Coffee and ... for Tuesday, August 15

Back from the store - how could I have spend $120 and not gotten much of anything!! I hate grocery shopping.... Did get some fish oil and a watch battery....

DH is kind miffed at me as well he should be. We have a load of company coming and our lawn needs mowing - I didn't wind up the hoses or help out at all and I should have. So, I'll have to sign off here and go bust butt. How can I fritter away a whole day!!!

Off to ride 'John' for awhile!!

I'll have a piece of pie when I'm done....Vi = adorable pic too

How can anyone "hate" food shopping? Be glad it is there to buy, all you have to think is about all the hungry people in the world and can't afford to buy or there is no food to buy.
I do not mean to offend any one, just a little reminder how things could be

Well after my comment this morning, the allergy gremlins have struck with a vengence and I'm sitting here hacking,sneezing and the whole nine yards! I'm always happy to hear that a natural food or drink has good effects, because certainly all the prescription drugs available have a multitude of side effects....some of which sound worse than the condition they are supposed to relieve. I could close the house up, but it's such a beautiful day I will just pay the price...and enjoy the fresh pollen laden air!!

Nice pie! Chocolate in any form...just pass it over here. Would you believe my son at the advanced age of 50 has only now discovered Dove Ice Cream Bars? When they came out, he was already living on his own, so I guess he didn't get a chance to raid mom's stash and find out what he was missing. LOL My DIL told me this the other day. Even funnier, one of his old girlfriends once called him and asked him to pick some up on his way over to her place. I ]m guessing she was smart enough not to share!!

Even when I was working full time, I had breakfast ready for my tribe before school, made lunches until they got into middle school with a hot lunch program, and I made dinner every night. Dinnertime was not always pleasant due to my ex's disagreeable complaints and belittling, but it brought my kids closer to me. I don't think a meal at the ballpark or public place is a bad thing either, at least you are with them. What disturbs me is that so many parents work such long hours now that the kids are often home alone, nuking pizza, or eating junk food.

Cece, I'm thinking I need to paint a broomstick black and lean it up against one of the deck rails, after DGS takes the Crosman back! Maybe the bunnies will still think I have it and stay in someone else's yard! We don't see many squirrels, mostly when the black walnuts start dropping, and they can steal all of those they can carry! DH picks them up and throws them in a bucket, but the trees are so old, the nuts are hardly worth the effort to dig out of the outer and inner coverings. They look like green tennis balls.

Who asked about the Chinese Lanterns. Be careful what you wish for...they are what the garden shops like to call Vigorous Growers, and self seed like crazy.

Mmmmm I picked up some of those Queen Anne Cherries today, my they ae luscious!! And expensive, here! Paid $4 for a pound. So help yourselves, and also note I made chocolate chip cookies yesterday so enjoy the calorie free treats because I'm thinking they won't last long.

Gee, Bonnie, three days without the internet? I'd have been at the library!!
Or heavily sedated!

Oz, you are a lucky lucky man....or very smart!! If you get to throw shoes with Sarv, we want pictures!!

