Brickworks - A Brick Looks At Life

Monday (okay, Friday) Stuff on the Way to Other Stuff: Taking A Little Time Off

2026-02-20T00:02:00.001-07:00

Yep, that's right.

We have some commitments coming up -- and I won't always be able to post. So I'll be incommunicado for at least a week, plus a day or two.

Be good while I'm gone. Mama don't allow no rowdiness playing 'round here.

Meanwhile (just a few this time):

Want to save on milk? Dilute it, the Mavis way. (Thanks for listening, One Hundred Dollars A Month!)

The ten best scammer conversations from 2025:

Frugal tips from TikTokers. Some good -- some just plain weird. But inspiring, nonetheless.

An easy quilt pattern that uses up a LOT of scraps -- a classic from yours truly.

Do you have this Pokemon card??

If so, it just sold for more than $16 MILLION DOLLARS.

Robert Duvall died - age 95. An amazing actor who did his work subtly -- and very, very effectively.

Chernobyl workers' children are showing some odd DNA mutations. Fortunately, it doesn't seem to be disease-causing. But still, it makes you wonder.

An easy way to make meatballs!

And finally -- a song inspired by getting caught in Colorado (actually, the Boulder area) during a blizzard. Ridin' The Storm Out by REO Speedwagon. (The Brick knew this song -- I did not.)

Take care -- talk to you soon.

Nocturnal Bliss

2026-02-18T12:51:00.002-07:00

I was looking for something else when I bumbled onto an old favorite...and thought you'd like it, too.

Her Morning Elegance - by Oren Lavie.

Enjoy.

Mew!

2026-02-18T01:24:00.005-07:00

I missed out on this wonderful antique photo on Ebay -- but you don't have to.

Especially if you like cats.

Details are here.

Makes Sense...

2026-02-17T00:57:00.001-07:00

I once used one of those drinking bird toys

to keep a motion detector from turning the office lights off.

...especially if you've ever been in one of those National Parks bathrooms -- the light turns off every few minutes. Maybe I should start bringing one of these on vacation!

More "it's not stupid if it works" ideas here.

Woof!

2026-02-16T20:46:00.003-07:00

“When your children are teenagers, it’s important to have a dog so that someone in the house is happy to see you.” —Nora Ephron

And will anxiously wait until you get home...

Monday Stuff On the Way to Other Stuff: Still Shuffling...

2026-02-15T23:14:00.010-07:00

Or plugging along. Trudging. Flying. Whatever.

This flu will not let go. If I stay quiet, I have a reasonable speaking voice -- for a while. If I stay down and quiet, I'm generally okay. But get up and move around, and the nausea/achiness/headache gets worse. Sing at church today? Ha -- I can only get 5 or 6 notes out, then the voice completely goes. So the Brick went, and took care of business. I am very grateful for him.

I have several things to finish up. The Brick has some items on his roster, too. And we must get done before commitments this weekend.

Upward and onward, I guess.

We got more snow than the weather people posted -- about 6". The dogs went nuts because the local herd of 'teenage girls' (does) decided to weather over in our woods. However, it (the snow, not the deer) is melting fast.

Meanwhile:

Overheard remarks -- that hurt.

The hermit painter of Purgatoire Canyon. Fascinating.

How much does the average American have saved for retirement? I really, really hope this isn't completely true.

A very classy apology -- and gracious response -- at the Winter Olympics.

Mickey Lolich dead? Say it ain't so, Detroit Tigers.

A rare strain of rye found on a Michigan shipwreck may lead to a whole new revival in whiskey. You'll want to read both articles -- here and here, too.

Have a good week. Hopefully you're on top of the world.

Happy Valentine's Day!

2026-02-14T16:19:00.003-07:00

Enjoy...it's okay to buy candy hearts for yourself!

Under the Weather...

2026-02-12T11:09:00.004-07:00

What exactly does that mean? Aren't we always 'under the weather[clouds], anyways?

Photo via FiftyClub

I made it back from the Denver appraising trip in good form, but have been dealing ever since with congestion, aches, off-and-on feverishness-- and a headache that won't quit.

And now the Brick has his own share. Poor guy.

It makes you grateful for old tv programs, canned soup and freezer goodies.

And rest.

