Had to Post

 on the last day of 2021. At least, say goodbye to Betty White.

Margaret s friend An. is here for Chinese food <mostly > some good wine and company. They wathced ' the Martian ' while, I tured to recover from sleep deprivation. I woke at 5 AM, couldn't go back to sleep. I had a little soup and crashed -at 9 my eyes were open - a little.

We had a busy day. Clean house, exercise < me > and get the food. Actually, we were fairly well prepared and events went smoothly. Then I started to feel, well, slightly off. Just out of sorts, like maybe, not enough sleep.

2021. We didn't travel. I fished a bit. Oh, wow, sounds boring. It was.
We are not globe trotters but now that we can compare say 2019 w/ 2021 - what a difference.

If your New Years resolution - is to make one more year, that can sound pretty desperate. On the plus side, 2022 is a Tiger year on the Chinese zodiac. That means, 6 cycles for me, from 1950.

OK. Here is me hoping for one more cycle. See, that is ambitious.

Happy NEWER Year. Better year. 

signing off

Closing In on the Nu Year

 Which will bring, peace and Joy - plus the end to CV 19 pandemic

As CV becomes the nu flu on a regular basis.

So, let s see. We get shots for flu, pneumonia and shingles - at least I do.

Let us add CV19 yearly Vx < booster > or up date shot

Weather is close to freezing but above w/ damp < ugh ! > and a light but uncomfortable wind.
I used the CAT compressor to pump up the tires. I bought a gun compressor < yes, straight from StarWars >, the little guy chugs away like the ' train that could ' and tries really hard. After 2 tires < filling from 25 -> 30 PSI > -   ugh,ugh, cough , cough - " I don't want to go, no more ' happens. The compressor must have a fail - safe stop mechanism for over heating.

I brought ou the CAT and she went right to work - automatic read for pressure, gets close to set point and slows and finishes. She is a beast.

New Years Eve. A small get together < 3 > w/ Chinese food and whatever movies that we can agree on. Something w/ Matt Damon seems to be, in order.
We shall see said the Zen Master.

Confession 101. Slept in, mega. I woke at 5 ish and tried to sleep downstairs - played ' Find the Difference ' game app and crashed

Suddenly at 9:30 AM my eyes popped open and brain said ' Good God or God Good ' what is this - and I was awake, mostly. A coffee set me upright and a bit of walking seemed to help. Life happened.

SuperStore

quite early, is a breeze. Parking lot, store - check out, was walk right up and go.

However, you should never shop on an empty stomach or if you are really cheap. You see, RCSS < superstore aka >, had a cold bin w/ prime rib at 6.99 / # at $12 / # off. Still it cost $51 but its meat for days for us. The Devil made me do it ! 

OK, that might have been a little excessive. But we are not travelling - and it is meat for 4 meals easily. Yes, I'm feeling a tad guilty

The day is damp and raw- the wind bites. Ah, winter in the 6ix.

 

How Bad Was It

 w/ the freezy, sleety snow. Sort of OK for us, in here.

We had a simple dinner potato scone, egg and back bacon < Canadian > w/  a little fried mashed potato.
The scones are from the British < Scottish > bakery. They were part of M Xmas stocking or extra s.

Again, this year I'm battling to keep the humidity level up. I don't trust those in furnace humidifiers. I bought a mister < ultrasonic type > but have found that water sprayed on a towel over the heater really helps. I saw readings of 30 % w/ out the moisture steps.
I'd like the humidity to touch 40.

No blue lights out front b/c I have not been upstairs.

Been out driving, roads slushy but good grip mostly. I returned our empties - mega cans < beer >, mega bottles < wine >

A mild day, very damp w/ a brisk wind - conditions are uncomfortable.

Follow up - maybe. I've been searching for the remote for our small TV < 22 in screen >. I looked everywhere - every place that I would have logically left the remote or safely put away.
Nada. So, I ordered one from Amazing Corp.

Today, M says ' whats this remote doing on my desk ' ?

Argghh ! It was the remote that was lost. And now, Ican tell you why it was there or left there. Duh ?

