Gloria de:  Welcome back!  So glad that you are recuperating and so much better. 

Marilyn, I try not to mention this any more because I think I did too much in previous years, but tomorrow will mark 76 years since my mother died.  She was in an auto accident in Iowa, going to a national church council meeting and died a week later on October 31, 1941.  You can guess that Halloween is not my favorite time of year.

I hope they'll be able to schedule your brother's memorial soon because it will give everyone closure.  I'm glad that none of your family's homes were destroyed in the fires.  I know we had fires in the UP but I can't imagine coming to no home after those fires.

Mary Ann

Mary Ann - I knew your mother had died when you and Norm were young, but I didn't know the circumstances or the day. I can understand that Halloween would not be a day for celebration in your household.

Because my brother's birthday was the day before Halloween, he always had a birthday party with a Halloween theme, and all the neighborhood kids came in the costumes that they would be wearing the following night for Trick or Treat.  Back in those days, (the 1940's) you didn't go to school in costumes, like they do now-a-days.  Also, we didn't call it Trick or Treat, but instead it was called Halloween Handouts.  Much more low key than in today's world. No commercialism at all.  All of the handouts were homemade, like popcorn balls, cookies, or apples.  I don't think there was much candy available during the war years?

Marilyn, I kind of predate Trick or Treat, which came to being as I was getting too old for such things.  We went out and rang doorbells, then ran.  Or we soaped windows.  Or put notches in thread spools, put a long nail in the hole and string around the center, then we'd put the spool against a window and pull the string.  It made quite a noise.  I remember going to parties where the big thing was bobbing for apples.  Our neighbors didn't have to worry about out houses put on roofs because we were in the city and only a couple of neighbors still had out houses at the time. 

Mary Ann

Oh Joy, after two weeks of freezing rain and black ice! No snow off the foothills so far but that opaque fog moved in about four in the afternoon.

Special Weather Statement
Weather Updated: Oct 30 6:31PM
Issued by the National Weather Service
For Middle Tanana Valley, Alaska
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT UNTIL 8:30PM AKDT MON ...EXTREMELY SLIPPERY CONDITIONS AND DENSE FOG THROUGH TONIGHT... TEMPERATURES WILL FALL INTO THE 20S LATER TONIGHT AND CREATE VERY ICY CONDITIONS, ESPECIALLY ON SECONDARY ROADS, PARKING LOTS, AND WALKWAYS. IN ADDITION, DENSE FOG WITH AREAS OF VISIBILITY LESS THAN ONE QUARTER MILE IS MAKING DRIVING HAZARDOUS. ABOVE 2000 FEET...SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 3 TO 7 INCHES HAVE OCCURRED AND ANOTHER 2 INCHES OF SNOW IS POSSIBLE TONIGHT.

I decided to get into the spirit and did eight Halloween cards, joining Bubble. Anyone else want to join in?   

https://www.seniorsandfriends.org/index.php?topic=80.msg107347#msg107347

For anyone who is interested: I posted a picture on my Facebook page, of my brother David and his wife Sally, taken on their wedding day.  It was in 1975 or 76?  I think you'll be surprised!
https://www.facebook.com/marilyn.c.erickson

Hi Everyone.  We have another sunny and chilly morning but will go up to the mid-70's this afternoon.   Pat and Mary plan on going out to fill the Christmas Box for a child that the Church is collecting for the Franklin Graham Association. We plan on going out for our main meal today. My foot doctor was satisfied with the progress my toes are making in healing up but still have two or three weeks to go and will have to go back in two weeks for what should be the last time.

Scott and Jennifer will be remaining in New York until Sunday.  Nothing was resolved in her court appearance and her husband attended only by phone.  The judge ordered him to make the children available to her next Sunday so that is why they are having to wait.  For some reason it was necessary for her to be there in person but in the future these hearings will be held on the phone so they shouldn't have to make another trip to New York unless Jennifer gets custody of her daughter.

Mary Ann, that was the first time I have ever been pictured as a ghost.  That was a cute idea that Bubble had and shared with us as well as her other graphics. I can certainly understand why Halloween is not your favorite time of the year.  Scott and Sheila were married on Halloween so this is a sad day for him as well. 

deAngel, sorry to have to keep your foot up and hope you have a comfortable place to do so.  Glad your electrical outage didn't last long.

Marilyne, please put your Facebook picture here as an avatar.  It is so helpful to have an idea of how a person we know though these pages looks.  So glad to hear that your family members didn't lose their homes in the terrible fires.  The nice thing about a memorial service is that it can be scheduled at a later time. There is certainly commercialism in Halloween now. I looked at the wedding day picture of your brother and wife.  They were not teenagers for sure.

