Lehman s

And remember that they mean simple
no electrics, as they say in Jolly Ol' England

Spring arrived
after summer < last week > but feels like spring
70 F is the high.

Along w/ the experiment on ' Mom s piecrust ' - today it was ' oven fries ' , the crispiest possible.
This recipe involves using cornstarch as a coating. But not the powder way.
 You actually, make a paste by microwaving a cornstarch solution into the paste. The paste is spread on the ' washed and dried ' potatoes. Spray a baking pan w/ cooking spray and add 2 tbsp of cooking oil.
And into the oven.
Verdict. Yes, crispy and browned nicely. But a lot of work. Ever again ?   We shall see said the Zen Master.

BTW, the cooking spray lubricates the pan so that the cooking oil spreads evenly

Where Do We Go from Here

w/ C V 19 < notice how I abbreviated the abbreviation >

The new ' unnormal ' or what we learned and kept from this time

Well, seems as though we will elect fossils for our leaders. The next president looks to be 70 +, most senators appear to be kicking down death's door

Singers are young. Why not politicos ?

Minnesota is on fire. Not Canada - yet

Weather is dull- warm and can't make up its mind

We haven't learned anything - except that we are frail in
infrastructure 
political will
preparedness
awareness

We are supposed to be resilient
                                     in this together --- apart
                                     plateauing
I seem to be an expert on plateauing
I mentioned my exercise regimen and not being able to have a goal other than -- maintaining

Oh, the headline from Lehman s

European Garden Clogs - for you

 

Secret to a Spotless Home? ✨

elbow grease and these products
from Lehman s

Time to Turn off the Gookbox

from the Lehman s promo email

X'sell'ent advice
for this house, anyway

Yesterday, did a hack repair on the dishwasher. The wheels on the lower moving shelf have fallen off. No, not 1 or 2 but all. Some have been retrieved and others melted as they fell onto the heater coil.
Plastic, of course, and not re -useable as they are. I finally, found small bolts that can screw in and support the wheel.
Today, we will check and see if and how the bolts stood the heat THEN in a few weeks, if the repair lasts that long - a review to see how rusty etc the bolts got.
One good thing is that they screwed in easily and should come out the same way - right, start praying
now.
Plastic - hate plastic 
so unforgiving. Tiny little parts but try and replace them w/ anything. Wood and sometimes metal, well, I can usually work w/     but plastic is the devil s spawn

Update, the wheel repair held last night - yeah !

Today, re- re - repaired a cupboard hinge. Its been approx 12 yrs since the install of the cupboards. 2 hinges have dislodged - one I re - screwed in 8 yrs ago. This one hinge < lower cupboard, tucked in the corner - no light and you twist to get a screwdriver in > has failed monthly. In fact, this re - screwing was approx 4 months late - I gave up on re doing it.

As well, the PLASTIC flap on the magnetometer or whatever that powers the microwave flopped down two days ago. Okay, how many times have you repaired the flap < oh this must be the 6 th time in 8 yrs >
Plastic !!!! The little knobby thing that inserts and clicks in < hate that clicks in b/c it means the plastic deforms a little and goes in - when it fails - yesiree how do you get in to stay > 
this repair is using Gorilla glue - last repair lasted 2 yrs. This time < okay stupid, same glue as last time - why would this repair last longer >
b/c I braced the flap shut w/ a wood post for 1/2 hr to let the glue set. Last time, I taped the flap to help hold the flap in place.
We shall see said the Zen Master

Pizza for dinner  <  this is called ' Take out Wednesday > ' or support local business ' day. Except, we are talking ' Little Caesar's ' here - so not sure if local business is the right description.
Variety - what can I say
boredom dictates a change -  a little change

What to Do

we are easing restirctions here in the ' big Smoke '
or the ' 6 ' in rapper terms

There is a mood of tense anticipation. Restaurants are trying social distancing and wondering can they make a go w/ much reduced seating.
In all of this, my question comes back ' air travel ' did plane trips become just too easy. Do we travel b/c we can or b/c we need
Well, we found out

And this just in :

Warnings

5:43 AM EDT Tuesday 26 May 2020
Heat Warning in effect for:

• City of Toronto

First heat event of the season continues this week.

the Great Divide

believers and non believers

in Toronto, thousands gathereed and crowded Trinity - Bellwoods Park. TB Park is an urban setting slightly outside the downtown core or in the core depending how you do your geography.

This confluence, two days ago, brought the ire and consternation of officials throughout the city. No masks and very little effort in social distancing - despite the fact that there were open areas tangent to the thronged area.
These videos were dwarfed by the scenes from the U.S. in Memorial Day celebrations
Dire predictions of surges in C V 19 were quick to come.
Thus, believer or non believer in C V 19.

