June 07, 2011 - Msg 84348: That is one good thing about living so far south, Hazel. You can grow something almost all the time. Of course it gets so darned hot here in the summer it takes alot of watering.

I'll check for Cheerwine at Cracker Barrel, G-F.

Better get to bed. I have to take dad to the cardiologist in the morning.

Boo
June 08, 2011 - Msg 84349: Looks like I'm the first one up this morning. Just trying to drink my coffee and plan my day. It's shaping up to be a hot one today, but nothing new for south texas. I am thinking I had better get my hurricane disaster plan ready for this year. The weather has been so extreme everywhere. If we have a hurricane, I'm outta here and probably heading west and away from the torandoes that hurricanes always spawn. Hurricanes i can run from, but not much warning with a tornado.

Time to end this cheerful discussion and get ready. Be back for lunch. I'll pick up some take-out from the chinese place in Mt. Pilot. Maybe SPOT can grab some Cheerwine from Wally's and meet us at Myer's Lake for a picnic.

Boo
June 08, 2011 - Msg 84350: Morning Boo. Morning Porch.
Sounds like evryone is hot from the knee's up. Our temp yesterday was 71 for a high. HA! Not trying to rub it in, but just weird how things can differ so. Been one of the coldest and wettest springs here I can remember.
Hazel, I agree. I'm envious to here about folks eating fresh maters now. The rule of thumb here, don't plant the tender plants till after Mothers day. Then come back and replant them the first of June cause most likely they got frozen. We had a pretty good frost on Monday morning here. My corn is in but I have not planted tomatoes yet. Not sure if I will this year now. Just been one of those weird years for us.
Boo and Possum, we do have some stores selling moon pies now. I love em. They have been sold here for years as "Litlle Debbies" pies. Very good stuff indeed.
MDC, Sounds like the fire is still going nuts on you guys. Hope and pray it rains for you.
Ro, what kind of roofs do your houses have? Asphalt shingle? Or some kind of tile? Must have been some big hail to damage it like you described.
One thing I am grateful about living surrounded by mountains, we don't as a rule get the tornados. Although Salt Lake had one about 10 years ago. An F3 I think. Very unusual though. Usually around late July and through August we will get some tropical moisture that comes up via MDC's way. That will give us afternoon thunder bumpers that can be intense. But usually our nemis, for me anyway, is the cold and snow. Guess we all have our weather issues huh?
Our air here is usually so dry in the summer, a lot of places use evaporative coolers, or swamp coolers as we call them, to cool buildings. Much cheaper to run than A/C units. In fact that's what I'm doing today at work. I have a half dozen big ones on the roof at work to prep for the summer, if we ever get one. So I am off. Hope you all have a gresat one.

Asa

P.S. Great story about Erin Boo. You have taught her well! :)
June 08, 2011 - Msg 84351:
Yes ASA, it is BAD! 400,000 acres and zero containment! We need prayer and rain, and then more prayer and more rain; and also for the winds to stop! Thanks,
MDC
June 08, 2011 - Msg 84352: Good morning, porch! It's already 84 here, at 10:30 in the morning. Will be in the high 90s by afternoon. I'm watering heavily, just to keep things from wilting. I dread seeing my water bill. It has been as high as $250 in the hottest part of the summer. Fortunately, my front yard is almost all shade, and a 3-times-a week watering is enough, except for one bed that I hand-water if it looks droopy. The back yard is another story. There are a couple of shady corners, but most of it gets at least a few hours of the blistering sun as some point during the day. Even the corners get dry though, because the shade is provided by a large tree that seems to pull the moisture out of the soil. Naturally, I have hydrangeas placed there (wouldn't you know?) and you know how much water they require, so I really have to water the back every day, unless it rains.

Hazel, thanks so much for your concern for our Brittney. Still no word on the biopsy. I just pray that it's not another melanoma.

I talked with my insur@nce agent today, looks like the most the roof damage can cost me is about $6000 - that's the total of the deductibles on the three houses. My realtor who manages the rentals says he has a roofer he has used for years, who somehow absorbs the deductible and the client doesn't have to pay it. Sounds too good to be true, so we'll see. At least I now have a target amount that I have to come up with. Guess I'll have to find those two guys Aunt Bee worked for and get them to do a print job for me, because I don't have that kind of money lying around.

Well, gotta run. I have an appointment with the cardiologist today, and have to work tonight, so off I go. Blessings, porch! --Romeena
June 08, 2011 - Msg 84353:
I suspect that the interloper knows us, because he/she knows that I was a teacher. But simple really, just plural, so "were."
JM- I thought it was a hitch in their "get-along." Love that line of Andy's! Glad it's back on, SPot probably sent it from Georgia!
Prayers,
MDC
June 08, 2011 - Msg 84354: Hey Y'all! MDC,after I posted that, I realized I should have used "were" but just wanted to pester you! LOL Yeah, I'm thinking we know the interloper too..

I'm surrounded by Cheerwine-wish I could hand it out to all of you-it's a big thing down here in the Carolinas. I don't recall ever trying it though! I stick with sweet iced tea- the House Wine of the South!

Continued prayers for Brittney, homemaker's nephew and all in need.

Y'all stay cool!

