Good morning Everyfriend.  Still grappling with problems but one has been resolved so there's a light at the end of the tunnel.  Thank you all for your good wishes.

Good morning everyone..

Another mixed day of chores,each one will get done  in their own time.

Jane, glad to hear you can see the light more will follow.

Bubble, one can't help but smile here...each day is a blessing.

Better get dressed to go out for tea.

Enjoy your day everyone.

Good Morning everyone.
AMY ? for you. how close is the flowing address to you?

RR1 Stn Main
Wetaskiwin, AB  T9AlW8

It is address of kin to our daughter and S I L.
they are traveling in a large class A motor home, they are here in MO. now and
headed for phoenix AZ to winter.
have a great day.

Lloyd

Lloyd it is over 2208  miles from us..

thanks AMY well that most likely shot us out of the saddle. around the first of
the year we are planning on getting a new vehicle and doing traveling. well may not stop us just slow us down a bit. we are debating between a pick up and a travel Taylor or a class A motor home. leaning to a class A and a car on a tow bar behind. Have a great day.

Lloyd

Hi Everyone. We are going to have another beautiful day that will be sunny and in the low 70's.  Late this afternoon I will go to our son's home to get instructions on caring for his dog and cat until early next week.  He and his daughter are driving to New York to attend to some important matters.  After I get the instructions on caring for the animals I will drive out to the airport to rent a car for them to drive to New York.  Unfortunately, since the reservation was made with my Costco discount I will have to pay extra for me as a driver even though I won't be driving.  This is still a lot cheaper than buying airline tickets and them still having to rent a car when they got to Albany. 

Other than go to coffee yesterday and make a quick trip to the garden center at Walmart I really didn't do anything else as wasn't feeling on top of my game.

Gloria, I turned the heat on this morning to take the chill out of the house. Pat turned off the dehumidifier as it was getting below 40 percent.  It sounds like they do nice decorating around your apartments. 

Joan, I expect folks appreciated the cooler weather down your way.  I hope your rehab is going well.

Carol, sure hope Don is feeling better today.  Glad your VA experience has been so good.  All we hear about in the news are the examples of bad things and seldom a positive report on the VA.

June, I will have to try the suggestion that Lloyd and your doctor made about taking a deep breath and hold it when I am short of breath and start panting.  I remember once being told that when I was in the hospital and having angina.  You may have been thinking of my son, Scott, who has a week off.  He seldom takes time off from work and he needs some change of pace, which this weekend with the trip to New York definitely will be.  He is hoping to get to see his grandchildren while in New York. I loved your joke. 

Hal, it sounds like you had a thorough evaluation of your walking and balance.  I hope the exercise  will benefit you. 

Amy, thanks for the info on "domes".  I sure understand why the domes would be needed for your husband.  It sounds like you had a pretty full day yesterday if you didn't have time for a brief nap.

Jane, glad you are seeing a little light at the end of the tunnel on the problems you are grappling with.   

Good Friday morning Everyfriend.  No sun today - rain is supposed to be on the way.  Joe was here already this a.m.  E was on his way to Mobile on business.  I hope you all find some joy in this day.

Good morning everyone, yippee the sun s shining at last. Rained most of the week so this is appreciated. This town had almost 4 inches of rain other places had over 5 inches. That is all the excitement in my life this week. Go down to the mail room and check mail, waling in the hallways is not something I do, if I cannot walk out in the fresh air I just stay in here. When I moved here there was a lot of socializing but not any more. Not much to say this morning, just have a great day everyone.

Good morning.

It is a pretty sunny morning here, but is beginning to feel like Fall weather.  It was only in the mid 30's when I first go up.  There were all kinds of frost warnings being put out last night.  By the time I was up and about, if there was any frost around my area, it had already disappeared.

Yesterday,  the sprinkling systems were checked and I don't think the man was in my place more than 2 or 3 minutes.  He didn't say anything, so I am assuming all was ok.  Our maintenance man was with him and he did mention that they would be testing the fire alarm systems today.  Each apartment has it own fire alarm and it can be quite loud when they go off.   A lot of people will go outside when they start, but I find that if I go into my bedroom and shut the door,  the sound is a lot less blaring.  Fortunately, the test doesn't last more than 5 min. so it is not too bad.

