December 12, 2014 - Msg 100129: Thanks for the tips Ro. I knew about shell fish and organ meats. I have not heard about a correlation with fructose though. Interesting. That is like corn starch, hidden in a lot of stuff. I have been trying to figure out what triggers it, but to no avail yet. But that might be something to look into. Thank you.

MDC, I have tried a couple of remedies, but not had much luck. Cherry's are supposed to be a good thing, but I was even drinking cherry extract last year for several months and it didn't help much. But I am interested in what you offer. The only thing that I can say for sure with me at least is weight loss will bring it on. I have dropped a few pounds this week and whamo. I have discovered in the past if I go on a strict diet and lose a lot of weight in a hurry it hits with a vengeance. I didn't think that was the case this time, but it's the only thing I have done different. I thought losing weight was supposed to be good for you? I'm not to heavy but I could stand to drop 10 or 15 pounds. Crazy stuff I tell ya.

Well the stuff I take when I have a flare really works well. But it keeps you tied to "the facilities". :)

Asa
December 12, 2014 - Msg 100130: Oh great, I sweep with a discussion about being tied to "the facilities". Oh delightful.

Asa
December 12, 2014 - Msg 100131: ....Maybe Mulberry squeezin's Asa? Sorry your ailin' Asa, as with all else, "this too will pass" sometime you just can't say enough about "facilities"...Maybe if you just drink a lot of water and kick back in YOUR "Wheeler" and take it easy this week-end. Get ya some Miracle Salve and put on it, the worst it could do is clear up any mange..

Dr. Pendyke & Opie Taylor Sr....
December 12, 2014 - Msg 100132: Gomer: "How do you do that?"

-SH
December 12, 2014 - Msg 100133:
ASA-yes, one item I was going to mention was cherry.
Here is a link to a site of 7 home remedies.
http://www.natural-homeremedies.com/natural-home-remedies-for-gout/
It's that darn uric acid. Try an apple a day at lunch.
Well ALL, we are suppose to get a big rainstorm on Sat. ASA, you may get some too. Coming from Cal. I raked up all the leaves from our big ash tree because I don't like the wet smell on brown, decaying leaves. It was a real incentive to get out there and just do it! ha
Have we lost Luther? I hope he realizes that we all dont respond to everything that people post.
I mentioned an AZ earthquake a couple weeks ago, and got no comments, but I didnt make a big deal out of it.
BOO-take care of your cold. Keep your immune system on high alert! Vit C, no sugary things, etc always helps.
PRAYERS,
MDC
December 13, 2014 - Msg 100134: Good evening, porch. Just spent a very pleasant evening, unexpectedly. David called about 5:30 (I was already in my jammies for the evening) and said the family was headed for Angelo's (a favorite old-time restaurant here in town) and asked me to meet them there. He had given Brittney two tickets to Amy Grant's concert in Dallas, so she and Eloise (Brittney's mother) were going, and he and the boys were going to hang out here. So, I dressed right quick-like, met them at Angelo's, and David took Brittney and Eloise to the train station, where they caught the train for downtown Dallas. Incidentally, that's the only way to go. They boarded the train here at 6:50, and by 7:25 they were in their seats at the AA Center. The train makes a special stop at the Center when there's an event there. Costs just $2.50. Parking at the center is from $15 to $40.00, and the $15 lot is a two-block walk to the arena. Then you have to fight the traffic. I would never drive down there.

Anyway, David and the boys and Jerry hung out here until the gals got back, and I took advantage of having 6'5" David here, got some decorating stuff done that I couldn't reach without a ladder, which I prefer to avoid. As I've said before, that boy is a very handy little gadget. He's always so willing and so sweet about it, too. He's a keeper.

Well, time for the jammies again. Maybe I'll find a good happy movie to watch and stay up late. Blessings, friends. --Romeena
December 13, 2014 - Msg 100135: Romeena, It's a good thing to have a 6'5 walking ladder haha, at 5'5 I wouldn't be much help to ya except to hang ornaments on the lower branches..lol Angelo's...A great place for Chinese food? haha frarahrahrarah!

Yep MDC, I heard too that you guys are going to get big rainstorms from your CaLAfornia friends. Better start rounding all the animals up 2 by 2.

Doing Ok Asa? Hope you are....

Floyd posted this before if you have not heard it, it is a Christmas recording by Charlie Monk. https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=YNr-luG1zNQ

G-F...
December 13, 2014 - Msg 100136: Thanks, G-F. I passed this along, to family and friends, and that includes the folks here who are on my email list. So, some of you will have a second opportunity to enjoy this video. It's great!

