Microsoft, Apple, Adobe

I am home alone and very much need to vent.......I have chosen YOU to hear my problems!!

I told you about my purchase of Windows 8.  I like the looks of the screen, I like the speed of the system.   OK that's 2 likes, now for the dislikes!

I cannot open my ITunes Library.  Now that's a big one.  I like my music and love adding new songs to our ipods, my ipad, and my phone.  I googled this problem and the answers ranged from, uninstall iTunes and reinstall to no, they aren't compatible at all. I opted to try this, uninstall, CAN'T find the program on the uninstall screen!!  Then there was the  forget ITunes and use Xbox (offered with win8) Why would I do that? They charge a monthly charge whether you purchase music or not! It's a conspiracy, I tell you.  Apple and Microsoft are working against us!!

Next problem:  I have Photoshop, or did have.  Can't find it either.  Read the same suggestions....just upgrade from CS4 to the newest and it will work.  If I can't open CS4 can I upgrade?  Adobe please help me!  I've had it for 5 years and it was an investment to say the least.  I don't even know where the installation disc is.........

If you are contemplating an upgrade, I would hold out!  Evidently this 8 was released before it was ready to accept these issues.  Has any upgrade ever been without bugs?  So frustrating to the consumer!!

You know how much I hate change......did it just to bring work home with me......bad idea anyway!

I had some great pictures and my last week of fun to share with you but got sidetracked with this stupid computer.  Maybe tomorrow!  If I can find my pictures!!

Man In The House

It just throws a kink in the routine when the man of the house is sick.  My hubby came home on Tuesday doubled up in pain.  He got on the couch and hasn't moved in two days except to go to bed and the little room next to the bedroom........

Several sprites, a pitcher of tea later, I think he's on the mend.  He felt well enough today to get the remote control in his hand.  He watches Encore Western channel "all day".  That consists of Gunsmoke, Bonanza, etc. The shows are good, don't get me wrong, I like em too but  the commercials are getting me down.  They go from life and burial insurance to portable oxygen tanks to catheters (yes a commercial for catheters), and on to every disease know to man and treatment for it.  Don't forget the Medicare commercials that last at least 10 minutes.  I finally asked him if he thinks anyone under 50 watches this channel?  He said I know it's kinda depressing  (but he hasn't changed the channel yet!)  He can hold the remote til 8:00, that's when I take over! Grey's and Scandal tonight!!!

I have to tell you I am very pleased with the Windows 8 purchase!  It has made my computer dramatically faster and I really like the features of the program.  Still a lot to learn but I recommend it, if you are thinking of making the change.

Software and Updates

It all started when I decided to purchase Excel 2013 for my home computer.  I was motivated to bring the tax stuff home to spend some evening hours on it.  Bought it, installed it and then the error message appeared: You must have Windows 7 or 8 to run this program........Staples tech obviously wasn't aware of this since I told him I was running Vista.  So I then had to order Windows 8 online since it was not in store yet.....blah, blah, blah.  Installed 8 just now and I am totally lost.  If I can't locate blog again, I wanted you all to know that I am thinking of you and searching for you. Ha.
It really is an adjustment, and I am getting too old for updates.........please can't things just roll along smoothly without changes?

On a brighter note, I spent the afternoon outdoors....yippee!  Washed car, trimmed flowers and bushes, disposed of limbs!  It was so much fun.  After not sleeping last night I am looking forward to a good nights sleep, (fresh air and yard work will do it every time)

OK, I'm going to see if I can now open Excel, then close it and go to the couch!

Hope I can find you again after exiting this program.

Making Groceries Last

I really hate to buy fruits and vegetables and when I am ready to cook or eat them they are ruined.  Food cost too much to waste.  Right?  I love to have a good supply on hand but sometimes it is days before I use them, only to find mold or wilted products.

I know you don't all browse Pinterest, although you really should, it's great.  Back to the subject, I found the best pin and in turn a site to make your groceries last!

I've already tried two of them:

Wrap banana stems tightly in plastic wrap to keep them 3-5 days longer!  Yippee

Wash strawberries in a mixture of one part vinegar to  ten parts water.  Rinse and store in refrigerator. Supposedly they will last up to two weeks!  Unbelievable

There are 27 tips and they are all very interesting. 

To see all 27 go to www.pinterest.com and then type in the search block in upper left corner: 27 ways to make your groceries last.   When it opens new window, click on the banana as above and it will take you to the site! Great tips, I promise.

See you all on Monday....my two little ones are coming for the weekend and Nanny is so happy.  Mom and Dad are getting the weekend off to do as they please!!

I Tried To Tell Them

Last week we had a couple of days that were in the high 60's.  Those days bring about changes in nature and I mean dramatic ones.  The jonquils must have been waiting to burst forth.  I mean look what they did.....

Looks like a volcano eruption...ground just lifted up.

I went out, snapped some pictures and tried to tell them not to do this.  You're jumping the gun, better wait awhile before coming up!  But no, they didn't listen to me.  Who do I think I am, Mother Nature!!

Well it was bound to happen. 

Sleet started to fall and boy did it fall.

It happened so fast and was so pretty.  "Was" is the key word.  It is already beginning to change to rain.  Yippee!   

I like this kind of snow/sleet.  Only here for a short time.  (I hope!) 
Best of luck to the early risers (jonquils)!

Random

No real theme here, just a few random thoughts. ha

Time for a new header.  It just doesn't go with the new year.  Oh me what to use?

Could it be that two weeks ago (my last post) we had snow and freezing rain.  I have always heard if you don't like the weather in Arkansas just wait a minute!  How true that is.  High of 66 today....turn me loose!  I've got to get outdoors.

