Best/ worse/ ? did you learn today? #103 visit with friends!

Will fill my hummingbird feeders this week..omg, also the lovely one you all sent me for my birthday...haven't seen one around as yet, guess the weather isn't encouraging them to make the trip quickly...

last year was the first year I started pkgs. of seeds to encourage butterflies...it was interesting to see them all arrive..maybe they were here all along but weren't that interested because I had no goodies for them...this year I will purchase a few more plants in hopes that they like and stay in my yard....Liz a few years ago painted me a butterfly house...too pretty to put out into the elements, but this year I'll set it in amongst the flowers..give them a home...

Must be a drawback Lindakay to have it soooo hot that you cannot spend a lot of time in your garden...

Good afternoon all.....was a long night...my sisters flight was two hours late...they were the last plane to make it out of Dulles before they shut down the airport due to bad weather...so by the time we collected her and had dinner it was after midnight when we got home....then it takes me awhile to wind down to where I can go to bed.

Laura is doing pretty well....she has been working in the yard whenever the weather permits and is making some progress with it. We will both be happy when nicer weather arrives so we can spend more time outside.

Waving to all....guess I had better pop over and see if Mom and Sis managed to get up this morning. Everyone have a great day.

Enjoy your visit Trisha...tell Laura we've said 'hi'...

What gorgeous weather out there..know I'll be playing in the yard when I get home this evening...

Sitting here trying to figure out what's making me feel sad..odd that all of a sudden I should feel 'lonely' ...usually when these feeling come out it's because there is an anniversary or an event that I don't even realize which is making me feel down...have to sit, meditate on that one...

Almost a feeling of dread...ever get that way...

Hey Betty, your not alone to get those feelings. Some days I sit here, and start thinking of my Mother, and then just sit a cry. Guess I just miss her so much!
Hope you get to feeling better real soon?
I know you are worried about your son going on the kayak trip, maybe that is what has you down? Plus you said Greg just showed up last night, maybe that has you thinking something is wrong?
LK

Betty I'm not in good spirits today either. We're going to go see my friend this evening, the one who just lost her husband, have money and a nice card for her, wondering if she wants us to bring food, I just asked her.
The rain isn't helping either, day after day after day, and it's still raining! I've been woken up by thunder 6 nights in a row!

Hi Trisha, glad Laura is doing good.

Hi everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Betty, I am having those feelings today also.

I wonder if yours are subconsious from your sons visit last night, with you thinking he wanted to say something else....so your inner Mom is worrying?

I know part of mine is hormonal teenager daughter and me being overtired. Other part is the woman I told you that passed away in our community and her family. Her services start today.

Debbie

hiya

gosh betty i miss the old days on the thread.. all those that have come and gone..
did we ever find out what happened to jan? was that her name?
she just disappeared..... no one could contact her, even i called america and couldnt find her.
it used to be best and worst and what did u learn today....
its only natural things change as people come and go but maybe u could start anther thread like it used to be and lure some of the old gang back????
i hear herbie has been illl .. what a guy he is special...
havnt seen shoe around in a while either..

sigh.. feeling nostalgic lol

have a good day

Smile


THE KISS

She is pregnant;

he had just saved her from a fire in her house, rescuing her by carrying her out of the house into her front yard, while he continued to fight the fire.

When he finally got done putting the fire out, he sat down to catch his breath and rest.

A photographer from the Charlotte , North Carolina newspaper, noticed her in the distance looking at the fireman.

He saw her walking straight toward the fireman and wondered what she was going to do.

As he raised his camera, she came up to the tired man who had saved her life and the lives of her babies and kissed him just as the photographer snapped this photograph.













Cool Moment

Tubby, I saw that when it happened on the news....and I cried so hard. It was the sweetest most genuine "thank you". I am such a sucker for animal love of all kinds.

The animals know I am in a funk here. Fell asleep on the sofa....felt little Rory, the black cat who is NOT social...creeping up on me. She quietly laid down and let me put my hand on her....not usual for her. Woke up about 45 minutes later, and the monster dog...was sleeping on my feet...and Rory with her. Trust me, this is something so out of the normal.

Tubby, that is most beautiful.

Debbie, I am sure you needed the furry ones, and they knew it.

Hello To All;

Laura - I think the Best/Worst/Learned is a wonderful theme....I've done it a few times early on but since few others really did...I just figured the conversation was the most common....Hope you are doing better! It's good to hear from you!

Hey Betty - Probably something or other has triggered the down feeling. When do you do your best thinking? Mine is in the Tub......that is when I can relax and usually figure out what is bothering me.

