For some bizarro reason, that tree didn’t show up on my PC but it is on my tablet. Weird. But at least I wasn’t losing my mind. Well, not this time anyway. Thanks!!
herald, your chicken and onions sound far better than the liver and onions that my mom used to try to foist upon us kids. 
More hugs to you and the mister butters . Please accept the kind offers that your community are making. They obviously want to help you in whatever way they can.
Irked, got EoM out, came home and took Nelson to the dog park.
It was the first time in a couple of weeks, so he was stoked. His buddies Junior (the beagle pup), Hunter and Kaiser (schnauzers), Bandit (a small border collie) and Ruby (a small English setter) played tag with him. I hadn’t seen Ruby’s human (one of my fellow heathens) since March, when we last heathenated in person. She has undergone a double mastectomy and reconstructive surgery since, so it was good to see her feeling up to getting out to the dog park.
We swung through the BBQ for a rib plate for supper and now am chilling in front of the tube. I’s tahred!
Stay safe and healthy y’all!
Up, caffeinated, off to sort.
Happy Halloween! I plan on dressing up as a functioning member of society today.
Buttters, definitely find some outside support. You can’t carry all that by yourself.
Did you know that people in Bahrain don’t like The Flintstones, but the people in Abu Dhabi do?
Although if it was more than 75lbs., the irreg people handled it. Most anvils are just under that limit. 
Ordered alcohol for delivery 3x Islay whisky, 2x Speyside and a bottle of walnut liqueur, made in Switzerland with grappa from Italy.
Talked to a colleague in the U.K. He is unbelievably frustrated with the whole Brexit mess. With the Covid situation on top of it, it’s really difficult to make plans.
Found out that hubby is also short on Vitamin D, so he’ll start taking drops as well. In the U.S. they add Vitamin D to the milk, but not here in Switzerland. Not sure if there are more people with low Vitamin D here or there. I got mine checked because my dad discovered about 5 years ago that his muscle aches were exacerbated by low Vitamin D levels.
{{{{Butters}}}} I recommend to accept all offers of help. This lets you have more time to take care of the things that others can’t help with.
Today was supposed to be working in the yard, but the fog’s not blowing off and we’re having a lazy. I cooked pumpkin and butternut squash yesterday and I’ll make a pie and portion the rest for another pie (or two). Currently I have the pulp sitting in a cheesecloth lined collander with a large bowl of water sitting on top to reduce the water. Probably give it another 30 minutes and go for the next step.
Today’s lunch is leftovers from two different meals. Just have to make some more rice and add some frozen peas, which I forgot to add earlier.
Enjoy the Saturday!
Dice - I’ve been taking Vit D supplements for a few years now. I’d read where it was supposed to help with sleep and bone health. I guess it’s working because I sleep, and my bones still function… I don’t drink a whole lot of milk and I don’t know how much time one needs in the sun daily to produce one’s own, so I figured it couldn’t hurt. So far, so good.
FCD is on his way towards Miss Owl’s neck of the woods. A dealer there has what he believes to be the exact car he wants with under 30K miles for a really good price. So while daughter, Roxy, and I (along with Higgs) go to Mom’s, he’s driving 5 hours one way to look at it. Conclusion: car guys are nuts. 
Meanwhile, I’m clean, dressed, fed, caffeinating, and waiting for my fellow travelers to arrive so we can head north. Hoping they get here by 8. My niece will be there with her son, who’s a month younger than Roxy, and my bro’s SO is coming over, too. My youngest sis is planning a trick-or-treat for the toddlers, I assume taking them to all 5 of the exterior doors at Mom’s. She want us all in costume, but I just found out about it yesterday, and I flat-out don’t have any of that stuff any longer. We donated all of our costumes to one of daughter’s schools for their drama dept. I don’t even have a funny hat. Oh well…
We’ll head back around 3 so I can get home before dark. It’s becoming dangerous for me to drive at night, especially if it’s raining. Not as bad on familiar roads, but much more nerve-wracking at farther reaches. Plus I need to get to LaZBoy before they close at 6 so I can pay them. It’s gonna be a long day.
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!
Good Mornin’ Y’all! Up and caffeinatin’. YAWN 'Tis 51 Amurrkin out and Moony. What? The moon is out and bright, with a predicted high of 73 and mostly N.O.S. for the day. Sloth shall reign supreme today. I shall, however, make chili (with beans, deal with it!) in the biiiiiiiiiiiig roaster/oven thingy. We shall sup on chili and cornbread. YUM!
{{{Butters}}} a church could be a good thing if you are so inclined. Church in the time of Covid is definitely a lot different, at least in my experience, but I know you’d be welcomed wherever you choose to go. I’d advise lookin’ at websites to see what services are bein’ offered and when.
