Good mid-morning everyone! It's 48 presently with partly sunny or partly cloudy skies. Morning routines, meet and greet, coffee made and Farrah fed with only two nagging chores to be done today.

Happy Mother's Day, everyone, and have you seen Bubble's Mother's Day cards?

Jane, that is quite an accomplishment, a lot of hard work, discipline and determination went into that doctor's title!

And how nice of your son to provide dinner for the ladies!

Amy, good morning and will you be doing any quilting amidst the laundry, gas pick up and vehicle washing?

Good morning..

Another chilly start to the day 33° but heading to 75°
.
Off to the city to do a pants  return ,hopefully get Kyles hearing aid fixed and home. Neighbours are looking after Jesse, that really shoud read spoiling Jesse.  Hope to say hello to Dairy Queen too!!!

No, Patricia I did'nt get any sewing done. After gassing up the lawnmower topping up the snowblower I washed the lawnmower. and ran out of steam to do anything else.Did you manage to get your two nagging chore done?

Better get my city duds on.

Enjoy your day and stay safe






 

Goodness whatever happened - we were told the next week was going to be hot hot - reachng 95 and then yesterday went to my son's for dinner just after 4: and quite warm along with the usual humidity and the warm lasted the  hour before we ate while walking through Sally's garden but then when I left about 8: we walked out the door and it was chilly to cold - been chilly all morning with a projection to get maybe to 74 and then instead of all this heat for the week it will be in the 60s during the day - for us that is winter time weather - have not listened to hear what happened but a shock to say the least.

Paul fixed the best meal on his grill - chicken, peppers, pineapple shish kabobs with roasted corn on the cob and he even had a pan with tiny potatoes and topped it of with large slices of grill toasted french bread. Sally had planned strawberry short cake but we were so full we ended up skipping desert.

When they brought me home Paul brought in from the Garage the bookcase I painted and so that is today's project to get it set up - I had a small basket like those old fashioned vegetable baskets that was red rather than the traditional creamy white and it had green straps going around the middle and around the top - I painted the basket a light blue and used a rose color to cover the green straps - the rose leaked under the masking tape in a few areas so I need to dab some of the light blue to cover the misbehaving rose paint and I still have a wooden box that I keep back pillows in near a wicker chair that I want to paint and so I'm off to my projects...

Good Afternoon to Everyfriend!  This might be my last post for a bit.  We're leaving for Oklahoma tomorrow and it will take us the best of two days.  And when we get there, no telling how long it will take to get me hooked up and loafing on the computer.  I'll be back when I can. 

Supper last night was great! Son Phil did it on his grill and we all ated outside!  Loved it!  And I got hugs and kisses from Everyone!There were 7 of us there!  And we all talked a blue streak!

Now I have to go put some clothes in the dryer and some more in the washer!  And I still have some packing to do!  I musten't forget to take my pressure canner.  Lots of jars and lids and info are on their way to my granddaughter in OK!  She just moved into her new house and she's looking forward to learning the canning methods!  That will be my job while I'm there!  Then I can start to quit!  Of course, my kids around here say, "Oh Yeah!  I bet you'll quit!"

The washer just stopped so that's my next job.  You all take care and I'll be back when I get set up in OK!  I'll miss you all!

Quote from: JaneS on May 12, 2025, 02:07:35 PMWe're leaving for Oklahoma tomorrow

Happy Trip ---

Good morning..

Beautiful sunny morning with a temp of 41°. Grass cutting is on the schedule
 after the dew is off. Hokey teddy bear, sitting here in the quiet and geese flew by honking! They are that low one could tickle their tummy! 

Trip to the city went well and lunch at DQ  was so good. While Kyle will just get a  plain sundae, I will get a Dixie Bell, ice cream,chocolate sauce,butterscotch sauce loaded with pecans.

Jane, safe trip. I know you will have fun passing on the tradition of canning . I agree with the family, quitting is not in your vocabulary!

Enjoy your day and stay safe.

Good afternoon, I just returned from finishing a few pesky overdue errands and getting one last shot. I learned some bad news while at the nurse's office. Anyone 65 and over needs to get a covid booster every six months. I already feel like a pin cushion from March to today, of this year.   

Now, I need to do a quick bathroom tidy and a fingerprint wipe of the kitchen, clean both floors, water the plants and take out some cardboard to downstairs recycling, but that can wait.

