Vicki's Profile | Typepad

This is Vicki's Typepad Profile.

Join Typepad and start following Vicki's activity

Join Now!

Already a member? Sign In

Vicki

Writer, Reader, Techie, and Cat Mom

Interests: Cats. Books. Tech (Mac OS X, Palm, Perl...). <BR> The Internet. Weblogs and social software. <P> I have some weblog <A HREF="http://www.cfcl.com/vlb/Memes/index.html#_MyMemes">memes</a> (writing prompts). Take a look if you're interested in playing. <H2 class="archive-header">More</H2> You can read <A HREF="http://cfcl.com/vlb/about.php">more about me</a> and my interests in my home pages.

Recent Activity

Vicki has shared their blog commentary

May 6, 2022

My Miniature World

When I was quite young (5? maybe) I had a metal dollhouse. I don't recall anymore exactly what it looked like, but this is close. All I remember with any detail is the bathtub, which was exactly like one I found recently on eBay (and didn't buy). We eventually "sold" the house for peanuts (literally) at a Parks & Recreation... Continue reading

Posted Jan 30, 2022 at Slightly Off Kilter

0

We're a lot more festive this year. Last year, we had the net lights on the hedge and the tree in the upstairs window. This year, I've hung jumbo ornaments and fat lights on the porch (along with a Santa that was packed away). We got out our "faux Xmas tree" (three 1x1 boards, laced with lights) and set it... Continue reading

Posted Dec 10, 2021 at Slightly Off Kilter

0

I had to go to three different stores today to find candied fruitcake fruit. The first two stores only had individual packaging. I could get a half-pint of red cherries, or of green cherries, or yellow citron, or... but no mixed packs of, you know, Fruitcake Fruit. I finally found some at Central Market Poulsbo (yeay!!). They had the other... Continue reading

Posted Dec 10, 2021 at Slightly Off Kilter

0

We're Almost Moved In

One year in this house (and we've unpacked most of the boxes). Continue reading

Posted Dec 9, 2021 at Slightly Off Kilter

0

Whatever So Anytime

Rich and I were discussing when to go to the store. Is it still close enough to noon that the store will be crowded? Me: Alexa, what time is it? Alexa: It's 1:11 Pm Me: continuing conversation with Rich: "It's 1:11pm. [something something]." Rich: "Whatever, so... any time" Alexa: "Setting a reminder for 11pm." Me: "No! Alexa. Cancel the reminder."... Continue reading

Posted Dec 9, 2021 at Slightly Off Kilter

0

Information Bubbles

So... this evening Rich was talking about Information Bubbles - that idea that we tend to self-curate the people and information around us to be in favor of our own beliefs and opinions. You say that like it's a bad thing. I posited that a) people have been doing this for millennia ("tribes"). b) we've been doing it ourselves for... Continue reading

Posted Dec 9, 2021 at Slightly Off Kilter

0

One Year Ago Today

One year ago, today, we packed the rest of our belongings (those we weren't shipping in 2 PODs and many containers) in and on top of two cars, loaded the cats into one car, and started the two-day (should have taken three days) drive north to Seattle. It's been an adventure. Continue reading

Posted Dec 9, 2021 at Slightly Off Kilter

0

A Scientific Discovery About the Brain

Last night, in the middle of the night, I made a Scientific Discovery About the Brain. The conscious waking mind and the unconscious sleeping mind communicate with each other (presumably) but they are not the same. I fell asleep thinking about the best way to do a project. I woke up later, from a dream that had nothing to do... Continue reading

Posted Dec 9, 2021 at Slightly Off Kilter

0

Second Thanksgiving in Washington

One year ago, we were in an AirBnB apartment in Seattle. We got our TG dinner from Whole Foods. We were in the process of buying a house (inspection was the 25th; TG was the 26th). Today, we are mostly moved in. We'll have dinner with Rich's brother, sister-oin-law, and two friends of theirs Continue reading

Posted Dec 9, 2021 at Slightly Off Kilter

0

Our house came with an "alcove", a chimney, and small wood stove. The "alcove" is the wrong shape for a true fireplace. Inspection showed that the wood stove is not in good shape and neither is the chimney, quote: "There was a chimney fire at one time; you should get the tiles and pipe replaced". So, we had a choice... Continue reading

Posted Dec 9, 2021 at Slightly Off Kilter

0

We have cats. I have miniature houses. I want to display the houses without the cats trying to get inside. I don't have an easy way, in our human-scale home, to have a room I can close off. I'm using two 6-panel folding screens, made by Costway and available at Home Depot. The screens are made of easy-to-assemble, lightweight steel... Continue reading