MOOOOOOM y’all have fun today. Hopefully FCD will find the car of his dreams. Glad you got the video thing figured out. 'Puters be weird.
Nellie glad all went well, well, relatively well, with your doc visit. Are you askin’ if we sell the pee-kahns? The person in charge of dealin’ with that (cause he volunteers to do so and has become quite the expert) sells them to a local wholesaler as that works out for the best. The money is then used to support various works of the church.
Now I need more caffeine and to feed rumbly tummy. Then, onward into the day! Rah.
Happy Sattidy and Hallowe’en Y’all!
I gotta hurry this morning, I have a bright blue wig as my “costume” and wanted to - gasp! - wear a lil’ makeup with it.
Should be a fun day, what with it being a holiday an’ all. There will even be a costume contest for customers this afternoon, and yes, the judging will be held at 4:20 p.m.
I gotta remember this one.
Ruble liked both cars and motorcycles - he was doubly nuts! 
If you want to PM me the name of the dealership, I’ll meet him there so we can talk about you. 
Afternoon, mumpers!
{{{Butters and hubs}}} I am so saddened to read everything you’re dealing with, and I totally second, third and fourth the advice to take every bit of help that’s offered to you, no matter where from. It’s a massive burden for one person to tackle alone, even just having somewhere to unload can be a benefit.
We sometimes used to get students coming to our office who were very distressed about all sorts of things from looming deadlines to homesickness, supplies of tissues were always on hand. Before we had a dedicated wellbeing officer, we would often end up taking sobbing students to a side office and having a chat with them to see how we could help. One of the things I used to do was send them to the university Chaplains. They are a great bunch of people, they don’t care what religion you are, or even if you profess a religion at all. They make a great cup of tea, and they love to talk 
Moooom forgot to say earlier how lovely your guest room looks!
It’s thoroughly miserable outside, been raining all morning and it’s all grey and gloomy. Perfect afternoon for curling up on the sofa with a purring cat, a big mug of tea and a goo book. Thus that shall be my plan.
Morning all. Soccer at 1100am (coach) and 2pm (referee), so that will fill most of my day. 53F now but supposed to be heading for 67F, we’ll see. Next week is looking dry and temps in the 70’s by the weekend.
nellie, good news on the check-up. How was the train ride (I’m an Amtrak fan).
FCM, have a good day out, car guys gotta car…hope it’s worth the drive.
Dice, you have to order booze, can’t you just go to the store there?
doggio, I never knew that…it was not something that came up in polite conversation…
Red, glad both puppy and friend are doing well.
{{{Butters}}}
OK, need to prepare for the soccer games. All y’all take care.
I am so looking forward to the time change. When it’s still dark outside when everybody should be up and hustling, I get depressed.
Big mug of peppermint cocoa by the computer and I’m ready to face the internet. Then it’s laundry, cat box maintenance and making deviled eggs for tomorrow’s dinner using Allison Robicelli’s recipe for something different. Ought to go well with pulled pork.
Happy Saturday y’all!
swampy, when my sister was still teaching, she would make her students an offer of $1 per pound of pecans in the shell to spend on their field trip. It was a low income school, but most of the kids had pecan trees in their yard or the yard of friends, family or neighbors that they could pick up. Sis would either use or gift the pecans that she bought that way.
Mooooooooom, is this the Cadillac that FCD was looking at?
Glad that your check up went well nellie.
Those eggs sound yummy silenus!
Happy Halloween!
My big plans for the day, since I’m not really in the halloween spirit this year, are to finish laundry, get groceries and take Nelson to the dog park. Such excitement!
But first, I need to do KP and get showered and sheveled.
Stay safe and healthy y’all!
Help me out here shoe ‘
“ yes, the judging will be held at 4:20 p.m.“
What’s the significance of 4:20 on Halloween? I’m hoping it’s a little more fun for you at work today with it being Halloween. Could you wrap Pretzel around your neck for your costume? It would win any contest for me. Probably too cold up where you are though-maybe she could cuddle in a big scarf and just peek her head out.
Oh, darn and phooey!?&%!1#, now I have to start being a ‘functioning member of society’? Now you tell me. Groan, she trudges off to her room to put on daytime clothes…
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Bippity should dress up as a fairy godmother today but I have no clue~maybe I could dress up a stick with some ribbons and glitter for a magic wand. Not going to open the door for trick or treaters (our mayor and the police dept have asked the town not to) so it would be wasted. Maybe next year.
Me too. Can’t remember why my doc checked my vit D level but she started me on prescription supplements. Same with Vit A. My body is a train wreck playing hooky on Friday the 13th-nothing works like it is supposed to.