Our weather remains mild, it's 64° this morning. I've got about five more strings of twinkle lights that aren't in use, so I'm going to go put them in the shrubbery on both sides of the arbor. That will finish up the lights in the back yard. Then if I can find a working strand of incandescent twinkles, I'll put it on the rosebush next to the garage, to balance the lights out front. I've got incandescents in the front, LEDs in the back, and never the twain shall meet. The incandescents would suffer by comparison. The LEDs are so clear and bright, and are really pretty out back. They're economical as well, costing about a sixth as much to operate, or a fourth as much if you factor in the current cost of the bulbs, if I understand it correctly. Of course, the tables you can find online are not exact, because the cost of energy varies, but here in Dallas, our average is about 11.4 cents per kwh. As for CFLs, I don't think they make any kind of Christmas lights, and I hate the annoying little things anyway. I use only one CFL in this house - in the front hall bathroom, where the light stays on all the time as a security thing, and when that bulb dies, it will be replaced with an LED, since it will run even cheaper than the CFL.

Well, off I go. Gonna string those twinkles around the arbor, then if I can muster up the energy, I'm going to mop the kitchen. It's a big kitchen, and a lot of tile, but it's dirty! I can't stand it any longer. I just hate to mop!

Blessings, friends! --Romeena
December 14, 2014 - Msg 100137: Well a real(early) good morning to to the porch !..on the hoot owl shift weekends this month...Its almose 1:00 am here on the southeren end of the porch...got the lifetime movie going and fixing to snack...hey Asa,Romeena,G-F,Tom,Lucy,MDC,Boo and all...well let me hit the kitchen here at work...prayers to all....SPOT
December 14, 2014 - Msg 100138: Hey Spotty and good Sunday morning to all!

*******************
possum under a rock
December 14, 2014 - Msg 100139: Good morning, Spot! What would we do without you and your co-workers, who keep the power flowing for the rest of us? It's hard, having to work on Sunday, but some jobs are essential, and it can't be helped. I remember a patient, an elderly lady, who scolded me one Sunday morning for being at work. She had noticed the ring I wear, the Christian fish symbol, and told me I should be in church "where you belong" on Sunday, especially since I had children, and should have been "setting an example" for them. I thought a minute, then used my mom's disarming response. I said, "You could be right." That surprised her, so then I said, "One thing that concerns me though. People get sick on Sundays just like any other day, and the hospital is full today. If all the Christian staff went home and went to church, there wouldn't be very many people left here to take care of you, and the ones who would be here would not be Christians. Wouldn't that be a little sad? Maybe you and I should pray about it and try to find an answer." No more scolding from her!

Well, speaking of church, I'd better scoot or I'll be late. Poor Toye Starr, she watched me get dressed, so she knows she's about to be left. I wish I could take her with me. She would be very good, as long as she could curl up in my lap.

Weird weather we're having. It's very cloudy, windy, looks cold out there, but it's actually 63°. Things are trying to leaf out, buds are rising - it's going to be sad when the cold hits, and it will, and all those things freeze back. Oh well. Nothing I can do about it, so here I go. Blessings, friends. --Romeena
December 14, 2014 - Msg 100140: And a good morning to you too, Possum! Have a wonderful day. --Romeena
December 14, 2014 - Msg 100141: Hi All.
Well it time to come back home
You all Miss me?

G F- the BROWN are to WIN today or CINCICINNATI going to ? and PITT STEEL play FALCONS I talking PITT to win?

PEACE ON EARTH.
Peace on EARTH THEY SANG ON HIGH
AND POINTED TO WHERE the baby lie;
for peace had come to mark the Son
salvation now offered to everyone.

Peace had come to capture hearts,
no longer man need be apart;
and as I bowed my head to pray,
peace entered in, there to stay.

Peace on Earth what more is there,
to a shattered life - one in despair;
to a soul once lost, now filled with love,
peace was granted me from God above.


MERRY CHRISTMAS
TOM.
December 14, 2014 - Msg 100142:
"Merry Christmas you wonderful old Building & Loan." Guess what movie I watched last night? ha
TOM- yes we sure did! Glad you are well. Thank you for the beautiful poem to start my Sabbath day.
Spot, possum and ROmeena, good Sabbath to you all.
Our "big" rainstorm sort of fizzled out. We got a few showers however, and we'll take
'em! :)
Prayers for all, Jesus loves you!
MDC
December 14, 2014 - Msg 100143: ...Yes we did TOM, and as Dorothy told Toto..."There's no place like home"! Thanks for the poem too. As for the game, the Browns are down 20-0 at this time Johnnie Football has had a rocky start so far, so I don't know if he will catch fire or not, Cincy is still mad about getting beat by them earlier this season.

MDC a few showers are better than that big old fat rain that Forrest would talk about.

