Battening down the hatches around here. Bringing in all the loose items in yard, bird feeders, etc, my patio chairs. Hermine is supposed to come through here tomorrow. I hope she only brings rain, but am worried about the wind.  My neighbors are out of town and have all kinds of stuff on their patio. I sent them an email this morning. I took down their bird feeders and some small items but can't do anything with the big pots on the wall or their furniture.  Of course, John is out of town too.

Usually, they hype things up and then nothing much happens. I hope that is the case today. Nothing much else going on.

Mary, sorry I missed that distinction on doing both knees. Can understand that.

Jane, glad you got all your stuff to the consignment store. A big chore off your to-do list!! Sharon

I pray everyone here will be safe through Hermini and that she completely  misses all y'all.

Hello everyone, Well it seems fall is pretty much here already on this southern coast of Oregon, The leaves are turning and the weather seem to be changing from day to day, sometimes warm other times cool a smattering of rain here and there as well.

Yesterday I bathed the dog and took her for 4 walks through out the day. ?Today we go to the Hospiotal vor visiting with the 5 other teams. We go two teams to a floor. Lately everyone is either sleeping or have gone home, it makes for a short visiting day.

I am taking my car to the mechanic next week for the first routine maintenance trip, to see about the head light lens that hnas so much moisture and check the engine light that is staying on.

Looking like fall here, too, Marilyn.  The trees are changing color and the walnut trees are dropping both the walnuts and their leaves already.  In the fields, the corn is beginning to brown and the soybeans are beginning to turn yellow, so harvest will be gearing up soon.

Beautiful morning here.  I've been doing some computer work, but going to take a break and walk to the bank and get some exercise in at the same time.  Ray's off golfing and what a great day for that.  Temps in the 70s and low humidity.

My sister and hubby and granddaughter and family were headed for Hilton Head this weekend.  Obviously they're watching the weather reports VERY closely. 

We have a quiet weekend planned....bought some spareribs yesterday and we'll do those Sunday or Monday.

Have a great long weekend, Buddies!!

jane

Happy Holiday Weekend, Buddies!  I hope Sharon and later MaryPage are not getting too much trouble from "Hermine".

Back pain woke me up in the middle of the night.  Some pain med got me back to sleep, but I skipped swimming this morning (and just went to coffee - LOL).  Then a trip to WalMart finished my trip out.  Then it got interesting.  As I was unloading the stuff from my car, I got stung by a bee.  It got up into my loose sleeve, and I was out of my shirt right there in the parking lot until I was sure it was gone.  I thought it was just one of those "sweat bees", but after I got the stuff in and got up to lunch, I started to feel  light-headed.  I went right for one of the nurses, who went looking for some Benadryl.  They didn't find any, but I got to feeling better, so they let me come on home.  I think they were ready with an epipen, though (although they didn't pull one out right away and scare me with it).  Somebody is going to come check on me later this afternoon.  I did take a Claritin as soon as I got back to my apartment.  Then I found some Benadryl way back in a cabinet.  The little sucker surely did get me thought - it hurts, too.  Management sent somebody out to spray the area after I reported it.  I guess I can't let things get too ordinary for long. 8^)

I've put out a third hummingbird feeder, and the birds are going crazy with them.  There are probably 12 or more swirling around - who can count them? - they move so fast.  I can tell that's going to be my entertainment for quite some time.

Glad somebody's getting some fall-like weather.  Temps are still in the 90s or high 80s around here.  We're not expected to get any of the rain from "Hermine", so we're still pretty dry.

Today was Jesse's last day at his old job.  He starts his new job here in two weeks, so after the holiday weekend, he'll be doing some driving back and forth getting his "toys" moved - two trucks, motorcycle, boat, etc. It's going to be good having him back in TN.

Again Happy Labor Day Weekend, Buddies!!

So far, Hermine is much ado about nothing. We've gotten about an inch of rain and no wind. It is still gray, dreary and drippy though.  All my efforts yesterday were a waste.

Jane, glad you're having such nice weather and a beginning of fall. Some yellowing of leaves on my cherry trees, but that's all here. Temps still high.  I envy Ray his golf. After all this time, I still miss it.

