Theme: None
Total blocks: 27
We seem to have a lot of 27-block themeless on Saturdays. FYI, our lowest is a 26-block puzzle (a hard one) by Robert Wolfe on August 23.
I like this puzzle. It has such an eye-pleasing grid, so open and receptive. I wish I could solve it unassisted. But I enjoyed my struggle today.
I did not know why NIMRODS (8D) is clued as "Silly hunters?". After seeing the explanation from dictionary, I thought it's rather clever to have both NIMRODS and NOAH ( 19A: Ancient miner?) structured in one grid.
Across:
1) :-), for example: EMOTICON. A happy start for me.
9A: Zigzag braid as trimming: RIC-RAC. See Little Trimmings. New term to me.
15A: So-called feather of song: MACARONI. From "Yankee Doodle". I did not know this.
16A: Contend: ALLEGE
17A: Top-to-bottom renovation: EXTREME MAKEOVER
20A: Red-and-white sign: BARBER POLE
21A: Saharan formations: DUNES. This reminds me of "The English Patient".
24A: Take off the top: SKIM. Really? Is this the "Take off the top" in your mind?
25A: Infuses: STEEPS
27A: Brit bombshell Diana: DORS. She sure has the Marilyn Monroe look.
32A: Galley notation: STET. I got it from the across fills. Not familiar with "Galley" as a printing term.
34A: Scope of Tweed's influence?: BOSSDOM. Big stumper. I had never heard of Boss Tweed or Tammany Hall before.
38A: Parched: THIRSTY
43A: Poetic palindrome: ERE. Able was I ERE I saw Elba.
46A: Confuse: MUDDLE. And STIR UP (29D: Agitate)
52A: David's "Kill Bill" co-star: UMA. Don't know who David is. But UMA Thurman is always clued as "Kill Bill" star.
55A: Highly respected woman: GRANDE DAME. Like whom?
60A: Call a truce but remain at odds: AGREE TO DISAGREE
63A: Happening quickly and dizzingly: IN A WHIRL
64A: Entertainer O'Shea: TESSIE. Total stranger to me.
65A: Super bowl start: COIN TOSS
Down:
1D: Puts right: EMENDS
2D: Use up all credit: MAX OUT. Have you seen "MAXED OUT"?
4D: Carolina athletes: TAR HEELS. No idea. Why are they called TAR HEELS?
10D: Robert of "The Sopranos": ILER. I can never remember his name. It's a very rare surname, isn't it?
11D: Equine footfalls: CLOPS
12D: Those who annul: REVOKER. If you say so.
13D: Maturity cutoff point: AGE LIMIT
14D: Formal event: CEREMONY. I've never attended a Japanese tea CEREMONY, have you? That geisha's face is too white.
18D: Costello's straight man: ABBOTT. "Who's on first?" I love baseball.
22D: Web user: SPIDER. Ha, so simple, but I overthought.
34D: Boastful individual: BRAGGART. Learned a new word this morning: blow-hard.
35D: Win a debate: OUT- ARGUE. Is this a word?
36D: Track officials: STEWARDS. What track?
37D: Latino boy band: MENUDO. No idea. Did not know that Ricky Martin was a member of MENUDO.
39D: Stop signal: RED LIGHT
42D: Always on the move: NOMADIC
47D: Hollywood Dolores: DEL RIO. No idea. Wikipedia says she starred in "Madame DuBarry". That's the same DuBarry in the song "Lydia" (Guiess, DuBarry, Garbo./Rolled into one), right?
49D: Detroit duds: EDSELS. I am used to the "Ford flops" clue.
51D: Places for pads: KNEES
57D: Disk extension: ETTE. Diskette.
58D: Morales of "La Bamba": ESAI. I've never seen "La Bamba". I like his role Tony Rodriguez in "NYPD Blue".
61D: Grass bristle: AWN. This is Paul's Word of the Day.
C.C.
Total blocks: 27
We seem to have a lot of 27-block themeless on Saturdays. FYI, our lowest is a 26-block puzzle (a hard one) by Robert Wolfe on August 23.
