Good morning everyone:  Looks like Indian Summer is still with us, and will linger through next week.  Our outside temp is 58 right now at 7:45, and expected to go into the 80's again today.  Typical for this time of year. The humidity was extremely low yesterday in the East Bay.  I think it was down to 11 or 12?  Not so bad here, as we do get some fog . . . what is called the Marine Layer. (Although I haven't seen fog in a number of days?)

Mary Ann - First thing this morning I looked at the schedule, and it didn't show any ships this morning at all, so I didn't look at the Canal or Bridge cams..  I guess the ones you saw, must have already left Duluth, by the time I got up.  This weekend I'm going to catch up on the cams, and everything else.  We rarely go out at all from Friday through Sunday, because of the traffic and crowded stores, so the weekends seem extremely long for us.  I'm hoping that Sandy comes over on Sunday. We haven't seen much of her in the past month, because she's been working long hours at UPS. The Holiday Season has arrived!

Patricia - I hope to spend some time this weekend on the Kitty Cam, watching the family of four, before they are all adopted. I'm hoping so much that Seraphina, Mama cat, finds a good home.

It is 62F here and overcast.  We had a good rain yesterday.  The weather app is telling me that today is good running weather, but I think I will let someone else do the running. 😋

Hope everyone is feeling well.  We’ve been seeing more birds lately visiting our feeders.  Many that leave in summer will soon be here until next summer.  We only see the Goldfinches in winter, but we have Bluebirds year round.  Those two birds are my favorites.

Larry, hope you are feeling rested and well today.  Mary Ann, I check the Sou sight every now and then but haven’t seen any ships there yet.  Wish it had a list like the Duluth site of the ships.

Jean, do you check the Soo map before you check the restaurant site?  It doesn't give a schedule, but you can see if any ships are on the river and the direction they're going, also their destination.  Somewhere there is something that tells how far it is from Point A to Point B.  I don't look for that page but if a ship is near the Soo, I check back in a few minutes or so. 

Jean, the goldfinches and bluebirds are two of the prettiest birds around.  We predominate in English/house sparrows.  I no longer have a feeder out and it's enough that I buy cat food, let alone bird food.  Kendrick would go nuts if I had a feeder within his sight. 

Marilyn, I think the ships I saw in Duluth came and went about 10 am my time, which would have been around 7 am your time, possibly before you woke up. 

I sit beside a window where the sun pours in and shines on my screen.  When it does that, it is hard to read what is written there.  I think our temperature is between 40 and 45 degrees.  Not bad.

Tom has left for lunch with two friends and left the washer going for when he returns.

Mary Ann

Just now getting over a horrible Cold. Was at a wedding in Missouri last weekend .came homeSunday and then sick until today. I don't feel to bad today and so will stop meds. I swear it seems likethishappens every year now starting 3 week as after taking flu shot.

We have had so much rain all week and so not been to store. Out of most things so will have to go today even though I don't feel like dressing up for it. Maybe the air outdoors will help.
My yard is now knee deep in leaves. My yard man of 38 years has sold all equipment and snow removal so will have to find a new one . He just turned 88. Will not be easy to replace.

Jeanne, I'm sorry you have been sick.  It's no fun regardless of the time of year.  I am lucky that I don't have to shop any more as Tom and I subscribed to a pickup service at our local store.  I hope you are on the mend.

We go online and select our groceries then Tom lets them know he's ready to pick it up, tells them the time, they let him know when the order is ready and he goes to pick it up.  Some groceries here do deliver, but I've gone to this grocery for many years and don't want to change unless it would be necessary.  What produce we've ordered has been good.  They show with pictures what we have ordered in the past so we can order again without having to go through the entire site to find things.

Jeanne, get well quick.

Mary Ann

Good afternoon, been raining and windy.

JeanneP, sorry about your cold, hope it getting better fast. I find sometimes getting dressed and going out makes me feel better.

Mary Ann I enjoy getting out and doing some grocery shopping. Stop and Shop is on my corner, and last week Shop Ryte open across the street. I use my pushmobile set down when I get tired, but it is also my exercise.  Of course I spend more money a I see other stuff .

