Coffee and...Part 43...! :-D

Whew! I'm finally home. Took most of the day to wash Mum's windows, knock down the webs that have gotten started since Autumn has begun, mow her yards, pull some weeds, plant a few spring bulbs in pots on her deck, put down the weed & feed, sweep off the decks and put out her trash, etc. Took Mum out for luncheon for a break and she ate a good bowl of soup and a nice piece of multi-grained bread. She was better today, not so quiet and exhausted as she's been lately. I think the changes the doc made in her meds are beginning to kick in. I took the pups with me so they could visit *Gramma* and I caught them napping on the chesterfield with Mum when I came in to check on them once. Too bad I didn't have a camera with me, it would have made a cute picture.

My sister and BIL came by for a short while and she ended up getting stung by a yellow jacket, so I had to cram some Diphenhydramine and Ranitadine down her throat. I handed her my cell phone, Albuterol inhaler, slapped a paste of meat tenderizer on the sting and gave BIL strict instructions to head straight for the ER. I know her, she's had reactions in the past and I didn't want to waste time. Good deal, the ER doc on duty told my sister I did all the right things and was glad I had started the treatment course prior to her arrival. She ended up getting Solu-Medrol IM, Albuterol/Atrovent via HHN and she will be taking more of the same meds I started her on at home over the next few days.

She just stopped by a short bit ago to return my inhaler and cell phone as well as borrow my nebulizer and meds in case she has problems during the night. I told her the bill for services rendered will be in the mail Monday....LOL.

Hubby is working on the master bathroom and I need to start some supper. It's time to call it a day, I've had enough excitement for a Saturday (and my day off). LOL.

Hugs to all and I thank you for the good wishes towards my Mum. She is quite the character and I am grateful for her presence in my life. I know I'll miss her when she's gone, so in the meantime, I'm going to cherish her for now.

TTFN,
~Babs~

Darius I think you and Molly would be splendid together! You need to be sure of a safe warm place to be and I for one would be willing to start and help with some collection of funds to get you there. As well as try to help the two of you in starting out or adjusting-- just a thought I will not be here thinking you are at a loss for where to go!
This will not be something you should be worreing about right now--- Let's get you safe to Molly's or where you wish to be and start some kind of support to keep you safe and warm with your sweet kitty!
This is family! We are family!
I know I am new but the feelings are strong and we do not leave anyone behind!!!
Much love coming your way
Anne

Don't misunderstand me Darius, I don't wish any bad luck on her, she will attract it without any help from outside sources.

It WAS a truck. I'm still cranky but at least I can sit in comfort and be cranky.

Sheila!!!! I love that furniture!!!!

Molly
:^)))

M5 sorry I love the furniture too it looks lush and leather!!!!
Sorry I got caught up in my rant before!! forgot to commment

We liked it when we sat in it at the store, it's not slippy-slidey like some leather....and it matches my old Sears $50 area rug that's traveled to three houses prior to this one.! I'm sure I'll be in a better mood tomorrow. DIL just called and said the couch we gave them for their living room has worked out beautifully, the leather one is in their spare bedroom,and said she always loved that couch so they are happy. And exhausted. Next they are getting my big potted ficus because I'm not going to water it all winter again. After that, they get MAX!!

just perfect for your room, M5, I want t sit on it LOL
Maria

Oh please come, and do, I'll make us some herb tea and get those cookies I hid from DH so he wouldn't eat them all up before I got to taste them, and light a fire in the fireplace. It will be cozy and I'll stop being cranky, and we'll just ignore the rain.

wonderful idea. knock, knock hurry don't want t get all wet
Maria

Please come in Maria. Would you like to sit on the chair next to the fire? There's a nice throw there to put over your legs. Put your feet up on the hassock and let me pour you a cup of tea. Would you like a slice of lemon or a sugar lump? The cookies are next to the lamp, help yourself. Now let's get out our old photo albums and tell each other stories about our families, and if it gets late, I'll just turn down the bed in the guest room for you.

wow this sounds comfy! can I come??