I did not have a very good night, so I am sure, there is a nap looming somewhere today.  Sooner, than later, I hope.  If I start to read, it doesn't take long before my head is nodding.

Gloria, here where I live, now that it is too chilly to sit outside, a lot of the residents gather down in the lobby to try to solve the world's problems.  There is a real nice lounge right down the hall, but nobody likes to go down there. I think the majority of the people like to see who comes and goes, and gossip.  When I go down for my mail, depending on who is sitting down there, I might stay for a little while.  Our resident's bulletin board is right in the same area, so I do like to see if there are any new notices put up.  A lot of the ones who usually sat outside do not seem to gather in the lobby area. 

Like you, I tend to kind of stay in my own place most of the time.  I do play cards one night a week. 

Joan, it is always so nice to see a message from you.  I sure hope that you are getting stronger and will soon be able to go back to your new place.  You hardly got to spend much time there, and I am sure you miss being in your own place.  I am happy that you are near your family now. 

Larry, glad that Pat's sister arrived safe and sound and I know you both will enjoy having her spend some time with you. I am sure they are both busy catching up on all the things that "we girl's" like to talk about.  Nice that you were able to have a nice dinner at the Outback.  I haven't been to our local Outback for a good while now.  I am not a big meat eater, but I do enjoy their Prime Rib.  And, the last time I was there, they had a small version of the Bloomin' Onion.  If I remember correctly, it was just a plate with the onion petals and not the whole onion.  It was only two of us, so it was just enough. 

Larry,  good that you are able to look after your son's dog and cat while they are away.  Will you go to his place or bring the animals to your place??? 

Amy, I am sure you will enjoy going out for tea.  Several weeks ago, a few of my friends and I took another friend to a Tea House to celebrate her 92nd birthday.  It was a nice little shop and we had a nice lunch.  It was called "Simplici-tea", which I think is a cute name.  A  little expensive for what we were served, but we all did enjoy getting together.  We had delicious cupcakes for dessert, but they were extra.  It was nice to go once, but don't think we will be going back anytime soon. 

Lloyd, I sure hope you get to do some traveling.  Please don't wait too long to make that decision.  We used to do a lot of camping before and after my husband retired.  After retiring, we did travel across the US and saw some neat places. Unfortunately, we had plans to go back again, but those plans never worked out.  Not long after our trip, my husband was dx with MS and that kind of slowed down our camping adventures.  We were only able to go to some areas near where we lived.  But, it is a nice way to see the country.

Jane, I hope your life will soon get back on a more even path and your problems will all be behind you.  Seems like life sometimes gets in our way, in a way we don't want it to be.  But, you are a strong lady and I am sure things will start to get better.

Think I will head for my recliner and get a little reading in.

I hope all the  Friends will have a special Friday.

Joy

Oops, I hear the trash pick up & just had a call from a neighbor (visiting her son in CA), she left while I was gone & we all kind of watch each others houses when someone is gone.  I mentioned unhooking my hoses to her & she said she forgot to, so I volunteered to take my trusty crescent (we used to call them a "monkey") wrench... & disconnect hers when I bring my dumpster back to the house.  I'd better take care of those jobs before I forget.... supposed to have a hard freeze tonight, doubt if it would freeze hoses but not worth taking a chance.  Think I will wait until tomorrow to fill the RV gas tank (don't want to let my dollar off go to waste & must use them each month).  I have to start the engine to put the jacks up so will wait do do it same time since my father used to have a fit if anyone started a car & didn't let the pipes heat up enough to dry the condensation so they don't rust. Remembering to do everything at the right time is getting to be a stretch, I just don't concentrate....