G-F...

December 14, 2014 - Msg 100144: ALL I THINK CINCY RUN RIGHT OVER THE BROWN 30-0
AND PITT GAVE FALCONS 27-20

TOM

December 15, 2014 - Msg 100145: Well a good monday morning to all !..here at work finishing up...come on 6am !..just below freezing here but gona be clear for a few days..hey there possum,Romeena,TOM dont know what im gona ado with our falcons...hey G-F,Boo,MDC,Asa...yall all stay warm and get out there and act like somebody today ! breakfast at waffle house on Boo and I...SPOT
December 15, 2014 - Msg 100146: Yep TOM, The Brownies choked for sure, I think Johnnie Football got a lesson on life in the NFL yesterday.

MDC must have been watching Charlie Browns Christmas again.. The one where Charlie tries to get a mortgage for Snoopy's doghouse? haha

G-F...
December 15, 2014 - Msg 100147: Happy Monday porch, its COLD here on my end of the porch but the sun is shining so guess I can deal with the cold.

busy week end at my place, shopped with Beth and her friend Molly all day on Friday. Keeping up with two 20 year old girls bout wore me out. we had a fun day though.

Went to church services yesterday, had our Christmas musi"cal". and then came home and baked cookies all afternoon. I generally give cookies to my co workers for Christmas. Made some peanut butter cookies with the Hershey kiss on top. toll house cookies and 7 layer cookies.

Since SPOT and BOO treated us to waffle house this morning, I will take care of lunch: a bowl of chicken tortilla soup, grilled cheese sandwiches. cookies for dessert. tea or lemonade to drink.

everyone have a blessed day. Prayers all around.
Big Maude


December 15, 2014 - Msg 100148: Good Monday all.

Well a nice breakfast from Spot and Boo, and now a delicious lunch from Big Maude. Just can't beat a deal like that, although I'm not sure about a chicken spider soup Maude. :) Then cookies sound good. Especially the peanut butter with the chocolate kiss on it. One of my favs.

Well my gout medicine did its work on me and has me back to normal. Then yesterday when I was getting dressed for preaching, I bent over and turned just right (or just wrong in this case) and aggravated a pinched nerve I get between my shoulder blades every now and again. Yikes, It feels just like someone is stabbing me with a knife. So I have been on muscle relaxers and a heating pad since then. I tell ya, this getting old stuff aint for sissies. A new day= a new pain somewhere. It seems I have aches and pains in places today that a few years ago I didn't even know I had places.

How's that "wheeler" treating you GF? You two close friends now? lol

Well guess I better go pop another relaxer and maybe a TAGS dvd in the magic machine.

Asa


December 15, 2014 - Msg 100149: Asa, Just be sure you don't mistake that relaxer and take a exlaxer instead, it could be a real moving experience! Then you could not exit your "Wheeler" fast enough,(Unless you have the power lift ejection option) lol maybe I shoulda paid the extra $1.25 for that....

Sorry SPOT I didn't make it to the Waffle House I had my heart set on a pancake today, maybe they coulda smoothed out the dents and made it flat for me, never gave that a thought....

G-F...
December 15, 2014 - Msg 100150: You boys just keep me laughing. What would this porch be without you? Asa, sorry about that pinched nerve. That can be so very painful. I know what you mean about finding aches in places you didn't know existed. Right now, I've got arthritis in my left ankle and the top of that foot. Walking hurts, because everytime my foot flexes, all those little bones in there grate on each other and it hurts! Today, in Target with Eloise, I noticed it was hurting more than usual. Finally, it was just really bothering me, so I sat down to take my shoe off for a minute, and realized that the end one of the laces was looped back and tucked into the shoe, and the plastic tip was digging into the top of my foot! How dumb can I be? I pulled that little rascal out of the shoe, and it was amazing how the pain level decreased! By the way, did you know that little plastic (or metal) tip on a shoe lace has a name? It's called an "aglet." Yep. Amazing what you can learn from Google.

Well, I got a lot done today. My 6-disc CD changer for my car was delivered (bought it on eBay) and I got it installed at a local custom car place very reasonably, so now I can once again enjoy Christmas carols. My old changer only recognized one disc, and it gets pretty tiresome hearing the same old CD over and over.

Later, Eloise and I went to lunch at Corner Bakery, then shopped a bit. I actually finished up my Christmas shopping! I can't believe it! Now I have a couple of things that have to be mailed, which I will do tomorrow, and I'm done, except for wrapping the things that stay here. I'm beginning to think Christmas will go smoothly this year.

