Good Morning Everyone,  from the sunny but still cool,  rocky coast of Maine.   

My date with Kelly yesterday had to be postponed until today.      So I jumped on the bus and went grocery shopping by myself.    (which I love to do occasionally because there is no  pressure...  ie I can take my time) ...
     
Kelly is coming today and I will get my INR taked and we will probably go "Good Will Hunting,  as I call it.) 
She will be here in an hour. 

As aging goes,  so do my expectations in life.    What once was,  may no longer be so....  My only choice is to accept those changes and make the best of them. 
 
(With hopes that there will always be something to 
"make the best of" )  So far,  that is working nicely for me! 

Have a good day,  Everyone.
Sandy 

Good morning Sandy.  Enjoy your day with Kelly.

Good morning everyone, looks like another beautiful day is store for us today. Spent most of the day outside again yesterday.

LARRY  I have a 4 cup coffeepot and I get 2 mugs from it every morning. That is all the coffee I have every day.  Looks like more different people have been out on the porch enjoying the springlike sunshine. I mostly see some of them going out someplace or coming home but the last 2 days they have been on the porch.Even all winter I try getting out for a little walk every day. I would never be able to stay in this apartment every day without getting out every day.

JOAN  we have not had a lot of zero temperatures or that much snow either but getting out in the warmer days we have had this week have been great. Still wearing my winter jacket but without all the different layers underneath it. One more day and you will have Joe there again. Hope he can stay a little longer this time.

PHYLLIS  good seeing your wave.

HAL  for me it is a pain doctor that I had been looking for.

JUNE  I have had some mornings when I just want to go back to bed and to sleep the morning away.

JANE  the last 2 days I have opened my windows. Felt great to get some fresh air in here. No cross windows though and I do miss that. Just 2 windows on the same side. I watched The Quiet Man not long ago. Good movie with some good laughs.

JOAN  will pass on breakfast this morning and stick to oatmeal. Good chuckles. I copied Food for Thought. Like that a lot. Thank you for all today's goodies.

LLOYD  good morning.

JANE  there is so much I am no longer able to do I am glad I do have someone here 3 times a week. I do not feel guilty about it either. The nurse from my insurance wants someone here 5 times a week.

AMY  with all the different thingss you do I am surprised you never added cutting hair to your chores.

Good morning, Gloria.  It's really nice that your weather has been nice enough to sit out on the porch.  I am not sure how long will be here when he comes back.  Once he leaves he has a 10 hour drive to get home.

Hi everyone on another nice morning in South Carolina.  Pat has to have a medical test done at 10 am this morning and that will be all that requires us to be away from the house today.  I need to cut up some green onions later this morning.  We had an very pleasant men's meeting last evening.  The food was good and the speaker was a pharmacist that belong to our church who talked to us about Testosterone and the role that hormones play in our bodies and about the importance of certain minerals.  It was very informative.

June, great news on not having to have the daily bandage change as know that has been a hassle. 

Carol, is Kneader's like a Panera Bread place?

JaneS, I certainly don't think it is an indulgence.  No one else knows what your needs are but most of us know how difficult some of the household cleaning choirs have become.  I do hope you can find someone soon. 

Sandy, your picture has certainly changed.  I like your smiling one as this new one doesn't due you justice. 

Gloria, it sounds like many of your residents there have gotten Spring fever and thus are enjoying being on the porch.

Good morning, Larry.  That pharmacist's presentation about testosterone and hormones sounds interesting and informative.

Good Morning Everyone!

Larry I certainly agree with you about help in keeping the house looking nice and clean.  No one, especially our age, should feel guilty about have help.  Men in a sense when they retire they actually do get away from their job, women on the other hand still do their same activities.  And I know my wife enjoys knowing she doesn't have to do the heavy lifting of cleaning under and around.  Although, got to laugh sometimes, on the days our cleaning lady is coming my wife is straightening , picking up and I ask her what she is doing, that Ada is coming and she just blows me off and she keeps on doing what she was doing.  Cant let a cleaning lady see she is untidy....

