September 27, 2007 - Msg 56393: Hey Vickie,Belle,merri w,opiemom and all my porch family...Rev where are you at nd I will send you a steak fed-x fast...salad too...you can just get ya a bottle of pop...steaks are on the grill...some will be rare,med,well...busy here at work..Mavis you doing ok girl?..hey Tom,M-T,auh20...CHUCK!...lets have pound cake and ice cream after supper...hm,sterling how yall all?..well nextel going off....back to work...it will slow here aafter 5 so we can eat....SPOT
September 27, 2007 - Msg 56394: SWISH ! ! ..been a while for me!..had the screen door open too..."cough"..SPOT
September 27, 2007 - Msg 56395: Evening all,

Been a busy few days again. Up late tonight - have to go to Dublin airport to collect visitors arriving at 1100pm. Then about 40 minutes back home.

Just saying hey

-Irishter
September 27, 2007 - Msg 56396: Just what about my cotton-pickin' needs?
About these ants, I think there's something in all that's been said about the artificial sweeteners killing them. I think what probably ought to be done is the following experiment. Follow the little fellows back to their nest. Or home, or burrow, or whatever you call it. Observe them for a few days. (Before you do that, we must first make sure that they are local ants, and not some foreigners come to visit, or it will throw off the differentials). Anyway, observe them for a few days. Watch what they put in their ice-tea. Watch and see what the overweight ones use when they're trying to diet. Now, you may say you've never seen an overweight ant; but I think it's possible that you don't see them because they don't come out like the rest of them. Peer-pressure. They've been teased so much by the skinier ants, that they've become content to stay home. Anyhow, observe nature at work. What turns out to be safe for the ants, well then, it stands to reason that it would be safe for us too.
- Hazel
September 27, 2007 - Msg 56397: Hey, SPOT, you missed a spot over here...

BOO: Shall we say that some needs are more primal than others. I was just joking since you had made that comment about Miss Crump. Get it? Or do I have to draw you a picture? And I'm pretty sure FLOYD won't let me post pictures like that.

Y'all have a great evening.

Me-They
"My mama and daddy just shook hands on their deal."
September 27, 2007 - Msg 56398: May I suggest, HAZEL, that to track thhe ants we may want to make a moulage. I like mine kinda thick.

Hey, IRISHTER. Can I borrow your pot of gold if you're not using it? Maybe a bowl of Lucky Charms? Safe travels.

Me-They
September 27, 2007 - Msg 56399: ~~~Hey, anybody up for a mid afternoon pick-me up? How about sliced apples with caramel dip and a bottle of cold cider? If cider isn't your thing, how about some fuzzy water? That might keep us going until dinner time and we get our grubby paws on those steaks!

Well folks, I've just come back from the great world of teaching preschool and all I've got to say is BOOGERS. Yep, just piles and piles of boogers. I'm not new to this profession but this particular little group was big on nose-pickin. I gather the other teacher really didn't say anything about that given the fact that those little angels could shove a finger up their nose all the way past their first knuckle! (Is this turnin'your stomach? My apologies, I just have to get this off my chest, and my pants and my shirt and...) Well, Miss Merri Weather is bringing a book on preschool hygiene tomorrow for class! God Bless their little booger-pickin' hearts! They are so sweet but 5 year olds can learn to hit the Puffs once in a while! ;-p (Isn't cold and flu season on it's way???)

ROMEENA and friends, my most interesting costume for my #1 Gherkin was the Constitution. At the beginning of the school year, her class was learning about our government and our constitution. So, I devised a sandwich-board type costume with "We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America." Right! It's a lot to squeeze on poster board hung by yarn slung over a 6 year old's little body! However, I did get a kick out of writing the Preamble. I was really thinking of Barney! Hey, does this count as something we learned today--a refresher of sorts? Great!

Alright my rocking friends, I will part company for now since most of probably got your late afternoon snooze in reading the Preamble. Count that as my good deed for the day! I'll see you all tonight!

Hey! No double-dippin' on the caramel sauce! I saw that...

Hugs and prayers,

Merri W.
September 27, 2007 - Msg 56400: Yuck. Let us not forget my weak stomach.
- Hazel
September 27, 2007 - Msg 56401: Sorry Hazel! I'll refrain from future tawdry yuck-tales. Think of puppy dogs, kitty cats, fluffy clouds and babbling brooks...

Merri
September 27, 2007 - Msg 56402:
Trouble check. (My way of marking where I read up to, but no time to "long"post yet! (:
MDC
September 27, 2007 - Msg 56403: I don't know about y'all, but we used to have this saying when I was a little kid, and it is a classy retort indeed: You think you're hot snot, but you're not, you're just cold boogers. Poetic, weren't we? Of course, this was not said within earshot of mom.

Okay, now I have to go wash my hands...

Me-They
"Sorry, I already 10-4ed you."
September 27, 2007 - Msg 56404: MERRI: My mom made me go as the Ten Commandments. I nearly choked myself dragging those stone tablets around my neck all evening. A friend of mine came as a page from Charles Dickens. He had the best of times, and the worst of times.

