Welcome to The Moose Pond! The Welcomings posts give the Moose, old and new, a place to visit and share words about the weather, life, the world at large and the small parts of Moosylvania that we each inhabit.
Welcomings will be posted at the start of each week (every Sunday morning). To find the posts, just bookmark this link and Voila! (which is Moose for “I found everyone!!”).
The format is simple: each day, the first moose to arrive on-line will post a comment welcoming the new day and complaining (or bragging!) about their weather. Or mentioning an interesting or thought provoking news item. Or simply checking in.
So … what’s going on in your part of Moosylvania?
…
NOTE: The comments page will now split off after 20 or so left margin comments with the most recent comments on the current page. To see the older comments, scroll to the bottom of the page and use the link.
…
67 with 100% humidity heading up to 80 or so today but a front’s moving in tonight & it will be in the 50s in the morning. Sunny-ish at the moment but I still don’t trust the weather so I’ll do the laundry tomorrow when I can have a fire. Doing stock today, messy job that it is, and will make at least one batch of soup tomorrow. Probably another batch of soup either Thursday or Friday. Got 6.7 KWHs yesterday, over but just barely what I use in a day, and the m-t-d is 273. Counting down the month. We shall see what we shall see.
Politically, rumor has it the Rs don’t have the votes to ram kavanaw through or they’d have done it already. Hope rumor is correct. Also hope our team is watching for cheating. There is so much evil the Rs are doing at this point any direction you throw a dart will hit some. So equally hoping our team has divided up the sectors and have troops defending each one. Meanwhile, I need to do a quick check around my online stuff then get back to my stock and stuff. And coffee. ☕???? Healing Energy to everybody, shaped to the need. Bright the day, Meeses. {{{HUGS}}}
I saw that rumor too (that the Republicans don’t have the votes right now)! I think that makes sense, if they had the votes, they would have just done it Monday – they have no interest in fairness or transparency, just raw power. I am waiting to hear from the other Republican women Senators – Ernst and Fischer. Fischer is up for re-election this year and Ernst will be up in 2020. There is probably no hope for Nebraska but Iowa has been blue in the past and could kick Ernst to the curb in a fit of anger if she channels Chuck Assley on this one.
Burbling alert: Read only if you don’t mind an excess of information about an old house in OH!
So the drive down and the drive home were purely awful, but the time at the house for the inspection was sublime. This inspector was selected for his attention to detail and his experience with slate roofs. They got what they paid for…the inspection alone took over 5 hours. Thank goodness my SIL lives for that sort of stuff, and his training in his younger days was in technical theatre, so when talk turned to detailed nuts and bolts like wiring, he was in his element. The Kiddo and I checked out when the Nerd Talk started going over our heads and devoted our time to measuring rooms and windows and discussing “design” plans.
The good news is that the house is in magnificent shape: all the wiring was redone in 1999-2000; the plumbing has all been upgraded and/or replaced; and insulation has been blown in wherever possible. The outside needs some attention, but they already knew that from their viewing (and their multiple drive-bys). Their biggest concern was the roof; it’s a slate roof, and if it needed replacing, it was likely to be a deal-breaker. But the visual inspection was very reassuring. The inspector thinks the roof likely has another 50-60 years of life in it and actually recognized the slate used; he said it was the highest quality available at the time the house was built.
When the rain went down from torrential to steady, I spent some time outside exploring the yard and gardens. The front gardens are passable for now, but lack coherent design, so that’s a longer term project. The back has little-to-no landscaping, but we can tackle that incrementally. The best discovery was the part of the yard that is basically woods. I expected to find an overabundance of silver and Norway maples, which grow like weeds and can take over in no time. Instead I found lots of either buckeyes or horse chestnuts; it was raining too hard for me to distinguish which they were, but it was a pleasant surprise. Yes, they’re messy trees, but gorgeous in the spring especially, and to my way of thinking, so much better than maples. They also have some catalpa trees; also messy, but a hummingbird magnet in the spring. Overall, I was pleased at what I saw. I also discovered that their quiet little babbling brook becomes a rushing stream pretty quickly; I considered crossing over to the rest of their property using some stepping stones, but by the time I finished checking out the trees, the water had already risen and was moving fast. The house is built on a significant rise, so I don’t see any flood worries, but I also understand why that part of the lot has been left wild.
