Random 5 for March 31 – Time, porch, Hazel, old, products

Gallery

Posted on by

Morgan testing out the opened porch. She approved.

Gone – Pfft, just like that March is gone. Can’t remember much of the month but mostly it was the normal cold March we get. Some of my early daffodils are blooming but not much else.

The screened porch is open for business! – This past week the beloved husband cleaned and opened the porch. It’s too chilly to spend much time there but the cats are delighted. New cat Sasha is fascinated and terrified by it. The birds, chipmunks and squirrels are so much closer and noisier but she doesn’t like the door to the house closed. She doesn’t like being out there when she can’t quickly retreat into the house to her hiding spots.

This is my chair!

Thinking of Hazel – More than any other cat, the porch belonged to Hazel. She went out there when it was cold and windy or hot and humid. She loved smelling the outdoors and waving to all her critter friends. Still miss that crazy cat.

That’s not elderly! – I heard a news story this past week. A female pedestrian was hit by a car. They described her as elderly, then they said she was 70. That’s not elderly. The reporter must have just entered puberty! Just for the record, elderly is not an age but a state of being. It is a frail person hanging on at the very end of their life. Not some spunky young thing crossing the street! (OK, maybe young was poetic license!)

Amazon wins again – About two years ago I found a styling gel that works for my hair. It’s made by a large popular company and was available just about everywhere. I started having trouble finding it on the shelves so I went on-line. The manufacturer doesn’t list it as current. That’s a bad sign. Fortunately I was able to buy some on Amazon and the price wasn’t bad. I’ll have to find an alternative. Why do they stop making everything I like?

So how was your week?

66 thoughts on “Random 5 for March 31 – Time, porch, Hazel, old, products”

    • My small daffs just started this past weekend. Haven’t seen the big ones yet. Slow spring but we are seeing the heavy red buds on our maple trees. Good sign. We’ll have leaves on our trees in about 3 weeks. Yay!

      Like

      Reply ↓

    • They do. Morgan goes out more frequently than the others. The rest prefer warm weather. Morgan loves smelling the air even if it’s a little chilly! Hazel went out even in the winter. We always keep cushions out there for them so they don’t have to sit on the cold tiles.

      Like

      Reply ↓

  3. Your porch is really nice looking, Kate. I especially like the furniture you have. I can see why you’re happy about the weather turning warm again.

    Speaking of warmer weather and Amazon, recently I looked for my favorite sunscreen. I’ve been using it for years; a previous dermatologist recommended it. Amazon had it, but it was close to $80 a tube! A check on competing web sites showed the same thing. Something’s amiss, obviously a shortage. So I’m skipping to a new brand, stat! – Marty

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply ↓

  4. You all had a heck of a March! Glad to hear your porch is open for business 🙂 Sasha will get used to it eventually – it’s a really new environment for her, I bet! And you are right – 70 is not old! It’s a state of mind.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply ↓

  5. I love the way you describe the “opening” of the porch, knowing that it signals a complete change of seasons and the beginning of the time you can enjoy the outdoors again! I hope that memories of Hazel are less sharp and poignant and hopefully bring a smile. And oh boy do I agree with you about the definition of elderly! I hear the same kind of nonsense very frequently and always think whoever wrote the copy needs a refresher course in human development!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply ↓

  6. Oh, your porch is lovely – so inviting – with a rug and elegant furniture ( cat approved…they only know luxury) – magazine perfect. We all had screen porches around here when I was a kid ( and no AC) I’d love one now – even if you do have to be constantly fighting mildew in this humidity. Sigh.
    So delighted Shasha is discovering.
    I got really annoyed about a mugging of an “elderly woman” who turned out to be 50-ish. Geesch She may have ended up on the ground, but the guy was big (and young) and it was slug and run. Elderly is frail and unable to live alone – get with it reporter kids – it won’t be long before you’ll see…

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply ↓

  9. Yup, it’s important to have quick access to those hiding places! My late feral cat Pharoah always retreated to his spot under the rocking chair in the bedroom whenever he felt uneasy…. and of course that’s where he passed away… I could never get rid of that old, beat-up chair while he was alive. But now I can’t get rid of it because it holds too many memories. Hopefully it will survive yet another move.
    Always makes me crazy when 70 is considered elderly by the news media. But I remember when I was twelve (or thereabouts) anybody my parents’ age (in their 40s) seemed elderly to me! It’s all a matter of perspective. Why can’t they just state the age, why does it have to be prefaced by that term?
    I’ve been using a certain brand of foundation for decades, now POOF, it’s gone from every drugstore in the known universe. They make other products but not that…. Amazon carried it for a while but now disappeared from there too. I’m too “elderly” to be making these radical brand changes!!!!!!!!!!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply ↓

    • I rarely get offended by the word “old.” Somehow elderly is beyond old. You don’t need descriptions if you are using facts. I’ve never seen “a young 18-year-old was injured in an accident.” The age itself tells the story. No need to describe it. This particular manufacturer is notorious for constantly changing the packaging look so things are hard to find. Then it phases out specific lines and adds others. You can’t tell what replaces what and maybe they want you to start from scratch buying things to try out. I have thrown out quite a few hair products because they are too heavy or greasy or something.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply ↓

  10. ~ I love your screened porch. One thing I miss from Florida is having that screened porch.
    ~ First use of the porch and it’s understandable why you’d be missing Hazel.
    ~ I get so frustrated when they stop making a product I love. Grr.
    ~ Have you heard about the song “Don’t Let the Old Man In?” It fits why we shouldn’t call someone elderly who has spunk. I picture “elderly” as “sickly.” Not true for all people over a certain age.

