Good morning Everyfriend!  The doggies got me up very early this morning so when they came back in I gave them their pills and we all snuggled on the sofa to wait out their hour.  I forgot to set the boinger but it didn't matter.  Exactly at the end of an hour Annie jumped down and started whining at me that it was time for breakfast.

JOYm you're right about the pb crackers.  You make a sandwich with 2 saltines and pb and then you dip them in melted chocolate.  I usually use the discs but sometimes I supplement with the blocks of melting chocolate that are available at WM.  They are called Almond Bark" but theyre just plain melting chocolate and pretty good tasting. 

Larry, if you want to do a small batch of peanut clusters (or any other kind of clusters) put some melting chocolate in a glass measuring cup and melt it in the microwave.  Use a time setting and a power setting.  Power should be no higher than 3 and just do increments of 1 minute at a time.  You'll think it's not doing anything and all of a sudden it will be melting.  At that point switch to 30 seconds on the time setting.

Gloria, the cups are the most difficult and time-consuming thing I make but my family loves them.  I wish you lived closer.  I'd share.  I always make too much coconut,,,,my favorite!

I'm waiting for my daughter to pick me up to go to the Amish store.  And just got a text that she's on the way.

Pouring rain here....predicted all day.  Glad it isn't white!

almost forgot.  Joy, you can use the same method for melting chocolate for the crackers that I told Larry about.  And a fork works great for dipping them.  [b[/size][/b]

Thanks, Jane.  I have used both kinds of the chocolate before.  And, I did buy some kind of a dipping fork, but have never used it.   I have an order for Walmart  to be picked up tomorrow, but I think I will go and order some of the chocolate bark.   I usually just use my Pyrex large measuring cup.  And, just do the 30 sec. increments. And, you are right about all of a sudden it will be melted.  When I first started melting chocolate in the microwave, I wound up burning it a couple times.    Thanks for the information. 

Going to go add that to my order before it is too late.

Thanks, again.

Joy

Gloria:  Kingman is a ways but I see it is isolated and the closest large city is Las Vegas.  Off the grid - been there with a cabin and that is too tough to take anymore. 

Jenny:  Sorry to hear your dad isn't well.  Prayers for his recovery.  The temps are getting to be a bit more normal now. 

Larry: and Paul : thanks for the Iwo Jima history. 

Callie:  We used to visit Leadville and fondly remember gasping for breath when we both ran uphill racing each other - another dumb thing never do again. 

If you eat chocolate - you live longer.  Chocolate and red wine.   

Jane, you lit a fire under me and I now have 6 gumdrop cakes done...now to wrap for later. I think I will pick up some melting chocolate and try your saltines, Kyle loves chunky p/b and will make some for him. I had plans on doing more baking but after yesterday's city trip a nap was in order.

Gloomy here now but thankfully the rain /snow has stopped.

Carol, dark chocolate and red wine...what a combination!! I love dark chocolate ..

Hal, I had two ladies giggle at me while I was lifting golden girl in the van one day..but they also said what we won't do for our animals. Golden girl will be 13 this year.

Joy, thanks to Janie we both will have special treats to have. ohh.I forgot to ask how she stored them ,in the fridge or just  in a cookie can.

MaryAnn, I didn't know that you had to pay extra for manual transmission!!

Better go see what I can rustle up for supper..

Amy, automatic transmission is now standard on cars. 

My dad always wanted manual transmission because he thought he had better control of the car.  Shortly after he retired, he had some small strokes and found it necessary to have an automatic transmission.  He bought a demonstrator through Norm, who was selling cars at the dealership near us, and we had automatic after that.  He died in 1970 so would not be driving now anyway.  Nor am I!

I just looked at Lake Michigan (4:50 pm) and there are surfers on the lake, several of them.  Our air temperature is now 38F degrees.  I am sure their wet suits protect the surfers.  But BRRR!