*******************
possum under a rock
June 08, 2011 - Msg 84355: Possum, would you help me out? being new to the porch,trying to figure out where everyone is from. Sort of helps out when we talk about regional things. As for me I'm from Ohio.

Goober-Fife
June 08, 2011 - Msg 84356: SORRY, WHERE'S MY MANNERS! THANKS!!
G-F
June 08, 2011 - Msg 84357:
Andy: Nice, green ink. (:
June 08, 2011 - Msg 84358: Afternoon porch, just taking a break from work and checking on everyone.

G-F, I am in Northeast TN, up in the far corner of the state. We are about 45 minutes or so from NC, 10-15 minutes from Southwest, VA almost 2 hours from Pigeon Forge/Gatlinburg/Dollywood.

Lets have an afternoon snack: popcicles! should cool everyone off from this heat. 90 degrees right now!

Gas prices on my end of the porch have gone up and down the past 2 days. One morning it was 3.33, by 5pm when I left to go home, it was 3.47, and the the next morning back down to $3.34 and this morning it was $3.31. I think they are throwing darts at a dart board and whatever they hit is what they put up on the sign!

Well, better get back to work.

Prayers and blessings to all.

Big Maude
June 08, 2011 - Msg 84359: G-F, I'm from south Texas, near Corpus Christi, right on the coast. I can walk to the water from here. Great if you like the smell of fish (which I don't). Let's see...I know Romeena is from the Dallas area, ASA is from Utah, MDC is from Arizona, and I can't remember the rest right now. I think I woke up too early and am about to fall asleep at the keyboard.

I spent nearly 2 hours waiting for the dr. to see Dad. He was only with us about 30 seconds. Hate having to do that! Dad gets uncomfortable sitting in the uncomfortable chairs in th exam rooms.

Still have not heard anything about mom's biopsy results but should this week.

Better go get some coffee or something...this is crazy.

Just so ya know...you are all invited for supper. The supper menu will be: fried chicken, roasted new potaoes from a local garden, sweet corn on the cob, fried fresh okra, sliced fresh tomatoes, and chocolate cake. No kidding, that's what I'm fixin' and can't forget about the southern house wine, as Possum calls it (sweet tea).

Boo
June 08, 2011 - Msg 84360: Oh, and some biscuits. I am cooking enough food to last all week.

Boo
June 08, 2011 - Msg 84361: Sure, Goober- Fife! Maude has told you about herself,and Boo filled you in on some of the others,so let's see who I can think of..
Rev & I are both from SC- I'm near Charleston,he's in the Upstate.Spot is from GA, not far from Atlanta & Lucy is also from Atlanta.
Who else is left? I think we've covered most of the regular Porchsters.
Let's all head over to Boo's for supper. If anyone shows up that we haven't mentioned,we'll have them tell Goober- Fife where they're from!
Oh yeah, Hazel is from Idaho, Rafe's from NC and auh2o from New York.
Are you writing this down, G-F? There might be a pop quiz later- ha ha!
Y'all have a good night!
*************
possum again
June 08, 2011 - Msg 84362: Good job, Possum.

Just got in and showered after doing some work in the back. Sean was stacking some scrap wood and those crazy goats put on one good show trying to knock each other off of it! Wish you all could have seen it. Great entertainment, goat fighting.

Boo
June 08, 2011 - Msg 84363: I forgot to mention yesterday that gas is $3.79 a ding here. It really makes you learn to plan your trips. If we have to go into town(Boise) on the weekend, then we make sure we get everything done we need to do, because we need to save gas, and we're not going to go in again unless we have to.
- Hazel

"Sometimes she'll tell you an "F", when you really got yerself an "E".

June 08, 2011 - Msg 84364: Thanks All!It helps knowing where every one is from,sort of like the Cheerwine thing, if I hadn't gone to NC & SC I would not have known about it either.
It's good to know where their from cause they might be from somwheres else. Like across the big pond!

Goober-Fife


June 09, 2011 - Msg 84365: Good evening, porch. I'm writing from work, because I have such wonderful news, and want to share it. I talked with my son a little while ago, and they have gotten the word back on his wife's biopsy. The lesion on her shoulder was indeed a cancer, but it was a basal cell carcinoma, not the melanoma they were fearing it was. Thank God! And thank all of you for praying for her. They will do a deep excision of the lesion, and that will probably take care of it. Basal cell carcinomas are highly curable - just remove 'em! Melanoma is another story, and I'm soooo glad it wasn't that. OK - gotta run, patients are calling, but wanted to let you know. Blessings! --Romeena
June 09, 2011 - Msg 84366: ROMEENA..great news on the DIL..prayers for all porchsters in need .Gonna be 95 here in western N.C. today ,that is plain HOT .Have a great Mayberry kind of day
MAYBERRY DEPUTY
June 09, 2011 - Msg 84367: Yay! Great news, Ro!
- Hazel
June 09, 2011 - Msg 84368: Good Morning Porch, and good news Romeena. That is wonderful news indeed. Thank you Lord for that blessing.

