new ' Guess who is'

https://www.seniorsandfriends.org/index.php?topic=789.msg186044#msg186044

It is a beautiful Fall morning here.  Bright sun with temp. in the low 50's.  Just the slightest breeze stirring the trees so a few leaves drift down from time to time.  I love it.

Nothing major planned for today except I think I'll mix up a meatloaf to bake for dinner tomorrow.  That sounds so appetizing to me when the weather turns cool.  I am supposed to get my new counter top oven today and if it comes in time I'll try the meat loaf in that.  I hope I won't be disapponted.

David and I both mailed in our absentee ballots yesterday.  In a few days I will check online to see if it was received.  I'm glad to get that done in what I feel is a very important election.  I was remembering.....the first presidential election I ever voted in was for Eisenhower.  Gosh, that was so long ago!   I was born and raised in Kansas so he was almost a mandatory choice for me.   lol  Now I think a little more independently that I did in those days.

Tome,  I'm proud of you.  If I mixed anything by hand these days I would be "crowing" about it, too.  I hope the banana bread lived up to your expectations.

Take care, All. 

Good morning from a frosted cool Interior at only 9.°

My sour stomach is back, so this will be short, but I hope everyone has a great day!

Hey, Phyllis.  The banana bread turned out great (much better than the last one I tried).  This one had nice height, smooth and even texture inside, and browned perfectly.  It even turned out of the pan with no rips, tears or curse words!
I thank you all for your words of appreciation and encouragement.  It was a rigorous workout. After the bread came out of the oven, while it was cooling on a rack, I did go take a 2 hour nap.
I can't believe how tired I get doing regular chores.  Time was I could clean the whole house, move furniture, etc. and still have enough pep left to fix dinner. No more. Today, I'm going to need another nap...I stripped the king size bed, including mattress pad, and have washed and dried all.  Now to put everything back on the bed so I can lie down on it.

Tome , that is a win win day for you. Recipe turned out better than you thought and now you can mark it as a keeper!

Shirley, Kyle and I had our own business for 15 years after he retired. I worked with him doing carpentry work and loved every minute. Clients were amazed that we worked that well together. One lady told her family that I would hand Kyle what he needed before he asked for it. We just got to know what the other one needed for the job. I hung my carpenters apron up for a kitchen apron after  Kyle's health issues.

Amy, Cas & I built a house together, took a whole year. I was "the other pair of hands" on every board, wall, stain & paint. I did all of the insulation between walls & in attic... We worked well together (he gave orders & I took them)... but we did not play together. When he retired at 58 (he was pushed into that but the company treated him okay) and that same year/month that he turned in his office key he had the triple by-passes. He did great for about 12 years, no meds & no restrictions (played a lot of golf). Once he started with meds it was down hill, but he thought they helped and I did NOT voice my opinion because I didn't want him telling me what to do. The year we build the house he was out of town from Monday to Friday a total of 3 months of that year. He would bring his dirty clothes home for me to get done to go back on Monday. We worked all week end on the house & he lined up jobs (like staining all the wood doors, etc) for the week ahead.

Youngest son was starting kindergarten about time we moved in, oldest was in 6th grade. We move in March so she would not be "the new kid" when going into middle school in the fall. We let her play ball with the old crowd that summer so an easy move for her. Andy was in first grade, still had the braces on his legs (Perthes'Disease) but got out of them that year. He also won the Ford Pass, Punt & KIck trophy that first year out of braces, for the half of the county we lived in. He did not want to go on to State level, that was his choice. He kicked twice as far as 2nd place winner & the coach was dying for him to go on.

Like you, Amy, I enjoyed doing something that really showed up, as we all know, house cleaning does not get a lot of pats on the back!  When he retired so young all my lady friends warned, "Don't offer lunch at home"... and the surprise heart surgery blew that. For a long time we ate all the foods recommended for heart healthy and finally he was eating out after playing golf so I cut back on all the serious cooking!  We didn't do much fast food at all until the kids were gone, married... One thing I will say is, "Thank goodness the knees held out during those work years!" 

