October 02, 2007 - Msg 56624: Re go to "Silver Comet Trail".com ..or search it...it is So cool...wish some day we could cross paths!..Merri good post..he ro,boo,we are going riding again at noon tomorrow...then the work week and weekend begains...Romeena I would like a cup of coffee!..and yea afd,md,mav,Rev,mdc...daga!..bama!...well let me fix us a snack...well gona be my favorite..Cap. crunch and milk...prayers to all back in just a bit..SPOT
October 02, 2007 - Msg 56625: hee....SWISH..Im getting good at this!!!...
October 02, 2007 - Msg 56626: Well, Merri Weather, I see we have a writer on the porch! What a wonderful tale, artfully spun, and delightful. You can share your memories any time you wish, as far as I'm concerned. More power to ya! --Romeena
October 02, 2007 - Msg 56627:
Hey Spot....just saw on the AP that the Braves released Andrew Jones today. Not really a suprise to me but it came pretty quick. They didn't really even negotiate with him. I guess they knew it was going to be too much money to even talk.
-REV.
October 02, 2007 - Msg 56628: Rev yea the did ..but to no suprise...willie harris and matt are ready...Where are you at brother!?..sure wish I knew when you were in my neck of the woods, Miss Sherry and I would drove and met ya !..even bought ya dinner!! ha ha..well Miss Sherry Is about to kill me on this new bike riding thing..we are going again tomorrow at noon!...yall meet me at waffle house for breakfast ok!?...Rev will send you a plate and I doo want to have the neat thing Romeena and that is to meet y!...OK Tom take care...later gators!..SPOT
October 02, 2007 - Msg 56629: fat paws ...SPOT
October 03, 2007 - Msg 56630: Oh Merri, I just LOVED your story! Thank you so much for sharing it. When you talked about your Aunt Fi Fi smelling of leather and Heaven Scent, I couldn't wipe the smile off my face. I remember some of my relatives used to wear that. I had an older cousin named Karen (in Michigan) who sounds alot like Fi Fi. She always smelled of Aqua Net and Ambush cologne and always seemed to be wearing something pink. She had one of those hair-do's like Marlo Thomas on "That Gir". How old were you and your sister at the time of your story, and did you ever see Grandma Florence again? Can't wait to hear your favorite Christmas memory!

You know, you really do have a way of telling a story. Have you ever considered writing down your memories in a book? Just think of what it would mean to your children.

Ro, neat description of a Blue Norther! They are definitely on my list of top 5 favorite things in life. Wish it would snow again here this year like it did on Christmas of '04. That was mind-blowing, I'll tell you. Just imagine nearly a foot of snow on the beach and hanging off the palm trees! I don't expect we will ever see that here again in my lifetime.

Well, the coffee is almost gone out of my mug and it's time to make Erin's lunch and get her up for school.

Today will be laundry day for me, I ended up not doing any yesterday so I'll have to catch up today. Me-They, if you have any shorts that need washing (and you always do), throw them on the pile.

Boo
October 03, 2007 - Msg 56631: ...I mean "That Girl" of couse...thought I better clarrify for you younger folks.

Boo
October 03, 2007 - Msg 56632: Oh forgot to mention to you Ray, that we have something in common. I, too am a pyro. You should see the arsenal of firewood stacked on my homestead. My husband cut down about a hundred trees, cut them into firewood and stacked it for me (what a guy). Last fall/winter we had lots of cookouts and gathered around the fire pit often...plan on doing the same this year.

MDC, I forgot to mention to you that the fence Bruce is putting up is a real "man's fence". The corner posts are almost as big as telephone poles! I guess he is expecting it to still be standing in a hundered years. Crazy man. I mean those are some big posts and he as them going up the driveway toward the gate, too. I'll have to send a picture when he gets it done.

Boo
October 03, 2007 - Msg 56633: Good morning Porch Friends! Hey Boo! It does my heart good that you liked a page from my childhood--I know it was wordy. Let's see...the Fall of 1978 would have made me 7 years old and my sister would've been 5. She was in after-noon kindergarten. Remember that? When kids went a half day for kindergarten and it was about learning to play well with others and your ABC's? Last year, my daughter was doing math problems and reading at a 1st grade level in kindergarten. Things have changed so much. Anyway, you know Boo, I have thought about writing down my memories for my girls. I have so many vivid images from my childhood that I don't want forgotten. It's just one of those things where you haven't taken the time to do it. Last night was perfect. Hubby was doing work at the kitchen table, gherkin #1 was in bed sleeping, and #2 was on her way out while it was storming outside. So, I had an opportunity to actually sit down and type out one of my all-time favorite memories. I should clarify that my dad, like my mom, was from a huge family and we lived several hundred miles away from everyone. My dad was a workaholic--usually around 80+ hours a week and his only day off was Sunday. So, we weren't close to a lot of family--we just couldn't travel often. Something that I regret greatly! We did keep in touch with Great-grandma Florence though. My dad had offered many a time to go get her and let her stay with us for a week or so, but she wouldn't budge. She would never leave that little trailer until her death in January of 1987 at the age of 99.

Boo, I had to laugh at your cousin smelling of Aqua Net--I lived off that stuff in high school. The bigger and crunchier the bangs, the better!

Romeena, let us know when you get a Blue Norther! I am SO ready for cooler weather.

