Coffee and...Part 29...! :-D

Darius - ENJOY! Sounds like a great time!

Have a good time, Darius and cheers along with that bloody mary!
Maria

HI to everyone, I have been reading up on what you all are doing.
Think we should give a certain landlord the benefit of our experiences--with the nastiest weeds we have ever met-I have one with little prickles that burns for hours.
Checked in the other night with a chatty note, but it wouldn't load. Lack of sleep for the next two nights pretty much kept me from the computer.
Got Lots of sleep last night and today, so will off to bed early and hopefully get up in time to water plants and dig for last trade of the season. It is back to hot/humid and we are 7" low on rain for the season. Things not watered have been crisp for a long time.
We could have contest for the most interesting fall- I have one with a mole that is quite intersting...and another with a beautiful bruise in a place that I couldn't show and get "poor babies"=I mean what good is a bruise if you cannot get sympathy.
Off to check in a Katrina forum.
Please everyone. take care and have a good week.

How old do you have to be to qualify as a GOB? Don't know if I am one or not, but surely feel "old tonight". Let me recount my day and night. Couldn't sleep last night, darned arm woke me up at 3:30 a.m. This is after taking 3 tylenol p.m, and had 2 beers. Went to bed at 1:00. Well got up, took more tylenol, and at 5:00 lay down on the couch and dozed about an hour. DH, a very good neighbor and I breaded fish for 2 hours this morning in preparation of the fish fry. Ran around getting things ready, and finally about 3:00 p.m. rested for an hour. Then took shower and arrived at community center to begin to cook the fish. We had a grand time, food was delicious, and fed about 60 people. I love to do things like this, but it sure is a lot of work.

Molly, so sorry to hear about your upheavel. Wish I could help pack boxes, dig plants, anything. Don't wish anybody any bad luck, but sounds like your LL deserves some if he has cheated on his taxes.

Mary and Darius, breakfast and brunch? Are there any tricks to get this to happen?

Carol the dog show story was the best!!

Meezer, kid trouble, we only have one son, and was hyper as a child and has been into more trouble that I care to count. Been in every jail within a 50 mile radius. Mostly DUI. One time I commented to my DH that maybe we should have had more kids, and then one of them would have been our "good one". DH has dry sense of humor and replied, "this may be our good one". Made me thankful that I didn't know what I was missing. He turned 40 this year, and I am seeing some sublte changes in him. Hope he gets it "together" before he is 45!!

|Happy, get on your soap box anytime you like. I agree, you have earned your money, so spend it while you can. Be it on yourself or on children, Grandchildren, whatever. I agree with the bumper stickers that say "I'm spending my kids inheritance"

Meezer, I thought you would reconsider. How kind of you to give some while you can. Man that corn on the cob sounded great.

Some friends who came to the fish fry brought us some green beans and they are just really pretty. Will cook them tomorrow. Ours have been gone for about a month.

Well I am getting sleepy, after the sleepless night and busy day. Hope I sleep better. I am going to bed and hope I will not be posting at 3:30 a.m. tomorrow. But if I am, hope there is someone here to keep me company!!

Night Gracie, does that date me?

Hi folks,

I see you've had lots of coffee during the week in which I was away. ;-)

I also see sadness in the various threads I've scanned since we returned early this evening. Darius, I'm so sorry to hear of the loss of your mother. I hope that in time, your memories will be a source of comfort.

I see a great increase in the number of DG members accounted for in the aftermath of Katrina, but also worry and pray about the large number from whom we have not heard.

Our trip was mostly a good one. The wedding in Hood River - or at a mountain camp with a view of Mt. Hood if the top hadn't been obscured in clouds went well. Lots of catching up with MY family there. Vancouver daughter and her partner also joined us. Then a stop in Portland to visit DH's aunt (his mother's sister) who is doing well as 89. The most difficult part of the trip for the kids was a fast drive (for us) to Grass Valley, CA where DH has a 92 yr old uncle (his father's brother) and three cousins. My granddaughter Amy had a melt-down or two during that trip. But a day of playing with second cousins and no travelling restored her good humor. Yesterday saw us travelling into San Francisco where we took the kids to the Zoo. Grandpa and I flew back to Ottawa today. DD, SIL, and grandkids stayed in San Francisco and will return on Monday.

The pic shows grandtwins Amy and Nolan, aged almost 3 1/2 as ring bearer and flower girl.

Ann

Here I am, roaming again tonigt, or actually tomorrow, ugh, that would make it today.....shucks, whatever. D/Cat, you sill here?

Just googling a bunch of things that don't mean a hill a beans, but it was fun. Started to think about it when I went to bed and then had to get up to do it. What a dummy. I will pay for it in the am. for sure. No 8am Mass for me tomorrow...in fact at 12:30 is looking mighty good....lol

I hope that you have a great time tomorrow, Darius.....Just relax and pretend you're 16....of course then you probably wouldn't be relaxed....oh well, do something...

