Best/ worse/ ? did you learn today #51 visit with friends...

...Tadah, must been Betty Luck! She came while I was trying!

This message was edited Jul 10, 2008 7:15 AM

It's me, Betty...well we've got Judy up and at it..getting ready for our day in Chicago, Steve has been telling us about the history and the many places to see, said we'll get about 5 miles of walking in today..guess who didn't bring her walking shoes, but that's ok..I can go barefoot if I have to..

It's muggy and hot..I brought coolant bandana's for everyone so they are ready to take with us..Steve put his on last night and didn't take it off said it did infact bring down his body temperatures..so, we'll look cool with a tropical flare to us..real tourists..

Yep, Liz and I were up extra early, found the wheelbarrel 1/4 full of water, lower bag of cement wet, we went to lift it and cement all over the deck, so quickly we cleaned up that mess..lol..then went into the car to get my GPS only to find I had forgotten to shut the roof window..so seats are a bit damp..

As Steve has a worker he must drop off downtown Chicago I will be driving my own car with the girls..Judy is not a highway driver nor a good passenger..Liz and I will sit her in the back and blindfold her..Steve guarantees that he'll drive slow enough I can follow him but not taking a chance, keyed in the GPS with his work address which is right in the sightseeing area, that way we'll not fret...

So dear friends, it's off to the city..
Enjoy your day, as I said, you are all travelling with us (on canvas-lol)...so you are not left out...just like the little gnome they send from place to place, I took you with me....

Judy, lovely photo of Murphy...Jaye you keep these girls busy while we are galavanting...lol

Oh, I am so jealous of your get-together! Lovely picture!! We HAVE to do one big "gathering" next year so we can all get together!!!!! Y'all have fun in Chicago - say hi to Oprah for me! Now wouldn't that be a hoot to have you 3 go to an Oprah taping!!

Here are the puppies - day 17. Eyes are open and they are climbing out of the whelping box!

I know Betty but which ones are you guys plese. BEV Looks like you are having fun. You go girls!!! Hugs BEV

What a lovely photo of you 3! You all look so happy. I know you are off for the day. But have fun and stay cool!

Bev beautiful flower!

Jeannine are those the females or just puppy pictures?

Truck day yesterday! I feel like I have never done it before! Will need to take an aleve. So much to do outside and the weather is nice but I think it will get hot. I probably should check the weather report.

Just plain puppy pictures. I don't know who's who yet. Mine is probably the one trying to get out of the box!

Y'all look like sisters in the pic! Are you sure y'all are not related?
Ooh I can imagine the late night and none would admit they're tired. Say hello to the Windy City...no, they don't need to go to Oprah's show. They need do a Dr. Phil special and tell him about this group...:D I bet he'd start here to look for answers for world peace!
This is so neat..all the plannings, finally came to fruition.
Sniff..sniff..save some hugs for me!

Great picture of you three ladies. Thank you so much for posting. I am going to print it off and put it in my photo album that I keep sitting on one of my end tables. I am so happy that the three of you are able to spend this time together. If I am as close to this group this upcoming year as I was last year, I have to be included in a summer get together next year.

I want to hear all about downtown Chicago. How exciting to be there today. I bet that all of you will be very tired tonight.

You all have a good next few days.

Ruby

OMG Liz, you have the most wonderful eyes!!!!! Love it, love the picture.

Girls, if you don't know....maybe just Bev:
Betty is in the center, Judy is to our left in jean shorts, and Liz is to our right with the dancing eyes. That is a lovely picture, ladies. You do us all proud!!
I wish I could have been with you, but it was not to be this time.

Judy...I might not be home tonight, not till late anyway. Ashley and I yard saled all day and we are going to probably eat our profits by going somewhere for dinner. Not sure, since we have been up since 6 a.m........we'll fall asleep over our dinner wherever we are. But call anyway, will be nice to hear you. Judy, turn your 4 way speaker thingy on!!!

Hugs to all the puppies GG.....I know you are getting excited.
Y'all, don't do yard sales in 90 degree heat and humidity!!

Hi everyone,
I am back..getting caught up with the garden.
Great pic of the three of you..happy happy..
Will stay tuned for all the stories.

It was nice to hear from Gita....and her adventures.

Take care,
Carol

Managed to remember how to key in to log in under my own name...