I can't wait to read other porchsters memories! Maybe we should all make a resolution to write things down for our kids. I know they would all appreciate it some day.

Well, here's to childhood memories and wishes for a happy and healthy holiday season! Cheers! (I'm raising my coffee mug to you all!)

Now, like BOO, I must get to washing, morning dishes, vacuuming...

Wishing you peace and happiness this fine morning,

Merri W.
October 03, 2007 - Msg 56634: Morning porch family, Good to see you folks. Thanks for your prayers for me, I can feel them,. I am hanging in there. Romeena, thanks for putting Belle in the album. She is a funny little character. weather continues to be cooler in the mornings here and warms up by afternoon. My kids are doing well with school and that is a true blessing. My son just got his report card for his first 6 weeks of his junior year. The little dickens made 100 in his AP Biology class, 99 in his honors english and 94 in his Pre cal/trig class. His high school has block classes so he only has 4 per day. his other class is a PE class which he made 100 in but that is not too hard for a big ole football player. Beth should get her report card in the next couple days. I hope you all don't mind my bragging at bit but I am a proud Mom and they work hard. Lets have lunch at Texas Roadhouse today, will treat everyone. Prayers for everyone especially Asa and the Mrs and Romeena and her family. Thanks for being friends to me.
Big Maude
October 03, 2007 - Msg 56635: Morning Family:
Got a "day off", but as Merri, hm, Ro,Big Maude, and all the other fine ladies can tell ya a day off at the "other" job doesn't mean TV & bonbons! Laundry, (it's a sunny day for line drying) vacuuming, and tackling a few fall housecleaning chores. Oh my. Come on New Neighbor, quit putting it off... ok catch ya later.~ New Neighbor
October 03, 2007 - Msg 56636: What are you women doing watching tv and eating bonbons when I'm slaving away here at work?

Me-They
October 03, 2007 - Msg 56637: TV? Bonbons? Ha, I only wish! I've been out in the yard, weeding and planting. My raised island flowerbed, kidney-shaped and roughly 10x20 feet was/is a mess. A rose bush anchors one end, a large rosemary shrub dominates the other, there are irises marching along the back wall, and all in between is divided off into little sections with small flagstones placed edge-side up. Theoretically, each of those little sections will hold clumps of different flowers. This is dependent upon the season, of course. When the pansies and snapdragons pooped out in the summer heat, I planted petunias, but this year they just simply failed. Croaked. Too much rain, I think. So, I put in some dwarf zinnias and tried something new - Angelina. It's pretty stuff, looks like a kind of lupine. They're supposed to stay about ten inches tall. Well, they got nearly two feet tall, and grew like mad. Very pretty, but a perfect camouflage for the dallis grass, nutgrass, spurge and invasive peppermint. I didn't even know all that trash was in there until everybody started putting up seedheads. Oh, mercy!

So, I spent the morning pulling weeds, got about a fourth of the island cleared. I completely cleaned out several of the little sections, where the zinnias were dying back, and planted dianthus and snapdragons in those sections. Later, I'll clear all the sections and put in more of the same, and a lot of pansies. I scattered corn gluten meal so the weed seeds won't germinate.

The temperature was in the 70's, thank goodness, but because of the mosquitoes I was wearing jeans and a denim jacket, and socks and shoes, so was still too warm. According to my bathroom scale, I sweated off over five pounds out there this morning. I'll put it all back with iced tea this afternoon, though.

Well, there you are - the fascinating story of my adventure this morning. (teehee) Bless your hearts, with no husband to talk to, and no Sugarplum either, you guys get the brunt of all my chatter. Maybe it will get better when Starr comes to live here. Maybe. --Romeena
October 03, 2007 - Msg 56638:
Hey Folks

My! Miss a couple of days and there is a lot of reading to do.

Well, I joined the "47 Club" today. If I remember right, when I joined the "46 Club" last year everybody left...and the same thing happened when I joined the "45 Club" huh?

Asa- Yeah, I was sad to see Newt drop out I don't think he could have gotten the nomination but I do think he could have help the discussion. We need to "Lake Placid" the socialist in '08 like we did in '80. I think the odds against us are about the same next year as they were in 1980.

Belle- A chemist, wow! Now that's neat. I'm glad you like my posting name but I must confess I stole Barry Goldwater's handle.

Big Maude-That's a good boy ya got there. Congrats to him.

Hey Spot, Boo, Me-They, Merri W, Big Maude, and New Neighbor.


Al Michael's: "Do you believe in miracles? YES!"

auh2o
October 03, 2007 - Msg 56639: Hi everyone. Sharing stories from the past is important. My children and I have always enjoyed my mother's stories of growing up during the Depression in a southern cotton mill village. One of my sons even wrote a story for school based on one of Grandmother's stories. We also enjoy Grandma's stories. That is my hubby's mom. She grew up on Long Island, NY. So it is a completely different experience.


Tell those stories to your children and write them down.

Went to Bible Study this am. Back home getting some school work done with dc and some laundry. Tyring to figure our what's for dinner. Joshua (age 8) has a soccer game at 5:45, hubby is out of town. So it has to be something easy.