The home health office called me, however, and want me to fill in on Dec. 25-28 with a patient whose nurse wants to go out of town. Since that's pretty much what I do for the agency, of course I accepted. He's just a simple dressing change, lives within about 12 minutes of my house, and is actually an old friend, so it won't be a problem. My daughter and her family will be here that whole time, but I'll only be gone about an hour each day, and they'll understand. It's good money, and it helps the other nurse. I had to sell the agency manager on the idea of letting me work in that "fill-in" capacity, but she's a believer now! I hate doing admissions, recertifications and discharges, and as a fill-in person, I don't have to do that. Easy-peasy!

Well, guess I'll go rustle up some dinner. Sorry I missed that good breakfast and lunch. Sometimes you just can't buy a break! --Romeena
December 15, 2014 - Msg 100151: Hi All.

G F STOP CRYING OVER THE LATE OF THE BROWN GAME!
NOW LOOKING AT YOUR WHEELER I SEE NO TAG OR LIGHT ON IT SO STAY OFF THE STREET WITH!
OR IT GOING TO BE $200.00 FINE OR 90 DAYS, I JUST GAVE YOU BOTH.

MR RAY BAT

December 16, 2014 - Msg 100152:
ASA--so sorry to hear that you have the misery in your back again. My prayers are with you (and the missus)
as you must be a site to her! ha
RO--I can't imagine a Caddy with a one-disc player. Maybe Mrs lesh was involved! :)
A few days ago I pointed out to my dad's caregiver that the tongue of his shoe was bent inside. She said, "Yah?" and I said "have you ever had that happen to your shoes putting them on?" Another "Yah." I said, "did it hurt?" She said "Yah." I said, "Well..." and she said..." OH, yah" and fixed it!
Please keep him in your prayers as he's been weaker again lately. Thanks.
Good call on the "fill-in" idea, maybe BOO could do that.
God's blessings to all,
MDC

December 16, 2014 - Msg 100153: Good late evening, porch. MDC, my car actually had two CD changers - the in-dash unit which plays only one CD at a time, and there was a 6-disc changer in the glove box. However, it gradually lost its ability to play all six discs, one by one. Finally it was down to recognizing only the third disc. The others were just skipped over. So I found a replacement on eBay, ordered it and had it installed. I used it today, and it's working beautifully. The car I traded in one the one I have now had a 12-disc changer, mounted in the trunk. I could load that thing up, and have music all the way to Fredericksburg, a 4 1/2 hr drive, without any repetition. It sounds inconvenient, being in the trunk, but actually it wasn't a problem. I'd pull the magazine out, or cartridge or whatever it's called, take it in the house and load it up, and with 5 to 6 hours of play time available, it just never got repetitious. I bought that car pre-owned, had 16k miles on it, and I think that 12-disc changer was factory installed, though I'm not positive. I would think it would have to be, because the electrical harness for it would almost have to be factory work. The six-disc changer in the glove box is apparently a factory-installed thing too, because the "Source" button recognizes it. I can switch from the in-dash player, to the radio, to the six-disc player with the Source button, and the display tells me which one is working. Gosh, I can't believe my car is 11 years old, but it is. Runs like a fine watch, has that famous Caddy ride, no squeaks or noises, and looks great. Of course, I treat it like a member of the family, and take very good care of it. It looks like a new car, not a dent or a ding on it. When I see what the payment would be on a newer one (I never buy brand-new) it knocks my socks off. I plan to keep this one until it dies, and since it only has 81k miles on it, I don't anticipate that happening any time soon. Besides that, 2004 was the last of the bigger cars. It's a Sedan de Ville, and they don't even make that model anymore. They're all much smaller, the cabin is significantly smaller, less knee and head room, and they just don't feel like a Cadillac. They gave me a new 2012 to drive once while mine was in for some minor work, and I didn't like that one nearly as well as my own car. Nope, I'll keep my car, as long as I can.

That's awful, that you had to practically force that caregiver to fix your dad's shoe. That sort of attitude makes me want to put a few knobs on somebody's head. Too often, I think the caregivers don't see the patient as a real person, but rather as some unfeeling old relic that doesn't know night from day. That's one reason why, over the years, I've attended many funerals for patients who have passed. To see their family and friends, to hear the eulogy and the personal stories - keeps me mindful that these were real people, beloved by family, with a life and friends and accomplishments. I once had a patient, 94 years old, almost completely demented, joints all contracted, she just lay in a fetal position all day, and never responded to anything. Her niece brought in a framed photo of a very beautiful woman, seated at a grand piano. She told us that the woman in the picture was our patient, that she had been a concert pianist, that she had played in Carnegie Hall, and had once played a command performance for Queen Elizabeth! That, friends, gave us something to think about! Everyone is worthy of respect.

