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

Going back while I rest to read posts that I missed while away on the weekend..

Debbie, loved your photo's..were you that close up to the fox?

Judy, no wonder Steve almost had a heart attack, yikes...Joyce isn't behaving, you had best put your hands on hip and give her the what for like you do to us.

Anxious to see what you are crafting

Betty, about what size branches do we need, photo does not enlarge when I click on hit so hard to guess???? I don't get snow, but also don't have much for branches...except orange trees....

Hey Judy, sending prayers for your friend that has returning cancer!
Sure hope Joyce is not in too much pain! Hopefully she will not have to have surgery!

I think Cookie took a picture of that circle Christmas tree also?
I found this online. I think it is close?

Glad you found it helpful Marion. Kinda reminds me of B'rer Rabbit...Please don't throw me in that Briar patch....grin (cuz you'll never catch me if ya do)

Judy, good thoughts to Joyce and Diane...hope they both make full recoveries.

Betty - I must have missed where you posted an anxiety attack!! Hope you're feeling better.

Judy - thank you so much for updating us on Joyce...... ouch on the fractured neck and spine... IS her tailbone involved? I can just imagine how Steve must have felt....... scary for him.. to think your spouse has passed is not a thought I would wish on him (or anyone...!) Prayers for them both....
Sorry to hear Diane's breast cancer has returned..... and in the other one. Poor lady must be beside herself....

Hey Cookie - a garden club meeting? I have one tomorrow night, too - it's a community garden that's going to be started up next spring, next to our community center. They've never had one before.

Tonight is our church board meeting....
me busy, busy, busy

Just on the phone with social services - looks like we either have to have kids under 18, or in danger of losing our home (we own it, but pay lot rental)..... no income, etc.
As I said to them - it will either be utilities or rent this month. We're ok for food cuz of our church, and clothing is not an issue. When you're "old" and unemployed, it's distressing, to say the least....

they are to attach snowman faces to..six to eight of them, just branches varying from 2 to 4 feet, all depending what kind of container you will put them in.. I'm usually in the forest cutting greenery and branches in a blizzard..remember the time I could have died?? trying NOT to do something that stupid again so I'll be out on Sunday and will post photo

I have several close ups of the one in Frankenmuth..now why did I not have it here??? hmmm going back to look

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!!!

That was truly beautiful Susan..thank you very much for posting!

you're welcome, Betty

Never put hot lemonade into a thermos. I did this on Saturday and my husband drank the whole thing and didn't say anything. I did it today as he has been feeling really punky with a bad cough and cold and the hot lemonade seems to sooth his throat. Well he ended up coming home early so I decided to pour myself as well as him some. It was sort of pink in color and smelled really bad. I asked him if it was like that on Saturday and he said yes that he thought it was just pink lemonade. NOT ! ! He didn't notice the taste as he has a cold and couldn't taste it. Oh my God it smelled awful and tasted worse. I called Country Time to make sure I hadn't poisoned him and they assured me that I hadn't and that it was just the citric acid reacting to the metal. I learned that if all else fails READ THE INSTRUCTIONS ! !

OMG Jan, could have been far worse than him drinking what he thought could be pink lemonade..so easy to have happened..wow Bet you will read directions from now on..I'm so bad at not doing so, I try everything and as a last resort read directions..am sure I'm not the only one right?

Barb/Norm, thank you kindly for your card..made me cry!!! By the way, how is Norm doing, haven't seen you around much and have been fretting?

Ann should be here any time, t.v. bingo..why we keep playing is beyond me, we never even get close..guess you can't win if you don't play!

Finished a top, needs something to perk it up..will leave that until I'm ready to start machine quilting. Have 6 to quilt..I'd better stop making and start quilting..not sure if I'm gaining ground using up scraps

Judy, the xmas tree done with circles of scrapbooking paper

oh that tree is loverly :) and another very nice quilt Betty !!!

I feel like I sewed all day but sure did not accomplish much?? finished nothing....but further along on a few different projects.

Good luck at Ningo tonight!

Wow, I have never heard of that Jan,,thanks for letting us know.

Betty, I think the circles are fabric? Either way, it sure is pretty.
Love the scene's in that quilt, it is beautiful!

Carrot cake anyone? It is Todd's birthday andmthat is what he wanted. After he eats his fried chicken livers. Yuck!

This message was edited Nov 13, 2012 7:04 PM

cake yes !! chicken livers...no thanks... :)

Love the quilts, Betty!!! Esp the blue Christmas one!!

Hot lemonade Not in a thermos? thanks for the warning.....

No winnings, as Ann was leaving Kyle dropped in..now calling it a night..have a piece of birthday cake and will sing Happy birthday Todd as I eat it..pass on the rest of the meal though.

likely is fabric, have similar in scrapbook paper, the thicker pages..either one would look nice.

