JENNY....
...thank you and a good morning or good night to you...I shall do my best to make today a good day, as I try to do most days....may I also relay the same wishes back to you...

Good Thursday morning, Everyfriend.  There's biscuits and sausage gravy to accompany your coffee or tea. I wish everyone a good day!!




A Long Way Home

Two blonde friends were going on a trip to Florida. A neighbor told them that they'd be fine as long as they paid attention to the road signs along the way. But they'd driven just 30 miles when they saw one that read, "Clean Restrooms Ahead."

Two months later they arrived in Florida exhausted, having used up 86 bottles of Windex, 267 rolls of paper towels, and three cases of toilet-bowl cleaner. Total restrooms cleaned: 450.



Persian Wisdom
By Arie Leder, Wednesday, January 18, 2017 12:00 AM
Scripture Reading: Esther 6:12-14

Since Mordecai, before whom your downfall has started, is of Jewish origin, you cannot stand against himâ€"you will surely come to ruin!
Esther 6:13
Zeresh, like Vashti and Esther, is no push-over. She tells her husband Haman the truth: You pulled on the ears of the wrong dog! Haman’s advisers agreed. We don’t know how Zeresh and the others knew what Haman was up against, but we do know that God was working behind the scenes to protect his people.
There is much irony in these words from Zeresh. It’s as if they are spoken to God’s ancient ene-my, Satan. But God’s ancient enemy, though he knows his end will come, will not stop wreaking havoc where he can. “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18).
God chose the weak and foolish things of the world to shame the wise and strong (1 Corinthians 1:27). Mordecai and Esther were only two distant relatives of old Jewish royalty trying to stand against the Persian elite. It was laughable.
But look further: the world today continues to mock a Jewish descendant of another royal family, Jesus Christ, the Son of David. And it wants to silence his followers’ testimony.
Yet only a fool would refuse to take this Persian wisdom to heart: “You cannot stand against himâ€"you will surely come to ruin.”
God of heaven, comfort today your persecuted followers wherever they confront the folly of this world. And may those who do not experience persecution continue to lift them up and seek justice for all. Amen.



“The nice thing about egotists is that they don’t talk about other people.”

~ Lucille S. Harper

Good Morning everyone! Have a great day.

Lloyd

Good Morning all you AMAZING PEOPLE!  Keep on being just who you are and doing just what you do!

It's raining again in Central PA.  I have to think that our water table has been replenished by now.  I also have to be thankful that it isn't snow or ice.  I'm off today.  Wonder what I can get into?

Good morning everyone.
Life seems to be back in order, thank goodness. and just in time too!! We are off to the city for a Dr. appointment. We did get an inch of snow overnight ,so nothing to to worry about.

Lloyd, good to see you ,sure hope your feeling tickety boo and getting better each day.

Carol, what quilt pattern are you working on now?

Joan, thank you for breakfast.

Enjoy your day everyone.

Good morning, Lloyd.

Janie--Good morning.  I imagine you'll find something to do on your day off.

Good morning, Amy.  Glad to hear you are better.  Safe travels to and from the city.

Yesterday was a beautiful day with a temp. of 72° (!) but today is cloudy and gloomy.  Still, it isn't bad enough to avoid the grocery shopping this morning so I will be off to do that and then to get my hair cut this afternoon.  Such an exciting day but I'm not complaining...it gets me out of the house and doing a little walking/exercise.

So glad to know that you are feeling better, Amy.  And the same for all of you that are feeling better.  And hugs and prayers for all of you who might still be down a little.

Full day so I must get a move on.

 

Good morning, Phyllis.  We have a sunny day and supposedly will be about 80° by afternoon.  Good for you getting out to "gather" and to get your hair cut.

Hi everyone on a rainy 64 degree morning.  However, the rain is not suppose to last very long and should be over by the time I head to coffee and later to the Wisdom class.  Yesterday as we returned from Pat's PT appointment we stopped at the City Hall and I went in and paid the taxes on our cars.  I was very pleased when I realized the receipt also had the tags I needed for the license plates.  I came home and put them on and that was it for another year.  There was no line and I was in and out in no more than 5 minutes or so.  Only Scott joined me for dinner last evening as Jennifer is done with bronchitis. Pat did get notice yesterday that her new glasses are ready so we may go over to COSTCO to get them later today.  This will be our exciting day. 

