.
"Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter."
Mark Twain
I'm starting to understand the ones who go quiet—not out of pride, but out of necessity.
The ones who disappear without warning, not because they stopped caring,
But because they needed time to breathe, to heal, to figure themselves out without the noise of expectations.
Life can get heavy, and sometimes the bravest thing you can do is step away and choose yourself in silence.
It's not about abandoning people—it's about not abandoning yourself.
Now I see the strength in those who reappear with clearer minds, softer hearts, and stronger boundaries.
They didn't vanish to hurt anyone; they vanished to find themselves again. And when they come back, they do so with intention, not obligation.
I get it now—sometimes, the only way to truly return is to leave first.
The Wisdom of the Years
Time doesn't ask if we're ready. It simply moves forward. One day we wake up as children, the next day we're adults trying to understand exactly when life accelerated. Age arrives like someone knocking slowly on the door, but when we realize it, it's already inside, already seated, already rearranged everything.
Each year leaves marks that appear not only in the mirror, but mainly in the soul. They are memories, lessons learned, falls, achievements, entire chapters that accumulate without warning. Time runs, sometimes devours, sometimes teaches, and almost always transforms.
And yet, growing old is a privilege. It's proof that we survived difficult days, that we evolved, that there's still a story to live. Age isn't a burden: it's a map. It shows where we've already walked and, at the same time, points out, in the most sincere way possible, how far we can still go.
Time does pass, yes. But it is through time that we discover the value of moments, of people, and of ourselves. Each phase has its beauty, each cycle its purpose. And in the end, age steals nothing; it only reveals who we truly are.
"If you can do what you do best and be happy, you are further along in life than most people."
—Leonardo DiCaprio
Good morning
Starting temp is 19 but no new snow. :thumbup: We are to get more snow on Tue and Wed.
Bubble, thank you for the new start and wise words to live by.
Enjoy your day and stay safe
Thank you, Bubble.
Happy December, All. :christmastree:
Good Monday morning to everyone. The clouds have thinned, so it is a little brighter. That won't last. As best I can tell we will be getting a mix of snow and rain tomorrow right when Shan's annual is scheduled. I'm going to postpone it until a better day.
Once again, I cancelled the grocery delivery service. Wrong time of the year to attempt it, but I really need the exercise. Grocery delivery is great, but it does encourage overbuying and remove the impetus to get out of the apartment and get a little walking exercise.
I bought a new cat carrier. It arrived yesterday. It is a cart-like affair with a removable cat carrier. Shan is just too heavy for me to carry without a lot of effort. What I hope to do with this thing is to use it both to cart the cat and to put down a heavy cardboard piece on the bottom if the cart itself (if it doesn't come with one) at use it to carry heavy stuff to the trash bins, or hall the groceries in. I already have a nice wheeled carrier made so that it can easily get up steps, but it will only carry one grocery bag or box at a time. This one doesn't have the fancy wheels, but they are extra large to get around on paved, grassy, or sandy areas. I can get around the first step at the parking lot, so it will at the least get my stuff to the porch, if not up on it.
Today, I will be "dancing", as Amy likes to say, but with the vacuum, not a snowblower. There are a few other things I want to accomplish today, too, so I better get to it.
Hi, Phyllis! Have you started decorating yet? I don't think I will be getting to it until later this week or next week. I have to pull a bunch of stuff out of the under-stairs closet to get to my decorations, most of which are in a huge box way in the back.
Hi, MG! THere won't be much decorating. My son will put up the door wreaths and I will put out some candles and some small treasures collected from past Christmases but that is all. Our memories of the years is all we need to celebrate.
Hope you enjoy whatever way you are able to do.
Happy December Oneth!
I'm still reading but don't post because I have nothing to say about My Day except "Ditto" ;)
It's below freezing this morning and 9:00 a.m. news reported there had been 89 crashes on icy interstates and bridges in OKC during commute hours.
Family and I are all fine.
Wishing Everyfriend Everywhere a Wonderful Day. :smitten:
Good morning, 13 degrees and everyone's fed with coffee and morning routines finished while meet and greets are ongoing. We're in the midst of snow and ice, accumulating ice and inches through the third, and then we're dropping back into the minuses. It's pretty standard weather this year, so far.
Bubble, this month's offerings seemed particularly apt for me, thank you for them and all that you otherwise do for us!
Good morning, Callie! I believe we all have that issue, or at least I do. Especially these days while I'm housebound.
I've been thinking about looking into grocery deliveries lately, it's five bocks to the bus station and one block to the closest stop, and I don't plan on walking in the current snow and ice. There are senior rides that I can sign up for, and I might do that, I'm still deciding.
MG, I have a light material carrier for Farrah, she's increasingly finicky about what she eats and stays around ten pounds at 13 years. I also have a light metal, foldable, wheeled cart that I use for laundry and groceries, and carrying trash to the disposal area. Each floor's laundry room has a wall drop space for bagged trash, and the first floor laundry has a space for broken down boxes.
Good morning everyone!
27°F out, mostly cloudy, though they're thin and high. Still knitting. I'm having coffee late today. I didn't realize I was out of drinking water until going to bed last night. I didn't want to get dressed and siuted up to go in last night or creep into the house to get some at 4:00 this morning and scare the bejeebers out of Ron. I waited until he was up. It was a lovely, leisurely mid morning thing to do, as opposed to the hounds anxiously checking to see if I'm done yet.😄
I'm in the process of scheduling a doctor's apt. He makes home visits, I can't see him in my RV or the house, so its a little more complex. I'm looking forward to getting some help again.
This will be the first year I won't be able to decorate. No room in the RV; I'm not having much success getting back in the house for very long. The 4 hours for making soup was too long. It cost me. I'm thinking of getting one of those outdoor Christmas light projectors.🤔
Callie, I'm glad you checked in! 😊 Its good to "see you."
MG, loved the new cat carrier multipurpose plans. If you're vacuum "dancing" I'm broom dancing. Usually 3-5 times a day (its the dog hair). Its more like a waltz, than Amy's jitterbug or your polka.😁
Happy December to you too, Phyllis! 🎄
Good Afternoon Everyfriend!! I'm on line for once! Cathy was here and she put me on line so I could communicate with my friends!
Today was a busy day! I did some cleaning, and I made a batch of "Jim's Egg Thingys" to put in the freezer to have on hand when I get my Christmas company! I also got some cards ready to mail including one for my youngest granddaughter's birthday. She was born 2 days before Christmas! And she'll be home from college to celebrate both holidays!
Cooper didn't come here today because he was feeling bad. Frankie (my granddaughter/his mommy) has been caring for him and I'm hoping he's feeling better now. We shall see!
I wish you all a good rest of the day and a sleepy night! Hopefully, I'll be here tomorrow to see what you are up to! Nighty night Everyfriend!
Quote from: patricia19 on December 01, 2025, 12:18:03 PMI've been thinking about looking into grocery deliveries lately,
What company does your supermarket use for deliveries?
Mine uses Shipt, which also delivers from other stores like Walgreens, Target, Office Depot and Lowe's. You can choose from substitutes if store is out of what you order. Their shoppers are well-trained and their website is easy to navigate.
Good morning...
Starting out at 14° and we may get snow. I am now on my computer, the fellow said it would be faster and is it ever! Phoned and asked him if he sold high back chairs and when he ask\ed why, I said it is so fast one could get whiplash! I am so happy with it.
Today is haircut for Kyle and drop off items for friends then home to work.
Jane, hope Cooper is feeling better.
Rick, I don't know why I put getting W11 ,so far we are getting along fine. Not a difficult learning curve so far. I shouldn't have put it off.
Enjoy your day and stay safe.
Patricia, my grocery shopper is Instacart. Sounds like the same kind of service that Callie has. They shop whatever grocery and/or retail store you designate. They charge a fee but it probably would be equal or close to what you have to pay in transportation costs now.
It is now 30oF and snowing rather heavily and expected to be another 2.75 inches to the already down estimate (mine) of 1 inch before it turns to a wintery mix before peetering out.
Patrcia, my deliveries from Giant are DoorDash. They changed from using their own delivery service (PeaPod) almost two years ago. Their inhouse delivery people were great. My sister was also using the service, but she had major problems getting her groceries delivered to her home when they switched to DoorDash. She dropped the service a while back as a result. I was having the same problem, but finally found where I could give specific directions as to where to find me. I also instructed them to ring my doorbell since I have trouble hearing wimpy knocks on my door if I am in the back room. The closest grocery store to me is Weis Markets, a regional chain. They have some kind of deal going with Amazon for same day delivery, but the selections are more limited and I don't think it includes perishables. I haven't taken a close look at it. I already use Amazon's monthly Subscribe and Save program which works out well. And then there is Chewy's autoship for the cats' prescription foods, etc. It is soooo nice to have the heavy litter and cat food cases rather than try to lug them out to the car and then into the apt, especially in weather like today. Be aware, if choosing a deliver serve offered by the grocery stores, that there are generally minimums you have to meet for delivery, and the incentives that are offered often encourage overspending.
Good Morning Everyfriend! It's towin' on a poke house! My dad was the middle one of 7 boys in his family. When he was still home, his youngest two brothers ran out of their bedroom in the morning and yelled the above. My grandmother answered, "Yep! and it snowed on the barn, the chicken coop, the pig sty, the outhouse, and it even snowed on the house roof!. My Dad said his brothers grabbed their boots and jackets and ran outside to see where all it "towed". Now, when I see snow on the ground, I think of my Dad and all his brothers and my grandparents. And I repeat, "It towed on a poke house".
And we have SNOW! It's all over the place and still coming down. Cooper got here on Frankie's way to work but I'm wondering if he'll get home when her shift is over! There's a lot of snow out there and it's still coming down!
I'm going to go freeze "Jim's Egg Thingys" and see what else has to be done. Frankie suggested giving Cooper a little more to eat around 11 and here it comes!
I wish you all a happy day! Make it your own in every way! If you have snow, please keep it there. I don't need any more. I'm truly looking forward to SPRING!
Good morning, 20 degrees and it's icy out there. Weather report states, "...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 PM AKST WEDNESDAY...
* WHAT...Snow and mixed precipitation expected. Total snow accumulations between 3 and 7 inches. Wintry mix becomes possible Tuesday afternoon and evening with ice accumulations of a trace to 0.05 inches possible. Temperatures fall rapidly Wednesday night as skies clear.
* WHERE...Central Interior and Northern Alaska Range.
* WHEN...Until 3 PM AKST Wednesday.
* IMPACTS...Plan on slippery road conditions. Travel may be difficult.
Additional Details... - Highest amounts will be near Tanana, north of Fairbanks towards Chatanika and along Chena Hot Springs Road east of Two Rivers. The majority of the snow will fall Tuesday into Wednesday. - Wind gusts as high as 50 mph in Isabel Pass, north of Trims Camp on Tuesday."
We're normally little to no humidity so we usually have ice and very little snow unless you are in the foothills. Right now, it looks very crystalline, & there is a lot of ice out and perhaps one inch of snow. They keep promising all these inches of snow and rarely deliver, but we'll see as the weather gurus keep trying.