The french lavendar that I have doesn't have a lot of scent, maybe I should try some other kind.

~~~~ on my way out to water pots and baskets. Maybe give them a shot of MG while I'm at it.

Later
Sheila

Maria, I agree. I for one, don't mind food shopping. Have some reservations about the loading unloading ad nauseum, but having been a depression child, I still marvel at the wonderful variety and plenitude of the food we have available. I may grumble about paying bills, but believe me, it is pure joy not to have to decide between the roof over my head, the food in my belly, or the car insurance, and to know that I can pay them all. There were times that I was foraging in the cupboards for enough to feed my children, utilities were shut off, and we didn't dare answer the phone. Then they shut off the phone! I live in luxury now, by comparison, and I am by no means rich.

Sheila

I am not rich eether but no matter how litttle I may have I always want to be able to buy food and all the things you mentioned,
Sheila, I do too grumble about how often I have to handle one object for cooking plus all the other stuff that one needs.
My daughter bought me a small cart that is used in schools for books, I just do not want to be without it. We needed a ramp for DH wheelchair now it comes in handy from garage to house..

M5, allergins are rampant here as well. Hope you do well. I want to hunker down but have too many projects in the pot.

Turns out I have a black walnut tree (large) over the street side of my covered bridge. Who knows what trials it will bring?

Darius - grow hostas. They do quite well under the black walnut.

The washer and dryer are IN! I am washing clothes and more clothes. DH replaced all the plumbing in the basement. Turned out it was a good plan. As he was cutting up the copper to take it to the recycler, he noticed a couple of holes and extremely thin areas in the copper pipe. He was surprised, had always heard copper pipe lasted almost forever. In this case, it was just 46 years. He's gone to get more parts for the other side of the room now.

So sorry to hear of the lost kitty. We had one 'wander' away many years ago. We were gone to my parents and left lots of food and a friend to check on the cats but 'Princess' disappeared and we never saw him again. He was a special cat, long-haired lover boy! (yeah, we didn't know what he was when the kids named him -the long-hair just made him look regal so 'Princess' he was!) DD lost her 7 yr old 'Tiger' on the road too. That was tough, she was a teen at the time. We get so attached to our buddies and miss them so when they are gone. I like that idea of a memorial plant, that's kinda neat.

I better get back to the clothes, don't want them all wrinkled. Have a good day all. ~~~to everyone!

kooger that laundry room looks great.

I was the lucky one with a cat. Got hit by a car when it was about a year old. Someone called the humane society and we found her there a day later with a broken jaw and dislocated shoulder. DH looked first and wasn't sure it was our cat. After surgery - dicey anesthetic because of the length of time since the accident, she was put back together and lived to be 18. It so easily could have gone the other way.

Ann

M5~ I asked about the Chinese Lanterns...The friend I got the blossoms from did say they were like a bad weed. The are so cool though....I'll plant them at DM's where she has more room or in a container. Your chocolate chip cookies didn't hit the spot, not much flavor...chocolate chip is my favorite too! The Queen Anns are some of the best. The cherries at the Market were about $4 a pound here too. We were all so lucky here to have so many available to us this year. The trees were loaded....Maria was here at that time...helped me pick some of Ernie's...thanks again.

You know, Nestle's chocolate just doesn't do it......If I go through the rest in the garbage disposal.......OK, done! Now I can save the calories for something I do like...Dove Ice Cream does sound good...I don't dare get those.

My DAs and mother grew up with very little food. Now we have so much at family gatherings it's crazy. I try to understand where they are coming from...they never want any one to experience what they did...7 sisters with Alcoholic parents and no money..sad.

I'm thankful for all we have but I understand the $$$ part of groc shopping. It's hard with everything going up and a lot of us still live on the same wages. That's why it is important to utilize all we have been blessed with, by growing and using what is around us. I see so many apples going to waste...crazy...applesauce is so easy...I'm going to teach the neighbor girl how to make it.

Sharing and trading is a great concept too. Boy, if we were all neighbors think of how rich we would be and very blessed. Not rich as in $$$$. And, we already are very blessed to have found one another.....

You guys are a great group, thanks.

Going up the street to check out a garden I haven't been to yet....Mr. Bo Jangles wants a walk....TaTa for now.

Bo is the black and white...Sadie is the tan....we had to have her put to sleep earlier this year...that was soooo hard. This was camping last summer.

Kooger~ Noticed the lint roller....a staple at our cat hair house!

Yup, I think I have 3! But can I ever find one when I'm in a hurry??

Well, I have spent the afternoon reading, stirring the spaghetti sauce, and other odds and ends in the house.

M5, yes, I had thought about the library, but this all happened over the weekend, so it was closed. I am still trembling, babbling some, the sweating is not as bad as it was, this withdrawal is tough.LOL

Not even gonna try to comment to everybody, just know I have read it all, and am back up to speed.

dmc, so sorry about your furry friend. My heart just aches, whenever I know an animal is in distress. Bought some catfood today, to take to a neighbor's barn. They have 5 kittens, that were dropped, and they are just ignoring them. I don't want them, but I will feed them and try to find them homes.