Me-They
"I'll do it!"
September 27, 2007 - Msg 56405: Oh my gosh, you people are so funny! Merri Weather, you had me LOL with the description of the kids' attempts at nasal hygiene. And Me-They, apparently my generation was more creative than yours. We said "You think you're hot snot on a stick, but you're really just a cold booger on a toothpick." Much classier, don't you think? (Sorry, Hazel.) And as for thinking of puppy dogs as a remedy for the yucks, I'm not sure that will work. I'm well aware of what's in store for me when I bring 3-month old Starr home. She won't have quite the manners that the Plum had, at least not for a while. I'm laying in a large supply of paper towels.

Well, I have a roast in the oven, guess I'd better go check on it. It's a big 'un, I'll get five or six meals out of that thing! --Romeena


September 27, 2007 - Msg 56406: Merri, I'd just tell those kids to "Pick a winner.". ~ Mrs. Wiley
September 27, 2007 - Msg 56407: Well Hazel if you need to pick some cotton, just go right ahead, Darlin'. That explanation of the ants and their tea was great. You are hilarious, please don't ever stop coming to this porch, young lady!!

Alright Me-They, I get it..DO NOT DRAW A PICTURE! Your post (#56404) was delicious...I just love your sense of humor...made me laugh out loud.

Enjoy the roast, Romeena. We're having chicken-fried steak, green beans and mac and cheese.

Boo

September 27, 2007 - Msg 56408: ....wish I had a funny costume story but there is no way I can top Me-They's...

Boo
September 27, 2007 - Msg 56409: Hazel, I just have to comment on the ant experiment too. Your suggestion is downright hilarious, albeit impossible. Have you ever tried to follow the miserable little wretches back to their home? You do pretty well for a few feet, or maybe just inches, and then suddenly they disappear. The trail goes cold. Now you see them, now you don't. They just vanish into thin air. I have dreams in which I locate the nest, find the big, fat, egg-spewing queen and nail her with a squirt of Lysol Kitchen Cleaner spray. As she gasps her last (tiny little hacking sound) I walk away, maniacal laughter reverberating through my house! Then I remember the talent ants possess for turning a new hatchling into another queen, and I return to the scene of the assassination, and zap all the eggs and as many of the workers as I can find. And that's what I think of ants!!

Totally off the subject - for you newcomers who might be wondering why the censor won't admit the word "ins@urance", it's because we had a very annoying plague of spammers who were posting endless entries, all pushing some ins company. Finally, to block them, Floyd added that word to the censor's list. Every so often, an individual or a group of people will find us and proceed to demonstrate that they weren't raised very well, and they write on our walls. As we all know, it takes a lot of work to get writing off of walls, and Floyd is the only one who can do it, so he just blocks it. Besides, that way, we don't have to see the garbage they write before he can get it cleaned off.

Have a great evening, all. I may drop back by later. --Romeena
September 27, 2007 - Msg 56410: Me-They I think somebody needs to clean the crock where you are! You're a mess! haha~Oh wait a minute, I forgot, Miss Merri Weather just declared it National Nose Pickin' Day so you can wait & clean that crock tomorrow!
*Mavis
September 27, 2007 - Msg 56411: Hi All. We git a bag rain storme last night, but we can used the rain.
Pomeena I will be right there for some of your roats.
Mavis I am on the look out for more wrapper and I find some too and now for about a monthy I will mark one what a date of MILLIE .

TOM

September 27, 2007 - Msg 56412:
Ole Colt told me recently that we need to meet at the old remshaw place soon! ha
"Gomer...gomer...Gome..."
Ro- Seems i read that all singing on the show was recorded in a studio and then dubbed in /or vice versa.
OPIEmom- good for you and the OREGANO! (Ask boo! ha)
Last night on the War, it showed the liberation of Paris by the Yanks and the Brits. That footage gives me goosebumps every time!
MeThey- As for pms helen, maybe the writers were running out of "nice girl" ideas! ha
Sterling- I think they were promoting safety by not getting in on the "street" side of the car,
or maybe it was just easier to shoot it that way.
hmmm.
Well,hey to ALL, Prayers for ya too.
MDC
"Barney Fife in the asphalt jungle."
September 27, 2007 - Msg 56413: Hey Y'all! Me-They,we used to say that "booger" comment too when we were kids! I'm about to fall off of my chair laughing at all these shenanigans going on around here!

I love the "How Come?" moulage- my favorite was the comment about Big Maude breaking out of the Big House wearing high heels! I've got one: How come in one episode the Band With The Beat's leader was BOBBY Fleet,and then in other episodes he was called FREDDIE Fleet? And how did Jim Lindsey play so well on an electric guitar that wasn't plugged into an amp? I think somebody touched on his guitar playing already,but I had to chime in too,cause that just befuddles me!

Did y'all hear on the news about the streaker in Utah? Somebody streaked across a school stage and now has been charged as a s#x offender. I thought maybe Asa lost his Speedo or something until they said the person was 18! That ain't hardly Asa! Ha!

The Porch seems so nice and full lately! Welcome to Merriweather,Belle,Vicki, and again to Opiemom. I'm in SC too,Opiemom- down near Charleston.

