October 13, 2011 - Msg 85903:
RO- do you ever go to the TX State Fain in Dallas? I heard it was in town. Ours starts this weekend, and we usually go just to eat the latest fried foods, and then wash it all down with a fish oil and garlique chaser! ha
ASA, boo, auh20, I'm gathering some info to contribute to the discussion. Will post it as soon as I get Madeline Grayson out of the big house with the baby grand! I know, it makes no sense to me either!! haha
MDC
October 13, 2011 - Msg 85904:
Fain? Fain a fair? of course i meant faiR !!
October 13, 2011 - Msg 85905: AND>>>SWISH!!
October 13, 2011 - Msg 85906:
Hey Folks

Romeena-My goodness, your yard sounds nice.

MDC-We have to have our fairs in the summer on this end of the Porch. I guess they're afraid of being snowed out in the fall. I would love having them this time of year.

I don't know if anyone would be interested but I'm posting/blogging some pictures of our area for family in Florida to see. They have headed back south until next summer and until then they wanted to some pics of the hometown, just to feel connected. The blogging is only pictures so no one will be ambushed will my political drivel.
http://wnyhayseed.blogspot.com/

Peace,
auh2o
October 13, 2011 - Msg 85907: Nice pic's auh2o! Ohio is not that colorful this year.... Possum, you ready to feed all the porchsters @ C B yet? we're a hungry bunch of buzzards especially SPOT! Just make sure they have ALOT of sweet tea & Cheerwine on hand! Make sure "Larry the Cable Guy" (That's what we call him @ our C B )he's the one that locks up the rockers at closing time, and tells us to "GO HOME"! Does't kick us out to soon haha...
MDC..I useta watch The Red Green Show until our PBS station yanked it! I guess the Program Directors don't know funny..ya think?? that's his sin to make mends for..
TOM if your out there I'm going to Goulardi Fest this weekend in Parma I'll tell Big Chuck and Hoolihan you said hey!.....Goober-Fife....

October 14, 2011 - Msg 85908: Good evening, porch. Kinda late, but I have to work tomorrow night, so am staying up late and will sleep as late as I can in the morning - makes the turn-around a bit easier.

I'm having some issues with this left hand, the one I had the carpal tunnel surgery on a month or so ago. Having more pain in it now than I did before surgery! Actually, it's more like soreness, rather than pain. It used to wake me up, aching and tingling. It doesn't do that anymore, in fact it's fine unless I'm using it. Then there are very sharp, burning pains in it, and I don't have much strength in it. When I had the right one done a few years ago, I had absolutely no trouble with it at all, but of course, each surgery is different. I guess it will be okay, I'm probably trying to do too much.

auh20, my yard is pretty, if I can be permitted to say so myself. I'm not so much boasting, as giving thanks. God provided me with Joe, my landscaper friend, who has designed and constructed all the beds and pathways, and the little pond, and charges me very fairly - nowhere near what I'd have to pay if I just called someone out of the book. Joe is pretty proud of what we've done here, I guess, because he brings prospective clients over here now and then, to see what he can do. Of course, he has my permission to do that. As I've said before here on the porch, God has given me a lot of trusted friends that help me maintain this house and yard. It's more than I can do alone, but I have Joe and Ted, and Eddie, who mows and keeps the yard, and all of whom I trust completely. Joe and Ted even have the codes to get in when I'm not here. The yard is a lot of work, and there's no way I could do it alone, but with good help, it looks nice and is a pleasure to me. My big old window looks out over the whole back yard, and you would be amazed at the things I've seen, and what I've learned, just by observation.

We're about to put in one more flowerbed, and then there will be no more, because I'm out of room! As Joe said, "You're out of dirt, you're just going to have to move." There's space for one more bed though, and we're going to build it next week. It will be a long, narrow, curved bed - the curve will echo the curve of the pathway, but the bed will be several feet out into the yard. We'll put a pretty boulder somewhere in it, to "anchor" it, as Joe says, and it will be more or less dedicated to bulbs. Right after Christmas, I'll plant it full of tulip bulbs, and maybe some hyacinths. I'll put a few daffodils in as well, and let them multiply. It will be a good place to put amaryllis bulbs when they finish blooming, and I'll probably move some surprise lilies from the front yard and stash them there. After the bulbs finish in late spring, I'll over-plant with seasonal color - dianthus, snaps, petunias and such. Should be nice, and will be fully visible from my kitchen. I'll see most of it from my big window as well, but there is a tree that will block part of it. Not a problem, I love that old tree.

The tree is a cottonwood, and my oldest son and I planted it in 1974. We rescued it out of a bar ditch, just ahead of a mower that was coming its way. We quickly dug it up with our bare hands and brought it home, dug the hole we planted it in with a hand spade, and staked its little trunk with string and popsicle sticks. It was about three feet tall, and had such a pretty shape, I just couldn't stand to see it mowed down. Anyway, it lived and prospered, and is now at least two feet in diameter, is about fifty feet tall, and shades most of the back of the house. A tire swing hangs from it, used by my own kids and now my grandkids. So I don't mind if it blocks my view a little bit.

Good grief, I've written a book! I'm sorry, folks. Blessings! --Romeena
October 14, 2011 - Msg 85909: Beautiful pictures, Auh2o...all I can say is that you would hate it here. :( No changing leaves and not much green right now...and flat as a pancake. I wanna move so bad!

Yesterday we did go to the lake though, and it was green there. I saw a couple of maple trees that looked like they were trying to change but were still mostly green. I will be back later to tell you all about our day at the lake...it was wonderful! Right now I think I will crawl back into bed after a dose of pepto bismol. I woke up way too early with a sick stomach...probably had something to do with eating nothing but sandwiches, chips and dr pepper at the lake yesterday. yuck.

