Saturday, September 29, 2007

The sky

It's very overcast today. So beautiful.

The clouds are absolutely breathtaking.

Like waves. I want to jump right in.

Wouldn't the color of the sky here be the perfect hue for a bedroom. Moody and dreamy.

I'm really not into Halloween-creepy, but I'm loving whatever is going on with this walnut tree...against the grey sky...not the creepies...more...meloncholy or some such drama.
I must go make some tea. I'm thinking chai would be perfect on a day like today. Vanilla.
Mmmmm, yes. Vanilla.

Thursday, September 27, 2007

The light

The sun is doing that magical dance across my home.

The one where everything looks prettier...

...it shines through the leaves still clinging to the trees...

...everything twinkles.

Wednesday, September 26, 2007

When the flowers have passed...

But you still need some color...


Tie a scrap of fabric onto a stick and jam it in the flower box. Add the branches that you just snipped off the shrub that grows too fast. Realize you need more yellow, and cut from the flower you don't know the name of, and poke them in as well.



Voila. Perhaps no one will realize that you killed off all the color. Perhaps they will think you have gone a little crazy. Perhaps you have. Gone a little crazy.
At least you still have color.

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Public Service Announcement: Sunbeam Fluoresent Bulbs

We had a bit of a scare this morning, involving this light bulb.


My husband turned on the fixture, and the light shone dimly orange. Thinking it might brighten, he left it on for 15-20 minutes. Upon which, the bulb started to make popping and hissing sounds (like a coffee machine percolating) and then started to smoke. I ran to turn off the switch, and hollered for the husband. After the switch was turned off, the smoke stopped. We opened all the windows to try and clear the air of the smoke and the awful burnt plastic smell. (Gross! It's still lingering 3 hours later.)



My husband used a bag to remove the bulb from the fixture, and set bulb and bag on the counter. While it's been sitting there, some kind of brownish liquid has come out of the bulb. I don't know what it is, but it's nearly the color of coffee.



The liquid is coming out of these "vents."



There isn't a lot of the liquid, just a bit.



This is the bulb: Sunbeam 120V 60Hz 20W Fluorescent.


(Please excuse the excessive flash, it's gloomy here, and wanted to make sure the liquid would show up)


Well, the reason I'm even blogging about this is because I called Sunbeam. The first lady I talked to (very nice) gave me a different number to call. Called different number, and talked to a gentleman about my bulb. After listening to me recount the smoking incident, he told me that it is not uncommon for these bulbs to smoke off the C02 that has accumulated--or something to that affect. That they have run countless tests and that they are not a fire hazard. The smoking doesn't happen every time, and it isn't cause for alarm. He had never heard of any liquid coming out of them. He checked with a supervisor. There isn't any liquid in them to come out of them. Okay. So, I'm not quite sure how to explain the liquid that's coming out of mine. The fixture isn't wet, it isn't below any thing wet or leaking or liquid. Curious.


I had a few options for retribution. I could return it to the store I purchased it from, with the receipt (a bank statement would also have worked--so convenient and hassle~free), the original packaging (because I, like I'm sure all of you, hang on to random packaging in the event that something should go up in smoke), for a replacement.


Or.


I can mail it to them for a refund. I asked if they would provide me with a prepaid mailer. He checked. Nope. They don't have those kinds of things. That would be at my own expense. So, I can mail them a fluorescent bulb, which contains hazardous materials, which would cost...$6, $7, $8? For them to send me a refund on a $6 light bulb. No thanks.


I thought they might be interested in the numbers on the bulb, or perhaps would like the bulb to determine the type of liquid coming from the bulb. What if this is different than the "typical" smoke that comes from them? What if this bulb (made in China, btw) is defective and would have burned my house down had we not cut the power to it?


I thought about calling them back. But decided to talk about it here, instead.


So, my thoughts on these bulbs? I'm scared to death. They're {sometimes} expected to smoke when they burn out? That's normal? My house might smell like burnt plastic each time one expires? If only you could have seen the smoke. It wasn't gentle, innocuous smoke. It was black, thick, stinky smoke. I thought something had caught fire. I mentally ran through child evacuation while calling out to my husband, ran for the extinguisher, panic...


It was yucky. Very yucky. I don't want to go through that again. I don't want you to go through that. It isn't normal.

Monday, September 24, 2007

A light unto the path

Found a use for the jars.

A little something to light the walk.

Some scraps of fabric, sand, and a votive.

Will add pictures of them lit in the night.

Wednesday, September 19, 2007

nine years ago...


...living happily ever after.

Tuesday, September 18, 2007

How do you get your child to tell you about school?


Step one: Get yourself a coffee
Step two: Get your child a steamer (milk + flavored syrup)
Step three: Sit down together
Step four: Sip together
Step five: Listen. By this point, the words are just pouring out. And they keep coming as long as the beverage lasts. So you better get a 20 oz.er for good measure.
These are the days. Ahhhhh.

Sunday, September 16, 2007

The routine

Well. We're finally settled into our fall routine. I'm officially the mother of a kindergartner. (sniffle)

I've got several projects started in my mind, and a few more in progress. My plans are to post much of them in the next week.

Further bulletins as events warrant. :)

Friday, September 7, 2007

from the Kitchen of Grandma Ruby

Dark buns. They taste like more. Lots more.
...and the smell? Get out of here. It's fantastic.

Thursday, September 6, 2007

The ballerina

A gift from Auntie Kara. I'm not sure who loves it more. The recipient, or moi~self.

Tuesday, September 4, 2007

Cabbage Dish

My sister~in~law was here this past weekend. We did a little shopping, such a blast-as usual! I found this little cabbage dish for $4. Such a fun piece to sit on the counter. Not sure that it's food safe, so it might end up being a catch all...one can never have too many secret hiding places, you know.