Rocky

This week we had some landscaping done. One of the projects was the area under the deck. It doesn't get much sun, and grass has never grown well there. The area gets muddy when it rains, and in the summer turns into an expanse of dust. We decided to have rock installed over the whole area.

Here's the deck after the first day. They've dug a trench all around the area to lay edgers, and removed some scraggly-looking day lilies that were growing around the near and far deck posts. The dark-looking area in front is the remnants of the compost bin, which they've removed.

Here's the finished project, with edging installed and rock spread.

The stones are a bit bigger than Tony or I anticipated, but I like the way it looks. Next year I think I may experiment with setting some potted plants here.

May I Help You?

A big part of my job at a mall Customer Service desk is to answer questions.

The most common query is the location of the restrooms. I also get a fair number of questions about getting to the mall's restaurants. Some shops are more popular than others and generate a lot of interest. For example, I quickly learned how to direct people to the computer store.

I don't know why, but sometimes questions seem to come in clusters:

• In one day I had three people ask me if we'd be offering gift wrapping. (The answer is no.)

• Another shift brought three inquiries about bulk candy stores.

• One day, I had two CONSECUTIVE questions about the post office (one on the phone and one in person.)

• And once, over the course of three hours, I had six queries about a clothing store that we don't even have.

Strangely, once I fielded the initial cluster of these questions, nobody's asked them again.

Barrel Bob

Tony and I were driving through a construction zone on Route 141, a highway in our area that's being widened, and we saw this:

This was the most creative thing I've seen in quite some time. It's hard to make out, but the "worker" has a SLOW sign in his right hand. We did (after we stopped laughing).

After doing a little research, I found out that we'd met Barrel Bob, an eleven-foot tall sculpture made of recycled orange and white construction barrels. As "spokesperson" for work zone safety for the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT), his job is to warn motorists that they’re in a construction zone and need to slow down.

I wonder if I'll have any more Barrel Bob sightings soon?

Tumbling Tumbleweeds

If you have a pet, you know about their hair tumbleweeds, those balls of hair that roll around on hardwood and vinyl floors. In our house, cat hair tends to gather in a couple of different places. The stairs to the second floor curve at the bottom just before they reach the foyer, and there's a tiny nook behind them where the hair accumulates. The other is under the kitchen table. It doesn't matter how often I sweep it; every time tiny cat hair bundles go flying.

However, the cats aren't the only hair-producing machines in the house. I tend to lose quite a bit, too. Every time I wash, comb, or fiddle with it a few strands come loose. The average human loses between 50 and 150 hairs per day. (I think I'm on the higher side of that range.) In warm weather we shed more, so this month's oppressive heat should lead to quite a shedding season!

This afternoon when I walked into the bathroom, I noticed a small pile of hair on the floor next to the rug. Then I saw more on the other side of the rug. And more by the toilet. What a mess! I'm not sure where it came from. because when I comb my hair, I purposely turn my back to the mirror so any loose hair falls on the vanity and I can throw it away. Wherever it came from, it had to be cleaned up. I got down on my knees and went around the room, sweeping the hairs into a pile with the side of my hand. When I got done, I had a pile of hair that rivaled anything the cats ever produced.

Is that something to be proud of or embarrassed about?

Flutterby Butterfly

The first time I went to the Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House in Faust Park it was a chilly, rainy day in March. I thought it might be nice to experience it during another season, and Tony had never been there before, so today we decided to visit.

We had vouchers for admission, so the first thing we did was stop and exchange them for tickets. Although there's a nice display of invertebrates and arthropods in the lobby, we didn't spend a lot of time looking at them. We did, however, watch a short movie about butterflies in the theater before we moved to the conservatory area, entering through the double door vestibule into the sultry atmosphere. Our glasses immediately fogged up. After a few seconds they cleared enough for us to see butterflies of all shapes, sizes and colors.

The butterfly conservatory area is like a miniature rain forest containing free-flying tropical butterflies. It's hot and humid (85 degrees with 75% humidity.) Within five minutes I felt like I was in a sauna, although it was more comfortable today (since I was wearing shorts and a tank top) than it had been in cool weather jeans on the last visit. It was warmest around the perimeter of the glass-walled building, but if you stood under the shade of some of the towering vegetation it was cooler. We walked along all of the meandering paths, stopping to look at both the butterflies and the tropical plants.