Sure, lots of room! You can sleep on the sofa, it's long enough! I haven't had a pajama party in ...ohhhhh.... never....! Anyone else want to come?

Hi folks,

As usual, there's too much to comment on by the time I can check out this thread! Okay, I'll try to hit the high (or low) points.

Magoobu, good idea! I was thinking along the same lines. Probably most of us are not terribly well off financially, but I for one have a Christmas club account that will be paid out soon. I figure I can contribute $50.00. My husband is always yelling at me for spending too much on his Xmas gifts anyway --- he won't miss it. If a lot of us can give a little, it ought to help out, at least with things like security deposit, etc. Molly's offer sounded great too. I think you can count on some help here, darius, even if your sister is a bit schitsy. I wasn't around here in May either, so I don't really know the history.

M5, nice room, nice fireplace (and I like the rug too --- nice to know that you've carried it with you on various moves.)

Maria, did you buy a life jacket yet? I think we're going to need a third sump pump here pretty soon. On top of the wet in the cellar, I managed to overfill the boiler this morning so the radiators were spewing water all over the first floor too. Mom was excited.

Babs, that's great about your mother. I know I'll miss mine too, but right now we have the misfortune of living in the same house and we're slowly driving each other nuts.

My garden is looking extremely sad, but we haven't had a killing frost yet. I hope to be able to get out there between the rain showers tomorrow to pick the last of the cucumbers, tomatoes, zucchinis, and peppers. The kale will probably survive a lot more, so we'll probably leave it alone and try to till around it.

dcat and anyone else who's had such good luck bargain hunting---good for you! I'm not much of a shopper, I won't go unless I've gained or lost so much weight that nothing fits anymore or everything is literally threadbare. The big exceptions are Xmas shopping and shopping for my store. I love that and have to watch out that I don't go overboard.

Cookbooks, hmmm, I have too many! I usually rely on the Fanny Farmers or, occasionally Joy of Cooking for everyday stuff when I can't remember temperatures and times, etc. I love looking through ethnic cookbooks (Indian, Chinese, English, etc.) and in the past have collected way too many recipes from magazines, and newspapers. The treasure of my collection has to be a little Pillsbury cookie cookbook that I sent away for when I was about sixteen. It is much mended and still falling apart, but it contains all the family favorite Xmas cookie recipes.

I know I've missed people and topics, but my post is getting too long (as usual), so I'll bid you all adieu and good night!

This is so tempting, just be careful, I have been known to hop on a plane and in no time I'll be there, yes no lemon with my tea but one sugar please and only one cookie, thank you.. Yo make me feel so very welcome! Did I ever tell you my father was in Wisconsin for over a year as a prisoner of war, he worked on a farm.
Maria

Y'all are just TOO GREAT in offering help. I hope it won't come to that!!

Maria, I NEVER heard THAT story!

POW in America??? I knew we had some Japanese interrewes...

Darius the thing I have learned is that the worry is the worst thing sometimes. So whatever you decide to do take the worry out of it we will make it happen.
Anne

Yes, my father was a very political person involvedin underground work in all his life before Hitler even came to power.in Austria, it is really a very long story in any case after they nearly discovered what he was they inductd him into the army under Rommel was captured in Sicily (only nine of his company survived)and brought back to Africa then to the US. In Washington they discovered who he was and sent him back after the war to hunt down the nazis. There is much more to that but enough for now
Maria

POW's were held at Fort McCoy, WI and at Rock Island Arsonal, near Davenport, Iowa, those are just the 2 places I know of.

Rock Island was also used as a Civil War prison.

He was a t fort Mccoy and the the strange thingabout that place is also where myhusband was training before he was sent oversees

My dh did training up there too!

Wow this world is small!

M5! That furniture is to die for. I love the buttery softness of good leather.

Darius, when I wrote about my father that is what I was coming to next
Maria

meezersfive - the new furniture looks fab. Hopeyou enjoy it for many years.

