This and That: A Blog

After a trip to St. Vincent de Paul, which gained me nothing once again, I stopped at the Goodwill Outlet store.  I was looking in one of the last few bins left when I found a vintage souvenir photo folder.  That gave me hope there would be more!  There were, two more folders, and a postcard booklet from Taxco, Mexico.  I had to gather up some of the interior pages of the Canadian folders that had fallen out.  There were also vintage postcards from the US, Canada, and Mexico. By vintage I mean prior to 1970 when the 3.5" x 5.5" was "standard size" in the US and Europe.  Now postcards are 4" x 6" which are called Continental size, because that was the standard size in Europe decades before the US adopted it.  In the US postage for postcards (65¢) is limited to 4.25" x 6" at the largest.  They also have to be a minimum of 3.5" x 5" and be rectangular.    The top postcard is  Lake Xochimilco in Mexico City with its historic canals and...

Well, the weather changed!  Suddenly.  Saturday night was 33°. Not quite freezing, but close enough.  It's been windy too, so much so I had to bring in the foam gravestones from the front yard Halloween display.  It's cold enough to haul out Mickey's blankie.  It's from St. Vincent de Paul (which I donated to on Saturday, but found nothing to buy). I picked on nice Bonny Best tomato yesterday, the others probably won't have time to ripen.  You know, you can pull out tomato plants and hang them upside down in a sheltered place and the fruit will ripen!  This is Pixie-Cup Lichen. Nearly ready for whatever I decide to get for the area where the deck was.  Probably decomposed granite, if only to get something there before the rainy weather.  I'll of course get rid of the plastic!   I edged what will be that area in rocks.  I had to use the claw end of a hammer (don't worry, it's a cheap hammer, I know how to use the good ones prop...

 Food is the Sunday Stamp theme this week. Three from the Bulgaria "Vegetables" series  from 1958. Cucumbers Onions  Peppers  Next week's theme is Red . 

  Skywatch Friday   A few skies from the past few weeks. Looking south from my backyard. The view of the Siskiyou Mountains to the west, from the gas station.   Eastern sky from the park with Roxy Ann Peak. Have a nice weekend. Our heatwave has broken, so the 90s are gone... again.  Hopefully for good.   Mickey's allergies are back and he has to go in for a shot on Monday.  Wish him luck.  The vet's office sold to a vet we don't care for, but so far I haven't found a new one that seems to be a good fit for him.  The current one isn't, but he needs his allergy shot.  He turned six yesterday.  He got a roasted rib bone and a squeaky duck toy, both wrapped in pink tissue.   Yes, he is a COVID pup.  Does that matter?  Multiple studies say, "Yes."  They were often less socially exposed in their critical early months, so have an increased risk of reactivity.  And he is quite reactive.

  Thursday Postcard Hunt : Sculptures or Statues Cigar Store Indian, XIX century, National Gallery of Art, Washington DC Lindworm Fountain in Klagenfurt, Austria. A Lindwurm is a mythical dragon-like creature in Northern and Central European folklore.   Depending on tradition and the story, Lindwurms can be good or bad.  Washington Park, Portland, OR Scottish knight and national hero,  Sir William Wallace , by Alex Carrick, Edinburgh Castle, Edinburgh, Scotland  c. 1940s Illustrations is next week's postcard theme.

  Wednesday Hodgepodge - Volume 674 1. Let's embrace it shall we? What's something you recently forgot to do? Is your memory these days more like a sieve or an elephant?  I think my memory is pretty good, maybe not as good as the proverbial elephant, but I can't remember the last thing I forgot.  That might be a bad thing, forgetting what I forgot.  I think remembering well is to do with my answer to number 2! 2. Share a trick/strategy you have to help you remember things you need to remember.  I make lists. Not lists on my phone, actual notepaper lists.  Grocery lists.  To-do lists.  I also have a real paper calendar taped to the side of my refrigerator.  I can clearly see when someone has an appointment so I don't plan something for the same date and time. 3. What's your favorite fall vegetable to cook with? Do you prefer your fall veggies roasted, blended into a warm soup, or fresh in a crisp autumn salad?  I don't care for the stric...