Unexpected visitors yesterday.

Everyday we break the heat record with another day over 90…record has stood from the early 1900s. And everyday Bill reminds me that for some reason this year it is cooler in Mazatlan than here and they are getting rain.
We had a strange incident yesterday afternoon. A knock on the front door and when I answered it there was a couple standing there. “Is this the Art Studio?” the man asked. “Ummm, yes.” I answered. “Do you let people come in?” “Ummmm let me check with the artist,” was my less than stellar reply. Left them standing there at the door (crap! are they casing the place?) and found Bill (woke him up) and asked him if he wanted to conduct a tour. Things went uphill from there. “Of course, come right in.”

They were from Illinois here on vacation and driving around when they saw the sign out front and stopped. Very interesting and nice couple. So Bill gave them the tour of his area where he works and of the glass shop. The woman is very interested in stained glass – wants to learn how to do it. They spent about an hour visiting with us. But need to get my act together in case it happens again. And guess we should always have some projects partially done so we can show them how the “studio” works.
Today Bill goes down to our little town to put some of his wood spirits and masks up for display (hopefully sale) in the Chateau Thomas Winery. It is a very busy place lots of tourists go there to taste the wine. I'll go with him but maybe in slippers - "foot finger" is really sore today and brusing has gone into toe next to it.
We had chicken burgers for dinner last night – still not sure what I think of them. Should you put ketchup on them? I did. Will try them again but cook them a little different I think.
Watched one of my favorite programs last night – The Closer. Wish I hadn’t. The main characters mother died in her sleep and when they put the camera on her she looked so much like my mom did when we found her dead. ….I’m still a little unsettled this morning. And dreamed about my Mom last night.
While its still cool I need to get some more cleaning done.

The deer did a NO NO

Watched the races over the weekend. Saturday was a disaster for my favorite driver – Kyle Busch. He was driving his own car #54 and it was very, very fast. In fact he lead a whole lot of the race. Then a little mistake, a spin and a bad finish. Been eight weeks of rotten luck for him. And Danica had a good race going until……nasty wreck. Felt bad for her.

Sunday was much better. The #18 was darn good, except for when it was belching black smoke??? What was up with that? But just couldn’t catch the #48 – no one could. All in all a good day for Kyle. Back up to 11 in points but really needs another win to clinch the Chase.
Last couple of days have been rather nice out – low 90s – so far this month – 30 days – 26 have been above 90. Unheard of for Indiana. And more in the forecast – and very little rain coming.
My little toe or “foot finger” as Bill calls them is still fat and purple. It’s okay if I’m barefoot but smarts like the devil if I put a shoe on.
Did get a few things done this a.m. Fun things like paying bills, think I have all the credit card information updated finally, vacuuming the way downstairs – basement, and doing the laundry. Then I spent about ½ hour on the phone with tech support for our Verizon MiFi. It’s been acting up for a few days now. Connects but doesn’t want to let us on the Internet first thing in the morning. I can usually get it working by fooling with it but not this morning. According to tech support, who actually spoke English as a first language, the problem is with something in Indianapolis that was being worked on as we spoke. Seems like there were lots of unhappy calls from this area. It is working like a dream for now.
Oh boy – Bill came in a while ago and was kind of put out with me. I am the one who sprays the plants out front with the Deer Off to keep them away. Well I kind of forgot to do it after the last little rain. Last night they had a feast. This used to be a really full plant. No leaves left.

Now that the damage is done I went out to spray to discourage them from coming back in hopes the plants will regrow. Using a new spray that is a mist instead of a stream of smelly stuff. All went well until I turned towards the front and discover too late that I was spraying into the wind. Guess now the deer won’t come near me. Bill either. Really stinks.

Day of Storms and Cooler Weather

Yesterday started out as a pretty warm day but by evening it was in the mid 60s YAH!