" Get Rid of Unwanted Pests " from Lehman s, my fav store. 
Sadly, I have gooten rid of all the critters that invade < well, brown ants might be resident still > but ' poison ' seemed the ticket. And TG that we don't have pets b/c the blocks are all around in the basement rooms
Warm - very, and sunny but rain is heavy in the air

Summer Arrived

in a late push, summer beat Spring to S Ont. The temperature is up and staying there. However, rain looks to be also racing in.

Why was spring so slow. 

A bit of gardening in the sun produced a lot of sweat
but a cleaner look to the plants

What is a productive day ? Weeds pulled and branches trimmed
A lamp that shorted out required a switch - or a switch on an extnesion cord. Not the greatest but it will do.
The lamp was touch control type, one touch on, second touch brighter and the third touch is off. A day ago there was a ' splat ' sound and the light went out.
That was the short circuit

Feeling Aches and Pains

yepper, from my friends at Lehman s

Oh, I forgot to mention when I said everything non - electrical - I meant it

Recall that I would be a mountain man but I'd need a receptacle to plug in an electric blanket
or Lehman s hotwater bottle that comes w/ its own blankie poo

As well, excitement ! My ' Larabars ' arrived from Amazon.ca. Two days elapsed, and bingo bango ! 4 ingredient Larabars < gluten free, dairy free, vegan, Kosher and virgin >. Well, mostly virgin.
Alirght, maybe got a tad bored. But packages at the door is a boost to the day < and free delivery >
Love that ' free ' delivery
Great day. Warm - light breeze and comfie out there

Canning Necessities

What ?????????
from the promo email that Lehman s sent out.

Lehman s gives a whole new perspective on life. Basically, its a lesson in ' how to do it w/out electricity ' I want everything but will never or seldom use it

At Lee Valley, a garden, workshop, innovative and workable gadgets etc, its the same w/ electricity and solar < lots of solar >
I own firestarter kits, candle lanterns, kettles that require no electricity or fireplace. All ' just in case '
I decided one day to start collecting pictures and description for the LV tools etc that I've bought and used < a smaller list >
However, I soon realized the duplicate nature of the conglomerate
You see if I liked a tool then I bought one for my Dad.
When Dad moved, some of the tools came to my tool room. When Dad passed then a lot more arrived in my workroom. I call it a workroom but actually it s more of display situation. I mean - not a lot of work happens down there.
Back to the LV collection. After all was done, there were 10 pages of pictures and captions. Oh, yes, the clothesline and the carry straps for drywall < nope, not yet > and scissors < specialty ones of all kinds >
A museum ? Dunno. But it is organized < mostly >

What s Out There at 6:15 A

Lots of sun and buds

the Darling Buds of May

The 7:15 A view - aha, squirrels hopping through the grass
Ya, squirrels.

The business of the day was a pickup trip to Walmart curbside. I dropped off a letter, donated to the Church
( Salvation Army branch ) and attempted to redeem bottle etc empties < no dice, 20 person line up >
And a nap !
Bingo bango - day gone
Big sun and close to 70
GREEN is the colour out there

And we got a regular shopping order at dinnertime

Deliveries commence again Sunday via Amazon

At Our Door

today
booze delivery

Alcohol order arrived

The sun has been out all day, wind is cool ish
harbingers of good weather though

Coming to a Door Near You

deliveries

This week, wine comes and a new area rug < Wayfair > and food plus I go for pickup in store

The day is dreary looking but big buds out there on the dogwoods and the large trees are leafing out
No deer and M is constantly looking

Still dreary

I checked my email and saw' delivered to door at 3:02 P / no signature required

Yes! there it was
There it is - on the floor and doing it s thing
Nice


Tracking has shown that Santa has left the N pole.
or our area rug is on the truck and coming our way
We will show the new accessory to our living room
Great ! old people - new rug
Should be the other way around - right

Hoping the Flowers Needed the Rain

b/c we're talking a solid 24 h of rain chance
and it seems to have poured for quite a while

So good morning.
In the news that not many care about
At Johns Hopkins University < you'll see the name at the bottom of all infected and deceased lists from C V 19 >. The coaching staff at JHU for men's lacrosse has added Jamison Koesterer and John Grant Jr.
JK is a BlueJay alumnus and part of the team that won the 2005 National Championship < sophmore >
then again in 2007.
Jr is a record setter everywhere. And still holds most goals and assists in many categories.
What does it mean ? Haven't a clue and will not know for months. Maybe Spring 2021 

Early to Rise

healthy and wise

Bull hockey.
Coffee is saving the day.