Boo
October 14, 2011 - Msg 85910: Good Friday morning all my rowdy friends.

Beautiful pics Auh2o. My desire is to travel to the great Northeast area in the Fall to see the colors. We get them here in the mountains as well as the valleys, but I understand that your area is spectacular. Thanks for sharing those.

Ro, I'm sorry your hand is troubling you. Hopefully in time it will heal up and give you no more issues. Boy, this getting old stuff ain't for sissies, is it? I had to spend several hours last night replacing the belts on my riding mower. This entails a lot of up and down and lifting and bending (and a few select cuss words when appropriate lol). Got er done, but lands sake alive this morning I feel like I've beeb run over by a truck. I hurt in places I didn't even know I had places at! Mercy sakes.

Boo, I'm sure your area is a sight to behold. The thought of planting a garden this time of year like you are doing sounds great. I guess we all have our good points and bad points of where we live.

MDC, I look forward to reading your thoughts on what we were talking about yesterday.

Better get going. The old bod is saying don't do it. But the old checkbook is saying you better move it boy. :)

Prayers for all.

Asa
October 14, 2011 - Msg 85911: Good Friday porch, glad for the week end. seems like it has been a long week for me.

I came home from my Zumba (exercise)class last night to a wonderful surprise! Patrick had came home a day early for his fall break. He was supposed to come home this evening but his classes for today were canceled so he drove in yesterday afternoon after his classes were over. Beth knew all about it but made him promise not to tell me or his Dad. I walked into the kitchen and she was sitting at the table looking like the cat who swallowed the canary and turned around and there he stood grinning from ear to ear. Made me cry, guess that is kinda silly but it had been about 3 weeks since he had been home.
He is doing well at school, seems to be adjusting to things pretty well. Struggling with one of his classes but guess that is part of the college experience as well.

Better get busy here at work.
Everyone have a blessed day. Prayers all around and for Miss Sherry and SPOT.
Big Maude
October 14, 2011 - Msg 85912: That's not silly at all, Maude. It blesses my heart that you love your kiddos so much.

Well, I was going to share about my trip to the lake yesterday...picture 80 degrees, a wonderful breeze from the north, low humidity, blue skies, a cool blue lake, huge oak trees hundreds of years old...sitting in your favorite lawn chair under a huge maple tree and just soaking up the beauty. Oh, and can't forget the squirrels..there were a few very friendly squirrels who happened to love potato chips. There I sat, just enjoying my surroundings when i heard something just over my left shoulder...I turned, just a bit startled, and there stood a squirrel, looking longingly at my potato chip bag. She was about 2 feet from me and I tossed her a chip (I know she was a "her" because she very obviously was packin' milk in her belly for some babies somewhere). The next chip she reached out and took gently from my hand and it was the beginning of a great friendship...relaxing and eating chips. A little later she was gone and then appeared again near the picnic table, where Erin had left a chip bag. I walked over to get the squirrel a chip and I turned away from her towards the table and guess what she did...and I am NOT kidding...she came up and put her little squirrel arms around the back of my right leg like she was giving me a hug! haha...I guess it was just her way of saying, "Uh, turn around Big Momma and give me another chip!". It was great. Perfect weather, perfect day, a gorgeous sunset, and then a big harvest moon on the drive home. Even had the opportunity to have a conversation with my husband without any interruption. Well, that was my day. Today is back to business as usual.

Boo
October 14, 2011 - Msg 85913:
Maude, that's neat! And please keep our troops in your prayers. My nephew deployed 7 months ago, so you know what the wait is like. Thanks! Enjoy Patrick! (:
ASA- sometimes those "old folk aches" can be due to not taking in enuf fluids to "bathe" those darn stretchy things,etc, and also, it could be due to medications. I take metroprolol, and it can cause muscle aches. But i still hear ya bro! ha
My thoughts concern Isaiah 9:10 and following.
Some interesting recent speeches involve it.
More to come!
Prayers,
MDC
October 14, 2011 - Msg 85914:
Boo you sneaked in there! hey to boo.
October 14, 2011 - Msg 85915: Good afternoon, porch! Boo, I'm so jealous I'm seeing green! Hugged by a squirrel? I would have just melted into a puddle. That would be as big a thrill as having a hummingbird light on one's finger! What fun!! Mercy - I would buy her a big old bag of chips, all her own.

It's so pretty here right now. That brutal heat is gone - just 82 at 2 p.m. - and the flowers are responding. Roses are blooming, crape myrtle is bursting, the periwinkles that had stopped blooming are now a riot of color again, and everything is green. Even the brown patch that was invading my lawn has succumbed to the cornmeal I applied, and new green shoots are appearing. The leaves have not even started to turn yet, but they will soon. Then I'll have to get the net out and cover the pond, but that's not a problem. Our trees don't turn anywhere near as spectacular as in other parts of the country (great pictures, auh2o) but still they're pretty. Even the cottonwoods show a bit of color now and then. Mostly yellow, quickly fading to brown, but still, it's color.

Well, I have to work tonight and tomorrow night (yuck) so guess I'd better eat a bite, then go catch a short nap. I'll just grit my teeth, hold my nose, and get through the next two days. After that, I have five days off. Yay!

Blessings! --Romeena
October 14, 2011 - Msg 85916:
Hey Folks

Wetter than wet today.

Thanks folks, glad you liked the pictures 99% of New York looks like this, 1% looks like Manhattan.

