Coffee and.....Sunday, May 14,

Stop in for a bit and catch up with us. Tell us about your plans for the day, how's your mum and all.

We came from over here: http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/601634/

Am I the first???? Gosh, usually there's somebody that could not sleep and has posted!
I hope this means everyone had wonderful dreams last night!

I will be back later......to all the Grandma's and Mom's out there
HAPPY MOTHERS DAY !!!

carole in atlanta

Happy Mother's day everyone!!! I got my first gift - poison ivy!! Now doesn't that beat all... It's on the inside of my arm - now how it got there, I'll never know!!

DS was with DH all afternoon shopping. They came home all excited and wanted me to open their gifts - DS gave me a laptop table thing so I can be more comfortable - it's in use now and I love it. DH gave me a carrying case for my computer (already have one....) it's the thought that counts....LOL I'm enjoying this not cooking more an more. Defoe- next year you must try it!! I agree - opening your own hospital would be grand idea for you. Seems like it's your second home.

Molly enjoy your canoe trip and if you want hosta - get them!! It's your day!

Hope everyone's tummy/teeth are feeling better! Enjoy your day gals!!

Mornng all. I feel almost human this morning, don't know what that was but I hope it doesn't show up a third time. Sick of being sick.

Think we are going to have to divide several of our hosta this year. There's one Emperor that gets about four feet wide, and it gets sun burned so it needs to move. Most of mine are pretty ordinary, and we're filling out blank spots with them. Same with the mums, got too big and need to get redistributed. When (if) it stops raining. Looks like it's sticking around all week.

Bonnie, I think you're right, how handy would it be to have the ailing elderly right at hand. With professional help to keep tabs on them. Where's our horsie pics? Hurry up, we're waiting...LOL

I still need to do some prep for today, DGS called last night and is added to the birthday girls, and M-Day doings. And I still need to pick up cards for the DD and DIL plus a gift certificate. Being laid up sure put a kink in my schedule.

I'd better get started in case I lose my energy and have to take a rest, hope all have a lovely day. ~~~~ to everyone, and thanks for the kind words.

Sheila

Good morning and happy Mother's Day,

Don't have big MD plans here. Church this morning. Stop by the rare plant sale to pick up my order from one of the companies after church.

The local Youth Orchestra academy has their spring concert this afternoon and I'll try to get to part of it and here at least the group in which one of my students is playing. it will be a marathon concert going on all afternoon - there are five orchestras in this academy plus wind and percussion and harp ensembles and maybe even more small groups.

And in the evening, the other ochestra, in which I'm principal viola, has the first rehearsal for its June concert. Couldn't play their concert last week because it was a conflict with OSO day before concert rehearsals; so I haven't been out to that group since their February concert.

Want to find some time to sew, but am beginning to accept that I might not get a new dress made for the dinner on Wednesday. There are a few things that I HAVE to do this week.

Have a good day everyone. Hope it's sunny and warm where you are - not here. We've got the same grey stuff that Sarv has.

Ann

We had the library opening yesterday. It was exciting all day long. I worked from 9:30 until 5:30, all on my feet. It was hard but so exhilerating. We expected a big crowd, but got a huge crowd!
I think the owner of the little newspaper that I write for took WAY too many pictures of me and I'm afraid she'll have me on the front page! We weren't able to leave but after the staff photos, lunch was catered in for us, a very sweet thing.
One of the most wonderful thing about working at the library has been that the staff all works so well together. Everyone gets along so well and helps each other. No back-biting, politicing, rumors, or giant egos. Most of the employees are female and it is quite a sisterhood. We do have a couple of men, and have great fun kidding them. They love it.
I am a very happy person. I just hope the part-time money is renewed by the county commissioners next year so I can stay here. We are into elections here and I hope one of the front-runners wins because he seems committed to this project.

Happy Mother's day to all you mothers and those who, I am certain ,have done good things for other children.
I am going out to have a special breakfast with one of my daughters and her husband, my other daughter has to pick up her daughter from college for the summer' It will be very nice to go out for breakfast , I never do that but it is still raing like mad, grrrr, they said we have had 10" already, can you imagine? Worried about all the flowers I planted , just hope they will not drown or float away.
Sheila, Glad you feel better for this special day.

