I am peering at your pics too, but can't make out waht they are. Good job ice1!

Thanks for sharing the details. I love it!

My DH likes to look at gas buddy, but the best prices in our state are always nowhere near us, haha.

The spread between the lowest and the highest prices, in my metro area, is often $0.75-$1. Right now it is unusually small, only $0.42. ($3.35- $3.77) I've also noticed that the usual fluctuations in prices haven't been as much in the past 2-3 weeks. I believe that the situation in the middle east is keeping prices stuck at a bit higher level than they had seemed to be trending toward. It is the low end of the price range that has crept up and stayed there.

Lowest prices are in the southeast quadrant of the metro area right now - that rotates regularly to another quadrant.

Did you know that oil production by the USA is at an all time high right now?

Central iowa ... filled for 2.52 per gallon Sun ... not including the 2 cent per gallon discount ... Vehicle [buick] uses 85 percent [NOT E15]

It’s so good! Now you get to enjoy it.

It is so on trend, but the vanity makes it just a little bit different. I love the rug you chose and hope you post when that is in.I might add some bamboo blinds to the windows in a light color like your vanity.

The purse is so cute. You could sew custom liners and change it up!

That’s my plan, Kitschy!

DId you ever notice that Serean and Lily does not have reviews? Maybe their service is bad. Are you happy with the fabric at least? What'd ya get?

The new fabric arrived yesterday.

I ordered yardage in three different fabrics, and also a set of throw pillows.

One of the fabrics is a solid blue called "Coastal Blue."

One fabric is a green stripe with "Coastal Blue."

(the third fabric does not have CB)

The throw pillows are "Coastal Blue."

When we dropped it off at the fabricator, I decided to look again at everything.

Each of the three iterations of "Coastal Blue" are different shades of blue. 🙄

I am too worn down to do anything about it. The whole color scheme is very soft and delicate and there is a lot of off white so I think it is fine, but frankly the reason I bought it all from them was on the assumption they all coordinated.

I would have been very taken aback by the fact that they do not match! What is wrong with people?? That’s such a dumb thing to do… it’s not really even a mistake , just stupidity / lack of attention to detail / lack of interest/ on their part.

One thing as we have gotten older, my DH insists on travelling in first class. I do not overpack because that means I have to unpack and repack on our trips and I hate that part.

I don’t want to be taller but I wish my arms and legs were longer.

LOL I am having trouble imagining this

at 5'6, I am not petite -- but I just wore my spanx wide leg air essentials cropped pants for the first time and thinking I should have gotten the petite! I am long waisted but still these are very high waisted and they are long-- a hair past my ankles.

I am also finding almost all the flare style jeans are way too long at 30"-32" length inseam.

I am not convinced the flare style is for me so I am just skipping past them for now.

I think it’s a trend, Funky, making pants so much longer that we have to have them hemmed or wear heels. I am also (now) 5’6” and have also been buying pants in petite sizes for the shorter inseam.

I love the story about your friend. Wishing peace for her and for you.

The grandmother of my grandson's best friend had a progressive disease (sorry I can't remember which one) and lived for several years at her little home with dialysis and other medical interventions. She reached the point where the dialysis ws no longer working. She, too, decided to end her life and sent out an invitation to come to tea and say good-by on the day before. We were out of town and unable to go but sent her a message. I thought it was a beautiful choice. But today I'm attending the funeral for a friend's husband, who died way too soon and quickly after a cancer diagnosis. She cared for him lovingly and his sons were able to say good-by when the end was near. I have great respect for both choices. It's HARD to say good-by with grace! We're also in Washington.

Thank you again, everyone. This is the first time I've had to anticipate the imminent death of someone (besides beloved pets). Every other death of a loved one has been unexpected, which has it's own challenges, of course. I feel a lot of anxiety, I'm not sure why. Maybe wondering if I'm doing enough, being supportive enough to her kids. The three of them are here together, so I've backed away thinking they probably want their alone time and will likely be spending every minute possible with their mom. The daughter friend is hosting a gathering tomorrow afternoon and asked me to help with food, so that will keep my mind and hands busy.

Those are really cute!

Spanish, I lean that way too “ Speaking for myself, I am into labels but not logos….But, I have learned that the label may not tell the product truthfully. Whenever the item has been made for the discount market .. in this latest case, I am looking at you Cole Haan and Nordstrom Rack...buyer beware. Loved my C. Haan Grand Court sneakers, so bought a new pair at N.Rack. The inner lining was merely a thin piece of foam that had made the shoes unwearable after a few weeks. Ugh. I‘ve learned , in So many cases, the once upscale brand has been sold strictly for Its name. It feels unlawfully dishonest to me.

That may not be the Cole Haan story, though the family brand was sold awhile ago.

I've always called them tennis shoes instead of sneakers, but then I did wear them to play tennis.

In San Francisco, I would buy Tretorn tennis shoes because they were all white, and I would buy Tretorn tennis balls because they were also white, whereas other tennis balls (in the 1970s) were fluorescent chartreuse or orange, and I wanted my tennis to be all white. I even made my own tennis shorts.

