My, it is very quiet here today.  It was supposed to rain but so far clear and warm.

I made some chocolate chip oatmeal cookies yesterday and Larry and I just had several——-soooo good, even though they are made from a mix.

Gov. Cuomo is giving an update on New York on CNN.  We have lots of New York retirees who live in Florida.  I imagine they are tuned in and interested in what is happening in their home state.

The beaches in our area are still closed, but some of the beaches have opened during certain hours.  There was a title on the Internet today that read "Morons are flocking to the beaches in Florida".  It showed pictures and people are not keeping their distance in accordance to the rules.  We aren't part of the morons.  We are still staying in our house or occasionally going into the backyard.  We've only gone to the store two times the last couple of months.

While we are saving money on gasoline, the government is complaining on not getting their gasoline taxes.

I wonder how all of you are doing today.  I hope well!

Hoping Mary Ann is doing OK and not in any pain.  We miss you Mary Ann.

Good morning, Fla Jean and Every Bait and Tackler looking in.  It's a damp rainy day here in Auburn, Alabama.  I want to get outside for my daily walk, but may have to stay inside because of the rain. 

I'm planning on a quiet day inside.  I will be reading most of the day.  Two of my sons have sent me books to keep me entertained.  I have been keeping up with my laundry and other chores like keeping the kitchen clean between meals.  Not much else going on here.  I hope Every One is well and no one is infected with the virus.

Sue

Well, I can't figure this out. I signed up for PeaPod Direct through Giant Foods, but 1 I am supposed to choose pick up or delivery first, but it won't let me, 2) there isn't much to choose from. This morning I tried again, No luck. Then I tried Weis Market which uses that Insta==whatever. I couldn't even get into the Weis website. It told me I was giving it wrong sign-in info. It was working fine the other day. This happened before when I first started using the website. So, I give up. I'll have to get in line with my mask and gloves on. I did find two more things to put on my subscribe and save order for next month, but Amazon's Pantry pickings are very poor now. I did find some facial tissues (not in Pantry or Subscribe and Save), but by the time I got done looking around for more to put in my cart, when I went to check out it said it was unavailable. I put the only other item I wanted to buy back into my wish list for later. It is not something I need.

It was so nice this afternoon I went out and mowed the front yard, then did some trimming and weeding. The weather forecast was only calling for it to get to 56F but it got up to 61F. The sun was still out when I came in, but I see it is cloudy now.

Jean, sorry to hear the Jason is not doing well. Hopefully, things will take a turn for the better soon.
 

A hot day here in Florida........It's 92 at the moment. Too early for it to be so warm but family up north has been  complaining about cold and snow.

Chape has finished the spare room floor but still has to add quarter-round. Then I can get my house back in order.

Hope everyone is having a good day.

My daughter commented today, that it seemed like the 70's, everyone staying home, cooking meals and gas at less than $1.00 a gallon. (She had "points" from a loyalty card which knocked .30 cents off a gallon). I haven't been able to use any of my points, as I had filled up just before the quarantine began and since I haven't been anywhere, I don't need any gas right now.  As far cooking meals, I guess I nearly overdid it yesterday (again). Found a large block of beef in my freezer I think it was a 1/2 inch steak of some sort, so I cut that up in chunks, browned it, chopped some celery, carrots, onion and red skinned potatoes and put all that in the Slow Cooker, little tomato sauce and some Old Bay and Worchester sauce and cooked all day.  Wow, that was awesome.  While that was cooking, I had an eggplant in the veggie drawer, so cut that up and used a recipe I had printed off for eggplant casserole.  Little chopped onion and celery,some StoveTop stuffing mix, eggs, butter, mushroom soup and shredded cheddar cheese for topping.  Baked 1 hour at 350.  That was yummy too.  By then I was tired, after loading all the dishes and utensils in the dishwasher, and had planned to bake some cookies. But, not enough energy left, so I baked cookies today after eating servings of both stew and casserole. I did venture out to the grocery on Thursday, and got a lot of fresh veggies, which I will have to tend to later in this week.  Store still doesn't have toilet paper or disinfectant spray, also out of distilled water, for my humidifier.  Luckily, I still have 2 gallons backup. 
Enough about me and my crazed cooking binge.  Wish we knew more about MaryAnn.
Still thinking of and praying for Jason and Michelle. All of you B&T folks stay safe, wear your masks if you go out in public, and do all the hand washing and disinfecting as needed. My hands have been washed so much,that the backs of them are itching like crazy!  Good old "Gold Bond Anti-Itch cream".
Good night from Texas at 10:48 PM.