Mary Ann

Joy, I do NOT cook anymore (sometimes I have to remind myself of that) However reading you girl's recipes.....I have some choc. chips in the cupboard, and I would like to try melting them in pyrex , one cup size, and diping in my favorite Ritz crackers. I would use the 30 second setting as you do, but I'm wondering how many chocolate chips should i melt in a one cup size pyrex ? and do you drain them on waxed paper, or what ?

Janie. we are having a  high of 81 and sun today. I'll trade with you gladly.

Larry, my last car was an Oldsmobile 88. I Loved that car . It was low but there was a retractable padded handle just above the inside of the door and above the door, that one could use as a method to leave the seat more easily. After having three minor strokes my son convinced me I should give up driving. So my son sold it to a lady with young children who was driving a wreck. He let her pay as she could and that made me happy.

Hal, I do plan to have a good day, God willing. There is nothing I need to attend, but if I can stay awake I would like to go down at 6:30...The Ultimate Due.....man and wife entertainers....I like them, and I will make myself rise from the chair and go down for lunch soon.

Amy, I put the vacuum together with trepidation and prayer,  God helped.There were three major components to connect. and my philips head screwdriver was fortunately the right size. Then I had to charge the lithium battery for three hours, so spent time learning the various ways the vacuum can be adjusted for carpeting to clear flooring.This is my secong Lynx. The other one lasted 7 years. Just what an older lady needs for occasional small jobs, and only $125.00 for the  vacuum, battery,and
charger.


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Jane,  I wanted to ask you if you put the pn butter crackers in the fridge after you dip them.    And, I will second Amy's question about how you store them?

I made just a couple to see if I was going to like them and how they came out.  I just left them on the counter, but after over an hour,, they are still kind of soft.  So,  I did put them on a plate and put them in the fridge.

Have you ever made the cracker candy out of the saltines??? 

Joy

I lost my message.  Im going yo try again but this time you get it, typos and all.

I did forget to tell you something very important.  After I dip the crackers, I pop them in the freezer for about 5 minutes.  The fridge works just as well but takes a bit longer.  And I have a couple of small cookie sheets that I use but a plate works well too.

As for storing them, I have a very cold storage room where I keep them until time for giving but if you are just making them fr yourself, anywhere that is away from a heat source would be ok.  Like any chocolate, they'll melt if they get warm.

Amy, if you make them with crunchy pb, dont press too hard when you put them together.  Those crunchy bits will break your crackers.

Just a little story of how I got started making the crackers...  There's a candy store in town that is pretty well known and has been in business longer than I've been around.  My sister, niece and two grandnieces have made a yearly pilgrimage to get hand made candy canes in flavors you can't find anywhere else and sizes no one els makes.  They also ge sugar plums and so other unique Christmas items.  On year when we got home fom there, my niece handed me a an item and said "try this".  I did and she said, "I bet you could make them a lot cheaper."  I did and I still do about 15 years later.  And every year I go into the candy store and check their price.  This year the choc. PB saltine is 75 cents.  I think I make them for about 17 cents.  Of course that doesnt include a labor charge because it's a LABOR OF LOVE!

I found my lost computer glasses!!!

Janie...where did you find your glasses ? Mine might be there too. 

I'm ready for bed and book, but will go downstairs for a singing program instead.....man and wife, they are good. I am still dressed, so not really ready for bed.

I like to melt and dip in both dark chocolate or white chocolate either maraschino cherries, I hold them by the steam both to dip and eat them.
Have a good night, hope to see you all tomorrow.

Lloyd

june if I was going to guess I bet she found them on top of her head.

Lloyd

Actually, I found them in the space beside my DVD player under the TV.  I don't remember why I;d ever put them there but there they were.  I got down on the floor to root through the storage space for my Christmas movies and they were at eye level. 

Good for you Janie.
Bed time for me,
Nite. nite, God Bless and sweet dreams.

JaneS glad you found the T V glasses do not to want you to have to watch  T  V
blurry eyed. it is 32º here at 4:53 AM. I think i am going back and get some more of your ZZZ'S. 73º in house but feels chilly to me hope Nancy hasn't gave me her cold. Have a great day see you later everyone.