Got your envelope today LindaKay ..tks

Was hot, turned the heat down a notch now I'm feeling the temps drop and it's cold in here..time for fireplace to go on in the bedroom.

sweet dreams Betty.

Thunder, going to add either stars or snowflakes I think, been doing that a lot but doesn't matter seeing as they are going to different people.

Guess your mind works overtime right..you want to accomplish so much and clock is just a ticking that it's easy to get side tracked..
Riley is laying next to me, Lordy it hurts when,she kneads you..say it's a cat's way of showing affection but it hurts. Lol

BettyPause, How about silver fillament threads sort of shooting out of the star like tracks that shoot out of the Northen star.

I will send birthday cheesecake with strawberry topping for everyone from DD's birthday. Say a prayer for her, she has had a horrific two days....even with the birthday today.

You are all so talented with your projects, I am just so envious.

Betty, I was in the car lane away from the fox and used my telephoto lens to bring him close up.

Sweet dreams, I am heading to bed.

Debbie

Love the tree made with scrapbooking papers....kewl!!!

Jan, thanks for sharing that as I would have done the same.....really bad not to read instructions. Maybe I should start.

Thanks for the cake LK, but you can keep the chicken livers...any liver for that matter.

Busy day today as I need to bake a cake for Kim to take to school tomorrow. She has 4 students in one class who will be having birthdays (yes all tomorrow) and with hers on Monday......she wants to take a cake.

How will she decorate it Marion??? any special theme..she is always soooo creative!

Not sure but she did mention doing cat tracks across the top. The school mascot is the "bearcats" what ever that might be. Then knowing her, she will get started and do something else.

Funny how a designing plan once started ends up looking totally different.

Wish I was home..more and more as they day progresses I'm deciding to not only work from home Friday but tomorrow as well. Quiet here and even more so with Paul being away. Trying to keep really busy so that the day moves on..Got Suzanne's flannel for her rag quilts cut, thought it would take good part of the day, not, 10:00 a.m. and it is done.

Did bring a project in to work on so will rest these paining shoulders till noon and at least get the project cut.

Quiet here, are you all busy/busy or just not ingo gabbing?

I am trying to wake up. On my second cup of coffee and still dragging. Not much sleep here!

Are you unwell Debbie??? Is that why you aren't sleeping or is your mind just not shutting down.

I know you will appreciate this..

Mom called, went on and on how she wanted to go to Buffalo again, could I verbally give she and Jim instructions because they don't read map properly and Jim isn't too confident to drive in traffic etc etc

I'm going over on Dec 1st to post everything..can't make it before then unless I play sick one day (might do) providing of course there is no blizzard soooo I hung up, didn't wait 10 minutes of thought, drats, I could leave on the Friday aft. after work and head out, sleep in Buffalo then shop all day with her and drive home late Saturday..feel guilty..if that happens Debbie, could we meet up Saturday a.m. at Cracker Barrell?

Sooo this weekend I'm doing Saturday in the city, 2 big craft shows (larger than Hamburg Debbie) Lens Mill, Ganz (remember the place that you usually can buy beautiful gifts for under $5..don't need any but other girls want to go there and to carving store to buy Jim his Christmas gift .. Sunday have 2 girls coming over, had promised I'd help them with a project. SOOO hoping to find something special to put in the workshop box at one of these craft shows

During the week must cut DG workshop pieces and Sat. 24th Friends/Family workshop I have..the 25th I have to decorate and do all the outdoor live arrangements

Week after would be with mom in Buffalo, Sunday at my SIL's for Christmas Open House

Weekend after, hmmm know something is on my calendar,

weekend after that, family Christmas..Friday after that leaving for Florida

In between must wrap gifts, finish shopping..and I wonder why I'm tired!!! I know, I know, my own fault..know that but like every year before just can't stop to do nothing.

Told myself to sit and this afternoon cut fabric to start cutting the 2 sets of 6 placemats for DIL's, no sooner did I tell myself to do that did I cout out the fabric

Betty, can you take a picture of the pattern? Maybe I can figure it out.

Surprise and Hello to All!

I just tried to catch up a bit on the thread, but will have to go back and do a better job. Just wanted to say Hello! and let you know I'm in Wisconsin. We loaded on Oct. 5th and morning of the 6th and headed for Wisconsin at noon. It was a 10 hour drive with the two Uhauls and 4 vehicles following. All turned out good and got completely unloaded on Sunday and returned the Uhauls. Been a slow process of putting stuff in place and going through totes again. We even had to leave stuff behind that I really wanted. Oh well, it'll be okay. SIL is up close to our old place hunting so will stop on his way back and see what he can get on to bring back. I don't get out much as it's hard with getting the dogs to adjust from running free to not being able to. It'll all work out in the end.