FlaJune, Right now I am fighting the black, I put out seed for my other birds and the swoop down and eat everything in sight. yesterday I counted 20 They even chase the blue Jay

Larry, Security goes to the entrance of the park on Halloween night and does not let any more trick or treaters in.  By the way in one of the post we were taling about deserts. In Stop and Shop I can buy a half of a pie, which is just right. I did buy a half gal of cider, and I think I drank the whole thing. It was so fresh.  I also think of Molly and wonder what happen to her and her family. I know her son also was sent overseas

Good morning, it's plus 22, and the snow is melting! Alaska's odd winter continues. Farrah and I are engaged in a battle of wits. She follows me from bed to couch to bath and back again, making imperative hoarse growls and needy pleas. When I still she sits or lays close but not close enough to put hands on.

For my part, I question her either irritatedly or softly or try to make questioning faces. Neither of us comprehends the other although I do know it involves treats or a different style of food from what's remaining in her dish. I know this because she is excited each time I open a kitchen cabinet and sad when only coffee or nonfood comes out.

I talked to Alan this morning about Bonnie having issues with her feline diabetic meds, and our Saturday shopping date with him and Dora canceled due to vet visits. I'm hoping this is only a minor glitch for them and that it goes smoothly from that visit.

So Saturday, I will be out and about gathering food and paying bills and scoping out desk computer towers at Office Max. It's been a while since I've gone out on my own and it's very icy out. Hopefully, any walking outdoors will only be the two blocks to the bus station.

We've had a bit of an uproar in the building due to some school kids leaving small personal care bags with two tiny candy bars for each of us. Security and maintenance went floor to floor attaching the pouches with candy taped to the outside on our door handles. A 4' tiny deaf & mentally challenged senior went right along after them, appropriating all the candy and of course caught on cam. People are UPSET!

I thought she showed initiative and while not to be encouraged, not that big a deal. Why not buy her one of those industrial sized candy bags and have her CNA dole them out? Perhaps the caregiver's schedule needs to be reworked? In any case, it hardly deserves the disturbance it's caused.

Hi Gloria! I hope you and everyone has a great day today!

Callie - at about 1:55 Duluth time, there is a ship going through the lock.  A look at the map shows a green circle beside the pink Soo circle and to me that means the ship is in the lock, however, I think it is leaving now.

Mary Ann

Gloria -  I'm lucky in that I have a big yard, with a birdbath that attracts lots of birds for me to watch.  At night, that birdbath is visited by big critters, like raccoons and other animals who are looking for a drink of water.  We have a camera in our back yard that's pointed at the birdbath, so we can look at the overnight video of everything that's going on in our yard. We've seen skunks, trying to get to the water, and just recently saw a fox.  We've also seen foxes on our front yard camera.  Our cottontail rabbits are no longer visible on camera.  They were probably driven out by all the larger animals.

Patricia - That's really sad that people in your building weren't more understanding about the candy bags, and the senior with the mental disability. It was no big deal, and should be quickly forgiven and forgotten. Take care tomorrow when you go out on the icy sidewalks to do your shopping!  It's still well over a month before Winter actually arrives, but I guess you're getting a head start this year.

FlaJean - I've never seen a Goldfinch or a Bluebird.  We don't have them in California, that I know of?  We have a large bright blue bird called a Scrubjay, that is quite attractive, but causes trouble with other birds.  They hog all the birdseed in the feeder, and will peck at, and harass other birds.  I'm especially fond of two Doves, who are mates.  They are so sweet and docile, but will leave immediately when the Jay's arrive.

Mary Ann - I checked every single cam today, and so far I haven't seen anything of interest. Yes, it was too early for me this morning to see those ships. I get up between 6:30 and 7:00, and make the coffee and do a few other things before I sit down at the computer, so it's almost always past 7:00 here, by then.  Tomorrow is a good day to watch the NYC cams, as there are usually cruise ships and lots of activity on weekends.   

JeanneP - I hope you're feeling better today and can get yourself some food.  Mary Ann's idea of ordering your groceries, and having them delivered or picking them up sounds like a good idea for you.  Especially in the cold weather, when it's hard to get out. 

