**Sweet Interruptions** Room 265

Good Monday Morning sistahs.

Jaye Blue might be fighting the rest for his food, Cookie? Or he's just a finicky eater. He may be small, but blue's a pretty color for a Koi and I know you'll watch out for him!

Cindy, homemade wine isn't good for consumption!! It's not like smooth monshine!! Smart gal.. yep.. use it for stock! Nice pic of you and Doug. Doug looks so happy.

Once I'd use Kahlua, Barb, or any liquer that can 'improve' coffee! Now it's non-alcoholic flavored cream.
Never tried Disaronno or any flavored vodka. Gave up strong liquor except for JD black label.
Now and then, when I feel a bad cold coming, I'd drop some JD in my hot tea.
As for brandy/cognacs.. that's something most all Chinese would indulge during Chinese New Year, weddings and first son's birthday. Ahh.. give me an VSOP!

If it's not Top Chef Masters, then I've missed all the cooking shows. Addicted to the I.D channel.. told Kel that it's a great learning tool :D Do follow Project Runway since its' inception. My guilty pleasure is Duck Dynasty.
What's yours?

Off to the gardens. Another day for transplanting. May the Lord gives you the weather you need. I need some rains!!

Got hooked on Swamp People for awhile. Quite an education (she rationalized). I like American Pickers and Pawn Stars.

Carole Kel loves American Pickers and those Pawn stars from Louisiana.
Since you love antiques, you must like Antique Roadshow.

Hmm.. Skinny Girl? Aren't they the ones marketed by Beth of Real Houswives of New York? If drinking it make one skinny.. I'll take bottles!! Hic!

Yes about Antiques Roadshow, used to watch it faithfully.

I think her name is Bethenny Frankel (?) and I believe that with the help of Ellen DeGeneres she's getting her own talk show. I don't think I would be too keen on watching it but apparently a lot of people might be.

Yeah, I don't know about the "Skinny" part. :-D)))

Morning everyone! Jaye, what is that beautiful flower?

We watch a lot of the American Pickers and those Pawn stars and storage wars. Yesterday we watched the movie Tombstone again, that is a good movie.

I watched jane eyre

Love your blooms Carole! Can't figure out what they are. Gallardias?
Don't watch too much talk shows here but I do like Ellen's brand of comedy. I saw her once at the famous Cafe DuMonde in New Orleans, years ago. She was in black leather and hiding behind shades.. still a recognisable figure!
At the same time, two tables away, Louisiana Senator John Breaux was having beignets with his morning papers.
When when returned to our hotel.. that infamous Edwin Edwards was in the lobby with his mistress!! He was my ex 'idol'.
Oh.. should have played the lottery that day!

Got in from fighting against the mosquitoes. Forgot my Bounce. Waiting for sleeping beauty to wake up so he can dig a few more holes for me.
In the meantime, I think I'll cook some Mexican flavored rice and meat.

LK, that's a vanda orchid. This Malaysian FB friend has an orchid nursery and his orchids aren't of the common variety.

Jane Eyre is a classic, Sis.
Is Tombstone good? Is it a movie or a tv. series, LK?

I usually pick one fav series a season. This one is Cabot Cove on Hallmark Ch. I had read the entire Debbie Macomber series and am enjoying the show.

My aunt and cousin were on Antique Roadshow when it came to Detroit. Getting tickets is the easy part, you must be ontime or you won't be allowed in. They each had a small item appraised and were pleased with the results.

It is a movie Jaye, here it is on youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5t-nWlQNefQ

I have always liked Jane Eyre and all the other Brontë books (and those made into movies).

I don't think I've know anyone who's been on Antiques Roadshow. That would be fun. I like the end when people go into that booth and say what they found out about their items. Too funny sometimes.

We just had a storm pass through and it's still raining. I think we've gotten about an inch and a half out of this storm so far this morning. So I'm still inside. I have a few things I'd like to plant but I guess that's for another day. :)

I haven't seen Tombstone in quite awhile. I'll have to check on it again.

