SWEET INTERRUPTIONS #249

Gigi's memorial is actually turning into a lovely park, Sue.
Yep, a fir tree will of course be a wonderful addition to it. Can you plant one now, Sue? Or do you have to wait till Spring?

Slowly Cindy.. slowly. Don't aggravate your thumb please. After you have that hand surgically corrected, than you can fly on that bike!
As long as there's no frost, I don't see why your buds won't bloom. Some of my brugs were still blooming when the nights hit the 40s.
Alas, with what Kel had done, it might be 2 years before I can enjoy blooms. Lol!

Pegi, most of the time, holes are signs of grasshopper infestations. Last year it was really bad for the brugmansias, due to a very hot summer. This year, I find fewer grasshoppers. Brugs are tough. Have a couple of brugs that grubs had chewed on all the leaves. No problem there, the leaves grew back.

Sorry LK, I forgot that you don't have the space for a Flynn. I might get one next year.. with income tax returns!! Lol!! Beats struggling to get a quilt done under a narrow throat!!

With what's left on the hambone, I am cooking a pot of black beans. Kel doesn't know it yet, but it's meat free Saturday for him!! He's eating too much meat protein, I believe that's why he's gassy!!!
Ooops.. the black beans might make it worse, huh sistahs?
Chinese use beans in desserts only. They believe the sugar cuts down the gas. Think I'll add maybe a little.

Kel needs Beano LOL
yes we can plant this time of year. Its a good time since everything is dormant .
take it easy on the hand Cindy. sending healing thoughts to you and your hand.
Susan you said the " S " word again !
poultry show tomorrow. i realy don't want to go but savannah does . up at 5 am

Slapping my forehead! Yeah BEANOS!! Thanks Sue.. why didn't I think of that!
Go to sleep Sue. You need to store up some energy for tomorrow ;)

ooooooooops Sue - "fluffy stuff".......... better?!?!

SIS KATHY!!! You must have no nails left!!!

Yikes, what happened to the elephant? I just read the outcome.........

What did I miss?

Texas A&M ate up the elephant :(
The sad part is, I had to congrats them.. as my god daughter married an Aggie..
That Johnnie "Football" Manzer is freakin' awesome!! I think A&M had been reviewing the LSU game 300 times to win this epic game!

Sorry sis Kathy! But still in contention for bcs championship unless notre dame is favored

Woohooo... Sis Kathy.. are you having a meltdown?
FWIW, Bama will beat Ga. for the SEC championship! Murray isn't a dual threat like Manziel (sp. corrected). I have absolute faith in that, even though Kel is a Ga. fan.

Morning everyone!


In honor of Veterans day!

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1285685/
There is a Christmas swap going on, if anyone is interested. Check it out. Sign up ends next Wed.

well i m glad we went to the poultry show. I always have a good time with the friends we hook up with. But i did get lost on the way home ! uhg. I had to call Ric to help me find my way back LOL i m so pathetic ! Can't find my way out of a box .
We got 3 new silkie chickens , they are black and oh so pretty !
tuesday is my last day to press cider.... sad for me.
Tim loves to hear you all talk football and he always tells me what to say back to you, but i never remember what he says LOL
Found a large quantity of missing socks under Lucy's pillow in her kennel..... nuff said

lol missing socks, eh? LOL on you........ maybe you should give her her own socks. Or perhaps she just likes your "scent" Sue?

naw i stink Susan so that can't be it ??? LOL

roflmfao!!

good morning my sistahs
raining her today
inside day
but i need to go to town and do errands. our truck payment is late :( uhg.
savannah is home sick
off and swimming

Sue, I hope the insurance office is open. It's a holiday today for some.
Ha!! So.. if Lucy could hoard your socks, I should start looking into the cats' favorite play area for Kel's missing ones?
Awww poor Savannah, hope you feel better soon sweetheart.

Morning sistahs. I had to turn the bedroom a/c on last night! It was a very warm night. 70* today with a high humidity of 79*!!! Moisturizing my face for sure!