Patricia, is it normal for you to have such bad weather so early in this season.  I looked at your Halloween cards and particularly liked the one with the black hat.  I also enjoyed seeing more cards made by Bubble. 

Quote from: larryhanna on October 31, 2017, 09:45:45 AM

Patricia,  I looked at your Halloween cards and particularly liked the one with the black hat.  I also enjoyed seeing more cards made by Bubble.

Me, too Patricia & Bubble.

Marilynne, I also checked out your brother's wedding picture, and as you said, was surprised at how different a wedding they had.  But if it was the way they wanted it, that is the way it should be.  Lovely.

shirleyn.

Patricia thanks for the graphic, we have a house in Riverhead,that almost looks like the one in your graphic.

Also Marilyne, thanks for your posting also

Larry, I hope your g.daughters court case is settled soon and in her favor.

Good morning from yet another wet, icy Interior! The snow didn't make it past 3000 feet, but you can tell who came from there by the snow on their cars. It is interesting to me that while during the summer with all the daylight, the foothills merely look verdant. In the winter, around four when it gets dark, you see all the hundreds of squares of light coming from those lower hills.

Larry, I don't know how to answer your question. In the fifties and sixties, we might have had no snow until Halloween, or we received snow in the middle of October and had 72" and thirty to sixty below, (Remember, this is a dry and not a wet cold).  In the seventies and eighties, we started to get less snow, and thirty and forty below temperatures became only for a day, two or three or not at all. Instead of two weeks at a time.

After 2000, temperatures steadily warmed, and snow levels in the valley came infrequently. 2006 was the winter of the first ice storm seen in the valley since the nineteen thirties. The city paralyzed, so many trees down and electricity was out throughout the valley!  The winter of 2014/2015 had so little snow that one wag posted a Facebook photo titled "shoveling my driveway," showing a hand wielding a tablespoon in the snow.

While the last three summers' rain ended our prolonged drought, 2016 had plenty of snow, but only small amounts stayed on the ground through the entire winter. Now 2017 shows rain almost a constant since late August. And just adding freezing temperatures to the mix. So, I don't know how to answer your question.

I also hope the court case is favorable and they have an easy drive home.


MarsGal how is Shan doing now?

Marilyne, your photos were so lovely to see on Facebook, such a handsome couple and you are certainly no slouch yourself!

I hope the fires in Northern California have died down for the most part and now comes the even harder part, dealing with the aftermath. We had horrible fires that swept the state and then Western Canada went through their fair share some years back. Now it seems to be California's more populated regions' turn.

Thank you, everyone, for your comments on my graphics and on Bubble's! While I enjoy doing them, Bubble is quite an artist in graphics, very creative. You should check out the regular graphics section more often to see her work!

Gloria, I do hope you are feeling stronger, with better oxygen levels and that your nephew is able to be available for you! And I know Taffy is attentive!

Looks like I goofed up!
I had forgotten that you have to be "friends" with other Facebook members, in order to them to see your messages and pictures! 

Patricia- Since we aren't FB friends, I think you probably saw only my profile picture, which is of my brother and me, taken about a year ago.  Others that I've posted you probably cannot see.  Sorry I posted that message in here last night, after I had added an old wedding pic of my brother and his wife. I was thinking that everyone could see it.  Certainly not at all important, over the long haul!

P.S.  Anyone who wants to be my FB friend, just send me a request. (That sounds so silly, when I read it over - like something out of high school. LOL

Marilyne, I think you and I are but let me know if I am wrong.

joan - We are friends!

Marilyne, Joan and I are friends both here and on FB but she ignores my more liberal leanings or at least doesn't adversely comment. I would love to be friends with you on FB if you don't mind my aversion to orange Cheetos.

Marilyn, I am not on Facebook and do not intend to be, so I missed your pictures.  Sorry.

It's been a dreary day here today and I haven't done much.  I did intend to put things back in my bedroom after moving them because of the mattress coming a week ago.  I haven't made it yet.

Last night Annie came over with a new scratch pad for Kendrick.  I finally had to pitch the one she bought a few weeks ago because he had scratched it to pieces.  Kendrick just fit in the other one and often slept in it.  This new one is about 12"-15" in diameter and is too small for him; I am not sure he can even get on it to scratch.  I sent Tom info about a couple that will fit the cat and the next time he orders from Amazon, he'll order them.

