Good morning from the Interior! Late fall is here and it beat early and mid fall here as well. The trees are yellowing and falling. We have dropped twenty degrees in our highs and lows and each morning there is frost covering the ground. This year was the summer that wasn't and now we have gone from rain to mid-October weather. I don't know what this says for the coming winter.

At the bird and wildlife sanctuary, the geese, cranes and other birds are making southern progress and as usual in the spring and fall migrations, all the hawks are out and observing and hoping for a quick meal. The golden eagles have already gone and the bald eagles are making their way to the southeast to winter along the coast in Haines.

The ravens and owls have replaced many of the southern summer birds and those small birds that remain, the Pine Siskins, different types of wrens, chickadees, and redpolls are gathering into the winter flocks from their summer solitude.

It amazes me sometimes to come and read about your high temperatures this time of year. But then I remind myself that I live in the arctic and we are three thousand miles from Seattle and more from most of you folks so there are many differences. We have gone from almost total twenty-four-hour daylight to 13 hours and 39 minutes expected today. Soon in the November trough January months, it will be light from only ten to three pm.

Farrah is on the window table watching all the bird activity. I don't know if she's glad she's inside or wishes she was out there in the thick of things. She isn't saying.

we have our fall schedule here firmly in hand, most of the weekly events, clubs, and activities have returned and the sun and moon have moved along a more northerly orbit. It seems that we slow down and enjoy during the summer and pick up the reins and become more energised in the fall.

I hope everyone is feeling better and that your day is proceeding well. Jane, I hope you will put some of that wonderful salsa and tomato sauce in the cupboard here for us all to enjoy!

Good Morning Everyone!

Nice morning out.  a little on the warm side, but there is a cool front expected in later today with some thunderstorms.  But we shall see.  Hopefully I will get a shower here at the house since I got the lawn mowed yesterday.

Went out to some friends last night and played cards and got home around 10:30 which is late for me.  Had a good time.  Played what was a new game for me, Hands and Foot.  The men put it on the ladies.

Not much on tap here today but watching some football.  Not crazy about the matchups, big guys picking on the little guys, normal for start of season.

I hope Jackies isn't too upset, notice she hasn't been in this morning and miss her.

And Gloria is missing, too.  I hope that she isn't upset that Jackie took her innocent statement to mean something else.  They are both valuable friends and I hope they come back soon.  They are missed.

Janie--I've been told to drink lots of water, but never have liked water.  So now I buy flavored water and find I like that.  I do miss the fall colors.  I've seen boys in football uniforms and TV doesn't let one forget that football season is here.  Seems all that is on during weekends is football--ugh!!

Good morning, Larry.  Too bad for me that there's no lactose free DQ.  Good luck to Pat as she follows her new food plan.

angelface--I think the weather has been somewhat fickle all over this year.  Fall seems to have arrived where you are.

Good morning halkel.  I've heard of that card game, but never played it.  I am missing Gloria and Vanilla-Jackie, too.

Hal, you gave me a giggle with your post. "Had a good time. Played what was a new game for me, Hands and Foot.  The men put it on the ladies."

I miss Gloria and Jackie too. We all need a safe place to vent at times. I know I often do. I've been reading and posting here since 2000 and have come to see us all as family, sometimes fractious, but always there to lend an ear or opinion.

Good Morning dear hearts and gentle people, Had a good sleep and a very slow and lazy rising. Had a call from the clinic to come down this morning. I was going to go down anyway, but I guess they felt the need to remind me. It will be a bandage change on my shoulder, and the vitals taken. I am grateful.

So I must get the bed made, and myself dressed...I all most said the bed dressed and myself made, but some how that didn't sound quite proper.  Will be back soon. June

Joan,  Where I go for blood work is connected with the hospital and it is open on Sat. mornings from 8 to 12.  I like to get there by 7:45 and lots of times there are still a couple people ahead me.  I didn't get there this morning  until about 8:10 and I was #7.  They have two technicians, so I wasn't in there too long.  Happen to meet up with a lady who used to live where I live, so we were able to chat for a little while, which made the time go faster. She was #6, so I wasn't long behind.  And, I knew the gal I had, so we got to talk a little bit, too, that took up some time.