Apparently, M and I do not know good coffee.
The enemies of good coffee are air, water and time
Grind your beans at coffee time not before
Buy good beans
Use filtered water and especially a chlorine filter.

Oops ! Folgers for us out of the big container < 1 lb and a bit >
Is our coffee - mountain grown. Well, we store the coffee up high on a shelf. We do keep it refrigerated.

But I'm drinking, yesterday's coffee.

And I'm discovering that I am not alone.
To wit, in the last 4 days, our keyboard on the big laptop     < Hal, is his name >     wouldn't type a ' @ ' or ' ? '. Of course, I Googled it. 232 000 hits in under a second. Like the computer was waiting for me to ask the question.
Happens to lots of people. Why ? Dunno.
My theory is that the keyboard is so basic that there is a default setting. I think the computer gets a change signal during updating and is supposed to refer back to default < i.e. the way your keyboard was > but the default gets shifted. The keyboard we got by default was French. A biligual keyboard no less.
To my point, the keyboard is back. We got the ' @ ' symbol back w/ few tweaks. But ' ? ' took a few days and BTW ' ? ' came back on its own. See, default kicked in

Sun todya but has that ' rain is due look '

Darling Buds of May

are on display. The dogwood ( s ) b/c there are6 of them back and front are greening up.

The sun is out slight tinge of rain signs but not major

On the topic of opening, Ontario is starting this weekend and it continues. Marinas and golf courses got the early start. Next comes stores that are not in a indoor mall.
No schools or no announcement of going back. Universities have already switched many courses in the fall to remote learning for large lecture classes.

On the topic of what did you do during ' C V 19 isolation '
I mentioned not doing renovaations ala my younger friends. But today and the last 4 days - a whole lot of networking among the relatives is going on
To wit, I've sent and shared 2 lots of photos. As well, specificlly today, I forwarded a ' index of the photos which include dates and inscriptions form the back of the photo. And when you are going back to 1942 - well, a whole lot of people who might have known the names etc are gone

dreary

Elves like the rain

All day dreary going to light
w/ gorgeous sunset

Embarrassed. A friend said ' I guess that you got a lot of work done around the house '
NO
I can see a load of projects
but
yeah but ...... but ........ but ...... but

The friend is young - as in half my age
And I've marvelled at the difference in view point
These guys bought the cottage
and whoa
what a change in attitude that I saw

Stuffy

nose and 5AM and I'm awake

Speaking of awake or wakening. Suddenly, in one email a cascade of back and forths has produced an overwhelming interest in my paternal family history.

A cousin's cousin is doing archive work for the U of T
in Japanese Canadian history. Since I had photos and albums from the 1930 s, I volunteered to digitize the photos.
Well, I never got around to meeting the second cuz w/ the flash drive. I did take the data to Vancouver and my cousin has a copy.
The 2 nd cuz kept asking questions and finally, a week ago, I reached out to an Uncle in his late 80 s.
The two < uncle and my 2nd cuz > agreed to exchange info.
Then it happened. My uncle cc: an email to another nephew. You got it. That email got cc: ed to other cousins. Now, 7 cousins are in the email chain. One is a cousin - in - law and a keen geneologist.
Its a network now.
Like an acorn in fertile ground
The weather is warming but it comes w/ rain as in < next 3 days worth >

' not more

f***ing Elves ' is a quote from C.S. Lewis when an Inkling  < the Barovian Tea and Literary Society members > announced a story based on Elvish lore.

At least there is sun. 40 F out there.
The promise is 60 F and no frost as the last several nights have brought.
However, here in the Great White North < ish > the rule is no planting until the May long weekend or May 21.

FYI - did you know that Elves live in two Worlds at the same time. The world we live in and an alternate dimension that is ethereal and eternal

And Amazon is doing a bang up business w/ us ordering. Today, replacement brush heads arrived via Amazon. The orders went on w/ an area rug purchased this morning.

freezing hands

did the windows on the backside of the house
to take advantage of the cool
DUMB ! my hands froze

Warming up now

Sun on the frontside helped a bit

A warming trend is due, starting today and ramping up for the week ahead

We can really see the buds dominating out there

The day warmed slightly
Windows all done around the outside

And I was thinking < those have been dangerous words during my life - never think too much, you >
I have tried to write a book. Never got past, one page
Then
It hit me < see, I was thinking >
I am writing a book here - sloppy and disjointed
but
 its got many chapters and its continuous < or continual > No, I believe ' continuous is correct

One problem : this ' book ' has nothing about ' elves ' and that would be important to me.

