For a smile as wide as a country sunrise
Good morning everyone on this beautiful Monday! It’s 19F (-7C) this morning and cloudy, but we didn’t get that snow which had been forecast for us, it just kind of disappeared it seems. Which is fine with me. Today is supposed to be quite nice, with a high of 32F (0C). However, that does mean a slight bit of melting, and that means when it freezes again tonight there will be lots of ice around in the morning. Ice I don’t like, not at all. Oh well.
It was kind of quiet at the feeders yesterday, only a few evening grosbeaks showed up and they did not stay very long. There were even fewer blue jays around than normal. That is not good. But the smaller birds were just as active as normal. There were lots of chickadees around all day. As usual Chester was the last to leave late yesterday afternoon. But he didn’t stay as late as the day before. It is interesting to watch them late in the afternoon, there are so many of them around filling up before the long cold night comes. And then within one minute they are all gone.
Suddenly they all leave at the same time, heading off to their various roosting places for the night. They like to pick a nice sheltered spot where there is a thick grove of trees, usually spruce or balsam fir. Then they are nicely sheltered from the wind too. Nuthatches will do the same thing, often picking the same locations as the chickadees. They like to travel around together during the winter months.
Well, I’m finally back again. I know, you didn’t even know I was gone, but I was. I always go shopping early Monday morning, before the crowds show up at the stores. I don’t enjoy shopping very much and crowds make it worse. Plus, with less people, that means there is less chance that something will happen to me while shopping. Because things do happen to me. Even without crowds. Like today. I pick up a bag of crackers…there was a rather large hole in the bottom of this bag, so when I picked it up the crackers fell out and all over the floor. Sigh.
Hard to believe really. And that is not an isolated incident. Something happens to me nearly every time I go shopping. Like apples. Why do they stack apples up so high like they do? A lady ahead of me picked out 6 apples from the stack and left. Nothing happened. If she can do it, so can I. Wrong. I picked one apple and suddenly there is an avalanche! I have my arms out trying to catch them so they don’t fall on the floor, but, I was too late, several made it past me anyway and bounced their way along the aisle.
A woman who worked there saw the whole thing and came over laughing and helped put everything back for me. She removed the ones that bounced along the floor however. And I got my apples, she picked out 6 nice ones for me. She was very nice. But why stack them that way in the first place? Sigh. I missed my coffee this morning, maybe that’s the problem. Time to make some coffee, thanks for reminding me. I hope you all have a coffee Monday, I mean, wonderful Monday, and God bless!
Steve and Muffin.
Β©2021 Steve McLeod.
Ha ha ha, things happen wherever you goπ lucky you got a lady to help out. Hope she picked up good apples. Enjoyed the shopping? I don’t think so π€ͺ. Have a lovely day Uncle Steve β€οΈπ€
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I never really enjoy shopping, even if nothing bad happens. But my shopping is interesting at times, like today!! Almost time for bed now.π€π³π΄π΄
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Ha ha ha, that was interesting, wasn’t it always interesting,.as things always happensπ€ͺ
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Even when I’m extra careful, things will still happen to me!ππΉπ€―
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The pics are so nice ! Things do happen at grocery stores, especially for you ! ππππππ You never had your coffee ? ! How can you get around without your coffee ? Sit down , have a cup of coffee and relax ! βοΈβοΈ
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I never drink coffee before going shopping, might wake me up!ππ
Thanks so much Sharon, have a good night!ππ»ππ΄
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how lucky that you came across a kind employee who helped clean things up…
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How are you at Jenga?
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Not very good, my hands get kind of shaky doing things like that unfortunately.
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Iβm a Jenga master
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I should probably work at it more, though I doubt I would ever be that good.
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I think you’re supposed to pick from the top of the stack… not the bottom ones!!πππππ
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How good are you?π€
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Depends on what I’m doing… but not bad at most things.. except international shipments! They are the Bain of my existence!!ππππ
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I’m talking about Jenga.π€¨
How can international shipments be a problem?π€ Sounds simple enough.π€π
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Playing Jenga with Apples at the grocery isn’t a good idea..