1099's and gathering of data calls me.  This is the season at the bottom of the totem pole of my likes.  One thing is certain, it's not going away. I may as well jump in and try to complete it.

Our closet project is completed.  I had to empty them all to have shelves built and that was a messy site to see.  I decided to dispose of much unneeded stuff......  and now I have an organized closet. Oh it feels so good.  Now I have to keep it this way!  Do you hear me Nanny......Keep it this way!  I love donating to a local church thrift store.  The ladies work so hard to display all of the items, promptly after receiving them. 

I hope you all are having a nice start to the new year.  I'd better get up and get busy.....have a good day! TGIF!!

The View

It's hard to decide which window to sit in front of and relax.  I am surrounded with beauty this week.  Luckily I don't have to venture out in it, only to take a walk.

The birds have consumed all of the remaining sunflower seeds I had. (should have stocked up)  Hubby stopped on the way home yesterday and bought a small bag of bird seed. 

Have you ever listened to the ice covered trees sway in the breeze.  The sound they make should really be recorded.  It is beautiful.

The swimming pool is almost totally covered and folks it is built up several feet off the ground.

The fountain is in the middle of a circle drive and somewhere under all the snow is a rock lined flowerbed!!

I started the task of packing decorations away this morning.  Such a mess.  Had a few boxes out to pack up when my husband brought two carpenter friends of his over to build shelves and racks in our closets. I am so excited but I can truthfully say that every room in the house now is a disaster!! I never knew how much stuff i could stick in a closet until I had to empty them out.  Oh well, it will be nice when it's done. And it's not like I had anything else to do......except to look at Christmas pictures, read blogs....browse pinterest... tweet... play games on phone.......instagram!!  (love instagram)  I am vickiewallace1 on twitter and instagram, follow along and I'd love to follow you all.  It's quick and easy.


I hope you all are having a great day and staying warm.  Freezing rain falling here.

Blizzard Watch

Hello, hello!
I am still alive and kicking! ha   Three months have passed without a post.  I truly got out of the habit. I tried to check in occasionally but that didn't work very well either.  No excuses, just got busy and had lots of fun.
I'll fill you in as time goes by but for today let's talk Christmas and Blizzard!

We were placed under a severe winter weather watch on Christmas Eve with possibility of blizzard.  I had to laugh at that cause I had windows up while cooking dinner.  It was so hot.  Yesterday afternoon I wasn't laughing.  Around 3 PM it started to rain mixed with sleet.  By 4 PM our power was out.  Just after dark the blizzard arrived. Hubby drove down the road to see if anyone had power and when he returned his tracks were already filled with snow.  It was brutal.  No heat all night and the gas logs decided to go on strike during the outage.  Got pretty cool during the night but with lots of blankets on the bed, we survived.  My only worry was where will my morning coffee come from.  Hubby (electrician) thought the situation over during the night and bypassed something and turned something off....etc, etc and got the lights and outlets on by 7:30 this morning....whew.  Coffee, but no heat.  I can survive that.  With 200,000 people without electricity I didn't have much hope for it but miraculously the power was on by noon.  "Good Job Entergy"

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas.  We certainly did.  The family was all here for Christmas Eve.  We had a delicious dinner then opened presents.  Little ones sure make Christmas special.

It seems like yesterday that Lacey and Jackson were toddlers and now look at them.
16 and 13.....wow

Lila is 3 years 4 months old and Brooks is 7 1/2 months.....I'm afraid to blink or they will be 16 and 13.

We tried to get a group photo and let me tell you that is no easy task.  Photographers earn every penny they charge to get little ones to look at the camera and be still......

Lila was so interested in Lacey's pretty hair that she could care less about looking at the camera.  Then she ran off. Lots of exploring to do in Nanny's yard.  She calls it going on an adventure.  (yes, straight from Jake and the Neverland Pirates)

With 3 adults trying to arrange them and snap shots quickly we did manage to get one or two good ones

These are our first shots of the four of them together.  Can you imagine how thrilled I am to have these pictures.  Time goes by so fast that you just have to stop and capture it for all time.

Such a fun day.  

Tomorrow (or soon)  I will show you the blizzard photos.

Gnats!

Every year when the nights get cool, then gnats find me!  They are so annoying.
They fly in front of my face (just to further annoy me)  I swat, clap, hit but have yet to actually get one.  I clap like I am fighting a large animal  and never catch one. 

So today I googled gnats and how to get rid of them. 

I knew it had to do with cooler temperatures, moisture and ripe fruit.  A damp dish cloth or towel gets covered in no time.  My banana's seemed very attractive to them so I put them in the fridge today, only to read that that is not a good idea.  Pests can get in there with them. 

A couple of ideas sounded real interesting.

1. Place some fruit juice in a bottle with lid.  Put a hole in lid and just wait on them to fly in, which they will very rapidly.  Shake the bottle to drown them, then wait for more.  When bottle gets too repulsive, start over with fresh juice.

2.  Turn an almost empty wine bottle on it's side and wait, they can't find their way out.  They love wine (guess they aren't dumb)

3.  Clean the drains with foaming drain cleaner.  (guaranteed to work)

Is anyone else having this problem?  It's the one thing I don't enjoy about this wonderful weather!

Ok, I'm off to clean the drains and have some wine.......ha

Happy Flowers

Cooler temperatures and rain have brought everything back to life.  I thought I had lost all of my flowers and there was no doubt about my little garden.  Was I ever wrong.  The roses and lantanas have never been prettier.  The pepper plants in the garden turned green, started blooming and soon (if it doesn't freeze) I will have fresh peppers. 

It is such a blessing to have the drought of 2012 behind us! Whew, it was brutal.

Have a wonderful Sunday, all.