Best/Worse and What didI learn today-visit with friends #85

Awww Betty you are so sweet. thank you for the tips.
Always can use those from ones in the know.

Yikes, I hope it frays ok...but I am noqw actually more worried about it shriking too little.
LOL, then Bailey will be extra warm too! Yep, forgot to prewash and shrink.
The yello is sort of silk...it does fray and the green is some sort of furniture material.
...(remember that bag of remenents I got) thats what it is from.

You be careful on the roads home.
Oh yes If I myself don't clear the ice no one will be going out there.

Hope all out there use extreme caution as well.

ok we are off to watch the great pie toss!! LOL

Ahhh Bev, prayers for sure and soft hugs, know you need them..isn't that they way...must check why lights aren't working with electrician, not good to have something in the inner walls going awry..very dangerous..do all of your wall plugs work?

Lordy/lordy..never rains but it pours...with regards to camera and downloading probably a minor glitch..did you re-boot computer..that usually works for me...

Looking forward to seeing photo's Judy, hope you have time to post before you leave for the cottage..

Glad you didn't take it the wrong way, know you love to learn..with all DG friends that sew I'm sure you'll be a pro in no time...Judy, doubt it would ever shrink that much where it wouldn't be big enough for Cedric..just think how comfy he'll be..

This one took a while to find Called EXDW She still had it bookmaked

The smell of rain



At the end of this story, it gives you two options. I think you will figure out what option I chose.



A cold March wind danced around the dead of night in Dallas as the doctor walked into the small hospital room of Diana Blessing. She was still groggy from surgery.


Her husband, David, held her hand as they braced themselves for the latest news.
That afternoon of March 10, 1991, complications had forced Diana, only 24-weeks pregnant, to undergo an emergency Cesarean to deliver couple's new daughter, Dana Lu Blessing.



At 12 inches long and weighing only one pound nine ounces, they already knew she was perilously premature.

Still, the doctor's soft words dropped like bombs.

"I don't think she's going to make it," he said, as kindly as he could.





"There's only a 10-percent chance she will live through the night, and even then, if by some slim chance she does make it, her future could be a very cruel one"





Numb with disbelief, David and Diana listened as the doctor described the devastating problems Dana would likely face if she survived.




She would never walk, she would never talk, she would probably be blind, and she would certainly be prone to other catastrophic conditions from cerebral palsy to complete mental retardation, and on and on.



"No! No!" was all Diana could say.

She and David, with their 5-year-old son Dustin, had long dreamed of the day they would have a daughter to become a family of four.

Now, within a matter of hours, that dream was slipping away



But as those first days passed, a new agony set in for David and Diana. Because Dana's underdeveloped nervous system was essentially 'raw', the lightest kiss or caress only intensified her discomfort, so they couldn't even cradle their tiny baby girl against their chests to offer the strength of their love.

All they could do, as Dana struggled alone beneath the ultraviolet light in the tangle of tubes and wires, was to pray that God would stay close to their precious little girl.


There was never a moment when Dana suddenly grew stronger.



But as the weeks went by, she did slowly gain an ounce of weight here and an ounce of strength there.




At last, when Dana turned two months old. her parents were able to hold her in their arms for the very first time.




And two months later, though doctors continued to gently but grimly warn that her chances of surviving, much less living any kind of normal life, were next to zero, Dana went home from the hospital, just as her mother had predicted.


Five years later, when Dana was a petite but feisty young girl with glittering gray eyes and an unquenchable zest for life.


She showed no signs whatsoever of any mental or physical impairment. Simply, she was everything a little girl can be and more. But that happy ending is far from the end of her story.



One blistering afternoon in the summer of 1996 near her home in Irving , Texas , Dana was sitting in her mother's lap in the bleachers of a local ball park where her brother Dustin's baseball team was practicing.


As always, Dana was chattering nonstop with her mother and several other adults sitting nearby, when she suddenly fell silent . Hugging her arms across her chest, little Dana asked, "Do you smell that?"