Opiemom

October 03, 2007 - Msg 56640:
Hey Romeena- We are putting our gardens to bed this time of year but I must say, I loving reading your posts about garden tending. I do enjoy the snow however knowing you're out there gardening when we're buried up to our hips, is kinda neat. (We're not buried yet. It's about 75 and beautiful here.)

auh2o
October 03, 2007 - Msg 56641:
Hey Opiemom-We must have been posting at the same time.

auh2o
October 03, 2007 - Msg 56642: just a quick note to tell everyone i miss you. sorry to hear about millie. isn't it funny how we watch andy griffith show and can't imafine the people getting older or going to heaven? again my condolences to millies family. mdc- got package today, thanks. pappa bear
October 03, 2007 - Msg 56643: Pappa Bear! How good to see you. We all miss your presence on the porch so very much. Hope you are okay. please drop by when you can. Big Maude
October 03, 2007 - Msg 56644: Pappa Bear - so good to see you!!! Glad you got to a computer. We sure have missed you!

hm
October 03, 2007 - Msg 56645: Hey gang just a quick stop by from mowing...prayers to all will read after dark...supper:country fried steak and gravy,cream taters,greenbeans,fried okra,salad,big maude slaw and tea...SPOT
October 03, 2007 - Msg 56646: I am coming Spot - it sure sounds de---lish!
hm
October 03, 2007 - Msg 56647: Hey Pappa Bear, come back soon!

Opiemom, my grandparent on mom's side lived in West Virginia in a little coal mining village. They were dirt poor and had many interesting stories, too. We used to have so much fun sitting on the front porch at their house and talking about old times. Sometimes it was a little bit scary, though. They were into all that foxfire stuff and had plenty of stories about witches, hauntings and such. Pretty scary for a kid. I have an aunt in Michigan who has written stories about my mom's family. Some was even published somewhere. I have shared stories on the porch about my mom's mother. Her name was Edna and her dad was killed in a mining accident when she was a little girl. He left his wife and 5 little ones in the days before welfare. My great-grandmother was a woman of faith and the Lord got her through. I always share a Christmas story about her here on the porch but I will wait until Christmas time for that.

Better fo finish that blasted laundry...shouldn't complain, great-grandma had do her laundry in a washtub over a fire!

Boo
October 03, 2007 - Msg 56648: CONGRATULATIONS Big Maude, on your son's great reports--he's a smartie! Good for him! HEY to PAPPA BEAR! How are ya? SPOT, sounds good but all that just may lay on my chest! OPIEMOM, my hubby works late tonight so it's roasted hotdogs, corn on the cob and a salad. Easy is the key word for me when I'm on my own! Also OPIEMOM, can you retell a story for us? Sounds like you may have some interesting stuff!

Merri W.
October 03, 2007 - Msg 56649: BOO, tell us a spooky one for Halloween! That would require some popcorn and something to cover up with!

MW
October 03, 2007 - Msg 56650: Afternoon Family:
FINALLY got that blasted laundry done (at least for the time being- I declare dirty laundry multiplies in the hamper). One thing for sure Boo, we'd be down by the creek beatin' the dirt out on rocks, just chatting away.Thanks Spot for supper, we'll be over as soon as I get the last of the clothes off the line. Saves me having to think of something for supper. Welcome back Pappa Bear, miss ya in these parts. Hi to Opiemom, Boo, hm, Big Maude, Ro, Merri,auh20,everyone else I may have missed.Glad to see ya rockin' this fine day. ~New Neighbor
October 03, 2007 - Msg 56651: Merri, I'll try to get one together. Better yet, I'll try to get my literary inclined son to do it. Grandma gave us a video recently made from old home movies. It has footage of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade in the 30s and 40s, too cool. Plus in it you see Grandma's mom, pregnant with her. BOO, My husband's granma was Edna, one of 13 children born to Polish immigrants who worked in Pennsylvania coal mines. His mom has over 50 1st cousins!!


I decided on breakfast for supper, some scrambled eggs with cheese, canadian bacon and grits. Easy, quick and not much clean up.

I'm behind on laundry here too, Boo. At least I don't have to wash them by hand.




October 03, 2007 - Msg 56652: Here come my shorts!

A big howdy to PAPPABEAR/COLT/PIPEMAN/BUCKEYE! Great to hear from you. Now that our mayor is back, can I go with the band to the state capital? I bought a new pair of cymbals.

Me-They
October 03, 2007 - Msg 56653: Happy Birthday toauh20!I was in the 47 Club,but got "promoted" to the 48 Club back in July-ha! I believe Spot's gonna get promoted sometimes in December,ain't ya Spot? I'll be glad for the company!

Hey there Pappabear! I miss you & think of you often.

Must be something special in that cole slaw Big Maude's been feeding her family-sure has some smart kids! Hooray for those fantastic grades!

Hush,Me-They! We don't want Asa to hear about any band trips! He'll want to grab his bongos & join up and you know he can't play without a uniform or with one!
Y'all have a good night!
*****SMILES*****
possum under a rock











October 03, 2007 - Msg 56654: Anybody else having trouble posting? Since yesterday,my posts don't immediately show up,then after I hit refresh,or check back on the Porch,I see they've shown up-sometimes twice(like yesterday).Hmm.. I think the Count is hovering near my rock!

possum again
October 03, 2007 - Msg 56655: Merri, the scary story I remember most was kind of a Hillbilly version of "The Legend Of Sleepy Hollow". It involved a trail in the woods, walking after dark when the moon was full, and a headless rider. Can't remember the details. I also remember one that they swore was true about a young woman who got locked in a cemetary overnight and died from fright...of course they said her hair was snow white when they found her. They also told stories about people in their little town who were witches and turned their enemies into horses at night and rode them. Also heard a few accounts of witches casting spells to make cows give sour milk, junk like that.