Well, I'm off to dreamland. Got to have Toye Starr at the vet's office at 9:40 in the morning. She has some immunization boosters due, and Dr. Mike will trim her nails for me, too. I'm too chicken to do it. When I think of the things I've done in the course of patient care, and then I can't trim my dog's nails - weird, isn't it? Blessings! --Romeena
December 16, 2014 - Msg 100154: Rommena, a car with a 12 disc C/D changer I guess they DO do everything bigger in Texas. Sorta like having twin six shooters to play C/D's, great idea! I know what you mean about everyone being important, I found that by talking to my residents, yep everyone has a story....

Humm, a "Wheeler" on wheels...Better not do that, all I'd do is get into trouble.

G-F...
December 16, 2014 - Msg 100155: Good morning, porch! Wow, is it ever beautiful here today. It's 47° and will get warmer, the skies are mostly clear with some gauzy clouds like ribbons overhead, the sun is bright, birds and squirrels are all over the yard, just running here and there. They look like they're doing their last-minute Christmas shopping, storing up food for the cold that will eventually arrive. I love days like this!

Eloise and I are about to head out on some errands, and will probably stop by our friends' sandwich truck and get a Reuben. It may be too chilly to eat it in the park, but it's close to home, so we can come back here.

I found a YouTube video of a song that I think is one of the most beautiful of the Christmas songs to come out in modern times. Here's the link. Enjoy! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaCwBxfOGDw

Blessings! --Romeena
December 16, 2014 - Msg 100156: Supper Menu: Fried Chicken,fried okra,greenbeans,mash tater,corn on the cob, apple pie...sweet tea...ready at 6:30 est...SPOT
December 16, 2014 - Msg 100157: Yum!! --Romeena
December 16, 2014 - Msg 100158: ...No "smooth" pancakes to go with 'em? Ya can't say enough about cheiken..How does that rule go? I keep forgetting, is it "i" before "k" in chikin?
Just be sure to save me a wing. Are you cooking it "pioneer" style SPOT?

G-F...
December 16, 2014 - Msg 100159: Not to complain but them wings came off a chicken that's done a lot of flying! :)

Asa
December 16, 2014 - Msg 100160: G F & ASA - ARE GOING TO COOK THE CHRISTMAS SUPPER FOR THE PORCH!

SGE TOM
December 16, 2014 - Msg 100161: ...Asa has the gravy to swing it....I just bought the ham.. But I don't know how much fly'in time the pig had in tho....G-F
December 17, 2014 - Msg 100162:
Big Maude, thanks for the vittles. Sounds like you will have a real family Christmas! :)
Regarding the shopping, just remember old doc Andrews..."We aren't ....anymore!" ha
RO--thanks for the song...wonderful!
I may have posted this one below last year, but it is a neat song also,
but from Joseph's perspective.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KT4VDAIaMwU
Wow, time is flying.
Wed. I help out at our church nativity story "musi-CAL."
Happy Hanukkah! Did I ever mention that Jesus went to a Hanukkah celebrations, John 10: 22-23.
Prayers,
MDC

December 17, 2014 - Msg 100163: Thanks for that link, MDC. Beautiful song! And I appreciate the scripture reference as well. It is good for Christians to remember that our Lord was indeed a Jew, an observant Jew, who participated in the feasts and celebrations of the faith. Even though he himself was the fulfillment of the prophecies, he still honored the traditions of the faith.

Blessings, porch. Have a restful night. --Romeena
December 17, 2014 - Msg 100164: Good morning Porch.

Wonderful song link MDC. Thank you. And prayers for your Dad.

Romeena, how is Eloise doing these days? Well I pray.

Well GF, Looks like you and me are cooking Christmas dinner for the porch by orders of Sgt. Tom. I just don't know if the porch is ready for my cooking. I'm afeared my turkey will turn out just like Catherine's on Christmas Vacation did. "Just a little dry".

Your cards are arriving pals, and I appreciate them so much. With all I have been dealing with I have not made it yet to the store to buy cards. Hopefully I'll get there the next few days.

Well I am going to try and go to work today. Still pretty sore from the pinched nerve. I can't do much with my left arm. It feels like I have a knife sticking under my left shoulder blade.

Prayers for all.

Asa
December 17, 2014 - Msg 100165: Merry Christmas! "Everything's okay in Mayberry."

Our friends and family are a blessing to us and we're thankful for YOU! Thank you for sharing your lives with us.

