cookware part 2

so now i been looking and researching
what is the best buy for the money
what will serve me the best for the longest

in my research i realized that while there are certain brands that are 'the best'
i also realized that 'the best' is what is best for YOU
or in this case ME
all clad may last a lifetime, but i am in my early 50's
and i have no children (and even if i did there is no guarentee they would like to cook)

plus it's heavy ... really heavy

ok so what have i decided

well first off i got a few tips i picked up (bless the cookware forums)
TJMAXX
(and marshalls, and tuesday morning but we have a tjmaxx here)

and indeed i found allclad, emeril (made by allclad) calphalon, cuisenart and some very good german (made in germany) and italian (made in italy) brands

i picked up a 3 quart emeril saute for 29.99
a 1.7 quart and a 2. something quart german sauce pan each with it's lid for 16.99 and 24.99 respectively that are ready for induction
and a cuisenart 3 quart stainless saucepan, with a lip and a draining lid with two sizes of holes for 24.99
i got a cast iron, enameled 6.5 quart dutch oven from sam's club for 38.and some change
i got a 12 quart cuisenart chef's classic stockpot with pasta insert and steamer basket for 72.91
and an 8' chef's knive for 25.99

what else is on my list??
a 5 quart saute, and a few more stock pots
i think that's it
i am going to look around for a well seasoned cast iron skillet
and i am also trying to get my magnalite pro replaced
i think that's all i need right now

after all, i been cooking on crap cookware for years......it's not the cookware, it's the cook
and i can after all........ really really cook
so better equipment will just make my job easier
no?
so better add a few more knives to that list huh?

vi

can we talk about..........(numerous updates and edits)

COOKWARE

we recently discovered we have 'reward points' $175 to be exact
so i decided to get gift certificates to amazon, and to replace our old (really crappy i will NEVER buy that again nor recommend it to a dog) cook's essentials

the non stick doesn't!
and it peels...... badly

now my cousin charles invented the PROCESS by which teflon is able to stick to metal to make non-stick cookware (cousin on my mom's side) and at the risk of family disloyalty i have to say
someone messed up
cause it doesn't stay non stick and it's bad for the birds (and i suspect us as well)
so the quest for cook ware

i have one revere limited edition tri-ply copper core saucepan, with brass handles
i got it in i think 78 or 79 at the revere outlet in flemington for something like 3.00
mom got one too but dad dumped it ( i am still kicking myself about that as well)
i adore it
nothing sticks......... it makes the very BEST sauces
and it cleans up like a dream
so that tri-ply construction is a good thing
so is stainless steel interiors and exteriors
now i also have the OLD (1978) magnalite pro by ghc which i am going to see if they will replace and honor the warrenty........
i liked them for things potatoes, soups, tomato sauce, chili ....but the acid apparently doesn't like them
so if i get them replaced, i will use them for things like non acid stuff
beans and stews and such

that leaves me to what all else i use and need

i have an 11'' straight sided saute pan i adore, it has a helper handle which is sheer genius and in a GOOD tri-ply should be awesome
that is my 'go to pan' for stove top
i saute chicken breasts, then remove and make the sauce in it
i saute chopmeat, add tomato sauce and throw in pasta for a fast stove top thing
i make smothered pork chops,
peppers, broccoli and mixed veggie with meat stir fries in it
i made my orange chicken and my cranberry chicken
i can reduce a sauce in it FAST
i have even been known to brown off meat, add liquid and let it braise with the lid on
it's big
it's flat
it's my favorite pan shape
i would adore it with a copper core...... i can't afford that
soooooooooo we'll get an aluminum core with stainless inside and out and a glass lid.....some folks don't like glass lids but i do

now onto the TYPES of stainless steel......and yes there ARE differences
there are three types you are going to run across (see this website HERE)
18/0
18/10
18/8
a fast explaination: higher number better stain resistance
and the key is RESISTANCE, not stain PROOF
also the 18/0 is able to be magnetized so is ok for induction ranges
we would prefer 18/10 inside the cookware (actually all over but if you only get an 'inside vs outside' i would opt for inside)

there are also gauges but i would say to you... heft the pan and see if you can lift it
now put a cabbage head in it and heft it again..... did your arm break?
if so keep looking

i am looking at:
calphlaon tri-ply
emeril pro clad line (made by all clad)

i am NOT looking at all clad (ok i am but i understand their customer service is a nightmare)
i am sort of looking at some of the other tri-ply lines however the one other that got super top ratings by cooks illustrated went out of business