Maude, you are very blessed! It's so great that the kids are Christians, first of all, then that they are successful in their learning. I know how thrilled you must be. As a mom with a child with learning problems, I can only imagine what a relief it would be! I wonder what the Lord has in store for that boy of yours. Can't wait to find out.

I forgot to say "HAPPY BIRTHDAY AUH20"!

Who is post #56651??? Good post, just not sure who it is?

I haven't had any trouble posting, Possum. Hope your computer doesn't have a virus or something.

Better go get ready for evening church. I was going to cop out tonight but the kids want to go so I guess I'll take them. Wed. night is youth night and besides my own, I always take two of Sean's friends and they hate to miss.

Talk to you all later,

Boo
October 03, 2007 - Msg 56656: Happy Birthday AUH20!!!
October 03, 2007 - Msg 56657:
"Yeah Boy!"
October 03, 2007 - Msg 56658: Blessings, everyone! I'm off to work - see you tomorrow. Wish I could stay around and spin yarns, but duty calls. --Romeena
October 03, 2007 - Msg 56659:
AuH20- is that like the "Esquire Club"? ha If so, then shouldn't the 48 guy be teaching you 47 guys about the game. haha
Pappa bear- alright, i knew if i bugged him enuf about how we need a mayor, he'd return.
Boo, MW (have we gone to MW already?) ha- stories are indeed important. I even got a tear in my EYYE with that one. I think homes were "cozier" back then. Really! Today's huge homes kinda turn me off. i like a cozy home! but that's just me. ha I am still trying to picture that station wagon! We had a Ford wagon also. fairlane.
Loved the stories in THE War. So great ones. Imagine those men seeing the statue of liberty again. Many pow's it was 4 years.
Boo, I bet bruce wants to sit up on those corner posts! hey he dont want no "gurly" fence ya know! ha
D-backs vs Cubs in playoffs!
Boo- that was a great story about the shoes.
When we were kids my dad used to put cereal box cardboard in them when they got holes in them.
Not much fall here in AZ yet. 94 today!
MDC (Mr Darlin'g Cuz)
"Barney, you're as touchy as an old settin' hen."


October 03, 2007 - Msg 56660: Well, it's time for me to put this day to bed so I am stopping by the porch to say good night and thank you all for being such good listeners and conversationalists! I sure am having fun here. You all are such neat people...have a peaceful night, many blessings and pleasant dreams! -Merri

MDC, I guess it didn't take me long to shorten myself up! And hey, I'm with you--I love a cozy house, even cottage or cabin like.

We're not having much fall here either. By the weekend it will be nearly 90 degrees. Oh where oh where is that crisp Canadian air???
October 03, 2007 - Msg 56661: Well gang my off days have come to an end...hey M-T,hm,merri,ro,boo,Rev,Tom,Asa,Mavis,possun,MDC,goober and gooberett,ray,my buddy miller,Miss super Vickie,pappa,Opiemom,maude [my sweet],auh20 and ALL!...gosh its gona be tough getting up at 4:00 in the morning for a change to be there at 6 am..but thats ok...6 to 2 tomorrow and fri and 6 am to 6 pm sat and Sun ...thats my 40 then off next weekend to the state fair in perry with miss sherry!...well breakfast will be at Shoneys on M-T!...well let me hit the ironing board...prayers to ALL....SPOT
October 03, 2007 - Msg 56662:
Hello porch family.....Finally got a little rain here today in SC. We are 16 inches behind. DRY!

Spot....I'm home for a few days now. Brother we will surely have to meet up sometimes in your area. That would be great.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to auh2o...Wishing you many many more!

Today is also my daughter's birthday. Oh how time moves on. Seems like yesterday she was born.

Big Maude....you have a right to be a proud mom. Give them a "high 5" for me.

Boo...Bruce sounds like the kind of person when he does something he wants it done right. And that's a good thing.

Oh it was so good to hear from Pappa Bear

Ro...Have a good night at work. Praying for you.

This must be laundry day. All you ladies are washing today but I want you to know that my wife was out today and when she came home I had all the laundry done...washed, dried, folded and put away. Aint I a gooooood husband...heehee

Well I'm gonna get back to watching "Lucy" on TVLand. See ya'll at Shoney's in the morning. We can all get the buffet since it's on M-T.

Prayers for all and have a Jesus filled night. Thank God HE's watching over us!
-REV.
October 03, 2007 - Msg 56663: I've had just about enough "cozy" livin'. I am ready for a big house....uh, not to be confused with THE big house...you can't write on walls there and you have to obey all rules.

Well, MDC, not sure those posts are quite big enough for Bruce to sit on, but they's big. That fence will be around long after we're gone. Bruce says he doesn't want to ever have to replace it...I'm thinking his great-grandkids won't even have to replace it.

Hope Ro has a good night at work.

I know how you feel, MDC. It was in the 90's here today, yuck. I went into WalMart in my shorts and flip-flops, sweating from walking through the 100 degree black asphalt parking lot, and "what to my wondering eyes should appear?"....you guessed it; Christmas decorations! Seems quite strange, especially since they were right next to the animated, bloody skeleton, holding his own head.