Hazel, I know what you mean about planning trips. I live kind of out in the boonies as it were, so I have always tried to be mindful of trip planning anyway. But now more than ever. Not only in planning trips but how I drive also. I try to keep my engine rpm down below 2,000 or 2,500 whenever I can. I have found that really increases my gas mileage. It also means if I'm at a red light that turns green I don't slam the gas pedal down. I just try to accelerate at a much slower pace to keep the rpm's down as the tranny shifts through it's gears. I guess some would call it driving like a granny, but it really helps the mileage, and amazingly most times the cars that go racing by me I will pull up to at the next red light where they are waiting. Then the whole process repeats itself. Kinda funny really. I've timed myself and found there to be no real difference in time getting from point a to point b, and that my nerves are much calmer. I'm not saying I'm Mrs. Lesh and pulling the car over every 20 minutes to give it a rest, but I'm not a Gilly Walker either, speed, speed, speed.

Goat fighting Boo? Sounds like fun. I have been cutting some hay the last week or so and have been watching a hawk, who has been watching me very closely. I must be stiriing up some field mice because he will swoop dowm on occasion and pick up some lunch. Really quite amazing to watch. Gives me something to do after endless hours on the tractor.

Well another cool and wet one here today. 62 is our predicted high as yet another storm rolls in. I declare, I don't know what we are going to do with all this water. Most of our local rivers are already at or above flood stage, and we are just starting the run-off. Oh well. It is what it is.

Y'all have a great day.

Asa
June 09, 2011 - Msg 84369: Morning porch, just stopping by for a check point chickie this morning. another warm one on my end of the porch today. Our grass is turing brown and crunches when you walk on it. Hard to believe we are already drying out this early in June.

Good news Ro! so glad to hear things are not as feared.

better get on around the porch and make it to work.

Lunch menu will be: subway sandwhiches, chip, cookies and cold drinks of your choice. It's too hot to cook and too hot to eat hot food so we'll just sit in the air conditioning and eat our cold food!

Prayers and blessings to all.
Big Maude
June 09, 2011 - Msg 84370: Whoo hoo, Ro!! Great news on Brittney!

Thanks for lunch, Maudie but what's for breakfast?

How about we all head over to I- Hop for some pancakes. I'll send spot by to pick everybody up in his truck.

See ya later!

**************8****
possum under a rock
June 09, 2011 - Msg 84371: 8 ?

possum again
June 09, 2011 - Msg 84372: Morning all! Wishing Everyone a great Mayberry kind of day!
Benny
June 09, 2011 - Msg 84373: G'morning, Benny, and everyone else. I'm home from work, have been outside, pond filter is now clean and the water is very clear. I even pulled a few weeds and tied up some drooping stargazer lilies. Fish are doing well, and I haven't lost any since I put up the water-spitting scarecrow. Oh, did I tell you I also blew $3 on an inflatable snake? Looks like a python, about six feet long, about as thick as my arm, and is curved in a zigzag shape like snakes often do. I put him on the ground so he's between the spot where that miserable bird always lands, and the pond. Well, old Mr. Egret sailed in here a few days ago, veered off at the last minute and landed several feet from his usual spot, eyeing that snake very carefully. He took a step or two toward the pond, then gave up and flew away! Wouldn't it be a hoot if that $3 snake was all I needed, instead of spending more than I care to admit for the scarecrow, plus a 75 ft. garden hose. I'm taking no chances, though. The scarecrow will remain operational.

I am so thrilled and excited about Brittney's good news, and thank all of you so much for your gracious response, and sharing in my joy. You're the cats!

Well, my grand-nephew was chosen and called by the Texas Rangers, but he was very far down in the draft lineup. He's not sure if he'll take it, they need to sit down with the Rangers and see what the solid monetary signup offer will be. The kid is just 18, and has a full scholarship to OSU. Here's a link: http://www.mlive.com/sports/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2011/06/gull_lake_senior_zach_fish_dra.html. Just check that out if you wish, no need in me rattling on about it when you can read the full story here. I guess at this point, there really isn't a bad choice to be made. Either way, he's got a good future.

Well, guess I'll go lie down for a while. I have a dental appointment this afternoon, and if I don't get a nap after working all night, I'll fall asleep in the chair! As gentle as my dentist is, that might really be possible. Blessings, everyone! --Romeena


June 09, 2011 - Msg 84374:
Hey to MD!!! Good to see ya.
Maude has been out on Hiway 6 again! (:
Hey folks, we really need your prayers here in AZ.
The fire is now almost 500,000 acres and the towns of Springerville and Eagar have been evacuated. It is such a shame to see all that beautiful ponderosa going up in smoke! I COULD say something political here about the enviro crazies, but I won't! Just a Grrr should suffice.
But please pray for the winds to stop and for rain to fall! thanks.
Oh, great news RO!
G'day,
MDC
June 09, 2011 - Msg 84375: Sincere prayers for Arizona and all in the path of the fires - humans, animals, natural resources and property. Such a great loss. MDC, how quickly do the forests regenerate, or DO they? I know that in some forested areas, the fires help, because they clear dead and diseased old growth and make room for fresh new trees, but I don't know if such is true in the type of forestation you have in your area.

Just got home from the dentist, got my new crown in place. Looks better than the old filled tooth, and feels wonderful. I think I have the best dentist in the world. He has taken care of my teeth for 32 years, never causes me pain, and his work holds up. Besides that, he's just a really nice guy.

