A Chinese Puzzle

When I dropped one pannier yesterday, I was initially relieved that the other one hooked it so it didn't hit the ground and crush the contents.

Today tho', when I went to leave for work, I couldn't get them apart. The Geek, of course, just twisted them apart-and made it look easy.

Either way, I can use them tomorrow.

There's a Trap in the Bathroom

I wonder what kind of bait I need to catch a sink?

Spring Arrives on Velvet Toes

I have always loved pussywillows.When you combine them with pelicans soaring in the updrafts, frogs singing in the sloughs, partridges drumming,

and crocuses appearing, you know spring has made a committment for another year.

Here's to green, growing things!

DTs Explained

Delirium tremens is an acute delirium usually caused by withdrawal from alcohol or other drugs, or in our case, brotchen.

A Cure for the DTs

A few weeks ago we noticed a new bakery had opened up a few blocks south of us on St Mary's Rd. We found the name, The Crusty Bun, amusing, but thought no more of it.

Yesterday a friend sent us an email to ask if we had been to the new German bakery on St Mary's Rd.

I stopped on my way home. The brotchen are not square, but they taste pretty darn good.

YAY!!!!

Maybe I'm Not a Cynic

Maybe there are quite a few cars in the Starbucks drive-thru'. And there are another three about to join the queue. At least they haven't started to block the street.

I am SUCH a Cynic

Tomorrow is Earth Day. To celebrate, Starbucks is offering a free cup of coffee to anyone who visits with their own mug.
I can see it now. Hundredes of cars, idling their engines in the drive-through line, impeding traffic in the street, while waiting for their free cup of cafe latte.

The Tulips are (Finally) Growing

I guess the snow yesterday frightened them into making an appearance. Since we were too early for the tulips when we were in the Netherlands, it will be nice to see them here. (And I am utterly amazed by what I don't see until it is photographed. Where did that piece of cardboard come from?)

Crazy Weather

It is -2 and snowing. What is up with that?!?

The Perfect Pet...For Now

The Geek would love to have a puppy; two actually because she thinks puppies should always have playmates. She checks The Daily Puppy, well, daily.

However, since the house is usually human-less from 0600-1700, it would not be fair (or safe) to have a dog right now.

So, we have decided on cyber pets.

It gives me great pleasure to introduce to you...

Fredt

and Wuri.
No fuss. No muss. Just cute puppies.

A Few Small Touches

This strip of brass that joins the linoleum/bamboo edge came back from Germany shrink-wrapped to the poster tube. They had 8' (and 10'?) lengths as well but we couldn't figure out how to get them on the plane.The edge between the tub and the tile is caulked and the paper holder is installed. The paper holder couldn't have come at a better time. I would frequently forget to move the paper when I showered and it would get all soggy. It would then have to spend the day on the radiator to dry out. I am hoping fairly soon we can shut off the boiler, so it is a good thing that the paper has a better chance to stay dry.

You Know it is Foggy When...

You can't see the lake. And you can barely see the barn.

Other Signs of Spring

Daffodils from my sister.

Deja Vu? Well, Maybe Not

The water is higher than Wednesday, but lower than yesterday. And this part of the river is free of larger chunks of ice.
The City put out a call last night for sandbagging volunteers as ice dams were placing houses on Kingston Row and Kingston Crescent at risk. Again.
So we wandered off down the street to help sandbag. Again.The plastic is rolled out for the base of the dike. This puppy helps hold it in place until some sandbags can be put down.

We threw sandbags for a little over an hour when word came down the line that the ice dam had given way, the floodway was fully operational, and that we could all go home. At first, everyone thought that was a joke and kept passing bags. Then the message came again, so we all packed it in. And crossed to the park in the center of the street for an impromptu block party.

The Red's First Crest

The ice on the Red River, which was a smooth, flat sheet this morning, 'popped' at some point during the day leaving huge jagged pieces of ice.

The water is approaching the dikes under the Dunkirk bridge, but has already dropped about 2" from earlier today. The folks on Kingston Crescent received evacuation notices this evening but are optimistic, given the already slightly lower river, that they won't have to go anywhere. And I am extremely curious about what these two fellows, whom we saw on the Elm Park Bridge wearing flotation devices, were expecting.

Much Faster Than Sandbagging

No one was looking forward to sandbagging this low spot under the Dunkirk Bridge.
Fortunately the city is employing new technology this year.

These long tubes are filled with water (which is flowing by just meters away) and they become portable, re-usable dikes. Considering this stretch is about 250 meters long, many people are breathing a sigh of relief.

Sandbagging the Crescent

The Red River is being even more unpredictable than usual during this spring's runoff. Between the heavy snow that fell here and in North Dakota and the especially thick ice that is causing ice dams, the specialists cannot forecast how high the river will rise before the floodway can be opened.
Kingston Crescent, at the far end of Kingston Row, is especially at risk. So The Geek and I, and several hundred other volunteers sauntered over to help sandbag the lower areas.
The Geek ran into a fellow she knew from her Residence days, and there was a young fellow from the Ukraine who happens to be doing his Masters in Civil Engineering among the cast of helpers.
It was a beautiful sunny day and she and I are now both suffering from severe oxygen poisoning. We will have no trouble sleeping tonight.

April Fools' Day

I don't find this terribly funny.