Best & Worst, what did I learn today. July 2025

Mike, you are right!! That does look like Jack & the beanstalk!! HOLY COW!

Susan, I am happy to hear you have been satisfied with your purchases.

Linda, I will bet you are missing your puppies but enjoying the reduction in chaos.

Jack & the Beanstalk, for sure, Mike!!
Have any of you ordered through WayFair? I did, and supposed to be getting my poster bed tomorrow or Tues, and both my bank & WayFair say the $$ is "pending". Just spoke to my bank and they said that this is "usual" with Wayfair.
btw - got a reconditioned Pfaff on Saturday. I haven't sewn with it yet, because my sewing table hasn't been installed. I've been so busy with other things that I haven't had time.
Tonight I went to my sister & bil's "lodge" for dinner. They normally sit in the dining hall, but because I would have been a "5th", they put us in a private area so there was room for me. I was there 3 hours. When I was leaving, I couldn't find my car key.- it was in the ignition with the car running, locked. Good thing I have a CAA membership because they were there in 10 minutes, and unlocked my car. I had about 1/8th of a tank of gas, so I got fueled up right away. I need to get a second key - I'll get a fob now that I'm in a city where I can get one.

OUCH! I'll bet that was scary Susan! I only have ONE fob & I suppose I should get a 2nd but it's about $350. It is impossible to lock my CRV with the key inside. I'm surprised your car let you do it.
We're grateful I have the 2nd set of keys/fob for Marie's keys. She frequently misplaces her keys and then we use mine until we find hers. We always know where the 2nd set is because I am consistent where I put it.
We had 2 of Marie's granddaughters over & 1 of the boyfriends. We had a nice lunch & cards after.

For me to get a fob is $150, and to set it up to my car is a further $150. Apparently I do need a key AND a fob. I only got one key for this car when he used it as a down payment on the home.
Today I'm hanging up things on the wall - plaques, mirror, etc.
I applied for my Manitoba Health card, online, today & should have it in 4-6 weeks. In the meantime, I'm still covered by Alberta Health for up to 3 months.
I got my Letter Of Experience from my insurance company & tomorrow Dianne's going to get my Claims Letter from the Registry Office and I'll take them both to the Registry Office here to change my car & insurance to Manitoba. I'll get a new driver's license and two plates (front & back) for my car. In Alberta we only got one, for the back.

Goodness Susan, that must have been scary for you. My car will not lock.if the keys are inside. FOBS are so expensive. Did you ask the guy you got the car from, if there is a 2nd key.
Glad you had a nice visit with the grandkids Pat.

why are my posts not showing up? This will be my 3rd attempt. I'll try to remember what I posted before
Yes, Linda Kay - it was unnerving, to say the least.
I got my mattress delivery today, and tomorrow I'll get my 4 poster bed frame (double size, I don't need Queen & double will fit in my bedroom better).
I filed for my Manitoba Health yesterday, & got the paperwork to get my Manitoba driver's license. Next, I need to get my car safety checked in Manitoba, then I can get the licence plates - 2 required in MB, but only the rear plate needed in Alberta. It's just a lot of running around to make sure that I'm "legal". I could do it within 3 months, but I prefer to do it now.
Today I picked up a floor lamp, end table & a small media cabinet for my electronics. All fit in my car lol
My post finally went through!

This message was edited Aug 12, 2025 5:02 PM

good to hear you are getting all set up Susan.

Over 100 the last few days. yuk

I have an appointment to see the dermotologist this afternoon. I have an area I want her to look at. It likely is just sun damage but with my strong family of skin cancer, better safe than sorry.

Is Betty ill? I must have missed something.

Betty isn't coming back to this thread, she says. It's her story as to why.
Well, Pat - I'm sure it is just sun damage. That's what I'll be praying for.
I got my bed frame today & have spent 4 hours so far, putting it together lol (screw G joins part 10 to part 2, with Hex J yadda yadda). Good thing I'm persistent.
Yesterday I installed my wall-hung sewing machine table. Today my neighbour helped me bring 2 big media cabinets that hold all my DVDs & VHSs. People are asking me why don't I just stream or use my PVR?!?! Well, I don't HAVE a PVR for one thing, and for another - I have a lot of DVDs & VHSs and a lot of them (although older movies) cannot be seen streaming - not YouTube, or Tubi either. I'm not paying for another service when I have the movies & the players - why should I? Oh, and NO commercials lol
Going to go have dinner, then work on my bed frame, them put the new mattress on. I'd like to sleep on my new bed tonight :)

This message was edited Aug 14, 2025 5:52 PM

Good luck with your doctor Pat.. sending prayers as well.
Susan, sounds like you are getting settled in pretty quickly.

