Hello Darklings,
Well I have been out of the loop but a lot has been happening, so where do I start.
Well we slowly took down the Halloween decorations and carefully packed them away, but then I had a leak in the hot water heater! A good thing I don't keep anything at floor level, so the water was shut off to it.
I called my plumber and he quickly came out, for some reason there was a defect in the bottom of the tank, still under warranty, so had that replaced at no cost.
Then the Washing Machine broke a belt, now try and get wet clothing out of a tub full of water and hand wring it out and bail the water out of the tub, called my appliance repair man, he replaced the belt, tested the machine, only just over $100.00. And we finished wringing the clothing, Thank Goodness the dryer was working.
Then the original refrigerator that I moved from the kitchen into the large walk in pantry died, I was a nice large side by side refrigerator freezer, but nothing was going to resurrect it, so moved most of the stuff in the freezer to my sister's and the chilled beer was left out.
The good thing is my much newer refrigerator works beautifully, so I was deciding, do I move the one in the kitchen into the pantry or install a new one in the pantry, I mean how hard is it to move a refrigerator?
Well Doyle said "Nope ain't moving it, buy a new one for the pantry and have the delivery guys handle it" so did that. Nothing fancy, a good dependable Maytag refrigerator, plain white, and energy efficient.
With all this happening my brother and sister-in-law said "Thanksgiving at our house!" What a relief! So Sis and I brought side dishes while the main feast was cooked at my brother's house, and relatives and children all over the place, Thank goodness my brother has a "Man Cave" for the children, that way we could cook and set up without worry. And everything was delicious.
My brother yelled up from below that Santa Had Arrived so Christmas is now officially here. A flash of memory went through my mind of all those Thanksgivings when Dad and my Uncles would watch the Macy's parade with my brother and a couple of nephews, and Mom, Grandma, a couple of Aunts, Sis and I would set up the table and then Dad would call out "Santa arrived!!! You ladies can go Christmas shopping!!" And Mom and Grandma would roll their eyes. But it never gets old.
The next day, my sister in law, Coraline, Christopher, Sis and myself we went to the Dickens Fair, I had to use a cane and rest a lot because my leg muscle is still weak but still it was so enjoyable, seeing all the Dickens characters, and the entertainments, and all the lovely things to buy, Coraline and Chris were wearing Dickens finery thanks to an on line shop called "Recollections" and the children were having fun researching how to behave in a proper Victorian manner. We are going back for one more weekend to see what we've might have missed. But the scent of spices and baking and cinnamon buns, and hot tea, and watching scenes from some of the Dickens novels. It does add magic to the season.
Christmas dinner will be at my house, we bought the trees today, a large one for the formal parlor and a smaller one in the family parlor, bit by bit Christmas decorations have been put up, I've hired Betty full time to help me, of course the Maid Service will do the house cleaning, it's far too much for Betty to handle, but with her and I and occasionally her daughter to assist, along with the Cleaning service it's not so bad.
But last night was very difficult for me and for some of my friends and I was glad that Sis was at my house to help.
We've had a very tragic fire in town, if you Google "Oakland Ghost Ship Warehouse Fire" that will give you all the news, it seems in this Artist Collective Warehouse, where people were illegally living in, a party, some people call it a Rave, was held and a fire broke out and people were trapped, the place was a "fire ready to happen".
My artist friends, the ones I call very Ghostly, had been planning to go to this party to meet someone there but for them luck was on their side, they didn't get there til nearly midnight when the fire was at it's height, their friend was fine but she couldn't find someone that she met there that my artist friends knew, only today did they find out this person had died in the fire. They were grief stricken.
My artist friends didn't know for the last few days, where to go or who to talk to to process their grief, the memorials and areas of prayer didn't seem to assuage their feelings, so they came to my house, I think the warmth of the house, the candles burning in the fireplace, the Christmas decorations and the hot lemon ginger tea helped them, I let them talk and talk, even if they were going over it again and again it helped them process it.
They told me that a few weeks ago they were looking for cheap space to rent to do some of their larger works and had checked it out, at first it appeared enchanting but then when they looked closer, well as she told it to me it was like seeing something that's beautiful on the surface but it hides the decay and rot underneath. They didn't feel comfortable about it. They weren't even sure about going to this party so they kept putting off going there and it seems their feeling was right.
He kept saying it was a monster of flame, devouring all that was inside, people crying and calling out if someone had seen someone, I cannot even write down how they described what they saw. They were so upset that I put them up for the night saying they should not be alone right now.
This morning they thanked me and said they were going home to change clothing and go out among people and have breakfast, I said they were welcome to come by again if they needed to talk. I feel they will take me up on that.
I listened to them, and Belladonna and Wiener Dog cuddled next to them, I watched as they absentmindedly petted the dogs and scratched their heads, doing that seemed to relax my visitors, making them drowsy, and helped them to unwind their tensions.
Doyle was very up on the events, and would encourage them to talk, while Sis helped them go through and process the emotions they were feeling.
This morning they told me that they have idea's for their next series of art work, dealing with tragedy and monsters. I sort of questioned about it with Sis but she said it will be their way of processing their grief, and I could understand that.
We watch horror movies to be terrified but then when one sees it, in real life and know that they've lost someone in such a horrible tragedy, it is a totally different. I am going to check in with them in a few days to see how they are doing, something like this one does not get over instantly.
I'm going to have a Christmas Evening tea, I think I'll invite them, during this time of the year one should not be alone.
I have not posted about wonderfully gothic things, I did see the Dr. Strange movie and I'll talk about it in my next post.
Later Darklings
Showing posts with label fire. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fire. Show all posts
Tuesday, December 6, 2016
Saturday, September 20, 2014
Of forest fires and being heart-sick~~~~
Oh My Darklings,
I am just so heart sick about the horrible fire that is at Pollock Pines nearly Hywy 50, this leads to the south end of Lake Tahoe, it is horrible.
One of my acquaintances has a couple of vintage trailers that he was in the process of restoring, he and some of his friends were able to get up there and pull the trailers out and in the process rescued two stray dogs.
He called me this morning and asked if I knew a place where he could store them, I asked Doyle and Doyle told him of a couple of friends that had plenty of storage area in Livermore, so Doyle called them on his cell and got the O.K.
My friend said he still had the dogs so I directed him to my vet to see if they were micro-chipped and hopefully return them to their owner(s) he said they were beautiful dogs and if he can't find the owner at all he'd adopt them, they've seem to have bonded to him, won't let him out of their sight.
He told me more about the horrible loss up in that area, but said that he was vaguely acquainted with the alleged person who may have started that fire, and said he couldn't believe it might have been him, unless it was a small camp type fire that went out of control.
So he's coming by to pick up Doyle and Doyle will guide them to his friend's place and make arrangements for him.
Doyle and I were planning to take a mid-week trip to Lake Tahoe but I don't think that will happen.
Pray for rain my Darklings. We need it more than ever.
Later Darklings
I am just so heart sick about the horrible fire that is at Pollock Pines nearly Hywy 50, this leads to the south end of Lake Tahoe, it is horrible.
One of my acquaintances has a couple of vintage trailers that he was in the process of restoring, he and some of his friends were able to get up there and pull the trailers out and in the process rescued two stray dogs.
He called me this morning and asked if I knew a place where he could store them, I asked Doyle and Doyle told him of a couple of friends that had plenty of storage area in Livermore, so Doyle called them on his cell and got the O.K.