now for long simmering on low heats you want something THICK, and heavy
that's why i had liked the magnalite
but now i want porcelain on cast iron
yup the le crueset
or at least something similar
sam's had a 6.5 dutch oven with cover for under 40.00
and you know what......it's also red! i am seriously thinking of getting that
i would like two but that's ok.....one is ok

now onto steaming veggies or making rice pilaf
i have a steamer arrangement that sort of works
it's an old t-fal saucepan with a revere ware steamer topper/insert thing, that i add the magnalite lid to
hahahaha
but it does work
you want that water to boil FAST and generate a lot of steam then cool down fast as well so it isn't oversteamed
at least i do
i need something to boil brussels in too...... so i have a tiny magnalite and i also need a couple of 2 and 3 quart sauce pans
something to cook rice in as well
(no i don't want a rice cooker)
then of course a stock pot or 6
and a pot large enough to cook pasta....with an insert
i have the insert!
stock pots need to be tall..... and they need to have heavy bottoms......really heavy
i like big ones
20 quarts is a good starter, as i want to fit a turkey carcass in there
i would also like a 25 quart and maybe even a 3o quart

now at this point i imagine you are all wondering (if you don't know us very well) why two people need such extreme cookware............
BATCH COOKING
CANNING
PRESERVING
yup we do it
ok so I do it........bernie doesn't usually
which also means I need to be able to lift them! for filling at least
so i need either a pot filler faucet over the stove.....which i would love but bernie is skeptical
or i need to be able to carry it at least half full over to the stove...... ( ok so maybe a quarter full, as when i lift these suckers full i tend to dislocate ribs)

i am actually thinking of the emeril proclad set but really i don't need the frying pan or the steamer insert thingie
and the 'dutch oven' is 6 quarts......smallish for my big batch cooking and preserving
and a bit large for just a fast soup or sauce
but the line in open stock is limited
i would however like to try a sauce pan in it if they have a 3 quart

now the stock pot........ or stock POTS
i am going to start to look now
i have a 20 quart that is stainless but thin....... and a bit pitted on the bottom (crap stainless i think)
i would like an encapsulated bottom for the stock pots, and i think a free standing french pot rack.......... which ironically may just work in my disaster of a kitchen!

ok
let's see....... i will keep the two smallish non sticks for now.... because bernie uses his presto griddle for most egg things or a poacher i got ( which i need new cups for already!)
but with an eye to cast iron in the very near future

now, that leaves me with what?
oven? well i have a ton of old corningware, and old pyrex ( you know.. the PRE exploding variety) as well as the newer (all things are relative here) french white corningware and a few old (30 years worth) phaltzgraff casseroles in stoneware....from when they actually were MADE IN AMERICA....what a concept!

i could use a lasagna pan but i been using the french white which is deep enough, and the ones i have are old so they are pretty big compared to what i see now

the only other thing i lust after is a maslin pan.....the stainless one from lee valley
so there you have it
at this point
a peek into the thought processes that i am using
i am also going to give you some links
(in addition to the one above)
here is one place i joined to look into cookware

now here are some other interesting links
le crueset (american division)
emeril pro clad review at amazon
best reviewed cookware article and HERE as well
calphalon tri ply

edited to add that cuisinart has a multclad as well as a brand called tramontina

stockpot i am considering
and another

cast iron skillet i would like

ok apparently a DISK bottom is better for sauce pots that simmer liquids....... (and stock pots as well) so now i am going to look for disk bottoms for sauce pots,
i need 2.5, 3, 3.5 and 4 quart (and i need at least two of the 3qt sauce pans)

an interesting discussion HERE

just a bunch of stuffs

i have been thinking of my eldest neice.......she's about 8 years younger then me.
all grown now with chicklets of her own.
i do miss her.....or more exactly the child she was when she lived with us
i adored that kid.
she used to follow me around like a puppy, and i spent numerous pay checks on her and her sister.
haven't spoken to her since 1992
i did communicate with her in 1995
but that was pretty much it
it's apparently her choice... as she never responded after i sent her a huge box of stuff for her first born (and my great neice)
i saw her and her sister on face book and pm'd her...... that was back in september or august, and i've never heard from her

tonight ( you'll read this in the AM) i am listening to music (don't drop dead yet) classical music and knitting on my scarf.......waiting for bernie to get home... and thinking of the kids
(we all always referred to my neices as 'the kids', as they were kids when bernie and i married als0)
i am getting to the point in my life, where i am thinking about the end of my life... no doubt because almost everyone i knew is gone now......
and also because one of bernie's younger friend's died yesterday.....just never woke up
that is a very easy way to go