LOL,Susan, the good thing about buying used is NOT having to assemble something!

Yep, just sun damage and the other skin issue was of no concern either. I have had a brown raised spot, irregular in shape & it sometimes peels., it's on the back of my shoulder and only the size of a dime. She said they never cause problems & just let it be.
We had rain last night & it's still drizzling!! What a pleasant change from 100 degree weather! I went outside barefoot, deadheaded and weeded; it was so nice. I came in wet but happy.
This spring we had a drip system installed to cover all the pots and a timer on a soaker hose for the front narrow flower bed along the garage. It has been such a game changer. I HATE watering pots, I am not consistent and generous enough with the water. NOW, I don't have to be. I just need to remember to add pot fertilizer occasionally and I get good results. . We also added a faucet with irrigation water, we had NO faucets in the back yard, irrigation or house water. It has all made life easier.

Yes, no assembling, BUT I have to book the elevator & find someone to deliver the furniture, which is a pain.
SO glad that it's sun damage to your skin & nothing more serious, Pat.
I promised some pictures - my sewing machine table open, closed, and the "leg" open where I store my thread spools.
Also, my bed assembled & bedding put on.
My neighbour below me wasn't too impressed that I was trying to assemble my bed at 10pm Thursday but I assured her that there is no more assembling, nor furniture being delivered. I'm DONE!

This message was edited Aug 16, 2025 1:21 PM

Your place is beautiful Susan.
Pat, glad to hear no serious problems.

Linda Kay, that's just part of the den 😆

It looks lovely, Susan. I love the quilt you have on your bed! I'll bet you're glad all the assembling is done with, too!
Glad to hear there is no concerns, Pat.
We had bad thunderstorms go through here yesterday evening and overnight. Temps dropped from mid 90's to mid 70's in a matter of minutes. Winds were fierce, but, thankfully the power stayed on, there are some small branches down in the area. Now everything is soaked, and we're supposed to be back in the 90's, it's already horribly humid, with standing water everywhere.

That sounds miserable Deb. I am sure the rain I enjoyed was no where near as intense as you got since you have standing water.
Susan, that is REALLY coming together so beautifully. I bet you are over the moon.

Linda, are you getting any sewing done? I am sure NOT. Marie has been keeping me busy with altering her clothes. I am ready to be done with it but how can I say no when she can't?

I think I was lucky with just standing water, I heard on the news this morning there are still over 60K customers without electricity, and there's an apartment building about a mile away that had it's roof blown off. Thankfully no serious injuries.

OMYGoodness, Deb! I'm glad there were no serious injuries! Makes me glad that I'm not on the top floor, but one down from it!
Yes, Pat, I'm over the moon!
Silly me - I used a magnet to attach my new birth cert to my fridge, and now it's gone "bye bye". I even pulled the fridge out to look for it. I've applied for yet another one. I tried to apply for a Manitoba driver's license but of course without my birth cert, I can't get one (I don't have a passport yet). So, I've applied for an express delivery of my birth cert, AGAIN.
On Wed I've booked a flight for Torrington so I can be there for my friend Dianne's 80th birthday. I'll be there 6 days, returning on the 26th. I promised her (if she was good) that I'd fly in & come to her party. My daughter is taking me to the airport here, and picking me up afterwards. A friend near Torrington will pick me up & take me back to the Calgary airport. Looking forward to seeing friends again.

Susan, I hope you get your driver's license and everything you need in time for your flight. In US now, you can't fly without some documents.

Deb, yep, sounds like you got off easy!

I have 2 quilt tops done. One is on the longarm, 2nd one will be tomorrow. One in blues, one in purples. Both are the carpenters star design. They will be shipped to a friend of mine in Michigan. I will get a photo in a few days.
Susan, I hope you get your paperwork soon.
Deb, sounds like you got one heck of a storm.

Pat, I have a valid driver's license in Alberta for 3 months after I move. I ordered a new birth certificate and if it doesn't come before my trip for Dianne's birthday, it'll be here when I get back..
Deb, that quilt is my '40 year project'. that I finally finished in 2020. I love it, and the colours.