Smelling the air and detecting the approach of a thunderstorm, Diana replied, "Yes, it smells like rain."


Dana closed her eyes and again asked, "Do you smell that?"


Once again, her mother replied, "Yes, I think we're about to get wet. It smells like rain."


Still caught in the moment, Dana shook her head, patted her thin shoulders with her small hands and loudly announced,
"No, it smells like Him.



It smells like God when you lay your head on His chest."



Tears blurred Diana's eyes as Dana happily hopped down to play with the other children.


Before the rains came, her daughter's words confirmed what Diana and all the members of the extended Blessing family had known, at least in their hearts, all along.


During those long days and nights of her first two months of her life, when her nerves were too sensitive for them to touch her, God was holding Dana on His chest and it is His loving scent that she remembers so well.


You now have 1 of 2 choices. You can either pass this on and let other people catch the chills like you did or you can delete this and act like it didn't touch your heart like it did mine.

IT'S YOUR CALL!


"I can do all things in Him who strengthens me."


This morning when the Lord opened a window to Heaven, He saw me, and He asked: "My child, what is your greatest wish for today?" I responded:
"Lord please, take care of the person who is reading this message, their family and their special friends. They deserve it and I love them very much" The love of God is like the ocean, you can see its beginning, but not its end.

________________________
This message works on the day you receive it. Let us see if it is true. _____________

ANGELS EXIST but some times, since they don't all have wings, we call them FRIENDS.

im really not comforable with chain letters. I find them kind of ........like do this or else kind of thing.

its a lovely story and all but hte part that says if u dont send it on then your saying it didnt touch you... hmmm i dont know... its just me.....

lovely story

Back from the Peds office. Tell me how a 15 year old can have croup? I told him he was still my baby boy! LOL Of course the Doc asks me "Why do you let these kids do these things to their hair?" So, I had Shane tell him how it happened....and the Doc was just beaming, told him he was very proud of him with the medals! Then said "Good job Mom". LOL

Sure seems like the kids are "never" in school any more. Between celebrating Presidents birthdays that have been dead 200 years, and everything else under the sun....we have teachers conference days, superintendants days, 3 days off at Thanksgiving, a week to 10 days at Christmas/ny, another in Feb...another at Easter....it is too much! Not that I don't like them being home, they really are good kids for the most part....but they don't get a "balance". It would be one thing if the school closed for the week....but we are still expected to take them for sports games, or practice or whatever the school had planned....Shane was in soccer, and the coach had them be there at 8:00 every morning! Whats the sense of vacation?

Love the rag quilts...I am totally lost...but still loving them. DD makes a big "rag" quilt of sorts. It is about 48 X 72 inches...cuts and ties the edges all the way around of two layers and makes the throw. Very comfy fleece material.

Not just you on the chain thing....they annoy the heck out of me. Love the pretty poem/story....but Jesus isn't going to do bad things to anyone if I don't forward it....matter of fact, I don't think He has email! LOL

About 10 years ago, when DD was so sick...someone sent me a chain mail...and said "something bad would happen if I didn't forward" type threat attached. Well, that poor person got an earful...or eye full from me. I felt horrible after that...but what do people really think?

Back "in the day" of new AOL, people used to loose their accounts for sending chain letters. Sorry....got off on a rant...I appologize.

Hey Debbie, Loved little boy blue with the flu!!!!! And the Blue hair pic is too cute!!!

Don't like chain letters either, but I think TT was just sharing a touching story with us, and it was a good story. Very thoughtful. Thanks for sharing.

HI, i am back!
I think Shar is right...not meant to be a chainletter but a loving gesture.

OH my gosh, pie throwing was so much fun...lol I am glad I went!

And, good news my tiny lil quilt did n't shrink like thought! going to iron it then post some pics.

Hi Shar!!

Ohhh No no...wasn't meaning anything by that....as I said loved the story...but just went off on "email chains" sorry if I sounded horrible...not what I intended.

I don't like threatening chain letters either I deleted the end .. But I did miss part of the text
Sorry Just like to think it could be !!!