My friend said he still had the dogs so I directed him to my vet to see if they were micro-chipped and hopefully return them to their owner(s) he said they were beautiful dogs and if he can't find the owner at all he'd adopt them, they've seem to have bonded to him, won't let him out of their sight.
He told me more about the horrible loss up in that area, but said that he was vaguely acquainted with the alleged person who may have started that fire, and said he couldn't believe it might have been him, unless it was a small camp type fire that went out of control.
So he's coming by to pick up Doyle and Doyle will guide them to his friend's place and make arrangements for him.
Doyle and I were planning to take a mid-week trip to Lake Tahoe but I don't think that will happen.
Pray for rain my Darklings. We need it more than ever.
Later Darklings
Thursday, March 13, 2014
AAArrrrrgggghhhhh!!!!!! and a Fire in San Francisco and Hannibal~~~
Well Darklings,
I am frustrated, extremely so.... my poor computer is ready for "The Boneyard", impossible to upgrade, parts of it are deteriorating, and not able to really replace so I'll have to buy a new system. Except for my printer, which is only 6 months old none of the other components will work with a new system.
What it is is that my system is so old that with it working with internet explorer is total garbage, cranky-slow-frustrating. So to do research my IT person installed Google Crome as a stop gap, BUT I have to go to internet explore to bring up my e-mail and to do any postings with blog.spot because for some reason with my system Google Crome won't give me what I need to get into it, parts disappear.
So for research or to go to facebook its google chrome, but for e-mails and blogspot its internet explorer but to not make internet explorer my default. Oy Vey!!! Talk about a Rube Goldberg system.
But not having to go to work for the last few days (and tomorrow) Doyle and I have been looking for what I need, Oh decisions, decisions----I don't need anything fancy, but everything has Windows 8, which I'm told is really not a bad thing, but I'll be seeing a whole new screen to get use to. Oh can my Model T-Ford Brain keep up with all the Ferrari's???? Well if I can crank it up a little.
But I've been looking a some tower types one even had 1Terra bit of ram----but do I need that much???
Until the IT sales person said that maybe I should look at an "all in one" save the cost of the monitor, don't have to "freak out" about wi-fi, eliminate the tower, don't have to buy a camera or speakers...HuuuHHHH???? Says I.
Well he showed it to us, and yes it's all in one, all built into the monitor, wired keyboard and mouse, camera in the frame and speakers same way, can increase RAM to 8 GB's from 4 GB's, no tower, with plug in's for UB and digital camera and my router and could convert to wi-fi, would install Microsoft word without installation costs, MacAfee virus protection, has DVD and CD player recorder, they will take out all the trial stuff and those aps I don't need, compatable with my current printer.
All for 1/2 what I was looking at. Doyle was mentally hopping from one foot to the other like Homer Simpson (he's too dignified to do it in real time), so I said "Wrap it up!" But I have to wait a bit while they do what they have to do to it to make it completely mine, so I should have a new system by next monday at the latest. So its a birthday present to myself, a bit early. Well Doyle is going to chip in for half, the Darling.
So that is that....
And after all that excitment that Doyle went through the other Day, what happened was a horrible 5 alarm fire occured in China Basin area of San Francisco, this has been going through some serious redevelopment with apartments with busiensses on the ground floors, one of the new buildings under construction (9 stories tall) caught fire, they are not sure what happened only the good thing is that it occured after all the construction workers had left for the day.
Doyle was visiting a client at his apartment around the block from where the new constrution was when they heard a commontion in the halls, people evacuating from the west side of the building this was the side that was facing the fire, Doyle encouraged his client to grab the important papers and they left the building, quickly and felt a tremendous heat, Doyle saw the smoke rising over the buildings, he and his client walked East, away, Doyle was glad he had taken a taxi to the client's place, what they saw was an inferno from hell, as a matter of fact it was call the San Francisco Inferno. At a safe distance Doyle and his client watched the fire, no loss of life, two firemen received minor injuries, one car was partially melted, the glass windows on the West side facing the fire buckled and cracked. But damaged to the occupied apartments and the businesses was kept to a minimum, which itself is a miracle.
What the fire dept did was create a wall of water to prevent the heat and any embers from setting the near by buildings on fire, some embers did land on a roof top but was quickly put out.
Everyone was evacuated at least over night including Doyle's client, Doyle called for a taxi and set his client up in a hotel for a few days until the O.K. was given for tennants to return, the one's who live on the west side of the building will have to stay away for a few days while crews continue to put out hot spots still burning even as I type this, and also because they are demolishing the building and all it's melted metal scaffoling. Doyle said that it was terrifying to see a wall of flames from that 9 story building, and the S.F. Fire Department did a heroic job getting everyone out and saving the already occupied buildings.
When he came home, I sat him down and gave him a bottle of one of his chilled Ale's and said "Rest, don't think, just rest."
That day while he was escaping from a fire I was doing my jury duty stint, Oh sitting there, waiting to be called to a court room, then going to the court room and waiting while everyone gets together, and then waiting to be called as a prospective juror, finally they came to me, and asked me a few questions, one of which was "Do you own a gun" "Yes" I replied "And I'm a member of the NRA" ---- Dismissed and Thank you, you have done your Jury Service for the year....Thank yu, Thak yu vry much.... totally shot my day, it was a murder...would have loved to have been on that jury. Oh well picked up some goodies at a very good Deli that I like and had an easy time for cooking, while waiting on the outcome of my ancient computer.
So my ancient computer has been cleaned up and will work for a little while, I'll retire it to do word processing until it finally gives up the ghost, maybe I'll have Coralline use it for her homework when she has to write out reports and essays, much better than waiting to use my computer. Yes that would be a very good thing.
I don't know if any of you have been watching "Hannibal" but frankly its getting a little too grusome even for me, I know I will never allow Coralline or her friends watch it, the convolutions and psychological aspects are to the point of beyond bizarre but just short of perverison or maybe not. We record it to watch at a later date as Doyle likes "Blue Bloods", and then watch it early enough in an evening to discuss what its all about but after dinner for sure, of course we love "Blacklist", but it conflicts with "Castle" so that is recorded as well, we enjoy the psychological aspects of situations but we tried "The Following" and found that it really wasn't going anywhere, and boring, why its still on is a mystery to us. But "Hannibal"....I just do not have the words for it except that Gillian Anderson's character said it that he is too dangerous, only with the divider of the Televison screen can we be safe, but what of those in the outside world. That is where "Hannibal" becomes disturbing. For anyone.
Now I must go and prepare the salad for tonight's dinner. The weather is a bit warm right now, the fake mulberry trees with their clusters of white flowers are in full bloom, to the point where the light breeze has the petals falling like fine snowflakes, in a spring wonderland, Mom and Dad were married at the time the Snowball Trees or bushes would bloom and their petals would fall like snowflakes, We have a picture of them in front of such a huge bush all the white blooms, surrounding and arching above them, a lovely wedding picture. When I see the flowers blooming now I'm reminded of that, and feel a lightness of being.
Later Darklings
I am frustrated, extremely so.... my poor computer is ready for "The Boneyard", impossible to upgrade, parts of it are deteriorating, and not able to really replace so I'll have to buy a new system. Except for my printer, which is only 6 months old none of the other components will work with a new system.
What it is is that my system is so old that with it working with internet explorer is total garbage, cranky-slow-frustrating. So to do research my IT person installed Google Crome as a stop gap, BUT I have to go to internet explore to bring up my e-mail and to do any postings with blog.spot because for some reason with my system Google Crome won't give me what I need to get into it, parts disappear.
