Thank you Phyllis. I can watch it there.

WHAT???  The parade was today???                   

I forgot about the Rose Parade.  When there's no one around to remind me about stuff like that, I just plain forget.  I'll go back and watch PHYLLIS's post when I have a chance.  Right now, I'm tired right down to my shoe laces and that's bad because I don't have any shoes on!

All the jars are sealed and ready to be washed, labeled and put on the shelf tomorrow morning.  Frankie called and asked if Cooper could spend the night so I'll have a bedfellow tonight.  Boy is he ever a snuggler, too!  I love it when he stays over.  I don't miss my doggies so much!

Also, Cathy texted and said she's planning to go to Wenger's tomorrow morning so I won't be making the soup until Wednesday.  Also, I have to remember to call my sister tomorrow.  It's her birthday and she's going to be 89!  I can hardly believe it!  And she's still living alone and looking after herself.  My niece and two grandnieces look in on her occasionally and make sure she has everything she needs.  And my nephew who lives a bit farther away, makes regular trips up there!  But she's basically on her own!  And she still has a garden and cans stuff! 

And now I'm going to wish you all a peaceful night's sleep and a happy tomorrow and may God bless us, every one!

Good morning...

Starting out at 28° ,no rain nor snow yet.

We are off to the city to do a bit of shopping  and meet up with family for lunch then high tail it home. Calling for rain /snow and I don't wish to be caught in either if it gets nasty.

Jane,happy birthday to your sister, my sister's birthday is tomorrow .

On the run.

Enjoy your day and stay safe.

Good Morning Everyfriend!  I slept well last night and I feel rested and ready for the day today!  It looks like it rained off and on all night and there's more rain and dense fog predicted for today.  Cathy might change her mind about Wengers if it's really bad!

AMY, one more thing we have in common...a sister with a birthday right at the beginning of January!  I wonder what else there is!

I'm off to the showers and to get dressed just in case it's not as bad out there as they're saying.  I wish you all a good day...better than yesterday but not as good as tomorrow!

Good Morning everyone. well we are 55º and clear at 6;50 AM. I have been up watching TV. thought would see what is going on here.

Lloyd 

Where is everyfriend?  I hope you are all OK!

It's the after holiday let downs

Here I am...........Been a long day so ready for bed now! Having kind of a down day, it is Jan.3, this day back in the last year of WWII my pet chicken, Maggie, died. My aunt gave her to me the first trip we made to their house when the war started. I sat out by the big cage that held the feed corn & rubbed corn off the cob so the chickens would hang out with me. The other kids were older, girls whispering in the upstairs, boys out in the barn, Dad & Uncle George checking on the mules so they could talk privately & Mother, Aunt Anne & all the older women were in the big kitchen cooking. The fireplace was big enough to stand up in, big old stone house and everyone worried about the war and who would have to go.

I had blisters on my fingers from the corn & Aunt Anne thought they deserved a pet to take home. Maggie rode in my doll buggy & followed me everywhere, even to school. She had the run of the neighborhood so would come around the front of the house where the windows were low enough she could get Mother's attention by jumping on them... she walked through the house talking to Mom, hop in the bushel basket to lay her egg & go on out the door.

My youngest brother skipped school this day to comfort me, we made a plaster of paris little plaque with her name in alphabet soup letters & he used our sister's nail polish to paint the name red. All was done with few tears since the war going on was so scary with people dying, not a pet chicken. More than 80 years since the war started, I was 6, and she died before it was over when I was 10, good memories and bad.

And now I lay me down to sleep..........God Bless and sweet dreams. Love y'all. Shirley

Good morning..
Calling for rain today and there is a fllod watch in certain areas...we are fine here.
We had a good day yesterday, lunch with family at Red Lobster when I tucked away coconut shrimp. Today  is catch up day and making turkey soup.

Shirley, loved your story on Maggie......great memories for sure to have.

Jane, I was so tired from town I flopped till bed time then hit it early.Didn't want much supper so it was an easy one to day.

Better get at it.

Enjoy your day and stay safe.

