It is a beautiful but cooler morning but will warm up throughout the day into the 70's again this afternoon.  I will pick up my friend and we will go to coffee.  I had expected to have the Wisdom group after coffee at the Church but the minister has been called to attend another meeting so that has been cancelled.  I have no particular chores on the agenda for today so expect to have a very restful day.  We should get our car back from our son later this afternoon if they get his car repair finished.  Pat enjoyed her Gifts craft group yesterday but came home exhausted.  We had a nice meal at Church last night and a short visit with Scott and Jennifer.

Sandy, I expect you prefer the rain to more snow.  It seems like you have had a pretty mild winter overall this year. 

Mary Ann, I was referring to a football reference about throwing a flag.    Hope you Tom and Terry had a most enjoyable lunch yesterday.

Patricia, I see there is a 90 degree difference between our temperatures this morning.  I am sure glad I am on the upper end of that scale.    Nice that Farrah has made a new friend with the husband of your friend and now he has his own cat although suppose to be his wife's. 

MarsGal, thanks for the additional information on NuCash.   

Jeanne, you sure have had quite a spell of bad weather.  My wife doesn't own a hat so if it is windy her hair gets blown.  Men's hats do look nice but we seldom see one worn and I no longer own one.  I was told right before I went to my first day on the first job I had that the dress code required a suit and a hat.  So I bought a hat and wore it the first day.  There were about 6 other trainees who reported the same day and not a single one of them wore a hat nor did the other auditors assigned to that office.  I don't think I ever wore it to the office again although had the hat for many years.  Many men wear baseball caps all the time to cover up bald heads.  Fortunately, my bald spot is at the top back of my head and I can't see it so give it no thought. I seldom wear headgear unless it is cold then have a cap to wear. 

Joy, I would think the waters would be too cold on the Grand Haven lake to be out in them even in wet suits.  Hope the snow misses your area this weekend.   

Good Morning Everyone,  from the warmer,  but blustery,  rocky coast of Maine.   

First I see windy snow and then the sun comes shinning through...    Sure looks like March!!! 

I hope that everyone has a good day. 

It is a good day to stay in and enjoy the sun shinning
through my Windows to the World!   

(I hate walking outside,  when it is windy!)

Sandy

Mornin all.  I have been throwing the comforter off me the last few nights so this morning I am taking it off the bed and putting on a blanket instead.  It is time.   
Had a day of chills on Monday this week.  Could not get warm stayed in bed and all was right by Tues.  Not sure what it was but gone now.

Larry, the water temperature at Grand Haven has been about 34 degrees for some time.  I don't know, but I've wondered if the wet suits have some sort of insulation because I have seen people (probably mostly young men) in the water in cold temperatures. 

Larry, your mention of hats reminded me of years ago when women all wore hats to church.  I was one of them.  One day I realized I was one of four women wearing hats and the other women were much older than I was.  I doubt I've worn a dress hat since.  I do have a stocking cap that I knit umpty-seven years ago that I wear in very cold weather but usually I am going from house to car and vice versa and do not wear a hat.  I have gloves in my jacket pockets but I don't use them either.  They're there for "just in case".

Mary Ann

Good morning from a still cold, minus 37, Interior! It is 6:48 AM and I've had my shower, snack, and now enjoying my first cup of coffee.

MaryAnn, I also grew up dressing for church and wearing white gloves, dress shoes and a lace chappel. It is somewhat discomforting to see Bermuda shorts and jeans in my church as well as the lay readers in casual clothes. As a child, we had three sets of clothes, church, school and play.

I haven't worn a dress since high school other than wedding parties. I am long waisted, 5'6" with short legs so prefer dress pants and tops instead.

Farrah has discovered both a new treat and a new word. After some months of turning up her nose at any human food offerings or catnip or wet cat food, she tried a small taste of tuna and liked it! Farrah has turned it down before.