So for research or to go to facebook its google chrome, but for e-mails and blogspot its internet explorer but to not make internet explorer my default. Oy Vey!!! Talk about a Rube Goldberg system.
But not having to go to work for the last few days (and tomorrow) Doyle and I have been looking for what I need, Oh decisions, decisions----I don't need anything fancy, but everything has Windows 8, which I'm told is really not a bad thing, but I'll be seeing a whole new screen to get use to. Oh can my Model T-Ford Brain keep up with all the Ferrari's???? Well if I can crank it up a little.
But I've been looking a some tower types one even had 1Terra bit of ram----but do I need that much???
Until the IT sales person said that maybe I should look at an "all in one" save the cost of the monitor, don't have to "freak out" about wi-fi, eliminate the tower, don't have to buy a camera or speakers...HuuuHHHH???? Says I.
Well he showed it to us, and yes it's all in one, all built into the monitor, wired keyboard and mouse, camera in the frame and speakers same way, can increase RAM to 8 GB's from 4 GB's, no tower, with plug in's for UB and digital camera and my router and could convert to wi-fi, would install Microsoft word without installation costs, MacAfee virus protection, has DVD and CD player recorder, they will take out all the trial stuff and those aps I don't need, compatable with my current printer.
All for 1/2 what I was looking at. Doyle was mentally hopping from one foot to the other like Homer Simpson (he's too dignified to do it in real time), so I said "Wrap it up!" But I have to wait a bit while they do what they have to do to it to make it completely mine, so I should have a new system by next monday at the latest. So its a birthday present to myself, a bit early. Well Doyle is going to chip in for half, the Darling.
So that is that....
And after all that excitment that Doyle went through the other Day, what happened was a horrible 5 alarm fire occured in China Basin area of San Francisco, this has been going through some serious redevelopment with apartments with busiensses on the ground floors, one of the new buildings under construction (9 stories tall) caught fire, they are not sure what happened only the good thing is that it occured after all the construction workers had left for the day.
Doyle was visiting a client at his apartment around the block from where the new constrution was when they heard a commontion in the halls, people evacuating from the west side of the building this was the side that was facing the fire, Doyle encouraged his client to grab the important papers and they left the building, quickly and felt a tremendous heat, Doyle saw the smoke rising over the buildings, he and his client walked East, away, Doyle was glad he had taken a taxi to the client's place, what they saw was an inferno from hell, as a matter of fact it was call the San Francisco Inferno. At a safe distance Doyle and his client watched the fire, no loss of life, two firemen received minor injuries, one car was partially melted, the glass windows on the West side facing the fire buckled and cracked. But damaged to the occupied apartments and the businesses was kept to a minimum, which itself is a miracle.
What the fire dept did was create a wall of water to prevent the heat and any embers from setting the near by buildings on fire, some embers did land on a roof top but was quickly put out.
Everyone was evacuated at least over night including Doyle's client, Doyle called for a taxi and set his client up in a hotel for a few days until the O.K. was given for tennants to return, the one's who live on the west side of the building will have to stay away for a few days while crews continue to put out hot spots still burning even as I type this, and also because they are demolishing the building and all it's melted metal scaffoling. Doyle said that it was terrifying to see a wall of flames from that 9 story building, and the S.F. Fire Department did a heroic job getting everyone out and saving the already occupied buildings.
When he came home, I sat him down and gave him a bottle of one of his chilled Ale's and said "Rest, don't think, just rest."
That day while he was escaping from a fire I was doing my jury duty stint, Oh sitting there, waiting to be called to a court room, then going to the court room and waiting while everyone gets together, and then waiting to be called as a prospective juror, finally they came to me, and asked me a few questions, one of which was "Do you own a gun" "Yes" I replied "And I'm a member of the NRA" ---- Dismissed and Thank you, you have done your Jury Service for the year....Thank yu, Thak yu vry much.... totally shot my day, it was a murder...would have loved to have been on that jury. Oh well picked up some goodies at a very good Deli that I like and had an easy time for cooking, while waiting on the outcome of my ancient computer.
So my ancient computer has been cleaned up and will work for a little while, I'll retire it to do word processing until it finally gives up the ghost, maybe I'll have Coralline use it for her homework when she has to write out reports and essays, much better than waiting to use my computer. Yes that would be a very good thing.
I don't know if any of you have been watching "Hannibal" but frankly its getting a little too grusome even for me, I know I will never allow Coralline or her friends watch it, the convolutions and psychological aspects are to the point of beyond bizarre but just short of perverison or maybe not. We record it to watch at a later date as Doyle likes "Blue Bloods", and then watch it early enough in an evening to discuss what its all about but after dinner for sure, of course we love "Blacklist", but it conflicts with "Castle" so that is recorded as well, we enjoy the psychological aspects of situations but we tried "The Following" and found that it really wasn't going anywhere, and boring, why its still on is a mystery to us. But "Hannibal"....I just do not have the words for it except that Gillian Anderson's character said it that he is too dangerous, only with the divider of the Televison screen can we be safe, but what of those in the outside world. That is where "Hannibal" becomes disturbing. For anyone.
Now I must go and prepare the salad for tonight's dinner. The weather is a bit warm right now, the fake mulberry trees with their clusters of white flowers are in full bloom, to the point where the light breeze has the petals falling like fine snowflakes, in a spring wonderland, Mom and Dad were married at the time the Snowball Trees or bushes would bloom and their petals would fall like snowflakes, We have a picture of them in front of such a huge bush all the white blooms, surrounding and arching above them, a lovely wedding picture. When I see the flowers blooming now I'm reminded of that, and feel a lightness of being.
Later Darklings
Tuesday, September 10, 2013
Of Fire and Wine, the Munster House and Food paired with movies~~~~
I know Darklings, what a strange combination.
But at the moment I have those things upper most in my mind.
First let me speak of wine, yesterday evening a friend of mine came by to drop off a surprise present to me. In was in "thanks" for a favor I had been able to do for him, I told him it was not necessary to give a gift, but he was very appreciative and because of this favor it had helped him immensely.
And what was the gift? Two bottles of wine "Bewitched" Pinoe Noir 2010 (very hard to find right now) and "Bewitched" Chardonay, these wines come wrapped in a 'bewitching' wrapper which includes suggestions as to what meals to pair the wines with. I had the Pinoe Noir last year and found it very flavorful and wonderfully complex 4 out of 5 stars in my book. I've not had the Chardonay but we will. My friend also gave me a bottle of "Curious Beasts" Red, he knows I am intrigued by wines with bizarre names, and to have it in my Apothecaria (wine celler) on display and waiting would intrigue any curious person.
After giving his gifts we made arrangements to have dinner sometime soon before he leaves town on business. It's good to have friends like that.
Since I know that the Pinon Noir is hard to find, if I like the Bewitched Chardonay and the Curious Beast I will stock up. Doyle misses the Beer that was served with the Elvira label although I did keep the six pack and empty bottles and have them on display in the Apothecaria as part of the "dead and gone".
On a side note, the family in Texas (I believe they are the McKee family) that build a duplicate of the Munster house will be having their annual Munster halloween tour, one weekend only, to raise money for charity, I mean a family going through all 70 espisodes of the Munsters, hunting photo's, counting steps to get an idea of size, is very dedicated, they even have a "Spot" under the stair case. I wish we could go and take a tour but alas not to be, at least this year, who know about next. I will include a link for it for those who may have the chance.