Their design plans for the house interior are fairly minimal. At some point, they’ll be repainting some rooms, because just about every room is done in silver gray. That’s a wildly-popular color these days, but there’s such a thing as too much. But it’s not a must-do-immediately. The only room they want to be period-inspired is the dining room, and that’s just because all of their dining room furniture (table, chairs, china cabinet, and another hutch-like piece which was a Sears catalog piece) are from the 1930s. I’m busily sourcing fabric for curtains; I found some fabric from the 1940s which would be their preferred colors, but I don’t know if they want to stick to the actual 1930s. I’m not going to purchase anything until after the appraisal is done (the last potential sticking point), but it sure is fun looking. For curtains for the rest of the house, for the most part I’ll be able to reuse curtains or repurpose the fabric; I also will be able to pull from my stash for a lot. Including the potential DR fabric, I think we should be able to put up curtains for 20 windows for about $300, including a few new curtain rods…as long as I don’t charge for my labor. ;D
Sounds like a beautiful house and ideal for Kiddo & SIL. ???????????????????????? And am I ever glad I don’t have to be responsible for either cleaning or maintenance of such a place. ???????????? Very much enjoying your burbling and ???????????? about you charging for labor. ????????????& ????????????
They’ve really impressed me with their approach to all of this, and I already knew they were planners and savers. I asked The Kiddo what they were going to do about the trim painting that needs to be done, and she said, “That come’s out of short-term home project savings.” So then I asked how long it would take for them to come up with the savings, and she said, “We have most of it now.” I had assumed they were tapping all of their savings, but I was informed that the house-buying comes out of the house-sold account, which is wholly separate from short-term home project and long-term home project savings. I only wish I was so fiscally-organized!
In the meantime, she’s been doing a deep dive on the history of the house. She’s found references to an open house the first homeowners held once the house was built; in November 1929, 1000 guests attended. There are references to articles in a now-defunct local paper, detailing the décor including details like “the living room floor is covered with a gold and green ‘American Oriental’ rug.” The newspaper files were all put on microfiche and given to a local historical society, which is also now defunct. She’s hoping Columbus library was given the fiche or would know how to locate the files.
Since the closing date is scheduled for their first wedding anniversary, which closely coincides with the first occupation of the house, they plan to hold a big party next year on the 90th anniversary of the house (and their second). It will be a 1920s-themed, costume-optional, but encouraged, party with Prohibited beverages and lots of old jazz. I see some costume sewing on the horizon…and I may just volunteer to be the family maid, so I can see the event myself.
That is definitely planning! I’ve been forced into organizing and keeping lists simply because my memory sux but that’s definitely above my league. Sounds like a grand party though. Not one I’d be comfortable at – but I might hang out in the kitchen and help with food prep. That’s what I used to do at SCA feasts. ????????????
Hail, bfitz, if we are ever at the same party together in person you shall be the Queen and I will wait on you.
{{{Diana}}} – I don’t do Queen very well. Even when I planned and oversaw the preparing and serving of the feast, I was always in the kitchen. (I will admit I was called before the Crown for that feast – the Queen really loved my cookies made of ground almonds, sugar, and rose water.) moar {{{HUGS}}}
If you put the food on the trays, I’ll circulate through the gathering. My college experience as a barmaid should come in handy; if I could carry 8 pitchers of beer on a tray without a spill, I should be able to handle a few crudités and canapés!
Sounds good to me! ????????????
You even have permission to shoo me away when I’m “taste testing” or offering to “create symmetry” by eating that one out-of-place treat!
You kidding? Those are the perks for working the feast. ????????
LOL at “create symmetry”!!!
A 1920s-themed party? LOL, see Chapter 13 of my book, Saving the World Through Sex, and Caramel Tart’s vintage Vionnet, bias-cut tunic, blue shot through with green, with a fringe from thigh to above the knee.