We hope you enjoy the Christmas Card from the Newsome Family for 2014.
(It's actually a YouTube video.)

http://youtu.be/0OD5eRfIxbo

--Floyd
December 17, 2014 - Msg 100166: Good Morning Porch !..well gona be a fantastic day here on the southern end of porch...low 60"s and sunny..I put out 12 bails of pine straw yesterday and gona do the same today...cut shrubs down and gona start over !..gona plant dwarf ones this time...getting older...less up keep...well let me get back to work Asa you be carefull at work..take it easy..MDC prayers for your dad..well let me get back to keeping the lights on...will be back with Lunch menu...SPOT
December 17, 2014 - Msg 100167: Hey Y'all! I just made Christmas Day reservations over at that Chinese restaurant in Mt. Pilot,just in case G-F & Asa's cooking ain't up to snuff! Far Ra Ra Ra Ra,Ra Ra Ra Ra (LOL)

Nice Christmas video/card, Floyd! Real jazzy-that Grissom band must've taken some tips from Freddy Fleet and his band with the beat-ha!

Prayers for Daddy MDC and all in need.

*******************
possum under a rock
December 17, 2014 - Msg 100168: Lunch Menu:Grilled Ham-n-cheese sandwiches,fritos,coleslaw,bread-n-butter pickels,nutter butter bar...Sprite....SPOT
December 17, 2014 - Msg 100169: Great Christmas greeting Floyd, If any of you would have been on the Monday night pod cast we got a "sneak peek" of it. Gotta wonder tho, why was there snow in Alabama last year? Where's PH been? He should know the answer to that..

Good video MDC, hope your Pop's gains his strength back, maybe one of those "care givers" would care enough to get him a BIG mug of hot "Ovaltine".....That would do him good.."My Old pal Ovaltine!" Last time I bought it there was NO place to send for your Little Orphan Annie decoder ring.. Cheapskates!

Possum..See how you are...No Faith in MANkind, Asa said he even wasn't going to make Possum gravy just the regular kind just so you wouldn't be offended...lol

G-F..
December 17, 2014 - Msg 100170:
G-F, we have been having internet problems. This is the first time posting for me in about a week.
As for your question about why Floyd's online Christmas video from Alabam had snow in it, check out http://photos.al.com/alphotos/2014/01/snow_storm_2014_11.html

from Poor Horatio
December 17, 2014 - Msg 100171: I declare, PH, you are a veritable walking encyclopedia. Or something. Do they even print encyclopedias anymore? Glad to see you back. We missed you.

It's 47° here, just a few degrees below my comfort zone. I'm about to go punch the thermostat up a couple of degrees, 'cause it's COLD in this house! Poor little Toye Starr must be cold, since my feet are, and she's down on the floor where they are. Actually, I don't see her, so I'll bet she's climbed up onto the back of my big old chair, to get off the chilly floor. Also, a heater vent blows toward that spot, and she figured that out pretty quick. She may be a little ditzy thing, but she knows how to get comfortable. She's plenty smart when it's to her advantage.

Our ESL students all brought food and provided a wonderful lunch for the teachers at Internationals at church today. Good food! Somebody had brought chiles rellenos and they were wonderful! One of my favorite dishes when they're made right, and these were.

Well, guess I'll go fill up the critter feeders. A little squirrel is nosing around out there, has come up on the window ledge to peer in at me, like he's telling me there's no food. There used to be one that would scratch on the glass to get my attention, but I haven't seen him in quite a while. Anyway, there's no food out there for birds or squirrels or anybody else, so guess I'd better remedy that. Blessings, friends! --Romeena
December 17, 2014 - Msg 100172: HI ALL.
NOW G F , ASA AND SPOT you three go hunt down a turkey to cook.
ASA no possuin gravty.
wind cooking thegirls well is in the livingroom and waitch feedball,

SGT TOM

December 17, 2014 - Msg 100173: Hahaha! I just received my Christmas package from my son in Florida and his wife. It's two large bags of birdseed, and a generous Amazon gift card. Do my kids know me well, or what? Perfect!!! --Romeena
December 17, 2014 - Msg 100174: It's cold and drizzly right now, temp at 46° but feels a bit colder. I just checked the forecast for the next ten days, lows will be in the 40s, highs in the upper 50s and 60s. Guess there won't be a white Christmas around here. It's only 4:15 here, but already the shrubs beneath my window are filling with little birds. Much chirping and fluttering and shifting around through the twigs, until just the right spot is found. Then the little bird gets all fluffed up and prepares to spend the night there. Not a bad deal for them, I guess. The house shelters them from the north wind, the shrubs offer some protection, and the layer of leaves on top of the shrubs keeps the rain off. Actually, not much rain hits those shrubs, thanks to the wide eaves on the house, but if the rain blows in from the south, the leaves help a lot.