We do have a blizzard fixing to come in, via the weather predictions. That may mean that any Valentine celebrations are on hold.

Monday (er, Tuesday) Stuff on the Way to Other Stuff: Shuffling Off...

2026-02-10T15:52:00.000-07:00

...but not to Buffalo.

Just got back from an appraising trip to Denver. The Brick was supposed to go with, but Bo and Tiger, let out for a 'quickie' run before we left -- never came back. I had appointments to keep, so had to make the trip solo, while the Brick waited for the dogs to come home.

Sigh.

Eventually they did -- but not until after dark.

At least I had time for lunch for an old friend, and a few nights spent with Daughter #1 and Adopted Son #1, as well as more old friends. I even had a few slices of pizza with Tommy and Chris, who made the trip to Europe with us last July. Some flu came along as a passenger, but I persevered.

Life goes on -- including a snowstorm set to hit on Friday.

Meanwhile:

'Lovers Eye' jewelry -- a simple (and curious!) way to immortalize your lovey's eye. (Especially if the romance is an illicit one.)

If it works... is it really stupid? Like this photo of Amish men moving a barn...

A Very Good chicken salad recipe; thanks, One Hundred Dollars A Month. (And skip the raisins, in my humble opinion.)

How do you insure a priceless national treasure? The Brits are trying to figure this one out, thanks to the Bayeux Tapestry being on loan.

These stories sound fake -- but according to the tellers, they actually happened.

What are the fireplace options to keep your RV or camper warm?

Have a good week.

Garden Fantasies

2026-02-05T09:05:00.004-07:00

Better than a potato, I guess...

Dig It?!?

Brrrr -- in Rainbow Shades!

2026-02-03T00:17:00.002-07:00

Six More Weeks of Cold Weather...

2026-02-02T13:12:00.002-07:00

...at least according to our groundhog buddy, Punxsutawney Phil.

Better bundle up with some hot coffee, and go watch Groundhog Day by the fire.

Monday Stuff On the Way to Other Stuff: A New Grip On Life

2026-02-01T21:56:00.003-07:00

Soooo close to being finished -- that in itself is means for cheerfulness. Fighting off some flu -- but hanging in there. Hope you are, too.

Our Karmie -- a Good Dog, sorely missed

Meanwhile:

Now there's a social media platform exclusively for AI -- and what the bots are talking about is downright creepy, if not terrifying.

One hundred dollars a month -- for the food you eat? YES, and nutritionally good, though a bit repetitive. (From One Hundred Dollars A Month) She even had food leftover...

Were there really 'giants in the earth?'

Mother of two sells her house to send money to romance scammers -- FOUR DIFFERENT TIMES. Now she's whimpering about being homeless. Do you feel sorry for her yet? Perhaps she should take a few minutes to read Charley's response to this phenomenon. It should help. She says now:

"I did wonder if I had gone too far, but I got addicted to spending this money. I have this attention from someone and I am liking this attention."

Honestly -- I'm speechless.

Peddling hot chocolate and snowshoveling during a snowstorm -- smart!

Scamming -- and us. It's gotten more and more doable. A good warning here.

New discoveries about the "cloud people" of Mexico.

How to withdraw wisely in retirement -- some actual examples. (From White Coat Investor)

Saving money -- the 2025 results of an "extremely frugal year."

After years of 'guns are evil,' The View hosts are now advocating gun ownership. Huhh?!?

The 'Quality Learing Center' in Minnesota is now closed. Go figure.

Some of the strangest security cam videos --

Have a good week.

A Meaty Response

2026-01-31T15:59:00.005-07:00

What can I say... I love them too.

Puns, I mean. (Gotcha, didn't I!)

And here's a great recipe for... you know what.

Frosty the Orange Snowman?

2026-01-29T22:14:00.000-07:00

Another wonderful handkerchief from the coffers of Ebay -- this one, though, is still available.

Why are these crisp, graphic pieces suddenly appearing for sale? Handkerchiefs, by the way, are a great way to study textiles from the period they come from. The colors, the motifs, even the scale of the figures is helpful. This one, by the way, 'says' it's c.1940.

And they're very reasonably priced, compared to a full quilt. They store and display easily, too, compared to other textiles. I have had a soft spot for them, ever since I began researching for my first book, Hanky Panky.

Go here for more.

