Norms Bait and Tackle

Sandy · September 27, 2018, 08:25:35 AM

Good Morning from the overcast and
chilly, rocky coast of Maine.

Sue.... "Nitro" and "Monsanto" seemed to
fit together ... Kind of scarey, from all I have
read about how dangerouse Monsanto products
are for our environment.

https://spoonuniversity.com/lifestyle/4-of-the-ways-monsanto-is-ruining-the-environment

Of course I know this has nothing to do with
you.... it just tickled me with you said
" I was born in Nitro in 1937--my Dad was employed by Monsanto

Big day today on TV... Here we go
again!

Enjoy
Sandy

larryhanna · September 27, 2018, 08:32:36 AM

Hi Everyone. It is a bit foggy here this morning after we had considerable rain and storms around her yesterday afternoon and evening. The forecast says a 90 percent change of more rain today. There were 7,000 people without power as a result of the storm and lightning struck the newspaper building in our County seat resulting in the loss of some of their computers and the ability to get the front page of today's newspaper printed. It is suppose to be included with the tomorrows newspaper.

We spent the day at home yesterday as Pat wasn't feeling up to getting to her morning meeting. We did enjoy a nice meal at Church last evening and then Scott came out for a short visit. Today will be my typical Thursday to pick up my friend and go to coffee. I plan on stopping at Walmart on the way to pick up prescriptions for Pat and to put one on file and after we come back from coffee need to stop at the Credit Union, which is close to the Walmart to take care of some business. I have nothing else on the schedule for today.

Pat took her new Rollator to Church last evening and it worked out very well. I notice she has put away the walker and started using the Rollator here in the house as well. One of the suggestions in the little booklet that came with the Rollator was to get the little plastic shower caps to put over the wheels when putting the Rollator in the car to keep the seats clean and also to use the handy wipes to clean off the wheels after having it outside where it could pick up dirt and girt. I am not worried about the car seat as it is leather and will clean easily but may still try the suggestions.

Sandy, I suppose with the huge volume of thinks being shipped anymore it is not too surprising the your Rollator got mis-shipped. The Post Office and the shipping companies now give the shipper a tracking number so they can find the item. The small inexpensive Rollator that we also got this week is a Drive and we are going to keep it in the truck of the car. I am going to try to use it when I go to Costco or other large stores where there are no riding carts available and see if I can push it along with the shopping basket so that I will have a place to sit and rest after walking some in the store. It is very light weight and doesn't take up much room in the truck.

Mary Ann, your morning are beginning to be cool. Did you get a small Instant Pot? Pat got the big one and it is heavy. I have mentioned this before but we found putting on the lid to be the most perplexing until we discovered the way it needs to be done. Put the steam spout to the back and then turn the lid about a quarter turn to the left and the lid will click down in place so it can be turned back. Pat also uses a wooden spoon to release the steam quickly if that is what the recipe calls for or otherwise the steam will automatically release and escape over a little bit of time. I do hope you and Tom enjoy it as it makes some pretty tasty things.

Sue, it sounds like you had a very caring grandmother to help raise you and your sisters.

Sue, like you all for the first house we ever bought, which was in Moore, Oklahoma I had to ask my folks to lend us $2,500 for the down payment. They willingly did this and we repaid the loan in one year and I insisted on paying interest on it although they didn't want the interest. It sounds like your son's Kindergarten teacher was a real jewel. Zippers are sometimes hard for adults to do much less a small child. It was none of her business how you cared for you child as obviously he wasn't being abused.

deAngel, was the flooding in that town unusual? It is sure bad when the fire station gets flooded. I told Pat yesterday the only problem I saw with the new push mobile over the other walker is that it is so silent that she could now slip up on me whereas I could always hear her using the other walker.

Joy, it is nice to know the appointments and scheduled activities for a day are over and the rest of the day is free to do or not do as we wish. I hope you were able to get out and enjoy some sun yesterday. The book mobile I spoke of yesterday appeared to be fairly new and I expect that they don't have many of the folks in the assisted living home actually come out to it as it wasn't parked in front of the facility. I have fond memories of the small book mobile that would come to our little town periodically and how much fun it was to browse the books. Unfortunately, my days of library browsing, other than online, is a think of the past. I have been to our local library only once in the last two or three years. The libraries provide good services to the public and I think we get our tax money out of them if we utilize them.