Not when it comes to harmonized tariff codes and licensing to countries where they require it…
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Quite honestly, the apple I took was at the top and that’s what caused the avalanche!πππππΉπΉ
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Your luck!!πππ
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Yep, that’s for sure. I thought it would be safe taking from the top. Serves me right for thinking! Speaking of thinking, I think I forgot to do something today, but I can’t think of what it was.π€ So strange.π³π How was your day?π€π How was the drive?π€π Did you go walking?π€πΆββοΈ Are you even reading?π€π Sigh.ππ
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My day was great! The drive not so much but it’s necessary for now. Yes!! I am reading!! BTW… Ah hem someone forgot something today…π€¨π€¨ππ
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Um, yeah, so you mentioned.π€π Um, well, I can’t believe I forgot that today.π¬π€―π€―π€―π€―π€― I didn’t do it yesterday, but that was deliberate, but I was planning to start it today. Hmm, guess it will be tomorrow now.π³π³ππ
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Oh and yes did my walk.. got 4.5 miles for the day!ππ
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Are you trying to make me look bad?π€¨π€¨ I mean, that’s great!π Keep it up!πππ
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That’s the trouble I hope I can keep going… I did it phases today… I did about 1/3 of it in the office bldg. Several times throughout the day.
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Hey, that’s a great way to do it!
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Yeah at least for a while until I build up enough to do all at once in cold.
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Sounds like a plan!ππ₯³
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That it does!! How did you do today?
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With what?
Oh, I’m back.
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With your projects..
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Going good, but 3 times today I got overwhelmed and had to stop for a while and just sit until things settled down.
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That’s good that you did it that way! I’m proud of you!! That’s not easy to do sometimes when you want things done.
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Thanks! That’s true, I want to keep pushing, but things don’t work out when I get that overwhelmed feeling, so it’s best to stop, even though once today I was fighting the idea for a bit!ππ³π€―
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Just need to train yourself to accept it.. the more you practice it the easier it will get in the future.ππ
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Oooooo, philosophizing! Cool! I like it!ππ€―
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You did it again!!! You… are amazingππ
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Strange. I was sure it was you that said it.π€π
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It was your idea… I just verbalized it!ππ
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Oooo, cool word. Are you sure it was my idea, I never was good with verbs, that’s why math was so hard.
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I don’t know… it showed up on my screen as predictive text so I used it!!ππ what does it mean?π€π€
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It means you like verbs.π€―
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Are they related to herbs πΏ can you eat them? I like some herbs but I like vegetables better!!ππ
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I think verb means “very good herb”.π I knew a guy named Herb once, but I don’t think he was related to vegetables.π€
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Oh good! I like good herbs!! It’s not nice to call Herb a vegetable… I’m sure he tried very hard to learn in school.. some just learning disabilities ππ
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Strange, I thought that was me that had the learning disability.π€ππ
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Yeah, but your name us Steve not Herb!!πππ€π€π€
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Well, “he” comes after “t” to make “the” and “rb” is my middle name, so technically Steve and Herb are the same name.ππ
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So what are you then? An Herb or a vegetable π€ π I like to eat vegetables π π€π€
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Now that is food for thought.π€
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I like veggie dip π with vegetables π π
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You should try BBQ sauce with veggies.π
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That sounds yummy too.ππ
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Try it on salad too.
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BBQ Sauce on Salad??π€π€ Hmmm interesting.. I will need to try it…
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I’m sorry if I offended youππ with any of my responses. I get carried away sometimes… π¬π€
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You didn’t, never need to worry about that one!
Good morning!ππβββββββ
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Okay… I wanted to make sure.
Good Morningπππ
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Oh, guess what, guess what??π€π€ Just talk about this here, thanks.
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Yep, will do..π
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It was inspection day, met my new landlord!π¬π¬π
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And??π¬
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I think the top of his head popped off when he came inside and saw how, um, “full” it was in here.π€―π€―
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He didn’t tell you to get out did he??π¬π¬
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Nope, he was very nice, said I can stay until I get into a senior’s apartment.