I like this puzzle. It has such an eye-pleasing grid, so open and receptive. I wish I could solve it unassisted. But I enjoyed my struggle today.
I did not know why NIMRODS (8D) is clued as "Silly hunters?". After seeing the explanation from dictionary, I thought it's rather clever to have both NIMRODS and NOAH ( 19A: Ancient miner?) structured in one grid.
Across:
1) :-), for example: EMOTICON. A happy start for me.
9A: Zigzag braid as trimming: RIC-RAC. See Little Trimmings. New term to me.
15A: So-called feather of song: MACARONI. From "Yankee Doodle". I did not know this.
16A: Contend: ALLEGE
17A: Top-to-bottom renovation: EXTREME MAKEOVER
20A: Red-and-white sign: BARBER POLE
21A: Saharan formations: DUNES. This reminds me of "The English Patient".
24A: Take off the top: SKIM. Really? Is this the "Take off the top" in your mind?
25A: Infuses: STEEPS
27A: Brit bombshell Diana: DORS. She sure has the Marilyn Monroe look.
32A: Galley notation: STET. I got it from the across fills. Not familiar with "Galley" as a printing term.
34A: Scope of Tweed's influence?: BOSSDOM. Big stumper. I had never heard of Boss Tweed or Tammany Hall before.
38A: Parched: THIRSTY
43A: Poetic palindrome: ERE. Able was I ERE I saw Elba.
46A: Confuse: MUDDLE. And STIR UP (29D: Agitate)
52A: David's "Kill Bill" co-star: UMA. Don't know who David is. But UMA Thurman is always clued as "Kill Bill" star.
55A: Highly respected woman: GRANDE DAME. Like whom?
60A: Call a truce but remain at odds: AGREE TO DISAGREE
63A: Happening quickly and dizzingly: IN A WHIRL
64A: Entertainer O'Shea: TESSIE. Total stranger to me.
65A: Super bowl start: COIN TOSS
Down:
1D: Puts right: EMENDS
2D: Use up all credit: MAX OUT. Have you seen "MAXED OUT"?
4D: Carolina athletes: TAR HEELS. No idea. Why are they called TAR HEELS?
10D: Robert of "The Sopranos": ILER. I can never remember his name. It's a very rare surname, isn't it?
11D: Equine footfalls: CLOPS
12D: Those who annul: REVOKER. If you say so.
13D: Maturity cutoff point: AGE LIMIT
14D: Formal event: CEREMONY. I've never attended a Japanese tea CEREMONY, have you? That geisha's face is too white.
18D: Costello's straight man: ABBOTT. "Who's on first?" I love baseball.
22D: Web user: SPIDER. Ha, so simple, but I overthought.
34D: Boastful individual: BRAGGART. Learned a new word this morning: blow-hard.
35D: Win a debate: OUT- ARGUE. Is this a word?
36D: Track officials: STEWARDS. What track?
37D: Latino boy band: MENUDO. No idea. Did not know that Ricky Martin was a member of MENUDO.
39D: Stop signal: RED LIGHT
42D: Always on the move: NOMADIC
47D: Hollywood Dolores: DEL RIO. No idea. Wikipedia says she starred in "Madame DuBarry". That's the same DuBarry in the song "Lydia" (Guiess, DuBarry, Garbo./Rolled into one), right?
49D: Detroit duds: EDSELS. I am used to the "Ford flops" clue.
51D: Places for pads: KNEES
57D: Disk extension: ETTE. Diskette.
58D: Morales of "La Bamba": ESAI. I've never seen "La Bamba". I like his role Tony Rodriguez in "NYPD Blue".
61D: Grass bristle: AWN. This is Paul's Word of the Day.
C.C.
C.C.,
ReplyDeleteThe reason they call SKIM milk "skim milk" is because the fat is skimmed off. Fat is lighter than water (which is why obese people don't sink) so if you allow milk to settle the fat will rise to the top and is then taken off: hence "skim" means "take off the top".
Martin
Did not know MENUNDO-should have gotten UMA-finally guessed it.