Tubby

No apologies necessary...it was a great story, and we all loved it.

And we all probably don't like e mail chains.

Debbie, how far was that plane crash from you? That is so very sad.

Love the story as well...brought a tear...please keep sharing..with all this tragedy in the world it's so nice to read something touching to the heart...I truly believe if she wasn't resting her head on the Lord chest, she certainly was with him...Debbie, I'm sure this touched you as well, with Shannon being so ill as a child..think she got to smell the rain as well...

Tubby, where do you find such stories...I'll also keep this one...I had a girlfriend Elizabeth who lost a daughter to leukemia..she had a story about the Lord just lending us our children, I had it somewhere and can't for the life of me find it..wish I could...


Know what my Worse of the day will be:
Well I'm not a happy camper, not Sailor's fault but came home and she had soiled and was sick from one end to another..now tell me, I only have a braided rug next to downstairs fireplace, then a 6 x 8' rug in the living room..why do they not do it on the floors so it's easy clean up, but no, on both rugs...omg can't stop gagging...know she's old, she must have gotten into something..

Best of my day..

I imagine it is Cathy who drops in to let Sailor out who made about 30 red hears that say "Happy Valentines Day" they were put on my kitchen cupboards, front window, wall behind the couch..so very thoughtful...

What did I learn...hmmm

Guess it was making a young man's day..I learnt that if I went into a store and had bad service I do go to management (well maybe not as I spent an entire night last Thursday in a hotel with no heat/no hot water lol) but normally I would...

Today I walked into Home Depot to get the wood for the little bench..young man I believe no more than mid 20's came and asked if he could help me, told him I wanted to make a bench..within seconds he had me in the right department, cut the wood to dimensions I had, asked him for another specialty item trim for the birdhouse, walked me there..so it was easy to take the time and that's what I did learn..to ask for the manager and congratulate them on having such great staff..I called over the young lad, explained how his service impressed me and he walked away beaming from ear to ear...

Going to read your threads later after I light a dozen candles to try and cover odors..I'll check what the rug looks like now that I've used carpet machine on it..probably going shopping for a rug tomorrow...drats..

Judy, my apologies, you did do each square, you just showed us the backside..you little elf..you'll be teaching me sewing shortly..

Please post the finished project with Cedric..we'd all love to see him comfy ready for his vacation trip to the cottage...

Can you smell what I'm smelling? yuk

Best I go get vinegar now...

Ok Betty...

Here he is...

Hey, Ill be back in a bit..got to run to store quick like.

Ohh so sorry to hear about Sailor. Poor little pup.
ick, sorry you get to clean it up too...

Tubby, we do enjoy reading the stories. Thank you for sharing it.

Great little quilt, Judy!!

Betty-you have to do that-share the victories as well as the failures of service with the management:)

That was a great little story-I really enjoyed it-gave me a little sniffle.....

Sharran, that crash is about 35 to 40 miles from me. There has been nothing but that on all tv stations today, and I hate to admit I was drawn to watching it when I could.

The stories of those lost, just ripped my heart! By now you all know of the 9/11 widow. There was a young man, flying home for his wedding this weekend, A gentleman who is married to a Doctor/research tech from Roswell park Cancer Institute...alone in this country without her husband. She is from China. The author and renowned woman for research on Rwonda. A young woman in her seond year of law school. The list of these people just goes on and on. Two members of the Chuck Mangione band, who were to play with the Buffalo Philharmonic tonight. Then you hear of the people left behind...that had missed the flight by seconds.

One of the newscasters knew the family and the man killed in the house, he lived very close....as did many Buffalo Sabres soccer team members.

There are many church services going on for them in the area. It is just so sad.

Debbie....who for some reason suddenly has 3 teenage girls here and a son hiding in his room!

Sorry to hear Sailor wasn't feeling well....had that issue with Porter last week...she tried to make it to the door.....we have carpeting:(

I took a quick scan and will catch up later just wanted you to see what I got in the 7 Item Swap from Phyllis!!!! Beautiful even if I still haven't managed to get all the packing popcorn out of it..!!