Well! There you are...at least some of you!  Good Morning to you and whoever else shows up today!  We have our second foggy, rainy day in a row.  Not a good couple days for this time of year.  Yesterday, I did some cooking and today I'm doing laundry.

I made bread pudding yesterday for the first time in YEARS and it turned out pretty good.  I had it for breakfast and for my "not-quite" midnight snack!  Then I made a tater tot casserole for supper because I thought Frankie was going to be here and she just came by and picked up Cooper and didn't stay to eat! 

SHIRLEY, I have some special memories for Jan. 3 too.  I think mine might be happier than yours are.  It's my sister's birthday and she's still hanging in there.  I called her and sang "Happy Birthday" to her and then we talked for more than an hour!  Since neither of us drive any more we only get to see each other when someone can drop one of us off at the other one's house.  I think when Christy comes up from Maryland later this month I'll ride back with her and she can leave me at Margie's house.  I'm sure Cathy or Philip will come get me.  She's 89!  And she still lives alone and takes care of herself!  I bet my mother is "thumbs-upping" us daily!  And my dad's just sitting there with an "I always knew it" look on his face!

The washer just went into the spin cycle so I better get going and throw this load in the dryer and another one in the washer.  I don't know if Cathy will be heading to Wenger's today or not.  If she does, I'm hitting the trail with her. 

I wish you all a good day...better than yesterday but not as good as tomorrow! 

Shirley - this one is for you.  How are your beavers doing?

Beavers are taking over the Alaskan tundra, completely transforming its waterways, and accelerating climate change in the Arctic.

The changes are so sudden and drastic that they're clearly visible from space.

As the Arctic tundra warms, woody plants are growing along its rivers and streams, creating perfect habitats for beavers.

As the furry rodents move into these waterways, they make themselves at home by doing what they do best: chewing and carrying wood to build dams, and clogging rapid rivers and streams to make lush ponds.

A good Wednesday HELLO from one of the very guilty missing posters😩😩

I have read every one of the posts and thank all of you for checking in and sharing your day's activities with us. I hope to do better in the future. It certainly isn't because I do not think about you ALL and hope you are doing well‼️

Last Friday I met with the oncologist who ran all of the blood work on me to see what my blood issues might be?  5
The wonderful news I got was what I was praying for, and I got it🙏🙏🙏. He questioned why I had the original bad report as I did, but he assured me that I am just fine and to move on knowing I do not have any concerns about having blood cancer‼️

Yesterday I met with my cardiologist and she assured me that I am on the right track with improving my health by starting this CPAP therapy and my weight loss and for me to continue to keep up the good work and I do not have to see her for 2 months‼️

As you can tell my days have been pretty much associated with preparing for my surgery tomorrow.  At this time tomorrow I will be being prepped for a 1 PM surgery.  I have to admit my anxiety is high, but I know I have to do this with hopes of a good outcome.  Sadly, it isn't going to be instant gratification.....not many surgeries are😩🤪 I have been doing research on this and the outcome will take month to show any improvement if there is going to be.  All I can do is pray that I will be one of the lucky ones that will have success🙏🙏 My incision is going to be quite large....I don't worry about adding more "railroad tracks" to this shoulder as there are already two good sized ones,but getting this one healed and the limitations of what I can do while it is.  Sadly my only good form of exercise is swimming and that of course is out😩 FORGIVE me for rattling on about this....I think it is meant to console myself🤪🤪🤪

I wish you all a wonderful day and the best wishes for health and happiness in 2023.

Jenny

Not sure if beavers are a good thing or bad, Bubble, but I've enjoyed looking for them and watching how different they react to my being part of their territory.  Sadly I don't get down to the water edge often anymore, only a couple times in the last month or so. I will Google & see what is said about them making a difference in Alaska. Thanks!

Glad you girls, Amy & Jane, enjoyed my tale of Maggie. I came for hugs & found 'em. 

So far I've eaten a couple times, fed Tiger a couple times & would love to go back for a nap but have floors to clean before my youngest comes for his weekly visit.  I did clean out the bathroom vanity drain, YUCK!  My daughter brought me the extra strong vinegar & big boxes of baking soda... that vinegar is dangerous compared with normal stuff.  Got the job done & also got the bank set up to take care of all that next week when my daughter is back in town. That's all my brain can handle today! Have a great day!

