The Roofer Guys Did it! (not the roof)

The roofer guys actually did what they said they would do on Friday. Amazing.

Sometime between 9 and 10 am, I was promised that a couple guys would come move the roofing material to the alcove by the kitchen door. This had to be done by hand. They would also shovel the driveway.

By 10 am I was sitting there thinking, OK, they did it to me again. Around 10:15 I asked #2 to start the car and clean if off (snow and ice). After a few minutes he came in but I heard something outside. OH, some guys were out there moving the shingles. Ohhhhh goodiiieee. I was going shopping, and figured they didn't need me anyway. As I walk out, I say hi. They were very nice and explained what they were doing. And that they would shovel. Was there anything else? No, cooool.

I walk to the car thinking, wow, they are actually doing what they promised. Not only that, the kids spoke English and were cute (eye candy never hurts) in a "son" sort of way (when did I get old and see studly young men as "sons" instead of young hunks? Sighhhhh). When I got home, all was done. They did a great job. And I parked the car in the garage (even tho it was Larry's car-I wanted to remember the feeling of pulling into that garage).

We (and I mean that totally in the royal "we" way) finished shoveling the sidewalk. Life is good again. Thank you roofer guys. Thank you Larry hubby guy. Thank you landlord lady V.

About 20 Plus Inches

I wanted to measure the snow, but my ruler was too short. I tried a couple different ways but nothing gave me the true measurement, so I decided to go for a yard stick (or meter stick . . . remember we are metrically minded now). It took a while, but finally I found a metal one in the hardware area of Walmart.

But, I didn't want the snow to go over my boots. I walked out a bit and then leaned over as far as I could and stuck the stick down. Now, I could have gotten a shot with a few more inches on the stick, but that would mean snow inside the boots and cold feet. I am sorry, there is just so much I will do for my blog and cold, snowy, icy feet isn't one of them.

The cat watched me closely. What is she doing and is it worth going out in the snow? Hmmm . . . No.

Oh, and Susie-I win!

Funny what a few (or more than a few) inches of snow will do.

My "virgin" snow that the roofer walked in, is now virgin again. Amazing how that works. :)

In December, the roofer told us that we had to move all of our outside furniture around the house. So we did. It snowed, it iced, it snowed and guess what? The furniture and grill are still where we put them (sort of cemented out there until spring). As a call out to Susie, I think it may be a bit late for us to cover the grill too!

This was a couple days ago:

This is now:

The roofer came yesterday. Ummm, it was too snowy to do the roof. OK. However, they will be coming today to move the roofing stuff away from the garage and put it in the alcove near the kitchen door. While we will have to walk around it, at this point, I jump for joy with the thought of getting my van in the garage (and having the snow plow people plow our driveway again). Keep your fingers crossed that they actually do what they said they would do (so far, their track record is pretty poor - as in zero).

My next car will be . . .

My next car will be silver, or gold, or silver/gold. Well, the true color doesn't really matter, but the color needs to be closer to the winter road grime color that is so prevalent on all cars here. That's an marketing idea-hey, buy this car in winter grime colors-you have three choices (but the colors are basically the same, we just wanted to mess with your head).

Hey, what a great idea . . . or not

The thing about shopping in stores that are new to you and have most of the products printed in French (you can turn most packages around to see the English version) is you tend to pay closer attention to the items. As I find cool things from Europe, I also see things that are from the US or close enough. I can't always find the brands or items I want (PLEASE someone tell the folks up here that sausage patties are supposed to be spicy . . . I need a Jimmy Dean fix really bad).

I was looking for cupcake paper cups. The liners-you know, what you put cupcakes into. I have to explain it because apparently, I must be saying something wrong, or cupcake cups are not a big thing here. However, I did find them. Funny how each store puts them in a different area of the store. As I reached up to pick up the cups yesterday, my eye caught this:


Yep, little plastic bags for making ice cubes. What an idea! I mean, perfect. They are going to make a killing selling these things. So simple to use, just fill em up, seal em, freeze em and use em. Now, make sure you seal em good cause nothing says mess like unfrozen ice cubes all over the freezer. So folks, throw away those pesky ice cube trays (that cost about the same as ONE box of these little bags) and use these things. What a deal, what a concept!

