C & J Drain Cleaning and Plumbing or "My Heroes!"

This is the neighbors horse.  He is waiting for me to bring him a carrot, but I am waiting for the plumber who is coming to unplug my drain!  Something about the first of a new year, freezing cold temperatures and my drain not doing the draining thing that seems to go hand in hand.  So I had spent about a week trying to get the silly sink to drain and convincing myself that the sink taking 3 hours to empty out was normal.  Right up until Monday morning when I finally called the guy who pumps my septic tank  and asked him for the number of the guy who unplugged my line last time.  I knew the septic tank did not need pumped and he agreed.  So I bit the bullet and made the call.

And here  is a look inside the plumbers truck.  Some how I got a feeling that this was going to be alright.  The man who owns the company is named Clarence.  His helper was Jerry.  They were both very nice and so polite!

First thing that has to happen when you have a septic tank is the removal of the concrete lid.  That was a little tricky since it was frozen in place, but Jerry got that done with the help of his trusty pry bar.

And here is the birds eye view of my septic tank.

See the steam?  You know it was really cold out there!  So Jerry got his trusty roto rooter out and began grinding away.  

When  American Septic and Sewer Pumped my tank last year he said I had roots in my line and that my septic tank was in good shape.  He told me then that I would only need to have it pumped every four years.  That made me happy.  I had the lines roto rooted  then so I was pretty sure that was the problem now.  And I was right. These two guys went right to work and in less then 20 minutes I was good to go.    Jerry came in and cleaned out under the kitchen sink and ran the snake through there.  Then he put everything right back where he found it.  

I would recommend these guys highly for any plumbing you may need done at your house.  And since I have a septic tank and expect high bills when work needs to be done I was very, very pleased with his rates.  Going to put his number somewhere that I can find it when I need it and not going to bother with those silly yellow pages.

And just in case you are in need of guys that work reasonably and are honest, down to earth fellows that clean up after themselves, here is thier contact info

C & J Drain Cleaning and plumbing:

719-947-2521  (NORTH)

719-568-7660  (SOUTH)  I use the South one.

Mesa Nails and all the pretty little toes and fingers!

You should know that I have spent the last 4 years whacking at my toe nails with a machete just to save my socks and not have to buy a size bigger shoes!  I recall a time when I could put my feet behind my neck, but now I need glasses to even see my feet and my feet are firmly planted on the ground and my arms are not nearly as long as they used to be!

Patty Lynn decided it was time for a pedicure the other day, so we popped in to a little shop in the Aspen Square Shopping Center out here in Blende.  The name of the place is Mesa Nails and that is what they do.  We picked up a card and since Marlene moved to Las Vegas and Patty had never been privvy to the experience, we decided that sooner was lots better then later.  So off we went to Mesa Nails that is located at 1714 Santa Fe Drive out here on the Mesa. in the Aspen Square Shopping Center.

 We were greeted by a lady named Tina.  The shop is run by her and her daughter Tracy.  They are both a little camera shy, but then aren't we all?  This is the first stop.  I did not have my camera with me that day so there are no feet in this water, but I can tell you, this is an experience in itself!  The water is very warm and the jets shoot the water right onto all the achy places on your feet giving you a foot massage to die for!

 

 

Then the little gal pulls the plug and away goes the water.  The next thing is the clipping and filing of the toe nails.  Next comes the removal of all the callous stuff that manages to catch on the sheets at night.  A very fine grit is massaged in and then rubbed off, cuticles pushed back and  next comes the foot massage followed by the nail polish.  And this is the end result:

 

This is up closer.

 

 

Now isn't that pretty?  I don't know why I never checked this place out sooner!  I can not wait for my friend, Kay to get back up here from her winter place in Texas.  She is going to be amazed!  Patty got very dark red on her toe nails.  I opted for the soft red, but next time I am going to go wild!  It makes me happy to see my little toes and honey, at my age, if it makes me happy, I am all for it!