Sistah Judy if you're lurking, I drank some pickle juice, and yesterday morning I had severe headaches. Looked it up, and found that if one has high bp, to be careful! I wasn't careful, but I only had one case of leg cramp instead of all night!
Yes.. sistahs I'm starting to 'wean' out of tonic water. Quinine is supposed to fix leg cramps, but I guess after taking it for so long, I'm immune to it.
The OTC pills helped me last night. Guess I have to start rotating them.

What to do today? I could let Kel sleep and just take off for town :D
Yep, the truck is fixed and it costs a pretty penny. My ex is very mechanically inclined and if it's not computer related, he could fix anything... but not Kel. So, he's supporting a mechanic for sure.

Better get my behind in gear, and don't let the day slip away as I'm fond of doing lately!
Have a wonderful week sistahs.

Jaye, all salty things are bad for ones that have high blood pressure. Be careful please? Glad to hear the truck is fixed.

Jaye - wouldn't your ex drive down to fix Kel's truck? LOL I know, he's quite a ways away, so I know he's not "handy for you to use his "fix-it" talents

Susan the "S" word just showed up at my house ! and what are you going to do about it sistah ? hmmmmm

Sun?

LOL!

lol
well, it's appearing here now........ the Sun, that is!!
very nice, indeed! We have Chinook weather coming too, we can tell by the "arch" of clouds just above the horizon. We sure love to see the arch, cuz we know the "other s" word is going away, and we may even be able to wear the lightest of jackets (windbreakers).

Between tests today, I'm learning how to use the Health Walker my neighbour gave me - kewl as dirt!! (any gardener would understand!!) :-)

Hello Ladies,

Yesterday my gf Jenny came down and took riding lessons. She did good but started off kind of rocky. Headed right for garbage dumpster at first, ended up in the grass, lol. She did real good after that.

I belong to an online biker club. One of my friend's posted this today...Please add little TK to your prayers

Hello all my friends. Today I found out that a co-worker of mine will be off work for 6 weeks attending to her young son who has brain cancer. She also has a 2 yr. old and 5 mo. old. Her family is leaving tomorrow (Tuesday) to stay at Ronald McDonald's house at Stanford while her young son (Talan Kai, his friends call him TK) undergoes radiation. Although in good spirits, she will be there during the holidays. She believes in "prayer" and I offered to start this page for her. She is just asking for support through "prayer". She will keep me updated on his progress and I will be copying everyone's thoughts and sending them to her via email. I know how all of you have always come together for one of our own---I am now asking the same for a young boy. Thank you all in advance.


So sad, no child or anyone should have to suffer from this awful disease Pray they find a cure soon

Cindy im so sorry to hear of her son's cancer. Sending many many prayers to the family.

Prayers, warm thoughts, and love go to little TK. The poor little tyke....... and his family must be beside themselves with worry......
Dear Lord, please watch over little TK, and give ease of mind to his friends and family. Bless all the surgeons you have given talent to. Guide their hands and their knowledge to give him a good result on his surgery with an easy and speedy recovery.
In Jesus' name we ask it, Amen

So sorry to hear that Cindy, thanks for letting us know, so we can send lots of thoughts and prayers!

Sending my prayers as well for TK and his family.....

Once again this year, I’ve had requests for my Vodka Christmas Cake recipe so here goes. Please keep in your files as I am beginning to get tired of typing this up every year! (Made mine this morning!!!!) 1 cup sugar, 1 tsp. baking powder, 1 cup water, 1 tsp. salt , 1 cup brown sugar, Lemon juice, 4 large eggs, Nuts, 1...bottle Vodka,
2 cups dried fruit.
Sample a cup of Vodka to check quality. Take a large bowl, check the Vodka again to be sure it is of the highest quality then Repeat. Turn on the electric mixer. Beat one cup of butter in a large fluffy bowl. Add 1 teaspoon of sugar. Beat again. At this point, it is best to make sure the Vodka is still OK. Try another cup just in case. Turn off the mixerer thingy. Break 2 eegs and add to the bowl and chuck in the cup of dried fruit. Pick the fruit up off the floor, wash it and put it in the bowl a piece at a time trying to count it. Mix on the turner. If the fried druit getas stuck in the beaterers, just pry it loose with a drewscriver Sample the Vodka to test for tonsisticity. Next, sift 2 cups of salt, or something. Check the Vodka. Now shit shift the lemon juice and strain your nuts. Add one table. Add a spoon of sugar, or somefink. Whatever you can find. Greash the oven. Turn the cake tin 360 degrees and try not to fall over. Don't forget to beat off the turner. Finally, throw the bowl through the window. Finish the Vodka and wipe the counter with the cat

LOL! I like that recipe!

