She is prescribing for you: the dander of a cat that didn't bite you (or something related.)

Block Trump’s AI-powered warrantless surveillance of Americans! Stephen Miller wants Congress to quietly extend the government’s warrantless spying powers, calling the law that the FBI and NSA abuse to surveil Americans “critical.” At the same time, Trump and Pete...

This cause is close to my heart - please sign: sign.moveon.org/petitions/bl...

Today's mail: 46 letters, most political in nature. Requests for campaign funding or support, etc. On a typical day we get less than ten letters and maybe two are political. Over the last week we have received fewer, perhaps 5 a day. I suspect mail was deliberately delayed until after the vote.

Uphold the rights of transgender people in Kansas and across the U.S. This legislation in Kansas is just another example of how states, empowered by Trump’s federal rollbacks, are introducing policies that compromise our civil rights. And the people most impacted by the...

This cause is close to my heart - please sign: sign.moveon.org/petitions/up...

(Kansas is trying to make non-entities of trans people by invalidating their birth certificates etc.)

And then there are these "support" groups for police and sheriffs telling me I may have won a million dollars, just return the ticket with a donation. If they have a million to waste, why don't they use it instead of bulk mail scamming?

Why?

Why am I being flooded with mail from right wing senders like the Heritage Foundation and Turning Point USA? The former thanks me for sending them money, which I did not do. The last GOP I ever voted for was George Romney when he was governor of Michigan.

dRumpf == murderer == war criminal. (And what happened to the military declaring that they would not obey illegal commands?)

Tell Congress: Unmask ICE! Add your name to the petition demanding Congress pass legislation requiring all immigration agents to clearly display their agency and name or badge number—just like other local law enforcement are re...

Add your name to the petition demanding Congress pass legislation requiring all immigration agents to clearly display their agency and name or badge number—just like other local law enforcement are required to do. sign.moveon.org/petitions/un...

SEND AN EMAIL: Tell Congress To Stand Against Trump's Budget Proposal to Defund IMLS. Your representatives need to hear from you today! Trump has eliminated all Federal Funding for libraries in his proposed budget.

IMLS provides essential federal funding to expand access to libraries, strengthen workforce development, and promote lifelong learning across the nation.

Trump's proposed budget eliminates this funding.

Send an email today!

bit.ly/42X7r0f via @everylibrary.bsky.social

Yup. Works as a cane in a pinch, too. Good for fishing anything with a strap or handle out of water or down from a high shelf. Must be kept away from dogs, though, cuz they will chew on it.

My metric for "hard frost" is the catalpa trees. We have three of them. Usually the first night with below freezing temps makes them jettison all their leaves at once, still green. They never color up. This morning they are still holding on, though looking a bit wilted. Other color went last week.

But I need to find my shepherd's crook for reaching across under him to grab those bands... We don't have sheep any more, but the crook still hangs around 15 years later.

Out to remind myself how to put Archie's blanket on him before letting him out. Fortunately he's an old hand [hoof?] at 34 years and will cooperate without argument. Two buckles in front, two straps with clips in back, two elastic belly bands with twist fasteners. Got it.

Looking north at two barns with a heavy dusting of snow on roofs and ground. Trees have lost most of their leaves.

First actual snow of the season rode in last night on a wind as cold and bitter as any GOP senator's scowl.

Just crickets. But that's what I expected.

Yep. Most Walmart stores around here suffer from the same error. All the fabric is pre-cut into pieces no larger than 2 yards, mostly 1 yard. "You need 4 yards? Well just buy four 1 yard pieces." 🤔

I filled out their customer survey as best I could, telling them why this doesn't work. Hard to get it across in less than a thousand characters and I'm not sure they will get it. If you sew and are going to have to depend on Michael's, I urge you to put a word in there now.

They suggested I order from the website for delivery by mail. Went home, tried that. Unless your order exceeds $49, they charge shipping fees of $9.99! Fine print: they won't guarantee a single cut of fabric, but may send several smaller pieces. Fine for quilters, but not for clothing.

Looking for four yards of blue denim, I tried Michaels' web site. Yes they have it Closest store with stock is Crystal Lake. I was dubious but it is a 15 minute drive so I went to see. The store's stock of sewing fabric consisted of less than a dozen bolts of cloth. Denim yes, but only 2 yards.

Sewing disaster. The closure and liquidation of Joanne stores nationwide has left most of us who sew without a source for fabric and patterns. Michael's art and craft stores bought the Joanne name but clearly have no expertise in the field. Most of their stores lack even the space needed.

Don’t put Trump on Mount Rushmore! A wave of recent Republican bills aim to glorify Trump by putting his face on Mount Rushmore and U.S. currency, and his name on airports, transit systems, and the Kennedy Center. One piece of legislat...

This cause is close to my heart - please sign: sign.moveon.org/petitions/do...

Reinstate Dr. Shannon Joslin and Support LGBTQ+ Park Staff and Visitors! On their own free time, SJ and six others climbed El Capitan in Yosemite and took part in a tradition of hanging a flag at the top.  They never thought the display of acceptance and love would r...

This cause is close to my heart - please sign: sign.moveon.org/petitions/jo...

Update: Governor of Illinois (my state) signed a new law last week that makes book bans illegal here. Some nearby states are not so lucky, though.

Welp, summer's over. The first buds are opening on the Rose of Sharon. 🧸 Looks like we are in for a heavy load of blossoms, too. 🐕

"It makes no sense to me that the United States of America has more jails and prisons than colleges and universities." -Senator Bernie Sanders

NO Taxpayer money for Proud Boys The Proud Boys are suing the federal government for $100 million from taxpayers to spread more chaos, more violence, and more hate. Sign the petition!

The Proud Boys are suing the federal government for $100 million from taxpayers to spread more chaos, more violence, and more hate. Sign the petition! sign.moveon.org/petitions/te...

It's always lunchtime somewhere. 🤗

I have been spoiled by the precooked rice in sealed packets. Goes in the microwave for 90 seconds and you eat it. Cooking for two, no pot to wash. (Yes, I'm growing lazy as I get older.)

Depends on the design of the rice cooker and the kind of rice. In ours, medium grain rice will often stick to the cooking vessel unless the water is already in motion.

Toe soup! Doggy favorite, right after bird bath water: "Ares! Don't drink that, you could get bird flu."

"But Dad, you know I love birdseed and feathers... Smells so good."