Oh,yesterday I noticed a car in the parking lot of a local restaurant. My sister has one like it,so that's what made me glance over. Then I noticed a huge pink breast cancer awareness magnet on the back. The car had a vanity license plate that said "Millie B." I don't know who the car belonged to,but we all know who I thought of,don't we?

And I smiled.

Love to all!
*****SMILES*****
possum under a rock
September 27, 2007 - Msg 56414: anybody know how to get ahold of "Return to mayberry" on video?
September 27, 2007 - Msg 56415: Hey y’all:
Been a beautiful fall day in this part of Iowa. Most of the corn crop is in.

Dr. P. I’ve never known any fruit to suffer from boiling with 2 cups of sugar! The house hunting is slow, but I am looking at a couple more tomorrow. Getting up at the crack of dawn. Thanks for asking.

Hey Boo and Sterling - my passenger door does not work at all and my drivers door is off the hinges so I have to roll down the window lift it up and pull it forward at the same time to get it to shut! Plus, I decorated the car for my son’s prom last April and there are two smiley faces permanently painted on the hood now. She’s run-down rusty but she’s festive!

Boo, when I get my photo albums unpacked again, I’ll scan and send the Tigger photo. Thanks for asking.

Mavis many congrats on getting married - please share your secret - I am too shy to date and the few blind dates I have had by friends have been disasters. Anytime the porchsters want to share bad dating stories, let me know, I’ve got plenty of them. All of them G-rated. Darn it!

Between Hazel’s ants, Me-They’s 10 Commandment costume, and Merri Weather and the boogers, I’ve been thoroughly entertained. Surely there is a sitcom in all of this….

Prayers to all!
Belle

PS I think return to Mayberry is included in the complete series product - but that's expensive.
September 27, 2007 - Msg 56416: Hey, friends. If I may inject a serious note for just a moment - my daughter-in-law got the results back on the biopsy on the lesion on her leg. It is melanoma, and there are three other sites on her body that are questionable. She's scheduled for surgery next Friday to remove the main one, and possibly the others as well. The doctor staged it as between II and III. Not the best of news. Please continue to pray for her, for my son who adores her, for her mom who is also my best friend, and well, just please pray for all of us as we confront this challenge. My DIL is very upbeat about it all, but my son is out of town. She may wilt when he comes home on Monday and she feels like she can let him take over. She is a dear, sweet girl and I love her very much. Thanks, friends, I know I can count on you. --Romeena
September 27, 2007 - Msg 56417: Hey Belle the secret for me was to quit looking. Seriously, just when I decided it was just meant for me to live the rest of my life alone, along came my hubby. Good thing I was smart enough to pay attention! He is just awesome. Where is Poor Horatio?? Please check in will ya, I'm starting to get worried here.
*Mavis
September 27, 2007 - Msg 56418: Didn't see you there Romeena prayers indeed coming from here for your DIL.
*Mavis
September 27, 2007 - Msg 56419: Prayers for Romeena's DIL. Big Maude
September 27, 2007 - Msg 56420: hey, y'all-it's vickie, again. just wanted to let you know what a comfort this message board has been to me. it's strange, but i almost feel like caroline is still around when i read it. (i know she's still around, but you know what i mean.) i feel a little guilty for relying on you all to lift my spirits-like i'm intruding on something very personal to her. the more i think about it, tho, the more i think she's probably giggling at me for becoming addicted to the site so quickly.

you might not hear from me very often-i'm usually running mach 2 with my hair on fire, but i'll be reading! :)

romeena-know that your daughter in law is on my prayer list now. i'm sure your prayers helped caroline a great deal and i'm happy to return the favor.

good night!
vickie

September 27, 2007 - Msg 56421: Prayers continuing for your family Romeena.
Belle
September 27, 2007 - Msg 56422: ps-where are these pictures posted that everyone has been talking about? i'd love to see the one's millie posted. thanks! vickie
September 27, 2007 - Msg 56423: Dear Romeena, please know that tonight I will be saying a very heartfelt prayer for your beloved daughter-in-law and each and every one of you affected by this news. I will pray for God's healing hand upon her body and strength to see her through surgery and treatment. May you all feel his loving arms around you at this time.

merri w.
September 27, 2007 - Msg 56424: I'm so glad you decided to be "one of us" on this porch, Vickie. Any friend of Millies is a friend of ours.
- Hazel
September 27, 2007 - Msg 56425: Vickie- go to romeena.myphotoalbum.com
you will see one that said porchsitt

TOM

September 27, 2007 - Msg 56426: Oh, forgot to say, I will remember your daughter in law in my prayers.
- Haze
September 27, 2007 - Msg 56427: Vickie - please dont ever feel guilty about relying on others for comfort. Being able to receive confort is as important as being able to give it. I only learned that recently.
Belle
September 27, 2007 - Msg 56428: Such goings on! Such goings on! My we are a humorous bunch today!

Prayers for your DIL, Romeena.