Patricia, I have been in libraries that had limited computers and you could reserve a time slot for 30 minutes at a time. It sounds like you have a good library service there. Pat used to accumulate cooking books but no more and she finds her recipes from the cooking sites on the Internet.

Mary Ann · September 27, 2018, 09:17:25 AM

Sue, I was born in Wellsburg, north of Wheeling. My dad was a manual training teacher at the high school when he and my mother married in 1922. I was born in 1924 and in the summer of 1925 we moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan where I've lived ever since. Norm was born in 1929 in Grand Rapids and except for two years in the army lived in the area all his life. We are 35 miles from Lake Michigan, something I have always been thankful for - who needs an ocean!? On a trip/tour one year we drove through part of WVa when the dogwoods were in blossom and I just loved them. They were so beautiful and dainty.

Sue, I don't know where your part of WVa is and I will get out my atlas to look it up. I do know where Jack's Wheeling is.

Larry, Tom just ordered the Instant Pot yesterday so it should be here in a day or two (using his son's Prime). I will save your directions for putting on the top in case I have trouble. I ordered the 3-quart which was advised for two or three people. The pots look quite solid in pictures.

When I would visit Jim in Florida, I would have my computer and his motel did not have Internet, so a couple times a week, we'd go to the nearby library. Since I had my own computer, I could be online more than their time limit, but it was very handy. The limit was on the computer, not the time. That is where a laptop works well because you wouldn't want to haul a desktop computer to a library. I will say that before he bought a laptop, Norm did take his desktop to Florida.

Mary Ann

Marilyne · September 27, 2018, 11:31:27 AM

Good morning to everyone!

Sandy - I also laughed at the Monsanto/Nitro thing, and wondered about it! Oh, how I do hate Round-Up! AJ and I argued about it for many years, because he loved to wander around the yard and spray those pesky weeds. They would be shriveled up and gone by the following morning, which was pretty scary! Fortunately, he now feels like I do, and we no longer have any. One of the many things that is killing off the bee's, and other good insects.

Mary Ann - I like to watch Paul's arrival or departure at Duluth, but not enough to get up at 3:00 AM. The schedule says tomorrow morning at 5:00 AM Duluth time, which would be 3:00 here. However, I've noticed that the schedule changes a lot for
Paul, so he may come later. Mesabi Miner, arrives later in the morning, and that's another big one that usually draws a crowd.

Larry - Good that Pat was so comfortable with her rollator, that she started using it right away with no problems. I don't think I could handle the heavy Instant Pot. My old crock-pot/slow cooker, was extremely heavy (for me). I used it for many years, until it finally stopped working. I decided that I didn't do enough cooking to warrant replacing it, or getting one of the new Instant Pots.

Mary Ann - I think Tom will enjoy using it, so maybe you'll be looking forward to a lot of home cooked meals! (Until the novelty wears off! ha ha)

Mary Ann · September 27, 2018, 12:12:23 PM

Marilyn, I've wondered about the novelty wearing off on the Instant Pot, but I'd like to give it a try. Tom does use our slow cooker occasionally, but most often his meals are chicken or thin steak with vegetables. I'd like a casserole occasionally but he feels the pasta in many of them is something he should not have. But when we go to Cheers, I often order a goulash that is good for two meals for me and one for him (it's that large) and it does have pasta in it. I feel he can have no-nos once in a while, just not often.

I looked at both ship schedules this morning and nothing was running at the time. I look in a few times a day because I do like to watch the ships.

Tom and I are going out to eat, either this noon or tonight and I kind of think it is tonight. He always wants me to choose, so I'll be thinking of places around here during the day.

It is a nice day, however, cool - around 60 degrees at 12:15 pm.

Kendrick is asleep on my bed.

Mary Ann

angelface555 · September 27, 2018, 01:16:34 PM

Good morning from the Interior.

The libraries locally have computers for a time limit as well as three available for a quick scan of email or something similar. There are also private soundproofed rooms that you may reserve for a time.

However, the computers I mentioned yesterday are in this building's common rooms, one per floor. I don't know how much use they get as many folks have their own. I think the printers available are used more.