no one knows when they will be finished here, but i just realized that my days are more numbered then ever before
i have stuff that when i do go, needs to go to the kids
stuff that was my mother's and i promised on her death bed that if i did not have children that the kids would get it
bernie and i discussed it and he isn't too crazy about the idea....
oh well

one of the other things i am thinking of is moving vs staying
i think even if i did want to stay........it's impossible
i realized that these past few weeks while i did bernie's chores in addition to mine,
the house is not set up to easily take care of if you are elderly and even slightly handicapped
just getting the wood in is a nightmare
i got the wood cart but still need to get it up to the front porch......which may mean over the front lawn and a nightmare of ice during the winter
there isn't any easy way for me to get my wood in without bernie

what if bernie isn't in the picture?
some of this is hard and sobering to think about......
what IF bernie isn't in the picture....
how do i manage?
what if I am not in the picture? how does bernie manage.......?
(he'll do much better without me then i will do without him)

i think we need to start to think of a ranch type house
on a slab..........
with level property

you mean it was SHOES?

i put on my good new balance walking shoes yesterday
and my back started to get better
so did my legs
so ironically did the nausea.................
hhhhhhmmmmmmmm

i wonder if the poorly fitting run down used shoes i been wearing around the house have something to do with the extreme pain etc in my back??
well with my good walking shoes on, i managed to finish canning the turkey
and bringing in the ducks didn't hurt as much
but i got the old crap shoes on right now
and i think i need to order some new shoes from zappos
i got the new balance i think they are the 527
oh man

on to bernie news.......one of his former (from his last job) co workers died yesterday, he got the call at work, and he is thinking of trying to go to the wake friday night

i told him that i won't be able to go with him
he'd be on his own with that and he is going to SEE his former coworker in the coffin dead.
( that normally is something he won't do)he has to make up his mind by tonight as he needs to bring good clothes with him to work
and change before he goes
(which i just realized, and he may not have yet)

i am almost done with that new scarf...IF the yardage holds out... this ball of trekking xxl has had a LOT of broken plies in it... way too many for the amount of money i paid for it. thank goodness i didn't knit socks with it..they'd never held up

as a scarf however it is pretty nice, although that picture doesn't capture the true colors, as they are much more saturated and richer. OH and that picture is taken on the new drafting table workbench in the corner that used to have my porcelain workbench... i got plants on that table now too...

anyway that trekkiing has been marinated in stash for about 5 years or so now.......so it's time no????

not quite back amoung the living

however i managed to wrestle that 25 pound turkey into the oven
after whacking off some of it's appendages....... and almost finding a pan it fit into
it was good........now it's going into freezer bags and canning jars for meals throughout the year
i canned chicken stock yesterday
and i have only 2 out of 7 seal.......so i will reprocess today
and start the turkey stock out of the carcass of the monster turkey
(what was i thinking?, even bernie had issues with that bird........as i couldn't get it OUT of the oven)
meanwhile i again hurt my back and most likely (it feels like it anyway) popped a rib out again

now popping a rib out is not nearly as much fun as it sounds......believe me
and i would actually love to sleep in all day until it either pops back.......(highly unlikely without intervention)
or until i can get to the chiro......
again highly unlikely

so meanwhile i am waiting for the sun to come up so i can take the ducks out and start today's canning

ok in the jackass neighbors.......well now you can pick a side, as i got them on both sides now
the original jackass had left his wife and kids to knock up another female and have a kid with her, (in april the latest kid was born)
now he's back here again, but his wife is keeping him low......they've ditched his cars and she is using her van to get around with him
bernie saw them

now the uphill neighbor who's house guest cursed at me and told me to keep my F*CKING ducks in my house........you know the ducks that DO NOT QUACK AS THEY ARE MUSCOVY,
hasn't really been out much
i would hope that they are ashamed that a house guest of theirs had the audacity to do that to a neighbor.....
but somehow i doubt it
as obviously no one is apologizing so i suppose they think they are better or entitled or what ever
i have decided........ this is a very GOOD thing not talking to them
and my time is now my own for the most part

in knitting news i bought a pattern from a person on ravelry for a garter stitched tip to tip lace edged scarf/shawl in fingering or sock yarn
i am about half way through it
it's a fast easy knit and i do like it
enough that i am thinking of making a couple with varied edging....
it was and it wasn't worth the 5.00 i paid for it
it's very well written but it's just a garter stitch scarf with lace edging
but it's very well written and i like to try and help the small independant vendors

ok so that is what i am working on right now...in trekking xxl sock yarn......hahahaha
looks sorta interesting and is striping in a cool way
i may do this again!