Since my latest fall, I'm very nervous about going outside on my own. I'm still checking between Fred Meyers and Safeway, It looks like a twelve dollar fee and the one Walmart here is almost entirely self serve and self-checkout, and not a contender. I've gotten used to ordering so much from Amazon....they deliver a 38 lb box of kitty litter and other household products directly to my door and cheaper.
Likewise, I'm glad to hear of your experiences and advice, and will keep you updated as I learn more. There are also senior rides and Van Tran, but they have been raising prices and shortening availability as demand grows.
Good morning..
Starting temp of 18° and no new snow till this evening.
Picking up a few things in town then home to bring in wood, top Mr. SB up with gas and see what mischief I can get into.
Jane, happy to read all in well with Cooper.
Patricia ,you just reminded me of another thing I need to pick up today, ice melter! We have sand on hand but like ice melter for the side entrance.
Better get the day started,
Enjoy your day and stay safe.
Good Morning Everyfriend! My neighbor cleared my driveway yesterday and when I put an envelope in his mailbox with some money in it he tried to return it. When I refused to take it he said "This pays for whatever I do to your driveway this winter!" Nice neighbor!!!
I have the day to myself. Frankie has the day off so she's looking after Cooper. And Cathy helps the Area Agency on Aging where she used to work, with exercises this morning. She loves doing it! So I have today to myself. And tomorrow is a trip to the store to get the stuff on my list! And maybe some stuff I see that I forgot to put on the list!
I'm ready for Spring! I wish you all a great day! Make it your own in every way! And don't forget to stop by and tell us how you did that. We might want to make some changes in our time!
OMT re: grocery delivery:
Shipt shoppers will bring bags into kitchen if asked when I place my order. I live in a duplex and don't know if they will do that in apartments.
Okay - TMT ;) I also pay a yearly fee which allows me to make as many deliveries as I want. Saves me from paying delivery fee every time.
Housekeeper is here and I'm helping by staying out of her way. ;D
She has an extra job to do; I knocked a plate off counter and it shattered all over my kitchen floor. I managed to sweep up most of it (not easy when you use a walker!) but she will check for things like under the refrigerator and pieces I may have missed.
Wishing Everyfriend an Enjoyable Day :hugs:
Good morning, plus 22 presently with plenty of snow, ice and wind gusts. Tomorrow will be minus 16, and we'll be back in the doldrums. I was going to wait until tomorrow to snag a senior ride, only allowing a two-hour window, but I think I'd rather pay an obscene taxi fare, ($10.00 each way); and go today while it's still warm.
Callie, online info is sparse, saying Fred Meyers uses Instacart, but we don't have Instacart locally which means an in-person chat. I finally got a walker in October after my fall, It's green/black, larger than I thought it'd be, and I've named it my big green mean machine. I'm still looking into housekeeping assistance.
Good afternoon everyone,
Low lying clouds, 39°F. Warm, enjoying good healthy food, knitting. I've finished half my Christmas shopping (Amazon). Getting my new fabrics washed. Life's good. I hoe you all are having wonderful days.
Good morning
Starting off at 14° with some snow to deal with.....not a lot but needs to be removed.
Just work are home and keep on purging items that are no longer wanted or needed. Amazing what one can accumulate over the years!
Pork chops in mushroom soup for supper and panera chicken and wild rice soup for lunch. Meals covered. :thumbup:
Enjoy your day and stay safe.
OLM, it is so good to read such an upbeat message from you. You deserve it. :thumbup:
Amy, thanks for the idea about dinner. I have some pork chops in the freezer. I'll ask David to get them out and start up the crockpot. When you get through purging your house I'll send you directions to get to my house.
Oh, I remember pork chops with mushroom soup "sauce". My Panera selection this week is either the Creamy Chicken and Wild Rice or the Mexican Street Corn. My sister put me on to the Panera soups two months ago, but I only buy it when it is on sale. I am trying to cut back on Campbell and Progresso soups in protest about the recent news that one of their executives was caught making disparaging remarks about his own product and the people who buy it.
After my burst of energy yesterday, I am feeling a bit lazy today. The dishwasher is doing my dishes, otherwise the only thing I have positively planned for the day is taking Shan for his annual checkup and whatever shots are due this year.
Good morning all!
Thank you Phyllis.😊 I get tired of the struggles. Its been a very hard year. It was nice to have that respite.
Unfortunately it was short lived. My SIL called my husband in tears yesterday afternoon. She never calls. Our son is in very bad shape. It was sudden. He's been in and out of the ER over the last 2 days. He appears to have post operative sepsis. She asked my husband to come. Ron is booked on the first available flight. I don't have anymore facts. I don't know if she overreacts or doesn't handle adverse things well. Our son is very, very sick, and she is terribly upset. Thats enough to indicate it could be life threatening. The last second hand update I got was yesterday evening.
PLEASE, PLEASE, Pray for him and his family!!!!
OLM - He certainly will be in our thoughts and Prayers.
Praying. OLM
Good morning, minus 16 presently, I'm glad I ended up going to the store yesterday, when it was in the 20s. Even though it was painful as there was a long time to connect to the cab company each way and then an hour per wait as they were dealing with seven inches of snow and counting. I wouldn't want to do that with temperatures deep in the minuses.
Plus, yesterday was payday for all the alphabet agencies, and the military. I should have gone on the second, when seniors get 20% off on the first Tuesday of the month. I've definitely decided to go with grocery home delivery, as I was slipping and sliding in yesterday's snow and the long taxi waits made my decision for me. Thank you all for your advice and a number of folks in the building, also helped me decide which store.
Morning routines, meet and greets, and coffee ready, so here I am. Today I need to cook the turkey I got for Thanksgiving, and get back into my PSP lessons so I can join Bubble posting in the card shop. My knee is much better, other than some morning stiffness.
Amy, pork chops sound good to me as well, and I found some nice mushrooms in the fruits and vegetable area, so perhaps tomorrow after I get the turkey cooked and portioned. They had the snow trucks going about most of the night, so hopefully it's better out there with minus 30 coming up on the 10th.
OLM, I'm so sorry and will keep your son in my thoughts.
Thank you Rick and Phyllis, and anyone else whose praying!
Prayers are already helping! I received info that he has improved a bit. He can't talk much because his throat is stripped raw from the violent, prolonged vomiting, but he did get in a little food this morning, and a short shower. Please keep praying. I'd spoken to him a couple of hours before it all went crazy 2 days ago and he'd been feeling really good. The bouts are sudden and dramatic. I'm relieved he's currently improved. We won't know if he's out of the woods until Ron gets down there and gets detais. Thank you so much for your prayers!
OLM, glad your son is improving. Safe travels for Ron.
Patricia, glad you've decided to order groceries delivered and neighbors helped you decide on the store. I think you'll like it!
My son, father to my three Grands and "PopPop" to my great grandson, had surgery this morning to repair a torn Achilles tendon. It went well and he's home getting as comfortable as he can. He hopes to be in a boot by Christmas.
Our weather has bounced back and forth between Above Average and Way Below Average. It's hard on my "squeaks and creaks" :P
My washer is yoo-hooing at me.
:xoxo: .
Callie, you have such whimsical choice of words!
🥶🥶🥶The arctic winter has arrived.
...COLD WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 9 PM FRIDAY TO 3 PM AKST SUNDAY...
* WHAT...Very cold wind chills as low as 55 below expected.
* WHERE...Yukon Flats, Fairbanks North Star Borough, Central Interior, and the Northern Denali Borough.
* WHEN...From 9 PM Friday to 3 PM AKST Sunday.
* IMPACTS...The dangerously cold wind chills as low as 55 below zero could cause frostbite on exposed skin in as little as 5 minutes. Wind chill values can lead to hypothermia with prolonged exposure.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Very cold temperatures expected in Interior valleys Friday warm overnight into Saturday as gusty winds disrupt strong temperature inversions. The strongest winds are expected Saturday with gusts of 25 to 40 mph possible in Interior Valleys. These gusts will not be consistent and may only occasionally reach the bottom of some valleys. Dangerous wind chills are expected when these gusts do reach valley floors. ❄️❄️❄️
Good morning
Tad chilly out there this morning temp is -16°...not weather for wearing shorts! :2funny:
Work around home and may get some sewing in. No dancing with snow until Sat or Sun.
Phyllis and MG, porkchops were tasty along with the chicken rice soup we had for lunch. I am going to try and half the soup recipe next time as it makes so much Thankfully a friend dropped by and I sent him home with some for a couple of days..
OLM, good to hear your son is improving, now to keep going in that direction. We worry about our children no matter what age they may be.
Callie, don't you wish the washer/ dryer would you-who to the neighbour or someone else. They always seem to know we will answer their you-who!
Better go see if my get up is up and get a move on.
Enjoy your day and stay safe.
Good morning everyone,
I'm pleased to report that my son had a good day yesterday! He was able to rest with no more episodes or trips to the ER. He was able to eat a little twice and "get up" a bit. Ron flies down today. I'm so relieved that he hasn't had anymore episodes!
You're right Amy, they are still our children no matter how old they are!
Callie, I pray your son's tendon heal successfully!
Patricia, yikes, that's cold!!! Amy, a sewing day sounds perfect for -16°F. Stay warm and safe both of you!
Its raining lightly and 41°F here currently. I have a video call planned for later. I did order that Christmas light projector. It will be here next week.🙂 🎄
Good news, OLM. Hope he continues to improve.
Cold, icy and down right unpleasnt day. Soup tonight with some hot chocolate or perhaps some mulled cider and maybe a fruit galette for dessert. The oven will keep the kitchen warm and the galette and cider will warm our tummies. Might ask David to light the fireplace logs.
Take care, All. I am not going anywhere!!!
That sounds cozy, Phyllis!
The report this morning is that he's continuing to improve😊Thank you to everyone who prayed for him and those who kept him in their thoughts.
Gonna be epic!
Good morning..
According to doggie paws we have an inch of new snow and it is still lighlty coming down. Temp is much better this morning starting off at 27°.
Laundry today and maybe some baking will see how the day goes.
Jane, where are youuuuuuuu???
Enjoy your day and stay safe.
Good morning everyone,
49°F, wind gusts to 44mph most of the night. We were rocking and bouncing. The wind was screaming moaning and roaring. Its dropped a little. Kato was so anxious he needed to go out at 2:00, poor guy. It was a lot better inside than out.
Ron's flight got in 11:00 p.m. Texas time, with a 2 hr drive to our son's. I have no updates yet.
I have laundry and sewing to do in the house later.
Amy, - I think you sent your snow cloud this way, but only a dusting. It settled on the cold cars and driveways, but not the grass, where the ground is still warm. It should all be gone in another hour or so.
Thanks for keeping us informed, OLM. I am glad to hear your son is doing better.
Last night a news video presented by WGAL reported that a local EMS service and UPMC are involved in a pilot program to combat Sepsis before a patient gets to the hospital. I was surprised to note that emergency services are currently not allowed to carry antibiotics.
Rick, I think most of the snow was shook out of the clouds before they moved your way. There may be a dance come morning as it is still snowing here.
Patricia, did you feel the earthquake?
Still no Miss Jane...
Good snowy morning..
Looks like a dance is in order with Mr SB..light fluffy snow so easy to move! Other than that get ready for company later this afternoon.
