So, my pond guys came out just now and the problem was that the outdoor GFI had been tripped somehow. The pump is fine. I am going to have a skimmer put around it in the Spring, though. I'll still need to skim leaves out regularly, but I won't have to worry about the pump getting clogged overnight if there's a big leaf fall.

Awesome news! Nice simple fix. The GFI probably tripped when the pump started straining - which is what it's supposed to do. Excellent news and much cheaper too.

No kidding. I was getting ready for a big expense and I've had too many of those lately (the fridge needs replacing, for example). I like this firm. They come out right away, they're pleasant, and they charge very little for maintenance.

Good morning, Danish, Donuts and Bagels in the Break Room. Bowling at the Eagles tonight. Enjoy the day and hug someone.

New coffee maker this morning. I think I'm going to like it a lot! Even the Kenyan Special Reserve seems better. It has an option on one side for the single serve coffee/tea pods and came with a pod you can put your own coffee or tea in. I made two quick cups of my blood orange herbal tea last night. I've been lusting after it for several months, but they knocked down the price a lot for Black Friday sales and I pulled the trigger.

Trip to town for groceries and then running down to the horse rescue at 3:00 to pick up the caretaker's step-daughter from the bus. She is such a little sweetie - 8 years old and we have the nicest chats while I drive her the 1 1/2 miles down the gravel drive to her house at the Ranch. Yesterday it was all about how we both love to read. Her mom is so grateful, but I told her it was 10 whole minutes out of my day! She said Josh was going to make me something for Christmas because they were so appreciative. Got no idea what it is, so guess I have something to look forward to! I think today is the last day I have to pick her up.

Happy Tuesday!

I've been buying coffee beans from the local farm market here. They sell four different types of bean from a local roastery. I ran out of coffee today and the market isn't open, so I decided to go to the actual roastery here in town.

It was coffee heaven. They must have 50 different beans and roasts. They also have many teas. I had a fabulous cappuccino while I browsed the shelves. I've never browsed coffee beans before. It was quite the experience.

Instead of my usual, I bought two others to try; a medium roast from Brazil, billed as "mild, nutty, chocolate, very smooth," and an Indian Peaberry, billed as "sweet, floral, maple syrup and candied nuts." I can't wait to try one of them.

Also, their Assam Chai is wonderful, too. Now I don't have to order my chai from Victoria any more.

That sounds like sheer bliss, hagatha! I can just smell it! Out here in the country, we have no such thing, more's the pity.

I was so pleasantly surprised when I walked through the door. It's in a warehouse/ light industrial area, and I was expecting it to be a bit sad, but it's brand new and clean and modern and the coffee is about the best I've had anywhere. Vancouver Island is a very foodie area, especially between here and Courtenay/Comox. There's a lot of farm-to-market here, even in the big grocery stores.

Hagatha, sounds heavenly to me! Good food and good coffee... reasons to live.

Good morning, Danish Donuts and Bagels in the Break Room. Music Bingo at the Eagles tonight. Enjoy the day and hug someone.

Good morning all. I woke early and it had nothing to do with cats for once. Lots of coffee for me this morning and then I'll spend some time in the garage. I have one more load of junk to be removed, I have abut 6 boxes of books for the library, and I have one or two runs to the Salvation Army Thrift store. Then I should be okay to put my car in the garage. It's already getting really cold at night so it's high time. I've been having my coffee in front of the fire lately while the house warms up.

Good morning. I was out of Kenyan Reserve, so put on a pot of the Aldi Fair Trade coffee. Oh, how I wish there was a coffee roastery in my area!

I will need to start putting my small truck in the garage soon too. I just have a couple of things to move so I can pull in. Hubby keeps his huge truck in the machine shed.

Nice sunny day ahead! Happy Wednesday!

I have some difficult decisions to make, too, in clearing the garage. John had several boxes full of slides, and while some of them are from his youth, and those I intend to keep in the house, the rest are from his pre-digital bird photography. There are literally thousands of them. I can't bring myself to get rid of them, but I'll never look at them, either, They'll go down into the crawl space and then my younger sister will curse me roundly when she comes to clean out my house after I'm gone. I just feel so sad that so much of him is in those slides that will never be seen again.

That's hard. I have found things like my 2nd husband's little voice recorder he used instead of taking notes. I had to throw it away - too painful. I asked his daughters first and none of them could bear it either.

Hagatha, I am sure that there would be plenty of takers for the bird photographs, perhaps even a natural history institution of some kind where they could be displayed.

Drac, it sounds like your next venture should be setting up a coffee roastery...

Have a good day everyone!

Good morning, Danish, Donuts and Bagels in the Break Room. Enjoy the day and hug someone.

Lex, I will just have to wish for a coffee roastery out here in the middle of the woods!

Aldi Fair Trade coffee again this morning. My order of the Kenyan Special Reserve is running late.

Hubby ordered a batch of oatmeal craisen cookies today, so I guess I'll be baking cookies later! League bowling tonight.

Happy Thursday!

It's really cold this morning. While I wait for the house to heat up I'm putting on the fire and sitting with Willow, reading the news on my tab. She remembers when she was a kitten and I used to play bird videos for her on my tab; when she wants me to do that she'll come up and tap the tab and then my face. Who says cats can't talk? Both of them are once again frantic to go outside. Yesterday morning another cat came right up to the French doors and looked in. Dude just wants to go outside and be a little man defending his territory. I think Willow was hoping for another playmate.

Perhaps you have learned to speak "cat!" I always say I have learned how to speak "Bloodhound."

I've always felt my cats and I understood each other very well. Dude, not so much, but we're getting there.

Good morning, Danish, Donuts and Bagels in the Break Room. Enjoy the day and hug someone.

Good morning! It's sure quiet in the break room today. That's OK... I'll just put on a pot of that German Fair Trade coffee and sneak out!

Connie, I had league bowling last night. I'm not a very good bowler, but I missed a 200 game by just a few pins the first game! Of course, my next game was a 135.

Another warm day here, but temps crashing to 25 degrees F tonight. And I just read in another thread that oldbroad is sending me a truckload of snow!

Date night tonight. Happy Friday!

Good morning. I'm swilling a quick last coffee and stuffing Willow into her carrier for a quick trip to the vet for a claw trimming. After that I'm going for a long walk in the 'hood, since it's a lovely day. Then it's off to the blind store to get a quote for a bathroom window blind and a blind for the bathroom skylight. The early morning light is going to be a huge problem soon.

Hello everyone; awhile back I mentioned we were having a snow storm, well that's all gone & today it's going up to 55F, I'll take that over snow anyday. Have a great day.

Wishing you all a wonderful weekend!

OMG I think I'm hyperventilating. Just got my mail. Jury duty notice. I can't win! My weekend and the next 2 months are shot to H-E-L-L!