Then, we went to breakfast and then to the Dollar Store.  It just opened about a week ago, and lots of the shelves were still empty.  However, I was able to get a few cards and some wrapping paper for a couple gifts that I am sending to my grand daughter for her baby shower.  I will pack up a box and will give it to my DIL when I see her in a couple week to mail for me  The UPS man comes to her business just about every day.  The shower isn't until the 15th of October, so I have time yet

The Dollar Tree store has their cards 2 for $1, but this new place they were $1 each.  So,  I only got a coupe that I needed soon. Got some cleaning supplies and they were just $1.  I will go back sometime later,  as the cashier said they were waiting for several big deliveries. I am sure it will be better the next time I go. 

Hal, when I moved to the Senior place where I live, I had never heard of the Hand and Foot game. So, it didn't take me long to pick it up and there were a lot of players at that time.  There are only 2 or 3 groups that play now.  The last two weeks that I have played, my partner and I got "skunked" every game.  It is a lot like Canasta, so I am told. I never played Canasta, but that was a real popular game years ago.  However, I really like playing Hand and Foot.   Most of the players here like to play with 4 people..    2 sets of 2 partners.  But, when I first learned to play, sometimes it would be only 3 that wanted to play and then you were on our own, (without a partner). I really enjoyed playing it that way.   It was harder to get your meld, but I found it more interesting.  I hope you get to play more often.
It is a fun card game.   Did you have an one of the electric shuffler's?  It is a lot of cards to shuffle.  When the electric shuffler isn't available, they just spread the cards all out on the table and keep swishing them around and around. 

When  I came back in today, the mailman hadn't been here yet.  He usually comes by 10:30, so don't know why he was late.  I think I will go down to see if he has been here before I get lunch and then find something constructive to do.

Have a good afternoon.  It was really getting hot when I came back.  Supposed to be in the low 90's. 

Joy

Good morning everyone

Jackie I was talking about myself not you. Sorry you took it personally.

JOAN  I tried Boost but did not like the taste of it. There was a time 68 would have been good for me but not that I cannot move like I used to I have set this thermostat up higher on the cold days with no sun.

MARY ANN  at least you can still walk on your own. If I try walking without my rollator for more than 2 or 3 steps I have to get hold of anything I can reach and get back to it.

HAL  you are right, I did not mean that statement for Jackie.
Keep up those exercises, I still try to do the ones I learned when I had PT.

JUNEE  sad we did not appreciate our active young years when we had them.

JUNE  you made me look at the way I walk. I still do the heel toe but do not  pick my feet up as much as I used to.

JOAN  I have never had a toaster strudel and they have been around a long time. My son was just here for his weekly visit, did not know till then that it was raining again, more like a drizzle than rain. Love the Aunt Emma. Thank you for today's goodies.

AMY  the humidity has not let up here at all this week. The material you bought sounds great, love both old barns and covered bridges.

JOY  like you when asked how I am doing I say can't complain does no good and no one wants to hear it because we all have something. Their reply is -so right. There is a Family Dollar store a few miles from here but I have never had a chance to check it out.

JANE  this SS is where I start all my days. Like you I would be lost without this cyber family we have.

LLOYD  with the drought conditions here may of the big farms  with their ponds drying up have crops withering in the fields.  So sad to lose all that food.

PHYLLIS  I have noticed the sun setting earlier this past week. Of course we have not had much sunshine but it is getting dark earlier. That is the only thing I dislike this time of year. I like the late sunset times, I think we all do. Peace on earth is a wonderful thought but wonder if it will ever happen.

LARRY  white flour and sugar are in almost everything we eat these days. So many different forms of sugar to watch out for.

I am here just late getting started. Another night with no sleep and when I finally found some ZZZz's I woke at 9 this morning. Started posting more than 2 hours ago and then my son came so had a visit with him. Good to know that some of you know me well enough to know I would never say something to hurt anyone. Wish I could take back yesterday's post to Jackie but too late. Thank you for believing in me.

I was just going to read while eating my lunch but June's post about "dressing her bed and making herself" reminded me of an exchange we used to have as kids.

First kid: You have to do (whatever).
Second kid: MAKE ME!
First Kid: I can't! You were already made and you were made a mess!

