Best/Worse/What did I learn today?chat with friends

Moved us over from here

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1235591/

It has been quite a day..gave a hug to Darlene from you all..she said 'bless you all!'

Ann decided she also would go home, get cozy and call it a day.

My mind though drits to friendships, new and old, today I saw what to me was tragic

Darlene and Mike were so close to Gary and Sheila..they did everything together.. If you saw one couple you saw the other. Gary and Sheila had a daughter Ashley, Mike and Darlene became godparents..

About 8 years ago on new years eve Darlene and Mike were on their way to Gary and Sheila's for a new years eve gathering...coming around a bend and over the snow bank came full speed ahead a snowmobile , hit Darlene's side of the car..it was two teens

There on the ground with a broken neck was Ashley, the young fellow also not expected live did..Ashley spent months in the hospital, learned how to walk, wore the head crown for so very long..

This trauma, not knowing if their daughter would ever be able to walk, having Darlene injured put a rift between 2 couples even though Mike was completely in the right, Gary and sheila looked for the why, how could this have happened and a drift between the two happened..no words spoken since

Today Ashley, Gary. And Sheila stood at the coffin, deep in thought..help onto Darlene as if the would never let go..what a waste and ending to a great friendship!

Guess it is a lesson to us all..mend fences while you can!

Eyes are heavy, off to bed!

My tears are flowing Betty. It was understandable but oh, so sad.....Life has a way of turning around and kicking us in the behind now and then to wake us up. Mending fences is sometimes so difficult to do but I also beleive there are some fences that are better left alone. The hard part is knowing which ones may be mended....
Off to watch the big debate here tonight. Sleep well and get as much rest as you can. It's been an emotional week for you. Know that we all love you and are holding you close for comfort.

Very sad Betty. I've got tears flowing too Barb ! ((HUGS)) to everyone in need...

I'll pop in later...
Mary

I agree strongly, Betty - mend the fences.
Also agree with you, Barb - know which fences to mend, and which will present you with barbed wire if you "go there".
My brother is a fence I'd like to mend, but for now I have to treat him like barbed wire, until he calms down.

So sad that Gary & Sheila had a rift with Mike & Darlene. I suppose the rift is now closing? I surely hope so.

Aww ... hugs Betty! Praying for mended fences for them.

We lost a friend yesterday ... only 52. She had Leukemia, the same thing my Daddy had. The funeral is tomorrow.

I posted Moses birthday pics on the pet forum if you want to go look for them ... ☺

Going looking for them Susan right now!

Morning, imagine, staying in bed until 7:30..must need it!

Suse I'm so ver sorry for your loss, hugs for you my friend. Bet Moses got a birthday cake..will he share! If course he will

Thank you all for yur support this week, I sure felt the armwraps.

LindaKay thanks for the move .. When I move us over next time will use regular computer and not iPad

Had an email from Ann this morning, promised I would go to the movies with her this afternoon, so movies at 1:30..she wanted to see something that I cannot remember name ..hmm lady with dragon tatoo maybe???

Mom called last night, she did something to the bobbin, old machine, doubt she will be able to get it fixed. Hate to be poor Jim to have to listen to her about that. Lol

Coffee/cereal, not too exciting but you are welcome to join me.

Might play in craft room for a bit this morning, it's kind of resting when there is no pressure

Morning everyone! Good for you Betty sleeping in till that awful hour of 7:30 am!!! lol I unfortunately have not made it to sleep yet so I know there is a nap on my schedule for the day.

My goodness Betty Jim must be up for the Saint of the year Husband award.Your mam sure found a keeper with him.

Susan sending prayers of condolences and comfort your way. Waaaay too young to lose a friend.