cece, great pics of the pond. It is just crying out for a waterfall though. (Next years project?)

Oz, hope you and sarv do get to play that game of horseshoes, and I want a photographer there as well. This has to be saved for future generations to view.

Maria, I am here, we need to have a chat, maybe sometime this week?

Got all the spaghetti sauce in jars, had 9 pints. I know it doesn't sound like much, but it sure is good. Had a neighbor stop by while it was cooking, and he wanted to know what I was making that smelled so good? Will probably make another batch tomorrow.

Darius, no, I can everything that I preserve. Just don't trust the water baths, need to know that at least I have made every effort to keep the food not only good, but safe to eat. A summer kitchen sounds like a good idea.

Well, I have supper ready, but DH is mowing hay, and must be planning on finishing it before he comes in. That's okay, I go out every once in awhile to see if I can still hear the tractor running.

Well, gonna go, as the satelite guy is supposed to be here soon. First the phone/computer, now the sateilite is not working, what else can happen, cars? oh no.

Will be back later.

somermoone, sorry about the pic. you do mean s. i looked at site about xanda where get? cost?? i need to get on something healthy fast.. posted in pull up chair in jokes chat.. i have such migriane can't think well worse then usual .. i mean about the thinking..

Take care all. many blessings.. ~~~~~ Twyla

Evening everyone..pizza party was a major hit with DSF. He was tickled pink- we even sand happy birthday to him which he got a kick out of. Big sundaes for dessert topped off a wonderful evening... Everyone left with smiles on their faces = my kind of night!!

When I said that I hate grocery shopping it is just that I get so little for so much!!! I am thankful for the variety and quantity of food that we have available to us. Since I've never experienced being without food, I can only imagine the fear it must cause. My mom was just telling me that she didn't know how she made it. My F left when I was 4 and my sister about a week from being born. Mom had to go back to work, make a house payment, pay a live in child care person, medical and house insurance - plus put food on the table - all for 60 bucks a week...she got no support checks. She's a tough cookie...

defoe-you've had enough of stuff falling apart!! I do everything in a pressure canner.. I did have the thingy explode once ....got a few gray hairs over that!!

oz- I've been pumping iron for our horseshoe match.. If I beat you would you be mad at me???

As I cleaned out the frig today, I told myself that I must be more careful with the amount of food I stick in there. I am always buying tortilla shells to make burritos. I had three pkgs that I tossed out...shame on me. I think I need to make menus so that I buy exactly what I need. I always have a ton of stuff on hand... I am wasteful in that area..

Well, time to check out chat!

ps M5- I quit my allergy tabs....now I hear the stuff is coming my way. Oh here's a good one for ya. My garden neighbor has her 87 yr old dad living with them. He was feeling crummy -red eyed, not sleeping, coughing etc. They took him to the doc and got some meds. On her porch she was growing a huge pot of 'something'- neither of us knew what it was. A friend stopped over and said 'how come you're growing ragweed!!!' No wonder grandpa had red eyes- she got rid of it pronto!!

Hi all,

I doubt that I'll get to commenting on everyone's post tonight. What I thought was an allergic reaction from mowing the vastly overgrown weeds and grass the past couple of days, is actually another lousy "bug", so I'm not at my best.

Twyla, do you EVER have a pain-free day anymore? I'm so sorry that the headache is worse than usual.

Somermoon, good luck with the "battle of the cats". I've never met a cat yet that appreciated "company" (ie, other cats) coming into his/her territory. Sorry your camping trip wasn't as much fun as you'd hoped.

I01, good to see you here, but it sounds as though you really need to keep your typing to a minimum in order for your shoulder and arm to heal.

Bonnie, have they finally straightened out your phone or are you still getting the on again, off again phone service? Hope the satelite turns out to be an easier fix.

M5, had to laugh about the price for the cherries. Around here that's considered a sale price for the everyday variety! The exotic ones always cost more.

darius, that tooth pain sounds horrendous. I hope that you can get in a lot sooner than the appointment they gave you. Sorry about the problem with the board lenghths. At least it sounds as though the extra material won't go to waste.

Maria, yes, I am thankful that we have an abundance of food in the markets and so far, we have been able to pay all the basic bills; however, I can't say that I've ever enjoyed shopping for anything (except sometimes shopping at the trade shows for merchandise to sell in my store).

kooger, nice laundry room! I'm glad that it's all done and ready for use. Laundramats are also on my list of "Places I'd rather not be".

sarv, if there was poison ivy in with the brush and debris from the trees, burning it could be very dangerous. If anyone inhaled the smoke it could actually be lethal. CRS has struck again and I can't remember who mentioned using it to provide a wildlife habitat, but I purposely made a couple of big piles of downed branches, pulled up brambles, etc., in the wooded area of our yard so that the small birds and critters could take shelter from predators. A couple of times I've seen a hawk patrolling in front of them, looking for the bird that would have been lunch.

V-ann, that was a cute picture that your daughter sent. Are you all ready for your vacation yet? I do hope it's a great one. One of my brothers was sent to Tokyo on business and thought that what little he was able to see of it was fascinating. Unfortunately, he really didn't have any extra time to sight-see.