calling in dead

yup
for a few days
on a brighter note, i am not able to walk right now either

so i plan on sitting here until i can walk

then putting the ducks out and canning a turkey
then knitting

until i have my resurrection..............

on family

we went to visit one of my cousins last night, didn't get home until 2am this morning!!!!

i been thinking of family.
a few times during the evening, we would say stuff and my cousin would say stuff.....
and it was italian stuff.....you had to be raised that way

you can say to an italian kid 'you know how it is'
and they really do

we were taught to have extreme respect for elders, or expect a slapped face, or even a hair brush or slipper thrown at us.

there are things you just do if you are italian, (as with other cultures) without even thinking of it
such as you never show up empty handed... you just DON'T (i brought my freshly baked crispy snickerdoodles....... they loved them)
you put your best foot forward in food etc for guests...and especially family guests
there is no one more important in an italian family THEN THE FAMILY

anyway we had a good time, we laughed, we kidded around and teased each other.....we talked about the relatives living and dead.
we had a good enough time that we actually stayed up way past our bedtime and stayed OUT way past our bedtime

now today, i got a turkey at weis, for .49 a pound.......we did try and get the .40 a pound walmart turkey but our's didn't have any at all for that price.......the cheapest was .60 a pound
so i am going to cook and can this one this week
i have a 21 pounder to cook and can also
and we'll most likely have a turkey breast for the holiday

today we are having homemade pot pie
as i stewed a chicken friday and have stock
i will most likely can this today
i need a few more stewers however

so instead of chicken, this year may be turkey soups and stocks all winter
anyway....today it's 64 degrees out
bernie put the ducks out as i was way too tired today
he is actually home this weekend..... he almost had to go on a road call yesterday but sent a wrecker instead.
he also brought in wood
a LOT of wood and put my wood cart together, and stocked the deck woodpile as well
so naturally it's really warm out...... how could it not be!
hahahahaha
anyway.. that is our weekend

hope you all have been having a good one

it's saturday and bernie is home!!!!

he is very tired
i let him sleep in (i was up at 3 but stayed there reading ghost stories with the cats and bernie sleeping)
he's had a problem that he solved at work with motors getting trashed by a defective aftermarket part.
it took a bit of detective work on his part but he figured it out
and saved the company money, downtime,....... and ultimately did his small part to make sure the ambulances are running and out there saving lives

his company is so wonderful that they called him in and told him how happy they were and proud of him
which is rare these days......most companies wouldn't bother at all.
it made him so happy to be acknowledged.

it also took a load off his mind as he could not figure out why all these units were having the exact same problems and needed heavy motor work

now as for today, i got my woodcart last night after i got the last load in the house.
bernie is going to put it together sometime today
and he is also going to be putting the 1/4 cord on the deck so i am going to be able to just get it from there instead of having to go down to the big piles like i been doing
(it's a good thing too, as the nerves in my outer calves are burning again)

i am trying to see if i can plan a big batch canning/cooking/freezing session with chop meat and also chicken breast... i can't quite afford the wholesale prices right now.....the prices are great but i don't have enough for the minimum poundage
that would so help me out though as i would be basically stocked and done with a lot of cooking for the bigger part of the winter
i also need to do a sam's club run and i need to get to shoprite
i need 100 pounds of sugar etc.....

let's see.....i visited a new to me knitting store yesterday, wow i loved the people there!
they even recognized that my hat was one of my designs which a lot of folks don't realize
i didn't buy anything but boy was i tempted

bernie just told me he is going to fix the dryer..hahahaha it's only been two years

can you believe...... thanksgiving is basically here

another year....
i just walked by the table in the living room........another year
i sort of missed halloween and i most likely will almost miss thanksgiving with a slight sideways slide into christmas
today i am thinking about this house
part of me loves it
part of me hates it
and i hate hate hate the neighbors
and the neighborhood...... the townships zoning etc

i like that it's almost paid for, and that it's easy to heat
and i love my second floor studio and deck in the trees
i love how quaint it is
but the no storage at all thing......that's worn thin 20 years ago and hasn't improved much since

i am still gasping with disbelief at the audacity of the uphill neighbor condoning the 20 year old house guest's cursing at me!