I also bought the robo cleaner because it saves having to vacuuming everyday, it does a good job of picking up the small stuff and keeping things looking good.

Hey and if you can afford it.  Enjoy, the kids will certainly enjoy your money after you are gone and they have the house and insurance and what cash you don't spend yourself.  My Dad always told us kids, he intended to spend every dime of our inheritance. And did a pretty good job of it. 

Nice day here this morning, just talk to yard guy and he is coming tomorrow to clean the yard, time to starting thinking of springtime here.

God was certainly looking after us yesterday, not an injury or death in the tornado's.  The chalk it up to everyone being inside and asleep when they hit. Thank you God.

Bye.

halkel--I am sure glad the tornado didn't cause any injury or death.  I do the same as your wife before my cleaning crew comes--straighten things up.

With Joan's permission, there is a song quiz going on in http://www.seniorsandfriends.org/index.php?board=22.0..Everyone is welcome to try..The songs chosen are those that most people are familiar with or have heard recently...I encourage Googling and do not think that is is cheating as it gives one a  lot of practice in using the search machine Google so one can feel a part of trying for answers they might have forgotten...

Amy:  The only Irish Chain I sewed was three colors of Cranberry, a medium dark blue and cream.  That was my wedding present for our youngest son.  They still use it at times.   

Yes, I do intend to get some help with housework some time - just hate spending the money but it is a realistic and necessary thing one of these days.  When we return home, the change to higher altitude always slows us down and I have thought about this year being a good time to get some help - especially going downstairs, etc.  We go from about 3,000 ft. to over 6,000 in our area and it is noticeable.  The boys were going to work on a bathroom project so I hope they have finished before we go home. Everyone travels so much.

We had a mess of dirt on the patio this morning.  Javelinas tipped over a pot of green succulent plants - they were a gift and so pretty.   Those pests!  Some of the mix was lost but I will try to save the rest of the group.

Chia:  I'll check it out. 

Bis, I feel the Thought for the Day, was written for me. I had my first nice warm shower in two weeks and loved every minute of it. Got a final leg check, and unless it should bleed I don't have to return. Wheeeeeee.

Just had a call from my son Gary. He will come here an hour early tomorrow and take care of my mistake on ordering the wrong size coffee pot. I feel SO stupid but Gary assured me he has done the same thing in the past..I don't believe that, but he does have a manner of making me feel O.K.

Janie, I can think of no one that has more surely earned help from a housekeeper than you my dear friend. You are the only one of us still holding a steady job, the only one of us that I know of that owns two doggies which take constant care, so to have you squeeze the budget a bit and have help with a housekeeper, I am all for it.  Go for it girl !!!!!!! Somewhere out there in your neighbor hood is an older lady that would just love to be able to earn a bit of spending money. Have you considered running an ad in the local newspaper ?

Bis, you have a marvelous attitude in dealing with your ills, which are many and varied, I know. I am SO proud of how you just keep going ,in spite of the health issues. You are an heroic Soldier, in my book.

Sandy…you too have a great attitude. You have "overcome" many things, the stroke being the most disastrous.

Gloria, this was a banner morning for me, a nice hot, long shower, and no more bandage needed on leg. Yay !!!!!! Most days for me now require an extra nap or two. I really think it is a part of aging, which I would love to deny, but why lie to myself…I'm old, and will hopefully get even older. God willing.

Larry, I was surprised at how quickly I healed this time. Last wound took two whole months, and that ended when they gave me intravenous antibiotics. Maybe there was still some of that left over in my blood stream. Whatever…I am rejoicing. And I am giggling over what you told Sandy on the new picture….you better be ready to duck any flying objects coming your way, right Sandy ?

Hal, like your wife and like Bis, I too have to tuck extra "stuff" away till the cleaning lady leaves. Like a dirty plate or cup left in the sink, of too much "stuff" left on bathroom counter,like hair brush, spray…any thing that she would have to move to do the cleaning.