ReplyDeleteFinally got RICRAC but tried RIFRAF and RIPRAP first.
Found this out about
NIMROD.
And this aboutTARHEELS
AndGRANDEDAME.
I have definitely seen MAXEDOUT-why the economy is in such a mess now!
Hope everyone has a good weekend!
Make that MENUDO.
ReplyDeleteGood ,ornning Cc, DFs and DFettes...another great one for me. There were only a few actor/actress clues and I was able to get them from the perps. I have always thought about skimming the cream off of the top of whole milk after we milked the cows and the cream rose to the top of the container. We then placed the cream in a large wide mouth jar with a four bladed paddle and churned butter. The buttermilk was also excellent.
ReplyDeleteIn our area nimrod is a term applied to first time wild game hunter and being inexperienced they do some silly things.
I remember Diana Dors from 50's TV. She was a bombshell.
I was also mislead by the clue galley. All I could think of was art and museums.
I thought the clue and answer for 22D was great.
Martin & Dick,
ReplyDeleteRE: SKIM. I know. I just wanted to have some fun with "Take off the top". You guys are so moral today.
NYTanonimo,
I was wrong then. Dictionary says NIMROD is "NOAH's great-grandson, noted as a great hunter".
Mark,
I agree with Doesitinink, it's STAR LIGHTED.
c.c., contrary to Wickipedia's definition of grande dame, I always think of Eleanor Roosevelt in that connection, a fine lady of integrity, maners, intellect and courage. Sadly, they are hard to find these days.
ReplyDeletePattispa,
ReplyDeleteI just checked several online dictionaries, and it seems that you are right. Would you call Judy Dench a GRANDE DAME then?
Good morning, c.c. and gang - I liked this one -- was able to get through without the G-spot, but not without some problems. I really was stuck on 'surfer' for 'web user' and that screwed everything up.
ReplyDeletec.c., isn't Agatha Christie a grande dame? Also, you have stewards at horse-racing tracks. And yes, I had a different thought about 'take off the top'.
I'm not touching the 'kneepads' clue/answer.
Hope it's a great weekend for everyone, and thanks again for the thoughts yesterday. This is truly a great group.
Dennis I like your thought about "take off the top". Guess you will be morel in Ccs book today. Knee pads! Nah, I am not going there either.
ReplyDeleteHope you all have a great week end. It is raining here so it will be a good time to do the inside chores. First thing is change the furnace filter. UGH!!!
Dennis,
ReplyDeleteRE: Agatha Christie & GRANDE DAME. Perfect example. Thanks. You are indeed a man of high MOREL sense, a manicorn. I'd like to touch on KNEES/Places for pads. What's hidden behind them?
Morning, folks!
ReplyDeleteThis is gonna be a short one for me, since I'm leaving in a few minutes to take the family to the Topsfield Fair....
Very easy puzzle for me today. I blew through it with only a few pauses for breath. Did not know RICRAC, TESSIE or DORS, but I got them easily via the perps. My only two momentary snags were when I put SNIP instead of SKIM and BRAGGERS instead of BRAGGART, but those got resolved quickly.
The other day I remember we all put GAWK instead of GAPE, so it was nice to actually see GAWK in the puzzle today.
And I have no idea what a track STEWARD is, but the word is common enough that it wasn't hard to guess.
See ya! ^_^
Just like yesterday, I looked and thought, "This one is a loser!"
ReplyDeleteBut, once I started, and found a few, then a few more, then a few more, Voila!, I was done.
Only one I'd never seen before was RICRAC. I think I could have gotten it by myself, but Nancy helped, so I'll never know for sure!
What's behind KNEEPADS?
Patellae!
As for the MD visits yesterday, thank all for the kind words. Nothing serious. A renewal of my DOT physical so I can take a truck trip now and then, and a back cracker session to align all the little bones so I could get home and paint a ceiling and put up all my molding. It's been a 2 1/2 year project to remodel my kitchen! Now all that's left is the floor. Maybe before Christmas.
Should be fairly obvious that I move rather slowly!!!
CY'all Later.