Alright. Elves it is < but the Tolkien kind of Elves >

The Elves are the first born of Iluvatar. Elves were made in the image of the Creator.
Lovers of the Stars and the night sky. But, entranced by the Sea. A sea longing is in their psyche.
The Elves are long lived, many times the age of mortal men. And long life is not always the supreme gift. ' I was there, 3 000 years ago ....... ' spoke Elrond, Half Elven at the Council of Elrond.
Elrond related the story of the chance to destroy the One Ring. But Isildir, the new king could not throw away the Ring. And so what should have never been came to pass -

not yet

the next weather pattern is days away
the meteorologists have names for humps and ridges, troughs etc
a hump thingy is going away gradually

It means nicer weather

A slight improvement over yesterday, but barely
and yes, I saw snowflakes. No accumulation but like down flying

May Warm Up

I used ' may ' b/c there is promise
lots of sun
but we will be warmer than yesterday
barely
deerly - we had a sentinel deer that surveyed the ravine from our property then took off

I wore my toque out htis morning and was not overdressed. Clouds have predominated this late morning and afternoon. We had sprinkles around 1:30

Update or forgotten snippets. Friday, the plan was order in ribs from a new place 'Art of BBQ '.
Accomplished. Then, as long ago, I would make jam turnovers from pastry < Mom s leftover dough from  a pie >. We made the pastry and refrigerated the dough. At 5, our neighbour dropped by saying ' I remember it was your birthday and bought some takeout from the Chinese hot table '.
Well, that was dinner and dessert.
Thus, Saturday become ' jam tart ' day. We made tartlets w/ jam and w/ leftover dough made                  ' empanadas ala me ' or jam filled pastry turnovers.
Great pastry. Gave away the tartlets to our neighbour < pay back > and ate the turnovers.
This recipe was all - buttet pie crust < not lard or shortening > TG its not fattening ! NOT

May 30

thats not the date
the backdeck thermometer reading w/ snow on the ground at sunup

We got married this day back 33 yrs and everyone was sweating.

I'm re - re - re - reading " the Instrumentalities of the Night ", a series by Glen Cook. During this time of 
C V 19 and the accompanying disruption and untimely deaths, I read :
< those who do the world's work are the first to feel her pain > prophetic or truly sad
or
< the divine conspiracy is no great engine with goose - greased parts turning over smoothly. It is a drunken tarantella in a cosmic town square where the dancers frequently forget what they are doing and wander off drunkenly, bumping into things, before purpose is recollected.
And like ants at their labours in the town common, those who do the world's work will, enjoy the sudden unpredictable strike of an inebriant's flashing hoof > 

For those words to be true - that theme must repeat itself and has done - for a large part of history
starting when - who knows

P.S. a cold day for May

octo de Mayo

in the rich Asian tradition of festival days

Cold start at 32 and rising to 40 F < break out the bikinis >

Wind is up and buds are out. A greening is going on out there. Robins are dancing through the grass.
Are there slow robins ? b/c they all look pretty sprightly to me

3 deer are camping in our backyard - this has been about 1/2 h
before they have wandered through
but they are laying down and chewing
obviously, looking to chill and unwind

Trust

OK, the system at PC Express oick up is that they text you when your order is ready. You go to Shoppers Drug Mart and go to the Pantry / Fridge / Freezer

Well, last time a manager saw me standing 
< looking lost > and helped me w/ my order. Last night, I walked up to the Pantry and the screen portal. No one around and the screen was flashing                  ' Loading '.
 While I wait - a lady walks up and opens the Pantry and roots around inside.
I can do that - I think.
I find my 3 parcels as in the text message. I stand at Customer Service < looking lost > and an associate on the phone says " you're OK, sir "  That was it
They didn't know me from Adam
I felt like a thief the whole time.

Sunny, right now and fairly still.

Clouded over in the last hour

Advice in the TorStar for the isolation of C V 19. The columnist advised projects that keep you engrossed in accomplishment. Been there and done that. More than once.
In fact, I'm struggling w/ the second memory book 
< notebook or keeper >. I'm using a 5 inch by 7 " notepad. And trying to maneuver or re - fit photos, tickets, or pamphlets etc to suit the dimensions of the 
notebook.

Dilly Dlly

cuz
lavender's blue

Research shows that ' Lavender s Blue ' is a old ish children s lullaby.
However, in being so out of touch, I find- its in Cinderella
Who knew !

