Happy Birthday to the Golden Gate Bridge

Five years ago My Guy was working in Mountain View, CA, and I got to visit him for Labor Day weekend.

We joined friends who rented a convertible and then spent the weekend traipsing the tourist spots of the Bay Area.

The trip was fun and amazing and educational and resulted in an impressive hangover coupled with the opportunity to snap several dozen photos of the Golden Gate bridge on a foggy afternoon ... from the front seat of a sports car ... topless.

The car, of course, not me.

Today this icon of the west and America and art deco turns 75 years old, so it seems the perfect opportunity to share two photos which I am particularly happy about. Crappy perspective, perhaps. Bad editing, for sure. Beautiful anyway.

To the woods my friends (with possibly creepy bug photo)!

After being away for only two nights it's amazing how much stuff has to be caught up.

Adding the post-camping duties of outdoor stuff storage and cleanup means an even longer week, but it's all worthwhile.

Just look at that lovely lake, surrounded by mountains and cool breezes and tall, bird-filled trees!

As if that's not enough there's the fun of seeing little girls discover new bugs and hearing friends' stories of past camping trips and munching warm, gooey marshmallow, chocolate, graham cracker desserts.

Nearly any cocktail, beer or glass of wine tastes better when it's sipped near a campfire, too, as do fruits, hot dogs and left-overs from the prior week.

Maybe you'll even find a swarm of strange prehistoric-looking insects at your camp site, busily mating and dying and digging into the ground to lay their eggs.

So, book your trip now friends. For an afternoon with a loved one and a picnic basket or a large group and a collection of coolers filled with treats for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Don't worry about the dirt or the insects or the heat. Don't even think about those things.

Because by the time it's all finished and you're back home shaking pine needles out of your shorts you'll already be planning the next journey to commune with nature.

What will you be when you grow up?

"Rabbit," said Pooh to himself. "I like talking to Rabbit. He talks about sensible things. He doesn't use long, difficult words, like Owl. He uses short, easy words, like 'What about lunch?' and 'Help yourself, Pooh'." -- Winnie the Pooh

48-ounce jar of honey

My family tree is void of royalty or wealthy ancestors, and we currently have no doctors or lawyers who would be forced to help us because we call them Uncle or Cousin.

What we do have in the family is a beekeeper: Two of them, actually.

You see, My Guy's grandfather is a 90-plus-year-old keeper of buzzy things. This grandfather has mostly passed on the business to a son, My Guy's uncle.

And we hear that soon My Guy's brother will be starting as a beekeeper journeyman!

That's such a relief. I'd hate to one day be forced to buy grocery store honey.

Just today My Guy returned from a holiday weekend trip to the beekeepery (do you like my made-up word?). Our cupboards and cabinets are again packed, positively chock full, of warm, glimmering, sticky joy.

So, it's with a sincere heart that I tell you, that I urge you my friends, if you have a son or daughter or young person in your life who asks for advice about what they should do in the future: Beg them to become a beekeeper.

You'll never be sorry.

Blogger glitches, power outages and weekends

Hello friends! As you'll easily note from prior posts today we here at the CuddlyBunny craft machine did manage to get a couple of projects posted.

Unfortunately since then we've had hurricane winds at our house (My Guy called dibs on flying monkeys ... I'm all about the lollipop guild and horse of many colors).

Anyhow, earlier this week I tried to blog and visit friends' blogs. Alas Blogger was having difficulties and my intentions were naught.

Now the power ... it went out about 10 minutes after my prior post ... and twice since then.

So, in an effort to not become so angry that I kick a hole in my monitor, I'm signing off for the weekend.

This means that you, my friends, fellow bloggers and artistic compatriots won't see me visiting for several days as the early part of the week is always busy for me at work.

BBBRRRZZZtttttTTTT!!!

No kidding ... in the middle of this ... no freakin' power ...


... blogger, despite it's issues earlier this week ... saved what I'd been writing ...

... but it's stressing me out and ruining my two days off ...so I'm outta here until Monday. I'm not even going to try.


Hugs, love and wishes for clear, sunny days filled with fun and joy ...

I'm back and with a whole new look!

Christmas lights reflected in brushed metal finish.

OK. I admit it. I've been distracted lately. Work and stress at home and the need to create without boundaries or obligations of photographing and posting ... I know, it's selfish, but it happens.