Now she has "WinWin" for breakfast, "Win" for a treat and" Win-aaa" for something else, preferably tuna. I wonder if I'm attributing human behavior to Farrah who doesn't vocalize as a normal cat does or that I am noting the item word connection?

Dora says that Alan brought home several items for Duchess as well as a bed and toys. She is neutral on pets, never had or wanted one but she loves Alan, so the cat stays. Dora says she is waiting for him to suggest a playdate. She also said it is better than a sports car or motorcycle. Knowing Dora, Duchess will win her over too. It might take awhile, but then she has never had a cat or dog before.

I am very into genetics, even took some classes when I was in college, so I have always enjoyed watching my family or the pets I've had. Did you know that physical behaviors and food tastes or even sleeping positions can be inherited? Even if there has never been contact? This was first noted in separated twins although it was first dismissed as a coincidence.

Or that certain behaviors are influenced by your family's environment while you grew up? A good example is my feeling protected and sheltered while living surrounded by the highest mountains outside of Everest and my friend from Kansas who felt threatened and closed in. When I was in Kansas, I felt very unprotected and open to storms.

I would love to audit a class on genetics but unfortunately, it isn't available in the senior offerings.

wjoan - I hope your short bout with the chills, was just a farewell to Winter, and glad that yo're feeling better now. I also folded up the comforter, put it away and brought out the light weight cotton quilt.  As soon as I did, we had a cold night, and I had to get up and put on a robe!  The last few days have turned beautiful and warm, so I think Spring is here to stay. (I should know better than to say that, but I'll say it anyway!)

Patricia - I'm also long waisted, with short legs, but I'm an inch shorter than you - 5'5".  I do miss seeing women and girls in dresses and skirts.  I loved wearing dresses - especially Spring and Summer.  However, now I only wear pants and tops, although I do have a few ancient dresses hanging in my closet that I can't part with.

Mary Ann and Larry - Here in California, both men and women wear hats in sunny weather.  My son is bald, and shaves his head, so he constantly wears a baseball style cap to protect his bare head from the sun.  My husband still has hair, but he's had lots of skin cancers removed from his face, neck and ears, so he wears a hat when he's outside. I always wear a wide brimmed hat when the sun is out, as do our two daughters.  I have lots of sun damage, from being raised at the beach in Southern California.  No such thing as sunscreen back then.     

Patricia, your interest in genetics is interesting.  I feel I inherited some habits from both parents and I don't know if it was on purpose or not.  I know some figures of speech are some that I had said to me.  This morning I looked for something and found it right beside me, so I said to myself "if it was a bear, it'd bite me".  My mother did not like the word "nasty"; that word is not part of my vocabulary.  I can't speak to how I lie in bed because I sleep alone and on my left side because of my bum right shoulder.  I also sleep on the left side of the bed so it seems more natural to sleep on my left side. 

It will be interesting to hear more about Duchess and how she adapts to her new family - and how they adapt to her.

I am short, about 4' 9" and I prefer tops and pants, however, they are not very dressy - at least mine aren't.  Pants and dresses need to be shortened.  I do have a couple of dresses I've had for years and would wear them for "good" if necessary. 

We had kind of an upheaval in our church in the last couple of years and we lost a lot of members.  We liked the minister but not his sermons.  He left and we have a new minister, called a "transitional" minister, however, he could become our settled minister if he and we want.  Anyway, our former minister always wore a robe in the Fall-through-Spring time, but wore a suit coat in summer.  This "transitional" minister we have now does not wear a robe.  He has one (he's a Reverend Doctor) because he wore it the first day he preached, but he does not wear it now.  While I think it sets him apart from the congregation, it doesn't bother me.  When/if I forget my hearing aids, I can hear him and that is what matters to me. 

Mary Ann

Marilyne, I was the oddball in our family. My two sisters are both six foot, brown eyed and have sharp cheekbones and have red afros. My nephew has always had an afro and white hair, so he too shaves his head out of vanity I suspect. My mom was under five foot with very curly hair, and my dad was almost 6'5" and had wavy hair like mine.

