image courtesy Ebay
*I've written here before about my funny grocery store and the oddities it carries in its Closeouts section. Rick and I went grocery shopping, and I came upon a whole shelf of these. I'd love to hear your thoughts about this thing:
Pretty sure he's holding it correctly
The house is also only partially sprayed this horrific blue. You can see the spray marks about a quarter of the way across on each side.
I went by there a few days ago, and while all the Christmas crap is gone, the yeti silhouette is still there. I feel so bad for the neighbours on each side, both of whose houses are neat, tidy, and carefully landscaped (also bereft of any tardy seasonal decor or large cryptids).
*The weather straightened itself out enough for several days in a row, long enough for my neighbour's Lenten Lilies/early daffodils to come out along my driveway. They never venture to that side of their home, so I don't feel guilty at all each year when I cut them and bring them in to brighten my mood.
And I'm going to keep cutting them, too!
*Ever since we had to say goodbye to Marlowe, her brother's personality has undergone a transformation. Piper used to never say much of anything, and now we can't get him to shut up. He's also become demanding about many things, such as requiring ice in his water and a tablespoon full of my half-and-half when I make my coffee. Because of his advanced age (16) and...er...size, he also refuses to jump or climb up to be on my lap; rather, he howls until I pick him up and put him there. So many things meet with his disapproval, and I constantly hear about each and every one of them. This is the evildoer I am speaking of:
Luckily, he is quite affable around Theo, whose toys you see in the background
*I caught sight of this in a residential yard in my neighbourhood. I had to stop and take a photo. To me, it is the perfect symbol of present times in this country, about which I could easily write a thousand words expressing my dismay, outrage, and profound sadness. Instead, I'll let this say it all:
The stars are merely star-shaped holes. Vote blue!
*Finally, today I watched a very determined mother intent upon protecting her baby. I took a short video and want to share it with you here:
This mother squirrel carried her two kits across the street, one at a time, and no farther than 6 feet away from me. She carried them right past me and up the driveway, and past Rick who was working noisily on the lawnmower. Her final destination was a huge sycamore tree behind our neighbour's home, which has an opening in its trunk. I was able to catch a bit of footage of her second trip. The video is not terrific, but it does have a few dramatic seconds at the end--of the stamped concrete of my patio when I, completely astonished, forgot to shut off my phone.
Because of her amazing feat, I have vowed to stop shooing squirrels away from my blue jay feeder on the porch. Let them eat peanuts! That squirrel mom is a hero (as are so many Mothers and Women, unsung though they may be).
Happy Springtime, my friends. It's showing signs now of its green and blooming presence, and we certainly deserve it.
Splendid to hear from you, even if you do have daffs where I have a pile of slushy, but melting, snow. The madly moving mother squirrel is a real treat and it blows my mind how close she came to you.
ReplyDeleteUm, the cat? My YD has one like that. I envision you bowed to the ground with a large and heavy paw on the back of your worshipful neck.
Oh, yes, spring. It is coming here too. It is. I have faith.
If you find out what that Thing is, I need to know. Some kind of bottle holder is what strikes me, but it also might be almost anything to straighten something. The mind boggles.
Mary--I do think you're correct about that Thing--it looks to be some sort of wine bottle holder, but the style and logistics of it confuse me.
DeleteI'm sorry that you've not had a peek of spring there yet. What in the heck is it waiting for? I suggest that Canadians mobilize and do something about it. Perhaps a strongly worded letter? (Ha, if only!)
The cat's manners and behaviours are so irritating that I've stopped admiring his audacity. Still, he is delightfully cuddly and warm on one's lap, so I put up with way more than I should. Plus, he gets the benefit of his advanced age.
That squirrel! I'm so glad she moved her kids when she did. We had a scary storm at about 5 pm with a derecho-like event as it descended. I honestly thought it was a tornado at first--70 mph winds and floods of rain. Thank heavens she was snug and safe with her family by then.
Oh, and ... the red bow is off my wreath of pine boughs, but the main circle is still hanging on the porch holder. Guilty, your honour.
ReplyDeleteMary--Sigh. I'll give you a BRIEF pass on a plain evergreen wreath since spring is so late up there. But why not hasten it along with a decoration that implies it? My fake forsythia wreath went up a month ago.
