A New Year

Happy New Year!

“Again time elapsed.”
― Carolyn Keene, The Secret of the Old Clock

It all seems too soon—to have a new year start when I haven't finished everything that I had planned for last year or even last week. Or maybe it didn't come soon enough -- I am tired of everything from last year and really ready to move on. Do you ever feel conflicted like that?

We just returned from holiday travel and things are in more of a disarray than I like. We went from construction chaos, to holiday preparations, to holiday celebrations with not much breathing time in between. Some people thrive on excitement and change. Not me. While I like some variety to my life, I thrive on order.

So, I am going to do the only thing I can. I am welcoming the new year and the hope it brings of good things to come. Then I'm going to try to put some order to my house.

I Was Wondering...Spigot vs. Faucet

What is the difference between a spigot and a faucet?

In my last Thankful Sunday post, I said I was thankful for the cold water that came out of the faucet at the house I was visiting. Well, that's what I said, but not the first time I wrote it. The first time, I said that I was thankful for the cold water that came out of the spigot. I wasn't sure what to say, but I was tired and just chose one. Now that I have a little time, I thought I would figure out what was what.

And once again, I'm confused because they are synonyms of each other. Both spigot and faucet refer to a tap (another synonym) or a valve that controls the flow of liquid into something. You can have a tap in anything from a cask to a water pipe. I never thought about it, but that is where the phrase "tap water" comes from that refers to water coming straight from the faucet/spigot/tap.

However, there are some US regional variations in usage. In the south, spigot is more commonly used while faucet is more commonly used in the north. Also, some use spigot to mean a tap outside and one that is more utilitarian while faucet is used for a tap inside that is fancier.

So there you have it. Use either one you want and you will be okay. After all of this talk about water, I'm thirsty. I'm going to have a drink of tap water from the faucet after I wash my hands from the spigot in the bathroom. :)

What word do you use, and do you use different words for a tap in different situations?

Want to know more?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tap_%28valve%29
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/faucet

Thankful Sunday--December 29, 2013

I am thankful for a cold glass of water.

Even in the winter, I like most of my drinks cold. I am visiting relatives now that have cold water flowing from their faucet. No ice needed--just a little turn of a handle. This is not something that I get to enjoy at home where our water pipes run through our heated basement. Here, the water flows through pipes that are in the crawl space under the house. A nice cool drink every time. 

Miracles

Forty five years ago on Christmas Eve, astronauts orbiting the moon saw the Earth rise for the first time over the moon. This is one of the many miracles that happen this time of year, the first being the birth of a tiny baby.
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BTW, if you look really close, I think you can see a sleigh with eight tiny reindeer on the Earth. :)

Picture from NASA public domain.

Ice Sculptures

We had unusually warm weather over the weekend with temperatures in the 60's. So what did we decide to do? We visited an ice sculpture show where the temperature was 9 °F (-13 °C). The Gaylord Hotels sponsor these shows every year and I have wanted to go since I first heard about them--even though that was only a couple of weeks ago from a commercial on TV. :) The Gaylord hired 40 master ice sculpture artists from Harbin, China that is known for its world famous International Ice and Snow Festival. They created the wonderland from 5000 blocks of ice weighing two million pounds.

There were life-size and larger colorful characters in several rooms that we wandered through that depicted scenes from the poem, Twas the Night before Christmas by Clement Moore. We also saw scenes from New York City and the Christmas manger scene all made from ice. The first thing we did before entering was to get a large parka to help with the cold inside. Since I was already wearing three layers including a winter coat, I wasn't sure I needed the addtional parka. However, it wasn't an option and I'm really glad that it wasn't it. Did I mention that it was 9 °F in there? Afterward, we walked around outside looking at other Christmas decorations with only a sweater on. We had an enjoyable outing in both the warm and the cold.

Here are a few pictures from the ice show. Remember everything you see here is made from ice. Interestingly enough, the camera picked up the edges between the blocks of ice more than our eyes did.