If you all have enough already LMK I have lots of niece's who send lots of mail & friends do too..I save the ones that touch ya Don't get me wrong I'm ornery and teaser-joke teller & love picking on my DDs & DGKids DW best of all Thank God she loves we



THORNS



Sandra felt as low as the heels of her shoes when she pulled open the florist shop door, against a November gust of wind. Her life had been as sweet as a spring breeze and then, in the fourth month of her second pregnancy, a "minor" automobile accident stole her joy. This was Thanksgiving week and the time she should have delivered their infant son. She grieved over their loss.

Troubles had multiplied.

Her husband's company "threatened" to transfer his job to a new location. Her sister had called to say that she could not come for her long awaited holiday visit. What's worse, Sandra's friend suggested that Sandra's grief was a God-given path to maturity that would allow her to empathize with others who suffer. "She has no idea what I'm feeling," thought Sandra with a shudder "Thanksgiving? Thankful for what?" she wondered. "For a careless driver whose truck was hardly scratched when he rear-ended me? For an airbag that saved my life, but took my child's?"

"Good afternoon, can I help you?"

Sandra was startled by the approach of the shop clerk. "I . . . I need an arrangement," stammered Sandra.

"For Thanksgiving? I'm convinced that flowers tell stories, " she continued. "Are you looking for something that conveys 'gratitude' this Thanksgiving?"

"Not exactly!" Sandra blurted out. "In the last five months, everything that could go wrong has gone wrong."

Sandra regretted her outburst, and was surprised when the clerk said, "I have the perfect arrangement for you."

Then the bell on the door rang, and the clerk greeted the new customer...

"Hi, Barbara, let me get your order." She excused herself and walked back to a small workroom, then quickly reappeared, carrying an arrangement of greenery, bows, and what appeared to be long-stemmed thorny roses. Except the ends of the rose stems were neatly snipped: there were no flowers.

"Do you want these in a box?" asked the clerk. Sandra watched - was this a joke? Who would want rose stems with no flowers! She waited for laughter, but neither woman laughed.

"Yes, please," Barbara replied with an appreciative smile. "You'd think after three years of getting the special, I wouldn't be so moved by its significance, but I can feel it right here, all over again," she said, as she gently tapped her chest.

Sandra stammered, "Ah, that lady just left with .. . . uh . . . she left with no flowers!"

"That's right," said the clerk. "I cut off the flowers. That's the 'Special'. I call it the Thanksgiving Thorns Bouquet. Barbara came into the shop three years ago, feeling much as you do today," explained the clerk. "She thought she had very little to be thankful for.
She had just lost her father to cancer; the family business was failing; her son had gotten into drugs; and she was facing major surgery. That same year I had lost my husband," continued the clerk. "For the first time in my life, I had to spend the holidays alone. I had no children, no husband, no family nearby, and too much debt to allow any travel."

"So what did you do?" asked Sandra.

"I learned to be thankful for thorns," answered the clerk quietly. "I've always thanked God for the good things in my life and I never questioned Him why those good things happened to me, but when the bad stuff hit, I cried out, 'Why? Why me?!' It took time for me to learn that the dark times are important to our faith! I have always enjoyed the 'flowers' of my life, but it took the thorns to show me the beauty of God's comfort! You know, the Bible says that God comforts us when we're afflicted, and from His consolation we learn to comfort others."

Sandra sucked in her breath, as she thought about what her friend had tried to tell her. "I guess the truth is I don't want comfort. I've lost a baby and I'm angry with God."

Just then someone else walked in the shop.

"Hey, Phil!" the clerk greeted the balding, rotund man.

"My wife sent me in to get our usual Thanksgiving arrangement . . twelve thorny, long-stemmed stems!" laughed Phil as the clerk handed him a tissue wrapped arrangement from the refrigerator.