DeleteHmmm, the blue is indeed hideous and clashes badly with the brick. However, I have to say the yellow does not really go with the brick, either. I happen to be a hater of yellow houses. I have no idea why, I actually grew up in a yellow house. Or, maybe that is why I hate yellow houses, who knows. All I know is I will never live in a yellow house if I can possibly help it.
ReplyDeleteAnd oh, poor Marlowe, grumpy old man that he is. My Dad's dog is a 16 year old Border Collie and she is just the most finicky eater, but I feel that at this age, she deserves to be finicky, you know? She has earned that right. But, it isn't me feeding her, either. However, it gives my Dad something to do, guessing what she will eat that day, so it's not necessarily a bad thing that he can devote some energy to fussing over her.
Gina--There's no excuse for that house, period. It's an eyesore. I get why you may not care for a yellow house (I actually don't either) after having grown up in one. There were many features of my childhood home's decor that I vowed would never be in my own home, ever, after being surrounded by them. Anything Early American/colonial is a definite No for me. Also paneling.
DeletePiper is definitely showing his age, and for that I give him a lot of grace. He really is a grumpy old man! Your dad's job of feeding his dog sounds like a nightmare to me. Thank goodness Piper doesn't (yet!) put me through that.
Wow that blue house is hideous and how tacky to leave decor up for that long! We took our lights down in February which felt late but now I feel less bad about it. There’s a house in our neighborhood that is half-painted that same aggressive color of blue. Is there some secret club for bad color choices on just part of your house?
ReplyDeleteThe daffs are gorgeous. I saw some in my sister’s neighborhood where spring is a good 6 weeks ahead of Minnesota. We were supposed to get a wintery mix tomorrow/Thursday and then more snow on Saturday. Sigh. The kids sledded Easter weekend last year so this is nothing new for us, but it is highly annoying. I am so over winter!!
Good thing your cat is so cute! Ours lives with my MIL (it’s a long story) where she gets treated very well and enjoys her quiet suburban home with many windows. She would prefer to only drink from a slowly dropping sink - or to lick the condensation off a glass of water. She’s quite spoiled but is very cute.
Lisa--The residents of the tacky blue house proudly display their names on the front right next to the door. Bless their hearts, they have no shame (or taste). I am amazed that you have a similar home where you live. Maybe they're part of a secret society?
DeletePoor Minnesota--I'm sure more people would be motivated to live there if it weren't for the weather. I, for one, look wistfully at MN politics and think it a wonderful place to live if it weren't for the winters! Ohio's weather--especially near the lakeshore--is nothing to brag about, but our political climate is increasingly awful. Almost everywhere looks better to me when it comes to that.
Piper is a handsome cat and generally mild-mannered. All of his annoying habits are relatively recent. Thank goodness he'll drink out of his water dish, though; your cat's hydration rituals would drive me nuts. I'm glad she found a settled home with plenty of indulgence.
Nance, this was such a delight to read! I'm so curious about the "random thing" at the grocery store. I wonder what it could be? I laughed so hard at the yard with little Christmas figures strewn about. It looks like the Yeti was up to no good. People are so interesting!
ReplyDeleteMG--Oh, thank you! What a lovely compliment.
DeleteI do think that Thing might be a wine bottle caddy/holder. I still feel confused as to how exactly it would be used if it were meant to be functional. I am not buying one to find out.
That house! That yeti! Trust me when I tell you that it is the outlier on that street, where all of the other homes are neat, well-maintained, and NOT anywhere near that colour.
This post is so fun. I'm curious about the weird thing. I cheated and read another commentor who suspects it might be a bottle holding thing - ah, I wonder if that be correct. Still, so strange. Not as strange as the house. What on earth? I am reading this on my laptop while on vacation - so picture me . . . leaning forward, squinting . . . "is that . . . a Big Foot statue mixed in with their Christmas decor?" I read on and enlarged the photo and about died. The world is full of goofy folks, who are also color blind apparently. A mother squirrel once relocated her babies from the roof of my gazebo into the neighbors yard and I took a video too. I couldn't believe it - she travelled the same exact route each time and I think she had 4 babies to move. I blame Finn, Lad's dog that was living with us. That squirrel mama had no choice. Finn sat and barked incessantly at the roof until she decided to move them. The flowers are so pretty. I love the stories of how spoiled your cat is. Spring is right around the corner. I hope. We have been enjoying the weather of Florida and I'm relying on the weather back home not to completely fail me. I need to keep up my tan. ;)
ReplyDeleteErnie--Thank you! Please take a look at Fiona's comment about the weird thing. It is, indeed, a wine bottle holder, and you can see it in use via the link she provided.