Mary Anne,  thanks for the alert.  I've been out with my sons most of the day and haven't checked the cams.  Last time I did, the schedule didn't have any listed for quite a while.

When I got back to the Soo, the ship was in the near channel and stayed for a while.  I knew there was a ship coming from the other direction.  Eventually the first ship moved and while that ship was moving west the other ship moved east, only I did not see it until the first ship was off the screen.  The reason the Soo is so interesting to me is that I've been there, walked across a lock (when I was possible).  They've changed the area a lot and it isn't like it was when I was there, but I can remember parts of those trips. 

Marilyn, I'm sure your scrubjay is related to our Blue Jay which is a large loud bird.  You would not want to get in the Jay's way during nesting season.   When I had a feeder on a post, I would get goldfinch and in the summer they are bright yellow but in fall are a more subdued yellow, more like gold.  There probably are a lot of birds that are in each of our areas that are not in other areas.  I used to put a foil pan on my deck (put?  rather nailed to the deck) and in the evening I'd have cardinal families.  This would be in the summer, of course.

Mary Ann

Marilyn, Paul is waiting to go through the Soo and there's another ship in the lock now.  I think Paul is on his/her way to Montreal.

I just woke from a nap and Kendrick came to lie beside me just before I got up.  I was sleeping when I received two political calls that I don't answer.

Mary Ann

Mary Ann, when my husband was so sick he would set on the porch for hours very quietly, He would buy a  bag of peanuts and open them for the bird and animals, even for skippy his pet squirrel, Blue Boy was the jay who come up to him on the deck also and of course Alvin the chip monk They just seem to trust him. the squirrel would eat out of his hand when he would call him.

Marilyne, I think that is interesting about a camera at night, I had a baby possum come on the porch the other day.  Last night my neighbor call me to listen to the owl in the back yard

Next week the library is having a talk about back yard guest. Should be interesting. I would like to go

Patricia, be extra careful when you go out and about

Good evening.

Just wanted to let you all know that my busy day yesterday went along very well.  Everything I did fell into place really well.  Did not have to wait too long at the blood lab,  then went for the PET scan and that went good without any problems,  got picked up by my DIL and we went out for a nice lunch.  Stopped in the Dollar store and, of course, in addition to some greeting cards, picked up a few other things.  and then had a little time to kill, we sat on a bench in the sunshine.  It was a beautiful afternoon, temperature in the mid 70's.  My doctor's visit went without any big problems also.  It was a long day, but had with no rushing around involved,  I wasn't really that tired.  Stopped and go something for my dinner and then just watched a movie on TV.  And, I slept very well.

Now, will look for good results from the PET scan.

Jeanne P. do hope you are feeling better today.

The idea of on-line grocery shopping is one of the best things that has taken place in various areas lately.  I have taken advantage of on-line shopping with Walmart and my DIL usually picks up my order. However, we have another grocery chain in the area who is delivering orders now.  There is a yearly membership fee, but since it is new, the offered a half-price discount to use it.  I can place a order in the morning, and have it delivered the same day.  I prefer this particular store to Walmart, as they have a much better choice of produce.  Their prices are a little higher, but I like their produce better.  So, I do plan to use both places for certain things.  it is a god-send for people who have a hard time getting to the store or difficulty walking those long aisles.

Larry, hope you felt better as the day went by.

My sons have quite a collection of old tools that had belonged to my dad.  They also have quite a few hand-made tools that my mother's dad had made.  There is also a big tool chest that my grandfather made.   It is all put together with what they called tongue and groove.  I think that is the right term.  Don't think there are any nails holding it together.  I am sure that is probably worth something, along with the hand-made tools.  My sons are all very handy at making all kinds of things.  They all got their talents from their grandfather, my Dad.  They all helped to build my oldest son's house almost 40n years ago.  It was an 84 Lumber House Kit and it went together fitting A into B. It is literally the "House that Jack built" as both my husband and oldest son's name is Jack.

I want to get myself some ice cream and see what movie is on the Hallmark channel.

Have a great rest of the evening.