Well, I'm pooped. Never went to bed when I got home from work, just dozed in my chair for a little while, and I'm feeling it now. This old body gets sore and issues protests when I get too tired, and I'm about to get there right now. Time for some rest. Blessings, all. --Romeena
June 09, 2011 - Msg 84376: Oh Romeena, I am so happy I am crying! This is a good, good day! Such a relief. Bet Eloise is on cloud nine, bless her heart.

Wanna visit more but a few things to do...be back later.

Boo
June 09, 2011 - Msg 84377: Thanks, Boo. As you might imagine, there have been a few tears around here, too. Yes, Eloise is overjoyed, as you would imagine. God is good.

Blessings, friends. --Romeena
June 09, 2011 - Msg 84378: Yes, He is and will always be.

I took the kids on a day trip to the lake and had such a wonderful time. We went to a very nice park with a swimming area for kids. I actually got in the water with them a couple of times to get cooled off but mostly I sat under the big shade trees and enjoyed the beauty of nature. Hope you all had a nice summer's day.

Think I will turn and do a little reading.

Goodnight, Mayberry.

Boo
June 10, 2011 - Msg 84379: Ok gang ...where are we eating b-fast?...SPOT
June 10, 2011 - Msg 84380: Morning porch, just letting everybody know breakfast is at Shoney's this morning. come early and eat til your full.

Prayers and blessings to all.
Big Maude
June 10, 2011 - Msg 84381: Shoney's? We haven't seen a Shoney's around these parts in years. They closed em all up. Thought they had gone under. I guess just around here. Well thanks Maude. I could use a bit of breakfast.

Glad you got a little fun time with your young-uns Boo. Did you teach them all about pioneer moxie? About how a fire started by constriction always burn hotter than a fire started by a match, so your food always cooks quicker? Did you teach them all about web footed, red breasted lake loons, and how they will always take you to water? Good old pioneer moxie. Every kid should develop it! :)

MDC, Prayers continue for that raging inferno down there. My goodness, such a fire so early in the season. Terrible.

Well better get going. Lots to do.

Asa
June 10, 2011 - Msg 84382: Our Shoneys are gone, too, Asa.

Gosh, wish i had thought of teaching all those things to the kids yesterday? Where was my head?! Well, there is always next time. ;)

Boo
June 10, 2011 - Msg 84383: Good morning all! Since most of the Shoney's are gone I guess we can all meet at the Diner. Flora said the pancakes were light as a feather as well as the biscuits and gravy being fab! Goober already has his place at the counter! See you there!
Benny
June 10, 2011 - Msg 84384:
Hi gang, just checking in. Fire still growing,
but now about 7% contained. Lord be with us.
MDC
June 10, 2011 - Msg 84385: Well, I'll go to Shoney's with Maudie- lots of them still around here in the South.

Prayers for y'all out in AZ, MDC.

Gotta scoot- getting a visit from Miss Laci & her mom in a few minutes.
Y'all have a great afternoon!

*******************
possum under a rock
June 10, 2011 - Msg 84386: Shoney's? Ours are gone too, here in the Dallas area. Such a shame, their breakfast buffet was really good!

Got my hair cut (about time!) then picked up some really good soft tacos from a place that makes 'em like in old Mexico, but without Montezuma's revenge in them. Sooo good! I took a bunch of them over to Eloise's and she and her sitter-friend, Michelle and I enjoyed them. Jerry was there too, and he made a pan of good nachos, so all together, we had plenty of food and it was delish!

When the shampoo girl started to wash my hair prior to the haircut, she asked me what on earth I had gotten in my hair! I didn't know, so she got a mirror and showed me. The whole crown of my head was bright orange/gold, hair and all. After four shampoos, most of it came out, but not all. It was pollen! I had been tying up some stargazer lilies that were so tall they were falling over - at least six feet tall - and evidently one or more of them had brushed across the top of my head in the process. That pollen stains terribly! I ruined a shirt last year - the stuff didn't even come out with bleach. So I guess what didn't come out of my hair will just have to grow out. Oh well.

Gotta run. I left a bunch of groceries in the car, but was so hot and tired I wanted to sit down and cool off before unloading them. Better get to it, though, before the cold things get warm. Blessings, friends! --Romeena
June 10, 2011 - Msg 84387: Romeena, with all that pollen in your hair it must have attracetd the bee's! Then we would have to call you Aunt Bee? I'm Funny? Funny like a clown? should be in the circus? I have Been teaching the grandkiders funny, They say Papa knows funny! But they say Grandma does'nt know funny. We are working on her......

Goober-Fife
June 10, 2011 - Msg 84388: Maybe "Head Goober" Jim Clark & Ken Beck could write a self-help book on "How to Mayberryize friends family & co-workers"?would be a best seller!

Just a thought!...................G-F
June 10, 2011 - Msg 84389:
hEY TO ALL
June 10, 2011 - Msg 84390: Ro, I looked at the link you posted about Zach. Sure hope all his dreams come true. He seems like a great kid.

Good day today. Hot but not terrible...lovely evening, really. Hope you all have a wonderful Friday evening. See tomorrow with my coffee. I'll bring a thermos for anyone who wants to join me.

