August 14, 2013 - Msg 94457:
Howdy porch family....hope you all are having a wonderful day.

Asa...my prayers are with Stacey and Baby Allison that all goes well.

Boo...that is so sad about your neighbor....especially for the children. Prayers!

Have a goodnight porch family.
Love and prayers
-REV.
August 14, 2013 - Msg 94458: Prayers! (:
August 15, 2013 - Msg 94459:
Good sweep Rev. I am praying for all porch intentions, especially for Stacy and Allison.
Hard to get going in hot Phx after Santa Barbara's cool ocean breezes!
110 again for the next few days. Pray for rain!
BOO- how goes your recovery? Maybe I missed it, but did Sean graduate HS? Hope all is OK with his job.
Hey to MAUDE, SPOT, TOM, AUH20, NEW NEIGH, SMH AND ALL!
MDC
August 15, 2013 - Msg 94460: Morning Porch family.

Thank you all for the prayers for Stacey and Allison. The Doctor decided he wants to wait until Sunday to try and turn her. And if they can, they will induce her at that time. If not, they will do a c section. Your prayers are greatly appreciated friends. Thank you so much.

Asa
August 15, 2013 - Msg 94461: Its supposed to be 100 again here today, MDC. Yuck.
Yes, Sean graduated, officially in April. He is still doing well on the job, although they are working him hard and it has been so hot. Things should slow down by next month when vacations end and kids go back to school. A large part of the business is due to people vacationing here to go to the beach, and Sean's store is the last real grocery store on the way to the ferry going over to Mustang Island. Of course, when spring break comes, he won't know what hit him (talk about busy!). My recovery is going ok, MDC. I began having pain in my side again, much like what I had before the surgery but it seems to be getting better now. Now I am dealing with a problem of numbness in my right leg when I stand for long. I know I have a nerve being compressed somewhere along my spine. That is next in line to deal with. This getting old is getting depressing. I really struggle with trying to lose weight, which I know will help the back issue. It's the toughest thing I have ever tried to do. Please pray for me! I am praying for the Lord to help me. With the Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome that i have had since i was a young woman, the hormonal imbalance causes insulin resistance, which leads the body to store fat. Its been a real uphill battle for me for many years now.

Asa, I will continue to remember Stacey and Allison in my prayers. Thanks for the update.

I have been catching up, starting to make lists and schedules and getting ready for the start of Erin's school year and the start of my online class (to get my license current). The next four months might be tough, but it's something I need to do. If I don't keep organized, it will be much harder.

Well, better get going. Errands to run today. Erin needs a haircut and the dogs need their meds for he@rtworms and fleas so have to visit the vet, too.

Boo


August 15, 2013 - Msg 94462: Good morning, porch! Asa, still praying for Allison and Stacey. Don't worry, granddad, they'll be just fine. This will be just another day at the office for her medical team. A breech delivery for a pioneer woman out on the prairie somewhere was a serious matter, but in a hospital, with doctors standing beside her, it's really relatively simple. They'll try to turn the baby, but if she won't turn, then they'll whisk Stacey off to an OR, and in about ten minutes, Allison will make her debut. They're going to be just fine.

Boo, how well I understand that weight thing. As an insulin-dependent diabetic, I know all about how hard it is to control. And you're so right, the weight doesn't help one bit with back problems. I was just telling my friend Joe this morning, how I wish I could just do the things I was able to do ten years ago, when we started this yard project. We recalled the first weeks, when the flowerbeds were being curbed, dug out and backfilled. We had a huge load of compost dumped on the driveway. We had two wheelbarrows, and one man would push a loaded barrow to the back yard, dump the compost in a bed, and the other man would rake it smooth. Meantime, the shovel person was filling the other wheelbarrow. Guess who was the shovel person. Yep, me! I moved that whole five-foot-high pile of compost into wheelbarrows, with a shovel. I was sore the next day, but mobile. I couldn't do that now, no way on this earth. Drat!

Well, gotta run. Blessings, porch! --Romeena
August 15, 2013 - Msg 94463:
RO, did you see the Ford commercial that I posted?
Ya all have a good day,
MDC
August 15, 2013 - Msg 94464: Thank you Ro. Your post makes me feel a lot better. It's funny because Stacy had to come to us by a c section all them years ago. And both Ma and her did fine. But I sure do worry. Her last delivery they thought she was going to have to do by c section, but they got the baby turned and all went well, so I hope that will be the case this time. Her Doctor said there are numerous types of breeches, and the one she is in is the easyist to flip, so we will see. I'm sure you know what that means. All I know is I'm a wreck! Good thing us fellers ain't gotta do this. We would never make it. Makes ya kinda think God knew what he was doing when he created all this, don't it? :)

Asa
August 15, 2013 - Msg 94465: Maybe Asa's Grand Baby should be nicknamed Flipper? All joking aside, hope all goes well buddy! Maybe Asa need a snort of Colonel Harveys elixir to calm his nerves? too,too,tootsie ta,ta!

MDC wasn't it a 57-58 Fairlane on the color episode where Goober was trying to teach Aunt Bee to drive & she scraped the tree? It looked a lot like the one in the video.