Glad to hear you got some rain, Tom and Mavis. : )

Well since we don't participate in the Halloween thing with our girls, I'll tell you about the costume I made for myself back in 5th grade. I went as an Elmer's Glue Bottle. I took a white trash bag and decorated "labels" for the front and back, put on a pair of my dad's long underwear bottoms, and cut a box in the shape of a triangle and painted it orange, and cut little holes in it to see out of. Talk about a cheap costume, but it worked. ; )

Hazel, loved the ant anecdote! : D

Well good night folks, and prayers for all.
AFD
September 27, 2007 - Msg 56429: Romeena, please give us your DIL's first name. On special prayers like to include it. I will be on my knees a long time tonight. God bless all of us.
ray
September 27, 2007 - Msg 56430: Romeena, I just feel sick about the news of the melanoma. We have all been through so much lately and I have seen two mothers pass away and leave their young children this summer. I just can't stand the thought of this kind of threat to your family. Please God, don't let it happen again. Please, please take care of Romeena's family. Please let the cancer be treatable and remain gone. This is a hard one to hear about Lord. Please grant us your peace in this situation. Hold us tight. In Jesus Name, Amen.

Boo
September 27, 2007 - Msg 56431: For Romeenas' special need lets set up a prayer time tomorrow to pray in unison. I suggest 9 pm central time. When two or more...etc.
ray
September 27, 2007 - Msg 56432:
And may the peace that passes all understanding be with us all.
Great prayer Boo. thanks
MDC
September 27, 2007 - Msg 56433: Romeena hard prayers your way..hey Merri I will have a late night pick-me-up..M-T the ending sayings are a hoot...hey Miss Vickie!..ray,TOM,Rev ya out there?..hey possum,MDC,AFD,Mavis where is my buddy ASA?..hey Belle!,opiemom you doing ok?..Irishter Great to hear from across the waters!..well back to Andy..one Tv on Andy and the other on Forest Gump!..well slow here but thats ok for me ..here at EMC till 6am...
back in a bit...
"Gomer take that gun out of yer mouth"..
September 27, 2007 - Msg 56434: opps...signed SPOT
September 27, 2007 - Msg 56435: I am sos sorry about your DIL Ro. They are all in my prayers.

Asa
September 27, 2007 - Msg 56436: Merri Weather, the bubble and squeak came from the ep. when Malcolm Meriwether was cooking for Andy and Opie. Since he's your name sake, I thought maybe you'd know how to fix it : )
Great to see the porch so nice and full tonight. Great having a marathon this week, huh? Sure enjoy those old black and whites.
Charlotte Tucker
MDC, When's Colt coming back? Tell him he's missed.
September 27, 2007 - Msg 56437: Thank you, all of you, so much. I'm sitting here reading and crying. I started out looking at pictures of Sugarplum, and that got me started, then I came to the porch and found all these loving sentiments and prayers from you folks, and the tears flowed again.

My DIL's name is Brittney. She's a beautiful girl, tall, a knockout figure, big brown eyes and long naturally curly hair. She just shampoos it and it dries in a tumble of soft chestnut curls. She is devoted to my son, as he is to her. They have two little boys, ages 4 and 6, and they lost another little boy who would have been five now. He only lived an hour. She was devastated by that loss, of course. She went to some support group meetings, and still goes, only now she's on the board and serves more as a counselor for those with a fresh loss. She's a Christian, and will handle this. She and my son have known each other since they were about five, having been reared in the same church, where her mom and I still attend.

Thank you so much for your prayers, now and in the days to come. I'll keep you posted on the developments. I love you all. --Romeena
September 27, 2007 - Msg 56438: For tonight, this was my prayer. For the unison prayer tomorrow we could use this for the unison prayer.

Almighty God, unto whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid; Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of thy Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love thee, and worthily magnify thy holy Name; though Christ our Lord.

Tonight we come on bended knee to ask your blessing and deliverance of Your child Brittney.

We give thanks for Your many blessings and the greatest gift ever given, Jesus Christ our Saviour through whom we pray.

Amen


September 27, 2007 - Msg 56439: more interested in the prayer, didn't sign...ray

September 27, 2007 - Msg 56440: Thank you, Ray. That's just beautiful. I can't tell you all how much I appreciate this.

Having mentioned little Logan earlier, the child they lost, I'll tell you a bit more about the situation. They learned a few weeks before his birth that he had a lethal skeletal deformity that would be incompatible with life outside the womb. When he was born, by C-section, the predictions were true and we knew he couldn't live. Brittney was brought to her room for recovery, and the immediate family was there. We all got to hold the baby and form whatever bond we could in such a short time, even as his breathing slowly ceased and his heart fought bravely on. It took an hour for it to finally stop.

Brittney had requested that we take pictures, because they would be the only touchstones, the only memories, she would have. Several cameras were in use. I used Brittney's film-type camera to snap a picture of my son, seated in a rocker, holding Logan. No one noticed anything unusual, and we dropped the film off to be developed the next day. When we picked it up that afternoon, we could not believe what we found.

All of the pictures turned out well, fully lighted, sharp and clear. No problems with any of them, except one. Consider this - a camera's flash will activate when needed, right? It will not activate when there's sufficient light and it's not needed. The room was fairly dark, so all the pictures had been flashed. All but one. In that one, a brilliant streak of light is seen entering the room, and it illuminates the baby in my son's arms so brightly that his little figure is almost obscured. You can just make out the curve of his head. This phenomenon did not occur in any other picture taken that day, including those taken with the same camera. My son recalls that it was about five minutes later that the pediatrician came in and told us the baby was gone, his heart had finally stopped.

