Well the first day of 2018 is almost over.  It sure went fast.  We did enjoy the parade this morning, then it has been one football game right after the other....I for one will be happy when football is OVER! 

CALLIE, I did my best to will OU to win. It just was not meant to be😢

Thank you so much, BUBBLE, for the nice fresh SS.

OUR New Year tradition is the first one to come through the front door after the strike of midnight brings in the money....so we gather everything that is considered $$ and that person takes it out.  Then rings the door bell and the other one welcomes them in and takes the money.  We always have to have our black eyed peas too, says my Southern hubby.  Never have and never will fix turnup greens.....Bob does like them but has to eat them elsewhere! 

It was very cool all day here today! The sun was out and that always helps.  Our grandoggie was not wanting to be out long at all on her walks.  Today is her 4th Birthday. 

Mark and Megan went to the Rose Bowl Parade and sent us a few lovely pictures.  I really wanted to be out there this year for it! But hopefully we can plan on next year if they still live in the LA area. 

Today continued to be a sad day for the police families involved in the terrible ambush of four officers yesterday here in our fine community of Highlands Ranch.  My heart aches for the one wife and two young daughters of the one officer that was killed. The other three officers are recovering well and one was released from the hospital. 

My dad is not doing well at all as he continues to deal with a terrible urinary infection.  I am hopeful I can go down to see him soon before we have to leave for California the end of this month for the wedding. 

I wish you all a good night of rest....especially YOU GLORIA!

Pleasant dreams to all. 

Jenny

well It is 5:05 AM and -1º calling for a high of 20º today. hope you all had a better night than I did. not a good night my breathing machine had a red face saying my mask leaked.  not sure if i am staying up yet or not. hope you all have a warm and safe day today.

Lloyd

Good morning everyone..

-18 ° this morning and no new snow

VON is coming sometime today and I do hope the repair man for the hot tub. Nothing else is on the agenda for the day.

I do wish we would hear from/about Joan and Sun too.

Jane, hope you put the run on that cold!!

June, where are you please??  Hope you have more zip in your step today.

Jenny, it is interesting to read the different ways people bring in the new year. Black eyed peas, money, dark haired people..

Hal, 29 is chilly for you folks. Yes, we do have good public transit  here in Ontario . We also have a seniors bus here.

Don, glad you weren't hurt. My friend gave up his licence when he went through a red light. Phoned his dd and asked if she wanted his car.

Gloria, I hate sleepless nights...takes forever to catch up so I hope you had some quality sleep last night.

Larry, good idea to get a jump on taxes..not a pleasant job to do but a necessary one

Callie, have a fun day with your grandson.

Gloria de, it is still cold here and will be for most of this week coming. Pity any animal that is out in it.

Joy, they use them for recreational use and some may use it in the bush , me I would rather be in where it is nice and warm.
.

MaryAnn one of my favorites as a child was creamed peas on toast or creamed corn either one was good.

Shirley, careful putting those decorations away.

Lloyd, stay warm and safe!

Better get a move on here.

Enjoy your day everyone.

Good morning everyone, a whole 8° now, warmest morning is ages it seems.
Finally slept 4 hours but still not the 7 or 8 I usually do.

AMY  over the years some have come and gone in the SS but the only one I worry about is JOAN.

Not much to say this morning and want to get into the shower before my CNA gets here.

well we are up to -4º now but are still calling for just 20º today even with bright sun. we are supposed to get some warmer Sunday up to 42º and possible rain, sure could use both. have a great day everyone. I am going down stairs and build a fire in the fireplace.

Lloyd

Gloria make sure the heater is on high before the shower do not want ice sickles hanging on yourself.

Lloyd

Amy, I remember creamed peas on toast but not creamed corn.  My mother was from Wisconsin, a dairy state and we had a lot of creamed vegetables.  I can't say I care for creamed vegetables now.  I am slightly allergic to corn so I don't eat that other than sweet corn and an occasional dish of popped corn.  When Tom first came here to live and did some shopping for me, he bought four large bags of frozen corn (kernels).  I don't know how long it took him to get rid of the corn, but I informed him I was not going to help him!  Peas I love and always have.

