Life in the Bristolwood

And when times get tough, I bake cookies!  Yup.  Instead of making dinner late this afternoon, I somehow “short-circuited” and made cookies instead.  Now, you know things have been looking a bit dismal.  Yeah.  Well, I got out the cookbook and hand mixed a batch of Spritz cookies. 

I love Spritz.  I love them with frosting lavished on them with little sprinkles.  Mmmm…..actually, I am just a cookie monster, liking most varieties!  So….I got out my handy-dandy cookie press….placed some dough inside the cylinder…..put the press together…..pulled the trigger…..POW!!!  The cookie press broke. Imploded. I had to pick tiny bits of black plastic out of the dough. 

Thinking fast on my feet, I decided to convert my pressed creations (by the way, the press broke on the very FIRST cookie!) into Thumbprint cookies.  I rolled dough into delicate tiny balls, then placed my thumb into the center.  After all the cookies were on sheets for baking, I placed a bit of blueberry jam in each center.  Oh my!  The cookies were very good.

Don’t believe me?

Ask Murphy!

He climbed up on my chair when I left the room to place the first sheet in the oven.  He decided perhaps he needed to get a little more “personal” with my goodies!

Mark was sitting there next to Murphy, giving him tiny little pieces of cookie! 

As far as the Explorer goes, Mark is waiting on calls for several options.  In the end, it is likely we won’t get much for the vehicle.  I’m okay with that….We had hoped for a nice return to help pay for the new Subaru, but…..

Ah well!

So much has happened since my last post here…we have covered lots of ground. We did lots of running around here and there, mainly because of Christmas shopping and visiting!  So, I won’t bother to comment on what has been, but what we are doing presently.

One project that I do want to comment on is the new ramp that Ben nearly single-handedly built behind the house!  With Mark’s help and instruction, Ben not only built a wooden ramp which is longer than the old temporary one, but he also mixed and poured twenty-two bags of cement to form a beautiful sidewalk at the end of the ramp!

I honestly think a better job could not have been done.  Ben is very shy about me sharing about this project, but to see him mix one eighty pound bag of mix after another, then pour it and begin again was incredible!  I think most men would have been slowing down after ten bags, but Ben just kept right on going!

Our weather has been very strange this winter. While the Old Farmer’s Almanac predicted a colder and snowier winter than usual, we have had precious little snow and the temperatures have been mild.  We are supposed to be getting some snow over the next few days and I will welcome it!  The warmer temperatures we have had, along with the rain, have made me feel so chilly!  Better freezing temperatures with snow than warmer temperatures with rain and drizzle!  The dampness seems to get into one’s bones!

We are missing riding the snowmobiles this year.  Last year, we were able to have had several outings by this time, but with no snow, it has been impossible.  There was some snow up on Tug Hill, but Mark read accounts where the warm temps made nasty riding conditions with puddles. Yuck!

I have been in cleaning mode the past couple of weeks, wanting to thin out stuff we don’t want/need.  It is crazy how stuff piles up on us while we aren’t paying attention!  Michelle has been feeling the need to discard old junk as well.  We need to make a trip to one of the Salvation Army Stores soon!  I think this is the closest I come to making a New Year’s resolution.  I have just become restless looking at all the stuff that has been building up over the years.  We even have things from Mark’s dad who passed away seven years ago this month!

How about you?  Have you made any resolutions?  Do you usually stick with them, or do they fall be the wayside?

Michelle and I had a little fun today, posing Murphy and taking photos of him.  Angus was always like working with a fashion model….we would pose him and he would lovingly accommodate our wishes.  Murphy, on the other hand,  likes to do things his own way.  While Angus would “sit pretty”,  resting back on his haunches if we asked, Murphy kind of lies down and looks at us (and the camera) in disgust.

Today, Murphy was rather mild-mannered, listening to our instructions, then promptly lying down on the floor as if to tell us he simply was not going to make things that dreadfully easy for us!

As you can see, Murphy is just downright cute, so how could I ever yell at him? And yes, in the end, our model was greatly rewarded with cookies!  Mmmmmm!