Good morning, c.c. and all. I got to sleep in today. What a blessing!
ReplyDeleteI was a little intimidated as I started the puzzle. In the first trip across I had very few answers, but eventually it all worked out. I needed help with the "O" in RENO, and then that entire section fell into place. I can't imagine why I had so much trouble with such an easy answer. A senior moment, I guess.
Thanks for the info on NIMROD. It's not a word I use, but it's nice to know it's etymology.
C.C., I can remember RIC-RAC from clothing in the 50s. There is a commercial version that is not quite as pretty as those you linked to. I had a skirt decorated with a couple of rows of ric-rac parallel to the hem. It was a major pain to iron after the skirt had been washed, because the trim is applied by sewing through the center, and the edges tend to fold over.
The picture of the DUNES is breathtaking!
I was thinking of the kind of galley you see in a boat, rather than the first printing of a literary effort that goes to an editor, so it took me a while to get this one.
David Carradine was in "Kill Bill." I might not have gotten this without the fills.
I expected to see 'Kitty' as the answer for O'Shea. I have no clue who TESSIE is. I didn't realize one of the definitions for EMENDS was to put right, although that is a function of editing. I have not seen 'MAXED OUT,' and I don't know Robert ILER. I bet a lot of us went for 'surfer' rather than SPIDER.
It looks to be a beautiful day in my neck of the woods. I hope you all have a good one!
Good morning CC and DF's: Pretty tame and fairly easy puzzle but was able to 'muddle' through. Got stuck in the NW a little and still don't get 34A. Will look that up eventually. Amazing how 'thirsty' one gets after a night of drinking. Am typing quietly and slowly this morning. Laughed at 'one AM'...saw that easily enough last night. Imagination went wild w/ 6D...several 4 letter words fit that clue...my choice was not the right one, of course.
ReplyDeleteTrying to decide which festival to crawl to first today. Maybe a 'coin toss' will help.
Dennis: so sorry for your loss. My condolences to you and his family. If you ever feel like the last leaf on the tree, we'll plant more trees for you.
Good morning, C.C. et al. I knew I didn't have it right but filled all the squares. I had "spiter" rather than spider and Bosstop for Tweed's 34A. I just wasn't thinking. I never heard of "Kill Bill" nor Latino Boys, so that area had some wrong letters.
ReplyDeleteI'd add Beverly Sills, Helen Hayes and Margaret Rutherford to the list of grande dames.
@C.C. I don't think 6D, Iler, is a very common name.
@Sallie That is a gorgeous cribbage board and one to treasure. Thanks to all who've dug out a family board to display.
FYI to the other cribbageophiles here, the tournaments I play in have 60 holes up and 60 back plus the game hole. It ends the arguements on which street one is on. Of course, you've never had those?
G'morning all!
ReplyDeleteWell, I started out thinking this was the week's crusher, but like the rest of you, it fell into place easily enough. Except for menudo--didn't know it and the m was a v until I came here--couldn't make sense of bossdom either.
I did know ricrac braid and spider came easily because I already had lit and steeps, but guessed a few others from crosses. Stet was one--I thought of a galley on a ship or the galley slave variety.
Have a great weekend everyone. I'm off to a pig roast today--client appreciation event my husband's firm puts on yearly.
I feel that Miss Piggy should be added to the Grande Dame list. According to Wikopedia, a grande dame is a flamboyant role, very much a stereotype. However, methinks that some great women also bear such a title. See my previous post.
ReplyDeleteGood morning C.C. and all you DF's: I had a bad time with the upper part of this puzzle!! Not knowing 1A or 1D did not help. I put surfer in for 22D and could not figure out what 20A was. 9A had me for awhile because I thought ricrac was spelled rickrack, and that was too many letters...anyway, I did eventually get it except for 1A, which I found when I checked C.C.'s comments.
ReplyDeleteNice to know what a nimrod is..I have heard the word before, but had no idea of the meaning.
36D Track officials was an unknown..still unknown when I had the answer. Stewards? I thought they were employees on a cruise ship. :)
Hope you all have a great weekend, it's really wet here..good for those inside jobs..any volunteers???
