I inadvertantly clicked on something and Windows 10 installed itself. Having slight computer difficulties here. I hate all learning curves, specially when I didn't want the update to Windows 10 in the first place. I'll live.

Sylvain.

I'm not sure you inadvertently did anything. My own computer is trying to force the upgrade. Sometimes I can't shut it down in a normal manner. In order to prevent the download I have to disconnect from the power as if lightning has struck. I called the ISP because I assumed that somehow I'd accidentally given the go ahead, but they said maybe not. Some of their own computers are doing it as well and other customers too. I think MS may be trying to enter through a back door via their automatic updates. Very aggravating. The ISP thought another possibility was maybe on one of the boxes that show up offering the free upgrade and no matter what you click on, it proceeds with trying to upload Windows 10. I guess beware of trying to close out of the offer when it appears.

Yikes! is there anyway to revert back from that install? (maybe restore to an earlier date?)

My ISP indicated there was a way to revert back, but I don't know what it might entail or what might be lost. I'm reasonably computer illiterate, so others will know infinitely more. The good thing about being illiterate is that my computer doesn't contain a lot of critical stuff that would be lost. It's all still on paper - provided I can find the papers .

I don't know how to de-install Windows 10, but I did manage to thwart the "pop up" constantly inviting me to install. The culprit is Windows Update KB3035583. I set my Windows update preference to manual update, de-installed KB3035583, and the invitation stopped appearing, but I have to be constantly vigilant not to activate it again, as KB3035583 keeps appearing in the list of updates waiting to be installed. Good luck with Windows 10, Sylvain. My DH is currently learning how to use a tablet computer with Windows 10 installed on it, and I am learning some new swear words.

Today we are off to my sister's restaurant to help with more cleaning/re-arranging. So, armed with rubber gloves (actually, they are black nitrile.........LOL) and my 2 wheeled industrial strength plant moving hand truck, onward and upward we go. It will be me, the SU, and the grands. Austin will be 13 in 2 weeks, guess we can find something to keep him busy. Aleigh is 10, so she can also make herself useful. Maybe she can just sit around and be cute??

We got back yesterday afternoon about 3 from our little trip to the Heartland RV's where we took a tour of the assembly line where they make the Cyclone, the model we have. It was VERY interesting, and we learned lots. Mostly how heavy and well-made they are. Some friends came with us that are looking into a 5th wheel; not one as big as ours, more in the 27 foot range as he wants to tow a boat behind his some of the time. Even a 27 foot one will be a huge upgrade for them as they currently have a truck box camper. (which he has to sell before he can get a 5th wheel..........LOL. Isn't that always the way?) We left here early Thursday morning and came back yesterday, so it was a nice little diversion.

Hi.

It's a partly cloudy day here in Delray-les-Bains, 78 degrees F, 75% relative humidity, intermittent drizzle and no breeze. It doesn't spritz under the carport and the fresh air is quite enjoyable.

I am writing this from my tablet. The change to Windows 10 on my deskktop was unwanted and unexpected. However, it isn't shaping up to be the end of the world. It was seemless, no data loss that I can observe and apparently no real harm done. The learning curve doesn't appear to be as steep as I had anticipated. However, my male pride is scorched at this thing having been forced against me through trickery. I'll survive.

Lucy spent the evening on me last night, holding on to my watch with her tail, tightly coiled upon herself, with her nose buried in the crook of my elbow. I rubbed her back, checked her pink belly scales and gave her all the loving I could muster. It was also feeding night yesterday and Lucy pounced on that rodent as soon as it fell in. Good snake! A fed snake is said to shed better. Verily, I say to y'all: if dancing naked on the roof under the full moon were rumored to facilitate shedding, I would gladly climb up there, disrobe and do a fan dance, the likes of which hasn't been seen since Salome's famous dance of the 21 veils. Of course, the neighbors would call the popo, but it would be worth their time.

Take care, everyone.
Sylvain.

That's quite a visual, Sylvain.

Quite a Visual of naked dancing in Florida.we apparently have already started in Texas. A few days ago one of the major roads into Houston was shut down for two hours by a woman dancing on top of a 18 wheeler cab.Google it for a shake your head moment.

Hi, all.

I just sent an email to admin requesting that they create 2 microbadges that I could use on my profile. I asked that they create one for "reptile enthusiast" and another one for "responsible ball python owner". I don't have enough acorns to buy them now, but maybe, if and when they get around to it, I'll have enough. I'm quite sure they have better things to do at admin than worry about my wishful thinking.

