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

I stayed inside too -30c ( -22F) Stayed inside yesterday too. Felt good to take a day off and do some sewing & practicing on the piano keyboard.

A Lay Minister works with the minister of a church - part definition: Lay ministry in the United Church of Canada refers to individuals who serve in leadership roles within the church without being part of the ordained or diaconal ministry stream. Lay ministers are not automatically licensed to administer sacraments.

So, I wouldn't do visiting, weddings, funerals, or such. After quite awhile I MIGHT be asked to fill in for a minister on vacation days, but likely only in my own church (not sure about that one).

Tomorrow is Robbie Burns Day (Jan 25) & I'll be wearing my tartan to church. I have a ticket for a Robbie Burns night, just down the street from me! It's going to be cold, but I'll only be 2 blocks from home. I'll still take my car because it's icy and it's not a "straight" 2 blocks, it's winding roadway and across a bridge.
We're having a Farewell to our organist after church, and I'm bringing some homemade ice cream (vanilla, cuz I don't know what her fav flavour is)

How are you doing in this storm, LindaKay. Do you have ice to deal with, too? One of my friends was telling me about ice storms. We've gotten about 5 inches of snow so far, but, at least it's the light fluffy stuff. Supposed to get a couple more inches, already shovelled twice this morning.
Enjoy your Robbie Burns dinner, Susan.

Thanks for the explanation Susan.
It's still cold here. We first got rain, then it froze and about 3. Inches of snow. Our city has very few plows, no sand or salt trucks. So our streets can be iffy to drive on. I don't go out unless I have to. It's supposed to. Warm up for a few days. Hoping the ice melts soon.
Our church services were cancelled today. Many businesses are closed.

I have lost Best again. Is there a newer thread?

No, you are in the right place.
Not many of us left here.

Linda Kay - hope that you're keeping warm, and hope they don't use salt on your roads. That's hard on the undercarriage of your car - promotes rust. We've switched to sand only for our roads.
I've come to a decision re: ministry. I may assist now & then, but I won't go for Lay Ministry. Last Sunday at church we had a speaker about Community Kitchens, and it struck me as something I'm "called" to do. There's one near me that had a rebuild and are creating a quota of staff.
I'm making a quilt for my daughter's 50th birthday in June, with a lot of reds, using signature blocks I got from each branch of my parent's family - my siblings & their kids (and mine of course) along with a family tree of mine & my daughter's dad's family.

I think you will enjoy working at the kitchen.
They don't use salt trucks here. Trucks from other towns came in a spread sand. It was 63 degrees here today. 32 for the low tonight. Can't complain too much.

I wish they didn't use so much salt on our streets. There is so much of it on the streets.
I see Betty's sister's dog won the breed at Westminster Kennel Club show today. I'll bet she is thrilled!
I got the photos back from the photo shoot that we did with my dogs. They turned out pretty well, I think. Adeline, in the first photo, will be going out to shows starting later this month.

Deb, they are beautiful dogs. Good luck at the dog show.

oh boy, did NOT realize how many staples there are in an upholstered chair lol I got 2 "barrel" (?) chairs and a game table for free, but the chairs desperately need to be re-upholstered because the fabric is so frayed and cat-scratched. I've never re-upholstered a complete chair - only cushions. It's day 4 & still removing the old fabric. As I go along, I'm cutting the new fabric. I'll recover them in cherry red pinwale corduroy.
As for the gaming table, something hot was put on it and there's a white patch on the wooden top. Has anyone tried the ironing hack to bring back the old finish? I tried it once & it didn't work. I may try it again and if it doesn't work, I'll try gold leaf.

Before, and after taking the fabric off
And my chosen fabric colour - pinwale couderoy

Looks like you will be busy. I have never done upholstery. Good luck.
I don't know much about removing stains either. Let us know how it goes.

Yes, I'll be busy lol
Tonight the Red Hatters group went for dinner at Assiniboine Park, then to a music event at The Leaf in the park. It was a great time!
Next month we're going for lunch, then a mani/pedi

Sounds like you enjoy the red hatters club. We have one here, but it's only for the very elite women. They do things that are out of my price range.

Lots of work on the chair, but, it will be gorgeous when it's done!
Heading down to Tallahasse Fl on Monday for a week of dog shows. I'm looking forward to catching up with some old friends there. Looking forward to the warm weather!

Have a safe trip, and prayers for lots of ribbons for your dogs.

Happy Valentine's day to all my friends.

Got home yesterday. Went from mid 80's and humidity to 25 and light snow! I'm so tired, but, it was a fun week. My girl didn't win while I was there to see, but, she did win yesterday, so, on the way to her championship. She's staying with a friend of mine until probably late April. Hope everyone here is doing good.

Wow. What a difference in temps and weather, Deb!
I like it here. Yes, we have 4 definite seasons but once we're in a session we don't generally bounce in and out like I did in Alberta. Next month we should be starting Spring. I've been still working on recovering my chairs (still on the 1st one) but I'm gaining more confidence and experience.
I got some good news on Thursday. I'd gone to the Radiologist as a follow-up to them seeing shadows on my mammogram I got the news on Thursday that there was no malignancy - check back next year Hurray! There's so much cancer in my family that I was scared. But, I'm healthy, so I'm good
Off to go practice my electric piano - I AM getting better

Glad to hear you are home, with another win for your dog.
Weather is crazy here too..80 one day, 30 the next.
Susan, glad to hear your test are negative.