Had to wait for the water company guy to come over “He’ll be there between 8 and noon.” Of course he got here at quarter till noon. So we made sure all faucets, toilets etc were shut off in the house then he checked the meter – NO activity - NO leaks – thank goodness. Just that we have used a lot of water this summer for the plants. It’s nice that they check.
While waiting for him I worked on the computer. Got my new credit card with new expiration date – this is the card I have all the household bills paid on so when we’re traveling I don’t have to worry about them. So had to update all the CC info on each account. Good Lord was that a project. First I had to remember who which wasn’t too hard as I just looked at last months bill. So I go to the first account….username and password. Hummmm Typed it in. “Wrong username or password!” Crap. And so it went –Why does everyone have different rules for your passwords? One was “at least 8 numbers or letters 4 of which have to be letters.” Eventually I remembered them all and got them all changed. All except one who I have to call as they don’t do computer. Life in Brown County.
I cooked the matambre yesterday – Bill says it came out good – I never really cared for it. Any way this is what it looks like. The flank steak is pounded flat them rolled up – inside is hard cooked egg, carrots, onions, peas and seasoning. Used to put fresh spinach in there too but didn’t have any. After cooking for hours you cool it down then slice it.

After it finished cooking we went into town. A storm passed as we were going in. The temps dropped 15 degrees in five minutes. All we got were a few sprinkles and wind.

Did some shopping and when we were on our way home the temps were back up into the mid 90s. About half way home another wave of storms came by catching us on the highway. Lots of wind and rain. And the windshield wiper on Bill’s side – of course – popped off!!!!! Got into our town and pulled under a gas station and he got out and fixed it. But by then the rain had stopped but the temperatures had dropped to 65. All this in a matter of 15 minutes. We continued on home but……TREE DOWN…… a big tree was clear across the road hanging on the power lines. Not good. So had to turn around and go another way home. Good thing there is another way. Lots of leaves and little branches scattered all over.

Oh yes another little thing about yesterday. I dropped one of Bill’s framed masks on my foot and smashed my little toe! And for once I did have shoes on. – Didn’t think it was serious when I did it but by last night it was swelling and bruising. This morning I don’t want to put a shoe on. Whole toe is big and purple. That’s okay gives me a good excuse to watch NASCAR all day. Practice, qualifying, practice, qualifying and a race. Busy day for drivers that drive in both Nationwide and Cup. Kyle’s #54 Nationwide car was fastest in both of the Thursday. Maybe his luck will change this weekend.
Well now the internet isn’t working….been going on and off all morning. Fooled with it and for now it is working so will post this quick! Didn't make it - will try now again! Bye

Why do eyebrows grow so long when you get older?

Ended up running into Columbus yesterday a.m. – picked up our meat from Wal*Mart and got some out of the garden fresh tomatoes from a friend. Yum.

Also got my hair cut really short again. The lady always asks me – you sure you want it that short? Yep. She also trimmed my eyebrows. Why do the white eyebrow hairs grow so long when the brown ones don’t? One of life’s little mysteries I guess.
Stayed cloudy and humid all day. Wild rain up north but not here. Today in the aft we should get some rain or maybe just bad wind. Who knows? Just Indiana weather.
We did find out that our insurance will not cover the Shingles vaccine – how nice. Neither does Medicare – unless you have Part D and we don’t.
I was just looking through all my recipe books looking for my old recipe for matambre – rolled stuffed flank steak. And I found an old recipe I’d cut out of the paper for Fried Pickled Fish. Fried pickled fish???? Why would I ever cut that out and save it? Who would pickle fish and why would anyone then fry it? Not me. Also came across my old Betty Crocker cook book. I’ve had it for over 55 years….
Water company came by yesterday to read the meter and left us a note suggesting we might have a water leak. They are coming back tomorrow morning to help check it out. We’re hoping it’s just cause we used so much water on the plants this past month. Talking to the guy at the water company he said, “Well you must love your plants a lot more than I love mine.” Yes guess we do.
Yesterday morning we had seven deer out back, three of which were fawns. They are so cute. But didn’t get the camera in time – when they hear the porch floor creak they take off.