DeleteThat house mystifies me. I keep waiting for them to finish painting it, even though it would be that godawful blue. Instead, they bought a yard yeti. Goofy folks, indeed.
So funny that you also witnessed a mom moving her kits! I'm sure your video is far better than mine. Finn was only doing his Dog Job, alerting you to a dangerous predator. Or, at the very least, a pesky animal that could do some damage to your house.
Today, it is 39 and raining. I could not be more envious of you in fairer climes, working on your tan. Soak up some extra rays for me, please.
Dear Nance,
ReplyDeleteIt's so good to hear from you!
I'm not a digital native, but I've recently learned about Google Lens, which analyses pictures. I put my newly acquired skill to the test and can confirm what the above commenters suspected: It's supposed to be a bottle holder. Here is a picture of a bottle inside it: https://www.etsy.com/listing/1472614631/vintage-wine-bottle-wire-steel-wine.
It reminds me of a torture device for those who are so inclined!
Fiona, THANK YOU for doing this so that I didn't have to. I was dying of curiosity, and thanks to you, now I know.
DeleteFiona--Thank you. I'm grateful for your patience and for reading here.
DeleteAnd thank you for sleuthing online to nail down that weird object. I'm laughing so hard at the listing, however; vintage? and a price of more than $30? There was an entire shelf of those things, and the price was, I think, $3.99! It could even have been lower. In a way, it *was* sort of a torture device, judging by Birchie's reply to you.
I'm actually a big fan of people who leave their Christmas lights up for too long - it makes nighttime dog walking much more cheerful. However, your neighbors had a bit too much of a good thing going on.
ReplyDeleteI approve of Bossy Piper, and just might be able to relate to having a spoiled pet.
Birchie--I don't really mind lighted houses all times of the year, especially if they're white lights. It is a little more cheery and a great many of my neighbours here have those faux Edison bulb strings on their porches that they keep on at night. All that other clutter, though, that screams Christmas!! needs to go by the end of January, at the latest.
DeleteI will pass on your Stamp Of Approval to Piper, but remind him that he lives *here* and not with you. Honestly, I would be the worst Dog Parent ever. I am completely charmed by pretty much all dogs and would treat my own like royalty.
Oh I thought maybe that was a unique-style photo frame, but I see that Fiona has found it is a bottle holder! Ah! Interesting.
ReplyDeleteLol: "Yes I did, so please learn from my mistakes and give your pet no special treatment whatsoever else they come to expect it." - it is me. When Barkley was just shy of 13, he was diagnosed with cancer, and we decided we would just let him come quietly to the end of his life. This was in January 2021, and I figured he wouldn't make it until the spring. He lived until June 2022, and I swear it was because we all were like "well, let's just make his last little bit of time comfortable" and I think he lived longer because of all the extra treats. "THIS gives me something to live for!" When we moved here, I was training Rex to stay within our boundaries (we are on a couple of acres, no fences), and so I would give him a treat when he came to the house when called. Soon, he wanted a treat EVERY TIME he came back into the house, even if he had just gone outside for mere moments. Ooops.
Nicole--Fiona's find has solved the mystery. I had to laugh when I saw the price the etsy seller was asking. I'm pretty sure the ones we saw at the store were $3.99 and look exactly like the "Vintage" one offered.
DeleteI would be exactly like you were with Barkley! And Rex! Treats, treats, and more treats. Dogs completely entrance and buoy me. There is one dog in our neighbourhood that has me under its thumb merely because I love its smile. That dog would weigh 300 pounds if it were mine. (And Rex is such a fast learner! LOL)
I know exactly what store you found that strange item, but I haven't a clue what it could be. My best guess is that it holds up some sort of technology (phone, ipad) but it's really quite bizarre. I love daffodils (mostly because they are the only flower that deer don't eat here) and I always cut some and bring them inside. So pretty! What's not pretty is that blue house. I also hate when people leave all that crap in their yards. For me, the worst are those giant skeletons that are left up year-round. That's about as ugly as you can get. Piper is quite handsome!