And now about the fires, at last notice the Yosemite Rim Fire is about 80 percent contained and they may have it completely out by the end of this month. Already conservationists are moving in to see what can be done to prevent irrosion, Yosemite itself has been spared, but it was very devestating.
And speaking of devestation, we have our own local wildfire on Mt. Diablo, approx 30 miles east of us, the fire started accidently, a spark from a chain from a tow truck, that is how dry everything is, they are calling it the Morgan fire because it began on Morgan road, people have evacuated their homes, moved their animals including horses out of the area, for some people near the community of Clayton, they only had a few minutes, for one man he had time to grab his wallet and keys and drive out. Some people driving to Walnut Creek at night said that the mountain looked like a valcano, I've included some shots of it.
At this time I've heard that it's 45 percent contained but the air quaility is affected.
Everything all around is so tinder dry and flamable, even around our own homes, I've had my gardener make sure to remove all the dry brush from those flowers that have withered, and I am concerned about the firewood that I have stacked to the rear of the property, all it would take is some evil person sneaking in and doing malicious mischief. I'm glad Doyle put in those sensor lights and motion camera's.
Our only concern is our local 'crazy person' but he's been quiet lately, rumor has it that family members are looking into ways to have him removed and put into a sort of half-way house. As I understand it, the father is not in very good health and its too much for the Mother to care for him, family members have been coming over to help out, even staying the night, everyone rotating, I'm glad that the mother has such a positive supportive family. And considering how the family members saw how our Crazy was acting out to the point that it required 6 police officers, they know they have to do something. That is why I'm holding off on the Restraining Order.
Doyle went out and purchased several skeletons from Spirit, he's really getting into the "spirit" of Halloween, he has ideas for less frightening displays, I'm not going to stop him. I've done my own personal shopping and bought a new pair of fangs, and tonight after dinner I'm going to put on Revlon's "Devil's Lure" I'm so glad I bought two bottles when I had the chance. I also have a gloss by Revlon called "Forbidden" so I am prepared and looking forward towards Halloween.
And now the timer on the crock pot has gone off, I'm cooking something very mundane, Beef Stew, to be served over rice, a simple salad with ice berg lettuce and pomogrante dressing, Doyle will chose the wine, but for desert, mango sherbert with dried cranberries or vanilla ice cream with a topping of preserved apricot haves with their syrup, to be followed by one possibly two Noir Films and coffee. And what would go with Beef Stew? Hmmm "The House on 92nd street" and "Calling Northside 777".
Doyle thinks we should pair our movies with food, for example if we have spagettie we should watch a spagettie Western afterwards, if it's chilli then "Blazing Saddles", if it's steak then a "James Bond" film or other spy movies. Do you see what I'm getting at Darklings.
So what would go with Pizza and jug red wine or milk shake (ewu what a combination) well I'm thinking "Dr. Goldfoot and the Girl Bombs" or "The Ghost and Mr. Chicken"---no that should be with chicken wings. Well you get the idea.
But still even I like the idea of pair food with a movie, one does have to get creative, and speaking of creative I am soooo looking forward to the T.V. primer of "Sleepy Hollow" the idea of it sends darkish shivers up and down my spine. Hmmmm I wonder what food would go with that? Something I'll have to think upon.
Later Darklings
But at the moment I have those things upper most in my mind.
First let me speak of wine, yesterday evening a friend of mine came by to drop off a surprise present to me. In was in "thanks" for a favor I had been able to do for him, I told him it was not necessary to give a gift, but he was very appreciative and because of this favor it had helped him immensely.
And what was the gift? Two bottles of wine "Bewitched" Pinoe Noir 2010 (very hard to find right now) and "Bewitched" Chardonay, these wines come wrapped in a 'bewitching' wrapper which includes suggestions as to what meals to pair the wines with. I had the Pinoe Noir last year and found it very flavorful and wonderfully complex 4 out of 5 stars in my book. I've not had the Chardonay but we will. My friend also gave me a bottle of "Curious Beasts" Red, he knows I am intrigued by wines with bizarre names, and to have it in my Apothecaria (wine celler) on display and waiting would intrigue any curious person.
After giving his gifts we made arrangements to have dinner sometime soon before he leaves town on business. It's good to have friends like that.
Since I know that the Pinon Noir is hard to find, if I like the Bewitched Chardonay and the Curious Beast I will stock up. Doyle misses the Beer that was served with the Elvira label although I did keep the six pack and empty bottles and have them on display in the Apothecaria as part of the "dead and gone".
On a side note, the family in Texas (I believe they are the McKee family) that build a duplicate of the Munster house will be having their annual Munster halloween tour, one weekend only, to raise money for charity, I mean a family going through all 70 espisodes of the Munsters, hunting photo's, counting steps to get an idea of size, is very dedicated, they even have a "Spot" under the stair case. I wish we could go and take a tour but alas not to be, at least this year, who know about next. I will include a link for it for those who may have the chance.
And now about the fires, at last notice the Yosemite Rim Fire is about 80 percent contained and they may have it completely out by the end of this month. Already conservationists are moving in to see what can be done to prevent irrosion, Yosemite itself has been spared, but it was very devestating.
And speaking of devestation, we have our own local wildfire on Mt. Diablo, approx 30 miles east of us, the fire started accidently, a spark from a chain from a tow truck, that is how dry everything is, they are calling it the Morgan fire because it began on Morgan road, people have evacuated their homes, moved their animals including horses out of the area, for some people near the community of Clayton, they only had a few minutes, for one man he had time to grab his wallet and keys and drive out. Some people driving to Walnut Creek at night said that the mountain looked like a valcano, I've included some shots of it.
At this time I've heard that it's 45 percent contained but the air quaility is affected.
Everything all around is so tinder dry and flamable, even around our own homes, I've had my gardener make sure to remove all the dry brush from those flowers that have withered, and I am concerned about the firewood that I have stacked to the rear of the property, all it would take is some evil person sneaking in and doing malicious mischief. I'm glad Doyle put in those sensor lights and motion camera's.
Our only concern is our local 'crazy person' but he's been quiet lately, rumor has it that family members are looking into ways to have him removed and put into a sort of half-way house. As I understand it, the father is not in very good health and its too much for the Mother to care for him, family members have been coming over to help out, even staying the night, everyone rotating, I'm glad that the mother has such a positive supportive family. And considering how the family members saw how our Crazy was acting out to the point that it required 6 police officers, they know they have to do something. That is why I'm holding off on the Restraining Order.
Doyle went out and purchased several skeletons from Spirit, he's really getting into the "spirit" of Halloween, he has ideas for less frightening displays, I'm not going to stop him. I've done my own personal shopping and bought a new pair of fangs, and tonight after dinner I'm going to put on Revlon's "Devil's Lure" I'm so glad I bought two bottles when I had the chance. I also have a gloss by Revlon called "Forbidden" so I am prepared and looking forward towards Halloween.
And now the timer on the crock pot has gone off, I'm cooking something very mundane, Beef Stew, to be served over rice, a simple salad with ice berg lettuce and pomogrante dressing, Doyle will chose the wine, but for desert, mango sherbert with dried cranberries or vanilla ice cream with a topping of preserved apricot haves with their syrup, to be followed by one possibly two Noir Films and coffee. And what would go with Beef Stew? Hmmm "The House on 92nd street" and "Calling Northside 777".
Doyle thinks we should pair our movies with food, for example if we have spagettie we should watch a spagettie Western afterwards, if it's chilli then "Blazing Saddles", if it's steak then a "James Bond" film or other spy movies. Do you see what I'm getting at Darklings.