Did you hear what they're calling the Wall Street protesters? The Flea Party! Love it.

auh2o
October 14, 2011 - Msg 85917: Yea. Flea baggers. :)

Asa
October 14, 2011 - Msg 85918:
AUH20, I see that God's paintbrush has graced the canvas of your beautiful landscape! Very cool!
MDC
October 14, 2011 - Msg 85919: Well Ro, I guess you know who the first person I thought of was when I got the squirrel hug...you, of course. Wish you could have been there.

"Hey" to MDC.

Been to the eye glasses place to finally get my first pair of glasses (I am just one year away from 50). Luckily I had some insur@nce so it didn't cost so darned much. They are those progressive lenses so I hope I can get used to them.

Beautiful night here tonight..calm and not hot like usual. I have already been making plans for Thanksgiving, which will be here at our house since our place. When we built the house, the idea was to build it big enough to host family gatherings, but what I didn't think about is that now we are selected to host all of them! I don't mind as long as everyone pitches in to bring food. St. Susan and Amy always clean up for me afterward. :)

Almost forgot to tell you about something funny. TAGS is so ingrained in our thinking that sometimes it comes out in unexpected ways...like the other day when I was canning some more preserves and I was looking for my ladle. Before I even thought about it I heard myself say, "Where's my poop sadle?...I mean my soup ladle?" hehe...glad I was the only one in the kitchen. ;)

Boo
October 14, 2011 - Msg 85920:
Asa-regarding the discussion earlier,(and I add again that I do not claim to be a biblical scholar in any way, but I just listen to Jewish leaders who have converted, and who know so much of the old testament)they say that Isaiah 9: 7-20 is a judgement scripture, and what happened then is happening in very similar ways today. ie:7 years is God's number for fulfillment, and 7 years after 9/11, when BO became pres-elect, he quoted "out of context" Isaiah 9:9. What he didnt know (or maybe did)is that he was quoting what the hebrews said in ARROGANCE to God! Also, part of that verse states "sycamores are felled, but we will replace them with cedars." Well, on 9/11, a twisted, uprooted sycamore became a symbol of rebuilding, and guess what was used to replace it recently, a cedar! Coincidence? or is God telling us something? I believe the latter. I won't go on here on the porch as I know this isnt the venue for it, but you were interested, and that is just one thing, of many happenings.
Well my friend, have a good weekend,
God bless,
MDC
October 15, 2011 - Msg 85921:
auh2o, those are some mighty colorful photos you posted of western New York. Reminds me of a time in autumn long ago when I was on an Amtrak train traveling along the Hudson river in eastern New York.

Got up early this morning and watched Gomer Pyle on cable. It was just like watching an episode of TAGS. Not only did Gomer Pyle appear, but so did Asa (the Mayberry bank guard) and Daphne(one of Mayberry's fun girls) and Romeena (Ernest T Bass's girlfriend).

from Poor Horatio
October 15, 2011 - Msg 85922: Hey All.
Boy this is crazy weather we are having!

TOM

October 15, 2011 - Msg 85923: Great fall day in ga...hey everyone!...went to get Miss Sherry an Iv this morning.....another one in the morning....she just want eat.....but overall doing ok...hey possum,boo,Ro,MDC,auh20,asa and all....ok while she is resting its yard work for the dog!....steaks on the grill tonight for all....SPOT
October 15, 2011 - Msg 85924: Well bless Miss Sherry's heart! We need to pray for her appetite.

Pretty warm here but the wind is out of the east so it isn't too humid. Wonder if Asa got any snow yet?

Been to walmart to get a few things and saw some very interesting people there..hmmm..wonder if all walmarts have as interesting patrons?

Bruce is out on his tractor today doing some tilling and planting some grass seeds in the back third of the place for the critters. Hoping for more rain so it will spring up soon.

Well, things to do...

Boo
October 15, 2011 - Msg 85925: Let's go fly a kite...up to the highest height..up where the air is clear..let's gooo fly a kite....Very windy in G-F's side of Kelsey's woods today! Auh2o it's comming your way if not already..it will blow all those pretty leaves off the trees.
Boo check out "people of walmart.com" I think it will answer your question about wal-mart patrons! Goober-Fife...
October 15, 2011 - Msg 85926: Good afternoon, friends! Just passing by between shifts at work. Worked last night, am headed that way again now, but then I've got five days off. At least I'm supposed to have five days off. I'll be called every afternoon around three, to see if I can come in and work extra. The pressure is increasing in that regard, and there's talk of mandatory on-call schedules. It really irritates me, to say the least. This whole stupid mess is the creation and the fault of senior management, who decided to shake our department up last January and turn it into "couplet care", and about half of the staff walked out - as predicted by many of us old-timers. Now senior management is bearing down on our local manager, trying to make her responsible for the mess, and expecting her to force us to cover the holes and keep things going. I'll do a shift or part of one now and then, because the money is good, but I still resent being pressured to try to fix senior management's problem.

Well, enough of that. I'm looking at several rose bushes that have burst into bloom just since yesterday, and three new irises are blooming in the re-bloomer bed near the house. So pretty!

Have a great Sabbath, folks. I'll come home in the morning and fall into bed. No preaching for me, as I would just fall asleep. Blessings! --Romeena
October 15, 2011 - Msg 85927: Hey Y'all- First day of actual work at Cracker Barrel-it went well,but didn't sell any Cheerwine! LOL People are buying Halloween stuff. One of my customers was Miss Laci! Anyway,I think it will be a good job for me.

Boo, I can't figure you out, girl.Bees won't sting ya, and squirrels hug ya! Are you some kind of female Doctor Doolittle or something?!

Beautiful area you live in,auh2o. Really enjoyed your photos!