ReplyDeleteBijoux--I love that grocery store. SO MUCH. The entertainment value alone keeps me coming back.
DeleteFiona, above, solved the mystery of the Thing, thanks to technology (Google Lens). I like your function for it, too. Good hypothesis.
Deer aren't the only ones who won't eat daffodils, which we found out after planting dozens of gorgeous tulips. I'd go out and find them munched down to the ground or the naked stems bereft of blooms. After careful observation, I saw that squirrels were destroying my tulips. All of them are gone now, but my daffs remain because squirrels will not eat daffodils! But I miss my tulips terribly.
There is one house in the neighbourhood that has a giant skeleton out front. They dress/decorate it for each holiday. Right now, it is wearing a bunny mask and ears, and carrying an Easter basket. I confess I am amused.
I will pass your compliment on to Piper, but to be honest, he already knows.
Yay! A Nance post! I feel like I should whisper this & run away: we still have our Christmas tree up. Every time I mentioned taking it down, Mike said maybe later & then finally he said, "Can we just leave it up"? He's having a really rough time right now, & it makes him happy, so it makes me happy. Even though I do need to dust the ornaments. For heaven's sake. Our outside flag is appropriately Easter-themed, so at least we have that going for us.
ReplyDeleteI also probably shouldn't say this, but that photo of the wine bottle in the holder looks a little S&M to me. Don't ask me why - my only exposure to S&M is the Gazillion Shades of Grey (Gray? I'm NOT looking it up) books.
Finally, I wonder if Mike feels about me the way you feel about Marlowe? Too high maintenance, but he created this monster? Ha!
PIPER, not Marlowe. Oof.
DeleteBug--Thanks for such an enthusiastic reception. I very much appreciate my readers/commenters being patient between posts.
DeleteWithin the confines of your own home, you can have Halloween or Christmas every single day. Key word: *within*. I just object to having to look at outdoor UNseasonal decor that, presumably, the homeowners originally put up to make things festive for the rest of us. Almost nothing is sadder/more tacky than outdoor holiday decorations that are not only past the season itself, but are looking way past their best.
LOL about your assessment of the wine bottle thingy! It does look a bit...medieval-dungeon-esque.
Interesting (and funny!) analogy you present re: you and Piper. Tell the Professor that I sympathize.
Maya used to volunteer at an animal shelter, and they said that cats do not meow at other cats, only at humans. Because we are too stupid to understand their needs without that prompting. I think they have this wrong though, because kittens meow at their mothers, and mothers do not meow at their kittens. So perhaps Piper thinks of you as his mother. Perhaps Marlowe filled that need, and now that sweet M is gone, P has to depend upon you for everything. I (accidentally) trained Mulder to come running across the house any time any of these things happened: I slice bread; I peel a carrot; I peel (or cut) a cucumber; I open the peanut butter. I could probably go on. He would be napping quietly upstairs in Maya’s room, and I would start peeling a carrot and hear the loud THUMP THUMP THUMP of him running down the stairs, around the corner, and into the kitchen, where he would promptly sit up straight with a big smile on his face. “Oh, we’re having carrots! I’m ready!” I sure miss that boy.
ReplyDeleteI laughed mightily at Bug having to dust the ornaments on her tree. I agree with you (and her) that if it cheers them up and is inside, go for it. Outside, especially the dumb huge decorations, no, it needs to go. I think of you every time I see a deflated Santa flopped down on someone’s lawn like a used condom.
I never knew those daffodils were called Lenten lilies. We are now past daffodils and tulips and the wisteria is mostly lush leaves. We’ve had a few mid 80s days, and I for one am NOT ready. It was over 80 for Maya’s birthday, though, which made her happy as she could wear a sundress. She really needs to live in Los Angeles or Hawaii, where it doesn’t get too hot or too cold.
Oh that flag. I could bring it to a protest. Sigh.
J--I read an article or two that stated the same thing about cats' communication. It's fascinating, isn't it? The only time I've heard cats meow at each other is immediately before they have a fight right outside my bedroom window, either on the patio or in the driveway. I guess those vocalizations are different, perhaps, than simple meows. It isn't a stretch at all to believe that Piper thinks of me as his mother. He was desperately ill when we first got him, and I took intensive care of him. He's intensely bonded to me.