Not to make ya feel bad Boo & MDC, but it went down to 48 deg's last night.
Good sleepin weather! :}
Sorry.....G-F
August 15, 2013 - Msg 94466: HEY
G F keep that weather right there I like 60 deg's for sleeping
Mr.TOM

August 15, 2013 - Msg 94467: Glad to see ya checking in TOM, had not seen a post from you for awhile...G-F
August 15, 2013 - Msg 94468: Hey gang...wow down in the 60"s here in Ga and highs in the 70"s!...nice cool weather for a few days..who all are Duck Dynasty fans?...love the new season start last night...ok...let me get some things done in the barn...off wk for a few days...prayers..I-Hop in the morning?
..SPOT
August 15, 2013 - Msg 94469:
Wow it was so nice today here in SC....Cool all day....felt so nice. Highs were around 73:)

Night porch family....You all have a Jesus filled day tomorrow!
Love and prayers
-REV.
August 15, 2013 - Msg 94470:
Hey Spot....didn't see ya there. Just watched Duck Dynasty with my wife. She recorded it last night. Those guys are nutts but funny.
Take care....-REV.
August 15, 2013 - Msg 94471: Good evening, porch! MDC, I did see that Ford commercial. Actually, I had written an answer, along with a couple of other comments, and it suddenly disappeared and I didn't have time to do it over. I don't know what I hit, but it happens now and then. Anyway, when I got back, I failed to mention it. Sorry! It was great, and I enjoyed it a lot. The ragtop in the video was just like my car. Oh, G-F, I think Aunt Bee's Fairlane was a '56. It was shorter and didn't have the sweeping rear fenders like the '57. The '56 looked a little more sporty. The '57 was just a downright beautiful car!

REV, Bro. Bob said to tell you hey! He had been listening to the CD, and was still chuckling over "That's My Pew!" That is one funny song. I hope it's on the playlist for October. That, and "Be Still." I really like that one. It just soooo speaks to me! Whenever I get all in a flap over something, I try to remember Psalm 46:10 - "Be still, and know that I am God." It calms me down! It goes along with another favorite of mine - Exodus 3:14 - "I Am that I Am." That one just puts the lid on it. There's such an attitude of finality, case closed, whatever you want to call it. I even have it in a framed needlepoint, made for me by my sister-in-law.

I had a long phone conversation with my Florida son this afternoon, and another long one with my cousin in Houston. He's almost 85, sounds like he's 45, looks and acts like 65 - he's something else! He flew troop and supply transports during the Korean war, then went on to fly commercial airliners until he retired at age 60. He's quite a guy.

Well, guess I'll go watch "Perry Mason." It's been on a while, but I'll just rewind. I guess that term isn't all that accurate anymore, but you know what I mean. Blessings! --Romeena
August 16, 2013 - Msg 94472:
Very ther-a-pi-tic. (:
August 16, 2013 - Msg 94473: Heading out to the flea market anybody need me to bring 'em some back?.........G-F
August 16, 2013 - Msg 94474: Mornin' Y'all! Yep,it feels like autumn here in SC lately. Loving everything but the rain-we have had more than our share,that's for sure!

Best wishes on the new grandbaby,Asa. Don't you fret,none. We all know whose hands it is in.

G-F, you can bring me a snow cone from the flea market. No,on second thought,forget it. You'll just bite the bottom off of the cone ,sip out all the flavored syrup,then try to give it to me!

I tell ya what,with all this rain here,I could use one of them little can openers with an umbrella on top! See if you can find one of those at the flea market!

Y'all have a wonderful day-act like somebody!!

*******************
possum under a rock
August 16, 2013 - Msg 94475: Hey, wait for me, G-F. I haven't been to a good flea market in years, and I love 'em! Dale and I used to go to the enormous one in Canton, TX, at least twice a year, and sometimes more often. Sometimes we'd go alone, but mostly we took the kids with us, until they got too old and too "cool" for such as that. That market covers about 500 acres, has around 7500 vendors, and if you can't find it there, you probably don't need it.

Frankly, it's gotten too big for me. Back when we used to go, in the mid-'70s, it was nowhere near that big, but even then it was hard to see it all in one day. The prices were much better then, too. Today, forget about finding a real bargain. Every vendor knows exactly what their stock is worth, which wasn't necessarily the case in the '70s. On my first visit, I bought a Fiestaware chop plate, in the fabulous Fiesta red color, for $4. I found that same plate on this site, which puts its value at $145 today.

http://www.happyheidi.com/antiques/Fiesta-Price-Guide.html

Of course, as my Dale, the weasel, was fond of saying when I'd brag about a rise in value of one of my pieces - "It's worth exactly what you would receive if you sold it, and you're not about to sell it, so it's worthless." Unfortunately, he was right. Or maybe fortunately. I don't sell it, and the stuff keeps going up. I have about 600 pieces of the old line, including a lot of rare and hard-to-find pieces. I've got a red carafe, complete with intact cork stopper, and I've got service for eight in the tiny, stick-handled demitasse cups. I have a coffee pot, two tea pots, a full 7-pc set of the mixing bowls, lots of chop plates, and much more. I told Dale once that maybe I should have it scheduled on our homeowner's ins#rance. He said maybe fire ins#rance, but not to worry about theft because it's too heavy for a thief to carry off! I think he was right.

About ten years ago, I started buying some of the new Fiesta. The old line went out of production in 1972, and in 1986 it was revived, with some additions and in all new colors. I found two new colors that are very, very close to their old counterparts, and those are the colors I buy, so I can mix them in to supplement my old pieces. Yes, I use my Fiesta, both old and new. I just love it! It's so colorful, so happy and cheerful.