I was luckier than my sisters as while they sat out in the sun with various homemade concoctions, I stayed in because I would not only get migraines but would simply burn, peel and then be white underneath.

Now, I have entirely black, wrap-around sunglasses, so no more migraines and my skin has few lines. I am often mistaken for being twenty years younger because as a child, I had to stay out of the sun and use various cremes on my dry and sensitive skin. Both sisters have had skin cancers removed.

The downside is my white skin, and blue under eye shadows has caused folks to think I'm ill when I'm not, and I cannot wear many fabrics due to terrible itchings such as lace, orlon or wool.

MaryAnn, My first husband, and Marie's biological father had no contact with her other than seeing her once as a three month old after he returned from Vietnam. He and his father preferred not hot or cold food but warm, while his brother and mother preferred hot food.

Marie also preferred warm food, her preferred sleeping position was an odd one that he also did and she had a way of catching her lower lip in her teeth when she pouted as he always did.

I find it interesting because I am a genetic throwback, looking exactly like my maternal grandmother than the rest of my family. However, I have the same pattern of moles under my left shoulder blade as my dad and have his hair. All three of us kids, have his family nose, his allergies, and balance or inner ear issues and even shared the same cancer he had rather than my mother's.

When my sisters and I were going over family documents during caring for our elderly parents, I noticed for the first time that I had my mother's handwriting style. My sisters said it was virtually identical. Environment or genetics?

Another few points I missed. My father and two sisters were very tall with brown eyes. My mother and I were blue eyed and short. My mother's family were all short with her father and brother at 5'7" while my father's family were all tall with even the girls at 6' or a little taller. I look like her side of the family, yet have the physical characteristics from my father's side. The grandkids are almost all tall. If you followed the monk Mendelson and his genetic experiments you would expect the greats to be short. Since there are none as yet, we will have to wait.

Another point is that my eye issues and sun sensitivities were documented from an ancestor on my father's side who died in the civil war battle of Chickamauga. You, in your ancestry studies, might have seen some of that as well.

My niece who is getting married later this month is the only short grandchild at five foot. Her father was also shorter than usual. She is marrying a man who is 6'5". With so many short women marrying tall men, I have to wonder if it is biological going to looking to have more protection and more food for any resulting children?

Marilyne, when I change from the comforter to the blanket I usually put a throw at the bottom of the bed for a few nights just in case it gets cold.

I cannot believe, I hit the wrong button again and lost my post. I will start again.

MaryAnn, My MIL, collected shoes and pocketbooks to match, she also had gloves to match.  I still use one of her cream colored pocketbook, which still have matching silk gloves in it. When I worked we were only allowed to wear dresses or suits, a few years before I retired we could wear pant suits. Now in Spring and Fall, I will wear one of my suits and people will compliment on them. I will tell them the suit is over 30 years old.   I still have two pant suits.

Larry, so nice you got to rest a little more. I hope Pats tiredness was from having a good time at the church.  I know I went shopping at Walmart the other day, walked around part of the store. First time I had been there since last April, I really enjoyed myself. Now I am paying for it as I am still tired and stiff.

Patricia, I also always wore a hat and gloves to church. Now I can not believe how they dress.  One of the women speakers last summer had dungarees on. My mother would say you have to respect others and were you are.  Now about environment I like to look at mountains but would not like to live in or near them.  I am a salt water and sand person.  When my husband who was from Ala. ask me to marry him, I said yes, only if he would bring me back to Long Island, NY.  I told him I had salt water in my blood and I wanted to hear the roar of the ocean again.

Gloria de - I'm also a salt water and sand person.  Grew up at the beach and spent my childhood swimming and playing in the ocean waves.  I like sand, and as a child we used to run out of the water and lie right down on the hot sand to warm up. The water in the Pacific ocean, is a lot colder than the Atlantic, so you have to take time out, every so often.    By the way, my two daughters are nicknamed Sandy and Shelley. Unintentional . . . I didn't see the connection back then, but I do now.

