Outside of a dog, a book is man's best friend. Inside of a dog it's too dark to read.
--Groucho Marx (1890 - 1977)

   

*~*~*~* The Angel *~*~*~*

Why is it that you were taken away,
I had so much left to say.
We had shared so much together,
it never mattered what the weather.
If things were good, when things were bad...
If we were happy, when we were sad...
You were always there for me,
whenever, I needed you to be.

We grew up together, you and I.
now we've said our last "good bye."
At first, it was extremely hard for me,
to live without, things that used to be.
Each night I lie down, I think of you.
all of the things you had gone through.
The pain of watching you loose your life,
I prayed each night you would win the fight...
Now you are gone, and I must carry on.

I picture you now in such  "bright light,"
laughing with me, with such delight.
Close to my heart you will always be,
the "Angel" whom watches over me.
I will always Love you my "Friend,"
I await the day we meet again!

 Cynthia D. Brooks-1999

   

Kisses Sweeter Than Wine
(Paul Campbell/Joel Newman)

Oh, kisses sweeter than wine
Oh, kisses sweeter than wine

When I was a young man and never been kissed
I got to thinking over what I had missed
I got me a girl, I kissed her and then
Oh Lord, I kissed her again

Oh, kisses sweeter than wine
Oh, kisses sweeter than wine

He asked me would I marry and be his sweet wife
And we would be so happy all of our life
He begged and he pleaded like a natural man and then
Oh Lord, I gave him my hand

Oh, kisses sweeter than wine
Oh, kisses sweeter than wine

I worked mighty hard and so did my wife
Workin' hand in hand to make a good life
With corn in the field and wheat in the bins, then
Oh Lord, I was the father of twins

Oh, kisses sweeter than wine
Oh, kisses sweeter than wine

Our children numbered just about four
They all had sweethearts and knockin' at the door
The all got married and they didn't hesitate, I was
Oh Lord, the grandmother of eight

Oh, kisses sweeter than wine
Oh, kisses sweeter than wine

Now we are old and ready to go
We get to thinkin' what happened a long time ago
We had a lot of kids, trouble and pain, but
Oh Lord, we'd do it again

Oh, kisses sweeter than wine
Oh, kisses sweeter than wine
Oh oh oh oh

good Night and sweet dreams everyone.

Lloyd

Good Morning Everyfriend!  I'm up early today because Mickie had an urgent call around 5:30.  We've been out and I have my first cup of coffee. 

Today is going to be an odd day because I'm not sure what Christy's plans are.  I'm sure she'll be back because she left something here.  But I don't know when that will be. 

Last night for supper, I made pork chops in the air fryer and they were delicious!  I have two more meals ready in the fridge.

Thank you BUBBLE for the nice, clean, attractive new Soda Shoppe.  The decorations are beautiful and the thoughts are nice too.

Now I'm going to go get a shower before the boinger goes for breakfast.  I feel like I need it today!  I hope you all have a good day...better than yesterday but not as good as tomorrow.

Good morning..

Hmm temp is above 12°F...working its way to snow??? We did have a light dusting overnight but nothing to be concerned about.

Watched US news and oh my Callie is getting snow as is TX and it is not pretty!! Seeing the pile ups and transports losing control on black ice gives me the shivers.
Tis a holiday here. Family day most stores will be closed. Nothing planned but know there are lots of jobs to be done.

Bubble thank you for a new start page...I am now listening to this.

https://tinyurl.com/kg5r8r4r

Gloria, hope each day gets you closer to getting out.

Patricia, a sprain is such a sore pain to deal with. Even sneezing ,it would likely hurt the foot! Hope pain lessens each day..

Better get a move on.

Enjoy your day an stay safe.

Good Morning everyone, we are at -6º and cloddy. so another stay in day. One cow in home pasture and two not to be seen. we have one neighbor that has been known to catch and sell and not admit. when we get cattle #'s back up we are going to brand in two places, hip and neck so can be seen  Easley. have a good day.

