Sitting on the Porch with Dale

 Tuesday, June 23, 2026

We got a lot of rain this afternoon. 

Dale and I sat on the porch during the storm and it was quite pleasant. Overall June's been lovely.

Spring Cleaning

 Monday, May 11, 2026

I've been working pretty consistently lately at getting the upstairs cleaned out of all my school stuff. Dale's current project is to clean the windows inside and out. 

He's off to a good start. 

Collecting - Fiestaware

 Thursday, November 27, 2025

I've been collecting Fiestaware for the past 35 years although I haven't bought any in quite a number of years. After all, you can only have so much. I've heard.

My most recent aquisitions were bought about 10 years ago. 

I bought three place settings in distinctive fall colors. 

They look particularly good when mixed and matched. 

The fourth place setting is pieced together with fall-like colors from my regular collection. 

Mom and Dale at Thanksgiving dinner. 

From Wikipedia: "Fiesta is a line of ceramic glazed dinnerware manufactured and marketed by the Fiesta Tableware Company of Newell, West Virginia, United States since its introduction in 1936, with a hiatus from 1973 to 1985. Fiesta is noted for its Art Deco styling and its range of often bold, solid colors."

"The company was known as the Homer Laughlin China Company (HLCC) until 2020, when it sold its food service divisions, along with the Homer Laughlin name, to Steelite, a British tableware manufacturer. HLCC in turn rebranded itself as the Fiesta Tableware Company, retaining its retail division, prominent Fiesta line, factories and headquarters in Newell, West Virginia."

"Fiesta's original shapes and glazes were designed by Frederick Hurten Rhead, Homer Laughlin's art director from 1927 until his death in 1942. Fiesta products before 1986 were semi-vitreous pottery, and after 1986 were vitreous china allowing marketing it for food service applications. Several of the original shapes had to be modified due to this change in material and other new shapes were added by Jonathan O. Parry, who became Homer Laughlin's art director in 1984."

Thanksgiving 2025

 Thursday, November 27, 2025

We had a lovely time with Mom over.

The turkeymeister.

Thanksgiving 2025 - New Christmas Tree

Thursday, November 27, 2025

A couple days ago Dale and I ran out to Menard's to buy a new artificial tree. Last time I bought one was in the early 90s the December before I met Dale. 

I think this one looks pretty cool and it fits just right in this cozy dining room corner. I meant to buy the same one I helped Mom pick out last week but they were out of those by the time I was able to get back to the store. Also, I realized I hadn't made it clear to Dale, when he asked, that this new tree was going to be in addition to the old tree and not to replace it. Oops. 

Anyway, this tree is pre-lit which, although not my preference, is growing on me. 

AND Sylvester loves the box!

The Porch and Turning On the Heat

Wednesday, October 15, 2025

October is the month the porch goes from very useable to less usable. At the beginning of the month Dale and I would still have morning coffee our there. Now it's getting to be quite a bit cooler in the mornings and evenings so it's not pleasant to be out there. At least it's mostly more useable during the daytime hours although you sometimes need a jacket or blanket. Yesterday was rainy and raw so I didn't use it at all. Soon enough it'll be so cold that it's only use will be as an entryway from the front of the house. 

Speaking of cold, today was the first day we turned on the heat. Dale needs to be pushed a little to agree to it since he likes waiting a little longer than I do to do it. When it comes to this I never want to assume he's ready so I asked him this morning if he was amenable to the idea. He was although he said he probably would've waited a little further into the month. He recalled a time years ago when he was on a trip up north and I called begging to have him let me turn it on. It's not so much that I fear his wrath for doing it as much as just knowing how much he likes to be here for the event of hearing the heat kicking in for the first time of the season. 

Speaking of the porch I moved the pumpkins out there. They were on the dining room table but that was starting to get a little crowded due to how many I've picked up over time. 

They look especially nice by the window. 

Enjoying Fall While Not Working

Thursday, October 9, 2025

I've been telling Dale ad nauseam how much I love not working and how nice it is being home during autumn. I'm enjoying having time to get things done around the house and working in the yard. Also, I'm enjoying just sitting out in the back yard. 

I'm also loving just being in the yard with my cigars. This morning I had a Romeo y Julieta with my coffee.

This afternoon I smoked a Camacho while Dale went on a nice long walk. 

When Dale got back Ada from next door came over to show us her new haircut. I asked her if she did it herself and if she got permission. She said she did and her dad, Josh, did the cut. One whole side of her head was shaved. Josh appeared and we asked him about it. He said he only took off a little bit at a time and that Ada kept asking for it to be shorter. Dale pointed out to her that his whole head is always like that. She also gave us some beans that they're growing in her yard. I think they're rather pretty with their purple specks. I asked her if they're edible and she said they were although she didn't know the name of them. I'll ask her mom, Breanna about them. We told Ada we'd plant them so we could grow some too. 

Sam and Becky are in town so Mom, Dale, and I went to lunch with them at the Galleria. It was so nice to see them and we talked for 3 hours. It's so nice to have the flexibility of doing things in the daytime. Have I mentioned I love NOT working?

Enjoying the Back Yard

Sunday, September 15, 2024

Halfway through September. Enjoying a cigar in the backyard to celebrate a beautiful summer day. 

Lit up in the garage this afternoon.

Sat out in the yard and enjoyed the view. 

Mike was over recently. We sat out back after dark and smoked cigars. He told me he loves sitting in my back yard and I told him I love sitting in my backyard too. We sat facing north looking into Josh and Breanna's yard and beyond the other side of the street. With all the lights it really did look rather magical. We looked at the stars too and found the Big Dipper. At this time of year the Big Dipper is easily seen if you look up just past the north of our roof line. 

                     

The weather today was warm and a little humid but there was a nice breeze. Sitting in the shade was really very pleasant.

I listened to Babs and also I listened to Marcia, the annoying cockapoo next door.

She's cute but she barks too much. 

Anyway, I'm ever appreciative of having this backyard space for many reasons, not the least of which is to smoke cigars. (Today's was an Oliva. Always a good choice for me.  Dale drove me to Anthony's Cigars after brunch at the Lowbrow.)

25 Years!!

Sunday, October 23, 2022

Dale and I moved into this house 25 years ago over MEA weekend. You can see Dale over to the right bagging leaves. 

October - Chili/Chilly

Sunday, October 2, 2022

We're at that time of year where sundown has become so much noticeably earlier and it cools off quickly. The days can feel a little bit like summer but the late afternoon and evening feels like fall. Dale made chili for dinner and it was the perfect day for it. 

Regina had a birthday recently and so did Dale. Julie and I took them out for their birthday at Parkway Pizza. Julie and Regina brought a ginormous bundt cake which we had for dessert. There was so much left over that we all took so home. Dale and I had the extra tonight. It was lemon flavored and it was divine. We had quite the Sunday dinner today with cocktails, snacks, dinner, and dessert. How awesome is that?

Sylvester was ready to wind down as the evening progressed.