A product of Denmark. And if you think about it, I actually BOUGHT it to blog about it-so they sold at least one.

And please remember to return your carts to the proper location-I hate to think what it will look like during an ice storm, or when it actually melts here.

Sure the roof will be done tomorrow

So the roofer guy called on Monday night and said they were coming on Tuesday to do the roof. He left a message so we didn't get to ask him how he was going to do it in the same weather we have had for the last month. What is the difference? It's damn cold, it has been damn cold, and it will be damn cold for the week. But . . . the message said 7:30 AM they would be at the house. Oh fun.

So, they show up. Guess what? It's too cold, plus a big storm is coming in, plus its cold, plus there are more shingles on the roof than they thought so it will take longer to take them off, plus . . . it's cold. Joe, the Sears guy who represents the roofer guy, walked around the house. He made big tracks in my Virgin snow. Hey, Joe, my snow . . . ummm, oh nevermind. (But a side note: I told the landlord lady that the squirrels haven't been in our yard lately, so what do I see late that morning? Yeah, you got it, squirrel tracks. Squirrels are really pushy around here and tend to eat things like houses, big ass garbage cans and probably children if they have enough time).

I am not sure if he really looked at the roof. I didn't talk to them, Larry did. But I had told good ol Joe the day before that he needed to remove the roofing materials but it was ok if he put a tarp down on the snow on the grass in the front yard and move the stuff there. He got the tarp part right, but put it on top of the roofing stuff, cause . . . snow was coming. No roofing in the snow and lets not let the roofing stuff get snowy.

We got 8 inches today. They are coming tomorrow to do the roof. We are supposed to get an inch tomorrow, and the next day and the next and then the first of the week . . BAMMM a sort of big storm is coming in.

Someone tell me when the roof will be done, or when the materials will be moved. I am sure Joe loves my house right about now.

Ummm . . . Mom? Are you OK?

Just let me start out saying that I am a little feverish. You know the feeling-a bit sick, a bit of a fever (not enough to lay me out but enough to make me a little "off").

So in the middle of the roofing issues and blocked garages, I happened upon a blog that just kills me. I stayed up much too late last night reading past posts. And today, I have logged on several more times. But more importantly, I have laughed. I mean-really laughed. Out loud laughing and at times with tears. Maybe I am slap happy dealing with the roof, maybe I am sicker than I thought (oh HUSH you! no comments!) But this is one funny blog. I love the pictures, don't get me wrong, but the writing just gets to me. How funny!


So what is this blog you ask? (ummm, you did ask that, didn't you . . . . yeah, you did) It's called Cake Wrecks. And its a site that shows pictures of professionally made cakes that are just wrong, bad, hideous, funny, mistakes, perfect, pick your adjective.


The blog all started with a picture of a cake purchased from WalMart. And it has gone on from there.


If you need a pick me up, or a lost day of laughing-go read this blog. And maybe, one of your kids will hear you laughing so hard he will say to you "Ummmm . . . Mom? Are you OK?"


This is one of the cakes that got me laughing so hard the kids were worried about me. The boss bought this cake. I love the commentary that goes with it. Man, where is that guy's hand anyway? I mean, she is three feet off the ground! LOL
< Or this one! Nothing says love than a cake that suggests hanging the kid. OMG! Dangling feet! I am sorry, this is so wrong!
Or the FAIL cake that failed in spelling! Snicker. . . .

And while there is really nothing technically wrong with this cake . . . it's just, well, I am starting to laugh again. Oh help me!

There are so many funny cakes (and real great looking cakes too) on this site. Go, have a laugh and enjoy! http://cakewrecks.blogspot.com/

Go ahead-Push me over the edge!