Well anyway, G-F, if you see any Fiestaware at the flea market, think of me. I almost never buy any of the old anymore, it's too expensive, but I still like to go and look, and stay up with the value. I still remember the day Dale let me buy a vendor's entire stock - cleared her little table - for $65. He thought I was crazy, but he rarely refused me anything, and then when we got home, he felt a lot better. I got out my collector's book, and based on the values in that book, I had bought over $500 worth of dishes for $65. Hey, I knew what I was getting! I've always been able to spot a bargain, and the best one I ever found was that good man. I knew what I was getting when I married him, too!

OK, got to get busy around here. Blessings, friends! --Romeena
August 16, 2013 - Msg 94476: Good grief! I just spent a little more time browsing around in that website, and I'm shocked! I can't believe the prices on some of the pieces. Actually, most of the pieces! I had no idea it had appreciated that much. My collector's book is well over ten years old. This website, presumably, is up to date. Wow. My kids are going to be shocked someday. They know not to just garage-sale it. My girls have some too, pieces I've given them over the years. They have used them as decorative pieces, and like me, the regular dishes are in table use, though not every day, like I do. Now, if my Beanie Babies would just perform like my Fiestaware has done..... --Romeena
August 16, 2013 - Msg 94477: Ro, when I went to San Antonio last Sunday, I drove past the mother of all flea markets!! I forgot the name of it but it is somewhere off the 410 loop and it i huge, new, pretty colorful rooftops. I am going to have to take up trip up there when the weather is cooler. I have been wanting to go to Canton but it is such a long drive for us. It looks like so much fun. Speaking of trips, did you read the comment I left a couple of days ago about us being able to go to River Bend and mentioned you and Eloise should come and rent a cabin, too? :)

I like Fiestaware, too, Ro, but don't own any. I prefer a lighter-weight china to the heavier pottery. For everyday, we usually just use our pyrex plates...virtually unbreakable, but rather ugly. :) During Christmas time, I get out the Christmas dishes and we use those, which is fun. I have a huge set of really cute christmas dishes from a company I can't spell...starts with a P.

I really love dishes, particularly vintage china but it is so costly. I have been wanting a set of china called, "Gold Crown"...from the 50's. It has a beautiful robin egg blue stripe and gold trim with little gold leaves. I just love it because it screams "vintage", but I cam across a set in an antique store and it was 600 dollars. I can't spend that much on dishes. I have a beautiful set of china from Homer Laughlin, that dates back to about 1920, that I inherited from my grandmother. I display it in my glass front cabinets but I don't use it..rarely. I think I need to change that because if something breaks, I can fairly easily get a replacement since it was a poplular style that was made for awhile.

Sorry to bore everyone with my dish affinity. :)

That might be a new topic of conversation here on the porch: What do you collect? I collect some vitage dishes, glassware, and Gooseberry Patch cookbooks. What about the rest of you?

ASA, I have an easy, wonderful dessert recipe for you. I saw it on Pioneer Woman's site and it is so easy but SO good. You know how sometimes you have leftover flour tortillas (well, I do anyway). Well, preheat the oven to 350, get out a baking sheet, melt some butter (about a half a stick for 6 tortillas), mix up some sugar and cinammon in a bowl. Now, brush the tortillas with the melted butter and sprinkle with the sugar and cinnamon, place them sugar-side down on baking sheet. Now butter the up-side of the tortillas and sprinkle generously with more of the sugar/cinammon. Bake at 350 for 15 to 17 minutes. SO GOOD!!

Boo


August 16, 2013 - Msg 94478: I'm baaack! Man you know what they get for a pound of flea's these days? Yep Romeena, I do run across Fiestaware from time to time, a lot of people around here collect Fenton glass too. The town I now live in was a big pottery town in the day, they made Royal China here so a lot of folks collect that here too. As for me, my collection "passion" is for Mayberry & Pure Oil Co. stuff.
So they have a collector book for finding a man? Well good on ya..Sounds like Dale was a good find!
Sorry about the Beanie Babies, I see ALOT of them for like $1 so you are not the only one holding the bean bag...

Asa, sounds like Boo gave you a good idea for your second "Cookin' with Asa" Show...ha! See what you can "DISH UP"...get it?

G-F....
August 16, 2013 - Msg 94479: Howdy, porch! Boo, I did see your post about booking a cabin at River Bend, and your very thoughtful invitation for me and Eloise to book one as well. I wish we could, but I doubt Eloise would be too excited about it. She'd probably go if I really pushed it, but she doesn't like water that much. We might get her to wade in a shallow part, but never in a million years would we get her into a tube. Besides, we'd just be two more women for Bruce to ferry around, like excess baggage. No, love, you go and have a wonderful time with your family. Take some pictures and email them to me.

About that recipe up there - you put the tortillas sugar side DOWN on the baking sheet? Don't they stick and burn and do all sorts of tacky things?

You're right about the weight of Fiestaware. It definitely is heavy. It takes up a lot of room in the cabinets, fills up a dishwasher quickly and is heavy, but I love it! My Florida kids have those Corningware dishes. My DIL has service for about 18, including plates, salad plates, dessert bowls, cups, saucers, serving bowls, and a couple of platters, and it's all stored in one above-the-counter cabinet, about 18 inches wide. In contrast, I had to get Ted to reinforce the double-wide cabinet that holds my daily dishes, because the weight was pulling it off the wall! But still, I like it!

You should just have fun with your love of vintage dishes. The style these days is to mix the dishes up anyway, so just have fun with it. Pick up a place setting of a pattern you like at a garage sale, and get another, different one at another sale, and just keep going until you've got all the dishes you could use. Eloise's daughter Terri is an importer for tabletop ware, as well as decorative pieces - vases and such. She travels to China at least twice a year to order inventory, and she has at least three full sets of pottery and china. Still, her latest style is the mixed stuff. She sets a beautiful table, just using leftover sample place settings from her business.