This has been out of print for ages --

but we found a few vintage copies!

Oops!

2026-01-29T14:37:00.004-07:00

Just got this Depression Era children's hankie via Ebay. It was reasonably priced...and I couldn't help myself.

Check out all the rollerskating kids -- and the near-accidents!

Frugal Hits & Misses: The January Report

2026-01-28T00:59:00.005-07:00

Brrrr... that's all I can say.

This hasn't been a very memorable month. Other than a day trip to the hot springs nearby at Hooper, a welcome break, we didn't do much. No trips to Denver -- minimal grocery shopping, mostly to use up the new debit cards from our Medicare plan (see below) -- and no huge expenses. I did buy a few books, some next-season Christmas presents, and a birthday present or two for the Brick. We also helped out some friends with groceries -- it's a tight month here in the Valley, where many businesses shut down for a month or two.

We did our duty (and 'shook our booty,' according to the Brick), working on reports and making repairs. I did get a little quiet reading in, as well as editing work on a book for our pastor. (He talks, I type.) Very little snow, but lots of cold.

That's January for you.

The computer still is not completely updated, especially photowise. I still must reload photos that should be there to work with....which is frustrating. Older reports aren't there, either. (Sometimes they are -- sometimes they aren't.) My IT guy reassures me they're all there, but he can't upload until I get off, so to speak. So progress continues.

FRUGAL HITS

(Some of these were from late December)

*Hoppin' John a few days late! This good-luck dish is an important part of a Southern New Year. (Recipe here.) Christmas decorations were put away, and general tidying up happened, too.

Oh, and I made bread, apple crisp, homemade pizza and calzones.

*Did the year-end chores: updated the calendar, adding birthdays, etc.; did the month-end and year-end figures. We spent more than we made this year, but we also paid off the house, bought a vehicle and went to Europe. And our emergency fund is beginning to grow again. I'm not too worried.

*Filled the woodrack several times. The woodpile is visibly going down, but there's more than enough to get us through the winter. Having a full woodrack? A very rich feeling.

*Restocked the Little Free Library -- took out the holiday titles and put in a fresh batch of books. All the kids' books were gone, so that was a good sign. Two big boxes of books await further replenishing.

*Working our way through a few tv series: Fallout and an old favorite, Longmire. We finished off the 5th and 9th seasons of Perry Mason, SS-GB ("what if Britain had fallen to the Nazis by 1941?"), Tombstone Territory, and are midway through Perry's 7th season.

#SS-GB is interesting, but developing verrrryy slowly. I find myself irritated with Sam Riley, its star, who also was in one of my favorites: Pride & Prejudice and Zombies. How could the honest Mr. Darcy have so few ethics and sleep around so much? I know -- ridiculous. Unreasonable. He's just playing a part. Nonetheless, I may be discarding this series. (The Brick could go either way.)

*Tried a bit harder to keep things tidier. Loaded the dishwashter more often. Instead of buying more clothes, just kept our current wardrobes washed and put away. Dried clothes on the deck's drying rack several times, instead of using the dryer. Stuff like that. (I do need a few 'teaching/church outfits,' but will wait for the right ones at the right price. Update: ordered two skirts that might fit the bill. We'll see.)

*Chores around the house: the Brick fixed the furnace, replaced the motor's 'core' in the vacuum, and changed the Highlander's oil. (The truck is next.) As my IT guy, he continued to update the new laptop.

I painted the front bell, put away books (shelved by subject this time) and inventoried both pantry and storage. Conclusion: we're not going to starve anytime soon. Shared some of that food with friends.

*Income: some appraisals, plus a $5 survey from Neilsen and a $5 gift card earned through Swagbucks. Hey, the Bricks live large around here.

*The Brick got his anniversary present: a mandolin chosen by a friend who is expert in musical instruments. It wasn't cheap, but a great value, with a nice case included.

*Christmas presents from the Brick and the kids: several books, including a bio of Sarah Josepha Hale and the complete Sherlock Holmes; badly-needed slippers; a hanging balloon sculpture for the deck (now hanging and 'spitting fire' out our front window); a photo of the aurora borealis a few months ago, and a telescope for viewing more on the back deck. (Fort Garland is part of Colorado's best 'dark sky' areas.) Plus a carpet cleaner, also badly needed -- and more. Thank you, Dears!

