Wow! Batten down the hatches olldbob! Hope you're planning on staying home.
Can you believe hubby had someone call in to get a price on removing their spray foam insulation because his 2400 sq ft home had an electric bill of ... get this... $89.

creeser, I get overwhelmed with too much cleaning, too. Take a 15 minute break (use a timer), and have a cup of tea, hot chocolate, anything hot. You will feel so much better.

I use the site FlyLady.net to help me break down big tasks. She has a 15 minute break built in to the schedule for every 45 minutes of work.

You all are making my day so happy because you are telling me you like the photos of "farolitos" I shared. Thank you. :)

$89.00 !!! That's amazing !!! How will removing the spray foam insulation help? I don't get it !

Good morning all - busy shopping day ahead so not much time to dwell here, but just thought I would check in. Those luminaria are just beautiful. Never heard of them before so I am really getting an education here. I got sent an email with a whole lot of photos of Sandy, I think I mentioned the ones of the sharks swimming down the streets of NY but it also had the photo of the solidiers guarding the tomb. That is true dedication.

Well, cricket - my turn to educate you. Didn't realise you wouldn't have even heard of it. Cricket originated in England and is (supposedly) very much a Gentleman's game. I mean in what other sport to they stop for "tea" in the afternoon. Maybe baseball is the closest in that a bat and ball is used but there all similarity ends. I had a tea towel that hilariously described the game for the uninitiated but I have thrown it out as it wore out. It is very big here, in England naturally, New Zealand, India, Pakistan and South Africa and there is a World Series that actually includes those countries (unlike US World Series that is only in the US - heehee) They play Test matches which go over 5 days max and each Test is a series of 3 games and the best of three wins. They also play series of one day matches.

Anyway, I will go into more detail later, but I guess like all sports, it is an acquired taste and of course very big with men but most women (the intelligent sex) equate it with watching grass grow - especially the Test matches.

Nearly forgot - yes Miss 6 is the LA granddaughter.

No one got any flag ideas yet??

Only 3 men here today - much quieter.

Only three? Whatever will you do with yourself? hehehe

Creeser!!! Seriously? https://www.houzz.com/discussions/need-help-with-wall-color-dsvw-vd~256848

Does cricket have a wide, flat bat? I think I know it.

Well at the moment I am in a queue to go to the loo!!!! Can you believe it???

Just found this cute video about Cricket http://www.howcast.com/videos/399025-How-to-Play-Cricket that pretty much sums it up.

I must add to that a backyard Cricket game is mandatory for family Christmas days, and a garbage bin is the wicket and hitting the ball over the fence into a neighbour's house is 6 and out. Now you have stirred up some hilarious Christmas Day memories!!! See ................. that is one thing you can't do in your snow and ice!!!

roo's in a queue for the loo !!! hehehehe Tell them to get a port-a-potty!

Olldbob, checked that link and roared. Had to give Creeser a "like" naturally.

Yes a cricket bat is wide and flat on one side, the other side sort of comes up to a point in the middle so end on the bat is more triangular. Made from willow and the making of it is very technical - probably no different to a baseball bat.

Ewwwwww, guy just came out with a dead mouse he found in the bathroom insulation!!!!

Better dead !!!

No then I have to pay for it. They can go find a tree!!!!

olldbob, I was hoping you'd see that discussion.. hehehehe
In regards to that low electric bill, the man was just not right. He seemed to think that was high. Problem is, we remove the spray foam and put the regular fiberglass insulation in there, his electric bill is going to be a little higher. Then he's going to be pitching a fit at us. It all started because he had a bedroom that was 2 degrees warmer or cooler than the other rooms, depending on the season. 2 degrees? Really? Who would even notice? Some people, I think, are just lonely and call on the most piddling things that make no sense.

Roo, 3 men are never quiet.

eztia, those luminaries are lovely. We have several neighborhoods in town that line their yards in those at Christmas. There is something so peaceful and beautiful about candlelight.

