Fennel, Avocado and Clutter

I got an order from Misfits today that included my favorite, fennel, and avocados which are new to me. Ettinger, or fuente. They were the most popular avocado, according to wikipedia, until the 1950s. They are supposed to have a mild flavor and a yellowish tinge. They aren't ripe so I will need to wait to experience this new, to me, flavor of avocado. This is my first Misfits order in at least eight months. After the merger with Imperfect Foods it didn't really work for me. I do better overall locally, but there were a couple of specialty items I wanted so I added these as well as some chard. They do generally have good fennel, I'll give them that.

We, like just about everyone else, are having very strange weather. It was 3F this morning with a high of 20F today. Tomorrow will be 50F and then it climbs from there. I think this may become the norm and I don't like it. I know it doesn't matter what I like, but there it is.

I listened to a program on MPR this morning about decluttering, something I seem to be doing often over many years. I haven't been a shopper in any significant way for years, but from the looks of things, I sure was. Considering how much I have already donated and what is still here unused, I had a habit. A habit I seem to have shifted toward horses about forty years ago. That's economical! I do think about it after spending eight months at my mother's house after she died. I think the son probably thinks about all those horses and cats if we went toes up right now. I don't blame him for that. The things one doesn't consider when younger. So....today I plan to clean up my office, which has become a dumping ground for things I just haven't been motivated to put away. Wish me luck.

Raccoons and other Stuff

 

Good morning. I could say good morning sunshine, because the sun is shining. Mark and I have both been having sinus problems. So has Neighbor Bill. I kind of think it's because we haven't had a winter at all and all those spores, or whatever you call them, haven't been killed by the cold. It makes for some miserable days, that's all I will say!

My thrice delayed birthday gathering with the son and his wife is on  for the ninth of March. Unless something happens. Which is always a possibility. Life is, as per usual, filled with cat and horse shenanigans, along with the capers of a raccoon who has made this his (?) home for three winters now. He is nonplussed by human, cat or horse presence, gleefully filling his belly with cat food and foraging along the aisle. His coat is beautiful and his weight is plump. The cats and horses don't think anything of his presence, he's part of the menagerie. Mark gave him the original name of Rocky and the fella looks up when he hears the name. I never thought we would have a raccoon.

I think I'm off to make a lentil and sausage soup. I've been under the weather for several days, with no desire to do any cooking. Lunch has been coming from the deli. I have the stock and sausage so I need to use it or lose it.

Trapper Murphy

This is for you, Anvil Cloud. I mentioned a trapper hat as a solution to your toque problem. Here is Murphy unhappily modeling one. He was a good boy and gave the best side eye!

Another sunny morning. We spent part of it searching for Gatto. He is always active in the morning and he was nowhere to be found. We were both concerned he had somehow slipped out of the house. Mark found him by accident, lying on the cabinet, behind the TV, looking out the window and sunning himself. Most unusual for him. Now we can both relax.

I do believe I will make bread today. I'm trying to get back into that groove. I also need to put shrimp on the shopping list. Boud made a curried shrimp that has me salivating. Now I want it. Otherwise....same old same old. There are worse things.

Roses Are Orange

Good crisp and sunny morning to you!  

No, we haven't been warm enough for roses to bloom, but who knows what is in store, weather-wise, anymore. All is well here, although it's that time of year, the in-between time, when there is little change from one day to the next. I used to long for time to waste, or perhaps I should say, relax and enjoy. I do have some plans, on a small scale, to make myself useful and productive today. I may even follow through. That would be newsworthy!

Good Morning

If I didn't have cats....

 I wouldn't have anything!

I weirdly enjoy photographing the fur balls at night. I'm continuously amazed at how well the camera phone works in the dark. Did you see those golden hightops? I read they are selling out. P.T Barnum knew what he was talking about, there is a fool born every minute. That's all I have to say......

The horses had round bales put out for them this morning, so all is right in equine land. Eating machines. They are doing well, even the twenty-nine year old Babe. My geriatric herd. Speaking of geriatric, the medication the NP prescribed seems to be helping with my pain. I don't want to get ahead of myself, but I am cautiously hopeful. One would think someone would have thought of addressing the pain over these years, yes?