Better go to bed!

Boo
October 03, 2007 - Msg 56664: Hey REV, you snuck up on me. Oh my gosh, you ARE the perfect man! You did the laundry and folded and put it away?...you've just restored my faith in MANkind.

You're right about Bruce. He does want everything done just the right way and that is why I still don't have my house built!! haha
I'll tell you one thing, that house is really going to be something when it does get built.

Goodnight,

Boo
October 04, 2007 - Msg 56665: Good Morning everyone,been busy fall cleaning here the past couple of days.I want to wish a Happy belated Birthday to auh2o and Rev's daughter,hope you both enjoyed your day.
Wishing you all a blessed day,take care PEACE Dr P
October 04, 2007 - Msg 56666: Good morning friends! I just wanted to wish each an every one of you a happy 10-4!!

~ Mrs. Wiley

Andy: "How about if you just say OK Andy?"
Barney: "10-4."

October 04, 2007 - Msg 56667: 10-4 to you, too, Mrs. Wiley...and to you, Dr P.

Wonder what ever happened to HappyNut? We haven't heard from her in a very long time. Are you out there HappyNut?

It's nice out this morning, actually in the 60's but will get into the high 80's and then 90's tomorrow. Sure feels good right now.

Better get Erin off to school..

Boo
October 04, 2007 - Msg 56668: Morning porch, good to see ya'll. Thanks for the prayers for me and the nice comments about Patrick. He gets a kick out of me telling you all about him. He is an Andy fan as well as is getting pretty good about knowing dialogue and character info. Boo, I know I am blessed. I think you do a wondeful job in making sure Sean has every advantage possible, you are a great Mom. I am going to be OFF tomorrow. YIPPE. I need a mental health day myself once in while. We are having some new furniture delieved (kitchen table, mattress and box springs for my daugther and a reading chair for me for my bedroom which is soemthing I have wanted for a while) so I am going to be home waiting for that. Lets do lunch today at Cracker Barrell. see you there. Blessings and prayers to all. Big Maude
October 04, 2007 - Msg 56669: Good morning everyone. Beautiful day here, too.

AUH2O: How'd I miss your birthday, bud? Well, a belated Happy Birthday AUH2O! I hope it was a great one. How does it feel to be so old? Good thing I'm still 29. In fact, I'm the longest serving member of the 29 Club; I've been a member for 12 years now.

What am I doing wrong? I do 90% of the laundry (including ironing) and 99.9% of the dish washing in our house.

I've been enjoying the "I Love Lucy" marathon on TV Land this week. If I can't have TAGS (that was last week), Lucy is fine.

Well, I'll see y'all at lunch. I've got shotgun, BIG MAUDE! And I promise not to hang my head out the winder like a dog.

Me-They
October 04, 2007 - Msg 56670: Sorry, MRS. WILEY, I already 10-4ed you.

M-T
October 04, 2007 - Msg 56671: Maude you buying lunch or should I go by the ATM?...Cracker Barrell is good with me..hey M-T,Tom , Rev just let me know ...hey dr-p,mrs wylie,MDC,goober,possum,Ro,Boo,pappa,auh20,merri and all...I will get supper...will stop by Kroger and get some chops to grill with Rev"s sauce,grilled onions and taters,little green peas,salad tea and big maude slaw...get off at 2 pm today for a change..just 8 hrs today and tomorrow...we are getting a little rain but not much...just enough to knock the dust off a flys wing!...well Asa will you bring some charcoal?..im out....well let me get busy here at the power company!...back in a bit...SPOT
October 04, 2007 - Msg 56672:
Hello porch family....Just wanted to check in real quick and read what's going on this morning before going on a "honey do" run.

Spot....don't work too hard today buddy. Keep those lights on.

Cloudy here today but no rain so far.

See ya'll tonight at the grill for some chops. Have a blessed day and give a great big Jesus hug to someone you love!
-REV.


October 04, 2007 - Msg 56673: Thank you for those kind words, Maude! You are such a sweetheart.

Me-They, is the laundry and the dishes your only chore? With both of you working full time, I think you are doing ok. Do you clean, too? You're a good man and you have a blessed wife. My dear husband is about the hardest working guy around but he does no housework, zip. He works long days at work and then works on the homestead so I do everything around here. I do everything for the kids, too. Sometimes Bruce makes sure Erin gets a bath and puts her to bed but that's it. I'm not complaining because he is doing all he can possibly do right now but I sure get tired sometimes and need a break. Sunday, he took care of the kids while I had the afternoon off and had a nice nap. Now that Sean is home all day with me, I don't get any alone time so it was really nice. I feel like I have been neglecting mom and dad, though. I tried talking to mom the other day about assisted living. I tried to explain that Dad can't keep doing everything at the house. She started crying and saying I was depressing her. She says she is secure in the house and doesn't want to go anywhere, but the old house is not really safe. It has the old, original wiring and there is mold in the house. I am afraid the house will catch fire during the night and they won't be able to get out. I have been thinking alot about what MDC said to me but I don't know how to make them do the right thing. They are still legally competent and don't have to do anything they don't want to do and I don't want to make mom cry again. Any suggestions from those of you who have been there would be appreciated. You all have alot of good, combined experience about most things. Thanks.