I will always believe that God sent that beam of light to transport my baby grandson's spirit home. I'm sure some photography expert could offer an explanation, but I don't care to hear it, because I don't believe it. I do believe that the light was present, and was so bright as to suppress the flash from the camera, and was so brief and instantaneous that none of us saw it, or if we did, we thought it was the camera. I took the picture, and don't recall thinking that the flash didn't work, so obviously I saw a flash of light. If I'd had any doubt about the flash, I'd have taken another shot.

Now, I have posted the picture in the album, in the "Romeena's Family" cover. Feel free to look at the picture and judge for yourself. If you look very, very closely, you can barely see a ghostly, madonna-like figure over my son's left shoulder. I re-exposed the picture and determined that the figure is my older daughter, standing behind her brother and looking at the baby. She doesn't recall seeing anything unusual either, and obviously, she was right there.

I consider that picture a gift from God, an assurance that our little Logan is at home with Him. --Romeena
September 27, 2007 - Msg 56441: Ro, You and your family are in my prayers. What a beautiful story concerning your little Logan. I know that our loving Father holds the precious little ones close to Himself.

Opiemom
September 28, 2007 - Msg 56442: Opiemom you are up late...really have not introduced my self...Im SPOT and been with the power company for 26 years and work in the control center so I work evenings nights and days and weekends on a rotating per month shift...Im here at work till 6 aam today..I remember Millie would stay up late and keep me company when she could not sleep...well lte me get to the kitchen and get a snack....what to have??...aand oh im on the southern end of the porch in Georgia about 20 north of Atlanta in kennesaw....back in a flash..SPOT
September 28, 2007 - Msg 56443: had fat paws on that mail...but its dark in here...SPOT
September 28, 2007 - Msg 56444: Hey, Spot. I'm still up, too. Been thinking about lots of serious stuff tonight, can't seem to get interested in going to bed. Missing the Plum, concerned for Brittney, remembering Logan, thinking of Millie - just a lot on my mind. --Romeena
September 28, 2007 - Msg 56445: How do I begin to express what sorrow I feel tonight for you, Romeena? There is no greater loss than the loss of a precious child and I can barely stand to think of it happening to any family. I don't begin to understand why these things happen but I do know that love prevails. And sometimes we just have to close our eyes and trust that the Lord will lead us through the dark. For tonight, I pray that comfort and confidence comes to the ones that need it the most.

SPOT and OPIEMOM, good to see you here tonight. I couldn't sleep either, have a lot on my mind.

Dear Lord, wherever we all are tonight, whatever trials we may be facing, whatever heartbreaks we may have, please bless us all. Amen.

I wish you all peace. I really do.

Merri W.


sidenote for Charlotte: I love Malcolm and would have liked to have seen him get a regular spot on Andy's show but I could barely understand him sometimes! I must have missed his bubble and squeak part, though I do remember him on BEWITCHED as Dr. Bombay---when I was a kid, I thought he was a riot!
September 28, 2007 - Msg 56446: Romeena did you get my snail mail I sent you a few days ago?...just hope I mailed to right address....gona get a bowl of capt crunch and milk..yall want some?...Merri W where are you at on the porch?...SPOT
September 28, 2007 - Msg 56447: Capt. crunch sounds just about right and takes me back to my childhood when I would get that roughed-up feeling on the roof of my mouth from eating it. Still one of my favorites...

SPOT, I'm in the Missouri Ozarks just about 35 miles north of Branson and few miles outside of the Queen city of Springfield. Ever heard of it? Bass Pro headquarters is here which is a big place for hunters, fisherman, sportsman.

How's the weather where you're at? We've been a little on the warm side. --Merri
September 28, 2007 - Msg 56448: Oh yea I have heard of it Merri W...very nice country..just have started to cool off a bit here...dry and in the mid 80"s...the Lake I go to all the time boating and fishing is about 13 ft doen..Lake Allatoona at Red Top Mt state park...check it out on the web..I camp fish and boat all I can...have you been to Romeenas photo page to see all out mugs!...she build me a album all to my own...got to get her some pics...well gona find a movie and got one outage call to get covered....let me call the crew down stairs and get them started....SPOT
September 28, 2007 - Msg 56449: My friend SPOT, I must bid you goodnight (and to anyone else who is still up) I'm finally sleepy enough to get a few winks. Good night all. Merri
September 28, 2007 - Msg 56450: Well, I just knew that would happen SPOT--as soon as I posted I saw yours pop up! Hold on, I'll write a response!
September 28, 2007 - Msg 56451: Yep, Spot, I got it, and thank you. Merri, my family and I lived in Springfield for two years - 1971 and 1972, roughly. We loved it! We lived on E. Montclair, not far from Battlefield Mall, and we attended Glendale Baptist Church. The pastor at the time was Thomas McClain. We thoroughly enjoyed our Missouri adventure. We had season passes to Silver Dollar City, and would go there almost every Sunday after church. Home quick, change clothes, and head for Silver Dollar. Fried chicken at that wonderful restaurant down in the mine, catch a ride or two, and walk around enjoying all the sights. I wonder if they still have the "undertaker" wandering around? At the time, he was a tall, thin young man in a black suit and tophat, wearing a somber expression, and carrying a very long measuring stick. He would slip up next to someone and pretend to be measuring their height, and would mumble something like "Oh, you're a big one, I'll have to order extra long boards" or some such. Hilarious! We watched them make candy, blow glass, grind cornmeal, make soap, weave on a loom - all sorts of things. A lovely way to spend a day, and we never got tired of it.