That's my only k'vetch today. 

Winter Wonderland

It snowed yesterday afternoon into evening.

 First snow of 2024.

The tree is still lying there. This time it isn't Mark putting it off. Bill hasn't been feeling well, therefore he hasn't fixed Mark's chainsaw.  It will likely rot before it's cut up. I've become used to it as part of the landscape.

I had a dream last night with my last trainer in it. That's really all I remember, she and I doing something with my long dead Shaka. She never worked Shaka, so that is odd. This morning I thought about when Kristina started working with Zing, 2007. She was 25 years old. I really enjoyed her company. She spent six years here, then her schedule became too complicated to fit in the hour drive out here. I felt old when I realized it was seventeen years ago when I first met her. I need to text her, it's been awhile. We do lose track of time and people, especially, I think, when we become wrapped up in our own issues which consume our being. I'm not the strong, vibrant person she knew. She's in her forties. How did this happen? You know you are a bespectacled grey-hair when the morning is spent pondering where time went.

And Maybe Some Chocolate

Happy Valentine's Day

Randoms

I finally got the bread made, Boud.

A ciabatta loaf.

Yesterday I made stock, soup and bread. Today is laundry. Woo-hoo. It's a sunny, mild day, a bit of sunshine certainly helps. Mark watched the Super Bowl in the kitchen last night. I was in the living room, so I could hear it and him. He's not a big fan of professional football, but he gets into the big events. At least his reactions last night say he does. I could hear that Taylor Swift almost lost. I'm sure the chatter is all about how the game was rigged by the Deep State. *sigh and double sigh.*

My stallion, Zing, is informing us it's heading into breeding season. He's all up on his toes, doing the Strut-n-Stuff for the ladies in the adjacent pasture. He does truly believe he is Mister Wonderful. They ignore him. It's been so long since he has bred a mare I'm not sure he'd remember how. He's fun to watch when he comes in, all up and arched, snorting like he means it. To think I used to have three of them. I really was out of my mind.

Mark just informed me it's Paul Bunyan's 186th birthday. There will be celebrations in the towns that claim him. Am I a true Minnesotan if I admit never seeing the statue of Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox? I didn't grow up calling a casserole a hot dish, either. Oh, my. Well, I did spend part of my childhood in San Diego. 

Good Morning

Just stopping in to say howdy.  It's still early in the day, but I'm feeling better than I have in about two months. I plan to take some inspiration from Boud and make a loaf of bread. My bread baking had come to an abrupt halt and I would like to gear up again.

We had a rainy day yesterday and it's gloomy again today. The warm weather is very confusing. I'm sure all the vegetation is also confused. March is always a contentious month and with everything turned upside down, will we be snowed in or flooded out?

Make the most of your day and I will try to do the same.

Greedy Cat

I put this dog bed on the front porch for the young cat that's been hanging around here. I also put out food and water. The first evening it was there the kitty was laying on it. Ever since then, this chunk has taken over. Tabby can spend all the time he wants on comfortable furniture in the house. Instead he spends all his time sleeping on this bed outside. Poor little kitty. At least it can get into the hay loft. I never will understand cats.

Other than cat news, nothing much is happening in my world. I finished this book yesterday. I didn't think I was going to like it at the start, but it got better. I do think the ending was a bit of a throw-away. One opinion.

ewwww

Remember Phoebe's, on the tv show Friends, song Smelly Cat?

If the shoe fits, Gatto, wear it. 

Without getting into too much graphic detail, my office is cat central, ie, litter boxes in the closet. I was reading blogs and Gatto was making a visit. I nearly gagged. Good god. I immediately placed an order for their own air purifier. This is number four in the house. I have a house dust allergy and have had purifiers for years, but the large one in the bedroom was enough for the three rooms in that area.  Smelly Cat has changed that. This purifier has a place for essential oil. I really didn't think I'd actually devote a blog post to cat stink, but here it is. Can you tell it made an impression? What did he eat?

Onward. It's sunny and mild. The sun is a welcome sight. My son cancelled their visit on Saturday. He is having serious tooth pain and is hoping for a dental appointment ASAP. Mark said they may make it on my half birthday in June. Funny Mark.