One thermometer says 17F degrees but my computer read 9F degrees a few minutes ago.  I'm not headed out today that I know of.

Mary Ann

Hi Everyone. I am overwhelmed by the generosity of you all having the very cold temperatures to share them so generously with us here in the South.  It was 17 degrees when I got up this morning and will stay in the high 30's this afternoon.  At least we will be above freezing.  For some reason I doubt I am going to get any sympathy. 

I didn't leave the house yesterday and watched a lot of college football.  Both South Carolina and Georgia won but Clemson did not.  The Georgia/Oklahoma game was a nail biter and went to two overtimes.  Georgia now advances to play for the National Championship against Alabama.  I have nothing particular on the schedule for today so will continue my first of the year work here in my office and just take it easy again today.  The schools resume tomorrow so things should get back to normal operation around the community. 

We forgot to watch any of the Rose Bowl Parade and I did know about the HGTV broadcasting it without commercials.  I only watched a little of the Clemson/Alabama game as it was getting too late.

I have left comments for several of you in response to your postings in Norm's Bait and Tackle discussion so if I don't comment to you here I am not ignoring your posting. 

Shirley, I am not familiar with the Franks brand of Bavarian sauerkraut but will get some if I see it.  I understand that most paper money has traces of cocaine or some other illegal drugs on it. 

Gloria, I also had a somewhat sleepless night last night but guess I got enough rest as felt awake this morning.  I guess your apartment rules are for the tenants and not for the manager.  Perhaps when the manager gets too warm in her office she needs to turn her A/C on to cool it down.  I have never heard of Silver Floss sauerkraut either. 

deAngel, I think the thing that turned me against okra, which I had never seen growing up, was working at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma City and they served it in a slimy mess with stewed tomatoes.  Pat likes fried okra. 

Don, nice you could supplement your income with the Santa jobs and that it will pay for a good part of your trip to Israel.  How long do you plan to stay on this trip?   It sounds like you are a wise man to know that it was time to surrender your driver's license.  Undoubtedly when you get relocated to a retirement living facility they will have transportation.   

Lloyd, I hope you can get some extra rest today to make up for your bad night. 

Jenny, it is nice that you both are football fans.  Pat does not care for most sports although will doesn't mind watching golf, which we did a lot last year and probably will do so again this year.  The only pro sport I like besides golf is the NFL and I soured a bit on it this season with the actions of the players and some of the owners in regard to disrespecting our flag.  That was quite a site to see and hear that B-2 bomber fly over the Rose Bowl stadium yesterday.  I have never heard of the New Year tradition that you have.  Sorry to hear your dad isn't doing well and not able to get that infection under control. 

Amy, is your husband able to use the hot tub with his heart condition?  I have never before heard of anyone eating creamed peas or corn on toast. 

How about creamed dried beef on toast?  That was a staple when I was a kid.  I suspect that it was a Depression Era meat stretcher.  Still feel lousy.  Called off work! Car won't start.  This year HAS to get BETTER!

Shovelled the driveway, next will be the snow blower..snow is still falling.
Neighbour came over to get one of our vehicles to use. His needs to go in for repairs. The fellow is coming around 3 to fix the hot tub and no Larry he does not use it. Not because of his heart but because he just doesn't care for it. Me, well I love it especially in winter when I can look out and see the sky,snow falling or rain.

Jane ,can you still buy that type of beef? As kids at home you ate what was in front of you or you just did without. Hope you feel better soon . Will you sil come and have a look at your car?

Going to go sew for a bit..

They still sell dried beef in most of the delis around here but I don't eat it creamed any more. I don't much like anything creamed and I think that's a product of the Depression, too.  A lot of stuff was creamed because it was a food stretcher. 

My son is coming by this afternoon to get my car started.  It was the deciding factor in not going to work today.  If the car had started, the decision would have been harder to make but if I had gone, I'd have been sorry! 

It's a beautiful sunshiny day today but still cold.  And it's supposed to stay that way all week.  LARRY, I'll take you weather any time.  We'd call it a "heat wave".  O think it might be up around 20 right now.  Not what you would call "warm".