So what would go with Pizza and jug red wine or milk shake (ewu what a combination) well I'm thinking "Dr. Goldfoot and the Girl Bombs" or "The Ghost and Mr. Chicken"---no that should be with chicken wings. Well you get the idea.
But still even I like the idea of pair food with a movie, one does have to get creative, and speaking of creative I am soooo looking forward to the T.V. primer of "Sleepy Hollow" the idea of it sends darkish shivers up and down my spine. Hmmmm I wonder what food would go with that? Something I'll have to think upon.
Later Darklings
 |
| This is the fire on the rim of Mt. Diablo |
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Of Progress on Kitchen Fire Repairs~~~
Hello My Darklings,
Just a brief post, the workmen started at 8 a.m. today and are moving very quickly and efficiently, time line as to when things will be done is hard to say, but they are shooting for us to have hot water tonight, as Coralline and Miranda would say "Whoo Hooo!!!"
To Underground for Tea (I hope I have your name right) yes we too are glad no one was hurt, Doyles' firemen friends although retired, their training kicked in and everyone kept their heads, I think the spirit of my Great-Aunt was working with them. I'm also glad that you found the description of my reactions so funny, now that I've had a chance to reflect upon it yes it was funny. Sis said to me that she had not realized how "powerful" I could be when riled. I told her it was a good thing that common sense prevailed or there would have been a massacre.
To Rebecca I do recommend having a Spa weekend at least once a year, save up for it, it is your time to indulge and have "Me Time", if you can afford to do mini-spa treatments do that as well, like a hand massage it is worth it and I have the names of two vintage Stove shops here in the Bay Area so I think I will have very good luck in finding the right stove for the house.
Now for all of you who enjoy Fashion and Nails I plan on posting that later on in the week, and I know some of you have been asking about the Artist Reception that Sis and I attended that too will be posted. And I've had a couple of you ask about the story of our older brother that also will be posted, but I need to reflect upon it more.
Right now I am going over to my neighbors house to enjoy their shower, Sis returned just now and she'll be leaving to see a client of hers and the workmen are busy on the job, Belladonna is at my elderly neighbor being properly spoiled and Doyle and Hank have their heads together about were to best purchase the bead board or tongue and groove boarding for the kitchen and would it be possible to salvage or replace the tin ceiling portion over the stove. Good thing I told the insurance man that my insurance is hefty because of the historical architectural significance of the house, so it is important to properly restore it.
Must go.
Later Darklings
Just a brief post, the workmen started at 8 a.m. today and are moving very quickly and efficiently, time line as to when things will be done is hard to say, but they are shooting for us to have hot water tonight, as Coralline and Miranda would say "Whoo Hooo!!!"
To Underground for Tea (I hope I have your name right) yes we too are glad no one was hurt, Doyles' firemen friends although retired, their training kicked in and everyone kept their heads, I think the spirit of my Great-Aunt was working with them. I'm also glad that you found the description of my reactions so funny, now that I've had a chance to reflect upon it yes it was funny. Sis said to me that she had not realized how "powerful" I could be when riled. I told her it was a good thing that common sense prevailed or there would have been a massacre.
To Rebecca I do recommend having a Spa weekend at least once a year, save up for it, it is your time to indulge and have "Me Time", if you can afford to do mini-spa treatments do that as well, like a hand massage it is worth it and I have the names of two vintage Stove shops here in the Bay Area so I think I will have very good luck in finding the right stove for the house.
Now for all of you who enjoy Fashion and Nails I plan on posting that later on in the week, and I know some of you have been asking about the Artist Reception that Sis and I attended that too will be posted. And I've had a couple of you ask about the story of our older brother that also will be posted, but I need to reflect upon it more.
Right now I am going over to my neighbors house to enjoy their shower, Sis returned just now and she'll be leaving to see a client of hers and the workmen are busy on the job, Belladonna is at my elderly neighbor being properly spoiled and Doyle and Hank have their heads together about were to best purchase the bead board or tongue and groove boarding for the kitchen and would it be possible to salvage or replace the tin ceiling portion over the stove. Good thing I told the insurance man that my insurance is hefty because of the historical architectural significance of the house, so it is important to properly restore it.
Must go.
Later Darklings
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Of Updates on my Kitchen fire and other things~~~~
Well Darklings,
Yesterday the insurance man came by and he and my friend Hank the contractor went over things, all I could do was hover and make a comment or two or express my personal concerns.
Because the washing machine and the stove was already in the house when I moved in, it was hard to determine a value of replacement, the dryer was no problem I had the bill for that and it wasn't that old.
They factor in depreciation as well, which is a bit dis-heartening, but its just to give you enough money to get the basic things, not all the "whistles and bells". It was also discovered that the walls in the basement laundry room will have to be replaced since they were sheet rock.
The cost of the work to fix up the kitchen will be covered as well as the clean up which is good, so it will go into a fund and then bills submitted will be paid out of that fund to avoid any fraud. Hanks' been through this process before and said for me to not worry.
Today Hank assigned a two man team to start clean up and repairs and he covered the old stove that was outside with a plastic tarp to discourage scavenging. The burn wood that was out side has been removed already.
The workmen are Hispanic and I had fun with one of them, he got confused as to where the downstairs bathroom is, the portajohn had not arrived yet, so I see him in the hall and he's looking at the mounted Lion's Head. Now one of my sister's friends have rigged "Kitty Kat" to roar either by stepping on a stair tread, or if you get to close to the head it breaks a circuit, and Sis had set it up for the latter.
Out of curiosity He gets close to the Lion's head and triggered Kitty Kat to roar, I saw him jump nearly 10 feet off the ground, he stares at it then I come up behind him without him knowing and said "Oh I'm sorry if Kitty Kat frightened you, he usually warns strangers to be careful" Well the poor man nearly fainted and said in his best Spanish his apologies, I showed him where the downstairs bathroom was located.
Later I heard him say to his co-worker about what Kitty Kat did and that La Senora must be very brave to deal with El Diablo. Needless to say they were very happy when the Portajohn was in place.
Hank just came by to see the progress and if the damage was more extensive then planned. He privately told me that his workers are now afraid to go into the rest of the house except the area's to work on, they think its haunted. I asked him if he thought it was, he just grinned and said "I'm planning on bringing my little grandkids here for Halloween, if you can get Kitty-Kat to roar for them and if they can take a tour of your house when you have it decorated, it will be a kick for them." He said he knew where to find a stuffed swordfish like the one in the Addams Family "All I have to find is a manikin leg and a flipper" I have a feeling he's getting into the 'spirit' of the house.
Louise has checked the rest of the house for soot and it did get into the breakfast nook, and a bit into the dinning room, she said she'll have her daughter come with her tomorrow to help with cleaning the soot, but I told her that I have a cleaning service as well, she said that what is in the kitchen and the breakfast nook is beyond the cleaning service. So we came to an agreement on it and I'm glad that she can help me, if there is other cleaning problems I'll talk to my cleaning service and we'll go from there.
I'm going to be carefully saving a lot of submitted billing.
Doyle is going to treat all of us to dinner tonight, but we also figured that we can buy Deli things that can be heated in the microwave and a lot of salads as well. Tomorrow we'll check the plates and glassware to see if they need to be washed, Doyle bought a hot plate to heat water for dish washing and face washing, my neighbor has been generous to allow us to use their shower until our gas line is turned on. Hank said that will happen tomorrow, once the new gas line is installed in the kitchen with its new shut off valve.
