Kim's Thoughts
Just a few thoughts I feel worthy of jotting down!
A Different Approach
The source for my Daily Photo Challenge Topics has been less than challenging, lately…..and, this month it is the alphabet – AGAIN! So, I went searching for a different list of challenges and found one by a photography group that I think I’m going to like. Their 2018 list is “Places” and their 2017 list is “Things”! Their lists are intended to be a weekly challenge, so there are 52 topics on each list and they are not meant to necessarily be done in order – you just check them off as you do them so you don’t repeat. But….I plan to continue doing it daily and in order – as much as I can…..and do them together – again, as much as I can! So……I’ll target doing one “Place” and one “Thing” daily and see how it goes! I think I can get pretty creative with most of the topics on both lists……and I’m thinking they just may be challenging!
Here are my first two from April 1st:
“Cobblestone Schoolhouse”
An Old Building – Places List
“Heavenly”
Clouds – Things List
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
And…..here are some other daily photos I’ve taken since my last post:
This Banana Toffee Pie was the best pie I’ve had in a very long time!!! The topic that day was “Oh My!” – perfect!
And…….the altar at my church on Easter Morning!
Catch ya on the flip side!!!
Beach Bound Love Bug
I met my friends, Tom and Janette, for lunch at Rohrbach’s in Gates, today. They just happen to have recently returned from their annual winter stay in Hawaii and they brought me back a cute little gift……something I saw he had posted a photo of on his blog while in Maui. I LOVE IT!!!! It just so happens that my Daily Photo Challenge topic for today is “I Wish” and I knew this was the perfect photo for it!!! I really do wish I had a cool VW Bug and I truly wish I could be driving it around the beaches on Maui……or anywhere tropical! hehehe Unfortunately, this one is a bank and can’t be driven, but……a girl can dream, can’t she?
The shot I used for my Daily Photo Challenge
Thanks so much for thinking of me, Tom and Janette……always a real joy to meet up with you! 😀
And, some other recent photos, while I’m here:
Taken today at a business next door to the restaurant where we had lunch!
Lunch yesterday at JoAndy’s — a great little place on the Tonawanda Indian Reservation
I’ll be back soon……
Maple Season Adventure
I went on my first adventure of the 2018 Adventure Season on Friday! Our Cobblestone Society hosted a day trip / bus tour for Maple Season. We started out at 9:00 am, made two stops, and got back home about 3:30 pm. And, it was a fantastic day!!! The weather cooperated – I won’t say it was “perfect”, because it was pretty cold, but the sun was shining all day and the sky was a gorgeous blue with just wisps of white clouds.
Here are some of the photos I took to capture our adventure to learn about all things maple….which, by the way, is a MAJOR produce for our state – second only to Vermont – and the Maple Tree is our state tree!!!
First stop was the Merle Maple Farm in Attica, NY, where we learned all about the process of tapping trees, getting the sap to the sugar shack, and producing pure maple syrup and maple sugar! This is the first I’ve heard words like “Permeate”, “Retentate”, and “RO” since I left the Pharmaceutical Industry…..I’m proud to say I understood everything he was saying about the process of extracting and purifying the sap into syrup products!!! 😀
As fate would have it, my Daily Photo Challenge topic for Friday was “Candy”!!! This was my choice for the challenge – Maple Sugar Candy!
The next stop was Cartwright’s Maple Tree Inn in Angelica (Short Track), NY where we had all-you-can-eat Buckwheat Pancakes with fresh pure maple syrup…..and some ham and sausage, too! I’ve had pure maple syrup in the past (at Cartwright’s, as a matter of fact) and thought it was OK, but still preferred the taste of Aunt Jemmiah – I thought the artificial stuff had a better flavor and is thicker! But, this was AMAZING!!! I do believe it has changed my mind about pure maple syrup!!! And, the pancakes…..OMG……what a meal — I ate four – two more than I should have, but I couldn’t help myself! A few of us also went downstairs to see the antique equipment and the processing room.
I’ll leave you with this chart found at Merle’s……..it shows the difference between the different natural sweeteners! Maple Syrup may be second highest in calories, but it is soooooo rich in nutrients – they are definitely NOT empty calories! We also learned that maple syrup can enhance most any flavors — adding maple syrup to your recipes will bring out the flavor of whatever you’re making without adding an overwhelming maple flavor. It is especially good with any tomato based foods – it can enhance the flavor and balance out the acidity to result in a truly amazingly tasting meal!