Have I ever mentioned how much I hate photo editing? I do. I hate it. I enjoy photographing everything -- literally everything. You'd be shocked to see some of the weird stuff I photograph. I just hate resizing, cropping and all of that crap. Procrastinating about a particular post is usually me avoiding messing around with photos.

Still, until I received notes from a couple of blog friends I hadn't realized just how long it had been since I'd checked in with everyone. After all, if I fail to write something snarky several times a week, people have no way to know I'm still alive.

Now, I didn't take the time to check before I started writing this post, but it seems to me that I end up in this situation, writing a post just like this one, every two or three months.

Pretty glow of handmade candle.

The reasons are pretty much those noted in the first paragraph: Blogging and life are time consuming. So we sometimes lose track of one thing to concentrate on something else.

Never think that this means I don't love all of you, because I really do: I'm so, so grateful for the bloggers who've inspired and commiserated and become friends.

But I think you can pretty much count on me doing this to you every few months. Even my before-blogging friends are used to me sometimes disappearing. I simply can't do it all and hang out e-chatting while still finding time to wander around inside of my own brain. How the hell do all of you find the time?

Yeah, here's my point: I'm back again with a new look, apologies for my self-centered behavior, a warning that I'll probably do it again, and a request that you forgive me ... again.

Creepy bug drinking from water puddle on kitchen counter.

So, how do you like my new look (let me know by voting in the poll)? I found the background at The Graphics Fairy, and even switched out the Blogger template! Yay! Changes!

I bet a lot of you aren't as glad to see me return, as you are to see that I've ditched the Hello Kitty pink background!

... and then I went and ruined those good vibes with the creepy ass bug photo, huh?

Forced to join the fun

Hi everybody! I hope your stockings and Solstice mugs were packed full of frankincense and grog and art supplies!

Santa must have been looking the other way a lot this year, because I got my wish: Check out the brand new printer over there ... on the shelf where my old printer was only a week ago ... it's the HP color printer with built-in duplex and wireless features!

Can you believe this is my first ever color printer? Me who does nothing without color?

Ah well, some things take time and an offer too good to pass.

It's kind of like the deals at Alpha Stamps. Today and every day through January 2, the good folks over at Alpha Stamps are hosting a daily giveaway.

You have got to see what they have that's new and what they're offering at sale prices, let alone the enter-to-win products. I'm wondering what they'll have in stock after smart buyers load up their carts, and then Alpha gives out all of this stuff!

By the way, it's only fair to note that I found Alpha Stamps in general, and this giveaway particularly, by visiting Lynn at Trash to Treasure Art. Check out her blog that is packed full of some of the coolest art you'll see, and features lots of Alpha products.

p.s. Later this week I'll be showing off my very first printer-based project!

A quick hello

Hi everyone! I hope you're having a great week! We've been enjoying a few days with my parents in Southern Idaho, including a lovely afternoon drive to Sun Valley and more than a few lazy evenings on the deck.

My post tomorrow for Drunken Stampers won't be up until the late afternoon, so I hope you'll stop by again then.

After that, please plan to check in later this week when I post a recipe for Sangria -- a wonderful citrus-filled drink my parents seem to have perfected.

Also, you might already know that My Guy has been unemployed for a few months now, which means the general household budget is tight and the craft budget is even tighter. Still, which crafter can go Cold Turkey?

So, aside from a few bucks here and there, I've been tucking away extra dollars to spend while in Twin Falls (not only could I find a large Holtz selection here, but I feel obliged to "spread the wealth" and support small town small businesses).

Hopefully you won't mind then if I selfishly giggle with glee for a moment because I finally have Holtz numerals and grunge paper and masks and metal trinkets, among several other items that I've been "saving up" for (and, as mentioned, which I couldn't find in Reno).

Now I'm left feeling melancholy, thinking of leaving my parents' house ... while feeling dizzy with anticipation of arriving home where I can use my new Holtz products!

Prost to the weekend!

Memory glass and alcohol ink

Apparently Memory Glass has been around awhile, but I've somehow missed the excitement until a recent trip to a local scrapbook shop.

Last week, while searching for a couple of needed products for the week's Compendium challenge, Sue at Scrapbook Paradise introduced to Memory Glass and the possibilities therein.