Glad Patrick surprised you,Maude-nice!

Prayers for Sherry, spotty.And hope your hand gets to feeling better,Ro.

Hey to everybody I didn't call by name- I see ya there!

Have a good evening, y'all!

*******************
possum under a rock
October 15, 2011 - Msg 85928:
Hey Tom, what is crazy about your weather?

Romeena, what is "couplet care"?

from Poor Horatio
October 15, 2011 - Msg 85929:
Hey Porch

G-F Well, you were sure right about the wind or should I say WIND! And yes, a lot of those leaves are now looking up at the trees.

possum-Thanks, I do love it here. A lot of our friends have fled NY (taxes) but we just love the area.

Spot-A steak sounds mighty fine right now or anytime for that matter.

PH-It is beautiful along Hudson River. I can see saw why Capt Sully landed there.

MDC- B.O. is a lot of things but part of a Muslim conspiracy? It would be too much work for him. He's a thinker not a doer.

Romeena- That sounds like a mess at work. Blooming flowers sound nice though.

auh2o
October 16, 2011 - Msg 85930: The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh...After yesterdays high winds, the Lord taketh all the leaves I had to rake and gaveth them all to my neighbors...WOW we serve an AWSOME GOD! I guess this is a example of a way to love thy neighbor!
Romeena & Boo..send them squirrels of yours up to Ohio for a field trip I have TONS of nuts from my trees this year..I'LL SHARE!! just be sure they bring "take home boxes" with them! Goober-Fife....
October 16, 2011 - Msg 85931: Good Sabbath morning porch dwellers.
Boy G-F. What a great neighbor you are. LOL My property has many tree's on it, while the lot behind me has none. I always feel kind of bad this time of year when I see all my leaves on his yard. In fact I tell him just throw them back over the fence and I'll till them into my garden, but he hasn't done it yet.

Possum, glad the new job is working out. e need an insider at C.B. the way we all eat. And I imagine having a talking possum behind the counter is quite a spectacle. :)

Boo, we have not had any snow down here in the valleys yet. We had a storm roll through here a week ago that brought rain, ans snow down to about 7,000 ft, but we are at about 5,000 in the valley. Pretty amazing to see the mountains after the clouds clear off though. They are white about 2/3 of the way down then nothing. Just like someone drew a line across it. Pretty cool really.
But we got up to the low 80's here yesterday. Dang nice stuff.

Well I better go get cleaned for preachin. Lord knows I need it. Both the cleaning and the preachin. :)

Asa
October 16, 2011 - Msg 85932: Sounds like you are enjoying your weather, Asa. I have an old school friend who lives in Salt Lake C and he posted a picture of himself on Facebook with the snow-covered mountains behind him. I forced myself to say something nice, but inside I wanted to kill him (kidding). It is just plain HOT here today.

No Possum, I'm no Dr. Dolittle, but my goat Elvis has sure been talking lately. That crazy goat makes the darndest noises. Our Boer Goat is in heat and poor Elvis, being a pygmy goat, is frustrated because he is vertically challenged. He has been telling us about it, in no uncertain terms. It remains to be seen whether we will have any new babies in the spring. Don't know if poor Elvis can rise to the occasion...sorry for the bad pun.

Went to preachin' this morning but the preacher didn't preach on sin, he preached on Philippians and love and unity between believers (nice subject). I had mom-in-law over for roast and tried to practice what was taught in the sermon...not easy. ;) She just went home to watch the Dallas Cowboys.

Think I will find me a nice place to curl up for a sunday afternoon nap. :)

Boo
October 16, 2011 - Msg 85933: Good afternoon, porch! What a beautiful day for porch-sittin'. Gorgeous here, a pleasant 84. I know, for some folks, 84 is warm, but compared to 104 and higher, it's right nice!

Poor Horatio, "couplet care" is a care model that requires one nurse to care for both the new mother and the new baby, with baby theoretically staying in the room with mom 24/7. I say "theoretically", because you can bet that a woman who is groggy from anesthetic after a c-section, or one who has labored for twelve hours or more and finally delivered, is not going to be thrilled to learn she can't just sleep until her body recovers - she's got the baby in the room! Oh well. Who am I to have an opinion, when there are people in pretty offices, with more letters after their name than I have, who say it's a great idea? I'm sure I must be wrong.

Hahaha! G-F, I love your leaf story. Isn't it great when that happens? I remember one year when my front yard was about three inches deep in leaves, and we had a windstorm during the night. I'll never know how it happened, but the wind took all those leaves, blew them off the yard and down between my house and my neighbor's, and piled them in a huge heap against our side gates. My yard guy just waded in with a rake and bags, and in about twenty minutes they were all bagged up. Normally, as the leaves fall, Eddie mows them with a mulching mower and leaves them on the yard. If they fall in considerate, measured doses that works fine, but when they all drop at once (as they do in some years) the mulched load is too heavy and would smother the lawn, so we have to bag some of them. I hate to do that, because my rule of thumb is that no vegetation leaves the property unless it's diseased. It usually works, but there are exceptions.

Well, I'm pooped. Last night was a killer shift, and I came home and slept about three hours, but didn't want to just waste the day, so got up. Now I guess I'll just drag around for the rest of the day. Maybe "I shoulda stood in bed!"

Blessings!--Romeena
October 16, 2011 - Msg 85934: Hey, Boo! Didn't see you there! I laughed out loud at hour Elvis comments - Toye Starr came to see what was so funny! That's just hilarious - poor little feller! You need to build him a little platform from which to plead his case. Hahaha! --Romeena
October 16, 2011 - Msg 85935: Drat! That's "your" Elvis comments, not "hour". Guess I'm still sleepy. --Romeena
October 16, 2011 - Msg 85936: I thought about making his some little "stilts" Ro, so he would be more mobile...