Well, David is home. I picked him up from the airport a little while ago, and he's glad to be back in Texas. He was in Colorado for the last ten days, but he was working constantly, and is glad to be back home with his family. He's wanting some pork chops, so that will probably happen over the weekend. He thinks nobody fries pork chops like his mama.

G-F, about the Beanie Babies, you're right. Most of them are selling for a fraction of what they cost new. There are a few that are valued at a very high price, and I happen to have a couple of them. Humphrey the Camel, for one. He's supposed to sell for about $400, but we'll see. It's one thing to see a value on a website. It's quite another to see it as cash in your hand. I haven't offered him for sale as yet, but I probably will.

Well, guess I'll go scare up some dinner. Don't know what it's going to be. I've got some lettuce and a tomato, and some tortilla chips, some cheese and a can of ranch style beans. Maybe I'll just make a taco salad. Quick, easy, good and the stuff is already in the house and paid for. Can't beat a deal like that! Blessings, everyone! --Romeena
August 16, 2013 - Msg 94480:
Howdy porch family....another cool and rainy day today here in SC. Planning on spending the day out with my sweet wife tomorrow. Then on Sunday I will be having a concert in St Simon's Island, Georgia so I'll be gone until the wee hours of Sunday night.

Ro....Bro Bob is a special guy. So glad he's liking the new cd. And yes the song "Be Still" has been very special in the concerts. God really spoke this song into my spirit when I wrote it.

Well my wife brought me a big bag of fresh boiled peanuts so I think I'm gonna get back to munching on them....lol
You all have a good day (the rest of the day) and sleep good tonight! May your weekend be filled with the love of Jesus shining through you:)
Love and prayers
-REV.
August 16, 2013 - Msg 94481: Oooo, boiled peanuts! Yum! I love the things. Ugly, messy, wonderfully delicious things! I've only had them a few times, because they're not something you see around here, but I like them. My son bought a big bag of them for us to share when we rode the Seadoos up the Ocklawaha and Silver rivers. What a day that was! Really fun!!! We saw gators and monkeys, beautiful scenery, and rode right over the top of the unfathomable spring that feeds the Silver. I think I've told y'all that story before, but it sure was fun. I'd love to do it again.

Boo, that Christmas china you mentioned that starts with a P. Would that be Pfaltzgraff? It's beautiful stuff, some very lovely patterns. Which one is yours? My mom had a lot of Lenox Christmas china. I have some of it, and I think Heather has the rest. My mother was always one to set a beautiful table, with fancy little pieces and pretty dishes. I don't know how she did it. There would be a fantastic meal, and all the little decorating things as well. Personally, I've always considered it a success if the food was good and I had remembered to empty the dishwasher. I usually don't even set the table. I have a big center island in the kitchen, the food all goes on that, and the plates are stacked on one end. Everyone picks up a plate, fills it, and the silverware drawer is on the other end of the island, so they pick that up out of the drawer as they head for a table. It's really tacky, I know, but it always seems to come down to a question of good food timed to be ready all at the same time, and pick up your own plate, or you can have a pretty table and baloney sandwiches! I just don't have my mother's talent and skill. Or, for that matter, the want-to. I always said my mom was china, my daughters are pretty pottery, and I'm paper plates.

Well, I'm off to watch Perry Mason. Blessings, everyone! --Romeena
August 17, 2013 - Msg 94482:
A-h-h-h, is this the Antiques Roadshow website?? haha
Fun reading about your "goodies."
Boo-I'm not really a collector, but I am a model railroader (I think I mentioned that a LONG time ago here), and I have several old trains, including my dad's 1929 Lionel metal "O" gauge passenger train that he got when he was 11. It's all intact and runs, even the transformer.
REV-all the best with the concert. Stay dry.
Possum- good to see ya. send us some rain! thx :)
Prayers,
MDC

August 17, 2013 - Msg 94483:
A-h-h-h, is this the Antiques Roadshow website?? haha
Fun reading about your "goodies."
Boo-I'm not really a collector, but I am a model railroader (I think I mentioned that a LONG time ago here), and I have several old trains, including my dad's 1929 Lionel metal "O" gauge passenger train that he got when he was 11. It's all intact and runs, even the transformer.
REV-all the best with the concert. Stay dry.
Possum- good to see ya. send us some rain! thx :)
Prayers,
MDC

August 17, 2013 - Msg 94484:
OOps!
August 17, 2013 - Msg 94485: Yes Ro, that's the name of it. The pattern is called, "Snow Village". It has a small snowman in the center of the plate and some other cute little things around the rim. I'm sure if you google it, you could find a picture of it easily. I love anything from Lennox, especially the Christmas china, but its pretty pricey stuff. Worth every penny, I'm sure.

Ro, I don't set a table at holidays, either. Our family is just too big to fit at a table so we do the buffet style thing, too. There is food or drinks on every possible counter space! I have a pretty milk glass container that put silverware in so people can just grab it easily. We are casual around here for every holiday. We even dress casually.

Went to see "The Butler" tonight. I liked some of it, some of it not so much. If you go see it, you will figure out what I didn't like so much but won't get into a political discussion here. :)

Way past my bedtime!

Boo
August 17, 2013 - Msg 94486: Hey, really neat about the trains, MDC!