My blog has been suffering from neglect, but it is a busy time of the year once again.

We have winterized the camper and it is tucked away for another winter, but the pool is still waiting and (believe it or not) the firewood is still waiting to come inside the garage. Yes, we are behind!  It seems like the Fall just kind of creeps up every year while we aren’t paying attention.  With the kids’ activities and all the running about for groceries and everything else, time seems to grow shorter and shorter!

Here is a photo of the view from the end of our driveway, looking down the hill.  As you can see, the trees have pretty much peaked.  I can’t believe the pile of leaves all over the driveway!  Oh, if only Autumn would last longer.  It arrives so covertly, then makes such a quick exit!  Just when the trees look their grandest, the rain and wind comes, blowing them all down to the ground.  Somehow, it just doesn’t seem fair at all!

I will have to try to do better with blogging, although I am not too sure how exciting life is right now!

When Michelle had a “bug” a little over a week ago, I wasn’t worried.  I seem to not be catching colds and such like I used to.  I was the one who, if in a room where someone sneezed,  I would get a cold.  But, not so much anymore.  Until a couple of nights ago. 

This bug really isn’t *so* awfully bad…..I was able to get up (in my terribly infirmed state)  this morning and cook up a batch of Beef Burgandy for a late lunch.  It was yet another recipe from that great book,  Slow Cooker Revolution.  I am pretty sure that the price of $17.99 that I paid for that book,  has been greatly given the stamp of approval by my family.  The Beef Burgandy was delicious, according to all.   It took some preparation,  but once in the Crockpot,  it was all so easy!

Oh, about this “bug”?   It resembles a head cold and just a general feeling of being drained.  The saddest part is,  I was feeling so envigorated by the cooler weather we had been having just before the proverbial shoe dropped!  It really isn’t that bad..probably more of an inconvenience!  I did notice when we ate our late lunch outside, on the porch, (oh, c’mon!  It was 55 out and the sun was shining!!!)  I felt much better.  I love fresh air!  The sun helped, too!

I don’t have photos for today.  I have been very limited in the photography area.  We have been spending a great deal of time talking with car dealers and such….I do not have the stamina it would take to “wheel and deal”,  but Mark is so good at this kind of stuff.  I keep telling him he should be an “advocate” for those needing one,  such as the elderly and disabled.  He would also make a great attorney as logic seems like a strong point with him.

If you are in the market for car-buying,  it would be to your great benefit to learn of a couple of amazing online tools:

1.) Truecar :   http://www.truecar.com/      This site is INVALUABLE!!!  It gives you the information you only WISH you could find.  Although it will give you the name of dealerships that work with this program,  Mark used the pricing for leverage with a dealership that is not associated with Truecar.  If you have any questions,  please let me know and I will pass them along to Mark.  He LOVES this…having previously worked with Kelly Blue Book,  Edmunds, and NADA…all online.

2.)  IF you have  a great credit rating, check out PenFed Credit Union.  Oh my! That stands for Pentagon Federal Credit Union.  Although neither of us have served with the armed forces, we were able to join this credit union by simply making a contribution of $20 or $15 to one of the two options listed at their site.  Their rate for purchasing a new car, for up to 48 months, was 1.99%.  That is better than anything we had found.  Mark called and spoke with a fellow and got approved immediately.  Oh…did I mention their credit card?  If you use it for gasoline,  you save 5% at the pump!  That means for each dollar spent, your actual cost is 95 cents.   (BTW, Mark found this little gem by searching at banks.com for a competitive rate on auto loans)

Okay, so those are my two “hot tips” for tonight. 

Hopefully, I will be feeling MUCH better tomorrow and things will get back to normal.  Or, at least “more” normal!

We haven’t been doing to many things lately. Now that Michelle has begun classes at RIT,  she is spending a good deal of time on her studies.  We purposely decided to take things slow for a bit, so she could  get an idea how her workload might pan out.  She is so organized, writing a schedule and sticking to it.  She really is a good and disciplined student.