I keep forgetting to tell you cat lovers. The fellow that worked on my computer has two. I heard a cat meow and asked him and he went and brought the cat out. Oh my he was beautiful!! Friendly ,talkative and loved attention, his momma was a Bengal and his coat showed it.
Rick, are you also getting snow?
OLM, hope you got good news back from Ron.
Better get my dancin dudes on.
Enjoy your day and stay safe.
Quote from: Amy on December 07, 2025, 08:10:18 AMRick, are you also getting snow?
We had a dusting, that melted as the sun came up. It's cold out there - Brrrr. I do think that at times the warmth from the river protects us from some of the snow.
Remember what day it is today --- "A day which will live in infamy".
Quote from: RAMMEL on December 07, 2025, 09:14:45 AMRemember what day it is today --- "A day which will live in infamy".
What happened at Pearl Harbor?
On Dec. 7, 1941, Japan launched a surprise attack on the American naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii (watch visualization). The strike marked the culmination of a decade of rising tensions as Japan expanded its empire across East Asia and the Pacific. With its industrial capacity unable to match the United States in a long-term war, Japanese leaders opted for a preemptive blow designed to cripple American naval power.
The attack—which permanently sank three American ships, damaged 15 more, and killed 2,403 Americans—was a tactical success but a strategic failure. Japanese forces did not hit the base's oil reserves, submarine facilities, or repair yards, all of which proved crucial in the months that followed. The US Navy ultimately refloated all but three damaged ships, returning many to combat.
Pearl Harbor was the deadliest attack on US soil at the time, jolting the public and neutralizing what remained of isolationist or anti-war sentiment. The next day, President Franklin D. Roosevelt addressed Congress (watch here), calling Dec. 7 "a date, which will live in infamy" as he requested—and received—a declaration of war against Japan. Four days later, Germany's Adolf Hitler declared war on the US, pulling America fully into both theaters of World War II.
Most of the snow is cleaned up with just a bit of hand shoveling. Thank goodness it is easy to move!
Good morning one and all!
Thank you for the Pearl Harbor synopsis Amy, and the remembrance Rick. Its not something we should forget.
MG, that sounds like a life saving practice! Ryan is continuing to recover and everyone is breathing easier. I don't have a clear picture of what went on yet. I'll find out when Ron gets back. The important thing is Ryan is currently doing/getting better. 😊
Grey, rainy and 48°F here.
I ran out of yarn 2" short of competing the second front panel. I still have the sleeves to do, as well. I'm currently carding more wool from the same fleece. 🐑
I imagine knitting anything useful is a nice feeling. Creating the wool would only increase that.
Years back I was into leather carving. Noisy, but was fun at the time. Small stuff - Mostly Belts and Handbags. Probably still a couple laying around somewhere
Good morning
We are to see the sun today and not falling snow, temp is -11° with a high of 14.
Some dancing will be done to get rid of what fell yesterday to get ready for more snow on Tue. :tickedoff:
Need to make a pot of soup, not sure just which one but leaning towards meatball bean soup. That one has everything in it but the kitchen sink and if you do find the sink give it back as it wasn't to go in.
Enjoy you day and stay safe.
Good morning, minus 25 presently with an expected high of minus 18. Morning routines finished, meet and greets on going and everyone's fed with coffee on the side.
I have paperwork to do and plants to water, but not much else for today.
Amy, I'm planning on a turkey pie today to use up some of all that turkey in the freezer. I think I'll simply buy a turkey breast next year instead of the whole bird, especially as I'm usually not at home. A great deal is not always that great.
Where is Jane?
OLM, I used to knit, crochet, and hook rugs, I even sewed a little but since computers became more readily available, I'm mostly online or with my nose in a book. In the summer, I spent most of my free time wandering the back trails of the wildlife sanctuary, Minolta in hand or off on some adventure with the meet and greets. One time we all rode our bikes to the next town, camped overnight and rode back the next day. Those were the days when everything seemed available, and we were anxious to try.
At least we have some wonderful memories of what used to be, don't we, Patricia?
Winter here, too. In the 30's with a wintry mix of rain/snow. Some wind, too. Just darned cold!
A bowl of hot chili tonight, I think. And, maybe some hot biscuits, too.
Good afternoon everyone!
Ron is in the sky on his way home. He's most recently left Dallas.
Rick, leather tooling is a great hobby😀. Its been awhile for me too. A long while. You're right, raising sheep and llamas, shearing the wool/fiber and all the interim steps to the finished products add to the enjoyment and the satisfaction.
Patricia, do you still have some of your projects around? Nice memories!
Phyllis, chili and bisquits, yumm!😛
Not much going online or offline, either. I'm rethinking my YouTube Premium as AI has overtaken it with fake family drama, fake WII history and fake animal rescues. People are slowly wising up, perhaps not so gullible. I don't want a TV, haven't had one since 1997, but where YouTube was great for a low monthly fee, it's becoming more of an irritant.
Phyllis, I agree, memories are nice, even if the meet and greets are slowly eroding like S&F. It used to take an hour or more to daily traverse this site. :-\
I have an entire external drive full of photos from those days. I still have my nineties' era Minolta, but now, I use my cell if needed, like everyone else seems to be doing. And I haven't been to the Sanctuary in years, I used to love it out there.
MMMMmmm hot steamy biscuits with butter or with gravy, I could eat those anytime! But they have to be homemade. I don't know why I don't make them more often, it's one of those no recipe needed types.
OLM, I have a couple of small rugs in the kitchen and in the bath. I used to love to do those big thick winter socks, might even have one or two around somewhere, but it's literally been last century since I knitted.
I ended up signing with Fred Meyers and will start with them mid-month, and I'll let you know how and if it works for me.
With the sudden cold temperatures, I decided on lentils soup that can also be eaten with rice. Yummy and hot.
Good morning
We are at -3° and I hope the temp rises fast! Off to the city to finish up Christmas shopping, list in hand so we know what to get.
We are to get snow later on and I hope to be home before it starts. Snow again tomorrow so there will be dancing again.
Bubble, we love soup anytime, even in the summer.
Better get my city duds on..
Enjoy your day and stay safe.
We actually had snow last night! It was the kind you would probably like, Amy---only a dusting and it is already disappearing. But, brrr---still cold out there!
My Christmas shopping is all done! :cheer:
Make it a good day, Everyone!
Good morning, minus 28 here, and no sign of any warmup unless it surprises us. February, the coldest month, is still ahead of us.
Good morning to Amy and Phyllis, my Christmas shopping will be arriving on Thursday and Bubble and I will be doing Christmas graphics starting next week so that will be interesting.
Other than that, we'll see.
Good morning
Starting off at 29° with more snow on the way! Dancing will be done this morning to remove what fell yesterday . We managed to get most of the Christmas shopping done..now to wrap it.
Phyllis, you're right I do like the light fluffy snow, easier on Mr. SB and me! According to dog paws this morning that is what we have now to remove.
Patricia, people are remarking here about the amount of snow we have and how early it came. Wonder what is coming next? I do keep everything pushed back in the driveway just in case!
Enjoy your day and stay safe.
Oh, super! Not only do I have an appointment to get a molar extracted tomorrow, one of my tires is leaking air. So, today I see if I can get an appointment to get it looked at. Not happy, but at least it looks like we won't be getting snow this afternoon but maybe a little in the early evening instead.
Good morning, I just returned from picking up a few items and of course the most important, a drive, doesn't fit my computer, and I can't get a ride to return it until next Monday. With this weather, I'm not happy. It was minus 36, and it's presently, minus 28. Monday will be minus 36 to minus 40.
I've got an Amazon order due tomorrow with dry goods, too bad the local FM store can't do returns via deliveries.
Amy, It looks like you need to expect more ice than snow this coming week. My sister is having rain and weather in the fifties. She's right in the middle of the area expecting to be dumped on by two atmospheric rivers this coming week.
When it's cold and dry like this, we don't have the humidity to make snow. The week earlier, when they were saying 6 to 7 inches, I think we had three inches.
MG, it sounds like you're having my type of week. Hopefully your tire and your molar is an easy, painless fix.
I had to laugh at my answer to OLM on 8th. I'm not exaggerating in saying the last time I knitted was the past century. It just seemed an odd but truthful way of putting it.
Here's to hoping everyone is and will have a safe, sane, and warmer week ahead!
Good morning
Starting off at 5° this morning and shhh.....no snow! Mr. SB and I danced yesterdaybut more fell after that so a quick tidy, up is all that has to be done this morning.
Picking up meds and baking is on the list for today..
MG hope both you and your vehicle are in a better place today.
Patricia, they said on the news areas may be in for rain!! I would rather have the snow as the rain makes you spin around like a button on a outhouse door!!
Better get this day started.
Enjoy your day and stay safe.
Good morning everyone,
Tuesday it poured buckets and yesterday we had another huge windstorm with highs in the lower 60°s. I spun. I'm about half way through a 2 gallon bag of rolags. Thats what the carded wool removed from the hand carding paddles are called. I roll it up and twist it into a loose knot, or bun. Not much else going on.
Patricia, I love hand knit socks!🥰
I made a ton of wool sox, too. We all preferred them over store bought and the guys would wear them year round but I wore sandals in hot summer. Even had a male hospital nurse offer me $20 to knit some for him. I would take my knitting bag with me if I knew I was going to have to wait. It always drew attention and questions. A great conversation starter.
Good morning, it's warmed up to minus 35. However, we're to expect a large snowstorm starting tonight with 7 inches of snow, (We'll see...); with a plus 14 tomorrow. However, Sunday we'll plunge back into negativity.
That Amazon, dry goods package is here, has been since Wednesday but isn't listed as out for delivery yet. Amazon is losing its luster, perhaps gotten too big, monopolizing, and many of its goods aren't worth the price, seemingly third hand.
I always read the reviews before ordering and understand that many of the ones listed in various publications are those with borderline reviews. But then, it does deliver to your door, and you pay one yearly delivery price no matter how few or how often you order.
It looks like SeniorLearn is offline. I haven't been able to get into it since yesterday.
I've noticed, Patricia. I've had numerous packages that were scheduled to arrive a certain day, all of a sudden show up on my doorstep and/or tell me it is out for delivery days before it was originally scheduled to arrive. They may be trying to get ahead of the seasonal crush.
Also, I got wind of changes to Audible's method of payment to authors who have audio books published with them. On the surface, so the authors say, they get a larger portion of the profit, but then down in the contract, it changes the method of calculating said portion by adding the free Audio Library listings that are borrowed to the calculations, enough so that it actually reduces the net that the author gets. At least that is how I understand it. It doesn't affect the buyer/listener. I have noticed for a while now, that more recent audio book full prices have increased. I have been expecting an increase in membership fees, but didn't see one last year. I've been wanting to get off the Amazon merry-go-round for a while, but so far the variety of choices and lower prices still win out most of the time. I do not use Temu. Their prices generally seem way too low, and that make me wonder about the sources.
https://lifelock.norton.com/learn/fraud/temu-scams
Just one of Temu's online scams "5. Counterfeit goods scam
Temu allows third-party sellers to sell on its platform, and among these sellers lurk scammers trying to offload counterfeit goods. One of the reasons why Temu is so affordable is because some goods sold there might be of lower quality than advertised or differ from the description and photos online.