I Was Wondering--Who Wouldn't go?

or Up on the Housetop


For several weeks now, I have been randomly singing Christmas carols. Sometimes they are sparked by a song I hear in a store or by a decoration I see in someone's yard. This afternoon I saw a Santa on a rooftop and before I realized it, I was singing Up on the House Top. Now I have sung that song almost my whole life and it wasn't until that moment I ever thought about who it was exactly that wouldn't go. For those of you who don't know or have forgotten the lyrics, here they are.

Up on the house top reindeer paused
Out jumps good old Santa Claus
Down through the chimney with lots of toys
All part of a little ones with Christmas joys
 
Oh oh oh who wouldn't go? Oh ho ho who wouldn't go?
Up on the housetop
Click click click
Down to the chimney with the good St. Nick

First come the stop in the middle bell
Hope dear Santa feeling well
Give her a doll in the laps and cries 
One that can open and shut it tight
 
Oh ho ho who wouldn't go Oh ho ho who wouldn't go?
Up on the house top, click click click
Down to the chimney with good St. Nick
 
Look in the stop in the middle bell
Hope just sees what a glorious well
Here's a little hammer and lots of pack
A whistle and a ball and a wood clap clap

Oh ho ho who wouldn't go? Oh ho ho who wouldn't go?
Up on the house top, click click click
Down through the chimney with the good St. Nick
Oh oh ho who wouldn't go? Oh ho ho who wouldn't go?
Up on the house top, click click click
Down through the chimney with good St. Nick (repeat this line once) 

As you can see, twice in every chorus, they ask, "Who wouldn't go?" Who are they talking about? I couldn't find any references to it on the internet. Is it so obvious that it doesn't need a discussion? Help me out. Who do you think wouldn't go? 
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Want to know more?

Up on the Housetop was written in the mid 1860's by Benjamin Hanby and was the first song to focus on Santa Claus. It has been recorded many times, but the most famous is probably the recording by Gene Autry.

Thankful Sunday--December 22, 2013

I am thankful the days are getting longer.

We have turned the corner and the days will be getting longer for the next six months. Thank goodness. Like many other people, the shorter days make me tired and blah. However, now I can look forward to more daylight every day. For that I am thankful.

This and That

What have I been doing recently? 

Let me see...

I've been looking at Christmas lights.

I've been making gifts.

I've been enjoying the ornaments on our tree.

I've been making fudge.

I've been smiling at the critters.

What have you been up to?

Food Waste Friday and True Food Confessions--Dec. 20, 2013

It's time for Food Waste Friday, when the Frugalgirl encourages us to post pictures from the previous week of wasted food from our household. This accountability hopefully will help us to be more careful with our food and maybe save some money. Also, I am using this public forum to encourage us to eat out less which includes better meal planning. You can follow how we are doing in this endeavor by reading True Food Confessions.

This Week's Food Waste

  
This week we had to get rid of a hot dog and some basmati rice. Months ago, Wally bought a big pack of hot dogs on sale. They weren't very good, at least that's what I thought, but Ward and Wally have been slowly eating them. A couple of weeks ago, Ward thawed the last two but not never got around to eating this last one. Even for a hot dog with all of it's chemicals, I don't think this is safe to eat any more. Into the trash it went. 

As for the rice, it got lost in the pantry and was starting to turn rancid. Next time I'll try to pay more attention to what's in there and store my brown basmati rice in the fridge like the bag recommends.


 This Week's True Food Confessions

Wow, what an improvement this week. We actually ate mostly at home and took pictures of some of it. Chicken was the main feature showing up as roasted chicken breast, chicken tenders, and chicken pot pie. Sauerkraut with sausage and apples and tortellini also graced the table. Throw in some grapefruit and oranges freshly delivered from Flordia for breakfast and snacks and we ate pretty well. And, oh, we had our standard of pretending to eat M&M's in a healthful way--I made some trail mix.

I Was Wondering...Partly Sunny vs. Partly Cloudy

What's the difference between 

partly sunny and partly cloudy?

I wonder how the haze from forest fires figures into the partly sunny and partly cloudy usage? (Sandia Mts., NM)

 
We're checking a lot on the weather these days trying to see if snow or ice is coming. That way we can plan our activities for the best weather conditions possible. Checking all of these forecasts has reminded me of something I've always wondered about. What is the difference between partly sunny and partly cloudy? Here's what I found out.

