Good afternoon, all!  My favorite time of the year has arrived it's Michigan Wolverines Football Saturday!!!  Go Blue!!!  The temps here in Ohio have been in low 70's for the past couple of weeks and I am loving it!!  I mean summer temps went from beginning to be cold to scorching hot, so I guess ready or not we have gone right into Fall temps.

This week put me a little off sort with the Annunciation shooting. I will never get used to the shock when things like this comes over the news.  Evil will always be a part of our lives and once again innocent sweet lives have been taken by such an evil person. I just absolutely hate how immediately it becomes a political back and forth discussion seeming to forget those who are dealing with the pain of losing their loved ones not to mention those still in the hospital recovering and the community as a whole who must process this.  Vanilla-Jackie I agree with you...turn off your TVs. And I will add to pray for this community and the world. 

I hope you all have a nice relaxing Labor Day weekend.  We no longer get together as a family for a cook-out and swim day like we used to, so I think my hubby and I will go try our luck at the casino.  

   

It's hard to understand people just killing other people. I often sit and ponder what has happened over the years, that even allows some to think that way. We, as young people, had access to guns and other things that are not acceptable today, and we never had a problem with it. ----- What has changed.

Jackie - Good to see your message here this morning!  I hope you return again, and start posting here on a regular basis.  Yes,  I think that people in their mid 60's were considered elderly back then.  Also, there have been advances in medicine since then, so many things  are now curable.   My Father lived on to the age of 81, and was a lifelong cigarette smoker, so it's hard to predict.

Ciaobella -  I agree with you, how the tragedy of the killings, immediately became a political issue. Dem vs Rep.   Unfortunately  I don't see an end in sight.  The hate is only getting worse.
I hope you have a nice relaxing weekend visiting the Casino.  They usually have good food at the casino's, so enjoy a nice Labor Day meal! 
 
Rick -  Good to see you posting here too.  I think we all have an idea as to what has happened to cause the divide in our Country.  It started with the internet, and web sites like Twitter, and now X and Facebook, where people (well known celebrities, as well as ordinary people like us) can say whatever they want to about anyone or anything.   It's shocking the terrible things people say to each other online!   So much hatred out there! 

Good morning everyone,
I've been working hard on my response to the impending spray. Lots of records reviewing and gathering....

Its 90°F+ until next Friday. 🥵 poacher season has started. Ron finished insulating and has moved on to building the porch. He poured a footing Saturday, built the cinder block walls yesterday. He'll be framing the roof and enclosure walls today. I asked him to build it in a way that rodents and rattlesnakes will not take up residence underneath, hence the cement/cinder block foundation. It will have space to stack fire wood for ease of use in winter.

Ciaobella, sorry to hear your teeth problems are still plaguing you. I'm also experiencing teeth and jaw pain, though mine appears to be from wind drift of volatizing pesticide. It is miserable! I HATE teeth pain/problems too!!!!

Marilyne and Rick, I think it started with taking God out of schools and the public square. When there was no absolute truth, and everybody did what they claimed was right in their own eyes, every evil becames permissible: justification, rationalization. The behavior on social media is horrific, but is a natural result turning from Godliness.

Hi Jackie! Good to see you!

Happy Labor Day all!! I was curious as to when and why Labor Day became a federal holiday so of course I Googled it:

Origin of Labor Day
Labor Day began as a response to the harsh working conditions faced by American laborers in the late 19th century. During this time, many workers endured long hours, low wages, and unsafe environments. The labor movement sought to improve these conditions, leading to the establishment of a holiday to honor workers.

Key Events Leading to Labor Day
First Labor Day Parade: The first Labor Day parade took place on September 5, 1882, in New York City, organized by the Central Labor Union. About 10,000 workers participated, marking a significant moment in labor history.
Federal Recognition: Labor Day became a federal holiday on June 28, 1894, after a series of labor strikes, including the Pullman Strike, highlighted the need for better labor rights. President Grover Cleveland signed the law to help mend relations with workers.
Founders of Labor Day
The exact origin of Labor Day is debated. Two individuals are often credited:

Peter J. McGuire: Co-founder of the American Federation of Labor, he proposed a day to honor workers in 1882.
Matthew Maguire: Secretary of the Central Labor Union, he is also claimed to have proposed the holiday around the same time.
Both played significant roles in the early labor movement, contributing to the establishment of Labor Day as a national holiday. Wikipedia Investopedia