I do think animals are more in tuned with what is going on than we are....So many times I've seen examples of that....

Debbie - beautiful pictures, and I agree with you...not ones I would expect from a teenager, maybe he has an eye for that! I'd be willing to bet you could find another student (probably a girl - they love cameras!) with pics of DS. As cute as he is - probably a bunch of girls took photos of him during the trip....
Can't believe they had school the next day....

Stacey - Does your creeping Jenny come back year to year? Perennial - I guess is my question. I really do like how mine is growing but wondering if it won't like the heat....not as lush as it was before

Darn - DS has to get on computer for homework....he know's it's "my computer time" - we'll have to Discuss That.....

Back in a bit...

Hugs,
Mary

I was talking to DS tonight and asked him about his choice of pictures. He said "you told me how much you loved living in DC and working there...I wanted you to see it like you were there, you already know what the statues and monuments look like." So...he gave his Mom a visual tour. I got the biggest lump in my throat...that he would think to do that so I could see it like I was there with him.

The left bed is easier ..Tilled as in first bed..Layed seed potatoes on top of the ground..Covered with a mix of mulched straw and leaves..Also Kennebecs from our garden last year..And the rest of the Red Pontiac's Total # of seed potatoes planted 150..If we have any success at all, we will have to learn how to store these babies correctly..LOL

I just found this ..Forgot to click send..LOL

Hey Deb - That is so sweet! Hope you get more pics.
Tubby - You have such a vast area....I imagine those big squares of land you see when you fly over farmland...

Headed to disboards...but back soon...

Hey Trisha & Sharran! What are you ladies up to?

Hugs,
Mary

Smile " there were several pics of old barns"

Old barns and old people

A stranger came by the other day with an offer that set me to thinking.

He wanted to buy the old barn that sits out by the highway.

I told him right off he was crazy.

He was a city type, you could tell by his clothes, his car,

his hands, and the way he talked.
He said he was driving by and saw that beautiful barn

sitting out in the tall grass and wanted to know if it was for sale.

I told him he had a funny idea of beauty.

Sure, it was a handsome building in its day. But then, there's
been a lot of winters pass with their snow and ice and howling wind.
The summer sun's beat down on that old barn till all the paint's
gone, and the wood has turned silver gray.

Now the old building leans a good deal, looking kind of tired.
Yet, that fellow called it beautiful.

That set me to thinking. I walked out to the field and just stood there,
gazing at that old barn.

The stranger said he planned to use the lumber to line the walls
of his den in a new country home he's building down the road.

He said you couldn't get paint that beautiful.
Only years of standing in the weather, bearing the storms and
scorching sun, only that can produce beautiful barn wood.

It came to me then. We're a lot like that, you and I.
Only it's on the inside that the beauty grows with us.

Sure we turn silver gray too... and lean a bit more than

we did when we were young and full of sap.

But the Good Lord knows what He's doing.
And as the years pass He's busy using the hard weather of our lives,

the dry spells and the stormy seasons to do a job of beautifying

our souls that nothing else can produce.

And to think how often folks holler because they want life easy!

They took the old barn down today and hauled it away

to beautify a rich man's house.

And I reckon someday you and I'll be hauled off
to Heaven to take on whatever chores the Good Lord

has for us on the Great Sky Ranch.

And I suspect we'll be more beautiful
then for the seasons we've been through here...

and just maybe even add a bit of beauty to our Father's house.

May there be peace within you today.
May you trust God that you are
exactly where you are meant to be.

And I do sincerely Thank God for my wonderful friends and
family who care about me even though I show signs of weathering.!

Tubby, that was beautiful.

Good night everyone!

LK

I know Mothers day is past but some of my family are slow...LOL



MOTHERS "Happy Mothers Day"

Real Mothers don't eat quiche;
They don't have time to make it.

Real Mothers know that their kitchen utensils
Are probably in the sandbox.

Real Mothers often have sticky floors,
Filthy ovens and happy kids.

Real Mothers know that dried play dough
Doesn't come out of carpets.

Real Mothers don't want to know what
The vacuum just sucked up..

Real Mothers sometimes ask 'Why me?'
And get their answer when a little
Voice says, 'Because I love you best.'

Real Mothers know that a child's growth
Is not measured by height or years or grade...
It is marked by the progression of Mommy to Mom to Mother...

