Saturday, October 21, 2006

ProFlowers vs. UPS Smackdown


The original bouquet Posted by Picasa

I never got around to posting this when it happened, but after coming across the photos still sitting on my desktop thought it was worth sharing. I decided to order myself some flowers after I'd had a minor tiff with John because well, don't we always deserve flowers after a small fight? Being the practical sort I figured it was probably easier if I just ordered them myself, so I found a good deal on ProFlowers.com and waited for them to arrive. Surprisingly they never came on the expected delivery date, which was odd since I had been home all day. I checked the UPS tracking number and was surprised to see that "Owner not home, package required signature" had been entered as the reason why. Surprised especially because a) I was home, b) no signature was required and c) no "Sorry we missed you" post-it note was left on my door, mailbox or entryway. Clearly the driver just got lost and decided f-it, it's Miller Time and left the package for the next guy. I contacted ProFlowers right away and let them know, and they were surprisingly helpful and accomodating. They ended up offering me a replacement arrangement of equal value, and I took them up on it and ordered a more expensive Lavender Wreath, offering to pay the difference. Woo-hoo, they comped me the whole wreath! I was pretty excited, especially as the original arrangement did arrive the following day in not too-terrible shape. Unfortunately, when the wreath arrived it looked like it had been sat on. Naturally when it was delivered the driver rang the bell and ran away, and as I was in the bathroom at the time, he was gone by the time I got to the front door. Grrr... half the lavender buds had been knocked off the wreath. Some might think that this was the end of the story, but no. I did send pictures of the smushed box to ProFlowers not to get anything else from them but just to let them know what a rotten job UPS was doing of delivering their product. So naturally what happened on the following day was a package left at my house for a neighbor with a totally different street address (ok same number but totally different street name). I managed to get ahold of one of the managers in the Elmsford office and explain to her that her company was inspiring a dangerously low level of confidence in me and that one more f-up and I would be tempted to write all kinds of threatening letters. Lo and behold they managed to find the driver who dropped that package off to come pick it up again and redeliver it. He gave me some song and dance about how this was a training route for new drivers and that it must have been someone else that messed up all the flower orders but I could tell it was him. He was enough of an old-timer to have had the time to sit in the driver's seat all day concocting excuses for why his packages were late/lost/smushed. It did make me wonder if I shouldn't consider not shopping for Christmas presents on the internet this year for once.


The box the wreath was shipped in. Clearly someone needed a booster seat to reach the steering wheel and thought the one marked "Fragile" would make a good choice. Posted by Picasa


Frankie is wreathed in lavender Posted by Picasa

Wednesday, September 27, 2006

I spent something like eight hours making applesauce and pesto today. I still haven't finished canning all the pesto. I am pretty wiped out from all the standing. Sometimes I amaze myself with my ability for stupidity. Pregnant and suffering from an MS attack? Sure, excellent time to stand all day. Moron. I hope the sauces were worth it though.

Tuesday, September 26, 2006


The chickadees have already memorised where the feeder is Posted by Picasa


I am loving my new bird feeder. It has a cover that slams shut should a squirrel or bullying mourning dove decide to jump on the perch. It is so much fun to watch the doves get sent away seedless so my beloved chickadees can come back again and again. Hopefully the doves will learn to leave the feeder alone eventually. I'm sure the squirrels will take some time before quitting though. I'd leave peanuts out for them but I'm afraid the calico cat I've seen stalking the feeder might appreciate that all too much. It would be like pouring out salt in front of deer stand. Then again, the blue jays like the peanuts too.

Yesterday I spotted two red-tailed hawks circling overhead while walking Frankie. I think they must have migrated away somewhere for the summer. I hope they are nesting nearby and will hang out for the winter. Definitely makes the morning walks more lively!



They can be quite the Bluto Blutarskys of the feeder crowd Posted by Picasa


Chickadee gets ready for take-off Posted by Picasa


Nuthatch shows off his chin and why he isn't a Chickadee Posted by Picasa


This guy on the left still needed help eating Posted by Picasa

If you leave me alone long enough I will figure out how to escape from here... Posted by Picasa


Frankie had a bath on Saturday. As usual he did not love it, but it was necessary. The stink was getting stanky!


I'm wet and I'm miserable and I'm not smiling for the camera Posted by Picasa

Goodbye Gene


On Friday, September 22, 2006, Gene peacefully went to sleep for the last time. We were able to help him end his life in a dignified way, and halt the suffering he had been experiencing for the last six months or so. It was a difficult decision for us to make, but ultimately it was the right one. After looking through all the old photographs of him and remembering all the stories of how vital he was in his youth, it was hard to justify keeping him alive to appease our pain. He spent so many hours comforting us when we needed it, and it was time to give him permission to go.

Gene was the most gentle, patient and loving dog I have ever known. Despite his terrible start in life being abandoned and abused, he never lost trust in humans. He was the best example of forgiveness and patience I have ever known. Ok, maybe not so patient when there was cheese nearby, but otherwise he was perfect tempered. Perhaps the lesson I was meant to learn from him was that everyone has good in them, and we all deserve second chances in life. Even though he was the one that was rescued, he spent the next 14 years of his life rescuing us.

We love you Gene.

- The Seal Family


Where I adopted Gene from in 1992: http://www.petfinder.org/shelters/RI35.html
Where we found Frankie in October 2005: http://www.petfinder.org/shelters/NY187.html

John Senior's Birthday Party Posted by Picasa

John's father's birthday was September 19. We celebrated with a cake and some coffee at our house. I made a three-layer yellow cake with orange chocolate mousse filling and a semisweet ganache frosting sprinkled with chopped macadamia nuts. Unfortunately I seem to have neglected to take a close-up photo of the cake, but it was a big hit nonetheless. I can't say that it was easy because it wasn't - I don't know that I've ever made a yellow cake from scratch before but having done it twice now I think I could easily manage it in future. If only there were birthdays every week to celebrate!


John opens cards Posted by Picasa



John opening a gift Posted by Picasa



John considers blowing out the candles Posted by Picasa

Thursday, August 31, 2006

Baby Shower Bonanza


The evil armada of duck-cakes awaits their final instructions to take over the world...

These were the cupcakes I made for my friend Jennie's baby shower two weeks ago. I did have fun making them, and people seemed to find them tasty enough. Aren't the cupcakes adorable?


Just Duckie Posted by Picasa

Tuesday, June 06, 2006


Frankie Angel Posted by Picasa

Rose petal shortbread cookies Posted by Picasa

Wednesday, May 31, 2006


Peony Posted by Picasa

Table setting experiment Posted by Picasa

Tuesday, May 23, 2006


Shower Party People Posted by Picasa

Kate's first oreo cookie Posted by Picasa

Lemon-scented Angel (cake) Posted by Picasa

Friday, April 28, 2006


Frankie and Emma Posted by Picasa

Frankie! Posted by Picasa