Enjoyed the description of the house and grounds. I love reading about houses and furnishings and gardens.
I need to grab my Nook and pull up that chapter. Although the mom in me is thinking, “Could you go with a little more fabric and a little less fringe?” :D
Nice burbling. Sounds like the problems are pretty minimal. Yea!
I wish I could share my curtain material stash. I can’t part with it but I’m not using it. such a dilemma :) 20 windows for $300.00 is very thrifty, and your labor of love is very generous!
You’ll find a use for yours; that’s why we have stashes, isn’t it?! My stash should cover it (except for the DR fabric, which is still a steal; the price/yard for the vintage fabric is actually less than anything I could get at Joann), and I’m over the moon that I’ll finally whittle down some of my home dec stuff. Some of mine is a bit outdated for a modern house but will fit in nicely in this house. I’ve also been prompted to look closely at some of my own curtains and realized that I have a few rooms that could do with refreshing, so I’ll probably tackle that at the same time.
Late to the party but finally made it. It’s 72 and cloudy out here in Costa Mesa, CA. Still dealing with books to discard and database clean up. Not watching the Senate stuff here since I’m working. I’m sure MSNBC will have all the highlights tonite.
{{{Mvgal}}} – so very glad you are checking in. Hope the allergies are easing up for you. Healing Energy and moar {{{HUGS}}}
At long last they are finally settling down.
Oh good. moar Healing Energy, moar {{{HUGS}}}
Moar {{{HUGS}}}
Wednesday and woke up late.
65 and raining – going up to 78 here in NYS
My daily nag.
Hello, Sis, glad you had some decent sleep! How are your eyes?
Good Woden’s Day, Meese. Lawks, woke up and it’s not raining! It is cloudy, though, with thunderstorms expected tonight in NoVa. The weather widget says it’s 65 F. now, going up to 80 F.
M’daughter was in Texarkana at midnight; the text she sent at 6 p.m. last night said that her mother-in-law was “going downhill.” That sounds ominous. Have heard nothing since.
Wanted to read Michelle Goldberg’s column in the NYT either yesterday or today, but I’m behind a paywall. Sniff. It’s supposed to be really something!
Will have a low-carb breakfast and go to the gym, then return to finish the laundry. Feel exhausted by the goings-on on the Hill and in the Oval Office. Grooved on the derisive laughter that greeted Thing’s speech at the U.N. yesterday.
When will it all end? Mueller? Mueller?
Wishing a good day to all at the Pond and plenty of sunlight to bfitz’ solar array!
I have the Michelle Goldberg column saved off in Pocket – I decided it was worth one of my free clicks! I have not read it yet as I got very busy yesterday and did not have a chance to circle back and read the articles I had saved off.
It was both sad and hilarious that the vulgar talking yam got laughed at at the United Nations. There will never be enough payback from the UN community for his choosing John “Let’s Blow Up the UN Building” Bolton as his national security advisor. George W. Bush trashed our reputation with the world, Barack Obama restored it, and in two short years, Trump has shredded our moral authority once again. It is no wonder that we are a laughingstock and considered an unreliable ally.
Wednesday that is also Monday. It’s ok, I wasn’t sleeping anyway. You know that “slow down” thing your body does, so you can sleep? The heart rate, breathing slowing thing? Yeah, mine isn’t. I take kava & valerian and ninety minutes later, I lie down, and — nothing. Everything stays exactly the same. Ugh. At least the weather is nice — maybe some rain today but not flooding like last week. And tonight it’s supposed to be the coolest it’s been in 6 months — lower 60s!. The weather person said “just go ahead & whip out the sweaters, it’ll feel cool to you”. I may wear long pants tomorrow (as opposed to capris) and even actual shoes. Sweet & mellow probably isn’t the best music for my first early morning in a week, but my brain doesn’t care: Life On Earth
though it is a good one for a week filled with horrible stories & memories for many of us (also babies & spacemen make me happy)
Hey, another, sympathize with the no-sleep thing. Happens to me too, even though I now exercise an hour a day. I have found a delightful OTC pill called Estrella. Took one last night and enjoyed 7 1/2 hours of lovely sleep, from 11 to 6:30.