So, in essence the unions decided we needed a day of rest to celebrate our labors.  lol  Oh, do I have a lot of thoughts running through my head but they will remain there. lol

Rick, I agree we had access to weapons to harm others, but I just don't think it was in our nature to do so.  The easy access to the internet and all social media along with the irresponsible bias in all of the media on tv have all but given the idea that if you use a narrative to influence the public then all can just be excused for their main purpose of pushing their agendas giving everyone the sense of complacency. Look how quickly they move to the next narrative and forget the incident that just happened a couple of days ago.  Desensitizing has become a major issue with the games children are allowed to access on their devices and early introduction in the schools with books that teach your children values you do not accept in your home.  It's truly become a society of not seeing or respecting human life from womb to tomb.  When you are told a fetus is now considered a clump of cells, and an elderly person suffering from some form of sickness no longer has the quality of life so you can refuse them proper health care we should not be at all surprised how it conveys the message human life is no longer valued.

OLM, you nailed it with taking God out of the equation!  It's come to a sad time when you turn your tv on and you see topless people on the White House lawn, when you hear your representatives using the "F" word, drag queens reading stories to Kindergarteners, etc. Morals and values are laughed at and mocked.  Families rarely sit down at the table to eat and pray together, let alone go to church because sports are far more important or sleeping in because the parents are tired from working endless hours. 

Dr. Phil Magraw has a saying when asked why things have gotten so bad...he says,

Quote"Instead of asking yourself why, you should be asking yourself why not?"   

Gosh, I suppose I have gone on far too long and need to end this rant.  It's just I have such passion for human life, and it sickens me to see how lives can be snuffed out at all ages because of the beliefs and disregard of others.

Marilyne, I agree, I don't see an end in sight.  I do pray because I will never give up hope on humanity.

OLM, I'm glad you are getting your things done for your home.  My pain is all gone and all healed.  I hope you find relief for yours. 

Good morning one and all!
Its 62°F, headed for a heat advisory of 94°F. Its going to be a recovery day for me. Too many exposures while out on poacher patrol. Instead of just a 1/2 mile loop, we do all three loops. One, the back fence, I've been prohibited from due to an areal spraying earlier. It still hurts me pretty bad, but I need to do it. I found a tree down across the fence and needed to cut it out and mend broken wires. I found a discarded granola bar wrapper on my property, right there. So somebody already trespassed through it. Poachers figure a weakness in a fence is an open door.

Ron worked on Saturday before and after our daughter, SIL and grandkids came for the afternoon. He worked all day Sunday and Monday. I now have the porch, with a solid rodent, rattlesnake proof base. He will pour the one step next week; he ran low on concrete. He's begun framing the walls. It will be covered. Shelter from the elements and a handy place to stack firewood.

Did I tell you my SIL helped my husband move my woodstove and refrigerator into my tiny house? I bought the fridge early in the spring. Its been in our storage container until they moved it. My daughter, Alex, and the Gkids helped me unpack it: removing the toxic plastic films and foam. Its a smaller fridge than "normal," but 3x the one I have in my RV. Everybody came in and enjoyed the inspection. The Gkids have helped with the building of it, especially the middle child, Toby. He loves construction. They had a good time with the pull down stairs and playing in the loft. They were much more interested in all the things that we're going to do up there for they're comfort, now that its this far along. It was easier for them to relate, and visualize.

Its getting light out... I better get moving. Not neatly done with messaging. Thinking of each of you, and very glad you're here.[/bl

OLM,   You're up bright and early, and have already accomplished more than I will in the entire week ahead.   Nice that most of your family were there with you over Labor Day.  Lots of hard labor going on at your  place just about every day, so "no rest for the weary",  in your little compound.  It does sound like your grandson is especially interested in the entire project.   What a wonderful experience for him . . . learning how to be self sufficient!  I know you want to wrap up a lot of the work, before the rain and snow sets in, which  is only in a month or so.