Patricia:  I already put salsa and dippers in the hidey hole.  The sauce I'm making today will be for cooking.  I put it in things like meat loaf and casseroles.  It tastes pretty good but it's not like spaghetti sauce. 

Good Morning,

Some areas of OKC had heavy rain and very high straight winds last night.   Everything at my house looked wet this morning but I didn't see any evidence of wind.

All My Children are in Stillwater for the OSU football game.  It's Dad's Day, so #1 son is experiencing a first (for Freshman Carson) and a last (for Senior Emily).  Saw a picture of the three of them on Facebook;  he looked a bit shell-shocked.   

Re Afib:   At age 22,  my #2 son was diagnosed with Afib and Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome.  To save space, here's a link   http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/wolff-parkinson-white/basics/definition/con-20043508.
The ablation procedure was developed by a cardiologist at the OU Medical Center here in OKC and Scott was the first one to have it after it had been officially approved by the American Medical Association in June, 1988.
He is now 50 and still has some Afib.  However, other than taking a pill and having an annual check-up with his cardiologist, he lives a normal very active life.
I am so grateful that we lived here where doctors knew about the ablation development because, otherwise, he would have had to go to Canada for open-heart surgery.

I can get into a lot of trouble at the Dollar Store.       When Miss Ellen was setting up her first household, I found dishes similar to FiestaWare and coordinating kitchen accessories there - and completely outfitted her dining needs for less than $50.00.

Larry,  I see more and more gluten-free products in our grocery stores and quite a few restaurants have gluten-free items on their menus.   Also sugar-free could be a problem, though.

Project du Jour is baking cookies for a dinner after church tomorrow - celebrating the church's 20th anniversary. (It was an off-shoot of First Presbyterian "on the other side of town".)

Off to the kitchen.

Enjoy your day, Everyfriend.

angelface--Sometimes  our halkel says things I don't understand.

June--They sure do take good care of you where you live.

Gloria--I tried Boost, too, and didn't care for it.  Sure is nice your son comes to visit every week.  I wish we'd get some of that rain.

Janie--I giggled at what you said as kids.  Thanks for putting some sauce in the "hidey hole".

Callie--I have a friend who had that ablation several years ago.  She is doing well now with a couple pills daily.  Thanks for the link.  How about putting some cookies in the "hidey hole"?

I finally got my day started. B.P. was a very happy surprise 128 over...?  I forgot. Bandage changed so I'm set till I am to go for another b.p. check later today. I felt so good, so wandered over to the club house and picked up next weeks schedule of activities. Checked the lunch menu. I'll go down again for tacos, and sides.
Took a half hours walk around the grounds and enjoyed the trees and flowers and greetings. Several people were playing Shuffleboard.....very quiet all over for a Saturday.

Gloria, it is such a thrill to have you back with us again. I take it your new stuff in the computer is working o.K  ? I sure hope so. I still feel they owe you though.

I see many of you go to the Dollar Store. I used to go with a friend that would take me there, but that was in my other life. I found out that most all their things were a product of China, and it hurt me to think I was helping to support a possible enemy of our Country.

Only God knows which countries are or are not enemies. Makes me extra confident knowing that He is in charge of it all.

Bis, the care here certainly is wonderful, and they make one feel you are doing them a favor by having them treat you. And there are always hugs available. I have never in my life felt so content.

Angel, agree, my phraseology could have been better.    There was no touching in the game.
Joy, no shuffler.  We washed the cards, as they put it.  Just dumped them all face down in the middle of the table and shuffled them round and round, dived in and took out enough cards for the hand. we had three couples playing.
Joanie, sometimes I say things I don't understand either....
I go to the local dollar store to buy my sun glasses.  Get about five pair and then when those "evaporate" they must "evaporate" because no one knows what happens to them and I didn't throw them away.  I just put them in the car and seems only the old broken, scratched ones stay there.  Hmmmmmmmm.

June--It makes me happy to know what good care they take of you and how content you are there.

halkel--Never heard the saying "we washed the cards".  I have prescription glasses and sunglassses and always know where they are.  When I used those "readers" I had them all over the house and never could find them.

Good afternoonon a very warm sept day, yersterday got to over 90.  Athe begining of the week, I had worn a sweater.

