Sometimes I can’t help but share funny cat things.
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And while that made me smile, this next one might actually help Mark whose cats have taken a sudden dislike of each other.
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Odd, but I figure it’s worth a try.
The next photo belongs to a friend who has horses. She got a few goats as stablemates and then a few mini trampolines because goats like to jump.
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Seems they also like to lay in the sun on individual bouncy beds.
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I do remember that. And curse myself for getting rid of the almond Montgomery Ward refrigerator that dominated our kitchen when we moved in. There was nothing wrong with that vintage fridge, I just wanted something newer and prettier.
It’s been over twenty years now and we’ve had to buy an expensive new replacement every 5 years.
Somewhere in Maine… that ugly Montgomery Ward is laughing. And probably still running like a fine Swiss watch.
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Another one for Mark because summer is right around the corner.
Our grey squirrels are determined fellows. As evidenced by the never give up attitude of this little guy during a recent rainy morning attempt at reaching the bird feeder.
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Wet poles be slippery.
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If you like shrimp?
Give this recipe a try.
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In a large stainless steel skillet over medium heat, melt 1 Tbsp. butter. Pat shrimp dry; season all over with Old Bay.
Arrange shrimp in a single layer in skillet and cook, turning halfway through, until translucent, about 1 minute per side. Transfer to a plate.
In same skillet over medium heat, melt remaining 1 Tbsp. butter. Add shallot and cook, stirring occasionally, until beginning to soften, 2 to 3 minutes .
Add garlic and red pepper flakes and cook, stirring, until garlic is fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes.
Add wine to deglaze skillet, scraping up any browned bits, and cook, stirring, until liquid is almost completely evaporated,
Stir in broth and bring to a boil over high heat.
Stir in orzo and return to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low to maintain a simmer and cook, stirring frequently, until orzo has absorbed most of the broth and is almost cooked through,
Add cream and cook, stirring frequently, until slightly thickened and reduced,
Return shrimp to skillet along with any accumulated juices.
Stir in lemon zest and lemon juice; season with salt. Top with parsley.
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My tweaks – I didn’t have vegetable broth but used low sodium chicken broth and it was lovely. I used salted butter, so I left off the salt at the end. And since my husband isn’t a spicy food lover, I ignored the red pepper flakes. There was plenty of flavor so I think that was overkill anyway.
Use large or jumbo shrimp. You won’t be disappointed.
Yum!
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Mother Chuck is back and her runt from last year’s litter is still here.
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Though not for lack of trying to kick him to the curb.
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There are daily squabbles over food and squealing arguments over bolt holes.
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Momma isn’t subtle, but Junior refuses to take the hint.
It is said music hath charms to soothe the savage breast. No, it’s not beast, that’s a common misquote. But I think ole William Congreve knew what he was talking about in 1697.
(If you’re interested, the original line is as follows –
“Musick has Charms to sooth a savage Breast, To soften Rocks, or bend a knotted Oak”)
And while music can indeed soothe it can also elicit other emotional responses… joy, sadness, nostalgia, triumph etc.
And when asked what songs move me? The first one that pops into my head is Eric Clapton’s “My Father’s Eyes” from this album.
I lost my dad when I was 15 years old and to be honest, I still haven’t gotten over it. To this day I can’t talk about him… or listen to that song… without crying.
My husband and I were watching the news the other day, some sad story about the Middle East, and he asked me a question I couldn’t answer.
(Yes, that happens occasionally… though I’m loathe to admit it.)
And as one does when searching the internet for information, the husband fell down a digital rabbit hole while trying to distinguish the difference between Sunni and Shiite Muslims… and what started out as a simple search for an answer turned into a wild journey of discovery through various world religions. Including one he’d never heard of –
Pastafarianism.
Yes, you read that correctly.
Pasta.
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I could do without a stripper factory in the afterlife but I’m okay with the beer volcano.
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Clearly they’ve given this a lot of thought.
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Though I don’t think the headwear is very flattering.
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Poland?
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If the Nantucket RMV allows it, who am I to argue?
A new grocery chain opened its first store in Maine last month and the hysteria was off the charts.
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I’d never shopped in an Aldi before and had no idea what to expect, but everyone was raving about how much money you could save so after waiting a few weeks for the craziness to die down…
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(Actual picture of how happy people were to shop there.)
The husband and I drove to Portland to check it out.
Marketed as a discount grocery, I expected no frills and that’s exactly what I got.
This was a brand new store…but the first thing I noticed when we walked in was how dirty and disorganized it was. Apparently their cost cutting measures include a lack of brooms and dust pans and employees to operate them.
Starting with produce, which was stacked haphazardly in it’s original shipping boxes, I was hard put to find a banana, apple, pepper, tomato or cucumber that wasn’t heavily bruised, browned and looked ready to toss.
There was no deli, no bakery and no seafood counter. No frills, for sure.
There was also no rhyme or reason to product placement… cheap fake flowered wreaths were next to the mayonnaise. Plastic outdoor thermometers were next to the crackers. And did I mention you have to “rent” a shopping cart? They’re out front where you pay a quarter to unlock one and get your money back when you return it.
I was unaware that 95% of the products are their own versions and not brand name. Having been burned one too many times with tasteless substitutes I had no desire to fill a cart with mystery cereal or soup.
We walked out of there with nothing. And it’s a good thing, because there were only two registers open with no DIY kiosks and the lines to check out were insane.
I seriously doubt I’ll ever go back, so if you’re an Aldi shopper? Please tell me what I’m missing, because I don’t understand the allure.
I decided to try one of those cheap washable rugs.
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It arrived folded in a square and had instructions to lay it flat with heavy books for a few hours to press out the creases, but after a few cursory stretches and smoothing gestures it was good to go.
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Under the dining table, which is when I realized it was just a tad too small. Am I the only person for whom standard sizes never work?
I’ll replace it eventually, but right now I’m struggling to find the right placemats.
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⬆️ are too autumnal for spring.
⬇️ are too turquoise.
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⬇️ have all the right colors but aren’t quite right.
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Oh well, at least the rug passed the Lord Dudley Mountcatten test.
We’ve had rain, rain and more rain. Which makes for a gloomy month, but after one warm day? Green grass as well.
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And happy deer at the backyard buffet.
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Are you a Wordle or Spelling Bee addict?
If so, have you tried this new game….
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It’s quite addicting.
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A few relevant quotes for the world in which we live at the beginning of a book I read recently.
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Lord Dudley Mountcatten likes the new couch in our den. He started sleeping on the back cushion to the right so I laid a towel to catch the cat hair. Then he started sleeping on the back cushion to the left so I laid a towel to catch the cat hair.
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His Lordship has attitude to spare.
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Where there's only one step from the sublime to the ridiculous.
River's world..... 