Lloyd, when I was RV shopping I never did understand the big deal/difference between Class A or Class C.... except price & cost of insurance, etc.  So mine is a Class C..... mine came with large TV in the front over the cab, & smaller one (maybe 30"?) to watch in bed... king size bed & both TVs have DVD players attached.  With the full length slide out I have plenty of room but do think the table designed for the Winnebago is a better idea.  It is on a swivel that can turn so more room between bench seat & table.  I wanted a wood door to bedroom so I could close cats in there & not worry about them jumping out every time someone opened a door (like old LaurenKat did in Colorado).  Make a list of things you really want before you shop.  Since I found the one I wanted (after a year of shopping online), the week we were to go to Colorado, I had to decide fast & unload the one I was trading in & put all the stuff in the new one.  Was not a smart move or deal, but 3 years later it is still moving. 

I have not pulled a car with it, (chicken).... not sure I can lift off the tow bar to disconnect so I can back up.  Good luck with your search, I do think I would enjoy being on the road for a year but not sure the cats would still love me.  I don't do the fishing but my sons love to, but they throw back.  Finally the youngest brought me a couple trout that he cleaned & I put all the seasoning & butter inside, folded up in aluminum foil & they put over the fire that evening.  I begged each to take a bite to know how good it is like that so they'd bring more.  I told them "there is good fishing at the lakes in MO & the Corp of Engineer campgrounds have electric hook ups so we have TV & all the perks". 

Larry, I gave in & turned the furnace on this morning... was downright chilly in here.  Once I've been outside (& must get moving), it will feel warmer in the house.  I wasn't sure what lever to push or pull to turn the humidifier on & know that does help warm up the house, will call the heating & AC people & see when they can come change filters, etc.  My son did it last year but he's off for a Boy Scout camp out this weekend.  He keeps his CPR certificate up to date so he can help the boys with their badges... & loves being with all those boys & the fathers that come along.  Seems the fathers have a competition of which one comes up with the best meals with the fewest containers or weight.... my son admires one that will make different meals or desserts from one coffee can or new "back pack" find.  Each person takes & fixes their own meals, I think the kids also do their own cooking.  He goes with them twice a year & thoroughly enjoys the week end. 

Better get out & take that hose off before I forget.  Sun is shining, cats wanted out to get their vitamin D.... they sleep all day but since they stayed inside last night... and slept, they probably need exercise.  They are 7 years old now so not as wild & crazy as a few years ago, I can tell a big difference on the road.  Wind is howling right now, the whole house is squeaking.  I need to replace batteries in all the door monitors because "somebody" is causing the central monitor to squawk at me. Have 8 zones & easier to replace all at same time. So many little jobs...I know, everyone thinking, "I'm sure glad I don't have to do all that anymore".....

Joy, after one day when my kitchen smoke alarm went off several times because it "smelled" something I was cooking, I got out the ladder & took that blasted battery out... and don't think I ever put it back.  I didn't know we had one in the basement until the battery kept beeping that it needed to be replaced (after Cas died).  You know how they won't beep when you want to find them but I'd hear it when I went to bed.  I did put a new battery in that one (I think, maybe... maybe I'd better check).  I keep telling my kids to do some of the fun things now, while they have their health, oldest 2 are retired with good pensions but spouses are not. 

A lovely day in my area. I have been down stairs for one program this morning..two more to go . There will be a discussion on next years budget at two p.m. and Choir practice at three p.m.Right now I am yawning my head off, so may grab a short nap before it's time for lunch.

Good afternoon everyone!

We have a cool, windy day with lots of sunshine.  Had a new cold front come in early this morning.  Again no rain came with it.

Well got a call from my eye doctors office late yesterday afternoon asking me if I wanted someones appointment who cancelled for cataract surgery on Monday morning.  I told them yes.  So now I hopefully will get both eyes done before the end of the year.  So I had to call PT and cancel my Tuesday apmt and they pushed my new one with them to the middle of November.

I still haven't got that checkbook done.  I had another one of thos nights last night and got up feeling really lousy Got to talk to my PC doctor my next appointment about that.  Don't really know what he can do except give me sleeping pills and those things make me have horrible dreams.