A day of mostly cloud and likely 52 F w/ a N wind

Today s events. I noticed that a addendum to my on line license application reads : if you don't get your license w/in 14 days, apply at the license office.
I waited. The car license expires on the 8 th of May.
I got to the office. No line. Locked door. 
A guy coming out had a cashier leading hm out. The cashier says ' dealers only and all expiries are extended
Plus, picked up food at thePC express - on line pantry.

We are set for 3 or 10 or 13 days.
This is all dependent on wine and ice cream consumption

' I Like It , I Like It

are you liking it too '  by Herman and the Hermits ( ? )

Weather report, a chilly start but sun and 50 +
Thats all folks

A recap of yesterday. What did you do during the  
C V 19 isolation ? 
I re - started collating pictures, pamphlets and memorabilia of our trip to England in September 2019. Actually, restarted is incorrect. I've already sent a personalized memory book to our host family in Ashford, Middlesex   < here, read London boroughs ? >
However, a similar memory book for us would be appropriate.
Personalized for us. 
As well, I stained the legs of a wooden tripod. Previously, I had taken apart the tripod and sanded the legs. Unfinished work is to re - paint the fittings of the tripod and re - assemble.
The whole shebang is a telescope w/ swivel mount on the tripod. I bought the unit off a teacher acquaintance who moonlighted as a outfitter for restaurants etc by gathering interesting decor items.
The price is 1980 was $ 25. Thus, there is some value still in the piece.

I have always had some ' buffering ' < here read, crappy reception > in the exercise room. Messages appear on the screen ' do you want to shut down and re - checked your connection ' 
NO ! I'm in the basement furthest from the modem.

Well, the ' extender ' accepts the WiFi signal and re - sends a signal at 2.5 Ghz - a relay system if you would.
Worked great last night. We shall see said the Zen Master
My Amazon free delivery option is getting a workout
as is my credit card. B/c I also bought a USB powered eye mask that warms my eyes.
I have Blepahritis < a eye condition in which I make insufficient oil from the Meiobium glands >. The warming and subsequent massage helps promote flow
of eye oil.
I've been doing the eye routine for 24 years. But usually, its a facecloth rinsed in warm - ish water.
I do have a micorwave - able mask but its barely any improvement.
So far < one try > the electro mask is proving consistent < warmth > and handy.

' brilliant '

UK - ese for great or terrific
but here
to describe the morning
46F on the back deck and yes, full sun / very calm
headed for 70 ? F

Shakespeare can be quoted as saying ' let slip the dogs of salvage '  - NOT
But I'm watching <  binge - ing  > on the series          " Salvage Dogs ". A firm in Roanoke, Va retrieves, recycles and re - purposes items from buildings destined for demolition. The show that airs on our       ' DIY ' channel has been going for about 3 seasons.
Normally, a team of 5 goes out to a job site and later the show centres on a ' re - purpose ' segment. To wit, a large trolley would become a mobile sofa.
The shop at ' Black Dog Salvage ' is equipped w/ sheet metal bender, welding equipment and full size table saws. As well, the ' Dogs ' can plane and sand large pieces of plank < say, 20 inches wide and 10 - 20 ft long.
The ' new ' furniture is sold upstairs in a retail market
which of course, is filled w/ finds from jobs.
I find the show inspiring and validating. I can come nowhere near the size of jobs that they do but this house is filled w/ re- purposed and recycled items
My kind of show.

Boosting the Bottom Line

Amazon, the whale, is booming in the isolation era.

Unfortunately, or practically, I'm helping the surge
I love free shipping < free, what a loaded word >
But when shipping is sometimes 15 % the cost
and it would be b/c my items tend to be small
Not ellipticals or refrigerators et al which probably have smaller mark ups for delivery
The weather has turned. Mild out there and overcast yet. Wind is calm.
Tomorrow, 70 F and sun, baby

losing a hole

which is good

Should have been the news story of the day - the MONTH, the YEAR
its a side item in Sci Tech on CBC on line

The large ozone hole over the Arctic has closed

Originally, believed to be caused by the release of fluoro - hydrocarbons, the ozone layer hole was the harbinger of bad things to come. The ozone layer protects the earth from UV radiation in general.
W/ the growth in man made gases that deteriorated the ozone, a break in the layer had been detected over both poles.
 See what I mean !

Weather : 48 -> 62 F w/  a North wind at 6 mph
Cloudy / scattered showers but pressure rising
14h and 11m of sun
The sun sets at 8:20 PM

How do we mark the days, during this isolation time
Well, went to the Post Office and stood in line for 30 minutes < w/ distancing > 
we'll keep track, as in 14 days for incubation
quote the Zen Master on this one