Dreaming of Spring Gardening in the Middle of a Wisconsin winter part 2

[jvls1942]

that's a good way to keep a secret,
announce it online.
we made the Polish meatballs today.
Annie added the ingredients,, I stirred.
finally I decided to use the bread hook on the Kitchen Aid mixer.. the meatballs were quite firm but delicious.
note to self: next time make just a half recipe. two pounds of meat is more than two people need..
next time I want to use ground venison.

 

[Callender Girl]

Maybe you're right about that secret thing, Jim. But remember few people know who we REALLY are! I'm pretty sure even my closest friends don't know that I am, in this alternate world, Callender Girl -- kind of like a super hero except without special powers!

Congrats on the meatballs. I inherited a Kitchen Aide mixer from my dad. I can't say I've used it much lately, but it is a wonderful appliance. I still make food like I'm cooking for at least two people. I also eat a lot of leftovers, which saves on cooking time, propane and dishwashing. The microwave is my friend.

My sister is coming up tomorrow to visit for a few days. I am going to hurry around today, remove as much dust, pet hair and feathers from the house as possible, and pretend that I am a good housekeeper.

 

[jvls1942]

today i went and ordered new glasses.
after my eye appointment.
should get them in about two weeks.
12F as I am writing this. e1 AM..
was tired, but can't get to sleep.

 

[Callender Girl]

Sorry to hear about the sleeplessness. My barking big dog thought we should get up at midnight. My little dog agreed. I overruled them.

Hope you like your new glasses. I got new glasses in May -- bifocals. Which I only wear when doing fine detail work -- like trying to see the eye of the sewing machine needle. Bifocals are for old people! Can that possibly be me?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Crazy weather. Every time my water barrel thaws out it freezes right up. Make up your mind mother nature.

No bifocals here yet. Eyes bug me enough because of the cataracts. By bed I'm happy to close my eyes.

Wonder if we will get any sticking snow this year. It's usually not until March lately. Makes life easier, but can't be good on all the fields. Glad we don't farm anymore.

 

[Callender Girl]

My sister, who hasn't visited since September, has been here since Tuesday. She may avoid coming here because I always take advantage of having a second pair of hands and put her to work!

Yesterday, we re-hung a tarp on the run for the Taj Ma-Coop and wrestled a 10-foot-by-20-foot tarp around the run for my avatar coop. Sister is still soundly asleep at 4 a.m. I am downstairs nursing an aching back.

Come to think of it, if I was her I might not visit me very often either.

Today, my dogs have an early morning vet appointment. George, the almost 70-pounder, is a big baby. No matter how we start the trip, he always manages to end up sitting on her lap in the vehicle. As a diehard cat person, she is not charmed by his neediness.

Well, at least she gets some Christmas presents while she's here

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Glad you have your sister Barb. I only have brothers. I doubt any would offer to help me in any way. Give your sister a big hug from me. Give George one too. That vet is very scary.

 

[jvls1942]

sometimes it is just nice to have a pair of hands standing by , just in case..
that tractor is giving me fits. I believe there is ice/water in the carburetor .
I pointed a heat gun at it for a few minutes, but that makes me nervous with gasoline present..
tomorrow I will point an electric heater at it from a safer distance.. it will take longer, but a lot safer..
I did add a can of deicer to the gas.
Tom and Jerry for supper. along with Polish meat balls .

 

[Callender Girl]

Hope you SAFELY heat up that carburetor!

Our vet visit went surprisingly well! Normally, Dinah is restrained in the back seat while George, who is blind and BIG, ends up in the front. Carolyn tries to keep him on the floor, but he insists on piling on top of her in the seat. Getting him into the car always requires two people to lift the straight-legged, dead-weight boy into the vehicle.

Yesterday, Dinah hopped into the backseat -- and George, all on his own, climbed in behind her! He laid down on the seat and spent the entire trip quietly and calmly. He was a little hesitant to step down out of the car when we got there, but he did it on his own. Same basic scenario for the return trip. We've never had such a drama-free trip to the vet!

George, who was labeled "a handsome hunk" by the rescue group that had him -- has always had a weight issue. Thanks to switching out his dog treats for baby carrots, he has lost a total of 10 pounds.

Carolyn and I got all the tarps hung on the remaining coops yesterday and opened our presents last night. Lisa, I gave her the hug from you and she offered "hugs right back."

She's heading home this morning, but it's been a great few days.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Glad everything went all right Barb. I guess I shouldn't have counted my brothers out. Yesterday my oldest called to see how I was doing, and the youngest sent me a mystery gift. It was a Christmas screaming goat which made me laugh. The envelope had a return address from a vacant lot, but it was in his area so I figured him out. I guess someone was listening to my posts. So I guess I'm not as alone as I had been feeling that day.