I hate taking sleeping pills, feel I shouldn’t be dependent on them, but I can’t keep on being unproductive during the day because of no sleep during the night. At least this one doesn’t leave one groggy in the morning and doesn’t require a prescription.
{{{ad}}} – Healing Energy to you. I know you’ve tried just about everything ever suggested about no sleep so I won’t bother you with stuff you’ve already tried. I’m sleeping better (I didn’t say good) than I have in years and highly recommend retirement to anyone who can afford to do it. But while I have sleep problems, I’ve never had them to the extent that you do. Holding you in my heart. moar Healing Energy, moar {{{HUGS}}}
Oh, AD, I feel for you; I’ve had nights when I’ve found myself practically screaming at my brain to just quiet down already. My daughter went through a long period of this sort of disrupted sleep and finally started drinking Neuro Sleep. She swears by it, although she’s found that half a bottle is more than enough for her. If she drinks the whole thing, she finds herself very groggy in the morning. Her doctor pointed out that, based on the ingredients of Neuro Sleep, it would be far cheaper for her to take 250mg of magnesium and 3 mg of melatonin about 2 hours before going to bed. But she struggles with tablets (and with knowing when “2 hours before bed” is going to be), so she sticks with the Neuro Sleep.
Good morning, meeses! Wednesday …
It is 46 degrees in Madison with an expected daytime high of 61. Mostly sunny skies are in the forecast.
Can’t stay to visit – I have too much to do today and because braining seems more difficult than usual these days it is going to be a hard slog. I have been reading some of the stories about the damage that the Republicans are doing to the Supreme Court – essentially destroying it as an institution. One pundit suggested that Chief Justice John Roberts will move left to try to salvage the reputation to which I will reply HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! It will never happen because it suits the plutocrats to have no functioning institutions. Roberts has worked his entire career to destroy small d democracy and return to the days when our betters chose who would run the government and how it would be run. He is not going to get queasy now just because 4 of the 5 conservative justices were chosen by illegitimate presidents and 2 of them are sexual harassers. Let the Republicans run on packing the court – we will run on packing Congress and nullifying the power of the Roberts Court.
See all y’all later!
‘morning folks – 56 heading for 66 (maybe) and overcast. Again. At least yesterday it cleared off in the afternoon and I got 12.6 KWHs, m-t-d is currently 286. While it’s technically possible to reach 300 today it ain’t gonna happen. The Rs are evil and everything they do is evil. I don’t think they have the votes for kavanaw but what do I know. Made stock yesterday and will be making soup later today. Got a fire going (which makes it warm enough in here to be able to leave one leeward window open for Charlie) and the laundry just finished so I need to hang it up. I’ll check back later. Healing Energy to everybody shaped to the need. Bright the day, Meeses. {{{HUGS}}}
Good morning, 52 and foggy in Bellingham. All’s quiet on the roof and one unhappy squirrel is in a trap. The traps are humane with food food and a cover and the trapper releases them on his county property but I still feel a bit sorry. I don’t mind squirrels in the garden, but they don’t belong indoors where they can chew on the wiring.
I’m taking my iPhone in for a new battery today. I could upgrade the phone, but a $30.00 battery is much less expensive. A bigger screen is tempting, but I’d best wait.
Best wishes to all.
{{{princesspat}}} Squirrels are good where they belong but not so much where they don’t. Glad you are getting them safely (for you and them) out of your attic. moar {{{HUGS}}}
Good morning, Meesefolk; 59 when I got up this morning and a grey, unremarkable day with a high of 63.