Warning : Freezy, Sleety Snow

 { this is post # 3251 }

is a- coming. Actually, the Environment Canada alert was slightly more technical BUT

I believe that I caught the gist of the message. Do not go out unless compelled to.
E.g. returning gifts or exchanging presents - the bare essentials, ma'am !

Further alert. We ate turkey again yesterday. Stuffing, rice < for me >, spuds < for her >, broccoli casserole and gravy. We always hem and haw about eating turkey two days running - well, we should. Great meal, encore.

This year, we let the turkey thaw for 3 1/2 days < instructions claim a shorter time but not for us > and sit at room temperature for close to an hour pre - cooking.
As well, the turkey sits and cools for an hour  < at least 45 minutes > post oven. M s friend A. listened to us and said that the turkey was the moistest ever. And ours, was really tasty. Ah, success.

My Xmas DVD was the Disney offering, the ' Mandalorian '. I watched Season 1 # 1 - 2. 
Rating. Better than most stuff that I get from Netflix and Prime. A little slow and the lead guy, Mando ? never takes off his helmet < he sure doesn't play in the NFL >

Plus, we watched 'News of World ' starring Tom Hanks. A former infantry Captain develops a trade as a crier < news reader >. He carries newspapers from town to town delivering the stories and events local to country to world.
Captain Kidd comes across a former settler's daughter, former Indian captive abandoned in a series of dadly events. His mission is to return the little girl to ' home '. The defintion of home mutates during the trek across Texas < which is not a nice place, post Civil War >.
Thus, a rating of 8 seems fair. However, on the Netflix scale - this DVD is a 15.

Yes, the storm blew in. Well, at least the first dose. Big swirling flakes and thrashing wind. Next will be the crap. A mushooga < made up word ? > of what Nature can deal out. Booze and coffee seem appropriate,

I truly, hope that I do not need to test the CAT.

Not a Creature

 was stirring < except a mouse >

Error. Wrong day --  BUT I coudn't get up today. Late night partying ? < NOT >

I have been playing ' Find the Difference ' app - 500 photos and you point out the odd spots in two photos.
Maybe up a little late - too often.

OK. One present yesterday was a 20 lb CAT, power station.
A. had heard me muse about a replacement air compressor and a jump start / power supply. Well, I guess he found this one and thought ' lets shut the guy up '

If it works < charging, now > well - a pretty neat package < 20 # mind you >.

Some features of CAT :

 AC power supply < will power a laptop >

DC power supply much like a battery

Jump start a 6 cylinder car

Night light work lamp

USB - junction < 4 outlets >

Door stop - sits flat on the floor

Air compressor - for up to 60 PSI < manual says more but Amazon reviews, say, no. >

and so much more

However, it still is # 20 to haul around

The less technical < read here, electronic > gift is an apple corer and peeler machine. Yes, I whined about peeling and M. said ' lets shut the guy up ' < are you seeing a theme here ?? >. Thus, ' more apple than dough ' cake might have gotten easier
We shall see said the Zen Master

' Meh - rry '

Christmas. to you and yours
peace and love < What the world needs now - Dionne knew >

Reference then. The latest movie for Netflix [ which now costs $ 11 and change ] describes two scientists who locate a " E L E " < extinction level event > object on target for Earth. The response is ' meh ' as in we've heard it before - leave us alone, scientists

So. Meh - rry Christmas. Except that I mean it in a good way.

" So this is Christmas
and what have you done "

another year older and deeper in debt < not true >.

Segue. Once again, I bought Xmas day clothes. Last try was pajamas from the Tiger. The tops had Xmas moose done in plaid and the bottoms had the matching plaid pattern as a trim down the sides. OMG. Butt ugly and made w/ polyesteer. Fit was crap and neither of us could wear any of it.

OK. At Walmart, I saw women s sleep tops w/ a Xmas cardinal < bird not the priest >. I bought 4 X plus and XL so that we can wear other clothes underneath.

XXXXXXX fingers and pray

Oh. Merriest of Christmases - love from me

Follow up. The movie ' Don't Look Up " where the ' meh ' came from is " meh " ish. W/ Jennifer Lawrence and Leonardo deCaprio plus several other name brands is definitely ' meh '.

Santa was good - booze galore
And the Xmas tops worked out.