Betty the scenario you described concerning Mike, Dar,Gary, Sheila and Ashley is far too familiar of a story for a rural community. A few years ago here along the township road that I used to live on there was a horrific crash.Involved speed, alcohol and drugs - in the end the whole mishmash of what happened was very hard to believe. Two best friends were whipping along Desert Lake Rd out 'backroading it' when the driver lost control of the pickup on a curve. On the way into the rock cut the first vehicle hit head on a PU travelling in the other direction. This all happened on a blind curve and a van came around the curve and hit one of the PUs. When the dust all settled the 2 fellows in the PU that caused th accident were dead. In the PU and also killed were 2 best friends - who just happened to be the brother of each of the 2 in the first PU. Another friend was badly injured in the second PU. The van that came around the blind curve had the sister of 2 of the boys in it. She was thrown clear of the van and very badly injured. No deaths in the van but boy there were 6 teens all with severe injurites. Our community cried and ached for weeks. When one lives in a rural area accidents like this happen all too often.

BB soon - hear W calling for me.
Dianne

What did I learn today? Two things from Wind in the Willows. A cudgel is a long carved stick, usually with a round ball on the end. It is usually a defensive weapon. My spousal unit carved one to look like a snake so when he walks the dog at night he has a defensive weapon. They were both attacked by 2 boxers one night who were mostly after our beagle, Smokey. Between my husband kicking them and Smokey able to get under the car and bit them on the snout every time they tried to get them, the boxers were routed. Hence the cudgel.
I also learned in this child's story that they frequently called each other an ass. I was shock, but come to find out, that expression was strictly meant to mean a donkey and not part of human anatomy. I still found it funny because the animals in Wind In The Willow spoke mostly high English.

Back for a break..can one call it a break when they have almost done nothing except sew for 1/2 hour, move last of the undecorated Xmas trees outside for carry to back shed? Break regardless..

Dianne, how right you are about small towns, if there is an accident it is bound to be someone known..and when death occurs, someone has to be of blame, if the dead, surely it has to be the living. Sooo hope you are able to nap today, even for 10 minutes at a time. You have me. Buckling Dianne, yes, people wonder WHY Jim is still working at the age of 78.. Bet you can guess why ..lol. I'd have packed my bags at least 20-30 years ago if I had been him!

Guess your not sleeping means Warren had a bad night? You will soon need hospital care yourself..guess one good think is we aren't getting the snow! blizzards that would entail you being out shoveling..one great help..

You are both in my heart and prayers each/every day

Hello, Betty, been awhile since you've dropped in for a visit...hope it's a sunshine day for you that brought you in..did you have a good Christmas?

Omg Betty, Smokey could have been killed..thank goodness he had his cudgel ..smokey must have been terrified..saw Sailor attacked one day and I was really traumatized..think I'd have been using some fancy un English words had I been there..

Dianne, I have met Jim....and that man is so wonderful. And yes, Betty is VERY right...he is up for Sainthood. He really is such a sweet and caring person.

Betty hope you and Dianne both can get some rest today.

Not sure what lies ahead for my day, the week ahead is picking up to be a busy one.

Waving to all....
Debbie

OH My goodness....didn't know Woodspirit is a "Betty" also.....and thought "Dear Lord, Betty has lost it, now answering her own posts to herself. She needs a vacation" Then scrolled up and read Woodspirits about Smokey.

Maybe I need a nap!

Debbie

Good morning friends.
Betty I'm so glad to hear you got sleep at last. The body will get what it needs one way or another and it just needed that sleep.

Now Dianne, I'm hoping more prayers will help Warren sleep so that you can get rest too. I know how difficult it is for you and I, too, keep you in my prayers constantly.

My town isn't big at all but it is larger that Betty's and I'm guessing it is larger than Dianne's as well. But here, too, the fences get put up and they are so hard to break down again. Norm and I have only been here for four years, and It was obvious to us from the first month that there were "sides" in town. It is difficult to remain "in the middle" but that is where we are and try hard to stay there. The easiest way is to never talk about someone else unles it is a positive thought. So far, it works!!!

Norm has returned with groceries... off to help put things away.....

