is pretty much the same.  The court system and those associated with it tout about "your civic obligation", which is even seen stamped on the summons envelope below.  Sorry but to me when something is freely and often touted about how great and wonderful it is, and what an honor it is, blah blah blah, it looses it's meaning and shine. It's more of a huge inconvenience, that is disruptive to your regular day to day schedule. 

Truth be told, I have NO desire to serve and do NOT want to even be bothered with jury duty!

For such an honor, as it's touted, the court system here treat you like cattle.  Hurriedly rushing you through security to get you checked in, to only sit and wait in an over crowed room.  Yup, we had over 120 jurors summoned last Tuesday when I went.  Apparently, there were numerous cases on the docket.  Frustratingly, the room we were all kept in did NOT have enough chairs for everyone.  Some folks had to either stand or sit on the floor - your civic duty, HA!

Here are my top 3 issues - 

Issue # 1 - No Chance Of Covid When Fulfilling "Civic Obligation" -

Now lets talk about post-covid times.  I can't get into a hospital, my doctors office, my dentist office without needing to pre-screen for covid and when I arrive I must put on a provided mask and use hand sanitizer.  The waiting areas have plexiglass dividers between chairs.  Checking in there's plexiglass between you and the person checking you in.  All good best practices, agreed!?  NOT the court system though!  We were all sitting shoulder to shoulder with not a divider or separator to be seen and all in an overcrowded room.  Apparently covid doesn't strike those that are fulfilling your civic obligation so no worries there, no sir!

Issue # 2 - NO Wi-Fi

It was made perfectly clear there was NO wi-fi provided by the court system!  So, sitting inside a 100+ year old concrete building most had no Internet connection unless you were lucky enough to be near a window and even then it was spotty.  You would think with how disruptive jury duty is to most, and with how technology has improved over the years, that the court system would have dedicated wi-fi available to those fulfilling their "civic obligation", no sir!

Issue # 3 - Hurry Up And Wait!

Sitting and waiting, that's what jury duty is about. Rush everyone there first thing in the mornings...to sit and wait.  Rush everyone to return promptly from lunch...to sit and wait.  There was one case that was delayed due to one of the participants "running late", hmm, so inconvenience over 100 jurors for one person, shameful...to sit and wait.

Finally got called into a court room for potential selection on a first degree murder trial, that was anticipated to run 3-4 weeks...to sit and wait.  The judge spoke to us all for close to an hour, providing an overview of the case, then asking questions about the case and whether we could all be fair and impartial.  Those of us who raised our juror cards (kinda like placing a bid at an auction), had our number read aloud for judge to jot down.  After this process was completed and we all filled out the case survey form, the judge was to meet with each person, who raised their card, individually...to sit and wait.

At 3:30 the remaining 8 of us jurors we fortunately dismissed without even needing to talk to the judge, YIPEE! A very long day of siting and waiting and all to fulfill my civic duty.  Good news is I've met my civic obligation and safe from being summonsed again for the next 3-years.  

**UPDATE: By the way, here is the case I was being considered for!  This is a Patriot Ledger article that was published online on 3/22/2023.  Looks like the trial lasted 2-weeks and went to juror deliberations this afternoon, Wednesday - 

Jurors deliberating in case of Quincy woman accused of killing baby niece

Had A Hanker'n

BURP!

Too Fresh And Clean...

I put all the dog and cat blankets, bedding, toys, bandanas and beds in the washing machine on Thursday.  Everything is now nice and clean, and it all smells fresh too!

Here it is Sunday and Oliver, who can typically be found sleeping in the pictured crate, has yet to set one paw in it since being cleaned.  He sits and curls up on the rug just in front of the door to go in

 He did the same thing with his scratching post, which has a bed a top of it. I have the unit by a window and it's tall enough that when he's in it he can see outside and he was always in it. The unit is all covered with rug and he used to love to sleep in it but months ago when I had the rug cleaner out, I used it to also clean his scratching post and bed, and I have NOT seen him in it since.

He's such an odd ball!

Deer Deer Deer Deer

Yesterday mornings visitors!

Mixed emotions if I'm being honest.  On one hand it's nice to see they survived the winter and I do enjoy watching them,  However, on the other hand, and with spring and gardening season upon us, I was hoping Mother Nature would have been a bit tougher on them. One deer alone can do quite a bit of damage to new and tasty perennials popping up, so image when these four will do, UGH!

I watched these four for a bit but then Trixie and I ran them off and with their white tails high in the air boy did they bolt.

On A Grisham Kick

Just started my 10th John Grisham novel, The Reckoning.

I've read the 9 books below since Novemberish.  I'm much more productive since I cancelled cable!  Instead of getting sucked into watching some foolish show or sitcom or even a movie I've seen dozens of times, I pick up a book.  I'm wicked smahta and betta edjeumakated now too.

They're easy to get hooked on and before you know it, I'm onto the next book.

As I whittle away at these Grisham books, I need to give some thought as to what author I'd like to read next?!?!

Sushi It's What's For Dinner!

I am new to the sushi thing, so still working on figuring it all out, e.g. cooked vs raw, what's what, soy sauce vs wasabi, fork vs chopsticks, etc. However, I'm finding that the more I eat and try, the more I'm enjoy it!

I've missed a lot of really good food over the years. In hindsight and with my blinders off I wish I wasn't SO fussy but now enjoying making up for it.

More Yummy Beef Stews!

A couple more crockpot adventures I made the past couple of weeks!

A couple beef based and both with the same litany of fresh veggies, and one pork loin.  However, I used different sauces to marinate the meat and cook the concoction in!

A honey bourbon sauce - 

A sesame ginger sauce -

A teriyaki -

All three were delicious!

Bed Upgrade!

Ms. Trixie approves her new bed!

Smaller than her other bed, which fits her just fine.  Has a thicker lining, since the homeowner rarely turns up the heat and higher sides for her to snuggle against.

I Choose To Smile!

This saying resonates with me, but let me be crystal clear, I read and interpret this in reference to loved ones who have passed.

It has NOTHING to do with unfaithful ex-spouses who cheated and lied and pretended and schemed!

A Heavenly BDay

 Happy Birthday Dad!

Miss you

🎂

From A Time Gone By

Check out these neat, vintage metal transmission fluid cans.  Both are full, sealed and in great condition -

Quaker State automatic transmission fluid

Route 55 ATF automatic transmission fluid

 

Getting My Shine On!

What a difference a couple of hours work, some polish and elbow grease makes!

C'mon Spring

We avoided snow and the real winter all season long, have been fortunate.  However, here it is early March and we're getting our second snowfall within a couple days of each other.  Again, we've been fortunate, the snowfall totals have been minimal with really no need to plow or use the snow blower or shovel.