Janie, happy one of your problems went away or got resolved.

Guess I had better go get myself cleaned up, it is already middle of afternoon and all I have done is splash a little water on my face and wash my hands.....

I have finished another short book, and had an easy lunch at home. Just didn't feel like a lot of food and friendship for some reason. Next thing on my agenda is the Budget meeting at two p.m. As I recall the one I attended last year was no raise in rental, or a very minimum. Quaker Rountree Gardens  is a non profit organization...very unusual in this money mad world of ours.

My Dori is off to a speaking engagement in San Bernardino county, so every time I think of her I ask God to keep her safe and happy. She is so precious to so many.

Time to get myself in gear and get down for the meeting.......

Home again, and here I will stay. Had a very interesting Budget meeting. Interesting questions asked and answered.I feel all the residents are content. That lasted about an hour, and we went straight into an hour of Choir. So I am beat....will stay home for the rest of the day and evening.

Tomorrow morning I plan to attend a Memorial service for the residents who have died in the past year. I think this is a lovely thing for management to do . Makes it feel more like a family than ever.

In the afternoon I will go to a class on Art Therapy..all materials provided. I am NOT artistically talented, but it will be fun trying.

Right now, I am glad to be home for the rest of the day, and will soon be in my nightgown, and home till tomorrow. I LOVE living here.

Goodnight all, I pray you have a peaceful sleep and a glorious tomorrow. Hugs, Prayers and Love always.....June

A quick note before I head off to bed.

Tomorrow we will return home after a wonderful visit with our family here in Boston.  It has been a delightful 10 Days and I am very sorry to see our time end. 

I wish you all a pleasant night of rest.

Jenny

good Night and sweet dreams one and all. hope to see you all tomorrow.

Lloyd

nite all, God Bless and sweet dreams

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

Good Morning everyone. well I woke up earlier this morning and cought Peter before his noon meal for a good visit. there time is 6 hours deference than ours.
we got done with all the hay we and a neighbor had down and baled.on the way home had a front tire go flat on the tractor, so had to pull it over on the side of the road and call Nancy to come pick me up. so have one un wanted chore to do today. Have a grate day, dont let my bad luck rub off on you all.

Lloyd

Good morning everyone, loooks like we hve a nice day is store for us today. Rain in forecast for tomorrow and again on Thursday. Of course on Thursday I have an appointment, figures.

JOY  wwhen they check the fire alarms here they put a notice up on an easle facing the entrance in the lobby to let us know. A few here seldom leave their apartments and never see the notice or they use the back door and do not see it. We have a bulletin board next to the elevator and it is surprising that so many never read the notices put there then complain that no one told them this or that. There is a bullletin board on all floors near the elevaot but not much gets put on them. I love being outside in fresh air. The front porch is nice and sunny most of the day. This place has changed in the 3 years I have been here. Used to spend time on the porch with a friendly group but this year no one sat out in the evenings, In the cold months we met in the library but that has not happened in more than a year.

SHIRLEY  I have had the heat on a few times already. Think this week end I will get my son to put the AC away. With all the rain this past week I had the dehumidify  setting running just to keep the air in here drier.

HAL  I would love to send the rain in the forecast for the coming week your way. The last storm dropped almost 3 1/2 inches of rain in this town but most of the winds stayed in the southern part of the state.

LLOYD  glad the hay was baled before the tire blew on the tractor.

Hi Everyone.  We are to have another nice day getting up to around 75 by late afternoon.  Scott and Jennifer's plans hit a little snag last night that prevented them from getting on the road last evening.  In fact, they just stopped by here on their way to pick up something.  It is a 14 hour drive so it is going to be a long day for them.  I have nothing on the schedule for today although I may attend a meeting this morning.  I will also watch some football this afternoon. 

Gloria, that is a lot of rain at one time.  Too bad the socializing has stopped in your building.

