GOOD THINGS I'VE LEARNED FROM OTHERS

I love learning new things and short cuts and saving money.  Every once in a while I ask friends about their favorite apps, especially the younger generation. They do EVERYTHING on their phone and scoff at boomers who have printers!  How they can fill in forms and email or pdf or png and send astounds me.  I'll do apps next week.

I first heard of cold brewed coffee while living in Maui.  I had it steamed hot because I couldn't imagine drinking cold coffee ... especially first thing in the morning.  The best benefit of cold brew coffee is lower acidity.  Then I tried it cold.  Now we make our own and I drink it cold, with cream.  Even in the winter!

Put your favorite flavor of ground coffee beans in the sieve like tube, gently pour purified water into the tube, then let rest in the fridge for at least 12 hours.  

As we ladies age, it seems hair begins growing all over our faces.  Mine started with just a mustache.  When Kate was about 8, she exclaimed "Oh cool, Mom!  I didn't 

know you could grow a mustache!"  I thought since my hair was so light, no one would notice.  Off to have it waxed away.  That is a very spendy monthly habit. 
While commiserating with a friend, she told me about a tiny facial shaver that she uses.  Keeps one in the car for when the sunshine shows one she never noticed before.  I keep mine in my bedside basket and use it a few times a week while watching Hulu.

Oxo's ground meat chopper is a miracle in our kitchen.  We eat a lot of ground meat, including chicken and turkey, and the boys do not like big chunks.  Kate and Jesse would spend 20+ minutes breaking up bits with a wooden spoon or spatula.  Oxo's device has three prongs so does the job in one third the time!

And my favorite!  Foam old time rag rollers.  I've been using these for several years.  My hair is thin and a bit wavy, but not enough to look sexy beach girl curls without a little help. These get used with my short hair and now with my pandemic long white hair.  How did I ever sleep with hard rollers???

Share one of your secret joys?

SECOND DOSE DONE

Oregon is having a week or two of summer!  From high of 50's to high of 80+.  I'd like a month of 70, one of 75, one of 80 and IF we have to, a bit higher (hope the pool gets opened this year!). But I'll take what I get.

I got my second dose of Pfizer vax Saturday afternoon about 1pm.  It's 5pm and nothing so far.  While waiting my 30 minutes after injection, a person in a car three spaces ahead of me had a reaction.  Several workers and nurses rushed over and then the emergency van arrived.  Someone left in the ambulance.  Scary.

The boys continue to do online learning but when the March report arrived, turns out the little guy was NOT doing school work ... instead he was playing the Roblox video game.  He logged in just 12 hours the whole month.  Needless to say, he had Roblox taken away for a week and now he either comes in with me or does school in the living room but screen must be visible.

He's in First Grade but is already finishing 2nd grade math and is in 3rd grade social studies and science.  Smart as a whip and it comes easy for him.  Then we have 4th grade Braeden who put in 40 hours (week off for Spring break) and did Science only one week and moved up to 5th grade.  Did only Social Studies for another week and finished up his 4th grade work.

Taken from the Grandma chair.  Deacon is furthest and notice how his blanket covers most of his screen?  Now he has to sit in the Grandma chair as the hallway is behind it ... lots of foot (and eye) traffic

I think it works way better to let kids choose their own interests, as long as they do the minimum of each subject.  We're going back to public school in September (hopefully) and it will be interesting.  Deacon cannot sit still more than 10 minutes and prefers background music.  We may have one at home and sign him up for social activities and sports.  Braeden will do just grade level unless he gets lots of encouragement.  He doesn't want to do ANY team sports ... golf or swimming for him.

Except for sharing the bathroom, this intergenerational living is still going well.

COVID - MONTH 13

 

Despite the beauty of Spring flowers, Oregon Covid cases are again increasing, so I'm back to online shopping only.  I get my second dose of Pfizer on Saturday.  The weather prediction is for sunshine all week ... a low last night of 32 and the high going to low 80's by the end of the week.  Hopefully I will be motivated into walking!

I've been using Zenni to get new glasses and decided I'd like to try prescription readers rather than the one strength fits all.  My face is aimed at my computer most of the day.  I could NOT figure out how to get reading glasses without buying a regular pair ... with the same frames!  I need reading glasses, driving glasses and computer glasses to be easily identified

After investing too much time, I used the little help chat.  Here's what he told me:

Reading Glasses

In order to get reading glasses, take the ADD number and add it to the SPH number. Enter the new total in the SPH and do this for both eyes. Remember that the CYL and AXIS don't change so enter them exactly as they are written. And reduce the PD by 3mm. If you have dual PD, reduce 1.5mm by each eye.

Computer Glasses

In order to get single vision computer glasses, take the ADD number and divide it in half. Then add the 1/2 ADD to the SPH number. Enter the new total in the SPH and do this for both eyes. Remember that the CYL and AXIS don't change so enter them exactly as they are written.

????????  I must be getting OLD.

I got my PD measurements from Costco where I used to buy my specs in person.  Covid that "in person" right out of my choices.  Zenni suggests you measure yourself in the mirror, pupil to bridge of nose or have someone measure you .... but would that be as exact as a professional with the right equipment?  I think not.  After several tries to Costco, I finally got a sympathetic ear who looked up my prescription to get the measurement.

Can you imagine when Zenni gave me these two formulas???  First I had to learn which was left and which was right on the prescription ... they are Latin abbreviations: OS (oculus sinister) means the left eye and OD (oculus dextrus) means the right eye. (Note to self ... use the left eye to give someone the stink eye!)

I did the calculations but didn't trust myself, so did them again.  And then once again.  And finally ordered a pair.  Let's hope I got it right.  I did take the time to email Zenni to put give the calculation to us (like they do IF you order two pair).  Wouldn't cost them a thing and would be great customer service.  Stay tuned.

Silver frames .... I'm tired of my glasses being the main focus of my face on Zoom!

THE OH SO ORDINARY

Our upstairs neighbor (who drives us crazy ... so much that I no longer answer her texts) hid plastic eggs for the boys the morning.  They were so excited.  They took up their new stuffed animal friends, a chinchilla and a hedge hog, to meet her.  Who knew they now create more "manly" stuffed animals for little boys??  Now the parents are hiding more eggs (in tougher places) for our plastic eggs with coupons inside.

We did this last year and they were well used.  Things like date with Dad (Mom and Gramma), get out of one chore, soda with dinner, 30 minutes of screen time, stay up 30 minutes past bedtime.  These were the favorites that were used first.  

In addition to cultivating native plants, Kate used some of her Christmas money to buy a Mason bee nest.  They are already hatching ....

The males have no stinger, the eggs are laid in tubes and the bees only live for a month or so.  But one mason bee can pollinate as much as 100 honey bees!  The boys are well schooled in Mother Nature.

My new Spring three-layer with filter mask.

HAPPY HOPPY EASTER!!