Boo
October 16, 2011 - Msg 85937:
If you wanted to steal a 15 ton bridge, how would you go about it? Read about two men who tried it at http://www.pennlive.com/midstate/index.ssf/2011/10/pennsylvania_brothers_charged.html

from Poor Horatio
October 16, 2011 - Msg 85938: Hey y'all- let's lift Sherry up in prayer. Spot says she's really sick from her treatments.I know it's not easy on him seeing her in this fix,either.
Prayers for Sherry & Spot.
*******************
possum under a rock
October 16, 2011 - Msg 85939: Prayers continue for Sherry and SPOT.

Boo
October 17, 2011 - Msg 85940: Thanks for the heads up Possum. Will crank up the Prayers here foe Sherry and Spot indeed.

Asa
October 17, 2011 - Msg 85941: Dear Father - we lift Sherry up this morning, asking that you will touch her and give her relief from the sickness and misery caused by the medical treatments. We thank you that such treatment is available, and ask that you give perfect judgment and insight to the physicians who are directing those treatments, and pray that the drugs will do their work and conquer the invader in Sherry's body. Bless our dear Spot as he stands beside her, offering whatever comfort and support he can give. Strengthen him as well as Sherry, and get them through this thing together, to emerge victorious when it's over. In that name that is above every other name - Jesus' blessed name. Amen.
October 17, 2011 - Msg 85942:
Morning Porch

Prayers for Spot & Miss Sherry, always.

Romeena-That's right, you keep that common sense to yourself. Those people in those ivory towers do not need be bothered with facts.

Ro-Speaking of people with letters after their names. Did you see what The Flea Party achieved over the weekend? Something that the world hasn't seen since 1939. The Nazi and the Communist Parties came together once again an joined in their little protest. I'm sure there was not a dry eye amongst on the college professors who were present. And just to bring everything full circle, the protesters were video taped chanting "The Jews Control Wall Street." Now, can we really blame a Nazi for joining up with all of...that.

possum-Yes, thanks for the update.

auh2o
October 17, 2011 - Msg 85943:


and, AMEN!


October 17, 2011 - Msg 85944: Good morning, porch! Another perfectly gorgeous early Fall day here in the Dallas area. So pretty. Roses are popping buds everywhere, in spite of my failure to prune as I should have. They're so pretty. Little Angel Face is just strutting her stuff out there, and those blooms are so very fragrant. That is the sweetest-smelling rose I've ever seen, and I just love them. I've got about eight of them scattered around the place now, and I enjoy them so much. Hot Cocoa is blooming on the west fence - very unusual rose, an orangey-brown color, with a fruity fragrance. Very nice. The trees are still holding their leaves, no color there yet. There are two enormous butterflies on the yellow lantana, as usual. It's too far for me to identify them, but I do see a couple of little Gulf fritillaries as well. They're easy to spot, by their relatively small size, orange color, and choppy, erratic flight. Cute little things!

My friend Beverly came by yesterday evening, bringing me a huge and beautiful burgundy mum plant. It seems someone blabbed to the bunco group about the EGD and dilatation I had, and they decided I needed flowers! I felt silly taking it, as the procedure was just nothing, certainly didn't merit a gift of flowers, but there she stood, holding that ridiculously huge plant. I've known Bev for 35 years, and she's a dear friend. We visited for a while, walked through the back yard, fed the fish and smelled the roses. Simple pleasures - can't beat 'em!

She brought her little Chihuahua, Newman, and he and Toye Starr had a grand old time. He's about eight pounds, so is bigger than Starr, but she doesn't seem to notice, and he was nice to her. She made him welcome by taking several of her toys to him and dropping them in front of them. Apparently that's proper canine hostess etiquette, and he accepted them. She was delighted. They chased each other around, swapping toys, and she showed him her "race track" around the coffee table. They ran several laps in tandem, then separately, like little kids showing off for each other. So cute! They even shared their moms, each allowing the other to get in mom's lap without any aggression. A little furrowing of brows, perhaps, and close attention paid, but no rudeness. Each time Newman vacated my lap, however, Starr was there to plant her small self for a moment or two, just to keep the record straight. Newman did the same to Bev. They are just too funny!

We had a quick supper of one of my favorite soups. I take a can of good Niblets corn, drained, and add a very large dollop of sour cream, probably well over half a cup. Then I stir in a can of Campbell's Chicken Corn Chowder, and about a cup of shredded cheddar cheese. If you like the white cheeses, they work too. I just use whatever is here. Stir it all together and heat it in the micro, add a good dash of Tabasco (if you like it) and enjoy! It tastes like you have worked all day, and it goes together in about five minutes. I love dishes like that! I made a big pot of it for a party one night, used about six big cans of the corn chowder and added the other stuff accordingly, and seven people asked for the recipe. Try it - you'll like it, but if you're into low fat, forget it. I suppose you could use fat free sour cream (there's an oxymoron if I ever heard one) and the low fat cheese, but I don't think it would be as rich and good. Tolerable, maybe.