Good Morning All, I'll save some time this morning and ditto Kittyb's comments on: NIMROD, RIC-RAC, boat galley, David Carradine, EMENDS and surfer for SPIDER.
ReplyDeleteTip for Lois, MENUDO is a classic Mexican hangover cure. It's a soup or stew made with beef tripe. I've eaten it and if it's not super spicy (that's just my preference), it is pretty good. Of course, here in California we never lack for excellent Mexican restaurants, but it is usually the little "hole in the wall" places that have the best menudo.
We got our much need rain last night. It was wonderful to wake up to the smell of damp earth. I've been saving a short "rain" poem and now I can post it.
The Rain
I hear leaves drinking rain;
I hear rich leaves on top
Giving the poor beneath
Drop after drop;
'Tis a sweet noise to hear
These green leaves drinking near.
And when the Sun comes out,
After this Rain shall stop,
A wondrous Light will fill
Each dark, round drop;
I hope the Sun shines bright;
'Twill be a lovely sight.
--William Henry Davies
C.C. RE: "Lydia" posts from yesterday. I think Dave Cory's information, since he checked with the lyricist's representative, that the name should be "Thaïs", rather than "Guiess" is most probably correct. It makes more sense anyway.
GRANDE DAME, I think Wikipedia got it wrong too. The first name who came to my mind was Maya Angelou. The second one who came to mind was ME!! LOL
Kittyb, you asked for a picture of Hardy, so I found this one..I had a whole album of their pictures, but wouldn't you know, I can't find it! Anyway, this is the "great white". He had a different father than Laurel,obviously! The mother cat was pure white too, and Hardy's father was pure light grey..only white on Laurel is under her chin :)
ReplyDeleteHardy died of cancer in 2000 when he was 12 1/2..we still miss him.
21A "Yankee Doodle". Did you notice the word macaroni is misspelled on the marble slab as "macoroni"?
ReplyDeleteGood morning everyone! This one took quite some time to crack. I couldn't get anything on the top so I started solving the S, then the SW, finished the S, then crept up to the top, finally getting the N to fill. My last fill was the intersection of 37D and 52A. Again, too many proper names that were unknown: DORS, EMO, UMA, TESSIE, NIMRODS, ILER, and MENUDO.
ReplyDeleteApparently the NIMRODS reference goes to the Bugs Bunny/Elmer Fudd cartoons where Elmer is called "NIMROD." As such, he certainly was a "silly hunter." Thought of TRIM for take off the top in reference to pruning or getting a light haircut.
Everyone have a great weekend.
Hi c.c. and all,
ReplyDeleteWell, like Crockett I started at the bottom and worked my way up. Never heard of 34A and guessed on the D. I had Carolina Panthers for 4D, Ahab for 19A, Attest for 16A, Tail for 6D. Once I got 12D revokers and 1A Emends and Extreme Makover things started filling in nicely and I started changing all my errors.
Kittyb: I so agree with you on ric rac, what fun that was to iron.
Have a great day! GO GATORS!
Clear Ayes: I salute both your choices for GDs.
ReplyDeleteMark - Buenos Aries
ReplyDeleteKazie, Thanks for your understanding - the Paul Hogan show perhaps is not the best way to get an idea of Australian culture!
I was sure that Australia changed from driving on the right side of the road (which of course is the left) to the right side back in the sixties, but no, on checking your contention I was completely wrong. Am I having a grey moment or was it another country - can anybody help?
I remember at the time that it would have been fun to drive the day following the change.
In Ireland all the speed limits were changed to kilometres a year or so back, slowly they are changing the distance signs - it all adds to life´s sweet mysteries.
I heard recently that 99% of lawyers are giving the rest a bad name!
The answer to "Like the night sky or Grauman´s Chinese Theatre forecourt?" Is "star studded", but I had the advantage of the perps, so "star lighted" or similar must be a correct.
Try "Weak flu afflicted insomnia"
(7 letters)
Clue: afflicted indicates an anagram.