Joy

Joy, it is interesting about your sons building an 84 Lumber House Kit.  My cousin and her husband bought a house from friends that was a Sears Roebuck house.  Lately, I've seen two articles online about the Sears houses and I sent them to Tom H in Indps.  Tom's niece is living in her grandparents' home now that they both have died. 

I'm glad you had such a productive day and that things went well.

While I get my groceries from my regular grocery store, and they have branches around Michigan, I have been very satisfied with the produce I've gotten.  This store is only two miles from here, whereas Walmart is over five miles.  We have a Meijer store in the other direction where we could get our foods, but the store is quite large.  Both Meijer and my store (Family Fare) are based here.

Mary Ann

Morning everyone.

Well, I didn't get out to rake the yard yesterday. It rained and stayed wet and got windy later. Over night it rained again. Today is another day, perhaps this afternoon will be better, though cooler.

Patricia, I just discovered a sad local connection to Fairbanks. One of our locals, just 21, died of a gunshot wound at Fort Wainwright on Oct. 26. There is no word on whether or not it was accidental. Some of the commenters on the local article said that Wainwright is a tough assignment. Not sure why, although weather was mentioned.

When I went out to feed George's cats yesterday, I noticed that the leaves took advantage of the several days of just about freezing weather we had a week ago to turn - finally. There is one up the road that is a beautiful flaming orange, but the windy days have blown off most of the top of the tall maple, making it not as pretty as it could have been. After two days in the seventies, weather took a dive overnight, so we are back to 40s and 50s.

I haven't decided what I want to get into this weekend, other than my morning trips to feed George's cats. Monday, I will go pick up my new glasses.

Hi Everyone. After a very rainy day yesterday we have a bright and sunny morning and suppose to stay sunny all day long but only get into the mid-60's.  I am feeling much better today than yesterday.  Yesterday I was very short of breath and very tired and was having angina.  Pat discovered that the humidity in the house was above 50% and felt that might be contributing to the way I was feeling so we turned on the air conditioning and it went back down. I plan on staying home today although Scott has today off and suggested we go out to lunch, so we may go for a late main meal this afternoon. Other than that I just plan on watching some football and taking it easy. I have fixed Pat's breakfast and the kitchen and morning chores are done. 

Mary Ann, it is understandable why Tom doesn't want to be called to manual work as don't expect he feels up to it.

Marilyne, I doubt our humidity ever gets down into the teens.  All animals must have water and it sounds like a lot of them know your backyard is a good source. 

Jean, think you must have sent your rain up our way as we had it most of the early part of the day but did see a beautiful sunset sky and no rain today.  The maintenance man did come back and put up the barrier so the birds will not be building nests at the top of the two porch columns.  Yesterday was one of the worst days I have had in a long time but fortunately feel much, much better today. 

JeanneP, I missed seeing postings from you but am glad to see you were feeling better from the cold yesterday.  The grocer will be glad to see you if your pantry is pretty bear.  I know you hated to lose your yardman but it sounds like it was time for him to retire.  I hope you find a good and reliable person or company to replace him. 

Mary Ann, I am hoping that our local Costco will soon have online grocery ordering and delivering as shopping in person is becoming more and more difficult for us if I cannot get a riding cart.  We also have had good luck with produce ordered in our online orders although it is nice to pick out your own such as getting small potatoes rather than large ones or a smaller head of cabbage. 

deAngel, Pat is wanting to go to Costco the next time I go and now has her Rollator so will be able to sit down when she needs to if she can't get a cart.  I do all right a Aldi's as it is a small store and I generally know where the things I want are located so not too much walking involved.  We can also get half pies or cakes and in the frozen foods department I can get individual or two slices of pie that are pretty good. 

Patricia, I hope you will be able to do your shopping date with Alan and Dora today and that his cat is doing OK.  Good luck hunting for a new desktop computer.  I am sure you are careful about the ice and know that Alaska cities have good snow removal equipment.  It sounds like your apartment neighbors look for something to be upset about.  I agree with you that is certainly an insignificant thing.     