Boo
August 17, 2013 - Msg 94487: HOO say's guys are aren't good listeners? Is this sorta like Gomers "Hootie Hoo" signal?
Do I get an Amen from the Female type porchsters?
Funny...even tho he is one of my kind..ha


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8N2SftkPmQ

G-F
August 17, 2013 - Msg 94488: Who? :)
August 17, 2013 - Msg 94489: I love Geico commercials! The owls are funny, the camel is so funny (there's a person just like him in every office), and of course, the gecko is a classic. I love to watch the little details they put in the gecko commercials. My favorite is an old one - the one where he was driving that little red car, and pulled into a full-size parking space (marked "Employee of the Month"), parking that tiny car right in the middle. What was so cute, in my opinion, was the way he was sitting in the car, right hand on the steering wheel, left arm draped casually over the window ledge, and his little fingers were tapping in time to the music on his radio. Wonderful stuff.

It's absolutely gorgeous here today, and would you believe, only 78° at noon? I can't believe it's this cool. It won't last, of course, but it sure is great right now. The skies are clear, there's a little breeze, we've had some rain so everything is green and perky, critter traffic is heavy out back, and there are even FOUR, count 'em, four, of those beautiful dragonflies around the pond. For years, there would be only one each year. Last year, there were two. Now there are four, so I guess someone has been busy. They are the prettiest things!

Well, I hear a lawnmower approaching the back yard, and I'm sitting in front of this window in my nightgown. Guess I'd better go get some clothes on, because Eddie will soon be in the yard. I don't want to scare him! Blessings, everyone! --Romeena
August 17, 2013 - Msg 94490: Hey Romeena,Boo,MDC...Rev..braaves running good....Mich race tomorrow...well night shift for me...got a broke pole accident I worning on...back in a bit...im hungry....(hint)...SPOT
August 18, 2013 - Msg 94491: Good afternoon, porch. I didn't make it to preaching this morning. I was awake most of the night, for some reason, and finally got to sleep around 5:30. So, when the alarm went off at 7:30, I barely heard it, and didn't get up. I don't know what was wrong, I don't usually have any trouble sleeping, but last night I just couldn't get settled down.

Hey, SPOT, I'm glad you're not out climbing those poles in storms anymore. So what do y'all do when a pole gets broken during the night? Surely they don't try to replace the thing in the dark? I was watching the day they replaced the pole at the back of my property, and that's a big job! I know you were a lineman, but I'm wondering - what's your opinion of overhead lines vs buried lines? Which do you think is best? Personally, I think I prefer buried lines, so that the trees don't have to be butchered to prevent them from breaking lines, you don't get outages due to broken poles, and it just generally looks better. However, I suspect there are disadvantages to buried lines that wouldn't be obvious to the public, but the repair crews would know it. I'd just like to know both sides.

Well, guess I'll go rustle up some lunch. Blessings, everyone! --Romeena
August 19, 2013 - Msg 94492:
RO-we have buried lines in our neighborhood, but they are now about 38 years old, and we get periodic outages due to deterriation. But the electric co is also starting a whole "recabling" in our area, so hopefully all will be good again soon. Interesting how they put the new lines in the underground conduit, and then flood it with a "preserving oil," sorta like miracle salve!
But you are right, no downed pole problems round here! (:
Sorry you didn't get to preaching due to insomnia.
Hope you are doing better.
ASA--any Allison yet?
G-F--how do the Browns and/or Bengals look?
Prayers,
MDC
August 19, 2013 - Msg 94493: Good evening, porch! Actually, it's Monday morning. I've had a great day. About three this afternoon, David called and asked if I was up to making him some pork chops (his favorite meal.) Of course, I said I would. So he and Brittney and the boys came over, Eloise and Jerry came, and we had a lovely evening. I made a quick trip to the store before they got here, and we had a good supper. Fried pork chops, and fried round steak as well, milk gravy (I make good gravy), noodles, and some sauteed squash with a little cheddar cheese on it. I also sliced some strawberries and put a couple of tablespoons of sugar on them, enough to make them release some juice. Brittney brought a pan of brownies and I whipped some cream, so we had brownie shortcake! Sure was good.

Jerry was tired so he and Eloise left not long after dinner, but the kids stayed and we watched "War Horse." They had given me the DVD at Christmas, but I'd never watched it, since I wanted to watch it with them. We put it in my blu-ray, cranked the surround sound up, and that was one impressive movie. Beautiful story, made by Spielberg, so you know it would be well done.

Brittney is an amateur photographer, on her way to being a professional, and she brought her big old camera. She took my little Toye Starr out in the back yard and took some awesome pictures of her. All I've had until now were some tacky little snapshots that I've taken with my little camera. Brittney's look like studio pictures. She has a photographer's eye for composition and light, and has a remarkable knack for working with animals. Toye Starr obeyed her perfectly and posed like a pro. Too cute!