    Like

    Reply ↓

  12. Your porch looks wonderful and inviting, I can see why the kitties like to be out there.

    I’m with you on products disappearing – annoying! If I find on Amazon I order enough to hoard in fear that supply chain will dry up, too.

    I think my unwillingness to adapt to change (and plenty of grumbling about it) is a sign of our getting older!

    Happy Sunday!
    MJ

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply ↓

  13. I like your definition of elderly! About those products we love that they take off the shelves – it happens to me often. I can’t understand why they always seem to want to fix something that’s not broke!
    Have a great week, Kate!
    ~~Elle

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply ↓

  15. I agree… 70 is really middle age or younger. I also share your frustration with discontinued favorites. They did it twice to me with makeup. Can’t find my favorite sleepwear, and even doctors disappear. Maybe resistance to change is the old age marker. If so, I am definitely elderly…but don’t let anyone say that out loud.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply ↓

    • As long as you can smack someone on the side of the head you are definitely not elderly. I’m starting to think I should stock up on underwear. You know how that goes. You like something. It fits and it’s gone.

      Like

      Reply ↓

  16. It is a wonderful porch that looks over simply beautiful, relaxing gardens. Lots of work, but it shows. Looking forward to hearing you have tadpoles! Today is dreary and rainy, but it is almost April…and April showers bring May flowers. I am hopeful.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply ↓

  18. That first photo cracks me up, Kate. The kids have certainly taken over the porch. Oh man, I’d be out there writing all day…it looks great. My head is spinning at how fast March blew by. I hear you on products just vanishing. Typically, when I find something I like, now I’ll stockpile. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply ↓

  19. I agree on the elderly thing. We need a new word for the age between 50 and the nursing home. guess we can use Senior, but it’s already got associations with nursing homes and being frail, somehow. Perfectly Aged. Well Aged.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply ↓

    • For the article they didn’t need to use any descriptive word. Writing “a 70 year old female was struck by a car” was sufficient. Obviously she was walking on her own because they didn’t mention a wheelchair or walker. Elderly? Boo!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply ↓

      • Very True!
        I wonder – Why do we even have to know people’s ages in these stories. How is relevant??
        A woman was struck by a car seems sufficient. Although, now that I compare that in my mind, I realize I have more sympathy for people over 70 and under 12. So am more likely to read an article that notes it. sigh. I am part of the problem.

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply ↓

  20. Your porch looks pretty and inviting. Weather permitting our screened-in porch will be open within the week. Can’t wait to sit out there and to buy some new pillows and rugs for it. Then I’ll believe it is really springtime.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply ↓

  21. It was nice to see a Hazel cameo again. I bet Sasha is a porch addict by the end of the summer.

    It’s maddening, isn’t it, how companies shift to new products so quickly? The joys of capitalism driven by cookie cutter MBAs screaming about how growth will save us all. Lines of appliances are constantly discontinued, making it impossible to buy replacement parts — you have to buy a whole new stove. What a waste.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply ↓

  24. -I heard a story referring to a 60 yo as elderly. 👀🤷‍♀️
    -I just can’t understand why companies change or discontinue great products! Maybe they find something a penny cheaper to make. 8)

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply ↓

    • Perhaps people change their hair products a lot. They changed the look of this twice so I had a harder time finding it but now I can’t find it at all. I use a “volume” styling gel and it’s gone in this particular brand (which has 87 thousand other choices!).

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply ↓

      • I know you probably don’t want a bazillion suggestions for hair products but Kérastase Densifique has changed my life with the humidity here. It’s a mousse that volumizes and doesn’t make fine hair flat! I don’t wash my hair every day and this stuff doesn’t gunk it up and it has staying power.

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply ↓

        • It’s worth a try as I will be looking at new products. My old one was a gel which you had to be careful not to use much. I don’t wash my hair every day either and this one wouldn’t go flat overnight. The company has stopped making gels (at least for volume). Some mousses are too liquid for me (or maybe I’m using too much). I hate the process of looking again!

          Like

          Reply ↓

  25. Oh man, Kate! I know it is spring up north when your porch is OPEN for business. I will be sure that all of the warm season is there in all its wonderfulness when you open up the pond! They new and improved (which is as bad as discontinuing) Dove deodorant which then irritated my skin. I had started using Dove when I couldn’t find my long standing Sure. But there is hope… Sure is back. Made my week! Hazel on her chair ♥

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply ↓

  26. Your weather sounds wonderful to me. We still have piles of very dirty snow everywhere. I just looked out and there is an inch of new snow! At least it is hiding the dirty snowbanks!
    Have a cup of tea on your porch!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply ↓

    • Oh my! We get snowstorms in late March and even early April sometimes but I’m hoping we’re done. The good news is that they don’t last. Dirty snow piles are the worst. Ours are gone but one Easter the flower tent was next to a dirty snow pile. Yuk!

      Like

      Reply ↓

Don't be shy, I'd love to hear what you're thinking!