Wednesday, after putting in 6 hours of volunteer work at SVdP, we went to the Goodwill outlet to purchase items for the free "store" at SVdP. Most of Wednesday there were only 3 pieces of mens pants available for the public, we were just so short on men's clothes. We went to GW to buy some items by the pound. We had 3 carts full and I went out to move the car into place for loading. Marie stayed in the store. SOMEHOW only 6 of the 9 bags made it into the car. I kept telling Marie we were short bags but she said she loaded them all.
Today we unpacked and sorted the bags and sure enough, we were short. I called the store, They had the missing 3 bags in a cart. I was able to go back and get them. I was really relieved that they had discovered the problem and kept our stuff for us.
We are in the midst of trying to choose a phone carrier and replace my android phone with an Iphone. My hearing aids are not playing friendly with the android and a phone ap we paid for is not compatiable with android. Ugh.

Looks like everybody is off busy with life! Good!

We went to 2 different yard sales to pick up their donations after their sale ended on Saturday. We filled bags and came back to the house to sort & hang up clothes. We can't get it all in one car.

Hi, enjoying my visit with Dianne in Alberta. She had a lovely birthday party with about 75 attending.
I leave about 5pm Tuesday to return home.
Weather's been good

I am happy to hear you are having a good time Susan. I am sure your heart feels much lighter now that you have moved and have the worst behind you.

Indeed, Pat. As much as I love visiting, I'd love to be back in my own home. It's still rather new to me.

Pat, that is a lot of donations. Glad you are able to do that.
Susan, glad to hear you are getting settled in.

We've now filled 2 cars and the clothes are all on hangers ready for the SVDP store.

SVDP store?

You will make lots of people happy.

That's wonderful that you have so much to donate! That's a lot of work, though.

SVDP, St Vincent de Paul, they run an outreach project for the homeless and a food bank. They also have a "store" where people can come in and get free clothes. The store only open Wednesdays from 10.30 to 3.30. The preparing clothes for the store is where Marie & I volunteer. Sometimes we have hard time getting the clothing donations we need. We also assist people who have experienced a disaster or getting out of Domestic Violent situation get things they need to set up a household.
There are 60 to 80 volunteers (the number varies on the day) and only ONE paid employee.

How wonderful of you & Marie to do this, Pat! I'm sure there are a lot of people who bless you for your volunteering.

Tonight I'm using Command Strips to hang pictures. I'm not sure where I'll hang them all, but slowly & surely I will. I'm going to hang artwork in the den, and family pictures in the living & dining rooms.
Hurray, I found actual curtains for my 4 poster bed! I'm going to cut off the ring that would hang them from the ceiling and drape the sheers over the posts of the bed
I'm still tired from all my travelling & visiting. I fall asleep on the settee while reading.
Tomorrow I go back to Provincial Insurance office to get my Manitoba driver's license (plates for the car & license for me) & then I need to get a Manitoba Safety done on my car. I got my replacement birth cert (now I have TWO lol guess I'll get a safety deposit box & put one in it)

My daughter in law and I help our church to give Bible study twice a week for the homeless. The past couple of weeks we have grown from 8 to about 32 people. We make sausage and biscuits and buy bananas for them every week. We have been told there are more than 800 homeless here in Amarillo.

Linda, From 8 to 32 is a wonderful growth! I'm sure the sausage & biscuits and bananas help bring them there but showing up for Bible study will surely help some of them if they let it. Is there any opportunity for free fruit in your area? We live in an agricultural mecca so something is always being harvested.

Susan, it's so exciting to hear about your new place coming together.

I wonder how Deb is doing?

yes, 8 to 32 is fabulous growth!
I have some friends coming to see my place for the first time on Sunday. I need to do more setting up, pictures & such. I got the filmy curtains put up on my 4 poster, and it looks better for it.
I got my temporary MB driver's license (my picture looks better than the one I had taken 4 years ago!!), but still need the safety done to get my car's license plates - that's scheduled for Sept 5th. I'll get my key fob for my car on Sept 4th.
Sept 8th is my 1st day of league bowling! Looking forward to it :)

edited out, duplicate post

This message was edited Aug 29, 2025 10:16 PM

I'm doing ok, just been busy between work, and trying to get some yardwork done at home. We're finally getting some really nice temps, even getting down to the upper 50's at night! I still need to trim the bushes in front of my fence, but, I'm getting things done.
Tomorrow I'm going to a county fair in southern Wisconsin with my daughter. It's something I've gone to since I was a kid, my kids grew up going there, and I still go, usually on my own, but my daughter asked to go with this year, so that will be really nice. I never get enough time with her because of her work schedule.

Good to hear from you, Deb
A county fair! And with your daughter - how nice :)
I love county fairs - used to go to the Morris Stampede when I lived in Manitoba before, and next year I'll go. Small towns have always held a special place in my heart. I'm not a fan of big events with large crowds. Sounds funny from me, who just moved from a tiny hamlet to the big city, but "home is where the heart is" and my heart is here, with my family.