Debbie, you are so cute! Most times I've lost it!
Hope your week is full of firsts..imagine wasn't that long ago you thought your life would entail living with a wheelchair and now look at you, full stride ahead! So this week, more good things to be thankful for. Debbie, must say yesterday though he was losing his patience. Could count in 40 years on one hand I've ever seen that. Lol

I so want to visit with you..hoping in February I'll come over, providing weather permits..mom says she wants to go as well, hoping it is Jim who will brave that weekend.

Barb, especially hard when you aren't what locals call 'locals'..
You and Norm are such a couple who enjoys each others company that it's not a must to try and get into a click. I so feel bad about not getting away at Christmas that who knows, one day you might find me on your doorstep..might hitch a ride with Bernie as I heard him gabbing about going to the lodge. What is for supper?

Speaking of eats, promised myself I'd eat more regular so should put something on for lunch

Here's the noisy little sweety. As lovable and fun to be around, he is fiercely jealous of us and very hard headed.
The nightly walk is usually from 10 p.m. until past midnight. It's a very long leash so he can roam a bit. If he finds a dead squirrel that has probably been hit by a car, he picks it up, carries it around until he finds just the right site and then buries it. I have no idea why.

Betty, I will be ready when you are. Especially after January 20th....as Shane will be away at college. DH is going away for a couple days 24th to 26th....but that is middle of week. Will just be me and "the child" here, and she works from 1:15ish til 11;00 at night. I am excited for that week. lol

Right now I am making up appointments I missed while unable to travel. Tomorrow is PT and the dermatologist to have a couple spots checked. Just a routine thing for me from living down south for my young years and we didn't know much about the sun then.

Ahhh Smokey is adorable..imagine, their instincts come in and they want to bury.. Now that is one long walk..I'd be awfully tired..maybe that is what I need in evenings, out to walk Sailor.

Debbie, would be on a weekend, thought our long weekend in February - family day but imagine lots of Canadians travel then so will rethink..I could come over for a day ride..spend the night at Sharon's, bit better than 1/2 way mark and leave extra early..I'll keep checking weather for upcoming weekends

Sun is coming through front window, warm as can be..wondering why when I swe or vacuum a few times a day and yet still see dust..but an hour ago I dusted, with sunlight shinning through see particles all over..drats, drives me crazy!

Good Morning!

Awe, thank you all, but I've got to clarify. Our four wheeler is not an one you ride, it's a heavy moving cart.
Regardless, I was more concerned with the on coming vehicles getting into a big pileup because of something falling from my truck.
It was just insane...DH would have gone to store but for the huge hole in the house. They Installed the absolutely gorgeous Oak Door.
Plus, not sure if i told you about nearly hitting a kid in the parking lot...That's probably what put my nerves over the edge. Thank God, I was paying attention, because the Mom wasn't. Had I gotten out to yell at her they would have called the cops!

Got to tall, my son can read me like a book, as soon as he got home said what's the matter Mama? I rattled off the happenings...He is so cute, gave me a hug and told me I had am emotional and physical day, go to bed and put day to rest!!

LOL, I did not wake with a hangover, ...I barely had 2 beers, followed my son's advise, crashed at 10. Felt good too slept till about 7. Dh took Jake to wrestling match.
Match started on Friday night. LOL, Jake Wrestled a girl!! He felt pretty awkward at first, but showed no mercy. She is #2 in Nation, so he just proceeded as though he was wrestling his sisters!! Because it was at our HS, Steve went to watch him. Said it was a good match and Jake ended up with the Pins!! After yesterday he was at 2/0

Then it just so happened, Dh decided he should not go to appointments, but fix our leak instead! yaya, omg the leak was in the wall had to remove a pretty large section to get at the problem...Little did he know, fixing leaks was to be a major deal the rest of day! Had another small leak from bathroom...the drain seal needed replacing! Then, he decided to put a quieter flush on toilet, lol thought water was drained and yikes, big splash in basement!!