Patricia and Joan, anyone seeing me would not think I was disabled as I have good  mobile for short distances.  It has made me aware you can't judge a book by its cover and we don't know what may be wrong with other people.  When Pat is with me no one would question using the handicapped parking space.  We both had been determined to be permanently disabled and I have the disabled tags on my car. 

Amy, sure glad to see you are feeling much better today.  It seems there are many people ill now with flu and colds.  I hope you took things easy yesterday and gave yourself time to recover. 

Joy, why anyone would want to subject themselves to the Polar Bear Swim is beyond me.  It is too bad that one person's comments can over ride the enjoyment of the group such as your bingo prize.  We have gotten so afraid of being criticized that  common sense has fallen by the way. 

deAngel, hope your visit to your primary doctor sent well yesterday and he found you better than your last doctor visit. 

Carol, no problem on waiting a week to answer my question.  I expected you knew of these videos on the Missouri Star Quilt site.  Pat faithfully watches these videos and others that are available.  One of these days she will need to get started quilting again as hasn't done much of it these last 8 months when she hasn't felt like doing it.  How nice of the young man to bring you the ham bone. 

Jackie, I agree with you that we need to take care of ourselves first so that we are able to help others if we are able.  I believe the Bible tells us to "love your neighbor as yourself".  Life will always be a series of adjustments. We each are responsible for our own lives and what anyone else thinks is not something we can control nor should we try.   

June, glad the doctor gave you positive news on your leg healing. 

JaneS, I agree with you it would be a dull world if we all shared the same opinions.  Since I have been writing here in S&F's our rain has stopped and the sky is clearing. 

Pat Scott Harbach did a posting in the Christian Photographers discussion yesterday.  Here is a link if you want to see what she wrote:  http://www.christianphotographers.com/community/index.php?topic=13574.msg192924#msg192924

Good Morning Everyone!

Off to bible study and men's breakfast pretty quick.  Food for the mind and soul, get a double dose this morning, with Joanies post and then at bible study.  Thank you Joanie.

Janie, couldn't agree more with your post.  It is a known fact, people are going to act like people and families squabble and fuss and don't always agree, about anything.  And if we aren't a family then I don't know who is.

So everyone, have a great day.  I am off to church.

Good morning everyone, raining again, as if we did not have enough this week. At least it looks/sounds like the wind has finally calmed down. It was howling around this corner again yesterday. Had a different CNA yesterday and she did more in 1 hour than the regular one does in 2.

HAL  I'm here and would love a cup of coffee.

JACKIE  I have to do everything for myself. My sons still do not seem to understand how little I can do these days. I only call them when I really need something. Really right now it is cooking that is the hardest for me to do.

PATRICIA  for me it is only the last 6 years that my health has gone down. My 3 are used to me being independent ands still seem to have not really accepted that there are so many things I can no longer do.

JOAN  we did end with sunshine yesterday and it was most welcome. I bundled up and went out for a walk but it was so windy I made it a very short walk. The fresh air sure felt good though. There is a click here and unless you are in that you are alone. They are the bossy type and good at giving orders. They will have a Valentine potluck and there is a list in the laundry room with everyone's name and what they are to bring to it. Sorry but I cannot do any cooking and they know it and they want me to make something I cannot make.  Like a few others I crossed my name out. Except for being able to get outside here I could have stayed where I was. Talked to my older son and the other day he was out starting to prune his apple trees, when he went inside he found a tick on him. Was not cold enough yet to kill them. We do need at least a couple of weeks below freezing to kill those things.

AMY  sorry you have been having a long conversation with that porcelain phone. That is not fun.