Well, I think I'll try to go to bed. Merri, thanks for your support. I feel as though I've known you forever. Take care, and I hope you can rest tonight. --Romeena
September 28, 2007 - Msg 56452: It really is beautiful country especially the closer you get to the Missouri/Arkansas border. We love to go to Eureka Springs in North West Arkansas. Beaver lake is there and it's a wonderful little town with so much to do. There's also the statue "Christ of the Ozarks." I'll be heading to Branson on Saturday as a matter of fact. It will one of our last hurrahs before the cold weather sits in. We'll be taking the gherkins to Silver Dollar City and Celebration City. Should be a fun weekend. I'll have to look up Lake Allatoona. Sounds wonderful! I was browsing through Romeena's album just a little bit earlier and loved seeing all of you--what nice people you look to be and wonderfully cute families. I would be interested in sending ROMEENA some family pics of mine but not sure how to go about doing it. I'll have to ask her about that soon.

So, you're in the utility business. I bet that's an interesting job. We get outages all the time it seems, out here in the "country!" I always joke with my hubby that someone sneezes and our power goes out. You probably don't appreciate that kind of humor in your line of work! HA!!! Well, dear SPOT, I must mosey on...my eyelids are going to require toothpicks to prop them open if I don't scurry off to bed. Have a great night and it was so nice chit-chatting with you. We'll have to do it again! Toodles---Merri W.
September 28, 2007 - Msg 56453: ROMEENA, I already love you. MW
September 28, 2007 - Msg 56454: Yea MW run a crew outside building the lines for 18 years and moved into the sub station control center about 8 years ago...more brain work but less back work!..kinda like having 2 jobs to look back on after retirement!...and at 47 my bones feel better inside!...Just wanted to make sure ya got it Ro..yer the cats!..sounds like a fun weekend MW!..if you have a scanner ya can just scan the pics and put them in a file and e-mail them to her...think she likes to keep e-mail off the porch site in fear of spam and stuff but if you want I can give you one of my less used ones and you can mail me and I will give your hers [with her premission] and away ya go!...we got to get a few of the shy ones to get pics to her...like My Buddy Asa and the new ones...well yall sleep good I will be hiting the hay at about 6:30 then back at 2 today for 16 more then off the weekend...breakfast will be at Shoneys on Merri W..[got cha!]...I will park cars...prayers to all and to all a good night!..SPOT
September 28, 2007 - Msg 56455: Well, it's way too early to be up, but couldn't sleep. Feeling uneasy. Guess I will take some time to pray.

Ro, I saw the picture you posted of Logan and it is very interesting because the streak of light falls directly on the baby and ends on the baby. If it were just some quirk on the film, it would be quite a cooincedence that it would streak in and land directly on Logan. It really does look like something supernatural. I certainly have had you and your family on my mind since yesterday (to put it lightly). I will Brittany on our church prayer chain.

Love,
Boo
September 28, 2007 - Msg 56456: tom-thank you so much for the link to the pictures-how cool to be able to put some faces with the names!

romeena, the pic of your grandson is fantastic. thank you for sharing it.

i LOVE LOVE LOVE your Christmas tree-i have one just like it in my living room! (hee hee) i'm afraid i might have to replace it, tho. it's more yellow than white now. i saw a hot pink one last year that i'm sure my 5 year old would freak out over if she saw it, so i might have to check it out. we go a little nuts around here between halloween and Christmas-we're decorated for 3 months straight. (ok, i should say "I"-my husband just stands back and shakes his head.) i think last year i had 5 trees-this year i might have to scale back. HA! he bought me a vintage aluminum tree and color wheel for our anniversary one year and that takes center stage in my bay window-so wonderfully tacky!

ok, off to work-hope everyone has a great day! thanks for taking me in. :)

vickie
September 28, 2007 - Msg 56457:
Romeena- Your posts are very touching. Prayers.

Me-They I see at "hillaryclinton.com" one can sign-up to win a date with Bubba. I guess you get to sit on a couch and watch the next debate with him. I'm not sure if there are chaperons so I guess females should not enter the contest. But, I think you should give it a try and then you could report back to us.

Spot- On the 3rd I get to join the 47 Club. YAHOO!

auh2o
September 28, 2007 - Msg 56458: That's my kind of man, Vickie. I would love to get my hands on a vintage aluminum tree (that I could afford). Funny, when I was a kid I hated them...couldn't understand why anyone would choose aluminum over a real tree but now they hold so much nostalgia that I love them. A few years ago someone in my neighborhood put one in their front window at Christmas and my sister and would drive past that house at night and just stare at it! sounds ridiculous but it held some kind of strange attraction for us. I used to go crazy with the decorating, too, but for some reason I kind of lost the desire over the past couple of years. I really feel older than my 45 years, lately.