While he did that, I continued getting Christmas Boxes down to basement...Well, i couldn't stand his work room any longer...was infringing on the the household storage space!! So the entire day, I took to getting his stuff in order! MY gosh, tools in every bucket, bag and box. ROFLOL, I will never be in need of another screwdriver. I found tools he has been searching for high and low!! He probably has everything needed to finish the work on this house and then some, lol.
I was thoroughly exhausted..but felt really good and he was beyond thrilled!! Well, now the basement is the place to hang out in, so started to straighten up, ackkk, found more tubs of work stuff...Today I will work some more, but will take lots of breaks...

OMG, Found a help wanted for work from home, doing mailings and such...We decided i will give it a try, so please just pray this isn't a scam!
We figure it will be at least a help with groceries...And if I bounce back into my mass mailing skills, I could also earn enough to support Health insurance!
Then i won't feel so guilty about staying home.

I am glad you are just work/resting slowly today. Awe, Jim is Awesome Betty!!

Cute funnies, Susan!

oh my goodness Wood spirit!! How scarey. Sorry all that happened, hope all are ok.

Suse, I am very sorry for your loss.

Betty, Such a heartwarming story. I hope that Ashley and Mom will continue to renew their friendship.

Debbie, you amaze me!!

Mary, got to smile at you, I can feel right through the computer how excited you are to share your books and I am enjoying the book sharing as well, it's really fun.
yippee, I will keep watch Rosie. (edited to Say) Rosie the mail lady, not Rosie a book, lol.

Ok, Breakfast is ready..

What's everyone doing today?










This message was edited Jan 8, 2012 10:47 AM

Judy,hope today is a relaxing day for you..you sure do need one..Hopefully Steve put an end to the leaks..you must have mold spots Judy..make sure you disinfect with javex..

Wow, almost hit a kid,how tragic that would have been..you would never have driven again! Congrats to Jacob, grea win even if she was a girl. Lol

Hope the job is not a scam and it's just the best job for you,at home and yet working!

Now that you mention scam..you know how I always purchase travel insurance when I cross over to USA, get it from my car / home insurance company..well, Friday when I picked up my mail there was a check for $12.30 from a different insurance company..says it is a rebate??? Won't cash it, one never knows likely a scam and once you deposit it into your avpccount goodness knows what can happen..

Just went and got it..says TIC travel insurance - Royal Bank of Canada...maybe that is who my company deals with..says overpayment..maybe when I got last insurance and paid via invoice on computer they may have overcharged me?

Darlene called, we gabbed for about 10 minutes and then company dropped in, said she would call me later! Says its quiet in that big house..omg it a biggy..

Suse - sorry about your loss........
Betty - Smoky is sooo cute - likes to bury dead animals? hm well, maybe that's a good thing...... unless he digs 'em up later ewwwwwwwww
Betty - re: scam - maybe TIC Royal Bank is right - call your insurance and they can straighten it out for you. woo hoo - what are you going to do with such a windfall? I guess Ann's place will seem big and she's rattling around in it. Wouldn't matter how small it was (I know, it's big) she'd still "rattle around" in it. Maybe more so, if she was always seeing Mike regularly (bigger place means you may be several rooms away, sewing, while he was doing other things.)
Judy - lol on your hubby thinking a leak is a small job - always shows other jobs that need to be done...... Great that he's pleased with his work area now being "the place to be" lol

Evening all,

Tried calling Darlene but telephone is busy...was on the telephone with her when Ann arrived to pick me up for the show...promised I'd call her back but think others are keeping her gabbing! She told me that Don, great friends of theirs was over earlier, had gotten a call from an acquaintance who just might purchase Mike's 36' cruiser..Darlene said that would be a relief..didn't want to tell her though with the boat being on the same lake it's not easy..boat motors tend to have a sound of their own, when I sold the Foxy Lady I could hear her passing by the house every time she was out...hurt like the dickens..so glad she sits in my heard now..should make mention of it.

Movie, was a long movie..plot line great, wasn't a moment it wasn't into it..however, there were a few parts that were JUST a little too graphic, actually more than graphic..I personally think they could have gotten their point out without it..all and all enjoyed it.

Lol Susan, won't even buy my coffee for a week!