Day is gray and rainy. Rainy.

a Blanket of white

 were happy tonight
Walking in a winter wonderland " authors Bernard / Smith

Obviously, we are not trying to drive in Scrberia or on our street or the access road < a bobsled course, of our own >

However, coffee in hand, I survey the sugar coated world outside. Birds not so happy - food is covered. 

Events : today is cook the turkey day. Likely, we'll eat the bird tomorrow - Xmas dinner afterall it seems.
The stuffing is the recipe of my entire life. I believe that there have been less than 5 occassions when I did not taste the family recipe for stuffing. In some years, probably twice. My cousin < mother s were sisters > makes the same recipe stuffing.
I recall a) mother was hospitalized one Christmas and father ordered a turkey. b)four times M and I were away in Florida and the islands. However, I bleieve that on at least one accassion we were here for Christmas
I will consult w/ the official keeper of records, M

Dec 23 in the 6ix

 or here

The Environment Canada advisory is for swirling winds and accumulation of snow beginning this evening and thru the night. Santa may need antifreeze and windshield wiper fluid < not to drink, mind >. 
The day begins gray and the wind chill is 26 or so.
Our turkey is thawing in the basement fridge. Through a mighty effort < really > I managed to pry the drumsticks apart and wash the inside. I read that you don't need to wash the turkey. Part of the reason < chickens too > is that you fling droplets of turkey all over the kitchen.

I think washing out the cavity is good for ice removal. And the neck was in there as well < stuck like glue >. Besides, I use the laundry tub and we don't cook down there. Today, I'll rub soya sauce all over the bird < my version of brining >
I think the soya sauce is a good seasoning and helps w/ surface bacteria growth prevention. We're used to eating rice < so go figure >. And you veteran readers know my one method theory for rubs - soya sauce, everytime, all the time.
                One sauce to rule them all
               One sauce to bring them all
               And its a dark one afterall

Alrighty, ran out and did chores -last items Xmas shopping that had to wait til today or tomorrow < tomorrow, much better but crowds and inclement roads < roads are ' inclement ?? > are a consideration.

I remembered to eat an orange for health and a episode of ' All Creatures Great and Small ' had Father Christmas < dressed in the traditional green suit > gifting oranges for Xmas celebration. Thus, an orange was reminiscent

The conundrum of Amazon. Amazon has our house on speed dial and we are not the only ones on the street. We are in direct competion w/ next door b/c they have a daughter who is yoked to her phone - read here Door Dash, Amazon etc. 
Oh ! the embarassment when we try to explain this lapse in consumerism or fit of consumerism that we promote.
And we never thought of ouselves as Amazon people < well, I didn't for sure >

Oh, the times, the times

" Oh, the times, they are a - changing " lyrics now owned by Sony or MegaCorp ......... by Bob Dylan

Decadence

 fish and chips for lunch. Well, somehow it felt the right move. And the Halibut House < very close > does good fries and halibut has real flavour. We added shrimp and a Caesar. And there are left overs, too boot.

The day was basically miserable tinged w/ ugly. Cold and damp w/  brisk wind. Surely a harbinger of poor conditions for overnight.

Onatrio has CV 19 case numbers that are setting records. Our rolling 7 day average < the only way to keep count > is up 2 X over the score a week ago. On the slightly not horrible side - in S. Africa # s may have peaked - maybe - we shall see said some weary gov't rep <likely they got a Zen Master, too >

2 Great Tragedies

 adage goes :

....the two great tragedies in Life are wanting something and getting it ....

Humhph. I'm all for the second. I sorta understand but still .... yeah, the second, for sure

A cold day in the ' 6 ' or ' Six '. I better check on the correct spelling < spelling ? >

Well our murder count is up < and the pandemic was blamed > Yet, we are supposedly alright b/c the bulk of the hits were gang related. I never quite felt re - assured by that attribution.

Blue lights went on at 6 ish AM.  Hello, you dog walkers !

The ' 6ix ' is also a ' spelling ' as is the ' sixth '. The appelation comes from Rapper - Drake who used the term in a song representing our area code, 416.
 And most Torontonians don't use any nicknames for the city.
Also, " T.O. " and ' T dot com ' are sometimes used
OR the classic " Tarantaaah ".
We native Torontonians have been accused of substitutung ' a ' for ' o ' thus Tarantaaah

And. Da da. Winter starts today. Approx 11 AM < don't know why - the moon is in conjunction w/ the jack of spades - or something >

It was a mixed bag kind of day. The sun showed up and wind and moisture < slightly >

And a visit to the Tiger ! Not too crowded and a little line up at cash.