Lloyd

Gosh, Bubble, you are pulling up old graphics of mine that I haven't seen in years. I always liked this one a lot.  The haiku I used on it is a favorite of mine and I thought it went very well with the image I used.  Thanks for bringing it back after all this time.

Liked the song lyrics you chose, too.  Happy Valentine's Day....belated...to you, and everyone here.

It is finally not raining here although it is cloudy, wet, and chilly.  We were lucky to miss the ice storm that hit just north of us over the weekend.  Thousands of people up there are still without power and it is a cold morning around here.

David has an appointment for his first shot this afternoon and it is supposed to stay dry and temp. in the 40's.  I hope that is true because it is a long, heavy-traffic drive for him to the other side of Raleigh and back. 

Take care, All.  Stay warm and stay safe.

The radio says it is 9° BELOW zero with feels like 30 below! I don't think I have ever seen it this cold and since it has been super cold most of the week, there isn't any warm spot outside for the critters to snuggle. This isn't the pretty snow that lines the dark tree limbs, they are bare, it is dry, powdery & blowing so much it is hard to tell what is new falling & what is blowing off the roof tops. TomKat is laying here by my feet, looking out the door with his ears back.    Wonder how Farrah is doing, if Patricia is home or not.  Hi, Fancyface! 

I made plans in my head before getting out of bed..... to get out the snow blower to clean the driveway & make a trip to the store to see if they have Russell Stover turtles 50%-70% OFF like after the last holidays. Yum... Not sure today is the day.... not even a bird in sight. Cats fed but not me so better get a move on.

Thanks for the clean house to visit in, Bubble. Phyllis, wonder why I didn't realize/remember that you did all those graphics. I had help learning and got through the first 2 "Steps" but Cas was getting bad and I couldn't concentrate so gave up. I did get help from so many and loved learning but the learning didn't stick. Beautiful graphics, thank you, ladies!

Merry Monday.  Sun is trying to shine but temperature is minus 6*. (Im farther south than Shirley  )   Report is that my area had about 6 inches of snow yesterday. That's more than we usually get in a year!

Birds at feeders having to take turns because they can barely fit with their feathers so fluffed up to stay warm.

Hope Everyfriend finds something to enjoy today.

Hello everyone, very cold here ( we are at -6º now and wind chill Is around 22 below. the furnace is very steady On, short time between on and Off. Have a great day, stay in and stay warm.

Lloyd

Thanks So_P for
a new place to hang out !!   

Everything is good here..
Cheers!

Sandy

From Texas, where it's usually warm, even in Winter:  Temperature 8 Degrees; Wind Chill -13 degrees with lots of snow on the ground, highways, everywhere.  Area is subject to rolling power outages, or, right now, some power outages that are not "rolling".  Some folks been without for hours.  My neighbors and I have been blessed, as haven't experienced one yet.  I have on so many clothes, my hubby would have said "you are wrapped up like a Mummy".  I look like a Weeble...wobble but don't fall down (I hope)!

If you are in it, stay warm.  If you're warm, say a thank you Prayer.

Joanne

Well, the snow is cleaned up again. First I shoveled the driveway (snow fluffy) then I just took the snow blower to get rid of the windrow and do the back yard for the dogs. Besides can't have Mr Snowblower and shovel in a fight for the job!
Time to put the feet up for a bit..

You did better than me, Amy. I took trash out but had to take a broom to brush off the snow to get to the dumpster (light & fluffy) Don't know where the shovel is & didn't want to start the blower until tomorrow. Supposed to get a tad warmer tomorrow. Up to 1°  right now but feels like 14-17° below, even with sun shining. Haven't heard how much snow we got but with drifting it can be all depths. I did NOT go to the store, have seen a couple cars go down this street but I'm not that desperate, maybe tomorrow. 

Joanne, from one mummy to another, our power flickered a couple times this morning & the radio announcer mentioned outages but the company is getting back on in an hour or less..  the one time we were without for 8 days my husband had just gotten out of the hospital, a nightmare week but we survived. We could see the houses across the street in front & across the river in back had power... and nobody offered to run a line over to this side (about 8-10 houses).    Ice had brought a transformer down that fed us and nobody realized we were without (we had all called) until a neighbor's family member caught some of the trucks (think from TX) gathered a few blocks away talking about going home. Neighbor's brother piped up WE didn't have power so they came & rescued us. Originally 100,000 houses without power so "Control Center" insisted all reports go through them. Real efficient bunch! Takes something like that to make one realize what a blessing it is that states help each other, and it's the people NOT state officials that do the helping!