Creeser, you twit, you knew I'd see that post !!!

Two degrees? Tell him his thermostat needs replacing. Seriously. Yes, I agree, some people are TOO lonely, and can't see past their mirrors. I have an elderly neighbor who collects.......license plates. Oh yes. He's so lonely, but when he gets with people his license plates are all he can talk about. Which is exactly why he didn't get invited for Thanksgiving dinner altho he hinted at it. He even flew to Germany for a license plate convention. Uh huh.

Actually, it IS an issue with the hvac system. He only has one vent in that room and all the others that size in his house have 2 or 3. When hubby pointed it out, the fellow told him that was NOT the problem because his heating and a/c told him. Hubby finally told him to get his hvac friend to run another vent in there and see if that took care of his problem that it would cost him far less. He finally agreed. I dread doing work for people like that because there is no pleasing them and it often turns into a battle to get paid.

And yes, I knew you'd see that post. *L* Hey.. you were missing judyg so I had to rattle your chain someway, didn't I? *LMBO*

I feel for you !!! It's just like trying to deal with my mother, not going to have a happy outcome. hehehehe

I'll get you my pretty !!! When you least expect it.....

olldroo, regarding decorative holiday flags. Some people hang the decorative 28x40 inch size from their regular flagpoles. I do not like this method, because it is hard to see the design on the flag unless the wind is blowing.
If you look online, you will see metal flag holders for the large size and the small size.
I have a steel front door, so I use a magnetic curtain rod and hang the large flag flat against the door. Some people put them flat against a garden gate or wall.
The small size ones are often placed in a garden as a focal point, or at the entrance to a garden, or near the entrance walkway to a house. On a wooden fence, one can staple the small size right to the wood. Use a lot of staples so the flag does not flap itself loose and blow away.
In my experience, the appliqué flags wear out much sooner than the screen printed ones.

creeser, did you get the "ugly trunk" finished?

well i love the flag you showed earlier eztia...i have to find something cute for the gingerbread house, that's candy-ish.....or just a homemade flag that says "eat me"! lol!

Here is one version of a candy cane flag. There is a better one somewhere. Let me go try to find it for you.

http://www.tolandflagstore.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Store_Code=TFS&Screen=PROD&Product_Code=109282

Here is the candy cane flag I was thinking of. It has a green background instead of a blue one.

http://www.flagfables.com/Holiday-Candy-Canes-House-Flag-p/ev-f-131399.htm

Hi ladies, back from one lot of shopping, traffic was horrendous - I think I need some comfort from Jack but a bit too early.

Thanks for the input Eztia. Unlike you guys, people here rarely have flag poles - have to get Council approval for such things and people really get up in arms about them. No patriotism at all. Things are quite different here, especially where I am, we don't have front fences or defined entry ways, even my doors are glass, but I might be able to tape them to the inside of the doors for decoration. Help keep some sun out too - lol. I have now realised they do have sizes on them which helps, but I was thinking of ways of using them indoors. I would definitely like them extended so they are not hanging. I will think up something.

I just found my Cricket tea towel, honestly this is how addled brained I am getting, I am actually using it at the moment, haven't thrown it out at all.

CRICKET
(as explained to a foreign visitor)

You have two sides, one out in the field and one in,

Each man that is in the side that is in goes in and when he is out he comes in and the next man goes in until he's out.

When they are all out, the side that's out comes in and the side that's been in goes out and tries to get those coming in out.

Sometimes you get men still in and not out.

When both sides have been in and out, including the not outs,

That's the end of the game.

HOWZAT!!!!

Howzat is a colloquism for "how is that" and is used a lot in cricket when a player appeals to the umpire for a ruling especially a LBW (leg before wicket). It has now spread to every day use - there was even a song about it.

Hey creeser - someone sent me an email about using Vodka for cleaning around the house. IT WORKED!!!! The more Vodka I drank the cleaner the house looked.