Brrrr! It really looks dreary out there. The sky looks like gray flannel, not a ray of sunshine anywhere. It's not actually raining, but everything is just wet. It's just a good day to stay indoors. I think I'll have soup for dinner tonight (I love soup on a gloomy day). I'll wrap gifts tonight, and address cards, and pull a new set of Christmas CDs from my collection and re-load the player in the car. I'm really enjoying that thing! I just wish I could find "Fall Softly, Snow" on a CD. PH, there's a project for you! I did find it on a collection-type set, for $40, and the CDs weren't new. I didn't take that chance. Besides, I really don't want one of those big multi-disc sets, I just want one with that song on it. Maybe if I was smarter, I could burn one myself, from the version that's on YouTube. Is that even legal? Probably not. Oh well. I can always hear it there.

Blessings, friends! --Romeena
December 17, 2014 - Msg 100175:
Romeena, I found a single CD with the song "Fall Softly, Snow" on it. To see a listing of the songs on that CD, visit
http://tinyurl.com/knk9gdy
And to hear the complete song, visit http://tinyurl.com/nylswbz
And to make a purchase, visit http://tinyurl.com/km5hstd where it's for sale for less than $16 instead of the greater than $35 that Amazon.com sells it for.
If you don't like this version, just let me know.

from Poor Horatio
December 17, 2014 - Msg 100176: PH, you are indeed a treashuh! That CD is the same one I saw on Amazon for $39. I was calling it a "collection" because for that price, and with 20 songs listed, I figured it had to be more than one disc. It's not, but it has the one I want, and for half the price. I ordered two - one for Eloise as well as for myself. I'll give it to her for Christmas, if it arrives in time. She's the one who got me interested in the song in the first place. Thank you so much. What would we do without you??

I'm working on my Christmas cards. Got to get them ready to mail tonight, because tomorrow is a very full day, and time grows short!

I'm really getting sold on LED lights. I have my back yard full of them - 24 50-light strings, running all through the rose island, surrounding the pond, draped on the shrubs beside the arbor, even the old tree stump is draped in lights. The colors are so vivid, and the lights are crisp and sparkly - really pretty. No more lighted deer back there, and guess what. It's raining right now, and the lights haven't gone out. With the deer, the GFI would trip at the first raindrop. The LEDs don't seem to mind it at all. The very coolest thing about them, though, is the way you can string so many of them end-to-end. These particular lights would have allowed 43 strings to be connected together, but I only had 24. That really cuts down on the timers and extension cords required. Sometime during the next year, I'll order another case of 24 strings and use them in the front next Christmas. They're really pretty, and they cost next to nothing to operate.

Well, back to my Christmas cards. I've already received some of yours - thanks, folks! I love to get those cards. Blessings! --Romeena
December 18, 2014 - Msg 100177:
Romeena, glad I was able to help.

During my research, I discovered another Christmas song that that has a very important message for all of us.
Visit http://tinyurl.com/q83tr63

from Poor Horatio
December 18, 2014 - Msg 100178:
Oh oh, we have a "Romeena Griswold" in the making! ha
GF--since Fife is part of your name, I guess we can call you Barney Parney Poo for the next week! :)
Possum, good to see you, thought you had run off with the dishtowel salesman. lol
I helped at the Christmas play tonight at church. There were about 10 kindergartners dressed up as sheep who were just as cute as a button! All went well, except for the over-anxious Magi entering too soon whilst the shepherds were still doing their lines, so the kings had to "back up." So funny.
But the true message was there and it turned out well.
Thanks for prayers for dad.
Good to see PH again. Al Gore's invention letting you down? haha
GF--Ovaltine was good, but do you remember Bosco? Mmm http://www.boscoworld.com/
Merry Christmas! (coming soon!)
MDC

December 18, 2014 - Msg 100179:
Oh, and my 12 Days for this year...

On the 12th day of Christmas, Mayberry gave to me,
12 Andy prospects,
11 tipsy ladies,
10 quarts of pickles,
9 carp a leapin',
8 Tucker spark plugs,
7 calls to Juanita,
6 singin' Darlings,
5 YEARS FOR BARNEY,
4 Merry Men,
3 baby birds,
2 empty cells,
and a Sheriff with his Barney M.D.!

December 18, 2014 - Msg 100180: Beautiful song, PH, and so true. Thanks again for locating that CD for me. I can hardly wait for it to arrive, and it will be such fun to see Eloise's eyes light up when she opens hers on Christmas.

Thanks, MDC, I was missing that song this year. Some traditions just have to be observed!