We had an incident yesterday when I was getting my mail. A couple came from the manager's office, loudly complaining about the limited amount of services offered for the price requested monthly. The manager was trying to calm them but she finally told the couple that while this was for disabled seniors, it was certainly not a nursing home but independent living.

I know that you're required to be at least sixty-two and have a verified disability but any aides, nurses, etcetera have to be contracted out by the tenant, it is not a service offered. I also know the list for here is very long, basically, someone has to die or move to a nursing facility to have an opening which isn't often. So I think the couple was trying for a deal as most private and public offerings are at least five thousand or more monthly whereas I believe full price here is just under two for a month. I hope the state doesn't change that.

We had a weather alert yesterday that with all the rain we've had that the rivers remain high with some localized flooding from the groundwaters. And that the excess water would be a week or more moving downstream. That, to me, was preaching to the choir to anyone with a window. Today, however, shows clear skies.

Also, about Monsanto, did you know it doesn't just get into our food and water supplies? It not only kills birds, bees, pets, and small animals but traces of Roundup have been found in seals and polar bears and may be a reason for the increased miscarriages among those polar bears? the seas are full of antibiotics and other chemicals. Also, there have been a number of recent studies on how the lack of sea ice is bringing polar bears ashore and blurring the range for them and browns and grizzlies? They're finding more bears from polar and grizzly matings so the hybrids may help to save the polar bear breed.

angelface555 · September 27, 2018, 04:31:33 PM

The bears of Katmai and Brook Falls

https://explore.org/live-cams/player/brown-bear-salmon-cam-brooks-falls

wjoan · September 27, 2018, 05:19:25 PM

Page not found

angelface555 · September 27, 2018, 05:36:53 PM

https://explore.org/livecams

wjoan · September 27, 2018, 07:38:56 PM

Thanks

Mary Ann · September 27, 2018, 08:02:56 PM

Tom and I went to the Olive Garden for supper tonight. I gave him two choices - the Olive Garden and Russ'. Russ' is just down the avenue from here and it is where all of the "old" people go. They have good food, but nothing spectacular and while I was waiting for Tom to get ready, I saw an ad for the OG on TV and thought I'd throw that in. Tom had a scampi dish and I had salmon with broccoli. Of course there was the usual salad and bread sticks and we brought a lot home. Enough for another meal for both of us. Yes, it was more than we usually pay but we both felt it was worth it. We'll do it again, just not too soon.

It has been a lovely day today and for a while it looked as if we'd have a storm overnight but now the radar shows the rain in Wisconsin going north of us.

I tried today to save something on a flash drive to put on another computer. My Excel program is old, old, old and I thought the program saved, but when I tried to put it on this computer it was nowhere to be found. I'll try again tomorrow because I got kind of nerved up and I don't want to go to bed tonight while climbing the walls. I'm all calmed down now.

Mary Ann

Joy · September 27, 2018, 08:06:34 PM

I am just getting around to saying "Hello".

I had a doctor's appt. today with the Pulmonologist. In the hospital, they told me that I might have COPD. So, this doctor was added to my growing list of doctors. THey did a couple breathing tests, and did determine that I do have COPD, but since I don't have any symptoms, he doesn't want to see my again for a year, unless I start having a problem. I don't have any shortness of breath, or wheezing or trouble breathing, so I guess that is a good sign, at least for now. My primary care doctor will keep on top of it. I never smoked, and my husband was not a heavy smoker, but the doctor said, most any place you went years ago, you could run into smoke or chemicals or a lot of different things that over the years could cause it. I would guess that a lot of people have it and don't know it. So, that is one doctor that I don't have to keep going to. My oxygen level are good, even after I do some walking with the PT or do any exercises.

Larry, glad that Pat's pleased with her new rollator. I stopped at a place today, but they didn't have any on display. Only in boxes and not assembled. I don't know how they expect to sell any, if you can't try them out. I will be going to another place on Sat. This place has about 20 on display, which is where my DIL got the one that she brought to me on Sunday. She feels like they will have one that I will be satisfied with.