All this talk and touring of Sugar Shacks brought this wonderful old song to mind……
Birds of a Feather…..
If you read my earlier post, today, you know that I had a “free” day with nothing on my calendar, but a lot that I could have done to catch up after a busy month! Well, I did take advantage of the day with no set plans……but not to catch up……I turned it into a “me” day!
First, I ran a few errands and had some lunch. Then, picked up a platter I painted last week and drove out to the Rez for gas.
Then, I spent a lot of time hopping from one overlook to the next at the Iroquois Wildlife Refuge looking for birds and cool things to photograph…..I found a few overlooks that I haven’t been to before and saw a LOT of geese and several swans and other cool stuff I thought might make a good photo…..and, they did!!! The weather was good for it — cold, but very sunny and the water and sky were the most gorgeous blue!!! Here are some of the photos I took:
I ended the day by picking up a take-out plate from the Albion Rotary Club annual ham dinner…..YUM!
Other than being hit on by a real creepy guy – twice – at two different overlooks (same creeper), it was an amazing day!!!
Playing Catch Up
March has been an unbelievably busy month…..as I sit here looking over the calendar, I see that I had very little white space and lots of scribbles with times and notations and events and I wonder “when did I get anything routine done?”!!! But, I did! Isn’t it funny? No matter how busy we are…..no matter how much we think there just isn’t enough hours in the day…..we always seem to find time for what needs to get done…..and for what we really want to do! That last part seems to be the key…..we make time for the things we REALLY want to do – the things that are important or that NEED to be done……the rest just falls aside or waits to politely leave space for the good stuff and the necessary stuff! And, that is the main reason that my calendar ALSO has quite a bit of white-out and crossed out times that are replaced by something better or more necessary that came up! Life is short…..do what matters and forget the rest!
So, now I’m playing catch up with the things that waited politely for their time to fit into the plan! I am happy to report that, today, I have NOTHING on my calendar! NOTHING! See?
So, today I play catch up…..or maybe I let myself get sidetracked and do something fun…..doesn’t matter…..cause I have NOTHING on my calendar! 😀
I do have to go to Medina to pick up a platter I painted at a Paint Night last week, so who knows what that little side trip might open the doors to…..we’ll just have to see where the day takes me!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
But, for now, let’s talk PEARLS……I love pearls – they are so classic and are appropriate to wear with anything and everything! Pearls can add the finishing touch to an elegant little black dress or add some fun to a pair of jeans and a t-shirt! Some of the most elegant woman of our time rarely were seen without pearls….and were quoted attesting their love of pearls:
So, why am I going on and on about pearls this morning? Well, I recently discovered a new on-line trend on Facebook – pearl shucking!!! You join a Facebook party with a consultant – I follow a local girl who does it, but you can find ones from all over the country! Then, if you want to, you choose a piece of jewelry from their on-line catalog. The consultant, then, goes through the orders in the order she receives them……she sets out a variety of oysters and describes them all…..when it is your turn, you pick out the oyster you want her to shuck and she opens it to find your pearl! It is so exciting waiting to see what you get — it could be white or a variety of natural colors and could range in sizes! Whatever you get in your oyster is what she sends off to have set in the jewelry piece you selected! Even if you don’t choose to get a piece of jewelry, it is fun watching what everyone else gets…..but, if it is YOUR oyster, the anticipation is sooooooo exciting……and addicting!!! 😀 I have gotten several pieces – most have not arrived, yet, but the ones I have received are really awesome! My oysters have provided me with white, cream, peach, lavender, and even black pearls – I even got twins once!!! So far, my favorite pieces are a “Companion Ring” with a large cream pearl and a slightly smaller peach pearl and this “Angel by My Side” necklace I got in honor of my Mom (my first purchase)!
I can not wait to get the other pieces I have on the way!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Now, here are some of my favorite photos from the Daily Photo Challenge over the past couple of weeks….I’ll include the topics that inspired them:
Two
Food
Loud
Silent
Starts with B
HA!
Green
Bread
Season
Oh No!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
So, until next time…….remember:
Some Assembly Required Nightmare
OK, so I needed a new desk chair…..the old one was just that – OLD – it didn’t swivel well anymore, wouldn’t roll easily, it was lumpy and not very comfortable anymore and the leather on the arms was worn/torn to the point that all that was left was the foam that I couldn’t stop myself from picking at! It was at least 15 years old…..maybe more…..you know that is like 150 in chair years!!! So, I searched and found a new one I liked on the Office Depot web site and ordered it. It came in like 3 days! I was busy over the weekend, so didn’t think about assembling it until today.