Oops, you snuck in, Jenny! Saying extra prayers your surgery works & sounds like health is great!  This house would have been perfect for you, original owner put in a small inground pool & with a group of doctors helped a local guy design a cover to swim all winter. The lady across the street loved it because when the owners were out of town she checked out the pool nearly every day to make sure the pool service was doing their job. They had pots of flowers every few feed around the inside & kept the water heater running full time, a door at each end (& they had no worrys about paying for all that service.)

Since we bought the house in spite of the pool Cas couldn't wait to get rid of the cover (they had the cover taken down summer months)so he could use that storage area for things HE was interested in. The cover snapped together like a WWII quonset hut, was a fiberglass that could stand KS winds & hail (I went to the manufacturer for a brochure to sell it) sold to a man for a green house.

For the curious among you and for those wanting a refresher;


27 PHENOMENAL THINGS TO DO IN FAIRBANKS ALASKA
Story by 365Traveler • Yesterday 5:11 AM

https://www.msn.com/en-us/travel/tripideas/27-phenomenal-things-to-do-in-fairbanks-alaska/ar-AA10nMnR?ocid=msedgntp&cvid=d83e1cda2feb42538306c6ffea7fb4a0

This will be a shorty because I can't keep my eyes open or my mouth shut!  I'm ready for the haystack!

JENNY, I'll be praying for your surgery and for your recovery!  I hope this works and you will have better use of that arm!

Shirley, you've been a busy gal!  Still doing the cleaning while you carry that thing all over the house with you!  You just don't give up!

PATRICIA, I loved all the interesting info about Alaska!  I sure wish I didn't have to give up on ever getting there!  It's the only state that I haven't visited...darn it!

I got the laundry all done today, made a shopping trip to Wenger's and started putting the Christmas stuff away.  Some of what I put away was the coconut cups that I make extra for myself.  Does that count?

Frankie did show up and Cooper got his bath and she was here just in time to help me find something on the computer and send it to my sister.  But she didn't stay for supper!  Cooper did but Frankie didn't.

Now I'm heading for the haystack so I can get back to the point where my eyes will stay open and my mouth will stay shut.  I wish you all a peaceful night's sleep and a happy tomorrow and may God bless us, every one!

Good morning everyone @ 5;48 AM it is 34º here and cloudy at latoure mo. now. I was up and down off and on all night Long. not a good night's sleep. hope you all  done better. hope you all have better one than i did. I have taken my vitials and sent them off to VA VIA sadalight. see you all later.

Lloyd

Good morning..

So far I think we have missed the freezing rain! We did get a power hicup in the night but didn't lose power. Making turkey soup today and bread/buns , throwing on a load of washing to get it out of the way.

Patricia, loved the information on Fairbanks, I want to do them all!! We did drive into Skagway from the Yukon but that is as far as we got.

Jenny, prayers that surgery goes well and it will be your last one.

Jane,talked with my sis last night and asked how her birthday went and she got what she wanted for a meal..Shepherd's pie! I like that too!

Lloyd, you may get in a few cat naps today..

Better scoot.

Enjoy your day and stay safe.

Good Morning Everyfriend!  It's almost time for Cooper's arrival so I better get myself moving.  I'm on "Slow Start" this morning.  I've had breakfast and made frest coffee.  The bed is made but I'm not dressed and Cooper will want a walk right away!  Have a good day...better than yesterday but not as good as tomorrow.

Nearly 7:30am & very dark out yet. I'm going to make a trip to the store today ... one way or another! I've had 2 of my kids bring me celery and is has a "whang" to it. Each made an effort to pick fresh but let the people in that department convince them "that little bit of dirt will wash off" when all they do is trim off the ends to look fresh cut. That musty or moldy odor creeps on up the stalk & never goes away. I like to cut a stalk or two into bite sizes, tad of water in bottom of the bowl & pop it in the frig when I'm not going to be in the kitchen for a while, keeps it nice & crunchy. Basically no calories but most of all, doesn't need salt to taste good so handy snack even better than popcorn! You really can smell the difference in most fruits & veggies. 