Maria - you sound MUCH better. It's about time.

The second orchestra with which I play has two concerts next weekend of Austrian music. Wish you could hear them.
http://www.ottawachamberorchestra.ca/

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Marriage of Figaro Overture
J. Strauss - Waltzes/Polkas
Franz Schubert - Unfinished Symphony

I think the reference to
Joseph Haydn Symphonie No. 100 (Military)
is an error as I haven't seen the music.

Good night all.

Ann

Oh, Anne, wish I was there!! Schubert's Unfinished is one of my favorites so is Figaro and Papa Haydn how can anyone ever be bored listening to any of his symphonies
Maria

guess everyone has gone to bed, good night all, there is a monsoon out there, where does all that rain come from?
Maria

Well, let me tell you all about dinner. This gentleman is a miser, a good guy, but the penny pincher, and DH had done some work for him this past summer, without pay. So he called this morning and says that he will take us out to dinner to repay DH for the work he had done. In reality, he was taking a lady friend on a first date, and I think he needed reinforcement. DH and I know this lady, and like her. We drove to Louisville, about 50 miles, pick her up, and head to a new restaurant Famous Dave's Barbeque. Well, It was a rustic, log cabin type restaurant, very popular judging by the crowd. On the menu there was an entree listed that would feed 4 people, with beef brisket, 1/2 chicken, chopped pork, rack of ribs, cole slaw, baked beans, cornbread, corn on the cob, and french fries. We ordered that, and when it was served it was placed on a stand, and the serving platter was a "garbage can lid."!! Boy was it delicious, everything. They had 6 different kinds of barbecue sauce,and my favorite turned out to be something named, Georgia Mustard. Had a good time. I wore the beige ultra suede jacket, jeans, and a rust colored blouse, and brown boots. DH thought I looked real nice. He never comments on appearance except in cases where it is really good, or really bad!! This dinner set our friend back 86.00. And for him that is a bundle!!

Aria, Bah Humbug, more rain. Maybe you need to chant, Rain, Rain, Go away. LOL How nice of DD and DSIL to come by and do some chores for you.

Darius, Chin up, everything will work out for you. No I do not wish anyone ill, but I sure hope that you have NO MORE DEALINGS with sis. Sounds like a real jewel. I have a sis who may be her exact copy!!

Sarv, free help today, aren't they great. DGD, is so energetic, that she is a total pleasure to be around. Way to go on the bargains, Day lilies and clematis for 2.74, what a buy!!, Drat on that arm. Mine has done well today, so I hope that it is finally on the mend. Yeah the aleve, and the tylenol pm are miracle drugs.

|Meezer, late Happy Birthday. You did good to give DH that evening meal. It looks like maybe you need to borrow the 2x4. Not even an evening out. Congrats on the cookbook find. You might have something that is really valuable. That furniture looks like something I could curl up on with an afghan and a good book, since you invited Aria, may I come also? That looks so comfy. I could bring my Ms. Boots to keep your kitty company. I laughed when I read about your lean years. There were some weeks early in our marriage, that we had to go visit our parents on weekends just to get something to eat. We were paid every 2 weeks, and sometimes the money didn't stretch that far.

Morning Gayle, I liked your description of people as Psychic Vampires. I have encountered those people on occasion, and they leave you feeling so deflated, that it is a real joy to be AWAY from them.

Babs, sounds like you worked your putootie off today. My twin sister has scheduled next Wednesday for her to come and we are going to work at DM's, cleaning windows and putting in storm windows, etc. We do this spring and fall. Sorry to hear about your sister being stung by the yellow jacket. I was stung by one last year, and I had forgotten just how painful those stings are. I suffered about 3 days with mine, and I have no allergies. How scary to know that she has that problem. Glad to hear that she is okay, and what a fortunate thing that you were able to provide that first treatment until she could get to ER.