DeleteI know you miss dear Mulder so much still in your daily life. Your story about his super hearing is so cute. It reminds me of my guinea pigs who used to squeal and whistle every single time they heard the crisper drawer of the fridge being opened. Our pets are such a huge part of our lives, and mostly a joyful one.
The only reason I know that term for those daffs is because I was wondering if they were actual daffodils or a sort of narcissus. As is often the case, I went down a deep rabbit hole in those investigations and now know way more about that type of flower than anyone needs to.
I'm still trying to decide whether or not to be happy that you think of me when you see those deflated inflatables. I suppose I'm flattered and grateful that you have occasion to think of me, no matter the inspiration. LOL
That flag is evocative, isn't it? When I saw it, it instantly provoked a response from me (beyond thinking I need to take a photo or post it here). It's right around the corner from a former student's home--she has a huge peace sign flag flying from her porch. That alone makes me want to become a Flag Person, but I know better.
I love my Christmas tree when it's up and Christmastime. All the ornaments are meaningful, some homemade. I can understand wanting a lighted, pretty tree in one's home for cheer and comfort. I will say, however, that once it gets even a day or two past Christmas, I want my house back to Normal. I am a creature of routine and habit, and having a serene environment is critical to my contentment.
I'll never understand why natural selection didn't evolve against single parenting in animals.
ReplyDeleteI've watched a few videos of squirrel moms relocating their babies. Panting and resting in between their efforts.
Codex--Interesting thought. I'd posit that it's because mothers, of any kind, are driven to care for and protect their young at almost any cost. I think that inherent gene, for lack of a better word, makes the mother a complete parenting package. Sadly, that remains the case for the human species as well.
DeleteP.S. piper needs to tell someone about his day.
ReplyDeleteCodex--Piper could very well be telling us about his day, missing the opportunity to share it with Marlowe. Sometimes, he yowls and meows for so long that I call it The Song Of His People.
DeleteIF you are advocating for a second cat for this household, I hate to tell you that it won't happen. Piper is our last pet. A combination of needing more freedom and needing less hair all over the place have made that and easy decision.
Well, I’m the worst cat parent of this month. I have 2 tabbies, one a small full tab and the other a large tabby white mix. Both are rescues from a shelter in down state Illinois. (Any place south of Chicago is considered “down state”, doncha know). They get along well…
ReplyDeleteAbout a month ago I was eating a small cup of yogurt from TJ and I idly let Vivian, the small tabby, lick the spoon. I admit I did know that adult cats are NOT supposed to given milk products unless they’re nursing mothers. Well, Miss Vivian went nuts and I kept giving her a spoonful of it when I’d eat it.
I soon realized Viv was in physical pain so I stopped the yogurt immediately and she was her old self within a few days of no treats. I feel bad because I KNEW BETTER!
Gjill--First of all, let me compliment you on an excellent cat name. I am a firm believer in naming pets (or all animals, really) a dignified name. I'm not a fan of names like Donut, Whiskers, Fluffy, or the like. I like a good, sturdy name that an animal can be proud to hear when called.
DeletePiper's dairy snack habit seems not to be harmful. His litterbox habits are unchanged, and he hasn't exhibited any symptoms of pain. Poor Vivian and her tummyache. I'm glad she is feeling much better, albeit missing her treat.
It is absolutely wonderful to read this catch-up post! I don't know where to begin. Piper is grieving -- Gypsy did that too and it lasted for months. Give all the love you can (and I can tell you do!). It might be age, too. Or, she just may be an old lady too, ready to state her claim of longevity! Lizzie is doing much the same in terms of letting me know what she wants -- and she's no spring chicken! It's relatively new behavior and I cave in. It's lovely to be needed -- till it's not!
ReplyDeleteI don't know what that thing is in the photo but I can see why it is on close-out! I don't mind seeing Christmas lights up -- especially the pretty fairy lights but really, any of them. They get me through winter and the white ones are sparkly in summer at the lake. But the big decorations -- the inflatables especially. (I'm not a fan of inflatables anyway -- they look so pathetic in the day when they are uninflated!) That house is -- too blue! And well done on the daffs -- I'd do the same.