Yuk, poison ivy, Sarv, funny we were just talking about it, don't scratch

Happy Mothers Day to all!!! Nothing much planned here may decide to hold my chair down today and do nothing...

sarv, poison ivy??? perhaps it came via cyberspace....I can get it just looking at it from afar. Scratching as I type now... We have a wonderful soap here called Maries Original Poision Oak and Ivy and it works great to get rid of it. Hope it gets gone and won't spread.....

Sheila, glad to hear you are feeling better and I hope you continue. Sounds like you are going to have a busy fun day...enjoy...

Ann, I hope your grey goes away and you get sun soon. Enjoy the concert...

WS, sounds like your library opening was fun and a smashing hit and that the funding gets there so you can stay. Do we get to see pictures??...

Maria, WOW 10 inches of rain, enough is enough! I hope your plants don't wash away. Enjoy your lunch today....

Well to all to come ~~~~~ at ya. Going to feed the horse and pull the dog out from under the feed shed.....Lauri

LOL LAuri, pull the dog out from under the feed shed?

happy Mother's day all, DH is making brunch, kids are all planning to show up, I get to just take a shower, go to church, and veg - which definitely works for me

Still POURING here, luckily we have very sandy soil and a dry basement. There are flood warnings and there's standing water all over the place. My garden drains well too, so not to worry about the potatoes and peas already in. The onions seem to love lots of moisture.

Okay off to the shower (although I'm so tired of the dampness wish i could dry-clean today)
HAve a great day all!!!

Happy Mother's Day to all of the Moms here! To all of you who are madly preparing for your own holiday --- what the heck's wrong with the kids? You'd think they'd take the hint and take care of you for a change!

We're going out to a restaurant a couple of towns away to celebrate with my mother, two brothers, their spouses, and the two granddaughters. I may get a chance to check back here later.

Sarv, if you aren't already taking anti-histamines and they wouldn't conflict with any allergy meds you are taking, take some right away. It helps to keep the poison ivy reaction down a bit. I use Clearasil acne medicine on it too whenever I get it. That helps dry it up faster. I used to get it in the middle of winter without even being near enough to see the vine --- just needed to have the wind blowing in the right direction, I guess. Thank heavens I'm not as sensitive these days, but I still try to avoid getting near it if at all possible. One of my uncles never got it when he was a kid, so to show off and prove that it didn't affect him, the fool rolled in it. Bad, bad mistake! You can guess what happened.

M5 and Carole, hope you're both feeling much better today, but please take care of yourelves and don't try to take on too much!

Have to go get ready now so ~~~~~~~~~~~ to everyone. Have a great day! (Even if it is still pouring where you are, as it is here.)

dmc, yep this is prime lizard hunting season and 1 bluebelly keeps coming out and trying to get sun so when she sees it the lizard runs back under the shed and she dives under on her belly, with her back legs stuck straight out pulling with her front legs and tries to catch it. Soon she will have another tail trophy from lizard season...Lauri

Happy Mothers Day to you all. Spent the day yesterday doing all of the errands and house cleaning so I would be free today. My kids and DH have planned a picnic somewhere for us. They wont tell me where but we are having to leave here by 9am to ensure we have enough time. I am thinking we are going to Zion in Utah or Laughlin in Arizona. Every mothers day is an adventure around here. I received exactly what I asked for, gift certificates to Home Depot, Lowe's and Brecks. This way I can get the garden things I want when I go down to SC this summer.

Defoe, I can relate to the building of the hospital ward. When my parents were still alive I had them, DH and FIL all in the hospital at the same time. I just went from room to room and the nurse on DH's floor ordered me meals so I would eat. It's a hard place to be. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.

Woodspirit, I have placed your library on my list of places to visit this summer. I am glad that you are enjoying your new position. We are expecting pictures.

Sheila, I think you have used up your share of the sick bug. Hopefully its gone for good this time.

Vann, wish I was closer to sew your dress for you. I finally hit the bottom of the repair basket and managed to embroider a peacock on a pair of jeans for DD. All that I have left of my sewing chores is to hem the bottom of the skirt I made for a wedding coming in June. To bad the repair basket is going to fill up again. My kids are so hard on clothes.