Boo
October 04, 2007 - Msg 56674:
Hey Porch

Thanks for the Birthday well wishes.

We've had another bear sighting on the street. I still haven't even caught a glimpse of it, ever.

M-T The 29 Club? You still don't have that Flock of Seagulls haircut, do ya?

"And I ran, I ran so far away.
I just ran, I ran all night and day.
I couldnt get away."

See ya'll later.
auh2o
October 04, 2007 - Msg 56675: I don't really have new advice for you, BOO; I haven't crossed that particular bridge yet. But I do know that you shouldn't be hard on yourself.

Yes, I do other chores. We do both work, so I feel its only fair that we share the work at home. I do all the outside and repair-like stuff; the Mrs. does the deep-down, weekly cleaning. In between, I do dishes, laundry, and general straightening; she does most of the kids hoemwork, bathing, that sorta stuff, thopugh rarely a week goes by when I don't bathe a couple of kids. And she generally cooks dinner, and packs my daughter's lunch. I get the kids up in the morning and get them ready, for the most part, and usually breakfast (something easy). I make the beds. She does the "big" grocery shopping, but I usually do the in-between "milk and bread" runs to the store. She does nearly all the shopping, even for me (unless it's Home Depot shopping!). We share running to soccer, though she does the ballet thing. I do the bills, and she balanced the checkbook. So really think we share pretty equally. I'm certainly not complaining.

The only thing that sometimes gums up the works is that my level of "comfortable mess" is pretty high, and her's not so much. With kids it's hard to keep everything tidy. She tries to make sure that all toys and stuff are put away by the time I get home because she knows I can't relax unless things are straight. Yes, I know I'm a pain. Thankfully, the Mrs. may roll her eyes sometimes and have to bite her tongue, but she and the kids seem to put up with me.

Me-They
October 04, 2007 - Msg 56676: Didn't see you there, AUH2O. Well, if I did have that haircut it would look pretty silly; my seagull has lost a lot of feathers on top in recent years.

M-T
October 04, 2007 - Msg 56677: I have to mention that since I had been single for half a dozen years before I got married, had my own place and so was used to doing everything myself, once I did get hitched I saw it as my chance to just do half the work. So, I see it less that the Mrs. is lucky that I help around the house than I'm lucky she's picking up half the slack I'd have to be doing on my own without her.

Me-They
October 04, 2007 - Msg 56678: Thanks for sharing, Me-They. Sounds like you have it all planned out well. I know what you mean about being single. Bruce and I were single until our 30's and neither of us had ever been married before. I remember telling him when we married that if he would take care of the outside jobs and pay the bills, i would take care of the inside. That's just how it's been. I would have liked him to take more responsibility where the kids are concerned but he is better than he used to be. We were both raised in very 1950's-60's families with a stay-home mom. Dad went to work, worked on cars and did the yard, and mom did everything in the house. We just kind of fell into that same pattern, I guess. I guess if I was working outside the home, we would have to split up the duties, but since I am at home, I just naturally do what needs to be done around here...which is alot!!

What in the world is a "Flock Of Seagulls" hair-do? I'm very curious about that one....

Boo
October 04, 2007 - Msg 56679: BOO: Did you miss New Wave in the 1980s? Google "Flock of Seagulls" and "band" or "80s" and you'll see what we mean.

ROMEENA or anyone else: A guest on Fresh Air today is Devra Davis who is the Director of Environmental Oncology at the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Center. She just wrote a book called "The Secret War on Cancer." She is discussing aspartame and cell phones, to name two things. (She is very wary of both.) Anyway, it's about a 15 minute interview and can be heard at: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=14986010. I think I'm going to read the book.

Y'all have a great evening!

Me-They
October 04, 2007 - Msg 56680:
M-T--Your kids are sure lucky: mom "does most of the kids homework" (#56675) haha
REV- around here those chores are a "honey and dear" list! haha
BOO- Didnt mean to put you on a guilt trip. So sorry!! I just meant that if you could get a DIAGNOSIS, then the "not of sound mind" clause of a POA document kicks in; assuming of course that he has set up someone as his POA.
BTW, big can be cozy too!! Remember 99% of "cozy" are the PEOPLE involved!! (:
In fact you could always set up a pop up tent in the living room, have everyone crawl inside, tell the Golden Arm story, and ya got instant cozy! ha
But i gotta tell ya, I dont understand all the grusome stuff on display this year. Seems worse than ever. In the 60's we were hobos, cowboys, ballerinas etc. (Ok, I was NEVER a ballerina OK?) ha
Prayers continue for all. God bless Millie.
MDC

October 04, 2007 - Msg 56681: MDBC (Mr. Darlings Ballerina Cousin): I meant "helps with most of the homework." Are you being obtuse again? ;)

M-T
October 04, 2007 - Msg 56682: I won't tell you the workload at my house Boo but believe me, I am jealous of you. I work full time, come home and put another day in just trying to find the house sometimes. I am getting the boys used to washing dishes and helping me with laundry. My husband and I were both single until our thirties and we both lived alone but once he got married he forgot how to do laundry, dishes and pick up after himself.