Tomorrow is supposed to be a real drop in temps, just hope the wind dies down. Not cold today but that howling wind was unbearable to go out. I think I got enough dirt in my hair today to plant flowers, so off for my Sat night shower & wash hair. We are all going to oldest grandson's house after church (even the ones that don't go to church). This time everyone is bringing different foods, my donation is special donuts from a shop I've never been to, not sure how many dozen to buy. I offered to take all to one breakfast place that does serve in, but some hesitated about eating in, too windy & cold to picnic in the park like we've done the last few months. Mush go lay out clothes & make my lists. Sweet dreams & God Bless... Shirley

I have to tell all of you that I was necessarily the "Do It Yourself" person in our family.  Every time I mentioned that I'd like to do something different to the house no matter what it involved, my husband would say, "Okay!  Can you do it yourself?"

It's later than usual because I got interested in a movie that was just over.  I'm off to the haystack and I'm really sleepy so I expect to drift right off!  I wish you all a peaceful night's sleep and a happy, healthy tomorrow.  And may God bless us, every one!

Good morning everyone..

Geese are restless, listening to them honk as they fly about. Not sure if something has disturbed them or not.

A day of rest here. only thing planned is meet friends to exchange items she picked up for us and some we picked up for them. I think a lemon cake will be made and put together with lemon pie filling and sewing and that is my day.

Jane, my Dad taught me how to correctly hold a hammer, make sinkers and tie jigs for fishing . Along with how to putty a window........I don't think they do that anymore??? I do have to be careful on what I say as Kyle would have it built in the blink of an eye!!

Shirley, I enjoy working with wood and love to see it left with just a coat of varathane  clear coat on it. The grains and knots in the wood really show up nice.

Patricia, hope you feel better today..

Gloria, son is off to Baltimore tomorrow. I did ask him about the leaf colours and he said they were beautiful!

Joy, hope all is well in your neck of the woods.

Phyliss, a meatloaf sandwich with hot mustard works for me

Better go let the dogs out.

Enjoy your day and stay safe.

Good Morning Everyfriend!  I'm (finally) up and attem this morning.  I slept better (and longer) last night than I have in a month of Sundays!

AMY, my dad was constantly fixing or redoing something around the house and I was his regular helper.  I fished wires down from upstairs for new outlets, held boards in place, held "this" up while he nailed it and handed tools in when he worked on the cars.  I helped move things and then put them back in place.  I crawled into small spaces and I got dirtier than any little girl my age.  And I loved every minute of it because I had my Daddy all to myself!

This morning is going to be a "whatever" morning but sometime today, I'll be making meatloaf and scalloped potatoes.  Phyllis drove me to it!

It's almost time for the boinger and breakfast and then a walk.  Frankie said she'll be by sometime today but I'm pretty sure that won't be until after lunch.  Maybe I can talk her in to staying for supper.

I guess I better get this day started.  I wish you all a good one.  Grab it and make it your own in every way.  And don't forget to share it with your friends in the Soda Shoppe.  We miss you when we don't "see" you!

Another chillly but beautiful morning.  How I wish it could be like this for most of the year.

The jury is still out over the new counter top oven.  I put the cookies in on convection bake and usual temp. and time and they turned to blackened lumps of "coal".    I think I need to make some readjustments.  This is definitely different from my old counter top oven!  But, still not giving up......yet.

Jane, I'm having scalloped potatoes with my meatloaf.  Enjoy yours....I think we will enjoy ours.

If I talk a lot about food it is because that is about the entire scope of my life these days.  Nothing much else to think about.

Take care, All.

Good morning everyone, 35 now at almost 9 am and every thing is covered with frost still and the  sun is shining bright and beautiful. By the time my sons got here yesterday the rain stoppe d and the sun was shining and the sky a bright blue. I was invited to dinner at my older son's but declined. After only 3 hours sleep I was not ready to go any place. When they left I laid on the couch and slept 3 hours. Made  up for it last night and slept 10 hours with no waking up.

SHIRLEY  I sent my daughter a jar of the Hemopvana after she had surgery on her right thumb and even after a few months she could not move her thumb to hold a pen. She started using it and after a few days started moving her thumb, good as ever now.

JANE  if I had gone to my son's yesterday most likely my DIL would have looked at me and would have cut my hair before I left. Getting much too long and I cannot do much with it anymore.