Boo
June 11, 2011 - Msg 84391: Morning, Dear.
-Hazel
June 11, 2011 - Msg 84392: Morning, honey! --Romeena
June 11, 2011 - Msg 84393: hot hot.
the rain last night just may it hot.
TOM

June 11, 2011 - Msg 84394: It's hot here too, Tom. It's 97 degrees, at 7:32 p.m. We've had no rain, it's very dry, and the 3-times-a-week watering schedule I've programmed just isn't cutting it. I'm having to supplement some areas between-times. Thank goodness for my little remote thingy. Joe was so kind when he gave me that device.

I thought I was going to just melt away when I was out cleaning the pond filter about an hour ago. So hot, and so humid. I stepped out the back door and the heat was like a wall. Before I traveled the thirty feet to the faucet to turn on the hose, I was sweating. The modifications I've made out there have reduced the cleaning to every other day, instead of every day, so that helps. Some time in the next few weeks, I'm having the people from the Water Gardens store come over and critique what I've got set up, and probably will hire them to completely clean the pond. This will involve removing the fish to a holding tank, completely draining the pond and scrubbing the liner down, and removing all the muck from the bottom. Then they'll reposition the plants and refill the pond. Then the fish will be slowly re-introduced. This involves dipping some of the new water into their holding tank, wait, add a bit more, wait, etc. This lets them get used to the change in water gradually. Otherwise, the shock could be harmful, even fatal to them. I sure don't want to lose any of them! So far, my $3 snake is working! The bird hasn't been back. I think he's not willing to challenge what looks to him like a real python. Miserable fish thief!

Well, guess I'll go hunt up something for supper. Something light, it's too hot to eat very much. Blessings, friends! --Romeena
June 11, 2011 - Msg 84395: Glad your 3 dollar snake is working, Ro.

It was got here too today but not as hot as your area. Been a busy day, too. A friend of Bruce's gave him a tiller for his tractor and we had to drive a ways to pick it up. We are getting that garden area ready and will start tilling in the compost next week and getting that well dug (well, WE won't be digging it, of course...that would be hard work!).

Had to go through boxes in the garage today to get ready for next weekend's garage sale. Priced a good bit of it but will be working on it all week. I really hate doing garage sales but they ae a big deal in my area and a good turn out is certain.

I thought of ASA yesterday when one of my neighbor's brought me some homegrown maters. Oh my, they were good. Wish I coulda shared it with him.

Bought a neat book on canning put out by the "Ball" company that make the canning jars. I think it contains everything imaginable concerning all things canned. I can't wait to try out some of the recipes. Do any of you do any home canning. I have only canned strawberry preserves and apple jelly in the past but want to try veggies. I will have to get a pressure canner at some point.

Better go check on Erin. She needs to get to bed so she can stay awake for sunday school!

Boo
June 12, 2011 - Msg 84396: Good morning, friends! Beautiful Sabbath day here in the Dallas area. Sunny and warm, going to be very hot later on today, just 79 right now. I wish it would stay right there, but it won't.

Gotta run, don't want to be late for preaching. I think I'll wear my dangly earrings - what do you think? --Romeena
June 12, 2011 - Msg 84397: Mornin' Y'all! Hot? Come spend a few days down here in SC, and you'll know hot! LOL Our summers are just awful!!

Miss Laci will be spending a few days with me and ope I can keep her happy in the house-she loves it outdoors,but like I said- it's hot!

I need to have a yard sale,but again, it's too hot!

Boy, I sound like a broken record-LOL

Well, let's go to Cracker Barrel for a nice Sunday breakfast-yeah, I know it's HOT, but I'm hungry!
*******************
possum under a rock
June 12, 2011 - Msg 84398: That's "hope", not ope..

possum again
June 12, 2011 - Msg 84399: Is it hot, Possum?...Are you SURE?...hehe

Cracker Barrel sounds good but gotta get ready for preachin'. I already had me some toast with blackberry jam...goooood.

Wear the dangly earrings, Ro, and I'll wear mine.

Boo
June 12, 2011 - Msg 84400: Thanks for b-fast possum...Race Fans its fixing to start!Pocono!...lets order Pizza and Wings.....Rev you in town?....Mavis?....SPOT
June 12, 2011 - Msg 84401: Good Sabbath everyone, back from sunday school and church and staying inside where it is cool. Hot and humid on my end of the porch today, weather people are saying possible rain and storms later. I am not crazy about the storm part but some rain would be good.

We have had a lazy restful week end on my end of the porch. Stayed home all day yesterday, did a few chores but did not go off the place. Felt pretty good to just stay home for a change.

I am fixing pulled BBQ pork in the crock pot, SLAW and french fries for supper. Mr. Maude will be home from work about 6pm so ya'll come on over and have dinner with us.

have a blessed afternoon. Prayers all around.

Big Maude
June 12, 2011 - Msg 84402: Glad you have had a restful weekend, Maude. Been a fairly busy one for us but that's nothing new. Can't complain, though.

Guess everyone else is off enjoying their sunday.