i am still pissed that i am going to have to put a fence in that is going to cost me the price of new windows and siding because the neighbors are not actually being neighborly
bernie reminded me of all the favors etc we've done over the years for them
helping with thier cars, helping with the wood when the owner was in the hospital and after surgery
helping when the wife was in an accident
helping with the granddaughter, great grandmother,
etc
we've decided that they did us a favor
i also realized that when i have neighbor problems it is time to move on
oh man this is overwhelming

now yesterday, bringing in the ducks, both phoebe and me realized that phoebe indeed has fully functioning flight feathers ( say that three times fast with coffee......)
as she started us and became AIRBORNE
twice
the second time she actually realized what happened, and hit the ground confused and turned and LOOKED at me
i rushed to pick her up and carry her into the house
kissing her head gratefully that she was ok
and hadn't startled herself and flew away

today is a walking day..... it looks like it is going to end up being twice a week not three times.
and my log cart is due to be delivered
i threw logs on the deck yesterday, it isn't easy for me to do
but i got a few up there
if i was a few inches taller i could do it
yesterday i got two loads of laundry done and two loads of wood in
a load of dishes
and supper was bean and ham soup...........my home canned beans, my home canned ham..... a few of my home dried (some home grown) veggies........ a lot of garlic and boom........
bean soup!
it was good, and even bernie liked it
he was surprised
he also took it for lunch today

now today i am doing up a stewer
we need the stock
and i will make salad or pot pie out of the chicken meat

i want to do a batch session of chop meat..... at 1.59 a pound
meat balls
sauce
chili
stuffed peppers
stuffed cabbage
burritos
meat loaf
casserole/w veggies
and just in 2# packs for some other stuff that doesn't freeze or can well

and with chicken breast at 1.39 i want to do 20 pounds in jars......and 20 pounds of cordon bleu
and i would LOVE to do 20 pounds in breaded

i don't have the available money for it right now
due to car insurance and a few (duckie) emergencies.......

oh man
good thing i am stocked up on most stuff

yesterday

first off i put the ducks out.
since it's gotten really cold we took the hose in, so water buckets were FUN in the morning.
since i still have lilli in the molt bad, and momma still afraid of phoebe (not to mention me not wanting them greeting each other due to ALL the asshole neighbors now) so it's 3 buckts and a 7 gallon small bath
i need to get two new buckets though so i can just carry buckets out
not buckets to fill the small bath as well

then walking at the mall.....
while i waited for jen, a woman sat down next to me, so i talked to her.
i was knitting a hat (actually had just finished it)
she thought i was selling them
i said no they are for me
we talked a tiny bit
then she 'got a cell phone call'
but it didn't ring
and then couldn't get 'signal'
hahahaha
she left and i was thinking........'gee all you had to say was, excuse me i need to go back to walking again'

anyway jen arrived and we did the mall 4 or 5 times
then went to borders, for coffee. i had a 5.00 discount thingie so i got me a ghost book

later it was wood.........i threw my back out
so ordered a wood cart on sale from cabela.....

good thing too, as bernie told me last night with him responsible for three fleets and counting.....
it looks like hauling wood is going to figure predominately in my future

we had chicken salad and cream of tomato soup for supper and when we finally sat down to eat.... at 9pm, i realized i hadn't eatten all day except for coffee

how did THAT happen?

oye
so today the woodstove is cranky.............my back is hovering on the verge of being totally out
and i got more wood to get in
but the coffee is good

34 degrees out 72 in my studio

have i said how much i love my woodstove.
this is on a SMALL fire last night
not the full all night sub zero burns

i love my woodstove.......... and i got a small fire in there started now, which i will load up shortly

now onto walking..... we are to go walking at the mall today.
i haven't been to the mall in i think 7 or 9 years
could be longer

i am almost finished a new color knit hat
for some odd reason it's too small
and i ripped it back cause it was too BIG
oye
i think i need to make them on size 8's
(now that will be way too big.......watch)

jen was up to the pet store and all 4 of the budgies i wanted are still there apparently
i sooooooooooo wish i had the cage space cause then all four would be living HERE
two purple one gray and a sky blue clear wing.......
oh yeah

oh and i got a 5.00 check with borders i need to use........... so there are a few books i would like to read and not pay through the nose for

i am not sure what we are going to do with the cookware yet
i am most likely going to get a 5.5 quart saute, and i am really tempted to go with a copper core tri clad from all clad...........
i need a really good stock pot 16 quart is almost big enough
a saute pan
a few sauce pans, 1.5, 2, 3, 4 quart and they should be good ones

i am dumping every single peice of non stick we have, even though my cousin invented the process whereby non stick STICKS to metal.......i hate the cookware
eventually it all peels
and then there are birds........we have birds again
but i am not entirely convinced anymore that non stick is good for us either
sorry cousin charles.......