Blessings! --Romeena
October 17, 2011 - Msg 85945: My goodness! And I proof-read, too! That's "dropping them in front of him", not them. Also, about the soup - obviously it doesn't have to be heated in the microwave. You can mix it all in a big saucepan and heat it on the stove. That's what I do when I'm making a large amount. I usually heat smaller amounts of anything in the micro, because the bowl can go in the dishwasher, and I hate to scrub pots. --Romeena
October 17, 2011 - Msg 85946:
Doin' 45 over Turner's Grade again! (:
October 17, 2011 - Msg 85947: Spot, below is something I hope will cheer up Miss Sherry
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IytNBm8WA1c
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRWtZy4vc9A
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PHnRIn74Ag&feature=relmfu

from Poor Horatio
October 17, 2011 - Msg 85948:
HI ALL,
Coming off a big weekend with my sister's family in from El Paso for a visit. Dad really enjoyed seeing their kids, and the kids seeing their 93 year old grandpa. We all went to church together at the church we all used to go to when WE were kids! Saw some familiar faces, but also saw how the demographics have changed in that section of Phx.
Many nigerians, etc, have filled the old neighborhood, and there was quite a combination of music and singing! Have a blessed week. prayers continue.
possum is buying dinner at Cracker Barrel!mmm
MDC
MDC
October 17, 2011 - Msg 85949: "This is MDC and my other brother MDC" ! ha
October 17, 2011 - Msg 85950:
BARNEY: I don't know how they do it for 80 cents.
ANDY: I don't either, I tell you.
BARN: Three vienna sausages-heavy on the tomato puree, slice of bread, and butter
on a paper dish.
ANDY: And more than an ample portion of succotash. Don't leave out the succotash.
BARN: Yeah. You know, when you get a good meal like that with as good a service
as Olive gives you, you don't mind leaving a generous tip.
ANDY: Did you leave a tip?
BARN: Well, yeah, a quarter.
ANDY: I did, too.

October 17, 2011 - Msg 85951: A Chihuahua named Newman...man, that makes me smile. :)

Thanks to whoever led us in prayer (Msg.85941). Amen.

Boo
October 17, 2011 - Msg 85952:

HELLO...Newman
October 17, 2011 - Msg 85953: Newman.....NO SOUP FOR YOU!............
October 17, 2011 - Msg 85954:

Jerry: You're giving up that easily?
Newman: I usually do.
October 17, 2011 - Msg 85955:


You can't eat this soup standing up. Your knees buckle.
October 18, 2011 - Msg 85956: Serenity NOW!!
October 18, 2011 - Msg 85957: Good morning porchters. Another day the Lord has provided.

I am still praying for Miss Sherry and Spot. I pray she will not be so sick from the treatments, and that the treatments will help heak her. Check in when you can Spotty.

Romeena, your description of Newman and Toye Starr made for great reading. I declare, you've got a bit of James Herriot in you. :) Speaking of Mr. 'erriot, with the colder winter weather coming on I can resume watching his shows on my DVD's. My wife got me the whole series a few years back, and boy I love em. On those cold wintery nights I'll kick on the fire and plug in a DVD and enjoy. Usually don't have much time in the summer to watch much tv.

And your little recipie sounds good. I'll have to try that. If you have anymore simple ones like that, please pass them on. I'm a klutz in the kitchen, but I'm learning slowly. And it's kind of fun to try combining odd foods together like that and see what you come up with. I tried my hand at a roast in the crock pot on Sunday, and by golly it were goo-ood, if I do say so. So share any recipies you may have that won't cause me to burn down the house. Boo has shared some with me, bless her heart. Thanks.

Well I'd love to sit and rock and chat for a while, but duty calls. Much work to do. This time of year is a real bugger for me.

Prayers for all
Asa
October 18, 2011 - Msg 85958: Asa, you do HVAC work right? I'm with ya brother we have to service & check about 1300 units that I am responsible for, so I feel your pain! alway a tough time of the year + all the regular work we do daily.....how quickly they forget about 90+
degree days we had.....but it puts the beans on the table!....G-F
October 18, 2011 - Msg 85959: Good morning, porch. I hope I can type - wearing the brace on my hand again. I think I started using it too much, too soon. My wrist feels "crunchy" when I use it, and it hurts. There's a deep, burning pain in it that wasn't there before. I think it's all arthritis-related, and probably not much that can be done. I iced it last evening, and will keep it braced for a couple of days, and take an occasional ibuprofen dose, but I can't take that too often, as it makes my kidney function numbers go haywire. I think ice and rest are my best friends.

Asa, I love James Herriot! I've got all the books, and even have an excerpt from the original verse printed on my checks - "All creatures great and small, The Lord God made them all." The checks have pictures of the babies of endangered species on them. I don't have the DVDs, but I'll bet they're on Netflix, and I do have that.

That corn chowder soup is so easy, and so good. Actually, those chunky Campbell's soups are all pretty good. The potato soup is nice, but of course I dress it up with sour cream, cheese, and even some chives stirred in. Tastes like a good baked potato. If you have some cooked bacon on hand, you can crumble some into it and it doesn't hurt it a bit. The other chunky soups can be heated and spooned over some rice (Uncle Ben's Ready-Rice, 90 seconds in the microwave) and you have a pretty decent quick lunch. Not as good as a pot roast in the crock pot, of course, but ready in less than five minutes. Oh, and congratulations on tackling that pot roast. You can do it, my friend. I applaud your efforts! I've got some good, quick recipes - I'll email them to you.

Well, speaking of food - it's 2 p.m. and I haven't eaten a thing today. Guess I'd better go find something. Maybe an apple. I've got some Honeycrisps - there's just no better apple. With a little piece of cheese alongside - they're delish!