Yesterday,  I spent some time outside, photographing bees.  It was such a warm and balmy day and the bees were putting in overtime!  They were working so very hard!

Those bees are pretty smart.  With the temperature so warm yesterday, it was hard to comprehend how the temperature would nosedive rather abruptly and plummet to the point that “light frost” is predicted in some areas tonight!  I don’t mind…I am so ready for cooler weather!

As I was snapping away, I realized my favorite fall flowers are out right now!  I love the purples and golds.  So regal and elegant!

Today, Mark took Michelle to school and Ben traveled along as well.  They had some errands to run today and I just wanted to stay home and chill.  I was so glad I did.  I ddin’t accomplish a great deal, but it was nice to hear the sounds of silence!

Looking at Murphy, I got inspired to give the laddie a grooming.  He was less than thrilled, but having a quiet house with no noise and no distractions really made the job go more smoothly and quickly.  Although he tried to run off once or twice, Murphy really did a great job sitting still for me.  I had groomed Angus yesterday and although it would probably be easier to clean up once from this job, I have a hard time doing both boys in one day!

Yes, poor little Murphy…lying there trying to avoid eye contact with me.

As hard as I tried to coax the little fellow to sit up proper for a photo, he just stewed and turned his cute little face away! Ah well.  As I said, he was so good about the clippers and all.  I had done his nails last night and he dislikes that more than a clipping!

I will leave you with another photo of my beautiful Begonias that my father gave me for my birthday.  I just cannot get enough of them!

Last evening,  I went for a little walk down to the lake at the campground.  I wanted a photo for my journal since I had missed the day before. No matter how hard I tried to connect,  I just could not.  Bound and determined to get a “Blip”,  I found a rather cute (or ugly!)  capture. Thankfully, it published just fine last night.

While I am at it, here is the photo that did not upload the night before.  These ducks were at Darien Lake Park.

Okay, so back to last night. After my frog photo,  I walked back to the campsite when what should happen to be parked directly kitty-corner to our site?

Yes! That is a Scotty camper that is a 2010 remake of a camper  produced in 1963. As I looked at it,  I noticed Scottie statues placed here and there. Sure enough, guess what ELSE was there?

That is Flora,the Wheaten Scottie,  and her brother, Murdo, a Brindle. On the Scottie forums, when a Scottie lies down with his legs straight out like that, it is called “froggin’”!

I spoke to the friendly couple who owned the camper and pups.  They were so happy to hear about our Scotties, too!  They are both of Scottish descent and Frank plays the bagpipes!  Of course they would have a Scottycamper and two Scotties!!! It was so fun talking with them.  They gave me a card and we are going to keep in touch.

Before we left this morning,  Bonnie and Frank came over and took a picture of Michelle and I with Angus and Murphy!  I really enjoy camping because one often meets such nice people!

I didn’t misspell the title.  My space bar is and has been acting up. Sometimes it spaces, other times, not!  Anyway, when I saw the title, I thought it looked cool so I left it!   Then I tried to type above the above photo and after trying to move the photo several times, I GAVE UP!  Argh.   That dragonfly above really caught my attention with its BLUE eyes!

Yesterday, as I was  going through some photos remotely (Mark stores them for me on a computer so as not to clog up my laptop) I sat outside and a hummingbird buzzed up to the feeder.  I quickly grabbed my camera, but just as I snapped, the little bugger  “lifted off”!

And….as I was sitting on the porch swing,  these annoying bees kept buzzing by.  I am not frightened of bees, but these are annoying to say the least!  They apparently gather mud, then look for tiny places to build a little nest. 

Ben had bought a handy dandy “bug zapper” and I thought it was so stupid.  Well, the thing looks like a tennis racket and there is a little button to press.  While pressing the button, it activates a “charge” (via batteries) and zaps a bug as one swats it.  This little device has really comein handy….I think I have zapped close to 100 evil bees! I would never use it on bumblebees or honeybees, but these monsters…..YES! (and just think of the calories I am burning…hehehe)

When we were at the mall the other day, there were families of geese everywhere…..