~~~~~~~~~~to cece, petra, tgif, Molly, dmcd, oz, ves, flowerchild, earthling, and anyone else I might have missed. Good night to you all (and to Gracie too)

McCool~I hope your feeling better soon......I hate bugs anytime but spring/summer ones stink! There is a product out called "Airborne"....I take it when I feel something coming on, am going on a plane or any other place there are tons of germs with nowhere to go but in. It's herbal, invented by a teacher. Most all the drug stores have it...Walgreens has their own brand which is just as good. You have to dissolve it but it's not bad. I do a smaller glass and down it.

Sarv~Pizza party sounded perfect! Especially the icecream part. Maybe I need to walk up to the market and get some. I know DH and DA won't complain. Maybe DH will come so we can walk the dog. DA and him are watching the movie "Failure to Launch"......she's cracking up.

Dick and Jane are getting their very own water bottle! My furniture and screens are not going to survive this sitting period! They are darn cute and fun though:)

Okay, the post monster ate my posting again. I wrote out and sent a long post last night commenting on all the goings on of everyone and its not there. I checked twice. I hate it when that happens. I will try to hit on what I remember.

DMC, warm and gentle hugs for you again. I am still shaking my head at the thoughtless thugs that did that.

Petra, I had to giggle a bit when I read that you already have 2" and expecting another inch before the rain quits. It is funny to me because we get 4" of rain a year here and haven't come close to 2" yet. LOL

When I typed my bad word I really didn't even realize that I had typed it although I am sure in my head I was saying that plus worse and that word slipped out through my fingers. OZ, I didn't know it was a computer that monitored the vocab of the site. Good to know I have big brother keeping me honest in my wording. LOL

One of the schools from SC that I applied at called my work today to check my references. My boss told the man (while I was standing in front of her) that she would love to tells lies about me so I would never leave but I am the most efficent specialist that she has ever worked with and was sad that I was leaving but loved me enough to want me to be happy. I almost cried. She is the sweetest boss. Hard to leave her.

Somermoone, so glad that you had some fun camping. I know that we started enjoying camping with each year that our children aged. When they were really little it was a constant battle to keep up and relaxation was out of the question. Now the oldest two help out and the youngest is so easy going. Camping is wonderful family activity now. LOL

Darius, so glad that the antibiotics are working. Hopefully the infection will be gone when you get the dentist and he is able to do what ever needs to be done to make sure it doesn't happen again with that tooth.