Blessings, friends! --Romeena
October 18, 2011 - Msg 85960:
A little prayer for Ro's hand/wrist.
The soup thing sounds good.
We sometimes get the Bertoli's bag dinners,
very simple to make in a fry pan, and we also
"dress them up" a bit with chopped onions, peppers, etc.
Good day to all!
MDC
October 18, 2011 - Msg 85961: HELLO! ?
October 18, 2011 - Msg 85962: You're right, MDC. Frozen meals have come a looong way! There was a time when there was nothing more dismal than a TV dinner, but these days, they're really pretty good. I buy the P.F. Chang's frozen Chinese meals, and as you say, you prepare them in a skillet, and they're good. Fancy them up a bit, and they're very good. To Chinese meals, I usually add some sliced water chestnuts, maybe a handful of peanuts or cashews, depending on the dish itself. I've used the Bertoli meals too, and really like them.

Tonight I cooked some little white squash, the patti-pan kind - you know, the little greenish/white flat ones with the "ruffle" around the edge. Just chunked them up in a covered dish with a small pat of butter, and microwaved for about six minutes. Tossed in a handful of shredded cheese, nuked it for another minute, added a dash of salt, and yum! I cook veggies in the micro a lot, but I never cook meat in it. The taste changes somehow, and I just don't care for it. Sure is convenient for veggies, though.

Well, I think I'll get the last of that squash and finish it off, rather than putting it in the fridge. It was good! I like squash, any kind, but the little white ones are about my favorite. --Romeena
October 18, 2011 - Msg 85963:
Hello porch family....just a quick check in. Boy have I been busy on this tour. It's been crazy but I'm thankful for all the dates. Had concerts in Alabama on Wednesday then on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and today in Louisiana, tomorrow in Livingston, Tx then in Irving, Tx with Ro on Thursday. I'm so thankful my voice is holding up strong. Looking forward to seeing our very own Ro again this year:)

Well I better get some sleep.
Love and prayers for all my porch family!
-REV.
October 19, 2011 - Msg 85964: What's wrong with TV dinners I like'em...can't have leg of lamb ALL the time.....alot of people are like Helen these days..a guy's gotta eat!
We're hungry Buzzards....G-F....
October 19, 2011 - Msg 85965: As for myself, I can cook thank you very much...I's called self preservation! haha...G-F
October 19, 2011 - Msg 85966: Well as bad a cook I is, I still gotta build up some gumption to go the tv dinner route. I get Marie Callenders every now and again, but not often. One of my issues though is I am sensitive (that's a fine thing to call me, sensitive) to corn starch. Gives me a killer migraine. And they use that in a lot of processed foods. Too bad, cause some of the frozen stuff I see looks pretty good.
Why am I such a problem cooking? Saturday I got a frozen burrito out and stuck it on a plate in the microwave for the alloted time. As I'm removing it from the microwave the plate just breaks in half, right there while I'm holding it. And wouldn't you know it was one of my wifes coca-cola plates. Don't think I didn't hear about that. They are microwavable safe, so they say? Beats me. Oh well. I didn't want the stinking burrito anyhow I guess. Good old peanut butter to the rescue.

Asa
October 19, 2011 - Msg 85967: Good morning, porch. Awww, bless your heart, Asa. How rude of that plate to break like that. One suggestion - buy a stack of paper plates and use them to heat stuff. You can get really cheap ones at Sam's and Costco, and they come in several sizes. Be sure they're not plastic coated or made of styrofoam - just plain old paper plates. No breakage there! Oh, and just a suggestion (like you haven't already thought of it) - don't use your wife's Coca-cola plates!

Wow - corn starch gives you migraines? That's a problem, because corn starch is found in a LOT of things! Guess you read a lot of labels, huh?

REV, I'm really looking forward to seeing you, and hearing your concert. Any of you porchsters in driving distance of Dallas, come on! We start at 6:00, and we'll even feed you. We'll be at the Plymouth Park Baptist Church in Irving. Get out your GPS, or email me for directions.

Well, got errands to run - guess I'd better get started. Blessings, everyone! --Romeena
October 19, 2011 - Msg 85968: GF-as long as your name aint DON! ha
mdc
October 19, 2011 - Msg 85969:
Another simple meal idea is to cut an acorn squash in half, bake it, and then fill the center "well" with whatever, soup, stew, hash, etc, and then as you eat the "filling", you also eat the squash. ASA- even YOU can do it! ha
It will satisfy hungry buzzards. ha
But man to man, really? using your wife's coca-cola plate? What that heck were you thinking guy? lol
REV- good to see ya. What day and time is your concert at RO's? Can you stream it?
Prayers for all!
MDC
October 19, 2011 - Msg 85970:
Hello porch family....cool here in TX today. Feeling good.

MDC....I will be at Ro's church tomorrow night (Thursday-6:00pm) but I don't have a way to stream it...Sorry:(

You all have a great day and remember Jesus loves you!
-REV.
October 19, 2011 - Msg 85971: Hey Porchsters! Just popping in to say hello & thank everybody for the prayers for Sherry & Spot. From what I hear,she is doing a lot better lately.
Okie dokie, gotta scoot-y'all take care!
*******************
possum under a rock
P.S. There's a stuffed animal POSSUM at Cracker Barrel- I've gotta buy it! LOL
October 19, 2011 - Msg 85972: Possum...Going to C/B tonight, weekly lodge meeting. What's good this week?
REV....sing it pretty for Romeena tomorrow night tell her Goober says hey!....ask her when is she gonna send her squirrels to Ohio? lotsa nuts here, and some actually fall from the trees too)tehehaha! G-F........
October 19, 2011 - Msg 85973: Hey Gang!..quick check in..Miss Sherry doing fine..had a bad week last wrrk but ever 3 was is a different treatment and its SICK time for a couple of days...but this week good...just gets tired easy..we went to walmart and messed around..will get the first treatment results pet scan mid Nov..the Doc seems positive...Im back at work now for 11 straight days!..good bit of OT mixed in there and the money will be good at Christmas..Possum you better get that atuffed Possum!..hey Ro. Rev coming to see ya!hey GF,Boo,MDC,Lucy,hazel,asa...boy seems like there are alot op porsters missing...ok...im here at work and got to run the reports...hey we aint had waffle house in a while..Maude think they will let you bring slaw in the resturant?...well..anyway its on me in the morning...Possum will they call you a trader for no going to Cracker Barrell?....prayers to all...its turned cold here in Ga...I built a fire today....SPOT
October 20, 2011 - Msg 85974: Morning Porch.