Lloyd

'Good Morning Everyone!
well it is 6:15 been up since 4.  Same old problem shortness of breath and the emergency inhaler doesn't do much good.  Just got myself a cup of coffee and thought I would check to see if anyone is up.  I see Lloyd has been up but gone back to bed.

The old heater in the house has been running overtime, guess it is pretty cold out, I haven't stuck my nose out to see.

Hope everyone has a good day.

Just checked computer and it says it is 47 F out.  That cold enough

Good morning everyone...

It's beginning to look a lot like winter here, woke up to snow covered ground. Pine trees look like they are all dressed in white lace.
A day of rest here...not enough snow to bother with,should the sun come out it will take care of it.

Jane, YIPPIEEE, glad you found your glasses!! Thank you for the tips on how to do the saltines ,when I can get some choco melts I will do some up.

Hal, hope you have a Dr appointment soon. I don't like this shortness of breath and think you should be seeing your Dr.

Enjoy your day everyone..

I'm off to church!  see you all later!  Enjoy your morning!

Hi Everyone. Today we will only be in the low 60's and partly cloudy.  However, the morning is starting off nice and clear.  I think Pat is feeling up to going to Sunday School and Church with me this morning.  This is the second day she hasn't needed to use her walker in the morning.  I believe the shots are definitely helping.  We will probably go out to eat after Church, hopefully with a couple of friends from Sunday School.  That will be out activities for the day.  Yesterday I did attend my meeting and then came home and rested for a couple of hours.  About 3:30 we went to Ruby Tuesday's and had a good meal.

Mary Ann, I hadn't picked up on the change in Austin's appearance on Jeopardy from his earlier appearances.  Unfortunately, my PT Cruiser is a stick shift.  I have now gotten used to it but still don't like to have to start up from an incline.  I don't think they make too many cars with manual transmissions anymore. I would never have another manual transmission car. 

Lloyd, hope you got that tire changed yesterday.  Do you use distilled water with your CPAP machine?  We go through gallons of it since both Pat and I have the CPAP machines. 

Jane, it sounds like Annie has a built in timer to know when an hour is over. Thanks for the info on melting the chocolate.  I don't think I have an aptitude for candy making but the crock pot recipe requires no skill beyond setting a timer.  Pat used to have chocolate modes but never used them very much. 

Joy, I have to wonder why it if it chocolate that it is called Almond Bark?  Good luck with your candy making. 

Carol, the only thing I seem to remember about visiting Leadville was going into that saloon that is famous.  I guess it is quite the tourist attraction as is the whole town. 

Amy, are those gumdrop cakes regular size or miniatures?   

June, it sounds like you are having some nice weather out your way.    We had an Olds that we really liked but someone ran into me and the insurance company declared it not feasible to fix.  The first car we ever owned was an Olds 98 that I paid $600 for and it was a super car.  Of course, gas was not so expensive back then. 

Jane, I thought you would likely find those glasses.  Good for you.

Hal, sorry you are still battling that shortness of breath as know it is not a pleasant thing to deal with.   

Larry yes i do use the distilled water. do not know why the deference is but some nights it hardly uses any and other nights cooks dry, it has supposed to be heated air  but feels cool to me. Nancy should but wont admit it and wont take the test. she snores and stops breathing for short lengths of time. have a great day.

Lloyd

Good morning everyone, rin and  wind for the day. Even power outages in the forecast. Not a good day for going anyplace. Wind susts yo 50 mph or even more. Just turned the TV on and that is what I heard. I know it is raining, when I pulled the shades up I could see it hitting my windows.

AMY  shen my daughter and SIL bought their pick up truck the dog they had could not get into it without help. They bought a small ramp to keep in the truck and the dog would go up and down with no problem.

JOY  I fel like you did yesterday morning, seeing the wind and rain is not pleasant. I might go down stairs to the library to find a book and do nothing but read. Not a day to fo out for a walk.