AMY  I like it when things for appointments are running ahead and can leave before the appointment time. I did sleep good last night and feel better today.

BUBBLE  without your links I would never have seen that bus trip. I knew only a few in the group. I remember Martex doing trips in the Missouri discussion and first time I saw my face there I thought I have arrived. Thanks.

PHYLLIS  I am lucky to be able to cook my oatmeal every morning, never mind anything else.

AMY  you and Kyle are llike my daughter and SIL. They help each other with every chore that needs doing, inside or out. They do not even have to say a word.

Not much more to say so will wish you all
Have a good day and stay safe and healthy.

I was Dad & 3 brothers extra hands or even feet (to pump brakes to let the air out, remember those days?)...before being Cas' other pair of hands. Nobody ever thought my sister would do those jobs (not even her husband), but she did help in the kitchen. She always said her fav reading was "recipe books!" The only thing Cas didn't ask me to do was help with wiring when building the new house, but he did have me fishing for the wires between walls when we bought already built houses & he wanted wires where there weren't any!

Gloria!!! Martex is the name I've tried & tried to think of! She did a lot of the cartoons & videos. Wasn't she the one that had the baby goats & named after all of us?  Was such a crazy bunch over in MO, with one reunion that Doris brought slushes & someone brought cheese balls & this was real, not cyber stuff! I have not talked to Doris for a long time.

Phyllis, I think those convection ovens are supposed to cook/bake in half the time of normal ovens. One year for Christmas I bought all 3 married families a convection oven & the pans that work with them but never got one for myself. So many of the RVs I looked at came with the combo units but NOt the one I bought. Mine has microwave and a real gas/propane stove & oven. We do love our biscuits & gravy out camping & those frozen Grands are about as good as home made.

Jane & Amy, here's another girl that always had grease or soot on my face & hands from helping in the garage or holding something in place while someone else did the hammering or sawing. I've been known to sit in the middle of the kitchen floor & take the "brushes" out of the electric mixer to sand them off to make better connection.... right in the middle of mixing a German Chocolate cake from scratch. All Cas had to do was say "something YOU can't do"... and it would be done in no time!!! That came from having 3 older brothers that knew how to get me to do something/anything!

Breakfast was delicious! My gr-son's wife comes up with new dishes/recipes every time we are all together. She made egg muffins (in muffin pans), scrambled eggs, some with spinach & chopped green & red peppers with shredded cheese on top, some with the veggies & sausage crumbles & cheese on top & some plain scrambled egg with cheese on top. Andy & wife brought biscuits & gravy and 2 large air pots of the "designer" coffees... Bowls of fresh strawberries & blackberries... My gr-grandson & daughter & I stopped by a special donut shop for boxes of all kinds of goodies, I even brought home the extra Bavarian cream my daughter didn't think anyone would like... I loved them! Actually got about 4 dozen different kinds of goodies as well as a bag of glazed donut holes & bag of chocolate donut holes.  I had invited the whole bunch to breakfast at one place where "dine in" still works. They opted to eat home. Delightful morning but feels like winter & think I will go find some of the zzzzzzzzs I missed last night.

Another day has come and gone.We had a lazy day to enjoy. Our friends did come and we exchanged items that we had picked up for each other. We are now stocked up with beans, barley,soup mix, raisins and Graham crumbs. Managed to make a 4 layer lemon cake with lemon filling between the layers.
it .
Not sure what the rest of the evening will bring but I am quite content to put my feet up and enjoy.

Lloyd, where are you?

Well, I didn't make the meat loaf and scalloped potatoes today.  When I got up so late this morning it threw off the whole day and I discovered that if Mickie and I didn't take our walk BEFORE supper we wouldn't get it in because it gets dark too early.  So I switched plans and made something quicker for supper tonight and will do the meatloaf tomorrow. 

I didn't accomplish much else today but it's supposed to be a "day of rest" isn't it?  I did a bunch of odd jobs nd a lot of "resting".  We did do three walks and I checked the mailbox.  Nothing there, then I remembered...he doesn't do that on Sunday!

I'm off to the haystack now and there should be a concentration of zzzzzs there because I haven't used any today.  I watched an old Audie Murphy movie tonight.  It's one I love...."The Guns of Fort Petticoat".  I haven't seen it for a few years and I really enjoyed it. 