As you might assume, there really is no difference. They mean the same thing--a mixture of sun and clouds in the sky. But the issue gets confused in everyday use because, unfortunately, every meteorologist has their own way of using these terms. Some say partly sunny only during the daytime because the sun is not out at night, where as partly cloudy is used during the day or night. Sometimes partly sunny is used when there is more sun expected than clouds and vice-versa for partly cloudy. Also, the two terms can be used to infer changes in the weather. When cloudy weather is improving, they will say partly sunny because the meteorologist wants to be optimistic. When the weather will be deteriorating, they will predict party cloudy to let you know the weather will be changing for the worse. There you have it, partly clear. :)

 I think I am just going to go with the working definition I used before I researched this. Partly sunny and partly cloudy both mean that there will some clouds in the sky with more or less sun peaking out.


Want to read more:
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/capitalweathergang/2008/02/partly_sunny_partly_cloudy_mos.html

http://www.diffen.com/difference/Partly_Cloudy_vs_Partly_Sunny

Natural Centerpiece

I have a very clever friend who is good at many things but is especially known for her flower arranging. And when you're known for having a special skill, you are often asked to use it.  So, she "volunteers" to decorate every year for our holiday luncheon at work. Meaning, every year she decorates the tables with centerpieces that she makes for very little money, and afterwards they are highly sought after when they are given away as door prizes. She had a couple of ideas I thought I would share with you in case you want to incorporate them into something you might do. And did I mention she was clever? She does not live in the world of Pinterest so all of this came from her own imagination.

The centerpieces had a natural theme and except for the thin candle, they were low to the table so they didn't block you from seeing and talking to the people across from you. (A pet peeve of mine with some table decorations.)

All of the pieces that made up the arrangements were found pieces. Some were from coworkers yards (like mine) and some were found in parking lots.

Can you tell what the base is? It's the bottom of a Chinese take out container. She discovered these from me since she rarely eats out to know about such things. I take them to her sometimes to put under her plants, and I took her several more when she decided that they would make the perfect base for the arrangements. The beads around the edge are an inexpensive garland. You could really put anything around the edges you wanted.  A more neutral color would allow you to change the candle and use this arrangement different times of the year.

The candle holder was cut from a plastic wrap tube. It turns out that it is just the right size for a standard candle. Who knew? (Well, some of you out there probably did.)

Thankful Sunday--December 15, 2013

I am thankful for a warm house.

We have had three days of snow this week, and I am thankful that I got to stay in my warm house and enjoy it through the window. Also, I am especially thankful for the people, who were not so fortunate as I was, and braved it through the snow and ice to keep the hospitals and emergency services running.

I Spy--Christmas Ornaments

Can you find these ornaments?

1. One of the state I grew up in

2. A snowflake crocheted by my aunt

3. The cats' favorite ornament to play with (Hint: Look for low hanging fruit.)

4. A dried orange slice ornament that I made last year

5. An angel made from china (the plate not the country).

6. A wood carving of the manger scene made in Bethlehem

7. A cinnamon ornament of the state of Texas made by Wally in first grade

8. An ornament made from buttons from my grandmother's button can

9. An ornament made by Theo in preschool that he was not too happy about

10. A White House ornament depicting a scene from the wedding of the only president to get married at the White House

Do you have a favorite ornament or Christmas decoration?

Food Waste Friday and True Food Confessions

It's time for Food Waste Friday, when the Frugalgirl encourages us to post pictures from the previous week of wasted food from our household. This accountability hopefully will help us to be more careful with our food and maybe save some money. Also, I am using this public forum to encourage us to eat out less which includes better meal planning. You can follow how we are doing in this endeavor by reading True Food Confessions. (Thanks to Jo from Simply Being Mum for sponsoring FWF this week.)

This Week's Food Waste and True Food Confessions

One of the few meals that originated at home this week.