I guess I'm really Gracie.....saying Good nite again....heheh

Hap

Goodnight Gracie, I'm a gob too. Hi, Hap, it's only midnight here and I'm only just thinking about heaing for bed.

Ann, those are darlin' kids. Sweetest part of the day no doubt. Sounds like you had a verrry busy week. now you need a vacation to rest from your vacation. LOL

Been rolling round in bed since 2am and decided to get my fanny up and go to the computer - it is not 3:30am and not a lick of sleep in me!! Grr, I hate nights like this!

It is hotter than blazes here in Mich. Our two acres of lawn looks like a dried hay field- really sorry looking. Everything is brown - even the flowers are crispy.

I spent the day with teacher DIL - shopping. We had a blast. She bought a new, huge wrap around sofa thingy. It is to go in their newly redone basement - I think it is way tooo big, but kept my mouth shut. Her taste is completely different than mine, but it was fun to watch her pick out colors. I am so worried that they are over extending themselves. In the past two years since their marriage they purchased a house (albiet starter one), boat, camping trailer, new furniture for the family room, new window treatments, and redid their basement w/furniture. Plus several new appliances. Phew, makes me nervous just typing all this!! I asked her if they had disability insurance - she said 'huh' - guess not!

DH went out to see the other son/DIL that were camping. Man, glad I didn't go!! DH said DIL was in a snit and said several words that begin with 'f' and threw things! LOL Sheesh, she is a piece of work I tell ya. DH said she was sick again (I think she is preggo, but not telling yet)

I have decided to keep the $$ given to us. It will buy us a nice computer when this one finally croaks!

Yumm, bloody marys sound good. Wish I could make a good one. I have a ton of tomato juice!! I do love kahlua and cream tho - in fact, I need to make some kahlua up (spelled x I think!!)

Meez - that fish fry sounds delish - I just love fish - especially fried!! You are a peach to do that for so many people. Any leftovers?? I almost think they are better the next day!

Molly - good luck in the house situation. Stupid landlord - I hope they tax him royally with penalties to boot! We have a rental across the road from us. People come and go - they will only let a family stay for 2 yrs - what a stupid rule!! I quit going across the road and introducing myself - they were gone before you could blink an eye. House looks like an eyesore now - tall grass and peeling paint etc. Last family in there had 6 kids and really destroyed the place!

Okus - never wanted to be an xmas baby - combined gift thing!! I want my share!! LOL

Speaking of shoes, I only wear Merrills or Birkenstocks - wonderful arch support. Since I switched to these (on orders of the foot doc), I have had no problems at all!! They are pricey, but when your feet hurt - you can't do much of anything!!

Remember my sore arm - doc said tendonitis?? Well, I took the steriod stuff and when it wore off, my pain was back. But since having this blasted tooth problem, I quit taking my vitamins, glucosamine/chron, and calcium and my arm is 100% better. Now is this a coincidence or what?? Now that I think of it, my arm got worse when I doubled up on the glucos, stuff. Hmmm, food for thought - hey Darius - I think you need to investigate for me!!

Speaking of cars. Yesterday when I was riding with DIL, I looked over and her spedometer said 100mph. I about freaked out!! I screamed "Karla, are you really going 100" - broken spedometer it seems and she told me her gas gauge doesn't work. Next time remind me to drive LOL I am a control freak...that was about too much!

Well, still no sleep in my - guess I peruse some of the other forums to see what's happening.

Nite Jim Bob (Waltons - love that program)

Middle of the night typing and pain must be the catalyst for mixing up dcat and me, Sarv!! Picture me cooking for ninety people on a hot day? No picture comes to mind? That's coz it will never happen. My "feed the masses" debacles stop at about twenty!!

I doubt that the glucosamine/vitamin/calcium has anything to do with your arm pain. None of those have residual effects, or side effects that would cause pain. Glucosamine can tilt your blood sugar (Glucose-amine is a sugar) or give you a reaction to sea food if you are allergic to it. Calcium can make you constipated. Most likely it's a coincidence... or maybe wishful thinking to find a quick cure to avoid another doctor visit!! Even massive doses of vitamins, although they may cause other problems, won't give you a pain in your arm... However......if your tooth problem is solved AND the pain in your arm goes away, that may be less coincidental!! ( I know all our nagging gave you a pain somewhere.........but not in your arm!)

Ann, the ringbearer and the flower girl are too precious for words! I might have had a meltdown too spending that much time in a car! I don't mind it if I'm doing the driving, but just to sit.............ewwwwwwwwww. That sounded like a really busy vacation! You should rest now. Put your feet up and read in a quiet corner...If your son calls, don't answer the phone! I quit bailing out my youngest after reading a book on dealing with difficult adult children. She may not feel better about it, but I certainly do.