Mark has been painting Ben’s door for his room. (now in its final stages..)  Ben wanted the door in his room to be a deep wine color.  Well, Mark said okay, but he didn’t want the part facing the hallway that color…a little too BOLD!  So, Mark diligently painted the door red facing Ben’s room! As he worked in the garage, Angus slept below the door. (it was propped up on sawhorses)   The little fellow wadded up a section of dropcloth  and….dropped off to sleep!

Have a great weekend!

After all,Murphy is here!

I was a wreck all day today. Not sure how anyone could be around me, truthfully.  The heat and humidity were doing me in and I am afraid I grumbled and complained instead of grinning and bearing it. And soo….

Yup….my little Murphy boy is showing me that tomorrow,  Bon Ton is having a summer sale…and there are actually CUTE sundresses in this flyer!  The last sundresses I bought were probably six or  more years ago and I had to throw them out last year.  They couldn’t even be recycled as they had tiny holes all over them! I am not much of a shopper, really.  But this is one sale I am *really* looking forward to!

Phew.  I think that would be a fairly accurate description of how I feel!  Things just keep on moving right along…

The kids finished their last classes at FLCC for this semester.  For Michelle, this also closes a chapter in her life story.  She has now completed two years at Finger Lakes Community College,  although she will be taking three online courses this summer so she will receive an Associates in Applied Science Degree before beginning classes at Rochester Institute of Technology. She was a bit nervous about her grades as she wasn’t sure she would get an A in Micro Economics. Today, though, she received the good news she did indeed get an A.  She was thrilled, as she completes this semester with a 4.0 average.  Ben also looks like he is going to get an A in his class he took this semester as well.  We are so happy for both kids.  Although we have had some pretty stressful Tuesdays and Thursdays rushing to get out the door on time, it seems like the time flew by.  The kids think so, too!

We have been so busy taking the kids places the past couple of weeks.  It seems like they have a list of constant social engagements!  Mark and I really don’t mind taking the kids places,  as we find this allows us some time to kick back and relax!  The kids also have friends over an evening every week.  This is a bonus for me, as they scurry about, cleaning and putting things away.  That lessens my load!

We have been getting rain. And more rain. And even more rain!  I am not complaining, but it really is adding up!  The lake remains swollen and looks like it will take some time before it recedes.

After my little Panasonic camera took a tumble down into a ravine a few weeks ago,  I was a little heartbroken, as I missed my little point and shoot.  Well, Mark tried to fix that camera,  but it was just to no avail.  The camera is history.  Mark realized I really missed it, so he bought me another Panasonic camera.  This newer model was supposed to be great,  but after shooting in several different conditions, I was not impressed.  More like “de” pressed!   This sent Mark into deep research mode, looking for a high quality replacement. 

Mark’s saga found him turning to Ken Rockwell. Mark looked under his recommendation for the “world’s best point and shoot pocket camera” and saw the Canon S95. He then began looking for one of these models to no avail. One day,  we went to Best Buy, looking for something entirely different,  when Mark said we should check out the cameras.  Amazingly (and totally not showing up in the store’s inventory on the computers, as Mark had already checked) we saw one Canon S95. Naturally, we grabbed it.  I have been using this camera for my photos since May 5th and  I am still shaking my head in disbelief  that such a small camera could compete with images taken from my Nikon D-90. 

Yesterday, I joined a community (site)  that originates from Scotland after inquiring about it from a friend in Scotland who uses it.  The gist of this site is that you can only submit a photo you took on the day it is published and you may submit only one photo per day.  I have been looking for just such a challenge for some time now, as I love honing my skills and taking a bit of a more critical look at the world around me in an artistic light.  Grabbing at subjects becomes second nature and makes life more appealing and vibrant!

Today, I felt at such a loss when it came to shooting photos.  Taking an electronic device out into drizzling wet, damp weather could mean the recipe for a disaster!  I did sling my tiny camera bag over my shoulder “just in case” .