I swear-this roof thing is starting to get to me. The roofers have been saying on and off they are coming . . . as soon as the weather permits. Hey, it's been realllllllllllllllllly cold here. Too cold for human types to be on the roof. Finally, Sears called and said they couldn't do the roof until April. Ok, that's fine. If we have a melt I can place buckets here and there. I am cool with that. What I am not cool with is the roofer delivering the roofing stuff this morning without letting me know.

I was sitting warmly snug in the house this morning after dropping Cea at the vet (snip snip), and I glance up and see a little BobCat machine coming up the driveway. WHAT?!? He starts to drop a bunch of roofing stuff in front of the garage. I run out and say-I need to get my car out of the garage and he says: "La La hum la oooola capoot" or something like that. I point to the garage and point to me and make steering motions with my hands. He points to his BobCat and the roofing materials and then to the ground in front of the garage. I point to me again (are you getting the feeling this is not going in the direction I would have liked by now?) He is really trying to understand me-he is being very nice (at least I think he is-he could be telling me what he just bought at the grocery store, his wife has left him, his son just ran away with his teacher and his daughter is pregnant for all I know). Finally, he gets back on his BobCat and drives off, I go inside to get my keys (and my coat!). I move the van and notice that he dumped the stuff in the street. Oh dear, that is not what I wanted. But he comes back a bit later and moves it-in front of the garage.


Now, for those of you used to the cold weather and ice and snow . . . losing your garage for an unknown amount of time may not be traumatic. However, for ME . . . it is. I am getting a cold, and the thought of cleaning off my van whenever it snowed, well was more than I wanted to deal with this morning.

I called the Sears contact and he said-"hmmm, I didn't know they were dropping it off, its too cold to do the roof, I can't control the weather, we will get to it when we can."

I said, I am not a happy camper, buddy. Please remove this roofing material. I want it gone in a week. (Ok, it was much more whiny than that and pathetic sounding but I will just pretend in my head I was direct and forceful). He said, well, I can't control the weather.

I said, goodbye, sneezed a couple times, tried to call Larry, wrote a pathetic email to my landlord (landlady?) and waited. Larry called me, V emailed back to me. Larry called Joe the Sears guy, V called Joe the Sears guy. Each time the story was a little different. So now, the roof is supposed to be done tomorrow. It's going to be cold tomorrow. But Joe is coming to see what he can do and he speaks English and the rest of the roofers do not.

Look at the snow on the roof-that's quite the build up near that upper window.

I was a little stressed today. Why? I am not sure. I will have to think on that a while and get back to ya on it.

Maybe it's because after living with workers for months while our kitchen was remodeled, I like quiet. I like boring quiet.

Oh well, pass the Kleenex.

Yep, we still have snow

Several of you have asked if there is still snow on the ground. A better question is- Have you seen the ground since early December? Ummmm . . . No.

We have over a foot of the white stuff just sitting around. And a inch or two is added often. Just often enough to have to shovel (but not a lot). This is beside our walkway. Notice the Christmas decorations at the bottom on the post? Just how do you remove the decorations when they are frozen solid? We just unplugged the lights and will wait until things thaw. In the backyard, it looks like the snow is deep enough to reach the door if there wasn't such a long overhang keeping it away. I really should get a yard stick (make that a meter stick) and measure the snow. But, that would mean walking in the deep stuff. I don't mind walking in a few inches, but when it goes over the top of my boots . . . well, I am not sure my bloggees really want me to get snow in my boots-do you?

It's cool how you can see the tracks of visiting animals. These tracks tend to go away pretty fast with the extra snow. And the varmints sure know how to work it-I never knew that raccoons could walk on top of fences. One walked along the fence and jumped down near the house where the snow wasn't so deep. Smart raccoon.

We will probably have the white stuff laying around until spring. When is spring, you ask? At this moment in time, I am thinking July or August.

:) V

A Hunk

No, I am not referring to the local "hunks" but rather a roast I purchased yesterday. I am not really sure what cut of meat I bought. It's a big hunk of meat-beef.

The name is FRENCH RST. BARD. INS. ROUND (or in french: ROTI FRANC. BARDE INT. ROUNDE). It's boneless, it's beef, it's sort of tied up and has bacon-like strips around the outer edge. I don't think it's bacon.

