iCloud

Wednesday September 10, 2013

There is this free Apple software called iCloud that can connect the contents of your iPhone to the "Cloud" and then to your computer.

After you download and install iCloud, run the Control Panel (for iCloud). I only selected the Photo Stream.  I want the photos in my iPhone to be copied to the Cloud, then downloaded to my PC.  I don't want them to touch my bookmarks, contacts, etc., so I unchecked the boxes.

What they did is, they gave me a free storage of 5 GB (GigaBytes).  That is five thousand Megabytes.  Figuring about 2 MB of storage for a good quality picture, the Cloud can store about 2,500 of my iPhone pictures.

Well, that is all the configuration you have to do.  You have to sign in once using your Apple user ID.  This is the user ID you would use when you buy iPhone Apps.  This tells Apple which iPhone to go to for pictures.  The computer (PC) you installed the iCloud Control Panel is the laptop to which the pictures are downloaded.

Ok, how to you get to the pictures on your laptop?  Go to Start, then click on the Computer icon.  On the left side on this panel, click on the Computers again.  You will see the "Photo Streams" icon show up.  Double click the icon, it will show you all the iPhone pictures.  Every time you click a new picture, it will automatically upload the picture to your Cloud storage.

This is a really good free App and free storage for your iPhone pictures.  No more cables.  I imagine this will be great for my blogs now.

Steve Waclawik's Birthday

Sunday  September 8, 2013

I have been thinking about Banana Nut Bread for a while. This morning, we woke up to find four overly ripe bananas in the fruit bowl.  Paula suggested we eat one each, but I volunteered to make the bread.
The recipe for Banana (Nut optional) bread is very simple:

. one egg, whipped up with the bananas until everything is liquid.
. Put in one cup of sugar, one and a half cup of flour
. the recipe calls for a quarter-cup of melted butter.  I used Canola oil instead.
. one teaspoons each of baking soda and salt (I used less salt, just a good sprinkle)
. if you want to put in some walnuts, go for it. Get a half cup of walnut, crush them to small pieces and add to the mix
. mix everything up well, pour into a bread dish
. put mixture into a pre-heated 300 degree F. oven for about an hour.  When you can smell the banana, check the bread with a toohpick.

I had some leftover batter, which I poured into a couple of muffin cups and baked alongside the bread. Here is a picture of the banana nut muffins.  Paula said they were good. "Nicely crusted on the outside, and soft and sweet on the inside."

 Yesterday was Steve Waclawik's birthday.  Vivian is in Massachusetts (from Florida) and had asked to see Babcie, so Paula arranged for anyone who wants to get together to meet at Bailey's in Wareham.

Steve had called during the week and said things are a bit hectic at home and he will try to show up to see everyone.

Paula and I were at the restaurant half an hour before the agreed upon 2 PM.  We brought a very nice and big carrot cake, and a couple of gluten-free cupcakes (for Laurie and Colleen.)

Presently everyone showed up (except Steve).  We all sat down and talked and ate our delicious meals.  Here is Uncle Mark with his seafood platter.  John Waclawik had a very nice haddock in Mornay sauce.  Vivian had a seafood casserole.

Babcie, way at the end of the table, ordered Baby back ribs, as did Laurie W.  Ronnie had a plate of Chicken Marssala.

 Paula enjoyed her seafood casserole with butternut squash and mashed potatoes.

At the end of the meal, the waitress asked if  we want to serve the cake (without Steve) or take it home.  We said serve it.  Everybody enjoyed their cake and there was plenty to take home as well.

Below is a nice picture of all of us.  It was a very nice birthday party.

Easter program at Lena's school

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Paula's birthday

September 4, 2013

Today is Paula's birthday. She had told everyone not to get her a cake, because she has some cake in the freezer and she wants to use it up first.

Of course, how can I not get her something?  I went to the local bakery, and got her a single cupcake with white frosting.  This is her favorite - cupcakes.  The lady put the cupcake in a brown bag, so I just write "Happy Birthday, Paula!" on the brown bag, and left it in the refrigerator.

I also went to the supermarket and bought two cooked lobsters.  She loves lobsters.

When she came home, she saw the cupcake and lobsters, and she was very happy.  She came to give me a hug, and I wished her happy birthday again.

She is very busy during the week, what with homework and taking care of her mother.  Maybe this weekend, we can go out and celebrate.