Asking for a few prayers this evening - got some decision making going on - just need a little angel on my shoulder besides Millie. Thanks in advance.


hm
October 04, 2007 - Msg 56683: Afternoon Porch Family:
hm- praying for that angel you need. (and wisdom in the decision making area.)
Had a wonderful day at work!! Did I just write that???
It's just refreshing to come to the porch for a few minutes and read about all the interesting things going on. We are a busy bunch...a lot of honey and dearin' goin' on. must be the approach of a weekend.
What was for supper? I'll bring the homemade chocolate chip cookies- warm from the oven. ~New Neighbor
October 04, 2007 - Msg 56684: New Neighbor we had my grilled pork chops with Rev"s famous bbq sauce...but hey they are just as good cold!...make ya a sammich for lunch tomorrow...hey Rev brother im off tonight ..6 am to 2 pm tomorrow then the weekend..then headed to Perry Ga for 3 days to the georgia national fair with Miss Sherry..gona carry our bikes..prayers for you HARD HM..I promise..MDC,M-t yall acting right?..Asa my buddy where are you?possum?..Romeena you working?..hey Boo how is Bruce?..auh20 you wana spring for breakfast at I-HOP? I will park cars and get the tip?...pappa you can hold the door...TOM say grace in the morning OK?...Horatio just wear your shoes ok?...well let me feed and put Otis u...he sure loves to run the farm everyday!...He and Opie just get nose to nose at the front door and look!...Opiemom will you make our reservations for breakfast at I-HOP?...table for a porch!...back in a bit..prayers to all ...SPOT
October 04, 2007 - Msg 56685: HM, you didn't even mention the work it takes caring for the goats. I'm sure you are swamped every day. Prayers for you and the decisions you need to make.

NN, I made Snickerdoodle cookies tonight with Erin. They are fun to make with kids because they like rolling the dough into balls and rolling them in the cinnamon sugar. They turned out real good!

Bruce is feeling better, still stuffy and tired but he is going to try to go to work tomorrow, thanks for asking SPOT.

You guys know how I don't watch TV, well tonight I was so tired from working all day and I decided that after the kids were in bed I would get on the couch and watch TV for a bit with Bruce. He was watching a really interesting movie that I think was called, "A Time To Kill"...with Sandra Bullock and that really cute Texas boy...can't remember his name right now....anyway, the courtroom scene was really getting good when all of a sudden, TNT cut the movie off in the middle for a baseball game! grrrr...now I remember why I don't like television. I'll just continue to watch TAGS now and then on DVD.

Think I'll turn in and read awhile. I am reading the biography of Dwight L. Moody right now and it's pretty good so far. Goodnight All,

Boo
October 04, 2007 - Msg 56686:
Hello porch family....Mrs Rev and I went to see our daughter tonight at her college. Had a nice dinner and some great time together.

H-M...prayers for your decision making.

Ro....did you make it through your shift last night? Hope you are getting some rest.

MDC...watching the D-Backs and the Cubs. Cubs just hit a 2 run homer. Clicking back and forth to the S.Carolina/Kentucky.

Spot....You and Miss Sherry have a good time at the fair in Perry. Don't eat too much of that fair food.

N Neighbor....So glad to hear you had a great day at work. Sure makes the day go by faster.

You all have a good night and know that I'm praying for all our porch family.
-REV.


October 04, 2007 - Msg 56687:
Hey Boo....didn't see ya there. Enjoy your book. I've read his biography and really was inspired by it. Get some rest.
-REV.
October 04, 2007 - Msg 56688: Oh, Help! We have some sort of creature in the wall of our house. It sounds like it is between the 1st and 2nd floor. Hubby and I both heard it last week. Haven't heard it since, but now as I sit here at the computer I hear it crawling around. YIKES! Hubby is out of town. How am I ever going to get to sleep????????

How does one get an animal out of the wall?
October 04, 2007 - Msg 56689: Ooops Mgs. 56688 was me Opiemom
October 04, 2007 - Msg 56690: Well the noise has stopped after about 40 minutes. I banged on the wall off and on for about 5 minutes at a time. Thankfully none of the children woke up. Now I'm off to bed.


October 05, 2007 - Msg 56691: Bet its a squirrel Opiemom...when I worked out in the field I have saw and run off lots of them - they come in where the power cable comes in your house..Rev no doing!..next week Miss Sherry and I ..[well probably just me] will eat the sausage and onions and peppers at the fair till I bust!...ha ha..will send you a vacume pack....well hey Boo glad Bruce is feeling better..Romeena whee are you?..been working nights?..i am at work at 6 am this morning till 2 pm then 6 am to 6 pm sat and Sun...i really dont like the day shifts..TOM where are you buddy?..hey hm,possum,ray,merri,horatio,miller,mdc,md,new N,big J.and all...gosh gang my 30th HS renuion is next month!..whew..well I will see yall at I-HOP on auh20!...Im bringing an empty belly!..Rev will send you a plate via UPS..whatch for that Dale driven Brown Truck...!..back in a bit gang..prayers..Asa get in the truck...K..SPOT
October 05, 2007 - Msg 56692: Good morning everyone.

OPIEMOM: If it happens (even occasionally) during the day, it is likely a squirrel. If it doesn't happen during the day but after dark, it is likely either a rat or oppossum. Squirrels sleep at night like us. Rats and oppossum (generally) the opposite. If it was for some strange reason birds, you'd hear their "voices" now and again. All that said, if teh noise is faint scratching it is probably just a plain old ordinary mouse.

Have a great day.

Me-They
October 05, 2007 - Msg 56693: Oh, OPIEMOM, it could be the Count :).