Boo
September 28, 2007 - Msg 56459: Morning Porch family, stopping by for to check in. working about 1/2 day today and then off to do some shopping for the family and then off to my sons football game tonight. We are traveling to Bell County Ky which is probably about 2 hours away tonight. Please pray for safety of the players and all involved. Romeena, continued prayers for your family. what a touching testimony and story. The photo was awesome. lunch will be at Olive Garden my treat today. not much time to cook today so I will see ya there. Have a blessed day. Prayers to all. Big Maude
September 28, 2007 - Msg 56460: Prayers for Ro's DIL and little Logan! ~ Mrs. Wiley
September 28, 2007 - Msg 56461: maybe we this porch name can be chang to be called the praying hront porch.

September 28, 2007 - Msg 56462: Good morning everyone. We finally got some much-needed rain last night.

ROMEENA: Prayers for your daughter-in-law, and your whole family. Believe me, everything is going according to God's plan. That was a beautiful story you shared with us. Thanks.

AUH2O: Sorry, but I'm not that much of a sport, and I'm not that kind of gay. And now that Bill is eating healthy, I wouldn't even do it for the snacks. By the way, just why are you trolling the Clinton campaign website? Haven't you got enough Hillary pictures hung up in your house?

There's so many newcomers, I'm having trouble keeping everyone straight!

Me-They
September 28, 2007 - Msg 56463:

The Praying Front Porch? Sounds good to me.

M-T I was just teasing. I always read what the other side has to say, unless my kids are around. Or, if I was in a public place, I mean what would the neighbors think if they found out I went to web sites like that. Golly!

auh2o
September 28, 2007 - Msg 56464:

Welcome, Merri W. and Vickie! I'm enjoying your posts thoroughly and am glad you decided to pull up a rocker!

Prayers going up for Brittney, Ro.

Ro, I have been a photographer and film aficionado since the very early '70s, when I learned darkroom work. Everything I've gleaned throughout the years serves to convince me that there's no "logical" reason why your camera and flash yielded the results they did. Film anomalies don't typically manifest as flashes of light. They're extremely uncommon and when they do exist, they usually show up as a dark spot or blur. Further, any light source that can override an electronic flash has to be brilliant indeed. I not only do not question your deduction, I am inclined to agree with it 100%, and for a number of reasons. Thanks for sharing that with us.

Prayers for the football team's safe travels, Big Maude. Go get 'em! :-)

Vickie & Boo, when I was a kid in the '60s, we had one of those aluminum trees with a color wheel. I thought it was the bomb! A few years later, we decided perhaps it wasn't the bomb after all, and my mom tossed it out. A few years ago I decided I wanted one again so I checked eBay. I couldn't BELIEVE what they were selling for! LOL

I've been nursing some awful allergies lately and today I have a sore throat and a vicious cough. Keep me in your thoughts, please, if you're so inclined.

My love to all, and prayers for everyone needing them.

~DeS~
.
September 28, 2007 - Msg 56465: Good morning, everyone. I've already been outside to clean the pump filter, pull a few weeds and collect my daily quota of mosquito bites. Hateful little things.

Thanks for the prayers and kind words, all. We are keeping an upward-looking attitude, and leaving it all in God's hands.

Vickie, I love it that you have an aluminum tree, and you tagged it just right - "wonderfully tacky". That they are, and you just gotta love it! We never had one when I was growing up - my mother thought they were just awful - but they fascinated me. Obviously, you like vintage decorations - be sure to check out Boo's tree in the Christmas section of the Porchster album. She has some dandies!

My all-white tree is about thirteen years old, and so far, is still white. It collapses to a manageable size, and I wrap it tightly in a white sheet and store it in a guestroom closet. I no longer store any of my Christmas stuff in the garage or attic, since I now have unused bedroom closets. Yes, they're all three full of Christmas stuff. You could barely hang a shirt in them.

Like you, I take Christmas and decorating seriously. The "Christmas season" doesn't refer to a two-week period of time, it's more like saying "winter". My son and his family always come over on Saturday after Thanksgiving. He drags the tree out and helps me set it up and test all the lights (2250 of them). Mercifully, they usually work fine. Then he puts my outside lights up on the roof, and together we put the twinkles in the shrubbery and trees. He gets all my lighted deer out (13, I think) and assembled and carried to the back yard, where I'll arrange and power them in the next day or two. I have power sources all over the yard, so that's not hard.

Then I spend the next two or three days getting the tree decorated. It starts out standing in the middle of the room on an old street sign for stability, which has a heavy plastic bag beneath it. I get it all decorated, then the plastic bag lets it slide over the carpet and into its corner. Of course, since I'm pulling it, I end up in the corner and have to slither out beneath the tree like a fat, stiff snake, but I manage. Naturally, after all that work, I'm not anxious to take it down, so it has been known to stand there until February! Who cares? It's bright, pretty and cheerful, and when all the holiday doin's are over, and it's just me here again, it helps to keep my spirits from sagging.