Boo
June 13, 2011 - Msg 84403:
Evening all. 103 here today. In the northeast of our state the fire continues, but I gotta say that those firefighters did a SUPER job of saving two small towns!! Near calm conditions yesterday and proper bulldozer breaks, and backfires worked perfectly! So sad to see the trees burn however.
RO-This may tell you something...years ago the Indian Res up there told the envirowhatevers to take a flyin' you-know-what, and said "we ARE gonna thin and we ARE gonna control burn, and guess what, when the fire reached the rez, it was easily stopped, but the whole rest is still burning! When you hear 7 percent contained, it is on the REZ border! I'm just sayin'.
Well, prayers continue for all! Love ya.
God bless our troops!
MDC
June 13, 2011 - Msg 84404: That doesn't surprise me, MDC. If you want to know how to do something successfully, just check out the policies of someone who has a proven track record. The Native Americans had done a pretty good job of living in this country without depleting resources, decimating animal populations, polluting the air and the water and land, etc. Granted, their numbers were extremely small by comparison, and technology consisted of flint arrow points, but still, as you said - I'm just sayin.... I guess I'll never forget that old clip that used to run on TV - an old Indian man (I believe it was Iron Eyes Cody) paddling along in a canoe, looking at the trash floating in the water and the nasty-looking stuff draining into it. He just raised his face heavenward, and a single tear ran down his wrinkled cheek. It spoke volumes.

The fact is, the "white man" for lack of a better identifier, has been a terrible steward of natural resources. Here in Texas, some years back, at the urging of short-sighted ranchers, a big coyote-eradication program was begun. They were poisoned, shot from planes, trapped, bounty on them, whatever. Well, they just about got rid of the coyotes in southwest Texas, and the ranchers were happy because now there were no predators after the calves. Guess what? No predators after the rabbits, mice, ground squirrels, and other assorted rodents either. So what happened? The rodents stripped the land of grass and the seeds and grains it produced, and the ranchers had to start feeding their cattle, at great expense because the grazing was so poor. They stopped the coyote eradication, the coyotes gradually returned, and the grazing land improved dramatically. You just can't mess with the balance of things.

We would no longer have any eagles as our national bird and symbol, if someone hadn't finally figured out that DDT was killing them. Not directly, of course. It got into the food chain, and while it didn't kill the eagles outright, it caused their eggshells to be so thin that they couldn't contain the developing chicks and would break prematurely. No little eaglets, eventually no eagles! They were on the endangered species list for a while, but have now made a great recovery since DDT is no longer legally in use here. It is, however, still widely used in Mexico, which could possibly explain a lot.

This I know - I use no chemicals, no pesticides or chemical fertilizers, and I'll stack my yard up against anything on this street, with the exception of another all-organic yard down the street, which is beautiful. I have no ants, including fire ants. The soil is full of earthworms, because I haven't poisoned them with pesticides and because there's plenty of natural, organic material to feed them. I have very few weeds in the lawn, and I pull them if one really catches my attention, but mostly, they just get mowed and eventually give up. I do fight them to some extent in the flowerbeds, but I pull most of them by hand. The one exception is nutgrass, which cannot be safely pulled, it just spreads it. I do put Roundup on that, but it's done very carefully, selectively, usually painted on the visible blades. Since it works by absorption into the plant and kills that nut/root, it doesn't get into the soil. For larger areas of weed infestation, such as clover or chickweed, I use horticultural vinegar. It's slower, but it works, and if it gets into the soil it's harmless. Then dry molasses three or four times a year, and corn gluten meal at least twice a year, and it really pays off.

Boo, dry molasses is something you might want to explore for your garden area. I'm not sure how it works in a vegetable area, but I can't see how it could hurt. It's a great natural fertilizer, and encourages healthy microbial activity in the soil. By the way, do you have many rabbits? If so, you may have to consider a rabbit-proof fence. Also, your dogs may decide to become vegetarians. I had a spaniel that just looooved tomatoes! As soon as one broke color, she would sneak into the garden and eat that 'mater! We had to fence her out of the garden, the little rascal.

Well, I'm off to bed. Blessings, porch! --Romeena
June 13, 2011 - Msg 84405: Good morning Porch. Is it really Monday??? Already? Good grief the weekend just flew by.
Hope all are well and dandy this morning.

That is very interesting MDC. Not suprizing though.

Gotta get. Busy day again.
Prayers for all.

Asa
June 13, 2011 - Msg 84406: Ro, we have certainly considered that our two lug heads might get into the garden and dig up or eat things so I am sure we will have to put up some sort of fence. I never see rabbits out here but I'm sure there are some out there. The lady across the street tells me she really hasn't had a problem with them. Racoons try to come around but they eat her dogfood, not her veggies.

We have already decided to till some dried molasses into the soil because of the abundance of ants around here.

My allergies are going crazy this morning for some reason. Better go for now. I'll be back later. :)

Boo
June 13, 2011 - Msg 84407: Monday again porch family, at least they keep coming around.

a beautiful morning on my end of the porch, cooler weather coming our way, supposed to only be in the 80's today.

Critters will certainly do a number on flowers and gardens here in Northeast, Tn as well. Deer are all over the place and will eat about anything planted unless you have a pretty high fence or deterent of some kind around your property. My Mom has a major problem with skunks. She has trapped about 22 over the past 2 summers. She calls the animal control officer for her county, who comes and takes them away. I keep telling her he is probably taking theh skunk down the street and letting him go, so she is just catching the same one over and over again. :). She and her neighbor trapped an albino skunk last year. Her neighbors call her the skunk lady.

well better get to work, have a blessed day to day. Prayers all around.