I'm only just learning about these products and techniques, but this stuff sure seems very cool to me.

This little suncatcher is made with two pieces of 2-inch square Memory Glass. I squeezed a few drops of ink onto one side of a glass square, along with two drops of pearl mixatives.

Next, I cut a strip of self-adhesive brass foil and carefully placed a strand of clear monofilament along the center of the strip.

Finally, I placed the second square on top of the inked square and edged both pieces with the strung foil.

Tada! Suncatcher!

Cherries! Yay!

Cherries from the grocery store!

Half of the bag of cherries are squishy, the other half too firm. Half too sweet, the remainder too bitter.

And yet, the joy! The joy of a fresh cherry!

Just think what we'll be finding at street corner stands and Farmer's Markets for the next few months.

Bring on the Real Foods of summer!

A Memorial Day barbecue

Here we find ourselves, again enjoying a three-day weekend with warm(ish) weather and family nearby.

And again we're firing up the grill in preparation for chicken legs and potato medallions. We'll have coleslaw and s'mores.

It's fun.

But always on these holidays I think of those who are gone: Not because they had the opportunity to live a long life full of families and joys and fun of their own before going on, old and gray and satisfied.

Rather, these men and women are gone because they gave up that opportunity in an attempt to ensure we could enjoy this life of freedoms.

Stay aware, folks: Vote, protest the wrongs you see, stand up for those who can not. Because even if we individually disagree, this right to disagreement is not shared by all people on our planet. Hold this gift close to your heart and everyday remember that a soldier gave his or her life to pay for this gift.

Remember, too that many more soldiers who are gone were not born on this American soil. Those soldiers did not live in our United States or  fight within our uniforms. And yet, we also owe gratitude to those men and women. Many of these brave people, who wore a different flag on their sleeve, have helped us along our path to freedom as well.

We are not alone on this globe, nor is our little globe a peaceful place, not yet. Here's to the hope that next year, during our three days of barbecuing and parades, more soldiers all over the world are home with their families.

Maybe even all of them.

Ahhh! No Interwebs! Ahhh!

Hiya folks, just a quick post from my desk ... at my office ... because a wind storm and multiple power outages fried our home interwebs on Tuesday.

I feel as if someone has stolen all of my digital things, and is standing outside of my living room window taunting me ... "Neener, neener, here's a perfect computer that YOU CAN'T USE."

So, I'll be back and hopefully before midnight Friday because I have a Drunken Stamper's card to post. :(

Lucky, lucky, lucky: That's me

I probably should have mentioned this luck before, but I'm a fairly new blogger and wasn't sure about appropriate blogging manners.

You see, folks, I've been very, very lucky the past few months. Lucky, that is, in addition to having a good life with a Good Guy and good family and good friends and good job and good home.

When you look around, and everything is basically good (as it is for most of us), it's hard to be especially lucky and say "Woohoo! Lucky me!" without worrying that what it SOUNDS like you're saying "Neener, neener! Look at me!"

So, here I'm finally sharing, "Woohoo! Lucky me!" I really hope you don't mind, and please, please visit the people who made me so lucky!

The first time I shouted "Woohoo!" was back in February. I won a completely awesome Be Mine package from a raffle I participated in at A Scrapper's and Stamper's Delight in my hometown of Twin Falls, Idaho.

I didn't expect to win anything, and wasn't looking for the prize. I wanted to support a wonderful cause: Go HERE to read about Kennady and her family.

How cool is that? I won a prize of awesome stickers and papers and things AND got the opportunity to support a family in my own home town.

Alright, now we're up to lucky day number two. Everyday Cricut (used to be, I think, Holidays with the Cricut), led me to this second "Woohoo!"

While the Everyday Cricut blog focuses on creating with Cricut, it hardly ends there. You can get all sorts of ideas for layouts and color combinations and sentiments. Plus, they have frequent give-a-ways.

And I WON a March give-a-way! The prize turned out to be brads and rub-ons and buttons and card stock embellishments and stickers and papers! As I told the Everyday Cricut ladies ... winning ANYTHING is awesome, but I was stunned when I saw everything in this prize. Honestly. I'm STILL overwhelmed when I look at this stuff ... and it arrived at my house more than month ago!