Chia, thanks for the invitation…I will check it out. If I didn't read and sleep so much I would spend a lot more time in games…..they keep the brain more exercised.

Chia--Participants who are interested will follow your link.

Carol--Good for you realizing you need some help with housework.  Those javelinas are downright pests.

June--I'm sure the shower felt wonderful.  Thank you for the complement.  I am no more heroic than others who have chronic maladies.  How nice  that Gary is going to fix your Amazon order for you.

I would love to have outside help as I get so dizzy when my blood pressure plummets. Sometimes I feel that if I lean just a little more right or left, that I will topple right over. However, I cannot afford to pay the prices asked in this city and I don't qualify for aid. Cleaning five rooms is no longer a daily chore but may take up to three days. When I was working I could have had help and now when I need it, I can't. it's as simple as that.

I am now thinking about bartering services.

angelface--Bartering services would be an idea.

Sure is quiet here in the SS.  I am going to go check out what's on TV.

YOO HOO!  Where did Everyfriend go?

Another Lost day... It was just morning a little while ago and now it is going on bed time, and I am pooped. I know I was here this morning, then I checked out some stuff on the computer, and all of a sudden it was lunch time and after lunch..of course I went to sleep.. woke up at 2:30 and made a rush trip downstairs for balance and mobility exercises, then decided to do a load of laundry, and now it is past supper time. We have a one butt laundry room and for the third time now I have had others come in and use the washer, while my stuff is in the dryer...grrrrrr.

I am heating up some left over chili for my supper, and then it will be off to an early bed. I hope to come in and say goodnight.

Good night Everyfriend and may God bless us, every one!

Good Wednesday morning, Everyfriend.  There’s breakfast panini’s to accompany your coffee or tea. I wish everyone a great day!!



E-Mail Commandments

- Thou shalt include a clear and specific subject line.

- Thou shalt edit any quoted text down to the minimum thou needest.

- Thou shalt read thine own message thrice before thou sendest it.

- Thou shalt ponder how thy recipient might react to thy message.

- Thou shalt check thy spelling and thy grammar.

- Thou shalt not curse, flame, spam, or USE all CAPS.

- Thou shalt not forward any chain letter.

- Thou shalt not rely on the privacy of e-mail, especially from work.

- Thou shalt not use e-mail for any illegal or unethical purpose.

- When in doubt, save thy message overnight and reread it in the light of the dawn.

- That which thou findest hateful to receive, sendest thou not unto others.



The Waiting Father
By Arthur Schoonveld
Scripture Reading: Luke 15:18-32

This son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.
Luke 15:24
In his book The Return of the Prodigal Son, Henri J. M. Nouwen explains that the parable of the lost son sums up the story of salvation. The father in the parable is a picture of our heavenly Father, “who watches and waits for his children, runs out to meet them, embraces them, pleads with them, and urges them to come home.” The parable, Nouwen says, expresses “the boundlessness of God’s compassionate love.”
Where do you see yourself in this story? Are you like the wandering younger son, or the self-righteous older son? Or both? The parable is indeed the story of God’s amazing love as he welcomes us back, no matter where we have been or what we have done.
If at this moment you find yourself far away from God, he is waiting for you. If, like the younger son, you have turned away from the Lord, he invites you to come back. If you have become enslaved to some sin, he is urging you to confess and receive his forgiveness.
Or if, like the older son, your heart has not been right with God and, like the Pharisees, you have worshiped God with your lips while your heart was far from him and hard toward the undeserving, he invites you too to come back and celebrate with him.
Your Father is waiting for you!
Thank you, loving Father, for your love, patience, and compassion for each one of us, no matter who we are or what we have done. Thank you for ¬always taking us back. In Jesus’ name, Amen.


“Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going home; that wildness is a necessity…and that mountain parks are useful not only as fountains of timber…but as fountains of life.”