Police were almost called. Lol

Seems Greg called, no answer! Kyle came over..car in hard, my sewing machine on, fireplace going, food recently cooked but no grandma..got a lecture..if I go out, please let someone know seeing as I've been not myself one never knows...gee whizzzzzz. Lol

awwwwwwwwww they're so sweet - maybe you should put a note somewhere they can find it if they drop in? DO NOT put it on the door - open invitation for home invasion, and same thing for leaving a message on your voice mail.
BUT - putting a note somewhere saying what time you left, where you've gone and "Expected time" of return (ya never know when you run into a friend and lengthen the time out by going for coffee, etc).
I think if you explain this, it would be the most loving thing you could do.

Suse - HUGS for you my friend... so sorry to hear about your friends passing... so very young as well...
Very sad the stories of small town tragedies...

I'll pop back later...

((HUGS))
Mary

Morning all. Kenyan roasted coffee this morning. Nice robust taste and the smell is divine!

That was love talking Betty!!!I can see why Greg and Kyle were so concerned about their nor to be found mam and gmam. LOL Aren't you so lucky Betty to have them to be concerned about you. Years ago when I first started teaching I went to Ottawa with a friend one weekend. Now you have to remember I lived 5 hours away from parents' house and hadn't lived at home since I was 16. Well I forgot to mention to my parents that I was going away that particular weekend. Just to factor in to their anxiousness when they couldn't get me on the phone was I was going through a very messy separation/divorce and there was a restraining order out against my first DH. My mam called every hour on the hour for almost 48 hours and was getting ready to call the police in Oshawa where I lived at the time. I just never gave my going away a moment's thought but after I realized what my parents went through that weekend I tried to remember to let them know if I was going away. Felt like a big step backwards in time for me - just like I was a very young teen again.

Barb our village is very small. With all of the fishermen visiting on a summer's day we still do not number 300 in the village.I live outside of the village so am considered a farmer whether I farm or not. lol You are so right about 'sides' in rural communities. Like you and Norm, DH and I have made an effort to stay in the middle as much as possible. Oour community is further divided by those who want a 'wet' village and those who don't. This can cause quite disruptive and hostile cliques at times.

Susan was your Bob from London? I was born and raised in Woodstock or Woodstick as I call it which is right down the road from London. In fact as teens we used to go to London on dates ....... very exciting and made one feel very grown up.

Going to go back to bed I feel like I can still sleep a bit. Hooray!!

BBL. Make sure you all do something nice for yourself today ladies!!

Dianne

Morning, done it again, turned the heat down and brrr cold ..having coffee with a rag quilt warming me up..got to learn not to play with thermostat.

Starting of my week been quite some time that I had what seems a normal week..off part of the week before Christmas , Christmas week, then last week in complete turmoil..will be difficult to get into a routine.

Sitting here, not rushing..seems odd. Lol
Even have ME in mind..thinking of packing a lunch of nutritious foods..shocker isn't it!

The 9th, imagine, by the time we finish this week we'll mid January..have to say not much of a winter to date but they are calling for snow Thursday.

Another few weeks we'll be thinking 'spring and gardens'..
One day at lunch I will stop into Garden Gallery, always feel a sense of spring's early arrival walking through their pretties..have some gift certificates to spend there.am sure something will yell. 'take me home, take me home'

Might go downstairs and look at the xmas blocks I made yesterday and see what I can do with other squares that resulted from a technique I tried

Hope you are waking to a sunshine day

Waving Dianne as I grab a coffee, yep it sure smells inviting.

Did you teach in Oshawa Dianne, if so what's years? My kids went to school , kindergarten, grade one/two/three..we lived just off park st, Grenfield st. The mall which was something back then was about 4 blocks away.

I'm sure your parents had one heck of a weekend fretting about you...yes, sometimes you think you are the one reverting to child with kids..I always call if going for the weekend, if I don't Cathy is usually here house sitting so not a problem..

Glad you are going back to bed, hooe you are able to get a few hours of sleep!

Morning everyone! Thanks for the coffee Dianne!