Jane, I loved dried beef creamed and if I thought of it today, I'd try to make it.  I know in past years I was able to buy dried beef and maybe some day I'll see if Tom can find some.  That may have been the only thing creamed that I really liked.  I guess it was a Depression things, but I also felt it was a Wisconsin thing, my mother being from Wisconsin.

Tom and I just got back from having lunch with James and Alicia and their twin girls.  Those girls are so sweet and when they look at you and smile, your heart just melts.  Both girls were so good until the last when they got tired, then they cried a bit, but not long and not hard.

Mary Ann

"............and so it goes........."  Another year and doesn't look like things will be a whole lot different.  Larry, love your droll thoughts about getting sympathy from the ice cubes out here.  Do think we are probably more prepared for these temps than you are for what is going on down south.  That Global Warming is a pain, huh?   

I'm planning a camp out for next week, been on the phone to see which of the KS campgrounds has electricity turned on & found one where I used to take the kids swimming in the summer & think I will enjoy.  Just a couple nights away to chill out (understatement) & enjoy the scenery.  With electricity I have all the benefits of home without those jobs pestering to be done.  I know "someday" I won't have the option to run away from home like this, but it does give the free spirit in me a chance to float. 

Don, sorry about your accident but made me think about my parents neighbor that didn't drive.  She had a standing deal with the local cab company that the same man would pick her up & always take care of her.  She trusted him completely & as she explained to my mother, "consider what you spend on a car, maintenance & insurance as well as gas.... not only does she never have to look for a parking place, she doesn't have to worry if it will start".  When they went to Garden Club she rode with Mother but she was never in need of "rides", a spunky little old lady that was a very good neighbor to my parents.  Hope you will enjoy the new life & be counting the days with you for the visit to Bubble's world. 

Jenny, sorry about your father, so difficult to keep up with the different generations.  My thoughts & prayers that everything works out for all of you. 

Gloria, I know Doris would love to hear from you, if I remember right, she said she had lost your phone number.  Hope you find some extra zzzzzzzzzzs today, I was awake a couple hours last night "just because"..... got to thinking.   

Lunch time in Kansas.  Will check in later.  Have a Terrific Tuesday (did I get it right, Callie?)

Hi  my darlings..I have been out of it for a couple of days. Started a post yesterday, but somehow this "stuff" really hit me and and I had to go to bed. Woke today, and said to self, "Self, if you were at home in you  house and you felt this lousy, you would spend the day in bed." So other than popping in here, and also eating some food, I will be headed back to bed.I have my meds delivered six times a day, so I am always taken care of, but they can't heal the common cold

Just had some lunch, so I will go back to bed and book. Keep Well !!!!!!!
see you later. June

Well late checking in today.  I think the common cold malady struck all over last night.  I woke up with a coughing fit and feeling absolutely lousy all over.  At any rate called the PT clinic and caceled my appointment for this afternoon.  I told them I am sure you don't want me coming in with this cold.  They agreed.

Amy, my wife buys the dried beef in small jars.  Dried beef gravy is eaten at my house on a regular basis.  Only exception, we put it on biscuits and my son in law always appreciates an invite.  Brand name is Armour, 2.25 oz @ $2.32 a jar.

Back to my easy chair and a cup of hot coffee.

Mary Ann,  Stouffer and Eskay sell Creamed Chip Beef already fixed, and you just have to make the toast. Not sure if that is what you are referring to as
dried beef",  Stouffers is in the frozen food section and Eskay's is in the deli section with the hot dogs and packaged lunch meat.  I always have some in my freezer and just takes a few minutes to fix. 

Joy

DRIED BEEF IN JARS!  That can't possibly be what we had creamed and on toast!  The farmers around here all knew how to make it and it was paper thin and very tasty.  I loved it just in a sandwich or stuffed in my mouth plain.  What they have in the delis is ok but it's not the same.  There's one butcher in town who has it made for him by a farmer and he's very protective of the farmer's name and location.  But that's ok with me as long as he keeps supplying it.  We had our own farmer...my grandfather, then my uncle, then my cousin but no one in the family does it any more.  The farm is gone! 