The Images of Mother

4 YEARS OF AGE - My Mommy can do anything!

8 YEARS OF AGE - My Mom knows a lot! A whole lot!

12 YEARS OF AGE - My Mother doesn't really know quite everything.

14 YEARS OF AGE - Naturally, Mother doesn't know that, either.

16 YEARS OF AGE - Mother? She's hopelessly old-fashioned.

18 YEARS OF AGE - That old woman? She's way out of date!

25 YEARS OF AGE - Well, she might know a little bit about it!

35 YEARS OF AGE - Before we decide, let's get Mom's opinion.

45 YEARS OF AGE - Wonder what Mom would have thought about it?

65 YEARS OF AGE - Wish I could talk it over with Mom.

The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure she
carries, or the way she combs her hair.

The beauty of a woman must be seen from in her eyes,
Because that is the doorway to her heart,
The place where love resides.
The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mole,
But true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul.
It is the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she
Shows, and the beauty of a woman with passing years only grows!

That was Beautiful Tubby....

Hi Mary....spent the first part of the day taking my mom and sis around to local Antique shops.....so many things I would like to get!!!

Spent the afternoon with Laura running errands......have dinner in the oven right now, and a not so great baseball game on:(

Got the Bluestone Perrenial Catalog yesterday.....Ohhhhhh Myyyyyyy!!!! So many beautiful plants....and I want them all!!!

Ok Tubby, that is twice today you got me choked up....and I used to have that one on the side of my fridge and lost it. The utensils in the sandbox.....and the dirty floor...yep!

Debbie

i all,just wanted to update everyone. Im still in he hospital :o( my tryglicerites went up to 570 and my ALT is at 139 because of the new meds they put me on. so now they are trying new cholestrol meds, and new sleeping meds to see if they can get me to sleep 8 hrs without having heatr attack :o) the bad thing was, it seemed he new meds were eally working....till they did their lab work :o(

didnt have time to read up on the threads, I'll try to do that once I get home. hoping above hope that get to come home early next week...crossing finges here.


gnight all

AnjL

Betty you are on my mind this morning. How are you feeling today? Are things all right with you?

Morning everyone! Anjl, you posting at 1 in the morning, tells me your still not sleeping.
Please take care, and please know we are sending lots of thoughts and prayers your way!

Betty, we miss you posting like you used to. You would post when you first got up in the morning, then tell us how your drive to work went, the bad condtions, the bad drivers.... We miss the old Betty, we need her back!
Please take care.

LK

It's just a downer week I guess. I found out what happened with my friend:

On Sunday he was complaining of a fever, but since he teaches kindergarten and bar tends on the weekends they thought he just had the flu.
On Monday he was having pain in his lower back plus a mild fever still so she made him a dr appt for that afternoon. His family doctor has been his doctor since he was a baby so should know everything about him, right? They went to the dr, dr felt around and said he had a pinched sciatic nerve and gave him pain pills and some other medicine to relax it. No blood work or anything, even with the fever.
On Tuesday his pain was worse and he was lightheaded or something, they thought it was the medicine as that was a big side affect, still had the mild fever.
On Wednesday his pain was so bad he was laying in bed shaking. She called his dad over to help get him in the car to go to ER after calling the dr. and letting him know what was going on.
Dr. showed up at ER, they loaded him up with pain meds through an IV without looking at his chart and seeing he's on blood pressure pills and other miscellaneous medications. He laid in the hospital bed all night Wednesday night.
Thursday morning they loaded him up with more pain meds and sent him in for an MRI, Still no blood work was done, his fever was very high at this point. His heart stopped on the MRI table, his family dr & hospital staff revived him for about 10 minutes, then he was gone.

Oh my gosh! I am so sorry for the families loss. Are they going to get an attourney? He must have had the infection for quite some time?

If he had meningitis, please read this article, and have the family tested!
Certain kinds can be spread!


http://www.cdc.gov/meningitis/bacterial/faqs.htm

By the time they got him to ER it had already gone septic, so I don't think the Er could have saved him anyway by that point, but she's definitely going after the dr and the ER staff. If the dr would have done blood work on Monday he'd probably still be alive.

It wasn't meningitis, I think they would have had to have an autopsy done, which is why it's taking so long for the funeral. He never had any problems with his back whatsoever before this. He had to have gotten injured at some point when they moved the week before last, infections just don't show up like that for no reason, as far as I know.

Another post gone cyberspace...drats!


Morning all, beautiful sunshine day, just too bad we have to be at work on such a day...been busy this a.m.....Cindy had her molars/eye teeth out on Friday and she's black/blue and can't swallow so most likely will be off the rest of the week...Suzanne went and had 19 skin tags taken off, all around the bra area so she was off all day yesterday and today she's in Toronto, should be back around 2 or 3...so, it's just me and LeeAnn manning the fort..