I remember as a kid, my mom, grandma and two aunts cooking Christmas dinner. They would sip on Brandy and Egg Nog while cooking.......needless to say dinner was usually late, lol. But I remember one Christmas, where my Auntie Bev, had sat down at the table after every thing was cleaned up, she had konked out for a few minutes and someone took her hand and put it on the neck of an empty brandy bottle, lol

Those were the good ole' days, now Christmas is just another day to me. My family has gotten smaller, everyone going different places for Christmas and my kids are grown up..........................Plans for next Christmas is a trip to Hawaii, just Doug and I.................

ive had a stmache virus since friday. watching the game saturday made it worse. and for the record, WE DESERVED TO LOSE
thinks me oughta go to ttown and stirr up some elephant ----!

Hope you get to feeling better soon Kathy.

Sorry to hear your not feeling well Kathy, hope you get rid of that virus soon!

Cindy - could you send me some of that Christmas cake? I could get drunk off the fumes IF you put any vodka in it (nah, it's all in the COOK lol)

Kathy - hope you get past this stomach virus quickly.......

I received this via email today - it truly brought a tear to my eye....get out your hankies............

Letter from an airline pilot:
He writes: My lead flight attendant came to me and said,
"We have an H.R. On this flight." (H.R. Stands for human remains.) "Are they military?" I asked.
'Yes', she said.
'Is there an escort?' I asked.
'Yes, I've already assigned him a seat'.
'Would you please tell him to come to the flight deck. You can board him early," I said..

A short while later, a young army sergeant entered the flight deck. He was the image of the perfectly dressed soldier. He introduced himself and I asked him about his soldier. The escorts of these fallen soldiers talk about them as if they are still alive and still with us.

'My soldier is on his way back to Virginia ,' he said. He proceeded to answer my questions, but offered no words.
I asked him if there was anything I could do for him and he said no. I told him that he had the toughest job in the military and that I appreciated the work that he does for the families of our fallen soldiers. The first officer and I got up out of our seats to shake his hand. He left the flight deck to find his seat.

We completed our pre-flight checks, pushed back and performed an uneventful departure. About 30 minutes into our flight I received a call from the lead flight attendant in the cabin. 'I just found out the family of the soldier we are carrying, is on board', she said. She then proceeded to tell me that the father, mother, wife and 2-year old daughter were escorting their son, husband, and father home. The family was upset because they were unable to see the container that the soldier was in before we left. We were on our way to a major hub at which the family was going to wait four hours for the connecting flight home to Virginia .

The father of the soldier told the flight attendant that knowing his son was below him in the cargo compartment and being unable to see him was too much for him and the family to bear. He had asked the flight attendant if there was anything that could be done to allow them to see him upon our arrival. The family wanted to be outside by the cargo door to watch the soldier being taken off the airplane. I could hear the desperation in the flight attendants voice when she asked me if there was anything I could do. 'I'm on it', I said. I told her that I would get back to her.

Airborne communication with my company normally occurs in the form of e-mail like messages. I decided to bypass this system and contact my flight dispatcher directly on a
Secondary radio. There is a radio operator in the operations control center who connects you to the telephone of the dispatcher. I was in direct contact with the dispatcher. I explained the situation I had on board with the family and what it was the family wanted. He said he understood and that he would get back to me.

Two hours went by and I had not heard from the dispatcher. We were going to get busy soon and I needed to know what to tell the family. I sent a text message asking for an update. I saved the return message from the dispatcher and the following is the text:

'Captain, sorry it has taken so long to get back to you. There is policy on this now and I had to check on a few things. Upon your arrival a dedicated escort team will meet the aircraft.
The team will escort the family to the ramp and plane side. A van will be used to load the remains with a secondary van for the family. The family will be taken to their departure area and escorted into the terminal where the remains can be seen on the ramp. It is a private area for the family only. When the connecting aircraft arrives, the family will be escorted onto the ramp and plane side to watch the remains being loaded for the final leg home. Captain, most of us here in flight control are veterans.. Please pass our condolences on to the family. Thanks.'
I sent a message back telling flight control thanks for a good job. I printed out the message and gave it to the lead flight attendant to pass on to the father. The lead flight attendant was very thankful and told me, 'You have no idea how much this will mean to them.'