~ John Mulr

JOAN....
....my eyes came alive as I was reading your " Thought of the Day "...and I knew straight away I had heard that several times before and immediately recognised this from from my number one naturist - author - environmental philosopher, and most favourite of quoteist's...John Muir...he brings nature and the outside alive, and into my, and our hearts...


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Muir

Good morning, Vanilla-Jackie.  Thanks for all the info and the link.

Good morning everyone....

Well the rain put the snow on a weight loss program and down it went!! We still have a fair amount of snow about but they are calling for rain the next couple of days.
Taking our Golden girl to the vet later on today, she has a lump on her shoulder and another one starting , it could be just fatty tissue or a cyst but I want her checked out.

Will tidy up the house ,fill the wood box this morning then get ready to go to the vet,she is a 40 min drive but well worth it.
She reminds me of my country vet I had while farming..takes time with your animals plus chats with you!

Hear my washer calling me!

Joan thank you for breakfast.

Enjoy your day everyone.

Good morning Amy.  Aren't you glad you don't have to dance today?  I hope there's nothing seriously wrong with your Golden.

Today is errand day for me, and the forecast is for rain all day.  I'll have to scurry through the rain.

Good morning Everyfriend!  I loved the offerings today.  Like Jackie, I've always liked John Muir.  And the story of the Prodigal Son has also had meaning for me.  As a child, I was the family rebel and it always gave me comfort to know that no matter what, my family and my Lord would always be there.

Amy, my little white Scottie has a lump on her chest that fits in the palm of my hand.  When I discovered it, it scared the heck out of me.  I took her to the vet immediately and they did testing and checked it out thoroughly and then my favorite gal told me there was nothing to worry about.  She has no idea what her words meant to me!  We check it periodically and it hasn't grown and it doesn't seem to bother Annie but whenever I feel it, I get a twinge. 

My day is wide open today until 2 o clock when I'll be getting ready for my evening at work.  I'm rather enjoying these different hours.  I've seen some people that I don't get to see when I just work mornings.  Several people have told me that they thought I'd retired since they never see me any more.  It's kind of nice to make a change.

Have to go feed the doggies shortly.  I'm putting them off a bit this morning since they don't get supper until I get home from work shortly after 7. 

Make today a good one, Everyfriend! 

Good morning, Janie.  I'm happy you like/can relate to today's offerings.  Thank goodness that lump your sweet doggie has is nothing serious.  It's nice you're enjoying your evening shifts at WM.

Good morning everyone, had some showers overnight and no sun this morning. Latest on local news, someone used fake $50 bills at a fast food restaurant. Seems the bills are sold online and say for motion pictures only and on the left side say this is not legal tender. He did this 3 times at the same drive in window. On the third time he was arrested. It took them that long to realize the bill was fake.

JOAN  hope Joe does not do that 10 hour drive without stopping to move around some.

LARRY  the forecast is for cooler today are supposed to be in the upper 50's the next 2 days. I sure do not trust this weather.

HAL  the girl that comes here is a CNA but does the same things a housekeeper does. She gives my back a good massage  when she comes and does the laundry, cleaning and goes to the market if I need anything. On days when there is not much for her to do she can cook something. She was just a housekeeper when she first came here but took the classes for CNA and can do different things to help her clients now. She has been coming here for more than a year now. Glad no tornado got to you or anyone else.

JUNE  most days I lay on the couch for at least 30 minutes just to rest my back but seldom fall asleep. I sleep good most nights and since getting outside so much this week I have been going to bed early, cannot keep my eyes open. Like you I like a hot shower, like to let the water just beat on my back.

PATRICIA  if my insurance did not cover the help I have I would not be able to afford it. Where my daughter now lives out in the boonies they do a bit of bartering.

JOAN  will enjoy breakfast. Chuckles, like the third one. I have to start reading over what I write. Misspelled words are not good. Food for Thought is just that.and looks like my daughter and SIL must have read that John Muir quote. My oldest grandson loves his paintings. Thank you for all today's goodies.

AMY  hope that lump is nothing bad.

JANE  nice to see those you have not seen in awhile and know they missed you.