First…..the box was mangled when it got here – one of the spokes on the base was sticking out a hole in the side and the top looked like it had been torn opened and taped back up by a pack of wild gorillas leaving gaps and holes! I was sure there were going to be pieces missing, but surprisingly it was all there and nothing was damaged – all good!
I mentioned needing to assemble a new chair to my brother this afternoon and he offered to come over and help, but…….macho me…….I said, no – I think I can do it – I’ve assembled chairs before – I’ll just call you if I run into trouble! Hindsight, being 20/20 – so they say, I know, now that was an offer I should not have refused! The box and description said that everything I would need is included – no additional tools or materials would be necessary!
I soon found out they failed to mention that I would need to solicit the services of an octopus…..or two……to help me complete the assembly!
I carefully removed all the pieces, checked them off the diagram to ensure I had everything, laid them out in the order of the assembly per the directions I read fully before starting, and got started!
The first caster I pressed into place on the base pinched my finger – OUCH! I was more careful with the other three. First step done with just that minor drama.
I then put the gas cylinder in the base – went in like a charm…..no issues!
Then, I had to screw the adjustment mechanism thingy to the bottom of the chair —- on the last chair I assembled, I did this backwards and had to redo it, so I read the directions and looked at the diagram carefully to not make the same mistake……luckily, this one had a tag that said “front” – something the other one lacked! I carefully placed the mechanism on the bottom of the seat with the tension adjuster facing the front and screwed in all four screws……and, as soon as I finished tightening the last screw I realized they meant the round knob that adjusts the rocking tension…..not the lever that adjusts the height…..and I, despite my care to ensure the contrary, I had it on backwards!!! UGH!!! So, I removed it, turned it, and reinstalled it! No biggie……at least this time I realized it before the rest of the chair was assembled and tilted the wrong way (which is what happened the last time…..and, believe me…..it is MUCH easier to put something together the right way the first time than take it apart and try to put it back together out of order!). So, crisis averted and on I went!
The seat went on the gas cylinder easily and was done in a flash! Confidence restored!
The step where I had to put the arms on, however, is where the whole project started to head south! The directions just say to affix the arms to the sides of the seat with the screws – they do not say that it is virtually impossible for one person with just two hands to hold the arm in place beside a base that is on casters (and in my case, on a wood floor – not carpeting) while inserting and turning a screw with an allen wrench! Even using my feet and knees, I could not keep the chair from running away from me and keep the arm in place and keep the allen wrench and screw from spending more time on the floor than doing their jobs!!! But……I’m a smart lady – I have some mechanical experience and I have three advanced degrees – I should be able to figure this out! And, I did!!! I laid the base on its side and screwed the arms on from what was now the “top”…..problem solved…..arms securely in place!
Putting the back on looked easy on paper……I had to lay it face down on the seat and screw in the first two screws (no more hovering in mid air trying to screw it in place, like the arms) and then carefully pivot it up into place and screw in the last two screws! Piece of cake, right? WRONG!!! What they failed, again, to mention was that octopus that would have been a HUGE help with this step — the WORST and most frustrating step of all! You see, because of the padding on the back and the seat, the holes were several inches from lining up so I could get the screw started! I literally had to compress the cushions, hold the rolling chair still, and screw the screws into holes I couldn’t see using that allen wrench that really prefers to keep jumping out of my hand to the floor than behaving and doing what it is meant to do……all at the same time……with just two hands!!! Images from old comedy routines where it takes three people to sit on and close an over-stuffed suitcase or trunk….except, they didn’t have the added complication of casters on a wood floor!!! I was seriously considering rolling the whole mess out the back door and giving up……but, the old chair – which may have been a mess, but it was fully assembled (by me, by the way) – was no longer available to go back to……it went to the road with the trash yesterday and some lucky pickers snatched it up before the trash guys came today!
But……after some slightly colorful language, a lot of sweat, and some stress that resulted in a little headache……the chair assembly was completed! I ensured all the screws were fully tightened……I didn’t have any parts left over…….all my fingers and limbs are still intact (although I do have a little blood blister from the pinch from step one)….the adjustment mechanism worked to get it to the height I’m comfortable with……the seat is tilted the right way and nothing is backwards…….and the chair is just as comfortable as it claimed and looked on the web site…….success!!! It only took me about 45 minutes to complete – although it seemed like several hours – and that was with a couple interruptions and one “I’m done” trip to sit at the computer to “cool off”!