I must go back and lie down after I let the doggies out.  Don't know if I'll make it to work tomorrow.  We'll see!

Janie, this seems to be a bad time of year for we elders. I checked my medical records. and I had been having a bad time way back in Nov. God is still in charge and that is a consolation. We are never alone.

Jane, years ago, I was able to buy dried beef in a jar.  The slices were paper thin.  And to me, the terms "dried beef" and "chipped beef" are the same. 

I hate to have Tom look for dried beef and I doubt he's ever had any and he wouldn't know what he was looking for.  I'm not sure he would eat it because he is trying to maintain his weight and I think he avoids salt.  I'll talk to him sometime about it.

Mary Ann

The only "dried beef" I ever saw or knew about came out of a jar.... for true!  I loved a salty bite straight out of the jar & that was all for me.  I was not a good eater back in early days and Mother had enough others to worry about.    

Do you remember when we got the little jars of pimento cheese & even the pineapple flavored cheese in those small jars that we washed out for drinking glasses.... We thought those foods were a real treat. 

June, Jane & Hal..... have y'all been gargling with hot salt water?  Sure helps, just keep a glass full to "nuke" half a dozen times a day, heals the sinuses & throat.... and can't hurt if it doesn't help.   

I am SO sleepy, fed cats early & we walked down to the river.  Discovered that Tommy II has been visiting us after dark, has been begging at the doors since I've kept the garage door closed & didn't get down to the river for a couple days & guess he thought he'd better come fetch.  I haven't seen him for a year or so but maybe the family that has been feeding him moved.  So sad.... but I do NOT need another cat to worry about.  Think he must be "fixed", doesn't act like he's looking for fur girls.   

I get "Dried Beef" Regularly at the meat market here, they get out the round and shave it on the slicing machine and yes I cream it on toast It's not cheap 

Mycheal

Mycheal, I never thought about the meat market having the dried beef to shave.... you are right, it is "onion skin" thin & just the thought makes my mouth water.  By the way, I have wondered how to pronounce your name & gave up & Googled.... am I right it is another way of spelling Michael (name of my nephew).... We have some unusual spellings in my family, my mother's name is spelled "Palagie".... and sounds like French saying... "Gi-Gi" (roll it out) ... Pa-la-gi..... I always loved it but her first grade teacher nicknamed her Tisie & that stuck all her life, much to her dismay.  Because of this my siblings & I got the most common names of the year....

Time for me to gather up cats, not sure where they are right now.  I did get a nap in, June, and rounded out my full 7 hours of sleep. 

Hope all of you with colds get to feeling better fast.  I just knocked on the desk to ward off those germs.  

The only way I ever saw dried beef was in the small glass jars. 

I now wonder if beef jerky and dried beef are first cousins.  I remember my Grandfather speaking of drying beef back in his day and saying it could be kept that way and if you took off the dried part that the beef under it was almost like fresh beef.  I never saw any of it in my life.

JaneS, you got some work ahead of you working on cutting up that deer.  Did the give you any backstrap?  Hmmmm, good, along with mashed potatoes and gravy and hot biscuits.

Tonight is suppose to be the coldest of the season, according to weather guessers, going down to close to 20 degrees, but warm up starts tomorrow afternoon, suppose to stay below freezing till around noontime.

Bedtime.  Talk to you tomorrow.

Nite, nite, God Bless and Sweet Dreams.......oh, my Mom used to make her own pimento cheese. 

another way we used to do beef when we never had freezers was take all of the bone out it and  can it in jars. some times we would cook patoes in it also. all you had to do was open a jar of it dump in a pan and mix a little corn starch through it in and you have a quick meal. good night and sweet dreams.

Lloyd

HAL, you missed something!  My deer was cut and wrapped and frozen.  All I have to do is take it out, thaw and cut.

I don't think our dried beef is anything like beef jerky.  Maybe a 4th or 5th even a 6th cousin but it's definitely NOT chewy.  It's very tender and easy to eat.  The only think bad about it is the price! 

Good night all!  I'm going to try to go to work tomorrow.  I've already called off enough but I'm going to insist on being on the end away from the food.  I don't think the customers will appreciate me breathing on the food. 