Patricia - My daughters and I are built exactly the same, as was my mother and grandmother. My mom was 5'3", and my oldest is 5'3.  I'm 5'5" and my youngest is 5'5". We all weigh approximately the same too - 120 lbs, or slightly over or slightly under.  (I should say that I used to be 5'5", but have shrunk a lot in the past few years. I also have terrible posture, which is a bad thing.) 

wjoan - You think ahead better than I do! LOL!  I now have an extra blanket, folded at the foot of the bed. I hate sleeping in my bulky robe.   

Patricia, I have to laugh when you say someone is short at 5'7" because I am only 4'9" tall.  My parents were normal for the times (1890s) they were born, but somehow the genes didn't get the message that children should be taller than the parents because Norm was about Dad's height (5'7") and I never got over 5', if that tall.  All of my aunts and uncles were taller and all of my cousins were taller.  The quads I visit in Indy are 6'5" for the boys and 5'8" for the girls.  Two of my great-nieces are tall, probably 5'8", but the boys are taller than that, but not six feet.  I think I was close to five feet when I was younger, but "them days is gone forever".  Most of my family has or had blue eyes, but Norm's oldest son had brown eyes (Norm's first wife had hazel eyes) and Tom's daughter (Annie) has a brown shade of eyes, also she has a nose like no one's in the family.  My mother had a narrow nose but I have a wider nose, probably more like my paternal grandmother. 

I have often said that we are products of all of those who went before us so no wonder I am not a carbon copy of either parent.  I think in temperament I'm more like my dad and Norm had more of Mother's personality - outgoing.

Mary Ann

And this is why genetics is so fascinating!

Here is a brief overlay of Darwin, Russel, and Mendelson;

http://www.livescience.com/27332-genetics.html

I have often told of folks believing I was adopted because as a child I was small, blonde and blue eyed among a group of tall, red-headed, brown eyed folk. It wasn't until my mother showed me photos of her mother who I greatly resembled that I learned of the term genetic throwback and that sparked my interest in genetics!

By the way, both of my husbands were in the military, 6'4", black hair and green eyed. They were also both from Kentucky and several remarked that they could be brothers. And no nothing like my dad other than height. Hmmmm....

Marilyne, much more comfy, eh?

Weeeeeeee! All those big, fat, flakes swirling around look pretty in the backyard against the pine tree backdrop. Otherwise, the roads are just wet. We are not, last I heard, any real accumulation on the roads but it might get slushy later. Glad I don't have to go out in it or shovel, though.

Hi everyone. Good to see so many interesting postings since I posted yesterday.  We may get a little rain this morning and then partly cloudy the rest of the day but still getting into the lower 70's.  The housekeeper will be here this morning and Pat mentioned going over to the nursing home near by as she volunteered to check with them to see if they could use some of the care blankets the Gifts group has been making.  We will also visit a friend who is there that is 95 years old and usually sits at the same table we do on Wednesday night dinners.  We have also decided to go out to eat today as we often do on the day the housekeeper is here.

Joan, glad you were able to get rid of the chills.  It sounds like Spring is well on its way if you are switching blankets. 

Mary Ann, occasionally we have a lady who wears a hat to church.  We also have a Nigerian couple who attend and she makes her own beautiful costumes that include a large head dress to match her dress.  Like you I am seldom outside in the cold more than a couple of minutes.  Even my mailbox is probably only about 25 to 30 feet from the door so don't bother with a coat unless it is extremely cold.  I think I wore gloves twice this winter. 

Patricia, I saw one of the ladies at church a few weeks ago wearing gloves and they looked so nice with her outfit.  I like to dress up for church although in summer I will eliminate the coat and tie.  Never heard of a man getting a cat to deal with a mid-life crisis (whatever that is).    Your comments on genetics are quite interesting.  Some of the things I do remind me of my mother and some of my dad. 

deAngel, a well-tailored garment looks good regardless of age. Having grown up in the Midwest I do not care for the sand or the ocean. 