I could tell you some stories about decorating with the Plum in residence, but I'll save those for another day. She was one funny little critter. I imagine I've got some new adventures coming, with little Starr here this year.

Blessings, friends! --Romeena
September 28, 2007 - Msg 56466: Wow, De§, thanks for that comment regarding the picture of God's Light. I know what I believe about it, and no one could ever change my mind, but it's very nice to have it supported by the opinion of someone who knows about such things. Thank you! Praying that your allergies will subside and your present "miseries" will clear up.

Have a lovely day, all. --Romeena
September 28, 2007 - Msg 56467:

Thank you, Ro. You're a sweetheart is what you are. I've had this stuff turn into bronchitis a few times, and I'm trying like crazy to nip it in the bud. (I know all too well ya can't mollycoddle this stuff. You're not talking to a jerk, ya know.)

To add insult to injury, I just stepped on the sharp metal edge of an old medicine cabinet (we're remodeling a bathroom) that was lying face-down on the floor and took a chunk out of my foot. Bah humbug!

~DeS~

A boob. That's what I am - a boob!
.
September 28, 2007 - Msg 56468:
Hello porch family....busy porch since I was here yesterday.

First....Ro...your DIL will continue to be in my prayers. I say "AMEN" to all the prayers that have been lifted up here on the porch. We love you!

Spot...I'm in Louisiana for the next few days. Thanks for the steak brother. It was still hot from the grill.

M-T...the little saying about the "hot snot"....wow I had forgotten that but we used to say that all the time. heehee

Big Maude....praying you have a have trip.

I had a concert last night at a large Cowboy Church on the La/Ar line. It was awesome. And of course I felt right at home with my jeans and boots.

You all have a Jesus filled day. Prayers for all the porch family.
-REV.
September 28, 2007 - Msg 56469: Ro - so sorry to hear about you DIL. She will be in my prayers.
MW - you fit right in on the porch - glad you popped in to rock with us.
Belle - how's the house hunt going?
Vicki - so glad that Millie's spirit is still with us through you.
Been so busy that I can't even stand up straight without me passing myself again and again. . .I feel like the Roadrunner more than Wylie Coyote. Of course - here lately, I have the smarts of Wylie (which if you recall - ain't much!)

hm
September 28, 2007 - Msg 56470: Hey DES, sorry that you are feeling poorly. Make sure and clean that foot well.

Vickie, you are in for a treat this December. Romeena does some serious decorating and fills us in on what she is doing each day. I love it. Last year, as you saw, some of us sent her some christmas pictures for her album. Maybe this year we can do it again. Speaking of trees, I have a very sweet memory of my friend Karen (who passed away in May). When we were both in our 20's and her then only child was about 2, Karen was working as a waitress and trying to support herself and her little girl. She had a one-bedroom, modest apartment and furniture someone had tossed out. I was working as a nurse so was doing better, financially. One Christmas, she wanted a tree but I knew she couldn't afford one so I took her to a tree lot and we picked one out for her. She insisted on one of the less expensive ones with the really sharp, pointy needles. It was a little bent but she loved it. We put it up in her apartment and decorated it with lots of little colored twinkle lights and icesicles. She thought it was gorgeous, gracing her den with it's slightly-bent frame. I remember that the tree was visible from the bed in her bedroom and I remember us turning out the lights, except for the tree and she, little Jill and I lay on the bed and just looked at that tree for the longest time. It really felt like Christmas. Karen kept that crazy tree up until spring (no kidding)! She was so sentimental and didn't like to get rid of anything until she had to.

I just got a call from her daughter who is 21 now and she needs a few dollars to pay for her predisone. She was in the ER last night with her asthma. I will give her the money even though I am so upset that she is still with a man who can't keep a job and medical insur@nce and can't pay for his wife's medication. He will find money for his alcohol, though.

Better go,

Boo
September 28, 2007 - Msg 56471: Hey y'all:
A new day and new prayers going up for you all, especially Brittney and all of Romeena's family, Spot who works late (I was a utility employee for a number of years myself), Merri W., Boo, Opiemom and Big Madue's son and football team - wish I could watch the game! And for DeS and the remodel - been there too.

Got back from looking at a duplex to rent. I was smote down by an odor and it was only on the way back to DM that I figured it out - I think someone was making crack in the duplex - ammonium nitrate has distinct smell (and I was a chemist). I don't think I would be safe there....I may have to just commute the 110 miles between DM and Iowa City until I can find a suitable and affordable place. Don't know if the car will hold out for me.

I know there are sad and serious things for all of us to pray about, but I would appreciate a little prayer for a place to live. I hope to have a place to put my aluminum Christmas tree come December!
Belle
September 28, 2007 - Msg 56472: Ro,I will keep you,your family,and Brittney in my prayers. Thank you for sharing the beautiful story of "Logan's Light." I remember Logan-the other day I came across an address you gave us for Logan's Garden.How did that project ever turn out? I regret at the time not being able to contribute. Would you give us an update? Thanks and God Bless.
*******************
possum under a rock