JANE S....

...you know what I am going to say, dont you.....please, please do keep an eye on that lump, and do keep getting it checked...We were told the same, way back at our old vets, as long as a year ago...Like you I came away from that surgery telling the lady vet, ok, that's good, it is harmless, nothing to worry about then, even after three consecutive months of being monitored...little did I know later down the line, at our new vets, I would be eating those words....Well you know the story, never knew a harmless lump could turn into such a fatal lump in what seemed like a short period....the lump had gone from a soft to a hard...I am sure your white Scottie is clear, but just heed my warning - my words...

Hi everyone.  It looks like we had a little rain during the night.  When I went to the mailbox this morning I saw that my yard is beginning to green up a bit.  It will get into the low 70's again today.  Pat has her last PT appointment at eleven this morning.  This evening is our Wednesday night dinner at church. I don't think Scott will probably attend but Jennifer is planning to come and home dinner with me and the group. Scott apparently has some type of viral infection and went to see the doctor Monday.  He must have been feeling better last evening as he did go to work. We hope at least Jennifer will come on out to house after dinner.  That will be it for today. 

Hal, I had to chuckle about your wife picking up before the cleaning lady arrives.  I must admit I do the same especially beside my bed, my easy chair and in my office.  I know I don't have to do these things but I don't mind and it makes her job a little easiser plus things don't get misplaced. 

Carol, once you get a housekeeper you will probably ask yourself why didn't I do that earlier.  You would have had more time for quilting. 

June, it isn't difficult to return things to Amazon and they simply take the return shipping cost, when it isn't their error, from the refund.  I try to keep in mind that these things aren't that important in the long run so why worry about them.  Glad you are through with the bandages. 

Amy, hope it is nothing serious with your Golden Girl. 

JaneS, nice that folks missed you when you were not at your morning shift.  Glad you are enjoying your new time to work. 

Gloria, I would say the fast food restaurant had some employees who were not paying attention to their work.

Good Morning Everyone!

Well today is starting the way you always want most days.  Good.   Wife is feeling better and I called for an appointment and got one in a time period that I wanted.  I have missed my mens group the last three Thursdays and I am looking forward to seeing the group again tomorrow.

Larry, with all the rain and lighting we got the other night my backyard is really greening up and the winter rye (volunteer) is rearing its head and making thing look pretty ragged.  My yard guy will be here this afternoon to clean things up.

My back continues to be improved, is that proper language?  Anyhow it still feels better and my walking is better.  I did have a little of the old pain and walking late yesterday, I have been trying to keep things picked up for my wife, including cleaning in the kitchen and I took so garbage out to the can at the curb and I just plain got tired out walking back in the house.  I think my problem is muscle strength.  I did so little for so long that I have lost the tone and strength in my muscles.  But now that I can walk without all the pain maybe I will (and I will) move around move and hey I don't even use my cane now.   Thank you God.

Well, got my bill paid, and said hello to my cyber family, so I will move along and let you all have some rest.

About the lumps on dogs.  When my Pup was really just past being a pup she developed a lump on her hip and we had it removed, big mistake,  we almost lost her because she was allergic to the stitches and the wound rejected them and vet put metal stitches and that tore open and vet took her in to keep an eye on her, she stopped eating and lost so much weight we thought her bones were going to come through the skin.  We told vet take everything out and the cone off and we bought some bitter apple spray so she wouldn't lick it and we brought her home, kept it sprayed and it looked terrible, but we persisted and she finally healed, she gained her weight back, she has a terrible scar on her hip, but she is the same old pup we had and she is spoiled rotten, just the way we want her.

Oh, the reason we had him remove the lump.  She wouldn't leave it alone and kept it raw licking.  knowing what I know now, the Bitter Apple would have been used.

It's been really pouring all morning.  I am not complaining, because we need it so bad.  I had to sit a few times and wait until it let up enough for me to scurry into the stores where I needed to go or I would have gotten drenched.  Wouldn't you know I forgot my umbrella--dahh.