Monday, March 30, 2015

Can Openers

More than 20 years ago, Jason gave me for Mother’s Day an electric can opener that mounted under the cabinet. It has a bag slitter (is that a word?), a thing to open pull tabs on cans, and a lid remover that worked on even the smallest jars or bottles. I loved that little amenity. It was made by  Presto. I think he must have paid less that $20.00 for it because he was working at McDonald’s. That little handy-dandy appliance lasted until just a couple of weeks ago. I certainly received value for his dollars.

I began shopping at my usual stores. It’s very hard to find those under-the-counter models now. We even drove about 70 miles to look for the Black and Decker store to see if they carried them. The store is no longer there.

I then checked on line. Black and Decker does make the UTC model, but there is a little problem for me. I found one for $39.95 but it just opened cans. I really wanted that jar lid twister-offer. It did have a knife sharpener though. And it is black.

I checked a little further along. the prices ranged from $119.99 to $439.95. $439.95 for a can opener? Who pays $439.95 for a can opener? And it didn’t even have the twist off lid thing.

I was about to go back to the manual kind, but we found a free standing electric one that looked like it wouldn’t flip over. Of course, it is now taking up counter space that is already lacking. And it doesn’t have the lid twister-offer thing. Well, it has one, but it only works on jars the size of a mayo jar and you still have to use brute strength to remove the screw top.  But it does open cans, and it’s easier to clean than the old one. ( I had to get my screw driver out  and take the old one to pieces to clean it.) And it cost less than $20.00!

Monday, March 23, 2015

Not Much Happening (Thank Goodness!)

Baseball season is in full swing. We have one grandson who plays on the high school team, one who plays Rec League, and one who is playing soccer. The first few high school games were incredibly cold. Saturday there was a rec league game, and Mr. Fixit and I came home with sunburns.

The weather has warmed up a lot. I’ll have to start using the AC pretty soon. The daffodils are just about gone, but the forsythia is beautiful. We have a few little grape hyacinths. We haven’t planted anything for a number of years. The lilac bush is just beginning to leaf, and the Bradford pear trees are changing from white to green. Spring also brings yard cleanup. I’m not crazy about that job either. I do a little every day. I have cooking and laundry so I can seem to accomplish anything in the yard.

Mr. Fixit is doing well. He is still working for our older son almost every day.

I’m still walking and dieting. I can’t get past this plateau with my weight. It’s discouraging.

I recently cancelled our Netflix. They were doing things with our deliveries. I miss it though. Maybe I’ll try their streaming service for a while to see what’s available. Mr. Fixit likes old westerns, and I enjoy film noir of the 40’s and 50’s, BBC programming, and PBS Masterpiece. I was watching a lot of that programming on Youtube but the production companies are blocking a lot of the shows.

I’m still knitting. There is something calming doing the same repetitive stitches. While doing that I listen to audio books ffrom the library.