Mary Ann

Hi Everyone on this first day of November.  It is another beautiful, clam and chilly morning but we will go into the mid-70's this afternoon with low humidity.  I think this will be a pretty quiet day at our household.  Pat and her sister went to Walmart and filled the Children's Christmas box and then to Aldi's.  They managed to make that about a three hour trip. Last evening we went to Diablo's for one of their great meals and Mary really enjoyed the food.  We went after dark as the ladies had eaten a very late lunch.  Yesterday afternoon Mary fixed this huge dish of cinnamon rolls from yeast dough and I am enjoying one of them with my breakfast this morning.  Over the years she has made many pans of these rolls. I do need to get a haircut so may do this later this morning.  This will be Mary's last full day with us as her plane leaves tomorrow at 1 pm.  We have enjoyed having her visit us.

ShirleyN, as always nice to see your posting from yesterday.  I hope all is well down your way.

deAngel, it appears it may be a long process before my granddaughter's court case is finally resolved.  However, thanks for your kind thoughts and those of others who have made similar comments.  I sure hope this will be a reasonably good day for you. 

Patricia, don't worry about my question as it probably has no good answer since it sounds like the conditions there have changed over a period of years. However, thanks for trying as I am learning a lot about your area I didn't know.  I would much rather have the snow than ice and better yet to not have either. Sure glad the drought cycle has been broken.  I would say that both you and Bubble are very creative artists with your graphics as several others have been over the years and have been so generous to share their work with us.

Marilyne, I totally misunderstood the pictures on your Facebook link as saw only that of your brother and you but thought it was of your brother and his wife.  I just went back to your link and requested you accept me as a friend and then will check out what you were commenting on about the wedding.

Mary Ann, I am surprised that Annie wouldn't have recognized that the scratch pad would be too small.  I didn't know what they looked like so just looked them up on Amazon and see they come in a lot of different shapes and sizes.   

Quote from: larryhanna on November 01, 2017, 09:13:40 AM


ShirleyN, as always nice to see your posting from yesterday.  I hope all is well down your way.

Hey Larry, thanks.  I come in every day - just keeping tabs on you all  .  Things are going pretty good for us - Danny got slowed down by the stroke he had last year, but we are managing okay.  In fact, we are preparing for a cruise next week.  Of course this is not a big surprise!!

shirleyn

Shirley, good for you and Danny, going on another cruise.  It should be relaxing for Danny as he doesn't  have to do anything he doesn't want to do.  Now - where are you going, how long, etc, etc.

It's a dreary looking day here, but so far no rain.  I got my exercise yesterday by going after the mail.  That is never exciting because most of my interesting mail comes by e-mail these days. 

I started to put my tops back in order but I had to sit down to relieve my back and what better time to check in here! 

Mary Ann

Mary Ann, I am laughing at your comment about Danny not having to do anything he does not want to do.  He already is enjoying that state - as long as I do it for him.  Sometimes I get aggravated & insist he does something.  His mind has been a little affected with the stroke - he doesn't seem to see things that need to be done.  Or, he sees them & says he will have to do that sometime.  Oh well, at least I still have him with me.  About the cruise - We leave on Nov. 11 (Vet's Day) for 7 days on Carnival's Magic ship.  We leave from Cape Canaveral and are cruising to Cozumel Mexico, Belize, Roatan, and Costa Maya, Mexico.  We return on the 18th.  I think I covered all your questions.

shirleyn.

Shirley, thanks for the info and have a good relaxing trip.

I think I have not had a stroke, but I don't do too much around here.  I don't know if it is because I'm now in my 90s or not.  I got started with something this morning and had to sit down for a while.  I'm still sitting in the "while" but I'll have to finish the job before I go to bed!

Mary Ann

Good morning Mary Ann - It's a dreary looking day here too.  It's supposed to rain over the weekend, but if so, it will be light.  We need lots of rain, so there will be no more wildfires this season.  I hope you get a sturdy scratcher for Kendrick.  Too bad we don't live closer, as I have two brand new corrugated cardboard scratchers, that Winnie never used.  They would both be big enough for Kendrick.  I think he and Kendrick were about the same size.  I'll probably give them to my older daughter and granddaughter, for their cat Jerry.  They'll be coming here for a week, over Thanksgiving, and bringing Jerry with them. 

Shirley - a cruise sounds wonderful!  Where are you going?  We've only been on one cruise, and we loved every minute of it.  It was way back in the 1970's, and was a package deal, where we flew to Hawaii, visited all the islands, and then cruised back here to California.  It was a family deal, so our two older children were included. They were about 12 and 15 at the time.  it was a memorable vacation, that we all still reminisce about. 

Larry - Looks like you and Pat had a great time with Pat's sister Mary.   Yes, my Facebook profile picture is of my brother and me.  The wedding picture is my brother and wife at their outdoor Wedding in the Redwoods, in 1976. 

Shirley, was wondering when we would hear THAT word <cruise> from you again.  LOL

Quote from: wjoan on November 01, 2017, 12:13:55 PM
Shirley, was wondering when we would hear THAT word <cruise> from you again.  LOL

And now you have, Joan!  Tee Hee!

