4/17/21

Patience, Please



This post started out with my new ideas about replacing the email subscription service for those of you who read via email. Now I'm back editing to say I've given up finding an alternative. None of the services are free, and I'm afraid I'm too cranky and cheap to pay for one on a monthly basis. If you are an email subscriber, please know that you will stop receiving these emails on July 1st. If you want to continue reading, I'm afraid you'll need to follow via one of the services listed in my left side bar. Another alternative is to create a shortcut on your own screen. You can do that by dragging and dropping this Cat Patches link to your desktop and creating an icon there. It will open the blog for you, and you can read any new posts as they appear. And, I'm sorry...there's nothing else I can do about this. I'm open to suggestions, however. So suggest away if you know something I don't. (I imagine there's a LOT you know that I don't, but you know what I mean.)

Okay, everybody...now for the fun part. Or maybe it's not fun...I can't really tell from here, but I'm trying my best. We went out for a drive yesterday. The weather was lovely, and Mike wanted an excuse to drive his car. The mountains were out in force. I tried to get a picture of them, but they look awfully small in an image. They're much prettier when you can see the in person. Way off on the distant horizon, you can barely see Mt. Rainier (on the left), then Mt. St. Helens, and then on the far right, Mt. Adams.


But the real king daddy of the mountains here is Mt. Hood. Sorry I couldn't get a picture sans other cars and power lines.


We needed a couple of items we missed at the grocery store, but mostly, I wanted to get out with my DSLR camera and telephoto lens to capture these two osprey nesting by the side of the road. The road we were traveling runs adjacent to the Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge, and it was quite a treat to see this breeding pair. I'll check back with them occasionally in the coming weeks. Maybe we'll get to see them raising some babies.


As we drove away, I caught one of my favorite barns. I'm usually driving when I'm traveling this road, and so I never get a chance to capture it.


So we ran our errands. Back home, I took a few more pictures of the blooming things. Here's another image of the flowering plums lining the driveway, but from a different angle this time.


The Andromeda is starting to bloom. Eventually it will add some red foliage to its blossoms, and it is really quite stunning when it gets going full bore.


Also, the salmon-colored tulips opened, as expected.


I spent most of the day deadheading the hydrangeas. Using the clippers was hurting my hand toward the end, and so I called it a day early on. I don't want to flare up my thumb, which is feeling pretty good right now.

For dinner, I tried a new recipe from the diet. This is Orecchiette with Tomatoes, Fresh Mozzarella, and Basil. It was a nice pasta salad for a warm day, served cold.


We really liked it. If I were going to make it again...and I will...I think it would be better with an added tablespoon of balsamic vinegar. There was enough left over for lunch today.

As for today, I've spent the morning working on this email server issue. When I finish here, I'm going to do some slow-stitching. There wasn't much time for sewing yesterday, so I'm hoping to get more done today. Also, I need to catch up on some housework. We're taking off on a camping trip next week, and so tomorrow will be reserved for packing the RV again. It shouldn't take the whole day since it's a short trip, but the month has been busy. I'm sorry I haven't had more time for sewing. Things always slow down eventually.

14 comments:

Barbara said...

The good news about computers is that they do what you tell them to do. The bad news is that they do what you tell them to do. ~ Ted Nelson

Anonymous said...

Your pasta salad is one that is a favorite of ours and I make it often in the summer....sometimes I throw in a handful of frozen green peas, and I have even added some grilled chicken occasionally. Thanks for reminding me that it is getting to the time of year to include this in our rotation of dinner recipes!!
Sandra B
scb304@juno.com

Darlene S said...

Oh no, after all your work on finding an alternative to feedburner. Bummer. With luck, maybe Google will just stop supporting Feedburner and let it work till it dies a natural death vs truly shut it down come July. Either way, it is sad to see them not support such a great tool. On a more positive note it is good to see you and Mike got out for a nice drive. You are lucky to be able to see so many beautiful mountains and the scenery all around is gorgeous. Have fun on your upcoming rv getaway.

LIttle Penguin Quilts said...

I've been following you by email, but switched you onto my Feedly app. Bloglovin works on some devices, too. We can make this work! Looked like a lovely day for a drive, and what views you have!

Dorothy said...

I already get you on Feedly, and I am trying Bloglovn' again, in the past it's been pretty sporatic. Glad you are seeing mountains too, ours are out in full force here in western WA

Beverly said...

I have your blog on my favorites bar and just check in with you every day to read the blog and see what my favorite kitties are up to. My four kitty girls appreciate everything the cats get up to. i appreciate your blogs and read every one.

Julierose said...

Your pasta salad is similar to one I make--my additions are cooked fresh spinach, garbanzo beans and onions sauteed in olive oil before adding...
I am a big fan of pasta salads hot and cold...
I found my last cross stitch butterfly that I had "put away" so I could find it again-- [and of course I haven't been able to!!] and am working it in old golds...love cross stitching...
hugs Julierose

Vroomans' Quilts said...

Yes, pasta salads are back on the menu. I spent the day going thru the 'quilt tops' totes and got so frustrated with myself. I think I am going to donate half to a group that takes just tops to finish for charity. THEN kick my fanny to get the others done.

gpc said...

I love ospreys and have spent hours watching them. Long ago (stop me if I've told you this story) Dr. Cranky told me that ospreys mate for life, but they separate for part of the year. Every year, just before breeding season, they return to the same place and he brings her a fish. If it isn't big enough, she kicks it away, he said, and the male tries over and over until he wins her back again. And he planned, Dr. C said, to keep bringing me fish until I accepted his proposal. I was enchanted enough by that story to stick around a lot longer than I should have, but I still love ospreys and the romance, real or not, between them.

Christine said...

Great day out for views.
I've clicked your bloglovin link, I tend to use that for a lot of my emails, have them all in one place!!
Love that andromeda, going to check it out as I have one similar (but different) which we know as pieris...

piecefulwendy said...

What in the world is Blogger up to anyway? I'm going to have to sign up for Feedly. I have Bloglovin but I don't see you pop up there. Anyway, the view of the mountains is so pretty, and how cool that you have an osprey nest to watch over. They are amazing birds. We had a few fun mountain drives this past week.

SJSM said...

Lovely views. A Sunday type ride is good any day of the week. I will try that pasta salad.
Regarding following your blog, I will find a way. July 1 may find me hitting one of your other methods to keep in touch or bookmarking. We will see.

Vickie Lewis said...

Thanks for the link to drag it over to my home screen so Ill be able to follow you. Super easy. Love catching up on your travels.

Carole @ From My Carolina Home said...

I follow you on Bloglovin. The reader services can be set to send emails, and I am sure your readers will find a way to keep up with you. Lovely springtime photos today!