Good morning.

Starting off at 54° ,we did ask for warmer weather but to go from freeze to fry is not nice! We even had the a/c going yesterday!

Managed to get the grass cut not to do the trimming and some baking today..

Jane hope your trip went well.

Patricia, yes, you do need the booster but a small price to pay instead of getting covid.

Phyllis, how are you doing? We are starting to see the leaves come out but no lilacs blooming yet.

Crow, three of them this morning has been feed ,so on with the day.

Enjoy your day and stay safe.

Good morning, 37 presently with sunny skies and supposedly headed back into the sixties. Meet & greets, morning routines, showered, Farrah fed, coffee's on and here I am.

Amy, I've had two covid shots and five boosters, and now they're telling me since I'm over sixty-five, I will need a hew booster every six months. Everyone, 65 and older, will need another one every six months as the virus continues to mutate.

We heard from Claire's son. She's not doing so well, seems to have given up, and we all think it was just too many changes happening for her to process.

My second shingles shot has been so much better than my first, no bruising, no inflammation, no goose egg on site or redness. Simply mild soreness, when they warned me the second was usually worse. Now I've had all four, shingles, covid, RSV and flu.

The greening happened overnight, grass, trees and bushes have blossomed, and the ravens have returned to cooler mountain weather. I haven't seen the smaller birds, other than pigeons, in town, but I'm sure they're in the woods and at the sanctuary.

Good morning..

Gentle rain during the night..now the leaves and flowers will burst open!

Need to pick up flowers for the planters this morning then home to carry on.

Patricia, I am sorry to read about Claire, wish someone where she is now living gives her a reason to keep on living.

Enjoy your day and stay safe

Feeling Catawampus this morning - can't put my finger on it - for one thing my last living cousin is being buried today - Jackie was a year younger and of all the cousins we had shared more childhood memories however, Jackie had her family in NC and not near enough to my daughter who lives in NC for me to drop in very often and so our adult life we did not especially keep up with each other - she had 6 children and I only keep up with 2 of them - feel sad but not really.

Yes, a loss but more a loss of childhood memories than actual loss of our relationship today - maybe feeling like the last one in a dance hall - What is really weird is my two sisters and I are the last of our generation and then we live so spread out that we don't get to see each other either although, we were buzzing up the phone lines the last few days - I'm the oldest and my next younger, a nun, lives near her last official work as Dean of the Philosophy department in a small Catholic College in NY state, and my youngest sister by 15 years lives on the Otter Banks of NC and because of a bad accident a couple of years ago she seldom travels - One of her son's lives in Austin but now I'm here in Magnolia and so I'm not a regular in his life ether.

Maybe that is it - growing up it was all about family - Our parents were close and we cousins saw each other regularly. My one aunt and uncle only lived down the street and now we are spread out over long distances and Jackie's passing reminds me of that loss of a close knit family. 

Well onward - my son will be here this afternoon to help me wire the vines along the fence and a few other tasks - need to get going with a few things so I can get a nap in before he comes if I'm going to be any help at all...

Good Morning Amy - miss Joan's faithful 'Good Morning' - seems to me she will be on the road all day today - No sun here and it is going for 8: - hope everyone has a good day...

Travel has become so easy and common. Sad how it shotguns our families all over the place. My son and I are the last of our tribe to be here.

Good morning, It's fairly warm and sunny out there today, and I'm still facing a few needed chores that I can't seem to get to.

Yesterday, I went out browsing the stores and had lunch with some friends. We were all brainstorming ideas for our friend but couldn't come up with any good ideas. Amy, look at it this way, you have a husband, family, pets, land, and then suddenly, alone, you're restricted to a room in a place where everything is handled for you. You no longer have any autonomy. She lost all of that in eight years, other than her one son.

Barb, I'm sure Jane is having a wonderful family time and hopefully will return with some photos to share. One daughter, or granddaughter, sells beautiful flowers during the summer that she shared photos of before.

My family is spread out in the Midwest and, up to my generation, were all farmers.  My parents met up here and both worked to raise my sisters and I, up until Alaska became a state in 1959. We grew up working hard while our parents worked and also hunted and had an acre put to garden. We went outside two or three times visiting relatives during my childhood and then the three of us girls went south and worldwide during the sixties, and only I returned home in the eighties with my daughter.