Of course, I've since received one more prize that has left me aghast: The BoBunny Bag raffle. Again from my hometown folks over at Scrappers and Stampers, this prize included an adorable BoBunny bag along with more embellishments, paper packs, stamps, adhesives and other goodies than I've had in my hands at one time!

Is it OK to admit that I giggled like a fiend? A paper, glue and glitter-loving FIEND?

I did. A fiend.

So, thanks to all of you scrappers and stampers and gluers and glitterers who gave me a jolt of fun these past few months, it's been awesome having all of these things to play with, many of which are completely new to me.

For everyone else: Please help me share a thank you by stopping by Everyday Cricut and Scrappers and Stampers Delight (remember that SSD isn't only a storefront on a calm, downtown street in southern Idaho ... it's also an on-line store).

Maximum mass o' marbles

A few weeks ago this space showed off some glass marble sun catchers inspired by a project from another blog.

Since that first day of inhaling adhesive fumes we've been considering the different decorations that could be created with a bunch of flat-back marbles and glue. Several ideas have crossed our minds, but this one was driving me nuts.

We love candles as it is, but consider the joy with a bouncing flame behind a wall of marbles! Yay! (Click on the photos for a larger view).

I chose a heavy-duty piece of stemware from Libby's Dollar Tree glassware (Dollar Tree stocks several different types of stemware ... these are the short, chubby, thick-as-soda-bottle glasses). If you try this project, be sure to choose a glass with a large bowl and mouth and thick glass. These are important factors for candle burning and application of marbles.

The adhesive I used, Aleen's Platinum Bond 7800, is advertised as being non-flammable, but I wouldn't take chances: Do not put a candle in or near this project until it's fully set (about 24 hours).

Also, this product comes with one of those piercing lids. You know the kind -- to open the container, remove lid, pierce top of tube, etc. Normally there's not much reason to worry about finessing this step. Pop off the lid, pierce the top and glue away.

However, this stuff can easily get away, slopping everywhere, so take a minute to carefully pierce only a small opening for the glue to escape.

When you've got the glue open, a clean glass, a protected work surface and a pile of marbles you're ready to create!

Start with a "line" or a "dotted ring" of glue around the top of the glass, about three quarters of inch from the rim.*

To ensure your adhesive has the best chance of drying securely, dip each marble in the line or dots of glue and set aside, in order of dipping, moving along the line until the line or dots have all been dipped.

Then, beginning from the first dipping point, apply the pre-dipped marbles. As much as possible, simply place the marble in it's appropriate spot and then, with a finger on the inside and another on the outside, holding the marble, pinch the marble into the adhesive.

Once you have a full circle of marbles, set the glass upright. The glue is not yet set, but this line of marbles is what will help you to apply the remaining lines.

So, for the next hour to two hours, flip the glass repeatedly to ensure the drying adhesive doesn't let the marbles slide (I flipped my glass every 20 minutes and was able to move on to the remaining marble lines in less than two hours).

*For each line of marbles, repeat the glue line, dip and application process. If you notice that the marbles are moving too much, stop and do the wait, flip, wait, flip thing until they've stiffened again.

After the entire globe is covered in marbles ... and the glue has dried ... you've got a candle holder that throws beautiful, dancing lights on surrounding surfaces.

Next time I'm going to choose a vessel with straight sides so I can ensure a more linear design. Also, I'll add a bit of tile grout to cover up the glue that shows around the edges of the marbles.

Who Are You?

I think I lied a couple of days ago, when I said I'd post more about a neat new project. Supposedly I was going to post that project yesterday, but My Guy took me out ... guess where we went?

Yay! Alice!

After an errand, a stop to see the baby chicks at the local feed store and a run to the grocer we arrived home to discover that Brown Santa had left a surprise from My Guy ... the 1933 version of Alice in Wonderland and Syfy's Alice that stars Caterina Scorsone, Tim Curry and Kathy Bates.

Um. Yeah. I more or less plopped down in the front of the ol' DVD player and didn't move much the rest of the day.

So, later today I'll post that promised project and maybe a couple of other things. But, lesson learned on those promises, no more absolutes. We'll be sticking to rougher estimates in the future ...

Be The Buddha

Once in awhile I have trouble remembering to be calm and not flip out.

There've been a few years now in which I could have learned this -- less than 60, but more than 20 (I figure it's OK if, before I turned six, I only learned useful things like how to use Crayons to create fake wallpaper).