ok so i am off now.....i have to load the stove a bit more and take the ducks out and go walking and then bring in wood
oye

i need a log cart
and a clone

hello my beloved woodstove

oh how i have missed you during this indian summer.
thank you for keeping us warm all night

today it's to go up to 50
it was 36 when i took the ducks out, falstaff was shivering a bit, he's getting so old.
phoebe decided she couldn't wait and jumped in with the chickens to eat THEIR breakfast.
i got her out
the chickens weren't happy
i dreamt that the ducks and/or kiss the dog got out and were running around on my old childhood street
that a neighbor (mrs polski) was very upset about them being out and was telling everyone to call the police to help me get them back
i had found that dad had not secured the gate properly, and that's how the duck/dog (it kept morphing back and forth between a duck and a dog)
got out
i was terrified that someone was going to hurt my baby

i did however get them back in the dream....which made me realize how unsafe i feel living here.
how bad has it gotten when a neighbors HOUSEGUEST curses at you for no reason!
so i am worried that my ducks aren't safe out there

today, i am going to clean the kitchen a bit, and finish the christmas cookie list for this year
and maybe see about starting some doughs to freeze until later
i got the snickerdoodles, peanutbutter and gingerbread cookies on the list already
i should add the sugar and butter cookies
and finally.....the springerlles
i have to order the hornshorn ( is that what it's called? nope it's hartshorn)

now yesterday i moved more stuff in the studio so i could light the woodstove, which i did again last night
i also washed the windows i could reach
i did more laundry, and started roughs on the color drawing of the 'monsters in the wind'
today i got more of the same plus finishing up the cookie planning
i also have some dishes to do (when does everyone have dishes to do?)
i am hoping to get some knitting time in as well, having ripped back that hat i am working on to the brim so i can reknit the crown
(ohohoh, someone remind me to order lopi for mittens please)

tomorrow is walking day..... we are supposed to walk monday wenesday and friday but it's working out to be wens and fri.........
monday is just too rough to get to after busy weekends

meanwhile i have to bring in firewood today
so bernie doesn't have to

ok til next time

the rains never came~!

and this daylight savings thing ended (it's ended or started? i am confused)
so i can drink my coffee for a bit and then take my babies out
at a reasonable time without rushing

we got the studio a bit more straightened out.......bernie moved some of the really heavy stuff for me
the porcelain clay and the cases of slip and the plaster
i still have more molds to move, as he found TWO large plastic totes filled with molds
molds are heavy
multiple molds are impossibly heavy

i have two totes to move myself
one with molds and one with fabric
that will happen today
and tonight we will again do a break in firing
we've finally gotten the oil in the tank down to half way...... (since july 05) so we need to fill it soon.......hopefully we will get another 4 years out of the next tank as well
(and we used to get about 5 weeks out of a full tank...... we can't afford to fill it like that now)

bernie was in a vile mood sunday...... between the neighbors on both sides now, he's discusted
he keeps telling me 'get that fence guy up here fast' he is appalled that the uphill neighbors would allow a 20 year old houseguest to curse and insult me, and disrespect not only us but them.... then he saw jackass neighbor on the downhill side.....who has apparently abandoned his new 'future wife' and new son........(not even a year old yet) and has moved back in with his 'current' wife and old kids.......

in good news, he's finally decided to take an interest in paying the bills.......(who are you and what did you do with my bernie!!!)
in doing so.........we discovered i had 175.00 gift card waiting in the rewards points on the cc we've had for years.........
so i arranged for that to be shipped to us
new pots and pans..........all stainless from amazon here we come
so that was good

he still needs to know how to pay one other bill........ and how to figure some of the yearly/quarterly stuff but he could more or less take over if i am down for the count
although he informed me that he would use the USPS
hahahaha
i tried to explain to him that sometimes....... due to the way he gets paid....he really won't be able to do that
he won't listen
let's hope i am not down for the count any time soon


so that was it in a nutshell.........
yup we do have to move

i heard a horse clip clop down the hill

last night at 11:45 pm
first i heard a few male voices.......
and then the horse walk down the hill
it wasn't quite a trot but it wasn't a slow walk either
i didn't get up to look as i didn't have my distance glasses up there so i figured i wouldn't be able to see anyway

i am assuming, that this was a ill fated attempt at a halloween costume........and the 'prop' got away

i haven't gotten around to looking at the local paper online yet but i wouldn't be at all surprised if there was a riderless horse on the cover...........