In some cases, products have been tested and found to be dangerous. Investigative reporter Ellie Flynn uncovered cases of products containing harmful chemicals for sale on Temu, including jewelry and children's clothing. In a different Temu fraud scam, a third-party seller was discovered to be selling counterfeit Air Jordans."
Been so long since I posted that I have to start all over and figure out where discussions are located - it was either early summer of maybe even late Spring and I went into the land of depression - too many losses and when my last cousin whom I was closest to died on Mother's day it was one bridge too many for me - coming back now and been clearing out my house like crazy - barely, in fact hadn't found a home for everything after having moved 3 years ago now as of December 1 but I realize there are many things I will never get to or use and so they may as well go to someone who will use them...
Not sure I will read all the posts - I think I will simply pick up and see if I can at least find the discussion groups I had been a part of - till later... hugs to all...
Good morning
We are at 7° this morning and no new snow...not until tomorrow. Cleaned up the snow yesterday and tidied up areas that I didn't do the day before.Got some baking done and that was enough for the day.
Today is work around home.
Welcome back Barb! Losing loved ones hurts especially if you were close to them. Last Sunday our neighbour passed making it 4 this year that have passed in the neighbourhood.
Jane is busy getting ready for company .
Better get my day started, seems there is not enough hours in the day to get all done that I would like. Or is it because I am slowing down???
Enjoy your day and stay safe.
Glad you are back Barb. Now all we need is Bella. She hasn't posted here since the middle of October. I guess we three are the only ones left from Senior Learn. Oh, and Tombreader who mostly just "reads the mail" these days. And Callie? I think I remember you posting there too. And Jane!
Remembering long-time online friends no longer with us or no longer posting. Feeling bummed out.
Okay, the molar is out. I will have to make a trip to the pharmacy to pick up meds a little later today.
Yes Marsgal, tried to tell family about the loss I was feeling over loosing the site where for over 30 years we discussed books and they just did not get it - suggested I just find another group - tried to explain how most other reading groups are much younger participants who not only have a different outlook on life but they had not read the tons of books older readers have read that affect how we digest a book - sorta feel lonely when there is little to no understanding - result, a thought popped into my head - maybe I should start sort of a diary filled with my thoughts on whatever I'm reading and if I can recall an earlier read reference include it. Come to think of it I only recently read a book that the author did just that and as a result I became aware of a few more books. Hmm
Will be alone again this Christmas - as it should be Paul and Sally will drive up to Lubbock to be with their boys - however, Cooper will not be joining them this year in that his work schedule only gives him the one day off and to drive down to Lubbock is 8 hours from Denver - anyhow I am actually excited looking forward to Christmas - I've decided to read as many of the children's books from the series My Book House and maybe finally finish reading the entire 12 books. I'm not even going to attempt to fix any special meal - just sit back and relax with Cocoa or Tea and maybe I'll order a few pfeffernusse or Walker's mincemeat tarts from Amazon to snack on. I'm not even going to put up a lot of decoration - only makes me feel lonely - I've a few wreathes to hang and my collection of sheep - just have an embroidery I did years ago of Jesus, Mary and Joseph in that I gave my nativity to one of the boys - but all the do-dads, elves, and Santa bits I think I'm just going to pack up and have a clear slate for Christmas day and that weekend.
BARB, what I zoomed into on your last post is Walker's Mincemeat Tarts. I had no idea Walker's made such. Every year, I used to buy a their large tin of shortbread cookies. Since I don't go to BJ's Wholesale anymore, I haven't seen anyone else that sells those big tins. I ended up giving up two of my tins when I moved, but I still have three with me. I should check Amazon. It has been several years since I ordered cookies and such from them, and then it was a tin of Danish cookies which I also like.
Sue, her friend Dodie, and me are doing Red Lobster on Christmas Day. But, I may choose to cancel depending on how well my molar extraction is healing up.
Good morning..
Starting off a 17° and the "S" word is going to visit us...no not Santa.... Have everything ready but the operator of the SB. Just took a peek out and it is snowing now. :knuppel2:
More baking to do today ,laundry and you know all the fun things that need to be done.
Talked with Jane and she is busy getting ready for company plus making her awesome candy which I can attest to! So delicious!!
Patricia, you in for more snow?
Enjoy your day and stay safe.
Good Morning Everyfriend! The Holidays are creeping up on us! I'm making progress! I'm also getting ready for a visit from my oldest grandson and his family. The live in Mexico but they're visiting his mom (my daughter who lives in Maryland. They're coming up here for a short visit and I'm going back to Maryland with them to spend Christmas. Every time I see them, I think it might be the last time! And I love them dearly!
The candy is all made but I'm very slow on the wrapping and packaging. This morning, I'm staying in the office out of the way of my Cleaning Ladies. There are 3 of them here today. They will put in about an hour and a half! And they do a great job!
I have some stuff to do when they leave! I'm getting there! But every day, I think of something else to do!
I wish you all a Merry Christmas and just in case I don't make it back, I also wish you a Happy New Year! Do what suits you best!
Quote from: Amy on December 13, 2025, 05:49:29 AMPatricia, you in for more snow?
I don't know about Patricia, but we're scheduled for some overnight snow. At this tme it shows 9:00 tonight till 7:00 tomorrow morning. It has been cold for a couple of days so might just stick on the ground.
Rick, it has been snowing since 5:51 am here! I think there wilp be a dance later on.
Good morning, minus 14 presently with a coming low of minus 38. We're heading back into the deep freeze. We were supposed to have 11 inches of snow with a warmup over Friday. What we got was 2. Overall, the Interior has had 14 inches this winter.
Morning routines, meet and greets, feeding everyone and making coffee's done, so I'm online to see how the rest of the world's doing.
Amy, we had 2 inches out of the expected 11. What we did get were 30mph wind gusts on Friday, and of course more ice making everything slippery.
Someone asked me the difference between a dry and a wet climate and I found this; "In a wet climate, high humidity makes hot temperatures feel much hotter (humidex/heat index) because sweat doesn't evaporate, while in a dry climate, air feels cooler in the heat due to efficient sweat evaporation; conversely, a cold day feels colder in a damp climate (like wet clothes) as heat escapes faster, whereas dry cold feels less intense because moisture isn't drawing heat away as rapidly from the skin, though wind chill is a major factor in both. The key difference is how moisture affects heat transfer and evaporation from your skin, impacting perceived temperature."
Which is why some Interior residents run about in hoodies at minus 20.
The Interior is desert dry, in moisture terms, while the southeast portion of the state is termed a wet climate.
I wouldn't mind some baking, or at least enjoying it, but I've picked up a minor case of the sniffles, so not really wanting anything but lots of hot coffee. I have the humidifier going nonstop, it's a winter requisite.
Jane, it's nice to see your post, I know you're going to love seeing your family and going back to Maryland for Christmas!
Rick I was surprized to learn that the NYC area is classifed a humid subtropical climate, while New Hampshire is most often compared to Alaska.
Good morning everyone!
Jane and Barb - good to see you posting! Sorry to hear about your grief and deep sorrow Barb. Sending you a virtual hug. 😔
I liked your Christmas plans Barb. 😀 They sounded upbeat and manageable. I'm struggling with having to spend my first alone Christmas. I can't get in the house, so Ron will go to our daughter's. Like MG I used to order those big Walker's tins of shortbread (before I got sick). My husband loves mincemeat, and used to make it every Christmas season using his grandma's recipe and elk or venison. I didn't know Walkers made mincemeat tarts either! I'll check that out for him. Thanks!
MG, hugs to you, too. Most of my friends with Toxic Injuries (on line) are gone now. We don't last very long. It makes me sad too, especially as there's no community grieving ritual. Even when my dad died, I was precluded from attending the funeral. I grieved alone. The only soul that grieved with me was a wolf. That night I cried my heart out, alone in my RV, in the wilderness. In the midst of my sobbing the most heart rending, deep, mournful howling erupted 30ft in front of my RV. He kept cadence with my crying. I'm thankful for that. Losing my very close online friends was also similarly lonely and without grief rituals that bring comfort. I understand the lingering sorrow.
I hope your molar heals quickly.
The weather here has been sunny, highs in the 60°s. Not typical. The low last night was 38°F. Yesterday Ron had his pour. It took them 10 hrs. The dogs and I moved out to one of the pastures the day before. I finished spinning up a ball of yarn and finished off the 2nd front piece, then began the first sleeve. I'm 2/3rds though that piece. Not much else for me to share.
Have a blessed and a Merry Christmas to all, especially those who will be off line for awhile.
Grief if funny isn't it OLM - I realized this time, I do grieve alone so maybe your being alone is part of your protection - I realized I always shut down and only hear others as if they were outside my cave that at times is dark and other times light but always sorta foggy - after a bit of time my first bit of sticking my head out from my sorta protective cave is hearing or seeing something that is new to me and then taking on a project of learning all I can about the 'something' - it feels safer to bury myself in books about a 'something' that has my curiosity before I can actually talk to people with any kind of live everyday reality - hmm still learning at 92 going for 93 next month... I guess earlier in life we are too busy getting on with things and only as an elder can we even afford to take the time to notice or else maybe it takes a lifetime of experiences to have a comparison before we can understand ourselves... whatever... But thank goodness you do have nature and the woods nearby as your protection - how many today are living minute by minute with no safety at all - we really are lucky aren't we in that we all have at least a feeling of security and safety where we can nap and know there is always food and water...
Oh Patricia sniffles anytime of the year is no fun - take care - I'm thinking again we can now take care of ourselves where as for most of our lives we had to be there to take care of our children or go forward with a job that we needed - I think taking care of ourselves does not come as easy since in life few of us had the time or privilege to devote to ourselves... interesting about the wet and dry areas - a hoodie worn in the deep cold is amazing dry or not... Here they are worn as the Only piece of clothing against a seldom seen cold front not as a choice of winter gear.
Jane where in Mexico does your grandson live? Is he bilingual? He would feel right at home here in the Houston area with more of the population having Mexican heritage than there are all the Anglo's put together. Austin was half and half but here it is greater than half - I find particularly fascinating is the many baked good - I'm hoping while my daughter visits we could drive into north Houston where there is a huge well known Mexican Bakery devoted completely to Mexican baked goods - I did learn that every village in Mexico has its own traditional cookies and other baked deserts. My only grand that is married is married to a girl from Ecuador - they only married this past early Autumn and it has been quite an adventure learning about Ecuador and the indigenous of northern South America - Jane have you been learning about Mexico and its history?
Sounds like you Amy and Rick will be spending part of the day digging out - I guess the best thing that can be said is it sure keeps you both in shape - nothing like 'forced' exercise - oh oh oh probably no fun but simply part of winter... I have a sister who lives up north in NY half way between NYC and Albany - she does have someone who shovels the snow for her thank goodness.
Well need to finish getting things ready - my daughter comes tomorrow from North Carolina to spend a few days here while her two boys and their Dad are doing a dream hike together - they are hiking in Peru and this was the only time of the year they could all take off at the same time and so Katha drops them at one airport then turns around and drives to another where she leaves her vehicle and boards her plane - Paul my son picks her up I think at Hobby - I've soup and sandwich makings in so when Katha arrives she can relax before we go together to Whole Foods which is always one of the first things we do together when Katha visits. With this plan we can go on Monday morning rather than hustling off this evening.