M-T
October 05, 2007 - Msg 56694: Hmm, Might be a squirrel except it's getting in some other way. We have underground utilities.


Sorry the ball game interrupted your movie Boo. My sons would have been bugged by the movie interrupting the ball game. Ha! This is there favorite time of the year. Baseball postseason!

Having aging parents is hard. I think at times my mom should be in an assisted living facility, but I can't make her. My sis, who has dealt with this with several of her friends, says folks are generally happier in their own homes particularly if that is where they want to be. I just read an article in the paper about a lady who wanted her parents to be in assisted living. They didn't want it. so she was able to arrange for a caretaker to help out with housework and taking them places. Someone called every day at certain intervals to check on them. They had one meal a day by Meals on wheels. The parents were supposed to raise the blind at a certain time if not the neighbors would call the lady. Anyway it worked for her parents. Prayers for you to have wisdom and peace with whatever you decide.

Opiemom
October 05, 2007 - Msg 56695: Good morning - just checking in for a little bit. Thanks for the prayers. . .

Hubby stayed home with the youngest - really bad poison ivy on his feet. He contracted it through his pants legs. He always has on shoes and socks. Feet are swelled on top with pretty big blisters.

Boo - have you ever added lemon flavoring to your snickerdoodle recipe? About a teaspoon in the batch and then roll them in sugar sprinkles or just plain sugar and bake as normal. Talk about delish. Add lemon - leave out the cinnamon sugar at the end. Just a new "twist" on an old recipe!

homemaker
October 05, 2007 - Msg 56696: M-T we must have posted at the same time. Oh, Ihope it isn't a rat, YUCK!. We had a neighbor who had a racoon once. We mostly hear it at night. We've got to figure out how it is getting in I guess.

Opiemom
October 05, 2007 - Msg 56697: Good morning, all. Just got home from my second 12hr night - am beat, but can't go to bed. My dear DIL is having the surgery on her leg to get wider margins on the melanoma that was removed last week. Now they have told her that the two tiny spots on her abdomen that were removed earlier this week, are also melanoma. That - I definitely didn't want to hear. Please, please, friends. Pray for her, for my son, her parents, and for me. She's 36, and they have little boys, ages 4 and 6. I'll admit, I'm terrified. It's like this can't be happening, but it is.

OK, out of the uniform, into comfortable clothes (for sitting in a waiting room) and I'm off to give whatever meager support I can.

Blessings to one and all. --Romeena

P.S. On a happier note, my yard is full of robins right now, there must be at least two dozen out there, just hopping around in the grass. Beautiful little things.
October 05, 2007 - Msg 56698: OPIEMOM: If its in the wall, I'd doubt that it's a racoon. If you are in a more rural area, specially near farms, a rat is a definite possibility. But don't rule out a mouse. They can be pretty noisey when building a nest, and, if you have had a cold-snap in the last few weeks it might have driven them inside. Also, drought sometimes drives them inside.

A number of years ago the barn over the hill from my house burned down. Well, all the neighbors soon ended up with a few rats. Since then we have had a problem, thankfully. Just the usual fall mice. I usually set out five or six traps in strategic places in late October and, if I get anything, keep replacing them until about Christmas. We usually get five or so. That's living in a over 100 year old house. As bad as that may sound, I have learned that this solution is much better than not staying on top of it--once mice start breeding, you'll end up with them all winter.

ROMEENA: I definitely will be praying for your DIL, as well as you and your family. Try to lean on the everlasting arm.

Me-They
October 05, 2007 - Msg 56699: I missed your post, HM. A prayer for your hubby's feet, too (I can't believe I'm going to do that).

M-T
October 05, 2007 - Msg 56700: That's "haven't had a problem, thankfully!"

M-T
October 05, 2007 - Msg 56701: So M-T, should I just put some traps in the attic, under the stove? Where are strategic places. We aren't really rural. SO it probably isn't a rat. It does sound like something building a nest.

Romeena, Praying for your dear DIL, you and ds Praying for the medical team to have wisdom and divine guidance. Praying for those dear grandkids.
October 05, 2007 - Msg 56702: Hey to all my porch family...I'm having a bad bout with my migraines which causes bad nausea/vertigo so I won't be sticking around. But definitely needed to tell ROMEENA that I am praying for her and her ENTIRE family. You are all on my mind today. Sending warm and healing thoughts, too.

Sorry to be in and out, but I'll talk to you all soon! Have a great day everyone. OPIEMOM, sure hope you figure out what's crawling around inside your walls. Yuck. That would drive me nuts.

Hugs all around,

Merri Weather
October 05, 2007 - Msg 56703: Mice seek out three things in your house: food, water, and warmth. In my case, strategic places means places with one of those elements where I have seen evidence of mice in the past. If you haven't had mice before, I'd try under the stove, in the back of your pantry (if it's a closet type), and under the sink, or anywhere you see "evidence." You could stick a couple in the attic, too. But eventually, if it is mice, you will see signs! Whatever you do, don't use poison, especially this time of year. The last thing you want is a rodent dead inside your wall stinking up the place to weeks. Oh, and just a reminder that if you do set traps (the cheap ones work best) make sure you check them daily. IOne caution: try to figure out if you have a mouse or a rat. A mouse trap won't kill a rat, and usually vice-versa (too big).

Lunch anyone?

M-T