Spot buddy, I'm glad Miss Sherry is having a better week, bless her heart. And I pray you are holding up ok also.

Ro, thanks for the cooking tips. Using the paper plates makes a ton of sense. And thanks for the recipie MDC. almost sounds like Malcom's bubble and squeek.

G-F, That's a lot of A/C's to be servicing. They all window mount units?

Possum, you better get that stuffed possum for sure. I would.

Ro, sure hope you have a good time at the Rev's concert tonight.

Boo, where you been hiding? Just busy?

Well gotta move it. Time waits on no man.

Prayers for all

Asa
October 20, 2011 - Msg 85975: Morning everyone, just checking in from work for a visit. Been busy this week and have not checked in much.

Glad Miss Sherry is doing better, thanks for the update.
Hope your hand is feeling better Romeena.
Possum, hope Cracker Barrell is not working you too hard. Maybe you can reserve us a big ole table sometime and we can have supper!

Please continue to pray for my friend Terrie. Her first round of Chemo knocked her off her feet. She could not eat, her white count bottomed out and she got dehydrated. She has yeast in her mouth, no appetite and gastrointestinal distress (if you know what I mean). She was running a fever so they admitted her Monday night. Hopefully she can come home tomorrow. I talked to her briefly last night but have not seen her. Frankly I am afraid to go around her until she is physically stronger. I don't want to risk carrying any possible germs, bacteria or virus to her. I feel fine but I am in contact with people that come in for appointments who don't always stay home when sick and carry virus type things and maybe even things they don't know they have. So I told her I am staying away until she says I can come. She knows I am a phone call away and we talk on the phone regularly anyway. Makes me worry that the other 5 treatments she has ahead of her will do the same thing. She is not scheduled for another one until the 26th so hopefully she can regroup enough to go for that one.

Ok lets have some breakfast: eggs, bacon, sausage,gravy, sliced tomatoes, toast, biscuits,
real butter, jelly, apple butter,krispy kreme doughnuts. coffee, tea, juice. someone bring in the paper.

Prayers for all especially Miss Sherry and SPOT and thanks for remembering Terrie.

Blessings all around.
Big Maude
October 20, 2011 - Msg 85976: I'm right here, Asa. Been busy the last couple of days. The weather here has been wonderful! 50's at night and 70's with low humidity during the day (finally!). We have been outside alot...working in the garden, etc. Bruce is still off with his back but it is getting better. I went to the meat market and bought a bunch of chicken again and cut all of that up yesterday and put in freezer bags. That took nearly all day but it sure is great to have...makes life easier for me. We don't eat out much and I cook almost everyday, so just being able to grab some chicken out of the freezer and defrost it, already cut into strips, maked cooking much easier. I already have a frozen meatloaf in the freezer but now I have to work on getting some beef in the freezer. This might be an idea for you, Asa. Since you work and trying to come up with meals at the end of the day is tough. I like to get chuck roasts and put them in my iron skillet and just cook the outside at a high temperature (it's called searing the meat) and it helps hold all the juices in as it cooks and gives it a nice flavor. Then I put the roast in a freezer ziploc bag and put in my lipton onion soup mix, some worchestershire sauce, garlic, zip it up, and stick it in the feezer. When I want a roast for dinner, I take it out and put it in the crock pot in the morning, and dinner is ready when you come home. I like to add a can of cream of mushroom soup to the crock pot and about a half can of water. It makes a nice gravy and you don't have to add any cornstarch. The soup might contain cornstarch, though...not sure. Another thing that is easy to make and freeze is spaghetti sauce. I like to get a few pounds of ground sirloin and make up a big pot of spaghetti sauce (I just use the jar sauce...Prego is my favorite). I brown the meat, add a few jars of the Prego and about a half jar of water and I simmer it on the stove on low heat for a couple of hours, let it cool down a bit and then put it in the freezer bags. I usually put up enough for at least three or four meals. Then all you have to do is throw it into the crock pot in the morning before you leave for work and you just have to cook the noodles when you come home. I like to freeze meatloaf (which you can also put in the crock pot), and casseroles, too. I usually set aside a saturday for preparing meals for the freezer. It really makes life easier for me, with homeschooling the kids and everything else I have to do. Wish we lived closer, Asa, so I could help you put away some stuff in your freezer.

SO very glad to hear that Sherry is feeling better! Prayers continue for her and for Terri.

Maude, I know what you mean. Our little friend, Jace, with leukemia has been having to stay away from people because of his treatments but we really want to see him. He just got over a terrible staph infection last weekend. They are having a big fundraiser for him next month and we are looking forward to that. I just hope he is up to attending.

Possum, I though about you on Sunday. Jubi was sitting near me and church and I couldn't believe how much she has changed in the last year. She is in the 8th grade but looks much older. She is such a pretty young girl with her curly red hair. She has been doing very well, thank the Lord.

Well, I wanted to check in but it is time to get the day rolling and get the kids breakfast. I will try to be back later.

Boo