Hope you got your house warmed up Betty?

Good Morning...
Yeppers, thank you for the Coffee!!
Hope you get in a good morning sleep Dianne...

Still working on basement, oh my gosh it's a big relief. I have been putting it off for ages, waiting and waiting for DH to help, sigh should have known better, lolol.
But with doing it myself, I've gotten rid of some junk without his I'm saving that for?? Not a real lot to throw away since the last big flood most everything in plastic.
It's more getting things put back in place kind of cleaning...I've cleared a large table so i can sort parts and get them in containers.

So that's my day not too much else.

Barb how is your project going? Still organizing??

What's everyone up to?
OK time to get to work, see you in a bit.

Judy, nice time to be cleaning, don't you think everyone likes to purge in January..Thank goodness nothing got ruined in the water..

I'm using spare room closet, kids room closet and 2 sets of drawers as well as my 2 sets..who wears that much clothes?? So this weekend my goal is one closet, 2 dresser..that is it!! Lots can go to SAlvation Army

ROFLOL, OMG, Betty...Clothes?!!? A whole other project!
But I am with you, We got a Card that Salvation Army will be doing pick-ups on the 24th.
So will have some bags to fill and even better that I have a due date...

We have way too many hoodies, jackets and coats...Some haven't been worn for years, so out they go!

So here was the source of our problem. Where the leak on basement wall is, we are tearing out and new drywall will be put up.
It's good in way because now we are sort of forced to do the work,lol.

And Just lookie what I found!!

Totally forgot it was down there, It's a Sears & Robuck Kenmore.
Cast iron and has a knee pedal. Plugged it in and ohwah it actually works!!

Dianne - my Bob was born in Perth, and although his step-dad was in the forces and traveled all over Canada, their home ended up being ON (London, yes).

Judy, what a fantastic find..those manhines will outlive us both

Do oil

Gosh I miss you guys!!!

Judy, hope your replacing that lead pipe with a good PVC one?
Love that machine, and if you don't have space for it, you have my address! ^_^

Hey Cookie, we miss you too! Hope your doing well?

Think she is bringing it to Canada when she comes for the gathering Linhakay..got the exact place for it. Lol


Joyce, miss you boucoup/boucoup as well...how are you doing and how's your dad.

Forgot to mention I had a little mishap this morning..well not me but one of the kitties..

Was sewing and omg I could smell urine near my machine..had a couple of remnants sitting in a plastic bin, kitties always sitting somewhere, WELL, all my work thread in Christmas colors, about 20 spools got pee'd on

out to the garbage so now I will have to replace before using Christmas colors

Time for a nice long break!

Oh yes Linda Kay, PVC for sure and so glad we had all the parts needed. lol if DH had to make a trip to menards he would have gotten side tracked lol.

Haha, ladies...re:sewing machine, but I think I'll clean/oil her up and put her to good use! The legs on the cabinet need some glue?
MIL gave me a gift certificate for JoAnn's so will invest in a few pieces, needles, oil, bobbins, etc...

Betty, Big Bummer about your threads getting peed on!! oh, oh is kitty mad at you or just couldn't wait to out??
Just caught birdie doing a no,no antagonizing MO, guinea pig!! Shooed her away and went right back, so got sent home!

Joyce!! So good to see you. I'm glad things are working out with Dad. And I am glad the leg is so much better too.

Well, we are starting to think about Bahamama Party!! it's a month away so DH want to get the invites done...He thought of a really cute idea.
We are Celebrating his 50th (was in May) and My 50th in Feb... so He wants to put our photo's from young age...LOL, I have only one picture of myself at about 7
Anyway invite to say Look who's 50...We've spent our entire adult years together, so I'm thinking of finding all the pics of us together and make a collage, we'll see.

This afternoon, I am watching the Gladiator...

What scrumption lunch did you fix for yourself...I had the last leftover burger.

Betty, you should be able to soak those threads in soapy water?

Judy, that sounds like a nice party for you guys!
Gladiator is a good movie!
We had tuna for lunch!