Mary, how awful!!! I'm glad you have health care there, although it sounds like they need to check their supplies.  I don't suppose you have any meat tenderizer now, but making a paste of that and putting it on the sting really helps. The enzymes help break down the venom.   How nice that Jesse is soon going to be nearby.  I have 2 hummer feeders that are really busy too. They are all eating a lot to be able to migrate to So America.  Ours are usually gone about the first of Oct. or so.

Marilyn, your wine walk sounds like fun.

Have a nice holiday everyone.  Sharon

Hi everyone....not much going on in my little corner of the world.  We did get rain showers today and a hint of fall in the air...I had to go to my yearly skin checkup.   The Dr froze off a couple places.....my fault...as when younger I was always in the sun without much protection...Happy holiday weekend to all....I still miss my hubby more than usual on holidays...I always joking  told him I only could live one day without him....its been almost 4 years......Darlene

I just saw on Facebook that Jane's Daughter Joy went to be with the Lord around noon today.

Thank you, Marilyn.

Jane - hugs and condolences to you and all your family - a tough time.

Darlene - it's amazing that it's been four years.  I know what you mean, though.

Darlene, it seems like only yesterday we had your sad news.  But I tell you, in no time at all it will be ten years and more, and you just won't believe it.
I sent an email to Jaywalker (Jane), feeling helpless.  I just cannot imagine the crushing sorrow of losing two daughters.  It goes so far beyond imagining.
I don't think you need feel concern for us here in Annapolis, Mary.  Following the Weather Channel news closely, they have the hurricane hugging the Carolina coasts for a while, having become a Tropical Storm.  Then it will shoot up northeastwards and go right past the mouth of the mighty Chesapeake Bay.  Then it will hit some extra warm water up in the ocean parts there, northeast of the bay, and likely turn into a hurricane again, and may turn in to the coast once more and batter up there.  A lot of folks, especially on the beachfronts, may suffer a lot of damage, but they showed the figures, and this storm is A LOT smaller than Sandy, with no chance whatsoever of it getting as big.
In the meanwhile, our Maryland beaches will suffer wind and rain, and a not as hoped for and anticipated Labor Day weekend.  Our lower southern counties, St. Mary's and Charles, will have a lot of rain.  We don't expect much more than some gloom and rain here.  Right now, the bay waters up here are choppy, but I see absolutely no whitecaps whatsoever, and everyone is out on their boats celebrating T.G.I.F.  They'll be filling up our taverns and bars come nightfall, for as you know, ours is "a Drinking town with a Sailing problem!"

Hugs to Jane and family Darlene

I slept in this morning, and when I arose Chip told me there had been a big earthquake in Oklahoma.  I sent off an inquiring email, and got back an OK from niece Caroline in Tulsa and and OK from granddaughter Angela in Yukon, who says their house is fine, as they have already checked, but THEY are actually in St. Louis for the long weekend.  No news yet from Kim in Oklahoma City.  We have a grey day here, with some, but not worrisome, wind.  We expect rain this afternoon and into the night.  We will NOT, not, not, not be getting the Big Storm.  Cross me off your list of concerns.  Love to the Buddies!

Turns out Kim & family are in Lake Texoma for the Labor Day weekend, and all is well with them.  There are some whitecaps on the Chesapeake, so I expect it is pretty rough way down south of us, where it empties into the Atlantic Ocean.  Also rough to the direct east of us, across the flat miles and miles of the Eastern Shore peninsula to the beaches of Ocean City, Bethany Beach, and Rehoboth Beach.  We will have some rain and wind here, but nothing terrible.  We are nowhere near the center of the storm, but just on the very far off outskirts.  And it is NOT headed in our direction.

Glad to hear all of your family is safe, MaryPage - wherever they are.  LOL

Nothing exciting here (fortunately).  It's cool this morning - I have my door open, with just the screen.  It'll get warm enough soon to close it, but it's nice for a while.

{{{HUGS}}} to Jane W

Mary...keep an eye on the sting.  My arm swelled so last year...it was on my mastectomy side and became a real issue...