Early Bird

got to Walmart at 7AM something, and the door was locked. I banged. Nada. Another guy came and said ' I'll try downstairs '

In a few minutes, a girl came w/ a wand - waved the sucker and the lights went green. Dada ! The magic doors slid open. Thus, 30 of us < customers > shopped in calm and quiet.
Except for " Associates, time for a sanitizing routine, clean all surfaces at your station ! " I didn't do anything.

Spent a bleeding fortune but it was all in a good cause. Embarassment prevention was the goal. 

Saved !!!!

Dampish and slightly windy. Uncomfortable kind of day. Gray and looming. Oops ! Day brightened quite a bit.

AND gifts for Christmas are prepped. Label and pretti - fy - and done
Good work, ace !

Holiday Time

 social run gets off to a fab < fabulous > start. The Brits use the ' fab ' short form a lot.

Yes. Blue lights are welcoming dog walkers on the street.

And my ' Great Wall ' cum kaleidoscope light show were a success. Plus. Next door can see the lit wall from their house. They love it.
The guys wanted to know how the wall stands. Oops ! I thought it was easy. They think its a wonder that it stays up. Better re - think the engineering.
The group < 5 > also feels that the wall can go on during the non winter months b/c the light show isn't really solely Xmas colours - sort of generic.

Warmest wishes for a wonderful holiday season.	View this email with images

the Greek Alphabet

in Science, there is a whole whack times that you needed to use / understand the Greek Alphabet. 
Alpha Beta Gamma Episilon e.g. were variables in equations. Or Alpha version, Beta version for first try and second try

But we never got to OMICRON

And now I know why

A freaking disaster happens - c.f. omicron variant as at now

Here. The blue lights were turned on ' to welcome dog walkers '. A blue beacon going home. The colour for Autism awareness and My choice for our Xmas deco s.

Apparently, ' deco ' is short form for ' decoration ' in England where they do a whole lot of those abbreviations. B/c I don't remember hearing ' uni ' for university before I went to England. In Agatha Christie, an older lady tut tut s the use of ' demo ' for demonstrations. As in ' he went to protest Animal cruelty at a demo '.

Unfortunately, we will have an ' omicron ' snow event as in a cascade of snow.

BTW, in reference to deco s on our street - and how we are flanked by ' animal - Santa ' light displays. Another household, also gave up in the U.S.. Nextdoor was a fabulous display for Xmas. Now, there is a 10 ft high lit sign w/ arrow that proclaims " DITTO  ---> "

Not us. We will do our colour / flashing window light thingy. Subtle but well intended. < CHEAP > Hey, not fair !!!
Thrifty. or something

The snow has tapered off. Looks messy but we aren't out there trying to drive. AND our house got voted worst house to get to in winter by the poker group. We have swervy hills and our street is sloped east to west. We are on the higher side about 4/5 of the way up but still, it can be tricky.

the Blue Beacon

shines, this morning. Hello, dog walkers, hello

Coffee, of course, typing away to the ether - verse 

Wind ish

say what ? In their lingo : a Colarado low is giving us its backside. Strong winds up to 50 - 60 could occur. Danger of flying objects and power outages.

Segue. Did you know that Feb 2021 had 5000 % more power outages than ever before ? This factoid was on Google trends 

Blue lights are ' on ' in front of the house. Aliens or / ' Hello, dog walker ' Our Xmas social calendar starts today w/ lunch and gifts at a friend of M s. Unfortunately, we cancelled a DE 26 do at my cousins. We have CV 19 hesitancy. We don't want to get it. 

You know curiously, I've heard no doctor etc express concern over dry home air as increasing infection rates or chances. Hmmm ! - dry membranes in airways, woulda thought ' not good '.
I've been running the humidifier.