Mary Ann, I will be anxious to hear how you like the Instant Pot. I know a lot of people, like Larry, are very pleased with theirs. My son bought one at Walmart. Not an Instant Pot, but I guess, it was Walmart's version of the same thing. He just loves it. I would like one, but I just don't have much counter space.. I would only want one of the smaller size ones, so I will have to check on the size. It is something that needs to be out where you can use it whenever you want to. I would like one to make yogurt in it. But, then, again, like you said, maybe it will lose it's popularity quickly. But, since I have to watch things with a lot of salt, I could make my own things to be able to regulate the salt. It is really surprising how much salt is in a lot of things you wouldn't think it would be. My sister-in-law said her grand daughter made the best cheese cake that she had ever eaten, And, she doesn't like cheese cake. I had read where you could bake in it.

I need to sit a while and prop my legs up. Been a busy day, I had the OT and the visiting nurse here before I even left for the doctor;s. So, need to relax a little bit.

Have a nice evening.

Joy

Mary Ann · September 28, 2018, 08:52:41 AM

Good morning Joy - and anyone else who checks in.

Since Tom ordered the Instant Pot yesterday, it is supposed to get here Monday. I ordered a small one - 3 qt - that was suggested for two or three people. It does have the yogurt capability which I doubt we'll use, but who knows. I understand there is a recipe book that comes with it. I had thought it was a case of putting everything in the pot and letting it do its thing, but I looked a few recipes on the computer last night which included videos and there is often some cook participation but it still took much less time than in a crock pot or on top of the stove. Even Tom is anxious to try it.

Because my being short prevents me from taking anything heavy from the above-the-range microwave, my next purchase will be a countertop microwave. At present I can lift a cup of hot water from the microwave and I can remove a plate of food. But if I put something in a casserole dish, it is too heavy. This is really because of my arthritic right shoulder where I cannot lift that arm only so high. I have chosen the countertop one with high wattage because so many frozen dinners are for 1100 watts or more. Our Spacemaker is 1500 watts.

We have the start of a nice cool day. I noticed the rain that was on Lake Michigan headed north so we will miss it again. Lake Michigan is a good buffer for rain from the west as most of ours comes up from the south.

Mary Ann

larryhanna · September 28, 2018, 09:04:46 AM

Hi Everyone. We have an overcast morning and suppose to be mostly cloudy all day long with a small chance of more rain. Yesterday we had three separate periods of heavy rain with a lot of lightning and thunder. Yesterday was a very busy morning but I accomplished all I had set out to do. Pat fixed us a delicious dinner with meat loaf, green beans, potatoes, apple sauce and a dinner roll. There was enough left to put three dinners for both of us in the freezer for future use. Today I plan on staying home and taking it easy.

Mary Ann, having seen Lake Michigan from the upper Michigan it sure looked like the ocean as far as one can see. One time on a trip from Atlanta back to our home in Maryland I took the wrong road and we drove for several hours in West Virginia and saw some beautiful country. However, the roads left something to be desired. We then came into Maryland from the West and it was beautiful, some of the prettiest country-side I had ever seen. Glad to see you didn't get the biggest Instant Pot. They are very solid and unlike any pressure cooker I had seen before. We haven't been to Olive Garden since we moved but used to go there often, particularly when one opened up just a few miles from where we lived. One of the lunch groups I belonged to went there fairly often. They do have large servings.

Joy, sorry to see you now have another doctor to add to your list. I know COPD is nothing to sneeze at but glad you are not experiencing any adverse symptoms from it. While I have never smoked I know that growing up and for a lot of my work years I breathed a lot of second hand smoke as we all did. We were happy to see the Rollator assembled and so she could sit in it and see it in operation. Where we got it they had a lot of medical equipment available and it was already assembled. I hope you find one you like tomorrow. Pat has baked several things in the Instant Pot. You can also sautÃ© in it and it keeps grease from getting all over the stove, which makes cleanup much easier.

Marilyne, I have to wonder if many of the cases of cancer are not due to the chemicals that now used so many places and particularly in our foods. I have never used Round Up but have used other chemicals on my yard. The only thing that we handle on the Instant Pot is the lid as the rest of it stays on the island near the column with the electrical outlet.

Patricia, while I know there are probably many people who do not use computers or own their own I expect that number is quickly going down and our generation will be the last to have those not using them. They are almost a necessity of modern day life. Surely the people who were complaining must have known what they were going to get when they moved into your apartment building.