Posted Dec 9, 2021 at Slightly Off Kilter

0

Turn the Turkey

For many years now, we've been using Rich's SIL's mother's recommendation of starting the turkey with the breast down, then turning it over halfway through. But turning over a (HOT) 20-lb turkey is... somewhat difficult. We've always used a couple of carving forks and other implements. This year, Rich had a bright (orange) Idea: Silicone oven mitts! Continue reading

Posted Dec 9, 2021 at Slightly Off Kilter

0

Chim Chim Cheree

The chimney crew is here to fix the chimney, plumb new gas lines, and remove the old wood stove. The cats are in the back room. Rich said they weren't singing "Chim Chim Cherree" and the lead guy told him that some Europeans do want to touch him for luck. Continue reading

Posted Dec 9, 2021 at Slightly Off Kilter

0

After the Steps Were Removed

Some of the things we discovered having the concrete steps removed: There was a "void" under the largest hunk of concrete. The steps were not, as we had feared, entirely solid the whole way through. While there was a small amount of (unexpected) rebar, it was just 4 pieces of "dowling" holding the back of the steps to the house.... Continue reading

Posted Dec 9, 2021 at Slightly Off Kilter

0

Crawl-ins Welcome

Continue reading

Posted Dec 9, 2021 at Slightly Off Kilter

0

Today's major accomplishment: under-cabinet (over-the-counter) kitchen lights. Wheeeeee! Continue reading

Posted Dec 9, 2021 at Slightly Off Kilter

0

Last Mile Problem

So... I have a (rather large) package that I have been waiting for since it was put on the truck in Michigan on Oct 19. It arrived in Tacoma at 5am on Saturday (10/23). From there, it will be handed off to a "local" carrier. And therein lies the rub. The local carrier does not pick up on weekends. So,... Continue reading

Posted Dec 9, 2021 at Slightly Off Kilter

0

How is This "Security"?

I have to call Verizon if I want to cancel a line. But really, I click a button on the web site and they call me... on the phone number in my profile. Then they asked me to identify myself with my PIN... but this is the number from my profile... you called me. I wasn't expecting this question and,... Continue reading

Posted Dec 9, 2021 at Slightly Off Kilter

0

A FB group I'm subscribed to asked about peoples' favorite quotes from books. In looking through my collection, I came across this one. It's a nice meta quote. "People think that stories are shaped by people. In fact, it’s the other way around. Stories exist independently of their players. If you know that, the knowledge is power. Stories, great flapping... Continue reading

Posted Dec 9, 2021 at Slightly Off Kilter

0

Two-ingredient Pumpkin Cookies

My favorite Fall cookie. Only 2 ingredients (unless you want to get creative.) #AllThingsPumpkin 2 boxes spice cake mix (e.g Duncan Hines Moist Deluxe) or follow a recipe for homemade spice cake mix, just the dry ingredients 1 15 oz can pumpkin Optional: 12 to 16 oz chocolate chips 1 to 2 c chopped walnuts or pecans No additional oil,... Continue reading

Posted Dec 9, 2021 at Slightly Off Kilter

0

Bark Beats Bad Grass

The grass in our east yard is planted in roughly 1/2" - 1" of pine bark, over weed barrier, with a sprinkling of dirt over the bark. At this (dry) time of year, the upper layer comes off with a nudge from a spade and a pull of the fingers. The roots have never had a chance to reach soil.... Continue reading

Posted Dec 9, 2021 at Slightly Off Kilter

0

Patio Removal, part 1

Yesterday, we removed all of the bricks from an 8' x 8' space at the backside of the house (the mortar was basically stiff sand. Today's project - tackling the concrete part. Continue reading

Posted Dec 9, 2021 at Slightly Off Kilter

0

The difference between the Gray Squirrels and the Douglas Squirrels is that the Grays come up to the patio door, look in, and say "Hello? Hoomans? The peanut feeder appears to be empty!" They also stare right in at the cats and go "nyah nyah nyah". (The Dougies basically ignore the cats.) Continue reading

Posted Dec 9, 2021 at Slightly Off Kilter

0

Crumply Paper in a Box

I've been (finally) (at last) unpacking my glass collection. This has resulted in a lot of crumply paper. The paper has been going into a box. Myffi approves. Continue reading

Posted Dec 9, 2021 at Slightly Off Kilter

0

More...

Subscribe to Vicki’s Recent Activity