Some People

They just go and have a birthday without you. 

So you have to make do. 

Happy #20🎂 "Ernest"!!!!!!

ALT-ernatives

The iDevices are great as you just keep your finger on the letter a little longer and all the alternatives pop up. But those goshdarn old-fangled computer keyboards...well...

I'm saving this for my own reference! I've been typing a lot of recipes and I'm tired of googling it every time.  And you might find it useful, too.

ALT-248 or ALT-0176

Bake at 350°

ALT-171

½ cup

ALT-172

¼ tsp.

☺☺☺☺☺ (ALT-1)

I wowed someone at work with this one:

ALT-137 or ALT-0235

Because you can't spell Charlotte Brontë without it.

Here's the link for international letters.
And a massive list of all the codes.



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Book Mosaics

Purchases, prepubs, library booksale, abebooks. Oh my. Life is good. 

I don't have enough time. 

Cue Twilight Zone music and enter Burgess Meredith. 

I can still read without my glasses.  

Sights around town

I have no words for this. 

In case a dog needs to wipe itself? 

Who Ya Gonna Call?

This must be a student ghostbuster as the vehicle is missing the fun stuff up top. 

Signs of Spring

I think purple/lavender/lilac/heliotrope/amethyst/violet is the color of spring this year. 

Queen Califia's Magic Circle

For those asking about the mosaic snake in the Green collage, it is in Queen Califia's Magic Circle, the Niki de Saint Phalle sculpture garden in Escondido.

I can't remember when I visited, but here are some pictures I posted a few years ago. It's quite a vibrant, imaginitive place.

Poppy Season

Baby Vampire

Who, me?

I'm too cute to bite. 

I'll just lick you instead. 

My Hench Cat

I sometimes feel like a Bond villain, with my trusty henchcat at my side.

He is the best buddy in the world. 

As a reward after a trip to the vet,

he got a piece of delicious sandwich.

And then he got the whole chair to himself.

Maybe he's not the henchcat after all, maybe he's the brains of the outfit.

Happy St. Patrick's Day

Here's a bit of green from a number of years ago.

Picture in a Picture

Frank caught Hunter in a photogenic position. 

Random Cats of Boston

Our first flight was delayed so I entertained myself with a coloring book. 

Ernest has a neighbor cat across the way. 

We found a very friendly cat on a walk. 

He would not let me buy this magnificent piece of cat art from the thrift store, nor the truly lovely life-size white ceramic cat statue at the antique store. 

His place is full of cat doors. Is he holding out for the real thing?

Tea Trek

Frank gets orders for more than just coffee.

One regular orders "Tea, Earl grey, hot."

Sometimes Frank gets in some banter in return: 

"I'll make it so."
"Engage."

Or my personal favorite, "Dammit man, I'm a barista not a replicator!"

Cats of the Castle

The Queen guards the entrance to her tower. She didn't realize the intruder was already upstairs.

The Royal Food Taster takes his duties seriously. 

The Huntsman seems to be doubling as the Laundress. Or maybe he just slew a pair of wild jeans. 

How to Make a Couch

Ernest's Ikea couch came in 4 large boxes. He was a little surprised. 

Once he started assembling, it really wasn't that complicated. (The bed, on the other hand...)

I thought this part looked like a diaper. 

They are both pretty handy. 

A well-earned rest. 

A rearrangement.