Jaye, that's Rudbeckia subtomentsa 'Henry Eilers'. Some of it had flopped over on the ground so I cut it and brought it inside yesterday. It is so tall this year ... 6 feet maybe.

Thanks LK, I got that bookmarked.

Karen, I've never read any Debbie Macomber books. Was at Books A Million recently and it surprised Kel that I didn't pick up any books even the latest by Khaled Hosseini, I can't seem to keep my eyes stay open after 2 pages!!
But magazines with pictures, like quilt mags.. I would be faithful till the last page.

That Rudbeckia is beautiful!! Never grown any here as the regular ones are MIL's favorite. Perhaps next year, I'll try to get some like yours.
Carole, here are the favorable dates for planting.

12th-13th Plant Peas, Beans, Tomatoes, Peppers, And Other Aboveground Crops In Southern Florida, California, And Texas. Extra Good For Leafy Vegetables. Plant Seedbeds.

17th-18th Good Time To Plant Aboveground Crops.

22nd-23rd Favorable Days For Planting Root Crops, Fine For Vine Crops. Good Days For Transplanting.

27th-28th Root Crops That Can Be Planted Now Will Yield Well. Good Days For Transplanting.

29th-30th Any Seeds Planted Now Will Tend To Rot.

31st Most Favorable Day For Planting Beets, Onions, Turnips, And Other Root Crops. Plant Seedbeds And Flower Gardens. Good Day For Transplanting.

Well, I just got a letter from the Federal court for JD in Wilmington. That town is 70 miles away from here, and there's no way with my legs, I can drive that far.
Moreover, I don't know my way around and Kel won't be able to take me there.
Will just have to write a letter to them.
Don't you all just hate to be called for JD?

Just tell them you are disabled Jaye, That is what I do when I get those letters. But our court house is only about 5 miles.

I normally get letters from the City Court, which is about 20 miles.. this is the first.

Gosh, I haven't been summoned to jury duty in a loooong time. I probably shouldn't say that and jinx myself.

Well, I was trying to see the Persiad meteor shower but we have total cloud cover. Sheesh! What's a girl to do?

I'm trying to think of the most recent book I've read. I have this absolutely hilarious (to me) old book titled "How To Live With A Calculating Cat" (1962). I read it periodically when my cats have ganged up on me all at once and I need some cat humor. Great illustrations as well. I did a re-read of The Good Earth, one of my all-time faves.

The Good Earth was a wonderful read! I should do just that myself - reread it!!!! It has been a long time since I read it. Pearl Buck is amazing.

I like james Patterson, and vc andrews

Do you have a favorite James Patterson novel, Kathy?

I agree, Barb, Pearl Buck was amazing. She wrote over a long period of time and I had forgotten she wrote "The Kennedy Women" - that was a good biographical read. I enjoy biographies and autobiographies and historical novels.

I like whodunnits too ... Agatha Christie, A. Conan Doyle, in particular.

Morning ladies, your up early!

Hi Linda - alarm clock kitty woke me up early as usual. :)

I like the alex cross series

Oh Barb, Carole.. The Good Earth's a classic. That was a compulsory reading in school when I was 14. These are others by her that I have to reread. "The Three Daughters of Madam Liang", "East Wind West Wind" and "Peony". Will just make a trip to the library.

Anyone read Amy Tan's works? You'd love "The Joy Luck Club". A movie was made too, and I had to go out of town just to watch it, as very few theatres show it.
Last one she wrote was "Saving Fish from Drowning". I highly recommend Amy Tan.

Sistah Judy had introduced me to Michael & Kathleen O'Neal Gear and I've been hooked to their Native American series.
As soon as one is published, I'd rush to BAM! Why oh why must hardcovers be so pricey!! But, am too impatient to wait for cheap paperbacks and my county's libraries don't carry their works.

These great books will keep my eyes glued to the pages till the wee hours!

I quit reading whodunnits Carole. No fun when I can't resist the temptation of reading the last page! Lol!