Time to feed cats, me, too.

Shirley, we are under a snowfall warning here. I just hope that it is the light snow that  was cleaned up today and not the heavy wet snow. Hope you do not lose power! Just have lots of extra water in buckets etc , then you can still flush the toilet. 

Good evening everyone. well we gained  a little we got up to 0º lost the - but still in the double digits for wend chill. we are getting light snow, but the blowing snow is causing the trouble. It is covering and keeping the roads covered and slick, faster than the snow plows and salt trucks can stay ahead of it. well i went shopping but paid for more than i got home with called back to wall mart and told them what i done they said no problem next time I came back to go to service counter and they would either refund my $$ or give my Ice, that is what the carrier failed to get for me. good Night and sweet dreams.

Lloyd

I'm giving up early tonight.  Mickie had an early call this morning so we were up before daylight today and I'm tired.  Christy is safely back in Maryland and we are covered with ICE!  There is nothing that doesn't have an ice covering if it's not under a roof.  anAnd it's supposed to be that way all night and half of tomorrow.

I wish you all a peaceful night's sleep and a happy, healthy, germ-free, feel-better tomorrow.  And may God bless us, every one!

Good morning...

Oh boy did we get snow and it is still falling!! Must be 5+ inches at the moment and temp is +2°.

I think my plans on meeting a lady to give her a quilt might be put on hold ,will phone and see what her plans are for the day.

Other than cleaning the driveway and out back for the dogs not a lot planned. I haven't even heard a plow truck so far. Well, we expect weather like this and it could be worse , so can't complain. I bet everything is so pretty come day light. 

Jane, glad Christy is safe back home. Be careful walking on that ice!!! I hope you have some sand or ice melter to put down first.

Phyliss ,do you have a recipe for your 15 bean soup to share please?

Gloria and Patricia ,hope you both feel much better. You both are missed!!

Better get ready for the dance..

Enjoy your day and stay safe..

Good Morning Everyfriend!  In spitee of the ice, Cooper made it over here and Frankie got safely to work.  Now for the day's work to get underway. 

I have to cook the two chickens that Christy brought me and then I have to pick the meat off the bones and store the broth and the chicken meat for later use.  I was going to make Radioman's sweet potato soup today and I might still do that if all my pots aren't in use.  I've been hungry for that for days now. 

And if I don't get at it, it will never be done.  Makes sense?

I wish you all a good day...better than yesterday but not as good as tomorrow.  Stay safe!

good Morning everyone, well it is-8º and bright sun. I had a good night's sleep. 7,5 HOURS. But Still feel like I need more. getting old is no fun any more. Have a good day just as you like it. I went shopping yesterday paid for every thing Nancy had on the list, But did not get home with the Ice, the nice young Man that carried out and put in my car did not get the Ice for making ice-cream I called back to wall mart and told them, they that is alright just come to service center today and they would take care of it. If I had a brain I would take it out and play with it HA HA,

Lloyd

This is roughly the recipe I use, Amy.

    1 bag of 15 BEANS, washed. (Not necessary to pre-soak if using the Instant Pot.)

    8 cups of water, or chicken broth, if you prefer

    1 cup chopped onion (and I add chopped celery and chopped carrots)

    1 14.5 oz can diced tomatoes

    Juice from one lemon (optional)

    1 tsp of chili powder (or more)

    1-2 cloves of garlic diced, or 1 t.(or to taste) garlic powder

    Optional: 1 lb. of ham, ham hocks or smoked sausage.  (I often use kielbasa.)

Put all in Instant Pot and I cook it for 50 minutes because we like our bean soup mushy.  Adjust whatever seasonings to your liking and serve.

I kind of just throw in anything that appeals to me at the time and usually serve it with grated cheddar to sprinkle over.  I hope you enjoy it.