I wish you all a peaceful nights sleep and a happy, healthy tomorrow.  And may God bless us, every one!

Good evening.

Sunday sure went fast....MY Broncos played at 11 AM.  We have been keeping Lola Dog all week while her family was away on Fall Break.  They returned home this evening so we took her home.  Came home to our refrigerator beeping.....inside temp had dropped to 59 degrees.  We put all we could into a couple of coolers and took a shelf full over to our neighbors refrigerator and of course threw a LOT out as it is trash night. Trying to figure out who to call for repair.  😩

The smoke continues to be frightful as many fires continue to burn just to the north of Denver. So many homes have burned.....so sad😩

SHIRLEY, sounds like your family had quite the buffet of delicious food for your family gathering. 

I was also one who could and did do what ever needed to be done to fix most anything in need. My hubby tells of the only time I did not hold up my end of the job was when I was 9 months pregnant and told him I could only help carry one sheet of drywall down the stairs rather than the double sheets that I use to!  Back in the day if anyone told me something can't be done.....I love to show them they were wrong.  Now I think I might be paying for all my craziness and I can hardly do a thing!  I, too, thought my grandma would give my grandpa little tasks to do in the kitchen and now I understand why she needed the help!

I am off to bed.  Pleasant dreams to all.

Jenny

Good Morning Everyfiend!  I'll be back later!

Good morning everyone..

A day of catch up here and maybe,just maybe THAT job will get done today.

Jenny, our friend has a doodle and she is such a smart loving dog. Getting up in age and the vet can believe just how good a shape she is in  at her age.

Jane, there may be two homes that will have meat loaf for supper tonight


Better get going, slept in again .

Enjoy your day everyone and stay safe.

That is right, Shirley, about reducing the temp. on a convection oven.  My big oven is a convection oven and I've used that for years but this new counter top oven is 'way out of whack.  Temp. runs too hot no matter what temp. or function it is set on...warm, bake, convection bake, air fry, broil, or toast.  It is supposed to do all of those but it is not doing them welll.  I'm still tinkering with it.  I don't want to go to the trouble of returning it but I may have to.  I'm a little steamed.  

Our meatloaf and scalloped potatoes turned out good.  Good old-fashioned comfort food.  Good for the stomach and good for the soul.

Laundry this morning and then flu shots this afternoon.  I'll be glad when this day if over with.

Take care, All.

Good morning everyone, woke after  8 and Yvette is comiomg at 10:30 this morning so this will be shor t. Need my coffee and then breakfast and get dressed before she gets here. I am slow with whatever I do these days.

Every thing is OK in my neck of the woods and hope it is that way in yours too.

Have a good day and stay safe.

We've had our breakfast, a walk and I'm all set up for candy making.  I have work cloth on the dining room table, recipes all laid out and my "Christmas Candy box of goodies under the table!  Now all I need is my trip to the Amish Store and the stuff to work with. 

If it seems early to be starting Christmas goodies, bear in mind that I have to have all the goodies for my sister, niece, nephew and families ready to go by the middle of November when Bethany goes home from college because they're not coming back until after Christmas break.  They're first on the agenda!

Then I work on what needs to go to Oklahoma so I can get it in the mail in time for arrival before Christmas!  And I really want to get all this stuff put away in time to do some decorating for Christmas!  How's that?  I just got this stuff out and I'm already planning to put it away!  Ain't life grand!

AMY, meat loaf and scalloped potatoes for supper for sure today!

Phyllis, sometimes we really have to give up & send something back. Hate that job! My best friend here has just a regular counter top oven that she uses all the time, to bake a potato or any such thing. I hate to wait that long so use the microwave.

I tried something this last couple weeks I am loving... bake a potato in microwave with usual wax paper... take peeling off & cube into a small skillet with butter, brown to make the best hash browns you ever tasted!  Went one better last night & steamed a small pressure cooker full of cubed potatoes, gave them a slight coating in buttered skillet & then put the whole pot full into a bowl to brown as I wanted. Fixed scrambled eggs, hash browns & gravy this morning right before daughter stopped by on her way out of town. I didn't make biscuits but toasted some "butter bread" that hit the spot. Had some of each left over so put in Pyrex little bowls to nuke in the morning.