Callie, it is nice to be able to go and do things with our sons and daughters.  I consider it a special time and I feel blessed that our son wants to spend time with us. 

Joy, glad your day out went so well for you and know you are glad to have the day behind you.  It helps when you are not rushed from one thing to another.  It sounds like you had some nice weather for your outing.  It sounds like the big tool chest with the tongue and groove construction would be quite valuable as well as those homemade tools. 

MarsGal, I hope you were not too upset with not being able to rake leaves yesterday.    I don't think we are going to have very pretty fall foliage this year.  The trees I can see from my office window are looking pretty drab.   

MarsGal, Ft. Wainwright is the army base that has a front gate that is just two streets over from me. The only thing I can think of is all the rain we had from late July from opposing systems parked directly overhead as well as the freezing rain and black ice since late October.

And, all of the five bases close by here filled with mainly young men thirty and younger who while combat trained do not always make the wisest decisions and for many, it is their first time away from home and family.

The military has all the ills of young men, women and family issues magnified it seems. I'm sorry to hear of the young man's death.

Larry, I am glad to hear you are feeling better.  I think sunny days help and it looks like both of us will have sunny days today, although you will be warmer; we will be close to 50 degrees.

Larry, I think Tom's working at repairing talents are better than he wants to admit because I think he just plain doesn't want to do any.  However, when push comes to shove, he can and does do it!  Oddly enough, his two brothers were both good at fixing things and really enjoyed it.  I bought a couple of cabinets (DIY) and Tim put them together for me.  Tom and I stained them but didn't wax them and that's as far as we got.  Terry installed a grab bar in my bathroom which is a great help.  Unfortunately, both brothers have died.

Larry, even if a grocery offers the service we have, it is easier on us older folks where a person can order online, then pick it up.  Someone puts the groceries in the car for Tom.  All he has to do is pick a time for pick up, wait for a call that the order is ready, go after it and let them know he is there.  We're only two miles from the store and if we would change stores to have the groceries delivered, that store is a couple miles in the other direction.  Costco is about 15 miles from here and while Tom has been there with and for a friend, that is not his choice. 

Things were kind of fuzzy on the screen and I blamed it on my eye condition but I just discovered I was still wearing my regular glasses.  I changed to computer glasses and now things are clearer!!!

Grand Haven is relatively calm, but, boy, does it look cold!

Mary Ann

Thanks for that Patricia. One of the comments did cite weather as a hardship. I guess first time away from home and not a lot of sunshine can get to some. At any rate, the ACIC is investigating. I have heard of difficulties, now and again over the years, that some from the lower 48 have with adjusting to weather and feelings of isolation, and are not necessarily limited to military personnel.

November 11, Veteran's Day, is coming soon. Another article in the local paper says that Michael Durant, one of the survivors of the Black Hawk incident in Somolia in 1993, will be in Carlisle to receive an award. He credited Randall Shughart, who died in the firefight, for saving his life. Shughart grew up a few miles up river from me. I don't recall seeing mention of a local connection with the Battle of Mogadishu. I never got around to seeing Black Hawk Down.

Larry, not really. It is drying out with the still stiff breeze we have again today. I can wait. I just don't care to put an effort into raking and then it all blowing around again. I have a low spot in the front yard that I pile it all into and let them decompose to help fill the hole a bit. I really should buy a load of dirt to fill it. It is still sinking from a tree that was taken down. It seems the roots are still rotting. The other tree, taken down several years previous to this one also left a sunken spot, but not near as large as this last one. I thought it had stopped sinking, but this year it seems to have sunk some more. These two in the front were old maples, and not in good shape. The White Pine and the Colorado Blue Spruce that had to be removed from the backyard have not caused any ground sinking. Strange.

BTW, I am glad to hear you are feeling better.

Don't forget to set your clocks back for Sunday!

Ours in UK went back last weekend...

Larry - I'm sorry to hear that yesterday was a bad day for you, and hope that you relax today and regain some of your strength.  Walking through Costco, is an ordeal, and I'm glad to hear that you try to get a riding cart if one is available.  AJ usually goes there alone, but when I do go, I always push the regular cart and use it for balance and to lean on when I get tired.  I plan to go with him sometime this month, because I like to see the Christmas items they have for sale, as well as the special foods and desserts that they only carry during the holidays.