Mine is blue and red

I also put out candy and cookies, jerky and meat sticks originally meant for Christmas stockings. The Brick and our kids have enjoyed snacking on these.

*Christmas presents bought for next season. Including one for a friend -- at 21% off. Some 75% off items...and some Advent calendars.

*Hot springs bliss at Hooper. It may have been chilly out, but it sure was nice soaking in that hot water. Our sore bones were thrilled.

*Watched Green Bay/da Bears football for free -- what an amazing game! (Chicago won. Too bad they lost in overtime to the Rams in the next game. The Broncos also lost - in the AFC Championship - to New England. Ah well.)

*Catered a pastors breakfast. Potato casserole, pigs in blankets, fruit salad and cinnamon rolls, thanks to help from several friends. (The pastors loved it.) I also baked a turkey that had been stored in the freezer for the church's monthly potluck. We were asked to dinner by friends (grilled prime rib - yum!).

*Bath mats on sale! Ordered two from Amazon -- both under $10 each, with free shipping. Cheaper than the thrift shop, quite frankly.

Here's one of the two - great reviews for it.

*Thrift Shop Buys: a ship painting ($5), vintage rayon/silk kimono ($3 - yes, you read that right!), notes and notepaper ($1 each), a seleection of winter hats, scarves and gloves, all at half-price....plus a lacy sweater for a buck! And 5% off for paying cash (Nazarene Thrift Shop). Several books, including a few for my research shelf, at a buck each.(Rainbows End).

*Citrus Bowl at the country club: Michigan vs Texas. (37-27) -- but it was closed. Went to Chili's, instead and had the $10.99 special: chips/salsa (soup for the Brick), burger/fries and a drink. True to form, brought some of the food home.

*Kept our fruit and vegetable intake up. I paid special attention to this, including juice and canned fruit, as well as a few apples and the remainder of the clementines. We also ate a number of salads.

*Grocery deals: four pieces of fried chicken free (a purchase just as the deli was closing up); cucumber, 79 cents; pork chops, $1.99 a pound (Safeway). Smoked salmon, a dozen 4 oz. cans for $25 and change; tins of sardines for a stunning 82 cents each -- cheaper than even the dollar store! Plus free shipping (Amazon Warehouse Deals). Smokies and chili-stuffed hot dogs ($1.99/pkg); cans of soup, baby sweet peas and hearts of palm (99 cents each); gallon of fresh-made apple cider, $6.99 (SLV Amish grocery). Bags of chicken potstickers -- 10 pc. for $1.75 each (Dollar Tree).

Thanks to a Dec. 31 grocery visit, I barely redeemed reward points from Safeway before they expired at midnight-- whew! But they earned a three-pound package of bacon, plus a dozen eggs -- and a future carton of sour cream.

*Kaffe Fassett's Collective Spectrum for Free Spirit -- I am just in love with this color combination. The 5" square collection I got for Christmas will become a 3-D Bow Tie quilt. (Thank you, Daughter #2 and Son #1!)

*Found money: one shiny dime and two pennies from the City Market change machine. Here are the totals for 2025 - and a few years before.

*The Brick turned potato gnocchi (about a buck at the Amish grocery) into a gourmet meal, by pouring canned beef stew over it. Surprisingly tasty!

*A dentist appointment for the Brick -- and only a $25 payment.

*Sent out the annual sales tax report for Brickworks. Federal and state taxes are next.

*An 'everything' salad kit was not only too 'oniony' for our taste, but the bagel chunks got mushy. (And we LIKE onions.) I sent them a message...and they sent us a replacement coupon. Thank you, Taylor Farms!

*Grocery card for $54 - times two! One of the benefits from switching to Devoted for our Medicare plan: $108 for groceries every month. I'll take it! (We barely managed to use up the Brick's debit card before the money expired. You try going to the supermarket, knowing you have to spend $X amount of money...and being used to buying only at discount! It was truly weird.)

*Gave away some books to appraisal clients. Worked hard this month to catch up on everything. (A trip to do more appraising is looming in early February.)

FRUGAL MISSES

*Sewed a chewed pillow - twice. No gloves were chewed on, though I caught Bo snoozing by one of my fur-edged pair. (She's got eyes on my new slippers, too.) We did have a couple of serious accidental poop accidents. (Thank you, Daughter #2 and Son #1, for that spot cleaner. Worked like a charm.)

