Time for new card designs

Before we even got the notice from Chase that the Disney card was offering new designs, L had texted us to ask if we could change her Tinkerbell design for the villian, Malificent. The card arrived in our mail the other day and we mailed it to her at school.

While we were at it, I changed my 50th anniversary card to this new retro design. The monorail is on the backside.

January sunrises

Jan. 15

Jan. 27

Another new spot

August has been trying out a few new resting spots lately. Here he is on one of our stools.

Bad start

Opened the box of my next puzzle to find this. There must be a special place in hell for people who donate puzzles but can't be bothered to take them apart first.

It took me 25 minutes to go through and tear apart all the pieces ... just so I can put them back together. Ugh.

Broken wiper

L called yesterday asking what to do if a windshield wiper broke while brushing snow off a car. Umm, get it fixed? Not sure if it was really broken or just came off. Either way, she didn't know how to fix it herself. She called the local Buick dealer and they were able to get her in right away. Andy had her get both wipers replaced. Now she's good to go.

The cat whisperer

This doesn't happen often - both cats were hanging out with B.

Door puzzle

After suffering through missing pieces on the Taj Mahal puzzle, I made sure to grab one from my stash that was new and sealed.

It was August-approved.

This was a fun puzzle because it didn't have any huge area of a single color. And it had all the pieces! I did most of it but B finished it.

Our first sous vide

E and B gave Andy a sous vide cooker for Christmas. We finally bought some skirt steak and tried it out. It's essentially cooking food in heated water, holding the temperature steady the entire time.

For a pound of skirt steak the recipe said to cook it for an hour and a half. Then you sear it in a pan on the stove to give it some color.

The steak was done to medium, as we wanted. Andy also made cilantro rice, which was also from the cookbook the kids gave him.

35 years ago?

I was initiated Jan. 23, 1988. It's been a few years. The national sorority office sent an anniversary email just as they did on the 30th anniversary.

On the table runner?

The cats like to sit on my tablecloth, especially when a fresh one is put on the table. I haven't put a tablecloth down since we took down all the Christmas decorations so they've decided to sit on the table runner.

Belated b-day dinner

We've lived here for 32 years and finally had dinner at the Golden Steer.

It was the birthday boy's belated birthday dinner.

Even B came with us to celebrate!

I liked the French onion soup but B wouldn't eat the cheese and Andy doesn't like a lot of onions. The other option was clam chowder. No thanks. Dinner also included a sald. I was glad the salad had a slice of cucumber (that I immediately passed off to Andy) rather than little cucumber bits. Ick.

Andy got the New York strip, B had a filet and I had the prime rib. All were cooked exactly as we ordered.

I give up

I had been working on this puzzle for a little over a week and it just wasn't working. The right top corner border is missing and if I don't have the border done first it throws off the whole puzzle. Guess that's a chance you take buying puzzles at thrift stores.

It was a very interesting puzzle though of India and the Taj Mahal with several elephants in colorful costumes and even Mother Teresa. Maybe we'll have better luck next time.

August liked it, of course.

Warmest room

It's taken August years but he's finally figured out that the main-floor bathroom is the warmest room in the house. IT's right above the furnace so the floor is always toasty in summer and cool in summer. The rug in front of the sink has become his new resting spot.

Birthday boy

Andy said he didn't need a birthday cake but that didn't mean I wouldn't get a picture of him holding birthday candles! This was yesterday before he left for work.

And, of course, he watched the birthday video that ISU sends out to alumni. He said it's time they come up with a new video. They've been sending this one out for years.

B’s Seattle trip

B sent this just after the plane landed Friday in Seattle. His comment? "Just landed and it's wet." Welcome to the Pacific Northwest, B.

B said they went to some shops then stopped to get tea. E loves getting boba tea.

B relaxing with Azula after D cooked a prime rib dinner.

Saturday they went to downtown Seattle where B got to see Pike Place Market.

D took this sibling pic on a pier after visiting Pike Place on Saturday. Thwy also went out for a dumpling dinner and E took B to two different quilt shops. He boight her a belated Christmas gift - fabric that she'll use to make a quilt to be given back to B. (She's been told by her quilting guild mentors that if she doesn't give quilts away she'll soon be overrun with quilts. The fun, they say, is in piecing and sewing them.) B flew home Monday, ready to get back to work today.

B's burger Sunday night. He wasn't sure where they ate at, but said it was good. They also did a little hiking, he said.

So cool

Not sure how I've driven past this so many times and never really noticed it until the other day. It's so cool. On 16th Street in Berwyn, just west of East Avenue.

It's Abbey Road, Berwyn/mariachi style. I love that the houses lining the street are Berwyn bungalows.

Dr. Sam

Andy and I went to our church friend S's open house last night in celebration of her earning her doctorate in physical therapy. (This was outfit change No. 2, her doctor's coat from undergrad). Four kids and a full-time job and she did it. Wow.

Outfit change No. 1 was into her husband's doctoral robe from University of Michigan. She said it cost $800 and they were young and didn't have much money so she was glad to get a second use out of it. She didn't attend her doctorate ceremony.

A couple more pics of us at the party posted by the hostess:

Squirrel snack?

My Ring doorbell detected motion at the back door and when I looked online I saw a squirrel with something big in its mouth.

It left pretty big piece of bread on the porch railing and then ran away. I'm assuming the squirrel will come back for it eventually.

Seattle bound

B has been working for a year without taking any vacation. This morning he's headed to O'Hare to spend a few days with E and D. He promised to send pics. We'll see.

New Vera bags

I might have a problem lol. I got three new Vera Bradley bags recently. To be fair, I do use them to travel and they've been helpful to move the girls to and from college. The tote on the left was a Christmas present from Andy. It's the Hope Blooms pattern for Fall 2021, which supports the company's breast cancer foundation. The two on the right are Factory Outlet XL duffels in Kauai Floral, on top, and Floral Bursts. I plan to use them if we have to drive L to Disney for a professional internship this summer. My fingers are crossed for her.

He’s not moving

August must have heard me and B talking about which puzzle we want to start next. He's sitting in the chair I use when we're working on a puzzle.

Spicy, spicy

B forgot that he moved the shaker lid from the crushed red peppers to the parsley and poured a lot, and I mean a lot, of pepper flakes into his meatballs last night. Just glad he was the one that removed the shaker and the one that was using it. Had I grabbed them to shake onto pizza I would have assumed the shaker was intact.

Cruisin’

E and D were driven to O'Hare Wednesday morning, Jan. 4, to fly to Miami for their Virgin cruise to celebrate D's cousin's 50th birthday.

The ship is huge!

She sent this pic of their room.

And these are two drinks they got for free by winning trivia Wednesday night.

I had asked for a better picture to show the size of the room and E sent this - her foot touching the wall from the foot of the bed. OK, I guess the room is small. It's their first cruise. Maybe if they enjoy cruising they'll choose a larger room next time.

Spending time in Key West on Friday.

They toured Hemingway's house. The tour guide said this is one of 56 cats on the property.

Not sure what this is (E doesn't describe the pictures she sends) so I'm guessing a grill-type dinner on the ship.

Again, not sure what this is but it's colorful. They docked Sunday and E and D both got searched by customs which she thinks was because they had a lot of luggage for a four-day cruise. Then it was back to Seattle.