Got my cards addressed, will get them in the mail tomorrow. Now I guess I'd better head for bed, before Toye Starr scratches a hole in my ankle. She's been asking to go to bed for two hours now. I could put her up on the bed by herself, but she wouldn't go to sleep. She'd just lie on the corner of the bed where she can see me through the door, and watch me with those enormous brown eyes, and heave big sighs every few minutes. She is very much a puppy of habit, and she gets frustrated with me when I do things a bit differently. Good night, all. --Romeena
December 18, 2014 - Msg 100181: Well now I know it is Christmas. MDC did his 12 days of Mayberry. Very well done MDC.

Glad you are liking those LED lights Ro. Unlike the CFL's, these seem to be living up to their claims.

OK Tom, no Possum gravy. Can I install some wheels on GF's "Wheeler" though? That way I can just wheel him into the kitchen and he can cook whilst reclining. Or is it rewheeling? You know what I mean.

Off to work. Still trying to complete a bunch of projects before years end. And next week is a short one. So off I go.

Asa
December 18, 2014 - Msg 100182: Romeena, I bet our PH WAS a encyclopedia salesmen back in the day, how do you think he got thru college and got so smart! (On slow days he just read the material) haha

MDC, Great 12 Days! You can call me Ray, you can call me Jay, you can even call me Barney Poo, but just don't call me sensitive. My Mother was sensitive, I must have gotten it from her, just don't like being called that. (haha) I liked Bosco too, but Ovaltine just says: "Auuhhh! Sorta melts the cold away like the Campbell soup commercial.

Asa, Good Idea! Can I get that with 4 on the floor and turbo charged for when the inlaws come over? Speed, speed, speed!!

TOM, Maybe I can find my old Mossberg 410 and go turkey huntin' with Asa & SPOT, but I gave up hunting along time ago....Probably cuz I'm to SENSITIVE? (I will have to tell the story sometime of how a ALMOST shot Yankee Catcher "Thurman Munson")...True Story!

G-F...
December 18, 2014 - Msg 100183: Lol, MDC, it's those little things in performances that make them so memorable. We didn't have a church "play" this year. They were going to have one, but the person in charge of it(who is also our church piano player) has been in and out of the hospital for her cancer. I guess they could have gotten another person to take over, but it was getting too late to start anything, and besides she is the kind who really wants to do it.
They did have a very nice choir concert, and thankfully she was well enough to play piano for that. She also did a duet of my favorite Christmas song, "O Holy Night", and it was just spectacular and a blessing to everyone who was there I'm sure.

Thanks for the Christmas card, Floyd, and for all that you do for us all year. The card was very nice and well made.

You know, like most men I try to keep my clothes for as long as they have a few strings holding them together. And my socks are no exception. But when it got to the point where my socks were holier than the apostle Paul, I figured I'd better buy some more.
So I went to Walmart and picked out some of the cheaper kind, and I also noticed that they were "Made In The U.S.A". So that was always a plus.

Well, when I got them home and opened up the package, I decided to look for exactly where in the U.S.A they were made. Then I noticed that the company was in none other than Mt. Airy, North Carolina. Hey, you can't get any more American than that. It looks like I have a new sock supplier(providing they last a few years... or more).

-Sterling Holobyte
December 18, 2014 - Msg 100184: Hey Sterling, them socks ain't whiskey colored are they? lol It's nice too see USA made items. That is getting harder and harder to do. I wonder what causes that?

Wow GF. I haven't heard about "410's" in years. And now you have my curiosity amped up. Tell us the story of how you almost shot Thurman Munson. I bet it's a good one. :)

Where is Boo? I declare that girl is getting to be as quiet as Quiet Sam. And I don't cotton to it. Not one bit. Boo, you best commence posting on here and you best commence NOW! YOU GOT THAT?!
Please.

Asa


December 18, 2014 - Msg 100185: Well Asa, here it goes, I sure ain't bragging but my brother & I used to hunt on a private property near our home in Canton (it was where Thurman was from too). We ALWAYS got permission from the owner first, he let no one else but us hunt there.
My brother just brought me along for a 2 legged bird dog mostly. We were hunting pheasant when I kicked up one and I took the shot, a second later Thurman walked over the hill where I just had shot, a second earlier and he would have gotten a full blast in the face. Man was I scared, but he never knew how close it was, he was a very arrogant guy and felt just because he WAS a "NY Yankee" the rules and courtesy of ASKING to hunt on the property was beneath him. Years later I had just stopped at a Garage door Company to get parts, (this was right by the airport) Thurman was practicing touch& go landings with his brand new "Yankee pin stripe" Lear Jet) I had just passed over the road approaching the runway 10 mins. before he crashed there. They say he was coming in to low all day and was told to abort the landings several times, but he WAS "Thurman Munson, New York Yankee catcher" so his "stardom" cost him his life! (Never cared much for the Yankees any way). He shoulda stayed a catcher rather than being a jet pilot...Ya Think?

G-F...