Big Maude

oh and lunch will be: bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwhiches (cheese if you want). chips, sweet tea or lemonade to drink. Mr. cookie bar for dessert.

June 13, 2011 - Msg 84408:
WOW, 22 skunks! Kinda like in the honey and dear ep "I'd rather be called skunkface than good morning like THAT!" Love that line! (:
Happy monday to all.
MDC

June 13, 2011 - Msg 84409: Hi All.
Just a nice day cooldown just going to be about 78 drg.
Had to take stepdad to the hosp yestrday , he say that he was not feeling and that his back and in a little plan.
Keep him there all night to due test what right not showing a thing wrong!

Tom
June 13, 2011 - Msg 84410: I have a Peppie LaPue problem too, he comes to visit now and then, just to make Mrs.Goober mad!So she has to shut the windows.
Goober-Fife.....
June 13, 2011 - Msg 84411: Good afternoon, porch! I just got home from going to lunch and a little shopping with Eloise and her "sitter", Michelle. We loaded Eloise and her walker into the car and I drove out to Charming Charlie's, where we shopped for some bling. Costume bling, but bling nevertheless. I got me some more dangly earrings! We had lunch at Snuffers - good place to eat. I let Eloise and Michelle out at the door, and parked the car around the corner. Walking back, as I turned the corner I was attacked by about four big old boat-tailed starlings! I don't know if they were defending a nest or what, but it was male birds, and they were attacking everyone that walked by. Let me tell you, when one of those rascals slams you in the back of the head, it feels like a brick. They're big! I had no idea they'd do anything like that, but they sure did. A few feet farther down the sidewalk I saw a dead fledgling starling. It was too young to have been part of the mob, so that ruled out someone hitting back and killing it. The only thing I can figure out is that it fell from a nest or something, and the adult birds thought they were protecting it. Too late, it was very dead. Can't blame them for their actions, I guess, but after getting hit for about the tenth time, I was getting enough of it. Should have had an umbrella. No harm done, no broken skin, but not because they weren't trying!

Skunks, huh? We used to have a family of skunks around here, but I haven't seen them in several years. The little ones sure were cute, though. Stinky, but cute.

Tom, I hope your stepdad is okay. Keep us posted on how he's doing, please.

Boo, you'll be glad you put the dry molasses out. I don't till it in around here, we just spread it with a fertilizer spreader, but since you'll be tilling up your garden patch anyway, I think tilling it in is probably a very good idea. Then just spread it over the rest of the land. It sure does improve things. Of course spreading it over that much land would get expensive, but at least in the part around the house. If you're still having a problem with stickers, consider contacting the county extension agent to see what they recommend. There are products that will kill them, but they're toxic, and can get into the ground water. Actually, I'm guessing the goats will help you to get rid of the stickers. You really do want to eliminate the ants, though. Be aware that if you should have any little chicks or ducklings, or even possibly small mammals born on the property, fire ants will get on them and kill them. Miserable, useless things - they're predatory!

Well, I need to go cuddle little Starr. She was very upset when I left her this morning, and hasn't had a good cuddle since I got home, so it's about time. Loving little old thing. Blessings, friends! --Romeena
June 13, 2011 - Msg 84412:
Hello my porch family......got home early this morning for a couple of days before heading back out. When I leave this week I'll be gone on the road till August.
Praying that you all are doing great. Sure been missing you folks but the internet was very bad where I've been. When I leave here hope to be able to keep in touch a little better.

Wow Possum....you sure let it get hot here in SC.
Will be in Louisiana next week and boy will it be hot there.

Well I better try and catch up on the post to see what's been going on.

Love and prayers for all!
-REV.
June 13, 2011 - Msg 84413:
Ro....Jake went nuts when I walked in this morning after being gone for three weeks. Nancy said he heard the motorhome drive in and took off running to the door justa barking. I got all kinds of puppy kisses...lol

-REV.
June 13, 2011 - Msg 84414: Welcome home Rev!..hey asa,possum,Ro,Tom,auh20,MDC,Boo and all my friends...well SC is hot and Ga is too!..garden doing well with my help watering...Maude thanks for lunch...did anybody cook supper?..if so send me a plate here at work please...prayers to all and lt me get to answering this phone(ring,ring)....SPOT
June 14, 2011 - Msg 84415: Good evening, porch! Spot, I ate leftovers from lunch myself, so don't have a thing I could share. I could scramble up some eggs and make you some toast, if that would help.

REV, I'm glad you're home safely, and I'll bet Nancy was pretty happy to see you too. As for little Jake, doesn't that just warm your heart? The little pups are so enthusiastic, so wide-open in their joy to see you - what an ego trip! Poor little guy, he's going to be miserable when you leave again, especially with you being gone for nearly two months. You're a true servant of the Lord, to sacrifice your time and your home life that way. I can't help but recall the old war-time slogan - "They also serve who only stand and wait." Nancy is serving the Lord too, on the home front, and in my opinion, so is little Jake. He keeps Nancy company, and he refreshes your spirit when you get home - that has God's fingerprints all over it.