As you may have noticed lately, we haven't been very regular in achieving our goals of no food waste and meal planning and eating at home. The fall off the wagon started with our remodel beginning at the end of October and transitioned seamlessly into the Christmas season. We still have furniture piled on top of each other waiting to be returned to its normal places, but the kitchen is functioning. We're just not functioning very well in it. That's part of the reason, we've been doing okay in the food waste area--we're not doing much food cooking or buying here to waste. I will strive to do better in this area, but not worry about it too much if improvement is slow to come. "Tis the season to be jolly..."

And oh, for the nuts and bolts of this week. We had no waste and had a lot of leftovers including a couple of days from this meal of sloppy joes.

Animal Crackers for Christmas

or Now that makes sense.

I ran into a friend the other day while shopping. She was buying Barnum Animal Crackers and I was trying NOT to buy some Doritos. She told me that every year at Christmas, she buys a box of animal crackers for her kids since the crackers originally started as Christmas ornaments. Wow. I had never heard that. I guess that explains the string on the box.

Very curious, I went home (with a bag of Doritos) to see if this story were a piece of lore or truth. Here's what I found out. Animal crackers have a long history starting in England before the colonies were formed. After importing them for several years, they were eventually  produced here. There were various companies involved that eventually merged together to form the National Biscuit Company (Nabisco). In 1902 they started to call them Barnum's Animals from Barnum and Bailey's Circus. That was the same year they had the idea of marketing them at Christmas with a colorful box and string to hang on a Christmas tree. I'm not sure how long the this campaign kept up, but the box, largely unchanged, with it's string is still around over 100 years later.

Guess what Santa is going to bring Ward, Wally, and Theodore for Christmas this year? It will be hanging on the tree waiting for them Christmas morning. A new tradition has begun.

Want to read more?

http://collectibles.about.com/od/advertisingstuff/a/blTFbarnums.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Animal_cracker

http://www.foodreference.com/html/artanimalcrack.html

A Second Look--December 11, 2013

For a Second Look this week, I watched out my window one day while it snowed--my favorite way to do Second Looks on cold, wet days. :)

Here's what I saw this week during my Second Look.

The morning started as a dry, cloudy day with a flock of crows making a morning visit.

Later it started to snow and other birds arrived.

I saw a tufted titmouse.

and a male downy woodpecker who steadily ate while the other birds were in and out.

First he was joined by a Carolina wren.

Next a white-breasted nuthatch showed up.

Soon a junco came to take a bath in the snow on top of the feeder. The woodpecker kept eating away even though the junco was shaking things up. Next, the junco took a bath on top of the squirrel baffle.

Usually the juncos were hopping around below the feeder.

Several chickadees were flitting on and off the big feeder. They'd grab a seed and then go off to eat it.

Elsewhere, this pansy was still able to peek out from the falling snow.

We eventually ended up with about four inches of snow before it turned to sleet and freezing rain.

Today...

Today, I'm going to be like my cats and adapt to wherever I am.

With all of the upheaval in the house, many of the cat's favorite lounging spots have disappeared. Not to worry, cats can always adapt, and so can I.

 

Thankful Sunday--December 8, 2013

I am thankful that Ward is not afraid of heights.

I could get on the roof if I really had to. But I wouldn't like it because I'm afraid of heights. I am thankful that Ward isn't and was on the roof yesterday cleaning gutters and hanging Christmas lights.

Food Waste Friday and True Food Confessions--Dec. 6, 2013

It's time for Food Waste Friday, when the Frugalgirl encourages us to post pictures from the previous week of wasted food from our household. This accountability hopefully will help us to be more careful with our food and maybe save some money. Also, I am using this public forum to encourage us to eat out less which includes better meal planning. You can follow how we are doing in this endeavor by reading True Food Confessions.

This Week's Food Waste

Pineapple

There was a can of pineapple that got shoved to the back of the refrigerator and lived there until we discovered the smelly contents. Turns out the can has quite a complex history involving three households, brisket, and 1 1/2 months of time. Ask Ward about it sometime if you want to know the complete story.