There were butterflies everywhere, flying, eating, and resting. A couple of times I had one fly straight at my face, but at the last minute it changed direction and zipped away over my head. We watched butterflies get nourishment from flowers and a few dining on rotting fruit that had been placed on trays. Tony sat down on a bench, and had a butterfly land right next to him.

After we'd seen everything, it was time to leave. We went through the set of double doors and back into the exhibition area. After the humidity of the conservatory the air condition felt wonderful.

Baked Kale Frittata

I needed something for dinner tonight that I could cook before I left for work. I decided to use the kale that was already washed and chopped in the refrigerator. Last night it had been part of a hearty salad, but today I decided to turn it into a frittata.

I like frittatas (an egg dish similar to a quiche, but without a crust) because they're very versatile. You can include almost any vegetables, cheeses, or meats. They're easy to put together. They can be cooked on top of the stove or in the oven, and can be served hot or cold.

After the frittata came out of the oven I let it cool, then covered it and put it in the refrigerator. Tony got home before I did, and had dinner ready when I walked in the door.

BAKED KALE FRITTATA (Serves 4)
1 small bunch kale
1 medium onion, diced
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 jalapeno pepper, chopped finely (optional)
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/4 cup water
6 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1/2 cup cheddar cheese
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Wash kale; remove tough stems and chop. Heat oil in skillet on medium-high heat. In an ovenproof skillet, sauté onion, garlic, and jalapeno 3-5 minutes. Stir in kale and water. Cover and simmer 5 minutes. Remove pan from heat and allow mixture to cool. Combine eggs, milk, cheese, salt, and pepper. Add mixture to kale; stir well. Bake 20 minutes, or until knife inserted in center comes out clean. Remove from oven and let set 2-3 minutes. Slice into wedges.

On The Spot

This morning I was going to run errands. I got in the car, turned the key in the ignition, and........nothing happened. I tried again, and got the same result.

I suspected I had battery issues. After saying a quick prayer of thanks that it happened today and not tomorrow when I had to go to work, I came inside and called AAA. I figured they'd come give me a jump, then I'd drive the car to the repair shop and get the problem fixed.

It only took 20 minutes for AAA to show up. In the meantime, I called the shop to find out if they'd be able to fit me in today. The receptionist said it would be possible, but depending on what time I got there I might have to leave the car for a while. I went upstairs and applied sunscreen, then gathered everything I would need in case I had to walk home. (At that point the temperature was almost 95 degrees, so I was not looking forward to it.)

The first thing the service technician did was test my battery. He confirmed my suspicions that it was dead as a doornail. However, before he charged the car, he mentioned that he could replace the battery on the spot. I didn't know that was an option, but it didn't take long for me to agree. He got the proper battery from his truck and went to work. It was hot in the garage, but when I opened the back door a slight cross breeze came through, which made it little more bearable. I passed the time by chatting with the technician, stepping out into the yard to pull some weeds and stepping into the house to empty the dishwasher and get some cool air.

In the middle of the job, the technician's battery tester stopped working, and he called another mechanic who was near by. While he waited he filled out my paperwork, and soon a second AAA truck parked in front of the house. It didn't take long to confirm that my battery was indeed installed correctly, and the second truck left. A few minutes after that, I received my bill and warranty information. I signed where indicated, and the technician left. It was time to get on with my day.

I had a pleasant surprise waiting for me when I started up my car. Since the battery had completely discharged, my radio wouldn't work until the anti-theft code was punched in. I'd found the code on a piece of paper in my glove compartment, and set on the front seat, figuring I'd take care of it when I left the house. The technician had already done it for me. He also set the time on the clock. All I had to do is fix the radio presets.

I suspect I paid a bit more for the convenience of not taking my car to the shop, but the price didn't seem out of line. I'd certainly use this service again, but I hope it's a long time before I have to.

Solar Yogurt

At the beginning of the year I bought a yogurt maker at a thrift store; since then, I've made batches of yogurt on a regular basis. It's amazing what milk, powdered milk, starter yogurt and hours of waiting time can produce.

Each batch of yogurt takes a half gallon of milk, a cup of dry milk powder (which adds extra nutrients and a bit of firmness) and a half cup of live-culture yogurt. After filling the maker's five containers, there's about a half cup of liquid left over. Usually I end up drinking the leftovers, although I don't care for warm milk. Today, since the outside temperature is supposed to get to almost 100° (with a heat index of 107°), I decided to put the extra milk outside to see if it would culture, too.