WHEW!!! I have a GREAT chair and about a 1,200 word blog post to show for my troubles! Now, if I can just remember to remind myself of this experience the next time I think it is a good idea to purchase something that has to be assembled, I’ll be just fine!!! 😀
My wonderful new chair……may it last me the rest of my life!!!
Until I have something else entertaining to write about…….I wish you all well and hope you never have to hear the words “some assembly required”!
March On….
So, we’re winding down…..starting to close out the first quarter of 2018……getting to the last few official days of winter…….wrapping up the days where we need to bundle up in heavy clothing! And, so we March On……on to the month I affectionately like to call “pre-Spring”…….on to thinking seriously about Adventure Season……on to warmer days and sunnier skies!
We’ve been getting a taste of Spring over the course of a few days here and there peppered in over the past couple of weeks. It is really giving me Spring Fever! I took the covers off my Adirondack chairs and moved my patio table set away from the corner, yesterday – just felt like making my deck ready to go out and sit to read whenever a good day presents itself. I cleaned out my cobblestone bird house to get it ready for a new family to move in as soon as they return from their southern winter (well, I need to be honest, here – I “started” and “tried” to clean it out – but, the screws wouldn’t come out of the cover, so I had to get my brother to do it……but, the thought was there and the deed got done). I moved all but one warmer coat from the rack by the door to the coat closet and put my winter boots away. Yes…..I’ve been preparing for the inevitable, although not necessarily imminent, onset of Spring and Summer!
Unfortunately, though……we have a winter storm blowing in tonight! Hopefully the LAST of the heavy, accumulating snow falls with 3-6 inches – depending on where you are and what weather guy you listen to! I’m staying positive, though……I’m reminding everyone who I hear complain about the predicted snow that we WANT to have a storm on the first couple of days of March – we WANT it to come in like a LION so that it will be guaranteed to go out like a LAMB! And, after all, it IS still officially winter and we DO live in Western NY, so what do we expect? We can only hope that it will be the last of the noticable snow falls…….
So, with that said……I’ll leave you with a follow up message and a couple of my favorite Daily Photo Challenge photos taken since my last post:
Country Line Dancing Class – UPDATE: I survived the first two classes! I was right – I am NOT going to leave these sessions as a professional dancer, but I did manage to not break my neck by falling over my two left feet! It was awesome fun and a real workout and I got to spend time with good friends……so, on to the next four weeks!
See you next time I have something wise to share and time to share it!!! 😀
I’m Going Boot Scootin’
For the next six weeks…..starting tonight…..two good friends and I will meet up each Tuesday evening for some fun……we signed up for Country Line Dancing classes at a local dance studio! Yep…..we’re going boot scootin’ and we’re gonna boogie!!! 😀 I have not been dancing (other than at my 40th class reunion in 2014) in YEARS!!! I used to love to dance and went dancing practically every weekend, not to mention tap and modern jazz tap lessons I took when I was much, much younger…..hehehe. But, got out of the habit when I got married and settled down. So, I’m grossly out of practice and, I’m sure, way out of touch with the latest dance moves! But, I’m going to give it the old college try and see what happens! Oh, I don’t have any grand ideas that I’ll become an expert —- in fact, I likely won’t remember much of what I learn —- but, I do know that for the next six weeks, I’ll have a TON of fun with two good friends and get some much needed exercise…….I just hope I don’t trip over these two left feet I’ve developed over the years of not dancing regularly!!! LOL Now…..if I could just find that cowboy hat and boots I used to wear all the time……..
And, now……for a few of my favorite Daily Photo Challenge pics taken since my last post:
Catch ya next time…….if I don’t break my neck line dancing! 😀
Movie Review: Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
Today was movie day with a friend. There were a few movies we’ve been thinking about seeing and decided on Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri today! I had high hopes for this one…..good cast line up……good story…….a trailer that grabbed my attention……looked good! Well, I can sum up my response to that in just five words: “You can’t like them all”!
Actually, I do believe this could have been a really good movie – I did like the story and the basic idea behind it – I did like the actors and thought they did a good job in their roles…..but my positive thoughts end there. It was a dark, sad story of depression, racism, good-ole-boy mentality, and all that is bad about some small towns. The bad language was over the top and I thought the movie was just plain depressing and offensive.
That being said…….it actually did the job it apparently intended to do – it sparked some pretty strong emotions in me! And, it portrayed a topic that is messy and not something that can be presented lightly. So, yeah — it was meant to be all those things — it just isn’t the kind of movie I want to see when I go out with a friend for an afternoon matinee!