Ooops! I just read back over my bird-attack story up there, and realized I said they were boat-tailed starlings. Make that boat-tailed grackles! Big difference, very big difference. A grackle is at least twice the size of a starling. The boat-tail thing probably tipped most of you off that I had made an error, though. Starlings have a little stubby tail. It's the male grackles that have the long, V-shaped tail feathers, like the keel of a boat. Annoying, messy things. They steal dog food from my neighbor's yard and bring it over here and drop it in the birdbath to soften it. In 24 hours, that birdbath is a stinky, slimy mess. I have to wash it out every single day. Newcomers to the local mob will also try to dunk it in the fountain that drains into the pond, but they soon learn not to do that, as they watch their prize follow the flow into the pond, where they have no hope of retrieving it. Those failed attempts don't help me any in trying to keep the pond clear. I do wish they'd go away. I feed the birds, but I'm aiming at the songbirds. Grackles just get a free ride, like starlings.

Well, guess I'll mosey on over to the ironing board. Time to turn in. Blessings, porch! --Romeena
June 14, 2011 - Msg 84416: GOOD MORNING PORCH!!..well I hopw everyone has a blessed mayberry day...for me its home at 6am and back at 2pm!...b-fast will be at I-Hop on Boo and I...meet at 7:30!....SPOT
June 14, 2011 - Msg 84417: Morning Porch folks! MMMMMM smellin good out of Aunt Bea's kitchen this morning! Hope everyone has a great Mayberry day. Prayers goin up for all those folks who need it.
Benny
June 14, 2011 - Msg 84418: Hi All.
Stepdad is doing fine can not fine out why he is having plain all the time in his back and all the test come back o k,
He may come home sometime today!

TOM :)

June 14, 2011 - Msg 84419:
Morning all- hey to REV. Glad all went well.
This Sat. is my Cecile and I celebrate our 35th Anniversary! I married "up" folks, that's the only reason I can figure out that it's lasted this long! haha Maybe I'll take her out to Morelli's!
Well, in the words of my favorite, tootsie-pop cop... chow baby! (:
MDC
June 14, 2011 - Msg 84420:
Great news Tom!- mdc
June 14, 2011 - Msg 84421: Lunch?....SPOT
June 14, 2011 - Msg 84422: Hi, porch. Just came in from the yard, dripping wet and not from the sprinkler. It's only 90 out there, but whoever said "it's not the heat, it's the humidity" said a mouthful. You can practically drink the air with a straw. Very still, no breeze. I hope it's working on a thunderstorm, but the weatherman says not. Oh well.

Had to net a dead bird out of the pond. Occasionally a young one will try to land on one of the lily pads, and it won't support his weight. Apparently birds don't swim very well! Fortunately, this doesn't happen often - once or twice a summer. I hate it, but it happens.

Spot, it doesn't sound as though you're getting much rest. I hope you've got a few days off in the very near future.

MDC, congrats on your 35th anniversary. What a blessing that is. Dale and I made it to 38, and would have celebrated our 53rd last March if he had lived. I sure do miss that guy!

Tom, I don't mean to sound unsympathetic toward your stepdad, but at his age, sometimes things just hurt. At least that's what they tell me when I have back pain, which is almost all of the time. We've tried all sorts of remedies and procedures, and what most of the docs say is just "Well, you've got arthritis in your spine, and there's really not a whole lot we can do about it." Basically - just go home and put up with it. So I do. I don't know the degree of your stepdad's pain, no one knows that but him, but on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being unbearable pain, mine sometimes gets to 6 or 7. At that point, all I can do is go lie down and it gradually eases off. Sometimes getting old is no fun, but I do recommend it over the alternative!

Well, time for some lunch, then a little nap before going to work tonight. Poor little Toye Starr, she's going to be upset, but I can't help it. Bills keep a-comin', and I keep a-workin'. So be it. Blessings, friends. --Romeena
June 14, 2011 - Msg 84423: Oh, Spot. I've got just enough fixin's for two roast beef sandwiches. Come on over, and I'll make you one. --Romeena
June 14, 2011 - Msg 84424: Good afternoon porch, a quick rock from work today.

Welcome home Rev, glad your back safe and sound. Enjoy your time home with your family before you head out again.

Congrats to MDC and Cecile. Thanks for the good example.

Tom: Good news about your Step Dad.

I missed lunch and breakfast today, sorry about that. Not sure where I was though.

Dinner menu will be: grilled steaks or chicken, fresh salad, baked potatoes with butter,sour cream, chives. fresh apple cake for dessert. coffee, tea or lemonade to drink. see you at 6pm.

back to work I go.

Big Maude
June 14, 2011 - Msg 84425: Hello you TAGSRWC members!!! I haven't been here in Mayberry for (literally) years. Good to see you are all still here in my home town. Stumbled across the website again today.
AuntBee1957
Ripon, CA (The Mayberry of the West Coast)
June 14, 2011 - Msg 84426: Evenin' Y'all- Ok, Rev, I'll take the rap for the hot Carolina weather,but ya ain't sticking me with Louisiana- LOL Hopefully it will cool off here and there,though we know better,right?

Well, gonna just rock for a short spell- I've had Miss Laci AKA " The Rooster" with me the past few days and I'm plumb wore out.Yep, got my very own little rooster who is up & crowing before the crack of dawn when she's here with me!
Y'all have a good evening!
*******************
possum under a rock