McCool, my DM always says that she doesn't ever want to live with any of us. However, she is a sweetheart, and wouldn't cause any problems, but she doesn't want to be a "burden" to anyone. The old sayiing goes, that no house is big enough for 2 families, and I tend to agree. I have lost a lot of weight, and therefore, need to shop. This spring, my twin sister, who had been on a diet last year and lost several pounds, bought all new stuff, then regained the weight, came and traded me her size 8 for my size 12 and 14. So I do have a few things to wear. I also have Fanny Farmer, Pillsbury and Better Homes and Gardens cook books.

Viola Ann, a week old baby sometimes will make you do things like that. My son was a colicy baby, and I think he was almost a year old before he slept all night long. Sounds like you had a good day's work. And I hope your concert next weekend is a killer.

Carat, I wish there were a way to have the grand kids first. They are so precious. They can come visit, you can spoil them then send them home. Don't have to do the discipline etc. Sounds like you had an exhausting day also.

Magoobu, I agree, worry is a killer. And most of the times, we cross bridges that we will never encounter. My reply to don't worry is, I have to worry, imagine all the possibilities, so that I can be prepared for any of them!!

Well, I have been real chatty. I will shut up now and get ready to go to bed. Hope all of you have a good restful night. The fall nip is in the air, and it seems perfect sleeping weather. I will check in in the morning. Night All.

Left coast lurker checking in briefly. :)

My oh my do ya'll make me weary with all your bustling around and errands and good deeds and... phew! Please know that I gasp and oohh and grumble and chuckle at all the appropriate times, and then I fall asleep. NOT!!! ;-)

In fact, I'm spurred by your collective energy to stave off this nagging fugue about wrapping up the garden for the season. Even made a "post-tomato harvest" MistyMeadows Tomato Pie in celebration, and it smells heavenly as it cools for our late dinner. If ya'll haven't yet tried it, put this link in your tickler file for next summer: http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/454938/

Wishing you all peaceful dreams and a bright sunrise,
Donna

Dcat, you are always so nice to make comments on everyone. You have a good memory and say nice things. That dinner and jacket sound so nice. Am glad that your DH actually noticed you, hehe.
M5, I do love your new furniture too. I would love to come have and have a seat on them.
Violann, my BC cookbook is the BC Picture one and the copyright says 1956 in it. There is masking tape holding the main cover together. I love it.
Sarv, did you make that tomato soup recipe or not. You didn't say.
Darius, am so so sorry about your ordeal. I think you should go be with Molly for awhile. I think the 2 of you would have a blast fixing up her place and you would have a good place for your plants for awhile too.

If I am missing anyone, sorry. Just had a phone call from my mother saying my father was in the hospital. He had a stroke last nite, I guess. So am going to drive up to Bellingham early tomorrow morning. My mother still can't drive due to that pacemaker and medicines not being right yet, so will drive her to the hospital, etc. So I need your prayers and good thoughts right now. My father and I are best buddies and I don't want to lose him right now. He is 85 and is or shall I say was going so strong for his age. I am just very sad right now. I am going to take up some dahlias for his hospital room and later his rehab center room. He loves the red color so I have lots of red dahlias to take him.

Later, Carol (DR)

Well I'm still up. I have to go pick up Nathan from the Homecoming Dance at midnight. It didn't even start until 9pm!! I know ours started much earlier way back when....

Great, now I feel old and grumpy.

Getting old, mg, join the crowd. Just wait until he drives, hehe

Carol, Oh I'm so sorry! I'm sending get well vibes to your dad and my thoughts are with you and your mom.

PLMK if there is anything you need, or I can do!

{{{Carol}}} Stay strong sweetie!

Thanks, mg, appreciate that.
I just need to get off the computer to pack. Was talking with my son on the IMing, just needed someone to talk to about it.

Drives? Over HIS dead body! This is the kid that cannot figure out the complex workings of a clothes hanger, he certainly isn't going anywhere near my car!

He has been pushing to get his Learner's Permit for a year already, I told him after he cleans his room and keeps it clean for 2 months. I'm safe forever.