Not a good night in North Carolina either.  Not as cold as it has been but had a pretty bad tornado just southeast of us.  Fatalities and some people still missing.  We didn't have wind here.  Our power did flicker once yesterday but stayed on.  The sun has actually come out briefly this morning and that is a wonderful sight.  It is supposed to be in and out during the day and then back to rain and/or ice again tonight.

Take care, All.

Good morning.

Son who lives across town brought me to his house yesterday.  News was and is all about rolling brown-outs across the state. Ours began about an hour ago. Supposed to last 2 hours.

Son had logs blazing in fireplace and generator ready to go so we are warm and "entertained".

Granddogs (2 Labs) are making sure I'm well protected and that I don't sit in "Mom's" or "Dads's" chair. 

Hope Everyfriend finds something to enjoy today.

Phyllis, thank you for the recipe ,that will be our next pot of soup.

Callie, I had to laugh at your "guard dogs" they certainly are a creature of habits.

Snow is cleaned up for now. more falling and more again on Thur. One drift by the wood was two feet high, always amazes me on how sharp the edge is on a drift..!!

Better go see what I can get out of doing ...


 

🎭 Happy Mardi Gras!! 🎭
                                Let the good times roll!
       🙏Shrove Tuesday 🙏

Sunshine here today and a bit of a warm up! 

Counting our blessings.....it has been 15 years since Bob's prostate cancer call😩

AMY, you are the happiest person I know when you talk about your snow and how you clean it up!  😘  I am always amazed at the sharp edges and formations of snow when wind is involved.  It is BEAUTIFUL. 

CALLIE, nice to read that your son brought you to his place so you will be warm and safe.  Did you take your roses, I hope? 

PHYLLIS, your bean soup sounds wonderful.....I snagged your recipe even though my way of making it is very much the same.  Yummmy! Be safe🙏

JANE, all your cooking plans make me know your home is going to be smelling really good today! Be safe when you have to doggie walk! 

Extra thoughts and prayers for Gloria and Patricia 🙏

Keep safe and warm EVERYFRIEND!

Jenn

Hello Everyfriend!  It's still cold here but the ice coating is all gone.  We are supposed to get more snow Thursday into Friday and I hope it's gone by noon on Friday.  My appointment for my Covid shot is 1:15 on Friday and I want to be able to make it.

JENNY, the house did smell pretty good today.  I got both the chickens cooked and the meat picked off the bones.  I have enough meat for two batches of dog food and meat and broth for a nice pot of chicken pot pie (dough in a pot kind).  I'm hungry for that right now and I'm going to send a container of it to my SIL.  He loves it but it's not one of Cathy's favorites so she never learned how to make it. 

I didn't attempt to make the Sweet Tater Soup but I still have the taters and the recipe lying on the kitchen counter.  I WILL make it this week. 

I wish recovery and good health to PATRICIA and GLORIA.  Prayers continue.

AMY, I hope your dancing partners become less demanding as winter wanes.  It IS waning, isn't it?

PHYLLIS, that soup sounds like MY kind of soup but I gave up my IP.  I might try making it anyway.  I did copy the recipe. 

CALLIE, nice that your family looks after you when even when the power outage is only a possibility.  The really care about you!

Now I'm off to the haystack.  I hear the zzzzs calling and Cooper will be here early again tomorrow morning.  I wish you all a peaceful night's sleep and a happy, healthy, germ-free, feel-better tomorrow.  And may God bless us, every one!

Good Night and sweet dreams. we do send prayers for those in need. I have a story to tell on my self. I had three checks  amounting to several hundred $$ endorsed In a envelop to go to the bank with. stuck in the bib of my overhauls and lost it, at wall mart Parking lot. went in and shopped and realized I had lost it, went to the service counter and asked about it.( not there) went to service area and aired up some low tires.as I was leaving and talking to one of the greeters asking her about it and she to go see the greater at the other end I did and she told me she had helped a customer out to her car with her basket and found it and just turned it in to service desk. she would take no reward. God works in mourner's ways.

Lloyd