So, tonight we are having "Surprise Me Roast". It may or may not taste good, it may or may not be tender but it WILL be beef. And I will make some sort of potatoes. Therefore I have completed my side of the bargain. I promised the men that I would always have some sort of *meat and potatoes (or potato substitute) after the vegetarian disaster which I mistakenly called dinner (and happened to enjoy).

*Fish may be substituted for MEAT only occasionally.

My Main Man's New "Old" Saying

Arrrggghhh! I want to just toss this thing! It drives me nuts! I can't get it to work! Grrrrrrrr.

Yea, I am growling.

A few months ago I bought a inexpensive (ok-cheap) food processor on sale. I haven't had a food processor for years. The first one I had was inexpensive (ok-again . . . cheap). I should know better. Kitchen things that are CHEAP (ok, I said it) tend not to work well. I know that. I really do. However, I don't have the money for a good food processor. It's a toss up-no food processor or cheap one? I went for cheap.

I read the instructions. I did. And I used it several times. And every time I used it, I wanted to toss it. It is IMPOSSIBLE to get the bowl thingy on and off. It is impossible to get the lid down and clicked on. One night when my hands were hurting more than average, I just couldn't do it. I tried but my patience was thin. I finally took the thing to Larry and said : "AAARRRgggg! I can't get it on, I have tried and tried and it's just IMPOSSIBLE!"

He looked at it and worked with it. Not happening. Finally, I went online and did a search. Turns out you can't have the lid on the bowl when putting the bowl on the machine. Hey, that makes a difference. It still isn't easy but it's not impossible. (This may explain why sometimes it went on-not easily but went on, and sometimes it wouldn't)

Larry turned to me and said-"I have a new "old" saying . . . if it's "just impossible" to do, you aren't doing it right!"

Gee, thanks Main Man.

PS-just yesterday a little piece of plastic broke off the lid, which makes locking the lid down a tricky job. Guess I may be tossing this puppy sooner than I thought. Funny thing, I am not all that sad about tossing it. :)

It may not look like much, but it's important.

Bored?

Ok, let's be honest-it's winter. Action shots are few and far between if you stay in a warm house, warm car, warm store, etc. I am not going to go skating (I haven't skated since that fateful day in California at my neighbor's little girl's birthday party-at which I broke my wrist). I am not going skiing and if I do, I am not taking my camera on which I would fall! I guess I could take pictures of ladies buying produce at the local markets. However, I am not sure they would appreciate that. I know I wouldn't.








So this is my action shot!

The last couple mornings, I have been hearing chain saws. I sort of wondered what tree was being removed and why it was taking so long. We haven't had a lot of ice and snow isn't a big issue with trees. Then I looked out my living room window. Ahhhh-preventive trimming (something that St. Louis should do more of but that's a different story, in a different country)







I zoomed in on the guy. I was thinking, its like snooping a little-zoom lens. He trimmed a lot of trees this week.

And just a side note: if you vacuum up a fuzzy mouse it will get stuck in the vacuum and have all the fake fur removed from the tail. Just a bit of advice for ya-I am sure you needed it.

Hook, Line and Sinker

Fishing for Manchildren can be tricky. It takes a lot of patience.

Case in point: the Ladybug rain boots. I posted that I wanted rain boots. I put a couple of pretty obnoxious boots as samples. They were cute-especially the Ladybug boots. I happen to think the addition of the eyes and antenna on the boots' toes a stroke of genius. I mean, even if you let your jeans go over the boots, you can still see the bug peeking out at you from your toes. I mean . . . really . . . how much more could I ask?


So, I started trolling. I left my blog up on one of my monitors with the Lady Bug boots centered on the screen. Now remember, fishing is a sport that requires patience. I wait . . . .


Manchild #2 comes into my office. I am working (playing?) on the computer at the moment, but look up from what I am doing and make a comment about needing water boots and what did he think as I pointed to the Ladybug Boots.