JOY  we sure miss that beautiful sun after a couple of days. Heard we are due for some winter temperatures by the end of the week. They still have bingo here on Wednesday night. The lady who started it has slowly been eased out when the know it all group started changing every thing and now she no longer even goes to it. She does love bingo, too. They started a card night but then there was someone who kept telling them they did not know how to play so that faded out, too. Then they started a book club that lasted about 2 months. The one who started it kept telling someone she did not understand the book. Heck we all get something different from what we read. Same person who thinks she is smarter than everyone else. The ambulance is here often too. Since my apartment is in the front a few in the back will call me and ask who the took out, I don't know I do not spend my time looking out to see who is coming and going. It can get depressing and I am so glad I am not nosey and have my computer. I mostly have been trying the individual meals from Schwans. I did order 1 fish one but have not tried it yet. You said you liked their cherries, what do you do with them. I am tempted to order them, I do love cherries.

GLORIA de  there is a place in Providence that sounds like where June lives and the ads on TV look so inviting but I would never be able to afford it.

MARY ANN  there is one here that would love to be the president of the association but so far those who belong have not voted her in. She has not been here as long as I have and youngest here. She has tried to take over every thing.
That is when things here started going downhill. Oh well I follow the rules we have and mind my own business.

JANE  I agree with you. Without Joan the SS would fade away.

CAROL  inviting anyone into our places here would get stories running around. There are a few here that we call each other and in the warmer weather we got together on the porch. Oh it has been ages since I had a nam bone for either the pea soup or vegetable soup like my Mom made and I did, too.

JUNE  no one walks the halls here. If I did that and someone at the other end of the hall saw me they would want to know what I was doing down there. Strange place here. Since I got those shots in my back I find I can stand up straighter than I had been. Keep elbows close to your sides and you will not slouch over with the  rollator.

JACKIE  I agree with you. No one else really knows what we are going through. They would not understand if we tried to explain.

JUNE  I was thinking yesterday looking at my plants I need some plant fertilizer. Been to long since they have been fed.

JANE  others just cannot understand when we try to tell them about this cyber family. Some have looked at me like I belong in a padded cell.

JENNY  hello.

JOAN  this Yankee will pass on the biscuits and gravy. Good Chuckles. Now that is really being dumb blondes. Thank you for today's goodies.

PHYLLIS  enjoy your shopping and getting your haircut.

LARRY  it is people like one lady I worked with. She had the handicap tag because of her husband but she thought it was great that even when she was alone she could park closer to places ti the tag. There was nothing wrong with her.  Thank you for the link. I did not know that Pat had such health problems. I will be adding her to my prayers.

Good morning, Larry.  Thanks for the link to Pat's posting.  She sure has had a difficult time, and I pray for her daily.

halkel--Good morning.  You're most welcome.

Good morning, Gloria.  Sure wish we'd get some of that rain.  I started this and have had to get up several times because my phone rang.  As soon as I say hello the caller hangs up.  GRRRR...  I'm sure if something happened to me anyone of you posters would/could take over.

GLORIA, LARRY HANNA...
.....you have hit it on the nail, we might look to the outsiders as normal but what is going on inside our body tells another story...I am in pain most days but dont say much about it, as why, it isn't going to help me....no one can make it go away...

JOANIE, maybe someone here COULD take over if something happened to you but we really don't WANT to take over.  WE WANT YOU!!!

JOAN...
...the Soda Shoppe is your baby...

Janie and Vanilla-Jackie.  Thank you, but you know I am getting on in years.

I'm pretty sure you and I are just about the same age....

Joan, I think you have years to go to catch up to me, but on the other hand, I would not want the responsibility of managing this folder - or any others.

Tom has a handicap plate on his car - for me.  Frankly, I think he should have one for him, but one is all we need.  He rarely parks in a handicap place, never when alone, but when I'm with him, even with a space nearby, he drops me off at the entrance, parks elsewhere, then joins me.  When we're finished, he gets the car and picks me up at the door.  I had a handicap plate with my car and for Tom to get the plate, he had to show the registration of my car that I had sold.

Speaking of the car, the great-niece to whom I sold the car has moved so now I am going to get her new address in Indy. 

We have light snow this morning and I hope it doesn't develop into too much snow.  Not driving is a blessing!

I'm sorry to hear about Pat Halbach's troubles and I hope the new treatments will help.

Mary Ann

Good morning, Joan and all.  I will pass on the biscuit and sausage gravy this morning., I like biscuits and sausage, but not much on the gravy.  I had my usual fruit with a slice of black bread, which is what my family call Pumpernickle bread. And, with real butter.