Good morning, All you Bait and Tacklers and especially Mary Ann.  I hope you're feeling much better today, Mary Ann.  Thoughts and prayers for improvement.  Keep us posted!

Sue

Good Morning Everyone
from the partly sunny and cool,
rocky coast of Maine.
I am now just beginning to feel the isolation
that Covid_19 has caused me.

I am pretty much and indoor gal, but
I do miss seeing my girls..  all eight of them
Kelly, Erin,  Madison, Maggie, Maeve, Maren and
Keiry  (Katie), and
last but not least FE !

And of course, my only grand son Matt.
Who is in the Army Reserve (contimplating
joining the regular Army,)  and living  with his
grand parents in Puerto Rico.

I only ever get out to pick up
groceries from Kelly who delivers
them to me downstairs at the curbside.
And of course, one day every few weeks
to get my blood tested.

They pretty much do not want anyone
entering this building where I live,
with 150 apartments,  who is not a
legal resident.

They are trying very hard to stop
Covid_19 from getting into this
building.      So far so good,  I presume.

Take care of your selves and say
safe, Everyone!

love
Sandy

From Tom Tock

My Aunt Mary Ann passed away at our home yesterday evening after a few weeks of hospice care. It was a glorious day in which we celebrated her 96th birthday 4 days early. Stand around her bed, we sang happy birthday to her as a family and friends. Within a few hours she stopped breathing having passed in the presence of a merciful God.

As a child a spend most summer weekends at her cottage on Upper Lake near Cedar Springs. Through most of college and seminary I lived with her. This allowed my to graduate almost debt free. The last few years of her life she asked that I move in so she could stay in her home longer, which she did till the end. I will be forever grateful that she was in my life.

_______
Mary Ann Tock, beloved aunt to Tim, Tom & Terry passed away at home on Sunday, April 19, 2020. Born April 23, 1924 in Wellsburg, West Virginia, her family moved to Grand Rapids in 1925. She was predeceased by her parents Norman Tock, Sr. and Merle Fleming Tock, her brother Norman Tock Jr., her nephews Tim Tock, Terry Tock, and cousin Steve Harton, grand nephew Chris Salcau, and cousins Jim and Joan Harton. She is survived by her nephews Tom Tock, cousins Tom Harton and Bob Harton, nieces Jan Lancaster and Gina Partyka, sister-in-law Dorothy Tock, great-nephews and nieces Paula (Eric) Mertins, Geoff Tock (Charissa Chan), Erin Tock, James (Alicia)Tock, Cate Tock, and Adrienne Salcau; great-great nieces and nephews, Avery and Conner Mertins, Johanna and Eleanor Tock, and Isaiah and Ezra Tock, and Kendrick, her cat she shared with Cate.

She loved her nephews and nieces throughout her life and was very generous to them through her time, home, and gifts. She got a kick out of when others went south for the winter in their retirement she went north to Boyne City to live near Tom's family for few winters.

Having graduated from Creston High School (1941) she remained a "North Ender" the rest of her life. She traveled throughout the American West with her father and to Guatemala, England, Denmark, Germany, Canada, and Alaska. Mary Ann worked for Consumers Powers for 43 years, was a member of Second Congregational Church for 75 years (attended for 92 years) and a long time member of the Daughters of The American Revolution. Mary Ann was passionate about the family genealogy and created volumes of materials for her family.

The family would like to thank the incredible caregivers who served Aunt Mary Ann; Robin Janulis Martilotta, a long time family friend and personal assistant capturing even more genealogy information in the final months of her life, Margaret, Darla, Markita, Amy, and Scarlett.

Memorials may be made to Second Congregational Church, Emmanuel Hospice or the North End Community Ministry.

Due to the COVID crisis, a family celebration of her life will take place at a later time.

Patricia, thank you......this was not the news we wanted but know Mary Ann was getting tired. Condolences to the family and Mary Ann is now at peace..

Patricia, thank you for posting about Mary Ann.  She will be missed by all of us here, as well as her family and other friends.