Beautiful morning here and just 57 when we walked downtown and stopped at a cafe for breakfast. Then we walked over to the bank to take advantage of a new checking account/savings program they have and we got all that paperwork taken care of and accounts consolidated, etc.

Ray's got the basement cleaned up and I did my corner when our family financial stuff is so it's looking "spiffy" down there!! 

This afternoon will be football, I think, and catching up on my checkbook bookkeeping.

Have a safe weekend, Buddies!

jane, I'm definitely watching the sting area.  Overnight, it went into an itchy lump.  I've been applying cortisone cream and taking Benadryl, so (for now) it's just an annoying itch.  I'll be most careful about a "next one". 

Candy.  Now I went to my Dermatologist last Monday to be checked over for whatever he saw. I know I have a few dark spots of years of sun also. But He did something not done before. Now looks awful. He sort of squirted stuff on about 8 places each up above my Elbow. Sort of Burned but now I have 8 big blisters there. Awful looking. Did a little on he said I had on my nose. Now it has sort of busted but still a red area.
Won't be in Monday but I am going to check on what happening. I asked the Pharmacist yesterday and he said maybe it was some chemical and the blisters covered it so that will then clear when dry.  Weird to me..... 

Jane, you guys are so neat & clean. You make me ashamed--but not enough to do anything about it!!

Mary, I hope your sting absorbs quickly.  When I had fire ant bites they took 2-3 weeks to disappear.  I think when we are older and are skin is thinner these things bother us more.

Jeanne, John gets "spots" sprayed nearly everytime he goes to the derm guy. It is liquid nitrogen, I think, and freezes the spot. When it heals, you won't be able to see anything.

Darlene, it doesn't seem like 4 years since you lost your hubby, but then it doesn't seem like a year since Mary's John passed.  Time goes so fast as we age, but grief stays the same.

John was awakened at his hotel last night at 3 AM by the fire alarms. It was a minor smoke issue, but no one was there who knew the code to turn it off!!  So he got dressed, called his partner & they left there at 5 AM. Got home about 9 or so.  Then he took a 2 hr nap.  He had a decent tournament, about 10 pts, but not outstanding.

Nothing else going on here today. MP glad your family is ok. Hope you don't have too much of a time with Hermine.  Sharon

Sharon.  Yes that Is what I learned today. Liquid Nitrogen. Not had them done that way before. What few I had done they would send them in to test. All O.K Hope they clear up fast. Ugly looking.My Sun glasses catches on the one on my nose.

Didn't the fire dept. get there fast to the Hotel. Don't think I would stay there again.  Someone should always know the code.

Something definitely went wrong today, and it never DID rain.  Well, a leetle bit last night in the wee hours of the morning, but we were supposed to get wind and rain and all we got all day was medium to low wind.  The sun kept turning off and on and off and on, and finally in early afternoon turned to on and stayed there.  So, bottom line, no Hermine here.  Not a bit of it.
My dermatologist puts what we nickname "dry ice" on a couple of spots, usually on my face, every year now.  I pretty much stayed OUT of the sun all of my entire life, even though I was an avid gardener.  I just worked where the shade was when it was there.  Walked, as I still do, in very early mornings or very late twilights.  So the spots on my face are not cancers or planning to be or anything close:  they are eczema, and that dry ice (which I think may be the nitrogen you are talking about) really makes the stubborn spot of eczema go away and stay away.  There is a wounded spot for a few days, but then my skin is good as new.
I have a very fancy invitation from Anne Arundel Medical Center's Doordan Institute in the Belcher Pavilion for a September 25th Breast Cancer Survivor Tea.  There will be finger foods from around the world and, of course, tea and other refreshments.  There will be Irish Dancing and About Faces, whatever that is.  A band?  I can miss all of that, but am hesitating, and have not yet rsvp'd.  I have until September 12th.  You see, they are also going to have the All Children's Chorus of Annapolis, and I am a Big Time sucker for them.
Gosh, but I hate to get up and go anymore.  But I'll think on it for a while yet.
My granddaughter Helaine is coming to take me out to lunch tomorrow, Monday, Labor Day.  My cousin Liz and her husband are coming to take me out to lunch Tuesday.  Color me Social Butterfly, which I think is neon orange with black lace spots these days.