While discussing my temper with my mom I found out that she gave me my teeny, tiny tantrum-throwing talent. This came as a surprise to me: I don't remember her turning red and screaming at my sister or me, but I remember knowing that I had one chance to reach adulthood and not pissing off my parents was a reliable route.

So, deep down I probably knew my mom possessed the ability to cross the line from silly and fun to dragon lady (alright, maybe I remember one or two "fits"). By the way, this is something I think a lot of today's kids could use a dose of as well, but that's an entirely different subject.

Anyway, my point here is that I have a sometimes unpredictable temper and it's not my fault. However, to ensure I keep my own little Gila Monster in check I created a personal mantra: Be The Buddha.

Don't develop an individual philosophy based on this believing it is true to Buddhism, this is MY version.

Buddha is traditionally a happy kind of guy. Chubby, too, so you know he can get his grub on. He's always looking to help people out and is grateful for the little things. He always appears content to be Buddha.

Did I mention he's a happy and content kind of guy? Go to your favorite search engine and find a picture of Buddha. He's happy, right? He's content, correct?

I could have squished this entire post into two paragraphs:

This handmade sign is designed to remind me of my mantra: Be The Buddha. The mantra leads to the image of a happy, open, go-lucky guy. And the image leads to no more tantrum.

Whew. Another overreaction stopped in its tracks ...

Sunless day ideal for long-awaited project

As my previous post illustrates I'm somewhat fascinated with the ideas over at Wisdom of the Moon.

This weekend I've finally had time, and enough of the necessary supplies, to try out her Marble Suncatcher project.

Since I haven't worked a lot with glass I decided that I wouldn't attempt this project until I had the glue she recommended. I found that about two weeks ago and only last week remembered to stop by the Dollar Tree for flat-backed marbles.

I assumed that I had fishing wire (or something similar) in my jewelry-making boxes.

This assumption has led me to the opportunity to explain a part of the reason that I don't follow instructions perfectly most of the time: We live in a rural area. Not WAY out, but roughly an hour, round trip, to the nearest general shopping area where you're going to find the most basic craft supplies. Figure about two hours, round trip, to go to a craft or home improvement store.

I McGyver a lot, as you must guess. This project is no different. Unbelievably excited to get started on my own suncatcher, I decided that I didn't care if I didn't have the recommended string, I'd just use whatever would be strong enough.

In this case: Tiger tail, a coated wire that is plenty strong, but unquestionably more visible than fishing wire would have been.

Next, My Guy and I have numerous projects and possible projects and future ideas and "Ouu, lookies!" sitting around. We're not yet an upcoming episode of Hoarders ... but we don't have a helluva lot of space if a larger project needs to "set" for 24 hours.

If your house is like ours, just cut a couple of cardboard strips to use as "trays" so that you can create/move/set as needed.

Finally, I very much wanted to hang my suncatcher indoors AND outside once the weather will let me go near the muddy yard. My magnet and velcro bin at first didn't garner much that I could use. The marbles are much heavier than you think they're going to be.

Then I remembered THE magnets. The ones that My Guy, a tech person who works with tech people, gives to me from unsalvageable computers.

Keep a few of these magnets around, if you can find them, as they have lots of uses and another feature that can be helpful -- holes.

Computer magnets are themselves adhered to strangely-shaped metal chunks which have holes for screws. So, using this project as an example, string the suncatcher wire through the holes, adding strength to the also-glued wire and, once complete, the holes easily slip over a cup hook for outdoor hanging.

Indoors hang the suncatchers from the tops of mini blinds.

I'm laughing at the fact that there's no sun to help me show off the shininess of these marbles hanging in the window.

As many of you know my house is almost always awash in unbelievable amounts of sunshine (even when it's snowing we seem to be closer to the sun than other people).

Still, these add a lovely glint and color I'm dying to add all over my house, yard and office (the boss' office windows, anyway). YAY! :)

Now that I have the glue and the marbles, by the way, I'm digging in my cabinets for the perfect vessel to turn into a marble-covered candle holder. Yay again!

Wisdom of the Moon

Alright, I'll admit that the world of blogging still seems more than a bit odd to me. I'm impressed at how people share so much of themselves that it's easy to figure out which people you'd probably want as neighbors and who, well, you don't want to WISH bad on anyone, do you?