Oh no, such sad news, i was not expecting to hear this... I am so so sorry to hear we have lost our Mary Ann...Another well respected member has passed to the other side...Yes thank you Patricia for informing us..

Rest In Peace dear lady... sending my heartfelt condolences to her family..

Jackie Hathaway ( UK )

It is so sad to lose our Mary Ann.  She had a long and good life, but we will surely miss her.  I'm glad they celebrated her birthday and were with her at the end.

Marilyne, I hope everything is going OK with you and your family.  You post so regularly that when you don't post I worry.

Thank you, Patricia, for posting the message from Tom Tock.

We had rain and a spring storm last night but today the sun is shining.

Jackie, was today the day to get another week's supply of fresh veggies?  I hope your leg is improving.

Sandy, we stay home a lot but not being able to relate to others in a natural way is getting me down.  this virus spreads easily and especially for those of us who are older or have underlying conditions.

I hope everyone has a good day.

So sorry to look in this morning, and see the sad news, that Mary Ann has passed.  She lived a long and active life, and was loved very much by her family, extended family and many friends.  May she now rest in peace.

So sad for the news of Mary Ann today. Thanks to Tom she was able to pass away peacefully in her own home with family around her, the way she wanted. It has always been obvious how much she loved her family and they loved her. She was a great lady. I will miss her!

Good Monday HELLO to all. 

I was so sorry to receive a email from you, JACKIE, telling of Our Dear MARY ANN's passing.  Thank you for letting me know to get in here and read the news😩😢

Thank you, PATRICIA for sharing Tom's message.  Although we all knew that MA was not doing well, I think we all expected for her to feel better and she would be able to come back in to greet us once again😩😢 She was a very loved lady and we all will miss her SO very much 🦋🦋. Last night, before I retired, I was looking at the picture that I had saved of her, and said a special little prayer.  I thought about her Birthday coming up and wanted to make sure I sent her a card.  Little did I know, she had already passed on. 🙏

It warmed my heart to read that the family celebrated her 96th Birthday yesterday.  MA and my Dad are the same age.....born in April of 1924 🦋

RIP MARY ANN TOCK 🙏

RIP MaryAnn, I will miss you. My condolences to her entire family.

Mary Ann was a dear friend to many of us.  She is remembered with fondness and will always have a place here at Norm's Bait and Tackle.  She was a remarkable lady, loved and cherished by her family.  Rest in Peace, Mary Ann.  We'll miss you.

Sue

I saw this sad news last night right before I went to bed.  It was quite a shock, as I thought she looked so good in the picture the other day,  that she was getting better.  She will be very much missed by all her friends here and her family.  So happy that the family got to celebrate her birthday.  And, yes, the group here is getting smaller.  She had a good, long life and glad that she didn't have to suffer too long.  May she rest in peace.

Joy

GOOD MORNING 💐

I am still trying to get my head around the fact of our MARY ANN's passing.  I really did expect her to come back in and post with us once again😢. One thing for sure......I do not like the fact that our special group of friends are dwindling down at a much faster rate than I want to accept 😡😩! 

I wish you all a great day.....hang in there and be as safe as you can during these troubled times😍

Jenny......smiling because we have sunshine and nice temperatures today 😘

Bad news here the past 24 hours.   My husband AJ, had a stroke yesterday.  We debated for hours as to what was wrong, because he didn't have the well known signs of a stroke, and we kept thinking it was vertigo.  Plus, he didn't want to go to the hospital, what with it being crowded with Coronavirus patients, long lines for tests, etc., so he didn't want me to call the doctor.  He was much worse by afternoon, so I finally called 911 and the paramedics came, did some tests here, and then took him to the hospital.  He had an MRI and other tests, and diagnosed definitely as stroke. He's better today (or so he says) but it looks like he will be there for a while. 

Unfortunately, we cannot visit him!  No one allowed inside the hospital. Also no ability to talk to a doctor.  AJ called me this morning and he sounds good. A little bit of a slur to his speech, but hard to detect, because he's wearing a face mask.  All patients have to wear a mask, 24/7 . . . even when sleeping at night. 

I'll write more later, with an update on how he is doing. I'm kind of in disbelief.  Also, still in a state of sadness about Mary Ann. 