halloween was not as good as we planned
bernie had to work, and after assuring me he was going to be home by noon.........strolled in at about 4:30 or a bit later
i was not happy for a whole bunch of reasons........ some with the state of the studio that i can't move by myself
some with the plans we had that didn't happen,
i know he felt bad but i felt worse
as it is my favorite holiday and every year it seems something happens that i don't get to do it all like i planned

even watching the moon didn't work out as it started to POUR out

sniff

and no holiday candy either.........
double sniff sniff

ok
enough feeling sorry, as we have to do the saturday errands, feed store-grain and hay, kmart, a shade, home depot, casters. pet store cat food.................
i really needed to go to sam's for a commerical shelf and some odds and ends but can't afford it as the car insurance is due
it's always something isn't it?

and the duck pen is not finished.... it needs a wall and two doors then we could always tarp it agains the rain/wind/snow/ assholes.........

oh man........

now as the the feathery and furry family...... momma duck has had her last baytril and she is doing ok, still in the molt but ok.
lilli is growing HUGE pink flights in............. so she is so totally out of sorts as to be a nightmare... phoebe loves her momma so much now...... it's 'mommy pick me up and mommy kiss me and mommy hold me i love you'
falstaff seems to be walking much slower lately
he worries me
i wish i could handle him a lot better.......but there isn't any handling him
we'd have to dart him i think....... too bad i didn't raise him.

however even though i didn't raise him, he is doing remarkably well as far as being trained to go in and out.... but no one can touch him

the chickens are down to only 1 bird laying out of the 4
and the budgies are a constant source of amusment. bernie loves to watch them
i love to as well but i REALLY love listening to them talk to each other

now the furry ones.... they don't really like thier new food, but they need to deal..........
it's much better for them as there isn't any corn, so thaddeaus isn't itching as much
and it seems to be less and less every day

he's taken to watching the budgies..... but he won't bother them
he does it so i will play with him
that's no dumb pussycat you know..........

the girls are great..... they enjoy sleeping on my head while i am having night sweats and hot flashes...... gee thanks girls.......

this morning is daylight savings or what ever the hell it is
so it's 8:32 but really it's after 9am
we haven't eatten yet but after we'll be going to take the ducks out and then run errands.
bernie just ran up to get milk while i have my first coffee and type this blog post
it sometimes takes me a while in the morning
and today it's taken me a while

well happy new year to any witches
and a blessed all souls to any christians......
have a wonderful weekend

happy halloween (& sorry angie, about being late)

i AM late this morning
bernie had to go to work a half day, and i sort of rolled over in the midst of cats and lazed through the morning
everyone wanted to cuddle and be hugged and purr in my ear

happy halloween to everyone, i hope you all have a safe and wonderful holiday
our (if bernie ever gets home from work) holiday will begin at dusk, after the ducks are in
we'll have a seance, and light candles to those who've gone before
we'll watch a few tapes of halloween
like hocus pocus
sleepy hallow
(nothing too 'gorey'.....hahaha **pun alert)
addams family
etc
i will make pop corn too

most likely we also will spend some time out on the deck watching the moon and the clouds at night, not too long, maybe a half hour......but we always seem to do that
to say goodbye i suppose to the dying year

i will miss the holiday tomorrow....

i had hoped that the studio would have been done by now......and part would have been
but there is always next year.......(and in my head i hear myself say......'maybe not')

i truly do love this time of year, and this holiday... the rest of the holidays are sad times for me but this one, which ironically is about death......is the happiest one i have...
go figure

i hope you are all pleasantly haunted tonight

heaven help me, i am going to upgrade

to win7

against my better judgement........i should have just gone to linux

however i am doing it today

so far i have put the new external hard drive on the main computer and went through the installation of the software and drivers then the update and subsequent installation of the updated software and drivers, followed i am pretty sure by a third and fourth update and installation of software and drivers....

i am not totally sure how many go rounds we had, as i have only had one cup of coffee so far

but i have been at this since 5am or so......and it's almost 7 now...... and still windows 7 is still in the box



meanwhile.....my dvd drive is running like mad.....
AND
it just froze my computer and i had to reboot.....(so now it's after 7)
i am running a test on the new external drive so i can back up the internal drive
i want to mirror this entire computer first
and then i think i will install 7 and pull the programs off the external drive.....no?
i also need to get the old win98 moved and reformatted on the dell for bernie

i got a lot of work to do

i need a lot of coffee i think

and a huge amount of luck
no?