After picking the kids up from school this afternoon,  we took a (much needed on my behalf!) trip to Waterloo to shop at the outlet mall there. Mark set up his computer and, being in the good company of Angus and Murphy, said to take my time shopping.  Now, realize I rarely ever shop.  Sincerely,  I buy few clothes and wear them until they are pretty much useless! This past winter,  I  finally discarded a beautiful plaid jumper I had purchased at a Salvation Army Store for $4.99.  I wore that jumper for seven years, over and over again, until it had a few holes in it and was nearly threadbare in some areas. So, for me to go shopping at a real store is quite unusual.  (I have shopped a few times for clothing for a special occasion, though)

As I hopped out of the truck,  I did take along the tiny Canon camera. I walked the entire perimeter of the mall (quite a nice hike, methinks!) and even found some things to photograph! I did buy a pair of sneakers and when I stopped at Coldwater Creek, I found a skirt, blouse, and a beautiful tee shirt. 

When we got home,  I had to sort through my photos and find one that I really liked and wanted to share for my journal.  I was disappointed that my choices would be limited,  but was surprised by what I saw on the SD card! And so, I will share a few photos from today.

I took this photo before we left to take the kids to Canandaigua this morning.  I love the way it turned out with the fog in the background, making the leaves even more exciting, but I wish I would have been more careful not to capture the side of the garage. These are leaves coming out on the Shagbark Hickory tree.  I love the way the outer “shell” rolls back and exposes the cluster of leaves in the center, looking like hands clasped together.  At this ‘point,  they remind me of drawings I have seen of candles hung on Christmas trees before electricity was a mainstay in homes.  The candles were placed in little “cups” and clipped onto tree branches.

After dropping the kids off at school,  Mark and I went over to Lowe’s.  I wanted to look at some things,  so Mark pulled out his small travler guitar and began strumming  away.  He connects the guitar to the sound system in the truck and his music issues forth through the speakers!

Having  no one else with me,  I got to really look over all kinds of goodies in the store.  It sure was fun.  After looking at lots of building materials and lights and all sorts of other things, I went outside to look at fountains and flowers. These New Guinea Impatiens were so beautiful and had just received a good watering via Mother Nature!

After I returned to Mark and the Scottie boys in the truck,  we passed some time just talking and waiting for the kids to call us when they were done. After we picked them up, we were off to the outlet mall.

I was originally looking for a sundress or two.  It became evident within a short period of time Iwasn’t going to find anything Iwas looking for. All the dresses are such bold colors and I just didn’t like anything I saw.  Also, the lengths of the dresses were so short! I  have never liked short dresses and these remind me of what one wears on a wee baby….short dresses with tights!  Ugh!  Oh well, that didn’t phase my intent to look inside several stores and walk the perimeter of the mall.

As I walked along,  there were areas where the sweetest “perfume” seemed to be pouring out.  As I halted my brisk pace,  I spotted the source!

I only wish  I could send along a sample of their scent….

There were many kiddie rides with different themes located throughout the shopping areas.  I saw some Mickey Mouse,  Sesame Street,  but most of all……

The rides were all shiny and sparkling clean, power-washed by (once again!) Mother Nature.  It seemed so sad seeing them sitting idle,  but kids would need some serious rain gear today!

I got back to Mark and the Scotties before the kids.  So we waited…

When the kids came back,  Angus was very happy.  So was Michelle!

As you can see,  the image quality of this little Canon camera is awesome!  The only problem, though,  is this camera is made in Japan. Because of that,  it is nearly impossible to find one.  We have discovered that some auto manufacturers here in the US have closed some production because they cannot get parts because they are made in Japan.  Many Japanese companies remain down because of insufficient electricity to run them.  Forget seeing any of the new cameras and gadgets recently introduced.  I read that some autos shipped to the US from Japan had higher than safe levels of radioactivity.  I am thinking this terrible earthquake and resulting tsunami might cost the entire world some inconvenience and maybe even some jobs….at least for a time.