Y'all stay warm and take care of yourselves - hope there is some decent TV to watch or music to listen to or the quiet of the countryside... :christmastree: :calm: :snowball: :cup: :hugs:
Quote from: BarbStAubrey on December 13, 2025, 05:18:32 PMSounds like you Amy and Rick will be spending part of the day digging out
I don't do that any more. At 90+ I just can't do it. I also have someone come to do it. I suppose that helps someone, younger and stronger, make a living ::) If it's only an inch or less I might try it.
Age seems to limit so many things I used to do. But so many of my old friends didn't live long enough to enjoy this inability.
Thanks Barb, but after the colder winter temperatures, minus 20 feels more like plus 40 than deep cold. Or maybe it's because the warmer weather following the colder, acclimatizes?
I was hoping to hear, Rick, what you thought per the NYC area's climate, tagged as warm and subtropical?
I've been in Kentucky and New Jersey, but that's as far east as I've ever been. Throughout most of the south and some western states but never out east that much.
Quote from: patricia19 on December 13, 2025, 08:21:10 PMI was hoping to hear, Rick, what you thought per the NYC area's climate, tagged as warm and subtropical?
I think someone has a wild imagination.
https://www.weather-atlas.com/en/new-york-usa/new-york-climate
It's snowing now as I head for bed.
It looks like I have less than two inches of snow to clear off the car today. Temp right now is 27oF.
The day has yet to start, but I see a trip out outside to brush snow off the car and dishes and laundry on the horizon.
Good morning.
No swattin skeeters today temp is 3°, remember when we had that blistering hot weather??
A day of rest here..I did dance after supper so I wouldn't have much to move today but it didn't snow a lot afterwards. Need to do the back trails for the dog and touch up out front and that is it.......till we get more white stuff.
Barb, I do the snow removal here,my husband is unable to it anymore. I rather like cleaning away the snow be it dance with Mr SB or waltz with the shovel.Snow blower is a 3x28 Cub Cadet and is so easy to use , even has heated hand grips!
Rick, kindly keep the snow there please..
MG hope your mouth feels better today.
Patricia, I like when it is cold and snowing as we get light fluffy snow =easy to move.
OLM, temps in the 60's sound nice right now!!
Jane, so good to see you here!!
Enjoy your day and stay safe.
We may be warm and subtropical but this morning we have about 4 inches of snow, and it's still coming down. Amy, I believe we're sending it out over the Atlantic. That salt water should take care of it.
All tree branches are well covered. Beautiful, but I'm sure there will be many breaking and falling.
Good morning everyone,
Barb, I understand that particular coping skill. I use it too. I withdraw when ill, injured or grieved. I also learn/study to find ways out of my difficulties or relieve stress. Though, I'm not o.k. with being isolated; I was born a gregarious extrovert in a large family. I like people. I admire them, their knowledge, experiences and strengths. I think you're right about it "... taking a life time of experience to have a comparison before we can understand ourselves..." Thank you for sharing. I'm glad you're back.
Its 32°F this morning, with a high forecasted for 52°F. I'm camped out in the pasture at the end of 3 extra long extension cords until the cement cures. Not enough power to keep it warm in here until the sun comes up and brings the temp inside up through passive solar gain. Its actually 10° warmer up on the mountain right now! Sheesh!
Stay warm and enjoy the season!
Good morning. No snow here in North Carolina but wet, dark, dreary, and dropping temps. Supposed to get down into low 20's or perhaps even teens tonight and tomorrow. We don't have a lot of snow here but we can have inches of ice and I would rather deal with snow than with ice any day.
Good to see you posting here, Barb. I am sorry to hear that Ginny from SeniorNet and SeniorLearn is gone. Those book discussions were fun with all the people who joined in with Chaucer's pilgrims and who also traveled Spain with Don Quihote tilting at windmills. And, so many other adventures. I enjoyed every one of the people who posted there.
Take care, All. Stay warm, stay safe.
HAPPY HANUKKAH, Bubble!
Good morning, minus 24 presently with a coming low of minus 43. Tomorrow's high will be minus 36, while Tuesday's will be minus 23.
Bubble, Happy Hanukkah, from me as well.
Amy, I'd even welcome snow at this point and the rising temperatures, It's going to be a cold couple of months until the humidity driven snow returns in March.
Nothing new here, meet and greets, morning routines, brewing coffee and feeding everyone is done and other than a quick trip tomorrow to return some items, I'm in for the duration.
What do you mean it is below 60 - Can't be - :2funny: Oh lordy - a shock when I opened the front door - never dreamed of looking first at the thermometer - looked up the weather for this area and according to the internet version the sun is supposed to be out - however, it appears we are in for a week of temps that today and tomorrow in the 50s will be the warmest all week - just writing this I quick called Katha to alert her - really didn't have to since it is in the 30s where she is in North Carolina.
I know, I know y'all are not only dealing with 'real' cold but snow as well - the biggest shock is opening the door since the house holds it temp summer or winter - summer the house with little AC holds at about 75 and today with the frosty wind outdoors the house holds at 73 - Paul, my son keeps remarking how well built is this house and he is right.
Trying to decide what to do with all these cloth napkins - I don't have people over for a meal anylonger and although the boys all cook they do not serve as I did - hate to throw them out and I have more dust cloths and rags to last the rest of my life - I notice the Paralyzed Vets, who pick up once a month are now saying they take kitchen things - maybe that is the answer - I even have several collections of place mats - Ok problem solved. Yep you guessed it - finally clearing the bottom of the pile that has been sitting on top of my dryer. Hadn't had a pile like that since my 60+ and 70+ age children were babies.
Happy Hanukkah Bubble
Barb, I'm 6 hours north of you (OKC area) and it's 18 degrees here!!!! Weather gurus say it's an Arctic Front (Thanks, Patricia :no: ;))
I'm not decorating as much this year and doing very little baking.
I put out Manger scene and set the table with Christmas dishes. Son came and hung outdoor wreaths and things I can no longer reach (like the mantle) inside. I'm not doing a tree - since I'll be at son's house on Christmas day.
Baked mini loaves of Orange Marmalade bread for four neighbors. Two came to get theirs yesterday and had time to chat. That was nice! (Since I have a severe hearing loss - even with hearing aids - I communicate mainly by texting.)
Rammel, Miss Ellen (who lives in NYC, for those who don't know) posted a picture of snow covering the trees outside her apartment building. First snow she had reported.
Wishing Everyfriend a Wonderful day and week.
Happy Hanukkah, Bubble
There hasn't been any wind, and it must be cold enough, so the trees are still decorated with the snow, a sight I've always liked.
Callie, not to upset Amy, but that arctic air is coming from Canada's polar regions.
We send ours to Canada's Yukon territory.
EDIT: Alaska's S.E. regions send theirs through the gulf of Alaska, through Hawaii and those areas.
[quote ]
HAPPY HANUKKAH, Bubble!
[/quote]Thank you! It is going to be a quiet one this year, with the bad weather and Byron storm bringing floods all over.
Good morning..
Starting out at 8° and hope no snow as I have to remove the snow on part of the roof today. Calling for rain later in the week and best get the snow off.
Busy day picking up items , making phone calls and finsihing up laundry.
Cooked a 13 lb turkey yesterday on the cookkstove and will pick it apart and cut up for the dog . He likes a bit sprinkled on his dry kibble .
Bubble, HAPPY HANUKKAH.
Enjoy your day and stay safe
Bright, sunny, and cold, this morning. Have some snow clean up to do, and organize a few things.Then there's the never ending bill paying.
Quote from: patricia19 on December 14, 2025, 04:58:49 PMCallie, not to upset Amy, but that arctic air is coming from Canada's polar regions.
We send ours to Canada's Yukon territory.
EDIT: Alaska's S.E. regions send theirs through the gulf of Alaska, through Hawaii and those areas.
Patricia, the edge of the Arctic Front that hit the Great Lakes, Amy, Rammel, etc. just clipped Oklahoma. I think the northeastern corner had some snow but the rest of the state just got the cold temperatures.
It's supposed to be 50 degrees today and even higher the rest of the week. :dontknow:
Good morning, I lost my post, so this is a resurrection. It's minus 41 here, with an expected high of minus 35. We're not expecting any pluses until early January, we have two inches on the ground and unfortunately, I have to go into town today on a ride-share to return something.
I'm sure both Jane and Bubble are enjoying their holidays with family and friends, and that Rammel finds time from tending to snow and bills for a good book, radio or television show.
Amy, Jesse must feel like he's the luckiest dog with turkey on his kibble!
Callie, now you're just bragging! 😊
Everyone stay safe, happy, and sane during these stressful times.
For those of you who wondered what minus 40 looks like and pigeons spending their cold day
https://www.seniorsandfriends.org/index.php?msg=268874
Good morning
Chilly out there this morning with a temp of 17°, we won't see the sun but won't get snow either!
Need to take the snowblower to the snow that was knocked off the front and back roof later today. Heading to sil to drop off a gift then home to work.Neglected to make a phone call yesterday so need to do that first thing this morning.
Patricia,the cashier at the grocery store said he was spoiled and I told her no, just well loved. We will get some soup from the broth but Jesse can have the rest.
Better get the day started..
Enjoy your day and stay safe.
I woke the computer up this morning to find that it was 7o outside, not 8o. After cleaning off my car yesterday afternoon, I find that I have to clean it off again today because we had more snow last evening, just a little, but still.... I see patches of water in the back parking lot made by ice-melt. They look frozen over this morning. I have an appointment on the other side of town to get to near lunch time, and am very much not happy to have to go out today. I will take the long way around rather than the shorter. The shorter drive involves a windy, hilly road. Shorter, but not something I want to drive in bad weather. Stay safe everyone.
Good morning everyone,
I just came from "Norms Bait and Tackle" where I enjoyed a cozy chat around the old potbellied wood stove 😁. Thought I'd drop in here and order a chocolate creme. I had one of those once in Baker. There was an actual "malt shop." Not many of those around anymore in my neck of the woods. They were actually before my time. Those, along with family owned and operated diners, were things that should never have been forced out by big business and fast food chains.
Not much happening here. I'm still carding, spinning and knitting. It was 67°F yesterday afternoon. I've lived here since 1985, never happened before. Warm enough that a couple of ants crawled out of crevices and dropped on me. They got smashed. I have no sympathy for creepy crawlies that violate my personal space!
Have a lovely day, keep warm and safe all of you who are facing bitter winter weather.
Good Morning, OLM. My town here in NC actually has a diner called The Shiny Diner and is family owned. It is very popular with the locals and only about a mile from my house. My husband and I used to eat there fairly often when my husband was still alive and I was able to get around. Even has the old time juke box with some old time music on it. It's a fun place with a Southern menu and great employees. A place "where everybody knows your name". :) Unfortunately, there aren't very many left--they have mostly been crowded out by fast food chains and overpriced luxury restaurants.
Not as cold here today. In the 50's. That's better than yesterday but still cold for my old body. Hope you are feeling good and staying warm.