Patricia, I guess I will have to give up on seeing Alaska during this life, but in MY Heaven I'll bet I can visit every spot on your links. Maybe even run into Jane while roaming around, okay, Jane?

Amy, I also love Shepherd's pie, in fact, put a potato on the table in any form & I am happy. Since I am having trouble getting enough protein down I think I will take one of my Omaha beef bergers & cook it up to spread into a microwave tub of mashed potatoes, not sure I'll put the green beans cooked in onions into the mix but will have it on the side. Won't even put it in the oven since all will be cooked ahead.... no left overs with that. Not exactly the same & know the oven bake makes a big difference BUT.... glad you mentioned it.

Lloyd, my Fitbit says I got a little over 5 hours sleep last night but only 19 minutes of deep sleep so maybe it's the moon that kept us from sound sleep?  My mother's father was a farmer & also owned a butcher shop but he believed the moon has a lot to do with our earth & she would always point out HIS reason, "look at how it controls the tides". I don't know if it actually does but back in those days they planted crops "by the sign of the moon" and was said some doctors wouldn't plan surgery on some signs because patients would bleed too much. I think they have proved not all was true but something to think about! 

It is light now so better get a move on. I think Tiger went back to bed without her bowl of milk.... bad me........

Shirley, --- Have you ever had cooked celery? Just plain cooked celery?  My parents did that. At first I didn't care for it, but it grows on you. (still have some behind my ears)

Rick, I have only cooked "potato & celery soup"... the whole heart plus a few stalks chopped up, along with a potato cut bite size & naturally a whole onion...lots of butter and those that like added cheese. While you're at it, make some garlic croutons to add before eating, I don't like mine to get soggy. I do love to eat.

I tried for a nap this morning but phone calls kept me awake so still sleepy & thinking about sneaking off to look for that nap again. 

Trees are ladened down with ice...I saw the tops of our pines and I hope we don't lose them.

Soup was made , laundry done and Kyle got his hair cut. Tomorrow more bread will be made and if weather permits we will take some soup and bread to his sister.

Shirley, a lot of farmers beilieved in the moon, the birds, leaves and usually  did predict weather that was to come. I wouldn't cut hay when the dipper was on its end (spilling water) just little things to make life interesting..here is another.

Most families paid strict attention to the phase the moon was in, and they killed on the first cold day they could get when the moon was "right." As one said, "If you kill a hog on th' new of th' moon, slice it and put it in a pan, it'll just blow you 'til you can't fry th' grease out of it hardly. You got t'kill it on th' right time of th' moon. You don't never want to kill it on th' new moon." Another said, "We'd kill hogs on th' full moon, or just about th' full moon. While th' moon was shrinkin', th' meat'd shrink. There'd be a lot'a lard an' grease if it'uz on th' shrinkin' of th' moon. If it'uz on th' new moon, you wouldn't make much lard, and th' meat'd swell up when y'cooked it 'stead'a shrink." Other farmers would kill their own hogs when the moon was shrinking, but they would take hogs to market when the moon was growing so that the meat would weigh more.

well I an In to bid you all goodnight and sweet dreams, but I have a qite good one to tell you all first, Nancy Has a little one of those little magunets things on her refirdgerater ( says Nancys kictchen) Our oldest deaughter and oldest grand deaughter were still over here, deaughter  and all the great chidern ate breakfeatt with us this morning. the deaughter and oldest great grand deauter were helping with clean up.Nancy reinses things off verry good and puts them in dish washer,the deaughter started telling her she should switch sides of the sink so whould be over the gerbage deposel, and nancy Ilike it this way, the great grand deaughter went Over and got thst plack off of the frige and took it over and showed it to her gandma and said see this grandma I think that put her grandme in her place quick. Hope to see you all in the morning in good health and spiret

Lloyd

It's time to head for the haystack!  And I'm ready!!!!

LLOYD, that little gal knew what was what didn't she?

AMY, I loved that farmer story.  I remember being at my grandfather's farm when there was a slaughter going on but I sure couldn't tell you what the weather was!  And we had good meat all through the war years when it was scarce and hard to get!