We, too, have sunshine this morning, but supposed to cloud up again later.  Very windy, but not real, real cold. I think the weather man said in the 50's for another day.  Then the cold comes back.

Larry, I am with you as to why someone wants to jump into the icy cold bay water.  But, it is for a good cause and is very well attended. One of the TV stations is one of the sponsors, and there are several of the more popular reporters who sign up with a 24 hour group.  They "plunge" once every hour for the whole 24 hours.  In and right out again.  It goes on all night.  Viewers can pledge money for  how many times they go in the water.  They have thousands and people who participate. A very good cause, but glad I don't have to do it. LOL

Gloria,   most special holidays we will have a luncheon here.  There is a sign-up sheet in the lobby with certain things that the activity director will want, but you can really bring most anything you'd like to bring.  There are a lot of people who don't do that much cooking will donate some cash to cover items that they buy.  Sometimes several people will go together and buy a turkey or ham. Some people may just bring a jar of pickles.  We used to have some really nice get togethers , but the last couple things have not been that well attended. Usually the Thanksgiving luncheon goes well.  For the Thanksgiving luncheon,  she will usually ask for certain things that go with Thanksgiving.  Cranberry sauce, dressing, gravy, sauerkraut etc.  There are several ladies who still really like to cook and they always will bring extra things.  Since our building is considered an historic building, ( an old converted elementary school) they couldn't put in an actual kitchen because of having to run gas lines for a stove, so we really don't have any way of cooking, except for a microwave.  So, they will either use these big electric roasting pans  or some of the residents will cook things in their own apartments to help out. We do have a dishwasher and nice big fridge and a lot of storage areas.

I feel bad for the activity director as she really works hard to try to think up new things, but when people don';t show up, it gets discouraging.  When I first moved here, I did try to participate in a lot of the activities, but I am kind of burned out now. I have a hard time getting around now, and it just takes me so long to do anything.  For several years, we had a Christmas bazaar, and of course, it was the same ones who did just about everything.  It was very nice, but a lot of work.  For the little bit that we made, a lot of us decided that it just wasn't worth all the hard work.  Plus, since we are a secured building, the management wouldn't let us advertise to the public.  It was all just word of mouth from the residents.  A lot of the residents didn't want outsiders just walking in.  So, that made it extra hard because the ones that live here were trying to get rid of things and didn't feel like they needed anything we were selling. 

Once in a while, they will have a White Elephant sale with things that people don't want anymore and they donate them to the sale.  That usually will go over big, but certainly not a big money maker.  And, the activity girl has had several Pocketbook Bingo's.  She goes to several second hand stores in our area every week looking for things that she can make use of here.  Over a period of several months, she will collect a lot of nice handbags.  Now, that usually has good attendance.  Haven't had one for a while now. 

I am off to get my haircut in a little while.  I sure hope that will kind of get me out of the doldrums that I have had for the past couple weeks.  Nothing like getting your hair done to boost your spirits up.

Also, Gloria, you asked about the frozen cherries from Schwans.   I usually have a dish of fruit for breakfast, and  will just grab a few of them to add to my fruit.  They do not freeze real solid, so only takes a minute for them to be ready to eat. I like them when they are still partly frozen.  I guess if you let them thaw out, they would be a little mushy.  I usually eat them right from the freezer.  I keep a lot of canned fruit, as I don't get out that much to get fresh fruit a lot of times, so I will mix some sliced peaches, pears and pineapple together and just throw in a couple cherries. They are the big dark red Bing cherries. 

I got an order yesterday from Schwans and had a piece of the tilapia fillets for my dinner.  They are really good.  I do like Salmon, but their salmon is a little expensive.  I also ordered the beef pot pies, which I haven't had before.  I usually get the chicken ones, so thought I would try the beef ones.  And, yes, a lot of their items have a lot of salt, but I don't eat them that often.  Four pies come in a box and they will last me more than a month.  Next time, I think I will order some of their hamburgers. I am not a real big meat person, but I have been so hungry for a good hamburger.  I like a McDonald's hamburger once in a while, but haven't even been able to get out to go there, either. 

MaryAnn,  hope you aren't getting all that snow that I saw on the weather map that is spreading over the Midwest.  Stay warm.