Thank you Phyllis🙂 I am feeling good, and nice and warm. That diner sounds like it was perfect! Hope you have warm comforting food on the menu to chase away the chills. 🤗
Good morning anybody. Again "nothing on the fire". Maybe a little cleaning up.
Good morning,
Good morning everybody!
Patricia😆 Got a good giggle out of that this morning.
Rick, sounds like time to roast marshmallows or hot dogs over the "fire" to jazz it up a little!
Yesterday I moved back to the driveway. Ron's concrete pour looks very nice. Its not quite cured yet. Heavy rains early this morning and high winds all day today. Gusts to 43mph. The wind has been bouncing and rocking us around since 3:00 a.m. currently 50°F and sunny. At this rate
I'm going to start singing, "Mele Kalikimaka."
Can you dance the hula while singing it, OLM?
Yes, Phyllis, yes I can! When I was in the 4th grade my father was scheduled to transfer to a job in Hawaii. He started preparing us by teaching us about the culture. I shared about our pending move at school. My teacher thought I was lying, so she challenged me to do the hula, thinking she'd teach me a lesson. I went home and asked my father to buy me a record of Hawaiian music. I studied the hulas in movies and books we had, borrowed one of my younger sisters grass skirt/hula outfits my dad had brought them home from one of his trips out there and performed a hula for my class. Mrs Speakerman never tried "putting me in my place" again. 🤣
I finally had the time and signal strength to figure out how to get this done! Yay!
Looks like we have had our winter - maybe we will have another cold front in January of even February - we shall see what we shall see - it's back into the high 70s after those couple of days in the 40s and next week they are saying one of the days will be in the very low 80s - looks like we will be having some Hula Dance weather OLM
Christmas always reminds me of having a new baby - how we prepared, sewing baby clothes and collecting what was needed, fixing the bassinet much like decorating the house and putting up a tree - only difference preparing for a new baby did not bring with it a slew of Carols - I've always liked the idea of thinking Christmas as a new baby with the new life the newly born brings to the house so that I feel as if I'm starting all over with new plans often creating a new daily schedule.
After these past three years only wanting to be completely unpacked and organized I can finally have a new vision for the next year... I do still have a few shelves to organize and a couple of boxes of garage type things to empty. Now it is more about paring down - Did find my pottery apple bakers where I must have unpacked them and to get them out of the way put them in the back of a shelf that if I hadn't been trying to lean a platter on the back of that shelf I would never have known they were there. Just in time since Katha brought with her some fresh apples from the orchards near where she lives in North Carolina and so it looks like baked apple will be an easy desert for the next couple of weeks...
It is 50 degrees today here in Ohio and the sun feels heavenly coming through my picture window.
Rick and OLM we sound of like minds where technology is concerned. Technology fascinated me back in the early 1980s. I met a guy at my friend's Christmas party who looked as if he were a vagabond only to find out he was a millionaire who got on board with technology primarily computers when they first came out setting up computers for large business companies like IBM. His advice to me that night was to go buy a Tandy computer at Radio Shack and teach myself how to use a computer. I took his advice and then was asked to begin a computer lab in the elementary/ Jr. high school my kids attended. I encouraged my son's class back then to take computers seriously because it would be their future. He now works of UPS Logistics managing their railroad transportation of vehicles with Ford Motor Co. He was recently approached by another company offering him a large increase in pay and when he discussed it with his company, they said they would offer him more to stay. A few years back he invited my hubby and I to attend an award luncheon in his honor and the higher ups were talking with us and asked where he gained so much knowledge about computers, I told them from ME. They said, "Gee maybe we should hire you as well." :2funny:
Marilyne, I think we all get to feeling a bit frazzled thinking we are too far behind for our festivities we are planning. I know it will all get done and if not, no one will notice but me.
Rick, I found the best oatmeal raisin cookies at Meijer's. Where do you buy your cookies online?
Patricia, I had a huge Cooper's hawk land on my fence this morning near the bird feeder. Before he came there were at least a hundred birds, they all hid inside my rosebush. He stayed a few minutes looking around and flew off.
Barb, it sounds like your visit with Katha was just what you needed. I haven't watched the movie White Christmas in years.
Good morning, all morning routines, meet and greets and brewing coffee are in progress, and we're having a one-day break in colder weather at minus 19 with a low of minus 36. Tomorrow, we dip back into frigid.
Ciaobella, I was curious and found this information online, "While Cooper's Hawks are common across much of North America, nesting as far north as southern Canada,
they are generally not considered a native or regular breeding hawk in Alaska; the similar but smaller Sharp-shinned Hawk is the accipiter species found further north into Alaska, though vagrants (rare, accidental visitors) of Cooper's Hawks might occasionally show up in the state, especially in winter or during migration."
Good morning.
The past few days have been busy/crazy but I hope they slow down now. Our weather is crazy as we have rain now and ponds in the neighbours back yard and possible ours if I go look. Our power went out at 2 am but came back about a 1/2 hour later but the dog didn't like the high winds and it took a while before he settled down.
Not much going on here today, did go grocery shopping and the rest of the day I am going to coast.
Enjoy your day and stay safe.
Good morning, at 7:12 am, it's minus 26 and heading for a low of minus 33. We still have our two, normally the coldest months ahead. The Old Farmer's Almanac definitely got their Alaskan forecast wrong this year, "The 2026 edition of The Old Farmer's Almanac has released its 2025–2026 US Winter Weather Forecast, offering predictions for all 18 regions of the country, including Alaska.
For Alaska, the Almanac forecasts milder-than-normal temperatures and below-normal precipitation and snowfall. The coldest periods are expected in early to mid-December and again in mid-February. The snowiest stretches are projected for late November, mid-December, and early February.
The publication, first issued in 1792, claims an accuracy rate of about 80% for its long-range forecasts. Its predictions are based on a proprietary formula that factors in historical weather data, solar activity, and other influences. But meteorologists often urge caution when applying the Almanac's outlook to Alaska, given the state's size and complexity.
At one-fifth the size of the continental US, Alaska's weather is notoriously difficult to generalize. Local climates can differ dramatically between regions such as Southeast, Interior, and Arctic Alaska. A 2018 University of Alaska Fairbanks review found the Almanac's accuracy in Alaska was mixed, at about 65% for temperature predictions but closer to 50% for precipitation and snowfall.
Recent history reflects those inconsistencies. The 2024–2025 forecast underestimated snowfall in Anchorage while overestimating warmth in Fairbanks, though it correctly predicted mild spells in Southeast Alaska."
Good morning one and all! 🎄
Its currently breezy and sunny, 47°F. I've finished my small amount of Christmas shopping. I hope to set up my lights this afternoon. This morning I wound the spindle of slightly darker yarn into a ball and have begun knitting the first sleeve (for the second time). Not much else going on.
Have a Happy and a Merry Christmas!
Good morning,
Starting off at 10° with another snack of snow on the way. The rain put the run on most of the snow we had and we had high winds!!
Getting an early start on what needs to be donetoday.
Rick, have you noticed there are not that many birds around? We have Blue Jays a few chickadees and the other day a flock of Grosbeaks'.
Better get the day started.
Enjoy your day and stay safe.
Quote from: Amy on December 20, 2025, 04:16:59 AMRick, have you noticed there are not that many birds around? We have Blue Jays a few chickadees and the other day a flock of Grosbeaks'.
I hadn't noticed more than the usual winter drop off. Still have the usual Winter gang of Sparrows, Doves, Blue Jays, and an occasional Cardinal. My son said he saw a couple of Mocking Birds at the back porch window the other day. I've put some food there since and it vanishes, but I haven't seen them.
Good morning, it's presently minus 33 with a coming low of minus 44. I have no plans for today other than going downstairs for a bring your own bowl and spoon to a Saturday soup day in the first floor dining room. These soups are all homemade and today is vegetable beef. I don't usually attend these, but on a day like today, it sounds wonderful.
The only birds I've seen here are pigeons, ravens and a number of chickadees, winter sparrows and some other type of small gray bird. Someone said they saw a Gyrfalcon the other day at Lowes, but it hasn't come around here, and I have no need to go there.
I hope everyone is having a good, safe, and sane day.
Good afternoon👋🏼
This morning was restock day: drinking water, groceries. I took a lovely hot shower and pushed laundry. Ron and our daughter's family went up to the mountain to get a Christmas tree. Its snowing up there.
Its mostly sunny, no wind, 48°F. This morning it was 32°F. We have starlings, junkos, magpies, doves and Canadian geese.
Still knitting.
High 70s here today and still could reach 81 as predicted - did have to put the heat on for a bit to warm up the house because nights are cold -
Nothing exciting on TV - been watching a Detective series that takes place in Paris and does have subtitles. Interesting story lines so that I find it difficult to stop watching - I've been watching at least 3 episodes in a row.
Haven't found any Christmas stories worth watching - for some reason a Christmas book is just not holding my interest - Still need to wrap my Son and daughter-in-laws gifts that we will exchange probably Monday night and a gift for my mailman - all else is about as much as I will do.
It's late in the afternoon but where I've had sweet tooths in my life here of late it is anything but - I've been hooked on half liverwurst sandwiches with sweet relish - and for sure that is what I want to fix for myself right now... :crazy2:
Good morning.
Starting off at 21° and some snow to deal with. Not much but it does have to come off the garage apron and walkways.
A day of rest here...will coast the day in. Need to wrap a few gifts and that is it! Some have already been delivered and others will wait till we meet up with the kids.
Enjoy you day and stay safe.
Good morning, minus 41 and expecting a somewhat dubious high of minus 33. Then just when you think you've had the year's worst, "...WINTER STORM WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM LATE MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY MORNING...
* WHAT...Heavy snow possible. Total snow accumulations between 4 and 12 inches possible. Winds could gust as high as 35 mph.
* WHERE...Fairbanks North Star Borough, Central Interior, Western Alaska Range.
* WHEN...From late Monday night through Thursday morning.
* IMPACTS...Travel could be very difficult. Slow down and use caution while traveling."
Then Friday, back into the doldrums.
On a better note, the soup was more of a stew with lots of onions, potatoes, carrots and moose meat. I might be back for the next one, or two. Each floor has its own library slash meeting, slash game room, but the one on the first floor has an enclosed kitchen and volunteers who make lunch for everyone who wants one for a $5.00 fee. Each Sunday, a new weekly menu is posted by whose's cooking that week.
Nothing new here but morning routines, meet and greets, and Farrah has pulled a switch, she no longer wants the extra dry, but more wet food. She's gotten more demanding as she ages.
Patricia, that is too :2funny: with Farrah!!
Cold, with more snow on the way. :(
All I want for Christmas is clothes with an attached heat plug...
Good morning,
Overcast, possible rain, 41°F. Tried out my light projector. Very festive😃 Still working on my sweater. My family had a good time cutting their tree, even though it was too soggy for a fire in the pit. 🎄
Quote from: OnLonelyMountain on December 21, 2025, 02:57:56 PMGood morning,
Overcast, possible rain, 41°F. Tried out my light projector. Very festive😃 Still working on my sweater. My family had a good time cutting their tree, even though it was too soggy for a fire in the pit. 🎄
Funny, I have minus 41, but I'm open to a trade. 😏
;D
Don't think I could manage the -41 or even the 41 - overcast all day here and this morning had to turn the AC on - it was so humid and the the house was 74 - not too hot but with the humidity a half hour of AC made all the difference.