I spent the afternoon getting everything ready to make AMY'S Meatball Soup...chopping carrets, turnips, celery, onions and not just for the soup.  I have packages in the freezer ready for the next "whatever" I make that I need them for.  And tomorrow is soup day!  I think it's going to be a keeper!

RICK's question to SHIRLEY about the cooked celery started me thinking since I have a lot of extra celery right now.  So I came to the computer and looked it up and there must be about 20 ways to cook celery.  I ended up copying a recipe for frying it.  Sounds pretty good.  Thanks RICK for putting the idea in my mind!

SHIRLEY, I'll look for you in the "after life" and we'll do Alaska together!  Sounds like fun!

Okay, I'm off to the haystack!  Tomorrow, no Cooper so it'll be "make the soup day"!  I wish you all a peaceful night's sleep and a happy tomorrow and my God bless us, every one!

Amy, I remember when someone warned me to "not try to take the bottle away from a baby or the pacifier when the moon wasn't right or they would never quit crying"....  back in those days a garden was planted by the moon with "root" veggies a different sign than above ground and different types of plants to keep away bugs, etc. At one time I had a lot of the old books from those years but have donated to the historical society, county where they came from, or passed on to my kids. My siblings didn't want any of the old books.

Hope your pine trees don't break off. We don't see many pines around here anymore, that pine disease killed most the last 10 years. We lost a lot of plants some years ago when we had a warm spell in January & deep freeze in Feb....

You snuck in, Lloyd! I'm with Nancy on keeping the kitchen HER way. My kids think I'm crazy for not using a dish washer, was fairly new when Cas died but it takes about an hour to run & I can have the dishes washed & in a drainer in a few minutes & don't have to listen to it run while I'm on the computer. When Cas was alive I spent a lot of evening time downstairs on the computer & he had a big screen TV back in his "man cave" sitting room/bedroom/bathroom area so would be watching sports or those talk shows back there. The dish washer didn't bother either of us. After he died I spend most of my time in this end of the house & do things MY WAY.

Past bedtime but had lots of phone calls today. Got to get more done tomorrow. Sweet dreams & God Bless to all.......

Good Morning everyone,It Is 24º Here now @ 6;20 am, and clear. I had another on and off night again last night, I wish you all good day today and a better tomorow.

Lloyd

Good morning...

 Temp is 31° at the moment, haven't stuck my head out to see if it is raining or not.
A bit of running around to do then home to make buns of bread..instead of making one loaf you put 3 round balls in the loaf pan, let rise then bake. Easy to pull off one "loaf" while you can freeze or refidgetrate the rest if you don't go through bread fast.

Shirley, I agree with the planting by the moon.

Jane here is another pearl of wisdom for you my friend.

Old Farmer's Advice: Your fences need to be horse-high, pig-tight and bull-strong. Keep skunks and bankers at a distance. Life is simpler when you plow around the stump. Do not corner something that you know is meaner than you. Every path has a few puddles. Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. Leave the rest to God. Don't pick a fight with an old man. If he is too old to fight, he'll just kill you.

Off to meet the day...slept in and had better make up for lost time.

Enjoy your day and stay safe.

Good Morning Everyfriend!  Well I guess you could say that today started out well.  I've been hearing a beep every so often and especially in the morning when it's quiet around here.  I've tried to track it down for over a week now and it's been driving me up the walls.  Today, I FOUND IT!  A while back when I made a lot of smoke in the kitchen, the fire alarms went off and the only way I could get them to stop was to turn of the switch in the fuse box.  I guess I forgot to turn it back on and it was telling me to get with it.  I turned it on this morning and the beep is gone!

AMY, you have a lot of those old sayings.  If my farming family used them, I didn't remember.  But my grandfather was a lot like my father.  He didn't talk unless he had SOMETHING to say!  And when he did talk, everyone listened!

It's still not "winter cold" out there but we still have the clouds and the off and on rain! 

Later on, Cathy is coming over to do some paper work for me so I guess I better get dressed and get started on the soup.  Anyone who wants to try AMY'S Meatball Soup is welcome to join me for supper.  We'll eat around 6 while we watch Mannix on TV.

Have a good day, better than yesterday but not as good as tomorrow!