Good morning sistahs. Hope today will be a great day for all. Wishing for rains here, but likely to be tomorrow.
In the meantime, if I want my potted plants to withstand 90s., I'll just have to pull that hose!!
Think I'll do some soup later. Yep.. may be hot outside, but with the a/c running, a good vege soup will be okay.
The dish I concocted yesterday went well. Kel ate too much of it that he's too full for breakfast this morning!
Rice with browned ground meat, veges, and seasoned with 2 packs of Taco Seasoning (added to the liquids). Don't you all just love easy fixins?

What's on your agenda sistahs?

jaye call me

Cross posted.
Sis Kathy, I 'read' James Patterson on the movie screen!!

is it good reading? how can you keep up with the words?
got up this morning my smoke alarm needed a new battery. it kept chirping. I changed the baterries in all the alarms and still hear chirping. it is baby bird. gonna cut his tongue

Yes, the Good Earth is a classic. It was never required reading for any of my classes but I found it anyway thanks to a wonderful high school English and Literature teacher. She influenced my life quite a bit.

Joy Luck Club is a good one. My mom had a dear friend who loved to play mahjong and I always think of her when I hear that title.

I've never been tempted to read the last pages of books. Don't know why. So I still read whodunnits.

Love my crock pot for easy meals that don't heat up the kitchen. :)

Getting ready to go to the Dr. for lab results.

All the best. LK!

Carole, crockpots and microwaves... working mothers' best buddies!

Anyone grow peonies? I love them, but I keep killing them!

No peonies here.

I had them until we moved here, always one of my favs. They always did really well for me maybe because they were my grandmothers fav too and I got all hers.

So angry. Saw my oncologist the end of May, paid my co-pay and thought that was that until I got another bill from the local hospital. Seems they "own" the building where my Dr. practices and sent me a bill for $49.16......."usage charge" for going into their damn building. Ever hear of such BS?

Sis Kathy.. please get you a chicken for gumbo and leave your bird alone!

siliolegma, that sounds like a racket. I've never encountered that - so far. :(

I grow peonies but can only locate photos of one of them from this year.

My insurance company is trying to get the charge nullified but as far as I can see I have to change Drs. in order to avoid the extra fee. They tried to say it was because the lab in that building did work but I have lab work every time and the fee was new this time. What ever they are calling it, it's a rip off.

Oh Karen, I can relate.
When a hospital bought out my doctor's practice, a $80 bill went up to $145. No explanations, just had to accept the extra charge. Though I'm uninsured, they won't offer any discount.
White collar criminals!! Not just the banks!
My doctor used to help me with my meds, but not anymore. Hospital takes care of the salespeople.
Same with labwork. It's triple!!! My doctor, knowing my circumstances, suggested a cheaper lab elsewhere that I can use.

Thanks Carole. They are so pretty aren't they? I wish Sarah Bernhardt could survive in our heat :*(

The same thing happened when I went to the same hospital for some tests ordered by my Dr. I was charged $99.14 "usage fee". I'm thinking it's because the insurance companies pay less so this is how they are making up the difference.

It's easy to see why Americans spend more on healthcare than any countries in the world.
A big giant rip-off!!

Karen - try getting in touch with your states insurance commission. If an insurance company here changes it's rate or percentage charge, it has to be approved by the commission. Sounds like a scam to me too!!!!

Ins. Co. told me some hospitals are now charging usage fees. Evidently it's a way they have figured to bleed us some more.

I guess I should be thankful that have Kaiser insurance, we've been with them over 20 years and have had good treatment. Each year prices go up there too and we don't have a supplement to medicare.so having an MRI or Cat Scasn costs $170, sure don't need any more of them for DH. His chemo is free, but $20 for lab work before each treatment. Some people hate this insurance, but if it wasn't for our doctor DH wouldn't be here today. Non-profit, just what does that mean when they charge so much for their services?

We have had our coolest August since 1919, but temps are on the rise. Sept. can be a very hot month, not looking forward to that either.