What a wonderful day, Steve-Judy's DH took the day off..worked and also lived right downtown so he was our own personal tour guide..well my shoes didn't make the grade, nope, had to stop and purchase a pair..well worth it though..

What wonders we've seen...totally not what I expected Chicago to be..waterfront is amazing, the most beautiful parks and gardens I've even seen, ..oops Judy even got photo's of Liz and I deadheading and looking for unusual seeds...please don't tell anyone at the border, I'm going to be into smuggling..Steve had the patience of a saint, he really did..what a tour guide..

As for Oprah, Steve worked in the building where she lives now on the upper floor, he took us to the common floor for us to take photo's..lovely place to live...what they've done to their downtown is absolutely amazing...and I guess that Steve was right, we got in about 5 miles of walk if not more and then we took the bus back to parking...drove home using the gps and lordy she was good at directing us right to the door..


I'll have to share some photo's when I return home...

Day was near perfect, bit of rain towards the end of the day but it cooled us down..

Laughed, made everyone coolant bandana's and in this heat could have made a fortune selling them..we were approached by many inquiring minds...lol

We're planning a crafting day tomorrow and making some cement leaves..other than that it's organizing ourselves to do some crafts...

Well feet are tired and it's really later for me than Judy and Liz is 2 hours earlier so we're all confused when someone asks the time..we all have a different answer...

Past my bedtime, will sit and gab with the girls but it won't be a late night...I'll spend tomorrow here and then Sat. morning I'll head home that way I can enjoy Sunday resting up before work...

I'm so pleased I came..girls are wonderful..all as though we've known each other for years...funny, sometimes they are gabbing away and everything sounds familiar and I look and it's the oddest feeling, nothing 'stranger' about them, their habit, their likes, dislikes...just goes to show how much we share of our lives...love it!

Jeanning love the puppies...Ruby, you don't have to wait till next year to visit, nor do any of you..door is always opened..Steve said he'd like to come visit and I'm thinking of all in our area and that of Toronto that I could show them...will have to make a list for sure...

Shar, thanks for explaining to the girls who is who, you know us, we just think everyone knows who is who...yes I'm the eldest sitting in the middle...lol

Carol, you are next on my travelling agenda...

Well better get going, kids want computer and I've taken enough time on it...

Talk soon..

I am so glad that you guys are having fun. It sounds uncomfortable but B saved the day with her emergency bandannas and I want to know where you got them, I need to get Greg one for his hot job. How many hours did it take you Betty to drive there? Hi Liz, are you making it ok in the humidity? We had a tornado about an hour from here liz and it has been humid here too, but nothing compared to there.

People are already in my driveway. There sure are lotsa yardsale lovers around here. We did really well yesterday, but the day nearly wiped me out. Not sure if I will make it through this one.

J, L, and B......y'all have a great day!

Good morning to the rest of you..happy Friday, and stay cool.
Good luck, Dawn...
Hugs
S

morning ladies finally was able to get the computer lol
wow talk about a light weight!!!!!
i thought it was hard in hawaii lol but never really knew what the heck humity was wow thank god betty brought those coolants for the neck it has just saved me!
judys dh says we walked 3 miles through downtown , sure seems like a whole lot more..
really wonderful group here , feel right at home the thunder and lightning all night really lights up the sky! something to see,
cant believe , judy calls them locusts dont know what they are but ant the end of day you should hear the racket they make in the trees..

and then the fireflies oh maby ill take a jar home and hope they colonize in california such a pretty light show, the silly thingsa that keep me occupied
what a beautiful city chicago is, much simmilarities to san francisco and the grounds of the parks so well kept up i could really spend more time oh ya of coarse i was bad on the magnifi mile street geee few flowers had some dead heads well i just helped them along and pinched them off golly they ended up in my purse... lol well the'll find a good home :)

cant believe its thursday already think this morning we will be making cement leaves omg did betty tell you the comotion with cement?
judy said no rain and it did as we were moving the bags one broke open and of all places on the wood deck had to hurry and clean it it was a comedy we had so much rain hope the cement stayed dry under the tarp im scared to go see lol.
wait till you guys meet betty she is as wonderful in person as she is in writing!!!!!!!

jeannine, puppies sooooo cute there getting so big

shar, thank you

carol, have a great time visiting

gita, have a great time to

laura, how are you doing been sewing

vicki, how are you doing

bev, hello to you
ruby, how are things with you how is your garden?

marion, jaye,gilli, and everyone else hey cat glad your doing good hello to all others

crossed with you shar see how much fun they are lol

dawn, california weather i promise i wont complain again lol wow tornado how crazy does that sound for us
do you get them in the summer often ?