I poured the leftovers into a pint-sized jar, wrapped the jar in a dishtowel and set in in the sun on the black wrought iron table on the deck. After a couple of hours the deck, which faces east, lost the sun, so I moved the wrapped jar to the west-facing front porch. On the walk through the house I opened the jar and tasted the milk. It was ALMOST cultured!

When it was time to start dinner I retrieved the jar from the front porch. I took the lid off the wannabe yogurt; it smelled good, but was curdled. (I guess it had gotten too hot in the sun.) It still tasted OK, though, so I added it to the can of cream of chicken soup that was the base for the turkey and vegetable casserole I was making. Served over brown rice, the whole thing was quite tasty.

My experimental container may not have turned out too well, but in the meantime the other containers are gradually fermenting. I'll be able to put them in the refrigerator when I go to bed tonight, and they'll be waiting for me for breakfast tomorrow.

Where To Live When You Retire

I received this as an email from a friend.  I've tried to find the author, but no luck.

When I retire, there'll be no nursing home for me. I'll be checking into a Holiday Inn.

With the average nursing home costing $188.00 per day, there's a better way when I get old and too feeble. I've already checked on reservations at the Holiday Inn. For a combined long term stay discount and senior discount, it's $59.23 per night. Breakfast is included, and some have happy hours in the afternoon. That leaves $128.77 a day for lunch and dinner in any restaurant I want, or room service, laundry, gratuities and special TV movies.

Plus, they provide a spa, swimming pool, a workout room, a lounge and washer/dryer. Most have free toothpaste and razors, and all have free shampoo and soap. For five dollars worth of tips a day you'll have the entire staff scrambling to help you. They'll treat you like a customer, not a patient.

There's a city bus stop out front, and seniors ride free. The handicap bus will also pick you up (if you fake a decent limp). To meet other nice people, call a church bus on Sundays. For a change of scenery, take the airport shuttle bus and eat at one of the nice restaurants there. (While you're at the airport, fly somewhere. Otherwise, the cash keeps building up.)

It takes months to get into decent nursing homes. Holiday Inn will take your reservation today. And you're not stuck in one place forever -- you can move from Inn to Inn, or even from city to city. Want to see Hawaii? They have Holiday Inns there, too.

TV broken? Light bulbs need changing? Need a mattress replaced? No problem. They fix everything, and apologize for the inconvenience.

The Inn has a night security person and daily room service. The maid checks to see if you are ok. If not, they'll call an ambulance . . . or the undertaker. If you fall and break a hip, Medicare will pay for the hip, but Holiday Inn will upgrade you to a suite for the rest of your life.

And no worries about visits from family. They will always be glad to find you, and probably check in for a mini-vacation. The grand kids can use the pool. What more could you ask for?

So, when I reach that golden age, I'll face it with a grin, and see you at the Holiday Inn!

Eco-Actions

At my former job as a preschool teacher assistant, I wore shirts (style of my choice) embroidered with the school logo. Of course, now that I'm not working there any more I have no use for them, so last week I finally decided to get rid of them. There were about 20 tops--sleeveless, short sleeved, and long sleeved. Tee shirts, button-downs, sweaters, and fleece. I emailed one of my co-workers to ask if she wanted them. She let me know that with the new school year (which just started) they were using a different design on the shirts, and she didn't need mine.

Since the shirts had the preschool logo, I figured I shouldn't just donate them to a thrift shop; the school wouldn't want just anyone wearing them around. Just to be sure, I checked with the director, who verified my suspicions. She suggested I just throw them away. However, I'm trying to reduce my ecological footprint, so I didn't want to toss them and have them end up in a landfill. What to do with them? If I cut the logo off could I donate them?

This morning as I was headed to the grocery store, I stopped in at a thrift store that was on the way and asked the manager about my shirts. Much to my surprise, I found out they wanted them! When you donate clothes that a thrift store can't put on the shop floor, they sell them to rag sorters, which turns into another revenue source for their programs.

Back at home, I cut around the logo on each shirt in a haphazard circle, put them in a bag, and attached a note indicating the shirts were for recycling so they didn't have to waste time looking through the bag. When I went out again in the afternoon I dropped the bag off at the donation center. It's a win/win. I get to feel good that I did the right thing, and they'll get a bit of money from my discards.