Warm ish

and rain. We are in a flow of warm air on the backside of a pressure system. Maybe hitting 50 F and 64 tomorrow. And we do cool down after that 

Around the room. The window hosts a High Elven sword < full size >. The sword is a replica of the sword that elves used in the opening scenes of the ' Fellowship of the Ring ' in the battle of Dagorlad where Isildur cut the Ring from Sauron s hand. The sword weighs over ten pounds and looks pretty. I've tired swinging the sucker but it is rough going for me. As well, the Cutty Sark sits on the sill.

The ' drapes ' are green cotton fabric on curtain rods. I sewed the seams and arranged the system such that the lower < larger > piece, not only slides but the rod comes down and hooks below the window sill if needed. On the green curtain is a button that says ' I perched in Orillia '. Spring runs of perch draw thousands and the area has ' Perch Festival ' week. We rented a boat and PERCHED. The year was 1996 and brother Ken did not see 1997.
As well hooked on the curtain rod is a ' wristlet ' that proclaims ' Arsenal '   < more later >
The picture of ' Wonderwoman ' w/ the stylized WW on the box is on the cupboard. Someone thought that I was the kind of person that would appreciate - the DVD and DOLL. Yes, I have a Wonderwoman doll. I thought Gal Gadot was a babe and so was WonderThing. OK. They found the right person for it.
There is an open closet door

This Game

 or the fallout from playing " June s Journey ". June s Journey is a computer game and trap based on a murder. The player is given a scene and locates objects scattered around a room or cityscape. All the while, adding features to a home scene in the countryside.

Surprise !
I quit. The ultimate goal is
a) you'll spend money to buy  ' energy units ' or fooforaws < not their name mine >
b) get hooked into a network of fellow detectives to help solve the crime or meet online

Instead, I started ' Word Trip ' or make up words from a a scrambled set of letters. The goal is to waste time and keep your mind sharp.
or get you to buy coins that let you sneek peeks at words that are allowed. I won't pay and you are limited to hints   < that I have needed >. And if you won't pay then there are commercials in between the games.

Well, the front of the house is blue " hello street ! " mode. Recall, we hope, one dog walker will appreciate the gesture.

A sun filled day in the Big Smoke. We grocery shopped. If you say ' didn't you shop, Monday ? Yes.
This trip was a joint venture, partially b/c I failed in Monday s mission. Yeah, shopping is tough. In my defence, Real superStore didn't three items. Thats three out 30 that we bought today. 
Back to the game. 

My version of June s Journey is to look around this room and remember - where did the objects come from

One corner is a tribute to ' the Cutty Sark ', the clipper that set the record for London - Shanghai for ten years from approx.1869. It gives it s name to a blended Scotch.
I saw the Cutty Sark in Greenwich, England. BTW, a ' cutty sark ' is a girls pinafore. We see a clock and plaque of Cutty Sark. There is a model of the Cutty Sark in the window - drapes closed tho', right now. The model holds bar matches w/ Cutty Sark and a minature chocolate Whiskey bottle of Cutty Sark. 
I drank, Cutty Sark for a long time.

Scarberia Weather

 we catch the remnants of the big blow yesterday. Temperature fell from close to 50 Sat. afternoon to 34 or so today.

I did the ' traditional ' morning greeting of ' blue lights ' for the street. I figure, someone will say ' hey, their timer is ****ed ' and one walker will say ' so nice to see the colour, what a nice  Hello '.
So for the one walker

Oops ! Error. The day is a semi balmy 45 w/ damp and wind - OK a tiny bit raw.

We sucked out and went for halibut and chips in lieu of cooking. Sort of Sunday takeout for a non cooking day. We got a single order and split the package and came up w/ leftovers. I think  the fries are better than average.

We are slowly cleaning and tidying before the cleaning ladies come.

Oh, yeah. Cleaning before the cleaners - makes sense to me !

and the Wind and the Rain

 arrived as promised. In the camera, stuff is flying sideways and we hear the rains thrumming on the glass.

I started a book < ? > or a series of questions and observations in Google Docs. Why?
Dunno.

While waiitng for M in the Walmart parking lot, she was at the doctor s. Someone came to feed the pigeons. I watched as they - heck, this is what I wrote 

"" Asking ? Is ‘ Life on the Wire ' a substitute  ‘for the ramblings on the blog “ 2sentsworth “ on Blogspot. Currently, the number of posts is approaching 4 000 < liar, its 3234 posts >

Actually, I’ve always done the writing ‘ thing ‘ as memoirs a quasi - journal. However, ‘ 2sentsworth ‘ is the most consistent that I’ve ever been. 