Tomorrow evening Paul and Sally come over for our Christmas and then on Tuesday they are off to Lubbock to be with their boys - since I've made a different set of plans for myself for Christmas I am feeling light and bouncy :angel4: :christmastree: :dove: :snoopy:
Good morning!
Its 36°F. The forecast is partly sunny with a high of 48°. I set up my light projector yesterday. Its very pretty and festive. Kato was fine with it when I tested it in the RV. When I moved it outside he was suspicious that it was some new danger. He started up the "kill it" growl. It reminded me of the rattlesnake from this last summer. Hard to see that snake clearly because of its natural camouflage, but the shifting pattern movement are similar (for Kato). I couldn't post that pic then, but I'll post it in "Photos Old and New" now for those who might want to see it.
Still carding, spinning and knitting.
Merry Monday!
Re: birds...
I have 2 bird feeder hooks and 2 suet hooks on a metal pole next to a holly tree outside my windows. I "grease" the pole with petroleum jelly (cheap brand ;)) to keep the squirrels off. It's funny to watch them leap up, slide down with tails spinning and then glare at the windows as if to say "I know it's your doing.".
Birds now are mourning doves (3 pairs), cardinals (2 pairs), flocks of chickadees, titmice (titmouses? ;D ) and an occasional flock of robins. About a week ago, I saw 25 Canada geese strolling down the street.
Weather gurus are predicting record high temperatures this week - no white Christmas.
Miss Ellen flew in on a direct flight from NYC to OKC last night. Flight was a little late because of having to take a southern route due to the weather "back East".
Tomorrow is my 90th birthday and my 2 daughters-in-law, three granddaughters and I are going to the matinee of a local theater's annual production of "A Christmas Carol".
The entire family will have brunch at my son's house on the 24th because the 2 married Grands will go to their in-laws on Christmas Day and my other son is having his wife's family at their house. (I have "politely declined" to join them because they only talk to each other! :( )
I plan a "leisurely day" on the 25th :study: and :sleep: .
And that's what going on around my house.
:christmastree: MERRY CHRISTMAS to Everyfriend!
Good morning, Callie, it's so nice to see your post, and I have the same Christmas plans.
It's minus 42 out there, and we're heading to a high of minus 34. The winter storm warning of 35 mph wind gusts and up to 7 inches of snow has been pushed back from Monday evening to Tuesday evening. We'll see, as I wonder how the expected low of minus 42 tonight will morph into Tuesday's high and low of minus 12-minus 20; so quickly.
Weather's all I have to talk about other than today's alarms testing, there is nothing else except for morning routines, meet and greets, coffee and feeding everyone.
I'm wishing everyone a happy, sane, and wonderful holiday, no matter how celebrated.
I guess Walmart has merchandise to throw away - yesterday a child's book was delivered in error - no address only a last name on the package - tried looking it up on the county property tax map with no luck and so started to call Walmart - it was evidently delivered by Walmart since the package says GMD which is their indication for delivery - anyhow after many rings kept getting a voice that said they had unusual number of calls to call later - from 2: in the afternoon till 8: at night NO ONE answered the phone - I called a total of 8 times - my daughter called last night and I told her the story and she said it was less expensive for them to handle the buyer's call saying they did not get the package then driving to my home to retrieve what they delivered by mistake - and I had done all I could so forget it and donate the book - what a waste - if this is their practice how much do they budget for mis-deliveries I wonder? Whatever the amount of course it is built into the price of things.
Light bulb moment - the cost of anything from store to table is probably very small in the total because built in is the cost of maintaining the store and warehouse - the utilities - the salaries of all the workers and upper echelon of employees, profit to investors, all the technology and now the delivery service even if an outside delivery service is utilized and paid for separately there is personal having to manage all of that - what gets me is if you stop at a roadside farmer's stand the produce is not that much less then if purchased at the grocery and they do not have all the additional costs - says a lot for doing as much as we can for ourselves unless you have a 6 figure income and supporting all this is affordable - hmm I'm remembering when Christmas gifts were always home made however most of us succumbed to advertising and now we pay for with each purchase the support of all kinds of levels of industry and help put the food on the table of probably 100s with each purchase hmm...
Ok onward - the day is warm again - warm and muggy - little sun burning off the humidity - yep, AC is on... weather man says for Christmas we dip into the 60s - probably more like the weather when Christ was born which is bottom line what Christmas is celebrating.
Looks like PBS is doing their Christmas episodes of various regular programs on Christmas and on Christmas Eve because there was none yesterday, the Sunday before, which I found unusual.
Was anyone able to see the light show in the sky last night? City lights nearby plus the surrounding forest of tall trees here in East Texas and I could not see what was said to be a meteor show - Did anyone see it?
Good evening, all! I just don't know where the days go anymore. We have been so busy I can't believe Christmas is just 3 days away. My two youngest grandkids Zak a senior and Zoey a freshman came to do the annual cookie bake sleepover Sunday. I know we are very blessed they are still taking the time do continue this tradition, the other four grands have stopped coming due to their work schedules and other activities which is understandable. We baked cut sugar cookies, and did Oreos dipped in frosting and sprinkled them. We decorated the cut outs this morning and I managed to make my favorite chocolate peanut butter oatmeal no bake cookies after they left. I still want to do the chocolate peppermint bark and peanut butter cookies tomorrow if I find the time. I am expecting around 18 family & friends for Christmas Evening so I am sure lots will be eaten. If not, I will take some to my son's house Christmas morning.
Speaking of birds, we have at least 50 - 100 sparrows, along with Juncos, Cardinals, Blue Jays, Mourning Doves and a Woodpecker every now and them. I had a huge Cooper's Hawk appear the other day sitting on the fence near the bird feeder. All the birds hid in my rosebush, and ironically a squirrel was just inches away seemed to be trying to hide himself with his tail upward around him. Every morning my hubby goes out to fill the feeders the birds swirl around him like the Alfred Hitchcock movie The Birds. I read birds actually get to know you and are not at all afraid of you.
Our temps have been in the 30s this week and it is so enjoyable. I am hoping for snow for Christmas.
Barb, interesting reading about the book being misdelivered to you from Walmart. A few years ago, I ordered a new Dell computer from Dell online. It came earlier than expected and I was so thrilled with it. A couple of weeks later there was a knock on my door, it was the UPS delivery man with a package from Dell. I knew I was not expecting anything so I told him it can't be for me. He said it has my name and address on it, so his responsibility is to deliver it to me. I took the package, immediately called Dell to let them know and make sure I was not being charged for another computer. After speaking to one after another person for over an hour or two I hung up and started again. The person said there is nothing on my account that shows a second computer was charged to me. I asked what to do with this package and he put me on hold, after waiting over a half hour I hung up. Called back again went through the whole spill again and this person reassured me there was no charge for a second computer. I asked what to do with this? He asked if I had opened the box and I said no, it doesn't belong to me. He told me to open the box so he could get the invoice # and info off the paper and computer. He put me on hold and never came back. I was exhausted so I just put the box in my closet to try again later. I totally forgot I had it and a few months later I was cleaning the closet and there it was. I tried contacting Dell yet again to try to send the computer back. NO success, so I put it in my closet, and it sat there for at least a year. Later my hubby's computer screen went out, and I told him to go ahead and use this computer since Dell has not charged me and never requested for it to be sent back. I was able to finally find on the paper inside it was meant to go to a business in New York. I have no doubt they got their computer, and the company wrote this one off as a lost item.
Okay, must get off of here. You all have a very Merry Christmas with your family & friends and Barb, I can't wait to see how you spend yours after the kids leave.
🎄🎅🏼🤶🏼🎁
Snow ------ Just SNOW
Good day for napping --- and it looks like everyone is.
Good morning, 😊
Frosty-freezy this morning. Nothing new to report. This evening my daughter and her family may come sing me Christmas carols. I continue to card, spin and knit. I listen to classic books while doing so. I was very naughty yesterday and ate hazelnut, chocolate bombs instead of healthy food. 😋 And I'm not sorry! 🤣🤣🤣
Good day for napping - Rammel Exactly, Rick!
Quote from: MarsGal on December 23, 2025, 05:06:25 PMGood day for napping - Rammel Exactly, Rick!
Good progress on that effort so far. Also --- The snow has stopped and that area necessary has been cleared. Not by me, but hired help ::)
A postcard Christmas with snow on the ground - exciting - are there kids in the neighborhood that will accommodate a snow ball fight???
Very different here - temps in the high 70s - I've all these plaid flannel shirts in great color combos that I would love to be wearing - instead it looks like light or medium or dark blue cotton denim is what it is - with a red T under at least it looks patriotic but for sure not Christmasy - ah so
Did empty the moving box of CDs last week and although still not organized by music type and composer I easily found a group of christmas CDs and so hours of music since the player holds 5 CDs that are played one after the other without my having to do anything but listen - I used to have music on all the time when I was living in Austin and now after these last 3 years of unpacking finally I'm listening to music again - makes such a difference so that my head is not in overdrive thinking through what is actually inconsequential but sure had me churning.
My daughter, back home in North Carolina, sent this to me - the changes in how we celebrate the holidays since the 1960s and 70s - I was not really aware of some of the changes since our family regardless of Technology or costs keep up many of the traditions that have been discontinued - the end sums it up saying how the changes were not all that beneficial to us...
Oh yes, pain but it starts out with an Ad that in a few seconds you can hit something that says stop or some such and then during the Video there are a a few ads that again you can hit stop of whatever the word is they use and immediately get back to the history of how we celebrated Christmas...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4H1Og5qiV8Y
Good morning...
Been a tad busy here but my list of to do's has been shortened. Dancing with Mr SB yesterday wasn't on my list but needed to be done. Only the driveway was done now need to clean the paths out back and the verandah this morning. Temp is 26° with more snow on Sat. Will make a lemon pie before the dance begins this morning.
Rick, we also had a snack of snow. Pretty coming down but turned into that wet difficult to move snow.
Barb, thank you for the video will watch it later when I have a cuppa tea.
Better get the day started.
Merry Christmas. :christmastree:
Enjoy your day and stay safe.
Amy, our weather seems to be following yours, or is it the other way around. We're "scheduled" for snow Friday night into Saturday. Another job for the hired help - I no longer can do it, and no longer local kids wanting to make a quick Buck.
I am glad we scheduled our Christmas dinner meet-up tomorrow and not Friday or Saturday. The prognosticators are billing our next mess as a "heavy mixed precipitation" event from Friday morning into Saturday morning with some ice accumulation. I expect there will be a few places around here that will end up without electricity, especially if there is any wind involved. Even so, I didn't stop into the grocery store to stock up. I very much dislike crowds when shopping. So, guess who is having second thoughts about cancelling my grocery delivery service.
Merry Christmas... Hope y'all have a wonderful day... :angel2:
MERRY CHRISTMAS
Good morning..
No new snow to deal with :thumbup: Managed to get it all cleaned up yesterday ready for more tomorrow.
Enjoy your Christmas and stay safe.
Merry Christmas! Have a lovely day, however you celebrate. God bless you. 🎄
Merry Christmas everyone.