Morning!

Liz we had crazy storms up here also! One big crack and then lightning and showers. I woke up around 5(had the window open) was just pouring and there was a continuous howl. I shut the window and went back to bed. I think the howl was the rain falling with flashes of lightning. Just felt really weird. Glad you guys arre having so much fun! Enjoy it the time is running out! LOL

Shar enjoy the thrift sale. Just think of all the spare room you will have. Maybe buy a few plants.

Dawn I never think of toronados out there. Mudslides-fires and winds.

Did a bit of work outside yesterday. Should of done some stuff in the house but I got lazy and took a nap. So that was my day yesterday.

Hope you all are getting done what you want.

My turn on the computer..we're all rested..when Steve leaves for work think I'll get the girls and see if we can find a crackelbarrel store..can't imagine both have seen them and none stopped to enjoy all the 'pretties'

We've a few project slated for today, odds and ends the girls are working on..might even give a little painting lesson..lol..

It's overcast but they say it will be 91 and humid today..clearing later this afternoon...

As I said it was quite a long ride, few hours more than I had anticipated so think I because I had trouble sitting with my back that I'll leave early tomorrow and make frequent 1 hr. stops..now that's my plan, don't always stick to it..lol

I've not been eating 3 meals, more like 1 since I've left and tha was yesterday, starting to increase in size so didn't eat anything more, I'm going to try same today even though I'm starving..just don't want to feel uncomfortable...

You should see Liz and Judy, you'd think they were schoolhouse friends..lol..

Vicki, did so want to drive up to meet you as well, thought Judy said it was a 3 hr. drive and that would have been fine, but then she said I misunderstood, it was 3hrs from their cottage which would make a 12 hr. day drive...so please forgive, will try to meet up with you somewhere...

Shar that's wonderful that you've had buyers for your 'treasure' you'll have to spend those $$$$ to fly to Canada..

Well it's off to curl this hair, get dressed and wake Judy..lol

Betty don't be sorry. You guys had good thoughts and I wondered how you all would fit in a drive like that in the few days you all had together! LOL Just have fun and take care of yourself. Be careful driving tomorrow. Traffic will be alot different on the weekend.

I've been folllowing along and smiling at the good time you 3 are having. I'm really glad you were able to get together.

Hit and muggy here also. We are supposed to ahve a chance of rain this evening or tomorrow to cool things down a little. I'm already having to water. Seems it's feast or famine with the rain! :-)

Have a good day everyone

Vicky we don't get tornadoes here often and when we do, they are the lowest grade there is, but they may take out telephone poles, we had one last summer and it ran right by my house, Greg was home alone and scared to death, I heard it from my dd what it was and as I was coming back from LA, coming over this hill on top of the valley, I could see it, going toward Edwards Air Force Base, and my dd said, yeah mom that is where it is headed.

It is part of that weather phenomenon that is different everywhere in the world, with the global warming.

Liz it is overcast and breezy so far today with a heavy marine layer, not hot yet, but it will be real sticky if the sun breaks through this. Enjoy. Go to wal mart or rite Aid and see if they have some other novelties to keep you cool. I saw on GMA or Regis and Kelly, Mike and Juliette or something, all these cool things that cool your core temperature, one was that chillo and the bandannas too, also a cap that cooled your head 30 degrees. Find it Liz, save yourself.

Poor Judy probably feels bad seeing you profusely sweating. It is just something that a body adjusts to, being in the heat, and when you get humidity, your body starts expelling water, that in California you usually store like a camel.

Have fun. Can't wait for one of you to see the leaves.

Morning all,
I would love to see the "three amigos" with their cooling bandanas on...What a great idea Betty!
It was brilliant of you to think about making so many that you could take some to Judy and Liz..
Did you find a Crackerbarrel restaurant/store. I enjoy them too.

I wonder how the cement leaves project went..can't imagine doing them in 91 degree weather..Woohhh.....