Sarv, sorry to hear you found poison Ivy. I still have never seen it. I have the feeling within the first year of living in SC I will be coming very familiar with it though. I usually find the bad plants first no matter where I go.

Maria, enjoy your breakfast and I hope the rain stops soon. I wish you could send some here, my plants are drying out so quickly that I am having to water twice a day right now.

Lauri, you said Spread??? Poison Ivy rashes can spread??? Oh the stuff I learn on here is priceless....

It is only 8:15 and already 92 degrees outside with little humidity. We are expecting 102 today. So I hope there is shade where ever it is that we are going. To all that are getting rain tell it to come here please.


I hope all have a spectacular Mother's Day.
Casey

Casey well not really spread but continue to break out in other areas....I get it bad mostly in scratches then it gets into the blood stream and it comes out everywhere then...Once I got it on my inner thighs from riding bareback all day...I was bowlegged for a good month and wore shorts to school forever!!! It was soooo pretty, not!!...Lauri

Sarv, there is a recent thread on poison ivy. I can't find it but when it comes up again, I'll post the link.

Yes, Casey the PI rash can spread. You'll have lots of experience with in in SC, no doubt. The good news is that Touch-Me-Nots (Jewelweed) usually grows nearby and is an antodote is used immediately.

Maria, I hope you had a spectacular breakfast fot Mother's Day! AND, Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers on board here!

Betty (Woodspirit), sounds like things are progressing as you hoped!

Later,

Casey, wish I could send you some rain but please do not send me that hot weather in exchange!!!
It was a very nice breakfast, even had a mimosa to begin with and and omelet filled with asparagus, very good.
Then we went to the mall, it was a perfect day to do this since it rained buckets and still does.. As always buy tons of stuff at William Sonoma, things I use to cook with and kitchen gadget I am addicted to, lol. Crate and Barrel is another favorite place of mine, always find stuff there that I have to buy.

Dmc, you are so lucky to have sandy soil. I have nothing but rocks, stones and clay, with so much rain I am realy afraid that alll that planting was for nought.

Yes, poison ivy spreads and it does when one scratches to hard and touches other places with the same scratching hand

McCool how is your garden doing with all that rain?

We posted at the same time, Darius, as I said I had a wonderful breakfast, thank you. I can't stop thinking about the house you found, it seems that is exactly what you where looking for. Wish you the very best in all your endeavors.

Maria, Williams Sonoma and Crate & Brarrell are 2 of my favorite stores! Guess all cooks shop alike, LOL.

Maria-Today I am very thankful for good drainage in the garden and a watertight roof! This amount of rain actually makes me nervous! I hope your plants do okay...although there doesn't seem to be an end in sight to the rain.

Even more important, how is the basement holding up? So far, today, I'm doing ok. Had a slice of french toast for breakfast. The ribs are in the frig, buried in sauce, the cake is frosted and looks hideous, don't ever try butter creme on a bundt cake, all the crumbs got in the frost ing, but with enough toasted coconut on it, is well disguised. Gave the counter tops a quick lick and a promise, threw some briquets in the Weber for the grilled veggies, and there's nothing left to do from this end.

Maria, your breakfast sounded lovely. Mimosa's... yummmmm, I love going in the Williams Sonoma store here, there's always something I can't live without. Restoration Hardware is another on with all kinds of neat things. And they just opened a new Crate and Barrel, so that's on my list for a visit soon. Did you ever find a cake tester?

Carat, kids can destroy clothing without even trying. I can remember sewing up burst seams, ripped hems and etc, knee patches, pockets falling off, boy, I'm glad that's over. My first husband handed me a pair of socks that had holes and said "Can you do something with these?" I said,, sure, and walked over to the waste basket and dropped them in. I knew how to darn socks. I just wasn't going to do it. His mother used to mend them with iron on patches!!! Hope you find shade for your picnic. What a great idea!

Sarv, be sure to wash the clothing you were wearing in hot hot hot water, a couple of times to get any trace of the oil from the ivy out of it. And, like Maria said, Don't Scratch!!

WS, that was a Grand grand opening wasn't it? It looks as though your citizens appreciate the finer things in life. Libraries were a haven for me as a child, some of my happiest hours were spent there, and some of my best friends were the librarians. I was always the new kid in town because we moved a lot, so the library was always a familiar environment for me. Hope your guy gets elected and funding continues.