I recently bought some more white leather Tretorn tennis shoes, and I feel that I can wear them all year in Palm Springs - especially since so many people wear golf outfits there.

hhireno, the antivomiting bowls are just bowls on a raised platform. I ended up just putting their food plate on top of a bowl Kori sometimes regurgitates when he eats too fast in the morning and shovels food into his mouth. In theory, a raised bowl improves digestion. Puzzle feeders are supposedly good too, but I haven’t found anything that looks easy to clean. Plate on bowl seems to be working this week.

Jilly, I had a black and decker mouse sander back when they first came out, but I wanted one with a dust catcher, so I donated it when we moved. I also wanted a cordless one, but the ones that exist are too expensive for my needs or have poor reviews. I ended up with another little black and decker.

antivomiting bowls! OMG I have never heard of this

If they want me to do another puzzle I am going to have to start charging them.

Strands #56

“Coming clean”

🟡🔵🔵🔵

🔵🔵🔵

Today's puzzle was by Joel Fagliano. I think I like him better than Heidi, but this is the first one that I've noticed with his name on it.

Strands #56

“Coming clean”

🟡🔵🔵🔵

🔵🔵🔵

Honestly, until I happened to see the word that turned out to be the apangram I had no idea what this was about.

I do not make big bowls of salad I either plate them or I make a salad bar.

Kitch4me, yes, similar taste!😁 The cabbage bowl is 12” wide and larger than it might look. I don’t have any small ones. This pic shows the large pasta serving bowl with the smaller bowls. The serving bowl is 13” and the 4 bowls are 10”. Definitely good sizes for pasta or salad.

After I broke one of my newer little Mikasa bowls, I realzed I also had the little individual bowls that matched the big one I posted. I think I still have one somewhere but not sure where it is. The rest are long gone. I had forgotten about them.

Yes, did you see that? It is all a sham. I wonder if they will do any more golden ones.

Jojo, I agree, that is what a marriage should be. The details don't matter it is the fact that you do for each other.

I quoted jojoco from 2 days ago. She nailed it!

@jojoco Same! I was telling DH about this thread and quoted Jojo too!

We need a lot more trade schools. Just try to get a plumber to show up or an electrician.

We have an amazing farmer’s market. Vendors are restricted to local produce with the exception of two larger stands that can bring in things grown in other parts of the state. Eastern Washington has a very different climate than ours, so they grow things that can’t be grown as well locally. Asparagus, artichokes, melons, sweet cherries (WA produces the most in the USA), many varieties of apples and pears. There are a few craft vendors, but the market is very selective for high quality so there isn’t junk.

Thursdays, the vendors give a senior discount and all vendors take food stamps/EBT. The two large fruit stands give free apples to kids. I am unsure how prices compare because I don’t (luckily) have to pay attention and am willing to try to support our local farmers.

" If only more of our 'leaders' would be more forward thinking about these things... "

I agree about the need for more vocational training opportunities. I don't think available programs and schools, and there are many, are at capacity as is. One problem is that the interest in and decision to enter vocational training requires more than short-range thinking. And a degree of maturity that many recent high school grads or dropouts lack. It should be a no-brainer - many are not cut out or interested in academic advancement, vocational training leads to satisfying and well-paying jobs with lifelong career opportunities.

Nothing happens until the interested person walks in a door, dials a phone number or connects on a website. Point the finger at parenting failures, not political or public ones.

I was disappointed after I saw the outside and then they had inside photos. The outside it crazy large and out of place but at least it is pretty.

Food is right. It is really quite inexpensive for what it is. I have never been to Alabama and I am sure it has nice areas but it shows up at the bottom of lots of lists, it just does. Wikipedi ranks it 46th out of 50 for income. Houses are very reasonable. "Alabama is the eleventh-cheapest state to buy a house in. In the Cotton State, homes comprise 12.2 percent of the average household income, and home prices average $142,700" Where was that other thread about kids not being able to buy?

Outside, you worked on helicopters? Neat.

Lars, you are correct that the flood risk is high. I noticed that along with the incredibly low property taxes (compared to ours).

Owner's quote: "“We didn’t want something that was going to fall out of favor..."

No fear of that! It's already out of favor! I agree with most of what's been said, that it is way too ornate, too much like a palace or museum or public space than a home that feels cozy. The marble bath tub got me as it'd never get warm enough to be usable. But I suspect this house had nothing to do with being practical or useful. Not surprised that they want to sell it. What makes me think they're moving into a 2500 sq ft colonial???

Just to say I (and I am sure others) have been thinking about you and hope you are healing.

Thank you for your post, Lyban. Seeing something other than the huge hole left by your loved one is just a tiny reassurance that your life will still have joy. DH and I were at a poetry reading yesterday and an author read one about that "rogue wave" Annie described so well. It is still such early days for you, keep taking care of your grieving heart.

Just sending hugs your way and prayers for healing.