Finally, the squirrel. Now, THAT is a sighting we don't see much. In fact, for me, never -- and you were so lucky to witness it! Yes, bring on the peanuts! That's an enterprising and good mom! I hope you get to see the wee ones as they venture out.
Jeanie--Thank you for such kind words regarding my post. I didn't mean to be absent for a month. It was one of those things that fell by the wayside in a busy time.
DeletePiper's behaviour may indeed be age-related. I hestitate to say he is still missing his sister; it's been almost a year now. I am chuckling at your statement that "It's lovely to be needed--til it's not!" Exactly how I feel.
We've come to the conclusion, thanks to Fiona (above), that the Thing is a wine bottle holder/caddy. It's an odd one, for sure, and not one I'd want in my home, even as a conversation piece.
I'm with you on the inflatable decorations, and I've railed against them here on the blog many times. As I said before, why are they deflated during the day when everyone can still see them? Ridiculous. They look like huge discarded condoms.
I'll be on the lookout for the baby squirrels in my back yard. I have a huge bird feeder, and all the squirrels and chipmunks congregate below it, foraging for dropped seed. Or the seed the pickier birds tend to kick out. I also toss a few things back there for them from time to time. I can't stop catering to animals, it seems.
Lol on the lilies - "I did it and I'll do it again!" - followed by Piper - "I regret nothing!" If he was a she I'd say you're a house of dominant bitches. We still have snow and I would kill for some flowers to steal. My chief dopamine-releasing rebellion right now is promising my daughter I will limit myself to sending her one TikTok a week and sometimes sending two - I know, I'm wild.
ReplyDeleteI have a friend whose birthday is April 11 and the snow is almost always gone by then. I think it's going to be close this year.
Poor flag. Poor country. Voting blue in spirit (it's red here, which has been disorienting the past few years).
Biblio--I am so sorry about your unrelenting winter. Every winter feels that way to me, but to still have snow on the ground in April would be soul-crushing. Even though we know spring will come, it feels hopeless sometimes.
DeletePiper had never been the alpha male; Marlowe was the boss bitch her whole life. He's finally finding his independence and his voice, much to our chagrin.
Thank you for your kind sympathies for us here, trapped in chaos and daily embarrassment. (And those are the milder conditions.)
My neighbor takes shit from my yard all year long. I do not care. If your neighbor hasn't called you out on the daffodil/garlic harvesting, I suspect they do not care!
ReplyDeleteI like the blue. Is that wrong? It looks cozy and not beige. I mostly like that it's not beige.
PIPER!! MORE PIPER UPDATES. What does he do all day long? Let him know I think he's perfect in every way.
Engie--Aside from bossing me around, Piper spends an inordinate time on my bed asleep or in my lap asleep. He refuses to play despite my repeated attempts. He accompanies me outside every morning to feed my blue jays during which time he wanders the front yard a bit, eats a few blades of dried grass, and disturbs the birds who hide in the shrubbery. Occasionally he will venture a bit too far and I have to go get him (I am in my pajamas and robe, which always adds to the fun) and urge him onto the porch. He's just a big old orange cat. Oh, and he sheds almost constantly.
DeleteYou can certainly like the blue. To each her own. I find it alarming and jarring. Beige is not a big colour in our area for homes; rather, most people opt for white or grey. The few blue houses are pale and have slate undertones. It's just SO. BLUE.
That has to be some sort of weird wine bottle holder. Right?
ReplyDeleteIsn't it true that most of the monsters in our lives are from our own creation? WE CAN'T HELP BUT SPOIL THEM. Then we have to live with the consequences. Piper is a lovely creature, no matter the temperament.
The hideous house with the out-of-season decor. There should be laws! Oh, wait, there is, if you live in an HOA. As much as I detest HOA's, that is one thing you can count on: everyone taking care of their space.
Gorgeous flowers; I love having flowers inside, and fresh cut is the best.
The torn-to-shreds flag makes me a little sad; it needs to be replaced ASAP!
Oh, I forgot to commend Mama Squirrel on doing her job as best as she can. It's not easy being the Mama!
ReplyDeleteBB Suz--What a perceptive comment: Most of the monsters in our lives are from our own creation. That holds true for so many things. You went deep there, lady!