Winter is here so have lawn guys showing at 8:00 in the morning & pool guy at 11:00. Then on with whatever & hope to make an overnighter to MO to see trees while still at their peak. We'll see how that works out.

Haha, Jane, that's the way I am, get going so I can clean up the mess!

Good morning from a cool 18 degrees and a snowy Interior. I believe that the third time's the charm with this snow as it's more than a dusting. So far this morning, I've managed to get my laundry sorted into piles and the first load into my cart. Earlier, the guys from maintenance and the fire department checked my alarms, intercom, and extinguishers.

I had to move Farrah's cat tree slightly as it was blocking part of the balcony door. So, I'm set for another six months on that inspection. The semiannual home inspections were canceled this year due to the virus. The only other inspection is due next spring when it's basically to see what's working and what isn't and hasn't been reported.

Today is when I finally get that bread made and the roast into the slow cooker. It took a while as I felt blah with no energy and now I'm better but need to get these jobs done. Meatloaf and scalloped potatoes maybe next as it sounds good to me too. I have a couple of white cheeses that melt really well and about ten russets left, so I'm set.

I have a microwave that is a convertible, and I wonder if that's what you mean by a countertop oven? However, I use my toaster oven more.

Winter's arrived!

https://www.seniorsandfriends.org/index.php?msg=186174

Good afternoon EVERYFRIEND.

Repairman is here......I am staying out of the way....but from what I am hearing it does not sound good...it is the compressor and of course he will have to order it....guesstimated cost 1K!!! https://www.seniorsandfriends.org/Smileys/alive/banghead.gif 

PHYLLIS, as you can see, I tried to borrow your little man that is beating his head against the door....did not seem to work for me.   That is kind of how I am feeling right about now! I am sorry to read you are having issues with your new counter top oven. I hope you can figure out if you can get it to do the job you would like it to so you do not have to send it back! 

PATRICIA, glad you are done with the inspection so there are no worries for another six months about the door being partially blocked.  I bet you are glad your inspections were cancelled due to Covid!

Good thoughts coming your way JANE, as you start all of your Christmas baking. 

SHIRLEY, your new way of fixing the potatoes sounds good.  I need to get my Instant Pot out and give it a try again.....I keep talking myself out of doing it! 

Guess I better go listen to the total news coming from the kitchen.

Have a good rest of your day.

Jenny

Patricia, brrrr...please don't share! I know that we will get it soon enough.
Jenny, think We live in a throw away society, they don't make stoves, fridges etc to last like they use to. We had an all fridge maybe 3 years old when it croaked and the company had gone out of business! I always thought Woods was a good name but not anymore.

Homeowners everywhere need to take inventory of the fans in their home, as two popular ceiling fans have been recalled after multiple reports they've caused serious injuries. If you have a Great Falls outdoor ceiling fan from Westinghouse Lighting or Kingsbury 70-inch ceiling fan from Lowe's, you need to take action immediately. For more information on what to do if you have these fans, read on,  https://tinyurl.com/y4xgdv7y   

AMY, sad to say, but you are so right.....nothing lasts like it used to back in the day.  The new part was just delivered by Uber....yippee.....WAIT..... slight problem.....number on box is correct BUT compressor inside is NOT the correct one!  😤😤😤

Thanks for the heads up on the fan issue, PATRICIA..... we do not have to worry about that as we do not have any fans in our home.  BURRR your pictures look VERY cold!  I am not ready for the snowballs to be flying!

Its snowing in Minnesota so it's on its way...

Bring it on~~~No, wait, I still need time to drive to MO to see the fall colors! Patricia, we didn't get that much snow the last 2 years.... only one snowfall & I got out with a broom to sweep it off so driving over wouldn't turn it to ice.

I am worn out, got the pool vacuumed & leaves all out, worst it has been for years. Pool man to be here to close it in the morning but first the mowers will do their last job for the year. Got to have the gates unlocked by 8:00 am & plan/hope to get to bed early-early tonight.

Jenny, our washer,dryer and freezer are 25 years old and I hope they continue to work for a long time.