So Hot Water by tomorrow evening. We'll all be very happy.
I just found out that the deceased Boston Bombers body was buried in a Muslim cemetery in Virginia thanks to the efforts of a Christian woman, many people are not happy about that. It is their feeling that such a person to willfully cause such harm should not be entitled to a proper burial, for fear that others will create him to be a martyr. Only in sick minds would that happen, but then there are sick people out there.
The mummified head that was found in an Oakland recycling center is being treated as a homicide but where it came from is a puzzlement until the deceased can be I.D'ed, which could take some time.
The two women who were burned in the Limo fire, one has been release and the other's condition has been upgraded to good.
My sister has shown me photo's that she received via e-mail of her grand daughter's prom picture, so beautiful and she and her date and their friends went to the prom with an adult escort in a white stretch Limo, so beautiful and so elegant, all had a wonderful time. Sis had tears in her eyes, yes they do grow up so quickly. And we received word that Sis's other daughter is expecting a baby in October maybe around October 31st. That would be such a "hoot!" if that were to happen, but babies will come when they want to come. Sis is excited, another grandbaby to spoil.
Oakland has now had three police chiefs in as many days, I sincerely hope the current one stays the course, but It all depends on the Mayor and the Mayor's office letting the Chief do what he can to implement the recommendations as suggested in the Bratton report, and not interfering as she has been doing. I did not vote for her as I felt she would not be effective and I was right.
I am having a laugh about the newly designed eastern span of the bay bridge and their support bolts problems, I said to Doyle that the design was too radical for that location and I felt that something would go wrong and I was right again, as much as I hate to say it I will never feel safe going over that new bridge, something inside of me says its going to 'fail'. Am I being morbid? Of course I am. The old bridge only failed at the one spot that the early bridge designers said was the weakest spot the rest of it held up. Now they are building a new bridge where everything can fail.
It is just like these so-called yachts that are racing in the America's cup races, they are NOT yachts but catamarans, and I've seen them tip on a turn on one pon-toon, catamarans are not for racing not with over size sails that make the catamarans top heavy and can over balance them. And it seems that the Americas Cup has a rule in which the winner of the previous race can state which type of boat should be raced and the idiot has suggested these designs which were designed on computers not on proven water conditions, no wonder they've had several boats smashed and broken and one of their sailors drown. I feel that rule should be changed so that people on the Americas cup board should make the rules of what type of boat and certain limitations, not those that hurt and kill people. Maybe the wife of the sailor that drowned should sue last years winner for making such dangerous suggestions and the Americas Cup for allowing it.
Doyle says at least its not like NASCAR or the Indy 500 where parts of the car could go into the stands and hurt people. I won't argue with him, he's in deep enough trouble.
Doyle will be home for the next few days which is good, he can co-ordinate with his friends about what to do with the old washer and dryer. Sis has the phone number and address of the shop that sells restored vintage stoves, tonight after dinner we'll measure the space and then measure the old stove and get an idea of what will fit.
My next posts will be about other things that I have been planning to write about, until another day, now I'm going to first pick up Belladonna, she has been at the Doggie Hotel far too long, she'll think her Mommy abandon her.
Later Darklings
Yesterday the insurance man came by and he and my friend Hank the contractor went over things, all I could do was hover and make a comment or two or express my personal concerns.
Because the washing machine and the stove was already in the house when I moved in, it was hard to determine a value of replacement, the dryer was no problem I had the bill for that and it wasn't that old.
They factor in depreciation as well, which is a bit dis-heartening, but its just to give you enough money to get the basic things, not all the "whistles and bells". It was also discovered that the walls in the basement laundry room will have to be replaced since they were sheet rock.
The cost of the work to fix up the kitchen will be covered as well as the clean up which is good, so it will go into a fund and then bills submitted will be paid out of that fund to avoid any fraud. Hanks' been through this process before and said for me to not worry.
Today Hank assigned a two man team to start clean up and repairs and he covered the old stove that was outside with a plastic tarp to discourage scavenging. The burn wood that was out side has been removed already.
The workmen are Hispanic and I had fun with one of them, he got confused as to where the downstairs bathroom is, the portajohn had not arrived yet, so I see him in the hall and he's looking at the mounted Lion's Head. Now one of my sister's friends have rigged "Kitty Kat" to roar either by stepping on a stair tread, or if you get to close to the head it breaks a circuit, and Sis had set it up for the latter.
Out of curiosity He gets close to the Lion's head and triggered Kitty Kat to roar, I saw him jump nearly 10 feet off the ground, he stares at it then I come up behind him without him knowing and said "Oh I'm sorry if Kitty Kat frightened you, he usually warns strangers to be careful" Well the poor man nearly fainted and said in his best Spanish his apologies, I showed him where the downstairs bathroom was located.
Later I heard him say to his co-worker about what Kitty Kat did and that La Senora must be very brave to deal with El Diablo. Needless to say they were very happy when the Portajohn was in place.
Hank just came by to see the progress and if the damage was more extensive then planned. He privately told me that his workers are now afraid to go into the rest of the house except the area's to work on, they think its haunted. I asked him if he thought it was, he just grinned and said "I'm planning on bringing my little grandkids here for Halloween, if you can get Kitty-Kat to roar for them and if they can take a tour of your house when you have it decorated, it will be a kick for them." He said he knew where to find a stuffed swordfish like the one in the Addams Family "All I have to find is a manikin leg and a flipper" I have a feeling he's getting into the 'spirit' of the house.
Louise has checked the rest of the house for soot and it did get into the breakfast nook, and a bit into the dinning room, she said she'll have her daughter come with her tomorrow to help with cleaning the soot, but I told her that I have a cleaning service as well, she said that what is in the kitchen and the breakfast nook is beyond the cleaning service. So we came to an agreement on it and I'm glad that she can help me, if there is other cleaning problems I'll talk to my cleaning service and we'll go from there.
I'm going to be carefully saving a lot of submitted billing.
Doyle is going to treat all of us to dinner tonight, but we also figured that we can buy Deli things that can be heated in the microwave and a lot of salads as well. Tomorrow we'll check the plates and glassware to see if they need to be washed, Doyle bought a hot plate to heat water for dish washing and face washing, my neighbor has been generous to allow us to use their shower until our gas line is turned on. Hank said that will happen tomorrow, once the new gas line is installed in the kitchen with its new shut off valve.
So Hot Water by tomorrow evening. We'll all be very happy.
I just found out that the deceased Boston Bombers body was buried in a Muslim cemetery in Virginia thanks to the efforts of a Christian woman, many people are not happy about that. It is their feeling that such a person to willfully cause such harm should not be entitled to a proper burial, for fear that others will create him to be a martyr. Only in sick minds would that happen, but then there are sick people out there.
The mummified head that was found in an Oakland recycling center is being treated as a homicide but where it came from is a puzzlement until the deceased can be I.D'ed, which could take some time.
The two women who were burned in the Limo fire, one has been release and the other's condition has been upgraded to good.
My sister has shown me photo's that she received via e-mail of her grand daughter's prom picture, so beautiful and she and her date and their friends went to the prom with an adult escort in a white stretch Limo, so beautiful and so elegant, all had a wonderful time. Sis had tears in her eyes, yes they do grow up so quickly. And we received word that Sis's other daughter is expecting a baby in October maybe around October 31st. That would be such a "hoot!" if that were to happen, but babies will come when they want to come. Sis is excited, another grandbaby to spoil.