Dmcd, good job not packing for your DD. I've walked in on friends in the midst of their packing and wondered if they thought everything was going to just fly into boxes without human intervention. I hope I never have to move again. If DH gets a notion to get a place with more land, I hope he's got lots of green stuff in the bank, because I am not doing it. My DS has moved dozens of times too, but because her DH was in Gov't service, they always had moving companies come and pack everything. They did wrap up the weirdest things though, even dirty ashtrays, with the butts still in them....

Laurie, do lizards' tails grow back if your dog captures them as a trophy? I can just see those legs sticking out from under the shed!!

I'm sure I haven't addressed everyone, still brain dead ....I see a flash of sunshine outdoors, but it's pretty chilly and breezy, too. DH is cutting the grass before the next deluge. Here's that sad cake...LOL

Later,

Sheila

Ahh, doesn't look so sad what with all the coconut.

Yum, it looks great, and the flowers are gorgeous- from your garden?

The treatment of choice for poison ivy is to take a hot shower using Lava soap. Scrub good to break open the blisters while standing under hot running water. Pat dry (wash towel immediately in hot water) and apply medicine to all affected areas. The idea is to clean out the poison from under the skin. I have been doing this for several years and it does help clear it up a lot faster with less spreading to new areas. Don't just scratch and go - clean all areas under hot *running* water. Hope all affected heal quickly.
ginni

Sheila, the cake looks delicious and also perfectly beutiful with the flowers. No I have not found a cake tester any where but I bought a hanging plant and cut of the wires I wanted in a urn container sitting on the ground, as I looked at the wire I thought , that will make wonderful cake testers, now I have quite a few of them LOL.
Talking about darning socks, my mother taught me how to weave a hole in a sock so it will look there was no whole before, of course one could tell but my husband was so amazed when I did that., he bragged about to every body, lol

The Christmas before I lost my husband I decided to have the best Christmas ever just in case he will leave us. Unfortuately I was very ill with such a bad case of psoriasis I could not to anything at all. I asked my daughters to bake cookies while I ordered everything possible from William Sanoma. Ham, smoked salmon, roast beef, all kinds of appetizers, same with all kinds of cheese even the Christmas Stollen from Germany and and lots of chocolate. The table was ladden with goodies I did not make but everything was delicious probably better if I had cooked it.
Just thought you would like to know how much I trust that store.

I dealt with poison ivy for a few summers in my late teens, early twenties. I finally realized that I was getting re-infected all the time from my Water-buffalo sandals (remember those popular 60s/70s leather sandals?) Everytime I wore them, I would break out in a rash and it finally dawned on me that the oil from the poison ivy had saturated the leather in the sandals. I was amazed that it was still potent years later. So watch what u were wearing when u caught it, hopefully it launders out or u may have to buy new shoes.

Happy Mother's day to all! Hope u sickies are feeling better!!

This is "Jade" and DGD, today.

This is a bloom on my Jackamani Clematis taken yesterday.

Hi All, We are back!!!!!

We had a wonderful time. Didn't get too many land plants but made a real haul on pond plants.

We got: duckweed, hydrilla, wild lilies, parrot feather, hyacinth, and lots of green stuff growing on floating logs and stuff. Oh yes, we got pollywogs and minnows too.

I took some cuttings of some cypress branches. I wanted to start some by my pond. Don't worry, I'll keep them small. They have to, the pond is the only free water on the property.

Got my shoes all river mucky getting some cypress roots to put by the pond. Never saw a gator, but saw turtles galore. This is the Sante Fe River, they should have called it the turtle river. Here's what we had to put up with today:

Bonnie, I may need your help (and Dorothy's) when we get ready for a horse! Being mostly city gals, we know nuttin' even though I raised Arabians a few years. CRS!

Oh, Molly! Looks like a great outing!

Okay, everybody has the "horse fix" for the day.

Happy, Late Mother's Day to everyone, even if you don't have kids, you have probably influenced somebody's elses in your life time. So adopt Mother's day for yourself.