"Those are for your wife?" asked Sandra incredulously. "Do you mind telling me why she wants a bouquet that looks like that?"
"Four years ago, my wife and I nearly divorced," Phil replied. "After forty years, we were in a real mess, but with the Lord's grace and guidance, we trudged through problem after problem, the Lord rescued our marriage. Jenny here (the clerk) told me she kept a vase of rose stems to remind her of what she had learned from "thorny" times. That was good enough for me. I took home some of those stems. My wife and I decided to label each one for a specific "problem" and give thanks for what that problem taught us."

As Phil paid the clerk, he said to Sandra, "I highly recommend the Special!"

"I don't know if I can be thankful for the thorns in my life" Sandra said to the clerk. "It's all too . . fresh."

"Well," the clerk replied carefully, "my experience has shown me that the thorns make the roses more precious. We treasure God's providential care more during trouble than at any other time. Remember that it was a crown of thorns that Jesus wore so we might know His love....Don't resent the thorns."

Tears rolled down Sandra's cheeks. For the first time since the accident, she loosened her grip on her resentment. "I'll take those twelve long-stemmed thorns, please," she managed to choke out.

"I hoped you would," said the clerk gently. "I'll have them ready in a minute."

"Thank you. What do I owe you?"

"Nothing. Nothing but a promise to allow God to heal your heart...The first year's arrangement is always on me."

The clerk smiled and handed a card to Sandra. "I'll attach this card to your arrangement, but maybe you would like to read it first."

It read: "My God, I have never thanked You for my thorns. I have thanked You a thousand times for my roses, but never once for my thorns. Teach me the glory of the cross I bear; teach me the value of my thorns. Show me that I have climbed closer to You along the path of pain. Show me that, through my tears, the colors of Your rainbow look much more brilliant."

Praise Him for the roses; thank Him for the thorns

God Bless all of you. Be thankful for all that the Lord does for you.

"Live simply, love generously, care deeply, speak kindly, and leave the rest to God."

We often try to fix problems with WD-40 and Duct tape.

God did it with nails.

LOL Betty, I don't know what it is, other than being green to it. As you know, I was born, raised, and lived the first 34 years of my life in California (I'm 36 now,) they don't have this kind of weather there, no squall lines, no tornadoes, only 1 or 2 thunderstorms a year but none severe, no ice, no snow even though every winter it gets down to about 20 degrees but warms up when a storm comes off of the Pacific Ocean, summers can get up to 108 and hardly rains at all. You don't hear of anyone having storm radios, I didn't know what a storm radio was until I moved here. No severe weather of any kind, no NOAA reports, just rains, gets cold, and gets hot. That's about it.
I do have the shelter because last spring one evening we had this squall line come through that brought 10 tornadoes. The sucker trained and we had tornado warnings one after another almost all night long. The main interstate going Northeast and Southwest, I-30 was closed because so many tornadoes went over it, it was impassible. My house is not tornado safe and I was told before I moved here that Arkansas doesn't have tornadoes, so I wasn't worried about it. Last year we had tornadoes from January well into May, every week, then we had one touch down up the street when Hurricane Ike came over, and this area has never been hit before and the 75+ year old trees prove it. What's kinda funny is my mom moved to Oklahoma City in 2003, I moved here in 2007. Oklahoma City is the most tornado hit city in the whole United States. I have needed a shelter 6 times since I have been here due to rotation coming directly over my house, my mom has never been in her shelter. Something isn't right.

Arkansas gets an average of 21 tornadoes a Year, last year we had 70 before June, by the time we ended the year we were over 100.

I love the stories! Keep em coming!

I'm so sorry, I don't remember whose family is where wwwwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa

Very sad about the plane crash.

Dave's off this whole weekend, we were supposed to go out tonight but his friend from his work is in Hot Springs this whole weekend and we're going to meet up with him and his wife tomorrow night. That will be cool!

night/night everyone! Sleep tight and don't let the bed bugs bite!

My DXW just sent this said you probably like this one too.. .Now I'm hitting the sack

Tubby



FRIEND TEST!