By the way, I stayed up until the small hours to catch up on some Australian shows Maryland Public Television (PBS) and the Virginia/DC PBS channel, WETA UK, have been offering.  An absolute knock down drag out gorgeous beauty named Marta Dusseldorp is the Star of both Janet King, which is good, but one of those extremely fast moving and fast talking genre of films that I always have to watch twice in order to settle in my thick head what was said and took place.  All about the cases a female attorney in Australia takes on.  Hey, they still wear WIGS in court down under! 
But the other show I really got hooked on, and that is why I am telling you about this.  It is called A PLACE TO CALL HOME, and is about a woman who has lived in Europe for 20 years, and just gone back home to Australia.  And I flat out fell for the entire cast, the story lines, the whole parcel.  You may or may not fall for it as well, but do give it a whirl if it should be listed on YOUR PBS schedule.
I remember getting hooked on The Thorn Birds years ago, and my all time favorite show was A Town Like Alice.  Well, I think I am going to like A Place To Call Home just as much!

MaryPage, I Googled Marta Dusseldorp and found this, "Actor Ben Winspear plays opposite his wife Marta Dusseldorp in A Place To Call Home."

http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/actor-ben-winspear-plays-opposite-his-wife-marta-dusseldorp-in-a-place-to-call-home-20140622-zsgbf.html

Sounds like a good one, MaryPage - I'll check around for it. Glad you didn't get anything much from Hermine.

I texted Jesse this morning - he lives in Virginia Beach, NC (just outside Norfolk, VA), but fairly far inland.  He said he just got wind and rain.  Good thing with no damage to his house, since he's got to sell it now that he's moving.  Glad all okay, in any case.

Happy Sunday, Buddies!

Sunday greetings!

My sister, her husband, granddaughter, her husband, and the 3 little ones all made it to Hilton Head without a problem.  Sis said some leaves and branches here and there, but nothing looked seriously damaged. 

Beautiful fall morning here. We walked early and now Ray's off on his Terratrike for a ride around town.

I've been doing some computer stuff and bank business online and I'm ready to go to the back porch and read for a while.  I enjoyed the college football games...and WI beat ranked LSU (sorry, Joy,...I had to be for WI) and saw OK get beat as well.  Alabama rolled over USC and I don't know how Sue's Auburn Tigers did. Iowa won too, but they were against a smaller school, so should have won easily.

Ray did chicken wings last night and pork ribs are on the menu for today...yummy!!

Have a blessed day and a safe weekend!!

jane

Jeanne, the fire trucks came but the problem was simply a little smoke from one of the resident's cooking at 3 AM!!!  I agree on the codes and I doubt he'll stay there again. It was an Extended Stay Hotel.

Jane, your food sounds yummy!  I fixed steak for John last night.  Fish tonight.

I'm glad all of us escaped damage from Hermine.  My family in Tallahassee were without power for 36-40 hrs. Being without AC there was pretty bad, but they had no damage.

Thanks MP for the headsup on the PBS show. I'll check it out.  Thornbirds was one of my all time favorites too.  I've got a blank on the priest star at the moment, but he was always one of my favorites too.

We're home from SS & church. Stopped and picked up some fresh fruit for John on the way home. It was nice not to have to teach today.  However, sadly, we lost one of our class members yesterday.  She was diagnosed with liver cancer about a month  ago. She was a  sweetheart and we'll miss her.  Sharon

Richard Chamberlain, Sharon.  (I couldn't remember, either, so I just looked it up.)  Gosh, but he was gorgeous!