So – the story is about Mildred, played brilliantly by Francis McDormand, whose daughter, Angela, is brutally raped and murdered on a lonely stretch of road outside of town seven or so months prior to the start of the story. Mildred feels the police have not given her daughter’s case the attention it deserves and can not get past it. Her depression fuels her rage and she decides to rent three billboards on the same stretch of road Angela was murdered on – in the old burma-shave style, they briefly describe the crime and ask why there has been no arrests – challenging them to do their jobs and find the guy who killed her daughter. This sparks major controversy in the town and gets the attention of the local police…..not necessarily in a good way. Woody Harrelson plays Police Chief Willoughby, who she personally names on the billboards – Harrelson does a very good job of showing the turmoil going on in Willoughby’s life both professionally and personally. Then, there is Officer Dixon, played very convincingly by Sam Rockwell – a hateful, racist, ignorant, horrible man that has no business being in the position he’s in. Other characters include Mildred’s son, friends, and ex-husband, other police officers, and more notably, the young man who runs the advertising company that rents the billboards to Mildred.
I felt deeply for Mildred – her life is totally consumed with depression over the loss of her daughter. I also, although not at first, felt sorry for Willoughby. I absolutely hated Officer Dixon – at one point, I was sure we were going to find that HE was the one who killed Angela cause he just seemed like that kind of a guy. I also hated the way these characters treated each other and talked to each other —- even the family relationships —- it was very upsetting!
And, I think the worst part is that it just “ends”…….all of a sudden the screen went black and the credits started to roll and I sat there, threw my hands up, and said “that’s it????”!!!! Totally leave you hanging…….and not in a good anticipation, draw your own conclusion kinda way!!!!
So…….I guess I don’t have to say it, but I rate this one a C…….the only reason it isn’t much less than a C is because it was obviously meant to elicit strong emotions and it definitely did that – I also recognize that the topic is one that could really only be presented in a dark way……and, that’s OK and I still think it could have been a really good movie, if it was done a little differently and put together a little better! My advice — if you really think you want to see this one, save your money and wait for it to come on the small screen! Like I said, you can’t like them all…….
Here’s the official trailer…….
Just Checking In…..
So…..how do you slow the world down a little so life doesn’t pass by so quickly? I keep finding myself thinking that “it has been a few days since I’ve posted, I should post something” and I find it has actually been two weeks! UGH! But, I haven’t been sitting on my laurels all this time! I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again and again……when, exactly does this whole concept of retirement that involves sitting in a rocking chair watching the grass grow kick in? Oh, don’t get me wrong – I would HATE that and absolutely don’t want it to be my norm……but, a little bit of it would be nice……or even a nice happy medium where I get to slow down some, but still stay active! I guess I do it to myself – last year, I started the year out by de-stressing my life and refocusing the time I spend on things – I was less involved in things and organizations that didn’t relate back to my core interests and bring me the joy and fulfillment I want out of that sort of thing – I started going to the gym and added more adventures and craft fun to my plans. It worked for a while…….and, then, I started filling in my new found “free” time and by the end of the year, I was juggling my calendar again and starting a new business (that, BTW, was intended to be more of a side hobby….yeah, right – like I ever do anything “on the side”!) and got out of the habit of going to the gym and fell short of my book goal on Goodreads!!!
But…..it’s all good……I’m not complaining…..cause, like I said, I’d really hate it if that rocking chair became my normal! But, as spring and summer (and, therefore Adventure Season) approaches, I really do need to be sure I am not filling that calendar with “too” many things that don’t involve going to the movies, reading a good book, patio sun time, taking photos, smelling the peonies, and, of course, adventures!
Today will be a good day……I am going to the movies with a friend……and, yes, I will make time to do a movie review later today or tomorrow! I’ll devote the day to good conversation, movie enjoyment, popcorn, lunch, and whatever else we want to do that involves just enjoying each other’s company and not thinking of anything else! Then, I’ll take it a day at a time and see what life and the Good Lord has in store for me!
But, first, here are a few of my Daily Photo Challenge photos from the last couple of weeks…..
Wouldn’t you love to know what the topic was that inspired some of these? hehehe
Oh — and, I did a paint and sip night and this is the result: we did a huge mug that I can not wait to use for tea, cocoa, or soup……just one mug, three photos…..and, of course, it is PURPLE!!!! LOL
See you next time…….
Kim's Thoughts 
Recent Comments