Sleep well and may God bless us, every one!

Good evening.....it is nearly time to go to bed, but I wanted to stop in and see how you all are doing.

Dad sounded a little bit better today and two of the sons called to tell me the same.  Thank you, LARRY and SHIRLEY for your kind words.  It is a realt concern when I am not there to see how he really is doing.  I know he is not eating hardly at all.  Prayers are welcome if you can.  Thank you.

Pleasant dreams to all and I hope those of you that are a bit under the weather will start feeling much better soon.

Jenny

Good morning everyone

Still snowing here but the temp is + 5......balmy I shovelled our driveway twice yesterday, washed the floors and the fellow fixed the hot tub.....new motor and blue pack. I had to fill the tub up some as he lost water when exchanging the pump and when I took the hose out I had not shut it off . Had water all over me and on the garage floor!! I was mopping up the garage floor and hubby pipes up and says ..it's ok you don't have to wax the floor!! Cheeky fellow!

Today is the day...I get to play with the new boy, I think there is just as much snow as what I shovelled away yesterday. Plus out by the mail box needs cleaning for the mail lady.

Jenny prayers for your Dad, remember when they worried about us as a child/grown up too,now it is our turn to worry about them.

Jane,take it easy ,don't tire yourself out.

Better get a move on here lot of snow to move.

Enjoy your day everyone.

Good Morning Everyfriend!  This morning I fell much better.  I was up a few minutes and was doing something and all of a sudden, I thought, "wow! I feel better!"  I hope that feeling persists.

Jenny, I've been remembering your father in my prayers and will continue to do so.  He's certainly come a long way in life!  You are so lucky to have had him so long and I pray you have him longer and in better health.

The coffee pot finished so I had to run and grab a cup.  Anybody else ready?

I hope you all have a great day filled with the love of family and friends!

Good morning!  At last some time to say a little something here! 

First........HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL! 

It was wonderful to read that I have been missed by my dear friends and I'm sorry that I haven't posted anything for quite awhile but hopefully I can get caught up now and be more "with it" here.  It has been a long period of all kinds of things to be taken care of with end-of-the-year things to deal with....and some necessary house maintenance to take care of....and bouts of sickness for both my son and me.  Both of us caught something vicious that made us pretty sick.  David especially was down and fainted three times which scared the heck out of me.  And when I came down with "whatever it was" I was very lightheaded and felt faint, too, and really out of it for several days.  It may have been a bit of the flu or some other nasty virus that is floating around.  I have no idea what it was!   Thank goodness, we are both feeling much better and nearly back to normal and we were able to get out of the house yesterday to go to a meeting about medical insurance (ugh!).  As for Christmas and New Year's holidays.....they pretty much didn't happen for us.  Well, with a little luck, there is always next year.  I'm just grateful that we are feeling better.   

And now trying to deal with the intense cold.  We North Carolinians don't handle this kind of weather very well.  I know that all of you up north don't understand what all the fuss is about when you all have much colder weather every year.....but we just aren't well equipped for such low temperature that can cause power outages and now with a sleet/ice/snow storm due to hit us this evening everything gets a bit crazy.  David got the gas logs turned on yesterday so even if the power goes out we (or the water pipes) won't freeze.  And I baked bread and made sure we would have something on hand in case I can't cook. So, just bring it on, Mother Nature!  We're ready......I think.   

I've tried to read everything here and catch up with you all but I can't possibly respond to everything except that I hope all of you are doing well....or, at least, doing better.  I sincerely hope and pray that 2018 will be a much better year for us, for our country, and for the world!

Take care, everyone, and I will be back soon.  I promise! 

ADDED  LATER:  I always liked dried (chipped) beef on toast.  It was a staple when I was a kid.  Kraft still sells creamed cheese in little jars.  I always liked the Pimento and my husband's favorite was Old English Cheddar.  Great on little crackers as a bed time snack!

AMY am glad you are warming up some maybe it will drift on down this way.
we need moisture here bad wouldn't holler too much if it came in the form of your snow. we are currently at 19º and headed for 26º they say for today.
Have a great day everyone.

Lloyd