Mary Ann · September 28, 2018, 09:18:05 AM

Last week one of the men in our complex was going around spraying a weed killer and sprayed in my little garden. He was spraying on bricks and I mentioned that I had some Round Up that I could use there (no flowers) and he told me to not use Round Up because it strayed and would reach the flowers. So when/if weed killer is necessary next year, I'll call him. I'll try to get rid of my Round Up some way or other.

I never smoked, but my dad smoked a pipe. He was not a chain smoker (and I did see a man who was a chain pipe smoker) but I know I must have been exposed to second-hand smoke. Working, nearly everyone, especially the men, smoked. Norm and his first wife smoked. Norm quit when he had his bypass surgery. His wife had bypass surgery and tried to quit but said she felt so lousy that she started up again. She died of lung cancer and a few other things involving the heart and lungs. Anyway, I have never been told I have COPD and I'm surprised in a way. At my last appointment with the cardiologist, both my heart and lungs must have been OK because he's the one who told me to come back in a year.

Mary Ann

Marilyne · September 28, 2018, 11:03:49 AM

I smoked cigarettes off and on in my younger years. It was the thing to do when I went away to college, and lived in dorms and the sorority house. I met AJ in college, and he smoked then and had smoked since high school, and continued when he was in the Army, and afterwards. I quit for long periods of time in my 20's and 30's, but would start up again. Finally, we both quit for good at about age 42.

Neither of us has COPD or any heart or breathing issues. I have high bp, and take a diuretic, but his bp is normal, and he takes no medications whatsoever. Both of our father's smoked, but not our mothers. I think that if either one of us died of a sudden heart attack now, or a stroke, that it wouldn't be because we smoked in our younger years, it would be because we're now 84 years old. So that's my smoking story, which no one cares about, but thought I would add my two cents worth.

Mary Ann - I looked at the Duluth schedule this morning, and I see that Paul, was moved from early this morning, to late this afternoon. (Can't remember the exact time.) I do plan to watch, as I really like to see the enthusiastic crowds that gather whenever he arrives or departs. The bells, whistles and horns, somehow sound louder and seem to last longer!

MaryTX · September 28, 2018, 11:14:22 AM

Marilyne, I was poking around the Duluth site yesterday and noticed a comment made about a fire onboard the Paul. That must be the reason why it's been in port so long.

Mary

angelface555 · September 28, 2018, 02:12:34 PM

Larry, that couple was looking at different places for her father from what I heard and I suspect, hadn't really investigated costs. I know of at least three places rather nice and that have a hefty monthly price tag. This building is state-run and probably at the lower to middle rung, price wise. It is not a full care facility which it appears she expected. Those are much higher, cost wise.

I've had my instapot for a year now and have made a cheesecake and often yougart, but usually use it in meal prep. I have the five-gallon size which was a mistake but this was the original version and not much choice at the time.

I smoked and quit finally in 2000 so it's only been eighteen, almost nineteen years but I had a period of quitting and starting again too. Smoking was my pacifier.

Another sunny but chill day, I'll take it over what we've had!

Marilyne · September 28, 2018, 06:22:53 PM

MaryTX - That's interesting that there was a fire on board the Paul. I looked for the information, but I couldn't find it. I notice that his departure has been moved to a later time again. Now it says 11:00 PM tonight. That's only 9:00 here, so I plan to be watching. If he's on schedule, it will be a little late in Duluth for much of a crowd to gather, but being as it's Friday night, maybe so?

Mary Ann - I meant to comment on your visit to Olive Garden. I've always like it, and we would go more often, but it's a long drive from here, accessible only from a congested highway. That makes it unpleasant getting there any time near the dinner hour. The last time I went, I met a friend for lunch, and it was a much easier drive from here. The menu is the same, I think? Maybe fewer selections? I don't recall what I ordered, but I do remember we got the same large salad bowl that is served with dinner.

Mary Ann · September 28, 2018, 08:26:22 PM

Marilyn, talk about bad drives to the Olive Garden. Actually, the OG is less than five miles from here but they have been working on I-96, the Interstate that goes from here to there. The Interstate has been opened, but the ramp to get on near us has not. So we had to go around Robinson's barn to get there. It probably took twice as long to get there as it did to get back home. I have an idea their menus are pretty standard with maybe some local favorites. I finished my salmon and broccoli for lunch today.