HAL  I think I mentioned that the pain "specialist"? hit a nerve by my spine and he did it a second time I have had trouble with my left leg. He did nothing about it. No more shots in my back for me. Wish I could send the rain we are getting to you and other western places that need it. We have had a lot of rain and wind this month, too much.

LLOYD  hope you are having a good day.

LARRY  maybe in the days before GPS people knew how to read a map. Remember how one could get a free map at gas stations? I learned how to read a map before I was a teen. Used to ride with it folded in front of me  and whhoever was driving would always ask me what road or route. They knew the way but it was their way of teaching me. That Jeep wagoneer really was not made for a short woman and boy I had sore arms when I would get home after a trip out with it.

MARY ANN  I had to laugh when Austin was asked how he would talk without using his hands. He sure made some wieird motions with his arms at times. I got a kick out of him. I learned to drive on an old Model T Ford, now that was not fun. I would not want to even try starting that now.

JANE  when I made the coconut balls I always made an extra batch just for me. I really loved those.

CAROL  my daughter and SIL love where they are after the congestion in San Diego. With the medial insurance they have they have to stay in Arizona and she will have to go to Phoenix after Thanksgiving for surgery. There is a hospital in Kingman but the do not do that there. She had to make hotel reservations for the stay there for her husband and their dog. She had to find a place that would accept dogs. From where they live it takes an hour for them to get to Kingman, most of the time getting to the highway.

JANE  HOORAY, glad you found your computer glasses.

HAL  TV says 59° but wind changin to north west bringing cold air from Canada. Don't mind the cold but the rain and wind is getting tiresome.

Good morning.    Sunny, but very windy and temperatures been dropping all morning.  Last night at 11 p.m. it was still in the 60's.  During the night, it started getting colder.  But, I keep forgetting,  it is getting to be wintertime.

Larry, glad that Pat is feeling good enough to go to church and then go out to eat.  I always try to make a point to watch Jeopardy.  Then,  I change to another station.  Not really into Wheel of Fortune anymore. 

Last night, there was a movie about Elizabeth Smart, the young girl who had been abducted from her home in Salt Lake City some years ago. I had planned on watching it, but after about 15 min. I had to change the station.  It was just too depressing.  I had seen a documentary about her last week and it was just her mostly talking about the very horrific ordeal.  But, the movie was just showing too much and I just decided, I didn't need to see it.  I guess since I haven't been feeling too good,  I wanted to see something more cheerful.  I did watch one of the Hallmark Movies after that.

We had had a notice the beginning of the week, that the electric company would be installing new wiring throughout the town beginning about 11 p.m. last night and going for about 6 hours.   I made sure that I had a flashlight and a small lantern close by and went to bed. During the night, I was up a couple times and a little night light that I keep on was still on.  So, I don't think they did the job as planned.  I am thinking that it might have been just too windy to be out and I think there was some showers earlier.  Will probably find out tomorrow if and when it has been rescheduled.  Earlier I had misread the paper and was thinking it was supposed to be during the day from 11 a.m.  As I was thinking, I was glad that I hadn't planned on going out, as the elevators would not be working.  Glad that I re-read the notice.

My DIL is going to Walmart to pick up my order today.  I added to it with a few more items I had forgotten.  Now, need to clean up my kitchen a little bit and put some dishes away so I will have room on the counter for her to put the bags. 

I did go back and order some of the chocolate bark that Jane mentioned, so that I can make up some of the pn butter "sandwiches".  I made up a few to sample and they are good.  I just used chocolate chips for the few that I made and chocolate chips don't set up as good as the dipping chocolate.

I hope everyone is feeling well or improving and will enjoy a nice Sunday.

Joy

Good Sunday morning. Everyfriend.  I pray you are all doing well.  I have been a bit under the weather this week. 

A very Super Sunday (thanks, Callie) to all.  I got to church on time & had a nice surprise when my 2nd to youngest gr-daughter was there & said she had registered at this church so she could enjoy the Sunday mornings with all of us!  For a "kid" in her mid 20s to get up early to be with us, it was a special morning to me. 