One of the Bloggers who I would happily live next door to is the writer and creator of Wisdom of the Moon.

I found her blog when I was searching for a pattern to create a reusable grocery bag. I'm a very low-skilled seamstress, on top of which I have a hard time comprehending what the hell I'm reading when it comes to instructions (no small wonder, then that I learn virtually everything by trial and error).

I need a LOT of photos and fairly detailed, step-by-step instructions. So, when I found her fabric grocery bag post I knew I had found a pattern to try.

As it turned out, I didn't try it immediately. First I saved it to my bookmarked sites for the day I had time to sew and looked around the remainder of her blog.

Between that first click and today we've enjoyed her Margarita Jello Shots and her homemade Granola. I've also discovered that knowing how to take a low-light photo is pretty much lost on me -- I really think I just prefer overexposed photos (read shiny!).

I finally got to make her grocery bags at Christmas -- as "Santa Bags" for my nieces. And I was correct, the grocery bag pattern linked above is EASY to follow and results in a wonderfully simple and usable item.

Now, if you're wondering why I'm posting this, it's for two reasons: First, my next post is about another project I stole from Wisdom of the Moon and, as almost everyone who knows me is aware, I prefer to support start-ups and locally-owned, non-chain businesses.

Wisdom of the Moon fits all of these criteria AND if you're looking for crafting ideas in a range of disciplines, this is a completely awesome place to go without spending a dime on subscription costs or destroying trees for printed materials.

I suspect if I did live next door to Wisdom of the Moon I'd be chided for my lack of responsible composting ... but I'm trying and learning as I go, I promise.

Spring Tease

This happens every year in Reno. In fact, it’s the only reliable weather-related event in our area: The Spring Tease.

Every year Renoites sigh with relief with the first series of days that reveal cloudless, deep blue skies. We open windows and turn off heaters.

We move chairs from the shed to the deck and pack away bags of snow melt.

We begin to smile and think of tomatoes and herbs and flowers. The tulips and daffodils and crocus know, too. They also begin reaching up to the sky.

Birds are less frequently at the feeders – they’re building nests and discovering delicious nibbles on the bushes and errant weeds.

But, we wonder: Is this real, or is it only the Spring Tease?

We know, those of us who have lived her for a few years, but we hope anyway.

Despite the breeze that seems cooler than on the previous day.

Despite the weatherman … the incessant and mean weatherman threatening us, “It’s not going to last.”

Finally, we give in a little and turn the heaters to 60 F … only to make sure pipes can’t freeze, though. Really, it's Spring, people.

Tomorrow we'll still put some coals on and barbecue wings. We'll still clean the fountain and fill it with water.

Sure, sure we'll do those things. Right after shoveling  the sidewalk and calling the boss to let her know we'll have to work from home because the driveway is blocked by a snow drift.

That's OK, too though. The boss is stuck in San Francisco ... she won't be back through the mountain pass until Tuesday.

I'm so glad Spring is here!

p.s. if you click on the bird feeder photo so that it enlarges, you can spy the one wild bird who decided the possibility of something to eat beat out the fear of The Woman With Camera.

Inside clothes. Outside clothes. A lesson.

PajamaJeans? Seriously?

A woman in New York, I believe, has invented PajamaJeans. If you haven't seen them already don't waste your time.

They're described by some news outlets (is this news?) as pajamas that look like jeans.

But, you know, why don't you just wear jeans? And when you're home ... jammie pants (mine are jammie pants).

Growing up my parents always dressed nicely when going anywhere but the back yard. Really nicely. So nicely that I'm sure today they are less than impressed with my, and my sister's, proclivity for t-shirts, jeans and jackets.

Still, this means I stand a bit to the side of actually being aware of and caring about outside/inside clothes. There's a damn difference, people.

Furry purple slippers and Helly Kitty-printed lounge pants. Inside.

Linen slacks and knee-high boots. Outside.

Still I went to see these inside Pajamas that no one would know were inside Pajamas so you could show off your fine fake Jeans outside.

Turns out there's two problems or one depending on how you look at it ...

These "Jeans" are a terrible shape for almost every woman. These "Pajamas" are too tight to actually be cozy.

Come on, people. Everyone knows that the only time you get a hall pass for wearing inside clothes out is on laundry day. And you better be carrying an enormous jug of detergent.