Have you all ever seen anything like this? What are the statues on the walls, Madonna? And the light on the headboard? I don't think I've ever seen anything quite like this ! https://www.houzz.com/discussions/bedroom-dsvw-vd~257274

roo - thanks for the cricket lesson. I think ! And it's never too early to visit Jack. It's always 12 o'clock somewhere !

olldbob, just took a look. No I haven't seen anything like that before. The statues are just busts, but the Madonna on one side and Jesus on the other.

roo - you could see that? Good eyes ! I wonder why they're hanging on the wall like that.

*LMBO* I must have good eyes because I'm creeser, not roo.
Hey... take a look at this post and tell me if it doesn't smack of a scam.
https://www.houzz.com/discussions/need-investors-in-a-building-project-in-zimbabwe-dsvw-vd~257361

What are you talking about??

Oh.. in regards to why they hung those on the walls. They must be Catholic. A lot of Catholics have the Madonna and Jesus in their house in some form or another. My children went to a Catholic school when they were small and I made some good friends. I think having them behind their bed gives them a feeling of being watched over while they sleep and is comforting.

Sheeeeeeeeeeeeesh - she is worried about curtains????? I would worry about the whole room. Most Catholics I know also hang rosary beads over their beds - maybe she could make a curtain of beads, remember that article on beads and a room was done with blue crystal beads everyone loved. Heehee maybe I will try to find it and suggest.

Creeser, I'm sure Riesling would be fine - gives me an instant headache. Sounds like Bob found 12 o'clock somewhere!!!!

Actually I tried to cut and paste some of the email I received today, it was really funny, but it wouldn't work. Another one on it I liked was

I kind of feel funny for the trees in the Fall............................
at least when I went through the change nothing fell off.

Have to check out the scam.

Bob - how did you attach that photo to your comment? Found the bead curtains but the photo hasn't attached.

roo, click on the photo and when the big photo comes up, mouse over it. At the bottom, you'll see a button that says EMBED. Click that. It'll give you 3 options to copy and paste. I use the last and shortest option. Right click, copy and then paste it in your comment section.

Thanks bob, had to fiddle a bit before it worked for me for some weird reason.

Well we have our first day of summer on Saturday, starting with a bang........... 41 deg!!! Can't see me doing much painting.

Off to bed again, to get ready for the onslaught of males tomorrow. One had a really bad abscess, half his face was really swollen so they all left early today. Never enjoyed silence so much.

Hoping to really blitz some painting all day, if it doesn't get too hot and we don't get too many interruptions. Getting over this, we seem to be getting nowhere.

I guess we all have bad eyes today ! Roo, that was the invisible creeser giving you that tip. I saw that property investment thread, weird. I think the people with the Madonna and Jesus are in the Phillipines. First I thought Mexico, but no, they worship the Virgin Guadalupe.

Onslaught of males??? hehehe I think you're enjoying this, 'fess up !!

bob, I started to tell her it was me, but gave up. You're right, I'm invisible today. Ohhh... the fun I can have!!

Oh yes you can!!! I guess it's her paint fumes.

Check this link out, especially her added pics, tell me if anything comes to mind? https://www.houzz.com/discussions/painting-a-narrow-staircase-dsvw-vd~257376

I saw that earlier. That is almost the exact staircase the person had off their kitchen. Wonder if we could refer her to that post for ideas?

But does it remind you of anything? Anyone, in particular?

bob, I'm lost. Who does it sound like?

Rapunzel?

Ahhh...the princess/daughter kept in the upper room.

Rapunzel, Rapunzel, let down your golden hair! .... or in this day and age... extensions. *L*

Yes! Thanks michigammemom ! That's the first thing I thought of when I saw the second set of pics. I wanted to ask her if her daughter had long golden hair !!!

I opened 11/28, shall we move?

Oh! Almost forgot. We have a new Vikrant !! Narsty comment, I'll include the link when I find it.

creeser ! Yes, extensions !!! You're at the top of your game today !