Betty sorry to read about your MIL. Prayers to all.

Darling pics everyone, so enjoy looking at them.

Crissy belated HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Hope your day was special and all is well for you.

Anyway just wanted to say a big HELLO to all and let you know that I've been thinking about you alot and wish you and yours all the best and prayers and well wishes to all. Take care and will try to check in more often now that things are settling down here.

Shirley

Morning everyone, well, it is still morning here. Having hubby home for two weeks is nice, but he gets angry if I spend too much time in the computer, so I have been getting a lot of the afghan stitched together. Almost done.
Betty, sounds like you are still on the run! Do you ever stop? Love those placemats!

Hey Shirley! Nice to see you pop in! Glad to hear the move is all done. Take your time and unpack things, no need to rush and over do it! Praying that he can stop and pick up what was left behind!

Oh Shirley, you just made my day!!!

Sorry to hear about having to leave some of your treasures behind, just maybe you will get surprised and
SIL will bring them to you..often think of you and almost every morning when I open this thread I think of Tubby and his morning smile. Will take the furries a bit of time I'm sure to get used to not having all that acreage to run around. Are you settling in, are you finding it less stressful? Look forward to you being settled in and dropping in for morning tea.

LindaKay, grandma used to say 'long time sleeping underground' lol
having fun here with the placemats..if all goes well can finish them tonight - 2 sets of 6 unless I make one wrong cut lol No hubby, now is that why I can accomplish so much?

Cooked pork chops last night and a baked potato..first meal I've done for myself in lordy, better part of a month..was tasty, must do it more often

Yaaaaaay Shirley - SO missed you, girl! My hibiscus that I got in Tubby's honour blessed me with a big bloom yesterday! Beautiful and red! It sure made me smile as I saw the large bud and waited patiently for it. Guess it was a harbinger of you coming to see us!
Hopefully you'll be able to get the rest of your belongings through your SIL. Bless her...

Betty - love pork chops, but seem to be making more pork than usual, so going to see about fish & chicken more lol

How wonderful to see your post Shirley. I'm so glad to know you are getting settled at last. We have missed you here and you are always in our prayers. Hope to see more of you now...

wow, didn't work for Paul but boy you would have thought I was on piece work..talk about sewing lol
Suzanne is coming over to my house after work and will run her rag quilt squares through the accuquilt rag machine..likely take her a couple of hours..think while she is doing it I'll have hot bath and do nothing..helped her out today cutting fabric into squares so tonight I'm resting!

Not ironed but ready to quilt

time to leave

Very nice Betty. I played with the presents today-----

Hello To All !

Good Evening Night Shift !

HUGS Deb and Prayers for you and DD on her Birthday week.
Barb the "Presents" Quilt is so pretty !
Shirley - are you officially a "Cheese Head" now ? LOL... As with the others... it's like a pressie to see you post... hope you can drop in a bit more. And hope SIL can get your other stuff to you !
Betty LOVE the place mats... very nice !

Hey Gals/Folks: Since we are sending round Santa Swap?... can anyone who ended up with our "Traveling Books" that we circulated... could those be added to packages? I'm not sure who wanted to read what next.....

Dear Swap Buddy: Was a CLOSE CALL! Belle tried to snatch one of your pressies out of your box ! Got to it in time... but very unlike her! We had a long talk about that box was NOT hers !

Hugs all,
Mary

Barb, it's gorgeous, dont you love all the projects in that magazine? Do you stack up all your sewing and quilt them later? Suzanne and I got all the blocks rag'ed while I sewed the x's then I took out all the quilt tops wow do I have quilting to do.

Will stay home tomorrow and Friday, maybe I can take a few Christmas totes out, get started.

Guess you all will start your decorating once Thanksviving is over..one more week..are you all having family? Must be difficult having thanksgiving and Christmas so close together!

Lol so laughing, did she think it was a toy or something to snack on? Oh oh, think one of the culprits is me Mary,will go in search of it and yes, would be nice to add it to the Christmas box

I am soooooooooooo tired... Yesterday, i overdid it completely and ended up with my Sciatica giveing me an all night fit... and today off to the doctor for blood work... arrrgggg... will try to get caught up with you ladies and all your doings tomorrow.. I intend to just bake a pie or two, mop floors and then just lay a round like a slug...

Hmmm... Betty methinks she thought it was a TOY.... if something to snack on ....

well..

I don't suppose it could have been saved ROFLOL!

Carolyn... baking pies and mopping floors sounds like a FULL day to me ! :)

Hugs
Mary