DeleteI know HOAs get a lot of flak for being bossy and at times unreasonable and authoritarian. HOWEVER--I'd welcome some sort of guardrails on homes like the blue one, and not just because of their yard art.
My dear daffodils are now spent, so they look worse for wear. I keep telling myself to get rid of them, but I am distractable lately and keep forgetting.
The weird thing is indeed a wine bottle holder/caddy. See Fiona's comment above for the definitive ID.
Dearest Nance,
ReplyDeleteSaw this the day you posted and then life got busy and in the middle of life getting busy, it got complicated for putting in a comment here: My computer decided to bring the Blue Screen of Death again. Something called a Bitlocker update (not the standard Windows updates). Which basically locks you out of your computer until you key in a 48-digit exclusive number code to unlock it. Last time it happened I had to use my phone to find this unreasonably long “recovery key” so I thought I could get out of it easily. But no, Bitlocker also decided it didn’t like my wireless keyboard this time and wouldn’t let me key in the code. In the end, I just decided I could risk shutting giving the computer a cold start. And surprise, surprise, it worked: everything was back to normal. Knock on wood, of course. My computer tech brother sent me instructions for disabling the hideous Bitlocker which I have renamed Bitchlocker, lol. We shall see. Or as I am fond of saying: Computers are wonderful until they aren’t.
Love the photo of Piper. I sympathize with him not wanting to jump up into your lap. My ‘advanced age’ and osteoporosis in my left hip make getting up from the sofa, bed, or even a chair a painful exercise in slow motion for a few seconds until I get my bearings. That said… how did he get hooked on ice water? Lol. I think we humans also get hooked into certain rituals that develop as we age and sometimes we just want it the way we want it. Or to the contrary, there are things we used to fuss about and have stopped caring about at all... something you touched on in a not too long ago post, e.g. make-up, clothes, etc.
The Mysterious Wire Object: I immediately did a right click on that photo and selected Google Lens to identify it. On reading through your comment section, I see I was not the only one that identified it as a “vintage modernist chrome wine bottle holder.” If I had seen that decades ago, I probably would have been tempted to buy it just for the novelty. Now? Heck no. Just one more piece of house clutter we don’t need and would rarely use if at all.
The Hideous Blue House of Horrors… oh, dear. I would take a wrecking ball to that monstrosity. It’s one of those things where you scratch you head and say Who in their right mind would think that was even remotely attractive?
Daffodils! We have no garden, and I am tempted to steal a few of the ones I see sprouting in the little neighborhood park where we go for a daily walk. But it’s illegal, of course, and I would not do it anyway. I settle for occasionally buying fresh flowers from the supermarkets that sell them.
Mama squirrel: that vid was lovely and reminded me that squirrels are not just greedy peanut-stealing creatures.
The tattered flag: alas, this is where we are. I still have hope, though, because I believe that most of us are confident that we will eventually rise above the horrible destruction that has gone on in the last year and a half. Voting rights are so crucial right now. If they pass the SAVE Act, millions of folks will get screwed. My 5-calls app is on speed dial…
XXOO
Ortizzle--My friend, thank you for your activism. I recently added 5 Calls to my screens as well. I am trying to be hopeful for midterms.
DeleteThe wine bottle holder is just a bit too much for me; besides, I wouldn't use it. The design of it is odd and unpleasant to me. If someone had a very modern home, it might suit. I am still laughing that it is "vintage" when my store offered so many of them for not even five bucks.
The ice water situation came about last summer. Rather than filling up his water completely during the day, I would simply put in some ice cubes to bring the level up and keep the water cool. (Piper is fed on the landing area of the back door, and the AC doesn't quite reach that space.) Naturally, he got used to it and, being a devoted creature of habit, now insists upon it.
I'm so sorry for your computer troubles. I've never heard of that program. Anytime my laptop doesn't act routinely or normally, I get spooked. Unlike a lot of people, I don't get email on my phone and hate using such a small screen and keyboard when I can use a computer much more easily. My sons don't even own a computer; their lives are on their phones. It's official--I AM OLD.
I'm also sorry about your hip being so painful. It's awful what our bodies put us through! Did we appreciate how well they worked in our youth? Probably not nearly enough.