General topics.

cw - get a cat I had a few years of bird trouble between losing Toonie and acquiring Rocky. I never had trouble when I had Toonie. Once I got Rocky the bird trouble decreased to almost nothing

re meringue - do you use cream of tartar? It helps.

Cwillie I have the same issue with a cardinal. I put a stuffed monkey hanging on the inside of the window and it keeps the bird away.

I don't have much faith in the idea of owls or snakes because from past experience using them in the strawberry patch the fear wears off in about a day or two, but I'm willing to give it another try. Or I may just drape the area with netting, at this point I don't care anymore if the bird gets tangled.

cwillie,

Get a statue of a big owl. They make plastic/resin ones for this purpose. It will scare the bird away . I’ve had my owl sitting on top of the fence on my deck forever . Rarely have some bird crap on the deck .

There is robin that comes back every year that is once again driving me crazy, it likes to peck at the windows. All the advice tells you it's fighting it's reflection but it's clearly not that because it's just a gentle tap tap tap and so far only on the north side of the house. This year it's sitting tapping on my sliding patio door and now that I've blocked the bottom of the door it's (gently) flying pecking at the top. I don't know what this @#&% bird wants, it's not as though this is a good nesting spot. And of course it's sh!++ing everywhere too, which is the real maddening part.

I am feeling relieved to have found a place to rent and that my two doggies babies are coming with. I am feeling happy on one hand to move on and sad in another.

cwillie, I told my kids the same! They all love to eat mushrooms and I was so afraid they’d bite into something toxic.

I felt the earthquake this morning, that was crazy strange! 🫨

That's such a good idea cwillie! 😀

Anxietynacy - when our kids were small I always called the things growing outside toadstools and the things on our plates mushrooms, no confusion that way!

TNtechie - the kid is going to be running around and hot and sweaty no matter what the weather, I don't blame you at all for not wanting to be cold and miserable

TN, that's awesome , I miss those days of school sports. I'm sure there is a twing of guilt but it's fine to miss some events now and then

As for the eclipse, my mother had a lot of phobioas, I was always told to not look at the sun anyday. . So after years of that being drilled into me. It kinda scares me anyways.

Similar to my fear of mushrooms, LMAO, mom always told me mushrooms where poisonous, so I wouldn't eat one outside. Now no matter what if something has mushrooms in it, my throat closes up.

I've become a cold weather coward... today I'm skipping the track meet... it's going to be in the 30s with rain and wind. So I sent my high school freshman off with a waterproof gym bag packed with extra clothes, an umbrella, hand/foot warmers and food. This year his speed has picked up at 6'2" and a trim 204lbs he's running the 100m, 200m, and 4x400m relay as well as throwing the discus and shot put. As a freshman, he has better time and distance than last year (in middle school) but he's not placing as well because he's the young guy.

Part of me feels guilty to not attend the meet but another part of me says I don't want to freeze!

I think it's either a case of CYA in case of liability or appeasing family members who are freaking out, you have no idea how constant the media coverage is and the gloom and doom you're-going-to-go-blind-if-you-look advice. But seriously, if you are of sound mind and you want to look that's your right (but even in a partial eclipse the sun is too bright to look at so nobody is doing that anyway) and if you're in memory care you won't know anything about it unless somebody makes it their mission to point it out (oooo it's 3:00, everyone get away from the window!). Can you imagine sticking paper over the windows and then having to explain why to a bunch of people with dementia who then get agitated because it's out of the ordinary and sounds threatening? - as if staff doesn't already have enough to do...

CWillie I don't know a lot of folks who stare directly at the sun with or without eclipse. Does seem like overkill. They are of the belief that better safe than sorry?

My sister was reading me a directive from the nursing home where she still works part time, apparently they want staff the ensure all windows are covered during the eclipse and have even told them if the windows don't have curtains or blinds they must cover them with kraft paper - and no, we're not in the totality zone. I think some people are really going off the deep end with all this eclipse talk, I was laughing my head off...

I can send myself flowers! 🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹

Here are some for you, Cwillie! 💐🌸🌷🌹🌻🌺

I HATE DOING TAXES EVEN MORE.
So much so, that I haven't done them yet.
So, I think about doing them, for a full 30 days I have procrastinated.

I feel sick about it. 😨🤕🤒🤢🤮

So, I am paying the bills today instead.
Or maybe tomorrow.

And that is not all.

I HATE DOING TAXES😱😭🤯🤪

That is all.

Thx need. I love a good ham dinner.

Happy Easter to everyone!

Your dinner sounds delicious, Golden. I am having baked ham and sides.

Happy Easter everyone! Blessings to all! 🙏🙏🙏

I'm roasting a turkey 🦃 for the first time in a long time and making apple,🍎raisin, and onion stuffing from the old Joy of Cooking cookbook recipe. It was a favourite for years. Veggies will include broccoli, 🥦 and butternut squash. Haven't figured out any dessert yet, not that we need it. 😊

I am very happy with my induction cooktop. Very responsive. The glass top does get hot but not burning hot. While my kitchen was being renovated (gutted just as the pandemic hit so it took longer than expected) I bought a single induction burner. Gave me a chance to try induction and I was smitten.

cWillie, induction cookers are totally awesome.

I use one in my office, when we travel and to make bone broth outside. I use it during the summer if I am boiling water or other heat creating foods on the patio.

If you use a magnet on the bottom of a pan and it sticks, that pan will work on the induction cookers.

99% of my pans in my kitchen worked for my 1st induction cooker. I would have thrown most out if I didn't know the magnet trick, the sellers would like you to buy their expensive cookware, when it's not needed. (Or worth it in my experience.)

I've never used induction but I've done a fair bit of reading about them and people seem to either love it or hate it, I think a lot of the haters are those who can't afford the top of the line and to replace every bit of cookware that is incompatible. The smart burners are an easy swap for electric coil type burners so unless you need to change the whole appliance are much cheaper way to go. And yeah, because they don't get as hot they are supposed to reduce the risk of fires.

I read awhile ago that induction cooktops were recommended for seniors . I never heard of smart burners . But a quick google just now they appear to be different and look different . Are smart burners recommended for seniors as well ?

My dd had an induction at her condo, she bought it about a year before she rented it out, and she loved it. The gas stove in her new TH,, not so much,,LOL

My x is a contractor, he said people really like the induction cooktops. they cook good, and the top doesn't get hot until you put the pan on, and most people with kids get them but not sure about safety for declining seniors. But it's not a bad idea

cwillie,
do you know if induction cooktops are better rated than smart burners ? Do people like those more ?

My sister was telling me her MIL's apartment building replaced all the stove burners with special ones that reduce the risk of fires and I was intrigued so I spent this morning googling... these "smart burners" never get hotter than 350° F. It seems like most of the positive reviews are from landlords, the people using them are not so happy.

BOJ: Good to see you posting!

Hey, Bundle

So great to see you posting!