This Week's True Food Confessions

Look! I did actual cooking this week in the new kitchen. During the refrigerator clean out, I made some tasty vegetable soup to go with the homemade whole wheat bread. I'm not sure what we ate the rest of the week, but it paled in comparison to this meal. :)

And speaking of new kitchens and construction, we're so close to the end of it, I can almost taste it (pun intended). The work on the living room floor SHOULD be done on Monday with another week and a half of floor curing before we can move everything back in. Yea!

The work continues.

Bargin Hunting

A few weeks ago, Theo was looking for a desk and took us to a used office furniture outlet he had found. The store was located in an old warehouse district and used to be some kind of a factory. The building had four floors each filled with buyouts obviously from offices that had closed. There were desks, chairs, file cabinets, and every other thing that could have been in an office. Interestingly enough, it was also an art gallery. Around the high ceilings, sagging steps, and brick walls were hanging paintings from local artists for sale.

The store had one employee who greeted us when we came in and said that we could explore on our own. I don't know if that was because we looked trustworthy or that she didn't want to leave her space heater because the building had no heat. We began our way up the stairs and discovered that each floor was dark until we turned on the lights. We spent our time winding among the mazes of stuff, calling out when we found something interesting. Some of it was interesting because it was really old or seemed out of place like the panty hose we found, and sometimes it was interesting because it might be a potential item for purchase.
  

Theo eventually did find a desk to fit his needs and Ward and I found two office chairs we wanted. Now how to get them to the car from the fourth floor? After we found the store employee, she got the building's old freight elevator working for us. When we got them to the first floor, the desk and chairs were awkwardly loaded from the old loading dock to our car.

It turned out to be a fun and interesting couple of hours. We were happy that we shopped there because we felt we got a better bargain than we would have at most other places. Later I wondered if that was because we had to work for our purchase in a place that appeared to have a very low overhead. Of course, a smart shopper knows their prices no matter where they are shopping, but I wonder if sometimes we can get caught in the idea of a good deal in a place where we think we should be getting one?

Are you ever influenced by the place you are shopping whether it is really fancy or just bare bones?

This sign assured me that we were getting good prices. :)

A Second Look--December 4, 2013 and I Was Wondering

Believe it or not, I have been doing a Second Look very consistently for 2 1/2 years. I say believe it or not because actually, I'm the one who's having a hard time believing it. Every week, I have been exploring my yard and reporting about it here on Wednesdays. I have watched the flowers bloom, the seasons change, and the critters fly and scurry about. However, on these cold dark days, I feel like I'm ready for a change. So while I will continue to do my Second Looks, they may not happen every week. Some weeks I will do a "I Was Wondering Post" instead. This week, I am going to do both.

I Was Wondering

What's the difference between Meteorological Winter and Astronomical Winter?

These icy trees didn't wait for astronomical winter.

Winter has been very much on my mind recently as the temperatures continue to drop and snow has made an appearance. Every day the weather people talk about freezing, snowing, and occasionally sunshine. And they have talked about Meteorological Winter and Astronomical Winter. Some how I made it to the ripe old age of Getting Old without even realizing that there was a difference. So, what is the difference between the two?

After a little reading, I figured out that it's easy to explain meteorological winter. It's the coldest three months of the year--December, January, and February. However, astronomical winter is a little more complicated. The beginning of astronomical winter has to do with the with the tilt of the earth's axis and the earth's orbit around the sun. It is best explained by pictures or a simple video that you can see here, but basically it is when sun strikes the earth at a minimum angle. This is also known as Winter Solstice and this year will be on December 21. Astronomical winter continues until the Spring Equinox which will be March 20, 2014.
So now I know.

(Obviously, this discussion is for the Northern Hemisphere. I'm a little jealous of those of you who are starting summer right now Down Under.)

A Second Look

Here are some things I saw this week during a Second Look.

Even though we have had plenty of days in the 20's, we have a few pansies still blooming.

However, many of the pansies look like this. Something has made a snack out of them.

Maybe it was these deer that enjoyed the pansies.

I think the groundhogs have begun their winter hibernation because I haven't seen any activity around this hole recently.

The leaves are all gone from the trees which makes it easier to see the birds in them. See the cardinal?