A simple friend , when visiting , acts like a guest.
A real friend opens your refrigerator and helps himself
and doesn't feel even the least bit weird shutting your
'beer/Pepsi drawer' with their foot!




A simple friend has never seen you cry.
A real friend shoulder is soggy from your tears..



A simple friend doesn't know your parents' first
names.
A real friend has their phone numbers
in his address book.



A simple friend brings a bottle of wine to your
party.
A real friend comes early to help you cook and
stays late to help you clean.



A simple friend hates it when you call after
they've gone to bed.
A real friend asks you why you took so long to
call.



A simple friend seeks to talk with you about your
problems.
A real friend seeks to help you with your problems.



A simple friend wonders about your romantic
history.
A real friend could blackmail you with it!



A simple friend thinks the friendship is over when
you have an argument.
A real friend calls you after you had a fight.



A simple friend expects you to always be there for
them.
A real friend expects to always be there for you!





When you are down to nothing ...
God is up to something.

'Never frown , even when you are sad ,
because you never know who is
falling in love with your smile.'

Welcome Tubby. Catch you all tomorrow going to bed. HUGS BEV

Tubby - I like the golf ball analogy. Gonna send it to some co-workers.

Hope everyone is doing well!

LauraWonder - I couldn't find the post where you found your brother but I am so thankful that you did!

Debbie - Love the blue hair :)

The teens have a full weekend with Sweethearts Dance at the High School tomorrow. Have 7 outside right now in the spa...my oldest Brock, his date tomorrow (the Norwegian exchange student - Lina - prounounced "Leena"), Roxanne(middle) and her boyfriend Chaz, Raquel (youngest). Plus the German exchange student (Rico) and Roxanne's best friend (Breon). They are all laughing so loud and having a good time.

We've had 70 temps today as well....such a tease....seems like Spring.

I moved some Gazania's last weekend. I had one with tons of blooms. Two in another spot with more shade & no blooms. So I moved the two. I hope I did the right thing...they seem so droopy right now.

I so wish I was artsy crafty like you guys. That's more my DH's thing. But your creations are marvelous !

more later. Hugs to All! Mary in Baton Rouge

Happy Valentine Day


http://www.jacquielawson.com/viewcardm.asp?code=1776436103461&ob=1

morning all,
happy valentines day...

welcome tubby, nice storys

judy, nice quilt, lol jake had fun!

betty, lol that was one way if they figured it out right, oh it said kl dont know if that ment miles?
debby love the hair color

shar, lol nice to know we all have a dinning room craft table lol
hello to everyone got to go finish a project

LOL didn't make it out to the mileage post..didn't catch the KL notation that would have given it away Liz..I look forward to wearing one of your treasures...

Going to gab to you all but first, hot bath, must let Sailor in and give rugs another going over with vinegar in the water...
poor old girl is losing ground, I know what is coming, no sense being angry with her but lordy, why couldn't she just be sick downstairs where no rugs..maybe during the day I'll have the put a gate so she can't stay upstairs..not nice I know..

STACEY...thank you sweeite..between you and Cathy (who sits my animals/cuts my grass and apparently shovels my snow) without wanted and $$$, it was nice to wake and see all the pretty Valentines Day gifts...from you Stacey and Cathy had made red hearts and had put them throughout the house...

Your kindness is heartfelt and appreciated...

To those adds I've been listening to all week, geared for 2, I say "see, not a loser, somebody does love me"..lol

Now for my bath, be back

Betty-we all love you:) I hope you enjoy your choccies (if there are any left) and have a good Vday-me, I am eating choccies and reading a book a dear DG Auntie sent for me snuggled in my Betty blankie and going to watch chick flicks and craft today:) I might take a bubble bath and pamper myself a little too:)

Sounds as though Stacey you are having yourself a special 'ME' day! Although I thought I had everything I needed to finish birdhouse, curtains and bench and I could stay home today other than if I was meeting Sharon (DS) for lunch but no..sour smell in the house so I must either get a special cleaner or new rug..Sharon called, her back is giving her problems, she does far more than she should..so we'll not meet in Barrie today, we'll keep it for next Friday..