Talking of friendly banter. Here it is an expression of friendliness to call your worker or friend "negro", or "negrito" ie "blackie" or "little blackie" (and I am referring to people of European extraction). Similarly "gordo" or "gordito" meaning "fatty" or "little fatty" are terms of endearment.
If I said such words in UK I would lose my job and perhaps end up in prison!
Its so hard to keep up with PC´ness.
Have a good day to all.
Anon; wakeful?
ReplyDeleteI remember my mother making RICRAC aprons similar to this one. Another popular style was made from gingham fabric with cross stitch work in the solid-color squares. I think these were called chicken scratch aprons>. Does anyone wear aprons anymore? I never do.
ReplyDeleteClear Ayes: MENUDO is a favorite of mine too...the soup, not the band! But I like mine spicy and add lots of peppers and onions to it. I must like tripe, because another favorite dish of mine is Dobrada Con Favas (tripe with fava beans) which I first encountered in Lisbon.
Mark in Buenos Aires: WAKEFUL???
ReplyDeleteSome of your (our) ages are showing.... MENUDO was a total gimme for me (I do not often get gimmes that others miss)..Ricky Martin was the dreamiest...then he went on to My Favorite Daytime Soap GH.... also...take off the top: I have worked for many small business owners who "SKIM"...
ReplyDeletemeaning they put a little in their pockets before they report earnings...ie take off the top or SKIM.....
and Martin.... obese people do sink, and they do drown too....
So now I need to go put on me KNEE pads, and AGREE TO DISGREE with the dirt on my kitchen floor and attempt an EXTEME MAKEOVER of my main closet. it is a COINTOSS to see which chore gets done first, unless of course my honey OUTARGUE's me to do other tasks while on my knees ;)..... ooohh so bad !!!!
ttfn
Doesitinink, I admire your appreciation for spicy hot menudo. I wish I could develop a taste for some of the more fiery Latin dishes. I've been told I'm missing out on the true flavor, but I'm pretty much a "medium" spice person. Jalapenos are about as hot as I can go on the Scoville Scale
ReplyDeleteI liked your apron photos. I still have one plain bib-type apron I use. I am a messy cook and usually have to do a lot of hand wiping. I can't remember where I left the kitchen towel, so an apron works best for me.
Carol, Hardy looked like he was one happy cat. Living in your house must be kitty paradise.
OMG, I just "G'd" GRANDE DAME to see if there were a few other famous examples to post. I backed off when I saw there was a site using "Grand Dame" that caters to erotic dominance and fetishes. (I can just imagine some of our DF's & 'Ettes googling like mad. LOL)
marie, you've achieved instant DFette status with that one remark. Congratulations....I think.
ReplyDeleteWhat kind of car is that?
Doesitinink, thanks for the apron pictures..I don't wear them, never did and I am not a "neat" cook, I just use a lot of old dish towels.
ReplyDeleteI have a question for anyone on this blog who does laundry, why do all the 100% cotton items now say "do not use bleach". Many years ago, all cotton could be bleached, and kitchen towels especially needed it. I cannot remember my Mother NOT using bleach on sheets, towels, t-shirts, etc. Even if you do try bleaching the stains out of things, it never works and sometimes just turns them yellow. I have an idea that it is inferior cotton from another country. Does anyone know?
Clear ayes, yes, Laurel and Hardy are (were) very content! My sister-in-law says that if she could come back to this life, she would want to be my cat.
Dennis: if you're good with your hands, and still volunteering, I've got some plumbing concerns that need attention....some pipes that need cleaning. You game?
ReplyDeleteCarol: Laurel & Hardy are/were so pretty . They are/were very lucky to have you...as are we.
11:27 today. (Weekend xword-loving breakfast waitress was off today so I did the puzzle online.) BOSSDOM and DORS were the only unknowns (it was only after solving the puzzle that I remembered Diana DORS), and I've never seen the word BOSSDOM before.
ReplyDeleteIt is always so pleasant to see a Saturday puzzle that isn't full of artificially-lengthened words (the ones with IER EST, etc. added just to make a word longer).
