The Blackboard

  The Fourth of July. Star Spangled Banner unfurled, ever may it wave.   Wishing you all a happy day. Tonight, I’ll be watching fireworks above Lisle, and singing the Star Spangled Banner (Which yes, is perfectly singable by someone with a ordinary choir level voice. That is, it’s singable if they start it in [...]

She slept between us, occasionally sighing; now she sighs no more.   Eighteen years ago, Jim came home and asked me if we could take in another cat. A she-cat had birthed a litter under a co-workers porch. All but the black kitten had been adopted.   Of course, I said we could use a [...]

  Pesky unit root. Is it really a problem? Tell me what it means!   The long comment thread at Bart’s inspired Josh to draw a cartoon. For more cartoons, visit Cartoons by Josh. (His site doesn’t seem to be set up to run blog software. I think he should consider doing that!)

Early spring morning unopened daffodil buds hover over snow.     Spring is here! Yes, it’s normal to get snow in early spring around here. Why do you think everyone wants to spend spring break in Florida? I thought I’d include the cat door in the picture. That’s how this guy first broke into the [...]

Say hello to march Brave daffodils show green tops, soon yellow flowers. Anthony discussed daffodils not yet blooming in England. Mine aren’t blooming yet either. I don’t have any idea how early they bloomed in April.

 Contentious kitties. Grizelda stands near fat ‘Mo; he trembles, grows, flees. As some of you know, Grizelda broke in through the cat door on a dark rainy October night and became our adopta-cat. She and the other cats kinda-sort get along, but I’m sensing a lot of stress. Griz makes ‘Mo very nervous. All she [...]

My Popsie Wopsie wrote a long list of requests: He wants a library card. Those new to the blog are probably wondering, “huh?” Those visiting longer are aware that my father has been having severe memory lapses. In early October, I flew down to Florida and persuaded him to get on a airplane and come [...]

    We had left overs. What were we to do with them? Turkey Alfredo!     (Bob “Is there fat in mustard?” Liljegren samples Turkey Alfredo to ensure the seasonings are properly balanced.)   Most American families are content to merely over eat on Thursday. But not mine! When big sis and I returned to Illinois, [...]

Cranberries dancing in boiling sugar water; soon they will explode! Happy Thanksgiving everyone, everywhere!

I’ve taken over; made myself comfortable. Now buy me some toys!   Are any of you wondering what happened to the cat that broke in through our cat door early this month? I sent out email to a vast network of neighbors. Judy who lives near here reported that she visits her house too. (In [...]