I want to thank all of you for indulging my “OMG new house” tales; focusing on that has been a lifesaver for me, which I didn’t fully realize until last night when I turned on the tv to watch Rachel. I suspect most of us have been at least a bit triggered by the Kavanaugh saga, but last night it hit home for me. I was practically hyper-ventilating and had to turn off the tv. I was one who did report the “untoward behavior” (that’s literally the language I used), and for years that somehow kept me from feeling too much of a victim. But last night, the combination of exhaustion and unrelenting news left me feeling the fear again. I’m so grateful I can come here and just be me; sometimes that’s politics and sometimes that’s all swatches and paint color and gardens and trees. From the very depth of my being, thank you.
{{{DoReMI}}} – Moose has been a safe space/respite for longer than I’ve been here. I’m so very glad you joined us. There’s a reason why I’ve taken to Channeling Healing Energy to everyone at Moose Pone – and elsewhere – shape it to your need, my friend. That’s what it’s there for. Moar Healing Energy, moar {{{HUGS}}}
Morning meese. 64 with a high of 95 projected today. Need to take something for this grogginess (took a Restoril last night before going to bed).
{{{basket}}} – double espresso maybe? Or more than one? ☕☕☕ Hope you got some decent sleep last night. ☪☪☪ ???????????? ????????????
It’s partly cloudy here in Costa Mesa, CA with a temperature of 72. God I wish the Kavanaugh stuff was over and done with it. It’s sickening, triggering and gets worse by the day.
{{{MVgal}}} – yes it is and yes it does. moar Healing Energy shaped to your need. If you want them, moar {{{HUGS}}} too.
Good Thursday Morning Meese
57 and cloudy, going up to 70 here in Saugerties NY.
Have a 9AM eye doc appointment – getting ready for the next surgery next Wednesday! Yay – in 2 weeks I’ll be able to drive again.
Miracles of modern medicine.
Heavy rains are what PR does not need.
{{{Denise}}} – Holding the Good Thought & have candles going for your appointment today and your surgery next week. Healing Energy, moar {{{HUGS}}}
Healing energy to you and your eyes, Sis!
Good morning, meeses! Thursday …
It is 48 degrees in Madison with an expected daytime high of 66. Sunny this morning then cloudy with a chance of rain into evening.
I hope that people are becoming a bit more careful about what they are willing to believe (and retweet) – the new “allegations” of sexual misconduct against Kava-nevah turned out to be leaked by GrASSley to create a distraction from Dr. Ford’s testimony today. And, good lord, the Republicans selected their “female assistant” straight from central casting – looks like a kindly schoolmarm with a cheerful smile – who wouldn’t believe that she only wants to “get to the truth”??? I am not sure how I will take in the hearing. I may listen but not watch (because they will certainly pan to Oral Hack making faces and my PTSD will be triggered) – or I may just follow on Twitter. I don’t expect any bombshells – it is really pro-forma and will segue into a vote tomorrow to advance the nomination (or not, it won’t matter – the committee vote does not block a confirmation vote on the floor, it is only “advisory”). I hope that every Republican Senator coming up for re-election in a blue or purple state in 2020 is aware that a vote to put a serial liar on the highest court of the land is going to be a career ender. We.Will.Not.Forget.
See all y’all later!
I’m not going to watch – will just check twitter.
I almost wished I wore long sleeves this morning. Did wear real shoes (my feet feel weird). 61 degrees — the coolest it has been since early May. Allergies are bad this morning — since the air has dried out, I’m going to guess fall elm & ragweed. So, today I’m telling my brain what the song is, and it’s Fight Song. For the one who is testifying, the others who want to but can’t, and for everyone reliving stuff.
Perfect earworm for the day…thanks, AD!
added to today’s playlist, Brave (the line: “don’t run, stop holding your tongue” has such resonance today, after reading that her father won’t support her because he’s afraid his country club will kick him out
https://youtu.be/QUQsqBqxoR4
{{{ad}}} – allergies! yuk! Healing Energy. And that’s an excellent song to take into this day. moar {{{HUGS}}}
Good morning, Meesefolk; 41 now and headed for a high of 66. I didn’t sleep particularly well, but I think that was mostly because I had the bedroom windows wide open…and the pups stole most of the covers. They were apparently nice and toasty; I was not.