Sarv, now why did you want to get Poison Ivy as a gift? DGD is so allergic, Dr.'s have given her every kind of lotion, medicine, and the thing that works for her is clorox. We discovered that when she was in the pool, it would help dry it up, so she just puts it on q-tips, and puts on all the places. She doesn't smell too good, but it works, Matter of fact she had some on her feet this weekend when she was here. Your other gifts sound a lot better than the first one. Hope you enjoyed your day.

M5, glad you are feeling better. What ever has been plagueing you, please keep it there. I hope your day went well, and all the family were civil, and the food was good. The cake looks like it was good, and looks as though you planned it that way. I am here alone, and when I got to the part of your post about throwing DH socks in the garbage, I literally laughed out loud. Mr. B came running to see what was the matter with me.

Viann, how was the plant sale? Did you buy anything else? Seems like you have a busy day, with that, the concert for a student, and your practice. It was supposed to be your day, hope you enjoyed it.

WS, sounds like the opening of the library was a huge success. Now of course we expect pictures, since you may be on the front page of the newspaper, you will be our current "star". Hope your guy wins and the funding is continues. BTW, how is the house coming along?

Maria, that bruch sounded wonderful. And starting with a Mimosa, that was great. I'm sure the food was wonderful, and sounds like you have a good shopping trip. Sorry about all the rain, wish we could space it out over the summer, and get it when we really need it.

lauriewilson, I laughed about the dog under the shed. I am asking also, if he takes a tail off, will it grow back? Is he successful in killing them sometimes?

dmc, brunch made by DH is thoughful, and in theory sounds great. If it happened here, I probably would need the ambulance shortly afterwards!!

McCool, lunch out with your family sounds nice. Hope you had a good day, and the food was good.

Caret, a picnic, you are gonna have to come back here and tell us all about it. I bet they have been planning this for weeks. Hope you had shade too, that is some heat you are talking about. When all the folks were in the hospital, sounds like you could have used a clone. Is hard to be 3 places at once.

Darius ~~~~ at ya. I really do hope that everything works out and you get that house/farm, it looks perfect.

tgif, I have never heard of using Lava, but will store it in my memory bank, no wait that leaks from time to time, so better print it out, so that I can put it up, and probably never find it again.!! I will tell DGD about it.

Kooger, I have never heard of the oil staying in sandals that long, but guess that stuff is potent, and is around awhile. Hope you had a good day.

Well, DH has gone to check on DM. The Doctor called this morning, and said that they had done a CT scan, and were planning on doing a scope tomorrow. They think that some of her medicine has caused an ulcer, which is bleeding, and that is the cause of the loss of blood. About noon, they had already given her 3 pints. So it looks like she will be there several more days. All of my family was here for dinner. The food was good. And no I am not bragging about my cooking, my DB, brought fresh asparagus, older DS, brought macaroni and cheese, and DTW brought a delicious roast tenderloin. She used a marinade and it was really good. So I made mashed potatos, green beans, and a fabulous chocolate dessert. Had the recipe for some time, but had never tried it. Glad it turned out good, cause sometimes trying a new recipe for company isn't recommended. DM came with her oxygen, and was very tired before the day was over. Hope she rests well tonight. I will go check on her later. DS gave me a ceramic rose, and a beautiful card, and DH, gave me a hanging basket, with ivy leaf geraniums, and DGD gave me a coaster, which had her school picture in it. So it was a good day. We had planned to take DM home and then the 4 siblings talk about plans for DM as she is declining. When DTS left to take DM home, the older DB & DS, gathered their things, and left. I thought maybe they would make it look like they were leaving, then come back, but nope they went home. They are in complete denial about her declining health, and refuse to talk about it, and since I am the primary caregiver, think that they can just call and tell me what to do and how to do it. When the time comes for maybe a nursing home, I will do it and call and tell them about it.

Oh shoot, didn't know that the soap box was out and handy. Thought I put it away. Sorry for that rant. Didn't mean to spoil anybody's day. Gonna go eat some leftovers, and settle down in the recliner for awhile.

Be back later.

Darius, what I know about horses would fit on the head of a pin, but I will loan you the DH and his horse knowledge. He has had horses way before he was able to walk.