Vann, did you actually make that pie or are you just being cruel and teasing us?????? Looks awesome....

Flowerchild, school doesn't start here until the 30th of August. My youngest is both excited and sad about it. My oldest was hoping that I would forget that it was him that was hiding in the back of the house. LOL

I dont mind grocery shopping now. When the kids were little and I had to take them with me I dreaded it. I would always come home with more then I wanted or needed. Now DH goes with me and it is time for us to talk about what ever comes to mind.

Well I need to get off here and get my gardens watered before I pass out and hit my head on the monitor.

Good night all..... ~~~~~'s to all.

The thread for Wednesday is now up at http://davesgarden.com/forums/t/640243/

Since it is not the 16th, I will continue here.

Had 9 pints of spaghetti sauce, did I tell you that already?, yeah I think I did, can you tell that CRS is a permanent resident at this house? I used to get irritated at my mom for telling the me same thing 3 or 4 times, now I am doing it too!

Yes, McCool, the phone/internet is fixed until the next time. If there are any hillbillies/bumbling idiots in Kentucky they work for the phone company!! I swear, it took me days to convince them I had a problem. Every time they ran their "test" the line was working properly, it of course didn't occur to them that the problem was intermitent.

The satelite was an easy fix, the remotes had lost their "address" whatever that means. Only cost me about 12 tomatoes for that job. Pretty good that you can pay in produce here. I am wondering if I will start seeing "I will work for tomatoes" signs in the parking lots of the groceries or WW?

Sarv, that pizza party sounded good. That is one good time, with finishing off with the sundaes.

Hope, I am sorry that you are experiencing migraines again. How did your lab tests and Dr. appointment go?

I have been so busy that I had completely forgotten that the pool needed maintenance, so was in the pool tonight about 9:00 vacuuming. DH was standing on the deck, pointing out debris that I needed to get. What a help he was!!

Carat the "pool school" probably wouldn't help you much, as you are a seasoned veteran. This school is aimed at newbies, those who have owned a pool for a season, but have never had to close one. If I get any tips that seem particularily helpful, I will certainly post them for you.

To everybody else, I am getting was past "brain dead", so will just ~~~~ to everybody else. Hope that you all have a good night, and sleep well. Hope those who are experiencing pain, allergies, or just racing brains, will get a good night's sleep.

Will talk to you later.

I'll take a few minutes to comment of what I remember. Sorry, but I need to get to bed before 1 am if I'm gonna do aquafit at 8. DH is away and I tend to stay up way too late. Have the covers for the foam almost completely sewn. One needs reinforcing at the sides of the opening and they all need to have the velcro sewn on and they are done. If my friend has the salvaged velcro tomorrow at aquafit, I'll get them done before our trip. If not, they will be quick to finish when we get back.

McCool, sorry you aren't feeling well and hope you feel better soon. Sarv, I through out 3 unopened bottles of salad dressing because they were all more than a year past their expiry date. Found half a bottle of similar vintage in the fridge too. Best to empty them when DH isn't around to chide me. Maybe I better put something else in the recycle bin too. LOL The picture my daughter sent was taken while they were in Alaska a couple of weeks ago. I'm getting ready, but I won't pack until Thursday. Wouldn't even pack then except that our flight is early morning on Friday. I hope my neighbour across the street gets back OK on Thursday from England. with all the delays through Heathrow, I'm not counting on her being on time, but I may have to brief another neighbour on what watering needs to be done if she's too late. We've been looking after her house for the last two weeks and were pleased that our vacations matrched so well without planning.

Casey, nice that you have such a good boss where you live and I sure hope you find one just as good when you move. The pie was strictly a cyber treat in all ways - conjured up to, hopefully, be comfort food for Dorothy. Amazing what you can find on the Internet. LOL

~~~~ to everyone else. Have a good night.

Ann