Marilyne, hope that your Spring days are there to stay.   It is good to protect ones skin when out in the sun a lot.  I certainly would do so here in South Carolina if I were to be outside very long.  In fact, I carried a cap in my car in case I were to get caught out on a sunny day. 

Mary Ann, I seem to remember being told that ministers and choir members wear robes to take the emphasis off of them and place it where it belongs on God.  I don't know whether this is a fact or not as never asked a minister this question.

Larry, once I start throwing the covers off me at night I know it is time to switch. 

Good morning from a much warmer Interior! We are back to white everywhere, signaling snow and on the plus side again. Farrah has been back on the leery side, going behind a chair if I make sudden moves. A little while ago, I stretched and she started to dart off and then proceed to act like she had gone for a stroll instead. I have no idea what precipitates these bouts of insecurity but they never last long and I give her space by ignoring her when she is in this mood.

Larry, Alan, in his mid-seventies, or there about, has recently retired. He had a successful office supply store that he turned over to his daughter. Dora and I both think he needs an interest and Duchess will certainly provide that. That was what the midlife remark was referring to.

I am never able to sleep under a blanket, yet I cannot get comfortable unless my feet are covered. I tend to scrunch the blanket in a roll similar to bundling. I will lean into the blanket and stick my feet underneath. I often wake up with the blanket on the floor. I don't use a top sheet, just the bottom sheet, and a fleece blanket or throw.

MaryAnn, None of us were or are particularly outgoing. My mom was gracious with a large group of friends but she preferred solitary pursuits such as watercolor painting, sewing, quilting and taking or auditing classes. My father had a small select group of fellow golfers or those involved in building jet boats or outboards and exploring the area's rivers.

My sisters and I are about the same with a small group of good friends and a wider group of acquaintances. My younger sister is a chameleon, having the ability to make both sides of an argument believe she is on their side, while never actually saying so. She probably honed that talent while small as neither my older sister or I get along. We are Celtic and hold strong opinions that don't always coincide with the other's viewpoint.

Larry, our ministers for so many years wore robes, as did the choir, and I never gave a thought as to why, but I feel now it is more to distinguish them from the congregation.  I don't go to the second service so I don't know if our minister puts on his robe or not; I do know the choir does. 

I've been working on my income tax and I find I have to watch my commas and periods because I put one or the other where it didn't belong and found I had either a credit or payment due of $14,000.  I fixed that in a hurry. 

Patricia, both of my parents were active in church, that is until my mother died from injuries in a car accident while heading for a National Convention of our denomination; the accident was in Iowa.  Dad was a deacon at the time and filled out his term but that was the last time he served.  Mother was in one of the Tens (circles) and didn't drive so a woman who did, picked her up.  This was in the late 1930s to the early 1940s and women didn't drive as much as they do now.  When Norm and I were in grade school, Mother was involved with the PTA and I know she and Dad played piano duets at the meetings occasionally. 

I generally sleep with a sheet and blanket over me.  Then I also have a cat beside me at times during the night so I am kept comfortably warm. 

I thought our temperature was about 32 degrees because that is what my thermometer read; my weather thingie below said it was 25 degrees.  My indoor/outdoor thermometer now says 26 degrees; I know we are to be in a deep deep freeze for a few days.

Mary Ann

The Episcopal ministers wear a full-length black robe with a shorter white one over it. They wear, draped around their neck, different colored sashes that correspond with that part of the church calendar. Now, this is High Episcopal. I don't know if the Lower Episcopal churches follow suit.

High Episcopal is very close to Catholic as it is King Henry's version and the same as the English Anglican Church. Low Episcopal is basically more Protestant-leaning.