Well, I'm headed for bed. I actually finished getting my 2012 income tax stuff together on Saturday, so will be at the CPA's office bright and early tomorrow. I've got to get that filed! I need the refund that's coming. Blessings, everyone! --Romeena
August 19, 2013 - Msg 94494: Well dag blame it, I had a nice long post written out and tried to post and got censured and when I tried to fix it, it disappeared into cyber-space I guess. Anyway, short on time, but to answer your question MDC, yes, Allison arrived at 3:04 P.M. M.S.T. yesterday with no drama involved. When Stacey was checked yesterday morning, they discovered Allison had flipped herself and was ready to enter into mortality. Both Mom and Daughter are fine and dandy I'm happy to report. I have been teasing Daddy a bit. I guess in the delivery he got a little bit faint and had to take a sit. I only tease him because he thinks he is such a manly man. At 6'5" and 270 pounds, he is a pretty stout feller. And owning a meat packing company, he's used to all kinds of butchering and stuff. And this is their 5th child and he has not had any problems with the other 4, so it was surprizing to hear he got a bit wobbley. Him and I are always talking smack on each other though, so I gave him a good amount of ribbing last night. Spent all day yesterday watching the other grandkids and I gotta say, they plum wore me right out. Good active kids, ages ranging from 7 to 18 months. Whew, this parenting stuff is a young mans game I'll tell ya. But we had a blast, and all is well. Thank you all again for your prayers and concern. They are much appreciated.

Well I hope this post takes.

Prayers for all.

Asa
August 19, 2013 - Msg 94495: Oh, and Allison was 7 pounds 4 ounces and 18" long. Her largest baby yet. Stacey is all of 5'1" and 110 pounds dripping wet after a big meal. :)

Asa
August 19, 2013 - Msg 94496: Great news, Asa!! The Lord answered prayer, didn't He? :) Keep talking smack to that son-in-law!

Sounds like a wonderful day, Ro. Isn't it a blessing to have David and his family nearby? I hope at least one of my children will live near me when they are grown. Of course, I want to get out of this area so badly that it might not work out that way...unless one of them moves to Colorado and I will be right behind them!

Yesterday was a relaxing day for me. Preachin', leftovers, and a long nap. I just hung around and watched some tv last night. It felt good to just do nothing for a change.

Better get going on the chores.

Boo
August 19, 2013 - Msg 94497: Asa.....GrandDaddy,GrandDaddy,GrandDaddy!!!

MDC As usual, I think the jury is still out on the Browns..as for the Bengals I don't follow them at all.

G-F...
August 19, 2013 - Msg 94498: Good morning, porch! Gorgeous day here, 82° and going to get warmer, but it surely is pretty. The back yard isn't the riot of color I like it to be - the heat has taken care of a lot of the flowers, but there are spots of beautiful color here and there. Sometimes I think the things that are still blooming are all the prettier for the lack of competition. One tall rosebush has decided to bloom, and has probably twenty big, beautiful red roses on it. The crape myrtles are coming into their own - they love the heat! A little colony of pentas is blooming, and there are five hibiscus placed randomly about the yard, which will suddenly unfurl a saucer-sized bloom or two or three without warning! Two plants bloom red, one white, one pink, and one pink/white stripe. So pretty. Then, just for fun, there's the mobile color as enormous butterflies float around like drifting flowers. The beautyberry put out thousands of tiny white, very nondescript blooms in clusters along the stalks a few weeks ago, and those have now turned into clusters of BB-sized green berries. The berries closer to the center of the plant are turning a rich purple color, and this will move outward until all the berries are purple. They will look like fat blackberries strung like beads on those slender canes. It's pretty now, against the green foliage, but will be striking in the fall, when the leaves drop off and the berries remain. Really eye-catching, until the birds finish off the berries! I love it!

Congrats, Asa! I'm so glad everything went well, and I think it's funny that Daddy got woozy. Actually, that happens quite often, and it's usually the bigger, macho guys that do it. Your SIL is exactly the size of my David, by the way. Big old gentle giant, until someone starts mistreating someone who can't fight back. David got in a few fights as a kid and teenager, and every time, he was defending someone who was being bullied. Kinda reminded me of Opie! Anyway, I'm glad the baby is here and everyone is well. God is good!

Last night, as usual, David couldn't resist picking at his older brother, who of course is in Florida. Using his phone, David photographed his plate, complete with a big pork chop with one huge bite taken out of it, and emailed it to his brother, with the caption "Don't you wish you were here?" Weasel.

Well, off I go. Blessings, everyone! --Romeena
August 19, 2013 - Msg 94499:
Congrats ASA, Stacy and Allison (for turning herself about, and saying Hello World!) Very cool.
Let us know if you post pics on FB.
Ah yes, sibling rivalry is alive and well!
My older brother and I have very similar voices,
and when girls would call him, I'd talk to them for about 5 minutes before I got "Is this Steve? Dawgonnit, get me Bob right now!" Ah yes! haha
Prayers for the world!
MDC
August 20, 2013 - Msg 94500: Glad you had a nice day, Ro. It is still so very hot and humid here...about 100 degrees everyday, with an even hotter heat index due to the high humidity. I am sick and tired of it, as usual.

Sleepy tonight...should be getting to bed. I wanted to throw in a prayer request, though. St. susan's daughter in law (mother of little Emily), is seeing the doctor tomorrow for a breast lump. She has a history of fibroid cysts but she says this one is different and a hard lump. She is concerned, understandably. Please remember Amy in your prayers. Thanks. :)

I'm ready to hit the ironing board.

Boo
August 20, 2013 - Msg 94501: Morning dears

Boo, I will surely add Amy to my prayer list. Sorry you're fighting that heat. We are still around the triple digit temps here also. But we don't get the humidity you folks get. Although the last couple of days it has come up because of some moisture from down south. Hopefully it will bring some rain one of these days. We sure need it.

Why MDC, you little scamp. Playing to be your brother with his girl friends. I bet that was some fun though.