*Lunch with a friend -- Thai food at full price. And it was worth every penny. (We were also treated to lunch by a good friend.)

*An 'elegant' Christmas night supper for us and Daughter #2/Son #1: Burger King! (Other than a Tibetan place, which was slammed, it was the only thing open.) We didn't spend much...I guess that was nice.

*No year-end bonuses... though we got a slight raise on Social Security payments. Ah well.

*A higher than usual utilities bill -- in spite of regular use of the woodstove. On the other hand, we lived just fine with 50-55 temps first thing in the morning. Inside the house, that is. That's why you use a warm down comforter on your bed.

*A bunch of potatoes, scattered in the middle of road in town...and no way to pick them up without getting run over. Another ah well.

*I was a bad kitty, and bought a few books on Ebay, including a 4-volume diary/letter set by Frances Burney, a 19th-century novelist. True to form, though, I got them for less. (Hello, Best Offer!) I also spent less than half-price for the Brick's birthday present.

*Paid full price for Bigfoot and Steampunk fabric prints -- but I only bought a yard of each. So does that make me a semi-bad kitty??

Last month's report is here. Last year's: here. Plus the report from 2024. Stay warm, preferably by the woodstove, with a steaming cup of coffee nearby. Plus a good book.

I've been keeping one book as a reward for catching up on work: a history of Schonbrunn, in Vienna, Austria. The kids brought it as a present, after their trip to Europe. A cup of coffee, a chocolate bar and a warm spot near the fire await.

Brrrrr... in Brown and Gold

2026-01-26T22:57:00.002-07:00

(This is Pittsburgh, PA, by the way.)

Monday Stuff On the Way to Other Stuff: Sliding Into Home Plate

2026-01-25T22:39:00.002-07:00

I am soooo close to being caught up. Whoo hoo! Meanwhile, month-end paperwork and Other Stuff are looming. But definitely making progress.

P.S. Our Snowmageddon turned out to be 4 inches or so -- big deal! Incredibly cold temperatures, though.

Meanwhile:

The power of forgiveness. An amazing classic from Firecracker at her blogsite, Millenial Revolution. I don't always agree with this pair -- except financial areas. Then I'm a huge fan.

The '12-inch-rule' that will help keep you warm this winter. (Plus other stuff.) Considering the Bricks' penchant for occupying the same three square feet, dogs included, we don't have too much trouble in this department.

Go to Russia, thinking you're on a cultural exchange. Make drones instead. But you have to be female, between 18-21...and totally unaware you're working with dangerous materials.

An in-depth look at Tom and Eileen Lonergan, two scuba divers who went on a trip -- and never came back.

We're getting a new coin with Donald Trump's face on it, to celebrate 1776? Really?!?

God's timing. A classic from yours truly. (And it's proven itself true, over and over.)

I've been watching a Youtube channel that's amazing...Life of a Japanese Salaryman. The man has an eye for discounts that I really appreciate.

Sleeping on the floor...when you're playing for the Houston Rockets?

An antique pistol is found hidden in the wall of a Chicago distillery connected with Al Capone.

Funny 'house rules' -- that are now required in these families.

What Mavis is planting in her garden this season. (Got you thinking, didn't I...from One Hundred Dollars A Month)

Some very funny gorillas. And you don't think animals have personalities??

A purple star sapphire is discovered in a gem pit in 2023..and may be the largest in the world. (Not to mention one of the most valuable -- at least $200 million.)

Jeffrey Epstein visited the White House SEVENTEEN times... but the Clintons say they had "no specific interactions" with him. Really...

The Met may be in trouble...

What can you learn from decamillionaires? (White Coat Investor holds forth.)

Three properties, a car and a rickshaw business -- but hey, he's still begging. Would you give your money to this man?? (He looks pitiful enough.)

A Jamaican mom sees snow for the first time -- yay!

And to get you in the right parting mood...Play That Funky Music, White Boy by Wild Cherry:

Have a great week.

The Creamer's Secret

2026-01-24T00:51:00.013-07:00

It was such a pretty thing.