Can't believe I missed that last day of the tournament of Jeopardy... I do enjoy that show & Wheel..... must admit that some of the categories I don't waste time thinking about.... such as sports & some of the sciences....  I've always had a bad habit of turning off my brain when things don't interest me.. don't want to waste it.   

Mary Ann, my father was a firm stick shift believer so that was what I wanted first time my husband was ordering me a new car... at the time there was a 6 month waiting list for Hondas so when one of the guys that worked for him in KC found no waiting in another city, they each ordered & we picked up at the dealer.  Mine was to come with stick shift & extra molding on the sides to keep other car doors from "dinging" the paint.  They got 2 my color (bronze) in that load, one stick & other automatic.  Problem was a tie down had come loose & beat paint off one side.  They offered the auto or a paint job on the stick... and I didn't want one "repainted" & as it turned out, have never wanted a stick shift again. 

Joy, I also turned off that Elizabeth Smart movie.... too sad for me, those children will have to live with what their father was and that is an on going nightmare for all.  That type movie drags me down, I like happy endings and while it was a miracle they found her, the grief of her experience for the whole family will never end.

Gloria, I still drag out maps (can get updated every year either by mail or stopping at border Welcome Centers).... and highlight my routes so I can check even at a red light, to make sure what the next town is or whatever.  I do keep a hand held GPS on the dash that I can pick up to make sure WHERE *I* AM.... I have no sense of direction, never did.

"Back in the day" of high school driving, the boys would test out new cars when Mom  & Dad got one... to make sure they would do the 120 mph showing on the speedometer.  The 88 Olds won hands down, but the Hudson could take the curves best on those winding roads in MO.  It wasn't a joke that "dead man's curve" carried the name for a reason.  I inherited my father's love for cars but he was strictly a Ford man and we kids didn't use his car anyway. 

Joan, so sorry you've had a bad week.... do "they" know why so you don't repeat it?  Extra prayers & hugs for you.

Did I mention that I asked my cardiologist about those people that travel with the doppler type machines to examine the arteries, Hal?  I took the letter & all about them in my last routine cardio exam & he highly recommended them, said it was a very good deal for $149 since the same exam at a local office "would cost Medicare thousands".  He offered to have me bring in any test results for him to read & explain.  I don't want any more invasive tests like the heart cath and know other groups do that type testing here, so was not sure how he would take my question.  He in not a surgeon but does do the heart caths.  I've been researching the difference in the tests and latest reports show non-invasive is as accurate as the older methods, so it depends on the clinic you go to which you get. Hal, so sorry about the shortness of breath... that's what brought this type test to mind, I never could tell a lot of difference after my heart surgery & now with the oxygen level dropping so bad in high altitude, I'm afraid I may have blockage but don't want a heart cath to find out.  Best wishes you find some relief.... my aim for the exam I have set up is to see if anemia might be a cause for some of my problems, don't want to hear it might be age!!! 

My eye lids are flying at half mast so going to close them for a quick nap.  We had that high wind yesterday so most of those beautiful leaves I showed you over in Photos are now on the ground.  Trees are still & sun is shining, but it was cold earlier. 

We have had rain, now wind and sunny. Wind gust are 50mi. per. the power was off about 15min.

Joan, you made my day, just to see your post. Hope you feel better.

Joy, I always enjoy the Hallmark TV movies.

Gloria, the wind is very bad here to day, although it is sunny. I plan to start writing a few Christmas  cards to day.  When Dennis was little we would give him a map to look at when we were going to Charleston, ask him how far we had to go to get there, and he always answered and inch.

Shirley, I learned how to drive with a stick shift.  1947 Ford.

Jane, I use to have a lot of candy moles, I made mounds, choc. coved cherries.  My son use to want me to make thumb print cookies, I also started in Nov. backing and making candy.  I am glad you found your glasses.

Amy, I just hate to hear about snow.  this is one year I do not look forward to the first snow fall like I use too.