I just have to show you all, the wonderful statue I bought while I was away visiting my sister in London...and the best part is that it was on sale for half price!..last one there.

Her name is Beth..I like to name my little statues..






This message was edited Jul 12, 2008 7:03 AM

The statue you see here through the Bee Balm is named Desiree.
I also bought her on a trip to London several years ago. When I visit my sister we always have a little shopping day together..and we encourage each other to buy ourselves something nice.

morning ladies, and paul, and sometimes herbie lol,

well its been thundering and lightning and raining betty left around 5.30 this morning :( but we understand she needs a day of rest.
yesterday we went to a cracker barrel store, never been but if you promise not to laugh that means you shar then i will tell lol
always thought the name sounded like a cheese factory sort of place and i cant stand any kind of cheese products!
so when betty said lets find one, my first thought was ewwww, but imagine lol what betty must of thought when she told me what it was....

holy cow when i walked in well,whoc wanted food! all the goodies to see and buy and here i was buying garden thingies and tops and wow even found a 4 pack of sasparilla whopeeeeee! dh will be excited to see that, cant find it any more down our way,wow and they have a excelant breakfast to!

now to go find a carry on suitcase good greif the stuff i have to pack lol hope i dont get into to much trouble with the airline lol

ok now for some strange reason... TROUBLE finds me where ever i go so picture this....
im in my nightgown yesterday morning betty, judy's dh, and his worker are in the house i heard steves worker say dude theres a raccoon in your can so i had to see this!
i hid between the neighbors fence so the worker says i'll go stand by liz so steve opens the lid and out comes this scroungy horrible creature quite aggitated lol but wait.. its headed right at me after screaming moving by the side oh and the best part was i was on the phone with my dh, anyway it almost brushed by my leg it was that close there laughing at me while im (ewwwwing mode ) saying it probably has mange and every disease lol
omg how embarrassing! made their day :(
now last night betty went to bed and judy and i sitting on the back deck, i hear rustling look and there is 2 so i pffffffft them they run but now i created a argument so there out there growling, lol judy said i was scaring her so we had to move indoors lol
now this morning the biggest deer is in the yard so raining away i go get my camera and start taking pictures but my camera is in a wrong speed so i dont know if i got it or not, but it started to look at me and then i got scared and ran back in the house cause it was kinda big lol...
and where is everyone else to see the antics well there all sleeping geeez no one to play with yet...
yesterday we went to a beautiful mansion and took a tour of the grounds and gardens walked around this town and went in some shops and it was alot of fun being with the girls...

let me tell you it is a must that you find time and go meet betty i just cannot say any more but she is truly the most talented,and wonderful to be around just amasing to watch her paint, a very good teacher! such a kind soul, im so very glad i made this trip i do feel right at home! been raining humid indoors cant believe the rain is warm ARRRRRRRRRR!
stood outside to get drenched but that was no fun!
we were suppose to get the leaves done this morning but i dont know when the rain is going to let up
think we have to go to michaels today so judy can make her pot person do you know it took almost 10 days for that darn box i sent to get here
well i better go i have to go stand out in the rain again gosh its to much!
be back later...

shar how did your sale go?????
carol, how was your visit with your sister

hi cat glad yourdoing good to
hey ruby was thinking of you wish you could of joined us to..
vicki, theres always a next time so you got this storm to, well i can say you beat ours in calif lol
ok later

This message was edited Jul 12, 2008 5:08 AM

This message was edited Jul 12, 2008 5:12 AM

Hi Liz,
Thanks for the great stories..those raccoons find you wherever you are! It is such fun to hear about all the things you are doing. What wonderful memories you all will have. ..and a deer so close too...

I had a lovely time at my sisters. They have a big pool and a spa..and colurful gardens..so it is like going to a resort.

Here is my sis and I giggling.. waht a fun water toy to float around in and chat.

Oh my gosh, this is the very shortest that I have ever seen this thread be. This week has flown by here and I am sure that the Three Amigo's thought their week went even faster. Betty and Liz, please check in as soon as you can when arriving home. We are looking forward to seeing pictures and hearing stories. How exciting for some in the group to get together. I am in on the next get together!!!