"Hmmuummmmeemmm" and he promptly picks up the kitten and pets said cat as he walks out of the room. Well, that Manchild/fish got away. He probably didn't even look at the boots, or even really hear what I said. Manchildren can give the perception of listening when they are actually tuning you out. I think it's part of the breed and a habit they practice for years in preparation of marriage. Oh, well, that one got away.


Back to trolling. Soon another Manchild came in. #1 looks over my shoulder and I say-"oh, I think I need water boots-what do you think?" as I casually point to the red and black beauties on the screen.


"Oh!" (ohhhh goody, a bite!)


"Those are . . . ." (yep, he is going to take it, I can tell-be patient!)


"If you wear those in public, I am leaving home!" and starts to laugh at me. (Ziiiiiiiinnnnnggg! Got him!)





Now, all I have to decide is if it is worth my self respect to actually buy those boots and wear them just to see his face and his reaction. I am not sure if it is, but you never know with us sport fishing types . . . we can surprise even the stealthiest of creatures!

Checks, Cheques, Banks, and snow

The Canadian grandparents sent the boys checks for Christmas (BTW, check is spelled cheque up here-so now I am totally confused with spelling! but what is new?). In the past, we would just deposit into our bank account and give the boys the hard cold cash. So, the boys signed the cheques and Larry took them to the bank. Nope, not happening. The bank doesn't take third party checks so the boys have to come in to the bank.

Ok, fine. Off we go one day to find the closest bank branch that we use. I know it is close. I know its near the freeway on the main drag here. I CANNOT find it. Finally, I give up. Larry tells me exactly where it is and the traffic light to turn. Hmmm, I swear I was there, I swear I looked . . . .

Ok, fine, off we go to find the branch again the next day. I find the traffic light and get in the turn lane. I look to see if I can see the bank. Nope, I can't see it. And you know why? It it blocked by the SNOW piled on the side of the road. Guess you could say, we have a lot of snow. But, I turned and there it was-our bank.

We go inside to cash the checks. Nope, ain't happening. While the checks (actually drafts-like cashier checks) are from the same bank, they won't cash them unless the kids have accounts with the bank. Sigh---------- why? Cause. But, but, I have an account here-but they don't take third party cheques. But, I am the mother. Doesn't matter, they have to have accounts.

OK, FINE. I tell the manchildren to go to the information booth. You have to make appointments here to open accounts. Great. But when I am finished with my transaction, I go to look for the kids. #1 is sitting with bunch of people in the waiting area but #2 is missing. I find him in an office. I walk in. The lady looks up with relief and says "Oh, you are the mother". Um mm, yeah, I suppose I will say I am the mother this time. "I told your son I would work him in really fast to open an account but it's not going very fast". Now, you folks who know #2 shouldn't be surprised by that- I wasn't. LOL

#2 didn't know the name of the school he is going to, he didn't have his SIN (SS# up here-it was at home, we weren't expecting to need these things), etc. I was able to help her out, and asked if she could do #1 too. She didn't really want to as she had an appointment soon, but she did it with a smile. She was wonderful! While the kids didn't have their student IDs, she gave them student accounts anyway. She made it easy (which for around here, is amazing!). The only drawback was the "access"cards. The wording on the back is in french. She ordered new ones to be sent in the mail. Access cards are like debit cards except they don't have your name imprinted on them-and they can't be used like a credit card online. However, they are accepted at stores everywhere here just like debit cards.

Anyway, Cynthia at the bank is in my good book. She knew what she was doing, she did it with a smile and made it easy. I like that. Thanks, Cynthia!

A doomed love affair

It's a doomed love affair. He doesn't know that he is in love with someone (or something) that can't return it. Such gusto, such desire, such demanding first love! His day is complete when he can drag his love around the house, and snuggle down for a nap. He will go to any length to grab a few stolen minutes with his special someone (something).

We try to separate them, but it isn't working. He waits, he knows the moment will come. That door will open and he will jump on the chance to see her (?) again.

However, I want my scarf back. What is it with him . . . first my socks and now my scarf?!?