My Dad was brought up High Episcopal. He was was even in the choir. I have a picture of him in his choir gown. When I was young, we were going to a Methodist church. As a teen we ended up Presbyterian. The church we went to was one of the earliest churches in the area pew boxes and high pulpit and all.

June was also a High Episcopal but her kids are both Baptists.

My dad was brought up Lutheran, probably Missouri Synod, but he left that church before he met my mother.  My mother's family was Congregationalist from way back, but went to a Presbyterian church when there was no Congregational church.  I was born in West Virginia and I was baptized in a Methodist church.  When we moved here, a Congregational church was nearby and that is what we have been ever since.  The next generation, however, is not Congregationalist and is more non-denominational, although one family is Methodist.  We have two ministers in the family and one studying for the ministry.

Mary Ann

MaryAnn, are all the three Methodist or Congregationalist, or a mixture?

Hello Angel.. Please tell me with your expertise, why my High School Science course during  the 20th century, said the Monk's name, was Mendel and not the name you mentioned.?? or are we talking about 2 different people? I was just curious of how much my mind can retain......

Its very simple Chia, and I am never an expert but only one having an avid curiosity  in life, knowledge, and trivia. I readily admit to my mistake, I had confused and misspelt Mendelssohn, the German composer with Mendel the religious geneticist. Thank you for bringing it to my attention so I could correct it.


http://www.faithpot.com/marcelito-pomoy-sings-the-prayer/

This absolutely amazing, he sings like both Celine Dion and Andrea Bocelli

WOW Angel!  Absolutely stunning. Such a pure clear voice and incredible wide register.
Thanks for sharing!

Hi everyone on a beautiful and sunny Saturday morning.  It is chilly this morning and we expect to get to only 64 degrees today.  The forecast has changed drastically for the next several days with much cooler weather and even one night expected to get down to 28 degrees.  I hope that won't happen but only time will tell.  We did go out to eat late yesterday afternoon at Texas Roadhouse and had a great meal as usual.  I cam home and watched golf and then after the news I watched the Duke-North Carolina Basketball game which Duke ended up winning.  I plan on watching more of the same today as really have nothing on my schedule for today.  After several days I was finally able to talk with my best friend who broke his hip and is now is rehab.  The medicines were causing him to see bricks and stones on the wall of his room that were not there. 

Patricia, I just looked at your weather app and see it is minus 21º and just can't get my head around that and warmer.  I guess things are relative.  I know that some people have a problem adjusting to being retired. Nice that Alan has the cat now to give him something to tend to everyday. My sister is that way and still works part time and is very active.  I use a flannel sheets, a doubled through and a quilt over me in bed year round.  I don't want my feet outside of the covers. 

Mary Ann, for a number of years I have used Tax Act to file both my Federal and State income tax.  I have them ready to file but must wait for one more document, although have preliminary numbers which probably won't be changed.  It is the same every year. 

Our ministers do wear robes and stoles that relate to the season of the Church calendar.  This church has more formality in our service than any we have ever attended before.

MarsGal,  we also attend a Methodist Church after having been Presbyterians for many years.  I also sang in the church choirs for around 50 years and would still be doing so if it didn't require more energy than I have.  We have a wonderful and large choir in this Church with several having solo voices. 

Patricia, I just listened to the singer from the link you provided.  He is pretty amazing and has a beautiful voice(s).  I think I will look for more videos of his singing.  I also love that song and listen to it often.  I did a Google Search about this singer and found the following information:  Marcelito "Lito" Pomoy (born September 22, 1984) is a Filipino singer, known for his ability to sing in both tenor and soprano. He is the grand winner of the second season of Pilipinas Got Talent.

Bubble, that young man sang with such ease. 

Good Saturday Morning from the icy cold and blustery,  rocky coast of Maine... 
Sunny but COLD.. 

Yikes.

All is well here as long as I choose to stay in and enjoy the sun shinning in my Windows to the World.

Sandy