DH worked outside yesterday, in spite of the heat, and got most of the "bad" garden area smoothed out, and the weedblocker laid down. He put woodchips over it and added some boulders to make a new border between the big rocks. If it gets light enough before I quit typing (and googling for side effects info on the net) I'll take a quick photo and show you. Some of the things we picked up yesterday will go in there, but not until it cools down a bit. I don't think heat shock would be helpful... Still needs barrier and chips on the lower section, but this is a great start.

One of our neighbors hasn't completed his house (no gutters!) or his driveway, but yesterday he put the sprinkler out and watered his weeds! Even those were looking scorched! Now he has a square patch of green weeds in the middle of his front yard, surrounded by brown weeds! The neighbors on either side of him have landscaped nicely with small shrubs,and theirs look nice. They must be furious at him for all the weed seeds spreading from his site to theirs. Another neighbor has put up a "Assist to Sell" realtor's sign, but the house down on the corner didn't get a half-million offer so theirs is off the market. At least the sign is gone, since they don't talk to anybody, so we have to guess.

LOL, Marcia! Maybe I should send Molly's LL some horsetail starters! Serve him right. The prickly ones sound good too. What a little jerk.

No more prat fall stories, we are tempting fate! When we were kids, and my mother and step dad (who I only visited in summer and at Christmas) didn't have running water,so we had to go ahalf mile down the road to his brother's house and get water from the spring. We hated doing it, because little kids aren't real good at hauling water. By the time we got home with the two buckets each, most of the water was either on the road or filling our shoes! Mom had a wood stove, and our other disagreeable chore was splitting kindling or filling the wood box. Sometimes we went barefoot and had clean feet by the time we got back. Imagine hauling enough water that way to wash clothes or fill the galvanized tub for baths! We carried groceries home too, a mile from the stop for the bus that took us to the town where we got them. It's a wonder my arms don't reach down to my knees.

Had to wait a bit for enough light, but here's the progress so far. DH asks for suggestions, nods and agrees, and then does what he originally had in mind. Fine with me. French toast and sausage for breakfast, with real maple syrup, help yourselves. OJ's in the fridge, dirty dishes go in the dishwasher.....see ya later.

Edited for legibility and coherance...I hope. LOL

This message was edited Sep 11, 2005 7:40 AM

Meezer, that looks great....I think the transplanting of the horsetails is perfect...LOL

Hap

LOL- early morning posting..must have had dirty glasses LOL - sorry for the mix up girls.

Sorry defoe - hope the fish fry went splendid!! Can't wait to hear all about it - but I imagine you are bushed today!

M5- what is that vine to the right of your door - MG? Sure looks lush.

DH just gave me a plate of grub for breakfast - bacon (yum), toast, and eggs (greasy...I only like boiled ones) Topped off by a big glass of diet coke...ahhhh if only I had a big sweet roll!!

I've got to make more work of making dinners - I play around all day while DH works and then sit on my fanny at dinner time waiting for him to make me something! I don't really enjoy cooking anymore. DIL/DS are always trying new exotic receipes - I love eating at their house. We stick to the tried and true - meat and potatoes!

Ok gotta go and call my mom and express my gratitude for the cashola. I've been ignoring the situation for a couple of days to think about things...

Popping in before I try to make myself useful..need to put a new coat of poly on the front door, which requires some steel wooling, before it gets too hot.

Sarv, the vine is either a morning glory or a moonflower. The arch to the left is mg's which are blooming although it looks pretty feeble. I have yet to see a single bloom on the big vine, which is now reaching over the metal arch towards the ground on the other side. Too much fertilizer? Not enough water? At least it's green!

Also forgot to add happy thoughts for Darius' brunch. If you aren't driving, have two bloody marys, and enjoy the day! About time something cheerful came your way! Any progress on house hunting with your sister, or is that on hold until the kid gets through school?

Back to work.

Good morning. Thanks for the shoe information, Hap, I copied it down and will give it to my DIL for the future. Her feet are really getting a workout, she runs 5 miles on her treadmill every day, walks 1 1/2 miles to work and then works and walks all day. If I were her, I think I would forgo the treadmill which she started doing when she was taking college classes all winter and had a lot of sit down time. Their one and only vehicle was giving them so much trouble that they had to replace it so my son could get to work and so she got a job instead of enrolling for a new term. College is an expensive investment and now with a payment to make every month they just can't afford it. It's a temporary setback.

How nice of your friend Bud to take you out, Darius. I hope you relax and have a good time.

I've had that carpal tunnel thing too. Ibuprophen seems to work better than tylenol because it has an anti inflamatory. Also, keep reminding yourself to keep your wrists straight when sleeping. That took me a while but every time I woke up with my hands and arms hurting I told myself "keep your wrists straight" and after a while I had less trouble with it. I also wear neoprene wrist braces when I do a lot of digging. Gripping hard to pull weeds aggrivates it too, plus a few other things but it is much better than a few years ago so I must be doing something right.

