LG Dryer Diagnostics

We moved to northern Virginia over four years ago. With the new condo came new appliances, including an LG washer and dryer. So far they have been working well. We even have annual dryer preventative maintenance vent cleaning for the entire building. We usually do three loads of wash every other week and last weekend was no exception. There were no issues. A while back I got my husband some laundry bags to put his shirts in so they won’t get torn up in the wash. Yesterday was a big shirt washing day. All was well until he needed to use the dryer. It would run for three minutes and then turn off. He got out the reference materials and I queried why the dryer would turn off after three minutes. None of the items sounded like our problem. We also split up the large two laundry bags in to four bags to decrease the weight in two bags and allow more drying space in the four bags. That didn’t seem to do anything. So I checked the LG app on my phone - which I haven’t looked at for four years - and there was a diagnostics option. So you push a button or two, wait for the countdown, and the results are shown after holding your phone to the smart diagnostics logo. It did not detect any abnormal operation and the temp sensor and etc was all okay. But it did also recommended a couple of things. So we tried selecting a timed amount rather than the generic amount. That seemed to work fine. Neither one of us remembered the individual selections you can make and that seemed to make a difference. We were relieved that it worked! It is amazing how you can find an answer to just about anything on the internet or the app. We also have an extended warranty on all of our kitchen and laundry appliances. They do come in handy. 

52Frames Inspired by a Framer Photo Challenge

The 52Frames photo challenge subject this week was “inspired by a fellow framer.”  There are a couple of people that I admire who participate in this photography hobby. But rather than be inspired by someone I don’t know, I thought it would be cute to try and do an image inspired by someone I do know. And that person is someone we have known for ages. He was a colleague of mine and my husband’s and he and his family are friends of ours. He also introduced me to 52Frames over two years ago during the pandemic. It came at a good time! Harold is always thinking of all things fishy. If he’s not fishing up north he’s thinking about fishing up north. He has posted several fish, lure, and water photos on his website. So I found an old fish ornament and created a composite photo/painted image. First some of the ornamental pieces on the fish were eliminated, then the fish was removed from the background. Another image of the vase color was used for the new background. Some watery waves were painted in. The only thing missing was the fishing line with a hook and a soon to be gobbled worm, so they were also painted in. In the end it was a fun project and I hope he likes it! 

Happy Father’s Day

My dad picked a very memorable day to pass away. It was on Father’s Day in 2015. It’s so hard to believe that it’s been eight years. But he lived to be 95 years old! So every year when Father’s Day rolls around there is no excuse not to remember. I was lucky to have a father for so long. He was a very simple man of few words. I wouldn’t have it any other way. 

Moby Dick Silver Status

It was a nice day yesterday. My sister moved from Maryland to Florida at the end of January. She loved in the DC area for many years! She was visiting in Virginia for about two weeks to go to a seminar and then stay with a friend that she’s known since college. It turned out yesterday would be the best day to meet up for brunch before she drives back home today. So we decided to make a go of it at the Virginian restaurant in Vienna. We haven’t been there since the pandemic but had gone there many times before that - including a couple times with her and my brother/SIL who have also lived in DC for many years. it was a nice visit/brunch and after that we all decided to come back to our house for a bit. The last time we were all together at our house was Thanksgiving 2019. After that my mom passed away in February 2020 and then the pandemic ruined so many things. So yesterday was the first time we all were together at our house since then - over three years! My brother/SIL had to leave around three to get to a Nationals baseball game, but my sister decided to stay for dinner. So we needed to figure out what we wanted and thought Moby Dick Persian food would be great to pick up and bring home. I ordered on line using their app like we do every time we go there. Moby Dick is one of our favorite places. It was a nice surprise when I got a message that we hit “silver status” - which meant we had earned a seventy-five dollar credit to spend on anything we’d like. So the next time we go to Moby Dick it will be on the house so to speak. I wish my sister had stayed in the area so we could all get together at least once a month like we used to. I suppose as long as she is happy is all that matters. So when we go to Moby Dick the next time we will think of her. 

Stealing the Coco Liner

It was bad enough when the crows kept coming around to visit the balcony flowers. But they weren’t admiring the flowers. They were taking bits of the coco liners that keep the dirt in the window baskets. We have three small baskets that hang from the back of the seats because we can’t use the balcony rails. So we got zip ties keep everything in order. But the crows love the baskets and the liners as much as we do. They also hide stuff in the dirt and break off some of the flowers. So now the other birds are catching on. Last week there was a mockingbird who was taking advantage of the liners too. An occasional morning dove stops in. I am hoping that our flowers attract more than these feathered friends. Last year we actually had yellow finches. I’ve always enjoyed watching the birds - as a youngster in the northeast, then the seabirds in the south, then a whole host of critters in the Midwest, the cardinals on Capitol Hill, and now these. We used to have feeders and birdbaths but no manger have the yard or space for that. So it’s nice to see them fly in once in a while. A bit of garden is always so pleasant. 

Deer and Heron in the Park

We try to drive in to town at least once a week. It’s always a nice ride and provides interesting morning walks in our old neighborhood. On the other days we have the choice of walking around the neighborhood sidewalks or the nearby park. We are always on the look out for any kind of wildlife. We saw a mangy looking fox once, and a sickly looking raccoon - in mid morning. There was something wrong with him as he staggered across the path. We have even come across a dead deer carcass with buzzards flying about. On a recent visit to the park it was beautiful weather. The birds were out and about - although we haven’t seen the hawk as of late but have certainly heard him. Then in front of us was a couple with their dog stopped on the path. At first we didn’t notice, but a deer was hiding in the brush making eye contact with the dog. They said the deer had just given birth so we were very quiet. As soon as the group continued walking on the deer decided it was safe enough to cross the path. She don’t show any signs of exhaustion, but certainly was very pretty to look at. On our way back to the car we crossed the bridge and my husband noticed a heron upstream. We have seen him before too. Unfortunately we can never get close enough for a decent photo. They say it’s always best to take walks in nature rather than the noisy urban jungle. I think I have to agree. I alway feel a bit calmer whenever we finish our walks there compared to the city with all of the traffic and crowds. But in the end it’s nice to have either option. 

Versa Brella Sport Brella for Balcony

We have a balcony that faces west. My favorite part of the day is sunset/dusk since I am not a morning person. It’s not a very large balcony so we can’t have the traditional sun umbrellas to block intense heat of the late spring/summer. About a month ago we got hat umbrellas - which actually worked quite well - but are made more for outdoor work like gardening, etc where you need the shade but you also need to use your arms. So I looked around for what else might be out there and found this Versa Brella on Amazon. You can attach this adjustable umbrella with a clamp on to a round or square surface up to an inch and a half. Then you can adjust it three different ways to provide the best coverage. So we gave it a go yesterday and tried it first on my husband’s chair. He didn’t like the way it stuck out past the balcony, but it actually worked very well. We aren’t allowed to attach anything to the balcony rails so we are limited a bit. So then we moved it to my side of the balcony and hooked the umbrella to the arm of the chair. It took a bit to reconfigure everything but in the end it actually works quite well. How it stands up over time we don’t know. But for now we left it where we put it and you hardly notice that it is there. It comes with a carry case and folds up very neatly. It’s a great option for a small balcony with a western exposure. Ideally we should have one for each chair. If not, my husband can use the ten dollar hat umbrella.