NIMROD was a total gimme since there is a community on the McKenzie River in Oregon (near where I grew up) by that name. As kids we used to joke that the "nimrods" were the anglers who kept getting their flys caught in the surrounding bushes and tree branches when casting--i.e., inept anglers.
You may remember STEWARDS better if you think of horse racing. The race STEWARDS always review the finish photos to determine the winners in close races and also adjudicate any foul claims.
I'm also not sure about COINTOSS being the start of the Super Bowl. Isn't the real start like the five-hour pregame show? (grin)
Carol, I'll have to ask my husband about laundry...only kidding, but he does wash his own clothes. I won't let him near my clothes, unless he has something else in mind.
ReplyDeleteI still bleach cotton whites. I usually pre-spray stains with Simple Green. (Hey, whatever works!) Here's some information from Cotton Inc about to bleach or not to bleach. It really doesn't say much that we didn't already know.
Hi C.C. and all
ReplyDeleteC.C.
I really enjoy this site aand appreciate all the work you do to keep it going.
This puzzle was fairly easy but as usual I start from the bottom up if I can't get the NW corner first. I mostly dislike saturday puzzles because of all the made up words.
Dennis
Thanks for typing slowly since I'm not yet in the 21st century.
Cleareyes
who do you use for your high speed internet?
Great college football saturday. I love it!
Clear ayes, Loved your first paragraph (at 1:51) LOL.
ReplyDeleteI read the link you posted and you are correct,most of the info I already knew with the exception of chlorine vs oxygen bleach. I have tried most things, and I do spray stains prior to washing, but I was just remembering long ago, when Mom's dishtowels were always white, there were no pre-wash sprays then, she just soaked everything in bleach water (chlorine bleach was all there was), rinsed it and threw it in the washing machine...I still say it's the fabrics that have changed..because if we did that now we would probably have "shreds" :) Maybe I am just remembering "selectively" and things weren't that white.
Crazyhorse, I don't know where you are located, but our service is only available in the Sierra foothills, east of Modesto CA. Our provider is throckwisp.com. If you live elsewhere, they might be able to advise you if another provider is in your area.
ReplyDeleteCarol, maybe it was that your mom hung the sheets, etc. out in the sun on the clothes line. The sun has a great bleaching effect and made the clothes smell so good.
lois, I've got one of those reaming tools - that work?
ReplyDelete@embien I always thought The Big Game (can't use Super Bowl, that's copyrighted, you know) started with the incessant hype that starts after the final two teams are standing. Boring!!
ReplyDeleteDennis: I'm sure Roto Rooter has nothing on you and would bet that your equipment is top notch. I'll lend a hand if need be.
ReplyDeleteClear Ayes: Never had menundo, stew or otherwise, but a little hair of the dog that bit me and a nap has got me pumped and ready for tonight's rally. But I'll keep your suggestion in mind for another time. Thanks.
Good Afternoon friends,
ReplyDeleteKneepads answer was a gimmee for me since I coach Volleyball. My games start with the coin toss.
I had stew for the galley clue at first.
Bossdom must just be a take on words like a kingdom.
I use an apron when I am dressed up for Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner.
Good bleaching recipe is 1 cup of bleach, 1 cup of electric dishwasher soap and one cup of detergent (Tide etc.) Soak in hot water in the washing machine. Good for baby formula stains etc. But everything colored will be pale.
Great day for football indeed!
My grandkids are products of a mixed marriage...Son went to Michigan State and daughter-in-law is a Wolverine. Go green! Go Blue!
Crockett, who is your cute furry (sleepy) friend??? Sure is cute!!!
ReplyDeleteDennis, I thought you were going to help me? Lois will have to wait her turn, and being the morel man I know you are, you will be able to be a big help to both of us.:)You might even turn into a braggart!
Nothing like a "handy man" around the house!
carol, fair is fair, and you did ask first. what needs fixing?
ReplyDeleteCarol, thanks for the picture of Hardy. As you know, I've lost furry friends, too, so I understand how you feel about both Hardy and Laurel. Hugssss, kiddo.