Marilyne...
... a lot for you to take in in less than 24 hours...re, sad news of Mary Ann and now your hubby AJ...
...I fully understand hubby's reluctance of being taken to hospital under our now C- Virus situation but, he will be taken best care of until he can be released back home to you...sad times indeed we are now living in when one cannot visit in hospital, as a patient needs to see a friendly face.....

Marilyn, I am so sorry to learn about AJ - particularly under the current circumstances that don't allow you to be with him.  I am surprised that you aren't able to communicate with a doctor.  Hopefully, that will change.
Stay strong, dear friend, and know that we are all with you through this.

Please place posts about MaryAnn in Tranquil Cove or copy your earlier responses to that site so I may send them to Tom, her nephew, thanks.

https://www.seniorsandfriends.org/index.php?topic=800.msg175073#new

Marilyne, I'm so sorry to hear about your AJ and the stroke.  It makes it even harder that you can't be with him during this time.  I'm thinking of you and praying that he will have a very quick recovery.

Good Afternoon Everyone from
the partly sunny and cool rocky
coast of Maine.   

Marilyne,   I am so sorry to hear
that your husband has had a stoke.
And I wish him the best while
recuperating  and hope that he
doesn't have too many problems
that don't improve. 

Now I think that I will go over
to the Tranquil Cove to say Good Bye
to MaryAnn. 

love Sandy

Marilyne, what miserable news. I hope the delay in getting him to the hospital didn't worsen any damage. I do understand his reluctance to go near a hospital just now. It is not something I would want to do right now either.

This morning was drizzily. This afternoon is mostly cloudy with lots of wind.

I finally broke down and ordered some new ceramic soup/chili bowls, large ones, and soup spoons which I do not have at all. I am retiring some of my old Tupperware plastic bowls; they are really scraped up. Too bad the new ones don't have lids, but they do have something even more important--handles. The cats are even getting some new ceramic food dishes to replace some of their plastic dishes. These new ones will be a bit larger and have a skid proof bottom (or so it says in the product blurb). Okay, so I am trying to keep the economy going without leaving my house (much).

My sister discovered the Duluth Harbor Cam yesterday. She is not into watching the ships, but for some reason she got curious. What she wanted to see, but didn't on that clip, was the bridge going up. She was having a hard time visualizing the how the bridge worked, so I sent her a clip showing it going up from the outside, and the one with the interview and operation from the control booth. It is really too bad I can't share my sister's interest with Mary Ann.

I've been goofing off on the most of the day. Did not to laundry, did not take a nap, did not read, am not hungry yet (that's a wonder), and now it is time to goof off and watch some YouTube. 

Marilyne,  I am so sorry to read the bad news about your husband.  And, the fact that you can't visit him only adds to your worries.  I am sure he will get the best of care.  I heard a doctor say this morning that the emergency rooms are almost empty, as people are reluctant to go, even when they should.  Hopefully, his time thee will be a short one and once they get him stable, they will send him home to recuperate there.  Hope you will get to talk to his doctor soon. That is disturbing also.  You both didn't need this added stress right now.  Glad that you got to talk to him this morning and he sounded good.

Stay Strong !!!

My thoughts are with both of you.

Joy

Marilyne, I am so sorry to hear about AJ.  I'm glad you at least were able to talk to him.  I'm sure that must have given you some relief.  I'll be sending good thoughts your way and hoping he has a good and quick recovery.

MARILYNE, I am so sorry to read that AJ had a stroke and is in the hospital.  I know you can not be with him, but I am sure happy he can call you to keep in touch.  I can sure understand his reluctantly not wanting to go to the ER.  I send my positive thoughts and prayers to you both for a full
recovery🙏

JANE, potato soup 🥔 🧅 🥛 sounds delicious🥰 I hope you enjoyed it! 
Pleasant dreams to all.

Jenny

I do so admire all those who are able to write with such sympathy and compassion when one of us is having difficulties. I always feel at a loss for words.

This whole Coronavirus event is stressful enough without having emergencies and disasters on top of it all. I am thinking of everyone and hope you are doing well in spite of it all. My thoughts are also with the Tock family, as well as Jason who could use a good turn of events, and Michelle whose cancer, hopefully, will not be back.

Today is going to be sunny, but cool here. I am not planning to do any yardwork, but if it is not breezy and still sunny this afternoon, I might.