Shirley, have fun.  I remember mine with great delight.

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:
A man said to the universe: "Sir I exist!" "However," replied the universe, "The fact has not created in me a sense of obligation." -Stephen Crane, writer (1 Nov 1871-1900)

Hi Everyone.  Another beautiful fall day here in South Carolina.  The main activity for today will be taking Mary to the airport.  It is about a 30 minute easy drive and the airport is small.  I can park in the handicapped area at the curb and we will see she has wheelchair assistance.  The two hour in advance of the flight really seems extreme for this airport but that is what is indicated is needed.  Her flight is at 1:10 and she has a relatively short layover in Atlanta and a plane change and will get to Kansas City around 5:30.  She has arranged for a limo service to pick her up to get her back to her apartment. 

Shirley, I hope you have another great time on the cruise. That  sounds like a nice itinerary. That is something that I know I would have enjoyed but not something we will ever attempt now. 

Mary Ann, about the only thing we get in the mail box anymore are a few bills, some ads, many catalogs and the occasionally small package that is being delivered by the Post Office.

Marilyne, it sounds like you will be using one of those cat scratchers  with your visiting cat.  Hard to realize Thanksgiving is just three weeks away.  I got notice of your acceptance of my request to be your friend on Facebook so will check out the pictures. 

Patricia, interesting quote from Stephen Crane. 

Good Morning Everyone from the cool, cloudy
and sometimes rainy rocky coast of Maine!!   

The seasons are right around the corner, 
and I must admit that I will  be glad when
they are behind us.   That will take us into
to the deep,  darker, snowier,  frozen Winter
Months....   And before we know it,
Spring will be right around the corner.
(Wishful thinking) !!


All is well here ....  have a great day,  EVERYONE!
Sandy

Good morning.   Well, Candy will be back in WA on Sunday.  I have always said that my oldest daughter can be a witch <spelled with a B>  She used Candy to take her all over Santa Cruz and then advertised on FB  that she was looking for a one bedroom apt.  Candy's car is no longer and was carted off to the junk yard a few days ago.  Sure glad this happened before Candy got too entangled there.  Candy is a very giving person and this is not the first time she has been taken for a ride.  Just kills me that a child of mine can be so cruel.

Sandy, I like your wishful thinking.  Today is a dreary day here, but radar doesn't show any kind of precipitation, especially not snow.  Since Tom is the designated driver for this particular condo, I don't worry too much about the weather (just write about it), except I may not be able to go to the mailbox some days. 

Tom and I are going to Boulder Creek Country Club for lunch today.  I love their Napa salad, but I will wait to see what is on the menu before I order.  I know they have a Soup and Salad on the menu and for me that will depend on the soup; a favorite is cheese and broccoli.

Dot is still not up to par from her weekend cold.  I talked to her and invited her to go with us but she feels she is coughing too much to be out in the public. 

Larry, it seems Mary just got to your place and now she's going back home.  Time does fly when you're having fun.  Does she have family where she lives?

It's Thursday and the lawn guys are here.  They might have one more time this year but if there is snow on any Thursday, that will be the end of it. 

Mary Ann

Good morning from the same old Interior with me on my couch awaiting that first cup of coffee to finish brewing and Farrah has been fed and is lying before me, keeping a close watch. Why I don't know as I usually don't do any morning gymnastic! 

We have had weather alerts almost hourly stretching from last weekend to another, and last night we were promised four to seven inches of snow. This morning I found we only received a thin snow glaze of the prevailing black ice and the same temperatures proposed for today as yesterday. Thus time marches on.

We had an Amber alert last night. It listed a tan car, license number, and a confirm request. Since I didn't plan on going out, it was after eleven PM, I had been sleeping, I don't drive, nor do I recognize cars other than what's evident since I've never driven, I went back to sleep. Then the raucous alert woke me up again. 

Sandy, I see a photo of Fe on the random image to my left. She is adorable!

Joan, my older sister, is the same. We always said it was her way or the highway. If she feels slighted, she will cut you out of her life. Evidently, my mother's older sister was the same.

Larry, it must be nice for Pat to have time with her sister, Mary and I'm sure everyone had a good time. That quote by Crane should be taught and emphasized to all!

Shirley, another cruise?  It sounds wonderful! Enjoy!

MaryAnn, I hope Dot starts to feel better, faster. Colds do seem to drag on and especially with a cough. I need to do some hunting and gathering tomorrow, and I'm not looking forward to being out and on those buses. They are large and seemingly unwieldy and yet there is always another small car either yapping at its heels or dashing in and out!