MarsGal - Interesting that one of the survivors of the fire fight in Somalia, will be in your area for a Veteran's Day memorial.  My husband has watched "Black Hawk Down", a number of times, because he has heard about it first hand, from a friend whose younger brother was stationed there at the time.   I've never seen the movie myself, as I don't care for recent war movies at all.  I do watch, and very much like, the old WW 2, movies.  That reminds me that I have been neglecting the TV/Movie folder, as well as Library~Bookshelf!  I know you look in and post there, so I'll try to do some updates there today.

Mary Ann - Some people truly enjoy repairing things around the house, or working on cars, appliances, etc.  Others don't like it, whether they are competent or not.  Sounds like Tom could do those things, but he doesn't want to.  AJ sees everything that goes wrong with a car or an appliance, or anything else, as a challenge, and he loves to figure it out and get it done, no matter how much time it takes.  Yesterday, our old vacuum cleaner stopped working, and he spent the better part of the morning fixing it, and then cleaning it out.  It now looks and runs like new!  I know I'm fortunate, as there aren't very many men around anymore who like to do those things. The younger generation would rather spend their spare time doing other things.     

Marilyne, my husband was also able to fix anything. or invent something to make and item work better.  My neighbor across the street called him MacGyver, the other night she said she still missed him, fixing things for them. Years ago one neighbor said tome which roof is your husband working on today

. He kept my Singer feather weight sewing machine going for 60 years  It worked like new. I just gave it to my DIL It was 72 years old. It is now a collectors item

Hi Everyone. It is another beautiful Sunday morning here in South Carolina with not a cloud in the sky.  I did remember to reset the clocks and my watch.  I am responsible for our devotional for our Sunday School class this morning and likely will lead us in singing a couple of the old hymns unless a choir member is there and is willing to do so.  Pat isn't up yet so don't know whether she will feel up to attending Church this morning or not.  If she goes we will likely stop somewhere on the way home to have our main meal and if she doesn't I will pick up something to bring home.  Then I expect to spend the rest of the day quietly.  I do want to try to contact my good friend via FaceTime later this afternoon. We try to talk about once a week. 

Yesterday Scott came over and we went to Wifesaver's for a delicious chicken dinner.  We even had a dessert apiece.  He and his mother had the banana pudding and I had a piece of lemon meringue pie and really enjoyed it.

Patricia, with 5 military bases around your area you must see a lot of young people in uniform.  I expect the winters are tough for them as some of them go about their duties and help protect us. 

Mary Ann, I just never acquired the repairing talents as my Dad never had time to allow me to fail and then help me success so it was not a pleasant experience when I tried.  I know that is not a good excuse but it is the reality of my life.  I found my success academically and making my living using my head and not my hands.  I have put together furniture and things with good instructions.  We have the same thing here that the store puts the items in the car for us.  I usually get out of the car and talk with the person and thank them for their efforts.  It is easy to have on the wrong glasses.  I used to have a pair I wore to work on the computer and several times found myself in the car with the wrong glasses.  Now I don't need glasses when I work on the computer, just for closer work. 

MarsGal, it was being back closer to family that brought us back from living in Alaska otherwise we might still be living in Anchorage.  We wanted our children to know their grandparents and we also missed our parents.  Shortly after we moved to Alaska Pat's father passed away and as we had no money I had to get a loan to buy the tickets for her to return home for a few days.  I sure don't blame you for wanting to wait until a calm day to rake leaves. 

Jackie, you all were ahead of us in the clock changing.  I appreciated the earlier daylight today. 