Running out to town,

want to revisit your posts and comment when I come back..ohhh it's a cold one out there...good day for snuggling

Happy Valentines Day!

It's bright and sunny and going to be a high of 56! Love it!

Stacey that's a good idea, but I couldn't sit still that long lol! I need to go to the grocery store today and see if they'll refill my prescription one more time until I can get to the dr Wednesday. If not I'll have to go a few days without, not that that's a big deal, done it before on accident, but want to avoid that if I can. (I put myself in a little pickle)

Dave got me a very sweet card and some chocolates, I'm going to bake Dave his cherry pie in a bit. There are tons of stuff going on here today, a boat show, a gun and knife show, and a home and garden show. I want to go to the boat and home shows but they're in complete different cities and we live right between both of them. Maybe I'll do one today and do the other tomorrow! Yea Right!

Thanks for the card Betty! That is very nice!

TubbyTee, if we ever meet, I have a special HUGE hug for you!I enjoy reading all the e-mails like this, too, till they get to the threats! If there are no pix with them, we could copy and paste before we send them! To me, it ruins the sentiment, sending it with a threat! Jesus wouldn't threaten like that!

Back from town, bought rug cleaner, no rug that I particularly want, of course I saw one in N.Y. and plan to vist next month so thought I'd try pet cleaner and pet power and spray..lol..if nothing else house ought to smell nice..

Audrey, are you near finished the quillows? can we see?

It bright but cold here, thought I'd treat myself to Franks Nursery in Midland while out, big sign CLOSED..went to a few boutiques to buy me a treat, nothing I wanted so here I am, saw plugged in ready to make a little bench for kitties...

Tubby, I especially like the friend test..wonder how many of us could stand up to that test! Tell us about yourself Tubby..we'd like to get to know you...sorry, being Canadian not always getting my states right..you live in Nebraska right..what kind of weather would you be having this fine day??? what kind of gardening do you enjoy? nosy aren't I...don't answer that one..lol

While at Warlmart I sat in a corder (early and empty) and wouldn't you know, the entire aisle of flowers being sold for Valentines Day was right in front of me..I sat while having pancakes watching men come in, looking through the potted flowers and the cut flowers deciding which to buy for their loved ones...brought back memories, so quickly got up..I will treat myself to flowers, but just not today!

Sounds as though all of you have plans today..big Winterfest in town although with the mild temps and rain many of the events have had to be cancelled...a the Garden Gallery in Barrie they are having a big train show today and tomorrow, nothing else that I know of..none of which will entertain me..


Trisha, how is your mom doing...hope there is little to no pain...if there is, just remind her she'll be driving in a few days...that surely will cheer her up..

Mary sounds as though your home is the 'hang out' for the children..I so enjoyed that period of time in the lives of my boys..I was young enough to enjoy and participate in many of their events, they didn't seem to mind..wow, with all those teens and hormones at their peak what a time you must have..must go key in 'gazania' and see what kind of plant/shrub it is...

Yesterday while at the Garden Gallery I purchased a pkg of see for spinach vine, anyone ever plant it? I always purchase as spring nears 2 or 3 pkgs of seed a week, should make markers so when I plant these seeds I'll know what they are...

Walmart had their garden area started, no plants of course but all of their garden materials and art pieces...quite a few I'd like to bring home...another month or so..best not get crazy too soon..

Bev, have you been successful in finding the electrical problem? with it being a long weekend, are you able to go see what winter has done at the trailer?

Crissy, I believe in 'old souls' perhaps your phobia for storms is from a previous life..don't laugh...I'm interested to find out which show you attend today or tomorrow...were you able to get your prescription filled?

Debbie, how are the kids doing today..feeling better? I understand that a Canadian also died in the plane crash..think he was an engineer...was it a female pilot, don't know who but someone thought it might be..??