I'll be back in about 30 mins, want me to give you a call? I'll be up for a while yet, and I have free LD.

Carol, my thoughts and prayers are with your dad for a quick and painless recovery, and for you and the rest of your family to have the strength I know you all have. Drive safe and if you need anything we are only a click away.

Casey

Hey, mg, thanks so much for the offer for the call. I didn't see it until now. I don't do good on the phone anyways. I use a special phone that shows the captions of what people say if I miss anything. Sarv is a relay person for this system. That is why I love the visual writing here, e-mails, and the instant messaging which I use with my son who is at college. So thanks anyways. You are very thoughtful.
Maybe we can try it on the phone sometime when I am not stressed out tho. It would be fun. You keep the chat room busy this week for both you and me, hehe.

Thanks, Casey, too.

Am off to bed so nite all. Hope you all have a better day than I did. Good things need to happen now for everyone here!!!!

Carol (DR)

Carol (DR) My prayers are with you for a safe journey and good news when you arrive. My father was the same age when he suffered a stroke, and he recovered and spent more years with us. Your father's good health will certainly be in his favor.

The arrival of a beloved daughter with an armfull of red Dahlias will do much to hasten his recovery. *smile*
((hugs))
Pati

Man oh man you guys are busy in the evening!! Took me a while to get thru everything!

Belated Happy Birthday to M5 - didn't even know it was your day!! I remember what a one I had - my sympathies are with ya!! But you got your new furniture on you BD? Ohh, I looks so plush.. Did I hear you say you had kitties??? Are they declawed?? I looked at leather and the salesperson said NO - our cat isn't declawed and has made a mess of our two recliners. And you are serving cookies and tea - I'll have some for breakfast - you wouldn't have a sweet roll or two would ya? (sweet tooth here!) Oh, by the way - I am not a 'relay' person - I think that is Kooger. I'm just a retired teacher...

Daisy - hope dad is ok and makes a swift recovery. Scarey time for all when you reach those ripe old ages and the body starts to fall apart. Red dahlias will brighten up his day - I've never picked a bouquet of dahlias- maybe next year! I don't have enough that I want to pick them. No, I didn't make the tomato soup - but the receipe is sitting right here by me now. DH made chicken nuggets and fries and huge malts for everyone!! I'll try the soup tho..

Mg- oh a new driver - give me patience! I remember those years - clutching the door and slamming my foot onto the non-existent brake - saying 'what is the speed limit!!!!' I'm not a good backseat driver. Even today, I don't like to ride with my kids - they go toooo fast and change lanes all the time. Wish I could just close my eyes and sleep away trips sometimes. My youngest son not only drives fast, changes lanes often, but TAIL GATES!! Absolutely drives my crazy....and with my car...

Maria = I am still waiting for some of that rain you have. Please share. I had to water yesterday. In my clay bed, I couldn't even get the shovel down into the ground. Had to let the hose soak the ground then slowly pry up pieces of cement (clay) Planted daylilies there- they survive anywhere!

Magoo - I am the QUEEN of worry. I even worry about others!! LOL No wonder my stomach is ususally in knots.

I love my mom dearly, but don't think I could live with her...hope it never comes to where I have to make that decision - on no- now I'll worry about that!!

I am sick of not sleeping - another night of rolling around. Anyone every tried the over the counter sleep stuff? What'd ya think? My best gift would be an un- interrupted nights sleep - I am sick of waking up at 2am and thinking I might as well get up!! I have tried just about everything - working like a dog, exercising, not exercising, reading, taking allergy meds, aspirin, etc (even taking a nip or two!!) No matter what my brain is up at 2am.

Well, time for my first breakfast - bread with peanut butter. When DH gets up a couple of hours later he always make me a boiled egg!