Good Afternoon, Everyfriend!  We had a loooooong trip with one overnight stop and we're here safe and sound!  I'm ready to sleep but we have to have supper first and then let the doggies have some attention!  Cindy has me all set up to work this thing and she's on her computer doing some catch-up work with her people.  I was ready to take a walk when we got here but unloading the car and carrying stuff upstairs helped solve that. 

It sounds like you've all been busy while I was gone.  You got lots of things done and I'm proud to be friends with all of you!  My eyes are bothering me right now so I'll try to come back and chat tomorrow.  I wish you all a peaceful night's sleep and a happy tomorrow.  Be sure to share it with us!  I'll be back to check on you all!

Its overcast, but warmer this afternoon. I got one out of 3 pkgs today. The other 2 were delayed by weather. The pkg I got contained organic, raw cocao and 2 organic hazelnut butter chocolate bars. I kinda wanted to start a thread about the best organic chocolate if anyone else was interested... only I don't know how to start a topic. anybody else a chocola-holic?

Most of the to do's are done. Delivered some buttertarts  to the lads at the lumber store  and one more container to our mechanic tomorrow.
I went early to get a few groceries betore the tourist came up for the long weekend and half the town thought the same thing!

I need to take the tarps off the wood pile ,that will be a job for tomorrow.  Jesse doesn't  bring the wood in when the good weather is here.

Jane, happy to hear you are all set up, now we also want to hear how the lessons are going! Memories for all of you to tuck into your hearts.

Barb,what kind of vines? Do they flower?

OnLonelyMountain, welcome ! We lost one of our chocolate factoriesthat my husband and I would help lower their supply.   You do realize that chocolate is made from a bean and beans are a vegetable and vegetables are good for ýou! Works for me!

Patricia, I do understand, she just needs a purpose  to go on. Does she knit, sew, any skill that she can pass on? What about reading to those that have trouble holding a book or seeing?

Callie, everything OK your way?

Quote from: OnLonelyMountain on May 15, 2025, 06:37:48 PMI kinda wanted to start a thread about the best organic chocolate if anyone else was interested... only I don't know how to start a topic. anybody else a chocola-holic?

In order to keep a little control and organization here we don't start new threads. We try to use the setup as is (set up as a Village). BUT - If you think a new one is necessary, run it past Bubble. She kind of oversees us and keeps us in line and going.
I love chocolate - but dietary concerns now limit me 

Amy, LOL, thank you for the welcome. Cocoa beans are actually a fruit. My 7 year old grand daughter schooled me. The are inside a gourd like fruit and the spongey flesh is actually a S. American delicacy! Both the flesh and the beans are rich sources of vitamins and minerals. It is one of the highest sources of iron other than dark green leafies like spinach. Its also, in the organic form, one of the 2 highest sources of plant based methyl donors. We need those for our immune system and its methylation cycle. Sorry if I missed any typos; I'm out on the trail and forgot my glasses.

Thanks RAMMEL. Will do if there's any interest.

Back inside my RV, with glasses: missed you could no longer eat chocolate! Gasp! Clutch!😵�💫 So sorry to hear that! Sending tons of sympathy your way!

Amy the one by the driveway fence is Trumpet Vine, prolific and yes a wonderful red flower - two in the back - one is a Confederate Jasmin and the other a Honeysuckle and yep both bloom - on the west fence the Jasmin is a sea of yellow and on the east fence that gets hot sun all day but planted under the late afternoon shade of an oak is the Honeysuckle in shades of pink to red with a yellow stamen - I've already purchased, just waiting for Emigdio next lawn day for him or one of his workers to  plant on that long east fence a Yellow Lady Banks thornless climbing rose.   

Really blew it - did not read properly - thought I ordered a 3 gallon Wax Myrtle and instead it was 3 one gallon Wax Myrtles - hope I can coax them into a decent height before I die sheesh... however, they do well here - they don't interfere with the septic system which mine renews the contents and becomes water that sprinkles the yard each day and so I have to be careful planting trees with evasive roots.

Best of all the Wax Myrtles only grow 20 feet in height so they don't interfere with Center Point's electric wires that runs along the utility easement adjacent to my acre and here they are pretty much an evergreen unless below freezing then the leaves turn brown and yes, for the past two winters we've had 2 or 3 days in January of below freezing temps - but they recover, just have to cut the dead leaves off and they will look awful for a couple of months...