Well Stacey and Allison were doing so well they came home yesterday. Yes, God is good. :)

Ro, we have underground power feeds where I live. But they still are fed from aboveground lines somewhere, so weather still will affect things. I think the biggest issue with underground power is excavation work. I know by code, any thing I bury has to be a mininum of 2 feet below grade unless it's under concrete. And everything I do is on the load side of the meter base. I imagine the line side has even stricter demands. But what happens a lot of times is the lines are installed deep when the house is built, and then landscaping takes place. And sometimes there will be a whole lot of dirt moved and that depth really changes. I remember helping a neighbor install a fence once. We had called blue stake and they came and marked all underground lines. There was power close to where we needed a hole so we decided to dig that one by hand. We were shocked (not liteally) to find the conduit for his house feed only about a foot below grade. It seems when he had graded his property after moving in, he had removed a lot of soil from that area that sat quite high.
I didn't know they put oil in the conduits. I reckon to keep them cool as well. They used to do that with the old flourescent ballasts to keep them cool. Problem was when they eventually went bad, they bellowed out smoke like crazy. I'm sure G-F has seen that before in his line of work. These new electronic ballasts are a joy to deal with. Small, light weight, and will take any voltage from 277 to 120. I dig em, although they don't seem to last as long. Oh well, job security I guess.

Speaking of such, I best quit talking about working and actually go do some.

Prayers friends.

Asa
August 20, 2013 - Msg 94502: Thanks, Asa. We actually had some rain here this morning and it could continue off and on the next couple of days due to the tropical storm that went into Mexico.

It sure is nice to see it rain and hear alittle thunder. My dogs hate it, though and are huddled up in the garage thinking the world is coming to an end. Poor things. Wish I they could understand. Hey, I think there might be a spiritual analogy in that. When they storms of life come, do we huddle in the garage like dogs, thinking the world is coming to an end, while God knows its just a passing storm? hehe

Better git'!

Boo
August 20, 2013 - Msg 94503: Good morning, porch! I slept so well last night, and really feel great this morning. Toye Starr woke me by jumping over me, back and forth, until she saw my eyes open, then she jumped ON me and did a little happy dance. How can a person wake up anything but happy, with that going on? Then we got up, and I opened the bedroom door and looked out the office window and smiled some more. The sun is shining, a few hardy flowers are blooming in spite of the heat, and the yard looks lovely. Two silly little squirrels are chasing each other, and well, God is just good!

Boo, that's a beautiful analogy, and I think it's right on the money. That's exactly what we do, over and over again. America is in the granddaddy of all storms right now, but II Chronicles 7:14 says "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." I fervently believe that. My only concern is what it's going to take to make people wake up and realize what we must do, and do it. For one thing, it needs to begin with our leadership, but if that doesn't happen, and it appears to be very unlikely, then the grassroots people of America need to stand up and be heard.

Well, guess I'd better get a little housework done today. My income tax project is complete, I finished a writing assignment, so now I guess I have no choice but to find my dustcloth, drag out the vacuum, and get busy! I wish Otis would come staggering by, I could put him to work!

Blessings, friends! --Romeena
August 20, 2013 - Msg 94504: Asa...I just love the smell of a burnt ballast in the Morning,....Smells like victory! (still the best way to clear out a room of folks in a hurry)
Those new electronic ballasts,...Just be sure you dig em' back!
When I pull wire, I use "Goob Lube" it makes em' as E.T. Bass would say,....Slickity...
Also, I'm makin' stuffed pork chops now, come by later and see how they turn out, I'll even throw in an ear of corn....

G-F.....
August 20, 2013 - Msg 94505:
G-F--does your gold tooth catch the light? ha
Cardinals are looking good this pre-season. New coach, new attitude, so we shall see.
NASCAR heating up too for the chase.
Friends, I just gotta pull out the soapbox for a sec, and ask you all to please pray for the Christians in Egypt. The torching of so many churches the last few days really should be affecting the "collective" church. The pictures etc are hard to digest of such violence. thanks.
ASA- Glad to hear all goes well with the new baby.
Prayers,
MDC
August 20, 2013 - Msg 94506:
http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/15/world/meast/egypt-church-attacks
Prayers,
MDC
August 21, 2013 - Msg 94507: While that soapbox is out, MDC, let me borrow it for a minute. It's true the violence in Egypt is deplorable, and needs to stop. However, there's a slightly different flavor to the violence there, compared with what's happening in other parts of the world. I believe what's being done in Egypt is intended to incite more violence. They're hoping to draw a response and bring about an escalation of violence, in order to destabilize the country and leave the door open for an Islamic government to step in. This was brought out in the link you provided. However, in other parts of the world, the same thing, and far worse, is being done and the world just rocks along, ignoring it. In Nigeria, churches are burned, with the congregants sealed up inside. Whole villages are razed, torched, the population murdered en masse. I talked with a young Nigerian man who has been here less than two years, and he told me of his family's nightmarish escape from Nigeria. Their small town was wiped out. This is not political. This is an outgrowth of the sheer hatred that many Muslims hold for Christians and Jews. They are simply following the commands given by Mohammed. Some of it is to be found in the Q'uran (buy one and read it for yourself) and even more can be found in the Haddiths of Mohammed. The Haddiths are the thoughts of Mohammed himself, dreamed up in his old age and dictated to Aisha, his favorite wife, whom he married when she was just a little girl, and who stayed with him until his death. Some of what you will find in both places, and especially in the Haddiths, is blood-chilling.