Marilyne, I did have a good day yesterday and seem to feel good this morning.  I am usually pretty tired when Sunday morning is over but seldom have anything planned for the afternoon, and that is the case most afternoons.  Pat seldom goes to Costco with me but with her Rollator she may go more often.  Their stores are certainly not very senior friendly in that they provide no place to sit down unless you are having your hearing checked that I have found.  I have a second lightweight walker in the truck of the car that I am going to see if I can use when a riding cart isn't available and still push a regular cart ahead.  Then I would have someplace to sit down and rest and perhaps wouldn't get so tired.  Do you ever try the peppermint bark they have as a special item at Christmas time?   It is very good, in fact too good.  It does sound like you have a keeper in AJ and that he is very talented in repairing things.  My dad could do the same thing. 

deAngel, Pat keeps her sewing machines oiled and cleaned.  However, she does take her Bernina in to have it serviced when it indicates it is time to do so.  Pat really likes her Singer Featherweight and think it was built in the 1950's.   

Good morning from the Interior where the weather is expected to remain nearly the same all week. About the only real change, late last month and this month is a similar dropping of both lows and highs.

Larry, We rarely see the young men and women in uniform. That is unless they are on official business. For example, when I worked for the Great Alaska Bowl company, they would come in to have unit awards or officer reassignment plaques produced out of birch bowls and slabs.

Many military wives and soldiers would have jobs in the community. You could tell them by the haircuts, walking together in cadence, and in different behavior than locals. Not in a better or worse way, just different and in the same way you noticed differences in the European youth that came here during the summer on work visas.
It was my understanding as a military wife and when I returned, that they appear to send the soldiers to different climates or areas to expose them to differences.

Dot and I did our usual - church and Mr Burger and we ate the usual - coconut cream pie and tuna melt.  Dot goes down the line to order and pay for the food (we alternate paying) and I get the water and eating utensils.  We talk up a storm while we eat.

It is a dreary day and radar shows rain in the area but none fell while we were out.  Our temperature is about 45 degrees and shouldn't vary much from that.

We have an interim minister and his wife and two granddaughters sat in the same pew I was in this morning and those girls were so good.  They had coloring to do and did it very quietly, not a peep out of them.  I am sure they've been to many service where Grandpa preached.  I mentioned to both grandparents how impressed I was with how quiet the girls were.  Their ages probably were about 5 and 8 but I'm not sure.  I am close.  It also was communion Sunday and the girls partook of communion.  We did it by intinction today. 

I managed to change the important clocks last night, but I still have some to change.  I tried to change the clock in this room and I didn't have enough good light and nothing changed.  I was able to see the time on my computer and that was all I needed.

After all that, I'm ready for a nap!

Mary Ann

Good afternoon:  First day of Standard Time, and I've been getting a lot done around the house today.  I seem to be energized, but I don't know why, as I didn't sleep an extra hour? 

Mary Ann - Your weather does sound dreary, but I would be happy to have some of your  dreary, if it meant rain!  It's still warm and dry here, with no rain predicted for as far ahead as they can forecast.  Yesterday, our humidity went down to 18, which is mighty dry for this time year. Other cities in the North and East Bay Area, dropped even lower, to 9 and 10. Very dangerous weather for wildfires, but fortunately the wind has been just a light breeze.

Last night I looked at the Soo Locks, around 10:00 pm here.  There was a boat coming up from the lock, and on the side of it, in large letters was the word, POLSTEAM. I'm curious about where it was from?  I checked the Marine Traffic map, and tried to click on the ships that were in the locks, but nothing would come up for me.  I waited a long time after it left, to see it on the lake, but I finally got tired and went to bed.

Marilyn, I saw that ship too and it was from a country we're not familiar with as far as ships are concerned - it could have been Cypress.  I'll see if I can find the ship; Polstream, I think, is the company it sails for, not the ship's name.

I watched just now the Mesabi Miner come into the lock at the Soo and I'll go back.  It has to be raised to Lake Superior level and may be ready to leave.  I caught the tail end of a ship coming into Superior and I've already forgotten the name.

I'll be back if I can find any into about the Polstream (Polsteam?) ship.

Mary Ann

Marilyn, I struck out.  The name Polsteam came up with Poland as the country and I don't believe that was the name I saw but it sounds logical.  I wish I remembered the ship's name.  There was no ship headed for the Duluth area with any familiar sounding name.  If it was at the Soo at 10 pm (my time) it would reach the Duluth area in 24 or 25 hours.  But it might not have been going that far.

Mary Ann