Everything I’ve read says about 15 minutes of sun every day is enough. Winter sun works too.
If a church has a Stephen Ministry that might be a good fit. Screened, trained lay people matched up with parishioners that need a listening ear, cheering on or just and accepting presence in their life. The benefits flow both ways in the matchup.
Completely doable virtually.
I completely messed up the quoting this morning, I’m sorry. Hopefully it still makes some sense, such as my posts ever do.
Happy Halloween 
from your very own loyal and dedicated fairy godmother
Home from sorting, with a side quest for beer on the way. Sean Connery has passed away. 
I shall hoist a martini in his honor tonight. 
I’m sad to hear this. I’ll hoist something in his honor tonight also, not a martini, don’t really have the makings, maybe a fizzy, bubbly hard cider. I liked his later roles much more than the 007 Bond. “Finding Forrestor” for instance, where it seemed like he was having the best time playing himself.
They did! From when she made the call to when the tow truck pulled away with the car was two hours. Very impressive and rated a follow-up call to the county to thank them for being prompt.
Some unwanted excitement later in the day, however. The Ms wanted to make cheese enchiladas. Being the good little helper that I am, I turned on the oven to 350 to heat up.
FLASHBACK! A couple of weeks ago, I made pizza with my cast iron pizza pan, which I always keep in the oven as a heat sink when it’s not in use. When I took the pizza out of the oven, I set the pan on a stack of two woven trivets to protect the countertop. Some time after we ate, I walked into the kitchen and picked up the now-cool pizza pan and stuck it back in the oven. I noted in passing that there was only one trivet on the counter and thought “Now why did she put one of them away already?”
FLASH TO PRESENT! As the oven heated, we started smelling smoke. I thought perhaps some errant grease spatter was burning off, but it got worse, and suddenly there were billows of smoke pouring out of the stove as the trivet (which, if you haven’t guessed, was stuck to the bottom of the pizza pan) began to smolder. A few minutes of panic ensued while I shut off the oven and yanked the damn thing out of there and threw it in the sink. Smoke alarms were shrieking, we were coughing, and the stench was awful. Turning on fans and opening doors/windows only somewhat mitigated the smell, but this morning I put together a potpourri in a pot of boiling water, which has effectively killed the odor.
The end.
My local store’s liquor aisle is 6 feet long and has 3 shelves. They have Macallan and Talisker, and then Johnnie Walker. One type of tequila, 3 types of rum and a bunch of grappa and kirsch. Plus vodka.
Or I could drive to the place I ordered from, and I can only pick up, no browsing, after spending 1.5 hours in the car each way. Or let them deliver everything to my house for free.
Grocery stores here, compared to the U.S., are tiny. If you want something special, either order online, or expect to spend a lot of time visiting different stores, just to find that item.
In my town of 8000 people there are 4 grocery stores. None of them have taco shells as they seem to be out of fashion. Of course, when the Mexican food section of the store is 2 shelves, approximately 18" wide, there’s not a lot of space.
When we moved here in 2000, the population was 6000 and there was only one grocery store. There are 7-11 stores which are bigger than that particular grocery store.
And Switzerland’s 12 days from running out of ICU beds. Staying home is highly recommended. 
I’m not happy about having this additional eye condition–It’s very rare, I’m told, so yay, lucky me–but having a diagnosis and learning more about it is a HUGE relief. My vision is seriously messed up, and most of the issues can’t be fixed. But if this ONE issue could be zapped–maybe with Boo’s magic wand–it’d make a difference.
The train ride was great. I love trains, too! I grew up near tracks and used to lie in bed and listen to trains at night. And I love riding on trains. I love seeing the nitty-gritty side of a city from a train window. Everyone was masked up on this trip, and the bistro car was COVID-closed, but Amtrak kindly supplied water and snacks.
This is such a cool random fact. Why the Bahraini hatin’ on Fred and Wilma?
Moooom, hope everyone had a great time!
I keep forgetting the time change. I LOVE the fall time change. Actually, I wish we didn’t change the clocks and lived on standard time year-round. But yay, an extra hour of sleep!
I also keep forgetting it’s Halloween. I was so focused (hah, bad pun) on the eye appointment and the election, Halloween fell through the cracks this year. Have fun, everyone!
I believe Mr Doggio is pulling your leg; try rolling your sense of humour back a few decades and reading it out loud 
Well, looks like we have a shiny new lockdown-ish over 'ere, but I still have to go in on Moanday, to sit in a room full of potentially plague-ridden teenagers/adults. Without masks. In fact, I’m actually not allowed to wear one for 7 hours of the week. This is what passes for sense nowadays.
- starts a petition to change the National Anthem to Yakety sax *
Consider magic wand waved long and hard on your behalf 