Merry Christmas 🎁🎄
Good morning..
Starting out at -2° this morning with more s :tickedoff: on the way. Filled up the snowblower so we are ready to go.
Now comes the good eats...leftovers!! :thumbup:
Laundry on the go,dishwasher emptied and we will soon head out to meet friends for coffee/tea. If weather permits will take the garbage away. Living in the country doesn't have the luxury of garbage pick up......but..one does get to see bears and eagles at the dump.. :thumbup:
Enjoy your day and stay safe.
Callie, :hb2: Happpy Belated birthday!! :hb2: I hope you had a wonderful day on the 23rd!!
🎁 Callie, a happy belated birthday from me as well on the 23rd! I hope it was wonderful, celebrated and enjoyed!🎂
I've not been doing anything other than the usual morning routines, meet and greets, where we do a lot of weather grumbling; and drink a lot of hot black coffee.
I have been doing a lot of PSP lessons and reading about the overlap between the roaring twenties and the criminal plagued thirties, followed by the world rise of fascism in the forties and the similarities between then and today.
:christmastree: Merry Christmas everyone. Hope everyone had a wonderful day.
Today is very, very, quiet. The cats have been rousting themselves for their meals, but otherwise they have been doing a marathon nap. For the last hour or so we have been getting sleet. It will stop in a little while and be back again later in the evening with what appears to be a repeat performance Sunday afternoon/evening. Glad I don't have to go anywhere.
Good morning..
A day of dancing ahead of me today. Looks like we have 5-6 inches of snow but at least it is easy to move! Temp is 5° and so far no wind to deal with.
Not sure how the rest of the day will go after that.
Enjoy your day and stay safe.
Good morning, Amy. Hope your snow dance goes smoothly and quickly this morning. I'll try to blow some warm air your way to help you. Tell Kyle good day and hope it is a good one for him.
A bit of dancing needed here too. But I don't dance any more, I just provide the music ($$$). It always looks so nice when it first comes down. I did clear a small spot on my porch for some birds that were looking for a hand out ;D
Good morning one and all,
We are moving into a period of mid to upper 20° lows. Its currently 38° with an expected high of 40°. They say it will be mostly sunny and "dry" however the chilly, damp winds belie their prognostications. Its rained a lot the last couple of days. I mop condensation off windows instead of snow chores. Still carding, spinning and knitting.
Good to hear from each of you! Stay safe and warm.🙂
Bright sunny day now, snow is all cleaned up and a fire is crackling away in the cookstove. Laundry is almost done and cooked honey garlic sausages have been vacuumed sealed and in the freezer for later meals.
Rain tomorrow. :tickedoff:
Phyllis, thank you. The snow was easy to move and everything got done including the dog run and trail to wood pile...oh that reminds me need to bring in more wood and kindling when I get off of here.
Rick, I do think you have earned the right to look at the snow from the inside..I dare say you have moved your fair share of snow in the past. Must admit I have more enjoyment out of watching the birds than tv. I do miss my crows but soon they will return.
Good morning..
Starting out at 10° this morning with light freezing rain in the forecast. :(
A day of rest here,may just see if I can put my hands on my sewing machine without shocking it!
Hard to believe another year is coming to an end, time races anymore.
Enjoy your day and stay safe.
heavy fog gradually lifting and is now in the tree tops - was 83 yesterday and expect the same today - hope we don't go through a year when everything is just about to bloom and winter decides to come for another visit so that all the buds end up being frozen
Ended up watching a lot of TV yesterday - I'm actually ready for the holidays to be over - however, I did enjoy the wreathes on the doors to the screened in porch and on the door to the 'activity' room (a large bedrm) and a matching wood door to the pantry and so I'm thinking of getting some green all year round wreathes - I'll wait and see if any go on sale.
Well one more day of loafing and then back to a routine... looks like for some of you the weather gave you no time for loafing with snow removal topping the list of things to do - stay warm - I guess the best thing is no more piles of kids wet snow clothes hanging near the oven or wet mittens piled near the back door...
Quote from: BarbStAubrey on December 28, 2025, 09:25:53 AMI guess the best thing is no more piles of kids wet snow clothes hanging near the oven or wet mittens piled near the back door...
Memories of yesteryear ---
Good frosty freezy morning,
Its 25°F. We're back in after poo patrol. The skies are clear and the sun is blazing yellow gold. Our expected high is 39°F. There is, thankfully, no wind.
Ron spent yesterday helping our SIL and grandson's replace the roof on their chicken house that the wind dumped over a few weeks ago. They tried tipping it upright after it first went over. It was too heavy (1000 lbs). Then they tried jacking it up; the bottom slid. So they had to take it apart and rebuild it in the proper place. Ron designed and built "flying buttresses" to prevent a repeat. Its usually very windy here. Reinstalling the roof was the last part. Finally the chickens have regained their home. 🐔
No activity in our eldest grandson's spider tank. Its either molting or has died. We wait...🕸
Still carding, spinning, and knitting.
Amy, talk to it as you approach it. It works with horses.😁
Minus 47 presently with dense ice fog..."DENSE FOG ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 PM AKST MONDAY... Arctic Cam https://www.seniorsandfriends.org/index.php?msg=269174
* WHAT...Visibility one quarter mile or less in dense ice fog.
* WHERE...Fairbanks Metro Area.
* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Clear skies, calm winds, and consistent temperatures near 40 below zero will allow the layer of ice fog near Fairbanks to continue to grow. Visibility will improve late Monday with the arrival of clouds and warmer temperatures from the southeast.
* WHEN...Until 3 PM AKST Monday.
BBRrrrrrrrrrrrrrr
Good morning..
Temp is 31° and light rain.. :tickedoff: Thank goodness for ice cleats!
Soup making day, already have the cookstove going and doing some laundry. I did get to the sewing room yesterday,no sewing but I did cut up fabric for a quilt. :thumbup:
Patricia, I do think Bubble said it best!
OLM, talking helps yes, but with our horses, donuts really got their attention!!
Rick,we have wonderful memories of yesteryear...what will the kids of today have? We played outside till you would hear your Mom call out to come in. Slid down the hill on cardboard, played hopscotch and just had fun with your friends.
Enjoy your day and stay safe..
Good morning everyone!
27°F. Its supposed to be another sunny day with a high of 37°F.
Amy, 🤣 love'd your comment. I could just imagine what my horses would have done had I offered them a donut! I wish I'd thought of it!
We "slid down the hill on cardboard," and played outside until mom called us for dinner, and then after we cleared the table and did the dishes, until it got dark, too. I share those stories with my grandkids.
Where I lived the best sled run ran across a road. Of course when it snowed the road got plowed, so when a sled tried to cross it you could hear it grinding to a stop - or slow down. To resolve that problem we would go get some manure from the manure pile and spread it across the road. No more slow down :2funny:
Good morning, these are temperatures I remember as a child in the fifties, even once down to minus 78. People are no longer used to them, nor expected.
As a child, Alaska wasn't a state and while both my parents worked jobs outside the home, we also had an acre in a garden, so there was always work enough for everyone. Even so, we and the neighborhood kids found time to get together, ride bikes, roughhouse and play softball.
Good morning..
We had a wicked day yesterday! After the rain we had high winds and snow, our power did flicker but stayed on where other lost their power from 9:50 pm to the next day at 4:45 pm. Not sure if all the effected areas have their power back on or not.
Think there is some clean up to do where the wind deposited some drifts. Temp is 4 ° so down jacket day.
Rick, you were determined to slide one way or another! :2funny:
OLM, donuts also brought the cows if they were in a place there shouldn;t be. If I didn't have donuts just puff up a big black garbage bag and hit it..they would come running. I would then run to the barn to get some oats/sweet feed to have ready on the ground for them.
Patricia, I am ready for warm (not hot) weather.
Jane, have fun with your family!! :smitten:
Enjoy your day and stay safe.
Quote from: Amy on December 30, 2025, 07:51:42 AMRick, you were determined to slide one way or another! :2funny:
I suspect you are referring to the use of manure - by a bunch of kids. It is slippery as anything, and lies lower to the road so the plow kind of misses it. A manure pile doesn't freeze - always hot or warm - so always available, and doesn't smell much in freezing weather. I guess that's how country/farm kids think ::)
Manure piles, that's a new concept, as a townie, and when visiting relatives' farms, I was mainly helping to gather eggs or helping to pick fruit. I do remember one harrowing time when the men got together to rid the rats in the grain, not something I'd want to re-see. Our cousins talked us into hiding out to watch, and it was truly horrible.
Still frigid, The promised warm-up, on the fifth has now been pushed further back so no quick relief expected. When I was younger, we were dressed for it and out in it every day, so were used to it.
Good morning everyone,
Rick, 🤣🤣🤣 The wisdom and problem solving skills of farm kids!
It is "23°F, feels like 17°F" by the forecast. It certainly feels like 17°! I tried to take a pic of frost on one of the steers. The camera doesn't quite capture it. It is sunny and highs are expected to be in the upper 30°s.
Amy, does your cookstove have glass in the fire door? The woodstove in the house has glass, which is always nice when the power goes out. My cookstove in the Tiny House doesn't. 😐 I've made a lot of beeswax candles for when there isn't enough solar.
More spinning and knitting.
Have a warm, safe day!
Rick, Lots of steam off a manure pile.
OLM, no glass door in the cookstove.
Patricia, when we went to the East coast I was always looking at the farms. One time we came upon a farm with the highest manure pile I had ever seen. Then we got close and it was a pile of potatoes!! :2funny:
Amy, that's funny, but I'm not sure of the reason to have a manure pile unless it's being saved for inclusion as a type of in ground fertilizer at a later date?
I'm a townie, the only one at the time whose parents had left the farms to strike out on their own; and would have thought if not needed it would have been otherwise disposed of.
Quote from: patricia19 on December 30, 2025, 05:20:30 PMunless it's being saved for inclusion as a type of in ground fertilizer at a later date?
Exactly
Thanks Rick. I thought it must have been something like that
Good morning
Starting off at 8° with more snow later today..
Tiding up and making Phyllis's baked custard for supper tonight and sewing (I hope)
We are at that stage in life that we let the young ones welcome in the New Year..
Patricia, manure is put on the fields each Spring . Funny story, one day I was spreading manure when a chain broke on the spreader. Took it back to the impliment shed to fix it, in came a city fellow in a fancy car wanting to sell insurance.I am now sitting in the back of the manure spreader trying to get the broken link fixed ,after the hellos he asked could we talk some other place! Guess he did like the smell of the country! :2funny: Told him no had to get my work done.
Better get the day started.
Happy New Years eve
Enjoy your day and stay safe.
Happy Last Day Of The Year Everyone.
Amy, Rick, that's what came to mind, because somewhere, I had heard about manure having a lot of nitrogen.
Today is another frigid day, minus 47 and not expected to get better until the 5th or 6th of next month. I envy all of you those mild temperatures but not the rain, wind and nasty critters in that warmer weather.
I'm hoping everyone has a happy New Year's Eve and a safe and sane new year. We all need it.
Happy New Year EVERYONE
Let's make a new start HERE (https://www.seniorsandfriends.org/soda-shoppe/soda-shoppe-january-1-2026/msg269255/#msg269255)