Joy, I guess it is time for frost.  I saw on the news last night about the snow storm they had up in Minnesota (I think that was the State). Five minutes of a fire alarm would seem a lot longer to me.  However, it is important that they be working.  Hope you slept better last night.  What card game do you play?  I don't know how my wife and SIL could have much to catch up on as they talk on the phone almost everyday and they are not short conversations.  The blooming onion we had at Outback was very large.  I will go to my son's house to tend to his little dog and his cat.  My granddaughters dog has been taken to another location.  He now weighs almost 50 pounds and is still only 7 months old.  They could not leave him unattended in the house and we certainly couldn't have him here.  It will only be two or three days that I need to go and feed and water them. 

Shirley, it sounds like your plate is full as you have a lot to take care of. Pat didn't keep the heat on very long yesterday and we haven't turned it on today although it is a bit chilly here in the house.  It nice your son enjoys his work with the Boy Scouts. 

Hal, my first eye cataract surgery will be on the 6th and the other in early December so we both should be in good shape to read before the first of next year. 

June, hope you had a good business meeting and your rental will stay the same. You sure are staying busy these last few days. 

Jenny, it doesn't seem like 10 days since you went to Boston.  However, home always looks good after being away. 

Lloyd, sorry to hear you have to deal with a tractor tire. At least the front tires are not the big ones. 

Good Saturday morning Everyfriend.  It started raining last night and continues today.  It's also chilly.  Linda and Ed were here and they had heavy sweaters on.  When they left here they were going to a Sausage Festival - whatever that involves - down near Mobile.

Good morning to you Joanie, great to see you up and about.  I don't know about your area but here a festival means lots of food and drink.  And parting of course.

It sure is quiet here in the SS.  It must be folks are busy.  Finlay and Kate were here to visit and said it was REALLY chilly out.

Hello everyone....

Our internet was down....no idea of why??

Asked hubby if he would like to go for a drive to the chocolate factory and he said YES! Off the 4 of us went first stopping at the Cheese factory and then on to the chocolate factory. I also nipped into the quilt store for a few min and then we had lunch on the way home.
Company just left and now tis time to rest.

Enjoy your evening..

Another busy day. We had a memorial service at the Chapel this morning at 10 a.m. for all the Residents that have died in the past year. It was a very touching service. One lady that I had fallen in love with was on the list. She was a retired R.C. Nun..middle name of Hennesy. I used to sing to her in our small dining room..."Hennesy, Tennesey tootled the flute and the music was something grand, a credit to old Ireland was Mac Namarras Band." She loved it and always gave me a big thank you. after that, was an early lunch, then home for a short rest. Back downstairs for a painting class. We painted pumpkins. Mine is more the shape of an apple, but it was a fun couple of hours. Now I'm home, and here. I'll have a light supper at home as I had a big lunch downstairs, then off I go again, to a Hymn sing at the club house.

I can't believe a whole week has passed already, and tomorrow is Sunday already. Life is scooting past faster than I can keep up.  But what a Blessing Live is !


Gloria, I'm sorry the socializing has slowed down at your place. I know how you enjoy the visits you used to have with other residents. Is it possible for you set something up to have it happen again ?  They should have an activity director there, like most other places do.

I am starting to yawn my head off, maybe I can work in a short snooze before supper and hymn singing. Hugs to you all dear ones....June

Hi Everyone.  I usually don't post in the evening but decided to change things a bit so I won't be rushed  in the morning as we plan on going to Sunday School and Church and then out to lunch.  Pat and her sister have been playing a lot of Farkle and Shanghai Rummy.  They both enjoy playing games.  We are staying in touch with Scott and Jennifer via texts and they are now in Pennsylvania maybe are three or four hours away from where they are going.  The weather is looking very unpleasant up in New York for tomorrow and Monday with high winds and a lot of rain.  They plan to head back home Monday afternoon unless something unexpected happens.  They got on the road a little after 9 am this morning rather than several hours earlier as there was a hitch in some of their plans.  I will be taking care of the dog and cat for a couple of days and tomorrow will be able to do that after Church.

Joan, a sausage festival sounds interesting and I bet these have some good sausage things to eat. 