I didn't see anything either about a fire on Paul and I saw it is to leave Duluth about 11 pm CDT. That is midnight here and I'm not going to stay up that late just to see a ship leave Duluth.

Tomorrow morning we're going to pick up some eggs and vegetables at our Meijer store then head for Holland where I'll be able to see the twins for the first time in a long time. Tom goes to Holland often but I don't go because he has people to see and not necessarily James and family.

Mary Ann

Joy · September 29, 2018, 09:19:02 AM

Good Saturday morning. The sun is shining for a change. Looks like a pretty summer morning. It is supposed to be a little chilly, tho. But, the sun will help to warm things up.

I am here early, as I need to get ready to go out. My son has a big family/friends get together today and it is so nice that the rain has stopped. Looking forward to a nice day. Will get to see some relatives and friends who I don't see very often. Plus, my grandson Mark, his girlfriend, and some of the great-grands will be there. There will be hay rides and some of the girls who board horses there, will help with horse-back rides for the children. They all look forward to that. Plus lots of good food.

I just wanted to say 'good morning" and again, thank you all for the continued friendship that is shown here. It really means so much. I have told several friends about our special little group.

Mary Ann, I know you are looking forward to your trip to see the twins. Have a wonderful time with them.

Have a greatl Sat. Hope wherever you all are, the sun is shining !!!

Joy

larryhanna · September 29, 2018, 09:38:24 AM

Hi Everyone. It looks like it is to be another cloudy and rainy day but the temperatures are suppose to stay in the 80's, which will be nice. I have most of the kitchen chores completed other than to get Pat's breakfast when she gets up. I am looking forward to the day as seem to be feeling better this morning than I have for several days. I plan on attending my Saturday meeting this morning and then will watch college football this afternoon and probably some this evening. Otherwise expect to have a quiet day. I just stayed home yesterday and didn't do anything of note.

Mary Ann, we have been told for many years that Round Up was the weed killer to use and once again we find out what we have been told is not the truth. One doesn't know what to believe anymore and guess we just have to use our best judgment. I don't recall ever using Round Up but have used other weed killers. I have no idea what our yard people use. Your mention of pipe smokers reminds me that it has been a really long time since I have seen anyone smoking one. My dad and grandfather had some but they usually smoked cigarettes. Right after my grandfather died of lung cancer my dad quit smoking cold turkey and told no one. It was until about three days later that mother noticed nothing the ash trays and he told her he had stopped.

Marilyne, most of my friends smoked but it was something I never wanted to do as hated the smell of it. Fortunately my wife didn't smoke either but both of our children picked up the habit early and our son and granddaughter still do but not around us. I am glad you and AJ gave up the habit so long ago and haven't seen any bad impacts from the long ago habit.

Patricia, I think I misunderstood your message and that the complaining couple actually lived there and were complaining. Pat tried to make a regular cake in her Instant Pot and something went wrong and it didn't rise at all. It tasted good but was really flat. However, I think all of the other things she has made in it have turned out well. I really like chicken and meat prepared in it.

Joy, nice to see that you are feeling like going to the big get together your son is having today with family and friends. I hope the day stays nice for the occasion.

Mary Ann · September 29, 2018, 02:53:53 PM

We had a very nice visit with James, Alicia and the twins. The girls were napping when we got there and even after we ate breakfast/brunch but they woke up shortly afterward. We took eggs and vegetables and cinnamon rolls with us and there was plenty to eat.

The girls weren't really awake when Alicia got them up but it didn't take long. They were more shy around me because they see me so seldom. By the time we left, we all were good friends. Both girls were fascinated with my camera and monkeyed with it, mostly in the off position. They also liked my purse and carried that around. I think they have not mastered zippers so the purse remained closed. They both gave Tom and me kisses when we left, so you can see how we progressed. At nearly 18 months, they have acquired some vocabulary. And when Alicia would tell them to take something to Aunt Mary Ann, they would bring the item to me.

I told Alicia I thought it interesting since the girls were from separated eggs, that they looked so much alike, except for Eleanor's height and straight hair and Johanna's curly hair; Jo is two or three inches taller. Otherwise, they look very much alike. They are very entertaining girls and almost never cry.