Things started getting busy for the descent, approach and landing. After landing, we cleared the runway and taxied to the ramp area. The ramp is huge with 15 gates on either side of the alleyway. It is always a busy area with aircraft manoeuvring every which way to enter and exit. When we entered the ramp and checked in with the ramp controller, we were told
That all traffic was being held for us.

'There is a team in place to meet the aircraft', we were told. It looked like it was all coming together, then I realized that once we turned the seat belt sign off, everyone would stand up at once and delay the family from getting off the airplane. As we approached our gate, I asked the co-pilot to tell the ramp controller we were going to stop short of the gate to
make an announcement to the passengers. He did that and the ramp controller said, 'Take your time.'

I stopped the aircraft and set the parking brake. I pushed the public address button and said, 'Ladies and gentleman, this is your Captain speaking I have stopped short of our gate to make a special announcement. We have a passenger on board who deserves our honor and respect. His Name is Private XXXXXX, a soldier who recently lost his life. Private XXXXXX is under your feet in the cargo hold. Escorting him today is Army Sergeant XXXXXXX. Also, on board are his father, mother, wife, and daughter. Your entire flight crew is asking for all passengers to remain in their seats to allow the family to exit the aircraft first. Thank you.'

We continued the turn to the gate, came to a stop and started our shutdown procedures. A couple of minutes later I opened the cockpit door. I found the two forward flight attendants crying, something you just do not see. I was told that after we came to a stop, every passenger on the aircraft stayed in their seats, waiting for the family to exit the aircraft.

When the family got up and gathered their things, a passenger slowly started to clap his hands. Moments later more passengers joined in and soon the entire aircraft was clapping. Words of 'God Bless You', I'm sorry, thank you, be proud, and other kind words were uttered to the family as they made their way down the aisle and out of the airplane.

They were escorted down to the ramp to finally be with their loved one.

Many of the passengers disembarking thanked me for the announcement I had made. They were just words, I told them, I could say them over and over again, but nothing I say will bring back that brave soldier.

I respectfully ask that all of you reflect on this event and the sacrifices that millions of our men and women have made to ensure our freedom and safety in these USA, Canada, Australia New Zealand, England.

Footnote:
I know everyone who has served their country who reads this will have tears in their eyes, including me.
Prayer chain for our Military...
Please send this on after a short prayer for our service men and women.

They die for me and mine and you and yours and deserve our honour and respect.

'Lord, hold our troops in your loving hands. Protect them as they protect us..bless them and their families for the selfless acts they perform for us in our time of need.. In Jesus Name, Amen.'

Of all the gifts you could give a Marine, Soldier, Sailor, Airman, & others deployed in harm's way, prayer is the very best one.
GOD BLESS YOU!!!

today was my final day at the cider /orchard ... bitter sweet.
he gave us a bonus... but not cash ? so we got taxes taken out ? weird ? normal ? or just " play by the rules "
austin just noticed i type with out looking at the comp. He told me to do it again mom do it again.
well got dinner on the oven.
cindy can i post it on my FB ?
need some prayers. FIL has bladder cancer and will have surgery on the 20th of Nov. i will go with them. I m so glad they asked me too.
he seems upbeat about it and positive. He is on oxygen too so i hope there are no complications.
i could use some of that vodka cake ! LOL

Sue, prayers for your FIL. Hopefully it has been caught early and a speedy recover will be possible.

If the bonus wasn't cash, how then can they take out taxes? That does sound rather odd.

Simple dinner here tonight as Kim has a meeting tonight. Good ole ham "sammich" on rye bread. Can hardly wait.

my bonuses at work...when we get them, are always a check, and always have taxes taken out...

Sending prayers for your FIL Sue!

Fried chicken livers here, YUCK! Todd likes them and it is his Birthday, so that is what he gets for dinner. plus a carrot cake I made.