I love poking around in seedy, dusty shops, and this antique shop in Monte Vista was perfect -- you never know what you're going to find. This was on a back shelf in the junkroom.

Not extremely heavy -- so it wasn't early 20th century. But antique...probably Depression Era? Sure.

We needed a little creamer to heat maple syrup in. And the sunflower pattern was lovely.

I got it home, along with a late 19th cen. 'quadruple' sterling silver sugarbowl.

(Marked $10 -- but I paid $5.50 for it, after some bargaining. A good study piece.)

Used the creamer for our breakfast pancakes.

Then I thought, "What if..." Got out my special flashlight -- and yow!

I'd found something even better: a piece of vaseline (also called uranium) glass.

For a dollar!

(P.S. The sterling piece was more valuable, too.)

Today...

2026-01-22T14:07:00.006-07:00

...is the anniversary of The Mama's death. And it brings in reminders of my dad's death, more than a decade before that.

They loved us very much-- and we loved them. God's timing. They were not meant to enjoy their grandchildren's growing up years, and Dad never saw a few new great-grandchildren. (But he did get to hold one great-grandchild in his arms before we did.)

They never saw our home here in Fort Garland...and Dad never saw Brother's home in Grand Rapids.

But nonetheless -- God's timing.

I know I will be with them again. And every day I get older, that moment seems closer.

Love you, Ma and Pa. See you soon.

Their wedding day, May 1960, with Grandpa and Grandma Cumings.

Grandpa died two months later.

Fight Fire with Fire!

2026-01-21T15:29:00.000-07:00

Not That I've Ever Done This...

2026-01-19T23:38:00.000-07:00

Hmmm...doesn't it look like the latte was poured onto the finished bottom of the mug -- instead of inside?

Now if you'll excuse me, I have to... well, you know.

Brrrr.... in Greens and Blues

2026-01-19T16:10:00.000-07:00

Monday Stuff On the Way to Other Stuff: Keeping On

2026-01-18T21:55:00.012-07:00

Am I the only one just watching and waiting, for what happens next??

Lots of putting out fires and finishing-up work are up for this week. It's cold, windy, but sunny. The Brick has been checking items off his fixit list -- changing the oil on the Highlander is next. We're enjoying woodstove fires, and cleaning out some of the items on our 'Weird Movies' list. More snow in the forecast this weekend. Good -- we need it.

We lead an exciting life. Don't be jealous.

Meanwhile:

Secrets for living past 100.

A participant in Biosphere 2 tells his story.

"Drive a beater car and get rich." Well, certain makes and models, yes. (From the White Coat Investor)

Millionaire Wisdom: How to Grow Your Net Worth (one of a series from Esi Money)

Jackson Hole, Wyoming's live cams -- all sorts of mountain trails, including one of the steepest I've ever seen. (Look for the word Couloir...)

What's REALLY under Antarctica's ice sheet?

A McDonald's in Seattle that's so scary, it's nicknamed McStabby's.

"I am neither extreme nor a cheapskate." Interesting talk from The Nonconsumer Advocate.

One more way to save 50 bucks. (From One Hundred Dollars A Month)

'It wasn't supposed to happen'... but it did.

Morocco gets its first snow in 25 years!

Bigfoot hunters of the Hudson Valley.

Jim Carrey Impressions. How can one man squeeze his face in so many directions!?!

Bill and Hillary Clinton announce that they have no connections with the Epstein scandal whatsoever. (Dozens of photos and appointment notes, etc. must all be fake, I guess.) So they don't show up for the House hearings...in spite of subpoenas.

Hey, the Clintons know best.

How to weather whatever's coming, recession-wise. It never hurts to be ready, and this classic from The Prudent Homemaker is helpful.

Jay Leno's been married for more than 40 years. His wife has serious dementia, to the point that she no longer recognizes her husband. So he has a girlfriend now... right?

“You take a vow when you get married, and people are stunned, they’re shocked when you live up to it,” Leno told Maria Shriver on the latest episode of her “Life Above the Noise” podcast.

“I haven’t really been tested in my life. I wasn’t in the army. I didn’t have to shoot anybody. So this is that thing,” Leno said. “I’m glad I’m passing the test, because you never quite know what you’re going to do in that situation, or any situation.”

He noted, “I like to think I made the right decision.” P.S. He did.

Have a great week.