The things we're letting the Muslim extremists get away with, it's hard to believe. If we were to do to the mosques in America, and to Muslim citizens what they are doing to Christians around the world, we would be facing a third World War. We won't, and they know it, and they think we are weak and cowardly because we won't. They want a war, they thrive on war, and we're not responding, and they think we're weak. Our government is not even doing anything about the imprisonment and torture of Pastor Saeed Abedini, who is held in an Iranian prison, and he's an American citizen. He's nearly dead, and we're just letting it happen. Dear Lord. Where is it going to end?

OK. Enough. That's all I'll say, but I had to get that off my chest. Please pray for Pastor Saeed, and many others like him around the world.

Blessings, friends! --Romeena


August 21, 2013 - Msg 94508: Morning porch, hump day for all of us! though I would drop in for a minute or so from work.

I've been enjoying time with Patrick the past 2 weeks. He goes back to Cookeville this week end and will start classes on Monday. Beth starts back on Monday as well. She is still undecided on a major but is leaning toward business with a degree in accounting/CPA. seems like only yesterday they were in elementary school.

looks like rain and storms are heading my way today. we have had a very wet spring and summer. lots of folks have struggled with their gardens due to the wet ground and flooding.

Lets meet for lunch today at Morelli's Diner. maybe we can have the pounded steak ala Morelli!

everyone have a blessed day.
Big Maude
August 21, 2013 - Msg 94509: Morning porch, hump day for all of us! though I would drop in for a minute or so from work.

I've been enjoying time with Patrick the past 2 weeks. He goes back to Cookeville this week end and will start classes on Monday. Beth starts back on Monday as well. She is still undecided on a major but is leaning toward business with a degree in accounting/CPA. seems like only yesterday they were in elementary school.

looks like rain and storms are heading my way today. we have had a very wet spring and summer. lots of folks have struggled with their gardens due to the wet ground and flooding.

Lets meet for lunch today at Morelli's Diner. maybe we can have the pounded steak ala Morelli!

everyone have a blessed day.
Big Maude
August 21, 2013 - Msg 94510: Gooood morning, porch!! A beautiful day here, only 79°, clear and lovely. I don't know what we've done to deserve this little cooling-off spell, but I'd sure like to do it again. It's been wonderful.

Yesterday was Brittney's birthday, and David took the whole family out to Red Lobster for dinner. He brought a beautiful cake, and the staff helped us by storing it until we finished our meal, then they brought it in. She blew out the candles and we sang "Happy Birthday" to her. The staff had enlisted the people at the tables in our section to join in, so that was fun. Then a little later a table near us also had a birthday, so we sang with them, and in about ten minutes, another table also celebrated a birthday, so everyone sang with them! It was such fun. We felt like we were all old friends by the time we sang to the third table. We shared the cake with the staff, and everyone had a lovely evening.

I got home around eleven, and was in bed by one, which is early for this old night-shift person. Toye Starr woke me a little before nine, with her silly antics, and I woke up laughing at her. Then I got up and saw this beautiful day - well - it just doesn't get much better than that.

Hey, Maude. Does that big old gangly, annoying, adorable camel walk through your workplace on Wednesday, announcing that it's "Hump Day"? He is so funny! I love that commercial - probably because, as I said before, every office has someone like him. Lovable, but you'd still like to just smack him sometimes. Some of the time, that guy isn't even lovable, and you'd like to smack him all the time!

You know, I have a cousin who would definitely be in the second category. I don't know how he behaved in the workplace, but I can imagine. I know how he was at every family gathering. We all knew before he even arrived that he would say something stupid, insulting, annoying, inappropriate or embarrassing to someone, and usually several "someones." Everyone's defenses went up when he walked in the door. One by one, he alienated the whole family, including his two brothers and his sister, and now no one even knows where he is. He completely wore out his welcome everywhere in Texas, and the last I knew, about ten years ago, he was living up north somewhere. He has an ex-wife and some kids in Pennsylvania, though the kids are grown now. I suppose he's still alive, but I don't know for sure. It's so sad. Two divorces, five kids, and his son even changed his name to that of his stepfather, to distance himself even farther. I suppose if he showed up on my doorstep genuinely sick and needing help, I'd help him, but I'd sure have to see confirmation that he was really in need and not just working another of his scams. Isn't that awful? Oh, I could tell you stories of some of the stunts he pulled that you'd find hard to believe. The hardest part to believe would be that nobody resorted to killing him! Oh, many have thought about it, but they kinda hated to go that far.

Well, guess I'll get busy. I need to go feed the fish, and put out critter feed. Then if I can't find anything else to occupy me, I'll drag out the vacuum and pull a couple of pounds of dust out of the carpets around here. I'll put that off "until tomorrow" if I can find something else to do, though. I hate to vacuum, it just wears me out.

Blessings! --Romeena
August 21, 2013 - Msg 94511: Hey Maude, good to see you on the porch this morning. Glad you have enjoyed some time with the kids. :) Yes, seems like elementary school was only yesterday. We were watching some home movies of the kids at St. Susan's yesterday and the kids were about 5 and 12...can't believe they are 12 and 18 already!!

Well, Sean is excited because he started a new job today (so now he is working 2 part-time jobs). We have some good friends who own a car dealership in town (new and used) and they called Sean the other day to ask if he would like to work for them, detailing cars. Sean is a car freak so it's his dream job. They already have 25 cars lined up for him to do and they are going to pay him 30 dollars per car. Its not hard work, either because they have already been detailed before they were bought at auction and they just need some sprucing up. I just hope he can do both jobs.

Well, plenty to do, as usual...better get going.

Boo