I’ll be among those not watching the hearing today (and wouldn’t even if not at work). The sham format; the Rs buying the time of a prosecutor to use against the victim; the arrogance of Kavanaugh…any one of those alone is infuriating, but the combination is more than I can take. My first act this morning was holding Dr. Blasey Ford in the Light; my second was holding all survivors up. The Grassleys and Hatches and Cornyns of the world may want to diminish us and deride our truths, but I firmly believe they’re going to witness what happens when the Blue Wave is not mere droplets of blue water merging, but instead waves of hot lava flowing, fed by the force of righteousness and justice. We’re not going to be cowed by The Boys Club anymore. (Why yes, my rage might be described as having reached Biblical proportions! ????)
I think that one underrated villain in this mess is John Cornyn. His tweets are the worst because they disrespect everything Democrats stand for while Hatch’s are just his standard hackery. Whenever someone retweets one of Cornyn’s tweets into my timeline, I want to punch something (and I am non-violent!) I hope we can beat Cruz this fall because that will put Cornyn on the “you’re next, ahole!” list for 2020.
Goddess! I hope Beto can take Calgary cruz out – TX has sent the absolute worst entities passing for human to DC until AR decided to compete with Tom Cotton. (And we need to get rid of him too in 2020.) Totally agree on Cormyn. Healing Energy and {{{HUGS}}}
{{{DoReMI}}} – white-hot rage is appropriate for what’s going on today. And so is not watching that triggering pre-scripted, pre-determined, evil farce going on in the Senate Committee today. Healing Energy. moar {{{HUGS}}}
Hi folks – clouds cleared off sometime after midnight and the temps dropped to the upper 40s by dawn. Got to see the moon for the first time in days ???? Yesterday got 5.5 KWHs and the m-t-d is 291.7 – we’ll crest 300 today if it stays as clear as it is right now and will still have 3 more days of generation.
Not gonna watch the Senate’s redux of the Salem Witch Trials. Am gonna spend as much of my day as I can holding Dr. Ford in the Light and channeling Healing Energy to all survivors. Got candles going for Healing – all kinds of Healing, whatever is needed on whatever level. It takes a lot of metaphysical Energy to impact the physical plane but there are a whole lot of us sending that Energy to each other. Maybe enough to stop the bleeding and close the wound. Scars can’t even form until the bleeding is stopped. Healing Energy to everybody everywhere shaped to the need. Bright the day, Meeses. {{{HUGS}}}
Good morning, Meese! It’s Thor’s Day, how appropriate.
GLUED to C-SPAN! They’re taking a break now. Oh, I wanted to cry while listening to Dr. Ford! OMG, those hateful, hateful men! Cowards, all.
She’s every woman who has ever had her life blighted, every woman who’s ever been persecuted for telling her story. OMG, it’s AWFUL!
That alcoholic, pasty-faced bastard cannot be confirmed. If he is, the women of this country, described by Michelle as “incandescent with fury” will rise up!
Not watching, but the tweets alone have left me in a puddle of tears. Interesting reactions at work: of my four clients this morning (sloooowwww day), one man said nothing; one man said I looked tired today; two women both of whom said, “You’re watching the hearing, aren’t you?” Women know.
{{{DoReMI}}} – moar Healing Energy. & yeah, women know.
I put up a diary at the orange place – full of warm fuzzies & asking for donations for the Walk. Tried to copy it here, but it kept pasting weird boxes….. I’ll try tomorrow morning at work, maybe the desktop will work better. In the meantime, here’s a link
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2018/09/27/1799319/-I-dont-know-about-you,-but-I-could-use-some-warm-fuzziesan-AIDS-Walk-diary#comment_71487658
I watched Senator Feinstein and Dr. Ford live and then later in the morning enjoyed positive reactions on Twitter. I will forever regret following the tweets of Kavanaugh’s “testimony”, his attacks on our female Senators and – really – our democracy.
This was every decent person in America.
The Republican Party must be destroyed. #RememberTheHearing and #MakeThemPay.