So, I roasted an oven stuffer last weekend, and buoyed by my stock making effort for Christmas dinner, yesterday I took the stripped carcass of the roast, threw it into a pot, added veggies, herbs, and water, and set it to simmering. After about four or five hours, I strained out all the bones and stuff, and simmered it some more to reduce it down ( Read more... )

I am at home using up vacation days, and so far I've been pretty productive. Yesterday I replaced the storm door on the front of the house. There was nothing actually wrong with the old door, but it was getting old and it's various operating parts were starting to creak, as aging mechanisms (and aging people) do. It also wasn't particularly ( Read more... )

Mother Nature finally remembered to flip the switch on her the heating system last Sunday. It's been warmish since, even for the couple of days of rain we had mid-week. The winds have backed off a bit, too. Now they're merely annoying rather than absolutely brutal. The upshot of this more reasonable weather is that my body now aches like an achey ( Read more... )

I didn't manage to get the dishwasher installed last Sunday as planned, but by Wednesday night it was up and cleaning dishes. I certainly tried to get it all done Sunday, but you know how it goes.

( How it went... )

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Sears called tonight to let me know that the new dishwasher is ready to pick up. At least that's what I think they called about. I don't actually know for sure because I happened to be walking by the kitchen phone when they called. I picked up, and an automated messaged identified itself as being from Sears, and then told me to press 1 for English ( Read more... )

Have purchased a dishwasher, a Kenmore (yay, sale!), however it wasn't in stock, so I can't pick it up until mid-week. No big deal. That'll let me start in first thing Saturday. I also stopped by the Depot to look at kitchen faucets, and found one I liked. It's mid-range at around $90. (By comparison, I could get one similar to what I have now for ( Read more... )

Snow last night, about 4", on top of the 1½" we got Friday night. Still, it was light and fluffy and easily moved. All I needed yesterday morning to clean the walk and driveway was a push broom. Today I used the shovel, but mostly as a plow. So looking forward to spring. Already. Although I will note that sunrise in these parts finally started ( Read more... )

Easter weekend had terrific weather, but I was down in Jersey so didn't get a chance to ride at all. I did get to play a little wiffle ball with a niece and a couple of nephews. It's the first time I've swung any kind of bat in almost a decade, yet I'm the only one of the crew who actually hit the ball. Apparently none of them have their uncle's ( Read more... )

So, I started coming down with a cold last Saturday, which by Sunday was full blown and nasty, so further work on the bench got postponed. I managed not to miss any days at work, but I was miserable all week, even more so than when I had the flu in November. The symptoms finally started easing Friday, so yesterday I finally felt good enough to head ( Read more... )