The official weather report for Baker City says it is 32 this morning. Our thermometer says 35, we are 20 miles from the official one. We live up on a hill and the official weather reporting station is at the airport in the valley where cold air collects and sits with no place to go but this is early for that kind of temperatures. My tomatoes need more time and warmth to ripen. There are lots of green ones but we've only had a few ripe ones. I have lots of canned ones in the basement storage room, so it's not the end of the world, but I would like some ripe ones to slice for dinner. We've been eating corn on the cob, it is a different variety from what I have grown for years and although it is ok we don't like it as well. When I couldn't find seed for the right kind I tried 3 others. The 2nd type is almost ready, maybe it will be better.

Have a great day, count your blessings.

Mary...I'm counting ONE blessing in particular after reading your note. I'm GLAD it's not ME who is having that 32° temp in my backyard!! LOL (It's coming soon enough!)

Not enough time to respond to everyone this morning. Gotta start digging up some perennials to divide and transplant...and DH is standing here complaining that he has to let the dog out. (Poor baby!)

Hi everyone...(Goodnight Gracie...I *loved* George...)
Bye everyone~

~julie~

Meezer,

Should qualify the long drive in that SIL is an electronics freak. Portable DVD player for one child and the computer equipped for playing DVDs for the other. What did we ever do travelling with kids before such distractions? And we spent aboout 90 minutes at our lunch stop in Weed, CA and took them for a good walk after lunch.(Also helps to settle small stomachs before driving).

In terms of a vacation to recover, it ain't gonna happen. I'm about to retire from my job as executive director of a suburban food bank in the Ottawa area. ( http://www.gefc.ca ) We posted the job before I left on vacation. A French translation came the night before I left and I spent time when I should have been packing getting the translation up on the web. Then a Francophone member of our Board started complaining about the French. It has been re-translated and I have to get it up this afternoon as well as extend the deadline a week. Anyone want to apply for a job up this way?

Then, I start orchestra rehearsals with one orchestra tonight, start teaching violin and viola on Tuesday (only about 5-6 students these days), get back to work on Wednesday. Grandkids start Kindermusik again on Thursday and since Grandpa (who normally babysits on Thursdays) will be out of town, it will be up to me to pick them up and get them there. I also direct a church handbell choir and we will start rehearsing on Thursday evening. I'm trying to find time to get together with Sanannie with whom I've set up a Hosta exchange. She came and got 9 from me before I left and has a similar number for me. Sometime this week, I'll try to get them, but we live about an hour apart. It promises to be a busy week.

Now out to pick my tomatoes. I asked a couple of neighbours to pick and eat them, but I see a number have fallen from the plants. I probably have beans, hot peppers and egg plants as well.

Ann

This message was edited Sep 11, 2005 10:51 PM

Ann, you are growing eggplants? Thought they only grow in weather where it is much warmer then in the north
I must say you are a very busy lady with very interesting things to take care of, and I applaud you.
Maria

Hi Maria,

I grow a couple of plants usually, and generally in a big pot on my patio. I find that if I hide them in among other plants, there is a chance that I can harvest them before the squirrels do. lol

Actually, Ottawa gets very hot and steamy in the summer. We are in Celsius, but we had many, many days with temperatures over 30 and quite a few approaching 35 and with a humidex of 40 this summer. There are very few houses in my neighbourhood that don't have central air and it got a real work-out this summer.

If we get a cool, rainy summer, eggplants and peppers don't do so well, but if I buy the plants well started (well not peppers because I've bought so many which were mis-labelled), they also do better. And the pots tend to be warmer than just out in the garden.

Ann - now off to update that web site.

LOL We grow eggplants here too...and this year we didn't pay any attention to them. Now they're rivaling our Birdhouse gourds in size. (Uh oh! Wonder if I can dry the eggplant and use THEM for birdhouses, too. LOL)

NEW THREAD!!!
http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/544393/

See ya all over there.
~julie~

My brunch with Bud was fabulous! He took me to the Brasstown Valley Resort in north Georgia. There must have been over 100 dishes on the 4 buffet tables not counting desserts, everything from Prime Rib to Eggs Benedict, steamed shrimp and more. We sat out on the covered veranda with a lovely cool breeeze.

http://www.brasstownvalley.com/index.html
http://www.brasstownvalley.com/dining.html

Pretty nifty place Darius. Glad you had a good time.

Thank you , Ann, perhaps I'll try to grow some next year.

Darius, it is just great yo uhad a good time, you deserve it.
Maria

This message was edited Sep 11, 2005 7:45 PM

This thread has been continued here:
http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/544393/