Jane, wondering how you night shift went last night. ( I think you said you were working last night)..Will probably take a couple weeks to adjust to the new schedule.

Anyway, hope everyone will have a great day.  Didn't realize that I wrote so much.

Joy

I have been meaning to share this link for a couple days and kept forgetting to.

This will surely give you a smile.  Such a talented little 4 year old.   Such a sweet song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mzhk2aheNfI

I hope it is ok to post this link here.

Joy

JOY....
...thank you, that was so lovely....my face had a warm smile on it all the way through...

Janie--I am 79.

Mary Ann--I think you are a couple years older than I am.  I have a handicapped hang tag.  That way if I ride with someone who isn't handicapped, we can use it--if the person doesn't let me off at the door.

Joy--It's too bad when folks expend lots of effort for an activity and attendance is poor.  Thanks for the link.  That small girl is adorable.

Well....I hit the wrong key and lost my message....I was thanking you JANE for your very, very good message this morning. Your words meant a great deal to me.

Joy, that little three year old is amazing, and her face tells the story of how she adores her Daddy. I love it !!!

All your posts are like an interesting book to me, and I enjoy turning the pages and learning from you. I don't have to agree with everyone, nor do they have to agree with me, it would be foolish to expect that.

Thank you so much for posting Pat Halbecks message. She has had a long and miserable time of it, and I pray God will be curing her from all ailments in the days to come. We need our Pat back with us again.

It is past time for me to get dressed for the day and down for a bandage change. There are two programs I intend to attend this afternoon. I hope I stay awake to make it down.

Good afternoon, on another rainy day, we saw the sun for a few min. yesterday.
Joan, you are a great leader, and take so much time. You are still a kid to us that are in our 90's

Gloria, I think of you as my cyber neighbor. I know I can see Conn. when I am eating at SoundView rest. But I look over and still wave to RI Soultwin, use to be close by in NYC, only 100 mi. away.

Amy, glad you are feeling better, Be careful driving in the snow.

lloyd, glad you are feeling better.

June, My leg is still sore to touch, and is still blue, and I hurt my leg last June.

Larry thanks for the post. about Pat

Joy, When I first was told years ago about my BP being so high, the doctor said only eat real butter, but get whipped and keep it soft, so one pat is enough.
Jane and June a while back you  both wrote great Post about being in here with our Cyber friends. I too have learned so much, I appreciate all that Patricia writes about Alaska.

Joy, Lassies (our ladies club) has a bazaar every Christmas and we make a few $1000. dollars, but outsiders can come, we also advertise on the radio, so when we open at 10AM there is a line waiting to come in. We have a craft meeting every Monday, where we make things to sell. Which in turn we give to the Fire Dept., Ambulance Fund Animal shelter, If any left over we give to Make a Wish. We tray to keep it local.

Good Afternoon from the warm for this time of the year, (40's),   rocky coast of Maine. 
   
I went for a walk this morning... it is very comfortable out with a sweater and down vest ...   

I am so sorry to hear that there are many people who are  still suffering from various problems.     

I hope that everyone has a better day today ... 

Hugs to all,
from Sandy

June--Sorry you lost your message, but you did a good job of reconstructing it.  It's almost time for me to go to the couch and find some ZZZ's.

Linedancer--You folks in your 90s are amazing.

Sandy--This morning was sweater weather here.  This afternoon my a/c is running.

Joanie, I have 2+ years on you!

I took a trip down to accounting to question a $733.98 addition on my monthly bill. She said it was from the daily care I get on my leg wound. I recall asking one of the nurses who was paying for all this service and materials used on my leg...she said Rowntree. Now I find it is me..which makes sense really. I'm not going to ask why I wasn't charged for the previous month as it happened two months ago. Thanks be to God that my Insurance picked up the bill for my eight days in the care facility..that could have been three hundred dollars a day. EEK ! Stay well kids !

Janie--You sure are much more active than I am.

June--Good thing you have the $$ to pay for that care.

Joanie, I'm pretty sure there's a good reason for that.  I don't have to carry around the paraphernalia that you do.  That has to slow you down a bit.  I wish I could help you with that.