Road conditions are horrible; it was almost like you couldn't get there from here. There was quite a bit of road construction, then there was an accident so Tom detoured around that. I could get to their house by the way we came back, but not by the way we went. I had not seen their house they are renting and it is much larger than the student housing they were in before. The other house was nearer downtown Holland but this is in the suburbs.

On the way home, we stopped at Mc D's for burgers and drink and shake. I think Tom is napping already and I am ready for a nap too.

Joy, I hope your day continues to be nice for your family get-together. It sounds like a lot of fun for everyone.

Mary Ann

Marilyne · September 29, 2018, 03:30:08 PM

Mary Ann - Sounds like you had a wonderful day with the twins. They sound adorable, and I'm anxious to see some new photos. We have no babies in the family at this time, so I miss seeing the little ones. I enjoy hearing about other families, whether I know them or not! I can just picture them carrying your purse around!

Nothing happening here this weekend. Sandy may come over today to do her weekly wash, as she has a new job that's all day, five days a week. I think I mentioned before that she works for a temp agency, so most of her jobs only last for a short time. The one, that she started last week is the job she has returned to for the past three years for the holiday season . . . working in the office at UPS. She loves it, but unfortunately, when the holidays are over, there is very little work, so she and dozens of others are laid off.

Last night, I finally saw Paul, departing from Duluth. It was 11:30 Duluth time, so not a big crowd gathered to watch . . . but there were more people there than I would have thought.

Marilyne · September 29, 2018, 05:47:54 PM

Joy - What a wonderful day you must have enjoyed, with family and friends. I didn't know that people still had those old fashioned fun times, with hay rides, horseback riding, and probably lots of fun and games. I haven't heard about a party like that in years, but I remember them well. That was something we did at the end of the summer every year . . . a big gathering of families of all ages, with tons of food, and always swimming, games and a hayride!

We used to have our big event at a place outside of town called, The Sewer Farm. I have no idea why it was called that, but really makes me wonder now? ha ha! I remember there was a large orange grove, a grassy picnic area and a standard size baseball diamond. The parents all chipped in and rented the place for the entire day, which included the pool, and the hayride at the end of the day. The Sewer Farm is long gone now . . . probably a housing tract or a shopping center. This was Southern California, in the 1940's, so it was still surprisingly rural and uncrowded.
Nice to reminisce about days gone by.

larryhanna · September 30, 2018, 08:36:28 AM

Hi Everyone. Today we get our first real break in the summer weather as it is suppose to only get to 83. Of course, this morning we have 90 percent humidity and it is cloudy. I am ready for Church and Pat is not eating her breakfast. As far as I know she plans on attending Church with me. I will come home from Sunday School and get her. There is just enough time that we get their by the beginning of the service. We will go somewhere to have our main meal of the day and the rest of the day will be free. I did watch 2 1/2 football games yesterday. I only lasted the first half of the evening game. Two of the three schools I am now rooting for won although the game was in doubt until the end for Clemson, which is a South Carolina school, until about the very end.

Mary Ann, what a joy it must have been to see those two little angels and to get that kiss as you left. I bet they will soon learn to open a zipper. Fortunately we don't seem to have too much road work around here but starting next year they will be redoing the bridge across the Savannah River in I-20 and extending the highway to 6 lanes on the South Carolina side up to exit one, which is where we exit when we go over to Georgia as that is less than 2 miles from where we live. We do have a way to go around all of this but requires an extra 10 miles or so of driving.

Marilyne, like you we have no babies in the family anymore. Our youngest grandson is now 7 but we have never seen him and doubtful that we ever well as he lives in New York with his father. Nice to see that Sandy can at least have work through the holidays. Our son got his first permanent job starting out working for a temp agency. He expected the assignment to be two or three weeks and he did it in one week and they were so impressed that they hired him full-time and he worked there for 17 years before he was hired away to a new company.

Joy, I think I only participated in a hayride for fun once or twice as I was growing up but rode on a lot of hay wagons during baling season and it wasn't for fun I assure you.