 

I want you to know that this place is spotless.  To say it is clean is an understatement.  That is always important to me when I go in a place and take off an item of clothing!  (Not that I do that very often, but...)   And the two ladies that I encountered are so friendly and nice that I at once felt comfortable with them (again something that is important when exposing a body part).  They are experienced in all aspects of the art of making a person feel pretty even if your toenails happen to be 3 inches long!

 

Now, I am a nail biter, but only because I am constantly snagging them on something, so yesterday afternoon I decided to go get the pictures I needed and as long as I was there and they were not busy, I asked for a manicure.  Well, I asked for acrylic nails and Tracy went to work!

 

Before

 

During

 

And after!

 

Almost wish I had gotten red so you could see how nice they look.  Tracy dug out my keys and home again, home again, well almost.  One block from the shop I spotted Mr. Tumbleweed, reminding me that I had chores waiting at home and that I do live in the wilds of Colorado even if I did  have pretty toes and fingernails!

 

Hell!  I may turn out to look like a woman someday!  Mesa Nails is open Monday-Saturday from 10:00 am - 6:30 pm.. Walkins are welcome, but an appointment is suggested to avoid a wait.  They accept VISA  and Mastercard.  Thier phone # is 719-543-1783  and be sure you tell them Lou sent you!

 

Kneading and Wanting or was the Wanting and Kneading?

http://kneadingandwanting.com/menu.html

And just in time to miss the holiday season completely...my step daughter's website for homemade goodies.  The following is only a partial menu, but click on the link and away you go.  Her website is still under construction and the holiday is about over, but we all still need that little bit of home taste that we do not seem to get from the shelves of King Soopers, Safeway, or the markdown shelf at Walmart.

Something about the taste imparted by real butter and stirred in with love in momma's (well, somebody's momma, anyway!) kitchen.

This is what is left of a cinnamon roll.

 

This is what it started out looking like!  I enjoyed this very much.  Just the right amount of cinnamon and sugar.  Moist and not dry.  Baked to perfection. 

Here we have a little loaf of Potato Bread.  Potato Bread has it's own particular taste, which I like very much.

 

 

 

Breads and Rolls-Dozen                        
*Non Dairy   

Potato Rolls                     $ 8.00      

Cinnamon Rolls w/nuts   $18.00   

Cinnamon Rolls plain      $15.00    

 

                                   This is  Peanut Brittle and I am thinking fudge.  Oh, that fudge was some good stuff!  Now you must understand that my daughter was here and there may have been a lot more stuff, but we both wanted to be sure we got our fair share.  Look at the peanut brittle; you can actually see the air bubbles in it as opposed to the store bought stuff.  This tells you there will be a definite crackle when you bite into this.  Not the fudge though.  The fudge was very creamy and not the over powering  sweet that I don't like.     

Item                                     

Creamy Chocolate Fudge                       $18.00/lb

English Toffee                                          $18.00/lb
Cashew Brittle                                         $17.00/lb

Peanut Brittle                                           $9.00/lb

Caramel Corn                                         $9.00/7C

Fruit Loaf                                               $18.00/lb

Now I recall eating some Carmel Corn, but I am not seeing a picture of it.  Maybe Kenna should send me some more Carmel Corn and maybe a little more Cashew Brittle so I could be really sure that I thought it was absolutely to die for, or as someone said, "Killer stuff!" 
All I got to say at this point is click on the link and visit her website.  Leave suggestions.  Ask for what you want.  She lives on the Western Slope, but is in Pueblo on a regular basis, so she may drop it off at your door.  If not, there is always the USPS! 

ENJOY!!!!

Milberger Farms better keep the bacon coming!