I want to make an important (to me) disclaimer here.  The thing is, if ANY of you are watching Chesapeake Shores, a new miniseries on the Hallmark Channel, with episode 4 debuting tonight (it is basically a Sunday night show with repeats during the week at various times), it is NOT being filmed here in Chesapeake Country.  I, of course, decided I had to watch some of the repeats, mostly on On Demand, because I am already into Masterpiece on PBS on Sunday nights, as I have been for the last 46 years, but I wanted to see what they did with a show filmed here.  So I kept thinking, where is THAT?  And where could THAT be?  And I saw wide all pebble beaches (ours are sandy) and some mountains (we have mountains in Maryland, but not in Chesapeake Country!)  We are quite flat, with some cliffs off bay waters and more cliffs off river waters and some hills, but not high ones.  Then I began looking at the trees and saying: hmmm, never seen trees like THAT around here.  So I went on line and did a search and discovered the whole series is filmed in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.  The great NorthWest, and not even in this country.  Scheesch!  There ought to be a law!
So if you watch Chesapeake Country, you are NOT seeing the area where I reside.  And what's more, you are seeing a pretty hammy bunch of actors spewing off some really dumb dialogue.  Huge amounts of angst exhibited.  I can't imagine who pays for this drivel.
There are about a gazillion sailboats out on the Chesapeake as I write.  Too serenely beautiful for words, so I'll leave you to your imaginations.

Hi everyone, Sorry I didn't post yesterday, I was  very saddened by the passing of Jane's, Daughter Joy. My Roger has the same thing ( cancer of the pancreas) and it is difficult to think about his  eventual passing in so much pain. Then  today I went to the hospital to vist one nof the brothers from church and he will be going hope to  hospice care sometime this week,

Other that those two things I haven't been up to doing much. I did go to the wine walk on Friday evening and had a great time. Yesterday I took Freckles for a visit to the  rehab facility  near here and to the dog park.  I've been wlaking her 4 times a day, too. This morning I had her out for a walk by 7:30 in the brisk weather. My hands got cold so it must be time to put the gloves on for those early morning walks. I also  need to buy one of those florescent  vests like the  highway people wear for when I walk her after day or before it is daylight.

Thanks, MP, for giving me Richard Chamberlin's name. Can't believe I couldn't remember it as much as I liked him.  He was great.  Sorry to hear that Chesapeake Shores isn't filmed there.  Come to think of it, a former HM series was filmed in the NW.  Must be their production area.  I agree that much of HM programs are saccharin and shallow, but they are entertaining without violence or smut. 

Marilyn, I'm sorry you are feeling so down, even if rightly so.  We lost a member of our SS class Sat. to liver cancer, only 4 wks after diagnosis although she had been feeling bad for some time. Lucky Freckles to get so much exercise. Wish I could get Bunny out for some.  Good idea about the vest.

I have sheets in the washer and will do a couple more loads of laundry today. I did 2 yesterday. I need to get it all done so John can pack again!  He's leaving Thursday for the Rockford, Il area for his 60th HS reunion.  He will also spend some time with his sister while he is there and will stop at Melanie's Thurs & Sun nights to visit and to break up the long drive.  This is the first time he has driven all the way by himself, so I worry about it.  I just didn't feel up to making the trip.

Beautiful Labor Day here.  Hope you all are enjoying the same.  Sharon

Hi Buddies, hope you're finishing up a good weekend.

Marilyn, I know your work and taking care of Freckles will keep your body and mind occupied.  Keep it up.

Sharon, it sounds like a fun, if long, trip for John.  I understand your not wanting to spend that long in the car.  I hope he has a good time.

We're having some hot, but relatively low humidity, days coming up.  It was lovely this morning.  I sat out on the deck in the shade to read the paper and drink coffee until about 9:30 or so.  My back woke me up about 7, and has continued to hurt.  I guess I'm a reluctant member in Sharon's club now.  8^)  .  I took a pain pill early, but it's still bothering me.  I'm glad I have some stuff to eat here at home - I'm not even going up to meals today.  I see the orthopedist tomorrow, maybe to set up the knee replacement.  We'll see how that goes.

{{{Marilyn}}}

Mary....hope you get some back relief soon.

It's a beautiful day here, but heating up now.

We made a quick trip to CR since Ray was out of a probiotic he takes and on Monday's they have 20% off and 10% off all other merchandise for seniors. 

Now home to relax and enjoy the day.

jane