Lonely Mountain I like chocolate but not my first choice as part of my snacking habits - best I loved chocolate covered raisins however not chocolate covered pecans - prefer praline covered pecans or cinnamon brown sugar covered pecans - in fact favorite are cinnamon sugar covered pan de polvo those tiny Mexican cookies and I love lemon bars.

I love it Rammel- dietary concerns hehe nice way of saying an aging digestive system - the adventures of aging - never know what body part will change next...

Jane fabulous to see your post - so you made it and it sounds like without a hitch - and so it begins - lots of excitement for you and your family for a bit between babies, dogs, walks and canning - what a treat...

Patricia your family is also spread out all over the map - interesting in one way and yet, we are not as close as we had been growing up are we... that was a big change for you from the midwest farming life to Alaska - my oh my you were and still are adventurous - thanks for filling in that Jane's family grows and sells flowers - amazing amount of work but the rewards are so lovely.

Full day but can't go to bed yet, decided to wash my quilt late and it is still not dry - need it since in order to cut some of the humidity I need to lower the AC and so I need the quilt - let's hope I can stay awake without falling asleep on the sofa - better get my jammies on now just in case. Good night...

OnlonelyMountain, this is an area of the site that may give you some ideas. If your idea doesn't fit in any of the prescribed categories, you will need to see Bubble, re-starting a new heading within the home areas.

https://www.seniorsandfriends.org/homemaking-food-gardening/

I know what you mean about severe allergies. In 2013, I had a severe reaction to a Hormel's brand spaghetti microwavable meal. I ended up in the hospital once with that, and twice by eating two other chemically laden foods. It's similar to a bee allergy in that it builds over time. I'm allergic to a chemical that prolongs shelf storage.

What that means is no microwavable, convenience or fast food. Many dairy products are verboten because they're laden with chemicals.  It also means I'm never without my EpiPen. I deal with a nutritionist and an allergy doctor monitering my diet, or more accurately, lifestyles. At this time, most of the old junk, no longer temps me and my hair, skin, and nails have never been better. Plus, that each time four thousand and more hospital costs stays in my wallet and not theirs.

Amy, right now, she's in emergent care but those ideas will probably help once she's dealing more rationally.

Barb, my two sisters and I were born and raised in Alaska until the sixties when we went out on our own. It's my relatives that farmed in the Midwest, Washington state, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Missouri.

My grandparents generation were the last to be small farmers. WWII changed most of that forever. My dad was one of eight among six brothers, my mom was one of three with one brother in the army and a brotherinlaw in the army air corp. My mother and my aunt both moved to San Francison to build ships and both of my husbands were in Vietnamn.

My problem with sleep is when I was younger, I was always cold and now that I'm older, I stay over heated at night. Now, I sleep best on my side with a flannal throw against my back and side.

Good morning...

Woke at 3 am listening to a sound I hadn't heard in years, an owl!! THen the geese started and a bit later crow just before 6 started.

Seems we are in for a dandy storm later on today. Not sure how Jesse is going to do on his own without Babe.

Work around home, may get one trug planted but we shall see how the weather behaves.

Barb, I hope you post photos of the vines in bloom!! My friend had a trumpet vine but couldn't get it to blossom.

OLM, I don't think that mountain would be lonely. I am imagining  all the sounds from birds singing, partridge drumming and just wind in the trees. Sounds like heaven to me! Fruits and vegetables are good for you so chocolate is a healthy treat.

MG, how is Oscar doing? Is he back eating?

Better get ready to meet the day.

Enjoy your day and stay safe.

Yes, he is. Amy. He is eating better, breathing better, less tired, and not curling up in a tight ball all day, and spends less time in the potty box. Unfortunately. he is still not gaining weight. A special treat and Shan have been helping me eat a rather large pork loin that I cooked in the slow cooker. Because the cats were going to get some of it, I did not add anything to it.

It is raining again this morning, but the weather app says we will see sunshine this afternoon. I am trying to get the last of my book read before it goes back to the library. I don't think I will make it which means a second renewal to finish it up. Meanwhile, I had to put a sci-fi back on the hold list for a couple of weeks.