Ah!  Milberger Farms!  This is out in the county near my house.  I have a friend in town (Bet you didn't even think I had a friend, did you?) who likes to venture out my way a couple times a month and off we go to Milberger Farms for our "Bacon fix."  And I understand she has taken her daughter from Denver there also.  My God!  The BLT is to die for!
Silly me, did not take a camera either time, but let me describe this place to you.  If you can just close your eyes and still read we are good to go. 
When you step inside the door, depending on which one, you take a deep breathe and get ready for the "Milberger Experience".  There is a big open area with tables and chairs, complete with a waitress or two.  At any time of day you can usually find a few farmers taking a break and visiting other farmers.  It is very casual dining so don't bother with your finery when you pop in here.  And I am pretty sure you do not need a reservation!

 

The hot rod theme is prevalent.  There is a television in the corner  that has been known to have a video of hot rods dancing across the screen.  The eating area has a full menu and also specials.  The salad bar is fresh, fresh, fresh!  Well it ought to be since this is a produce stand!

But keep walking.  There is the deli with all kinds of meats and cheeses.  A gift area.  Lots of jarred up hot sauce, peppers, gourmet spices, pasta, beans, and oils ready to take home.  Then you pop into the fresh produce area.  Asparagus in the spring !Fresh peaches and pears in the Fall!   In the summer it is overflowing with fresh anything you can name and the whole building is permeated with the aroma of roasting Pueblo Chile's!  I could die a happy woman!

But then you stumble on to the Bakery!  When the peppers are not roasting, the bread is baking!  Is there anything that can take you back home like a kitchen where baking is actually taking place?  No!  Cookies, cake, brownies, Baklava, breads, fruit breads, cup cakes, Potica, pizzelles, etc.

 

 

 

Need I say more?  Now if you want a peek at the breakfast menu, here it is !  pick me! Pick me!

Or if you are looking for the BLT coose this one.  Gimme a BLT!

Well, kids, that is it for the day.  Milberger Farms is located at 28570 Highway 50 East.  That is the one that runs out through Blende.  Might give them a call and make sure they are open because winter hours change.  That  number is 719-948-3305.  And tell that little Shane Milberger that Lou Mercer sent you.

Bon Appetite!  (Or however the French say it!)



Southwest Grill November 13, 2013

I am inside, looking out the window from our table.  That is my little car parked beside the sign. 

This is my dining companion and guess what is in her hand and against her ear?

But nonetheless, we soon had a cup of hot coffee in front of us served by a very friendly waitress who I did not get her name nor picture. 

I could almost have bought a lottery ticket without leaving my seat, but I chose not to do so.  Aren't you proud of me? 

Our food arrived very quickly which was no surprise since we both ordered Biscuits and Gravy.  I fell to eating and neglected to take a picture of the fare.  I have my own scoring system on food of this nature.  It was not greasy, which is good in my books.  It was tasty.  The gravy was creamy and the sausage was sausage as oppose to some of the stuff I have bit into.  Very shortly my plate and that of my friend looked like this:

As you see, I managed to do justice to it.  The biscuits were just a tad bit on the dry side and the meal was not quite as hot as I would have liked, but it was a cool morning and I was not eating right off the stove, so that is understandable.

 

I have been to the Southwest Grill before and enjoy thier food.  Will I return?  Most definitely!  The atmosphere is casual, the staff friendly, the resturaunt clean, the food good and reasonably priced.  Lots of parking.  All kinds of good things to say about the place!

If you pop in, tell them "Lou sent you!"

 

 

 

 

 

 

Just tell me what you think!

Please leave a comment below and help me design my new blog page.

 

I am currently on vacation!

Having spent a full year writing Long Ago and Not Very Far Away and publishing it online weekly, I was disheartened when I offered the ending to the story for $5.00 and only had one taker.  That does not amount to a very big paycheck for what I thought was a very entertaining and heart breaking story.   My paypal button is still laughing at me!

I will be back on this site at some point in time, but I think it is going to be as some sort of product or restaurant review.  Maybe I will share a few recipes with you.  I am working on another book, but I shall keep it under wraps and I am not going to either do it for free or invest another $4,000 .00 and not get a return on my investment.

I see a few of you check in here occasionally, so I guess  somebody actually read me.  Until I come up with something, hang in there.