Was on Facebook for a few minutes, was nice to see Jeff had posted a photo of the portrait I did of Caleb..said how impressed he was so that was good news...

Last night I accomplished zilch..ooops telephone, press send Betty then come back..lol

AnnMarie, I'm sorry 'sweetie' that you aren't feeling the best, you had hoped you'd be home for Mother's Day..I'm sure they have your best interest at heart..now did I misunderstand or was it a figure of speech, sure hope so...did you have a heart attack or two???? Sending prayers..don't you be trying to get out before they say you are A+...how is DH coping and your son? Must be overwhelming for you, have faith....you'll soon be gardening...can you d-mail me your tel.# at hospital, I'll give you a quick call...

OMG I've got 3 screens open here on MSN, Jeff teasing me, Liz from Ireland and my sister from Paris, no wonder I've lost several posts I've typed..going to try this again..lol

Crissy, it's bad enough to have a loved one die let alone because of malpractice...my heart goes out to her...terrible...could it have been that 'flu' everyone is so concerned about..would imagine the autopsy will reveal what exactly took his life....so Crissy, bet you are now down to counting the hours...bags packed?

Trisha, favorite thing to do, go looking at antiques...how long will your sister be visiting? Seed catalogues...you must have to order them now, at one time I'd get them automatically in the mail but no more..guess because they are now on computers to look at they are trying to be 'green' save the trees and postage...don't you remember when we used to get Sears catalogues..omg, spend days/days looking through it, dreaming of what you could order..they no longer issue them as well unless you've put in an order for about $500 during the past year...are you in need of 'seeds/plants' lol...


How are you and Norm doing today Barb..it's tomorrow you have the appointment with the doctor isn't it? do you have far to travel to his office or is it in same town?

MSN just beeped, sister Sharon is going to Eifel Tower this afternoon for lunch..said she just talked with my brother Mike, he's the one who fell of the truck on Saturday, well he goes in for surgery on May 20th..need bone repair..

Again, doing 5 things at once, will press 'send' then come back..

Sis goes back on Friday night............

I ordered the catalog....I looked on line but I like to have a copy I can carry around a mark up.

More looking today and sis needs to borrow computer....talk to everyone later...

Have a great day!!

Betty, why is she all black and blue from having teeth removed? Wow, must have been a really rough dentist! I have never been bruised from a dentist! I would seriously think about going back to that one.
I think I know why you are down in the dumps. You have been around family and friends that have been going through rough times, been sick, and you have lost several friends. That will bring anyone down real quick!
Please just keep posting here, and we will do our best to cheer you up.
Just don't give up on us, OK?

LK

Okay Betty Smile
Dear Tide:
I am writing to say what an excellent product you have!
I've used it all of my married life, as my Mom always told me
it was the best. Now that I am in my fifties I find it even better!


In fact, about a month ago,I spilled some red wine on my new white blouse.
My inconsiderate and uncaring husband started to belittle me about how clumsy I was, and generally started becoming a pain in the neck. One thing led to another and somehow I ended up with his blood on my new white blouse! I grabbed my bottle of Tide with bleach alternative, and to my surprise and satisfaction, all of the stains came out! In fact, the stains came out so well the detectives who came by yesterday told me that the DNA tests on my blouse were negative and then my attorney called and said that I
was no longer considered a suspect in the disappearance of my husband.


What a relief! Going through menopause is bad enough without being a murder suspect! I thank you, once again, for having a great product.
Well, gotta go, have to write to the Hefty bag people.

Glad to read your posts Betty. I was kinda worried bout you this morning. I certainly understand busy... Yes, Norm's appt is tomorrow am.. It is about 65-70 miles one way to the doctor so it usually ends up being an all day affair. It is IMHO the best cancer center in the state and well worth the trip.
Trying to get some things done around the house while we can since we don't know yet what treatment will consist of. This morning, Norm and I painted the back deck. That was fun. I still have to hand sew the back binding on two placemats. I made a set of four for my daughter to give as a gift. That should keep me busy along with a trip to library to get a good book to take with me tomorrow.
Must go get some lunch. Hello and hugs to everyone and thank you so much all for your continued prayers for Norm.

Are you ready..LOL


Sven and Olaf worked together in a Minnesota

factory....and both were laid off. So...dey went

to the Unemployment Office together.

Asked his occupation, Olaf said, 'Panty stitcher.

I sew da elastic onto da ladies cotton panties.'