Sylvain

I'll gladly give you enough acorns to buy two badges just because I love your posts.

@lourspolaire I confess: I would love to see you dancing on the roof! (wicked grin)

@teacup754 we heard (and saw a clip) bout it far down here in South America!

At the restaurant for almost 8 hours and I spent my time on about 2 things cleaning. This is the cooker they use for the prime rib. Don't know if the pix will post in order............but if they don't, I think you can figure out the "before" and "after", even if they aren't in order.

Just think how many nuts we'll be sending when we see that video of you doing the roof-top dance, Sylvain!

Anna, that looks like your very own version of "Restaurant Impossible" (if anyone but me watches that TV show....)

Hi, everyone.

It's been a gorgeous, quiet and sunny day here in Delray-les-Plages with temperatures in the lower 80s, relative humidity at around 60%, a slight breeze. It was very enjoyable. It was a typical quiet Sunday. Gail took her weekly arthritis medication in the morning, but didn't sleep the afternoon away. I made chicken cacciatore with buttered penne and they had leftover banana nut loaf for dessert. It was good.

We were awakened by one of Gail's sisters at 3:15AM. She wasn't feeling well. Gail told her to call an ambulance and leave us alone. Like Rodney Dangerfield said: we get no respect. I don't sleep well and once awake, I have trouble finding sleep again. Drastic action had to be taken. While having my coffee this morning, I have configured our phone system to accept no incoming calls between 10:00PM and 8:00AM. We are not faith healers. Any emergency that arises can wait until 8AM.

I have Lucy draped around the back of my neck, holding on to my watch with her tail while I type, and being such a good baby. She's still in pink. The shedding process is started, but by no means begun. Right now, she's climbed on top of my head. She likes to climb up there and rest her throat over the bridge of my nose. She's watching my typing fingers intently, probably wondering what I am doing. Let me tell you it's not easy typing around 90 words/minute with a snake holding on to your left wrist, but I manage.

I asked dad if he was anxious to go to Montreal and finalize everything. He told me the quicker we got up there and returned, the better it would be. I have to agree with him. We're flying up there on April 24th, hoping to be back with his car within 7 or 8 days after we leave. We'll arrive on a Sunday, at lunch time. We'll retrieve his car immediately and start our business. I'm hoping to be at the border on Thursday morning at daybreak. I hate driving all the way from Montreal, but it has to be done. Our time up there will be very busy, no time to visit and lounge around in reunion mode. I have only told 2 friends we're going up there because I know those 2 don't know how to spread the word to the others. Winter has been rather mild up there, so I guess we won't have to lug Winter clothes during the few days we will be there. Much like him, I'll be glad when it's all done.

Acorns are raining from everywhere. Oy Veh, Kapiolani - as they say in Hawai'i. You people are way too generous. I'll have acorns galore if this keeps up. To everyone who sent me some of those, thank you. Now, if we could only get those 2 microbadges I was talking about. But many thanks to you all. This kind of makes me look like an acorn beggar. That was not my intent and mine cup runneth over. Many thanks.

OK, Lucy has decided to stick her cold nose in my ear and flicker her little tongue in there. I don't really enjoy that. But it's the Baby and there is not a molecule of malice in her. I hope she soon tires of that new game she just invented. She means no harm, she's just an inquisitive little snake playing with The Daddy's ear. What next, is she going to rip off my readers like she enjoys doing so much? I draw the line at that. You have no idea how many pairs of dollar store readers she has snapped in two since we own her. One day, I had to take the gold chain I wear with a shark's tooth on it to the jeweler. One of the links had become broken. He asked me how it happened. I told him my snake wrapped its tail around the chain and snapped it. The look on his face: priceless. He used a laser welding machine and didn't charge me anything. He has probably heard many stories about how a gold chain became broken, but that seemed like a new one to him. You can't make up stuff like that. You hear about it, but you never expect to come face to face with someone who experienced this. Gotta love The Babby. We do and you all know that.