Oakland has now had three police chiefs in as many days, I sincerely hope the current one stays the course, but It all depends on the Mayor and the Mayor's office letting the Chief do what he can to implement the recommendations as suggested in the Bratton report, and not interfering as she has been doing. I did not vote for her as I felt she would not be effective and I was right.
I am having a laugh about the newly designed eastern span of the bay bridge and their support bolts problems, I said to Doyle that the design was too radical for that location and I felt that something would go wrong and I was right again, as much as I hate to say it I will never feel safe going over that new bridge, something inside of me says its going to 'fail'. Am I being morbid? Of course I am. The old bridge only failed at the one spot that the early bridge designers said was the weakest spot the rest of it held up. Now they are building a new bridge where everything can fail.
It is just like these so-called yachts that are racing in the America's cup races, they are NOT yachts but catamarans, and I've seen them tip on a turn on one pon-toon, catamarans are not for racing not with over size sails that make the catamarans top heavy and can over balance them. And it seems that the Americas Cup has a rule in which the winner of the previous race can state which type of boat should be raced and the idiot has suggested these designs which were designed on computers not on proven water conditions, no wonder they've had several boats smashed and broken and one of their sailors drown. I feel that rule should be changed so that people on the Americas cup board should make the rules of what type of boat and certain limitations, not those that hurt and kill people. Maybe the wife of the sailor that drowned should sue last years winner for making such dangerous suggestions and the Americas Cup for allowing it.
Doyle says at least its not like NASCAR or the Indy 500 where parts of the car could go into the stands and hurt people. I won't argue with him, he's in deep enough trouble.
Doyle will be home for the next few days which is good, he can co-ordinate with his friends about what to do with the old washer and dryer. Sis has the phone number and address of the shop that sells restored vintage stoves, tonight after dinner we'll measure the space and then measure the old stove and get an idea of what will fit.
My next posts will be about other things that I have been planning to write about, until another day, now I'm going to first pick up Belladonna, she has been at the Doggie Hotel far too long, she'll think her Mommy abandon her.
Later Darklings
Monday, May 13, 2013
Of a Kitchen fire~~~~~
Hello My Darklings (she says wearily)
I had hoped to come home in a wonderfully relaxed mood, to greet my man and my dog happily, but what met my eyes this morning as my sister’s car pulled up to the house, clutched my heart with dread.
In front of my house on the lawn, burnt, scorched, covered in the remnants of foam was my 1950’s vintage O’Keefe and Merritt Stove as well as burnt wood, and other things.
Doyle and a couple of his friends and some work men I didn’t recognize as well as my contractor friend were standing on the front porch. I saw Louise and she had a very sad but concerned look on her face.
I and Sis got out of her car and Doyle’s first words to me with a sickly smile was “Hi Honey, you’re home?” I stood on the walkway leading to my home looking at the stove and I slowly turned my head towards Doyle and in my best Ricky Ricardo voice said “Doyle, youse got sum ‘spainin’ tu do” and I could feel myself beginning to seethe. Sis said that my eyes were very big and wide and the grim look I gave Doyle would be enough to make a WWE Wrestler tremble. As a matter of fact Sis later told me that she saw Doyle’s friends and my contractor friend kind of back away in fear.
Then I asked “Where’s Belladonna??” Doyle said she was fine and staying at our favorite doggie hotel and daycare until I could claim her. I pointed to the stove and said “And this??!!” Doyle replied “Honey it was an accident and it’s a good thing my friends were here it could have been worse, it’s not too bad, really not too bad, its not bad is it Hank, tell her its not bad.”
My Doyle is a brave man having faced criminals with guns, and been in high speed chases and other dangerous things during his days as a police officer, he even is not afraid to kill an overly large spider for me (smaller ones I can deal with) but Sis told me later she had never seen a man or group of men that I was looking at, so terrified for their lives.
What happened was on Saturday afternoon, while Sis and I were enjoying our Spa treat, Doyle invited several of his friends over for lunch, he put Belladonna at the Doggie Hotel saying he’d pick her up on Monday, allowing for a Sunday hangover. He decided to not use the bar-be-que but instead broil the steaks in the broiler and he was also finishing up cooking the homemade chili(his recipe) on the stove, fortunately two of his friends were retired firemen, his buddies were outside on the back porch drinking beer and he went out to join them for a few minutes, then he smelled something burning, remarked about it and went into the kitchen to find the stove in flames.
One of his friends found the gas shut off value and shut it off, but the fire started burning the back wall, using the fire extinguishers for grease fires (we have 4 of them for just in case) they worked on the stove, while one of them got the back yard hose to use on the wall, another called 911 and between everyone including the fire department, managed to put the fire out and kept the damage to the kitchen stove area. Needless to say the food was not edible.
He and one of his firemen friends stayed in the house that night to make sure there’d be no flare ups. One concession is that one of his friends directed the Fire Department to the back of the house to the kitchen area, avoiding hoses going through the rest of the house. But there was water and fire damage in the kitchen, my laundry room below was covered in water and soot, and it looks like I’ll have to replace not only my stove but the washer and dryer. Right now the gas is shut off until it is deemed safe, so no hot water for baths or showers.
At least I still have flush toilets, and the pantry was not damaged.
I’ve called my insurance company and someone will be coming tomorrow. My contractor friend will also be here tomorrow morning and will stay until after the insurance person and I have finished our business. He said that the fire was pretty much contained to the back wall and only scorched the floor surface, so the flooring is sound, water had been pumped out of the basement and fans were running to dry it and the kitchen. He felt he could match the style of the wall (it’s called bead work) that was there, the floor would need some repair, perhaps replace some floor boards and he could match it up, the main thing is that none of the support posts were damaged, and the rest of it would be drying out, cleaning and painting and seeing about reducing or removing the burnt smell.
I’m sure as we go through things we’ll find more to clean; Louise cleaned the microwave oven, found the slow cooker and the electric frying pan as well as the microwaveable plates and said “We can still make dinner.” But Doyle said that for this evening it was going to be take out and then we’ll get a game plan together until the kitchen is up and running.
My contractor friend said he could get the gas put back on soon, once he was sure about what damage was done to the line that fed the stove, he also said he could get me an inexpensive apartment type stove (a small one) that he just removed in a remodel job that is in good working condition and once the wall and floor is fix could temporarily install it until I decide was stove I want. I do know what I want, a vintage O’Keefe and Merritt stove.
Sis said that would not be impossible and reminded me of a place not far from us that deals in restoring and selling vintage stoves, I could ask them to take this one to see if they could salvage any parts of it and buy a restored one from them. So already a game plan is coming into place. Except I am going to desire a hot shower soon, and tomorrow I’ll call the doggie hotel and inform them that I will pick up my doggie darling tomorrow in the later afternoon, tonight we’ll be sleeping with the windows wide open to avoid as much as possible the burnt smell, at least the weather is warming up.
And Doyle knows that somehow he’s in the dog house, but I can’t help but think that the fire might have happened when only I and Louise would be here in which case it could have been worse, Doyle and his friends quick actions saved my Great-Aunt’s house from becoming a complete loss, so I’m looking on the bright side of things.
But I think I’ll keep Doyle and his buddies squirming for a few days, already one of his friends came by with a 3 pound box of See’s candies and another with a bottle of excellent wine, and all of them are giving me offers of helping to remove the old damaged washer and dryer and to transport the new one’s that I’ll have my contractor install.