Haven't found the electrical problem yet. Have to get an expert after Mon. Gotta go buy a new coffee pot and think Rick fixed my camera. I am so tired of this and Scotty not feeling good so has to get excited and argue. Wish I could go to bed till TUES but that is out. All hVE A GOOD DAY. hugs bev

Happy Valentines Day everyone!

I was greeted at the computer with a gift bag, beautiful card....and Godiva Chocolate! OHHHHH can't get better!

Betty, there was a female co-pilot. She had flown with this pilot for over 2,000 hours the past year or so.

I am going to find the list for you of those lost. Yes, I do believe a Canadian was on there.

Shane is feeling better, still sounds like a seal when he coughs. Believe it or not, his sister and her two friends are pampering him....and he is eating it right up. LOL

Did you try Natures Miracle for the rug? If you don't have any...try a mixture of vinegar...dish soap....and peroxide! I have two squirt bottles of it handy at all times. With my "zoo crew" we have accidents all the time, and this works great. I believe it is 2 cups vinegar, 1/4 cup peroxide, and a couple tablespoons dish soap. Don't shake it....just swish it around...and spray on area. Then I use a brush in a circular motion...and it works pretty good...just blot up.

OH Debbie, a miracle mixture..going to try it, will most likely have to run to IGA for peroxide though, maybe not..I could have easily bought a rug but I just know she's into failing and losing ground so best wait..

Drats, Judy called me to wish me Happy Valentines Day, of course I was in workshop cutting wood or using compresser with brad nailer for my bench..wouldn't you know..

Judy thank you sweetie...hey, got your pkg. mailed off this morning..that's one good thing...

Well, figure 1 project per day...got my bench cut, put together, woodfiller in nail holes, shortly I can sand then have to figure out what I want to do with it..just stain, or stain, put candle wax here and there and then paint a color, not sure..I didn't make it too high, kitties will love it...

HMMM can smell that stew...

Must tell you what one of my best for today will be, of course there are many, you my friends are one..

I was at the IGA and just before check-out was a middle age lady, recognized her from somewhere, almost though she was a long lost cousin - twice removed..so as she put her grocieries in her vehicle and I mine I asked told her I recognized her but from where...she looked at me and said ' you were the kind lady that helped when my young sister died?' I remembered...it was the first year that I moved here, there was a garage sale up the street and I bought several items and quite a few plants..I had seen a sign saying it was a fundraising effort so I (you know me always wanting details lol) asked what they were raising money for...apparently her young sister out west died leaving 2 young children..one of the sister's took the children and ashes were sent to the mother...each and every day the mother cried because those ashes sat there on a cupboard..no money for funeral...they were raising funds for that purpose..I know some of you may remember, was shortly after I joined here...

Today she thanked me for my kindness, because I painted designs on Adironkak chairs and they were raffled..they wanted to pay and I said it was the least I could so, well through those raffles and through all other fund raising events she said not only did she now have a plot in local cemetery but also a tombstone....so that did make my day...I also remember one of the lads who bought a ticket on the chair lived with his mother and he gave her the chair for Mothers Day...so good happenings all over...

So on an otherwise dull day, brightness came into my life...

Best I go try to find my sander..know I had it upstairs the other day..now where did I put it? lol

Bench made and doors cut for the cafe birdhouse...I'm on a mission..

Wanted to say Bev, sending you warms hugs...sweetie you just don't know how much I'd love to be closer..not just me, but me and my tools..I could take on many of the projects you feel overwhelming as Scottie is unable to get much done due to health reasons...drats..just know I'd be of help...

Don't let that big black hole get you, come gab with me..we'll fill our day with 'sunshine'...know it's difficult to think there is sunshine, but there truly is...

I am not going to fall into that big black hole Betty. Not with good friends like you sweety. I love you all and you all are my boot straps. I learned a long time ago that this deppression can kill you so I talk to friends vent that is and myself and especially the good Lord and keep on going. I am fine. It will all get done someday. I don't like to complain but just lose it a little once in a while. I need to get out in the dirt and work it off. LOL Thank you for your concern. HUGS BEV