Joy · September 30, 2018, 12:58:37 PM

I got delayed for a little while. My son stopped by, so had a good visit with him. I have decided to get rid of my dining room table and chairs to give me some more room. I have a combination living/dining room area. I never use the table anymore, as I don't have a lot of company anymore. He just wanted to see what he will need to bring to take it apart. I think he is just going to take it to the rescue mission. I probably could try to sell it, as it is a nice set. But, just don't want to have to deal with people coming to look at it and or calling to say they are coming and then not show up. I have had it for about 30 years, but it is still in good condition. I have some TV trays that if anybody does come, they will usually just use one of the trays. I never have any big dinners anymore, so it might just be for a sandwich or snack. It will give me a lot more room to move around. I saw a nice little drop leaf table on Amazon, that I am thinking about getting. I have a nice cardtable and chairs to use also. I have a nice china closet that I will still keep. It is out of the way. I just have accumulated too much "Stuff".

Mary Ann, I know you enjoyed your visit with the little twins. And, nice that by the time you had been there for a while, they became a lot friendlier. Usually doesn't take children to warm up, especially when you can come up with something to hold their interest.

It is getting past lunch time, and I have some exercises that I need to do today. Didn't get to them yesterday.

Have a nice afternoon.

Joy

Mary Ann · September 30, 2018, 01:10:53 PM

For the first time in weeks, Dot and I were able to go to church. We don't sit together any more because she likes the upholstered chairs at the back of the sanctuary but we both have our groups to sit with. Afterward we went to Mr Burger aka the Cholesterol Pit and had our usual Tuna Melt and Coconut Cream Pie - Yum to both! We hadn't had either in so long - and both tasted very good.

It is a rainy day. Tom hasn't come home from his church yet and I have an idea he's headed for Holland to see a friend. When I finish here, I'll think about a nap. It's just a bit after 1 pm but I'm sleepy.

Joy, I still have my dining room table, but it is a small round one with two leaves. I wish I had a drop leaf table because then I could put it against the wall. Tom does use the table to eat but I do not; I use a tray on my lap because my lack of height at a table is not good. I'm all for convenience.

Mary Ann

Joy · September 30, 2018, 05:45:18 PM

Mary Ann, I, too, look for the most convenient idea I can find for doing most things. I have a card table by my computer and although, I try to clean it off periodically, it isn't long before it is cluttered up again. I try to keep things like scissors, pens, note paper, a calendar, and similar items, so I don't have to search all over when I need something. I also have a small file cabinet by my computer where I keep envelops, stamps, and a drawer with all my monthly bill receipts. it probably would drive some people crazy, but it works good for me.

Joy

larryhanna · October 01, 2018, 09:03:03 AM

Hi Everyone. It is a beautiful clear and sunny morning. However, it is to be a mostly cloudy day with a high of 84. I did come home from Sunday School yesterday and got Pat for Church. Following Church we went to the Sunshine Grill, a favorite little local cafe that has really good old-fashioned hamburgers cooked on a grill. It came with potato salad and we had to wait just a few minutes as they had to make more potato salad and when it was served it was warm and very tasty. I came home and rested and then watched a the end of one football game and then the full game that followed. It was a nice quiet afternoon. Today will just be staying busy in my office this morning and then after lunch resting as usual and then a quiet later afternoon and evening. As of now there is no plan to leave the house today other than to the mailbox late this afternoon.

Joy, it sounds like a wise decision to eliminate your dining table if not used and benefit for the additional space. When Stacey initially moved into an apartment we set up a card table to be her dining area but I don't think she ever used it for anything except a place to put things and eventually we brought it home so she also would have more space. The way this house is situated, we use our dining room table rather than the dinette table (which Pat now uses for her sewing annex in the sun room). We use the dinette chairs with the wheels and arm on them at the dining table as I have never really liked the dining set chairs. I would have starved if I had had to earn my living as a salesperson. When we moved from our big home at retirement we donated a lot of furniture to the Atlanta Mission and when we moved here we just donated what we didn't want to move to the Good Will. When Stacey passed away we gave a friend of hers at her apartments, who basically had nothing in her apartment, all of her furniture and the food items she had in her pantry. I expect most of us can say we have accumulated too much "Stuff" over the years. We will have to have an estate sale when we leave this home as our son doesn't have room for anymore stuff. I expect we each have things set up that work for us and I also like things to be convenient.

Mary Ann, I am sure it was nice to be able to get back to your Church yesterday and then go out to eat with Dot. That Coconut Cream Pie sure sounds good.

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