And I’m not even sure what it is - life here in Scarborough, as its highlighted in the blog. """

And its true, I have pads and tablets < paper kind > from 1970 or so.

So, as long as you don't mind - loyal readers, really

like I'd stop.

From 1972, an article in Sports Illustrated < my ' bible ' for all things sport related >. Fletcher Jones the author of the quote, had seen his horse Typecast run down by a stayer, Convenience. Speed will win out. No.

' the scenario doesn't always work out the way would choose - for every dictum there is a contradiction '. 2 months later, Jones was killed in a plane crash.

Alright - what is so important about that quote. Life. And the certainty that some people maintain about their life, my life.

As in ' I always ........ ' which is a guarantee that the person doesn't and if they do then you really wouldn't want to have to be w/ that person

Follow up, 3:00 PM. The winds are roaring through the trees. Like jets taking off.

the Neighbours See Blue

 as they venture off down our street
I lit the front
as a ' HELLO ' and b/c no one else does it - Good Morning

the zoo animals on either side aren't litup until 6 PM      < by timer >
Here. I'm the timer

Its a dull day out there. But way warmer. Trotted down to the recycle bin to add garbage and was pleased to note the change in temperature. In fact, come Saturday maybe, we'll have close to 50 F

Plus, the threat of high winds and flooding potential. If we flood up here on the heights of Cedarbrae - woe to those below. We are 60 ft above the creek.

Treat of theWeek. Takeout Chinese from Skyland.

So, What Does

December 9, bring. Cool ish gray look out there. The yeast is warming.....

b/c the jar is stored in the fridge. I measurd out the yeast and its sitting til ......

bread day starts. 

This attempt will be bread 3.0. New tweaks to find a suitable way to make bread here.  
Such as warming the yeast to room temperature.
Letting the yeast, water and sugar mixture ferment for a period of time - this step creates a bubbly froth as the yeast cells digest the sugar.
A longer rise time < c.f. the 20 minutes that was in the first instructions mark 1.0  >. 
And a rising chamber b/c the kitchen is cool < coolest room other than our bedroom and basement < our Hurt Locker ! >
BTW, I got the ' mark ' nomenclature from wathcing ' Evolution of the Spifire : from Mark 1 to Mark 25
or version etc

We shall see said the Zen Master !!!!!

Taste confirms - a goodly loaf. Nicely brown, soft and moist.

Changes ? maybe the final rising in a loaf pan

 < ??? why >
The volume change would be easier to spot for the second rise

In fact, one tip was to cover the dough in the first rise w/ plastic wrap and outline the original ball in marker on the plastic  - when the dough is bigger than the original by 2X then its done

Overall, a solid effort. Rating is at least a 8 / 10.

to quote the Beatles
' its getting better all the time
can't get no worse ....' of course, it could be worse. But as advice has said ' its flour and water, just go for it '

the Promise

of a cruddy day for driving

I put on the Xmas tree < quite pretty ! >

And the front blue lights are lit - I'm saying ' hello ' to the world 

We skipped our 2 h drive for a visit to M s friends. Probably, OK but the temperature is hovering near 30 and the host locatipn is right on the water. There were fender benders all morning

And discovered that a former student lost her husband  in May < oops, guess that one got by me >. The student < grandma > would be 63 give or take. OMG. Life happens. 

Cold, Crisp

or f****** freezing

Glorious sun, tho' - Always hopeful when the sun blasts through.

" when you're smiling ... the sun comes shining through

We will run a test today 😃

Grinning like a fool and the day cooperated - so far. TG the wind died and is a wafting breeze after roaring for 20 h

Crisp ! and we segue into the piece de jour...

yes, Yes, YEs, YES  its apple cake again. OK. How does it compare to past issues of the recipe

Good. Delectable. I wouldn't kick it out of bed

I usually add yoghurt and flx seed. Sort of a fibre burst during the day

 

' the Lights Are On

... but you're not home " sang Robert Palmer < R.I.P. >

Ah, the twinkle lights on the garden hose wreath are running as is the ' kaleidoscope on the great wall of Me ' 

The dark was so gloomy looking, I turned on some sparkle. Everyone elese has timers set for 7 PM. These lights are manual timers < as in me >. One candle to light the way

the Sunday Morning Come Down

 but we didn't drink last night

Alabama, the Crimson Tide, won big last afternoon. SEC champions, a ticket to CFB final four, semi finals and reprieve from a dipsy wobbly season.