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That was very kind of him!π Did you offer him some raspberry tea π΅
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Hmm, never thought of that, I just offered good ol coffee!πβββ
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Did he accept??πππ
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No, didn’t have the time, just looked around and we talked for a little. There’s going to be a new tenant move into the house, he won’t be living there. The new tenant is a carpenter and will be fixing up the house for reduced rent.
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Sounds like a good deal for both parties π₯³ π
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That could be one problem, I hope he isn’t one of those types that likes wild, noisy late night parties.π²π²ππ
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Probably not… I’m sure he told the tenant you’re older and to keep it quiet π€« π€π€
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Yeah, I’m sure it won’t be bad.π Hey, how do you know I’m older than this other guy?π€¨
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Lucky guess bases on a few conversations we’ve had?ππ
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The other guy might be older too.π
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Than what though??πππ€π€
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Speaking of questions, um, you probably noticed something missing again today.π€π¬π΅οΈββοΈ
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Yup!! Watched all afternoon for it and nothing! Then I thought maybe this evening.. but nope.. figured you didn’t have the time again.πππ
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Well, uh, I mean, um, that’s a good thought, but, uh, um, the problem is, um, when I started writing it out, it just didn’t sound right, I didn’t like it, so I’m starting over. It will be out tomorrow though.ππΊ
Wow, that wind has really gotten strong out there!
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It’s telling you to make sure you get the story out tomorrow or It’s coming back to blow your dwelling down!!πππ
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It’s already shaking things! Yep, don’t know why it didn’t feel quite right, just have to change the setting a bit, the visiting characters, the story line and maybe a few other details. Then it should be fine.πππΉπΉ
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It will be like brand new all over again!!ππ
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Well, I don’t know if I want to change that much.π€ππ
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Either way it will be fresh and new!!πππ
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That’s a good point, whole new story!π
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I like it!! That’s a good title!!ππβΊβΊππ
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“The mystery of the whole new story”, kinda catchy alright, but a bit long.π€ππ
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Chapter name?ππ€
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I have been thinking about starting to use chapter names.π€
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I think it would be 3asier for readers to know if they have read it yet.. ππ€
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That’s why I put chapter numbers on each one.π€ππ
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Yeah, but they may not remember what the story name was…
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I always put the story name on each chapter.π
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I know.. maybe it’s just me..
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And putting a name on each chapter kinda gives a hint at what is coming up.π€π
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True… but it also could help build the curiosity π€
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We were in the city last time, I was thinking of a country location, or a small town.π€
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Small town.. definitely! There are a bunch of characters and nosey housewives that could really muck up an investigation!!πππ
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That’s what I was thinking too. Small towns are great places for a mystery.π
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Yep… brilliant idea!!π
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Thank you, I come up with some good ideas now and then, usually then!ππ
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Hey.. I think this one could be a bunch if fun….ππ
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Providing we don’t get killed. It is the end of the year, someone is bound to get killed.π¬π¬
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That’s sad π π
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Happens every year.π³ππ
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Remind me again who died last year?
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It was Lena, almost, but not quite.
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Ahhh…. that’s right!! π
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But she did end up dying later, so it’s kinda the same thing as dying at the end of the year.π
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Except not…ππππ
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But she almost did which was an early warning that she would at a future date.π³
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She just borrowed a few weeks of life..ππ
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Precisely, see how nice I was?
Time to sleep again.
Good night Dusty!πππ΄π€Ώ
Talk again tomorrow!π
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Okay..ππ Sleep Well!π΄
TTYT!π
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Don’t feel alone with your apple incident. I picked up a container of blueberries and the top was secure and there were blueberries everywhere. Plus blueberries make a big mess when you step on them! π± π« π« π« π«βοΈβοΈ
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Oh my, that’s a bad one, worse than apples!π²π¬π Thanks, I feel better already!ππΊπββ
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π
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