Larry, when I was in high school I played a lot of soccer and was on the team for field hockey

June, glad to see you were going to the singing..

Shirley, I am a map reader, myself.  I have often said I could take a trip just by reading a map.  When we’d cross into another state, we’d stop at the Welcome Center and get new maps and other info so I have quite a supply of maps.  Erin, Terry’s daughter, likes maps so I am going to give her some for Christmas.

Joan, I hope you are feeling better. 

I did learn to drive with a stick shift â€" our 1936 Ford.  I don’t remember what year it was, but it must have been when I was 18, Norm was in Scout camp near Muskegon MI and Dad and I took him up there.  Of course, I couldn’t drive with a third person in the car, so my turn came on the way back home.  This was before Interstates and Expressways.  US 16 went from Muskegon to Grand Rapids and at a turn near Nunica, it was a 90-degree angle.  Dad said two women sitting on the porch across the road ran into the house when I made that turn because (he said) I didn’t slow down.  Anyway, nothing happened and it made a good story.  Then WWII came and Dad had an A card which gave him enough gas to get to school and back daily and to church and the store weekly.  My driving lessons ceased until after the war; I think I was 25 when I got my license.

It wasn’t the dog who could not get into our car but my grandmother.  We had an old milk box from when milk was delivered to the house and we’d place the box by the car door so Grandma could get in.

I just had a scare.  Dot and I ate at Mr Burger as usual and I took a picture of our food.  Evidently I did not put my camera securely back in my purse so when I got home and was going to send some pictures, there was no camera.  I called the restaurant, but the gal who answered the phone wasn’t too interested â€" but it was at a busy time.  I woke up Tom who took me to the restaurant, the booth where we ate was empty and I saw the camera on the floor almost under the seat and it was hard to get, but Tom managed to slide his foot with the camera and all ended well!  My coat was on the floor when we left and I have an idea the camera went along with the coat.  I feel very fortunate.

I see one kite being flown by a surfer at Grand Haven.  Their air temp is probably close to ours - 31 degrees F.

Mary Ann

We took our good friend out for coffee and a sweet roll late morning and had such a nice conversation without phone calls interruption. 

Amy:  You have been baking up a storm.  This used to be my time of the year to make one baked good thing per day for Christmas gifts and parties.  No more.  Children are low-fat - low sugar and everything else. 

June:  How many people know what a Phillips screwdriver looks like? 

Gloria:  Good for your daughter and S-I-L for finding a peaceful area away from the city. 

Joy:  I hope you get the correct time for your power outage - would not want to be baking anything in an electric oven. 

Joan:  It is so sweet to see you posting again.  Missed you for such a long time.

Gloria de:  My brother was too young to drive and I did not know the straight shift.  In Seattle (all hills) I used to get up and sit in the drivers seat, he would tell me when to shift and then he would deliver the paper - when it was raining really hard.  It had to be so illegal but I was so glad when Gary stopped that job.  Remembering those early morning knocks on my bedroom door and my pleading brother asking me to help him in the rain. 

Mary Ann:  That is such an easy mistake - losing something.  It happens to everyone.   

Good Evening dear hearts. It has been an odd day after a very odd night.

Hal, I was up at 4 a.m. too, if fact I was "up" almost all night long and into the early morning hours. My nurse came in at 4:45 with my first meds and nitro patch, and I was still wide awake. I probably got about 4 solid hours of sleep. I did get down for Chapel and lunch, but slept the better part of the afternoon, and still tired.  My mind feels like underdone pudding, so I won't even try to visit. Time to eat some some supper, and let life happen. May get back later unless I fall asleep. Hugs, Love and Prayers. June

Well it is time for this old man to bid you all good night and sweet dreams;
Hope to see you all tomorrow. oldest daughter and grand daughter an one great
grand daughter came and ate with us oh yes I almost forgot a young couple newly married also shared the day with us.. and daughter brought in most of the food already prepared. we had a good day and visit.

Lloyd