waiting for the harddrive

ups again screwed up delivery here
i don't know why, but they only actually find us occasionally
today i am waiting on an external hard drive..........when it arrives i will be backing up the computer and upgrading to windows 7
reluctantly
but i hate vista so i have to do it
then if that works well, i will be partitioning the drive and taking the old win98 + software off the old dell and moving it
bernie will get the old dell to play his old games and i am even thinking of upgrading that harddrive and chip set

now, today i am wanting to do the studio work but i still can't move the heavy stuff.....so i have to wait til bernie can
i may go get some casters for the drafting table and desk however
and possibly the one little shelf
at least if i do that i will be getting some more done
i also need a mini blind to go on the one side actually i need two of them so i should make a list

once i get everything up on wheels and moved....... i am going to put the baby budgies in the other room and faux whitewash the walls in here
then the drop cloth curtains will get made.........i am going to block print them i think, i would LIKE to find a rubber stamp to use but if i can't......i'll make something myself

i am also trying to get two more estimates for a fence to ditch the cursing little house guest,
it's not the dogs fault they are annoying little shits.........it's the irresponsible neighbors 20 year old permanent house guest

meanwhile my very favorite holiday is almost here
i love my halloween............ not the bloody gory thing that everyone else seems to have
but the mysterious, other worldly truly awe inspireing idea of this is not the only thing
that there is another life beyond
i love the ghost stories but i am always so firmly reminded that to have a ghost story......you have to start with a living person......
and i don't like the tragic ones, i worry that the ghost got stuck.
i do however love the ones where the ghost was happy and is just coming back for a visit......

our ghost richard i think is like that....he's not stuck but happy to come visit occationally
(although i do worry that he maybe is lonely and needs the company of a female ghost)

happy holiday to you all
enjoy your illuminated pumpkins, your full moons and witches........

i will be

vi

adulthood is a relative thing

some days i feel all of 80
occasionally i feel all of 4

most days i am surprised to see the really OLD woman in the mirror
and not as often, i am surprised to see the WISE woman in the mirror

today is a day where i am realizing that a lot of women my age.....LOOK old enough to be my mom (when she died) as i do now as well.....yet we all have a common reference of having lived through the same times...if not exactly in the same way...

and i can see the girl they used to be behind the woman they have become

i am learning to do that as well with 'old men'
gone are the full lustrous locks of hair and the six pack abs
but if you look closely, just behind the liver spots you really CAN see the boys they were

i suppose it is an adaptation of focus for your optic nerve, but now i can do it....apparently it is something that takes at least 50 years to train yourself for.

at times, i find it very good to be contemplative,
which i find more and more that i take a few minutes to do just that

so today on this rainy day......this is what i am thinking of

tuesday rainy days

today phoebe will go out in the upper pen and momma will stay in the house

i will again attempt to move all the plaster and clay.....it' weights a LOT.....bernie was worried about the woodstove....the plaster and clay out weight the woodstove!

i am looking at the long workbench and wondering if i can move that somehow to make room for the clay area there,
then put the sewing area behind the computer/office area

meanwhile i think it's time for the chiropractor again
my lower back that i threw out moving edmund is bothering me....must have been trying to move the clays and plasters

i baked a pie pumpkin yesterday, so today, i am going to peel and clean it and make muffins
and maybe bake a chicken for supper

tomorrow we are to walk again, i canceled monday as did everyone else....my reason, trying to get the studio ready to use the woodstove again
(as i watch thaddeaus sitting on the woodstove right now)

i am also going to have my records sent to the doctor in philly.......

sunday i saw three violet factor budgies and a sky blue white wing at the pet store
i didn't get them as i have no cage/quarantine space for them but boy was i tempted....
bernie is enjoying these little guys so very much
but i would then have to find outcrosses in another state for them as well
oye
wait maybe that is what i should do?
get the sky blue and one violet..(and that gray one)
oh man.......

meanwhile i am waiting for my knitpicks order....i got the pattern and yarn for the andean chullo hat, and the alice starmore fair isle book as well as the color by kristen colorknitting book
that and an external hard drive from tiger direct so i can install windows 7

slowly moving things forward

in the studio

i think that is all of life.....slowly moving things forward
first here, then there
as you age through your life.......
you move through events, and THAT is your age not the time frame

anyway, i am still feeling bad about the workbench dad built me but it did have to go as there was a mouse nest back there

the corner is now bright enough for plants so i put a lot of them there!
i can't wait to work there
if i can figure an adjustment to the other corner which was to have become the new porcelain area maybe this whole studio will come together?

anyway that's what's happening in the studio right now