Good Morning GOBs! Looks like I don't get the worm today.....LOL Slept well, improved disposition, and hoping it won't rain again today. Where was all this water when we needed it. Sarv, I've used those pm sleep things and they work for me, but someone (forgot who) in the previous session mentioned an over the counter one that works the same way but I didn't write it down and it comes in bigger/less expensive bottles. Go back and read it....

Such a long line of posts! I'm not even going to try to respond to every one, but will send special thoughts to DR for her dad. If a stroke is caught early, there's usually a pretty good recovery, so we will hope for that. It's really hard to lose your parents. It's no fun being an orphan even when you are a GOB,

mg, I'm with you on the driving issue. I didn't get my license or first car until my kids were in high school,and they were champing at the bit to get their learner's permits. Since I was the only working parent, and footing all the bills I was just as enthusiastic as they were! (not) I told them as soon as they earned and saved enough money to pay for insurance, and car maintenance, I'd be more than happy to help them choose and pay for their OWN car. That put off kid-driving worries until they were adults!! There was no way I could have managed the finances involved with them behind the wheel.
The two who do have cars now and drive have never had a ticket or an accident that was their fault, so I think that having all the responsibility certainly makes them better drivers.

Famous Dave's started here in Wisconsin, Dcat, (in Wausau, I think ?) and they do serve an enormous quantity of food! I had lunch there with friends one day last summer, and ordered something that had chicken and ribs and it came with a salad and potato and a veg, and I could hardly make a dent in it. I carried home enough for dinner, plus leftovers. I thought it was very good. But, I don't think I would be brave enough to wear a brand new jacket to eat BBQ. I wear a lot of my food.........LOL

Maria, it is a very small world....My DGS spent a year up at Ft. McCoy (which they are talking about closing along with several other camps ) when he dropped out of high school. They had a special program at that time for kids who were having difficulty getting through school. He is mildly dislexic and wasn't able to manage school and his part time job and a navy recruiter turned him on to this program. Some of the kids were truants, some were involved with drugs or gangs, but all were volunteers who wanted to get their H.S. equivalancy, (not a GED). They went to classes, and exercise sessions, drill teams etc. and the program was enormously successful. At their graduation then Governor Thompson presented their diplomas and awards. We are very proud of him. He has always been a straight arrow, and has worked at some kind of job since he was twelve, because his mother is a fruitcake. (My DD, I have no illusions about her.)

Now that he's out of the Navy after his four year stint, he's going to school full time, has a wonderful wife, a house, and a dog! For a kid growing up in a poor neighborhood with all the possible ways to go wrong, he's done it right OK enough grandma bragging......

McCool, you can always go back on the threads and catch up on all our doings for the past year, but set aside a day or two because we talk a lot!!

BTW, when I picked up that fruit plate Friday, the owner of the restaurant, (we eat there at least once a week) came over with a bag and said, you should have some muffins with that. I didn't look in the bag until later, and was expecting to see some of those mini muffins...and there were FOUR big ones! What a nice surprise. (the rewards of patronizing small businesses yada yada yada...)

Ahhh, yes, last night I sat in the chair, flopped on the sofa...(haven't tried the loveseat yet, but you know I will....) and had another slice of BD cake that I tucked away in the freezer for later. All in all finished up in good form.

Woohoo, Darius, you've already got two places to stay and you haven't even started packing!! Good Karma must be all around us.

We'd better be going out for breakfast ...cuz the cook QUIT!

This is Alex getting his certificate...

Morning Every One!

Had a miserable night too, Sarv, kept waking up every hour on the hour. Still coughing at times. The rain came down was without mercy, and still is but not as hard. No, Sarv, I am the queen of worry or at least we could share this title, yes?
It was my husband who took the kids out driving while they were learning, I could never have done it, my patience is zilch and he had tons of it with them, of course not with me LOL.
M5, so sorry I missed your birthday but nevertheless I wish you many. many more with good health.
And, Daisy, hope you will give us good news about
your father!
Darius, thinking of you, let us know how you are doing
this morning,
Guess I'll brew some coffee, have not had any for days, only tea what with that rotten cold
till later
Maria