Joan, I do not like water either, and after I was in the hospital with Kidney faiture, I was told to drink plenty of water,  Doctor suggested I try VitaminWater, which has a lot in it. I like the lemonade. Also like the joke about Aunt Emma.

Gloria, we did not get the rain the weatherman promised.  I keep my husband old walk, by the tubl, I hold on to it when I get out of it.
People are aways asking me how do I feen, when I am out somewhere.  Most of the time, I say I made it here, no use to say how I really feel.

Phyllis, I also have A-Fib, when I was in the hospital a year and a half ago. Was also when I had the heart attack and pneumonia.  I had so many test then, I do not remember what was done, then I spent 3 weeks in rehab.

Janiie, I will fix dinner after I am done here, so will look in the hidey hole" for the scause.

Hal keep up with that PT.

Larry, my first job in Charleston, was in a Frosted Malt shop. We made it everymorning, it was like soft ice cream.  We also sold ice cream. Was a very buesy place between 3 & 4, as we were 1 block from the main Navy Yard gateYard workers and sailors. I made $12 for a 6 day week.

Joy, I use to play Hand & Foot every Saturday night, Most of the time there were only 3 of us.  never played partners. I had a shuffler.

June, sounds like your BP is getting better.  My BP is always up when I go to the hematologist.

Well Callie, that was a heart breaker.  I looked away for a minute and had to watch the replay to see how OSU lost the game.  The coach for Michigan was kinda a, well, he was.  Anyhow, sorry about the game, your kids want be in a good mood.

Hal,  I was in the kitchen baking cookies and missed the end of the game. I'll have to catch up on the evening news. I've already seen one family comment on Facebook; it was printable but I'm not sure any others would be!

OU's game tonight can only be seen on "pay for view" and I won't do that for a football game - even if it is my Sooners.

Lemonade cookies with multi-colored sprinkles are in the hidey-hole.  Help yourselves.   

GLORIA....
....I make my apologies if I got your post wrong yesterday but.....you cant blame me for jumping the gun, as I well remember your comments over the last few years, re, how you boycott, pass over any members posts that moan or complain, as you dont want to be hearing them,....and I am noticing lately you post to many Soda Shoppe members but one name you always leave out is a posting to me, ( five days ago I believe my name got a mention, ) even when I have made a previous posting that would generate some form of a comment, ie, my dog who I am soon to lose, and, or my MS and its symptoms, to name just a few,...which would usually get some form of a response from other members...Then yesterday all of a sudden I spot a first post from Gloria mentioning my name, then low and behold when I read it, it is as good as telling me not to complain, as we have all had our problems...not a post I was expecting...as there were so many other things you could have said to me if you wished...Unlike others, I am still not convinced you meant it as you state, I have read it again and it still comes across as cold and making an attack at me,.... but I am happy to give you the benefit of the doubt seeings that I am rather outnumbered...

And a special thank you to all who said they would miss me if I stopped posting....

Sauce is all finished and canned and the jars are cooling on the kitchen counter.  It will sure make some good meat loaves and casseroles when the time comes.

I did a favor for my Grandniece who is a sophomore at Susquehanna University not too far from where I live.  I ordered something she needs for her class and it came today.  Tomorrow, I'm taking it down there after church and taking her to lunch and if she needs to do some shopping, we'll do that.  I love spending time with her and lately there hasn't been much of that.  It'll be a fun time.

Now it's time to scrounge up some supper for me and the doggies and then I have to make dog food before I go to bed tonight.  I'll try to get back later. 

I hope you are all having a wonderful day!

Linedancer--I'm not familiar with Vitamin Water, but I will check it out.  Good idea to keep your husband's old walker for the tub.  So you belong to the A-fib club, too.  I'm sure those of us who have it would prefer not to.

halkel--You and Callie into football again?

Callie--Guess the outcome of your game wasn't what you'd have liked.  Thanks for the yummy lemonade cookies you put in the hidey hole.

Vanilla-Jackie--I hate to have anyone's feelings hurt.  Sorry that happened.

Janie--How nice that you are going to go see your grandniece tomorrow, take her what you ordered that she needed, take her shopping if needed and then take her to lunch.

Water is my favorite beverage.  I have an idea the source of the water determines whether we like it or not.  In the City of Grand Rapids, they get their water from Lake Michigan.  I am in Plainfield Township and I think we have well water, however, it is "fixed" before we get it.  I know the water in Indianapolis tastes different than our water. 