Crazy weather, Linda Kay - is this going to continue, or will you be getting Spring weather soon?
Hey Deb, it was a win for your beautiful dog!

I got my "late" Christmas present finally, from Amazon - a Victrola! But........... it's defective (sound), and they'll send me a refund, but can't send a replacement. I'll send it back to them and get the refund within 30 days after they receive it. I found a nicer one on Marketplace for less and will pick it up tomorrow. I'll also give my return to Purolator - they're just down the street from me.
My daughter & son-in-law are taking me out for lunch for my birthday (a bit late March 15th, because they work & my birthday's the middle of the week - March 11th). I've suggested a birthday present for me - get together for a couple of hours once a month - lunch/dinner/play games/watch a movie, whatever - their place or mine, I don't care. I just want to see them at least once a month.

Sorry to hear your victrola was bad, but at least they are giving you a refund.
I hope you can see your family more often. Our weather is up and down. A few bushes are trying to bud. 70 or 80 during the day, down to mid 30s at night.

I hope you can set up a monthly meeting with your daughter and family. I keep trying to do that with my kids, but, there's always something coming up, it seems. I do try to meet them monthly for a breakfast out, and my granddaughter is involved in sports, so I go to her games.

oh my gosh. I forgot this page........ ooooooopsie, sorry ladies!

My daughter agreed to a once a month get together (lunch, dinner, in mine or their place, or games, movie............ something to get us together). It won't be the same time or day, but SOMETHING.
I love my new Victrola - it looks nicer than the one I would have gotten from Amazon. I took the defective one to Purolator on Saturday. Hope they get it quickly & I get my refund.
I found a hairdresser who'll put my hair up in a swiss braid at the back of my head. She'll do it for me on March 10th when I go out with the Red Hatters for lunch & mani/pedi. I'm going to a Theme Hotel the next day (it's set up as Mexico!) but of course my hair won't stay overnight so I won't have it for the hotel stay.

So, what are you ladies up to?

Enjoy your outings.
It's been very warm here.z =-. my daughter in law and I have been outside cleaning the yard, rearranging the chicken coop. We had baby chicks hatch about 2 months ago, and we had to build a separate cage for them till they get bigger. Our roosters were not getting along with them at all.
78 degrees this afternoon.

Happy birthday Susan. Have an awesome day.

I hope your birthday was wonderful, Susan. Wish we had some warmer temps here. We did for a few days, up to 70 last Monday, now supposed to get snow, and wind chills in the single digits by next Monday!

Nice weather for you! We aren't quite so warm
I had a wonderful birthday week. A couple of fellas (neighbours of mine) came for dinner on Friday and they said next time that they'll take me out for a buffet. Then on Sunday after church I had lunch with my daughter and son in law at The Leaf (several biomes including a Butterfly garden. The butterflies were out in full force), then I went to my girlfriend's for chili dinner. When I got home I practiced on my piano keyboard and I'm doing pretty well. Lots more practice to do but I play Whispering Hope right through.

Has this thread dropped off everyone's radar?

Has this thread dropped off everyone's radar?

I am hear. Hardy anyone posting anywhere on DG.
When I do log in, the pages literally take minutes to load.

I keep forgetting to check in.
Not too much going on. I fell 3 weeks ago, tripped and landed with my shoulder on a metal frame of a raised dog cot. Had a huge bruise. Got a cortisone shot in my shoulder yesterday, but, it's barely taken the edge off the pain. I hope it will help more with a little time. I need to do 6 weeks of PT, after that, if not better, MRI to see if I seriously damaged my rotator cuff. Hope it doesn't take surgery, but, 3 weeks pain is about as bad as when I hurt it.
Hope you all are well.

Ouch on the fall. I hope that by now you're doing better.
Linda Kay - I know, I hardly come here anymore. I love interacting with everyone and we've been together for almost 2 decades.
I signed up for a Dinner group and I go for my 1st on April 15th. The organizing group took a survey of me plus 5 others and will match me up with like minded people. Looking forward to it.
I'm almost finished the 2nd chair reupholstering. It's very gratifying to learn how to do it.

Praying therapy helps your shoulder.
Beautiful chair Susan.

Happy Easter ladies.

Happy Easter. to all!
Spring is officially here 🙂
Tomorrow morning (Tuesday) I'm starting Aquafit at 8:05 am!!
In a month (May 13th) I'm going to Scotland! I've been waiting so long for it to happen and now the time is almost here! I'm excited 😊

Oh my. Glad to hear that you are finally taking your trip. Enjoy.
Can't wait to see your photos.

I've been told "take your camera!!" So I shall lol I imagine that I can get some memorable pics. I have my electrical adaptor, and my visa, now I just have to get some Cdn $ exchanged to pounds to take with me. Local bank can do this.

There's a non-profit organization that will do my taxes over the phone, so yesterday I had a phone appointment, and the tax preparer could NOT get into my account. I could, but no one else can. I was on the phone 7 hours today, and it came down to "in 2022 we locked out everything in your account (even I couldn't get in, for 5 months) so now we're looking after your security and won't take the flag off your account". I was told to get my tax rep's ID and give them access to my account. Say WHAAAT? I can give them FULL access to my account, but the gov't won't let them have partial access just to file my taxes. I'm going to make an appointment with my Member of Parliament. This worked last time, in 2022. I even got to meet my MP afterwards. I've never had a problem with fraud but the government just wants to "look after your security". When did I become a child that I can't get my taxes filed by my tax preparer of choice? I'm furious.