Bonnie and Sheila, Yes the tails grow back slowly. She has only killed one alligator lizard and that was because it bit her on the nose when she was smelling it and made her mad, other than that she just hunts for tail trophys. What a nice looking horse, I can see hours of riding ahead for her...:-)
Molly sounds like you had a great outing, love the picture of the river it looks so cool there.. ~~~~ to all hope you are all having a great day....Lauri

Bonnie-Great picture of DGD and Jade! Sounds like a pretty good day and don't worry about the rant about DB & DS, /they're cowards and it isn't pretty! And it sure doesn't do DM any good!! It's not right for them to put their own fears before your mom's welfare!

darius-I'm no horse expert, but if I had to just get an all around horse I'd get a Standardbred. They're available for adoption, you can find them young or old, they're trained to drive, steady dispositions, calm...in my opinion you can't do better. I have two, both track adoptees. Both perfect from day 1, nothing fazes them. It will save you money up front and money for trainers. That's my not so humble opinion!!

For poison ivy I have Tecnu on hand, don't know where i got it, probably a garden catalog. I think it has mineral spirits in it though, which would make sense. Mineral spirits applied right at exposure (not on open skin ouch!!) will cut the oily stuff that causes the rash. I've had good luck with it.

Once there's a rash, i could see clorox or some such might help dry it, but I get it so bad it goes systemic. If I don't catch it right away, it's off the dr. A systemic reaction isn't a rash spread by the oils on the skin, it's an internal reaction that I guess can be helped with antihistamine, but it's so nasty, there's no sense messing with it. I started breaking out around my eyelids and nasal passages, and I guess it can pop up in your throat...yuck. Better to be vigilant!

I've also heard that if you burn it, or trees covered with it, that you can react to the smoke, but don't know if that's true and don't plan to try it~

Thanks, Bonnie. Sorry to hear the state of your DM. The last year of my mother's life wasn't kind.

Darius, in my younger days I was around horses, rode and all, when DH and I married, he was a Belgium owner, but we have had Standard Bred, Quarter Horses, Arabians, and now this Tennessee Walker. I could see you with any of them except the Quarter Horse, all of the rest, in my experience are good sensible, good gaited riding horses. Don't have anything against Quarter Horses, but they tend to be a little more feisty, and I term them better for folks under 30. Which lets me out. But I took a turn on the Tennessee Walker today, (been years since I rode) and honest to goodness, it was like sitting in a rocking chair. She has the best gait of any horse I have ridden. Even at a cantor, it is smooth, didn't get up to a gallop, as my skills are rusty, and didn't want to fall and rattle these old bones.

Hey thanks for the offer of a bed, I hope by the time we make our next trip, you will be the proud, hard working owner of that spread, and I can walk across the bridge and sit in your shade.

Just checking in before I hit the couch!! I'm pooped!! DB/family DM/SF and DH and I all went to a restaurant. Food was ok, but I've decided that I will have the group next year. We ate, chatted a bit and left. I like it better when we all eat, hang around, play games etc. But it was different!! Later we went to other DH/DIL for dessert (twinkie dessert- I'll pass on the recipe) They got me a spa treatment- whaaaa I was hoping for mushroom compost....aren't I bad...

Sun peeked out twice today...but it didn't rain much - thank goodness. Still damp out- I felt cold all day.

defoe - the horse/ DGD looked beautiful - both are keepers!! I would be petrified if I had been on it when it jumped sideways!! I'm such a chicken...

M5 - cake looked good to me!! I'm such a sweet lover! I remember my mom darning socks using a lightbub - tried it once myself and ended up with a wad that hurt when you walked on it- I tossed them out and have never tried it again!!

Poison ivy hasn't spread - just annoying and itchy. I have some anti itch stuff to slop on it. It's only a small patch - thank goodness!!

I'm pooped - see ya tomorrow!!

Yes, I will post pix of the library. It's outdoor ampitheater was full to overflowing, too.
I am sore from standing all day but I am still so happy that I am smiling all the time. My face even hurts.

Tomorrow I'm off to Jacksonville to see our DG friends over there.

So anyway, will get up early and be off. So I'll see ya over here tomorrow: http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/603007/

See ya then.

It's too late to write a long story, but I will bore your socks off in the morning, as for now, I'm off to slumberland. See you a.m.

Sheila

Can't wait to be bored.