The clerk looked up panty stitcher. Finding it

classified as unskilled labor, she gave Olaf $300

a week in unemployment compensation.

Sven, when asked his occupation replied,

'Diesel fitter.' The clerk looked up diesel fitter...

and it was classified as a skilled job. So, the clerk

gave Sven $600 a week in unemployment compensation.

When Olaf found this out, he was furious! He

stormed back into the office to find out why

his friend and co-worker was collecting double

his benefits.

The clerk explained, 'Panty stitchers are

unskilled labor and diesel fitters are skilled labor.'

'Vat skill?' yelled Olaf. 'I sew da elastic on da

panties. Olaf puts dem over his head and says,

'Yah...... DIESEL FITTER.'

Mary-I just got it last year, but the area it's in gets real dry in the summer.....it seems to do OK-but it's in partial shade too....

They say all things come in three's......Soooooooooooooooooooooooo

Cat Lover or Not, this is Hysterical!


We've all had trouble with our animals, but I don't think anyone can top this one:

Calling in sick to work makes me uncomfortable. No matter how legitimate my excuse, I always get the feeling that my boss thinks I'm lying.

On one recent occasion, I had a valid reason but lied anyway, because the truth was just too darned humiliating. I simply mentioned that I had sustained a head injury, and I hoped I would feel up to coming in the next day. By then, I reasoned, I could think up a doozy to explain the bandage on the top of my head. The accident occurred mainly because I had given in to my wife's wishes to adopt a cute little kitty.
Initially, the new acquisition was no problem.


Then one morning, I was taking my shower after breakfast when I heard my wife, Deb, call out to me from the kitchen.

'Honey! The garbage disposal is dead again. Please come reset it.'

'You know where the button is,' I protested through the shower pitter-patter and steam. 'Reset it yourself!'

'But I'm scared!' she persisted. 'What if it starts going and sucks me in?'

There was a meaningful pause and then, 'C'mon, it'll only take you a second.'

So out I came, dripping wet and butt naked, hoping that my silent outraged nudity would make a statement about how I perceived her behaviour as extremely cowardly.

Sighing loudly, I squatted down and stuck my head under the sink to find the button. It is the the last action I remember performing.

It struck without warning, and without any respect to my circumstances. No, it wasn't the hexed disposal, drawing me into its gnashing metal teeth. It was our new kitty, who discovered the fascinating dangling objects she spied hanging between my legs. She had been poised around the corner and stalked me as I reached under the sink. And, at the precise moment when I was most vulnerable, she leapt at the toys I unwittingly offered and snagged them with her needle-like claws. I lost all rational thought to control orderly bodily movements, blindly rising at a violent rate of speed, with the full weight of a kitten hanging from my masculine region.

Wild animals are sometimes faced with a 'fight or flight' syndrome. Men, in this predicament, choose only the 'flight' option. I know this from experience. I was fleeing straight up into the air when the sink and cabinet bluntly and forcefully impeded my ascent.
The impact knocked me out cold.

When I awoke, my wife and the paramedics stood over me.

Now there are not many things in this life worse than finding oneself lying on the kitchen floor butt naked in front of a group of 'been-there, done-that' paramedics.
Even worse, having been fully briefed by my wife, the paramedics were all snorting loudly as they tried to conduct their work, all the while trying to suppress their hysterical laughter......and not succeeding.

Somehow I lived through it all. A few days later I finally made it back in to the office, where colleagues tried to coax an explanation out of me about my head injury. I kept silent, claiming it was too painful to talk about, which it was.

'What's the matter?' They all asked, 'Cat got your tongue?'
If they only knew!

Why is it that only the women laugh at this?

Tubby, I just sent those top two to my DH. He will love them, especially the Tide one. I have a "thing" with having liquid peroxide in the house. It is great for removing stains and such. Well, I tell him....especially when I come home with 3 bottles or so from hitting a sale....not to tick me off, I might need it to clean up after I hide his body.

Barb, tomorrow is going to be a long day for you. I will be thinking of you and keeping you in my thoughts and prayers.

Tomorrow is DD's yearly cardiology appointment. I usually get nervous about that also, Right now she has a huge bruise on her chest, which is going to be more of a concern than anything. She works at a convenience store and a case of soda fell on her while stacking the coolers. Corner of it got her right center chest.

DH is on "vacation" this week, we have both been busy. Today he is stripping the dining room table and hoping we can get that done by the weekend. He is using 3M safest strip, has the cellophane on it out in the sun right now. Usually works really well, I hope so this time also.

Here is another picture for you from DC. I "think" this is the Kennedy center across the river.

Debbie