Liz, you always ask about how my garden is doing. Right now we are sitting amid almost five hundred day lilies. Most are yellow, followed up by different colored orange ones. Here and there is a pink, red or whitish color and a few with lavender in them. It is quite impressive really. Next week John and I will be attending a Day Lily Festival that takes place annually nearby us. He attended last year and I didn't, but I am going to try and go this time. I need to make sure that he doesn't spend $70 on a single Day Lily. ha-ha At least he divided it with our sister in law and also divided the cost.

Also, for a week or so now my Gladiolus are putting on a beauftiful show. I am enjoying cutting bouquets for inside. A few of these are a very small and dainty. I haven't labeled any of these and don't know exactly how many different types there are, but I consider them my favorite blooming plant.

Both John and I are new gardeners and this is our third summer of having gardens. God must have taken pity on our ignorance and decided to help us out a bit by making sure that for several months we always have something in bloom to enjoy. We couldn't have done a better job in having things in continuous bloom if we had tried.

We have several almost 8 foot tall Hollyhocks that are really looking nice this year. Some of them are double blooms and I believe that I like them the best. I will be saving seed from the Hollyhocks and will probably do what I did with the Castor Beans earlier and offer them to members of this group.

By the way......anyone had any successes with their Castor Beans? We must have hundreds of them that self seeded in the spot where we planted them last year. Most are pretty small currently and under 2 foot tall. They will also grow up to 5 or 6 feet.

It became obvious to us recently that we need to thin and transplant some of our hostas that we planted three years ago. Some of them are three or four foot wide and don't have adequate space where they are. I was just introduced last month to mini hosta. I received several at a plant swap we attended. I love them. Several of the miniatures are in bloom now, as well as the regular size giant ones.

Not sure if I told this group about a weed that I have watched for months not really sure if it was a plant or a weed. About a week ago it blossomed in to a beautiful Jacob Cline Monarda, of the Sharran fame. She wrote a very interesting article on the Monarda a while back. I am thrilled with this because I have at least 5 or 6 labels in my gardens where I have planted this and never had the first one grow. I need to contact the mail order company that I got them from and have new ones sent. This one grew where I don't remember planting it and it wasn't labeled either. So....that I consider a little gift from above too. I guess he was trying to tell me if something doesn't grow in one place, I need to try growing it else where. At least when I get reumbursed for the dead ones, I will know now where to plant them.

Okay, I could probably go on all day writing about the wonders of my yarden, but won't bore you any longer. Thanks for giving me the opportunity to share this wonderful thing that brings me so much job.

I hope that everyone is having a good weekend.

Ruby

We cross posted Starzz. That picture really makes me want to find a pool and go and spend the day. Maybe one day next week I will take my things and go and spend a day at the community pool. Isn't that what summer is all about and this is the very first time that I have even given it a thought this year.

It might also be a fun thing to invite my daughter in law and little Emily to go and visit the community pool that is closest to them. Fun, fun.

Thanks so much for posting this picture. Our vacation isn't until the first week of September so I should be taking some mini-ones until then, don't you all think?

Ruby

Hello everyone..home safe and sound..won't post a lot tonight...tired/tired...11 hrs. of driving and 1 1/2 spent at Cracker Barrels...lol...

Liz, got that stained glass lamp with the 3d butterflies on it, and got almost every bracelet color there was for my new watch..bought a set for Kathy as well for looking after everyone..and a hat and t-shirt ..so laughing but hey I was a good girl came home with over 1/2 my money..could have gone wild in the crackerbarrel store but minded my p's and q's..

Judy thank you to you and your family, special hug for Steve for going out of his way to make me and Liz feel so welcome and special..I'll recommend him to anyone I know who will be visiting your fair city, the most beautiful city I've seen, loved it, as he's #1 tour guide..

Should have posted before this but I stopped at Suzanne and Lenny's...Roger's mom and other sister was there having supper, nothing doing I had to tell them all about my trip AND eat steak, fresh corn, new potatoes..yum / yum and then the boys called in, Jeff had been boating and Greg was checking out if I'd heard anything from dr's...so between visit with Suzanne/Lenny, the boys and Kathy, I'm ready for bed....

Must add one more thing...walking around the gardens just a while ago I could enjoy all the smells, so sweet and relaxing..notice there were bouquets of flowers all over in the house..just cannot wait for morning to go see the open lily's and all else that opened up while I was away..

Will share some photo's tomorrow..
Cross your fingers please that the hairdresser can squeeze me in tomorrow..sure do need it...