Sis reminded me of the time some years ago when we were having a family bar-b-que and our brother was complaining that the briquettes were not firing up and tossed a lot of lighter fluid on them, fire suddenly flared up about 5 feet in height, I started laughing and remarked about how the hair on our brother’s arm was all singed off and Dad getting the water hose because the grass underneath had caught fire and afterwards Dad bawling out our brother and our brother sputtering back “Hey Dad I could have caught on fire!” and Dad saying that it would have served him right pulling a “bone-headed stunt like that, charcoal briquettes are suppose to look like that!” and Mother threatening to hose the both of them down because of their arguing and the neighbors looking over the fence to see what was all the commotion. Fortunately no one was hurt and we all could look back on it and laugh. But I have to admit, on that particular day I did have a near panic attack, nothing like a darkly semi-dysfunctional family yelling on a Summer day.
Once the repair work is done, I’ll invite them all over to celebrate but the cooking will be done outside on the propane bar-b-que, I’m not taking any more chances. And Louise thinks that now would be a good time to have a glass of wine to relax, I agree for there is nothing like fire and soot to give that extra touch of disaster and gothicness to a victorian home. ***sigh***
Later Darklings
I had hoped to come home in a wonderfully relaxed mood, to greet my man and my dog happily, but what met my eyes this morning as my sister’s car pulled up to the house, clutched my heart with dread.
In front of my house on the lawn, burnt, scorched, covered in the remnants of foam was my 1950’s vintage O’Keefe and Merritt Stove as well as burnt wood, and other things.
Doyle and a couple of his friends and some work men I didn’t recognize as well as my contractor friend were standing on the front porch. I saw Louise and she had a very sad but concerned look on her face.
I and Sis got out of her car and Doyle’s first words to me with a sickly smile was “Hi Honey, you’re home?” I stood on the walkway leading to my home looking at the stove and I slowly turned my head towards Doyle and in my best Ricky Ricardo voice said “Doyle, youse got sum ‘spainin’ tu do” and I could feel myself beginning to seethe. Sis said that my eyes were very big and wide and the grim look I gave Doyle would be enough to make a WWE Wrestler tremble. As a matter of fact Sis later told me that she saw Doyle’s friends and my contractor friend kind of back away in fear.
Then I asked “Where’s Belladonna??” Doyle said she was fine and staying at our favorite doggie hotel and daycare until I could claim her. I pointed to the stove and said “And this??!!” Doyle replied “Honey it was an accident and it’s a good thing my friends were here it could have been worse, it’s not too bad, really not too bad, its not bad is it Hank, tell her its not bad.”
My Doyle is a brave man having faced criminals with guns, and been in high speed chases and other dangerous things during his days as a police officer, he even is not afraid to kill an overly large spider for me (smaller ones I can deal with) but Sis told me later she had never seen a man or group of men that I was looking at, so terrified for their lives.
What happened was on Saturday afternoon, while Sis and I were enjoying our Spa treat, Doyle invited several of his friends over for lunch, he put Belladonna at the Doggie Hotel saying he’d pick her up on Monday, allowing for a Sunday hangover. He decided to not use the bar-be-que but instead broil the steaks in the broiler and he was also finishing up cooking the homemade chili(his recipe) on the stove, fortunately two of his friends were retired firemen, his buddies were outside on the back porch drinking beer and he went out to join them for a few minutes, then he smelled something burning, remarked about it and went into the kitchen to find the stove in flames.
One of his friends found the gas shut off value and shut it off, but the fire started burning the back wall, using the fire extinguishers for grease fires (we have 4 of them for just in case) they worked on the stove, while one of them got the back yard hose to use on the wall, another called 911 and between everyone including the fire department, managed to put the fire out and kept the damage to the kitchen stove area. Needless to say the food was not edible.
He and one of his firemen friends stayed in the house that night to make sure there’d be no flare ups. One concession is that one of his friends directed the Fire Department to the back of the house to the kitchen area, avoiding hoses going through the rest of the house. But there was water and fire damage in the kitchen, my laundry room below was covered in water and soot, and it looks like I’ll have to replace not only my stove but the washer and dryer. Right now the gas is shut off until it is deemed safe, so no hot water for baths or showers.
At least I still have flush toilets, and the pantry was not damaged.
I’ve called my insurance company and someone will be coming tomorrow. My contractor friend will also be here tomorrow morning and will stay until after the insurance person and I have finished our business. He said that the fire was pretty much contained to the back wall and only scorched the floor surface, so the flooring is sound, water had been pumped out of the basement and fans were running to dry it and the kitchen. He felt he could match the style of the wall (it’s called bead work) that was there, the floor would need some repair, perhaps replace some floor boards and he could match it up, the main thing is that none of the support posts were damaged, and the rest of it would be drying out, cleaning and painting and seeing about reducing or removing the burnt smell.
I’m sure as we go through things we’ll find more to clean; Louise cleaned the microwave oven, found the slow cooker and the electric frying pan as well as the microwaveable plates and said “We can still make dinner.” But Doyle said that for this evening it was going to be take out and then we’ll get a game plan together until the kitchen is up and running.
My contractor friend said he could get the gas put back on soon, once he was sure about what damage was done to the line that fed the stove, he also said he could get me an inexpensive apartment type stove (a small one) that he just removed in a remodel job that is in good working condition and once the wall and floor is fix could temporarily install it until I decide was stove I want. I do know what I want, a vintage O’Keefe and Merritt stove.
Sis said that would not be impossible and reminded me of a place not far from us that deals in restoring and selling vintage stoves, I could ask them to take this one to see if they could salvage any parts of it and buy a restored one from them. So already a game plan is coming into place. Except I am going to desire a hot shower soon, and tomorrow I’ll call the doggie hotel and inform them that I will pick up my doggie darling tomorrow in the later afternoon, tonight we’ll be sleeping with the windows wide open to avoid as much as possible the burnt smell, at least the weather is warming up.
And Doyle knows that somehow he’s in the dog house, but I can’t help but think that the fire might have happened when only I and Louise would be here in which case it could have been worse, Doyle and his friends quick actions saved my Great-Aunt’s house from becoming a complete loss, so I’m looking on the bright side of things.
But I think I’ll keep Doyle and his buddies squirming for a few days, already one of his friends came by with a 3 pound box of See’s candies and another with a bottle of excellent wine, and all of them are giving me offers of helping to remove the old damaged washer and dryer and to transport the new one’s that I’ll have my contractor install.
Sis reminded me of the time some years ago when we were having a family bar-b-que and our brother was complaining that the briquettes were not firing up and tossed a lot of lighter fluid on them, fire suddenly flared up about 5 feet in height, I started laughing and remarked about how the hair on our brother’s arm was all singed off and Dad getting the water hose because the grass underneath had caught fire and afterwards Dad bawling out our brother and our brother sputtering back “Hey Dad I could have caught on fire!” and Dad saying that it would have served him right pulling a “bone-headed stunt like that, charcoal briquettes are suppose to look like that!” and Mother threatening to hose the both of them down because of their arguing and the neighbors looking over the fence to see what was all the commotion. Fortunately no one was hurt and we all could look back on it and laugh. But I have to admit, on that particular day I did have a near panic attack, nothing like a darkly semi-dysfunctional family yelling on a Summer day.
Once the repair work is done, I’ll invite them all over to celebrate but the cooking will be done outside on the propane bar-b-que, I’m not taking any more chances. And Louise thinks that now would be a good time to have a glass of wine to relax, I agree for there is nothing like fire and soot to give that extra touch of disaster and gothicness to a victorian home. ***sigh***
Later Darklings
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