Ciaobella,  thanks for the history on the origin of Labor Day.  I would have guessed it was during the Teddy Roosevelt administration, but it was way before that.  As for the political situation now . . . so hard to make progress, with all the endless "roadblocks", constantly being thrown in place to disrupt every logical move/.
Something of interest I've been wanting to tell you about.   My older daughter and granddaughter,  (who has Autism, but is high functioning),  have made it their goal, to visit and tour all of the California Missions.  This past week they  went to Mission San Jose - Diocesan Shrine of St. Joseph.  They brought me a variety of small items that they purchased in the Mission gift shop, that are specifically for wellness and healing.    I was so moved and pleased and by their thoughtfulness.  I may take a picture and post it soon.

More on that at another time.  Today, I hope to get out for a hair cut!!   It's been since June, that I had my last cut.  I trimmed it myself a few times over the Summer, but only made it worse.  Now looks like a shaggy old mop!   

Hi all!!!

OLM, I am so glad you had your family there for the weekend to help you with your fridge and other projects. Nothing is as special as family time. 

Marilyn, I see we have yet one more thing in common, my grandson Zak was diagnosed on the Autism spectrum when he was 3 yrs. old.  He too is high functioning.  He goes to an all-boys Catholic High School and has made the President's list and the Honor Society every year so far and has participated in CYO basketball and cross country and is now on the school bowling team.  Last year he did the stats for the high school football teams and this year he is videotaping the games with a drone.  For someone we weren't sure how he would fit into activities due to his social skills, school and sports has exceeded our expectations.  He got his first job at Chick-fil-A this past summer and will continue working part time although this is his Senior year and he wants to have time to enjoy all the things possible. I recall when he was in a public school in 1st grade the teacher refused to acknowledge him being on the spectrum stating he is far ahead of the class and needed no special consideration.  My son and dil immediately removed him and placed him in a Catholic elementary school which not only had special needs for autistic students, but he seemed to flourish there.  He was a bit bored by the time he was in 6th grade, so they decided to place him in St. Francis De Sales Jr./High school in the 7th grade. He absolutely loves sports and hopes that whichever college he attends he will be able to be a statistician for their football team.  He and I have been extremely close since his birth, and he will call me with Michigan Wolverine news and still come and spend the night and watch Saturday football with us.  We taught him how to play Monopoly during our sleepovers and now he is the Champion of wins! Grandkids are the light of our world for certain.  How sweet of your daughter and granddaughter to bring you special items from their trip. 

Believe it or not I have not been to a hair salon in 4 yrs. I color and cut my own hair.  I have cut my two sons' hair throughout their years growing up but stopped when the styles changed in high school.  I've been cutting my husband's hair since 1983. I joke with him and say he can credit the fact he is not bald due to me cutting his hair. lol

Okay, must run I want to go to Michael's craft store to purchase some new Fall decorations.  Fall is my favorite time of year, I finally gave in and packed away the summer decor.  Our temps have been in the low 50s in the morning going up to the low 70s so I am enjoying sitting out on the patio more.

   

Cutting hair yourself saves you a fortune.
I cut our kids hair till they were old and wise enough to complain about it. By then they could go on their own to a Barber Shop and get it done.
I also cut my wife's hair toward the end. She couldn't always get out. She had a simple cut and when she got it done out she was told I did pretty good. Strange, but I found it rewarding.

I am finally getting around to checking in today. The weekend was quite. Yesterday, I joined my sister for lunch at T. J. Rockwell's. We were seated out on the patio, and we both ordered the fish and chips. The weather was just right, bright with puffy white clouds here and there. The temperature was just right and there were no pesky insects about. Too bad the greenhouse across the street was closed for the day.

I got a few things done this morning with more to do this afternoon. Oscar and Shan have been mighty quiet today and yesterday. I am enjoying that while it lasts.

This past week I have been watching the live meteor showers posted on the YouTube feed from the Subaru Telescope in Hawaii. When I first tune in, it is usually around midnight give or take local Hawaii time. The Perseods were first in mid-August, followed a day or two later by a light meteorite shower from the Auriga constellation just below. Also, there were lots of planes and satellites criss-crossing the sky, Saturn and Venus. Last but not least, I got to watch the Pleiades and my favorite constellation, Orion, rise into the sky at about 4AM Hawaii time. After a week or so of that is enough for a while I think, especially as the lights from the city and the Moon are interfering. Still, it is better than I have now with all the lights around me now.

Well, time to get back to work. I have to make up the bed yet, do laundry and get a bag of trash ready to take to the dumpster.