Mary Ann

no, I didn`t get lost....sure miss you guys.  Left hand still  in a splint,  can only use right hand...hunt and peck.   Therapy has not helped.  Hope you are all well. Last here in June/July.

Sun

Hello SUN
Was a surprise to see you this morning. Wish that other hand soon heals.

((((((((((((((( Sun)))))))))))) so nice to see you.......you can hunt and peck all you want in here.....

Gloria de, when I go down for a b.p. check now, they tell me to just sit quietly for a minute. So I spend that minute doing the slow breathing. VERY slow, and it seems it is working. I "see" in my mind, the breath traveling up my nose and the exhale traveling back down. Maybe it is a fluke, but if it continues to keep the pressure down I will do it more often. I know it is also a Yoga exercise.

Callie, Thank you…the cookies I snatched are still warm and sooooooooo good.

Jackie, each one of us here is important, as we are all different and all have something to contribute. Helping and understanding others, even those we may not agree with all the time, is our gain, we gain deep thought, and our great loss if one of us should disappear. It is only natural that we cannot agree with everyone at all times, but I doubt very much if any one of us would deliberately set out to hurt another. I read an article today on Japanese Scientists keeping a blood cancer patient alive and it almost frightens me to think of the knowledge that is growing in so many areas out there….I would hate to think I would live for years longer. I have had both sad and bad and good things occur in my life span, and it is enough. That does not mean I feel we should all die at a certain age, it is just revealing a thought that I happen to have.

Janie, I had a grand day…nothing special…just good to be alive and in here visiting with all of you. I came home eventually and read and napped. Right now I'm glugging down some Minute Maid orange juice that I ordered on line the other day. I also ordered some boxes of fruit juices…felt that was a better drink than root beer or other sodas. I think it is wonderful, the relationships you hold so dear to your relatives and friends. God must be smiling at all you do.

Sun, my dear, dear friend. I have missed you so, thank you for your message. I remember when Gloria had surgery on her hands, and how she was able to learn to peck and poke and still manage to get a message out. As I recall, she became pretty adept at it too. So please do come in often Sweetie, if it is just a line or two, it is better than nothing. Big Hugs to you.

Good evening   Sun so good to see you, you have been missed. If you can only write a couple of words, just keep us posted.

June, I repeat what the nurse kept saying to me about breathing, Smell the garden and blow out the candle.  That really helped, I still have to do that in the morning,

As always June expresses herself so well. i hate to get into this, no one posting in heres would ever hurt anybody, Gloria is always so thoughful in her posting, but you can't answer everyone. I know of only one person who remarked on my bad spelling, years ago and he is long gone now. This is all I am going to say  We are all here to share and help each other through their big and small problems.  This happens to be a downer day for me ,as my son was killed in and accident 17 years ago, age 42

well I don't think I over done it.I mowed the house yard complete and the shop yard about 3/4th what was not too muddy.  the rain caved my ditch in, so now I have to some how move all the dirt pile and clean the cave in out. even mother nature is fighting progress. you all have what of the day left. It is great to see you sun. hope you drop in more often.

Lloyd

Gloria de, I'm reaching out a big hug for you dear one. I always feel when our children die before us that God has spared them from something far worse if they were not in Heaven. It gives me solace.

Sun I m so happy to see your post! Do come back even if it is just to post a smiley for us!

Okay, fair warning everyone! I am dragging my footstool next to the hideyhole and plan first dibs on all the goodies! 

My blood pressure has always been 90 over 60. I sometimes feel faint if I get up suddenly and once fainted for a moment years ago.

Hal, I had this image of you guys playing Twister and using a deck of cards.

Gloria de., I know in a way how you feel. Memorial day is hard for me and it's been 25 years. You are so much stronger than I am.

I think I picked up something yesterday as my stomach is queasy and I'm running my nose and eyes are watering. It sounds like an allergy but it better not be. I'll take a cold over another blankety blank allergy!

Gloria de.
I understand your downer and know the sorrow of losing a son. Hard to see a child predecease you.
Tomorrow over there is a sad Remembrance Day, but today here is 9/11 and I remember so vividly being in USA that day.