I still need to schedule my DEXA and mammogram. My sister just had her DEXA two weeks ago. For the first time ever, she was told her results would take about two weeks. She is still waiting for the results. That has never happened before; they have always had results in a day or three. This does not bode well. This just adds to the growing shortage of medical personnel. Even the veterinarians are getting hit with a shortage. My vet is splitting his time between two offices now to help cover. Fortunately, he does not skimp on time with the cats' visits.

Good Morning Everyfriend!  I'm up and dressed and Cindy is on her computer doing her job.  I heard her talking to one of the people she works for...interesting!  Before I went up to shower and get dressed, she mentioned going to the store for some things we nedd.  I've discovered aa couple things I forgot and maybe I'll pick them up.  They're not big things but they;re useful!

I read all the entries and I sympathize with you problems with pets and weather.  we just do what we can to make the pets comfortable and we put up with the weather whatever it brings!

Now I'm going out in the yard with the doggies.  They love being out and I love sitting on the porch and watching them.  Don't know when I'll see the kids yet!  I can't wait for that!!  I wish you all a great day!  Come by and share it with us!  We miss you when you don't!

Well it is after 9: and the sun is still trying to come through the overcast and fog -

Daughter-in-law helped me yesterday get both quilts separately into the washing machine and after all that the one still is shaking out baking soda that I had sprinkled all over the bed trying to bring about the demise of any hidden spiders or mosquitoes - not my most brilliant move - never again no matter who says using baking soda is magic

End of the week already - and ONLY one more week of school - Memorial Day on the 26th - the coming week will probably be the toughest for teachers.

Wishing y'all the best day full of all the people and things you love... 

Good morning Barb, Your vines sound like they will be beautiful and amazing!!! I've never had polvo, but I also love lemon bars.😋

Will you be posting pics of your latest quilts?
Mint repels mosquitos best. Mix a couple of drops organic EO of mint in a small pump spray bottle w/1 part alcohol:4 parts water. I keep it by the bed during mosquito season, then spray me if I hear one. I recently bought an indoor plug-in mosquito zapper off amazon. Still outgassing it. I'm hoping it will eliminate that problem.

Its 40°F here, grey, drizzling with a cold blustering wind.

Good morning Amy,
Yes the orchestra of wilderness sounds are beautiful. I do love them. But one still needs human companionship. At least I do.I enjoy the wildlife, flora and fauna. But after 20+ years in solitary confinement I miss people.💔

Lonely Mountain you probably have had Pan de polvo called by a different name - here is a nice link showing photos of the cookies that yes, were originally for the Posadas but are now available through out the year https://sweetlifebake.com/pan-de-polvo/ - I always have a sack of them available for the young men who cut my lawn - they work hard and I think they need a pick-me-up before they go on to their next.

I too tried those electronic plug-in mosquito repellents from Amazon and if they are doing anything it is only a few feet from the plug in - I've 3 plugged in my bedroom and it is still mosquito hotel. 

Yes, I've tried mint drops - a cinnamon clove concoction - citronella drops and sachets although I must say I did have success with burning citronella candles however I'm not comfortable having candles, even in tin containers burning at night while I'm sleeping - the overhead fan is some help but for it to be a real help the fan would have to put out more breeze than my sinuses can tolerate - they seem to be worse this year but then where we did not have the rain to choke a frog we have had consistent rain so that the front bar ditches are not empty which I'm assuming is the birth home of most of these mosquitos - ah so and such is life...

Long sleeve cotton shirts and long pants help but my hands and face are all bitten up and they work themselves up my sleeve so my lower arm and my elbow which is most inconvenient - I have a stick itch something or other in my pocket all the time and that takes away the initial but if it was one of those itsy bitsy spiders then the itch continues for a few weeks. 

Haha gives me something to grind on about doesn't it -   

Hey Barb, I've never had them. Sound tasty!

Wow, you do have mosquito trials! Yikes. My zappers aren't repellent, though. They attract (w/ blue or purple light) and fry the little buggers. Don't know if we're talking the same thing. They're like a mini porch bug zapper. Sorry to hear about how much you're being bitten😥. That's miserable.

Oh, another thought: I don't know if you can get out to your front ditches/mosquito breeding ponds, but a squirt of dishsoap will disrupt the water's surface tension. The little buggers can't lay their eggs and the larvae can't float and breathe. Here's a link. https://bugbattler.com/can-mosquitoes-breed-in-soapy-water/