ReplyDeletelois, I just went back and re-read your 'leaf on a tree' comments. What a wonderfully nice thing to say -- thank you.
ReplyDeleteCarol, I don't think it's due to inferior cotton from other countries. Cotton is being spun thinner now, and a lot of cotton clothing has small amounts of man made fibers added for softness and stretch.
ReplyDeleteIt's possible that part of the problem is due to stain and/or wrinkle resistant finishes added to garments.
I tried to find a definitive answer for you, without luck. I hope that one of our science guys might have more luck. These were the following suggestions I found:
Use a Clorox stain stick on just the spot. I've actually seen someone use Soft Scrub...not rubbing it in, because that would damage the surface of the fibers, but letting it sit on the spot.
There's always Clorox II, and I've read a lot of recommendations for Oxy-Clean, applied as a paste, but that never works for me.
Good luck getting those cottons white!
That's my buddy Leo. He's 13ish. We adopted him from someone who moved away, so we don't have his early records. He's quite a character, and a completely indoors cat.
ReplyDeleteDennis, well...my front yard is fine, all trimmed but the front door hinges need some attention, perhaps you could suggest a lubricant.
ReplyDeleteKittyb, thanks for the hugs!! Thank you too for the cotton mfg info, that helps to explain a lot. Those mfg processes were not done all those years ago. I agree that "Oxy-Clean" is of no use at all! Speaking of that, how about that terribly irritation "Billy Mays" who shouts at you from every TV station you happen to turn to..and I don't do it that often but geez that crazy guy is everywhere!!! (and I thought "Ron-co" was bad)
Crockett, give Leo a few hugs from me! Our cats are/were strictly indoor as well.
ReplyDeleteCrockett and Carol, your cats really are SKIMming the cream off the milk of life. It is so nice to see people who take good care of their animal companions.
ReplyDeleteWhen we lived in So. California, my husband did volunteer work for the Humane League It was disheartening to see dogs and cats that were not cared for properly.
Carol, BUT WAIT!! Mistreating Billy Mays shouldn't even be a misdemeanor...it should be considered self defense. Both of us leap for the remote to hit Mute whenever one of his commercials comes on. It's weird that one of our best friends thinks Billy Mays commercials are hysterically funny.
Dennis, I hope you're not planning on showing up at Carol's doorstep with a handyman's tool belt filled with Billy Mays' products. She might not take kindly to an Awesome Auger to Energize her Handy Switch and Fixit. After a Quik Strip, things might go Kaboom if you use Sealtite by mistake.
Marie,
ReplyDeleteThe human body is lighter than water and even when a person has drowned the body doesn't usually sink: that's why movies have mobsters tying people to a block of cement so their body won't float back up when they drown them. My point was that even though we think of fat as being heavy, people don't sink no matter how big they are. I apologize if I offended anyone: I was just stating a fact.
Martin
Well, I thought I'd chime in the pix parade with a grandchild, but it seems the current vogue is cats. I have one of those also, I'll have to set up a pix of her.
ReplyDeleteThis is Marnie at about 9. She is hauling gravel for a paver walk I laid.
Clear ayes, LOL - toooo funny!!
ReplyDeleteDennis, please don't bring sealtite. Gotta be free to open that door and it's just tight enough now.
Our mute button gets a workout too...why does that guy push so many different things? I've even heard radio commentators mention how annoying he is.
Martin, cute cat! Don't you love it when the flop over for tummy rubs???
Ken, sweet picture of your grand-daughter..that is such a cute age!
Hi-de-ho,
ReplyDeleteIt's Argyle using Jennifer's computer because mine is on the blink. So I won't be doing much online for a few days.
Carol,
ReplyDeleteIt's not flopped over for a tummy rub. It's flopped over saying "Taiwan is too hot for a hairy animal like me!" It actually doesn't like to be touched in the tummy: under the chin, under the ears and along his back he likes but not on his tummy.
Martin
c.c. and all,
ReplyDeleteWhere do you find an interactive puzzle for
Sunday?
Do you use the one in the MAGAZINE SECTION of the Tribune or another? I miss having a puzzle to work on Sundays.