Tomorrow will be laundry day. It will take the better part of the day. Once sorted, I should have 4 loads: whites, colors, darks and towels and such. It will keep me busy. Dad loves to fold clothes and he does a good job of it. I stuff the washer and transfer the clean clothes to the dryer. He folds them all, sorts them and returns them in the house. We make a good team. While laundry is underway, I want to make a batch of Chinese hot oil outside (because it smokes) and a large jar of giardiniera. Have you seen how much that stuff sells for in the grocery stores? No way will I pay that for something that simple. At the risk of repeating myself, let me tell you that we wuz poo' when I was a kid. I made a big jar 2 weeks ago and the crew basically inhaled it. I have to admit it was really good. This time, I'll make it with cauliflower, French shallots, carrot slices, celery sticks, canned black olives and green beans. I had added broccoli and mushrooms in the last batch, but they didn't survive the pickling process that nicely. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

While we are cooking between laundry loads, we will also start a large Ziploc bag of dehydrated fruits to macerate in rum in preparation for baking a fruitcake on Tuesday. Dad loves my fruitcake. No psychedelic colored little bits of questionable fruit in my fruitcake! I don't think so, Tim. We use pineapple, papaya, cherries, crystalized ginger, figs, apricots, pears, peaches, apples, currants, cranberries and blueberries in there. It makes an awesome cake that fills my large tube pan and rises over the top every time. It also weighs 5 or 6 pounds, but that's beside the point. Walnuts and pecans make it even more scrumptious. With dad around, we never lose even a smidgen of it. We figure that that fruitcake costs around $25 to make, worth every penny. We like to soak some brandy into it and let it sit for a few days. I can't eat it because it's too sweet for me, but Gail and dad sure go for it. It warms my old heart to see them enjoy it so much.

Take care, everyone.
Sylvain.

Sylvain, if I drop a couple more acorns out of the tree, onto your head, would you share your recipe for giardiniera? Please??

When I read this thread, I get so hungry. The fruitcake sounds scrumptious, Sylvain. Brandy is the perfect touch.

Hi, everyone.

It's a gorgeously sunny day here in Delray-les-Embrums, not a cloud in the sky, no wind, 80 degrees F and 77% relative humidity. Should any of you wonder why I always mention relative humidity, may I point out that our cigars sit outside in their humidors. Florida is the world's largest humidor and the ambient air keeps our cigars fresh without having to fuss with little wet sponges in our humidors every day. I have a digital hygrometer and thermometer on my patio table and I check that the cigars are sitting in the proper level of dampness every day. We're all prisonners here of our own device, the lyrics say in the song "Hotel California".

Getting hungry while reading this thread is understandable. I love cooking, I love baking, I LOVE eating and I enjoy talking about it. One thing I won't do is watch cooking shows because I often think that the only reason those people are on TV is a nice smile and a slim silouette. I have an engaging smile, but the slim silhouette... forget about it. I look much more like a pear than a celery stalk. I often feel like I know more about what they are expounding than they do. The only TV chef I enjoy are Saint-Julia Child (R.I.P.) and Alton Brown. But his show got cancelled a few years back. I could really watch him cook all evening while playing with Lucy.

Giardiniera is so simple to make, it's a wonder so few people make it. No need to shake the oak tree to cause acorns to rain upon my head. Here is my recipe. You'll like it, I guarontee.

GIARDINIERA
- Wash and sterilize a glass 1-gallon jar with a tight-fitting lid.
- Cut your vegetables in bite-size pieces and set aside. You can stratify the vegetables in the jar or mix them up. Layering them is fussy, so I mix them up. You decide.
- Prepare the hot vinegar by mixing all the salt, spices and the vinegar together and bring them to the boil.
- Transfer the vegetables to the jar,
- Fill the jar with the hot vinegar, making sure the vegetables are submerged.
- Close the lid loosely and allow the contents to return to room temperature,
- Close the lid fully and refrigerate for 6 days and enjoy.

Veggies: cauliflower, French shallots, carrot slices, celery sticks, canned black olives, fresh green beans, whatever you like, or have on hand.

Aromatic vinegar:
1 1/4 cup white vinegar
1 1/2 cup white wine vinegar
3 tablespoons Kosher salt
3 tablespoons brown sugar
3 whole cloves
1 teaspoon celery seeds
1 tablespoon mustard seeds
1 bay leaf
1 teaspoon turmeric (almost optional)
1 large jalapeno pepper sliced into thin rings (truly optional)

And voila: satisfaction guaranteed. If you start marketing the stuff, I want my picture on the label and 16% of the profits. Just kidding - or am I?.

Take care, everyone.
Sylvain.

I forgot to mention adding 1 bay leaf to the vinegar. So sorry. I edited the recipe to include it.

Sylvain.

Sylvain, I'm going to make this asap! Thank you, thank you!

I made bread today. Scratch and sniff HERE.

We woke up to snow on the ground this morning. Today we have had sun and more snow showers, however the sun was enough to melt the snow. March is often full of surprises.