As I pulled in the driveway Sailor was waiting with her ball...glad someone missed me..lol

ooops, forgot to mention, I hate cleaning refrigerators, yuk, first thing Kathy said, 'cleaned your fridge, hope you don't mind' - no more science projects..lol

Betty, I got a call from the "girls" tonight, and heard all about your visit. Sure sounds as if you had a wonderful time. Wish I could have been with you.

Now that you are home, I can go to bed too....was waiting to hear from you. I am so glad you enjoyed Cracker Barrel. There is one less than a mile from my house so when you come here, we can go there every day!!

We are having storms tonight, and I am having to post between bolts of lightning...so this is short and sweet...
Hugs to you all..
S

Yay!! I am so Happy you got home Betty..

Big big smiles...whew.

LOL, liz wanted to bet you were stopping at Cracker Barrell. LOL finally watching our fire.

Thank you and Hugs to Thelma for keeping you company and a safe drive home, nice and sound....LOL, Louise.

Hello everyone!!

We have been thinking of all of you, Missing you too.
See you soon, Love and Peace to you all.
Judy

Welcome back Betty..
just had to check in here and see if you made it home safely.

Ruby.. I really enjoyed reading about your gardens and when you got started. Your joy shines through.

First bloom on Mais Oui daylily hybridized by Lorrain/Lycett of Hayfield daylilies..not far from where I live.
Had my evening nap..must go off to bed now...LOL

Edited because I had the s in the wrong place.
Mais Oui means 'But yes' in English

This message was edited Jul 13, 2008 8:42 AM

Welcome back Betty!
Now I can use my money set aside for your bail, in case the border agents caught you smuggling! Lol..me and BJWilson agreed most probably if you did get caught, we'd be sending you supplies 'cos you'd be teaching crafts there!
What a shame, you don't have Cracker Barrrel there. We're there almost everyday for breakfast. Most of my swaps come from there! Just love their whimsies stuff. Think I know the stained glass lamp you're talking about..did you see their fairy collection?
Liz with the laughing eyes. That really represent your personality Liz. Always cheery. Well, at least you didn't have to get rabies shot!! That will be an unpleasant memory!
Judy, do you have any native American blood in you. You're a lovely lady.
To everyone else....a great big wave.
Have a happy Sunday!!

Morning, woke up at 4:15 and thought, close those eyes...so it was 7:30..guess you know I was outside by 7:35 to see what had bloomed...OMG you cannot even see my pond for the height of the flowers so now I'm deciding if I like that and just hear the water or should I revamp it next spring...decisions huh...

Jaye, I couldn't afford a Cracker Barrel in my area..lol...see my goodies..

Love the lamp..know I have many stained glass lamps and make them myself, but lordy why would you when you can get them at these prices..

Nice of you all to keep tabs on me for getting home..would have been nice to have company though but I survived not talking, just replying to Thelma (my GPS that Judy named Thelma) from time to time...

Got home an gabbed with boys/DIL and Kathy..love it when she stays here, I always come back to a cleaner house then when I left...probably only time my fridge gets a complete clean out..she's a doll..

Her work of art..think I'm missing some jars and food lol

Uh Betty do you think the missing are the science projects you had going! LOL Welcome back Safely!

That Liz, she thought Cracker Barrel was a 'cheese' store, bet she'll have DH stopping at everyone she seeds, think she'd going home with a few treasures from there as well...

Ruby, going back after I unpack the car to read your thread about gardening..in the background of this photo is castor bean plants..now is the red flower in them the actual seeds?

I wonderd who Thema was DUH!!! Hi all it's off to church. C U ALL LATER HUGS BEV

Hi Betty,
I wondered that too....I thought Judy and Liz reffered to themselves as "Thelma and Louise"..LOL

Beauitful lamp ..as are all the other goodies you bought.

Gardens sure can change in a few days..everything is going so well this year with all the rain we are having.

I was at the garden centre yesterday..bought these gorgeous Daisies.
They are called Broadway Lights Shasta Daisy. They start out a soft yellow and fade to a cream colour.
I was ohhing and ahhing when I saw them..and the owner said..are you OK?...with a big grin..do you need to sit down..we have water inside. He knows me as I have been going there since he opened.

Haven't gone out to the garden yet..raining here.