Quiche part two

Since my first quiche disappeared so quickly (I thought someone had thrown it away only to find out it was eaten!), I decided to do it again. But this time I followed the directions.

I increased the oven temperature since the oven runs a bit cold (it must be something around here about being cold LOL). I think it is almost 50 degrees off.




I had a bit too much of the egg mixture left over, so I made a couple little guys but without the pie crust. I think I like it better this way.

Hubby and both manchildren gobbled the quiches down. I don't why I never made these before but they are a hit.

High of -7 and dropping

Ok, so this post doesn't have anything to do with the COLD. Just thought I would drop that number in the title. Today, I went to the store around 2pm. On my van outside thermostat it registered -7. I don't think my poor little van has ever had that cold of a reading on the thermometer. And think-that was the high. Tonight should be really cold. Humans were not supposed to live in such weather. Or maybe THIS human isn't! LOL I should be in Hawaii with someone I know . . . .

Anyway, like I said, not a post on weather. Instead, let's talk about the kitten, who is 6 months old now.





He loves to sit at the top of the stairs that overlooks the living room. He can see his world this way. "Hmmm, who can I attack?" Chances are he will go for KC, Manchild #1 or me. He knows better than to attack Hubby or manchild #2. They trained him not to do that. Manchild #1 had trained him to go for the gusto and get him.

Go C-go get HIM!




Sheila sent me a hood/scarf for Christmas. It was hanging in the closet with the coats. I was walking by and C decided to bring it to me. Either he loves helping me or loves killing my scarves (and socks). You pick!



And finally, just for the fun of it-here is a picture of one of his wild and wooly whiskers. They go all over the place and then break off. Strange.

Jeans, boots, fuzzy blue socks

I need to rethink my jeans. Yeah, you heard me right . . . my jeans. I like boot cut or flair jeans, and on the long side. You know, lets drag a little. Not a lot, but just enough to remember the 70's.

Nice fuzzy blue socks-don't you think?

In dry weather, this isn't a problem. However, I don't think I live in dry weather. I live in snowy weather. I live where snow melts (eventually, I am hoping anyway). When I pull on my snow boots, my jeans cover them nicely-hence the term "boot-cut" jeans. BUT, if I walk just about anywhere outside, the bottoms get a little wet from the snow, or melting stuff (sometimes referred to as puddles of water). Then I go inside and I have wet bottoms of my jeans playing with my feet. My feet get cold. Hmmm.



So, I should get different jeans. Sigh, you know, old lady jeans that are more straight leg. They will tuck into boots. And then the bottoms won't be wet.



Why does it matter, you ask? Since I am supposed to stay inside during true snowy times, it shouldn't matter but, this snow has to go somewhere someday. And that somewhere will mean-well, more puddles. So, in addition to getting old lady jeans (yuck), I am also thinking of going the route of rain boots. And if I have to get rain boots (and I do think I will), I am thinking of getting some that will really drive the kids over the edge . . . after all, what else is there in life beside driving my kids over the edge.



So, I was looking and found some on Amazon in the states. I will have to look around here but this is the idea. How long will it be before they scream in agony begging me not to put my boots on? :)

KC

KC wants to go out . . . until we open the door. It's COLD out. It's a red light day (nothing new-its been a red light day for a lot of the days for the past few weeks).

He saw a bird outside this morning. He looked at it longingly, but wasn't enticed enough to actually go out. I don't blame him. Enjoy the outside by looking at it from the inside.

The is a close up of his chin/jaw. See how its a little bigger on the left side. That is his tumor. I don't think it has gotten much bigger since he had all those teeth removed. He seems fine except for a lopsided face (hmmmm, like cat, like ladyofthehouse).

And we can't end a little post without a close up of C. His issue is his whiskers. They break off. The last time we were at the vet, he only had ONE good whisker. That was a few months ago. I asked the vet why his whiskers break off. Hmmm, who knows and then she pulled on his good whisker. She pulled his good whisker out! Oh-well, its looks fine. His whiskers have come in pretty good with the exception of a couple that are sort of skewed. And one that is broken now.