" roll Tide "

the Bread

is almost gone. Thus, one loaf in this house survived < in fridge > for 4 days. Guess, I'm not baking daily then. The homemade bread toasts up quite nicely. The homemade bread is not as sweet as some from the store. Of course, sweeter and saltier is going to appeal to the greatest % of buyers.

A gray day showing over the trees. Predicted weather is a grab bag of everything, hovering aorund freezing all day

Found on our tree

This year and for the past 20 something

Yes, homemade in the year - the craftsy bug hit

We Cooled Down

 a lot. As in, 10 degrees down. Spotty rain is due, mixed w/ who knows what

My social index goes way up today. I have lunch w/ A. The fare is dim sum or ' little tea '. In truth, there is nothing little about any of it. Lots of green tea, there will be grease and starch. I do insist on a veg dish, however, this step is token b/c everything else is ' super ' tasty which means - salt and oil.

Lunch as advertised. More or less, grease away !. The tea may dilute the damage < please >

Certain people should not shop together. A and I are dangerous, we can talk each other into buying anything. I see bathmats $22 plush and cleaning would be dicey. Instead, I buy a carpet runner for $ 10 that may need cutting into bath mat and sink mat < where you stand >, thus way cheaper. Remember tho' it is a runner, primarily. However, in a guy s bathroom and something easy to clean is Bonus. Then A decides that he'll buy 2.

Really ! we are poison to each other. His problem is worse b/c he would need to convince Grandma that a runner is a good idea.

Update, rain was drops and the wind was brisk but the sun lit up the world, thus not bad for winter.

We Warmed Up

 the birdides love it - the winged ones are frolicing < is frolic supposed to be on land ? >

However, a reprieve from the chill w/ some damp and wind.

A day to get jobs accomplished. Shopping b/c its Senior s day at Shoppers drug mart. 20 % off, regular merch < thats modern speak for stuff >

the un - Cyber Blog

 or the usual drivel. BUT

Important drivel, none the less. The day has promise, bit of sun that penetrated the cloud layer. Ah, the first of Dec - hey ! isn't St. Somebody s day. The patron saint of what do we do today.

It seems, that this is my last day to profit from ' Black Friday ', yes on Wed. That was, just in case that I panicked on Friday in Walmart. I did run the gauntlet on Monday and got the coffee on sale -      Maxwell House " good to the last drop "

I recall, in Florida, that we said we used Folgers and friends guffawed and lamented our choice < as poor, I suppose > Betcha that they use tapwater in their coffee maker w/ the premium blend. That means that are paying $13 / # to brew coffee w/ mineralized or hardish water from the municipal pipes.

They'd be better to spend $8 / # and use spring water. A coffee merchant who travels the world said, when asked ' I manage about three cups of coffee a week. If I don't know the water quality then I don't drink the coffee '.

I have my B.B.C. axiom. I use bacon, butter and coffee. If the doctor says cut out a member of BBC then I'll keep doing BBC.

" Success is counted sweetest by those who ne'er succeed "

This adage was at the back of my mind while I gave another try at bread making. Many modifications to the previous try. Way less agony - no esctacy either, tho'. I let the yeast sit in warm water and a tad of sugar < kinda get a start - took 15 minutes BTW >. The rising went well, a ballooning happened. The second rise was also on target. And baking was a solid 8 out of 10. Next time I'll use the thermometer sooner - an internal temperture of 195 - 200 is ' bread done '. My loaf got to 209 F. A smooch too long. 
The taste and texture test- nice soft bread, delicate flavour. Alrighty ! The rating is a 8 / 10. A bit of room for improvement. But I'm on track to becoming good.
We won't kick this bread out of bed. Hey, that sounds ....... kinky, No ?