Amy, when I read that you had gone to the chocolate factory I just knew that you would also mention stopping at the quilt store.  Is the cheese factory a restaurant or a place where they make and sell cheese?

June, it was nice of you to sing to the lady and it sounds like she got a lot of pleasure from it. 

It sure has been unusually quiet here in the Soda Shoppe. 

I've been in several times but didn't do a whole lot today.  Made my run to Sam's Club to get the chicken for the cats & the demonstrators were in full force so ended up buying more than planned.  They had a 3 pound "tub" of cooked pot roast that was just over $5 per pound.... not much more than an uncooked one & no waste at all.  I thought it was delicious so bought one container to have on hand when ever a family stops by over the holidays ahead.  Never know how the holidays will go, daughter is to have another hernia operation to fix the one they did several years ago. All of her kids & grands are going to be there for Thanksgiving & will do the cooking & take care of things.  Her husband is a rock & can take care of everyone, he loves fixing omelets for everyone, never less than 3 eggs each so I split one with someone. 

Anyway, she can't travel until between Christmas & New Year so expect we will do our holiday when they come to Wichita... including 8 or 9 birthdays in November.  Thanksgiving will be busy with both sons having "other" families to be with & I'm always invited but may just suggest the 4 adults come have a meal with me the day they are't with all the others.  The little kids wear me out.  Usually I give everyone their gift cards & money for the 6 adults at Thanksgiving & tell the adults to buy their Christmas present from me & tell me what it is on Christmas OR next year they get a present I pick out that they don't want.  I have a stock pile of gift cards, plenty of Amazon & Lowe's for the grands to pick from.... 7 grands & only 2 not married or has a "special other" that comes to the gathering.... and each gets a $25.($50 per couple) gift card so counts up.  I buy the gift cards when the store has a "4x the amount toward gas points"... in other words, $250 worth of gift cards earns me $1,000 worth of points or = 35 gallons of gas at a dollar off.  I filled the elephant today for $1.27 per gallon... & used all but a gallon of my 35.... 

Larry, I had that wind & rain on my trip to MO last week.  Sure worked its way across the US.  We had/have Hal's cold front, I'm loving it.  You guys are being so brave about the eye surgery.... My time is coming & am not ready, everyone I know has had it done but don't like the thought of anyone messing with my eyes.  I'll be thinking of y'all when I'm kneeling & praying in the morning. 

Joan, sounds like that cold front buzzed all the way down to you.  I wore my UGGs today, felt good.  Big difference between UGGs & sweater weather, huh?

I did get one job done, changed all the batteries (8 doors) for the alarm back up.  Haha, had a scammer call several times trying to convince me I won 2 & a half million from Publisher's Clearing House.  I played along for a while & finally told him I "was not going to pay money for taxes" when the check was delivered to my door and I was not going to give him my e-mail address and gave up & had to get rude to him (different phone number on the caller ID each time.... he was catching me on the phones that don't have caller ID attached, but I checked the phone easiest to compare later).  Same voice/person using phones from several different states.  He had to "check with his boss" & needed to call back because I wouldn't hand over money or send them an e-mail so they could send me all the data to read over. 

I got some Halloween stuff for the great grands here in town... will give to parents or gr-parents in the morning, not sure when the kids will be going trick or treat but I don't open my door for any of them.  Last time I tried because some little ones were out before dark & parents or gr-parents waiting on the street for them.... and before I could close the door, not dressed up-bigger than me people were on the porch with plastic grocery bags held out & holding babies too little to eat candy!  Got caught by several groups of them & quickly locked the door & turned out lights....  with so many organizations & churches having Halloween parties for the kids, there isn't much reason for them to work the neighborhoods anymore, especially when there are no kids in the blocks surrounding us.  Some of the neighbors have had vandalism the last few years so I am concerned for the RV, debating whether to sleep in it with a camera & gun handy.         Do hope the patrol cars are roaming all night.

Time to get to bed, cats all in & had their midnight snack.  Got to be up early & out of here before 7:00 am so ... sweet dreams!  Shirley